Miss JENNY W—D—R, to Lady ELIZ. M—D—SS, at — Castle, North. LETTER IX. A JOURNAL

To humbler Strains, ye Nine, descend, And greet my poor sequester'd Friend. Not Odes with rapid Eagle flight, That soar above all human Sight; Not Fancy's fair and fertile Field, To all the same Delight can yield. But come CALLIOPE and say How Pleasure wastes the various Day: Whether thou art wont to rove By Parade, or Orange Grove, Or to breathe a purer Air In the Circus or the Square; Wheresoever be thy Path, Tell, O tell the Joys of Bath.

Ev'ry Morning, ev'ry Night, Gayest Scenes of fresh Delight: When AURORA sheds her Beams, Wak'd from soft Elysian Dreams, Music calls me to the Spring Which can Health and Spirits bring; There HYGEIA, Goddess, pours Blessings from her various Stores, Let me to her Altars haste, Tho' I ne'er the Waters taste, Near the Pump to take my Stand, With a Nosegay in my Hand, And to hear the Captain say, "How d'ye do dear Miss to-day?" The Captain!—Now you'll say my Dear, Methinks I long his Name to hear,— Why then—but don't you tell my Aunt The Captain's Name is—CORMORANT: But hereafter, you must know, I shall call him ROMEO, And your Friend, dear Lady BET, JENNY no more but JULIET.

O ye Guardian Spirits fair, All who make true Love your Care, May I oft my ROMEO meet, Oft enjoy his Converse sweet; I alone his Thoughts employ Thro' each various Scene of Joy. Lo! where all the jocund Throng From the Pump-Room hastes along, To the Breakfast all invited By Sir TOBY, lately knighted. See with Joy my ROMEO comes; He conducts me to the Rooms; There he whispers, not unseen, Tender Tales behind the Screen; While his Eyes are fix'd on mine, See each Nymph with Envy pine, And with Looks of forc'd Disdain Smile Contempt, but sigh in vain.

O the charming Parties made! Some to walk the South Parade, Some to LINCOMB's shady Groves, Or to SIMPSON's proud Alcoves; Some for Chapel trip away, Then take Places for the Play: Or we walk about in Pattins, Buying Gauzes, cheap'ning Sattins, Or to PAINTER's we repair, Meet Sir PEREGRINE HATCHET there, Pleas'd the Artist's Skill to trace In his dear Miss GORGON's Face: Happy Pair! who fix'd as Fate For the sweet connubial State, Smile in Canvass Tete a Tete. If the Weather, cold and chill, Calls us all to Mr. GILL, ROMEO hands to me the Jelly, Or the Soup of Vermicelli; If at TOYSHOP I step in, He presents a Diamond Pin, Sweetest Token I can wear, Which at once may grace my Hair; And in Witness of my Flame, Teach the Glass to bear his Name: See him turn each Trinket over, If for me he can discover Ought his Passion to reveal, Emblematic Ring or Seal; CUPID whetting pointed Darts, For a Pair of tender Hearts; HYMEN lighting sacred Fires, Types of chaste and fond Desires: Thus enjoy we ev'ry Blessing, Till the Toilet calls to Dressing; Where's my Garnet, Cap and Sprig? Send for SINGE to dress my Wig: Bring my silver'd Mazarine, Sweetest Gown that e'er was seen: TABITHA, put on my Ruff; Where's my dear delightful Muff? Muff, my faithful ROMEO's Present; Tippet too from Tail of Pheasant! Muff from downy Breast of Swan, O the dear enchanting Man! Muff, that makes me think how JOVE Flew to LEDA from above.— Muff that—TABBY, see who rapt then? "Madam, Madam, 'tis the Captain! Sure his Voice I hear below, 'Tis, it is my ROMEO; Shape and Gate, and careless Air, Diamond Ring, and Solitair, Birth and Fashion all declare. How his Eyes that gently roll Speak the Language of his Soul; See the Dimple on his Cheek, See him smile and sweetly speak, "Lovely Nymph, at your Command "I have something in my Hand, "Which I hope you'll not refuse, "'Twill us both at Night amuse: "What tho' Lady WHISKER crave it, "And Miss BADGER longs to have it, "'Tis, by Jupiter I swear, "'Tis for you alone, my Dear: "See this Ticket, gentle Maid, "At your Feet an Off'ring laid, "Thee the Loves and Graces call "To a little private Ball: "And to Play I bid adieu, "Hazard, Lansquenet and Loo, "Fairest Nymph to dance with you.— —I with Joy accept his Ticket, And upon my Bosom stick it: Well I know how ROMEO dances, With what Air he first advances, With what Grace his Gloves he draws on, Claps, and calls up Nancy Dawson; Me thro' ev'ry Dance conducting, And the Music oft instructing; See him tap the Time to shew, With his light fantastic Toe; Skill'd in ev'ry Art to please, From the Fan to waft the Breeze, Or his Bottle to produce Fill'd with pungent Eau de Luce.— Wonder not, my Friend, I go To the Ball with ROMEO.

Such Delights if thou canst give Bath, at thee I choose to live.