rises majestically in view, and the only flat shore you see from this place, lies straight before it, and is a large plain of the finest verdure, and full of cattle. Many little islands diversify the scene, and the boats continually passing, give life to the picture. This gentle sort of navigation does not take off from the pastoral air of the place; stately vessels are noble objects, but with Bellona's thunder in their sides, they destroy the peace and simplicity of a scene. I will own that the river here, does not appear in such force and magnificence as near Greenwich, but where it gently glides through humble vallies, or fertilizes a little plain, it still keeps a character of nobility. Father Thames in a little valley, has the dignity of a great chief and statesman in retreat: we remember the invincible fleets he has sent forth, the commercial benefits he has procured to his country, the useful arts he has assisted, and the advantageous alliances he has made, uniting his city with every land from whence it can acquire benefit. I need not tell you that I

often wish myself on Mount Ephraim; but as there is pain in fruitless wishes, and my ignoble soul is much afraid of pain, I endeavour to convert all memory of the past into a pleasing thankfulness for happiness enjoyed; but though, as Dr. Middleton was my godfather, you may suppose I have read his Evangelist with great veneration, I cannot find much solid comfort in a doctrine without promise. The remembrance of a well spent life, were all to cease here, is indeed a satisfaction; the pride of a stoic may blow it up very high, especially when he has added the immortality of a name, and while he considers the perishable state of his own nature can proudly add,

But fame with golden wings aloft doth fly,
Above the reach of ruinous decay,

And with brave plumes doth beat the azure sky,
Admir'd by base born men from far away.

Such are the comforts of the budge doctors of the stoic fur, but what are they to a lady in a blonde cap? I am looking forward to future summers, and when

most serious, to the eternal summer. I have been very well ever since I saw you, I have spent most of my time in walking and airing; a few hours for reading I have in my power, though my fair disciples hinder me a good deal;* they have been stunning me ever since I sat down, with the achievements of the boisterous Semiramis, and the effeminate delicacy of Sardanapalus; had he kept on the helmet, and her ladyship set to the distaff, much trouble had been saved to M. Rollin, the misses, and your humble servant, and you would have had a more intelligible letter. You know I have your permission to trouble you with long letters, a dangerous license to one whom want of thought, does not reduce to silence, but every line I write must be considered as an eloge of your patience and condescension; having so long dwelt on your virtues, I will now remember your talents, and detain you no longer from such employ

*Mrs. Montagu had the daughters of her deceased friend, Mrs. Botham, with her.

ments as they will naturally lead you to, and you will pardon all my impertinence for the respect and affection with which I am, &c. &c.

E. MONTAGU.

To the Same,

Sandleford, the 4th of October, 1753.

My most honoured Cousin,

I FOUND your letter on my table last night, at my return from a sober airing on the neighbouring commons. I have kept up our Tunbridge custom, of going out for an hour or two in the afternoon, and by that means I make the hours of idleness a time of amusement, which is not always to be accomplished where one has not change of company. I know not whether I am not more fond of this custom, as it seems to bring me in some measure back to the agreeable life of Mount

Ephraim. Happy should I be, if I could as easily renew all that was improving and delightful to the mind in those airings, as I can pursue what they had of healthful to the body and pleasant to the eye! Dr. Young says, wisdom grows on all plants, and in every rill a pure instruction flows, but there wants, a certain chymical art and skill to extract this sapient virtue, and I find I can get it only by the liberality of those who charitably dispense it to the poor; you may easily believe, therefore, how much I regret the rich and charitable corporation into which I was long admitted; such were the turn of my thoughts and tune of my disposition, when I found your letter ready to make up for all that had been deficient in my airing; imagine then the welcome I gave to it. In my solitary musings in the coach, I had sometimes cast an eye of envy on the humble cottage, which to the beholders, if not to the inhabitants, shews the sweet aspect of content. We are apt to think their wishes have as narrow limits as their possessions, and their tem