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the name and residence of my benefactor, in order to 6 repay him as soon as possible.' In this I satisfied him fully, not only mentioning my name and late misfortunes, but the place to which I was going to remove. 'This,' cried he, happens still more luckily than I hoped for, as 'I am going the same way myself, having been detained here two days by the floods, which I hope by to-morrow 'will be found passable.' I testified the pleasure I should have in his company, and my wife and daughters joining in intreaty, he was prevailed upon to stay supper. The stranger's conversation, which was at once pleasing and instructive, induced me to wish for a continuance of it; but it was now high time to retire and take refreshment against the fatigues of the following day.

The next morning we all set forward together: my family on horseback, while Mr. Burchell, our new companion, walked along the foot-path by the road-side, observing with a smile, that as we were ill mounted, he would be too generous to attempt leaving us behind. As the floods were not yet subsided, we were obliged to hire a guide, who trotted on before, Mr. Burchell and I bringing up the rear. We lightened the fatigues of the road with philosophical disputes, which he seemed to understand perfectly. But what surprised me most was, that though he was a money-borrower, he defended his opinions with as much obstinacy as if he had been my patron. He now and then also informed me to whom the different seats belonged that lay in our view as we travelled the road. That,' cried he, pointing to a very magnificent house which stood at some distance,' belongs to Mr. Thornhill, a young gentleman who enjoys a large fortune, though entirely dependent on the will of his uncle, Sir William Thornhill, a gentleman who, content 'with a little himself, permits his nephew to enjoy the ' rest, and chiefly resides in town.' What!' cried I, ‘is

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'my young landlord then the nephew of a man whose 'virtues, generosity, and singularities are so universally 'known? I have heard Sir William Thornhill represented as one of the most generous, yet whimsical men in the 'kingdom; a man of consummate benevolence.'Something, perhaps, too much so,' replied Mr. Burchell, at least he carried benevolence to an excess when young; for his passions were then strong, and as they were all upon the side of virtue, they led it up to a romantic extreme. He early began to aim at the qualifications of the soldier and scholar; was soon distinguished in the army, and had some reputation among men of learning. Adulation ever follows the ambitious; for such alone ' receive most pleasure from flattery. He was surrounded 'with crowds, who shewed him only one side of their character; so that he began to lose a regard for private ' interest in universal sympathy. He loved all mankind; 'for fortune prevented him from knowing that there were rascals. Physicians tell us of a disorder in which the whole body is so exquisitely sensible, that the slightest 'touch gives pain: what some have thus suffered in their persons, this gentleman felt in his mind. The slightest distress, whether real or fictitious, touched him to the ' quick, and his soul laboured under a sickly sensibility of the miseries of others. Thus disposed to relieve, it 'will be easily conjectured, he found numbers disposed to solicit his profusions began to impair his fortune, but not his good-nature; that, indeed, was seen to encrease as the other seemed to decay: he grew im'provident as he grew poor and though he talked like a man of sense, his actions were those of a fool. 'Still, however, being surrounded with importunity, and ' no longer able to satisfy every request that was made ' him, instead of money he gave promises. They were all 'he had to bestow, and he had not resolution enough

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