Ignoro. It is only a fresh proof of the little real superiority of the great (great in worldly estimation) over the little in the same estimation. Hence, Dryden is here at least upon a level with a king. But, from this, concluded my father, laughingly, do not let all the Tom Fools who tag a rhyme and think themselves poets, also think they are equal to Dryden, and on a level with King William."

So far the narrative of Atticus; who added, that in speculating upon the apparent inequality in the lots of mankind, he had often recurred to this little sermon of his father's; which was sure, if there were any doubts or difficulties about them, to bring them all immediately to a level.

"If so," said I, " and these pictures read you such lessons, you have as much philosophy indoors as you have without; and ambition, I see, is thrown away upon you."

"Rather," he replied, "I am thrown away upon it."

But we were now at the end of the gallery of which we had been examining the interesting lore; and the horses we had ordered coming to the door, we mounted;-I, more than ever struck with all that I had seen and heard, and hoped still to see and hear. For, as to my mission,-though success seemed farther off than ever, I would not

yet resolve to give it entirely up, but wished to probe our friend still deeper.

What passed upon it afterwards, shall be the subject of another letter.

Meantime, I have the honour to be,

&c. &c. &c.

LETTER III.

MY DEAR LORD,

I left you I think yesterday, just as we had got on horseback. Our ride was pregnant with observation on my part. It lay through an open glade in the forest, which stretches in great variety from Atticus's mansion to his post town. It is to him full of interests; of which I had soon speaking proofs. It had been the scene of his infancy, his childhood, and his youth, and now of his retired age. Here it was that he was nursed, here his first school, here the scene of his college vacations.

"You must not be surprised, said he, if our path should be devious. I only hope it will not annoy you."

He said this as we stopt at a very snug farm house, where dogs, an old horse, and even the pigs, seemed to know him.

A man about his own age ran (for he did run) from the house to greet him, and shewed pleasure in his countenance at doing so.

"This is my foster-brother," said Atticus; "it is long since I have seen him."

"A whole week, your honour," observed the man, "and Dame and I have thought it long too."

This reciprocity of feeling, as well as the gladness of both parties on their meeting, rather sur prised me, till Atticus informed me of what I either never knew, or had forgotten; that when he was born, it was by no means unusual for the child of a squire, if the mother was not strong enough, to be sent to be nursed by the wife of some neighbouriug tenant. This created a mutual regard between the families ever afterwards and protection on one side, and attachment on the other, seemed to be interwoven in the feelings of each.

s;

"How much better," said Atticus, "for the happiness of both, and indeed the aggregate happiness of all, than the present cold modes of existence, I am afraid to ask; for it is fast wearing out, if not for ever gone. It is too certain that the heartlessness that belongs to the economists of this ill fated time, makes their philosophy as detestable, as it is absolutely false."

"False," I said;-smiling "what would Adam Smith, or Malthus, or Miss Martineau"

"Or a thousand others," interrupted he, “say

to my doubting what, according to them, is as clear as the sun, the sun, when every bit of shade or shelter from its beam is cut down.every refreshing brook dried up, that cooled and mitigated its intenseness-and all this destruction, in order to have a cheaper loaf."

"But Miss Martineau," said I, "is at least a most able calculator."

66

Hang her!" cried he, with more spleen than ever I saw in him. "I know nothing of her; but I heartily wish she had married her father's bookkeeper, before she unsexed herself, as she has done:-though I trust with little effect upon such oldfashioned people as good Dobson here, and myself."

"Some'at has vexed his honour, I see," ob-. served Dobson; "he used not to be so in former times-no, not even when the French beat us, and wheat were at sixty shillings. But I suppose you have been talking them politics together, that sets gentlemen so much by the ears. Ah! the good time when I used to go up to the hall, and feel proud that the same breast suckled both the squire and me, and was received all the kindlier for it, without being afeard of being taunted for want of spirit for doing it. But as for Lawyer Snake, who says this, I know he is a liar as well as a lawyer; for he says that all the rich have got belongs to the poor, and that is the reason they hate them.