letter I ever received from any of them. I dare say Dr. Parry

is her Physician, and you could know from _him_, without any immediate enquiry as if _I_ wished to hear, which she would consider as if intrusive and inquisitive, and would _say_ it was affectation....

Let us thank God for the happy change in public affairs at least, peace and plenty are not far off.

From Egypt old Rome in the days of Domitian To make her tyrannical Emperor smile, Fresh roses brought over, for Winter provision, That bloom'd on the Tyber as once on the Nile.

But bold Abercrombie, whom Britons confide in, _His Flora_ sent home with far different spoil; The invincible army of Frenchmen deriding, Their standards he seiz'd on the banks of the Nile.

Thus end the exploits of renown'd Buonaparte, Who fell upon Egypt with force and with guile, Throwing dust in the eyes of each Mussulman hearty, Dust pregnant with plagues on the banks of the Nile.

Of warriors ill-fated if England must tell soon, Her losses, though deep, she'll repair in a while; With Moore, Smith, and Berry, Ball, Trowbridge, and Nelson, A hero we'll count for each mouth of the Nile.

Mr. Pennington will see an allusion to an Epigram of Martial[17] in the first stanza; but never mind, 'tis a good Ballad to roar at a club, and the tune, Rural Felicity, or Ellen o' Roon. But what fellows those old Romans were after all!! Fetching (as they actually did) Oysters from England and Roses from Egypt for one winter evening's entertainment....

[17] Martial, _Epig._ vi. 80: Ad Cæsarem de rosis hibernis.