The following Jue d'Esprit, is the production of the prefent DEAN of DERRY, Dr Barnard, who advanced in conversation with Sir Joshua Reynolds and other wits, that he thought " no man could improve when he was “past the age of forty-five." Johnson (Samuel) who was in company, with his usual elegance and polished graces, immediately turned round to the facetious Dean, and told him that he was an instance to the contrary, for that there was great room for improvement in him (the Dean) and wished he'd fet about it; upon which, the Dean' the next day sent the following elegant bagatelle to Sir Joshua Reynolds and the same company.

I

LATELY thought no man alive,
Cou'd e'er improve paft forty-five,

And ventur'd to assert it ;
The observation was not new,
But seem'd to me fo just and true,

That none could controvert it.

" No, Sir," says Johnson, “ 'tis not so, That's your mistake, and I can shew, " An instance if

you

doubt it ; “ You Sir, who are near forty-eight, “ May much improve, 'tis not too late,

“ I wish you'd set about it."

Encourag'd thus to mend my faults,
I turn’d his counsel in my thoughts,
Which way I should apply it ;

' Learning and wit seem'd pait my reach, For who cap learn when none will teach ?

And wit- I could not buy it.

Then come my friends, and try your skill, You can inform me if you will,

(My books are at a distance) With

you

I'll live and learn, and then, Instead of books, I shall read men,

So lend me your assistance.

Dear * Knight of Plympton, teach me how To suffer with unrufied brow,

And smile serene like thine ; The jeft uncouth, or truth severe, To fuch I'll turn my

deafest

ear, And calmly drink my wine.

Thou say'ft, not only skill is gain’d,
But genius too may be attain J,

By ftudious imitation ;
Thy temper mild, thy genius fine,
I'll copy till I make thee mine,

By constant application.

* Sir Joshua Reynolds.

The art of pleafing, teach me Garrick,
Thou *, who reverest odes Pindaric,

A second time read o'er ;
Oh! cou'd we read thee backwards too,
Last thirty years thou should'It review,

And charm us thirty more.

If I have thoughts, and can't express 'em
Gibbons shall teach me how to dress 'em

In terms select and terse;
Jones teach me modesty and Greek,
Smith how to think, Burke how to speak,

And Beauclerc to converse.

grace?

Let Johnson teach me how to place,
Ia faireft light each borrow'd

From him I'll learn to write ;
Copy his clear familiar style,
And from the roughness of his file,

Grow like himself-polite.

* Mr Garrick being asked to read Mr Cumberland's Odes, laughed immoderately, and affirmed, that such stuff might as well be read backwards as forwards ; and the witty Rofcius accordingly read them in that maoner, and wonderful to relate ! produced the same good sense and poetry as the sentimental author ever had genius to write.

By Mr.

Mr. F I T Z P A T R I C K.

N that fad season when the hapless belle

With steps reluctant bids the town farewell :
When furly husbands doom th' unwilling fair
To quit St. James's for a purer air,
And, deaf to pity, from their much lov'd town
Relentless bear the heanteous exiles down
To dismal Ahades, through lonely groves to Itray,
And figh the summer live-long months away ;
With all the bloom of youth and beauty gracid,
One morn Dorinda, at ber toilet plac'd,
With looks intent and penfive air furvey'd
The various charms her faithful glass display'd;
I yes, that might warm the frozen breast of age,
Ormelt to tenderness the tyrant's rașe ;
Smiles, that enchanting with relifless art,
Stole unperceiv'd the heedless gazer: heart;