cessary to return the same polite language; and there has been more Billingsgate stuff uttered from the press within these two months, than ever was known before. Upon this, Dr. Arbuthnot has written a very humourous treatise[1], which he showed me this morning; wherein he proves, from many learned instances, that this sort of altercation is ancient, elegant, and classical; and that what the world falsely imagines to be polite, is truly Gothick and barbarous. He shows how the gods and goddesses used one another; dog, bitch and whore were pretty common expressions among them: kings, heroes, ambassadors, and orators, abused one another much in the same way; and he concludes, that it is a pity this method of objurgation should be lost. His quotations from Homer, Demosthenes, Æschines, and Tully, are admirable, and the whole is very humourously conducted. I take it for granted, he will send it you himself, as soon as it is printed.
FROM LADY ELIZABETH GERMAIN.
NOW were you in vast hopes you should hear no more from me, I being slow in my motions: but do not flatter yourself; you began the correspond-
- ↑ Probably that published in the Miscellaneous Works of the late Dr. Arbuthnot, at Glasgow, vol. I, p. 40. The title of the piece is, "A brief Account of Mr. John Ginglicut's Treatise concerning the Altercation or Scolding of the Ancients."
