LETTER V.

FROM C-L-L M-L-D OF CKS, TO THE RIGHT

HONORABLE THE EARL OF P-F-T.

C -lle, near Cheltenham,

IN my
Wherein I poured forth like an exquisite bird
Such ravishing, sweet, and enrapturing things,

last-that's my first to my ever dear Lord!

,1819.

As my pen had been cut from a nightingale's wings! I was strictly poetic-but now I'll descend

friend

To a trifle of common-sense-such as my
Of the goosequill fraternity scribbles at times,
Of poetry dreaming in common-place rhymes;
Poor HN, I mean-my dear lord! by the bye
I'm in want of a SEC. and I've him in my eye;—

If I had but a sinecure, now, to bestow-
A trifle-a couple of hundred or so ;-

And what with my tournure,* my train of discerning--
And my bundles of facts-how my spirit is yearning
To give to the world all my axioms historical-
So elegant-polished-and quite metaphorical,
That scarcely require to be proved-tho' logicians†
Dispute on this point with WE, great politicians;
Then my mode of narration-perhaps too concise
And my system and style-you'll own clearly precise-
I think in a twelvemonth or so, with attention,
And my genius-I blush at this moment to mention-
The lad could compile, and prepare for the press
Such a quarto of wonderful wonderfulness!—
Would he be but satirical!-trust me, my Lord,

On the hone of my wit like a double-edged sword,

"Une tournure plein de grace."

DE STAEL,-Corinne, tom. 1. p. 21.

WATTS, for instance, says, "If the subject be historical, or a matter of fact, we may then enquire whether the action was done at all."-Logic, ch. vi. § 9. p. 97.

I'd polish his mind ;-but the fellow's so lazy
He sets me at times most infernally crazy :—
But I fancy this Spring-time will settle his pate,
And then, in the sunshine of genius elate,
He'll reflect all my talents*-and give to the world
The true standard of history proudly unfurled!-

I'd a gossip last week with the Chevalier W X―LL, About" MEMOIRS" and stories, he means to prove facts all;

He declares," tho' now lying perdu, he's preparing "Some anecdotes incontrovertibly glaring;

"But not deeming it safe or convenient, to trench

66

Any more on the comforts and ease of the BENCH, "His next shall be posthumous labours forsooth, "And establish for ever his candour and truth. "For though he now slumbers his country shall find "It is only in seeming-his powerful mind

"For who could bask him in the sun,

"Nor be like light to look upon!"

"For a time may appear most complaisantly pliant, "And affecting to doze, he shall rise like the giant, "And the P- - shall be ruin'd, and ministers dish'd, "When his spirit shall start from its slumbers refresh'd!” -Well, well, let him write, my dear Lord!—entre

nous,

Has your Lordship forgotten that famous Review?
No.
'Faith it needs no small nerve
Such a notice as that, my dear Lord! to deserve.
Only wait 'till these crabbed reviewers attempt
To look on my Book!! with an air of contempt-
As soon shall the doomsday arrive, or Greek Kalends,
Ere they cease to pay homage to my mighty talents.--
With ancient COPERNICUS, M-K-Y* may quarrel,

And write about VENUS, till VENUS grows dim,

* J. L. M—k—y, Esq. author of several luminous treatises on the planets; and an expounder of the solar system; a prodigious admirer of fish-and claims descent from the noble family of RAY-Wherefore I venerate him. He is also an essayist on finance.

May contend with V-S-TT-T himself, for the laurel, And settle the NATIONAL DEBT-with a

whim!

And the bard of "The Glenfall," himself scribble on,But, oh, when these little ephemera are gone,

And forgotten their works, and the sound of each name, My memory shall flourish, for ever the same!

And my name from the banks of the Chelt shall resound,

Whilst a tide's in the stream, or a twig in the ground,Till the memory of ECHO itself is no more,

And nature forgets to demand an encore !

-You never need wonder if Genius like mine

Should to learning, belles-lettres,—and such things

incline;

And hence you may guess the chief things I delight in, Are writing and reading-and reading and writing—

"Je redemandois LAURE a l'echo du vallon,
"Et l'echo n'avoit point oublié ce doux nom.-