others company, that one will hardly ever ftir out without the other. Thus, at home or abroad, they constantly herd together: and what is still more provoking, though I had rather have a rout every week at my houfe, my wife makes a merit of it, that he keeps little or no company. you SUCH is the state of my family within doors: and though you would think this sufficient for one man, I can affure I have other calls upon me from relations no less dear to me, though I have never yet had the happiness to see them. A third coufin by my wife's father's fide was fet up in the country in a very good way of business; but by misfortunes in trade must have gone to jail, if my wife had not teized me into being bound for him, and for which I was soon after arrefted, and obliged to pay the money. Another, a very promifing youth, was just out of his time, and only wanted a little fum to set him up; which as foon as I had lent him, he run away, and is gone to fea. One of the aunts, who is now with me, (a widow lady) has an only daughter, a fober difcreet body, who lived as a companion with an old gentlewoman in the country: but the poor innocent girl being drawn afide by a vile fellow that ruined her, I have been forced to support the unhappy mother and child ever ever fince, to prevent any reproach falling on our family. I fhall fay nothing of the various presents, which have travelled down to my wife's uncle, in return for one turkey and chine received at Christmas; nor fhall I put to account the charge I have been at in the goffips fees, and in buying corals, anodyne necklaces, &c. for half a dozen little nephews, nieces, and coufins, to which I had the honour of standing godfather. AND now, Mr. Town, the mention of this laft circumstance makes me reflect with an heavy heart on a new calamity, which will shortly befal me. My wife, you must know, is very near her time and they have provided fuch a ftore of clouts, caps, forehead-cloths, biggens, belly-bands, whittles, and all kinds of childbedlinnen, as would fet up a Lying-in Hofpital. You will conclude, that my family wants no further increase: yet, would you believe it? I have juft received a letter, acquainting me, that another aunt, and another coufin, are coming up in the ftage coach to fee their relation, and are refolved to ftay with her the month. Indeed, I am afraid, when they have once got footing in my house, they will refolve to stay with her, 'till fhe has had another and another child. T I am, Sir, your humble fervant, &c. NUMB. LXXXI. Thursday, August 14, 1755. -Genus humanum multò fuit illud in arvis Durius. LUCRET. An hardy race of mortals, train'd to sports, Mr. VILLAGE to Mr. Town. DEAR COUSIN, A MERE Country squire, who paffes all his time among dogs and horfes, is now become an uncommon character; and the most aukward loobily inheritor of an old mansion-house is a fine gentleman in comparison to his forefathers. The principles of a town education formerly scarce spread themselves beyond the narrow limits of the bills of mortality: but now every London refinement travels to the remotest corner of the kingdom, and the polite families from the town daily import to their distant seats the customs and manners of Pall-mall and Grofvenor-fquare. I HAVE been for this fortnight past at Lord Courtly's who for about four months in every year year leads a town life at the distance of above two hundred miles from London. He never leaves his bed 'till twelve or one o'clock; though, indeed, he often fees the fun rife; but then that only happens, when, as the old fong fays, he has "drank down the moon." Drinking is the only rural amusement he perfues; but even that part of his diverfions is conducted entirely in the London fashion. He does not fwill country ale, but gets drunk with Champagne and Burgundy; and every dish at his table is ferved up with as much elegance as at White's or Ryan's. He has an excellent pack of hounds; but, I believe, was never in at the death of a fox in his life: yet ftrangers never want a chace, for the hounds are out three times a week with a younger brother of Lord Courtly's, who never faw London; and who, if he was not indulged with a place at his lordship's table, might naturally be confidered as his whipper-in or his game-keeper. THE evening-walk is a thing unknown and unheard of at Lord Courtly's: for, though fituated in a very fine country, he knows no more of the charms of purling ftreams and shady groves, than if they had never existed but in poetry or romance. As foon as the daily debauch after dinner, and the ceremonies of ooffee and tea are over, the VOL. III. company E company is conducted into a magnificent apartment illuminated with wax-candles, and fet out with as many card-tables, as the rout of a foreign ambaffador's lady. Here Faro, Whift, Brag, Lansquenet, and every other fashionable game, make up the evening's entertainment. This piece of politeness has often fallen heavy on fome honeft country gentlemen, who have found dining with his lordship turn out a very dear ordinary; and many a good lady has had occafion to curfe the cards, and her ill-ftarred connections with perfons of quality: though his lordship is never at a loss for a party; for as feveral people of fashion have feats near him, he often fits down with fome of his friends of the club at White's. I had almost forgot to mention, that her ladyship keeps a day, which is Sunday. THIS, dear Coufin, is the genteel manner of living in the country; and I cannot help obferving, that perfons polite enough to be fond of fuch exquifite refinements, are partly in the same cafe with the machanic at his dufty Villa. They both, indeed, change their fituation; but neither find the leaft alteration in their ideas. The tradefman, when at his box, has all the notions that employ him in his compting-house; and the nobleman, though in the farthest part of England, ftill be faid to breathe the air of St. James's. may I WAS |