some preferred to him.

"I have had a letter from Mr. Hodgson. He is very happy, has got a
living, but not a child: if he had stuck to a curacy, babes would
have come of course, because he could not have maintained them.

"Remember me to all friends, &c. &c.

"An Austrian officer, the other day, being in love with a Venetian,
was ordered, with his regiment, into Hungary. Distracted between
love and duty, he purchased a deadly drug, which dividing with his
mistress, both swallowed. The ensuing pains were terrific, but the
pills were purgative, and not poisonous, by the contrivance of the
unsentimental apothecary; so that so much suicide was all thrown
away. You may conceive the previous confusion and the final
laughter; but the intention was good on all sides."

* * * * *

LETTER 282. TO MR. MURRAY.

"Venice, June 8. 1817.

"The present letter will be delivered to you by two Armenian
friars, on their way, by England, to Madras. They will also convey
some copies of the grammar, which I think you agreed to take. If
you can be of any use to them, either amongst your naval or East
Indian acquaintances, I hope you will so far oblige me, as they and
their order have been remarkably attentive and friendly towards me
since my arrival at Venice. Their names are Father Sukias Somalian