rectitude of moral conduct. But while he was at Farnborough, at Dr. Gunning's, on the visit mentioned in the preceding letter, it appears as if Mrs. Gunning had urged him so to do. And after he left her house, he sent her the following diary, for one week, which is certainly as entertaining as any I have ever seen. Much playfulness of wit, a perfect good humour, which is now and then mixed with sound and serious reflections, which evidently were the spring and foundation of all his words and actions: for in no man was ever more truly verified the saying of our blessed Lord. "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh," than in the person whose life we are now contemplating. 66 Wednesday, September 3, 1794.-At Mr. Meade's-rose early-anxious for my portmanteau -pleased to see the servant going with it on his shoulder to the coach-wished it safe at Kintbury -had my fears about it-walked for an hour around the fields with Dr. Gunning-compared notes, agreed the conversation flat the day before-could not guess why-perhaps Dr. B, who was of the party, could he wished to meet Mr. Stevens ; query, if he ever wished to meet him again? After breakfast, took leave of my friends: may be, final -had not rode far, when recollected had not paid Nancy for postage and washerwoman's bill-went back, was told by Mr. Meade she would abuse me for preciseness-memory sadly treacherous, an infirmity common to age-beguiled the way by ruminating on the incidents of the last fortnightthought with satisfaction on the morning, noontide, and evening walks to the church with the good Doctor to view progress-mightily amusing to see other people work-should work myselfmuch to be done, and little time to do it in-the : worthy Rector not idle; he loveth our nation, and has built a church-charity edifieth-called to mind the pleasant excursion to the clerical meeting at Bristol, and the happy expedient hit upon by Peter and me to escape the overflowings of turtle soup, and save harmless our best clothes-laudable solicitude well rewarded!-reflected with complacency on the many agreeable rides to and fro, between Farnborough and Bath-Nancy by my side-enlivening creation-highly flattered by the very friendly attention of good Mrs. Quick-the apostolic injunction, use hospitality without grudging, never more religiously observed than in Paragon Buildings-greatly delighted with the performance of the service the two Sundays at the Octagon Chapel both excellent men-recollected Mrs. Quick's remark on Frank's sermon, a happy faculty in combining scripture and comparing spiritual things with spiritual-very just-Bishop Horne likewise eminent in that way-thought of the wellspread table on Monday, and the kind, accommodating disposition of the invaluable hostesswhen, after an early dinner, I bid adieu to Bathcould not say as Sam. Johnson once did, ' a good dinner, Sir, but not a dinner to invite a man to'much gratified by a gentle squeeze of the hand from Kitty- -on getting into the chaise. Mem. In my grand climacteric-wonder what it could mean-pursued my journey, musing upon many things-awaked from my reverie by horse stopping at Kintbury-found a letter from Will. Horne, complaining, that when I got among the ladies, single or married, it was all one-nothing could move me -no denying facts-must plead guilty-ate my dinner entertained my friends with a relation of my adventures, and the wonders I had seen-they much edified thereby-portmanteau not arrived-sent after it, but no tidings-strange misgivings of mind about it-wished I had done as Peter did, and rode in my new coat-went to bed heavyhearted-slept little. -- "Thursday, Sept. 4.-Up rose the sun soonnot so soon up rose I-looked out at the windowin my mind's eye saw Peter unlock the two gates and go to the church-wished to see with my bodily eye the portmanteau on the servant's shoulder coming, as I had seen it going, but no such good luck -sent after it once more all in vain-wrote five letters, one to Mr. Meade representing, in pathetic terms, my distress, and imploring his assistanceand one to young Peter, inviting him to Kintbury, on Sunday, to hear Farnborough news, if not better engaged, and bring young Meyrick with himon recollection could not, with honour, be omitted -had given him reason to expect it-he had seen Miss M- at Ramsbury in my absence-had intimated that a letter would find its way without difficulty. I would not willingly forfeit Peter's good opinion-read Hanway's travels-his motto Never despair,'-hope my portmanteau is not lost: company to dinner-conversation of farmers sometimes not less amusing than that of literary menperhaps not less edifying-in the evening a sober game of whist-door opened-who comes?-enter portmanteau-joy in every countenance-particularly mine-Hanway in the right-a sensible man -best never to despair-remember that. Friday, Sept. 5.-Up soon after six o'clockbreakfasted at eight-wrote another letter to Mr. Meade to say, a little patience would have saved me the trouble of writing and him of reading-both have heard of the patience of Job to little purpose, as of many other virtues-went to Church-con gregation reminded me of Peter's at the Octagon -three old women, including myself dined out -had no reason to complain-received as much as communicated-trust I did not come worse out of company than I went in-bad indeed if I did-coneluded with a rubber. "Saturday, Sept. 6.-By an act of violence, turned myself out of bed soon after six o'clockshaved my head all over an easier task than formerly, thanks to Old Time-he, with his razor, has smoothed the way for me-meditated a ride to Mr. Sawbridge's-threatened rain-glad of an excuse-indolence prevailed-read Hanway's Travels -his story of Nadir Shah curious but horridread what you will, no denying the Fall: all nature, all history bear witness to the truth of Revelation walked in the garden to prepare the stomach for the food, while the food was preparing for the sto mach after dinner sat a while-made a partie quarrée in the evening, and went to bed in good time. "Sunday, Sept. 7.-Got up once more a day of rest but not of idleness: lawful to do good on the Sabbath-day-devoted to pleasure-right, if pleasure be devotion. Dr. Delany reckons up the natural advantages of the Sabbath-it promotes cleanliness, and cleanliness conduces to healthrest from labour renews strength, and enables to perform more labour-thought on Peter at the Oc. tagon-not a whit behind Frank in illustrating Scripture truths-audience in raptures-about ten o'clock arrived young Peter, and his young com panion, in good time for church; had a serious walk, Peter and I in the garden-seemed to be reconciled to study and confinement expressed my hopes, though the Duke of Somerset and Lord Webb had carried off a great deal of Greek and Latin with them, they had left a sufficient quantity for him-both young visitors preferred duck to boiled mutton-played a good knife and fork with that and apple-pie went to Church in the afternoon-drank tea-finished with a piece of plumcake and a glass of wine, and took leave, to all appearance perfectly well pleased with their excur, sion-in the evening read Bishop Horne's Considerations on the Life and Death of John the Baptist -not inferior to the best of his works. 66 Monday, Sept. 8.-A dull morning, wet, and likely to be so, barometer sunk, spirits low-the influence of the air on the body, and, while in the body, on the soul, very great: what wonder! in it we live and move, and have our being-exercise necessary to quicken the circulation, and raise the spirits day spent in reading, and the oppressive employment of eating and drinking—a rubber at night." Tuesday, Sept. 9.-Another wet day-began to be anxious about getting to town-afraid the weather would not do for riding on horsebackremember the portmanteau-all may be well-a poor creature-good for nothing-engaged to dine at Dr. Griffiths's-the walk not so uncomfortable as expected-a sad thing to be a coward-a good soldier should endure hardness-where are the fearful?-company, only Dr. Griffiths, his daughter, a Counsel learned in the law, and myself. Gentle passions, (says Jonas Hanway) and moderate enjoyments, in the track of religion and common sense, are things always within our reach, and certainly productive of the end we aim at→→ applicable in the present instance. Parsons apt to think lawyers rogues-lawyers apt to think parsons fools-the Doctor continues the practice of toasts -good Mrs. Quick was not forgotten-no meeting without cards-ombre always made a part of the amusement of the wits and statesmen in the Tory Administration of Queen Anne-had a blustering walk home.Finis. "And now you see what a week's journal is, how literally I am a thing of nought, how truly my time passeth away like a shadow. You desired to hear, and you hear with a witness. If your head Ꭰ Ꮞ |