fhade, may we flourish in the fhade! Some plants thrive beft in fituations of obscurity seldom visited by the fun. Who knows, but that fuch a retired culture is requifite to our being transplanted hereafter into the garden of Eden. Be it fo—and let us poffefs our fouls in patience and thankfulness here, that when the angel of the grave fhall remove us hence, he may safely dispose of us near the rivers of Paradife, where, like the tree of life, we shall blossom and fructify abundantly, and our leaves never fade.

In the mean time let us folace ourfelves with the hopes of this happy period. For furely it imports us little, although our way be strewed with weeds and brambles, provided it terminates in the walks and alleys of the garden of God. The world is a wildernefs, and we are not to expect fmooth roads, and commodious caravanfaries.

The pointed briar fhoots its luxuriant branches across the path, and wounds all paffengers indifcriminately. Remember that the monarch is as little exempted from this common lot of humanity, as the meanest vaffal.

Adieu, fage dervife, and fince we cannot be more than men, we will not make ourselves lefs. But like the nightingale we will be chearful and pleafed, even with the thorn at our breaft. This allufion, thou knoweft, is to a fabulous tradition

among

among the naturalifts, who report, that this bird reposes his breast every night against a thorn, to render him wakeful to fing.

Dated the twelfth of the

eighth moon, 1744.

VOL. II.

с

LETTER

I

LETTER I.

Dear Sifter,

Have events of the higheft importance to communicate to you! fuch as will quicken every tender and affectionate sensation, intermingle terror with joy, and at the fame time inspire you with gratitude for the escape and recovery of your afflicted and indulgent brother.

But do not think that the following detail of my fears and fufferings is intended merely to excite your pity and concern. No, my dear, it is more immediately defigned to put you upon your guard, that fo you may avoid the wicked artifices of the cruel. And, oh! I have a thousand cares and anxieties for your fecurity and welfare.

Last night, when I had stepped a few paces from my house, I discovered the most surprising and hideous creature in the whole scale of beings. His fize was enormous, far beyond the conception of thy unexperienced mind. I fcarcely think, that an entire army of our species, if blended into one general mass, would amount to the quantity of matter which was contained in this monster. But his magnitude, however gigantic, was the leaft formidable circumftance attending him. Inftead of eyes, there appeared to me two flaming fur

naces,

naces, which, by their fituation under the irregular arch which conftituted his forehead, were certainly the optics of this most amazing favage. When he opened his mouth, I thought I should have fwooned away. Language is too faint to exprefs the terrors of his jaws, or the multitude of my fears. When his mouth was extended, I defcried a cavern of immeasurable depth, and the lining of this cavern was the colour of scarlet. His tongue was indifputably wider than my whole body; and his teeth were as long and as large as my thigh-bones. His bulk, as I have already intimated, was large even to astonishment; and he dragged behind him a tail answerable in length and thickness to a cable. His four legs were like four huge maffy pillars, and his feet terminated in fundry frightful claws, each refembling, in their curvature, a Turkish cimeter reversed.

I viewed this monster with horror and dismay. But what do you think were my feelings, when I beheld him making infidious advances towards me? No fooner had he approached within a few yards of me, than he couched to the ground, and erecting his brushy tail, he waved it to and fro with amazing ease and freedom, confidering its stupendous weight. His eyes, methought, flashed flakes of fire. But perceiving him to gain upon me, I haftened with precipitation into my fubterraneous manfion.

С 2

manfion. The very moment that I made my retreat, the favage gave a bound, and came like thunder upon the roof of my caftle. I was so muc fhocked at thefe occurrences, that I fell into fits, and kept my bed for several days. Proportionably as my fears abated, fo my health returned. But this recovery was the occafion of future evils, the melancholy history whereof fhall be referved for my next letter.

In the mean while, I beg you to arm your breast with fortitude; for the account of my further dangers and diftrefs will otherwife overpower your fpirits. Indeed my ftory is fo very affecting, that there will be required greater firmness of mind than what usually falls to a female's share, to hear the bare relation of my forrows without diffolving into tears.

I am, dear Sifter,

Your most affectionate Brother,

MUSCULUS.

W

LETTER II.

ELL, my deareft Mufcilla, I hope my former letter was received with all that tenderness, which was due to me and my afflictions. But I hope too, that my fufferings have

not