bounteous Goodness of our great Creator, exemplified in the most minute, as well as in the greatest Objects of Nature, This excellent Man edifies his Parishioners as much by the exemplary Life he leads, as by the found and orthodox Doctrine he delivers from the Pulpit, and he does this with the most chearful Dif position that can be, and totally free from the leaft Shadow of Oftentation; we attend him every Morning to public Prayers in the Church,

Now, my good Friend, I have given you a very particular Account of my prefent Situation, and leave it to you to judge, if it is not very agreeable. I must add to this, that got here Time enough for the Races, where there was a great Appearance of Company,

I

1

(for fuch a Place;) though Men were scarce, I got a Partner each Night. Lord's Family were the firft in Rank.

Lady

opened the Ball, and I had the Honour

to dance a Minuet with Mr.

the first Night: indeed, I have met with fo much Politenefs and Goodness from every Body in this Part of the World, that I am fure I fhall be grieved to leave Bridgenorth. My first fetting out from

London

London was not fo lucky, for I was robbed and terrified almoft to Death; but, thank God, my Lofs was but small, and I have entirely recovered my Spirits.

I defire my Love and beft Refpects to the worthy Family, and am

your very faithful Friend,

LELTER LVIII,

to Mrs.

Scotland, July 22.

I

HAVE been fome Time without hearing

from you. I hope, my excellent Friend, you have not been laid up with any bad Complaint. If social Worth could ward off Malady you would never be ill.

Perhaps

you

you have not been in the Writing-Vein; fuch a Fit attacks us all at Times, and you know it is our Rule reciprocally to allow for it. If that is the Cafe, do but fubfcribe the Initials of your Name to a good, though fhort Account of yourselves, and I will rest contented.

I know not what I faid in my laft, but to the best of my Remembrance, I gave you no Account of this terreftrial Paradife; but now I am more acquainted with its Beauties, I will make an Attempt of that Sort,

The Sweet winding Tay," which runs at the Bottom of our Garden, for upwards of fix Miles, forms the most beautiful Canal you can imagine; on the one Side of it, for the fame Extent, are delightful Walks, rifing one above another, no less than five Stages, all amply. shaded with stately Trees, from around whose Trunks the twining Woodbine and Sweet-Briar pour forth a Profufion of Sweets; the floping Sides of the Walks are alfo planted with Variety of sweet-smelling Shrubs, which being fanned by the fresh Breezes off the River,

scatter

fcatter Perfumes in a plenteous and grateful Return along the verdant Banks. At judicious Distances are placed graffy Seats, mofs-grown Cells and flowery Arbours, all which, in their feveral Turns, would invite us to fit down and indulge Contemplation, but that the unwearied Mind, enraptured with these enchanting Objects, urges us to proceed in Search of new Beauties, and in that Pursuit it cannot here meet with the flightest Disappointment. The oppofite Side of the River is a deep Bank, finely fringed with Wood of a younger Growth; at different Points of View, we fee the Brawn, another beautiful River, and a foaming Cafcade; each paying the Tribute of their lucid Stores into the crystal Bofom of the Tay, who, as if conscious of fuperior Merit, trips nimbly along, in Murmurs of Self-Applause, This charming Profpect is at laft clofed with Views of diftant Ruins, Hills covered with Trees, fertile Vales, and Mountains of a moft venerable Appearance, covered with a Heath fo beautiful, that it may vie with the glowing Amaranthus. The Gardens are very extenfive, and laid out in the finest Tafte, that is to fay, with Grandeur and Simplicity united, Nature

Nature appears here in her lovelieft Attire, and Art is contented to act in her proper Sphere, as Handmaid to the Goddefs. We feldom drink Tea in the Houfe; fometimes an elegant Tent and Marquis is pitched at fome fine Point of View; fometimes we refort to a fine banquetting Room, and often the Shade of a large fpreading Oak has the Preference. Upon thefe Occafions

al

ways reads and we work. What most attracts my Admiration here is, to perceive that in every furrounding Object, Utility adds Merit to Beauty: the Farm-Houfes on this Eftate are neat as the Hand of Induftry can make them, and chearful as the Smiles of Content; and every Creature that breathes upon this Spot feems to participate in the unfeigned Happiness of the excellent Poffeffors, whofe Goodness adds the highest Luftre to Wealth and Title that they are capable of receiving. It was well faid, whoever made the Obfervation, that a good Action never lofes its Reward; here was I fat down, full of Love and Refpect, to write my dearest Friend a dutiful and loving Letter, when lo, and behold! I was made happy by the Receipt of yours; and

truly