Shandy*. In that year Lord Falconbridge. presented me with the curacy of Coxwold a fweet retirement in comparison of Sutton. In fixty-two I went to France, before the peace was concluded, and you both followed me. I left you both in France, and in two years after, I went to Italy for the recovery of my health-and when I called upon you, I tried to engage your mother to return to England with me, ---fhe† and yourself are at length come ---and I have the inexpreffible joy of feeing my girl every thing I wifhed her. I have fet down these particulars relating to my family, and felf, for my Lidia, in cafe bereafter he might have a curiofity, or kinder motive to know them. *The following is the order in which Mr. Sterne's publica tions appeared: 1747. The Cafe of Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath confidered: A charity-fermon preached on Good-Friday, April 17, 1747, for the fupport of two charity-fchools in York. 1750. The Abufes of Confcience: Set forth in a fermon preached in the cathedral church of St. Peter's, York, at the fummer affizes, before the Hon. Mr. Baron Clive, and the Hon. Mr. Baron Smythe, on Sunday, July 29, 1750. 1759. Vol. 1 and 2, of Triftram Shandy. 1760 Vol. 1 and 2, of Sermons. 1761. Vol. 3 and 4, of Triftram Shandy. 1762. Vol. 5 and 6 of Triftram Shandy. 1765. Vol. 7 and 8, of Triftram Shandy, 1766 Vol. 3 and 4. of Sermons. 1767 Vol. 9, of Triftram Shandy. 1768 The Sentimental Journey. The remainder of his works were published after his death. From this paflage it appears that the prefent account of Mr. Sterne's Life and Family was written about fix months only before his death. AS As Mr. Sterne, in the foregoing narra tive, hath brought down the account of himself until within a few months of his death, it remains only to mention that he left York about the end of the year 1767, and came to London in order to publish The Sentimental Journey, which he had writ ten during the preceding fummer at his favourite living at Coxwold. His health had been for fome time declining, but he continued to vifit his friends, and retained his ufual flow of fpirits. In February, 1768, he began to perceive the approaches of death, and with the concern of a good man, and the folicitude of an affectionate parent, devoted his attention to the future welfare of his daughter. His letters at this period reflect fo much credit to his character, that it is to be lamented fome others in the collection are not permitted to fee the light. After a fhort ftruggle with his diforder, his debilitated and worn out frame fubmitted to fate on the 18th day of March, 1768, at his lodgings in Bond-ftreet. He was buried at the new burying-ground, belonging to the parish of St. George, Hanover-square, on the 22d of the fame month, in the most private manner; and hath fince been indebted to ftrangers for a monument very unworthy of of his memory; on which the following lines are infcribed: "Near to this Place The Reverend Laurence Sterne, A. M. "Ah! molliter offa quiefcant." If a found Head, warm Heart, and Breaft humane, By Fools infulted, and by Prudes accus'd, This monumental ftone was erected bytwo brother mafons; for although he did not live to be a member of their fociety, yet as his all incomparable performances evidently prove him to have acted by rule and fquare, they rejoice in this opportunity of perpetuating his high and irreproachable character to after ages, W. & S."; * It is fcarcely neceffary to obferve that this date is erroneous. THE THE म् BEAUTIES OF ON WRITING. WRITING, when properly managed, (as you may be fure I think mine is) is but a different name for converfation. As no one, who knows what he is about in good company, would venture to talk all;-fo no author, who understands the just boundaries of decorum and good-breeding, would prefume to think all: The trueft refpect which you can pay to the reader's understanding, is to halve this matter amicably, and leave him something to imagine, in his turn, as well as yourself. For my own part, I am eternally paying him compliments of this kind, and do all that lies in my power to keep his imagination as bufy as my own. SPECIMENS OF STERNE'S EPISTOLARY WRITING, OR, FAMILIAR LETTERS. TO MY WITTY WIDOW, MRS. F MADAM, W told Mr. Coxwould, Aug. 3, 1760. HEN a man's brains are as dry as a squeez'd Orange-and he feels he has no more conceit in him than a mallet, 'tis in vain to think of fitting down, and writing a letter to a lady of your wit, unlefs in the honeft John-Trot-Stile of, yours of the 15th inftant came fafe to hand, &c. which, by the bye, looks like a letter of business; and you know very well, from the first letter I had the honour to write to you, I am a man of no bufinefs at all. This vile plight I found my genius in was the reafon I have I would not write to you till the next post-hoping by that time to get fome recruit, at least of vivacity, if not wit, to fet out with; but upon fecond thoughts, thinking a bad letter in feafon-to be better than a good one out of it-this fcrawl is the confequence, which, if you will burn the moment you get it-I promise to send you a fine fet effay in the ftyle of your female epiftolizers, cut and trim'd at all points.-GOD defend me from fuch, who never yet knew what it was to say or write one premeditated word in my whole life-for this reason I send you with pleasure, because wrote with the carelefs irregularity |