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the merits and demerits of the authors whom they had produced. In these criticisms she shewed more erudition than generally falls to the lot of females; and though Mr. M. thought her writing to him extraordinary, as he was very slightly known to her, he encouraged her to continue the correspondence. She railed against the world, and mentioned the circumstances which were the cause of her being slighted and undervalued, concluding her letter with a request that he would freely give his opinion of her character, and tell her why, being naturally gay, she had become serious, and why, loving society, she passed her days in seclu sion. Mr. M- -'s answer was dictated by common sense, advising her to descend from the pinnacle of philosophic excellence on which she had mounted, and to consult her own peace of mind, by conforming in things indifferent to the general mode of acting, rather than to give offence by needless singularity. This answer had not the desired effect in restoring her good humour: she once more addressed Mr. M. in a spirit of bitterness, including him also in her invective, to which the following is his answer.

MY DEAR MADAM,

It seems I have not been successful in the solution of your enigma! I am not an Edipus you say! but the truth is, you are like the artists in Rome who sometimes desire my opinion of their works;

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when, instead of paying the compliments they expect, I point out their defects; but disappointed in their expectations, and assisted by their vanity, they seldom want reasons to reconcile themselves to their own imperfections. I cannot but think, that the frightful description you give of the world, savours more of misanthropy than of philosophy; but remember, my dear madam, that this world is a flower garden overgrown with weeds; and if like children we expect nothing but pinks, daisies, and violets, we shall be disappointed when we are sometimes stung by nettles. This world is a picture, where deep shades and subordinate tints are necessary to give relief and brilliancy to the most important objects: it is a chain, where every link is necessary, and destined for the general support. If pearls were to drop like hailstones from the clouds, or diamonds were not concealed in the bowels of the earth, they would have little value; but we must not condemn the sea, nor the mountains for concealing them. So we are to search for virtue, friendship, and morality, though incumbered by vice, folly, and ingratitude. These shades, as I observed before, are necessary to form the perfect picture; and are we then, my good lady, to rail at this wonderful perfection, though incomprehensible master-piece of the Creator! Dare we, insignificant peevish insects, called mortals, to criticise the Great Architect because he puts a rustic basement to support a Corinthian superstructure? Our jour

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ney through life is through a thick forest without a beaten path, through which we must pick our way, with pain and difficulty, and not give way to spleen and discontent!

But to recur once more to the singularity of your situation: during this journey, we must with patience, prudence, and a little good humour, endeavour to avoid the thorns and thistles we are destined to meet with, and not suffer our nice feelings and over-stretched delicacy to throw unnecessary stumbling-blocks in our way. It is the trick of tormenting ourselves with trifles that puts the rich and the poor on a sort of level; else we might tax Providence with having distributed good and evil with a partial hand; but industry is a remedy against distress to the poor, while the rich will find relief for their self-coined distresses in a little indulgence for the frailties, follies, and various imperfections of their neighbours. "Bear and forbear," says Epictetus. These words well considered would contain a powerful remedy against many of those evils we complain of. When I recommend to you a degree of hypocrisy, do not take my words too literally-for I hate that vice as much as you do, nor has a good heart and upright disposition any need of it; but a little compliance with the manners of a corrupt world will blunt the arrows of malice and envy. If the frivolous part of your sex find your hat too large, or will not let you walk alone, and no agreeable com

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panion is at hand; the first is soon remedied, and for the other, get a dog like St. Filippo, or a pig like St. Anthony, or like Proserpine let a duck waddle by the side of you.

Society consists chiefly of triflers, to whom singularity gives offence. But let your hat exceed the cupola of St. Peter's in diameter; I should be happy this summer to live in the shade of it. In the mean time, with all your oddities, I shall ever remain,

Most sincerely, your friend,

MC

M

Rome, March 20, 1820.

You will easily perceive that the writer was unacquainted with that which can alone change the heart. You must remember too, that as he is a German, he wrote in a foreign language; but on the whole, you will be pleased with the good sense and liveliness of the letter.

LETTER XXIII.

Rome, March 26, 1820.

PALM SUNDAY: the ceremonies of the holy week commence at the Quirinal chapel, with the blessing of the palms. The ceremony was the same as the blessing of the candles; the Pope was carried in and out in procession.

Wednesday, March 29. I went to St. Peter's to hear the Miserere, which was fine beyond my expectation. We sat opposite to the altar, before which thirteen candles burnt bright for a time; by degrees they were all extinguished but one, which was placed burning behind the altar, to represent the undying faith of the Virgin, whilst that of the twelve apostles entirely failed.

In this evening we saw a curious ceremony at the Church of the Pilgrims; princesses and ladies of the first consequence, washing the feet of female pilgrims, and afterwards attending them at supper. For the first, warm water was brought in large tubs or buckets: the ladies, dressed in black, tucked up their gowns, and girded themselves with napkins; after which, they pulled off the stockings of the poor women; and having placed their feet in the tubs, washed and rubbed them carefully, and then wiped them with the towels.