Being no longer parties concerned in the danger, it afforded us fome entertainment to obferve the progrefs of our vehicle now confiderably lightened by our escape from it, and becoming every moment flill lighter by the exclufion of fmall trunks, boxes, parcels, great coats, &c. they, in imitation of our example making leaps, fome from the infide of the carriage, and others from the boot; whether occafioned by the repulfion of the carriage and its appendages, or the attraction of the earth, I am not fufficiently versed in philofophy to decide. Pofterity when they perufe my labours, no doubt will determine this weighty point, and tranfmit it to the remotest period of time, properly dignified by F. R. S. in Phil. Tranf. The horses finding themselves lefs incumbered and urged on by the noise of the door, continually flapping, increased their speed: happily however the carriage was stopped before it entered the city, and no damage was fuftained either by the horses or the carriage, Before Before we left the inn, our careful fon of the whip arrived, not in the least injured, but rather benefited by his disaster, being fuddenly transformed into a state of perfect fobriety; after him followed two countrymen laden with the feveral articles which had been fo violently ejected. As I 'reflected that this unguarded man might not always be equally fuccefsful, either to himfelf or his paffengers, as in the present inftance, I obtained a promise from the innkeeper never to permit him to drive any carriage in future, in the management of which he had any concern. It is aftonishing what a number of fatal accidents continually happen from careleffuefs and the want of fobriety in this thoughtless race of beings. I was informed that only two days previous to my arrival at Durham, a coachman quitting his box to step into an adjacent house, in his abfence the horses began to move gently, and a lady in the carriage giving a loud fcream, the noife occa fioned the horses to fet off full gallop, in consequence of which a lady of Durham, happening unfortunately at that instant to be croffing the way, was thrown down, and the wheels paffing over her, she died on the spot. -One of the many melancholy effects refulting from the ridiculous practice of screaming. But I crave pardon of the ladies; when I begin paffing cenfure on them, it is high time to close my epiftle (which if not very long will perhaps be deemed fufficiently impertinent) with, 1 am, Dear Friend, Yours, LETTER LETTER XLIII. "O that the too cenforious world would learn HAYWOOD'S D. of Brunswick. "A nation fam'd for fong, and beauty's charms; DEAR FRIEND, BEATTIE'S Minftrel. It is reported of a very emi T nent author, that he never blotted a line of what he had once written: on which it has been remarked, that it was a pity he had not blotted a thousand. Now though my extreme modesty will not permit me to put myself on a level with that great man as an author, whatever the impartial world may think of our comparative merits, I must confefs confefs I do not like to blot what I have once written, fearful left when I begin, (another proof of my modefty,) I should deface the major part of my manuscripts, and thus deprive the public of the great advantages which may refult from them. What I allude to, is an unfortunate flip of the pen in "confefmy laft; however, as fion of a fault makes fome amends," and I immediately checked myself, craved pardon, abruptly closed my letter, and threw the offending pen from me with fome degree of anger, I hope thofe lovely fair ones, who might think I meant to affront them, will with their accustomed benignity forgive, and indulge me with a fmile on my future labours; and as a convincing proof how fenfible I am of their kind condescension, I here engage never more to express my diflike of their screaming, except they should omit purchafing books of me, which I am fure every candid fair (and what fair one is not candid?) will think fufficiently provoking. But |