fay, is very fine, and all that, to a man you never faw! Why, what fort of anfwer can you expect? Depend on it the gentleman will fet you down as a mad-woman, and fo write you no answer at all.” And when the answer did come, "All I can fay, is," added Mr. L. S. "he is as mad as you. Go by all means," continued he, heartily laughing in a good-humoured manner; pray go, wife, for 'tis pity two houfes fhould part you. Have your frolick out I beg; only if, when you get together, you should make one another worfe, and fhould wish for apartments nearer Moorfields, drop me a line, and I will do the needful—.'

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Our heroine, you know, was too much in earnest to be laughed either out of her feelings or her object, and fet off, at "peep of dawn," on her expedition. The worthy family more than justified their promises; and the congenial fpirits, which were thus made known to each other, enjoyed a higher "feaft of reafon," or at least, "flow of foul," than they had ever before experienced. On her return, Mr. L. S. received her with the fame good-nature he had fuffered her to depart, and contented himself with pleasantly obferving, that as fhe had over-stayed her intended time of coming back many days, he hoped fhe was as happy as the had expected to be; on which, " my dear," cried he, embracing her, "I have only to fay, that your fine fentimental people of genius, about

love, friendship fympathy, congeniality of fouls, and all that, are the moft forward, thoughtless, and impudent folks in the world; for I could no more go to a stranger's houfe, and feel myself at home in it, without having any manner of business with the family, than I could fly in the air.-I hope, however, you have had the grace to invite them here by way of per contra, for we are devilishly in arrear to the gentleman at prefent; and as, I truft, I am a tolerably honeft man, though, thank God, no genius, I fhall be glad to affift you in paying the debts you have contracted with all my heart. But now tell me fairly as 'tis all over" -added he-" did you find it answer? Was not you plaguy fick of each other, of yourselves, and of your old granny into the bargain, before you had been there three days, only you were ashamed to own it for fear of being laughed at ?"

"Sick, tired!" reiterated Mrs. L. S. "why I was in Paradife! and we could have paffed our whole lives together without knowing a weary moment! Tired! there was not a dry eye in the whole family when I got into the carriage to come back; and for my part I thought I should have broken my heart."

"I thank you for the compliment, however, with all my heart"-replied the husband-taking off his hat, and making her a bow." In Paradife was you? well, that is amazing! for I know I fhould

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fhould have been the moft miferable fellow in the world-nevertheless, invite the ftrange gentleman and his ftrange family here, that we may fettle accounts and firike the balance-I have no more to

fay upon it."

How wonderful, my dear friend, is it to confider the variety of human minds! We are told, there are more different forts than of mofs.-Ought we not rather to fay that the forts are as numerous as the fands on the fhore? In every fingle family, there are ufually as many different taftes and tempers as there are perfons; and if in fome there happens to be a family likeness in feelings, as in features, though the refemblance may be ftriking in fome things, there is almost always a marked difference in others; and with refpect to pains and pleasures, the means of avoiding the one, and of promoting the other, are as diverfified as the objects which produce them: nay, the fond prepoffeffion we have for our own amufements and purfuits, gives us fo ftrong á prejudice against thofe of other people, of other difpofitions and habits, that we too often want candour and toleration enough to fuffer our neighbours to be happy in their own way. Perfons of a vigorous fancy and a warm heart accufe thofe who are lefs ardent of being infenfible; while thefe, on the other hand, cenfure the cenfurers, as eccentrick and vifionary; on both fides, with as little reafon as we should condemn

condemn the gre-hound for wanting the fagacity of the pointer, or the pointer for being lefs swift than the gre-hound; each being gifted by nature with the talent and quality best accommodated to its eafe and felicity.

An ingenious friend of mine, who, by the bye, takes many curious ways of making up his own happiness, is used to fay, whenever he meets with, or hears of, any thing that does not accord with his plans of acting and thinking, "there must be "people of all forts." Now as there is certainly room enough in the world for all forts of people, it feems rather felfish that we fhould joftle against each other in the journey we are all taking, "fall

out by the way," because some are able or willing to go faster than others; becaufe one takes delight in the objects which another paffes unnoticed. All that can fairly be faid on that is, fhould any one be difpofed to find fault, they are my objects, friend, though they are not your's: I was born to relish them, you were not; when we come to your's, I promife that you fhall ftop to enjoy them as long as you pleafe: and though poffibly I fhall find as little fatisfaction in them as you do in mine, confidered in themselves, yet the thought of their giving you pleasure shall make me endure them: meantime I truft you will bear with mine.

Can any thing be more equitable? Can any

thing be more eafy? yet half the bickerings of the human race, in civil affairs, proceeds from a fcorn of this fair dealing between man and man ; each infifting not only in taking the road he himfelf likes beft, but that others, of tempers and business utterly different, and whose objects, perhaps, lie in a quite contrary route, must take it too; and, if they refufe, be fet down as obftinate mortals that are refolved to go their own ways.

I do really think this a very unreasonable mode of proceeding, especially, as I before faid, there are objects fufficient for us all; and, certainly, I may with as much propriety quarrel with a person for having a different complexion, as a different taste, and just as rationally expect he should, to humour my caprice, take my skin, and throw away his own, as to caft off thofe feelings which naturally belong to him, and put on mine; yet the best and kindeft-hearted people often difpute the point. Were the worthlefs only engaged in and hurt by the ftrife, and were the matter in debate only a choice of vicious pursuits, one might be content to let them battle it out; but I have feen, indeed every body fees, many inftances where perfons of good minds and understandings, yet differing in the mode of exercising them, have fo little refpect for what pleafes others, and fo great a veneration for what pleases themselves, that unless they are all pleafed with the fame thing, they effectually