there, and was just going back to Westminster.)

If these things are so, and I am sure that you cannot gainsay a syllable of them all, then this consequence follows; that I do not promise myself more pleasure from your company than I shall be sure to find. Then you are my Cousin, in whom I always delighted, and in whom I doubt not that I shall delight, even to my latest hour. But this wicked coach-maker has sunk my spirits. What a miserable thing it is to depend, in any degree for the accomplishment of a wish, and that wish so fervent, on the punctuality of a creature, who I suppose was never punctual in his life! Do tell him, my dear, in order to quicken him, that if he performs his promise, he shall make my coach when I want one, and that if he performs it not, I will most assuredly employ some other man.

The Throckmortons sent a note to invite us to dinner-we went, and a very agreeable day we had. They made no fuss with us, which I was heartily glad to see, for where I give trouble I am sure that I cannot be welcome. Themselves, and their Chaplain, and we, were all the party. After dinner we had much cheerful and pleasant talk, the particulars of which might not perhaps be so entertaining upon paper, therefore, all but one, I will omit, and that I will mention only because it will of itself be sufficient to give you an insight into their opinion on a very important subject—their own religion. I happened to say, that in all professions and trades, mankind affected an air of mystery. Physicians, I observed, in parti

cular,

cular, were objects of that remark, who persist in prescribing in Latin, many times no doubt to the hazard of a patient's life, through the ignorance of an Apothecary. Mr. Throckmorton assented to what I said, and turning to his Chaplain, to my infinite surprize, observed to him, "That is just as absurd as our praying in Latin.” I could have hugged him for his liberality, and freedom from bigotry, but thought it rather more decent to let the matter pass without any visible notice. I therefore heard it with pleasure, and kept my pleasure to myself. The two ladies in the mean time were tête-a-tête in the drawing room. Their conversation turned principally (as I afterwards learned from Mrs. Unwin) on a most delightful topic, viz. myself. In the first place, Mrs. Throckmorton admired my book, from which she quoted by heart more than I could repeat, though I so lately wrote it. In short, my dear, I cannot proceed to relate what she said of the book, and the book's Author, for that abominable modesty that I cannot even yet get rid of. Let it suffice to say, that you, who are disposed to love every body, who speaks kindly of your Cousin, will certainly love Mrs. Throckmorton, when you shall be told what she said of him, and that you will be told is equally certain, because it depends on Mrs. Unwin. It is a very convenient thing to have a Mrs. Unwin, who will tell you many a good and long story for me, that I am not able to tell for myself. I am however not at all in arrears to our neighbours in the matter of admiration and esteem, but the more I know, the more I like them, and have nearly an affection for them

VOL. I.

DD

both

both. I am delighted that the Task has so large a share of the approbation of your sensible Suffolk friend.

I received yesterday, from the General, another Letter of T. S. An unknown auxiliary having started up in my behalf. I believe I shall leave the business of answering to him, having no leisure myself for controversy. He lies very open, to a very effectual reply.

My dearest Cousin, adieu ! I hope to write to you but once more before we meet. But Oh! this Coachmaker, and Oh! this holiday week!

Yours, with impatient desire to see you,

W. C.

LETTER LVIII.

To JOSEPH HILL, Esqr.

Olney, June 9, 1786.

MY DEAR FRIEND,

The little time that I can devote to any

other purpose than that of Poetry, is, as you may suppose, stolen. Homer is urgent. Much is done, but much remains undone, and no school-boy is more attentive to the performance of his daily task than I am. You will therefore excuse me, if at present, I am both unfrequent and short.

The paper tells me that the Chancellor has relapsed, and I am

truly

truly sorry to hear it. The first attack was dangerous, but a second must be more formidable still. It is not probable that I should ever hear from him again, if he survive; yet, of the much that I should have felt for him, had our connection never been interrupted, I still feel much. Every body will feel the loss of a man whose abilities have made him of such general importance.

I correspond again with Colman, and upon the most friendly footing, and find in his instance, and in some others, that an intimate intercourse which has been only casually suspended, not forfeited on either side by outrage, is capable not only of revival, but improvement.

I had a Letter some time since that gave me great pleasure, from your sister Fanny. Such notices from old friends are always pleasant, and of such pleasures I have received many lately. They refresh the remembrance of early days, and make me young again. The noble institution of the Nonsense Club will be forgotten, when we are gone, who composed it; but I often think of your most heroic line, written at one of our meetings, and especially think of it when I am translating Homer.

"To whom replied the Devil yard-long-tail'd."

There never was any thing more truly Grecian, than that triple

epithet, and were it possible to introduce it into either Iliad or Odyssey, I should certainly steal it.

I am now flushed with expectation of Lady Hesketh, who spends the summer with us. We hope to see her next week. We have found admirable lodgings both for her, and her suite, and a Quaker in this town, still more admirable than they, who, as, if he loved her as much as I do, furnishes them for her with real elegance.

W. C.

LETTER LIX.

To JOSEPH HILL, Esqr.

Olney, June 9, 1786.

My dear Cousin's arrival, has, as it could

not fail to do, made us happier than we ever were at Olney. Her great kindness in giving us her company, is a cordial that I shall feel the effect of, not only while she is here, but while I live.

Olney will not be much longer the place of our habitation. At a village, two miles distant, we have hired a house of Mr. Throckmorton, a much better than we occupy at present, and yet not more expensive. It is situated very near to our most agreeable landlord, and his agreeable pleasure grounds. In him, and in his wife, we shall find such companions as will always make the time

pass