This curious quotation strikes me much by so well representing my
own case, and by describing what I have so often felt, but never
could so well express. When I hear fine music I am haunted with
passages therefrom night and day; and especially at first waking,
which, by their importunity, give me more uneasiness than
pleasure: elegant lessons still tease my imagination, and recur
irresistibly to my recollection at seasons, and even when I am
desirous of thinking of more serious matters.

I am, etc.



Letter LVII
To The Honourable Daines Barrington

A rare, and I think a new little bird frequents my garden, which I
have great reason to think is the pettichaps: it is common in some
parts of the kingdom, and I have received formerly several dead
specimens from Gibraltar. This bird much resembles the white-
throat, but has a more white or rather silvery breast and belly; is
restless and active, like the willow-wrens, and hops from bough to
bough, examining every part for food; it also runs up the stems of
the crown-imperials, and, putting its head into the bells of those
flowers, sips the liquor which stands in the nectarium of each petal.
Sometimes it feeds on the ground, like the hedge-sparrow, by
hopping about on the grass-plots and mown walks.

One of my neighbours, an intelligent and observing man, informs
me that, in the beginning of May, and about ten minutes before