In my copy of _The Origin and Progress of Language_, I have recorded a
little [Greek: anekdoton] of the author, which is now probably known to
nobody but myself, and which you may perhaps think worth preservation. It
was related to me some fifteen years ago, by a learned physician of this
city, now deceased, who had it from Dr. James Gregory himself.
It appears that Lord Monboddo, in spite of failing health and very advanced
age, felt a wish to pay one more visit to the English metropolis, in the
literary circles of which he was fond of mingling. That he had actually set
out upon this formidable journey, was known to Dr. Gregory, who, being a
few hours afterwards at a short distance from Edinburgh, was a little
surprised to meet his venerable friend returning homewards. He was on
horseback, equipped in his usual travelling costume,--cocked hat, scarlet
_roquelaure_, and jack-boots, but looking extremely ill and depressed in
spirits. "What, so soon returned?" was Dr. Gregory's exclamation. "Yes,"
said the old man, "I feel myself quite unequal to the journey, and was just
thinking of a passage in Horace, and adapting it to my own case." "What,
'Solve senescentem?'" said the Doctor. "No," replied his lordship, "it is
one not quite so hackneyed." He then repeated, with much emotion, the
following lines from the second Satire of the second book:
"Seu recreare volet tenuatum corpus; ubique
Accedent anni, et tractari mollius ætas
Imbecilla volet."
This was the last time Dr. Gregory saw him out of doors, and he died not
long after.