a friend of mine, from the highlands, one of the politest men in the world; but that's a secret." We waited some time for Mrs. Tibbs' arrival, during which interval I had a full opportunity of surveying the chamber and all its furniture; which consisted of four chairs with old wrought bottoms, that he assured me were his wife's embroidery; a square table that had been once japanned, a cradle in one corner, a lumbering cabinet in the other; a broken shepherdess, and a mandarin without a head, were stuck over the chimney; and round the walls several paltry, unframed pictures, which, he observed, were all his own drawing. "What do you think, sir, of that head in a corner, done in the manner of Grisoni? There's the true keeping in it; it's my own face, and though there happens to be no likeness, a countess offered me an hundred for its fellow. I refused her, for, hang it, that would be mechanical, you know." The wife at last made her appearance, at once a slattern and a coquette; much emaciated, but still carrying the remains of beauty. She made twenty apologies for being seen in such odious dishabille, but hoped to be excused, as she had stayed out all night at the gardens with the countess, who was excessively fond of the horns. "And, indeed, my dear," added she, turning to her husband, "his lordship drank your health in a bumper." "Poor Jack," cries he, "a dear good-natured creature, I know he loves me; but I hope, my dear, you have given orders for dinner; you need make no great preparations neither, there are but three of us, something elegant, and little will do; a turbot, an ortolan, or a—” "Or what do you think, my dear," interrupts the wife, "of a nice pretty bit of ox-cheek, piping hot, and dressed with a little of my own sauce."-"The very thing," replies he, "it will eat best with some smart bottled beer: but be sure to let's have the sauce his grace was so fond of. I hate your immense loads of meat, that is country all over; extreme disgusting to those who are in the least acquainted with high life." By this time my curiosity began to abate, and my appetite to increase; the company of fools may at first make us smile, but at last never fails of rendering us melancholy; I therefore pretended to recollect a prior engagement, and after having shown my respect to the house, according to the fashion of the English, by giving the old servant a piece of money at the door, I took my leave; Mr. Tibbs assuring me that dinner, if I stayed, would be ready at least in less than two hours. Churchill devoted himself principally to satirical attacks upon actors and the stage as a whole. His Rosciad created quite a panic among the disciples of Thespis, even the mighty Garrick courting this terrible censor morum. His own morals were but indifferent. SOME of my friends (for friends I must suppose All, who, not daring to appear my foes, Feign great good-will, and not more full of spite I feel, alas! this melancholy truth, Thanks to each cordial, each advising friend, For twice six moons (let winds, turn'd porters, bear Such as they are, my thoughts in measure flow. But ere I write one sentence, verse creeps in, Far from me now be ev'ry tuneful Maid, Absent, but only absent for a time, Let them caress some dearer son of rhyme; Without suspicion, play the fool with wits, Let them, tho' modest, Gray more modest woo; Let them with Browne contrive, to vulgar trick, Some old French piece, that he may steal and live; Thus, or in any better way they please, With these great men, or with great men like these, Let them their appetite for laughter feed; I on my Journey all alone proceed. If fashionable grown, and fond of pow'r, Let them with Ogilvie spin out a tale Of rueful length; Let them plain things obscure, 1 See The School for Lovers, by Mr. Whitehead, taken from Fontenelle. 9 See The Cure of Saul, by Dr. Browne. Make poorer still by jargon most uncouth; Let them with Armstrong, taking leave of Sense, Or con the pages of his gaping Day, She draws his curtain, and looks Comfort dead, |