by covering the plants, and protecting them | pick their feanty fare from the chaff and from the feverity of the froft; for at a cer- ftraw. The red-breast ventures into the tain depth under the fnow, the cold always houfe, continues the fame. It is alfo thought to --and pays to trufted man enrich the ground, and ferve as a fort of manure; but fome fuppofe it not at all difforent from rain in this refpect. The beauty of a country all cloathed in new-fallen fnow is very striking. Hail ftones are drops of rain fuddenly congealed into a hard mafs, fo as to preferve their figure. These often fall in warincr feafons of the year, as even then the upper regions of the atmosphere are very cold. His annual vifit. Fieldfares and thrushes in large flocks defcend from the tops of trees, and frequent the warm manured fields in the neighbourhood of towns. Snipes, woodcocks, wild-ducks, and other water fowl are forced from the frozen marches, and obliged to feek their food about the rapid currents of streams which are yet unfrozen. As the cold grows more intenfe, various and come up the rivers, where they offer kinds of fea-fowl quit the bleak open fhores, an unufual prey to the fowler. Hoar-froft is dew or mift frozen. It adheres to every object on which it falls, and produces figures of incomparable beauty The wild quadrupeds, too, are driven and elegance. Every twig and blade of from their accustomed remote haunts. grafs is befet by it with innumerable glit-Hares enter the gardens to browze on the tering pearly drops, or filver plumage, be- cultivated vegetables; and leaving their yond the skill of any artift to imitate. tracks in the fnow, are frequently hunted Sometimes it happens that a fudden down, or caught in fnares. The hen-roofts fhower of rain falls during a froft, and im- are pillaged by foxes, polecats, and other mediately turns to ice. A remarkable fmall beafts of prey which our country fcene is then produced, which the follow-breeds; but we are happily unacquainted ing lines most beautifully defcribe. with the ravenous troops of wolves, bears, Ere yet the clouds let fall the treafur'd fnow, and other fierce creatures, which, urged by famine at this feafon, often terrify the villages in the mountainous and woody Or winds begun thro' hazy skies to blow, In pearls and rubies rich the hawthorns fhow, yield, Seem polifh'd lances in a hoftile field. pine, Glaz'd over, in the freezing ether fhine. PHILIPS, Lett. from Copenhagen. In fuch a cafe, prodigious mifchief has been done in the woods, by the breaking down of vaft arms of trees, which were overloaded by the weight of the ice encrufting them. The inclemency of the feafon is fhewn by its effects on animals, particularly on the numerous tribes of birds. As the cold advances, they collect in flocks, quit their retreats, and rendered bold by want, approach the habitations of man. Larks and various other small birds fhelter themselves in the warm ftubble. Sparrows, yellow hammers, and chafinches, crowd into the farm yards, and attend the barn doors to regions on the continent. The domeftic cattle now require all the care and protection of the farmer. Sheep are often loft in the fudden ftorms by which the fnow is drifted in the hollows, fo as to bury them a great depth beneath it. Yet they have been known to furvive many days in this fituation. Cows, with much ado, fcratch up a few mouthfuls of grafs; but for their chief fubfiftence they must depend upon the hay and other provifion of the farm yard. Early lambs and calves are kept within doors, and tended with as much care as the farmer's own children. Now, fhepherds, to your helpless charge be kind, Baffle the raging year, and fill their pens With food at will; lodge them below the ftorm, And watch them ftrict; for from the bellowing Eaft, In this dire feafon, oft the whirlwind's wing Sweeps up the burthen of whole wintry plains At one wide waft, and o'er the hapless flocks, Hid in the hollow of two neighbouring hills, The billowy tempeft whelm; 'till upwards urg'd The valley to a fhining mountain fwells, Tipt with a wreath high-curling in the fky. THOMSON. The plants at this feafon are provided by nature with a kind of winter-quarters, which fecure them from the effects of cold. Thofe called Herbaceous, which die down to the root every Autumn, are now fafely concealed under ground, preparing their new fhoots to burst forth when the earth is foftened by Spring. Shrubs and trees, which are expofed to the open air, have all their foft and tender parts clofely wrapt up in buds, which by their firmness refift all the force of froft. If one of these buds be carefully opened, it is found to confift of young leaves rolled together, within which are even all the bloffoms in miniature, which are afterwards to adorn the Spring. Some of thefe are much forwarder than others.The leaves of the woodbine appear juft ready to expand by the end of the month; the flowers of the mezereon and fnowdrop feem on the point of blowing; and the catkin or male flower bunch of the hazel work can be done out of doors by the hufbegins to unfold. During the feverity of the froft, little bandman. As foon as it fets in, he takes the opportunity of the hardness of the ground to draw manure to his fields. He lops and cuts timbers, and mends thorn hedges. When the roads become fmooth from the frozen fnow, he takes his team, and carries hay and corn to market, or brings barn refounds with the flail, by the ufe of coals for himfelf and neighbours. The barn refounds with the flail, by the ufe of which the labourer is enabled to defy the cold weather. In towns, the poor are pinched for fewel for at this comfortlefs time of the year.. and food, and charity is peculiarly called Many trades are at a ftand during the feverity of the fraft. Rivers and canals being frozen up, watermen and bargemen are without employment. The harbours in this ifland, however, are never locked up by the ice, as they are for many months the Northern parts of Europe. The amufements of fliding, fkating, and other paftimes on the ice, give life to this dreary feafon; but our frofts are not continued and fteady enough to afford us fuch a fhare of thefe diverfions as fome other nations enjoy. EXTRACTS OF An ADDRESS to STOCK-HOLDERS. Quarto, 2s. Murray. THE increafing magnitude of our national debt is truly alarming; every attempt, therefore, to leffen that growing evil, fhould be received with gratitude by the public, even when they cannot profit by the fcheme:-Something is always due to good intentions. We fhall give the author's plan in his own words: "Since then we hold but one opinion refpecting the expediency of leflening our debt, forgive an obfcure man, of humble parts, for offering his fentiments, and proposing his remedy, in a bufinefs of fuch magnitude. But while to him the plan here offered appears an eafy and not ineligible mode for forwarding this great fomething of the kind; but the difficulty | Woodland. When we confider the numof perfuading men to give up prefent and ber of King's fhips that have been built certain advantage for future contingent during the late unfortunate war; and the good, is a bar in the way of thefe propofals Eaft-Indiamen, merchants fhips, colliers, which will not fo eafily be removed. and finall craft, that are launched daily in the different ports of the kingdom, we are ready to tremble for the confequences. Nevertheless there are men who treat the TIMBER. work, he hopes to ftand excufed for his With this benevolence the author propofes to establish a off From a TREATISE ON PLANTING and Orna- idea of an approaching fcarcity as being chimerical; and, at prefent, we will hope that they have fome foundation for their opinion, and that the day of wasnt is not near. LATIN EPITAPH SIR, Send you, for the entertainment of your the national debt. For the detail, anti fuch as is fit for the purposes of SHIP? I claftical readers, an epitaph upon a tra calculations upon which the fcheme is founded, we must refer the reader to the work itself. In a poftfcript to the work, another fcheme is propofed. "Suppofe the ftockholders fubmitted to an act, allowing Government a month's procraftination or delay yearly, in the payment of the dividends of the funded money, the stockholders accepting yearly 12 months interest instead of 13 months due to them, and fo fucceffively year after year. By this means, Government would gain or fave to themselves a 12th part of 9 millions, or 750,000l. yearly; while the delay of 15 or 16 days (according as the month confifted of 30 or 31 days) in the payment of the half-yearly dividends, would hardly be felt as an inconvenience by the stockholders. "By this method, the dividends due the 5th of April one year, would be due the 5th of May the fucceeding year, the 5th of June the year next following, and fo on progreffively, till one year in twelve was thus gained by Government; who, being in the receipt of the whole taxes as they now ftand, would be benefited to the amount of 9 millions in 12 years; which, coming by 750,00ol. yearly, and annually laid out in stock at the market price, would, in the courfe of about 18 years and a half, (reckoning the ftock bought fo as to give in the grofs only 41. per cent.) create a capital of 25 millions, the intereft of which, being a million annually, to go to the unalienable purpose of rubbing out debt; and fo applied, would (as all who have traced the operations of time upon annual favings well know) in procefs of time do wonders." It is obvious that both thefe fchemes would produce great effects; perhaps it is equally clear, that it would be for the intereft of the stockholders to fubmit to BUILDING, we believe there is a growing velling pedlar, which was written extempore many years ago by a very ingenious fchoolmafter, in the fle of Sky, whofe name was John Macpherfon. The pedlar was a fellow of infinite humour; and Mr. Macpherson ufed frequently to laugh away an hour with him. The poor fellow died during one of his excurfions into the island. Mr. Macpherson received the news of his death one day, while he was engaged at fchool, and in a trice he compofed the following epitaph, which he dictated to one of the boys in the upper class: We will explain ourfelves, by fpeaking particularly as to one diftrict-the Vale of Derwent in Yorkshire. This district, for ages paft, has fupplied, in a great meature, the ports of Whitby and Scarborough with fhip-timber. At prefent, notwithftanding the extenfive tracts of Woodlands ftill remaining, there is fcarcely a tree left ftanding with a load of timber in it. Befides, the woods which now exift have principally been raised from the ftools of timber trees formerly taken down; the faplings from which being numerous, they HEU procul à patria, peregrino pulvere tectus, Hic folus recubas, hic, Iacobe, jaces, have drawn each other up flender, in the Te joca, blanditiæ, nugæ comitantur ad umbras, grove manner; and confequently never Nofque manent, fine te, folicitudo, dolor; will be fuitable to the more valuable pur-Glafgua tota lúget, lúget et tota arctica tellus, poses of the fhip-builder. When we confider the prodigious quantity of timber which is confumed in the conftruction of a large veffel, we feel a concern for the probable fituation of this country at fome future period. A feventyfour gun fhip (we fpeak from good authority) fwallows up nearly, or full three thoufand loads of oak timber. A load of timber is fifty cubical feet; a ton, forty feet; confequently, a feventy-four gun fhip takes 2,000 large well-grown timber trees; namely, trees of nearly two tons each! Flebit in æternum te fcopulofa Skia. The author of the above epitaph was originally defigned for the church; but when he was on the eve of being ordained, unfortunately for him, he was discovered to be the father of an illegitimate child-an unpardonable crime in the Church of Scotland. He was, therefore, obliged to betake himself to fome other line of life: He commenced schoolmafter in the Ifle of Sky; and I have heard it afferted, that he was The diftance recommended by authors the best teacher of the Latin clafficks that for planting trees in a wood in which Under-Scotland ever produced. The gentleman wood is alfo propagated, is thirty feet or up wards. Suppofing trees to ftand at two rods (33 feet, the diftance we recommend they thould ftand at in fuch a plantation), each ftatute acre would contain 40 trees; confequently the building of a feventy-four gun fhip would clear of fuch woodland, the timber of fifty acres. Even fuppofing the trees to stand at one rod apart (a fhort diftance for trees of the magnitude abovementioned), fhe would clear twelve acres and an half; no inconfiderable plot of from whom I had the above epitaph is a Scotch Clergyman, who was educated at Mr. Macpherfon's fchool. He is now upwards of fixty years of age; and he has told me, that when he was a fchool-boy, almost every farmer in the Isle of Sky could enter into the fpirit of Horace and Virgil, Terence, and Juvenal, and converfe uently in Latin-"Tempora mutantur." lagent. ACADEMICUS GLASGUENSIS. A falle quantity; e. g.nunc cafum tumine HERE is not a power in Europe that the augmentation of their naval forces than the States-General of the United Provinces, who in the courfe of four or five years increafed their navy with 15 fhips of the line, from 56 to 76 guns; 26 large frigates, from 40 to 24 guns; and 13 floops, from 10 to 18 guns; befides what are now laid down on the ftocks, as the following lift, which we obtained from a very intelligent and authentie quarter will testify: Strength ofthe Dutch Prefent ftate of the navy in 1780, on breaking out of the late war. navy of the States Two 35 Five 32 Three 32 Seven 18 Two 28 Four 16 Four Two 18 Two 20 nefit, that it would be the greateft evil to now fed This paradox receives the following illuf- After exploding the notions that obtain, of the dearness of provifions originating in the growing confumption and wafte of luxury; in the combinations of monopolizers; in taxes; in the deftruction of ftinking meat by the butcher, who will fuffer it to perifh, rather than fell it under price; or in the keeping enormous numbers of cats and dogs; he obferves, and it is proper to obferve, that cattle are not dear from fcarcity, for the fupply is in all refpects equal to the demand. What then, afks our Author, is the cause of the prefent high price of butcher's meat?-Why the dearness of lean ftock; and what is the caufe of that dearnefs? After the reader has duly weighed in his mind the comparifon I have before made of the expence of rearing a beast on a common, and that of rearing one on ground for which rent is paid, let him determine.' In another place, he adds, I have no doubt, that should the farmers and cottagers throughout Great A Political Inquiry into the Confe- Britain, be deprived of their rights of comquences of inclofing WASTE LANDS, monage on wafte lands, that beef and mutand the Caufes of the prefent high ton at proper age, viz. four years old, would foon be near a fhilling a pound, unless Price of Butcher's Meat. 8vo. 2s. 6d. lean ftock fhould be imparted from foreign HIS inquiry is principally intended countries. Should this be the cafe, it to controvert Mr. Lamport's Cur- would totally defeat one of the great obfory Remarks on the Importance of Agrical-jects of Mr. Lamport's plan; namely, that ture, &c. as will fufficiently appear by the of providing fuftenance to our manufacturers, following declaration: I apprehend the&c. at a chep rate, in order that we may univerfal cultivation of the wafte lands in underfel other nations who are our rivals in Great Britain, would be fo far from a be- trade at foreign markets.' The recent melancholy fate of the HALSE- "And furl your fails."-The winds repel the drown'd; laves Yet of their own accord, as danger taught, Now waves on waves, afcending, hail the skies, And in the fires above the water fries. Like various fits the beaten veffel finds, Mean time, in fheets of rain the sky defcends, | Worn as a cloak, and hardly hides a gown Sweet waters mingle with the briny main, An univerfal cry refounds aloud, The failors run in heaps, an artless crowd; One with loud fhrieks laments his loft eftate, And calls those happy, whom their fun'rals wait. This wretch with pray'rs and vows the Lord implores, And e'en the skies he cannot fee adores. That other on his friends his thoughts beftows, Down finks the fhip within th' abyfs below; More tatter'd ftill; and both but ill conceal Though prefs'd with hunger oft, or comelier paffing brifkly over them, gives, as it were, the alarm to the inhabitants, and fummons them to their windows or doors to fee who's coming: and this is the reafon, I apprehend, why poft-boys, at the entrance of a town, make as much clatter as they poffibly can: it being well known that a great deal of fame depends upon noife and racket.-We fay of a perfon who drives drowfily along-"A dreaming Cit, I'll warrant him.". But if a man feems refolved to tear up the very stones -"Aye, he's a fellow of fpirit, my life "Sir WATERING PLACE. for it."" Sir William deferved to be pa Though pinch'd with cold, afks never.-Kate THE PLEASURES OF A From Mr. PRATT'S MORAL TALES. ragraphed at his arrival, for he fet at once wheels and necks at defiance, and drove up to the fide of the head inn (the whoccafionally mix in the circles of fury, that all the waiters came dancing to I AM amongst the number of thofe Star, I think, it was) with fuch elegant the gay, with a view to mark the modes the gate-way, and bowed at every step of the day, and catch the manners of that till we were conducted into a room. part of mankind, whofe only endeavour is Hitherto it was no time for obfervation; to diverfify the scenes of amusement by and indeed I believe had my eyes been at fhifting from one polite migration to ano-leifure, they would have feen nothing rether-Among the great variety of erratic markable. However, after a few minutes, gratifications, a watering-place is, in the we fauntered into what they call the prefent age, much in vogue. Now a Long-rooms, and Sir William peeped watering-place, I never was polite, or over the regifter, to fee who and who were curious, or indeed rich enough to fee, at the watering place. As I looked over till the very laft month; and even then, his fhoulder, I faw the name of a gentleI have been gratified by accident.-A man and lady whom I have long known: It is remarkable that young Mr. Fal- friend of mine, who has been for thirty this circumftance fo charmed me, that I coner, who was loft in the Halfcwell years upon the whirl of fashion, lately in- could not help crying out with some eleGod blefs me! only Eaft Indiaman, was nephew to Mr. Fal-vited me to a feat in his chariot-I fhould vation of voice, coner, the author of the above poem, who fay his phaeton; for that is the name of think of that!"-At this my friend faid, had the misfortune to be twice wrecked his vehicle I find.-I accepted the offer; Hufh! for heaven's fake, confider had the misfortune to be twice wrecked-fpruced myself out in as tolerable a where you are."-Upon this, I held my before he wrote it. His fate, however, fuit as is generally the lot of a country tongue; and concluded, that it was not led him to trust the ocean once more, curate (for 1 am a clergyman) to be deco- polite to speak in too much rapture of when he was loft in the Aurora frigate, rated with, and fet off on the Monday one's old friends at a watering-place. that was carrying the Supervifors to India, but was never heard of after her morning, that I might have a whole week In thefe Long-rooms were none but the at the watering-place. From Berkley- waiters, and a folitary gentleman lolling fquare, whence we fet out from the house indolently along one of the benches. Sir of my noble friend, who is lord of the William faid he had occafion to step a manor of my parish, and my patron, and little way into the town, and would leave with whom I have the honour to dine me to amufe myself with the papers till almoft every Sunday during his refidence his return.-I took the privilege of ftranin the country nay, and am moreover gers in a public place by addreffing myself admitted to a vifit at his town houfe-from to the gentleman.-"A very fine evening, Berkley-fquare, I fay, even to the laft Sir," faid I-"It is fo, Sir," replied he. THERE often wanders one whom bet-ftone on the Southampton road, I heard A charming profpect of the fea, Sir, this " nothing but the delightful things I fhould "A very charming profpect," faid the fee at the watering-place. All the plea- ftranger." Fine conveniencies for fures of Paradife were, it appeared, con- bathing, Sir"- As fine conveniencies, Sir, centered in a watering-place; and my (rejoined he) as can be." "A noble room, "A maft noble room, infancy was at last fo fired by my friend's sir, this."defcription, that I began to fuppofe the deed," faid he. Pray, Sir, what comGarden of Eden was a fort of Arabia De-plaint may have been the unfortunate ferta to a watering-place. At the entrance caufe of bringing you here? I fincerely of the town, my heart leaped to my lip hope it is mended."-" Sir, (faid he, with expectation, and Sir William whip- ftaring) do'ft think I came here to drink ped the horses, for he drove himself, that water?-Ha, ha, ha! I wish you a good ped the horses, for he drove himself, that we might pafs through the place with eclat, evening:" and out he went laughing. -and let the folks know that we were fome- From which piece of pleafantry I gatherbody. I do not think there are any things ed, that 'tis not the principal bufincts of more favourable to conjectural reputation, perfons who come to a watering-place, to (fo let me call it) than the ftones of a drink the water: that people who are well-paved town: fince the carriage, in really fick, generally ftay at home; and call at the island of St. Helena. CRAZY KATE, By WILLIAM COWPER, Esq. Of the INNER TEMPLE. days Saw better clad, in cloak of fattin trimm'd bound. A ferving-maid was fhe, and fell in love waves To diftant fhores, and fhe would fit and weep day, 'And there, unlefs where charity forbids, The livelong night. A tatter'd apron hides, ་་ that fuch as have too much health, and Sir, (replied the waiter) fhe feldom rifes | no rivalry evident at prefent, unless emutoo much money, or none at all, are the before ten o'clock, and then accompanies lation of difguifing all thofe beauties, fo moft conftant frequenters of a watering the gentry to various places of refort. that no man could ever fuppose there had place. Presently Sir William returned, Pray, Sir, do you take the water this been ever any beauties belonging to them. and relieved me from many reflections, morning? the fooner the better, and par- I never faw any thing fo unnatural, as the not extremely to the advantage of water- ticularly in your cafe, Sir." "My cafe! manufacture which they call morning ing places. I told me, that we fhould (rejoined 1) what doft conceive that to caps- Clofe to the eye, full upon the go and take coffee, fend out a fervant for be?" "Ha! ha! ha! (exclaimed this nape of the neck, fcanty under the chin, lodgings, and then (as it was a public facetious attendant, putting his fore-fin- and altogether more hideous than the night) ftroll into the boxes at the play-ger archly to the fide of his nofe) you have blinkers of a dray-horfe or the head-drefs houfe. This pleafed me not a little; and it here, Sir, fure enough - Young gentle- of a maukin. Prefently in came feveral as we were going along, the church-clock men will be young gentlemen-But never young gentlemen, with their locks loofe announced feven, the hour specified in mind it-a box, a bolus, and a bumper about their ears, which dripped like the the play-bill for beginning. Of this I re- of water to wash it down, will do the treffes of a river god. Thefe heroes had minded Sir William, who faid it would bufinefs, I warrant you-Poo, poo!-as been bathing in the watering-place. be too foon to go at eight; for that no common a cafe here as can be, Sir.-Dr. They joined the ladies, and fhook the polite people went to the theatre at a wa- Ventermend is your man, Sir."-Here humid honours of their head fportingly at tering-place till half-price, and then juft the bell interrupted, and the fellow one another: the ladies joined in the ento look in, and go out. The time of fkipped out of the room like a vapour. tertainment. Sir William talked cxhalf-price at length approached, and we Amazed much at his impertinence, but ceedingly about what was done last night, entered the theatre fome little time before more at his hints, I turned my eye on and what was to be done to day. --The the entertainment, which happened to be the glafs, to fee what could poffibly lead girls romped, the boys were most fashionthat of the Waterman; a very proper to this conjecture. I faw a pale com- ably foolish, few of them chufing to be farce (thought I) for a watering-place. In plexion, indeed, a thin jaw, and an offi- articulate; and the pleasures of a waterthis piece I was fo highly delighted with cious cheek bone; but ftudy, a college, ing-place were now in meridian glory.— the burlefque character of Robin (the and conftant duty on Wednesdays, Fri- Notwithstanding all this, however, much maccaroni gardener), which was admira- days, and Sundays, at a country cure, is was wanting to infpire me with fympathy, bly exhibited by the comedian to whom it enough to make any man change colour. and give a finifh to my felicity. As Hea was allotted, that I at length gave way to How dare the fellow, then, throw dirt ven would have it, at this critis came in nature, and indulged myfelf in as loud upon my cloth, and the fanctity of my to my relief the very gentleman and lady and hearty a laugh as ever came from the character! For I fwear by my gown, whom, in looking in the catalogue of lungs of felicity. Upon this, the eyes of band, and caflock, and canonicals alto-waterers at my firft coming, I perceived the audience were immediately upon me. gether, that I am as chaste as to be in town. They were a couple of The ladies hid their faces with their fans While I was affeverating, three gentlemen fome weight and confequence in the -Sir William touched my elbow-An old and two ladies paffed by the window on country where I had the curacy, and not gentleman, who fat on the next bench, horfeback.-"Look'ee here, now, (faid unfrequently had invited me to a ferious faid he blushed at my indecency; and I, refuming the foliloquy) thefe gentle- party at whift, or a batch at backgammon. from thefe reproofs, with the general in- men have as much of the lily as myfelf; Eager, therefore, to fly from impertidifference of the fpectators as to the fcenes and the ladies are as lanquid a pair of nence, of which I was furfeited, and forbefore them, I found out, that all the phantoms as ever my eyes beheld.-Poor getting all the diftant decencies and decojoys which mounted above the notes of a things! they muft drink plentifully-be- rums of a watering-place, I ran haftily titter and genteel grin, were by no means fore they come about, I fear. But what, in across the room, and faluted my old allowable at a watering place. At the the name of all things that's ludicrous and acquaintances with a fincerity that came fall of the curtain, I retired fomewhat whimfical, do the men mean by folding from my foul.-The giggle among the mortified, and would have gone into my up the hair, and tucking it under the hat women was fufpended. My friends drew chamber to contemplate a little, but that like women! What a fwitch, too, they back, and threw themselves into a posture I perceived there was no fuch matter as carry in their hands! And in what a of amazement. Sir William faid I difcontemplation among the ceremonies of a lazy, lolling manner they fit!-Odd's graced him, made a monkey of myfelf, watering-place. nature! Why can't they be as perpendi- and that he was afhamed of me. From cular and precife as I am? Why, if the thefe pithy and pertinent obfervations, I fellows were tied neck and heels, they gathered one hint more, that the fimplicould fcarcely be more double.-But I city of honeft affection, which in the fuppofe 'tis the fashion for nofe and knees country may be avowed, fhould be conto meet on horfeback at a watering-cealed, or at least managed with much place."-Sir William now entered the mum and nicety at a watering-place. At room, and jokingly bid me mind my man- the moment of this tranfaction, though ners a little better, and told me of his de- I was confcious of my own innocence, I fign to breakfast in the rooms. I relifhed was not infenfible to the ridicule around his propofal; and without affecting to me; for befides the croud of cruel creabe fashionable, walked off, as uprightly tures that were now gathered about, to and claffically erect as I poffibly could. look at me as at an object highly adapted to I waited for pleafure; but, odd's nature! fpeculation; I heard diftinctly, prig, put, What a fcene did the door of thefe rooms puppy, and parfon, articulated with pecuopen upon me? Thefe ladies, I foon liar emphafis. I abfolutely for a moment found by Sir William, were fome of fhut my eyes for fhame; and at length thofe whofe beauties and diamonds fpar- hearing the burft collected against me, I kled with rival luftre in the boxes the pre- took refuge in my legs, and ran fairly out ceding evening. There was, however, of the rooms-rooms, which I will never I paffed the night without any agreeable dreams upon the tranfactions of the day; yet being rather of a fanguine temper, I till hoped the next day would make up all deficiencies. Under this expectation I rofe pretty early, and prepared myfelf for pleasure. Sir William was not ftirring to foon, and i went into the breakfastroom to run my eye over the newfpapers. The waiter foon after bringing in the teaequipage, I humoured the curiofity that was fo natural to me, by putting a few queftions to him. He was an adroit dapper little thing, with a certain profeffional pertnefs about him, that promised to anfwer all interrogatories. Without any preamble Friend, (faid I) this is a very gay place, I fancy; but I fuppofe, at prefent, Vivacity is not out of bed?" No, |