and her brother, are now at home, and make a pleasing addition to our happy society. She is more than a fávorite, she is a friend of Dr. H.'s; she, he says, has a soul, has sense and sensibility; which last is with him the charm of womanhood, and what he would name as such, and enforce by repetition, as heretofore action was declared the soul and spring of oratory. I have just passed a most agreeable afternoon with MissH., and she expresses regret for having lost so much of the time I was here, as she had heard of my visit, and wishes to be a party in all the improving philosophical conversations she supposes fill up the hours I pass with the master of this house. Sometimes, nay often, we do philosophise, and in a manner worthy the attention of the wise; at least so much I may say of my instructor, for it is probable I may appear in the dialogue but as a humble scholar, learning as Epictetus describes his hearers, though I have a very different tutor from that stoic. For he is always saying that 'It is the duty of man not to labour after a kind of negative happiness, by quenching his sensibility both of pleasure and pain, and affecting content under circumstances in which content is impossible;-but to make that sensibility the means of enjoyment, by avoiding whatever can give it pain, and seeking and enjoying without fear, every delight not injurious to others, which the bounteous author of his being has given him faculties to taste.' I wish you would point out to me the subject of that Adventurer to which we made objections, I should be glad to talk of it, and enter into some explanations."

The second letter is addressed to Mrs. Elizabeth Carter, and bears the date of Aug. 12th,-this we shall transcribe nearly at full.

"Perhaps, dear Madam, you will wonder when I inform you that I have passed almost a month with your friend Dr. Hawkesworth. I came by his and his lady's invitation, as I thought for a few days, but they have been so kind, and I so happy, that I have gone on far beyond the bounds of a decent first visit; yet methinks we are like very old acquaintance already. Mrs. H. so charmingly easy, so constantly placid, and cheerful, and he a companion so agreeable, an instructor so capable, and a friend so estimable, how can I refuse their repeated requests to tarry with them, when I see openness and sincerity seem to direct all their conduct. I am among a little knot of friends I love, and I assure you Dr. H. is a very gay philosopher, and associates very much with neighbours, who are all desirous of his company, and not a little proud of it. I am. afraid when I return home I shall lament the not having sufficiently improved my time, where such opportunities are afforded for enriching the mind; a regret I generally feel when I have taken a farewell of you. Yet I have the satisfaction of acknowledging that your friendship and instructions have never been lost upon me, for I am sensible of the fruit produced by the seed you have sown, and most grateful is my heart.

"I suppose you are not much acquainted with Bromley though it is in your own beloved county. It has every charm that a rural spot can boast, which is neither adorned by sea nor river, for the river is so inconsiderable, that I am ashamed to own it for more than a ditch; however, pleasant walks and fine prospects abound, and while at Mrs, K.'s I got on a large lake, which I easily fancied a river, and was rowed in a boat to a little island so pretty and decorated, that it

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looks like an enchanted place, and there we found coffee, tea, &c. but it inspires all who land on it with too much mirth; it resembles not Circe's, nor yet Armida's, or Calypso's island, but if Euphrosyne ever possessed an isle, I would almost suppose it her's, or appertaining almost to Comus's rabble rout. You may guess we go in what is called jolly parties by what I have said. I have been much happier in a gentleman's garden hard by, where I was allowed to take the key and lock myself in with Plutarch, and there retire with his lawgivers and heroes; seated myself in a bower of flowering shrubs, every thing tranquil around me, and my mind almost given up to unmixed felicity. But of all the great men whose characters I read, how very few complete one's hopes, from their high qualities, of a uniform life of virtue; ambition, revenge, or oppression, sully almost every one-and is it still the same with every human being? I fear not even the light of christianity, the want of which excuses in some measure former ages, has shielded many since from the influence of those and other enormous vices. How it humbles human nature in general, and yet consoles each individual, to see what weakness universally mixes with the brightest souls.

"I have read Caractacus, and it gave me pleasure, but still I was not quite satisfied with the performance, and could not help thinking something more might have been given from such a character, and something less of the Druids would have perhaps shewn a better judgment, yet it has great merit in its sentiments, and some descriptive parts; and I will not, more than you, give up a piece that really afforded me entertainment, notwithstanding I have been also tempted by the art of ridicule, from

those too of whom I have a high opinion; one of them I believe I may venture to name to you,--the author of Maxims and Characters, who spent a day or two here; he is quite agreeable in conversation, and seems to have much knowledge and quick parts, however I could have quarrelled with several things in his book.

"You do not satisfy me by what you say of Rasselas, with which I am highly delighted, though the author has represented life rather in an undesirable light; but truth will be truth, and he thought content only another word for happiness I suppose. However when I first read it, I hoped for some such conclusion, and my vanity would by that have been gratified to the utmost; since if I might mention in the same page so fine a work with so childish a one as my poor Allegory, I would say that, that was my destination for my travellers, who you know being disappointed of the palace of happiness, were received at last into the house of content.

"I do not think that I have much more time for reading than you, at present, but am going to begin the Life of Clarendon, yet expect continual interruptions of the pleasurable kind, and I give way to them the rather as they conduce to my health; and as you say fall so unavoidably in my way, that it would be quite blameable not to join in the frequent dissipation. I have been twice at the Assembly, and as I knew a great many there, and especially the last time had an agreeable partner for dancing, it was more pleasing than I expected, but can by no means say it was conducive to my health, since any sitting up disagrees with me woefully. I am

*«Maxims, Characters, and Reflections; Critical, Satyrical, and Moral."-8vo. Tonson, 1756.

too often tempted to that in this house, where a thousand charming subjects of conversation allure me from sleep, at the hour sleep ought to be courted.

"We have had great rejoicings here on the late success in Germany, but all the events of war are so dreadful, attended with such destruction, and complicated distress that I am greatly affected with it, and while others gave way to joy, I could not restrain some tears; and Dr. Hawkesworth, who was not less affected, moralised with me upon the occasion; yet who can account for such a horrid evil in the world? One dares not enquire nor think too far upon it.".

The last paragraph in this letter is curious, as it shews the disposition for abstract speculations on theological subjects, which even then occupied the mind and employed the conversation of Dr. Hawkesworth, and which afterwards when more amply expressed in print, cost him so dear: such subjects should be avoided ; Milton has very justly assigned them to the followers of Satan.

Soon after the publication of the Adventurer, Dr. Hawkesworth was rewarded by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Herring, with the degree of Doctor of Civil Laws. An empty title, which seems to have produced him only disappointment and loss of valuable friends. Considering himself qualified by this degree to practice as a civilian in the ecclesiastical courts, after some preparatory study he made the attempt, but met with so much opposition that he was induced to desist. A worse consequence was the loss of Johnson's friendship, which happened at the same time, and seems to have had some connection with this elevation. Sir John Hawkins accuses Hawkesworth of assuming