Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-04-19

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the constant action Of steam engines but whc 4 po
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kingdom. Yours. kJD
| AN INEDTTED LETTER OF EDWARD GIfsoN.
FRAsKRs MAGAZINE.
The following inedited letter Of the csebratedp,hot
Of The Decline and Fall Of the Roman Empire. II !.
addressed to his friend M. DEyverdun, (who was a,b,t
time at Leipss) and has lately been found among ma of
papers in the house which M DEyvedun possessed L
same, and where Mr.. Gibbon resided several years
LosDoN, Mar 4, l776.
Tom. D'ErvrRDus, at Leipig
My long silence towards you has been occssioned (if
have properly anayzed what has lately passed in my mnd)
by different reasons During the there was indo-
lence and since the opening Of Parliament the
necessity OF finishing my book, and at the time Of sub
DUNG America have been involved in multitude Of pub
% private, and literary business such had never exper
enced in the whole course Of my fs The materials Of nv
correspondence have gradually accumulated and despsnr
Of being able to any thing have wisely finished y saw
ing nothing Meantime 1t Is not necessary inform my dear
reader that love him just much had written 10 him
every week.
Where, then, shall begin this letter Can this ouesto,
be put 70 man who has just published his book shall
speak Of myself and shall enjoy hs pleasure which renders
ing Of ones self with somebody who will take an interest II
the subject Il Is true, should greatly prefer conversag with
you, walking backwards and forwards in my library where
piusniDgs make 70 the confessions
which my vanity might prompt But this lamentabe dis
lance from London Leipzig cannot do without con-
dan and the paper might one day disclose the little
which am obliged to confde to you.
You know that the first volume Of The History ofthe De-
cline and Fall Of the Roman Empire has had the most COM
pee success and the most Aaterng the author But
must take up the matter little further back do not know
whether you recoect that had agreed with my bookseller
for an edition OF five hundred copies This very oder-
ate number but wished to learn the taste Of the public and
to reserve to myself the opportunity Of making,
cond edition, all the changes which the observations Of critics
and my reflections might suggest We had come per-
haps. to the twenty6Ah Sheet when my publisher and nv
printer, of and taste, began perceive that the
work in question might be worth something and that the said
ve hundred copies would not suffice for the demands Of the
British readers They stated their me, aud very
humb, but very earnestly, begged to permit five hun
dred more to be printed. yielded to their entreaes not
however, without fearing that the younger brothers of my nu
merous family might be condemned to ngorous old age,
in the obscury Of warehouse Meantime the printing
went on and, in spite of paternal affection, sometimes
cursed the attention which obliged pay the educa
ton Of my children, to them Of the little defects which
the negligence of their preceptos had suffered 10 pass with
out correcting them.
At length, in the month Of February saw the decisive
hour arrive, and own you that without some
sort Of uneasness knew that my book good, but
would have had it excellent could not rely on my own
Judgment and feared that of the pubc-ha yrant who
often destroys in instant the fruit Of ten years labor At
length on the 10th Of February, gave myself the uni
verse, and the univese-that s to ssy small number of
English readers-received with open arms In fort
night the whole edition completely exhausted that
single copy was left Mr.. Cade (my publis proposed
to me to publish second edition Of 1000 COZ nd in
few days he to beg allow him to piht 500
copies 1t will appear at the beginning of month and
he already promise that it will be sold before
the end Of the year, and that he shall be obliged mpoune
met third time. The volume-a handsome quaro-costs
guinea in boards it has so my publisher expresses it,
like sixPenny pamphlet on the affairs Of the day.
have hitherto contened myself with stating the fact,
which the least equivoca testimony in favor Of the History
II is said that horse alone does fater kings when they
think t to mount him. might not add that the bookse
Ter the only who does not aer authors when they
take into their heads to appear print But you conceive
that from small number Of eager readers always finds
to catch praises and, for my part you that
very fond of these praises those Of Of rank,
peciay when they young and handsome though Of
the greatest weight amuEe me infinitely have had the
good fortune please of these PERSONS and the ancient
History Of your learned friend has succeeded with them like
fashionable novel, Now hear what ROBERTSON says in
lstter which was not designed to fall into my hands
shave read tays he) Mr. Gibbons Hstory with great
attention. and with singular pleasure 1t is work OF great
merit in that sagacy Of research without which
author does merit the Of historian Hisnar
GUS sometimes rather sbored and perhaps studied
these defects amply compensated BY the beauty Of the
language and sometimes by felicity OF expression.
Now listen attentvely to poor Dawn HUnE:
"Aer having read with impatience and avid the first
volume Of your stSry feel the mpaence to thank
% aa me "nep the
several points Of view OF e dignity OF the the extent
of researches the profound in which the subject
is treated. This work entitled to the highest esteem You
will feel pleasure do my self, from hearing that all the
Of letters in this city Ednburgh agree in admng your
work, and in desiring the continuation OF it
Do you know too that the Tacus and Lvy Of Scotland
have been useful in ways than one Our good
English folk had long amented the superiority which these
historians had acquired and national preudces kept
up small expense, they have eagerly raised their un-
worthy countyman by their acclamaons TO level with these
great Besides, have had the good fortune to avoid
the shoal which is the dangerous in this country
historian is always certain degree political characters
and every reader according to bis private opinion seeks IN
the ages the sentiments OF the historian upon
Kings and Governments Minister, who is great friend
the prerogaves Of the Crown has me on my
having every where professed the soundest doctrines
Mr. WALPoLE, the other hand, and my Lord CAMDEE,
both parisans Of liberty, and Of republics persuaded
that am not far from their ideas. This is proof at least
that have observed fair neutrality.
Let look at the reverse Of the medal and inspect
the which Heaven has thought t to employ to humble
my pride. Would you think, my dear sir that injustice has
been carried far to attack the purity OF my faith The
cry Of the bishops and Of great number Of ladies equally
respectable for their age and understanding has been raised
against It has been maintained that the last two chap
of my pretended History only satire on the chris
tan regon-a satire the dangerous as is concealed
under veil Of moderation and mparaity and that the
emssa Of saan after having long amused his readers with
very agreeable tale nsensby leads them into the internal
You perceive all the horror Of this accusatlon and
will easily understand that shall oppose only respectful
silence to the clamors Of my enemies.
and burnt In the Of Europe After snort suspension
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