Should you see Mr. Leggett, give my hearty regards to him, and to my dear boy my affectionate remembrances.

When you come to town, contrive to pass an hour or so with Mrs. Oakley and the girls, who will give you in return some faint impressions of those who value your friendship, and who will be glad to place themselves under your kind protection.

To Mrs. Horsley, Miss Keep, and yourself,

I remain, and ever shall, the sincere

B. O.

To MRS. OAKLEY.

MY DEAR HANNAH,

Rotterdam, Wednesday, March 22, 1820.

HAVING been wind-bound at Harwich until Monday morning, we did not embark before seven o'clock, when, after a tedious passage of thirty-four hours, we landed at Helvoet, about six o'clock on Tuesday evening, where, having passed the ceremony of appearing before the commissary of police, we set off post for Brill, a neat fortified town-crossed the Meuse, a fine and noble river, twice, and arrived at the ancient city of Delft, about eleven at night; and this morning, after a cold voyage in a treckschuight, reached Rotterdam. We here met with Mr. Collins on the Exchange, and afterwards dined with Captain Harris, the commander of the Lord Wellington, in our hotel.

To-morrow we are to dine with Mr. Collins, and on the following morning intend pursuing our route through the Hague, Leyden, Haarlem, and on to Amsterdam. On Tuesday next we purpose being here again, when we expect to meet Mr. Frank Williams by appointment.

We were fortunate in crossing the channel, and landing as we did: for no sooner had we travelled one post on land than it began to blow exceedingly hard, and rained most tremendously. Such a gale would have exposed us to very considerable risk and danger in the frightful navigation of the North Sea, where we had to pass through shoals of sand, upon a hazy and hazardous shore. But enough of this. I have passed in safety, and will not again subject you to the anxiety, nor myself to the peril and uncertainty, of such a voyage.

I could not write in time last night to save the post, or you should not have remained in doubt so long, without some account of my safety.

The opulence and grandeur of this great commercial port, I had not the least conception of. The Dutch are a bustling, industrious people, and much more civilized than I had any idea of; and although not so much gaudy finery about them as the French, I think their manners as well bred, and, in general, as polite: of course I am speaking of the mercantile class, having as yet had no intercourse with the higher orders.

I hope you found Adriana and the children well, and spent a pleasant day with them; and that you will make yourselves comfortable, and enjoy your little tea-parties in my absence.

Mr. Williams and I have been walking about almost the whole day—are now in a pleasant room, looking over the grand and beautiful river Meuse, from the window of our apartment in the Bath Hotel, situate in the Boom-peigs,- a noble range of building, extending nearly half a mile.

I have run into a very long letter without intending it; but as you are pleased to read trifles of mine in any

shape, I shall not regret having said so much, if it should afford to yourself and the girls a moment's pleasure.

Let Richard know something about me. This will go by a regular trader from this port, which will sail tomorrow night. I do this to give you the chance of receiving it one day before the foreign post sets off.

God bless you.

B. Q.

To MRS. PARROTT, TOOTING.

MY DEAR ADRIANA,

Royal Exchange, April 14, 1820.

I THANK you for your solicitude and kind inquiries after me. I have been gratified with a kiss, and fancy myself better in health since my return from the Continent.

This will reach you upon the eve of your birth-day, a day I have a fond recollection of, and which will be ever dear to me. Need I say, I wish you all the happiness in the world?

I have read in this morning's paper the death of poor Mr. Hovell. Pray convey to Mrs. Thomas my condolence and sympathy, and make inquiry how poor Thomas goes on. How are the dear little ones? I long to see them, and yourself, and Parrott.

Affectionately and ever yours,

TO THE REV. JOHN LEGGETT, &c. &c.

MY DEAR SIR,

B. O.

Tavistock Place, May 21, 1820.

I DID myself the honour of calling upon you to-day, in consequence of your letter, and regret that

my limited time prevented me the pleasure of seeing you.

I am exceedingly concerned that the indecorous conduct of my son should have occasioned uneasiness, and obliged you to make the unpleasant communication of it to me; and I am surprised, and mortified in the extreme, to find, that the principles I have endeavoured to infuse, and which I supposed he had imbibed, should have been dissipated and sunk into such gross behaviour.

It gives me real pain, my dear sir, to acknowledge so much, and I am really at a loss to account for it; yet allow me to hope and to believe, that a recurrence of such behaviour will never happen again, and that his future conduct will convince both yourself and me, that it was an ebullition of boyish inconsiderateness, and not arising from depravity of heart, or the want of early instilled principles of politeness.

I am much indebted to Mrs. Leggett, for the kind and gentle communication to me, when I called, of the circumstance which occasions this address to you; and particularly for the interest I thought she felt, in hoping this breach may be soon repaired, and my boy restored to your confidence and esteem.

I endeavoured to impress his mind with the enormity of his conduct, and flatter myself it will have the desired effect. He has a high and proud spirit, soaring above his years; but which, under your dignified correction, will, I hope, be so tempered as to admit a fine polish, honourable to the wearer, and reflecting with full lustre upon the elegant mind from whence it emanates.

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

B. O.

TO MASTER R. R. OAKLEY.

MY DEAR RICHARD,

Tavistock Place, May 21, 1820.

I AM SO mortified, distressed, and concerned at your behaviour to Mr. Leggett, that I cannot retire to rest without admonishing and cautioning you, as you respect and regard your future appearance in the world, to be more circumspect in your conduct to that excellent and worthy man.

The boyish petulance you have assumed to a dignitary of the church, in the person of your superior and instructor, is one of the grossest insults that youth can show to man; and but for the kind and gentle interference of the amiable Mrs. Leggett, I should have left the house without saying one word, or even taking leave

of you.

What! is it possible, after the solicitude I have shown for your comforts, that you should have been so ungrateful and so unmindful of my tenderness and affection for you, to make such a return? Is the respectability of my character to be sullied by the ill humour and insubordination of my child, and the comforts of your mamma and sisters to be disturbed by the irritable captiousness of a naughty boy? One whom they have, on every occasion, sought to please, indulge, and make happy? Is this the reward for all their attention, to bring both them and me into contempt, and to sully the recommendation of my old and excellent friend, Mr. Horsley, through whose interference you are placed in the respectable family where you are? Have you sense? have you eyes? have you feeling? not to know that by such conduct you place yourself upon a precipice of