no more doubt the beauty, order, or moral fitness of a well-grounded assertion, than the truth of a theorem in Euclid.
YOU will perceive the turn of his mind by this specimen. The same mode of thinking accompanies him in his other pursuits. He is constantly employed in some research, either in the intellectual or material world; and,

his faculty of drawing conclusions from experiments, is admirable; though it sometimes subjects him to errors, of which his son seldom fails to take advantage, he being possessed of capital talents for placing every object in the most ludicrous attitude. The country people are of opinion, that the old gentleman can conjure, and say that the little temple, on the hill, was built nobody knows how; but the parish clerk, who pretends to be very wise, says it was done by geometry, all in one night. Mr. Maitland is too rich to be a wizard; but I am informed, that an old woman, who lives in a hut, on the verge of his farm, has the reputation of doing all the mischiefs that they are pleased to ascribe to supernatural agents. This report is the more confirmed by several visits he has lately

made her, doubtless, with a view of relieving her necessities.
HIS house is of a moderate size, and elegantly finished in the modern stile. The simplex munditiis is seen in every part of it, unless I may except certain apartments, which are consecrated to philosophical uses. He has a variety of the best apparatus, which, according to the tenor of his prevailing study, is dispersed on stands and tables appropriated for its reception. I promise myself much amusement from hence, when the weather confines me at home; but am too great an admirer of the more obvious phaenomena of nature to stay within, when I can enjoy myself in the open air.
YOUNG Maitland makes the most of his time in hunting or shooting. We see

very little of him, except when he has the complaisance to assist at some philosophical research, in doing which he is so ingenious at finding means to exercise his risible faculty that I wonder at his father's patience.—A propos of this youth, he is no favourite with my father, and still less with Maria. I am convinced, if the intended match takes place, it will be more out of regard to his promise, and the steps he has taken in the affair, than to any wish he has to proceed.
I am, Dear Harry, your's sincerely, C. STAMFORD.




LETTER XVII. Mr.