“There are three things,” says a Welsh triad, “that ought to be considered before some things should be spoken; the manner, the place, and the time.” Touching the manner, I see none whereby they could more conveniently or agreeably be conveyed; and for the place and time these must be allowed to be at my own discretion. And howsoever, be it well or ill What I have done, it is mine own; I may Do whatsoever therewithal I will.[5] (Be it remarked in passing that these lines bear a much greater resemblance to Italian poetry than any of those English sonnets which have been called Petrarcal.) One place being (generally speaking) as suitable as another, it has not been necessary for me to deliberate, _Desta antigua preñez de pensamientos Qual el primero hare, qual el segundo._[6] I have interspersed them where I thought fit, and given them the appellation which they bear, to denote that they are no more a necessary and essential part of this _opus_, than the voluntary is of the church service. _Εισὶν δὲ περι του; Περὶ Αθηνων, περι Πύλου, Περι σοῦ, περι ἐμοῦ, περὶ απαντων πραγματων._[7] [Footnote 5: DANIEL.] [Footnote 6: BALBUENA.] [Footnote 7: ARISTOPHANES.] A Chapter is, as has been explained, both procreated and procreative: an Interchapter is like the hebdomad, which profound philosophers have pronounced to be not only _παρθένος_, but _αμητωρ_, a motherless as well as a virgin number. Here too the exception illustrates the rule. There are at the commencement of the third volume four Interchapters in succession, and relating to each other, the first gignitive but not generated; the second and third both generated and gignitive, the fourth generated but not gignitive. They stand to each other in the relation of Adam, Seth, Enoch, Kenan. These are the exceptions. The other chapters are all Melchizedekites. The gentle Reader will be satisfied with this explanation; the curious will be pleased with it. To the captious one I say in the words of John Bunyan, “Friend, howsoever thou camest by this book, I will assure thee thou wert least in my thoughts when I writ it. I tell thee, I intended the book as little for thee as the goldsmith intended his jewels and rings for the snout of a sow!” If any be not pleased, let them please themselves with their own displeasure. _Je n'ay pas enterpris de contenter tout le monde: mesme Jupiter n'aggree à tous._[8] [Footnote 8: BOUCHET.] CHAPTER CIX. INCIDENTAL MENTION OF HAMMOND, SIR EDMUND KING, JOANNA BAILLIE, SIR WILLIAM TEMPLE, AND MR. THOMAS PEREGRINE COURTENAY. PETER COLLINSON AN ACQUAINTANCE OF MR. ALLISON'S. HOLIDAYS AT THAXTED GRANGE.