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them from the Press! True Genius, like Nirtue and Charity, is content with the consciousnes of its own ments In Virtue it is allowable but ought not Charity to contribute to the helicity of others?

Forgive this tedious Discourse, M. le Bue, and impute some of its faults to my present rosakness, and to a mind uneasy till till it had expressed some of it goat lade and admiration, and who knew not whether it should ever have an opportunity of even rekerning its thanks. I have the honour to be with the highest respect

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Having had a dangerous Relapse, it was impossible for me, M. le Due, Avexpress my Thantes, as soon as I wished, for the great pleasure I felt at the gracious Consent you have condescended to give to my tres being honoured by pointing your Translation. Thad, I confess, formed that amLitions Wick__ Best orey Vanity was not bold enough to let it pass my lips. I was conscious that I was already but too nobly distinguished by having the Que de Nivernois for my Translator, and the Author's pride was humbly content to flatter itself that some time or other the beautiful merit of the Version would dispell all Impediments and break out and shine impublic

Intoxicated as I am with this new Condescension, believe me, M. le Due, Selflove is not the sole tappedient of me Parisfaction. You intimate someintention of bestowing more of your happy talent in Translation on an English Author, infinitely more worthy of emploizing your den; and more congenial, as he was a capital Poet. When the specimens you have given from Milton shall appear in the Essay on Gardening, France will demand more from your hand, and I shall be pardoned for having miremployed your moments, since I have been the occasion of your Country's hearing that you ove it the brightest use of all your powers and your Country never did, nor ever ever will ash Lervices from you in vain.

It would be superfluous to vay with, how much joy Tembrace the offer of

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Printing the Franslation at Strawberry Stille the aware of all the Difficultion that will attend the execution in the manner I would with My Printer is totally ignorant of the Foonch Language, which must make him proceed very slowly. I not only ought but will revise and correchevery page myself, which, reades my Printing House being in the Country, will prevent my beginning the Impresion bill I am settled at Strawberry Hill; whither I goin June.

The Interval, however, allows me to ask a great favour, in order that Jenay produce an Sdition as little unworthy of the Work as shall be in my power. The Youer, I had the Honour of receiving is written in such very small Characters, that my Printer, unaccustomed to French Manuscript, would make endless mistakes and confusion. Might I take the liberty of begging that the Due de Nivernois would order one of his Secretaries to send me another Copy transcribed in very Carge and distinct hand of both the Text and Notes, with Shops and accents exactly as he would pleas to have the whole printed] J could not even trust my own Diligence and Attention without this Assistance.

Perhaps I am going to un qocater and too great Shreedom: M. /Baller.communicated to me a correction of four of the dives translated from Milton. J Joust at all pretend to judge which are the better, as French Poetry but an English ear cannot help being prejudiced in favour of the first Translation Canal, I am aware, how not the same precise signification in Thren oh as in English. To the former. I know it implies no more than a furrent with us it is confined to signify a straitpond, which is one of the Ingredients of ancient Gar dens which the Modern. Taite mostcondemns; and when followed by the words

sans se detourner, seems more strongly to convey the Idea of a lineal Canal. This, I confifs, is a meer English objection; Zet, Town Loo, that un fleuve profond sounds to me more nobly pootie than unlaroje Canak. Cloture du Jardin, is alsobo my imagination more bold and iMiltonie than separd vous un mont— but this exiticism Toffer with timidity and humility; and submit with proper deference to the better judgment of a true French Post and Critic.

I have the Honour to be, with the utmost respect and gratitude, the Que de Nivernois's

London, Berkeley Square, Feb.1!! 1765.

most obliged and most deasted

Lamble Servant

Hor. Walpole

MODERN GARDENING

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