should be returned, which he enclosed for Mr. Barnes, and left at his house.

I am so ill that I can hardly walk into the city: I think I shall send for Doctor Powell to-morrow. Mary is also very ill with a sore throat. Christiana stopped with her last night, and is now with her.

MANY thanks to you for affording me the opportunity of reading poor Cooke's interesting journal. He was a noble-hearted creature. His benevolent disposition, with very humble means, and his kindness. to servants, make me revere his memory. He had a bold and vigorous conception, that struck to the heart and root of dramatic compositions: he saw the author's meaning, and well knew how to give expression, point, and energy to his ideas. Had he been more select in his associates - had he preferred the drawing-room to pot-houses, attended to the conversation of enlightened minds, and studied the deportment of elegant menhe would have been a distinguished ornament to the stage. He had the vigour of Michael Angelo, but he wanted the grace of Vandyke.

This is the first time I have wielded my pen for many days, having lately had a dangerous attack of gout storming my breast-work; but I am better: the enemy has been repulsed, but not entirely subdued.

I know not when you mean to embark: I can only

breathe my wishes for a prosperous gale, and wish you success," and every thing in the world."

Commend me to Mrs. Matthews, and present to her the regards of Mrs. Oakley, and our dear girls, in whose names, and for myself,

I am very sincerely thine,

B. O.

To R. G. THOMAS, Esq. TOOTING LODGE.

DEAR REES,

Royal Exchange, July 20, 1822.

WHAT is your object in holding a court? I once attended for your father, without knowing its object, and found afterwards that I had given offence to some old friends in the village. If this is to be held for controversial points, or in opposition to the inhabitants of Tooting, I must beg leave to decline going down on the contrary, if I am not likely to incur censure, and can do you a service, I will readily attend.

I intend setting off to-night for Leamington, and expect to be here again at the end of the month, when, after a few days, I shall be off again, and probably stay there some length of time: my present state of health requires relaxation, being indeed exceedingly indisposed. My best regards to your mother.

Yours, &c.

B. O.

TO MESDEMOISELLES ELIZABETH AND LUCY OAKLEY,

MY DEAR GIRLS,

LEAMINGTON.

Tavistock Place, August 3, 1822. It was nearly nine o'clock before the Crown

Prince arrived; but it is the fashion with royalty to give

itself airs. I am a poor subject, and must submit; and sooner than suffer a disappointment (the coach being full), I mounted this royal personage, and kept the whiphand of him all the way to town; that is, I sat immediately behind the coachman, with a very pleasant elderly gentleman, leaning our backs against some well packed boxes, which, in some measure, sheltered us from a "pelting, pitiless storm" of hail and rain, through at least three miles.

A poor servant girl, who sat behind, (and who, like most females of that description, ape the fashions of their mistresses,) must, forsooth, travel with a reticule. This elegant appendage was dandled about from right hand to left, and from left to right, until it found a resting-place upon the seat beside her, where, unconscious of its roving disposition, it slily moved away, carrying with it three gold sovereigns, her keys, and, worst of all, her pocket-handkerchief, thereby depriving her of the means of wiping off the falling tears which profusely fell from the fair one's sorrowful eyes. None of the passengers shed tears but her; but all condoled with her upon this sad event. The envious coach rolled on, until a general halt was given by the sympathising travellers; when the guard was invested with a command to seek the fugitive reticule, whilst the vehicle pursued its course to Daventry, carrying with it the poor inconsolable maiden, who was there to await the success of this important expedition. Whether the guard was successful or otherwise, I cannot say. I could not help remarking, that had the good old custom been adhered to of carrying pockets, she would have had something in her pocket to have beguiled the time and cheered the hours

of servitude in her new place at Cambridge, whither she was destined.

We had a good dinner at Stony Stratford, and some excellent tea at Redburne. The weather cleared up, and the ride was delightful afterwards. Passing up Holborn in a hackney coach, I found Richard waiting for and expecting me, in the Sovereign, at the George and Blue Boar. I took him in, and at nine o'clock was seated by your mamma and sisters, in Tavistock Place.

Christiana set off for York Place this morning, to accompany Mrs. Williams to Worthing. Mary is much better, and now only feels a little debility in consequence

of her late severe attack.

Carry my kind remembrances to Union Place, and should you meet the Princess in your walks, assure her of my loyal attachment, and say I arrived safe in town. last night, and found myself better for my trip into Warwickshire.

Your loving Father,

B. O.

SIR,

To GEORGE LAW, Esq. LINCOLN'S INN.

Tavistock Place, August 3, 1822.

ON my return from Leamington last night, I found your letter, with a draft of a lease drawn by you by the desire of Mr. Daintry. My solicitor had, previously to my leaving town, sent me a draft at my request, returning with it, at the same time, the original lease granted to me by His Grace the Duke of Bedford, without which lease I presume it could not be correctly drawn.

Knowing your address, I now take leave to forward it to you for your perusal and approval. Not being in the habit of drawing agreements, I may not have entered into nicer technicalities; but the spirit of it cannot be misunderstood by the liberal mind of Mr. Daintry, nor can I anticipate any objection to it on his part.

I have the honour to be, &c.

B. O.

To MR. R. R. OAKLEY, LEAMINGTON.

MY DEAR RICHARD,

Royal Exchange, August 13, 1822.

I AM glad to find you enjoy the pleasant walks around Leamington, and that you found the ride to and from Coventry agreeable. I find you have a lively spirit of inquiry about you, which I am glad to observe, and hope you make memorandums of what passes before which you you, will not find irksome when you set about it: it will amply repay you for the short time it may occupy, and will also bring to your recollection, at some distant period, those moments which have been profitably filled. I would advise you to keep a diary: you are now at a proper age to commence one. The passing events of the day should be set down at night, which will not take you many minutes to record; and, at the end of every week, they may be correctly copied into a volume for the purpose. It will give you a free and easy mode of expressing your thoughts and opinions, tend to strengthen your mind, and give vigour to your ideas. The regret I feel in not having done this at an early period of my life, makes me urge it particularly for your consideration, in order