"[y] A bill I receiv'd, but the truth to confess, "It puzzl'd me much at the drawer to guess; "No advice you had given of such an intent, "From which I suspected, a fraud might be meant; "Since always in matters of business, like these, "'Tis usual the party in time to apprize: "And what more confirmed these suspicions, my friend, "It did not appear to have ever been sign'd: "The person that brought it, desir'd me to look, "Again at the bottom, where what I mistook "For somebody's mark, by the help of a glass, "Your name really prov'd,--to my sorrow, alas! "Since wrote in a hand, both the worst, and the least, "In my life I beheld, it must needs be confess'd: "And rather, by far, I'd have lost the whole sum, "Than such a vile scrawl from your hand should have come. [y] Page 113. third volume. [z] In spelling, my son, I shall give you your due, For so great a proficient on _yearth_ I ne'er knew; "_Enduce_, for induce, you now actually spell, "For grandeur, _grandure_, which to you sounds as well; "Two capital blunders, I beg you will note, "Since few of my house-maids such stuff wou'd have wrote:" To give my ideas at once their full scope, Your progress in nonsense, inclines me to hope, That soon an epistle, from you I shall see, Wherein will be spelt the word joy with a g. [z] Page 81. third volume. [a] I well am inform'd, there is still in your speech, "A most disagreeable hobble, or hitch;" Not yet to have conquer'd bad habits, dear Phil, With me, needs must wear the appearance of ill; Still falsely attach'd to the errors of youth, Still aukward in manners, in speech still uncouth: I dare not the flattering hope entertain, That you, as an orator, credit will gain; If so, to my pride 'twill an overthrow be, And certain disgrace must accrue unto thee: "[b] At Athens, to orat'ry, such the respect, "That of it, herb women, were judges correct:" But lest my assertion with you shou'd want weight, I'll venture a story in point to relate: [a] Page 42. ditto. [b] Page 43. third volume. _Theophrastus_, at _Athens_, one day in the street, By chance, with an herb-woman, happen'd to meet; A question he ask'd: he not speaking Greek pure, A _stranger_ she call'd him,--of this I am sure, Thou art not of _Athens_, a city renown'd, For oratory, elegance, learning profound: Her judgment I praise, not mistaken was she, It prov'd, that of _Athens_, no native was he: Apply to yourself, what above I have wrote, That you, thro' neglect, may no stranger be thought: I ne'er can the study enough recommend, Your fortune, and character, on it depend; My protection you'll forfeit, the truth I must speak, [c] Unless you a figure in Parliament make. [c] Page 283. second volume.