CORRESPONDENCE WITH HIS FAMILY. 147 



LETTER XXXVI. 



TO MISS MARY WHITE. 



Seleburne, Feb. 7, 1783. 

 DEAR MOLLY, 



As the Spring begins to advance, and as we propose now 

 being with you about the first week in March, we can hardly 

 wish for half an hundred of salt fish so late ; and Mrs. Gr. and 

 Mr. Etty, I find, are of the same mind. We must therefore 

 desire a note to his fishmonger to stop his hand. 



Having expected the Rector of Faringdon for some time 

 at my house, I could not so well say whenabout we should 

 endeavour to get to Town ; but as he has been here we shall 

 hope to be at liberty as above mentioned, and we should be 

 glad to know if that season would be convenient. 



" Look upon the rainbow, and praise him that made it : very beautiful 

 is it in the brightness thereof." Eccles. xliii. 11. 



" On morning or on evening cloud impressed 

 Bent in vast curve, the wat'ry meteor shines 

 Delightfully, to th' level sun opposed. 

 Smit with the gaudy scone th' unconscious swain 

 \Yith vacant eye gazes on the divine 

 Phsenomenon, gleaming o'er th' illumined fields, 

 Or runs to catch the treasure which it sheds. 



Not so the sage : inspired with pious awe 

 He hails the federal arch*, and looking up 

 Adores the God whose fingers formed this bow 

 Magnificent, compassing heaven about 

 With a resplendent verge : l Thou mad'st the cloud, 

 Maker omnipotent, and thou the bow, 

 And by that covenant graciously hast vow'd 

 Never to drown the world again : henceforth 

 Till time shall be no more, in beauteous train 

 Season shall follow season, day to night 

 Succeed : ' inspired so sung the Hebrew bard f." 



Ml.MO-MlLTON J. 



* Gen. ix. 12-17. t Moses. 



I [Vol. I. p. 502. T. B.] 



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