pers are as uniform as their way of life; that tranquillity must reside in minds that have never been agitated by hope or fear, awakened by solicitous cares, or refined by delicacy; which last, is most perhaps, the enemy of human happiness. A delicate person, like a sickly traveller on an inconstant sea, suffers equally from too brisk or too languid a gale, must have fair weather, sunshine, prosperous winds and favourable tides to make the voyage pleasant; while insensibility bears every change with equanimity, unruffled in the most boisterous storm, unwearied in the deadest calm. Thus in the wanderings of imagination, had I run over all the advantages of rustic stupidity, but when your letter presented to me pleasures which can arise only from delicacy of taste and a well awakened sensibility; I changed my opinion, envied neither shepherd nor shepherdess, but giving due preference to the pleasures of reason and taste, I sat down by my fireside with more than calm content, with real delight and . satisfaction. The poor cottagers, who,

perhaps as erroneously ascribe happiness to wealth, as we may peace to poverty, had probably envied me the ease and indolence I enjoyed in the coach, and little imagined I should receive much greater pleasure at my return, from a single sheet of paper, than I had done in an equipage, which to them, must appear a piece of pomp and luxury; so little can we judge of untasted pleasures and unexperienced sensations! and so often do we mistake the object, when we envy! I am much obliged to Mr. Cheere for his regard to me, and he applies it as I could wish, when he employs it in your service. I cannot at all suspect that he designed this adorned and high finished piece, as an emblem of your cousin; cousin; if it should resemble her, a very few winters, some cold blasts, and rough winds, will efface whatever it had originally of beauty, and you must do for it, as I have long done for myself; consider whether it can be made useful and serve some domestic purposes, when it is no longer an ornament to shew abroad. This consideration of a quondam

belle, has made me a school-mistress, which office I find you highly respect, since you are so afraid to interrupt its attentions; but know, my good Cousin, that a correspondence with you can never hurt that great republic, my school, which if I would adorn with manners, and amend with rules, it must be by such as I borrow from you, for of you I must learn what I should teach. I honour and admire the wandering spirit with which your are possessed; if Mrs. West takes to gadding, I shall believe the story of Will o' the wisp. Mr. Pope mentions a sort of people who build houses from whence to run away, sure he could not mean any of my friends! I suppose that before you laid the plan of a month's absence from Wickham, you knew Mr. Pitt would stay so long at the Bath: his departure was so sudden, perhaps you had not settled with Mr. Lyttelton, how often you should receive accounts of his health. Pray when you have any news of him, let me know how the Bath waters agree with him. I often regret that the Tunbridge waters

did not prove as serviceable to him as they have been to me may the Bath restore him to perfect health for his own sake, that of his friends, and the public. You know my respects always attend my Lord Bishop and Mrs. Sherlock, and Miss

My most honoured Cousin,

YOUR letter met me last night at my return from airing. I had been gliding about the commons by the pale light of the silent moon, conversing with the spirits of my absent friends whom I hoped were all in health, and engaged in scenes more gay than woods, hills, and vallies veil'd in night, or faintly illuminated by a weak and trembling ray. My moonlight

excursions prove that love of dull tranquillity which you despise me for, but I assure you they are very pleasant to me, who am seldom displeased when impertinent or disagreeable objects do not intrude. My mind, like a healthful climate, breeds no plagues; if any come there, they must be imported: I love to see the night gathering all nature's children under its wing; the very zephyrs seem to respect the universal peace and rest, and all things whisper tranquillity, and I am glad to catch the tone. After my airings, I drink tea, then retire to my dressing room for two or three hours with companions, whom superior parts and noble ambition led from the silent path of life to its busiest and most turbulent scenes; if I can get some of their experience without any of their dangers, and a little of their knowledge without any of their passions, I may keep my tranquillity without falling into that stupidity and insensibility which I think still more unworthy of the human mind than vain solicitude, and idle perturbation. I know it is