4 ( 229 ) To the EDITOR of the OXFORD MAGAZINE. BATH ANECDOTES.---From the Memoirs of Timothy Ginnadrake. I feffed of fix hine black coach horles, N the year 1732 Mr. Nafh was pofWhich were fo well matched, and paced fo well together when in full trot, that any perfon at a diftance would imagine it was only one horfe that drew the car riage. He kept a coachman, poftillion, two foonen in livery, a gentleman out of livery, and a running footman, who was remarkable for his fkill and agility in his profeflion, having frequently run from London to Bath in one day. His name was Bryan, (a native of Ireland) and very remarkable for making blunders; an inftance of which may not, perhaps, be unentertaining to the reader. Mr. Nah having a diforder which prevented his riding on horfcback, his Grace the Duke of Beaufort often rallied him on the occafion, and told him, that if he would produce him a hare that he (Nafh) was at the taking of, his Grace, in return, would make him a prefent of a buck in the feafon. Mr. Nath accordingly applied to one of his chairmen to get him a leveret; which he ordered to be hunted by fix turn-fpit dogs in a large room at Weftgate-houfe, and was himself in time enough to take it up alive. He then wrote a letter to the Duke, and fent it with the hare in a basket, by Bryan, his running footman. When Bryan got upon Lanfdown, which is in the road to Badminton, where the Duke's feat is, he propofed hare, as he had a favourite dog with great pleasure to himself in courfing the him. He therefore took off his great coat, which covered his running-drefs, and laid it down by the basket. After he had let the hare foofe, fhe stood fome time till he fet the dog at her; on which he started from the place, and ran with speed to the firit cover, Bryan following her till fhe was out of fight. When he came back for his coat and bafket, he found, to his furprize, that both were gone. However, having Mr. Nafh's letter to the Duke, he made the beft of his way to Badminton. On his arrival there his Grace ordered him up stairs, and asked him what news he had brought: Bryan anfwered, "Arrah, by my fhoul and fhalvation, I have brought a letter for your Duke hip," and he immediately gave it to his Grace; who, after reading it, told Bryan, “ he was glad the hare was come."---" By my fhoul, (fays Bryan) and fo am I'; but pray your Gracefhip, is my great coat come too" The company being informed of the particulars, could scarce contain themfelves at the fellow's funplicity. However, the Duke kept his word with Mr. Nafh, and fent him a buck. That Nash encouraged industry and ingenuity, is evident. A fingular instance once happened of a woman who had a pair of wrought fhoes. She made application to Mr. Nath to have them raffled for 230 Bath Anecdotes. for. He, with is ufual readiness to relieve any one in diftrefs, went round to the company in order to have it filled. One lady in particular, to whom Mr. ath applied to fubfcribe (having fome fare of wit and humour) acquainted him he would fubfcribe a guinea, on condition, that if Mr. Nath fhould be the winner, he fhould be the wearer; Le gave his honour he would. It accordingly fell to Mr. Nath's lot, and he had them made up for himself. Coming into the rooms one morning, he met with Mr. Quin, who afked him, What the devil he had upon his feet? "Why, (fays Nafh) a pair of fhoes;" and related the ftory concerning the lady: at the fame time told Quin, that he had as much right to be a coxcomb zhout the fect, as fome about the head. "I cannot fee what priCain replied, vilege you have to be fo at both ends." Nath lofing a fum of money one night the public rooms, he came from the rable biting his tongue with his gums, Je having no teeth for many years before. An old fady perceiving he was greatly chagrined, accorted him thus;--- Mr. Nath, I fear you have had bad luck, you feem to hang a-jaw."--" Why aye, Says Nath, with I had been hanged ere I was jaw-fallen; or that Rufpini had come to Bath before my gums had been oflified, for then I fhould have as good a fet of teeth as your Ladyfhip." "I hope, Sir, The old Lady replied, you don't think my teeth are artificial." No, madam, fays Nafh, I am thoroughly convinced they are natural, knowing your Ladyfhip paid twenty quincas for them;" adding, at the fame time, that he wifhed he was an old woman, that he might fatisfy her Ladyfhip in what the defired to be informed; for then, fays he, I could take---but now I can't give--an affront. Nath was one day complaining in the following manner to the Earl of Chefterfield, of his bad luck at play.---- "Would you think it, my Lord, that A Lady of diftinction meeting Mr. Nath in the long room, told him, his was just deliverold friend Lady ed.--- Of a boy or girl fays Nafh.--"Of neither, replied the Lady----of a husband, you toad, and he is to be buried to-morrow." A very young Lady having made a very large acquaintance among the beaux and pretty fellows in Bath, was asked by Mr. Nafh, what he would do with them all?---"Oh, fays fhe, they pafs off like the waters."--" And pray, Madam, replied he, do they pals off the fame way:" Lord Chetterfield was afked ice, why he preferred playing with fharpers to gentlemen - Why, fays he, if I play with tharpers and win, I am fure to be paid, but if I win of gentlemen, they frequently behave fo genteely, that I get nothing but words, and polite apologics for my money." 66 One night at the affembly-room at Bath, a very prim lady, who pretended to great modefty, chanced to fit next than the was in a violent flutter, and Lady; the no fooner perceived it, She was furprized that the Mafter faid of the Ceremonies did not know better out people of bad character; and was how to difpofe of company, and keep upon the point of quitting her feat, to 46 Pray, place herfelf in a vacancy at the oppofite fide of the room; when Lady------burst into a loud laughter, faying, Madam, do you think wh-----ng is catching!" POETI ( 231 ) POETICAL ESSAY S. ODE, for His MAJESTY's BIRTHDAY. ROM fcenes of death and deep diftrefs, (Where Britain har'd her Monarch's woe) Which oft the feeling mind opprefs, Yet belt to bear the virtuous know, Turn we our eyes---the cypress wreath No more the plaintive mufe fhall wear; The blooming flowers, which round her breathe, Shall form the chaplet for her hair, And the gay mouth which claims her annual fire, Shall raife to fprightlier notes the animated lyre. The lark that mounts on morning To meet the rifing day, The fragrance of the may. The day, which gave our monarch birth, Recalls each nobleft theme of ages paft; Tells us, whate'er we ow'd to Naffau's worth. The Brunfwic race confirm'd and bade it lait. Tells us, with rapturous joy unblam'd, From Tyrant Pride and Bigot Zeal; While each glad voice, that wakes the echoing air, In one united with thus joins the general prayer: ""Till ocean quits his fav'rite ifle, Till, Thames, thy watry train No more fhali blefs its pregnant foil, May Order, Peace, and Freedom fmile Beneath a Brunfwic's reign." 232 VI. Poetical Efays. THE HE fphere of mild, domeftic life, Who fills approv'd, fhall live in ftory, To you,---believe an honeft fong---The charities of life belong; Thofe gentler offices, that bind The focial ties of human kind: All praifes, but for thefe, decry; All Fame is blasting infamy. But chief o'er all, ye wiser fair, The Mother's facred charge revere.---Pure, heart ennobling, bleft employ;, Which Saints and Angels learn with joy To view from Heaven;---which can difpenfe O'er all the foul their own benevolence. Hail, holy task '---'Tis thine t'impart Tempts to forget the living treafure?---- The good abhor, the wit deride her, The luxury of Abftinence. In vain the concert in the grove, Thus liv'd fhe, till one fatal day, She fish'd the brook ;---the div'd the main, With unavailing, weak complaint. Her fharp beak on her own kind breaft, "Accept, he cry'd, dear, pretty "Gives it the elements to nurse. ""Tis true, fome accident may hurt it, "Its limbs be broken, and diftorted. "Admit there's chance it does not live, "Pleasure is our prerogative. "And brooms and brushes be my ruin! "E'er in a neft I'd fit a ftewing--"Or, for my duty's fake, forfooth, "To nurfing facrifice my youth;"Ere let my brats my fleth devour; "I'd eat them up a fcore an hour." Foul fiend--the lovely Martyr cry'd, Avaunt thy horrid perfon hide; Folly and Vice thy foul difgrace, "Twas thefe, not Pallas, spoil'd thy face, And funk thee to the reptile race. } Yes, thy own bowels hung thee there, A felon out of nature's care-------Twixt Heaven and earth, abhorr'd of both, Emblem of felfishness and floth. Ye Coterieans! who profefs No bufinefs but to dance and drefs, Pantheifts! who no God adore, Housewives, that stay at home no more, Wives without husbands, mothers too, Whom your own children never knew, Who lefs the blessed fun esteem, Than lamps and tapers' greafy gleam; Ye morning gamefters, walkers, riders, Say, ate ye Pelicans or Spiders? II. 233 Palcmon's flocks unnumber'd ftray, So much as I remember; III. Can I who fcarcely am in bloom, IV. Then Colin thou iny choice fhalt gain, For thou haft more to give me : THE ENQUIRY.. Amongst the myrtles as I walk'd, Love and my fighs thus intertalk'd : "Tell me, faid I, in deep diftrefs, "Where may I find my fhepherdefs:" "Thou fool, faid Love, know'st thou not this, "In every thing that's good she is? "In yonder tulip go and feek, "There thou may't find her lip, her cheek. "In yon' enamell'd pansy by, "In brighteft lilies that there ftand, Gg What |