LETTER CXXI.

FROM THE SAME.

MY long residence here begins to fatigue me, as every object ceases to be new, it no longer continues to be pleasing; some minds are so fond of variety that pleasure itself, if permanent, would be insupportable, and we are thus obliged to solicit new happiness even by courting distress; I only therefore wait the arrival of my son to vary this trifling scene, and borrow new pleasure from danger and fatigue. A life, I own, thus spent in wandering from place to place, is at best but empty dissipation. But to pursue trifles is the lot of humanity; and whether we bustle in a pantomime, or strut at a coronation; whether we shout at a bonfire, or harangue in a senate house; whatever object we follow, it will at last surely conduct us to futility and disappointment. The wise bustle and laugh as they walk in the pageant, but fools bustle and are important; and this probably is all the difference between them.

This may be an apology for the levity of my former correspondence; I talked of trifles, and I knew that they were trifles; to make the things of this life ridiculous, it was only sufficient to call them by their

names.

In other respects, I have omitted several striking circumstances in the description of this country, as supposing them either already known to you, or as not being thoroughly known to myself: but there is one omission for which I expect no forgiveness, namely, by being totally silent upon their buildings, roads,

rivers,

rivers, and mountains. This is a branch of science on which all other travellers are so very prolix, that my deficiency will appear the more glaring. With what pleasure, for instance, do some read of a traveller in Egypt, measuring a fallen column with his cane, and finding it exactly five feet nine inches long; of his creeping through the mouth of a catacomb, and coming out by a different hole from that he entered; of his stealing the finger of an antique statue, in spite of the janizary that watched him; or his adding anew conjecture to the hundred and fourteen conjectures already published, upon the names of Osiris and Isis.

Methinks I hear some of my friends in China demanding a similar account of London and the adjacent villages; and if I remain here much longer, it is probable I may gratify their curiosity. I intend, when run dry on other topics, to take a serious survey of the city-wall; to describe that beautiful building the mansion-house; I will enumerate the magnificent squares, in which the nobility chiefly reside, and the royal palaces appointed for the reception of the English monarch; nor will I forget the beauties of Shoe-lanc, in which I myself have resided since my arrival. You shall find me no way inferior to many of my brother travellers in the arts of description. At present, however, as a specimen of this way of writing, I send you a few hasty remarks, collected in a late journey I made to Kentish Town, and this in the manner of modern voyagers.

Having heard much of Kentish Town, I con'ceived a strong desire to see that celebrated place. I could have wished indeed to satisfy my curiosity without going thither; but that was impracticable, and therefore I resolved to go. Travellers have two methods of going to Kentish Town; they take coach which costs nine pence, or they may go a foot which costs nothing; in my opinion, a coach

is

is by far the most eligible convenience, but I was re'solved to go on foot, having considered with myself, that going in that manner would be the cheapest

way.

you set out from Dog-house bar, you enter ' upon a fine level road railed in on both sides, com'manding on the right a small prospect of groves, ' and fields, enamelled with flowers, which would wonderfully charm the sense of smelling, were it not ' for a dunghill on the left, which mixes its effluvia 'with their odours: this dunghill is of much greater 'antiquity than the road; and I must not omit a piece of injustice I was going to commit upon this occasion. My indignation was levelled against the makers of the dunghill for having brought it so near the road; whereas it should have fallen upon the 'makers of the road for having brought that so near ⚫ the dungbill.

After proceeding in this manner for some time, a building, resembling somewhat a triumphal arch, salutes the traveller's view. This structure however is peculiar to this country, and vulgarly called 'a turnpike gate: I could perceive a long inscrip. ‘tion in large characters on the front, probably upon 'the occasion of some triumph, but being in haste 'I left it to be made out by some subsequent adven❝turer who may happen to travel this way; so continuing my course to the west, I soon arrived at an 'unwalled town called Islington.

Islington is a pretty neat town, mostly built of brick, with a church and bells: it has a small lake, 'or rather pond in the midst; though at present ' very much neglected. I am told it is dry in summer; if this be the case, it can be no very proper receptacle for fish, of which the inhabitants themselves seem sensible, by bringing all that is eaten there from London.

'After

After having surveyed the curiosities of this fair and beautiful town I proceeded forward, leaving a 'fair stone building called the White Conduit House on my right here the inhabitants of London often 'assemble to celebrate a feast of hot rolls and butter; 'seeing such numbers, each with their little tables 'before them, employed on this occasion, must no 'doubt be a very amusing sight to the looker on, 'but still more so to those who perform in the so'lemnity.

From hence I parted with reluctance to Pancras, as it is written, or Pancridge as it is pronounced; but which should be both pronounced and written Pangrace: this emendation I will venture meo arbitrio Пay in the Greek language signifies all, ' which added to the English word grace, maketh 'all grace, or Pangrace; and indeed this is a very ' proper appellation to a place of so much sanctity 'as Pangrace is universally esteemed. However

this be, if you except the parish church and its 'fine bells, there is little in Pangrace worth the attention of the curious observer.

From Pangrace to Kentish Town is an easy journey of one mile and a quarter: the road lies through a fine champain country, well watered 'with beautiful drains, and enamelled with flowers of all kinds, which might contribute to charm every sense, where it not that the odoriferous gales, are often more impregnated with dust than

per-sume.

'As you enter Kentish Town, the eye is at onne presented with the shops of artificers, such as 'venders of candles, small-coal, and hair-brooms; 'there are also several august buildings of red brick, ⚫ with numberless sign-posts, or rather pillars, in a 'peculiar order of architecture; I send you a drawing of several, vide A. B. C. This pretty town

probably

'probably borrows its name from its vicinity to the county of Kent; and indeed it is not unnatural 'that it should, as there are only London and 'the adjacent villages that lie between them. Be this as it will, perceiving night approach I made a hasty repast on roasted mutton, and a certain dried 'fruit called potatoes, resolving to protract my remarks upon my return: and this I would very willingly have done; but was prevented by a circum'stance which in truth I had for some time foreseen, for night coming on, it was impossible to take a proper survey of the country, as I was obliged to return home in the dark.' Adieu.

6

LETTER CXXII.

TO THE SAME.

AFTER a variety of disappointments, my wishes are at length fully satisfied. My son so long expected is arrived; at once, by his presence banishing my anxiety, and opening a new scene of unexpected pleasure. His improvements in mind and person have far surpassed even the sanguine expectations of a father. I left him a boy, but he is returned a man: pleasing in his person, hardened by travel, and polished by adversity. His disappointment in love, however, had infused an air of melancholy into his conversation, which seemed at intervals to interrupt our mutual satisfaction. I expected that this could find a cure only from time; but fortune, as if willing to load us with her favours, has in a moment repaid every uneasiness with rapture.

Two days after his arrival, the man in black, with his beautiful niece, came to congratulate us upon