N° 98. SATURDAY, April 15, 1780. I To the AUTHOR of the MIRROR.. SIR, NOW fend you a faithful narrative of the progress of our ftudies in Mr. Flint's family, from Monday morning to Saturday at bed-time, carefully distinguishing the proficiency made in each day. MONDAY. Mrs. Flint had previously informed me, that her fon's conftitution did not agree with much study before breakfast, and that, whenever he read on an empty ftomach, he was apt to be disturbed with uneafy yawnings; we therefore refolved that he should have a fhort leffon only. at eight in the morning.. After waiting in the parlour till within a quarter of nine, I learned from Mrs. Flint, that her fon had been obferved to turn himfelf twice or thrice during the night, and that he feemed to be threatened with a fort. of stuffing and wheefing and that, by way of prevention, fe julged it beft to give him a little fenna, and K 5 confine confine him to his chamber for a few hours; but th, in the evening, we might prosecute our studies without farther interruption. Accordingly, at fix, my pupil and I prepared to read the tenth fatire of Juvenal. After having explained to him the general scope and method of the satirists, I began, Omnibus in terris quæ funt a Gadibus ufque, At that moment I heard a gentle tap at the door, and then entered Mifs Juliana and her fifter, with Mr. Flint and the Captain, a little behind, and walking on tiptoe., "You must "pardon our femelle curiofité,," faid Mifs Juliana, "we come to fee Femmy take his firft « leffon from you. What have you got here? "I fancy, from my knowledge of French, that I could pick out the meaning of fome "part of it. Oh! I understand; there is auroram, does not that mean, break of day? . "Que l'aurore "Nous trouve encore. « I learned it in a French Chanfong a boar." "What is that boar fong?" demanded Captain Winterbottom, is it a hunting one?" "Oh fy, no," faid Mifs Juliana, "it is a drinking "fong." "fong." "And who taught you drinking fongs, fifter Juddy; did you learn them from 66 your outlandish ladies of honour?" A tremendous affault on the knocker anounced the a perfon of quality." The On this joyful news · the ladies hurried to the drawing-room. approach of "Countess of Mrs. Flint presently returned. "I must "make an apology," faid fhe, for thus in"terrupting the courfe of my fon's studies; "but the Countefs has made a flying visit to "tell me, that there is a meeting of young "people at her houfe this evening, and that "there will be a dance and a little fupper, and the infifts to have Jemmy of the party; but I would not engage for any thing, "without asking your leave, as you have the "whole charge of his education. There will "be many rich folks, and many fine folks; "and there will be Mifs Punaife, the great "heirefs; he has a vaft improveable eftate,. hard by the borough of Ayno, and who can "tell") The good woman was bufy in weave, ing the web of futurities, when I reminded her that her fon had taken medicine that morning,. and that, poffibly,, he might catch cold. At another time, the mention of catch-cold would have awakened all her feelings; but, at present, Mrs. Flint was elevated above the region of alarms. K 6 alarms. "Never fear," faid fhe, tr we are "going to a close warm house, without a "breath of air in it. Come away, Jemmy, and 66 put on a pair of white filk stockings as faft as you can; the Countess waits us. TUESDAY. My pupil had been kept out of bed fo much beyond his ufual hour, that he did not make his appearance till after breakfaft. "Cheer up, "my boy," cried Mrs. Flint, " you look as if you had been dreaming all night of your "partner Mifs Punaife: come, let us take an airing, and refresh ourselves after the fatigues "of the ball. Thefe late fittings don't answer "with my old bones. You fee, Mr. "that I have been as good as my word, and that Jemmy, poor man, has caught no cold. "You fhall go along with us on our airing; "there is room for you in Mr. Flint's carriage "and fix, and you may talk over your leffons "by the way; for you will find the carriage quite eafy." Nothing indeed could be more admirably calculated to elude, every jolt; and there wanted only folitude and independence to make it refemble a down bed. "We must, "first of all, fhut cut the common enemy, the eaft wind," faid Mrs. Flint, pulling up the glaffes. glaffes. The weather was warm, and Mrs. Flint grew eloquent on the fund of knowledge fhe had acquired the night before. She gave me the catalogue and character of the company: she dwelt most on her fon's looks and dancing. "A gentleman at the Countess's, who faid he "was lately come from Paris, told me, Jemmy "was vaftly like the Count de Provence, the "King of France's brother, particularly in the "minuet: but remember, Jemmy, that to be a "great fcholar is a much finer thing than to "be a great dancer. I am fure, Mr. "that my boy will profit by your instructions: " he has a charming memory, and he will take in his learning as faft as you can give it him; "and I am fure that is faying a great deal; for, "from all that I can discover, Mr. Flint could 66. not have bestowed his money better."-She was going on; but, alas! flattery vibrated faintly on my ear: we had got above pineapple heat, and I became fick and oppressed. afked leave to get out, and walk home, as I felt myself not well. "Oh, to be fure," faid fhe: "I have known people fick in carriages for "want of practice; don't be alarmed, Mr. I -- but here, Jemmy, do you wrap "this handkerchief about your neck, before "the coach-door is opened." I walked |