Thirdly, it will be a saving to the nation of one tenth of the produce of all the lands in England and Ireland; and consequently put a stop to the ravages of the White-boys, and Rightboys, in this latter kingdom, as well as all dis putes between ministers and their parishioners, in the former; since, as there would be no more occasion for reading prayers and preaching, the payment of tithes must, of course, be at an end.

Fourthly, it will procure a perpetual holiday for the gentlemen of either robe, who, in future, will have nothing to do, but to hunt, shoot, and play at cards. The same may be said, respecting the members of both houses of parliament. Fifthly, it will make Sunday as cheerful a day, as any day of the week.

Lastly, it will remove all odium from the magistrates who have granted a licence to the Dog and Duck.

Such are the conveniences that would attend the execution of my plan; and after considering the subject on all sides, for six hours, in my elbow-chair, I protest, I cannot think of any one inconvenience, to set against them ; nor can I devise any method likely to be so effectual in redressing the grievances occasioned by the Proclamation to the subject.

It remains only, that I mention one which

may possibly be occasioned by it to the crown; and which indeed I might not have thought of, but for the visit paid me, as I was closing this paper, by an honest farmer."So, Robin (said I to him), rare news from London the king is to be served now only by good and virtuous courtiers!"-" Ah, Lord have mercy upon me, sir (replied Robin), God bless his majesty, and grant him long to reign! But I am afraid as how he will be sometimes obliged to help himself."

THE OLLA PODRIDA, No. 29, Sept. 29, 1787.

No. CXXXII.

Tell,

Why thy canonis'd bones, hearsed in death,
Have burst their cerements! Why the sepulchre
Hath op'd his ponderous and marble jaws,
To cast thee up again!

SHAKSPEARE,

Sir,

BORN of illustrious parents, with the fairest prospects of happiness and glory, some star seems to have shed its malignant influence over every action of my life; but why do I talk of a life, which, though never stained with a base or unworthy action, yet terminated in a most miserable end! The annals of your country's history exempts me from the necessity of being my own biographer, and many a page records the sufferings of the unfortunate Duke Humphrey. Crossed in all my views of happiness by the machinations of a haughty prelate, my government impeded, and the infant ear of my nephew poisoned by the whispers of insidious noblemen, to whose ambition I at last fell a sacrifice; my mind prophesied to me a small allotment of worldly happiness, and my attention

was fixed on that tranquillity beyond the grave, to which my exemplary life seemed to lay claim.

By the assistance of my enemies (who, perhaps, beheld my peaceable disposition), I obtained a premature passport to the other world, and my small remains of ambition were extinguished with my life. But my cares were destined to survive the grave; according to the laws which the hospitality of my ancestors had imposed upon me, my house was ever the refuge of the distressed and strangers; poverty. was never denied admittance at my gates, or departed unsatisfied, and few ever left my hospitable mansion without bestowing a blessing on its walls, and wafting a fervent prayer to heaven for the welfare of its owner.

Should this account of the manner of my life appear vain-glorious in your eyes, recollect that I am as much above, as I am beyond, the resentment of mankind; it nought avails me to be the object of either their dislike or approbation; but that the same spirit of patriotism which animated my mind when living, now actuates my soul, bereft of mortal life. The chief end I proposed from this letter is public utility; and plain matter of fact, unembellish

ed by fiction of any kind, and told in the simple language of truth, is necessary in the narrative of my misfortunes.

To you who daily behold the different man, ners of the present noblemen of England, it would appear incredible that my death was a considerable calamity to men of various denominations. The indigent who had frequently experienced my bounty, and the poor who had so often feasted in my halls, with the loudest lamentations, and most piercing accents of sor row, bewailed the loss of their benefactor. Their cries and exclamations recalled me to earth, though not to mortal life; a table was appointed for the reception of the poor and hungry; an irresistible power placed me at the head of it, and I again became the host of the indigent. Here I began to experience what my confessor had formerly told me concerning purgatory; and my situation indeed, at that time, transcended in wretchedness the most dismal ideas I had ever entertained of it. Judge of the feelings of a mind, sensible to the touches of humanity, and naturally overflowing with the milk of human kindness, on seeing no one amongst hundreds of my guests rise satisfied with their dinner, or grateful to their entertainer. No. consideration of the quality of a