WE To our CORRESPONDENTS. Ehould willingly oblige Jemima, but her lines are deficient in the true qualities of poetry. Eliza Wouldpleafe writes on a flrange fubject for a lady, a morning whet.This practice we cannot poffibly countenance, The Elegy on the death of Mr. Field of Gloucefter is no doubt just, but. not poetical-pain and join, form and bloom, are forry rhimes. Lines addreffed to Mr. W.-The Epitaph by E M-Werter to Chatt lotte-Elegiac Effufion by E. M.-On Anna by W. G.-On fecing a Dog fed by his Mafier-Cautions addreffed to a young Lady by Amicus-Paftora Addrefs to mifs E. N-s. All thefe we beg leave to reject on the score of their respective deficiencies in poetical merit. The Rival Lovers is too long and uninteresting. It wants point. Two fmall pieces from W. H. Reid-Ode to the Sun-The Sculls har rangue-Elegy on an amiable young Lady who died in a decline-Lines or Abfence, and others received in the course of last month, and not notice here, are intended for our next. A Virgin's Letter to W. H. Reid has fome little malice, and more malic than wit. Eliza wishes to know what will remove fuperfluous hairs from the face. Our profe Correfpondents will find that we have not been unmindful their favours; but we must again repeat that no pieces will be receive unless completed.-C. S. will pleafe to attend to this hint. THE Lady's Magazine; For SEPTEMBER, 1790. THE INDE X. A N. XVII. "SHE IS A MOST ACCOMPLISHED WOMAN, AND MAKES POLITENESS HER STUDY." HIS was the character Mrs. Maftix gave the other evening of an acquaintance he had fallen in with. have combated the propriety of the character, but I do not find that he is difpofed to give up the point I will not allow that politenefs ought to be a ftudy-1 would rather have it a natural qualification, arifing from a good heart, and an obliging difpofition. Mrs. Maftix, who is a great stickler for education, would have young people taught every thing. Now there are fome things which I would rather have to come fpontaneoufly-and politeness is one of them-and on this fubject we differ. converfation which I deem indif But a great objection to studied politeness is, that it removes us farther and farther from the language of the heart, and creates a kind of artificial liking and difliking which constrains the natural inclinations ac the expence of truth. It is a dress which we put on for vifits abroad, but which is found too cumber fome Although I would have politenefs for family bufinefs. Hence the very to be natural, 1 do not mean that it great difference in the behaviour of ought not to be improved by imi- the fame perfons at home and atation. Speech is natural to man, broad, and the proverbial faying of and yet he learns it by imitation."an angel abroad and a devil at But it is dangerous for all that, to home," is not improperly applied inculcate that politenets fhould be a to tome of this defcription. ftudy, for when made a fudy, it is very apt to get the better of fincerity. Now incerity is that ingredient in It is to be regretted that when we The blunt blunt manners of an Englishman | This is called politeness. In the have been ridiculed in plays, poems, moment me are pleafed with itafter the fmalleft reflection, we regret that truth and good manners thould be fo far afunder. Ingenua is a lady whofe manners I could wish to recommend. Though allowed to be perfectly well-bred, it is impoffible for her to go a step be yond ftrict truth in what the fays.Though one in whofe company all her acquaintances profefs themselves to be extremely happy, no perfon is ever deceived by her, or can recollect that the ever uttered a compliment which flze did not prove that he felt. She is averfe to speak of the characters of the absent, but if compelled, he draws her picture with perfect truth, and without the leaft partiality. Though her taste is feldom difputed, the never affents to what is afferted without examining for herfelf. She will not compliment a lady on her good locks, or the beauty and faflion of her gown, merely because others have done fo. Hence fome fay that he deals now and then in unpleasant truths; and indeed where truths are unpleafant, they will be unprofitable, and may as well be withheld. But why fhould deceit be more pleasant? Is it fo excellent a thing to be deceived and deluded? Ingenua has faid in my hearing," I wish fuch a lady would not afk me my opinion, when in fact he expects me to give her on." This method of afking the opinion of friends is certainly ridiculous, and can answer no purpose whatfoever; nay, is it not truly fhocking to hear a perfon declare, "I told Mrs. that I liked her gown, but between ourselves it is a perfect fright." I own I cannot fee how the lady who makes fuch a declaration can be acquitted of deliberate falfehood-and the ftudy of politeness will be but a forry ex cufe. The character I have given of Ingenua may to fome appear difficult to Inconvenience of living in a Mufical Neighbourhood. 455 to be imitated; for, fay fome, there take fo little care of them, that MISFORTUNES of a MAN who SIR, MONG the numberless mis A fortunes of human life, there Valuable as friendhip is, it cau- [The existence of a newfpaper is fo I am, fir, one of that clafs of men, who being conftitutionally addicted to literary purfuits, and having fuch a portion of the good things of this life, as enables me to enjoy may purfuits unmolefted by the eires of the world, am confequently more concerned with books than men, and folitude and quiet are to me indifpentible requifiles. As I confider London as the mart of literature, as well as of politics and commerce, I prefer a houfe in town to one in the country, for that and many other reafons, and should be very happy in my prefent fituation, which is central for all the haunts of literature, were it not that I have lately discovered that I am in the heart of a mufical neighbourhood, and`eavironed by inftruments of music. Judge then, fir, how I can with due attention, read, think, or write. Before me, right oppofite, and at no great diftunce, are two fiddles, a German 456 Inconvenience of living in a Mufical Neighbourhood. German flute, and a bautboy. On and it is incredible how much ineach fide is a bartficord, with young ftruction I am daily lofing in this performers; and behind, two gen- way. I was but the other day readtlemen amuse themfelves with learning Smollett's account of the Revo ing to play the French horn and cla-lution, and had got king William rinet. What the business of my fafely landed at Torbay, when my mufical neighbours is, I know not; ears were affailed (on purpose, I but as they are affiduous in their think) with "O'er the water to melodious ftudies from morning to Charley ;" and I fhould have been night, I conceive they are, likeable the fame day to have read your my felf, eafy gentlemen, who can paper throughout, had there not employ their time as they pleafe.-been "a fweet little Angel that fits up Mufic would in my fituation, be an interruption, whether I liked it or not; but the misfortune is, I am paffionately fond of it; and as most of my neighbours, particularly the violinift and flute-player are really - excellent ones; the first note they play is a fignal for me to throw afide my own labours and listen to theirs, By this means my time paffes unprofitably, all my ideas are confuted, what I read, I read imperfectly and remember faintly. Another mifchief is, that the perform. ers around me generally play for their own amusement, and without paying any attention to each other, To that often when I have a concerto of Handel's before me, I have Poor Jack on the right hand, the Eafter Hymn on the left, and the Grenadiers march behind me. I have frequently the Early Horn falutes the Morn, at night, May-day buds in Auguft, and Nancy Darfon after divine fervice on Sundays. It would be fome relief to me, where there any part of the day on · which I could depend, but the truth is, my neighbours feem often te take advantage of each others abfence to keep me in a perpetual attention. And when I am waked in the morning with God fave the King, I proceed to breakfaft to the Dead March in Saul, while Sweet Nan of Hampton Green affifts me in putting on a clean shirt. aloft."-As to philofophy, I appeal to you whether the Duke of York's March be confiftent with." Man's free Agency;" or whether it is poffible to review the Cartefian Hypothefis amidst the crash of a full chorus. And with Rule Britannia before me, and a Sweet Bird on each fide, not to fpeak of Galloping dreary dun on my rear, how was I to afcertain proofs a priori, or a pofteriori ?— Amidft fo much harmony, how meditate on the original formation of the world, or what opera tune can atfist me in difcuffing the moral fitnefs of things. As I amufe my felf fometimes with writing fhort effays on various fubjeas, you may fuppofe this talk must be rendered grievous. Indeed, fir, to tell you the plain truth, I have not for the last twelvemonth been able to finish one of them. In fome I have got half way, in fome a third, or two thirds, when fome favouite air came in the way, and my ideas flew off, neyer to return.However, that my heirs and fucceffors may not be aftonished and puzzled to find fo many imperfe& papers, I have carefully noted down in each, at the place where I left off, the tune which was the cause of my interruption. Thus, one is entitled, An ESSAY ON SOCIAL AND PERSONAL VIRTUES-broke off by the Anacreontic Song.-A METAPHYSICAL TRACT ON CONTINGENT EVENTS, interrupted by the Soldier tired.-And a FAMILIAR When I take up a book I have no fecurity that I fhall be able to read two pages without interruption-TREATISE ON CONCUBINAGE ren 5 dered |