therefore declined the proposal in the name of myself and all my acquaintance; at the same time complimenting the Hibernian on his wonderful liberality, and his no less wonderful letter. The other situation, which was offered me, was far more eligible than the former, and such as I gladly accepted. It was to be an assistant at one of the great public schools; a situation, at once desirable for its emolument, and not humiliating to pride. I, therefore, requested the gentleman who had been commissioned to dispose of the appointment to secure it for me; and his recommendation being approved by the master of the school, I sat down in quiet expectation of the time when my labours were to commence. A fortnight, however, had elapsed, when the Dr. wrote word to his acquaintance in the university, that a certain great man had just proposed a gentleman to fill the ensuing vacancy in the school, and that to so intimate a friend he could deny nothing. About this time I wrote to some of my father's friends in London, men of considerable interest, who had always professed their esteem of me from respect both to my father's memory and my own merits, to use their influence in procuring me some employment, which a lay man of education might discharge with credit and ability; but the gentleman, on whom I had most depended, gave me civilly to understand, that he should always be interested in my welfare; but that if I had no better friends in the world than himself, I was in a piteous condition;-that he knew of no civil employment; and that, he believed, I could not do better than go into orders. I had now, then, no alternative, but to take the first offer which fortune might throw into my way. This happened to be a curacy in the country; the disposal of which had been delegated to a gentleman of high rank in the university. He had patronised me during my residence in college, and, on my departure from it, treated me with the warmth of parental tenderness, rather than the cold civilities of esteem. Whatever such a friend advised me to accept, I could not persume to refuse; accordingly, I desired him to engage the curacy for me; at the same time indulging a secret hope, that the rector would receive an application from some "intimate friend, to whom he could deny nothing." The event, however, was otherwise: but as I have already, I fear, reached the limit of your paper, I must defer the remainder of my history therefore declined the proposal in the name of myself and all my acquaintance; at the same time complimenting the Hibernian on his wonderful liberality, and his no less wonderful letter. The other situation, which was offered me, was far more eligible than the former, and such as I gladly accepted. It was to be an assistant at one of the great public schools; a situation, at once desirable for its emolument, and not humiliating to pride. I, therefore, requested the gentleman who had been commissioned to dispose of the appointment to secure it for me; and his recommendation being approved by the master of the school, I sat down in quiet expectation of the time when my labours were to commence. A fortnight, however, had elapsed, when the Dr. wrote word to his acquaintance in the university, that a certain great man had just proposed a gentleman to fill the ensuing vacancy in the school, and that to so intimate a friend he could deny nothing. About this time I wrote to some of my father's friends in London, men of considerable, interest, who had always professed their esteem of me from respect both to my father's memory and my own merits, to use their influence in procuring me some employment, which a lay No. CLX. Estuat, et toto disconvenit ordine vitæ. HORÁT. Still floating with the tide, his plans are never fixt. THE Curacy, which I was destined to serve, was that of a large village in the county of Worcester. After having been ordained at Ely, in April, 1779, I took leave of the university, and proceeded to my parish. The pangs of separation from my favourite habits of life were sharpened by being contrasted with the scene before me: for, whatever schemes of happiness my imagination had devised for the approaching period, the pleasures of elegant society could not reasonably be placed in that number. My Rector, indeed, had the reputation of considerable learning, added to exemplary virtues; but, as he generally resided on another living, I could not hope to derive great advantages from his acquaintance. On my arrival at the village, I was directed to a farm-house which from time immemorial had been the habitation of the curates. The treatment I received, was such as has been honoured with a memorial from a far greater apostle than myself; for with him I may truly say, "the barbarous people shewed me no little kindness." My parishioners were honest, hospitable, gaping rustics, who, while they were unacquainted with the arts of good-breeding and refinement, had not vitiated their intercourse with fashionable hypocrisy, or destroyed the efficacy of language by the introduction of polite falsehood. For some days I was almost overwhelmed by an inundation of civilities; which, however they merited my gratitude, and conciliated my affection, were still little calculated to promote my happiness, or to make me pleased with my situation. I had lately been accustomed to the society of the learned, the polished, and the gay; but had never heard the clamours of rustic merriment, or been accosted with the rudeness of boisterous salutation. It was not, therefore, to be wondered at, if I often disgusted my hosts by the serenity of a countenance, which ought to have been distorted with laughter; or if I passed for a dull, insipid sort of guest, as I never was observed to be exhilarated with ale. I soon found that comparisons were made between myself and the former curate, not at all favourable to his successor; and it became sufficiently plain, that little as I was entertained |