Whilft the Honourable Mr. **** was waiting for a wind at Dover it had been caught upon the cliffs before it could well fly, by an English lad who was his groom; who not caring to destroy it, had taken it in his breast into the packet-and by courfe of feeding it, and taking it once under his protection, in a day or two grew fond of it, and got it fafe along with him to Paris.

At Paris the lad had laid out a a livre in a little cage for the ftarling, and as he had little to do better the five months his mafter ftay'd there, he taught it in his mother's tongue the four fimple words-(and no more)

A

to which I own'd myself fo much it's debtor.

Upon his master's going on for Italy the lad had given it to the mafter of the hotel-But his little fong for liberty, being in an unknown language at Paris-the bird had little or no ftore fet by him-fo La Fleur bought both him and his cage for me for a bottle of Burgundy.

In my return from Italy I brought him with me to the country in whofe language he had learned his notesand telling the ftory of him to Lord A-Lord A begg'd the bird of me→→ in a week Lord A gave him to Lord B-Lord B made a prefent of him to Lord C-and Lord's C's

5

gentle

gentleman fold him to Lord D's for

a fhilling Lord D gave him to Lord E-and fo on-half round the alphabet-From that rank he pafs'd into the lower house, and pass'd the hands of as many commonersBut as all these wanted to get in-and my bird wanted to get out-he had almoft as little ftore fet by him in London as in Paris.

It is impoffible but many of my readers must have heard of him; and if any by mere chance have ever seen him-I beg leave to inform them, that that bird was my bird-or some vile copy fet up to represent him.

I have nothing further to add upon him, but that from that time to this, D 3 I have

I have borne this poor ftarling as the

creft to my arms. Thus :

And let the heralds officers twift his neck about if they dare.

THE

I

THE ADDRESS.

VERSAILLES,

SHOULD not like to have my enemy take a view of my mind, when, I am going to afk protection of any man for which reafon I generally endeavour to protect myself; but this going to Monfieur Le Duc de C***** was an act of compulfion-had it been an act of choice, I should have done it, I fuppofe, like other people.

How many mean plans of dirty. addrefs, as I went along, did my D 4 fervile