have excefs to the ftrong bear-don't forget to have the gate fhit fhit every evening before dark. The gardnir and the hind may lie below in the landry, to partake the house, with the blunderbufs and the great dog; and I hope you'll have a watchful eye over the maids. I know that huffy, Mary Jones, loves to be rumping with the men. Let me know if Alderney's calf be fould yet, and what he fought -if the ould goofe be fitting; and if the cobler has cut Dicky, and how the pore anemil bore the operation.No more at present, but rests,

Yours,

Gloftar, April 2.

TABITHA BRAMBLE.

To MRS. MARY JONES, at Brambletonhall.

DEAR MOLLY,

HEAVING this importunity, I fend my love to you and Saul, being in good health, and hoping to heer the fame from you; and that you and Saul will take my poor kitten to bed with you this cold weather. We have been all in a fad taking here at Gloftar-Mifs Liddy had like to have run away with a player-man, and young mafter and he would adone themselves a mischief; but the 'fquire applied to the mare, and they were bound over.-Mistress bid me not speak a word of the matter to any Christian foul-no more I fhall; for, we fervints fhould fee all, and fay nothing-But, what was worse than all this, Chowder has had the misfortune to be worried by a butcher's dog, and came home in a terrible pickle-Miftrifs was taken with the afterisks, but they foon went off. The doctor was sent for to Chowder, and he subscribed a repofitory, which did him great fervice-thank God, he's now in a fair way to do well-pray take care of my box and the pillyber, and put them under your own bed; for, I do fuppofe, Madam Gwyllim will be a prying into my fecrets, now my back is turned. John Thomas is in good health, but fulky. The 'fquire gave away an ould coat to a poor man; and John fays as how 'tis robbing him of his parquisites.—I told him, by his agreement, he was to

receive no vails: but he fays as how there's a difference betwixt vails and parquifites; and fo there is for fartain. We are all going to the Hot Well, where I fhall drink your health in a glass of water, being,

Dear Molly,

Gloftar, April 2.

Your humble fervant to command,
W. JENKINS.

To SIR WATKIN PHILLIPS, BART. of Jefus College, Oxon.

DEAR PHILLIPS,

As I have nothing more at heart than to convince you I am incapable of forgetting or neglecting the friendship I made at college, I now begin that correfpondence by letters, which you and I agreed at parting, to cultivate. I begin it fooner than I intended, that you may have it in your power to refute any idle reports which may be circulated to my prejudice at Oxford, touching a foolish quarrel, in which I have been involved on account of my fifter, who had been fome time fettled here in a boardingfchool. When I came hither with my uncle and aunt (who are our guardians), to fetch her away, I found her a fine tall girl, of feventeen, with an agreeable perfon; but remarkably fimple, and quite ignorant of the world. This difpofition, and want of experience, had expofed her to the addreffes of a perfon-I know not what to call him, who had seen her at a play; and, with a confidence and dexterity peculiar to himself, found means to be recommended to her acquaintance. It was by the greatest accident I intercepted one of his letters. As it was my duty to ftifle this correfpondence in its birth, I made it my business to find him out, and tell him very freely my fentiments of the matter. The fpark did not like the ftyle I used, and behaved with abundance of mettle. Though his rank in life (which, by the bye, I am ashamed to declare) did not entitle him to much deference, yet, as his behaviour was remarkably fpirited, I admitted him to the privilege of a gentleman, and fomething might have happened, had not we been prevented.-In fhort, the bufi

1

nefs took air, I know not how, and made abundance of noife-recourse was had to juftice-I was obliged to give my word and honour, &c. and to-morrow morning we fet out for Bristol Wells, where I expect to hear from you by the return of the poft. I have got into a family of originals, whom I may one day attempt to defcribe for your amusement. My aunt, Mrs. Tabitha Bramble, is a maiden of forty-five, exceedingly starched, vain, and ridiculous. My uncle is an odd kind of humourist, always on the fret, and so unpieasant in his manner, that, rather than be obliged to keep him company, I'd refign all claim to the inheritance of his eftate. Indeed, his being tortured by the gout, may have foured his temper, and, perhaps, I may like him better on farther acquaintance: Certain it is, all his servants and neighbours in the country are fond of him even to a degree of enthusiasm, the reason of which I cannot as yet comprehend. Remember me to Griffy Price, Gwyn, Manfel, Baffet, and all the reft of my old Cambrian companions. Salute the bedmaker in my name-give my service to the cook, and pray take care of poor Ponto, for the fake of his old master, who is, and ever will be,

Dear Phillips,

Your affectionate friend,
and humble fervant,

Gloucefter, April 2.

JER. MELFORD.

To MRS. JERMYN, at her houfe in Gloucefter.
DEAR MADAM,

HAVING no mother of my own, I hope you will give me leave to disburden my poor heart to you, who have always acted the part of a kind parent to me, ever since I was put under your care. Indeed, and indeed, my worthy governess may believe me, when I affure her, that I never harboured a thought that was otherwise than virtuous; and, if God will give me grace, I shall never behave so as to caft a reflection on the care you have taken in my education. I confess I have given just cause of of

fence, by my want of prudence and experience. I ought
not to have listened to what the young man faid; and it
was my duty to have told you all that paffed, but I was
afhamed to mention it; and then he behaved fo modeft
and respectful, and feemed to be fo melancholy and ti-
morous, that I could not find in my heart to do any
thing that should make him miferable and desperate. As
for familiarities, I do declare, I never once allowed him
the favour of a falute; and as to the few letters that paf-
fed between us, they are all in my uncle's hands, and I
hope they contain nothing contrary to innocence and ho-
nour. I am still perfuaded that he is not what he appears
to be: But time will difcover-Meanwhile, I will endea-
vour to forget a connection, which is fo difpleafing to
my family. I have cried without ceafing, and have not
tafted any thing but tea, fince I was hurried away from
you; nor did I once clofe my eyes for three nights run-
ning. My aunt continues to chide me feverely, when we
are by ourselves; but I hope to foften her in time, by hu-
mility and fubmiffion. My uncle, who was fo dreadfully
paffionate in the beginning, has been moved by my tears.
and diftrefs, and is now all tendernefs and compaffion;
and my brother is reconciled to me, on my promise to
break off all correfpondence with that unfortunate youth:
But, notwithstanding all their indulgence, I fhall have no
peace of mind till I know my dear and ever honoured go,
vernefs has forgiven her poor, difconfolate, forlorn,
Affectionate humble fervant,
till death,

Clifton, April 6.

LYDIA MELFORD.

I

To MISS LETITIA WILLIS, at Gloucefter,

MY DEAREST LETTY,

AM in such a fright, left this fhould not come fafe to hand by the conveyance of Jarvis, the carrier, that I beg you will write me, on the receipt of it, directing to me, under cover, to Mrs. Winifred Jenkins, my aunt's maid, who is a good girl, and has been so kind to me in my af

fiction, that I have made her my confidente; as for Jarvis, he was very shy of taking charge of my letter and the little parcel, because his fifter Sally had like to have loft her place on my account: Indeed I cannot blame the man for his caution; but I have made it worth his while. My dear companion and bed-fellow, it is a grievous addition to my other misfortunes, that I am deprived of your agreeable company and converfation, at a time when I need fo much the comfort of your good humour and good fense; but, I hope, the friendship we contracted at the boarding-school will last for life-I doubt not but, on my fide, it will daily increase and improve, as I gain experience, and learn to know the value of a true friend. O, my dear Letty! what shall I say about poor Mr. Wilson ? I have promised to break off all correfpondence, and, if poffible, to forget him: But, alas! I begin to perceive that it will not be in my power. As it is by no means proper that the picture fhould remain in my hands, left it fhould be the occafion of more mischief, I have sent it to you by this opportunity, begging you will either keep it fafe till better times, or return it to Mr. Wilfon himself, who, I fuppofe, will make it his bufinefs to fee you at the ufual place. If he fhould be low-fpirited at my fending back his picture, you may tell him I have no occafion for a picture, while the original continues engraved on my But, no; I would not have you tell him that neither; because there must be an end of our correfpondence-I wish he may forget me, for the fake of his own peace; and yet, if he should, he must be a barbarousBut, 'tis impoffible-poor Wilfon cannot be falfe and inconftant. I befeech him not to write to me, nor attempt to see me for fome time; for, confidering the refentment and paffionate temper of my brother Jery, fuch an attempt might be attended with confequences which would make us all miserable for life-let us truft to time and the chapter of accidents; or rather to that Providence which will not fail, fooner or later, to reward those that walk in the paths of honour and virtue-I would offer my love to the young ladies, but it is not fit that any of them fhould know you have received this letter. If we go to Bath, I fhall fend you my fimple remarks upon that famous centre of polite amufement, and every other place we may chance