184 CORRESPONDENCE WITH HIS FAMILY- 



nephew. This man, my present master, dug me out of my 

 winter retreat, and, packing me in a deal box, jumbled me 80 

 miles in post-chaises to my present place of abode. I was 

 sore shaken by this expedition, which was the worst journey 

 I ever experienced. In my present situation I enjoy many 

 advantages such as the range of an extensive garden, afford- 

 ing a variety of sun and shade, and abounding in lettuces, 

 poppies, kidney beans, and many other salubrious and delec- 

 table herbs and plants, and especially with a great choice of 

 delicate gooseberries ! But still at times I miss my good old 

 mistress, whose grave and regular deportment suited best with 

 my disposition. For you must know that my master is what 

 they call a naturalist, and much visited by people of that turn, 

 who often put him on whimsical experiments, such as feeling 

 my pulse, putting me in a tub of water to try if I can swim, 

 &c. ; and twice in the year I am carried to the grocer's to be 

 weighed, that it may be seen how much I am wasted during 

 the months of my abstinence, and how much I gain by feast- 

 ing in the summer. Upon these occasions I am placed in 

 the scale on my back, where I sprawl about to the great di- 

 version of the shop-keeper's children. These matters displease 

 me ; but there is another that much hurts my pride : I mean 

 that contempt shown for my understanding which these Lords 

 of the Creation are very apt to discover, thinking that nobody 

 knows anything but themselves. I heard my master say that 

 he expected that I should some day tumble down the ha-ha ; 

 whereas I would have him to know that I can discern a pre- 

 cipice from plain ground as well as himself. Sometimes my 

 master repeats with much seeming triumph the following 

 lines, which occasion a loud laugh. 



" Timotheus placed on high 

 " Amidst the tuneful choir, 

 " With flying fingers touched the lyre." 



For my part I see no wit in the application ; nor know 

 whence the verses are quoted ; perhaps from some prophet of 

 his own, who, if he penned them for the sake of ridiculing 

 tortoises, bestowed his pains, I think, to poor purposes. These 



