This being a dies non, Richard and I have been taking a ramble. We looked in at Drury Lane, and saw Elliston he is doing wonders. The whole interior of the audience part of the house has a new form; and notwithstanding it is considerably contracted, it is so managed, by the addition of private family boxes behind the dress circle, and adding to the pit by a contraction of the stage, that his receipts will not be at all diminished in the event of the house filling. I could not help expressing my applause to Mr. Elliston, as I trod the boards, for the able character he sustains, and the very able manner in which he is supported by the whole corps of masons, bricklayers, and carpenters.

Miss Elizabeth has written across your letter (in pencil), that you intend leaving on Wednesday. I have, with my India rubber, obliterated it; hoping you will extend your stay, and make her happy by indulging her and her sister with your company during the time they remain, which I believe will extend to the end of the month.

I beg you to convey to Mrs. Hadley, and to the young ladies, my very kind remembrances; and, at the same time, my keen regret, that my daughters were so soon deprived of their agreeable society. You must come to London, and Horsley must come to London, and then we shall form a trio (you are fond of trios) of perfect harmony and good fellowship.

Believe me to be, dear Sir,

Yours always,

B. O.

I take leave, at the bottom of your letter, to say

a word to Miss Elizabeth.

I desire you will take every possible care of Mr. Hadley. Allow him to walk wherever he likes, between the hours of breakfast and dinner time; but with a strong injunction not to keep late hours for should he be absent after twelve at night, it is my command you lock the door, and go to bed.

Tell Lucy not to be longer in Mr. Hadley's company than she likes; and although he is your guest, you are not obliged to listen to his conversation when it displeases you. Beware of Horsley-I like not that bold intruder he is a dangerous man.

Adieu; good night!

1

B. O.

To ROBERT WATSON WADE, Esq.

MY VERY KIND SIR,

Tavistock Place, September 6, 1822. 1

I ACCEPT, with pleasure, your very generous offer; and as my imagination ranges through the fields of Normandy, I shall always have a lively recollection of the faithfully painted scenes of our reverend friend Dibdin; but more impressed, delighted, and gratified, on their being opened to my view by the liberal hand of my good friend Wade. "I am even poor in thanks; but I thank you" heartily.

A few etchings, which I have gleaned at various times, I beg leave to lay upon one of your shelves. You must value them not for their intrinsic worth, but as having been in the possession of

B. O.

TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL OF TEN.

SIR,

Tavistock Place, September 12, 1822.

I HAVE read, with great pleasure, your constitutional observations upon "The Abuses of the Police." How such an act as that which you allude to could pass in a legislature representing freemen, is to me incomprehensible.

Not long ago, during a short stay at Leamington, in Warwickshire, I had an opportunity of witnessing the arbitrary and cruel operation of this act.

Three poor Irishmen, driven by famine from their own country, just at the commencement of our harvest, were seeking for employment. Unable to succeed, and without the means of purchasing food, they committed the heinous sin of asking charity, which being observed by the beadle of the place, (who, in a scarlet costume and ponderous gold-laced hat, struck terror into the unhappy strangers as he approached), demanded them as his prey; and with the ferocity of a tiger, seized the weakest of the three, who, during the struggle, was deserted by his companions, and left at the mercy of this bloodhound. At the moment I was ignorant of the power vested in this man, until the cry of “Shame, shame! - infamous act! - despotic bill!"-rung in my ears. This wretch," said a man standing by me, "takes up all the poor people he meets with, carries them to the black-hole, locks them up for the night, and has five shillings for each, when carried before the justice!" I was at first unwilling to interfere with the

power, except by expostulation; upon which the ruffian told me, with a sneer, "he did not mind what

I said, and he would be d-d but he would do his duty."

The poor fellow was dragged to the black-hole, where, shortly after, I conversed with him through the grating of the door, and revived his drooping spirits by saying "I would see justice done to him." I lost not a moment, and instantly communicated to a respectable inhabitant what I had witnessed, who accompanied me to one of the overseers, remarking, as he walked with me, "that he was very glad the matter had been taken up by a spirited gentleman; for it was really shameful that such power should be vested in the hands of such men, whose only object was blood-money." A meeting was immediately called, and the result was the liberation of the poor, unoffending Irishman; his sickle (which had been wrested from him) was restored, and he went in search of his frightened companions. "Can such things be,

And overcome us like a summer cloud,
Without our special wonder?"

By exposing these iniquitous practices, strengthened by the observations of your powerful mind, you " will

do the state some service," and deserve the thanks of your country.

I remain, Sir,

Your constant Reader,

B. O.

To MISSES ELIZABETH AND LUCY OAKLEY.

DEAR GIRLS,

Tavistock Place, September 20, 1822.

I SEND you twenty pounds, which acknowledge per return of post. I would have you secure

two places in the Crown Prince for Friday or Saturday next, which you may do by applying at the coach-office. Let me know at what time the coach leaves Leamington, and when it is expected to arrive at La Belle Sauvage, to which place I would have you go, provided you do not meet me at the Peacock at Islington.

A pleasant journey to you.

B. O.

To MR. R. R. OAKLEY, HARROW.

MY DEAR RICHARD,

Royal Exchange, October 7, 1822.

I AM always glad to receive a letter from you; and with the one before me, I cannot help saying, it does you great credit, both in diction and in the writing.

On my return from Fonthill, I own I was rather surprised to find you had been in Tavistock Place; but as you had so pleasant a conveyance offered you, I was pleased to find you accepted it in accompanying Doctor Hawkins, and I have little doubt he was equally pleased in your company.

You do not say how you get on in your studies : this you should not omit to do when you write. We are in a sort of partnership, Richard; and as I find money to carry on the concern, I ought to be informed of the profits. You have the opportunity of gaining great advantages, which no one can deprive you of when obtained; whereas all I can get will be the satisfaction of observing that you possess them for your own benefit.

I wish you to attend a little more to orthography: many of your words are often misspelt.

You say,