were brought from Jerusalem; he has ordered processions, and what not. We are not so bad as they are at Naples, for there indeed the tragedy was deep-I remember some scenes with horror; and since we came away, many people have dropped down in the street, and have been taken away dead, from mere want of food. Our prospect at Venice is rather worse, for we hear that the plague has spread as far as Trieste, and that they begin to talk of quarantine in the neighbouring states; if so, we shall run the gauntlet terribly, but we are not dismayed, and must go through with it. I must thank you again for the trouble and care you have had about Count Firmian's books. He is very happy at the execution of the commission, and was highly pleased with your sending your own matters to him gratis -it pleased me much. I have not seen a St. James's Chronicle since the end of January—if I have them, I wish you would desire George to keep them for me, to rummage over when I come to England. Mr. Baldwin (the proprietor and printer) I hear is no friend to our house. Apropos -I am very angry with Powell for playing that detestable part of Alexander. Every genius must despise it, because that, and such fustianlike stuff, is the bane of true merit. If a man can act it well, I mean to please the people, he has something in him that a good actor should not have. He might have served Mrs. Pritchard, and himself too, in some good natural character: I hate your roarers. Delane was once a fine Alexander-damn the part-I fear 'twill hurt him-but this among ourselves. I was told by

a gentleman who is just come from Sterne, that he is in a very bad way. I hope Becket has stood my friend in regard to what he ought to have received for me, some time ago.—I had a draught upon him from Sterne for twenty pounds ever since he went abroad-pray hint this to him, but let him not be ungentle with Sterne. I have sent the plan of a fine scene, and coloured, among some small things in a little box of Mr. Stanley's of the Customhouse: it is in several parts, and wrote upon the back, which is 1st, 2nd, &c. I will send a further explanation of it; but any Italian, and our Saunderson will understand it -they should go upon it directly: it will have a fine effect. Many thanks to you for your attendance on the pantomime.-I am sure they wanted help-no more humour than brickbats. I am afraid that Love in humorous matters carries too much gut to be spirited-flip flaps, and great changes without meaning, may distil from the head, whose eyes are half asleep; but humour, my dear Coley, and scenes that are all alive alive ho, can only proceed from men of small stature, whose eyes are either quite asleep or quite awake,-in short, from men who laugh heartily and have small scars at the ends of their noses*. I am surprised about Murphy, and want to know how he (obliterated) from Mr. Lacy. Poor Lloyd and yet I was prepared-the death of any one we like don't shock us so much when we have seen them long in a lingering decay.Where is the bold Churchill ?-what a noble

This alludes to Colman.

ject as her betters. What does she weep for then? Shall I dare tell you? It is-it is for the loss of a chintz bed and curtains. The tale is short, and is as follows:-I have taken some pains to oblige the gentlemen of Calcutta, by sending them plays, scenes, and other services in my way; in return they have sent me Madeira, and poor Rachael the unfortunate chintz. She has had it four years, and upon making some alterations in our little place at Hampton, she intended to show away with her prohibited present. She had prepared paper, chairs, &c. for this favourite token of India gratitude.

But, alas! all human felicity is frail. No care having been taken on my wife's part, and some treachery being exerted against her, it was seized, the very bed, "by the coarse hands of filthy dungeon villains, and then thrown amongst the common lumber!"

If you have the least pity for a distressed female, any regard for her husband (for he has a sad time of it), or any wishes to have the environs of Bushy Park made tolerably neat and clean, you may put your finger and thumb to the business, and take the thorn out of Rachael's side. I am, dear sir, yours,

D. GARRICK.

Text." For earthly power doth then look likest God, when mercy seasons justice."

Shakspeare's Merchant of Venice.

PETITION.

O Stanley, give ear to a husband's petition,

Whose wife well deserves her distressful condition,

Regardless of his and the law's prohibition.

If you knew what I suffer since she has been caught
(On the husband's poor head ever falls the wife's fault),
You would lend a kind hand to the contraband jade,
And screen her for once in her illicit trade.

For true as 'tis said since the first Eve undid 'em,
Frail woman will long for the fruit that's forbidden ;
And husbands are taught nowaday, spite of struggles,
Politely to pardon a wife, though she smuggles.
If their honours, or you, when the sex go astray
Have sometimes inclined to go with them that way,
We hope to her wishes you will not say-nay.
'Tis said that all judges this maxim do keep,
Not their justice to tire, but at times let it sleep.
If more by the Scriptures their honours are moved,
The overmuch righteous are then disapproved.
Thus true to the Gospel, and kind as they're wise,
Let their mercy restore what their justice denies.

GENERAL CHARLES LEE TO THE EARL OF

CHARLEMONT.

MY DEAR LORD, Warsaw, June 1st, 1765. A LETTER Which I sometime ago wrote to Lord Thanet, I hope you considered as in part intended for you, otherwise I must appear a prodigy of ingratitude; I desired him to communicate it to you, and as it contained the whole history of my perigrination and success, I thought it would be rather troublesome than an instance of my duty and affection, to scrawl out another to you at the same time; I therefore waited, in hopes that something might turn up here, which might probably amuse you, but as I might wait until doomsday, and this never happen (for Warsaw, if the wine