'Twas therefore said by ancient sages,

That love of life increas'd with years,
So much that in our latter stages,

When pains grow sharp, and sickness rages,
The greatest love of life appears.

This great affection to believe,

Which all confess, but few perceive,

OLD TIME, whose haste no mortal spares,
Uncall'd, unheeded, unawares

Brought on his eightieth year.

At the advanced age of eighty-seven years, Mr. Nash died, at his house, in St. John's Court, Bath, on the 3d of February, 1761, sincerely regretted by every inhabitant of this City, and buried at the expense of the Corporation, with great respect and solemnity, in the Abbey Church. The masters of the Assembly-Rooms, following as chief mourners. His pall was supported by six of the senior aldermen; and three clergymen preceded the coffin. The boys and girls of the charity-schools in couples, singing a hymn, and a band of music, playing a dirge. The tops of the houses, and the streets were crowded with spectators, to take a last farewell of this venerable founder and promoter of the interests connected with the City of Bath.

Mr. Collett succeeded Mr. Nash; a gentleman of real private worth; but, in his capacity of Master of the Ceremonies, he stood in no competition with his great predecessor, and soon resigned his throne to Mr. Derrick. This latter gentleman also bore no resemblance to Mr. Nash, except his wearing a white hat: he, however, made it a lucrative situation, in taking a benefit during the season at each room. But, upon his death, in 1769, the vacant sceptre was

contested with the most determined hostility, between Mr. Brereton and Mr. Plomer. Heaps of hand-bills, squibs, and scurrility, daily issued from the press, in which David Garrick, Esq. took an active part; and as the ladies had an equal right of voting, their conduct, upon this occasion, partook more of the purlieus of Wapping than the refined circles of Bath. It, at length, became so disgraceful, and such a scene of riot and confusion ensued at the rooms, that the mayor appeared with his officers, and the tumult was not appeased till after the townclerk had read the Riot-Act three times.

Arms, and the feuds I sing, of ladies fair :
Of female wigs dethron'd; dishevell❜d hair;
Rent muslins; laces torn; eyes flashing fire;

Roug'd cheeks, more red with rage, and such chimeras dire.

Then, let the tumult thicken: rouse each fair
To calling odious names, and pulling hair;

Let curses thunder, and let blows resound;
Torn lace and broken fans bestrew the ground;
And gray-hair'd scalps and wrinkl'd sculls deplore,
The loss of wigs, wide scatter'd o'er the floor.

Mr. Plomer and Mr. Brereton were, at length, induced to resign their pretensions in favour of Captain Wade, upon their receiving a benefitball at each of the rooms. Mr. Wade was the first Master of the Ceremonies who was presented with a gold medallion of enamelled blue, set round with brilliants, to be worn as the ensignia of his office. On the one side is a raised figure of Venus, with a golden apple in one hand, and a rudder in the other; the motto, Venus decens. The reverse is a wreath of laurel; the motto, Arbiter elegantiarum commune consen

su; and now worn by Mr. Heaviside at the Upper Rooms.

On quitting the OLD ROOMS, a few yards to the right brings the visitor into Orange-Grove, which is a charming open area, planted with rows of elm-trees, and from its contiguity to the venerable Abbey, gives it rather an interesting appearance. It is 190 feet long, and 170 broad, and was formerly the principal seat of the amusements of Bath. The houses are irregularly built; but notwithstanding this defect, it is a pleasant, although not an elegant residence. A small obelisk stands in the centre, erected by BEAU NASH, with the following inscription, said to be written by POPE:

In memoriam *
Sanitatis

PRINCIPI AURIACO

Aquarum Thermalium puto

Favente DEO

Ovante Britannia

Feliciter Restitutæ.

MDCCXXXIV.

The left corner of Orange-Grove leads to the Post-Office, on passing which, turn down to the left into Church-Street, and the FREEMASONS' HALL immediately meets the eye of the spectator in York-Street. The above new and elegant structure built of free-stone is considered as a great ornament to Bath, and also adds to the importance of this part of the City; the exterior of which is viewed as a fine piece of Grecian

* In memory of the happy restoration of the health of the Prince of Orange, by the drinking of the Bath waters, through the favour of God, and to the joy of Britain, 1734.

AMBOʻLIAS