shine for ever with new accessions of glory, and table at his own expense. He has often told me, prighten to all eternity; that she will be still adding that at his coming to his estate he found his parishvirtue to virtue, and knowledge to knowledge; car ioners very irregular: and that in order to make ries in it something wonderfully agreeable to that them kneel and join in the responses, he gave every ambition which is natural to the mind of man. Nay, one of them a hassuck and a common-prayer book : it must be a prospect pleasing to God himself, to see and at the same time employed an itinerant singing. nis creation for ever beautifying in his eyes, and master, who goes about the country for that purdrawing nearer to bim, by greater degrees of re- pose, to instruct them rightly in the tunes of the semblance.

Psalms; upon which they now very much value Methinks this single consideration of the progress themselves, and indeed outdo most of the country of a finite spirit to perfection, will be sufficient to churches that I have ever heard. extinguish all epry in inferior natures, and all con- As Sir Roger is landlord to the whole congregatempt in superior. That cherubim, which now ap- tion, he keeps them in very good order, and will pears as a God to a human soul, kņows very well suffer nobody to sleep in it besides himself; for if by Chat the period will come about in eternity, when chance he has been surprised into a short nåp a' the human soul shall be as perfect as he himself now sermon, upon recovering out of it he stands up an. is : nay, when she shall look down upon that degree looks about him, and if he sees any body else nodof perfection, as much as she now falls short of it. ding, either wakes them himself or sends his servants It is true, the higher nature still advances, and by to them, Several other of the old knight's particuthat means preserves his distance and superiority in larities break out upon these occasions. Sometimes the scale of being; but he knows that how bigh he will be lengthening out a verse in the singing soever the station is of which he stands possessed at Psalms half a minute after the rest of the congregapresent, the inferior nature will at length mount up tion have done with it; sometimes, when he is to it, and shine forth in the same degree of glory. pleased with the matter of his devotion, he pro

With what astonishment and veneration may we bounces amen three or four times to the same look into our own souls, where there are such hidden prayer; and sometimes stands up when every body stores of virtue and knowledge, such inexhausted else is upon their knees, to count the congregation, sources of perfection? We know not yet what we or see if any of his tenants are missing. shall be, nor will it ever enter into the heart of man I was yesterday very much surprised to hear my to conceive the glory that will be always in reserve old friend, in the midst of the service, calling out to for him. The soul, considered with its Creator, is one John Matthews to mind what he was about, and like one of those mathematical lines that may draw not disturb the congregation. This John Matthews nearer to another for, all eternity without a possi- it seems is remarkable for being an idle fellow, and bility of touching it ;* and can there be a thought at that time was kicking his heels for his diversion. so transporting, as to consider ourselves in these per- This authority of the knight, though exerted in that petual approaches to him, who is not only the stand-odd manner which accompanies him in all the cir. ard of perfection but of happiness !-L.

cumstances of life, has a very good effect upon the parish, who are not polite enough to see any thing

ridiculous in his behaviour ; besides that the general No. 112.1 MONDAY, JULY 9, 1711. good sense and worthiness of his character make his

friends observe these little singularities as foils that First, in obedience to thy country's rites, Wership th' immortal gods.—Pytłac.

rather set off than blemish his good qualities.

As soon as the sermon is finished, nobody preI am always very well pleased with a country sumes to stir till Sir Roger is gone out of the church. Sanday, and think, if keeping holy the .eventh day The knight walks down from his seat in the chancel were only a buman institution, it would be the best between a double row of his tenants, that stand bowmethod that could have been thought of for polishing ing to him on each side; and every now and then and civilizing of mankind. It is certain, the country inquires how such a one's wife, or mother, or son, or people would soon degenerate into a kind of savages father do, whom he does not sce at church; which is and barbarians, were there not such frequent re- understood as a secret reprimand to the person that turns of a stated time, in which the whole village is absent. meet together with their best faces, and in their The chaplain has often told me that, upon a catecleanliest habits, to converse with one another upon chising day, when Sir Roger has been pleased with different subjects, hear their duties explained to a boy that answers well, he has ordered a Bible to them, and join together in adoration of the Supreme be given to him next day for his encouragement; Belag. Sunday clears away the rust of the whole and sometimes accompanies it with a flitch of bacon week, bot only as it refreshes in their minds the no-to his mother. Sir Roger has likewise added five tions of religion, but as it puts both the sexes upon pounds a year to the clerk's place; and that he may appearing in their most agreeable forms, and exert- encourage the young fellows to make themselves az all such qualities as are apt to give them a figure perfect in the church service, has promised upon the in the eye of the village. A country fellow distin-death of the present incumbent, who is very old, to grabes himself as much in the churchyard, as a ci- bestow it according to merit. tizen does upon the 'Change, the whole parish-poli. The fair understanding between Sir Roger and ties being generally discussed in that place either his chaplain, and their mutual concurrence in doing after sermon or before the bell rings.

good, is the more remarkable, becauso the very next My friend Sir Roger, being a good churchman, village is famous for the differences and contentions has beautified the inside of his church with several that arise between the parson and the squire, who tents of his own choosing. He has likewise given a live in a perpetual state of war. The parson is albandaóme palpit-cloth, and railed in the communion- ways preaching at the squire; and the squire, to be The lines are what the geometricians call the asymp: The squire has made all his tenants atheists and

revenged on the parson, never comes to church. ad the hyperbola, and the allusion to them here is, permaste of the most beautiful that has ever been made. titbe-stealers ; while the parson instructs them every SPECTATOR_Nos. 17 & 18.

K

a

Sunday in the dignity of his order, and insinuates to am pretty tall, rode well, and was very, weii aressed, them, in almost every sermon, that he is a better at the head of a whole country, with music before man than his patron. In short, matters are come to me, a feather in my bat, and my horse wou ditted. such an extremity, that the squire has not said his I can assure you i was not a littie pleased wila the prayers either in public or private this half year; kind looks and glances I had from all the balconies and the parson threatens him, if he does not mend and windows as I rode to the hall where the assizes his manners, to pray for him in the face of the wbole were held. But, wben I came there, a beaguful congregation.

creature in a widow's habit sat in court to hear the Feuds of this nature, though too frequent in the event oi' a cause concerning her dower. This comcountry, are very fatal to the ordinary people, who manding creature (who was born for the destruction are so usea to be dazzled with riches, that they pay of all who beheld ber) put on such a resignation in as much deference to the understanding of a man of her countenance, and bore the whispers of all around an estate, as of a man of learning; and are very the court with such a pretty uneasiness, I warrant hardly brought to regard any truth, how importaut you, and then recovered herself from one eye to ano. soever it may be, that is preached to them, when ther, until she was perfectly confused by meeting they know there are several men of five hundred a something so wistful in all she encountered, that at year who do not believe it.

L. last, with a murrain to her, she cast her bewitching

eye upon me. I no sooner met it but I bowed like

a great surprised booby; and knowing her cause to No. 113.] TUESDAY, JULY 10, 1711. be the first which caine ou, I cried, like a captivated Hærent infixi pectore vultus.--VIRG. Æn. iv. 4.

calf as I was, “Make way for the defendant's wit

nesses.' This sudden partiality made all the county Her looks were deep innprinted in his heart.

immediately see the sheriff also was become a slare In my first description of the company in which to the fine widow. During the time her cause was pass most of my time, it may be reniembered, that I upon trial, she behaved herself

, I warrant you, with mentioned a great affliction which my friend Sir such a deep attention to her business, took opportuRoger had met with in his youth; which was no nities to have little billets handed to her counsel, less than a disappointment in love. It happened then would be in such a pretty confusion, occasioned, this evening, that we fell into a very pleasing walk you must know, by acting before so much company, at a distance from his house. As soon as we came that not only I but the whole court was prejudiced into it, “ It is,” quoth the good old man, looking in her favour; and all that the next heir to her husround him with a smile, very hard, that any part band had to urge was thought so groundless and triof my land should be settled upon one who has used volous, that when it came to her counsel to reply, me su ill as the perverse widow did; and yet I am there was not half so much said as every one besides sure I could not see a sprig of any bough of this in the court thought he could have urged to her dado whole walk of trees, but I should reflect upon her vantage. You must understand, Sir, this pertense and her severity. She has certainly the finest hand woman is one of those unaccountable creatures that of any woman in the world. You are to know, this secretly rejoice in the admiration of men, but inwas the place wherein I used to muse upon her; and dulge themselves in no farther consequences. Hence by that custom I can never come into it but the it is that she has ever had a train of admirers, and same tender sentiments revive in my mind, as if I she removes from her slaves in town to those in the had actually walked with that beautiful creature country, according to the seasons of the year. She under these shades. I have been fool enough to carve is a reading lady, and far gone in the pleasures of her name on the bark of several of these trees; so friendship. She is always accompanied by a conunhappy is the condition of men in love, to attenupt fidant, who is witness to her daily protestations the removing of their passion by the methods which against our sex, and consequently a bar to ber first serve only to imprint it deeper. She has certainly steps towards love, upon the strength of her öka the finest hand of any woman in the world." inaxims and declarations.

Here iollowed a profound silence; and I was not “ However, I must need say, this accomplished displeased to observe my friend falling so naturally mistress of mine bas distinguished me above the rest into a discourse which I had ever before taken no- and has been known to declare Sir Roger de Coverley tice he industriously avoided. After a very long was the tamest and most humane of all the brutes in pause, he entered upon an account of this great cir- the country. I was told she said so by one who cumstance in bis life, with an air which I thought thought he rallied me; but upon

the strength of this raised my idea of him above

what I had ever had slender encouragement of being thought less detestbefore ; and gave me the picture of that cheerful able, I made new liveries, new.paired my coach: mind of his, before it received that stroke which has horses, sent them all to town to be bitted, and taught ever since affected his words and actions. But he to throw their legs well, and move all together

, bewent on as follows:

fore I pretended to cross the country, and wait uppu "I came to my estate in any twenty-second year, her, As soon as I thought my retinue suitable to the aud resolved

to follow the steps of the most worthy character of my fortune and youth, I set out from of my ancestors who have inhabited this spot of earth bence to make my addresses. The particular skill before me, in all

the methods of hospitality and good of this lady has ever been to inflame your wishes, neighbourhood, for the sake of my fame; and in and yet command respect. To make ber mistress of country sports and recreations, for the sake of my this art, she has a greater share of knowledge, wil health. In my twenty-third year I was obliged to and good sense than is usual even among men of serve as sheriff of the county; and in my servants

, merit

. Then she is beautiful beyond the race of officers, and whole equipage, indulged the pleasure women. If you will not let her go on with a certain of a young man (who did not think ill of his own artifice with her eyes

, and the skil of beauty, she will person) in taking that public occasion of showing my arm herself with her real charms, and strike you digure and behaviour wo advantage. You may easily with admiration

instead of desire. It is certain that imagine to yourself what appearance I made, who if you

were to behold the whole woman, there is that

dignity in her aspect, that composure in her motion, Cænat, propinat, poscit, negat, annuit, una ext

Nævia : si non sit Nævia, mutus erit. that complacency in her manner, that if her form

Scriberet hesterna, patri cum luce salutem, makes you hope, her merit makes you fear. But then Nævia lux, inquit, Nævia numen, ave.Epig. 1. 69 again, she is such a desperate scholar, that no country

Let Rufus weep, rejoice, stand, sit, or walk, gentleman can approach her without being a jest.

Still he can nothing but of Nævia talk;
As I was going to tell you, when I came to her house Let him eat, drink, ask questions, or dispute,
I was admitted to her presence with great civility;

Still he must speak of Nævia, or be mute. at the same time she placed herself to be first seen

He writ to his father, ending with this line

I am, my lovely Nævia, ever thine. by me in such an attitude, as I think you call the posture of a picture, that she discovered new charms, and I at last came towards her with such an awe as made me speechless. This she no sooner observed

No. 114] WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 1711 but she made her advantage of it, and began a dis. course to me concerning love and honour, as they

-Paupertatis pudor et fuga.--HoR. 1 Ep. xviii, 24. both are followed by pretenders and the real votaries

-The dread of nothing more

Than to be thought necessitous and poor.-Pooly, to them. When she discussed these points in a discourse which, I verily believe, was as learned as the Economy in our affairs has the same effect upon best philosopher in Europe could possibly make, she our fortunes which good-breeding has upon our asked me whether she was so happy as to fall in with conversation. There is a pretending behaviour in my sentiments on these important particulars. Her both cases, which instead of making men esteemed, confidant sat by her, and upon my being in the last renders them both miserable and contemptible. We confusion and silence, this malicious aid of her's had yesterday, at Sir Roger's, a set of country gentarning to her, says, “I am very glad to observe Sirtlemen who dined with him: and after dinner the Roger pauses upon this subject, and seems resolved glass was taken, by those who pleased, pretty plen. to deliver all his sentiments upon the matter when tifully. Among others I observed a person of a be pleases to speak.' They both kept their counte-tolerable good aspect, who seemed to be more greedy Dances, and after I had sat half an hour meditating of liquor than any of the company, and yet mehow to behave before such profound casuists, I rose thought he did not taste it with delight. As he up and took my leave. Chance has since that time grew warm, he was suspicious of every thing that thrown me very often in her way, and she as often was said, and as he advanced towards being fuddled, has directed a discourse to me which I could not un- his humour grew worse. At the same time his bitderstand. This barbarity has kept me ever at a dis-terness seemed to be rather an inward dissatisfaction tance from the most beautiful object my eyes ever in his own inind, than any dislike he had taken to beheld. It is thus also she deals with all mankind, the company. Upon hearing his name, I knew him and you must make love to her as you would conquer to be a gentleman of a considerable fortune in this the sphins, by posing her. But were she like other county, but greatly in debt. What gives the unwomen, and that there were any talking to her, how happy man this peevishness of spirit that his constant must the pleasure of that man be, who could estate is dipped, and is eating out with usury; and converse with such a creature. But, after all, you yet he has not the heart to sell any part of it. His may be sure her heart is fixed on some one or other: proud stomach, at the cost of restless nights, conand yet I have been credibly informed—but who stant inquietudes, danger of affronts, and a thousand can believe half that is said ?-after she had done nameless inconveniencies, preserves this canker in speaking to me, she put her hand to her bosom, and his fortune, rather than it shall be said he is a man adjusted her tucker: then she cast her eyes a little of fewer hundreds a year than he has been comdown, upon my bebolding her too earnestly. They monly reputed. Thus he endures the torment of say she sings excellently: her voice in her ordinary poverty, to avoid the name of being less rich. If speech has something in it inexpressibly sweet. You you go to his house, you see great plenty; but served must know I dined with her at a public table the day in a manner that shows it is all unnatural, and after I first saw ber, and she helped me to some that the master's mind is not at home. There is a tansy in the eye of all the gentlemen in the country. certain waste and carelessness in the air of every She has certainly the finest hand of any woman in thing, and the whole appears but a covered indithe world. I can assure you, Sir, were you to be- gence, a magnificent poverty. That neatness and hold her, you would be in the same condition ; for cheerfulness which attend the table of him who lives as her speech is music, her form is angelic. But I within compass, is wanting, and exchanged for a lifind I grow irregular while I am talking of her; but bertine way of service in all about him. indeed it would be stupidity to be unconcerned at This gentleman's conduct, though a very common such perfection. Oh, the excellent creature ! she is way of inanagement, is as ridiculous as that officer's as inimitable to all women, as she is inaccessible to would be, who had but few men under his command, al men."

and should take the charge of an extent of country I found my friend begin to rave, and insensibly rather than of a small pass. To pay for, personate, led hiin tokards the house, that we might be joined and keep in a man's hands, a greater estate than he by settle other company; and am convinced that the really has, is of all others the most unpardonable wilow' is the seeret cause of all that inconsistency vanity, and must in the end reduce the man who is whick appears in some part of my friend's discourse; guilty of it to dishonour. Yet if we look round us though he has so much command of himself as not in any county of Great Britain, we shall see many directly to mention her, yet according to that of in this fatal error; if that may be called by so soft Martial

, which one knows not how to render into a name, which proceeds from a false shame of apEnglish, dum tacet hanc loquitur. I shall end this pearing what they really are, when the contrary bepaper with that whole epigram, which represents with haviour would in a short time advance them to the nach komour my.honest friend's condition :- condition which they pretend to. Cricquid agit Rufus, nibil est, nisi Nævia Ruso,

Laertes has fifteen hundred pounds a year; which Si jandet, si fet, si tacet, bane loquitur :

| is mortgaged for six thousand povods; but it is im

Juv. Sat.

356

possible to convince him, that if he sold as much as putting on unnecessary armour against improbable would pay off that debt, he would save four shillings blows of fortune, is a mechanic being which has not in the pound, which he gives for the vanity of being good sense for its direction, but is carried on by a the reputed master of it. Yet if Laertes did this, sort of acquired instinct towards things below our he would perhaps be easier in his own fortune; but then consideration, and unworthy our esteem. It is posIrus, a fellow of yesterday, who has but twelve hun-sible that the tranquillity I now enjoy at Sir Roger's dred a year, would be his equal. Rather than this may have created in me this way of thinking, which should be, Laertes goes on to bring well-born beg- is so abstracted from the common relish of the world; gars into the world, and every twelvemonth charges but as I am now in a pleasing arbour surrounded his estate with at least one year's rent more by the with a beautiful landscape, I find no inclination so birth of a child.

strong as to continue in these mansions so remote Laertes and Irus are neighbours, whose way of from the ostentatious scenes of life; and am at this living are an abomination to each other. Irus is present writing philosopher enough to conclude with moved by the fear of poverty, and Laertes by the Mr. Cowley, shame of it. Though the motive of action is of so

If e'er ambition did my fancy cheat near affinity in both, and may be resolved into this, With any wish so mean as to be great : “ that to each of them poverty is the greatest of all Continue, Heav'n, still from me to remove evils,” yet are their manners widely different. Shame

The humble blessings of that life I love.

T of poverty makes Laertes launch into unnecessary equipage, vain expense, and lavish entertainments. Fear of poverty makes Irus allow himself only plain

No. 115.) THURSDAY, JULY 12, 1711. necessaries, appear without a servant, sell his own

-Ut sit mens sana in corpore sano. corn, attend his labourers, and be himself a labourer. Shame of poverty makes Laertes go every day a

Pray for a sound mind in a sound body. step nearer to it; and fear of poverty stirs up Irus to make every day some farther progress from it. Bodily labour is of two kinds,-either that which

These different motives produce the excesses which a man submits to for his livelihood, or that which men are guilty of in the negligence of and provision he undergoes for his pleasure. The latter of them for themselves. Usury, stock-jobbing, extortion, generally changes the name of labour for that of exand oppression, have their seed in the dread of want; ercise, but differs only from ordinary labour as it and vanity, riot, and prodigality, from the shame of rises from another motive. it; but both these excesses are infinitely below the A country life abounds in both these kinds of la. pursuit of a reasonable creature. After we have bour-and for that reason gives a man a greater taken care to command so much as is necessary for stock of health, and consequently a more perfect maintaining ourselves in the order of men suitable enjoyment of himself, than any other way of life. I to our character, the care of superfluities is a vice consider the body as a system of tubes and glands, no less extravagant than the neglect of necessaries or, to use a more rustic phrase, a bundle of pipes would have been before.

and strainers, fitted to one another after so wonder. Certain it is, that they are both out of nature, ful a manner as to make a proper engine for the when she is followed by reason and good sense. It soul to work with. This description does not only is from this reflection that I always read Mr. Cow- comprehend the bowels, bones, tendons, veins, nerves, ley with the greatest pleasure. His magnanimity and arteries, but every muscle and every ligature, is as much above that of other considerable men, as which is a composition of fibres, that are so many his understanding; and it is a true distinguishing imperceptible tubes or pipes interwoven on all sides spirit in the elegant author who published his works, with invisible glands or strainers. to dwell so much upon the temper of his mind and This general idea of a human body, without con. the moderation of his desires. By this means he sidering it in the niceties of anatomy, lets us see has rendered his friend as amiable as famous. That how absolutely necessary labour is for the right prestate of life which bears the face of poverty with Mr. servation of it. There must be frequent motions Cowley's great vulgar,t is admirably described : and and agitations, to mix, digest, and separate the it is no small satistaction to those of the same turn juices contained in it, as well as to clear and cleanse of desire, that he produces the authority of the wisest that infinitude of pipes and strainers of which it is men of the best age of the world, to strengthen his composed, and to give their solid parts a more firm opinion of the ordinary pursuits of mankind. and lasting tone. Labour or exercise ferments the

It would methinks be no ill maxim of life, if, ac- humours, casts them into their proper channels, cording to that ancestor of Sir Roger whom I lately throws off redundancies, and helps nature in those se mentioned, every man would point to himself what cret distributions, without which the body cannot sub sum he would resolve not to exceed. He might by sist in its vigour, nor the soul act with cheerfulness. this means cheat himself into a tranquillity on this I might here mention the effects which this has side of that expectation, or convert what he should upon alĩ the faculties of the mind, by keeping the get above it to nobler uses than his own pleasures understanding clear, the imagination untroubled, or necessities. This temper of mind would exempt and refining those spirits which are necessary for the a man from an ignorant envy of restless men above proper exertion of our intellectual faculties, during him, and a more inexcusable contempt of happy the present laws of union between soul and body. It men below him. This would be sailing by some is to a neglect in this particular that we must ascribe compass, livicg with some design ; but to be eter- the spleen, which is so frequent in men of studious nally bewildered in prospects of future gain, and and sedentary tempers, as well as the vapours, to

which those of the other sex are so often subject. Viz, the land tax.

Had not exercise been absolutely necessary for † Hence, ye profane, I hate ye all,

our well-being, nature would not have made the Both the great vulgar and the small

body so proper for it, by giving such an activity to Cowley's Paraphr. of HORACE, 3 Od. i. the limbs, and such a p'ianey to every part as ae

cessarily produce those compressions, extensions, and it pleases me the more because it does every contortions, dilations, and all other kinds of motions thing that I require of it in the most profound silence. that are necessary for the preservation of such a My landlady and her daughters are so well acsystem of tubes and glands as has been before men- quainted with my hours of exercise, that they never tioned. And that we might not want inducements come into my room to disturb me whilst I am ringing. to engage us in such an exercise of the body as is When I was some years younger than I am at preproper for its welfare, it is so ordered that nothing sent. I used to employ myself in a more laborious valuable can be procured without it. Not to men- diversion, which I learned from a Latin treatise of tion riches and honour, even food and raiment are exercises that is written with great erudition :* it is Dot to be come at without the toil of the hands and there called the fighting with a man's own shadow, sweat of the brows. Providence furnishes materials, and consists in the brandishing of two short sticks but expects that we should work them up ourselves. grasped in each hand, and loaden with plugs of lead The earth must be laboured before it gives its in- at either end. This opens the chest, exercises the crease; and when it is forced into its several pro- limbs, and gives a man all the pleasure of boxing, ducts, how many hands must they pass through without the blows. I could wish that several learned before they are fit for use ! Manufactures, trade, men would lay out that time which they employ in and agriculture, naturally employ more than nine-controversies and disputes about nothing, in this teen parts of the species in twenty; and as for those method of fighting with their own shadows. It who are not obliged to labour, by the condition in might conduce very much to evaporate the spleen, wbich they are born, they are more miserable than which makes them uneasy to the public as well as to the rest of mankind, unless they indulge themselves themselves. in that voluntary labour which goes by the name To conclude, as I am a compound of soul and body, of exercise.

I consider myself as obliged to a double scheme of My friend Sir Roger has been an indefatigable duties; and think I have not fulfilled the business of man in business of this kind, and has hung several the day when I do not thus employ the one in labour parts of his house with the trophies of his former and exercise, as well as the other in study and conLabours. The walls of his great ball are covered templation. with the horns of several kinds of deer that he has killed in the chase, which he thinks the most valuable furniture of his house, as they afford him fre

No. 116.] FRIDAY, JULY 13, 1711. quent topics of discourse, and shew that he has not

Vocat ingenti clamore Cithærori, been idle. At the lower end of the hall is a large Taygetique canes. Virg. Georg. iii. 43. otter's skin stuffed with bay, which his mother or- The echoing hills and chiding hounds invite. dered to be hung up in that manner, and the knight

Those who have searched into human nature ob looks upon it with great satisfaction, because it seems he was but nine years old when his dog killed serve that nothing so much shows the nobleness of him. A little room adjoining to the hall is a kind the soul, as that its felicity consists in action. Every of arsenal filled with guns of several sizes and in- man has such an active principle in him, that he ventions, with which the knight has made great whatever place or state of life he is posted. I have

will find out something to employ himself upon, in havoc in the woods, and destroyed many thousands doors are patehed with noses that belonged to foxes he amused himself in scattering a few small pins of pheasants, partridges, and woodcocks. His stable heard of a gentleman who was under close confine

ment in the Bastile seven years, during which time of the knight's own hunting down. Sir Roger about his chamber, gathering them up again, and shewed me one of them that for distinction sake has a brass nail struck throngh it, which cost him about placing them in different figures on the arm of a fifteen hours riding, carried him through half a dozen great chair. He often told his friends afterward, counties, killed bim a brace of geldings, and

lost that unless he had found out this piece of exercise, he above half bis dogs. This the knight looks

upon as

verily believed he should have lost his senses. one of the greatest exploits of his life. The per- readers that Sir Roger, with whose character I hope

After what has been said, I need not inform my verse widow, whom I have given some account of, was the death of several foxes; for Sir Roger has they are at present pretty well acquainted, has in his told me, that in the course of his amours he patched youth gone

through the whole course of those rural the western door of his stable. Whenever the widow | diversions which the country abounds in; and which was cruel, the foxes were sure to pay for it. In pro industry a man may observe here in a far greater

seem to be extremely well suited to that laborious portion as his passion for the widow abated and old degree than in towns and cities. I have before age came on, he left off fox-hunting; but a bare is hinted at some of my friend's exploits : he has in his not yet safe that sits within ten miles of his house. There is no kind of exercise which I would so

youthful days taken forty coveys of partridges in a recommend to my readers of both sexes as this of season; and tired many a salmon with a line cunriding, as there is none wbich so much conduces to sisting of but a single hair. The constant thanks health, and is every way accommodated to the body, tended him on account of his remarkable enmity to

and good wishes of the neighbourhood always alaccording to the idea which I have given of it

. Doctor Sydenham is very lavish in its praises ; and wards foxes; having destroyed more of those vermin if the English reader would see the mechanical in one year, than it was thought the whole country efects of it described at length, he may find them in could have produced. Indeed the knight does not a book published not many years since, under the scruple to own among his most intimate friends, title of Medicina Gymnastica.* For my own part, has secretly sent for great numbers of them out of

that in order to establish his reputation this way, he when I am in town, for want of these opportunities, other counties, which he used to turn loose about the I exercise myself an hour every morning upon a dumb bell that is placed in a corner of my room,