awkward tongue; by consulting my own imagination, I learn that I have a passion for hovelty, and for straining things to their utmost pitch: A very dangerous and very unpopular turn for a clergyman!

I SHALL now inform you of an affair which will surprise you more than if I had turned a worshipper of MAHOMET. Nature has deemed me to be a violent lover for some years past. Many expedients have I tried to overcome the passion; vain and unsuccessful, however, every attempt of this kind has been. Neither books, conversation, or philosophy, have been able to eradicate the deep-rooted affection. What is still more singular, the flame had seized both our hearts long before either of us were aware of or suspected the secret cause, which forcibly determined us to be no where so easy as in the simple society of two. I have coolly and deliberately, and warmly and passionately, alternis vicibus, considered what was most pro

per

to be done. To give up all correspondence would have hurt me extremely; but I have every reason to believe, it would have proved fatal to a female who is constitutionally constant in affection, and whose mind is

sensibility itself. I often resolved, and as often tried to forsake her; and had several times almost diverted the natural bias of my heart. But, when I beheld the very cause of my pain, tortured beyond expression, unless flint or adamant had been the principal ingredients of my composition, I must infallibly have dissolved, retracted my former resolution, and resumed my former passion.

THE result of all this is, that in a few days I shall perhaps be personally acquainted with the right-worshipful HYMEN. Like the common herd of younkers, you will no doubt pronounce this a mad and distracted resolution. But pause a moment, and listen to the following thoughts. Old Reikie gave me birth, and in Old Reikie have I lived these twenty-three years and some more. Most of my blood relations have long been in their graves. By a don't know what nor how, I have gained several friends and well wishers, besides à tolerable competency of good acquaintances, in the said Old Reikie. I might probably have lived as long, and per

A customary quaint name for the old part of the city of Edinburgh, signifying Old Smokey.

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 &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.

room,

of

I COULD urge many other motives for the alteration about to take place in my way 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.