Accept my thanks for your obliging letter, & for your Essay upon the character of the Cid,

– a subject which cannot fail to interest me. Ruydiez de Bivar

was indeed what you describe him, – the model of knighthood in the ruder age of chivalry. A few generations later we have the character a little more refined (& but little) in our Richard Coeur de Lion.

You find it in perfection in the 14^th century, in the Black Prince,

& in a still higher degree in the Portugueze hero Nuno Alvares Pereira,

from whom I cannot be it appears to me highly probable that the character of Amadis was drawn; that romance (as I have proved) having been written by one who was his countryman & fellow soldier.

 A full account of this most admirable man will be given in my History of Portugal.

Your literature Sir, is little known in England, not because it is despised, but because the language is difficult, & books in it only rarely & accidentally to be obtained. My knowledge of Dutch is merely such as xx enables me to understand the plain straight forward style of Aitzema,

Valentyn

& Pieter Bor.

A little I have read of Jacob Cats,

a little of Vondel;

enough to show me that the former must in his own country be the most delightful of household poets, & that the latter was truly a master of his art. It appears to me more than likely that Milton was excited by the perusal of Vondel to undertake both his Samson Agonistes, & his Paradise Lost.

Permit me now to solicit some information from you concerning your literature, which may be useful to me in my various pursuits. In my History of Brazil

I have made use of Nieuhoff,

Aitzema, & J. de Laet’s Historie van de West Indische Compagnie

(in the second edition of my first volume, – which contains many important additions.)

What other books are there in your language which relate to your war in Brazil? – I am writing the History of the late great war in the Peninsula.

Have any memoirs concerning it been published in Du[MS missing]e One German one I have obtained,

& only one, – [MS missing]k

of a surgeon in Massena’s army,

printed at Stutgard. – I am collecting materials for the Life of George Fox, & the Rise & Progress of Quakerism.

The best history of the Quakers was published both in Dutch & English by Sewel.

There is also a Latin one by Gerard Croese.

What other works have you upon this subject? The early Quakers were much connected with Holland, & I should think some curious materials must exist in your language. A year or two hence, it is not unlikely, that I may cross the channel & look for them, – for I have long been desirous of seeing your country.

Meantime I avail myself eagerly of the opportunity which you have afforded me for opening a literary communication with it. And I trust you will believe that I do not put questions of this kind more freely, than I should gladly answer any which you may wish to propose in return.

How much I am gratified by M^rs Bilderdyjks translation of Roderick, by the affecting poem which she has addresst to me,

& by the commendations of such a person as her husband, – it would be difficult to express. I have written to make my acknowledgements, & to enquire thro what channel I may transmit a small packet.