"sterner stuff."

The wife of a first

minister should not have weak nerves. She is very fond of her husband, and he has great confidence in her, and trusts her with all his cares and solicitudes; a very heavy charge, I should think. As to poor Mrs. Percival, I hailed her voyage to the realms of rest; but for poor Shaw, he might have lived, and laughed, and talked of the deluge, and collected cockleshells many years longer. The death of those we esteem afflicts us; we are shocked at the death of those we have laughed at, and laughed with, as we never looked upon them in so serious a light, as to suppose so sad an event could happen to them. I would deck his tomb with emblems of all the wonders of the land and deep; crocodiles should weep and tigers howl; every shell should become vocal; sea weed should bloom immortal on his tomb, and moss, though petrified, lie lightly on his breast. What signify voyages? what signifies learning? Hebrew Professor! Traveller to Memphis sole witness living of the pre

"

Must all

sent state of the Ptolomies! these glories sink into oblivion? How gloriously had he been interred had he died in the perilous pass of the pyramids, and succeeded Mark Antony in the bed. of Cleopatra ! I hope the poor man will have the satisfaction of being embalmed in the true Egyptian manner, for the more like a mummy his body be made, the more it will joy his gentle ghost. The ladies here are all sighing and languishing for my father's company. His friend, Mr. Trevor, shone out one day in a fine gold coat, and has not been seen since. I am tired of the place, and should have a much worse time of it, if it were not for my cheerful friends.* We borrow our evening's amusement from books. I have but a slight ac quaintance with the Muses, but have love enough for them, never to be unhappy in their company. Though the education of women is always too frivolous, I am glad mine had such a qualification of the

* Mr. Gilbert West, his wife, and his son, who were in the house with her.

serious, as to fit me for the relish of the belles bagatelles. You are now in a place very different from this, where all people are engaged in business, and in the pursuit of riches. Their children will come to Tunbridge, for the caterpillar no sooner gets gaudy wings, than he forgets his creeping life, and idly sports in the sunshine of the world. I should be well pleased with a sight of Newcastle.* Riches drawn from the bowels of the earth, or gained by commerce, where exchange is still a mutual benefit, present agreeable views of the arts and policy of mankind. Though the coldness of our climate may set coals in a favourable light, I shall be glad to see as many of them turned to the precious metal as possible. I have not enough of the miser, to love treasures hidden and buried. Money is convertible to credit and pleasure; useful in the hands of the prudent; noble in the hands of the generous; pernicious with the

* Mr. Montagu was then visiting the estates of his relation, Mr. Rogers, a lunatic, of whom he was the Committee, and from whom he afterwards inherited them.

bad; ridiculous with the prodigal, and contemptible with the miser. I have a very good opinion of Mr. Montagu and his wife. I like the prospect of these golden showers, and so I congratulate you upon them, but most of all, I congratulate you upon the disposition of mind which made you put the account of them in a postscript. Were we to make petitions to fate, we should put riches in the postscript; by no by no means forget them quite.

I am, my dearest, ever your's,

E. M.

To the Same.

Tunbridge, September, 1751.

MY DEAREST,

THIS place continues to encrease in company. We have crowds, and very little amusement; and foreigners, and very little variety. The Duke of Newcastle

was at a ball last night, given by Mr. Connor, to the politest part of the company. The busy statesman was written on his brow; he whispered to the foreign ministers with all the seriousness of a negociator, though I verily believe he was only talking of Lewes races. Sir Thomas Robinson was no less embarrassed with the business of doing the honours to the secretary of state, than the secretary of state with doing the business of the nation. There are some reflections and characters in La Bruyere, which would have fitted them both, but far be it from me to quote them in a letter to travel by the post. We expect those goddesses, the Gunnings; and Sir Thomas Robinson, after being master of the ceremonies to the French ambassador, and our secretary of state, proposes to be gallant to these fair dames. My father is very gay. Sir William Brown starts many arguments for his amusement. Mr. West reads to us in an evening, and the wit of the last age supplies us, when we do not meet with any