on our departing before noon, that we might reach this town before it fhould be dark. In the mean time, Lady Bulford conducted us into the garden to see a fish pond juft finifhed, which Mr Bramble cenfured as being too near the parlour, where the knight now fat by himself, dozing in an elbow chair after the fatigues of his morning achievement-In this fituation he reclined, with his feet wrapped in flannel, and fupported in a line with his body, when the door flying open with a violent shock, Lieutenant Lifmahago rushed into the room, with hor. ror in his looks, exclaiming, "A mad dog! a mad dog!" and throwing up the window fafh, leaped into the garden. Sir Thomas, waked by this tremendous exclamation, started up, and, forgetting his gout, followed the lieutenant's example by a kind of inftinctive impulfe. He not only bolted through the window like an arrow from a bow, but ran up to his middle in the pond before he gave the leaft fign of recollection. Then the captain began to bawl, "Lord have mercy upon us! pray take care of the gentleman!-for God's fake mind your footing, my dear boy!-get warm blankets-comfort his poor carcafe-warm the bed in the green room."

LADY BULFORD was thunderftruck at this pheno menon, and the reft of the company gazed in filent aftonishment, while the fervants haftened to affift their mafter, who fuffered himself to be carried back into the parlour without fpeaking a word. Being instantly accommodated with dry cloaths and flannels, comforted with a cordial, and replaced in fatu quo, one of the maids was ordered to chafe his lower extremities, an operation in confequence of which his fenfes feemed to return, and his good humour to revive-As we had followed him into the room, he looked at every individual in his turn, with a certain ludicrous expreffion in his countenance, but fixed his eye in particular upon Lifmahago, who prefented him with a pinch of fnuff; and when he took it in filence, "Sir Thomas Bulford (faid he), I am much obliged to you for all your favours, and fome of them I have endeavoured to repay in your own coin." "Give me thy hand (cried the baronet); thou haft indeed paid me feet and lot; and even left a balance

in my hands, for which, in prefence of this company, I promise to be accountable.' So faying, he laughed very heartily, and even feemed to enjoy the retaliation which had been exacted at his own expence; but Lady Bulford looked very grave; and, in all probability, thought the lieutenant had carried his refentment too far, confidering that her husband was valetudinary-but, according to the proverb, he that will play at bowls must expect to meet with rubbers.

I HAVE feen a tame bear, very diverting when properly managed, become a very dangerous wild beast when teazed for the entertainment of the fpectatorsAs for Lifmahago, he feemed to think the fright and the cold bath would have a good effect upon his patient's conftitution; but the doctor hinted fome apprehenfion that the gouty matter might, by such a sudden fhock, be repelled from the extremities, and thrown upon fome of the more vital parts of the machine. I fhould be very forry to fee this prognoftic verified upon our facetious landlord, who told Mrs Tabitha at part-' ing, that he hoped fhe would remember him in the diftribution of the bride's favours, as he had taken fo much pains to put the captain's parts and mettle to the proof. After all, I am afraid our fquire will appear to be the greatest sufferer by the baronet's wit; for his conftitution is by no means calculated for night alarmsHe has yawned and shivered all day, and gone to bed without fupper; fo that, as we have got into good quarters, I imagine we shall make a halt to-morrow; in which case, you will have at least one day's respite from the perfecution of

Oct. 3.

J. MELFORD.

To Mrs MARY JONES, at Brambletonball.

DEAR MARY,

M

ISS LIDDY is fo good as to unclofe me in a ki

ver as fur as Glofter, and the carrier will bring it to hand-God fend us all fafe to Monmouthfhire, for I'm quite jaded with rambling-Tis a true faying, live and learn-O woman, what chuckling and changing have I feen!-Well, there's nothing fartin in this world-Who would have thought that miftrifs, after all the pains taken for the good of her prufias fole, would go for to throw away her poor body? that the would caft the heys of infection upon fuch a carrying crow as Lafhmyhago! as old as Matthew fullin, as dry as a red herring, and as pore as a ftarved veezel-0, Molly! hadst thou feen him come down the ladder, in a fhurt fo fcanty, that it could not kiver his nakedness! The young fquire called him Dunquickfet; but he looked for all the world like Cradoc ap-Morgan, the ould tinker that fuffered at Abergany for stealing of kettle. Then he's a profane fcuffle, and, as Mr Clinker fays, no better than an impfiddle, continually playing upon the pyebill and the new burth. I doubt he has as little manners as money; for he can't fay a civil word, much more make me a prefent of a pair of gloves for good will; but he looks as if he wanted to be very forewood and familiar. O! that ever a gentlewoman of years and difcretion fhould tare her air, and cry and difporridge herself for fuch a nub-jack! as the fong goes

I vow flue wou'd fain have a burd "That bids fuch a price for an owl.”

But, for fartin, he must have dealt with fome Scotch mufician to bring her to this pafs-As for me, I put my truft in the Lord; and I have got a flice of witchelin fowed in the gathers of my under petticoat; and Mr Clinker affures me, that, by the new light of greafe, I may defy the devil and all his works-But I nofe what I nofe-If miftrifs fhould take up with Lafhmyha

go, this is no farvice for me. Thank God, there's not want of places; and if it wan't for one thing, I would -but, no matter. Madam Baynar's woman has twenty good pounds a-year and parquifites; and dreffes like a parfon of diftinkfon. I dined with her and the valey de fhambles, with bags and golden jackets; but there was nothing kimfittable to eat, being as how they live upon board; and having nothing but a pifs of could cuddling tart and fome blamangey, I was tuck with the cullick, and a murcy it was that miftrifs had her viol of affings in the cox.

BUT, as I was faying, I think for fartin this match will go forewood; for things are come to a creefus; and I have feen with my own heys, fuch fmugglingBut I fcorn for to exclofe the fecrets of the family; and if it wance comes to marrying, who nofe but the frolic may go round-I believes as how Mifs Liddy would have no reverfion if her fwan would appear; and you would be furprifed, Molly, to receive a bride's fever from your humble farvant-but this is all fuppofitory, dear girl; and I have fullenly promifed to Mr Clinker, that neither man, woman, nor child, fhall no that arrow faid a civil thing to me in the way of infection-I hopes to drink your health at Brambletonhall, in a horn of October, before the month be out. Pray let my bed be turned once a-day, and the windore opened, while the weather is dry; and burn a few billets with fome brush in the footman's garret, and see their mattrafh be dry as a bone; for both our gentlemen have got a fad could by lying in damp fhits at Sir Tummus Ballfart's. No more, at prefent, but my farvice to Saul and the reft of our fellow-farvants, being

To Miss LETITIA WILLIS, at Gloucefter.

MY DEAR LETTY,

TH

HIS method of writing to you from time to time, without any hopes of an answer, affords me, I own, fome ease and fatisfaction in the midst of my difquiet, as it in fome degree lightens the burden of affliction; but it is at beft a very imperfect enjoyment of friendship, because it admits of no return' of confidence and good counfel-I would give the whole world to have your company for a fingle day. I am heartily tired of this itinerant way of life. I am quite dizzy with a perpetual fucceffion of objects. Befides, it is impoffible to travel fuch a length of way, without being expofed to inconveniencies, dangers, and disagreeable accidents, which prove very grievous to a poor creature of weak nerves like me, and make me pay very dear for the gratification of my curiofity.

NATURE never intended me for the bufy world-I long for repofe and folitude, where I can enjoy that difinterefted friendship which is not to be found among crowds, and indulge those pleasing reveries that fhun the hurry and tumult of fashionable fociety. Unexperienced as I am in the commerce of life, I have seen enough to give me a disgust to the generality of those who carry it on-There is fuch malice, treachery, and diffimulation, even among profeffed friends and intimate companions, as cannot fail to ftrike a virtuous mind with horror; and when vice quits the stage for a moment, her place is immediately occupied by folly, which is often too ferious to excite any thing but compaffion. Perhaps I ought to be filent on the foibles of my poor aunt; but with you, my dear Willis, I have no fecrets; and truly, her weakneffes are fuch as cannot be concealed. Since the first moment we arrived at Bath, fhe has been employed constantly in spreading nets for the other fex; and, at length, the has caught a fuperannuated lieutenant, who is in a fair way to makę