vility not to be neglected, so gave the
boy a small bag containing three shirts and an Elzevir Virgil, and,
mounting in an instant, proceeded on the road, with my man before,
my courteous stationer beside, and the aforesaid devil behind.

"Mr. Lintot began in this manner: 'Now, damn them! What if they
should put it into the newspaper how you and I went together to
Oxford? What would I care? If I should go down into Sussex they
would say I was gone to the Speaker; but what of that? If my son
were but big enough to go on with the business, by G-d, I would keep
as good company as old Jacob.'

"Hereupon, I inquired of his son. 'The lad,' says he, 'has fine
parts, but is somewhat sickly, much as you are. I spare for nothing
in his education at Westminster. Pray, don't you think Westminster
to be the best school in England? Most of the late Ministry came out
of it; so did many of this Ministry. I hope the boy will make his
fortune.'

" 'Don't you design to let him pass a year at Oxford?' 'To what
purpose?' said he. 'The Universities do but make pedants, and I
intend to breed him a man of business.'

"As Mr. Lintot was talking I observed he sat uneasy on his saddle,
for which I expressed some solicitude. 'Nothing,' says he. 'I can
bear it well enough; but, since we have the day before us, methinks
it would be very pleasant for you to rest awhile under the woods.'
When we were alighted, 'See, here, what a mighty pretty Horace I
have in my pocket! What, if you amused yourself in turning an ode
till we mount again? Lord! if you pleased. What a clever miscellany
might you make at leisure hours!' 'Perhaps I may,' said I, 'if we
ride on; the motion is an aid to my fancy; a round trot very much
awakens my spirits; then jog on apace, and I'll think as hard as I
can.'

"Silence ensued for a full hour; after which Mr. Lintot lugged the
reins, stopped short, and broke out, 'Well, sir, how far have you
gone?' I answered, seven miles. 'Z--ds, sir,' said Lintot, 'I thought
you had done seven stanzas. Oldisworth, in a ramble round Wimbledon
Hill, would translate a whole ode in half this time. I'll say that
for Oldisworth [though I lost by his Timothy's] he translates an ode
of Horace the quickest of any man in England. I reme