they come into. But this is a Kind of Language you would never indulge me in; you might very fecurely; for I fhould never be able to express half the fincere Efteem and Refpect with which I am, PER an odd Kind of Fellow when you were at Cheltenham, who threatened you with a Letand who is now endeavouring to be as bad as his Word; however he hopes for fome lit ter, tle tle Partiality on his Behalf, having delayed the Execution of his Menaces for a confiderable Time, and even now promifing to fay as few Things in your Favour as the real Sentiments of his Heart will admit of. But Peace to Buffoonery.After I parted from you, Mr. M-N, with great Simplicity, endeavoured to keep up my Spirits, by. fpeaking in Praise of the Family we had left, as though that was not the ready Method to aggravate the Senfe of one's Lofs; and yet to aggravate it was utterly impoffible in the Opi-: nion of a Perfon already fo fenfible of it. But he mentioned one Article which was more fuc-. cefsful, and that was a Propofal to accom-" pany me to Stoke, and to let me know when it fuited his Convenience, When I came to Cheltenham, I was not unmindful of that folemn Vow that I had made,: not to furvive your Family there a fingle Hour: but I found it near five o'Clock, and my Conscience said, that as I had made it fo late, by my Attendance upon you, though I did stay another Night, I hoped I might be excufed. I have been, fince leaving this Town, at Mr. BROWN'S, who lives upon the Borders of Wales.Poor Man! He has been the most obliging Perfon in the World to the most stupid of Companions. 'Tis hardly poffible to determine which was greater, the Zeal with which he fhewed me his Foffils, Plants, Poetry, &c. or the ftupid Inattention with which I obferved them. He commends you and Mrs. AUBREY highly; fo, indeed, do all I know, or I would foon forget that I had ever feen their Faces. He had found out a Method at laft of feducing me to talk, by frequent Mention of your Merits, and it was a good While before I difcovered his Artifice; and even when I had discovered it, I was ill able to elude the Force of it. I am now just returned Home, which is my Apology for not writing to you about Cheltenham as I promised. I really scarce recollect any Circumstance belonging to it, except that you and Mrs. AUBREY were there the most favourable, agreeable, and praise-worthy. What What, does Mr. M boaft of the glorious Abfurdity he committed at parting, in miftaking my Horfe for his? When I fee him next, I will produce a Hundred I have been lately guilty of, to no one of which his is able to compare. His, you know, commenced in the very Moment of parting, and confequently was little wonderful, in Comparison of thote I have fince committed; befides, his Horfe had a Spot or two of Brown on him, and was therefore eafily mistaken at fuch a Time for one that was Sorrel all over, After all, you are a very wicked Ladyyou defrauded me of the Croflet you promised me, putting me off with a fingle Bead; but it was yours, and that's enough. The most trivial Donation from a Perfon we efteem, has a large Value. I acknowledge to have a great Penchant for what the Vulgar call KeepSakes. The French are notably practifed in thefe little Elegancies; we are not so much fo, as, I think, a polished People ought to be. I am, dear Mifs CARTER, Your moft fincere Admirer, and humble Servant, Don't expose the Nonfenfe-Veries I gave you, I entreat you. I LETTER XXI, S. D—, Eîq. to W. SHENSTONE, Elq. Dear Sir, WAS fome Time fince at Mr. WHISTLER'S Chamber, when he received a Letter from you, the Sight of which revived in my Mind the pleafing Correfpondence you once favoured me with; the Lofs of which I much regret. Do you never think of returning to Oxford? Have you left nothing there that may give us Leave once more to expect you? I won't be fo poetically complaifant, as to fay every Thing appears grieved at your Abfence, but I affure you, Sir, there are some that seem fincerely to lament it. I can't compare thofe little People that have fometimes cen |