your ftyle is invariably the fame. The fight of Rome might have excited more reflections indeed than the fight of the Hebrides, and fo the book might be bigger, but it would not be better a jót.

How does Dr. Taylor do? He was very kind I remember when my thunder-ftorm came firft on, fo was Count Manucci, fo was Mrs. Montague, fo was every body. The world is not guilty of much general harfhnefs por inclined I believe to increase pain which they do not perceive to be deferved.-Barétti alone tried to irritates a wound fo very deeply inflicted, and he will find few to approve his cruelty. Your friendship is our best cordial; continue it to us, dear Sir, and write very foon to

Your obliged and faithful fervant,

LETTER CXLVII.

To Mrs. THRAL E.

DEAREST MADAM,

May 6, 1776.

ON Friday night, as you know, I left you

about eleven o'clock. The moon fhone, but I did not see much of the way, for I think I flept better than I commonly do in bed. My companions were civil men, and we difpatched our journey very peaceably. I came home at about seven on Saturday very little fatigued.

To-day I have been at home. To-morrow I am to dine, as I did yesterday, with Dr. Taylor. On Wednesday I am to dine with Oglethorpe; and on Thursday with Paoli. He that fees before him to his third dinner, has a long profpect.

My political tracts are printed, and I bring Mr. Thrale a copy when I come. They make but a little book.

Count

Count Manucci is in fuch hafte to come, that I believe he will not ftay for me; if he would, I should like to hear his remarks on the road.

Mr. Baretti has a cold and hoarfenefs, and Mrs. Williams fays that I have caught a cold this afternoon.

I am, &c.

LETTER CXLVIII.

To Mrs. THRAL E.

DEAR MADAM,

May 11, 1776..

THAT you may have no fuperfluous uneafinefs, I went this afternoon to visit the two babies at Kensington, and found them indeed a little spotted with their diforder, but as brisk and gay as health and youth can make them. I took a paper of fweetmeats, and fpread them on the table. They took great delight to fhew their governess the various animals that were made of fugar; and when they had eaten as much as was fit, the rest were laid up for to-morrów.

VOL. I.

Y

Sufy

Sufy fends her duty and love with great propriety. Sophy fends her duty to you, and her love to Queeney and Papa. Mr. Evans came in after me. You may fet your heart quite at reft, no babies can be better than they appear to be. Dr. Taylor went with me, and we ftaid a good while. He likes them very much. Sufy faid her creed in French.

Dr. Taylor fays, I must not come back till his business is adjusted; and indeed it would not be wife to come away without doing what I came hither only to do. However, I expect to be dismissed in a few days, and fhall bring Manucci with me.

I dined yesterday with * * * * * *. His three children are very lovely. * * * * *longs to teach him a little economy. I know not how his money goes, for I do not think that Mrs. Williams and I had our due fhare of the nine guineas.

He begins to reproach himself with neglect pf * * * * *'s education, and cenfures that idleness, or that deviation, by the indulgence of which he has left uncultivated fuch a fertile mind. I advised him to let the child alone; and told him that the matter was not great, whether

3

whether he could read at the end of four years or of five, and that I thought it not proper to harass a tender mind with the violence of painful attention. I may perhaps procure both father and fon a year of quiet; and furely I may rate myself among their benefactors.

May 14, 1776.

SINCE my vifit to the younglings, nothing has happened but a little difappointment in Dr. Taylor's affairs, which, he says, muft keep me here a while longer. Mr. Wedderburn has given his opinion to-day directly against us. He thinks of the claim much as I think. We fent this afternoon for a folicitor, another Scrafe, who gave the fame fentence with Wedderburn, and with lefs delicacy. The Doctor tried to talk him into better notions, but to little purpose, for a man is not much believed in his own caufe. At laft, finding the Doctor fomewhat moody, I bid