long disuse, has almost forgot to converse with princes—at least in the manner and language of the present times.
PATRIOTISM.
[At Richard Morris, Awst 10, 1753]
CONCEIVE some hopes of the possibility of retrieving the ancient splendour of our language, which cannot possibly be better done than by the methods pointed out by your Society; viz., by laying open its worth and beauty to strangers, and publishing something in it that is curious and will bear perusing in succeeding ages. Some performances cannot fail to draw on them the eyes and excite the curiosity of strangers:— strangers, did I say? Good God! what if we find our own countrymen the greatest strangers to it? I blush even to think it; but I am afraid. the reflection will be found too just on Cambria's ungrateful, undutiful sons.
An egregious instance of this I met with last week at my own house. For having been invited some time ago to an afternoon's drinking at a neighbouring clergyman's house, according to the custom of this country, I invited him again to my house, and desired he would bring a country-man and a namesake of mine, who is the curate of a neighbouring parish, along with him, for I was desirous of creating and cultivating an acquaintance with him as he was a Welshman and a man of very good character for learning and morals. My desire was accomplished. The gentleman came; and, to complete the happi-
