loaded them with wealth, who go to their graves, to their magnificent mausoleums, with hardly the consciousness of having made one poor honest heart happy!

But I crave your pardon, Madam; I came to beg, not to preach.

No. 134.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER.

TO MR.

1794.

I AM extremely obliged to you for your kind mention of my interests, in a letter which Mr. S*** shewed me. At present, my situation in life must be in a great measure stationary, at least for two or three years. The statement is this-I am on the supervisor's list; and as we come on there by precedency, in two or three years I shall be at the head of that list, and be appointed of course-then, a Friend might be of service to me in getting me into a place of the kingdom which I would like. A supervisor's income varies from about a hundred and twenty, to two hundred a year; but the business is an incessant drudgery, and would be nearly a compleat bar to every species of literary pursuit. The moment I am appointed supervisor in the common routine, I may be nominated on the Collector's list; and this is always a business purely of politi

cal patronage. A collectorship varies much, from better than two hundred a year to near a thousand. They also come forward by precedency on the list, and have, besides a handsome income, a life of complete leisure. A life of literary leisure, with a decent competence, is the summit of my wishes. -It would be the prudish affectation of silly pride in me, to say that I do not need or would not be indebted to a political friend: at the same time, Sir, I by no means lay my affairs before you thus, to hook my dependent situation on your benevolence. If, in my progress of life, an opening should occur where the good offices of a gentleman of your public character and political consequence might bring me forward, I will petition your goodness with the same frankness and sincerity as I now do myself the honour to subscribe myself, &c.

No. 135.

TO MRS. R*****.

DEAR MADAM,

I MEANT to have called on you yesternight, but as I edged up to your box-door, the first object which greeted my view, was one of those lobster-coated puppies, sitting like another dragon, guarding the Hesperian fruit. On the conditions and capitulations you so obligingly offer, I shall certainly make my weather-beaten

rustic phiz a part of your box-furniture on Tuesday; when we may arrange the business of the

visit.

Among the profusion of idle compliments, which insidious craft, or unmeaning folly, incessantly offer at your shrine-a shrine, how far exalted above such adoration-permit me, were it but for rarity's sake, to pay you the honest tribute of a warm heart and an independent mind; and to assure you, that I am, thou most amiable, and most accomplished of thy sex, with the most respectful esteem, and fervent regard, thine, &c.

No. 136.

TO THE SAME.

I WILL wait on you, my ever valued friend, but whether in the morning I am not sure. Sunday closes a period of our curst revenue business, and may probably keep me employed with my pen until noon. Fine employment for a poet's pen! There is a species of the human genus that I call the gin-horse class: what enviable dogs they are. Round, and round, and round they go,Mundell's ox, that drives his cotton mill, is their exact prototype-without an idea or wish beyond their circle; fat, sleek, stupid, patient, quiet, and contented; while here I sit, altogether Novemberish, a d―― melange of fretfulness and melancholy; not enough of the one to rouse me to

passion, nor of the other to repose me in torpor; my soul flouncing and fluttering round her tenement, like a wild finch, caught amid the horrors of winter, and newly thrust into a cage. Well, I am persuaded that it was of me the Hebrew sage prophesied, when he foretold-And behold, on whatsoever this man doth set his heart, it shall not prosper!' If my resentment is awakened, it is sure to be where it dare not squeak: and if

Pray that wisdom and bliss be more frequent visitors of

R. B.

No. 137.

TO THE SAME.

I HAVE this moment got the song from S***, and I am sorry to see that he has spoilt it a good deal. It shall be a lesson to me how I lend him any thing again.

I have sent you Werter, truly happy to have any the smallest opportunity of obliging you.

'Tis true, Madam, I saw you once since I was at W; and that once froze the very life-blood of my heart. Your reception of me was such, that a wretch meeting the eye of his judge about to pronouuce sentence of death on him, could only have envied my feelings and situation. But I hate the theme, and never more shall write or speak on it.

One thing I shall proudly say, that I can pay Mrs. a higher tribute of esteem, and appreciate her amiable worth more truly, than any man whom I have seen approach her.

No. 138.

TO THE SAME.

I HAVE often told you, my dear friend, that you had a spice of caprice in your composition, and you have as often disavowed it; even perhaps while your opinions were, at the moment, irrefragably proving it. Could any thing estrange me from a friend such as you?-No! To-morrow I shall have the honour of waiting on you.

Farewell, thou first of friends, and most accomplished of women; even with all thy little caprices!

I RETURN your common-place book. I have perused it with much pleasure, and would have continued my criticisms: but as it seems the critic has forfeited your esteem, his strictures must lose their value.