"who valued him for the very points that made "him ufelefs to me, his skittishness, and impe

tuofity; all which he afferted, were the fure marks, both in man and beast of a generous fpirit, high heart, and noble: difpofition. "Now, as my little frolic-loving cousin was

precifely of this character himself, and after "a mad, but not vicious, career of fifteen

years, confolidated into a very good man, I "fuffered the horfe and his mafter to reform "themfelves at leifure, and with with all my "foul, that half the reformed rakes about town, "had turned out fo well, after sowing their *wild oats, as did this young gentleman, and "his favourite fteed, who, for the eight laft years of his fervitude, was a pattern of so"briety to horfes and riders."

I do not recollect any other fingularities respecting this extraordinary man: but if what I have here fet down, gives you a curiofity for more, I have no doubt but it will be amply gratified, as there needs no ghoft to foretel us, there will be an historian for almost every anecdote and incident in his life! Luckily he is one of the fubjects, which can never be exhausted, and as Dr. Johnfon once faid to me of his friend Goldfmith," he was one who cannot " be too much praised or lamented. And

22

never,

never, perhaps, was the famous expreffion of Hamlet more applicable, though quoted on ten thousand occafions, than to Howard

"He was a man, take him for all in all,
"We may not look upon his like again!

LETTER XV.

TO THE SAME.

IT is a very high fatisfaction to give you pleasure, it increafes my obligations to you, for it increases my happiness. Your laft letter, therefore, wherein you express so vivid a sense of the Howardine fcraps I fent you, could not but be moft welcome: neither can I refuse the flattering compliment you pay to my mufe, in defiring a copy of the tributary verses the paid to our Great Philanthropist, at the time that the British empire, which he fo much adorned and dignified, was preparing its memorial of national exultation. You tell me, that you have applied to the bookfellers, and to the publisher of that little poem in vain, Had I known your wishes, I could have prevented your having any trouble to gratify them on this occafion, having long known the poem was

out

236

છું.

GLEANINGS, &

out of print, and as long been applied to for fending it again to the prefs, but the fale of the former editions, having anfwered the end of fomething enlarging the fund, which was intended to defray the expences of the ftatue, and that defign being fufpended by Mr. Howard's wish, that it might not be carried into execution, I confidered that the subject was too local to warrant a re-publication, when that locality was taken away: amongst a few partial friends, therefore, I diftributed the copies that remained of the prefent, which was made me by the committee, who published the poem, and referving only a single copy for myfelf, I thought no more about it. The death, however, of the meritorious man, who was the fubject; the report that prevails of the committee's completing a defign, which can no longer affect the delicacy of Mr. Howard; the pleasure I take in obeying your commands; and the defire I have to preserve my tribute to this excellent character, in my correfpondence with you, united with the confidence which the approbation of the world on the original publishing, gives me, are all motives fo perfuafive that to combat with, or to refift them might appear an affectation more unpardonable than the indulgence of my vanity, at a moment, when it is connected with my duty to the dead, my friendship

1

friendship for the living, and my gratitude to the public. It is under fuch fupports and fuffrages, I republifh in this place, my dear friend, "THE TRIUMPH OF BENEVOLENCE,' not, however, from the referved copy I fpoke of, but from memory, that copy being amongst the manufcripts, miffing or loft, ftolen or ftrayed, with my trunks, who, as well as myself, have been upon their travels, but by a fet of contretems, have not been my fellow travellers. I hope, however, as amongst other matters, they contain the literary labours of fome years, not yet published, including the mate rials for Society," on which the public have a claim, I hope, I fay, we shall meet ere it be long, like old friends, and part no more;-the rather as fome of the characters in those unfinished performances, are left in a very forlorn fituation, out of which no hand, but mine, can properly extricate them. A heroine is in a a deep fwoon, and a hero at his laft gafp, in tragedy, but can neither die, or recover without my affiftance: two whole families are thrown into a labyrinth of perplexities, and have no chance of extrication, but from the author, who involved them, but who was "cruel only to be kind." In short, all these good people, are wandering in their feveral diftreffes, and look to me only for confolation:

join

!

join with me, therefore, I beg of you, that they may speedily be conducted from the cross roads of life-pardon the pun, for the fake of having the philosophy to fport with my misfortuneand, by making use of the enclosed clue, help me to set them in the right way.

I am this moment interrupted in my defign of transcribing the poem, which, however, fhall wait on you fhortly. In the mean time, look into your own generous heart for all those principles of affection and sympathy you bear me, and be affured, while you furvey them, you are looking at the faithful counterparts of those which animate the breaft of your friend.

.

LETTER XVI.

TO THE SAME.

THE TRIUMPH OF BENEVOLENCE.

I.

WHAT lofty founds through echoing Albion rings!

What raptur'd notes, as if by angels giv'n, What thrilling airs, as from celeftial ftrings,

Pour, in full tides, the harmony of heav'n ?

From