fee by my writing, but no matter for that, I lives hard by a pure ingenious gentleman, no less a perfon than the curate of our parish, who you must know is a fort of a what d'y' call it, a poet I think, and fo he has your papers fent him every week; and as he knows that I loves a bit of reading now and then, he lets me look over them of an evening: but may I be hanged Squire, if I can tell what to make of them, except it be here and there a word. You talk fo much of women's nakedness in fome of them, that my dame who loves to be knowing, and who fpins whilft I read, thought as how it was the fashion in London to wear no cloaths, and faid i'fackins husband, it may fave a mortal deal of money, but then methinks 'tis very undecent but I told her you did but joke: though when the faw the letter from Rofe Plump, fhe faid fhe was fure that was no joke. Mr. Olive the oilman: man, and knows how to manage madam.A man that can ftop his wife's clack is good for fomething; for between you and I, Squire, that is a thing not always to be done ;` as you find in your own family, some of which have fhowed themselves to be wife men, by chufing filent women. Why there is your coufin Patty, But commend me to adfnigs he is a clever don't > don't be affronted, but hang me like a dog, if I would marry her, though I was fure she had ten thousand pounds to her portion. Pray write a little against prating women, you can't say too much about that. My dame laughed till she could scarce fee, at some of your London ladies talking of putting on breeches and fighting against the French-to be fure I am glad to find that there is such a pure fpirit against that plaguy people; for I always hated a Frenchman as I do a toad, and adfnigs, if ever they land here, tho' by the bye I believe they are more cunning than that comes to, I don't doubt but we fhall demolish every mother's fon of them. But as to women's wearing the breeches, hold a bit there dame, faid I, you are all ready enough to do that we know however, dame thinks it is a burning fhame for all the young men to live to be old batchelors. But that fwearing paper about Bot and Pinch, I think you call them, who are they? a couple of fierce blades I warrant: adfnigs when I began to read it, dame looked quite scarified, and did not know what I was at, and thought at first as how I was in a terrible paffion at her, and faid fhe never heard me in fuch a woundy taking fince last hay-time; but methinks, Squire, if I may speak my mind, it is a little too wicE 2 ked a laughing: fo to ked only I fuppofe you really heard fuch a discourse-adfnigs how fome folks will swear. God forgive them, but neither dame nor I can tell for the foul of us what it was all about. Pray Squire what may that fame fimile be; I afked our curate, but he only fell be fure there is a good jeft in it if I had but wit enough to find it out. I have thought on it, and thought on it again, but am never the nearer; but will conclude here, only begging pardon for my boldness, but indeed if you was to write a little plainer, Squire, we country-folks might understand you better, and learn more knowledge. So wishing you will take my homely advice in good part, I reft your hearty well-wisher, ROGER SMOAKY. (********* NUM B. XI. Saturday, May 22, 1756. Virtû to fuch a height is grown, SIR, As GARRICK. To NICHOLAS BABBLE, Efq; S an Englishman, and a true lover of my native land, I cannot fee the performances of of foreign artists preferr'd to the labours of my own countrymen without indignation: and think people of diftinction, and those who are fond of apeing them, cenfurable for giving encouragement to the former, and treating the latter with indifference and neglect. Curiofity led me fome weeks ago to Langford's room, where a collection of capital pictures was exhibited to view: I am a great admirer of the pictorial art, and will venture to fay I have a little-you know what I mean, Mr. BABBLE, though I am not a Connoiffeur, I will confefs honeftly, Sir, that I beheld the genuine performances of feveral eminent foreign masters, now no more, with delight; but I must also tell you freely, that there are feveral rifing geniuffes in this kingdom, who, if properly patronized, wou'd produce pieces not inferior to the most celebrated Antiques; many of which, I will not fcruple to affirm, are elaborate copies, and palmed upon people of fortune, by thofe pretenders to taste, those fworn foes to our English painters, the Dealers, for originals. But to the point. On furveying with admiration a fine Claude, I was accosted by Tom Canvass, a very ingenious and induftrious young fellow, for whom I have a hearty regard: But I am afraid he will never make his way in the world by dint of merit his dress was fhabbily genteel, and he looked fo much like the poor apothecary in Rmeo and Juliet, that I did not immediately recognize him. After an interchange of compliments, he asked me how I liked the collection. "Here are feveral highly-finished pieces, faid I, but "I want to see some paintings by English hands, and particularly by your own.". "Why, "replied Tom, I have pieces enough at home, " which would make a pretty figure here, but "then they would be known to be mine, and "nobody would vouchsafe to look on the pal"try daubings. Indeed if I had recourfe to the "dealer's arts, made ufe of the fpaltham-pot, " and gave it out that they were executed by Sig"nor Canvaffini, all the Connoisseurs in town "would flock about them, examine them attentively with their glaffes, and cry out with rapture,-What ftriking attitudes !--what warm "colouring !-what maffes of light and shade !~ "what a rich fore-ground !—Did you ever fee any " thing more riant !-If you will be so kind, continued he, as to go with me to my lodgings, I will fhew you a fine piece which I have lately finifhed."-I readily accepted of his |