SOCIAL conversation, and a circle of companions amongst whom a person may freely express his sentiments, and alleviate the laborious occupations of life by the mutual intercoure of words, have ever been esteemed as the chief blessings which man is permitted to enjoy. It is on this account that the Lawyer forsakes the dreary pages of Coke and Littleton, and hastens to join his brother students at the tavern: on this account the Village Curate flies from his solitary cottage to share the convivial merriment of the squire's table: hence it is the gay, the thought

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less Libertine exchanges sobriety for drunkenness, and the high privileges of man, for the grovelling appetites of a brute. But, exclusive of these, there are a race of mortals, who, in whatever degree they may admire the princiciples of friendship and conviviality, scarcely ever choose to submit themselves to the caprice of companions, and are contented with possessing their own love, and esteem. While the Vicar is proving to a numerous audience the necessity of giving dues and tythes; while the Politician is redressing the grievances of the nation; the Apothecary descanting upon the advantages arising from a continual use of physic; or the Barrister settling his neighbour's affairs, before their respective clients; a person of this description, will betake himself to some place of solitude, most congenial to his feelings, and in a loud voice canvass any point in question, with as much ardour and judgment, as if he were pleading before the whole bench of judges.

One evening during the last Summer I was carelessly sauntering up Slough-road " nescio quid meditans nugarum, et totus in illis," when a dreadful chattering, as of several persons engaged in a dispute, suddenly awakened me from a reverie, into which I had fallen. Turning round. to discover the cause of it, what was my surprize,

when instead of the expected crowd, I could only perceive one solitary man: in vain I looked on every side, the noise still continued, and I naturally concluded that it must proceed from him, though the improbability of it still kept me in suspense. At length upon his nearer approach I was satisfied that he was the sole cause of my astonishment; his eyes were fixed on the ground, one moment he walked with great rapidity, then stopped, and then again darted forwards; at the same time gabbling a variety of incoherent sentences, with frequent changes of voice and incessant volubility. Conceiving that it was some unfortunate wretch who had lost his senses, I thought proper to make a precipitate retreat. I have since learned, that he is equally sensible and harmless, and that when I saw him he was only exercising his usual mode of amusement.

This method of self-conversation, however ridiculous it may appear, undoubtedly possesses many advantages peculiar to itself, and highly gratifying to those who indulge in it. The difficulty of finding a real friend, or even a pleasant companion is universally allowed: how much wiser therefore is he who instead of wearying himself in the pursuit of what is scarcely attainable, quietly retires within himself, and there en

joys in private, what others vainly hunt for in the crowds and tumults of society. If we put such a friend with all the hardships, mortifications, and difficulty of obtaining him into one scale, and this aforesaid quality with its correspondent facility and satisfaction into the opposite one, I could be almost tempted to say that the balance would be in our own favour. The principle use of an agreeable companion is conversation; conversation cannot exist without a difference of opinion, which invariably gives birth to argument, and argument generally terminates in dispute; but the self-talker is entirely exempted from such inconveniences, he holds the power of argument in his own hands, and arbitrarily settles the point to his own satisfaction; he quarrels with no one, and while he pleasingly deludes himself with the idea that he is supporting a fancied argument, he flatters his vanity by a decision in favour of his own beloved opinion. The self-talker is by no means confined to the consideration of various sentiments and dogmas; but he equally gives vent to the exclamations of grief, the extacies of love, or the rapturous effusions of admiration, and astonishment; he makes the wind his confidant, and the waves his audience; and finds a companion, not only in himself, but in every object animate or inanimate

that comes within his view. It may be considered as an ingenious game of solitaire, with which a person may amuse himself, at any time when in want of other employment,

A few weeks ago I received a letter from 'a correspondent of mine, inviting me to lay down my censorial dignity, and to complete the number of a club of Self-talkers to which he belongs. I am not very partial to any unnecessary restrictions upon personal liberty, but as my friend seemed very desirous of my appearance, partly from curiosity and partly to oblige him, I ventured to subject myself to the laws and ordinances of a President. I cannot do better than submit the epistle itself to the public, as I received it.

DEAR SOLOMON,

May 28, 1804.

"I AM the happiest fellow alive! what in the name of good-fortune do you think has befallen me? You know how averse I have always been to prosing with you in the dull routine of sentimental conversation; you must also recollect how often you have surprised me talking to myself with the greatest ardour and animation. Judge then of my transports when I tell you that I have found nine choice spirits precisely of my own way of thinking! We have already formed