rence is this-M. will not furely deprive herfelf of H's fociety; but will let him find her there to-morrow. Efpecially, fince, in Mr. J.'s expreffive language,

As on one ftem two opening flowers refpire,
So grow our lives (entwin'd) on one defire.

LETTER XV.

To Mr.

H. 23 Feb. 76.

?

Where was you this morning, my life? I fhould have been froze to death I believe with the cold, if I had not been waiting for you. I am uneafy, very uneasy. What could prevent you Your own appointment too. Why not write, if you could not come ?- -Then, I had a dream laft night, a fad dream, my H.

"For thee I fear, my love;

"Such ghaftly dreams laft night furprized my foul."

You may reply, perhaps, with my favourite Iphis,

"Heed not these black illufions of the night, "The mockings of unquiet flumbers."

Alas, I cannot help it. I am a weak wo◄

man, not a foldier.

I thought

I thought you had a duel with a person whom we have agreed never to mention. I thought you killed each other. I not only faw his fword, I heard it pass through my H.'s body. I faw you both die; and with you, love and gratitude. Who is there, thought I, to mourn for M.? -Not one!

You may call me foolish; but I am uneasy, miferable, wretched! Indeed, indeed I am. For God's fake, let me hear from you.

LETTER

To the Same.

XVI.

H. 24. Feb. 76.

THAT bufinefs, as I told you it would, laft night, obliges him to go to town. I am to follow, for the winter. Now, my H. for the royal black bob and the bit of chalk; or for any better fcheme you'll plan. Let me know, to-morrow, where where you think Lady G.'s fcheme will be moft practicable on the road, and there I'll take care to ftop. I take my bible oath I won't deceive you, and more welcome fhall you be to my longing arms, than all the dukes or princes in Christendom. If I am not happy for one whole night in my life, it will now be your fault.

Is

Is not this kind and thoughtful? Why did it never occur to you, so often as we have talked of my being obliged to leave this dear place? To me most dear, fince it has been the scene of my acquaintance, my happiness with H.

But, am I to leave behind me that deareft H.? Surely your recruiting business must be nearly over now. You must go to town. Though things can't often be contrived at the A, they maythey may?-they shall happen elsewhere.

Fail not to-morrow-and do not laugh at me any more about my dream. If it was a proof of my weakness, it was a proof alfo of my love.

I wish the day on which I am to set out from hence could be conjured about a month further back or fo. Now, you ask why? Look in your last year's almanack. Was not the shortest day fome where about that time? Come give me a kifs for that, I am fure I deserve it.-Oh! fye Mr. H., not twenty. You are too generous in your payments. I must infift upon returning you the overplus the next time we meet-that is to-morrow, you know.

LETTER XVII.

To Mifs

Huntingdon, 26 Feb. 1776.

WHY will not the wifhed-for day, or rather night, arrive? And here, I have not seen you fince I know not when-not for two whole days.

But I wrote you a long letter yesterday why it would be dangerous to meet; and all in rhyme. The beginning, I affure you, was not poetry, but truth--If the conclufion was coloured too highly, you must excuse it. The pencil of love executed it, and the fly rogue will indulge himself fometimes. Let the time come, I'll convince you his pencil did not much exaggerate.

Just now I was thinking of your birth-day, about which I asked you the other day. It's droll that your's and mine fhould be fo near together. And thus I observe thereon.

Your poets, cunning rogues, pretend
That men are made of clay;

And that the heavenly potters make
Some five or fix a day.

No

No wonder, M. I and you
Don't quite deteft each other;
Or that my foul is link'd to your's,
As if it were it's brother:

For in one year we both were made,
Nay almoft in one day————-
So, ten to one, we both came from
One common heap of clay.

What? if I were not caft in near
So fine a mould as you-
My heart (or rather, M. your's)
Is tender, fond, and true.

Corporal Trim fets off to-day for our head quarters. My plan is laid fo, that no difcovery can take place. Gods, that two fuch fouls, as your's and mine, fhould be obliged to defçend

to arts and plans!

Were it not for your dear

fake, I'd fcorn to do any thing I would not wish discovered.

LETTER XVIII.

To Mr.

H. 21 Feb. 1776.

ALL your plans are useless. The Corporal has made his forced march to no purpose. The fates