ensis. It was the favourite employment of his declining years to select and arrange them, and he always looked forward to their publication at some distant period, when the lapse of time should have precluded the necessity of observing that delicacy which living characters have always a claim to. Indeed, he was not without thoughts of publishing them in his life time, in which case he would have subjected them to such restrictions as his correspondents thought proper to impose. After his death they

remained in the hands of Mrs. Anne Richardson, his last-surviving daughter, till her death, which took place in January last. After that event they be

came

came the property of his grandchildren, of whom Mr. Phillips purchased them at a very liberal price: he trusts for remuneration to the curiosity of the public, which has always shewn an eagerness, more natural perhaps than strictly justifiable, to penetrate into the domestic retirements, and to be introduced to the companionable hours of eminent characters. That this inclination may be gratified without impropriety, care has been taken that no letters should be published of any living character, except the correspondence of Mrs. Duncombe, (formerly Miss Highmore) which that lady has had the goodness to communicate herself. She also sup plied the correspondence. with Miss Mulso.

а3

Mulso. Mr. Scudamore also obligingly

sent several letters of his deceased mother's. The whole collection is very.

numerous.

When Mr. Phillips had completed his purchase, he engaged me to perform the necessary office of selection. I have endeavoured to do justice to him and to the public; how I have succeeded I am yet ignorant. No two persons probably would fix precisely upon the same standard of choice. But it be fairly observed, that neither can any one criticise that standard with judg ment, unless he had submitted to his inspection, not only the letters that are taken, but those also which are left.

may

ANNA LÆTITIA BARBAULD.