" in an organ, &c. in order to make the in"ftrument found. The alteration here propofed is fo obvious and natural, that I am fuprised none of the commentators "hit upon it before. L. C. D.

"Tweedle-dum and Tweedle-dee.] Thefe "words have greatly embarafs'd the cri"tics, who are extremely expert in finding "a difficulty where there is none. Tweedle"dum and Tweedle-dee are moft undoubted

ly the names of the two muficians and "tho they are ftyled by different. appel"lations in the title of this epigram, yet "that is no objection, for it is well known "that perfons in those times had more fur

names than one. S. M. Abfurd! here "is evidently an error of the prefs, for there " is not a fingle hint in all antiquity of the family of the Tweedle-dums and Tweedle

dees. The learned S. M. therefore nod"ded when he undertook to explain this paffage. The fenfe will be very plain if "we read with a fmall alteration, Whee

dle Tom and Waddle-THE. THE be"ing a known contraction for Theodore, "as Tom is for Thomas. Waddle and Y 3 "Wheedle

"Wheedle are likewife claffical words. "Thus Pope:

"As when a dab-chick waddles thro the copfe. Dun. ii. 59.

"Obliquely waddling to the mark in view. Ib. ii. 150.

"And tho indeed I do not recollect to

have met with the verb to wheedle, in

any pure author, yet it is plain that it was "in ufe, fince we find the participle wheedling in an antient tragedy compofed about "these times :

« Alaughing, toying, wheedling, whimp'ring Abe "Will make him amble on a goffip's message, "And bold the diftaff with a band as patient "As e'er did Hercules. JANE SHORE, « Thomas and Theodore therefore were most

certainly the Chriftian names of thefe two muficians, to the contractions of which "the words wheedle and waddle are added "as characteristical of the perfons and difpofitions of the men: the former implying that Tom was a mean fycophant, and "the

cr

"the latter that THE had an aukward "and ridiculous gait." F. J. Z.

I KNOW not, Orontes, how I fhall escape your fatire, for venturing to be thus free with a science which is fometimes, I think, admitted into a share of your meditations : yet, tell me honeftly, is not this a faithful fpecimen of the spirit and talents of the general class of critic-writers? Far am I, however, from thinking irreverently of those useful members of the republic of letters, who with modefty and proper diffidence, have offered their affiftance in throwing a light upon obfcure paffages in antient authors. Even when this fpirit breaks forth in its highest pride and petulance of reformation, if it confines itself to claffical inquiries, I can be contented with treating it only as an object of ridicule. But, I must confefs, when I find it, with an affured and confident air, supporting religious or political doctrines upon the very uncertain foundation of various readings, forced analogies, and precarious conjectures, it is not without fome difficulty I can fupprefs my indignation. Farewel.

I

LETTER LXIV.

To PHILOTE S.

Tunbridge, Aug. 4.

THINK I promised you a letter from this place yet I have nothing more material to write than that I got fafe hither. To any other man I fhould make an apology for interrupting him with an information fo trivial; but among true friends there is nothing indifferent, and what would feem of no confequence to others, has in intercourses of this nature its weight and value. A by-ftander, unacquainted with play, may fancy, perhaps, that the counters are of no more worth than they appear; but those who are engaged in the game, know they are to be confidered at an higher rate. You fee I draw my allufions from the fcene before me a propriety which the critics, I think, upon fome occafions recommend.

I HAVE often wondered what odd whim could first induce the healthy to follow the fick into places of this fort, and lay the scene of their diverfions amidst the moft wretch

ed part of our species; one fhould imagine

a

an hospital the last spot in the world, to which those who are in pursuit of pleasure would think of reforting. However fo it is; and by this means the company here fur+ nifh out a tragi-comedy of the most singu→ lar kind. While some are literally dying, others are expiring in metaphor; and in one scene you are prefented with the real, and in another with the fantastical pains of mankind. An ignorant fpectator might be apt to fufpect, that each party was endeavoring to qualify itself for acting in the oppofite character: for the infirm cannot labor more earneftly to recover the strength they have loft, than the robuft to diffipate that which they poffefs. Thus the difeafed pass not more anxious nights in their beds, than the healthy at the hazard-tables; and I frequently fee a game at quadrille occafion as fevere difquietudes as a fit of the gout. As for myself, I perform a fort of middle part this motly drama, and am sometimes dif posed to join with the invalids in envying the healthy, and fometimes have spirits enough to mix with the gay in pitying the fplenetic.

in

THE