not made injurious impreffions upon your health. For, to inflict a lafting wound, or even to occafion my dear fifter vapours and melancholy, would render me the most miferable of our fpecies. If my forrows are fuperior to thofe of others, fo is my love to thee, thou brightest ornament of thy fex. But to proceed in my narrative.

After that I was a little recovered, and was picking up my crumbs (as it is called) I began to confult my appetite, and thought that my stomach seemed disposed to a delicate piece of Parmefan. Accordingly, I ftole out privately, one moon-light night, to a neighbouring cheesemonger's, where I had formerly made many plentiful meals. As I was surveying with vast satisfaction the variety and dainties of the shop, I discovered upon the counter a ftrange kind of building. I queftion whether its name is to be found in any of

the ancient or modern books of architecture. It was formed after the model of a rotunda, and confifted of an infinite number of iron bars closely fet together, and all running parallel to the horizon; with a few perpendicular columns that fuftained and connected together thefe circular bars. The gate, or rather the opening, was placed in the fummit. A very aukward entrance, you'll fay; and believe me, a very dangerous one too, as I found afterwards by C 3 woful

I

LETTER I.

Dear Sifter,

Have events of the higheft importance to communicate to you! fuch as will quicken every tender and affectionate sensation, intermingle terror with joy, and at the same time inspire you with gratitude for the escape and recovery of your afflicted and indulgent brother.

But do not think that the following detail of my fears and sufferings is intended merely to excite your pity and concern. No, my dear, it is more immediately defigned to put you upon your guard, that so you may avoid the wicked artifices of the cruel. And, oh! I have a thousand cares and anxieties for your fecurity and welfare.

Last night, when I had stepped a few paces from my house, I discovered the most surprising and hideous creature in the whole scale of beings. His fize was enormous, far beyond the conception of thy unexperienced mind. I fcarcely think, that an entire army of our species, if blended into one general mass, would amount to the quantity of matter which was contained in this monster. But his magnitude, however gigantic, was the leaft formidable circumstance attending him. Inftead of eyes, there appeared to me two flaming fur

naces,

naces, which, by their fituation under the irregular arch which conftituted his forehead, were certainly the optics of this moft amazing savage. When he opened his mouth, I thought I fhould have fwooned away. Language is too faint to exprefs the terrors of his jaws, or the multitude of my fears. When his mouth was extended, I defcried a cavern of immeasurable depth, and the lining of this cavern was the colour of scarlet. His tongue was indisputably wider than my whole body; and his teeth were as long and as large as my thigh-bones. His bulk, as I have already intimated, was large even to aftonishment; and he dragged behind him a tail answerable in length and thickness to a cable. His four legs were like four huge maffy pillars, and his feet terminated in fundry frightful claws, each resembling, in their curvature, a Turkish cimeter reversed.

I viewed this monster with horror and dismay. But what do you think were my feelings, when I beheld him making infidious advances towards me? No fooner had he approached within a few yards of me, than he couched to the ground, and erecting his brushy tail, he waved it to and fro with amazing ease and freedom, confidering its ftupendous weight. His eyes, methought, flashed flakes of fire. But perceiving him to gain upon me, I haftened with precipitation into my subterraneous manfion.

C 2

manfion. The very moment that I made my retreat, the favage gave a bound, and came like thunder upon the roof of my caftle. I was fo muc fhocked at these occurrences, that I fell into fits, and kept my bed for several days. Proportionably as my fears abated, fo my health returned. But this recovery was the occafion of future evils, the melancholy history whereof shall be reserved for my next letter.

In the mean while, I beg you to arm your breast with fortitude; for the account of my further dangers and diftrefs will otherwise overpower your fpirits. Indeed my ftory is fo very affecting, that there will be required greater firmness of mind than what usually falls to a female's fhare, to hear the bare relation of my forrows without diffolving into tears.

I am, dear Sifter,

Your most affectionate Brother,

MUSCULUS.

LETTER II.

ELL, my dearest Muscilla, I hope my

WEL

former letter was received with all that tenderness, which was due to me and my afflictions. But I hope too, that my fufferings have

not

not made injurious impreffions upon your health. For, to inflict a lafting wound, or even to occafion my dear sister vapours and melancholy, would render me the most miferable of our fpecies. If my forrows are fuperior to those of others, so is my love to thee, thou brightest ornament of thy fex. But to proceed in my narrative.

After that I was a little recovered, and was picking up my crumbs (as it is called) I began to confult my appetite, and thought that my ftomach seemed disposed to a delicate piece of Parmefan. Accordingly, I ftole out privately, one moon-light night, to a neighbouring cheesemonger's, where I had formerly made many plentiful meals. As I was surveying with vast satisfaction the variety and dainties of the shop, I discovered upon the counter a ftrange kind of building. I queftion whether its name is to be found in

any

of

the ancient or modern books of architecture. It was formed after the model of a rotunda, and consisted of an infinite number of iron bars closely set together, and all running parallel to the horizon; with a few perpendicular columns that sustained and connected together thefe circular bars. The gate, or rather the opening, was placed in the fummit. A very aukward entrance, you'll fay; and believe me, a very dangerous one too, as I found afterwards by woful

C 3