How much likewife is it to be lamented, that a Man of fuch Abilities fhould lie concealed in an obfcure Part of Effex! He fhould have remained in the World that is, I mean, for the Sake of the World; to his own Happinefs, probably, Retirement was most conducive. It is most certain, that no Men are fit for Solitude, but those who find the Source of Amusement and Employment in themselves. Fancy, Reflection, and a Love of Reading, are indifpenfably neceffary for fuch a Situation. It is downright Lunacy for a Man who has paffed his Life in a Compting-Houfe, or a Shop; who poffeffes, poffibly, but a moderate Share of natural Understanding, that Understanding too not cultivated by Education, and who has never known what it is was to look into a Book

-It is, I repeat, downright Lunacy, for such a Man to think of retiring. He knows not, the Fatigue he is going to encounter: he will want Employment for his Hours; most probably, may fhorten his Existence, and while he retains it, it will be one continued State of Apathy, if not Disorder,

HENRY, you fay, is a Mr. GRIFFITH, OF the County of Kilkenny in Ireland. A Friend brought me over the Letters of HENRY and FRANCES, when they were first published in Dublin; they are most admirably clever and comprehenfive; I have enjoyed and re-enjoyed them; and while I have admired the Writings, have loved the Writers. In the private Character you have given me of this amiable Pair, I feel as if I were acquainted with them. Before the Information received from you, I have sometimes fuffered myself to think, and even communicated to an intimate Friend or two, that there was a Similitude of Difpofition between HENRY and myself; but when I look on your Defcription of him, I entertain much Doubt. In the active Parts of his Philofophy, his Perfeverance, and Refolution, I fear I am far behind him. He is a Man qualified for any State or Situation; Business or Amusement, Solitude or a Crowd. you have spent Months with him at Kilkenny I give you Joy of fuch an Happiness.

-And

Again I thank you for the Enclosures you are ever and anon fending, and am,

I

W. SHENSTONE, Efq. to Mr. HULL,
at Covent-Garden Theatre.

SIR,

AM greatly obliged both to you and Miss
MORRISON, for the Ballads you were fo

good as to inclofe to me.

have used in fending them,

The Speed you

teftifies the Rea

lity of that Delight you feemed to exprefs at the Leafowes, when I first communicated my Friend Dr. PERCY's Defign. I fent them di

*

rectly to him; he has begun to print off his venerable, Collection, with an Eye to the Publication of it fometime next Winter. One

of

your Ballads is truly beautily and extremely proper for his Purpofe. It has that Naiveté, which is fo very effential in Ballads of all Kind; and which requires no more than, that fublim, or elegant, or tender Sentiments be expreffed in a fimple and unaffected MannerSentimental Language would be no ill Term for it; or, perhaps, the Effay before DODSLEY'S Fables does not improperly file it, the Voice of Sentiment, in Oppofition to the Language of Reflection.

2

As to the other, Mifs M-▬▬▬ well distinguishes, that the Merit of it is almost wholly confined to the Sentiment at laft. This is both natural and tender; and would he take the Pains to new-write the whole on this Account, (for even this Sentiment is not expressed fo very fimply as one could wish it) I dare fay it is in her Power to render it very plea

Aatient Poetry, now published in three Volumes; the univerfal Eftimation and Encouragement of which Work, fufficiently teftifies its Excellence. K 3

fing

ing. I know not how far I am fingular; but as I love to avail myself of different Words, to bundle up Ideas in different Parcels, it is become habitual to me, to call that a Ballad which defcribes or implies fome Action; on the other Hand, I term that a Song, which contains only an Expreffion of Sentiment. According to this Account, I believe one of your Pieces would appear a Ballad, and the other a Song.

The Play-Houfe Coronations anfwer the Pur pofe of all those who chufe to compound the Matter betwixt Indolence and Curiofity. Mr. GARRICK has given a very genteel Turn to this Taste among the Citizens, in his Epilogue to the new Play. I have not yet feen this Performance; and should be glad if you would give me fome Account of its Appearance on the Stage. Why does not your Dr. LANCASTER compleat his Effay upon Delicacy? I read it, fince I wrote laft, in DODSLEY's Fugitive

Epilogue to the Tragedy of Hecuba, produced that Year at Drury-Lane Theatre.