On concluding at Bedford we removed to Woburn and were honored by the patronage of the different branches of the Russell family; we also went to Buckingham, for several weeks the early part of the summer. I remember being charmed with Stowe Gardens, and very often used to frequent the delightful walks there; and look with profound respect at all the names inscribed on the Temple of the Worthies; and carrying books with me, I often read for hours in the different pavilions dedicated to the heathen divinities. Part of the next winter we passed at Abington; yes "Abington in Berkshire," as young Wilding has often been heard to say. Our chief motives for going there, were for the purpose of obtaining the patronage and support of the Oxford scholars, many of whom had interested themselves in the cause, and added their entreaties as to our stopping there as long as possible. Things went on pretty smoothly for a week or so; but, ah, the performance was too good; they could not find enough to laugh at. They soon began to be very annoying to the most respectable ladies and gentlemen in the boxes and other parts of the house: when silenced by the plaudits bestowed on the actors, by those who came to be entertained with the play, they, the Oxford bucks, changed their manoeuvres into mock applause and deafening cries of "Bravo! Bravo!" Between the acts, they would often plague the Orchestra by loud cries of "Play up! "Music " "Roast beef" &c. &c. at length the musicians took no notice of them but on a particular occasion, a very noisy young gentleman, one of the scholars, called to the

leader by his proper name (Cooper) threw a shilling into the Orchestra and bade him play a horn-pipe : Cooper (who was a harmless but shrewd man) took up the shilling, played a bar or two of some quick tune, looked round and nodded, as much as to say "Thank you Sir!"-Bravo then resounded from the scholars another shilling was thrown and quickly another tune was played, but only a few bars of it. Cooper took up the second shilling, and again nodded his thanks! a pause ensued-when Cooper turned round and with a very grave face, said "Will any other gentleman like to have a shillings' worth?" The ladies in the boxes smiled, the gentlemen laughed, the pit loudly applauded, and the Oxford wits never cracked another joke. They soon left the house, quarrelled with the turnpike keeper as they went home; the Chancellor forbade them to come again, and this to our comfort, brought on a premature and extra Oxford vacation!

1 shall, I hope, be pardoned if I relate a short anecdote of a very different kind. During my stay at Abingdon, I had scribbled a farce with songs, which I called " I don't know what." By way of getting acquainted with me, a good natured gentleman, (one squire W.) I suppress his name for reasons which will soon appear. He was rather a sensible man when sober, but I never found him so, except for the first three hours in the morning. He would rise from his bed about eight or nine,-begin with his morning medicine, and endeavour to renovate his habitual errors and constitutional defects, by those means which best

suited his inclinations; and thus by his spirited practices, he would assuage his bodily ailments. Purl was pleasant; even aloes allowed sweet when put into warm ale or strong beer; milk was considered good when rum was put into it, and bitters made him a beautiful beverage when mixed up with gin or brandy. In short, he had always a strong desire of pouring strong liquors down his dry and for ever thirsty throat.

This honest squire took a great fancy to me, because he imagined me so very much like a young relation of his, who had died about three years before. He offered to give me a beautiful horse, which he often lent me to ride a coursing with him: nay, more than this-he offered me the hand of his niece, a young lady who kept his house; yes, and he offered to give her a fortune of one thousand pounds on the day of marriage, and the bulk of his property at his death. That is, if I would leave the stage, and live at his house, or in the neighbourhood. I had no idea of any thing of the kind before, but I confess his offer somewhat staggered me.

My first reply was, thanks for your good opinion, sir; but the young lady's inclination should be consulted. "Oh (he replied) don't be over modest; you cannot have any doubt on that subject: you are already well assured that my niece is a very good, and a fine girl; and though not more than eighteen, if I sanction your addresses, you will not have the least reason to apprehend any objection on her part." I felt the truth of all these observations-yet seemed to hesitate (for I was indeed somewhat confounded) and he ex

pecting my ready acquiescence, added "Nay, if you don't approve of what I have offered, candidly say so at once!" I mustered up courage to declare that I did most cordially approve of his liberal offer; but I should wish to ascertain whether the young lady's compliance would be chiefly in obedience to her uncle's proposal, or real affection for me. In fact, I all at once became a cautious, calculating, hesitating, sentimental sophist

or Faulkland-like lover. The fact was, though I liked the young lady, that is, thought her very agreeable which she really was; yet the cause of my hesi tation was this: 1 found him so much given to drinking, that I feared if I kept him company as I had done, I should injure my health, and probably ruin my constitution. And I also feared that if I declined drinking, or said too much against the practice, I should run the risk of losing his favor: for a circumstance happened so as to convince me that he could not bear much raillery on the subject of drinking. The circumstance was this: Talking one morning of the next performance, which was settled to be "The Belles Stratagem," he observed he should like to go on the stage in the masquerade scene. I told him that he might; as the more characters we had on the stage, on such occasions, the better, provided they were properly dressed. What did I mean by properly dressed? Oh, so as to make as much variety as possible: "Nay (he replied) dress me up as you please, so as I am not known; any disguise you like!" I observed, the performers generally chose their own characters, so as to suit their conveniences; and if it

best suited him, he might put on his boots, and go as a fox or hare hunter, or a plain country squire. "No, no, (be answered) that won't do; I shall be known: my object is, not to be known: any thing so as I cannot be known!" If that is your only object (said I) there is but one safe method of preventing your being known, if you go on the stage; and what method is that? (said he) 1 replied-why this-" Go on the stage perfectly sober, and my life on it, nobody will know you!"

I looked in earnest and so did he for a moment; the hit was rather too hard for him! but however he was naturally good natured, so he laughed it off, and turned the conversation to some other subject.

Before we left that part of the country, he made me many little presents; we continued to correspond occasionally; but business led me to Wantage & Thame, -then again to Newport and to Brighton; and afterwards what became of this good natured squire I never heard! I much fear he killed himself by drinking.

MECHANICS.

Having in the course of the preceding pages, more than once alluded to the subject of mechanics, a few more observations of that sort might, it is presumed be admitted.

After mentioning the highly famed Archimedes of ancient days, we need only glance at the many other great men, who at different times, and in different vol. ii,

H