I owe, and must my future fate.
A stranger into life I'm come,
Dying may be our going home,
Transported here by angry Fate,
The convicts of a prior state.
Hence I no anxious thoughts bestow
On matters, I can never know;

Through life's foul way, like vagrant pass'd, He'll grant a settlement at last.

And with sweet ease the wearied crown,

By leave to lay his being down.

If doom'd to dance th' eternal round

Of life no sooner lost but found,

And dissolution soon to come,

Like spunge, wipes out life's present sum,
But can't our state of pow'r bereave
An endless series to receive;

Then, if hard dealt with here by fate,
We balance in another state,
And consciousness must go along,
And sign th' acquittance for the wrong.
He for his creatures must decree

More happiness than misery,
Or be supposed to create,
Curious to try, what 'tis to hate :
And do an act, which rage infers,
'Cause lameness halts, or blindness errs.

Thus, thus I steer my bark, and sail On even keel with gentle gale;

At helm I make my reason sit,
My crew of passions all submit.
If dark and blust'ring prove some nights,
Philosophy puts forth her lights;
Experience holds the cautious glass,
To shun the breakers, as I pass,
And frequent throws the wary lead, '
To see what dangers may be hid;
And once in seven years I'm seen
At Bath or Tunbridge, to careen.
Though pleas'd to see the dolphins play,
I mind my compass and my way,
With store sufficient for relief,
And wisely still prepar❜d to reef,
Nor wanting the dispersive bowl
Of cloudy weather in the soul,
I make (may heav'n propitious send
Such wind and weather to the end)
Neither becalm'd, nor over-blown,
Life's voyage to the world unknown.

END OF

EPISTLES FAMILIAR AND HUMOROUS.

NOTES

ON

EPISTLES

FAMILIAR AND HUMOROUS.

EPISTLE I.

Page1. THIS Epistle was written in 1735. The noble Lord whom Mr. Jenyns addressed, died the year after, and by his death the title became extinct. 6. A fart that weighs not half a grain.] See Boyle's Experiments.

EPISTLE II.

Page 9. The Nobleman here addressed was the late Earl of Bathurst, one of the twelve peers created by Queen Anne. His Lordship was celebrated both for his taste and talents, and retained his vivacity to the last. He died in 1775, in the 92d year of his age.

EPISTLE III.

Page. 13. Sir George Etherege was born before the middle of the last century, and educated at Cambridge. He afterwards travelled into Flanders and France, and on his return applied to the law. Dis

gusted, however, at the severe application it required, he renounced the profession, for the sake of politer studies. Having married a lady of considerable fortune (who made it a prerequisite to their union, that he should obtain the honor of knighthood), he grew into favor at court, and by the interest of the Queen was sent envoy to Hamburgh. After the secession of James, he adhered to his cause; and died either in France, or at Ratisbon, in consequence of inebrity.He wrote three comedies, and several poems.

The nobleman to whom this Epistle was written, was Charles, second Earl of that title, and Secretary of State for Scotland, from 1684 to the Revolution. He was attainted by the Scottish Parliament in 1695, and embarked in the French armament, defeated by Admiral Byng, when meditating a descent in Scotland 1708.-Sir William Temple spoke of him to Swift, as 66 a very valuable man, and a good scholar."

EPISTLE IV.

Page 17. Sir John Dolben, Bart. of Finedon, in Northamptonshire, D. D. and prebendary of Durham, married Elizabeth, daughter of William, the fifth Lord Digby, and died in 1756, aged 73.

Antony Aslop, the writer of this letter, was elected from Westminster to Christ-Church, Oxford; and having acquired considerable reputation as a Tutor in that university (where he took his degree of batchelor of divinity) he attracted the notice of Sir Jonathan Trelawny whilst bishop of Winchester; was appoint