first volumes only, (instead of five,) sold for upwards of five pounds! I charge for the same from ten shillings and sixpence to one pound ten shillings. I sell great numbers of books to pawnbrokers, who sell them out of their windows at much higher prices, the purchasers believing that they are buying bargains, and that such articles have been pawned; and it is not only books that pawnbrokers purchase, but various other matters, and they always purchase the worst kind of every article they sell. I will even add, that many shops which are called pawnbrokers, never take in any pawn, yet can live by selling things which are supposed to be kept over time. I went on prosperously until some time in September 1775, when I was suddenly taken ill of a dreadful fever; and, eight or ten days after, my wife was seized with the same disorder. "Human hopes, now mounting high, WEST'S Pindar. At that time I kept only a boy to help in my shop, so that I fear, while I lay ill, my wife had too much care and anxiety on her mind. I have been told that, before she was confined to her bed, she walked about in a delirious state; in which she did not long continue, but contrary to all expectation died, in a fit of enthusiastic rant, on the ninth of November, surrounded by several methodistical preachers. "Invidious death! how dost thou rend in sunder She was in reality one of the best of women; and although for about four years she was ill the greatest part of the time, which involved me in the very depth of poverty and distress, yet I never once repented having married her. "Still busy meddling memory, In barbarous succession, musters up The past endearments of our softer hours, BLAIR'S Grave. 'Tis true she was enthusiastical to an extreme, and of course very superstitious and visionary, but as I was very far gone myself, I did not think that a fault in her. "Go, take thy seat the heav'nly choirs among, Indeed she much exceeded me, and most others that ever fell under my observation, as she in reality totally neglected and disregarded every kind of pleasure whatever, but those of a spiritual (or visionary) nature. Methinks I here see you smile: but I assure you she made no exception; but was a complete devotee, and what is more remarkable, without pride or ill-nature. "Intentions so pure, and such meekness of spirit, Must of course, and of right, heaven's kingdom inherit." SIMKIN. I am, dear friend, yours. LETTER XXII. "I've strange news to give you! but when you receive it 'Tis impossible, sir, that you should believe it! But as I've been told this agreeable story, DEAR SIR, A FRIEND of mine, of whose veracity I entertain the highest opinion, has favoured me with an account of a lady who has to the full as much, indeed more of the spirit, but without the good-nature of Nancy Lackington. The fact is as follows: ""Tis true 'tis pity: and pity 'tis it's true." Mr R-t, a genteel tradesman with whom I am acquainted, having lost his second wife early in 1790, courted and married one of the holy sisters a few months afterwards. They had lived together about six months, when Mr R-t, one Sunday, being a sober religious man, took down Doddridge's Lectures, and began to read them to his wife and family. But this holy sister found fault with her husband for reading such learned rational discourses, which savoured too much of human reason and vain philosophy, and wished he would read something more spiritual and edifying. He attempted to convince her that Dr Doddridge was not only a good rational divine, but to the full as spiritual as any divine ought to be; and that to b more spiritual he must be less rational, and of course become fanatical and visionary. But these observations of the husband so displeased his spiritual wife, that she retired to bed, and left her husband to read Doddridge's Lectures as long as he chose to his children by a former wife. The next morning, while Mr R―t was out on business, this holy sister, without saying one syllable to any person, packed up all her clothes, crammed them into a hackney-coach, and away she went. Mr R-t, poor soul! on coming home, discovered his immense loss, and in an almost frantic state, spent the first fortnight in fruitless attempts to discover her retreat. "Three weeks after her elopement, I was (says Mr R-t) going down Cheapside one day, and saw a lady something like my wife, but as she was somewhat disguised, and I could not see her face, I was not sure. At last I ventured to look under her bonnet, and found that, sure enough, it was she. I then walked three times backwards and forwards in Cheap side, endeavouring to persuade her to return with me, or to discover where she lived; but she obstinately refused to return, or to let me see her retreat; and here (says Mr R-t) I begged that she would grant me a kiss, but she would not willingly. However, after some bustle in the street, I took a farewell kiss. Poor dear soul! (sighed he) she is rather too spiritual; for notwithstanding I laid by her side near six months, she would never be prevailed upon to do anything carnal; and although I did all in my power to get the better of her spiritual scruples, yet she was always so in love with Christ her heavenly spouse, that when she eloped from me she was, I assure you, as good a virgin as when I married her." I must give you a story or two of the same nature with the preceding. A gentleman of London, happening to be on a visit at Bristol about three years since, fell in love with a handsome young lady who was one of the holy sisterhood; after a few weeks' acquaintance he made her an offer of his person and fortune; and the young lady, after proper inquiry had been made into the gentleman's family, fortune, &c., consented to make our lover happy. They were soon after married, and the same day set off in a post-chaise towards London, in order to sleep the first night at an inn, and so save the lady the blushes occasioned by the jokes common on such occasions; this happy couple had been in bed about an hour, when the cry of murder alarmed the house; this alarm proceeding from the room that was occupied by the bride and bridegroom, drew the company that way; the inn-keeper knocked at the door and demanded admittance; our Benedict appeared at the door, and informed the host that his lady had been suddenly ill, in a kind of fit, he believed, but that she was better; and after the inn-keeper's wife had been sent into the room to see the young lady, and had found her well, all retired to bed. They had however not lain more than two hours, when the cry of murder, fire, &c., again alarmed the house, and drew many out of their beds once more. Our young gentleman then dressed himself, and opening the door, informed the company that he had that morning been married to the young lady in bed, and that being married, he had insisted on being admitted to the privilege of a husband, but that the young lady had talked much about the good of her poor soul, her spiritual husband, &c., and that instead of granting what he conceived to be the right of every husband, she had thought proper to disturb all in the house. He added, that having been thus made very ridiculous, he would take effectual care to prevent a repetition of the same absurd conduct. He then ordered a post-chaise, and set off for London, leaving our young saint in bed, to enjoy her spiritual contemplations in their full extent; nor has he ever since paid her any attention. Some time since, being in a large town in the West, she was pointed out to me by a friend, as she was walking in the street. I am also informed, from undoubted authority, that in the same town there are a couple who have been married upwards of three years, and as yet the husband is not certain as to the sex of his wife; and on every attempt of the husband for that purpose, the servants are alarmed with the screams of the pious lady, who would not permit such carnal communication for the world. The preceding stories put me in mind of what Ovid says was practised by young maids on the festival of the celebrated nymph Anna Perenna, thus translated by I know not whom : "With promises the amorous god she led, |