of hard usage-And yet I ought not to complain; nor will I, till farther information.

Besides Ranelagh and Vauxhall, I have been at Mrs Cornely's assembly, which, for the rooms, the company, the dresses, and decorations, surpasses all description; but as I have no great turn for cardplaying, I have not yet entered thoroughly into the spirit of the place: Indeed, I am still such a country hoyden, that I could hardly find patience to be put in a condition to appear, yet I was not above six hours under the hands of the hair-dresser, who stuffed my head with as much black wool as would have made a quilted petticoat; and, after all, it was the smallest head in the assembly, except my aunt's-She, to be sure, was so particular with her rumpt gown and petticoat, her scanty curls, her lappet-head, deep triple ruffles, and high stays, that every body looked at her with surprise; some whispered, and some tittered; and Lady Griskin, by whom we were introduced, flatly told her, she was twenty good years behind the fashion.

Lady Griskin is a person of fashion, to whom we have the honour to be related. She keeps a small rout at her own house, never exceeding ten or a dozen card-tables, but these are frequented by the best company in town. She has been so obliging as to introduce my aunt and me to some of her particular friends of quality, who treat us with the most familiar good humour. We have once dined with

her, and she takes the trouble to direct us in all our motions. I am so happy as to have gained her good will to such a degree, that she sometimes adjusts my cap with her own hands; and she has given me a kind invitation to stay with her all the winter. This, however, has been cruelly declined by my uncle, who seems to be (I know not how) prejudiced against the good lady; for, whenever my aunt happens to speak in her commendation, I observe that he makes wry faces, though he says nothing. Perhaps, indeed, these grimaces may be the effect of pain arising from the gout and rheumatism, with which he is sadly distressed. To me, however, he is always goodnatured and generous, even beyond my wish. Since we came hither, he has made me a present of a suit of clothes, with trimmings and laces, which cost more money than I shall mention; and Jery, at his desire, has given me my mother's diamond drops, which are ordered to be set anew; so that it won't be his fault if I do not glitter among the stars of the fourth or fifth magnitude. I wish my weak head may not grow giddy in the midst of all this gallantry and dissipation; though, as yet, I can safely declare, I could gladly give up all these tumultuous pleasures for country solitude, and a happy retreat with those we love; among whom my dear Willis will always possess the first place in the breast of her ever affectionate

LYDIA MELFORD.

LONDON, MAY 31.

TO SIR WATKIN PHILLIPS, BART.

OF JESUS COLLEGE, OXON.

Dear Phillips,-I send you this letter, franked by our old friend Barton; who is as much altered as it was possible for a man of his kidney to be. Instead of the careless indolent sloven we knew at Oxford, I found him a busy talkative politician; a petit-maitre in his dress, and a ceremonious courtier in his manners. He has not gall enough in his constitution to be inflamed with the rancour of party, so as to deal in scurrilous invectives; but, since he obtained a place, he is become a warm partizan of the ministry, and sees every thing through such an exaggerating medium, as to me, who am happily of no party, is altogether incomprehensible. Without all doubt, the fumes of faction not only disturb the faculty of reason, but also pervert the organs of sense; and I would lay an hundred guineas to ten, that, if Barton on one side, and the most conscientious patriot in the opposition on the other, were to draw, upon honour, the picture of the kor m -, you and I, who are still uninfected and unbiassed, would find both painters equally distant from the truth. One thing, however, must be allowed for the honour of Bartonhe never breaks out into illiberal abuse, far less endeavours, by infamous calumnies, to blast the moral character of any individual on the other side.

Ever since we came hither, he has been remarkably assiduous in his attentions to our family; an attention which, in a man of his indolence and avocations, I should have thought altogether odd, and even unnatural, had I not perceived that sister Liddy has made some impression upon his heart. I can't say that I have any objection to his trying his fortune in this pursuit; if an opulent estate and a great stock of good-nature are sufficient qualifications in a husband to render the marriage-state happy for life, she may be happy with Barton: But I imagine there is something else required to engage and secure the affection of a woman of sense and delicacy-something which nature has denied our friend; Liddy seems to be of the same opinion. When he addresses himself to her in discourse, she seems to listen with reluctance, and industriously avoids all particular communication; but in proportion to her coyness, our aunt is coming. Mrs Tabitha goes more than half way to meet his advances; she mistakes, or affects to mistake, the meaning of his courtesy, which is rather formal and fulsome; she returns his compliments with hyperbolical interest; she persecutes him with her civilities at table; she appeals to him for ever in conversation; she sighs, and flirts, and ogles, and, by her hideous affectation and impertinence, drives the poor courtier to the very extremity of his complaisance. In short, she seems to have undertaken the siege of Barton's heart, and

carries on her approaches in such a desperate manner, that I don't know whether he will not be obliged to capitulate. In the mean time, his aversion to this inamorata struggling with his acquired affability, and his natural fear of giving offence, throws him into a kind of distress which is extremely ridiculous.

Two days ago he persuaded my uncle and me to accompany him to St James's, where he undertook to make us acquainted with the persons of all the great men in the kingdom; and, indeed, there was a great assemblage of distinguished characters, for it was a high festival at court. Our conductor performed his promise with great punctuality. He pointed out almost every individual of both sexes, and generally introduced them to our notice with a flourish of panegyric: Seeing the king approach, "There comes," said he, "the most amiable sovereign that ever swayed the sceptre of England-the delicia humani generis—Augustus in patronizing merit; Titus Vespasian in generosity; Trajan in beneficence; and Marcus Aurelius in philosophy."-"A very honest, kind-hearted gentleman," added my uncle; "he's too good for the times. A king of England should have a spice of the devil in his composition." Barton then turning to the Duke of C, proceeded-"You know the Duke; that illustrious hero, who trod rebellion under his feet, and secured us in possession of every thing we ought to hold dear as Englishmen and Christians. Mark what an eye, how penetrating, yet pacific! what