alike on the subject some years ago, it was because you considered it as a lawyer, and thought Magna Charta could get no authority from an old French copy: but such as I read history in another view, not to study things, but men ; and the differences of opinions, in different ages and likewise to observe, how Providence, without altering the free will of mankind, can bring them to obey the will of God. Adieu, love."

"Grand merci, mon cher ami, de votre lettre, la mienne ne la méritoit pas; ce paquet doit renfermer une lettre pour Mlle. B. Je vous envoye en même tems un catéchisme, que nous fîmes votre père et moi, il y a bien des années; il renferme l'essentiel d'un livre appellé Some particular Instructions concerning the Christian Covenant.' C'est un livre que vous avez, je crois, ou que vous devriez avoir, pour le faire lire à Frank; s'il n'est pas capable d'entendre tout ce qu'il contient, il retiendroit du moins ce qu'il entendroit; et cela lui aideroit à entendre le catéchisme ensuite, qui ne renferme que les mêmes vérités rendues par questions et réponses. Je n'ai que cette copie unique du catéchisme, et je ne voudrois pas le perdre pour cent guinées; mais si le jeune homme écrit lisiblement, vous pouvez le lui faire copier, sans lui laisser connoître que c'est lui qu'on veut instruire; et comme il ne peut peut-être lire

those articles upon which it was framed, and the act itself, as made known to us, are in Latin. The French copy does not seem to have been preserved in England, and was little, if at all, known here before the publication of it by D'Achery. An attentive critical examination of the French and Latin together will induce any person capable of making it, to think several chapters of the latter translated from the former, and not originally composed in Latin. This would prove the predominance of French manners and language, in the celebrated field of our English freedom at Runnymead."

couramment cet écrit, vous pouvez lui en lire quelque chose tous les soirs, et le lui expliquer, ce qui le mettra en état de le lire et de l'entendre, et de vous en faire une copie, si vous avez envie d'en avoir une. J'ai été souvent fâchée de

ne pouvoir trouver dans un seul livre ce qu'on devroit sçavoir au sujet de la sainte Eucharistie; on a presque toujours traité cette matière en controverse; le livre de Mr. Bowyer a ce défaut; celui de Mr. Nelson est superficiel, et il s'attache si particulièrement à corriger la negligence de ceux qui s'éloignent de la sainte table, qu'ils semblent sans dessein affoiblir les sentimens de respect qui doivent nous y accompagner. 'The Whole Duty of Man' est touchant sur cet article, et ce qu'il dit est excellent; mais il suppose des personnes déja instruites; il convient cependant à tout le monde, et on ne peut trop la relire. — Est-ce donc d'aujourd'hui que vous trouvez de l'élégance dans les lettres de votre père? je ne parle pas des miennes, elles n'ont de mérite que leur simplicité, mais j'ai toujours regardé les siennes comme des chefs d'œuvre. Oui, la Vanité a fait son profit des succès de la Charité; je le disois à une dame : je vous montre le chemin du Paradis par l'Aumône, et je m'en vais au diable par la Vanité. Ne vous enviez pas de votre pauvre ami G il n'est que ce que sont tous ceux de son état. Le vôtre a aussi ses inconveniens, et c'est ce qui fait que je souhaite passionnement de vous voir marrié; sans cela je vous vois tout fait pour devenir Old Bachelor avant le tems. Sçavez-vous bien que cet espèce d'animal ne se trouve guère en France, et qu'on n'a point d'expression qui en rend precisément l'idée : il s'y trouve vieilles filles, mais un vieux garçon est simplement un homme qui ne s'est pas marrié. Adieu, mon enfant. Je suis du plus tendre de mon cœur votre affectionnée mère et amie."

"Ce 30 Janr. 1774."

In the year 1770, Mr. Bowdler was seized with a fever and ulcerated sore throat, under which he lay for some days dangerously ill. In the following year he was again attacked with a fever, in consequence of the improper use of a cold bath; and not very long after, suffered severely by an accident in driving an one-horse chaise. These circumstances, which are only evils common to man, would not be mentioned, but for the sake of adding, that from that time he enjoyed, if not uninterrupted health, yet an entire freedom from severe complaints, and, as he often observed with great thankfulness, never kept his bed for a single day. Yet from habitual indigestion, he had much of the valetudinarian about him, and frequently suffered great inconvenience; but his constitution was sound, his frame remarkably strong, and that which was naturally vigorous, had never been weakened by excess or indulgence; but, on the contrary, had been strengthened by early rising and manly exercise. He excelled in boxing and fencing, and particularly in horsemanship, and, till within a year or two of his death, was fond of riding spirited horses, indulging perhaps a little harmless vanity in his success, and calling to mind his skill in former days,

Dum melior vires sanguis dabat, æmula necdum

Temporibus geminis canebat sparsa senectus.

In field sports he never indulged, and he was an entire stranger to the intemperance and gambling

which sometimes accompany the most innocent amusements. But in the amusements themselves he used to take much delight, and some now alive will long remember the eager interest with which he attended a race or a cricket match, and encouraged those who took part in the in the game.

But we are here in some degree anticipating the future, when he resided in the country. Between the years 1770 and 1780, he was for the most part ́in London engaged in the study of the law, in which he proposed to practise as a chamber counsel. This profession he soon quitted, disliking it, and feeling a great unwillingness to hazard an opinion in matters of importance. It was, indeed, remarkable, that though at all times desirous to afford his best assistance to those who needed it, he was exceeding averse from giving advice. His mind and habits were of a practical turn; and as he shrunk from responsibility, and was diffident of his own opinion, he was rather willing to follow in the path marked out by others, than to suggest the line which should be pursued. He was also more and more engaged in managing his father's affairs, some of which were of a perplexing nature: and his desire to be useful made him take an active part in some public charities, particularly in the Magdalen, and in Bridewell and Bethlem Hospitals. In private charity, too, and in affording assistance to friends who were in distress, he was

ready to be employed, and an expression which he used in a letter to his father, when he wished to relieve a person in embarrassed circumstances, may serve to show his general feeling upon such a subject: "'Tis very plain (at least to my feelings), that if such a man wants a few guineas, one ought to lend them; but the doubt with me is, at what precise number one ought to stop; if I had 100,000%. this doubt would be resolved." His kind and active friendship on such occasions may perhaps be yet better described, by a few words from the pen of his brother-in-law, Mr. Charles Hanbury, a young man of brilliant talents and extraordinary attainments, and of the most amiable and affectionate disposition, who, while these were in their full bloom, was snatched away from the friends who tenderly loved him, and the society which he was calculated to adorn. In a season of deep distress, he thus writes to one of his brothers. "It is impossible for me to describe the attention and affection of my dear Bowdler on this occasion. It would require the eloquence of an angel to do him justice. This affliction is, indeed, a fiery furnace, and burneth away all our dross; the little gold we have remains unhurt."

To the characters of a dutiful son and a kind friend, were now to be added those of an affectionate husband, and a watchful parent and head