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Feeling as I do, that Mr. Whitaker deserves the highest praise for his constancy in support of (what appears to me to be) genuine Christianity, I am at the same time duly sensible of the illiberality of those who, in their zeal for religion, allow not others to think as well as themselves. It was under this impression that I wrote the following lines in memory of Horne and Kippis.

It may be needless to add, that in Bishop Bagot the polished manners of modern times, are blended with the piety, simplicity and zeal of the apostolic age—that to Mr. Nares (late student of Christ Church) whose Sermons are read with all the attention due to excellence, the term “Patriotic,” may be justly applied, in its original acceptation—that Mr. Jones, the worthy friend and biographer of Bishop Horne, resembles in amiableness of character that good prelate—that Miss Hannah More, who was formerly honoured with the friendship of Garrick, and latterly with that of Horne, has experienced a happy change, while the enthusiasm of the Poet is lost in the zeal of the Christian—and that the names of Rees, of Parr, of Aikin and of Towers, will be announced, to the triumph of human nature, as long as genius, taste and science shall be respected among men—as long as charity shall remain, a distinguishing feature of Christianity.

These lines were afterwards transferred to a Country Mercer, equally as fond of a Pun as our Cambridge-Professor.

Not that the squire of G--- has, like the Author of the Task, any lively sense of feeling for the poor animal. It is for the sake of the sport that he interdicts the molestation of his hares. Other sportsmen have congenial sentiments with himself. And with these characters the conquest of a little inoffensive creature is the ultimate pleasure of the chace. This, some philosophers argue, is inconsistent with human nature. The invigorating exercise that accompanies the chace, is certainly (say they) the actuating principle. And the necessity (they add) of supplying the table with food, is another leading motive. But philosophers, who derive their knowledge from books, argue from what human nature should be, rather than from what it is. Whoever has observed the perseverance with which our modern gentry pursue the flying hare, in spite of every disadvantage of country, and the triumphant exultations which are heard on every side when the wearied helpless animal falls a prey to his pursuers, will easily perceive that neither health nor appetite are motives for the chace; but that the actuating principle which impels our countrymen to the field is merely the cowardly satisfaction of seeing a poor little brown animal wearied and pleading for mercy, torn in pieces by the ravenous jaws of twenty couple of red and white animals which pursue him. And that man is received with every mark of triumph, who is nearest the defenceless creature when he falls, and feasts his eyes with the tortures of the mangled victim!

The sweet apple, called the bitter-sweet, is more common in the orchards of Devon, than acid fruit, or the rough-sour.

An expression used by the vulgar in the north of Devon, to express local melancholy. There is something sublime in this impersonation of Wishness.

These lines were addressed to Miss Eliza S--- on her presenting the author with a drawing of Rousseau's Tomb in the Isle of Poplars, just before her departure from S--- to the Isle of Wight, on July 10, 1793.

This is scarcely an outline: it would be easy to draw a very strong portrait of a gentleman, whose singularities are ridiculed by the inconsiderate and regarded with pity by reflecting minds. But, in reverence to his many virtues and amiable qualities the author has noticed only two traits of his character—his believing in the communion of the living with the deceased, and his fondness for frequenting a deep glen just below his house, at midnight, where he has actually built a Mausoleum for his tomb, and where he believes that he often meets and converses with the spirits of his ancestors. See Illustrations; where are two short essays on Spirits and on Family.

To relish the beauties of nature, it is necessary to possess a good heart.

Fairy circles, probably occasioned by lightning.

The body of a dead serpent bruised on the wound it has occasioned, is said to be an infallible remedy for its bite: common report is sufficient to warrant a poetical allusion.

This passage does not allude to the small burning-glasses in common use, but those surprizing ones said to have been employed by Archimedes at the siege of Syracuse—such as consumed whole fleets of the Romans with all the men on board them, in an almost incredibly-short space of time.

The Basset family is connected with Dunstanville by the marriage of Thomas Basset, Lord of Burcester in Oxfordshire, 25th of Henry 2nd, with Cecilia, daughter of Alan de Dunstanville of Tehidy, son of Reginald de Dunstanville by Ursula, daughter and coheir of Reginald Fitzhenry, Earl of Cornwall.

On this emergency, Devonshire had equal reason to applaud the services of Mr. Bastard.

Alluding to his exemplary conduct during the late insurrection of the Cornish Miners. To his manly exertions amidst the general ferment, and his spirited perseverance in bringing a rioter to condign punishment, we owe the preservation of our property and our lives!

Doubtless, “other mansions!” Nor let me be accused of disrespect to the families that are passed in silence, whilst I particularize the houses of Mount Edgcumbe, of Clowance, of Trelowarren, of Menabilly, of Trewarthenack; the representatives of which are all distinguished by a genuine “nobility of mind!”