Mifs Mel

2, 1725.

paulo poft futurum of a Greek verb. These things however were not the only admirable ones in this character. So happily had her good mother formed and instructed her mind, that it appeared full of all the principles of rational honour, and devoted to that truly God-like religion, which exalts the foul to an affection rather than dread of the fupreme Lord of all things, and to a conviction that his laws lead us both to happiness here and hereafter. She thorowly understood the ufe and excellence of Revelation, and had extracted from the infpired volumes everlafting comfort and fecurity under the apprehenfions of the divine Power and Majefty: but he told me, she could not think rites and outward performances were effential to real religion. She confidered what was just and beautiful in these things as useful and affifting only to the devout mind. In a word, this young lady was wife and good, humble and charitable. I have feen but one of her fex fuperior to her, in the powers of mind, and the beauties of body: that was Mifs Noel. Very few have I known that were equal.

20. The 2d day of June Mifs Melmoth moth and I and I left Whitehaven, and proceeded from part, June thence to Westmoreland. We travelled for five days together, till we came to Brugh under Stainmore, where we ftayed a night at

Lamb's,

Lamb's, (a houfe I recommend to the reader, if ever he goes that way), and the next morning we parted. Mifs Melmoth and her fervants went right onwards to Yorkshire, and I turned to the left, to look for one Mr. Charles Turner, who had been my near friend in the University, and lived in fome part of the north-east extremity of Westmoreland, or Yorkfhire. But before we feparated on the edge of Stainmore, we ftopped at the Bell to breakfast, which is a little lone house on a descent to a vast romantic glin, and all the public house there is in this wild, filent road · till you come to Jack Railton, the Quaker's houfe at Bows. We had a pot of coffee and toaft and butter for breakfast, and as usual we were very chearful over it; but when we had done, and it was time to depart, a melancholy, like a black and difinal cloud, began to overfpread the charming face. of Charlotte, and after fome filence, the tears burft from her eyes. What is the matter, Mifs Melmoth, I faid what makes this amazing change? I will tell you, Sir, this beauty replyed. To you I owe my life, and for three weeks paft have lived with you in fo very happy a way, that the end of fuch a fcene, and the probability of my never feeing you more, is too much for me. Melmoth, (I answered) you do me more honor than I deferve in fhedding tears for

H 2

Mifs

me,

A journey

hills, in

which be

land. 1725,

LETA

me, and fince you can think me worth feeing again, I promise you upon my facred word, that as foon as I have found a beloved friend of mine I am going up the hills to look for, and have paid my refpects to him for a while, if he is to be found in this defolate part of the world, I will travel with my face in the next place, if it be poffible, towards the east-riding of Yorkshire, and be at Mrs. Afgil's door, where you fay you are to be found. This reftored the glories Charlotte's face again, and for the first time, I gave Miss Melmoth a kiss, and bid her adieu.

to

21. Having thus loft my charming comamong the panion, I travelled into a vast valley, enthat part of clofed by mountains whofe tops were above Stainmore, the clouds, and foon came into a country longs to that is wilder than the Campagna of Rome, Weftmor- or the uncultivated vales of the Alps and June 8. Apennines. Warm with a claffical enthufiafm, I journeyed on, and with fancy's eye beheld the rural divinities, in thofe facred woods and groves, which fhade the fides of many of the vaft furrounding fells, and the fhores and promontories of many lovely lakes and bright running ftreams. For feveral hours I travelled over mountains tremendous to behold, and through vales the finest in the world. Not a man or houfe could I fee in eight hours time, but towards five in the afternoon, there appeared at the foot of

IBLIO

a hill a fweetly fituated cottage, that was half covered with trees, and stood by the fide of a large falling ftream: a vale extended to the fouth from the door, that was terminated with rocks, and precipices on precipices, in an amazing point of view, and through the flowery ground, the water was beautifully feen, as it winded to a deeper flood at the bottom of the vale. Half a dozen cows were grazing in view: and a few flocks of feeding fheep added to the beauties of the scene.

To this house I fent my boy, to enquire who lived there, and to know, if for the night I could be entertained, as I knew not where else to go. O'Fin very quickly returned, and informed me, that one farmer Price was the owner of the place, but had gone in the morning to the next town, and that his wife faid, I was welcome to what her house afforded. In then I went, and was most civilly received by an exceeding pretty woman, who told me her husband would foon be at home, and be glad she was fure to see me at their lone place; for he was no ftranger to gentlemen and the world, tho' at present he rarely conversed with any one. She told me, their own fupper would be ready an hour hence, and in the mean time would have me take a can of fine ale and a bit of bread. She brought me a cup

ing meeting

of extraordinary mault-drink and a cruft, and while I was eating my bread, in came Mr. Price.

22. The man seemed very greatly aftoA furpriz nifhed at entering the room, and after he had looked with great earneftnefs at me for a little while, he cryed out, Good Heaven! What do I fee! Falstaff, my clafs-fellow, and my fecond felf. My dear friend you are welcome, thrice welcome to this part of the world. All this furprized me not a little, for I could not recollect at once a face that had been greatly altered by the fmall-pox And it was not till I reflected on the name Price that I knew I was then in the house of one of my school-fellows, with whom I had been moft intimate, and had played the part of Plump Jack in Henry the fourth, when he did Prince Henry. was an unexpected meeting indeed and confidering the place, and all the circumstances belonging to the scene, a thing more strange and affecting never came in my way. Our pleafure at this meeting was very great, and when the most affectionate falutations were over, my friend Price proceeded in the following manner.

This

Often have I remembered you fince we parted, and exclufive of the Greek and English plays we have acted together at Sheridan's fchool, in which you acquired no

fmall