There are few circumstances relating to the unequal distribution of the good things of this life, that give me more vexation (I mean in what I see around me) than the importance the opulent bestow on their trifling family affairs, compared with the very same things on the contracted scale of a cottage. Last afternoon I had the honour to spend an hour or two at a good woman's fireside, where the planks, that composed the floor, were decorated with a splendid carpet, and the gay table sparkled with silver and china. 'Tis now about termday, and there has been a revolution among those creatures, who, though in appearance partakers, and equally noble partakers, of the same nature with Madame, are from time to time, their nerves, their sinews, their health, strength, wisdom, experience, genius, time, nay a good part of their very thoughts, sold for months and years, * * * * * * not only to the necessities, the conveniences, but the caprices of the important few.* We talked of the insignificant creatures; nay, notwithstanding their general stu pidity *Servants, in Scotland, are hired from term to term; i. e. from Whitsunday to Martinmas, &c. E. pidity and rascality, did some of the poor devils the honour to commend them. But light be the turf upon his breast who taught " Reverence thyself." We looked down on the unpolished wretches, their impertinent wives and clouterly brats, as the lordly bull does on the little dirty ant-hill, whose puny inhabitants he crushes in the carelessness of his ramble, or tosses in air in the wantonness of his pride, No. LI. TO THE SAME, AT MR. DUNLOP'S, HADDINGTON, Ellisland, 13th June, 1788. "Where'er I roam, whatever realms I see, GOLDSMITH. THIS is the second day, my honoured friend, that I have been on my farm. A solitary inmate of an old smoky Spence; far from every object I love, or by whom I am beloved; nor any acquaintance older than yesterday, except Jenny Geddes, the old mare I ride on ; while uncouth cares and novel plans hourly insult my awkward awkward ignorance and bashful inexperience. There is a foggy atmosphere native to my soul in the hour of care, consequently the dreary objects seem larger than the life. Extreme sensibility, irritated and prejudiced on the gloomy side by a series of misfortunes and disappointments, at that period of my existence when the soul is laying in her cargo of ideas for the voyage of life, is, I believe, the principal cause of this unhappy frame of mind; "The valiant, in himself, what can he suffer? Or what need he regard his single woes?" &c. Your surmise, Madam, is just; I am indeed a husband. 2 I found a once much-loved and still muchloved female, literally and truly cast out to the mercy of the naked elements, but as I enabled her to purchase a shelter; and there is no sporting with a fellow-creature's happiness or misery. The most placid good-nature and sweetness of disposition; a warm heart, gratefully devoted with all its powers to love me; vigorous health and sprightly cheerfulness, set off to the best |