highest taste that is possible, and furnished with all imaginable elegance; the apartments are magnificent, and there is something so grand, and at the same time so cheerful, in the house, that it seems to reconcile what are thought seldom to dwell under the same roof, greatness and tranquillity. It is pity the hostile powers of civil rage should ever violate this elegant retreat; but at such times. all are enveloped in the common ruin, and no greatness, elegance, strength, or ornament, are left to any one but what resides in their own mind, from whence no human force can drive it. How much is it, therefore, worthy every one's care most to cultivate what they are surest to continue to possess. I rejoice that the worthy possessor of Mereworth has a good retreat in his own virtue, in case of any public or private misfortune. But how different is it with many of our professors of taste, who adorn their houses, improve and cultivate their gardens, and every thing about them, and leave nothing waste and rude but their

minds, nothing harsh and unpolished but their tempers; raise temples of honour to virtues and powers every where but in their own hearts, where there is no trace of respect and regard for any thing noble and worthy. If you had come to Tunbridge I should have had great pleasure in your company; we had a very agreeable little party; and, as prudent people should do through life, troubled ourselves no farther about the crowd than not to give them any reasonable cause of offence.

I am your Grace's, &c. &c.

E. MONTAGU.

To the Same.

DEAR MADAM,

Mount Morris, Oct. 23, 1745.

I HAVE every day, since I came here, had the pen in my hand to write to your Grace, and as constantly have been prevented. I find, by your letter, you ima

gined me, before this time, in the great city, but behold me still at a quiet fireside in the country. Mr. Montagu's being of the association in Yorkshire detained him there, and it was but the beginning of this week he proposed to be in town; and some affairs he had to transact not being finished so soon as he expected, he will not arrive in town till to-night. Your Grace will say I am a most undutiful wife not to attend him there, but my mother is so loath to part with me that I have, instead of my personal appearance, wrote a very earnest invitation to him to come hither, if there is not any business in Parliament that requires his attendance. If he cannot come hither I shall set out the day after I have his letter that tells me so. I own I was very uneasy at his being in the north, in such a bad neighbourhood as that of the rebels, but he thought it not right to leave the country while in confusion, as the country gentlemen were then useful in contributing their money and care to defend it. He says they are

now very easy, and out of all danger, as our regular forces are assembled, and I hope all will again be settled in tranquillity and peace. I heartily wish Mr. Montagu may come hither, for my mother is not, I fear, quite in good health; but this I would not have mentioned, lest she should hear I thought she had any appearance of the same complaint as last year; she seems herself to suspect a little, but has the greatest submission that can be to all-disposing Providence. I hope she may live many years, but I think it necessary she should pass her time cheerfully, as that is thought particularly advisable in her case. My sister stays with my mother till after Christmas, and then they all come to town, where they will stay four months this year, of which I am glad, as the best advice may be had. I have brought a notable constitution from Tunbridge, and very good spirits; I think myself as well as I could wish to be, as to health. Tunbridge is very good for bodily infirmities; as to the weakness and faults of the mind, I cannot recom

mend it. One leads but an idle and irrational life; however, it is not a very disagreeable one. There is variety of company, and consequently some agreeable people; as for the others, if one has but good humour enough not to displease, or be displeased with them, it is sufficient. All pages of human life are worth reading. The wise instruct, the gay divert us, the absurd cure the spleen, the imprudent shew us what to shun, the vapoured teach us that reasonable employments, and sufficient exercise, are necessary to keep the frame of mind and body in order; and, in short, it cannot be unprofitable to converse with human creatures, of whom even the imprudencies teach us experience, and whose thoughtlessness gives occasion to reflection. It is true the study of human kind is not so pleasant as that of other animals, where all seem apparently to act for the end they were made. A slumbering minister seems not to fulfil his round of life as well as the restlessly industrious wheel anima! we saw in Mr. Baker's microscope,