of coarse, indecent dependants, who, although they exist in every community, ought not to be exposed too openly.

Well, now, as you have been kept a long while in the crowd, it is but fair to open the door of the theatre, and let you in. Fancy yourself in a room fifty feet long and twenty feet wide, converted into this form out of a range of offices standing on the east side of the carriage drive to my house the scenery arranged under my direction, but executed by an artist of great celebrity. As your curiosity will naturally lead you to look at the play, you will find in it more of exceptionable matter than is to be found in any one of Shakespeare's dramatic pieces. I have, with great pains, struck out of it all the offensive passages, and reduced it to four acts, and have not retained any thing that can offend the chastest ear. The characters preserved are, the Duke of Austria, Lord Angelo, Lord Escalus, Claudio, Lucio, Friar Peter, the Provost, Isabella, and Mariana. The first representation was last Friday evening, before a select audience of friends; and were I to judge by the acclamations throughout the play, my dramatic corps had sufficient reason to be satisfied for their exertions, by a full remuneration of applause. The part of Isabella was performed in a style of excellence, perhaps never excelled at a public theatre: the amiable and exemplary Miss S. Booth, of Covent Garden, personated this character, and that of Mariana was sustained by her sister. The gentlemen actors were friends of mine, with whom you are unacquainted. Miss Booth spoke an epilogue, written by me, which one of the girls shall copy for your critical perusal all I shall say of it is, that applause followed every line, without its being known by whom it was written. I am requested to make two

repetitions of the play, the last of which will be in the passion week; and should you be in town at that time, you shall not only have a ticket, but a bed also under my roof; and which I hope and wish you to occupy as long as you can make it convenient to yourself.

Mrs. Oakley, and the children in particular, will be glad to see their favourite governess, whenever her best discretion marks the time.

I beg my best compliments to the respectable family under whose roof you are; and also to assure my dear Miss Weales, that

I am sincerely and truly,

B. O.

To JOHN PHILIP KEMBLE, ESQ. GREAT RUSSEL STREET.

MR. OAKLEY feels himself so much flattered by Mr. Kemble's expression of regret, in not being able to accept his invitation for Saturday next, that he is induced to request Mr. Kemble will name a day, either in this, or the following week, most suited to his convenience.

Mr. Oakley named the 16th, at the suggestion of Mr. Perry, in consequence of its being a close night at the theatres, thereby ensuring the attendance of Miss S. Booth, without whose professional assistance Mr. Oakley would not presume to solicit the honour of Mr. Kemble's presence.

Tavistock Place, May 9, 1812.

To MR. RICHARD OAKLEY, WEOBLY.

MY DEAR FATHER,

Tavistock Place, October 16, 1812.

I AM greatly concerned at the account you give me of my poor mother's illness, and can offer you but little consolation: indeed, to flatter you with hopes of its subsiding, would be unfriendly. It appears to be a decay of nature, which should call up our best fortitude to meet. I can well judge of your feelings in the anticipation of a separation. The identity of soul and affection in such hearts, when likely to be torn asunder, must be acute in the extreme; yet it cannot destroy that self-satisfaction and comfort, which must arise from the reflection that such identity did. exist.

My situation requires so much attention, that I fear I cannot leave it. I have sent your letter to George, and asked him to dine with me, for the purpose of considering what can be done. You may easily suppose we are anxious to see our mother; but perhaps she would scarcely know us: and to see her in such a state would be to encounter painful sensations for no practical good. I hope you will write every post, to let me know how she is; and should she expressly desire to see me, I would set off at the risk of every personal and pecuniary inconvenience.

You must keep up your spirits upon this trying occasion: the event you must expect; it is what I expect, and it is common to all. Kindly commend me to the dear sufferer, and say how affectionately and dutifully I feel towards her. When the destroyer of mankind is dealing out destruction among his fellow

creatures, how striking is the contrast, and how enviable is the situation of her, who passes quietly from such scenes of horror to those blissful mansions, where strife is neither seen nor heard!-followed, as she must be, by the sympathetic feelings and regard of those whose proud boast is, that they have, known so excellent a .woman. In the hope that goodness. like hers will be rewarded, and with prayers for her and yourself,

Believe me to be, my dear Father,

Ever affectionately yours,

B. O.

To MASTER BENJAMIN OAKLEY, CHARTER HOUSE.

Tavistock Place, October 17, 1812.

THE brightest feature in a generous and

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The

gentlemanly mind, is the acknowledgment of error. contrition you have expressed for your late conduct to your mamma and myself, and its being your first breach of duty and good manners, you are pardoned, Benjamin. Here let me exhort you against a repetition of such error. I can be affectionate; but also remember, that on my character is affixed the steady resolution of strict and determined justice. I am bound by many and repeated oaths to pay submission to the laws and to the king; and, as a father of a large family, I am bound, by my obligation to the Supreme Being, to dispense to all under my protection equal justice; that is, to reward the good and punish the undeserving. In society there can be no order without a head; in a family there can be no happiness without implicit obedience; nor can there be, in any state, regularity

and comfort, without subordination to the will of its ruler. In the course of human events, it is possible I may be in my grave before you become a father; and you a fatherless boy, left upon the world, without the advice of him whose tender solicitude, upon all occasions, has been manifested towards you, and perhaps been strengthened by the possibility of such an event taking place, of your proving a father to your amiable sisters and little brother, as well as a consolation to your mamma, should such a calamity visit her.

Your fortune must be in your mind; and considering the great advantages of your education, much is expected from you, for I have spared no pains nor expense to furnish you with intellectual endowments, to arm you against the struggles in this life, as well as to inspire you with gratitude to your Maker. The heartrending pangs which you have felt since you left home, would have been infinitely greater but for the kindness of Mrs. Watkinson: she is a mother, and felt as a mother would, in witnessing the smothered agony of my heart in parting from you: to her I think I feel indebted for the contrition you have expressed. I will also suppose that your own heart beat in unison with her advice. I freely forgive you; your mother forgives you; and your sisters are happy.

Your affectionate Father and Friend,

B. O.

To MR. RICHARD OAKLEY, WEOBLY.

MY DEAR FATHER,

Royal Exchange, October 20, 1812.

ALTHOUGH your letter does not give any

flattering hope of my poor mother's recovery, still it

F