At Nice she conversed with English and Irish; and, by imitating the language of each, she has, in her pronunciation, completed the union of the three kingdoms. But still her own country-language predominates; for during her residence abroad, she had an opportunity of preserving, and even of improving it, by daily conferences with the housemaid, who was born and educated in the county of Banff.

In pronouncing French, she blends the tone of all those dialects: and her phraseology is as singular as her pronunciation; for she faithfully translates every word from her own mother tongue. An example of this presents itself, which I shall never forget. One day, addressing her discourse to me, she said, "je doute pas que vous avez perusé les "ouvraiges di Mongseer le Counte de Bouffon ; 66 que un charmang creature! il met philosophes "et divins par les oreilles." That is, "I doubt "not that you have read the works of Count Buffon; "what a charming creature! he sets philosophers " and divines by the ears." I answered her, that I had never read the works of that renowned author, but that I had read the Principia of Sir Isaac Newton. "Why, indeed," replied she, "Sir Isaac may have been a man of better principles, but "asshurement, the theories of the Count are wit"tier."

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It is a happy circumstance that Miss Winterbottom did not make the grand tour. Had she visited Italy, she would have proved as great an adept in statuary and in painting, as she is at present in philosophy. But Miss Winterbottom cannot, in conscience, talk of her having visited Italy, while her travels were limited only to the borders of Pied

mont.

I never heard her mention Italy but once, and then she got no great encouragement to proceed in

her remarks. At dinner she said, "I remember, "that, in Italy, they have something very like our "veal, which they call vitello." "Well, sister Jud"dy," cried Captain Winterbottom," and why "should they not? for if vitello means veal in their "lingo, what else would you have the poor devils "call it ?.

It was resolved to postpone my lessons for a while, "that," as Mr. Flint expressed it, "I might come “to know the ways of the house first.”

Miss Juliana constantly teased me with questions about my plan for her nephew's education. To puzzle her a little I said, that, some weeks hence, I proposed to teach him to make nonsense verses. "Misericorde," cried she, "nonsense verses! Is that 66 part of the etiquaitte ?"

"Let the boy alone," added Captain Winterbottom, "when he is old enough to be in love, he "will make nonsense verses, I warrant you, with"out any help of yours; ay, although it should "be on mamma's dairy-maid." Mr. Flint laugh"ed loud, and Mrs. Flint said gently, "Oh fy, "brother!"

Perceiving that, on this encouragement, the Captain was about to be more witty, I recalled the conversation to nonsense verses, endeavoured to explain their nature, and observed, that their main use was to instruct one in the quantity of syllables.

"Quantity of syllables," exclaimed the Captain, "there is modern education for you! Boys have "their heads lumbered with great quantities of La"tin syllables and words, when they should be "taught to understand things, to speak their own "language rough and round, and so cut a figure in "parliament. I remember Will Fitzdriver; but he " is gone! Honest Will knew no tongue except a "little of his own, and yet he would talk to you "for an hour, and you would have thought that he

"had scarcely entered on the subject at all. He "never valued any of your outlandish lingos, not " he !"

I said, that if my pupil were of an age to go into parliament, I should be apt to advise him to follow the precepts of Pythagoras, and be silent for seven years. "He must have been a sure card, that Mr. "Pythagoras," observed the captain, " and I do sup66 pose that he lived up to his own precepts; for I "never heard of any speaker of that name; no, not ❝even in committees. People, to be sure, may hold "their tongues, and have a slice of the great pud"ding; but this is not a time for your dumb sena"tors. No, we must have bold, well-spoken men, to "tell poor Britannia that she is beggared, and bleed"ing, and expiring, ay, and dead too, for aught that "some folks care.' "He rounded this pathetic period with one of his best oaths.

"Were all men to make speeches," said I, "what "time would there be left for doing business?" "Bu"siness," cried the captain, " is not oratory busi"ness? and why cannot they set to it watch and "watch, as we do at sea?".

Mrs. Flint expressed her hope, that I would not load her poor boy's memory, by making him get a deal by heart.

"When I first got the multiplication table by "heart," said Mr. Flint, who generally falls in the rear of conversation, " it was a plaguy troublesome "job; but now that I am master of it, I don't per"ceive that it loads my memory at all."

"Learned men have remarked," said Miss Juliaana, "that it is not the getting by heart that is cen"surable, but the getting by rote, as one does one's "catechism."

"There she goes, the travelled lady," cried the captain," she must always have a fling at her cate"chism."

"Mr. Winterbottom," replied Miss Juliana with exceeding dignity, "you wrong me much. I am 26 sure, that I should be the last woman alive to say "any thing, especially in mixed companies, to the "disparagement of the religion of the state, which I "have always considered as the great lyeng [lien] " of society."

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"You have always considered religion as great "lying! and who taught you that, sister Juddy? your godfathers and your godmothers! No, sure." Here I was laid under the necessity of interposing, and of assuring captain Winterbottom, that he mistook his sister, and that she had inadvertently used a French word to express her own idea, " that religion was the great tie of society." Perhaps I prevaricated a little in my office of interpreter.

"Well, well," said the captain, "if her tongue "was tied, society would be no loser."

To divert the storm which seemed gathering, I spoke of my purpose to explain the tenth satire of Juvenal, a poem, for method, composition, and animated language, universally admired.

"What does that Juvenal write about?" said Miss Juliana; "I am not acquainted with his works: "was he a member of the French Academy?".... "Perhaps," replied I, smiling," he would be no "favourite with you, Miss Juliana; he has been ❝ very severe upon the Roman ladies."

"Ay, they were Papists," said captain Winterbottom," and they are all wh.......” “ Give me leave to "tell you," cried Miss Juliana, in a higher key, "when I was abroad, I had the honour of being ❝ known to several ladies of the Roman persuasion, " and they were persons of the strictest virtue.”

"I suppose you asked them whether they were "wh......, and they said they were not. Poor sister "Juddy! It is true, I never was in the gallies at "Nice, as you have been; but I have touched at

"Marseilles, and have laid close off the Mole of "Genoa, and that is farther than ever you travelled; " and I say they are all wh......"

How this wonderful controversy would have ended I know not; but happily we were called to coffee, which separated the combatants.

I was now pretty well acquainted with the ways of a house, in which ignorance, self-conceit, and illiberality of sentiment and manners, had fixed their residence. It was agreed, that on the Monday following I should begin my lessons. Appearances, I must acknowledge, were not very favourable. My pupil had been generally present at the conversations of which I have given you a specimen, and, indeed, they were not such as could either enlarge his mind, or improve his understanding. I flattered myself, however, that he would be left to prosecute his studies under my direction, and that every new acquisition in knowledge would encrease his love for letters.

In what way our studies were conducted, will best appear from a faithful journal of the progress which we made during the first week. But of this hereafter. Meanwhile I am, Sir, &c.

HYPODIDASCALUS.