1807.] 
ceed. tHe hasheard, however, that, next to ~ 
being a wit, keeping company with witty 
men is the belt {tep to fecure the repu- 
tation of the character he aims at; for 
which reafon, he encourages half the 
poor authors of Italy, and me among 
the reft, to come to his table. There I 
flatter, and get flattered in return; and, 
what is better, riot in the nobleft Faler- 
nian. As for any more fubftantial marks 
of his favour, whatever may be the opi- 
nion of the world on that fubject, [ en- 
joy none; except, occalionally, when I 
write an ode which happens to tickle his 
vanity: but even this fource of his ge- 
nerolity begins to grow dry. My ode, 
“< Mecenas atavis edite Regibus,” brought 
me a gratuity in ready caih large enough 
to live handfomely upon for a twelve- 
month, and fee all my friends without 
fpunging dinners in retura.” That of | 
“ Tyrrhena Regum Progenies” enabled 
me to enfranchife my Sabine Villa.» But 
thofe golden times of my fortune are 
over. “ Ibis Liburnis inter alta Navi- 
um,” did not produce enough to prevent 
my felling the very eftate which, by means 
of the former, I had purchafed; and 
that which I fent him on his lait birth- 
day, was anfwered only by a pretty 
written letter of compliment. As for 
Pollio, may all the gods protect me from 
aman who picks the bread out of poor 
authors’ mouths, while he himfelf fares, 
delicately on Phosnicopter’s brains. 
Had I but a few farthings in my 
pocket, as I have in fact not one, I 
fhould certainly take a trip One morning 
in the Dyrrachiam Packet. My defire is 
{fo vehement to vilit Greece, that I ac-_ 
tually addreffed the matter of a cutter 
from Naupactus to work my paflage over ; 
but cafting a contemptuous glance on my 
dropfical legs, he an{fwered, he did not 
want ballatft. 
Tis really a misfortune at my time of 
lite to be fo fond of good liquor, and not 
to have money enorigh even to {muggle 
it. Oh! the Chian and Cretan wines, 
of which I have feen hogihead after 
hogfhead ftewed quietly away in caves on 
the beach, while the cuftom-houfe of- 
ficers look on without offering the leaft. 
annoyance, their mouths being firit ftop- 
ped by a tricongins! Would it might 
pleafe Jove that Mecenas would give 
me a place in the Excife: he then jhould 
.be my Bacchus, and I his Apollo, 
By the bye, have you finithed writing 
the fpeech for that ats Trebatius to de- 
liver extempore on the opening of par- 
lament? Your only fault is, you are 
Packet between Ilfracombe and Swansea. 
14$ 
too epic in your profe compofitions, 
Who, in the name of Minos, can refit 
from laughing when he hears that plod- 
ding fimpleton fpeak in the lanouage of 
Drances with the tone of Therlites ? 
Your’s ever, 
Q. H. Fraccus.* 
“ Julia Hortenfia prefents her compli- 
ments to Lucia Severa, and has the ho- 
nour to fend her monkey. by the bearer 
to pay his refpects to Lucia’s favourite 
ape, Wall be much oblized to Lucia, if 
{he will inform her what fhe has heard for 
certain refpecting Mark Antony’s depar-' 
ture for Egypt; alfo, how Octavia bears 
this new inftance of the ungrateful man’s 
inconttancy. Jikewife, (if not imperti- 
nent,) what preparation Lucia makes 
ufe of to dye her hair purple, and whe- 
ther fhe employs moufe’s fkin or weazel’s 
to make her eye-brows.” 
ba 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
COMMUNICATION between the 
44 two coaiis of the Briftol Channel, 
has within afew years been eftablifhed 
by avery convenient pa¢ket, failing twice 
a week between this place and Ilfra- 
combe in Devonfhire. This eftablifh- 
ment, by which travellers. from the weft 
of England to Wales, or Ireland, by wa 
of Milford, fave upwards of two hundred 
miles, by a pafflage frequently made in 
lefs than three hours, deferves to be more’ 
generally known than it appears to be. 
It may perhaps be neceffary to add, that 
this packet has accommodation for eight 
herfes, under deck, and fur three car- 
riages, and that her days of failing from 
this place, are Tuefdays’ and Saturdays’; 
and irom Tifracombe, on Mondays’ and 
Thurfdays’. Your’s, Xe. 
Swanfea, South Wales, A TRAVELLER. 
January 18, 1897. 
Lo the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
FXHWE recent. calamity at Bangor 
Ferry, recalls to .my romembrance 
the plan a friend of mine fent to youn 
office, two or three years paft; it gave @ 
plan and calculation of the coft, to make 
% permanent mail-road~throueh the 
ftream, by removing the rocky bank 
which is within a few yards of the ferry, 
and this could be no detriment to any 
property in the neighbourhood, as the 
communication is open to the fea on both 
fides, the expence he eftimated about’ 
twelve thoufand pounds, 
Had 
