as foon as he had difcovered it, came to me. She would have been better pleased, had I accepted of what had been fo long the grand object of her conftant folicitations, and of my wifhes, now it was offered to me; but as Metham was in the frantic ftate fhe fhe found him to be, and danger might have attended my continuing any longer at home, fhe did not entirely difapprove of my precipitate flight.

The paffion week, very fortunately for me, was the fucceeding one to that in which I had experienced fuch a variety of perturbations. To obtain a little respite from these, and to avoid the frantic Metham, till he should be restored to a greater degree of tranquillity, I determined to feize this opportunity of paying a vifit to my friends at Donnalan Park. Mrs. Smith, who had likewife received a preffing invitation from the hofpitable owners of that manfion, when they were at her house, agreed to accompany me.

Accordingly we fet out the next day, in a a hired poft-chaife; and on our arrival were received by Mr. and Mrs. Ganfel with the greatest cordiality. In the old gentleman it was more than cordiality; it amounted to tranfport. He even declared that the pleafure of feeing me would add ten years to his life; as he felt himself regenerated by it. He overpowered me with the profufion of praise

praife with which he loaded me. So that all those who were prefent, fuppofed that I not only furpaffed the Oldfield and Porter of his time, but equalled the inimitable Cibber of ours; a pitch of excellence to which I could scarcely hope to arrive. My youth, indeed, claimed the indulgence of the public, and this they were pleafed to beftow with a more lavish hand than, I fear, my merit deferved.

The unfeigned marks of pleasure which were to be feen in the countenances of the mafter and miftrefs, diffufed itself through the whole family; and all the domestics feemed to wish to furpafs each other in their attention towards me. I found myself in a terreftrial paradife, where every thing proclaimed it to be the abode of peace, innocence and delight.-Mr. Ganfel, who from the frequent attacks of the gout to which he was fubject, was an invalid, ufually retired at eight o'clock, and left his dame to entertain their company at fupper. At dinner he always took the lead, and not only kept Mrs. Ganfel filent, but faved her the trouble of doing the offices of the table. But notwithstanding this was his usual custom, in order to fhew me every respect in his power, the evening of my arrival, he declared he would fit up if he never did on another. It was in vain that I united my intreaties with thofe of his Lady and the

company,

company, that he would not risk his health by staying up after his accustomed hour. He faid, he felt fo much fatisfaction from feeing his admired Juliet at Donnalan Park, that nothing fhould induce him to leave her till fhe retired to reft.

I was not a little amazed to hear the old gentleman order for fupper, three boiled chickens, three roasted, three broiled, and the cold chicken pye. Such catering, where there feemed to be a variety of every thing neceffary to please the appetite, carried with 'it the appearance of a peculiar fpecies of od-. dity. Nor did his interference in his lady's province feem lefs fingular. And though fuch a quantity of provifions of the fame quality was ordered, the company confifted only of eight perfons.

During fupper, a gloom overclouded the countenance of Mrs. Ganfel, which, I likewife could not account for. Her invitation had been as preffing as that of her husband, and the pleasure the fhewed on my alighting from the carriage, had all the appearance of fincerity.-What can occafion these myfteries thought I! They were, however, at length cleared up.

When Mrs. Ganfel did me the honour to fhew me to my apartment, the apologized for the indifferent fupper I had fat down to. She faid, fhe had provided one much more fuitable to thofe I had been accustomed to,

but

but her lord and mafter, having in his young days made an oath, never to have at his table, when he himself was prefent, but one dish, or rather, only food of the fame quality, excepting vegetable and fruit pyes; fhe had been obliged that evening to conform to his humour. I told her, as that was the cafe, I could not conceive how he could entertain fuch numbers as frequented his table, and preferve his refolution, unless he roasted a whole ox. She replied, that on the morrow my curiofity would be fully gratified, as his brethren of the quorum were to dine there. She then affured me, that as fhe found fupper to be my principal meal, I fhould have one of a different nature from the dinner, as long as I did them the favour to ftay; Mr. Ganfel giving her permiffion to please herself in that point, when he was not prefent. I own the oddity of my new friend, and the innocent frankness of his wife, gave me as much entertainment, at that juncture, as my harraffed mind could be fufceptible of.

G. A. B.

LET

THE

LETTER XLIX.

November 9, 17-.

HE next morning I got up to contemplate the beauties of a place, which Teemed to abound with every thing that was convenient and elegant. The first thing which ftruck my notice, and which I had not observed, through my fatigue the night before, was the furniture and hangings of the room in which I flept; thefe, as well as the bed and the window-curtains, were of blue fattin, with borders compofed of flowers cut out of fine point lace, such as was formerly worn. This had the most beautiful effect of any thing I had ever seen of the kind.

The house was finall, but very convenient; there were, however, apartments at the Pheasantry, an adjacent building, which could be occupied upon any particular occafion. The kitchen was large and well furnifhed. The pantry was fupplied with every thing that could gratify the tafte of the greatest epicure. The neatness of the dairy proclaimed that the miftrefs had an eye over it. The park, though well stocked, was kept To clean, that it had the appearance of a kitchen-garden. The menagerie, which contained many forts of curious beafts, was taken great care of. The house was pleafantly

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