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I HAVE had an application from Dr. Butler for a subscription, on your account, towards the expense of repairing the School. The circular was forwarded to me by Mr. Drury. You will tell him, I have written to Dr. Butler, and enclosed him my draft for five guineas. I am unwell with a cold.

Doctor Powell called last night, who had just arrived from Hereford, where he has been to attend the ceremony of Mr. Jones Powell's union with Miss Downes, the daughter of my late friend, Mr. Downes, of Hinton, near to that city. Mrs. Powell and William dined with us on Sunday.

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Mr. Drury tells me you are well, and at work." am glad to hear it. I wish I was at work: but it so happens I am at this time very idle.

Yours ever,

B. O.

TO THE REV. T. F. DIBDIN, KENSINGTON.

DEAR SIR,

Tavistock Place, April 30, 1822.

I UNDERSTAND that possessing a pew in the

new church of St. Pancras does not give a right of

entrance on the day of consecration; and that none will be admitted but those to whom tickets are issued.

I have given in your name to one of the managing committee, and expect a ticket will be forwarded to you. I am not quite certain, but think you are expected to appear in your robes; and the hour will be earlier than I imagined, but not too early for your breakfasting with me.

Should you be disengaged on Friday, and will do me the honour of dining here at half past five, to meet a small party, we can then arrange for the approaching

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I HAVE laid your proposition before the ladies in due form: it was taken into immediate consideration, and unanimously decided to be worthy of acceptance. A long debate ensued, whether or no it should take place on Sunday? one thought it was a good day, another was of opinion it was not a proper day; therefore I said, let it be some day, and that as soon as possible: whereupon I proposed the first Sunday in the month, which was carried by a large majority.

Now, sir, it will be expected that you treat us, not "according to our deserts;" but in such a way as will ensure a repetition of our visit. Be not too tame, nor yet too familiar; but use us gently and in the torrent of our welcome, observe that you give it smoothness.

There are men whom I know, ay and good ones too, (not to speak it disrespectfully), who are so over-bounteous to their friends, will, at this season of the year, give them green peas and strawberries, ay, and even grapes and pines! Now, any thing so overdone is from the very purpose of friendship-"I pray you avoid it." Yours very much,

B. O.

To MRS. OAKLEY.

Gordon House, Leamington, May 28, 1822.

PERHAPS, my dear Hannah, a slight descrip

tion of our proceedings, commencing where Elizabeth left off, will not be uninteresting to you.

Time, which the world thinks little of, may be bought by experience. Elizabeth, who, anxious to give you an account of our journey, did not " take time by the forelock," and eager to say more than the time allowed, had to pay for her experience, by carrying her letter to the post-office after the time allowed for receiving, when she was under the necessity of giving as much for the conveyance as you will have to pay for receiving it. How often have I lost a good place in the pit of a theatre, by not being in time! How often have you lost the pleasure of my company by not being at the breakfast table in time! and how many games of chess have I lost, for not taking time enough to consider where I may have moved to advantage!

I think I am now losing time by this digression, and shall therefore begin. Well then, after dinner on Sunday, I rambled about with the girls in quest of

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lodgings. One particular spot where I wished to sit down, was our first point when, lo! a bill appeared in the window of the very house I sought for! In we went, with many apologies, fearing it was more than we wanted; yet an eager anxiousness to see it. We found the lady of the house quite as anxious to show as we to look at it. "This is very pretty — delightful! but I fear we are giving you unnecessary trouble: we only want two rooms." "That you can have, sir, or more, if you like. My master's desire" (this was said by the lady, whom we now found to be the housekeeper)" is to have quiet folks, and money is not an object: therefore, if you choose, you may secure the whole apartments, and use what rooms you please. Here is a dining-room- above stairs is a drawing-room, with bedchamber on the same floor, and on the second story a large room with two beds. and look at them." "I do so." described I found them. "Who is the proprietor of this house?" "Mr. Court, sir; an old gentleman upwards of eighty, quite independent, and cares little about price. A guinea a week, and about half as much for my attendance, the use of linen, &c. will satisfy us." "I think it well worth what you ask it is mine, and I will take possession to-morrow."

Pray, sir, walk up,
Quite as she had

Just as we were coming away, a lady, who had previously been about the lodging, came to say she would take it; but being informed it was let, she felt exceedingly disappointed, and her irritability of temper got the better of good manners, and burst out with great violence upon the housekeeper and Mr. Court: the latter was threatened with prosecution for not fulfilling

his engagement, which the lady insisted upon was binding.

While this storm was raging, we retired, rather, I must own, in doubt whether we should be the favoured party. We had scarcely reached our hotel, when the housekeeper came to say, that the lady and her husband had almost terrified Mr. Court into a compliance with their wishes, and urged me to call upon the old gentleman early in the morning, who she thought gave the preference to me. I did so, fortunately; for I had no sooner arrived, when the lady, with milder aspect, was trying the effect of bribery upon the old man, by an offer of a larger rent than I had agreed to give, which rather served to rouse Mr. Court to an honest independency of character, who said, loud enough for me to hear," "Tis of no use, ma'am; the gentleman has sent his luggage in," (which was not the fact), “ and he shall have the lodging." Thus crowned with success, I should have revelled in the enjoyment of it, but for the mortification of seeing the amiable and irritable lady sinking almost under a broken heart, retire quite discomfited, vanquished, and subdued.

Well, here we are, sitting in a delightful room, looking into a green field, and almost in the centre of this agreeable place.

Lucy drinks at the sulphureous fount, and I almost think with some advantage already. I bathed last night. I have drank of the waters; but find some excellent ale, which I prefer to water. We have been to-day to Warwick Castle-to Hatton, where Dr. Parr resides, and where there is a village feast and a richly adorned maypole, around which the honest villagers,

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