his left shoulder, on the instant. It is only when he finds this great minister's abilities and integrity necessary to him, that he reluctantly calls him to the great offices of state. How basely slow do we find this thankless monarch to reward such a matchless series of faithful services! to admit this experienced friend and able statesman into the superintendence of the public finances!

Henry's long and tender attachment to Gabrielle is more to the credit of his heart than any thing I have hitherto seen recorded. From ambition or policy, all else seems derived which dazzles the reader.

But what is our astonishment to read, that one of the greatest monarchs in the world, for great, as a warrior and politician, we must allow him, seated on the throne of France, was often dirty and ragged, through absolute poverty, and had been more than once in want of a dinner. It lessens the ridiculousness of an old story of my mother's, about a bragging farmer of Rugely, returning from London, who pretended to have been introduced to Queen Caroline; and upon being asked how she was dressed, and what she said to him, replied that her majesty had on a dirty blue apron, but said she was mighty glad to see him; observing, that, if it had not been wash

ing-week, she should have asked him to stay dinner; and added he was welcome to stay, even as it was, if he would take pot-luck; but that she had nothing for dinner but a leg of pork and peasepudding.-Adieu !

.

LETTER LV.

REV. DR WARNER.

Lichfield, March 7, 1786.

I ENTREAT you will favour me with speedy tidings concerning Mr Hayley's present state of health. Your last letter has alarmed me on the subject. It is not a common degree of interest which I take in his welfare. Observing his constitution, I have always feared for his life.

That you would be glad to learn that Mr Piozzi is constantly and tenderly grateful for the sacrifices his enchanting wife has made to him, at the instigation of the despotic little deity, I was perfectly conscious. Her fine talents, and the ungrateful abuse of Dr Johnson, upon this marriage, after the years she had devoted to render

ing his life happy, ought, and will interest every benevolent heart in her destiny Such hearts will rejoice to see envy and malice disappointed by the devoted attachment of the highly obliged Piozzi, and by his acknowledged virtues.

I perfectly agree with you as to the genius and spirit of Cowper's beautiful poem, The Task; yet I somewhat wonder at the confidence with which it inspires you in the goodness of his heart. My doubts on that subject do not proceed alone from the severity of his satire, however i I may think severity to human failings becomes a human creature. But if a benevolent man may be induced to wield, with harsh asperity, the satiric scourge, yet surely he will not suffer ungenerous sentiments to descend from his pen. But for the illiberal protest of this author against the generosity of encomium, against the gratitude of tributary praise, I should have read his poetry with pleasure unallayed, as I confess it was exquisite.

The Task certainly contains not only dazzling irradiations of fancy, but many noble sentiments. Alas! it is not always, that either one or the other afford indubitable proof of an author's virtue! The depraved and selfish often wear these splendid veils of light, when all is darkness at the

centre.

It is

There is a knot of ingenious and charming females at Ludlow, in Shropshire. My friend, Miss Weston, is its leading spirit. Do not chide me, that I ventured to send a few of your delightful letters for the amusement of this little society of intelligent friends. It has been a mental repast, for which they are infinitely grateful. The sister nymphs meditate a plan to draw you into their circle, if you should realize your idea of an expedition to the classic environs of Ludlow. a very formidable ambush, believe me. With plenteous resources of wit and imagination, Miss Weston's form is graceful, and her countenance interesting. Her friends are celebrated beauties, with minds much above the common female level. I see no chance of your escape, except from the number of the assailants, which, sluicing admiration into different channels, may preyour vent its flowing in a resistless torrent over your heart.

It gratifies my literary ambition ́not slightly, that you liked me so much in my "doublet and hose," in the letters on Johnson's character, signed Benvolio. I was delighted by your recommending them to my attention, as able, eloquent, and convincing, without the least suspicion of the name or sex of their author. Nothing could be

more flattering than praise, so utterly exempted from the possibility of being meant as flattery.

LETTER LVI.

MISS WESTON.

Lichfield, March 20, 1787.

RESPONDENT to your kind inquiries, I have the pleasure to tell you, that my dearest father, though weaker than ever in his limbs, and amidst the fast-fading powers of memory, has had no relapse since his dreadful epileptic seizures in December; while his affection for me seems to increase as the other energies of his mind subside. When I administer his food, his wine, and even his medicines, which indeed are few, cordial, and palatable, he looks at me with ineffable tenderness; and with an emphatic, though weak voice, "thank you, my dear child, my darling, my blessing;" and not seldom he calls me" the light of his eyes." The sensations of melting fondness which such expressions awaken in my bosom, are of unutterable pleasure. But, alas! soon or late, we generally pay an high price for whatever has been