nary concerns of life; and there too he always looks for her in some place where nobody ever thought of her being to be found. He was, I don't know whether fortunately or not, left a sufficiency by his father to enable him to live without a profession; but during one half of the year, when we reside in the country, he is a very keen farmer, planter, and gardener. But his method of farming, planting, and gardening, is quite different from that of any body else, and, as he tells us, the only true one in the country. It happens, however, that he has scantier crops, less thriving trees, and worse flavoured fruit, than any body around us; but that don't signify, he maintains the contrary, and has the pleasure of finding a dispute with every body that visits his farm, his plantations, or his garden. Last season, he spoiled a whole crop of grass by a new method of hay-making. He was positive that it was excellent hay notwithstanding,

and much more nourishing than if it had been made after the usual method; but he could never persuade his horses to eat it.

He is rather more successful in making experiments of a similar kind on himself. He once took it into his head, having found, as he told us, the most incontestible evidence of its truth, that men could live very well without sleep; and actually went the length of disturbing the whole house for two nights together, by having himself pinched and buffetted about to keep him awake. On another occasion, he took nearly the same fancy with regard to food, and lived three or four days on a few boiled potatoes and some watergruel. This, however, was got the better of, by the warm fumes of a venisonpasty, which happens to be a favourite dish of his. He insisted, however, on the superior healthfulness of the former diet; but owned, that in this, as in many other

things, the wrong way was the plea

santest.

This rage of experiment, as well as of inquiry, may lead to very serious consequences, if indulged as far as he sometimes gives us reason to think him inclined to do. He told us the other morning, he was not at all surprised at the ancient philosopher, who leaped into Etna, to be satisfied about the causes of its burning; and we have received intelligence, that he has actually been in treaty for a seat in a balloon, to resolve some doubts he has entertained on the subject of that singular invention. Now, Mr Lounger, as, however troublesome his doubts are to his family, we by no means wish to have them cleared up quite so soon; it would be conferring a great favour on us all, if you, who are a philosopher like himself, would try to persuade Mr Category to be contented to take things a little more on credit than he is at present

disposed to do; particularly, that he would neither think of burning himself alive, or breaking his neck, for the sake of coming at the truth all of a hurry, but submit for the sake of his wife and children, to grope about a while longer in this world of errors.

I am, &c.

MARY PLAIN.

P. S. Pray don't forget to put him in mind, that there will be no disputing in heaven.

No. 61. SATURDAY, April 1, 1786.

IN treating of the moral duties which apply to different relations of life, men of humanity and feeling have not forgotten to mention those which are due from masters to servants. Nothing indeed can be more natural than the attachment and regard to which the faithful services of our domestics are entitled; the connection grows up, like all the other family-charities, in early life, and is only extinguished by those corruptions which blunt the others, by pride, by folly, by dissipation, or by vice.

I hold it indeed as the sure sign of a mind not poised as it ought to be, if it is insensible to the pleasures of home, to the little joys and endearments of a family, to