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pair of diamond ear-rings, and a necklace their companion. A very elegant equipage was alfo provided for her, in which The appeared in every part of the metropolis. Her tafte in drefs and character was manifested at every masquerade, in which he was imitated by women of the firft fashion, who at once envied Harriet her lover, and those charms which had fo completely captivated him. In fine, they are, perhaps, the happieft couple out of the pale of matrimony, within the bills of mortality; and this alliance, which appears to have a very permanent baus, may be cited as one that does the leaft fcandal to morality in the whole circle of polite gallantry.

Letters from Yorick to Eliza.
Preface.

ELIZ

LIZA, the lady to whom these letters are addreffed, is Mrs. Elizabeth Draper, wife of Daniel Draper, Efq; counfellor at Bombay, and at prefent chief of the English factory at Surat, a gentleman very much refpected in that quarter of the globe-she is by birth an Eaft-Indian; but the circumftance of being born in the country not proving fufficient to defend her delicate frame againft the heats of that burning climate, The came to England for the recovery of her health, when by accident she became acquainted with Mr. Sterne, he immediately difcovered in her a mind fo congenial with his own, fo enlightened, fo refined, and fo tender, that their mutual attraction prefently joined them in the clofeft union that purity could poffibly admit of; he loved her as his friend, and prided in her as his pupil; all her concerns became prefently his; her health, her circumstances, her reputation, her children were his; his fortune, his time, his country, were at her difpofal, fo far as the facrifice of all or any of thefe might, in his opinion, contribute to her real happiness. If it is afked whether the glowing heat of Mr. Sterne's affection never tranfported him to a flight beyond the limits of pure platonifm, the publisher will not take upon him abfolutely to deny it, but this he thinks, fo far from leav. ing any ftain upon that gentleman's memory, that it perhaps includes his faireft encomium, fince to cherish the feeds of piety and chastity in a heart which the paffions are interested to corrupt, muft be allowed to be the nobleft effort of a foul fraught and fortified with the jufteft fentiments of religion and virtue.-Mr. and Mrs. James, fo frequently and honourably mentioned in thefe letters, are the worthy heads of an opulent family in the city of

London; their character is too well establifhed to need the aid of the publisher in fecuring the eftimation they fo well deferve, and univerfally poffefs, yet, he cannot reftrain one obfervation; that to have been refpected and beloved by Mr. Sterne and Mrs. Draper, is no inconfiderable teftimony of their merit, and fuch as it cannot be difpleafing to them to fee publifhed to the world.Mifs Light, now Mrs. Stratton, is on all accounts a very amiable young lady-she was accidentally a paffenger in the same ship with Eliza, and inftantly engaged her friendhip and efteem, but being mentioned in one of Mrs. Draper's letters to Mr. Sterne, in fomewhat of a comparative manner with herself, his partiality for her, as the modeftly expreffed it, took the alarm, and betrayed him into fome expreffions, the coarfenefs of which cannot be excufed. Mrs. Draper declares that this lady was entirely unknown to him, and infinitely fuperior to his idea of her; she has been lately married to George Stratton, Efq; counsellor at Madrass.-The manner in which Mr. Sterne's acquaintance with the celebrated Lord Bathurst, the friend and companion of Addifon, Swift, Pope, Steele, and all the finest wits of the last age, commenced, cannot fail to attract the attention of the curious reader: here, that great man is focial and unreferved, unfhackled with that fedulity in fupporting a feigned character which expofes most of his rank to the contempt of wife men, and the ridicule of their valets de chambre; here he appears the fame as in his hours of feftivity and happiness with Swift and Addifon, fuperior to forms and ceremonies, and, in his eighty-fifth year, abounding in wit, vivacity and humanity: methinks the pleasure of fuch a gentleman's acquaintance resembles that of converfing with fuperior beings. One remark however it fuggefts, which may be useful to old men in general, namely, that it appears by his Lordship's example, the four contracted fpirit obfervable in old age, is not fpecifically an effect of years, although they are commonly pleaded in its excufe. Old men would therefore do well to correct this odious quality in themfelves; or, if that muft not be, to invent a better apology for it. It is very much to be lamented, that Eliza's modefty was invincible to all the publisher's endeavours to obtain her answers to thefe letters: het wit, penetration and judgment, her happinefs in the epiftolary ftyle, fo rapturoufly commended by Mr. Sterne, could not fail to furnish a rich entertainment to the public. The publifher could not help

telling

telling her, that he wished to God fhe really was poffeffed of that vanity with which he was charged; to which the replied, that she was fo far from acquitting herself of vanity, that she suspected that to be the cause why fhe could not prevail on herself to fubmit her letters to the public eye; for although Mr. Sterne was partial to every thing of her's, the could not hope that the world would be fo too. With this anfwer he was obliged to be contented. The reader will remark that thefe letters have various fignatures; fometimes he figns Sterne, fometimes Yorick, and to one or two he figns her Bramin. Although it is pretty generally known who the Bramins are, yet left any body should be at a lofs, it may not be amifs to obferve, that the principal caft or tribe among the idolatrous Indians are the Bramins, and out of the chief clafs of this caft come the priests fo famous for their aufterities, and the shocking torments, and frequently death, they voluntarily expofe themselves to, on a religious account. Now, as Mr. Sterne was a clergyman, and Eliza an Indian by birth, it was customary with her to call him her Bramin, which he accordingly, in his pleasant moods, uses as a fignature.

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Yours faithfully, if not affectionately L-S- -NE. [For Letters II, and III. See page 174.]

I

LETTER IV. WRITE this, Eliza, at Mr. James's, whilft he is dreffing, and the dear girl his wife is writing befide me, to thee

I got your melancholy billet before we fat down to dinner; 'tis melancholy indeed, my dear, to hear fo piteous an account of thy ficknefs; thou art encompaffed with evil enow, without that additional weight-I fear it will fink thy poor foul, and body with it, paft recovering-Heaven fupply thee with fortitude! we have talked of nothing but thee, Eliza, and of thy fweet virtues, and endearing conduct, the whole afternoon.

Mrs. James and the Bramin have mix

ed their tears a hundred times, in fpeaking of thy hardships, thy goodness, thy graces: 'tis a fubject that will never end between us-- Oh, the is good and friendly! The✶✶✶ by heaven, are worthless; I have heard enough to tremble at the articulation of the name.-How could you, Eliza, leave them (or fuffer them to leave you rather) with impreffions the leaft favourable? I have told thee enough to plant difguft against their treachery to thee, to the laft hour of thy life; yet ftill, thou told'ft Mrs. James at last, that thou believeft they affectionately loved thee-her delicacy to my Eliza, and true regard to her eafe of mind, have faved thee from hearing more glaring proofs of their baseness.For God's fake write not to them, nor foul thy fair characters with fuch polluted hearts.-They love thee!-What proof-Is it their actions which fay fo? or their zeal for those attachments which do thee honour, and make thee happy? Or their tendernefs for thy fame ?-No; but they weep, and fay tender things.Adieu to all fuch for ever.

Mrs. James's honeft heart revolts againt the idea of even returning them one vifit. I honour her, and honour thee, for almost every act of thy life, but this blind partiality to an unworthy being.

Forgive my zeal, dear girl, and allow me a right, which arifes only out of that fund of affection I have, and fhall preferve for thee, to the hour of my death

Reflect, Eliza, what are my motives for perpetually advifing thee: think, whether I can have any which proceed not from the cause I have mentioned ?

I think you a very deferving woman, and that you want nothing but firmnefs, and a better opinion of yourself, to be the beft female character I know.

I wish I cou'd inspire you with a fhare of that vanity your enemies lay to your charge (though to me it has never been vifible) because I think in a well turn'd mind it will produce good effects.—

I probably fhall never fee you more ; yet flatter myfelf you will fometimes think of me with pleasure, because you muit be convinced I love you, and so intereft myself in your rectitude, that I had rather hear of any evil befalling you, than your want of reverence for yourself-I had not power to keep this remontirance in my breaft-'tis now out-So adieu; heaven watch over my Eliza. Thine, YORICK.

[For Letter V. See March Mag. p. 175.] [To be continued.] A Hiftory

A Hiftory of the fourth Seffion of the Second Parliament of Ireland, in the Reign of his prefent Majefly, begun on Tuesday, the 12th of October, 1773, and ended June, 2, 1774. (Continued from page 279.)

Tuesday, March 8.

EADS of bill for repairing the

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from Cork to Doneville," were prefented by Mr. Nicholas Lyfaght-and

"Heads of a bill to amend the road

"Heads of a bill to prevent litigations among the poor," were prefented by Mr. Langrifhe, which were all committed.

The Belfaft navigation bill was fent

"Hroad from a birmagh to Newry" by Mr. George Hamilton, to the lord

were prefented by Mr. Robert French, and committed.

"Heads of a bill for repairing the road from Dublin to Kilkenny" were fent up to the lord lieutenant by Mr. Agar, Wednesday, March 9.] The house attended his excellency the lord lieutenant with their congratulatory addrefs to his majetty on the birth of a prince.

The house being returned,

Mr. Adderley reported the heads of a bill for the prefervation of the falmon fifhery, and was ordered to carry it up to the lord lieutenant.

Thuesday, March 10.] The heads of a bill for amending the road from Armagh to Newry were fent up to the lord lieu tenant by Mr. Robert French.

Mr. Redmond Morres prefented "Heads of a bill for the relief of infolvent debtors," which were committed.

As were" Heads of a bill for compleating the navigation between Lough Neagh and Belfaft."

Friday, March 11.] "Heads of a bill for afcertaining the qualification of juftices of the peace for counties at large," prefented by Sir Edward Newenham, were read and committed: as were "Heads of a bill for the fupport of the foundling hofpital and work house," presented by Mr. Bourke, jun.

Mr. Talbot prefented heads of a bill to continue the act for preventing delays of justice, by reason of privilege of parliament, which were committed.

Mr. Barry moved for leave to bring in heads of a bill to amend an act paffed this feffions, entitled an act to amend an act paffed this feffions, entitled an act to raise 265,000l. by life annuities.

The question being put, it paffed in the negative.

The Prime Serjeant prefented "Heads of a bill for the better valuation of houfes in counties of cities and towns," which were committed.

Saturday, March 12.]" Heads of a bill to mend the road from Tubber to Limerick," were prefented by Sir Lucius O'Brien.

"Heads of a bill to regulate the bakJune, 1775.

lieutenant.

The bill for regulating the office of county treasurers was fent by Mr. Foster to the lord lieutenant.

The house then went into a committee (the hon. William John Skeffington in the chair) on heads of a bill to remove the affizes of the county of Antrim, from the town of Carrickfergus to the town of Antrim.

Petitions against this meafure were prefented from Belfast, Carrickfergus and Larne, and the charters of Carrickfergus, of Elizabeth, 1568, and James I. 1608, were produced.

Mr. Yelverton and Mr. Ifaacs, council for the petitioners, fpoke against it, and were about to produce evidence, when, it being recollected that there was no order of the house to hear witnesses, the committee adjourned.

The fpeaker took the chair. Ordered, That this committee do fit in a quarter of an hour.

Ordered, That this committee be empowered to hear witnesses.

The house then went into a committee and examined William Craig, Efq; late fheriff of Carrickfergus; and then adjourned till Tuesday.

Monday, March 14] "Heads of a bill for improving his majefty's cafual revenue," were prefented by Mr. Mafon.

"Heads of a bill to enable the commiffioners of the revenue to purchase or take leafes of houfes or lands, neceffary for a new cuftom-house," were prefented by Mr. Berresford, and

"Heads of a bill for relief of the creditors of William Howard," were prefented by Mr. Langrifhe, all which were committed.

The house in a committee (Mr. Robert Fitzgerald in the chair) went through heads of a bill to give a bounty on the exportation of corn, meal, and flour; the report to be received to-morrow,

As the bill was a moft defirable objec for the encouragement of tillage, Mr. Flood, who propofed it, thought it would enfure the confent of the British ministry, to accompany it with a refolution, that it U U

fhould

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That whateverfums of money be paid in confequence of any acts for bounties en the carriage and exportation of corn, above the yearly fum of 35,000l. fhall be provided for by the house. Tuesday, March 15.] Heads of a bill for perpetuating the act for regulating trials of controverted elections of members of parliament" were prefented by Sir Lucius O'Brien; and "Heads of a bill for reviving and continuing fome temporary ftatutes," were prefented by Mr. Sheil; and both ordered to be committed.

The bill to enable the commiffioners to take leafes, &c. was fent up to the lord lieutenant by Mr. Berresford; as was the bill to prevent litigations amongit the poor, by Mr. Langrifhe; the bill to regulate the tythes of hemp, flax, and madder, by Sir Lucius O'Brien; the bill to quiet tythes and poffeffions, by Mr. Mafon; the bill for providing for the poor of Dublin, by Dr. Clement; the bill for the encouragement of tillage, by a bounty on the exportation of corn, by Mr. Henry Flood; and the bill for amending the road from Cork to Doneraile, by Mr. Nicholas Lyfaght.

The order for the committee on the removal of the affizes from Carrickfergus to Antrim, was discharged, and the bill withdrawn.

Wednesday, March 16.] The bill for the relief of William Howard's creditors, was fent to the lord lieutenant by Mr. Langrifhe; as was the bill to perpetuate the regulation of trials for controverted elections, by Sir Lucius O'Brien; the bill for the valuation of houses in counties of cities and towns, by Mr. Prime Serjeant; the bill for the improvement of the cafual revenue, by Mr. Mafen; the bill for the fupport of the foundTing hofpital, by Mr. Bourke, jun. the bill for the qualification of juftices, by Sir Edward Newenham, the bill to regulate the linen and hempen manufactures, by Mr. Brownlow; the bill for new paving of Dublin, by col. Burton; the bill for amending the road from Tub her to Limerick, by Sir Lucius O'Brien; and the bill to permit any of his majef ty's fubjects to declare their allegiance, by Mr. Robert French.

In this laft mentioned bill, the oaths

of allegiance as fettled for the papifts, and as it is faid, framed by fome of that body, is as follows;

I A. B. do take almighty God, and his only fon Jefus Chrift, my redeemer, to witness, that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to our moft gracious fovereign lord king George the third, and him will defend to the utmost of my power against all confpiracies and attempts whatever that shall be made against his perfon, crown and dignity; and I will do my utmost endeavour to difclofe and make known to his majesty and his heirs all treafons and traitorous copfpiracies which may be formed against him or them: And I do faithfully promife to maintain, support and defend, to the utmost of my power, the fucceffion of the crown in his majesty's family against any person or persons whatsoever, hereby utterly renouncing and abjuring any obedience or allegiance unto the perfon taking upon himself the file and title of prince of Wales, in the life-time of his father, and who fince his death is faid to have affumed the ftile and title of king of Great-Britain and Ireland, by the name of Charles the third, and to any other perfon claiming or pretending a right to the crown of these realms; And I do fwear, that I do reject and detett, as unchristian and impious, to believe that it is lawful to murder or deftroy any person or perfons whatsoever for or under pretence of their being hereticks, and alfo that unchriftian and impious principle that no faith is to be kept with hereticks. I further declare, that it is no article of my faith, and that 1 do renounce, reject and abjure the opinion, that princes excommunicated by the pope and council, or by any authority of the fee of Rome, or by any authority whatfoever, may be depofed or murdered by their fubjects, or by any perfon whatsoever; and I do promifé that I will not hold, maintain or abet any fuch opinion, or any other opinion, contrary to what is expreffed in this declaration: And I do declare, that I do not believe that the pope of Rome, or any other foreign prince, prelate, state or potentate, hath or ought to have any temporal or civil jurifdiction, power, fuperiority or pre-eminence, directly or indirectly, within this realm: And I do folemnly, in the prefence of God, and of his only fog Jefus Chrift, my redeemer, profefs, teftify and declare, that I do make this declaration, and every part thereof, in the plain and ordinary sense of the words of this oath, without any

evafion,

1775;

evafion, equivocation or mental refervation whatsoever, and without any difpenfation already granted by the pope, or any authority of the fee of Rome, or any perfon whatever, and without thinking that I am or can be acquitted before God or man, or abfolved of this declaration, or any part thereof, although the pope, or any other perfon or perfons, or authority whatsoever, fhall difpenfe with or annul the fame, or declare that it was null and void from the beginning.

at arms attening the house, and not to
be difcharged without paying full fees.
This motion was fupported by Mr. Tal-
bot, Mr. Langrifhe, and Mr. Barry,
and after a fmall oppofition from Mr.
Malone) was carried without one nega-
tive.

The whole business before the house
being gone through, the houfe adjourned
till the 21st of April next.

Thursday April 21.] The houfe met after the adjournment from the 18th of

Colonel Blquiere prefented his majefty's answer to the address on the birth of a prince, which was read by the speaker, and ordered to be entered on the journals; and it was refolved that an humble addrefs be prefented to his majefty, to thank him for his moft gracious answer.

March. So help me God. Thursday March, 17.] The following bills were fent up to the Lord Lieutenant, yiz. the bill for amending the road from Liftowell to Reens, by Mr. Robert Fitzgerald; the bill for the relief of infolvent debtors, by Mr. Redmond Morres; the bill for regulating the admiffion and practice of attornies, by Mr. Huffey; the Dublin county road bill, by Mr. Gardiner; and the bill for reviving temporary ftatutes, by Mr. Shiel.

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The house then went into a committee on the heads of a bill to amend the laws relating to landlord and tenant, Mr. Redmond Morres in the chair.

The committee difagreed with every clause and rejected the bill.

Mr. Gardiner moved for leave to bring in heads of a bill to erect the Meath hofpital into a county infirmary, (the claufe for that purpofe being expunged from the bill for mending the roads in the county of Dublin); which were granted, Mr. Gardiner prefented the faid heads of a bill, which were read and ordered to be committed to-morrow.

Mr. Barry Barry moved that the proper officer do lay before the houfe the weekly abftracts of the receipts and payments in the treafury to the tontine, for the month of February laft; which was carried nem, con.

The house then went into a committee, Mr. Warden Flood in the chair, on the farther confideration of the bill for amending the laws relating to cuftodiums, and totally rejected the fame.

Friday, March 18.] The following bills were fent up to the Lord Lieutenant, viz. the bill to regulate the baking trade, by Mr. Redmond Morres; and the bill to erect the Meath hospital into a county infirmary.

Mr. Talbot moved that the house fhould be called over the first Friday after the recefs; that those members who did not attend fhould be called over again on the Tuefday following; and that those who were then abfent should be ordered into the cuffody of the Serjeant

A new writ was ordered for electing a burgefs for Killyleagh in the county of Down, in the room of lord Ikerrin, now Earl of Carrick.

A bill to explain and amend an a&t of the 3d George II, for the better keeping churches in repair; alfo, a bill to make perpetual the act to regulate the trials of controverted elections, or returns of members to ferve in parliament.

A bill for the further improvement of his majesty's casual revenue, and for the better execution of juftice.

A bill for compleating the communication by water, between Lough Neagh and Belfaft.

A bill for licenfing hawkers and pedlars, and for the encouragement of proteftant fchools.

A bill to allow a further time for perfons in office or employment to qualify themselves, purfuant to the act to prevent the further growth of popery; and,

A bill for the more effectual preventing the forging or altering the acceptance or indorfement of bills of exchange, of the numbers or principal fums of accountable receipts, or of notes, bills, or other fecurities for the payment of money, or warrants or orders for the payment of money or delivery of goods, being returned from England, were severally read a firft time.

Friday, April 22.]The feven bills which were read yesterday for the first time, received this day a fecond reading, and were feverally committed for to-morrow.

The order for the call of the house this day being read, Mr. Barry Barry moved, that the order be adjourned till next Monday fe'night. This was opposed by Mr. Meade Ogle. The question was put and the house divided,

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Ayes,

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