owned, that it confifted chiefly of the opima fpolia taken in battle. What he felected for his wedding fuit, was a tarnished white cloth, faced with blue velvet, embroidered with filver; but he valued himself most upon a tye-periwig, in which he had made his first appearance as a lawyer about thirty years ago. This machine had been in buckle ever fince, and now all the fervants in the family were employed to frizz it out for the ceremony, which was yesterday celebrated at the parish church. George Dennison and his bride were distinguifhed by nothing extraordinary in their apparel. His eyes lightned with eagernefs and joy, and the trembled with coynefs and confufion. My uncle gave her away, and her friend Willis fupported her during the ceremony.

BUT my aunt and her paramqur took the pas, and formed indeed fuch a pair of originals, as, I believe, all England could not parallel. She was dreffed in the style of 1739; and, the day being cold, put on a mantle of green velvet laced with gold: But this was taken off by the bridegroom, who threw over her fhoulders a fur cloak of American fables, valued at fourfcore guineas, a prefent equally agreeable and unexpected. Thus accoutred, the was led up to the altar by Mr Dennifon, who did the office of her father. Lifmahago advanced in the military step, with his French coat reaching no farther than the middle of his thigh, his campaign wig that furpaffes all defcription, and a languifhing leer upon his countenance, in which there feemed to be something arch and ironical. The ring which he put upon her finger, he had concealed till the moment it was used. He now produced it with an air of felf-complacency. It was a curious antique, fet with rofe diamonds: He told us afterwards it had been in his family two hundred years, and was a prefent from his grandmother,, Thefe circumftances agreeably flattered the pride of our aunt Tabitha, which had already found uncommon gratification in the captain's generofity; for he had, in the morning, prefented my uncle with a fine bear's skin, and a Spanish fowling-piece, and me with a cafe of pistols curiously mounted with filver. At the fame time, he gave Mrs Jenkins an Indian purfe, made of filk

grafs, containing twenty crown pieces. You must know, this young lady, with the affiftance of Mr Lloyd, formed the third couple who yesterday facrificed to Hymen. I wrote you in my laft, that he had recourse to my mediation, which I employed fuccessfully with my uncle; but Mrs Tabitha held out till the love-fick Jenkins had two fits of the mother; then the relented, and those two cooing turtles were caged for life-Our aunt made an effort of generofity in furnishing the bride with her fuperfluities of cloaths and linen, and her example was followed by my fifter; Nor did Mr Bramble and I neglect her on this occafion. It was indeed a day of peace-offering-Mr Dennifon infifted upon Liddy's ac cepting two bank-notes of one hundred pounds each, as pocket-money; and his lady gave her a diamond necklace of double that value. There was, befides, a mutual exchange of tokens among the individuals of the two families thus happily united.

As George Dennifon and his partner were judged improper objects of mirth, Jack Wilfon had refolved to execute fome jokes on Lifmahago, and, after fupper, began to ply him with bumpers, when the ladies had retired; but the captain perceiving his drift, begged for quarter, alleging that the adventure in which he had engaged was a very serious matter; and that it would be more the part of a good Chriftian to pray that he might be strengthened, than to impede his endeavours to finish the adventure. He was fpared accordingly, and permitted to afcend the nuptial couch with all his fenfes about him, There he and his confort fat in ftate, like Saturn and Cybele, while the benediction poffet was drank; and a cake being broken over the head of Mrs Tabitha Lifmahago, the fragments were diftributed among the by-ftanders, according to the cuftom of the ancient Britons, on the fuppofition that every perfon who ate of this hallowed cake should that night have a vifion of the man or woman whom Heaven defigned fhould be his or her wedded mate.

THE weight of Wilfon's waggery fell upon honeft Humphry and his spouse, who were bedded in an upper room, with the ufual ceremony of throwing the stocking

This being performed, and the company withdrawn,

2 fort of catterwauling enfued, when Jack found means to introduce a real cat fhod with walnut-fhells, which galloping along the boards, made fuch a dreadful noise as effectually difcompofed our lovers-Winifred fcreamed aloud, and shrunk under the bed-cloaths—Mr Lloyd, believing that Satan was come to buffet him in propria perfona, laid afide all carnal thoughts, and began to pray aloud with great fervency.-At length, the poor animal being more afraid than either, leaped into the bed, and meauled with the most piteous exclamation. Lloyd, thus informed of the nature of the annoyance, rose and set the door wide open, so that this troublesome visitant retreated with great expedition; then fecuring himself, by means of a double bolt, from a second intrusion, he was left to enjoy his good fortune without disturbance.

IF one may judge from the looks of the parties, they are all very well fatisfied with what has paffed.-George Dennifon and his wife are too delicate to exhibit any ftrong marked figns of their mutual fatisfaction, but their eyes are fufficiently expreffive.-Mrs Tabitha Lifmahago is rather fulfome in fignifying her approbation of the captain's love; while his deportment is the very pink of gallantry.-He fighs, and ogles, and languishes at this amiable object; he kiffes her hand, mutters ejaculations of rapture, and fings tender airs; and, no doubt, laughs internally at her folly in believing him fincere.In order to fhew how little his vigour was impaired by the fatigues of the preceding day, he this morning danced a Highland faraband over a naked back-sword, and leaped fo high, that I believe he would make no contemptible figure as a vaulter at Sadler's Wells-Mr Matthew Lloyd, when asked how he relishes his bargain, throws up his eyes, crying, " For what we have received, Lord make us thankful: Amen."-His help-mate giggles, and holds her hand before her eyes, affecting to be afhamed of having been in bed with a man.—Thus all thefe widgeons enjoy the novelty of their fituation; but perhaps their note will be changed, when they are better acquainted with the nature of the decoy.

As Mrs Willis cannot be perfuaded to stay, and Liddy is engaged by promife to accompany her daughter back to Gloucefter, I fancy there will be a general migration

from hence, and that most of us will spend the Chriftmas holidays at Bath; in which cafe, I fhall certainly find an opportunity to beat up your quarters.-By this time, I fuppofe, you are fick of alma mater, and even ready to execute that fcheme of peregrination which was last year concerted between you and Your affectionate

Nov. 8.

To Dr LEWIS.

J. MELFORD.

DEAR DOCTOR,

M

Y niece Liddy is now happily fettled for life; and Captain Lifmahago has taken Tabby off my hands; fo that I have nothing farther to do, but to comfort my friend Baynard, and provide for my for Lloyd, who is also fairly joined to Mrs Winifred Jenkins. You are an excellent genius at hints. Dr Arbuthnot was but a type of Dr Lewis in that respect→→ What you obferve of the vestry-clerk deferves confideration-I make no doubt but Matthew Lloyd is well enough qualified for the office; but, at prefent, you muft find room for him in the house. His incorruptible honesty and indefatigable care will be ferviceable in fuperintending the economy of my farm, though I don't mean that he fhall interfere with Barnes, of whom I have no cause to complain--I am juft returned with Baynard from a fecond trip to his houfe, where every thing is regulated to his fatisfaction. He could not, however, review the apartments without tears and lamentation, fo that he is not yet in a condition to be left alone; therefore, I will not part with him till the fpring, when he intends to plunge into the avocations of husbandry, which will at once employ and amufe his attention.— Charles Dennifon has promised to stay with him a fortnight, to fet him fairly afloat in his improvements; and Jack Wilfon will fee him from time to time; befides, he has a few friends in the country, whom his new plan of life will not exclude from his fociety. In lefs than a

year, I make no doubt but he will find himself perfectly at eafe, both in his mind and body, for the one had dangerously affected the other; and I fhall enjoy the exquifite pleasure of seeing my friend rescued from mifery and contempt.

MRS WILLIS being determined to return with her daughter, in a few days, to Gloucester, our plan has undergone fome alteration. Jery has perfuaded his brother-in-law to carry his wife to Bath; and I believe his parents will accompany him thither.-For my part, I have no intention to take that route.-It must be fomething very extraordinary that will induce me either to revifit Bath or London. My fifter and her husband, Baynard and I, will take leave of them at Gloucester, and make the best of our way to Brambletonhall, where I defire you will prepare a good chine and turkey for our Christmas dinner.-You must alfo employ your medical skill in defending me from the attacks of the gout, that I may be in good cafe to receive the reft of our company, who promise to vifit us in their return from the Bath. As I have laid in a confiderable ftock of health, it is to be hoped you will not have much trouble with me in the way of phyfic, but I intend to work you on the fide of exercise. I have got an excellent fowling-piece from Mr Lifmahago, who is a keen sportsman, and we fhall take the heath in all weathers.-That this fcheme of life may be profecuted the more effectually, I intend to renounce all fedentary amusements, particularly that of writing long letters; a refolution, which, had I taken it fooner, might have faved you the trouble which you have lately taken in reading the tedious epiftles of MATT. BRAMBLE.

November 14