THE STARLING.

ROAD TO VERSAILLES.

GOT into my remise the hour I propofed: La Fleur got up behind, and I bid the coachman make the best of his way to Verfailles.

As there was nothing in this road, or rather nothing which I look for in travelling, I cannot fill up the blank better than with a fhort history of this felf-fame bird, which became the fubject of the laft chapter.

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 breaft into the packet and by courfe of feeding it, taking it once under his protection, in a day or two grew fond of it, and got it fafe along with him to Paris.

and

Upon his mafter's going on for Italy -the lad had given it to the mafter of the hôtel-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 whose language he had learn'd his notes-and telling the story of him to Lord ALord A begg'd the bird of me-in a week Lord A gave him to Lord BLord B made a prefent of him to Lord Cand Lord C's 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 pass'd into the lower houfe, and pafs'd the hands of as many coinmoners-But as all thefe wanted to get in-and in-and my bird wanted to get out-he had almost as little ftore fet by him in London as in Paris.

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

I have nothing further to add upon him, but that from that time to this, I have borne this poor ftarling as the creft to my arms. Thus:

T

And let the heralds officers twift

his neck about if they dare.ch, mid

T

THE ADDRESS.

VERSAILLES.

I SHOULD not like to have my ene

my 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 fhould have done it, I fuppofe, like other people.

How many mean plans of dirty addrefs, as I went along, did my fervile heart form! I deferved the Baftile for every one of them.

Then