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contempt I could give it both by accent and action. At the conclufion of the essay my uncle Antony fhut the book and demanded what I thought of the author-" Hang him," I exclaimed," poor, Grub-street Garreteer; the "fellow is too contemptible for your notice; " he can neither write, nor reafon; he is a mere ❝ ignoramus, and does not know the commoneft "rules of logic: he has no feature of a critic "about him, but the malice of one.". ." Hold

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your tongue," cried Antony, no longer able to contain himself, "you are a booby; I will ❝ maintain it to be as fine an effay as ever was "written."-With these words he fnatched up the magazine and departed: I faw no more of him that night, and early next morning was presented by a fervant with the following billet

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"The Grub-ftreet Garreteer finds himfelf no "longer fit company for the fagacious Mr. "William Simper; therefore defires him without

lofs of time to feek out better fociety than "that of a mere ignoramus, who does not know the « common rules of logic one rule however he "makes bold to lay down, which is, Never again "to fee the face of an impertinent upftart, called

"William Simper, whilft he remains on this
"earth."
A. S.

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N° CXXXII.

Sunt verba et voces, quibus hunc lenire doloremt
Poffis, et magnam morbi deponere partem. /

D

HORAT.

RIVEN from my uncle Antony's doors by my unlucky mistake between the hen and her egg, my cafe would have been defperate, but that I had yet one string left to my bow, and this was my aunt Mrs. Sufanna Simper, who lived within a few miles of my uncle, but in such declared hoftility, that I promised myself a favorable reception, if I could but flatter her animofity with a fufficient portion of invective; and for this I deemed myself very tolerably qualified, having fo much good-will towards the business, and no flight inducements to fpur me to it.

My aunt, who was an aged maiden, and a valetudinarian, was at my arrival closeted with her apothecary: upon his departure I was ad mitted to my audience, in which I acquitted myself with all the address I was master of: my aunt heard my story through without interrupte ing me by a fingle word; at laft, fixing her eyes upon me, she said, "'Tis very well, child; your

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"have faid enough; your uncle's character I perfectly understand; look well to your own, "for upon that will depend the terms you and I "fhall be upon."-She now took up a phial from the table and furveying it for fome time, faid to me" Here is a noftrum recommended "by my apothecary, that promises great things, "but perhaps contains none of the wondrous

properties it profeffes to have: the label fays «it is a carminative, fedative mixture; in "other words, it will expel vapours and spasms, "and quiet the mind and fpirits: Do you "think it will make good what it promifes?"So whimsical a question put to me at such a moment confounded me not a little, and I only murmured out in reply, that I hoped it would"Take it then," faid my aunt," as you have "faith in it; fwallow it yourself, and when I fee "how it operates with you, I may have more "confidence in it on my own account."-I was now in a more awkward dilemma than ever, for fhe had emptied the dose into a cup, and tendered it to me in fo peremptory a manner, that, not knowing how to excuse myself, and being naturally fubmiffive, I filently took the cup with a trembling hand, and fwallowed its abominable

contents,

VOL. V.

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«Much good may it do you, child,” cried fhe, you have done more for me than I would for any doctor in the kingdom: "Don't you find it naufeous to the palate ?" I confeft that it was very naufeous.“ And did you think yourself in need of fuch a medi"cine?"" I did not perceive that I was.' "Then you did not fwallow it by your own "choice, but my defire ?"I had no hesitation. in acknowledging that. Upon my word, "child," the replied, "you have a very accom<modating way with you." I was now fighting with the curfed drug, and had all the difficulty in life to keep it where it was. My aunt faw my diftrefs, and fmiling at it demanded if I was not fick: confeft I was rather difcompofed in my ftomach with the draught." I don't doubt it,” fhe replied;" but as you have fo civilly made t yourself sick for my fake, cannot you flatter "me fo far as to be well, when I request it?” I was just then fruggling to keep the naufea down, and though I could not answer, put the beft face upon the matter in my power.

A maid-servant came in upon my aunt's ringing her bell. Betty," faid he, "take << away these things; this doctor will poifon us "with his dofes."-" Foh !" cried the wench,

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"how it fmells!" "Nay, but only put your lips "to the cup," faid the tniftrefs, "there is " enough left for you to tafte it."-" I tafte it! "I'll not touch it, I want none of his nafty phy "fic.""Well, but though you don't want it," rejoined the mistress, " taste it nevertheless, if it " be only to flatter my humour."

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me, madam,” replied Betty, "I'll not make "myself fick to flatter any body."" Humph!” cried my aunt, "how this wench's want of man"ners must have shocked you, nephew William! મં you fwallowed the whole dofe at a word, fhe, "though my fervant, at my repeated command "would not touch it with her lips; but thefe "low-bred creatures have a will of their own.”

There was fomething in my aunt's manner I did not understand; fhe puzzled me, and I thought it beft to keep myself on the referve, and wait the further developement of her humour in filence.

We went down to fupper; it was elegantly ferved, and my aunt particularly recommended two or three difhes to me; her hofpitality embarraffed me not a little, for my ftomach was by no means reconciled; yet I felt myfelf bound in good manners to eat of her dishes and commend their cookery; this I did, though forely against

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