and drive over the rough roads of the
metropolis, where he is in danger of having his wheel locked, or meeting
with a regular upset at every turn." Though Bob has given sufficient
proofs of his spirit in danger, I certainly never suspected him to be
possessed of the spirit of divination, and yet his prophetic address
had scarcely concluded before Boots announced a parcel for Bernard
Blackmantle, Esq. forwarded from London, per favour of Mr. Williams.
And, Heaven preserve me from the charge of imposing upon my reader's
credulity! but, as I live, it was his very hand--another sketch by my
attendant sprite, "the Spirit in the Clouds," and to the very tune of
Transit's anticipations, and my wishes.

A FAMILIAR EPISTLE TO BERNARD BLACKMANTLE, ESQ.,

HUMOROUS DESCRIPTION OF DONCASTER

RACES, THE GREAT ST. LEGER, HORSES,

AND CHARACTERS, IN 1825.

BY AN HONEST REVIEWER,

ALIAS "The spirit in the clouds."{1}

"All hail, great master! grave sir, hail! I come
To answer thy best pleasure; be't to fly,
To swim, to dive into the fire, to ride
On the curl'd clouds; to thy strong bidding, task
Ariel, and all his quality.

Prospero. Why, that's my spirit!
Shakspeare--Tempest.

"Good morrow to my worthy masters; and a merry Christmas
to you all!"--The Bellman.

"Mendiei, mimi, balatrones."--Hor.
"Mimics, beggars, and characters of all sorts and sizes."
--Free Translation.

My Good Mr. Spy,

Will you not exclaim, Mercy upon us! here is a text and title as
long and as voluminous as a modern publication, or the sermon of the
fox-hunting parson, who, when compelled to

1 See last number of the Spy, Part XXI. p. 273.

~271~~preach on a saint's day, mounted the pulpit in his sporting
toggery, using his gown as "a cloak of maliciousness?" But have
patience, sweet Spy; be kindly-minded, dear Bernard: like John of Magna
Charta memory, "I have a thing to say;" and do now be a good attentive
Hubert to hear me out.

"Indeed, since you have inspirited, if not inspired me, by the 'immortal
honour' of dubbing me your 'associate,' I were wanting in common
gratitude not to attempt, by the return of moon, for I believe that
luminary, like your numbers, comes out new every fourth week, to convey
to you the swellings-over of my gratitude for the kind and fine things
you have been pleased to cheer me with