verfally known by the title, (a truly honourable one) of "the good-natured family."

I cannot attempt to give any description of my mother. Figure to yourself the fairest and best-natured nymph you know or ever faw, and it may give you fome idea of her. Nay, rather figure to yourself beauty and good-nature in a female form, and that is fhe. In her twentieth year my father unloofed her virgin zone, and I was the much-loved fon of their firft embraces. My good old grandfather, who had fome peculiarities, infifted upon giving me my name; and accordingly, by his appointment, I was called Philanthropy: for, faid he, from the happy union of Judgment and Good-nature, the nobleft humanity, the most unaffected candour, and the most rational love of man will proceed." Thus my worthy ancestor prognofticated.

The tendernefs of my parents fuffered them to omit nothing which they conceived likely to advance my happiness or utility: and that affectionate, yet wife fondness, which they continually difcovered, fo wrought upon my mind, that the ties of nature were foon ftrengthened by the approbation of reafon; and my judgment beheld with the highest reverence and esteem, those whom my heart loved with the moft endearing affection.

At the ufual age I was admitted a member of University college in Oxford; to which body, for

many

many years, our family hath been attached; and for a reason, (as we have a tradition amongst us) to the foundness of which I will not by any means fubfcribe; but as it seems it was the notion of one of my forefathers, who preferred that college for its name; and conceived it more adapted to the genius of our family, than any of private appellation. "For I, (faid he) according to the motto of my arms, profefs myself civis mundi: and University college agrees well with a citizen of the world, and an inhabitant of Candour-ball." In confequence, however, of the old gentleman's choice, this is become our family college; and thither have I lately fent my nephew; who, by the way, will be useful, if in our future lucubrations we shall think fit to vifit that feat of the mufes.

Having finished my ftudies there, my parents, though reluctantly, indulged my ftrong defire of travel; and with a worthy, and ingenious clergyman, who now makes me happy with his company, and whom I have preferred to the reetory of my parish, I made the grand tour, and furveyed foreign countries: not without fome useful attention, I hope, as well to the men and the manners, as to the ruins, pictures, wild. beafts, and burning mountains, &c. Much is due to my prudent companion, for what improvement I made, during my abfence from home and it is not improbable, but he may be

perfuaded, if his parochial duties will admit, to favour me with an effay now and then, which I am fure will be much to the fatisfaction of my readers.

The illness of my honoured father haftened my return from abroad fooner than I intended. He lived to fee me, but furvived not long after. I was then obliged to enter into a new scene of life and, at the follicitation of my mother, who ardently wished to fee me fettled, I paid iny addresses to a neighbouring young lady, who gave me her hand, and became

My life's companion, and my fofter friend;

mistress of my heart, and wife of my choice: with whom I have now paffed feveral years of ferene felicity; but of whom I fhall fay no more at present, as poffibly my fair readers may hear of her hereafter.

It is my pleasure to reflect, that I have happily maintained thus far the credit of our family; and it may be faid, I believe, with fome truth, that our houfe was never in greater reputation than in this age. We have had indeed, like most other families, ftrange viciffitudes and much variety. Sometimes Candourhall hath been as it were deferted and depopulated, and the very walls almoft rafed to the ground. Again it hath reared its head; and the antient fabric, at prefent, under my fa

ther's

ther's care and my own, looks tolerably neat and strong. My eldest son, a promising boy, often tells me, that, if he furvives me, he will beautify and decorate it still more highly.

Though I always fpend fome of the winter months in town with my family, yet my principal refidence is at my feat in the country: and as my distance from London is not great, and my gates are always open to my friends, I am feldom difgufted with the weariness of folitude, happy as I am in the frequent vifits and very entertaining converse of the most worthy and the most instructive. Perfonages of every rank are kind enough to pay a regard to me: many noble lords of high diftinction are fond of vifiting Candour-hall; and indeed fome of them have done me the honour to fuggeft fome very valuable improvements of the edifice; as have alfo fome right reverend and refpectable bishops, as well as others of the clergy, whofe vifits are always particularly acceptable. to me, and I am never better pleased, than when they will indulge me with an hour's familiar chat in my ftudy. To fay the truth, I am fond to cultivate their acquaintance, as their enemies, as well as the enemies of our family, have sometimes represented them as no great friends to our house but my prefent experience fully confutes all fuch invidious fuggeftions.

Thefe

Thefe connections render me no ftranger to what paffes in the great or finaller world; in the more retired walks of mufing science; or the more thronged haunts of active business. Hence the labours of the learned are before me, as well as the schemes of the benevolent. Each of which I am always forward to encourage; and my reader must have noted, that no public act of general good can be pointed out, in which I am not a very principal perfon concerned. I must be allowed to mention two particularly wherein I have been an efpecial inftrument; and which I mention with the more fatisfaction, as they have met with fuch general approbation. Philanthropy Candid will be found a distinguished promoter of the fubfcriptions for the relief of the French prifoners, and for the affifting our gallant countrymen abroad. Indeed it was moved to make me chairman and treasurer in both those committees; but I declined it, as I like not that kind of popularity. I love to do good, let who will run away with the honour of it.

The difpofitions which I have received from the care of my parents, are fuch, that as I enjoy myself the greatest blifs and compofure of foul; fo my fincereft defire, and my moft zealous endeavour is, to diffufe the ferenity I fhare, and to augment, all I may, the felicity of thofe, whom I have ever been taught to efteem as men, as brethren, and as fellow creatures.

P. S.