otnote 61: "There is at Edinburgh a society or corporation of
errand-boys, called 'cawdies,' who ply in the streets at night with
paper lanthorns, and are very serviceable in carrying messages."--"Humphry
Clinker," vol. ii., p. 240.--ED.]

* * * * *

LETTER XLII.

London, Nov. 20, 1762.

Dear ERSKINE,--What sort of a letter shall I now write to you? Shall I
cram it from top to bottom with tables of compound interest? with
anecdotes of Queen Anne's wars? with excerpts from Robertson's history?
or with long stories translated from Olaus Wormius?[62]

[Footnote 62: A distinguished Danish historian and antiquary, "Known in
the history of anatomy by the bones of the skull named after him _ossa
Wormiana_."--ED.]

To pass four-and-twenty hours agreeably was still my favourite plan. I
think at present that the mere contemplation of this amazing bustle of
existence, is enough to make my four-and-twenty go merrily round. I went
last night to Covent-Garden; and saw Woodward play Captain Bobadil;[63]
he is a very lively performer; but a little extravagant: I was too late
for getting into Drury-Lane, where Garrick played King Lear. That
inimitable actor is in as full glory as ever; like genuine wine, he
improves by age, and possesses the steady and continued admiration even
of the inconstant English.[64]

[Footnote 63: In Ben Jonson's "Every Man in his Humour." This was
thought to be Woodward's masterpiece.--ED.]

[Footnote 64: This is scarcely correct. Garrick's popularity was, at
this time, falling off, and his theatre did not fill. "The profits of
the following season," says Davies, "fell very short to those of the
preceding years." At the close of the season he went abroad, and was
away for nearly two years. In Rogers's "Table Talk," it is
recorded--"Before his going abroad, Garrick's attraction had much
decreased; Sir W.W. Pepys said that the pit was often almost empty. But,
on his return to England, people were mad about seeing him." His
popularity did not wane a second time.--ED.]

I don't know what to say to you about myself: if I can get into the
Guards, it will please me much; if not, I can't help it. Perhaps you may
hear of my turning Templar, and perhaps ranger of some of his Majesty's
parks. It is not impossible but I may catch a little true poetic
inspiration, and have my works splendidly printed at Strawberry-hill,
under the benign influence of the Honourable Horace Walpole.[6