I wish to know whether the large coat or jacket will do better for me; while, upon my own part, I intend first to have the Jacket and trousers made first, for the large coat will be dearer in price, and I do not know at present who is the best taylor hereabouts, who can furnish it in the best genteel fashion; therefore, I cannot do any thing soon, as my wages now are so very small, and 1 do not wish to demand any assistance from you, nor seek any thing from other people upon credit. I only write this merely to enquire which of these two fashions will do best, whenever I wish to go into your house, or some other, such as Nuthill for the pleasure of seeing a great many pictures among the volumes of its large Library, if they give me leave, in my utmost endeavour to please them, by never seeking a loan of any of them, for I well know that their books are too high priced, and in good clean condition, so that they could not like to allow them to go out of their house; however, I am not acquainted with Mr. and Mrs. B as you are, so I do not know whither they will be willing or not to give me the like pleasure of seeing fine pictures among their books, which is oftentimes my ruling passion, as I have been fond of drawing since I was young, and I have been for more than 25 years out of its practice, because I never got any encouragement in it. The third figure represents a coat with long narrow skirts, and if I had enough of money to purchase one, think that I may have one like to that of my father's, when he took me to Pathhead and the Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh, as it was such a coat, very beautiful, that I can no where see the like on any person about this place; the cloth of it being superfine, and of a very light or sky-blue colour, with large bright silver-plated buttons-the said colour being the favourite one of Urania the Muse of Astronomy, who is seen as a tall and beautiful woman, sitting alone in a graceful robe of the same colour, bespangled all over with small bright sparkling stars, her forehead adorned with the golden crescent or half moon; in her right hand she holds a ball or round stone close to her bosom, and with her left hand she waves the compass over her head-the two legs of the said compass are for drawing round circles as the solar system, but with me its two legs or points signify that one of them is good, and the other one is evil-again, one of them is light, and its other one is darkness—and again, one of it is hot, and its other one is cold, and between it is lukewarm. To conclude, I had, in my father's latter days, I found a patch of his said coat, which he had worn out many years ago, and showed him it, at which he praised it a great deal, on account of its beauty, showing me as I thought it was his bridal coat, he being married to my mother about the same year as you was to Mr. C, namely, the year 1796. But now, before I seek such fine clothes, I must first provide myself with a new chest to preserve them always safe and clean, as well as to keep in my books, money, and papers under a firm lock; such a chest is an article which cannot be wanted, and almost every person has one but me, so I have to work hard and get one for myself, after I have got my new clothes made first, although at this present time my way of living is more dearer, on account of the potatoes are too scarce to be got for money, and I often am content to use long fasting at times, in order to get my oun new clothes quickly made. I am, "Your most obedient Servant, Tuesday evening. "J. CHAPMAN." LETTER II. "MONDAY AFTERNOON. "MR. ROBERT COMMON, "DEAR SIR,-I bring this night a letter under cover, to keep it clean, as I wish you to have the kindness to seal it carefully up with fine red wax, and beautifully impressed with a finely engraved elegant seal, as I have not any such beside me at present; and people of such elevated stations are not fond of having their letters sealed with wafers. However, as I wish you to do so, you can, if you choose, open the said letter to read before you place the wax upon it; after which, when well done, give it away to the Kinross post, without letting him nor any person know that I wrote it, and for which I will thank you; and then I will bring you the penny to pay Robert Morrison the post, if I am assured that you or your wife have early given it away to him when he runs westwards home in the latter part of the afternoon, a day or two after you receive it. Do not forget nor refuse to give it to him, whither the Duke of Northumberland would send me an answer or not; as by it I wish apprize him of my intentions of going doun to the places I had mentioned; where, perhaps, he would inform some one of his servants there to do something for me in case I be there. I intend, perhaps, to come on Friday or on Saturday evening to see about it; and where, at the same time, I hope your wife can tell me, perhaps, about seeing the Elgin marbles at Broomhall, and, besides, give me a description of the hermitage about your oun native place at Warkworth, as I think there might possibly be a fine engraved landscape picture of it in a volume of the Beauties of England and Wales, which describes the county of Northumberland, if Mr. Cheape has that work. I am, SIR, Yours, &c. "JOHN CHAPMAN." LETTER III. STRATHMIGLO, COUNTY OF FIFE, "TO HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND. Having last week, for the first time, learned from a married couple, who both came from Northumberland, that the husband is a native of Warkworth, I then made enquiry if the proprietor of the famed Hermitage in the said place, would allow me to dwell freely and alone in it for a long time, as I am well knoun to be a person of almost solitary habits at home for these last ten years, since my father died, and that I now wish a better and more secure retreat in such a retired place, where I could find more ample opportunities to improve my mind, and keep myself almost quiet, in being free from worldly cares and troubles. To which I was answered, that the said Hermitage of Warkworth was well worth any person's going to see, and that your Grace offered a large sum of money to any one person, who would choose to reside in it, upon condition that he will never shave his beard, never clip his hair, nor pair his nails, for seven years; and that there has never been found any one willing to accept the offer. I was so very much over-joyed-and, after having myself much considered it, I have thought (without letting any person know) of writing this, to inform you that I shall very gladly perform these conditions, besides never removing in the least beyond the bounds allotted for me, within the said space of seven full years, upon the condition that you could readily provide me with a good copy of the royal quarto edition of the Edinburgh Bible, published by her Majesty's printers, along with the Pictorial Bible, illustrated with fine steel maps, and numerous highly spirited wood engravings, now publishing by Charles Knight & Co., London; the Pictorial History of England, now publishing by ditto, which work is of the same size, and of the same thick strong paper as the said Pictorial Bible; the latest and newest improved General Gazzatteer of the World, by Jehoshaphat Aspin, illustrated with a complete atlas, and numerous fine engravings on steel-the said work is complete in four handsome 8vo vols., published by Thos Kelly, Paternoster Row, London; the third division of the British Cyclopadiea, which is exclusively devoted to Botany |