The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1803-04-22 00:00:00

•

.

BIOGRAPHT.

Irrnm the Asiatic Annual itegitter--Cnntinued.)
In 1771 he received letters from Dr. Robertson
and fir ‘filliam (then Mr.) Jones, with both of
whom the publication of his first volume had
brought him acquainted.
During a short stay which the Doctor made in
London, sometime afterwards, they often met. In
conversation together one day, au -the subject of
history, Dr. Robertson observed, "that he thought
Lord Clive must consider himself much indebted to
him, for having placed his conduct in so conspicu-
ous a point of view." Orme replied, " Lord Clive
is a man who travels post through the world, and
changes horses at every stage." This answer at
once :hews the opinion ite entertained of that no-
.bhoser's private character, and the striking and
fedi& manner in which he could express his
*eosins.
At this period he lived eltieffy in London, and
was much in the society of men of letters, where he
sometimes met Dr. Johnson, of whose wonderful
iatelleilaal powers and impressive wit he was struck
with a just admiration. Talking one day with Mr.
James Boswell, of Johnson's journey to the western
islands of Scotland, he thus strongly expressed his
*pink*: of it : " It is," said he, " a most valuable
book : besides extensive philosophical views and
lively descripticns of society in the country it de-
scribes, it contains thoughts which, by long revolu-
tion in the great mind of Johnson, have been form-
ed and 01E0:.%,:ed, like pebbles rolled in the ocean."
Mr. 11, in his interesting and entertaining
life of Johnson, has preserved another conversation
which he had with thme, relative to that extraor-
dinary man. as Ido not care (said Orme),.on what
subject Johnson talks ; but I love better to hear him
talk than any body. He either gives you new
thoughts, or a new colouring. It is a shame to the
n ition that he has not been mere liberally rewarded.
Had I been George the Third, and thought as he
did about America, I would have given Johnson
hree hundred a-year for his ' Taxation no Tyranny'
alone." I repeated this (says Boswell) to Johnson,
who was much pleased " with such praise from such
a man."
A man who can express himself in conversation
with such precision and enerri is naturally fond of
company, and if he be of an ingenuous disposition
takes delight in associating with superior minds.
'Whilst Orme, therefore, enjoyed a good state of
health, much of his time was spent in that agree-
able and iustru&ive way. Yet be did not negled
his researches in Indian history: for, in 1782,
he published his Historical Fragments of the Mo-
gul Empite during the reign of Aurungaebe ; a
work of great utility, as it contains within a narrow
compass a variety of valuable particulars, both with
regard to the native governments, and the European
ezablishments in Hindustan, which, for the most
pen either lie buried in books that cannot be pro.
cured without considerable diligence, and that few
readers would choose to peruse, or arc looked up in
the archives of the Honourable Company. During
the time he was employed in compiling these frag-
ments. he thought st useful to study the Portuguese
language, in order to consult in the originals the
numerals w enters of that nation who hive treated
Of India.

-
Ira eaostitution, natually Weeks was at last much
impaired by his unremitting application to these
pursuits, and the sedentary life, which he come.
quently led, that he was obliged to confine himself
at home, and observe very regular habits ; hut such
was his love of society, that he seldom denied him-
self to any one who called on him.
In 1792 be left London, and retired to Ealing-
where he resided during the remainder of his lite ;
as well for the benefit of his health, as to reduce his
expenditure, to which he then fund his small in,
come inadequate. He continued, however, to take
a warm and lively interest not only about his friends,
but in public affairs ; and the following letter to an
intimate friend towards the close of the year 1794.,
gives a pleasing specimen of his epistolary style,
and shows- the sentiments he entertained respell-
ing the political situation of the country at that
period
I owe you an account of the reasons of my long
silence since I received your letter of the 2;ith of
Lon month, and why I have not come to town,
although, when I wrote you last, I seemed so near
it ; of this I shall speak first, as of the less im-
portance.
With my fever, all the distressful circomstances
which accompanied it were almost removed, yet eie
fever left me much weakened; but fortunately came
on, I know not from what cause, a succession of
better sleep fire fifteen nights, than I have known
these ten years. I could not bring myself to break '
through this best of medical relief by coming into
the rumble of Harley-street ; and to this was added
the opportunities I have had of riding, which have
generally happened every other day ; for the bye-
roads about this place are better than any near Lo n-
don. although the high road is perhaps the very
worst. My good sleep was interrupted four or five
nights, but it has returned for the last week : there-
fore I am not to be blamed for continuing here :
such neighbours as I am willing to be known to are
very civil tome; but as I ant never out in the night
air, (a caution most necessary to all invalids in the
months of November and December,' I council*
much with them. I find very pleasant companions
in my study (my books) with whom I can commu-
nicate my ideas with as much confidence as I do to
you.
" Your letter of the Cth of November, eons-
biarti with what little- I picked up from papers and
La, gave we much matter of retle.tion, of whii4
esery result was ominous, none favourable a • paii
I will confess to you that my mind was redmilly
scting into a glooenims, irksome, and unpins's*
to thr-last dcgree ; eft! therefore*i
determined to
break thrxi.dtili it, by applying myself to a literary
pursuit, which sholifd keep me from being absorbed
in the politics of tile di!, of which every aspe!t is
d; anal. ' I knew, if I. had wrote my thoughts to
)ou, you would, hive taken the trouble to have
hlves roe Tones, which, from jour situation, would
ive comprehended many points unknown to me,
anil 1 should hose laid a burden on vou ; which
however waling* taken up by you, f felt myself
- 410104 ashameJ to eve % as it would be a return
of ten for one:

esetiromi4.l