by the way. She received the present, most sweetly smiling, and with one of the whitest hands in the world, but still not a word escaped her lips.

I now found that my companions grew weary of their homage; they went off one by one, and, resolving not to be left behind, I offered to go in my turn; when just at the door of the temple I was called back by a female, whose name was Pride, and who seemed displeased at the behaviour of the company. "Where are you hastening?" said she to me, with an angry air; "the goddess of beauty is "here." "I have been to visit her, madam," replied I," and find her more beautiful even than report "had made her." "And why then will you leave "her?" added the female. "I have seen her long 66 enough," returned I; " I have got all her features "by heart. Her eyes are still the same. Her nose " is a very fine one, but it is still just such a nose now, "as it was half an hour ago: could she throw a little "more mind into her face, perhaps I should be for "wishing to have more of her company." "What "signifies," replied my female, "whether she has a "mind or not; has she any occasion for a mind, so "formed as she is by nature? If she had a common "face, indeed, there might be some reason for think"ing to improve it; but when features are already "perfect, every alteration would but impair them. "A fine face is already at the point of perfection, and "a fine lady should endeavour to keep it so; the im"pression it would receive from thought, would but "disturb its whole economy."

To this speech I gave no reply, but made the best of my way to the valley of the graces. Here I found all those who before had been my companions in the region of beauty, now upon the same errand.

As we entered the valley, the prospect insensibly seemed to improve; we found every thing so natural, so domestic, and pleasing, that our minds, which

before were congealed in admiration, now relaxed into gaiety and good-humour. We had designed to pay our respects to the presiding goddess, but she was no where to be found. One of our companions asserted, that her temple lay to the right; another to the left; a third insisted that it was straight before us; and a fourth that we had left it behind. In short, we found every thing familiar and charming, but could not determine where to seek for the grace in person.

In this agreeable incertitude we passed several hours, and though very desirous of finding the goddess, by no means impatient of the delay. Every part of the valley presented some minute beauty, which, without offering itself at once, stole upon the soul, and captivated us with the charms of our retreat. Still, however, we continued to search, and might still have continued, had we not been interrupted by a voice, which, though we could not see from whence it came, addressed us in this

manner:

"If you would find the goddess of grace, seek her "not under one form, for she assumes a thousand. "Ever changing under the eye of inspection, her "variety, rather than her figure, is pleasing. In " contemplating her beauty, the eye glides over "every perfection with giddy delight, and capable "of fixing no where, is charmed with the whole*. "She is now Contemplation with solemn look, "again Compassion with humid eye; she now "sparkles with joy, soon every feature speaks "distress: her looks at times invite our approach, "at others repress our presumption; the goddess "cannot be properly called beautiful under any one "of these forms, but by combining them all, she be"comes irresistibly pleasing." Adieu.

* Vultus nimium lubricus aspici.....HOR.

LETTER LXXVII.

From Lien Chi Altangi to Fum Hoam, first president of the Ceremonial Academy at Pekin, in China.

THE shops of London are as well furnished as those of Pekin. Those of London have a picture hung at their doors informing their passengers what they have to sell, as those at Pekin have a board to assure the buyer that they have no intention to cheat him.

I was this morning to buy silk for a night-cap: immediately upon entering the mercer's shop, the master and his two men, with wigs plastered with powder, appeared to ask my commands. They were certainly the civilest people alive; if I but looked they flew to the place where I cast my eye: every motion of mine sent them running round the whole shop for my satisfaction. I informed them that I wanted what was good, and they showed me no less than forty pieces, and each was better than the former; the prettiest pattern in nature, and the fittest in the world for night-caps. "My very good "friend," said I to the mercer, 65 you must not pre"tend to instruct me in silks, I know these in parti❝cular to be no better than your mere flimsy Bun66 gees." "That may be," cried the mercer, who I afterwards found had never contradicted a man in his life," I can't pretend to say but they may; but I can "assure you my Lady Trail has had a sack from this "piece this very morning." "But, friend," said I, "though my lady has chosen a sack from it, I see no "necessity that I should wear it for a night-cap. "That may be," returned he again; "yet what "becomes a pretty lady, will, at any time, look well "on a handsome gentleman." This short compliment

was thrown in so very seasonably upon my ugly face, that even though I disliked the silk, I desired him to cut me off the pattern of night-cap.

While this business was consigned to his journeyman, the master himself took down some pieces of silk still finer than any I had yet seen, and spreading them before me; "There," cries he, "there's "beauty: my Lord Snakeskin has bespoke the fellow "to this for the birth-night, this very morning: it "would look charmingly in waistcoats." "But I "don't want a waistcoat," replied I. "Not want a "waistcoat," returned the mercer, “then I would "advise you to buy one; when waistcoats are wanted, 66 you may depend upon it they will come dear. "Always buy before you want, and you are sure to "be well used, as they say in Cheapside." There was so much justice in his advice, that I could not refuse taking it; besides, the silk, which was really a good one, increased the temptation, so I gave orders for that too.

As I was waiting to have my bargains measured and cut, which, I know not how, they executed but slowly; during the interval the mercer entertained me with the modern manner of some of the nobility receiving company in their morning gowns: "Per"haps, Sir," adds he, "you have a mind to see what "kind of silk is universally worn." Without waiting for my reply, he spreads a piece before me which might be reckoned beautiful even in China. "If the << nobility," continues he, "were to know I sold this "to any under a right honourable, I should certainly "lose their custom; you see it is at once rich, tasty, "and quite the thing." "I am no lord," interrupted I. "I beg pardon," cried he, "but be pleased to "remember, when you intend buying a morning 66 gown, that you had an offer from me of something "worth the money. Conscience, Sir, conscience is "my way of dealing: you may buy a morning gown

now, or you may stay till they become dearer and "less fashionable; but it is not my business to ad" vise." In short, most reverend Fum, he persuaded me to buy a morning gown also, and would probably have persuaded me to have bought half the goods in his shop, if I stayed long enough, or was furnished with sufficient money.

Upon returning home, I could not help reflecting with some astonishment, how this very man, with such a confined education and capacity, was yet capable of turning me as he thought proper, and moulding me' to his inclinations! I knew he was only answering his own purposes, even while he attempted to appear solicitous about mine; yet, by a voluntary infatuation, a sort of passion, compounded of vanity and good-nature, I walked into the snare with my eyes open, and put myself to future pain, in order to give him immediate pleasure. The wisdom of the ignorant somewhat resembles the instinct of animals; it is diffused in but a very narrow sphere, but within the circle it acts with vigour, uniformity, and success. Adieu.

LETTER LXXVIII.

From the Same.

FROM my former accounts, you may be apt to fancy the English the most ridiculous people under the sun. They are indeed ridiculous: yet every other nation in Europe is equally so; each laughs at each, and the Asiatic at all.

I may, upon another occasion, point out what is most strikingly absurd in other countries; I shall at present confine myself only to France. The first national peculiarity a traveller meets upon entering