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where you may have a whole sisterhood of friends secluded from the rest of the world.

If that project does not suit you, why then, my dear Miss Carter, we must e'en lower our ideas of friendship to the pitch of common life, and be content with loving and esteeming people constantly and affectionately amid a variety of thwarting, awkward circumstances, that forbid all possibility of spending our lives together. Let people in such a situation be glad that they have known enough of one another to make affection mutual, and then let them resign the complete enjoyment of it as inconsistent with such a world as this, and accommodate themselves to the perverse changes of a varying life, with as much calmness and philosophy as those changes were perhaps meant to perfect us in.

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I have not preached out my thirty minutes yet, have I? Alas! Alas! does not my entering so very deeply and seriously into this subject, look as if I had been a good deal touched with it myself? One of my most favorite, most amiable friends has been married for several years, and I experience that the difference of circumstances makes an alteration in the ease and frequency of our seeing one another which robs me of the gayest, happiest moments. I ever enjoyed. But our affection for one another continues the same it ever was; and indeed if ever so many people instead of one had a right to share it with me, I should feel not the least jealousy, as I have no notion of monopolies in friendship; and provided people love me with sincerity, in the moderate degree I deserve, they are welcome to love as many more as they please, and only furnish me with so many more objects of affection. I see her happy, I see her act becomingly in her station, we sometimes lament the distance that it puts between us, but are upon the whole mighty reasonable people, and very well satisfied that every thing should be as it is.

Well but all this while you have never walked over to breakfast with me in your seven league boots that you seem to have borrowed out of the Fairy Tales. As for your sister I'll put a force on my inclinations if she comes along with you and not admit her; for it would be having no spirit at all not to resent such an injury as she did me, in putting an end to your letter when you was so well inclined to prolong my entertainment. However upon your intercession I may probably relent, if you promise not to root up any of my beloved elms in your way hither. They furnish me this hot summer with such an agreeable shade, that I should be unpardonable to part with them so easily, even for an hour spent in your company. Beneath their shelter I converse with a variety of authors, and pass away the time in an amusing indolence, beginning my day some two hours later than you do, and live though the whole of it with a dullness of temper, ill suited to those inspiring beauties which summer diffuses all around.

There are times when even the magnificence of the sky, the fair extension of a flowery lawn, the verdure of the groves, the harmony of rural sounds, and the universal fragance of the balmy air, strike us with no agreeable sensations,

"What does of their sweetness those blossoms beguile,
That meadow, those daisies why do they not smile?'

nothing surely but the ungrateful perverseness of ones own humour. This reflection throws human happiness in a most mortifying light. If

these most beautiful, most innocent enjoyments, are so very imperfect, so sadly unsatisfactory, where shall the fugitive being be found? There only where it shall no longer be fugitive or uncertain. You see I am in a sermonizing humour, and do what I will I fall into the style every moment. Adieu! I will no longer trust myself with the pen, &c.' Mrs. Carter to Miss Talbot.

I hope, my dear Miss Talbot, you will not again think it necessary to limit yourself to the term of thirty minutes, for really you are not one of those orators whom I could wish confined to a Clepsydra.. I could with the most pleasing attention listen to such discourses as yours, "from morn to noon, from noon till dewy eve" especially when you preach only your own doctrine; for as to David Simple, (though I respect a great many of his opinions) I am somewhat inclined to be heterodox, not that I am going to trouble you with my reasons for dissenting from him, which I have at this present time of writing totally forgot, but hope you will believe they are right good ones.

As for your second scheme I am utterly forbid to think of it, from an extraordinary tenderness to the safety of my person, as I do not find you have mentioned any expedient how I should avoid breaking my neck, which 1 believe would certainly follow my ever getting within side of them, for "libera io naqui et vissi, et morrò sciolta." I am something too volatile to live for ages in shady cloysters mewed;" a scheme very inconsistent with my principles, who am so real a friend to universal liberty, that I make a scruple of keeping birds in a cage, and did but last week refuse the offer of a very musical linnet.

But now, dear Miss Talbot, it is time for me most gratefully and sincerely to thank you for the serious part of your letter, which I hope will contribute to make me wiser and better of which to my sorrow there is abundant need. I must however in justice to myself tell you it was not from a contracted principle of monopolizing a person who I think possesses every amiable quality, that gave me the uneasiness I troubled you with; for her favorites always become mine, and could I flatter myself the case would be parallel to what you describe, I could bear it with tolerable tranquillity; but I am persuaded it would be quite different. At all events, be that as it may, your advice is equally good, and I shall pay a much greater regard to it than if it was dictated by Seneca or Epictetus.

I make no doubt but you have read Siris*, as I have to no great purpose you` will think, as I fairly confess I have no clear idea what one half of it means: what I can understand of it extremely pleases me, but possibly its being beyond the reach of my comprehension is the cause that some parts of the book appear entirely visionary, and more like the glittering confusion of a lively imagination, than any regular system of dictinct reasoning. Pray what is your opinion of tar water?

As I am as perfect a Hamadryad as you can possibly be, I should pay the utmost deference to your favorite trees. I hope by this time, the fair face of the creation has recovered all its charms, and that you are

By Bishop Berkeley, of whom Pope says with more than his usual truth of character, that he possessed" every virtue under heaven". This ingenious and eccentric work was first published in this year.

no longer insensible to the beauties of a season when every sense and every heart is joy. Where indeed below the stars shall happiness be found, if it flies from a mind like yours! If I might venture to dispute any point with you, who understand every thing so much better than myself, I should be inclined to philosophize a little with you upon this melancholy reflection. Give me leave however, dear Miss Talbot, most sincerely to wish, you may very seldom, if it were possible never, feel any stronger argument against human happiness than such an accidental flagging of the spirits as an hour's enlivening conversation, or a hundred varied amusements might easily conquer. These transient fits of oscitation, and inac‐ tivity, are perhaps no more than a necessary relaxation to the mind, and serve to quicken its faculties to a more lively sensation of returning pleasure.

• I am greatly inclined to be an advocate for the happiness of human life, and you will allow my opinion to be tolerably impartial, when I tell you that I am at this moment talking in downright contradiction to what I feel, however luckily for you, the want of a frank puts an end to my speculations, for I believe all the philosophy 1 might utter in another sheet would not be worth sixpence to you, so adieu ! &c. pp. 40-45.

The following extract from a letter of Miss T. refers to a most singular and mysterious character, of whom frequent mention is made in this correspondence. He was an Armenian by birth, of unknown origin. Early in life he conceived the design of rescuing his country from the oppression of the Turks. With this view he visited Europe; engaged at first in menial employments, afterwards entered into the army, and served several campaigns as a subaltern officer, obtained by degrees the patronage and aid of some of the English nobility, and at length went so near to the completion of his original design as to obtain the friendship of Heraclius Prince of Georgia, and a donation from him of the Bishopric of Achpat, a fine and plentiful territory, bordering on his native country. His bravery, resolution, perseverance, and fair prospects, were however finally disappointed; he was obliged to flee to the British for an asyluni, and was living in 1807 a pensioner on the Bengal establishment.

Miss Talbot to Mrs. Carter.

Indeed, my dear Miss Carter, I ought long ago to have let you know of my amended health, and if my silence has caused you any uneasiness I am much to blame. But I rise very late, and when up am stupid, heavy, and good for nothing. I take the air every day, and am, thank God, gradually getting better. From six to seven has been my best hour for writing, but one letter at a time is as much as I can accomplish without over fatigue; and I have often letters of absolute necessity that cannot be put off. And last post Emin hindered my writing to you by dropping in to make an evening visit. I believe you have not heard from (oh fie upon me!) since his return, but perhaps you may have heard of him from Mrs. Mon

tagu. He is as good and as oriental as ever, though much more than ever in fashion amongst the fine folks. One new acquisition he has made is the very particular favor and protection of a very great Countess, to whom he was most strongly recommended by his German friends. He has also had a very gracious audience of the great man who did not see him last year; but succeed in his schemes or not, he seems now determined to go towards his own country early in the spring. He was particularly entertaining last night; talking of the management of states and kingdoms, the necessity there was of watching evils in their first growth, and by what might seem inconsiderable attentions preventing in time very great inconveniences--What, says he, if I was to take charge of a clock, should I be satisfied with winding it up now and then, and just regulating the great wheels? No, I would examine every little spring, and chain, and hair, and see that there was not a bit of dirt or dust in any of them.-After much discourse of this kind, he sat down and amused me with one or two genuine Eastern tales and poems, as he had heard them repeated by some Persians he travelled with, when they sat down to pass the heat of the day on the banks of a river -Now I am sure all this will plead my excuse for last post.' pp. 440-441.

We shall give the reader one extract more, and take our leave of the present work.

Miss Talbot to Mrs. Carter.

I know so much of Mrs. Chapone both from you and poor Mr. Richardson, that I have felt her affliction most sincerely-but we had better by half live without feeling, like the folks of this world. I was meditating yesterday upon death, till I felt myself amazed how one could ever think of conversing on any other subject and yet 'tis almost the only subject that is never treated of in conversation farther than as a mere uninteresting fact. Were any number of persons intended to embark for a distant unknown country, of whom some might be called upon to-morrow, and all must be called thither soon, would they not whenever they met as friends and fellow travellers be enquiring amongst themselves how each was provided for the journey; what accounts each had heard of the place; the terms of reception; what passports; what recommendations; what interest and hopes each had secured; what treasures remitted; what protection insured; and excite each other to dispatch what yet was possible to be done, and might to-morrow be irretrievably too late? Me thinks it would sit pleasingly on the mind, when a friend was vanished out of this visible world to have such conversations to reflect on !-What astonishing scenes are now opened to the minds of many with whom a few months ago we used familiarly, and triflingly to converse? With whom we have wasted many an inestimable hour! What clear views have they now of those great and important truths, for which the foolish bustle of this world, leaves scarce any place in the immortal mind!

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It will be evident, from numerous inaccuracies in this correspondence, that the credit of the writers is not under very serious obligations to the diligence of the editor.

Art. IV. Communications to the Board of Agriculture; on Subjects relative to the Husbandry and internal Improvement of the Country. Vol. V. Part II. 4to. pp. 204. Price 10s. bds. Nicol. 1807. THIS portion of the fifth volume of Communications to

the Board of Agriculture, (for the former part of which see p. 820.) is entirely occupied with an Essay on the nature, produce, origin, and extension of the Merino breed of sheep: to which is added, a history of a cross of that breed with Ryeland ewes; describing their qualities and produce, and a successful method of managing them. By Caleb Hillier Parry, M. D. F. R. S. &c. &c.

The lucid and interesting manner in which Dr. Parry has treated this subject, renders his essay highly valuable to all who pay attention to the improvement of their breed of sheep. The comparative facility with which either a true bred Merino, or a descendant from one by judicious crosses, may now be procured, will soon, it is to be hoped, render the best crosses with that breed sufficiently common to bring a quantity of native fine wool into the market, and thus overcome the obstacles which appear to be thrown in the way of its vent by the great and monopolizing dealers in Spanish wool.

What can lead the manufacturer,' says Dr. P. to discourage the introduction of a new and additional supply of so precarious a commodity, on the existence of which depends his very subsistence? I fear it will be found that this conduct originates in a spirit of monopoly; or in at little, lazy, narrow policy, which fears to hazard shillings in order to secure pounds. The importation of Spanish wool is in few hands. We know that vast stocks of that important article have been accumulated, a price set upon it at discretion, and great profits made from its sale. Several clothiers are partners in these commercial houses. Many others are actually supported by them on long credit; just as publicans are often furnished and maintained by the great brewers. The importer has in his hands all the bullion from which is coined the whole circulating and perishable commodity; and the little clothier derives his bread from the profit of the coinage. It is not to be wondered at, therefore, if the former dreads the discovery of any new mines, and if the latter, afraid of trusting to what he considers as an inadequate and merely casual supply, and at the same time apprehensive of offending his patron, will not receive it at all, or will receive it only by stealth.'

Among the greatest encouragers of this breed, however, there now are clothiers, some of whom profess a determination to keep from three to twenty thousand of these sheep.

We sincerely hope that this essay will be more widely dif fused, by its circulation in a more generally accessible form than the quarto pages of the Board of Agriculture; and in the mean time we proceed to give an analysis of its contents, and a general report of the results either deduced by the ar

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