haps much longer, in a different quarter of the globe, before I could have been so well known or have met with such friendly reception from a strange people. Here, therefore, moneyless and rich relationless, I have a better chance than any where else; unless you plead that some lucky fortune is always ready to drop into a travellers pocket. But in the common run of adventures, might not some horrible misfortune have as probably gravitated towards my head, and struck me to the ground. Moreover, the girl is far from being in my situation: She has many good relations, to whom I have been introduced, and by whom I am not only well received, but loved and caressed. And over and above, she has a business, which, without any chance of loss, brings in between twenty and thirty pounds yearly. This added to my present pittance of L. 42, will not come far short of a country parsonage. Wonder not when I tell you, that the love of virtue is a strong stimulus to matrimony. I need scarcely mention how hard it is for a young man living singly in a room to be virtuous: Having no spur to prick him home but affection for books and literary speculation, he is constantly dragged along by his thoughtless

companions, and his no less thoughtless self, to foolish and frequently to sinful irregularities, Every other evening he is obliged to crawl to bed with his body steaming with liquor, or his mind dissipated by nonsensical conversation. It has been a frequent wish of mine to be in a situation which would enable me to banish fools and sycophants from my dwelling-place; to be often serious, and seldom giddy. Experience teaches me, however, that my wish can never be gratified so long as I dine in a tavern, live in a hired room, &c. A society consisting of a very few members has always the best chance of being sober and virtuous. A crowd, for what reason I at present know not, is almost constantly impious. I think an essay on this subject would be an excellent lunarian number.

I COULD urge many other motives for the alteration about to take place in my way of life. I could even shew, by mathematical demonstration, that to act otherwise would be highly criminal; nay, even a refractory species of rebellion against the great God of nature: But this I decline, as my letter is already too voluminous. Thus have I, without reserve, opened my mind to one whom I

may call my friend. I need not add, that it would be highly improper that this letter should be shewn; for not a single companion but yourself knows any thing of the matter. If you write me not very fully by first post, I shall, as the saying is, be very much out with you.

IF you are to stay in Edinburgh this summer, and if I have a house of my own, as the folks say, it would add greatly to my happiness if you would make one in our little society. Every thing shall be made as agreeable to you as possible, and we shall frequently crack about the Man of the Moon, &c. So keen am I about the lunarian scheme, that I believe, though you should entirely desert me, as Heaven avert, I shall one time or other attempt the execution of it alone. Yours, &c.

WILLIAM SMELLIE.

THE succeeding letter to the same friend is without date; but as, from some allusions,. it was obviously written soon after his marriage, and from containing the compliments of the new year, it must have been dated early in January 1764.

No, XXXI.

Mr WILLIAM SMELLIE to *******

DEAR SIR,

I wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. I could give you some speculative observations on this nonsensical vulgar phrase; but I shall reserve them for a Christmas-box to the Man of the Moon. Delays, 'tis said, are dangerous; but I have always thought that precipitance does much more mischief in the world. A year hence will be, I think, a very proper period for the expulsion of this embryo, which is about to grow up and to become a great man. His magnitude, however, will depend solely on the texture and situation of the febrillæ of our brains. If we miss the peculiar knack of attracting the eyes of a multitude, abortion must inevitably be the consequence. I design to sift the Spectator, and endeavour to discover wherein he excels, and wherein he falls short of the mark. This is talking too pompously;

you and I, as say the pro

but it is between pagators of scandal.

I AM at length totally immersed in matrimony. I wish you could be here at our feude-joye on Sir ISAAC's birth-day*. This happiness, however, I despair of enjoying. Here I sit in my cabin, grottof, or what you please to call it, in a very melancholy mood; worn out with correcting the vices of printers, and corroded with anxious love. Were my passions at rest, I would entertain you a little longer; but I need not wait for the recovery of my reason, for next morning HALL HUNTER carries you this in his pocket. Adieu.

WILLIAM SMmellie.

P. S.-You promised me an odd thought from Maupertuis: remember that!

* The Newtonian Society meant to celebrate the anniversary of its patron philosopher.

† Meaning the correcting room or closet.

Alluding to the errors made by the printers in composing or

setting up their types.