Vitellius gave him an entertainment at which were two thousand different dishes of fish, and seven thousand of fowl. Compared to this how little does that appear which the prince of Wales gave in the gardens of Carleton house in honour of Mr Fox's election in 1784 at which there were only two thousand dishes in all! Peaches sold at 4s. 10d. a-piece; peahen eggs at 35. 24 d.; doves at L. 1: 12: 31 the pair; and fish at a price almost beyond belief. The mullet, which rarely weighs more than two pounds, was sold from L. 48: 89 to L. 64:11:8. I have not forgot that when the king of Denmark was in England in 1768, eighty guineas a-day were allowed for the expence of his table at St James's: and this allowance was by many people thought extravagant. Caligula spent a thousand times that sum upon a supper; and there was more meat drefsed in Mark Antony's kitchen at Alexandria, than in those of all the kings of modern Europe. Eight wild boars were roasted whole for a supper, at which there were not expected above a dozen of guests.

Soon after it became fair I set out in company with a chimney sweep, who had taken shelter at the toll as well as myself. I believe all mankind are nearly the same when born, and that the difference of the educations they receive, will account for the great inequality we observe amongst them in advanced life. I have conversed with persons of many ranks and profefsions, and I have found men of parts and information in them all. We walked very quickly to town, conversing very earnestly all the way. He had perceived me prefs a fhilling upon the woman

for her pudding and civility, and behaved to me with great respect, which the waiter at the Three Cranes inn observed as we approached, and received me in a manner somewhat different from an ordinary traveller on foot. I ordered my companion a pot of the best ale, and called for a bottle of wine to myself; and with it before me, in a handsome parlour, at a comfortable fire, am I now sitting and writing the adventures and reflections of the day.

An innkeeper's life is a disagreeable one. He has tacitly entered into a contract with the public to en◄ tertain them at all hours; and he is often called at very unseasonable ones to fulfil his engagements. His house is not his own; his servants are abused; his furniture wasted; and his gain is too often not in proportion to the noise, riot, and confusion with which he is tormented.

IN

A MORAL REFLECTION BY MIRA.

For the Bee.

great cities, religion too often becomes only the effect of chance, and benevolence the capricious. offspring of instinct. But from the bosom of the quarry, from the wild blofsoms of the field, arises the spirit of devotion and philanthropy.-A cultivated mind there feels the irresistible influence of nature prefsing upon its faculties; and demand all their admiration, and all their powers. The self deified man, sinks to his proper rank in the universe, and exchanges exultation for the softer glow of gratitude and con

tent.

TO MARIA, ON A RETROSPECT OF HER SINGING.

For the Bee.

An why Maria should thy magic sounds

Have broke the chain of happiness and rest?
Why, as thou sung, should mis'ry's fest'ring wounds
Have banish'd peace for ever from my breast?

'Twas then, entranc'd in extacy divine,

That Fancy drew thy features still more fair;
And lost in faithlefs transport made thee mine,
Rewarding every pang of anxious care.

Till fate, relentless, woke me from my trance,
For ever snatch'd me from my native place
And, frowning, wither'd with destructive glance,
Each smile that beam'd in Hope's celestial face.
While ev'ry fairy vision fled away,

And chang'd the summer scene, to darkness and dismay.

ARMINE.

ODE TO THE POPPY.

Oh! that I could steal one from the knowledge of my own miseries!

I.

KINDEST flow'r which first did grow
Where Lethe's drowsy waters flow;
Let Zephyr waft thy opiate breath,
Mild harbinger of peaceful death,
To lull this raging pang of grief,
And give each swelling throb relief.

II.

Mem'ry but renews my woe;
Come then, all thy aid bestow:
To my rudely tortur'd breast,
Grant the visionary rest,

Whose leaden slumbers blefs

With calm forgetfulness,

So may heaven's kindest dews refresh thy soil,

And mildest moon beams o'er thy slumbers smile.

Then on my head thy leaves profusely strew,
And bathe my parch'd lips with thy balmy dew?

IV.

Now, now, thy wild delirium I feel,

And all thy languors on my senses steal :

But ah! I wake again,-the soothing dream is o'er,
And all those pangs return I felt before.
Short is the joy those anodynęs supply;

Morn comes, but brings again my woe,

Though morn, sweet flow'r, thy roscid tear may dry,
Mine will for ever flow.

y.

I find that though thy poison fell,
Throws o'er the sense a torpid spell,
Yet thy enchantment steeped bowl,
Frees not from pain the sick'ning soul;
He who plies his thirsty lip,
Only a momentary ease can sip;
Ineffectual is thy balm,

To heal the bleeding wounds of care,
Sorrows beating breast to calm,

Or stop the oft descending tear.

Trifling to me has been thy hop'd relief,

Thou hast but check'd, not cur'd my still corroding grief,

ALOUETTE.

TO THE HOUSE SWALLOW.

HARMLESS tenant of the sky,
Wheeling oft before my eye,
Welcome to this humble cot,
Here be fix'd thy summer lot.

Round my garden freely rove,
Choose the clay which swallows love;
Here's a straw,-and there's some woo
Let thy nest be warm and full.

Thither guide thy chatt'ring mate,
Happy be your faithful state;
Share each others pain and joy,
Not a boy fhall dare annoy.

Sons I have, but not a stone
E'er fhall cause a parent's moan;
Hurling from their peaceful nest,
Little folks by great opprest.
Harmless tenants of the fky,
Male and female hither fly;
Welcome to this humble roof,
Here, my birds, is room enough.

ALMERINE

ALTHOUGH the news contained in this letter comes to you from a lower latitude than the north polar circle, still the title given to my former budget, containing some intelligence really arctic, may just do as well as any other, and may therefore stand now, and in future, at the head of the article containing our northern news.

Tartarian mulberry.

This first paragraph will serve as an answer to your queries concerning the morus Tartarica, or Tartarian mulberry tree.

Our distinguifhed and liberal naturalist Dr Pallas, has written with much readinefs and pleasure to the Crimea, for seeds of it, wishing heartily that this little service, or any other which his very limited leisure permits, may tend to forward your well meant endeavours; but he is afraid that species of mulberry will not meet your expectation with regard to quickness of growth; as in that respect he does not think it has advantages over those you pofsefs already in Britain. However you will obtain in it a very hardy plant, well suited to the climate, and which the silk worm eats most readily; it never grows to a great height, and may be compared to the hawthorn in both that and constitution.

A curious volcanic production.

Much has been written and said in Britain on volcanic productions, since the able researches of Sir William Hamilton into the curious phenomena of the classic mountain Vesuvius, drew the attention of his countrymen to these