MR. GRAY'S Elegy in the Country Church-Yard, before it appeared in print, was handed about in manuscript; and amongst other eminent perfon-ages who saw and admired it, was the Lady Cob-ham, who refided at the Manfion-houe at Stoke-Pogeis. The performance induced her to wifh for the author's acquaintance; and Lady Schaub and Mifs Speed, then at her houfe, undertook to effect it. Thefe two ladies waited upon the author at his aunt's solitary manfion, where he at that time re-fided; and not finding him at home, they left their names. Mr. Gray, furprifed at such a compliment, returned the vifit. And as the beginning of this ac-quaintance wore a little of the face of romance, he foon after gave a fanciful and pleafant account of it in the following copy of verſes, which he entitled A LONG STORY.

ALTHOUGH this performance certainly poſſeſſes great humour, yet it is not immediately perceived; and has not been *universally* reliſhed. The author perceived this himſelf, and owned it candidly.— "The verſes," he writes to Dr. Wharton, "you "fo kindly try to keep in countenance, were writ-ten merely to divert Lady Cobham and her fa-miſty, and ſucceeded accordingly; but being "ſhewed about in town, are not liked at all." This laſt consideration induced Mr. Gray to rejeſt them in the Collection which he himſelf made of his poems.

MR. GRAY's Executor having thought fit to reſtore them, they are retained here.