to see? your Plantation? a Low, Lean Switch or two, and which If I had not too great a regard for Scripture to make use of it on so low an occasion, I shou'd not scruple to Term, a Reed shaken with the wind. My Rabbits whom you talk so debasingly of, I wou'd undertake were they in your neighbourhood wou'd be so many wild Boors of the Forest to root em up, tis well for the Trees they are at 200 miles distance, Fortunatæ quod non Armenta &c. ! My Mother's Story which you desire to have related for Mrs. Spence's sake, is briefly this. On the Eve of Last Midsummer was twelvemonth Susan Turner too inquisitive about Futurity, watch'd near the Church Porch of the parish of Monkekinton, to see who went thro' the said Porch into the Church, which it seems was a certain token of their mortality the year following: as our parish is but small, she wisely foretold but few deaths; and as predictions with probability on their side are most likely to be fulfill'd; of the 4 persons she pretended to have seen, two were expiring at the time and died that very night, and the two remaining, one of which was my mother were by far the Eldest people in the Parish: However they are I thank God still both alive, and my mother, however a pretty deal shock'd last year with the Prophecy, is at present very well and like to live in spite of it; indeed she hath now fairly outliv'd the force and date of it, and I hope two such disappointments will be a discouragement to a practice, which hath been known sometimes to give people a great deal of real uneasiness. No. XXI. FROM MR. WHEELER. CONTAINING AN ACCOUNT OF THE MAN OF ROSS. DEAR SIR BE EFORE I can have any pretence to ask any favour of You, I must grant one you have so long ask'd of me: I mean some faint Idea of Mr. Keirl, better known in the World by the Man of Ross: A Title of Distinction I believe he well deserv'd, having not left his fellow behind him in that TownAn acquaintance of mine tells me he knew him personallyThat he was a very sober, temperate, regular, humane, generous, religious, sensible Man—extremely plain in his dressand gentlemanlike in his behaviour-respected and caress'd by all who knew him; and applied to by rich and poor for his direction and Advice. He was remarkably Hospitable-kept a plain plentiful table; Thursday was a Public Day, for the Neighbours, his Tenants, and the Poor.-Tho' he was passionately fond of Architecture, yet he was contented to live in an Old House; it was large enough, and that was the particular he regarded most. He kept very good hours, and was abed betimes, except his friends, who knew his Passion, enter'd upon the subject of Building, when they had a mind to have an hour or two extraordinary with him. I've heard, to encourage a Gentleman who wanted a better House, he wou'd offer to advance a moderate Sum of Money, provided he shou'd plan and supervise the Building. I'm told his taste was often gratify'd without any expence, for no Gentleman wou'd fix on any Plan, before it had receiv'd the Approbation of Mr. Keirl. He was in Herefordshire, what M'. Prowse is in the County of Somerset. He had a singular taste for Prospects: and by a vast plantation of Elms, which he has dispos'd of in a fine manner, he has made one of the most entertaining Scenes the County of Hereford affords- -His point of View is on an Eminence which he has wall'd in and dispos'd of into walks; the Spot is about 6 or 8 acres. Thro' the midst of the Valley below, runs the Wye, which seems in no hurry to leave the Country, but, like a Hare thats unwilling to leave her habitation, makes a hundred turns and doubles; He has beautified the Churchyard with fine plantations-and the extraordinary growth of ev'ry thing he set, gives him the reputation to this day, of having had a lucky hand. The inside of the Church has shar'd his generosity too in a gallery and Pulpit. After all that he has done for the Church and Parson, wou'd it not vex one if some avaritious or necessitous incumbent shou'd cut down these fine Elms, which are for the most part planted in the Church Yard and Glebe ? Though he was a friend to all mankind, yet there was one set of men, he tried to ruin, the Attorneys in his neighbourhood. It was very rare that any difference terminated in a Lawsuit. He was general Referee; which paid no small compliment to his Abilities and Integrity-I have been told his Public Charities kept pace with his private benefactions-But which of the Almshouses was most favour'd by him at Ross I am at too great a distance to learn. He was a considerable contributor to a long handsome Causeway which leads to the Town; which with the stately Avenues of Elms planted by it, gives the Traveller a very favourable prejudice to the place.-At Christmas he distributed a great deal of Money and provisions to the poor, to make them share in the cheerfulness and jollity of the season. All this and much more he did tho' his income was no more than 600£ a year. 200 of it lay about Ross.—He died a Bachelor and left his Estate to Mr. Vand". Keirl, who was bred a Confectioner at London-It was often suspected in his Neighbourhood, that he was a natural Son of the Old Gentlemans-His heir was an extravagant debauch'd young fellow-much in debt before his accession to the Estate; and the same temper continuing after his coming into possession, soon reduc'd his Income. He left 2 Sons and a Daughter. The Second Son, tho' without a fortune, lives in the same House, in which the Man of Ross liv'd, and keeps open house for all comers-It is I think reckon'd the best Inn in Town. These are the few hints I cou'd collect of the man of Ross; I wish I cou'd help you to materials sufficient, to give his Picture at full length to the World- -For I think he was a Credit to the Age and Place he liv'd in. And now, Sir, to the favour I have to beg of you: Mr. Archdeacon Shakerley the Bearer of this, is upon the point of beginning the Tour of France and Italy; and to make it to good advantage wou'd gladly receive your Instructions and Recommendations; In which latter you may say as many fine things of him as you please: for he is in good truth, à I am, dear Sir, in great haste WHI HILE you are planting the Groves, directing the Walks, and forming the Bowers that are in all probability to afford you a Retreat for the whole of your future Life; you seem like a man arriv'd at the end of his Labours, and just beginning to enjoy the fruits of them. If I did not love you, I should certainly envy; but as it is, I heartily rejoice; and only wish I was with you to partake of the Pleasure, which I am sensible you must at present enjoy. But here am I, ty'd down to the World, immerst in Business, with very little Prospect of ever being able to disengage myself. 'Tis true, my Business is of such a Nature, and so agreeable to the Turn of my Mind, that I have often very great Pleasure in the Pursuit of it. I don't know but I may sometimes be as much entertain'd in planning a Book, as you are in laying out the Plan of a Garden. Yet I don't know how it is, I cannot help languishing after that Leisure which perhaps if it was in my possession I should not be able to enjoy. I am afraid the Man who would truly relish and enjoy Retirement, must be previously furnish'd with a large and various Stock of Ideas, which he must be capable of turning over in his own Mind, of comparing, varying, and contemplating upon with Pleasure; he must so thoroughly have seen the World as to cure him of being over fond of it; and he must have so much good Sense and Virtue in his own Breast, as to prevent him from being disgusted with his own Reflections, or uneasy in his own Company. I am sorry to feel myself not so well qualify'd for this sacred Leisure as I could wish, in one respect; but glad I have a Friend from whose Example I cannot but hope I shall be able to improve. I DEAR SIR No. XXIII. FROM MR. R. DODSLEY. June 19. SENT you last week by Thatcher's Barge all your Parcels, in which were included two Epping Cheeses which Mrs. Dodsley desires Mrs. Spence will be so good as to accept. I hope you have before now recd all the cargo safe exct the Gr H. I have this day sent the Pope's Works (which came from Mr. Warburton) down to Hungerford, to go by the same Conveyance. I am afraid my design on the Banks of the Thames will not proceed to Execution, the Landlord and I not having yet agreed. As the idle time of the year is now come on, I have begun it with the most idle of all Productions, a Love Song: I intend it for Mr. Tyers, to be sung at Vaux-hall. Pray tell me whether 'tis good for aught or not. I wrote it, alas! not from any present feeling or sensations, but by recalling past Ideas to my mind; and therefore it may possibly want that passionate Tenderness requisite to the subject: however I think it so much too young for me at present that I shall not let Mr. Tyers or anybody else know that it is mine. |