went to Italy for the recovery of my health ; and, when I called upon you, I tried to engage your mother to return to England with me:* she and yourself are at length come, and I have had the inexpressible joy of seeing my girl everything I wished her.

I have set down these particulars relating to my family and self for my Lydia, in case hereafter she might have a curiosity, or a kinder motive, to know them.

As Mr. Sterne, in the foregoing narrative, brought down the account of himself until within a few months of his death, it remains only to mention that he left York about the end of the year 1767, and came to London, in order to publish “The Sentimental Journey," which he had written during the preceding summer at his favourite living of Coxwould. His health had been for some time declining; but he continued to visit his friends, and retained his usual flow of spirits. In February 1768 he began to perceive the approaches of death; and with the

* From this passage it appears that the present account of Mr. Sterne's life and family was written about six months only before his death.

concern of a good man, and with the solicitude of an affectionate parent, devoted his attention to the future welfare of his daughter. His letters, at this period, reflect so much credit on his character, that it is to be lamented some others in the collection were permitted to see the light. After a short struggle with his disorder, his debilitated and worn-out frame submitted to fate on the 18th day of March 1768, at his lodgings in Bond Street. He was buried at the new burying-ground belonging to the parish of St. George, Hanover Square, on the 22nd of the same month, in the most private manner; and has since been indebted to strangers for a monument very unworthy of his memory, on which the following lines are inscribed:

The Reverend LAURENCE STERNE, A. M.

Died September 13th, 1768,*
Aged 53 Years.

Ah! molliter ossa quiescant.

* It is scarcely necessary to observe that this date is

erroneous.

22

LIFE OF THE REV. MR. STERNE.

If a sound Head, warm Heart, and Breast humane,
Unsullied Worth, and Soul without a Stain;
If Mental Pow'rs could ever justly claim
The well-won Tribute of immortal Fame,
Sterne was the Man, who, with gigantic Stride,,
Mow'd down luxuriant Follies far and wide.
Yet what tho' keenest Knowledge of Mankind
Unseal'd to him the springs that move the Mind;
What did it cost him?-Ridiculed, abused,
By Fools insulted, and by Prudes accused!-
In his, mild Reader, view thy future Fate;
Like him, despise what 'twere a sin to hate."

This monumental Stone was erected by two brother Masons; for though he did not live to be a member of their society, yet, as his allincomparable performances evidently prove him to have acted by rule and square, they rejoice in this opportunity of perpetuating his high and irreproachable character to after ages.

W. & S.

A SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY

THROUGH FRANCE AND ITALY