glass of brandy in the morning to prevent his hand shaking, while his wife has been obliged to have recourse to the same cordial in her tea, because it otherwise would make her low-spirited. But there is an epidemical disorder, that was formerly quite unknown, and even now wants a name, which seizes whole families here in town at this season of the year. As I cannot define it, I shall not pretend to describe or account for it: but one would imagine, that the people were all bit by a mad dog, as the same remedy is thought necessary. In a word, of whatever nature the complaint may be, it is imagined that nothing will remove it, but spending the summer months in some dirty fishing town by the sea-shore; and the water is judged to be the most efficacious, where there is the greatest resort of afflicted persons.

I called upon a friend the other morning, in the city, pretty early, about business, when I was surprised to see a coach' and four at the door which the 'prentice and book-keeper were loading with trunks, portmanteaus, baskets, and bandboxes. The front glass was screened by two round paper hat-cases hung up before it; against one door was placed a guitar-case, and a red satin cardinal, lined and edged with fur, was pinned against the other; while the extremities of an enormous hooppetticoat rested upon each window. These preparations were undoubtedly for a journey: and when I came in, I found the family were equipped accordingly. The lady-mother was dressed in a joseph of scarlet duffil, buttoned down from the breast to the feet, with a black silk bonnet tied down to her head with a white handkerchief:

little miss (about sixteen years of age) had a blue camblet jacket, cuffed and lapelled with pink satin, with a narrow edging of silver lace, a black beaver hat, covered on the outside with white shag, and cocked behind, with a silver button and loop, and a blue feather. The old gentleman had very little particular in his dress, as he wore his usual pompadour-coloured coat with gilt buttons; only he ⚫ had added to it a scarlet-cloth waistcoat, with a broad tarnished gold lace, which was made when he was chosen of the common-council. Upon my entrance, I naturally asked them if they were going into the country; to which the old lady replied in the affirmative, at the same time assuring me, that she was sorry to take Mr.

from his business, but she was obliged to it on account of her health. Health!' says the old gentleman, 'I don't understand your whim-whams, not I; here it has cost me the Lord knows what in doctor's stuff already, without your being a pin the better for it; and now you must lug me and all the family to Brighthemstone. Why, my dear,' said the lady, you know, Dr. tells me,

there is nothing will do my spirits so much good as bathing in the sea. The sea!' said the old gentleman; why then could not you have taken lodgings at Gravesend, where I might have easily come in the evening, and gone back time enough for 'Change in the morning?' The good lady told him that he had no taste, that people of the best fashion went to Brighthemstone, and that it was high time their girl should see a little of the world. To this, miss assented, by declaring, that indeed she had been no where but to the play, and the

castle-concert, since she had left the boardingschool. Both the females then asked me an hundred questions, such as, whether the sea looked green, and how much Thames, till the maid every thing was put up.

bigger it was than the gave them notice that Accordingly, I saw them into the coach; and the old lady did not forget to take the pug-dog with her, who, she declared, should go every morning into the sea, as she had been told it was good for the mange.

I cannot but agree with my city friend, that lodgings at Gravesend would answer all the common purposes of a jaunt to Brighthelmstone; for though one pretence for visiting these places is, going into the country, people in fact do not leave town, but rather carry London with them. Their way of living is exactly the same as here, and their amusements not very different. They suffer themselves to be mewed up in a little dirty lodging, with not half so good a prospect, or so good an air, as in the high road at Islington or Knightsbridge. Their mornings are drawled away, with, perhaps, a saunter upon the beach, which commands the delightful view of half a dozen hoys, and as many fishing-smacks; and if it was not for a lounge at the coffee-house, or the bookseller's, they would be at a loss how to fill up the vacant hours till dinner. The evenings would hang no less heavy on their hands, but for the ingenious contrivance of the assembly-room; where, instead of enjoying the cool temperature of the open air, they choose to swelter in a crowd, and be almost suffocated with their own breaths. Add to this, the refreshing summer diversion of jigging it to the delightful music of

country scrapers,-to say nothing of the calmer and less sudorific exercise of the card-table. But what is most ridiculous, is the attention paid to dress in these public retirements, where a gentleman or a lady is expected to appear as gay as at court, or at Ranelagh; consequently, as soon as you arrive at them, you have bills civilly thrust into your hands, acquainting you, that there is such an one, a milliner, and such an one, an hairdresser, from London.

I am a sincere well-wisher to your paper, &c.

ANTONY FRESHWATER.

B. Thornton.

CHARACTER OF A MIGHTY GOOD KIND OF MAN.

SIR,

I HAVE always thought your mighty good kind of man to be a very good for nothing fellow; and whoever is determined to think otherwise, may as well pass over what follows.

The good qualities of a mighty good kind of man, if he has any, are of the negative kind. He does very little harm; but you never find him do any good. He is very decent in appearance, and takes care to have all the externals of sense and virtue; but you never perceive the heart concerned in any word, thought, or action. Not many love him, though very few think ill of him: to him every body is his 'Dear sir,' though he cares not a farthing for any body but himself. If he writes to you, though you have but the slightest acquaintance with him, he begins with 'Dear Sir,' and ends with, 'I am, good sir, your ever sincere and affec

tionate friend, and most obedient humble servant.' You may generally find him in company with older persons than himself, but always with richer. He does not talk much; but he has a Yes,' or a 'True, sir,' or 'You observe very right, sir,' for every word that is said; which, with the old gentry, that love to hear themselves talk, makes him pass for a mighty sensible and discerning, as well as a mighty good kind of man. It is so familiar to him to be agreeable, and he has got such a habit of assenting to every thing advanced in company, that he does it without the trouble of thinking what he is about. I have known such a one, after having approved an observation made by one of the company, assent with 'What you say is very just,' to an opposite sentiment from another: and I have frequently made him contradict himself five times in a minute. As the weather is a principal and favourite topic of a mighty good kind of man, you may make him agree, that it is very hot, very cold, very cloudy, a fine sunshine, or it rains, snows, hails, or freezes, all in the same hour. The wind may be high, or not blow at all; it may be East, West, North, or South, South East and by East, or in any point in the compass, or any point not in the compass, just as you please. This, in a stage-coach, makes him a mighty agreeable companion, as well as a mighty good kind of man. He is so civil, and so well-bred, that he would keep you standing half an hour uncovered in the rain, rather than he would step into your chariot before you: and the dinner is in danger of growing cold, if you attempt to place him at the upper end of the table. He would not