and somewhat mysterious on the two last of these points, I resolved to satisfy myself by my own remarks with regard to his situation.

I arrived in the evening, and was shewn into the parlour where the first objects that caught my attention were a fishing-rod, and two fowling-pieces, in a corner of the room, and a brace of pointers stretched upon the hearth. On a table lay a German flute, some music, a pair of shuttle cocks, and a volume of the Anual Register. Looking from the window, I discovered my friend in his waistcoat, with a spade in his hand, most diligently cultivating a spot of ground in the kitchen-garden. Our mutual joy, and congratulations at meeting, it is needless to trouble you with. In point of figure, I could not help remarking, that Mordaunt, though most negligently apparalled, was altered much for the better, being now plump, rosy, and robust, instead of pale and stender as formerly. Before returning to the house he insisted that I should survey his grounds, which in his own opinion he said, he had rendered a paradise, by modestly seconding and bringing forth the inten'tions of nature. I was conducted to a young grove, which he had planted himself; rested in a hut which he had built, and drank from a rivulet for which he had tracked a channel with his own hands. During the "course of this walk, we were attended by a flock of tame pigeons, which he fed with grain from his poc! et, and had much conversation with a ragged family of little boys and girls, all of whom seemed to be his intimate acquaintance. Near a village in our way homewards, we met a set of country men, engaged at cricket, and soon after a marriage company, dancing the bride's dance upon the green. My friend, with a degree of gaiety and alacrity which I had never before seen him display, not only engaged himself, but compelled me likewise to engage, in the exercise of the one, and the merriment of the other. In a field

before his door, an old horse, blind of one eye, came up to us at his call, and eat the remainder of the grain from his hand.

Our conversation for that evening, relating chiefly to the situation of our common friends, the memory of former scenes in which we had both been engaged, and other such subjects as friends naturally converse about after a long absence, afforded me little opportunity of satisfying my curiosity. Next morning I arose at my wonted early hour, and stepping into his study, found it unoccupied. Upon examining a heap of books and papers that lay confusedly mingled on the table and the floor, I was surprised to find, that by much the greater part of them, instead of politics, metaphysics, and morals (the sciences connected with his scheme of writing,) treated of Belles Lettres, or were calculated merely for amusement. The Tale of a Tub lay open on the table, and seemed to have concluded the studies of the day before. The letters of Junius, Brydon's Travels, the World, Tristram Shandy, and two or three volumes of the British Foets, much used, and very dirty, lay scattered above a heap of quartos, which, after blowing the dust from them, I found to be an Essay on the Wealth of Nations, Helvetius de l'Esprit, Hume's Essays, the Spirit of Laws, Bayle, and a commonplace-book. The last contained a great deal of paper, and an excellent arrangement, under the heads of which, excepting these of anecdote and criticism, hardly any thing was collected. The papers in his own hand-writing were, a parallel between Mr. Gray's Elegy, and Parnell's Night-piece on Death; some detached thoughts on propriety of conduct and behaviour; a Fairy Tale in verse; and several letters to the Author of the MIRROR, all of them blotted and unfinished. There was besides a journal of his occupations for several weeks, from which, as it af fords a picture of his situation, I transcribe a part.

"Thursday, eleven at night, went to bed: order❝ed my servant to wake me at six, resolving to be "busy all next day.

"Friday morning, waked a quarter before six; "fell asleep again, and did not wake till eight.

"Till nine, read the first act of Voltaire's Maho"met, as it was too late to begin serious business.

«Ten having swallowed a short breakfast, went ❝ out for a moment in my slippers-The wind having "left the east, am engaged, by the beauty of the "day, to continue my walk-Find a situation by the "river, where the sound of my flute produced a very "singular and beautiful echo-make a stanza and a "half by way of address to it-visit the shepherd lying ill of a low fever-find him somewhat better "(Mem. to send him some wine)-meet the parson, and cannot avoid asking him to dinner-returning "home, find my reapers at work-superintend them in the absence of John, whom I send to inform the "house of the parson's visit-read, in the mean "time, part of Thompson's Seasons, which I ❝ had with me--From one to six, plagued with the "parson's news and stories-take up Mahomet to " put me in good humour-finish it, the time allot❝ted for serious study being elapsed-at eight, ap. "plied to for advice by a poor countryman, who had "been oppressed-cannot say as to the law: give "him some money-walk out at sun-set, to consider "the causes of the pleasure arising from it-at nine, "sup and sit till eleven, hearing my nephew read, " and conversing with my mother, who was remark ❝ably well and cheerful-go to bed.

"Saturday: some company arrived-to be filled "up to-morrow-(for that and the two succeeding ❝ days, there was no further entry in the journal.) "Tuesday, waked at seven; but the weather being "rainy, and threatening to confine me all day, lay " till after nine-Ten, breakfasted and read the news

66 papers-very dull and drowsy-Eleven, day clears 66 up, and I resolve on a short ride to clear my "head."

A few days residence with him shewed me that his life was in reality, as it is here represented, a medley of feeble exertions, indolent pleasures, secret benevolence, and broken resolutions. Nor did he pretend to conceal from me, that his activity was not now so constant as it had been; but he insisted that he still could, when he thought proper, apply with his former vigour, and flattered himself, that these frequent deviations from his plan of employment, which in, reality, were the fruit of indolence and weakness, arose from reason and conviction. "After

"all," said he to me one day, when I was endeavouring to undeceive him," after all, granting what "you allege, if I be happy, and I really am so, "what more could activity, fame, or preferment, be"stow upon n me After a stay of some weeks, I departed, convinced that his malady was past a cure, and lamenting that so much real excellence and ability should be thus, in a great measure, lost to the world, as well as to their possessor, by the attendance of a single fault.

I am

SIR, yours, &c.

No. LI. TUESDAY, JULY 20.

To the Author of the Mirror.

Mr. MIRROR,

I AM the daughter of a gentleman of easy, though moderate fortune. My mother died a few weeks after I was born; and before I could be sensible of the loss, a sister of her's, the widow of an English gentleman, carried me to London, where she resided. As my aunt had no children, I became the chief object of her affections; and her favourite amusement consisted in superintending my education. As I grew up, I was attended by the best masters; and every new accomplishment I acquired, gave fresh pleasure to my kind benefactress. But her own conversation tended more than any thing else to form and improve my mind. Well acquainted herself with the best authors in the English, French, and Italian languages, she was careful to put into my hands such books as were best calculated to cultivate my understanding, and to regulate my taste.

But, though fond of reading and retirement, my aunt thought it her duty to mingle in society, as much as her rank and condition required. Her house was frequented by many persons of both sexes, distinguished for elegance of manners, and politeness of conversation. Her tenderness made her desirous to find out companions for me of my own age; and, far from being dissatisfied with our youthful sallies, she seemed never better pleased than when she could add to our amusement and happiness.

In this manner I had passed my time, and had entered my seventeenth year when my aunt was seized with an indisposition, which alarmed me much, although her physicians assured me it was by no means dangerous. My fears increased, on observing,