“Then half an hour was o'er the news beguiled,

"When he retired as harmless as a child.

"Set but aside the gravel and the gout,
"And breathing short-his sand ran fairly out.

"At fifty-five we lost him-after that "Life grows insipid and its pleasures flat; "He had indulged in all that man can have, "He did not drop a dotard to his grave; "Still to the last, his feet upon the chair, “With rattling lungs now gone beyond repair; "When on each feature death had fix'd his stamp, "And not a doctor could the body vamp; "Still at the last, to his beloved bowl

“He clung, and cheer'd the sadness of his soul; "For though a man may not have much to fear,

"Yet death looks ugly, when the view is near:

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"I go,' he said, but still my friends shall say, ""Twas as a man-I did not sneak away;

“An honest life with worthy souls I've spent,"Come, fill my glass;'-he took it and he went.

"Poor Dolly Murrey !—I might live to see "My hundredth year, but no such lass as she.

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Easy by nature, in her humour gay,

"She chose her comforts, ratafia and play :
"She loved the social game, the decent glass;
"And was a jovial, friendly, laughing lass ;

"We sat not then at Whist demure and still,
"But pass'd the pleasant hours at gay Quadrille :
"Lame in her side, we placed her in her seat,
"Her hands were free, she cared not for her feet;
"As the game ended, came the glass around,
"(So was the loser cheer'd, the winner crown'd.)
"Mistress of secrets, both the young and old
"In her confided-not a tale she told;
"Love never made impression on her mind,
"She held him weak, and all his captives blind;
"She suffer'd no man her free soul to vex,
"Free from the weakness of her gentle sex;
"One with whom ours unmoved conversing sate,
"In cool discussion or in free debate.

"Once in her chair we'd placed the good old lass, “Where first she took her preparation-glass ;

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By lucky thought she'd been that day at prayers, "And long before had fix'd her small affairs; "So all was easy-on her cards she cast

"A smiling look; I saw the thought that pass'd : "A king,' she call'd-though conscious of her skill, "Do more,' I answer'd- More,' she said, I will;'

6

"And more she did-cards answer'd to her call,
"She saw the mighty to her mightier fall:
“A vole! a、vole!' she cried, ''tis fairly won,

66 6

My game is ended and my work is done;'

"This said, she gently, with a single sigh,
"Died as one taught and practised how to die.
"Such were the dead-departed; I survive,

"To breathe in pain among the dead-alive.”

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The bell then call'd these ancient men to pray,

Again!" said Benbow," tolls it every day?

"Where is the life I led ?"-He sigh'd and walk'd his

way.

THE BOROUGH.

LETTER XVII.

THE HOSPITAL AND GOVERNORS.

Blessed be the man who provideth for the sick and needy: the Lord shall deliver him in time of trouble.

Christian Charity anxious to provide for future as well as present Miseries-Hence the Hospital for the Diseased-Description of a recovered Patient-The Building: how erected-The Patrons and Governors-Eusebius-The more active Manager of Business a moral and correct Contributor-One of different Description-Good, the Result, however intermixed with Imperfection.