BY WHAT IS MY THOUGHT LIKE? way of relieving the topic of electioneering (which just now is become as much the fubject of the drawing-room as the porter-houfe) we agreed the other night, in a genteel mixed company, where I was prefent, to play at What is it like? But as fome of your readers may not know this old English play from its general title, permit me to explain it to them. The method is this: Some one of the company is chofen a President, who appoints a theme for the reft to work upon, by thinking of fome one perfon or thing, and demanding of every one prefent What it is like. The prefident, by the bye, does not disclose the object of his thoughts till each has first named his fimilitude. This done, he publishes aloud what he thought on, and calls upon every one in turn' to make good his comparifon. The fetches and trains of invention on this occafion are very diverting, and often afford as much matter for admiration as for mirth. The prefident for the time being is the fole judge, and, after a full hearing, declares whofe fimilitude appears to be moft a-propos; whereupon fome little prize is affigned to the victor. VOL. II. The lady of the house, whose good fenfe and agreeable temper would procure her the privilege of leading moft affemblies, had the chair for this night. Round her fat five other ladies and five gentlemen. As foon therefore as fhe had determined on the fubject, fhe put the question, and every one was afked What it was like? But as I have not permiffion to give the names of the company, I fhall only make ufe of the Chriftian names of the ladies, and ufe fictitious ones for the gentlemen. Athenais compared it to a fconce; Lady Charlotte to fnuff; Aurelia to a bog; Diana to a fpaniel; Lady Dorothy to a lock; Mentor to Don Quixote; Dick Tell-truth to a mat; Jack Sarcafm to a toad; Will Banter to butter; and Colonel Standard to gunpowder. When each had delivered an opinion in this order, the prefident named MODERN PATRIOTISM to be the fubject he had pitched upon, and then going round, demanded of each perfon a reason for their comparisons, which they justified in the following manner: Athenais faid Modern Patriotifm was like a fconce, because it reflected upon the light. Lady Charlotte faid it was like fnuff, valued for being pungent. Aurelia Aurelia pleaded it was like a bog, because whoever entered on it muft either fink or keep in motion. Diana contended it was like a spaniel, because it fawned when it had a mind to come in, and barked when it was utterly excluded. Lady Dorothy faid it was like a lock, never to come further than the door, and to be managed by a mafter-key. Mentor compared it to Don Quixote, because it was the complete character of lunacy. Dick Tell-truth argued it was like a mat, made only to be trodden upon. Jack Sarcafm likened it to a toad, becaufe it had a wide mouth, quick eyes, and a belly full of poifon; it fubfifted upon the thinnest diet, and whenever it complained, it was always a fign of good weather. Will Banter compared it to butter, because the leaft degree of natural heat fpoiled its confift ́ency. Colonel Standard, who was asked last, defended his comparison, by faying it was like gunpowder, because it began in a blaze, and ended in a stink. manner: The feveral fimilies being thus explained, the Lady Prefident gave judgment in the following "That he had never before feen the opinions of chance fo ably defended and affimilated; but as it fell under her peculiar jurifdiction to adjudge the priority to fome one perfon, her most impartial judgment led her to bestow it on Colonel Standard, who had not only given a juft fimile, but had in that fimile, and the reafon for it, abridged the whole history of MODERN PATRIOTISM." TO THE MEMORY OF SIR CHARLES SAUNDERS. WITHIN this fculptor'd marble refts from war, The 'virtuous ftatefman, and advent❜rous tar; Who led our navies round the trackless world, And on oppofing foes the thunder hurl'd: Whofe virtue and integrity out fhone, poor: The brightest stars that glitter'd round the throne, AN AN IMPROMPTU, ON SEEING A BEAUTIFUL LADY SITTING FOR HER PICTURE AT MR. SHERIFF'S. THRICE happy painter by fuch eyes infpir'd, By grace enliven'd, and by beauty fir'd; So fweet a fmile, and fuch a dimple sleek, Ne'er curl'd on Hebe's mouth, or fat on Helen's cheek. THE following Jeu d'Efprit was the production of the Dean of Derry, Doctor Barnard, who advanced in converfation with Sir Joshua Reynolds, and other wits, that he thought "" no man could improve when he was paft the age of fortyfive." Johnfon (Samuel) who was in company, with his ufual elegance and polished graces, immediately turned round to the facetious Dean, and told him that he was an inftance to the contrary, for that there was great room for improvement in him (the Dean) and wish'd he'd fet about it; upon which the Dean (the next day) fent the following Bagatelle to Sir Joshua Reynolds, and the fame company. TO SIR JOSHUA REYNOLDS BY THE DEAN OF DERRY. Lately thought no man alive, Cou'd e'er improve past forty-five, N 3 AND CO. And |