You fee me now entered into a new track of life; and will, I doubt not, do me the justice to acknowHedge, that a train of events contributed towards it, which it was fcarcely in the power of human prudence to counteract. I have indeed to blame myself, as I have had occafion to do more than once before, for precipitation. To my precipitation in making the rash vow I did, never to have any further intimacy with Mr. Metham, and to my obftinate adherence to that vow, notwithstanding his penitence and promise of an honourable atonement, am I indebted in a great measure for the fatal confequences which enfued. There is, as Shakfpere tells us,

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a tide in the affairs of men, (and why not of wo

men?) which, taken at the flood, leads on to for"tune."-But how are poor mortals to know when this fuccessful tide begins its courfe? Was it, indeed, to rush with the impetuous Hygra of the Se vern, we may then be affured of its having taken place. But as it commonly flows in a gentle flream, and rifes by degrees, its advance is imperceptible.The confequence of which is, that being unnoticed by the greater part of mankind, particularly those poffeffed of enlarged minds, the opportunity is omitted, and all the voyage of their life is bound in fhallows, and in miferies."

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86

I will not pay fo ill a compliment to your tafle; as to fuppofe the frequent quotations I make from my favourite Shakfpere, most of whofe female characters I have filled, prove difgufting to you; nor will I pay myself fo ill a compliment, as to imagine you accufe me of applying them improperly. They are fo confonant to my own fentiments, and expreffed in a manner fo infinitely beyond the reach of my pen, that I cannot help making use of them whenever they occur to my memory, and appear to be

apropos. G. A. B.

A Long chafm in the profecution of my narrative has taken place, contrary to my wishes. Troubles, vexation and illness, one the eonfequence of the other, muft plead my excufe. I am, however, thank Heaven! fo far recovered, as to be able to fit up. I fhall of course employ every hour that my aching head and aching heart will allow, in profecuting the task I have undertaken. As I defign my narrative for the inspection of the public, as well as yourself, I fhall continue it with as much speed as poffible; the fooner to clear myself from the impu

tations

tations with which I have been undeservedly loaded. Nor will I doubt, but when they are acquainted with the real fources of my misfortunes, they will judge of them with more lenity, and give me credit for fome good qualities which have hitherto lain hid under the miry incruftations of flander.

My illness, from the agitations recounted in my laft letter, obliged Mr. Rofs to poftpone his benefit, at which I was to appear in the character of Juliet, and he in Romeo. Mr. Garrick, upon this, wished him to change that play for one in which my prefence was not neceffary. He at the fame time hinted to me, that it would be degrading to my confequence to appear with an inferior actor. But as I was always of opinion that the greater the confequence of the performer the more incumbent it was upon them to affift with their abilities the commu nity to which they belonged, I revolted at the idea, and by this generous fentiment, increased the disgust which the manager already entertained for me.

For my benefit this feafon I had the farce of the

Oracle," acted by Lilliputians, in which I introduced the juftly celebrated Miss Pope; whose character in private life, excels, if poffible, her allowed merit on the flage.

Mr. Quin, hearing I was dangeroufly ill, came to town, at once to fee me, and to complete an act of generofity

K 2

generofity, the recital of which, as it redounds so much to the honour of my worthy friend, claims á place here. He had performed, the season before, the part of Falstaff, for the benefit of his old acquaintance Mr. Ryan. This teftimony of regard had the defired effect; and the actor profited greatly by the exhibition, His fuccefs upon this occafion, induced Ryan to folicit the same favour this year. The application produced an anfwer from Quin, which, whilft it is in the true laconic ftyle, is rich in meaning; I shall therefore give it verbatim.

ར་

"I would play for you if I could ; but will not whistle for you. I have willed you a thousand pounds. If you want money you my have it, and "fave my executors trouble, Bath, March 1.

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JAMES QUIN.”

This inftance of his friendship to an indigent conteinporary, if poffible, increased my esteem for him. When he came to fee me, I told him the fituation of my mind; and found great relief from unbofoming myself to the good man. He advised me to be eafy if I could not be happy. found, in common with every one elfe, a high opinion of Mr. Calcraft's probity and reftitude.: And though he admitted that we were not congenial fouls, yet it was in my power, he said, as his affec

He entertained, I

tion for me appeared to be great, to bring him to my bent.

This, I own, might have been the cafe could I have returned his paffion; but with the indifference I felt for him, fuch an effect was not to be expected. Mr. Calcraft and myself may be justly faid, to be joined, not matched. For, with a foul of fire like mine, and thoughts which out-ftripped the wind," to be happily united to a being who was only fenfible of the effects of paffion, but totally unacquainted with the delicate fenfations of an exalted affection, was a confummation not to be hoped for.

: A pure and delicate love, where "two fond hearts

in one unite ;" without being refined into what is ufually termed platonic love, deviates not, however, into the contrary extreme.-A thousand nameless pleasures, which the merely fenfual can form no idea of, conftitute the happiness of fuch. A look, a word, a touch, conveys exquifite fenfations to the foul.— But their fupreme pleasure confifts in rendering the beloved object happy by every means in their power. Divefted of each felfifh thought, they make the happinefs of the perfon thus adored the medium of their own. And when the enchanted foul, by these intellectual enjoyments is elevated to a pitch nearly beyond humanity, enjoyments dependent on the fenfes restore it by gradual steps to its wonted tranquil ftate.