of his own Times. I was over Head and Ears engaged in the Disputes between Cavaliers, Protefters, Refolutioners, and God knows who, when I received your laft. Though BURNET values himself particularly on private Intelligence, I had a greater Curiofity, and entertained far greater Hopes of Pleasure, in breaking open your Letter; nor was I at all deceived: I think you wrote, if poffible, more agreeably than ufual; it raised my Spirits, and at the fame Time did more than all King CHARLES'S Statefmen could do: fet up an abfolute Monarchy in my Breaft in a Moment, and made you Sovereign there.

Mr. Powys had a Child christened yesterday; it was attended to Church by half a Dozen Coaches, The great Mr. POINTZ was one of the Godfathers, and Mrs. TOWNSHEND, now an Inhabitant of your Parts, the Godmother, by Proxy. Mrs. Powys went out on Pleasure to the laft, and if her Horfes had not been good, and her Coachman dexterous to ply them with the Whip, fhe had been brought to Bed in her Coach, as once before fhe had like to have been at the Play-House

4

Alas!

Alas! for our poor Friend Cos!

Who fhall now fit with Countenance ferene,
The inoffenfive Judge of facred Song,
At once becalm'd with Port and Poetry,
While the great SOMERVILLE attunes his Lays?

As to what you mentioned about your Poem ; you can't think me fuch a Barbarian, as that I should expect you should follow my Advice in every Particular; I rather think you did me an Honour in doing it at all. I know the great Critics have been long endeavouring to be abfolute; but I think it very unreasonable even in them-and I believe you, as well as myfelf, have too much Spirit to fubmit to it. If I can any Ways affiit you, by any little Obfervations, you fhall have my Thoughts, and make use of them at your Pleasure, for I am very fond of that Rule, of doing as one would be done by.-Little Mifs L-out-does TOM TINSELL'S Widow.

If the Town is not vaftly unhealthy indeed, (for I must not regard little Difcouragements,

as

as my Affairs are at prefent) I fhall spend moft Part of the next Winter at London. You are very friendly, to propofe to me the most agreeable Scheme in the World: but I can't poffibly fee the Leafowes this Summer. I believe it is you, not Mrs. ARNOLD, who have all the Wit of your Country; and if all Things naturally attract there alike, in that Refpect you will prove a very dangerous Neighbour. I long to fee you as much as you can do to fee me: but all I can do now, is to tell you fo, and that I am, by Honour, Friendship, and every other Obligation,

Sept. 8.

Yours fincerely,

A. WHISTLER.

LET

LETTER XIV.

Mr. WHISTLER to W. SHENSTONE, Efq.

Dear Sir,

Whitchurch, Nov. 8.

I

Received you Pacquet, fraught with every

Thing that could delight me. I believe more Wit was never conveyed under the Title of a Peer before; not even excepting your own, which, indeed, you generally export by wholefale in the fame Method. Your Letter led me through an Elyfian Scene, which delighted me fo, that I must beg Leave to take another Turn with you at present therein. There is no Subject I can treat of with fo much Pleasure, and, of Confequence, with fo much Advantage to myfelf. In the first Place, Dick J-, in the Point of Light you fet him, diverts me; yet Humanity teaches me to feel a Kind of Pity, as for an Animal that fings and hops about the Cage that has juft deprived him of his Liberty. Lady LUXBOROUGH I have feen, but not in her Sanctuary, where

fhe

fhe delivers her Oracles, and difplays her Eloquence and Elegancies at full. This is what my Soul is a-thirft after; the holy Land of a future Pilgrimage. You have raised a Devotion in me towards her; for we always judge of the Divinity by the Merits of the Prieft. By your Description of Mr. THOMSON, I admire him, and rejoice in your Acquaintance with him. I beg you would cultivate it, for it feems like the Dawning of your Fame, whose Merit the ftupid World only wants to be awakened to fee. If ever you get your due Share of Fame, I infift that you be not a Niggard of it, as many are, but do your utmost Endeavour to communicate it to your Friends-You fee I speak in Time.

As for Mr. L-N's Civility, I have no great Faith in it; I fear he has only fome private End to serve, as an Election or fo: but, however, I would have you nourish it, for it may breed fomething by Chance-It will be a Credit to you at worft-Chance often promotes Lingerers at Court, who have otherwise very little Hope. It may fall out, that by ferving

you,