with the pureft incenfe to may worship with me, or ke no difference either in varmth of my devotionI have feen) I still main

S.

! Heaven!-give me some fmoke and more fire», like the Pharifees, ftill I be heard for much speak-. come away, my dear Gar1 us another leffon. ɔve you dearly—and your not hobbihorfically-but ally and affectionately(that is, if you never fay about — with all the -) ve and friendship you de

L. STERNE.

to pocket all this trash-I fet out to lay a portion of it out in the fervice of the world, in a tour round Italy, where I fhall fpring game, or the deuce is in the dice. In the beginning of September I quit England, that I may avail myself of the time of vintage, when all nature is joyous, and fo faunter philofophically for a year or fo, on the other fide the Alps. I hope your pilgrimages have brought Mrs. Garrick and yourself back à la fleur de jeunese-May you both long feel the sweets of it, and your friends with you.-Do, dear friend, make my kindest wishes and compliments acceptable to the best and wifeft of the daughters of Eve-You fhall ever believe, and ever find me affectionately yours,

L. STERNE.

LETTER LVI.

TO THE SAME.

Bath, April 6, 1765.

SCALP you!-my dear Garrick my dear friend!-foul befal the man who hurts a hair of your head!-and fo full was I of that very fentiment, that my letter had not been put into the poft-office ten minutes, before my heart fmote me; and I fent to recal it-but failedYou are fadly to blame, Shandy! for this, quoth I, leaning with my head on my hand, as I recriminated upon my false delicacy in the affair-Garrick's nerves (if he has any left) are as fine and delicately fpun as thy own-his fentiments as honeft and friendly-thou knoweft, Shandy, that he loves theewhy wilt thou hazard him a moment's pain? Puppy! fool, coxcomb, jack-afs, &c. &c.-and fo I balanced the account to your favour, before I received it

drawn up in your way I fay your way for it is not stated fo much to your honour and credit, as I had paffed the account before-for it was a moft lamented truth, that I never received one of the letters your friendship meant me, except whilst in Paris.-O! how I congratulate you for the anxiety the world has, and continues to be under, for your return. Return, return to the few who love you, and the thousands who admire you. The moment you fet your foot upon your stage-mark! I tell it youby fome magic, irrefifted power, every fibre about your heart will vibrate afrefh, and as ftrong and feelingly as ever-Nature, with glory at her back, will light up the torch within you-and there is enough of it left, to heat and enlighten the world these many, many, many years.

Heaven be praised! (I utter it from my foul) that your lady, and my Minerva, is in a condition to walk to Windfor-full rapturously will I lead the graceful pilgrim to the temple, where

I will facrifice with the pureft incenfe to her-but you may worship with me, or not-'twill make no difference either in the truth or warmth of my devotionftill (after all I have feen) I still maintain her peerless.

Powel! good Heaven!-give me fome one with lefs fmoke and more fireThere are who, like the Pharifees, ftill think they fhall be heard for much speaking-Come-come away, my dear Garrick, and teach us another leffon.

Adieu!I love you dearly-and your lady better not hobbihorfically-but moft fentimentally and affectionatelyfor I am yours (that is, if you never fay another word about) with all the fentiments of love and friendship you deferve from me,

L. STERNE.