the trees in George Lane. Evelyn, in his book of Forest Trees, tells us of wicked men that cut down trees, and never profpered afterwards; yet nothing has deterred these audacious aldermen from violating the Hamadryads of George Lane. As an impartial traveller I must however tell, that in Stow-street, where I left a draw-well, I have found a pump; but the lading-well in this ill-fated George Lane lies fhamefully neglected.

I am going to-day or to-morrow to Ashbourne; but I am at a lofs how I fhall get back in time to London. Here are only chance coaches, fo that there is no certainty of a place. If I do not come, let it not hinder your journey. I can be but a few days behind you; and I will follow in the Brighthelmstone coach. But I hope to come.

I took care to tell Mifs Porter, that I have got another Lucy. I hope fhe is well. Tell Mrs. Salusbury, that I beg her stay at Streatham, for little Lucy's fake. I am, &c.

LETTER V. To the Same.

MADAM,

Lichfield, July 11, 1770,

SINCE my laft letter nothing extraordinary has happened. Rheumatifm, which has been very troublesome, is grown better. I have not yet seen Dr. Taylor, and July runs fast away. I shall not have much time for him, if he delays much longer to come or fend. Mr. Grene, the apothecary, has found a book, which tells who paid levies in our

parish,

parish, and how much they paid, above an hundred years ago. Do you not think we study this book hard? Nothing is like going to the bottom of things. Many families that paid the parish-rates are now extinct, like the race of Hercules. Pulvis et umbra fumus. What is nearest us touches us moft. The paffions rife higher at domeftic than at imperial tra gedies. I am not wholly unaffected by the revolutions of Sadler-ftreet; nor can forbear to mourn a little when old names vanish away, and new come into their place.

Do not imagine, Madam, 'that I wrote this letter for the fake of thefe philofophical meditations; for when I began it, I had neither Mr. Grene, nor his book, in my thoughts; but was refolved to write, and did not know what I had to fend, but my refpects to Mrs. Salufbury, and Mr. Thrale, and Harry, and the Miffes. I am, deareft Madam,

your, &c.

LETTER VI. To Mrs. THRALE.

DEAREST MADAM,

Ashbourne, July 23, 1770.

THERE had not been fo long an interval be.

tween my two laft letters, but that when I came hither I did not at firft understand the hours of the post.

I have feen the great bull; and very great he is. I have feen likewife his heir apparent, who promises to inherit all the bulk and all the virtues of his fire, I have seen the man who offered a hundred guineas

for

for the young bull, while he was yet little better than a calf. Matlock, I am afraid, I fhall not fee, but I purpose to see Dovedale; and after all this feeing, I hope to fee you. I am, &c.

LETTER VII. To the Same.

LA

DEAR MADAM,

Afhbourne, July 3, 1771.

AST Saturday I came to Afhbourne; the dangers or the pleasures of the journey I have at prefent no difpofition to recount; elfe might I paint the beauties of my native plains; might I tell of the "fmiles of nature, and the charms of art:" elfe might I relate how I croffed the Staffordshire canal, one of the great efforts of human labour, and human contrivance; which, from the bridge on which I viewed it, paffed away on either fide, and lofes itself in diftant regions, uniting waters that nature had divided, and dividing lands which nature had united. I might tell how these reflections fermented in my mind till the chaise stopped at Ashbourne, at Ashbourne in the Peak. Let not the barren name of the Peak terrify you; I have never wanted ftrawberries and cream. The great bull has no difeafe but age. I hope in time to be like the great bull; and hope you will be like him too a hundred years hence. I am, &c.

I

LETTER VIII. To Mrs. THRALE.

DEAREST MADAM,

Afhbourne, July 10, 1771.

AM obliged to my friend Harry, for his remem brance; but think it a little hard that I hear nothing from Mifs.

There has been a man here to-day to take a farm. After fome talk he went to fee the bull, and faid that he had feen a bigger. Do you think he is likely to get the farm?

Toujours ftrawberries and cream.

Dr. Taylor is much better, and my rheumatism is lefs painful. Let me hear in return as much good of you and of Mrs. Salufbury. You defpife the Dog and Duck; things that are at hand are always flighted. I remember that Dr. Grevil, of Gloucester, sent for that water when his wife was in the fame danger; but he lived near Malvern, and you live near the Dog and Duck. Thus, in difficult cafes, we naturally trust moft what we least know.

Why Bromfield, fuppofing that a lotion can do good, fhould defpife laurel-water in comparison with his own receipt, I do not fee; and fee ftill less why he fhould laugh at that which Wall thinks efficacious. I am afraid philofophy will not warrant much hope in a lotion.

Be pleased to make my compliments from Mrs. Salufbury to Sufy. I am, &c.

LETTER IX. To the Same.

MADAM,

October 3, 1772.

THOUGH I am juft informed, that, by fome accidental negligence, the letter which I wrote on Thursday was not given to the poft, yet I cannot refuse myself the gratification of writing again to my mistress; not that I have any thing to tell, but that by showing how much I am employed upon you, I hope to keep you from forgetting me.

Doctor Taylor afked me this morning on what I was thinking? and I was thinking on Lucy. I hope Lucy is a good girl. But fhe cannot yet be fo good as Queeney. I have got nothing yet for Queeney's cabinet.

I hope dear Mrs. Salufbury grows no worfe. I wifh any thing could be, found that would make her better. You must remember her admonition, and bustle in the brewhoufe. When I come you may expect to have your hands full with all of us.

Our bulls and cows are all well; but we yet hate the man that had seen a bigger bull. Our deer have died; but many are left. many are left. Our waterfall at the gar den makes a great roaring this wet weather.

And fo no more at prefent from, Madam, your,