(yet only in an improving state with regard to the higher and more refined parts of politeness,) that it must be impossible for your patriotism to refuse their encouragement. If you insert this in your next paper (if accompanied with some commendatory paragraphs of your own, so much the better,) I shall take care to present you with a dozen admission tickets, as soon as the number of my subscribers enables me to begin my course.

I have the honour to be, &c.

SIMULATOR.

No. 41. TUESDAY, June 15, 1779.

Sit mihi fas audita loqui.

VIRG.

PASSING the Exchange a few days ago, I perceived a little before me a short plump-looking man, seeming to set his watch by St Giles's clock, which had just then struck two. On observing him a little more closely, I recognised Mr Blubber, with whom I had become acquainted at the house of my friend Umphraville's cousin, Mr Bearskin. He also recollected me, and shaking me cordially by the hand, told me he was just returned safe from his journey to the Highlands, and had been regulating his watch by our town-clock, as he found the sun did not go exactly in the Highlands as it did in the low country. He added, that if I would come and eat a Welsh rabbit, and

drink a glass of punch with him and his family that evening, at their lodgings hard by, they would give me an account of their expedition. He said, they found my description of things a very just one; and was pleased to add, that his wife and daughters had taken a great liking to me ever since the day we met at his friend Bearskin's. After this, it was impossible to resist his invitation, and I went to his lodgings in the evening accordingly, where I found all the family assembled, except Mr Edward, whom they accounted for in the history of their expedition.

I could not help making one preliminary observation, that it was much too early in the season for viewing the country to advantage; but to this Mr Blubber had a very satisfactory answer; they were resolved to complete their tour before the new tax upon post-horses should be put in execution.

The first place they visited after they left Edinburgh was Carron, which Mr Blubber seemed to prefer to any place he had seen; but the ladies did not appear to have relished it much. The mother said, "She had like to have fell into a fit at the noise of the great bellows." Miss Blubber agreed, that it was monstrous frightful indeed. Miss Betsy had spoiled her petticoat in getting in, and said it was a nasty place, not fit for genteel people, in her opinion. Blubber put on his widest face, and observed, that women did not know the use of them things. There was much the same difference in their sentiments with regard to the Great Canal; Mr Blubber took out a bit of paper, on which he had marked down the lockage duty received in a week there; he shook his head, however, and said, he was sorry to find the shares were below par.

Of Stirling, the young ladies remarked, that the view from the castle was very fine, and the windings of the river very curious. But neither of them had ever been at Richmond. Mrs Blubber, who had been oftener than once there, told us, "that from the hill was a much grander prospect; that the river Thames made two twists for one that the Forth made at Stirling; besides, there was a wood so charming thick, that, unless when you got to a rising ground, like what the Star and Garter stands on, you could scarce see a hundred yards before you."

Taymouth seemed to strike the whole family. The number and beauty of the temples were taken particular notice of; nor was the trimness of the walks and -hedges without commendation. Miss Betsy Blubber declared herself charmed with the shady walk by the side of the Tay, and remarked, what an excellent fancy it was to shut out the view of the river, so