I have nothing further to tell you, only that I am a good deal relieved, at this moment, by the absence of two wild young men, who have been sitting by me in the coffee-room, whose conversation has run upon horses, gigs, boots, and spurs-damned good claret; and such like nonsense. I understood, by the conver

sation of these youths, that one of them is intended for the church! and, by a memorandum left inadvertently upon the table, I find that both layman and churchman are notorious turf-gamblers. If I were to put my soul under the care of the latter, I should expect he would send me to heaven upon one of his fine racers; and, by the boldness of his betting, I think he would wager with his companion one thousand guineas to twenty, that I should arrive there in a hand-gallop : but I really think, with the confidence I feel, that 1 would hazard a bet I shall arrive there before either of them, in my old jog-trot way.

My love to the dear girls, and my injunctions to Benjamin to mount guard, and be very watchful until I return. Tell him to write to me on Thursday, directed at this place.

Yours ever affectionately,

B. O.

SIR,

To JOHN LEWIS GAUTIER, Esq.

Tavistock Place, July 6, 1815.

YOUR letter of yesterday, as to the main bearing of it, has, I confess, filled me with satisfaction. I must own to you that I have, for some days past, been "strongly impressed, that the union contemplated would not lead to that mutual happiness" which I had

anticipated. Thus far I feel relieved by your withdrawing your addresses from my daughter: but, inasmuch as it respects her, whose young and yielding compliance inclined to your attentions, and whose soft and tender feelings have been awakened by the disclosure I have this morning made to her, I cannot but feel a father's sympathy.

The ingenuousness of my conduct you have acknowledged; and had you acted with the same candour, it would have been more consolatory to all parties.

I do not know what your present concerns are, and am little acquainted with your commercial pursuits. Something may have arisen, perhaps family objections may have increased, rather than diminished, to have led to this determination. I hope the latter may be the only cause; for, however much I may have respected you, I am, although humble, too proud to admit of that superiority which, through vanity, has been assumed in another quarter.

Some trifling acknowledgments, which were reluctantly received by my children, I beg to return. They are gewgaws, which children are too apt to fancy; but from respect to you I permitted them to be worn, although it was against my inclination.

I have sent a small volume you were good enough to lend me, as also a little change, which I have been your debtor for since yesterday.

I have the honour to be, Sir, &c.

B. O.

To MRS. PALMER.

DEAR MRS. PALMER,

Tavistock Place, August 9, 1815.

I THANK you for your attention, and the trouble you have taken, in acquainting me with the death and last words of poor Robert Harrold.

Harrold, (who, I believe, had been a servant to my father upwards of thirty years,) was a man of extraordinary mind, vigorous in intellect, possessing a retentive memory, and full of inquiry and intelligence: to these qualities, had he possessed the advantage of a classical education, he would have shone conspicuously in a different sphere. He was honest, but poor; yet richer, my estimation, than any of his neighbours; for he had a mind well stored, and was rich in content: he had also a heart to relieve the distressed, and wanted only the power to do it. Peace to his ashes!

in

I am proud to acknowledge, that I owe to Harrold the first stimulus I felt for the love of poetry and the pencil. In my boyish days, whenever I could snatch an hour from idle pursuits, I was impelled to it by the delight I took in being his amanuensis. He was a poet and a philosopher: his thirst for knowledge was so predominant, and wearied him so much, that he often thirsted for a glass of ale; in consequence, his predilection for the muses too often engrossed that time, which might have been more profitably spent.

Yours affectionately,

B. O.

To MRS. OAKLEY.

MY DEAR HANNAH,

Edinburgh, September 15, 1815.

I ARRIVED at this place at six o'clock this morning, in company with Mr. Todd, a young gentleman I became acquainted with at Harrogate, but who is a resident at Hull.

I passed my time very agreeably with the girls, who are every thing I wish: with their attention and society, and with the civilities I experienced at Harrogate, I was delighted; and it has given me better health. My motive in taking this trip is, that by giving longer time to Adriana and Lucy to have the benefit of the waters, I have great hope of their finding relief from them, if not in entirely eradicating the eruption from their hands.

I am now sitting in my breakfast room, (not having yet been out), at the Royal Hotel, directly opposite to the castle. Nothing that I have seen, except Windsor and Warwick castles, is equal to the exterior grandeur of that which is now before me. I must find another opportunity to speak more of it.

I have desired the girls to write to you: they have now good leisure, having got rid of me, who used to take up much of their time.

Your ever, &c.

B. O.

To MRS. OAKLEY, TAVISTOCK PLACE.

MY DEAR HANNAH,

Harrogate, September 23, 1815.

I ARRIVED here on Thursday night, after a very pleasant tour through great part of Scotland, having travelled between five and six hundred miles. I found the girls all well, and this morning received your letter, covering a £25 bank bill.

The time we have been here has not been sufficient to remove the eruption from Lucy's hands: however, she is much better, and Adriana considerably so; and as some progress seems to manifest itself towards a cure, I am loath to lose the opportunity which presents itself, of allowing them the best chance possible for a perfect recovery, and have therefore determined to leave the children, for a few weeks longer, under the care and protection of Mr. and Mrs. Marsh, and to set off, in a few days, through York and Hull, for London, where I hope to find you all well and happy.

If these waters fail to effect the desired object, I shall consider their case hopeless; but, from the various cases I have had detailed to me, I have the best grounded expectation of success.

I am sorry to hear of the death of my old dog Rover; but am glad not to have been a witness of his last moments. It is a fortunate hit for Roscius and Trim, as by his death they will inherit a greater proportion of the good things in the kitchen.

Give my kind love to the dear children, and

Believe me affectionately,

B. O.