gage, and I never permit any to travel with me but fuch as have fomething valuable to pay for "coach-hire." Examining my pockets, I own I was not a little difconcerted at this unexpected rebuff; but confidering that I carried a number of the BEE under my arm, I was refolved to open it in his eyes, and dazzle him with the fplendor of the page. He read the title and contents, however, without any emotion, and affured me he had never heard of it before." In short, friend," said he, now losing all his former refpect, "you must not come in. I expect "better paffengers; but, as you feem an harmlefs creature, perhaps if there be room left, I may "let you ride a while for charity."

I now took my ftand by the coachman at the door, and fince I could not command a feat, was refolved to be as ufeful as poffible, and earn by my affiduity what I could not by my merit.

The next that prefented for a place was a moft 'whimfical figure indeed. He was hung round with papers of his own compofing, not unlike thofe who fing ballads in the streets, and came dancing up to the door with all the confidence of inftant admittance. The volubility of his motion and addrefs prevented my being able to read more of his cargo than the word Infpector, which was written in great letters at the top of fome of the papers. He opened the coachdoor himself without any ceremony, and was just flipping in, when the coachman, with as little ceremony, pulled him back. Our figure feemed perfectly angry at this repulfe, and demanded gentleman's fatisfaction. "Lord, fir !" replied the coachman, "in" ftead of proper luggage, by your bulk you feem "loaded for a Weft-India voyage. You are big "enough with all your papers to crack twenty

ftage coaches. Excufe me, indeed, fir, for you "muft not enter." Our figure now began to expoftu

late;

late; he affured the coachman, that though his baggage feemed fo bulky, it was perfectly light, and that he would be contented with the smalleft corner of room. But Jehu was inflexible, and the carrier of the Infpectors was fent to dance back again with all his papers fluttering in the wind. We expected to have no more trouble from this quarter, when in a few minutes the fame figure changed his appearance, like harlequin upon the ftage, and with the fame confidence again made his approaches, dreffed in lace, and carrying nothing but a nofegay. Upon coming near, he thruft the nofegay to the coachman's nofe, grafped the brass, aud feemed now refolved to enter by violence. I found the struggle foon begin to grow hot, and the coachman, who was a little old, unable to continue the conteft; fo, in order to ingratiate myself, I ftept in to his affiftance, and our united efforts fent our literary Proteus, though worsted, unconquered ftill, clear off, dancing a rigadoon, and fmelling to his own nofegay.

The perfon, who after him appeared as candidate for a place in the ftage, came up with an air not quite fo confident, but fomewhat however theatrical; and, instead of entering, made the coachman a very low bow, which the other returned, and defired to fee his baggage; upon which he inftantly produced fome farces, a tragedy, and other mifcellany productions. The coachman, cafting his eye upon the cargoe, affured him, at prefent he could not poffibly have a place, but hoped in time he might aspire to one, as he seemed to have read in the book of Nature, without a careful perufal of which none ever found entrance at the temple of fame. "What!" replied the disappointed poet, "fhall my tragedy, "in which I have vindicated the caufe of liberty and "virtue !"- Follow Nature," returned the other," and never expect to find lafting fame by topics

Q 2

66

"topics which only pleafe from their popularity. "Had you been firft in the cause of freedom, or "praised in virtue more than an empty name, it is "poffible you might have gained admittance; but at prefent I beg, fir, you will ftand afide for "another gentleman whom I fee approaching."

This was a very grave perfonage, whom at fome diftance I took for one of the moft referved, and even difagreeable figures I had feen; but as he approached his appearance improved, and, when I could diftinguish him thoroughly, I perceived that in fpite of the severity of his brow he had one of the most good-natured countenances that could be imagined. Upon coming to open the ftage door, he lifted a parcel of folios into the feat before him, but our inquifitorial coachman at once fhoved them out again. "What! "not take in my dictionary !" exclaimed the other in a rage. "Be patient, fir," replied the coachman, "I have drove a coach, man and boy, these "two thoufand years; but I do not remember to "have carried above one dictionary during the whole "time. That little book which I perceive peeping "from one of your pockets, may I prefume to atk what it contains "A mere trifle," replied the author, it is called, "The Rambler."

"The

Rambler!" fays the coachman, "I beg, fir, you'll "take your place; I have heard our ladies in the "court of Apollo frequently mention it with rap"ture; and Clio, who happens to be a little grave,

has been heard to prefer it to the Spectator; though others have obferved, that the reflections, "by being refined, fometimes become ininute."

This grave gentleman was fcarcely feated, when another, whofe appearance was fomething more modern, feemed willing to enter, yet afraid to ask. He carried in his hand a bundle of effays, of which the coachman was curious enough to enquire the

contents.

contents. "Thefe," replied the gentleman,

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66

rhapsodies against the religion of my country. "And how can you expect to come into my coach, "after thus chufing the wrong fide of the queftion?" Ay, but I am right," replied the other; "and if you give me leave, I fhall in a few minutes ftate the argument." Right or wrong," faid the coachman, "he who difturbs religion is a blockhead, "and he fhall never travel in a coach of mine." "If "then," faid the gentleman muftering up all his courage, "if I am not to have admittance as an esfayift, I hope I fhall not be repulfed as an hiftorian; "the laft volume of my hiftory met with applaufe.' "Yes," replied the coachman, "but I have heard "only the first approved at the temple of Fame; "and as I fee you have it about you, enter without "further ceremony." My attention was now diverted to a crowd, who were pushing forward a perfon that feemed more inclined to the fage-coach of riches; but by their means he was driven forward to the fame machine, which he however seemed heartily to defpife. Impelled however by their folicitations, he fteps up, flourishing a voluminous hiftory, and demanding admittance. "Sir, I have formerly heard your name mentioned," fays the coachman," but never as an hiftorian. Is there "no other work upon which you may claim a place ?" None," replied the other, "except a romance; but "this is a work of too trifling a nature to claim fu"ture attention." "You mistake," fays the inquifitor, 66 a well-written romance is no fuch easy "task as is generally imagined. I remember for66 merly to have carried Cervantes and Segrais, and "if you think fit, you may enter."

Upon our three literary travellers coming into the fame coach, I liftened attentively to hear what might be the converfation that paffed upon this extraordi

nary occafion; when, instead of agreeable or entertaining dialogue, I found them grumbling at each other, and each feemed difcontented with his companions. Strange! thought I to myself, that they who are thus born to enlighten the world, fhould ftill preferve the narrow prejudices of childhood, and by difagreeing make even the higheft merit ridiculous. Were the learned and the wife to unite against the dunces of fociety, instead of fometimes fiding into oppofite parties with them, they might throw a luftre upon each other's reputation, and teach every rank of fubordinate merit, if not to admire, at least not to avow diflike.

In the midft of thefe reflections, I perceived the coachman, unmindful of me, had now mounted the box. Several were approaching to be taken in, whofe pretenfions I was fenfible were very juft; I therefore defired him to ftop, and take in more paffengers; but he replied, as he had now mounted the box, it would be improper to come down; but that he fhould take them all, one after the other, when he should return. So he drove away, and for myfelf, as I could not get in, I mounted behind, in order to hear the converfation on the way.

(To be continued.)

·A WORD OR TWO ON THE LATE FARCE,

CALLED

HIGH LIFE BELOW STAIRS.

JUST as I had expected, before I faw this farce, I found it formed on too narrow a plan to afford a pleafing variety. The fameness of the humour in every fcene could not butat laft fail of being difagreea

ble.