No fooner was the danger over, than the people of the Borough found out how foolish it was to be afraid, and formed themselves into four bodies for the defence of the place; through which they now march morning and evening in a martial manner.

I am glad to find that Mr. Thrale continues to grow better; if he is well, I hope we shall be all well: but I am very weary of my cough, though I have had much worse.

LAST night I told you that I was not well;

and though you have much else to think on, perhaps you may be willing enough to hear, that by the help of an opiate, I think myself better to-day.

Whether

Whether I am or am not better, the town is quiet, and every body fleeps in quiet, except a few who please themselves with guarding us now the danger is over. Perkins feems to have managed with great dexterity. Every body, I believe, now fees, that if the tumult had been oppofed immediately, it had been immediately fuppreffed; and we are therefore now better provided against an infurrection, than if none had happened.

I hope you, and Mafter, and Queeney, and Burney, are all well. I was contented laft night to fend an excuse to Vesey, and two days ago another to Mrs. Horneck; you may think I was bad, if you thought about it; and why should you not think about me who am fo often thinking about you, and your appurtenances. But there is no gratitude in this world.

But I could tell you, Doris, if I would;

And fince you treat me fo, methinks I should.

So fings the fublime and pathetick Mr. Walsh. Well! and I will tell you too. Among the heroes of the Borough, who twice a-day perambulate, or perequitate High-street and

the Clink, rides that renowned and redoubted knight, Sir Richard Hotham. There is magnanimity, which defies every danger that is paft, and publick fpirit, that ftands fentinel over property that he does not own. Tell me no more of the felf-devoted Decii, or of the leap of Curtius. Let fame talk henceforward with all her tongues of Hotham the Hatmaker.

;

I was last week at Renny's converfatione, and Renny got her room pretty well filled and there were Mrs. Ord, and Mrs. Horneck, and Mrs. Bunbury, and other illustrious names, and much would poor Renny have given to have had Mrs. Thrale too, and Queeny, and Burney: but human happiness is never perfect; there is always une vuide affreuse, as Maintenon complained, there is fome craving void left aking in the breast. Renny is going to Ramfgate; and thus the world drops away, and I am left in the fultry town, to see the fun in the crab, and perhaps in the lion, while you are paddling with the Nereids.

I am, &c.

VOL. II.

M

LETTER CCXLVI.

Το Mrs. THRA L E.

DEAR MADAM,

Wednesday, June 21, 1780.

Now you come to a fettled place I have fome inclination to write to you; for in writing after you there was no pleasure. Alf is quiet; and that quietnefs is now more likely to continue than if it had never been difturbed. -'s cafe, if it be not affected, is ridiculous; but there is in the world much tenderness where there is no misfortune, and much courage where there is no danger.

My cold is grown better, but is not quite well, nor bad enough now to be complained of. I wish I had been with you to fee the Ifle of Wight; but I fhall perhaps go fome time. without you, and then we shall be even.

What you told me of Mr. Middleton frighted me; but I am still of my old opinion, that a femivegetable diet will keep all well. I have dined on Monday and to-day'only on peas.

I fuppofe the town grows empty, for I have no invitations; and I begin to wish for fomething, I hardly know what: but I should like to move when every body is moving; and yet I purpose to ftay till the work is done, which I take little care to do. Sic labitur

@tas.

The world is full of troubles. Mrs. has just been with me to get a chirurgeon to her daughter; the girl that Mrs. Cumins rejected, who has received a kick from a horse, that has broken five fore-teeth on the upper fide. The world is likewife full of escapes; had the blow been a little harder it had killed her.

It was a twelvemonth laft Sunday fince the convulfions in my breaft left me. I hope I was thankful when I recollected it: by removing that disorder, a great improvement was made in the enjoyment of life. I am now as well as men at my age can expect to be, and I yet think I fhall be better.

I have had with me a brother of a Spanish merchant, whom the war has driven from his refidence at Valencia; he is gone to see his friends, and will find Scotland but a M 2 forry