X793- ^^ correspondents'. 263 



" Permit me to recommend to all of you in your departments, the 

 old and excellent method of raising funds for the poor in Scotland, 

 and to exclude all from the benefit of the poor's funds who use tea or 

 grocery goods of any kind, or ardent spirits ; by so doing you will se- 

 cure inestimable blefsings to your country, and obtain the the high ap- 

 probation of, gentlemen your sincere welwiflier, Albanicus." 



Is not the injunction above, rather too severe ? the Editor would 

 not become the apologist for difsipation or vice. A distinction ought 

 certainly to be made between the sober and the difsipated, but ab- 

 solute exclusion from charitable aid to a person in utter w^ant can- 

 not be done. 



Different kinds of humour please different persons. Periodita sends 

 the following specimen of the kind that pleases him. " Dear Bee, I 

 want to be a spectator of the proceedings of the parliament house, 

 will you be my guardian there. We (hall find adventures [^. ad- 

 •ventnrers ?\ there I am told, — and ramlilers, — and connoifseurs, we 

 must suppose ; also idlers, in abundance, loungers innumerable : few 

 mirrors fit to reflect what is proper ; fict.\X\o\x% freeholders, producing 

 settlers without end. In fhort the whole world goes there. So I 



beg you will escort for once yours &c. " He might have added- 



Smatterers, Speculators, Egotists, Sophists, &c. &c. Stc. 



The following fragment is offered by M. P. in imitation of Ofsian's 

 jtile. 



1. 



The storm begins to lour — the ball of day 

 Smks in the darkened wave. The troubled Hiv 

 Rolls big with tempest, and no friendly ray 

 Shines on the path. The leaves and thistles fly. 



n. 

 Loud roars the mountain stream. The aged oak 

 •Groans to the blast. The hunter on the hiil 

 Reels With benighted steps. The hollow rock 

 Sounds from afar. Black runs the mofsy rill. 



III. 

 The trembling sailor hears the ocean roar „■ 



Around the rocking bark. The rattling wind 

 Howls on the rigging, and the broken oars 

 Float on the surge,— confusion fills his mind. 

 f{ints 0/ Tarroiv, 1750. 



