age to the Holy Land. Still more remarkable have been my escapes from the hands of Justice; and I should certainly never have fallen into my present misfortune, had I not forgotten my usual prudence, and joined a gang of pick-pockets when in liquor. As it is, I must take a journey to Botany Bay, and if I should ever return, will by the blessing of fortune, retire upon what I have earned by a life of successful roguery." And now, courteous Reader, if you will recall your thoughts from the chief actor in the last four pages, you may perhaps be able to recollect that SOLOMON GRILDRIG went into prison for the express purpose of hearing this story, which he has now related to you. Moreover if you have not gone to sleep, you will perceive that he has not yet made his escape from thence; a circumstance that gives him no small degree of uneasiness. But as he went in to please you; no doubt you will in justice allow him to remain there; and charitably suppose that the Keeper forgot to open the door, or any thing else of equal importance that your imagination may supply. E THE MINIATURE, NUMB. XXVII. MONDAY, February 11, 1805. 1. 'Tis these that early, taint the female soul, Instruct the eyes of young coquettes to roll, Teach infant cheeks a bidden blush to know, POPE. As the period of the year is now approaching which recalls that important morn, in expectation of, and preparation for which the hearts of so many beauties are in a state of joyous trepidation, and the stationers windows decked with tender devices and poems expressive of the powers of love, and of affection for the destined VALENTINE, (for it is of this day that I speak) it may not be improper to express my sentiments, to give my advice, and in my office of Miniature Painter to assist my correspondents with a few sketches, #h on this most important occasion. It is I think needless for me to enter into a description of ceremonies with which the greater part of my readers are so fully acquainted: and as I know not, nor can I meet with any authentic account of the origin of those customs, which have so long and so religiously been observed on the anniversary of this day, I shall be silent on the subject. As I have however been favoured with letters from numerous correspondents on this head, I shall lay some of them before the reader. The first which comes to hand is from a female correspondent, who acts as secretary to the Young Maids club," and is as follows: DEAR MR. GRILDRIG, By order of the members I am desired to lay before you the proceedings and resolves of our society, which is incorporated under the title of the Young Maids Club, at our last weekly meeting. It consists of twelve unmarried Members and a President, each of which are to be above sixteen and under twenty-three years of age, and who, when they have reached this age without having entered into the matrimonial state, become superannuated and vacate their places accordingly. As it has been the custom of all י your predecessors, time immemorial, to take our sex under their immediate inspection, and for us to submit ourselves in some degree at least to your guidance: upon your first appearance, your paper was constantly taken in (at least as often as it came out) by the lady president at our club.At our last meeting, when we assembled in order to celebrate that ancient custom of drawing our Valentines, it was determined nem. con. to include you in the number of the elect. This proposal, though at first universally agreed to, after some time occasioned no small bickering and dissension, every one asserting her peculiar claim to you, with the most forcible arguments. Order being restored, the lady president in a very able, florid and impartial speech, proceeded to state the impossibility of every one's gaining the object of their wishes, and therefore proposed, that the first person who should contrive to see you on Valentine's morning, should obtain you for her Valentine. And this being strictly accordant with the ancient customs of that ever memorable morn, was assented to by the members, and with the highest respect and veneration, I remain, Your most devoted Servant, CLORINDA, Secretary for the Home Department of the Club. P. S. If you shall think it worth your while to be in the Long-Walk at three o'clock on Valentine's morning, you will meet one to whom you are not indifferent." However I may think myself honoured by the preference, which so many fair and virtuous young ladies, (as I am bound to believe them,) have declared for me; I must decline the honor, as I would not wish the tongue of scandal to have so fair an opportunity of disseminating its poison to the disadvantage of any, particularly of my fair correspondent Clorinda: nor do I think it advisable to hazard my dignity.-I must now particularly recommend to the perusal of my fellow-citizens a letter, which I have received from another female correspondent, and hope that by publishing the negative compliment at the beginning, I may not incur the charge of too much vanity. SIR, As I consider you a degree superior to the generality of your brutish species; I shall lay my complaint before you, hoping that you will remonstrate with your fellow-citizens on their impropriety, and that this I shall escape the year insults which I have been for some time exposed to. You must know then, that having found by |