After three days confinement in a coach, and suffering as we went all that could be suffered from excessive heat and dust, we found ourselves late in the evening at the door of our friend Hayley. In every other respect the journey was extremely pleasant. At the Mitre, in Barnet, where we lodged the first evening, we found our friend Mr. Rose, who had walked thither from his house in Chancery Lane to meet us; and at Kingston where we dined the second day, I found my old and much valued friend, General Cowper, whom I had not seen in thirty years, and but for this journey should never have seen again. Mrs. Unwin, on whose account I had a thousand fears before we set out, suffered as little from fatigue as myself, and begins I hope already to feel some beneficial effects from the air of Eartham, and the exercise that she takes in one of the most delighful pleasure-grounds in the world. They occupy three sides of a hill lofty enough to command a view of the sea, which skirts the horizon to a length of many miles, with the Isle of Wight at the end of it. The inland scene is equally beautiful, consisting of a large and deep valley well cultivated, and inclosed by magnificent hills, all crowned with wood. I had, for my part, no conception that a Poet could be the owner of such a paradise; and his house is as elegant as his scenes are charming.

But think not, my dear Catharina, that amidst all these beauties I shall lose the remembrance of the peaceful, but less splendid, Weston: Your precincts will be as dear to me as ever, when I re

turn;

turn; though when that day will arrive I know not, our Host being determined, as I plainly see, to keep us as long as possible. Give my best love to your Husband. Thank him most kindly for his attention to the old Bard of Greece, and pardon me that I do not send you now an Epitaph for Fop. I am not sufficiently recollected to compose even a Bagatelle at present; but in due time you shall receive it.

Hayley, who will some time or other I hope see you at Weston, is already prepared to love you both, and being passionately fond of music, longs much to hear you.

W. C.

LETTER XXXVII.

To SAMUEL ROSE, Esqr.

Eartham, August 14, 1792.

Romney is here: it would add much

to my happiness if you were of the party; I have prepared Hayley to think highly, that is justly of you, and the time I hope will come when you will supersede all need of my recommendation.

Mrs. Unwin gathers strength. I have indeed great hopes from the air and exercise, which this fine season affords her opportunity to use, that ere we return, she will be herself again.

LETTER XXXVIII.

To SAMUEL ROSE, Esqr.

Eartham, August 18, 1792.

Wishes in this world are generally

vain, and in the next we shall make none. Every day I wish you were of our party, knowing how happy you would be in a place where we have nothing to do but enjoy beautiful scenery, and converse agreeably.

Mrs. Unwin's health continues to improve; and even I, who was well when I came, find myself still better.

my last, I send my dear Catharina the Epitaph she desired, composed as well as I could compose it, in a place where every object being still new to me, distracts my attention, and makes me as awkward at verse, as if I had never dealt in it. Here it is.

EPITAPH

EPITAPH on FOP:

A DOG belonging to LADY THROCKMORTON.

Though once a puppy, and though Fop by name,

Here moulders one, whose bones some honour claim;
No sycophant, although of Spaniel-race !

And though no Hound, a martyr to the chace!

Ye Squirrels, Rabbits, Leverets rejoice!

Your haunts no longer echo to his voice.
This record of his fate exulting view!
He died worn out with vain pursuit of you.

"Yes!" The indignant shade of Fop replies,
“And worn with vain pursuit, Man also dies.”

I am here, as I told you in my last, delightfully situated, and in the enjoyment of all that the most friendly hospitality can impart; yet do I neither forget Weston, nor my friends at Weston : on the contrary, I have at length, though much and kindly pressed to make a longer stay, determined on the day of our departure. On the seventeenth day of September we shall leave Eartham.Four days will be necessary to bring us home again; for I am under a promise to General Cowper to dine with him on the way; which cannot be done comfortably, either to him, or to ourselves, unless we sleep that night at Kingston.

The air of this place has been, I believe, beneficial to us both; I indeed was in tolerable health before I set out, but have acquired

ed since I came, both a better appetite, and a knack of sleeping almost as much in a single night as formerly in two. Whether double quantities of that article will be favourable to me as a Poet, time must shew. About myself, however, I care little; being made of materials so tough, as not to threaten me even now, at the end of so many Lustrums, with any thing like a speedy dissolution. My chief concern has been about Mrs. Unwin, and my chief comfort at this moment is, that she likewise has received, I hope, considerable benefit by the journey.

Tell my dear George, that I begin to long to behold him again, and did it not savour of ingratitude to the friend, under whose roof I am so happy at present, should be impatient to find myself once more under yours.

Adieu! my dear Catharina.

dear Catharina. I have nothing to add in the way of news, except that Romney has drawn me in Crayons, by the suffrage of all here, extremely like.

found me not at Weston, to which place it was directed, but in a

bower