206,) is most undoubtedly a copy, without any pretence or intention of passing for an original. It is written in an excellent and experienced Roman hand, seemingly by a secretary or clerk, and ends with " écrit, &c.," without place or date; an abbreviation usual in copies, but never occurring in any original.

The signature is by the copyist in the same Roman hand, sloping a little, but not so much as to be termed Italian: a mere little distinction, such as you or I would make in marking the signature. The M and R (in Regina) very long, without the smallest attempt at any imitation of Mary's real signature.

You may safely affirm, meo periculo, that whoever argues upon this writing, as either original or forgery, argues in mere ignorance.

II. There is no appearance of any lacuna at fol. 165; nor at 239, 241. The old paging goes on regularly. There may possibly be one leaf wanting at fol. 252, as the leaves are oddly pasted together.

III. As to the confessions of French Paris, the second* (Cal. C. i. f. 318, 325,) is a notarial copy from the original in his own hand-writing, as avouched by the real signature and docket of Alex. Hay, clerk of the Privy Council, and N. P. It is evidently taken before the Privy

* "The deposition of Nic. Haubert (alias Paris), servant to the Earl of Bothwell, concerning the death of Henry Darnley (French). St. Andrew's, August 10, 1569."-Catalogue of the Cottonian Library, p. 93.

Council, and afterwards copied and avouched by the clerk.

The first confession* (Cal. B. ix. f. 370.,) has every possible mark of an original, written by himself in the way of a private and free confession. It is in an indifferent French hand; every leaf is marked at the bottom, A; that is, N. H., a contraction of N. Hubert; and it is also signed at the end, N. I have, as you desired, ordered it to be copied directly; and a French copyist will be employed for the more exactness.

The Paper Office is in the sole care of my respectable friend, Thomas Astle, Esq. It is now two years since I had occasion to trouble him; but I dare say I should find him as obliging as

ever.

Allow me, my dear Sir, to hint, that I would not wish any thing of serious importance to appear very speedily from your pen after your History. Allow a year or two to pass; for any rapidity of publication might injure both works in the public eye. Were I writing on Mary, I would indulge a page or two of irony, pretending to grant that all the papers which militate against her are forgeries, (so say her advocates,) and that all for her are incontestably veracious.

+ " Deposition of Haubert de Paris, servant to the Scotish queen, concerning the murder of her husband, at which he was present (French). St. Andrew's, Aug. 9, 1569."-Catalogue of the Cottonian Library, p. 83.

MR. J. C. WALKER TO MR. PINKERTON.

St. Valeri, Dec. 1st, 1799.

If you happen to have a copy of the comedies of the fair German nun, Hroswitha, might I beg of you to transcribe the passage (if it be not long) in which the vision of the cross that appears to Gallicanus is described? It is in the comedy which bears his name. I do not believe there is a copy of these comedies in the kingdom. Is there not some account of them subjoined to the last edition of the Essay on Old Maids?

My Essay on the revival of the Drama in Italy is in great forwardness. I am rich in materials: besides a large collection of rappresentazioni, I have got the Timone, Calandra, and several other comedies written before 1500. Nor am I without hopes of a fresh accession. As you are acquainted with the nature of my undertaking, may I beg an occasional hint?

As I can now supply several deficiencies in my Memoir, I am meditating a Supplement. I have got the Sofonisba of Galleotto del Caretto, the Tullia of Martelli, the Marianna of Dolce, and several other scarce and curious pieces, which should have been more fully noticed. The three pieces, however, which I have just enumerated, belong to a friend; so that I cannot boast of them as constituting part of my collection.

Though the times are not favorable for literature, I trust you are not dle. If history be still your

favorite, I hope you have some great work on the anvil. The history of your own country has still claims upon you.

I wish you would take up some brilliant period in the literary history of Spain, and pour a flood of light upon it. We know too little of the literature of that country. Is there much in Southey's Letters on Spain and Portugal? As yet, that work has not reached me. Is it known who wrote Letters from an English Traveller in Spain, in 1778, on the Origin and Progress of Poetry in that kingdom? Is the author of the Letters on Spanish Literature in the Monthly Magazine known? By the by, that is one of the best conducted Magazines in England: it is particularly acceptable to a recluse like me, who wishes to know something of the state of literary affairs on the Continent. On the subject of antiquities, I still continue to draw information from my old friend, Urban.

MR. M. LAING TO MR. PINKERTON.

Edinburgh, Dec. 6th, 1799.

Your letter gave me equal surprise and satisfaction, not only from the explanation of the contract, but from the discovery that Hubert's first confession is apparently autograph. Next to the authenticity of Mary's letters, it is the most important discovery that could be made in the controversy. There is an asterisk in the first confession referred

to in the second, which I hope the transcriber will insert in its proper place.

The material papers in the Paper Office are: 1st, The original extract of Bothwell's trial, 12th April, 1567, attested by Bellenden, Justice Clerk. Whether it mentions, as Keith * intimates (375), that Pitcairn, commendator of Dunfermline, Lovat Lindsay, James Macgill and Henry Balneaves sat as assessors with Argyle, the Justice General?

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2nd, The original of Hubert's second confession: in what or whose hands it is written? whether it bears to have been taken before the privy council? what are the words in the blank left by Anderson and Goodal," une cassette où il y avoit Thesaurier lui avoit apporté de France?" &c., and whether, in a former paragraph, (Anderson ii. 196.) "Jehan Hepburne feroit le GRIET soubs les galleries à Sainte Croix," griet should not be guet-"kept watch?" and whether Vendredy and Sampmedy in Anderson'st edition of the Confession (ii. 199, 200) are correct or a mistake in printing?

These two originals are mentioned by Anderson, I. Pref. x. and Vol. ii., contents, as in the Paper Office.

History of the Affairs of the Kirk and State of Scotland, from the beginning of the Reformation in the reign of King James V. to the retreat of Queen Mary into England, anno 1568, by Robert Keith. Edin. 1734, folio.

+ James Anderson was an eminent Scotch antiquary, who published the very rare and valuable work entitled, Selectus Diplomatum et Numismatum Scotiæ Thesaurus. He also published, what is here more particularly referred to, Collections relating to the History of Mary Queen of Scotland. Edin. 1727-28, 4 vols. 4to.