characters difcoverable only on

fuch occafions.

Mrs. C. accompanied by her lovely niece, and a gentleman, whofe name is WERTER, was fo obliging as to give me a corner in a coach; and though the horizon was gloomy, the good fpirits and charming converfation of my companions, rendered the journey very short, and we presently found ourfelves in the ball room. Befides our ufual fet, there were eight or ten ftrangers, and as they all danced, the room was tolerably well filled. Much grace was displayed in the minuets, particularly by Frederick,

derick, Andran, W. Selftadt, and the gentleman who accompanied us. Your Adolphus and I commenced country dances. The third, I danced with Werter, who does the walfe uncommonly well, and was very animated. You know nothing affords me more pleasure than good dancing; and, having a good partner, perhaps I too might be more than ordinarily animated for in the midft of this dance, our friend Matilda Selftadt fignificantly pronounced the name of "Albert," which fo much excited the curiofity of my partner, and rendered him so importunate, that I at

length frankly told him the nature of my connexion with Albert.

I am not vain enough to fuppofe this information had any effect on the spirits of Werter; but from that moment he was perpetually out. I did not know what to think. I was willing to attribute his diforder to the encrease of the lightning, which, during the last half hour, had become quite alarming; and the thunder was fo loud as to over-power the mufic. Several ladies quitted the dance; the panic became general; the muficians ceased; and an awful filence fucceeded. The mistress of the cere

monies,

monies, for fo I call Mrs. K. took us into a room, the window-fhutters of which prevented us feeing the lightning. Most of the gentlemen went to drinking, and we played at counting.-The morning approached, and we returned home. The scene was truly delightful. We heard the thunder roll afar off; and whilft the fun was rifing in the eaft, a beautiful rainbow gave fplendour to the west. "Ah," I faid, "what magnificent fimplicity is here! what vivid colours in the fkies! what emulation in the fields !-O, Klopstock! who, befides thee, can

paint a fcene like this ?" The tear started in my eye, and my heart glowed;-but who can defcribe angelic luxury? - Werter faid, "How the splendour of our ball fades away before this!"

Mrs. C. and her niece flept: befides being extremely early and regular in their hours, they were wearied with dancing. I was fet down, without difturbing them; and Werter said, he would call in the evening, to tell me how they did.

You will not ask me any thing about the dreffes of the ladies. A few years ago, indeed, they would