angelic discourse, offering up their lisping tongues in praise and adoration to the Supreme Being, for the transition from precarious and imperfect happiness to that of substantial, unfading, and permanent bliss.

On the morning of the 15th instant, by virtue of a faculty issued from the Bishop of Winchester's Court, the body of my dear Benjamin was removed from Tooting, in Surrey, and deposited in my family vault in the north-east corner of St. Mary-la-bonne new church; and in the afternoon of the same day the funeral of pretty Fanny took place, where she was laid by the side of her brother;

"Two cherries from one stem an union in partition."

In the short space of fifteen months, my ever dear Benjamin, my excellent friend and brother, Captain Butcher, and my interesting little Fanny, have been snatched from my society by the unrelenting arm of death. The intelligent and vigorous intellect of the first, the manly character of the second, and the innocent vivacity of the last, make up a compound of all that is estimable, amiable, and desirable: such a draft from the stock of my domestic treasure has (although far from being exhausted) greatly diminished its value: still I am rich in affectionate endearments; and every day, as time rolls on, (but which never can obliterate the recollection of departed worth), attachment ripens, and tends to fill the chasm which the destroying hand of Death has made.

Tavistock Place, February 16, 1817.

BENJ. OAKLEY.

To SIR J. W. HOARE, BART.

[To the Care of Lord V. KIRKWALL, Holles Street, Grosvenor Square.]

SIR,

Tavistock Place, February 11, 1817.

SINCE the receipt of your letter I have been in anxious suspense and attendance upon one of my daughters, who now lies dead in my house. This melancholy circumstance, taking me out of the hurry of business, gives me an opportunity of replying to the subject of your late communications.

You are acquainted with the proposition I made to Mr. Brown. I would have submitted to a sacrifice on two accounts: the first, that of avoiding litigation; and the second, inclining to your interest in not wishing to disturb the arrangement of your deed.

I complained to Mr. Brown of being trifled with: he assured me, (and I believe he thought so), that the interest money was in town, and expressed his surprise that it was not paid to me. I called on Campbell and Bowden, to know the reason: but what was my surprise on seeing a letter from yourself to them, desiring a suspension of its payment! Is not this trifling with me? Is it not something more than trifling?

You complain of my personal hostility: What cause have I not of complaint for the serious inconvenience I have felt? If your promise to pay the interest had been acted up to, and an arrangement with Messrs. Aldridge and Co. for the discharge of a serious expense incurred by frivolous investigation of encumbered property, I should have ceased hostility. Could I say more to Mr. Brown? I think, Sir Joseph, I need not urge more in extenuation of my proceedings.

From December 28, 1815, to February 8, 1817, (the date of the bond), the interest amounts to £111. 10s.; from which deduct for property tax, £3. 14s. 4d., from December 28 to April 5, will leave £107. 15s. 8d. Let this be paid, and an arrangement made with Messrs. Aldridge and Co., and all personal hostility will die away: but understand that this offer is perfectly distinct, and unconnected with my intention as it regards the security of the bond under your father's will. But before I proceed for the recovery of it, I will make you another proposition, viz. Give, or cause to be given to me, £1400 for the bond, with your security for the remaining £600, to be placed in the trust deed, in common with the other creditors, and I will then, and only then, sign the deed.

I am, Sir,

B. O.

To J. W. HORSLEY, Esq. CHISWICK.

DEAR HORSLEY,

Royal Exchange, March 28, 1817.

WILL you and Mrs. Horsley, with Miss Keep, dine with us in Tavistock Place on Thursday next? I expect a friend, who is making arrangements for a trip to the Alps, and to whom (if you favour me with your company) you may impart some wholesome instructions. Pray bring your map, on which is marked your late route.

I beg you will not make any frivolous excuse; for should you, I shall certainly call it both "frivolous and vexatious."

Yours, &c.

B. O.

DEAR SIR,

To JOHN BRITTON, Esq.

Tavistock Place, March 28, 1817.

ON reconsidering the application to His Grace the Duke of Bedford, praying His Grace "to offer to let this piece of ground, on certain conditions, for the purpose of laying it out in gardens, nurseries, and small paddocks," -a thought occurs to me, which I beg leave to submit to you, wherein I conceive the nuisance complained of would be removed, and the advantage to the Duke be better secured.

The parish of St. Pancras having applied to Parliament, and obtained a bill for the erection of a new church, and no place being yet determined on for the site whereon it shall be built; and probably the Duke not having considered the matter, I think it would only be necessary to suggest to His Grace, that were he to make a gratuitous offer of a space of ground at the north end of Tavistock Square, it would not only be ornamental and convenient to a large population now residing upon His Grace's property; but would, at once, be an object of such attraction, that the vacant ground (now an intolerable nuisance to the neighbourhood) would instantly find its value; and that before the vane could be affixed to the top of the new steeple, the whole of the now waste land would be covered and inhabited.

Yours truly,

B. O.

To MR. GEORGE OAKLEY.

DEAR GEORGE,

Royal Exchange, April 30, 1817.

THE best answer to the enclosed letter is, that "soft words have power to assuage" more than recrimination for benefits received can have.

I do not mean to enter the lists with the captious Cassius. "It is not meet that every nice offence should bear its comment:" but there is a Roman virtue which cannot be commented upon too often; and that is, justice. There is also a virtue among us, (though perhaps "more honoured in the breach than in the observance"), to" do as we would be done by." "I would not deliberately do an unjust thing," nor would "I borrow morality" to mask deception.

Yours affectionately,

B. O.

To MR. RICHARD OAKLEY, WEOBLY.

MY DEAR FATHER,

Royal Exchange, May 10, 1817.

As I think a letter from me may be gratifying to you, and having nothing to employ me at this moment, I cannot do better than fill up the vacancy, especially if it can be done with pleasure to you, and satisfaction to me.

It is very seldom I write letters but upon business, and that must be my apology for not writing to you oftener. Perhaps you will say, you are entitled to the same excuse. However, if there is any shade of dif ference between us as to the obligation of writing, I