Hester Lynch SALUSBURY

Mrs Miller is a Lady who lives near Bath at a Village called Bath Easton, where her husband and her have a fine House, & delight in calling the World about them to admire their Wit, and partake of their Hospitality. Mrs Miller has been in Italy too, & has written her Travels; and brought home a fine vase which once belonged I think She says to either Cicero or Virgil I forget which; & when She makes a sort of Publick Breakfast in the Bath Season, a thing that happens two or three Times perhaps; She desires her Friends to bring with them a Copy of Verses to put in this Vase by way of Tribute: After the Dancing, Breakfast &c. is over—these Verses are read,—publickly to the Company, & Mrs Miller presents a Wreath of Myrtle to the Lady or Gentleman who brought with him the best Lines: She then gives out her Subject for the next Meeting & the Company breaks up.

While Miss Owen was with me last year, a Mrs Kynaston who lives much at Bath sent to her for some Verses on the _Causes & Connections of Dreams_: Miss Owen applyed to me & I gave her the following Lines which got thither just in Time to be put in the Vase-Some- body told us after that Mrs Kynaston had the Wreath that Day—but I believe it was not that Day. Mr Garrick said he had recd the following Card by the Post that same Week, & sent some Verses in Consequence. The Vase of Bath Easton sends Corns to Mr Garrick, & wishes for att Opportunity of adding a Myrtle Wreath to his Laurel one.—May 1777.

Garrick’s Verses I never did hear—these were mine…

Patroness of purest Ease
Can such dry Discussions please?
Can you calmly give directions
About Causes and Connections.
Whilst each empty airy Scheme
Proves that Life itself’s a Dream.

All the Bustle at Bath Easton,
AIl the Folly Criticks feast on,
Blockhead’s Envy, Satire’s Theme,
Fade before us like a Dream.

He who pumps his Brains for Verses,
He who other’s Wit rehearses,
He who in a barren Soil
Labring with incessant Toil,
Works for Wealth, or fights for Fame;
Shall waking find—’twas all a Dream—.