See how it is—Whilst we have been deliberating about whom we shall invite to our party, without fixing even upon one, the whole morning has slipped away, and I have a particular engagement with my bookseller. We will talk the matter over again to-morrow, and I hope you will then be prepared to determine upon a few at least, from whose society we may derive mutual gratification. I fear we shall agree but on a few, for our board is small and our taste fastidious. One thing has occurred this morning which will prevent my inviting the BIGOT AUTHOR. You know his religious creed, and with that we have no right to interfere; but a friend of his lately though of the same persuasion, sent his son as a student to Trinity College, Cambridge. The alarm was spread throughout the sect, and the Bigot Author was deputed to remonstrate, first on the impropriety of the thing itself, and, above all, on the very gross and obvious offence to the society, in confiding the main branch of so distinguished a member to the possible influence of a seminary bearing so odious an appellation as that of TRINITY.” Οποτε ους ταυτα και τα τοιαυτα ηκουες, εωρων οπως εκεχηνεις προς αυτα, και πανυ σφοδρα προς δελεαρ αναπηπταμενον παρειχες το στομα. CHAPTER XXXIX. The parties, as it should appear, entered again upon the subject of the Symposium on the following morning, when the subsequent dialogue took place. “Now, my dear child, let us come to some determination, and either decline the matter altogether, or fix upon the time, circumstance, and persons to be invited to our social repast. Well then, that you may not think me capricious and fantastical, I will propose no other exceptions. Pray let us ask the WITTY AUTHOR. I think I guess whom you mean, but do you apply those epithets to the individual himself, and his powers of conversation, or to his works? Why to say the truth, I more immediately thought of his lively, agreeable, and interesting company and conversation, than I did of his works. For, although he has certainly written many things, which may reasonably claim the character both of wit and humour, I well know his works are of the more solid and substantial kind, works of importance to religion, to morals, and to literature. Enough, enough, you well know he may have as much of our salt as he pleases. We will also invite, if you please, THE SATIRIST. That word is generally used, among us, in a harsh sense. But you know my opinion on the subject of satire, and must remember, that when satire is moderated by candour, and regulated by the mere desire of reforming error, without being stimulated by personal dislike, or individual resentment, it is alike honourable and salutary.