the most eminent mafters are happy enough to hit off her difficult face exactly!

Every perfon of tafte would have been certain that Mr. Holwell was one of the fufferers in the black hole, only from the fhort paffage I have noticed.

Robinson Crufoe now-what nature! It affects us throughout, exactly in the way you mentioned.

But, fhall I finish my differtation? Come -as writing to you gives me fo much pleafure, and as I can't do any thing to you but write this morning-I know you'll excuse me.

Did you ever hear to what Crufoe owed his existence? You remember Alexander Selkirk's ftrange fequeftration at Juan Fernandez. It is mentioned, I believe, in Walter's account of Anfon's Voyage. When Captain Woodes Rogers met with him and brought him to England, he employed the famous Daniel de Foe to revife his papers. That fertile genius improved upon his materials, and compofed the cele

brated

brated ftory of Robinson Crufoe. The confequence was that Selkirk, who foon after made his appearance in print, was confidered as a baftard of Crufoe, with which fpurious offspring the prefs too often teems. In De Foe, undoubtedly, this was not honeft. Had Selkirk given him his papers, there could have been no harm in working them up his own way. I can easily conceive a writer making his own ufe of a known fact, and filling up the outlines which have been sketched by the bold and hafty hand of fate. A moral may be added, by fuch means, to a particular incident; characters may be placed in their juft and proper lights; mankind may be amufed, (and amusements fometimes prevent crimes) or, if the ftory be criminal mankind may be bettered, through the channel of their curiofity. But, I would not be dishoneft, like De Foe; nor would I pain the breast of a fingle individual connected with the story.

To explain what I mean by a criminal ftory.-Faldoni and Terefa might have been

been prevented from making profelytes, if they ever have made any, by working up their most affecting story so as to take off the edge of the dangerous example. But not in the way Mr. Jerningham has done it; who tells us, not lefs intelligibly than pathetically,

All-ruling love, the god of youth poffefs'd Entire dominion of Faldoni's breast:

An equal flame did fymphany impart (A flame destructive) to Teresa's heart: As on one stem two opening flowers respire,

So grew their life (entwin'd) on one defire.

Are you not charmed? Perhaps you never faw the poem. I have it here and will bring it you as a curiofity: the melancho ly tale will not take up three words, though Mr. J. has bestowed upon it 335 melancholy lines. The catastrophe happen'd near Lyons, in the month of June, 1770. Two lovers (Faldoni and Teresa Meunier)

Meunier) meting with an invincible obstacle to their union, determined to put an end to their exiftence with piftols. The place they chofe for the execution of their terrible project was a chapel that stood at a little diftance from the house. They even decorated the altar for the occafion. They paid a particular attention to their own dress. Terefa was dreffed in white, with rofe-coloured ribbands. The fame coloured ribbands were tied to the pistols. Each held the ribband that was faftened to the other's trigger, which they drew at a certain fignal.

Arria and Pætus (fays Voltaire) set the example, but then it must be confidered they were condemned to death by a tyrant. Whereas love was the only inventor and perpetrator of this deeed.

Yet, while I talk of taking off the dangerous edge of their example, they have almoft lifted me under their bloody ban

ners.

On

On looking over the fermon I have written, I recollect a curious anccdote of Selkirk.

(By the bye, Wilkes, I fuppofe, would fay, that none but a Scotchman could have lived fo many years upon a defart ifland.)

He tamed a great number of kids for fociety, and with them and the numerous offspring of two or three cats that had been left with him, he used often to dance.From all which my inference is this-M. will not surely deprive herself of H's fociety; but will let him find her there tomorrow. Especially, fince, in Mr. J.'s expreffive language,

As on one ftem two opening flowers refpire,

So grow our lives entwin'd on one defire.

LETTER