60 An amazing arch through a mountain 221 61 A reflection on the completion of every wifh 62 (17. A paffage relative to wishing in the fe- cond volume of Familiar Letters) 226 63 A defcription of a natural grotto in one of the mountains of Weftmoreland-Stanemore 64 The history of Azora Burcot-her notions, 65 (19. Sacrifice of the Maffilienfes) THE LIFE OF JOHN BUNCLE, Efq; Nec Vixit Male, qui Natus Morienfque fefellit. TH HAT the transactions of my Life, and the obfervations and reflections I have made on men and things, by fea and land, in various parts of the world, might not be buried in oblivion, and by length of time, be blotted out of the memory of men, it has been my wont, from the days of my youth to this time, to write down Memorandums of every thing I thought worth noticing, as men and matters, books and circumstances, came in my way; and in hopes they may be of fome fervice to my fellowmortals I publish them. Some pleafing, and fome furprizing things the Reader will find in them. He will meet with mifcellaneous thoughts upon feveral fubjects. He will read, if he pleases, fome tender stories. · VOL. I. B But But all the relations, the thoughts, the obfervations, are defigned for the advancement of valuable Learning, and to promote whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are juft, whatfoever things are pure, whatfoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report. A Reflection me out. 1. About fifty years ago the Midwife wheeled me in, and much,fooner than half a Century hence," in all human probability, Death will wheel When Heaven pleafes, I am fatisfied. Life and death are equally wel come, because equally parts of my way to eternity. My lot has been a fwarthy one. in this firft State, and I am in hopes I fhall. exchange worlds to advantage. As God, without all peradventure, brought his moral creatures into being, in order to increase their Virtue, and provide fuitable happiness. for the Worthy, the most unfortunate here. may expect immutable. felicity at laft, if they have endeavoured, in proportion to what power they had, to render themselves ufeful and valuable, by a fincerity, and be nevolence of temper, a difintereftedness, a communicativenefs, and the practice of thofe duties, to which we are obliged by. the frame of our Nature, and by the Rela tions we bear to God, and to the fubjects of his Government. For my part, I confefs that many have been the failings of my Life, and great the defects of my obedience. But in the midst of all my failings and imperfections, my Soul hath always fympathised with the afflicted, and my heart hath ever aked for the miseries of others. My hand has often relieved, when I wanted the fhilling to comfort myfelf, and when it hath not been in my power to relieve, I have grieved for the scanty accommodations of others. Many troublefome and expenfive offices I have undertaken to do good to Men, and ever focial and free have I been in my demeanour, eafy and smooth in my addrefs; and therefore, I trust that, whenever I am removed from this horizon, it will be from a dark and cloudy state, to that of joy, light, and full Revelation. This felicitates me every day, let what will happen from without. This fupports me under every Affliction, and enables me to maintain a habit of fatisfaction and joy in the general course of my Life. 2. The things of my Childhood are not worth fetting down, and therefore I commence my Life from the first B 2 any the seventeenth year of my Age, when I was sent to the University, and entered a penfioner, tho' I had a larger yearly allowance than fellow-commoner of my College. I was refolved to read there, and determined to improve my natural faculties to the utmost of my power. Nature, I was fenfible, had bestowed no genius on me. This and understanding are only the privilege of extraordinary perfons; who receive from Heaven the happy conjunction of qualities, that they may execute great and noble defigns, and acquire the highest pitch of excellence in the profeffion they turn to; if they will take the pains to perfect the united qualities by art, and carefully avoid running into caprice and paradox; the Rocks on which many a Genius has fplit. But then I had a tolerable fhare of natural understanding, and from my infancy was teachable, and always attentive to the directions of good fenfe. This I know might rife. with fome labour to a half merit, tho' it could never gain immortality upon any account: and this was enough for me. I wanted only to acquire fuch degrees of perfection as lay within the small sphere nature had chalked out for me. A College life. 3. To this purpose I devoted my college-life to books, and |