nothing for two years from his successor, I well hoped that I was out of my office. The other morning however, Sam announced the new clerk; he came to solicit the same service as I had rendered his predecessor, and I reluctantly complied; doubtful indeed, whether I was capable. I have however achieved that labour, and, I have done nothing more. just sent for up to Mary, dear Mary! Adieu! she is as well as when I left you, I would I could say better. Remember us both affectionately to your sweet boy, and trust me for being

I am

We differ so little, that it is

pity we should not agree. The possibility of restoring our diseased government is, I think, the only

Not those

point on which we are not of one mind. If you are right, and it cannot be touched in the medical way, without danger of absolute ruin to the constitution, keep the doctors at a distance say I—and let us live as long as we can. But perhaps physicians might be found of skill sufficient for the purpose, were they but as willing as able. Who are they? honest blunderers the mob, but our governors themselves. As it is in the power of any individual to be honest if he will, any body of men are, as it seems to me, equally possessed of the same option. For I can never persuade myself to think, the world so constituted by the author of it, and human society, which is his ordinance, so shabby a business, that the buying and selling of votes and consciences should be essential to its existence. As to multiplied representation I know not that I foresee any great advantage likely to arise from that. Provided there be but a reasonable number of reasonable heads laid together for the good of the nation, the end may as well be answered by five hundred, as it would be by a thousand, and perhaps better. But then they should be honest as as well as wise, and in order that they may be so, they should put it out of their own power to be otherwise. This they might certainly do if they would, and would

they do it, I am not convinced that any great mischief would ensue,, You say, "somebody must have influence," but I see no necessity for it. Let integrity of intention, and a due share of ability be supposed, and the influence will be in the right place, it will all centre in the zeal and good of the nation. That will influence their debates and decisions, and nothing else ought to do it. You will say perhaps, that wise men, and honest men, as they are supposed, they are yet liable to be split into almost as many differences of opinion as there are individuals; but I rather think not. It is observed of Prince Eugene, and the Duke of Marlborough, that each always approved, and seconded, the plans and views of the other; and the reason given for it, is, that they were men of equal ability. The same cause, that could make two unanimous, would make twenty so, and would at least secure a majority among as many hundreds.

As to the reformation of the church, I want none, unless by a better provision for the inferior clergy; and if that could be brought about by emaciating a little some of our too corpulent dignitaries, I should be well contented.

The Dissenters, I think, Catholics and others, have all a right to the privileges of all other Englishmen, because to deprive them, is persecution, and persecution on any account, but especially on a religious one, is an abomination. But after all, valeat respublica, I love my country, I love my king, and I wish peace and prosperity to Old England.

Adieu,

LETTER XVI.

W. C.

TO WILLIAM HAYLEY, Esqr.

Weston, Dec. 26, 1792.

That I may not be silent, till

my silence alarms you, I snatch a moment to tell you, that although toujours triste I am not worse than usual, but my opportunities of writing are paucified, as perhaps Dr. Johnson would have dared to say, and the few that I have are shortened by company.

Give my love to dear Tom, and thank him for

his very apposite extract, which I should be happy indeed to turn to any account. How often do I wish in the course of every day, that I could be employed once more in poetry, and how often of course that this Miltonic trap had never caught me ! The year ninety-two shall stand chronicled in my remembrance as the most melancholy that I have ever known, except the few weeks that I spent at Eartham; and such it has been principally, because being engaged to Milton, I felt myself no longer free for any other engagement. That ill-fated work, impracticable in itself, has made every thing else impracticable.

*

I am very Pindaric, and obliged to be so by the hurry of the hour. My friends are come down to breakfast.

Adieu !

W. C.