one language to another, as it has been frequently remarked, the spirit evaporates, and seldom any thing remains but a caput mortuum.

The matter may be preserved, the ideas justly exhibited, the historical part accurately represented; but the manner, the style, the beauties of diction, which constitute more than half the excellence of the classics, can seldom be transferred to a modern language. They who read translations only, are like those who view the figures of a beautiful piece of tapestry on the wrong side.

I must then earnestly recommended it to you, if you wish to taste the genuine sweets of the classic streams, to drink at the fountain.

NO. CLXVIII. ON THE RETIREMENT OF A COUNTRY

TOWN. IN A LETTER.

Romæ rus optas, absentem rusticus urbem

Tollis ad ustra

SIR,

HOR.

MY father had a lucrative place in the customs; but as his family was large, he was unable to leave us fortunes, and contented himself with placing us in such situations in the world as would give us an opportunity of acquiring a decent provision, if we should not be wanting to ourselves. It was my lot, after having received a tincture of classical education, to be put apprentice to a genteel business at the west end of the town. As soon as I was out of my time, I set up for myself; and though I cannot boast that I ever was in a very great way, yet, by attention and frugality, I had accumulated, at the age of

forty, a sum sufficient to enable me to live in a comfortable manner, without the anxiety and confinement of trade. A handsome legacy from a relation of my wife, at once determined me, in my long meditated intention, to sell off at prime cost, and retire.

I had always entertained a great idea of the happiness of living in the country. It was, indeed, natural in one who had dwelt near forty years in a dusty warehouse, amidst the dirt, smoke, and noise of Houndsditch; and who seldom make an excursion beyond the cake-house at Hoxton, or the bowlinggreen at Hackney.

One morning, while I was revolving in my mind. the idea of retirement, I happened to cast my eye on an advertisement in the news-paper, in which a house, garden, and grounds, in a market-town, about five and thirty miles from London, were announced to be let at fifty pounds ayear. This appeared to me too advantageous a bargain to be ne、 glected; for, you must know, I gave a hundred a year for my shop, the area of which was no more than three yards by four; and here were twenty acres of land, and a mansion that would contain my house ten times over, to be let for half the money. There was no time to be lost: I shut up shop, took my wife and family down, and settled immediately.

As I did not go into the country on an œconomical plan, I was resolved to launch out a little, and live, as I could very well afford it, in a moderately gen teel style. I set up a post-chaise, kept several horses, and two livery-servants. This appearance placed me on a level with the best families in the neighbour

hood, and accordingly I was visited by all who claimed the rank of gentlefolks.

But, alas! I found not, in this place, that happiness which I expected. I have been convinced by experience, that a market-town is not a proper situation for the retirement of those who wish to taste the pleasures of rural life, and to pass the evening of their days in a state of tranquillity. That you may judge of the impropriety of such a retreat, I shall give you an account of my reception in it, and of several circumstances, which render it less fit for the enjoyment of those peaceful and domestic pleasures, which every one who retires from business expects, than the noisiest street in the metropolis of the empire.

The first visits were paid us from motives of curiosity, under the pretence of politeness. Our persons, our address, our characters, were examined with all the severity of criticism, but without the candour of benevolence. The various remarks that were made, furnished, with improvements and embellishments, an inexhaustible fund of conversation for the next three months; and I have had an opportunity of procuring the literal reports of one or two of our examiners, which, as they have entertained me, I shall communicate for your amusement..

In the morning, after her first visit, the 'squire's wife set out to ease her mind of the burden of intelligence under which it laboured; which she did in every house she entered, in nearly the following words:

"Well, have you seen the new-comers? Pray how do you like Mrs. Townsend? Oh! I have a

"charming little anecdote concerning her. You "must know, I have learnt who she was before she 66 was married. I thought as much-do you know "her father was a cheesemonger in Thames-street "--but he broke, you must know, and so Miss was "taken from boarding-school, and in process of "time arrived at the high dignity of upper-maid to "alderman Portsoken's lady. But, being vastly "pretty, you must know, and having had a pro"digious fine education, Mr. Townsend the com

mon-council-man fell in love with her, and mar"ried her. This is all fact, you may depend upon "it; for our Sally heard it this very morning at the "shop-Can't stay; but thought I would call and "let you know. You see how high some people "hold up their heads, but you'll understand how to "look upon them now.. -I have a little hundred "places to call at; so good morning."

Miss Prue, a maiden lady of irreproachable character, set off on the same expedition, as soon as she had put on her morning-cap. Brimful of news, she could hardly contain herself till she arrived (as Foot describes it) at the lawyer's brass knocker and mahogany-coloured door. No sooner was she seated, than out it flew

"Well, Mrs. Leasum, we were at the new-comer's "last night; and such a night! why they know no "more of cardsAs to the father and mother,

one should not expect much from persons who, I 66 suppose, got all their money in Houndsditch; but "really I pity the poor girls. They sat silent half an hour; and then asked me, Lord help 'em! if I "had read the last new thing that came out? Pray

66

say

"what do you think of their persons?-Some people the younger is handsome; and indeed she "does seem very good natured. But as to beauty! "all I shall say is-she does not please me. Το «be sure, they are both fair enough too—their fea"tures pretty regular, and some think their eyes. 66 very fine-but, Lord! so awkward, so modest, "and yet, at the same time, so much of the city air "about them, that they are absolutely intolerable. 66 -In short, I don't chuse to speak out—I am "always tender on the subject of characters-but I "have heard something-" Here she concluded with a whisper, and in a great hurry withdrew.

The next house she called in at, was the apothecary's. The apothecary was glad of a mouthful of news for his patients. His patients swallowed it eagerly, and soon afterwards evacuated themselves on all their visitors, who went home in great spirits, to spread what they had picked up among their families and friends; and thus, in the space of twenty-four hours, it was communicated over the whole parish.

With respect to myself, at the first weekly club. after our arrival, the 'squire, the attorney, the apo thecary, and two or three gentlemen sots, who lived upon their means, as it is called, sat in judgment upon my character. After much debate, in which an equal portion of candour and discernment were displayed, I was found guilty of being a cockney, of keeping a poor table, and yet, at the same time, living above my fortune; and lastly, of having a great deal of pride that little became me. The result was, that though they should condescend to call