verted minds; and infinitely detri mental to the diffusion of applicable learning in a state. Neither have they in England what are called in foreign parts, Circulating Libraries; institutions calculated to spread vice and absurdity through all ranks; and from which mental poison is hired out by the penny worth, in the form of Novels and Romances. This and dignipure fied race of mankind would combine to abolish such pernicious establishments, and punish the proprietors, as felons of the worst class. This laudable delicacy on their part, applies peculiarly to the city I am now about to speak of; for I promised, you may recollect, to take a view of this nation in what we may term its holiday dress-as it appears in one of the many places of fashionable resort, frequented by the gay and opulent: and I fix my choice

en Bath for several reasons; chiefly because it is there that not only the English votaries of pleasures, but also the IRISH ABSENTEES may be said to flourish and abound.

To describe this lovely town,

this modern Athens, this true centre of taste and sound sense, this region of rationality, in adequate language, would require more time than I can command, and more talents than I pretend to; I shall therefore decline the attempt, and venture little more than a rude outline.

The city of Bath affords a

rich subject to the contemplative mind: it contains within it, perhaps, the most polished, energetic and industrious assemblage of human creatures that ever existed; sanity of body and of intellect seems there to be the portion of all,

whether resident or visitant; and this is so true, that in Bath a Physician could not earn his bread: of the faculty, re gular or irregular, there are indeed but few in England; in Bath there are none.

It is needless to remark that

nothing can be more frivolous and mischievous than the habit which some people have of speaking or writing ironically: this is known by the term of quizzing, and by shallow persons has been deemed a species of harmless jocularity; but I can produce one instance of a most melancholy catastrophe resulting from it, which deprived the world of a worthy citizen, and myself of a very valuable friend. Poor Mr. Twaddle was a kindly and well-meaning man, but was apt to understand every thing literally. He found himself threatened with gouty complaints,

and beset by blue devils while in London, and had resolved on proceeding to Bath

in hopes of relief from both maladies, when unluckily for him and his acquaintances, he encountered in a coffee house, one of these professed QUIZZERS; a wag who could tell the most incredible stories with the most immoveable gravity of aspect, and all the appearance of a man speaking truth: filling up his details with minute circumstances, hesitating as if to recollect himself, hoping he should not be led to say too much, and rectifying points in his narrative of a trivial nature, and where correction seemed superfluous and accuracy useless.

To this ADEPT, who had been for many years a notorious Bath lounger, my poor friend communicated his project of a visit to that delicious

H

place; and in return for his confidence, received from him such an account of it, as I shall forthwith give you almost in his very words: the consequence, however, of his figurative wit was, that the hapless Twaddle not comprehending the jest, swallowed all he heard with eager credulity, revoked his design of retiring to Bladud's springs, and died at his apartments in Great Russel-street. The tenth part of the information with which he was gratified, by the Hoaxer alluded to, would, it must be allowed, have been sufficient to deter any puny hypochondriac that ever breathed, from seeking in Bath, either medical relief for his body, or amusement for his mind: it was to the following effect, and, I need scarcely tell you, should have been understood as a complete piece of Irony, from first to last.