than vulgarly rich-while you thankfully enjoyand gratefully assist the wants (as far as you are able) of your fellow-creatures. But I think (and so will you) that I am preaching. I only meant in truth to thank you, which I most sincerely do, for your kind letter:-believe me, it gratifies a better principle than vanity-to know that you remember your dark-faced friend at such a distance. But what would have been your feelingscould you have beheld your worthy, thrice worthy, father-joy sitting triumphant in his honest facespeeding from house to house, amongst his numerous friends, with the pleasing testimonials of his son's love and duty in his hands-every one congratulating him, and joining in good wisheswhile the starting tear plainly proved that overjoy and grief give the same livery?

You met with an old acquaintance of mine, Mr. GI am glad to hear he is well; but, when I knew him, he was young, and not so wise as knowing: I hope he will take example by what he sees in you-and you, young man, remember, if you should unhappily fall into bad company, that example is only the fool's plea, and the rogue's excuse for doing wrong things:-you have a turn for reflection, and a steadiness, which, aided by the best of social dispositions, must make your company much coveted, and your person loved. Forgive me for presuming to dictate, when I well know you have many friends much more able, from knowledge and better sense-though I denya better will.

You will of course make men and things your study their different genius, aims, and passions :

you will also note climes, buildings, soils, and products, which will be neither tedious nor unpleasant. If you adopt the rule of writing every evening your remarks on the past day, it will be a kind of friendly tête-à-tête between you and yourself, wherein you may sometimes happily become your own monitor;-and hereafter those little notes will afford you a rich fund, whenever you shall be inclined to re-trace past times and places. I say nothing upon the score of religion-for, I am clear, every good affection, every sweet sensibility, every heart-felt joy-humanity, politeness, charity-all, all, are streams from that sacred spring;-so that to say you are good-tempered, honest, social, &c. &c. is only in fact saying, you live according to your divine Master's rules, and are a Christian. Your B

friends are all well, excepting the good Mrs. C, who is at this time but so so. Miss C still as agreeable as when you knew her, if not more so. Mr. R, as usual, never so happy, never so gay, nor so much in true pleasure, as when he is doing good-he enjoys the hope of your well-doing as much as any of your family. His brother John has been lucky-his abilities, address, good nature, and good sense, have got him a surgency in the battalion of guards, which is reckoned a very good thing.

a

As to news, what we have is so encumbered with falsehoods, I think it, as Bobadil says, service of danger" to meddle with: this I know for truth, that the late great Dagon of the people has totally lost all his worshippers, and walks the streets as unregarded as Ignatius Sancho, and I

believe almost as poor-such is the stability of popular greatness:

"One self-approving hour whole years outweighs

Of idle starers, or of loud huzzas," &c.

Your brother and sister C- -d sometimes look in upon us; her boys are fine, well, and thriving; and my honest cousin Joe increases in sense and stature; he promises to be as good as clever. He brought me your first letter, which, though first wrote, had the fate to come last; the little man came from Red-lion court to Charles-street by himself, and seemed the taller for what he had done; he is indeed a sweet boy, but I fear every body will be telling him so. I know the folly of so doing, and yet am as guilty as any one.

There is sent out in the Besborough, along with fresh governors, and other strange commodities, a little Blacky, whom you must either have seen or heard of; his name is S- He goes out upon a rational, well-digested plan, to settle either at Madras or Bengal, to teach fencing and ridinghe is expert at both. If he should chance to fall in your way, do not fail to give the rattlepate what wholesome advice you can; but remember, I do strictly caution you against lending him money upon any account, for he has every thing butprinciple; he will never pay you; I am sorry to say so much of one whom I have had a friendship for, but it is needful. Serve him, if you can-but do not trust him. There is in the same ship, belonging to the captain's band of music, one CL-n, whom I think you have seen in Privy Gardens he is honest, trusty, good-natured, and

civil; if you see him, take notice of him, and I will regard it as a kindness to me. I have nothing more to say. Continue in right thinking, you will of course act well; in well doing, you will insure the favour of God, and the love of your friends, amongst whom pray reckon yours faithfully, &c.

LETTER LXVII.

IGNATIUS SANCHO TO MR. M

March 21, 1770,

"He who cannot stem his anger's tide,
Doth a wild horse without a bridle ride."

Ir is, my dear M, the same with the rest of our passions; we have reason given us for our rudder-religion is our sheet-anchor-our fixed star, hope-conscience our faithful monitor-and happiness the grand reward. We all in this manner can preach up trite maxims :—ask any jackass the way to happiness-and like me they will give vent to picked-up common-place sayings-but mark how they act-why just as you and I do— content with acknowledging a slight acquaintance with Wisdom, but ashamed of appearing to act under her sacred guidance-You do me much more honour than I deserve, in wishing to correspond with me-the balance is entirely in your favour-but I fancy you were under the malady of your country, hypp'd for want of fresh air and exercise-so, sitting in a pensive attitude, with lack-lustre eye, and vacant countenance-the

thought obtruded on your fancy to give Sancho a letter-and after a hard conflict 'twixt laziness and inclination-the deed was done. I verily believe you commit errors-only for the sake of handsomely apologizing for them, as tumblers oft make slips to surprise beholders with their agility in recovering themselves. I saw Mr. B- last night-who, by the way, I like much-the man I mean-and not the genius (though of the first rate)-he chattered and laughed like a soul ignorant of evil.-He asked about a motley creature at I told him with more truth than witthat you was bypp'd-I inclose you a proof print: —and how does mad M, &c. &c.? Is Miss S- better?-Is Mrs. H, Mrs. T-, Mrs. H? Lord preserve me! what in the name of mischief have I to do with all this combustible matter? Is it not enough for me that I am fast sliding down the vale of years? Have not I a gout? six brats, and a wife?-Oh reason! where art thou? you see by this how much easier it is to preach than to do! But stop-we know good from evil; and, in serious truth, we have powers sufficient to withstand vice, if we will choose to exert ourselves. In the field, if we know the strength and situation of the enemy, we place out-posts and sentinels-and take every prudent method to avoid surprise. In common life, we must do the same; and trust me, my honest friend, a victory gained over passion, immorality, and pride, deserves Te Deums, better than those gained in the fields of ambition and blood. Here's letter for letter, and so farewell. Yours-as you behave.