Edward II.'s queen Isabella was confined there to her death, but lived very grand, I trust, for she had 3000l. a year, a sum equal to a royal jointure now, I suppose. Hume says it was ten miles from London, and it must be nearer now.

Do Mr. Walpole's works sell, and is his Love Story that you once read to me in them? I liked the letters to Hannah More mightily.

If Mr. Bunbury's Little Gray Man is printed, do send it hither; the ladies at Llangollen are dying for it. They like those old Scandinavian tales and the imitations of them exceedingly; and tell me about the prince and princess of this loyal country, one province of which alone had disgraced itself; and now no Anglesey militiaman is spoken to by the Cymrodorion, but all completely sent to Coventry, for nobody wants them in Ireland.

The mysterious expedition of Buonaparte will I hope end at worst in revolutionising the Greek Islands, and restoring the old names to Peloponnesus, Eubœa, &c. I should be sorry he ever got to India, but waking the Turks from their long sleep will not grieve me. The Knights of Malta make a triste figure at last; I suppose Mr. Weishoupt's emissaries were beforehand with the hero of Italy, as they call him.

My husband is particularly disgusted with the people that exalt Buonaparte's personal courage and valorous deeds. "He goes nowhere unless he is called," says Mr. Piozzi; if he wanted to show his prowess, why did not he come here, or to Ireland? we would have

shown him sport; but like Caliban, those fellows will be wise henceforward and sue for grace, and worship the French no more, unless they are still greater blunderers than even I take them for.

To the Rev. Daniel Lysons.

Brynbella, 5th Jan. 1796.

DEAR MR. LYSONS, -After making repeated inquiries for you of all our common friends, I begin to find out that the best way is to ask yourself. Dear Siddons was always a slow correspondent, though a kind wellwisher; and she has so much to do in good earnest, that we must forgive her not sitting down to write letters either of fact or sentiment; for a little of both these I apply to you, and beg a little chat for information of what is going forward. Tell me, in the first place, concerning your own health and your wicked brother's, who forgets his old correspondent very shamefully; after that, let the sedition bills or the Shakespear manuscripts take post according to the bustle made about them in London. Make me understand why Mr. Hayley writes Milton's life, and why Doctor Anderson publishes Johnson's. Those roads are so beaten they will get dust in their own eyes sure, instead of throwing any into the eyes of their readers; at this distance from the scene of action I cannot guess their intents. Tell what other new books attract notice, and what becomes of the Whig Club now 'tis divided like Paris into sections. I fancy France will be divided

into sections at last,-a bit to Royalists, another bit to Republicans; and perhaps the very name of a nation so disgraced by crimes and follies will be lost for ever. No matter! I long to see Burke's letter to Arthur Young: his predictions have the best claim to attention of any living wight.

Oh pray what becomes of the man who set mankind a staring this time last year? he is in a madhouse, is not he? We had a slight earthquake about eight or ten weeks ago, and such extraordinary weather as never did I witness; very providential sure that it should continue so warm and mild and open while bread remains at such an advanced price. Yesterday the prospect was clear and bright as spring; nor have we seen ice hitherto; but storms enough to blow the very house down, and I fear prevent our West India fleet from ever arriving at its place of destination. A beautiful prismatic halo round the moon in an elliptic form very elegant on Christmas Day, was said by our rural philosophers to be a rare but certain præcursor of tempest, and so it proved: I was, however, glad to have

seen a meteor so uncommon.

Has your brother examined any of the gold from our new mine in Ireland? The bishop showed us some, and Mr. Lloyd, I think, sent specimens to Sir Joseph Banks -it is supposed purer, and less drugged with alloy than what comes immediately from Peru- could we but get enough of it.

To the Rev. Daniel Lysons.

Brynbella, Sunday,

(post-mark, 1796.)

DEAR MR. LYSONS,- You have at last written me so kind and so entertaining a letter, that no paper on my part shall be wasted in reproaches; I thank you very kindly, but you should never suppose me informed of things which you cannot help hearing; but they escape me easily enough. I do hear of the Arch Duke's successes however, and of poor Italy's disgrace; I hear of peace too-when shall we see it? Mr. Ireland is a pleasant gentleman indeed, and his last act his best act in my mind; absolution follows confession; I have done being angry with him now. There is a note in Mr. Malone's pamphlet* for which I would give half a dozen publications of fifty pages each concerning the times; it contains my sentiments so exactly that I may easily commend the writer's good sense and sound judgment. The mysteries of Carlton House surpass those of Udolpho: may they end as those do, in mere nihility. I will not quarrel with you for making no reply to my questions about "Camilla,"† because I have read it myself, and because these are really no times for any man of the living world to waste his moments in weighing of feathers; he, however, who neglects to read Burke's last pamphlet, loses much of a very rational pleasure.

* Against the Ireland forgeries.

† Madame D'Arblay's novel.

I turn the page to talk of yours and your brother's discoveries*, of which I honestly wish you much joy.

To the Rev. Daniel Lysons.

Brynbella, Thursday.

(No other date, and no post-mark.)

DEAR MR. LYSONS,— Accept a renewal of inquiries, literary and domestic; but 'tis for yourself I inquire; your brother, we know, is well and busy with his subterranean discoveries. What statues has he found? they will be very valuable; and tell me for mercy's sake what this Apology for the Bible † means: we live in fine times sure when the Bible wants an apology from the bishops. How is Mr. Burke's book received? and what will his regicide peace be? I see no signs of peace except in the books: for they make them ready to battle in all parts of the world, and we shall have the Turks upon us directly if we chase French ships into their very harbours so. No matter! my half-crown for Flo shall be willingly contributed, though I do think seriously that the Dog Tax and Repeal of Game Laws will have an exceeding bad effect on the country, where gentlemen will want inducements to remain when hunting and coursing and shooting are at an end. Horses will lower in price, however, and little oats will be sown at all. I think democracy in all her insidious

Of Roman antiquities at Woodchester, on which Mr. Samuel Lysons based two valuable publications.

Bishop Watson's celebrated answer to Paine and Gibbon.