you, that this retirement affords few ideas, but those of poetry and science. I seem to be scarce an inhabitant of this world—or, at least, I fancy myself on the verge of another. The past scenes of hurry and business strike my imagination as feebly as a dream; and those speculations, which the bulk of mankind regard as visionary, appear to me, in my present disposition, the only things that have reality. Sometimes, with Mr. Maitland, I visit the planetary regions, and admire the conjectures which his creative fancy makes of their uses or inhabitants. From thence, according to the enlarged idea of those great men, who, in a less enlightened age would have been deified, I grasp in thought the amazing number of systems that fill the immensity of space, and lose myself in the grandeur of the conception. The vast field of natural philosophy, is a constant source of amusement, which, in these silent vales, wears an aspect, not dry and scientific, but, sublimely pleasing. BUT such elevations bear the mind so much beyond its natural pitch, that it is impossible they should be continual. Relaxation is necessary, and in that relaxation I spend most of my time. Hic gelidi fontes, hic mollia prata, Lycori Hic nemus, hic ipso tecum consumerer Evo. Adieu, C. STAMFORD. LETTER XX. Mr. ALWYN, to Mr. STAMFORD, Jun. Dear SIR, I HAVE had several adventures since my last to you, which, without any apology, I shall take the liberty to relate, from a supposition, that, as heretofore, they will not be disagreeable to you; having always observed, with pleasure, the part your passions took in the most trifling events, when they any way influenced the affairs of those for whom you professed an esteem. I THEN informed you of the invitation I had received to go to the assembly; I must now tell you of my weakness in suffering their persuasions to overcome the resolution I had made not to comply with this invitation. I believe I do wrong to ascribe it all to the force of persuasion. The human heart has its foibles; mine has, however, which I cannot always conquer. I ascribed the remonstrances of my brother comedians to their little jealousies at the preference which had been given me; this preference was flattering, and, though I endeavoured to combat that selfish idea, yet, it triumphed, even while I despised it. Not that I think any servile respect is due from the comedians to the inhabitants; the case is, the laws have, unjustly