A soldier was found drunk on his post.  Gage, in his time of danger, thought vigour necessary, and sent the fellow to a court-martial.  They ordered two hundred lashes.  The general ordered them to improve their sentence.  Next day it was published in the Boston Gazette.  He called them before him, and required them on oath to abjure the communication, three officers refused.  Poor Gage is to be scape-goat, not for this, but for what was a reason against employing him, incapacity.  I Wonder at the precedent!  Howe is talked of for his successor.  Well, I have done with you!—­Now I shall go gossip with Lady Ailesbury

You must know, Madam, that near Bath is erected a new Parnassus, composed of three laurels,- a myrtle-tree, a weeping-willow, and a view of the Avon, which has been new-christened Helicon.  Ten years ago there lived a Madam Riggs, an old rough humourist who passed for a wit; her daughter, who passed for nothing, married to a Captain Miller, full of good-natured officiousness.  These good folks were friends of Miss Rich,(187) who carried me to dine with them at Batheaston, now Pindus.  They caught a little of what was then called taste, built and planted, and begot children, till the whole caravan- were forced to. go abroad to retrieve.  Alas!  Mrs. Miller is returned-’ a beauty, a genius, a Sappho, a Muse, as romantic as Mademoiselle Scuderi, and as sophisticated as Mrs. Vesey.  The captain’s fingers are loaded with cameos, his tongue runs over with virt`u, and that both may contribute to the improvement of their own country, they have introduced bouts-rim`es as a new discovery.  They hold a Parnassus-fair every Thursday, give out rhymes and themes, and all the flux of quality at Bath contend for the prizes.  A Roman vase dressed with pink ribands and myrtles receives the poetry which is drawn out every festival; six judges of these Olympic games retire and select the brightest compositions, which the respective successful acknowledge, kneel to Mrs. Calliope Miller, kiss her fair hand, and are crowned by it with myrtle, with—­I don’t know what.  You may think this is fiction, or exaggeration.  Be dumb, unbelievers!  The collection is printed, published. (188) Yes, on my faith, there are bouts-rim`es on a buttered muffin, made by her grace the Duchess of Northumberland;(189) receipts to make them by Corydon the venerable, alias George Pitt; others very pretty, by Lord Palmerston;(190) some by Lord Carlisle; many by Mrs. Miller herself, that have no fault but wanting metre; and immortality promised to her without end or measure.  In short, since folly, which never ripens to madness but in this hot climate, ran distracted, there was never any thing so entertaining or so dull—­for you cannot read so long as I have been telling.(191)

January 17.