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fee by my writing, but no matter for that, I lives hard by a pure ingenious gentleman, no less a person than the curate of our parish, who you must know is a fort of a what d'y' call it, a poet I think, and so he has your papers sent him every week; and as he knows that I loves a bit of reading now and then, he lets me look over them of an evening: but may I be hanged Squire, if I can tell what to make of them, except it be here and there a word. - You talk fo much of women's nakedness in fome of them, that my dame who loves to be knowing, and who spins whilst I read, thought as how it was the fashion in London to wear no cloaths, and faid i'fackins husband, it may fave a mortal deal of money, but then methinks 'tis very undecent: but I told her you did but joke: though when she saw the letter from Rofe Plump, she said she was fure that was no joke. But commend me to Mr. Olive the oilman: adsnigs he is a clever man, and knows how to manage madam. A man that can stop his wife's clack is good for fomething; for between you and I, Squire, that is a thing not always to be done ; as you find in your own family, fome of which have showed themselves to be wise men, by chusing filent women. Why there is your cousin Patty, don't

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don't be affronted, but hang me like a dog, if
I would marry her, though I was fure she had
ten thousand pounds to her portion. Pray write
a little against prating women, you can't say too
much about that. My dame laughed till she
could scarce see, at some of your London ladies
talking of putting on breeches and fighting againft
the French-to be sure I am glad to find that
there is such a pure spirit against that plaguy
people; for I always hated a Frenchman as I do
a toad, and adsnigs, if ever they land here, tho
by the bye I believe they are more cunning than
that comes to, I don't doubt but we shall de-
molish every mother's son of them. But as to
women's wearing the breeches, hold a bit there
dame, said I, you are all ready enough to do that
we know : however, dame thinks it is a burning
shame for all the young men to live to be old
batchelors. But that swearing paper about Bot
and Pinch, I think you call them, who are they?
a couple of fierce blades I warrant: adsnigs when
I began to read it, dame looked quite scarified,
and did not know what I was at, and thought
at first as how I was in a terrible paffion at her,
and said she never heard me in such a woundy
taking since last hay-time; but methinks, Squire,
if I may speak my mind, it is a little too wic-
ked

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ked: only I suppose you really heard fuch a discourse-adsnigs how fome folks will swear. God forgive them, but neither dame nor I can tell for the foul of us what it was all about. Pray Squire what may that same simile be; I asked our curate, but he only fell a laughing: so to be sure there is a good jest in it if I had but wit enough to find it out. I have thought on it, and thought on it again, but am never the nearer; but will conclude here, only begging pardon for my boldness, but indeed if you was to write a little plainer, Squire, we country-folks might understand you better, and learn more knowledge. So wishing you will take my homeJy advice in good part,

X*X*

I rest your hearty well-wisher,
ROGER SMOAKY.

*X*X*

NUMB. XI. Saturday, May 22, 1756.

-Virtû to fuch a height is grown,
All artists are encouraged but our own.

SIR,

GARRICK.

TO NICHOLAS BABBLE, Efq;

AS an Englishman, and

a true lover of my

native land, I cannot fee the performances

of

of foreign artists preferr'd to the labours of my own countrymen without indignation: and think people of distinction, and those who are fond of apeing them, cenfurable for giving encouragement to the former, and treating the latter with indifference and neglect.

Curiosity led me fome weeks ago to Langford's room, where a collection of capital pictures was exhibited to view: I am a great admirer of the pictorial art, and will venture to fay I have a little-you know what I mean, Mr. BABBLE,-though I am not a Connoiffeur, I will confess honestly, Sir, that I beheld the genuine performances of several eminent foreign masters, now no more, with delight; but I must also tell you freely, that there are several rifing geniusses in this kingdom, who, if properly patronized, wou'd produce pieces not inferior to the most celebrated Antiques; many of which, I will not scruple to affirm, are elaborate copies, and palmed upon people of fortune, by those pretenders to taste, those fworn foes to our English painters, the Dealers, for originals. But to the point.

On furveying with admiration a fine Claude, I was accosted by Tom Canvass, a very ingenious and industrious young fellow, for whom I have

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have a hearty regard: But I am afraid he will never make his way in the world by dint of merit: his dress was shabbily genteel, and he looked so much like the poor apothecary in Romeo and Juliet, that I did not immediately recognize him. After an interchange of compliments, he asked me how I liked the collection. " Here

are several highly-finished pieces, said I, but " I want to fee some paintings by English hands, " and particularly by your own."-" Why, " replied Tom, I have pieces enough at home, " which would make a pretty figure here, but "then they would be known to be mine, and " nobody would vouchsafe to look on the pal"try daubings. Indeed if I had recourse to the " dealer's arts, made use of the spaltham-pot, " and gave it out that they were executed by Sig"nor Canvassini, all the Connoisseurs in town "would flock about them, examine them atten

tively with their glasses, and cry out with " rapture, What striking attitudes !-what warm "colouring!-what maffes of light and shade!"what a rich fore-ground! Did you ever fee any "thing more riant!-If you will be so kind, " continued he, as to go with me to my lod"gings, I will shew you a fine piece which I " have lately finished." -I readily accepted of his