a very high hill, and as my fight was very good, I difcovered fome fheep at a distance, feeding in a valley; at the fame time I thought I heard the neighing of feveral horfes; and as I am naturally fond of those animals, I was more obliged to my ears than my. eyes on that occafion. I looked towards the fea, but could fee nothing: the fight of a fingle cottage would have given me the greatest pleasure; at length I faw one, and had the courage to go up to it-it was deferted, but the manner in which it was conftructed convinced me that the island was inhabited, and that by a civilized people too, as I met with two iron inftruments the ufe of which I could not comprehend. I was very much rejoiced at this; and though as little difpofed to fuperftition as my neighbours, I could not help faying to myself " I am glad that the first living animal I faw was a fheep." As I was mufing, on my return, on what I had feen, a woman happened to meet me at first I was a little startled, and was going to pass by her without fpeaking-her countenance invited me, and from that day to this I think I never faw fo placid a one; I was happy to find that our language was the fame, differing only in dialect. I related to her the heads of my story, which fhe liftened to with more patience than I fear you will take to read this; which in order to induce you to, I fhall only remind you,which is perfectly unneceffary, I hope, that I am Yours fincerely. LETTER LETTER XXIV. MY DEAR FRIEND, OUR chief governor has two fons, and three daughters who may well be called the three Graces, particularly the eldeft, who is yet in the flower of youth; but, as the poet fays, "The beauty that is borne in her face The bearer knows not.” Notwithstanding fhe is fairer than the lily, fhe is above leading an ambrofial life; her garments are all of her own needle-work, her waift s like the harp of Apollo, and her hair the golden ftrings; her flower garden would delight you, and yet when she moves in it the feems the fairest flowret of the whole: at a little distance fhe has a bower; I never faw it, but it is faid to exceed even Byrtha's.-By this time we had gained the cottage of my kind conductress. Her family confifted of two little boys, her grandfons, who had lived with her from their infancy; her husband had been a clergyman, who having long "allured to brighter worlds," led the way with a smile in the fixtieth year of his age: this if poffible knit me clofer to her, on account of my father being of the fame profeffion, and more from the fimilarity of their manners. - The cottage was delightfully fituated on the declivity of a verdant hill, encircled with a brook that flowed in mazes. The garden was large, and in fome places fo overfhaded with lofty pine that the fun-flower could fcarcely get a view of her lufty paramour till he gained his meridian; fuch a vegetable toleration, not a plant or flower, however mean, that did not meet with protection and attention; and though Solomon in all his glory was was arrayed like the lily, yet the prickly briar-I mean the sweet-briar -thought it no indignity to curl round her fnowy waift; and, that Narciffus might have the pleasure of viewing himself, a small rivulet ran through the midft, on whofe velvet brim he took delight to bend.-From the specimen I have given you of this enchanting fpot, I fhall leave you to conceive the reft. Adieu. LETTER |