"Very likely, my lord," replied my uncle," the Blackberry is the fruit of the bramble. But, I believe, the bishop is not a berry of our bush.” "No more he is-no more he is-ha, ha, ha!" exclaimed the duke," there you give me a scratch, good Mr. Bramble—ha, ha, ha!—well, I shall be glad to see you at Lincoln's-inn-fields. You know the way-times are altered. Though I have lost the power, I retain the inclination. Your very humble servant, good Mr. Blackberry—”

So saying, "What

he shoved to another corner of the room. a fine old gentleman!" cried Mr. Barton, "what spirits! what a memory-he never forgets an old friend." "He does me too much honour," observed our 'squire," to rank me among the number-whilst I sat in parliament, I never voted with the ministry but three times, when my conscience told me they were in the right: however, if he still keeps levee, I will carry my nephew thither, that he may see, and learn to avoid the scene; for, I think, an Eng lish gentleman never appears to such disadvantage as at the levee of a minister-of his grace I shall say nothing at present, but that for, thirty years he was the constant and common butt of ridicule and execration. He was generally laughed at as an ape in politics, whose office and influence served only to render his folly the more notorious; and the opposition cursed him, as the indefatigable drudge of a first mover, who was justly styled and stigmatized as the father of corruption : but this ridiculous ape, this venal drudge, no sooner lost the places he was so ill qualified to fill, and unfurled the banners of faction, than he was metamorphosed into a pattern of public virtue; the very people who reviled him before, now extolled him to the skies, as a wise, experienced statesman, chief pillar of the protestant succession, and corner stone of English liberty. I

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should be glad to know how Mr. Barton reconciles these contradictions, without obliging us to resign all title to the privilege of common sense." My dear sir," answered Barton, "I don't pretend to justify the extravagancies of the multitude, who, I suppose, were as wild in their former censure as in their present praise: but I shall be very glad to attend you on Thursday next to his grace's levee ; where, I'm afraid, we shall not be crowded with company; for, you know, there's a wide difference between his present office of president of the council, and his former post of first lord commissioner of the treasury.

This communicative friend having announced all the remarkable characters of both sexes that appeared at court, we resolved to adjourn, and retired. At the foot of the stair-case, there was a crowd of lacqueys and chairmen, and in the midst of them stood Humphry Clinker, exalted upon a stool, with his hat in one hand, and a paper in the other, in the act of holding forth to the people. Before we could enquire into the meaning of this exhibition, he perceived his master, thrust the paper into his pocket, descended from his elevation, bolted through the crowd, and brought up the carriage to the gate.

My uncle said nothing till we were seated, when, after having looked at me earnestly for some time, he burst out a-laughing, and asked me if I knew upon what subject Clinker was holding forth to the mob. "If," said he, "the fellow is turned mountebank, I must turn him out of my service, otherwise he'll make merry-andrews of us all." I observed, that, in all probability, he had studied medicine under his master, who was a farrier.

At dinner, the 'squire asked him, if he had ever practised physic? "Yes, an please your honour," said he, "among brute beasts; but I never meddle with

rational creatures." I know not whether you rank in that class the audience you was haranguing in the court at St. James's, but I should be glad to know what kind of powders you were distributing, and whether you had a good sale.” Sale, sir!" cried Clinker,- -" I hope I shall never be base enough to sell for gold and silver, what freely comes of God's grace. I distributed nothing, and like your honour, but a word of advice to my fellows in servitude and sin." "Advice! concerning what ?" "Concerning profane swearing, and please your honour; so horrid and shocking, that it made my hair stand on end." 66 Nay, if thou can'st cure them of that disease, I shall think thee a wonderful doctor, indeed." 66 Why not cure them, my good master? the hearts of these poor people are not so stubborn as your honour seems to think. Make them first sensible that you have nothing in view but their good, then they will listen with patience, and easily be convinced of the sin and folly of a practice that affords neither profit nor pleasure." At this remark, our uncle changed colour, and looked round the company, conscious that his own withers were not altogether unwrung. "But, Clinker," said he, "if you should have eloquence enough to persuade the vulgar to resign those tropes and figures of rhetoric, there will be little or nothing left to distinguish their conversation from that of their betters." "But then your honour knows, their conversation will be void of offence; and, at the day of judgment, there will be no distinction of persons.

Humphry going down stairs to fetch up a bottle of wine, my uncle congratulated his sister upon having such a reformer in the family; when Mrs. Tabitha declared, he was a sober civilized fellow; very respectful, and very industrious; and, she believed, a good christian into the bargain. One

1

would think Clinker must really have some very extraordinary talent, to ingratiate himself in this manner with a virago of her character, so fortified against him with prejudice and resentment; but the truth is, since the adventure of Salt-hill, Mrs. Tabby seems to be entirely changed. She has left off scolding the servants, an exercise which was grown habitual, and even seemed necessary to her constitution; and is become so indifferent to Chowder, as to part with him in a present to lady Griskin, who proposes to bring the breed of him into fashion. Her ladyship is the widow of sir Timothy Griskin, a distant relation of our family. She enjoys a jointure of five hundred pounds a-year, and makes shift to spend three times that sum. Her character before marriage was a little equivocal; but at present she lives in the bon ton, keeps card-tables, gives private suppers to select friends, and is visited by persons of the first fashion. She has been remarkably civil to us all, and cultivates my uncle with the most particular regard; but the more she strokes him, the more his bristles seem to rise. To her compliments he makes very laconic and dry returns, T'other day, she sent us a pottle of fine strawberries, which he did not receive without signs of disgust, muttering from the Eneid, Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes. She has twice called for Liddy, of a forenoon, to take an airing in the coach; but Mrs. Tabby was always so alert (I suppose by his direction), that she never could have the niece without her aunt's company. I have endeavoured to sound square-toes on this subject; but he carefully avoids all explanation.

I have now, dear Phillips, filled a whole sheet; and if you have read it to an end, I dare say you are as tired as, your humble servant,

London. June 2.

J. MELFORD,

To Dr. Lewis.

YES, doctor, I have seen the British Museum ; which is a noble collection, and even stupendous, if we consider it was made by a private man, a physician, who was obliged to make his own fortune at the same time; but great as the collection is, it would appear more striking if it was arranged in one spacious saloon, instead of being divided into different apartments, which it does not entirely fill. I could wish the series of medals was connected, and the whole of the animal, vegetable, and mineral kingdoms completed, by adding to each, at the public expense, those articles that are wanting. It would likewise be a great improvement, with respect to the library, if the deficiencies were made up, by purchasing all the books of character that are not to be found already in the collection. They might be classed in centuries, according to the dates of their publication, and catalogues printed of them and the manuscripts for the information of those that want to consult or compile from such authorities. I could also wish, for the honour of the nation, that there was a complete apparatus for a course of mathematics, mechanics, and experimental philosophy; and a good salary settled upon an able professor, who should give regular lectures on these subjects.

But this is all idle speculation, which will never be reduced to practice. Considering the temper of the times, it is a wonder to see any institution whatsoever established for the benefit of the public. The spirit of party is risen to a kind of frenzy, unknown to former ages, or rather degenerated to