THE FOLLOWING LETTER,

ADDRESSED TO THE

Printer of the St. James's Chronicle,

APPEARED IN THAT PAPER,

IN JUNE, M DCC LXVII.

SIR,

As there is nothing I dislike so much as newspa

per controversy, particularly upon trifles, permit me to be as concise as possible in informing a correspondent of yours, that I recommended Blainville's Travels, because I thought the book was a good one; and I think so still. I said, I was told by the bookseller that it was then first published; but in that, it seems, I was misinform'd, and my reading was not extensive enough to set me right.

*

Another correspondent of yours accuses me of having taken a ballad, I published some time ago from one by the ingenious Mr. Percy. I do not think there is any great resemblance between the two pieces in question. If there be any, his Ballad is taken from mine. I read it to Mr. Percy some years ago; and he (as we both considered these things as trifles at best,) told me, with his usual good humour, the next time I saw him, that he had taken my plan to form the fragments of Shakspeare into a Ballad of his own. He then read me his little Cento, if I may so call it, and I highly approved it. Such petty anecdotes as

The Friar of Orders Gray. "Reliq. of Anc. Poetry.” Vol. I. Book 2. No. 18.

these, are scarcely worth printing: and were it not for the busy disposition of some of your correspondents, the public should never have known that he owes me the hint of his Ballad, or that I am obliged to his friendship and learning for communications of a much more important nature.

Note. On the subject of the preceding letter, the reader is desired to consult "The Life of Dr. Goldsmith," under the year 1765.

THE HERMIT.

A BALLAD.

I.

"TURN, gentle Hermit of the dale, "And guide my lonely way, "To where yon taper cheers the vale, "With hospitable ray.

II.

"For here forlorn and lost I tread, "With fainting steps and slow; "Where wilds, immeasurably spread, "Seem length'ning as I go."

III.

"Forbear, my son," the Hermit cries, "To tempt the dangerous gloom; "For yonder faithless phantom flies "To lure thee to thy doom.

IV.

"Here to the houseless child of want

"My door is open still;

"And though my portion is but scant,

"I give it with good will.

V.

"Then turn to-night, and freely share "Whate'er my cell bestows; "My rushy couch and frugal fare, "My blessing and repose.

VI.

"No flocks that range the valley free, "To slaughter I condemn ; "Taught by that power that pities me, "I learn to pity them :

VII.

"But from the mountain's grassy side "A guiltless feast I bring;

"A scrip with herbs and fruits supply'd, "And water from the spring.

VIII.

"Then, pilgrim, turn, thy cares forego;

"All earth-born cares are wrong; "Man wants but little here below, "Nor wants that little long."

IX.

Soft as the dew from Heav'n descends,
His gentle accents fell:

The modest stranger lowly bends,
And follows to the cell.

X.

Far in a wilderness obscure

The lonely mansion lay,

A refuge to the neighb'ring poor
And strangers led astray.

XI.

No stores beneath its humble thatch

Requir'd a master's care;

The wicket, op'ning with a latch,

Receiv'd the harmless pair.