*  There  can  be  no  doubt,  as  has  been  hinted  at  in  the  beginning
of  the  Chapter,  that  Boswell's  peculiarities  laid  him  open  to  be  what
is  termed  "roasted"  somewhat  by  the  Circuit  wits,  who  were,  if
tradition  may  be  trusted,  somewhat  more  "  rough"  in  their  humour
than  they  are  at  the  present  day.  Possibly  also  Boswell  may  have
been  thinking  of  the  "  motion,"  quare  adlicetit  pavimento,  which  he
made  in  court,  upon  sham  instructions  emanating  from  the  convivi-
ality of  the  mess-table.
LITERARY    AND    POLITICAL    SQUABBLES.          275

There  is  just  come  out  a  publication  which  makes  a
considerable  noise,  and  which  will  interest  you  parti-
cularly. The  celebrated  Dr.  Parr  of  Norwich,  author  of
the  extraordinary  Preface  to  Bellendenus,*  has- — wick-
edly, shall  we  say  ? — but  surely  wantonly — collected
and  published  Warburton's  Juvenile  Translations  and
Discourse  on  Prodigies,  and  Bishop  Kurd's  attacks  on
Jortin  and  Dr.  Thomas  Leland  with  his  '  Essay  on  the
Delicacy  of  Friendship.'  The  sheets  will  require  ten
franks,  which  would  be  too  many  at  a  time ;  they  shall
come  gradually.  By  this  post  I  send  you  Parr's  two
Prefaces  and  Dedication,  in  which  you  will  find  ardentia
verba  indeed,  and  uncommon  keenness  of  severity  to
Hurd,  such  as  cannot  be  justified  unless  great  pro-
vocation has  been  given.  Public  affairs  are  in  a  very
dubious  situation.  I  really  do  believe  the  King  will
recover ;  and  I  am  told  that  neither  the  Duke  of  Port-
land nor  Mr.  Fox  will  accept  of  any  part  in  an  Admi-
nistration which  is  not  likely  to  be  permanent.  I  be-
gin now  to  think  that  whatever  Administration  should
appoint  you  and  me  to  good  places  would  be  the  best.
