Olney. Ay, and the winters also, I have seldom left it, and except when I attended my Brother in his last illness, never I believe a fortnight together.

Adieu, my beloved Cousin, I shall not always be thus nimble in reply, but shall always have great pleasure in answering you when I can.

You might well suppose, that

your Letter had miscarried, though in fact it was duly received. I am not often so long in arrear, and you may assure yourself, that when at any time it happens that I am so, neither neglect nor idleness is the cause. I have, as you well know, a daily occupation, forty lines to translate, a task which I never X

VOL. 2.

excuse myself, when it is possible to perform it. Equally sedulous I am in the matter of transcribing, so that between both, my morning and evening are most part completely engaged. Add to this, that though my spirits are seldom so bad, but I can write verse, they are often at so low an ebb, as to make the production of a Letter impossible. So much for a trespass, which, called for some apology, but for which to apologize further, would be a greater trespass still.

I am now in the twentieth book of Homer, and shall assuredly proceed, because the farther I go, the more I find myself justified in the undertaking; and in due time, if I live, shall assuredly publish. In the whole I shall have composed about forty thousand verses, about which forty thousand verses, I shall have taken great pains, on no occasion suffering a slovenly line to escape me. I leave you to guess therefore, whether such a labour once achieved, I shall not determine to turn it to some account, and to gain myself profit if I can, if not, at least, some credit for my reward.

I perfectly approve of your course with John. The most entertaining books are best to begin with, and none in the world, so far as entertainment is con

cerned, deserves the preference to Homer. Neither do I know, that there is any where to be found Greek of easier construction. Poetical Greek I mean; and as for prose, I should recommend Xenophon's Cyropædia. That also is a most amusing narrative, and ten times easier to understand than the crabbed epigrams, and scribblements of the minor poets, that are generally put into the hands of boys. I took particular notice of the neatness of John's Greek character, which (let me tell you) deserves its share of commendation; for to write the language legibly is not the lot of every man, who can read it. Witness myself for one.

I like the little ode of Huntingford's that you sent me. In such matters we do not expect much novelty, or much depth of thought. The expression is all in all, which to me at least appears to be faultless.

you

Adieu, my dear William ! We are well, and and yours are ever the objects of our affection.

W. C.

X 2

LETTER XCIII.

To Lady HESKETH.

MY DEAREST COUSIN,

Olney, Nov. 9, 1785.

Whose last most affectionate

Letter has run in my head ever since I received it, and which I now sit down to answer, two days sooner than the post will serve me. I thank you for it, and with a warmth for which I am sure you will give me credit, though I do not spend many words in describing it. I do not seek new friends, not being altogether sure, that I should find them, but have unspeakable pleasure in being still beloved by an old one. I hope that now our correspondence has suffered its last interruption, and that we shall go down together to the grave, chatting and chirping as merrily as such a scene of things as this will permit.

I am happy that my poems have pleased you. My volume has afforded me no such pleasure at any time, either while I was writing it, or since its publication, as I have derived from yours, and my Uncle's opinion of it. I make certain allowances for partiality, and for that peculiar quickness of taste,

with which you both relish what you like, and after all draw-backs, upon those accounts, duly made, find myself rich in the measure of your approbation, that still remains. But above all, I honour John Gilpin, since it was he who first encouraged you to write. I made him on purpose to laugh at, and he served his purpose well; but I am now in debt to him for a more valuable acquisition than all the laughter in the world amounts to, the recovery of my intercourse with you, which is to me inestimable. My benevolent and generous Cousin, when I was once asked, if I wanted any thing, and given delicately to understand, that the enquirer was ready to supply all my occasions, I thankfully and civilly, but positively declined the favour. I neither suffer, nor have suffered, any such inconveniences as I had not much rather endure, than come under obligations of that sort to a person comparatively with yourself a stranger to me. But to you I answer otherwise. I know you thoroughly. and the liberality of your disposition, and have that consummate confidence in the sincerity of your wish to serve me, that delivers me from all awkward constraint, and from all fear of trespassing by acceptance. To you, therefore, I reply, yes. Whensoever and whatsoever, and in what manner soever you please;