DEAR SIR,

Pentonville, July 8th, 1806.

WHEN I recollect that the first dawning of my literary hopes was cherished amid the scenes of border achievement,* it affords me the greater pleasure in laying before you, as the lineal descendant of the Lords of Gitsland, a small but earnest pledge of my friendship, and of that respect, with which I am proud to contemplate the ancient house of Dacre.-That I have likewise annexed with yours the name of my young friend Mr. George Elliot Scott, is matter of honest pride to me; I respect him much, and I am confident his rising virtues will not only do credit to his own family, but ample justice to the memory of a deceased General, whose name he now bears.

With my best and sincerest, wishes for the prosperity of your family, I am ever, my dear Sir,

Yours most faithfully,

To William Dacre, Esq.

Kirklinton Hall, Cumberland.

J. C*********

* Vide Camden, on the History of Cumberland.

C358

TO THE READER.

HOW far the AUTHOR is justified in submitting these desultory pages to a discerning Public, the work itself will best determine. He has drawn from nature only, and he feels conscious that his endeavors have been laudable. He writes not for emolument, nor for fame, yet he does not disclaim praise which is dignified and sincere. The beauties of the composition (if such there be) are his own, the faults those of the head rather than the heart.

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THE

STRANGER.

Blest were the days when wisdom held her reign,
And shepherds sought her on the silent plain.

No more, but sit and hear the promis'd lay,
The gloomy grotto makes a doubtful day.

COLLINS.

DRYDEN'S VIRGIL.

I WAS wont to rove from morn to eve on Liddall's flowery banks-pleasurable woodlands-delightful scenes-endearing prospects wild, ye are congenial to my soul! I will ever remember your venerated shades and your bold projecting rocks, overhung with variegated shrubbery. Here the purling, winding, luculent, then gloomy, river, in which the trout and sportive fry love to glide in wanton frolic -there the hanging woods chequered romantically -yonder the towering mountains, courting the ætherial blue expanse majestically. Picture these and other striking objects innumerable; the snug cottages and fruitful vales-picture these, ye soaring minds, and taste of pleasure ineffable. Such are the sylvan scenes on which I have so often ram

B

bled, and such the endearing ties of memory, that I sigh to hold sweet converse with the Naiads that sport on thy banks, lonely meandering stream. For Oh! how often have I at the peep of morn, nimbly darted athwart the lawn-how often, when the meridian sun-beams press powerfully, reclined me in the moss-grown cell, besprinkled ever and anon with the dripping crystal-how often with the tapering rod elastic, cast the artful fly, well pleased the lusty trout to navigate. Oh how often have I, when the glorious orb of day sinks in the west, home returned, with meditatory step, under the sombre shades of evening-happy-thrice happy in recounting over the adventures of the day. These are incidents lovely to the sympathetic heart, and endearingly entwined by retrospect.

It was my pride and my duty to enter the cottager's humble roof. From one of these meek sons of nature I one day learned, that a bountiful stranger had visited his cot, had enquired as to his family and employment-the replies were satisfactory, for the unknown gentleman accompanied his liberality with this advice-" Never cease to pursue, or rather, to do those actions which afford you heartfelt applause, when, after the cares and labours of the day you recline your head on the pillow. Teach your children obedience-shew them the bad effects of vice and the advantages of virtue-above all things teach them to be faithful to each other,