London fervant-maids, though not always fo nice in other refpects, would not be seen thus habited in public on any terms, left their precious characters should be called in queftion. A ftriking inftance of the powerful influence of habit! Pomfret says, "Cuftom's the world's great idol we adore, Most of the female fervants in Edinburgh, Glafgow, &c. do all their work, and run about the town the fore part of the day without stays, fhoes or stockings; and on Sundays I faw the country-women going towards Kirk, in the fame manner (stays excepted ;) however, they do not go into kirk, till they have dreffed their legs and feet; for that purpose they feat themselves on the grafs, fomewhere near, put on their shoes and stockings, and garter up very deliberately, "Nor heed the paffenger who looks that way." Most of these poor young country-women go without any caps or hats; they have in general fine heads of hair, many plait it, others let it hang loose down their backs; and I affure you, my friend, they look very agreeable. I returned each time through Buxton, where ftaying a week or two, I vifited Castleton, and fpent feveral hours in exploring that ftupendous cavern, called The Devil's A in the Peake. I alfo furveyed Poole's Hole, near Buxton, and purchased a great variety of petrifactions. In our way home I faw the great marble manufactory at Afton, in the water, spent fome days at Matlock, the most romantic village that I ever saw, but the fight of it coft me dear; as we were conveyed there in an old crazy poft-chaise, in which I caught a violent cold, the lining being very damp. I am, Dear Friend, Yours. LETTER LETTER XLVI. "Good feen expected, evil unforeseen, 66 Appear by turns as fortune fhifts the scene: "Then fall fo hard, they bound and rife again." "New turns and changes every day DRYDEN'S Virgil "Are of inconftant chance the constant arts; "Soon fortune gives, foon takes away, "She comes, embraces, nauseates you, and parts. "But if she stays or if she goes, "The wife man little joy or little forrow knows; "For over all there hangs a doubtful fate, "And few there be that're always fortunate. "One gains by what another is bereft : "The frugal deftinies have only left "A common bank of happiness below, Maintain'd, like nature, by an ebb and flow." How's Indian Emp. DEAR FRIEND, I Did not intend to trouble you or the public with an account of any more of my wonderful travels, but being now at Lyme, for want of other amusements this rainy morning, I thought that a short ac count of this journey might afford you entertainment. fome My state of health being but indifferent, and Mrs. Lackington's ftill worse, I was induced to try what effect a journey would produce; "When medicine fails, amufement should be fought, It being immaterial what part I travelled to; and as I had not for a long time feen my native place, and perhaps might not be furnished with another opportunity, we refolved to vifit it. "And many a year elaps'd, return to view "Where once the cottage ftood, the hawthorn grew, "Swells at my breast "I still had hopes, for pride attends us ftill, "Amidst the fwains to fhew my book-learn'd skill, "Yes, let the rich deride, with proud difdain. "The fimple bleffings of the lowly train, "One native charm, than all the glofs of art; Spontaneous joys, where nature has its play, "Lightly they frolic o'er the vacant mind, "Unenvy'd, unmolested, unconfin'd." GOLDSMITH Accordingly in July laft, 1791, we fet out from Merton, which I now make my chief refidence, taking Bath, Bristol, &c. in our way to my native place Wellington. In Bristol, Exbridge, Bridgewater, Taun-' ton, Wellington, and other places, I amufed myself in calling on fome of my mafters, with whom I had about twenty years before worked as a journeyman fhoemaker. I addreffed each with, " Pray Sir, have you got any occafion?" which is the term made ufe of by journeymen in that ufeful occupation, when feeking employment. Most of thofe honeft men had quite forgot my perfon, as many of them had not feen me fince I worked for them: fo that it is not eafy for you to conceive with what furprize and aftonishment they gazed on me. For you must know that I had the vanity (I call it humour) to do this in my chariot, attended by my fervants; and on telling them who all appeared to be very happy to I was, · fee me. |