there is one, which commands a very extenfive profpect. In different parts of the city are a great number of mills for fawing of wood, for polifhing of marble, and for making gunpowder, &c. Here we refided a week. But the length of our refidence was more owing to the badnefs of the weather, than to any prepoffeffion in favour of the place. For the people are too busy to be civil. And though, from the extensiveness of its trade, Amfterdam might justly be ftiled the grand cenforium of commerce and opulence, yet I never was in any place that I would not prefer to it as the place of my abode. At the Hague you get, as it were, into another world. There the people are altogether as polite; and particularly fo to ftrangers. Many of the fireets and public places are fpacious and airy. The buildings, in general, are grand, and the air is pure. This I experienced as foon as I approached it, as I had found a difficulty in breathing at Amfterdam. I had letters of recommendation to Mr. Van Helt's family, which made my stay at the Hague very agreeable. The palace at Opdam is the most magnificent. The Prince of Orange has a house here, but it is not, in my opinion, equal to that of the Deputies of Amfterdam. The town-house is a very handsome building. In the front of it is a motto in Latin, which means, means, that it is not in the power of Jupiter himself to please every one. The great church fronts the town-house, which has nothing belonging to it to excite curiofity but a very high fteeple. The principal ftreet, called the Prince Graft, is most beautiful indeed. A fine canal, adorned with trees, runs through it. The buildings are fumptuous, and are chiefly inhabited by people of quality. The environs are pleafant, particularly the wood, which is fituated at a little distance from the town, and where there is a palace belonging to the Prince of Orange. They have a legend here, that Margaret, daughter of the Count of Holland and Zealand, was delivered of three hundred and fixty-five children at a birth. I refided in this delightful town fix weeks; and the great civilities I received during that time, are ftill imprinted on my memory. Excufe this curfory, unconnected account of the places I vifited. You will readily perceive that the obfervations were made, and are now written, in hafte. Upon my return to England, I was invited to engage once more with Mr. Rich. But Barry being gone to Ireland, I did not choose to hazard the reputation I had gained on the stage, by playing to empty benches. I, accordingly, as I made no doubt of my debts being foon paid by Mr. Calcraft, de clined any agreement. My health was perfectly established, but a gloom had taken poffeffion of my mind that I could not get rid of. I flew to diffipation for relief; but that proved a vain refource, especially as the cause of that gloom refided under the roof with me-Dissipation ever proves a vain remedy for a wounded mind-It might indeed, (if I may be allowed to use the word when speaking of an immaterial substance) cicatrize the wound; fpread over it a feeming healthy skin, and give a delufive glow to the countenance; but under thefe appearances, the ailment will ftill rankle, and need a different treatment. Sufferings are alone to be alleviated by a patient refignation to the will of heaven; and the only cure for them is Hope. I had an offer, about this time, from Mr. Woodward, of joining Mr. Barry and himself at their theatre, Crow-Street, Dublin, in which they had a joint concern. This gentleman was indifcreet enough, upon fome trifling quarrel with Mr. Garrick, to embark a fortune of eleven thousand pounds in a theatrical adventure with Barry, who not only, was without a fhilling, but greatly incumbered with debts. As the first step towards getting rid of his money, a new theatre was to be built. Mr. Moffop had engaged another theatre there in oppofition to theirs. And as I had been been fo careffed and flattered at Dublin, in my younger days, it was naturally to be fuppofed, that the fuccefs I had fince met with on the London theatres, would enhance my value, and make me a defirable acquifition to any house I should appear at. In answer to Mr. Woodward's application, which was by letter, I informed him, that at the diftance of fo many months I could not come to any refolution relative to his proposals; but if I vifited Ireland, I would most certainly give him the preference. G. A. B. LETTER LXXII. July 18, 17 A Bruna made a vifit to England, in order T this time, the celebrated Madam to try if she could not recover fome part of an eftate her grandfather had forfeited, in the reign of King William. The Marquis de Abrio, ambaffador from the court of Spain, who had fucceeded General Wall, was captivated by her voice. And as his Excellency was intimate at my house, and knew my paffion for mufic, he introduced this lady to me. I was so fascinated by her mufical powers, that every hour fhe could fpare fhe complaifantly paffed with me in Parliament Street. Though Though Shakspere fays, "there's nought fo ftockish, hard, and full of rage, but mufic for the time doth change his na"ture;" yet, as I have faid before, Calcraft was an exception to this rule. He fo dif liked harmony, that whenever the found reached his ear, he directly went abroad. This, added to the gratification of my paffion for mufic, induced me to have frequent concerts; and fome of the first ladies honoured me with their company upon these occafions. This Syren was fo much admired, that whenever fhe chofe to enchant her hearers, the Spanish ambaffador's house, as well as mine, were crowded. I was now never at home, except when I had parties, which prevented Mr. Calcraft and me from meeting, but now and then at dinner. On New Year's Day, I had always a concert and ball. This year, Mr. Calcraft, in confideration of my not having any theatrical engagement, fent me a hundred guineas by the house steward. I own I was greatly furprised at this unexpected fit of generofity. And, though it was very inadequate to the expences of the day, as I had the first performers at the concert, and a great number of ladies as vifitors, together with the foreign minifters, I accepted of it. The unfortunate Count de Bathmore, minifter from the court of Denmark, opened the ball with the Countess of Harrington. And the |