This is of very great confequence. It will often fu Iceed when every other method has failed; and, like quack medicine, may be taken without lofs of tim or hindrance of bufinefs." It is of fingular fervice thofe half-formed people, who have not genius or in vention for the higher efforts of the art. Hence, it of peculiar ufe to fervants of all defcriptions, who memories are fingularly poffeffed of certain amiab domeftic deficiencies. Whatever fome people may fa in praise of a prompt memory, it is a much mo difficult thing to learn to forget on certain occafions for instance, to forget when it is not convenient th we should remember. This is a contrivance beyor all the powers of memory, and is only to be acquire by long practice, and by carefully erafing from o brains thofe marks, which fome philofophers tell u our ideas make, and which constitute memory.

While every year we are prefented with an increaf variety of memorandum-books, each better than th which went before, I wonder that no enterprifing ma has published an Obliviendum book, in which we migh fet down every thing that it is proper or convenient forget-What is proper and what is convenient, a precifely the fame thing in a manageable memory. you, Sir, know of any bookfeller, who will fpecula on a scheme of this kind, I fhall be very happy to giv him a few hints drawn from actual experience, an indeed every affiftance in my power to further fo ufefu and defirable a work. I muft tell you, however, tha it will require fome capital to engage in fuch a undertaking, because it must be printed on a very ex tenfive plan. For one column of engagements, we mu have at least five of excufes; and if we faithfully recor every thing we forget, i. e. choofe to forget, the num ber will exceed that of the things we remember, by a least ten times.

I am, Sir, your moft obedient fervant,
MARTIN MOLLIFY.

AN ELEGY IN A LONDON CHURCHYARD.

GR

[From the Morning Poft.]

REAT Tom now founds the close of busy day,
The weary dray-horse refts from labour free,
From town, till morn, the merchant fpeeds his way,
And London leaves to tumult and to me.

Now ftars terrestrial glimmer through each street,
Through all the air a din confus'd is fpread,
Save where perchance fome lift'ning crowd you meet,
By nightly fongfters' ftrains difcordant led;
Save that from yonder watch-box standing near,
The old night-guardian tells his wonted tale;
Or urg'd by outrage dire to timely fear,

Makes his loud rattle found upon the gale.
* On cobler's stall, or screen'd by friendly fhed,
Full many a maid once breath'd ber nightly woes;
Yet here from chill misfortune ever fled,

The houseless wand'rers of the street repofe
The noify call of Smithfield's early train,

The fweep's fhrill matins from the chimney-ftack,
The duftman's bell, or poft-boy's piping strain,
No more fhall call their fleeting fpirits back.
For them no more the brothel door fhall turn,
Or bufy waiter ply his napkin'd care;
No am'rous youth with lawless paffion burn,
Nor fly procuress in their plunder share.
Once in their cheeks the rose of health was feen,

When youth its charms luxuriant round them shed;
How jocund did their morn of life begin!

But ah! how foon by gath'ring clouds o'erfpread!
Let not stern Virtue fcorn th' unhappy frail,
Their nights of riot, and their days of woe;
Nor fanctified Indiff'rence hear the tale,

And choke the ftreams of nature ere they flow.

The pride of chastity, and dread of shame,

Around the fair, though fage experience place; Yet oft they're found but recreants to their fame: The path forbidden all are fond to trace!

Nor you, ye prudes, in envious fpleen delight,
When haplefs maidens err, by love betray'd ;
Did ye not want th' attractions to incite,

Yourfeives might prove the victims ye upbraid.
Can wit refin'd, or might of human arm,

Back to the fountain drive the babbling rill?
Can Reason's voice to peace the paffions charm,
Or make them flow obedient to its will ?
Perhaps within this cheerlefs fpot is laid

Some youth, once mur'd in fqualid city jails;
Hands that the merry bag-pipe fweetly play'd,
Or rak'd the streets in fearch of rufty nails.
But commerce never with her ample range,
Rich with gay fpoils, their avarice provok'd;
They never learn'd to barter at Exchange;
No city feaft for them with dainties fmok'd.
Full many a foreft oak of stately fize

To menial purpose bends its lofty head;
Full many a treafure undifcover'd lies

Beneath the pafflenger's unconfcious tread.
Some latent WREN, who up the fcaffold high
Obedient haften'd to the bricklay'r's call;
Some poor harmonic tinker here may lie,
Some statesman guiltless of his country's fall.
The virtuofo's praises to command,

The foul to lift with tranfports to the skies,
To fcatter mis'ry o'er a fmiling land,

And fruitlefs fchemes of conqueft to devise;
Their lot forbade :—nor yet did fortune frown,
But equally their crimes and fame coufin'd;
Forbade to wade through folly to renown,
And gain the execration of mankind;
Their country's keen vindictive stroke to pròve,
To die by hangman's lefs ingenuous hand,
Or heap the fhores of diftant Sidney Cove
With culprits banish'd from their native land.
Far from the fmoky town's inceffant noife,
Their fober footfteps never learn'd to stray;
They never figh'd for vulgar rural joys,

Nor fought the woods to fhun the fcorching day.

Yet

Yet Nature's forms demand fome faint refpect,
Some fond memoriat still their fouls requir'd;
With pots of flow'rs, and green earth-cafes deck'd,
Their windows oft the paffenger admir'd.
There rofe and myrtle, trimm'd with fondest care,
Might fhrubbery and garden well supply:
And many a root of mignonette was there;
While this regal'd the nofe, and those the eye.
For e'en in thought, what mortal can behold,

1

Unmov'd, the charms that hill and valley yield, In fpring, the meadows fpangled o'er with gold,

And all the beauteous dyes of Nature's field?
On fome fond plant the virgin feafts her eyes,-
Some frail memento of the flow'ring year;
E'en from faloons the voice of Nature cries,

E'en in our parlours blooming fhrubs appear.
For thou, th' obfcurè one's friend, who thus alone
Doft in thefe lines their fimple joys relate;
If chance, fome youth like thee, at random thrown,
From kindred fympathy inquire thy fate:
Haply fome cit may fay :-" The crowd among
Oft have we feen him, at the close of day,
Buftling with hafty footfteps through the throng,
To gain his fav'rite feat at fome new play.
"There, in the midway region of the pit,
Where critics oft their arts malignant ply,
Near to the orcheftra, fedate he'd fit,

And pore upon the scene with curious eye.
"-Beneath yon elm, that each new loit'rer wooes,
He lov'd to fit, abforb'd in mufings deep:
Then up the Green Park, or by Chelfea Mews,
He'd briskly run; or tir'd, would flowly creep.
"One eve I miss'd him on th' accustom'd way,
Along the Park, and near his fav'rite tree;
Another came— -I fought him at the play,
Nor in pit, box, nor gallery, was he.'

The next in dreary hearfe, with fad array,
Slow to th' uncyprefs'd churchyard he was borne.
Approach, and read (if thou haft time) the lay,
Grav'd on the stone that no proud lies adorn.

F 5

EPITAPH.

EPITAPH.

HERE refts his head upon a folio terse,

An author, once to wits and patrons known;
The critics frown'd not on his humble verse,
Nor did the world his labours quite difown.
Large his editions, but his readers few ;
Fate did a recompense as largely send :
He wifely bade to bookfellers adieu,
And (in their ftead) each chandler found a friend.
No longer now pil'd up in useless state,
His pages freely circulate through town:
Perhaps, at laft, doom'd by capricious fate
To kindle pipes, or curl fome crazy crown.

THE LONDON ADVERTISEMENT-MAKERS

A

OUTDONE.

[From the Morning Chronicle.]

PROVINCIAL attorney lately advertised an eftate for sale, or to be exchanged for another, in the following terms: "That he is appointed plenipotentiary to treat in this business; that he has ample credentials, and is prepared to ratify his powers; that he will enter into preliminaries either upon the principle of the flatus quo, or uti poffidetis; that he is ready to receive the projet of any perfon defirous to make the purchase or exchange, and to deliver his contre-projet and fine qua non, and indeed at once to give his ultimatum!-affuring the public that as foon as the definitive treaty fhall be concluded, it will be ratified by his conftituents, and duly guaranteed.”

THE