In this place, when we laft heard of him, he paffed his time very agreeably, and having entered into feveral English focieties, he almost forgot the Albion cliffs, except when they ftare him in the face. Mrs. My exerts all her powers to make his time pafs as agreeably as poffible-for they are the envied happy pair wherever they appear. Two Letters of Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough. HIS old Sarah, as fhe was then called, "Account of her Conduct" under Queen Anne: which account, by the way, gives an excellent infight into the manœuvres of a court. She was affifted herein by Mr. Hooke the hiftorian; to whom, though oppreffed with the infirmities of age, and almoft bedrid, fhe would continue fpeaking for fix hours together. She delivered to him, without any notes, her account in the moft lively as well as the most connected manner; and, though the correction of the language was left to Hooke, yet the whole is plainly animated with her fpirit; and, as fome philifophers have faid of foul with regard to body, the was tota in toto, et tota in qualibet partè. She was of a strong understanding and uncommon fagacity, which I premile to juftify my wonder at the ftrange neglect of education among the females; for her woman would have written as well, and perhaps better. Here follow, merely as curiofities, two letters from her own hand-writing, directed" for Doctor Clarke att his hous near St James' Church," without alteration of either grammar or orthography. Tpublifhed, in 1742, an Saterday. I give you many thanks for the favour of your leter to me, and am glad I ded not hear of the poor Bishop of Bangors illness tell the danger is over, I have never feen La sun: fence I came out of Town, but I expect him here to day at dinner, I wish I may have any thing to fay from him that is worth troubling either of you with, but you will be gon before my leter can come to you, and therefore I will write to the Bishop, the furgeons affure me that they fee no danger in the Duke of Marlborough's fhoulder however they will not yet confent that hee fhall goe to Woodstock, I fufpect that caution may proceed from their knowing that one of them muft bee always with us when we are at fuch a diftance from London, and therefore they will defer our going as long as they can to attend their other bufinets, I do and have told them that I will buy them at their own rates, and I have known but very few minifters or faverits that were not to bee bought, which muft be done in this cafe, for when they fhall come and tell me that his fhoulder may be dreffed by any body, I can't fleep fiftymile from London, if one of the beft furgeons does not lye in the hous, by this account I am apt to think at your return upon the 22d of Auguft you will find us here, but where ever I fhall happen to bee you are fure of being always wellcome to you moft faithfull humble fervant and friend my humble fervifs S. Marlborough. having this opertunity of writing to you by the Surgeon which will come to you before you leave London, I have a mind to tell you that my Lord Sunderland was here as I expected, I had a great deal of discourse with him upon the B. of Bangor and your affaires, tis impoffible for me to write all the particulars, but hee profeffes all the value and efsteem imaginable for you both, he affures me that the B. of Bangor is to be B. of Bath and Wells when it falls, but he only fix's him there because it is moft prohable to bee vacant firft, but if any other fhould fall before that, except fome of the very great ones hee will bee for the B. of Bangors having it, what he continues to think of for you is a very good thing which Doctor Younger has at St Paul's, which is confiftent with what you have, and when I fpoake of what you wifhed for your brother hee expreffed as much pleafure in doing that for him, as you could have it in yourfelf, and said he knew him and ownd that he was a very good man and had a great deal of merrit, hee added that he defign to get a thousand pound in the winter of the King for the B. of Bangor to help him tell fomthing happend that was better than what he has, hee appeared to me to bee very defirous of ferving you both in any thing that should happen to be in his power, and I do really believe that he thinks himself that men of your abillitys, would be of fo much ufe to him, that he fencerely with's that you would help him to cafe fom things which makes it more difficult to compass what I defire then perhaps you will beleive, tho I hope you will never doubt of my being with all the truth imaginable your moft faithful friend and humble fervant Sunday the 26th of July windfor lodge S: Marlborough. I hope you will give the B. of Bangor an ac- 1786. A Letter from a Country Curate. A Letter from a Country Curate. am wonderfully pleafed with your last I letter, as it informs me of your intending to pass this short vacation at my little villa. Being convinced that in making me this vifit you act (as you always do) on a noble and exalted principle, the principle of true friendship, I'am under no apprehension that my frugal plan of living will be at all ditagreeable to you. However to form fome notion how you are likely to spend the enfaing month, fee a full account of the manner in which I pafs my days: fhould you think it tedious and abounding with egotifm, remember (though we never gain by it), how naturally fond we are of taking off ourfelves. -What we are all then fo liable to fhould be confidered with great candour. The little village where I am curate, of the flourishing ftate of Goldfmith's Auburn which he has celebrated in one of the beft defcriptive poems in our language. The houfe I live in is not large, but neat and convenient; the neighbourhood focial, genteel, and fenfible; and my falary, though fmall, yet fufficient to exift upon-Importuna tamen pauperics abeft. You are not ignorant that my mother and fifter live along with me: they are what we may call liberal economifts. Thus retired, I endeavour to discharge the duties of my profeffion with all poffible fidelity. Religion (we are told) is too generally confidered as matter of little moment, and is greatly refined in this our age: it, therefore, gives me much comfort to fee that my little flock, allowing for the unimproved ftate of the understanding of most of them have a good notice of the aim, and nature, and importance of Chriftianity, and endeavour to live according to the precepts. I contrive to make each family, how poor and obfcure foever, a fhort vifit once a week: and in these vifits, though I take care that my behaviour shall be fuch as to command the refpect due to their paftor, it is beft to put off all unnecefiary forms, and endeavour, in the way of converfation, to bring in fomething pertinent and ufeful. This I confider 2s part of my duty, and for that reason I feel no small fatisfaction in difcharging it: -befides the good people love and revere me-and, to a reasonable man, is not this alone fatisfaction enough ? This takes up but a little portion of my time: the reft is employed between reading, bodily exercise, and the society of a few friends. The little learning I gleaned up, when in college, I now find of the greateft confequences, as it enables me to profecute my ftudies with pleasure and improvement. A well written book is a moft precious article in one's viaticum through life; and should we not 127 pity the man, whatever honours or riches he may have, who has not the conveniencies or the capacity of enjoying it ?--Indeed to a young perfon, who in the univerfity has acquired little more than habits of idlenefs and intemperance, the being thus fecluded as it were from the world, muft certainly be one of the most irksome things on earth. The fports of the field, without a mixture of that pure and folid pleasure which arifes from properly exerting the faculties of the intellect, will foon loofe all their zest --all their novelty. The correct Boileau has the fame truth, with more elegance-Take it in his words: Je ne trouve point de fatigne firude, Que le'nnuyeux loifir d'un mortel fans etude.', Three or four hours, therefore, in the morning, and from ten to eleven at night, are spent in fome ferious and regular course of ftudy in arming myfelf with ftrength of mind, and reflection, fufficient to regulate my life, and fupport me in every fituation of it. And the evenings I divide for the most part (unless when I write a long letter to Eugenio) between reading fome agreeable moralift or hiftorian to my little family, and contending at our favourite games of piquet, or backgammon, or the nobler one of chefs -How Tweet" to rock the cradle of repofing age!" But a too ftudious and fedentary life is productive of lowfpiritedness, and tends of courfe to impair one's health and good humour." True:-hence then, one is induced to take one s gun or fishing-rod, and, attended by trufty Rangers, pafs away an hour now and then among the fields in refreshing the mind, and exercifing the body; thus avoiding thofe many inconveniencies, which a dull and torpid inactivity brings along with it: and in thefe excurfions I am generally fortunate enough to meet with fomething to make a fmall dish for my table; for a perch, or a patridge, with a good joint of meat, is almoft all the dinner you are to expect. "Form'd on the Samian schools or those of Ind There are who think these paftimes scarce humane; Yet in my mind (and not relentless I) I would not have you mistake me in this matter. He, indeed, especially in my line of life, that minds little more than fhooting, or hunting, or dancing, or any other fuch trining oc cupation, is defervedly neglected and defpifed.-There is a wide difference between uling a thing by way of amufement, and making it the principal object of one's purfuit-the wideft imaginable. What What alfo furnishes me exercise, is the care and cultivation of my little garden: this I take entirely upon myfelf. I cannot afford, nor perhaps would I chufe, to employ a man on purpose. And here I make a point to endeavour to excel my neighbours in the neatnefs of laying out my ground, and in the delicacy of my fruit.-Is it not laudable, Eugenio, even in fuch trifles, and efpecially in things of higher moment, whilst we act perfectly confiftent with virtue, understood in its most extenfive fenfe, to attend to that well known line of the noble Grecian? • "Tis thus I exercise and amufe myself.' But there is no living without fociety and fenfible converfation: this alone can teach us how to apply properly the knowledge we acquire in folitude, polifhes our manners, and enlivens the fcenes of a retired life: and op portunity of enjoying thefe pleasures and advantages it affords me at our excellent neighbour's, Philoxenus. Here one is always fure to meet with genteel and rational company. Having been formerly engaged in a public and honourable capacity, his connections are numerous, and among perfons of distinction, as well as of fenfe and merit. I long to introduce you to this worthy man. He loves and encourages what ever is great and amiable in human nature. He is a fincere Chriftian, and á profound and elegant fcholar-and what can a man be more? I never read the character which Pliny draws of his friend Titus Arifto, with out thinking of Philoxenus: the latter indeed is in fome refpects (and I speak with im partiality) fuperior to the brave Roman; but that fuperiority he derives altogether from his religion. He is, in fhort, among many others a living proof, that true Chriftianity and true philofophy may meet in one and the fame perfon; fo that they are by no means, as fome bold men have fuggefted, inconfiftent things-Far otherwife. A few other friends I have of confider able value. Though but a poor curate, I take care to behave with proper referve towards coxcombs, and all narrow-hearted people; and can, thank God, look down both on their smiles and fupercilious airs with all poffible indifference.I hate and deteft the leveling principle, as unnatural and abfurd-But be thofe alfo far from me, who can pride themfelves merely on being of this or that order of men, of this or that fituation of life. Than affociate with fuch, give me rather the friendship of one like Philoxus, and let me enjoy it far from the haunts of these men. Their wifdom, be it what it will, has not made them truly wife. Their thoughts and notions, however fpecious, are illiberal all of them, and shallow, and vain. Mere birth, mere money, Thus we find converfation a most agreeable and instructive exercise, tending to give eafe to the whole conduct, and to our language elegance and propriety. Should any of my rich neighbours, 23 the country people call them, come and dine with me, I never make much alteration in my dinner: they know my income, and did I live beyond it, they would defpife and avoid me. They come, like yourself, from motives of friendship; and not in that ftarched, formal, and most infipid way, which is fo common in modern times.They live, it is true, in a different manner: I too, had I the means, would probably, on fuch occafions, enlarge my plan, but ftill fo as to conduct things with oeconomy, fimplicity, temperance without which it is not to live. But the means are wanting: neque tamen ego invideo aliis bonum, quo ipfe careo; fed contra, fenfum quendam voluptatemque percipio, fi ea, quæ mihi denegantur, amicis video fupereffe. I am fenfible that philofophers will tell you, that he who enjoys health and a bare fubfiftence, enjoys enough; that fuch gewgaws as riches, conduce not to the real happinefs of man; and fo forth. Confidered merely as riches, no man on earth can admit their affertion in a more extenfive fenfe than myfelf; but confidered as the means of doing good, on the other hand, that they then become no improper object of defire even to a philosopher. "Hæc perinde funt, ut illius animus, qui ea piffidet: Qui uti fcit, ei bona; illi; qui non utitur rectè, mala." But by no means do I fay that the man who has inward peace of mind, who has univerfal benevolence in his heart, and can think with pleasure on his life and death, is, in any fituation, an object of pity or contempt. Quite the reverfe-He, and he alone, is the truly happy-the truly great max. National 1780. Hiftory of Sir George National Prejudices overcome, or the Hiftory of Sir George O. A True Story, tranflated from the French of M. Arnaud, AR has generally been confidered as loufy, and it has been found to exift more frequently between neighbouring nations than between thofe that are remote from one another. But in governments where the people imagine that they have a fhare in the general adminiftration, this animonty appears to be almoft incurable: there, hatred of enemies and rivals is efteemed a patriotic virtue; and even the more enlightened part of the nation encounter the greateft difficulties, in divefting themselves of a jealoufy which renders them as blind and unjust as the lowest of the people. The following is a recent example of the truth of this remark. In the course of laft war, a French fquadren under the command of Count de Barras, had landed fome troops at Newport upon Rhode Island; and in order that they might not be incommoded with thofe that were unfit for fervice, it was refolved to fend all the fick into the country. Captain -- of the regiment of -, being extremely ill of the fcurvy, was of the number; and upon an order of the major of the Provincial army, he was quartered about fix miles from Newport, in the house of Sir George O an English planter. The Chevalier L The two officers accordingly took their departure, accompanied by a guide, who ferved them as an interpreter. Upon their arrival, they were received with a coldness which furprised the Chevalier as much as it did his uncle. Sir George infifted upon feeing the order which had brought two Frenchmen to his houfe; and after reading it with great indifference, he declared that he had only one bed to give them. Nevertheless, added he, fince one of you appears indifpofed, the other, who will probably wish to attend you, may fleep upon a bale of furs, which has lain there these three years, and which this unfortunate war has prevented me from fending to Europe. The interpreter explained to the Captain what Sir George had faid. The Chevalier indeed might have performed this office, as he was fufficiently well acquainted with the English language; but by the advice of his uncle, he pretended to be ignorant of it, in order Hib. Mag. March, 1986. ter and difpofition of their landlord. 129 to be able the better to discover the charac- French. The grand object of the approach- Sir George, now fixty years of age, had become a complete flave to the ancient prejudices of his education: he had fought the French in the preceding war; and he still perfifted in viewing that nation in the light of an enemy, who now affifted in recovering the liberty of his native country. From the first moment he faw the Captain, he diffembled not his fentiments upon that subject. To what ftrange circumftance is it owing, faid he, that your fovereign has fent an army into our provinces?--Because you have afked their afliftance. It is not I, it is the Congre -- And are you not now about to conquer our fouthern provinces?-We are only going to defend you from a common enemy; and free you from a yoke which has become unfupportable to you. That is to fay, you intend only a change of matters.— No indeed.- -What reward 'then does France expect for fo great fervices ?. Your liberty.. -But what will you gain by that?The glory of fhowing our generosity in contributing to your happinefs. This, generofity is very grand indeed; but what real advantage will you reap from it? You imagine, I fuppofe, that the fovereigns of Europe perform good offices without any real intereft to themselves, and merely from R -- the the pleasure of doing good?—Our fovereign, at leaft, now thews an example of this virtue; and at the end of the warAt the end of the war will not your claims upon us be very confiderable? No doubt they will. And what will France be able to procure from us in return? -A great deal.How many provinces ?None. -What then?--Your friendfhip; which I am more defirous of than I am afraidSir George, inftantly changing the converfation, afked the Captain how he found himself. I think, replied he, that a little milk and fome fresh provifions would greatly contribute to the eftablishment of my health.-Charles, go defire Maria to procure fome milk, and order a fheep to be killed. The Captain, greatly moved at this fenfibility, was going to exprefs his acknowledgments; but Sir George prevented him by hastily quitting the room. The name of Maria, which he now heard for the first time, having made a deep preffion upon the mind of the Chevalier, no fooner had Sir George left the room, than he anxiously inquired of Charles who this Maria was. She is my fifter, faid Charles; follow me, and you fhall fee her. They both went in fearch of this amiable girl, whom they found at work in her chamber. At fight of the Chevalier, fhe was ftruck with aftonishment; but her brother foon removed her fears, and begged of her, in compliance with the orders of their father, to perform the fervices to the uncle of his friend. Maria raised her lovely blue eyes upon this friend, but quickly fixed them on the ground; and haflily quitting her work, the led them to the meadow, and with her own hands milked the first goat fhe met with; and giving the veffel to her brother Charles, Lofe not a moment, faid the with the oft delightful fweetnels, in carrying this milk while it is warm to the uncle of your friend; and, ftealing another glance of the Chevalier, the haftily retired covered with blufhes leaving the friend of her brother to admire the figure of an angel, and a heart ever ready to affift the unfortunate, -In their way home, the Chevalier dwelt upon with delight, and frequently made Charles repeat, the tweet words of Maria, although they were already deeply engraven upon his heart. They immediately repaired to the Captain's room; and the nephew, in prefenting the milk to his uncle, fpoke to him with fuch rapture and enthufiafm of the amiable Maria, that his uncle imagined Is head was turned. And in reality tuch was the cafe, if love, and particularly a first affection, is deferving of fo harsh an appel 1.tion. The Chevalier, who had spent fixteen years at a military academy, and three a board the fleet, had as yet felt no tender attachment; and the heart of Maria, who had now entered her fixteenth year, was as little engaged as his. At their age the first interview is frequently decitive; and Maria, the fweet Maria, now conceived lefs than ever why her father entertained fuch a hatred against the French. How foreign to her mind was fuch an unjust fentiment! The tender attachment of the Chevalies, for his uncle and for her brother Charles, was to her a continual subject of reflection. She cqncluded from this, that he muft have a moft excellent heart: and the lovely daughter of Sir George now began to feel an attachment for France, in which politics had no fhare. This firft interview had fo deeply affec ted the Chevalier, that he never cealed fpeaking to Charles of the happiness he fhould have in frequently feeing his filter. But how was he to clude the fevere injunc tions of Sir George? for he could hardly beago fee the growing connection between the Chevalier and his fon. If Charles even fpoke before him a few French words, he was immediately checked. The uncle and the nephew had frequently reprefented, that the union which was likely to take place between the French and the Americans, would make it neceffary for them to speak the fame language. Very well, he would fay, let them learn ours. Charles faid, that in order to do fo, it was neceffary the French and English fhould frequently converfe together; but a look from Sir George ever put an end to a converfation which he fo little relifhed. This exceffive feverity of the father, however, produced an effect very different from what he intended: the two friends, indeed, met lefs openly, but their friendship did not on that account abate. It was to these ftolen interviews, that the Chevalier ventured to propofe introducing Maria; and you will ferve, faid he to Charles, as an interpreter in the French and English lefions which we all three will give one another: for the is even more ignorant of my language than I am of her's; and if ever my expreffions fhould betray a want of respect for this a miable fifter, my friend will correct me. Although Charles faw no danger in thefe converfations, he delayed, however, the propoling them to Maria; but the Chevalier prefied him with fo much eagernels, that he was at laft cbliged to comply. Ah! but my father, exclaimed Maria, the moment it was mentioned to her. He will know no thing of the matter.-But if the Chevalier fhould love me? He will not love you, re plied the innocent Charles, transported at the thoughts of being able to oblige his friend. And he was not much mistaken, for the |