just now voided a ftone to prove him fubject to human infirmities The utmost weight of affliction from minifterial power and popular hatred, were almoft worth bearing, for the glory of fuch a dauntless conduct as he has fhewn under it.

You may foon have your wish, to enjoy the gallant fights of armies, incampments, ftandards waving over your brother's corn-fields, and the pretty windings of the Thames ftained with the blood of men. Your barbarity, which have heard fo long exclaim'd against in town and country, may have its fill of deftruction. I would not add one circumftance ufual in all defcriptions of calamity, that of the many rapes committed, or to be committed upon those unfortunate women that delight in war. But God forgive me-in this martial age, if I could, I would buy a regiment for your fake and Mrs. P's and fome others, whom, I have caufe to fear, no fair means will prevail upon.

Thofe eyes, that care not how much mifchief is done, or how great flaughter committed, fo they have but a fine show; thofe very female eyes will be infinitely delighted with the camp which is fpeedily to be formed in Hyde-park. The tents are carried thither this morning, new regiments with new cloaths and furniture (far exceeding the late cloth and linen defigned by his Grace for the foldiery.) The fight of fo many gallant fellows, with all the pomp and glare of war yet undeform'd by battles, thofe fcenes which England has for many years only beheld on flages, may poffibly invite your curiofity to this place.

By our latest account from Duke-ftreet, Westminster, the converfion of T. G. Efq; is reported in a manner fomewhat more particular. That upon the seizure of his Flanders mares, he feemed more than ordinarily difturbed for fome hours, fent for his ghostly father, and

refolved to bear his lofs like a Chriftinn; till about the hours of seven or eight, the coaches and horfes of feveral of the Nobility paffing by his window towards Hyde-park, he could no longer endure the difappointment, but inftantly went out, took the oath of Abjuration, and recover'd his dear horfes, which carried him in triumph to the Ring. The poor diftreffed Roman Catholics, now unhors'd and uncharioted, cry out with the Pfalmift, Some in Chariots and fome on Horfes, but we will invocate the name of the Lord.

I am, etc.

LETTER XII.

THE weather is too fine for any one that loves the country to leave it at this season; when every smile of the fun, like the fmile of a coy lady, is as dear as it is uncommon: and I am so much in the taste of rural Pleafures, I had rather fee the fun than any thing he can fhew me, except yourself. I defpife every fine thing in town, not excepting your new gown, till I fee you dress'd in it, (which by the way I don't like the better for the red, the leaves, I think, are very pretty,) I am growing fit, I hope, for a better world, of which the light of the fun is but a shadow: for I doubt not but God's works here, are what come nearest to his works there; and that a true relish of the beauties of nature is the most eafy preparation and gentleft tranfition to an enjoyment of those of heaven: as on the contrary, a true town life of hurry, confufion, noise, flander, and diffention, is a fort of apprenticeship to hell and its furies. I'm endeavouring to put my mind into as quiet a fituation as I can, to be ready to receive that ftroke, which, I believe, is coming upon me,

and have fully refign'd myfelf to yield to it. The feparation of my foul and body is what I could think of with lefs pain; for I am very fure he that made it will take care of it, and in whatever state he pleafes it fhall be, that state must be right: But I cannot think without tears of being feparated from my friends, when their condition is fo doubtful, that they may want even fuch afiftance as mine. Sure, it is more merciful to take from us after death all memory of what we lov'd or pursued here: for elfe what a torment would it be to a fpirit, ftill to love thofe creatures it is quite divided from? Unlefs we fuppofe, that in a more exalted life, all that we efteemed in this imperfect state will affect us no more, than what we lov'd in our infancy concerns us now.

This is an odd way of writing to a lady, and, I'm fenfible, would throw me under a great deal of ridicule, were you to show this letter among your acquaintance. But perhaps you may not yourself be quite a ftranger to this way of thinking. I heartily with your life may be fo long and so happy, as never to let you think quite fo far as I am now led to do; but, to think a little towards it, is what will make you the happier, and the easier at all times.

There are no pleasures or amufements that I don't wish you, and therefore 'tis no small grief to me that I fhall for the future be less able to partake with you in them. But let Fortune do her worft, whatever the makes us lofe, as long as the never makes us lose our honesty and our independance; I defpife from my heart whoever parts with the first, and I pity from my foul whoever quits the latter.

I am griev'd at Mr. G's condition in this laft refpect of dependance. He has Merit, Good-nature, and Integrity, three qualities, that I fear are too often

loft upon great men; or at least are not all three a match for that one which is oppos'd to them, Flattery. I wish it may not foon or late difplace him from the favour he now pofieffes, and feems to like. I'm fure his late action deferves eternal favour and esteem: Lord Bathurst was charm'd with it, who came hither to fee me before his journey. He afk'd and spoke very particularly of you. To-morrow Mr. Fortescue comes to me from London about B's fuit in forma pauperis. That poor man looks ftarved: he tells me you have been charitable to him. Indeed 'tis wanted: the poor creature can scarce ftir or fpeak; and I apprehend he will die, just as he gets fomething to live upon. Adieu.

THIS

LETTER XIII.

HIS is a day of wishes for you, and I hope you have long known, there is not one good one which I do not form in your behalf. Every year that passes, I wish fome things more for my friends, and fome things lefs for myself. Yet were I to tell you what I wish for you in particular, it would be only to repeat in profe, what I told you last year in rhyme (fo fincere is my poetry :) I can only add, that as I then wish'd you a friend, I now wish that friend were Mrs.

Abfence is a fhort kind of death; and in either, one can only wish, that the friends we are separated from, may be happy with those that are left them. I am therefore very folicitous that you may pafs much agreeable time together: I am forry to say I envy, you no other companion: tho' I hope you have others on her Birth-day.

•To Mrs.

"O be thou bleft with all that Heav'n can fend,

"Long health, long youth, long pleasure, and a friend”.

that you like; and I am always pleas'd in that hope, when it is not attended with any fears on your own

account.

I was troubled to leave you both, just as I fancy'd we should begin to live together in the country. 'Twas a little like dying the moment one had got all one defir'd in this world. Yet I go away with one generous fort of fatisfaction, that what I part with, you are to inherit.

I know you would both be pleas'd to hear fome certain news of a friend departed; to have the adventures of his paffage, and the new regions thro' which he travell'd, defcribed; and, upon the whole, to know, that he is as happy where he now is, as while he liv'd among you. But indeed I (like many a poor unprepar'd foul) have feen nothing I like fo well as what I left: No scenes of Paradife, no happy bowers equal to thofe on the banks of the Thames. Wherever I wander, one reflection ftrikes me; I wish you were as free as I; or at least had a tye as tender, and as rea. fonable as mine, to a relation that as well deserved your conftant thought, and to whom you would be always pull'd back (in such a manner as I am) by the heart-ftring. I have never been well fince I fet out: but don't tell my mother fo; it will trouble her too much: And as probably the fame reason may prevent her fending a true account of her health to me, I muit defire you to acquaint me. I would gladly hear the country air improves your own; but don't flatter me when you are ill, that I may be the better fatisfied when you fay you are well: for these are things in which one may be fincerer to a reasonable friend, than to a fond and partial parent. Adieu.