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be gladdened-Alas! I must also except the sisters, parents, and wives of the victims of the war. Their sighs must heave, their tears flow, their cheeks be pale amid the flush of general joy.

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Swift, in masterly ridicule of a nation's propensity to rush into unnecessary wars, counsels its rulers always to ground them upon an hypothesis, since, in all probability, no other ground will be found tenable; but, on that foundation, reason takes arms in vain. This advice our late ministry completely followed. Its hypothesis was, to crush Jacobinism;" to be sure the sacrifice of our people's lives, and of the national wealth, was certain to obtain that end! Yes, as certain as the recorded Gothamite scheme to hedge in the cuckoo; for so sure as the cuckoo could not fly over the hedge, so surely would it be impossible for Jacobinism to preserve its tenets, while our fleets and armies were labouring, in vain, to restore monarchy to a country whose monarchs were never friendly to us, while our national debt was annihilating millions on millions, and while our poor were famishing for bread.

Finely does Shakespeare, that mighty master of nature and of truth, caution the rulers of nations against rashly entering into quarrel with other

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"We charge you, in the name of God, take heed
How you awake the sleeping sword of war!
For never two such kingdoms did contend
Without much fall of blood, whose guiltless drops

Are every one a woe, and sore complaint

'Gainst him, whose mandate edges those keen swords,
Which make such waste of brief mortality."

*

With what kindness do you speak of our long friendship! I am soothed that its vestiges are precious in recollection. Often do I live over your again, in idea, those days in which our friendship was gladdened by frequent personal intercourse; and in which we had one object on which to gaze with delight, to listen to with transport; with whom to sympathize, and for whom to hope. Very many years have rolled away since that "silver cord was loosed," and new eras pass on in succession, without seeing those two meet, who most lament her loss, and most sacredly preserve her memory!

This is to be regretted; but many are the regrets which cloud existence. They pass away in youth, like the chill gales and transient showers of an April sky. The sun of hope and joy succeeds, as the actual sun succeeds to those wintry lingerings when he looks on the young grass and

* Honora Sneyd.-S.

the half-blown leaves, and drinks their rain-drops; and when he expands the flowers and fruits in their germs. The clouds of waning life are dense, and their rains are blighting. If the sun of cheerfulness sometimes disperses them, it shines, but it does not warm; it gilds, but it does not invigorate; it is often beautiful, but never genial.

This is melancholy moralizing; imagination, however, is soothed, while she enwreaths with such pensive flowers the sepulchre of time.

LETTER LXXI.

REV. J. C. WOODHOUSE *.

Lichfield, Oct. 11, 1801.

I TAKE the liberty of inclosing a letter addressed to the Dean and Chapter, on the subject of their late order to cut down every alternate tree of those fine and noble limes which shade the Dean's Walk. I think it probable the Dean, te whom I sent my letter, will not present it.

* One of the canons residentiary of the cathedral of Lichfield who form the Chapter.-S.

And now, Sir, I will suppose you have read my deprecation. It is said, the Dean and Mr Nares have declared this plan was of your proposing. Rumour is a lying spirit, and I have too much confidence in Mr Woodhouse's taste in scenery to believe that he would so counsel, however he might be led to acquiesce in this scheme of innovation. They tell me that the pleaded excuse for it is, that the present fulness of shade makes the walk damp. All earthly advantages have their mixture of inconvenience. Because our gold has some alloy, we do not change it for

copper.

Surely the cool shelter from oppressive suns; the grace, the beauty of liberal umbrage, is of infinite preponderance in the scale against the comfortless aridness of exposed gravel. When winter has stript the leaves, no dampness annoys the Dean's Walk, and when moisture lingers, after heavy rains, in the summer foliage, the flags of the streets, the margin of the Minsterpool, and the broad paths of the Milk-crofts are at hand for a dry walk; but, excepting the Palace gardens, which must not be considered as public property, where will the inhabitants of the Close and its vicinity find a pleasant, near walk, when the summer sun shall flare through the straggling

disunited trees, ruined in their proportion, their beauty, and their use?

Thirty-five years past some person persuaded my father that a similar plan would improve the shaded terrace of this garden. Two of its trees were felled before I knew any thing of the matter. Then did I implore, and I believe with tears, redemption for the remainder, and obtained it. The injurious gaps, which the loss of those two trees made, are not filled up at this hour. My father, in fruitless regret for what he could not restore, strove in vain to supply the loss of those noble limes by planting elder-trees in their vacancies. But for my entreaties all this now delightful terrace had been pervious, instead of impervious shade, and I, and my friends, had lost its salutary shelter from dazzling and sultry rays.

And the no less precious Dean's Walk, which now renders this cathedral area the loveliest in England-for the brethren and companions' sake of your youthful days, be not you instrumental in violating the bowers which sheltered them and yourself! All of us who remain on earth, rejoiced in your being restored to Lichfield, as an inhabitant, part of the year, after so many years absence. Let us not have to say that you come to destroy our comforts, but to protect them!

I congratulate you on the pacific prospects.

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