the two people I moft valued, and loved almoft to adoration by the man I preferred to all others, my fatisfaction was unbounded. Nor do I believe that any three people in the world were happier than my company and myfelf; each enjoying an equal place in my affections, though the claims of each were of a different nature.-Great are the pleafures arifing from fufceptibility!-Many indeed, and exquifite, are likewife the pains attendant on it.-The inexpreffible pleasure of making happy, by a mutual reciprocation of beneficent acts and tender communications, greatly overpays, however, the difadvantages of poffeffing a fufceptible heart -The enlarged mind alone is capable of thefe mental enjoyments.-By the liberalminded, therefore, are the delicate fenfations I speak of, only to be comprehended.-To the million they are caviare.-As they are the only fource of real happiness in this life, they doubtlefs, when rendered more pure and perfect, will conftitute our felicity in " that "undiscovered country, from whose bourne <x no traveller returns."

I am now about to enter upon a topic of a different nature from any that has hitherto found a place in my epiftles; but although it appears not to make a part of my own concerns, I flatter myself that a story so interefting, and flowing immediately from the fountain-head, from which its authenticity

is

is undoubted, will not make you confider the time required in the perufal of it mifemployed.

G. A. B.

LETTER XXXII.

June 18, 17-.

YOU

OU must have heard of the intended rebellion in Ruffia during the reign of the great Czarina Elizabeth. It is indeed generally known that fuch a revolution was planned and nearly taking place. But the means by which it was difcovered and prevented, are known but to a very few. I will therefore relate them to you in the fame circumftantial manner Lord Tyrawley repeated them to Mr. Quin and myfelf that evening.

From his Lordship's refiding fo many years at the courts of Spain and Portugal, he had acquired a strong attachment to the natives of both thofe kingdoms. And as he was happy in every opportunity that offered for fhewing this regard for them, they entertained the higheft refpect for his Lordship. During my Lord's refidence at the court of Ruffia, he obferved a Spaniard to walk frequently, for feveral days together, before the court-yard of his hotel. Excited by the national attachment juft mentioned, his Lordthip ordered one of his domeftics to invite the

Don

Don to dine at the fecond table. The Spaniard accepted the invitation with the greateft readiness, and feemed glad to have an opportunity of laying by his long fpado for fome hours every day. This continued for. feveral months, fo that the ftranger was at length confidered as one of the family.

At the expiration of that time, he came late one evening, and requested the domestic in waiting to inform his Excellency, that he. wifhed to have the honour to speak to him. The fervant fuppofing his bufinefs was not of a nature to require his feeing his Lordship that night, defired he would call in the morning. But on the man's faying, "The "morning will not do, it must be imme

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diately," his Lordfhip was informed of his request, and the Spaniard ordered to be admitted. Upon his being introduced, he thus accofted his Lordfhip in Spanish, the moment they were alone, "I am come, my Lord, to 66 repay all your civilities-But before I ex"plain myself, order your berlin to be got ready."

The mysterious air which the Spaniard affumed upon this occafion foon convinced his Lordfhip of what he had fufpected for fome time, that his new dependent belonged to that fraternity, fo neceffary to every power, termed fpies. He therefore ordered his carriage to be got ready. When this was done, the ftranger thus continued: "I

VOL. II.

C

"have

"have for fome time, my Lord, formed a very ftrict intimacy with a Rufs in the "fuite of the Marquis de Chattardy. After leaving your Excellency's hotel.I generally go to ipend fome hours with him. Staying at the Marquis's hotel a few evenings ago, later than ufual, I faw a perfon come "in who endeavoured to hide himfelf from "obfervation, as if defirous to remain un"known. This, your Lordfhip may be af"fured, awoke my fufpicions; and as from "the glimpfe I had of him, I could only

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guefs who it was, I refolved if poffible to "arrive at fome certainty about it. For "this purpose, when my friend returned, I "afked him, with a careless air, whether the "Comte- (I have forgot the name of this nobleman, but he was the favourite confidential fervant of the Emprefs)." ufually "walked at that inclement feason of the year. "I took no further notice at that time; but "went as usual to vifit my friend the following evening. I did not, however, ring at "the gate of the hotel, till I saw the Comte "go in, who I gueffed would be there about "the fame time.

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"Having gained admittance foon after "him, inftead of going to my friend's apart"ment, being well acqainted with every part of the hotel, I gained, unobferved, the "back ftairs, and placed myself near the clo"fet in which his Excellency the Marquis

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"and

"and the Comte were in converfation. There "I overheard the latter fay, among other "things, to the Marquis in Italian, "I think "the fooner you go the better. The cre"dentials will be ready by eleven o'clock." "As foon as I had heard this, I stole from my hiding-place, and went immediately "to my friend, who chid me for being fo late, as he could not now profit by my 66 company, from having fo much to do.

"I asked him what he had to do at this "time more than another. To this he re

plied that he would not betray his master's "fecrets, though indeed he merited it, as "he had broke his promife in not taking "him with him." I did not make any fur"ther enquiry, left what he imparted to me "fhould have been under the feal of fecre"cv; and a Spaniard, your Excellency "knows, is too tenacious of his honour to «betray any thing that is divulged to him "in confidence."

"And what do you fuppofe," said his Lordship," are the motives, and will be the

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confequences, of the Marquis's ftealing "away?" A revolution;" replied the Spaniard; and if your Lordship does not "make hafte to the Emprefs, and inform her with what I tell you, it will be too late "to prevent it. I am acquainted with the "whole circumftances, but am not at liberty "to mention more. Your Lordship, how66 ever,

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