resisting the farther encroachments of idleness, make me apply to you; and the uneasiness with which I recollect the past years, and the apprehensions with which I expect the future, soon determined me to it.

"Idleness is so general a distemper, that I cannot but imagine a speculation on this subject will be of universal use.

"There is hardly any one person without some allay of it; and thousands beside myself spend more time in an idle uncertainty, which to begin first, of two affairs, than would have been sufficient to have ended them both. The occasion of this seems to be the want of some necessary employment to put the spirits in motion, and awaken them out of their lethargy.

"If I had less leisure, I should have more; for I should then find my time distinguished into portions, some for business, and others for the indulging of pleasures: but now, one face of indolence overspreads the whole, and I have no landmark to direct myself by. Were one's time a little straitened by business, like water inclosed in its banks, it would have some determined course; but unless it be put into some channel, it has no current, but becomes a deluge without either use or motion.".

Stop, you rascal, said I, what the devil are you about? I did not desire you to speak to me; I ordered you to read that book. An' please your honour, said he, and so I am reading the book, without putting in a word of my

own. God help me, if I were ever so willing, I could not speak such outlandish things for the world. Go on, Sirrah, said I.

"When Scanderbeg, prince of Epyrus, was dead, the Turks, who had but too often felt the force of his arm in the battles he had won from them, imagined, that by wearing a piece of his bones near their heart, they should be animated with a vigour and force like to that which inspired him when living. As I am like to be of little use while I live, I am resolved to do what good I can after my decease; and have accordingly ordered my bones to be disposed of in this manner, for the good of my countrymen who are troubled with too great a degree of fire. All fox-hunters, upon wearing me"-Stop you, Sirrah, said I, this will never do; go to some other part of this damn'd book; I never heard such wretched stuff in my life.

The boy, turning over a couple of pages, began again:

"Augustus, a few moments before his death, asked his friends who stood about him, if they thought he had acted his part well."

Stop, my lad, that wont do either. Take that other volume, and read where you please.

"There are few who know how to be idle " and innocent, or have a relish of any pleasures "that are not criminal; every diversion they "take is at the expence of some one virtue or "other, and their very first step out of business, is into vice or folly. A man should

"endeavour, therefore, to make the sphere of "his innocent pleasures as wide as possible, "that he may retire into them with safety, " and find in them such a satisfaction as a wise 66 man would not blush to take."

Irritated and confounded by these reflections, so applicable to my own unhappy situation, I sprung out of bed, snatched the book out of my servant's hand, and in the scuffle overthrew the table at which he sat, with the bottle and glasses that were upon it; after which, overwhelmed with shame and disgust, I returned to a sleepless pillow, and spent the long night in agony of thought.

I re-entered, as it were, into my own mind, and looked back upon the last three years of my life, as on a loathsome dream: I resolved instantly to adopt a plan of rational existence; and having called in the whole of my bills, I wrote a long letter to my father, in explanation of my future resolutions, borrowed a sum of money sufficient to pay every thing I owed in London, and set out for the country, where, with my father's consent, I applied myself to the superintendence of his patrimonial affairs, and, in the intervals of leisure, applied myself to study.

Soon after, my father died, and I became possessed of an estate of four thousand a year, without any incumbrance.

As I had not been bred to any profession, I applied myself, with unremitted earnestness, to the study of agriculture, and all the scien

ces and arts immediately connected with that most useful and respectable of all occupations.

In the course of two years, I became so much master of its principles, practice, and duties, that I found myself able to originate and direct in all my operations, as the pater familias of Columella, that I was independent of my land steward, my bailiffs, and my old experienced servants.

I planted a field of two hundred acres with all kinds of forest trees, suited to the soil and situation; inclosed a great part of my estate, and planted the fences around with hedgerows of oak, ash, and elm. I laid out, and planted a large orchard, most of the trees having been ingrafted with my own hands, from the best bearers in the country.

I gave a good beginning to a manufacturing village, encouraged my farmers to good modes of husbandry, in which I set them an example, often holding my plough in their presence, and established a club among them for comparing their respective improvements, and keeping a diary of their proceedings.

It is now ten years since I have been thus employed, going only to London for a few months, during the sitting of parliament, to attend my duty; the intervals from which are chiefly spent in associating with those who are intent on the improvement of the country, or in attending the meetings of the Royal Society, and the Society for the Encouragement of Arts and Manufactures; and though idle, as

having no trade or employment, in the common acceptation of the term, I am one of the busiest, and consequently one of the happiest men in the world.

May I not, Mr Editor, with great truth subcribe myself

A FORTUNATE SON OF IDLENESS.

On the Art of Idleness, by a Lady.

SIR,

TO THE EDITOR OF THE BEE.

(June 8. 1791.)

I ALSO have been a successful disciple in the happy art of idleness, recommended by Albanicus; and as the acquisition of this art to my sex, particularly in the higher and more wealthy ranks of society, is of infinitely greater consequence than to yours, I imagine I am about to confer the greatest favour possible upon the daughters of Eve, all the world over, by initiating them in the mysteries of that art which has brought me from the horrors of languor and weariness of life, to a state of tranquillity, placid enjoyment of nature and society, and a satisfaction with myself and every thing about me, which, if it is not like the happiness of the blessed in heaven, is, I imagine, as like it as any thing this world can afford.