But of all Nonsense, Religious Nonsense is the most nonsensical; so enough, and more than enough of it. Only, by the bye, will you, or can you tell me, my dear Cunningham, why a sectarian turn of mind has always a tendency to narrow and illiberalize the heart? They are orderly; they may be just; nay, I have known them merciful: but still your children of sanctity move among their fellow-creatures with a nostril snuffing putrescence, and a foot-spurning filth, in short, with a conceited dignity that your titled *

or any other of your Scottish Lordlings of seven centuries standing, display when they accidentally mix among the many-aproned sons of mechanical life. I remember, in my plough-boy days, I could not conceive it possible that a noble lord could be a fool, or a godly man could be a knave. How ignorant are plough-boys! -Nay, 1 have since discovered that a godly woman may be a ***** !—But hold-Here's t'ye again this rum is generous Antigua, so a very unfit menstruum for scandal.

Apropos, how do you like, I mean really like, the married life! Ah, my friend! matrimony is quite a different thing from what your love-sick youths and sighing girls take it to be! But marriage, we are told, is appointed by God, and I shall never quarrel with any of his institutions. I am a husband of older standing than

you, and shall give you my ideas of the conjugal state. (En passant, you know I am no Latinist, is not conjugal derived from jugum, a yoke?) Well then, the scale of good wifeship I divide into ten parts.-Goodnature, four; Good Sense, two; Wit, one; Personal Charms, viz. a sweet face, eloquent eyes, fine limbs, graceful carriage, (I would add a fine waist too, but that is so soon spoilt, you know) all these, one; as for the other qualities belonging to, or attending on, a wife, such as Fortune, Connections, Education, (I mean education extraordinary) Family Blood, &c. divide the two remaining degrees among them as you please; only, remember that all these minor properties must be expressed by fractions, for there is not any one of them, in the aforesaid scale, entitled to the dignity of an integer.

As for the rest of my fancies and reveries— how I lately met with Miss L, Bthe most beautiful, elegant woman in the world -how I accompanied her and her father's family fifteen miles on their journey, out of pure devotion, to admire the loveliness of the works of God, in such an unequalled display of them -how, in galloping home at night, I made a ballad on her, of which these two stanzas make a part

Thou, bonnie L-, art & queen,

Thy subjects we before thee;
Thou, bonnie L, art divine,

The hearts o' men adore thee.

The very Deil he could na scathe
Whatever wad belang thee!

He'd look into thy bonnie face

And say, 'I canna wrang thee.'

-Behold, all these things are written in the chronicles of my imaginations, and shall be read by thee, my dear friend, and by thy beloved spouse, my other dear friend, at a more conve nient season.

Now, to thee, and to thy before-designed bosom-companion, be given the precious things brought forth by the sun, and the precious things brought forth by the moon, and the benignest influences of the stars, and the living streams which flow from the fountains of life, and by the tree of life, for ever and ever! Amen!

No. 121.

To MRS. DUNLOP.

Dumfries, 24th September, 1792.

I HAVE this moment, my dear Madam, yours of the twenty-third, All your other kind reproaches, your news, &c. are out of my head when I read and think on Mrs. H's situation. Good God! a heart-wounded helpless young woman-in a strange, foreign land, and

that land convulsed with every horror that can harrow the human feelings--sick--looking, longing for a comforter, but finding none-a mother's feelings, too-but it is too much he who wounded (he only can) may He heal!*

I wish the Farmer great joy of his new ac quisition to his family.

*

*

I cannot say that I give him joy of his life as a farmer. Tis, as a farmer paying a dear, unconscionable rent, a cursed life! As to a laird farming his own property; sowing his own corn in hope; and reaping it, in spite of brittle weather, in gladness; knowing that none can say unto him, what doest thou?'-fattening his herds; shearing his flocks; rejoicing at Christmas; and begetting sons and daughters, until he be the venerated, grey-haired leader of a little tribe'tis a heavenly life! but Devil take the life of reaping the fruits that another must eat.

Well, your kind wishes will be gratified, as to seeing me when I make my Ayrshire visit. I cannot leave Mrs. B, until her nine months race is run, which may perhaps be in three or four weeks. She, too, seems determined to make me the patriarchal leader of a band. However, if Heaven will be so obliging as let me

This much lamented lady was gone to the south of France with her infant son, where she died soon after.

have them on the proportion of three boys to one girl, I shall be so much the more pleased. I hope, if I am spared with them, to shew a set of boys that will do honour to my cares and name; but I am not equal to the task of rearing girls. Besides, I am too poor; a girl should always have a fortune. Apropos, your little godson is thriving charmingly, but is a very devil. He, though two years younger, has completely mastered his brother. Robert is indeed the mildest, gentlest creature I ever saw. He has a most surprising memory, and is quite the pride of his schoolmaster.

You know how readily we get into prattle upon a subject dear to our heart: you can exruse it. God bless you and yours!

No. 122.

TO MRS. DUNLOP,

Supposed to have been written on the Death of Mrs. H-, her daughter.

I HAD been from home, and did not receive your letter until my return the other day. What shall I say to comfort you, my much-valued, much-afflicted friend! I can but grieve with you; consolation I have none to offer, except that which religion holds out to