1

a peasant, I could wish that you would put yourself wholly on a footing with me, and write without form or stiffness. I reckon you will receive this next Friday, and I shall be anxious to know that you have received it. The manuscript, which you were to copy, has been packed up this month, but my incessant hurry has prevented my sending it. Adieu! and believe that no man has a firmer friendship for another than that which is sincerely professed for you, my dear Arthur, by

Yours ever,

W. JONES.

Could not your little grey carry you un beau matin to Midgham, and, after such a stay at Mr Poyntz's as you might think discreet, could he not either make a visit to my little grey at Oxford, or bring you to London, while Mrs N. stays here, that you might accompany her to Ranelagh ?-We shall not set out this fortnight, but lose no time in considering my proposal; and be sure, that you will be of infinite use to M Paradise and me. Observe, that, as a will is always revocable, I would readily give you a bond (which would bind my heirs) to leave you a thousand pounds stock in case of my death during the voyage or journey; but I do not hold out this as a lure, for I repeat that, though I wish you to be of the party, yet I have no pretensions to persuade you, and I know your contempt of gain. Mr Paradise and I shall want some one, who understands farming, to direct us in leaving orders for the management of the land, if recovered.

HINTS FOR NEW EDITIONS OF SHAKspere.

SHAKSPERE has proved a fruitful field to his commentators, and it were indeed to be accounted singular if a few weeds did not occasionally deteriorate the soil; but the ridicule so fashionably applied to those who have spent their lives in illustrating his text, and throwing light upon the customs of the poet's age, has not lessened my gratitude for the exertions thus bestowed; and I am free to confess, that I should know little of our great bard's writings, unaided by the labours of his valuable editors: and let not this be said to detract from the reputation of that "wonder of all ages." It has been justly observed, that if Shakspere be worth reading, he is worth explaining; and does not he need explanatory comment to whom the whole intellectual and sensual world was laid open, familiar "as the tools we play with;" who knew the minutest working of the human heart, and who revelled in the wildest and most creative imaginations. The following extract of a letter that I have lately received from a worthy and ingenious friend, has in view to extend the reputation of Shakspere, to make it "broad as the casing air," by suggesting two projects for new editions of his works.

"The one, to illustrate Shakspere's text, not by contemporaries, but by what remains we have, and that most strictly, of still more ancient English writers; tracing even them upwards, till their written language became lost in its Saxon or Teutonic, to say nothing of its British or Welsh originals. An edition of Shakespere to be thus edited, and he is worth all that lives of devotedness to his works can in the longest of them accomplish,

to use, you will be of greater use to us both in reading and writing than I can describe. Some secretary I must have 22 May Here I left off to dine with the bishop of St. Asaph-Who, do you think, were at table? None less than your future uncle and aunt, Sir G***** and lady M****-between us, a stupid uncle and no very elegant aunt! but of this not a word. I have just read the newspaper, and am sorry to see old Mr Poyntz of Somersetshire in the gazette. By the way, could not you make your visit to Midgham now upon your little grey, so that we might have a chance of meeting there, For at Oxford, where I shall soon spend a day or two. I conclude that my friends at Midgham will come to town for a little amusement at Ranelagh some time this month. In short, my dear Pritchard, the case is very simple—I have not abandoned India, but shall not be able to go this year: in the meanwhile I shall accompany my friend Paradise, in order to prevent his ruin, to Virginia, and shall return before next spring-fleet sails for India: if you will be of the party, I will ensure you much pleasure, much health, much knowledge of the world, and a knowledge of men and things will be necessary to qualify you for any office that my interest may hereafter procure for you. I would add much profit, if I did not know your disinterestedness, but no man, however generous, ought to be so disinterested as to -neglect any honourable mode of securing his independence by acquiring a fortune: you will be wholly on the footing of a gentleman. Paradise will have his servant, so that he will give you no trouble, except perhaps in writing for him and making his pens, for he says he can -write with none so well as with yours. As we go on board a man of war, we shall have a charming voyage,

and see a delightful country, as your sister will tell you. Should any accident happen, or should you change your mind at Paris, you may return easily and I will bear all your expenses back.-We shall go from Dover to Calais, but this is a secret.-If I die in America, you may return with Paradise, who would treat you as a friend and a gentleman. Let me add, that, if I should be named a commissioner for peace, you will be better qualified to act as my secretary by knowing French so well as you will know it by conversing with the French officers on board, and by having been in America. I trust you are in perfect health: the journey and voyage will confirm` it; and, if you should again be ill, you may have as good advice and assistance on board a French ship of war as in London. Neither you nor I should fear to engage our enemies; but we would not fight our countrymen; and, in case of an engagement, (which is not likely to happen) we should be employed in assisting the wounded and following the directions of the Surgeon. I have stated the good and the bad of this reasonable scheme; but wish we could converse about it for an hour or two. If you reject it, and chuse rather to risque the haughty behaviour of some noble or wealthy master, I will leave my opinion of your excellent character (as far as I have been able to discover it) with my friend Mr. Poyntz, who knows how much I value you ; and, on my return, I will retain my resolution of contributing all in my power to your advancement and fortune here or in India. Write to me soon with all that frankness, spirit, and manliness, which I love, and which we both possess in a high degree. You know my opinion that all honest men are equal, and the prince and peasant on a level; therefore, as I am not a prince nor you

would in my humble view, be of immense importance to English literature; because it would be tracing the stream to its source, and thus doing for the English language, the finest certainly extant, what has been done or attempted often with respect to Latin, a language poor indeed, and mean, when compared with that which graces our own isle, and which bids fair to be that of the New World.

"The other project is, to publish Shakspere, not from this edition or from that, like the late reprints, but from a laboured care and attention to be bestowed upon the contemporary editions; only correcting, and even then noticing the correction, the decided and manifest typographical errors, and preserving the ancient spelling.

"These are my projects: they are at any one's service who may, for the sake of the due homage to the greatest of bards, think it worth while to adopt, to modify, to alter or improve upon them."

Should the insertion of these hints lead to the adoption of either, the object will be satisfactorily obtained of your friend and correspondent, Bibliophile.

ON THE DREAD OF POVERTY.

Lo, Poverty! to fill the band

That numbs the soul with icy hand.

GRAY.

It is very properly observed, that the passion of fear has a much more powerful influence upon the human mind than its opposite passion, hope. I have therefore frequently concluded, when passing the bustle of a crowded

NO. II.