and can only tell you, that one who has f reason than you, I hope, ever will have to life with something worse than indifference no enemy to it; but can look backward or bitter moments, partly with satisfaction, and with patience; and forward too, on a scene no promising, with some hope, and some expect of a better day. The cause, however, which sioned your reflection, (though I can judge bu imperfectly of it) does not seem, at present, weighty enough to make you take any such lution as you meditate. Use it in its season, relief from what is tiresome to you, but not as was in consequence of any thing you take ill the contrary, if such a thing had happened at time of your transmigration, I would defer it me to avoid that appearance.dow

As to myself, I cannot boast, at present, ei of my spirits, my situation, my employments, fertility. The days and the nights pass, and I never the nearer to any thing, but that one to wh we are all tending; yet I love people that le some traces of their journey behind them, and ha strength enough to advise you to do so wh you can. I expect to see Caractacus complete and therefore I send you the books you wanted. do not know whether they will furnish you wi any new matter; but they are well enough writte and easily read. I told you before, that (in a tin of dearth) I would borrow from the Edda, witho

Pray, when did I pretend to finish, or sert passages into other people's works, as equally easy to pick holes and to mend the I can say is, that your Elegy must not end worst line in it.* It is flat; it is prose; that, above all, ought to sparkle, or at least t If the sentiment must stand, twirl it a little apophthegm; stick a flower in it; gild it costly expression; let it strike the fancy, t or the heart, and I am satisfied.

The other particular expressions which I to, I mark on the manuscript. Now, I desi would neither think me severe, nor at all. what I say, further than as it coincides with own judgment; for the child deserves your tiality; it is a healthy well-made boy, with genuous countenance, and promises to live I would only wash its face, dress it a little, it walk upright and strong, and keep it from 1 ing paw words.

I hope you couched my refusal† to Lord Cavendish in as respectful terms as possible, with all due acknowledgments to the Duke. If

An attempt was accordingly made to improve it; it stood when this criticism upon it was written, I ca now recollect.-Mason.

+ Of being Poet-Laureat on the death of Cibber, w place the late Duke of Devonshire (then Lord Chamber desired his brother to offer to Mr. Gray; and his Lord had commissioned me (then in town) to write to him cerning it.-Mason.