TO THE RIGHT RESPECTABLE MY Ancient and wellbeloved PATRON THE PUBLIC
WHY dont you dedicate to
Mr PIT
Because Sir I would rather set forth my own Talents than the Virtues and Praises of the best Man upon Earth I love to say Things that no One else ever thought of extraordinary quite out of the common way I scorn to echo the Voice of every Fellow that goes the Road Whether the Vessel of the CommonWealth shall sink or swim what is it to me I am but a Passenger
But then there is a Manner in doing Things you know
No Sir it is no Business of mine Mr
Pit
is the Patron of my Patron let my Patron then dedicate to him and welcome dedicate Statutes Temples Monuments as lasting as the Benefits conferred It is nothing to me neither will I say a Syllable more about the matter
May it please your Respectableness
THOUGH the Dedication is the shortest Part of a Book and held by all Readers to be the vilest and most contemptible yet the Writer and his Patron the Dedicator and the Dedicatee have a different way of thinking the Latter on account of the Incense that it breathes and the Former, on account of the Profit that it brings look upon it as the most important Part of the Performance
Alas how little Consideration is left for the Race of Writers among the Race of Readers especially on this Chapter of Dedications
Your Respectableness perhaps hath not duely perpended the Travail the Toil the marvellous Drudgery the Muck that Dedicators are obliged to pass through and the Fences of Truth over which they must break in order to cull select and sublimate an Offering fit to lay upon the Altar of Adulation
Through what a World of Weeds do they range to gather their little Nosegays from what a Profusion of Offences do they extract their Perfumes and how many Nights do they watch to concentre and realize a single Mouthful of Moonshine for the Gratification of their Partrons
The Trades also incumbent upon them are manifold such as of Painting Patching and Plastering of Embroidering Shaping and Shaving and of Tyring Trimming and Tayloring in order to smooth and garnish the Man
whom it delighteth them to honour
and to furnish him with a full Suit of Praises
But your Respectableness I humbly hope would not wish me to be at all this Trouble for indeed Trouble is a Thing that I do not affect There is, also, a kind of Delicacy requisite in tickling the Ribs of Vanity I am at best but a downright sort of a Fellow And should I aukardly presume to dash your Merits full into the Chops of your Modesty I might deserve but ill at the Hands of your Respectableness
My Grandmother Peace be with her I remember one thing among the many good Advices which she gave and I forgot
Never disgrace yourself
quoth she
in order to do Honour to any One breathing
Think not therefore my most respectable Patron that I will either debase myself by cajoling you to your Face or do Violence to Truth by any kind of Panegyric when your Back shall be turned
That I have received many Favours from your Greatness and have a competent Sense of Gratitude for the same is most certain It is also true that all my Studies and Labours have been applied for your Service and that I wish no other Death than that of laying down my Life for your Sake Yet with all my Love for your Person and Endeavours for your Prosperity I cannot find about me the smallest Scantling of Veneration for your Virtues
You have however the Satisfaction to be quite easy upon this Score and no way to be mortified at any Sentiments to your Disadvantage Your Fund of good Humour on such Occasions is inexhaustible and you have often joined with me in reproving and ridiculing your own Vices and Follies which at all times you take more pleasure to rally than I apprehend you will at any time take Pains to amend
I remember that in my Youth I was a great Builder of Castles and having your Interest always at Heart and seldom out of my Head I employed my Time in forming a thousand romantic and airy Schemes for your Advantage
I once proposed to build your Happiness on Religion on Christian Piety and a deep Sense of Duty but having in vain sought a Foundation whereon I might lay the first Stone the Superstructure vanished like the Clouds of last
September
I then attempted to plan the Establishment of your Liberty and Renown upon the ancient and approved Principles of the SPARTAN POVERTY As this had been barely a heathen Virtue as it had raised and supported that great and glorious People through many succeeding Centuries in an uninterrupted Enjoyment of Freedom Power and Prosperity and as nothing appeared to be wanting to the Accomplishment of this Scheme save a few simple Articles such as Moderation Content SelfDenial and so forth I made no doubt of your embracing the Terms with Joy
On paying my first Visit your Respectableness was just come from a
CorporationCant
where I was told you had set your OWN MOTHER up to Sale but your Dignity was so drunk at the Cost of the Bidders that I chose to defer Matters to a more sober Opportunity
On my next Address I understood that the Equipage of your Respectableness was in waiting for it is not with you now as in the Days of Queen
Bess
You were hastening to see the
Italian
Puppetshew As I advanced to pay my Respects I was dazzled by the Ornaments with which you had glorified your Person All the Product of foreign Looms and of foreign Labours your Linen of the
Netherlands
your Point of
Spain
your Ruffles of
Dresden
with a full Suit in the Cut of
France
and trimmed like That of the three Brothers in a Tale of a Tub In short you were so satisfied so wrapt so full of your Finery you could then attend to nothing save the Contemplation of Your fair Self
I still had Patience I watched my Time I attended You late on a Sunday Evening when I thought you at Leisure from the Fervour of your Devotions But how was I struck of a heap when your Footman informed me that some Noblemen and Ladies of the most fashionable Distinction had engaged you for the Afternoon at the GAMING TABLE
Soon after I was apprised that what with spending your Time and Money in running to RareeShows in playing four Corners and a Fool in Drinking Dressing Drabbing and in Gormandizing and Gambling the Finances of your Respectableness were considerably sunk It also came to my Ear that you were hugely fond of COCKMATCHES though you kept them as far as possible from your own Dunghill That it was your Custom to Bet on one Side and then to Bet on the other Side and to lose your Money on all Sides and that by these and the former Means your Respectableness was dipped so up to the Ears in Debt it was thought your yearly Income would in time barely answer the Interest of what you owed
It was now confidently affirmed may it please your Respectableness that You yourself were apprehensive of being reduced to sudden Indigence And I eagerly seized this Occasion of waiting upon You in order as I trusted to reconcile You to your Fate and possibly to delight You with the Prospect of your approaching Poverty For I sighed when I reflected on your intemperate and unbounded Thirst after
Riches
That
Death to national Nature
which had proved the
mortal Poison
of
Greece
and of
Rome
and of all People who tasted it from the Beginning of the World to this present good Day
Being shewn to your Apartment I perceived your Greatness seated in a moody kind of Attitude But having formerly had the Honour of being known to You I took a Chair without Ceremony and chatting with You awhile about the Weather the News of the Day and such like ponderous Matters as sage Ministers and sage Politicians are wont to do I began to introduce and open the Business
Pray Mister said your Dignity somewhat short have You any particular Business with me at this Time I am come may it please You said I to propose a speedy and effectual Method for the Supply of all your Wants At these agreeable Tidings all the Ears your Respectableness had were pricked up and opened to Audience Go on my Good Friend dispatch in Heavens Name
May it please You added I it was the Custom of all the Seers and Sages of ancient Days to introduce Truth and Wisdom under the Covering of Fable and this Covering was as a NutShell if your Teeth were able to crack it you had the Kernel for your Pains Permit me then at least to imitate their Manner for though the Matter should happen to drop by the Way the first Traveller who takes it up may be bettered thereby
Once upon a time for so says my Story a Housholder with his Family was cast on a certain Island where through a Process of Years they propagated till they became a little Nation The Soil was exceeding fertile but there was neither River nor Spring in all the Land Nature however had provided for this Defect by a Kind of Fruit that perfectly allayed the Thirst It was bitter to the Taste but left an agreeable Flavour in the Mouth and gave Health Spirits and Vigour to the whole Constitution and it was called by a Name which in our Language signifies as nearly as I can render it THE FRUIT OF ABSTINENCE
There was also other Fruits of a Species wholly the Reverse of the former; for the Flavour of these was extremely delicious but then they enflamed the Thirst enervated the Frame and were called by a Name that signified the FRUIT OF INDULGENCE
As almost all People made this latter Fruit a Part of their daily Food the national Thirst in time became so great that the Liturgy of their Church was altogether composed of Prayers for Rain O
Jupiter
some Water a little Water dear Mister
Jupiter
Water water water we pray for nothing but Water sink us plunge us drown us overwhelm us with Water
On the Decline of every Sun several Families spread out the Fleeces of their Flocks as also their Sheets and Blankets for the Receiving and Retaining of the nightly Dew Others furnished themselves with small Alembics for distilling the Urine of their Household Some took a Twelvemonths Voyage to bring back as much Liquid as they might subsist on for a few Weeks And the Geniuses of the Nation employed themselves in various Projects such as the chemical Extraction of Moisture from Biscuit and old Fiddles as also the hanging Nets of a peculiar Texture on Poles of due Elevation for catching the Clouds
Your Respectableness has my Tale Can make nothing of it say You Suppose the
Thirst
of this People an Emblem of their
Avarice
and
Wealth
to be represented by
Water
in the Fable
In short may it please your Dignity I have brought You here it is a Refinement on the Institutions of the great
Lycurgus
Could I like the Legislator of
Lacedaemon
prevail upon you barely to abridge your Desires You would find yourself wholly a Stranger to Want You would thereby acquire the Wealth of Greatness Goodness Gloriousness that Peace that Solidity of sublunary Enjoyment which can only be found in a voluntary POVERTY
Scarce had I pronounced the last fatal Word when your Respectableness started up in a Passion You asked me if I had not seen the Levee of Duns at your Gate and the Catchpoles that lurked for You at every Corner You consigned me with a very good Will to the Devil and desired that the next time I presumed to turn StateQuack I should not prescribe Drink to a drowning Man
As I retired under the greatest Dejection of Spirits Ho you cried honest Friend Mr what do they call you come back You who scatter your Money as fast as your Words as profuse of your Purse as you are of your Opinions You who always run a Mile before your Rents and live upon the Harvest of the next Years Sickle are not You also a
poor Devil
One of the
Diogenical Gentlemen
as very an
Emperor of the Tub
as myself
Preach up Poverty with a Pox first get wherewithal to pay your own Debts The
ready Runners
my Boy the
passable Pictures
the
royal Pages
the
Sparklers
the
Portable
the
Potable
Ay marry this would do this would fortify your Argument this would mould me to your Form and persuade me to your Faith It is this my little Lad that would shut too the Door on all manner of Temptations and kick the Corruptions you have so often complained of into the Kennel Come cast me the Nativity of this
bright Son of Phoebus
draw me a Scheme for raising this
Egyptian
from the Deep and You shall be my
Darling
my
Bardling
my
hourly Oracle
my
Apollo of Delphos
and what not
Was your Respectableness said I ever told your Fortune perhaps it might bear some Resemblance to my own I was a Boy when the cunning Man peering earnestly into my Palm uttered a Sentence which I shall remember the longest Day I have to live You will always said he be getting a Power of Money and take my Word you will never be worth a Groat
Indeed could I have prevailed upon your Respectableness to be contented with Poverty I was in Hopes you would have enriched your Monitor for his Pains But in truth Im a very Ass at this Business of getting Money either for You or myself and as for the keeping it when I have got it I have long since given up all thoughts of the Matter I will however do my best to add to the Glories to the Virtues as I may say of your Respectableness in a Manner more acceptable than my present Plan has proved
I am your Dignitys most devoted and wish you a mighty good Evening
HAVING thereafter consigned my late Scheme to Bakers and Barbers and to all the vilest Applications of waste Paper I sat down to study and provide a Remedy for that feverish Kind of Consumption under which your Respectableness apparently laboured during our late Confabulation
I was sensible at the same time that your
Distemper
was common to many other Countries and that it was no where held to be dangerous forasmuch as it only consisted of
two Articles
the
Sensuality of the Body
and the
Corruption of the Mind.
I also knew that in former Ages a great Number of
Publics
had been affected with the very Malady that now possessed your
Respectableness
and yet had lived merrily under it to their dying Day
I wished however to keep that Day at some Distance from your Greatness and with long and intense Labour and at the Cost of many a Candle during my nightly Lucubrations I compounded a Medicine of approved and infallible Efficacy consisting for the Nonce of a quantum sufficit of the TEMPERANCE and PATRIOTISM of the primitive
Romans
I knew that the Cure would follow but how to prevail upon your Respectableness to swallow the Prescription was a small matter of Difficulty that yet remained For it is a Misfortune peculiar to Those who are bit by Love Avarice Ambition Pride and such Passions that they detest the Thoughts of a Restorative and are so enamoured of their Distemper they would rather see the Devil than Doctor
Apollo
himself at their Door
I again had the Honour of being admitted to an Audience I called up and exhausted all the Powers of Oratory on that capital Occasion I demonstrated to your Respectableness that the whole Weight and Elevation of the
Roman
State rested simply on the two Pillars of TEMPERANCE and PATRIOTISM on which it rose increased and stood supported through many Ages till those Pillars being gradually sapped the mighty Structure with its said Foundation decayed grew ruinous and fell confounded together That Temperance is necessary to the Strength of a Man as Patriotism is necessary to the Strength of a People That each
Roman
thus nerved and powerful apart was yet strengthened a hundred thousand fold by an invisible Chord which run from Man to Man and united All as One in the LOVE OF COUNTRY That hence sprung the
Helicon
of their abundant Inspiration to Toil Industry Frugality Valour Conquest and Glory They were swallowed like so many Drops in this Ocean of Patriotism They were lost to every Care and Sensation of SELF; and were only found where they laboured fought bled or expired for their COUNTRY
While warmed and somewhat raised by the Elevation of my Subject I thus reasoned on NationalPower on humanExcellence on Virtue on Temperance on Patriotism and Glory I shall never forget the kind Concern which your Respectableness expressed for me in the evident Alarm and Compassion of your Countenance as for a Person whose Fit you feared was approaching
Being both of us more composed your Greatness was pleased to demand whether this Romance was wholly of my own Invention or if I had lately been fishing the Well where Truth was formerly drowned for an
Ens Rationis
of some speculating Philosopher Where you cried in the name of Wonder have you been able to gather together such an old fashioned Bundlement of Scientific Balderdash You shall bring me to the Practice exactly at the Period that the Hogs shall be brought to feed along with the Herrings or at the time of the Appearance of the Comet with the three Tails or on the Week of the four Fridays so long looked for by Astrologians Here exclaimed your Respectableness who waits All you my Printers Editors and other Porters who attend at the Gate of the Public should this Fellow come any more with these his Preachments of Piety and Poverty and Patriotism and Stuff I command Ye to shut my Doors directly in his Face
May it please your Respectableness I am but a very little Man and of a very lowly Temper and yet I could not but be piqued at the Severity of this Treatment I was as a trodden Worm and turned upon your Greatness with a Resentment that possibly did not become me
May your Dignity I replied continue to be blessed with Writers duely levelled to the Taste of the Reader with the Politicks of Court Hirelings the Poetry of Laureats the Divinity of a H y with Bawdry from the Fleet with Fragments from the Kennel of Grubstreet with Strumpet Biography with W upon Grace with Treatises on and episcopal Essays on Spirit
I trust that My Patron in Recompence for a long Life spent in his Service will pardon me the dropping of one Observation Nay dont look disgusted it is no matter of great Offence it is nothing more than this that the Nose of your Respectableness hath ever been a ready Handle for the leading of a FOOL and a FOOL shall accordingly attend You on my next Visit
PREFACE
I Hate Prefaces I never read them and why should I write them They stand like Pales about a Park I always overleap em if I
there is any thing, within worth
But what can I do I am likely to lead a fine Life with this Performance when People begin to quarrel with me upon reading the first Word of the first Page of my Works
This Friend and that Friend and the other Friend asks me and here sits Another who is mighty curious to know why I entitle my Hero the FOOL OF QUALITY
Pray was it not more decent to impute Folly to one Man than to Mankind if I found myself under the Necessity of doing the One or the Other
Perhaps I call him a Fool in Complaisance to a World that will certainly honour him with the same Title when they find his Wisdom of a Size not suited to their Own Why pray what is Wisdom Tell me first what is Folly I will then tell you what is Wisdom if I find any Smattering of it in your Definition
I wonder was there ever an Age of Wisdom or a Land of Wisdom Look about You The World will answer for Itself. Does not every Age and Nation grow wiser and wiser And have not all Fathers from the Flood downward been accounted no better than Fools by their Posterity I wish I had not been born for some Centuries to come What a Prodigy of Wisdom should I then be in comparison of what I am at this Day
Indeed I should be glad to be wise if I thought I could get any thing by It Right that is all the Use that the World makes of It it is the very End Purpose Goal and Business of all the Wisdom upon Earth If a Man has length enough of Sense to outreach all about him by a Yard and a Half He is by a Yard and Half wiser than all his Neighbours
But was not
Solomon
then a Fool to neglect Riches which he might have had with a Wish and to ask for Wisdom whose only Use is the obtaining of Riches Was not this wishing to mend a roundabout Road when a Quarter of an Hour would have carried him by a short Cut to the End of his Journey I fancy my dear Friend it would be no great Matter of additional Burden to take the Folly of
Solomon
upon your own Shoulders
For in case he had taken the Riches how the pox should he keep them while any neighbouring Power was wiser than himself
Paris
was not five Years younger than
Solomon
when he also might have chosen either Riches or Wisdom and yet preferred a pretty Wench to the One and to the Other I am not so young as
Paris
by five times five Years and would therefore prefer the One or the Other to the Wench You then allow that
Paris
was a Blockhead in the present Case Sir I allow any Man to be so in every Case where he happens to differ in Opinion from myselfWhy pray sage Sir have You got all the Wisdom of the World to yourself or what Quantity thereof think you may there be upon Earth Less by five Scruples than any Man in judiciary Robes and a full bottomed Wig conceives to have fallen to his own Share But Folly you take to be multiplied and various Of two Sorts quoth an eminent Author That which belongs to the Writer and That which belongs to the Reader of these Works
Sir this is wild Discourse and very wide from the Purpose Let me tell you the World was never so wise as now It is filled with Men of deep Erudition and Science True my Monitor but are they a jot the wiser for all their Knowledge
At the rate that you talk in the Times of ancient Ignorance there might have been a competent Modicum of wise Folk in the World possible And by the same Rule in these our enlightened Days of Connoissieurship and Erudition nearly all our Literati may turn out Fools more than probable These are Riddles that might be solved Explain em I beseech you Not at present I will tell you a Story and pray listen It is worth the hearing
Fifty and five Pilgrims met one Evening at a great Inn that led to more Roads than there are Points in the Compass They supped merrily together in a large Hall and found upon enquiry that they were all bound to
the Castle of final Repose
appointed for the Reception of the Sons of Science. When the Cloth was removed Gentlemen quoth the Pilgrim who first entered I rejoice to be joined by so much good Company on these my honourable Travels and I am still better pleased to have it in my Power to conduct every Man of ye the shortest and surest way to your Journeys End Here Gentlemen here is my Map of infallible Directions the most accurate Extract that ever was taken of all Inquiries Observations and Informations for the Nonce Pardon me Brother said the Pilgrim who sat next your Map must be erroneous by at least five Degrees by five did I say by seven as I hope to get to my Journeys end Look here at my Map and believe your own Eyes Ill be damned cried a third Pilgrim peering over the Maps of his Neighbours and taking out his own Parchment Ill be damned if the Geographers who designed the One or the Other were any better than Adventurers They never reached the Place of Destination Ill be sworn Gentlemen said a Fourth with wonderful good Temper I do not swear but I have critically remarked all the Charts produced Theres a blind Beggar in our Town who is led by his Dog and if he does not arrive at the Place we are bound to with better Speed and greater Certainty than any of you Three I give myself do ye see and all my Goods to the Devil save a small Perpetuity in Remainder to my Son That may be exclaimed a Fifth but look ye here my Friends here are the Quotations here are the Authorities Authorities quoth a Sixth a Fiddlestick for a Hobby are they unquestionable unassailable like these in my Hand Thus every Mans Chart throughout the Fifty and Five was like the Hand of the Son of
Hagar
against the Chart of every Man Each insisted on being accompanied in his own Way as a Matter of mere Charity to all the Rest They set out the next Morning on as many different Roads as there were Persons at Table and yet no One of them ever arrived at the Place proposed if any Dependence may be had on those customary Posts whom the World from Age to Age has paid for Intelligence
I dont clearly apprehend the Application of your Story If that is not your Fault it must be my Own It is at least a Dozen of the Twelve Labours to beat any thing into the Head of some People I will give you the Chance of another Tale
A certain Prince sent an Invitation to two distant Personages to come to his Court He further sent such Directions as could not be mistaken by any One living who was willing to find the Way And he further sent a written Promise signed and sealed by the Seal royal of the most happy Accommodations upon their Arrival
The One of the Parties invited was a purblind Man who barely saw sufficient to discern his Road He accordingly was fearful of Error He cautiously held on his Way and, thereby, reached his Journeys End the Place of happy Destination to which he was appointed
The other was a Man who had all his Eyes about him but he was a Genius had vast Invention and thought it a Disparagement to tread in any Path that had been beaten by others He was for contriving short Cuts and opening new Discoveries He made Excursions on all Hands He grew impatient of the Accommodations appointed and reserved for him at the Court of the Prince He expected them on his Journey and sought for them at every Turn He found them not He therefore travelled and strayed this way and that way in Search of them This led him still further and further from his Road Till maimed by Accident and stiff with Age he grew equally ashamed and unable to return
As plain as my Nose You can the readier follow But talk to me no more about the World and its Wisdom I detest Wisdom I avoid it I would not be bit by it It is the
Tarantula
that spins a Web whereby Innocence is entangled It is a Politician who opens a Gulf for the Swallowing up of a People It is a Lawyer who diggs a Grave for the Burial of Equity It is the Science, of
Hocus Pocus
that bids Happiness come and pass by the Virtue of Cups and Balls It is a Syllabub of fastingSpittle for the Fattening of the
Virtuosi
It is a Robe with a pompous Train A Wig spread to the Rump A Beard lengthened to the Girdle It is a Ditch of Puddle with a hoary Mantle that will not be moved to Merriment by any Wind that blows It is an Ass in a SumpterCloth An Owl solemnly perched amidst solemn Ruins on a solemn Night
Descend to me sweet Folly if thou hast not as I suspect been my constant Companion Be thou my Sister my Playfellow thou Kitten of the solemn Cats of State and Learning But no Thou never wert the Offspring of such stupid Progenitors Thou art ever joyous ever young although coeval in Paradise with our first Parents ere a Pox upon their Ambition they wished for the Knowledge of Good and Evil Pride pretends to spurn thee Science affects to look down upon thee but they sigh for thee when no one sees they have frowned thee away and when they seek they shall not find thee Come Folly for even thy Petulance and little Wickednesses become delightful when thou incitest the yeanling Kids and cooing Turtles to Combat Thou art not captious thou art not testy they laugh at thee and thou laughest with them for Company The Hours dance before thee the Graces smile in thy Train Thou art a Companion for Conquerors a Playfellow for crowned Heads But alas thou art not respected as heretofore when the Monarch of all Asia sent his Ambassadors to wait upon thee they came with a mighty Train even from
Persepolis
unto
Laconia
to see thee riding upon Switches with
Agesilaus
and his little Son
By my pleasant Friend thou almost persuadest me to be a Fool during the Remainder of my Pilgrimage through the Wisdom of this World But is there no such thing as true Wisdom in Nature? Sir I have written a whole Chapter upon the Subject but it lies a great way on toward the End of my Book and you have much Folly to wade through before you come at it Give me a Peep I beseech you No Sir you shall not anticipate Do you Want to be in Port without making any Voyage If I must win my way to Wisdom Inch by Inch let me set out directly Here then begin And pray let me have your Remarks unpremeditated as you proceed I will answer you as Whim or Judgment shall happen to dictate
CHAP I
R ICHARD the Grandfather of our Hero was ennobled by
James
the First He married a lovely Girl of the ancient Family of the
Goodalls
in the County of
Surry
and at Seven Years Distance had two Sons
Richard
and
Henry
but dying early in the Reign of
Charles
the First he bequeathed £12000 to his youngest and near £20000 annual Income to his eldest Son not in any personal Preference to his Brother but as one who was to support the Name and Honours of the Family He appointed his Brother in Law Executor and Guardian who educating the Children agreeable to their different Fortunes and Prospects in Life in about Seven Years after the Death of their Father sent
Richard
with a Tutor to take the Tour of Europe and bound
Henry
Apprentice to a considerable
London
Merchant
During the Travels of the One and the Apprenticeship of the Other the Troubles happened and
Cromwell
assumed the Regency before the Fortune of the
Morelands
could be forfeited or endangered by siding with the Crown or the Commonwealth
Richard
returned to
England
a short time before the Restoration and being too gay and too dissolute for the Plodding and Hypocricy of
Cromwell
and his Fanaticks he withdrew to the Mansion House of his Forefathers
On his Landing he had inquired for his Brother
Henry
but hearing that he was lately married and wholely absorbed in Matters of Merchandise as he had the utmost Contempt for all Cits and Traders he took no further Notice of him
In the Country he amused himself with his Bottle Hounds Hawks Race Horses
c
and in debauching the Persons of the neighbouring Wenches and corrupting the Morals of the Neighbouring Squires But on the Restoration of his Majesty of pleasurable Memory he hastened to Court where he rolled away and shone as in his native Sphere He was always of the Party of the King
Rochester c
where Virtue was laughed out of Countenance and where all Manner of Dissoluteness became amiable and recommendable by the Bursts of Merriment and Zest of Wit But toward the latter End of this droll Reign Earl
Richard
being advanced in Age and being still older in Constitution than Years began to think of providing an Heir to his Estate and as he had taken vast Pains to impair it he married a Citizens Daughter who wanted a Title and with her got a Portion of one hundred thousand Pounds which was equally wanting on his Part
With his Lady he again retreated to the Country where in less than a Year she made him the exulting Father of a fine Boy whom he called
Richard
Richard
speedily became the sole Centre of all his Mothers Solicitudes and Affections And though within the Space of the two succeeding Years she was delivered of a second Boy yet as his infant Aspect was less promising and more unformed than his Brothers she sent him forth to be nursed by the robust Wife of a neighbouring Farmer where for the Space of upward of four Years he was honoured with no Token from Father or Mother save some casual Messages to know from time to time if the Child was in Health
This Boy was called
Henry
after his Uncle by the Fathers Side The Earl had lately sent to
London
to make Enquiry after his Brother but could learn no Manner of Tidings concerning him
Mean while the Education of the two Children was extremely contrasted
Richard
who was already entitled my little Lord was not permitted to breathe the Rudeness of the Wind On his lightest Indisposition the whole House was in Alarms his Passions had full Scope in all their infant Irregularities his Genius was put into a Hot Bed by the Warmth of Applauses given to every Flight of his opening Fancy and the whole Family conspired from the Highest to the Lowest to the Ruin of promising Talents and a benevolent Heart
Young
Harry
on the other Hand had every Member as well as Feature exposed to all Weathers would run about Mothernaked for near an Hour in a frosty Morning was neither physicked into Delicacy nor flattered into Pride scarce felt the Convenience and much less understood the Vanity of Clothing and was daily occupied in playing and wrestling with the Pigs and two mungril Spaniels on the Dunghil or in kissing scratching or boxing with the Children of the Village
When
Harry
had passed his fifth Year his Father on a festival Day humbly proposed to send for him to his Nurses in order to observe how the Boy might turn out and my Lady in a Fit of good Humour assented Nurse accordingly decked him out in his holiday Petticoats and walked with our Hero to the great House as they called it
A brilliant Concourse of the neighbouring Gentry were met in a vast Parlour that appeared to be executed after the Model of
Westminster Hall
There was Sir
Christopher Cloudy
who knew much but said nothing with his very conversable Lady who scarce knew by halves but spoke by wholesale In the same Range was Sir
Standish Stately
who in all Companies held the first Place in his own Esteem Next to him sat Lady
Childish
it was at least thirty Years since those Follies might have become her which appeared so very ridiculous at the Age of fiftyfive By her Side were the two
Stiltons
a blind Man would swear that the One was a Clown and the Other a Gentleman by the Tones of their Voices Next to these were two Pair of very ill mated Turtles Mr
Gentle
who sacrificed his fine Sense and affluent Fortune to the Vanity and bad Temper of a silly and turbulent Wife and Squire
Sulky
a brutal Fool who tyranized over the most sensible and most amiable of her Sex
On the opposite Side was Lord
Prim
who evidently laboured hard to be easy in Conversation and next to him was Lord
Flippant
who spoke Nonsense with great facility By his Side sat the fair but dejected Miss
Willow
she had lately discovered what a Misfortune it was to be born to Wit Beauty and Affluence the three capital Qualifications that lead the Sex to Calamity Next to her was Colonel
Jolly
with a Heart ever tuned to Merriment and Lungs to Laughter had he known how to time his Fits the Laugh might have grown catching Below him was seated Mrs
Mirror
a Widow Lady industriously accomplished in the Faults of People of Fashion And below her sat the beloved and respected Mr
Meekly
who always sought to hide behind the Merits of the Company Next to him was Major
Settle
no one spoke with more Importance on things of no Signification And beside him sat Miss
Lovely
who looked Sentiment and while she was silent inspired others with Sense and Virtue
These were the principal Characters The Rest could not be said to be of any Character at all The Cloth had been lately removed and a Host of Glasses and Decanters glowed on the Table when in comes young
Harry
escorted by his Nurse
All the Eyes of the Company were instantly drawn upon him but he advanced with a vacant and unobserving Physiognomy and thought no higher of the Assembly than as of so many Peasants at a Country Wake
Dicky
my Dear says my Lady go and welcome your Brother whereat
Dick
went up took
Harry
by the Hand and kissed him with much Affection
Harry
thereupon having eyed his Brother I dont know You said he bluntly but at the same time held up his little Mouth to kiss him again
Dick
says my Lady put your laced Hat upon
Harry
till we see how it becomes him which he immediately did but
Harry
feeling an unusual Encumbrance on his Head took off the Hat and having for some time looked contemptuously at it he cast it from him with a sudden and agile Jerk as he used to cast flat Stones in order to make Ducks and Drakes in the Mill Pond The Hat took the Glasses and Decanters in full Carrier smash go the Glasses abroad pours the Wine on circling Laces Dresden Aprons silvered Silks and rich Brocades female Screams fill the Parlour the Rout is equal to the Uproar and it was long ere most of them could be composed to their Places
In the mean while
Harry
took no kind of Interest in their Outcries or Distresses but spying a large
Spanish
Pointer that just then came from under the Table he sprung at him like Lightning seized him by the Collar and vaulted on his Back with inconceivable Agility The Dog wholly disconcerted by so unaccustomed a Burden capered and plunged about in a violent Manner but
Harry
was a better Horseman than to be so easily dismounted whereon the Dog grew outrageous and rushing into a Group of little Misses and Masters the Children of the Visitants he overthrew them like Ninepins thence proceeding with equal Rapidity between the Legs of Mrs
Dowdy
a very fat and elderly Lady she instantly fell backward with a violent Shriek and in her Fall unfortunately overthrew
Frank
the Foxhunter who overthrew
Andrew
the Angler who overthrew
Bob
the Beau who closed the Catastrophe
Our Hero mean Time was happily dismounted by the intercepting Petticoats and fairly laid without Damage in the fallen Ladys Lap From thence he arose at his Leisure and strolled about the Room with as unconcerned an Aspect as if nothing had happened amiss and as though he had neither Act nor Part in this frightful Discomfiture
When Matters were once more in some Measure set to Rights my Heavens exclaimed my Lady I shall faint the Boy is positively an Idiot he has no Apprehension Conception of Persons or Things Come hither Sirrah she cried with an angry Tone but instead of complying
Harry
cast on her a Look of Resentment and sidled over toward his Nurse
Dicky
my Dear said my Lady go and pretend to beat his Foster Mother that we may try if the Child has any kind of Ideas. Here her Ladyship by ill Fortune was as much unadvised as her Favourite was unhappy in the Execution of her Orders for while
Dick
struck at the Nurse with a counterfeited Passion
Harry
instantly reddened and gave his Brother such a sudden Pash in the Face that his Nose and Mouth gushed out with Blood
Dick
set up the Roar my Lady screamed out and rising and running at
Harry
with all imaginable Fury she caught him up as a
Falcon
would truss a
Robin
turned over his Petticoats and chastised him with all the Violence of which her Delicacy was capable Our Hero however neither uttered Cry or Tear but being set down he turned round on the Company an Eye of Indignation then cried come away Mammy and issued from the Assembly
Harry
had scarce made his Exit when his Mother exclaimed after him Ay ay take him away Nurse take him away the little Devil and never let me see his Face more
I shall not detain my Readers with a tedious Detail of the many and differing Opinions that the remaining Company expressed with regard to our Hero let it suffice to observe that they generally agreed that though the Boy did not appear to be endowed by Nature with a single Faculty of the
Animal rationale
he might nevertheless be rendered capable in Time of many Places of very honourable and lucrative Employment
Mr
Meekly
alone though so gentle and complying at other Times now presumed to dissent from the Sense of the Company I rather hold said he that this Infant is the Promise of the greatest Philosopher and Hero that our Age is likely to produce By refusing his Respect to those superficial Distinctions which Fashion has inadequately substituted as Expressions of human Greatness he approves himself the Philosopher and by the Quickness of his Feelings for injured Innocence and his Boldness in defending those to whom his Heart is attached he approves himself at once the Hero and the Man
Harry
had now remained six Months more with his Nurse engaged in his customary Exercises and Occupations He was already by his Courage his Strength and Action become tremendous to all the little Boys of the Village they had all Things to fear from his sudden Resentment but nothing from his Memory or Recollection of a Wrong and this also was imputed to his native Stupidity The two mungril Dogs were his inseparable Playfellows they were all tied together in the strictest Bonds of Friendship and caressed each other with the most warm and unfeigned Affection
On a Summers Day as he strolled forth with these his faithful Attendants and rambled into a Park whose Gate he saw open he perceived in a little Copse that bordered on a Fishpond a Stranger seated on a Bench of Turf
Harry
drew near with his usual Intrepidity till he observed that the Man had a reverend Beard that spread over his Breast that he held something in his Hand on which he gazed with a fixed Attention and that the Tears rolled down his Cheeks without ceasing and in Silence except the half suppressed Sobs that often broke from his Bosom
Harry
stood awhile immoveable his little Heart was affected he approached the old Man with a gentle Reverence and looking up in his Face and seating himself by his Side the Muscles of his Infant Aspect began to relax and he wept and sobd as fast as his Companion
Friend
Pray who is this ancient Stranger I have a great Curiosity to know Is he necessary to your Story is he to have any future Connection with the Child How came he by the long Beard Beards were not the Fashion in those Days There must be some extraordinary Reason for it if there is any Reason at all Is his Story long do you begin upon it directly It is a great fault in Authors to hold their Readers in Suspence our Curiosity grows languid twenty to one it is vanished before you begin to give it any Kind of Satisfaction Who in the World is he what Business has he here
Author
Sir you see he is a Stranger I have mentioned him as such If he chuses to continue so for some Time longer I know of no right that I have to discover him Perhaps I am the only Person breathing whom he has entrusted with the Secret of his Affairs I am upon Honour not to betray him you must pardon me pray proceeed
CHAP II
THE old Gentleman turned and gazed at the Child as on some sudden Apparition His Tears stopped He returned the Picture which he held into his Bosom And lifting up his Eyes Great Power he cried is this the One of all the World who has any Feelings for me Is it this Babe this Suckling whom thou hast sent to be a Partaker in my Griess and the Sharer of my Afflictions Welcome then my little Friend said he tenderly turning and caressing the Child I will live the longer for thy Sake and endeavour to repay the Tears thou hast shed in my Behalf
The Language of true Love is understood by all Creatures and was that of which
Harry
had almost the only Perception He returned his Friends Caresses with unaffected Ardour and no Two could be more highly gratified in the Endearments of each Other
What is your Name my Dear said the old Gentleman
Harry Clinton
Sir
Harry Clinton
repeated the Old Man and started And pray who is your Father the Child then looking tenderly at him replied Ill have you for a Father if you please Sir The Stranger then caught him up in his Arms and passionately exclaimed You shall you shall my Darling for the tenderest of Fathers never to be torn asunder till Death shall part us
Then asking him where he lived and
Harry
pointing to the Town before them they both got up and went towards it Our Hero was now again all Glee all Action he sprung from and to his Friend and played and gambold about him like a young Spaniel in a Morning just loosed from his Chain and admitted to accompany his Master to the Field As his two Dogs frisked about him he would now mount upon One then bound upon the other and each pranced and paraded under him as delighted with the Burden The old Gentleman beheld all with a Pleasure that had long been a Stranger to his Breast and shared in the Joys of his young Associate
Being arrived near the Farm House Nurse who stood at the Door saw them approaching and cried out
Gaffer Gaffer
here comes our
Harry
with the dumb Gentleman When they were come up Good People says the Stranger is this your Child no no Sir answered the Nurse we are but his Fosterers And pray who is his Father He is second Son Sir to the Earl of
Moreland
The Earl of
Moreland
you amaze me greatly is this all the Notice and Care they take of such a Treasure Sir replied the Nurse they never sent for him but once they dont mind him they take him for a Fool For a Fool cried he and shook his Head in Token of Dissent I am sure he has the wisest of all human Hearts I wish it may beso Sir said the Nurse but he behaved very sadly some Time ago at the great House She then made a Recital of all our young Heros Adventures in the MansionParlour whereat the old Gentleman inwardly chuckled and for the first Time of some Years permitted his Features to relax into a Smile of Cheerfulness
Nurse said he every Thing that I hear and see of this Child serves the more to endear and bind me to him Pray be so good as to accompany us to my House we will try to equip him better both as to Person and Understanding
As this Strangers Seat made Part of the Village they were soon there He first whispered his old Domestic who then looked upon the Child with Surprise and Pleasure The Footman was next sent to bring the Taylor and some light Stuffs from the Town Shop Matters being thus dispatched with respect to our Heros first Coat and Britches Nurse was kept to Dinner and after this Gentleman had entertained his young Guest with a Variety of little Tricks childish Plays and otherFooleries toward Evening he dismissed him and his Nurse with a Request that she would send him every Day and a Promise that he should be returned every Night if she desired it
Harry
being thus furnished with the external Tokens of a Man Child having been born into the World became an inseparable Friend and Playfellow to his Patron At Times of Relaxation the old Gentleman with the most winning and insinuating Address endeavoured to open his Mind and cultivate his Morals by a thousand little Fables such as of bold Sparrows and naughty Kids that were carried away by the Hawk or devoured by the Wolf and of good Robbins and innocent Lambs that the very Hawks and Wolves themselves were fond of For he never proposed any Encouragement or Reward to the Heart of our Hero save that of the Love and Approbation of Others At the Times of such Instruction
Harry
who knew no other Dependence and beheld his Patron as his Father and as his God would hang upon his Knee look up to his Face delighted and greedily imbibe the Sweetness of those Lessons whose Impressions neither Age nor any Occurrence could ever after erase so prevalent are the Dictates of Lips that are beloved
At other Times the Stranger would enter with our Hero into all his little Frolicks and childish Vagaries would run and wrestle with him ride the Rods roll down the Slope and never felt such sweet Sensations and inward Delight as when he was engaged in such Recreations
There was a Cock at
Harry
s Nurses the Lord of the Dunghill between whom and our Hero a very particular Intimacy and Friendship had been contracted
Harry
s Hand was his daily Caterer and
Dick
for the Cock was so called would hop into the Childs Lap and pick his Cloaths and rub his Feathers against him and court
Harry
to tickle and stroak and play with him
Upon a
ShroveTuesday
while
Harry
was on his Road from his Patrons intending a short Visit to his Nurse and Foster Father a Lad came to their Door and offered
Gaffer
a double Price for
Dick
the Bargain was quickly made the Lad bore off his Prize in Triumph and
Gaffer
withdrew to the manuring of a back Field Just at that Crisis
Harry
came up and enquired of the Maid for his Daddy and Mammy but was answered that neither of them was within He then asked after his favourite Cock but was told that his Daddy had that Minute sold him to yonder Man who was almost out of Sight
Away sprung our Hero like an Arrow from a Bow and held the Man in View till he saw him enter a great Croud at the upper end of the Street Up he comes at last quite out of Breath and making way through the Assembly perceived his Cock at some Distance tied to a short Stake and a Lad preparing to throw at him with a Stick Forward he rushed again and stopped resolutely before his Bird to ward the Blow with his own Person at the Instant that the Stick had taken its Flight and that all the People cryed out hold hold One End of the Stick took
Harry
in the left Shoulder and bruised him sorely but not regarding that he instantly stooped delivered his captive Favourite whipped him under his Arm caught up the Stick flourishd it as in Defiance of all Opponents made Homeward thro the Croud and was followed by the Acclamations of the whole Assemby
The old Gentleman was standing before his Court Door when his Favourite arrived all in a Sweat whats the Matter my Dear says he what made you put yourself into such a Heat what Cock is that you have under your Arm In answer to these several Questions
Harry
ingenuously confessed the whole Affair And when his Patron with some Warmth cried why my Love did you venture your Life for a silly Cock why did I repeated the Child why Sir because he loved me The Stranger then stepping back and gazing upon him with Eyes of tender Admiration may Heaven for ever bless thee my little Angel he exclaimed and continue to utter from thy Lips the Sentiments that it Inspires Then catching him up in his Arms he bathed him with his Tears and almost stifled him with his Caresses
In a few Days our Hero was again restored by frequent Fomentations to the Use of his Arm and his Dada as he called him and he returned to their old Recreations
As
Harry
s Ideas began to open and expand he grew ambitious of greater Power and Knowledge He wished for the Strength of that Bull and for the Swiftness of yonder Horse And on the Close of a solemn and serene Summers Evening while he and his Patron walked in the Garden he wished for Wings that he might fly up and see what the Sky and the Stars and the rising Moon were made of
In order to reform this Inordinacy of his Desires his Patron addressed him in the following Manner
I will tell you a Story my
Harry
On the other Side of yonder Hill there runs a mighty clear River and in that River on a Time there lived three silver Trouts the prettiest little Fishes that any one ever saw Now God took a great liking and love to these pretty silver Trouts and he let them want for nothing that such little Fishes could have occasion for But two of them grew sad and discontented and the One wished for this Thing and the Other wished for that Thing and neither of them could take Pleasure in any Thing that they had because they were always longing for something that they had not
Now
Harry
you must know that all this was very naughty in those two little Trouts for God had been exceedingly kind to them he had given them every Thing that was fittest for them and he never grudged them any Thing that was for their Good but instead of thanking him for all his Care and his Kindness they blamed him in their own Minds for refusing them any Thing that their silly Fancies were set upon In short there was no End of their wishing and longing and quarrelling in their Hearts for this Thing and the other
At last God was so provoked that he resolved to punish their Naughtiness by granting their Desires and to make the Folly of those two little stubborn Trouts an Example to all the foolish Fish in the whole World
For this Purpose he called out to the three little silver Trouts and told them they should have whatever they wished for
Now the Eldest of these Trouts was a very proud little Fish and wanted forsooth to be set up above all other little Fishes May it please your Greatness says he I must be free to tell you that I do not at all like the Way in which you have placed me Here you have put me into a poor narrow and troublesome River where I am straitened on the right Side and straitened on the left Side and can neither get down into the Ground nor up into the Air nor go where nor do any one Thing I have a mind to I am not so blind for all but that I can see well enough how mighty kind and bountiful you can be to Others There are your favourite little Birds who fly this Way and that Way and mount up to the very Heavens and do whatever they please and have every Thing at Command because you have given them Wings Give me such Wings also as you have given to them and then I will have something for which I ought to thank you
No sooner ask than have He felt the Wings he wished for growing from either Side and in a Minute he spread them abroad and rose out of the Water At first he felt a wonderful Pleasure in finding himself able to fly He mounted high into the Air above the very Clouds and he looked down with Scorn on all the Fishes in the World
He now resolved to travel and to take his Diversion far and wide He flew over Rivers and Meadows and Woods and Mountains till growing faint with Hunger and Thirst his Wings began to fail him and he thought it best to come down to get some Refreshment
The little Fool did not consider that he was now in a strange Country and many a Mile from the sweet River where he was born and bred and had received all his Nourishment So when he came down he happened to alight among dry Sands and Rocks where there was not a Bit to eat nor a Drop of Water to drink and so there he lay faint and tired and unable to rise gasping and fluttering and beating himself against the Stones till at length he died in great Pain and Misery
Now the second silver Trout though he was not so high minded as the first little proud Trout yet he did not want for Conceit enough and he was moreover a narrow hearted and very selfish little Trout and provided he himself was snug and safe he did not care what became of all the Fishes in the World So he says to God
May it please your Honour I dont wish not I for Wings to fly out of the Water and to ramble into strange Places where I dont know what may become of me I lived contented and happy enough till the other Day when as I got under a cool Bank from the Heat of the Sun I saw a great Rope coming down into the Water and it fastened itself I dont know how about the Gills of a little Fish that was basking beside me and he was lifted out of the Water struggling and working in great Pain till he was carried I know not where quite out of my Sight So I thought in my own Mind that this Evil some Time or other may happen to myself and my Heart trembled within me and I have been very sad and discontented ever since Now all I desire of you is that you would tell me the Meaning of this and of all the other Dangers to which you have subjected us poor little mortal Fishes for then I shall have Sense enough to take care of my own Safety and I am very well able to provide for my own Living I warrant you
No sooner said than done God immediately opened his Understanding and he knew the Nature and Meaning of Snares Nets Hooks and Lines and of all the Dangers to which such little Trouts could be liable
At first he greatly rejoiced in this his Knowledge and he said to himself now surely I shall be the happiest of all Fishes for as I understand and am forewarned of every Mischief that can come near me Im sure I love myself too well not to keep out of Harms way
From this Time forward he took Care not to go into any deep Holes for fear that a Pike or some other huge Fish might be there who would make nothing of swallowing him up at one Gulf He also kept away from the shallow Places especially in hot Weather left the Sun should dry them up and not leave him Water enough to swim in When he saw the Shadow of a Cloud coming and moving upon the River a ha said he to himself here are the Fishermen with their Nets and immediately he got on one Side and skulked under the Banks where he kept trembling in his Skin till the Cloud was past Again when he saw a Fly skimming on the Water or a Worm coming down the Stream he did not dare to bite however hungry he might be no no said he to them my honest Friends I am not such a Fool as that comes to neither go your ways and tempt those who know no better who are not aware that you may serve as Baits to some treacherous Hook that lies hid for the Destruction of those ignorant and silly Trouts that are not on their Guard
Thus this over careful Trout kept himself in continual Frights and Alarms and could neither eat nor drink nor sleep in Peace lest some Mischief should be at Hand or that he might be taken napping He daily grew poorer and poorer and sadder and sadder for he pined away with Hunger and sighd himself to Skin and Bone till wasted almost to nothing with Care and Melancholy he at last died for fear of dying the most miserable of all Deaths
Now when God came to the youngest silver Trout and asked him what he wished for Alas said this darling little Trout you know may it please your Worship that I am but a very foolish and good for nothing little Fish and I dont know not I what is good for me or what is bad for me and I wonder how I came to be worth bringing into the World or what you could see in me to take any thought about me But if I must wish for something it is that you would do with me whatsoever you think best and that I should be pleased to live or die even just as you would have me
Now as soon as this precious Trout made this Prayer in his good and his humble little Heart God took such a Liking and a Love to him as the like was never known And God found it in his own Heart that he could not but take great Care of this sweet little Trout who had trusted himself so wholely to his Love and good Pleasure and God went wheresoever he went and was always with him and about him and was to him as a Father and Friend and Companion and he put Contentment into his Mind and Joy into his Heart and so this little Trout slept always in Peace and wakened in Gladness and whether he was full or hungry or whatever happened to him he was still pleased and thankful and he was the happiest of all Fishes that ever swam in any Water
Harry
at the Close of this Fable looked down and grew thoughtful and his Patron left him to himself to ruminate on what he had heard Now
Harry
had often heard talk of God and had some general though confused Notions of his Power
The next Day he requested his Patron to repeat the Story of the Three little silver Trouts When he had ended Dada says
Harry
I believe I begin to guess a little at what you mean You wouldnt have me wish for any Thing, but leave every Thing to God and if I thought that God loved me half as well as you love me I would leave every Thing to himself like the good little Trout He does my
Harry
he loves you a thousand Times better than I love you nay a thousand Times better than you love yourself God is all Love it is he who made every Thing and he loves every Thing that he has made Ay but Dada I cant for the Heart of me help pitying the two poor little naughty Trouts If God loves every Thing why did he make any Thing to dye You begin to think too deeply
Harry
we will speak more of these Matters another Time For the present let it suffice to know that as he can kill he can also make alive again at his own Pleasure
Harry
had now remained about twelve Months with his Patron when it was intimated to the Earl and his Lady that the dumb Man had taken a Fancy to their Child and that he was almost constantly resident at his House Alarmed at this News and apprehending that this Man might be some Impostor or Kidnapper they once more sent Orders to the Nurse to bring the Boy home
Nurse run in a Hurry to the Strangers and having informed him of the Necessity she was under to take away the Child many mutual Tears were shed at Parting but
Harry
was the sooner pacified when Nurse told him that it was but for a short Visit as before
When they came to the Castle there was no Company in the Parlour but the Earl and his Lady with Lord
Richard
and some other Masters of Quality about his Age and Size
Harry
however looked about with a Brow of Disgust and when my Lady desired him to come and kiss her maybe youll whip me he answered sullenly No she replied if you dont strike your Brother
Dicky
any more I wont beat him says
Harry
if he wont beat Mammy Come then and kiss me my Dear said my Lady whereon
Harry
advanced with a slow Caution and held up his little Mouth to receive her Salute He was then kissed by his Father his Brother and the little Masters and all Things promised future Reconcilement and Amity
A Number of glittering Toys were then presented to
Harry
on all Sides he received them indeed in good Part but laid them all aside again as Things of whose Use he yet was not wise enough to be apprehensive
Is it not too early for your Hero to shew a Contempt of Toys
My Lady as you will see imputed it to his Folly not to his Philosophy
But Children have a natural Fondness for fine Things
How so is there a natural Value in them
No But
Education indeed has made the Fondness next to natural The Coral and Bells teach Infants on the Breast to be delighted with Sound and Glitter Has the Child of an Inhabitant of
Monomotapa
a natural Fondness for Garbage
I think not
But when he is instructed to prize them and sees that it is the Fashion to be adorned with such Things he prefers them to the Glister of Gold and Pearl Tell me was it the Folly or Philosophy of the Cock in the Fable that spurned the Diamond and wished for the Barley Corn
The Moral says it was his Folly that did not know how to make a right Estimate of Things
A wiser Moral would say it was his Philosophy that did know how to make a right Estimate of Things for of what Use could the Diamond be to the Cock In the Age of Acorns antecedent to
Ceres
and the royal Ploughman
Triptolemus
a single Barley Corn had been of more Value to Mankind than all the Diamonds that glowed in the Mines of
India
You see however that Age Reflection and Philosophy can hardly wean People from their early Fondness for Shew
I see on the contrary that the older they grow and the wiser they think themselves the more they become attached to Trifles What would you think of a sage Minister of State who should make it the utmost Height of his Wishes and Ambition to be mounted on a Hobbyhorse
You cant be serious for the Soul of you
It has been seriously and truly and literally the Fact For
Haman
being asked by the greatest Monarch upon Earth what should be done most desirable for the Man whom the King delighted to Honour He answered in the Persuasion that he himself was the Person
Let the royal Apparel be brought and let him be arrayed therewith and let him be put upon the Horse that the King useth to ride and let him be brought through the Street and have it proclaimed before him thus shall it be done to the Man whom the King delighteth to Honour
What shall we say here could the sage and ambitious
Haman
think of nothing better than what would have suited the request of a Child of five Years old Or was it that the Emperor of
Asia
or this World itself had nothing more valuable to bestow than a fine Coat and a Hobbyhorse
How many Volumes do you expect this Work will contain
Sir a Book may be compared to the Life of your Neighbour If it be good it cannot last too long if bad you cannot get rid of it too early
But how long I say do you propose to make your Story
My good Friend the Reader may make it as short as he pleases
CHAP III
MY Lady piqued thereat told the Earl that she resolved once more to prove the Wits of the Youngster in Britches and whispering to
Dicky
he immediately went out and took with him his Companions Soon after
Dick
returns without his Shoes but with a pitiful Face and cries Brother
Harry
honey I want a Pair of Shoes sadly will you give me Yours Yes I will said
Harry
and instantly strips and presents them to him Then entered another Boy and demanded his Stockings in the like petitioning manner another begd his Hat another his Coat another his Waistcoat all of which he bestowed without Hesitation But when the last Boy came in and petitioned for his Shirt no I wont said
Harry
a little moody I want a Shirt myself My Lady then exclaimed upon my Conscience there is but the Thickness of a bit of Linen between this Child and a down right Fool But my Lord rose up took
Harry
in his Arms and having tenderly embraced him God bless thee my Boy he cried and make thee an Honour to old
England
Dinner soon after was ordered up and
Harry
permitted his Nurse to retire peaceably to the Kitchen during the Interval as he and all the Masters were then on Terms of Amity
My Lady placed
Harry
next herself at Table but no Peer ever payed such a Price at
Pontac
s as our distressed Hero did that Day for his Ordinary For he must sit up just so and hold his Knife and Fork just so and cut his Meat and open his Mouth and swallow his Victuals just so and so and so And then between every two Words there was to be so many my Lords and my Ladies and I thank you Sir and I thank you Madam and Master this and Master that that poor
Harry
no longer able to contain himself cried I wish I was with my Mammy in the Kitchen
After Dinner the Children were set to Questions and Commands But here our Hero was beaten hollow as he was afterward at Draw Glove and Shuffle the Slipper They next came to Hot Cockles and
Harry
being first down had his left Hand well warmed for near a Quarter of an Hour till more by good Luck than any good Policy he fixd upon a delicate little Gentleman the Son and Heir of Lord and Lady
Toilet
who lay down accordingly when
Harry
endeavouring to sum all the Favours he had received in one Payment gave Master such a Whirrick that his Cries instantly sounded the
ne plus ultra
to such kind of Diversions But
Harry
being chidden for his Rudeness and obliged to ask Pardon all was soon whole again
Now throughout these several Amusements though this Group of little Quality behaved themselves with great good Manners towards our Hero yet as my Ladys Judgment of his Intellects became current thro the Country and that all took him to be little removed from a Natural these small Gentry also held him in the lowest Contempt and gave themselves secret Credit for the Decency of their Conduct in his Behalf
Two or three of them however having maliciously contrived to set him in a ridiculous Light prevailed upon his Brother to join in the Plot They accordingly proposed a Play wherein
Harry
was enjoined to stand in the Centre for so many Minutes without Motion or Resentment let his Companions do what they would about him
Our Hero consequently fixed himself to a Posture and Countenance altogether determined The Attack instantly began Some grinned some pointed some jeered and flouted at him some twitched him by the Hair some pinched him by the Breech one tweaked him by the Nose and another spirted Water full in his Face but
Harry
bore all with the Firmness and Resignation of a Stoic Philosopher till my Lady quite impatient cried out did you ever see the like such a Stock of a Child such a Statue why he has no kind of Feeling either of Body or Mind
While she was pronouncing these Words young
Skinker
eldest Son to a wealthy Squire a chubbed unlucky Boy about the Age of Lord
Richard
put one Hand within the other and desired
Harry
to strike thereon which he did accordingly but feeling unusual Smart and fired at the Treachery that he justly conceived was in the Case
Harry
gave him such a sudden Fist in the Temple as drove him staggering backward several Steps
Skinker
wholly enraged and conscious of superior Strength immediately returned and with all his Might gave
Harry
a Stroke on the Head which Compliment he returned by a Punch in the Eye as rapid as Lightning All the Boys stood aloof and amazed at the Combat My Lady vehemently cried out to part them But my Lord rose and peremptorily commanded fair Play Mean while young
Skinker
wholly desperate to be foiled by one so much his Inferior in Strength and Understanding flew on
Harry
like a Fury and fastened the Nails of both his Hands in his Face from which Gripe our Hero as quickly disengaged himself by darting his Head into the Nose and Mouth of his Adversary who was instantly covered with Blood though his Passion would not permit him to attend to the Pain for exerting his last Effort he closed in on our little Champion and determined at once to finish the Combat by lifting and dashing him against the Ground but
Harry
finding himself going nimbly put one Foot behind and hit
Skinker
in the Ham and at the same time pushing forward with all his Force prone fell the unfortunate
Skinker
precipitated by the double Weight of himself and his Antagonist and his Head rebounded against the Floor while up sprung
Harry
and with a rising Dunt in the Stomach put a Period to the Fray
All dismayed and wholly discomforted
Skinker
flowly arose and began to puke and cry most piteously His Companions then gathered about him and compassionating his Plight turned an Eye of Indignation upon the Victor all promiscuously exclaimed O fie Master
Harry
Im quite ashamed Master
Harry
you gave the first Blow it was you that gave the first Blow Master
Harry
to all which Reproaches
Harry
surlily replied if I gave first Blow he gave first Hurt
Come come said my Lord there must be something more in this Affair than we are yet acquainted with Come hither Master
Skinker
tell me the Truth my Dear what was it you did to
Harry
that provoked him to strike you Indeed Sir said
Skinker
I did not intend to Hurt him so much When I gave him one Hand to strike I held a Pin within side in the other but the Pin run up further than I thought for Go go said my Lord you deserve what you have got You are an illhearted Boy and shall not come here to play any more
My Lady then called
Harry
desired to look at his Hand and found the Palm covered with Blood This she washed away and having found the Wound she put a small bit of Black sticking Silk to the Orifice and
Harry
instantly held himself as sound a Man as ever
It was then that instead of exulting or crowing over his Adversary he began to relax into Melancholy and Dejection and sideling over toward
Skinker
and looking wistfully in his Face if said
Harry
with a trembling Lip if you will Kiss and Friends with me Ill never beat you any more To this Overture
Skinker
was with a sullen Reluctance persuaded by his Companions And from that Moment the Victor began to gain Ground in the Heart and good Graces both of Father and Mother
Night now approached the Candles were lighted up and the Children took a short and slight Repast Master
Dicky
then privately whispering to his Mamma desired her not to be frightened at what she might see and immediately withdrew In a short Time he returned and gathering all his little Companions into a Group in the Centre of the Parlour held them a while in Chat When O tremendous a back Door flew open and in glided a most terrifying and horrible Apparition the Body and Limbs from the Neck downwards were all wrapt in a winding Sheet and the Head though Fear could not attend to its Form appeared wholly illuminated with Flames that glared thro the Eyes Mouth and Nostrils
At Sight hereof Master
Dicky
appearing the first to be frightened screamed out and ran behind his Mammas Chair as it were for Protection the Pannick grew instantly contagious and all this Host of little Gentry who were thereafter to form our Senates and to lead our Armies ran shrieking and shivering to hide themselves in Holes and to tremble in Corners
Our Hero alone stood undaunted though concerned and like an Astronomer who with equal Dread and Attention contemplates some sudden Phenomenon in the Heavens which he apprehends to be sent as an Ensign or Forerunner to the fall of mighty States or dispeopling of Nations so
Harry
with bent and apprehensive Brows beheld and considered the approaching Spectre
He had never heard nor formed any Idea of Ghosts of Hobgoblins he therefore stood to deliberate what he had to fear from it It still advanced upon him nor had he yet budged When his Brother cried out from behind my Ladys Chair beat it
Harry
beat it On the instant
Harry
flew back to the Corner next the Hall and catching up his Staff the Trophy of
Shrove Tuesday
he returned upon the Spectre and aiming a noble Blow at the illuminated Sconce he at once smashd the outward Lantern drove the Candle Flame and all into the Mouth of him who held it and opened his upper Lip from the Nose to the Teeth Out spouted the Blood as from a Spiggot The Ghost clapped all the Hands that he had to his Mouth and slunk away to shew to his Friends in the Kitchen how he had been baffled and mauled by an Infant of seven Summers
Heavn preserve us cried my Lady we shall have nothing but Broils and Bloodshed in the House while this Child is among us Indeed my Dear replied the Earl if there was any Thing more than mere Accident in this Business it was the Fault of your Favourite
Dicky
who desired the Boy to strike
By this Time the little Gentry came all from their lurking Holes though yet pale and unassured And whatever Contempt they might have for the Intellects of
Harry
they had now a very sincere Veneration for his Prowess
Bed Time now approaching and all being again settled
Harry
says my Lord you have been a very good Boy to Day and have joined with your Companions in all their little Plays Now if you have any Plays to shew them I am sure they will have the good Manners to do as you desire What say you
Harry
have you any Play to shew them Yes Sir said
Harry
I have a many of them theres first Leap Frog and Thrush a Thrush To it then
Harry
says my Lord and pray all you little Gentlemen do you observe his Directions
No sooner said than done
Harry
took his Companions One by One and causing them to stoop with their Heads toward the Ground in a long Line and at certain Distances each before the other he returned to the Tail and taking the Advantage of a short Run to quicken his Motion he laid his Hands on the Rump of the Hindmost and vaulting lightly over him he with amazing Rapidity flew along the whole Line clearing a Man at evry Motion till he alighted before the Foremost and down he popt in the Posture of those behind
My Lady in utter Astonishment lifting up her Hands and Eyes exclaimed O the fine Creature O the graceful Creature if there was but a Mind to match that Body there would not be such another Boy in the Universe
Lord
Richard
being now hindmost was the next who adventured and with Action enough cleared his two first Men but then having lost the Advantage of his Run and his Foreman being of more than ordinary Size he first stuck upon his Rump and pitching thence broke his Forehead against the Floor He got up however with a pleasant Countenance and running along side the Line set himself in his former Posture before his Brother The Hindmost then and then the next and the next and so onward took their Turns in Succession without any better Success The one bruised his Shoulder another sprained his Finger another bumpt his Head another broke his Nose
c c
So that in less than five Minutes my Lady had got an Hospital of her own though not altogether consisting of Incurables
Now Spirits and Vinegar brown Paper black Plaister
c
were called for in a Hurry and the several Stupes and Dressings being skilfully applied the Children were ordered to their respective Beds and Nurse was prevailed upon to continue with
Harry
till he shoud be reconciled to his new Friends and Associates
Now
Harry
was become a Favourite especially among the Servants who in a manner adored him since the Adventure of the Box and the Hobgoblin
Hobgoblin In good Time Nothing amazes me so much as the terrifying Apprehensions that the World from the Beginning has universally entertained of Ghosts and Spectres
Do you fear them
No I cant say not much something of this formerly I should not like even now to lie alone in a remote Chamber of a ruinous Castle said to be haunted and have my Curtains at Midnight opened suddenly upon me by a Deathshead and Bloodybones All Nonsense I know it the early Prejudices of a dastardly Fancy I fear while I am convinced there is nothing to be feared Do you think there is any such Thing in Nature as a Spirit
I know not that there is any such Thing in Nature, as Matter
Not know there is any such Thing as Matter You love to puzzle to throw lets into the Road of common Sense What else do you know from what else can you form any kind of Idea
The Room is warm enough more Heat is needless I know that Thoughts and Conceptions are raised in my Mind but how they are raised or that they are adequate Images of Things supposed to be represented I know not What if this Something or this Nothing called Matter should be a Shadow a Vacuum in respect of Spirit wholely resistless to it and pervadeable by it Or what if it be no other than a various Manifestation of the several good and evil Qualities of Spirit If one infinite Spirit as is said fills the Universe all other Existence must be but as the Space wherein he essentially abides and exists indeed they could not be produced or continued for a Moment but by his existing omnipotently indivisibly entirely in and throughout every Part
This is new very new but I will not batter my Brains against your Castle According to your Thesis when a Man is apprehensive of a Spirit or Spectre it is not of Shadows but of Substances that he is afraid
Certainly his principal Apprehension arises from his believing it more sufficient more powerful and more formidable than himself
Excuse me there are more tremendous Reasons On the Supposition of an Engagement those Sort of invisible Gentry have many Advantages over us They give a Man no manner of fair Play They have you here and have you there and your best Watch and Ward is no better than fencing against an invisible Flail But seriously do you think we have any innate Fears of these Matters
All our Fears arise from the Sense of our own Weakness and of the Power and Inclination that Others may have to hurt us
If our Horrour of Apparitions is not innate, how comes it to pass that Soldiers that general Officers who dare all other Danger that
Heroes
who like
Brutus
have given Death to themselves or who have been led to Execution without a changing Cheek have yet dreaded to lie alone or to be left in the dark
We all see that a Spirit has vast Power Nothing else in Truth can have any Power at all We perceive by ourselves and others with what Ease it can act upon what we call Matter how it moves how it lifts it Perhaps were our Spirits detached from this distempered Prison to which the Degeneracy of our fallen Nature has confined them they might more easily whirl a Mountain through the Atmosphere than they can now cast a Pebble into the Air The Consideration of this Power when joined to Malevolence as is generally the Case becomes very tremendous The Stories told by Nurses and Gossips about a Winters Fire when the young Auditors crouch closer and closer together and dare not look about for fear of what may be behind them leave Impressions that no subsequent Reason or Religion can efface The Ideas of an Apparition on these Occasions are connected with all the Horrours of which infant Imaginations can be susceptible Fangs Horns a threatning Mien saucer Eyes a flaming Breath and a deadly Aspect When Children are told of Fairies who carry off People to dwell with them under Ground and of evil Spirits who snatch away Soul and Body together to be their Associates in Regions of Darkness and Woe the Fear of such Evils greatly surpasses those of Death as it weds Misery to Existence beyond the Grave On the contrary Side Had Spirits been originally represented to Infants as Beings of an amiable Appearance and as Guardians benevolent and beneficent to Man had they further deigned to visit us under such Representations and had we experienced the Advantage of their Instructions and good Offices we should have met them with Transport and have parted with Regret
I observe that as our female Antiquarians drop off our Faith in Spectres perceptibly decays We have not the fiftieth Story either propagated or believed that was credited as Gospel when I was a Boy What think you is it for or against Religion that such Fables should get footing among Mankind
I never could think it for the Interest of Religion that the Providence of God should be elbowed as it were quite out of the World by a System of Daemonism On the other Hand I take the Devil to be a Personage of much more Prudence than to frighten his Favourites from him by assuming such horrid and disgustful Appearances He rather chuses to lurk behind Temptation in the Allurement of Beauty the Deceitfulness of Smiles the Glozing of Compliments in Revel and Banquetting in Titles and Honours in the Glitter of Ornament and in the Pomp of State When God sends his Spirits on Messages to Man there is a Meaning of Importance in the Errand Such was that of his Angel to
Manoah
for the Delivery of a People and to
Zacharias
and the blessed Virgin for the Redemption of Humankind But when the Devil is said to send his Emissaries throughout the Earth on what Errands does this ArchPolitician employ them Even such as could suit no other than a Dunce or a Driveller I never yet heard of one of these Missions that could be construed to any Intention of Cunning or common Sense I therefore hold the Legends of his ghostly Visitation to be altogether apocryphal
Every Man of common Sense must be of the same Opinion And yet have you known any Person wholely free from such Prejudices who made no Distinction on this fantastical Article between Darkness and MidDay between a lonely Charnel House and a full Assembly
I have but they were Men of exceeding strong Nerves as also of exceedingly clear or exceedingly callous Consciences which coming from opposite Points equally met for the same Purpose on this Occasion
Two Travellers the One a Man of Piety the Other a Profligate met at a Country Inn just as Night came upom them It was
HalontideEve
the Season in those Days wherein the Devils were said to keep high Carnival and when all the Inhabitants of the visionary Regions were supposed to revel and range throughout the Earth at Pleasure
For want of better Company our Travellers made up an Acquaintance and further cemented it by a Jugg of good Liquor The Night was dark The Girls of the House had new washd their Smocks to be hung to the Fire and turned by the ghostly Resemblances of their Sweethearts and the Conversation in the Kitchen ran on many an authentic Narrative of Spectres and particularly on the Man in Gibbets who hung by the Road and who was reported between Twelve and One at Midnight to descend from the Gallows and take just three turns about the old Barn
Do you believe any of this droll Stuff said the Profligate I know not what to think answered his pious Companion I find all the World in the same Story and yet as the saying is I never saw any Thing more frightful than myself As for my Share said the Profligate I think I shouldnt fear the great Devil himself and indeed I should be glad to have a little Chat with the old Gentleman Stout as you are rejoined his Companion I will lay you a Bet of five Crowns that you dare not warm a Porringer of Broth and go and offer it without there to the Man in Gibbets I will depend on your Honour for Performance of Articles Tis done cried the other the Betts were produced and respectively deposited in the Hands of my Landlady
Our pious Traveller who now began to be alarmed for his Wager stole slily out while his Companion was busied in heating the Broth He made up to the Place where the deceased Malefactor was taking the fresh Air The Gallows was low and by the Advantage of a Bank behind and his own Agility he leaped up and fastened his Arms about the Shoulders of the Corpse so that they both appeared but as one Body
He had just fixed himself to his Mind when up comes his Companion with the Porringer and a Stool He directly mounted the Stool and reaching up a spoonful of Broth to the Mouth of the Dead with a firm and bold Voice he cried Sup Man why dont you Sup
Scarce had these Words been uttered when fearful to hear with a Tone deep as Hell and dismal as the Grave the Man in Gibbets replied It i is too ho ot And damn you why dont you blow it then rejoined the other
My Nerves will not admit of this for Fact The Tale indeed is good though such an Instance of Intrepidity in any Mortal may be disputable But shall we never return to our Story again
It matters not how far we travel from it since the Magic of a Wish can bring us back in a twinkling
CHAP IV
RUFFLED Linen laced Hat Silk Stockings
c
had now been ordered for
Harry
with a new Suit of Cloaths trimed like those of your BeauInsects vulgarly called Butterflies They were tried on in the Presence of his Parents and highly approved by all except
Harry
himself who seemed by his Fidgettings to be somewhat disgusted at this new Kind of Incumbrance
Harry
says my Lord puts me in mind of the Son of
Jesse
in the Armour of
Saul
he has not yet proved them Well
Harry
how do you like yourself I dont know not I says
Harry
But Papa can you tell me what these Things are for In truth
Harry
you pose me Wont People love me better Sir not a whit indeed
Harry
replied my Lord L d help that little Fools Head of thine interposed my Lady if People wont love thee theyll respect thee the more Fools Head repeated my Lord upon my Soul the Child has more Sense than Half our Nobility
Harry
had been now near a Month with his Parents and as his Nurse had not yet parted he was tolerably amenable to Quality Government However he pined in the Absence of his Dada as he called him and daily importuned my Lord and Lady to be permitted to go and see him For as
Harry
s Heart told him that his bearded Dada loved him better than all the World so
Harry
loved him better than three Worlds for he was ever desirous of going three Times as far in Affection and good Offices as any one went for him
At length he obtained Consent and was conducted by his Nurse in all his Finery on a Visit to this dear Dada
Their meeting was accompanied by Tears of Joy on both Sides when the old Gentleman struck with Concern at the Garb in which he saw his Darling cried out and who my Dear put this Fools Coat upon my Child Fools Coat Sir says
Harry
yes my Love it is worse than all that they were very naughty Doctors who have endeavoured to poison my Boy There is not a Bit of all this Lace and Ruffling that is not full of rank Poisons I will tell you a Story my
Harry
There was once upon a Time a very good and a very clever Boy called
Hercules
As he grew up beside his Prayers and his Book he was taught to run and leap to ride wrestle and cudgel and though he was able to beat all the Boys in the Parish he never used to hurt or quarrel with any of them He did not matter Cold nor Hunger nor what he eat nor what he drank nor how nor where he lay and he went always dressed in the Skin of a wild Beast that could bear all Winds and Weathers and that he could put on or off at Pleasure for he knew that his Dress was no Part of himself and could neither add to him nor take away any Thing from him
When this brave Boy came to Mans Estate he went about the World doing Good in all Places helping the Weak and feeding the Hungry and clothing the Naked and comforting those that cried and beating all those that did Hurt or Wrong to others and all good People loved him with their whole Hearts and all naughty People feared him terribly
But O sad and dismal a Lady whom he had saved from great Hurt and Shame made him a Present of a new Coat which was called a Shirt in those Days as they wore it next the Skin And now my
Harry
take Notice The Lady had covered this Coat all over with Laces and with Rufflings and with Beads of Glass and such other Fooleries so that poor
Hercules
looked just as fine as you do now And he turned him to this Side and he turned him to that Side and he began to think more and better of himself because he had got this Fools Coat upon him And the Poison of it entered into his Body and into his Mind and brought Weakness and Distempers upon the one and the other And he grew so fond of it that he could not bear to have it put off For he thought that to part with it would be to part with his Flesh from his Bones Neither would he venture out in the Rain any more nor box nor wrestle with any Body for fear of spoiling his fine Coat So that in Time he lost the Love and the Praises of every Body and all People scorned him and pointed at him for a Fool and a Coxcomb as he went by
For some Time after the old Gentleman had finished his Story the Child continued to gaze up at him with fixed Eyes and open Mouth as fearful of losing any Syllable that he might utter Till recollecting himself he cried out O this is a very sad Case indeed I wish my Coat was burnt so I do but dont fear for me Dada Why how then
Harry
replied his Patron Why I may find a Trick for all this Dada I warrant you never see me in this ugly Coat again
After this and some other Instructions and mutual Endearments Nurse pressed to be gone and these two fond Friends were compelled to sunder with a Promise on
Harry
s Part of a speedy Return
For some Time after his Arrival at the Mansion House
Harry
appeared thoughtful and greatly dejected which they ascribed to his parting with his old Friend but
Harry
had Schemes in his Head that they were little able to fathom or guess at Having peeped about for some Time he found a Knife in a Window which he instantly seized upon and then stole up with all possible Privacy to his Apartment
There he stripped himself in a Hurry and falling as quickly to work began to cut and rip and rend away the Lacings of his Suit without sparing Cloth or Seam While he was thus in the Heat and very Middle of his Business he heard himself repeatedly called on the Stairs and hurrying on his Cloaths to obey the Summons he ran down to the Parlour with Half the Trimmings hanging in Geometry Fritters and Tatters about him
The droll and very extraordinary Figure that he cut struck all the Company into utter Amazement Having gazed on him for some Time in a kind of silent Stupor Why
Harry
cries my Lady whats all this for who abused you my Child who put you in this Pickle come hither and tell me who spoiled your Cloaths I did Madam You did Sirrah cried my Lady giving him a Shake and how dare you spoil them why because they wanted to spoil me said
Harry
And who told you they would spoil you Sirrah I wont tell said
Harry
Ill lay a Wager cried my Lady it was that old Rogue with the Beard but Ill have him whipped for a Fool and a Knave out of the Parish Pray my Dear be patient a little said his Lordship Come here
Harry
and tell me the Truth stoutly and no Harm shall happen to you or your Dada with the Beard Come speak what Fault did he find with your Cloaths Why Sir he said as how they would poison me Poison you my Dear pray how was that Why Sir he told me as how there was a little Master calld
Herclus
and as how he was a mighty good Boy and was cold and hungry and almost naked and did not matter so as how he could do Good to every Body and as how every Body loved him with all their Heart And then he told me as how he got a mighty fine Coat and looked here and looked there and minded nothing but his Coat and as how his Coat poisoned him and would not let him do any more Good and as how all the Boys then hated him and pissed upon him Sir and as how I believe thats all Sir
Here my Lord and Lady took such a Chink of Laughing that it was some Time before they could recover while
Harry
looked abashed and disconcerted But my Lord recollecting himself took the Child on his Knee and warmly pressing him to his Bosom I must tell you my
Harry
said he as how you are a mighty good Boy and as how your Dada with a Beard is a mighty good Dada and has told you all that is right and true And that I will go myself one of these Days and thank him in Person Thank you Sir says
Harry
Well
Harry
said my Lord I promise that no one shall poison you any more with my Consent Whereupon another new Suit was immediately appointed of a Kind that should fear no Weather nor in case of Dirt or Damage draw upon
Harry
the Resentment or Admonitions of his Mama
Just as Dinner was served up Mr
Meekly
entered and took his Seat He came in order to conciliate a late Difference between the Earl and Sir
Standish Stately
and in this he found no manner of Difficulty as my Lord was by Nature of a kindly Disposition and required no more than a first Advance to be reconciled to any Man
During the Entertainment
Harry
kept his Eyes fixed on Mr
Meekly
and as soon as the Cloth was off he rose went over to him looked fondly in his Face and took hold of his Hand with the Familiarity of an old Acquaintance
Mr
Meekly
said my Lord my Son
Harry
pays you a very particular and very deserved Compliment he puts me in mind of that Sort of Instinct by which a strange Dog is always sure to discover and to apply to the most benevolent Person at Table Indeed my Lord said Mr
Meekly
caressing the Child I know not whether by Instinct or by what other name to call my own Feelings but certain it is that the first Moment I saw him in his little peasant Petticoats I found my Heart strongly affected toward him
In a short Time my Lady retired with the Children and left the Earl and Mr
Meekly
over a temperate Bottle Mr
Meekly
said my Lord taking him cordially by the Hand I rejoice at the Advantage of our late Acquaintance or rather I repine that it was not earlier I am greatly interested Sir in asking you a few Questions if I thought I might do it without Offence Are you any way straitened in your Circumstances No my Lord But would you not wish them more affluent would you not wish that your Power of doing Good were more extensive more answerable to the Benevolence of your own Inclinations I cannot say that I would my Lord I have upward of seven Hundred a Year clear Income and that is fourteen Times more than I have Occasion to expend It would be indelicate replied the Earl very indelicate to own that I am sorry for your Prosperity and yet I feel that I should have been happy in your Distress in the Power it would have given me to serve to oblige you I want a Friend I want just such a Friend as Mr
Meekly
and I know of no Price at which I would not gladly purchase him My Lord I am yours freely affectionately yours without Fee or Condition Sir rejoined my Lord as I find that I cannot make out a Title to your particular Attachment I am content to be taken into the general Circle of your Benevolence
The World Mr
Meekly
think me the happiest of Men blessed in my Family in my Friends with Health Honours Affluence with the Power of gratifying every Wish that human Fancy can form but alas my Sensations are very far from affirming their Judgment of these Matters and I will deserve your Advice your Consolation if you can afford it by unbosoming myself to you without reserve
When I reflect on my past Life I look on many Parts of it with Repentance and on the Whole with Regret Not that I wish the return of Pleasures that I now despise or of Years spent in a Manner that Virtue and common Sense must equally disapprove but I am arrived at my Evening of Life like a Sportsman who having been in pursuit of Game all the Day returns homeward sorrowful satigued and disappointed With every Advantage that could gratify either my Vanity or my Appetites I cannot affirm that I ever tasted of true Enjoyment and I now well perceive that I was kept from being miserable merely by Amusement and Dissipation
As I had the Misfortune to be born to Title and a vast Estate all People respected in me the Possession of those Objects which they themselves were in pursuit of I was consequently beset with Sycophants and Deceivers of all Sorts and thereby, trained from my Infancy to unavoidable Prejudices Errors and false Estimates of every Thing I was not naturally illdisposed but I was perpetually seduced from all my better Tendencies
Both my Parents died before I arrived at those Years wherein our Laws allow of any Title to Discretion I had but the one Brother O that dear Brother how many Sighs he has cost me I was older than him by about seven Years and this disparity of our Age together with the elevating Notion of my Birthright gave me the authoritative Airs of a Father without a Fathers Tenderness toward him This mutually prevented that Cordiality that Sympathy as I may say by which Brothers should be cemented during their Minority And when our Guardian as I then judged had so far betrayed his Trust as to bind my Brother apprentice to a Trader and thereby to deprive him of all Title to Gentility I looked upon him as a Branch cut off from the FamilyTree and as my Thoughts about him were accompanied by Coldness or Disgust I forbore to make any Enquiry concerning him
I am apt to think however that he was not equally unnatural on his Part but hearing of the dissolute Life I led on my return from Travel he might justly deem me unworthy of his Acquaintance or Notice
During the Time of my Intimacy with his late Majesty and the Ministers of his Pleasures and Policy a Servant brought me Word that a Gentleman attended by a Number of the principal Citizens waited for me in my Antechamber whereupon I gave Orders for their immediate Introduction
On their Entrance I was awfully struck with the Presence of their Principal with the Elegance of his Figure the Nobleness of his Aspect and Ease of his Address and I felt myself drawn to him by a sudden Kind of instinctive Attachment
My Lord says he we come to wait upon you in the Name of the very respectable Body of the Citizens of
London
some Infringements have been lately made on their CityCharter and their first Application is to your Lordship as they wish above all others to be obliged to you for their Redress
They have been very discreet said I in their choice of an Advocate Their Demands must be exorbitant if they fail of Success while you are their Solicitor
This Paper proceeded he contains a clear Detail of their Rights and the Encroachments that have been made thereon They are sensible of your Lordships Interest with his Majesty and the Ministry and they humbly petition for your Favour and happy Influence in their Behalf
Without Papers I replied or any Inducement save that of your own Request let me but know what I am to do and I shall think myself truely honoured and obliged by your Commands
My Lord he rejoined I do not wish to betray you into any mistaken or unmerited Complaisance I am but a Trader a Citizen of the lower Order
I now felt myself blush with Shame and Disappointment I resented my being deceived by the Dignity of his Appearance and I was more particularly piqued by the sarcastical kind of Smile with which he closed his Declaration All confused I looked down and pretended to cast my Eye over the Paper in order to gain Time for Recollection Having at Intervals muttered a few Words such as Charters Grants Privileges Immunities and so forth I am not said I an Enemy to the lower Ranks of Men poor People must live and their Service as well as Subordination is necessary to Society but I confess I was always fond of those sumptuary Laws that confined the Degrees of Men to their respective Departments and prevented Mechanics from confounding themselves with Gentlemen
My Lord says he with the most easy and provoking Unconcern when you shall be pleased to look down from the Superiority of your Station and to consider Things and Persons according to their Merits you will not despise Some merely for being of use to Others The Wealth Prosperity and Importance of all this World is founded and erected on three living Pillars the TILLER of the Ground the MANUFACTURER and the MERCHANT Of these the Tiller is supposed to be the least respectable as he requires the least of Genius Invention or Address and yet the Plowman
Triptolemus
was worshipped as a God and the Plowman
Cincinnatus
is still held in as high Esteem as any Peer of any Realm save that of
GreatBritain
I have known said I a Mob of such Gods and Dictators somewhat dangerous at Times I must be free to tell you Mister that Matters are much changed since Princesses kept Sheep and the Sons of Kings were Cowherds The Ranks and Orders of Men are now appointed and known and one Department must not presume to break in upon the other My Baker Barber Brewer Butcher Hatter Hosier and Taylor are unquestionably of Use though I have not the Honour of being acquainted with one of them And hitherto I have deemed it sufficient to send my Servants to entertain and pay them their Bills without admitting them to a Tete a Tete as at present
He now rejoined with a little Warmth My Lord we pardon your Indelicacy in consideration of your Error The venerable Body now present might be admitted to a Tete a Tete with the first Estate of this Kingdom without any Condescension on the Part of Majesty And would you allow yourself to be duely informed I should soon make you sensible that we have actually done you the Honour which we intended by this Visit
Permit me to repeat that the Wealth Prosperity and Importance of every Thing upon Earth arises from the TILLER the MANUFACTURER and the MERCHANT and that as nothing is truely estimable save in Proportion to its utility these are consequently very far from being contemptible Characters The Tiller supplies the Manufacturer the Manufacturer supplies the Merchant and the Merchant supplies the World with all its Wealth It is thus that Industry is promoted Arts invented and improved Commerce extended Superfluities mutually vended Wants mutually supplied that each Man becomes a useful Member of Society that Societies become further of Advantage to each other and that States are enabled to pay and dignify their upper Servants with Titles rich Revenues Principalities and Crowns
The Merchant above all is extensive considerable and respectable by his Occupation It is he who furnishes every Comfort Convenience and Elegance of Life who carries off every Redundance who fills up every Want who ties Country to Country and Clime to Clime and brings the remotest Regions to Neighbourhood and Converse who makes Man to be literally the Lord of the Creation and gives him an Interest in whatever is done upon Earth who furnishes to each the Product of all Lands and the Labours of all Nations and thus knits into one Family and weaves into one Web the Affinity and Brotherhood of all Mankind
I have no Quarrel I cried to the high and mighty my Lords the Merchants if each could be humbly content with the Profits of his Profession without forming themselves into Companies exclusive of their Brethren our itinerant Merchants and Pedlars I confess myself an Enemy to the Monopolies of your chartered Companies and City Corporations and I can perceive no evil Consequence to the Public or the State if all such Associations were this Instant dissolved
Permit me he mildly replied once for all to set your Lordship right in this Matter I am sensible that the Gentlemen of large landed Properties are apt to look upon themselves as the Pillars of the State and to consider their Interests and the Interests of the Nation as very little beholden or dependent on Trade though the Fact is that those very Gentlemen would lose nine Parts in ten of their yearly Returns and the Nation nine Tenths of her yearly Revenues if Industry and the Arts promoted as I said by Commerce did not raise the Products of Lands to tenfold their natural Value The Manufacturer on the other Hand depends on the landed Interest for nothing save the material of his Craft and the Merchant is wholely independent of all Lands or rather he is the general Patron thereof I must further observe to your Lordship that this beneficent Profession is by no means confined to Individuals as you would have it Large Societies of Men nay mighty Nations may and have been Merchants When Societies incorporate for such a worthy Purpose they are formed as a Foetus within the Womb of the Mother a Constitution within the general State or Constitution their particular Laws and Regulations ought always to be conformable to those of the National System and in that Case such Corporations greatly conduce to the Peace and good Order of Cities and large Towns and to the general Power and Prosperity of the Nation
A Nation that is a Merchant has no need of an Extent of Lands as it can derive to itself Subsistance from all Parts of the Globe
Tyre
was situated in a small Island on the Coast of
Phaenicia
and yet that single City contained the most flourishing opulent and powerful Nation in the Universe a Nation that long withstood the united Forces of the three first Monarchies brought against her by
Nebuchadnezar
and
Alexander
the Great
The seven united Provinces do not contain Lands sufficient for the Subsistance of one Third of their Inhabitants but they are a Nation of Merchants the World furnishes them with an Abundance of all good Things by Commerce they have arrived at Empire they have assumed to themselves the Principality of the Ocean and by being Lords of the Ocean are in a Measure become the Proprietors of all Lands
Should
England
ever open her Eyes to her own Interests she will follow the same prosperous and ennobling Profession she will conform to the Consequences of her Situation She will see that without a Naval Preeminence she cannot be safe and without Trade that her Naval Power cannot be supported Her Glory will also flow from this sure Source of her Interests and a Sailyard will become the highest Scepter of her Dignity She will then find that a single Triumph of her Flag will be more available for her Prosperity than the Conquest of the four Continents that her Preeminence by Sea will carry and diffuse her Influence over all Lands and that universal Influence is universal Dominion
Avarice my Lord may pile Robbery may plunder new Mines may be opened hidden Treasures may be discovered Gamesters may win Cash Conquerors may win Kingdoms but all such Means of acquiring Riches are transient and determinable While Industry and Commerce are the natural the living the never failing Fountains from whence the Wealth of this World can alone be taught to flow
And can you cried I have the Effrontery to insinuate a Preference of yourself and your fellow Cits to our
British
Nobles and Princes who derive their Powers and Dignities from the stedfast Extent of their landed Possessions Was it by Barter and Bargain that our
Edwards
and
Henrys
atchievd their Conquests on the Continent or was it by Pedlars and Mechanics think you that the Fields of
Cressi
of
Poictiers
and
Agincourt
are rendered immortal Go I continued seek elsewhere for Redress of your insignificant Grievances we give little to sturdy Beggars but nothing to saucy Rivals
Wholely kindled by this Invective he cast on me a fierce and menacing Regard and with a severe Accent and a side Glance that shot Fire when Courtiers says he acquire CommonSense and that Lords shall have learned to behave themselves like Gentlemen I may do such a one the Honour to acknowledge him for a Brother
Your Brother exclaimed Mr
Meekly
your Brother my Lord Yes Mr
Meekly
my Brother my amiable my very amiable and honourable Brother indeed But turning contemptuously from me he instantly departed with his attending Citizens
I ought to have followed I ought to have staid him I should have fallen upon his Neck With my Tears and Carresses I should have wrung a Pardon from him and not have suffered him to leave me till by my Submissons I had obtained full Forgiveness This indeed was my first Emotion But the Recollection of my long and unnatural Neglect my utter Disregard of his Person and Concerns now aggravated by my late Insults persuaded me that a Reconciliation on his Part was impossible
I remained disconcerted and greatly disturbed I felt with what Pride and Transport I should now have acknowledged have courted have clasped this Brother to my Bosom but my Fancy represented him as Ice in my Arms as shrinking and turning from me with Disgust and Disdain At Times I formed a hundred Schemes toward recovering his Affections but again rejecting these as ineffectual I endeavoured to console myself for his Loss by considering his late Demeanour as exceeding faulty and expressive of a Disposition insufferably proud and overbearing My Heart indeed acknowledged how very lovely he was in his Person but the Superiority of his Talents and the Refinement of his Manners gave him a Distinction that was not altogether so grateful
All Day I kept my Apartment in Displeasure at my Brother myself and the World The next Morning I was informed that the Moment he left me he went to the Minister who engaged at his Instance to have every Grievance that he complained of redressed to their extent That the Minister had afterwards introduced him to his Majesty in full Levee that the King held him in long and familiar Conversation and that all the Court was profuse of their Admiration and Praises of Mr
Clinton
This also was fresh Matter of Triumph to him and Mortification to me It was now evident that my Brothers Application to me was intended merely to do me peculiar Honour and in Return said I to myself I have endeavoured to cover him with Confusion and Disgrace Yet when I understood that he had disdained to mention me as his Brother or of his Blood I also scorned to derive Lustre from any Claim of Affinity with him and I further felt that I could not forgive him the Reproaches which he constrained me to give myself in his behalf
From that Time I took great Pains to dissipate or suppress those uneasy Sensations which the Remembrance of him gave me But after I had married and retired from the Glare and Bustle of the World and more particularly on the Birth of my first Child when my Heart had entered into a new Sphere of domestic Feelings this dear Brother returned with double Weight upon my Mind Yet his Idea was no longer accompanied by Envy or Resentment but by an affectionate and sweet though paining Remorse
I wrote him a Letter full of penitential Submissions and of tender and atoning Prayers for Pardon and Reconcilement But alas my Messenger returned with Tidings that some Years past he had withdrawn from Trade had retired to
France
or
Holland
had dropped all Correspondence and that no one in
England
knew whether he was dead or alive
Ah my Brother my dear Brother I would often repeat to myself has any Reverse of Fortune happened to you my Brother Perhaps some domestic Calamity some heavy Distress no doubt and no Brother at Hand to console or share your Afflictions Return to me divide my Heart divide my Fortune with me and mine Alas Wretch that I am you know not yet that you have a Brother one deserving of that Name You know not that this Bosom of Flint is now humanized and melted down in the Fervour of Affection toward you You hate me you despise me my amiable Brother How how shall I make you sensible that my Heart is full of your Image of Esteem of tenderest Love for my lovely
Harry Clinton
I again sent other Messengers in search of Intelligence I procured Letters to the Bankers and Merchants of principal Note abroad but all my Solicitudes and Enquiries were equally fruitless
The Grief that this occasioned first taught me to reflect and cast a Shade over the Lustre of every Object about me The World no more appeared as that World which formerly had held out Happiness to either Hand I no longer beheld it thro the Perspectives of Curiosity or youthful Desire I had worn out all its Gayeties I had exhausted all its Delights for me it had nothing more to promise or bestow and yet I saw no better Prospect no other Resource
Should I turn to Religion a little Observation taught me that the Devotees themselves were warm in pursuit of Objects, of which I was tired that they were still subject to the Passions and Desires of the World and were no way to be distinguished from other Men save by an unsociable Reserve or gloomy Cast of Countenance
May I venture to confess to you Mr
Meekly
that at Times of my Despondence I dared to call the Justice and Wisdom of Omnipotence into question Take this World said I to myself consider it as it seems to stand independent of any other and no one living can assign a single End or Purpose for which it could be made Men are even as their FellowInsects they rise to Life exert their Lineaments and flutter abroad during the Summer of their little Season then droop die away and are succeeded and succeeded in an insignificant Rotation Even the firmest human Establishments the best laboured Systems of Policy can scarce boast a nobler Fate or a longer Duration the mightiest States and Nations perish like Individuals in one Leaf we read their History we admire their Achievements we are interested in their Successes but proceed to the next and no more than a Name is left the
Ninevehs
and
Babylons
of
Asia
are fallen the
Sparta
and
Athens
of
Greece
are no more and the Monuments that promised to endure to Eternity are erased like the Mount of Sand which Yesterday the Children cast up on the Shore
When I behold this stupendous Expanse so sumptuously furnished with a Profusion of Planets and Luminaries revolving in appointed Courses and diversifying the Seasons I see a Work that is altogether worthy of a God Again when I descend to Earth and look abroad upon the infinite Productions of Nature, upon Provisions so amply answering to the Wants of every living Being and on Objects and Organs so finely fitted to each other I trace a complicated Maze of Wisdom Bounty and Benevolence But when I see all these Beauties and Benefits counteracted by some adverse and destructive Principle when the Heavens gather their Clouds and roll their Thunders above and the Earth begins to quake and open beneath us when the Air that seemed so late to be the Breath and Balm of Life grows pregnant with a Variety of Pests Plagues and Poisons when Life itself is found to be no other than the Storehouse or Habitation of Death and that all vegetable and animal Systems include within their Frame the Principles of inevitable Distemper and Dissolution When additional to all these natural Mischiefs I consider the Extent and Empire of moral Evil upon Earth when I behold the wretched perishable short lived Animal called Man for the Value of some Matter of Property as transient as himself industrious and studious of the Destruction of his Species when not content with the Evils that Nature has entailed upon him Man exerts all his Talents for multiplying and speeding the Means of Perdition to Man when I see half the World employed in pushing the other Half from the Verge of Existence, and then dropping after in an endless Succession of Malevolence and Misery I cannot possibly reconcile such Contrasts and Contradictions to the Agency or even Permission of the one over ruling Principle of Goodness called GOD
Could not Omniscience foresee such Consequences at Creation Unquestionably said Mr
Meekly
Might he not have ordered Matters so as to have prevented the Possibility of any Degree of natural or moral Evil in his Universe I think he might my Lord Why did he not then prevent them to what End could he permit such multiplied Malevolence and Misery among his Creatures For Ends certainly my Lord infinitely worthy both of his Wisdom and his Goodness I am desirous it should be so but cannot conceive cannot reach the Way or Means of compassing such an Intention
Can you not suppose said Mr
Meekly
that Evil may be admitted for accomplishing the greater and more abundant Good May not partial and temporary Malevolence and Misery be finally productive of universal durable and unchangeable Beatitude May not the Universe even now be in the Pangs of Travail of Labour for such a Birth such a blessed Consummation
It were rejoined the Earl as our
Shakespear
says it were indeed a Consummation devoutly to be wished But might not Omnipotence have brought about a Consummation equally good without any Intervention of preceding Evil Had that been possible my Lord it would unquestionably have been effected But if certain Relations arise between God and his Creatures and between Man and Man which could not arise save on the previous Supposition of Evil without which indeed neither the Attributes of God himself nor the Insufficiency Dependance or Obligation of the Creature could have been duely discoverable throughout Eternity then temporary Evil becomes indispensably necessary to the Consequence and Consummation of the greatest Good
Your Notion exclaimed the Earl is great amazing truely glorious and every Way worthy of a God who in such a Case would be infinitely worthy of all Worship Is this the Reason Mr
Meekly
that what we all so earnestly seek for is no where to be found that no Portion or Taste of Happiness is to be had upon Earth
I do not say so my Lord I think that a Man even on Earth may be occasionally nay durably and exceedingly happy
What happy durably exceedingly happy repeated the Earl I was told that the Experience of Ages that Philosophy and even Divinity had agreed with
Solomon
in this that all upon Earth was Vanity and Vexation of Spirit If any may enjoy Happiness on this Side of the great Consummation that you speak of I am persuaded Mr
Meekly
that you yourself are the Man Your Lips indeed say nothing of the Matter but neither your Eyes nor your Aspect can restrain
the Expression of some extraordinary Peace that abides within
O say then my dear my estimable Friend whence how by what Means may a Man arrive at Happiness By getting out of himself my Lord
Out of himself Mr
Meekly
you astonish me greatly A Contradiction in Terms unnatural impossible God himself my Lord cannot make a Man Happy in any other Way either here or hereafter
It is said the Earl an established Maxim among all thinking Men whether Divines or Philosophers that SELFLOVE is the Motive to all human Actions Virtue forbid exclaimed Mr
Meekly
all Actions are justly held good or evil base or honourable detestable or amiable merely according to their Motives But if the Motive is the same to all there is an End at once to the Possibility of Virtue the Cruel and the Kind the Faithful and the Perfidious the Prostitute and the Patriot are confounded together
Do not all Men returned the Earl act agreeable to their own Propensities and Inclinations do they not Act so or so merely because it pleases them so to act and is not this Pleasure the same Motive in all By no Means my Lord it never was nor can be the Motive in any We must go a Question deeper to discover the secret Principle or Spring of Action One Man is pleased to do Good another is pleased to do Evil now whence is it that each is pleased with Purposes in their Nature so opposite and irreconcilable Because my Lord that the Propensities or Motives to Action in each are as opposite and irreconcilable as the Actions themselves the one is prompted and therefore pleased with his Purpose of doing Evil to others through some base Prospect of Interest redounding to himself the other is prompted and spurred and therefore pleased with his Purpose of endangering his Person or suffering in his Fortune through the benevolent Prospect of the Good that shall thereby redound to Others
Pleasure is, itself, an Effect and cannot be the Cause or Pinciple or Motive to any Thing; it is an agreeable Sensation that arises in any Animal on its meeting or contemplating an Object that is suited to its Nature As far as the Nature of such an Animal is evil evil Objects can alone affect it with Pleasure as far as the Nature of such an Animal is good the Objects must be good whereby its Pleasures are excited
When
Damon
was sentenced by
Dionysius
of
Syracuse
to die on such a Day he prayed Permission in the Interim to retire to his own Country to set the Affairs of his disconsolate Family in order This the Tyrant intended most peremptorily to refuse by granting it as he conceived on the impossible Conditions of his procuring some one to remain as Hostage for his Return under equal Forfeiture of Life
Pythias
heard the Conditions, and did not wait for an Application on the Part of
Damon
he instantly offered himself to Durance in the Place of his Friend and
Damon
was accordingly set at Liberty
The King and all his Courtiers were astonished at this Action as they could not account for it on any allowed Principles SelfInterest in their Judgment was the sole Mover of human Affairs and they looked on Virtue Friendship Benevolence Love of Country and the like as Terms invented by the Wise to impose upon the Weak They therefore imputed this Act of
Pythias
to the Extravagance of his Folly to the Defect of Head merely and no way to any Virtue or good Quality of Heart
When the Day of the destined Execution drew near the Tyrant had the Curiosity to visit
Pythias
in his Dungeon Having reproached him for the romantic Stupidity of his Conduct and rallied him some Time on his Madness in presuming that
Damon
by his Return would prove as great a Fool as himself my Lord said
Pythias
with a firm Voice and noble Aspect I would it were possible that I might suffer a thousand Deaths rather than my Friend should fail in any Article of his Honour He cannot fail therein my Lord I am as confident of his Virtue as I am of my own Existence But I pray I beseech the Gods to preserve the Life and Integrity of my
Damon
together Oppose him ye Winds prevent the Eagerness and Impatience of his honourable Endeavours and suffer him not to arrive till by my Death I have redeemed a Life a thousand Times of more Consequence more Estimation than my own more estimable to his lovely Wife to his precious little Innocents to his Friends to his Country O leave me not to die the worst of Deaths in my
Damon
Dionysius
was confounded and awed by the Dignity of these Sentiments and by the Manner still more sentimental in which they were uttered he felt his Heart struck by a slight Sense of invading Truth but it served rather to perplex than to undeceive him He hesitated he would have spoken but he looked down and retired in Silence
The fatal Day arrived
Pythias
was brought forth and walked amidst the Guard with a serious but satisfied Air to the Place of Execution
Dionysius
was already there He was exalted on a moving Throne that was drawn by six white Horses and sat pensive and attentive to the Demeanour of the Prisoner
Pythias
came He vaulted lighty on the Scaffold and beholding for some Time the Apparatus of his Death he turned with a pleased Countenance and addressed the Assembly
My Prayers are heard he cried the Gods are propitious You know my Friends that the Winds have been contrary till Yesterday
Damon
could not come he could not conquer Impossibilities he will be here Tomorrow and the Blood which is shed to Day shall have ransomed the Life of my Friend O could I erase from your Bosoms every Doubt every mean Suspicion of the Honour of the Man for whom I am about to suffer I should go to my Death even as I would to my Bridal Be it sufficient in the mean Time that my Friend will be found noble that his Truth is unimpeachable that he will speedily approve it that he is now on his Way hurrying on accusing himself the adverse Elements and the Gods But I haste to prevent his Speed Executioner to your Office
As he pronounced the last Words a Buzz began to arise among the remotest of the People A distant Voice was heard The Croud caught the Words and stop stop the Execution was repeated by the whole Assembly
A Man came at full Speed The Throng gave way to his Approach He was mounted on a Steed of Foam In an Instant he was off his Horse on the Scaffold and held
Pythias
straitly embraced
You are safe he cried you are safe my Friend my Beloved the Gods be praised you are safe I now have nothing but Death to suffer and I am delivered from the Anguish of those Reproaches which I gave myself for having endangered a Life so much dearer than my own
Pale cold and half Speechless in the Arms of his
Damon Pythias
replied in broken Accents Fatal Haste cruel Impatience what envious Powers have wrought Impossibilities in your Favour But I will not be wholely disappointed Since I cannot die to save I will not survive you
Dionysius
heard beheld and considered all with Astonishment His Heart was touchd His Eyes were opened and he could no longer refuse his assent to Truths so incontestably approved by their Facts
He descended from his Throne He ascended the Scaffold Live live ye incomparable Pair he exclaimed Ye have borne unquestionable Testimony to the Existence of Virtue and that Virtue equally evinces the Certainty of the Existence of a God to reward it Live happy live renowned and O form me by your Precepts as ye have invited me by your Example to be worthy of the Participation of so sacred a Friendship
YOU bring your Arguments quite home Mr
Meekly
said the Earl the Understanding cannot reject what the Heart so sensibly feels My Soul deeply acknowledges the Existence of Virtue with its essential and inherent Difference from Vice and this Difference I acknowledge must as necessarily be founded in the Difference of the Principles from whence they proceed but what those Principles are I know not and I am equally a Stranger to what you intend by a Mans getting out of himself in order to Happiness What am I to understand by the Term SELF Mr
Meekly
Every Particle of Matter, my Lord has a SELF or distinct Identity inasmuch as it cannot be any other Particle of Matter. Now while it continues in this its State of SELFISHNESS or absolute Distinction it is utterly useless and insignificant and is to the Universe as though it were not It has however a Principle of
Attraction
analogous or answerable to
Desire
in Mind whereby it endeavours to derive to itself the Powers and Advantages of all other Portions of Matter. But when the DIVINE INTELLIGENCE hath harmonized certain Quantities of such distinct Particles into certain animal or vegetable Systems this Principle of
Attraction
in each is overcome for each becomes attracted and drawn as it were from SELF each yields up its Powers to the Benefit of the Whole and then and then only becomes capable and productive of Shape Colouring Beauty Flowers Fragrance and Fruits
Be pleased now to observe my Lord that this Operation in Matter is no other than a Manifestation of the like Process in Mind and that no Soul was ever capable of any Degree of Virtue or Happiness save so far as it is drawn away in its Affections from SELF save so far as it is engaged in wishing contriving endeavouring promoting and rejoicing in the Welfare and Happiness of others
It is therefore that the Kingdom of Heaven is most aptly and most beautifully compared to a Tree bearing Fruit and diffusing Odours whose Root is the PRINCIPLE of infinite Benevolence and whose Braches are the blessed Members receiving consummate Beatitude from the Act of Communication
I think indeed said the Earl that I can form some Sort of a Notion of such a Society in Heaven But it would pose you Mr
Meekly
to exemplify your Position from any Body of Men that ever were upon Earth
Pray pardon me my Lord the States of
Sparta
and
Rome
derived their Lustre and Power their whole Preeminence and Praise from this Principle of
Communication
which in them was called
Love of Country
But this beatifying Principle was still more eminently instanced in the Society of the Church of
Jerusalem
who had all Things in common who imparted their Possessions to all Men as every Man had need and thence did eat their common Bread with
Gladness and Singleness of Heart
praising God and having Favour with all People
You say my Lord that you can form a Notion of some such Excellence in Heaven but I can form no Notion of any Excellence more admirable in Heaven itself than when a Man in his present State of frail and depraved Nature overbears his personal Fears of Pain and Mortality and yields up his Body to assured Perdition for public Good or for the sake of those whom it delighteth him to preserve
I shall pass over the Instances of the Roman
Regulus
and the
Decii
as also that of
Leonidas
and his three Hundred
Spartans
who devoted their Lives for the Liberties of
Greece
was that Candidate less a Hero who being rejected from being one of these Selfdevoted exclaimed the Gods be praised that there are three Hundred in
Sparta
better Men than myself But I come nearer our own Times and our own Nation to exemplify this Disregard of SELF, the vital Source and Principle of every Virtue in six Mechanics or Craftsmen of the City of
Calais
Edward
the Third after the Battle of
Cressy
laid Siege to
Calais
He had fortified his Camp in so impregnable a Manner that all the Efforts of
France
proved ineffectual to raise the Siege or throw Succours into the City The Citizens however under the Conduct of Count
Vienne
their gallant Governour made an admirable Defence Day after Day the
English
effected many a Breach which they repeatedly expected to storm by Morning but when Morning appeared they wondered to behold new Ramparts raised nightly erected out of the Ruins which the Day had made
France
had now put the Sickle into her second Harvest since
Edward
with his victorious Army sat down before the Town The Eyes of all Europe were intent on the Issue The
English
made their Approaches and Attacks without Remission but the Citizens were as obstinate in repelling all their Efforts
At length Famine did more for
Edward
than Arms After the Citizens had devoured the lean Carcasses of their starved Cattle they tore up old Foundations and Rubbish in search of Vermin They fed on boiled Leather and the Weeds of exhausted Gardens and a Morsel of damaged Corn was accounted Matter of Luxury
In this Extremity they resolved to attempt the Enemys Camp They boldly sallied forth the
English
joined Battle and after a long and desperate Engagement Count
Vienne
was taken Prisoner and the Citizens who survived the Slaughter retired within their Gates
On the Captivity of the Governour the Command devolved upon
Eustace Saint Pierre
the Mayor of the Town a Man of mean Birth but of exalted Virtue
Eustace
now found himself under the necessity of capitulating and offered to deliver to
Edward
the City with all the Possessions and Wealth of the Inhabitants provided he permitted them to depart with Life and Liberty
As
Edward
had long since expected to ascend the Throne of
France
he was exasperated to the last Degree against these People whose sole Valour had defeated his warmest Hopes he therefore determined to take an exemplary Revenge though he wished to avoid the Imputation of Cruely He answered by Sir
Walter Mauny
that they all deserved capital Punishment as obstinate Traitors to him their true and natural Sovereign That however in his wonted Clemency he consented to pardon the Bulk of the Plebeians provided they would deliver up to him six of their principal Citizens with Halters about their Necks as Victims of due Atonement for that Spirit of Rebellion with which they had enflamed the vulgar Herd
All the Remains of this desolate City were convened in the great Square and like Men arraigned at a Tribunal from whence there was no Appeal expected with beating Hearts the Sentence of their Conqueror
When Sir
Walter
had declared his Mesage Consternation and pale Dismay was impressed on every Face Each looked upon Death as his own inevitable Lot for how should they desire to be saved at the Price proposed whom had they to deliver save Parents Brothers Kindred or valiant Neighbours who had so often exposed their Lives in their Defence To a long and dead Silence deep Sighs and Groans succeeded till
Eustace St Pierre
getting up to a little Eminence thus addressed the Assembly
My Friends we are brought to great Straits this Day We must either submit to the Terms of our cruel and ensnaring Conqueror or yield up our tender Infants our Wives and chaste Daughters to the bloody and brutal Lusts of the violating Soldiery
We well know what the Tyrant intends by his specious Offers of Mercy It will not satiate his Vengeance to make us merely miserable he would also make us criminal he would make us contemptible he will grant us Life on no Condition save that of our being unworthy of it
Look about you my Friends and fix your Eyes on the Persons whom you wish to deliver up as the Victims of your own Safety Which of these would ye appoint to the Rack the Axe or the Halter Is there any here who has not watched for you who has not fought for you who has not bled for you Who through the length of this inveterate Siege has not suffered Fatigues and Miseries a thousand Times worse than Death that you and yours might survive to Days of Peace and Prosperity Is it your Preservers then whom you would destine to Destruction you will not you cannot do it Justice Honour Humanity make such a Treason impossible
Where then is our Resource is there any Expedient left whereby we may avoid Guilt and Infamy on the one Hand or the Desolation and Horrours of a sacked City on the other there is my Friends there is one Expedient left a gracious an excellent a Godlike Expedient Is there any here to whom Virtue is dearer than Life Let him offer himself an Oblation for the Safety of his People He shall not fail of a blessed Approbation from that Power who offered up his only Son for the Salvation of Mankind
He spoke but a universal Silence ensued Each Man looked around for the Example of that Virtue and Magnanimity in others which all wished to approve in themselves, though they wanted the Resolution
At length
Saint Pierre
resumed
It had been base in me my fellow Citizens to propose any Matter of Damage to others which I myself had not been willing to undergo in my own Person But I held it ungenerous to deprive any Man of that Preference and Estimation which might attend a first Offer on so signal an Occasion For I doubt not but there are many here as ready nay more zealous of this Martyrdom than I can be however Modesty and the Fear of imputed Ostentation may withold them from being foremost in exhibiting their Merits
Indeed the Station to which the Captivity of Lord
Vienne
has unhappily raised me imparts a Right to be the first in giving my Life for your Sakes I give it freely I give it cheerfully who comes next
Your Son exclaimed a Youth not yet come to Maturity
Ah my Child cried
Saint Pierre
I am then twice sacrificed But no I have rather begotten thee a second Time Thy Years are few but full my Son the Victim of Virtue has reached the utmost Purpose and Goal of Mortality Who next my Friends This is the Hour of Heroes
Your Kinsman cried
John DAire
your Kinsman cried
James Wissant
your Kinsman cried
Peter Wissant
Ah exclaimed Sir
Walter Mauny
bursting into Tears why was I not a Citizen of
Calais
The sixth Victim was still wanting but was quickly supplied by Lot from Numbers who were now emulous of so ennobling an Example
The Keys of the City were then delivered to Sir
Walter
He took the six Prisoners into his Custody He ordered the Gates to be opened and gave Charge to his Attendants to conduct the remaining Citizens with their Families through the Camp of the
English
Before they departed however they desired Permission to take their last Adieu of their Deliverers What a Parting what a Scene They crouded with their Wives and Children about
Saint Pierre
and his fellow Prisoners They embraced they clung around they fell prostrate before them They groaned they wept aloud and the joint Clamour of their Mourning passed the Gates of the City and was heard throughout the Camp
The
English
by this Time were apprised of what passed within
Calais
They heard the Voice of Lamentation and their Souls were touched with Compassion Each of the Soldiers prepared a Portion of their own Victuals to welcome and entertain the half famished Inhabitants and they loaded them with as much as their present Weakness was able to bear in order to supply them with Sustenance by the Way
At length
Saint Pierre
and his fellow Victims appeared under the conduct of Sir
Walter
and a Guard All the Tents of the
English
were instantly emptied The Soldiers poured from all Parts and arranged themselves on each Side to behold to contemplate to admire this little Band of Patriots as they passed They bowed down to them on all Sides They murmured their applause of that Virtue which they could not but revere even in Enemies And they regarded those Ropes which they had voluntarily assumed about their Necks as Ensigns of greater Dignity than that of the British Garter
As soon as they had reached the Presence
Mauny
says the Monarch are these the principal Inhabitants of
Calais
They are says
Mauny
they are not only the principal Men of
Calais
they are the principal Men of
France
my Lord if Virtue has any Share in the Act of ennobling Were they delivered peaceably says
Edward
was there no Resistance no Commotion among the People Not in the least my Lord the People would all have perished rather than have delivered the least of these to your Majesty They are Selfdelivered Selfdevoted and come to offer up their inestimable Heads as an ample Equivalent for the Ransom of Thousands
Edward
was secretly piqued at this Reply of Sir
Walter
but he knew the Privilege of a British Subject and suppressed his Resentment Experience says he hath ever shewn that Lenity only serves to invite People to new Crimes Severity at Times is indispensably necessary to deter Subjects into Submission by Punishment and Example Go he cried to an Officer lead these Men to Execution Your Rebellion continued he addressing himself to
Saint Pierre
your Rebellion against me the natural Heir of your Crown is highly aggravated by your present Presumption and Affront of my Power We have nothing to ask of your Majesty said
Eustace
save what you cannot refuse us What is that Your Esteem my Lord said
Eustace
and went out with his Companions
At this Instant a Sound of Triumph was heard throughout the Camp The Queen had just arrived with a powerful Reinforcement of those gallant Soldiers at the Head of whom she had conquered
Scotland
and taken their King Captive
Sir
Walter Mauny
flew to receive her Majesty and briefly informed her of the Particulars respecting the six Victims
As soon as She had been welcomed by
Edward
and his Court She desired a private Audience My Lord said She the Question I am to enter upon is not touching the Lives of a few Mechanics it respects a Matter more estimable than the Lives of all the Natives of
France
it respects the Honour of the
English
Nation it respects the Glory of my
Edward
my Husband my King
You think you have sentenced Six of your Enemies to Death No my Lord they have sentenced themselves and their Execution would be the Execution of their own Orders not the Orders of
Edward
They have behaved themselves worthily they have behaved themselves greatly I cannot but respect while I envy while I hate them for leaving us no Share in the Honour of this Action save that of granting a poor and indispensable Pardon
I admit they have deserved every Thing that is evil at your Hands They have proved the most inveterate and efficacious of your Enemies They alone have withstood the rapid Course of your Conquests and have witheld from You the Crown to which You were born Is it therefore that You would reward them that you would gratify their Desires that you would indulge their Ambition and enwreath them with everlasting Glory and Applause
But if such a Death would exalt Mechanics over the Fame of the most illustrious Heroes how would the Name of my
Edward
with all his Triumphs and Honours be tarnished thereby Would it not be said that Magnanimity and Virtue are grown odious in the Eyes of the Monarch of
Britain
And that the Objects, whom he destines to the Punishment of Felons are the very Men who deserve the Praise and Esteem of Mankind The Stage on which they should suffer would be to them a Stage of Honour but a Stage of Shame to
Edward
a Reproach to his Conquests a dark and indelible Disgrace to his Name
No my Lord Let us rather disappoint the saucy Ambition of these Burghers who wish to invest themselves with Glory at our Expence We cannot indeed wholely deprive them of the merit of a Sacrifice so nobly intended but we may cut them short of their Desires in the Place of that Death by which their Glory would be consummate let us bury them under Gifts let us put them to Shame with Praises we shall thereby defeat them of that popular Opinion which never fails to attend those who suffer in the Cause of Virtue
I am convinced you have prevailed be it so cryed
Edward
prevent the Execution have them instantly before us
They came when the Queen with an Aspect and Accents diffusing Sweetness thus bespoke them
Natives of France and Inhabitants of
Calais
Ye have put us to vast Expence of Blood and Treasure in the Recovery of our just and natural Inheritance but you acted up to the best of an erroneous Judgment and we admire and honour in you that Valour and Virtue by which we are so long kept out of our rightful Possessions
You noble Burghers you excellent Citizens though you were tenfold the Enemies of our Person and our Throne we can feel nothing on our Part save Respect and Affection for You You have been sufficiently tested We loose your Chains we snatch You from the Scaffold and we thank You for that Lesson of Humiliation which you teach us when you shew us that Excellence is not of Blood of Title or Station that Virtue gives a Dignity superior to that of Kings and that Those whom the Almighty informs with Sentiments like yours are justly and eminently raised above all human Distinctions
You are now free to depart to your Kinsfolk your Countrymen to all Those whose Lives and Liberties You have so nobly redeemed provided you refuse not to carry with You the due Tokens of our Esteem
Yet we would rather bind You to ourselves by every endearing Obligation and for this Purpose we offer to You your Choice of the Gifts and Honours that
Edward
has to bestow Rivals for Fame but always Friends to Virtue we wish that
England
were entitled to call You her Sons
Ah my Country exclaimed
Saint Pierre
it is now that I tremble for You
Edward
could only win your Cities but
Philippa
conquers Hearts
Brave
Saint Pierre
said the Queen wherefore look you so dejected Ah Madam replied
Saint Pierre
when I meet with such another Opportunity of dying I shall not regret that I survived this Day
Here a long Pause ensued At length the Earl recollected himself Mr
Meekly
sais he You have now proved to me your Position more effectually more convincingly than all the Powers of Ratiocination could possibly do While you related the Story of those divine Citizens I was imperceptibly stolen away and won entirely from Self I entered into all their Interests their Passions and Affections and was wrapt as it were into a new World of delightful Sensibilites Is this what you call Virtue what you call Happiness
A good deal of it my Lord There are in Nature but two Kinds of Self; in other Words, there are but two Sorts of Wills in the Universe the Will of infinite Wisdom of infinite Benevolence going forth in Beauty and Beatitude on all Creatures And the Will of the Creature desiring attracting envying coveting and rending all Things from All to its own Interest and Advantage In the first Will subsists all possible Good from the Second arises all possible Evil and did not the first Will in some Measure inform and meliorate the Second the Will of every Creature would be an
Ishmael
his Hand would be against every One and every Ones Hand against him and there would be nothing but Strife and Distraction Hatred Horrour and Misery throughout the Creation
Hence it follows that, as there is but one Will from Eternity infinitely wise to discern what is best throughout the Universe infinitely good to desire the Accomplishment of what is best and infinitely powerful to put what is best in Execution every Will that is not informed by this ONE WILL must of necessity act in Ignorance in Blindness and Error I will further affirm that every Act of every Will that is not informed by the ONE WILL of GOODNESS must of equal necessity be the Act of Malevolence
I do not see the necessity of that replied the Earl I well perceive that God can give to intelligent Beings an Existence or Identity distinct from himself for I see that he has done it What should therefore prevent him from giving Qualities as distinct from himself as the Essence? why might he not impart to any limited Degree Capacity Discernment Power Wisdom and Goodness Might not such a Being instantly perceive to a vast Extent the Relations of Things with their several Fitnesses and Disagreements would he not consequently be enamoured of what was right and beautiful would he not act agreeable to such a just Approbation and would not such Actions be fitly accounted the Act of Virtue
At this Instant a Messenger arrived on the Spur He brought word to Mr
Meekly
that his Friend Mr
Husbands
was taken suddenly ill and earnestly requested to see him directly whereupon Mr
Meekly
who preferred any Matter of Charity to all other Considerations immediately got up made a silent Bow and vanished
TO RETURN to our Hero As soon as he was new rigged he pressed for another Visit to his Patron who received him with accustomed Tenderness but greatly wondered at his Peasant Dress Nurse then recited to him the whole Adventure of the frittered Robeings Whereat the old Gentleman in a manner devoured him with the Eagerness of his Caresses
When Nurse and
Harry
were departed he called to him his old Domestic
James
says he with a Tear yet standing in his Eye I can no longer live without the Company of this dear Child hasten therefore the Orders that I have already given you and let all Things be in Readiness for the first Opportunity The Domestic who had caught the filent Habit of his Master with a Bow assented and retired
Autumn
was now advanced and Lord
Dickey
with his Brother a Number of little Associates and an attending Footman got leave to go to the Copse a Nutting As the Children were perfectly acquainted with the Way the Servant desired to stay behind a while in order to provide Hooks for pulling down the Branches This was granted and forth they all issued in high Chat and Spirits
The Copse lay at some Distance on one Side of the Park behind the MansionHouse but when they had nearly approached the Place of their Destination
Harry
missed a Garter and promising speedily to rejoin his Companions went back to seek it
In the mean Time his Associates on entering the Wood met with another little Posse of the Village Fry who were on their Return one of whom carried a Bag of Nuts that seemed bulkier than the Bearer So Gentlemen says Lord
Dickey
where are you going Why Home where should we go says a little Boor sullenly And pray what have you been doing says the Lord Guess says the Boor Is it Nuts that you have got in that Bag demanded the Lord Ask Tomorrow answered the Boor Sirrah sais
Dickey
a little provoked how dare you to come and pull Nuts here without our Leave Why as for that Master
Dickey
replied the other I know you well enough and I wouldnt ask your Leave an you were twenty Lords not I Sirrah says
Dickey
I have a great Mind to take your Nuts from you and to give you as good a Beating into the Bargain as ever you got in your Life As for that Master
Dickey
coolly answered the Villager you must do Both or Neither Here I lay down my Nuts between us and now come any Two of your Watergruel Regiment one down the other come on and if I dont give ye your Belly fulls why then take my Nuts and welcome to make up the Want
This gallant Invitation was accepted on the Spot Lord
Richard
chose his Companion in Arms and Both appeared quite flush and confident of Victory For though neither of them had been versed in the Gymnastic Exercises they didnt want Courage and they knew that the Challenger was their Inferior in Strength and in Years
But unhappily for these two Champions of Quality
Tommy Truck
their Adversary had like
Harry
been a Bruiser from two Years old and upward and was held in Veneration as their Leader and their Chief by many who were his Superiors in Age and Stature
Lord
Richard
began the Assault but was down in a Twinkling To him his Friend succeeded but with no better Fortune A Swing or Trip of
Tommy
s sent them instantly as
Alcides
sent
Antaeus
to gather Strength from their MotherEarth And though these Summer Heroes like the young Roman Nobility at the Battle of
Pharsalia
were solely intent on defending their pretty Faces from Annoyance yet
Tommy
at the third Turn had bloodied them Both
Harry
who was now on his Return perceived the Engagement and running up and rushing between the Combatants interposed with a Voice of Authority and parted the Fray
Having enquired and duly informed himself of the Merits of the Case he first turned him to Lord
Richard
and said O Brother
Dickey
Brother
Dickey
you ought not to hinder poor Boys from pulling a few dirty Nuts what signifies em Then turning to the Challenger his old Acquaintance
Tommy
says he did you know that
Dickey
was my Brother Yes says
Tommy
rudely and what though of I did O nothing at all says
Harry
but I want to speak with you
Tommy
Whereupon he took the Conqueror under the Arm and walked away with him very lovingly in all Appearance looking about to take Care that none of the Boys followed him
Mean Time the little Gentry threw out their Invectives in Profusion against our departed Hero I think says one that Master
Harry
had as much to blame in
Tommy
as Lord
Dickey
Ay says another one would think he might as well have taken his Brothers Part as that Blackguards Indeed it was very naughty of him says a Third For my Part says a Fourth I never will have any Thing more to say to him
While thus they vilified their late Friend he and his fellow Champion walked Arm in Arm in a sullen and uninterrupted Silence Till coming to a small Opening in a secreted Part of the Wood
Harry
quitted his Companion desired him to strip and instantly cast aside his own Hat Coat and Waistcoat Why should I strip says
Tommy
To Box says
Harry
Why should you box with me
Harry
sure I didnt strike you says
Tom
Yes Sir replied our Hero you struck me when you struck
Dickey
and knew that he was my Brother Nay
Harry
cried
Tom
if its Fight you are for Ill give you enough of it I warrant you
Tom
was about eight Months older than
Harry
his equal in the Practice of Arms and much the stronger But
Harry
was full as tall and his Motions quicker than Thought prevented the Ward of the most experienced Adversary
Together they rushed like two little Tigers At once they struck and parried and watching every open they darted their little Fists like Engines at each other But
Tom
marking the Quickness and feeling the Smart of
Harry
s Strokes suddenly leaped within his Arm bore him down to the Earth and triumphantly gave him the first rising Blow
Harry
rose indignant but warned by the Strength of his Adversary to better Caution He now fought more aloof and as
Tom
pressed upon him he at once guarded struck and wheeld like an experienced Cock without quitting the Pit of Honour
Tom
finding himself wholely foiled by this
Parthian
Method of Combat again rushd upon his Enemy who was now aware of the Shock They closed they grappled they caught each other by the Shoulders joined Head to Head and Breast to Breast and stood like two Pillars merely supported by their Bearing against one another. Again they shifted the left Arm caught each other about the Neck and cuffed and punchd at Face and Stomach without Mercy or Remission till
Tom
impatient of this Length of Battle gave
Harry
a side Swing and
Harry
giving
Tom
a Trip at the same Time they fell Side by Side together upon the Earth
They rose and retreated to draw Breath as by mutal Consent They glared on one another with an Eye of vindictive Apprehension For neither of them could now boast of more Optics than
Poliphemus
and from their Forehead to their Shoes they were in one Gore of Blood
Again they flew upon each other again they struck foined and defended and alternately pressed on and retreated in Turns till
Harry
spying an Open darted his Fist like a Shot into the remaining Eye of his Enemy
Tom
finding himself in utter Darkness instantly sprung upon his Foe and endeavoured to grapple but
Harry
with equal Agility avoided the Shock and traversing here and there beat his Adversary at Pleasure Till
Tom
cried out I yield I yield
Harry
for I cant see to fight any more
Then
Harry
took
Tom
by the Hand and led him to his Cloaths and having assisted him to dress he next did the same friendly Office to himself Then Arm in Arm they returned much more loving in reality than they set out having been beaten into a true Respect and Affection for each other
Sometime before this the Footman had joined his young Lord with the several Implements requisite for Nutting They had already pulled down great Quantities the young Quality had stuffed their Pockets and the little Plebeians who had assisted were now permitted to be busie in gathering up the Refuse When all turning at the Cry of theres
Harry
theres
Tom
they perceived our two Champions advancing leisurely but Hand in Hand as Friends and Brothers
They had left their Cloaths unbuttoned for the Benefit of the cooling Air and as they approached their Companions were frozen into Astonishment at the Sight of their two Friends all covered with Crimson
They were neither able to advance to meet them nor to speak when they arrived Till Lord
Dickey
first inquired into this bloody Catastrophe and
Harry
remaining wholely silent on the Subject blind
Tommy
cried out why Master
Dickey
the Truth is that
Harry
beat me because I beat You Then
Dickey
feeling a sudden Gush of Gratitude and Affection rising up in his Bosom looked wistfully on his Brother and said with a plaintive Voice O Brother
Harry
Brother
Harry
you are sadly hurt and turning about he began to weep most bitterly But
Harry
said Shaw Brother
Dickey
dont cry Man I dont matter it of the Head of a brass Pin Then turning to the Footman with
Tom
still in his Hand he cried here
John
take that Bag of Nuts and poor blind
Tommy
to my Mammys and tell Daddy that I desire him to see them both safe home
Sir your Hero is indeed a Hero he must be every bodys Hero
Sir you do him vast Honour and I should be proud of your further Instructions towards his supporting the Dignity of the Character you give him Pray what are the ingredient Qualities of which a Hero is compounded what Idea have you formed of such a Personage tell me I beseech you what is a Hero my good Friend
Pshaw what a Question every Fool knows that A Hero is as though one should say a Man of high Achievement who performs famous Exploits who does Things that are heroical and in all his Actions and Demeanour is a Hero indeed why do you laugh I will give you the Instances approved throughout the World recorded and duely celebrated by Poets Painters Sculptors Statuaries and Historians There was the Assyrian
Ninus
the
Sesostris
of
Egypt
the
Cyrus
of
Persia
the
Alexander
of
Greece
the
Caesar
of
Rome
and partly in our own Days there was the
Conde
of
France
the
Charles
of
Sweden
and
Persias Kouli Kan
What the plague does the Fellow laugh at
I am laughing to think what a Blockhead
Themistocles
was Being asked whom he considered as the greatest of Heroes not him who conquers but who saves replied
Themistocles
not the Man who ruins but the Man who erects who of a Village can make a City or turn a despicable People into a great Nation
According to your Notion of Heroism that Boor and Barbarian
Peter Alexiowitz
of
Russia
was the greatest Hero that ever lived
True my Friend for of a numerous People he disembruted every one except himself But then in all Equity he ought to divide his Glory with
Kate
the Washerwoman who humanized the Man that humanized a Nation
Whom do you take to have been the greatest Hero of Antiquity
Lycurgus
without Comparison the greatest of Heroes and the greatest of Legislators In those very early Days the People of
Lacedaemon
were extremely rude and ignorant they acknowledged no Laws save the Dictates of their own Will or the Will of their Rulers
Lycurgus
might have assumed the Sceptre but his Ambition aspired to a much more elevated and durable Dominion over the Souls Manners and Conduct of this People and their Posterity He framed a Body of the most extraordinary Institutions that ever enteredinto the Heart or Head of Man Next to those of our DIVINE LEGISLATOR they were intended
to form a new Creature
He prevailed upon the Rich to make an equal Distribution of their Lands with the Poor He prohibited the Use of all such Money as was current among other Nations and, thereby prohibited the Importation of the Means and Materials of Pomp and Luxury He enjoined them to feed in common on simple and frugal Fare He forbid all Gorgeousness of Furniture and Apparel In short he endeavoured to suppress every sensual and selfish Desire by Injunctions of daily Exercise Toil and Hardship a patient Endurance of Pain and a noble Contempt of Death At length feigning some Occasion of being abroad for a Season he exacted an Oath from the
Lacedaemonians
that they should strictly observe his Laws without the smallest Infringement till his Return Thus for the love of his Country he went into perpetual Banishment from it And he took Measures at his Death that his Body should never be found lest it should be carried back to
Sparta
and give his Countrymen a Colour for dissolving their Oath
Laying
Peter
aside who think you was the greatest Hero among the Moderns
To confess the Truth among all that I have heard or read of the Hero whom I most affect was a Madman and the Lawgiver whom I most affect was a Fool
Troth I believe you never would have been the Writer you are at this Day if you had not adopted somewhat of both the said Qualities But come unriddle I beseech you where may this favourite Hero and Legislator be found
In a Fragment of the
Spanish
History bequeathed to the World by one Signior
Cervantes
O have you led me to my old Acquaintance pray has not your
Pegasus
some Smatch of the Qualities of the famous
Rosinante
Quite as chaste I assure you But I perceive that you think I am drolling you dont suppose that you can ever be seriously of the same Opinion Yet if you demand of your own Memory for what have the great Heroes throughout History been renowned it must answer for Mischief merely for spreading Desolation and Calamity among Men How greatly how gloriously how divinely superior was our Hero of the
Mancha
who went about
righting of Wrongs
and
redressing of Injuries
lifting up the fallen and pulling down those whom Iniquity had exalted In this his marvellous Undertaking what Buffettings what Bruisings what Tramplings of Ribs what pounding of Packstaves did his Bones not endure Mine ached at the recital But Toil was his Bed of Down and the House of Pain was to him a Bower of Delight while he considered himself as engaged in giving Ease Advantage and Happiness to others If Events did not answer to the Enterprises of his Heart it is not to be imputed to the Man but to his Malady for had his Power and Success been as extensive as his Benevolence all Things awry upon Earth at the Risk of his Limbs and Life would instantly have been set as streight as a Cedar
But let me turn with Reverence to kiss the Hem of the Robes of the most respectable of all Governors and Legislators
Sancho Pansa
What Judgments what Institutions how are
Minos
and
Solon
and the inspired of the Goddess
Aegeria
here eclipsed
Sancho
thou wast a Peasant thou wast illiterate thou wast a Dunce for a Man but an Angel for a Governor inasmuch as, contrary to the Custom of all other Governors thou didst not desire any Thing, thou didst not wish for any Thing, thine Eye was not bent to any Thing, save the Good of thy People therefore thou coudst not stray thou hadst no other way to travel Could
Aesop
s Log have been moved to Action upon the same Principle the Regency of Storks had not prevailed among Men How am I provoked
Pansa
when I see thee insulted how am I grieved when I find thee deposed Saving the Realms of a certain Majesty I say and sigh to myself O that the whole Earth were as thine Island of
Barataria
and thou
Sancho
the Legislator and the Ruler thereof
I feel Conviction I confess it But tell me I pray you why has the World through all Ages and Nations universally ascribed Heroism and Glory to Conquest
Through the Respect as I take it that they have for Power Man is by Nature weak he is born in and to a State of Dependence he therefore naturally seeks and looks about for Help and where he observes the greatest Power it is there that he applies and prays for Protection Now though this Power should be exerted to his Damage instead of Defence it makes no Alteration in his Reverence for it he bows while he trembles and while he detests he worships In the present Case it is with Man as it is with God He is not so awful and striking he is not so much attended to in the Sunshine and gentle Dews of his Providence and Benignity as in his Lightnings and Thunders his Clouds and his Tempests
Hero heros and
in the three Languages signify a Demigod or one who is superior to mere Man But how can this Superiority or Distinction be shewn The serene Acts of Beneficence the small and still Voice of Goodness are neither accompanied by Noise nor Ostentation It is Uproar and Tumult rather the Tumbling of sacked Cities the Shrieks of ravishd Matrons and the Groans of dying Nations that fill the Trump of Fame Men of Power and Ambition find Distinction and Glory very readily attainable in this Way as it is incomparably more easy to destroy than to create to give Death than to give Life to pull down than to build up to bring Devastation and Misery rather than Plenty and Peace and Prosperity upon Earth
Were not Mankind in this Instance as blind to their own Interests as they were iniquitous in giving Glory where Shame alone was due
In so doing they proved at once the Dupes and the Victims of their own Folly Praise a Child for his Genius in Pranks of Mischief and Malevolence and you quicken him in the direct Road to the Gallows It is just so that this wise World has bred up its heroic Reprobates by ascribing Honour and Acclamation to Deeds that called loudy for Infamy and the Gibbet for the World was an Ass from its very Commencement and it will continue a Dunderhead to the End
From the Beginning of Things a long Time ago the joint Invention of Mankind has discovered but two Methods of procuring Sustenance on Earth the First by the Labour of their own Hands the second by employing the Hands of others
All therefore are excluded or at least ought to be excluded from such a World who refuse to labour or what is still worse who disturb and prevent the Labour of Others
Among those who will not labour we may number all who have the Happiness of being born to no Manner of End such as the
Monks
of every Country the
Dervises
of
Persia
the
Bramins
of
India
the
Mandarins
of
China
and the
Gentlemen
of these free and polished Nations
These have nothing to do but to sleep it to wake it to eat it to drink it to dance it to doze it to riot it to roar it and to rejoice in the happy Earnest which this World has given them of the Jollities of the next
Among those who disturb the Labour of others I reckon all your rascally
Alexanders
and
Caesars
whether antient or modern who in their Fits of Frenzy and Folly scamper about breaking the Lanterns and beating the Watch of this World to the great Amazement of Women and Terrour of little Children and who seem to think that Heaven gave Noses and Heads for no End in Nature but to be blooded and cracked In short I have no Patience when I hear talk of these Fellows I am not Half so fretted when I hear my own Works read Go on I request you it may happen to put me in Temper
CHAP V
THE young Gentlemen were now upon their Return and as they approached the House they crouded about
Harry
to keep him from being seen till he took an Opportunity of slipping away and stealing up to his Chamber He now grew stiff and sore and his Nurse having got an Intimation of what had happened hurried up to him and wept over him with abundant Tears of cordial Affection She strait undressed and put him to Bed and having ordered some WhiteWine Whey of which she made him drink plentifully she also undressed and went to bed to him and
Harry
casting his little Arm about her Neck and putting his Head in her Bosom was fast in a Twinkling
By this
John
had returned from the Execution of his Commission He had been fully apprized by
Tommy
on the Road of all the Circumstances relating to this bloody Business and going to his Lord and Lady he gave them the whole Detail occasionally dwelling and expatiating on
Harry
s Courage his Prowess his Honour and his Generosity They could now no longer forbear indulging themselves with the Sight of a Child in whom they held themselves honoured above all Titles They stole gently up Stairs and having got a Peep at
Harry
and observed that he was fast asleep they stole as softly back again each inwardly exulting in their glorious Boy
Our Hero was scarce recovered from his Wounds and Bruises when on a Day he met a little Beggar Boy at the HallDoor half naked and whinging and shivering with Cold His Heart was instantly touched with wonted Compassion and taking him by the Hand what is your Name my poor little Boy says
Harry Neddy
Sir says the Child And wheres your Daddy and Mammy O Sir answered
Ned
I have no Daddy nor Mammy in the World wide Dont cry dont cry says
Harry
I have several Daddies and Mammies and Ill give you One or Two of em But where did you leave your Cloaths
Neddy
I havent any Sir replied the Child in a piteous Accent Well well it dont matter
Neddy
for I have more Cloaths too says
Harry
So taking him again by the Hand he led him up to his Apartment without being perceived of any and helping him to strip he ran to his Closet for the Shirt which he had last thrown off and put it on the new Comer with equal Haste and Delight He next ran for the entire Suit that his bearded Dada had given him and having helped and shewn him how to put on the Breeches he drew on the Stockings and Shoes with his own Hands To these succeeded the Coat and Waistcoat and
Ned
was now full as well riggd as his Benefactor
Never had our Hero enjoyed himself so highly as while he was thus employed When he had finished his Operations he chuckled and smiled turned
Ned
round and round walked here and there about him and was as proud of him as if he had been wholely of his own making
He now again became thoughtful forecasting in his Mind the Particulars that might further be requisite for the Accommodation of his Guest for he was grown too fond of him to think of parting suddenly He then recollected an adjoining LumberRoom and taking
Ned
with him they found a little old Mattress which with united Strength they dragged forth and lodged in a convenient Corner of the Closet To this they added a Pair of old Blanketts and
Harry
having spread them for
Ned
s Repose in the best Manner he was able asked his Dependent if he was yet hungry Yes very very hungry indeed Sir cried
Ned
No sooner said than
Harry
flew down to the Kitchen and looking about and spying a large Porringer of Milk and a Luncheon of Bread that one of the Servants had provided for a young Favourite of their own he seized upon them like a Hawk and hastning again to his Chamber delivered them to
Neddy
who already had half devoured them with his Eyes
Ned
instantly fell to with the Rapture of a Cormorant or any Rapture that can be supposed less than that of his Friend
Harry
who stood over him with the Feelings of a Parent Turtle that feeds his Young with the Meat derived from his own Bowels
For a few Days
Harry
kept his Dependent shut up in his Chamber or Closet without the Privity of any of the Family except Nurse to whom he had reveald the Affair under the Seal of the strictest Secresy
But on a cross Day
Susy
the Housemaid having entered with a new Broom into our Heros Apartment perceived in a Corner the tattered Deposite of
Ned
s original Robeings and lifting them at a cautious Distance with a Finger and Thumb she perceived also as many other Philosophers have done that there is no part of this Globe which is not peopled with Nations of Animals if Man had but Attention and Optics duely accommodated to the Vision She dropt the living Garment as though she had taken up a burning Horse Shoe and was instantly peopled by her prolific Imagination with Tribes of the same Species from Head to Foot
In this Fit of Disgust
Susy
happened unfortunately to step into the Closet and spyed
Ned
in a dark Corner where he had squatted and drawn himself up to the Size of a Hedgehog She immediately flew at him like one of the
Eumenides
and dragged him forth to the Light as
Hercules
is said to have haled
Cacus
from his Den She questioned him with a Voice of implacable Authority and
Ned
with humble and ingenuous Tears confessed the whole Adventure But
Susy
no way melted exclaimed what Sirrah have you and your Master
Harry
a mind to breed an Affection in the House I will remit of no such Doings for I have an utter Conversion to BeggarBrats and Vermil She then commanded him to bundle up his old Raggs and driving him down Stairs before her she dismissed him from the HallDoor with a Pair of smart Boxes on each Side of his Head and ordered him never more to Defend her Sight
Poor
Ned
went weeping and wailing from the Door when who should he see at about fifty Paces distant but his beloved Patron
Harry
who had been cutting a Switch from the next Hedge To him he ran with Precipitation
Harry
touched with a Compassion not free from Resentment to see his Favourite in Tears demanded the Cause of his apparent Distress which
Ned
truely related Our Hero thereupon became thoughtful and moody and judging that
Susy
had not acted thus without Authority he conceived a general Disgust at a Family who had treated him so injuriously in the Person of his
Neddy
but comforting his Dependent the best he could come
Neddy
says he dont cry my Man I will bring you that I will to my own dear Dada and he will welcome and love you for my Sake Then making his Way through a small Breach in the neighbouring Hedge he ordered
Ned
to follow him and flew across the Field like a Bird of Passage in a direct Line to his Patrons
The old Gentleman saw him approaching and gave Sign to his antient Domestic who withdrew with Precipitation He received and caressed our Hero with more than usual Transport and who my Dear says he is this pretty little Boy that you have got with you
Harry
then like the
Grecian Demosthenes
taking Time to warm himself with the Recollection of his own Ideas, and, setting his Person forth with an Action and Ardour that determined to prevail made the following Oration
Why Dada I must tell you as how this poor little Boy for he is a very poor little Boy and his Name is
Neddy
Sir and he has no Friend in the wide World but you and I Sir and so Sir as I was telling you he comes to the Door crying sadly for Cold and Hunger and he would have pitied every Body for he had no Cloaths nor Daddy nor Mammy at all Sir and I had a many of them and that wasnt fair you know Sir and I was in the Humour to give him all the Dadas and Mamas I had in the World except you Sir and Mammy Nurse And so I takes him up Stairs and I puts the Cloaths upon him that you gave me when I was a poor little Boy Sir for no Body had to say to em but you and I Sir and I knew that you would pity poor little
Neddy
more than I pitied him myself Sir And so Dada they takes my poor little
Neddy
to Day and boxed him and beat him sadly and turned him out of Doors and so I meets him crying and roaring and so you know Sir as how I had nothing to do but to bring him to you Sir or to stay and cry with him for Company Sir
Here Orator
Harry
ceased to speak except by his Tears which he could no longer restrain and which proceeded to plead most emphatically for him But his Patron took him in his Arms and kissed the Drops from both Eyes and said dont cry my Darling for I am yours my
Harry
and all that I have is yours and if you had brought a whole Regiment of poor little
Neddies
with you they should be all welcome to me for your Sake my
Harry
Then
Harry
sprung up and caught his Patron about the Neck so that it was some Time before the old Gentleman could get loose But
Harry
says he I am going just now to leave this Country will you and your Man
Neddy
come along with me Over the World wide Dada says
Harry
but where are you going Sir I am going a Begging
Harry
O that will be brave Sport says
Harry
Ill tell you what you shall do Dada Whats that my Love Why Sir says
Harry
you must get a great Bag like the old Man and little Child that was at Door tother Day And
Neddy
and I will beg for you Sir and we will put all that we get into your great Bag as that good little Child did for his Daddy without touching a Bit though he was a hungry enough himself poor Fellow I warant But dont let us go to beg to Papas Door Sir for if you do they will box and beat us and drive us away as they did to poor little
Neddy
to Day Sir
The old Gentleman thereat had his Countenance divided betwixt the rising Tear and the bursting Laugh But taking
Harry
by the Hand he said No no my heavenly Creature I am not going to beg of any Man living but to beg of God to pour down his full Weight of Blessings upon my
Harry
and to endeavour to confirm them to him both here and hereafter by my Care and Instructions
Having thus spoken he put a large Cake into the Hand of each of the Children and causing them to drink a full Glass of small WhiteWine he took them into a back Yard where a light Coach with six Horses and three Servants ready mounted attended And having placed his young Companions and seated himself between them away the Coach drove at a sweeping Gallop
About the Time that our Hero and his Patron set out Nurse went up Stairs with a most bountiful Cut of Homebaked Bread and Butter for the Amusement of the young Caitiff whom she had left in the Closet but not finding him there she hastily dropped her Provinder on the first Window she met and hurrying down to the Kitchen earnestly enquired for the little BeggarBoy whom Master
Harry
had taken into his Service at this Question all the Servants stood in silent Amazement except
Susy
who bridling up and assuming the whole Importance of her Station Why Nurse says she you mustnt oppose that I am come here to sweep and to clean after lousy little Flagrants it was enough to breed an Antagion that it was in the House so what magnifies many Words I took the little dirty Bastard and cuffd him out of Doors You did Hussey says Nurse you dare to affront and vex my Child my little Man the Honour and Pride of all the Family And so saying she ups with her brawny Arm and gave
Susy
such a Douse on the Side of the Head as left her fast asleep for an Hour and upward Then running up Stairs again she went searching and clamouring for her
Harry
about the House in order to comfort and condole with him for his Loss
Dinner was now served up and the Company seated and all the Servants ran severally here and there repeatedly summoning Master
Harry
to attend But
Harry
was out of Hearing by many a Mile When the Cloth was removed Nurse entered with an Aspect half in Tears and half distracted and exclaimed that her Child was not to be found And what Nurse says the Earl do you think is become of him I hope my Lord says she that he is either strayed to his Daddy or to the dumb Gentlemans Then Messengers were instantly dispatched to both Houses who speedily returned with Tidings that Master
Harry
had not been seen at his Fosterfathers and that no one was at Home at the House of the Dumb Gentleman
The Business now became serious and alarming the whole House was in Commotion and all the Domestics and our Heros loving Nurse with Lord
Dickey
in her Hand ran searching through the Gardens the Fields and the Groves that resounded on all Sides with the Name of the Absentee
On their Return from a Disquisition as fruitless as solicitous Nurse declared her Apprehensions that
Harry
was gone off with a little favourite Boy whom he had taken into Service and whom the House Maid that Morning had beaten out of Doors
Susy
being nearly recovered and now called and questioned hereon was compelled to confess the Fact though in Terms less haughty and less elegant than usual when my Lord looking sternly at her and who you Strumpet he cried gave you Authority to turn any one out of my House whom my noble and generous Boy was pleased to bring in get you instantly away and never let me be so unhappy as to see that Face again
By this Time the whole Village and Neighbourhood as well as this noble Family were in Trouble and Alarms for the Loss of their little Favourite when a Countryman entered in sweaty Haste and desired without Preface to be admitted to the Earl My Lord says he I think I can give you some News of your dear Child As I was returning Home on the
London
Road I saw a Coach and Six driving towards me at a great rate and though it passed me in Haste I marked that the Gentleman with the Beard was in it and that he had two Children with him one on each Hand though I had not Time to observe their Faces
Here is something for your News said the Earl it may be as you say Here
John
take a Posse of the Servants along with you Go in Haste to that Mans House If no one answers break open the Door and bring me Word of what you can learn concerning him
John
who was the House Steward hurried instantly on his Commission and finding all in Silence after loud and repeated Knockings he and his Myrmidons burst open the Door and rushing in ran up and down through all the Apartments They found the House richly furnished a Library of choice Books above Stairs a Buffet full of massy Plate and every Thing in Order as if prepared for the Reception of a Family of Distinction At this they all stood astonished till
John
casting his Eye toward a Table in the Street Parlour perceived a Paper which he hastily snatched up and found to be a Letter duely folded and sealed and addressed to his Lord Exulting at this Discovery he left some of the Servants to watch the Goods and hurried back with all possible Speed to his Master
My Lord says
John
entring and striving to recover Breath the dumb Gentleman as they call him must be a main rich Man for the very Furniture of his House cannot be worth less than some Thousands of Pounds
John
then presented the Letter which the Earl hastily broke open and found to be as follows
My Lord
I Am at length presented with an Opportunity of carrying off your little
Harry
the greatest Treasure that ever Parents were blessed with
The Distress that I feel in foreseeing the Affliction that his Absence will cause to your whole Family has not been able to prevail for the Suspension of this Enterprise as the Childs Interest and Happiness outweighs with me all other Considerations
Permit me however to assure your Lordship that our Darling is in very safe and very affectionate Hands and that it shall be the whole Concern and Employment of my Life to render and to return him to you in due Time the most accomplished and most perfect of all human Beings
In the mean while your utmost Search and Enquiry after us will be fruitless I leave to your Lordship my House and Furniture as a Pledge and Assurance of the Integrity of my Intentions
And am
c
The Mystery of our Heros Flight was now in a great Measure unravelled but no one could form any rational Conjecture touching the Motive of the old Gentlemans Procedure in the Case and all were staggered at his leaving such a Mass of Wealth behind him
As the falling on of a dark Night rendered all Pursuit for that Time impracticable my Lord ordered the Servants to Bed that they might rise before Day and then to take every Horse he had CoachCattle and all and to muster and mount the young Men of the Village and to pursue after the Fugitives by different Roads according to the best Likelihood or Intelligence they might receive
In this hopeful Prospect the House was again in some Measure composed all except poor Nurse who would not be comforted neither could be prevailed upon to enter in at the Doors but all Night on the cold Stairs or rambling through the raw Air continued clapping and wringing her Hands and bewailing the irreparable Loss of her
Harry
On the following Day my Lord ordered a minute Inventory to be taken of all the Furniture in the forsaken MansionHouse and further appointed
Harry
s Fosterfather with his Family to enter into Possession and to take Care of the Effects till such Time as the Proprietor should renew his Claim
After three tedious Days and as many expecting Nights the Posse that went in quest of our Runaways returned all drooping and dejected most of them slowly leading their overspent Horses and universally bespattered or covered with Mire without any Equivalent of comfortable Tidings to balance the Weight of their Langour and Fatigue
The Happiness or Wretchedness of human Life as it should seem does not so much depend on the Loss or Acquisition of real Advantage as on the fluctuating Opinions and Imaginations of Men The Absence of this Infant who but a few Months before had no Manner of Interest in the Views Affections or Solicitudes of this noble Family appeared now as the Loss of all their Honours and Fortunes A general Face of Mourning seemed to darken every Apartment and my Lord and Lady no more paid Visits nor received public Company They were however inventive in many Contrivances for amusing and consoling their darling
Dickey
but even this was to little Purpose for he was often found silently languishing in Corners or crying O wheres my Brother
Harry
my own sweet Brother
Harry
shall I never see my own Brother
Harry
any more
My Lord had already dispatched a Multitude of circular Letters to all his Acquaintances with other Notices throughout the Kingdom containing Offers of ample Rewards for the Recovery of his Child But finding all ineffectual he caused Advertisements to the same Purpose to be repeatedly inserted in all the public Papers as the same no doubt are still extant and may be found in the musty Chronicles of those Days
Within a few Weeks after the publishing of these Advertisements my Lord received a Letter respecting his Son
Harry
that afforded great Consolation to him and his Lady insomuch that with the Help of the lenient Hand of Time in less than the Space of twelve Months this noble Family were restored to their former Cheerfulness and Tranquillity
But to return to the Situation in which we left our Hero The Coach drove on at a round Rate and the Children continued in high Glee and thought this kind of Conveyance the finest Sport imaginable
When they had entered a Space on the first Common the Coachman looked about to take Care that no one was in Sight and turning to the right Hand he held gently on till he came to another great Road on which he drove at his former Rate This he did again at the next Common and coming to another Road that led also to
London
and Night now approaching he put up at the first great Inn he came to
Harry
s Patron had the Precaution to keep his great Coat muffled about his Face so that no one could observe his Beard till they were shewn to a Room and Fire and Candles were lighted up Then his ancient Friend and Domestic having provided Scissars and Implements for Shaving locked the Door and set to Work in the Presence of the Children
Harry
was all Attention during the whole Process and when the Operation was quite compleated he drew near to his Patron with a cautious kind of Jealousy and looking up to his Face with the Tears in his little Eyes speak to me Sir says he pray speak to me It is answered the old Gentleman the only Comfort of my Life to be with you and to speak to you my
Harry
The Child hearing the well known Voice of Friendship immediately cleared again and reaching up his little Arms to embrace his Patron O indeed says he I believe you are my own Dada still
Though
Harry
was now reconciled to the Identity of his Friend yet he felt a secret Regret for the Absence of his Beard For he loved all and every Part of him so entirely that the Loss of a Hair appeared a Loss and a Want to the Heart of
Harry
After an early Supper and two or three small Glasses of Wine
per
Man this Gentleman whom his Servants had now announced by the Name of Mr
Fenton
became all Things in all with his young Companions He delighted them with several entertaining Tricks He put the Point of a large Needle to the Edge of a drinking Glass and then placing the Centre of a Pewter Plate on the Top of the Needle he began to turn it about with an encreasing Motion till it whirled round at a Rapidity that was altogether joyous and amazing to the little Spectators He next turned two Plates with their Faces to eachother and placing them on the Brim of a large BeerGlass he put an Egg upon the Plates and giving the Plates a slight Stroke with the Side of his Hand the Plates instantly flew from between the Glass and the Egg and the Egg fell plumb into the Glass without the smallest Fracture
After some other of the like Fooleries the Table was removed and as the Room was very large Mr
Fenton
proposed
Hide and go seek
to his Associates This Invitation was accepted with Transport and after they were cloyed with
Hide and seek
they all played
Tagg
till they were well warmed
Mr
Fenton
then ordered a Pallet into the Chamber for
James
his faithful Domestic and little
Ned
Then helping to undress
Harry
he put him first to Bed and hastening after he took his Darling to his Bosom and tenderly pressed him to a Heart that loved him more than all the World and more than that World ten times told
In about three Days more they arrived safe at
Hamsted
and stopping at the Court of a large House that was delightfully situated they were welcomed by a Gentlewomanly looking Matron whom
James
had fixed for Housekeeper about a Fortnight before
The next Day Mr
Fenton
and his blithe Companions were attended at Table by
James
and the two Footmen
As soon as the latter Grace was said and the Cloth taken away
Harry
says Mr
Fenton
it is now our turn to wait on
James
and his Fellow Servants For
God
made us all to be Servants to each other and one Man is not born a Bit better than another and he is the best and greatest of all who serves and attends the most and requires least to be served and attended upon And my Precious he that is a King to Day if so it shall please
God
may become a Beggar Tomorrow and it is good that People should be prepared against all that may happen
Having so said he took his Associates down to the Hall just as the Servants had sat down to Dinner He gave his Domestics the Wink and beginning to set the Example asked Mrs
Hannah
and Mr
James
and Mr
Frank
and Mr
Andrew
what they would please to have The Servants readily falling in with their Masters Scheme ordered
Harry
to bring such a Thing and
Ned
to fetch such a Thing and
Harry
to do this and
Harry
to do that While
Harry
with a graceful Action and more beautiful than
Ganymede
the CupBearer of the Gods flew cheerfully about from Side to Side preventing the Wishes of all at Table so that they poured upon him a thousand Blessings from the Bottom of their Hearts and would now scarce have parted with him for the mighty Rewards which his Father some Time after proposed for his Recovery
Within a Fortnight after this Mr
James
the House Steward had furnished a large LumberRoom with thousands of Coats outCoats Shirts Waistcoats Breeches Stockings and Shoes of different Sorts and Sizes but all of warm and clean though homely Materials
When this was done Mr
Fenton
led his Favourite up to the Stores and said my
Harry
you see all these Things and I make a Present of all these Things to my
Harry
And now tell me my Love what will you do with them Why Dada says
Harry
you know that I cant wear them myself No my Dear says Mr
Fenton
for you have Clothes enough beside and some of them would not fit you and others would smother you What then will you do with them will you burn them or throw them away O that would be very naughty and wicked indeed says
Harry
No Dada as I dont want em myself I will give em to those that do That will be very honestly done of you says Mr
Fenton
for in Truth they have a better Right to them my
Harry
than you have and that which you cannot use cannot belong to you So that in giving you these Things my Darling it should seem as if I made you no Gift at all O a very sweet Gift says
Harry
How is that says Mr
Fenton
why the Gift of doing Good to poor People Sir Mr
Fenton
then stepping back and gazing on our Hero cryed whoever attempts to instruct thee my Angel must himself be instructed of Heaven who speaks by that sweet Mouth
But
Harry
it would not be discreet of you to give these Things to the common Beggars who come every Day to our Door give them Victuals and HalfPence or Pence apiece and welcome But if you give such Beggars twenty Suits of Clothes they will cast them all off and put on their Raggs again to move People to pity them But when you spy any poor Travellers going the Road and that your Eyesees that they are naked or your Heart tells you that they are hungry then do not wait till they beg of you but go and beg of them to favour you with their Acceptance then take them in to the Fire and warm them and feed them and when you have so done take them up to your StoreRoom and cloath them with whatever you think they want And believe me my
Harry
whenever you are cold or hungry or wounded or in want or in Sickness yourself the very Remembrance of your having cloathed and fed and cured and comforted the naked and the hungry the wounded and the afflicted will be Warmth and Food and Medicine and Balm to your own Mind
While Mr
Fenton
spoke the Muscles of
Harry
s expressive Countenance like an equally tuned Instrument uttered Unisons to every Word he heard
From this Day forward
Harry
and
Ned
by Turns were frequently out on the Watch and often single or in Pairs or by whole Families
Harry
would take in a poor Father and Mother with their helpless Infants driven perhaps from House and Home by Fire or other Misfortune or oppressive Landlord or ruthless Creditor and having warmed and fed and cloathed and treated the OldOnes as his Parents and the LittleOnes as his Brothers and Sisters he would give them additional Money for Charges on the Road and send them away the happiest of all People except himself
By this Time Mr
Fenton
had inquired into the Circumstances and Characters of all the Poor in the Town and throughout the Precincts and having refuted or confirmed the Intelligence he had received by a personal Inspection and Visit from House to House and having made Entries of all such as he deemed real Objects and worthy of his Benificence he invited the Heads of the several Families to take a Dinner with him every
Sunday
at his Hall
On the following
Sunday
there came about thirty of these Visitants which Number soon increased to fifty weekly Guests
On entring they found the Cloth ready spread and Mr
James
having counted Heads laid a Crown in Silver upon every Plate which first Course was a most relishing Sauce to all that followed A plentiful Dinner was then introduced and the Guests being seated Mr
Fenton Harry Ned
and the four Domestics attended and disposed themselves in a Manner the most ready to supply the Wants of the Company The Guests all abashed and confounded at what they saw sat some Time with open Mouth and unswallowed Victuals much less did they presume to apply to the Waiters for any Article they wanted till being encouraged and spirited up by the Cheerfulness Ease and Readiness of their Attendants they became by Degrees quite happy and jovial and after a saturating Meal and an enlivening Cup they departed with elevated Spirits with humanized Manners and with Hearts warmed in Affection toward evry Member of this extraordinary House
By the means of this weekly Bounty these reviving Families were soon enabled to clear their little Debts to the Chandlers which had compelled them to take up every Thing at the dearest Hand They were also further enabled to purchase Wheels and other Implements with the Materials of Flax and Wool for employing the late idle Hands of their Houshold They now appeared decently clad and with happy Countenances Their Wealth increased with their Industry And the Product of the Employment of so many late useless Members became a real Accession of Wealth to the Public So true it is that the Prosperity of this World and of every Nation and Society therein depends soley on the Industry or Manufactures of the Individuals And so much more nobly did this private Patron act than all ancient Legislators or modern Patriots and Landlords whose Selfishness if they had but common Cunning or common Sense might instruct them to increase their proper Rents and enrich their native Country by supplying the Hands of all the Poor within their Influence with the Implements and Materials of the Prosperity of each
In the mean Time Mrs
Hannah
daily instructed the Children in the Reading of
English
Neither was Mr
Fenton
inattentive to any Means that might preserve and promote the Health Action and corporal Excellencies of his little Champion
He held a large Lawn behind his Garden and hither he summoned three Times in every Week all the Boys of the Vicinage that were within two Years advanced above the Age of our Hero To these he appointed Premiums for Football Hurling Wrestling Leaping Running Cudgelling and Buffing But the Champions were enjoined to invest their Fists with little Mufflers insomuch that how great soever their Vigour might be the Bruises that they gave stopped short of Mortality
Now though these Premiums were almost universally adjudged to the Party of which
Harry
then happened to be a Member or individually to himself for his single Prowess and Preeminence Yet he never would consent to bear the Prize from the Field but either gave it to some Favourite among those with whom he had been associated or to the particular Champion whom he had worsted in Contest For he felt the Shame and Defeat of his mortified Adversary and consolingly hinted at the Injustice of the Judges and reformed their Error by the Restoration of the Reward
One Day while
Harry
was watching to intercept poor Travellers as eagerly as a Fowler watches for the rising of his Game he heard a plaintive Voice behind the Hedge as he thought in the opposite Field He flew across the Road and passing through a small Turnstile soon found the unhappy Objects he sought for He stood for some Time like a Statue and his Compassion became too strong for Tears or Utterance but suddenly turning and flying back again he rushed with Precipitation into the Room where Mr
Fenton
was writing a Letter What is the Matter said Mr
Fenton
starting what has frightened you my
Harry
what makes you look so pale To this
Harry
replied not but catching hold of his Hand and pulling with all his Force O come says he O come Dada and see
Mr
Fenton
then got up and suffered himself to be led where the Child pleased to conduct him without another Word being asked or answered on either Side
When they were come into the Field Mr
Fenton
observd a Man sitting on the Ground His Clothes seemed from Head to Foot as the tattered Remainder of better Days Through a squalid Wig and Beard his pale Face appeared just tinctured with a faint and sickly Red And his hollow Eyes were fixed upon the Face of a Woman whose Head he held on his Knees and who looked to be dead or dying though without any apparent Agony while a male Infant about four Years of Age was half stretched on the Ground and half across the Womans Lap with its little Nose pinched by Famine and its Eyes staring about wildly though without Attention to any Thing. Distress seemed to have expended its utmost Bitterness on these Objects and the last Sigh and Tear to have been already exhausted
Unhappy Man cried Mr
Fenton
pray who or what are you to which the Stranger faintly replied without lifting his Eyes Whoever you may be disturb not the last Hour of those who wish to be at Peace
Run
Harry
says Mr
Fenton
desire all the Servants to come to me immediately and bid Mrs
Hannah
bring some Hartshorn and a Bottle of Cordial
Away flew
Harry
like feathered
Mercury
on his Godlike Errand Forth issued Mr
James Frank
and
Andrew
And last came Mrs
Hannah
with the HouseMaid and Cordials
Hannah
stooped in Haste and applied Hartshorn to the Nose of the Woman who appeared wholly insensible After some Time her Bosom heaved with a longrising and subsiding Sigh and her Eyes feebly opened and immediately closed again Then
Hannah
and the HouseMaid raising her gently between them got a little of the Cordial into her Mouth and bending her backward they observd that she swallowed it Then
James Frank Andrew
and the HouseMaid joining their Forces lifted her up and bore her as easy as possible toward the House While
Harry
caught up her Infant as a Pissmire does its favourite Embryo in a Time of Distress in order to lodge it in a Place of Protection and Safety
In the mean Time Mr
Fenton
and Mrs
Hannah
put their Hartshorn with great Tenderness to the Nostrils of the Stranger and requested him to take a Sup of the Cordial But he turning up his dim though expressive Eyes feebly cried are you a Man or an Angel and directly fainted away
They rubbed his Temples with the Spirits and did their utmost to recover him but a sudden Gust of grateful Passion had proved too strong for his Constitution On the Return of the Servants he was also carried in A Physician was instantly sent for Beds were provided and warmed in haste the new Guests were all gently undrest and laid therein and being compelled to swallow a little Sack Whey they recovered to a kind of languid Sensibility
The Physician gave it as his Opinion that this unhappy Family were reduced to their present State by Excess of Grief and Famine That Nourishment should be administered in very small Proportions And that they should be kept as quiet as possible for a Fortnight at least
WHILE all imaginable Care is taking for the Recovery of these poor People We beg leave to return to the Affairs of their Protectors
A Plague upon your
return
This is just like a Man in whose Company I once travelled we were advanced on our Journey in a fair and happy Road when he took it into his Head to ride back again in search of an old Glove Here you have raised my Curiosity to the highest and equally distressed me in favour of this unhappy Family when in the Instant you fly off from the Satisfaction expected But here also I presume you are upon Honour you are entrusted with Secrets and would not for the World betray them to your Readers
Sir you never were more mistaken I know nothing at all of these Peoples Affairs As soon as they are able they will speak for themselves I know of no Advantage that they can get by their Silence whatever they may derive from your Compassion and Generosity by telling their Case But the Doctor for the present will not permit them Proceed my Friend I pray you Your Patience will have but a very short Trial
CHAP VI
ABOUT a Month before this Mr
Fenton
had engaged one Mr
Vindex
the Schoolmaster of the Town to come for an Hour every Evening and initiate the two Boys in their
Latin
Grammar But he had a special Caution given him with respect to the generous Disposition of our Hero which was said to be induced to do any Thing, by Kindness but to be hardened and rouzed into Opposition by Severity
In about ten Days after the late Adventure Mr
Fenton
was called to
London
where he was detained about three Weeks in settling his Books with his
Dutch
Correspondents and in calling in a very large Arrear of Interest that was due to him upon his Deposits in the Funds
During his Absence Mr
Vindex
began to assume a more expanded Authority and gave a freer Scope to the surly Terrors of his Station
Ned
was by Nature a very lively but very petulant Boy and when
Vindex
reproved him with the imperial Brow and Voice of the great Mogul
Ned
cast upon him an Eye of such significant Contempt as no Submissions or Sufferings on the Part of the Offender could ever after compensate
The next Day Mr
Vindex
returned doubly armed with a monstrous birch Rod in one Hand and a Ferule in the other The first he hung up in Terrorem as a Meteor is said to hang in the Heavens threatening future Castigation to the Children of Men The second he held as determined upon present Action nor was he unmindful of any Hook whereon to hang a Fault so that travelling from Right to Left and from Left to Right he so warmed the Hands of the unfortunate
Edward
as ruined the funny Oeconomy of his Countenance and reduced him to a disagreeable Partnership with the Afflicted
On the Departure of
Vindex
though
Ned
s Drollery was dismayed his Resentment was by no Means eradicated For the Principle of
Ned
was wholly agreeable to the Motto of a very noble Escutcheon and
Nemo me impune lacessit
was a Maxim of whose Impropriety not Saint
Anthony
himself could persuade him
All Night he lay ruminating and brooding on Mischief in his Imagination and having formed the Outlines of his Plan toward Morning he began to chuckle and comfort himself and exult in the Execution He then revealed his Project to his Bedfellow Mr
James
who was greatly tickled therewith and promised to join in the Plot
Full against the Portal that opened upon the SchoolRoom there stood an ancient and elevated Chair whose Form was sufficiently expressive of its Importance Mr
Vindex
had selected this majestic Piece of Furniture as alone suitable to the Dignity of his exalted Station For he judiciously considered that if
Thrones
and
Benches
were taken from among Men there would be an End of all Dominion and Justice upon Earth
Through the Centre of the Seat of this Chair of Authority
Ned
got Mr
James
to drill a small Hole not discernible except on a very minute Scrutiny He then provided a cylindrial Stick of about six Inches in length to one End of which he fastened a Piece of Lead and in the other End he fixed the Head of a large Needle This Needle had been a Glovers of approved Mettle keen and polished and threesquare toward the Point for a quick and ready Penetration of tough Leather He next fastened two small Chords transversly to the leaden Extremity of the Stick and
James
assisting they turned the Chair with the Bottom upward and tacked the four Ends of the Chords in such a manner as answered to the four Cardinal Points of the Compass while the Stick remained suspended in an upright Direction with the Point of the Needle just so far through the Drill as put it upon a Level with the Surface of the Seat Lastly they fastened a long and well waxed Thread about the Middle of the Stick and drawing this Thread over the upper Rung they dropped the End of it just under
Ned
s Stool and replaced the Seat of Learning in its former Position
Greatly did
Ned
parade it when on Trial he found that his Machine answered to a Miracle for the Stick being restrained from any Motion save that in a Direction to the Zenith on the slightest Twitch of the Thread the Needle instantly mounted four Sixths of two Inches above the Surface of the Seat and was as quickly recalled by the Revulsion of the Lead
At the appointed Hour of Magisterial Approach in comes Mr
Vindex
Master
Harry
and
Ned
are called Each seizes his Book and takes his Seat as usual in a Line nearly diagonal to the right and left Corner of the Chair of Authority Mr
Vindex
assumes the Chair But scarce was he down when
Ned
gives the premeditated Intimation to his Piercer and up bounces
Vindex
and gives two or three Capers as though he had been suddenly stung by a Tarantula He stares wildly about puts his Hand behind him with a Touch of tender Condolance returns to the Chair peers all over it with Eyes of the most prying Inspection but not trusting to the Testimony of his occular Sense in a Case that so very feelingly refuted its Evidence he moved his Fingers over and over every Part of the Surface but found all smooth and fair in Spight of the late sensible Demonstration to the contrary
Down again with slow Caution subsided Mr
Vindex
reconnoitring the Premisses to the right Hand and to the left
As his Temper was not now in the most duleet Disposition he first looked sternly at
Ned
and then turning toward
Harry
with an Eye that sought Occasion for present Quarrel he questioned him morosely on some Articles of his Lesson When
Ned
not enduring such an Indignity to the Patron of his Life and Fortunes gave a second Twitch with better Will and much more lively than at first and up again sprung
Vindex
with redoubled Vigour and Action and bounded plunged and pranced about the Room as bewitchd He glared and searched all about with a frantic Penetration and pored into every Corner for the visible or invisible Perpetrators of these Mischiefs He now began to imagine that some Devil wanted a Pincushion and proposed no other for the Purpose than his capacious Material
In this Thought he retreated to the next Chamber stripped off his Clothes his Shoes and Breeches and to know whether a Lodgment had been duely made he groped for the Heads of the supposed Weapons He next searched his Breeches and every Skirt and posterior Fold of Coat and Waistcoat But finding the Coasts clear of any Ensigns of Hostility he writhed and twisted his Head and Eyes to this Side and to that to discern if possible the Devastations that had been made in the Field of Honour when hearing a little Titter in the neighbouring School Room he began to smell a Fox and dressing himself again with a malignant Determination of better Note for the Future he returned with a Countenance of dissembled Placability and resuming his Chair began to examine the Boys with a Voice apparently tuned by goodTemper and Affection
During this short Serene poor
Ned
happened to make a little Trip in his Rudiments when
Vindex
turned and cried to our Hero Master
Harry
my Dear be so kind to get up and reach me you Ferrule
These Words had not fully passed the Lips of the luckless Pedagogue when
Ned
plucked the String with his utmost Force and
Vindex
thought himself at least impaled on the Spot Up he shot once more like a sudden Pyramid of Flame The Ground could no longer retain him he soared aloft roared raved cursed and swore like a thousand Infernals While
Ned
with an Aspect of the most condoling Hypocricy and Words broke by a Tone of Mourning tenderly inquired of his Ailments
Vindex
turned upon him an Eye of jealous Malignity and taking a sudden Thought he flew to the Scene of his repeated Infliction and turning up the Bottom of the Seat of Pain this complicated Effort of extraordinary Genius lay revealed and exposed to vulgar Contemplation
He first examined minutely into the Parts and Construction of this wonderful Machinery whose Efficacy he still so feelingly recollected He then drew the String and admired with what a piercing Agility the Needle could be actuated by so distant a Hand And lastly and deliberately he tore away Piece by Piece the whole Composition as his rascally Brethren the
Turks
have also done in their Antipathy to all the Monuments of Arts Genius and Learning throughout the Earth
In the mean while our Friend
Edward
sat trembling and frying in his Skin All his Drollery had forsaken him nor had he a single Cast of Contrivance for evading the Mountain of Mischiefs that he saw impending How indeed could he palliate what had he to hope or plead in mitigation of the Penalty where in the Party so highly offended he saw his Judge and his Executioner
Mr
Vindex
had now the Ball wholly at his own Foot and that
Ned
was ever to have his Turn again was a Matter no way promised by present Appearances
Vindex
at length looked smilingly about him with much Fun in his Face but more Vengeance at his Heart Mr
Edward
said he perhaps you are not yet apprized of the Justice of the
Jewish
Laws that claim an Eye for an Eye and a Breech for a Breech but I my Child will fully instruct you in the Fitness and Propriety of them
Then reaching at the Rod he seized his shrinking Prey as a Kite trusses a Robin he laid him like a little Sack across his own Stool off go the Breeches and with the left Hand he holds him down while the Right is laid at him with the Application of a Woodman who resolves to clear Part of the Forest before Noon
Harry
who was no way privy to the Machination of the Needle now approached and interposed in behalf of his unhappy Servant He petitioned he kneeled he wept but his Prayers and Tears were cast to the Winds and the Rocks till
Vindex
had reduced the Posteriors of poor
Ned
to a Plight little different from those of Saint
Bartholemew
Mr
Vindex
justly deemed that he had now given a Lesson of such ample Instruction as might dispense with his Presence for some Days at least
In the mean Time the Scalping of
Ned
s Bottom held him confined to his Bed where he had full Time and Leisure to contrive with one End a just and worthy Retribution for the Sufferings of the other
Harry
went often to sit and condole with
Ned
in this the Season of his Calimity and as he had now conceived a strong Aversion to the Pedagogue on Account of his Barbarity he offered to assist his Friend in any Measures deemed adequate to the Stripes and Injuries he had received
The House of Mr
Vindex
was a large and oldfashioned Building with a steep Flight of StoneStairs and a spacious Landingplace before the Door
Ned
was again on his Legs the Night was excessive dark and the Family of the Preceptor had just finished an early Supper
About this Time a gentle Rapping was heard and a Servant opening the Door looked this Way and that Way and called out repeatedly to know who was there but no Voice replying he retired and shut all to again Scarce was he
reentered when he hears Rap rap rap rap The Fellows Anger was now kindled and opening the Door suddenly he bounced out at once in order to seize the Runaway But seeing no Creature he began to feel a coming Chilness and his Hairs to stir as though each had got the Life of an Eel Back he slunk closed the Door with the greatest Tenderness and crept down to reveal a Scantling of his Fears to his Fellows in the Kitchen
Now though Men and Maids laughd heartily at the Apprehensions of
Hodge
they yet resented this Insult on their House as they called it and getting all up together in a Group they slily crouded behind the Door with the Latch in one of their Hands ready to issue in an Instant and detect the Delinquents
They were not suffered to freeze Knock knock knock knock knock Open flys the Door and out rush the Servants Nothing appeared They all stood silent and astonished beyond Measure Some however with outward Bravade but inwards Tremblings went searching along the Walls and behind the Posts for some Lurcher Again they gathered to the Landingplace and stood whisperingly debating what this might be When to the inexpressible Terror and Discomfiture of all present the spontaneous Knocker assumed sudden Life and Motion and gave such a Peal and Alarm to their Eyes and Ears as put every Sense and Resolution to the Rout and in they rushed again one on the Back of the other and clapped to the Door as in the Face of a Host of pursuing Daemons
Mr
Vindex
and his Lady for some Time past had been sitting opposite and nodding over a Fire in the back Parlour where they returned each others Salute with the greatest good Manners and Punctuality imaginable He now started on hearing the Rustling in the Hall and angrily called to know what was the Matter
Vindex
from the Prejudice of Education during his Infancy had conceived the utmost Spight to all Spectres and Hobgoblins insomuch that he wished to deprive them of their very Existence; and laboured to persuade himself as well as others of their Nonentity but Faith proved too strong within him for all his verbal Parade of avowed Infidelity
While the Servants with pale Faces and short Breath made their Relation the magisterial Philosopher did so sneer and contemptuously toss this Way and the other and throw himself back in such affected Fits of Laughter as nothing could be like it Till bouncing at the Sound of another Peal he mustered the whole Family Boaders and all to about seventeen in Number together with Madam
Vindex
who would not be left sole and now they appeared such an Army as was sufficient to face any single Devil at least and forth they issued and filled the Landing place leaving the Door on the Jar
Here Mr
Vindex
turned and with his Face toward the Knocker thus addressed the Assembly
My honest but simple Friends quoth he can any Thing persuade ye that a Spirit or Ghost as ye call it a Breath or Being of Air a something or nothing that is neither tangible nor visible can lay hold of that which is Or are ye such Idiots as to imagine that you Knocker for he did not yet venture to touch it a Substance, of solid and molten Brass without Members or Organs or any internal System or Apparatus for the Purpose can yet be indued with Will Design or any Kind of Intelligence when the least locomotive Faculty in the meanest Reptile must of Necessity be provided with an infinitely varied Mechanism of Nerves Tubes Reservoirs Levers and Pulleys for the Nonce I should discredit my own Senses on any Appearance contrary to such palpable Demonstration In all Lights
Soft break we off Look where it comes again
For in this Instant of Affirmation so peremptory and conclusive the Knocker as in Contempt and bitter Despight to Philosophy so loudly refuted every Syllable of the Premisses as left neither Time nor Inclination to
Vindex
for a Reply But rushing desperately forward he burst in at the Portal with such as had Presence of Mind to take Advantage of the opening and turning again and shutting the Door violently in the Face of Half of his Family he ran and threw himself into his Chair in an Agony of Spirits
The Servants and Boarders whom
Vindex
had shut out not abiding to stay in Presence of the Object of their Terrors tumbled in a Heap down the Stairs and gathering themselves up again ran diversly to communicate to all their Neighbours and Acquaintance the Tidings of the enchanted Knocker Their contagious Looks and Words gave the Pannic throughout but Curiosity prevailing above Apprehension the Town began to gather though first in thin Parties and at a cautious Distance till the Croud encreasing took Heart and Resolution from Number and venturing up a Step or two of the Stairs and being still pressed and urged forward by new Comers from behind they at length filled the whole Flight and the Landingplace and one of them growing bold enough to lift his Hand toward the Knocker the Knocker generously convinced him that no Assistance was wanting Rap rap rap rap Rap rap rap rap Rap rap rap rap Back recoil the foremost Ranks casting off and tumbling over the Ranks behind No one stayed to give Help or Hand to Friend or Brother but rising or scrambling off on all Fours each made the best of his Way to the first Assylum and in less than ten Seconds there was not a Mouse stirring throughout the Street
If I had the Illnature of most Authors who seldom communicate any Thing worthy the Knowledge of the Public I might also leave the foregoing Aenigma to be solved or rather made more implicit in such ways as Philosophy might happen to account for But in Compassion to the Pains of a labouring Imagination I chuse to deliver my Reader with all possible Ease and Dispatch
The Fact is that these astonishing and tremendous Phaenomena that discomfited little City alarmed the Country round and resuscitated the Stories and Legends of the old Women of all the Parishes from
Barnet
to
London
was the whole and sole Contrivance of our Heros petulant Foundling during a nightly Lucubration
Ned
had accordingly imparted his Plan of Operations to
Harry
and
Harry
had engaged Mrs
Hannah
in the Plot
Now Mrs
Hannah
had a House in a narrow Part of the Street just opposite to that of Mr
Vindex
where her Niece and an old Servant resided This House was narrow but of the Height of four Stories and on the said memorable Night
Ned
dropped the End of a Bottom of small Twine from the Garret Window which
Hannah
took across the Way and fastened with a double Knot to the Knocker of
Vindex
s Door And now it is twenty to one that if
Vindex
s Family and the rest of the Neighbourhood had been even thus far let into the Secret they would not have been altogether so much alarmed at the Consequences
I have read of Generals who could gain but not maintain Conquests and of Women who could keep all Secrets but their own Thus it happened to
Ned
His Vanity was at least on a Level with his Ingenuity he was so elated with the Success of his recent Stratagem that he boasted of it to some and half whispered it to others till it came to the Ears of the much exasperated
Vindex Vindex
in the first Heat and very Boil of his Passions snatches up a huge Rod just cut from that Tree whose bare Name strikes Terror through all our Seminaries of Learning and taking with him one of his Boarders he marches directly down to the House of Mr
Fenton
and thus formidably armed he enters the fatal Schoolroom
Ned
by great good Fortune for himself was then absent But our Hero happening to be there
Vindex
instantly shut the Door and called him to Task
Master
Harry
says he did you know any Thing of the strange Knocking at my Door last
Tuesday
Night To this Question
Harry
who was too valiant to be tempted to tell a Lye through Fear without Hesitation answered in the Affirmative You did Sirrah cried the Pedagogue and have you the Impudence also to confess it to my Face Here
Jacky
down with his Breeches and horse him for me directly
Jack
was a lusty lubberly Boy about ten Years of Age and stooping to unbutton
Harry
according to Order our Hero gave him such a sudden Fist in the Mouth as dashed in two of his Teeth that then happened to be moulting and set him a crying and bleeding after a piteous Manner
Vindex
then rose into tenfold Fury and took our Hero in Hands himself and notwithstanding that he cuffed and kicked and sought it most manfully
Vindex
at length unbuttoned his Breeches and set him in due Form on the Back of his Boarder
The Pedagogue at first gave him the three accustomed Strokes as hard as he could draw So much my Friend says he is for your own Share of the Burden and now tell me who were your Confederates and Abettors in this fine Plot That I will never tell you deliberately and resolutely answered our Hero What shall I be bullied and outbraved replied the frantic Savage by such a one as you You little stubborn Villain I will flea you alive I will carbonade you on the Spot So saying he laid at him as though he had been a Sheaf of Wheat while
Harry
indignantly endured the Torture and holding in his Breath that he might not give
Vindex
the Satisfaction of a Groan he determined to perish rather than betray
In the mean Time
Ned
had peeped in at the Keyhole and spying the Situation and Plight of his loved Patron he ran to Mrs
Hannah
and imparted the horrid Tidings
Hannah
rose with all the Wrath of
Tisiphone
in her Countenance and flying to the Schoolroom she rushed violently against the Door burst it open in a twinkling and springing forward fastened every Nail she had in the Face and Eyes of
Vindex
and tore away and cuffed at a fearful Rate
Jack
at this Period had let his Rider to the Ground when
Harry
catching at a Sword that hung against the Wainscot whipt it down and drawing it from the Sheath as quick as Lightning he sprung at
Vindex
in order to run him through the Body but happily not having had the Patience to put up his Breeches they trammelled him in his Advance and he fell prostrate with the Sword in his Hand which reached the Leg of the Pedagogue and gave him a slight Wound just as he was endeavouring to make his Way through the Door
Jack
had already made his Escape and the mauled Preceptor scampered after with his Ears much better warmed and his Temper better cooled than when he entered
Harry
bore his Misfortune with a Sort of sullen though shamefaced Philosophy But every other Member of this honourable Family almost adored him for the bloody Proof that he had given of his Virtue and vowed unpitying Vengeance on the ungenerous
Vindex
During the above Transactions the Strangers whom Mr
Fenton
had received into his House had been tended with great Humanity and were now on the Recovery
Mr
James
on conversing with the Head of this little Family Observed that he was an exceeding sensible Person and had provided him with a decent though cast Suit of his Masters and had also with the Assistance of Mrs
Hannah
put his Wife and little Boy into clean and seemly Apparel
As
James
s Invention was on the Rack to get adequate Satisfaction on the base spirited
Vindex
he went to consult his new Friend who dropped a Tear of Generosity and Admiration on hearing the Story of
Harry
s Heroism and Nobility of Soul
By his Advice Mr
James
dispatched a Messenger to a Druggist at
London
and to several other Shops for a sundry Apparatus and having all Things in Readiness and
Harry
being now able to bear a Part in the Play
James
sent a strange Porter to
Vindex
with Compliments from his Master as though he were just come home and requested to speak with him
Vindex
accordingly comes and knocks The Door opens he enters and it instantly shuts upon him He starts back with Horror as at the Sight of
Medusa
He perceives the Hall all in Black without a single Ray save what proceeded from a sickly Lamp that made the Gloom visible He is suddenly seized upon by two robust Devils covered over with painted Flames They drag him to the SchoolRoom but O Terror of Terrors he knows the Place of his pristine Authority no more He beholds a Hell more fearful that his Fancy had yet framed The Cieling seemed to be vaulted with Serpents Harpyes and Hydras that droppedlivid Fire On one Side ran
Phlegeton
in Waves of burning Sulphur And here the
Tisiphone Magaera
and
Alecto
of the Heathens appeared to contend for Frightfulness with
Milton
s Death and Sin Four Fends and two little Imps at once laid their Fangs upon him and would have dragd him to the Ground But the Pedagogue was a sturdy athletic Fellow and cuffed and scratched and roared it out most manfully The Devil however proving too strong for the Sinner he was cast prostrate to the Earth and being left in Retrospection as bare as Father Time some sat upon his Shoulders to keep him down while others on each Side alternately keeping Time like the Threshers of Barley gave our Flogger such a Scoring as imprinted on his Memory to the last State of Magistracy a fellowFeeling for the Sufferings of petty Delinquents
Being all out breathed in turns they remitted from their Toil and now appeared to be a Set of the merriest Devils that ever were associated They fastened the Clothes of the disconsolate
Vindex
about his Neck with his own Garters and having manacled his Hands before him they turned him loose to the Street While he with a wonderful Presence of Mind in the midst of his Terrors raised his Hands the best he could to cover his Face and hurried homeward judiciously recollecting that Forty nine in Fifty would recognize the one End who would not recognize the other especially in the present Pickle
Within a few Days after this Adventure Mr
Fenton
returned At the first Sight of one another, he and his
Harry
grew together for near Half an Hour He then addressed every Member of his Family One by One and with a familiar Goodness inquired after their several Healths and Concerns He also asked after his late Guests and desired to see them but on Mr
James
s Intimation that he had somewhat of Consequence to impart to him they retired to the next Room
Here
James
made him a minute Recital of the preceding Adventures and set forth in due Contrast the Baseness and Barbarity of
Vindex
on the one Part and the unassailable Worthiness of his
Harry
on the other While the Praise of this chosen of the old Gentlemans Soul sunk like the Balm of
Gilead
upon his wounded Mind and almost eradicated every Memorial of former Grief and planted a new Spring of Hope and Joy in their Room
The Table being spread for Dinner Mr
Fenton
sent to desire that the Stranger and his little Family should join Company They came according to Order but entered evidently overcome with a Weight of Shame and Gratitude too grievous to be borne
Mr
Fenton
saw their Oppression and felt the whole Burden upon his own Shoulders He accordingly was interested and solicitous in the Removal which he effected with all that Address of which his Humanity had made him a great Master
Through the Enfoldings of the Strangers Modesty Mr
Fenton
discerned many Things preceding the vulgar Rank of Men Mr
Clement
said he I am astonished beyond Measure that a Person of Letters as you are and who has so much of the Gentleman in his Person and Manner should yet be reduced to such Extremity in a Christian Country and among a People distinguished for their Humanity There must be something very singular and extraordinary in your Case And this Night if you are at Leisure and that the Recital is not disagreeable to you you would oblige me by your Story
Sir answered Mr
Clement
since my Life is yours you have surely a Right to an Account of your Property Whenever you think proper I will cheerfully obey you
Mr
Fenton
now rose and stepped into Town and calling upon a Neighbour whom he took to the Tavern he sent for Mr
Vindex
who came upon the Summons
Mr
Vindex
says he pray take your Seat I am sorry Mr
Vindex
for the Treatment you have got in my House and still sorrier that you got it so very deservedly
I have long thought Mr
Vindex
that the Method of Schoolmasters in the Instruction of our Children is altogether the Reverse of what it ought to be They generally lay hold on the human Constitution as a Pilot lays hold of the Rudder of a Ship by the Tail by the single Motive I say of Fear alone
Now as Fear has no Concern with any Thing but Self, it is the most confined most malignant and the basest though the strongest of all Passions
The Party who is possessed with it will listen to nothing but the Dictates of his own Terror nor scruple any Thing that may cover him from the Evil apprehended He will prevaricate and lye if that Lye is questioned he will vouch it by Perjury and if he happens to do an Injury he will be tempted to commit Murder to prevent the Effects of Resentment
Fear never was a Friend to the Love of God or Man to Duty or Conscience Truth Probity or Honour It therefore can never make a good Subject a good Citizen or a good Soldier and least of all a good Christian Except the Devils who believe and tremble are to be accounted good Christians
How very different is the Lesson which our Master CHRIST teacheth who commandeth us not to fear what Man can do unto us to smile in Sickness and Calamity to rise superior to Pain and Death and to regard nothing but as it leads to the Goal of that Immortality which his Gospel has brought to Light
There is Mr
Vindex
but one Occasion wherein Fear may be useful in Schools or Commonwealths That is when it is placed as a Guard against Evil and appears with its Ensignia of Rods Ropes and Axes to deter all who behold from approaching thereto
But this Mr
Vindex
is far from being the sole Occasion on which Schoolmasters apply the Motive of Fear and Castigation They associate the Ideas of Pain to those Lessons and Virtues which the Pleasure of Encouragement ought alone to inculcate They yet more frequently apply the Lash for the Indulgence of their own Weaknesses and for the Gratification of the Virulence of their own naughty Passions And I have seen a Giant of a Pedagogue raving raging and foaming over a Group of shrinking Infants like a Kite over a crouching Parcel of young Turkeys
There are I admit some Parents and Preceptors who annex other Motives to that of the Rod They promise Money gaudy Clothes and Sweet Meats to Children and in their Manner of expatiating on the Use and Value of such Articles they often excite in their little Minds the Appetites of Avarice of Vanity and Sensuality They also sometimes add the Motive of what they call Emulation but which in Fact is rank Envy by telling one Boy how much happier or richer or finer another is than himself
Now though Envy and Emulation are often confounded in Terms there are not two Things more different both in respect to their Object and in respect to their Operation The Object of Envy is the Person and not the Excellence of any one but the Object of Emulation is Excellence alone as when CHRIST exciting us to be emulous of the Excellence of
God
himself bids us
be perfect as our Father which is in Heaven is perfect
The Operation of Envy is to pull others down But the Act of Emulation is to exalt ourselves to some Eminence or Height proposed The Eyes of Envy are sore and sickly and hate to look at the Light But Emulation has the Eye of an Eagle and soars while it gazes in the Face of the Sun
Were Tutors half as solicitous throughout their Academies to make Men of Worth as to make Men of Letters there are a hundred pretty Artifices very obvious to be contrived and practised for the Purpose They might institute
Caps of Shame
and
Wreaths of Honour
in their Schools They might have little Medals expressive of particular Virtues to be fixed on the Breast of the Atchiever till forfeited by Default And on the Report of any Boys having performed a signal Action of GoodNature Friendship Gratitude Generosity or Honour a Place of Eminence might be appointed for him to sit on while all the rest of the School should bow in Deference as they passed Such Arts as these I say with that distinguishing Affection and Approbation which all Persons ought to shew to Children of Merit would soon make a new Nation of Infants and, consequently, of Men
When you Mr
Vindex
iniquitously took upon you to chastise my most noble and most incomparable Boy you first whipped him for his gallant and generous Avowal of the Truth And next you barbarously flead him because he refused to betray those who had confided in his Integrity
When I behold so many Scoundrels walking openly throughout the Land who are stiled your Honour and your Honour and who impudently usurp the
most exalted of all Characters
the Character of
a Gentleman
I no longer wonder when I reflect that they have been principled or rather unprincipled by such Tutors as Mr
Vindex
The merry Devils Mr
Vindex
who took you in Hand were not of a Species so alienated from Humanity as you might imagine They have therefore appointed me their Vehicle of some SmartMoney in Recompence but desire no further Advantage from your Company or Instructions
So saying Mr
Fenton
put a Purse of five and twenty Guineas into the Hands of the Pedagogue and withdrew without speaking another Word
Upon my Credit this Mr
Fenton
I long to know something more of him he is a sensible kind of a Man and has given us some very valuable Hints upon Education But may I be so free with you as to drop some general Remarks upon the whole of what I have read
Free Sir by all Means as free as you please to be sure believe me you cannot do me a greater Favour
Why theres the Plague ont now You begin to kindle already Ah were you Authors to know the thousandth Part of the Liberties that are taken behind your Backs you would learn to bear with more Humility a gentle Admonition though uttered to your Faces Few indeed have the Generosity or even Humanity to intimate what they themselves think or what the World speaks of you We are seldom over forward to say any Thing that might give Displeasure to others because we like that others should be pleased with ourselves but in your Absence we pay ourselves largely for our Taciturnity in your Presence and I have often been in Company where the Intimates and Confidents of you Authors have depreciated and ridiculed the very same Passages which they applauded with Cries and Claps in your Closets The World my Friend has substituted
good Manners
in the Place of
good Nature
whoever conforms to the former is dispensed with from any Observance of the latter Shall I add for the Misfortune of you Authors that there is a Set of Men who at once dispense with common Manners and common Humanity They go under the Name of Crities and must be Men of Wealth that the Deference paid to Fortune may give a Sort of Stamp and Currency to the Dross of their Erudition In the strictest Sense indeed they may be called
Men of Letters
their Study as well as Capacity being nearly confined to a just or orthographical Disposition of the Alphabet Their Business is to reconoitre the Outworks of Genius as they have no Key to the Gates of Nature or Sentiment They snuff Faults from afar as Crows scent Carrion and delight to pick and to prey and to dwell upon them They enter like Wasps upon the Gardens of Literature not to relish any Fragrance of select any Sweets but to pamper their Malevolence with every Thing that savours of Rankness or Offence Happily for them their Sagacity does not tend to the Discovery of Merit in such a Case a Work of Genius would give them the Spleen for a Month or possibly depress their Spirits beyond Recovery
To these high and dreaded
Lords Justiciaries
the
Critics
Authors deem it incumbent to submit the Products of their Lucubrations not in the Prospect of any Advantage from their Advice or Animadversions neither in the Hopes of acquiring their Friendship or Patronage but merely to sooth and deprecate the Effects of their Malignity Accordingly I have been present when some of these Dictators have been presented with a Manuscript as with an humble Petition they have thereupon assumed the Chair as a Judge assumes the Bench when a Criminal is called before him not in order to Trial or Hearing but to Sentence and Condemnation To what Scenes of Mortification have I been Witness on such Occasions to what a State of Abatement of Abasement of Annihilation have these Entertainers of the Public been depressed
I am sorry Sir to tell you that this will not do A few Attempts here and there but that will not compensate Here again how injudicious absurd unpardonable Lord Sir you should have considered that when a Man sits down to write for the Public the least Compliment they expect from him is that he should think Here my Friend I have seen enough I cannot affront my Judgment so much as either to recommend or patronize your Performance all I can do for you is to be filent on the Subject and permit Fools to approve who have not Sense to discern
Thus do these Criticsparamount with the Delicacy and Compassion of the Torturers of the Inquisition search out all the Seats of Sensibility and SelfComplacence in order to sting with the more quick and killing Poignancy
Now my dear Friend as you have not applied for the Favour of these established Arbitrators of Genius and Literature you are not to expect the least Mercy from them and I am also free to tell you that I know of no Writer who lies more open to their Attacks You are excessively incorrect your Works on the one Hand have not the least Appearance of the
Limae labor
nor on the other have they that Ease which ought to attend the Haste with which they seem to be written Again you are extremely unequal and disproportioned one Moment you soar where no Eye can see and strait descend with Rapidity to creep in the vulgar Phrase of Chamber Maids and Children Then you are so desultory that we know not where to have you you no sooner interest us in one Subject than you drag us however reluctant to another in short I doubt whether you laid any kind of Plan before you set about the Building but we shall see how your fortuitous Concourse of Atoms will turn out
Do I want Nature
No
Do I want Spirit
Rather too much of Fire at Times
Do I want Sentiment
Not altogether
Then Sir I shall be read and read again in despight of my own Defects and of all that you and your Critics can say or do against me The Truth is that the Critics are very far from being Bugbears to me they have always proved my Friends my best Benefactors they were the First who writ me into any kind of Reputation and I am more beholden to their Invectives than I am to my own Genius for any little Name I may have got in the World all I have to fear is that they are already tired of railing and may not deem me worth their further Notice But pray my good Sir if you desire that I should profit by your Admonitions ought you not to give me Instances of the Faults with which you reproach me
That would be Time and Labour altogether thrown away as I have not the smallest Hope of bringing you to Confession You are a Disputant a Casuist by your Education you are equally studied and practised in turning any Thing into nothing or bringing all Things thereout But dont flatter yourself that I have yet given you the Detail of Half your Faults you are often paradoxical and extremely peremptory and desperate in your Assertions In this very last Page you affirm that the Character of a Gentleman is the most revereable the highest of all Characters
I did Sir I do affirm it and will make it good
I knew it Sir I knew it but dont chuse at present to enter into the Discussion At the next Pause I shall willingly hear you on this Question
CHAP VII
ON his Return he ordered a Fire and a Bottle of Wine into his Study and sent for Mr
Clement
Mr
Clement
says he sit down I assure you Mr
Clement
I am inclined to think very well of you But pray let me have the Narrative of your Life and Manners without Disguise An ingenuous Confession and Sense of past Errors has something in it to me full as amiable or more than if a Man had never strayed
Sir says Mr
Clement
I have indeed been faulty very faulty in my Intentions though
God
has hitherto preservd me from any very capital Act and has by your Hand wonderfully brought me to this Day
HISTORY OF THE MAN OF LETTERS
BAR THOLOMEW CLEMENT Sir a Retailer of Hard Ware on the Strand is my Father He was lowbred and as I believe of narrow Capacity but proceeding in what they call the DogTrot of Life and having a single Eye to the making of Money he became vastly rich and has now a large Income from Houses and Ground Rents in the City of
Westminster
the Fruits and Acquisition of his own Application
I remember nothing of my Mother except her Fondness for me nor of her Character except the Tears that I have seen my Father shed when occasional Circumstances have brought her fresh to his Memory She died when I was in my seventh Year I was their only surviving Child and my Father transferred all his Tenderness for her to me
The Love of my Father was not the mere Partiality or Prejudice of a Parent it was not an Affection he had a Passion for me that could be equalled by nothing but his Vanity in my behalf He resolved he said that there should be one Gentleman in the Family and with this View he resisted his Desire of having me always in his Sight and sent me to
Westminster
School and from thence to
Cambridge
College where I continued till I was twenty Years of Age without any Thing happening that was uncommon or deserving of your Attention
In the mean Time my Father was as prodigal of his Purse toward me as he was of his Caresses He had me with him evry Vacation He visited me frequently during Term and seemed to lose the better Half of his Existence when we parted
He had infused into me a strong Tincture of his own Vanity and Views I lost even a Portion of that Tenderness and Respect which I had felt in his Regard He was a Trader a Mechanick I sighed for his reptile State and I looked down upon him as
Icarus
did on that very Father from whom he had derived Wings for so exalted a Flight
My Application accordingly was equal to my Ambition I was not, merely, a Master I was a Critic in the classical Languages I relished and commented on the Beauties of the
Greek
and
Latin
Authors Was a thorough Connoisseur in the Customs and Manners of the Ancients and could detect the slightest Transgression of a Sculptor or Designer in their folding of the
Roman
Toga I also had the Honour to be intimate with all the Great of Antiquity I frequently sat in Synod with the whole Posse of Heathen Gods on
Olympus
and I kept them as I imagined in a kind of Dependence by my perfect Knowledge of all their secret Lapses and Mistreadings I had traced the System of Nature, from
Aristotle
and
Pythagoras
down to
Epicurus
and
Lucretius
and from them down to
Des Cartes Gassendi
and
Hobbes
and I was so thorough paced an Adept in all the Subtleties of Logic; that I could confute and change Sides without losing an Inch of the Ground that I had gained upon my Adversary
I now imagined that I was arrived at the very Pinnacle of human Excellence and that Fortune and Honour were within my Grasp on either Hand I looked on the Chancellorship or Primacy as Things that must come in Course And I was contriving some Station more adequate to the Height of my Merits and Ambition when I received this Letter
Son
Hammel
HAVE lately enquired into thy Life and Character am sorry to find them too bad to give Hope of Amendment Have lost my Money and my Child Thou hast cut thyself from my Love I have cut thee from my Fortune To comfort myself have taken a Neighbours Widow to Wife Come not near me I will not see thee Would pray for thee if I did not think it in vain
Bartholomew Clement
For some Time after the receipt of this cruel Letter I remained in a State of Stupidity I could not believe the Testimony of my Senses I gave a kind of Discredit to all Things But awaking from this Lethargy into inexpressible Anguish my Soul was rent by different and contending Passions
Whatever Contempt I might have for the Station of my Father I still loved his Person better than Riches and Honours But he loved me no more he was gone he was lost he was already dead and buried at least to me I cast myself on the Ground I groaned I wept aloud I bewaild him as though he had lain a lifeless Corpse before me At length having vented the first Ravings of my Passion I rose and wrote to my Father an Answer of which this in my PocketBook is the Copy
SIR
IF you had not wished to find those Faults you sent to seek after in a Life that defies Malice and is wholly irreproachable you would not have given Credit to Scoundrels who cannot judge of the Conduct of a Gentleman nor have condemned your only Child without Hearing or Defence
In cutting me from your Fortune you only cut me from what I despise but in cutting me from your Love you have unjustly robbed me of that which no Fortune can repair I see that you are irretrievably taken away from me I shall never more behold my long indulgent and fond Father and I shall not cease to lament his Loss with Tears of filial Affection But for this new Father whose Heart could dictate so unnatural and inhuman a Letter I equally disclaim all Commerce and Concern with him And could it be possible that a Person of my Talents and Abilities should be reduced to Indigence or Distress you Sir are the very last Man upon Earth to whom I would apply or from whom I would deign to accept Relief
But if on the other Hand it should please GOD hereafter to visit your Hardheartedness with Affliction and Poverty and that I like the Son of the BlackSmith in the Days of our eighth
Harry
should stand next the Throne in Dignity and Honours you will then find me desirous of making you all Sorts of Submissions you will then find the dutifullest the fondest and tenderest of Children in
SIR
Your little known and much injured
Hammel Clement
Having thus vented the Gusts and Feelings of my Heart I began seriously to think of the Course I ought to take and considered
London
as the Sphere in which a Luminary would appear with the greatest Lustre
I discharged my Servant Sold my two Geldings Disposed of my Room my Furniture and most of my Books And having mustered somewhat upward of three hundred and fifty Pounds I lodged the £300 with a
Cambridge
Dealer from whom I took Bills on his Correspondent in
London
and set out on my Expedition in the first Stage
I took cheap Lodgings near
CharingCross
I was altogether unknowing and unknown in that great City and reflecting that a hidden Treasure cannot be duely estimated I daily frequented
Markham
s CoffeeHouse amidst a promiscuous Resort of Swordsmen Literati Beaus and Politicians
Here happening to distinguish myself on a few Occasions where some Articles of ancient History or Tenet of
Thales
or Law of
Lycurgus
chanced to be in Question I began to be regarded with better Advantage
An elderly Gentleman one Day who sat attentive in a Corner got up and whispered that he would be glad of my Company to take share of a Pint in the next Room I gratefully obeyed the Summons and when we had drank a Glass a Piece Mr
Clement
says he you appear to have but few Acquaintance and may possibly want a Friend My Fortune is small but I have some Influence in this Town and as I have taken an Inclination to you I should be glad to serve you If the Question is not too free pray what is your present Dependence and Prospect for Life
Having with a grateful Warmth acknowledged his Goodness to me I ingenuously confessed that my Circumstances were very slender and that I should be glad of any Place wherein I could be useful to myself and my Employer And pray says my Friend what Place would best suit you I hope Sir answered I my Education has been such that laying aside the manual Crafts there is not any Thing for which I am not qualified I am greatly pleased to hear it replied Mr
Goodville
and hope soon to bring you News that will not be disagreeable
Within a few Days Mr
Goodville
again entered the Coffeehouse with a happy Aspect He beckoned me aside
Clement
says he I have the Pleasure to tell you that I have brought you the Choice of two very advantageous Places Mr
Giles
the Banker wants a Clerk who can write a fine Hand and has made some Proficiency in Arithmetic And my good Friend Mr
Tradewell
an eminent Merchant would give large Encouragement to a Youth who understands the
Italian
Method of Bookkeeping as his Business is very extensive and requires the shortest and clearest Manner of Entry and Reference
My Friend here paused and I blushed hung down my Head and was wholly confounded At length I answered hesitatingly Perhaps Sir you have happened on the only two Articles in the Universe Mechanics as I said apart of which I have no Knowledge Well well my Boy says he dont be discouraged I will try what further may be done in your Behalf
Within about a Fortnight after Mr
Goodville
sent me a Note to attend him at his Lodgings in
Redlion Square
I went flushed with reviving Hope My Child said he as I entered I have now brought you the Offer of three different Places and some one of them as I trust must surely fit you
Our
Eastindia
Company propose to make a Settlement on the Coast of
Coromandel
and are inquisitive after some Youths who have made a Progress in Geometry and are more especially studied in the Science of Fortification There is, also, the Colonel of a Regiment an old Intimate of mine who is going on foreign Service and he in Truth applied to me to recommend a Person who was skilled in the Mechanic Powers and more particularly who had applied himself to Gunnery and Engineering There is lastly the second Son of a Nobleman to whom I have the Honour to be known he is Captain of a Man of War and would give any Consideration to a young Man of Sense and Letters who is a Poficient in Navigation and in the Use of the Charts and Compass and who at the same Time might serve as a Friend and Companion
Sir said I quite astonished I have been a Student as
Goliah
was a Man of War from my Childhood If all my Tutors did not flatter me my Genius was extensive and my Progress in Learning may prove that my Application has been indefatigable I know all Things from the Beginning of Time that the ancient or modern World as I was told accounted Matters of valuable Erudition or Recognizance and yet I have not so much as heard of the Use or Estimation of any of these Sciences required as you say by Persons in high Trust and Commission
Mr
Goodville
hereupon looked concerned and shook his Head My dear
Clement
says he I do not doubt your Talents or Learning but I now begin to doubt whether they have been directed or applied to any useful Purpose My Cousin
Goodville
informs me that the Bishop of St
Asaph
is in Distress for a young Gentleman a Man of Morals and a Linguist who has some Knowledge in the Canon and Civil Law as his Vicar General is lately dead He tells me further that a Gentleman a Friend of his who is in great Circumstances and who is now about purchasing the Place of Surveyor General wants a Youth who has got some little smattering in Architecture and has an elegant Hand at the Drawing of Plans and Sections I am also known to one of the Commissioners of Excise and if you are barely initiated in Gauging or Surveying I think I could get you into some Way of Bread
Alas Sir I replied in a desponding Tone I am equally a Stranger to all these Matters
Perhaps said Mr
Goodville
I could get you into holy Orders if you are that way inclined Are you well read in
Theology
Yes yes Sir I briskly answered I am perfectly acquainted with the Gods and Manners of Worship through all Nations since the Deluge
But are you replied my Friend equally versed in the Christian Dispensation Have you studied our learned Commentators on the Creeds are you read in
Polemic
Divinity and are you a Master of the Sense and emblematical Reference that the Old Testament bears to the New
Sir said I I have often dipped with Pleasure into the Bible as there are many Passages in it extremely affecting and others full of fine Imagery and the true Sublime
My poor dear Child mournfully answered Mr
Goodville
by all I can find you know no one Thing of Use to yourself or any other Person living either with respect to this World or the World to come Could you make a Pin or a Waistcoat Button or form a Pill Box or weave a Cabbage Net or shape a Coblers Last or hew a Block for a Barber or do any of those Things by which Millions daily maintain themselves in supplying the Wants and Occasions or Fashions and Vanities of others you might not be under the Necessity of perishing
The Ways of Life for which your Studies have best prepared you are Physic and the Law But then they require great Expence and an intense Application of many Years to come before you can propose to enter on a Livelihood by either of those Professions And after all your Success would be very precarious if you were not supported by many Friends and a strong Interest at least on your setting out
I have already told you
Clement
that I am not rich and if I were it is not he who gives you Money but he who puts you into a way of getting it that does you a Friendship
I am advised to go to
Montpellier
for the Establishment of my Health after a tedious Fit of Sickness that I had at
Bath
I shall set out in about a Month But before I go my Child I earnestly wish and advise you to fix on some Craft or Trade or Manner of employing your Time that will enable you to earn a certain Subsistance and at the same Time make you a worthy Member of the Community For believe me my Boy that it is not speculative Science no nor all the Money and Jewels upon Earth that make any Part of the real Wealth of this World It is Industry alone employed on Articles that are useful and beneficial to Society that constitutes the true Riches of all Mankind
As soon as you have made your Election let me see you again And in all events let me see you before I set out
Hereupon I bowed and retired the most mortified and dejected of all Beings I was so low and dispirited that I could scarce get to my Lodgings I threw myself on the Bed The Gildings of the Vapours of Grandeur and Ambition that like the Sky of a Summers Evening had delighted my Prospects now wholly disappeared and a Night of succeeding Darkness fell heavy on my Soul
One third of my principal Fund was almost sunk and my Imagination considered the Remainder as already vanished without the Possibility of Supply or Resource I now secretly cursed the Vanity of my Father He must breed me a Genman thought I with a Pox as though I had been born to no Manner of End Had I been the Son of a Cobler of a Porter an Ostler of the lowest Wretch who wins his Bread by the Sweat of his Brow I should not yet have been reduced to the worst Species of Beggary that of begging with sound Limbs and a reasonable Soul the least pitied though most pitiable Object of the Creation for surely that is the Case of a poor Scholar and a poor Gentleman
For some following Days I went about prying and enquiring into the various and numberless Occupations that maintained so many Thousands of active Hands and busy Faces throughout that wonderful City
One Evening as I returned late and fatigued through
Cheapside
I observed a Man very importunate with a Woman who walked before me Sometimes she would hurry on and again make a full Stop and earnestly beseech him to go about his Business but in spight of her Entreaties he still stuck close to her till coming to the End of a blind Alley he suddenly seized her by the Arm and pulled her in after him
She shrieked out for Help with repeated Vociferation when recollecting all my Force and drawing my Sword Villain I cried out quit the Woman instantly or you are a dead Man He perceived the Glittering of the Weapon and retired a few Paces but taking out a Pocket Pistol he discharged it full at me and ran off with Precipitation
The Ball entered my Clothes and Flesh and lodgd on the Rotula of my left Arm I felt a short Pang but not attending to it I took the Woman under the Arm and returning with her to the Street I told her we had no Time to lose and desired to know where she lived She answered at the Sign of the Fan and Ruffle in
Fleet Street
where she kept a Milliners Shop We had not far to go we made the best of our Speed and were let in by a Servant Maid who shewed us to a back Parlour
Jenny
said Mrs
Graves
that was her Name bring a Glass and a Bottle of the CordialWine you look a little pale Sir I hope you are not hurt Not much I think Madam but I feel a small Pain in my left Shoulder Sir here is my best Service to you with my best Blessings and Prayers for you to the last Hour of my Life You must drink it off Sir we both stood in Need of it this was a frightful Affair
Jenny
wheres
Arabella
within a few Doors Madam at the Miss
Hodginses
Come Sir said Mrs
Graves
I must look at your Shoulder then opening the Top of my Waistcoat she instantly screamed out God preserve my Deliverer I fear he is wounded dangerously
Jenny
fly to Mr
Weldon
s bring him with you immediately do not come without him Dearest worthiest of Men let me press another Glass upon you It is necessary in such a Waste of Blood and Spirits Madam I replied the Wound cant be of Consequence but I was greatly fatigued at the Time that I had the Happiness to rescue you from that Ruffian
The Surgeon soon came and looking at my Wound said something apart to Mrs
Graves
who thereupon ordered
Jenny
to get a Fire and to make and warm the Bed in the best Chamber
Sir said I to Mr
Weldon
dont alarm the Gentlewoman I am not of a fearful Temper and hope to bear my Fortune like a Man Sir said he your Wound has been made by a rifled Ball and it may cost you much Pain to extract it You must not think of stirring from hence for the present By the Time your Bed is ready I will be back with the Dressings
During the Surgeons Absence Mrs
Graves
was all in Tears while I sat suspended between my natural Fears of an approaching Dissolution and my Hopes of being suddenly and lastingly provided for The Cruelty of my Father the Disappointment and overthrow of all my elevated Expectations and my utter Incapacity of being of the smallest Use to myself or Mankind had given me a kind of Loathing to Life I had not indeed attended to my Duty as a Christian but I was then Innocent of any actual or intentional Evil and as my Conscience did not condemn me I looked to Mercy with a kind of humble Resignation
Mr
Weldon
came with the Dressings his eldest Apprentice and a Man Servant I was then conducted to my Chamber and helped to Bed where I was put to great Anguish in the Extraction of the Ball as the Periostium had been lacerated and that the Lead being flattened extended much beyond the Wound it had made
Having passed a very painful and restless Night I remembered nothing further till at the Expiration of one and twenty Days I seemed to awaken out of a long and uneasy Dream
I turned my Head and beheld as I imagined all arrayed in shining White and at my Bedside an Inhabitant of some superior Region for never till then had I seen nor even conceived an Idea of any Form so lovely
Tell me said I fair Creature on what World am I thrown But instead of replying it flew out of my Apartment and soon after returned accompanied by Mrs
Graves
whose Hands and Eyes were elevated as in some extraordinary Emotion
Mrs
Graves
said I how do You do I hope You are well I now beign to conjecture whereabouts I am But neither did she answer but falling on her Knees by my Bed and taking hold of my Hand I thank I thank thee O my God she cried and bursting into Tears she wept and sobbed like an Infant Ah Mrs
Graves
said I I fear that you have had a very troublesome Guest of me But then says she we remember that Trouble no more now that you are once again born into the World
During the few succeeding Days in which I kept my Bed Mrs
Graves
and her fair Niece
Arabella
whom I had taken for a Vision constantly breakfasted and spent their Evening in my Apartment
I gave them a short Narrative of my foregoing History and understood on their Part that they were the Sister and Daughter of the late reverend Mr
Graves
of
Putney
who had little more to bequeath than his Books and Furniture amounting to about five hundred Pounds which they held in joint Stock and had hitherto rather increased than diminished
As I scarce remembered my Mother and had now as it were no Father Relation nor Friend upon Earth I felt a Vacuity in my Soul somewhat like that of an empty Stomach desirous of seizing on the first Food that should present itself to my Cravings Delightful Sensibilities Sweet Hungerings of Nature after its Kind This good Woman and her Niece became all the World to me The one had conceived for me all the Passion of a Parent the other that of the fondest and tenderest of Sisters On the other Hand I had for Mrs
Graves
all the Feelings of a Child who conceives himself a Part of the Existence of her who bore him and my Eyes and Actions could not forbear to discover to
Arabella
that my Heart was that of the most affectionate of Brothers though too delicate to indulge itself in those familiar Endearments which the Nearness of Kindred might venture to claim
When I was up and about the House I requested Mrs
Graves
to make out her Bill for my Board and for Physician Surgeon Drugs
c
during my long Illness Hereupon she looked eagergly and tenderly at me Mr
Clement
says she I think you are too generous designedly to reproach us with what we owe you But for what is it my Child that you desire us to charge you Is it for rescuing me from Death or a Shame worse than Death probably from both or is it for delivering this my Darling from the bitter Grief and Distress that my Loss must have brought upon her Or do you rather desire to pay us for the fearful Pains and Sickness which you suffered on our Account and for having nearly forfeited your Life in our Defence No Mr
Clement
you must not think of paying us the very Debts that we owe you more indeed Mr
Clement
than all our little Fortune than the Product of the Industry of our Lives can ever repay
Here I was silenced for the present but in no Degree convinced And I felt in a sort the Disgust of an injured Person uneasy and studious till some Revenge might be had
In two Days after while Mrs
Graves
was at Market and
Arabella
gone with a Brussels Head and Ruffles to a young Lady of Distinction I stepped into the Shop where
Jenny
waited the Commands of those that should call I had scarce entered when a Sheriffs Officer appeared at the Door and bolting in laid an Execution on the Shop for eighty five Pounds odd Shillings at the Suit of Mr
Hardgrave
the Cambric and LaceMerchant
I was at first surprised and grieved but Pleasure quickly succeeded to my Concern on the Occasion I took out my PocketBook immediately discharged the Debt with Costs and gave a Crown to
Jenny
on her solemn Assurance that she would not betray a Syllable of what had happened to her Mistress or
Arabella
Soon after this good Gentlewoman and her Niece returned Dinner was ordered up and I sat down to Table with a Heart and Countenance more easy and cheerful than ordinary
Before the Cloth was removed
Jenny
came and delivered a Note to her Mistress She read it over and over with apparent Surprise and Attention asked if the Messenger was waiting and stepped to the Door Again she returned sat down without speaking a Word and the Muscles of her Countenance being strongly affected she could no longer retain her Passion and her Tears burst forth
What is the Matter cried
Arabella
my Aunt my dear dear Mother my only Friend and Parent and breaking also into Tears she threw herself about her Neck
Oh there is no bearing of this exclaimed Mrs
Graves
This young Man my
Arabella
distresses us beyond Expression He has this very Day my Love for the second Time snatched us from instant Ruin I would tell you if I could speak but read that Note Which she did accordingly
The Note was signed
Freestone Hardgrave
and imported how sorry he was that his late Losses by Sea had put him under the Necessity of laying an Execution on her House without customary Notice That he was glad however she had so large a Sum ready as £90 the Receipt of which he acknowledged and hoped that this Affair would make no Difference with respect to their future Dealings
And why best and dearest of Women said I to Mrs
Graves
why would you grieve that I should endeavour to relieve myself from a Part of that Burden with which you Goodness and Obligations have so greatly oppressed me Oh that it were that it were in my Power I cried and my Hands pressed eachother with an involuntary Ardour but it never will it never can be possible for me to prove the Passion that my Soul has for you and there I hesitated to shew you I say the Love that I have for you Mrs
Graves
You two make my World and all that I am concerned for or desire therein
Since that is the Case said Mrs
Graves
with a Smile and a Tear that glistened together if you will admit an equal Passion from one so old as I am it were pity we should ever part Send my Child this very Day and discharge your former Lodgings The Time that we spend together cant but be happy All Cares are lessened by the Society of those we love and our Satisfactions will be doubled by feeling for Eachother
I did not at that Time know the whole Reason of the Delight with which I accepted this generous Invitation I settled at Mrs
Graves
s without any formal Agreement and all my little Matters were directly brought home
O how happy were many succeeding Days how still more happy when contrasted with the Misery that ensued We spent all the Time together that Business and Attention to the Shop would permit and we grudged every Moment that was spent asunder I related to them a thousand entertaining Stories and Passages occasionally recollected from the Poets and Historians of Antiquity And a secret Emotion and inward Ardour for pleasing gave me fluently to intersperse sentimental Observations and pertinent Digressions more delightful to my Auditory than all my quoted Authorities
I was now daily gathering Health and Strength to which the Complacence of my Mind greatly contributed when one Evening Mrs
Graves
returned more dejected than ordinary I inquired into the Cause with a Solicitude and Countenance that naturally expressed the Interest I took in her Concerns Why my dear Child says she perhaps I have been both impertinent and indiscreet but I meant all for the best You must know then that I have been on a Visit to your Father To my Father Madam Even so I would to Heaven that he were worthy to be called Father to such a Son But as I was saying
Your Father Mr
Clement
is in great Circumstances he keeps his Coach has taken a fine new House and lives at a high Rate I sent in my Name with Notice that I came to him on Business of Consequence I was thereupon shewn to a back Parlour where he sat in Company with Mrs
Clement
and a lusty ill looking young Gentleman but your Stepmother has a comely and good humoured Countenance she also appears to be far advanced in her Pregnancy Mrs
Graves
said your Father take a Seat What are your Commands with me Madam I came Sir to let you know that your Son Mr
Hammel Clement
the best of human Beings has been on the Point of Death Have you nothing to say to me Madam but what concerns my Son
Hammel
I have not I confess Sir but that is more than enough it is very interesting and affecting and concerns you most nearly Here Mr
Clement
for I will never more call him by the sacred Name of Father here I say he started up and catching at a Book he pressed it to his Lips and cried I swear by the Virtue of this and all other holy Books that I will never listen to any Person who would speak a single Word in Behalf of
Hammel Clement
and so Mrs give me leave to shew you the way out again So saying he caught my Hand and drew me to the Door while I turned and cried to your Stepmother O Madam what sort of a Heart is yours that refuses its Intercession on this Occasion but she gave me an Eye and Sneer of such a mischievous Meaning as expressed the whole Fiend under the Guise of an Angel When Mr
Clement
had taken me to the outward Door I just turned and said I am sorry Sir that a Man of your grave and sensible Appearance should suffer yourself to be so duped by People whose Interest it is to deceive you But swelling into Choler he gave me a violent Push from him and clapped to the Door in my Face So that in short my dear Child I fear I have done you Harm where I meant you true Service
It matters not my Mother said I endeavouring to suppress a Tear of tender Resentment I will soon I trust procure some kind of Independence on that
Barbarian
and his Fortune and while I have you and your
Arabella
I shall want neither Father nor Friend
Being now very nearly reestablished in my Health I set out again in search after some Employment that might suit me As I was strolling on
Tower Hill
I observed a Shop on my left Hand it was that of Mr
Wellcot
a Bookseller and Printer I stepped in and after some introductory Discourse I asked him if he had Occasion in the way of his Business for a Friend of mine a Gentleman in Distress but of Parts and Learning Alas Sir cried
Wellcot
such Creatures as you mention are a Drug upon Earth there is a Glut of them in all Markets I would give any one a broad Piece
per
Man who should deliver me from three or four of them who lie heavy on my Hands Not Sir that they are greedy or idle in the least I can get one of these Gentlemen as you are pleased to call them on whose Education more Money has been expended than at the common and legal Interest would maintain a decent Family to the End of the World I can get one of them I say to labour like a hackney Horse from Morning to Night at less Wages than I could hire a rascally Porter or Shoe Boy for three Hours I employ them occasionally in correcting the Press or folding or stitching the Sheets or runing of Errands But then Sir they have all of them Aspects of such a bilcous Despondence that a Man may with less Melancholy behold a Deaths Head And really Sir I could not stand it if Custom as I may say did not harden me by the perpetual Vision of these Spectres
While
Wellcot
was speaking I made a secret Vow against having any kind of Commerce or Concern with Booksellers or Printers for at least a Century to come But fearing to be suspected as a Party concerned I affected an Air as easy as possible and observing some Females who were busy in stitching Pamphlets I asked him if they contained any Thing new or entertaining
Sir said
Wellcot
this is an elaborate Performance of the most eminent of our Patriot Writers I pay him at the lowest five Guineas weekly And could any Man write with double his Spirit and Genius I could better afford to give that Author an Hundred For good Writings are like Diamonds that are valued according to their Carrats do but double their Weight and they immediately become of twenty Times the Estimation
This Pamphlet consisted of a Sheet sewed in blew Paper I instantly paid my twopence and sat down to peruse it I found that it contained several very free Remonstrances against his Majesty and the Ministers for joining with
France
in the War against
Holland
in opposition to the civil and religious Interests of
England
Together with a few collateral Digressions in Assertion of
Magna Charta
of the Freedom of Man in general and of
Britons
in particular I perceived that it was written with much more Judgment than Genius And what said I to
Wellcot
will you give to that Man who shall confessedly excel this your most eminent of Patriot Writers upon his own Subject and in his own Way Give Sir Cried the Bookseller many Thanks and a proportionable Increase of Profits Enough Sir I answered you shall soon hear from me again I wish you a good Morrow
On my Return I called at Mr
Goodville
s but he had sailed for
France
about a Fortnight before I then went about to a Number of PamphletShops and bought up all the political Papers that had any Reference to the Matter in Hand
I sat down to my Work like a hungry Man to his Victuals and I grudged my Heart those short Indulgencies which it enjoyed in the Society of the two Objects of its fondest Affections
Having finished my first Paper in about a Fortnight I entitled it the WEEKLY MONITOR and took it directly to
Wellcot
s Here Sir said I is my Friends first Venture But has your Friend demanded
Wellcot
in a discouraging Accent sent the usual Indemnity for the first Impression of a young Author That shall not be wanting I answered if you require it Mr
Wellcot
Why said he I do not take upon me to be a Judge in these Matters and yet Custom has given me a shrewd sort of a Guess Come Sir I have a few Minutes to throw away and they are at your Service
He then sat down and having read about a Dozen Lines Ay ay says he they dont always do thus at
Newmarket
your Friend I find has set out at the Top of his Speed Going on something further he cried well supported by and then proceeding to the third Page this says he must have been stollen from one of the Ancients because there is no modern who could write like it Well Sir you need not give yourself further Trouble for the present I will print this first Paper at my own Suit Desire your Friend to be careful about the Second Call to me in a Week and I think I shall be able to tell you something that will please you
How diligent is Expectation how elevated is Hope I returned with the Feathers of
Mercury
at my Heels I set about my second Paper with double Genius and Application My Ideas were more expanded my Spirits more sublimed All the Persuasives of
Cicero
all the Thunder of
Demosthenes
all that I had read on the Topic of Liberty in popular Governments or Commonwealths occurred to my Remembrance
I finished my second Essay within the Week I went with it to
Wellcot
and he presented me at Sight with twenty Guineas It is more said he than hitherto comes to your Share but I love to encourage and I trust that in the Run I shall not be a Loser I sell this Pamphlet for two Pence Nearly two Fourths thereof go to Printing Paper
c
another Fourth I reserve as an Equivalent for my Application and Knowledge in this Way and the Remainder is a Redundance which on extraordinary Tides ought to flow to the Writer The Demand for this Paper has been very uncommon and by what I can judge the Sale may in Time amount to twelve Thousand You need not Sir be ashamed to acknowledge yourself the Author Preserve but a Moiety of the Spirit of this
Elijah
with which you have set out and my own Interests will instruct me to serve you effectually
I now returned as in a triumphal Chariot I never before received the Prize as I may say of personal Prowess The Fortune of my Father the Fortune of all Men living who were merely born to Fortune diminished beneath me O how sweet said I to myself how delicious are the Fruits of a Mans own Plantation Then like the sagacious and independent Spider his Labours will be crowned with personal Honour and Success while he spins his Subsistance from his proper Bowels It is then and then only that a Man may be said to be the true Proprietor of What he possesses and the Value is endeared and the Enjoyment doubled thereby
I hastened to impart my Transports to the two loved Objects of all my Cares and Satisfactions
Jenny
told me that her Mistress was not at Home but that Miss
Arabella
was above in her Closet I ran up I tapped at the Door but no one answered Again I tapped and added the soft Voice of Affection requesting to be admitted At length she opened but looked pale and with swollen and downcast Eyes I perceived she had been in Tears and a sudden Frost fell upon all my Delights What is the Matter Miss I cried my Sister my sweet Friend my dearest
Arabella
and I gently took her Hand between both of mine I wish you had not come at this Time Mr
Clement
said she coolly But you must permit me to keep my little Griefs to myself Yes I replied if it is your Pleasure to torture to kill me outright refuse me my Portion in your Interests and Concerns O Mr
Clement
says she your Soul is too generous I dare not tell you I feel what you would suffer should you know that you are concerned in the Cause of my Tears But we must part Sir indeed we must we must part Mr
Clement
and that suddenly
Here her Voice failed and throwing herself into a Chair she burst out afresh into a Gush of Affliction While I stood astonished and dropping beside her on one Knee awaited with unspeakable Anguish the Suspension of her Grief
At length perceiving my Situation rise Sir she cried I entreat you to rise and take a Chair beside me and I will tell you as fast as I can of this distressful Business
You must know that I was a while ago to the Miss
Hodginses
They are very friendly and good young Women and told me in Confidence though with much Concern of a Whisper in the Neighbourhood that my Aunt had entertained a young Gentleman in the House who was admitted to such familiar and convenient Intimacies as could not at all Times be without their Consequence especially between Persons of our Age and Sex
Now Mr
Clement
I am no way ashamed to confess that I have nothing in Heaven but my Innocence nor on Earth but my Character and I think you wish me better than to desire that I should forfeit the one or the other Desire it O Heavens I suddenly exclaimed I will for ever guard them both to the last Drop of my Blood and last Breath of my Life Alas cried
Arabella
you are the Man of all others whom the World would not admit for my Champion in this Case they are absolute Judges they ought to be obeyed our Parting will be painful but it must be complyed with
But my Sister my
Arabella
most lovely and most beloved of all the Human Species tell me says I my Angel is there no other Way no Expedient to satisfy a misdeeming World save a Remedy that is worse than Death itself No said she with an Air somewhat resolute and exalted there is no other Expedient at least no other to which I can consent O Miss
Graves
answered I with a hasty Dejection if that is the Case you shall be obeyed I am indeed very unhappy but I will not be importunate Adieu dearest of Creatures adieu for ever I spoke and suddenly withdrew and gave her as I imagined the last farewel Look
Hold Sir she cried pray stay a Moment I should be wretched beyond Expression if you went away in the greatest of all Errors But is it possible you should think that I could mean any Slight to you Mr
Clement
No Sir no of all Men living indeed it was not possible I spoke through an humble Sense of my own Demerits my Determination was just I do not repent me of it I I perhaps Sir I have not understood you Indeed I scarce know what I say or mean myself Of this however be assured that I neither do nor ever did nor ever can mean any Offence to Mr
Clement
While she spoke I had kneeled before her I took her Hand and pressed it to my Lips and Bosom My
Arabella
said I I confess that this was no premeditated Motion of mine Nay this very Morning the World should not have prevailed with me to have accepted this Hand for which I now kneel I was then poor and wretched without Resource And I could not think of bringing Distress upon her independent of whose Happiness I could have no Enjoyment I was sensible that I loved you with infinite Tenderness with unspeakable Ardour but my Passion did not dare to admit of Desire I could have suffered all Things to have heaped Blessings upon you but I would not permit to my Soul the distant though dear Wish of being happy with you Ah what Posture is this exclaimed
Arabella
Nay you shall not stir I cried nor will I rise till you have heard me a few Words Since Morning I say I have got Room to hope that my
Arabella
would not be so unhappy as I feared in being united to me I will not urge her however I leave her free I leave her Mistress of her own Will and Actions But here I vow to Heaven that whether she live or die consent or not consent I will never marry another I am from this Moment her Wedded for Eternity the faithful and fond Husband of her Image and Remembrance
So saying I rose and seated myself beside her She looked astonished and affected beyond the Power of Utterance But covering her Face with a Handkerchief she gently leaned toward me and shed a plenteous Shower of Tears upon my Bosom
When Mrs
Graves
returned I told her of my extraordinary Success at the Booksellers I had before made her the Treasurer of my little Possessions and I poured my twenty Pieces into her Lap
Arabella
as I conjectured did not delay to impart to her Aunt the late Adventure for I observed that the Eyes of that good Woman dwelt upon me with a fresh Accession of Fondness and Delight
Having finished my third Paper I took it to
Wellcot
who presented me with twenty Guineas and further acknowledged himself my Debtor Returning homeward I cast up in a pleasing kind of mental Arithmetic how much my weekly twenty Guineas would amout to at the Years End and found it much beyond my Occasions even in the State of Matrimony
I now looked upon myself as in the certain Receit of a plentiful Income and this encouraged me to press for the Completion of my Happiness Decency alone could give Difficulty or Delay in an Affair that was equally the Wish of all Parties We were privately married in the Presence of the Miss
Hodginses
and two or three other Neighbours and I was put into Possession of the blushingest fearfullest and fondest of all Brides
Job
very justly says
shall we receive Good at the Hands of God and not receive Evil
And yet I imagine that the Recollection of past Happiness rather heightens than alleviates the Sense of present Distress My Soul in those Days enjoyed a Tide of Delight to the Fullness of its Wishes and to the Stretch of its Capacity I thought that till then no Person had ever loved as I loved But the Love of my
Arabella
was a kind of Passion that wanted a new Name whereby to express it It was an Absence a sort of Death to all other Objects It was a Pleasure too paining a distressful Attention the Avarice of a Miser who watches over his Hoard and joins to the Rapture with which he beholds it the terrifying Ideas of Robbery and Loss
I had now within the Space of five Weeks received about one hundred and twenty Guineas on the Sale of my Monitor When going abroad one Evening I was stopped within a few Doors of my House by a genteel looking Person who asked if my Name was
Clement
it is Sir I answered Then Sir says he I arrest you in his Majestys Name for Sedition and a Libel against the Government Then beckoning to three or four Serjeants that attended he had me directly seized and conveyed toward
Newgate
As I was not of a timorous Temper nor conscious of the smallest Tincture of the Crimes with which I was charged I should have made little more than a Jest of this Business had I not trembled for the Apprehensions of those who I knew would tremble for me
On the Way this Officer informed me that my Bookseller had betrayed me and had confessed to the Ministers that I was the Author of a famous Pamphlet entitled the WEEKLY MONITOR Being delivered to the Keeper I put a few Pieces into his Hand and was conducted to a decent Apartment considering the Place
I immediately sent for
Humphrey Cypher
Esq
Serjeant at Law whom I had once occasionally feed in behalf of Mrs
Graves
and I sent at the same Time for a Set of the WEEKLY MONITOR When Mr
Cypher
came I put five Pieces into his Hand and having told him my Case I requested him to peruse the Papers in question and to give me his Opinion thereon
Having read them with due Attention Mr
Clement
says he I perceive that you are a learned and ingenious young Gentleman but I find that you are better acquainted with the Republics of
Greece
than with the Nature and Constitution of our limited Monarchy Hence alone hath proceeded some Lapses and Misapplications that your Adversaries would lay hold of Yet there is nothing grossly scurrilous or malicious throughout nor what may amount to the incurring of a Praemunire by the most violent Constraint or Wresting of the Sense If you are inclined says he to proceed in the Course of these Papers I would advise you to put in Bail and to stand the Action But as I am persuaded that the Court have commenced this Prosecution as a Matter merely
in terrorem
to deter you from a Work that gives them great Disgust if you have any genteel Friend who would solicit in your Favour and promise a future Conduct more amenable to Power you would undoubtedly be discharged without further Cost or Trouble
I returned my warm Acknowledgments to the Serjeant for his friendly Counsel and told him I would consider of it before I gave him further Trouble When he was gone I dispatched a Letter to Mrs
Graves
wherein I gave her an Account of my present Situation in a Manner as little alarming as possible I requested her to provide Bail for my Appearance at Bar but insisted that till this was done neither she nor
Arabella
should come to my Prison and that I had given express Orders that they should not be admitted
Alas had they complyed with my Directions how happy might we have been all together at this Day But the Excess of their Goodness was the Cause of our common Ruin Their Affection would not be satisfied with simple Bail and they resolved never to rest till they had procured my full Discharge
They went about to all their Customers of any Distinction They solicited petitioned and bribed without Measure They borrowed Money to the utmost Extent of their Credit and pawned or sold all their Effects under prime Cost They gave a Purse to one to bring them acquainted with another on whom they bestowed a larger Sum to introduce them to a third Having at length made their Way to Lord
Stivers
an Agent of the Minister he thought he saw an Advantage in granting their Request and my Discharge was made out without further Delay
On the fifth Evening from my Imprisonment the Door of my Chamber opened and in came my dear Aunt with my dearer
Arabella
They flew upon me they clasped me on each Side in their Arms and my Wife instantly swooned away upon my Bosom She soon revived however at the known Voice of Love and as every Door for my Enlargement had been previously opened we went down stepped into the Coach and drove home directly
Here I saw the first Subject and Cause of Alarm The Shop was shut up I was shocked and felt a sudden Chilness come upon me but did not venture to inquire except by my Eyes
The Kettle being down and all seated to Tea I introduced the Affair with an affected Unconcern and by Question after Question artfully extracted from my Companions the whole History and Adventures of the five preceding Days whereby I found that they had expended in my Behalf beyond the last Penny of their own Substance; and that nothing remained save one hundred and fifty Pounds to which the several Deposits amounted which I had made with Mrs
Graves
I could now no longer contain myself Cruel Women inhuman Friends I cried The Bitterness of Enmity the Rancour of Malice could never have brought an Evil like this upon me Accursed Wretch that I am ordained to be the Instrument of Perdition to those whom I would feed with my Blood and foster with my Vitals Would to Heaven I had not been born or would I had been cut off by some quick and horrid Judgment ere this had happened
Here Mrs
Graves
drew her Chair close to mine and catching me about the Neck and dropping upon me a few Tears that she struggled to suppress dont grieve my Child she cried dont afflict yourself for nothing All is as it should be There is no Harm done Your
Arabella
and I can always earn genteel and independent Bread without Shop or other Means than the Work of our Hands We can never want my
Hammy
We have done nothing for you Neither has any Thing happened wherewith you ought to reproach yourself What we did was for ourselves for the Relief of the Anguish of our own Hearts to bring you home to us again as soon as possible my Son since we found that we could live no longer without you
Within a few Days I perceived that my dear Aunt began to decline in her Health perhaps occasioned by her late Fatigue and Anxiety of Spirits I brought an able Physician to her but he could form no Judgment of the Nature of her Disorder till some Time aster when her Complexion began to change and the Doctor declared her to be in the Jaundice He began to apply the customary Medicines and no Care nor Expence was spared for her Recovery
Arabella
and I sat up with her alternately evry Night and all the Day we read to her some Book of Amusement in order to dissipate the Melancholy of her Disease But alas all our Cares and Remedies our Attention and Solicitude our Prayers and our Tears proved equally unsuccessful and at the End of five Months she expired within our Arms
Arabella
then quitted her Hold and crossing her Arms upon her Bosom and looking eagerly on the Face once so lovely and always boloved you are then at Peace said she my Mother O Death hadst thou not enough of Terrors in thy Aspect without adding to thy Agonies those of tearing from us that which we prized above Life O my Friend my only Parent my dearest dearest Mother She could no more but immediately fainted away upon the Body
I took her up in my Arms and carrying her into the next Room I laid her on the Bed I ordered
Jenny
and the two Nursekeepers to take Care of her Recovery and charged them not to permit her to see her Aunt any more
I then returned to the Chamber wherein the precious Ruins of the Half of my World was laid I locked the Door within side I approached the Body and hung over it and gazed upon it with inexpressible Emotion I repeatedly clapped my Hands together I stooped down and kissed and rekissed her cold Lips in an Agony of Affection I gave a free Scope to my Tears Sobs and Lamentations Ah I cried my Parent my Patroness ah Mother to the Son of your unhappy Election Have I lost you my only Prop Are you for ever departed from me my Support and Consolation I was abandoned by the World by Friends Father and Relations but you became the World and all Relations to me
I was a Stranger and you took me in I was sick and in Prison and you ministered unto me
But you are gone you are gone from me afar off And I die a thousand Deaths in the Anguish of surviving you Here you lie my Mother the Victim of your Goodness to your unlucky Guest Wretch that I am doomed to bring no Portion save that of Calamity to those who regard me Woe of Woes Where now shall I ease my Soul of its insupportable Burden Of the Debt with which it labours to this kind Creature She will no more return to take aught at my Hands and I must suffer the Oppression through Life and through Eternity
Having thus vented the Excesses of my Passion my Spirits subsided into a kind of gloomy Calm I returned to my Wife But I see Sir you are too much affected I will not dwell on this melancholy Scene any longer
When I had discharged Doctors Fees Apothecaries Bills and Funeral Expences I found that our Fortune did not amount to fifty Pounds My Wife was now far advanced in her Pregnancy her Labour was hastened by her Grief and late Fatigues and she was delivered of that Boy whom your Charity a second Time brought into this World
As I was now all Things to my
Arobella
the only Consolation she had upon Earth I never left her during her Illness By the Time she was up and about what with the Charges of Child bearing and a Quarters Rent
c
our Fund was again sunk within the Sum of ten Pounds and I was going one Evening to look out for some Employment when we heared a Rapping of Distinction at the Door
Jenny
came in a hurry and brought us word that Lord
Stivers
was in the Parlour and desired to speak with me I went down greatly surprised and something alarmed at his Visit Mr
Clement
says he with a familiar Air I have long wished to see you but I did not think it seasonable to disturb you during the Misfortune of your Family and the Illness of your Wife Your WEEKLY MONITORS have Genius and Spirit but they have done some Mischief which we wish to have remedied As how pray my Lord Why Mr
Clement
I never knew a Writing in favour of Liberty or against any Measures of Government which the Populace did not wrest in favour of Licentiousness and to the casting aside of all Manner of Rule Now Mr
Clement
we want you to undertake our Cause which is by much the more reasonable and orderly Side of the Argument in short we want you to refute your own Papers
O my Lord I answered I should think it an Honour to serve your Lordship or the Ministry on any other Occasion But in a Matter that must bring public Infamy upon me indeed my Lord you must excuse me I should be pointed at as an Apostate and Prostitute by all Men and bring my Person and Writings into such Disgrace as would for ever disable me from serving either myself or your Lordship
Well Sir replied my Lord I will not then insist on a formal Refutation of your own Writings I only ask if you are willing to engage in our Quarrel as far as is consistent with Honour and Truth I am my Lord I rejoined as far as is consistent with my own Credit and the Good of my Country
The Good of your Country Mr
Clement
says my Lord I hope you do not think that Government is contrary to the Good of your Country Pray in what do you make this LIBERTY consist of which you are become so eminent a Patron
There are two Sorts of LIBERTY my Lord I answered The first constitutes the Duty and Happiness of a Man independent of Community The second constitutes the Privilege and Happiness of a Man merely as he is a Member of any State or Commonwealth
Independent of Community a Man is so far free and no further than he acts up to the Dictates of Reason and Duty in despight of inward Appetite and outward Influence
As a Member of Community a Man is so far free and no further than as every other Member of that Community is legally restrained from injuring his Person or encroaching on his Property
Inimitably well definded cried his Lordship I have read Volumes in Folio upon the Subject but never knew what LIBERTY was before Well Mr
Clement
as this LIBERTY of yours is in all Respects so opposite to the Licentiousness I was talking of it cannot but make mainly in Favour of good Government I therefore request you to write a Treatise to the Purpose of your Definition and to take us with you as far as you can We shall not be ungrateful we are good Paymasters Sir Why do you hesitate Did you not tell me you were disposed to serve us
My Lord I replied I fear I should fall greatly short of your Expectations I am not studied in the Constitution of modern States and how should I be able to justify any Government with respect to Measures that perhaps are a Secret to all except the Ministers I must further observe to your Lordship that my former Field would be greatly contracted on this Occasion It is very easy and obvious to find Fault and to call in Question but to vindicate Truth itself against popular Prejudice
hoc Opus hic Labor est
Mr
Clement
says my Lord I am proud that we have got a Gentleman of so much Honesty and Ingenuity to befriend us It shall be my Care to provide you with Materials and I am confident that so great a Master of his Instrument as you are will make excellent Music on a few fundamental Notes Here are twenty Guineas Earnest and ten Guineas shall be payed you weekly till we can fix you in some Station of due Honour and Advantage I will take a Glass or a Dish of Tea with you in a few Days and wish you a good Evening
On the third Morning after this Interview my Lord returned with a large Bundle of
AntiPatria
Pamphlets in his Chariot and some manuscript Notes and Hints for my Instruction He breakfasted with us and was easy polite and cheerful
I now entered on my new Province but not with usual Ardour As I had formerly lashed the Insolence Encroachments and Rapaciousness of Power less ambitious of Conquest over Aliens and Enemies than over the very People it was ordained to protect I now on the other Hand rebuked with like Acrimony the riotous factious and seditious Propensities of a turbulent licentious and unsatisfied People ever repugnant to Government and reluctant to the Rein of the gentlest Ruler I proved from many Authorities and Instances derived from
Greece
and
Rome
that Power is never so dangerous to a Populace as when it is taken into their own Hands That the Governors and governed by the Violence of Collision are apt to fly to Extremes on either Side That Anarchy is the most direct of all Roads to Tyranny And that a People who have no Will to be governed reduce themselves to the Necessity of being crushd insulted and governed whether they will or no
Now Sir though I thus alternately sided with the People against Power and with Power against the People yet I struck at nothing but Faults on either Hand and equally asserted on both Sides of the Question the Cause of my Country of Liberty and Truth
I took five Times the Pains with these latter Papers that I had with the Former, and yet I confess I had not equal Pleasure in the Delivery I am also persuaded that these had more than double the Merit of the other and in Point of Sentiment Moral and general Instruction were of twenty Times the Value to Mankind But how can that instruct which is not attended to it was intimated to the People that these had been written at the Instance of their Governors and they would not have listened to an Oracle if uttered from that Quarter
Six Months had now elapsed in these Lucubrations I had delivered to my Wife two hundred and sixty Guineas the weekly Price of my Labours We had lived with great Frugality
Arabella
had again taken in as much Work as her Nursing and Attention to the Child would admit And we had some Pieces left of our former Remnant when Lord
Stivers
called in upon me with Pleasure and good News as it were Prologue in his Aspect
Mr
Clement
says he I want to speak to you apart I had Yesterday some Talk with the Minister about you and he has promised me four hundred a Year Pension for you till something better can be done and this is to be wholly clear and over your weekly Wages of ten Guineas while we keep you so hard at Work But tell me
Clement
says he laying his Hand with an affectionate Familiarity upon my Shoulder are you of a jealous Temper The furthest from it my Lord of any Man breathing O Im glad of that but if you were I have nothing exceptionable to propose To be short Half a Dozen of Noblemen all my Friends and People of strict Probity and Virtue have engaged to spend a Share of Tomorrow in a Party of Pleasure upon the
Thames
and we have each of us laid a Bet of a hundred Guineas that from the Number of his Relations his Friends or Acquaintance he will bring the prettiest Woman to this Field of Contention I had fixed on Lady
Fanny Standish
a lovely Creature and a Relation of my own but she unfortunately happened to be preengaged to one of my Rivals I am therefore quite at a Loss and must infallibly lose my Wager if you do not favour me with the Company of Mrs
Clement
With her I can make no Question of Conquest and I give you my Honour to pour into her Lap the whole five hundred Guineas the just Prize of her Beauty
Why my Lord I answered this is indeed a very pleasant Project and has nothing in it exceptionable that I can perceive if no one was to know any Thing of the Matter But what will the World say to see your Lordship so paired Shaw damn the World
Clement
I am your World Man Your Lordship has a very good Right to damn an inferior World I rejoined but the World has an equal Right and would certainly make use of it in the Damnation of my Wife What said he warmly you will not then confide her to my Friendship and Honour I will not my Lord confide her Honour unnecessarily to any Man from under that Guardianship and Protection which I vowed to her in Marriage It is very well Mr
Clement
you may hear from me Tomorrow And away he went
He was as good as his Word The very next Morning I was arrested at his Suit for two hundred and fourscore Guineas the Amount of all that I had received from him and I was hurried to the
Fleet Prison
without being permitted to speak to any one
As my Lord knew that on Issue I must cast him in his Action and further come upon him for special Damage and false Duress it instantly occurred that this was merely a Stratagem for the Seduction of my
Arabella
and her defenceless State gave me inexpressible Torture I immediately wrote her an Account of my Situation and Apprehensions which unhappily for all Parties were too well founded But Sir I will give you a Detail of these extraordinary Events in the Order of Time in which they happened as I afterwards learned them from the Mouth of my Wife and from the Testimony of others on Trial in public Court
Before my Wife could have the least Intelligence of my Confinement my Lord paid her a Visit and entring with his accustomed Freedom and good Humour Mrs
Clement
says he I am come to prevent your being alarmed when you should hear that I sent your Husband to the
Fleet Prison
this Morning But to convince you that I intend him no manner of Harm I have here brought you the Money for which he was arrested and it is at your own Choice to release him within this Hour or on the Feast of Saint
Simpleton
if you are not in a Hurry So saying he put a large Purse into her Hand And pray my Lord then demanded
Arabella
on what Account was it that you had him arrested To punish him answered my Lord for being the most jealouspated Coxcomb in Europe Jealous my Lord pray of whom can he be jealous Of you and I Madam Of us my Lord Sure we never gave him Cause No that Ill be sworn rejoined my Lord but more is the Pity the Jealousy came first and the Cause ought now in all Conscience to follow
Before the last Words had escaped his Mouth he sprung forward and catching her in his Arms he pressed and kissed her with the rudest Ardour But quickly disengaging herself and pushing him violently from her I see youre a Villain she cried and desire that youll instantly quit my House and so saying she threw the Purse out at the Door My Lord however stood his Ground and looking at her with astonishing Ease and Unconcern Mrs
Clement
says he the Destiny of your Husband and yourself is in my Hands and I must tell you it does not become you to treat your best Friend in so injurious a Manner I have here brought you a Settlement of five hundred a Year for Life It is perfected to you without Condition and how far you will be grateful lies wholly at your own Election May Heaven forsake me she cried when I accept the smallest Advantage from you or your Fortune Well well
Arabella
replied my Lord I must and will have you on your Terms or my own but if you had really a mind to contest this Business with me what a little Fool you were so simply to cast away the Sinews of War I leave you Child for the present to wiser Reflections then insolently smiling in her Face he retired
As soon as he was gone my Wife hurried to the Miss
Hodginses
and prevailed upon one of them to keep her Company till she should be able to procure my Enlargement She then went to a Person who dealt in Houshold Furniture and requested him to come the next Morning and make a Purchase of some Goods that she had to dispose of And lastly she writ me a Letter with an Account of all these Matters and a Promise to be with me the Day following
I should have apprised you before this that our faithful and affectionate
Jenny
had forsaken us A small Legacy had been left her whereupon she quitted Service and went to live with her Parents and we were obliged to hire a strange Maid in her Room
The next Day
Arabella
sold as much of her Furniture to the forementioned Dealer and some Neighbours as amounted to upward of forty Guineas She had put these with her former Deposit of two hundred and sixty into her Pocket it was now Afternoon and she was joyfully preparing to come and give me Freedom when our new Maid entered and told Miss
Hodgins
that a Lady waited for her at Home on earnest Business but promised not to detain her above five Minutes Alas Miss
Hodgins
was scarce gone when Lord
Stivers
entered and my Wife giving a violent Shriek dropped backward in a Chair
Lord
Stivers
thereupon drew another Chair and with an impudent Appearance of Tenderness seated himself beside her My dear
Arabella
said he dont be alarmed By I am not come to do you the smallest Injury I tell you however that youre wholly in my Power Your Street Door is bolted I have two able Footmen below in your Kitchen and the Maid who contrived to get your Friend out of the Way is much more my Servant than yours I assure you I have loved you long my
Arabella
and the frequent Visits I paaid are to be placed to your Credit and not to that of the stupid Polities with which I amused your Husband and now my Angel if you will make any Concession but the slightest Return to the Excess of my Passion and Fondness for you I here vow to you perpetual Faith and Constancy for Life and both my Fortune and Person shall be wholly devoted to you But dont attempt to impose dont hope to deceive me
No no my Lord she cried I will not deceive you by pretending to sacrifice the least Article of Duty to your Person or Fortune I see that Im in Danger on the Brink of Perdition I see that Hell is strong and subtle at Devices Heavn save me any how strike stike me dead this Instant You Thunders and Earthquakes that once were my Terrors be now my Deliverers
Why my
Arabella
says Lord
Stivers
this is all very sine It is the sweetest Rant I ever heard And you are the sweetest Girl upon my Soul that ever I saw I perceive that you are really alarmed my Love but what is it that frights you you shall never receive any Treatment from me save Proofs of the Fondness and Violence of my Affection Recall your Spirits Child and prepare yourself with Patience for what must be For I swear to you
Arabella
by
c c
that no Power in the Universe shall snatch you this Hour from the Ardour of my Caresses
The wretched Object of the Lust of this barbarous Man then dropped upon her Knees in a frantic Agony O GOD she cried out if you are in Heaven if you hear and see these Things If Virtue and Purity are not an Offence unto you Send send and deliver me by some sudden Salvation O my Lord once our generous Patron and Protector the Friend and Support of our declining House Would you now tumble into deep and irreparable Ruins the Work of your own Hands Alas you know not what you do you cannot guess at the Horrors you are about to perpetrate If ever you had a touch of Pity If ever but what shall I say If you do not like Devils delight in the Miseries of Wretches damned for Eternity shield shield me my dear Lord be you yourself my Saviour from this my Hour of Terrors from this Hell that is come upon me I have already suffered the Pangs of Death in the bare Apprehension I will never live to bear in me and about me a detestable Being Hope it not dream not of it By Heavn I will not a Moment survive my Pollution O Mercy Mercy Mercy And so saying her Voice was stopped by an Agony of Sobs and Tears
Charming Girl enchanting Creature exclaimed the deliberate Villain every Action every Word intended to dissuade are fresh Fuel and Incitement to my Passion for you my
Arabella
But I see that you will not consent to my Happiness and that I must give you an Apology for your Acceptance of any Favour or Fortune at my Hands
So saying he arose And up she sprung at the Instant and running to the furthest Corner of the Room recollected all her Spirits and Force for her Defence She struggled and shrieked and called out upon Heaven and Earth to save her But no Help appearing nigh she suddenly recollected a Pair of long and sharp pointed Scissars that she had in her Pocket and in the Moment that Lord
Stivers
threw her prone upon the Floor she drew them forth and aiming at him with all her Strength she almost buried the Weapon in his left Side whereat he gave a loud Curse and over he tumbled gasping and groveling beside her
Up she got with all Haste and runing to the Cradle where her Infant lay crying she caught him in her Arms and opening the chamber Door softly and shutting it after her she stepped down Stairs as upon Feathers and stealing to the Street Door she opened it suddenly rushed into the Street and hurried on till she came to a Stand of Coaches where she hired the first she met threw herself hastily into it and desired the Man to drive with Speed to the Fleet Prison
On her Arrival she discharged the Action and Fees of Arrest with all possible Dispatch and then hurried up to my Apartment On the first Glimpse I sprung to her and caught her in my Arms with unspeakable Transport but finding the Child with her and observing that her Breath was quick and uneven I withdrew a Step or two and looked eagerly at her and perceiving that she was pale and had a kind of Wildness in her Eyes and Motions what is the Matter my Love I cried what has happened to you I have not been well she answered with an affected unconcern before the Keeper But pray come down my Dear you are much wanted and the Coach is in Waiting
Nothing further passed between us till we got into the Coach and that my Wife desired the Man to drive to some Neighbouring Street and to stop at the first Door where he saw a Bill for Lodgings For Lodgings again I demanded for whom does my
Arabella
desire to take Lodgings For you and I Mr
Clement
for you and I she cried wringing her Hands together Lord
Stivers
lies weltring in his Blood at our House deprived of Life within this Half Hour by my unhappy Hand
I was suddenly struck dumb with Surprise and Horror All the Occasions and Consequences of this direful Event whirled through my Imagination in a fearful Succession What must now become of my Souls sole Enjoyment what Indignities must have been offered what Violation might she not or rather must she not have suffered before she could be brought to perpetrate so terrible a Deed I grew instantly sick and putting my Head through the Window desired the Coachman to stop at the first Tavern I ordered the Drawer to nasten with a Pint of Spanish White Wine to the Door and I pressed and compelled my Wife to swallow a Part Our Spirits being in some Degree settled thereby we drove to a private Street on the right Hand of
Cheapside
where I took a back Room and Closet up two Pair of Stairs at one Mrs
Jennett
s an old Maid and a Mantuamaker I immediately ordered a Fire to be kindled and the TeaThings to be laid and giving the Servant a Crown desired her to bring the Value in proper Ingredients
The Evening was now shut in and while the Maid was abroad not a Syllable passed between my Wife and me I dreaded to enquire of what I still more dreaded to understand and
Arabella
seemed to labour under some mighty Oppression when retiring to the Closet where our Bed stood she covered her Child up warm and kneeling down by his Side broke forth into a violent Torrent of Tears intermingled with Heavings and Half strangled Sobs
I sat still without seeming to observe her Emotion I was sensible that Nature wanted this kindly Relief The Teas and Sugars were brought the Kettle put on the Fire and the Maid again retired when I gently called to my
Arabella
to come forth with a Voice of the truest Love and softest Endearment that ever yet breathed from a human Bosom
Her Eyes were already wiped her Countenance composed and her Motions and Demeanour much more settled than before She sat down with a rising Sigh which she checked with a Half Smile My
Arabella
said I my only Joy my unmeasured Blessing What is it that thus distracts my dearer Part of Existence Your Mind your Spirit my Angel is still pure and unpolluted and Bodies are merely as Bodies incapable of Defilement being doomed from our Birth to Dissolution and Corruption
Ah my
Hammy
she exclaimed you are quite beside the Mark I sigh not I weep not I grieve not for myself I fear not nor regard the Consequences however fatal of what has happened Suppose a sudden and shameful Death I thank my God for it Death will offer me up a Victim still pure and unpolluted But O the wretched
Stivers
what is now become of him sent so sudden and unprovided to his eternal Audit Unhappy that I am perhaps an Instrument of Perdition to an immortal Being Ah rather that I had not been born would I had perishd in his Stead A Death in the Cause of Virtue had been my Advocate for Mercy
How is this my
Arabella
I cried Is Condemnation then to be brought upon the Good because they oppose themselves to Evil Would you have censured any one living except yourself for having given you this Deliverance by the Death of the Ravisher No surely In the daily and nightly Robberies Massacres and Assassinations that the violent machinate against the Peaceful is it the Fault of those who stand in the Defence of Righteousness that Villains often perish in the Act of Transgression Tell me my sweet Mourner in the Sacking of a City when the lustful and bloody Soldiery are loosed to their whole Delight in Burnings Rapes Rapines Slaughters Howlings and Violations is it the Perpetrators of all these Horrors that you compassionate when they happen to be crushed in the Ruins they have wrought Meritorious my
Arabella
most meritorious were that Hand who should cut a whole Host of such Infernals from the Earth remaining Innocence and Virtue would be his Debtors for ever Commiseration to the Flagitious is Cruelty to the Just and he who spares them becomes the Accomplice of all their future Crimes
During Tea my Wife gave me an ample Narrative of all that happened at our House while I was in Confinement As she spoke I was first Speechless with fearful and panting Expectation I was then kindled into Fury and a vehement Thirst of Vengeance And lastly I was elevated into an aweful Rapture I looked at my Wife with Eyes swimming with Love and Veneration I rose from my Seat I threw myself on my Knees before her Adorable Creature I cried divine
Arabella
supreme Excellence of Women thus let me worship through the pure
of all Mediums that GODHEAD who inspires and delights in such Perfections
Our Fortune was now reduced to very little more than fifteen Guineas We had no Clothes but what we wore and we did not dare to go or send to our House for others neither to make ourselves known to any Acquaintance We went by the Name of
Stapleton
and on the following Night I ventured abroad and bought for myself a few secondhand Shirts with a common Gown and some Changes of Linen for my Wife
On the fifth Day at Breakfast while
Arabella
was casting her Eye over a Newspaper that she had borrowed from Mrs
Jennett
she turned suddenly pale What she cried before I could question her accused for Robbery as well as Murder that is hard indeed But I trust that my Lot shall not exceed my Resignation And so saying she handed me over the Paper with a Smile in which Heaven appeared to open
The Advertisement ran thus
WHEREAS
Arabella Clement
alias
Graves
did on the 15th Day of
September
Instant most barbarously stab and murder the Rt Hon
James
late Lord
Stivers
at a House of ill Report where she formerly had kept a Milliners Shop in
FleetStreet
And whereas she did further rob the said Rt Hon
c
of a large Purse of Money his Gold Repeater SnuffBox DiamondRing
c
and did lastly flee for the same as may be proved and is evident, from the Examination and Testimony of three concurring Witnesses Now his Majesty in his gracious Abhorrence of such Crimes doth hereby promise a Reward of three hundred Guineas to any Person who shall stop discover or arrest the said
Arabella
so as that she may be brought to condign and adequate Punishment if any such may be found for such unequalld Offences
O said my Wife I perceive that my Enemies will swear home indeed Their Plunder of Lord
Stivers
can no Way be assured save by my Condemnation But be it as it may that Providence who overules the Wickedness of this World may yet give Submission a Clue to Escape its Perplexities And my Innocence I trust will be an Equivalent to all that the World can inflict and much more than an Equivalent to all that it can bestow
I now had every Thing to fear for my
Arabella
as well from the interested Villany of the Witnesses as from the Power of the Ministry and the Resentment of the Relations of so great a Man and I looked upon her Death to be as certain as her Caption Had I been the First in Remainder to the greatest Estate in
England
I would have exchanged my whole Interest for as much ready Cash as would have served to convey us to some Region of Safety But this was not practicable with the very small Remainder of the Wreck of our Fortune and we had taken our Lodging certain at fifty Shillings
per
Quarter
We appeared as little as possible even to the Lodgers of the House and I intimated to my Landlady that it was the Fate of many a Gentleman to be obliged to abscond till his Affairs could be compounded with hard hearted Creditors
During the Space of nine Months our principal Diet was weak Tea and Bread and if we ventured at odd Times on a small Joint of Meat it served us cold hashed and minced from one Week to the other
As my Wife did not dare to take in Work nor I to stir abroad to look for Employment our chief Entertainment was the reading some old Folio Books of History and Divinity which I borrowed from Mrs
Jennett
and which had belonged to her Father
How small must be the Cravings of simple Nature when a Family like ours accustomed to Affluence could subsist in
London
without murmuring for upward of nine Months on less than eight Guineas But our Fund was now exhausted to a few Shillings and my Sword Watch and Buckles were also gone in Discharge of our three Quarters Rent to the Landlady Ruin stared us in the Face I beheld as it were a Gulf unfathomable and impassable opening beneath our Feet and Heaven and Earth joining to push us down the Precipice
We yet lived a Month longer on coarse Bread and cold Water with a little Milk which we got now and then for the Child but I concealed from my Wife that we had not a single Sixpence now left upon Earth
I looked up to Heaven but without Love or Confidence Dreadful Power I cried who thus breakest to Powder the poor Vessels of thy Creation Thou art said to be a bounteous and benevolent Caterer to the Spawn of the Ocean and to the Worms of the Earth Thou clothest the Birds of the Air and the Beasts of the Forest they hunger and find a Banquet at Hand Thou sheddest the Dew of thy Comforts even on the Unrighteous thou openest thy Hand and all Things living are said to be filled with Plenteousness Are we alone excepted from the Immensity of thy Works shall the Piety of my Wife shall the Innocence of my Infant thus famish unregarded and unpitied before thee
Ah it is I who am the accursed Thing Who bring Plagues upon all with whom I am connected Even the Labours of my Life the Issues of my honest Industry have been changed by thy Ordinances into nothing but Damage To the Imprisonment of my Person to the Ruin of those who had the Misfortune to befriend me and to the Death Danger and Desolation of all whom I held dear I strive in vain with thy Omnipotence it is too mighty for me and crushes me below the Centre Pour out then the Vessels of thy Wrath upon my Head but on my Head alone O just Creator and take these LittleOnes to thy Mercy for they cannot have participated of the Guilt thou art pleased to impute to me
The Night was now advanced but that which fell upon my Soul was a Night which would admit no Ray of Comfort nor looked ever to behold another Morning I wished for Dissolution to myself to the Universe I wished to see the two Proprietors of my Souls late Affections now lying pale and breathless before my Eyes I would not have endured my Hell another Moment I would have given myself instant Death but I dreaded to leave my desolate Widow and helpless Orphan without a Friend as I then conceived either in Heaven or Earth
My Wife had lain down with her Infant on the Bed A sudden Reflection started My Death thought I may yet be useful to those for whom alone I could wish to live I rose frantically determined My Brain was on Fire I took down an old Pistol which hung in a Corner I put it into my Breast down Stairs I went and issued to the Street
I was bent on something desperate but knew not what I had not gone far when I saw a large Tavern open beside me I passed through the Entry and running up Stairs boldly entered the Dining Room where a numerous Company of Gentlemen sat round their Bottle I clapt to the Door and taking out the Pistol Gentlemen I cried I starve I die for Want resolve instantly to relieve or to perish along with me
They all fixed their Eyes upon me but the meager Frenzy as I suppose which they saw in my Countenance held them silent The Person who was nearest directly took out his Purse and presented it to me I again returned it to him and putting up my Pistol no no Sir I cried I will not take your Gold I am no Robber But give me some Silver among ye to keep awhile from the Grave three Creatures who famish amidst a plentiful World
They all as by one Consent put their Hands to their Pockets and instantly made a Heap of upward of three Pounds I devoured it with my Eyes I beheld it as a Mint of Money and panting and grappling at it like a Vulture I stuffed it into a side Pocket and being too full of Acknowledgment to thank my Benefactors by Word or Token I burst forth into Tears and turning from them I got once more into the Street without any Interruption
I made directly home and stepping softly up Stairs I first restored the Pistol to its old Station I then went to the Closet where my Wife lay still asleep I gently awaked her by the Fondness of my Caresses My
Arabella
I cried I have ventured out for the first Time and Heaven has sent us some small Relief by a Friend that I happened to meet Here my Love I said putting a Crown into her Hand call the Maid and send out for some comfortable Sustenance our Fast has been long indeed
Within a few Days our Strength and our Spirits began to recruit though we still continued to live much within the Bounds of Temperance My Soul again settled into a kind of sullen Calm and looked forth though at a Distance to some future Dawning
One Day as my Landladys Bible lay shut before me a sudden Thought occurred I breathed up to God a short and silent Ejaculation beseeching him to instruct me in what I ought to do by the Passage upon which my Thumb should happen to rest on opening the Book I instantly made the Venture and found the following Words
I will arise and go to my Father and will say unto him Father I have sinned against thee and before Heaven and am no more worthy to be called thy Son
Alas I was far from imagining at that Time that it was no other than my Father in Heaven who called me and who would thereby have directed and conducted me to himself
I puzzled and racked my Memory to discover in what I had given just Offence to my earthly Progenitor but resolved in all Events to observe the Admonition
In the Dusk of the Evening I tied my Handkerchief Sailorlike about my Neck I pulled my Wig forward and slouching my Hat I slid out of Doors and stooping Half double I limped with a counterfeited Gate toward my Fathers I was duely apprizd that if I knocked at the Door or directly enquired for him I should not be admitted I therefore walked to and again now near now aloof for near an Hour before his Door in patient Expectation of his Appearance
I had repeated this Exercise for five successive Evenings when the Door at length opened and a Servant in Livery came up and accosted me Is your Name
Clement
Sir Suppose it were says I Supposing so replied he I am ordered to tell you that my Master is well informed of all your wicked Designs and that if ever you appear again in Sight of his Windows he will send you to Newgate without Bail or Mainprize and prosecute you to the last of the Laws of the Land
We parted without another Word and I crossed over the Way to a Chandlers Shop The good Woman of the House also happened to sell some small Ale in her back Apartments I called for a Mugg and requested her Company for a few Minutes After some introductory Chat I addressed her in a Manner that I judged most engaging for one in her Sphere She very freely told me the History of my Father and his present Family and further that it was his Custom on every
Monday
and
Friday
to repair to the
Tradesmans Club
at the Golden Anchor in
TempleLane
about eight of the Clock at Night and not to return till about eleven
I went Home something satisfied with this Intelligence as I now knew where to find my unnatural Parent though his last barbarous and insulting Message had rendered me hopeless and quite averse to any kind of Application to him
We had now lived three Months longer on the last Booty or Charity I know not which to call it We were again reduced to the last Shilling and what was still worse our Landlady became importunate for her Quarters Rent My Wife had lately requested her to look out for some SempstryWork among the Neighbours This she promised to do but purposely declined as she and her Family got the Benefit of her Labour gratis
I began again to return to my former evil Thoughts I resolved to make War upon the whole Race of Man rather than my Wife and Infant should perish in my Sight But I reflected that it was more equitable to begin with a Father on whom Nature had given me a Right of Dependence than to prey upon Strangers on whom Necessity alone could give me any Claim
It was
Monday
Night The Clock struck ten I took down the old Pistol and marched toward the Anchor I patroled near the Place of Expectation above an Hour The Night was excessive dark and no Lamps in that Part at length I listened to the Sound of distant Steps and soon after heard a Voice cry Murder Murder Robbery Watch Watch
I ran to the Cry and perceived one Man on the Ground and another stooping in Act to rifle his Pockets I instantly drew my Pistol and striking at the Robbers Head with my full Force I laid him senseless on the Pavement I then gently raised the other who was bleeding and stunned by the Stroke he had received I supported him Step by Step toward a distant Lamp where at length we arrived and found a Tavern open I entered and ordered a Room with Fire and Lights and desired that a Surgeon should be immediately called The Gentleman whose Face was nearly covered with Blood and Dirt began now to recover his Strength and Senses I got him to swallow a small Dram of Spirits and he stepped with me up Stairs scarcely leaning on my Shoulder
While we sat at the Fire and a Napkin and warm Water were getting ready the Stranger grew passionate in his Acknowledgments for the Life which he said he owed me and which Service he promised to recompense to the Stretch of his Power and Fortunes But when he had washed and wiped away the Blood and Dirt from his Face Heaven what was my Emotion at the Sight of an Aspect once so loved and so revered all my Injuries and Resentments vanished instantly from my Memory I fell at his Knees with a great Cry Is it you then my Father my once dear my ever dear and lamented Father is it the Face of a Father that I at last behold I burst into Tears I wept aloud I interruptedly demanded will you not know me will you not own me will not Nature speak in you will you not acknowledge your Son your once beloved
Hammel
so long the Comfort of your Age and the Pride of your Expectations
While I spoke my Father looked wild and eager upon me He at length recollected me through all my Leanness and poor Apparel and hesitatingly replied I I I believe indeed you are my Child
Hammel
and strait fainted away
YOU are welcome my Friend But pray to what may I be indebted for the Favour of this Visit
In compliment to your Work rather than to its Author I confess that Curiosity impelled me hither in spite of some other urgent Occasions Indeed I heartily cursed the Intruders who disturbed us in so interesting a Point of the Story and I should not have slept since had I not in some Measure satisfied my Impatience by making out the Remainder in my own Mind
And pray how have you contrived the Business
In a way as I thought that could not be avoided The natural Affections of a Parent joined to the recent Obligations by which old
Clement
was bound to his Son must necessarily effect a perfect Reconciliation and all End as one would wish in future Prosperity In Truth I thought it full Time to put a Period to the Readers Distress by putting an End to those of the unfortunate
Clement
Happily guessed my Friend Your Imagination has supplied my Place to great Advantage To proceed would answer no Manner of Purpose
But then it struck me this Morning that the deplorable Condition in which these People were found could not be consistent with my Plan This has brought me in a Hurry I think that my Plan is still the right one I fear you have indulged yourself in the Marvellous at the Expence of Nature. It is the Fault of all Novellists I am in great Pain for you I cant conceive how you bring yourself off in this Plunge
Here Had you called sooner you would the sooner have had your Spleen or your Curiosity gratified
CHAP VIII
DURING his Fit the Surgeon came with his Instruments and Dressings and having in vain attempted to restore him by sprinkling Water in his Face and by the Application of Hartshorn to his Nose and Temples he took some Blood from him whereon he opened his Eyes and began to breathe with Freedom He then examined his Wound which was a little above his Forehead and declared it so slight as scarce to be an Excuse for keeping his Chamber The Surgeon having dressed it received his Fee and retired And my Father ringing for the Drawer ordered up a Flask of Burgundy with a cold Fowl Oyl and Vinegar
When the Table was laid and the Waiter desired to withdraw My Father again looking earnestly and compassively upon me I believe says he my Child may be hungry and strait his Countenance falling and the Muscles of his Lips beginning to work he broke into Tears Barbarous Wretch he exclaimed unnatural Ostrich who could thus leave the Firstbegotten of thy Bowels to the Nakedness of the Sands and to the Blasting of the Elements
No no my Father I cried again throwing myself on my Knees before him kill me not with your Tears crush me not with this your unmerited Concern all is well all is happy and blessed as I can bear it to be This Moment overpays my Years of Anguish it is like Heaven after passing the Vale of Death and mortal Sufferings
After Supper of which my Father scarce tasted he got up and as I rose at the same Time he stepped to me and catching me passionately in his Arms and putting his Neck across mine my Child he cried my beloved Child my Lifes blessed Preserver come once more to my Bosom enter thy forsaken Mansion too long has it been desart and desolate without thee But here I vow to the Almighty that no StepDames nor viperous Instruments shall ever hereafter insinuate between us accursed be they who shall attempt to divide us and may they come to an evil End who shall desire to deprive me of thee the Light of mine Eyes till I am cold and insensible to evry other Joy
While we sat over our Bottle my Father called for Ink and Paper and first presenting me with a Purse of fifty Guineas he again gave me a Bill at Sight on his Banker for five hundred Pounds I started up but stopping me he cried hold hold my
Hammy
I see myself overpaaid in the Acknowledgments of that dear though meagre Countenance and then as I kneeld before him with both Hands held over me and Eyes raised to Heaven he blessed me in an Ejaculation of the tenderest Ardour
The Reckoning being discharged and two Chairs ordered to the Door my Father desired me to meet him at the same Tavern the following Evening and said that in the mean Time he would think of settling some certain Income upon me and thus we parted as though our Souls had accompanied each other
It was now near Two oClock and the Morning bitter cold My
Arabella
had long since put her Child to Rest and I found her in Tears by a Fire scarce alive She started up on my entering her Face gleamed with a sickly Joy and she uttered some soft Reproaches of Love and Apprehension for my Absence at those Hours
Before I ventured to let in the full Tide of our returning Happiness on her weak and alarmed Spirits I took out some Confections and a Pint of Sack which I had purposely brought in my Pocket I broke some Naple Biscuit into a Cup and pouring some of the Wine upon it I set her the Example and prevaild on her to eat
Mean while she gazed earnestly and inquisitively in my Face My
Hammy
she tenderly cried what is the meaning of this What Eyes are these
Hammy
what new kind of a Countenance is this you have brought home to me Ah forbid it my God that the Darling of my Soul should have done any Thing criminal First perish your
Arabella
perish also her Infant rather than on our Account or on any Account the least of the Virtues of my
Hammy
should be lost
No no my Angel I cried Daughter of highest Heaven God has been wonderfully gracious to me he blesses me for your Sake my
Arabella
I have seen my Father we are happily reconciled and Famine and Affliction shall come near us no more
I then took the Bellows and lighted up a good Fire and while we were emptying our Pint of which I compelled my Wife to take the larger Share I gave her a transporting Detail of what had passed and poured my Purse of Guineas into her Lap So we went to Bed in Peace regardless of Futurity the Happiest of all the Pairs on whom the succeeding Sun arose
We lay in Bed till the Day was far advanced I then ordered some comforting white Wine Caudle for Breakfast and calling up the Landlady I discharged our Quarters Rent
When she was dismissed I consulted with my Wife whether she would chuse to retire to
France
or
Holland
or rather to
York
or some other remote Place within the Kingdom But reflecting again on the present Excess of my Fathers Tenderness for me she joined in thinking it adviseable to act with his Concurrence and I determined that very Evening to reveal to him in Confidence the whole pathetic History of our Marriage and Adventures
Mean while I thought it best in all Events to secure the Means of moderately compassing our Purpose by taking up the £500 from my Fathers Banker I found by Experience that I had now little to fear from being known to any one My shabby Apparel and emaciated Face and Limbs that had prevented the Knowledge and Remembrance of a Father appeared a double Security against all other Eyes I therefore adventured though not without Circumspection to Mr
Giles
s in
Lombard Street
and presenting my Bill demanded Payment
My Friend said Mr
Giles
it is not two Hours since a Stop was put to the Payment of that Draught and I was desired at the same Time to put this Paper into the Hands of the Party who should call So saying he gave me a Note which I opened with a Trepidation that was turned into Agony on reading the following Words
To
Hammel Clement
MOST subtle and most accursed of all cruel Contrivers thou didst thyself then set that Villain on thy foolish and fond Father by whom his Blood was shed and his Life nearly lost I renounce thee I abjure thee from henceforth and for ever And as I continue to disclaim all Sorts of Ties with thee either here or hereafter so may Heaven continue to prosper
Bartholomew Clement
On reading this dreadful Paper I retired from the Counter without speaking a Word I got home I know not how for I neither knew what I did nor considered what I was about I walked up Stairs without perceiving that I was followed But I had scarce got into my Room when five or six Men entered almost along with me and one of them stepping directly up to my Wife cried Mistress I arrest you in his Majestys Name
Hereat I turned and was stunned and rouzed again in an Instant I caught up the Poker and aiming at a well dressed Man whose Face was not wholly unknown and who appeared the most active and joyous of the Crew I missed the Crown of his Head but tore off one Ear and cut him through his Cloaths and Shoulder to the Bone I then flew upon the rest I dealt my Blows with inconceivable Fury and Quickness I cleared my Room in a few Seconds and though several Shots were fired at me from the Stairs I chased them all to the Entry and returning to my
Arabella
I barrocaded the Door
It was then that she interposed and dropping on her Knees before me what is my
Hammy
about she cried what Madness has possessed my Love Would you be guilty of actual and instant Murders through a rash and vain Attempt of rescuing from our Laws a Person whom neither God nor Man hath yet condemned This indeed were to ensure the Ruin you apprehend Ah no my Hearts Master let us neither commit nor fear Iniquity Join with me my
Hammy
let us trust in our GOD and nothing but Good can happen unto us
While she spoke the late Terrors of her Countenance disappeared and her Aspect was gradually overspread with a Serenity to be imagined in some Measure from the Face of an Evening Heaven in Autumn when the Songs of Harvest are heard through the Villages all about
I gazed on her with a speechless and complacent Reverence She gently took the Weapon from my unresisting Hand and leading me back she seated me in the furthest Chair She then removed every Bar and Obstacle to their Entrance The Stairs were now filled with People who had been called to the Assistance of the Kings Officers but they still appeared apprehensive and fearful of advancing
Gentlemen said
Arabella
be pleased to walk in I deliver myself peaceably into your Hands ye shall find no further Opposition to his Majesty or the Laws. The Officers accordingly entered but bowing and with a timid kind of Respect neither did any of them offer to lay a Hand upon her Good God Madam exclaimed the Foremost is it possible you should be guilty of the Crimes laid to your Charge by that Rascal whom your Husband has Half killed He is carried off to the Doctors but I think in my Conscience that he has got his Deserts and as for the few Hurts that we have received we excuse your Husband Madam for your Sake and we think him the braver and the better Man for what he did By my Soul sweet Madam you are well worth defending
I thank ye Gentlemen said my Wife gracefully smiling and curtseying pray be pleased to sit while I prepare to attend you I am guilty indeed of the Death of a Man and yet guilty of nothing that I would not repeat in the Defence of Virtue But Gentlement says she again smiling you are likely to be troubled with more Prisoners than you look for One of them indeed is young and as little meaning of Harm to any One as his Mother I must therefore beg your Indulgence in sending for a Coach and pray do me the Favour to accept this Trifle as the Means of washing away Animosity between you and my Husband So saying she presented their Chief with a Guinea who rising and awfully bowing ordered one of the others to step for a Coach
Had the Harp of
Orpheus
been tuned like the Voice of my
Arabella
at this Season it is not to be wondered that Tigers should grow tame and Bears crouch down before him and lick his Feet Since Wretches like these hardened in hourly Acts of Insolence and Inhumanity were now awed to downcast Reverence and on her Return from the Closet with her Infant in her Arms dropped a Tear of still Compassion as though they had not wholly forgotten that they were born of Women
In the mean Time my Fury having subsided at the Instance of my Wife I should certainly have fainted if I had not been relieved by a Gush of Tears which I endeavoured to conceal by turning aside and putting my Hankerchief to my Face A Cloud of thick Darkness again overspread my Soul and every internal Idea grew pregnant and laboured with Apprehension and Horror I cursed my Meeting with my Father and his treacherous Appearance of Bounty which had served to bring this decisive Ruin upon us and I looked upon Fortune as solicitous and industrious to bring Evil and Destruction out of every Presentment and Promise of Advantage
Being conducted to Newgate I agreed with the Keeper for a tolerable Apartment at two Guineas
per
Week and putting on the best Cheer I could affect before my Wife I sent out for a nourishing Dinner For I judged it late to be frugal when Death was at our Door and I had determined not to survive my
Arabella
a Moment
The Day following I procured Copies of the Depositions of the three Witnesses the First of whom was our own Servant Maid These I laid before two of the most learned in the Law but received no Consolation from their Report They told me that had my Wife been actually guilty of the Robbery as alledged she might have had some Prospect of being acquitted of the Murder by being enabled to bribe off the Evidence But that if she was really innocent of the Robbery as I affirmed it then became the very Cause as well as Interest of the guilty Evidence to have her condemned on both Articles of Accusation
As the fearful Day approached I bought at second hand two decent Suits of Mourning with the requisite Appendages for my Wife and myself Whenever I could get apart I was drowned in my Tears and Half suffocated by my Sobs and I did every Thing but pray for my
Arabella
for I could not think of lifting my Heart to a Heaven where I had lost all Dependance
In the mean Time my Beloved daily recovered Felsh and Health Her Eyes grew more brilliant her Complexion more clear her Countenance was as the Surface of a Depth of Peace and I gathered I knew not why a kind of reflected Confidence by beholding her Aspect
Early on the fatal Morning when I had left her within at her Prayers and had pulled my Hat over my Eyes and sat down in a Corner to vent the Throbbings of my Heart I cast my Eye on a Paper that appeared from under the Door I took it up with Precipitation and in it found the following Lines
I
Though Mountains threat thy naked Head
Though circling Gulfs around thee close
Though Help is distant Hope is dead
Though Eearth and Hell are sworn thy Foes
II
Yet Heavn their Malice shall defy
And strong in last Extremes to save
Shall stand with guardian Seraphs nigh
And with thy Slandrers glut the Grave
I had no sooner read this Paper than I dropped down involuntarily on my Knees My Hands clenched together and I breathed up a most ardent Petition that some overruling Power would take my
Arabella
under his Protection
Soon after she came forth adorned like the Moon when girt about with Clouds through whose Blackness her Beauty breaks forth with improved Lustre
While we fat at Breakfast I presented her with the Verses She read them over and over with deep Attention and then returning them with a Smile this says she has been the Stratagem of some very charitable Person who judged that Hope was wanting to support me at such a Trial
As the dreadful Hour was at Hand and as I had considered before now that at last it must come I had prepared a small Bottle of Salts and a Cordial to support myself as well as my Wife from an unseemly Dejection of Spirits in Court
Ah Sir can you tell me how one Thing should come to pass can you account for this most extraordinary of all the Workings in human Nature That a Man at some times should more feelingly live or die in Others than in himself Had I been called to my last Audit had the Decision of my own Existence been at Stake my Apprehensions as I think could not have equalled what I felt at that Period
At length the Keeper appeared and warned my
Arabella
that she must speedily set out I turned instantly cold and pale and it was long before I recovered Strength to rise from my Chair In the mean Time my Wife returned to our Bedchamber and bringing out her Infant gave him in Charge to a Nursekeeper she then held her Hands over him and raised her Eyes to Heaven in Blessing for some Time Again she fixed them on his Face and gazing upon him as it were for a last farewel Look Tear dropped after Tear in a pathetic and affectionate Silence
Being conducted to the
OldBaily
my Wife on entering the Court turned suddenly pale and her Countenance was downcast with a Diffidence that she could not for some Time overcome The Concourse was excessively great and chiefly consisting of the Nobility and Gentry of both Sexes The great Man himself was there with a Croud of his Dependents and all the male and female Relations and Friends of the Deceased
I gave my
Arabella
the Salts to smell to and as she weakly and bashfully advanced to the Bar a confused and jarring Murmur was heared on all Sides and the Words
Impudence
and
Innocence
resounded throughout
When according to Order she had held up her Hand and heared her Indictment the Judge with a Countenance and Voice equally stern demanded Guilty or not Guilty She answered Guilty my Lord I confess of the Death of Lord
Stivers
but never guilty of any Kind of Robbery or Malice Woman said the Judge you confess yourself guilty and I should proceed to your Sentence But I ask you for the last Time Guilty or not Guilty Not guilty my Lord she then rejoined if to do what I approve and shall never repent of is not to be guilty
Again the Murmur was repeated but continued much longer and with more Virulence on the one Part and more Concern on the other
I shall not detain you Sir with an Account of the Examination of the two first Witnesses one of whom had been our own Servant Girl and the other the principal Footman of Lord
Stivers
They had all Manner of Encouragement and Countenance from the Court and concurred in evry Circumstance that coud serve for Condemnation The Sound of Triumph was heared through all the Gentry and the Populace sighingly gave my
Arabella
for lost
The third Witness was then called He was a very genteel and modestlooking young Man and was now out of Livery
My Lord says he with a respectful but resolute Voice before I give my Testimony in this Case I request that the two first Witnesses should be taken into Custody Into Custody cried the Judge do you know what you say I do know what I say my Lord and I repeat my Request that they should be taken into Custody Why Friend said the Judge they are as you are they are Witnesses for the Crown against a Criminal and no Man has a Right to order them into Custody I say rejoined the Youth with an Air still more determined that they are Witnesses against Innocence against his Majesty and against the Laws. That they alone are criminal that I am Evidence against them and I again require it of your Lordship of the Jury and of all present that they should not be permitted to make their Escape
I see exclaimed the Judge you are a prevaricating Villain but I shall trounce you before we part Where is this Fellows Examination
My Lord my Lord said the young Man with somewhat of a severe and sarcastical Tone You were not placed there to prejudicate in any Matter no more than I was called here to be Browbeat and sentenced without Trial If you find that I prevaricate if you desire to fift me as Wheat and find any Chaff in me I refuse not the bitterest Punishment that our Laws can inflict But as your Lordship observes I am an Evidence for the Crown and his Majesty God be praised will not fix his Tribunal in any Unrighteousness I therefore demand to be heared in the Cause to which I am cited and all present shall be assured that I speak nothing but the Truth And you Gentlemen of the Jury I petition you to intercede in favour of Equity with his Lordship and to prevail that these Criminals for such I affirm them to be should not be suffered to get away And further that they should be instantly searched and all that is found about them reserved for the Inspection of yourselves and his Lordship
My Lord said the Foreman I humbly conceive that no ill Consequence can ensue from searching and setting a Watch over those People their Testimony is already given and cant be invalidated thereby
I cannot agree to it answered the Judge They are free Subjects There is no Indictment nor Deposition against them They are, also, Evidence for his Majesty and are therefore under his peculiar Protection But I would willingly hear what this Fellow this Turncoat has to say for himself
My Lord replied the Youth I now stand before a Tribunal that is infinitely more aweful than that of your Lordship And provided I approve my Truth before God I shall be the less afflicted for having fallen under your Lordships Displeasure My Name is
Edward Longfield
I was born to happier Prospects My Father was a Gentleman And about eighteen Months ago I took the Degree of Batchelor at Queens College in
Oxford
But Misfortunes and Misunderstandings happening in our Family I was left to be the Former of my own Fortunes and arriving at
London
I was taken into Service by my late Lord
Stivers
He grew fond of me beyond my Merits and I began to partake of his Friendship and Confidence at the Time that I was deprived of the most generous of Masters by the most unhappy of all Events
My Lord had one Foil to his many Virtues It was an invincible Passion for FemaleBeauty The last Night of his Life having called me aside
Ned
says he I must take you on an Adventure Tomorrow I have positively the finest Girl in the Universe in Chase and I must enjoy her in all Events But the Devil ont is that she is virtuous though I hope not incorruptible I have put her Husband out of the Way upon a feigned Action for Debt and I have bribed her Maid over to my Party So that I have nothing to contend with but her own lovely Person and that will be the sweetest Dispute in the World Sure my Lord I cried you wouldnt force her Pshaw said he damn your impertinent Scruples Another such Word
Ned
and you are blown with me I can tell you A fine Woman my Lad must be won at any Rate if she is garrisoned with Virtue and cannot be got by Stratagem she must be taken by Storm
The Day following my Lord took me and his Footman
Robert
there who is one of the Witnesses to a Tavern directly opposite to the House of the Prisoner He dined there alone and kept us in waiting most Part of the Afternoon in expectation of Intelligence from that other Witness there who has borne false Testimony against her Mistress As he looked out from Time to Time at one of the Street Windows he at last as I suppose received the appointed Signal for hurrying down Stairs he ordered us to follow The Door was purposely held open for us by that Woman Is all safe
Deb
says my Lord Yes says
Deb
but may I depend on these who come with you You may Child cries my Lord they are my own People Its very well cries
Deb
I have just got Miss
Hodgins
out of your Way My Mistress is above and alone for want of better Company To her then my Lord she is a Dish for an Emperor But if she should prove too many for you I know where the Shame will lie for ever Well well cries my Lord shut the Door softly
Deb
and take these Lads down with you to the Kitchen But whatever ye hear on your Lives let me have no Stir I charge ye So saying my Lord went tripping up Stairs and we followed that bad Woman to her darker Region
I soon observed that my Campanion Mr
Robert
there was intent on making up his Acquaintance with Mrs
Deborah
and as I found myself extremely uneasy I gave them the slip without being observed and stealing up Stairs I put my Ear to the Door where I heared the Voice of my Master Blessed Heaven to what surpassing Sentiments was I then an amazed Witness to what Proofs of a Virtue that cannot be rated at less than Divine If I should not be tedious I would deliver to the Court to you my Lord in particular and to you Gentlemen of the Jury the best Account I can of those wonderful Passages
Hear him hear him hear him was then almost the universal Cry till he was permitted by the Bench and desired by the Jury to speak with Freedom
He then repeated in a more ample and pathetic Manner all that passed as I have told you between Lord
Stivers
and my Wife But stopping as he drew near to the fatal Catastrophe I could no longer bear he said the piercing Cries and agonizing Shrieks of such Virtue in such Extremity Had I any kind of Weapon I thought I should have done my Lord good Service by protecting the Purity he was about to violate But I trembled and grew exceeding sick and hastning down to the Kitchen I threw myself into a Chair and swooned away
While I was in my Fit and that
Robert
and
Deborah
were busy about me The fatal Stroke as I imagine was given and the Prisoner made her Escape with her Infant in her Arms When I was somewhat recovered and had taken a Dram of Mrs
Deborah
s Bottle she put down the Kettle and invited us to a Dish of Tea I requested my Companions from Time to Time to step out and listen but they reported that all was quiet above Stairs and when I wondered at this tut says
Deborah
the Lovers have made it up before now I warrant and my Mistress is so well pleased with what she was forced to that its well for your Master if he gets off before Midnight
At length it grew darkish and being all of us surprizd that no Candles were called for we went in a Body up Stairs and
Deborah
ventured gently to tap at the Door but hearing no Voice nor Stirring in the Chamber she turned the Bolt softly and peeping in she gave a loud Shriek and drew suddenly back again We then entered together and as I was prepared by my Knowledge of the Ladys Virtue for some dreadful Catastrophe I was the less shocked and concerned at what I beheld
The Floor was Half covered with clotted Blood My Master lay in the Midst already stiff and cold and Part of the fatal Scissars was still within the Wound We all stood for some Time in silent Astonishment and then with joint Tears lamented his Fate At length says
Deborah
I would gladly see if my bloody Mistress has taken Care to provide for her Journey So saying she stooped and taking his Lordships Purse from his Pocket she counted down two hundred and ninety seven Guineas She then took out his fine GoldRepeater and next his Gold SnuffBox and last took his large Diamond Ring from his Finger
Come my Lads says
Deborah
my Lords Silence gives Consent and we can no more be said to rob this Piece of Earth than the People in the Mines who gather Gold from Clay If my Mistress is ever taken she must suffer Death for the Murder and they can do no more to her for the Robbery and twenty such Matters together If you will therefore be of my Counsel we will comfort ourselves as we ought for this melancholy Business and share a Prize between us that no one else has a Right to and that no Body will want
Robert
did not hesitate long In a little Time he appeared more sanguine than
Deborah
herself and they urged me to join them by a Number of interesting and cajoling Instances I was dispirited I was affrightened I saw a Scene of Blood and Slaughter before me and I doubted not that if I refused them I should be made the second Victim to their Resentment and Avarice I pretended to value the Watch at an unmeasurable Rate and that I should be greatly the Gainer if I got it for my Dividend Mrs
Deborah
then went to her Mistresses Drawers and taking out Half a Dozen of Silver Spoons a Tea Equipage and several Articles in Laces and Cambricks she fairly laid them before us and observed at the same Time that her Mistress would not call in a Hurry to demand them and that the Landlord would take all if we did not come in for Snacks She then made a new Division she compelled me further to accept of the SnuffBox She gave the Purse of Gold intire to
Robert
and contented herself with the Diamond Ring some Gold Medals my Lords Handkerchief and the Plunder of her Mistress
While Mr
Longfield
was in this Part of his Testimony the Foreman of the Jury cried out Stay Sir Good People pray stop those Witnesses there I see they are making off And now do us the Favour to search their Pockets and to put what ye find into two Hats severally and to hand them up to us
This being accordingly done Mr
Longfield
says the Foreman be pleased now to proceed
I have little further to say replied Mr
Longfield
Here is my noble Masters Watch and here is his SnuffBox They are undoubtedly known to many honourable Persons at present in Court And I bless my God that I have been enabled to preserve them for the Vindication of Innocence and the Illustration of Virtue at this Day
Here Mr
Longfield
paused and the Judge cried out Clerk hand me up the Examination of this Prevaricator This his Lordship perused with a Countenance and Scrutiny apparently inveterate But finding that the Deponent had not touched upon the Robbery and that neither the Words
feloniously
nor
of malice
were inserted in that Part that referred to the Death of Lord
Stivers
he tore the Examination into twenty Pieces Come come he cried again I have not yet done with this same
Longfield
I perceive perfectly well how he came by the Watch and SuffBox The Transference was not difficult from the Prisoner who stole them to this her Confederate But tell us my wonderfully honest Friend How came you to keep these Things from their lawful Owners for the very long Space of twelve Months and upward Why did you not immediately or long before now give Examinations against those whom you so suddenly take it into your Head to accuse And why would you suffer that so exceeding chaste and innocent Lady to labour all this Time under the Infamy with which her Character in my Judgment is still justly loaded
To all these Questions Mr
Longfield
barely smiled but bowing with his Head and making a Motion with his Hand to two Gentlemen who sat on one Side in the Gallery Mr
Archibald
an eminent Merchant and an Alderman of the City got up and spoke to the following Effect
I wish my Lord that I could as well content your Lordship as I can satisfy the Jury and all others present on the Articles you require The Day immediately succeeding this fatal Accident Mr
Longfield
came to me and in presence of Mr
Truelove
here my worthy and substantial Neighbour gave a Detail almost Word for Word of all that he has this Hour deposed in Court He then deposited the Watch and SnuffBox with us and did not reclaim them till early this Morning As I am of his Majestys Peace he also gave in this Examination before me which however I must not venture to hand over to your Lordship till I have your previous Engagement that you will not tear it I thereupon offered to issue Warrants for apprehending the Delinquents but Mr
Longfield
most sensibly and judiciously observed that such a Step must unquestionably shut the Door against Justice and all Knowledge of the Truth That the Criminals were Two to One against their Accuser That on the slightest Alarm they would infallibly abscond Or make away with the Effects of which they now held themselves the peaceable and unquestioned Possessors Or contrive some further Plot to invalidate his Evidence Or probably make him away by Pistol or Poison and so deprive that unhappy Gentlewoman of the only Witness of her Innocence But says he if they are permitted to enter the Court under the Confidence of my Confederacy they will have no Reserve upon them no foreformed Evasions or Contrivances for Escape My unexpected Testimony will suddenly confound their Guilt and they may happen to carry some Articles about them which might serve for their Conviction beyond ten Witnesses
In the mean Time Mr
Longfield
Mr
Truelove
and I were solicitous and unwearied in our Inquiries after the unfortunate Prisoner that we might persuade her to stand her Trial and to deliver herself up to Justice But all our Search proved fruitless till the Day in which she was discovered and taken
Here Mr
Archibald
ended and the Judge exclaimed Crier call the two first Witnesses into Court that we may hear what they say to this fair Weather Speech The Crier accordingly vociferated several
O Yeses
for
Deborah Skinner
and
Robert Callan
to come into Court But had they been within call they did not chuse to hear During the Attention of the Court and Jury to Alderman
Archibald
they had imperceptibly slipped behind their next Neighbours and proceeding in like Manner from one to another they at length confounded themselves with the Crowd and got clear off
My Lord then began to sum his Charge to the Jury and dwellt with much Emphasis on some Articles Here says he we have lost a Nobleman a Minister one of the first Ornaments of our Country and Stays of our Land And what I pray ye have we got in recompence of this great Damage Why my Friends we have got a new Thing upon the Earth we have got a Saving of the Honour of a Milliner But if this Princess is inviolate as still is pretended how come she to be guilty of this most horrid of all Murders before she knew to what Extremity his Lordship would have proceeded How did she dare capitally to execute a Peer of the Realm on a simple Attempt for which our Laws would not have confined a common Porter This Woman must certainly have been a Trader in Blood and her felonious Intents and Malice are fully expressed in the very peculiar Use and Inhumanity of the Weapon with which she perpetrated this most desperate Deed You need not therefore Gentlemen go out of you Box to bring her in guilty of the Murder I will not affirm with equal Certainty touching the Robbery And yet to me it is apparent that she could not have enterprised so barbarous a Fact if she had not done it in Prospect of plundering the Deceased But as she is capitally punishable in the first Instance; I leave ye Gentlemen to determine of the Second at Pleasure
First permit us my Lord replied the Foreman to examine what we have got in these Hats He then drew a long Purse from among the Relicks of
Robert
and having counted out seventy Guineas Mr
Longfield
says he would you know my Lords Purse If it is my Masters Purse said
Longfield
it is of green Silk and has toward the Top a Coronet and the Letter
S
wrought under it in Silver Twist The very same Sir indeed rejoined the Foreman And now let us see what Mrs
Deborah
might have got in her honest Keeping So saying he took from the second Hat a small Wooden Box It was nearly stuffed with Cotton in which he found my Lords Diamond Ring three Gold Medals and the Ends of the Handles of several silver Spoons Mrs
Clement
says he I imagine we may have got some of your Property among us Pray had you any Mark to your Silver Spoons Yes Sir said she scarce audible a
G
at Top for
Graves
and a
D
and
A
below for
Dorothy
and
Arabella
I wish Madam replied this Gentleman that we were equally enabled to find an Equivalent for your Merits as to restore to you this trifling Remnant of your Rights
Come Gentlemen cried the Judge the Day wears apace It is Time for ye to retire and consult on the Verdict ye are to bring in
My Lord answered the Foreman you truely observed that we need not leave our Box for the Purpose you require We are already agreed and unanimous in our Verdict And I would to Heaven that we were not confined on this Occasion to literal Precedents and Forms of Law that we might give a Verdict some way adequate to the Merits of the Prisoner who however depressed by Fortune is superior in all Excellencies whom we judge to be an Honour to HumanNature and the first Grace and Ornament of her own Sex But since we are limited by Custom in these Matters We do say with one Voice and a Conscience that compells us to Utterance Not Guilty my Lord not guilty
The Words were scarce pronounced when the CourtHouse was almost split by a sudden Peal Hats Caps and Wigs universally filled the Air and jostled against eachother The Triumph was caught and echoed by the Crouds without and the Sound was repeated and floated from Street to Street till it seemed to die away in distant Parts of the City
My Wife then turned gracefully Curtsying to the Foreman I thank you Sir says she I thank ye Gentlemen says she again Curtsying to the Rest of the Jury And then glancing modestly round she saluted the Assembly and sat down But I could not contain my Gratitude my Transport overpowered me and falling on my Knees and lifting my Hands toward the Jury GOD alone can reward ye Gentlemen I cried may he for ever preserve the Prosperities Honours and Families of the worthy Citizens of
London
from Violation and Insult
I then rose hastily I slipped out of the Bar and rushing up to Mr
Longfield
I catched him eagerly about the Neck I could not speak I hid my Face in his Bosom and broke into Tears He attempted to disengage himself but I held him fast I believe said he you must be Mr
Clement
I congratulate you Sir with all my Soul But you owe me nothing I barely did my Duty
O my Friend my Brother my Preserver I cried I owe you more than Life Existence had been my greatest of Curses without you That I am not at this Moment the deepest damned of the Creation That I find myself the most blessed of all Beings To you alone it is owing my
Longfield
my Deliverer Nay hope not to escape me we never more must part You are my Captive for Life And I and all that I am or have is yours to Eternity
As the People within and without were still in great Commotion the Court appeared much alarmed and the Judge and most of the Gentry made homeward through a private Door that opened into a back Alley But their Fears were groundless For the Croud was wholly intent on another Object and impatiently waited for a Sight of my
Arabella
As she walked forward attended by Mr
Longfield
and myself they made way for her on either Hand and the Atmosphere again rung with Shouts and Acclamations So sincere is the Respect that the Populace pay to Virtue and such is their Exultation when Innocence rises superior to Oppression But when Innocence and Virtue are accompanied by Beauty their Reverence grows almost criminal and approaches to Adoration
Thus we returned to
Newgate
amidst the Blessings Prayers and Praises of a yielding Multitude who still respectfully opened as
Arabella
advanced The Windows on all Sides poured forth Congratulations and those through whom we had passed pressed forward for another Sight as though their Eyes could not be satisfied with beholding
Before we entered her late Prison my Wife turned about and curtsied three or four Times to her numerous Attendants with an acknowledging Grace and Humility that seemed oppressed by their Favours She then entered hastily and running up Stairs she caught her Child from the Nursekeeper She held him some Time in her Arms her Bosom gently heaved and the Tears rolled in Silence down her placid Countenance But on our Approach she turned suddenly into the Bedchamber shut to the Door and continued there in private for near an Hour
In the mean Time I sent out for a warm Dinner and a Bottle of Wine Mr
Longfield
now told me that he had often been tempted to introduce himself to us during my Wifes Confinement but he feared that the Discovery of any Acquaintance or Correspondence between us might prejudice
Arabella
upon her Trial And that therefore he had made use of the little Stratagem of the Verses which he had thrust under our Door in order to preserve us from a total Depression of Spirits
When the Cloth was laid I whispered gently through the Keyhole to my
Arabella
and soon after she came forth with a Harmony and Beatitude of Motion and Aspect as though she had instantly dropped from that Heaven which had wholly possessed her during her Absence
At Table Mr
Longfield
gave us some Heads of his History He further told us that since the Death of his late Lord he had entered into another Service but that he had been out of Place for about a Month past I have saved says he about thirty Guineas of my Wages but that is not the whole of my Treasure This Morning as I was just upon entering the Court a very comely Gentlewoman twitched me by the Sleeve She asked me if my Name was not
Longfield
and if I was not one of the Witnesses on the impending Trial When I answered in the Affirmative she took me a little aside and putting ten Guineas into my Hand keep up said she to your Evidence be zealous in avenging the Blood of your Lord and this is not the last Gratification which you shall receive
After some further Discourse I called up the Keeper discharged the Reckoning and Fees and returned Thanks for his Civility and particular Respects to my
Arabella
I then sent for a Coach and we drove Home together
On the Way I prevailed upon Mr
Longfield
to take up his Lodgings at Mrs
Jennett
s provided he could be accommodated at a reasonable Rate
Mrs
Jennett
received us with warm Congratulations we immediately ordered the Kettle down and invited her to a Dish of Tea over which she agreed with our Friend for the Street Room on the same Floor at three Shillings
per
Week
The Day following I left Mr
Longfield
to entertain my
Arabella
I went to our late Landlord and called him to an Accout for the Furniture we had left in his House Hereupon he produced an Inventory of Particulars taken upon Oath with the Bill of Appraisment and Sale and returned me the Surplus that remained over the Rent amounting to somewhat upward of nine Pounds
Deborah
as I suppose had carried off whatever was most valuable and portable
I then hastened to the Miss
Hodginses
they received me with such Transports as my Heart found to be unfeigned They already knew the happy Tidings They huddled on some loose Matters and away we tripped together with all possible Dispatch
The Meeting was accompanied by many tender and mutual Tears Ah my Love cried the Eldest of the Miss
Hodginses
Pride and Beauty of your Sex how jealous we are of you We went Yesterday to your Trial with the most substantial of our Friends in order to give you a Character if required but you neither called upon us nor would look on the Side where we stood Ah my dear Girls my sweet Friends cried
Arabella
how could I hope or imagine that you would acknowledge or even think of so low and lost a Wretch as I was
Arabella
was now at Liberty to revisit her old Acquaintance She was caressed more than ever and took in so much Work that she was obliged to hire a Girl to attend the Child
I was now at the very Pinnacle of human Happiness I had twenty Guineas left of the fifty I got from my Father My Wife earned from two to her three Shillings
per
Day And Mr
Longfield
who generally dieted with us frequently brought Tea and Sugar or a Bottle of Cordial or some such Matter in his Pocket which he pretended to have gotten excessively cheap or as a Present
Thus we lived in a Kind of frugal Affluence Affliction was no more The Remembrance of Distress and Poverty had vanished as a Dream Our Days moved upon Down and Joy and Peace nightly prepared our Pillows
Happy Days happy Hours above the Lot of Mortality Heaven preserve me from ever tasting the like again lest they also should be attended by so terrible a Reverse
Mr
Longfield
was very lovely in his Person and Manners He had made the Belles Letters his peculiar Study and he used to procure a Variety of entertaining Novels and Memoirs in
French
which he read fluently into
English
while my Wife was at Work We had contracted a Friendship which I imagined too strict for Time or Chance to untie and I loved him the better for his Attention to my
Arabella
whose Entertaiment seemed to form the chief Delight of his Life
I gave him my Story in Parts from Time to Time and he had plentifully watered the several Passages with his Tears His own Experience had taught him to join with Mr
Goodville
in thinking that the Education of a mere Scholar was no way suited to the common Occasions of Life He therefore introduced me to Mr
Marfelt
his late Master to whom he had recommended me as private Tutor to his Son and we agreed at £50
per Ann
to commence as soon as the young Gentleman should descend from the Nursery
Mr
Longfield
as I told you was very lovely in his Person and he daily became more amiable and engaging in my Eyes I was pleased that he appeared in the same Light to my Wife She was indebted to him for her Life and in her I held myself indebted to him for all Things I thought that we could never love him enough and I daily and nightly importuned my
Arabella
to affect him with a Tenderness equal to my own
At length I became uneasy I knew not why nor wherefore I grew diffident at the Comparison which I made in my Mind between
Longfield
and myself and I was disgusted as it were with my own Demerits wherefore I grew dejected and dispirited and yet affected to appear the reverse of what I was I however sighed in secret When I could form a Pretence for retiring or going abroad I took a solitary Walk or withdrew to some Recess where I lightened my Oppression by a loose to my Tears and I was thereby the better enabled to seem cheerful on my Return and to assume a Face of Gaiety that was foreign to my Heart Ah are not the real Evils of Life sufficient Yet Man adds to the Heap by his tendency to realize what is merely imaginary
The Source of my Malady was now no longer a Secret to me My
Longfield
I cried to myself my
Arabella
my Angel you are still faithful my
Longfield
you are still chaste my
Arabella
and there is nothing wherewith I can reproach the one or the other But you are both of ye too amiable you are fitted for eachother Your
Clement
loves ye too well to be a Bar to your Happiness You Two are the whole Treasure and Delight of his Existence He will have no Bliss but yours your Happiness shall be his and he will die to accomplish it since his Life is an Interruption
I was pleased that I daily declined but the Affectation of Cheerfulness became irksome and painful to me One Night as we sat together my Wife looked at me with an affectionate Disturbance what is the Matter
Hammy
she cried What is come over my Love You look not you speak not like the once fond the delighting and delighted Consort of your
Arabella
Ah I cried it is enough I die and I die contented since I leave the only two happy for whom I could wish to live What is this I hear
Hammy
replied my
Arabella
you die you say and you say also that you die contented Ah You love me no longer what Business have I then any longer to live she would have said but she instantly swooned
My Eyes were suddenly opened I cursed my infatuating Jealousy I wished for instant Death to rid me of my Confusion Neither did I dare to look up into the Face of my injured Friend who by this as I feared had discovered my Folly and who all trembling and pale as Death was assiduous in helping to the Recovery of my Wife
At length she opened her Eyes and looking about with a languid kind of Displeasure Mr
Longfield
says she your Services have been great but at present I am not under any Necessity for your Assistance whereupon he silently bowed and withdrew to his Apartment
I then dropped on my Knees before her My
Arabella
my Angel I cried Loveliest of Womankind most consummate of human Creatures But here with a forbidding Hand and a Countenance averted no
Hammy
no says she in a Voice interrupted by Tears after what has passed your Lips I cannot be deceived and I will not be comforted You would leave me you say
Hammy
and you would leave me forlorn But I will not be forsaken I will prevent your Unkindness I will go where I shall not be altogether friendless Ah my Aunt my all Relations in One why did you abandon me You thought you left me the World in this Husband this Friend and Protector as you called him But he says he is contented to part and he bids me be happy without him I come then my dear Aunt I will rejoin you my beloved Parent you will take your forsaken
Arabella
to your Bosom You will comfort her the best you can and we will part no more
Here her Words were suffocated by Sobs and a Burst of Affliction But still continuing my Posture I am guilty my Love I cried I am guilty past Pardon Alas you have been wedded to Weakness and Frailty ill deserving of Purity and Perfection like yours But I will live if you desire it my
Arabella
I will live to repent my Follies and to repair my Defaults But I cannot a Minute longer survive your Displeasure
She then beckoned me to rise and sit beside her which I did when reaching one Arm about my Neck and gently leaning over she joined her Face to mine and silently shed her Sorrows into my Bosom
Soon after I perceived that she was seized with a kind of shivering and calling to the Girl I ordered her in all Haste to warm the Bed and I assisted my Wife directly to undress
As soon as she lay down and was somewhat composed I stepped to my Friends Apartment I found him leaning on a Table with his Eyes downcast like the Image of Discomfort stooping over a Monument What is the Matter I said what ails my dear
Longfield
I hope I have not offended him past Forgiveness Indeed I am not well says he Heavns what an Overcasting of such a Sunshine too Do not look at me
Hammy
I cant bear to be looked at I beseech you to leave me to my own Thoughts till Morning I understand you Mr
Longfield
I cried I confess myself no longer worthy of your Friendship and I shall no more demand it of you till you condescend to make the Tender and so saying I suddenly quitted his Chamber
All Night my
Arabella
was cold and hot by Turns and her Sleep was discomposed by Starts and Moanings In the Morning I observed that her Breath was short and feverish and I got up in haste and went for a Physician The Doctor refused to pronounce with Certainty on her Disorder but said that he greatly feared she was taking an Ague
As soon as he had written his Prescription I went eagerly to wish Mr
Longfield
a good Morning and to apologize for the Abruptness of last Nights Behaviour But my
Longfield
had taken a long Adieu and this Letter which I shall ever preserve about me was all I had left to console me for his Loss or rather to give me Cause to lament his Departure for ever
To Mr
H Clement
I Leave you dearest of Friends and I leave you for ever Wretch that I am to have brought Affliction on the only Two for whom I would have lived for whom I would have died
Heavens what a Fate is mine I voluntarily depart and I go where I must be miserable since I leave those whose Sight and Converse made the Whole of my Enjoyment That which doubles my Unhappiness is partly to suspect that I have been guilty is it any Alleviation that I had no Knowledge of my Fault and that I now fly from it on the first Notice
Your
Arabella
my
Hammy
I begin to fear that I loved your
Arabella
Alas I feel that I still love her and that I must love her during Life I loved her indeed with a Tenderness full of infinite Respect but the Pangs I suffer at Parting give me also to understand that I loved her with infinite Passion
Ah fond and foolish Passion that could neither hope nor wish nor even accept of any Kind of Gratification save the Sight and Society of the Object of its Ardour No most amiable of Men were it possible for your
Arabella
to stray but in Thought from her Truth from her Duty from her Tenderness to you I could have loved her no longer She would have lost that Seraphic Excellence that more than mortal Purity for which I almost adored her which gave a sweet Apology to my Heart for its Affection and betrayed me into a Persuasion that I loved her no more than I ought
I am jealous for you my Friend I am jealous of myself in your dearer Behalf and I will amply avenge you on the injurious and hapless
Longfield
Ah let no Man henceforward confide to his own Strength I daily beheld your
Arabella
I daily conversed with her but I saw not my Danger I therefore did not resist the Current that drew me beyond my Depth The Gracefullness of her Motions the Sound of her Voice and the Loveliness of her Aspect hourly sunk upon my Soul with an intoxicating Delight and I wished and was solicitous to become pleasing in her Eyes at the Time that I would have taken the Life of any Man who had attempted to deprive you of your smallest Right in her Affections
My Confession has been full and reaches the utmost of my Faults but from what a Dream of Delight has it suddenly awaked me How blessed have I been with my
Hammy
and his
Arabella
how happy were we in eachother surpassing the Lot of Mortality Enchanting Sensations Ye are departed for ever and all the future Portion that ye leave me is Bitterness
But beware of one Thing I conjure you beware that you never reveal the smallest Hint of my Love to your
Arabella
Wound not her Delicacy I beseech you with so disgustful a Recollection Neither deprive your unhappy Friend of the only Consolation that now is left him an innocent though fond Hope that should she ever remember your
Longfield
it may not be with Detestation
Your departed
Ed Longfield
P S In the Drawer of my Table on the left Hand you will find a noPaper carefully sealed and addressed to you It contains a poor Legacy though all that could be bequeathed by
I wept as I read this pathetic Epistle I felt all the Passion and Anguish of my Friend My Breast heaved and was agitated with Emotions of Self-Reproach and with a Tide of returning Tenderness to my
Longfield
Ah unjust though most generous of Men I exclaimed I alone am guilty and thou assumest to thyself a Burden that thy Virtue disclaims Would to Heaven that Men and Angels might love my
Arabella
with a Purity like thine she would not then as now be wholly dependent on my sole and poor Guardianship for the Defence of her Innocence
I found seventeen Guineas in the forementioned Paper a most seasonable and yet a most unacceptable Supply as I feared from the Generosity of my
Longfield
s Temper that it contained very nearly the whole of his Possessions
As the Doctor had conjectured my Wifes Distemper turned out a tertian Ague and after exhausting the Circle of the
Materia Medica
toward a Cure the Dregs of the Disease settled into a Rheumatism that principally affected her Arms and Hands and thereby prevented her from earning any Subsistance for herself or her Infant
It was now upward of four Months since Mr
Longfield
had left us during all which Time I hardly ever departed from the Side of my
Arabella
Our Finances were again reduced to about two Guineas and this was not sufficient to discharge our sixth Quarter that had been due some Time I was however confident of a Supply in the Tutorship promised me by Mr
Marfelt
and I dressed in the best I could and waited upon him
I was concerned to find the Family in Black But when Mr
Marfelt
himself appeared and told me with a Voice interrupted by Sighs that his only Son my Pupil in Expectance had been lately carried off by a malignant SmallPox my Mourning passed all Shews and Suits of Sorrow
I took my Leave with a Dejection and Absence of Mind that forgot there was any Road left for me upon Earth I went I knew not where a Way that led from Home I saw nothing but the Labyrinth within my own Soul and from thence I could perceive neither Outlet nor Escape
Rapines and Robberies again offered themselves to my View as the only Expedients by which Heaven had ordained that my Wife and my Infant that Virtue and Innocence should be permitted to live Nature has cast my Lot said I to myself among Tigers and Vultures who have no Choice save to perish or subsist by Prey I dwelt long on this Thought and then pushed it to Extremity and the Perpetration of desperate Deeds Again the Stretch of my Resolution began to relax and the Tide of my Thoughts flowed backward to the Sensations and Meltings of Humanity Ah I cried my fellowCreatures you in whom I see myself my Brothers in whose Service I would gladly spend my Life pardon me that I take from you what I would give you twenty fold Or rather powerful Author of Nature! I cried take from us our Existence since thou refusest the Means whereby we may exist
My Eyes at last were opened and I perceived that I was now much further from my Lodgings than when I set out from Mr
Marfelt
s I turned homeward as well as I could fatigued in Body and with more than a Mountains Weight upon my Mind On the Way I lifted my Eyes and wrung my Hands together in a Kind of Agony Bread Bread I cried inwardly merciful Heaven a little but a very little Bread my helpless Wife my helpless Infant a little Pittance for them I crave it in Mercy and O save me from more than the Torments of the damned from beholding them famished and gasping for a Morsel of Sustenance before my Face
I looked round and beheld nothing but Scenes of Luxury or Plenty with Joy Business or Content visible in the Countenance of the Meanest Ah what is here said I to myself Powerful Being how partial are thy Dispensations How highly are those exalted to what a Depth dost thou crush the Wretch whom thy Wrath has distinguished I am selected from among thy Works I am equally the Outcast of Heaven and of Earth Might I become but as one of yonder Beggars I should derive a chance Morsel from that Charity which now hardens itself against me against my Babe and my
Arabella
the most pitiable Objects of the Creation
As soon as I had crawled Home another Weight was added to the Burden I already bore A Bailiff was in Waiting and my Landlady with an Aspect as inexorable as Iron ordered me directly into Custody for the last Quarters Rent
I was on this Occasion obliged to disburse my last two Guineas and further to deposit my Wifes Gown as a Security for the small Remainder of Rent and Caption Fees I had not now wherewithal to purchase a Pennyworth of Bread that like the Widow of
Sarepta
my Wife my Child and I for this last Time might sit down together and eat before we died
Thus abandoned of every Hope divine or human I did not dare to turn my Eye to borrow Patience or Consolation from the Countenance of the Saint to whom I was united I pretended to have forgotten somewhat and again hastened out of Doors The Night had just fallen and was still and gloomy Rage Anguish and Despair gave me new Strength and Spirits and I turned fiercely down an unfrequented Street without any Arms save my Fury and natural Phangs with which I determined like the maternal Lioness to rend Subsistance for my Young from the first I should encounter
I perceived a Man advancing at some Distance I hastened to meet him and coming within a few Paces stand I cried pass no further Why said he with a fearless and benevolent Voice is there any Thing wherein you desire I should serve you Oh save me I replied you must you shall save me from the terrible Damnation of seeing my Wife and Infant famish before me GOD said he sends you this by my Hands He sees your Distress but disapproves your Conduct You have now twice sinned in this Way But
Clement
beware the third Time another Offence like this would prove fatal to you
He spoke and putting five Guineas into my Hand he instantly slipped away or vanished I know not which for such was my sudden Astonishment and Confusion that I neither remarked nor saw what became of him
At length I awaked as from a Trance I stepped up to a single Lamp that glimmered before me and opening my Hand I perceived that the Money which I held was Gold I hurried it into my Pocket and turning back I began slow and pensative to move toward Home The Fury with which I was so lately exasperated against Heaven and Earth again subsided and my Heart began to change from that of a Tiger and to feel a new Infusion of Compunction and Humanity
Ah I cried I am then known The Darkness of the Night hath not been able to conceal me My Guilt is laid open before God and his Angels and my present and past Transgressions are entered in his Book He yet pities he yet relieves me He snatches me from the Gulf wherein I had already plunged and saw no Bottom to shew me that no Extremity can pass his Power and that on this Side of Existence it is always too early to despair of his Bounty I will then be patient O my GOD I will no more repine nor kick against thy Dispensations It is sufficient that I stand within thy continued Notice This last Instance of thy Goodness it is enough it is enough I desire no further Proof of thy Providence or Regard and though thou kill me I will trust in thee to the latest Gasp But for me it matters not how thou pleasest to dispose of me I will surrender to thee that which is infinitely more dear I confide to thee my Wife and Child O that thou didst love them with a Love like mine But they are thine as I am thine and if they perish before my Eyes why let them perish We were all born to perish before the Eyes of our Heavenly Father and he may slay without Compunction who can revive at his Pleasure who would not perhaps slay us if it were not to revive us to a better Life to a Life that shall no more be acquainted with Calamity
Before I reached Home a sudden Faintishness came over me and turning into a DramShop I called for a Quartern and changed a Guinea If the other four Guineas said I to myself are made of aetherial Money I have however got something substantial to supply my little
Tommy
and my dearer
Arabella
with a Morsel of Bread
As soon as I got to my Lodgings I redeemed my Wifes Gown and sent out for a frugal Supper I then stepped up Stairs and taking a Chair just opposite to my Wife I sat down and continued silent but dared not to look up She eyed me through and through My
Hammy
says she you are apt to meet with strange Adventures in very short Spaces of Time I know you not for the same Person you are not what you were a few Minutes ago
I then found myself under the Necessity of openly avowing to her all that had happened But gracious Heaven to my Death through Time and through Eternity never shall I forget the Reply she made
Hammy
said she with the Face Air and Accent of Heavens mildest Minister it ill becomes me to reprove a respected Husband for the Excess of his Goodness to me and my Child and yet I have suffered more from the Consideration of this Excess than from all our other Trials and Calamities put together I love you intirely my
Hammy
but I love that Part of you most which you appear to regard the least it is a Part that must survive the Dissolution of all the Rest their short Joys their idle Anxieties their fierce Desires and empty Possessions and it must thereafter be yourself to all Eternity
When a Man is bound on a Voyage to some distant Region he fails not to enquire into the Length and Dangers of the Way the Nature of the Climate the Disposition of the Inhabitants what Food they subsist upon and what Sort of Goods chiefly bear a Price or Value in so remote a Country With such Goods alone a wise Voyager will load his Vessel nay he will be careful to make and transmit Lodgments before he sets out as also to form and establish previous Friendships in that Country that he may not be rejected as one unknown and unregarded when he happens to arrive Ah my Husband I will not adventure to ask what Enquiries and Provisions you have made for the great Purpose
I once thought my Love that Learning was the principal Promoter of Piety as it best taught the Nature of God and Man their Relations to Eachother and the consequent Duties of the Creature to his Creator But I have long since discovered that to
know
is not to
feel
and that
Argument
and
Inclination
are often as opposite as Adversaries that refuse all Means of Reconcilement
I will suppose you for Instance in the Depth of your Knowledge and Extent of your Genius the most comprehensive of all Creatures and the widest Discoverer of the Attributes of Infinity. But what will this do for you my
Hammy
You may contemplate these great Objects, as Matters with which you are no way connected You may yet repine and curse in secret the particular Dispensations of that Providence whose general Wisdom and Propriety your Philosophy admits
GOD with all his Omnipotence can no otherwise make his Image in our Humanity happy than by connecting us with himself since from Him we derive our Existence, and in Him that Existence can alone be continued And this Connection can no Way be formed but by our Dependence upon Him And this Dependence can no way be made but by our Confidence in Him by feeling that in ourselves or the World around us there is neither Footing nor Hold to save from finking for ever and by catching at God alone for the Support of that Existence which his Bounty bestowed
It is this Confidence my dear Husband which is called by the Name of FAITH throughout the Gospel which strengthens all Weaknesses which heals all Diseases which enlightens all Blindness which may be capable of Omnipotence by its Connection with God and in his Power can perform all Manner of Wonders At least
Hammy
we ought to have such a Portion of this Faith as might enable us to say to the Worst that can befal what the three
Jewish
Captives said to the King of
Assyria Our God is able to deliver us and he will in Time deliver us from all these Afflictions But though he should not deliver us we will not forsake our Hold and our Confidence in him neither bow to any Temptation that Guilt can set up
From the Beginning to this Day the World has ever proved a Traitor to those who trusted in it And O my
Hammy
that you would join with me in looking only to the Principle, from whence Salvation can come to a poor and impotent Creature For all Creatures are poor and impotent in themselves. Even the Cherubim and Seraphim the mightiest and most exlated of the Works of Omnipotence would be reduced to a State of Nothingness by an Independence on their Creator
Since God therefore cannot communicate Happiness to a Being who refuses to trust in his Goodness or to repose upon his Power where he is peculiarly favourable and determines to take a faithless though beloved Creature to himself he blesses him with all Sorts of Crosses and Disappointments He breaks under him all the Props of Worldly Confidence He snatches from him the Helps on which his Hope had laid hold That in the Instant of sinking he may finally compel him to catch at his Creator and to throw himself on the Bosom of that infinite Benevolence which is desirous of receiving him to everlasting Rest
Be pleased to reflect my Love how affectionately solicitous if I may venture to say so your Saviour has been to win you to himself He has left you by Turns to the Confidence of a Variety of the most promising Establishments As first in the Success of your own Talents when they acquired you as much weekly as might subsist you for a Year Again when you had all the Right that Man could have to rely on the Honour and even the Interests of the Government for whom you were so prosperously and profitably engaged And again in the Rencounter and Preservation of your Father on whom Nature and your own Merits had further given you an indefeisible Title and Foundation for Dependence But you may remember my
Hammy
that your God caught all these and all other the like Pillars as suddenly from under you as though they had been instantly changed to a Void And yet you did not appear at those Times to discern that it was no other than your heavenly Father and your heavenly Friend who contrived by such Crosses to wean you from Impotence and to woo and to win you from your Courtship of a Cloud to an Affiance with essential and infinite Beauty
I am your loving and humble Wife my Husband And this is your dear and promising Infant But what are we further to you You neither made us nor can you preserve us nor are you obliged to provide for us beyond your weak and finite Endeavours Commit us then to him in whom we have our Existence; and know that should he permit this Innocent to suffer and my Confidence in his Mercy to fail of Support the Retribution is instantly and infinitely in his Hands and his Excess will even consist in the Overflowings of his Goodness
I love you my
Hammy
too much too intensely for my own Peace here I will say nothing of my Interests in an eternal hereafter And yet my Darling were it put to my Choice I would rather famish with you from Hour to Hour and Day to Day provided you perished content and resigned and in a blessed Conformity to the Will of your Creator than to enjoy in Conjunction with you for a Million of Ages all that this World can bestow till its Dissolution
Here ended my
Arabella
but the Sweetness of her Voice continued to vibrate in my Ear like the Tone of a fine tuned Harp when the Finger has ceased to touch the sounding Strings
She had opportunely laid hold of the Season for making the Impression she desired as my Mind was still affected and softened by the late Adventure I did not indeed yet behold the World or its Author in the Light by which they are represented in the Christian System but even in the Eye of Philosophy all that my Wife had said appeared reasonable and right and conformable to the Nature of a Being infinitely powerful benevolent and wise Here was a PRINCIPLE without whose continued Will and Operation no one Thing in the Universe could either begin or continue to exist; and as all Things in that Universe must of necessity depend upon him he had of necessity an equal Claim to their Confidence in him I reflected indeed that he had hitherto permitted much of Evil to intermingle with the Beauties both of material and moral Nature but this I held to be well accounted for if we considered him as a Being who chose to Work by Progression as first by producing a Chaos out of Nothing and again by producing the present System out of Chaos and lastly by preparing the present System for a final State of unchangeable and consummate Perfection I therefore held it incumbent to bear the Bruisings of Mortality with Content and Thankfulness as a Matter previously necessary to our future Sublimation Even as the coarse Earth of
China
must be crushed and pounded to Powder before it can obtain that Purity and Consistence which renders it capable of the final Polish and Beauty
I am apt Sir to think that there are very few Men who do not at different Times behold the World and its Creator in very different Lights according to the different Events with which they are affected or according to the different Tempers which a Change of Constitution will frequently produce If a Man is in Health and finds Successes coming upon him from several Quarters all is Summer all is Sunshine he sees nothing but a delightful World and a wise and benevolent Disposer thereof He feels no Want he perceives nothing amiss and therefore thinks that all is full and that all is right In the very next Hour let the very same Man be but crossed in his Fortunes or distempered in his Blood and his Universe shall be covered with a sudden Gloom the World which he now beholds shall be crouded with Objects of Wretchedness divine Providence shall appear to him as a daemoniac Dispensation of all kinds of Evil And though he may not dare to say he will secretly think that if he had the Formation and ordering of Nature, he would never have had the Malevolence to fill it with Tempests Earthquakes Inclemencies Plagues Pestilences Famines Tumults Wars Devastations Strifes Violences Murders Griefs Losses Calamities Rage Vexations Disappointments Pains Diseases and Deaths
Again Sir I am apt to think that there are very few Men who do not depend upon this World for Happiness as our first Parents depended on a Tree a mere Piece of vegetable Wood for the Conferring of Wisdom and Divinity upon them They will tell you indeed that human Life is short that even that short Term is hourly determinable by a thousand trifling Accidents that it is subject to a Number of unavoidable Calamities that all its Joys are transient and ever followed by a weighty reverse of Pain and that even its best Possessions are attended by Cares that overbalance their Value They say true but to what Purpose They regret that Things are so without learning to prize them the less and they repine at the Miseries that are incident to Mortality as it were at a Distemper for which however they never think of providing a Remedy They tell you that the World is a broken Staff yet they still lean upon it they curse it and yet cling to it as to their only Blessing And thus Sir it is most likely that from the Beginning of Things to their final Dissolution each Man will be seeking on Earth for a Happiness to which no other Person could ever attain It is a Happiness for which the immortal Soul is athirst and though she finds the whole World no better than an empty Vessel she is never tired of her Trials and endeavours to drink
This however was not altogether the Case between the World and me at this Period I had been so bruised and buffeted and treated with such Severity and Bitterness by it that I neither looked nor wished for any Advantage from it I therefore cast about for some kinder Support and I said to myself as the best Lover of earthly Happiness may say with great Truth if there is not another State to which this System of Things is merely preparatory if there is not some infinite Good to be derived from this World of multiplied Evils the Author thereof must have been some very malevolent or very petulent Being who delights in the Misery and Anguish of others or makes Sport of the Wretchedness of the Creatures of his Power Neither can Angels or Men Invention or Reason any otherwise account for the present calamitous State of mortal Nature
In these Sentiments I eagerly applyed for further Instruction to those Writings that had brought Life and Immortality to Light I began at the Creation and proceeded with the deepest Attention and Delight Again another System of Matter and Morals another World and another God presented themselves before me But I shall not here detain you with an Account of my new Faith as I may justly call it For though I always had held myself vulgarly speaking a Christian I found on Examination that I had been wholly a Stranger to the Necessity as well as Beauty of the Christian Dispensation neither had I felt a single Ray of its comforting Influence
My Wife began now to recover of her Rhumatism and hoped soon again to be able to take in Work I determined however to be beforehand with her if possible for at this Time I regarded not how mean or humiliating my Occupation would be provided I might earn any kind of lawful and honest Bread
Accordingly as I rambled in Search of such Employment I observed a Porter attending before the Door of a Tavern clad in an ordinary Frock with a Belt about his Waste and an Apron before him I thereupon went to
Monmouth Street
and purchased a Uniform for the like Purpose I then passed through several Streets till I came to a splendid Tavern where no Porter was in Waiting I stepped over the Way where I deposited my former Coat with a poor HucksterWoman to whom I promised some small Matter for the Trouble I gave her I then dressed in my porterly Robes and applying to the chief Drawer I promised him Part of my Earnings provided he put me into speedy Employment
I had not stayed long till I was dispatched to a considerable Distance with a Letter I was afterwards sent on a Variety of Errands and Messages and by the Close of the Day I had accumulated three Shillings six Pence whereof I gave to the Drawer I then stepd in high Triumph to my Friend the Huckster Woman I gave her two Pence reassumed my former Garb and left my Weeds in her Custody I returned Home with a Satisfaction to which I had been a Stranger of a long Time and I that Night eat heartily talked cheerfully and slept in Peace
I continued this Occupation during five successive Days in one of which I earned to the Amount of five Shillings
It is sure that laying personal Pain and the social Feelings apart human Happiness does not in any Way depend on the Degrees of Station or Fortune or on any external Circumstance whatever It is merely domestic it is wholly imbosomed and cannot live from Home I was now engaged in one of the lowest and least lucrative Employments of Life but a DIVINE FRIEND was at Hand of whose Favour I was confident I was content I was cheerful and I felt a Peace within that passed all the understanding I should otherwise have had of Happiness though I had been in Possession of the CrownRevenues
Late on the fifth Night of my new Occupation as I was on my Return and within a few Doors of my Lodging I was seized and assaulted by four Men who were Porters as I found by the Sequel I struggled the best I could and got one of them under me but the Rest fell upon me and cuffed kicked and bruised me in a miserable manner Oy they cried you are a Gentleman and be damned and yet Thief as you are you must steal into our Business and glean away the few Pence by which we get our daily Bread but well cure you for carrying of Burthens we warrant you
They would undoubtedly have murdered me had I not feigned myself already dead but observing that I lay without any Signs of Life they made off in Haste
I rose as well as I was able and holding by the Rails and Wall got with Difficulty Home where crawling up Stairs my Wife helped to undress me and I went to Bed
She then sent for our old Physician who ordered me some Potions with outward Fomentations to assuage the Contusions I was however seized that Night with a violent Fever which continued upward of three Weeks but without any Delirium and within another Week I was able to sit up though still very weak and greatly ematiated
Our last five Guineas with the Fruits of my late Employment were now nearly expended on Doctor Drugs and so forth Wherefore I found it necessary to abridge our domestic Charge as close as possible and having sent our Girl with a Token for my Porters Habiliments I gave them to her in Lieu of what remained of her Wages and with the Help of an additional Shilling discharged her
I was now able to bear the Light and the Windows were Half opened but how was I shocked on observing that my
Arabella
and my little
Tommy
were as pale and as much fallen away as myself For
Arabella
had Half starved her Infant and almost wholly starved herself in order to save sufficient for my Sustenance during my Illness Yet she bore up with a sweet and smiling Semblance and in her alone was realized all that ever I have seen of the boasted Patience of Stoicism or of the Power of Christianity in effecting a
new Nature
Within a little Time I was once more able to walk about the Room when on the Day preceding that wherein our Quarters Rent was to become due Mrs
Jennett
entered with a Face wherein was prefaced whatever Insolence Hardness of Heart or Contempt of our wretched Situation could dictate Mr
Clement
says she if so be your Name be
Clement
I suppose I am not to tell you that Tomorrow is Quarter Day And yet if some People Mr
Clement
cant afford to eat I cant see how they can afford to pay Rent Mr
Clement
and so you know tis evry bit as comfortable to starve in Jail as in Lodgings But this is nothing to the Purpose I am myself but a poor Woman and no better than richer Folks Yet poor as I am Comparisons may be odious between some People and some People and then I dont come for Charity I come for nothing but my own and that you know is the least that will satisfy any Body If you had any one else to befriend you but myself you might a been put upon the Parish before this But as I was saying I cant be an only Friend and all Friends at once And I must tell you that I hate Objects for I have so much Pity in my Nature that it pains me to look at em and above all I cant abide em in my own House And so as I told you Mr
Constable
will be here in the Morning and he will shew you to Lodgings that will fit you much better and so Mr
Clement
and Mrs
Clement
if so be that your Names be
Clement
I wish ye both a mighty good Morning And so away she went without waiting an Answer
As soon as she was gone
Hammy
says
Arabella
our kind Landlady puts me in Mind of the Wife of honest
Socrates
whom he took for the Trial and Exercise of his Patience Ah how cringing was this Woman how insolent is Servility when it attains any Power But what I wonder is become of our Friends the Miss
Hodginses
I would have sent to inquire after them but I was petted at their Neglect of us during our long Illness I will step there this Minute and borrow as much at least as will snatch my
Hammy
from the Fangs of this Fury
So saying weak as she was she dressed herself with a cheerful Air and going pleasantly repeated your Servant Mr
Clement
if so be that your Name be
Clement
I wish you a mighty good Morning
She was not long abroad and on her Return I observed a kind of heavenly Radiance that seemed to beam through her Countenance from whence I prophecied all Manner of happy Success But continuing silent for some Time and looking eagerly at me she suddenly threw herself into my Bosom and burst into Tears
Ah
Hammy
she cried I had Hopes I was very stout but frail Nature in spight of Grace confesses me a Coward I thought I could have seen you perish with Patience with Delight provided I saw a happy Immortality before you But now that your Sufferings are at Hand I find them insupportable I tremble also for your Faith lest it should not support you under the impending Trial Yes
Hammy
all is over All is finished my Love and the Hand of our God is in it Our dear Miss
Hodginses
were not to blame the Eldest died suddenly since we saw them and the Youngest is with a distant Relation in the Country⪠We have Nothing further to hope neither to fear from this World Our God has shut us out by every Door and will neither permit the Friendship the Humanity or Charity of others neither our own Industry or Ingenuity to yield us a Morsel of Bread to convince us that we are his and that all Things are his that when he openeth his Hand there is Plenty on every Side but when he pleaseth to shut there is no Resource What say you then my Husband Are you willing to run this last short Course The Prize is glorious unspeakable and lies within a very few Paces of your Grasp You must run it my Husband and your Repugnance would but serve to make it insufferable But Patience and Courage would give you Strength to endure and a little further Conformity to the Will of our Disposer would turn all the Bitterness into Delight Our Time is done our Task is finishd we are already brought to Nothing that our all may be in God
Yes I answered it is evident from a Chain of successive Proofs I see the Hand of God in all that concerns us and I am pleased with any Instances of his Notice and Attention whatever his final Purpose may be I will no longer struggle with his Omnipotence nor make my Ignorance a soundingLine for his unbottomed Wisdom If to see you and our little Innocent thus famishing by the Hour if in contemplating your Wants and imagining your Pains I feel an Anguish above what Death can give Why let it be rend Heart into a thousand Pieces A Period must at length be put to our Sufferings and all beyond shall be Peace or what God pleases But do you
Arabella
do you lead the Way my Patroness my Director I will endeavour to keep the Brightness of your Example in View that neither here nor hereafter I may lose Sight of her without whom here or hereafter I think I cannot be happy
About Nine the next Morning our Landlady entered followed by two Constables and two Appraisers Thus authorized as she imagined the first Thing she did was to search our Pockets for Money but without Effect as we had expended our last Penny the Day before for Bread She however found my Wifes Case of Scissars and other Implements for her Business and gathering up our Boxes Linen Handkerchiefs and a Variety of Articles which we never had a Notion of converting into Money she laid them all before the Appraisers who on frequent Consultation valued the same to four Pounds nine Shillings my Wifes Gown included being nine and thirty Shillings more than we owed But this our honest Landlady very prudently observed was scarce sufficient for Costs and other Damages which she had suffered or might have suffered or might yet suffer on our Accounts
Thus we were turned out almost naked to the Mercy of the Elements O how deeply degraded below the Birds of the Air the Beasts of the Forest or even the Worms of the Sod who rightfully claim Sustenance from the Earth whereof they were bred and have some Hole apart whereto they may creep for Shelter
The World indeed lay before us It was wide and all sufficient and yet nothing to our Purpose We had neither Act or Part Conern or Interest therein It was to us as a Harbour to Tempestbeaten Mariners who are shut out and driven thence on Suspicion of the Plague
All hopeless weak and faint we took our Way we knew not whither without Home wherto we might travel or Point whereto we might steer We could think of no one living who would receive or acknowledge us and we seemed to have no Way save that of hastening as fast as we could from the Presence of Mankind
Slow and tottering as we went my Wife and I carried our little
Tommy
by Turns and in the smoother Places he walked with the Help of our Hands Thus with much Toil and Fatigue we got out of
London
and reposed ourselves on a Bank that lay a little off the Causeway Here we found ourselves greatly distressed with Thirst and getting up again we made toward a small Hut that stood beside the Road where they had the Charity to treat us with a Draught of cold Water With this we were wonderfully refreshed and recruited and putting on again
Hammy
says my
Arabella
no Conqueror on his triumphal Entry into
Rome
ever exulted as I do in your Fortitude this Day And what signifies it now that it comes to the Test It is but to travel my Love till we can travel no further and then we drop fit and ready and ripe for Eternity O how sweet it is to perish with a Patience that is pleased how fearful how horrible to die struggling and kicking against the Almighty
As we went gently along still mutually supporting and exhorting Eachother I applyed for Alms from Time to Time to a Number of Passengers but my Voice and Address were so feebly importunate or their Attention was so engaged on distant and different Matters that my Oratory returned as empty as it set out
At length I met a poor Beggarman with a Wife and seven Children following in a Train I looked at him wistfully and having civily saluted him I entreated some little Matter from his Bag or his Can to keep my Infant from perishing on the Highway Gods Mercy Master says the charitable Mendicant I am very sorry to see any Body poorer than myself but the Truth is that I have travelled a great Way and have eat and drunk all with a Pox except this last two Pence Halfpenny here it is Master Gods Blessing go along with it I grieve and shall grieve that it is not two Pounds for your Sake
In Expectation of the Refreshment we should derive from this Supply we kept on at a creeping Pace till we came to a little Ale House that stands about Half a Mile from this Town There we entered and called for a Penny worth of Bread and a Pint of Drink with some Milk for the Child While we sat to repose ourselves the poor Man of the House having eyed me with a kind of earnest Compassion you look said he to be in much Trouble but if your Trouble is of a kind that may be cured there is one Mr
Fenton
at Hand whom God has placed in this Country as the Sun in Heaven to give Comfort to all within his Reach
My Heart revived within me at these Tidings and was further prophetic of some happy Revolution Having finished our Pint and laid up the Remainder of our Bread in Store we discharged our Reckoning and set out on our last Stage
The Prospect of speedy Relief and the Possibility that it might not arrive too late gave us Spirits beyond our Powers and we pushed on till we came nearly opposite to this House though we did not then know to whom it belonged Here slackening our Pace we found ourselves growing extremely sick whether it was that we were overpowered by the late Nourishment we had taken or by a Toil and Fatigue that surpassed our Abilities
Hammy
said my
Arabella
God be praised it is done it is finished I die my
Hammy
but I would not die within the Gaze of public Passengers Help me into the Field if you are able my Love I have no further Use for Charity now save that of laying my Limbs with Decency in the Ground
She spoke nor had I the Power to answer But overcome as I was by Sickness and Anguish I exerted myself to help her through the Turnstile and sitting down on the Sod I laid her Head in my Lap where she fainted away And there we remained in the Situation in which your Charity found us
Your Story of
Clement
my Friend is truely interesting and in some Passages may be edifying also I have only to observe that it is too long for an Episode and that the Character of your Heroine Milliner is constrained and unnatural it is elevated above the Fortitude and Virtues of Man himself but quite out of the Sight and Soaring of any of her weak and silly Sex Had she been a Princess and Empress she could not have figured in your History with greater Dignity
There lay my Error Sir unhappily I did not reflect that Royalty or Station were necessary to Christian Resignation and Lowliness of Temper
Your Drollery is more provoking than argumentative I must tell you Sir I was not speaking of the Lowliness but of the Fortitude of your
Arabella
indeed it exceeds every Thing that I have met in Romance Such an Exaltation of female Character is of evil Influence among the Sex each Woman will be apt to arrogate some of the Merit to herself their Vanity will be inflated and they will rise on the Stilts of
Arabella
to a presumptuous Level with their natural Lords and Masters Women unquestionably have their becoming Qualities in the Bedchamber Kitchen and Nursery they are useful to Man but beyond these my Friend they are quite out of the Element of Nature and CommonSense
I have sadly mistaken this whole Affair it seems I actually apprehended that Woman might be admitted as a Companion to Man and was intended occasionally to soften his Temper and polish his Manners They have at Times formed Governors Legislators and Heroes The great
Pericles
derived all the Powers of his Oratory and the Elegance of his Taste from the Example and Instructions of the lovely
Aspasia
and the
Grachi
also caught the Spirit of their Eloquence and the Fire of their Patriotism from their Mother
Cornelia
Pshaw the Women you have mentioned were but as single Luminaries perhaps One in many Centuries who shot away and shone out of their appointed Spheres
Mayhap I can produce still better Authority to prove to you my Friend that Woman was not merely intended to form and instruct us to soften and polish the Rudeness of our Mass she was also appointed to native Empire and Dominion over Man
By all Means my dear Sir I am quite impatient to be instructed in the Policies and Constitution of this your petticoat Government
Whenever you shall be pleased to turn over to the third Chapter of the first Book of the Prophet
Esdras
you will there find it written to the following Purpose
In the Reign of
Darius Hystaspes
Successor to the
Grand Cyrus
whom you may have read of in Romance
Darius
made a great Feast to all his Princes and Nobles chief Captains and Governors of his hundred and twenty seven Provinces
And at the Feast three young and princely Geniuses arose and offered to dispute for Preeminence before the great Assembly And the Question turned on what was STRONGEST and the first said WINE is strongest and the second said the KING is strongest and the third said WOMAN is strongest And then the Advocate for the Bottle thus began
O ye Princes bear me Testimony that Wine gives and takes away according to its Mightiness It takes away the Strength and Capacities of Nature, and gives Powers Virtues and Talents of its own Acquiring
It trips up the Wrestler and lays a Giant low and bears the Feeble and the Fearful into the Midst of the Battle
Wine is an Opener of Hearts and a Revealer of Secrets It raises Hope into Certainty and gives Jollity and Enjoyment in exchange for Care
It unfolds the Purse of the Usurer and enriches the needy and frees the Prisoner from his Chain and the Debtor from his Obligation
It levels the Rich and the Poor the High and the Low the King and the Clown to one Temper and Condition It can set Companions Friends and Brothers at Variance and cause Rivals Competitors and Enemies to embrace
Wine enlarges the narrow Heart and thaws the frozen Understanding it instructs the Ignorant in Arts and to the Silent and Illiterate gives Phrase and Elocution
It can elevate the Peasant from a Cottage to a Throne for he who is drunk is as great as an Emperor
O ye Princes what in Nature can be stronger than that by which all the Powers of Nature are inverted or surpassed
And having so spoken he held his Peace
Then arose the Advocate for Kingly Dominion and waving his Hand thus addressed the Assembly
O Princes how short and sickly is the Influence of Wine it passes away as a Vapour at the Dawning we recollect it with Disgust or remember nothing thereof But all Power that is stable or durable subsists in Majesty
The King is but one Man among a hundred and twenty seven Nations of Men yet he overseeth connects and governs the Whole His are the Honours Counsels and Strength of all his People
The Sun who from on high looketh down on the wide World beholdeth not at once the Extent of our Kings Dominion He must travel for the Prospect through the blue Expanse of Heaven and leave the western Nations involved in Night when his Beam begins to rise on their FellowSubjects in the Orient
For the King they plow and they sow they reap and plant Vineyards For him the Stars shine and shed Influences upon Earth and the Seasons change to yield our Monarch Variety of Productions For him the Fruits ripen the Shrubs drop their Balm and the Blossoms breathe their Odours all Winds blow Incense to him and the four Quarters of the World pay him Tribute Day by Day
If he bids to build they build and if he bids to lay waste the Nations are made desolate Bliss and Bane Life and Death Ruin and Restoration are in the Breath of his Lips
If he cries War it is War the Banners of Blood are let loose to the Wind and the Sound of the Clarion kindles all Men to Battle His Hosts cloath themselves in Harness and range in terrible Array and his Horses begin to neigh and tear up the Ground and his Chariots to roll as distant Thunders They move and cover the Earth wide as the Eye can reach The Forests are laid flat the Mountains shake beneath them and neither the Rocks nor Rivers impede the March of his Armies They trample into Dust the Fruits of the Field and the Labours of the Industrious Houses Vineyards and standingCorn the Villages and Towns smoke and flame on every Side
Yet none ask the King wherefore is Peace or wherefore is War For he stands exalted on Ruin and is glorified in Destruction his Word is the Bolt of irresistable Power and his Will makes the Appointment and Sanctitude of Law
And having so said he sat down amid the Applauses of the whole Assembly
Lastly slow and bashful arose the young Advocate for the FAIR and bowing thrice around let his Words go forth as the breathing of soft Music
Great O Princes great is the Strength of WINE and much greater the Strength and Glory of MAJESTY But yet there is a POWER that tempers and moderates to which Rulers themselves pay delightful Obedience
Man is as the rough and crude Element of Earth unmollified by the Fluidity of Water and Light Heaven therefore sent WOMAN gentle bright and beauteous Woman to sooth form and illumine the Rudeness of his Mass
She comes upon Man in the Meekness of Water and in the Brightness of the MorningBeam she imperceptibly infuses Love and Delight into him and bids his Affections go forth upon Kindred and Country
The Planter who planted the Vineyard and the Vintner who pressed the Grape were born of Woman and by Woman alone the Subject and the Sovereign receive Existence with all that can make Existence advantageous or desirable
She brings Man forth in his Weakness and she brings him up to his Strength he is fostered in her Bosom he is nourished with her Substance, and he imbibes into his Being the Sweetness of Humanity with the Milk of his Mother
Without Woman where would be Father or where would be Child where the Relations Endearments and Connections of Kindred the Charities that bind the wide World together into one inclusive Family the great BROTHERHOOD OF MAN
She comes not against you in the Hostility of Weapons or Fearfulness of Power She comes in the Comfort and mild Light of Beauty she looks abashed and takes you Captive she trembles and you obey Yet hers is the surest of all Signories on Earth for her Dominion is sweet and our Subjection is voluntary and a Freedom from her Yoke is what no Man could bear
There are no Forms of human Government that can exempt us from her Sway no System of Laws that can exclude her Authority Do we not study toil and sweat and go forth in the Darkness and put our Face to every Danger to win and bring home Treasure and Ornaments to our Love even the Robbers and savage Spoilers of Mankind grow tame to the civilizing Prerogative of Beauty
If Men seek Peace it is to live in kindly Society with Woman and if they seek War it is to please her with the Report and Renown of their Valour
Even the Highest the Mightiest the Lord of Lords and King of Kings is caught in the fascinating Net of his
Apame
I saw her seated by his Side she took the Crown from his Head and gave it new Lustre by the Beauty of her Brow and the Brightness of her Tresses I saw her chide him in her Playfulness and strike him in her Petulance yet he pressed the Hand of her pleasing Presumption to his Lips he gazed fondly and fixedly on her if she laughed he laughed also but if she affected Displeasure he spoke and looked Submission and was fain to plead and sue for Reconcilement
Here ended the blooming Orator The Monarch rose from his Throne and gave loud Applause and the Roofs resounded with the Shouts and Acclamations of the Assembly
Wherefore it was decreed
by the Laws of the Medes and Persians
that female Beauty ought to govern the World in Meekness and that Men owed thereunto a voluntary Obedience
Pray my good Sir this same
Esdras
is it among the Canonical Books
I cant affirm that it is But it is held as authentic and very sacred I assure you
It is a pity that your System of female Government should be apocryphal But since you have not proved their Dominion to be
jure divino
permit me to retain my Faith and to go on with my Story
CHAP IX
MR CLEMENT said Mr
Fenton
I am singularly obliged and instructed by your Story The Incidents of your Life have been very extraordinary and have been evidently accompanied by the Controul and Attention of a peculiar Providence The same Providence is undoubtedly with and over all his Works though we are not willing to admit him in what we call common Occurrences and which, we think we can account for without his Interposition But in the Passages of your Story we see Omnipotence walking along with you Step for Step by sudden Successes by Calamities as sudden compelling you to attend to Him wrenching every other Prop and Support from your Dependence shutting every other Prospect and Resource from your Sight and never forsaking you in Weal or in Woe till he had fully convinced you of his Fellowship and Regard and had reconciled you to the bitterest of the Dispensations of your Creator
Your Story my dear Friend has been generally conversant in middle or low Life and I observe that there is scarce a Circumstance in it which might not have happened to any Body on any Day of the Year And yet in the Whole I find a Chain of more surprizing and affecting Events than I have met with in History or even in Romance
God I see has made use of very severe Methods to call you and as I may say to compel you to come in But do you think Mr
Clement
that any Methods less severe would have been equally effectual You must admit they would not And this demonstrates to me the Difficulty and almost the Impossibility of diverting any Man from that Habit of thinking and acting which he contracts from the People with whom he is daily conversant In a World of Saints a Sinner must be a Devil but in a World of Sinners the Man who has Grace to deviate must be a Saint indeed
Had I been in your Situation on the Day in which you say my Charity relieved you I should have thought myself very little beholden to that Person who would have plucked me back from my opening Paradise into a World of whose Woes I had been so justly weary No no my Friend I did you and your
Arabella
the worst Office as I think that ye will ever receive It was not to you that God intended any Benefit by restoring you to Life it was to those and I hope they are many in Number who are to have the Advantage of your Example and Instructions It is an Advantage of which I also propose to avail myself and I request you in Behalf of my little
Harry
in particular to accept your first Retainer from our Hands
So saying Mr
Fenton
carelessly slid a Purse of a hundred Guineas into
Clements
s Coat Pocket and hastily calling to know if Supper was ready left the Room without Ceremony
In about an Hour the Cloth was laid and Mr
Fenton
ordered his Family to be called together He had seldom seen
Arabella
and never had noticed her for fear of adding to that Confusion with which he saw her oppressed at their first Meeting But now his Senses were all open and alive for Observation and on her Entrance he saluted her as he would have received and saluted a descending Seraph
She had not yet recovered her Flesh or her Complexion and Mr
Fenton
for some Time looked at her in vain to discover those striking and irresistable Beauties to which Lust had fallen a Victim by which Friendship had been seduced and to which a whole People had borne joint Testimony by a Voucher of public Prostration and Applause But of all that Mr
Fenton
had previously thought necessary for producing such extraordinary and astonishing Effects he saw nothing but a Sentiment of Lowliness throughout a something in Face in Voice and in Motion that was lovely for no other Reason that He could find but for its being quite impossible that it should not be beloved
When they had sat down to Table and eat and chatted awhile on indifferent Matters Dada says
Harry
sure Mrs
Clement
is a greater Scholar than Mr
Vindex
and she taught me a latin Lesson to Day and I would rather learn five Lessons from her than one from him for she cant look so cross at me as Mr
Vindex
do you think she can Dada No
Harry
I think not says Mr
Fenton
if she can find in her Heart to be cross she cant find it in her Face and so we shall know nothing of the Matter Well well Dada says
Harry
for all that Im sure she cant find in her Heart to whip Half so hard and so I dont repent of my Bargain What Bargain
Harry
Why says
Harry
you must know that she is to be my Tutor and I am to pay her at the rate of twenty Kisses a Day But indeed it is not an honest Bargain as you shall hear poor Mrs
Clement
has cheated herself most sadly for every Kiss I give her I take Two away and they are the sweetest Kisses you ever got in your Life
Here poor
Arabella
was put sadly to the Blush though she could not help joining in the Laugh of the Company
Harry
says Mr
Fenton
you talk as feelingly of Kisses as if you had been the Son and Heir of one
Secundus
who wrote a very ingenious Treatise on the Subject But pray Mrs
Clement
do you understand the Languages Ah Sir said
Arabella
again blushing I fear that my young Lover has brought me into a sad Scrape I know nothing indeed Sir that does not serve to put me in mind of my own Ignorance Ah what a Boast is there replied Mr
Fenton
the Wisdom of
Solomon
and all subsequent Philosophers fall infinitely short of such an Extent of Knowledge. But tell me
Hammel
continued Mr
Fenton
does your
Arabella
understand the
Latin
and
Greek
Languages Not that ever I knew of I do assure you Sir said
Clement
and yet I thought I had discovered the Limits of her Talents though I despaired of ever reaching the Extent of her Virtues
Hammy Hammy
said
Arabella
would you banish me from a Table where Conversation makes the Feast and Mr
Fenton
is a Speaker But Sir since my Desire of instructing this your little
Harry
the dearest and loveliest of all human Creatures has brought me to the Shame of betraying a foolish Smattering in such Matters I will tell you how it happened
My dear good Father was a Clergyman and as his Living was very small he derived his principal Income from Boarding and Instructing the Children of the neighbouring Gentlemen As I was his only Child he loved me to a faulty Excess and hardly ever suffered me to be out of his Sight I used therefore to Work at my Sampler in his SchoolRoom and the frequent Repetitions which the Boys made of their Lessons insensibly and involuntarily forced themselves upon my Memory I was by Degrees infected with the Desire of knowing something of what engaged the whole Attention of all about me The Floor and the Windows were often spread with Books which I took up and perused in private at my Pleasure And at length I was applied to by most of the Scholars as well for my Assistance in framing their Exercises as for my powerful Mediation in saving them from the Lash
My Error in thus wandering from the Sphere of my Sex will appear as I hope the more excusable when I assure you Sir that from the Moment I entered the World with my dear deceased Aunt I never looked into one of those my favourite Authors though I still retain many of the Passages in them But above all I shall never forget the Indiscretion of
Homer
in his Character of
Hector
the great Enemy of
Greece
The Poet appears to make a mighty Parade of the Power the Valour and Virtue of his Countrymen He further gives them the whole Merit and Justice of the Cause and he calls upon Gods and Men in their Favour for the Righting and Reformation of Iniquity and Offence But does he give you the sensible and odious Instances of this Iniquity on the Part of the Adversary By no Means as I take it He sums up all
Troy
and even all
Asia
in the Character and Prowess of a single Man On the Part of the
Trojans
on the Side of the Delinquents you see nothing but
Hector
you hear of nothing but
Hector
And again what do you hear of him or what do you see of him Even all that is admirable all that is amiable whatever can be severally culled and collected from the Worth and the Sweetnesses of humanNature in his Submissions to his King in his Attachments to his Country in his filial Affections in his conjugal Delicacies in his paternal Fears and Feelings in his Ardour for his Friends in his Humanity to his Enemies and even in his Piety to the Gods that he worshipped no Deduction from his Courage according to ancient Arithmetic I should be glad I say to know in what History true or feigned I might find his Fellow
How injudiciously then did this Author connect an iniquitous Cause with so righteous a Person to whom no one living could take Exception and with whom no one living could cordially be at Variance In favour therefore of
Hector
you wish well to the Abettors of the Ravishers of
Helen
And in Favour of
Hector
you are almost tempted to wish ill to those generous Patriots who at the Risk of their Honours their Fortunes and their Lives came to vindicate the undoubted Rights of their Country and consequently the Rights of all Mankind But but Is there no one so friendly here as to interrupt me before all my Folly is let out
You have no such Friend here I assure you Madam said Mr
Fenton
Well well Gentlemen said
Arabella
blushing deeper than before I leave ye to laugh away and I would stay and laugh with ye with all my Heart at any Expence but that of female Learning ye know And so saying up she started and away she would have flown but Mr
Fenton
got between her and the Door
Mrs
Clement
Mrs
Clement
said he would you serve us so Do but think what Sort of a World this would be without a Woman and then think what a Figure this Humdrum
Hammy
of yours and I should make without you So saying he took her Hand and replaced her in her Chair But why continued he why all this Blushing my dear Mrs
Clement
indeed my Child it is a Compliment that we cannot deserve
Ah Sir cried Mrs
Clement
it is a Compliment which I would very gladly spare if I could help it But I must be a very guilty Body to be sure and my Faults I find must be very much my Enemies when they are ready to fly in my Face every Moment
Why Mrs
Clement
said Mr
Fenton
do you hold Blushing to be any Evidence of Guilt Certainly Sir said
Arabella
it can be nothing but a Consciousness of somewhat amiss that ought to give Shame to any sensible Person Mr Serjeant
Clement
cried Mr
Fenton
pray what is your Judgment on the Case in Hand
In truth Sir said
Clement
it is a Case to which I am not prepared to plead I have indeed heard many and various Opinions on the Subject though generally coinciding with that of my
Arabella
And more particularly in Conversations of ribald Entendre I have heard it affirmed that the Blushing of a Woman is a sure Proof of her understanding much more than became her
Hold there cried Mr
Fenton
the mere understanding of Good or Evil can no more be a Fault in the Creature than in the Creator the Essence of Guilt bears no Reference to Knowledge but consists in the Approbation of Evil alone A Woman therefore who blushes at what she disapproves blushes not for herself but for the Faults of her rude and illmannered Company who have not the Grace to blush for themselves
When I speak here of Blushing I would not be understood by any Means to include the Flushings of Desire or the Reddenings of Anger or any such like turbulent and irregular Emotions I mean no other than that ready Expression of Shame which as our
Arabella
sweetly hinted just now arises from an Apprehension of something being amiss in ourselves or others But who or what is it that apprehends in this Case Is it Guilt that is afraid or ashamed of Guilt No surely It is Virtue alone that can fear or be ashamed of the Neighbourhood of its Adversary
I will take an Instance from a Person who is actually guilty of something very enormous and who blushes on his being questioned or suspected of the Transgression His blushing here demonstrates his Sensibility and his Sensibility demonstrates some Principle within him that disapproved and reproached him for what he had committed And so long as this Spark or Principle remains unquenched in the Bosom so long as the wicked themselves can feel Compunction and be ashamed of wickedness so long their Recovery is not to be despaired of
It is therefore from the Fountain of Virtue alone that this Flush of Shamefacedness can possibly flow And a Delicacy of Compunction on such Occasions is as a sensitive Plant of Divinity in the Soul that feels shrinks and is alarmed on the slightest Apprehension of approaching Evil
Well Sir said
Arabella
allowing all that you have advanced in Behalf of Blushers and that is doing them more Favour than I fear they deserve can it amount to more than this that however faulty they may be they still have Goodness enough to acknowledge their Guilt or in other Words, that they have the Justice to be ashamed of themselves
Yes Madam said Mr
Fenton
it amounts to much more and you know that it does But you are a wicked little Sophister and deserve to be punished by our yielding to you the Cause that you have undertaken against yourself
When I observed that nothing but Virtue could undesignedly express a Disapprobation of Vice I ought further to have observed that the greater and the purer the more excellent and more vivid that this Virtue is the more apt it will be to take Alarm at the bare Apprehension of having said or done or of being suspected to have said or done or thought of any thing amiss or contrary to its own Nature
As far as a guilty Person loves and is reconciled to Guilt it becomes a Part of himself and he cannot blush at it But Goodness will blush in a Closet in a Desart in Darkness on fearing it was in Danger to have said or done any Thing unbecoming or disgustful to its own Sensibilities For a delicate Virtue is like a delicate Chastity that will blush to have been seen or even suspected to have been seen within the Suburbs of Drury
But again where such a delicate Virtue is accompanied by Lowliness there needs not any Thing amiss nor the slightest Apprehension of any Thing amiss to excite this sweet Confusion in the Soul and in the Countenance Humility will blush to be found in the Presence of those whom it reveres it will blush to be thought of either too meanly or too highly by those whose favourable Opinion it wishes to merit and I once knew a Lady blush for being detected of Accomplishments that would have been Matter of Pride and Boasting to any other Woman
This graceful Effusion of a virtuous and humble Heart is as I once hinted the highest and generally the most grateful Compliment that a Person can pay to the Company as it is an Expression of Deference and a comparative Acknowledgment of superior Merit But it is more peculiarly amiable in your Sex Mrs
Clement
it is that
Shamefacedness
so grateful to God and Man and which in Scripture is called the most becoming Cloathing and best Ornament of a Woman
However my dear Child as this Emotion is generally attended with some little Matter of Pain the present Company are too much your Friends to receive any kind of Pleasure from a Compliment as unmerited as it is wholly unnecessary And in Truth there is but one Thing that I can think of for which Mrs
Clement
ought to blush
Pray Sir dont hold me in Pain what is it I beseech you It is for being a Reproach almost to her whole Sex
Ah Sir cried
Arabella
rising smiling and blushing and curtsying down to the Ground excuse me if I dont stay to hear myself so abused and turning away she swam and disappeared in an Instant
As soon as she was gone
Clement
took out his Purse of a hundred Guineas and pray Sir said he what shall I do with all this Money O as for that Matter said Mr
Fenton
I know People not half so ingenious as you are who could quickly contrive to get rid of a much larger Sum Lay it out in decent Cloathing for yourself and your
Arabella
and I will find some way to have you reimbursed In short
Hammel
I cant think of parting with you if my Fortune may serve for a sufficient Cement I will pay you two hundred Guineas yearly while you stay with me and I will settle on you one thousand Pounds in case of my Mortality to put you into some little Station of Independence
Sir Sir cried
Clement
hesitatingly you oppress me you Hush hush said Mr
Fenton
putting his Hand to his Mouth no Compliments my dear Friend It is not your Thanks but your Services that I want and you may readily make them more than an Equivalent to such Matters I value the Instilling of a single Principle of Goodness or Honour into the Mind of my dear
Harry
beyond all the Wealth that the Indies can remit Ah
Hammel
why wasnt that Brat of yours a Girl instead of a Boy She might one Day have been the Wife of my precious
Harry
and I should then have had some of the Breed of this wonderful
Arabella
But
Hammy
continued Mr
Fenton
I would not have you through any Zeal or Attachment to me think of pushing my Boy into Learning or the Languages beyond his own Pleasure Neither would I have you oppress or perplex his infant Mind with the deep or mysterious Parts of our holy Religion First be it your Care to instruct him in Morality and let the Law precede the Gospel for such was the Education which God appointed for the World Give him by familiar and historical Instances an early Impression of the shortness of human Life and of the Nature of the World in which he is placed Let him learn from this Day forward to distinguish between natural and imaginary Wants and that nothing is estimable or ought to be desirable but so far as it is necessary or useful to Man Instruct my Darling daily and hourly if possible in a Preference of Manners and Things that bear an intrinsic Value to those that receive their Value and Currency from the arbitrary and fickle Stamp of Fashion Shew him also my
Hammel
that the same Toils and Sufferings the same Poverty and Pain from which People now fly as they would from a Plague were once the Desire of Heroes and the Fashion of Nations And that Thousands of Patriots of Captains and Philosophers through a Love of their Country or of Glory of Applause during Life or Distinction after Death have rejected Wealth and Pleasure embraced Want and Hardship and suffered more from a voluntary Mortification and Selfdenial than our Church seems to require in these Days for the Conquest of a sensual World into which we are fallen and for entitling us to a Crown in the Kingdom of Eternity
So saying Mr
Fenton
got up from Table and observing that it was late wished
Clement
a good Night
Our Hero was now eight Years of Age and weekly and daily continued to be exercised in Feats of bodily Prowess and Agility and in Acts of mental Benevolence and Service to Mankind
Mr
Fenton
had already provided his Favourite with a DancingMaster the most approved for Skill in his Profession as also with a noted FencingMaster who further taught him the noble Sciences of the Cudgel and QuarterStaff He was now on the Search for the most distinguished Champion of the
BearGarden
in order to accomplish our Hero in the Mysteries of Bruising of Wrestling and of Tripping and having in a short Time procured the Person desired he purchased for his
Harry
a small but beautiful Spanish Jennett that was perfectly dressed as they call it or rid to the Manage and once in every Week or Fortnight he accompanied his Darling to the RidingHouse in
Islington
where he saw him instructed in all the Arts and Elegancies of Horsemanship
Thus
Harry
had his little Hands as full of Business as they could hold But he was naturally of an active and vivid Disposition and Time unemployed lay upon him as the heaviest and most irksome of all Burdens He therefore proceeded from his Book to his Exercises and from one Exercise to another as an Epicure does among a number of Dishes where the Variety of the Seasoning excites in him a new Appetite to Each
Within a few Weeks after the late Dissertation upon Blushing the same Company being present and Dinner removed
Harry
says Mr
Fenton
tell me which of the Two is the Richest the Man who wants least or the Man who has most Let me think Dada says
Harry
Why sure they are the same Thing arent they Dada By no Means my Darling cried Mr
Fenton
There lived two famous Men at the same Time the one was called
Diogenes
and the other
Alexander Diogenes
refused to accept of any worldly Goods save one wooden Cup to carry Water to his Mouth but when he found that he could drink by lying down and putting his Mouth to the Stream he threw his Cup away as a Thing that he did not want
Alexander
on the other Side was a great Conqueror And when he had conquered and got Possession of all the World he fell a crying because there was not a hundred more such Worlds for him to conquer Now which of these two was the richest do you think
O Dada exclaimed
Harry Diogenes
to be sure
Diogenes
to be sure He who wants nothing is the richest Man in the World
Diogenes
Dada was richer than
Alexander
by a hundred Worlds
Very true my Love rejoined Mr
Fenton Alexander
had a whole World more than
Diogenes
wanted and yet desired a hundred Worlds more than he had Now as no Man will allow that he wants what he does not desire and all affirm that they want whatsoever they do desire Desires and Wants are generally accounted as one and the same Thing And yet my
Harry
there is a Thing of which it may be said that the more we desire it the less we want it and that the less we desire of it the greater is our Want
What in the World can that be Dada It is
Goodness
my Love Well says
Harry
I will not puzzle my Brains about nice Matters All I know is that no Man has more Goodness than he wants except it be yourself I dont talk of Women for I believe Mrs
Clement
here is very good pray look in her Face Dada dont you think she is very good
I see
Harry
said Mr
Fenton
that young as you are you are a perfect Physiognomist Why pray Sir said
Arabella
is it in earnest your Opinion that the Character of Mind or Manners may in any Measure be gathered from the Form of the Countenance Is not the World filled with Stories of the Deceit and Treachery of such false Appearances You remember how
Horace
says that a prudent Mariner puts no Trust in the Gildings or Paintings of a Ship such superficial Glossings as one might think ought rather to be suspected of an Intention to conceal the Rottenness of the Timber And then the Passage of the famous Physiognomists at
Athens
so often quoted as a Proof of Capacity and Knowledge in this Way proves wholly the Reverse as I take it their Judgment of
Socrates
is opposite to Truth in every Instance they pronounce him the most debauched irascible and malicious of Men and it is a very poor Apology that
Socrates
makes for their Ignorance when he affirms that he was by Birth the very Person they deemed him but that Philosophy had given him a new Nature for if Education can change the Heart without changing the Countenance how can we form any Conjecture of the one by the other
Though I insist Mrs
Clement
that you are wrong in your Thesis replied Mr
Fenton
I admit that you are perfectly just in your Inference For if a Change of Mind or Manners can make no Change in the Aspect the whole Science of Physiognomy must fall to the Ground I therefore take this Passage relating to
Socrates
to be a mere Fiction and I affirm that neither Philosophy nor Christianity can make a new Heart or a new Nature in Man without making a suitable Alteration in his Visage
As the Heavens are made expressive of the Glory of God though frequently overcast with Clouds and Tempest and sometimes breaking forth in Thunders that terrify and Lightenings that blast so the general Tenour of a human Countenance is made expressive of the Nature of the Soul that lives within and to which it is ordained an involuntary Interpreter
Many Persons have made it the Study of great Part of their Lives to counteract Providence in this honest Appointment to shut this Window by which an impertinent World is so apt to peep in and spy what they are about and as far as possible to make the Expressions of their Countenance to belie every Sentiment and Emotion of their Heart
I have known
Hypocrisy Treachery Pride Malice
and
Lust
assume the opposite Semblance of
Saintship Fidelity Lowliness Benevolence
and
Chastity
But it is painful to keep the Bow of Nature long bent its Elasticity will still struggle to have it restored and a skillful Discerner at the Time of such Delusion will often detect the Difference between a real Character and the acting of a Part For when Nature dictates the whole Man speaks all is uniform and consenting in Voice Mien Motion the turn of each Feature and the Cast of the Eyes But when Art is the Spokesman and that Nature is not altogether suppressed the Turn of the Eye may contradict the Tongue and the Muscles of the Face may counteract each other in their several Workings And thus I have known an Expression of Resentment remain on the Brow while the Face laboured to invest itself with a Smile of Complacence and I have known the Eye to burn with illgoverned Concupiscence while Voice Action and Address united in the Avowal of chaste and honourable Regards
I perceive Sir said Mr
Clement
by your own Account that he must be a very learned Proficient in the Study of Physiognomy who can decide with any kind of Certainty on an Art that requires such Attention and Penetration
I beg leave to differ answered Mr
Fenton
The Science is much more obvious than you may imagine and I fancy there are very few Persons who do not trust without reflecting to their own Skill in this Way and who do not inadvertently form a Character to themselves of almost all the People with whom they are conversant
I am persuaded that there is not a single Sentiment whether tending to Good or Evil in the human Soul that has not its distinct and respective Interpreter in the Glance of the Eye and in the Muscling of the Countenance When Nature is permitted to express Herself with Freedom by this Language of the Face she is understood by all People and those who never were taught a Letter can instantly read her Signatures and Impressions whether they be of Wrath Hatred Envy Pride Jealousy Vexation Contempt Pain Fear Horror and Dismay or of Attention Respect Wonder Surprise Pleasure Transport Complacence Affection Desire Peace Lowliness and Love
Now all Persons are born with Propensities whether they be mental or constitutional to some Passions and Affections rather than to Others I will take two Instances the one of a Male Infant who is born with a Propensity to Pride and Arrogance The other of a Female Infant who is born with a Propensity to Bashfulness and Lowliness In either Case it is evident, that from the first Occasion that may serve to excite these several Affections in these several Infants the Sentiments of their Souls will be suitably and intelligibly expressed in their Aspects and every further Occasion of renewing the same Impressions will render them more obvious and legible to every Eye Insomuch that if no future Influence arising from Accident or Education shall check the Pride of the one or divert the Lowliness of the other the Male will be seen to look on those about him with an habitual Selfsufficiency and Contempt of his Species and the Female will be seen to regard Humankind with an amiable Diffidence and a complacent Respect
Let us see however how far Education may be able to change these Sentiments and how far a Change of Sentiments may produce a Change of Face
If the Scorner should be so happy as to meet with worthy Tutors wise and diligent to inculcate the Insufficiency of all Creatures and more particularly the Wants Weaknesses and Vileness of our lapsed Natures and that no Honour can belong to Man in this his State of Depravity But above all should this Scorner prove so happy as to be educated in the never failing School of Christian Meekness even the School of Adversity of Pain Sickness depressing Poverty and Mortification his lofty Crest by Degrees will be effectually unplumed his Sufficiency and high Mindedness will sink to an humble Prayer and look out for Relief and he will respect even the Wretched because he will acquire a social Sense and Fellowfeeling of their Wretchedness
Here then is another Man as new made and as different from his former Self as he can possibly be supposed from any other of the human Species But will this total Change of Sentiment produce no Change of Aspect think you Will this benevolent and lowly Man retain the same Front of Haughtiness the same Brow of Overbearance the same Eye of Elevation the same Lip of Ridicule and the same Glance of Contempt It cannot be said it cannot be imagined
When God by his inspired Penmen expresses his Detestation of
a lofty Look
was he quarrelling do ye think with the natural and unavoidable Cast of an unhappy Countenance No no my dear Friends In condemning a proud Aspect he condemned a proud Heart forasmuch as he knew that a Loftiness of Look and a Sauciness of Soul could not be divided
But to clear up this Question from any remaining Doubt let us suppose that the female Infant with bashful and lowly Propensities is just brought down blushing and trembling from the Nursery Let us suppose her Education to be taken in Hand by a Mama of Figure and Fashion and by other Dames of Quality whose Estimate of Happiness is measured merely by the Mode. She now becomes instructed in more Instances of Self-Denial than such as dictated and tuned by Christianity would have sainted her for Eternity She is taught to suppress her natural Feelings and Inclinations and to bridle the Impulses of an affectionate and humble Heart She is taught to prize what she dislikes and to praise what she disapproves to affect Coldness and Distance to Inferiors whom she regarded and to proportion her Appearance of Inclination and Respect to the Station of the Party
As I have been Earwitness to several of these Quality Lectures I might give you many familiar Instances of their Nature and Tendency Fye
Harriet
says my Lady what does the Girl blush at You are handsome and wellshaped my Dear and have nothing to be ashamed of that I know No one blushes now a Days except silly Country Wenches who are ignorant of the World But if you have any naughty Thoughts that make you blush why keep em to yourself Child and we shall never be the wiser But dont let your Face be a TownCrier
Harriet
to let every Body know what you have in your Mind To be ashamed my Girl is the greatest of all Shames
Again my Dear I warn you that you must not be so fond of the Miss
Collesses
who used to visit you in the Nursery For though they are good sort of Girls their Parents are People in but middling Life and we never admit em when theres Company in the House And then theres the Miss
Sanclairs
how low you curtsied to em Yesterday and what a Rout you made about welcoming and entertaining them but let me have no more of that for though they are rich they are Cits and People of Business and a Nod of your Head or Inclination toward a Curtsy with some Yeses and Noes when they ask you a Question will be Matter enough of Salute and Discourse from you to them
You say that your Stays are too low before and that they pain you about the Waste but I know it is impossible for a young Lady must never dislike or be pained by any Thing that shews the Fineness of her Skin or Shape to Advantage
I must further advise you
Harriet
not to heap such Mountains of Sugar nor to pour such a Deluge of Cream into your Tea People will certainly take you for the Daughter of a DairyMaid There is young
Jenny Quirp
who is a Lady by Birth and she has brought herself to the Perfection of never suffering the Tincture of her Tea to be spoiled by Whitening nor the Flavour to be adulterated by a Grain of Sweet And then you say you cant like Coffee and I could not but laugh though I was quite ashamed at the wry Faces you made the other Day when you mistook the Olives for Sweetmeats But these Things my Child are relished by Persons of Taste and you must force yourself to swallow and relish them also
I was talking awhile ago of young Lady
Jane Quirp
Theres a Pattern for you
Harriet
one who never likes or dislikes or says or does any Thing a Hairs Breadth beyond the Pink of the Mode. She is ugly it is true and very illnatured but then she is finely bred and has all the becoming Airs of a Miss of Distinction Her you must love my Child and to her you must pay your Court for you must learn to love and prefer such Matters and Persons alone as will serve in the BeauMonde to render you noted and respected for the Accomplishments in vogue
These Lessons and Efforts in Time have their Influence Miss comes to accommodate her Taste and Relish of Things to the Taste and Relish of those whom she is proud to resemble She now is ashamed of Nothing but in Proportion as it is below the Top of the Mode; and she blushes at no Indecency that Fashion is pleased to adopt Her whole Soul and Essence is futilized and extracted into Shew and Superficials She learns that Friendship in high Life is nothing but Compliment and Visits Intimacies and Connections the polite Grimace of People of Distinction That to talk elegantly upon Nothing is the Sum of Conversation That Beauty and Dress are the Constituents of female Perfection And that the more we depreciate and detract from others the more eminently we ourselves shall shine forth and be exalted She is followed by Fops she is worshipped by Fortunehunters She is mounted aloft upon the Wings of Flattery and is hardened against public Opinion by Self conceit While she beholds a circling Group of the Taylors Creation admiring the Harmony of her Motions the Fineness of her Complexion and the Lustre of her Ornaments the same Vanity that bids her to be desirous of Conquests bids her also to despise them But for the vulgar World she regards it as the Dust beneath her Steps created to no End save to be looked down upon and trodden under Foot
Will ye now affirm or can ye conceive that any Trace of native Bashfulness and Lowliness should remain in the Frontlet of this Piece of CourtPetrefaction No such Trace can remain
As I observed to ye before that every Affection of the human Soul has its distinct and respective Interpreter in the Countenance I am further to take Notice that each of those many Interpreters hath its respective Set of Tubes and Fibres leading thereto through which the Blood and Spirits flow on their respective Emotion Thus whatever the general Tenour of a Persons Temper may be such as joyous or melancholy irascible or placid and so forth the Vessels relative to these Affections are kept open and full by an almost constant Flow of the Blood and animal Spirits and impress such evident Characters of that Persons Disposition as are not to be suppressed except for a Time and that too by some powerful and opposite Passion For the Muscles so employed grow stronger and more conspicuous by Exercise as we see the Legs of a Chairman and the Shoulders of a Porter derive Bulk and Distinction from the Peculiarity of their Occupation
Now I will take the Argument in the strongest Light against myself I will suppose a Man to be naturally of a melancholy Cast of Countenance that he has the additional unhappiness of a bilious Constitution and that he is confirmed in this Look and Habit of Despondence by a Train of distressful Circumstances till he arrives at his twentieth or thirtieth Year I will then suppose that his Habit of Body and Temper of Mind are totally changed by Medicine a Flow of Success a happy Turn of Reason and Resignation or perhaps of Complacence in the divine Dispensations He now grows sociable benevolent cheerful always joyous when in Company and placid when alone I ask on this Occasion will ye continue to see the same Cast and Habit of Melancholy in this Mans Countenance No more than ye can see the Gloom of last Winter in the smiling Serene of a SummersEvening For some Time I admit it will be difficult for the Set of joyous Muscles and Glances to overpower their Adversaries who have so long kept the Field but in the End they must prevail they will receive constant Supplies from within and the Passages for their Reinforcement will be opened more and more while their Opponents daily subside give Place and disappear
What I have observed with respect to Melancholy may be equally affirmed of any other Affection whose opposite gets an habitual Empire in the Mind. I say habitual because there are some Persons of such variable and fluctuating Tempers now furious now complacent now churlish now generous now mopingly melancholy now merry to Madness now pious now profane now cruelly hardhearted now meltingly humane that a Man can no more judge of what Nature or Disposition such People are than he can determine what Wind shall predominate next
April
and yet when the Wind blows he can tell by every Cloud and Weather Cock from what Point it comes and may as easily decypher the present Temper by the Aspect
But Sir said
Arabella
might not Nature impress as in the Case of
Socrates
such conspicuous Characters of Vice in his peculiar Cast of Countenance and strong Turn of muscling as no internal Virtues should be able to retract
By no means Madam answered Mr
Fenton
For if such Characters are impressed by Nature on the Countenance independent of any such Characters in the Mind, this would first overthrow the whole System of the Physiognomists who judged of the Mind by the Countenance alone And secondly it would owerthrow the Opinion of
Socrates
himself who allowed that his Countenance had received such Impressions from the natural Bent and Disposition of his Mind But again if the Mind has really a Power to impress her own Character or Likeness on the Countenance what should take away this Power why does she not retain it Why should not a total Change of Character in the Soul make some suitable Change of Character in the Aspect It does Madam it does make a total Change And there are thousands of Faces in yonder sanctified City that once expressed all the Sweetness of bashful Modesty and yet are now as much hardened and bronzed over with Impudence as the Face of the Statue at
CharingCross
In the soft and pliable Features of Infancy and Youth the Mind can express itself with much more Force and Perspicuity than in the Features of People more advanced in Years The Nerves and Fibres in our early Age are all open active and animated They reach to the outward Surface of the Skin and the Soul looks forth and is seen through them as a
Spanish
Beauty is seen through a Veil of Gauze But Time destroys many of these intelligible Fibres it also obstructs others and it renders the Remainder less susceptible of those Offices and mental Impressions for which they were ordained till the Surface of the Countenance grows so callous and rigid that the Beauties of the Soul can no more be discovered through it than the Luminaries of Heaven through an Atmosphere of Clouds Scarce any Thing, save sudden Passion can then be discernible like Flashes of Lightening that break through the Gloom
For this very Reason my dear Mrs
Clement
were it possible for you to advance in Virtues as you advance in Years you will however grow less amiable in the Eyes of Mortals as your Beauties will be more and more shut in from their Observation
This brings me to my last and most important Remark on the Nature and Power of Beauty itself. And here we must note that though Nothing can be affectingly lovely or detestable that does not arise from some Sentiment of the Soul there is yet in many Faces such a natural Symmetry or Disproportion as is generally called by the Name of Beauty and Ugliness Thus in some Countenances you perceive a due Relation and Agreement between the Parts. While in others the Forehead may overwhelm the nether Face or the Mouth threaten to devour the other Features or the Nose may appear as a huge Steeple that hides a small Church or as a Mountain that is the whole of a Mans Estate insomuch that as some may be said to want a Nose to their Face in the present Case they may be said to want a Face to their Nose But this Species of Beauty and Ugliness excites no other kind of Pleasure or Disgust save such as we receive from two Pieces of Architecture where one is executed with Propriety and the other is obviously out of all Rule And to continue the Simile if People should be seen looking out at the Windows of those two Buildings we may come to detest and avoid the First and to love and frequent the Latter for the Sake of those who live therein And just so it is with regular Faces that express a Deformity of Soul and with disproportioned Features that may however be pregnant with the Beauty of Sentiment
By Beauty therefore I do not mean the Beauty of Lines or Angles of Motion, or Music of Form or Colour of numerical Agreements or Geometrical Proportions nor that which excites the Passion of some pragmatical Inamoratos for a Shell a Tulip or a Butterfly All these have undoubtedly their peculiar Beauty but then that Beauty has no Relation to the Power or Perception of that which contains it it is derived from something that is altogether foreign and owes the whole of its Merit to the superior Art and Influence of God or Man
In the Designings of Sculptors of Painters and Statuaries we however see very great and truly affecting Beauty I have at times been melted into Tears thereby and have felt within my Bosom the actual Emotions of Distress and Compassion of Friendship and of Love I ask then what it was that excited these Sensations Could any Lines Colourings or mere Symmetry of inanimate Parts inspire Affections of which in themselves they were incapable No They could only serve as the Vehicles of something intended to inspire such Sensibilities nothing further We must therefore look higher for a Cause more adequate to such extraordinary Effects and the first that presents itself is the Designer who must have conceived amiable Sentiments within himself before he could impress their Beauty on these his Interpreters in order to excite suitable Affections in others
Here then it is evident that whatever we affect or love in the Design is no other than the Sentiment or Soul of the Designer though we neither see nor know any Thing further concerning him And thus a Sculptor a Painter a Statuary or amiable Author by conveying their Sentiments in lasting and intelligible Characters to Mankind may make the World Admirers and Lovers of their Beauty when their Features shall be rigid and incapable of Expression and when they themselves shall no longer exist among Men
From hence it should seem as indeed I am fully persuaded that Mind can affectingly love nothing but Mind and that universal Nature can exhibit no single Grace or Beauty that does not arise from Sentiment alone
The Power of this sentimental Beauty as I may say is in many Cases great amazing and has not yet been accounted for that I know of by any Philosopher Poet or Author though several have made it their peculiar Study and Subject We have seen and read of many Instances where it carries People as it were quite out of themselves and gives them to live and to be interested in the Object of their Affections alone They will run to fight bleed suffer and even to die in its Defence And in its Absence they will pine and despair and attempt to destroy themselves rather than bear to be divided from what they love in a Manner above their own Existence
This is wonderful perhaps mysterious and may possibly be involved in impenetrable Darkness Let us try however if we can throw any probable Lights upon it
We have already seen that human Artificers can impress the Beauty of their own Sentiments on their inanimate Works Suppose then that God should be barely the same to universal Nature that a finite Designer is to the Piece he has in Hand He finds that the Stuff or Material which he is to form and to inform is in itself, utterly incapable of any Thing that is beautiful and consequently incapable of any Thing that is desirable He therefore finds himself under the Necessity of imparting to his Works some faint Manifestation or Similitude of Himself for otherwise they cannot be amiable neither can he see his Shadow in them with any Delight On Matter therefore he first impresses such distant Characters of his own Beauty as the Subject will bear in the Glory of the Heavens in the Movement of the Planets in the Symmetry of Form in the Harmony of Sounds in the Elegance of Colours in the elaborate Texture of the smallest Leaf and in the infinitely fine Mechanism of such Insects and Minims of Nature, as are scarce visible to Eyes of the clearest Discernment
But when God comes toward Home if the Phrase may be allowed when he impresses on intelligent Spirits a nearer Resemblance of himself and imparts to them also a Perception and Relish of the Beauty with which he has informed them he then delights to behold and will eternally delight to behold his Image so fairly reflected by such a living Mirror Yet still they are no other than his own Beauties that he beholds in his Works for his Omnipotence can impress but cannot possibly detach a single Grace from himself
I am not quite singular in this Opinion I have somewhere read the following Stanza
Tis
Goodness
forms the
Beauty
of the Face
The Line of
Virtue
is the Line of
Grace
Here is also a little Poem lately published on a Lady who was beholden to the Graces of her Mind alone for all the Attractions of her Person and Countenance
What is Beauty is it Form
Proportion Colours pale or warm
Or is it as by some defined
A Creature of the Lovers Mind
No It is internal Grace
Pregnant in the Form and Face
The Sentiment thats heard and seen
In Act and Manners Voice and Mein
It is the Souls caelestial Ray
Breaking through the Veil of Clay
Tis the Godhead in the Heart
Touching each external Part
Wrapt in Matter else too bright
For our Sense and for our Sight
BEAUTY Envy be thou dumb
Is DIVINITY in
Here we reach at the Nature of that Enchantment or Magnetism with which some Persons are so powerfully indued as to engage the Liking of all who barely behold them an Enchantment often attractive of Friendship Affection Passion to Tenderness Languishment Pain Sickness and Death
Here also we discover why the Bliss which we reach after eludes our Grasp why it vanishes as it were in the Moment of Enjoyment yet still continues to fascinate and attract as before forasmuch as the BEAUTY after which we sigh is not essentially in the Mirror where we behold its Similitude Thus
Ixion
is said to have clasped a Cloud without reflecting that it was but a bare Resemblance of the real Divinity who had excited his Passion
This will at once account for all the wonderful Effects of Beauty For if nothing but GOD is lovely if nothing else can be beloved he is himself the universal and irresistable Magnet that draws all intelligent and affectionate Beings through the Medium of Creatures to the Graces of their Creator till the Veil shall finally be taken away and that he himself shall appear in his eternal unclouded and unspeakable Beauty infinitely lovely and infinitely beloved
But I have out talked my Time says Mr
Fenton
rising and looking at his Watch I am engaged for an Hour or two above Street and wish ye a good Evening
While Mr
Fenton
was abroad
Ned
who would not willingly have exchanged his Unluckiness for the Heirship of an Estate happened to take a little Ramble through the Town He held a Stick to the End of which he had a long Ferule of hollow Tin which he could take off at Pleasure and from the Extremity of the Ferule there arose a small collateral Pipe in an Angle of about forty five Degrees He had filled this Ferule with Puddlewater which by a sudden Pressure of the Stick he could squirt out to double the Height of his own Stature
On his Return he saw an an elderly Gentleman advancing whose Shadow being lengthened by the declining Sun attended with a slow and stately Motion As
Ned
approached he exclaimed with a well counterfeited Fear look look whats that behind you take Care of yourself Sir for Heavens sake take Care
The Gentleman alarmed hereat instantly started turned pale and looked terrified behind him and on either Side when
Ned
recovering his Countenance said O Sir I beg Pardon I believe its nothing but your Shadow What Sirrah cried the Gentleman in a Tone highly exasperated have you learned no better Manners than to banter your Superiors and then lifting a Kane Switch he gave our merry Companion a few smart Strokes across the Shoulders
This I presume must be some very respectable Personage some extraordinary Favourite of yours since within a few Lines you stile him three or four Times by your
most venerable of all Titles
the Title of a
Gentleman
Sir I would not hold three Words of Conversation with any Man who did not deserve the Appellation of
Gentleman
by many Degrees better than this Man does
Why then do you write or speak with such acknowledged Impropriety
I think for myself but I speak for the People I may think as I please for I understand my own Thoughts but would I be understood when I speak to others also I must speak with the People I must speak in common Terms according to their common or general Acceptation
There is no Term in our Language more common than that of
Gentleman
and whenever it is heard all agree in the general Idea of a Man some way elevated above the Vulgar Yet perhaps no two living are precisely agreed respecting the Qualities they think requisite for constituting this Character When we hear the Epithets of a fine
Gentleman
a
pretty Gentleman much of a Gentleman Gentlemanlike something of a Gentleman nothing of a Gentleman
and so forth all these different Appellations must intend a Peculiarity annexed to the Ideas of those who express them though no two of them as I said may agree in the constituent Qualities of the Character they have formed in their own Mind
There have been Ladies who deemed a BagWig tasseld Waistcoat new fashioned SnuffBox and SwordKnot very capital Ingredients in the Composition of a Gentleman
A certain easy Impudence acquired by low People by casually being conversant in high Life has passed a Man current thro many Companies for a Gentleman
In the Country a laced Hat and long Whip makes a Gentleman
In Taverns and in Brothels he who is the most of a Bully is the most of a Gentleman
With Heralds every Esquire is indisputably a Gentleman
And the Highway Man in his Manner of taking your Purse and your Friend in his Manner of debauching your Wife may however be allowed to have much of the Gentleman
As you say my Friend our Ideas of this Matter are very various and adverse In our own Minds perhaps they are also indetermined and I question if any Man has formed to himself a Conception of this Character with sufficient Precision Pray was there any such Character among the Philosophers
Plato
among the Philosophers was
the most of a Man of Fashion
and therefore allowed at the Court of
Syracuse
to be
the most of a Gentleman
But seriously I apprehend that this Character is pretty much upon the Modern In all ancient or dead Languages we have no Term any way adequate whereby we may express it In the Habits Manners and Characters of old
Sparta
and old
Rome
we find an Antipathy to all the Elements of modern Gentility Among those rude and unpolished People you read of Philosophers of Orators Patriots Heroes and Demigods but you never hear of any Character so elegant as that of
a pretty Gentleman
When those Nations however became refined into what their Ancestors would have called Corruption When Luxury introduced and Fashion gave a Sanction to certain Sciences which
Cynics
would have branded with the illmannered Appellations of Debauchery Drunkenness Whoredom Gambling Cheating Lying
c
the Practitioners assumed the new Title of
Gentlemen
till such
Gentlemen
became as plenteous as Stars in the MilkyWay and lost Distinction merely by the Confluence of their Lustre
Wherefore as the said Qualities were found to be of ready Acquisition and of easy Descent to the Populace from their Betters Ambition judgd it necessary to add further Marks and Criterions for severing the general Herd from the nobler Species
of Gentlemen
Accordingly if the Commonalty were observed to have a Propensity to Religion their Superiors affected a Disdain of such vulgar Prejudices and a Freedom that cast off the Restraints of Morality and a Courage that spurned at the Fear of a God were accounted the distinguishing Characteristics of
a Gentleman
If the Populace as in
China
were industrious and ingenious the Grandees by the Length of their Nails and the cramping of their Limbs gave Evidence that true Dignity was above Labour or Utility and that to be born to no End was the Prerogative
of a Gentleman
If the common Sort by their Conduct declare a Respect for the Institutions of civil Society and good Government their Betters despise such pusillanimous Conformity and the Magistrates pay becoming Regard to the Distinction, and allow of the superior Liberties and Privileges
of a Gentleman
If the lower Set shew a Sense of CommonHonesty and CommonOrder those who would figure in the World think it incumbent to demonstrate that Complacence to Inferiors common Manners common Equity or any Thing common is quite beneath the Attention or Sphere
of a Gentleman
Now as Underlings are ever ambitious of imitating and usurping the Manners of their Superiors and as this State of Mortality is incident to perpetual Change and Revolution it may happen that when the Populace by encroaching on the Province of Gentility have arrived to their
ne plus ultra
of Insolence Debaucherry Irreligion
c
the Gentry in order to be again distinguished may assume the Station that their Inferiors had forsaken and however ridiculous the Supposition may appear at present
Humanity Equity Utility Complacence
and
Piety
may in Time come to be the
distinguishing Characteristics of a Gentleman
From what you have said it appears that the most general Idea which People have formed of a Gentleman is that of a Person of Fortune above the Vulgar and embellished by Manners that are fashionable in high Life In this Case
Fortune
and
Fashion
are the two
constituent Ingredients
in the Composition of modern
Gentlemen
for whatever the Fashion may be whether moral or immoral for or against Reason right or wrong it is equally the Duty of a
Gentleman
to conform
And yet I apprehend that true Gentility is altogether independent of Fortune or Fashion of Time Customs or Opinions of any Kind The very same Qualities that constituted a
Gentleman
in the first Age of the World are permanently invariably and indispensably necessary to the Constitution of the same Character to the End of Time
By what you say I perceive that we have not yet touchd on your
most reverable of all Characters
I am quite impatient to hear your Definition or rather Description of your favourite
Gentleman
The very first Time you tire I will indulge you if you desire it
CHAP X
NED was not of a Temper to endure much without attempting at Retaliation and directing the Pipe of his Ferule to the Front of his Adversary he suddenly discharged the full Contents in his Eyes and Face and upon his Cloathing and strait taking to his Heels he hoped to get in at Door before the Stranger could clear his Sight to take Notice where he sheltered
Ned
however happened at this Time to be somewhat over sanguine in his Expectations Mr
Snarle
for that was the Name of the Party bespattered had just cleared one Eye in Season to remark where his Enemy entered and hastening Home he washed undressed and shifted his Linen and Cloaths with less Passion and fewer Curses by the Half than he conceived to be due to so outrageous an Insult
Mr
Snarle
had himself been a Humourist in his Time and had acquired a pretty Competence by very fashionable Means such as Gambling bearing Testimony for a Friend in Distress procuring Intelligence for the Ministry and Wenches for the Peerage He had some Years ago been bullied into Marriage by the Relations of a young Termagant while he attempted to take such a Sample of her Charms as might enable him to recommend her to an Acquaintance of Quality She was neither gentle by Nature nor polished by Education she liked nothing of her Husband except his Fortune and they lived together in a State of perpetual Altercation and mutual Disgust
Old Age and a quarrelsome Companion for Life seldom happen to be Sweeteners of the human Temper and Mr
Snarle
had now acquired such a Quantum of the Infirmities both of Body and Mind as might justly apologize for a peevish Disposition He had lately taken a handsome House on the Hill for the Benefit of Air As soon as he had reclaimed himself from the Pickle into which
Ned
had put him he sent to enquire the Name and Character of the Owner of that House where he had taken Refuge and being sufficiently apprized of what he wanted to know he walked toward Mr
Fenton
s hastening his Pace with the Spirit and Expectation of Revenge
Mr
Fenton
had arrived but a little before and desiring to know Mr
Snarle
s Commands he was informed in Terms the most aggravating and inveterate of the whole Course and History of
Ned
s Misbehaviour The Delinquent thereupon was called up to instant Trial He honestly confessed the Facts but pleaded in Mitigation the Beating that Mr
Snarle
had already given him But as Mr
Fenton
did not judge this sufficient to reform the natural Petulance of a Disposition that otherwise was not void of Merit a Rod was immediately brought and
Andrew
was ordered to horse and
Frank
to flog the Criminal in Presence of the Party aggrieved
During this Operation Mr
Snarle
observed that
Frank
s Hand did not altogether answer to the Benevolence of his own Heart whereupon he furiously snatched the Rod from him and began to lay at
Ned
with might and main Hereat Mr
Fenton
ordered
Andrew
to let the Boy down and observing that he would no further interfere in a Cause where the Appellant assumed Judgment and Execution to himself he carelesly turned his Back upon Mr
Snarle
and left him to cool his Passions by his Evenings Walk homeward
Poor
Ned
was more afraid of Mr
Fenton
s Displeasure than he would have been of a full Brother to the Whipping he had got But Mr
Fenton
was too generous to add the Severity of his own Countenance to the Weight of
Frank
s Hand and
Ned
was quickly reinstated in the good Graces of the Family
His Genius however returned with an involuntary Bent toward obtaining Satisfaction for the Injuries he had received from Mr
Snarle
provided he might retaliate without fear of Detection and he was not slow in contriving very adequate Means
There was a Villager in
Hamstead
about ten Years of Age who had conceived an uncommon Kindness for
Ned
on account of his Sprightliness his Wit and good Humour To this condoling Friend he had imparted his Grievances and on him alone he depended for Execution of the Project proposed for Redress
On a certain moonless Night they mustered four tame Cats and having bound some Feuze round three or four Inches of the Extremity of each of their Tails they lodged them together in a Bag and somewhat after Suppertime when all the Town was silent they marched softly and cautiously to the House of Mr
Snarle
There
Ned
s Friend with his Knife dextrously
picked away the Putty from a Pane of the Window of a Sidechamber where no Light appeared and having put Fire to the Feuze of each Tail successively they slipped their Cats one by one in at the Window and again having pegged the Pane into its Place they withdrew to a little Distance to watch the Issue
The poor Cats remained silent and universally inoffensive while they felt no Damage But as soon as the Fire had seized on their Tails they began to speak to you in a Language wholly peculiar as one would think to Sentiments and Sounds of diabolical Intention
Mr and Mrs
Snarle
had been jangling over the Fire in an opposite Parlour when their Dispute was suddenly settled by this Outcry as they imagined of a Legion of Infernals They instantly started up and cast a Countenance of pale and contagious Pannic at each other But
George
the Footman a strong and bold Fellow having just before entered on some Business to his Master turned and ran to the Chamber from whence the Peal came He threw open the Door with his wonted Intrepidity but this was as far as mortal Courage could go for the Cats spying a Passage whereby as they conceived they might fly from their Pain rushed suddenly and jointly on the Face and Breast of
George
and back he fell with a Cry of Terror and Desperation On however went the Cats and flying into the Parlour one fastened a Claw in each Cheek of Mr
Snarle
and as his Lady screamed out and clapt her Hands before her Face another fastened with four Fangs on her best Brussels Head and rent and tore away after a lamentable Manner
The ChamberMaid and Cook hearing the Uproar from the Kitchen were afraid to ascend and still more afraid to stay below alone They therefore crept softly and trembling up Stairs The Torture the Cats were in did not permit them to be attached to any single Object They had quitted Mr and Mrs
Snarle
and now flew about the Parlour smashing dashing and overturning Piers Glasses and China and whatever came in their Way as though it had been the very Palace of Pandaemonium itself
George
was again on his Legs his Master and Mistress had eloped from the Parlour and met the two Maids in the Middle of the Entry They concluded
nemine con
to get as speedily as they might from the Ministers of Darkness and would willingly have escaped by the StreetDoor but alas this was not possible one of the Devils guarded the Pass and clinging to the great Lock with all his Talons growled and yelled in the Dialect of twenty of the Damned The Stairs however remained open and up they would have rushed but were so enfeebled by their Fright that this could not be done in the Way of a Race
As they mounted by the Help of the Walls and the Banisters says Mrs
Snarle
to her Mate in a languid and soft Voice my Dear and my Jewel tis all along of you that I am thus haunted your old Friend I find makes no Distinction of Persons and when he comes to take you Home as come he will tis twenty to one but he takes me for Company Indeed my Angel cries Mr
Snarle
in a Tone of like Complacence I should much rather he would be pleased to take me single wherever it may be his good Pleasure to carry me for I know of nothing that I have done so heinous neither to have one Damnation heaped on the Top of the other
Having scaled as far as the DiningRoom they all entered and bolted the Door and Mr
Snarle
opening a Window saw a large Posse of Neighbours who had gathered below What is the Matter Sir cried one of them what is the meaning of this horrible Uproar and Din one would think that Hell was empty and that all its Inhabitants were come to keep Carnival in your House
O a Ladder a Ladder cries Mr
Snarle
deliver us good People good Christian People a Ladder we beseech ye a Ladder a Ladder that indeed cries a Wag is the last good Turn an honest Fellow has Occasion for
The Ladder was soon brought and this Panicstricken Family were helped down and charitably conducted to the great Inn of St
George
and the
Dragon
where with the help of Sack Whey warm Beds and their remaining Terrors they got a hearty Sweat and were somewhat composed by Ten oClock next Morning They then got up and having breakfasted on a Pot of milled Chocolate they hurried to
London
without adventuring to send to the haunted Mansion for any Change of Cloaths or Linen for they would rather have put on Garments that had been dipt in the Blood of
Nessus
than have touched any Thing in a House of which with the Furniture Plate Bedding and other Appurtenances the Devil as they conceived had taken legal and full Possession
In truth there was scarce an Inhabitant of the whole Town of
Hamstead
who differed in Opinion on this Head insomuch that as Day after Day began gradually to shut in all People who had Occasion to pass by the Dwelling of the late ejected Mr
Snarle
kept more and more aloof to the opposite Side of the Way in Proportion as their Apprehensions increased with the Darkness And all Things in the House remained as safe from Depredation as though they had been guarded by a Regiment of Dragoons
Imaginary Howlings were heard by the whole Neighbourhood and still continued to issue from thence Night by Night And it was as firmly believed as it was currently reported that while Mr
Snarle
made his Escape through the Window
Satan
clawed off a Collop from his Posteriors in earnest of his Carcass in Remainder on a further Day
The Cats in the mean Time lived plentifully and at free Cost on the cold Meats which they found in the Kitchen and Larder and as the Anguish of their Tails was now no more remembered they kept undisturbed Possession of their new Acquisition so that during their Residence not even a Mouse was stirring
In about a Week after Mr
Snarle
s Departure for
London
he sent an Undertaker and a Friend on whom he depended with Authority to enter the haunted House to take an Inventory of all the Effects and to sell them to the Inhabitants by public Auction They accordingly borrowed a Ladder and got in at the same Window by which the Family got out They found all quiet and stepping somewhat timorously down Stairs they opened the Street and back Doors and Parlour Windows and then prevailed upon two or three reputable Neighbours to enter and witness the Inventory they were going to take
The Cats in the mean Time finding all late Impediments and Embargoes removed slunk silently and unperceived away and retreated in excellent Plight to their respective Habitations Though
Gammar Gruff
and
Goody Gurton
gave many a Curse to the Rats who had so flead and mauled the Tails of their Tabbies
The Inventory being ended public Notice was given throughout the Town of the Sale to begin precisely at Ten the following Morning At the Hour appointed there was scarce a living Animal left to continue the Possession of any House in
Hamstead
All crouded to see the Goods and Chattels of the Devil sold according to Law The Auctioneer mounted his oratorial Eminence and pranced and paraded for Half an Hour like the Sign of the
FlyingHorse
in
Holbourn
without proceeding a Foot in the Business on which he came Sir Madam good intelligent People observe observe I say you Table what a Beauty what an admirable Curiosity is there that Table Gentlemen and Ladies is all of virgin Yew taken pure and undefiled from its native Forest Theres a Complexion theres a Polish it is a Looking Glass in which the favourite
Sultana
or Daughter of the
Grand Seignior
might behold every Charm reflected with Advantage Note the Variety of its Tints the Luxuriance of its Veinings How prodigal Nature has been in expending on this favourite Piece of Vegetation such a Number of Excellencies such a Profusion of Beauties Neither has Art fallen short of the Graces and Perfections of Nature herein Mark the Taste the Manner the Mouldings how jointed and framed together as one organized Body The Operator no Doubt took a Pleasure by his Workmanship to rival the Beauties of the Subject on which he wrought I set it up at five Guineas What is five Guineas my Friends Not the Half of what ye will bid at the second Word and what is five times five Guineas to the intrinsic Value The Curious indeed have nothing so rare in their Cabinets Neither ever had Prince
Arthur
or any of the Knights of the famous RoundTable the Honour of sitting round such a Table as this Gentlemen Ladies Who bids You think the Merits above Price and that may discourage you bid something bid any Thing It is the first Article of Sale I will make a kind of Present of it I set it up at five Shillings I set it up at five Pence What the Devil is come over ye Neighbours has Money and common Sense quitted the World together
Ay ay thought all present the Devil the Devil that is the Case indeed And thus our Orator might have been preaching like Saint
Anthony
to the Fishes till the Day of Doom before any of his dumb Auditors would have returned a Word of Answer
The Fact is that as the Devil was a Personage however respectable with whom the wellmeaning Inhabitants of this ancient Village did not chuse to have any Manner of Dealings neither desired to go Snacks in Matters of Property with Beings whom they held much wiser than themselves and of whose Honesty they had but a very slender Opinion these Agents of Mr
Snarle
were obliged to return just as rich as they came their Reckoning deducted and Mr
Snarle
soon found himself under the Necessity of disposing of those his questionable Commodities at less than half Value to some
London
Undertakers But what he lost in Point of Property he gained in Matter of Morals for he grew extremely cautious of adding to the Measure of his former Iniquities for fear of another Visit from his recent Guests
As Mr
Fenton
could not but be frequently apprized of these Prodigies and Alarms that kept all
Hamstead
waking and nightly grouped every Family into a single Room He compared in his own Mind the Discomfiture and Banishment of the unfortunate
Snarle
with the Circumstances of the Provocation which
Ned
had received He found that all answered as well in Point of Time as to
Ned
s natural Unluckiness and Talents at Invention Yet he could scarce conceive how a Child little more than eight Years of Age should be capable of contriving Mischiefs so formidable in the Execution and so extensive in their Consequences Now
Ned
was so happy on this singular Occasion that nothing transpired Wherefore as Mr
Fenton
could produce no Manner of Proof was too delicate to ask any Questions on the Case lest on one Hand he should tempt the Boy into a Lye or on the other be obliged to chastise or check him for Faults that his Generosity might induce him to confess
Matters therefore with Respect to
Ned
preserved their State of Tranquillity though Mr
Fenton
would often view him with an Eye of Wonder and Suspicion and could hardly bring himself to believe that a Boy of his extraordinary Genius should be no other by Birth than a Beggars Brat But here pardon me Mr
Fenton
if I dissent from your Opinion With humble Deference to your Judgment in other Matters I conceive that an Infant begot on a Dunghill brought forth in a Pigstye and swathed with a rotten Remnant of the Covering of an Ass may have Talents and Capacity above the Son of an Emperor
The Singularity of your Sentiments often strikes me with Astonishment Do you really think in a way apart from all other People or is it a Distinction that you affect Here you set yourself at Fistycuffs with universal Persuasion with historical Facts and with the Experience as well as Opinion of all Ages You seem wholly to have forgot the Circumstances that attended the Birth and Discovery of
Cyrus
of
O Edipus
of
Romulus
and
Remus
with a thousand other Instances whereby it is evident, that the Beauty Prowess and Virtues of great and glorious Ancestors naturally devolve upon their Offspring
The great Teutonic Theosopher
Jacob Behmen
affirms that a Father begets the Soul as well as Body of his Child and this strongly coincides with your Judgment of the Matter All animal Nature also concurs in the same Position and the Offspring of a Lion an Eagle and an Ass invariably partake of the Qualities of their Progenitors
In the very early Ages of Mankind when Honour and Empire Precedence and Station were assigned to superior Merit alone to Prowess in the Field or Wisdom in the Council it is but natural to suppose that the more immediate Descendents of such Heroes or Patriots inherited in a great Measure the Beauty Strength Genius and Disposition of those from whom they sprung But some thousands of Years are now passed my good Sir since all this Matter has been totally reversed and the World affords but very rare Instances where
Washerwomen
or
Shepherds
where a
Catherine
of
Russia
or
KouliKan
of
Persia
or
Theodore
of
Corsica
by the mere Force of Genius have raised themselves from Obscurity to Dominion These Instances also are very far from making any Thing in Favour of your Argument though unquestionably were you to write their Romance you would agreeable to your Thesis derive their respective Pedigree from the Queens of
Utopia
or some Emperors in
Terra australis incognita
When Time was young when Men were respected and advanced as I said according to their personal Distinctions and Accomplishments uncommon Beauty Strength and Agility of Body informed by superior Genius and Talents were accounted genuine Proofs of a royal or noble Descent But in Process of Years when Art had introduced Luxury and Luxury had introduced Corruption among the Great a feeble distempered Frame informed by a perserse pusillanimous and impatient Temper became an Indication by no Means improbable of the genuine Descent of a Child of Quality
My dear Friend be cautious to speak lightly or degradingly of Dignity and Station does not become People of a certain Sphere
With all Deference and due Submission to those who sit in the Seat of
Moses
or in the Throne of
Caesar
when we speak as Philosophers we should speak independent of vulgar Prejudice
I am not insensible of that internal Respect which the World is pleased to pay to external Luftre If one Man acquires a Crown another a red Hat and another a Coronet by Means that deserved the Gibbet of
Haman
they instantly become the presumptive Proprietors of I know not what Catalogue of fine Qualities and Accomplishments Wherefore as I am so singular so perverse or so unhappy as to differ from the Judgment of so wise a World in this Matter it is the more incumbent upon me to bring Proofs that are selfevident at the same Time that I treat so reverable a Subject with all possible Delicacy
In the first Ages of ACORNS when all that sustained the simple Nature of Man lay open and in common like Light and Air as People knew of nothing further that was to be had they thought there was nothing further to be desired As they had no Wishes they felt no Wants and neither Pride Envy Covetousness or Debauchery could commence before they contrived the Distinctions of Property and Materials of Intemperance and thereby contrived the Causes of Quarrel and Corruption
But as
Horace
says
quum oppida caeperunt munire
when they began to build and set out LandMarks to plow and to sow to spin and to weave to handle the File and Hammer in Proportion to the Advancement of Invention and Arts on Necessity Convenience arose upon Convenience Elegance upon Elegance Luxury new Desires increased and multiplied with the Means of Gratification real Wishes became the Offspring of imaginary Wants as those Wishes waxed warm the Passions were enkindled and the Vices lastly grew in mathematical Proportion to the Growth of the Passions
All Histories as well profane as sacred in every Age in every Nation and in every Instance bear unquestionable Testimony to the above State of Facts And hence ensues the Necessity of our growing worse and worse till the Pinnacle of Art shall put a Limit to Desire till Invention shall be exhausted and no longer prolific of new Wants and additional Wishes in Man
But so long as untried Allurements so long as untasted Pleasures so long as new Objects can be set up to our Imagination in our eager Pursuit after Happiness on Earth our Wishes will enflame our Impatience to reach the Prize in Proportion to that Impatience our Endeavours will be exerted in Proportion to such Exertion the Fences of Law and Morals will be broke through or trampled down and in Proportion to the Insufficiency of moral Restraints all Sorts of Fraud and Violence of Licentiousness and Corruption of Debauchery and Profligacy must prevail throughout the World
From what you say I should conclude that People of Wealth of Station and Power are the least impassioned and the most virtuous of all living forasmuch as they are already in Possession of what their Inferiors so earnestly continue to thirst and to chafe and to labour after The Great are above Temptation the World has nothing further to exhibit for their Seduction and in this Light also they are become the most respectable of all People
Whenever you can make it evident that to humble the Spirit of Man you ought to place him in Authority that to convince him of personal Defaults and Infirmities you ought to enclose him with Sycophants and servile Dependents that to make him temperate you should seat him at the Table of a
Lucullus
and that to humanize his Disposition you should remove him as far as possible from a Sense of the Miseries of his fellow Creatures when to cure a Man of Distempers incident to his Nature you would place him in the Midst of adventitious Contagion then and not till then will Wealth Station and Power be productive of Reformation and Virtue in Man
Your Error lay in supposing that sensual Appetite and spiritual Ambition would cease or abate on Gratification or Indulgence But this is not possible The Spirit of Man is a deathless Desire its Cravings cannot be satiated till it is possessed of some Object that is adequate to its Nature and as this World has no such Object to exhibit Gratifications only serve to provoke to further Desire or finally to sink us into utter Despondence And this makes the Moral that was intended by the Philosophers when they fabled that the Son of
Philip
broke into a Passion of Tears on finding that no more Worlds remained for him to conquer
Your Pardon yet I pray With respect to your Opinion that the Descendents of the Mighty and the Exalted inherit the Qualities and Excellencies of their Progenitors you speak as though this Earth and all that was thereon were invariably permanent whereas the knowingOnes will tell you that the one and the other are subject to annual and even diurnal Revolutions
Perhaps there is not a Beggar or Slave upon Earth whose sometime Progenitor was not a Prince or an Emperor Perhaps there is not a Prince or Emperor upon Earth whose sometime Progenitor was not a Slave or a Beggar Have you then the Discernment to perceive in the Beggar the Lineaments of the Prince or in the Prince to retrace the Lineaments of the Beggar You have not sage Sir I will tell you a Story
The Cardinal
Campejius
or some such great Cardinal happened to have a Dispute with the Duke of
Modena
Altercation rose high Do you know says the Prince in Passion that your Father was no better than my Fathers HogHerd I know it full well coolly answered the Cardinal and I am persuaded that had your Highness been the Son of my Father you would have continued of the same Profession to this Day
In such a World as this all Things are in perpetual Change Rotation and Revolution It is Natures Process As the Summer and Winter gradually succeed and encroach upon Eachother or as the Sun dawns and arises from Darkness till he reaches the midday Fervour of his culminating Beam and thence declines till he sets in utter Darkness even so mighty Nations as well as Families have their Commencement Ascent and Summit Declension Decay and Period The Vertue of all Nations and Families begins in Poverty thence arises to Industry Genius Honour perhaps to Conquest and Empire theres their Zenith But then comes on the Load of ponderous Wealth that gradually weighs them down from this Meridian to Indulgence Sensuality Guilt Corruption Prostitution Slavery Perdition
Let us now with the Eye of Philosophy consider two Men in the most contrasted State that this World can admit suppose a King and a Beggar Here the King is more highly fed and more gayly cloathed than the Beggar but if these are Advantages deserving Estimation we behold both this Luxury and Lustre surpassed by the Bee in the Garden and the Lily in the Valley Further whatever the native Qualities of the King or Beggar may be independent of the said external or personal Distinctions we may however be assured that an Education in the Midst of Sensuality and Deception of the Exhibition of Temptations and Gratification of Lusts of Parasites and Pandars Obeisance and Prostration of corporal Indulgence and mental Imposition can be no very good Friend to the Virtues
If we carry the Comparison further than this we find the Body of the King to be as frail as obnoxious to Pains Disease and Inclemencies even as naked poor and perishable as that of the Beggar
But if we take the Eye of Faith to see further than with that of Philosophy we behold their Souls alike immortal of equal Dignity and Extent We see Creatures resembling the Creator himself breathed from his own Spirit formed in his own Image and ordained to his own Beatitude and Eternity Here all other Distinctions fall away and lose their Respect as an Instant would do in Comparison of Ages or a Molehill in Comparison of yon boundless Expanse And here we find a Beggar whom the King himself is bound to reverence as being the unquestioned Heir of a KING in Comparision of whom all other Kings are but as Beggars How utterly vile and contemptible is all Dignity and Dominion to such and Heirship as this an Heirship hourly approaching perhaps just at Hand when the magnificent Ruin of Man shall be rebuilt when his Weakness shall put on Power his Corruption put on Glory and his Mortal be wholly swallowed up of Immortality
I confess that for once you have convinced me Give me Leave to proceed
CHAP XI
SOME Time after this Mr
Fenton
privately took
Ned
into his Closet and calling him a good Boy and giving him a few Shillings to buy PlayThings desired him to give the best History he could remember of himself and his Adventures before he met with
Harry
Sir says
Ned
the first Thing that I remember of myself is my going from House to House a begging with my Mammy I dreamed indeed that I was once in a fine House and among fine People but I dont know where nor when and so I believe as I say it was only a Dream
Do you remember your Daddy
Ned
no Sir I never had a Daddy that I know of My Mammy was very cross to me and used to take from me all the Money and Victuals that I begged and that was a great deal for I never let People rest till they gave me something And so Sir as I was saying my Mammy was very cross to me and used to half starve me and gave me a Beating for every Hour in the Day
Did she teach you your Prayers
Ned
no Sir I believe she had no Prayers to teach me for she used to swear and scold sadly And so Sir as I was telling you we begged from House to House sometimes in a Town and sometimes in the Country till the Day she run away from me
How came your Mammy to run away from you
Ned
why Sir we were begging in your Town and had got some Halfpence and filled our Bag when my Mammy took up a Child at the Towns End and run with it till she got into the next Fields The Child Sir cried sadly and my Mammy went so fast that I could not keep up with her do my best And so we heard a Man shouting behind us and my Mammy turned and saw him running after her very fast and so she threw down the Child and her great Bag on the Ground and made the best of her way to the next Hedge and got through it Sir and so I never saw any more of her
What became of the Child
Neddy
when the Man Sir came up he lifted it off the Ground and he kissed it a great many times and made it quiet and Im thinking he was so glad to see it he took no Notice of me howsomever he took up my Mammys great Bag and turned back and went the way he came Then Sir I fell a crying and roaring terribly to be left all alone and to have Nobody in the World who would have any Thing to say to me and I wished for my Mammy again bad as she was to me And I strove to follow her thro the Hedge but wasnt able And so I saw a great House on one Side and I was very sad when I went to it and there it was that I met my own young Master and he put Cloaths upon me with his own dear Hands and he took me to himself and he is ever since so kind to me that it troubles me very much for I can do nothing at all for him you know Sir and that grieves me more than all the World
Well
Neddy
says Mr
Fenton
dont cry my Child Be a good Boy and mind your Book and be sure you tell no Lies nor do Mischief to any Body and I will take Care of you and be a Father to you myself But tell me
Ned
would you know the Woman you call your Mammy if you should see her again yes yes Sir cried
Ned
There wasnt a Day of my Life but she gave me Reason to remember her I should know her from all the World if I wasnt to see the Face of her for a hundred Years to come
I find
Ned
you are not over fond of your Mammy No indeed Sir answered
Ned
I love Master
Harry
s little Finger and I would love yourself if I dare Sir better than a thousand such Mammies as mine was and that I suppose is very naughty for all good Children they say love their Fathers and Mothers Well
Ned
says Mr
Fenton
if you happen at any Time to see her among the great Number of Beggars that come to our Door dont you speak to her or shew that you take the least Notice of her but come and tell me or honest
James
in my Absence that we may take Care of her and force her to confess whether she is in reality your Mother or not
While Mr
Fenton
was speaking
Andrew
entered with Tidings that a Chariot was overturned not twenty Yards from the Door and that he feared the People in it were much hurt Mr
Fenton
s Humanity was much alarmed at the News he ordered the Servants to follow him and instantly hurried out to give all the Assistance he could to the Strangers
The Chariot happened to be overturned by the slipping out of one of the Linchpins that kept the Wheel on the Axletree The Company had already got out They were an agreeable young Couple Mr
Fielding
and his Wife who had come from
London
on purpose to take an Airing on the Hill Mrs
Fielding
had suffered nothing except from her Fears but Mr
Fielding
s Right Arm was something bruised by his endeavouring to preserve his Lady in the Fall
Mr
Fenton
appeared the greatest Sufferer of the three and addressed the Strangers with a Countenance that convinced them how feelingly he was interested in their Safety He left
Andrew
to have the Chariot set to Rights and having conducted his new Guests to his own House he ordered up a Bottle of Sack and some Naple Cakes to the Parlour
When they were all seated and the Glass had gone round I find Sir said Mr
Fielding
that People are apt to be disgusted with what they call Accidents and which may afterward turn out to their greatest Advantage Perhaps I should never have known what true Humanity was if our Carriage had not been overturned this Day If you knew all said Mr
Fenton
with a tender Bluntness you would be far from laying any Humanity at my Door since I rejoice at an Accident where the Damage is all yours and the Advantage that arises from it is all my own
Id hold Fifty to one cried Mrs
Fielding
that this is the very Mr
Fenton
we have heard so much about Indeed Madam said Mr
Fenton
you surprise me much if I had the Pleasure of ever knowing you there is something in that Face I should not have readily forgot
No Sir said Mrs
Fielding
I speak from Information I never had the Happiness of being known to you till now We have a Fosterer in this Village
Rose Jenkins
a poor Widow one of those many Persons you have down on your List She was Nurse to our only Child while he lived and was with us she was a constant Visitant but as soon as soon as Here Mrs
Fielding
hesitated her Lip trembled and her Eye glistened with a filling Tear I say Sir as soon as a very sad Affair happened the poor Woman came near us no more One Day as we were taking the Air through this Town I thought I saw a Face that was familiar to me I called to the Coachman to stop It was my old Nurse She had a Family of small Children and had fallen sadly to Decay before you came Mr
Fenton
to settle in the Town I chid her for becoming a Stranger to us Ah Madam said the kind Creature the Tears bursting from her Eyes how could I go near a Place where every Thing would put me in mind of my dear lost Child she still continued to weep and I wept for Company I put a Guinea in her Hand and insisted on her coming to see us She did so It was then Mr
Fenton
that we learned your Name and Character And you must expect the Mortification now and then of hearing a little of those many Things that are spoken to your Advantage I am sorry Madam said Mr
Fenton
that my Nothings should be talked of lest it should intimate that other People are less ostentatious
Mrs
Fielding
was still affected by what she had been saying And though Mr
Fenton
wished to know what the sad Affair was at which she had hinted he declined asking any Questions for fear of renewing her Affliction
Mr and Mrs
Clement
had walked abroad upon a Visit with their Pupil
Harry
So that Mr
Fenton
and his Friend
Ned
with Mr and Mrs
Fielding
made the whole of the present Company
You are happily situated Sir says Mr
Fielding
I blame myself and all others who have any Independence and yet live in a City Health Pleasure and Spirits are all for the Country Did any Poets or Philosophers ever place their golden Aeras or golden Scenes amidst such a Town as
London
a Man can scarce be himself he is confused and dissipated by the Variety of Objects and Bustle that surrounds him In short Sir I am like many others the reverse in Persuasion of what I am in Practice I live in a City although I detest it It is true that I am fond of Society and Neighbourhood but Experience has shewn me that
London
is not the Place in which I can enjoy it
No Sir said Mr
Fenton
if I was a Lover of Solitude if I wished to be the most recluse of all Anchorites that bid adieu to the Commerce of Mankind I would chuse
London
for my Cell It is in such a City alone that a Man may keep wholly unknown and unnoticed He is there as a Hailstone amidst a great Shower he jumps and bustles about awhile then lies snug among his Fellows without being any more observed than if he were not upon Earth till he melts away and vanishes with the rest of his Fraternity
I am not for a Cell Sir replied Mr
Fielding
I love Society but yet a Society that is founded in Friendship and People in great Cities are so divided and dissipated by the Multitude of solliciting Objects and Acquaintance that they are rendered incapable of a particular Attachment I imagine however that in a well peopled and civilized Part of the Country a Man might make an Election of Persons deserving his Esteem such as he would wish to live with in a happy Interchange of kind Offices and Affections This indeed is my Plan for my Remainder of Life but the Lawsuits in which I am at present involved will not permit me to go in search of my
Utopia
At Law exclaimed Mr
Fenton
then Sir you are much to be blamed or much to be pitied
I hope rather to be pitied than blamed rejoined Mr
Fielding
Four Suits descended to me on the Part of my own Father and three on the Part of the Father of my Wife and my Adversaries on all Sides are such Cocks of the Game that no Overtures can induce them to listen to any Terms of Compromise or Accommodation
If Matters of Wealth or Property said Mr
Fenton
are really Matters of valuable Estimation in Life it is much to be lamented that there is no Place on Earth wherein Property can be said to be fixed or ascertained Throughout the Regions of
Mahomet
and
Asiatic
Despotism Life and Property are alike Tenures at the Will of the Ruler Again throughout the
European
Continent no Man indeed no Nation can be assured of their Possessions exposed as they are to the Ambition and Avarice of their almost perpetually invading Neighbours Lastly in these Northern Islands whose Defence Nature herself appears to have undertaken by a Guardianship of circling Rocks and Seas this does not however defend us from intestine Convulsions and Changes Think what a general Change of Property has been made in
Great Britain
during the two very late Revolutions I am told that in a neighbouring Country the Alienation has been nearly universal perhaps a third Revolution is also at Hand
It is affirmed that the civil Constitution of
England
is the best calculated for the Security of Liberty and Property of any that was ever framed by the Policy of Man and originally perhaps it might have been so when twelve simple and impartial Men were appointed for the speedy Trial and Determination of Life and Property
Our Ancestors unquestionably were at that Time unblessed by the liberal and learned Profession of the
LongRobe
they would not otherwise have committed the Disposition of Property a Matter held so much more valuable than that of Life to a few Men who could have no
Virtue
under Heaven to recommend them save the two illiterate Qualities of
Common Sense
and
Common Honesty
Those were Ages of mental Darkness and no Way illumined as we are by those immense and immaculate Volumes of refined and
legal Metaphysics
that now press the Shelves of the Learned and are read with such Delight A Man in those Times had no Play for his Money he was either strippedor enrichd of a sudden whereas now in the worst Cause Hope is left during Life and Hope is said to be the greatest Cordial in this Vale of
human Controversy
It is greatly to be lamented that the learned in our Laws are not as immortal as the Suits for which they are retained It were therefore to be wished that an Act of Parliament might be especially passed for that Purpose a Matter no way impracticable considering the great Interest those Gentlemen have in the House In Truth it seems highly expedient that an Infinity of Years should be assigned to each Student of the
Belles Lettres
of our Laws to enable them to read over that Infinity of Volumes which have already been published to say nothing of the Infinity that are yet to come which will be held equally Necessary for understanding the Profession of critically distinguishing and oratorically expatiating on Law against Law Case against Case Authority against Authority Precedent against Precedent Statute against Statute and Argument against Reason.
In Matters of no greater Moment than Life and Death Juries as at the Beginning are still permitted to enter directly on the Hearing and Decision But in Matters so sacred as that of Property our Courts are extremely cautious of
too early
an Error in Judgment In order therefore to sift and boult them to the very Bran they are delivered over to the Lawyers who are equally the Affirmers and Disputers the Pleaders and Impleaders Representers and Misrepresenters Explainers and Confounders of our Laws Our Lawyers therefore maintain their Right of being paid for their Ingenuity in putting and holding all Properties in Debate Debated Properties consequently become the Properties of the Lawyers as long as Answers can be given to Bills or Replies to Answers or Rejoinders to Replies or Rebutters to Rejoinders as long as the Battledors can strike and bandy and till the Shuttlecock falls of itself to the Ground
Soberly and seriously speaking
English Property
when once debated is merely a
Carcass of Contention
upon which interposing Lawyers fall as customary Prize and Prey during the Combat of the Claimants While any Flesh remains on a Bone it continues a Bone of Contention But so soon as the learned Practitioners have picked it quite clean the Battle is over and all again is Peace and settled Neighbourhood
It is worthy of much Pleasantry and shaking of Sides to observe that in intricate knotty and extremely perplexing Cases where the Sages of the Gown and Coif are so puzzled as not to know what to make of the Matter they then bequeath it to the Arbitration and Award of two or three plain Men or by Record to the Judgment of twelve simply honest Fellows who casting aside all Regard to the Form of Writs and Declarations to the Lapse of Monosyllables verbal Mistakes and Misnomers enter at once upon the Pith and Marrow of the Business and in three Hours determine according to Equity and Truth what had been suspending in the dubious Scales of Ratiocination Quotation Altercation and pecuniary Consideration for three and twenty Years
Neither do I see any Period to the Progress of this Evil the Avenue still opens and leads on to further Mischiefs For the Distinctions in Law are like the Newtonian Particles of Matter,
divisible ad infinitum
They have been dividing and subdividing for some Centuries past and the Subdivisions are as likely to be subdividing for ever insomuch that Law thus divisible debateable and delayable is become a greater Grievance than all that it was intended to redress
I lately asked a pleasant Gentleman of the Coif if he thought it possible for a poor Man to obtain a Decree in Matter of Property against a rich Man he smiled and answered according to Scripture that
with Man it was impossible but that all Things were possible to God
I suppose he meant that the Decrees of the Courts of
Westminster
were hereafter to be reversed
Perhaps Sir said Mr
Fielding
neither our Laws nor our Lawyers are so much to blame as the People who apply to them for Protection for Justice Satisfaction or Revenge Might not the Parties who adventure on the Course of Litigation begin where they are most likely to end their Career in the Award of a few Persons or a Verdict of twelve Neighbours
But the Nature of Man is prone to Contention and Quarrel There is a certain Portion of yeast or Fermentation in his Mass that will have Vent in some Way and our Courts of Law are the most obvious Receptacles for the Ebullitions of Pride Avarice Envy Resentment and Wrathfulness the Insolences of Temper and Overflowings of Fortune
Mr
Scruple
an Attorney a very singular Man in his Way was lately recommended to me as a Person equally qualified for alluring or compelling my litigating Opponents to an Accommodation And he told me an exceeding pleasant Story as well respecting the Process and Forms of our Courts of Law as respecting the contentious Disposition of our Neighbours
Some Time since
Walter Warmhouse
a substantial Farmer in
Essex
was advised by Sergeant
Craw
that he had an unquestionable right to a certain Tenement in the Possession of
Barnaby Boniface
his next Neighbour and Gossip who fattened by the dint of good Ale and good Humour
Barnaby
who equally hated Debate and dry Bowels offered to leave the Matter in question to any honest Neighbours of
Walter
s own choosing but
Walter
proud of a weighty Opinion and as weighty a Purse rejected the proffered Compromise with Scorn and took a mortal Aversion to honest
Barnaby
because he refused to surrender his Possessions on demand
Walter Warmhouse
accordingly began the Attack in Form But Mr
Scruple
who had the uncommon Conscience to remember that
Barnaby
had once recovered his Purse from a HighwayMan determined as far as possible to preserve the Property of his old Friend For this Purpose he kept warily and cheaply on the defensive and while he held a watchful Eye over the Motions of the Adversary he followed him close through a thirteen Years Labyrinth of LawForms and what with Exceptions to Bills and Replies expensive Commissions for Examination of Witnesses Demurrer Imparlance and Essoign with Hearings and Rehearings Defer of Issue thereon Costs of Suit and Costs of Office he pretty nearly exhausted both the Purse and the Patience of the valorous Plaintiff
Walter Warmhouse
Whereupon his prudent Patron the good Sergeant
Craw
deemed it high time to consent to a Motion for referring the Case to the Arbitration and Award of certain Umpires though not of his Clients choosing as at first proposed
Soon after this Order Sergeant
Craw
had occasion to travel to the farther Parts of
Essex
and his Road led to the Concerns of his old Client
Walter Warmhouse
Here
Walter
happened to meet him and warned him of the manifold
Dangers of the Way
and of
the Numbers of Thieves and Highwaymen that infested the Passages that lay just before him
And pray then very smoothly says the Sergeant is there no way through your Fields Mr
Warmhouse
there is Sir said
Warmhouse
as good as any in
England
And may I not be permitted to pass Most safely and a thousand welcomes
Hereupon Client
Warmhouse
opened the Gate that led from the Road into the Fields and in issued the Equipage of his learned Advocate and kind Patron
Goodman
Warmhouse
was mounted on a round ambling Nag and rode much at his Ease by the Chariot of his
Malefactor
They chatted as they went about the Prices of Cattle and Improvement of Lands the Fall and Rise of Grain the Necessity of Industry and above all of the Advantage of good Enclosures which as the Sergeant observed were Emblems of the
English
Laws and secured every Mans Property from Question or Encroachment
While thus they beguiled the Way
Walter
led his respectable Patron through this Field and that Field and through you Gate and the other Gate and now went a Head like a Fox and now doubled like a Hare till having mazed it and circled it for the Space of three Hours he finally conducted the Sergeant to the very Gate at which he had first entered
How how exclaims the Sergeant methinks we are just where we set out we have not gained an Inch of Ground by the many Miles we have travelled
Quite as much replied
Walter
in a Journey of three Hours as your Honour gained for me in a Journey of thirteen Years and I leave you as you left me just where you found me
Your Story cried Mr
Fenton
is as pleasant as it is apt and reminds me of an Observation made by
Harry the 4th of France
that is equally pertinent to the Subject
A certain Judge of a Court of Law in that Kingdom had grown aged on the Bench and honoured by the innumerable Sentences which he had passed and which were all deemed conformable to the most perfect Measure and Dispensation of Equity The Gainers of the several Suits applauded his Discernment and Justice to the Skies and even the Losers allowed that they had no right to complain The Fame of his Wisdom and Integrity reached the Throne the Monarch was curious to see a Judge of so peculiar a Cast and Character and he sent for him under Colour of thanking him for the great Honours which he had done to his Regency
After a most gracious Reception and some Compliments at the Levee the Prince took him apart and in Confidence said
My Lord Judge the infinite Complaints that come before me from all Parts of the Kingdom respecting the erroneous or iniquitous Sentences daily passed by your Fraternity cast the highest Lustre on the Singularity of your Conduct and give me an eager Curiosity to know by what Measures you have been enabled to content all Parties I adjure you then by all that you reverence to disguise nothing from me on this Head You have not any thing to fear from my Censure of Means that have proved so very successful and you have all things to hope from my Approbation
The Judge thereupon cast himself at the Feet of his Prince and rising addressed him thus
To you my Sovereign as to Heaven I will open my whole Soul In the first Place in order to enable myself to give a Guess whether the Judgments to be pronounced might be right or wrong I gave all possible Attention to the Merits of each Case during the Process; I daily took Minutes of the Pleadings on either Side I enlarged and commented on those Minutes while Matters were fresh in my Memory and I never interrupted any Cause till it had run itself out of Breath through the Circuit of Forms and due Course of Law
In the next Place may it please your Majesty I never took Bribe or Present of any Kind or from any Hand lest Favour or Inclination should insensibly tempt me to
cogg
or give
a partial Turn to the final Cast
Thus prepared as soon as Matters were ripe for a Decree that is to say as soon as the respective Lawyers had agreed among themselves that
nothing more was to be said
nor any Thing
more to be got
on either Side of the Question I summed up the repugnant Merits so equally and impartially with respect to Circumstance Evidence and Ordinance of Law as induced both Parties now wearied and wishing for Rest to think that the Decree must inevitably be given against themselves and having appointed a certain Hour for uttering the fatal Sentence I got up under visible Concern and retired
From the Bench so please your Graciousness I withdrew to my Closet and having locked myself up I called upon my tutelary and never erring Directors in the solution of all Knots and unwinding of all Intricacies in short I went to a little Drawer and took out
my Box and Dice
Box and Dice exclaimed the Monarch Half starting from his Seat Yes Sire replied the Judge I repeat it Box and Dice And if your Majesty will be pleased to attend for a few Moments I trust to convince you of the Propriety of this Proceeding
Humanum est errare
This my Liege is a Maxim that has never yet been controverted by Precept or by Practise and it is as much as to say that Life is a mere Labyrinth of Errors in which all Men are appointed to travel and to stray
Nothing save Number and Measure is yet determined upon Earth Nothing is certain save that two and two make four and that Lines are equal or differ according to their Dimensions
All Men further than this depend upon
Reason
as their Enlightner and Director in the Search of Truth And yet Reason itself has nothing whereon it may rest or depend It first doubts and then proceeds to examine It calls in Evidence and Arguments on this Side and on that Side
pro
and
con
It compares canvasses and discusses sifts and boults Matters suppose to the very Bran It endeavours to poise the Scales of its own Uncertainty and now recovers some lapsed Circumstance and casts it into this Scale and again throws some new Proof or Discovery into that Scale and so changes its Opinion from Day to Day While Prejudice and Partiality stand invisibly at its Elbow and at length determine the long suspended Balance by casting their own Weights into one Scale or the other according as Interest or Pleasure would wish to preponderate
Truth so please your Supremacy has been sunk in so very deep a Well as to mock the fiveinched Fathom of mere human Ratiocination whether it be a Dealer or Retailer of Physic or Metaphysics of the Distinctions in Law or the Distinctions in Philosophy And I flatter myself that I alone the least and most unlikely of all your Majestys Subjects have hit upon a Method for fishing up Truth by a Line which I acknowledge is not of my own twisting
Within my Memory and nearly within that of your Majesty particular Laws have been in Force for
Trial by Combat
and
Trial by Ordeal
and though at present those Laws are held to have been iniquitous and wholly absurd they could not have been instituted without just and ponderous Reasons They related my Liege as my Sentences do to the Interposition of Providence in the
Jewish Lots
whereby all Doubts however general could be speedily ascertained where the Nation drew Lots according to Tribes the Tribes according Families and the Families by Individuals till the Criminal was detected
Thus in Trial by Combat I have known and read of manifold Instances wherein guilty Courage and Prowess have been foiled by the Weak and Fearful And in Trial by Ordeal Heaven never failed to guide the Steps of the hoodwinked Innocent between the narrow Intervals of the burning Plowshares And thus conscious of my own Infirmity and Blindness I have referred all my Decrees to a Power of better Discernment and he never failed to determine according to Truth
Indeed said the Monarch I cannot wholly disapprove your Method when I reflect on your Motive And according to your Account when I think on the Plague and Anxiety Loss of Time and Loss of Fortune to which my Subjects are put by these Professors of the Law you have clearly convinced me my good Lord Judge that it would be INFINITELY BETTER TO CAST DICE AT THE BEGINNING THAN TO GIVE THE MOST RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT AT THE END OF ANY LAWSUIT
WHILE the Gentlemen were thus plunged in the bottomless Gulf of the Law Mrs
Fielding
beckoned
Ned
to a remote Part of the Room and was greatly taken with his lively and innocent Chat
Pray Mr
Fenton
said she is this your Son No Madam said Mr
Fenton
we know not to whom he belongs poor Fellow and I am persuaded from many Circumstances that he was stolen in his Infancy from his true Parents
Mrs
Fielding
instantly coloured like Scarlet and casting at her Husband an eager and animated Look gracious Heaven she exclaimed who knows my Dear but this may be our precious our lost and long lamented Boy to whom Providence this Day has so wonderfully conducted us
Madam said Mr
Fenton
it is thought that Hundreds of Children are yearly spirited away from their Parents by Gipsies by Beggars to excite Charity and by Kidnappers to carry to the Plantations but I hear of very few that ever have been restored except in Romance Pray had you any particular Memorandum or Mark whereby you would know him to be your Child on the Presumption of his being found
Alas no Sir said Mrs
Fielding
he was scarce two Year old when his Nurse got Leave to go and see a Relation the only Visit poor Woman that she made from the Time she took my Child to the Breast She left him in the Care of the House Maid who used to caress him with particular Tenderness He stood with her at the Door some one called her in suddenly but quickly returning my Child was gone
Ah could the Wretches who took him have guessed at the Heartrending Anguish which that Loss cost me it were not in the Nature of Barbarians of Brutes of Fiends themselves to have imagined a Deed of such Deadliness For three Days and Nights Life hovered like a Flame that was just departing and was only retained by my frequent⪠and long Swoonings that for a Time shut up all Sense and Recollection Neither do I think that my dear Husband suffered much less than myself however he might constrain and exert his Spirits to keep up as it were some Appearance of Manliness
We dispatched Cryers throughout the City and through all the neighbouring Towns with Offers of vast Recompence to any who should discover and restore our Child to us and we continued for Years to advertise him in all the public Papers But alas he must have been taken by some very illiterate Wretches who could not read and who never heard of the Rewards that were offered their own Interest must otherwise have engaged them to return him Pray Mr
Fenton
how did you come by this pretty Boy
Here
Ned
assisted Mr
Fenton
to give a Detail respecting himself of the Circumstances already recited and Mr
Fenton
mentioned the Precaution he had taken for seizing his former Mammy if ever she should make her Appearance
If Heaven should ever bless me with more Children said Mr
Fielding
I have determined to fix some indelible Mark upon them such as that of the
JerusalemLetters
that in case of Accident I may be able to discover and ascertain my own Offspring from all others Such a Precaution said Mr
Fenton
is more especially incumbent on those who send their Children abroad to be nursed where it is so practicable for Fosterers to impose a living Infant in the Place of one who has died or by an Exchange to prefer a Child of their own to an Inheritance for the Features of Infancy generally change to a Degree that shortly leaves no Trace of the original Cast of Countenance and it is common with Parents to leave their Children at Nurse for Years without seeing or renewing the Memory of their Aspects
Mr
Fenton
says Mrs
Fielding
will you give me your Interest in this sweet Foundling I will regard him as my own Child I will be good to him for the Sake of the one I have lost Tell me my Dear will you come and live with me What say you
Ned
says Mr
Fenton
would you like to go and live with that Lady O Sir cried
Ned
could I find in my Heart to leave Master
Harry
and you to be sure I would give the World to be with this dear Lady So saying he catchd at her Hand and pressed it eagerly to his Lips Mrs
Fielding
found herself surprised and agitated by this Action and taking him in her Arms and repeatedly kissing him the Gush of Passion which she had sometime suppressed broke forth and she shed a plenteous Shower of Tears upon him
Word being now brought that the Chariot was put to Rights and at the Door Mr and Mrs
Fielding
took a tender Farewel of Mr
Fenton
and
Ned
and set off for
London
As we propose after the Manner of the celebrated
Vertot
to drop all the heavy and inanimate Parts of our History and to retain nothing but the Life and Spirit thereof we take the Liberty to pass over a few Months during which nothing material happened save that our
Harry
increased in Stature and in all personal and mental Accomplishments
It was the latter End of August the Weather fair and pleasant when
Harry
issued forth to his little
Campus martius
accompanied by
Neddy
and the faithful
James
He was there met by his customary Companions in Arms and they had nearly settled their Courses and Exercises for the Evening when a young Phoenomenon of Nobility made his Appearance like a Phoenix among the vulgar Birds attended by two Servants in flaming Liveries
All the Boys except
Harry
and
Ned
who kept close to him immediately approached the glittering Stranger and paid their Respects with Admiration and a kind of awkard Obeisance while
Harry
eyed him askance with a half sullen and half disdainful Regard and notwithstanding the native Benevolence of his Temper felt no kind of Complacence in his Bosom toward him
The young Nobleman to make a parade of his Wealth and at the same Time to indulge his Petulance of Disposition took a Handful of Sixpences and Shillings from his Pocket and throwing them among the Crew cried a Scramble Boys a Scramble
Hereupon a Scuffle royal instantly ensued All of them save three eagerly grappled at the Pieces that had fixed their Eye while each at the same Time seized and struggled with his Fellow Our Hero mean while observed all that passed with a distingushing Attention But as the Cause of Quarrel was quickly conveyed from Sight nothing worse happened than a few Trips and Boxes to which the Parties had been accustomed and therefore did not resent insomuch that my Lord was wholly defeated of the benevolent Intention of his Generosity and looked upon himself as defrauded of his Coin
To compensate this Disappointment and to make surer for the future of his dearly beloved Mischief he took a CrownPiece from his Pocket and holding it up to the full View of the Assembly he proclaimed it as the Prize of Victory between any two who should step forth on the Spot and engage in a Boxing Match At the Word an unknown Champion sprung forward instantly stripped and challenged the Field
This unknown had arrived but that very Morning with his Parents who came to settle at the Village He was by Nature a very valiant but very quarrelsome Boy he had consequently been engaged in a Number of occasional Combats wherein he had generally come off victorious and this gave him as full an Assurance of Conquest as though his Brow had already received the Wreath
The Stranger in Bulk and Stature exceeded the Field and no one had yet offered himself an Antagonist when
Harry
stepping up thus addressed him in a gentle but admonishing Accent
I find Sir you are a Stranger you are therefore to be excused for behaving amiss as you are yet unacquainted with the Laws of this Place But I must now be so free to inform you that whoever quarrels here or boxes for Money must afterwards take a Turn with me for nothing As well before as after briskly replied the Adversary but I scorn to take you at an Advantage prepare yourself and strip you must first shew me rejoined
Harry
that you are worth stripping for
The unknown instantly fired at what he held to be a boastful Insult and leaping forward aimed a Punch at
Harry
s Stomach with all his Force When
Harry
nimbly catching the right Wrist of his Adversary in his left Hand and giving him at the same Instant a sudden Trip with his right Foot and a Stroke across the Neck with his right Arm the strange Heros Heels flew up and his Shoulders and Head came with a Squelch to the Earth
As this unfortunate Champion lay astonished dismayed and wholly disqualified by his Fall from further Contention
Harry
generously stepped forward and offered to raise him But turning from him he painfully and slowly arose and muttering something not intelligible he walked away with a sullen but much abased Motion
Harry
s Companions hereat began to set up a Cry of Triumph and Derision after the vanquishd But
Harry
suddenly stopped them and cried for Shame my Friends he is a brave Boy and deserves to be honoured though a Stranger to our Ways and I hope in my Heart that he maynt be hurt nor discouraged from coming among us any more
Our young Nobleman mean while had observed all that passed and considered our Hero with an envious and indignant Attention when
Harry
calling to him the three Boys who had declined to partake of the Scramble for my Lords Money my good Boys cries he aloud you had the Honour to refuse to Quarrel and Tear your Companions and Friends to Pieces for the dirty Matter of a few Sixpences and the first Part of your Reward shall be many Sixpences
So saying he put his Hand in his Pocket and taking out three Crowns made a Present of one to each Then feeling a secret Touch of self Approbation he turned to my Lords Servants and addressed them in an Accent and with an Action rather too highly elevated Go he cried my Friends take your young Master home to his Father and Mother and tell them from me that since they have already made him a LORD I wish the next thing they do would be to make him a GENTLEMAN
What you Scoundrel cried my Lord do you tell me to my Face that I am not a Gentleman and flying instantly at
Harry
he gave him a smart Stroke on the left Cheek
Harry
had just begun to recollect his Error But being again kindled to quick Resentment he half repressed and half enforced a sudden Paunch which he reached at the Nose of his Lordship who giving a Scream fell backward and measured his Length on the Field
The two Servants immediately stooped to raise their bleeding Master and one of them highly exasperated to see his Lord in that Condition turned furiously upon
Harry
in order to chastise him But
Jack Freeman
his fellow Servant strait caught him by the Arm crying hold
Patrick
hold remember
fair Play
and
Old England
So saying he suddenly stopped catched at our Heros Hand pressed it warmly to his Lips and cried O my noblest Child how I envy the Happiness of those who serve you then turning he took his Lord by the Hand and straight led him away from the Field of Battle
Appropo to your turning a Lord into a Gentleman When your Hero gave that just though over haughty Reproof to the Insolence and Petulance of the gay Stranger had he not a clear Conception of the Character of your true Gentleman
If he had not a positive yet you see he had a negative Apprehension of the Matter If he could not say what it was to be yet he could tell you what it was not to be a Gentleman And he clearly perceived that neither Finery Grandeur of Equipage Title Wealth superior Airs Affectation of Generosity neither a Mischiefmaking Temper nor a taking of Delight in the Broils Conflicts Passions and Pains of others were any constituent Qualities in this reverable Character
I beseech you then at this Interval to satisfy my Impatience and to make good your Promise that you would give me a Detail of the Qualities that entitle a Man to this Supreme of Denominations
That perhaps may be done with better Effect to the Understanding as well as the Heart by instancing and exemplifying rather than defining
It has already been intimated that
Hector
was the finest Gentleman of whom we read in History and
Don Quixote
the finest Gentleman we read of in Romance as was instanced from the Tenour of their Principles and Actions
Some Time after the Battle of
Cressy Edward
the Third of
England
and
Edward
the
Black Prince
the more than Heir of his Fathers Renown pressed
John
King of
France
to indulge them with the Pleasure of his Company at
London John
was desirous of embracing the Invitation and accordingly laid the Proposal before his Parliament at
Paris
The Parliament objected that the Invitation had been made with an insidious Design of seizing his Person thereby to make the cheaper and easier Acquisition of the Crown to which
Edward
at that Time pretended But
John
replied with some Warmth that he was confident his Brother
Edward
and more especially his young Cousin were too much of the GENTLEMAN to treat him in that Manner He did not say too much of the King of the Hero or of the Saint but too much of the GENTLEMAN to be guilty of any Baseness
The Sequel verified this Opinion At the Battle of
Poictiers
King
John
was made Prisoner and soon after conducted by the
Black Prince
to
England
The
Prince
entered
London
in Triumph amid the Throng and Acclamations of Millions of the People But then this rather appeared to be the Triumph of the
French
King than that of his Conqueror
John
was seated on a proud Steed royally robed and attended by a numerous and gorgeous Train of the
British
Nobility while his Conqueror endeavoured as much as possible to disappear and rode by his Side in plain Attire and degradingly seated on a little
Irish
Hobby
As
Aristotle
and the
Critics
derived their Rules for Epic Poetry and the Sublime from a Poem which
Homer
had written long before any Rules were formed or Laws established for the Purpose Thus from the Demeanour and innate Principles of particular Gentlemen Art has borrowed and instituted the many Modes of Behaviour which the World has adopted under the Title of GoodManners
One Quality of a Gentleman is that of Charity to the Poor and this is delicately instanced in the Account which Don
Quixote
gives to his fast Friend
Sancho Pansa
of the valorous but yet more pious Knight Errant Saint
Martin
On a Day said the Don Saint
Martin
met a poor Man half naked and taking his Cloak from his Shoulders he divided and gave him the one Half Now tell me at what Time of the Year this happened Was I a Witness quoth
Sancho
how the Vengeance should I know in what Year or what Time of the Year it happened Hadst thou
Sancho
rejoined the Knight any thing within thee of the Sentiment of Saint
Martin
thou must assuredly have known that this happened in Winter for had it been Summer Saint
Martin
would have given the whole Cloak
Another Characteristic of the true Gentleman is a Delicacy of Behaviour toward that Sex whom Nature has entitled to the Protection and consequently entitled to the Tenderness of Man
The same GentlemanErrant entering into a Wood on a Summers Evening found himself entangled among Nets of green Thread that here and there hung from Tree to Tree and conceiving it some Matter of purposed Conjuration pushed valorously forward to break through the Enchantment Hereupon some beautiful Shepherdesses interposed with a Cry and besought him to spare the Implements of their innocent Recreation The Knight surprised and charmed by the Vision replied Fair Creatures my Province is to protect not to injure to seek all Means of Service but never of Offence more especially to any of your Sex and apparent Excellencies Your pretty Nets take up but a small Piece of favoured Ground but did they enclose the World I would seek out new Worlds whereby I might win a Passage rather than break them
Two very lovely but shamefaced Girls had a Cause of some Consequence depending at
Westminster
that indispensably required their personal Appearance They were Relations of Sir
Joseph Jeckel
and on this tremendous Occasion requested his Company and Countenance at the Court Sir
Joseph
attended accordingly and the Cause being opened the Judge demanded whether he was to entitle those Ladies by the Denomination of Spinsters No my Lord said Sir
Joseph
they are Lilies of the Valley they toil not neither do they spin yet you see that no Monarch in all his Glory was ever arrayed like one of these
Another very peculiar Characteristic of a Gentleman is the giving Place and yielding to all with whom he has to do
Of this we have a shining and affecting Instance in
Abraham
perhaps the most accomplished Character that may be found in History whether sacred or profane
A Contention had arisen between the Herdsmen of
Abraham
and the Herdsmen of his Nephew
Lot
respecting the Propriety of the Pasture of the Lands wherein they dwelled that could now scarce contain the Abundance of their Cattle And those Servants as is universally the Case had respectively endeavoured to kindle and enflame their Masters with their own Passions
When
Abraham
in Consequence of this perceived that the Countenance of
Lot
began to change toward him he called and generously expostulated with him as followeth
Let there be no Strife I pray thee between me and thee or between my Herdsmen and thy Herdsmen for we be Brethren If it be thy Desire to separate thyself from me is not the whole Land before thee if thou wilt take the Left Hand then will I go to the Right or if thou depart to the Right Hand then I will go to the Left
Another capital Quality of the true Gentleman is that of feeling himself concerned and interested in others Never was there so benevolent so affecting so pathetic a Piece of Oratory exhibited upon Earth as that of
Abraham
s pleading with God for averting the Judgments that then impended over
Sodom
But the Matter is already so generally celebrated that I am constrained to refer my Reader to the Passage at full since the smallest Abridgement must deduct from its Beauties and that nothing can be added to the Excellencies thereof
Honour
again is said in Scripture peculiarly to distinguish the Character of a Gentleman where it is written of
Sechem
the Son of
Hamor
that
he was more honourable than all the House of his Father
This young Prince giving way to the Violence of his Passion had dishonourably defloured
Dinah
the Daughter of
Jacob
But his Affections and Soul claved to the Party whom he had injured He set no Limit to his Offers for repairing the Wrong Ask me he said to her Kindred
ask me never so much Dowry and Gift and I will give according as ye shall say unto me but give me the Damsel to Wife
From hence it may be inferred that human Excellence or human Amiableness doth not so much consist in a Freedom from Frailty as in our Recovery from Lapses our Detestation of our own Transgressions and our Desire of atoning by all possible Means the Injuries we have done and the Offences we have given Herein therefore may consist the very singular Distinction which the great Apostle makes between his Estimation of a
Just
and of a
Good
Man For a
just
or
righteous Man
says he
one would grudge to die but for a good Man one would even dare to die
Here the
just Man
is supposed to adhere strictly to the Rule of Right or Equity and to exact from others the same Measure that he is satisfied to mete but the
good Man
though occasionally he may fall short of Justice has properly speaking no Measure to his Benevolence his general Propensity is to give more than the due The
just Man
condemns and is desirous of punishing the Transgressors of the Line prescribed to himself but the
good Man
in the Sense of his own Falls and Failings gives Latitude Indulgence and Pardon to others he judges he condemns no one save himself The
just Man
is as a Stream that deviates not to the Right or Left from its appointed Channel neither is swelled by the Flood of Passion above its Banks but the Heart of the
good Man
the Man of
Honour
the
Gentleman
is as a Lamp lighted by the Breath of GOD and none save GOD himself can set Limits to the Efflux or Irradiations thereof
Again the Gentleman never envies any superior Excellence but grows himself more excellent by being the Admirer Promoter and Lover thereof
Saul
said to his Son
Jonathan
Thou Son of the perverse rebellious Woman do not I know that thou hast chosen the Son of
Jesse
to thine own Confusion For as long as the Son of
Jesse
liveth upon the Ground thou shalt not be established nor thy Kingdoms wherefore send and fetch him unto me for he shall surely die
Here every interesting Motive that can possibly be conceived to have an Influence on Man united to urge
Jonathan
to the Destruction of
David
he would thereby have obeyed his King and pacified a Father who was enraged against him He would thereby have removed the only Luminary that then eclipsed the Brightness of his own Achievements And he saw as his Father said that the Death of
David
alone could establish the Kingdom in himself and his Posterity But all those Considerations were of no avail to make
Jonathan
swerve from Honour to slacken the Bands of his Faith or cool the Warmth of his Friendship O
Jonathan
the Sacrifice which thou then madest to Virtue was incomparably more illustrious in the Sight of God and his Angels than all the subsequent Glories to which
David
attained What a Crown was thine
Jonathan when thou wast slain in thine high Places
Saul
of
Tharsus
had been a Man of Bigotry Blood and Violence making Havock and breathing out Threatenings and Slaughter against all who were not of his own Sect and Persuasion But when the Spirit of that INFANT who laid himself in the Manger of human Flesh came upon him he acquired a new Heart and a new Nature and he offered himself a willing Subject to all the Sufferings and Persecutions which he had brought upon others
Saul
from that Time exemplified in his own Person all those Qualities of the
Gentleman
which he afterwards specifies in his celebrated Description of that
Charity
which as he says alone endureth for ever
When
Festus
cried with a loud Voice
Saul
thou art beside thyself much Learning doth make thee mad
Saul
stretched the Hand and answered I am not mad most noble
Festus
but speak forth the Words of Truth and Soberness For the King knoweth of these Things before whom also I speak freely for I am persuaded that none of these Things are hidden from him King
Agrippa
believest thou the Prophets I know that thou believest Then
Agrippa
said unto
Saul
almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian And
Saul
said I would to God that not only thou but also all that hear me this Day were not only almost but altogether such as I am except these Bonds
Here with what an inimitable Elegance did this Man in his own Person at once sum up the Orator the Saint and the Gentleman
From these Instances my Friend you must have seen that the Character or rather Quality of a GENTLEMAN does not in any Degree depend on Fashion or Mode on Station or Opinion neither changes with Customs Climates or Ages But as the Spirit of God can alone inspire it into Man so it is as God is the same Yesterday Today and for Ever
It is a Standard whereby I propose for the future to Measure and judge of all my Acquaintance But let us return to our little Gentleman Monitor
CHAP XII
NEVER did
Harry
feel himself so deeply mortified so debased in his own Eyes as when my Lords Footman in Terms and with an Action so uncommonly respectful had stooped and kissed his Hand His Heart but just before had whispered to him that the Manner in which he had admonished the young Nobleman expressed more of the Pride and Insolence of his own Temper than any friendly Intention to reform the Faults of another and he already began to suspect that the Manner in which he had dispensed his own Bounty shewed the same Ostentation which he meant to reprove and with which he had been so highly offended in his Lordship
Thus disgusted with himself and consequently with all about him he turned away from his Companions walked sad and silent homeward and passing softly through the Hall withdrew to his own Chamber
James
had followed
Harry
at such a Distance as just to keep him in Sight and entering where his Master sat reading in the Parlour Mr
Fenton
enquired eagerly after his Boy
James
cast at his Master a Look of much Solemnity and shaking his Head in Token of Concern ah Sir said he Im sorry to tell you that Master
Harry
Today was not altogether as good a Boy as I could have wished Indeed I observe of late that at Times he is apt to be very sudden and passionate I doubt Sir we shall have woful Doings by and by he has terribly abused and battered the Son and Heir of the Earl of
Mansfield
one of the worthiest Noblemen in all
England
To be sure we shall have sad Complaints against him I was present at all that passed and truly Master
Harry
was very much in Fault
You delight me you transport me cried Mr
Fenton
my only Affliction was that he had no Faults I want him to have Faults
James
I want him to have Faults such Faults as may make him feel them But tell me minutely as particularly as you can how this Affair happened
James
then gave a special Detail of what we have recited Whereupon Mr
Fenton
exclaimed O my noble my generous my incomparable Boy where is he let me see him what is become of him
Upon enquiry Mrs
Susan
reported that she had seen him stealing softly up Stairs Mr
Fenton
then taking his Book in his Hand stole up after his
Harry
and opening his Chamber Door with the least Noise possible saw him seated in a dejected Attitude in a far Corner of the Room and looking attentively at him perceived that he had been in Tears
He thereupon took a Chair and gently seating himself beside him what is the Matter my
Harry
he said what ails my Love Dont ask me dont ask me Sir cried
Harry
I darent tell you indeed I dare not You would love me no longer you would hate me if I should tell you Hate you my Darling cried Mr
Fenton
that is quite impossible I can never hate you my
Harry
But come be free with your Friend tell me openly and honestly for what do you think I should hate you for my Faults Sir for my Faults To be sure there isnt in the World so bad a Boy as myself and what is worse than all that when I think and mean to do better than ever something comes in the way and spoils the Whole and so turns all the Good that is in me into nothing but Naughtiness
Here
Harry
could contain no longer but burst into a passionate Gush of Tears and Sobs and Mr
Fenton
tenderly embracing him and taking him on his Knee and clasping him to his Bosom gave way to the kindred Emotion that swelled in his own Breast and mingled his joyful Tears with those of his
Harry
As soon as the Passion of these two Friends had subsided
Harry
began to take new Courage from the Caresses of his dear Dada who as he sensibly felt would never hate or forsake him however he might condemn and detest himself
Well then Dada says he since you are so very good I will trust you with my Story so far as it has to say to the little that I can remember of my Faults in it
You must know that I had no sooner got into your Field that you gave me for our Plays than a young Master came up to us so grandly dressed and attended and with such a saucy Air that he seemed to say in his own Mind all these are but Dirt in Comparison of myself
As I looked at him he brought to my Mind the Story you once told me of
Hercules
who was poisoned by his fine Coat So I began to pity him and I believe to despise him too and that you know wasnt right for you told me that whoever despises another grows worse than the one he despises and falls below him while he thinks to set himself above him but that didnt come into my Head at the Time
And so Sir to shew us all that he didnt matter Money or that he loved Mischief the better of the two he took out a Handful of Silver and threw it among my Companions to set them by the Ears and this provoked and began to make me very angry with him and thus one Fault brought me into another after it like Water my Chickens come clock
But this didnt satisfy my young Lord for they calld him Lord but he must take out a Crown and offer it to any two of my Companions that would box for it So a Stranger that was just come offered to box any one in the Company for it but I dont repent of my beating him because he was the Challenger
But the worst is yet to come Dada There was some of my Companions who refused to join in the Scramble for the Money and that pleased me very much and so to reward them I took out a Handful of Money and gave them a Crown a piece But you know I neednt have taken out more Money than I meant to give them if it wasnt partly to shew my Lord that I had as much Money as himself and so I got myself up to the Head and Ears in the very same Fault that I found with him
Now comes the worst of all For growing proud and conceited as if I had no one Fault in the World and as if the like of me was only fit to reprove others and teach them their Duty I desired the fine Master to get himself Home and since he was a Lord to learn also to be a Gentleman Upon that he gave me a Blow which I deserved very well but I didnt matter his Blow a Phillip if I hadnt thought it an Affront before my Companions So my Passion begun to rise and I gave him a half Stroke but unluckily it hit him full in the Nose and Im afraid hes hurted very sadly
Besides all Dada I know well enough there will come sad Complaints against me and so I shall bring Trouble and Disturbance upon you and thats Grief upon Grief
Dont fear for me
Harry
I shall do well enough says Mr
Fenton
But
Harry
you have not told me near as great News as you thought to do I knew all along that you had a very naughty Boy within you but I forbore to tell you so because I rather wishd you should make the Discovery yourself and now God be praised you have found out the Secret
And what Good will it do me Dada to know that I am bad when I dont know how to make myself better for Today I thought and meant to be very good and yet found myself in the End to be worse than ever But as you say to be sure I have been very bad though I hardly knew any Thing of the Matter till now I now remember how I had like to murder poor Mr
Vindex
with the Sword and a hundred other Things if I could bring them to Mind What shall I do then Dada what shall I do to grow good
I will tell you my
Harry
says Mr
Fenton
And as you have generously entrusted me with one Secret that of having a very bad Boy within you it is but fair that I should entrust you with another Secret which is that of having an exceeding good Boy within you
What two Boys in one Dada how can that be it is even so my Darling you yourself told me as much Did you not say that this very Day the one was struggling and fighting within you against the other that the one was proud scornful ostentatious and revengeful the other humble gentle generous loving and forgiving and that when the bad Boy got the better the good Boy took him to Task and reprimanded and severely rebuked him and made him cry bitterly
What you say indeed Dada is something very like it only I cant think how one Boy can be two Boys Do you remember
Harry
what you read last Night in the old Testament about
Rebecka
the Wife of
Isaac
when she was with Child yes very well Sir As how she was with Child of Twins
and the Children struggled together within her and she said if it be so why am I thus And she went to enquire of the Lord
Very right my Love and I now say to you what God then said to
Rebecka
I do not mean that you have two Boys within you of the bodily Bulk Features and Shape of yourself but that you have two
different Spirits
or
Principles
within you which like
Esau
and
Jacob
have quite different and adverse Natures Inclinations and Desires the one prompting and hurrying you into all that is Evil the other inviting and leading you into all that is Good So you see
Harry
and you have felt that like
Rebecka
you have your own
Esau
and your own
Jacob
struggling within your Bosom And the War between them shall never cease till the one shall have wholly conquered and subjected the other
To make this Matter plainer and clearer to you my Darling I will tell you a pretty Story out of the Book that is in my Hand
Cyrus
was a King and a great Conqueror but in his private Capacity a very virtuous Man On a Day some of his Captains just returned from an Expedition informed him that they had brought him the greatest Wonder in the World a young Princess called
Panthea
whom they had taken captive and whose Charms exceeded all that could be imagined of Woman
Cyrus
as I told you was virtuous He was already married and he dreaded running the Risk of being seduced from his Honesty by the dangerous Allurements of this enchanting Beauty He therefore obstinately though reluctantly forbid her Approach and denied himself the Pleasure he might have taken in beholding her
His own Honour however and the Respect due to the Quality and Accomplishments of the Lady demanded all possible Attention and Precaution in her Behalf For this Purpose he summoned his chief Captains and Favourites He asked which of them would adventure to take the Charge of this young Beauty and he promised the highest Rewards to those who should honourably discharge their Trust but threatened his deepest Displeasure to any who should betray it
All of them shrunk at the Apprehension of taking upon them the personal Custody and Care of a Beauty whom their great and virtuous Monarch had not even dared to look upon and no one had offered to undertake this perilous Commission till a valiant and noble Youth named
Araspes
stood forth
From my Infancy O
Cyrus
said the graceful Adventurer I have been educated in the School and brought up at the Feet of the divine
Zoroaster
I am accustomed from my Childhood to combat conquer and scorn all sensual Seducers I hold Virtue in mine Eye as its only Object my Heart esteems and affects it as my only Good the Nature thereof is become one with my Nature and I do not remember the Time wherein I have been tempted to deviate from Rectitude or sink beneath the Calls of Honour I cannot therefore but smile at the Fear of my Companions Their Courage at a Breach or in the Field is unquestionable I have seen them face a thousand Deaths I have seen them rush into Dangers and yet they dread the Sight of a single and weakly Female For me she can have no Terrors since I am out of the Power and Reach of her Allurements I will undertake the Charge of this formidable Creature at the Risk of my Honour at the Risk of my Life and more than all at the Risk of the Favour of
Cyrus
Cyrus
had long loved the Person and contemplated and admired the Virtues of this Youth He therefore with Joy and Confidence committed this precious Deposite to his Trust in full Assurance that the Person and Honour of
Panthea
could no where be so safe as in the Protection of
Araspes
The young Hero had in Reality all the Virtues that he boasted His Education under so beloved and respectable a Master his early and long Habit of opposing and rejecting the smallest Incitement to Vice and the Delights which he was accustomed to feel in the Sentiments and Practice of what his Judgment approved had in a Manner so wholly lulled his naughty Self to sleep that he did not so much as dream that he had an Enemy within him
This my
Harry
was his heavy Misfortune and the sad Occasion of his Fall For not knowing that his evil
Esau
was still alive in his Bosom not knowing that he had any one to oppose or to struggle with he kept neither Watch nor Guard and so lay naked and open to the Mischief that came upon him as I am going to tell you
On his seeing the Lady who was committed to his Trust he felt no Emotion nor Sentiment save that of Wonder as in beholding the most perfect of the Works of his Creator and he took a Pleasure in providing that she should be treated and accommodated with all possible Attention and Respect as due to so accomplished and preeminent a Being
As the Nature of his Commission gave him frequent Occasions of being near and about the Person of his amiable Ward new Beauties grew daily visible and opened to his Eyes But abve all in conversing with her the Music of her Accents and the Elegance of her Sentiments fell insensibly on his Soul that drank them up as a dry Ground drinks up the invisible Dew of the Evening
His Occasions for attending her and doing little Offices and Services about her now daily increased without seeming to do so When he was called and intended to go elsewhere his Feet imperceptibly carried him to the Presence of
Panthea
His Slumbers were short uneasy and broken and at Meals he knew not whether or on what he fed
At length his Eyes opened to the Calamity of his Condition But at the Moment wherein he perceived his Love he found himself too far gone for the possibility of a Return He was as a Mariner who had haled his Boat up on Land and thinking himself secure had fallen asleep therein but while he slept a spring Tide came silently on and covered the Shore and gained upon the Beach and swelled under the Boat and heaved it from Land and turning bore it farther and farther to Sea Then awakened the helpless Mariner unprovided of Sail or Oar or of any Means to effect or attempt a Return He saw his lost Estate he stretched his Arms toward the Land but while he reached it with his Eyes he found himself carried by an irresistable Power still more and more distant from the Sight
Thus fared it with the wretched lost fallen away
Araspes
He awakened to his Condition he looked around but found himself helpless He would have struggled he wished his Return to Virtue but his Wishes were sickly as feeble as a Dream and he felt himself borne away by a secret and subtle Force from that Honour of which he now barely retained a distant Prospect
The imbosomed Fire that preyed upon him at length became insufferable and he desperately determined to seek Relief He threw himself at the Feet of the Object of his Desires avowed the Ardour of his Passion and besought her Pity
The Princess replied in a mild but resolute Accent I do pity you
Araspes
I pity you the more as it is all that my Power can ever do for you Two insurmountable Barriers oppose your Desires the one is my Honour the other my Inclination I am already married to a young Hero the Prince and Patron of his People the most accomplished of his Sex and an Honour to human Nature He is my first and last Love he possesses my Heart wholly but were it emptied of him it would not be emptied of its Virtue and the Thoughts of any other would be an Offence to my Soul Be advised then
Araspes
depart from Temptation and seek in Absence a Cure for the Indiscretion of your Love
Confused astonished speechless
Araspes
lost at once the little that remained to him of Virtue and Reason He knew not what he did he would have proceeded to Violence when the Princess suddenly drew a Ponyard and pointed it at her Bosom Whereat
Araspes
strait withdrew overwhelmed with Shame Disappointment and Despair
As soon as he had retired the Princess took a little Tablet whereon she inscribed the few following Words
To
CYRUS
Your Favourite has betrayed his Trust he would have offered Violence Think what is due to your own Honour as well as that of
PANTHEA
This she dispatched to the Monarch by one of her faithful Mutes As soon as
Cyrus
had perused it he sighed and dropt a Tear as over the departed Virtue of his best beloved Friend He instantly sent for
Araspes Araspes
durst not disobey He came indeed but then he did not dare to look upward
After a Silence on both Sides
Cyrus
cried out Whoever thou art account to me for my Friend account to me for his Virtue a Virtue that I deemed to be impassable unassailable Whereupon
Araspes
made the following most memorable of Answers
As you are but lately entered on your
Greek
my
Harry
I will first read the Passage to you and then give you the Sense of it Word for Word
O
Cyrus
it is manifest that I have two Souls For if I had but one Soul it could not be at once both
good
and
evil
not a Lover at the same Time of what is
honest
and
dishonest
it could not at once
desire
and be
averse
to the same Thing It is, therefore, most evident that we have two Souls and when the good Soul hath the Dominion
good Works
are performed but
evil Works
when the evil Soul predominates
Here
Harry
you see there was two Men in one Man which is the same Thing as there being two Boys in you For the Soul is the Man
Harry
and the Body is but as a Sign to give Notice to others that such a Man dwells within
But Sir says
Harry
since as you say and as I find I have two different Boys or Souls within me pray how came they to be different did the same God that desired to make the one Soul good desire also to make the other Soul evil
Your Question my Darling is very proper though very deep I will however endeavour to the best of my Power to accommodate my Answer to the Weakness of your Capacity
God who is nothing but Goodness cannot possibly desire any kind of Evil and therefore cannot be immediately the Author thereof But he can make or create such poor little insignificant Beings as you and I are
Harry
though all that God himself can do in our Behalf cannot possibly make us good or excellent or perfect any otherwise than by informing us with his own Goodness and Perfections
This would lead me my Love to the unfolding that capital Secret of which you are not yet susceptible a Secret upon which this World Sun Moon and Stars with all the Worlds upon Worlds that lie beyond them depend and hang as your Hat would hang upon yonder Nail
The Angels that are now in Heaven are great good perfect and glorious Beings because they are filled with the Greatness Goodness Glory and Perfection of God For they know that of themselves they are nothing and that in themselves they are no other than empty and dark Creatures mere sensible Capacities prepared for the Reception the Feeling and Enjoyment of the Light Virtue and Blessedness of their bountiful Creator
How the Spirit of Man came to be in itself, so much worse than an empty and dark Creature How it came to be filled and polluted with all Manner of Evil with Selfishness Pride Covetousness abominable Lusts Envy Hatred Malice Revengefulness and Wrathfulness How it further came to have a different Spirit begotten within it informing its Heart and tuneing the Chords thereof to Sentiments of Humility Charity Purity Love Patience and Peace this
Harry
is the great Secret of which you are not yet capable the Secret as I told you whereon the World now hangs whereby it has been changed and whereby it will be renewed
In the mean Time let it suffice for you to feel and to know that your dark Spirit so filled as I said with Evil is yourself my
Harry
is all that you have of the Creature within you And that the good Spirit which is begotten within your evil Spirit, is breathed into you by the Power and Spirit of God himself in order to oppose and conquer the Evil and enlighten the Darkness and purify the Foulness of your selfish or creaturely Spirit that you may finally become as the Angels that are in Heaven filled with the Purity Glory and Blessedness of your God
Know therefore from henceforward and let the Sense of it sink into your Soul my Darling that all the Evil which is in you belongs to yourself and that all the Good which is in you belongs to your God That you cannot in or of yourself so much as think a good Thought or form a good Wish or oppose a single Temptation or evil Motion within you From hence learn to be humble and to think meanly of yourself and not to ascribe to yourself any kind of Goodness or Virtue for that would be Sacrilege it would be to rob God of his peculiar Property of Goodness From hence further learn never to prefer yourself to others or to think better of yourself than of any one living for so far as you are a Creature no one can be viler or faultier than you are however God may be pleased through his Mercy and Bounty to you to be better in you than in others
Never exalt yourself my
Harry
neither in Company or Conversation of any kind say I did this or I did that or I said this or I said that for in exalting yourself you exalt your own proud and evil Spirit above the good and meek Spirit of God that is in you Let all Praise mortify and be a Reproach to your Conscience but take Blame with Patience and Pleasure in so doing you will approve yourself a Lover of Justice as well as a Lover of your own Reformation
Lastly my Love turn your whole Will and Affections from your own evil Spirit to the Spirit of God that is in you for that is the utmost that any Man can do toward his own Salvation Reject spurn and detest every Motion to Evil embrace cherish and take to your Heart every Motion to Good you will thereby acquire the never ending Glory of having joined with God in the Combat and Conquest that he is desirous of obtaining over all the Guilt Uncleanness and Depravity into which your Nature is fallen
Here
Andrew
came up with Notice to his Master that the Earl of
Mansfield
was below and requested to speak with him At this
Harry
coloured up and cried didnt I tell you Sir what Trouble I should bring upon you Dont be alarmed my Dear says Mr
Fenton
do you stay here If there is a necessity for your Appearance I will send you Word
The Father of young Lord
Bottom
was in every Respect the reverse of his Son He had come on Foot without Attendants was dressed in a plain napped Coat and had the Mein and Appearance of an honest Country Grazier
My Lord says Mr
Fenton
I should think myself greatly honoured by this Visit if I was not so much concerned at the Occasion of it I am truly grieved that my Son should have done such great Offence to young Lord
Bottom
Sir says the Earl I find you have quite mistaken the Intent of my Visit I am come to thank your Son for the just and noble Lesson which he gave to mine and which he has so forcibly impressed upon his Memory as will not I trust permit him so forget it in a hurry My Lord replied Mr
Fenton
my little Fellow is very sensible of his Misbehaviour in this Business He was the first to chide himself and he told me the Story very much I assure your Lordship to his own Disadvantage
Mr
Fenton
rejoined the Earl after what I have heard of your Boy from one
Jack Freeman
a very faithful and intelligent Servant of mine I am quite impatient to see him and there is nothing generous which I am not willing to believe concerning him My Wife indeed is not at all Times in my way of thinking She has taken her young Lord with her to Town to the Doctors and I am concerned at the Violence of the Resentment which she expressed on this Occasion as it may be a Means of deferring that Acquaintance and Intimacy which I heartily wish to cultivate with the Family of Mr
Fenton
But where is this wonderful Boy I request to see him
Harry
hereupon was immediately called down As he apprehended that he was sent for to be severely chidden a little resentful Haughtiness arose in his Mind and strengthened it against the Violence of the Reproofs that he expected He therefore entered with an Air that no way savoured of Mortification and made but a cold though solemn Bow to the Earl
Bless me exclaimed my Lord what a striking Resemblance I never saw two Faces or Persons so much alike There is no Difference Mr
Fenton
between you and your Son except what Age has made Mr
Fenton
smiled and my Lord continued I always had a Notion that your Heroes were huge Fellows but here I think we have got Heroism quite in Miniature Can this be the one who as I am told with a Trip or a Blow overthrows and demolishes all before him Come to me my Dear and give me Leave to salute you
Harry
respectfully approached and my Lord taking him in his Arms and warmly kissing him said I thank you my little Man for the generous Lesson which you gave to my very naughty Boy and for the Difference with you taught him to make for the future between the Sauciness of a Lord and the Sentiments of a Gentleman
Harry
felt himself at once disconcerted abased and wholly cut down by this Compliment from his Lordship At length recovering himself he answered You mean to be sure Sir to reprove me the more by what you have said but if you are in earnest Im sure its a very bad Lesson which you teach me Sir when you praise me for my Faults and so encourage me in them Faults my Dear cried the Earl I heard of none such what do you mean by your Faults I mean Sir that when I told your Son as much as that he was not a Gentleman it shewed that I was still less of the Gentleman myself and I very well deserved the Blow which he gave me for such an Affront and I am ready to ask his Pardon whenever you please my Lord No no my Man cried Lord
Mansfield
you shall never Disgrace yourself so much as to make any Submissions to my naughty Boy I shall think it no Disgrace quick and affectingly replied
Harry
to make Submissions to any one who is Son to such a Gentleman as my Lord
Mansfield
My Lord for some Time looked with Astonishment at the Child when eagerly catching and pressing him to his Bosom he cried out On my Soul you are the sweetest as well as the noblest Fellow I was ever acquainted with and Sir I shall think it an Honour to be admitted among your Friends and thats what I would not say to many in
Old England
Mr
Fenton
continued the Earl if you will give yourself the Trouble to enquire out my little Lodge on the Hill you will oblige me though I envy your Character I shall be glad of your Acquaintance So saying Lord
Mansfield
got up after his blunt Manner and precipitately withdrew
On the following Evening Mr
Fenton
took
Harry
and Mr
Clement
into his Study and taking from his PocketBook a Number of Bank Bills Mr
Clement
says he I here make my
Harry
a Present of fifteen hundred Pounds reserving only to myself the Privilege of advising how it may be laid out and secured for him to the best Advantage
Tomorrow Morning you and he are to set out on Foot for
London
and there to take Lodgings as near to the
Fleet
Prison as you can conveniently be accommodated You are then to apply to the Keeper and to give him a Gratuity for making out a written List of all the Prisoners under his Custody with their Quality and Condition annexed as also the Sums respectively due and the Terms during which they have been in Confinement
You are then to enquire from him the several Characters Distresses and Merits of all the Prisoners of Note and to make an Entry thereof in a separate Paper but then you are not to depend altogether on his Report You are to go from Room to Room to converse with the Prisoners apart and to enquire from each the Characters Fortunes and Disasters of the others
This Inquisition in all likelihood will take you up above a Fortnight But above all remember that those among them who are most affected by the Distresses of their Fellows ought to be the principal Objects of your own Charity and Relief
Let five hundred Pounds of this Money be appropriated to the Enlargement of such Prisoners as are under Duress for Sums not amounting to ten Pounds You will thereby free the Captive give means of Bread to the Hungry and restore to your Country many Members that are worse than useless that are also a dead Weight and Incumbrance upon her
Let the remaining thousand Pounds be applied to the Enfranchisment or Relief of those Prisoners of Note whose Cases and Calamities call for singular Compassion And be sure to keep an Account where your Money may fall short of such valuable Purposes and as far as five hundred Pounds more will reach we will supply the Defect
Hereupon
Harry
caught his Patron about the Neck and repeatedly kissing him cried O Dada how happy how very happy you make me O that we had Money enough to employ every Fortnight the Year round like this sweet Fortnight
The very next Morning our Travellers set out on their generous Expedition But we forbear to say any Thing, relative thereto till their Return as they themselves are the best qualified and in Truth have the best right to give the Particulars of their own extraordinary Adventures
Our
Harry
and his Friend
Clement
had not been gone above an Hour when Mr
Fenton
received a Card from the Countess of
Maitland
requesting his Company to Coffee in the Evening She was Widow to the late Earl a very lovely Woman had taken the most sumptuous House on the Hill and was resorted to by Numbers of the first Figure from among whom she was perfectly qualified to make an Election exceedingly entertaining to herself of the sensible the elegant and the ludicrous
Mr
Fenton
attended my Lady precisely at the Time appointed When he entered she was writing a Note at her Desk On turning her Eye to the Door she was suddenly struck with the Grace of his Figure the Sweetness of his Aspect and Ease of his Deportment She was further struck with a Recollection as of something very interesting but which had happened at a vast Distance or of which she had dreamed Her Heart was affected she coloured up and again turned pale without being yet able to move from her Chair At length recovering and rising and advancing toward him Mr
Fenton
says she this is a very singular Favour a Favour for which I have long wished This Sir you know is my third Time of asking but my two former Cards were not so happy as to bring you Madam said he carelessly I am but a very poor Visiter however I could not refuse myself the Honour of attending your Ladyships Summons at least for once I have been now said the Countess three Months on the Hill Within that Time I have applied to all my Acquaintance in order to get some of them to introduce me to you but none of them were so fortunate as to know any of your Name To be known Madam replied Mr
Fenton
a Person must have been in some way considerable indeed it is no way disagreeable to my own Inclinations to pass the short Remnant of an insignificant Life as little noticed as possible I have been just writing a Note Sir says my Lady be so good to amuse yourself for a Moment with the Books and Paintings in my Closet there and I will attend you
Within a few Minutes after Mr
Fenton
had withdrawn Mr
Sneer
entered What cried he bowing all alone Lady
Maitland
thats surprizing Your Sex it seems are grown very careless of Improvement when they neglect the Model by which they should polish their Manners O you Wretch exclaimed the Countess what brought you here of all Things I have a World of Company to be with me this Evening and if they get but a Hint of your coming I shall be left as much alone as the Statue in
BushyPark
Law Madam cries Mr
Sneer
is it possible that with all your Discernment you should be so much mistaken permit me to assure your Ladyship that I am plagued out of my Life by the Solicitations of Numbers of the first Quality for my Company You you Brute cried my Lady your Company courted it must be by
Indians
then who have a Reason of their own for worshipping the Devil why you make no more of Characters than a Reaper does of Grass when he is cutting down Weeds O Madam exclaims Mr
Sneer
they like me never the worse for that every one gladly compounds for the maiming of their own Character to have the Pleasure of seeing those of their Neighbours hewn down But pray Madam what Company do you expect this Evening Why there is Colonel
Sweetpouder
Colonel
Sweetpouder
of all Things Yes Sir and a very fine Gentleman too in my Opinion Why Madam the Man would not want Sense it is true if he had not wholly mistaken the Manners of his Profession He has been as I am told in some trifling Engagements but never had the Rudeness to attack his Enemy without white Gloves He had like to have lost his Life upon a Retreat by the Delay which he made in search of his Sword Knot
Here a Footman entered saying Colonel
Sweetpouder
my Lady Lady
Maitland
says the Colonel your truly most devoted More yours than you are any ones Mr
Sneer
you are extremely happy Sir in your
tete a tete
with her Ladyship but People have not always the choice of their Company Severe Colonel very severe upon my Honour says Mr
Sneer
He who wars on the World replies the Colonel should not hope to escape without a Scratch Mr
Sneer
and I have Faults enough to make me angry with all who are censorious Colonel said the Countess Mr
Sneer
has been railing at me through fifty Families and is but just come to assist me to rail at my Neighbours On my Soul Madam says Mr
Sneer
I am resolved not to spare the least of your Failings when I am once so ingenious as to discover where they lie Your Justice Mr
Sneer
to the Merits of this Lady exclaims the Colonel entitles you to say what you will against the rest of Womankind
Mr
Fenton
just then reentering the Countess introduced him to her Acquaintance I hope in Heaven Madam cried Mr
Sneer
that the Company whom you expect may be wholly the reverse of this Gentlemans Appearance the Mouth of Raillery must else learn the Language of Admiration and that would be an Exchange by no Means suitable to my Taste Mr
Fenton
bowed but was silent
Here was rap rap rap rap and immediately Lady
Cribbage
s Chariot was announced There now cries Mr
Sneer
there is the happiest Woman in the Universe thats certain She divides her whole Time between the two Delights of her Life CARDS and SCANDAL She is never tired of either and yet runs from one to the other that Variety may give the higher Relish to both
Lady
Cribbage
here entered in all the Hurry imaginable She flew and embraced the Countess with Transport My dear dearest Lady
Maitland
says she how happy am I to have got to you at last Heavens what have I endured before I could get free of that odious
London
what a Gauntelope have I run a hundred and fifty Visits no less upon rep and through such a Sortment too as your Mercers say But there is no dispensing with these Fopperies they had all dropt Cards at my Gate and I coudnt but return the Visit in good Manners to myself you know There was Lady
Gadabout
and Mrs
Chataway
and Mrs
Tendersides
and Lady
Frump
and Lady Dowager
Gossipper
and Miss
Giglett
the merry Miss of threescore that you know La Madam exclaimed the Countess why these are all Persons of distinguished Fashion Ay ay my dear Friend replied Lady
Cribbage
they are the Noughts of the great World when such as Lady
Maitland
are pleased to figure before them they acquire a Kind of value they would not otherwise be picked up should they drop on the HighWay Colonel
Sweetpouder
ten thousand Pardons I really did not observe you Your Servant Sir a fine Person half whispering to Lady
Maitland
And you here Mr
Sneer
you are the Man of the World to whom we should pay our first Respects if we desire that our Caps should sit straight you know
Why my Lady says Mr
Sneer
would you be like the
Turk
and allow no Brother Slanderer near your Throne But the Field of Folly and Ridicule is wide enough for us both Besides Madam we assail in very different Manners I am like the
Parthian
no more than a back Stroke and away but your Ladyship moves on like Time or Death and mow down your Sex without distinction before you O fye Mr
Sneer
said Lady
Cribbage
what say you Sir can you think so hardly of me no truly Madam answered Mr
Fenton
I am rather inclined to believe that you only prune For I have often observed that after very keen Hands Reputation sprouts anew and flourishes the better O Lady
Cribbage
Lady
Cribbage
exclaimed Mr
Sneer
thats the severest Thing upon my Honour that was said this Day What allow a Lady the Will to do Mischief and not allow her the Power can any Thing be so provoking Well supposing it to be so rejoined Lady
Cribbage
I would rather be cut by that Gentlemans Razor than Mr
Sneer
s Hatchet But apropo I wonder what keeps Lady
Philligree
I met her on my last Visit and she told me she had but half a Dozen more to pay and be with us she brings with her a new Language for the Day Ill engage That Woman says Mr
Sneer
ought to be strung up for minting our
English
Dialect True added the Colonel if her Coin would pass Ah Colonel said Mr
Fenton
what Species of Folly or Faultiness will not acquire Currency when impressed and uttered by Persons of Fortune and Figure
Come dearest Lady
Maitland
cried Lady
Cribbage
while we choice Spirits are got together let us know what Company you have summoned for the Evening I hope in Goodness you have laid in a sufficient Fund for Merriment I should droop to Death if the Propriety of their Manners left no Room for Laughter Fear not said the Countess but mark the Characters as they pass
First there is Sir
Bumkin Toilette
Most excellent exclaimed Lady
Cribbage
the amphibious Wretch he that is so like an Otter between his Country Breeding that he cant get rid of and his Court Breeding that he cant assume
Again there is Lord
Bottom
Earl of
Mansfield
lately come to the Hill Ay added the Colonel there is the Sample that Nature gave us when she intended to shew what Man ought to be He the Bear cries
Sneer
for Heavens sake Colonel how can you praise a Man whose Manners are so wholly the reverse of your own I allow that he has Talents and Learning though he seems to know nothing about the Matter and he piques himself solely on the most plebeian of all Virtues that of being an HONEST MAN Do you know him Mr
Fenton
just enough Sir said Mr
Fenton
to make me fear that I should rather afford Matter of Ridicule to his Lordship than hope to be merry at his Expence I have been told said
Sneer
that on his Return from his Travels he was an accomplished
Cavalier
but he suddenly took a disgust to all Manner of Politeness and I question at this Moment if there are five Men in
England
to whom he would say
your Servant
and I am confident added the Colonel that there are not five Men in
England
whom he would not serve
Talk not of him dear Colonel exclaimed Lady
Cribbage
he says more shocking Things in fewer and simpler Words than any
Cynic
that ever breathed Because Madam rejoined the Colonel he is too much our Friend to hurt us by Flattery and he never reproves but with an Intention to reform Well well cried
Sneer
I own there is not much Matter for Laughter in his Character Let us call another Cause Who comes next Lady
Maitland
The Widow
Mawkin
says the Countess the huge
Kentish
Fortune She who keeps three marriageable Daughters in the Nursery for fear People should be so impertinent as to enquire who brought them into the World She is not yet in despair of a third Jointure And she would bribe others by her Smiles to be as forgetful of her Age as she is herself I never see her cries Lady
Cribbage
but she puts me in mind of a MayMorning when the long Pole is awkardly hung with Flowers and Garlands She has been equally happy adds Mr
Sneer
in adorning her Mind with the Flowers of Science, and is as ridiculously affected in the Parade of her Learning as she is of her Dress I could pity or pardon all this says the Colonel if she were not so merciless in her Censures on an Article of Female Virtue to a single Breach of which no Man living will ever lead Mrs
Mawkin
into Temptation But have you any more Blocks Madam for the hewing out of our Mercuries
Yes yes said the Countess theres enough to laugh with and enough to laugh at I warrant you Theres our Friend
Billy Bustle
O Lud screamed Lady
Cribbage
I wish I had brought another Gown this is he who is always so busy where theres nothing to do he is so full of his Friendships that you never can escape without some Damage and he spoils you a Suit of Brocade in his hurry to reach you your Coffee
Then says the Countess theres Miss
Trinket
O the pretty Bauble cries Mr
Sneer
whoever marries her will have something to hang to his Watch Again there is
Franc Faddle
whose Company is so universally courted Thats what amazes me of all Things cried the Colonel the insensible Wretch he is quite callous to the keenest Sting of Satire the Fool is good humoured it must be confessed he is so desirous of promoting Merriment that he actually enjoys the Laugh that is raised at his own Expence It is then no longer said Mr
Fenton
any Matter of Wonder that his Company should be sought after since all love to laugh but very few to be laughed at
There was a Mystery in the Behaviour of Mr
Faddle
said
Sneer
that no one dreamed of I happened some Time since to be in Company where he had set himself up as a Butt to be shot at The Novelty of the Thing surprised me I examined him with Attention I remarked the Cleverness of the Address with which he used to turn the Joke upon himself and I discerned under his Submission to the Triumph of others an Understanding quite superior to that of his Ralliers In a few Months after I happened to join him in a private Walk Mr
Faddle
said I I cant conceive why you should offer yourself as an Object of Jest and Ridicule to People infinitely your Inferiors in every Thing except Fortune
I am no longer under that Necessity answered
Faddle
You see I am in Mourning A Relation has lately left me seven hundred a Year You are the first Mr
Sneer
who had the Discernment to detect me and are entitled that I should Account to you for my Behaviour
I am a younger Brother Early in Life I was left wholly dependent on my Mothers small Jointure and Experience quickly shewed me that the Countenances of all about me caught a Coldness and Disregard from the Knowledge of my narrow Circumstances
How to remedy this Evil how to procure an Interest in the
Golden Idol before whom all Nations and Languages fall prostrate
was the Question
I found myself in a World where a Genius for Pimping or a Genius for Knavery was indispensably necessary to the Acquisition of Favour I was so unfortunate as to want Talents for those valuable Purposes I could not even betray an Enemy to serve a Friend I therefore found myself excluded from the Patrons of the present Age as I could neither contribute to the Modes of their Interest or the Modes of their Pleasure
At length I thought upon the Stratagem that surprised you It requires no greater Art said I to myself than to be wise and humble wise enough to acquiesce in being deemed a Fool and humble enough to submit as a Footstool for others to raise themselves in their own Opinion and in the Eyes of the Company
My Project succeeded beyond Expectation I was admitted to an Intimacy with the Chiefs of the Land My Company was coveted and sought by all the Great and happy was the Peer who could boast to his Visitants he should have
Faddle
to Supper
Mean Time I was by no Means a Jest for all I knew how to turn the Ridicule upon such of your middling Gentry as presumed to laugh like their Betters and I never failed to pull down those from whose Interest or Favour I had nothing to expect
I had a Number of these Right Honourable Patrons each of whom would gladly have engrossed me to himself They all contributed to make me relish the Jest Independent of very considerable Presents they have procured me some pretty Sinecures to the amount of about six hundred Pounds a Year So that you see Mr
Sneer
I am now in a fair Way of being enabled to fee others to permit me in my Turn to laugh at them
I do not feel in myself said Mr
Fenton
a thorough Approbation of this Gentlemans Character There is something unamiable in every Species of Imposition and even the Merit of Mr
Faddle
s Humility receives great Alloy from its Disingenuity His good Sense however is laudable since his Intention was innocent with Respect to the Persons upon whom he practised his Stratagem Does he bring up the Rear of your Visitants Lady
Maitland
No said the Countess we have Lady
Homespun
with an
et cetera
of no Characters yet to come
Homespun
exclaimed Lady
Cribbage
upon my Word the best Sort of a Gammer of Quality that I know The good Woman would really be sensible Company if she was not so utterly void of Education Could you think how the poor Creature exposed her Ignorance the other Day she popped in where I was engaged at four handed
Cribbige
Having peered over the Game with vast Sagacity what says she I think your Ladyship has got to your old Game of
Quadrille
Ha ha ha Lady
Homespun
I fancy is one of those who think of getting into a Fashion exactly at the Period that others have got out
Madam said the Countess if Lady
Homespun
had Time to spare from the Duties of Religion and a Life of Benevolence she would undoubtedly employ it in studying Matters more suitable to your Ladyships Taste Her Peccadillos however are pardonable on Account of her Pleasantry for while she laughs with great Justice at the Follies of high Life she laughs at herself also with great good Humour for being so sensibly out of the Fashion
Here again was a loud rapping and the Peals were repeated with little intermission till all the Company arrived They succeeded so quickly that Lady
Maitland
had scarce Time to receive each of them with a Distinction and Manner of Address that she judged most agreeable to their Humours and Characters
In the first Place Mrs
Philligree
rushed in and cried Lady
Maitland
I am most superlatively yours I am yours Madam said the Countess positively beyond all Comparison Such a Stranger as Miss
Trinket
you have enquired the Way at last then I felicitate you Miss on your new Acquisition I am told that your Green Monkey is absolutely the greatest Beau and the greatest Wit within the Purlieus of Saint
James
Sir
Bumkin Toilette
how happy you make us I hear you have got rid of all your vile CountryIncumbrances of huge Houses and dirty Acres and that the Court may now hope to have you all to itself. Mr
Faddle
this was a Favour I ought not to have expected Her Grace has Company this Evening and looks for you without Question But harkee Sir there are some here who have too much Discernment to be induced by your Arts to make a Jest of a certain Person who claims their best Respects Mrs
Mawkin
you put us under a thousand Alarms we were afraid we shoudnt have you Dear Madam how extremely rich and elegant is all this and how condescending in a Lady of your Taste to appear to owe any Thing to Dress and outward Ornament O Mr
Bustle
thrice welcome our Sex may now boast of having a Servant For these other ManCreatures are so listless or so aukward as not to merit a Curtsey in the way of Wages My Lord
Mansfield
this is more than an Honour it is a Benefit If some of us are not improved before you leave us I shall for my own Part take great Blame to myself My dear Lady
Homespun
how are the sweet Babies how are your obliging Domestics how are all your Cats and Dogs believe me I take an Interest in the Harmony and good Humour of every Thing about you I think said Lady
Homespun
they all begin to droop since your Ladyship has ceased to make them happy by your Presence
The Earl of
Mansfield
looking about perceived Mr
Fenton
turned precipitately to him and catching him in his Arms Mr
Fenton
he cried how glad I am to meet you what an Advantage I shall esteem it at all Times and in all Places how is my
Harry
my little Hero Mr
Fenton
bowed twice
Here
William
said the Countess Tea and Coffee and order the Tables and Cards to be laid in the next Room Lord
Mansfield
what News you are an Intimate of all the Foreign Cabinets
Our domestic News answered the Earl is by far the most extraordinary It is affirmed that our Freeholders throughout the Shires and Burroughs of
England
have entered into a Resolution against Bribery and Corruption
Our Parliament also have this Moment in agitation an Act for establishing the two Virtues of PROBITY and CHASTITY respectively among the Sexes To this Act they further propose to add several Clauses in the Nature of a Codicil annexed to a Will Among others it is intended to make a general Exchange of the Forms of good Manners for the Offices of good Nature and all Acts of Benevolence are hereafter to pass by an immutable Law for Proofs of high Breeding
It is further to be enacted that every Courtier or great Man may be sued upon his Promise or even on such Intimations of Nods Smiles or Whispers or Squeezes by the Hand as may credibly be supposed to keep People in Expectation No Advantage is to be taken of Ignorance by any Trader nor of Innocence in the Commerce between the Sexes The Glow of Modesty is the only Rouge that will be allowed to any fair Face of Quality in these his Majestys Dominions
No Person of any Station will hereafter be permitted to go abroad in search of Faults till they can find none at Home by the help of a Candle And lastly all Slander is to be accounted petty Treason forasmuch as it has been intimated some how or other that the Loss of a good Name is more deplorable in its Consequences than the Loss of any other Property or even of Life
Hey Day exclaims the Countess at this Rate we shall have Lady
Homespun
at the very tip Top of the Mode. Ay says Miss
Trinket
but what will become of your Ladyship who are now accounted the Pattern of all Elegance and Politeness O Miss cried Mr
Faddle
Lady
Maitland
will do well enough I warrant you She has only to drop a few Articles that are superfluous to her good Sense and her good Nature She will thereby as I take it be only undressed and happily restored to all her native Loveliness
Demme exclaims Sir
Bumkin
if Matters come to this pass I shall have made a fine Kettle of Fish ont shant I to throw away so many thousands of Pounds with an Immensity of Time and Pains on Delicacy and Taste and Virtu and the BeauMonde and all that What cries Mrs
Mawkin
are our Parliament beside themselves here has the World been growing up these six thousand Years to its grand Climacteric of courtly Accomplishments and now they would overthrow the whole Building and mix us of the Pinnacle with the Dust of the Vulgar If we of high Life are to be laid under Restraints with Cits and Villagers what Advantage will Fortune give us it will no longer be of any Use to its Owners This is preposterously cried Mrs
Philligree
the most laughable Scheme that ever was conceivable on this Side the Tropic Our Parliament would affect to be an heteroclite to all other Parliaments But the best ont is that their Power is immensely too little for the Greatness of the Immensity of their Undertaking Pardon me Madam replied the Colonel I know of nothing beyond the Ability of our Parliament In Spirituals alike as Temporals their Power is the same in
England
as that of the
Pope
is at
Rome
they can bind or loose at Pleasure in
Heaven
as on
Earth
Beside Madam adds
Sneer
with Respect to our Parliament this is very far from being a laughable Scheme I rather hold it to be both loveable and laudable They must thereby forego no inconsiderable Advantages on their own Part They will no longer be interested in the Prostitution of their Constituents or the Sale of their Country They have it even in Contemplation to decline their capital Privilege of maintaining their Families at the Expence of their Neighbours and propose for the future to pay their Debts I hope my Lord says Mr
Bustle
your new Laws are not to be put in Force against the Offices of Friendship and civil Manners No Sir says Lord
Mansfield
only against the Parade of them
Here Mr
Bustle
observed that the Coffee was filled out and rose with Precipitation to help the Ladies Away you Wretch keep from me a Mile screamed out Lady
Cribbage
No nearer dear Sir no nearer I beseech you exclaimed Mrs
Philligree
and Miss
Trinket
Mr
Bustle
says Lord
Mansfield
I would advise you to tender your Services to Lady
Maitland
and Lady
Homespun
if you happen to spill your Coffee on their Clothes you will oblige them with an Apology for giving them away to the first poor Body I wish my Lord says Lady
Cribbage
that you knew how to Compliment some with less Expence to others But apropos my Lord these same compassive Acts against Slander and going from Home in search of Faults as you phrase it have they yet passed into a Law? they have not Madam O then we may take Goodman Time by the Fetlock Pray Ladies have ye heard any Thing lately of the two Miss
Worthys
nothing new answered the Countess nothing more than that they are both very good and very amiable Poor Orphans says Lady
Cribbage
they are greatly to be pitied The eldest has preferred an Intrigue with her Guardians Footman to the honourable Addresses of Mr
Melvin
and is retired for a Month or so to her Aunt in the Country While her Sister on the other Hand preferred lawful Marriage with the Butler to a Settlement of a thousand a Year from his Grace of
A
Miss
Worthy
said Mr
Faddle
is certainly gone to her Aunts as your Ladyship intimated for Mr
Melvin
and I are to be with her in a few Days by her own Appointment And I can vouch added the Colonel that her Sister has married the Butler your Ladyship mentions for he is a very particular Friend of mine a young Gentleman of great Merit Family and Fortune who assumed that Disguise like a Hero in Romance in order to gain the nearer Access to his Princess
For Shame Gentlemen says Lord
Mansfield
no more of your Vindications I beseech ye Perhaps there is not a single Person present who is not at this Moment a Subject of Raillery mayhap of Calumny to some other Tea Table Let us also take up the Racket and return the Ball of Scandal Indeed I know few People of whom any good can be said and none who may not be censured without Offence to Truth Beside as Evil is now spoken so universally of every Body no one is hurt thereby If any in particular should escape Detraction it might justly be suspected that they had no one Quality that deserved to be envied
O fye my Lord cried Lady
Cribbage
how can you think so uncharitably of People there are many of my Acquaintance who have really valuable Qualities Tis true there is Lady
Gamelove
and Mrs
Situp
and Miss
Freak
and a Hundred others whose Heads will fit the Cap of Scandal turn it which way you will But then there is Mrs
Orderly
and Miss
Neighbourly
and a few more whose Reputations remain almost quite unsullied If Mrs
Orderly
has Faults she however has the Discretion to keep them from View Miss
Neighbourly
indeed does not set up for a Beauty she knows she will have nothing to repent of for any Murders committed by her pinking Eyes but then she is the best tempered and pleasantest Body breathing she never fails to excite Merriment wherever she comes tis a pity it should ever happen at her own Expence
Have ye heard Ladies said Mr
Sneer
of the late very facetious Affair that happened between Mr
Cornish
and his Friend Lord
Freelove
Mrs
Cornish
had expressed to her Husband an eager Desire of seeing foreign Countries and piqued at his want of Indulgence she took the Opportunity of Lord
Freelove
s going abroad to accompany him as far as
Aix la Chapelle
From thence Lord
Freelove
wrote to his Friend a long Letter filled with penitential Apologies wherein he offered him the Disposal of his Fortune and Interest as a small Compensation for having robbed him of so very valuable a Treasure To this Mr
Cornish
had the Candour to reply that he scorned to take an ungenerous Advantage of his Lordships Liberality That he was not sensible of any Injury his Lordship had done him That on the contrary he looked upon his Lordship as the one under Heaven to whom he was most obliged to whom he considered himself as singularly indebted and whom he should ever remember in his Prayers for having eased him of the capital Incumbrance of his Life
What surprises me most in this Adventure said Mr
Faddle
is the Conscientiousness of Lord
Freelove
in a Matter of which nobody else makes a Scruple There is Sir
Frederic Feeble
a Man of threescore and of so crazy a Constitution that the very first Disorder with a little Help from the Doctor must carry him off And yet within these seven Months he has added to his Seraglio five
Lancashire
Virgins beside three married Ladies whom he has taken into keeping and who eloped to him from young and good looking Husbands
Mr
Faddle
s Remark on the Conscientiousness of Libertines said Mr
Fenton
reminds me of
Jack Wilding
a quondam Acquaintance of mine I had the Story from himself it is an Adventure of which he boasted and the Recital in his Opinion did by no Means detract from his Character as a Gentleman
Mr
Wilding
was of a neighbouring Country and was educated by pious Parents in a scrupulous Observance of his Duties to God and Man When they thought him confirmed in his civil and religious Principles they sent him here to study our Laws in the Middle Temple where he speedily learned that Pleasure was the only Good and that the Laws of Nature were irreversible by any subsequent Appointments However he piqued himself extremely on what is called the Punctilio of Honour and would run any Man through the Body who should intimate that he had been guilty of an unjust or ungenerous Action
Wilding
was a young Fellow of Parts and Pleasantry and still preserved a very specious Appearance of Virtue A considerable
London
Merchant conceived a Friendship for him and when he was taken under Arrest on Account of some Debts and a Failure of Remittances his new Friend advanced two hundred Pounds in his Favour and made him a general Invitation to his Table
The Merchant had lately married a lovely young Woman who lost nothing of her Lustre in the Eyes of Mr
Wilding
For the sake of the Wife he ingratiated himself as much as possible with the Husband He spent a large Portion of his Time at their House and while his Friend was abroad or engaged in the Counting Room he endeavoured by a winning Address and a thousand Assiduities to thieve from him the conjugal Affections of a Woman on whose Virtue he deposited his Hopes and Delights all the Honours of his Family and all his Peace and Prospect in Life
Wilding
in order to establish his Credit with the Merchant had punctually reimbursed him his two hundred Pounds A Nobleman to whom the Dice had been lately unfavourable made him an Offer of a Place at Court on a preliminary Compliment of a thousand Pounds
Wilding
consulted his Friend on this advantageous Proposal The Merchant had not the Money but promised to procure it and in his Eagerness to promote the Fortune of this Traitor he went directly and solicitously abroad for the Purpose This was an Opportunity which a Man of his Gallantry could not neglect The grateful Mr
Wilding
accordingly seized upon it to accomplish the Fate of his Benefactor and the happiest Lot he left him was ignorantly to contribute toward the begetting of Sons and Daughters who like Maggots were to be propagated from the Bed of Pollution
If I didnt fear to be tedious said Lady
Homespun
I could give you a recent Instance of Ingratitude even greater than that which Mr
Fenton
has mentioned and attended with Circumstances that affected me extremely The Company instantly urged her to gratify their Curiosity and she began as follows
Some Weeks ago I sent to the Servants Office to enquire for a Female of some Education who might assist me in the Instruction of my little Girls The Day following a young Woman came to be hired Her Appearance was most bespeaking and with a Countenance expressive of every Virtue she looked a Renunciation of the smallest Title thereto
I asked for her Character but she answered with an Air of the deepest Humiliation that she never had been at Service that she was an unfortunate Stranger who deserved no ones good Word and that she had nothing to ask but my Acceptance of her Labour and the Shelter of my Roof
I had not the Heart to reject her and on Trial I found that she was Mistress of the polite Languages and of every female Accomplishment though she did not seem to have reached her two and twentieth Year
She grew extremely fond of my Children She used to look with a melancholy Kind of Pleasure upon them and frequently during the Times of her dressing or instructing them I observed her Tears striving to steal away unnoticed
This with the thousand Elegancies that accompanied her Words and Actions made me impatient to know whence and who she was She perceived my Curiosity and with a befeeching and mortified Air ah Madam said she seek not to hate me seek not to know the Story of my Shame since it cannot be told without reflecting Discredit on Persons of Worth and Honour
The Day after Sir
Hanmer Homespun
came in where
Peggy
for so she called herself was chatting with my little Girls at the further End of the Room I am come my Dear said he from a Visit to Mr
Grace
the new Acquaintance in whose Praise you heard me speak so largely I enquired out his House and went up without Ceremony As I entered his Chamber I was struck with a new and very affecting Object He sat opposite to a Pier Glass wherein I observed him unnoticed and on each Knee he held an Infant over whom he wept plentifully while he caressed them in Turns and tenperly pressed them to his Bosom
At length he perceived me and rose in Confusion You have caught me Sir
Hanmer
said he lamenting the Loss of a false Woman whom yet I cannot cease to love and whose Fault has not been able to abate my Fondness for these her innocent Offspring The misguided Wretch while I was lately in the Country eloped with Lord
Riot
from her own Honour and Happiness Lord
Riot
has since paid his Trespass with his Life but what is become of my
Peggy
I know not Can I depend on your Goodness to enquire her out tis a Pity that One so lovely should be utterly lost Here is a Bill for £500 dispose of it my Friend as you think best for her Advantage and let not her Necessities plunge her deeper in Guilt
Here the Children shrieked out and cried that
Peggy
was dead their
Peggy
was dead We instantly ran to em and found her in a Fit in which she continued several Hours without Sign of Life As soon as she opened her Eyes she turned them languidly upon me Ah Madam said she you know me now I am faulty indeed but much more unfortunate And as you were lately desirous to hear my Story you shall have it without Extenuation or Disguise
I am Daughter to a poor Farmer who was Tenant to the Father of Mr
Grace
When I was about nine Years old the young Gentleman who was lately returned from the College happened to be out a Sporting and called in at my Fathers I considered him as a Species quite different from all I had seen of Man His Presence gave me a Pleasure till then unfelt and his Parting was as the Loss of something extremely dear
From that Time he chose our Part of the Country for the Scene of his Diversions and his Visits became longer and more frequent He never failed to bring me some little Present and I betrayed my Affection by many artless Testimonies
In about three Years old Mr
Grace
died My Father got no one knew how into plentiful Circumstances and sent me to a boarding School where I was carefully educated in all the becomming Matters of which I was capable
I now began to apprehend from whom my Advantages flowed and my young Heart was penetrated with the most lively and affecting Gratitude I grew more reserved however as my Sentiments grew more ardent and whenever my Benefactor came to visit me we appeared under a mutual Restraint from the Suppression of Passions which I thought it indecent and he unseasonable to express
When I arrived to the Age of sixteen Years Mr
Grace
publickly addressed me for Marriage Can you think it Madam that while my Heart embraced the Overture with the warmest Transport it was yet with the strongest Reluctance that I yielded to a Happiness which I deemed so injurious to the Honour and Interest of him whom I loved as I loved my own Soul
Five Years the happiest sure that ever were passed upon Earth I lived blessing and blessed by my Hearts chosen Master and bore him three lovely Resemblances of the Image that was always present to my Soul
One Night Mr
Grace
returning later than usual brought home a wounded Gentleman but entered as privately as possible for fear of alarming me This Gentleman was Lord
Riot
whose Life Mr
Grace
had saved at the Peril of his own from the Resentment of an injured Husband who had set upon him with Advantage
As it was feared that his Wounds were mortal the Surgeons advised that he should not be removed and he lay six Weeks at our House where induced by Hospitality and the Desire of my Husband I attended him with a Care and Tenderness that he rewarded with Perdition
When he took his Leave of us he seemed to labour under a Sense of insufferable Obligations As soon as his Health was established he sent me a Diamond Necklace of great Value but Mr
Grace
was then in the Country and I directly returned the Traitors Present The next Day he sent up his Name and requested to be admitted but I excused myself from receiving the Visits of Gentlemen in the Absence of my Husband The Day following however having bribed my Servants he was permitted to enter my Chamber when without addressing a Word to his Lordship I severely rebuked my Maid for such an insolent Intrusion and withdrawing hastily to my Closet I clapt to the Door
After this I heard no more of Lord
Riot
for some Time but alas he and his diabolical Instruments were not idle One Evening being seized with an unaccountable Drowziness I lay down and was insensible to every Thing that passed till I awakened the Day following in a strange Bed and in the Arms of my cruel and accursed Undoer
I instantly screamed out and pushing him violently from me sprung into the Floor While I huddled on my Cloaths all the Horrors of my Condition rose full upon my View I flew to the Door but finding it locked I was seized with sudden Madness I dashed the Piers and Jars to Shivers I caught whatever came in my way and threw it at the Villain who terrified by my Fury made his Escape through a back Door and bolted it after him
Some Women whom he sent to me recovered me from a Fit The dear and tender Images of Husband and Children then came to my Mind My Rage was drowned in my Grief I wept and sobbed without ceasing
For three Weeks I continued thus immured and inconsolable my Fits of Frenzy still returning whenever Lord
Riot
presented himself to my View At length I assumed the Patience to expostulate with him on the irretrievable Ruin he had brought upon me my Wreck of Fame and Honour and what was infinitely worse my Loss of Husband and Children to whose Faces I never more should dare to lift an Eye
While I continued to reproach my Betrayer we heard a Bustle below Stairs He flew to some Pistols that hung in the Apartment The Door burst open My Husband suddenly entered Lord
Riot
fired at him and somebody fell But I waited not to enquire into the Issue of the Scuffle The Face of my injured Husband was now more dreadful to me than that of my Ravisher The Doors lay open I hurried to the Street I flew along I knew not where and running into a little Shop I sat down by the Counter and fainted away
The poor Woman of that little House behaved herself toward me with much Humanity I told her Part of my unhappy Story And as I determied for ever to hide myself from Family and Acquaintance and as far as possible from the World she put me in the way of getting into Service whereby I have received the only Consolation of which I am capable on this Side the Grave that of your Ladyships Favour and Protection
Here Mrs
Grace
closed her distressful History As Sir
Hanmer
and I greatly pitied and esteemed her we endeavoured to give her Comfort by observing that there was nothing in this Adventure wherewith the most censorious or even a Husband of the most delicate Sentiments could reproach her Ah Madam said she when my Body was as pure as my Spirit I was every way unworthy of Mr
Grace
and shall I now bring Pollution to his honourable Bosom How will the World interpret my residing three Weeks in the House and Custody of a Libertine Alas I have no Portion save Disgrace to bequeath to my dear Infants nor any Legacy to my Kindred but Confusion of Face But I feel that I hasten to the End of my Sorrows
As she spoke her Countenance altered and we persuaded her to lye down and try to take some Repose
Within an Hour or two after a Gentleman came and hastily enquired for my Husband It was Mr
Grace
My dear Sir
Hanmer
said he eagerly rejoice with me my
Peggy
is innocent she is virtuous as ever That Ruffian Lord
Riot
by the Promise of a thousand Guineas prevailed on her Woman to give her a sleeping Potion and had her conveyed to his House during her State of Insensibility O my
Peggy
might I but behold you once again
Riot
finding it impossible to subdue her to his Pleasure refused to pay the Woman the Price of her Perfidy and she in Revenge told me where he held my Wife secreted O my distressed my shamefaced Angel what is become of you I took out a Replevin and forced my way into the Villains House He aimed a Pistol at me but happened to shoot his Accomplice He then drew his Sword but at the second Pass I pierced him to the Heart The Traitress did not immediately die of her Wound she survived till within this Hour and in her mortal Agonies she revealed to me all the Circumstances of this diabolical Plot
Here we consoled Mr
Grace
by informing him that his Lady was safe and in the House but that she was something indisposed and had lain down to rest His Impatience was too great to be restrained from seeing her I entered her Chamber first and apprised her of his coming As he tenderly approached she started up in her Bed and her Bosom was agitated with agonizing Emotions She gazed wildly at him She attempted to speak but could not find Utterance when seizing his Hand and catching it to her Lips she sunk down gently and expired upon the Pressure
As some of the Company still continued to honour Lady
Homespun
s pathetic Narration with their Tears Lady
Cribbage
cried out Cards Cards here immediately to drive away Melancholy
After Cards an elegant Supper was served up and after Supper the Conversation happened to turn upon Dress
Is it not amazing cried
Sneer
with a sarcastical Glance at the Ladies is it not amazing to think that the Nature and Reason of Things should be so wholly inverted as in some Cases to mean and effect the very Reverse of their original Intention and Institution the first use that was made of the
FigLeaf
demonstrates that
Dress
was solely appointed for the covering of Shame and Nakedness And yet Woman has been so ingenious in Process of Time as to turn the Loss of her Robe of original Innocence into Matter of Pride and Ostentation
The covering from Cold as well as from Shame said
Faddle
may be allowed of some sensible Use with respect to
Dress
at least among us who are placed so far North of the Tropic
Our Neighbour
Lewis
last Winter had Occasion to pass through the Streets of
Paris
His travelling Palace was drawn by eight white Steeds The Frost was intensely sharp the Glasses were all drawn up and this warm Enterpriser for universal Monarchy sat shivering amidst the wrappings of his Furrs and Robeings
As he passed he espied a young Man of a portly Personage standing at an Angle clad in a single Silk Coat with his Hair powdered out and his Hat under his Arm
Lewis
instantly pulled the Bell his Coach stopped he let down a side Window he ordered the Stranger to be called and as nothing makes a Man so mannerly as the sensible want of something from the Party to whom he applies the Monarque addressed him with the most gracious and affable Air and requested to know by what Means he could keep himself so warm in such Extremity of Weather
That Sire answered the Stranger is a Secret which my Honour forbids me to reveal and which nothing shall extort from me save the Commands of your Majesty I promise you Sir said the King that I shall not be ungrateful and that you shall have no Cause to repent your having entrusted me with your Recipe I engage then Sire that provided you follow my Prescription there shall not be so warm a Monarch in the Universe I am impatient pray inform me what am I to do As I do so please your Majesty put your whole Wardrobe upon your Back the King laughed himself into a Heat and that very Hour ordered a Commission in his own Guards to be made out for his Prescriber
Your Story Mr
Faddle
is elegantly facetious said Lady
Maitland
I apprehend however that other valuable Purposes are answered by
Dress
over and above the mere
Decency
and
Comfort
of Cloathing Were it not for the various Distinctions of
Dress
it would be impossible to point out the several Orders of Men throughout the respective Subordinations that are nenessary to Society Without this useful Expedient we should be in utter Confusion we should not know who was who we should not know to whom Respect or Obedience was due nor be able to ascertain the Prince from the Peasant
O lud cried Mrs
Mawkin
as your Ladyship says how frightfully humbling and mortifying it would be without the Richness of
Dress
how should we of the Grand Monde shew any Difference between ourselves and vile Plebeians
O Madam answered Lady
Cribbage
Plebeians are not confined to low Life alone the great World has its Vulgar too I assure you The Difference does not lie in the Richness I have seen an Ass cloathed in a very gorgeous SumpterCloth The true Distinction lies in wearing the Qualities of the Mind on the outward Habit in the Peculiarity of Fancy and Elegance of Taste
Your Ladyship might surely have added said Miss
Trinket
that
Dress
is a Handmaid to Beauty too it serves to adorn and embellish Nature with Art and to make what was lovely still more attracting However brilliant a Diamond may be in itself, it wants of its Value and Lustre till suitably set there may be an Elegance to be sure in the Manner of setting but still it ought to be cased in nothing but Gold
I greatly Iament the Departure of Mrs
Philligree
said Lord
Mansfield
it is she who would have adorned your Ornaments Ladies and have dressed out
Dress
itself in a sumptuous Outrè of Terms and new Cut of Phrase I agree indeed with the Countess that some Tokens or Markings such as those that
Dress
supplies are requisite for distinguishing the several Orders and Subordinations of People in a Community but I am sorry to find that these same Markings or Tokens should very nearly engross the whole of the Things intended to be signified If you take the fullbottomed Wig from a Judge what will become of his Wisdom or Lawn and Sattin from Bishops what would become of their Sanctity or should Monarchs be deprived of their Crowns and Regalia I doubt it would be a fearful Abridgment of Majesty
I also agree with Lady
Cribbage
that the Qualities of the Mind are worn on the outward Habit But pray ye what Sort of internal Qualities do those external Habits exhibit even every Species of Affectation Folly and Vanity that is conceivable The whole futile Soul of a Female seems to have forsaken its frail Mansion and to float upon the Surface of her Attire In the long Labours of the Toilette where so much Pains Time and Treasure is expended on an elaborate Externity does not a Woman as good as confess that the whole of her Value lies where the whole of her Care is bestowed
Now in all these Operations Female Vanity proposes to excite the same Sensations in others that it feels in and for itself, on the pleasing Contemplation of its own Image Ah misdeeming and pitiable Objects while ye pass along or sit exalted in your imaginary Preeminence some of your Sex behold you with an Eye of Contempt others with an Eye of Envy and all with an Eye of Malevolence inquisitive after your Miscarriages and desirous of publishing and magnifying the smallest of your Failings
Men indeed behold you with an Eye of Pleasure because they draw an Inference from your Vanity that flatters their own They contemplate you as dressing at them They consider the Labours of your Toilette as a Confession of
desiring to be desired
as an Advance on your Part and a Kind of Challenge for them to approach and capitulate
I own that Beauty as Miss
Trinket
has observed may occasionally derive a Sort of Accession from
Dress
like a Diamond encased in precious Metal But how much more generally do we observe conceited Ugliness and Deformity deriving additional Darkness from the Lustre that surrounds it like a Turnip or Toadstool encircled by Gems
Whether Finery gives additional Force to the Magnet of Beauty for exciting and drawing our Affections to it is an Article of which I am much in doubt What say you to this Question Mr
Fenton
I hold my Lord said Mr
Fenton
that Finery is merely a
Narcissus
that neither loves nor is beloved by any except itself. It is much to be questioned whether Belle or Beau ever engaged the Affections of any sensible Person of the opposite Sex and where they themselves have been susceptible of the delicate Passion they from that Moment ceased to be Belles or Beaus
Paris
is the only Beau as I remember that ever was capable of loving a Woman and yet as you all know she was not a dressed Lady to whom he gave the Prize
Dame
Iris
was the greatest Belle in all the Heaven of Pagan Theology She was as we may say the female
Joseph
dressed out in her gay Coat of many Colours and yet we do not find that she ever attracted the love of a single Immortal or even Mortal though she duly and daily Visits them in all her Finery and fails not to shed Showers of Tears at their Disdain
Finery may dazzle it may awe but cannot possibly excite the smallest Pittance of Affection This can alone be done by something more personal by something less superficial Even the
simplex Mundities
that Ornament of a clean Simplicity recommended by
Horace
can operate only by Intimation of deeper Purity The Virtues alone can weave the truly enchanting Robe of Female Influence and the Graces alone gird on the
Caestus
or Girdle of irresistable Beauty
Among the infinite Variety of Female Fashions which in Turns have been fantastically predominant upon Earth I remember but of one so very obsolete as not to have revived in some distant Age or Climate That the Memory of this same Fashion should not be wholly lost it is recorded by Saint
Paul
in his first Epistle to
Timothy
Here he recommends it to the Ladies to
adorn themselves with Sobriety and Shamefacedness not with broidered Hair or Gold or Pearls or costly Array
Saint
Paul
however in this Piece of Advice appears to have spread a Net for the Hearts of his own Sex The haughty reluctant and stubborn Spirit of Man can reject Wealth and Titles can look with Indifference on the Symmetry of Shape and Features and guard itself against the Attacks of Female Artifice but Female Bashfulness is an unconscious Thief to whom the Doors of all Hearts are instantly thrown open
In short the Maid who would atchieve the whole Laurel of Conquest must not be obvious or obtrusive like
Daphne
she must fly though pursued by an
Apollo
Here the Company breaking up gave distinct and pressing Invitations to Mr
Fenton
but he politely excused his Attendance for the present on Account of a Multiplicity of indispensable Business
On the following Morning as he sat in his Study some one tapped at the Door and on his desiring them to walk in who should enter but Lady
Maitland
in an agreeable Dishabille
Mr
Fenton
said she deeply blushing and hesitating I I you must think it very odd I say Sir I should not have intruded upon you thus out of all Form perhaps indecently unseasonable Please to be seated Madam The Business I come upon Sir is so very interesting so concerning to my Peace that I could not refuse myself this Opportunity of breaking in upon you Be assured my dear Madam that the greatest Pleasure you can do me is to let me know as soon as possible wherein I can serve you
Here the Countess looking eagerly and inquisitively on him put her Hand in her Bosom took out a Picture and alternately surveying the one and the other yes she cried it is it must certainly be so Then reaching out the Picture can you tell me Sir said she for whom this was drawn or rather do you remember to whom you gave it
Mr
Fenton
took the Picture looked at it and started when recollecting Ideas and Passages as from afar off good God he exclaimed is it possible can you be my little
Fanny Goodall
yes my dearest Cousin answered the Countess as surely as you are the still too amiable
Harry Clinton
Hereupon they both rose suddenly and Mr
Fenton
catching his quondam
Fanny
in his Arms pressed her to his Bosom with warm and kindred Affection But the Agitation of the Countess was too big for Utterance till resuming her Chair she gave Scope to her Passion and burst into a violent Flood of Tears
After a mutual and affecting Silence ah cries Mr
Fenton
in a Voice expressive of much Emotion how am I my lovely Cousin to interpret these Tears am I to consider them as further Proofs of your ancient Aversion to me or as kindly and dear Instances of your returning Affection The Countess answered not and Mr
Fenton
continued
You may remember my Cousin that I had very few Relations My only Brother ever continued to behave himself toward me as an Alien and an Enemy and my only Uncle and Guardian who in his later Years became your Father was no way agreeable to my Taste or Disposition In you therefore from your Infancy in you alone my amiable Cousin I had centred all my Sensations of Fatherhood Brotherhood all the Affections and tender Feelings that naturally arise from Kindred and Consanguinity How have I been delighted with your infantine Prattle how have I exulted in your opening Charms on the Death of my first Wife you were my only Consolation and in your innocent Caresses and attractive Endearments I felt a sweetness of Emotion that I never felt before
On my Return from
France
with what Transports did you receive me we grew as it were in our Embracements to each other You were then as I apprehend about ten Years of Age But on my next Visit you refused to be seen by me Soon after you were taken ill I daily went with an aching Heart to enquire after your Health but your Mamma peremptorily refused me Admission to your Presence till on your Recovery you were conveyed from me and secreted into the Country
Though this Unkindness went near my Heart it did not alter my Affections I still continued to enquire after you I still continued to be interested in you and I preferred my ardent Wishes and Prayers to Heaven for your Prosperity
Mr
Fenton
said Lady
Maitland
you have unquestionably your Reasons for choosing to be so called I am very sensible Sir I say of your extraordinary Partiality to me from my earliest Years Your Tenderness as you mentioned was that of the fondest of Fathers or Brothers You knew the Degree and Kind of Affection that was suitable between such Relations and you kept yourself precisely within the Limits But alas for my Part I knew no such Distinctions I was as a Piece of Virgin Wax warmed and willingly yielding to the first kindly Impression You made that Impression my Cousin you made it deep and entire As I had but the one Heart so I had but the one Love and that Love was all your own without Distinction or Degree
Gracious Heaven exclaimed Mr
Fenton
what is this you tell me Madam is it possible that at your Years you should actually conceive a Passion for one who might almost have been your Grandfather ah if that be the Case what have I not to answer for indulging you and myself in those innocent Caresses which at that Time fondly constituted the most pleasing Sensations of my Life
Alas replied the Countess if you have any Thing to answer for on that Account the Charge indeed is very weighty which I have to bring against you
I was not eight Years old when I begged this Picture from you which you generously enriched with this Circlet of Diamonds Soon after you went to
France
and during your Absence this Picture was my constant Companion whom I caressed whom I talked to and to whom alone I made my Complaints in all my little Matters of Grievance
I know not by what Instinct or Kind of Cunning it was that I endeavoured to conceal my Affection for this your Resemblance and never made my Court to it but when I was alone
The Morning after your Visit on your Return from
Paris
as I was carelessly performing the Business of my little Toilette before the Glass I took out your Picture and surveyed it with new and encreasing Delight In the mean Time I did not know that my Mama stood behind me attentive to all my Motions that were reflected to her by the Mirror She heard me talk to your Picture she saw me kiss it and eagerly press it to my Bosom At last I turned my Eye to the Glass and perceived a Piece of her Image whereon I started coloured and trembled and was thrown I know not why into the utmost Confusion
Ah
Fanny
cried my Mother what is this that I see your young Heart my Child is certainly affected Unquestionably you love your Cousin
Clinton
Ought I not to love him Madam does he not love me as well as I love him No no my Darling said my Mother I would to Heaven that he did Your Cousin
Clinton
indeed is worthy of all Love but then he has lately given away his Heart to another He is married my
Fanny
And cant he love me still for all that Madam By no Means my sweet Innocent When once a Man marries he vows and swears and obliges himself to love nobody living but his Wife and what is more my
Fanny
it is accounted very naughty in any Girl to think of loving such a one afterward
What Emotions did I then feel what a Conflict of opposing Passions but Resentment for the Time got the upper Hand I had yet formed no Idea of the Relations of Sex or Matrimony or any conjugal Obligation save that of Love alone But then it was sufficient to me that I had given you my whole Heart that nothing less than your whole Heart could satisfy me in return and I felt myself offended and outraged to the last Degree by your having imparted a Share thereof to another
The Day following as I sat languid and much discomposed as well by my Passion as want of Rest the Night before my Mama came up to tell me that you were below and enquired for me No no my dearest Mama said I it doesnt signify I will not see him Let him go to whomever he loves best But what shall I say to him my
Fanny
what Excuse shall I make No Matter for Excuses Madam tell him that I never desire to see his Face any more
As something informed me that you could not help still loving me a little I laid hold of that little Love to pique and disoblige and be revenged of you for your Perfidy and as long as you staid the Thoughts of the Pain and Uneasiness I presumed you were under gave me vast Delight But as soon as I was told you were gone my Heart sunk down as from a Mount of Triumph into a Depth of Desolation
My Mama came up to console me She highly applauded my Spirit and the Resentment I had shewed and she blamed you for marrying another at a Time that you pretended so much Fondness to me She further endeavoured to set me against your Age She told me that you must soon be old and ugly and wrinkled and that you was much fitter to be my Father than my Lover She also spoke to me of my vast Fortune of my Beauty and soforth and that I might have my pick and choice of all the young and handsome Earls and Dukes in the Nation She opened to me in a Variety of glittering Prospects all the Pleasures and Advantages of Wealth Title State Equipage with the Respect and Admiration of Crowds bending around me As she represented them to my Imagination I catched at each of them for Comfort but alas I did not find you among them and all to me became empty
That Night my tender Mama forsook her own Bed and came to lie in mine I saw that she had been afflicted so for fear of adding to her Trouble I suppressed my own Emotions and pretending to be asleep I lay quiet by her Side till toward Morning when I was seized with a violent Fever During my Illness I was told that you came daily to enquire about me and that I believe above all Things contributed to my Recovery One Day my Mama came and informed me that you sat below in Tears and earnestly requested to be permitted to see me O how sweet and comforting did those Tears seem to drop upon my Heart but mustering all my little Pride and remaining Dignity no no my Mama I cried I will die first if he doesnt first unmarry himself I will never see him any more
When I had gotten Strength enough to walk about the Chamber my Mama and I being alone I went to my Drawer and taking out your Picture and turning my Head aside I reached it to her saying here Madam take this and lock it up from me for while I love it and hate it so much it Troubles me to look at it My Mama thereupon took it from me and catched me to her Bosom but without saying a Word she burst into Tears and straight quitted the Room
As soon as it was judged that I was able to travel my Parents by the Advice of their Doctors took me far into the Country My Mother in the mean Time had unquestionably confided my Secret to my Father for though he was naturally of a severe and backward Temper he became extremely tender and indulgent toward me
As I was the only Child they ever had their whole Care and Solicitude was affectionately employed in procuring me a Variety of Gratifications and Amusements When I was in Spirits they were in a Kind of Triumph but my Dejection was to them the most grievous of all Oppressions They took down my
French
Mistress and Music Master with them and they collected from all Parts the most agreeable set of Misses and Masters that they could muster so that my Time was portioned out the most happily that could be between Business and Recreations that were equally pleasing They had taken Care that your Name should never be mentioned before me and though at Times my Soul was athirst and my Ear opened and turned to hear Tidings concerning you yet a certain native Bashfulness and fear of offending against Decency did not permit me to enquire after you
Thus a Length of Absence and a Variety of Dissipations by Degrees greatly abated the Ardour of my Passion insomuch that I did not seem to feel any more for you When any Occasion however renewed in me the Impression of former Scenes a thrilling Sort of Chilness would run through my Blood And at other Times when alone and thinking of you a swimming kind of Stupor would fall sadly upon my Soul
On our Return to
London
after five Years Absence the great Number of People with the Novelty and Variety of Objects that crowded upon my View amused and engaged my whole Attention But when we entered the old Mansion when I turned my Eyes on the Places where you sat where you walked where you talked and used to caress me you became as it were actually visible to my Eyes something seemed to wring my Heart and I was seized with a Sickness near to Fainting I took hold of my Maid by the Arm and with her Help walked into the Garden for fresh Air but there too you had got before me on the Terrace in the Walks and Alleys where you used to run feigned Races with me and to gather Fruit for me and to play with me at bob Cherry and afterward to press the Lips that had gained the Prize I then turned away from a Place that afforded me no Asylum from you My Mother met and eagerly asked what ailed me let us go Mama I cried let us go some where else I am not able to stay in this Place any longer Accordingly that very Evening we removed to Lodgings and in a few Days my Dada took and furnished a new House
I shall not dwell my dear Sir on a trivial Detail of the many Circumstances and little Incidents that happened during the Space of four succeeding Years An Infinity of Suitors paid their Addresses to me or my Fortune I neither knew nor cared to which for I continued alike insensible to all It is true that during such a Number of Years having neither seen nor heard from you I dropt all Thoughts of you and scarce retained the Traces or Lineaments of your Person or Aspect From the Impression however which you left in my Mind I had formed to myself a dear though confused Image of the Lovely of the Desirable and this I looked for every where but could no where find any Resemblance thereof
In the mean Time my Parents urged me strongly to Matrimony They affectingly represented that they should not die in Peace if I did not afford them the Prospect of perpetuating themselves in my Offspring such is the fond Succedaneum which short lived Creatures propose for eking out their Existence, and supplying the Lot of an inevitable Mortality by the flattering though poor Substitute of a Name or bare Remembrance
At length I told my Parents that as I could not form any Choice of my own I would trust wholly to their Judgment and take up with whomsoever they should be pleased to appoint Hereupon they recommended the Earl of
Maitland
to me I kept to my Promise and we were consequently married
My Husband was comely in his Person easy and affable in his Temper and a Man of singular Sense and Letters for a Lord He loved me with Passion and as I could not pay him in Specie I endeavoured to supply my want of Affection to him by my Attention and Assiduities
On the fifth Year of my Marriage my Father died of a good old Age and in four Years more my dearest Mother left me desolate In her I lost the only Object of fond Affections that I had upon Earth and my Looks tacitly reproached my Husband for his want of Power to console me
I believe it was equally unhappy for my Lord as myself that we were not blessed with Children The dear and tender Attachments that bind Parents to their Offspring serve also as a subsequent and more affecting nuptial Band for uniting those Parents more intimately to each other It draws about them a new Circle of Interests and Amities and by creating a mutual Confidence forbids the Intrusion of those Jealousies that must at all Times presuppose an Alienation of Regard This however was not the Case between Lord
Maitland
and me We never had a Child Perhaps in some Constitutions a Union of Souls as well as Persons may be requisite for such an Effect
During the two Years succeeding the Death of my dear Mother I conceived a Disgust against Company and Entertainments I took a religious Turn I looked upon this World and all that it contained as quite unworthy the Regard of an immortal Being The principal Part of my Time was taken up in Books and Offices of Devotion in which Employment I alternately sunk under the most gloomy Depression of Spirits and again was elevated above myself into a new World of Joys and inexpressible Openings
At length I was taken exceeding ill of what the Physicians called a Fever upon the Nerves which confined me to my Bed above six Weeks During my Illness my Husband was the most constant and assiduous of all my Attendants The affectionate Sadness the painful Distress the tender Solicitude that was visible in all his Looks and Actions made way into my Soul with an obliging Impression and while I reproached myself for my ungrateful Defect of Sensibility toward him Love or something tender and very like to Love took Place in my Bosom
As soon as I was on the Recovery my Husband disappeared without taking Leave or giving me any Notice and for three Weeks I knew not what was become of him At length he returned pale and greatly emaciated I had yet lost none of the Tenderness which I conceived for him during my Illness I took him affectionately by the Hand which glowed like a Coal of Fire Ah I cried where have you been what Looks are these my Lord what is the meaning of all this he answered not but withdrawing his Hand and scarce deigning to look toward me I am not well he faintly said I must go to my Bed
While his Servants undressed him I stood in silent Astonishment vainly guessing at the Cause of this extraordinary Behaviour but as soon as he had lain down I took a Seat by his Side and seizing and pressing one of his Hands between mine I broke into Tears
After a sad and mutual Silence ah Madam cried my Husband what am I to understand by these Tears I am willing to consider them as Proofs of your Humanity but I cannot consider them as Instances of your Affection You love me not Madam you never did love me All the Constancy and Complacence of the most ardent Passion all my Endeavours and Assiduities have not been able to procure me the smallest Interest in your Heart I blame you not Madam alas we are not the Masters of own Affections I am sensible that I never deserved your Love That was a Blessing reserved for a more amiable Object But then the Tenderness and Truth of my Attachment to you might surely have laid Claim to a Share of your Confidence Ah how precious had such a Confidence been to my Heart it had stood to me in the Place of your Love and I should not have reproached you for irresistable Propensities Yes Madam I say irresistable for I know you are virtuous Perhaps it was not in your Power to refuse another your Love but then you might have admitted your Husband to a Share of your Friendship
You have my Friendship I cried my tenderest Friendship my most affectionate Regards If my Love is not so ardent as you could wish you however have all the Love of which I am capable and you possess it entire and undivided
What is this you tell me Madam I would to Heaven you could still deceive me that I had still continued in Ignorance but that is past it is over Madam my Eyes are opened to my Wretchedness and I die in the double Want of your Faith and your Affection I have seen your Lover Lady I saw him four Days ago from an opposite Window He stood before this House in Converse with another I expected every Moment that taking Advantage of my Absence he would have gained Admission to you I held my Sword ready to follow to pierce his Heart and sacrifice him to the Claims of my Honour and my Love But he suddenly disappeared and disappointed my Vengeance
Gracious Heaven I exclaimed what Madness is this do you dream or who is it that has thus cruelly imposed upon you you shall see the Impostor Madam replied my Lord So saying he suddenly put his Hand back and taking your Picture from under the Pillow he indignantly demanded do you know the Original of this Portrait Lady ah I screamed I confess it I do know him I did know him indeed he was the Idol of my Heart I delighted in him I doated upon him you then acknowledge you avow it rejoined my Husband and at length you deign to make me the Confident of a Passion which I suppose in your Favour to have been involuntary Ah had I been earlier apprised of my Unhappiness I might not have sunk under the unexpected and sudden Pressure as I do at this Day But say who and what is this formidable Rival who robs me of my Peace who tears my Life from me
First tell me my Lord said I how you came by this Picture I found it in your Cabinet during your Illness said he when I searched for your Essences to relieve you from a fainting Fit I flatter myself that I am not of a jealous Disposition Curiosity first incited me to hurry it into my Pocket I afterwards surveyed it more at Leisure and some starting Doubts arose I endeavoured to suppress them I argued with myself that it might be a FamilyPicture the Representative of a Brother or dear Relation deceased But then some Enemy of my Peace again whispered to my Spirit that if this had been the Case you would not be so solicitous to conceal it from me you would rather have boasted of such an Ornament of your Lineage you would have been proud to exhibit it before all People This staggered me I confess and additional Doubts and Suggestions were impelled upon my Soul She reserves this said I to myself for her own Eye and Inspection to revise it to gaze and dwell upon it in Secret and to please her Sight with the favourite Image that is impressed upon her Heart At each of these Reflections I felt a Sting in my Bosom and the more I revolved and debated on these Uncertainties the greater Strength they gained and drew nearer to Demonstration Ah I cried her real Coldness and feigned Regards are now equally accounted for She deceives me she imposes upon me and I will counterfeit in my Turn till this Mystery is detected I then attempted and would have constrained myself to look at you with my accustomed Tenderness but I found it impossible I therefore withdrew suddenly and without any Notice If she ever had a Tincture of Friendship for me thought I the Apprehension of my Loss will awake in her a Sense thereof I disguised myself and as a Stranger took Lodgings over against you I took my Station at the Window I was on the watch from Morn till Noon to make a thorough Inquisition into your Conduct during my Absence I shall discover her Disposition said I by the Visitants whom she receives but during a Fortnight of Observation I could not perceive that of the Numbers who called any one was admitted My jealous Passions abated and I began to reproach myself for having ever conceived them when to my utter Confusion there stood full to my View in Dress Aspect Mien Attitude the distinguished Original of the Portrait which I had in my Pocket
Here I passionately broke in upon my Husbands Narration God be praised I exclaimed he then lives he still lives my most dear and amiable Cousin though I never wish to behold his Face any more my only Relation perhaps now my only Friend you are still living and I trust you are happy and that is enough
Your Relation your only Relation Madam cried my Lord is he so near is he no nearer no dearer to you than Consanguinity will warrant proceed my Lord I said I will then tell you all without Disguise or Palliation
I confess to you answered my Husband that the Sight of him struck my Soul with the fullest Conviction of my being betrayed My jealous Pangs returned with double Poignancy I was enkindled I was set on Fire my Heart was rent several Ways A violent Fever seized upon me but my Fury and thirst of Vengeance supported me under it For four Days longer I held up in the impatient Expectation of once more beholding your Lover that I might pierce him in a thousand Places in every seducing Part about him But Nature at length gave way I sunk under the Oppression and I returned once for all to behold to reproach and to expire before you
O my Husband my Friend my true Lover I cried how I pity how I feel for you I excuse your Suspicions however injurious to my Honour since your Jealousy perhaps is not wholly without Foundation I did indeed love the Person for whom that Portrait was drawn with Tenderness with Passion But believe me when I assure you that I have not set my Eyes either on the Original or Picture these twenty Years
What is this you tell me exclaimed my Lord You are not yet as I take it thirty Years of Age Could you love even to Passion at so very early a Period
Here I found myself under the Necessity of discovering to my Husband the little Adventures Impressions and Sentiments of my Infancy wherewith you are already acquainted When I had finished my short Narrative he seized my Hand and pressing it passionatly to his Lips and then to his burning Bosom he melted into Tears O my
Fanny
he cried my most noble my adorable Creature what a Combat have you fought what a Conquest have you gained of Grace over Nature of Virtue against Passion can you excuse me will you forgive me may I hope that you will restore me to the blessings of your Friendship May I flatter myself that you gave me as much as you could of your Affections that if you had been able you would have loved me with a Love like mine
I will not distress you my Cousin by a Description of the affecting Scenes that ensued My Husband left me vastly rich but still more forlorn During the first Years of my Widowhood I looked upon myself as a friendless and unnecessary Burden upon Earth Though I thought of you at Times it was not without a Resentment and a Tincture of Aversion for your never having deigned to enquire or find out whether any such Person as your too affectionate
Fanny Goodall
was in the Land of the Living At length my Physicians and my Friends as they stiled themselves prevailed upon me once more to enter into the Light and Air and Amusements of their World I consented I found my Advantage in it I gradually got rid of the grievous Oppression that lay upon my Spirits Since all is Vanity thought I let us partake of the Dissipation and make it as pleasing as we can and accordingly you found me in the Engagements which you honoured with your Inspection Yesterday
When you entered I did not know you The strange Name of
Fenton
as well as the Alteration which Years had made in you shut you out almost wholly from my Recollection I felt myself however agitated I knew not why Something in your Person and Manner renewed in my Heart Impressions kindred to those which were once its sole Concern I could not look at you I could not speak to you without Emotion All Night I lay disturbed in vain endeavouring to remember when or where I had seen you At Morning a sudden Light darted in upon my Mind I got up and flew to your Picture which at once laid all open and detected your Disguise
You are much altered Cousin Had I first seen you as you now appear I think my young Heart would not have been so deeply affected The Ruin however is still very noble and endearingly renews in me the Idea of what the Building once was
Your abstracted Air and the change of your Name seem to intimate some distressing Situation But if fifty thousand Pounds or that Sum doubled will be of Use to you I shall for once think that Fortune has been of Advantage to me
My most dear and generous Cousin replied Mr
Fenton
I shall never pardon myself those Griefs which the Excess of my Affection inadvertently occasioned you No Brother ever loved a Sister no Parent a Child with fonder Passion The Aversion which I thought you had suddenly taken to me was one of the most sensible Afflictions of my Life and my Ignorance of what laterally became of you can only be accounted for by an Abstract of my own Story
Here Mr
Fenton
called for Chocolate And after Breakfast he gave Lady
Maitland
the following affecting History of his own Life and Adventures
CHAP XIII STORY of the Hon Mr CLINTON
THE WORLD my lovely Cousin the World is to Man as his Temper or Complexion The Mind constitutes its own Prosperity and Adversity Winter presents no Cloud to a cheerful Spirit neither can Summer find Sunshine for the Spirit that is in a State of Dejection In my Youth every Object presented me with Happiness but alas the Time came when the Universe appeared as a Vault wherein Joy was entombed and the Sun himself but as a Lamp that served to shew the Gloom and the Horrors around me
As my Father and Mother died before I was taken from Nurse I knew none of those parental Tendernesses and Endearments that serve to humanize the Soul and give it the first Impressions of social Attachment neither were those Sweetnesses in any Degree supplied to me by the Behaviour of an imperious Brother or of a magisterial Guardian As I was naturally however of a benevolent Cast I sought for those Affections and Amities among Strangers which I had not found in the Bosoms or Faces of Kin
I pass over the immaterial Parts of my Life at School and College and hasten to the more important Period of my Apprenticeship
Your Father bound me to Mr
Golding
a very wealthy and eminent Merchant who lived over against the
Exchange
He had been some Years a Widower and his only Child a Daughter was then at the Boardingschool
Mr
Golding
with a plain Understanding was a Man of exceeding Honesty and a susceptible Heart At first Sight he conceived a partial Affection for me whereof he gave me very frequent and very tender Proofs and as he stood to me in the Place of a Patron and a Father I felt for him all the Fondness and Attachment of a Child
In the fourth Year of my Apprenticeship he called me to his Closet and taking me kindly by the Hand
Harry
says he I love you your Interest lies near my Heart for though you are not the begotten of my Body you are the Child of my Affections be quiet
Harry
let me speak I have to talk to you of Matters of Consequence I went Yesterday to your Uncle
Goodall
to know how Accounts stood between ye though he is but a cold Kinsman he is a very faithful Guardian He has just married a very lovely young Woman and I would have you go and pay your Compliments to them on the Occasion Your Uncle has laid out your little Penny to good Advantage and your 12000
l
is now nearly doubled And now
Harry
as your Father did not behave like a Father toward you in the Dividend which he made between you and your Brother I propose in some Measure to supply his Place and I make you a Present of this Note of 12000
l
which added to your little Patrimony may enable you O Sir I cried Be quiet Child I say again till you find whether or no you shall have Reason to thank me I am growing old my
Harry
and by a long Course of Industry have earned a kind of Title to some little Rest I would therefore gladly make a Composition between your Application and my Repose I shall not be so often in the CountingHouse as usual I propose to take you into immediate Partnership But as I also propose that you shall be at three fourths of the Trouble it is but just that I should offer you a proportionable Advantage Now as my Capital
Harry
is more than five times as much as yours of 36000
l
I offer to your Acceptance a full Moiety of all the Profits in Recompence of your extraordinary Attention and Application Hear me out I do not think that I shall lose by this Bargain The Affairs of
Potiphar
prospered under the Hands of Young
Joseph
and I believe that you also are a Favourite of your God
I could not speak The good Man perceived my Oppression and catching me in his Arms and pressing me to his Bosom he shed a silent Tear of Satisfaction upon me and withdrew without saying another Word
For several Days following Mr
Golding
was employed in advising his Correspondents that I was now become his Partner and equal in Trade and I was wearied with Congratulations on my being one of the principal Merchants in
London
before I had attained my twentieth Year
The Obligations and Advantages which this good Man thus delighted to heap upon me incited me to double Application and Sagacity and all the Eyes of
Argus
were opened within me for superintending and guarding the Interests of my Patron
I have often thought it somewhat romantic that I should win both my Wives by a matter of Adventure so that their Partiality in my Favour ought perhaps to be ascribed to a Sentiment of Gratitude rather than to any liking which they might take to my Person
On a Day in Summer I rode to
Barnet
to settle Accounts with Mr
Fradgil
a Correspondent of my Masters who was said to be indisposed at his Country Seat As I approached the Town I observed an elderly Gentlewoman walking leisurely toward me attended by an orderly Train of young Maidens I observed at the same Time two Men in glistering Apparel who hastily followed and coming quickly up put all the Females to a Stand and caused them to gather in a Group as for mutual Defence One of the Men however no way daunted by the Opposition of so numerous a Company rudely caught one of the elder Misses in his Arms and repeatedly kissing her thrust his Hand into her Bosom Mean while the young Lady shrieked and cried aloud for Help when riding suddenly up I struck the Ruffian to the Ground with the Heavy End of my Whip His Companion hereupon drew his Sword and turned upon me but pushing my Horse at him I cast him also to the Earth then alighting I broke their Swords and leaving my Gallants in a Plight not suddenly to be dreaded I led my Horse by the Bridle till I saw my Fair Wards all safe to their Dwelling
Some Months after this Incident Mr
Golding
called me aside
Harry
says he my Daughter is now drawing to Womans Estate and should learn something more substantial than Needlework and Dancing and Harpsichords and frenchified Phrases I therefore propose to take her Home where by the Help of our Cook and Housekeeper she may be taught how to make a
Sunday
s Pudding and to superintend a Family
I regularly go to see her once in every Month accompanied by some Male or Female Acquaintance but never called you to be of the Party as we could not so conveniently be both from Home
My Child though a plain Girl is very dutiful and goodnatured Her Fortune as you are sensible will entitle her to the first Lord of the Land yet I know not how it is I would rather that my Girl should be happy than great I do not wish to have her a fine titled Dame I would rather I say see her married to some honest and tenderhearted Man whose Love might induce him to domesticate with her and to live peaceably and pleasingly within his Familycircle than to see her mated with a Prince of the Blood
Now
Harry
as this Affair of all Affairs sits nearest at my Heart it is greatly in your Power to oblige me beyond Expression On my Daughters coming home I conclude we shall be beset by a Number of Courtiers such an
Argo
when freighted with such a Fleece will unquestionably be held in Chace by many a Pirate Wherefore my Son I would have you keep a sharp and inquisitive Eye about you and to take good Note of the Manners and Dispositions of such Suitors as my Daughter shall appear to regard As also to enquire minutely into their Circumstances and Characters Your Vigilance and Penetration may save us from Ruin Should my Child be made Unhappy your Friend must be most miserable But I depend my dear
Harry
that while I live you will prove a kind Brother to her and that you will prove a Father to her in case of my Mortality Here the good Man no longer able to restrain his Passion put his Handkerchief to his Eyes and quitted the Chamber
Within a few Days Mr
Golding
set out accompanied by a Number of his CityFriends in order to conduct his Daughter Home On their Arrival I was deeply engaged in the Countinghouse and it was near the Time for Supper before I could attend As I entered Mr
Golding
presented me to his Daughter saying this my Dear is Mr
Clinton
my Partner my Friend my Son and your Brother Hereupon Miss
Golding
coloured and drawing back as I approached to salute her if I am not mistaken Sir says she he is something more to us than all you have mentioned it would ill become me to forget that he is the Deliverer of your Daughter Your Deliverer my dear
Matty
how where when Why pray Papa did Mr
Clinton
never tell you of his Adventure at
Barnet
No indeed my Dear It is not every one who would be silent Papa where so much was to be said to their own Honour I remember that your Knights in Romance when too modest to boast of their own Achievements used to permit some Friend or Squire to deliver down to Posterity the History of their Adventures and I take the Liberty to be Squire to Mr
Clinton
on the like Occasion
Here Miss
Golding
began to give a Narrative of the Matter already recited but in Terms of high Phrase and aggravated Encomium While all abashed and confused I withdrew saying that I did not remember of any Knights who staid to hear their own Story
In Truth I was much surprised to hear Miss
Golding
mention the Adventure of
Barnet
for I did not recollect that I had ever seen her and had taken much more Note of two or three other Misses than I had of her
Being resummoned to Supper Mr
Golding
met me as I entered and clasping me in his Arms O my
Harry
he cried how wonderfully gracious has God been to me in sending my best Friend to the Rescue of my only Child in sending at so critical and very fearful a Conjuncture perhaps the only Person who had either Gallantry or Humanity enough to preserve her Indeed Sir I replied you owe me nothing I did not even know that the Lady was your Daughter and I could not pride myself in any Degree on an Action which I thought incumbent on every Man to perform
During Supper Miss
Golding
was very cheerful and agreeable Her Face indeed could not be numbered among the Beauties but her Person was Grace and Majesty though in Miniature her Conversation was pleasing and when she sung or touched her Instruments for she was Mistress of several her Mien and Motions were Music each Note seemed a Sentiment and we felt her Fingers playing on the Chordage of our Heart
For the first three Months after Miss
Golding
s Arrival all was crowding and Gaiety Assembly and Festival at our House She was as a Magnet that drew and grouped all the Peerage and Gentry of
England
together But as Business happened to be very throng at that Season I was not at Liberty to partake of their Amusements and I resigned to Mr
Golding
the Commission which he had given me respecting the Parties who declared themselves Suitors
As those Suitors in a daily and numerous Succession applied to Mr
Golding
for his Consent his general Answer was that his Goodliking was inseparable from that of his only Child that he would if they pleased consult her on the Occasion and faithfully report to them her Approbation or Dissent In the like conclusive Manner when Mr
Golding
repeatedly questioned his Daughter she would take his Hand between hers and kissing it say O no my dear Papa this is not the Man
One Day as I sat alone in the CountingRoom Miss
Golding
entered and presented me with an Order from her Father for £250 And pray Madam said I why this Ceremony this Matter of Form sure Miss
Golding
may at any Time command twenty Times this Sum without any Order save her own Intimation Indeed are you serious Mr
Clinton
I am very proud I assure you to have so much Credit with you But Mr
Harry
how comes it to pass that we have so little of your Company Your Fathers Business Madam deprives me of the Pleasure I should otherwise have in attending you Again Sir I am quite proud that it is your Attention to my Father alone which prevents your having any Attention for his Daughter so saying she vanished
Immediately I was struck with a Glimpse of some uncommon Meaning in the Words and Behaviour of Miss
Golding
but as I never had looked toward the Way of her Affections I passed it lightly over as some Matter of Whim or Caprice in the Sex
Among the brilliant Concourse of Suitors that frequented our House there was one Mr
Spelling
a young Gentleman highly accomplished in his Person and Manners and of a most amiable Countenance and Disposition His Father like Miss
Golding
s had been a Merchant and like him too had amassed an excessive Fortune As he was modest as I may say to a Degree of Shamefacedness he did not declare himself a Lover till nearly the whole Multitude of Competitors had been discarded Then with a blushing Diffidence he avowed his Passion to Mr
Golding
and earnestly besought his Consent and Intercession in his Favour You have not only my Consent replied the good old Man you have also my best Wishes and shall have my best Endeavours for your Success However I must warn you at the same Time Mr
Spelling
that I will not do any Violence to the Inclinations of my Child although there are not two in the World whom I would prefer to you
I was writing in my Closet when Mr
Golding
came in with an anxious Importance in his Countenance and told me what passed between him and Mr
Spelling
and asked if I did not approve the Match I do not know Sir said I that Man in
England
who is so deserving of your Daughter as Mr
Spelling
Then my dear
Harry
I have a Commission to give you
Matilda
has a great Respect for your Judgment I beseech you to make Use of your Influence with her and to exert all your Oratory in Behalf of this young Man But Sir will not Miss
Matilda
look on this as a Matter of high Presumption in one who has no Manner of Right to advise No Matter you may tell her that you did it by my Desire and that we are both of a Mind with Regard to this Business Well Sir said I since you are bent upon it I will obey you but it is the first Time that ever I obeyed you with Reluctance
Soon after Mr
Golding
left me his Daughter entered with a Countenance visibly inquiet and confused My Papa Sir said she informs me that you have a Business of Consequence to impart to me I hope Madam pray be seated a Moment Indeed my dear Miss
Golding
this Office was not of my choosing and I hope I say you will be so good as to pardon my Presumption in Consideration of my acting by your Fathers Command You alarm me Mr
Clinton
pray proceed Mr
Spelling
Madam at length has had the Assurance to declare his Passion for you Your Father highly approves of Mr
Spelling
for a Soninlaw and indeed Miss might I dare to speak my Judgment I know not where you could chuse to better Advantage If that is the Case Mr
Harry
I wish that I also could be of the same Opinion And are you not Madam what Objection can you form what Exception can you have to my Friend
Spelling
A very simple one Sir and no better than this that he is not the Man who can make me happy I am sorry for it my dear Miss
Golding
I am truly sorry for it were I to pick from Mankind were I to chuse throughout the World if any One can deserve you it is surely this same
Spelling
And yet Mr
Harry
I remember to have seen the Man who in every Grace and Merit is infinitely preferable to your Favourite
Spelling
Where when my dear Miss When I am brought to the Torture I may possibly be under the necessity of confessing Pardon pardon sweet Madam I meant no Offence and yet I wish to Heaven I knew But that you never shall know Mr
Harry
Pray then Madam if I may adventure on one Question more has the Party so highly favoured any Knowledge of his own Happiness I hope not Mr
Harry
but of what Advantage could his Knowledge prove to me I beseech you can you suppose that such a Person as I have described could deign to look with Favour on such a one as I am I do not believe Madam that the Man is in
England
who would not think himself highly honoured highly blessed by your Hand But then are you assured Miss that this Man is worthy of it Ah there lies my Misfortune he is too worthy too noble too accomplishd too lovely too much every thing for my Wishes to leave any thing to my Hopes And now Mr
Harry
that I have entrusted you with my Secret I hope you will not betray my Confidence and reveal it to my Papa I rather trust and request that you will use some other Colour for reconciling him to my Refusal of Mr
Spelling
And to make you some Amends for the Mortification I have given you by rejecting your Advocation in Behalf of your Friend I here engage never to marry without your Approbation though I do not promise Sir that you shall dictate to my Choice There is one Thing further Mr
Clinton
in which you may oblige me it is to prevail on my Father to dismiss these Assemblies and Revels that pester our House indeed they never were to my Taste though by their Novelty at first they might have helped to amuse a little Matter of Melancholy that hung upon my Mind but now they are grown quite insufferable to me Here her Eye began to fill and heaving a gentle Sigh she curtsied and withdrew
Immediately my Heart was softened and affected I saw the Child of my Friend and Patron the one in whom his Hopes and Fortunes and very Life were wrapt up I saw that she was unhappy that she was very unhappy at a Time that she had forbidden me to attempt her Relief though I would gladly have parted with Half my Fortune to have been enabled to give the Object of her Wishes to her Arms
In the mean while my dearest Madam it was the farthest of all Things from entring into my Imagination that I was the very Person who sat so near her Heart I daily saw the loveliest Youths and titled Chiefs of the Land attendant on her Words and Smiles and humbly suing for her Favour I saw also that her immense Fortune and rare Attractions justly entitled her to their Homage and I was neither vain enough nor base enough to attempt a Competition
As in myself I was wholly devoid of Passion I had neither Eyes nor Apprehension for the Discernment of hers Though I had often seen I seldom had any Kind of Converse with her and where the Head is engaged and in a Manner absorbed by Business there is neither Leisure nor Room for Love to enter the Heart On the other Hand a Person affected can instantly penetrate the Bosom of the Party beloved and there discern a vacant and insensible Heart as legibly as a Priest of
Isis
could decypher Hieroglyphics
One Day as I happened to pass near her Antichamber I heard the warble as I thought of distant and aetherial Music I approached towrd the Sound the Door was on the jar and gently opening it I entered and stood behind her unperceived She sat and sang to her Lute The Words were
Shakespear
s but sweetly set by herself They expressed that Passage in his Play of Twelfth Night where it is said of
Viola She never told her Love but let Concealment like a Worm ith Bud feed on her damask Cheek c
Ah how affectingly did her Instrument answer to her Voice while she gently tuned her Sighs to the soft and melancholy Cadences My Breast was so swelled by a Mixture of Anguish and Compassion that I could no longer wholly suppress a rising Groan Hereat she started and turned and rising suddenly her Eyes shot Fire and her Face glowed with Indignation and Resentment But observing the Tears that still trickled down my Cheeks her Countenance was as suddenly changed into Kindness and she cast upon me a Look of inexpressible Complacence
Ah Mr
Harry
says she I see I see that you have a gentle and a kindred Kind of Heart and that if ever you happen to love you will love with great Tenderness Have you ever loved Mr
Harry
Indeed Madam I cannot say my Commerce has been very little among the Ladies If I met Love on my Way or even found it in my Heart perhaps I should not rightly know what to make of it But my
Matilda
my charming Sister your Father has honoured me with the Privilege of calling you by that dear that tender Name why will you not entrust your best your truest Friend with the Secret of your Disquiet whoever the Object of your Esteem may be I here solemnly engage at the Risk of my Life and the Loss of my Fortune to bring him voluntarily to pay his Vows at your Feet O my Sister I would to Heaven that he had now been present as I have been present to have his Soul melted and minted as mine has been his Heart must have been harder than the Stones of
Thebes
if you did not attract it and move it at pleasure by the Touch of those Fingers and the Bewitchment of those Accents Ah you Flatterer she cried with a Voice tuned to Harmony and a Face formed of Smiles you almost tempt me to tell you what for the World I would not wish that any one in the World should know But I must snatch myself from the Danger So saying and casting at me a vanishing Glance she was out of sight in a twinkling
As our Suitors had now been dismissed and our Assemblies discontinued Miss
Golding
seemed quite pleased with our Familyabridgment it gave us frequent Occasions of being together I endeavoured by a Variety of tender Offices and little Amusements to dispell or divert the Melancholy under which I thought she laboured I was greatly surprised at my own Success on this Occasion her Cheerfulness returned she discovered new and striking Graces in her Manners and Conversation and in a little Time did not appear to want any Consolation
One Day being on the
Exchange
I was accosted by a
Jew
who told me that he wanted a Sum of Money and would either sell or pawn to me a Jewel of great Price It was a Solitaire composed of Oriental Pearls with a Diamond of the first Water and Magnitude in the Centre After some chaffering we agreed for three thousand Pieces and I put it into my Pocketbook As my Business detained me on the
Exchange
till it was late I dined with two or three Acquaintance at the ChopHouse and did not return till the Evening was advanced
On my entering I was told that Mr
Golding
was abroad and that Miss
Matilda
had just ordered Coffee for some Ladies in her Dressingroom Immediately I ran up and opened the Door without Ceremony but was instantly struck with the Look which she turned towrd me a Look that at once intimated Dejection and Disgust During Coffee I endeavoured to behave with my usual Unconcern but found it impossible to avoid sharing in that Constraint under which Miss
Matilda
most evidently laboured in short a gloomy Stiffness spread through the whole Conversation and I believe no two Persons in Company were rightly satisfied with each other
As soon as the Cups were removed the fair Visitants got up and as Miss
Golding
pressed them to stay in a Manner that rather denoted her Desire of their Absence they feigned a further Engagement and very formally took their Leaves
When she had seen them to the Door and that I had handed them into their Carriages she turned without speaking to me and withdrew toward her own Apartment I followed and as she was about to enter my
Matilda
my Sister said I with a Voice of cordial Tenderness do your
Harry
the Favour to accept this Trifle as an Instance of my Regard for the Daughter of my Friend for the dearest Object upon Earth of my Esteem and Affection So saying I presented her with my recent Purchace she did not however even deign to look at it but surveying me from Head to Foot with an Eye of strange Passions she took it and dashed it against the Floor and rushing into her Chamber she shut to the Door upon me without speaking a Word
I stood in an inconceivable Astonishment and Concern In vain I searched and researched my Memory for the Recollection of some Instance wherein I might have offended her but not presuming to obtrude upon her in order to question or expostulate with her I retreated to my Apartment under the deepest Dejection of Spirits
Mr
Golding
did not return till it was late in the Evening He immediately sent for me
Harry
says he what is the Matter has any Thing happened amiss I never saw you look so discomposed Indeed Sir I am not as well as I could wish Bless me we had better send for a Doctor No Sir I am in Hopes it will soon be over Where is
Matilda
In her Chamber Sir I believe He then called Mrs
Susan
and bid her tell
Matilda
that he desired to speak with her but she answered that her Mistress was gone to Bed indisposed and requested that she might not be disturbed
Supper being served up we sat down in Silence and as neither of us offered to taste a Bit I rose wished Mr
Golding
a good Night and retired to my Chamber
After a sleepless Night my Servant entered in a visible Alarm and told me that Miss
Golding
was extremely ill and that almost all the Physicians in
London
had been sent for
Very unhappy were many succeeding Days I saw my Friend my Father the Man I loved above the World I saw him in a Depth of Distress that bordered on Distraction and I found my Heart wrung with inexpressible Anguish
Though I was constant in my Enquiries after Miss
Golding
yet I purposely avoided appearing in her Presence lest the Sight of one so obnoxious should add to her Distemper At length the good old Man came to me wringing his Hands will you not go
Harry
says he will you not go and see
Matilda
before she dies The Doctors tell me they have tried all the Powers of Medicine but that they do not yet know what to make of her Sickness
My dear Sir said I it is then no longer time to conceal from you what I know or conjecture concerning this Matter Miss
Matilda
herself entrusted me with the Secret but under the strictest Injunctions of Silence the Extremity of her Case however ought to dispense with all such Engagements Your Daughter loves Sir she loves with Passion but who the Object of her Affections is I cannot imagine Let it be your Part to discover what she so industriously hides from the World she will refuse nothing to the Authority or rather to the Tenderness of such a Parent
Here Mr
Golding
left me but returned in about an Hour His whole Frame seemed to labour with something extraordinary You were right
Harry
he cried you were right in your Conjectures my Prayers and my Tears have at length prevailed with difficulty I have wrung the Secret from her O my Son it is greatly in your Power to befriend us Would you not do something for the Relief of a Family who doat upon you as we do would you not do something for your old Friend who loves you as fondly as ever Father loved a Child Something for you Sir said I yes every thing all things that are possible to be done But pray Sir do I know the Party You do
Harry
you do he cried for as the Prophet said unto
David
thou art the Man
Me Sir I exclaimed impossible she cannot bear my Sight she hates me she detests the Ground I go upon Not so said he not so she loves the very Dust upon which you tread Something surely is due in Mitigation of the Calamities which you have occasioned We lie at your Mercy Mr
Clinton
my precious Daughter and myself it is yours to bid us live or die at your Pleasure to crush us into nothing or to restore us to Existence to Health to Enjoyment Will it hurt you my Son to do us these great Benefits is it a Matter grievous to you to give Happiness to those whose Excess of Love for you is their only Misfortune A princely Fortune attends you We and all we have are yours Mr
Clinton
We are desirous of depending on your Bounty alone Let the Extremeness of my Daughters Affection for you excite something more kindly than Hatred in your Breast If not for her Sake yet for mine my beloved
Harry
let me beseech you to constrain yourself before her to affect some little Tenderness some Appearance of Regard that may revive her awhile at least from the deplorable State under which she languishes
While he spoke I was agitated by unutterable Emotions and he might have proceeded much further before I should have had the Power to reply At length I cast myself on my Knee and catching his Hand to my Bosom Ah my Friend my Father my dear Father I cried am I then no better than a Barbarian in your Sight To me would you impute such Sentiments of Cruelty and Ingratitude Take my Hand Sir take my Heart dispose of them as you please All that I have all that I am is yours and your Daughters without any kind of Reserve for any other Person breathing
The good Man caught me in his Arms and pressed me to his Breast in a long and speechless Ecstasy then taking me by the Hand he led me in Silence to his Daughters Apartment
As we entered she turned her Eyes toward the Door and her pale and languid Countenance was straight suffused with a short lived Red I was so affected by the Condition in which I beheld her that I scarcely was able to reach her Bedside where kneeling down I gently took one of her Hands and pressing it between mine I bathed it in a silent Shower of Tears
Ah my Papa she faintly cried I fear you have betrayed me Mr
Harry
is certainly informed of my Weakness I am informed said I my lovely my allbeloved Sister I am informed that I am permitted to hope for a Happiness that is infinitely above my Merit but it shall be the delightful Business of my Life to deserve it
My Dear said Mr
Golding
I perceive you are something flustered your Constitution is too weak for such Emotions as these For the present your Brother
Harry
must leave you Tomorrow I trust you will be better able to support our Company
Hereupon I took her Hand and impressing upon it a tender and warm Kiss I just ventured to look up and saw her fine Eyes suffused with a glittering Tear and her Countenance bent upon me with a Look of indescribable Sweetness and Delight but Mr
Golding
to prevent the Effects of too tender a Scene instantly took me by the Arm and led me away
As he perceived that my Spirits had been much disturbed he ordered a Bottle to his own Chamber and told me that he requested some further Converse with me As soon as we had taken our Seats he looked earnestly upon me then seized me by the Hand and looked at me again But suddenly getting up he turned and stepped to the Window and breaking into Tears he there wept and sobbed for good Part of an Hour
As soon as he was somewhat composed he resumed his Seat Mr
Clinton
says he are you really sincere in your Professions with Respect to my Daughter Shall I be rid of my Doubts at once May I venture to ask you a Question on which my own Life as well as that of my Child may depend Should it please the Almighty to raise her from her present Bed of Sickness is it actually your Intention to make her your Wife
Here I demanded with some Warmth is that a Question Sir at this time What Reason have I given you to suspect my Honour or my Truth I do not suspect you my
Harry
I do not suspect you I know you would not deceive me but you may have deceived yourself Your Nature is tender and full of Pity and in the deplorable Estate in which my Girl lies your great Compassion may have easily been mistaken by you for Love Your Friendship for me also may have helped to impose upon you and you may have construed your Regard and Attachment to the Father into a Sentiment of Tenderness and Affection for the Child But O my
Harry
should any other Woman be preferable in your Eyes or should it not be in my Girls Power to win and wear your Affections I shall then have been instrumental in making you wretched and my Heart may as well be broken the one way as the other No my Father no I have no foreign
Dalilahs
no secret Amours no Pleasures that shun the Light My Heart is a virgin Heart and my
Matilda
possesses it without a Rival
From the Time that I was sensible of my Fathers Partiality a little Matter of Ambition whether laudable or otherwise incited me to attempt a Distinction that would raise me toward a Level with an only Brother who looked down with Neglect and Contempt upon me Thence I became indefatigable in my Studies at School and College as also in my Application under you Sir during the first Years of my Apprenticeship and this left me no Manner of Leisure for female Attachments Indeed I dreaded the Appearance of any Advances from the Sex and turned from them as I would from so many Gins or Pitfalls purposely dug for my Destruction My Conversation Sir has been very little among the Fair and excepting my natural Propensity to the Sex I never till very lately conceived a Liking for any Woman In Truth my dear Father that Lady is not alive whom my Judgment or Inclinations would prefer to your
Matilda
You need not fear my being wretched I think myself most happy in her Affections
Then said he I pronounce her the happiest of Women And now my
Harry
I will tell you a Secret From the first time that I beheld you I wished you for my Daughter I wishd that she might have Charms to attract and fix your Heart but as I feared and was persuaded that this was not the Case I forbore to indulge myself in such flattering Expectations You know I never took you with me to see her at the BoardingSchool the true Reason was that I dreaded exposing her young and inexperienced Heart to such a Temptation lest she should conceive and languish under a hopeless Passion
On her Return to Town my Apprehensions on your Score were much abated as I imagined that the great Number of her gay and glistering Suitors would divide or at least divert her Attention from you and I purposely laid all the Business of our House on your Shoulders that she might have as little of your Company as possible
I further had the Precaution to warn my Child against the Danger of any Affection for you
Matty
said I one Day among all this Assembly of fair and fortunate Youths you are free and welcome to chuse your Companion for Life there is only One who stands excepted One only whom you must not look upon with any Eye of Expectation Who is that Papa My young Brother and Partner in Trade said I He looks much higher
Matty
than to the Daughter of a Merchant His Prospects are immense He is only Brother and Heir to the Earl of
Moreland
who is now on his Travels a dissolute young Man whose Vices in all likelihood will quickly carry him off and in such a Case our
Harry Clinton
would be considered as the first Person in the Land
Ah Sir I cried I may bless your Prohibition with regard to me it was certainly the happy the only Cause of my
Matilda
s Partiality in my Favour The good Man smiled and proceeded Notwithstanding what I said to
Matty
I had not given up all Thoughts of you myself While she talked or sung in your Presence I often turned my Eye upon you and thought at times that I perceived a growing Tenderness in your Behaviour which further Acquaintance I trusted might ripen into Love But when in order to try you I proposed your Advocation in Behalf of
Spelling
and that you appeared to undertake it with Readiness and Pleasure I at once dropped all my fond and flattering Hopes concerning you and I heartily wished that my Child had accepted that modest and worthy young Man Blessed however be the favouring Hand of that Providence who so unexpectedly hath conducted Matters to the Issue of this Hour and fulfilled the capital Wish of my Life But I will no longer delay carrying to my dear Child the glad Tidings of your Affection it will prove the best of Balms to her wounded Mind and will close her Eyes for this Night in Rest and Peace of Heart
I was scarce dressed the next Morning when
Matilda
s favourite Maid entered my Chamber and bid me good Morrow Mrs
Susan
said I your pleasant Countenance bids me presume that Miss
Golding
is better O vastly better vastly better Sir I assure you she slept sweetly all the Night and did not want for happy Dreams either I warrant Here is something for your good News No Sir no I never take Money from Gentlemen my Mistresss Generosity does not leave me to the Temptation I love my Mistress Sir and I think we ought all rather to join and fee you Mr
Harry
as well for Yesterdays Visit as for another which I hope you will pay her to Day A Fiddle for these old Doctors one pretty young Doctor is better worth than a Score of them
Susan
as it should seem had been an Observer and did not want for Penetration in such Matters Mr
Harry
she continued Id give my last Quarters Wages to know what Charm it is that you carry about you to make all the pretty Ladies so fond of you In Truth Mrs
Susan
I am equally a Stranger to the Charm and to the Fondness that you talk of Dont tell me Sir dont tell me The very Day of that Night on which my Mistress fell sick here was a Lady in her Chariot to enquire for you one of the loveliest young Creatures I ever set my Eyes on I know she asked very particularly and very affectionately for you for though it was my Mistress to whom she spoke I stood within hearing It must I cried have been some Mistake or some Imposture for I assure you Mrs
Susan
that I know of no such Person But pray be so good as to bear my Compliments to your young Lady and tell her that I wait her Permission to attend her
I forgot to tell you Madam that agreeable to the Advice which Mr
Golding
had given me I went to felicitate my Uncle
Goodall
on his Marriage with your Mother He had already been informed of my recent Admission into Partnership and thereupon received me with very unusual Marks of Esteem and Affection
Your Mother at that Time was exceeding lovely in her Person and Manners at every Season of Leisure I frequented their House and she conceived a very tender and warm Friendship for me but during Miss
Golding
s Illness I had not been to visit them
Susan
was but just gone when Mr
Golding
came and told me that he believed his
Matty
would be pleased to see me I instantly obeyed the Summons As I entered I observed that she sat up in her Bed a Morning Gown was wrapped about her and
Susan
with the Help of Pillows supported her behind On my appearing her Spirits again took the Alarm She scarce ventured a Glance toward me I was greatly pained by the Abashment under which I saw she laboured and I hastened to relieve myself as well as her from the Distress
I sat down by the Bedside and gently taking one of her Hands without looking in her Face my dear Miss
Golding
said I I hope you will not be jealous of your Papas Affection for me He has indeed been too partial too generous toward me and has approved himself more than a Father to me He is not satisfied with allowing me to call you by the tender Name of Sister he further gives me Leave to hope that I may be united to you by the nearest and dearest of all Ties Nothing but your Consent is wanting my Sister to make me the happiest of Mankind You are silent my
Matilda
may I venture to call you mine Blessed be your Silence my Angel I will dare then to interpret it in my own Favour Indeed I should long since have made the present Declaration I should long since have avowed my Inclinations my Affection my Passion for you but I did not presume to listen to my own Heart on the Occasion I did not suffer it to tell me how much you were beloved Amidst so many Suitors of the first Rank and Merit who were justly called together by your numberless Attractions I deemed it a Flight by much too high for me to aspire at a Competition for the Happiness of your Hand
Here venturing to look up I perceived that she had put her Handkerchief to her Eyes Ah Mr
Clinton
she cried with a trembling Voice you are very delicate you are sweetly delicate indeed but ought I to take the Advantage of this Delicacy I see that you would save me from the Confusion of an Avowal you would save me from the mortifying Sensibility of my own Weakness But Sir you ought not to esteem that a Weakness in me which I account my chiefest Merit and which is my chiefest Pride I am proud of my Gratitude I am proud of my Discernment From the Moment that you preserved me against Arms and against Odds at the great Peril of your own Life in you and you alone I saw every thing that was amiable every thing that was excellent But then I dreaded lest all Women should behold you with my Eyes and above all I doubly dreaded and was fearfully assured that you never would have any Eyes or Attention for me You have at length seen or are rather informed concerning my Malady You pity me you wish to relieve me and you would love me if you could It is enough Mr
Harry
even this perhaps is quite as much of Happiness as I can bear
Here again I began to profess and to protest the Sincerity and Ardour of my Affections but she cut me short and said I know your Sincerity Sir you are persuaded that you love me because as yet you know not what Love is True Love Mr
Harry
by its own Light sees into and throughout the Bosom of the Party beloved I am very sensible of the Tenderness of your Friendship for me and that Sensibility constitutes the Whole of my Happiness I trust also that it is all the Happiness I shall ever desire To see you to hear you to have you with me to gaze upon you while you are looking another Way to be permitted to attend to serve you to conduce to your Satisfactions it is a Lot that will lift me above that of Mortality that will cause me to account myself the first among Women
Ah I cried can I say nothing can I do nothing to convince you how dear how exceedingly dear you are to me I certainly loved you long before I knew what it was to be a Lover I now feel the united Force of those imperceptible Degrees by which the pleasing Intruder daily stole and grew upon me Believe me my
Matilda
when I presumed to present you with this as a Token of my Affection I held it for a Trifle altogether unworthy of you accept it however I beseech you for the Sake of the Giver
And is this the Gem says she which I cast from me with such Disdain Forgive me my Brother it is just so that the World casts from them the Pearl of much mightier Price I would to Heaven that I could reject all the Pomps Pleasures and Vanities of this transitory World with the same Aversion that I spurned from me this estimable Jewel but there is very little Hope of that Mr
Harry
while you yourself may be partly numbered among transitory Things
Here I was quite overcome by the Affection of the dear Girl and urged on by a sudden Transport I caught her to my Bosom with a Force that was something too much for her Weakness On Recollection I attempted to apologize for my Indiscretion but she sweetly cried Ah Mr
Harry
never repent of such Faults may I often may I daily tempt you to be guilty of them But tell me and tell me truly Mr
Clinton
these Gems when you first purchased them were they actually intended for me were they not rather intended for your
Fanny
for your own
Fanny
Mr
Clinton
What can you mean I exclaimed I know of no
Fanny
in the Universe with whom I have any Acquaintance That is strange she replied very extraordinary indeed but lest you should think me of a jealous or whimsical Temper I will relate the Affair to you precisely as it happened
On the Day in which I took to my Bed I was looking out at the Parlout Window when a Chariot and six Horses whirled up to our Door I observed a single Lady in it whom I supposed of my Acquaintance and instantly sent
Susan
to request her to walk in On her entering I was greatly struck by the Beauty of her Figure and eyed her very inquisitively from Head to Foot Having curtesied gracefully to me can you tell me Miss says she is Mr
Clinton
at Home No indeed Madam said I but if you will be pleased to entrust me with your Commands It is only Miss that I request to see him as soon as possible And pray Madam where shall he attend you O he will know that instantly when you tell him it was
Fanny Goodall
his own
Fanny Goodall
who was here to wait upon him Good Heaven I cried out my Aunt my Aunt
Goodall
my very Aunt I assure you What do you say what do you tell me your Aunt Sir can it be Ah she is too young and too lovely to be an Aunt Mr
Harry
The very same indeed Madam there is no other
Fanny Goodall
I admit as you say that she is young and exceeding lovely but still she is a Wife and likely soon as I think to be a Mother Alas says my
Matilda
what a doleful Jest is this a cruel Aunt she has been to me I am sure what Days of Sighs and Nights of Tears she has cost me Ah that heartbreaking Term
his own his own Fanny
I think I shall never be able to forgive her that Expression
As Mr
Golding
just then entered we dropped the Subject we were upon Why
Matty
says he you are quite another Creature I think I never saw you wear so happy a Face I know you are come to chide me says she for keeping your Partner from Business but pay me down the Portion you intended for me Papa and I will reimburse you the Damage of every Hour of his Absence Yes my Love cries the tender Father if Wealth might serve for Wages to a Heart like that of my
Harry
he shall be very amply payed for every Act and Instance of his Affection and Attention to you Every Hour of my Life I cried is already her Due she has nothing to pay to One who is her Debtor beyond Account
During several following Days Miss
Golding
recovered with amazing Rapidity In less than than five Weeks she looked plumper and fairer than ever Peace smiled in her Countenance Joy laughed in her Eyes Her whole Frame appeared as actuated by some internal Music And thus all lovely and beloved she was given up to my Arms in the Presence of my Uncle and Aunt and of a few City Friends
As I wish that none of your Faults should pass by me unnoticed so I am willing to allow you all your just Praises Your Story of your old Friend is hitherto very simple natural and domestic and to a Mind yet undebauched exceedingly interesting and affecting for it opens and investigates a Number of little Passages and Mazes in the Heart which are quite closed or imperceptible to Persons of hard Nerves and callous Conceptions I am free however to tell you that I felt myself offended by the Compliments which Mr
Clinton
pays to himself through the Mouth of your
Matilda
It is indeed a very rare Matter for People to speak of themselves with due Decency and Delicacy I wish you could have procured some other Conduit for conveying to us the History of your Knight Caesar I think is the only Person who with an easy though modest Confidence has successfully adventured on a Detail of his own Exploits
I have not a Word to say in Mr
Clinton
s Defence perhaps he may offer something for himself on the Occasion
CHAP XIV
HERE the Countess for the first Time broke in upon her Cousins Narration Happy
Matilda
she cried how distinguishd was thy Destiny were it but for a Year were it but for a Day for that Day thou didst yet enjoy the Consummation of all thy Wishes a Lot rarely allowed to any Daughter of
Adam
I was not then born to envy her State Sweet Girl she deserved you she was after my own Heart the Excess of her Passion for you made her truly worthy of you But tell me my Cousin how could you be so long ignorant of the dear Girls Affection for you The Language of Love is so very intelligible so expressive through every Motion and every Organ as must with sufficient Clearness have opened your Eyes to the Object. Indeed Madam replied Mr
Clinton
she herself led me away from any such Apprehension by drawing so many Pictures of the Man whom she said she loved all copied from the Creature of her own Brain and covered and disguised with such imaginary Excellencies as must have prevented myself as well as every one living from perceiving therein the smallest Trace of my own Resemblance Dont tell me cried Lady
Maitland
she was a true and a sweet Painter and I should have known you by her Portrait in the Midst of a Million But proceed I beseech you my whole Soul is in your Story
Within a few Months after my Marriage continued Mr
Clinton
you my Cousin first opened your fair Eyes to the Light and my
Matty
and I had the Honour of being your Sponsors
Within the first Year of my Marriage my Girl also brought a Son into the World and within the two Years following was delivered of a Daughter
The Joy of the Grandfather on those Events was indescribable Alas good Man he thought that he perceived in their infant Aspects a thousand happy Promises and opening Prospects He saw himself as it were perpetuated in a descending and widening Progeny who like their native
Thames
should roll down in a Tide of expanding Wealth and Prosperity He wanted that all the World should participate of his Happiness and our House once more became the House of Festivity
A Number of external Successes also assisted to persuade us in those Days that Felicity was to be attained and ascertained upon Earth The Regency of
Cromwel
was administered with the strictest Justice at Home while at the same Time it became revered and formidable abroad and extended its Influence to Regions the most remote Under the Protection of the
British
Flag we sent our Ships out to the East and to the West and Wealth came pouring in upon us from all Quarters of the Globe
In the mean while my Wife and I lived together in perfect Harmony Though my Commerce and Acquaintance was greatly extended I had yet formed no Friendships from Home that partook of heartfelt Tenderness except for your Mama All my Pleasures and Desires all my World was in a Manner confined and absorbed within the Compass of my own Walls In the good old Man and his Daughter and in the Pledges of their endearing Attachment to me every Wish that my Soul could form was centered Mutual Joy sat round our Board mutual Peace prepared our Pillows and during a swimming Period of six Years I scarce remember to have experienced the smallest Discontent save what arose from the Inordinancy of my Wifes Affection for me
While she continued to bless my Arms I thought that no one had ever loved with greater Warmth than I loved her and yet at Times I remarked a very striking Difference between the Manner and Effects of our Feelings for each other If Business detained me an Hour extraordinary abroad the panting of her Bosom that Eagerness of Look with which she received me was to me a painful Evidence of her Anxiety during my Absence One Evening I found her in fainting Fits merely because she was told that a Duel had just happened between Lord
Mohun
and a Person who had much the Resemblance of her
Clinton
In short if my Head or my Finger ached I found myself under the Necessity of concealing my Ailment and of assuming a Cheerfulness disagreeable to the Occasion to prevent the worse Consequences of her ready Alarms On the other Hand my Affection was tranquil and serene it was tender and fervent indeed but without Tumult or Disturbance a Species of Love which I afterwards found to be by far the most eligible for every kind of Passion is unquestionably a kind of Suffering Love in God therefore must be wholly an Action it acts infinitely upon Others without any Possibility of being acted upon
Thus the Years of my Life moved onward upon Down when the Smallpox that capital Enemy to Youth and Beauty became epidemical in the City Our Children caught the Contagion All possible Care was taken and all possible Art employed A Number of Physicians was kept constantly about them Fifteen Days of their Illness were already elapsed and the Doctors pronounced them out of Danger when the Distemper took a sudden and malignant Turn and in one and the same Minute both my Babes expired in the Arms of their Mother
I was in the Room at the Time and as I knew the extreme Tenderness of my
Matty
s Nature all my Concern as well as Attention was turned upon her I took her fondly by the Hand and looking up to her Face I was instantly alarmed and shocked by that placid Serenity which appeared in her Countenance and which I expected to be quickly changed into some frantic Eruption But first dropping a smiling Tear on her Infants and then lifting her glistening Eyes to Heaven I thank thee I thank thee O my Master she cried thou hast made me of some Use I have not been born in vain thou hast ordained me the humble Vehicle of two safe and certain Angels living Attendants on thy Throne and sweet Singers of thy Praises in the Kingdom of little Children for ever and for ever I have yet sufficient left more Blessings remaining than suit the Lot of Mortality take me from them I beseech thee whenever it is thy good Pleasure for I fear there are some of them which I could not I could not bear to have taken away from me So prayed the dear Saint and looking eagerly at me no my
Harry
she cried out I fear I fear I could not bear it So saying she suddenly cast herself into my Bosom and grasping at my Neck and gushing into a Flood of Anguish we mingled our Sobs and our Tears together till no more were left to be shed
You are affected my dearest Cousin I had better stop here If you are moved by small Matters how would your Heart be wrung by some ensuing Distresses I must not venture to proceed
Go on cried the Countess go on I insist upon it I love to weep I joy to grieve it is my Happiness my Delight to have my Heart broken in Pieces
We were both of us much relieved by the vent of our mutual Passion for though my Wife still continued to keep to me and cling about me she yet seemed to be sweetly composed and sunk within my Arms as into a Bed and Depth of Peace
At length I listened to a Kind of Murmur and Bustle in the Hall and I heared some one distinctly cry O my Master my Master
We started up at the Instant Mr
Golding
had been from Home at the time of the deadly Crisis of my two darling little Ones and had quieted all his Fears and renewed all his Prospects in the View and full Assurance of their Life and quick Recovery We had been too much engaged and occupied in our own personal Griefs to give to our Servants the seasonable Precaution of breaking the Matter to our Father by unalarming Degrees and a rude Fellow at his Entrance bluntly told him that the Children were both dead whereupon he clapped his Hands together and casting himself into a Chair remained without Sense or Motion
When we ran up we were greatly terrified by the Manner of his Aspect though his Eyes were closed his Brows were gloomy and contracted while the nether Part of his Face looked quiet and composed
I instantly sent for a Surgeon and recalled the Physicians who had but lately left us while my
Matty
stood motionless with her Hands closed together and her Eyes fixed upon her Father At length she cried out my Papa my Papa my dear Papa I would I would I had died before I came to this Hour but blessed be thy Will since it is thy Will O God when all other Props are sapped and plucked from under me I trust to fall into thee my Father which art in Heaven
Being put to Bed and bled he recovered Motion and Speech and we got him to swallow a composing Draught though he did not yet recollect any Person or Thing about him
Notwithstanding our late Fatigues
Matty
and I sat up with him most of the Night and then ordering a Pallet to be brought into the Room we lay down to take a little Rest toward Morning Alas said I to myself how rich was I Yesterday how is my World abridged these narrow Walls now contain all that is left me of all the Possessions that I value upon Earth
Poor Mr
Golding
was but ill qualified to bear Calamity His Life had been a Life of sound Health and Successes and he never had been acquainted with Sickness or with Affliction save on the Death of his Wife whom he had married for Money and on the Illness of his Daughter as already related
As he had taken an Opiate he did not awaken till it was late in the Day Turning his Head toward me is it you
Harry
says he How do you find yourself Sir said I Why has any thing been the Matter with me Indeed I dont feel myself right but send my Children to me send my
Jacky
and my little
Harriet
the Sight of them will be a Restorative beyond all the Cordials in the World You are silent
Harry
What is the meaning O now I begin to remember my sweet Babies my little Playfellows I shall never see you any more
Here he burst into the most violent Gush of Passion He groaned he wept he cried aloud with heartpiercing Exclamations while I caught up
Matty
in my Arms and running with her to a distant Apartment catched a Kiss and locked her in
I returned but found him in the same Violence of Agitation I spoke to him I would have comforted him but he cried be quiet
Harry
I will not be comforted I will go to my Children they shall not be torn from me we will die we will be buried we will lie in the same Grave together
As I found myself sick and ready to faint under the Oppression of his Lamentations I withdrew to the next Chamber and there plentifully vented the contagious Shower
After some time I listened and perceived that all was quiet and returning I found him in a kind of troubled Doze from whence he fell into a deep and peaceful Sleep Thus he continued for three Days wailing and slumbring by Fits without tasting any Matter of Nourishment though his Daughter and I implored him on our Knees and with Tears No Reasonings no Entreaties could avail for appeasing him it was from the Association of our Sorrows alone that he appeared to admit of any Consolation
At length his Passion subsided into a sullen and silent Calm he would speak to no body he would answer none of us except by Monosyllables
Within a few following Weeks News was brought me that our Ship the Phoenix was arrived in the
Downs
safe and richly laden from the East Indies
Immediately I carried the Tidings to the old Man in the pleasing Expectation that they would serve to divert or at least to amuse his Melancholy But fixing his Look upon me wherefore
Harry
dost thou tell me of Ships and Indies he cried both Indies are poor to me they have nothing that they can send me I have no Road to go upon Earth no Way upon Sea to navigate I am already become a wild and wasted
Babylon
wherein the Voice of Music shall never more be heared O ye old and unblessed Knees where are now your precious Babies who were wont to play about ye and to cling and climb upon ye gone gone gone gone never never to return
Here breaking into Tears I cried we are both young yet my Father we may yet have many Children to be the Comfort of your Age No my
Harry
no he replied you may indeed have many Children but you never will have any Children like my darling Children
Love as it should seem my Cousin like Bodies has its Weight and gains additional Velocity in the Descent It descends from God to his Creatures and so from Creature to Creature but rarely knows a due Return of Affection or Gratitude It is therefore incomparably more intense in the Parent than in the Child and still acquires encreasing Fondness toward the Grandchild and so downward Nay you may almost universally observe it more warm in Patrons toward their Dependents than in those who are benefitted toward their Benefactors
Mr
Golding
from this Time no more entered his Countinghouse nor paid nor received Visits nor kept up any Correspondence Even my Company and that of his Daughter appeared to oppress him and he rarely left his Apartment where an old folio Bible was his only Companion
Hereupon I began to withdraw our Effects from Trade and having called in the best Part of them I lodged near Half a Million in the
Dutch
Funds When I went to advise with my Father on the Occasion what my Child said he what have I to say to the World or to the Things of the World Do just as you please with the one and with the other and never consult a Person on any Affair wherein the Party consulted has no Interest or Concern
One Morning as I lay in Bed
Matty
threw her Arms about me and hiding her blushing Face in my Bosom my
Harry
says she if you could handsomely bring it about to my poor Papa perhaps it would be some Matter of Consolation to him to know that I am with Child
When I broke the Matter to him he did not at first appear to be sensibly affected in time however the Weight of his Affliction seemed considerably lightened and as my Wife advanced in her Pregnancy he began to look us in the Face he sat with us at one Table and became conversable as formerly
One Day I went to dine with Mr
Settle
a Hardware Merchant who had appointed to pay me a large Sum of Money On my Return in the Evening through
Moorfields
attended only by my favourite
Irishman
a very faithful and active Fellow though it was yet fair Day I was suddenly set upon by a Posse of Robbers who rushed on me from behind a Cover The first of them running up fired directly in my Face but did me no further Damage than by carrying away a small Piece of the upper Part of my left Ear Had the Fools demanded my Money I would have given it to them at a Word but finding them bent on Murder I resolved that they should have my Life at as dear a Rate as possible I instantly drew my Sword and run the first through the Body and then rushing on the second Assailant I laid him also on the Ground before he had Time to take his Aim so that his Pistol went harmlesly off in his Fall
In the mean while my brave and loving Companion was not idle with two Strokes of his oaken Cudgel he had levelled two more of them with the Earth Hereupon the Remainder halted retreated into a Group and then stood and fired upon us altogether but observing that we did not drop they cast their Arms to the Ground and run off several Ways as fast as they could My good Friend
Tirlah ODonnoh
then turned affectionately to me are you hurt my dear Master says he I believe I am
Tirlah
let us make Home the best we can O cried the noble Creature if no body was hurt but
Tirlah Tirlah
wouldnt be hurt at all
Here taking me under the Arm we walked slowly to the City till coming to a hackney Coach he put me tenderly into it and sitting beside me supported me as I began to grow weak through much Effusion of Blood
As soon as we got Home the Coachman as is their Practice thundered at the Door and my
Matty
according to Custom whenever I was abroad was the readiest of all our Domestics to open
By this Time I had fainted and was quite insensible but when my tender and true Mate saw me borne by two Men into her Presence all pale and bloody she who thought she had Fortitude to support the Wreck of the World gave a Shriek that was enough to alarm the Neighbourhood and instantly falling backward got a violent Contusion in the hinder Part of her Head
Immediately we were conveyed to separate Beds and all requisite Help was provided It was found that I had received six or seven flesh Wounds but none of them proved dangerous as they were given at a Distance and by Pistol Shot But alas my
Matty
s Case was very different she fell into sudden and premature Labour and having suffered extreme Anguish all the Night during which she ceased not to enquire after me she was with Difficulty delivered of a male Infant who was suffocated in the Birth
In the mean while the good and tenderhearted old Gentleman hurried about incessantly from One of us to the Other wringing his Hands and scarcely retaining his Senses
As soon as my Wounds were dressed and I had recovered my Memory I looked about and hastily enquired for my Wife but they cautiously answered me that she was something indisposed with the Fright which she got at seeing me bloody and that her Father had insisted on her going to Bed
On the second Dressing of my Wounds I was pronounced out of Danger and then they ventured to tell me of my
Matty
s Miscarriage and of the Bruise which she had got in her Fall when she fainted On hearing this my Heart was cleft as it were in twain I accused myself of the Murder of my Wife and Infant and I accused All without Exception of their Indiscretion in not concealing my Disaster from her
At Times I began to fear that my Wife was either dead or much worse than they represented On my third Dressing therefore I peremptorily insisted on my being carried into her Chamber I sent her Notice of my Visit and on entering the Room he lives then she cried my Husband my
Harry
lives it is enough I shall die happy I shall now depart in Peace
Here I ordered myself to be laid by her Side when taking a Hand which she had feebly reached out and pressing it to my Lips you would forsake me then my
Matty
you die you say and you die happy in leaving me the most wretched the most desolate of Men You die my Love you die and I who would have fostered you and your Babe with my Vitals tis I who have dug a Grave for the One and for the Other But you must not forsake me my
Matty
I will not be forsaken by you Since we cannot live asunder let us die let us die together
Here a passionate Silence ensued on either Part But my Wounds growing painful and beginning to bleed afresh I was obliged to be carried back to my own Apartment
Within a few Days more I was so well recovered as to be able to walk about from which time I was a constant Attendant on my Beloved and became her most tender and assiduous Nursekeeper
You must have heard my Cousin that the Customs and Manners of those Times were altogether the Reverse of what they are at present Hypocrisy is no longer a Fault among Men all now is avowed Libertinism and open Profaneness and Children scoff at the Name and Profession of that Religion which their Fathers revered On the contrary in those Days all Men were either real or pretended Zealots every Mechanic professed like
Aaron
to carry a
Urim
and
Thummim
about him and no Man would engage in any Business or Bargain though with an Intent to overreach his Neighbour without going apart as he said to consult the Lord
My
Matty
at the same Time was the holiest of all Saints without any Parade of Sanctification Hers was a Religion of whose Value she had the daily and hourly Experience it was indeed a Religion of Power It held her as on a Rock in the Midst of a turbulent and fluctuating World It gave her a Peace of Spirit that smiled at Provocation It gave her Comfort in Affliction Patience in Anguish Exaltation in Humiliation and Triumph in Death
In about five Weeks after her unhappy Miscarriage she appeared on the Recovery though by very slow Degrees and with Assistance at Times sat up in her Bed when her oldest Physician one Morning called me apart I am loath Sir said he very loath to acquaint you with my Apprehensions I wish I may be mistaken but I fear greatly for you I fear that your dear Lady cannot recover By the Symptoms I conjecture that an Abscess or Impostume is forming within her but a few Days will ascertain Matters either for us or against us
Had all Sorts of evil Tidings come crowding One upon Other I should not have been affected as I then was affected I could not rise from my Seat to bid the Doctor adieu My Knees trembled under me a Swimming came before my Eyes and a sudden Sickness relaxed and reversed my whole Frame Alas I had not at that Time the Resource of my
Matty
I had not on the Armour with which she was armed to all Issues and Events I however raised my Thoughts to Heaven in a kind of helpless Acquiescence rather than confident Resignation I struggled not to appear weaker than became my Manhood and I said to myself Doctors have often been mistaken
Having recollected my Strength and Spirits the best I could I adventured to enter my Wifes Apartment She was just raised in her Bed from whence her pale and emaciated Countenance looked forth as the Sun toward his Setting looks through a sickly Atmosphere in Confidence of his arising in the Fulness of Morning Glory
Having cautiously and dejectedly seated myself beside her she reached out both her Hands and pressing one of mine between them I love you no longer my
Harry
she cried I love you no longer Your Rival at length has conquered
am the Bride of Another And yet I love you in a Measure since in you I love all that is him or that is his and that I think is much a great deal indeed of all that is lovely O my dear my sweet mine only Enemy as I may say Riches were nothing unto me Pleasures were nothing unto me the World was nothing unto me You and you only
Harry
stood between me and my Heaven between me and my God Long and often and vainly have I strove and struggled against you but my Bridegroom at length is become jealous of you my true Owner calls me from you and takes me all to himself Be not alarmed then my
Harry
when I tell you that I must leave you You will grieve for me you will grieve greatly for me my Beloved but give way to the kindly Shower that your Lord shed for his
Lazarus
and let the Tears of Humanity alleviate and lighten the Weight of your Affliction Ah my
Harry
I tremble for you what a Course you have to run what Perils what Temptations deliver him from them my Master deliver him from them all Again what blissful Prospects they are gone they are vanished I sink I die under the Weight and Length of succeeding Misery Again it opens all is cleared and his End like that of
Job
is more blessed than his Beginning Ah my
Harry
my
Harry
your Heart must be wrung by many Engines it shall be tried in many Fires but I trust it is a golden Heart and will come forth with all its Weight
You have been dreaming my Love I said you have been dreaming and the Impression still lies heavy and melancholy on your Memory
Yes she replied I have been dreaming indeed but then my Dreams are much more real then my waking Visions When all Things sensible are shut out it is then that the Spirit enlarges grows conscious of its own Activity its own Power and Prescience and sees by a Light whose Evidence is beyond that of the Sun I will tell you a Secret my
Harry
there is nothing in the Universe but
Littleness
and
Greatness
the
Littleness
of the Creature and the
Greatness
of God and in the Sense of this lies the Essence of all Philosophy and of all Religion Be content then with your Lot my Husband be content to be little if you wish to be great Become a Nothingness an Emptiness and then your God will bring the Fulness of his own Immensity upon you and will open a World in your Spirit more expanded and more glorious than this surrounding World with all its Luminaries
O my Angel I cried should any thing happen to you I should then be little indeed But I dare not look that Way for I know I find I feel that I could not survive you
You must survive me my
Harry
nay you will once more be married I beheld your Bride last Night Even now she stands before me the Sister of my Spirit and one of the loveliest Compositions of Sin and Death that ever was framed for Dissolution Her also you will lose and you will think nay you will assure yourself that no Powers in Heaven or Earth can avail for a Ray of Comfort In this Life however you will finally unexpectedly and most wonderfully be blessed and soon after we shall all meet and be more intimately and more endearingly wedded than ever where yet there is neither marrying nor giving in Marriage
While she yet spoke her Pains as the Pains of Labour again came upon her and went off and again returned after intermitted Swoonings
O my Cousin what a solemn what a fearful Thing is Death all our Inlets of Knowledge and Sensation closed at once the Sound of Cheer and the Voice of Friendship and the Comfort of Light shut out from us for ever Nothing before us but a Blackness and Depth of Oblivion or beyond it a doubtful and alarming Sensibility strange Scenes and strange Worlds strange Associates and strange Perceptions perhaps of horrid Realities infinitely worse than Nonentity such are the brightest Prospects of Infidelity in Death
Where at that Time are your Scoffers your Defiers of Futurity where your merry Companions who turn their own Eternity into Matter of Laugh and Ridicule dejected and aghast their Countenance wholly fallen and their Heart sunk within them they all tremble and wish to believe in this the Hour of Dissolution They feel their Existence sapped and sinking from under them and Nature compells them in the Drowning of their Souls to cry out to Something to any thing, save save or I perish
Far different was the State of my little and lowly
Matty
my Saint of Saints at that tremendous Period where all Others would have sunk there she soared aloft and she dropped the World and its Wealth with her Body and all the sensible Affections thereof with the same Satisfaction that a poor Man just come to a great Estate would drop his tattered Garb to put on gorgeous Apparel
Oh my Beloved she would cry in the Midst of her Pains I have been weakly through Life I have been Weakness itself, and therefore not able to take up thy Cross but be thou Strong in my Weakness shew thy Mightiness in me and then lay it upon me with all its Weight
Again after a Swoon and when her Pangs became excessive I refuse not thy Process my Master she cried Thy Cross and thorny Crown they are all my Ambition Point thy Thorns twist them harder let them pierce into my Soul so thou suffer me not to fail or fall from thee I care not
Think my Cousin what I endured upon that Occasion my rending Heart shared her Sufferings and felt Pang for Pang Nay I was not far from murmuring and questioning with my God on his putting to such Tortures the most guiltless of his Creatures If the Lambs of thy Flock I secretly said if thy Lambs are appointed to such excruciating Sensations what must be the Portion of such Sinners as I am
When she drew near the Goal of her blessed Course upon Earth O my almighty
Samson
she faintly cried thou shakest the two Pillars of my frail and sinful Fabric finish then thy Conquest in me down down with the whole Building appointed to ruin let no one O Lord of mine Enemies or of thine Enemies escape thy victorious Arm but slay all those by my Death with whom I have been vainly combating during my Lifetime So saying her Pains in an Instant forsook her The Form of her Countenance was suddenly changed from the Expression of Agony into that of Ecstasy She raised her Hands on high and exerting herself to follow them she cried I come I come then sighed and dropped over The Muscles of her Face still retained the Stamp of the last Sentiment of her Soul and while the Body hastened to be mingled with Earth it seemed to partake of that Heaven to which its Spirit had been exalted
You may think it odd dearest Madam that for some time past I have taken no Note of the Man to whom I was tied by every possible Band of Duty Gratitude and Affection The Fact is that during the latter Part of my Wifes Illness and for some Weeks after her Death Mr
Golding
was confined to his Chamber by a severe Fit of the Gout and the Acuteness of his Pains scarce permitted him to attend to any other Concern While my
Matty
lived therefore I divided my Time and Assiduities as equally as I could between the Daughter and Father and at any Intervals of Ease I used to read to him his favourite Passages in the Bible
As soon as my Saint had expired I charged the Servants not to give any Intimation of her Death to their Master but alas our Silence and our Looks were too sure Indicators of the fatal Tidings for from the highest to the least my
Matty
had been the Idol of the whole House and her Death appeared to them as the Loss of every earthly Possession
Having looked several times intently and inquisitively in my Face well
Harry
says Mr
Golding
all is over then I see we must go to her but my Child shall no more return to us You are silent my
Harry
O thou fell Glutton Death I had but one Morsel left for the whole of my Sustenance and that too thou hast devoured Here he gave a deep Groan and sunk into a State of Insensibility from which however he was soon recovered by the Return of an anguishing Fit of the Gout
When I look back my fair Cousin on the Passages of my Life it is a Matter of Amazement to me that a Creature so frail so feebly and so delicately constituted as Man with Nerves so apt to be racked and a Heart to be wrung with Anguish can possibly endure under the Weights of Calamity that at times are laid upon him
I had not yet dropped a Tear I was in a State of half stupid and half flighty Insensibility as One who having lost every thing had nothing further to look for and therefore nothing to regard But when I saw my dear old Man my best Friend my Father whelmed under such a Depth of Affliction all the Sluices of my Soul and inmost Affections were laid open and I broke into an avowed Passion of Tears and Exclamations till like
David
in his Strife of Love with
Jonathan
I exceeded I accused myself of all the Evils that had happened to his House and I devoted the Day to Darkness and the Night to Desolation wherein by my Presence and Connections I had brought those Mischiefs upon him The good Man was greatly struck and I think partly consoled by the Excess of my Sorrows and all desolate as he was he attempted to administer that Comfort to me which he himself wanted more than Any who had Life
Break not your Heart my
Harry
break not your Heart my Child he cried deprive me not of the only Consolation that is left me you are now my only Trust my only Stay upon Earth A wretched Merchant I am whose whole Wealth is cast away save thee thou precious Casket thou only Remnant of all my Possessions My Girl indeed was thy true Lover the tenderest of all Mates her Love to thee my Son was passing the Love of Woman but we have lost her we have lost her and Wailing is all the Portion that is left us below
As soon as the Family heard the Voice of our Mourning they too gave a Loose to the Impatience of their Griefs and all the House was filled with the Sound of Lamentation
On the following Day I summoned the chief medical Artists and got the precious Remains of my Angel embalmed She was laid under a sumptuous Canopy with a Silver Coffin at her Beds Foot and every Night when the House was at Rest I stole secretly from my Bed and stretched myself beside her I pressed her cold Lips to mine I claspd her Corse to my warm Bosom as though I expected to restore it to Life by transfusing my Soul into it I spoke to her as when living I reminded her of the several tender and endearing Passages of our Loves and I reminded her also of the Loss of our little Ones by whom we became essentially One inseparably united in Soul and Body for ever
There is surely my Cousin a Species of Pleasure in Grief a Kind of soothing and deep Delight that arises with the Tears which are pushed from the Fountain of God in the Soul from the Charities and Sensibilities of the human Heart divine
True true my precious Cousin replied the Countess giving a fresh Loose to her Tears O
Matilda
I would I were with thee true my Cousin I say even now I sink I die under the Pleasure of your Narration
Upon the ninth Night continued Mr
Clinton
as I lay by the Side of all that remained of my
Matty
overtoiled and overwatched I fell into a deep Sleep My Mind notwithstanding at the Time seemed more awake and more alive to Objects than ever In an Instant she stood visible and confessed before me I saw her clearer than at noon Day by the Light which she cast with Profusion abroad Every Feature and former Trace seemed heightened into a Lustre without a Loss of the least Similitude She smiled ineffable Sweetness and Blessedness upon me And stooping down I felt her Embrace about my Heart and about my Spirit while at the same Time I saw her bent in Complacence before me After a Length of ecstatic Pleasure which I felt from her Communion and Infusion into my Soul my
Harry
says she grieve not for me all the Delights that your World could sum up in an Age would not amount to my Bliss no not for an Hour it is a Weight of Enjoyment that in an Instant would crush to nothing the whole Frame of your Mortality Grieve not then for me my
Harry
but resign my beggarly Spoils to their beggarly Parent Ashes to Ashes and Dust to Dust In my inordinate Fondness for you I have at length obtained a Promise that my Master and your Master my Beloved and your Lover shall finally bear you triumphant through all the Enemies that are set in fearful Array against you Having so said I felt myself as it were compressed within an Engine of Love and again losing the Remembrance of all that had passed I sunk as into a State of utter Oblivion
Toward the Dawning I was awakened by the clapping of Hands and the Cries of Lamentation Starting up I perceived Mr
Golding
at the Bedside suspended over his
Matty
and me and pouring forth his Complaints
There was a favoured Domestic of his a little old Man who had always kept a careful and inquisitive Eye over every Thing that was in or concerned our Household This
Argus
it seems at length suspected my nightly Visits to the Dead and lurking in a Corner saw me open and enter the Chamber where the Corps was deposited As he lay in his Masters Apartment he took the first Opportunity of his being awake to impart what he thought a Matter of extraordinary Intelligence to him Sir says he if I am not greatly deceived my young Master is this Moment in Bed with his dead Lady What is this you tell me cried Mr
Golding
No
John
no what you say is impossible All who live love that which is living alone whatever savours of Death is detestable to all Men As I am here replied
John
I am almost assured that what I tell you is Fact Peace Peace you old Fool said Mr
Golding
think you that our
Harry
is more loving than Father
Abraham
and yet
Abraham
desired to bury his Dead out of his Sight I know not how that may be said trusty
John
but if you are able to stir I will help you to go and see I am sure the Thought of it melts the very Heart within me
Accordingly Mr
Golding
like old
Jacob
strengthened himself and arose and pained as he was he came with the Help of his
John
to the Place where I lay
Having for some Time looked upon me as I slept with his
Matty
fast folded in my Arms he could no longer contain his Emotions but he and
John
broke forth into Tears and Exclamations O my Children my Children my dearest Children he cried why did ye exalt me to such a Pitch of Blessedness was it only to cast me down into the deeper Gulf of Misery a Gulf that has neither Bank nor Bottom
As I arose all ashamed to be detected in that Manner the good Man caught me in his Arms My
Harry
my
Harry
says he what shall I pay you my Son for your superabundant Love to me and to mine could my Wretchedness give you Bliss I should almost think myself blessed in being wretched my
Harry
I now prepared to execute the late Command of my Angel and to consign to Earth the little that was earthly in her But when our Domestics understood that all that was left of their loved Mistress was now going to be taken away from them for ever they broke into Tears anew and set no Bounds to their Lamentations
Her desolate Father was desirous of attending the Funeral but on my Knees I dissuaded him from it as I was assured it would burst in twain the already overstretched Thread of his Age and Infirmities He then insisted on having the Lid of the Coffin removed and bending over he cast his old Body on the Corse again he rose and gazed upon it and clapping his Hands with a Shout Is this my World he cried the Whole of my Possessions Are you the one that was once my little prattling
Matty
the Playfellow of my Knees the Laugher away of Care who brought Cheer to my Heart and Warmth to my Bosom Are you the one for whom alone I spent my Nights in Thought and my Days in Application Is this all that is left then of my Length of Labours O my Spark of Life is quenched in thee my
Matty
my
Matty
the flowing Fountain of my Existence is dried up for ever
There is something exceedingly solemn and affecting my Cousin in the Circumstances and Apparatus of our Funerals they are oppressive even to Minds that are no way concerned or interested in the Death of the Party lamented Though I grieved no more for my
Matty
though I was as assured of her Bliss as I was of my own Being yet when the Gloom of the Procession was gathered around me when I heard the Wailings of the many Families whom her Charity had sustained when I heard the bitter Sobbings of the Servants whom her Sweetness had so endearingly attached to her Person when all joined to bewail themselves as lost in her Loss my Heart died as it were within me and I should have been suffocated on the Spot had I not given instant Way to the Swell of my Sorrows
The Tempest of the Soul Madam like that of the Elements can endure but for a Season The Passion of Mr
Golding
on the Interment of every Joy and of every Hope that he could look for upon Earth within a few Weeks subsided or rather sunk into a solid but sullen Peace a Kind of Peace that seemed to say there is nothing in this Universe that can disturb me
Harry
said he one Evening I have been thinking of the Vision that I have had Vision Sir said I has my
Matty
then appeared to you Yes he answered she was the principal Part of my Vision for these twenty Years past The Vision that I mean my
Harry
is the Dream of a very long and laborious Life Here have I by the Toil of fifty Years Application scraped together and accumulated as much as in these Times would set Kings at Contention and be accounted a worthy Cause for spilling the Blood of Thousands and yet what are these Things to me or of what Value in themselves, more than the Stones and Rubbish that make our Pavement before the Door I have been hungering and thirsting after the Goods of this World I have acquired all that it could give me and now my Soul like a sick Stomach disgorges the Whole I then took one of his Hands and pressing it tenderly between mine O my Father I cried my dear dear Father O that I might be made Sons and Daughters and every Sort of Kindred to you all that I am and have should gladly be spent in bringing any Kind of Comfort to you my Father
In about a Fortnight after as I entered his Apartment to bid him good Morrow I observed that his Countenance had much altered from what it was the Evening before that he looked deeply dejected and seemed to breathe with difficulty
Are not you well Sir No says he my Spirits are greatly oppressed I find that I must leave you shortly I believe that I must go suddenly but where to that is the Question the very terrible Question the only Question of any Importance in Heaven or on Earth Sure Sir said I that can be no Question to you whose whole Life has been a continued Course of Righteousness of daily Worship to God and good Will to all Men If you have any Sins to account for they must be covered tenfold by the Multitude of your Charities
Talk not
Harry
said he of the filthy Rags of my own Righteousness I am far from the Confidence of the boastful Pharisee alas I have not even that of the poor and humbled Publican for I dare not look up to say
Lord be merciful to me a Sinner
wherefore then do you speak of having finished my Course toward God and toward Man It is but lately very lately that I set out upon it and I am cut short before I I have got within Sight of the Goal Yes
Harry
I fear I know I feel that there is no Salvation for me
You amaze me Sir said I you terrify me to Death If there is not Salvation for such as you what a Depth of Perdition opens for the rest of Mankind
I would you could convince me he cried I want to be comforted I desire Comfort any Kind of Consolation But I feel my Condemnation within myself moreover I see every Text of the Gospel of the Words of Life terribly marshalled and set in broad Array against me What Text Sir said I I am sure I know of no Texts that bring Terror or Condemnation to the Just Ah
Harry
he replied Justice is of the Law and the Circumcision and has nothing to do with the new Covenant or the new Man For what says the great Apostle
Circumcision availeth nothing neither Uncircumcision but a new Creature
For Christ himself had said
Except a Man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God
Again the same Apostle saith
I delight in the Law of God after the inward Man
And again
my little Children of whom I travel in Birth again until Christ be formed in you
Now if all these corresponding Expressions of being
born again
a
new Creature
a
new Man
an
inward Man Christ formed in us,
c are to be glossed and explained away as meaning little more than a State of moral Sentiments and moral Behaviour there can be nothing of real Import in the Gospel of Christ
Again hear what the Redeemer saith
Except ye be converted and become as little Children ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven
Again
If any Man will come after me let him deny himself and take up his Cross and follow me
Again
Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath he cannot be my Disciple
c
If these Things I cried are to be taken according to the apparent Sense and Import of the Letter neither the Teachers of the Gospel nor those who are taught can be saved
Therefore replied he it is said that
Many be called but few chosen
And again
Enter ye in at the Strait Gate for wide is the Gate and broad is the Way that leadeth to Destruction and many they be which go in thereat Because strait is the Gate and narrow is the Way which leadeth unto Life and few there be that find it
O my
Harry
my
Harry
our Lives have been employed in seeking and
loving the World and the Things of the World
therefore
the Love of the Father could not be in us.
O that I had never been born O thou God whose Tribunal at this Hour is set up so tremendously against me at length I feel the Propriety of thy Precepts in rejecting the World and all that is therein for what can they yield save a little Food and Raiment to bodily Corruption or Incitements to that Pride which cast
Lucifer
into a Gulf that now opens before me without a Bottom
As I trembled and had nothing to answer I proposed to bring some of our Clergy to him No
Harry
no says he I will have none of their wordy Comforts I will not cast my Soul upon bladdered Expectations Can they persuade me that I am one of the Few who are chosen can they tell me wherein I have striven to enter at the strait Gate where many shall seek to enter but shall not be able
Here he sunk into a a Fit of agonizing Desperation so that a cold Dew broke forth from all Parts of his Body and fell Drop after Drop down his ghastly and fearful Countenance Never Madam never did I feel such a Kind of anguishing Horror as I then felt I was affrightened and all frozen to my inmost Soul Haste my dear Sir exclaimed Lady
Maitland
make haste through this Part of your Narration I beseech you I also feel for myself I am terrified to the last Degree
At length continued Mr
Clinton
I recollected myself a little My Master I cried my Father my dearest Father since you will not take Comfort in your own Righteousness take Comfort in that of Him who was made Righteousness for you Do you not now reject the World do you not now deny yourself I do I do he said I detest the one and the other And do you not feel that youre wholly a Compound of Sin and of Death Ay he cried there is the Weight theres the Mountain under which I sink for ever Come then to Christ my Father heavy laden as you are and he will questionless embrace you and be Rest to you my Father I would come
Harry
he cried but I dare not I am not able Strive my Father do but turn to him and he will more than meet you Cry out with sinking Peter
Save Lord or I perish
and he will catch you with the Hand of his ever ready Salvation
Here his Countenance began to settle into an earnest Composure and his Eyes were turned and fixed upward while his old and enfeebled Body continued to labour under the Symptoms of near Dissolution At length he started and seizing my Hand with a dying Pressure there is Comfort
Harry
there is Comfort he cried and expired
I WAS now cast once more upon a strange and friendless World All the Interests of my Heart were buried with this Family and I seemed to myself as without Kindred or Connections in the Midst of Mankind Your dear Mama indeed sometimes called to condole with me and water my Losses with her Tears and in her and you my Cousin young as you then were was locked up and centered the whole Stock that I had left of endearing Sensations
As the Scenes of my former Happiness served daily and nightly to render me more wretched by a sad Recollection I determined to quit my House and to take private Lodgings For this Purpose I summoned Mr
Golding
s Domesties and as he had made no Will I first paid them their Wages and then gave them such pretended Legacies as brought their Tears and their Blessings in a Shower upon me
As soon as I had discharged all except the two favourite Servants of my Master and my
Matty
I desired that
John
our little old Man should be sent to me
John
said I as he entered here is a Bill for five hundred Pounds which our good old Master has left you in Token of his Acknowledgment of your true and loving Services and to help with what you have saved to soften and make easy the Bed of Death in your old Age Do you mean to part with me Sir said
John
seemingly thankless and unconcerned about the Gift which I had offered him Indeed
John
said I in my present State of Dejection Attendance of any Kind would but be an Encumbrance to me Then Sir you may keep your Bounty to yourself for I shall break my Heart before five and twenty Hours are over Nay
John
said I I am far from turning you from me stay with me as my Friend and welcome but not as my Servant and I shall see the Comfort of old Times in always seeing you about me Thank you thank you Sir he cried I will not disturb you with my Tears but I should die unblessed I should die unblessed if I died out of your Presence so saying he rushed from me in a Fit of restrained Passion
I then sent for my Wifes Maid whom I formerly mentioned She had just heard of my discharging the other Servants and entered with a sad and alarmed Countenance Come near Mrs
Susan
I am going to part with you said I come to me and give me a farewel Kiss She approached with downcast Looks when taking her in my Arms I pressed and kissed her repeatedly and scarce witheld my Tears O my Girl my
Matty
s precious Girl I cried I am not forgetful of your Love your Honour and your Disinterestedness toward us Here my
Susy
your darling Mistress presents you with this Bill of a thousand Pounds and if you choose I will give you Cash for it within a Quarter of an Hour This however does not discharge me from my Regard and Attention to you you are of a helpless Sex my
Susy
that is subject to many Impositions and Calamities wherefore when this Sum shall fail you come to me again come to me as to your Friend as to your Debtor
Susy
and I will repeat my Remembrance and repeat it again as you may happen to have Occasion for while I have Sixpence left the favourite Friend of my
Matty
shall not want her Proportion
Here the grateful and amazed Creature threw herself on the Floor She cried aloud while the Family heard and echoed to her Lamentations She clasped my Knees she kissed my Feet again and again I could not disengage myself I could not force her from me O my Master she cried my all that is left to me of my adored my Angel Mistress must I then be torn from you must you live without the Service of the Hands and Heart of your
Susy
But I understand your Regard and Care for me my Master it is a cruel and naughty World and must be complied with
Here I compelled her to rise and kissing her again I turned hastily to the Chamber where my
Matty
s Corps had been laid and bolting the Door and casting myself on the Bed I broke into Tears and at length wept myself to sleep
While I was preparing to leave the once loved Mansion I found in Mr
Golding
s Cabinet a Parchment that much surprised me On my Marriage he had proposed to make a Settlement of his Fortune upon me which however I obstinately refused to accept whereupon without my Privity he got this Deed perfected which contained an absolute Conveyance to me of all his worldly Effects and Possessions and this again renewed in me the tender and endearing Remembrance of each of those Kindnesses and Benefits which he had formerly conferred upon me
I now found myself in possession of near a Million of Money which however in my Disposition of Mind at the time appeared no worthier than so much Lumber in a waste Room And I know not how it was that through the subsequent Course of my Life although I was by no Means of an oeconomical Turn though I never sued for a Debt nor gave a Denial to the Wants of those who asked nor turned away from him who desired to borrow of me yet uncoveted Wealth came pouring in upon me
It was not without some Sighs and a plentiful Shower that I departed from the Seat of all my past Enjoyments I took Lodgings within a few Doors of your Father and my little Household consisted of my favourite
Irishman
my little old Man two Footmen and an elderly Woman who used daily to dress a plain Dish of Meat for us
It was then my fairest Cousin that your opening Graces and early Attractions drew me daily to your House my Heart was soothed and my Griefs cheered by the Sweetness of your Prattle and I was melted down and minted anew as it were by the unaffected Warmth and Innocence of your Caresses
As I had no Faith in Dreams not even in that of my
Matty
I thought it impossible that I should ever marry again I therefore resolved in my own Mind to make you my Heir and to endow you in Marriage with the best Part of my Fortune But you are a little pale Madam you look dejected and fatigued If you please I will suspend my Narration for the present and in the Morning if you choose it as early as you will I shall renew and proceed in my insignificant History Here he pressed her Hand to his Lips She withdrew with a tearful Eye and a heaving Heart and the next Day he resumed his Narration as followeth
CHAP XV
THOUGH you my Cousin at that Time were a great Consolation to me and a sweet Lightner of my Afflictions yet the Griefs of Heart which I had suffered were not without their Effect at length they fell on my Constitution and affected my Nerves or Spirits I think our Doctors pretty much confound the One with the Other Accordingly I was advised to travel for Change of Air and Exercise and I was preparing for my Journey when there happened in my Family the most extraordinary Instance of an ever watchful Providence that occurs to my Memory
My little old Man
John
began to decline apace and at length took to his Bed and having a tender Friendship for him I went to sit beside him and to comfort him the best I could
John
said I are you afraid to die No Sir not at all not in the least I long to be dissolved and to be with our loving Lord Indeed
John
said I I am inclined to think you have been a very good Liver A Dog Sir a mere Dog desperately wicked the vilest of Sinners I am a Murderer too my Master theres Blood upon my Head Blood said I and started Yes Sir replied
John
but then the Blood that was shed for me is stronger and more precious than the Blood that was shed by me Blood however
John
is a very terrible Thing are you not afraid to appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ By no Means my dear Master I have long since laid the Burden of my Sins before him for I had nothing else to bring to him nothing else to offer him and he has accepted them and me and my Conscience is at Rest in him Then
John
there may yet be Room for Hope There is Assurance my Master for I have laid hold upon the Rock and cannot be shaken
But how do you intend to dispose of your worldly Substance All that I have Sir I got with you and my old Master and where I found it even there I resolve to leave it Indeed
John
I will not finger a Penny of your Money How much may it amount to Eight Hundred and Thirty Seven Pounds Sir or thereabout And have you no Relations of your own Not one living that I know of Then think of some one else for no Part of it shall lie on my Conscience I assure you
I have read somewhere or other Sir of a great King who was advised of God in a Dream to take the very first Man whom he should meet the next Morning to be his Partner in the Government Now if it pleases you my Master I will follow the like Counsel and whosoever shall be first found before our Door let that Person be the Owner and Inheritor of my Substance It shall be even as you say I will go and see whom God shall be pleased to send to us
Accordingly I went and opened our Door when a Woman who had nearly passed turned about at the Noise and perceiving me came up and said a little Charity Sir for the sake of him who had not where to lay his Head
I was strongly affected by the Manner in which she addressed me and eyeing her attentively I observed that she was clean though meanly apparelled wherefore to make a further Trial whether our Adventure was likely to prove prosperous or not I slipped a Guinea into her Hand and desired her to go about her Business Accordingly she courtesied and went from me a few Steps when looking into her Hand she turned suddenly back Sir Sir says she here had like to have been a sad Mistake you meant to give me a Shilling and you have given me a whole Guinea it was says I a very great Mistake indeed but be pleased to come in and we will try to rectify our Errors
Here I took her into the Chamber where
John
lay and having constrained her to sit down I put my Hand in my Pocket Here good Woman said I here are Ten Guineas for you to make you some Amends for the Mistake I was guilty of in giving you but One The poor Creature could scarcely credit her Senses but raising her Eyes in Ecstacy and dropping from the Chair upon her Knees she was proceeding to bless me but I peremptorily insisted on her retaking her Seat Mistress said I be pleased to stay your Prayers for the present what I want from you is the Story of your Life tell me who and what you are without suppressing any Circumstances or concealing the Faults of which you have been guilty and I will make you the Mistress of twenty Guineas that shall be added to what you have already received
Sir said she you frighten me my Story is a very unhappy and a very foolish Story and cannot be of the smallest Consequence to you Sure you are too much of the Gentleman to desire to ensnare me and indeed I know not of any Thing whereby I may be ensnared Wherefore bountiful Sir unto you as unto Heaven I will open my whole Soul without seeking to know why you look into the Concerns of such a Worm as I am
I was the Daughter of a Farmer in Essex my Maiden Name was
Elenor Damer
I was married early in Life to a Man who kept a Chandlers Shop in a little Lane that led to
TowerHill
his Name was
Barnaby Tirrell Barnaby Tirrell
exclaimed
John
are you very sure that his Name was
Barnaby Tirrell
Peace
John
I cried whatever you may know of this Man or of any other Matter I command you not to interrupt the Woman till she has finished her Story She then continued
I had neither Brother nor Sister Sir but one Brother a Twin Brother and we loved one another, as though there was no Body else in the World to be loved
About three Years before my Marriage my Brother
Tommy
then a sweet pretty Lad took to a seafaring Life and went from me I knew not where upon a Voyage that I was told was a very great Way off and so I cried Day and Night as many Tears after him as would have served me to swim in
My Husband was very fond of me and when he used to see me cry while I spoke of my
Tommy
he would kiss me and try to comfort me and say that he wished for nothing more than his Return to
Old England
that he might welcome him and love him as much as I did
One Night on the ninth Month of my Marriage as I sat moping and alone my Husband being abroad upon some Business I heard a knocking at the Door which was opened by our little Servant Girl And then before you could say this in leaped my Brother and catched me fast in his dear Arms
I gave a great Shout for Joy you may be sure and pushing my
Tommy
from me and pulling him to me again and again we embraced and cried and kissed and embraced and kissed again as though we never could be tired
In the mean while the Door being open my cruel
Barnaby
entered unperceived by either of us and seeing a strange Man so fond and familiar with me he opened a long hasped Knife which he had in his Pocket and rushing up he gave my darling Brother three Stabs in the Body before he could speak a Word or turn about to defend himself Then casting down the Knife in a Minute he was out of the House and I never saw him more
For a Time I stood like a Stone and then giving a great Shriek I fainted and fell on my Brother as he lay weltring in his Blood
Our little
Mary
in the while being frightened almost to Death ran about like a wild Thing and alarmed the Street Our Neighbours crowded in and sent for the next Surgeon My Brothers Wounds were probed and dressed and he was laid in our spare Bed
Mean time being forward with Child I fell into strong and untimely Labour and after very grievous Travail was delivered of a Boy who was christened and called
James
after my dear and lately deceased Father
No Pains of my own however kept me from enquiring after that dear and lamented Brother who had been killed as I supposed for his Love to me But his Youth and natural Strength carried him through all Dangers In three Months he was up and about as well as ever And in less than three more he set out on another Voyage from whence he never never O never returned
Before he went abroad my dear and sweet Fellow had left me a Note of Hand for the Receipt of his Wages But in five Years after I heard that he was cast away or killed by the Barbary People and though I went and went again in the middle of my Wants and in the the middle of my Sorrows to ask and to petition for his Pay from the Admiralty I never could get an Answer of any Profit or any Comfort
My little
Jemmy
however grew and throve and prated apace and was my only Prop under all my Afflictions My Husband indeed had left me in pretty Circumstances and had he but stayed with me we should have prospered above our Fellows But what can a Woman do single weak and unprotected I was imposed upon by some by others I was refused Payment for the Goods that I had given and at length I was reduced to Poverty and obliged to shut up Shop
Mean time I had spared no Cost on the bringing up of my
Jemmy
I had given him School Learning and he now was grown a very towardly and clever Boy And having taken to Messages my sweet Fellow over Night used to bring to me whatever he had earned in the Day Time
In the Loss of my Husband and Brother in the Loss of my
Barnaby
and in the Loss of my
Tommy
to be sure I had Grief upon Grief so that my Health went from me and next my Strength went from me and I was not able to work at the washing Business as before But this didnt signify much while my Child had his Health for he had now got a Porters Place in the Customhouse and young as he was he willingly carried heavy Burdens to have the Pleasure of bringing Home his hard Earnings to his Mammy But about six Weeks ago may it please your Honour my dear Boy fell ill of a Quartan Ague as they call it under which he and his Mothers Heart still continue to Labour
As soon as she had ended her short Narrative well
John
said I methinks this Business will do in my Opinion you have got a very worthy Inheritor of your Fortune what say you to it
John
First Sir let me ask her a Question or two if you please Honest Woman draw your Chair a little nearer to me I pray you And now tell me the Truth did you ever Love your Husband Yes dearly indeed very dearly did I love him for he had loved me very dearly till that miserable Night But when as I thought he had killed my Brother I hated him as much as I had ever loved him before But then again when my
Tommy
had recovered of his Wounds I sent far and near to enquire after him and find him out and when I could learn no Tidings of him I put it into all the printed Papers that
Thomas Damer
was well recovered and that
Barnabas Tirrel
who had wounded him might return without Danger to his Wife and Infant
And he is returned shouted
John
he is returned my
Nelly
your barbarous and bloody Husband who stabbed your Brother and left you and your Infant to famish he is returned to you my
Nelly
and in his Death he shall make you Amends for all the Sufferings which he brought upon you during his Lifetime But my Master my dearest Master send immediately for my Child my
Jemmy
I beseech you that bad as I am myself I may give him a Fathers Blessing before I die
I was surprised and affected Madam beyond Expression by Incidents that were at once so wonderful and so tender and I directly sent Servants and a SedanChair for
James
with Orders to have him carefully and warmly wrapt up for what his Mother told me of him had already given me a very strong Prejudice in his Favour
Mean while Mrs
Tirrel
had sunk on her Knees by her Husbands Bedside and was plentifully pouring forth her Tears upon him partly for Joy of having found him and partly for Grief of having found him in that Condition
O my
Nelly
my
Nelly
cried
Barnabas
had I known who the Person was whose Blood I drew that terrible Night I would sooner have thrust my Knife into my own Heart than into any Part of the Body of that dear Brother of yours But I was old and ugly you know and you were young and handsome and Jealousy is a mad Devil that rages in the Breast like Hellfire it never knew how to spare but tears and consumes every thing that comes within its Reach
At length
James
was brought to us and as we were in his Fathers Apartment a Chamber no way adorned
James
entered without any Respect to Persons He was a tall and comely Youth but very pale and lean and as it was one of his well Days he walked in without Help He had barely been told that his Mother sent for him in a Hurry so that he entered with a visible Alarm in his Countenance
What is the Matter my dear Mother says he alas I am little able to help you at present I hope nothing has happened that is suddenly distressful Nothing amiss my Child more than that your dear Father for whom I have sought and been sighing this many a Year your Father lies dangerously ill in this very Bed my
Jemmy
Am I then so blessed cried the Boy as to see and embrace a Father O my Child exclaimed the old Man and eagerly stretched his Arms toward him come to my Bosom thou only Offspring of my Bowels I may now say with blessed
Jacob
let me die let me die since I have seen thy Face and thou art alive my Son
I would at any Time give a thousand Pounds my Cousin for a Tenth of the Enjoyment that I then had in the Feelings which God poured into the Hearts of this little Family on their so very unexpected and marvellous a Meeting It appeared to me however that young
James
even exceeded his Parents in Love and this gave me such a cordial Attachment to him that from that Hour to this we have never been sundered He never failed nor forsook me and at this very Day he is my respected Friend and the Superintendant of my Family
John
otherwise
Barnabas
continued to linger for about a Fortnight longer and then departed quite happy and without a Groan During the same Space also
James
was daily attended by my own Physician and was nearly reestablished in his Health
Being then intent on my Departure I sent for Mrs
Tirrel
Mrs
Tirrel
says I I should be much inclined to take your
James
along with me if I did not think you would grieve overmuch in his Absence No no Sir said she I would to Heaven I were myself a young Man for your sake I desire no better either of him or for him than that he should live and die faithfully and lovingly in your Service
The next Day I went down the
Thames
in a Barge partly for Recreation and partly to speak to the Captain of the Vessel in which I proposed to embark As I drew near to the Customhouse Wharf I observed a Wherry crowded with Men whom she was about to land at the Stairs and on Enquiry I was informed that they were Slaves whom our Consul at
Algiers
by his Intercession or Bounty had ransomed and sent Home
Immediately Compassion rose powerfully in my Bosom Alas said I to myself I see that I am not without Companions in Affliction I indeed have now neither Wife nor Children nor Father nor Mother nor Brother as I may say nor Sister nor any Connection with the World in which I live I am shut out as it were from every Enjoyment upon Earth Let me not however be envious let me rather wish and give and dispense Enjoyment to others since to give Joy to others is all the Joy in this World that is left to myself
Here I ordered my People to land and coming up to the late Captives My Friends said I you are welcome once more to
Old England
I am fond of hearing Adventures You also may have got your Appetites and if you will favour me with your Company I will order a Dinner for us at yonder Tavern
I need not tell you Madam that the Parties were soon agreed While a plentiful Dinner was providing I met Alderman
Bicker
a City Magistrate and an old Acquaintance of mine Sir
Thomas
said I I insist on your dining with me to Day at the
Phaenix
there Perhaps your Companions will not appear to you of the most honourable Sort They are however good Gospel Guests Sir
Thomas
and consist of the Halt the Lame the Maimed and the Beggar In short I have invited all yonder ragged Regiment being about five and thirty Slaves from
Barbary
to Dinner and after I have filled their Bellies I intend to give them a hundred Pounds
per
Man to help them to begin the World again and to keep them from being an Incumbrance on their Country
Five and thirty hundred Pounds exclaimed Sir
Thomas Bicker
five and thirty hundred times twenty Shillings of Sterling
English
Its well for you
Harry Clinton
that old
Golding
was born before you but nothing can hold you long at this Rate To whom again do you propose to give this unmeasurable Bounty to the Excrements of the Public to Nuisances and Offences against Society to Wretches whom
England
has spewed forth from a sick and debauched Stomach But I suppose you expect to purchase extraordinary Glories in Heaven as the Reward of these very extraordinary Charities on Earth No indeed Sir
Thomas
said I I shall never crave nor look for any Thing, at the Hands of the Son of
David
save only Mercy from him and Justification in him However my good Friend if you will indulge me with your Company you yourself shall be Judge of the Merit of the Parties and I will wholly be guided by your Advice Then says he do you saunter here a few Minutes while in order to open the Hearts of your Guests I go and give them a Priming before Dinner
As soon as Sir
Thomas
had executed his Purpose he came forth and beckoning me to him put his Mouth to my Ear Dont be offended says he at some free Expressions that I may happen to let loose in order to encourage these Fellows to the like Liberty and shew you what Mettal your Companions are made of
Dinner was now served up on a Range of joined Tables and Sir
Thomas
with an easy and cheerful Familiarity desired that they would seat themselves without Ceremony This many of them did with a Freedom not far from Impudence while others drew back abashed and begged Permission to stand
At the Head of the first Sort was seated a Fellow whose first Sight gave my Nerves a Thrill of Horror His Countenance was of that Cast in which any one would place an implicit Confidence who wanted an Associate for any dark traiterous or bloody Purposes
When the Cloth was removed my Friend pushed the Bottles about very jovially and began to talk as an utter Latitudinarian in Morals whereby he gained the Confidence of every Rogue in Company
As soon as most of them were well warmed for some drank but sparingly Sir
Thomas
took out his Purse and tossing a Guinea to each of them Now my brave Friends says he if you desire any more Favours you must tell me openly and honestly the jolly Use you intend to make of your Money to Night Why Master answered the ill looking Villain as for me and my six Companions here we have had a long Lent and a Wench is the Word Thats gallantly spoken cried out Sir
Thomas
here are three Guineas more apiece for you Seven And now my brave Friends I shall not be backward of another Bounty if you will give me a short History of your Adventures
That is soon done my Master answered the Spokesman We seven were taken Prisoners by an
Algerine Corsair
after an Engagement in which seven and twenty more of us lay in Blood upon Deck We were sold to one
Pedro Paolo
a
Renegade
who having been of all Religions in Christendom had at length turned
Turk
We were used very severely and after sweating all Day were made to sweat Blood at Night with the Stripes which they gave us However we were hardy Dogs and did not matter this very much when one of their Priests came privately to us and promised that if we would forsake
Christ
and turn to
Mahomet
he would ensure us Liberty and Riches here and Paradise hereafter These Sir as you well know were very tempting Things But as soon as our Master understood that we had complied with the Terms he hurried us by Night into one of his Gallies where we were chained to the Oar our Ears were lopped as you see and at every Meal of Bread and Water we received ten Lashes At length his Honour the Ambassador I forget how they call him found us out and redeemed us and so you see us here
Pray my Friend said Sir
Thomas
are there any more in this Company whom you could recommend to me as being of the same Gallantry of Spirit with yourself Yes said he there are the two
Johns
and the two
Andrews
yonder who are none of the Saint
Johns
or Saint
Andrews
I promise you But yonder sits our Saint
Thomas
a canting Son of a Bitch he wanted truly to preach to us during our Voyage and in the last Storm he would have persuaded us forsooth to join with him in Prayer Here then cried Sir
Thomas
you two no Saint
Johns
and you two no Saint
Andrews
here are three Pieces a Man for you also and that Money I hope Gentlemen will be sufficient to maintain you in Gaol till we can hear a better Account of you Ho Drawer are the People I sent for in Waiting They are please your Honour Desire them to step in
Here entered a Serjeant at Mace with a great Posse of Constables Serjeant said Sir
Thomas
take these seven and these four into your Custody and keep them in close Durance till you hear further from me I would rather open the Tower Cages and let all the wild Beasts abroad through the Streets than loose such Reprobates as these among Mankind
At this Instant as a Constable was laying hold on our gallant Spokesman he suddenly drew an Instrument that was half Knife and half Dagger and leaping across me he caught Sir
Thomas
by the Throat and raising his Arm would have plunged the Steel into his Bosom but at the same Moment I seized his Hand and throwing up his Heels I cast him on his Back and wrenched the Weapon from him
As soon as we were thus rid of eleven of our Guests a young Man came earnestly up to us Gentlemen says he till those seven Hellhounds were secured I did not dare to open my Mouth I know them all right well and had they known me there is not one of them but would have thrust his Knife into my Heart
About eleven Years ago I was taken as cabbin Boy when they with many more were taken as Sailors on Board the good Ship
Saint Catharine
Mr
William Tomson
Master bound for the
West Indies
As soon as we came along side the
Canaries
this big Villain
Patrick Mc Douel
prevailed on most of the Crew to enter into a Conspiracy whereupon they barbarously and sportingly murdered the Master the Officers and all who were not of their own Gang except myself being then about ten Years of Age But they did not prosper long for the very next Morning we were held in Chase and then they wished for the Help of those Hands whom they had cut off So as
Mc Douel
told you after a very bloody Battle we were boarded and taken and those seven Confederates were sold to one Master and well as it happened for me I was sold to another and all this and more I am ready to witness in any Court provided I am kept safe from the Clutches of those Devils
Ay exclaimed Sir
Thomas
these are your Charities Mr
Clinton
and such the Objects of whom your Judgment has made Choice Ah my Friend I replied that Charity must be very tardy which waits to be assured of the Merit of its Object.
Christ
himself cured ten Lepers while he knew that nine of them were unworthy of his Graciousness
On the Entrance of the Constables I had cast my Eye round the Room and remarked that most of our Messmates seemed much alarmed and turned pale on the Caption of their late Comrades which rendered their Characters also somewhat suspected to me Wherefore lest I should cast my Seed on a wholly barren Soil I wished to get some further Intelligence concerning them Where said I is the Person whom they call Saint
Thomas
I desire a few Words with him
Here a Man approached respectfully from the farther End of the Table to which through Modesty he had retreated with his few Companions Mr
Thomas
said I looking earnestly at him have I not seen your Face before No please your Honour I think that must be impossible It is now upon eighteen Years since I set a Foot in this Kingdom and your Honour must then have been but as a Child Do you know any Thing, Mr
Thomas
of these People or their Affairs Nothing of their Affairs Sir and little more of their Persons than that they are all Men of very profane Lips except the Lad who spoke to you last and my five Messmates yonder the only People who during our long and dangerous Voyage would return Thanks to God for any of his Mercies or pray him to avert his just Judgments from them
Then said I we will proceed between Extremes On the one Side we will not minister Fewel to the Lusts of these unhappy Creatures neither will we leave them to perish or tempt them through Want to Robbery on the other Side Here Landlady take this Bill Give twenty Pounds to each of these seventeen Fellows and if any of them within a Month shall bring you a Certificate of his good Behaviour give him twenty Pounds more Now Sir
Thomas
I may hope that I do not exceed your good Pleasure Not much
Harry
not much in Time you may be tractable
Here the poor Wretches looked amazed and scarce crediting the Reality of the Bounty that was ordered for them they cried thank your Honours thank your Honours and withdrew One of them however seemed to linger after the rest and going out last he returned again quickly and threw himself at my Feet I am a Reprobate Sir a mere Reprobate he cried and am not worthy of your Charity Does your Conscience condemn you then said I It does Sir it does Then I condemn you not rise rise and give me your Hand my Brother
Mr
Clinton
said Sir
Thomas
now that I have kept you from casting so much Money on the Quicksands you can afford to be the more generous to these worthy Fellows You will allow me then said I to order our Landlady to pay them a hundred Pounds apiece With all my Heart says he and if you will be so honest as to reimburse me the sixty or seventy Pieces which I threw away for your Use upon the other Villains I will add something to that also and divide it among them
Then Sir
Thomas
if you will indulge me with your Company for an Hour or two longer let us send for an Undertaker to put our Friends here in decent Apparel while we listen to what they shall be pleased to tell us of their Fortunes Agreed
Harry
agreed So let us resume our Seats and have the other Bottle
Mister
Thomas
said I pray what may be your Sirname
Damer
Sir
Damer Damer
have you any Relations in this Kingdom Alas Sir I fear not my Father
Christopher Damer
of
Essex
died a little before I set out on my last Voyage And had you no Relation beside O Sir that is it which brought the Tears so suddenly into my Eyes I had a Sister an only Sister a Sister that I loved dearer than Health or Safety But I fear I fear here his Speech was stopped by his Emotion while I was ready to leap up and catch him in my Arms but I suppressed my Inclinations for the present that I might heighten the Surprise and Pleasure which I foresaw there would be at the Meeting of the Twins
While all Materials were providing from the several Ware Houses for the Cloathing and Accommodation of our Guests they successively gave us an Abstract of their respective Lives and Histories wherein were many Incidents extremely interesting and entertaining Let us have them let us have them by all Means cried Lady
Maitland
My dear Madam said Mr
Clinton
were I to relate to you the several affecting Stories that occurred to me throughout my Travels from Prisons from the Depth of Dungeons from Captives and from Persons redeemed from Captivity from Wretches wrecked at Sea or wrecked by Fortune from those who survived the Calamities of Warfare and Famine I should never make an End
But then said the Countess the poor Creature who felt so sudden and affecting a Compunction I have a Friendship for that Fellow and I am deeply interested in all the Concerns of my Friend I must tell you Well Madam you shall have his Story then as nearly as I can recollect at this Distance of Time
CHAP XVI The HISTORY of a REPROBATE
I Know not Gentlemen said he who my Parents were I was found when an Infant wrapped in Rags on a Coblers Bulk in
Westminster
The Wardens sent me to the Parish Nursery for Foundlings and when I was capable of Instruction they sent me to the CharitySchool
When I had learned to read and write I was bound a Servant Apprentice to Mr
Skinner
a neighbouring Attorney My Mistress grew fond of me she was a very holy Woman she taught me my Prayers and Catechise and made me read to her every Night and repeat Chapters and Psalms till I had nearly got Half the Bible by rote
As my Master used to send me on many Errands and Messages and to entrust me with little Matters of Money on such Occasions on finding me always punctual and honest to him he began to love me almost as much as my good Mistress did
But now came on my first falling away from all Goodness I was about twelve Years old when in a cursed Hour my Master sent me to a distant Part of the Town with a Bill to pay some Money and to bring him back the Change The Change amounted to about four Pounds in glittering Silver It appeared a Mint of Money I had never been in Possession of so large a Heap and I sighed and said to myself how blessed must they be who are become the rich Owners of so much Money Then some one seemed to whisper me that I was the Owner and again some one seemed to whisper me that I was not the Owner Then I would go forward toward my Master and again I would stop and go aside Then I would thrust my Hand into my Pocket and feel the Greatness of my Treasure then turn to the Wall and lay the Brightness of it before my Eyes Then I would run a Piece off as hurried away by the Force of the Temptation and again I would delay and stop and turn and strive to force myself homeward Till what with doubting and delaying and struggling off and on and going backward and forward I considered that if I went home I should now get nothing but Blame and Beating and so I took a head and ran into the Country as fast as my Feet could carry me
As I ran myself out of Breath from time to time I would look back and look back and run on and run on in the Thought that my Master or some one from him was at my Heels But often since I have reflected and was persuaded in my Mind that my kind Master and Mistress had not the least Suspicion of me but rather enquired and sorrowed after me as being murdered or kidnapped from them and this also was at times a great Grief of Heart to me
When I was quite tired and jaded and Night came on I turned up to a Carriers Inn where was written
dry Lodgings
over the Door But as I feared every thing I had the Cunning to conceal my Treasure and taking a Penny from my Pocket I begged the Woman of the House for that and Charitys Sake to give me a little Bread and Milk and some Hole to lie in
Having finished my Supper I was shewn to a kind of Hovel that lay under the Stairs where throwing myself on some Straw with a Piece of a Blanket over me I fell fast as a Rock Awakening however about Midnight or somewhat after and seeing all dark about me and no Creature near Hand I began to tremble greatly and then I wished to say my Prayers but I did not dare to pray and so I lay sweating and trembling and trembling and sweating till the Dawning of the Day brought some Relief to my Spirits
Having breakfasted at the Cost of a second Penny I set out though not with my former Speed for reflecting that I had not my Livery on but a small Frock Coat I was under the less Fear of being known However I pushed on as well as I was able wanting still to get as far from Danger as possible And indeed I hoped by going on still further and further to get away from my own Fears and from my own Conscience
O Gentlemen what Misery did I not endure at that Season the Trust I had in my Treasure began now to abate the Dread of losing it also brought new Troubles upon me Peace was banished from within me and without there was no Place whereto I might fly for Rest
On the fifth Morning of my Travels having expended what Halfpence and small Silver I had I took out Half a Crown and offered it to the Man of the House desiring him to return what was over the Reckoning As he took it he gave me a Look that I thought went through me and continuing to stare me in the Face he shamed me so that I was constrained to turn aside He gave me the Change however and I set forward on my Journey all trembling and apprehending I knew not what
I had not gone above a Mile when meeting a dirty Road I turned over a Stile that led to a Path through the Fields Here I walked on a Piece when turning I saw my Landlord making long Strides after me whereupon my Heart beat and my Knees grew so weak under me that I stood as still as a Stone
He came quickly up with me and seizing me by the Neck he cast me on my Back Ha you young Rogue says he let us see what Money you have got Then diving into my Pockets he pulled out the whole Stock in which I trusted for Happiness O you little Dog of a Villain from whom have you stollen all this Treasure but I must go and return it to the right Owner O good Sir good Sir I roared out will you not leave me a little ever so little dear Sir to keep me from starving but he was deaf to my Cries and Prayers and away he went
Hope the last Comfort of the Miserable now forsook me I cursed at my Heart the Day in which I was born and I lay a long Time as one who had no Use for Limbs nor any further Way to travel upon Earth At length I broke into Shouts and a great Gush of Tears and having got some Ease by venting my Sorrows I rose by a Kind of Instinct and went on I knew not whither
Growing hungry after Noon I would willingly have begged the Charity of Passengers but this I did not dare to do for fear they should ask me whence I came and who I was and whereto I was going Questions to which I could give no very honest Answer So I bore my Hunger as well as I could till coming over Night to a Hovel where a Farmer kept his Pigs I made way for myself among them and slept in the Straw till Morning
The Day following as I passed slowly and half famished through a small Village my Eye catched at a Penny Loaf that lay on a little Shop Window which jutted into the Street I looked here and there and peered into the Shop and was just going to seize the ready and tempting Spoil when something whispered at my Heart dont touch it for your Life starve starve rather than offer to steal any more and so I tore myself away and running as fast as I could for fear of turning back I at last got clear off from the Reach of this Temptation
When I had travelled something further I got into an enclosed Country where there were Hedges on every Side with Plenty of Haws and Bramble Berries on every Bush And here I filled my Belly with Berries to serve me for Dinner and I stuffed my Pockets with Haws against I should want Upon this I grew wonderful glad that I had not taken the Loaf and Peace again began to come upon my Mind and about Nightfall having reached a Copse on one Side of the Road I crept like a Hare under the Shelter of the Bushes I then supped upon my Haws after which I kneeled down and half ventured at a Prayer to God and gathering up in my Form I slept happily till Morning
Having lived thus for some Days I came into an open Country where there was scarce any Path nor any Haw or Berry within many a Mile I now began to grow sick and faint with Hunger and again my Sickness went off and I became so greedy and ravenous that I was ready to eat my own Flesh from the Bones Soon after I spied at a Distance a confused Heap of something at the Root of a great Tree that grew in the open Fields I made up to it in Expectation of I knew not what and found an old Beggarman fast asleep in his patched Cloak with a Bundle of somewhat lying beside him
Instantly I opened his little Baggage when to my inexpressible Transport a large Luncheon of brown Bread with some Halfpence struck my Eyes I did not hesitate a Moment about seizing the Bread for I could no more withstand the Cravings of my Appetite at the time than I could withstand a Torrent rushing down a Hill Having appeased my Stomach I began to demur about what I should do with the Remainder of the Bread and felt a Motion or two inclining me to leave it behind me But no said I to myself this is all the Bread that I have or may ever have during Life and I know not where to get a Bit in the whole World beside I do this Man no Harm in taking it away since I leave him Money enough wherewith to buy more So I put the Bread in my Pocket and went on my Way leaving behind me about four or five Pence in the Wrapper
I had not gone far however before I said to myself again this Man is a Beggar by Trade and gets Halfpence from every Passenger that goes the Road But alas no one living has any Pity upon me and so to starve alive or take the Money is all the Question So saying or so thinking I went back on Tiptoes and stooping and seizing my Prey I flew away like Lightening
As soon as I had got out of the Reach and Sight of the poor Man the first Motion I felt was the Joy of having such a Prize but I had not gone far till this Joy was much abated my Sighs began to heave and my Tears to flow apace
That Night I took up my Lodging in a little waste Cabin that lay a Piece off the Road But though as I thought I had Plenty of Bread and Money enough about me yet I found myself exceeding heavy and I was not able to pray as I did the foregoing Nights
During all this time I neither knew where I was nor whereto I was going nor any thing more of my Travels than that I came from
London
When I had spent to my last Penny and was walking slow and melancholy on a Bypath that led through some woody Lawns I heard the Voice of Merriment and quickly after perceived a Group of Gipsies that came from behind some Trees
As I saw that I could not escape them I gathered Courage and went forward when coming up they stopped and eyed me with much Attention and made a Ring about me Where are you going my Child says a Man with a broad Girdle and a very formidable Beard Indeed Sir said I I cannot tell And where did you come from then From
London
Sir so please you From
London
Child why that is a very great Way off And pray what made you leave
London
To get away from my Master But I hope you did not come away empty you brought something from him didnt you Some little Matter good Sir but I was robbed of it on the Way Hereupon this venerable Regent smiled and turning to his Dependents as far as I see said he this Chap will answer our Purposes to a Hair
Here one of the Females asked if I was hungry and on my Answer in the affirmative they all invited me with a jovial Air to Dinner We then turned a Distance off from the Path wherein we had met and gradually descended into one of the pleasantest Spots in the World It was a Dell surrounded with Hills some of which were slanting some headlong and impending and all covered or spotted with Groups of Trees of different Heights Sorts and Colours through which there descended a gurgling Rivulet which having rolled over Stones and Pebbles grew silent in a small Lake that reflected the circling Objects from the Vale below
Immediately Natures Carpet was covered with a large Cloth of fine damasked Linen The Baggage was taken from the Shoulders of the Bearers and before I could take note of what they were about there was spread as by Art magic before my Eyes the most various and sumptuous Banquet I had ever beheld Down instantly sunk the Guests some sitting like the
Turks
crossleggd while others lolled like the
Romans
along side of each other
As they had travelled far that Day they all eat in Silence and in a short Space the Burden of the Luggagecarriers was pretty much lightened In the mean time some arose and unladed two Asses of the Creels which they carried The Cloth then was quickly emptied of the cold Fowls and baked Meats with the Loins of Beef and Mutton and leathern Jacks that contained Plenty of the best Wines and other Liquors were set before us These again were decanted into clean japanned Pitchers and a japanned Cup of equal Measure was given into every Hand
Then began Mirth and Jollity to flow round with the Cups never did I see so pleasant so gleeful a Company Joke and Banter without Offence were bandied from every Side and Bursts of Laughter were echoed from the answering Hills
As soon as I was warmed and my Heart opened by what I drank they all expressed a Liking and Kindness for me and requested that I would tell them my Story without Disguise Accordingly I made an ingenuous Confession of all the Matters related But instead of meeting those Reproofs which I expected for my Wickedness they jointly began to ridicule my Scruples and put to shame the little Shame that I had of my evil Deeds
My Child said their ancient Governor when you have been a sufficient time with us you will then learn what it is to be wise and to be happy You will then know that Religion is nothing but Hypocrisy or Fashion There are Thousands and ten Thousands of Religions upon Earth all contrary and fighting the one against the other People pretend to fear God when it is the Fear of the Laws, alone that is before their Eyes God is not to be feared but to be loved my Son for he is a very gracious and a bountiful God He gave the Heavens in common to the Birds of the Air He gave the Seas and Rivers also in common to the Fishes
And he gave this whole Earth in common to Mankind But great People and People of Power have seized it all to themselves and they have made to themselves Possessions and Properties by Fences and Enclosures and they have again enclosed those Enclosures by Laws of their own making whereby the Poor are to be punished when they attempt to reclaim any Part of the natural Rights with which God had gifted them But when the Poor without Fear of the Laws, can gain any thing from the Rich and the Mighty who have robbed them of their Rights they may surely do it with a safe and an honest Conscience And now know my Child that you are come among those who of all People can best defend you and make you happy We are of that Sort of the Poor who are above the Rich and the Mighty by being above the Laws; for they can frame no Laws which are of any more Force to us than the Web of a Spider
So spoke this formidable Sage and indeed Gentlemen however strange it may seem I saw the latter Part of his Assertion fully verified by Practice I continued among this very singular and wonderful People near the Space of three Years during which time they initiated me into all the Arts and Mysteries of their manifold Iniquities No Fetters could hold them no Prisons could contain them no Bolts or Locks could secure the Treasures of the Wealthy from them By the means of Spells or certain Odours as it were by Enchantment all Beasts became subject to them the wildest Horse would stand for them the fiercest Mastiffs did not dare to bay or growl at them so that all Bleachgreens Yards and Gardens were as open to their Invasion as the Highway They assumed all Sorts of Shapes and almost all Sorts of Sizes They became visible and invisible known or unknown at Pleasure for every different Dress they had a different Countenance and Set of Features so that their daily Intimates could not know them except by appointed Words or Tokens And thus without Violence or apparent Fraud without Bustle Indictment or Accusation on any Side they overruled the Government and held as it were the Purses of the whole Nation in their Hands
You will wonder Gentlemen by what Policy these People could maintain their Influence and Depredations undetected throughout the Kingdom I will account for this Matter as clearly and as briefly as I can
Though they never appeared by Day except single or in small Parties of ten or fifteen at most yet they kept their State entire by quick and constant Intelligence Beside their Prince or principal Potentate who was the Person that first accosted me they had a deputy Governor for every Shire and in every Parish they had a House of common Use and common Resort to the Fraternity Here their Victuals were dressed and their Provisions laid in and here also were deposited the Spoils of the Public which when converted into Money was locked in a strong Box one tenth for the use of the Society on any Emergence and the other nine for the Benefit of the Spoilers in Proportion to their respective Ranks and Merits
Before we rose from our late mentioned Festival an ancient female Fortuneteller chucked me under the Chin and said do you know my Dear where this same kind Landlord lives who robbed you of your Money All I know said I is that he lives in a little Town at the Sign of a white Cross and near to a great Windmill What cried one of the Men my old Host
Jerry Gruff
he hates that any except himself should prosper by their Ingenuity I owe that Fellow a Fling cried another for once attempting to circumvent me in his own House Well my Lad says
Geoffry
the old Governor his House lies directly in the Way of our Circuit and for your Encouragement I promise you that he shall refund you every Penny of the Money he took from you
The Luggage being now up we set back on the Field Path by which I came and coming to a great Road we divided into small Parties who were appointed to meet at the Parishhouse where we supped merrily and slept soundly for that Night
We set out the next Morning by Dawn of Day and entering soon after upon a Common we saw a Parcel of Horses feeding without a Keeper Immediately three of the likeliest were taken from the rest Out came Scissars and other Implements with Phials of colouring Essences and to work went many Hands when in less than five Minutes had the Owners come up they could not have found a single Mark of their own Property upon them And indeed I have frequently known some of those my ingenious Brotherhood so very audacious as to sell in public Marker the Cattle which they had stolen to the very Persons from whom they were taken
As these People were never unprovided of their Conveniences the Horses were quickly bridled and dispatched by several Emissaries several Ways to summon the neighbouring Brotherhood on the third Night to meet near the white Cross with their appointed Apparatus
Accordingly on the Evening of the Night required we arrived on a little Hill that stood opposite to the House of my conscientious Landlord and soon after we were joined by several Parties from several Sides amounting to about a hundred and twenty Persons with Parcels of I knew not what upon Asses
c
The Packs were quickly opened and from thence were produced black and flame coloured Gowns Flambeaux Hoofs and Horns and Vizards of horrid Aspect and terrific Dimension In a Hurry we were all fitted with our respective Dresses and Characters A large pasteboard Coffin was covered with a white Sheet and exalted upon the Shoulders of four fiery Devils and as Night began to fall dark and heavy upon us a Light was struck the Flams were lighted one was put into every right Hand speaking Trumpets with other Instruments of heartsinking Sounds were put to many a Mouth and we directly set out on our diabolical Procession Some roared like Bulls others houled and bayed like Dogs at a midnight Moon while others yelled articulately in the catterwawling Gibberish in short the Sounds made such a Complication of Horrors as no mortal Ears could abide nor mortal Courage support
Mean while the Town took the Alarm and began to be in Commotion Old and young quitted their Houses and hurried hither and thither through the Street But as we advanced they made backward and running or climbing or scrambling up Hill they gathered all in a Body before the Windmill In the Interim we pushed forward and entered the Inn where neither Cat nor Dog nor living Creature was left save Goodman
Gruff
who lay impotent of the Gout in an upper Chamber
While most of the Company staid routing and searching the House below Signior
Geoffry
led a few of us⪠up Stairs He represented the Person of
Lucifer
whose Name was impressed in flaming Characters on his Cap On entering the Room where Landlord
Gruff
lay Hark ye
Jerry
says
Lucifer
you sneaking Thief you mean pettylarceny Villain how came you to rob a Child the other Day of the Money which he gained under my Influence and Encouragement I have a mind you Scoundrel to strike you out of my List of Innkeepers O my good Lord
Lucifer
cries
Gruff
with a trembling Voice in my Conscience now I did not think that any kind of Robbery would be an Offence to your Honour You lie you Rascal you lie cries
Lucifer
the Devil is a Gentleman he loves those who rob the Great who have robbed the Little but he hates your low spirited Scoundrels who rob the Widow and the Fatherless and take from the little Ones the little that they have Why pray my Lord
Lucifer
are you a Christian cries
Gruff
A better one Rascal than you or any of your Tribe for though I tremble yet I believe And I tell thee
Jerry
that I will make this Generation to tremble but as I think the Devil himself cannot bring them to believe
During this Confabulation the whole House Drawers and all was gutted as clean as a Fowl for Supper So without entering into any other Habitation away we marched as in our former tremendous Procession till coming to some standing Water we halted and at a given Word we altogether plunged our Torches in the Pool and instant Night fell upon all the World
Thus from Day to Day and Year to Year while I continued with this People I was witness to a Variety of Slights Deceits Impostures Metamorphoses and Depredations without any Instance of their being brought to condign Punishment One of them however within my Time was detected taken imprisoned brought to the Bar tried and brought in guilty and yet found Means to evade Justice by the most marvellous Piece of Stratagem that ever was
He was spied in the Act of stealing a bay Horse Fresh Suit was made He was seized and loaded with Irons in the Dungeon of the County Gaol On the Day of Trial the Fact was proved by incontestable Witnesses and the Jury without quitting the Box pronounced the fatal Word
Guilty
Have you any thing to say cried the Judge why Sentence of Death should not be pronounced against you I can truly affirm exclaimed the Culprit that I am as clear as the Light of this Matter that the Beast which I took then was and to this Hour is my own Property and that there must be some wonderful Mistake in this Business wherefore my Lord as I am upon Life and Death I trust that your charitable Indulgence will order this same Horse to be brought into Court The Horse accordingly was brought and the Culprit continued Now my Lord be pleased to order the Witnesses to say whether this be the same Horse that I stole or not The same the same cried the Witnesses by Virtue of our Oaths Be so good then my Lord to ask them of what Age this Horse was at the Time that I stole him By Virtue of the same Oath four Years old rising five Now my Lord if you will continue your gracious Indulgence be pleased to order his Mouth to be examined by some People skilled in such Matters This also was done by two or three Jockeys of acknowledged Judgment who instantly cried out why my Lord this Horse is quite passed Mark of Mouth
Hereupon every Person that was present looked astonished and Silence was in Court for some Minutes till the Culprit resumed There is but one Request more with which I shall trouble your Lordship it is that you would be pleased to send and examine whether this same Horse be a Horse or a Mare This lastly was done when the Examiners cried out a Mare my Lord a Mare without any Question
Here the Surprise and Amazement of the Court was redoubled The Jury looked down abashed the Witnesses slunk away in utter Shame and Confusion and his Lordship instantly ordered that the Prisoner should be dismissed without Fees and that the Mare should be restored to him as his proper Goods
Now the whole Mystery of the Affair was merely this that some of the Fraternity the very Night before the Trial had picked the Lock of the Stable and in the Place of the Horse had substituted this Mare whom they found or formed to so perfect a Resemblance of him that no Eye could discern the smallest Distinction
During my Sojourn with these Wretches may it please your Honours I found by dear Experience that between the Birth and the Grave there are but two Sorts of Happiness of which Man is capable The one is that of a
Conscience void of giving Offence
the other is that of a
Conscience that cannot be offended
I was therefore perpetually miserable because neither the one nor the other was my State for on the one Hand I was conscious that I gave daily Offence to God and Man and on the other Hand my Conscience was daily offended thereby I was merry indeed though not happy when in Company but ever dejected when left alone so that during my three Years Incorporation with this Fraternity I never once lifted my Heart in any Appeal to God nor ventured to petition for any Kind of Favour from him
Though these Reprobates as I have intimated continued to perpetrate and to glory with a merry and satisfied Conscience in their daily Iniquities yet hitherto they had not proceeded to Blood
On the Night wherein I left them we we were overtaken and cut short of our intended Rest by a sudden and violent Tempest of Wind and Hail whereupon we took Shelter in a waste Barn that had belonged to the late Farmer of the Place
When we had struck on our Tinder and lighted a Candle we set together what Straw and Combustibles we could find in the House and had just kindled a Fire when one of the Company came and whispered that there was a Man asleep in the far Corner Hereupon they took the Candle and with softly and cautious Steps found a Pedlar stretched along with his Head on a Wisp of Straw and his Box close beside him They immediately lifted the Box and brought it away in Silence to the Place where I was sitting On opening it with as little Noise as possible they found therein a large Quantity of Silks Linens and Laces with a rich Variety of hard Wares and at the Bottom a little padlocked Chest full of
English
and
Spanish
Pieces of Gold in all Likelihood the whole Amount of the Labours of his Life
This was a Prize not to be thrown down the Stream Immediately all was in a kind of underbreathing Bustle and whispering Commotion The great Question was how to possess themselves of such a Prey with Safety to their Persons It was objected that the Man might waken they were unluckily seen coming that way and it may be entering into that House the Country might be alarmed and rise upon them they might be overtaken they might be seized in the very Fact
At length a bold Villain proposed directly to cut his Throat and that then there could be no witness to testify against them but to this it was again objected that the Blood itself would be the fearfullest and surest of all Witnesses Whereupon another proposed to suffocate or strangle him and bury his Corps on the Spot to which Scheme though many were silent yet no one expressly excepted
During this deadly Consultation notwithstanding my long Course of evil Habit and evil Example my Blood curdled throughout my Body and Fear Horror and Detestation arose in my Bosom But when they went as I supposed to put the deed of Death into instant Execution I crouched and shrunk inward and creeping out at the Door the Dread of being also seized and murdered gave me Strength to get on my Feet and feeling along by the Wall I got away from the House and made off I neither knew nor cared where or whereto
The Tempest still continued the driving of the Clouds added to the natural Horrors of Night I could scarcely discern that I had a Road under my Foot But though I could not see my Pursuers I yet feared that their Eyes were better than mine and I still turned and listened to try if the Foot of the Murderer was behind me
Having travelled all Night as fast and far as I could from the Scene of my Terrors on the Rising of the Day I saw a large Town before me and for the first time of three Years I lifted up my Eyes and inwardly blessed God for his Mercy in my Escape from so great a Wickedness Thereupon I felt a Pleasure that I had never felt before and I said in my Heart if you will once more be my God I will be your true Servant and will never offend or transgress any more
I then walked on leisurely and my Fatigue went from me and I seemed quite lightsome to myself On entering the Suburbs I met a Gentleman taking his Mornings Walk out of Town I stopped and looked him wistfully in the Face whereupon he also stopped and eyed me with much Attention Who are you my pretty Lad says he An unhappy Stranger Sir who wants a Service or any Means of earning a little honest Bread And pray what Service can you do Not much Sir I fear but my Goodwill shall strive hard to make up my Lack of Ability Then cried he you shall be my Servant All the Servants I ever had promised every thing but did little I will now try what may be done by one who promises nothing What is your Name my Boy
David Doubtful
Sir for that was my true Name though I had gone by several others And what Wages must I give you
David
Just as much Sir or as little as you shall please to think I deserve
Here he took me to a handsome House where he kept a Mercers Shop in
Plymouth
His Name was
Felton
he had been a Widower of some Years and had an only Son who was then at
Westminster
School in
London
My Master at first set me to the most servile and vile Offices such as cleaning his and the Servants Shoes sweeping the Street before his Door and carrying out the Dirt of the House but all this I did with Willingness and even with Pleasure as some little Matter of Penance for my long Course of evil Deeds
On my separating from my Brethren in Iniquity as I have told you I was the Proprietor of one hundred and seventy odd Pounds which was locked up in the Parish Chest being my allotted Dividend of the Fruits of our common Knavery for three successive Years but in my present Turn of Mind I would no more have accepted any Part thereof than I would have taken a Bar of red hot Iron into my Hand I had also in my Pocket a few Crowns with some smaller Silver but these I secretly distributed among the Poor that no Part as it were of
Achan
s accursed Thing might remain about me
In about three Weeks my Master again changed the whole Manner of my Service and set me to brush his Clothes dress his Wigs whet the Knives lay the Cloth and attend at Table but these were Matters in which I was quite expert as I had not yet forgotten my Employment with my first Master
In some Time after Mr
Felton
asked me if I could read a little in the Bible Sir said I And can you write too
David
If you please I will try Sir Why
David
this beats the Hand of my Clerk where in the World did you come by all this Learning From a very good Master to a very bad Servant but pray Sir do not enquire the Particulars of my Naughtiness for indeed you could not desire a severer Monitor than my own Conscience is to me Well my Child said the good Man I will not put you to Pain and so giving me a Squeeze by the Hand he went out with a glistening Eye
From this Time my Master shewed an uncommon Respect and Attention to me He discharged me from all the menial Offices of his Household he gave me his Burdens of Silks and other Wares to carry to his several Customers and he desired me to take particular Notice of the Nature and Values of what I carried
On this Encouragement I became vastly more apprehensive and assiduous than he looked for I attended the Shop closely and took Notice and private Notes of all that was estimated or transacted therein My Master looked quite amazed on asking me some Questions with respect to his Affairs His eldest Prentice soon after set up for himself He then placed me behind the Counter over his younger Apprentice and in joint Authority with his Journeyman And soon after he gave me the Key of his Till and the Trust of all his Treasure I now dined with him at the same Table and consulted and conversed with him as his Friend and Companion He gave me frequent Pocketmoney which he told me he would not charge to the Account of my Wages I walked with him every Evening went to Church with him every Sunday and read to him in the Bible every Night I was now wholly reconciled to my God and felt him in my Soul as a Friend and Benefactor Pleasure played about my Heart Peace lay under my Pillow and my Happiness seemed as a Ship that after a long and desperate Voyage had anchored in a calm and secure Haven
I had now been something upward of a Year in the Service of Mr
Felton
when one Day I heard a bustling Noise in the Street and saw People running hither and thither across the Window I stepped to the Door and looking to the Left saw a great Crowd about a Cart wherein were five Criminals going to Execution I staid till they came just opposite to me when to my utter Astonishment and Terror I I saw five of my old Acquaintance and in the Front of them the bloody Villain who had proposed cutting the Throat of the unfortunate Pedlar Instantly I turned all pale as my Shirt and dreading that they would know and claim Acquaintance with me I shrunk in and running backward threw myself half fainting into a Chair
I now reflected that it was happy for me that no one was in the Shop to take Note of my Confusion and endeavouring to assume some Courage on the Enterance of our Journeyman I put on the most unconcerned Appearance that I could
Mr
Felton
happened to dine abroad that Day and did not return till the Cloth was laid for Supper He took his Chair at Table and desired me to sit beside him
David
said he is it not wonderful that People should continue so incredulous notwithstanding the frequent and daily Proofs of an allseeing and an alldetecting Providence If a Sparrow falls not to the Ground without the Notice of our God how much more will he take Account of the Life of him whom he formed in his own Image The Villain trusts to hide his Villany and dares to affirm with the first Murderer in the Face of God and of Man
I know not where is my Brother
But Blood has a Voice a crying Voice
David
it cries aloud to Heaven from the very Bowels of the Earth No Depth can cover it no Darkness can conceal it for the Light that shineth in Darkness will bring it forth to the Day
About twelve Months ago a Pedlar or itinerant Merchant was murdered in a waste House called
Fielding
s Barn The Murderers were of the People whom they call Gipsies the most subtile and evasive of all Sorts of Reprobates so that the Fact lay a long Time in Silence This Pedlar as it seems had an only Brother to whom the Reversion of his Substance belonged and this Brother not seeing or hearing from him of a long Time went throughout the whole Country and through many Parts of the Kingdom enquiring after him At length he arrived over Night at an Inn some Miles from hence where he found in the Kitchen seven Men jovially seated over a Bowl of Punch he quickly accepted their Invitation and having spent the Time pleasantly and the House being throng he and one of the Company were shewn to the same Bed
About Midnight his Companion began to moan most piteously when jogging and asking him why he groaned O
Fielding
s Barn he cried
Fielding
s Barn
Fielding
s Barn Again lying still awhile he started and cried you cannot say it you cannot say that my Hand was in the Murder Again he would mutter with a half smothered Voice see see how he struggles see how he kicks put put him out of Pain O put him out of Pain
Hereupon the Brother rose and dressed as quietly as possible and making way to the next Magistrate he returned and seized and carried off his Bedfellow before any of his Comrades were apprized of the Matter
What have you done you Villain said the Magistrate without Preface what have you done with the Body of the Pedlar whom you murdered in
Fielding
s Barn On this Question the Wretch thinking that all was detected instantly fell on his Knees I had neither Hand nor Heart in the Murder Sir he cried and if you will get me a Pardon I will faithfully tell you the whole Affair On his Confession the five principal Rogues were arrested before they were out of Bed And on his Evidence and that of their seventh Companion they were sentenced and this Day executed and are to be gibbeted in the Morning
During this Narration I could not refrain from expressing by my Countenance and Gesture the strong Compunction I felt on recollecting my long Association with those Reprobates but my good Master as I suppose ascribed my Emotions merely to the Detestation which I had of their Deeds
I had been close upon two Years in the Service of Mr
Felton
and he had lately agreed with me at 25
l
yearly whereof he paid me the last Years Wages in Hand when one Evening as I stood behind the Counter a young Woman came in and desired to see such and such Goods While she was cheapening on the one Hand and I setting forth the extraordinary Value on the other several intelligent Glances were exchanged between us Whenever her Eyes met mine she instantly cast them down with a blushing Modesty and yet whenever I looked at her I saw that her Eyes had been fixed upon me At length having bought some little Matters she made me a bashful Curtsey and going out at the Door she turned upon me with a significant Glance and departed
All that Night I felt myself as I had never felt before I turned and turned again from the Image of this Girl and yet she seemed to stand before me and to look and to look upon me as she had done the Day before
For five tedious Days she witheld herself from my Sight and I feared that I should never behold her any more At length she came and I strove in vain to conceal my Joy on her Appearance After cheapening and paying for some little Matters she cast her Eye on a Piece of Silk which she said she fancied greatly but feared that her Pocket would not reach so far O Miss said I we shall not quarrel for such a Matter provided I know where to call for the Money On
Sarah Simper
Sir said she at such a Sign in such a Row
As I had three or four spare Hours from Business every Evening I gladly laid hold of the Occasion I had gotten for spending that Time in Visits to my Beloved I went indeed without forming any Purpose or Intention save the Pleasure of seeing her Her Fondness seemed at least to equal my own and though we proceeded at Times to Toying and Dallying yet for three Weeks we kept within warrantable Limits But this was not always the Case Our first Transgression was succeeded on her Part by Tears and Reproaches and on mine by a Depth of Sorrow and Remorse
As this was my first Fault with respect to Woman my Conscience was yet unsteeled I spent the Night in Sighs and Tears of Contrition and I repeated a thousand Promises and Vows to my God that I never would be guilty of the like again
For five entire Days I kept from going to her At length I considered that as I had injured her I ought to make her such Recompence as was in my Power I put about twelve Pounds into my Pocket being all that I had left of my last Years Salary and went and told her that I was come to take my leave of her then pouring the Money into her I ap I promised to give her what I should earn from Time to Time and to marry her whenever I should be enabled to maintain a Family Here we both fell into Tears and from Tears we proceeded to Caresses and so forth till at last we became as guilty as we had been before
In like Manner for the six ensuing Weeks I kept on in a Course of repenting and sinning and of sinning and again repenting Every Night I formed Resolutions which I imagined would be stronger than any I had made before but whatever Force I put on myself whatever Strength I exerted I never was able to persevere for three Days together When I felt myself drawn to her as by some irresistable Chordage I vowed and flattered myself on the Way that I would return without transgressing but when I came to her I found it quite as impossible to keep from sinning with her as it was to keep from her Thus by frail and falsified Vows I daily continued to add to the Heap of my Guilt till at length I became hopeless of any Ability to resist Temptation and sinned on with my Eyes open and yet with less Remorse than before
As I was sitting with her one Evening a Bailiff entered suddenly and laid an Action upon her for fifteen Pounds which he said she promised to pay for her Mother in her last Illness Whether the Debt was feigned and the Caption preconcerted between them I know not but I afterward recollected that she did not seem to be so alarmed as one would have expected on such an Occasion On the other Hand my Soul was filled with bitter and distracting Thoughts I could not think of suffering my Love to be confined among Fellows in a common Prison and yet how to come by the Money I knew not
offered the Man my Note payable when my Salary should be due but he refused to depart without instant Payment Hereupon I hurried Home and taking out 15
l
of my Masters Money I returned and discharged the Action
From this Time my fair one began to extend her Appetites and to rise in her Passions Under Colour of being with Child her Longings and Fits came frequent upon her and I was in a Manner constrained to indulge her till I had taken of my Masters Money to the amount of fisty Pounds
David
said she one Day it is Time to tell you that I must soon quit my Mantuamaking Business for I am growing too big to appear with Decency among my Customers So you must take other Lodgings for me and provide a sufficient Fund to defray the many necessary Expences of Childbirth And where my dearest
Sally
may such a Fund be provided I have already gone Lengths for you that may bring me to the Gallows If you had not been a poor spirited Fellow says she you could not bear to live in the Fears that haunt you so you would long since have made away with that old Scoundrel your Master Here throw this little Dust into his Broth or his Posset and then you may wallow in Money without Fear of Account
Here I looked her full in the Face when every Beauty that had once enchanted me suddenly vanished from my Sight and I saw nothing but the dire Head of a sneaky Medusa However I suppressed my Horror as well as I could and putting back the Paper No no no no
Sally
said I I would rather die the worst of Deaths myself than have a Hand in making away with my kind old Master And die you shall then she cried for I will not perish alone She then dropped on her Knees and vowed with fearful Imprecations that she would go directly to Mr
Felton
and make a Discovery of my Robberies that she would also go to the next Magistrate and swear a Rape against me and that she would poison herself and the Bastard within her that she might not bring into the World any Part of such a Villain
While she spoke her Aspect looked livid and deadly and Wrath and Desperation flashed in Fire from her Eyes
My dear
Sally
said I lower your Passions a little give me that Paper again we shall see what may be done And here I leave you my Watch as a Pledge of my Return by to morrow at Noon This I did however not with the smallest Intention of keeping my Promise for I determined never more to look her in the Face But I bequeathed to her as it were the only Stake of Value which remained to me that the Wretch whom I had ruined might not be left altogether without Means of Life
When I got into the Street I hastened homeward without deliberating a Moment on what I was about or on the Consequences that might ensue My Master was in a back Chamber looking over some Letters when I rushed in precipitately and shut the Door behind me What is the Matter Child says he are you not well you look pale and affrightened what is the Matter
David
O Sir O Sir and I sunk upon my Knees I bring to you a Villain a Reprobate a Thief a Robber a Betrayer of Trusts also the vilest Sinner that ever sinned against God and against Man I got in League with a bad Woman who seduced me by her Beauty and then prevailed upon me to defraud and rob you and would have persuaded me to murder you but there I stopt short I could not be prevailed upon to murder you my Master Pray then said he somewhat sternly to what Intent are you come to demand Justice Sir I cried and to appease my own Conscience by suffering for my Faults Tell me then said he mildly and tell me truly of how much Money have you defrauded me Of fifty Pounds Sir I answered a few Shillings under or over Rise then pray rise my
David
he cried I would not bring you to Shame and much less to Punishment for five times the Value of fifty Pounds I owe you for your Services very nearly that Sum and I forgive you the Remainder with all my Heart No Sir I cried aloud and burst into Tears you do not forgive me you cannot forgive me for this your Goodness does but heap the heavier Guilt upon my Soul
He then got up and came to me and raising me to his Bosom he embraced me and cried I rejoice over thee my
David
I rejoice over thee my Child as Heaven rejoiceth over the one Sinner that repenteth more than over the ninety and nine that have no need of Repentance You now know your own Frailties you are sensible of your Lapses you will be cautious of future Falls and you stand upon firmer Ground than ever
You know me not I exclaimed you know me not my good Master I am wholly irreclaimable The Devil has taken Possession of me and reigns through all my Members I find it quite in vain to strive or struggle against him I have no more Strength than a Midge against Temptation no more Power than a weak and fainting Man against a Torrent that already has borne him far away
I will pray for you my Son said the good Man vehemently I will wrestle with my God for you and his Grace shall be sufficient No Sir I replied after that which has happened I never shall be able to look you in the Face I will not trust myself I know that I should fall on the first Trial Will you leave me then he cried will you leave me my Son
David
and he took out his Handkerchief and wiped away the falling Tear I must I answered I must leave you my dearest Master I should be miserable if I staid I will go directly to Sea I will confine myself in some Ship where I shall be shut from any Commerce or Communication with Mankind and not have it within my Reach to wrong or damage any Person And indeed I could not bear to stay in one Town or even in one Kingdom with that bad Woman Where may she be found
David
said Mr
Felton
Ah Sir I exclaimed leave her to God and to her own evil Conscience I beseech you I believe she is with Child by me Do not desire my Master to hurt a little Innocent that has not yet seen the Light No my
David
no I mean nothing but Comfort to her I mean to supply her Wants and to soften her Distresses She will not then be tempted to wish Hurt to her Benefactor and I will take Care of the little Wretch which she carries in her Body for your sake my
David
There was something so affecting Gentlemen in such a Proof of wonderful Goodness as must have struck to the Heart of the most abandoned Reprobate I was quite overcome thereby I fell suddenly at his Feet and I wished to pour out my very Soul in the same Manner as I poured my Tears upon them
As he now found that I was bent and determined on departing
David
says he since you will go you must not go unprovided A Sailor ought to have with him his Chest and Cheques and Jackets with his Books and Instruments of Navigation and so forth and if you will give me your Company for three or four Days longer I will look out to procure you some little Matter of Station and get you a good Birth in some Ship or other Mean time I would advise you to set about your Preparations for which Purpose you must accept these fifty Guineas which you may please to return me when some happy Adventure shall furnish you with Means No no Sir I cried putting his Purse back with my Hand your Plan is not the Plan of your reprobate Servant your good Stations and good Births are not at all for my Purpose I will go as a common Sailor the meanest Offices and the greatest Drudgery will be a Penance too little much too little for my Transgressions And so saying I turned and went hastily out
I made directly to the Quay where I saw a Crowd of Citizens intermixed with Sailors On going up I found that they were enlisting Volunteers to whom they offered from one to three Guineas
per
Man And what will you give me Captain if I go with you He then looked earnestly at me and having eyed me several times from Head to Foot I will give you my Lad said he five Guineas in your Fist the best Mess of Pottage the snuggest Hammoc to lie in and here is my Hand for a hearty Welcome into the Bargain If your Honour then will be pleased to order those five Pieces to be laid out for me in Cheques and Trowsers and such Necessaries as you think fitting I live at such a Place and shall be ready at a Call Enough said the Captain our Ship is a thirty Gun called the
Centurion
and your Friend
David Jenkins
the Commander of her We set out by Mornings Tide between ten and eleven and if you come without a Call you will be the more welcome So saying he gave me a familiar Shake by the Hand and we parted
I then went directly home and calling Mr
Pelton
aside I told him of my Success and Engagement in the
Centurion
suppressing only the Time of my early Departure for I felt that I could not stand the parting with him and I thought it best to make it as little painful to him and myself as might be
During Supper I endeavoured to chat but I could not And as Mr
Felton
at Times looked affectionately upon me I turned my Head aside and a silent Tear stole down my Cheek
I spent the Night in Sighs and Tears and getting up before Day I took my Shoes in my Hand and stepping softly down Stairs would have stolen out at the Street Door but in that Instant the Door of a side Parlour was opened and before I could look about my Master had me in his Arms Will you leave me then
David
will you indeed leave me he cried O
David David
I love you next to my only Child Stay with me yet my Son O stay with me my
David
and I will do every thing I will do all things that may be done for you
Here I sunk and was just fainting under the Pressure of his Goodness Do not kill me my Master do not kill me outright I cried You must no longer be burdened by my Body of Sin and Death as God has forsaken me I must leave you my Master let him do with me as he will and if I perish I perish So saying I broke from him and away I rushed weeping and sobbing all the Way as though my Heart would cleave in sunder
The Captain received me with great Cordiality and at times called me his Namesake and was very familiar with me The Sailors also after his Example began to affect me without any Appearance of Envy for though I had not been exercised in their Profession yet I was strong and hale and active and ready to assist them at every Turn
In the mean time please your Honours it may appear very extraordinary that though I felt daily Compunction and nightly wept many Tears for having offended my God throughout the Course of my Life yet I neither prayed to him nor besought Pardon from him nor applied to him for any kind of Support or Assistance
I was now incorporated with a Fraternity whose Wickedness was of a Species quite different from that of my former Brotherhood Our Sailors were so far from cheating or defrauding that they scarce seemed to have any Regard for Property and they were as brave a Set of Fellows as ever trod a Deck But then they were as hardened to any Sense of Religion or Piety as the nether Millstone and the sacred and tremendous names of God and his Christ were of no other Import to them than as the Balls of a Billiard Table to be tossed and stricken and bandied about for Sport
At first this was a Matter of great Offence and Horror to me Can there be a God I would say to myself and can he suffer his tremendous Name to be insulted and blaspherned as it is by these Wretches But alas I was not as one of the three Captives at
Babylon
I could not be cast into the Furnace and come forth without a Singe In time this Profaneness became less irksome to my Ears and by Degrees I began to relish and to catch the common Contagion
At times however some Thoughts of God and a Saviour would come into my Mind and the pious Impressions of my Infancy would return upon me but I did my best to banish them as they served but to torment me
At times again I would silently expostulate as it were with God It is true I would say to him I have been wicked desperately wicked through a long Course of sinning but did I not long strive and struggle and fight against Temptation If you meant me for yourself why did you not make me with less Proneness to Evil or why did you not give me greater Strength to resist
Again shocking and blasphemous Thoughts would enter into my gloomy Soul As though the Gospel were all a Fable and Religion nothing but Priestcraft That all Events were of Chance That Men were good or evil merely according to Constitution and that either there was no God or he was too great or too distant to concern himself with the insignificant Affairs of Mortals But these Infusions of the Tempter were never of long Continuance and again I would return to
believing
and
trembling
Our Ship had been destinated to protect the Trade in the
Levant
Within the Space of five Months we had rescued from their Captors six Vessels of
English
Built and
English
Property and we had made prize from time to time of three stout Frigates of those
African
Pirates who war upon the World when the Boy from the Mast Head cried out a Sail We immediately made chase and found by Evening that we had gained considerably upon her but as the Night came on thick and hazy we slackened our Course and in a manner lay by till Morning but hung out no Lights
At Dawn of Day we renewed the chase though no Sail was then in sight but we had not continued our Course above four or five Leagues when we clearly discerned the said Vessel and perceived that she had tacked about and was bearing down toward us
Hereupon we slacked our Sails and waited for her But we had not waited long till we perceived a second Vessel that seemed in chase of the First and some time after saw a Third that seemed in chase of the two former
On this the Mate an old and experienced Sailor looked somewhat blank and desired that the Captain would instantly call a Council of War Gentlemen says he the many Captures we have lately made could not fail of informing our Enemies that we are in these Seas and I apprehend with great Reason that they have made choice of their best Means to overreach and overmatch us and to fall with their united Forces upon us And indeed ye may already perceive that the Ship which we had in chase has slackened her Sails and waits to be joined by her two Consorts whom she seemed so lately to fear I think as the Jockeys say that we have more than Foot for them and all the Question is whether old
England
shall make use of her Feet to fly while she has any Hands left wherewith she may fight At this they cried with one Voice no flying no flying let them come on the circumcised Dogs as many as may be of them we will neither take nor give Quarter they or we must to the Bottom To work then my brave Lads cries Captain
Jenkins
for we are likely to have as warm a Bout ont as we could wish
To bustle went all Hands Every Sail was fitted the Ropes and Pullies were made pliable and for the first Time we interlaced and bedded our Nettings The Captain then ordered all the small Arms to be gathered and cleaned and loaded and laid upon Deck and choosing from the Company a Dozen of the best Marksmen he disposed them round the Ship under the Shelter of the Gunnel with Orders to bring down every Enemy who mounted any Shrowd within the Reach of a Musket Ball
Our Ship at this time was full manned with about two Hundred and seventy Spirits all as ready and desirous to go and meet Death as a Beau to go to a Ball or an Alderman to a Festival
The three Consorts were now joined as our Mate had foreseen and came down in full Sail and a sweeping Course upon us and then it was that my Sins came crowding into my Mind and I believe I was the only Person of the Ships Company who trembled
They all came up with a desperate Boldness and while one attacked us in Front the others run along side almost close to our Gunnel and expecting instantly to sink us poured the Thunder of their Cannon on either Side upon our Timber While we raked the Ship astern with our chase Guns and showered upon them on either Side the burning Hail of our small Arms This put them into some Confusion and they sheered off a little Space when in our Turn we saluted them with a Broadside on either Hand which went over the Heads of their Men but much damaged their Rigging To repair this they ran up the Shrowds as thick as Bees upon a Branch but our Marksmen brought them down in a Shower upon their Decks and as we plentifully supplied them with newloaded Arms in a short time there was not a Man to be seen among their Sails
Our Ship was of
English
Oak and stood their Shot to a wonder our Mettal was also much weightier than theirs but then they outnumbered us three to one in Men and in Guns
Having got out of the Reach of our small Shot they moved off as intending to make their Escape but having repaired their Tackle as well as time would allow they returned upon us with twofold Resolution and Fury
Then it was Gentlemen that such a Scene was opened as was sufficient to strike Hell itself with Horror
They now entertained us with a new Kind of Warfare For getting up within Pistol shot they tossed their Grenadoes or Hand Shells among us that were filled with broken Bottles and with rusty and ragged Pieces of old Iron These did fearful Execution and our Deck was quickly covered with Blood and Brains and Pieces of human Flesh while the Noise of the Cannon could scarcely drown the Screams of the wounded and the Groans of the dying
All enraged and desperate we now tore away the Beds and Netting that confined their Shells to our Deck and heaving them overboard we lowered the Level of our Cannon and poured our Grapeshot into the Midst of their Ships on either Side which made horrible Havock and Uproar among them whereupon two of them sheered away as fast as their tattered Cordage would permit while the third kept playing upon us at a Distance
We now had Leisure to clear our Deck and with sorrowful Hearts threw our dead and our dying Companions overboard as also all whom we judged to be past Recovery Among our wounded was one
Daniel Mc Daniel
who had lost his right Hand by the bursting of a Shell and while we meant to spare him heave me over heave me over my Lads he gallantly cried since I no longer can help you let me not be your Hindrance No
Daniel
no I cried you shall not be heaved off Such a Heart with a left Hand may be better to us one Day than the two Hands of a
Goliah
Having once more set all to Rights we moved toward the Vessel that continued to annoy us whereupon she veered away and joined her Consorts We then bore down on all three but they gave way before us and maintained a running Fight and as they levelled their Shot almost wholly at our Rigging by Evening we were incapable of further Pursuit for we had scarce a Yard of entire Shrowding left and our Sails fluttered in the Wind and fell along by their Masts
Mean while we had plied them with our Cannon as fast as we could load and as it began to wax duskish we perceived the Crew of the hindmost in much Confusion and they repeated the Signals of Distress to their Consorts Soon after we saw them heave out their Boat and they had scarce crowded in and moved off a Piece when their Ship sunk outright and went plum to the Bottom Hereon we gave a great Shout which we repeated on seeing their Boat overset But as the
Moors
are excellent Swimmers I suppose most of them got safe and were taken in by their Companions In the mean Space our brave
Daniel Mc Daniel
was put out of Pain by a Grapeshot in the Temple and our most gallant Captain
Jenkins
had his right Leg carried off half way up his Thigh by a Cannon Bullet I think it was the last Shot the Enemy fired
As I stood by my Captains Side I catched him in my Arms before he fell to the Board and cried out for the Surgeons but the Effusion of Blood was so great and so impossible to be stanched that we quickly despaired of any Life for him
As I supported him on Deck with my right Arm he found himself growing faint and turned his Face to me
David
said he I am not afraid to die for I am a Christian I believe as surely as I am here that Christ came into the World to save Sinners of whom I am chief and he is so great and so gracious that he will not suffer Hell or the Grave to disappoint him of an End for which he paid so dear a Price Here my
David
here is my Purse and my Watch which I bequeath to your Love as my last Legacy and here is my Diamond Ring with which I entrust you as a Token to my dear Daughter if ever it shall be your Fortune to revisit old
England
And if you should go to
London
my dear
David
enquire out my good old Friend Alderman
Bicker
tell him of my Behaviour during your Service with me and that I beseech him to use his Interest with our Protector in procuring my Pay for my poor sweet Child
And that I will right heartily cried out Sir
Thomas
I will also speak a Word for yourself my Lad the Protector cannot refuse his Favour to one who has had the Honour of serving in the Action of the
Centurion
whose Fame our very Enemies have spread through
Europe
But pray proceed in your Narration I long to hear of the Event and of your future Successes
Though we greatly grieved for our Captain we were still more concerned for the Honour of
England
lest our good Ship should fall into the Hands of the Barbarians For she now lay like a Hulk on the Face of the Water She could neither pursue nor avoid an Enemy and though she had been in Plight we had not Hands left sufficient to work her
Night came on apace Hostilities ceased on both Sides the Pirates hung out Lights to prevent as we supposed their parting from each other and we mournfully called a Muster of our Men in the dark whereon we found that of two hundred and seventy odd Men we had but fifty remaining twenty of whom were wounded though not disabled
Come my Lads cried the old Mate it is as good to be merry as sad We have wrought enough to Day to give us an Appetite Let us have a Piece of Pork and a Bowl of Punch and if we die by Morning let us not die with cold Hearts and empty Stomachs Moreover for your Encouragement I take upon me to promise that if you will be guided I will make you the Masters of one of yonder Vessels before Sunrise
We engaged Compliance to a tittle and after Supper and a plentiful Draught he ordered our Boats to be heaved overboard and let drive with the Wind We then set our Watch and went down to take a few Hours Repose
Two Hours before Day we were roused by our Mate and the first thing we did was to bore a large Hole in the Side of our Ship about a Foot below Water for which we had an occasional Plug prepared
As soon as the Day dawned we set Watches at the Cabin Windows to give us timely Notice of the Enemys Approach and we lay down on our small Arms withinside the Gunnel quite out of Observation
The Pirates as we presumed held up their Glasses but seeing neither Men nor Boats in our Ship they concluded that we had made an Elopement by Night and came on without Precaution or Preparation
As soon as they had arrived within about Half a League our Watchmen according to Order drew forth the Plug and getting up Stairs crouched down and joined us
The Consorts had agreed to board our Ship on each Side in Confidence of a rich and unresisting Prize But the Moment that we heard the first of them rustling alongside and perceived that they were beginning to ascend our Gunnel we jumped up as one Man and setting up a great Shout and overturning all we met leaped into their Vessel
Never was Amazement like that of the Enemy they scarce made any Resistance and in less than a Minute not a Moor was left upon Deck
Mean time the other Pirate had boarded our late Vessel and nearly all the Crew had now got upon Deck They had heared indeed the Shout with the Clamour and Groans of their Fellows but did not rightly know what to make of it till moving close round the Head of our former Ship we shot the few who were left in the second Frigate then throwing out our Grapplings we towed her a Piece off and then bored and sunk her in the Face of her Owners
They thereupon set up such a Yell of Despair and Horror as was affecting even to the Hearts of their Enemies At length they turned the Cannon of the Centurion upon us but every Moment we got further and further from their Shot till having reached to a Distance of about three Leagues we saw our good Centurion go to the Bottom the glorious Tomb of her noble Captain who had fought her to the last
We now thought that of about a thousand Assailants there was not one left to carry Tidings to their native Country of their Defeat But going down to the StateCabin I saw a young Man richly dressed and of a noble Aspect leaning wounded upon a Couch with three Attendants about him
As I entered he gave me a Look that seemed compounded of Apprehension and Courage and accosted me in mixed
English
for he had travelled much and resided for a Season in
London
I know said he that I am your Prisoner I also know what I am to expect Draw your Cutlass then and let me join my Countrymen No Sir I replied you have nothing to fear from me A Man who deserves that Name owes nothing but Love to Man except when he is assaulted the Brave see no Enemy in the Feeble or the Conquered
Where have you learned he cried the Sentiments of my own Soul but your Generosity shall lose you nothing demand what Ransom you please and it shall be paid you I am not Commander in chief I answered but as far as my Influence reaches you are free as Air and shall be bound to us by nothing but your Affections Then stretching forth his Arm your Hand my Brother he cried and giving me a kind Squeeze the Tear came into his Eye
I went directly on Deck and informed our little Crew now reduced to thirty three of what had passed between the noble Moor and myself and told them I hoped they would be so generous as to make my Promise good To this the greater Number gladly assented but some of them murmured Hereupon I remonstrated that we were already rich enough for we had taken all the Plate and Money with what was most valuable and portable out of our own Ship beside the Treasure in the pirate Frigate which we had not yet divided I further represented that we knew not what the Events of War or Fortune might be and that it would not be imprudent to make a Friend on the
African
Coast who in all Appearance was a Person of high Consideration and with these Reasons at length all appeared to be satisfied
I then carried the pleasing Tidings to my new Friend and took with me our only surviving Surgeon who dressed the Wound in his Thigh which had been made by a Musket Ball
As soon as the Surgeon had withdrawn the noble
Osmyn
of
Petra
for so he was called presented me with his Purse and a Carbuncle Ring of extraordinary Value and pressed them earnestly upon me but I as peremptorily refused them and this Refusal appeared to distress him greatly
During the five Days in which we continued together I had him as tenderly and as honourably attended as our Circumstances would admit and I spent with him all the Time I could spare from my Duties and great Fatigues upon Deck as all the Hands we had were kept busily employed in splicing the Ropes refitting the mangled Sails and Rigging and in repairing the Breaches of the Vessel for our Cannon had bored her Sides quite through in several Places
On these Accounts we sailed but heavily still making toward the Straits and daily wishing to meet or be overtaken by some
English
Ship of Force to which we might safely confide ourselves and our Treasures
On the sixth Morning having arrived within twenty Leagues of the Mouth the Day discovered to us that we were almost within Shot of a Ship of
English
Built and that carried
English
Colours Hereat we rejoiced with exceeding great Joy and slackening our Sail and heaving out a small Boat ten of us slipped into it and away we rowed with all our might As we approached we saw Numbers in
English
Dresses walking to and again on Deck and getting alongside they threw Ropes over to us and we mounted with great Alacrity
Hitherto we were so intoxicated with Joy that we had not the Precaution to hail them till we found ourselves in the very thick of our Enemies I looked round and seeing none but tawny and hostile Faces about me I civilly demanded who and of what Country they were when a Ruffian gathering his Spittle spirted it full in my Face and at the same time gave me a Buffet on the Side of my Cheek Then I did not once reflect either where or among whom I was but with one Stroke of my Fist I stretched him stiff along the Deck Then throwing up the Heels of another who had raised his Arm against me he fell with his Head foremost across his Fellow and twisting round on a third who had seized me behind by the Shoulder I dragged him under me and we fell together upon the Board Here a Crowd of them gathered over me and each helping to hold a Leg or an Arm I was bound with Cords that crushed my Flesh to the very Bone and then tumbled with Kicks like a Dog along the Deck
Mean time my nine Companions who had offered to interpose were also seized and bound and cast into the Hold
For about three Hours I lay in excessive Anguish though through a Sort of stubborn Pride I endeavoured to suppress my Groans In the Interim I felt the Ship begin to move and soon after I perceived all in Bustle about me for I could see nothing that happened withoutside the Gunnel Again I heared from within and without several Discharges of small Arms and as I saw several
Moors
fall lifeless or convulsed and biting the Deck around me I rightly concluded that the Ships were engaged I gave a long and deep Groan and I cried aloud O my Countrymen my brave Countrymen why am I not with you why have I not the Happiness of dying with you and for you and my Heart was so wrung that I fainted quite away
I afterward learned that my true and valiant Fellows had refused to submit upon Summons That the Pirate seeing them so few and being desirous of saving the Frigate for their own Use had attacked them with small Arms which were warmly answered on our Part when having dropped or disabled above Half of our brave
English
with two of
Osmyn
s Attendants who happened to be upon Deck they entered and mercilessly butchered the Remainder among whom was our old Mate and Surgeon
Mean space I lay insensible to all that passed till a Ruffian seeing me pale and lifeless in all Appearance gave me a Wring by the Nose Hereupon I awaked to the bitterest Sensations I remembered me of my gallant Messmates who had so loved and caressed me above my Merits and my Tears without Sigh or Groan went in a River down my Cheeks
At length I heared a Voice a known Voice as I thought crying where is my Friend where is my Brother
David
and turning my Head a little I saw my noble
Osmyn
just entering the Ship
O Gentlemen be not apt to judge hardly of all who have not learned
Christ
by the Form and by the Letter
Osmyn
my
Osmyn
proves that he may be in the Heart of those who never acknowledged his Name although they have felt his Power And indeed as the Apostle writes those who never learned his Law yet having his Law or rather Himself in their Hearts shall be justified
Having instantly cast an Eye of searching Love around he spied where I lay and coming and throwing himself beside me he put one Arm about me and cried O my Brother my Brother
David
is it thus that my People use you I grieve that you Christians should beat us all to nothing in Honour and Humanity He then took out his Knife and having tenderly cut my Cords he strained his own Ability to help me to rise
He then called for the Captain who came bowing to him with great Respect Their Discourse was long and earnest At length
Osmyn
rose high in Passion and gave the Captain a back Stroke with his Hand across the Face I observed his Choler swelling almost to Suffocation but he suppressed his Indignation and retired in Silence I heard
Osmyn
then giving some Orders to the Men but as I was a Stranger to their Language I knew not the Purport of any thing that passed Soon after however I saw my nine Companions brought from the Hold and unbound And
Osmyn
turning to me desired me to tell my People that they were all free and that as soon as we landed in
Barbary
he would take the first Means of sending them with Honour to their native Country Ah my Lord I cried I am sorry that you struck the Captain he has many Adherents here and will certainly seek some Method of Revenge He dare not he dare not replied my Friend the Villain would have disputed with me the Property of my own Frigate which I manned and fitted out at my own Expence But if I hear or see any more of his Insolence as soon as we land I will complain to the
Dey
my Uncle and have the Rogue impaled alive
He then ordered out the long Boat and turning to me said I am going
David
to take an Account of what Effects are left in my Ship and I would take you with me if you were in a Condition to go but I will soon return and in the mean Time order the Surgeon to do his best for allaying the Swelling in your Limbs
During his Absence the Ships Company and even the Captain whose Name was
Barbar
behaved themselves toward me and my Fellows with great though silent Civility and a plentiful Mess was served up to us for Dinner But during our Repast I observed that the Captain called such and such of his Men to the Quarterdeck where he held with them a long and whispering kind of Conversation
These Fellows as it seems were the most barbarous and bloody of all their barbarous and bloody Countrymen Having taken the Ship wherein we then were a Merchantman carrying about twenty Guns they had massacred every Creature on board and then dressed themselves in the Clothes of the
English
in order to inveigle others into the like Calamity while they dispatched their own Frigate back to
Tunis
to get Recruits
My noble Friend did not return till late in the Evening He then ordered Supper to be got ready and the StateCabin to be prepared for him and I to lie in but I whispered and besought him to excuse me for declining that Honour as I perceived that the Favours which he did me had already given much Umbrage and Offence to his Countrymen
I know not whence or for what Purpose Forebodings may come but all that Night my Spirits were exceedingly sad and depressed and though my Fellows and I were put to lie in a Part of the Ship the most remote from my Friend yet I imagined that I heard secret Treadings and Mutterings and again at dead of Night that I heard the distant Sound of trampling and struggling as of People in doing and receiving Violence
I was still sore from the Tyings and the Bruises which I had received when toward the End of a sleepless Night a Gang of armed Ruffians entered the Place where we lay and loaded us with Irons They then took away all our Clothes and Treasures and threw to each of us a Canvas Shirt and Drawers as Slaves prepared for the Market
The Moment they laid their Hands upon me it occured that they would not have dared to do it if they had not first made away with my dear Friend and Patron at which Thought my Soul grew instantly sick and a dark Cloud of Sorrow fell heavily upon it
Sore and shackled as I was I got immediately on Deck and looked wistfully out to Sea but could discover no Frigate I then shuffled along as fast as I could to the Cabin where I had parted the Night before with my
Osmyn
and looking in at the Door I cried aloud where are you Lord
Osmyn
where are you my Master my Friend my dear
Osmyn
where are you where are you
When no Answer could be had I returned wild with Rage and Grief and notwithstanding my Chains had I not been disabled by my Contusions I should have done my best to throttle every Man I met But all I could do was to wring my Hands and roar aloud to all around yet Butchers ye Cutthroats ye Villains of all Villains what have ye done with your Lord what have ye done with your Master what have ye done with my Friend with my
Osmyn
my
Osmyn
For two Nights and two Days I tasted nothing but Water which I drank in large Quantities as my Soul as well as Body was in a Ferment and a Fever On the third Day the Captain fearing that I would die of Grief and that he should lose what he proposed to get by my Sale sent a kind of Interpreter to me to let me know that on the Night in which I parted with
Osymn
he and the Captain soon after had some warm Words concerning their Rights in the Frigate and in the
English
now on board whereupon
Osmyn
swore that he would not remain any longer in his Ship and that taking with him a Number of Hands he reimbarked in the Frigate and directly set Sail
As this Tale carried with it some Face of a Fact I grew easier in my Mind and on the very Day following having anchored in the Bay of
Algiers
my Fellows and I were taken into the Town and sold at public Market
I happened to be bought by one of the
Dey
s Factors who immediately sent me to the Work at his Country Palace
This Work was a most stupendous Undertaking Above five hundred Men had been daily employed in it for two Years past and yet a third of it was not done when I arrived
A large Lawn extended itself in the Front of the Palace and here the
Dey
had ordered a great Canal to be dug and from its Excavation a Mount to be raised whose Base measured three hundred Yards in Circumference The Ascent was easy and spiral much resembling the Prints you have seen of the Tower of
Babel
The Border of this Ascent was adorned all the way with lofty Cedars interlaced with all Sorts of aromatic and flowering Shrubs and from the top before I left it was to be seen the Bay the Shipping the City and Country all around while distant Mountains on the one Hand and an Extent of Ocean on the other alone bounded the Prospect
You will think it very extraordinary Gentlemen when I assure you that till I was in a State of Slavery my Mind never was free Hitherto I had been the Slave of Sin and of Appetite of Passions and of Fears But here I counted to set up my Rest for Life I had no Parents no wealthy Kindred no Friend upon Earth to whom I might look for a Pennyworth of Ransom There was therefore no further Prospect for me there was nothing further left to excite my Desire or to excite my Concern and I sunk gradually as it were down into the Peace of my own nothingness
I had been lately the Possessor of the Value of some Thousands and now I had not wherewithal to purchase a Morsel of Bread But I looked back on the many Scenes of my very many Wickednesses and I did not look up but looked down to my God and cried Not enough it is not yet enough O Lord something sharper something heavier some Punishment that may expiate and reconcile me to my God
One Night as I lay on my Bed of Stubble I looked up to God through the Cloud of my own Iniquities and said In Life O my Lord lay what thou pleasest upon me but in the Hour of Death save save me from the Judgment whereupon something within me said Fear not thou vile Wretch fear not thou Worm
David
for nothing shall be able to pluck thee out of my Hands This gave me great Consolation and Consolation was followed by Peace and Peace was followed by Pleasure insomuch that I possessed more of the Sweetness of Heartfelt Enjoyment than came to the Share of twenty Sensualists
The Dey or Regent then being was called
Ali Eben Buchar
He was a great Warrior and yet a Man of an amiable Character which is rarely the Case with Moorish Governors He had been at
Constantinople
when I was enslaved and on his Return he was so solicitously engaged in Matters of State that he was not at leisure to come and see our Works Toward the End of the second Year of my Servitude he arrived with a pompous Train and in a Chariot drawn by Tigers He was a portly and comely Personage though his Complexion was a deep olive He expressed high Delight on surveying what we had done and he ordered a Festival of three Days to be proclaimed for his Labourers with Sports and martial Exercises and Prizes for the Victors
Great Preparations were made for this Entertainment In a Plain on the left of the Palace a Square of half a Mile Diameter was enclosed with Pales within which none were permitted to enter save the Dey and his Train with those who laboured in his several Works amounting to about a thousand Men On one Side within the Pales a Throne was erected with two Seats and lower Benches were placed on either Hand
Early on the Morning of the first appointed Day the Festival was opened by the Sound of Trumpets and Horns and other martial Instruments
It had been a Custom among us of the Labourers who were young and active when the Days Work was over to divert our Fellows with various Exercises and Feats such as Wrestling Running Leaping and tossing or trundling Leaden Balls and so forth I was therefore up among the soonest in hopes of distinguishing myself on the Occasion
By the Dawning the City was emptied of its Inhabitants and Crowds came on after Crowds from all Parts of the Country so that the Pales were soon circled by an innumerable Concourse
Then came
Ali
with his Attendants and entering the Pale ascended his Throne His favourite Sultana was placed on his left and his Concubines took their Places on either Side and his Courtiers and Guards arranged themselves behind
Then were exalted on Poles the Prizes that were to be given to such of the Slaves or Labourers as excelled in tossing the Javelin or in hitting a distant Mark with the Bow or with the Sling But as I had not been practised in these Matters I contented myself for this Day with being a Spectator Some of the Candidates on this Occasion were extremely expert and would send an Arrow or sling a Stone more directly to the Mark than any
European
could shoot a Musket Bullet accordingly the generous
Ali
added Freedom to the Prizes which they had won and immediately preferred them among his Troops
After this
Ali
to entertain his People ordered a Dozen of his Courtiers to run at the Ring Immediately a Number of neighing Steeds richly caparisoned were led by Lackeys into the Lists The young Nobles without Stirrup or Saddle vaulted lightly into their Seats and turning and winding their fiery Horses with wonderful Command and Address gave high Delight to the Spectators Each of them then caught a Javelin which was tossed to him by an Attendant and setting out successively almost at their Speed three of them in mid Course bore off a small Ring of Brass from the Thread by which it hung on the Point of his Lance
After this again a great Number of burlesque Comedians entered the Pales in order to act one of their
African
Drolls or Pantomimes some of them represented Men some Tigers Hogs and Bears others Ghosts and others Goblins But I could make nothing of such a Jumblement of Intention although it gave great Diversion to the Populace And thus ended the Sports of the present Day
While the People retired homeward several Waggons were drawn in heavy laden with Victuals and Liquors wherewith all the Slaves and Labourers were plentifully regaled
The second Day was ushered in with the like Pomp as the former; and Prizes were set up for lifting the Weight for tossing the Colt and for pitching the Bar
At a little Distance from the Front of the Throne a Ring was fastened to a leaden Mass that weighed about five hundred Pounds and above fifty Adventurers successively attempted to lift but not a Man of them could move it I then advanced bowing lowly toward the Throne and putting my right Hand in the Ring and exerting my Powers I raised it fairly from the Ground whereupon a great Shout was suddenly given by all my Companions who wrought with me at the Mount Hereupon a Black came up of Herculean Bulk and Brawn and desiring that fifty Pounds more should be added to the Lead he lifted and swung them in the Air with apparent Ease and the Prize was accordingly adjudged to him
A large Iron Coit was then given to the Competitors and about a Dozen of them tossed it to a Distance that was thought extraordinary I then took it up and threw it three Foot beyond the furthest But again the black Slave came up who was not of our Company and tossed it two Foot beyond my Cast and consequently atchieved the second Prize
A long and massive Bar was then presented to us but all refused to take it in Hand till the same Black seized it and putting one End to his Foot pitched it off to a Distance that raised a Cry of Admiration I then took my Turn and giving my whole Strength and Action to this single Cast I pitched it some Inches beyond the Throw of my Rival whereupon another Shout was given and repeated The Black then was wholly enflamed by Envy and Resentment and reclaiming the Bar and exerting all his Force he threw it to a Length that on Admeasurement was judged to exceed my Cast and he proudly laid hold on the third Prize
The great
Ali
then ordered me to be brought before him I went and bending on my Knee laid my Head to the Earth Rise said he I obeyed and he surveyed me with long and earnest Attention Young Man he cried you have been this Day something unfortunate but you have not the less Merit put this Ring on your Finger it discharges you henceforth from all Kind of Labour but it does not enfranchise you because for the present I do not choose to part with you I respectfully took the Ring and again bowing to the Ground retired in Silence
A Tournament of the young Nobles then ensued wherein great Feats of Action and Prowess was shewn And the Day ended with another Droll to which I gave no heed
The Morning of the third Day was opened as usual and Prizes were exhibited for Wrestling for Running and for Leaping
Immediately the black Champion stepped formidably forth and challenged any to approach who desired to be crushed to Death but not a Man accepted this charitable Invitation Unwilling then that this Boaster should carry off the Prize without a Contest I stepped from my Rank depending more upon Action than Force to cope with him We both stripped to our Canvas Drawers and his Looks and Gestures menaced me with instant Destruction I advanced however to essay him and he stretched his Arms toward me as a Vulture would reach his Pounces to seize upon a Chicken when springing instantly up to him I put a Hand upon each of his Shoulders and vaulting lightly over his Head I turned nimbly upon him threw up his Heels and laid him sidelong on the Earth
As the Contrast of our Colours had rendered us remarkable to all the Spectators a Shout was set up that rent the very Elements But the Black rose and roared aloud with his Lionlike Voice for Justice and the Judges on weighing the Matter appointed me to another Trial forbidding further Fraud
Again we prepared to engage and again my black Adversary stretched forth his Arms with Eyes flashing Fire and Features distorted with Rage when retiring from him as if dismayed I shot forward like Lightening and springing from the Ground I pitched the whole Weight of my Body into his Bosom This staggered him some Steps backward when continuing to press upon him I put one Foot behind and he fell under me with a horrible Squelch upon the Sand and dashing my Hand against his Forehead I sprung up lightly on my Feet
Here the People repeated their Clamours which were echoed for a long Space from Side to Side while I proposed to the Judges that if my Rival was not yet satisfied I would give him the other Venture But the Black was so far from being in Plight for a third Engagement that he could not rise without Help on either Hand and the Prize being a fine Turban with a Diamond Button was put upon my Head
The Competitors for the Race then came from among the Crowd being fifteen in Number lightly equipped for the Purpose and I also put on a thin Canvas Waistcoat that came close to my Body
In the Front of the Throne a long Pole was set up from whence we were to start and another Pole was erected on the further Side round which we were to run and so return to the Post from whence we set out
We were all arranged in a Line and
Ali
himself was to give the Word when one of our Fellows either thinking or pretending to think that the Word was given started away the rest followed and I was left alone quietly standing by the Post Why dont you set out said
Ali
when your Highness shall be pleased to give the Word Away then he cried and away I sprung
As I found that I was gathering them up very fast I suspended my Speed and lingered behind the hindmost till they had all turned the Post and extended in a long Line before me I then started away and passed one and then another till having passed them all I left the oremost at a Distance behind me and seized the Goal whereon
Ali
himself gave a Cry of Admiration which was answered from all Sides by all his People
I was then presented with a Velvet Tunic embroidered with Gold and some smaller Matters were given to the two who came next to me in Speed
The Candidates for the third Prize then rose from the Ground where they had sat to repose themselves for they were the same Persons who had been Competitors in the Race A scarlet Girdle was stretched along the Grass as a Mark from whence the Rivals were to set off on their Leap And each of them took a Run till they came to the appointed Limit and then sprung forward with their utmost Agility
As this of all others was the Article of bodily Exercise wherein I excelled I stood by as an unconcerned Spectator till the Contest was over I then measured with my Eye the Length they had passed Then taking two Men I set them in Midspace, and, placing a Pole upon their Heads I took a run and throwing myself Head foremost over the Pole I turned in the Air and alighted six Inches beyond the furthest Leap whereupon I was presented with a Collar adorned with Gems of great Lustre
Ali
then ordered two Troops of his lightest Horse to come forward Accordingly they entered the Pale and dividing they retired to opposite Sides of the Lists The Populace then fell back and cleared the mean Space, and the young Officers set forward on a half Gallop at the Head of their Troops
Never did I see such Action such Horsemanship The Officers as they rode swiftly forward would toss their Lances aloft and then catch them in mid Air and again they would cast them to a Distance before them and stooping take them from the Ground in the Midst of their Speed
The Troops then met as should seem in mortal Opposition and breaking their frail Lances against each other they drew their Wooden Sabres and each passing his Adversary gave a back Stroke to his Neck with such Force and Agility as was truly alarming Their Ranks then appeared to be broken on either Part And instantly forming themselves into little Rhombs or Squares or Wedges they fought and mixed together as in a Country Dance with the most regular Confusion that ever was beheld
This was justly delightful to all the Spectators and I regretted their Departure with the ridiculous Entrance of a third Pantomime
While this Droll was preparing I received an Order from
Ali
to dress myself in the Prizes which I had won and to attend him
I obeyed and presented myself before him What is your Name young Man
David
so please your Highness Are you of Christ or of
Mahomet David
My Will is with Christ so please you but while I confess him with my Lips my whole Life has denied him Then
David
if you will but forsake Christ and turn to
Mahomet
you shall be the Friend of
Ali
and he will heap Treasures and Titles and great Honours upon you Ah my Lord I cried out though I hold my Christ but by a frail and feeble Thread yet I would not quit that Thread for a Chain of golden Links that should bind the whole Wealth of the World to my Possession And why would your Highness desire the Service of a Traitor He who proves a Traitor to his God so please you can never prove true to any Master
Well
David
said he mildly we may talk of these Matters hereafter In the mean Space before I do you any Grace I ought at least to do you Justice You have already received the Rewards of your Valour and your Action but you have not yet received the Reward of your Obedience You were the only one brave
David
who at the Risk of your own Honour attended on my Word and here I give you an Earnest of the Recompence that I intend you
So saying he presented me with a large and massive Sabre whose Handle was studded with Gems of great Value I received it on my Knee and he then continued Ask me now
David
what further Gift you demand except your Dismission and it shall be granted you to a Tenth of the Treasure in my Coffers
When he had spoken my Eye was caught by one of his Retinue and immediately I recollected the Features of the Pirate
Barbar
I instantly cast myself prostrate before his Throne and cried aloud Ah generous
Ali
may God multiply to you Treasures and Blessings a thousand fold I ask none of your Treasures or Possessions O
Ali
I only ask the Head of that Traitor the Head of
Barbar
I ask but Blood for Blood Let him restore to me my Friend my Brother my Lord
Osmyn
he is a Murderer a Traitor and such I will prove him by Night or by Day by Sea or by Land at any Weapons against any Odds I will prove him a Traitor
While I spoke thus impassioned all about appeared under the utmost Consternation and
Barbar
trembled and turned pale but did not dare to quit his Station
Rise
David
said
Ali
and tell me what Friend what
Osmyn
thou dost mean All I know of him my Lord is that his Name was
Osmyn
of
Petra
and that he was Nephew to some great Prince in this Part of the World
Why you dream surely
David
replied the Regent
Osmyn
of
Petra
was my own Nephew and he perished with all his Crew by the Hands of the
English
He did not perish by the Hands of the
English
I cried the
English
were his Preservers his Friends his Attendants and he perished by the Hands of his own Countrymen and more especially by the Hands of this Traitor
Barbar
Well said
Ali
we have not Leisure at present to examine into the Truth of these Allegations Guards take that
Barbar
into safe and close Custody till we are better informed touching the Facts with which he is charged Mean time do you
David
follow in my Train for you must take up your Lodging with me this Night
The Place though it appeared one uniform Edifice was divided into two by an impassable Barrier The one was the occasional Habitation of
Ali
and his Attendants And his Wives with their Eunuchs were lodged in the other where it was Impalement for any Man save
Ali
himself to enter
The generous
Ali
was not of a jealous Temper He gave his Women uncommon Liberties as you have seen for though they were kept by their Veils from the Eyes of the Vulgar yet those Veils were of so very thin a Gauze that they could clearly discern every Object about them
For three Days and Nights after I entered his Palace though I was treated with an Attention that gave me much Uneasiness yet I had not the Honour of being called to his Presence
At length I was conducted by a private Door to his Cabinet My Friend
David
said he what hast thou to tell me concerning my dear and brave Nephew
Osmyn
I then minutely and at large recited to him the Particulars above related And we shed many Tears that were mutually provoked by the Tears of each other
Having closed my Narration he cast his Eyes down awhile as in deep Meditation and raising them again he said the Presumptions are strong very strong against this Man and yet there is a Possibility that he may be guiltless And though
Osmyn
is my Nephew my Blood and almost my Bowels yet Honour Humanity demands of us
David
that nine Criminals should escape the Punishment they deserve rather than one innocent Person should perish in his Righteousness But the great
Alla
may give us further Lights in this Business
In about five Days after a Convict was to be gaunched for the Rape and Murder of a free Woman He was to be thrown from the Top of a high Tower from whose Walls projected several sharp and shagged Instruments resembling Hooks Scythes Tenters
c
at certain Distances some below others
He fainted several times as he was carrying to Execution and then being in an Agony he said he had a Matter of the highest Consequence to impart to the great
Ali
and prayed to be brought directly into his Presence
I was on the Spot when he was led in and looking earnestly at him recollected that he was the Ruffian who had spit in my Face and given me a Buffet when I entered
Barbar
s Ship
Wretch cried the Dey what hast thou to say to
Ali
That I am guilty answered the Convict of Crimes more heinous and capital than that for which I am to suffer of Crimes that nearly concern yourself O
Ali
but which you shall never know unless you swear to me by
Mahomet
to mitigate the Manner of my Death I do swear it said the Regent provided the Discovery which you make shall be found of due Import
He then deposed that on the Night in which
Osmyn
disappeared the Captain with ten confederated Ruffians of whom he was one entered the Princes Cabin and having muffled the Faces of him and his Attendant to prevent their crying out bound them Hand and Foot and heaved them through the Window into a Boat that waited for them That then getting into the Frigate they massacred the seven
Moors
to whose Care she had been left and rifling her of all the Money and Plate and Valuables that they could find they got into their Boat and sinking the Frigate with
Osmyn
and his Attendant in her they made Way with Oar and Sail to the nearest Shore where they divided their Plunder and staving the Boat made separately off to different Regions
Here
Barbar
was sent for and came in Chains and attended by Guards into the Presence But as soon as he saw the Face of the Convict without waiting to be confronted by his Evidence he rushed violently with his Head foremost toward the opposite Marble and if a Man who was at Hand had not caught him by the Chain he would instantly have dashed his Skull to Shivers
Ali
hereupon without further Examination ordered the Head of the Convict to be struck off in the Morning and
Barbar
to be impaled in the Face of the People
Never was Joy like mine on hearing this Sentence pronounced against
Barbar
and I rose early the next Morning in order to have the Pleasure of being at his Execution
He was so enfeebled by his Panicks that they were obliged to draw him on a Sled to the Stake and the muscling of his Countenance had all the Impressions of Death Despair and Hell represented upon it
This however did not affect me with any other Sensation than of that Delight which is naturally felt on the Gratification of Revenge till the Executioners with unfeeling Hearts and merry Tauntings began to take the Wretch in Hand But when I saw them with Difficulty and great Violence thrusting the Stake through his Body which they run up withinside the spinal Bone and so out at the Back of his Neck in order to avoid his Bowels and keep him the longer in Anguish when I saw him writhing in Agony and heared his horrible Roars and Groanings all my Revenge was quickly turned into Terror and Compassion his Pangs and Sufferings as it seemed were transferred to my own Person and had I not turned away I should have fainted on the Spot
The Dey from this time became extremely fond of me and familiar with me He allotted me an affluent Pension with Slaves Horses and Attendants He said I should be to him in the Place of a Nephew and of a Son and he called me by the Name of
DavidOsmyn
Some time after Tidings were brought that
Caled Amurath
of
Fez
was making mighty Preparations to invade his Dominions We will more than meet him Half way cried the gallant
Ali
perhaps we may even prevent his threatened Expedition He then summoned his Forces from all Quarters I was present when he made a general Muster of them His Foot were more formidable for their Numbers than their Discipline but his Horse were perfectly trained and made a most brilliant Appearance
The Day before he set out I threw myself at his Feet I will go with you my Master I will go with you I cried I will not have any Command or Post of Preference or Honour I only desire Permission to fight by your Side that you may witness how greatly I shall dare in your Cause how ready I shall be to take to my own Bosom all the Weapons that shall be aimed at your Bosom my Father
No
David
he replied my People know you are still a Christian I could not refrain from shewing the Love I have for you and that might be Matter of Jealousy and Discontent to my Captains I will leave you here a Band of Soldiers with whom you are to encamp within Sight of my Palace and to keep these Walls from Violence and my Women from Pollution But while you are their Guardian beware that you do not turn an Invader
David
I would pardon you any thing but this I would not pardon you the Invasion of my Bed
DavidOsmyn
No my Lord I cried aloud I cannot prove ungrateful Though your Women were as obvious to my Walks as yonder Pavement and though adorned with more Graces than their first Mother in Paradise they should have no Temptation for me my Master
The next Morning
Ali
began his March and having escorted him a Piece on his Way I returned to my Charge
That Night as I lay in my Tent I began to call myself to Account
David
said I to my Soul thou hast now gotten Preferment and Riches and Honours thou art as it were the second Man in the Realm and all this People have thee in high Estimation But art thou the better or the happier Man for all this
David
Far otherwise far otherwise O frail and vain Heart these Gauds and these Glories have taken hold upon thee and they have drawn a painted Veil between me and my God To my Chain and my Straw and my Nakedness return me to them O Lord return me to my Slavery return me to my Labours I was not then indeed gaining Conquests and winning Prizes but I was near to obtaining
the Prize of the High Calling
My Body was not then adorned with Gold and Pearl but my Spirit rejoiced in
the Pearl of mighty Price
In about five Weeks after as I was taking by Moonlight my Evenings Walk of Meditation on the Marble that checquered the Pavement before the Palace
Muley
an old Black and Chief of the Eunuchs of the Seraglio came up and accosted me
Osmyn
said he taking a Bundle from under his Arm I have here a Present for you that would make proud the greatest Emperor upon Earth It is a compleat Suit wrought purposely for you by the Fingers of the Sultana as also by the Fingers of her fair and princely Sisters They saw your great Atchievments during the Festival and they send you this in Return for the Pleasure which you gave them
So saying he unfolded the Robes to the Moon They were flowered with needled Gold and inlaid with Pearl and Gems of such a vivid Lustre as reflected her Beams with tenfold Brightness
And what is required of me
Muley
I demanded in Return for this inestimable Honour and Bounty Nothing said
Muley
but a single Hours Attendance to give them a short Sketch of your Life and Adventures Take back your Presents I cried there is Poison and Death in them I will not betray the Trust that our Master has reposed in me Nay said
Muley
I affirm to you that there is no such Intention Our Ladies are all Women of the severest Chastity I will undertake to conduct and reconduct you back in safety Neither can our Master be betrayed in any Degree They all live together they love like Sisters and no one keeps a Secret from the other However they desired me to tell you that if you are of a fearful Temper they will not insist on the Favour so much expected
Here I felt myself piqued No
Muley
I cried I am no Coward I can dare all honest Dangers I will attend you But I will not stay
Muley
I will let your Ladies know that in the Cause of Honour and Virtue I can resist all Temptations
I then called a distant Slave who waited my Orders and giving him the Bundle desired him to lay it within my Tent Where now
Muley
said I I will shew you said
Muley
He then led me to a large Bucket wherein Water was accustomed to be raised by Pullies to the Balcony and there to be emptied into Vessels that stood upon the Leads
You must not enter any Door of the lower Story said
Muley
for there our Domestics inhabit and might probably observe you But if you get into this Bucket in a Minute or two after I will raise you by the Pullies and take you gently in
Muley
then went from me and was admitted on striking at a distant Door while I stood by the Bucket and observing its first Motion jumped in and was conveyed to the Top of the Palace
Muley
there received me in Darkness and Silence and taking me by the Hand led me down by a few Steps into a narrow Apartment that was scarcely enlightened by a glimmering Lamp He there left me again giving me only a whispering Promise that he would quickly return I waited for him long however under great Impatience of getting speedily back again At length he came and taking me by the Hand without speaking a Word he led me through a long and dark Entry till coming to a folding Door he touched a Spring whereupon the Door flew open on either Side and threw a sudden Blaze upon my dazzled Eyes
The Saloon upon which it opened was profusely illuminated and most sumptuously furnished but my Attention was quickly called from such inferior Objects In the Midst a Board was covered with an elegant Collation of little Matters Around it were placed a great Number of small Sofas and behind each Sofa stood a Lady richly adorned but veiled from the Head to the Waist
Again
Muley
led me to the further End while I made low Obeysance as I passed the Company He then compelled me to sit where by a small Turn of my Head I could have a full Prospect of each Fairone at Table Then as by one Motion they were all instantly seated and again as by one Motion they all instantly threw up their Veils and I had like to have fallen backward with the Suddenness of the Lustre that flashed upon my Spirit
All the Ladies smiled and seemed delighted at my Astonishment The Sultana
Adelaide
sat nearest to me on the Right and was no way distinguished from her Sisters but by a small Coronet of feathered Diamonds that was inserted in her lovely Locks
Osmyn
said she you seem something surprised were you never in a Seraglio before Have you no Seraglios in your Country
Osmyn
No Madam I replied we have no Seraglio in our Country but sure no Seraglio upon Earth ever produced such and so many Beauties as now strike my Eyes Heaven alone can exhibit such a Constellation of Luminaries
Would you not wish then said
Adelaide
to have such a Seraglio of your own No Madam I answered without Love in my Judgment there can be no true Enjoyment if ever I love it can be but the one Object and her I shall love with my whole Heart true Love will admit of no Division Here she looked at me with a Tenderness that sunk into my Soul and taking out her Handkerchief she wiped away a swelling Tear
Another Lady then demanded if we had not a Woman Market and if they were not Slaves in my Country as they were here No Madam I replied our Fairones ones there are not the Subjects of Merchandize but the Objects of Admiration No Woman in
England
can be bound to any Lover save by her own Affections There it is Death for any Man to have more than one Wife and that after a Suit perhaps of several Years A Lady there of equal Beauties to the least excellent in Company would be followed by Hundreds of humble and sighing Adorers In
England
our Actions are as free as our Hearts and the Sensibilities of mutual Love between those of the Sexes who feel the tender and enchanting Passion constitute the principal Happiness of which Life is capable
Happy Englishwomen happy Englishwomen was echoed all around
Alas cried the lovely
Adelaide
how very different is our Fate we are sold like servile Brutes to any Brute of a Master We neither love nor are beloved as you now have convinced me
Osmyn
We are subjected to vile Desires which we at once detest and suffer and when those Desires are gratified we are cast away as common Lumber to make Room for some new Comer Even high as I sit here the favoured Sultana of my Lord I may Tomorrow be appointed to the meanest Offices of his Houshold This surely cannot be a Marriage for as you have intimated
Osmyn
and as I feel in my own Soul Marriage can only consist in an Union of Hearts Love cannot be bought or sold it is of too precious a Nature nothing can purchase nothing compensate save its Value in Love alone
Here they pressed me to tell them my Story and here I confess to my Shame that however vile I appeared in my own Eyes I was ambitious of appearing as honourable and deserving as possible in the Eyes of the fair
Adelaide
I therefore suppressed what was black glossed over what was offensive and enlarged on every thing that I deemed advantageous in my own Character
The Night was far spent by the Time I concluded and the Sultana arising proposed to shew me the Curiosities of an adjoining Cabinet I accordingly attended her and was astonished at the Lustre the Richness and Profusion of the Jewels as well as at the Miracles of Art that she displayed before my Eyes
On our Return we perceived that our Company had absconded
Adelaide
grew all Crimson and cast down her Eyes I also was confused my Heart began to throb and I looked about for some Pretence to make a quick Escape But but In short Gentlemen neither my Resolutions nor Religion nor Honour nor Gratitude were of any avail against such a Temptation they fell together an easy Victim to the allconquering
Adelaide
Adelaide
was the first to press my Retreat It was not yet Day I found
Muley
in Waiting We came by the Way we went I stepped into the Bucket and he let me gently down
As I approached the Pavement I felt a Hand behind that seized me violently by the Shoulder I sprung out and seizing the Wretch by the Throat would instantly have plunged my Poniard into his Bosom but some Power as suddenly arrested my Arm and said to my Heart beware that thou add not Murder to Adultery
David
While I hesitated a Number rushed upon me unaware they griped me by each Arm and wresting the Poniard from me they bound my Hands behind and led me to the Cells of the
Imams
that stood something aloof from one End of the Palace
As soon as they had brought Lights what
Osmyn
exclaimed their Chief can this be our renowned
Osmyn
Is it thus that you repay the Favours of your generous and kind Master You are a Christian cried another has your
Christ
then taught you to betray the Confidence and Trust that is reposed in you This was a home Stab it went through my Heart but I stood in a shamefaced Sullenness and opened not my Lips
Here they went apart and having consulted awhile returned
Osmyn
said their Chief you are a brave and a wonderful Man and it is a pity to lose you Your Secret is yet with us and we swear to you by our holy Prophet and by the terrible
Alha
that if you perform the single Condition we enjoin we will bury what we know in a Depth below the Grave and we will recommend you to the Love of
Ali
and the Acclamations of all the People and we will have you loaded with Preferments and Riches and Honours Name it quickly I cried whatever it may be at the Risk at the Loss of my Life I will perform it It is said he no more than to abjure
Christ
and to confess
Mahomet
whose Priests we are and all the Blessings of his Paradise shall be showered down upon you
Here I gave a deep Groan and casting down my Head and shedding a silent Tear without daring to lift my Thoughts to Heaven No no I cried though
Christ
is nothing to me though I have no Interest in him though he spurns and has rejected me for Time and for Eternity though I have daily denied him by every Action of my Life yet my Tongue shall never deny him In Poverty and Nakedness in Dangers and in Dungeons in Death here and in Hell hereafter my Mouth shall confess him
Here they went apart again and returning told me that I should have two Days to deliberate on their Proposal but that if I did not comply I should be impaled alive on the third Morning with all the additional Tortures that Art could invent
They then put me into a covered kind of a Waggon and conveyed me to where I was cast into a noisome Dungeon bolted down to the Ground with Irons sustained with coarse Bread and Water and not allowed a Ray of Light to divert my Thoughts from the Darkness and Horrors of my Situation
Mean time I endeavoured to reinforce my Resolution by repeating to myself the sacred Promise where
Christ
says
whosoever will confess me upon Earth him will I confess before my Father which is in Heaven
Mine indeed said I is but a verbal Confession but even that with what I am about to suffer for his Sake may serve to make me less criminal if not acceptable in his Sight
I then longed to be brought to the Test while I shuddered at the Thoughts of it At length the Day arrived The
Imams
came and once more repeated the Question but I still persisted though in Terms that were scarcely intelligible for my Tongue cleaved with Terror to the Roof of my Mouth
They then stripped me to these Drawers out of which also they took my Money with other Valuables and every thing except this insignificant Walnut and having tied me to a Sled I was dragged to the Place of Execution
The chief
Imam
once more asked if I would renounce the Son of
David
but I made him no Answer for I was unable to speak I had seen the Preparations the Stake in the Hands of the Executioners the Fires kindled about me with horrid Instruments ready to be put therein for the tearing of my frying and quivering Flesh from the Bones
Could I then have had the Confidence to have turned my Soul to God and to have besought his Assistance in that trying and terrible Hour I make no Question but he would have given me Strength from on high to defy all that Man or Devils could do unto me and I might now in the Regions of his Bounty and his Blessedness have been pouring forth my Existence in the grateful and astonished Sense of his Mercy to such a Sinner
But when I reflected on the Wrythings of
Barbar
the bare Sight of which my Spirit was not able to support when I saw such an Apparatus of additional Torments and when they took me in Hand for instant Execution I utterly lost my Senses I shrunk inward with Fear my Hairs stood on End with Horror my Tongue found sudden Utterance and I cried Stay stay I will say I will do whatever you enjoin
The Imam then began to pronounce a Form of Renunciation which he ordered me to repeat after him but I was so panting and breathless that they were obliged to get a Cordial for me to keep me from swooning
As soon as my Spirits were something restored the Imam again began his impious Ceremony and I make no Question but I should have gone through it however abhorrent to my Soul but in that Instant we heard distant Shouts and Cries as of many People the Sound of the Clamours drew nearer and nearer and soon after we saw Numbers hurrying to and hurrying from the City Their Words became now as distinct as they were audible
Ali
is slain
Ali
is slain was all the Cry and
Amurath
comes in full March upon us
Here all turned suddenly from me and flying several Ways left me unbound and alone sitting close by the Stake Seeing this I began to recover from the fearful and faint Condition in which I was and rising I made the best of my way to the Port There I saw a long Boat just about to set off with a Number of Fellows much in my own Plight and taking a Run I sprung from the Beach into the midst of them
A Man then demanded in
English
if I was one of the Ransomed Yes ransomed ransomed I cried wonderfully ransomed indeed whereupon without further Question they set up their Sail and in about two Hours we reached the Ship which the Consul had appointed to take them in
For the Remainder of that Day I continued in a State that is hard to be conceived My Head and Stomach at times were disordered by sick Fits and my Soul hovered in an astonished and fearful Kind of Doze as one not rightly awaked from a Dream of Horror
Toward Evening I threw myself down in the Hold and sunk into a State of utter Oblivion as I had not slept for the three foregoing Nights and Days
The Day following I found my Body something refreshed but the Situation of my Mind was like that of a disturbed and tumbling Sea after a raging Storm I looked around for Comfort but no Comfort was near I looked afar off for Hope but no Hope came in Prospect The Sense of Existence became a Misery under which I was not able to bear up and could I have had my Wish Creation would again have been uncreated
During the Whole of our Voyage I continued very nearly in this Distemper of Spirit For though at Times I would enter into the Frolics and jovial Humours of the Crew yet my Merriment at such Seasons was a Merriment to Madness and I would again sink precipitately into a Depth of Despondence whose Darkness would admit no Ray of Consolation
The Tempter would then urge me by Dagger or by Drowning or by any Means to get rid of a Being that only served to torment me But again the Dread that I might not get rid of that Being and that Death might plunge me into a Perpetuity of those Pangs in which I saw the wretched
Barbar
agonizing this deterred me from hastening the Day of my horrid Doom and so I waited in a gloomy and
fearful looking out for Judgment
I would then call myself at Dead of Night before that terrible Judgment Thou Fiend
David
I would say wherefore art thou sunk in Guilt above all that ever were guilty It was thy Fortune to get three good and kind Masters good and kind above thy Wants and even up to thy Wishes and all these thou hast deceived thou hast spoiled and betrayed them Even the Master of all Masters the Master who was my Freedom in the Midst of my Captivity I was on the Brink of denying the
Jesus
also nay I did reject I did deny him I promised I engaged to reject and deny him and he will reject thee through Time and through Eternity he will deny thee
David
One Evening a fearful Tempest arose and while most of the Crew gave some of their little Matters to the Providore for Liquors and sat drowning the Sense of Danger and profanely carousing at one End of the Ship my Companions who are present were praying or singing Glory to God in the other Both Parties invited me to join them but I refused to be Partaker with either for I could not abet in others that Wickedness which I condemned and detested in myself and I could not think of taking into my execrable Mouth the sacred Name of that
Christ
to whom I had so lately turned a false Apostate In the mean time I held myself as the Refugee
Jonas
whose Crimes had brought Perdition on all in the Vessel and I was on the Point of advising the Mariners to cast me out
At length the Tempest abated but my Perturbations did not abate I wished to repent but I deemed myself past the Possibility of Repentance and thus I continued in a State of Dissatisfaction and Enmity against myself against my God against Man and Woman kind
When the Constables entered and by the Order of Sir
Thomas
laid hold on such a Number of my late Associates though I thought that I did not care what became of me yet Nature began to reassert her Rights I trembled and turned exceeding pale as I suppose all my Crimes came rushing together into my Memory I imagined that they were exposed before your Eyes also and I expected each Moment to be seized like my fellow Culprits and thrown into a Dungeon But when I found that instead of Punishment you proposed to load me with your Bounties all my Sins appeared to me the more exceedingly sinful your Goodness came in a Heap upon the Heap of my own Guilt and I fell prostrate at your Feet as under the Weight of a Mountain
AS SOON as he had closed his Story take Courage and Comfort to you
David
I cried Your Case is not near so desperate as your conscientious Fears have formed it Your Error lay in trusting to your own Sense of Duty and to the Strength of your own Powers for resisting Temptation and the best Man that ever breathed with no better a Dependance must inevitably have fallen as you did
David
You now know your own Weakness you are taught by repeated Experience that in or of yourself you no more can stand against the Enemies of your Soul when they assail you than a Tree severed from its Root and barely set on End can stand the Assaults of a coming Tempest Keep therefore to your Root
David
Never dare in your own Strength to oppose yourself to a Reed Apply to the Rock my Friend from whence you were hewn Cling to him repose upon him put your whole Confidence in him and then your Weakness shall become stronger than an Army with Banners and neither Life nor Death nor Principalities nor Powers nor Things present nor Things to come shall be able to separate you from the Love of God which is in
Christ Jesus
While I spoke his Eyes began to glisten the Cloud of his Countenance cleared his Aspect assumed a cheerful Serenity he could scarce have been known for the same Person and he cried I will I will once more seek to my God do you my Master pray him to permit my Approach and in Life or in Death I never will let go my Hold of him any more He then would again have cast himself at my Feet but I hastened to prevent him
David
said I I am going for
France
and before I set out I should be greatly pleased to see you in some decent Way of Livelihood Now instead of the twenty Pounds of which you held yourself so unworthy here are two hundred to make a kind of Beginning for you and I should be glad to know the Use you propose to make of this Money
In the first Place Sir said he I will refund to my two Masters all the Money of which I defrauded them with full or double Interest amounting as I suppose to seventy or eighty Pounds And in the next Place I will return to your Honour every Penny of the Remainder for indeed you shall not persuade me to trust myself with it In my present Way of thinking it would be of no more use to me than the Stones or Dirt of the Street My State of Slavery and Labour was the only State of Happiness that I have known since my Birth and I dread I shudder at the Apprehension of Affluence I am already but too rich in having my Liberty I am now in a free Country and therefore Lord of my own Earnings Matter of Labour is but Matter of Play to me The Pay of a Porter on the Spot where I am will be too much of Opulence it will give me a further Sufficiency to supply the Wants of the Needy and the Cravings of the Beggar
My good
David
my beloved Penitent said the worthy Sir
Thomas
and so saying he took him most cordially by the Hand how came you by that same Walnut the only Remnant of all your Treasures which you called insignificant and have yet retained to this Day You are as
Pharaoh
to his chief Butler Sir said
David
you bring my Faults fully into the Remembrance of your Servant
While the Sultana as I told you was shewing and displaying to me the Treasures of her Cabinet she desired me to take thereout whatever I held most rare or most estimable But as my covetous Fit was not then upon me I turned my Eye on a few Walnuts that I saw in a Corner and taking one of them said that I would keep it for her Sake Swear to me then she cried that you will never break or open it till you get into your own Country This was an easy Condition and I instantly complied with it
Did you love the Sultana
David
Yes Sir to excess as I am also persuaded that she loved me and we vowed to intermarry if ever it should be our Fortune to regain our Liberty and bound or free never to marry another
Let me look at your Walnut
David
said Sir
Thomas
you are now under no further Injunction concerning it Do not break it I beseech you then Sir said
David
because I intend never to part with it I will not break it
David
I will only open it with my Knife and a little Matter of Isinglass may soon repair the Breach
Sir
Thomas
then took the Walnut and having poised it for some Time in his Hand I will give you a hundred Guineas
David
said he for your Hazard of what this Shell contains I would take a hundred Pence Sir said
David
if I was inclined to take your Money without giving Value Sir
Thomas
then took his Knife and dividing the Shell with the utmost Caution I have a strong Fancy
David
said he that I must soon raise the Market and instantly produced a Diamond of the first Water and Magnitude
We all started back and looked astonished and
David
was the only Person in Company who neither by Word or Look expressed the smallest Joy or Satisfaction on the Occasion
Sir
Thomas
who was a Jeweller having inspected the Stone awhile with much Delight and Admiration Mr
David
said he I would offer you seventeen hundred Pieces for this Diamond if I did not think my Offer considerably under the Value but I shall be a better Judge when I have put it in the Scales Keep it keep it Sir cried
David
and heartily welcome return me only the Shell it is all I will accept of Then turning to me a pale and alarmed Aspect Ah Sir said he this is questionless another Device of the Tempter I fear that I am not to get quit of my old Associate so soon as I looked for I do not think with you
David
in this Matter I replied I rather conceive that Providence hath sent you this Treasure at a Time that he sees you will make a worthy Use of it Oh Sir he cried if it shall ever again be my Case to fall off from my God I shall certainly run mad or make away with myself Why so
David
said I You must not expect all on a sudden to jump into a sinless State Such a State is only for those who have already
fought the good Fight
who have
finished their Course
who have
kept the Faith
Such a State is only for those in whom the Babe of
Bethlehem
is not only conceived but grown up and become mature These indeed cannot sin but run with a joyful and free Will into all Sorts of Goodness as a Stream is prone to run to its kindred and parent Ocean But as for such as you and I Brother
David
we must be content to struggle on and to fall and rise by Turns And though we should fall an hundred times a Day yea and be sore wounded also my
David
yet we should not despond but turn as often to our Helper in total Diffidence of ourselves and full Confidence in his Mightiness For he is almighty to lift us up whenever he thinks good and the Balm of
Calvary
is better than the Balm of
Gilead
to heal all our woundings
I will tell you another Secret
David
which I learned from a Saint who is now deceased That the humbling State of frequent and conscious Lapses is more eligible and tending to higher Blessedness for Man than the Firmness and Rectitude of an unfallen Angel because it saps Selfconfidence and creaturely Dependance and throws one wholly on the Base that pillars up Eternity
Here he catched at my Hand and pressing his Lips upon it what shall I render you my Master what shall I render you he cried for the Peace and Comfort which you have shed abroad through my Bosom I may now draw near to the Throne of Compassion heavy laden with all my Sins that is to say with all myself and I will trust to free Mercy for removing the Burden and to free Grace alone for any good that shall ever be in me
As it now grew late we agreed that Sir
Thomas
should take
David
home in his own Coach and that I should take
Thomas
with me in a Hackney and I gave their remaining Comrades an Order for a hundred and fifty Guineas
per
Man
When we were just upon separating
Thomas
caught
David
about the Neck O my dear
David
said he I shall surely never dare to judge any Man again for I held you to be a very Reprobate when you were fifty times over a better Man than myself Hereupon I wished Sir
Thomas
and
David
a good Night and making
Tirlah
and
Thomas
go into the Coach before me my two Servants lighted us Home with each a Torch in his Hand
As I entered the House Mrs
Tirrel
met me with a sudden Joy in her Countenance My dear Sir she cried I began to be in Trouble about you I have kept Supper back this long Time Then said I let us have it as soon as you please for I have here brought a dear Friend home with me
I placed the Twins directly opposite to each other at Table and I made
Tirlah
and young
James
sit down along with us
While I was pleasingly employed in observing the mutual Emotions of the Brother and Sister they looked eagerly at each other they both changed Countenance and neither of them offered to taste a Bit Mr
Thomas
said I why dont you eat
Thomas Thomas
cried the Sister in a quick and passionate Accent it may be it may be O my Brother
So saying she gave a Jump which for the World she could not have done at any other Time Over tumbled the Table Meat Dishes and Plates while she catched and clung about her Brother without casting a Thought away upon the Ruins that she had wrought O my
Tommy
O my
Nelly
my
Tommy
my
Nelly
was all that was uttered in the Midst of their Caresses They saw no one but each other they heard no one but each other and I would gladly lose or give a thousand Suppers to be feasted as I was at that Season
When Mr
Clinton
came to this Part of his Story a Messenger entered in fearful Haste and delivered a Letter to Lady
Maitland
As soon as she had run it over my dearest Sir she cried I must leave you this Instant I lately made you an Offer of a hundred thousand Pounds and now I know not that I have so many Shillings upon Earth I am here informed that the Trustee of all my Affairs has absconded and made his Escape to
France
but I must hurry to Town and enquire into this Business So saying she courtesied and suddenly withdrew without giving her Cousin Time to make a Tender of his Services
The next Morning Mr
Clinton
ordered his Chariot to the Door and hastened to attend her Ladyship at her House in
London
but there he was told that she had set out for
Dover
about an Hour before and he returned much dejected and grieved on her Account
In about three Weeks after Mr
Clement
with his young Pupil came home quite lightened of the Money they had taken abroad Mr
Fenton
for so we shall call him again gave
Clement
a friendly Embrace and took
Harry
to his Caresses as though he had returned from a long and dangerous Voyage
Well
Clement
said Mr
Fenton
what Account have you to give us of your Expedition An Account Sir that would be extremely displeasing to any Man living except yourself in short our young Gentleman here has plunged you above a thousand Pounds in Debt over the large Sums that we carried with us I hope the Objects were worthy said Mr
Fenton
wonderfully worthy indeed Sir I never saw such tender and affecting Scenes Then I shall be overpaid and enriched by the Narration
Here
Harry
enquired impatiently for Mrs
Clement
and his Friend
Ned
and being told that they were on a Visit to the Widow
Neighbourly
he took a hasty Leave for the present and away he flew to embrace them
As soon as he was gone Sir said Mr
Clement
I cannot think that there is in the World such another Boy as yours I will leave to himself the Detail of our Adventures in the several Prisons they had such an Effect on his Heart that they cannot but have made a deep Impression on his Memory so I shall only tell you of what happened in our Way to
London
As we were chatting and walking leisurely along the Road a poor Man before us happened to drop in a Fit of the Fallingsickness When
Harry
saw the Writhings and Convulsions in which he lay he turned pale and looked vastly frightened and seizing me under the Arm he cried come come away and hurried me off as fast as he could But we had not gone far till his Pace began to abate and stopping and hesitating let us turn let us turn Mr
Clement
he cried let us go back again and help the poor Man We then returned hastily and raising his Head we kept him from bruising it against the Ground I then forced open his clenched Hands and having chafed the Palms awhile he began to recover and soon came to himself Meanwhile
Harry
s Fright was not yet quite over He seemed willing to get away from the Object of his Terror and putting his Hand in his Pocket and giving him all the Silver he had he wished him better Health and away we went
We had not gone above Half a Mile further when I saw a little Girl in a Field on the right Hand endeavouring to drive a Cow through a small Gate into the Road in Order to be milked as I suppose by her Mother but the Cow kicked up her Heels and proved wanton and refractory and ran hither and thither and would not be guided The poor Child then set up a Cry of as bitter Distress as if all that was valuable in the World was going to ruin
Harry
gave a ready Ear to the Sound of Lamentation and seeing the Plight that the poor Thing was in he suddenly crossed the Road above Ankle deep in Dirt and leaping the Ditch he proved nimbler than the Cow and driving her through the Pass he turned her into the Way that the Child would have her go
That Morning indeed was to
Harry
a Morning of petty Adventures By the time that we approached the Suburbs we had nearly overtaken a grown Girl who carried a Basket of Eggs on her Head A great lubberly Boy just then passed us by at a smart Pace and tripping up to the Girl gave the Basket a Tip with his Hand and dashed all the Eggs into Mash against a stoney Part of the Road and again taking to his Heels run on as before Immediately
Harry
s Indignation was kindled and setting out at top Speed he soon overtook him and gave him several smart Strokes with his little Cane across the Shoulders The Fellow then turned upon
Harry
and gave him a furious Blow with his Fist over the Head while I hastened to his Relief as I perceived that the other was quite an Overmatch for him But before I arrived our Hero had put a quick End to the Combat for springing from the Ground he darted his Head full into the Nose and Mouth of his Adversary who instantly roared out and seeing his own Blood come pouring down he once more took to Flight while
Harry
continued to press upon him and belaboured him at Pleasure till he judged that he had beaten him to the full Value of the Eggs
Meanwhile the poor Girl wholly unmindful of what passed remained wailing and wringing her Hands over the Wreck of her Merchandise The Voice of a Siren could not so powerfully have attracted and recalled
Harry
from the Length he had gone he returned with Speed to her and I followed My poor Girl says he where were you going with those Eggs To Market Master says she And what did you expect to get for them About five Shillings Sir and I had promised my Daddy and Mammy to lay it out in Shoes and Stockings for my little Brothers and Sisters and so I must now hear all the Blame of the poor Things going barefoot Here she again set up her Wailings and her Tears poured down afresh
Harry
then desired me to lend him ten Shillings and turning to the Mourner hold out your two Hands my poor Girl he cried Then putting five Shillings into each Hand here is the Payment for your Eggs said he and here are five Shillings more though I fear it is too little to pay you for all the Tears they cost you
Never did I see so sudden so great a Change in any Countenance Surprise Gratitude Ecstasy flashed from her Eyes and gave a joyous Flush to the muscling of her Aspect She hurried her Money into her Bosom and dropping on her Knees in the Dirt and seizing hold of
Harry
s Hand she squeezed and kissed it repeatedly without being able to utter a Word While
Harry
s Eyes began to fill and endeavouring to disengage himself he made off as fast as he could from such Thanks as he thought he had no Way deserved
This Sir was the last of our Adventures going to
London
But had you seen us on our Return about two Hours ago you would have wondered at the mirey Plight into which we were put by helping Pasfengers up with their Bundles that had tumbled into the Dirt or by assisting to raise Cattle that had fallen under their Carriages for Master
Harry
would compell me to be as busy and active in Matters of Charity as himself
However Sir I am to tell you that Master
Harry
with all his Excellencies of Person Heart and Understanding will be accounted a mere Idiot among People of Distinction if he is not permitted to enter into some of the fashionable Foibles and fashionable Vices of the Age
We were taking a Walk in the Mall when we were met by the Earl of
Mansfield
who expressed great Joy at seeing Master
Harry
his old Acquaintance as he called him and he pressed us so earnestly to Dinner that we could not in Manners refuse him
There was a vast Concourse of Company more especially of the little Quality of both Sexes who came to pay their Respects to young Lord
Bottom
and his Sister the Lady
Louisa
Harry
was received and saluted by Lady
Mansfield
and the young Lord without any Appearance of the old Animosity Some time after Dinner a large Pacquet of Letters was brought into the Earl and making his Excuse to
Harry
alone he rose from the Table and retired to his Closet
Lord
Bottom
and his Sister then led the young Males and Females to an adjoining Apartment where several Cardtables were laid and I began to tremble for the Credit of my Pupil on the Occasion as I knew him to be a Novice in such Matters
In the mean time the remaining Ladies and Gentlemen divided into two or three Parties at Ombre and I sauntered about the Room admiring the Prints of the
Ariadne
and the
Aurora
that were taken from
Guido
as also some capital Paintings that the Earl had brought from
Italy
I had spent above an Hour in this pleasing Amusement and had nearly made the Tour of the whole DiningRoom when as I stood at a little Distance behind my Ladys Chair seemingly inattentive to any thing that passed Lord
Bottom
entered on Tiptoe and tripping up to his Mother and tittering and whispering in her Ear what do you think Mamma said he sure Master
Fenton
is a Fool a downright Fool upon my Honour He does not know a single Card in the whole Pack he does not know the Difference between the Ace of Hearts and the Nine of Clubs I dont think either that he knows any thing of the Difference or Value of Coin for as we passed through the Hall to Day a Beggar asked for a Halfpenny and I saw him slip a Shilling into his Hand Indeed Mamma he is the greatest Fool that ever I knew and yet poor Fellow he does not seem to know any thing of the Matter himself
During this Oration of Lord
Bottom
on the Virtues of his new Friend I felt my whole Body glow and tingle with Concern and soon after
Harry
entered with the rest of the small Quality Master
Fenton
cries my Lady I beg to speak with you Dont you know the Cards my Dear No indeed Madam Cant you play at Dice No Madam Can you play Draughts or Polish or Chess Not at all Madam Why then my Dear I must tell you that all your Fathers Fortune will never introduce you among People of any Breeding or of any Fashion Can you play at no Kind of Game Master
Harry
A little at Fox and Geese Madam And pray my Dear said my Lady smiling which of the Parties do you espouse The Part of the Geese Madam I thought as much pertly cried out my Lord
Bottom
whereupon a loud Laugh was echoed through the Room
Here my Lady chid the Company and calling
Harry
to her again for he had gone something aloof Tell me I pray you said she why you espouse the Part of the Geese Because Madam I always wish that Simplicity should get the better of Fraud and Cunning
The Countess here looked astonished and having gazed awhile at him and caught and kissed him eagerly You are a noble Fellow she cried and all must be Fools or mad that ever shall take you for the one or the other
The elder Gentry here laid their Cards aside and desired the young Ones to set about some Play Lady
Louisa
proposed DrawGloves or Questions and Commands and to it they went
Among the Females was one Miss
Uppish
sole Heiress to a vast Fortune Though her Person was deformed her Face was the very Picture of confident Disdain and scarce any one could speak to her or look at her without being told of the Contempt she had for them by the SideGlance of her Eye the Writhing of her Neck and tossing up of her Head
In the Course of the Play our
Harry
was commanded to put the Candle into the Hand of Miss
Uppish
and then to kiss the Candlestick which Command he obeyed literally by giving her the Candle and kissing the Candlestick which he held in his own Hand
Hereupon a great Shout was set up in the young Assembly and O the Fool the senseless Creature the Fool the Fool the Fool was repeated throughout while Lord
Bottom
laughed and danced about in the Impatience of his Joy
I was amazed that
Harry
s Countenance seemed no Way disconcerted by all this Ridicule At length Lady
Mansfield
called him to her How my Dear could you be guilty of such an Error she said did not you know that when you gave the Candle into the Hand of the young Lady she became the Candlestick and it was her you should have kissed
Harry
then approached to her Ladyships Ear and in a pretty loud Whisper said I did not like the Metal Madam that the Candlestick was made of Again Lady
Mansfield
looked surprised and said you are a sly Rogue a very sly Rogue upon my Honour and have Sense enough to dupe the wisest of us all
Jemmy Bottom
cried my Lady aloud come here I cant but tell you
Jemmy
that you have behaved yourself extremely ill to your young Friend here who might have improved you by his Example as much as he has honoured you by his Visit I must further tell you
Jemmy Bottom
that whenever you pique yourself on degrading Master
Fenton
you only pride in your own Abasement and glory in your Shame Hereupon I got up and leaving our Compliments for the Earl I carried off my young Charge for fear of our falling into any further Disgrace
While
Harry
is abroad said Mr
Fenton
be pleased to give me a general Sketch of the Manner in which you disposed of your Money In the first Place Sir answered
Clement
you will find by this List that for little more than the five hundred Pounds allotted we released ninety five Prisoners whose Debts amounted from forty Shillings to about twelve Pounds
per
Man These in the general had been Journeymen Taylors or Weavers or Professors of other inferior Crafts and as they wanted Means or Encouragement for exercising their respective Occupations in Gaol they subsisted on the Pence which they got by begging at the Grates or on their Dividends of occasional Sums which were sent for their Relief by charitable Individuals Nearly all of them were thin in Flesh and extremely shabby in Clothing and yet they could hardly be said to excite Compassion as they appeared so cheerful and unfeeling of their own Wretchedness Neither was there one of them that I could learn a single Circumstance of whose Story was worth reciting
Some however were of a Quality much superior to this Class Among others there was a
French
Marquis and a
German
Prince the Prince had been put under Arrest by his Caterer and the Marquis by his Taylor so that something less than fifty Pounds set them both at Liberty
While the Keeper of the Fleet Prison was making out a List for us of the principal Debtors
Harry
and I took a Turn about the Court and observed two Fellows in Liveries bearing several smoaking Covers up the Stone Stairs to a front Diningroom This surprised me and gave me the Curiosity to enquire what Prisoner it could be who lived in so expensive and superb a Manner Sir said the under Keeper there are few Men now at Liberty near so wealthy as this Gentleman who has done us the Honour to set up his Staff of Rest in our House His Name is
Sink
He is an Attorney and an old Bachelor turned of sixty Years of Age He is in for several Sums amounting to upward of nine thousand Pounds and he is reputed to be worth above double that Money
During the last twenty Years he behaved himself with the strictest Probity toward all Men and with the strictest Appearance of Piety toward God In the dark in Frost and Snow and all Inclemencies of Weather he never missed attending Morning Service at Church He was equally solicitous to be at Evening Prayer and whatever Company he chanced to have with him or how important soever the Business in which he was engaged the Moment he heard the Bell ring he would huddle up his Papers and break away without Ceremony He was eager in his Enquiries to know where the Sacrament was soonest to be administered and he never missed Receiving at least once in the Week Whenever he heard any Profaneness or Obscenity in the Streets he would stop to reprove and expostulate with the Offender In short he so perfectly counterfeited or took off as they call it the real Christian that many looked to see him like
Enoch
or
Elijah
taken alive into Heaven
This perpetual Parade of Sanctity gave him such an Eclat and unmeasurable Credit that he was left Trustee and Executor in a Multitude of Wills and Numbers also deposited their Substance in his Hands in order to be laid out at Interest on Securities and so forth
Three Months since about the Dawning as his Butcher happened to pass by his Door he heard it open and turning saw a Number of Porters come out heavy laden This gave him a Kind of Suspicion He let them all pass and walking softly after he stepped up to the hindmost and offered him Half a Crown on Condition of his telling him where they were carrying those Parcels That I will said the Porter for the Secret if such it is is nothing to me you know In short we are carrying them to the Wharf to be put on board a Boat that waits to take them in
The Butcher said no more but hurried away to the Baker and as they both run to the Office they met the Brewer by the Way They took out their respective Actions and taking a Constable with them they seized on good Mr
Sink
as he was stepping into a Coach and Six to make the best of his Way to
Dover
He would have paid them their Money and discharged their Actions on the Spot but here the Master in whom he trusted happened to leave him in the lurch As he had turned all his Effects into Money and his Money into Paper he had not at Hand wherewith to pay his instant Creditors So they hurried him to Gaol and before the Banks were open the Matter was blown and Action after Action came pouring fast upon him
When he found himself thus at Bay he cast aside his Disguise and set them all at Defiance His Creditors have since offered to accept ten Shillings and some of them to accept five Shillings in the Pound but he swears that he will never pay them a Groat for he is now as liberal of his Oaths and impious Execrations as he was lately of his more impious Profanation of Gospel Phrases And thus he daily revels in the sensual Consumption of those Wretches whom he hath so inhumanly defrauded while Hundreds of Orphans and Widows and other Miserables perish for want of the Sustenance which one infernal Appetite devours without Remorse Nay several of his Creditors are at this very time famishing in this Prison while they see him feasting so lavishly upon their Spoils
The Gorge of my Soul cried Mr
Fenton
the very Gorge of my Soul rises against this
Daemon
Can nothing be done to bring him to Punishment Our Parliament will surely interfere in such a calling Exigence they will send to the several Banks and take up all the Deposits that have been made in his Name Alas Sir said
Clement
he was already aware of such Possibilities and has entered all his Lodgments in feigned Names and to Bearer upon Demand
Indeed continued
Clement
I heartily wished at the time that the Laws of the
Grecians
and
Romans
had been in Force among us where the Debtor was given up to be set to Labour whipped or tortured at the Pleasure of the Creditor
God forbid God forbid exclaimed Mr
Fenton
When we see Mankind divided into the
Rich
and the
Poor
the
Strong
and the
Weak
the
Sound
and the
Sickly
we are apt to imagine that
Health Strength
or
Opulence
was given to Those and
Infirmity Want
or
Weakness
appointed to These as Marks of the peculiar Favour or Disfavour of Providence
GOD however knows that there is nothing permanently good or evil in any of these Things He sees that nothing is a Good but Virtue and that nothing is a Virtue save some Quality of Benevolence On Benevolence therefore he builds the Happiness of all his intelligent Creatures and in this our mortal State our short Apparatus for a long Futurity He has ordained the relative Differences of
Rich
and
Poor Strong
and
Weak Sound
and
Sickly
c to exercise us in the Offices of that Charity and those Affections which reflecting and reflected like mutual Light and Warmth can alone make our Good to all Eternity
BENEVOLENCE produces and constitutes the Heaven or Beatitude of GOD himself He is no other than an infinite and eternal GOOD WILL Benevolence must therefore constitute the Beatitude or Heaven of all dependent Beings however infinitely diversified through several Departments and Subordinations agreeable to the several Natures and Capacities of Creatures
GOD has appointed human
Power
and human
Wealth
as a ready and sufficient Fund for human
Want
and
Weakness
to which Fund therefore they have as good a Right to resort as any other Creditors have to respective Trust or Deposits for though Poverty and Weakness are not Creditors by the Laws of Man they are Creditors by the eternal Laws of Nature and Equity and must here or hereafter bring their Debtors to account
Every Man when he becomes a Member of this or that Society makes a Deposit of three several Sorts of Trusts That of his LIFE that of his LIBERTY and that of his PROPERTY
Now as every Man in his separate or independent State has by Nature the absolute Disposal of his Property he can convey the Disposal thereof to Society as amply and absolutely as he was in his separate Right entitled thereto
This however cannot be said of his Life or of his Liberty He has no Manner of Right to take away his own Life neither to depart from his own Liberty He cannot therefore convey to others a Right and Authority which he hath not in himself
The Question then occurs by what Right it is that the Legislative and executive Powers of Community appoint some Persons to Death and others to Imprisonment My Answer is short and follows
It is the Right perhaps the Duty of every Man to defend his Life Liberty and Property and to kill or bind the Attempters This Right he can therefore convey and on such Conveyance it becomes the Right and Duty of the Trustees of Society to put to Death or imprison all who take away or attempt the Life Liberty or Property of any of its Members
This Right however extends to
Criminal Matters
only and it does not yet appear to me upon what Reason or right Rule founded in Nature or Policy the several Societies of Mankind have agreed to deliver up their Members to Slavery to Stripes Tortures or Imprisonment for Matters
merely Civil
such as
Debts
Several of the States of
Greece
though accounting the rest of the World as Barbarians and even the
Roman Republic
during the Times of its most boasted Policy and Freedom gave up Insolvent Debtors without enquiring into the Causes or Occasions of such Insolvency as Slaves or absolute Property into the Hands of their Creditors to be sold at Will or put to Labour or starved macerated or tortured in order to give Value in Vengeance which they could not give in Coin or other equivalent Commodities
The
Jewish
or
Mosaic
Law though allowing sufficiently as
CHRIST
says for
the Hardness of that Peoples Hearts
yet gave perfect Enlargement to all
Jews
who were Bondmen and perfect Remission to all
Jews
who were personal Debtors on every seventh or sabbatical Year And on every seventh sabbatical Year or Jubilee all Prisons were thrown open all Slaves though Foreigners or Aliens set at Liberty and even the Lands were enfranchised however mortgaged or labouring under Debt and Execution that all Things animate or inanimate might have an Earnest of that Immunity and perfect Freedom which God originally intended and keeps in Store for his Creatures
The Laws of
Egypt
permitted no Member to deprive the Public of the Life Liberty or Labour of any other Member except he were a Criminal not fitting to live or to be suffered to walk at large In all Cases of Debtor and Creditor they equitably appointed Value for Value as far as the Substance of the Debtor could reach and in Case of Insufficiency the insolvent Party was obliged to leave in Pledge the
Mummies
or preserved Bodies of his deceased Ancestors till by Industry or good Fortune either He or his Posterity should be enabled to redeem them A Matter of refined as well as charitable Policy as nothing was held more infamous among the
Egyptians
than their Inability to produce the Mummies of their Forefathers
The Laws of
Holland
by their late Qualifications seem to acknowledge the Iniquity or Inadequateness of depriving a Man of the
Possibility of earning
merely because he has not an
immediate Ability to pay
Sensible therefore that all Men are Debtors to GOD and reciprocally Debtors and Creditors to each other they have ordained that He who imprisons an insolvent Debtor shall pay the proper Penalty of his Malevolence or Indiscretion by maintaining the Party from whom he takes the Ability of maintaining himself
It must be admitted that were our Laws less severe with Respect to Debtors were People less afraid of a Jail on failure of Payment there would be less Credit and, consequently, less Dealing in this so wonderously wealthy and trading a Nation But if our Credit were less should not our Extravagance lessen also Should we see such princely Tables among People of the lower Class should so much Claret Spirits and Ale intoxicate a Kingdom should we see the Value of a
German
Princes Ransom gorgeously attiring each of our Belle Dames if neither Merchant Butcher Brewer Laceman Mercer Milliner nor Taylor would trust
Many of our poor City Dealers are yearly undone with their Families by crediting Persons who are
privileged not to pay
or whose Remoteness or Power places them beyond the Reach of the Law For by the Return of
non invent
generally made upon Writs one would be apt to imagine that no single SubSheriff knew of any such Thing as a Man of Fortune within his respective County throughout the Kingdom of
Great Britain
When I was last at
Paris
I had the Honour to be introduced to Messieurs
Thimble
and
Goose
two Taylors of Quality In the Course of Conversation it happened to turn as usual on the Dulness of the Times the Deadness of Trade and Delays of Payment Says Monsieur
Thimble
I had the Misfortune to make Interest for the new Cloathing of the last Regiments that were transported to
Canada
But Interest was again to be made for the Payment and before that could be done the Officers were shipped off with greater Value of my Gold and Silver on their Backs than I am sure they carried of their own in their Pockets Ambition cried Monsieur
le Goose
Ambition has brought me to the very Brink of Ruin I scorned to work for any thing under the Degree of Nobility and be poxd to me and the Nobility are a Sort of People whom we can never set our Eyes on except at the Time we are fitting on their Clothes
Before Money became the Medium of Commerce the simple Business of the World was carried on by Truck or the Commutation of one Commodity for another But when Men consented to fix certain rateable Values upon Money as a ready and portable Equivalent for all Sorts of Effects Credit was consequently introduced by the Engagements of some to pay so much Money in lieu of such Commodities or to deliver such or such Commodities on the Advance of so much Money and States found it their Interest to support such public Credit by enforcing the Performance of said Engagements
By the CommonLaw of
England
no Person except the King could take the Body of another in Execution for Debt neither was this Prerogative of the Crown extended to the Subject till the Statute of
Marlbridge
ch 23 in the Reign of
Henry
III
Many contract Debts through Vanity or Intemperance or borrow Money or take up Goods with the Intention of Thieves and Robbers never to make Return When such suffer they suffer deservedly in Expiation of their Guilt But there are unavoidable Damages by Water by Fire the Crush of Power oppressive Landlords and more oppressive Lawsuits Death of Cattle Failure of Crop Failure of Payment in others with thousands of such like Casualties whereby Men may become bankrupt and yet continue blameless And in all such Cases one would think that the present Ruin was sufficient Calamity without the Exertion of Law to make that Ruin irreparable
As all the Members of a Community are interested in the Life Liberty and Labours of each other He who puts the Rigour of our Laws in Execution by detaining an insolvent Brother in Gaol is guilty of a fourfold Injury first he robs the Community of the Labours of their Brother secondly he robs his Brother of all Means of retrieving his shattered Fortune thirdly he deprives himself of the Possibility of Payment and lastly he lays an unnecessary Burden on the Public who in Charity must maintain the Member whom he in his Cruelty confines
However since the Severity of Law is such that He whose Misfortunes have rendered him insolvent must make
Satisfaction for so the Savages esteem it
by surrendering his Body to Durance for Life it is surely incumbent on our Legislators and Governors to make the Condition of the unhappy Sufferers as little grievous as may be
But this most Christian Duty this most humane of all Cares is yet to come When a Debtor is delivered up into the Phangs of his Gaoler he is consigned to absolute and arbitrary Slavery and Woe be to the Wretch whose Poverty may not have left him a
Sop
for
Cerberus
How more than miserable must be the State of those unhappy Men who are shut in from all possible Redress or Appeal against the despotic Treatment of their savage Keepers whose Hearts are habitually hardened to all Sense of Remorse and whose Ears are rendered callous by incessant Groans
We are credibly informed that it is usual with such Keepers to amass considerable Fortunes from the Wrecks of the Wretched to squeeze them by exorbitant Charges and illicit Demands as Grapes are squeezed in a Vine Press while one Drop remains and then to huddle them together into naked Walls and windowless Rooms having got all they can and nothing further to regard save the Return of their lifeless Bodies to their Creditors
How many of these Keepers exact from their distressed Prisoners seven and eight Shillings per Week for Rooms that would not rent at a Third of that Sum in any other Part of this City At times Nine of those wretched Prisoners are driven to kennel together in a Hovel fit only to stable a Pair of Horses while many unoccupied Apartments are locked up from use Even a Sufficiency of the common Element of Water is refused to their Necessities an Advantage which the Felons in Newgate enjoy Public and private Benefactions are dissipated or disposed of at the Pleasure of the Keepers regardless of the Intention or Order of the Donors And the Apartments appointed to these miserable Men are generally damp or shattered in the Flooring and exposed by Breach or Want of Windows to the Inclemency of Night Air and all the Rigour of the Seasons
But what avail their Complaints if the Legislature have not authorized or made it the Duty of some especial Magistrates to examine into and redress these crying Abuses
But tell me continued Mr
Fenton
were there any Prisoners of Consideration among the confined Debtors A few Sir of Note and many who had been well to pass in the World Among these indeed it was that every Scene and Species of Misery was displayed There you might see as you have said numerous Families of Wretches whose thin and tattered Garments but ill defended their shivering Bodies from the Inclemency of Elements that blew through shattered Windows or came pouring from unstaunched Roofs
These People fared incomparably worse than those of the vulgar Herd for being ashamed to beg at the Grates they had nothing to subsist on save their scanty Portion of such Charities as happened to be sent in from Time to Time and this scarcely supplied them with a sufficiency of Water black Bread and Offal while the Recollection of their former Affluence added sharp and bitter Poignancy to the Sense of their present Wants But here comes my Pupil he will be more particular on Scenes with which his Heart was so meltingly affected
Harry
then entered with Mrs
Clement
caressing him on the one Side and his old Dependant
Ned
hanging about him on the other
As soon as
Clement
and his
Arabella
had embraced and that all were settled and seated Well
Harry
said Mr
Fenton
will you favour us with some Account of your Expedition Have you eer a pretty Story for me my
Harry
Several Stories Sir said
Harry
that were sweet pretty Stories when I heard them but Mr
Clement
had better tell them they would be sadly bungled if they came through my Hands Dada The Company will make Allowances replied Mr
Fenton
let us have these Stories in your own Way
Harry
just as your Memory may happen to serve you
On the second Day Dada as my Tutor and I were walking in the Court Yard of the Fleet Prison who should I spy but my old Master Mr
Vindex
walking very sad to and again by the Wall He was so pale and shabby and so fallen away that I did not rightly know him till I looked at him very earnestly My Heart then began to soften and warm toward the poor Man for it told me that something very sorrowful must have happened before he could have been brought to that Condition So I went up to him with a Face I believe as melancholy as his own
How do you do good Mr
Vindex
said I I should be glad to see you if I did not see you look so sad He then stared at me for some Time and at length remembring me he looked concerned and turned away to shun me but I took him lovingly by the Hand and said you must not leave me Mr
Vindex
wont you know your old Scholar
Harry Fenton
Yes says he casting down his mournful Eyes I know you now Master I know I used you basely and I know why you are come but reproach me and insult me as much as you please all is welcome now since I cannot lie lower till I am laid in the Earth
I do not mean to insult you this Tear will witness for me that I do not mean to insult you my dear Mr
Vindex
and so I wiped my Eye Here are twenty Guineas to put warm Clothes upon you in this cold Weather Little and low as I am myself I will try to do something better for you and so give me one Kiss in Token that we are Friends
The poor dear Man then opened his broad Eyes in a wild Stare upon me with a Look that was made up Half of Joy and Half of Shame He then kneeled down as I supposed that I might reach to kiss him and taking me into his Arms you are not born of Woman you are an Angel an Angel he cried and so he fell a crying and cried so sadly that I could not for my Heart but keep him Company
I did all I could to pacify and make him cheerful and getting him up at last you must not part with me Mr
Vindex
said I we must dine and spend the Day together Here is Mr
Clement
my Tutor you and he too must be Friends
I then led him by the Hand into a large ground Room that Mr
Close
the chief Keeper had appointed for us and I ordered Dinner to be hastened and brought up As soon as we were all seated I began to laugh and joke after my foolish Way in order to make poor Mr
Vindex
merry When I found that it would not do Mr
Vindex
said I be so kind to let me know what the Money may come to for which you are confined A terrible Sum indeed my Darling said he no less than a hundred and fifty two Pounds I then put my Hand in my Pocket and taking out two Bills and a little Matter of Money that made up the Sum I put it into his Hand saying my Friend shall never lie in Gaol for such a Trifle as this
Having looked for some Time at the Bills with Amazement he turned to my Tutor with a doubtful and shamed Face is this young Gentleman Sir said he duely authorized to dispose of such vast Matters as these He is said Mr
Clement
he is the Carver and Disposer of his Fathers Fortune at Pleasure and I am confident that his Father will think himself doubly paid in the Use that his noble Son has made of his Privilege this Day
A Gleam then like that of Sunshine broke through his sad Countenance as through the Clouds of a dark Day and are you the one he cried are you the one Master
Harry
whom I treated so barbarously You may forgive me my little Cherubim you indeed may forgive me but I never I never shall forgive myself O Mr
Vindex
said I I would very nearly undergo the same Whipping again to do you twice the Kindness and make you love me twice as much as you now love me
Dinner was now served and calling for Wine I filled him a Bumper in a large Glass which he drank to the Health of my glorious Dada as he called you Sir Upon this we grew very merry and friendly among one another, and when Dinner was over I begged him to tell me how he came to be put into Confinement
O Master
Harry
he cried I have suffered all that I have suffered very justly very justly for my harsh and cruel Usage of you Master
Harry
After the Affair of the Hobgoblins as you know the Shame to which I was put by my Fright and by my Scourging began to be whispered and then to be noised about the Town The Boys at length catched the Rumour and began to hoot at me and the more I chastised them the more they gathered about me and shouted after me a Rod for the Flogger a Rod for the Flogger
No Disease is so deadly no Blasting so baneful as Contempt to a Man in the Way of his Profession My Boys grew disorderly and behaved themselves in School without Respect to my Person or Regard to my Government Even my Intimates shunned me and would cast at me a side Glance of smiling Scorn as they passed My School then melted from me like Snow in a Fog Even my Boarders forsook me I stood at a high Rent my Effects were seized by the Landlord It was in vain that I sollicited Payment from the Parents of my Scholars No one who was indebted to me would give me a Penny while all that I owed came like a tumbling House upon me and so I was cast into this Prison from whence your Bounty has set me free
My poor broken hearted Wife would have accompanied me to Gaol but as I had not wherewithal to give her a Morsel of Bread I sent her to an old Aunt who had the Humanity to take her in
Alas alas poor Mr
Vindex
said I had I guessed any Part of the Mischiefs that our unlucky Pranks have brought upon you I would have put both my Hands into the Furnace of
Nebuchadnezzar
rather than have Act or Part in such a Wickedness For herein we acted the Fable of the Frogs and the Boys that which was
Play
to us was
Death
to you Mr
Vindex
In Conscience now we are indebted to you for every Misfortune we caused you and as you are not yet paid for the Half of your Sufferings I here give you my Hand and Word to make up a hundred and fifty Pounds more for you and for this I will not accept the smallest Thanks as I think it is no more than an Act of common Honesty And I cried Mr
Fenton
I hold myself indebted to you a thousand Pounds my noble
Harry
for that single Sentiment Thats well thats well Dada cried
Harry
leaping up and clapping his Hands I shall now be clear in the World with all my poor Creditors
Thus Dada continued he it rejoiced my Heart greatly to send poor Mr
Vindex
away in such Triumph while my Tutor and I went two or three Doors off to see a mighty pretty young Creature who was said to be confined with her ancient Father And I will tell you their Story with two or three other Stories more on account of the Incidents that happened while we were there than of any Thing else that was wonderful or uncommon in them
On tapping at the Door we were desired to walk in and saw a Female with her Back to us waving Bone Lace on a Cushion while an elderly Man with Spectacles on read to her in
Thomas a Kempis
They both rose to salute us Mr
Clement
then stepped up and seeing what they were about cried God cannot but prosper your Work good People since you employ your Time to his Purposes both on Earth and in Heaven As an Earnest of his Kindness to you he sends you by us a considerable Charity which you shall receive as soon as you inform us who and what you are and how you came here Blessed be the Messengers of my God cried out the Father whether they come with happy or with heavy Tidings I say with old
Eli It is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good
O Dada I was quite charmed when the Daughter turned to me There was such a Sweetness such a heavenly Harmlessness in her Face that I could have kissed her and kissed her again and again
As I had brought a Glass and the Remainder of our Bottle with me we all got about a Board that was Half Stool and Half Table and after a Round or two the good Man began his Story
My Fathers Name was
Samuel Stern
He had a clear Estate of nine hundred and fifty Pounds a Year in
Sussex
and had by my Mother three Daughters and four Sons of whom I was the second
My Father unhappily was a Loyalist and when the Troubles broke out between King
Charles
and the Parliament he took up all the Money he could at any Interest and raised a Company at his own Cost which he headed on the Part of his Royal Master
After some successful Skirmishes his Head was split in two by the Broadsword of a Trooper at the Battle of
Naisby
Immediately all our Servants forsook us each carrying away with them whatever came to Hand and quickly after the Soldiers of the Commonwealth came carried off all the Cattle and left nothing of our House except the bare Walls
In the mean time we poor Children huddled together into the Garden and there separating ran and crept under Bushes and Hedges as so many Chickens endeavouring to gain Shelter from the Kite
As soon as the Noise of the Tumult was over we rose and looked about fearfully and getting together again we helped one another through the Garden Hedge and made as fast as we could to the Cottage of a neighbouring Farmer who had been our Fathers Tenant Here we were received coldly and fared but very hardly for that Night On the next Day however in order to get quit of us as I suppose the Man went among our Relations and prevailed on one to take a Son and on another to take a Daughter till we were all divided among them and so we entered on a kind of Service to our Kindred a Service as I believe that is found, on Experience to be much harder and more insulting than any Service to a Stranger
I forgot to tell you Gentlemen that our Mother deceased before our Father engaged in Arms insomuch that we became Orphans in all Respects I fell to the Share of an Uncle by my Mothers Side He had a small Estate of about a hundred and twenty Pounds yearly Income with one Son and a Daughter whom I thought very lovely
My Uncle appointed me Overseer of his Labourers as also his occasional Clerk for casting Accounts and inditing his Letters
c
but when it was intimated to him that there was a secret Liking between his Daughter and me he called me aside and taking up a Book of profane Poems he kissed it and swore by the Contents thereof that if ever I married his Daughter he would not give us a Groat
If you ever knew what Love was said he to Mr
Clement
you must know that it breaks over stronger Fences than these In short we were wedded and turned out of the House without any thing to live upon except about the Value of twenty Pounds in small Matters which had been given to my Wife from Time to Time by lady
Goodly
her Godmother
We made the best of our Way to
London
My Wife understood Needlework and as I knew that my Fatherinlaw was quite irreconcileable I joined myself to a House Painter to whom I gave my Time for nothing on Condition of his giving me a Sight into his Business
In the third Year my dear Wife brought this poor Creature into the World but happily she did not encumber Mankind with any more of our wretched and depending Progeny
All our Care and Delight was fixed on this our little Daughter and we thought nothing of any Pains or Labours that might serve to introduce her like herself into the World
As soon as
Charles
the IId had ascended the Throne our Relations were fully assured that we should be restored to our ancient Rights and Possessions and they contributed as it were for their own Credit to set us forth in a suitable Manner for appearing at Court There accordingly we attended from time to time for the Space of twelve Months and got a Number of woful Memorials presented to his Majesty but his Majesty was so deeply engaged in his Pleasures or so fearful of offending the Enemies of his House that he gave no Attention to our Wrongs There may also be something in the Breasts of the Great that excites them to Acts of Bounty rather than Acts of Justice for these as they apprehend might be accepted as Matter of Debt and not as Matter of Favour
Being tired of a fruitless Suit I returned to my former Employment and by Industry and Frugality I lived with my little Family quite happy and contented
About ten Months ago two Men came to our Lodgings The one was in a rich Livery and having enquired for my Daughter presented her with a Note to this effect
Lady
Diana Templar
sends
Diana Stern
the enclosed Bill of twenty five Pounds in order to put her into some little Way of Livelihood
As my poor dear Child had no Cause to suspect any Fraud or evil Intention in the Case she desired the Men to return her most humble Thanks and Duty to her Ladyship and away they went
As this Lady was a distant Relation of my Wifes Father my Daughter in a few Days dressed herself in her best and went to return Thanks to her Ladyship in Person but was told that she was gone to her Seat in the Country
In the mean time she laid out her supposed Bounty in furnishing a little front Shop with some millinary Wares and was already beginning to get some Custom when one Evening two Bailiffs entered laid an Action upon her and taking her up in their Arms hurried her into a Coach that drove up to the Door
My Wife and I had rushed out on hearing our Child shriek and seeing a Coach set off with her at a great Rate we ran after as fast as we could shouting and screaming and crying stop the Coach stop the Coach a Rape a Rape At length a bold Fellow who was passing caught one of the Horses by the Bridle and while the Coachman lashed at him he took out his Knife and cut the Reins in two A Mob then began to gather whereupon a well dressed Man who was in the Coach leaped out and made his Escape but the Coachman was not so lucky the People pulled him from the Box and having beaten and kicked him they dragged him through the Kennel
Mean while we got our Child out and then the Mob overturned the Coach and jumping upon it broke and dashed it all to Pieces We then thought that we had nothing further to apprehend and taking our Child between us we turned back and walked homeward but alas we were not permitted to enter the two Bailiffs met us and producing their Writ again arrested our Daughter at the Suit as they said of
Jonathan Delvil
Esq
for the Sum of twenty five Pounds which he had lent her on such a Day So they conducted her here while my Wife and I accompanied her weeping and sobbing all the Way
I then took these poor Apartments to cover us from the Weather and as my Wife grew suddenly sick and faint I hastened back to our Lodgings and had our Bedding brought hither
It was now evident that the pretended Gift of Lady
Templar
was no other than a diabolical Scheme of the Villain
Delvil
to get the Person of my Darling within his Fangs and I cursed my own Stupidity for not perceiving it at first but blessed be my God however in all Events that my Lamb was still innocent was still unsullied
What with Grief and the Fright together my dear Wife took to her Bed from whence she never rose but expired on the fifth Day blessing and pressing her Daughter to her Bosom My poor Infant then fell as dead beside her Mother and could not be recovered from her Fit in many Hours and indeed it was then the Wish and the Prayer of my Soul that we might all be laid and forgotten in one Grave together
As soon as my Darling was recovered however I again wished to live for her sake that I might not leave her without a Comforter or Protector in the midst of a merciless and wicked World
In order to pay the Nursekeeper the Doctor and Apothecary as also to defray the funeral Expences I left my Child with the Nursekeeper and going to our former Lodgings I sold all her millinary Matters at something under a third of prime Cost and having discharged the Lodgings and paied my Gaol Debts I prepared to lay my precious Deposit in the Womb of that Earth which is one Day to render her back incorruptible to Eternity
When the Corps was carrying out at the Door my Child fell once more into Fits and I was divided and quite distracted about what I should do whether to stay with the Living or pay my Duty to the Dead But I will no longer detain you with melancholy Matters since all worldly Griefs with all worldly Joys also must shortly be done away
As soon as I understood that Lady
Templar
was returnned to Town I waited upon her and giving her an Abridgment of our manifold Misfortunes I produced the Note that had been written in her Name but she coldly replied that it was not her Hand and that she was not answerable for the Frauds or Villanies of others
Meanwhile my dear Girl accused herself as the Cause of all our Calamities and pined away on that Account as pale as the Sheets she lay in She was also so enfeebled by her faintish and sick Fits that she was not able to make a third of her usual Earnings and as I on my Part was also disqualified from labouring in my Profession since I did not dare to leave my Child alone and unsheltered we were reduced to a State of the greatest Extremity
One Day Word was brought me that a Gentleman a few Doors off desired to speak with me and as they who are sinking catch at any thing for their Support my Heart fluttered in the Hope of some happy Reverse Accordingly I followed the Messenger His Appearance in Dress and Person was altogether that of the Gentleman
He ordered all others out of the Room and requesting me to sit beside him in a half whispering Voice he began I am come Mr
Stern
from one whom you have great Reason to account your greatest Enemy I come from Mr
Delvil
at whose Suit your Daughter now lies in Prison I started Be patient Sir he said He knows your Distresses he knows all your Wants he knows also that he is the Author of them yet I tell you that he feels them as if they were his own and that it was not his Enmity but his Love that occasioned them
He depends on his old Uncle
Dimmock
for a vast Fortune in Expectation He saw your Daughter and loved her he saw her again and loved her to Madness He enquired her Family her Character and found that he had nothing to expect from any licentious Proposal He feared however that all must love her as he did and to prevent other Pirates he made use of the Stratagem which contrary to his Intentions has brought you here He never meant any thing dishonourable by your Daughter Had he carried her clear off you might all have been happy together at this Day and if you consent he will marry her here in the Presence of a few Witnesses who shall be sworn to Secrecy till his Uncles Death and he will instantly pay you down three hundred Pounds in Recompence for your Sufferings and will settle one hundred Pounds Annuity on your Child for Life
I must own that to one in my Circumstances this Proposal had something very tempting in it But who is this Mr
Delvil
said I I know him not I never saw him I am the Man Sir said he I would have discharged my Action as I came to this Place but I dare not permit your Daughter to get out of my Custody for at the Loss of my Fortune at the Loss of my Life I am determined that no other Man living shall possess her I then promised him that I would make a faithful Narration to my Child of all that had passed but told him at the same time that I would wholly subscribe to her Pleasure and so we parted
As soon as I represented this Matter to my
Diana
O no my Papa she cried it is impossible it never can be I would do any thing, suffer any thing, but this for your Relief Would you act the Marriage of the Lamb and the Wolf in the Fable If such have been the Consequences of this Gentlemans Affection for us what have we not to expect from the Effects of his Aversion I would prefer any Kind of Death to a Life with such a Man And then my Mother she cried and burst into Tears my dear Mother whom he has murdered though he were worth Half the World and would marry me publickly in the Face of the other Half it will not be it cannot be indeed my Papa
Hereupon I writ Mr
Delvil
almost a literal Account of my Daughters Answer It is nearly five Weeks since this happened and we have not heard any thing further from him
In this time however we got acquainted with a Family at the next Door whose Converse has been a great Consolation to us There is a Father and Mother with seven small Children Boys and Girls they are very worthy People and of noble Descent but how they contrive to live at all I cant conceive for they have no visible Means of making a Penny Had we not known them we should have thought ourselves the poorest of all Creatures We must own them more deserving of your Charity than we are
Here poor Mr
Stern
ended and you cant think Dada how my Heart leapt with Love toward him on his recommending others as more deserving than himself So I resolved at once what to do and taking two 50
l
Notes from my Pocketbook you shall not be under the Necessity Mr
Stern
says I of marrying your pretty Lamb here to the ugly Wolf so here is fifty Pounds to pay your Action and Fees and other small Debts
On taking the Note Dada he looked at it very earnestly and when he saw it was a true Note he opened his Eyes and his Mouth so wide and stood so stiff without stirring Hand or Foot that he put me in mind of
Lot
s Wife who was turned into a Pillar of Salt However I did not seem to mind him but turning to his Daughter and shewing her the other Note Miss
Diana
says I here is fifty Pounds for you also in order to set you up in your little Shop again but you shall not have it without a certain Condition what Condition Master said she smiling the Condition says I of putting your Arms about my Neck and giving me one or two sweet Kisses She then looked earnestly at me with Eyes swimming in Pleasure and starting suddenly to me and catching me to her Bosom she kissed my Lips and my Forehead and my Head again and again and then set up as lamentable and loud a Cry as if her Father had lain a Corpse before her
Mr
Stern
then lifted up his Eyes and dropping on his Knees O my God he cried how bountiful art thou to a Wretch who is not worthy the least of all thy Mercies hereupon the Daughter turned and seeing the Posture of her Father she fell on her Knees before him and throwing her Arms about him he folded her in his also and they wept plentifully upon each other
How comes it Dada that Crying should be so catching However it be Mr
Clement
and I could not contain and I shall love him the better during Life for the Tears that he shed on that Occasion
On hearing a smart Rapping Mr
Stern
rose and opened the Door where a Footman almost breathless delivered him a Letter The Letter was to the Purpose that Mr
Delvil
was ill of a Quinsy that he had but a few Hours to live and requested Mr
Stern
to bring his Daughter to him that by Marriage he might give her a lawful Title to his Fortune No Papa cried
Diana
living or dead nothing shall ever bribe me to give my Hand to a Man who has had a Hand in the Death of my dearest Mother
Mr
Clement
however thought it advisable that Mr
Stern
should attend the Messenger to see if Mr
Delvil
was really ill or whether this might not be some new contrived Treachery
This was a Day of Successes to poor Mr
Stern
We had promised to stay with his
Diana
till his Return and he had not been long gone till some one tapped at the Door I opened it and saw an exceeding old and reverend Man he was dressed all in black and his white Head looked like Snow on the Feathers of the Raven Is
Tom Stern
here said he No Sir said I he is gone into Town I thought he was a Prisoner no Sir it is not he but his Daughter who is under Confinement Will you give a feeble old Man leave to sit with you Gentlemen and so down he sat Come here to me Child says he to
Diana
are you a Daughter of
Tom Stern
I am Sir so please you And what was your Mothers Name
Anne Roche
Sir but alas she is not living I was the Cause of her Death she broke her Heart good Sir on my being put to Gaol I hope Child said the old Gentleman that you were not imprisoned for any thing that was naughty No Sir no cried Mr
Clement
it was her Honesty alone that brought and kept her here had she been less virtuous she might have been at Liberty and flaunting about in her Coach
The old Man then put on his Spectacles and ordering her to draw nearer he took a Hand in each of his and looking intently in her Face what is your Name my Dear said he
Diana
honoured Sir That is a pretty and chaste Name for an unchristian Name Indeed
Diana
you are a sweet Babe and the prettiest little Prisoner that ever I saw I will pay all your Debts and give you a thousand Pounds over if you will come along with me and be my Prisoner
Diana
Ah Sir cried the Girl it is too much to have broken the Heart of one Parent already I would not leave my dear Father for any Man with all the Money in all the World You do not leave your Father he cried by going with me
Diana
I am your true Father the Father of
Nanny Roche
the Father of her who bore you your own Grandfather my
Diana
Here she sunk on her Knees between his Knees begging and beseeching his Blessing while his Hands and Eyes were lifted in Prayer over her He then raised her and placing her gently on his Knee clasped her in his aged Arms while she threw hers about his Neck and joining her Cheek to his sobbed aloud and poured her Tears into his Bosom The old Gentleman however did not express his Concern by Word or Sob or even any Change of his Countenance and yet his Tears fell fast down his reverend and delighted Features upon his Grandchild
This Dada was a very pleasing though a very affecting Sight As soon as the Height of their Passion was something abated Miss
Diana
turned her Eye toward me and said You were pleased my GrandPapa to promise that you would pay my Debts but that is done already This Angel here was sent to prevent all others and he further presented me with this Bill of 50
l
to set me up in a better Shop than I kept before
I rejoice cried the old Man I rejoice to find that so much of Heaven is still left upon Earth But you my
Diana
are now in a Condition rather to give Charity than receive it from any Your dear Uncle
Jeremy
who traded to the
West Indies
lately died of the Smallpox on his Passage homeward You are the Heir of his Fortunes and the Heir of my Fortune you are the whole and sole Lady of all our Possessions But tell me how much did this young Gentleman advance in your Favour A hundred Pounds Sir
He then took out a Bank Note of a hundred Pounds and having offered it to me I did not dare to refuse it for fear of offending the Honour of the respectable old Gentleman so I held it in my Hand after a doubting Manner My dear Miss
Diana
says I I will not be put to the Pain of taking this back again but on the Condition of your telling me to whom I shall give it O she cried out instantly to the Babies to the sweet Babies at the next Door I wish to Heaven I had as much more to add to it for their Sakes
I then enquired the Name of her favourite Family at the next Door and being told that it was
Ruth
I looked over my List and found that Mr
Ruth
was in for above seven hundred Pounds This grieved me very much as such a Sum nearly amounted to the Half of our whole Stock However I comforted myself with the Hope that God would send some one else to make up to this poor Family what should be wanting on my Part
Mr
Stern
just then returned I beg Pardon said he Gentlemen for detaining you so long but I could not avoid it The unhappy Man is actually dying a very terrible Death indeed in his full Strength and almost in his full Health stifling and gasping for Air which the swelling of his Glands will not suffer to pass
As soon as I entered he beckoned to me and put this Paper sealed into my Hand And again observing that I was agitated and deeply concerned for the State under which he laboured he reached out his Hand to me and grasping my right Hand put this Ring upon my Finger This Paper contains under his Hand and Seal a Discharge of the Action which he laid upon my Daughter as also a Conveyance to us of the Cash Notes enclosed amounting to three hundred Pounds in Consideration as he recites of our Losses and unjust Sufferings And so my dear Master
Fenton
I here return you your 100
l
with all possible Acknowledgments and a Sense of the Obligation that will never leave me during Life
Sir said I you must excuse me I am already payed That Gentleman yonder compelld me to accept of the very Sum you offer
Mr
Stern
then started and turning he saw his Uncle and eying him inquisitively at length recollected who he was He then stepped up and falling on his Knees before him O Sir he cried your Pardon your Pardon Tis all I presume to ask I dare not hope for your Blessing
Tom
said the old Gentleman I wanted to be even with you I wanted to seduce your Daughter as you seduced mine But your Daughter
Tom
though come of very rebellious Parents would not be seduced Howsomever as I have taken a liking to her she must come along with me whether she will or no And as
Jacob
said to
Joseph
concerning
Ephraim
and
Manasseh
she shall be mine and not thine
Tom
and my Name and the Name of my Fathers shall be named upon her according to her Inheritance But if you have any Affection for this my Child
Tom
and are unwilling to part with her you may follow her and welcome
Soon after we got up and having congratulated this happy Family on the Blessing of their Meeting and Reconciliation I stepped to the old Gentleman and catching him about the Neck tenderly took my Leave of him as I did also of Mr
Stern
But when I went to take leave of the fair
Diana
she drew some Steps backward and her Eyes and sweet Features beginning to swell she again run forward and catching me in her dear Arms O my Darling my Darling my Darling she cried am I then going to lose you it may be never to see you more were it but once in a Week in a Month in a Year to behold you even that would keep me alive for all the Remainder O my best my most generous my first Preserver it is you who might be the Seducer who might make me and others to run after you barefoot But if we must part my little Angel do but promise to know me in Heaven and there your poor
Diana
will meet you never to part any more
What could I say or do Dada in answer to the dear Girl my Heart swelled almost to bursting while she caressed and wept over me At length with Words as well as my Tears would give me leave to pronounce them I demanded the Name of the Place to which she was going and promised to pay her a Visit as soon as possibly I could We then parted very melancholy notwithstanding all our Success and going out I wiped my Eyes and begged Mr
Clement
to order Tea and Coffee with a comfortable Entertainment for the Family at the next Door while I should go in and introduce myself as well as I could
Having tapped gently at the Door it was opened by a little ragged Boy of about five Years old Mrs
Ruth
sat full in my view and her three little Daughters stood before her while she examined them in the Old Testament Questions of who was the first Man and the wisest Man and the strongest Man and the oldest Man and above all the Man after Gods own Heart
Mrs
Ruth
was a fine Woman and had a great deal of humbled Dignity about her I bowed to her as I entered and going familiarly up I took her by the Hand and kissed it Allow me Madam said I to introduce a little Neighbour to you I lodge within a few Doors and shall think myself happy in being acquainted in your Family Alas my Dear says she there are very few who seek acquaintance with Calamity They who wish to relieve it seek acquaintance with it Madam
Having eyed me all over with an earnest Kind of Surprise you look my Love said she to be very Goodnatured and I dare say will be very charitable when you come to have the Ability The little Ability I have Madam shall be strained for your Service In the mean Time pray pardon the Freedom I have taken in ordering Tea and Coffee into your Room with some Cakes and Sweetmeats for these pretty Misses I will only trouble you Madam with one Guest more it is Mr
Clement
my Tutor who good Man has been no Stranger to Poverty or Distress
Here she called Mr
Ruth
from an inner Room give me leave my Dear says she to introduce a young Stranger to you from what World he comes I know not but I am sure that he is not wholly of the World that we have lived in
Mr
Ruth
s Countenance spoke at once the Meekness of
Moses
and the Patience of
Job
Having saluted we both sat down Mr
Ruth
said I I have a Message to you and your Lady from your sweet pretty Neighbour Miss
Diana Stern
In Token of her Respect and Affection for you she presents you with this Cash Note of a hundred Pounds
Diana Stern
cried out Mr
Ruth
why Master she is nearly as poor as ourselves By no Means Sir I assure you her Grandfather is come to Town she is worth several Thousands besides a considerable Estate to which she is Heiress O the dear Creature the dear Angel cried Mrs
Ruth
I will instantly go and pay her my Acknowledgments so up she got and out she run before I could prevent her
As soon as she was gone Mr
Ruth
says I my Dada is much fonder of me than I deserve He has given me a little Money to dispose of at pleasure among the confined Debtors and though I may not have enough to answer your Occasions yet my Dada is so very good and so very generous that if you give me the Sum of your Debts with the Story of your Distresses his Heart I am sure will melt and he will set you clear in the World
He made no Answer however to this my Offer but lifting up his Eyes he cried well mightest thou say great Saviour of the Simple
suffer little Children to come unto me for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven
O thou Babe of the Manger
thou first born of many Brethren
here indeed is a dear and true little Brother of thine but he speaks in his Simplicity and not according to Knowledge Then turning toward me can you guess my Darling said he what you undertake to do for me I question if the Charities of all this Nation would be sufficient when united to effect my Deliverance Nothing nothing but the Arm of the Almighty can do it He will do it indeed in Death but what then shall become of my Wife and seven Infants that truly is terrible is worse than Death to think of
While we were speaking two sweet little Fellows came in the eldest very nearly of my Size but both clad in very thin and poorlooking Apparel Having kneeled for their Fathers Blessing they slipped behind us and turning my Head to observe them I was quite ashamed and drew it back again on perceiving that the poor Things were unlading their Pockets of old Crusts and broken Meats which I supposed they had begged for the Family
Mrs
Ruth
just then returned and her Countenance looked something dejected She took her Seat by her Husband and continuing a while silent she put her Handkerchief before her Eyes and began in broken Words Can you guess my Dear said she what Sort of a Creature this is whom we have got among us This little heavenly Impostor to lighten our Obligation would have persuaded us that the hundred Pounds was the Gift of another but it is all his own Bounty it is all his own Graciousness Come my Daughters come my Children kneel down and return your Thanks to this your Patron your Benefactor your little Father here
O Dada you would have pitied me sadly had you seen me at that Time The poor dear Things came all in a Cluster pressing and catching and clasping and clinging about me while my Love and my very Heart was torn as it were to Fritters among them So I took them one by one in my Arms and kissed and embraced them very cordially calling them my Brothers and Sisters I then took out another hundred Pound Note and giving it to the eldest of the Daughters here my Dear said I I always loved the little Misses better than the little Masters here is for yourself and your Sisters to clothe you in a way more becoming your Family And then taking a Note of equal Value I gave it to the eldest Son for himself and his Brothers as I said to help to educate them in a Manner more agreeable to the House from whence they came
Mr and Mrs
Ruth
looked so astonished at me and at each other that for a while they were not able to utter a Syllable And just as they began to make their Acknowledgments I cried hush hush here comes my Tutor
Mr
Clement
just then entered followed by several Servants who carried a Tea Equipage cold Fowl baked Meats with other Pastries and some Wine
Having introduced Mr
Clement
we all got round the Table and after Tea and a further Regale I besought Mr
Ruth
to give us the Story of his Misfortunes
My Father said he was Baron of
Frankford
He left my Brother with the Title four thousand five hundred Pounds a Year entailed however upon me in case of his dying without Male Issue And he left me a small Inheritance of four hundred Pounds yearly to support in some Measure the Appearance of a Gentleman
As my Concern bordered on my Brothers Estate we saw one another every Day and continued for several Years in strait and tender Amity
Being both invited one Day to dine with other Company at the House of a Neighbour called Mr
Heartless
a Question happened to be started over the Bottle whether the Method of setting an Egg on End was originally the Invention of
Columbus
or whether it was communicated to him by some other and I unhappily espoused the Opinion that was opposite to that of my Brother
Now though the Question was not worth the very Shell of the Egg about which we debated yet we entered as warmly into it as though a Province had lain at Stake for it is not Truth or Instruction that Disputants seek after it is Victory alone that is the Object of their Contention
After some warm Words and personal Retorts had passed between my Brother and me he started into sudden Passion and gave me the Lie whereupon reaching across the Table I gave him a Tap on the Cheek with the flat of my Fingers Then rising furiously from his Seat he swore a fearful Oath and cried I will ruin you
Harry
though it cost me my Estate I will ruin you
Harry Ruth
with all who are yours
The very next Day he mustered his Tenants and Labourers and coming upon me with a little Army he laid most of my Fences level with the Earth
When I complained of this Violence to my next Neighbours Mr
Heartless
and Mr
Hollow
they protested they would stand by me against such outrageous Proceedings to the last of their Fortunes They then advanced me between them five hundred Pounds for the Purpose I immediately commenced Suit against my Lords Tenants But though I cast them all with Costs I unhappily found that nearly all my Money was sunk in the Contest
Meantime scarce a Day passed wherein I was not served with a Subpoena from Chancery to answer such or such a Bill to which my Brother had procured me to be made a Party And he also entered a Suit against me himself in order to invalidate my Fathers Will whereby I claimed my little Patrimony
When I told this to my Friend Mr
Hollow
he broke into a loud Laugh Your Title cried he the World cannot invalidate your Title Mr
Ruth
I will let you have a thousand Pounds upon it To morrow and this I was under the Necessity of accepting soon after
Contention serves with mutual Hands to shut every Door against Reconciliation The more I had loved my Brother the more I now detested him Instead of any Submission or Overture to appease him my Lips uttered in daily Invectives the Overflowings of my Heart as I also was assured that on his Part he wished me nothing less than eternal Perdition Thus we burned on both Sides with unquenchable Fire and the Kingdom of
Satan
was fully opened within us
At length my Body was imprisoned at the Suit of my Neighbour
Heartless
for 750
l
and my Lands were taken under Execution at the Suit of my Neighbour
Hollow
for the Sum of 2000
l
But I soon was informed that all this Money was my Brothers who had advanced it from Time to Time to those his clandestine Correspondents in order to hasten and deepen my Destruction When I understood this I raged I was all on Fire and I took a horrid Pleasure in the Notion of having the Fangs of a Tiger that I might tear my Brother Piecemeal and my false Friends Limb from Limb and feast my Spirit on their Pangs and mine Eyes on their Carnage
But when I turned a Look on my Wife and seven Infants Grief joined with Rage to tear me by a double Distraction I cursed the Lot to which I was appointed upon Earth and I should have sought some desperate Means of putting an End to my Torments and Existence together but that I dreaded by my Death to give Pleasure to my Brother ten times more than I dreaded the Pain of Death itself
O my Friends had all that ever were sainted come and preached to me the Peace of our Lord Christ at that Season it would have been no more than beating the Air or striving with so many Sponges to make an Impression on a Block of Marble It is Distress alone that by Oppression makes Impression that preaches the internal Doctrine of sensible Mortification and humbles a proud Spirit by plucking away all its Props
At first I was as a Worm under the Foot of my God I turned and struggled and writhed and fought with all my Force against the Crusher But alas all was in vain he was too mighty for me and Opposition served only to add to my Anguish
At length I was compelled to acquiesce rather through the want of Power than the want of Will to resist And I lay as it were without Motion under his Dispensations at the same Time that my Heart reproached him in secret
Having sold all our Moveables and even our wearing Apparel for Sustenance we were reduced to the Necessity of sending our eldest Boys to beg Fragments of Victuals at Kitchen Windows to keep us from utterly famishing This I held to be such a further Shame and Disgrace as stung my Soul to the quick I therefore began to kick against these Pricks also but finding that the more I spurned the stronger I was held and pressed into the Dust I gave up all Resistance and contented myself with grieving and weeping under the Hand of the Almighty
From hence I gradually sunk into a State of resigned Serenity which although without Sunshine was yet without Disturbance My Fury smoothed its Crest my Passions subsided and I felt nothing more of Rancour against my Brother or Resistance against my God
The Activity of the Soul will find itself Employment As I had now no further Prospect or Concern upon Earth I began to turn my Thoughts and Attention toward Heaven I locked myself into yonder Closet I threw myself into the Dust I have sinned I cried I have greatly sinned O God I am nothing I am crushed even lower than the nothing that I am spare spare me from a deeper Perdition I beseech thee
I felt that my Prayer was heard Peace descended upon me like Dew upon the Night TheDay Star began gradually to dawn to my Soul The dark Kingdom of
Satan
gave way before the Kingdom of the Son of Light and Love and I would no more have entertained any one of my former Passions than I would have taken burning Coals and have buttoned them up in my Bosom
I was greatly delighted Dada with this Part and some more of Mr
Ruth
s Story and I got him to repeat it over and over that I might remember it the better
I now continued he I now pitied my Brother as much as ever I had hated him I grieved for having caused the Loss of his Peace I wished to restore it to him I wrote a penitential Acknowledgment of my Faults I besought his Pardon in the humblest Manner for the unfortunate Blow I subscribed to the Justice of my consequent Sufferings and I sent my Son here to attend his Lordship with my lowly Address
The Triumph which this Humiliation gave to my Brother supplied him with Patience to go through my Memorial But then conceiving as I suppose that it was dictated by mercenary Meanness and Hypocrisy he tore it to Pieces and dashed it into the Fire Then returning to my Child the Box which had so enflamed the Soul of his Lordship he kicked my poor little Fellow out of his House
My Child came home to me weeping sadly but I consoled him the best I could and mingled my Tears with his not in any Resentment for the Treatment received but through Grief for the Inveteracy of my unhappy Brother O my God I cried I no longer repine at my Abasement at the Weight of my Sufferings and Mortifications I bless thee for them O God they have proved my best Friends my most salutary Physicians Cruel and stern indeed is the Porter who stands at the Iron Gate of Pain but O it opens upon Regions of inward Delight for he who clothed himself with the Cross is all glorious within
My happy Experience of this Truth opened for me a new Prospect into the Mystery of Gods Dispensation to Mortals and threw a Number of shining Lights on those very Articles of GospelRedemption which had formerly appeared to me so exceptionable and gloomy If God said I to myself hath suffered Man to fall he hath also provided for him every possible Means of Recovery and Restoration
Wherefore when Sin came into the World God also sent Suffering its inseparable Attendant to be a Cure and an Antidote to the Poison thereof If Sin therefore hath thrust the Kingdom of Heaven from within us Suffering comes as Gods Forerunner it relaxes and unfolds the brazen Gates of our polluted Temple that Christ our Righteousness may enter the very Hem of whose Garment is Salvation to every Soul that lays hold upon it
Here I took Mr
Ruth
about the Neck and kissing him said that I was sure my Dada would be willing to pay his whole Debt in Return for the sweet Instructions which he had given to his
Harry
You speak of your Dada my Dear said he as though he were the Representative of God in the Gospel who forgave to his Servant ten thousand Talents What you have given me already Master is beyond any human Bounty that ever I heard of I shall therefore lay by two of these Notes till I am better informed how far your good Father may be satisfied with the Donation
Soon after we took leave for the present of this honourable Family We then went among the other principal Debtors whose Distresses indeed were great though their Stories except one had little singular in them In order to make our Money go as far as we could we hurried here and there through the Town compounding with the several Creditors from eight to ten and twelve and fifteen Shillings in the Pound so that for about six hundred Pounds we discharged a Number who were indebted to the amount of a thousand
On
Tuesday
about Noon in the last Week I stepped to Mr
Ruth
s to see if the Family had been decently clad agreeable to my Request There I found him and his four Sons clothed in warm and clean though very coarse Apparel and he told me that his Wife had gone abroad with her three Daughters in order to put them also into a suitable Condition
While I sat with him a young Woman came in of a very genteel Appearance though in a plain Dress Dont you remember the Girl Sir said she to Mr
Ruth
who used to come to you over Night in a green Kerchief and a little red Mantle I should be very ungrateful indeed said he if any Change of Dress could conceal from my Remembrance that sweet and charitable Countenance O Sir she cried the few Shillings that I brought you from Time to Time came from a very affectionate Hand though from a Hand you would little suspect of any Affection toward you they came from your loving Niece
Belinda Ruth
who has shed many a Shower of Tears on your Misfortunes May Heaven be her Portion cried out the good Man since Earth has nothing equal to so much Goodness Indeed Sir continued the Girl the little that your Niece sent you was procured with much Difficulty and Danger to herself for from the Time that on her Knees and with a Deluge of Tears she petitioned her Father in your behalf he kept a watchful Eye over her and took from her all Family Trusts so that she had nothing wherewith to supply you except the Price of some cast Gowns and of other little Matters that she feigned to have lost Moreover my Lord swore vehemently that if ever she furnished you with the Value of a Farthing or kept any kind of Correspondence with you or with yours he would disown and turn her into the public Streets
You alarm me greatly cried out Mr
Ruth
Is any thing amiss has any thing happened to my dear Child She was a lovely little Lamb a little Angel from her Cradle though I should not know her now if she stood erect before me I hope I say tell me proceed I beseech you
There was a Servant Sir a Man whom your Niece thought very faithful and therefore entrusted with the Secret of my coming to you that he might attend and see me safe back again This Fellow presuming on the Confidence that was placed in him would this Morning have taken indecent Liberties with his young Mistress This she resented in a becoming Manner and threatened to complain of his Insolence to her Father The revengeful Villain instantly ran and told the Affair to his Lord with many Aggravations as though his Daughter was robbing him of all his Substance Thereupon she was hastily called and having in Part confessed the Charge my Lord drew his Sword in his Fury whereupon giving a Shriek and a sudden Spring she got out of his Presence and has sent me to know Sir if you will be pleased to receive her
Yes cried Mr
Ruth
to my Bosom to my Heart with the same Pleasure and Welcome that a Convict receives Pardon on the Hour of Execution
Just then Mrs
Ruth
entered with her three Daughters who running up to their Father dropped together on their Knees before him for a Blessing
While his Hands and Eyes were raised in Prayer over them the young Stranger stepped earnestly up and falling on her Knees beside the Daughters she broke into Tears and cried aloud bless me bless me also O my Father I am your Niece your
Belinda
my Father is no more Yours my Lord is the Title yours all the Possession I now in my Turn depend on your Bounty for a Morsel of Bread My Brother my Brother dead exclaimed Mr
Ruth
He is my Lord she replied he was suffocated by his rising Choler and expired on the Spot
While the young Lady spoke Mrs
Ruth
looked as quite terrified by the Tidings of such a sudden Elevation and clapping her Hands together and lifting her Eyes she cried it cannot be it is impossible Ours the Title ours the Fortune O my God O my Husband O my Children and down she dropped
CHAP XVII
WHILE
Harry
was speaking
Ned
saw a Woman standing before one of the Windows and looking earnestly at her he gave a sudden Jump and dancing about cried O Sir Sir my Mammy my Mammy my Mammy theres my Mammy theres my Mammy as sure as Day
Run
Ned
instantly cried Mr
Fenton
and call
James
to me
James
yonders the Woman who stole
Ned
from his Parents have an Eye to her do not let her escape Order
Frank
to take a Horse and go with all speed to Mr and Mrs
Fielding
that they may come and know of a surety whether
Ned
is their Child or not Stay a Moment as soon as you have given
Frank
his Orders take the rest of the Servants and lay hold on this bad Woman bring her into the House by Force and confine her in one of the Back Rooms till Mr
Fielding
arrives By all
Ned
s Account she must be a very sad Creature and deserves no Favour
James
went out with Alacrity upon his Commission and having executed Matters with his accustomed Punctuality he returned to the Company
Law Sir cried
James
it is impossible that this Woman should be
Ned
s Mammy as he called her This is some unhappy decayed Gentlewoman as innocent of the Fact I dare answer as the Child unborn I am sorry with all my Heart that I had her used so roughly Beside Sir she is so deaf that she cant answer to any thing of which she may be accused
When we took her in hand she was terribly frightened Come says I Mistress you must now give an Account of all your Wickedness
Ennis
says she
Ennis
no but
Enfield
five Miles beyond
Enfield
with the Rev Mr
Catharines
I know nothing said I aloud of your
Enfields
or your
Catharines
but I tell you that you must now answer for the Life that you have led Dead dead says she God forbid A dear and a good Master he was to me I am sure I have lived with him these five Years and he gave me Money enough to bear my Charges but I fell sick at
Saint Alban
s and spent all and I have been these three Days creeping along and begging wherewithal to keep Life in me on the way
As you say
James
cried Mr
Fenton
this Account seems pretty feasible a deaf Servant however is something uncommon and yet I once knew a deaf and dumb Man the most ready and apprehensive Attendant I ever saw he would instantly collect whatever you wanted from the Motion of your Lips and the Cast of your Eye Go to her yourself
Ned
and observe her more exactly for if what she says has any Truth in it it is impossible she should be your Mammy
Ned
accordingly went but returned under evident Confusion and Difficulty I dont know what to think Sir of this Matter cries
Ned
When I look at the Gentlewomans Face I could swear twenty times over to every Feature but when I look at her Dress and Manners I could again almost swear against her Face
Ned
s Perplexity added greatly to Mr
Fenton
s Curiosity He got up in haste and went in Person to inspect the Party When he entered he saw a young Woman who looked very pale and sickly but of a genteel Appearance and neatly though plainly dressed She cast upon him a sensible and penetrating Look and curtseying to him with downcast Eyes Sir says she your Presence tells me that you are Master here I know not for what Offence your People have confined me but if it is on any Suspicion of Misbehaviour I have here the Certificate of a worthy Man and a great Saint who vouches at least for the Innocence of my Conduct Here she presented him with a Paper that contained the following Words
I certify that the Bearer hath served me upward of five Years in quality of Housekeeper and Intendant of my Family That she is a young Woman of distinguished Piety and Merit and departs at her own Desire on some Business to
London
Given under my Hand c
MARMADUKE CATHARINES Cl
On reading this Mr
Fenton
bowed and made a Motion with his Hand for her to sit down He then took a Pen and Paper that lay beside him and wrote to the Purpose that he requested her to allow him to detain her Certificate for about an Hour after which he would return it and endeavour to make her amends for the unbecoming Treatment which his People had given her
On casting her Eye over the Paper she made a low Curtsey and said I shall willingly attend Sir during your Pleasure but hope in the mean time that your Charity will afford me a Morsel or two of the Fragments of your last Meal
Mr
Fenton
then pulled a Bell and having ordered some cold Meats and Whitewine to be served he bowed and withdrew to his Company
Ned
said he as he entered this Woman is just as much the Empress of
Russia
as she is your
Mammy
Here Mr
Clement
look at this Certificate I have no Reason to doubt the Truth of the Character given in it for her Person and Manners are every way conformable I am sorry at Heart that I sent in such a Hurry for Mr and Mrs
Fielding
I have thereby raised a Sort of Expectation in them and it may be very mortifying to have that Expectation so suddenly and so wholly defeated
Some time after a Coach and six frothing Horses drove up to the Door and Mr and Mrs
Fielding
alighted with a Kind of Impatience and Trepidation apparent in their Countenance As soon as Mr
Fenton
had duly received and seated them my dear Madam says he to Mrs
Fielding
I think myself very unhappy in having given you a deal of unnecessary Trouble My poor
Ned
here has been utterly mistaken in the Person of the Woman whom he took to be his Mammy The Certificate of her certain Residence bears a Date even previous to that in which we found him and her Deportment is more than a thousand Testimonies against her being of the wandering or dissolute Class of People Be pleased Mr
Fielding
to look over this Certificate I think it has all the Marks of its being genuine
The Moment that Mr
Fielding
cast his Eye on the Paper a well known Character a well known Character indeed he exclaimed It is the Hand of Mr
Catharines
my Tutor my Friend the Man of the World excepting yourself Mr
Fenton
for whom I have the dearest Respect and Affection No Question can be made of any thing to which he sets his Affirmative
Alas cried Mrs
Fielding
then all the Hopes we had conceived must again be cast aside Here comes our Nurse too poor Woman in great Haste I sent her Word that we had found the Person whom we suspected to have stolen our Child and desired that she would meet me here directly
While Mrs
Fielding
spoke Nurse entered panting and almost breathless and without saluting or taking any Note of the Company Where she hastily cried where is the Boy Madam whom you suppose to be your Child
Ah Nurse said Mrs
Fielding
we were quite mistaken in the Woman whom we suspected to be the Kidnapper and so that Affair is all over again
I have nothing to say cried Nurse to this Woman or the other Woman but you must not have another Bodys Child put upon you if he is indeed your Son I shall know him in an Instant I should know him from all the Children that ever were born Why Nurse cried Mrs
Fielding
eagerly do you know of any natural Mark or Mole or Spot by which you could guess at him He had no such Spot upon him Madam but if he be a living Boy he has a Mark of my own making that never will out and thats the Reason that I never dared to tell you of it What Mark Nurse what Mark tell me instantly I beg you
Why Madam you must know as how the Weather was very cold it being twelfth Day in
Christmas
Holidays So you and my Master were from Home on visiting and I had a rousing Fire down and my Child stood by my Knee being just then twelve Months nineteen Days old and as sturdy a Fellow of his Age and Inches as any could desire to see So the Cat all at once threw down some crockery Ware behind me Up I started to be sure and run to save the Vessels but hearing my Child scream I turned much nimbler back again and found him fallen with his little Neck against the upper Bar of the Grate It was well that I didnt die on the Spot for then he must have died too So I whipped him up in my Arms but he shrieked and roared terribly So I got some softening Cream and spread it over the Burn and I put a Plaster upon that again and I covered the Place from Day to Day so well with his Cap that neither you nor my Master knew any thing of the Matter But the Shape of his Hurt went so deep into my Heart and into my Memory that as I was saying and still say I should know him by it again among all the Children in all the World
Go then my dear Nurse cried Mrs
Fielding
go immediately and examine if this Boy has your Mark upon him Is this the Master Madam whom you suspect to be your Son It is Nurse it is my Heart took a liking to him the first Moment I saw him he too was stolen from his Parents and may as well be my Son as the Son of another
Here Nurse made a hasty Step or two toward
Ned
but suddenly stopping and turning pale ah Madam she cried I wish you would go and try yourself the Wound if he has it is just under his right Ear for if I should find indeed that he is my very Child I shall certainly run mad on the very Spot for Joy I dare not try Nurse I dare not try for the World said Mrs
Fielding
I am already all of a Tremble I know not how
Nurse then plucking up a little Resolution stepped suddenly to
Ned
and turned up his Hair when giving a loud Scream she had just the Power to cry out my Child my Child my Child my Child and dropped down in an anguishing Fit of Hysterics
Mrs
Fielding
on hearing her Nurse cry out rose hastily from her Chair and would have gone to embrace her Son but falling instantly back she fainted away The poor Nurse however was not so happy She broke forth at Times into convulsive Peals of Laughter that made the House ring and again she fell into Fits of Weeping so outrageous and bitterly desolate as no Heart under the Temper of Adamant could support
While the Family were all in Bustle applying Remedies to their Patients Mrs
Fielding
recovered and hearing the Cries of her Nurse she went and kneeled down by her and wept with her and over her while her Tears proved a seasonable Restorative to herself
As soon as Mr
Fielding
found that his Lady was well recovered he turned to
Ned
and lifting his Hair observed the remarkable Seam that the Burn had made It is it is my Child he tenderly cried O my God how is this wherein have I deserved thy smallest Notice or Regard that thou shouldest thus visit me with thy Wonders and by thy Mercies put me to Confusion of Face
Here
Ned
kneeled respectfully down for a Blessing which his Father silently called upon him with lifted Hands and Eyes He then raised him and sitting down took him fondly to his Bosom thou art thou art my Son my beloved Son he cried my first and my last the only Offspring of my Bowels Thou shalt no more be a Wanderer no more be a Beggar my Babe Thrice blessed be our Meeting and tenfold blessed thy future Fortunes O that our Lives my Child might be made one whole Oblation to him from whom this amazing Salvation hath come
By this Time the Nurses Distemper was greatly abated though she still continued extremely low and feeble and did not seem to recollect except by faint Glimmerings any Matter that had passed Mr
Fielding
then proposed to take her to Town to the Physicians observing that there was Room enough for her and
Ned
in their Carriage and as Mrs
Fielding
made no Exception the Coach was ordered to turn directly to the Door
Poor
Ned
during this Time was as a Person who fluctuated between the dread of leaving known and certain Enjoyments and the Hopes of his possessing somewhat that he had not yet tasted
Mr
Fielding
then stepped up in a Kind of quick Rapture to Mr
Fenton
He caught him in his Arms my dearest Sir he cried I love I respect I revere you even next to my God What can I return you what shall I say to you All that I am or have sinks out of sight from your Benefits I am blessed my dear Sir I am blessed beyond Expression replied Mr
Fenton
in being made an humble Instrument of Happiness to a worthy Man O Sir cried Mr
Fielding
what Events next to miraculous we came to your Door but we were not permitted to pass our Carriage broke for the Purpose you then told us of this Foundling but what Likelihood that among Millions he should happen to be ours You then proposed an Expedient for ascertaining the Persons from whom he was kidnapped This Expedient failed God however would discover him and had foreordained the Means He set upon him an indubitable Mark for the Purpose none knew of this but his Nurse and she has revealed it Had any one of these many Circumstances been wanting our Child must have continued a Stranger to us for ever Indeed Sir said Mr
Fenton
they are all concurring Proofs that you are under the especial Eye of Providence But Sir I fear we shall have a heavy Loss of our Friend
Ned
for though he does not want his small Faults he is a worthy hearted Child and a very pleasant Companion O Sir cried Mr
Fielding
you and Master
Fenton
have a Right to command both him and us at all Times But come
Ned
take Leave for the present of your best Friends
Here
Ned
with filling Eyes stepped respectfully to Mr
Fenton
and kneeling before him took each of his Hands and kissed them crying my Father my Father whereupon Mr
Fenton
tenderly raised him and pressing him affectionately to his Bosom cried God be good to you my Son and make you a Blessing to your true Parents and to all your Kin
Ned
then turned to
Harry
and taking him by both Hands and looking him fondly in the Face O Master
Harry
Master
Harry
he cried I never shall be able to say the Word Farewell to you my Master
Harry
I was hungry and you fed me I was naked and you cloathed me I was a Stranger and you took me in the whole World to me was fatherless and friendless when you were Father and Mother and a whole World of Friends to me my true Lord and Master
Harry
Are you not my Owner am I not your Property your own hard bought Bargain Did you not purchase me with your Stripes and with your precious Blood and will you suffer me to be taken away from you my Hearts Master
Here
Harry
swallowing his Passion as well as he was able clasped
Ned
in his Arms and cried my Brother my Brother my Friend and Brother for ever then turning to Mr and Mrs
Fielding
and wiping his Eyes I hope Madam I hope Sir says he that you will excuse my young Friend here for his Partiality to a Family who have loved him long and very dearly in a little time to be sure he will love and respect you both above all the World though put all together Though I grieve to part with him I heartily rejoice at his being found and acknowledged to be the Child of such worthy Parents and I hope I say that you will not be offended at his Concern for parting with his old Friends
No my noble Creature cried Mr
Fielding
we are delighted at the Proof that he gives of his Gratitude and at the Strength of his Attachment where he has been so highly obliged
O Sir O Madam says
Ned
kissing the Hands of his Parents did you but know the Value of what I lose when I leave when I leave and here he burst afresh into Tears
Mrs
Fielding
then took
Ned
in her Arms and tenderly embracing him cried we do my Love we do know the Value of the Family that you leave and it is the first and the dearest Wish of my Heart that we should all become as one Family and as one Household This Angel here as you say is your rightful Owner and we owe him more on that Account than our whole Fortune can pay and he shall have you as long and as often as ever he pleases but for this Night my Darling it would be very unkind not to go with your good Nurse your true and loving Mammy who has suffered so much for your sake and her Case requires that we should take her immediately to the Doctors
Here
Ned
acquiesced and having taken a weeping Leave of all the Family not forgetting the meanest Servant in the House he stepped slowly into the Coach sat down by his Nurse and away they drove
As soon as the Family of the
Fieldings
were gone
Harry
withdrew to his Chamber and locked himself in while Mr
Fenton
went to enfranchise his late Prisoner
He first returned her Certificate to her and then presenting her with twenty Guineas he bowed and made a Motion with his Hand to the Door intimating that she was at liberty to depart when she thought proper
Having looked several Times with Silence and Surprise now at Mr
Fenton
and again at the Money I should be very ill deserving of your Bounty Sir she said should I attempt any longer to impose upon you I am not deaf as you supposed it was only an Artifice which I made use of when taken into Custody to avoid answering Questions that might have brought a worthy Family into Disgrace But you look so altogether the Gentleman and the kind hearted Christian that I think I ought to have no Reserve of any Kind toward you
Be pleased then said Mr
Fenton
as far as Prudence will allow to let me know who and what you are
I hope Sir she replied that I am very far from being what I was otherwise I should be the very vilest of the Vile Wherefore if you will allow a weakly Woman to sit I will tell you the whole of my short Story with the same Openness that I make Confession of my Sins to Him from whom alone I can look for Remission
My maiden Name was
Fielding
my Father was a Gentleman of large Fortune and good Repute he had by my Mother a very worthy Son who inherits his Estate and a very unworthy Daughter who now takes the Shame of confessing her Faults before you
My Mother was one of the holiest of Women and brought me up to the best of her Power in her own Principles and Practice but she died when I was in the thirteenth Year an Age when the Blood is in the Tide of flow before I had acquired a due Relish for my Duty before the Yoke of
Christ
became easy or his Burden delightsome
My Father then provided me a Governess a Woman well skilled in
French
and Needlework and other such shewy Matters of Accomplishment a Woman also of much apparent Modesty and Decorum though inwardly of a debauched and lascivious Disposition
There is nothing so pernicious to the Breeding and Morals of Children as their being permitted to keep kitchen Company where high fed Husseys and pampered Fellows form a Hotbed of steaming Sensuality and Guilt
My Governess though something elderly took a liking to my Fathers Clerk a modest young Man whom however she had the Art to seduce to her wanton Purposes
In order to promote her Intrigue in my Fathers Absence at Evenings she used to procure Collations and after we had eat and drank to propose Plays and other Matters of innocent Merriment as she called them
The Chief of our Men Servants was one
Guilliam Rampant
the Butler a comely robust Fellow and one in whom my Father had placed great Trust
One Night as we were playing at
Hide and Seek
this Man watched the Place where I sought to conceal myself and coming softly and suddenly to me he caught me up under one Arm and running with me to a distant Apartment he there ruined me
A false Shame did not permit me to say any thing of the Matter and the Villain had afterward the Insolence to threaten me that if I did not admit him to further Familiarities he would tell what had passed and expose me to the Family
At length both the Governess and I proved with Child of which the Housekeeper in private informed my Father whereupon my Governess was turned with Infamy out of Doors and I was locked up and confined in a waste Room
On the third Day of my Imprisonment my Father entered and having examined me with a stern though sedate Severity on my Knees and with a Flood of Tears I confessed the whole Affair
The Butler was then sent for
Guilliam
said my Father if you do not directly marry this Strumpet I will hang you for a Rape but if you marry her I will give you two hundred Pounds to set you going in some poor Way on Condition that I never see the Face of either of you any more
The last Terms were immediately complied with A License was sent for We were married in my Fathers Presence The Money was paid down and we were directly turned into the Streets
Upon this small Fund and about a hundred and fifty Pounds more which my Husband had saved of his Vails and Wages he set up a gaming Tavern to which there was great Resort and as he was a very bold sensible and enterprizing Man he became extremely agreeable to Numbers of his Customers among whom there were many Persons of Fortune and Distinction
At length the Time of my Labour approached I lay for a Fortnight in Agonies that admitted of little Intermission My Child died within me and was brought into the World Piecemeal
I languished for three Months after my Delivery without being able to quit my Bed and the Remembrance of the Pangs and Miseries that I endured caused me to vow within myself that I would never more have any Commerce with Mankind
On my Recovery therefore I daily rejected the Caresses of my Husband and every Night I bolted myself into my Chamber whereupon he began to behave himself with great Coldness and Distance toward me and to frequent the Company of common and lewd Women
In about fourteen Months after my Marriage my Husband had a Run of Dice against him whereby he lost to the amount of fifteen hundred Pounds and as he had not wherewithal to discharge the full Sum he determined at all Events to pay to the last Penny of his Debts of Honour as he called them Hereupon he began to raise Contributions on the Public and after several very bold and successful Exploits his Person became notorious and he was taken from amidst his righthonourable Associates at a Gamingtable in
London
conveyed to Newgate tried convicted and executed at
Tyburn
Upon this all our Substance was immediately seized by Creditors or by the Officers of the Crown and I was turned into an unknown World without any Thing to sustain me save a few Shillings in my Pocket and the single Suit of Clothes which I happened to have on my Back
I forgot to tell you my dear Sir that my worthy but afflicted Father had died before this Period and this ought to have been the greatest of Afflictions to myself but the Season of my Feelings was not yet come and I barely dropt a slight Tear without any Sense of Remorse for having been in all likelihood his principal Executioner
As my Brother was now the only Person upon Earth to whom I had any Right to apply for Support I accordingly went to his House with an anxious beating Heart and sent him in a written State of my very deplorable Case But his Answer was that if ever I should again appear before his Doors he would take me up as a Vagabond and transport me to the Plantations
Wholly desperate by this Disappointment and stimulated almost to Frenzy my Blood boiled in my Veins The horrid Thoughts of Vengeance could alone assuage my raging Spirit and I resolved to compass my Ends by Poison by Dagger or any the speediest Means For I looked upon my Brother as a Robber who had despoiled me of my Title to my Fathers Affection and Inheritance
For this accursed Purpose it was necessary to get near him I sold my Clothes and having disguised myself in the Dress of a Charwoman I engaged as a Servant in a Cellar over the Way
From this Place I observed an Infant of about two Years old who at times was brought to the Door by the Hand of his Nurse and I learned that he was the only Child of my Brother and that the Lives of his Parents were wrapt up in him
Here I conceived I had found an Object on whom I might execute my Revenge with better Safety to my own Person and greater Torture to my Adversary than by any other Method that Invention could supply I therefore couched on my Watch like a Lioness for her Prey and spying the Child alone I shot across the Street caught him up in my Arms and away I flew
I hastened with him as fast as I could till I reached the Fields I then got under a Ditch and stripped him of his gay Rayment which I folded in a Handkerchief and having cut in Pieces an old Petticoat and tacked it about him I made my way to a Cabbin where they sold small Ale and Spirits and there took up my Lodging for the first Night
I believe Sir I am the greatest Instance that ever was of the Length to which human Nature can go in Reprobacy when abandoned of God and unvisited by his gracious Motions in the Heart The strong Bent which my Mother had given me to Religion caused me only to recoil with the greater Force and when my Father cast me off I even reproached my God and was at Enmity with him for having suffered me to fall into my first Offence against Virtue
I was yet urged and carried further down the Hill of Perdition by the Example of the licentious Set of Profligates that daily and nightly frequented my Husbands House insomuch that in time I began to relish their Profaneness and my Tongue as well as Ear at length became accustomed to Oaths and Execrations a Vice of all others the most unnatural most shocking and abhorred in our Sex
In fine I became an Alien and even an Enemy to all Goodness and I would willingly have been a Party in any Kind of Wickedness save that of personal Prostitution and this I avoided merely for fear of a second Childbirth which I dreaded more than I dreaded the Torments of Hell
How pitiable then must have been the Case of the unhappy Infant who had fallen into my cruel Gripe I often suffered him on purpose to weep for Hunger and then would lash him for crying that I might please myself as it were with the Miseries of my Brother in the Person of his Child
For four Years and nine Months I led a wandering and mendicant Life in which Trade my little Nephew grew very successful and useful to me so that I began to abate of my Severity toward him Detested by my Relations and outcast from the World I cared for nothing but Self and nightly indulged my Appetite with the best Victuals and Liquor that my Pocket could afford from the Issues of my own Petitions and of those of my fellow Traveller
One Day having passed through
Enfield
where I had raised some petty Contributions I spyed an Infant on a Bank at a Distance from any House and instantly the Project occurred of exacting the larger Charities by his Means I looked about and thinking that I was not observed I caught the Child up and ran off with all my Speed But I had not gone far when I heard a Man shouting after me and perceived that I was pursued Thereupon I cast down the Child with my Pouch of Provisions and leaving little
Ned
behind me also I made the best of my Way thro the opposite Thicket
As my Terrors continued I continued to run till I was all in a glow and faint with Fatigue but still keeping forward though slower and slower God conducted me within Sight of the Parsonage House of Mr
Catharines
which I reached with much Difficulty and then sunk away on the Threshold
I knew nothing further of what passed till I found myself in a warm though coarse Bed with one Woman holding a Bottle of Salts to my Nose and another presenting me with a Cordial I looked about and found myself something revived but on the Sight of some Meat which was brought to me I again fainted
Within some Hours after I was seized with Pains in all my Bones and fell into a raging though intermitting Fever Mr
Catharines
who was Physician to the Bodies as well as Souls of all his Flock visited and prescribed for me and had me attended with great Humanity
On the third Night I dreamed that an invisible Hand came and seizing me by a single Hair of my Head hurried me aloft through the Regions of the Air till it held me right over a fiery Gulf in the Pinnacles of whose Flames a Variety of Daemons appeared to hover the Horridness of whose Figures was indescribable to Ears of Flesh and Blood They all seemed to struggle toward me and to stretch forth their Fangs to receive me while my Husband
Guilliam Rampant
ascended swiftly in the Midst and rushing up with a Pair of Sheers cut the Hair that withheld me in twain so down I thought I fell and giving a great Shriek I awakened to Darkness and inexpressible Horrors
Though no Light was in the Room my conscious Spirit supplied the Office All my Transgressions arose minutely and distinctly to Memory They appeared substantially as so many Fiends within me and round about me and I fell into an Agony that threw me into a Fit
I awoke again before Morning but without any Abatement of my Terrors or Desperation The former Objects continued to present themselves before me and no longer able to support Existence I groped about for a Knife or other Instrument of self-Destruction for I said to myself perhaps Death may bring Rest to the Weary and Overladen or at least afford some Respite before the fearful Judgment of final Condemnation So finding no other Means that suited my desperate Purpose I grasped my Neck in my Hands and exerted my Force to strangle myself but Nature proved repugnant to the Completion of an Office against herself and I sunk from my Agonies into a second Fit
On the breaking of the Day Mr
Catharines
entered but as the Room was darkened I did not know who he was He approached my Bed and taking hold of my Hand he sighed and said you are very ill poor Woman exceeding ill indeed you have more Need of a Physician for your Soul than your Body if you please then I will kneel down and pray with you and for you that God may receive your departing Spirit
O no Sir I cried I cannot pray even to hear a Prayer would be worse than Hell to me I have no God no Saviour they have long since departed from me I am a Sinner to whom Hope can never come Omnipotence itself can do nothing for me I feel that if God would he cannot save me except he were to create me over again
And he can create you over again cried the good Mr
Catharines
even in this Instant he can make you a new Nature and a new Creature he can save you from all your Sins by an inward Salvation by pouring the Abundance of himself into your Bosom
O Sir I exclaimed you do not know how vile I am Even now I am in Hell the Fiends have the Property and Possession of me O if any single Soul were to suffer for everlasting what I suffered last Night better it were that Creation had never been
Here I recounted to him my Dream with the Agonies that I felt and my Attempt to destroy myself when the comforting Saint cried out good Hopes good Hopes very excellent Hopes indeed These are strong and blessed Compunctions I see that the Saviour of Sinners is determined not to lose you Be of good Cheer here take this Julap to recruit your wearied Spirits that you may be able to lay open the Woundings of your Soul to the ministring Physician of your dear and loving Lord
But do you think Sir said I that there is any Hope for me Hope cried he there is Assurance more stable than the marble Foundations of the Earth God is all Love he is nothing but Love he never rejected Any that once turned unto him His Incarnation his whole Task and Business upon Earth his Sufferings and Crucifixion his Agonies and Death were chosen and embraced by him for the love and sake of Sinners It is in the Regions of sinning Nepthali in the Darkness and Shadow of Death that the Light of the loving
Jesus
delights to spring up But come my dear Sister tell me who and what you are Lay open with Truth and Honesty the manifold Distempers of your Sinsick Soul your Weakness your Poverty your Nakedness your Pollutions your Errors and your Emptiness and He who shineth in Darkness will descend into you my Sister and will be your Strength and the Riches of pardoning Mercy to you and will cover your Nakedness and purify your Pollutions and turn your Errors into Rectitude and your Emptiness into the Fullness of the Joy and Glory of your God
Here I made him a full Recital of all the Passages of my Life as openly but much more minutely than I have done to your Honour Never was Man so affected He groaned he sobbed aloud he wet his Handkerchief with his Tears as though it had been drenched in the River
As soon as I had concluded do you not know me then he cried breaking afresh into Tears do you not know me Mrs
Phaebe
know you not
Marmaduke Catharines
your Brothers Tutor and your Tutor the Man from whose Lips you used to imbibe Instruction with so much Avidity Ah had I stayed nothing of this would have happened but your Brother got me presented to a rich Living here and so I left my Vineyard and the Fruits thereof unguarded Oh that accursed
Rampant
I left my Lamb to the voracious and remorseless Wolf From your Infancy Mrs
Phaebe
you were the Darling of my Affections the Day did not seem to shine in which I saw you not Your Smiles cheered my Spirit and your unaffected Graces played round my Heart
Your Brother too saw and approved my Passion for You What Happiness did he not propose to himself in our Union We will be Brothers he cried my
Catharines
folding me fast in his Arms we will be Brothers in Reality as well as Inclination
But those blissful Prospects soon vanished away You were seduced my Daughter you were seduced from your Duty from your God and your Lover Your Brother writ me an Account of your fatal Falling away and I spent my Nights in Tears and my Days in Anguish
Ah how you are altered even in Person and Aspect I could not have known you again Sin hath taken away the Innocence and Sweetness of your Countenance and spread a Cloudiness and Stain in the Place thereof But you are returned my Child you are returned to Virtue and Piety to yourself and to your God and he will once more beautify you and make you as the Kings Daughter all glorious within and deck you with living Saphirs even the morning Stars of the Preparation of the Appearance of
Jesus
While the holy Man spoke the nether Millstone of my Heart began to dissolve my Agonies and Terrors departed from me my Breast began to heave with a kindly though sad Emotion and a Torrent of Tears greatly eased my Distemper both of Body and Mind
Mr
Catharines
as I afterward learned on hearing of my doleful Miscarriage had vowed to himself in secret never to have Commerce with Womankind
A widowed Lady however of large Fortune and liberal Education but much advanced in Years happened to reside in the Neighbourhood She was first caught by the simple though affecting Piety of his Discourses from the Pulpit She visited and was visited by him She was then further charmed by the Lustre of his Sentiments the Sanctitude of his Manners and the Sweetness of his Disposition Sir said she to him one Day I am by Birth a Foreigner and neither have Children nor any Relation of my Blood in this Kingdom who on my Decease may put in for a Title to my Fortune I blush not to tell you that if I were young and beautiful you are the Man of the World whom I would have chosen for my Husband But my Defects take nothing from your great Merits You are as precious in my Eyes as if I were deserving of you and I am desirous of making yo umy Own for Life provided you swear to me before the nuptial Knot is tied that my Fortune my Company and my Obedience are all that ever you will require from me in Right of our Marriage You shall live and shall be as an only Son to me and I will have for you at once all the Duty of a Wife and the Tenderness of a Mother
I am not insensible of what Gibers may say respecting the Impropriety of certain Appetites at my Years but I trust by my Conduct to disabuse their Opinion and to cause all Occasion of stumbling in my Neighbour to cease
In the mean Time my two capital Prospects will be compassed by this Scheme the One of giving myself a legal Title to your Company the Other of giving You a legal Title to my Fortune
A Proposal for such a Species of Marriage answered exactly to Mr
Catharines
s Vow of Celibacy The Lady though considerably upward of Sixty shone in all the Graces and Attractions of Youth excepting only those personal Allurements to Concupiscence toward which Mr
Catharines
had resolved on an Aversion He could therefore form no rational Objection to the Scheme and within a few Weeks they were privately married
While I wept as I told you Sir under a kindly Remorse for my manifold Offences Mr
Catharines
kneeled down and poured forth his Prayers beside me with an Elocution so warm and so deeply affecting as entered and searched through my Heart and my Reins and seemed to tear out by the Roots all the Evil that was in me
As soon as he had ended and that I had thanked him with Words half suffocated for the Graciousness of his Consolations Mrs
Catharines
came in Would you then Sir said she would you monopolize all the Charities will you not suffer a Sister near the Throne of Grace who may assist in the under Services to the Servants of our Master
My Dear said he tenderly I was about to request your Presence Here lies on the Bed of Sickness and perhaps of Death the Daughter of my Patron the Sister of my Friend and once the dearest Object of my Affections and Prospects for Life Pray order a Chamber for her more becoming her Station and my Debts to her Family
She instantly went out with Alacrity and without Reply and within a few Minutes several female Servants entered who gently wrapping me in the Clothes wherein I lay conveyed me to a Bed ready sheeted and warmed that stood in a small but decent Apartment
As soon as I was placed Mrs
Catharines
came up and stooping tenderly kissed me and said God be very gracious unto you my Daughter
Here I was treated with an Attention and Delicacy that joined with my evil Deeds to put me to utter Shame However I began to recover apace and within a few Days was able to sit up
On the seventh Night I had a very singular Dream or Vision which will never depart my Memory and which I trust through Life and Death will preserve its happy and comforting Influence upon me
Methought I walked with vast Crowds of fine and merry People along a Road of a gentle and pleasant Descent made easy to the Foot like the Mall in
London
On a sudden my Husband
Guilliam Rampant
stood beside me I surveyed him with a Delight that I had never known before He seemed to surpass in Beauty all the Persons around us his Garments were embellished with Gold and Gems and his Countenance shone with a wonderful Lustre
Come Miss
Phaebe
said he gracefully taking me by the Hand come with me to yonder Paradise where I will weave a Garland for you of never fading Flowers and treat you to Fruits of a heavenly Flavour Immediately a vast Garden opened its Blooms and incomparable Beauties to my quickened Imagination The Odours thereof perfumed the Air far and wide and the burdened Trees reached forth Fruits of irresistable Temptation
My Husband then plucked and gave me to eat of the Clusters of the Grape and Apples of the Pine which I seized and devoured with an intemperate Relish when happening to look down I perceived that he had got the Legs and Hoofs of a Goat and it instantly occurred that he could be no other than the Tempter of our first Parents Terrified almost to Death I did not dare to speak out but lifting up my Heart in a secret Prayer He and his Paradise immediately vanished
At once I found myself in a vast and dreary Wilderness whose Trees were barren of Fruits and the Brambles of Berries through which there was no Path and from whence there was no Outlet Go on what Side I would I had scarce made my way through one Thicket when I was presented with another till being spent with Fatigue I despaired of any Deliverance and sat me down to die
Soon after methought Mr
Catharines
approached in mean and beggared Apparel but with a majestic and stern Countenance Wretch he cried are you at length come to a Knowledge of the Evil of your Ways are you now come to a Sense of your vile and forlorn Estate do you find at last that I alone can be your Stay and your Helper So saying he seized me by the Hand and his Touch filled my Frame with Confidence and Delight We rose into the Air we moved together over a boundless Tract of Desart from whence the Lions roared and the Wolves bayed at us At length we alighted at the Entrance of a narrow Path that led up the Ascent of a mountainous Country The nearer Side was covered with Clouds and blasted by Tempest through which the farther Part seemed to gleam with a faint Radiance that promised the rising Day
Courage said my Conductor we must ascend this Mountain in spite of all Opposition in spite of the Toils the Difficulties and Dangers the Pains Calamities Distresses and Discouragements of the Way No Obstacles I cried shall appal or discourage me I will rejoice in Distresses and Pains while I have You by my Side
Hereupon I felt wonderful Strength and Alacrity I ran up the Ascent with a willing and eager Pace and proposed in a few Minutes to reach the Top But alas I was widely out in my Account The Way became straiter and steeper and rougher I began to fail through fatigue and the edged Flints tore my Feet and marked my Footsteps with Blood Ah Sir I cried this is very grievous indeed Peace said he it is very salutary these Flints are your kindest Friends your truest Physicians and the Wounds that they give your Body will be more than the Balm of
Gilead
to the healing of your Soul I then summoned all my Powers and proceeded though with much Anguish which often compelled me to lean with all my Weight upon my Companion
At length we came to a Pass that was thick set and interwoven with Briars and Thorns and seeing no way I made a full Stop Good cheer cried my Guide this must also be traversed there is no quailing now you must endure to the End my Daughter The Thorn was pronounced a Curse to the first
Adam
and his Posterity but your second
Adam
has made it a Wreath of living Brightness These accordingly are appointed to twist the Garland of your Blessedness and to make you a Partaker of their Crown of eternal Glory
Revived by this Promise I rushed into the Midst and struggled to get forward though screaming with Anguish but when the Thorns rent my Skin and entered into my Body and Soul and lodged their Stings within me I could endure no longer but casting myself on my Conductor O that Death that Death I cried would put an End to my Sufferings He then turned and smiled upon me and taking me under his Arm bore me harmless through the Remainder then seating me on a Bank he placed himself beside me
While I sat still panting with Pain and Fatigue He bent forward and pulled off his Sandals I then saw the large Wounds that the Spike had made My Spirit instantly told me that it was my Lord himself under the Form of his Minister I threw myself prostrate before him My Bosom opened wide and taking hold of his Feet covered with Dust as they were I pressed them to my Heart and would have thrust them into my Soul when on their Touch I felt such an ecstatic Transport that if I had not awoke my Body could no longer have retained my Spirit it must instantly have issued to Him who breathed it
The Consolation of this Dream greatly strengthened and restored me and I hastened to get up that I might delight myself with serving the Servants of my Benefactors
When Mrs
Catharines
rose she found me busied in the basest Employments of the Kitchen She looked astonished Why my Dear she cried would you demean yourself in this Manner O Madam I replied I beseech you to leave me to my own Conscience it tells me that even this Office is much too honourable for me
When Breakfast was ready Mr
Catharines
came in from his Mornings Walk of Meditation As he entered I cast myself before him and clasping his Knees cried How blessed are the Feet of him who bringeth good Tidings of Salvation to Sinners but above all blessed is he who beareth in his own Person the Image and Impression of the Prince of Peace Being much surprised and abashed at my Manner of Salutation he demanded the Reason of it and I told my Dream whereupon they were so affected that they Both shed Tears of tender Congratulation
I have already told you Sir that Mr
Catharines
was Physician to the Bodies as well as Souls of all his Parishioners I might have added to all the Country about him
For this Purpose he provided a little kind of Apothecarys Shop where he kept all Manner of Drugs for the Sick as well as Matters of Surgery for the Sore and the Wounded On these Occasions I became his principal Deputy and Assistant I was myself often astonished at the Effects of my Application in this Way I scarce remember an Instance wherein I failed of Success A Spirit of Healing seemed to accompany my Walks I have frequently cured Those who were given up as irrecoverable by the Doctors and Surgeons And I never had such heartfelt Delight as when on my Knees I bathed the Feet of the Sick or washed the Ulcers of the Beggar for in Them methought the great Physician of Sinsick Souls lay before me who had healed my own Woundings and done away my Transgressions
I should have told you Sir that when Mr
Catharines
heard that I had stolen and dropped my little Nephew the only Child of his best and most beloved Friend He that very Day dispatched a Number of Emissaries to
Enfield
and throughout all the adjacent Country with Orders to make the most diligent Search and Enquiry after him but alas all our Pains and Solicitudes both then and afterward proved fruitless this cost me Day and Night secret Deluges of Tears and served to imbitter the happiest Life that otherwise perhaps could be spent upon Earth
About three Months ago Mrs
Catharines
began to decline and peaceably dropped like overripe Fruit into the Lap of ourgeneral Mother
Mr
Catharines
had often desired my Permission to write to my Brother in my Favour but conscious of the Injury that I had done him in the Person of his Child I had hitherto declined the Proposal At length however I determined to throw myself at his Feet and confess my Guilt though without any Prospect of obtaining his Pardon perhaps said I he may think on some more successful Means for the Discovery of his Son than we have yet hit upon My Benefactor approved of my Resolution he wrote a Letter to my Brother by me and within a few Days I set out in his Chaise for
London
On the Road I took it into my Head once more to make Tryal of my Brothers Nature and to present myself before him as an Object of his Charity For this Purpose I dismissed the Chaise at
St Albans
I also sent back my little Baggage with an Account of my Project in a Note to Mr
Catharines
and retained nothing but this poor Garb that I have on
On that Night I was taken suddenly and extremely ill of a Cholic and could keep nothing on my Stomach for the six following Days I sent to
London
for a Physician who attended and prescribed for me and by the time I was able to creep abroad what with Fees to the Doctor the Apothecarys Bill and a still more exorbitant Bill from the Landlord I had scarce three Sixpences left to bear my Charges to the City With that Sum however I set forward on Foot but finding myself still very weak and sickly I was tempted to repine for not having brought more Money from Home but again I remembered that my Master had told me that Sufferings were the best Friends and Physicians to such a Sinner I was therefore content and pleased to be once more reduced to the lowest State of Beggary and after three Days sore Travel God was pleased to conduct me to your charitable Door
This Sir is the Letter which my Friend wrote in my Favour to my Brother You see it is open but before you read it I ought to account to you for some Touches of uncommon Tenderness which Mr
Catharines
has expressed toward me
Some Weeks after the Funeral of his Lady He and I stood chatting in the Front of the House The Evening was exceeding pleasant and the Maids sat singing and milking the Cows before us when the great Bull suddenly tearing up the Ground with his Feet ran furiously at his Master On seeing him approach I shrieked and rushed into the House but observing that Mr
Catharines
did not follow I turned and ran as precipitately out again There I saw that the terrible Creature had pinned him up between his Horns against the Wall at which he butted with all his Force
Then casting Fear aside I sprung up and seizing the Bull by one of his Horns would have torn him away from my dear Protector But my Strength not availing I caught his Ear in my Mouth and bit it through and through while I endeavoured to tear out his Eyes with my Nails In the mean time a little favourite Mastiff scarce bigger than two Fists came happily out and leaping up caught the monstrous Animal by the Nose whereupon he gave a hideous Roar and flinging away ran kicking and leaping about the Yard
I remembered nothing more till I awoke from a Swoon and perceived that Mr
Catharines
sat beside me He held one of my Hands which he had washed with his Tears and which at Times he pressed to his Lips and again to his Bosom
When he had prevailed upon me to swallow a Spoonful of Cordial O my
Phaebe
my
Phaebe
he cried you have this Day offered up your precious Life a Victim for the Preservation of Mine and from this Day forward my Life and all that I am is your Property for ever But tell me my
Phaebe
whence could you get in a Moment such astonishing Intrepidity how attain to the Power of acting against Nature the constitutional Terrors and Delicacies of your Sex Ah Sir I replied the Book of Life tells us that
perfect Love casteth Fear away
From that Time Mr
Catharines
earnestly pressed me to Marriage My first and my last and my only Love he would say you know that in Womankind I can love nothing but You Your whole Image your every Feature is impressed upon my Soul I am already wedded to them they are inseparable from my Being Why then do you wish to have me cast forth from my Species as a withered Branch without any kind of Fruit without One the least little One to bind us up together and carry us down to Posterity O Sir I would then say let not our Nuptials be sullied by any Gloom or Regret let me first be reconciled if possible to my Brother and then dispose of me as you please it is your Right so to do
I THANK you Madam said Mr
Fenton
I thank you for your very affecting and still more edifying Narrative and I will endeavour to recompense you for the Trouble that I have given you by being the Bearer of very happy Tidings Your little Nephew has lived with me almost ever since you lost him He has received an Education becoming his Family and was this Day discovered and restored to his Parents
My God my Christ she exclaimed what a Wonder is here how are blind and erring Mortals wilfully blind and wilfully erring deserving of such a Clue as this to guide them My Nephew alive and well discovered and restored this very Day to his true Parents I am confounded I am crushed to the Centre beneath the Weight of thy Benefits O thou overflowing Fountain of Mercy and Grace
Now Madam said Mr
Fenton
now it is at your Election to reveal or suppress the Affair respecting your Nephew I know Sir she replied you proposed this only to try me I desire no Advantage from Fraud or Disguise and could I be so base this Letter as you will find would detect and betray me
Mr
Fenton
then unfolded the Letter and read as follows
TO EDWARD FIELDING
Esq
Friend and Brother of my Soul
I Have often reproved and always detested that cruel and impious Custom of casting off our Friends or Kindred on account of their Errors or Frailty or even of their Fall from Honour This Custom is more especially condemnable and pernicious when it affects the more tender and more pitiable Sex the Indiscretion of their nearest Parents begins the Alarm the World follows and increases the Cry the Wretches like marked Deer are driven forth to the Hounds and must speedily become a Prey to Famine and Death or for ever be precluded from any Return to Virtue
Had You my dear Brother had you given that Charity to your only Sister which you slightly throw to a common Beggar you might have saved her Soul alive and have continued a happy Parent of a promising Son at this Day She resented your Treatment She rent your Child from you you merited the Motive but I am grieved at the Consequence
As God has been pleased wonderfully to restore your Sister to Virtue she would rejoice to restore your Son to you but it is not in her Power he strayed from her within some Miles of this Place we have used all possible Means to recover him but in vain and his Loss hath cost her Seas of Tears and Years of Anguish
Receive her then as a precious Pearl from the Bottom of the Deep as a Casket of Gold and Jewels recovered from Shipwreck She was dead but is alive again she was lost but is found. Receive her then I say as an Angel of God sent on Purpose to effect your own Salvation
I know not how it comes to pass that great Sinners often become the greatest of Saints and in a Year a Month a Day exceed in Growth and Stature a long Life of leisurely Righteousness Their Bows as it should seem being strongly bent the adverse Way they dart forward with the greater Strength and Rapidity It is even so with our precious
Phaebe
She is become a gentle Flame of the divine Loves and Charities While she stands upon Earth and Bends in her Lowliness beneath all Creatures the Moon of changeable Things is put under her Feet She treads as it were upon the Stars of the Galaxy and I behold at a Distance and revere the Glory of her Steps
Receive her then I say again as the dearest Boon and Blessing that Heaven can bestow But O restore her to me give her to me according to Promise that she may assist to conduct me to that Kingdom of little Children whereof she is a blessed Inhabitant at this very Day
Yours c M CATHARINES
You see Sir said Mrs
Phaebe
smiling you see that Mr
Catharines
must be a Lover by the Extravagance of his Praise I see Madam said Mr
Fenton
that he deservedly loves and greatly deserves also to be beloved But Madam if you will be ruled by my Advice you will stay here till your Brother shall call upon me which I expect he will do in a very little Time Mean while I will introduce you to a SisterSaint who has been long tried and refined in the hottest Furnace of Affliction
The very next Morning Mr
Fielding
rode to the Door attended only by a single Servant As soon as he had saluted Mr
Fenton
and sat down he took out a Note for 2000
l
and presented it to him You must not refuse Sir said he to relieve my Distress by accepting this in Part of what I owe You I can spare it without the smallest Inconvenience I have lately recovered a Tract of Land that lies contiguous to Mr
Catharines
the worthy Man of whom you heard me speak Yesterday so that I shall soon have the Pleasure of taking Possession of a considerable Accession to my Fortune and at the same Time the greater Pleasure of embracing so very dear a Friend This Sum Sir said Mr
Fenton
comes very seasonably to the Relief of a Person for whom I have conceived an extraordinary Esteem and Affection a Person who is entitled to my best Service and who may also be entitled to your further Munificence So saying Mr
Fenton
rose went to the Door took Mrs
Phaebe
by the Hand and leading her toward her Brother this Sir said he is the Gentlewoman of whom I spoke and whom I recommend to your tenderest Regards
Mr
Fielding
looked earnestly and inquisitively at his Sister changed Colour and for a while sat mute with Astonishment when suddenly rising and stepping hastily to her he clasped her in his Arms and cried aloud my
Phaebe
my dearest
Phaebe
my long lost long sought my long lamented Sister have I found you at last are my Prayers at length heared and are you once more restored to my Bosom my Sister Ah what must have been your Sufferings what have I not suffered myself from the stinging Recollection of the Barbarity of my Behaviour But at the Time that you applied to me I was exasperated against you by being told you had turned out a common Prostitute and from your Connection with that Reprobate to whom my Father had unhappily married You I was ready to believe the worst that could be reported concerning You Pardon me however my
Phaebe
do but promise me your Pardon and I will endeavour to compensate for my injurious Treatment of You
Here the Sister dropped on her Knees and breaking into Tears and Sobs replied you want no Pardon my Brother you never wronged me I deserved all Sorts of Evils they were due to my Transgressions but I have injured you I fear past Forgiveness my Brother It was I who stole your little Darling who robbed you of your only Child and caused you so many Years of Sorrow and Bitterness I deserved it I deserved it at your Hands exclaimed Mr
Fielding
let us then exchange Forgiveness my
Phaebe
for our Child is restored to us and we remember our Sorrows no more So saying his Eyes filled and tenderly raising his Sister he took her again to his Bosom
Mr
Fenton
wholly melted by this passionate Scene took them jointly in his Arms and then silently seated them opposite to Each other
My Sister said Mr
Fielding
you have promised me your Pardon before you were acquainted with the Extent of my Faults Our dear Father in his last Illness made me sit by his Side when heaving a deep Sigh he thus begun I fear I fear my Son that I have greatly wronged your Sister I grieve at Heart that I had her married to that Ruffian
Rampant
With a little less of Severity and more of tender Admonition she might have arisen from her Fall she might have returned to Virtue and Honour her Errors might have been forgotten perhaps restored to Rectitude She might have been less wretched and my Days might have been longer She was young she was artless and obvious to Seduction I myself joined to betray her by that she Wolf whom I appointed the Guardian of my Lamb Perhaps as she affirmed her Inclination no way concurred with the Force that was offered her We ought as far as possible to have covered her Shame Shame only serves to bronze over a bashful Countenance and make it altogether Shameless Alas my Child all Things appear quite different at my Death from what they did during my Lifetime and the Pride of Blood and the Resentment for injured Gentility give Place to the Calls of Nature and the Feelings of Humanity
I intended your Sister five thousand Pounds but by my Will I have cut her off with a Shilling lest the Villain her Husband should come in for any Share of our Substance Wherefore I leave You in my Place at once the Father the Brother and the Guardian of my dear Child and here his bursting Tears prevented another Word
As soon as he was more composed he proceeded I adjure you my Son in the Name of our common Father in the Name of that God to whom I am going I adjure you I say to keep a constant Watch over the Conduct of your still precious Sister my Son and if such a One may be found to keep in Fee some discreet and pious Matron who may insinuate into her Acquaintance and gain her Confidence and preserve her from a further Progress in the Paths of Vice for O the Soul of my wrecked Child at this Hour is infinitely precious in my Eyes
I further enjoin you that in case the Reprobate her Husband should perish by Sword or Pistol or by the Gallows as is most likely you will pay your Sister the Sum of three thousand Pounds but gradually at first as her Necessities may crave and the Whole on your Assurance of her Return to Virtue
While her Brother was speaking Mrs
Phaebe
had thrown her Apron over her Face and by her Groans and passionate Sobs prevented his Proceeding At length she exclaimed Wretch Parricide that I am I have cut short the sacred Life of him who brought me to the World You then loved me my Father you still continued to love me though I knew it not and I have murdered the kindest the tenderest of Parents but I will die to make Atonement I will not survive you my Father
Mr
Fielding
then arose and stepped affectionately to his Sister and taking her in his Arms and mixing his Tears with hers endeavoured to console her You did not my dearest Sister you did not murder him he cried you accuse yourself of Faults of which you are no way guilty Our Father was aged and laboured under a Complication of Disorders that must shortly have put a Period to all that was mortal in him Be comforted then I say be comforted my Sister
When Mr
Fielding
had resumed his Seat and that the Violence of his Sisters Passion had subsided he looked earnestly and tenderly at her I will said he my
Phaebe
at some other Time account to you for the Motive of my Barbarity toward you and how I was imposed upon by the very Person whom I kept in pay to give me Intelligence concerning you But tell me how it comes to pass that in my Life I never saw you look so charmingly even during your infant Years you never had such a sweet Simplicity such a heavenly Childishness of Countenance as you now have It is said Mr
Fenton
because she is the Kings Daughter
she is all glorious within
and the Loveliness of her Spirit informs and shines through her Aspect But here is a known Character that will fully clear up the Matter And so saying he presented him with the Letter from Mr
Catharines
when at the Sight of the Superscription Mr
Fielding
gave an Exclamation of Surprise Then unfolding he read it in deep Silence but by Fits and Interruption frequently putting and long holding his Handkerchief to his Eyes
As soon as he had finished Yes yes my dear
Catharines
my Brother he cried the Wish of my Heart shall be accomplished for us both You shall have your
Phaebe
restored to you and she shall be restored to you with
Benjamins
Portion even a double Portion But O my God how wonderful how miraculous is all this to have my only Child and my only Sister at once restored to me by one and the same Hand Teach me teach me Mr
Fenton
by some new Method of Gratitude to express a Part of the Sense of what I owe you
You have already Sir cried Mr
Fenton
done and said by much too much upon that Head and have thereby given me great Pain instead of Gratification The Payment that I get is a Treasure hidden from all Men save him to whom it is given. I will not however do you the Offence to return you your Bill but shall dispose of it in a Manner that I trust will be nearly as equitable Mean while my dear Friend I most cordially congratulate you on the signal Evidences that have been given of the Favour of your God to you and of his watchful and intending Providence over You and Yours I suppose you will soon set out with your amiable Sister here on your Visit to your Friend and Brother the worthy Mr
Catharines
I shall heartily pray for a blisful Issue to the Union of the sainted Pair and I request you to favour me with a Call on your Way
Within an Hour after Mr
Fielding
set off for
London
on Horseback and
Harry
accompanied his Sister in Mr
Fenton
s Postchaise upon a short Visit to his Friend
Ned
As soon as they were departed Mr
Fenton
took Paper and wrote the following Letter to Mr
Catharines
Reverend and dear Sir
ALLOW a Stranger but a very warm Lover of yours to felicitate you with his whole Heart on the Success of Affairs Our precious
Phoebe
was received with Transport by her Brother and you cannot be more impatient than he is for your Union He generously presented me with the enclosed Bill for 2000
l
merely because God had appointed me an humble Instrument for doing him some little Matter of Service Though I determined not to accept of any Part thereof yet I dreaded to grieve him by an avowed Refusal I therefore restore it to you and your
Phaebe
as a Matter of Equity next to that of returning it to himself It is surely full as proper that your Family should take charge of that wherewith Providence had been pleased to entrust them as that I should be encumbered with the disposal thereof And indeed my dear Sir I am already burdened with more Trusts of this Nature than I fear I shall be able duely to account for
That your Heart may always continue where your true Treasure is already laid up is the Wish of dear Sir c
When he had folded and sealed his Letter he took Bills from his Pocketbook to the amount of 1300
l
and on Harrys Return from
London
presented them to him Here my Dear said he here is what will enable you to be more than just to your Engagements it will enable you to be generous also And I desire my
Harry
in Matters of Charity that you may never stint the sweet Emotions of your Heart for we have enough my Child and we are but the Stewards of the Bounty of our God
Here
Harry
s Speech was stopped but his Silence was more eloquent than a thousand Harangues He suddenly threw his Arms about his dear Dada and hiding his Face in his Bosom he there vented the Tears of that Pleasure Love and Gratitude with which he found himself affected
On the Afternoon of the following Day
Harry
and
Arabella
went to drink Tea with the Widow
Neighbourly
who received them with a Countenance that spoke an uncommon Welcome Some other Company had arrived before them and rose on their Entrance When All were again seated Mrs
Neighbourly
very affectionately questioned
Harry
concerning his Dada
On hearing the Name of Master
Fenton
an elderly Gentlewoman started Pray Madam said she eagerly is this Master
Fenton
the Son of that noble Gentleman who lives on the Hill He is Madam said Mrs
Neighbourly
My God exclaimed the Stranger can this Suckling be the Father of the Orphan and the Widow Is this He who goes about turning Sorrow into Joy Who wipes the Tears from the Afflicted and heals the Broken of Heart Permit me then thou beloved Child of the Father which is in Heaven permit me to approach and throw myself at the Feet of my Preserver
So saying she rose with a rapturous Motion and dropping at
Harry
s Knees she clasped his Legs and kissed his Feet before he could prevent her
Poor
Harry
much to be pitied sat astonished abashed and distressed to the last Degree At length recollecting and disengaging himself with Difficulty my dear Madam he cried you hurt me greatly what have I done that you should put me to so much Pain
Babe of my Heart she cried I am the Wife of your
Vindex
your own
Vindex
whom you redeemed from Beggary and Slavery whom you restored to his wretched Partner whom you restored to his infant Daughter All pining and perishing apart from Each other but now united by you my Angel in Joy and Thanksgiving
Here her Words were suffocated and throwing herself back in her Chair she was not ashamed to give Way to her Tears and putting her Handkerchief to her Face she vented her Passion aloud
Harry
then rising and going tenderly to her put his Arms about her and kissed her Forehead and then her Lips You owe me nothing my dear Mrs
Vindex
said he I am still greatly in your Debt I was the very naughty Boy who brought your Misfortunes upon you But I am willing to make you Amends and that will do me a great Pleasure instead of the Punishment which I deserve
The Teatable was now laid and Mrs
Vindex
grew more composed when her Husband entered leading his Daughter by the Hand a very pretty little Girl of about six Years old
Harry
instantly sprung up and running and throwing himself with a great Leap upon him he hung about his Neck crying how glad I am to see you my dear Mr
Vindex
Boy of Boys cried
Vindex
am I so blessed as to have you once more in my Arms
The Company then rose and saluted Mr
Vindex
and congratulated him on his Return to his ancient Habitation But
Harry
took him aside and having cautioned him in a Whisper not to take any Notice of what should pass he stole a Bill for 160
l
into his Hand saying softly it is good first to be honest so there is what I owe you And here also is a small Matter for your Daughter I did not know till now that we had such a sweet little Charge in our Family So saying he slipped to him another Bill of 50
l
and then turning from him stepped carelessly to his Seat as though nothing had happened
Mean time the astonished
Vindex
was greatly oppressed He did not dare to offend
Harry
by any open Intimation of his recent Bounty and yet he could feel no Ease till the Secret should be disclosed He therefore stole softly to the Back of our Heros Chair where unperceived of
Harry
he displayed the Bills to the Company beckoning at the same time in a way that forbad them to take any Notice then raising his Hands over his Head and lifting his Eyes toward Heaven he blessed his Benefactor in a silently ardent Ejaculation and taking an empty Seat joined in with the Company
While they were in Chat the little
Susanna
slipped unnoticed from beside her Mamma and veering over toward
Harry
she went on one Side and then on the other and surveyed him all about then coming closer she felt his Clothes and next his Hands in the Way as it were of claiming Acquaintance with him At length looking fondly up to his Face she lisped and said Me voud kiss Oo if oo voud ask me Indeed then said
Harry
me vill kiss oo fedder oo vill or no And so catching her up on his Knee he pressed her to his Bosom and kissed her over and over again
You All see cried Mr
Vindex
it is not One of the Elders with whom our
Susanna
has fallen in love My sweet Babe cried Mrs
Vindex
her little Heart instinctively led her to her best Friend to the One of All living who best deserved her Love Miss
Susanna
said Mrs
Clement
put me in Mind of some very delicate Lines in
Milton
respecting our Virgin Mother For she also refused to kiss the loveliest Man that ever was created at least till she was asked
And though divinely brought
Yet Innocence and virgin Modesty
Her Virtue and the Conscience of her Worth
That would be wood and not unsought be won
Not obvious nor obtrusive but retired
The more desirable
It is happy said Mrs
Neighbourly
for our weakly and overaffectionate Sex that God has been pleased to fix a Monitor within us who struggles against our Inclinations who fights against our Affections and is with Difficulty won over to acquiesce in our Desires I know not else what might become of the most of Womankind
But then said Mrs
Vindex
are we not rather to be pitied that even when our Propensities are warrantable we are prohibited by Custom from giving any Intimation thereof to the Object. While the licentious Reprobate Man roves and riots at large and unreproved beyond the Pale over which it is Treason for us to look
I do not pity you Ladies said Mr
Vindex
I do not at all pity you on Account of any Restraints that Custom has laid you under respecting Chastity or its Environs called Decorum The Chastity of Woman is the only Basis upon which the Order Honour and Peace of the World can be built It twists the sacred and endearing Chord of Society Without it there could be no Amity no Brotherhood upon Earth But then surely there is much Respect and Tenderness due to those from whom such Advantages are derived Whereas I have observed on the contrary that the most Amiable of your Sex are generally mated to Tyrants to Men who being born and appointed their Protectors pervert every End of Nature and Duty and treat with Injury Contempt and Insult the gentle Saints whom they should have cherished with their most respectful Endearments
The Question yet occurs said
Arabella
whether your Devils of Husbands find us Angels or make us Such Tyrants are like Files they serve to smooth and polish whatever they are applied to I was once in Company with a Man who was called the SaintMaker he had married five Shrews in Succession and made
Grizels
of every One of them before they died
But pray Ladies said
Harry
are there no Tyrants among the Wives I lately took a Walk to
TowerHill
and growing hungry I turned in to a little Shop of Groceries A slender skinny Woman of about four Foot high stood behind the Counter and taking out a Sixpence I threw it on the Board and desired her to give me the Value in Almonds and Raisins She had scarce weighed my Merchandise when a huge jolly looking Quaker came up to the Hatch Door but seemed fearful of opening it The Moment the little Woman had cast her Eye toward him she exclaimed in a shrill and exasperated Accent Art thee there thou Rogue thou Hangdog thou Gallowsfaced Vagabond when gathering up the whole Dignity and Importance of his Person and clapping a Hand on each Side he cried with an undaunted Air
I tell thee
Mary
I fear thee not
Ah thou Villain she vociferated dares thee then appear in my Presence get thee back to thy Fellows and Husseys on whom thee spendest my Substance still however he kept his Ground and courageously repeated
I tell thee
Mary
I fear thee not
Not fear me Sirrah Sirrah not fear me says she we shall see that in a Twinkling So saying she whipped up the measuring Yard and skudding round the Counter she flew to the Door But he was already vanished as fast as his fat Sides would let him And to tell you the Truth Ladies there was something so authoritative and tremendous in the little Bodys Voice and Manner that I was glad to get out and to skamper after him
The Company laughed heartily and Mr
Vindex
added I forget the Heros Name a great General he was and I think a
Frenchman
He won every Battle abroad but was sure to be beaten in his Turn also as often as he returned Home to his Wife
Well said
Hercules
and the Distaff cries
Harry
but to the Point the bravest Man I know is one
Peter Patience
a Currier who lives in the Suburbs My Tutor and I were walking one Day through
Islington
when we perceived the Likelihood of a Scuffle at a Distance
As we approached we saw one Man making up with great Fury to Another who would have avoided him and who retiring backward across the Street parried his Blows and kept him off as well as he could His enraged Adversary would then have closed in upon him but grasping his Shoulder with a long and very strong Arm he still held his Enemy aloof who nearly spent all his Efforts and Blows in the Air
Never did I see so living a Representation of Heaven and of Hell as was visible in the Faces of those two Men The Muscles of the One were frightfully distorted his Eyes shot fire and his Mouth frothed with Madness While the Countenance of the Other was as a Lake in a Summers Evening that shews Heaven in its Bosom and reflects all the Beauties of Nature around it
Be quiet
Ben
he said you know that I woudnt hurt you you know that I love you What a Fool the Man makes of himself are you not sensible that I could demolish you with a single Blow but I cannot find in my Heart to do it Be quiet
Ben
I say I see you want to vex me but I wont be vexed by you my dear
Ben
While the gentle
Peter
was thus expostulating with his exasperated Friend Mrs
Patience
as it should seem had seen all that passed from an upper Casement and flying down Stairs and rushing out at the Door she seized her Husband behind by the Hair of his Head and tore and cuffed away at a terrible Rate
Poor
Peter
finding himself thus between two Fires gave a slight Trip to his male Assailant who instantly fell with his Shoulder against the Pavement and rising with Difficulty limped homeward muttering Curses all the Way
Then
Peter
turning meekly to the Lady Mistress of his House
Gatty
my Love says he what have I done to provoke you O she cried you mean spirited Harehearted Milklivered Poltroon Ill teach you what it is to suffer every Fellow to pommel you Sirrah Sirrah and still she cuffed Ill have you tied down at the Foot of the Market Cross with Notice on your Breast for All who pass to p s upon you
Then quite angry to see the Man so abused to whom I had taken such a Fancy I rushed in between Man and Wife and seized Mrs
Patience
by both her Hands but wrenching One of them from me she gave me a round Cuff on the Side of my Head I was however too well used to Cuffs to matter that much and so catching one of her Hands in both of mine I gave her a Pluck to me and a Foot at the same time and laid her on the Broad of her Back in the Kennel
My Friend
Peter
looked quite astonished at this and fearing what might happen to me on the rising up of his Wife he tucked me like a Gizzard under the Wing of a Turkey and off he scoured with me down the Street while Mr
Clements
also made pretty nimbly after us for Fear as I suppose that Mrs
Patience
when on her Legs might take him for One of our Company
As soon as we had turned a Corner and were out of Harms Way honest
Peter
set me down My Friend says I if you would be advised by me you will not be in a mighty Hurry to get back to your Wife I see a House of Entertainment yonder and I wish to be further acquainted with you Adad said he you are the boldest little Body that ever I knew you performed a Feat to Day that made me tremble for you Had any other Man though used my Wife so but I pass that Matter over I see youre too great a Hero to be threatened by any One and I should consider that you did what you did for my Sake
So saying we all went into a Sort of a Tavern and being shewn to a little Parlour I called for a Pint of Whitewine
As soon as we were seated I took my new Acquaintance very lovingly by the Hand My dear Friend said I I have conceived a great Respect and Fondness for you and should be glad to know who and what you are I am a Currier by Trade Sir and my Name is
Peter Patience
You are Patience itself indeed said Mr
Clement
but your Wife as I think has taken the whole Trade of the Currier into her own Hands
Peter
laughed and replied She is a dear and a sweet Girl as ever lay by the Side of a Man and she loves me as she loves her own Soul Her Blows were sweet Blows to me they were the Blows of her Affection For though I did not matter the Strokes of my Friend
Benjamin
a single Philip yet every one of them went to her Heart and she wanted to frighten me from ever taking the like again
But pray says I how happened the Quarrel between you and your Friend
Benjamin
as you call him Why there it is too said
Peter
he also beat me out of his downright and true hearted Kindness to me
As this is Holiday in the Afternoon among us Tradefolk
Ben Testy
invited me to share of a Can of Flip at the Cat and Bagpipes over the way Just as we sat down
Peter
says he I am told that your
Gatty
is with Child I believe it may be so says I I am glad of it
Peter
with all my Heart and so now remember that I bespeak myself Gossip Why that may happen says I just as Matters shall turn out If the Child is a Boy you shall be one of the Godfathers and welcome but if it is a Girl this cannot be for my Uncle
Geoffry
has already engaged himself and I have some Expectations from him And so says he you refuse to admit me for your Gossip If it is a Girl says I you see that I cannot O he cried I had forgot I was a Rascal for proposing it Youre of high Blood have high Relations and so scorn to have Connexions with a poor Tradesman like me That is not the Case indeed my dear
Ben
but Damn your Dears says he I will have no more of them you are a covetous Scoundrel and value Money more than Love Well says I but will you be patient will you hear Reason my Friend Friend Friend says he my Curse upon all such Friendships I see into you now Youre an ungrateful unloving coldhearted Villain and I would sooner be Godfather to the Child of the Turk So saying he struck at me and repeated his Blows across the Table But as I saw that his Choler was enflaming more and more I got up and retreated merely intending to defend myself till his Passion should be spent upon me But you saw what happened Gentlemen which I am heartily sorry for as I fear that my poor dear Fellow is much hurt
Well said my Tutor I have heard many Definitions and many Disputes concerning the Word Courage but I never saw the Thing itself till this Day Pray Mr
Peter
were you never angry Scarce ever Sir that I remember at least on my own Account for I do not fear any Man that steps upon Earth and what is it then that should make me angry A Man may be angry said Mr
Clement
from other Motives sure besides that of Fear God himself can be angry and yet he cannot possibly fear
I am feelingly assured Sir replied the valiant
Peter
that God was never angry in his whole Life and that is a long Time that has neither Beginning nor Ending Dont you believe the Gospel says Mr
Clement
the Scripture assures us in a hundred Places of the Anger of God against impenitent Sinners I am the Son of a Clergyman Sir said
Peter
and mayhap could quote Scripture as well as Another The Scriptures were written for Man but how should Man understand them if they were not written according to his own Language and to his own Passions I will ask you a Question Sir Can you be angry at a Mite or a Worm which you can crush into nothing at pleasure I think not said my Tutor No certainly said
Peter
because you cannot fear a thing that has not Power to offend you Now all the World is but as a Worm or Mite to God and neither Men nor Angels can disturb or affect him with any thing, except Delight on their Acceptance of that Happiness which he desires to give to all his Creatures
Ay but says Mr
Clement
you see that Gods Anger and Indignation was so great against Sin that nothing could satisfy for it save the Death of his beloved Son Ay but says
Peter
the Scripture which you quote tells you that it was not his Anger but his Love that sent him to us
For God so loved the World
a very sinful World indeed
that he gave his only begotten Son to take his Death upon the Cross
And I am as fully assured as I am of my own Being that the same gracious God who has already redeemed poor Sinners would willingly redeem the poor Devils also if they could but find in their Hearts to desire his Salvation
Here catching and clasping his Hand my dear
Peter
says I I embrace and wish from my Heart that your Doctrine may be true I have many Tutors Mr
Peter
and my Dada pays them all with Pleasure for the Instructions that they give me Tell me then Mr
Peter
what must he give you for the Lesson which you have taught me What Lesson my Hero a very precious Lesson says I a Lesson that will always teach me
to despise myself for a Coward whenever I shall be angry
Peter
then sprung up without speaking a Word and hugged and clasped and kissed me with all his Affections Then plucking a Button from the upper Part of my Coat I will accept of this Token my Darling says he and will look at it many a time in the Day for your Sake
But Mr
Peter
says I I think it would be my Advantage to keep up an Acquaintance with you and this cannot be so well done while your dear
Gatty
is angry with me You must therefore promise me to carry a Token to her also as an Olive Branch of that Peace which I want to be made between us I will my Love says he I never refuse to give or accept the Favours of a Friend You must be upon Honour then not to reject what I offer You I am upon Honour he said
I then slipped Something into his Hand at which he looked and looked again and then cried out from the overflowings of a good and grateful Heart You are either of the Blood Royal or ought to be so For the Man was very poor though so very sensible and well descended and so he looked upon a little as a great Matter
Here
Harry
closed his Narration and all the Company gathered about him and nearly smothered him with their Caresses in which little
Susanna
came in for her full Share
On the following Day
Harry
introduced his Friend
Vindex
and Family to his dear Dada who received them with a Graciousness that soon dispelled that aukward Diffidence and humbling Sense of Obligations under which the late unhappy Preceptor apparently sunk
As soon as it was known abroad that Mr
Vindex
enjoyed the Patronage and good Countenance of Mr
Fenton
and his Family his former Friends resorted to him his Acquaintance was sought by all the Neighbourhood his Credit was restored his School daily increased and like
Job
his latter End was far more blessed than his Beginning
Within a few Weeks Mr and Mrs
Fielding
with their Sister
Phoebe
our Friend
Ned
and a splendid Equipage called and breakfasted at Mr
Fentons
and soon after Mr
Fenton
and his
Harry
with Mr and Mrs
Clement
attended their Visitants to
St Albans
where All together they spent the happiest Night But that this Happiness was blended at times with the affecting Consideration of parting in the Morning
For two succeeding Years and upward little interesting happened save that our Hero increased in Stature and all personal Accomplishments and had happily got over the Measles and SmallPox He was now nearly Master of the
Latin
and
Greek
Languages He could outrun the RainDeer and outbound the Antelope He was held in Veneration by all Masters of the noble Science of Defence His Action was Vigour his Countenance was Loveliness and his Movement was Grace
Harry
by this time was also versed in most of the select and interesting Portions of History Mr
Clement
had instructed him in the use of the Globes and Maps and as he there led him from Clime to Clime and Country to Country he brought him acquainted with the different Manners Customs Laws Polities Governments Rise Progress and Revolutions of the several Nations through which they passed Finally said
Clement
you see Master
Fenton
that the mightiest States like Men have the Principles of Growth as likewise of Dissolution within their own Frame Like Men they are born and die have their Commencement and their Period They arise like the Sun from the Darkness of
Poverty
to
Temperance Industry Liberty Valour Power Conquest Glory
OPULENCE and there is their Zenith From whence they decline to
Ease Sensuality Venality Vice Corruption Cowardice Imbecility Infamy Slavery
And so good Night
Mr
Fenton
now judged it full time to give our Hero an Insight into the Nature of the Constitution of his own Country a Constitution of whose Construction Poise Action and Counteraction the lettered Mr
Clement
had scarcely any Notion, and even the Learned in our Laws and the Leaders in our Senate but a very confused Idea
For this especial Purpose he called
Harry
to his Closet You are already my Love said he a Member of the
British State
and on that Account have many Privileges to claim and many Duties to perform toward your Country in particular independent of your general Duties to Mankind
Should it please God to bless your Friends with the Continuance of your Life for eight or ten Years longer you will then be a Member of the Legislature of GREAT BRITAIN one of the highest and most important Trusts that can be confided by Mankind
Here my
Harry
I have penned or rather pencilled for your use an Abstract in Miniature of this wonderful Constitution But before I give it for your Study and frequent Perusal I would give you some Knowledge of the Claims whereon it is founded as also of the Nature of Man in his present depraved State and of his several Relations as a Subject and as a Sovereign
Man comes into this World the weakest of all Creatures and while he continues in it is the most dependent Nature neither cloathes him with the warm Fleece of the Sheep nor the gay Plumage of the Bird neither does he come forth in the Vigour of the Fole or the Fawn who on the Hour of their Birth frisk about and exult in the Blessing of new Existence
Sacred History indeed intimates that Man was originally created invulnerable and immortal that the Fire could not burn him Stones wound Air blast or Water drown him That he was the angelic Lord and Controller of this Earth and these Heavens that roll around us with Powers to see at once into the Essences Natures Properties and Distinctions of Things to unfold all their Virtues to call forth all their Beauties and to rule subdue and moderate these Elements at Pleasure
These truly were Godlike Gifts illustrious Powers and Prerogatives and well becoming an Offspring produced in the EXPRESS IMAGE of an allpotent allwise and allbeneficent CREATOR
True Sir said
Harry
but then we see nothing now of all this Greatness and Glory Man on the contrary is himself subjected to all the Elements over which you say he was appointed the Ruler he has every thing to fear from every thing about him even the Insects and little Midges fearlessly attack and sting this boasted Lord of the Creation and History shews from the Beginning of the World that the greatest of all Enemies to Man is Man
This replied Mr
Fenton
is continually to remind him of the depraved and guilty State into which he is fallen Man indeed is now no better than the Remains of Man but then these Remains are sufficient to prove the Lustre and Dignity of his original State When you behold the Ruins of some lofty and spacious Palace you immediately form an Idea of the original Beauty and Stateliness of the Structure Even so in our present feeble and fractured State a discerning Eye may discover many Traces and Fragments of MANS MAGNIFICENT RUIN Thoughts that wing Infinity Apprehensions that reach through Eternity a Fancy that creates an Imagination that contains a Universe Wishes that a World hath not wherewithal to gratify and Desires that know neither Ending nor Bound
These however are but the faint Glimmerings of his once glorious Illumination All his primitive Faculties are now lapsed and darkened He is become enslaved to his natural Subjects The World is wrested out of his Hands he comes as an Alien into it and may literally be called
a Stranger and Pilgrim upon Earth
All other Animals are gifted with a clear Knowledge and instant Discernment of whatever concerns them Mans utmost Wisdom on the contrary is the bare Result of
comparing
and
inferring
a mere
Enquirer
called
Reason
a
Substitute
in the want of
Knowledge,
a
Groper
in the want of
Light
he must
doubt
before he
reasons
and
examine
before he
decides
Thus ignorant feeble deeply depraved and the least sufficient of all Creatures in a state of Independence Man is impelled to derive Succour Strength and even Wisdom from Society When he turns a pitying Ear and helping Hand to the Distressed he is entitled in his Turn to be heared and assisted He is interested in Others Others are interested in him His Affections grow more diffused his Powers more complicated and in any Society or System of such mutual Benevolence Each would enjoy the Strength Virtue and Efficacy of the Whole
You have Sir said
Harry
here drawn an exceeding sweet Picture of Society and you know Im but a Fool and a Novice in such Matters But if any other Man breathing had given me such a Description I should from all my little Reading have withstood him to the Face Look through all the States and Associations that ever were upon Earth throughout the Republics of
Greece Italy Asia
Minor and Others the most renowned for Urbanity and Virtue and yet what do you find them save so many Bands of public Robbers and Murderers confederated for the Destruction of the rest of Mankind what Desolations what Bloodshed what Carnage from the Beginning what a Delight in Horrors what a Propensity in All to inflict Misery upon Others the Malignity of the Fiends can I think pierce no deeper
Neither is this Sir as I take it the Extent of their Malevolence For when any of these Bands or States as you call them have conquered or slaughtered all around them they never fail for want of Employment to fall out among themselves and cut the Throat of their very Confederates and this puts me in mind of what is said by the Prince of Peace
the Prince of this World cometh and has no Part in me
And again he says to the Purpose that Fathers and Sons and Mothers and Daughters shall be divided against Each Other and that
a Mans Enemies shall be those of his own Household
I lately met with a Fragment of an epic Poem it struck me wonderfully at the time and I recollect some of the Lines that contain in my Opinion the most genuine the truest Picture that ever was drawn of the state of Mankind
Man comes into this passing World in Weakness
And cries for Help to Man for feeble is he
And many are his Foes Thirst Hunger Nakedness
Diseases infinite within his Frame
Without Inclemency the Wrath of Seasons
Famines Pests Plagues devouring Elements
Earthquakes beneath the Thunders rolling oer him
Age and Infirmity on either Hand
And Death who shakes the certain Dart behind him
These surely One might deem were Ills sufficient
Man thinks not so on his own Race he turns
The Force of all his Talents exquisite
To shorten the short Interval by Art
Which Nature left us Fire and Sword are in
His Hand and in his Heart are Machinations
For speeding of Perdition Half the World
Down the steep Gulf of dark Futurity
Push off their Fellows pause upon the Brinkâª
And then drop after
Say then my dearest Father tell me whence comes this worse than flinty this cruel Heartedness in Man Why are not All like You Why are they not happy in communicating Happiness If my Eyes did not daily see it in Fact as well as in History I should think it impossible that any One should derive Pleasure from giving Pain to Another Can it be more blessed to destroy than to preserve to afflict than to gladden to wound than to heal My Heart wrings with Regret for being cast into a World where Nation against Nation Family against Family and Man against Man are perpetually embattled grudging coveting grasping tearing every Enjoyment every Property and Life itself from Eachother
Here
Harry
for a while held his Handkerchief to his Eyes while his fond Uncle dropt a silent Tear of Delight at beholding the amiable Emotion of his Beloved
Take Care my
Harry
rejoined Mr
Fenton
beware of the smallest Tincture of Uncharitableness You see only the worse Part the outward Shell of this World while the Kernel the better Part is concealed from your Eyes There are Millions of worthy People and affectionate Saints upon Earth but they are as a Kingdom within a Kingdom a Grain within a Husk it requires a kindred Heart and a curious Eye to discover them Evil in Man is like Evil in the Elements Earthquakes Hurricanes Thunders and Lightnings are conspicuous noisy glaring while Goodness like Warmth and Moisture is silent and unperceived though productive of all the Beauties and Benefits in Nature.
I once told you my Darling that all the Evil which is in you belongs to yourself and that all the Good which is in you belongs to your God That you cannot in or of yourself so much as think a good Thought or form a good Wish or oppose a single Temptation or evil Motion of any kind And what I then said of You may equally be said of all Men and of the highest Angels now in Bliss
No Creature can be better than
a craving and dark Desire
No Efforts of its own can possibly kindle the smallest Portion of Light or of Love till God by giving himself gives his Light and Love into it
Here lies the eternal Difference between Evil and Good between the Creature and the Creator the Spirits who are now in Darkness are there for no other Reason but for their Desire of a proud and impossible Independence for their rejecting the Light and Love of that God in whom however they live and move and have their desolate Being
God is already the Fullness of all possible things He has therefore all things to give but nothing to desire The Creature while empty of God is a wanting Desire it has all things to crave but nothing to bestow No two Things in the Universe can be more opposite more contrasted
Remember therefore this Distinction in yourself and all Others remember that when you feel or see any Instance of Selfishness you feel and see the coveting grudging and grappling of the Creature But that when you feel or see any Instance of Benevolence you feel and see the informing Influence of your God All possible Vice and Malignity subsists in the One all possible Virtue all possible Beauty all possible Blessedness subsists in the Other
As God alone is LOVE and nothing but Love no Arguments of our own can reason Love into us no Efforts of our own can possibly attain it It must spring up within us from the divine Bottom or Source wherein our Existence stands and it must break through the dark and narrow Womb of SELF, into Sentiments and Feelings of GOODWILL for Others before this CHILD OF GOD can be born into the World
SELF is wholly a MISER it contracts what it possesses and at the same time attracts all that it doth not possess It at once shuts out Others from its own proposed Enjoyments and would draw into its little Whirlpool whatever Others enjoy
LOVE on the contrary is a
Giving
not a
Craving
an
Expansion
not a
Contraction
it breaks in Pieces the condensing Circle of SELF, and goes forth in the Delightfulness of its Desire to bless
SELF is a poor dark and miserable Avaritiousness incapable of enjoying what it hath through its grappling and grasping at what it hath not The Impossibility of its holding all things makes it envious of Those who are in Possession of any thing, and Envy kindles the Fire of Hell Wrath and Wretchedness throughout its Existence.
LOVE on the other Hand is rich enlightening and full of Delight The Bounteousness of its Wishes makes the Infinity of its Wealth And it cannot fail of finding without seeking or requiring its own Enjoyment and Blessedness in its Desire to communicate and diffuse Blessing and Enjoyment
But is it not Sir a very terrible thing said
Harry
for poor Creatures to be evil by the Necessity of their Nature
Why answered Mr
Fenton
how do you wish that Matters should have been managed my
Harry
That All Sir at once should have been made so wise and good as never possibly to be otherwise to all Eternity What infinitely wise and powerful and good and happy As near to infinite Sir as possibly could be
Any thing less than infinite replied Mr
Fenton
must fall infinitely short of it
But supposing that God had made his Creatures infinitely and necessarily wise powerful and happy then here would have been as it were an Infinity of distinct Beings and separate Wills unmitted by any Connection undisciplined and unarrayed by any Subordination and should any Cause of Contention arise among them the Universe must have been turned into a more horrible Hell than Any that Fancy hath ever yet formed
I see Sir said
Harry
I see in all Lights that my Wish was absurd impossible and ridiculous
Your Error my
Harry
consisted in this You took the Emptiness Darkness and Desire in the Creature to be the Evil of the Creature They are indeed the only possible Cause of Evil in or to any Creature but they are exceedingly far from being an Evil in themselves; they are on the contrary the only the necessary and indispensable Foundation whereon any Creaturely Benefit can be built It is extremely good for the Creature to be
poor
and
weak
and
empty
and
dark
and
desiring
for hereby he becomes a Capacity for being supplied with all the
Riches Powers Glories
and
Blessedness
of his God
As God is every where in and of himself the Fullness of all possible Beings and Beatitudes he cannot create any thing independent or out of himself they cannot be but by being both in him and by him Could it be otherwise could any Creature be wise or powerful or happy in and of itself, what a poor and stinted Happiness must that have been its Blessedness in that Case must have been limited like its Being and how infinitely my Child should we then have fallen short of
that eternal Weight of Glory
intended for us But God has been graciously pleased to provide better things If we humbly and desirously depend upon him we become entitled to All that he has and that he is He will enlighten our Darkness with his own Illumination he will inform our Ignorance with his own Wisdom his Omnipotence will become the Strength of our Weakness He himself will be our Rectitude and Guide from all Error He will purify our Pollution put his own Robe on our Nakedness enrich our Poverty with the Heartfelt Treasures of himself and we shall be as so many Mirrors wherein our divine Friend and Father shall delight to behold the express Image of his own Person his own Perfections and Beatitudes represented for ever
O Sir exclaimed
Harry
how you gladden how you transport me I shall now no longer repine at my own Weakness or Blindness or Ignorance or Insufficiency of any Kind since all these are but as so many Vessels prepared to contain Pearls of infinite Price even the Riches the Enjoyment and Fullness of my God Never will I seek or desire never will I accept any thing less than Himself
You must my Child said Mr
Fenton
you are still in the Flesh in a carnal and propertied World your old Man must be fed though not pampered it must be mortified but not slain
You read in the third Chapter of
Genesis
how our first Father lusted after the sensual Fruits of this World how he wilfully broke the sole Commandment of his God how he added to his Apostacy the Guilt of aspiring at Independence how he trusted to the Promise and Virtue of Creatures for making him equal in Godhead to the Creator how in that Day he died the fearfullest of all Deaths a Death to the Fountain of Life Light and Love within him and how his Eyes were opened to perceive the Change of his Body into Grossness Corruption Disease and Mortality conformable to the World to which he had turned his Faith and into which he had cast himself
Now had Man continued in this State his Spirit which had turned from God into its own creaturely Emptiness Darkness and Desire must have so continued for ever in its own Hell and Misery without the Possibility of exciting or acquiring the smallest Spark of Benevolence or Virtue of any kind But God in Compassion to
Adam
and more especially in Compassion to his yet unsinning Progeny infused into his undying Essence a small Embryon or Reconception of that lately forfeited Image which in Creation had born the perfect Likeness of the Creator
From hence arises the only Capacity of any Goodness in Man And according as we suppress or quench or encourage and foster this heavenly Seed or infant Offspring of God within us in such Proportion we become evil malignant and reprobate or benevolent and replete with divine Propensities and Affections
Now
Harry
let us turn our Eyes to our gross and outward Man for as I told you it must be cared for and sustained agreeable to its Nature and it is well deserving of our Attention for as much as it is the Husk the Habitation and Temple of that Godlike Conception which, when matured is to break forth into never ending Glory
Lastly this same outward Man is further to be regarded by us for as much as his Infirmities Frailties Distemperatures Afflictions Aches and Anguishes are so intimately felt by his divine Inmate that they occasionally excite those thousand social Charities Relations and Endearments that with Links of golden Love connect the Brotherhood of Man
It is therefore worth while to enquire into the Claims and Rights of this close though gross Companion at least so far as may be requisite for his necessary if not comfortable Subsistance upon Earth
We find that God has entrusted him with
Life Liberty
and Strength to acquire
Property
for his Sustenance It is therefore his Duty to preserve all these Trusts inviolate for as they are wedded to his Nature
what God hath so joined let no Man put asunder
If these were not my
Harry
the natural inheritable and indefeasible Rights of all Men there would be no Wrong no Injustice in depriving All you should meet of their Liberty their Lives and Properties at Pleasure For all Laws that were ever framed for the good Government of Men even with the divine Decalogue are no other than faint Transcripts of that eternal LAW OF BENEVOLENCE which was written and again retraced in the Bosom of the first Man and which all his Posterity ought to observe without further Obligation
The capital Apostle Saint
Paul
bears Testimony also to the Impression of this LAW OF RIGHTS on the Consciences and Hearts of all Men where he says in the second Chapter of his Epistle to the
Romans
Not the Hearers of the Law are just before God but the Doers of the Law shall be justified For when the Gentiles which have not the Law do by Nature the Things contained in the Law These having not the Law are a Law unto themselves Which shew the work of the Law WRITTEN IN THEIR HEARTS their Consciences also bearing Witness and their Thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing One another.
But Sir interrupted
Harry
I am quite astonished at the Fallingoff of the Father of Mankind So infinitely benefitted and obliged as he was so necessarily dependent also on his omnipotent Benefactor how foolish how base how ungrateful how unpardonable as I think was his wonderful Apostasy Wretched Creatures that we are no sound Branch to be sure could ever spring from so debased so cankered a Stock
Let us not be prone to judge of Others my
Harry
I am confident as I am of my Being that had You or I been in the Case and Place of
Adam
we should have fallen in like Manner He had an old and
a very subtile Adversary to deal with He felt himself powerful glorious and happy He had no Notion that his present State could change for the worse He was yet a Novice in Existence He could form no Conception of the Depravity Pains and Mortality that afterward ensued And he was strongly tempted by sensual Objects from without and by the Emotions of his creaturely Nature within him But of this I am assured
Harry
that if he was the greatest Sinner he was also the greatest and most contrite Penitent that ever existed as the Comparison of his first with his latter State must have given him the most poignant and bitter Compunctions and must have caused him with tenfold Energy to cling to that Rock from which he was hewn but from whence he had fallen
I have already shewn you
Harry
that every Man has a Right in his Person and Property and that this Right is natural inheritable and indefeasable No Consent of Parties no Institution can make any Change in this great and fundamental Law of Right it is universal, invariable and unalienable to any Man or System of Men It is only defeasable in particular Cases as where one Man by assailing the Safety of Another justly forfeits the Title which he had to his own Safety
If human Nature had never fallen into a State of inordinate Appetence all Laws and legal Restraints would have been as needless and impertinent as the Study and Practice of Physic in a Country exempted from Mortality and Disease But for as much as all Men are Tyrants by Nature All prone to covet and grasp at the Rights of Others the great Law of SAFETY TO ALL can no otherwise be assured than BY THE RESTRAINT OF EACH FROM DOING INJURY TO ANY
On this lamentable Occasion on this sad Necessity of Mans calling for Help against Man is founded every Intention and End of civil Government All Laws that do not branch from this Stem are cankered or rotten All political Edifices that are not built and sustained upon this Foundation
of defending the Weak against the Oppressor
must tumble into a Tyranny even worse than that Anarchy which is called the State of Nature, where Individuals are unconnected by any social Band But if such a System could be framed whereby
Wrong
should not be permitted or dispensed with in any Man
Right
would consequently ensue and be enjoyed by all Men and this would be the Perfection of CIVIL LIBERTY
Sir says
Harry
I have heard some very learned Men affirm that God in whom is the Disposal of all Lives and all Properties has given to Some a Right of ruling over Others That Governours are his Vicegerents and Representatives upon Earth And that he hath appointed the descendible and hereditary Rights of Fathers over Families of Patriarchs over Tribes and of Kings over Nations
In a qualified Sense my
Harry
their Affirmation may be just All the Agents and Instruments and Dispensers of Beneficence whether their Sphere be small or great are Gods true Representatives and Vicegerents upon Earth He hath given Authority to the Tenderness of Parents over their Progeny and he hath invested Patriarchs and Kings with the Rights of Protection But God never gave the Vulture a Right to rule over the Dovecote Never gave up the innocent Many for a Prey to the tyrannous Few God never can take Pleasure in the Breaches of the Law of his own Righteousness and Benignity Arbitrary Regents are no further of his Appointment than the Evils of Earthquakes and Hurricanes as where he is said
to give the Wicked a King in his Anger
and
to set over the Nations the Basest of Men
The God of all Right cannot will Wrong to Any
His Service is perfect Freedom
It is his Pleasure to deliver from
the Land of Slavery and the House of Bondage
He is the God of Equity and GoodWill to all his Creatures He founds his own Authority not in Power but Beneficence The Law therefore of Safety and Wellbeing to All is founded in the Nature of God himself
eternal immutable
and
indispensable
One Man may abound in Strength Authority Possessions but no Man may have greater Right than Another The Beggar has as much Right to his Cloak and his Scrip as the King to his Ermines and Crown Lands
To fence and to establish this divinely inherent Right of SECURITY TO THE PERSON and PROPERTY OF MAN has been the Study and Attempt of
Hermes Confucius Minos Lycurgus Solon Numa
and of all the Legislators and Systems of civil Polity that ever warmed the World with a single Ray of Freedom
But so strong is the Propensity to Usurpation in Man so dangerous is it to tempt Trustees with the Investiture of Power so difficult to
watch
the
Watchers
to
restrain
the
Restrainers
from Injustice that whether the Government were committed to the ONE the FEW or the MANY the Parties entrusted have generally proved Traitors and deputed Power has almost perpetually been seized upon as Property
Monarchy
has ever been found to rush headlong into Tyranny
Aristocracy
into Faction and multiplied Usurpation and
Democracy
into Tumult Confusion and Violence And All these whether distinct or compounded with Eachother have ended in the Supremacy of some arbitrary Tyrant enabled by a Body of military Mercenaries to rule oppress and spoil the People at Pleasure
How
England
hath come after the many Wrecks and Ruins which you have read of in History to survive to recover to grow sounder from her Wounds and mightier from her Discomfitures and to rise superior as we trust to all future external and internal Attempts hath been owing to the Peculiarity of her Constitution
Her Constitution it is true is not yet quit perhaps never ought to be quit of some intestine Commotions For though Liberty has no Relation to Party Dissention or Cabal against Government there is yet a Kind of yeast observable in its Nature which may be necessary to the fermentation and working up of Virtue to the Degree that is requisite for the Production of Patriotism and publicSpirit But when this
Yest of Liberty
happens to light upon weak or vapid Tempers they are immediately affected like Smallbeer Casks and rave and boil over in an Abundance of factious Sputter and Turbulence Party and Faction therefore being the Scum and Ebullition of this animating Yest are sure Signs and Proofs of the Life of Liberty though they neither partake nor communicate any Portion of its Beneficence as rank Weeds are the Proof of a hot Sun and luxuriant Soil though they are the detestable Consequence of the One and the Other
I will endeavour to image and exemplify to you the Nature and Tendency of these Commotions by bringing some of our old Plays to the Memory of my
Harry
First theres ROBINS ALIVE AND ALIVE LIKE TO BE
if he dies in my Hand my Mouth shall be bridled my Back shall be saddled with Sticks and Stones and marrowBones and sent to the Kings black Hall
This is always supposed to be the favourite Diversion of the Children of a free People Where the Stick which is fired at one end and handed about through the Society represents the Light and Comfort which they derive from LIBERTY and which they endeavour to keep alive by the Quickness of Communication and by the Supplies of their own Breath
They all please themselves with the Assurance that Liberty is not only alive but alive like to be and they denounce the most heavy and tremendous Consequences against any who shall suffer it to expire in their Hands Their Mouth is first to be bridled they must not dare to speak or even mutter their Complaints and after being laden with all Kinds of Grievances and Oppressions they are to be led to the gloomy Receptacles of their insulting Proprietor there to be further dealt with according to his Pleasure
FOUR CORNERS AND A FOOL is a most apt and animated Representation of those personal and selfish Competitions that never fail to intrude into the freest States Where the Meaning and Import of the several Contests amounts
to the single Question
of
Who shall be in Place
And where All
who get in
are allowed a prescriptive Right of laughing at the Expence of Those
who are kept out
Your favourite Play of FOOTBALL is a most perfect Image or rather Counterpart of those Dissentions and Oppositions that are entitled
Parties
and which are almost peculiar to the
British
Constitution
As soon as the
Parties
for FOOTBALL are formed Each enters as affectionately as zealously as furiously in the Interests of All and Every of the Posse with whom he is connected as though they were so many Limbs of his proper Person Though Townsmen Friends Brothers should be arrayed on the opposite Side it makes no Abatement of Warmth or Hostility All Concerns of Kindred and Country all Memory of former Attachments are instantly cast aside or absorbed in the Engagement and Eagerness for Conquest They enter upon Action they run labour sweat wrestle While the BALL which each Party endeavours to bear away from the Other represents the PUBLIC INTEREST or COMMONWEAL which is tossed and bandied to and fro and kicked about and almost rent to Rags in the Heat of the Contention
It is however observable that in these FOOTBALL Conflicts there are certain BOUNDARIES entitled GOALS emblematical of the CONSTITUTION within which the Parties are enjoined to limit their Contention And when some extravagant and dissolute Spirits have wantonly born away the Ball beyond the said Bounds we have seen both Parties join in Pursuit of such Vagrants in order to recover and bring back the Ball to the regulated and appointed Sphere of its Activity
The pacific Institution of WATER MY CHICKENS COME CLOCK seems an Invention of
Eastern
Policy and calculated rather to recommend an obsequious Dependence on
Asiatic
Despotism than as any Hieroglyphic of the Freedom of
Grecian Roman
or
Gothic
Commonwealths And yet the Time may come when even in
Britain
a Minister may arise who shall have the Art and Address to bribe and corrupt a Majority of the Legislature with the Money of their Constituents He will thereby be enabled to take the Lead at the Head of the Representatives of the Nation When
All shall follow him in implicit and orderly Procession Each duely and decently attending the Posteriors of him who immediately precedes in the Arrangement
Now
Harry
let us return to the great Object first proposed an Object in which you are most intimately concerned and which I trust you will invariably assert and support even the Liberties and Claims of the Meanest of your Countrymen
SALUS POPULI PUBLIC SAFETY SECURITY TO THE PERSONS AND PROPERTIES OF THE PEOPLE constitutes the Whole of
England
s Polity Her Empire is IMPERIUM LEGUM the Sway of Law it is the Dispensation of Beneficence of equal Right to All and this Empire rises supreme over King Lords and Commoners and is appointed to rule the Rulers to the End of Time
Other States before now have been compounded like Ours of
Prince Peers and People
the
One Few and Many
united But the Error and Failure of their Constitution was this The PEOPLE who are the FOUNTAIN OF ALL POWER either retained in their own Hands an Authority which they never were qualified to wield or deputed it to Trustees without Account without a provident Resource or due Reserve of Potency when
Those entrusted with Government should be found to betray
The People of
England
on the contrary claim no Authority in Government neither in the framing administration or execution of the Laws, by which they consent to be governed They are themselves imaged and as it were epitomised in their three several Estates The King represents their Majesty the Lords their Nobility and the Commons more immediately their legislative Power The Constitution is the Inheritance of them and their Posterity and theirs is the Right and Duty at all Times to watch over assert and reclaim it Wherefore as you find in History when Any of the three Estates have usurped upon the Others even when All of them together have dared to violate the Frame of this salutary Constitution the People to whom it belongs have never failed as on the other Days Revolution to restore and reinstate it
England
s three Estates of King Lords and Commons are Parts of the People under Covenant with the People and accountable to the People but the People as a People make not any of the said Estates They are as a perpetual Fountain from whence the three Estates arise or rather as a Sea of Waters in which three exalted Waves should claim Preeminence which yet shall not be able to depart from their Fund but in Rotation are dissoluble and resolvable therein
Thus however complicated the System of
England
s Polity may be it is all rooted in and branches from the TRUST OF THE PEOPLE the Trust of Powers which they have granted to be returned in Protection And in Truth it makes little Difference whether the Powers in such Cases be granted or assumed Whoever either receives or assumes such Powers save to the Ends of Beneficence is equally guilty of Usurpation and Tyranny
Government can have no Powers save the Powers of the People to wit the Power of their Numbers Strength and Courage in Time of War and in Peace of their Art and Industry and the Wealth arising therefrom Whoever assumes to himself these Powers or any Part thereof without the Consent of the Proprietors is a Robber and should at least be divested of the Spoil
On the other Hand if such Powers are granted by the People the People cannot granted them for Purposes to which they themselves cannot lawfully apply them No Man for Instance can arbitrarily dispose of his own Life or Liberty neither of the whole Product of his own Labours forasmuch as the Lives of himself and his Family should be first sustained thereby and his Obligations to Others fairly and fully discharged He cannot therefore grant an arbitrary Disposal of what he hath not an arbitrary Disposal in himself Much less can any Man grant a Power over the Lives Liberties or Properties of other People as it would be criminal and highly punishable in himself to assail them
Hence it follows, as evident as any Object at Noon that
no Man or Body of Men can rightfully assume
or even accept
what no Man or Body of Men can rightfully grant
to wit a Power that is arbitrary or injurious to Others And hence it necessarily follows, that all Usurpations of such Powers throughout the Earth with all actual or pretended Covenants Trusts or Grants for the Investiture or Conveyance of such illicit Powers are null and void on the Execution And that no Man or Nations of Men can possibly be bound by any Consents or Contracts eversive of the Laws of God and their own Nature of common Sense and general Equity of eternal Reason and Truth
I beg Pardon Sir says
Harry
for interrupting you once more but you desire that I should always speak my Mind with Freedom You have delighted me greatly with the Account which you give of the Benefits and Sweets of
Liberty
and of its being equally the Claim and BirthRight of all Men and I wish to Heaven that they had an equal Enjoyment thereof But this you know Sir is very far from being the Case and that this
animating Fire
which ought to comfort All who come into the World is now nearly extinguished throughout the Earth
O Sir if this divine this GOLDEN LAW OF LIBERTY were observed if ALL WERE RESTRAINED FROM DOING INJURY TO ANY what a Heaven we should speedily have upon Earth the Habit of such a Restraint would in time suppress every Emotion to Evil The Weak would have the Mightiness of this Law for their Support the Poor would have the Benevolence thereof for their Riches Under the light and delightsome Yoke of such a Restraint how would Industry be encouraged to plant and to multiply the Vine and the FigTree how would Benignity rejoice to call Neighbours and Strangers to come and fearlessly partake of the Fruits thereof
How has the sacred Name of Allbenefitting LIBERTY been perverted and profaned by the Mouths of madding Demagogues at the Head of their shouting Rabble who mean no Other than a licentious Unmuzzling from all Restraint that they may ravage and lay desolate the Works and Fruits of Peace
But Liberty in your System is a real an essential Good the only Source indeed whence any Good can arise I see it I revere it it shines by its own Light in the Evidence of your Description
How is it then Sir that there are Persons so blind or so bigotted against their own Interests and Those of their Fellows as to declaim with much Energy and studied Argumentation against this divine inheritable and indefeisible Right not of Kings as should seem but of Humankind
I lately happened in Company with a Number of discontentedly looking Gentlemen whom I supposed to have been Abettors of the late King
James
and Friends to the arrogating Family of the
Stuarts
Among them was One of some Learning and great Cleverness and he paraded and shewed away at a vast Rate concerning the divinely inherent Right of Monarchs implicit Submission passive Obedience NonResistance and what not
Our God said he is one God and the Substitutes of his Mightiness should resemble himself their Power ought to be absolute unquestioned and undivided The Sun is his glorious Representative in the Heavens and Monarchs are his Representatives and Mirrors upon Earth in whom he is pleased to behold the Reflection of his own Majesty
Accordingly we find that the Monarchs over his chosen People were of his special Appointment and that their Persons were rendered sacred and awfully inviolable by Unction or the shedding of hallowed Oil upon them Many Miscarriages and woful Defaults are recorded of
Saul
as a Man yet as a King he was held perfect in the Eyes of his People What an unhesitating Obedience what a speechless Submission do they pay to all his Behests Though he massacred their whole Priesthood to a Man in one Day yet no Murmur was heard no One dared to wag a Tongue and much less to lift a Finger against the Lords Anointed
I own to you Sir that this last Argument staggered me such an express Authority of the sacred Writings put me wholly to Silence Say then my dearest Father give me the Benefit of your enlightening Sentiments on this Head that I may know on all Occasions to give to all Men
an Account of the political Faith that is in me
It is extremely surprizing rejoined Mr
Fenton
that all our Lay and ecclesiastical Champions for arbitrary Power who have raised such a Dust and kept such a Coil about the
divine hereditary
and
indefeisible Right
of Kings and the
unconditional Duty
of
Passive Obedience
in the Subject have founded their whole Pile of Argument and Oratory on the DIVINE APPOINTMENT of the Regal Government of the
Jews
as the perfect Model and Ensample whereby all other States are in like Manner required to form their respective Governments
Now if these Champions had engaged on the opposite Side of the Question and had undertaken the Argument against
arbitrary Power
they could not have done it more effectually more conclusively more unanswerably than by shewing that ARBITRARY POWER was the very EVIL so displeasing to the Nature of God that he exhibited his Omnipotence in a Series of public and astonishing Wonders in order to deliver this very People from the Grievance thereof and more especially to proclaim to all Nations and Ages the Detestation in which his ETERNAL JUSTICE holds all
lawless Dispensations
all Acts of SOVEREIGN POWER that are not Acts of PROTECTION
Could these Champions again have better enforced the Argument against
arbitrary Power
than by shewing that this People so miraculously enfranchised but now fat and wantonly kicking under the Indulgence of their God had taken a Loathing to the Righteousness of the Dispensations of their Deliverer
had rejected him
as he affirms
from reigning over them
and had required a KING like to the Kings of the neighbouring Nations the very EVIL from which God had redeemed their Forefathers
Could these Champions further have better demonstrated the Miseries the Iniquities the Abominations of such a Government than by reciting the Expostulations the tender and earnest Remonstrances of God himself on the Sufferings that these Rebels were about to bring upon themselves from the Enormities of an arbitrary and unlimited Sovereignty And lastly could they have better recommended to the Free and the Virtuous to stand out to the Death against arbitrary Oppression than by shewing the Obstinacy of these apostate
Jews
when they answered to the compassionating Expostulations of their God
Nay but we will have a
KING
like all the Nations to rule over us
Nothing my
Harry
can be more unaccountable more astonishing than the Perverseness of that stiffnecked Nation
They daily drank the bitterest Dregs of Slavery they had been galled by double Chains and had groaned under an unprecedented Tyranny and Oppression They cried out to their God and he miraculously delivered them from
the Land of their Misery and from the House of their Bondage
Yet on the first Cravings of Appetite these Soulsensualized Wretches desired to be returned to their
Chains
and their
FleshPots
and longed to groan and gormandise in their
old Sty
Hereupon God gave them Flesh and Bread to the full and he brought them into a Land
flowing with Milk and Honey
and abounding with all the good things of this Life He made them a free and sovereign People discomfitted their Enemies before them and informed their Judges with his own Spirit for the Dispensation of Righteousness insomuch that
every Man sat under his own Vine and did what was right in his own Eyes
And yet they lasciviously petitioned to be subjected to a State of
absolute Despotism
and this for no assigned Reason save because it was the Fashion
make us a King to judge us like to all the Nations around us
Here God in the same Act approves his Attributes of
Mercy
and
reluctant Justice
to his erring Creatures He punishes their Rebellion by no greater a Severity than the Grant of their Request
And the Lord said unto
Samuel
hearken unto the Voice of the People in all that they say unto thee for they have not rejected thee but they have rejected me that I should not reign over them Howbeit protest solemnly unto them and shew them the Manner of the King that shall reign over them
And
Samuel
told all the Words of the Lord unto the People that asked of him a King And he said this will be the Manner of the King that shall reign over You
He will take your Sons and appoint them for himself for his Chariots and to be his Horsemen And Some shall run before his Chariots And he will appoint him Captains over Thousands and Captains over Fifties and will set them to ear his Ground and to reap his Harvest And he will take your Daughters to be Confectioners and Cooks and Bakers And he will take your Fields and your Vineyards and your Olive Yards even the best of them And he will take your Men Servants and your Maid Servants and your goodliest young Men and your Asses and put them to his Work and ye shall be his Servants And ye shall cry out in that Day because of your King which ye shall have chosen you and the Lord will not hear you in that Day
Nevertheless the People refused to obey the Voice of the Lord and of
Samuel
and they said nay but we will have a King over us
And now
Harry
what do you gather from all these sacred Authorities I gather Sir answered
Harry
from the express and repeated Declarations of holy Writ that whoever he be whether Sovereign or Subject who doth not wish that all Men should be limited and restrained from doing Injury to Any is a Rebel to the Will of the God of BENEFICENCE and an Enemy to the WELLBEING OF HUMANKIND
You have exclaimed Mr
Fenton
You have in a few Words spoke the Whole of the Matter On what you have said hang all the Law and the Prophets
Again my Dear continued Mr
Fenton
it is evident from the History that the
Jews
themselves did not pay the smallest Regard to the
divinely hereditary Right of Kingship
Both
David
and
Solomon
the second and third in succession were established on the Throne in direct Contradiction to such
pretended Right
And on the Succession of
Rehoboam
the fourth King ten of the twelve Tribes repented of their Submission to an
arbitrary Monarchy
and required the King to consent to a
Limitation of his Authority
and to enter into a
Contract with the People
And they spake unto
Rehoboam
saying thy Father made our Yoke grievous Now therefore make thou the grievous Service of thy Father and his heavy Yoke which he put upon us lighter and we will serve thee
But when
Rehoboam
by the Advice of his sleekheaded Ministry refused to covenant with the People the ten Tribes cried out
What Portion have we in
David
neither have we Inheritance in the Son of
Jesse
to your Tents O
Israel
And thus the ten Tribes revolted from the arbitrary Domination of the Houses of
Saul
and
David
For as the sacred Text says THE CAUSE WAS FROM THE LORD
Now when these ten Tribes sent and called
Jeroboam
he Son of
Nelat
and made him King over
Israel
it is most evident that they obliged him to
limit the regal Authority
and to covenant with them for the Restoration and
Reestablishment
of their Popular Rights For in the sixth Succession when
Ahab
sat upon the Throne the
Regal Prerogative
had not yet so far usurped on the
constitutional Rights of the People
as to entitle
Ahab
to deprive his Subjects even of a Garden for Herbs
And
Ahab
said unto
Naboth
give me thy Vineyard that I may have it for a Garden of Herbs because it is near unto my House and I will give thee for it a better Vineyard or if it seems good to thee I will give thee the Worth of it in Money But
Naboth
said to
Ahab
the Lord forbid that I should give the Inheritance of my Fathers unto thee So
Ahab
came into his House heavy displeased because
Naboth
had said I will not give to thee the Inheritance of my Fathers And he laid him down upon his Bed and turned away his Face and would eat no Bread
Here we see that the People of
Israel
had so far recovered their
originally inherent and hereditary Rights
that the
Regal Estate
had not the Privilege of wresting from any Subject so much as an HerbGarden
This was a mortifying Circumstance to royal Elevation but Power is seldom unfruitful of Expedients A Method was found of rending away
Naboth
s Property without his Consent UNDER COLOUR OF THE LAW TO WHICH HE HAD CONSENTED He was falsely impeached and forfeited his Life and Inheritance together But God by the signal Punishment which he inflicted for this Breach on
the natural Rights of his People
evinced to the World how dear they are in the Eye of ETERNAL JUSTICE
How deplorable then my
Harry
is the
Suppression
of these Rights now nearly
universal
throughout the Earth But when People from their Infancy and from Generation to Generation have been habituated to Bondage Oppression and Submission without any Tradition or Memorial delivered down to them of a happier or more equitable Manner of Life they are accustomed to look on themselves their Possessions and their Progeny as the rightful Property of their Rulers to be disposed of at Pleasure and they no more regret the want of a LIBERTY that they never knew than the BlindBorn regret the want of THE LIGHT OF THE SUN
Before I give You this Paper that I have in my Hand this Epitome or Picture in Miniature of the incomparable Beauties of the
Britanic
Constitution it may be requisite to premise a few Matters
Travellers when they survey a grand
Egyptian
Pyramid are apt to enquire by whom the stupendous Pile was erected and how long it hath stood the Assaults of Time But when nothing of this can be developed Imagination runs back through Antiquity without Bounds and thence contemplates an Object, with peculiar Veneration that appears as it were to have had no Beginning
Such a Structure is the Constitution of
GreatBritain
No Records discover when it had a Commencement neither can any Annals specify the Time at which it was not
William
the
Norman
above seven hundred Years ago on his entering into the ORIGINAL CONTRACT with the People engaged to govern them according to the
bonae et approbatae antiquae Regni Leges
the good well approved and
ancient
Laws of the Kingdom this Constitution was therefore ancient even in
ancient Times
More than eighteen hundred Years are now elapsed since
Julius Caesar
in the sixth Book of his Commentaries bore Testimony as well to the Antiquity as Excellency of the System of the Laws of
Britain
He tells us that the venerable Order of the
Druids
who then administered Justice throughout
Gaul
derived their System of Government from
Britain
and that it was customary for Those who were desirous of being versed in the said ancient Institutions to go over to
Britain
for that Purpose
Caesar
seems to recommend while he specifies one of the Laws that was then peculiar to the Constitution of
Britain
He tells You that if a Woman was suspected of the Death of her Husband she was questioned thereupon with severity
by her Neighbours
and that if she was sound guilty she was tied alive to a Stake and burned to Death The very Law used in Britain
by a Jury of Neighbours
to this Day
It is hence very obvious that our
Gothic
Ancestors either adopted what they judged excellent in the BRITISH CONSTITUTION or rather superadded what was deemed to be excellent in their Own
The People who went under the general Name of
Goths
were of many different Nations who from the
Northern
poured down on the more
Southern
Parts of Europe
Their Kings were originally Chiefs or Generals appointed to lead voluntary Armies or Colonies for the forming of new Settlements in foreign Lands and they were followed by a free and independent Multitude who had previously stipulated that they should share and enjoy the Possessions which their Valour should conquer
Next to the General in Order the Officers or principal Men of the Army were attended on such Expeditions by their Kinsfolk Friends and Dependents who chose to attach themselves to their Persons and Fortunes respectively and such Attachments gave these Officers great Power and Consideration
On their Conquest or Seizure of any Tract of Country a certain Portion thereof was allotted to the General for the Maintenance of his Person and Houshold The General then divided the Remainder among his Officers to hold of him in
Fief
at the certain Service of so many Horse or Foot well armed and provided
c
and proportioned to the Value and Extent of the Land assigned And the said Officers again parcelled out the greatest Part of the said Possessions among their respective Followers to hold of themselves in like Manner and Service as they held of their General
On the Conquest of a Country they seldom chose to exterminate the Natives or old Inhabitants but allotted to them also separate Remnants of the Land and admitted them to the common and equal Participation of such Laws or Usages as they brought from their own Country or chose to adopt
Independant of the military Services above reserved the Prince or Chief further reserved the civil Service or personal Attendance of his feudatory Officers at certain Times and for certain Terms at his general or national Court This Court was composed of
three Estates
the
Prince
the
Nobles
and such of the
Priesthood
whether Pagan or Christian as held in
Fief
from the Prince and from this NATIONAL COUNCIL our PARLIAMENT took its Origin
The feudal Officers also on their Part reserved the like Service and personal Attendance of their proper Tenants and Vassals at their respective Courts of Judicature And for as much as in such Courts no civil or criminal Sentence could take place till the Voice of the Judge was affirmed by the
Court
which consisted of such as were
Peers
or
Equals to the Party accused
from thence we derive our free ancient and sacred Institution of JURIES
If we look back upon One of those
Fief
or
Feudal
Kings seated high on his Throne and encircled with all the Ensigns of Royalty when we find him entitled the sole Proprietor of all the Lands within his Dominions when we hear his Subjects acknowledge that he alone is the Fountain from whence are derived all Possessions Rights Titles Distinctions and Dignities when we see his most potent Prefects and Nobles with lifted Hands and bended Knees swearing Fealty at his Feet who would not take him for an arbitrary and most absolute Prince
Such a Judgment however would have been very premature No Prince could be more limited He had not the License of doing Hurt to the Person or Property of the meanest Vassal throughout his Dominions But was he the less powerful think you for being less absolute quite the contrary While he acted within the Sphere of his Compact with the People he acted in all the Persons and Powers of the People Though prescribed with respect to Evil the Extent of his Beneficence was wholly unconfined He was not dreaded indeed but on that Account he was the more revered and beloved by his Subjects He was a Part of themselves the principal Member of their Body In him they beheld with delight their own Dignity and Strength so gloriously represented and by being the Proprietor of all their Hearts he became the Master of all their Hands
O exclaimed
Harry
who would wish after this to be unrestrained from any Kind of Evil how frightful how detestable is that Power which is not exercised in Acts of Benevolence alone And All who please may be infinite in the Stretch of a good Will
True my Dear said Mr
Fenton
I have now continued he given You the rough and unformed Rudiments of our
Britanic Constitution
And here I deliver to you my little Model of the finished Construction thereof as it now stands on the Revolution just atchieved by his present glorious Majesty King
William
Your Reading has informed you and may further inform you of the several Steps and Struggles whereby this great Business was finally effected It was not suddenly brought to pass it was the Work of many Ages while
Britain
like
Antaeus
though often defeated rose more vigorous and reinforced from every Foil Of Times long passed what stupendous Characters what sacred Names what watchful Councils what bloody Effusions what a People of Heroes what Senates of Sages How hath the Invention of Nature been stretched how have the Veins of the Valiant been exhausted to form support reform and bring to Maturity this unexampled Constitution this Coalescence and grand Effort of every human Virtue BRITISH LIBERTY
Here follows Mr
Fenton
s short System of the Beauties and Benefits of our Constitution But if the Reader loves Amusement preferable to Instruction he is at liberty to pass it over and proceed in the Story
The REGAL ESTATE
THE KING in the Constitution of
Great Britain
is more properly the King
of
than a King
over
the People united to them One of them and contained in them At the same time that he is acknowledged the Head of their Body he is their principal Servant or Minister being the Deputee of their executive Power
His Claim to the Throne is not a Claim as of some Matter of Property or personal Right he doth not claim but is claimed by the People in their Parliament and he is claimed or called upon not to the Investiture of Possessions but the Performance of Duties He is called upon to govern the People according to the Laws by which they themselves have consented to be governed to cause Justice and Mercy to be dispensed throughout the Realm and to his utmost to execute protect and maintain the Laws of the Gospel of God and the Rights and Liberties of all the People without distinction And this he swears on the Gospel of God to perform And thus as all Others owe
Allegiance
to the King
the King himself oweth Allegiance to the Constitution
The Existence of a King as One of the three Estates is immutable indispensable and indefeisible The Constitution cannot subsist without a King But then his personal Claim of Possession and of hereditary Succession to the Throne is in several Instances precarious and defeasible As in Case of any natural Incapacity to govern or of an open Avowal of Principles incompatible with the Constitution or in Case of OvertActs demonstrative of such Principles or of any Attempt to sap or overthrow a fundamental Part of that System which he was called in and constituted and sworn to maintain
Though the Claim of all Kings to the Throne of
Great Britain
is a limited and deseasible Claim yet the World can afford no Rival in Power or Glory to a
constitutional
Sovereign of these free Dominions
For the Honour of their own Body they have invested this their Head with all possible Illustration He concentrates the Rays of many Nations They have clothed him in royal Robes and circled his Head with a Diadem and enthroned him on high And they bow down before the Mirror of their own Majesty
Neither are his the mere Ensigns or external Shews of Regency He is invested also with Powers much more real than if they were absolute
There are three capital Prerogatives with which the King is entrusted which at first sight appear of fearful and dangerous Tendency and which must infallibly and quickly end in arbitrary Dominion if they were not counterpoised and counteracted
His principal Prerogative is to make War or Peace as also Treaties Leagues and Alliances with foreign Potentates
His second Prerogative is to nominate and appoint all Ministers and Servants of State all Judges and Administrators of Justice and all Officers civil or military throughout these Realms
His third capital Prerogative is that he should have the whole executive Power of the Government of these Nations by his said Ministers and Officers both civil and military
I might here also have added a fourth Prerogative which must have been capitally eversive of the Constitution had it not been limited in the original Trust I mean a Power of granting Pardon to Criminals Had this Power been unrestrained all Obligations to Justice might be absolved at the Kings Pleasure An evil King might even encourage the Breach of Law He must unquestionably have dispensed with all illicit Acts that were perpetrated by his own Orders and this Assurance of Pardon must as unquestionably have encouraged all his Ministers and Officers to execute his Will as the only Rule of their Obedience
But God and our glorious Ancestors be praised he is restrained from protecting his best beloved Ministers when they have effected or even imagined the Damage of the Constitution He is also limited in Appeals brought by the Subject for Murder or Robbery But on Indictments in his own Name for Offences against his proper Person and Government such as Rebellion Insurrection Riot and Breaches of the Peace by Murder Maim or Robbery
c
here he is at liberty to extend the Arm of his Mercy forasmuch as there are many Cases so circumstanced so admissive of pitiable and palliating Considerations that
summum Jus
or strict Justice might prove
summa Injuria
or extreme Injustice
All pardonable Offences are distinguished by the Title of
Crimina laesae Majestatis Sins against the King
All unpardonable Offences are distinguished by the Title of
Crimina laesae Libertatis Sins against the Constitution
In the first Case the Injury is presumed to extend no further than to One or a few Individuals in the Second it is charged as a Sin against the Public against the collective Body of the whole People Of the latter Kind are Nuisances that may endanger the Lives of Travellers on the High Way but more capitally any Imagination proved by OvertAct or evil Advice tending to change the Nature or Form of any One of the three Estates or tending to vest the Government or the Administration thereof in any One or any Two of the said Estates independent of the Other or tending to raise standing Armies or to continue them in time of Peace without the Consent of Parliament or tending to give any foreign State an Advantage over these Realms by Sea or by Land
c
The King hath also annexed to his Dignity many further very important Powers and Prerogatives though they do not so intimately interfere with the Constitution as the capital Prerogatives above recited
He is first considered as the original Proprietor of all the Lands in these Kingdoms and he founds this Claim as well on the Conquest by
William the Norman
as by the limited Kings or Leaders of our Gothie Ancestors
Hence it comes to pass that all Lands to which no Subject can prove a Title are supposed to be in their original Owner and are therefore by the Constitution vested in the Crown On the same Principle also the King is entitled to the Lands of all Persons who die without Heirs as also to the Possessions of All who are convicted of Crimes subversive of the Constitution or PublicWeal
His Person while he is King or inclusive of the first Estate is constitutionally sacred and exempted from all Acts of Violence or Constraint As One of the Estates also he is constituted a Corporation and his
TesteMeipso
or written Testimony amounts to a Matter of Record He also exercises at present the independent Province of supplying Members to the second Estate by a new Creation a very large Accession to his original Powers Bishops also are now appointed and nominated by the King another considerable Addition to the royal Prerogative His is the sole Prerogative to coin or impress Money and to specify change or determine the current Value thereof and for this Purpose he is supposed to have reserved from his original Grants of Lands a Property in Mines of Gold and Silver which are therefore called Royalties
As he is One of the three constitutional Estates no Action can lie against him in any Court neither can he be barred of his Title by length of Time or Entry And these Illustrations of his Dignity cast Rays of answerable Privileges on his royal Consort Heir apparent and eldest Daughter
The King hath also some other inferior and conditional Powers such as of instituting Fairs and Markets and of issuing Patents for special or personal Purposes provided they shall not be found to infringe on the Rights of Others He is also entrusted with the Guardianship of the Persons and Possessions of Idiots and Lunatics without Account
I leave his Majestys Prerogative of a negative Voice in the Legislature as also his Prerogative or rather Duty frequently to call the two other Estates to Parliament and duely to continue prorogue and dissolve the same till I come to speak of the three Estates when in such Parliament assembled
Here then we find that a King of
Great Britain
is constitutionally invested with every Power that can possibly be exerted in Acts of Beneficence And that while he continues to move within the Sphere of his benign Appointment he continues to be constituted the most worthy most mighty and most glorious Representative of Omnipotence upon Earth
IN treating of the Second and third Estate I come naturally to consider what those Restraints are which while they are preserved inviolate have so happy a Tendency to the mutual Prosperity of Prince and People
The ARISTOCRATICAL or SECOND ESTATE
THE NOBILITY or Second Estate in the Constitution of
Great Britain
is originally Representative The Members were ennobled by
Tenure
and not by
Writ
or
Patent
and they were holden in Service to the Crown and Kingdom for the respective Provinces Counties or Baronies whose Name they bore and which they represented
A Title to be a Member of this Second Estate was from the Beginning hereditary The King could not anciently either create or defeat a Title to Nobility Their Titles were not forfeitable save by the Judgment of their Peers upon legal Trial and when Any were so deprived or happened to die without Heirs the Succession was deemed too important to be otherwise filled than by the Concurrence of the three Estates by the joint and solemn Act of the PARLIAMENT or COMMUNE CONCILIUM REGNI
These Truths are attested by many ancient Records and parliamentary Acts And although this most highly ennobling Custom was at particular Times infringed by particular Tyrants it was inviolably adhered to by the best of our
English
Kings and was observed even by the Worst excepting a few Instances till the Reign of
Harry
VII who wished to give Consequence to the
third Estate
by deducting from the Honours and Powers of the
Second
In Truth it is not to be wondered that any Kings who were ambitious of extending their own Power should wish to break and weaken that of the Nobility who had distinguished themselves by so many glorious Stands for Maintenance of Liberty and the Constitution more particularly during the Reigns of
John Henry
III the Second
Edward
and Second
Richard
Till
Harry
VII the Nobles were looked upon as so many Pillars whereon the People rested their Rights Accordingly we find that in the Coalition or grand Compact between
John
and the collective Body of the Nation the King and People jointly agree to confide to the Nobles the Superintendance of the Execution of the great Charter with Authority to them and their Successors to enforce the due Performance of the Covenants therein comprized
What an illustrating Distinction must it have been when Patriot Excellence alone approved before the Country in the Field or the Council could give a Claim to Nobility and compel as it were the united Estates of King Lords and Commons to call a Man up to the second Seat in the Government and Steerage of the Nation
Such a Preference must have proved an unremitting Incitement to the Cultivation and Exercises of every Virtue and to such Exertions Atchievements and Acts of public Beneficence as should draw a Man forth to so shining a Point of Light and set him like a Gem in the Gold of the Constitution
The Crown did not at once assume the independent Right of conferring Nobility
Henry
III first omitted to call some of the Barons to Parliament who were personally obnoxious to him and he issued his Writs or written Letters to some Others who were not Barons but from whom he expected greater Conformity to arbitrary Measures These Writs however did not enoble the Party till he was admitted by the second Estate to a Seat in Parliament neither was such Nobility by Writ hereditary
To supply these Defects the arbitrary Ministry of
Richard
II invented the Method of ennobling by Letters Patent at the Kings Pleasure whether for Years or for Life or in special or general Tail or in Feesimple to a Man and his Heirs at large This Prerogative however was thereafter in many Instances declined and discontinued more particularly by the constitutional King HARRY the Vth till meeting with no Opposition from the other two Estates it has successively descended from
Henry
VII on nine crowned Heads through a Prescription of near a Century and a Half
Next to their King the People have allowed to their Peerage several Privileges of the most uncommon and illustrious Distinction their Christian Names and the Names that descended to them from their Ancestors are absorbed by the Name from whence they take their Title of Honour and by This they make their Signature in all Letters and Deeds Every temporal Peer of the Realm is deemed a Kinsman to the Crown Their Deposition on their
Honour
is admitted in place of their Oath save where they personally present themselves as Witnesses of Facts and saving their Oaths of Allegiance Supremacy and Abjuration Their Persons are at all times exempted from Arrests except in criminal Cases A Defamation of their Character is highly punishable however true the Facts may be and deserving of Censure During Session of Parliament all Actions and Suits at Law against Peers are suspended In Presentments or Indictments by Grand Juries and on Impeachments by the House of Commons Peers are to be tried by their Peers alone for in all criminal Cases they are privileged from the Jurisdiction of inferior Courts excepting on Appeals for Murder or Robbery Peers are also exempted from serving on Inquests And in all Civil Causes where a Peer is Plaintiff there must be two or more Knights impanneled on the Jury
The Bishops or spiritual Lords have Privilege of Parliament but have not the above Privileges of personal Nobility In all criminal Cases saving Attainder and Impeachment they are to be tried by a PetitJury Moreover Bishops do not vote in the House of Lords on the Trial of any Person for a capital Crime
All the temporal and spiritual Nobles that compose the House of Lords however different in their Titles and Degrees of Nobility are called Peers Pares or Equals because their Voices are admitted as of equal Value and that the Vote of a Bishop or Baron shall be equivalent to that of an Archbishop or Duke
The capital Privilege or rather Prerogative of the House of Peers consists in their being
the supreme Court of Judicature
to whom the final Decision of all CivilCauses are confided and referred
in the last Resort
This
constitutional Privilege
is a weighty Counterpoise to his Majestys
second Prerogative of appointing the Administrators of Justice throughout the Nation
forasmuch as Judges who are immediately under the Influence of the Crown are yet intimidated from infringing by any Sentence on the Laws or Constitution of these Realms while a Judgment so highly superior to their Own impends
The second great Privilege of the House of Peers consists, in their having the Sole Judicature of all Impeachments commenced and prosecuted by the Commons And this again is a very weighty Counterpoise to his Majestys
third Prerogative of the executive Government of these Nations by his Ministers
since no Minister can be so great as not justly to dread the coming under a Judgment from which the Mightiness of his royal Master cannot protect him
The third capital Privilege of the House of Peers subsists in their Share or particular Department of Rights in the Legislature This extends to the framing of any Bills at their Pleasure for the Purposes of good Government saving always to the Commons their incommunicable Right of granting Taxes or Subsidies to be levied on their Constituents But on such Bills as on all Others the House of Lords have a Negative a happy Counterpoise to the Power both of King and Commons should Demands on the one Part or Bounties on the Other exceed what is requisite
The Change of the ancient
Modus
in conferring Nobility has not hitherto as I trust been of any considerable Detriment to the Weal of the People But should some future Majesty or rather some future Ministry entitle Folk to a Voice in the second Estate on any consideration save that of eminent Virtue and PatriotService might it be possible that such Ministers should take a further Stride and confer
Nobility
for Actions deserving of
Infamy
should they even covenant to grant such Honours and Dignities in lieu of Services subversive of the Constitution a Majority of such a Peerage must either prove too light to effect any public Benefit or heavy enough to effect the public Perdition
The DEMOCRATICAL or THIRD ESTATE
THE ELECTION of Commoners to be immediate Trustees and apt Representatives of the People in Parliament is the hereditary and indefeisible Privilege of the People It is the Privilege which they accepted and which they retain in Exchange of their originally inherent and hereditary Right of sitting with the King and Peers IN PERSON for the Guardianship of their own Liberties and the Institution of their own Laws
Such Representatives therefore can never have it in their Power to give delegate or extinguish the Whole or any Part of the Peoples inseparable and unextinguishable Share in the legislative Power neither to impart the Same to any One of the other Estates or to any Persons or Person whatever either in or out of Parliament Where Plenipotentiaries take upon them to abolish the Authority of their Principals or where any secondary Agents attempt to defeat the Power of their Primaries such Agents and Plenipotentiaries defeat their own Commission and all the Powers of the Trust necessarily revert to the Constituents
The Persons of these temporary Trustees of the People during their Session and for fourteen Days before and after every Meeting Adjournment Prorogation and Dissolution of Parliament are equally exempted with the Persons of Peers from Arrest and Duress of every Sort
They are also, during their Session to have ready Access to the King or House of Lords and to address or confer with them on all Occasions
No Member of the House of Commons no more than of the House of Peers shall suffer or be questioned or compelled to witness or answer in any Court or Place whatsoever touching any thing said or done by himself or Others in Parliament In order that perfect Freedom of Speech and Action may leave nothing undone for the PublicWeal
They have also during Session an equal Power with the House of Lords to punish Any who shall presume to traduce their Dignity or detract from the Rights or Privileges of any Member of their House
The Commons form a Court of Judicature distinct from the Judicature of the House of Lords Theirs is the peculiar Privilege to try and adjudge the Legality of the Election of their own Members They may fine and confine their own Members as well as Others for Delinquency or Offence against the Honour of their House But in all other Matters of Judicature They are merely a Court of
Inquisition
and
Presentment
and not a Tribunal of
difinitive Judgment
In this Respect however they are extremely formidable They constitute the
Grand Inquest
of the Nation for which great and good Purpose they are supposed to be perfectly qualified by a personal Knowledge of what hath been transacted throughout the several Shires Cities and Boroughs from whence they assemble and which they represent
Over and above their Inquiry into all public Grievances
wicked Ministers transgressing Magistrates corrupt Judges and Justiciaries
who sell deny or delay Justice
evil Counsellors
of the Crown who attempt or devise the Subversion or Alteration of any Part of the Constitution with all such overgrown Malefactors as are deemed above the Reach of inferior Courts come under the particular Cognizance of the Commons to be by them impeached and presented for Trial at the Bar of the House of Lords And these inquisitory and judicial Powers of the two Houses from which no Man under the Crown can be exempted are deemed a sufficient Allay and Counterpoise to the whole executive Power of the King by his Ministers
The legislative Department of the Power of the Commons is in all Respects coequal with that of the Peers They frame any Bills at Pleasure for the Purposes of good Government They exercise a Right as the Lords also do to propose and bring in Bills for the Amendment or Repeal of old Laws as well as for the Ordaining or Institution of new Ones And each House alike hath a Negative on all Bills that are framed and passed by the Other
But the capital the incommunicable Privilege of the House of Commons arises from that holy Trust which their Constituents repose in them whereby they are impowered to borrow from the People a small Portion of their Property in order to restore it threefold in the Advantages of Peace equal Government and the Encouragement of Trade Industry and the Manufactures
To impart Any of this Trust would be a Breach of the Constitution and even to abuse it would be a felonious Breach of common Honesty
By this fundamental Trust and incommunicable Privilege the Commons have the sole Power over the Money of the People to grant or deny Aids according as they shall judge them either requisite or unnecessary to the Public Service Theirs is the Province and theirs alone to enquire and judge of the several Occasions for which such Aids may be required and to measure and appropriate the Sums to their respective Uses Theirs also is the sole Province of framing all Bills or Laws for the imposing of any Taxes and of appointing the Means for levying the Same upon the People Neither may the First or second Estate either King or Peerage propound or do any thing relating to these Matters that may any Way interfere with the Proceedings of the Commons save in their Negative or Assent to such Bills when presented to them without addition deduction or Alteration of any Kind
After suchlike Aids and Taxes have been levied and disposed of the Commons have the further Right of enquiring and examining into the Application of said Aids of ordering all Accounts relative thereto to be laid before them and of censuring the Abuse or Misapplication thereof
The Royal Assent to all other Bills is expressed by the Terms
Le Roy le veut the King wills it
But when the Commons present their Bills of Aid to his Majesty it is answered
Le Roy remercier Ses loyal Sujects et ainsi le veut the King thanks his loyal Subjects and so willeth
An express Acknowledgment that the Right of granting or levying Moneys for public Purposes lies solely inherently and incommunicably in the People and their Representatives
This capital Privilege of the Commons constitutes the grand Counterpoise to the Kings principal Prerogative of making Peace or War for how impotent must a warlike Enterprise prove without Money which makes the Sinews thereof And thus the People and their Representatives still retain in their Hands the GRAND MOMENTUM of the Constitution and of all human Affairs
Distinguished Representatives Happy People immutably happy while WORTHILY REPRESENTED
As the Fathers of the several Families throughout the Kingdom nearly and tenderly comprize and represent the Persons Cares and Concerns of their respective Housholds So these adopted Fathers immediately represent and intimately concentrate the Persons and Concerns of their respective Constituents and in them the collective Body or Sum of the Nation And while these Fathers continue true to their adopting Children a single Stone cannot lapse from the GREAT FABRIC OF THE CONSTITUTION
The THREE ESTATES in PARLIAMENT
WITH the King Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled the People have deposited their
Legislative
or
absolute Power
IN TRUST for their whole Body the said King Lords and Commons when so assembled being the
Great
Representative of the whole Nation as if all the People were then convened in one general Assembly
As the Institution Repeal and Amendment of Laws, together with the Redress of public Grievances and Offences are not within the Capacity of any of the three Estates distinct from the Others the FREQUENT HOLDING OF PARLIAMENTS is the vital Food without which the Constitution cannot subsist
The three Estates originally when assembled in Parliament sat together consulting in the open Field Accordingly at
RunningMend
five hundred Years ago King
John
passed the great Charter as therein is expressed by the Advice of the Lords spiritual and temporal by the Advice of several Commoners by name recited
et aliorum Fidelium
and of Others his faithful People And in the twentyfirst Clause of the said Charter he covenants that
For having the Common Council of the Kingdom to assess Aids he will cause the Lords spiritual and temporal to be summoned by his Writs and moreover that he will cause the principal Commoners or Those who held from him in Chief to be generally summoned to said Parliaments by his Sheriffs and Bailiffs
In said Assemblies however the Concourse became so great and disorderly and the Contests frequently so high between the several Estates in Assertion of their respective Prerogatives and Privileges that they judged it more expedient to sit apart and separately to exercise the Offices of their respective Departments
As there is no Man or Set of Men no Class or Corporation no Village or City throughout the Kingdom that is not virtually represented by their Delegates in Parliament this
great Body politic
or
Representative of the Nation
consists like the Body natural of a Head and several Members which being endowed with different Powers for the exercise of different Offices are yet connected by one main and common Interest and actuated by ONE LIFE or SPIRIT OF PUBLIC REASON called the LAWS.
In all Steps of National Import the King is to be conducted by the Direction of the Parliament his great national Council a Council on whom it is equally incumbent to consult for the King with whom they are connected and for the People by whom they are delegated and whom they represent Thus the King is constitutionally to be guided by the Sense of his Parliament and the Parliament alike is constitutionally to be guided by the general Sense of the People The two Estates in Parliament are the Constituents of the King and the People mediately or immediately are the Constituents of the two Estates in Parliament
Now while the three Estates act distinctly within their respective Departments they affect and are reciprocally affected by EachOther This
Action
and
Reaction
produces that general and
systematic Controul
which like CONSCIENCE pervades and superintends the Whole checking and prohibiting Evil from every Part of the Constitution And from this Confinement of every Part to the Rule of RIGHT REASON the great LAW OF LIBERTY TO ALL ariseth
For Instance The King has the sole Prerogative of making War
c
But then the Means are in the Hands of the People and their Representatives
Again To the King is committed the whole executive Power but then the Ministers of that Power are accountable to a Tribunal from which a Criminal has no Appeal or Deliverance to look for
Again to the King is committed the Cognizance of all Causes But should his Judges or Justiciaries pervert the Rule of Righteousness an Inquisition Impeachment and Trial impends from whose Judgment the Judges cannot be exempted
Again the King hath a Negative upon all Bills whereby his own Prerogatives are guarded from Invasion But should he refuse the royal Assent to Bills tending to the general Good of the Subject the Commons can also withhold their Bills of Assessment or annex the rejected Bills to their Bill of Aids and they never failed to pass in such agreeable Company
Lastly To the King is committed the Right of calling the two Estates to Parliament But should he refuse so to call them such a Refusal would be deemed
an Abdication of the Constitution
and no One need to be told at this Day that
an Abdication of the Constitution
is AN ABDICATION OF THE THRONE
Thus while the King acts in Consent with the Parliament and his People he is limitless irresistable omnipotent upon Earth He is the free Wielder of all the Powers of a free and noble People a King throned over all the Kings of the Children of Men But should he attempt to break Bounds should he cast for Independence He finds himself hedged in and straitened on every Side He finds himself abandoned by all his Powers and justly left to a State of utter Impotence and Inaction
Hence is imputed to the sovereign Head in the Constitution of
Great Britain
the high and divine Attribute THE KING CAN DO NO WRONG for he is so circumscribed from the Possibility of Transgression that
no Wrong can be permitted to any King in the Constitution
While the King is thus controuled by the Lords and the Commons while the Lords are thus controuled by the Commons and the King and while the Commons are thus controuled by the other two Estates from attempting any Thing to the Prejudice of the general Welfare the three Estates may be aptly compared to three Pillars divided below at equidistant Angles but united and supported at Top merely by the Bearing of each Pillar against the Others Take but any One of these Pillars away and the other Two must inevitably tumble But while All act on EachOther All are equally counteracted and thereby affirm and establish the general Frame
How deplorable then would it be should this elaborate Structure of our happy Constitution within the short Period of a thousand Years hence possibly in Half the time fall a Prey to Effeminacy Pusilanimity Venality and Seduction like some ancient Oak the Lord of the Forest to a Pack of vile Worms that lay gnawing at the Root or like
Egypt
be contemptibly destroyed
by Lice and Locusts
Should the Morals of our Constituents ever come to be debauched
Consent
which is
the Salt of Liberty
would then be corrupted and no Salt might be found wherewith it could be seasoned Those who are inwardly the Servants of
Sin
must be outwardly the Servants of
Influence
Each Man would then be as the
Trojan Horse
of old and carry the Enemies of his Country within his Bosom Our own Appetites would then induce us to betray our own Interests and State Policy would seize us by the Hand of our Lusts and lead us a
Willing Sacrifice to our own Perdition
Should it ever come to pass that Corruption like a dark and low hung Mist should spread from Man to Man and cover these Lands Should a general Dissolution of Manners prevail Should Vice be countenanced and communicated by the Leaders of Fashion Should it come to be propagated by Ministers among Legislators and by the Legislators among their Constituents Should Guilt lift up its Head without fear of Reproach and avow itself in the Face of the Sun and laugh Virtue out of Countenance by Force of Numbers Should public Duty turn public Strumpet Should Shops come to be advertized where Men may dispose of their Honor and Honesty at so much per Ell Should public Markets be opened for the purchase of Consciences with an
O yes
We bid most to Those who set themselves their Trusts and their Country to Sale If such a Day I say should ever arrive it will be Doomsday indeed to the Virtue the Liberty and Constitution of these Kingdoms It would be the same to
GreatBritain
as it would happen to the Universe should the Laws of Cohesion cease to operate and all the Parts be dissipated whose orderly Connection now forms the Beauty and
CommonWealth of Nature
Want of Sanity in the Materials can never be supplied by any Art in the Building A Constitution of
public Freemen
can never consist of
private Prostitutes
WITHIN little more than a Month
Harry
made himself perfect Master of the foregoing System and wrote Comments upon it much more voluminous than the Text
As he had lost his Friend
Ned
who was now under the Tutelage of his Uncle Mr
Catharines
little
Dicky Clement
became the principal Companion of his Hours of Amusement and
Dicky
with his good will would never be from his Heels
One Morning as they strolled up the Road some Distance from the Town
Harry
observed a Crowd gathering fast on the Way and hastened like Others to see what was the Matter
As soon as he arrived he perceived Mr
Gripe
the Constable at the Head of the Posse with his painted Staff of Authority exalted in his Hand Pray what are you about Mr Constable says
Harry
I am going Sir to seize a Robber who has taken Shelter in yonder waste Hovel And who did he rob He robbed Mr
Niggards
here that is to say his Boy here of a Sixpenny Loaf Perhaps the Man was hungry said
Harry
and had not wherewithal to buy One Pray tell me my Lad how the Affair was
Why Master you must know as how Mr
Niggards
my Master here sent me this Morning to the Town with a Shilling to buy two sixpenny Loaves So as I was coming back I met an able looking Man who made me afraid with his pale and eager Face My good Boy says he will you give me one of those Loaves in Charity I dare not Sir says I they are none of my Own Here says he I will give you my Hat for One of them but this I refused as his Hat to my thinking was not worth a Groat Nay says he I must have one of the Loaves thats certain for I have a Wife and seven Children all starving in yonder Hovel and while theres Bread in the World I cant but snatch a Morsel for them So as I told you I was frightened I gave him One of the Loaves without any more Words and away he run as fast as his Legs could carry him but I followed him with my Eye till I saw him safe lodged
Here
Harry
wiped his Eye and mused awhile Tell me truely now my good Boy continued he if both those Loaves had been your own would you willingly have given One of them to keep the poor Man and his Family from perishing
I would Sir said the Lad with a very good Will And had I six Pence of my own I would have gone back with all my Heart and have bought another Loaf But my Master is a hard Man and so I was forced to tell him the Truth
Here my Lad says
Harry
here is a Crown Go back buy two Loaves for your Master in Place of the One he has lost and keep the remaining four Shillings to yourself for your Trouble You see Mr Constable continued he you never can make any thing like Felony of this Matter The Boy confesses that he gave the Bread with a very good Will and that he would not have informed had it not been for fear of his Master
It is very true please your Honour replied Mr
Gripe
I myself do pity the poor Man from my Heart and will have nothing more to say in this Business
Stay awhile says
Harry
perhaps we may find some further Employment for you I think I should know the Face of yonder Man Is not that the
Niggards
whom you had in Custody the other Day and for whose Deliverance I paid five and twenty Pounds to his Creditor The very Man Sir says
Gripe
Harry
then put his Hand in his Pocket and taking out a small Scrap of Parchment exclaimed I am glad of what you tell me with all my Heart Indeed I did not like the Looks of the Man at the time and that made me accept an Assignment of this Action Here Mr
Gripe
take your Prisoner to fresh Custody in my Name Away with him to Gaol directly as the holy Gospel has it
He shall not depart thence till he has paid the uttermost Farthing
No no Mr
Niggards
I will not hear a Word Go and learn hence forward to be merciful yourself if you would look for any Mercy from God or Man
Dicky
my Dear go back again says
Harry
our Neighbour
Joseph
here will see you safe home I will not suffer any One to go in my Company for fear of putting the poor Man or his Family to shame
Harry
had not advanced fifty Paces toward the Hovel when his Ears were struck with the Sound of sudden and joint Lamentation and turning he perceived that the inquisitive Crowd had gathered at his Heels My Friends says he I entreat I beseech you to leave me for the present I would not choose any Witnesses to what I am about Pray oblige me so far as to depart on your own Occasions
Hereupon being loth to offend him they retired a few Steps and stood together aloof attentive to the Event of this uncommon Adventure
Mean while the Cry continued with a Bitterness that thrilled through every Nerve of our Hero and as he now approached the Place he did his utmost to restrain himself and quell the Feelings within him and he drew his Hat over his Eyes to prevent the Parties from seeing the Emotion that they caused
The Hovel was of Mud Walls without any Roofing but as there was an Opening where a Door had once been
Harry
stole to the Entrance casting an under Eye of Observation about him
Hereupon a Woman turned She had been fearfully peering over the Wall at the Crowd which had not yet dispersed but having Notice of
Harry
s Entrance she looked toward him and dropt on her Knees
O Sir she cried if you are the Gentleman who owned the Loaf for Christ his Sake I pray you to have Mercy upon us Money indeed we have not but we have these Shreds remaining and we will strip ourselves of our Covering to make you a Recompense Alas alas could we have guessed how my Husband came by it we would have famished a thousand Times rather than touch a Morsel But he dear good Man did it all for our Sakes for the Sake of the heavy Burden with which he is overladen Ah I would to Heaven we were all dead hanged or drowned out of his Way He might then walk the World at large and be happy as he deserves
Here again she set up her Wailing which was accompanied by her seven Children with such a woful Consort as the Heart of
Harry
could not sustain neither suffer him for a Season to interrupt or appease
At length he said with a faultering Voice pray be not alarmed Madam For I discern that you are a Gentlewoman though in a very unhappy Disguise The Affair of the Loaf is settled to your Satisfaction and here are ten Guineas it is all that I have about me and it is only to shew you for the present that you are not quite so friendless in the World as you thought Meantime I request that you will All come with me to
Hampstead
where we will try to do something better for you
Here the Woman looked with an earnest and eager Rapture at him May
Jesus Christ
she cried be your Portion my Angel and he is already your Portion he is seen in your Sweet Face and breaks out at your Eyes in Pity to poor Sinners
Harry
was now stepping forth and the Rest prepared to follow him when the poor Man who for Shame had not yet uttered a Syllable gently staid him at the Opening Turn generous Master said he pray turn and hear a small Apology for my Transgression I am a very unhappy Man I have seen better Times but I am driven by cruel Usage from House and Home and Maintenance I was going to
London
to apply to the Law for Relief when my youngest Child who was on the Breast fell desperately sick about four Days ago As we had no Money to hire Lodging and had begged the Means of Life for the two foregoing Days we were compelled to take up with this shelterless Hovel From hence I frequented the Road and for the three last Day begged as much as sustained us in coarse Bread and Water But this Morning my Boy died and his Brothers and I with our Sticks and our Hands dug his Grave that you see yonder and I placed that Flag over him to preserve his tender Limbs from the Pigs and the Hounds till it may please Heaven to allow me Means to bury him according to the holy Rites of our Church This melancholy Office Sir detained me so long and Exercise had made the Appetites of my Children so outrageous that I was in a manner compelled to do what I did As I had no Coffin nor winding Sheet I took the Waistcoat from my Body and wrapped it about my Babe and would willingly have wrapped him with my Flesh and my Bones that we might quietly have lain in one Grave together
Harry
answered not a Word but walking onward before his Company plentifully watered the Ground with his Tears as he passed While the poor Man took his youngest Son in his Arms and the Woman her youngest Daughter on her Back and thus with a leisurely Pace they all arrived at Mr
Fenton
s
The Door being opened
Harry
led his nine Guests to the back Parlour where he instantly ordered plenty of Bread and Butter and Milk for the Children with cold Meat Ale and Cakes for the Father and Mother and this was a Matter too customary in this House to be any Cause of Wonder to any Member of the Family
As soon as they were refreshed he took them all to his Wardrobe where he constrained the Parents to take of the very best Things for themselves and their Children and having so done he walked out and left them to dress
Mr
Fenton
was in his Study and had just finished a Letter as
Harry
entered with a smiling Countenance I have been very lucky this Morning Sir says he I think I have got the prettiest Family of Boys and Girls that is to be found within five Shires Do you know any thing about them
Harry
Nothing further as yet Sir than that they and their Parents are exceeding poor and have fallen as they say into great Misfortunes The Mother is a very handsome and genteel young Woman and the Father a portly and very comely Man save that he has a large purple Mark on the left Side of his Face A purple Mark cried Mr
Fenton
and started Go my Dear and bring that Man to me directly Why pray Sir do you know him No my Love I should not know him though he stood before me but I would give a thousand Pound that he may prove the Man I mean and that I shall discover on a short Examination
By this Time the Father of our new Family was dressed and
Harry
took him by the Hand bid him be of good Courage and led him in to his Uncle He bowed twice with an awful and timid Respect while Mr
Fenton
rose and looked earnestly at him I rejoice Sir says he to find that my Son here has been of some little Matter of use to you and your Family Pray take a Seat nearer to me Sir if you please He tells me you have met Misfortunes I also have had my Share I think myself nearly of Kin to the Unhappy and you will singularly oblige me by as much of your Story as you shall please to communicate I am interested in it
I have nothing to conceal from your Honour answered the Stranger And I shall willingly give you an open and faithful Narrative of my short but sad History
My Name is
Giffard Homely
My Father was a Farmer in easy Circumstances near
Stratford
He bound me Apprentice to a Tanner and when my Time was out gave a hundred and twenty Pieces to set me up in my Business But dying soon after he bequeathed the Bulk of his Substance to my elder Brother
Though my Brother was a Spendthrift I loved him dearly and when his Creditors fell upon him I became his Bail for two hundred Pounds Within a few Months after he suddenly disappeared and I never could learn further Tidings concerning him
A Writ was thereupon marked against me and put into the Hands of Bailiffs But Liberty was precious I left all my Substance to the Possession of my Pursuers and passing at a great Rate I escaped into
Lincolnshire
There I joined myself to
Anthony Granger
the Tanner Independent of his Trade he held a very beautiful and well parked Farm under Sir
Spranger Thornhill
the Lord of the Mannor And as I served him with great Zeal Affection and Application his Affairs prospered mainly under my Hands
He had an only Child a very lovely Girl of about ten Years of Age her Manners like her Countenance were extremely engaging and I took vast Delight at all leisure Hours in teaching her to read and write and in diverting her with a Variety of little Plays and Amusements
I had no Intention at that Time of gaining her young Heart but that happened to prove the miserable Consequence and a heavy Price it is that my poor dear Girl has since paied for her Affection
Year after Year she now grew in Stature but much more in Loveliness at least in my Eyes And yet I flattered myself that I affected her merely for her own sake I used to please myself with the Prospect of her being advanced to high Fortune and I thought that I would willingly have given her up at the Altar to some Lord of the Land
One Hollantide Eve a Parcel of young Folk of us were diverting ourselves about the Fire with several Pastimes and among the rest the Play was introduced of
I love my Love with an
A
because Shes amiable
and so on through the Alphabet
When it came to my
Peggy
s Turn she said I love my Love with an H because hes very
honest
and I never will hate him for his being
Homely
And this might have passed without any Observation had she not cast a Glance at me and blushed exceedingly which threw me also into equal Confusion
As this was the first Discovery that I made of her Affection it also served to open my Eyes to the Strength of my own Passion and this cost me many a sleepless Night and aching Heart I did not look upon myself as a sufficient Match for her I reflected that it would be very ungenerous to lessen the Fortune or Happiness of the Girl that I loved and I resolved a hundred times to quit the Country that my Absence might cure both her and myself of our foolish Fondness for EachOther But though this was what my Reason still prompted and approved my Heart still held me back as it were for a while longer when I was on the Brink of Departure
Peggy
was just arrived to her fifteenth Year on the 24th of
April
and was elected by the Neighbours to be Queen of the following
May
and to deliver the Prizes to the Victors at the Wake
I had made a Vow within myself to forsake her and the Country the very Day after her Regency But in the mean while I could not resist the Temptation of shewing my Address before the Queen of my Wishes
Accordingly on the Day I entered the Lists among the other young Candidates But I will not burden your Honour with a particular Detail of our insignificant Contests You have unquestionably been Witness to the like on several Occasions
It will be sufficient to inform You that as I had the Fortune to get the better at the Race and at Wrestling when I successively went to receive the respective Prizes my
Peggy
s Eyes danced and her Feet went pitapat with Joy as I approached her
Cudgels came next in play and a little Stage of Boards was erected for the Purpose that the Spectators might see with the better Advantage I had long learned this Art from a famous Master in
Stratford
and as I was confident of my Superiority I hurt my Rivals as little as possible; only just sufficient to make them acknowledge that they were foiled
At length one
Hector Pluck
a Butcher mounted the Stage He had it seems been quite an Adept at this Sport and for ten foregoing Years had carried off the Prize from several neighbouring Shires but he was now come to settle near
Lincoln
and was to have been married the following Day to a Farmers Daughter who was One of the fair Spectators at the Wake
The Moment he assailed me I perceived that his Passions were up and that his Eye was a plain Interpreter of the Deadliness of his Heart He fought cautiously however and kept on a watchful Reserve and we had long attacked and defended without any Advantage on either Part when with a Motion and Fury quick as Lightning he made a side Stroke at me and aimed to cut me across the Face with the Point of his Stick This was a Blow which I had not Time to intercept or even to see The Villain however happily missed of his Intention for his Cudgel being something advanced only bruised my right Cheek when instantly I gave him an exasperated Stroke on the Head and cutting him to the Skull laid him sprawling on the Stage whereat All who knew me gave a great Shout
After some Time he rose and advancing a little toward me he stretched out his left Hand as if in Token of Reconciliation while pulling out his Butchers Knife from a Sheath in his Sidepocket he with his right Hand made a Stab at my Heart and suddenly leaping off the Stage attempted to escape
Immediately the Blood poured from me in a Stream and ran along the Boards I found myself growing weak and sitting down on the Stage I had the Presence of Mind to rip open my Bosom and taking out my Handkerchief I held it to the Wound
In the mean time the whole Concourse was in an uproar The Cry went about that
Giffard Homely
was murdered
Giffard Homely
was killed My poor dear
Peggy
fell senseless from her Throne and was carried home in the Fit Several Horsemen hasted away of their own accord for a Surgeon And the Butcher was pursued knocked down hard pinioned and conveyed with following Curses to the Gaol of
Lincoln
Among Others who came to condole with me little Master
Billy Thornhill
our Landlords Son and Heir came running and desired to be lifted up on the Stage
As soon as he saw the Blood and how weak and pale I looked he broke out into a passionate Fit of Tears O
Giffard
my
Giffard
my poor
Giffard
be cried I fear you are a dead Man You will no more be my Holiday Companion
Giffard
Never more will you go a Birding with me or set Gins for the Rabbits or catch little Fishes for me or carry me on your Back through the Water or in your Arms over the Mire Alack alack what shall I do if I lose you my poor
Giffard
The Surgeon came at full Gallop As soon as he had seen the Greatness of the Gash say your last Prayer my Friend he cried in a very few Minutes you must be a dead Man But when he had probed the Wound his Face turned to Cheerfulness A most wonderful Escape he cried the Weapon has missed your Vitals and only glanced along the Rib Be of good Courage I engage in a few Weeks to set you once more upon your Legs
Mean time my loving Neighbours made a Litter and Bed for me of the Tents and TentPoles All striving who should carry me and All escorting me home
The good Mr
Granger
had been that Day confined by a Sprain in his Ancle and now sat weeping by his Child who fell out of one fainting Fit into Another till she was told that I was brought home and that the Doctor had pronounced me out of Danger
As soon as I was put to Bed and my kind Attendants withdrawn Mr
Granger
on a Crutch came limping and sat down by me He had endeavoured to restrain his Tears before the Crowd but as soon as he was seated they broke out anew
O
Giffard Giffard
he cried my dear
Peggy
is very ill and You are very ill and to lose you both at once would be hard upon me indeed
Notwithstanding a short Fever the Doctor happened to keep his Promise with the assistance of Youth and a good Habit and I began to gather Strength and recover apace
As soon as I was up and about I observed that Miss
Peggy
seemed no longer desirous of restraining her kind Looks or her kind Offices and this gave me some Concern till I also observed that her Father took no Unbrage or no Notice of it
One Evening as we sat over a Tankard of October
Giffard
says he bluntly what would you think of my
Peggy
for a Wife Nothing at all Sir says I I would not marry your Daughter if she would have me tomorrow Pray why so
Giffard Peggy
is very pretty and deserving as I think of as good a Man as you Her Deservings Sir said I are my very Objection I scarce know a Man in the Land who is deserving of her If that is the Case
Giffard
her Hand is at your Service with all my Heart O Sir I replied I have no suitable Fortune but I know you are pleased to banter I am no Match for her You are an industrious and a making young Man said he and such a One is richer in my Eye than a Spender with Thousands Beside you are loving and goodnatured my Son and I shall not lose my Child by you but gain another Child in you as dear to me as herself
Here I was so transported so overpowered by the Kindness of the dear good Man that I could not get out a Syllable but sinking before him I eagerly grasped his Legs and then his Knees and rising went out to vent my Passion
In about a Month after Sir
Spranger Thornhill
and my young Friend Master
William
honoured our Nuptials with their Presence and all our kind Neighbours came crowding to the Solemnity and by their Joy appeared to be Parties in our Union
For eight following Years never was known a happier Family But about that time Sir
Spranger Thornhill
sickened and died and was attended to the dark Mansion of the Bodies of his Ancestors by the greatest Concourse of true Mourners that ever was seen in the Shire All lamenting that Goodness was not exempted from Mortality
Our dear Father could never be said to hold up his Head from that Day He silently pined after his old Friend and Patron Sir
Spranger
and all our Cares and Caresses were not able to withhold him from following the same appointed Track
Never sure was Grief like mine and my
Peggy
s In looking at each Other we saw the Loss that we had sustained and while we lay Arm in Arm often often have we watered the good Mans Memory with our Tears
Time however who has many severe Sorrows in Prospect helps to soften and lessen those that he brings in his Train An encreasing Family of Children sweetly tempered like their Mother called for all my Concern and our young Landlord Sir
William
whenever he came from College used to make our House his Home and take me with him wherever he went till Lord
Lechmore
his Guardian took him from the University and sent him abroad with a Tutor and Servants on his Travels
As I had made considerable Savings and now looked to have a Number of Children to provide for I resolved to realize all that I could for the poor Things So I built a MaltHouse and Windmill and planted a large Orchard with other profitable Improvements that cost me to the Amount of about eight hundred Pounds
While these Things were in Agitation Sir
Freestone Hardgrave
one of the Knights for our Shire came into that Part of the Country He had lately purchased a fine Estate adjoining to the Westside of my Concern and was a Man of vast Opulence but a Stranger among us at that time
Though Sir
Freestone
was an old Bachelor and had one of the most remorseless Hearts that ever informed the Shape of Man he had yet a pleasing Aspect and insinuating Address and always applied those Qualities to the Purpose of Betraying Alas I was informed but too late of his Character that his Avarice outgrew even the Growth of his Wealth and that his Desires increased in exact Proportion as Age happened to deduct from his Ability to gratify them
Unhappily he cast a greedy Eye at my little Farm Like another lordly
Ahab
he coveted the Vineyard of poor
Naboth
and at length compassed his Ends by Means equally iniquitous
When he proposed to give me more than Value for it I answered that I myself had taken a Fancy to it for the sake of the dear Man who had given it to me in Trust for his Child and her Posterity and that I would not part with it for twenty Times an Equivalent With this however he did not appear in the least disconcerted but said that he esteemed and affected me the more for my Gratitude to the Memory of my old Benefactor
I was afterwards told and learned by dear Experience that he never pardoned an Offence nor even a Disappointment but nothing of this Disposition appeared for the present He visited made it his Business to meet me in several Places sought and seemed quite desirous of cultivating an Acquaintance with me did me many little friendly Offices among my richer Neighbours condescended to toy with my Little Ones appeared to take a huge Liking to my two eldest Boys stood Godfather to my little Girl that is now in her Mothers Arms said he wondered how I contrived it to maintain so numerous a Family upon such slender Means and promised to procure me a beneficial Post in the Collection of the Customs
After a Course of such specious Kindnesses and while my Heart glowed with Gratitude in the Recollection of his Favours both past and proposed he came to my House in a mighty Hurry My dear
Homely
says he I have just struck up a most advantageous Bargain with our Neighbour Squire
Spendal
But he wants the Money immediately I have not the Whole about me and yet if I dont pay him down directly some cursed Disappointment may intervene Do run and bring me all that you have quickly I will repay you within two or three Days at furthest
Here I hasted with Joy to the Corner where I had deposited my Cash as well for Payment of Rent as another little Matter that I had in my Eye and bringing out a leathern Bag I laid it on the Table There Sir said I are two hundred and thirty Guineas take but the Trouble to count them out and give me a short Acknowledgment No said he my dear
Homely
never heed it for the present I will be back with you the Moment I have paid the Purchase and so saying he caught up the Bag and huddled away as fast as his old Legs could scamper while I sat still through Astonishment my Heart misgiving me at the Time as if it foreboded the Mischiefs that were to follow
I waited with great Anxiety for his Return till Evening when hastening to his Lodge I was there informed that he had set out for
London
five Hours before This threw me into a Pannick though not altogether without a Mixture of Hope and so I waited till the three Days of his Promise should expire Mr
Snack
then came to me and demanded the Rent He was a
Lincoln
Attorney whom Lord
Lechmore
had lately preferred to the Care of my Landlords Concerns upon the Death of Mr
Kindly
the good old Agent I told him ingenuously how Matters had happened and said I would hurry to
London
and bring back the Money directly
Accordingly I posted away and rested not till I arrived at the great City There for seven Days successively I besieged the Doors of Sir
Freestone
hourly knocking and requesting to be admitted to his Presence But he was either not up or just gone out or had Company with him or was just then very busy and not to be spoken to and so forth
At length when he found that I would not quit his House without an Answer he ordered me before him His Chariot waited at the Gate and he stood dressed in the Hall As I approached and bowed with the Respect and mortified Air of a Petitioner he put on a Look of the most strange and audacious Effrontery I ever beheld Who are you Friend said he and what may your Business be with me I am come an it please your Honour humbly to tell you that I am called upon for my Rent and to beseech your Honour to restore me the two hundred and thirty Pieces you had from me the other Day Here says he to his Servants this must be some Desperado who is come to rob me in broad Day and in the Middle of my own People the Fellow says I owe him Money I know not that I ever saw his Face before I desire that you will not suffer such a dangerous Villain to enter my Doors any more And so saying out he stepped and away he drove
O Sir how I was struck to the Heart at that Instant I snaked out scarce half alive not remembering where I was or whither I was to go Alas I was far from making the Speed back again that I had done in going I knew not how to shew my Face to my
Peggy
or her dear Little Ones whom I had plundered and stripped of their Substance by stupidly surrendering it without Witnesses or a single Line whereby I might reclaim it At length I got Home if Home it might be called that had then Nothing in it or at least Nothing for me
Mr
Snack
had taken the Advantage of my Absence to possess himself of my Farm and of All that I was worth Under colour of distraining for Rent he had seized every thing even the Beds whereon my Wife and Children lay with all their wearing Apparel save what they had on their Backs The Bill of Appraisement which I have here comes to upward of six hundred Pounds But when the Cattle and other Effects were set up to Sale the Auctionier and Bidders proved of Mr
Snack
s providing All were intimidated from offering any thing, save Those who offered in Trust for this Charitable Agent And the Whole of my Substance went off within the Value of one Years Rent being one hundred and eighty five Pounds
Never exclaimed Mr
Fenton
never did I hear of so barefaced and daring a Violation of all Laws divine and human and that too under Sanction of the most perfect System of Law that ever was framed But what will not Power effect when unrestrained of Conscience when prompted by Avarice and abetted by Cunning And is there no Remedy Sir cried out our Hero None that I know of my
Harry
save where Power opposes Power in Favour of Weakness or Wealth opposes Wealth in Favour of Poverty But we will see what may be done Mean while let Mr
Homely
proceed in his Narrative
When my Family continued
Homely
were thus turned out of Doors An old Follower made way for them in his own Cottage and retired with his Wife and Daughter to a Cowhouse hard by Mean while my loving Neighbours supplied them with sufficient Bedding and daily kept them in Victuals even more than they could eat
While I went slowly to see them stopping and turning every Minute toward our old Habitation all the Horrors of our Situation flew upbraidingly in my Face And I accused myself as the Robber and Murderer of eight Persons for any One of whom I would have spent my Life
When I stooped to enter their lowly Roof all trembling and sick at Heart I expected to meet nothing but Faces of Aversion and Expressions of Reproach But when they all set up a Shout of Joy at my Appearance when they All crowded clasping and clinging about me the Violence and Distraction of my inward Emotion deprived me of Sensation and I swooned away
When I revived I cast a Look about me and perceived that their Grief had been as extreme as their Joy was at my Arrival Ah my
Peggy
I cried how have I undone You By you I got all my Possessions and in Return I have deprived You of All that you possessed You were every Blessing to me and I have repaid you with nothing but Misery and Ruin
Dont be concerned My Love says she neither repine at the Consequences of your own Goodness and Honesty You are not as God to see into all Hearts the Wisest may be deceived and the Best as I believe are the most subject to be imposed upon Common Charity must have supposed that there could not be such a Soul as Sir
Freestone
upon Earth But be of good Courage my Husband I have good News for you I dreamed that our dear Father appeared to me last Night Dont be disheartened my Child says he bear the Cross that is laid upon You with a cheerful and free Will and All shall be restored to You seven fold upon Earth and seventy seven fold in the Life that has no ending
When I found that my
Peggy
instead of Distaste and Upbraiding had nothing but Love in her Looks and Consolation in her Expressions I folded her to my Bosom and to my Soul that went to meet her and I would willingly have made her One with my own Being
My Neighbours were not as Birds of the Season They neither despised nor forsook me because of my Poverty They came crowding to condole with me They advised me to apply to the Law against Sir
Freestone
and Attorney
Snack
and they offered to contribute towards my Journey They also joined in this written Testimony of my Character and prosperous Circumstances before
Snack
made his Seizure And Two of them have witnessed in this bit of Paper that when the Alarm came of Mr
Kindly
s Death and of a strange Agents being put in his room they heard my say that I did not matter the worst he could do and saw me count down twenty Pieces over and above my Years Rent
The late Frights and Fatigues which
Peggy
underwent during
Snack
s Operations together with her Extremes of Joy on my Return and of Grief at the Fit into which I had fallen hastened on her Labour and She was delivered before her Time of that weakly little Babe whom I buried this Morning
Within six Weeks after her ChildBirth we prepared for our Journey Our Neighbours like the good
Samaritan
had Compassion upon him who fell among the Thieves They made me up a Purse of thirty and five Pounds and promised to contribute further toward the carrying on of my Suit
We travelled happily by easy Journeys of a few Miles a Day till nine Days ago we reached a small Village the other Side of
St Albans
There we took up our Rest for the Night at a House that had no Sign but set occasional Lodgings and sold Bread and small Drink
As I desired a separate Apartment for ourselves we were put into a kind of waste Room that had no Fastening to the Door except a Latch After a slender Supper we lay down on our Floor Beds and I stuffed my Breeches close under my Head with all possible Caution We had made an extraordinary Journey that Day and I was particularly fatigued by carrying several of my tired Children successively in my Arms so that we All slept but too soundly and when I awoke in the Morning neither Money nor Breeches were to be found
Such a Loss at another time would have been as nothing to me But in our present Circumstances it was a Repetition and Doubling of All that we had lost before I instantly summoned the People of the House and in a good deal of Warmth charged our Landlord with the Felony telling him that I had been robbed of above three and thirty Pounds Why Master says he I know of nothing to the contrary but it would be very hard indeed if I was to be answerable for the Honesty of every One who goes this Road If you had given your Money in charge to me I would have been accountable for it I believe by the Grief You are in that You must have been Losers I will therefore forgive you your Reckoning and give you a Pair of Breeches of my own into the Bargain but this is all I will do till the Law forces me
As there was no Remedy at least for the present I accepted his Overture and set out But O Sir it is impossible to describe the Horrors of my Soul as I silently stepped along casting an Eye of mingled Pity and Despair upon my Children I cursed in secret my own Existence, and wished for some sudden Thunderbolt to crush me into Nothing All Trust in God or his Providence had now wholly forsaken me and I looked upon him as neglecting all other Objects of his Wrath and exerting his Omnipotence against me and Mine alone
Peggy
as I suppose perceived how it was with me and kept behind awhile that she might give way to the present Tumult and Distemper of my Mind At length hoping to administer some Matter of Comfort to me she came up and silently put a few Shillings into my Hand saying Courage my dear Husband All cannot be lost while we have a God who is infinitely rich to depend upon Ay said I these are the Fruits of your Dreams these are Your promised Blessings that Heaven had in Store for us And still has in Store she replied the same Hand that holds the Rod holds the comforting Staff also Tell me not of Comfort I cried I see that the Face of God is set in Blackness and Blasting against me But for me it matters not had he not taken me at an Advantage He sees that I have eight Lives All dearer than my Own and he is determined to kill me in every One of them
Do not cast from you my Love she said the only Crutch that the World and the Wretched have to rest upon God is pleased perhaps to take all human Means from us that he may shew forth the Wonders of his Power in our Relief While any other Hope is left we are apt to trust to that Hope and we look not toward the secret Hand by which we are fed and supported but when All is lost All gone when no other Stay is left should sudden Mercy come upon us our Comforter then becomes visible He stands revealed in his Greatness and Glory before us and we are compelled to cry out with
unbelieving Thomas
My Lord and my God
Though these pious Expostulations of my dearly beloved Preacher had little Influence at the time for appeasing my own Passions I was yet pleased that my
Peggy
had her secret Consolations but little imagined that her Prophecy approached so near to its Completion
For two Days we held on living on such Bread and Milk as we could purchase at the Cabbins that had the Charity to receive us But my Boy who was on the Breast grew exceeding sick so we were obliged to shorten our Journeys for the two succeeding Days partly begging and partly paying for such Victuals as we could procure Toward Evening we came within Sight of this Town Our little Money was quite exhausted and our Child grown too ill to bear further Travel So I looked about and perceived some roofless Walls that stood off from the Highway and thither we turned and took up our bleak Abode
For the three following Days I frequented the Road and by begging procured what scantily kept my Family from perishing Mean time my Spirit was tamed and subdued by the Habit of Mortification and I looked up to Heaven and cried Pardon Pardon O my God the Offences and Blasphemies of my Murmurings against You You formerly blessed me with an over Abundance of Blessings and that too for a long Season and as
Job
justly says shall we receive Good at the Hand of God and not receive Evil O Friend and Saviour of Sinners if thou lovest whom thou chastenest and receivest Those whom thou dost scourge when Death shall have put a Period to the Sufferings of Mortality may I not humbly look to find Grace at the Footstool of the Throne of thy MercySeat
At length our Child died this Morning and we buried him in our Hovel and watered his Grave with the Tears that we shed for him and for EachOther The rest Sir you know till this Angel of God was sent to accomplish the Prediction of my
Peggy
in all its Fulness
Here
Homely
concluded and after a Pause and a deep Sigh Mr
Fenton
demanded Have you told me the Whole of your History Mr
Homely
I have so please your Honour through every Particular of any Signification I am sorry for it Pray think again Did you never meet with any Adventure that is yet unrecited did you never save any Person at your own Peril No Sir O now I recollect
Some two or three and twenty Years ago as I fled from the Bailiffs who pursued me as I told you for the Bail of my Brother I came to the River
Avon
The Flood was great and rapid after the late Rains and I thought of looking for a Place of smoother Water for my Passage when a Gentleman and Lady attended by a Train of Servants came riding along the Banks As they rode chatting and laughing a Fowler who was concealed in a Copse just at Hand let fly at a Bird whereupon the fiery Horse that the Gentleman was on took Fright and with a Bound suddenly plunged into the Current whereat the Lady gave a loud Shriek and fell senseless to the Ground The Horse rose without his Rider and swam down the Stream Soon after the Rider appeared and the Attendants were divided between their Care of the Lady and their Lamentations for their Master on the Edge of the Bank Then seeing no other Help my Heart smote me and I cast myself in without Reflection I kept aloof however for fear he should grapple at me and sink us both together So I supported and shoved him before me toward Land till having reached the Bank I laid hold on it with one Hand and with the other raised him up within the Reach of his Servants who had stretched themselves flat upon the Brink to receive him Then being already drenched and having nothing further to do I turned and swam over and so made my Escape
Did you ask the Name of the Party whom you saved in the Manner you say No truly Sir there was no Leisure for such an Enquiry Why did you not wait for the Recompense that was so justly your Due for so great a Deliverance Recompense please your Honour I could have done no less for the Beggar who begs at the Corner
Noble noble Fellow exclaimed Mr
Fenton
I am he I am he whom you saved that Day my Brother And so saying he arose and caught
Homely
in his Arms and pressed and pressed him over again to his Bosom While
Harry
all impatient seized hold of
Homely
also and struggled hard to get him to himself from his Father
When they were something composed and All again seated Ah
Homely
says Mr
Fenton
I have sent and made many Enquiries after You but not for many Years after the Day in which you saved me I hated I loathed you for having prolonged my Life to such a Misery as no other Man ever endured O h that Lady that Lady But no Matter for the present and so saying he wiped the swelling Tear from his Eye Tell me
Homely
That Devil Sir
Freestone
I am not of a malicious Temper and yet I wish for nothing more than full Vengeance on his Head Dont you believe that he went to You with a felonious Intention of defrauding you of your Property Believe it Sir I can swear it The Circumstances and their Consequences are full Evidence thereof
Very well said Mr
Fenton
though we may not be able to carry a civil Action against him we may assail him with better Advantage in a criminal Way I will draw up and take your Deposition myself and tomorrow I will send you with a Note to Lord
Portland
where more may be done for you my
Homely
than you think
In the mean time You and your Family shall take up your Abode in the back Part of my House and from thence You shall not depart till as your
Peggy
s Dream has it all your Losses shall be restored to You sevenfold upon Earth what your Portion may be in Heaven must be your own Care and may the Spirit of Grace guide You in the Way you should go
Early the next Morning Mr
Fenton
sent
Homely
to
London
with his Deposition and several Papers accompanied by a Letter from himself to Lord
Portland
In the Evening
Homely
returned and entering with a Face of Triumph he seized Mr
Fenton
s Hand and eagerly kissing it Blessed blessed be the Hand he cried that hath the Power of God among Men for good Works When I sent in your Honours Letter I was not detained a Moment His Lordship made me sit down perused my Papers with Attention questioned me on the Particulars grew enflamed against Sir
Freestone
and gave him two or three hearty Curses for an execrable Villain He then called a Gentleman to him who was in waiting and ordered an Attachment to be instantly issued against the Knight It was accordingly executed upon him and he now lies in Newgate God be praised said Mr
Fenton
so far there is Equity still extant upon Earth
It is not unnatural to suppose that Mr
Fenton
s Family were immoderately fond of Those whose Father had saved the Life of their most dear Master Mr
Clement
in particular took Pains and Pleasure in forwarding the Boys in their Letters and Mrs
Clement
passed most of her Time very happily with
Peggy
and her little Girls
Frank
the Butler had been abroad upon an Expedition at the time that Mr
Homely
s Family arrived and did not return till
Homely
had come back from Lord
Portland
s He was then informed with Joy of the Guests they had got and he waited with Impatience till the Man he longed to see should come out from his Master As soon as he appeared he catched one of his Hands in both of his and looking lovingly at him cried Do I once more behold that happy Face Mr
Homely
I was the Man to whose Hands you delivered my precious Lord from the devouring of the Floods Gladly Heaven knows would I have sacrificed my own Life for the Salvation of his But alas I had no Skill in contending with the Waters and the sure Loss of my own Life would not have given the smallest Chance for the Recovery of my Master You are the Person Mr
Homely
to whom God committed that blessed Task and Trust And Mr
James
and I and all of us have agreed to make up a hundred Pound apiece for your Children in Acknowledgment of the Benefit you did us on that Day
Here
Homely
took
Frank
very affectionately into his Arms and with a faultering Voice said Your Offer Sir is dear very dear indeed unto me as it is a Proof of that Love which you All so warmly bear to our common Lord and Master If there is any Occasion I will not refuse this extraordinary Instance of your Benevolence but our Masters Influence and Bounty are doing much in my Behalf And in the mean time I will take it as a very particular Favour if you will be pleased to introduce me to my FellowServants of this House
Within the following Fortnight a Servant came on a foaming Horse and in a golden Livery delivered a Letter at the Door and rode away directly
The Letter ran thus
To HENRY FENTON
Esq
Dear Sir
THE Trial of our
recreant Knight
is at Hand and if you insist upon it shall be prosecuted to the utmost Extent of our Laws The Wretch indeed deserves to be gibbetted But he has Relations of Worth and Consideration among us They have besought me to shield them from Shame on this Occasion and I join them in requesting you to accept the enclosed Order for three thousand Pounds in favour of your Client together with his Farm and Effects which Attorney
Snack
shall immediately restore
Let me have your Answer within three Days and believe me
Your true as well as obliged Servant PORTLAND
The Day following Mr
Fenton
sent
Harry
in his Chariot attended by Mr
James
and two Servants in Livery to return his Acknowledgments to the Favourite of the King
Lord
Portland
received our Hero with Pleasure and Surprise equally evident in his Countenance As he unknowingly piqued himself on being One of the finest Personages in the Nation he secretly respected his own Resemblance in Another
After a few mutual Compliments and some occasional Discourse the Earl told
Harry
that he must take a private Dinner with him We are quite alone says he only two Viscounts a Baronet and four or five Gentlemen of the Ministerial Quill Pray my Lord said
Harry
smiling is a Dinner the whole of their Pension Not so Sir I confess they are the
Swiss
of the lettered World and fight for Pay They were formerly of the opposite Junto but they have changed their Opinions along with their Party and our Honour obliges us to give them at least as much in the Cause of the Crown as they formerly got in the Cause of the Populace I doubt my Lord returned
Harry
that their Silence would answer your Ends full as well as their Oratory unless your Treasury could hold out in bribing People to read also Very pleasantly severe indeed replied the laughing Earl But come the Bell calls us to our Bit
When Dinner was over and Cheer circulating with the Bottle I would give a good deal to know Master
Fenton
said the Earl what you and your Father think of his Majesty and his Ministers Should I speak my downright Sentiments my Lord answered
Harry
in some Things I might offend and in Others appear to flatter O you cannot offend in the least cried the Earl we are daily accustomed to be told of all the Faults whereof we are or may be or might have been guilty and as to Flattery you know it is the Food of us Courtiers Why my Lord you want no Champion for the present said
Harry
You are All as I perceive on one Side of the Question and if some One does not appear however impotent to oppose You the Shuttlecock of Conversation may fall to the Ground Right very right my sweet Fellow rejoined his Lordship proceed you shall have nothing but fair Play I promise you
To be serious then said
Harry
my Father thinks in the first Place for I have no Manner of Skill in such Matters he thinks I say that his Majesty is one of the greatest Warriors and One of the wisest Statesmen that ever existed He thinks however that he has Attachments and Views that look something further than the mere Interests of the People by whom he has been elected but he says that those Views ought in a Measure to be indulged in return of the very great Benefits that he has done us He is, therefore, grieved to find that his Majesty has met with so much Reluctance and Coldness from a Nation so obliged
You are a Darling of a Politician exclaimed the Earl but we will not thank you for your Compliments till we know what you have further to object against us
My Father admits my Lord that his Majesty and his Ministers have reestablished and exhibited in fair and open Light the most glorious Constitution that ever was constructed But then he apprehends that You are beginning to sap the Foundations of the Pile that You yourselves erected
As how my dear young
Mentor
By being over bounteous in paying former Friends and by being still more profuse in procuring new Adherents Child of Honour cried the Earl Another less elegant than yourself would have said that we are sapping the Constitution by
Bribery
and
Corruption
You have indeed my
Harry
delicately tempered your Admonitions even like the Cup of Life the Sweets with the Bitters But what say You Gentlemen shall a Babe lately from the Breast bear away the whole Palm from People grown grey in Politicks
The young Gentleman says Mr
Veer
the Principal of the CourtWriters talks wonderfully for One not versed in the Subject of which he treats The People of
England
are stupidly proud and licentiously ungovernable they are the most ignorant and yet most obstinate of any People upon Earth it is only by their being selfish that they become in any Degree manageable if their Voices were not bought they would either give them to Persons of their own stupid Cast unknowing in our Laws or our Constitution or to Men of an antimonarchal and republican Spirit who would be perpetually putting Rubs before the Wheels of good Government
I never knew till now Sir returned
Harry
that in order to make People true to their Country and their King that is in order to make Men honest it was necessary to corrupt them But I have still good Hopes that the Picture which you have drawn of our Governors is not altogether a just One
Governors cries
Veer
I spoke not a Word of Governors You spoke of the People Sir says
Harry
and they as I take it are our Governors The People our Governors this is the most wonderful and the newest Doctrine that ever I heard A Doctrine even as old as the Constitution rejoins
Harry
They are not only our Governors but more absolutely so than Any so stiled His Lordship is the only Man in Company whose Person in some Instances is exempt from their Jurisdiction but his Property remains still subjected to their Decision
No Law can be made in
Britain
but by the People in their Proxies And when those Laws are made the People are again constituted the Judges thereof on their
JuryTribunals
throughout their respective Shires as also Judges of Facts and Rights whether civil or criminal throughout the Realm
Thus their Privilege of making Laws for themselves in PARLIAMENT and of judging of the said Laws when made on JURIES composes as it were a Rudder whereby the People are admitted gloriously to steer the Vessel of their own CommonWealth
Would it not be a Pity then that so great a People should be no Other than Such as Mr
Veer
has described them a Parcel of ignorant licentious selfish base venal Prostitutes unenlightened by Reason and uninfluenced by Conscience
If they should be reduced if it is possible I say that they should ever be reduced to so very vile and deplorable a State it can only be by the very Measures that Mr
Veer
has recommended The Character as ye know of a certain old Tempter is not over amiable and I should be sorry that Any whom I love and respect should follow in his Steps
And now Gentlemen take the Argument home to yourselves The People have the Disposal of our Lives Liberties and Properties. Which of You then would like to have Life itself and all that is valuable in it at the Arbitration of a Pack of Wretches who being wholly selfish can have no kindred Feelings or Compassion for You Who being themselves devoid of Honour and Equity cannot judge according to the One or the Other who being already accustomed to Influence and Prostitution have their Ears and Hands open to All who would whisper or bribe them to your Prejudice
I as a Fool Gentlemen utter the Dictates of Wisdom for I speak the Sentiments of a much wiser and much better Man than myself Should a general Corruption take Place in the Land adieu to all Virtue adieu to Humanity and all social Connections all Reason and Law all Conscience and Magistracy all public and private Weal must vanish or be confounded in one Chaos together And from hence it is selfevident that He who debauches the Morals of the Least of his Majestys Subjects is an Enemy to his King to his Country and Mankind
I protest said his Lordship with some little Confusion I never beheld this Matter in the same Light before but I shall take Care to inspect and examine it at better Leisure
Here the Company rose to separate when
Harry
stepping toward
Veer
with an affectionate Pleasantry in his Countenance Mr
Veer
says he I fear I have misbehaved a little to Day I am naturally warm and am apt to be too much so on particular Subjects O Sir says
Veer
I am an old Prizefighter and accustomed to Cuts but I now know my Man and shall hereafter avoid engaging or keep barely on the Defensive do me the Honour however as old Combatants were wont to shake Hands at parting in Token of Hearts free from Malice In the Contest of Love Mr
Veer
you never shall foil me cried
Harry
Now my Lord if you have any Commands for my Father pray let me have the Pleasure of being your Messenger Upon my Honour my dear Boy and that is the Oath of a Lord you shall not part me for this Night at least My Father Sir will be uneasy I will dispatch One to him directly I have particular Designs upon you you must with me to the Levee I cannot refuse myself the Pleasure of introducing you to his Majesty I expect to get Credit by you I rather fear my Lord that I may do you some Disgrace
O cried the Earl you think you are not fine enough Why truly you will see Folk there of much more lustrous Attire But let Others disgrace their Ornaments be you humbly content my Child with adorning your Dress
Harry
blushed and bowed
When they arrived at Court the Earl left his young Friend awhile in the LeveeRoom and went to impart some Matters to the King in his Closet
While our Hero stood in the Crowd some One came and with Birdlime stuck a Paper to his Back whereon was written in capital Letters THE FOOL
However it did not remain long enough to do him much Disgrace A young Gentleman of a graceful Figure and very amiable Aspect pressed close behind
Harry
and gently stole the Writing away then taking him by the Hand requested to speak with him apart
I wonder Sir said the Stranger who it was that could be so malicious or so base as to fasten this Title on your Back I am certain he must never have seen your Face O Sir said
Harry
blushing and smiling together this must have been the Office of some old Acquaintance it is the Title to which I have been accustomed from my Infancy and I am well contented to carry it with me to the Grave I am much affected Sir however by this uncommon Instance of your Humanity to an Unknown pray add to the Obligation by letting me know to whom it is that I am so endearingly bound
My Name Sir is
William Thornhill
I am just arrived from my Travels and I would willingly go my long Journey over again to become just such another Fool as you are
Harry
seized him by the Hand and gave him at once the Squeeze and the Look of Love Sir
William Thornhill
I presume The Same my dear Sir I have been enamoured of your Character before I saw You Sir
William
My Name is
Harry Fenton
I live on
Hamstead Hill
I see that your Pleasure lies in communicating Pleasure I am therefore persuaded you will indulge me with a Call at some leisure Hour I will not defer that Advantage a single Day I shall have the Lougings of a Lover till you arrive
Here the King entered and all Converse was broken off Lord
Portland
looking about discovered
Harry
and taking him by the Hand led him up and left him standing before his Majesty Then approaching the royal Ear may it please you Sire says he this is the Son of the Gentleman who advanced us two hundred thousand Pounds on our Expedition from
Holland
The King turned to
Harry
with a solemn and piercing Look and having eyed him for some Time he again turned to the Earl and cried Ay
Portland
this is Something this indeed is a Gem fit to set in the Crown of a Monarch He then reached forth his Hand and while our Hero stooped to kiss it He pressed
Harry
s Shoulder with his other Hand
My dear Child said the King we are much obliged to your Father You by Inheritance are attached to our Crown and you may justly demand whatever we can bestow We humbly thank Your Majesty answered
Harry
we only claim the Privilege of serving you with all our Hearts and all our Powers
What Post would you choose my Dear in the Army or in the Court indeed I should best like to have You about my own Person That is the Pitch to which I aspire answered
Harry
as soon as I am capable of so high a Duty
But why have you been such a Stranger said the King had we seen you before I think we should not have forgot you O Sire said
Harry
I am but as a Bird from the Nest and this is the first of my unfledged Excursions If a Bird cried the King it must be a young Eagle Not so Sire answered
Harry
I should then better support the Brightness of the Sun that is now before me I would give one of my Kingdoms that you were my Son I am already One of Millions of happy Sons and Daughters who have the Glory of calling You their royal Father
So saying our Hero bowed twice and drew back while the King looked toward him in Silence and Wonder
After some Talk with his Courtiers his Majesty retired And Lord
Portland
took
Harry
and was followed by a Number of the young Gentry to the BallRoom
There the Queen at the upper End was seated under a Canopy her Maids of Honour attending and two brilliant Ranges of Foreign and
British
Ladies were seated on either Hand
The Earl gave a Whisper to the Master of the Ceremonies and he immediately led
Harry
up to the Presence where he had the Honour of kissing Queen
Mary
s fair Hand
After some whispering Chat between her Majesty and Lord
Portland
the Ball was ordered to be opened by our Hero and the lovely young Princess of
Hesse
All Eyes were fixed upon them with Attention still as Night while they moved like
Homer
s Gods without seeming to press the Ground or like a Mist before the Breeze along the Side of some stately Hill
As soon as the Minuet was closed the Princess said softly to
Harry
in
French
the
Louvre
Sir if you please
This was a Dance of the newest Fashion and was calculated to shew forth and exhibit a graceful Person in all the possible Elegances of Movement and Attitude
As soon as they had finished the whole Assembly could scarce refrain from breaking forth in loud Plaudits as at the public Theatre and a Humming of mixed Voices and patting Feet was heard throughout
When
Harry
had led the Princess to her Seat and left her with a Bow of the most expressive Respect He looked about for some Lady whom he might choose in Succession and spying Lady
Louisa Bottom
at the opposite Side he stepped toward her and bending gracefully offered to lead her forth
She gave him her Hand tremblingly and whispered as she rose You are a great Stranger Sir but we deserve you should be so since we did not treat you with the Respect that your Merit should have commanded That Madam answered
Harry
is not wholly the Cause of my Distance but there are Persons whose Loveliness is more formidable to me than an Arrangement of sabred Hussars with their fierce looking Mustaches
Harry
had no sooner said this than his Heart smote him with Remorse for though
Louisa
was indeed lovely and that he felt for her the Propensities and Tenderness of a Brother yet She was not of that Species of Beauty that was formed to fix his Heart And he secretly reproached himself for having attempted to raise the Vanity or draw the Affections of an innocent Girl with no further View than of making a Parade of his own Talents a Measure he justly judged unbecoming a Man of a Spark of Honour or Integrity
When
Harry
had finished and left
Louisa
on the Floor the Master of the Ceremonies honoured Sir
William Thornhill
with her Hand and after four or five more Minuets by the younger Folk the Parties were appointed and paired for Country Dances except young Lord
Bottom
who refused to step forth and sat apart ruminating and feeding on his own Cogitations
The Princess and our Hero led up the Dance and
Louisa
and Sir
William
were appointed the next in Course in order to do the principal Honours to the two young Strangers
As soon as the Dances were ended and that All had mixed and chatted and roved about awhile
Harry
observed Sir
William
coming toward him in a little Fluster What is the Matter my Friend says
Harry
pray what has discomposed you Tell me my dear
Harry
that Jackanapes in the Blue and Gold do you know who he is I protest had it not been for the Respect I owe the Presence I would have chastised him on the Spot The Dance was no sooner done than he came up with a most provoking Sauciness in his Look I wonder Sir said he at the Insolence of One of your Rank you ought to have had more Modesty than to suffer yourself to be paired with a Lady so far above You
O cried
Harry
taking Sir
William
very lovingly under the Arm pass this Matter over my sweet Friend I beseech you That is young Lord
Bottom
the very Person who Im pretty confident contrived the honour of the
Pasquinade
on my Back this Day But he is Brother to the sweet Girl with whom you danced For her Sake for my Sake forgive him I entreat you but above all forgive him for the Sake of his dear Father the Earl of
Mansfield
One of the noblest Nobles and One of the worthiest Men that ever stept on
English
Ground He has been these two Years past abroad upon an Embassy and while he is promoting the Interests of the Public has left his own Houshold unchastened and unguided
Here the Converse of the Friends was suddenly broken off The Master of the Ceremonies came and tapping
Harry
on the Shoulder told him that the Queen desired to speak with him
When he had with a lowly Reverence advanced to the Throne You are said the Queen the most accomplished Cavalier that ever I beheld and had I sufficient Youth and Beauty I would choose You for my Knight to bear my Fame through the World I would rather said
Harry
that your Majesty would employ me on some more dangerous Enterprise How is that said the Queen Why answered
Harry
your Majestys Champion could have little or nothing to do as All would willingly acknowledge the Justice of his Cause
You are cried the Queen the loveliest and the sweetest Fellow I ever knew My Eye has followed you all along and marked You for my Own and I must either beg or steal You from our good Friend your Father I therefore want no Token to put me in mind of You but You may want some Token to keep your Friends in your Memory Here are two Pictures the One is the Portrait of our Master and sovereign Lord justly enriched with Diamonds to the value of some Thousands The Other is the Picture of the Woman who sits before you lowly simple and unadorned choose which you please
Give me the plain Picture cried
Harry
with a kind of Rapture it shall henceforth become my Riches and my Ornament
So saying he bent his Knee and taking the little Portrait he pressed it to his Lips with the Ardour of an ancient Lover in Romance Then putting it into his Bosom he gracefully rose made three retiring Bows and went from the Presence
O The Fool the egregious Fool muttered Some Nobly most nobly done cried Others
As
Harry
was following the Earl of
Portland
through the PalaceGate Lord
Bottom
came up with the Crowd and in a half Whisper said You are too great a Man to Day Sir to acknowledge your old Acquaintance But not so great a FOOL retorted
Harry
as not to be taught my Distance with Those who like Lord
Bottom
have a Right to look down upon me
After a short but sound Sleep
Harry
hurried Home to prepare for the Reception of his new Friend He told Mr
Fenton
that Sir
William
was returned how he had been obligingly made known to him in the forementioned Instance of his Humanity to a Stranger and that he had promised to be with them that Morning But pray Sir dont tell
Homely
a Word of the coming of his Landlord till we place them as it were by Surprise Face to Face
In about an Hour after a Chaise and Four came rapidly to the Door and
Harry
instantly sprung out and caught his Friend in his Arms before he came to the Ground
The two Friends entered the Parlour caressing and caressed and casting Looks of cordial Love and Delight on EachOther My Father Sir said
Harry
and led Sir
William
by the Hand to Mr
Fenton
who received him with a Countenance of that Heartspeaking Complaisance which never fails to attach the Soul of the Person to whom it is directed Ah my
Harry
cried Sir
William
I no longer wonder at You I see that You are All that you are by Inheritance
But Sir continued he You had like to have lost your Son last Night Their Majesties were most unwilling to quit their Hold of him and I believe in my Soul would willingly have adopted him the Heir of their Crown I should be very sorry Sir
William
replied Mr
Fenton
to see a Circle about his Head that would give him an aching Heart I am sure that is the Case with the present royal Proprietors In a limited Monarchy like ours the Station of the Prince is looked upon with a malignant Eye by the Envious and at the same Time rendered uneasy by the perpetual Contests between Rights and Privileges on the one Part and Prerogative on the Other
Moreover Sir
William
I shall never wish to see One of my Childs Disposition on the Throne of
GreatBritain
I should be jealous of such a Person in Behalf of my Country No People could be more tenacious of their Liberties than the
Swedes
till
Gustavus
the Son of
Erie
ascended the Throne His Manners were so amiable his Virtues so conspicuous his Government so just and he made so popular a Use of all his Powers that his Subjects thought they could never commit enough into his Hands But what was the Consequence His Successors made his Power a Precedent for their Own without attending to the Precedent of his Administration
Thus you see that a Prince of Qualities eminently popular might prove of dangerous Tendency to a free People forasmuch as he might charm the Eyes of their Jealousy to sleep and so seduce them from that Guard which is ever necessary to preclude the Encroachments of Ambition
But Sir
William
may we not order your Horses up You must not think of going till you take a plain Dinner with us A Supper too Sir most joyfully answered the Knight I leave
London
in the Morning on a certain Expedition and shall not have the Pleasure of embracing you again for some time
Here the Bell was rung and the Cattle and Carriage disposed of When Mr
Fenton
thus addressed the Baronet with a Smile Our
Harry
here Sir
William
never saw a Court before it is natural therefore to think that he must have been greatly amused and his young Heart deceived by the Splendor and Parade But you have seen and observed upon many Courts of late pray what do you think of the Entertainment they afford
As of the dullest of all dull Farces answered the Knight All the Courts that I have seen are nearly of the same Cast Conceive to yourself Sir a Stage or Theatre of Comedians without Auditors or Spectators They are All Actors and all Act nearly the same Part of solemn Complaisance and nauseous Grimace Each intends to impose and yet no One is imposed upon where Professions are taken to imply the very Reverse of what they express
What do you say to this
Harry
says Mr
Fenton
I have very little to say Sir in favour of the Actors but the Actresses as I take it afford better Entertainment Here Sir
William
and Mr
Fenton
laughed and
Harry
upon a Wink stepped out to bring in
Homely
as it were by stealth
Sir
William
said Mr
Fenton
there is a Man come to this House who once saved my Life at the risk of his Own It is a great many Years ago and I have not seen him since the Action till very lately I have sent
Harry
for him that you may learn the Particulars and advise with me what Recompense he ought to receive
If the Recompense is to be proportioned to the Value of the Life he saved my honoured Sir I should not know where to fix the Bounds of Retribution And in Truth Mr
Fenton
from my Knowledge of you this Day I also hold myself very highly his Debtor
At this Instant
Harry
led in
Homely
by the Hand and left him standing directly opposite to the Baronet
Homely
gazed with all his Eyes and stood mute through Astonishment At length he exclaimed Bless me Mercy upon me as sure as I hope for Heaven it is I think it is my dear young Master
Sir
William
at the Voice lifted up his Eyes to
Homely
and remembering his marked Man rose quickly and springing forward embraced him with much familiar Affection while Mr
Fenton
sat and his
Harry
stood beside him Both rapt in their own delicious Sensibilities
My dear
Homely
my old Companion and brother Sportsman cried Sir
William
how in the World comes this about so joyfully so unexpectedly to meet you here How is your Wife and pretty Babes I hope you left All well at Home
Yes please your Honour they are All well wonderfully well in this House I assure you for indeed your
Homely
has no other Home upon Earth
What you tell me is quite astonishing replied the Knight no Home for you within the Manor and Demesne of your Friend What Misfortunes what Revolutions could bring this Wonder to pass
Sit down said Mr
Fenton
pray be seated Mr
Homely
and give your Lord a succinct but deliberate Account of the inimitable Pair Sir
Freestone
and his Coadjutor
As soon as
Homely
had told his Tale from the Commencement of his Distresses to his Arrival at the Hovel he stopped short and said I have something more to impart but I hope your Honour will pardon me I am loth to deprive your Friends of your Company but then my
Peggy
and my Boys will be so transported to see your dear Face again that I cant but beseech you to indulge them a Minute or two with that Blessing
Sir
William
rose with a troubled Humanity in his Countenance and followed to a back Apartment where
Homely
again stopped him short and before he would take him to his
Peggy
he there gave him a minute Detail of all his Obligations to what he called this wonderful Family But pray Sir continued he let them know very little of what I have told you for nothing puts them to so much pain as any kind of Acknowledgments
After a short Visit to
Peggy
and her Children Sir
William
returned to his Friends with such an inward Awe and Veneration for their Characters as for a while sunk his Spirits and solemnized his Features This poor Man Sir said he has been miserably treated but God has been exceedingly gracious to him in casting the Shipwreckt Wretch on such a happy Shore as this But this makes no Discharge of any Part of my Duty toward him
Mark me
Homely
I am now of Age and Lord
Lechmore
has no further Authority in my Affairs wherefore before I leave this House I will give you a Letter of Attorney for the whole Agency of the Manor Thank your Honour thank your Honour cried
Homely
in a Kind of Transport if I do not prove as faithful to you as Another I will do you Justice on myself with the first Rope I can lay hold on
As for that Reprobate
Snack
continued the Knight I will take Care to be up with him He owes the Executors of my Father six hundred and seventy Pounds I will have that Matter put directly in Suit and as soon as it is recovered it shall be laid out on a Commission for your Son my Friend
Tom
as I do not choose yet to ask any Favour from the Ministry Lastly that you may no more be distressed for Rent I will never accept a Penny of it till all your Children are decently and competently provided for
O Sir exclaimed
Homely
I shall be too rich quite overburdened I shall not know where to lay my Treasures Not so fast my good Friend replied Sir
William
smiling you have not heard of the Drawback that I propose to have upon you Whenever I reside in the Country You are to have a hot Dish ay and a cool Hogshead too ready for me and my Company Agreed Sir cried
Homely
provided I may have the Liberty during your Absence to drink your Honours Health out of that same Hogshead A just Reserve said
Harry
laughing And full as grateful as it is jovial cried Mr
Fenton
Why Gentlemen rejoined
Homely
a Man of Spirit would scorn to accept such Benefits without making Conditions
After twelve oClock at Night and an affectionate and tender Adieu Sir
William
set out by Moonlight for
London
The two following Days were employed in preparing for
Homely
s Departure and a Coach and Four with a Chaise were provided for the Conveyance of him and his Family
The Night before their parting Mr
Fenton
desired that
Homely
and his Wise should be sent to him to his Closet As soon as they entered he closed the Door My dear Friends said he I may not be up in the Morning to take a timely Leave of you it may do as well to go through that melancholy Office to Night Here Mrs
Homely
here is some little Matter apiece toward beginning a Fortune for your three pretty Daughters Pray
Homely
take Care to have it disposed of for them upon good Securities Here he put three Orders upon his Banker into
Peggy
s Hand Each consisting of the Value of five hundred Pieces Then turning to
Homely
and taking him straightly in his Arms God be with you and your dear
Peggy
my
Homely
he cried and give us All a blessed Meeting where Friends shall part no more
The distressed
Homely
was past utterance but disengaging and flinging himself at the Feet of his Patron while
Peggy
kept on her Knees weeping and sobbing beside him O he cried at length Next to my God O next to my Lord and my God My Lord and my Master my Master and my Lord
The next Morning before Sunrise
Harry
was up and going to
Homely
s Apartment embraced him and his Wife He then kissed and caressed all the Girls and Boys round and gave to each of them a Gold Medal to keep him in their Remembrance
They then adjourned to the Hall where they found already gathered Mr and Mrs
Clement
with their little
Dicky
Mr
James Frank Andrew
and
George
with Mrs
Hannah Susan
and
Sarah
all deploring the Departure of their beloved Guests The Carriages were at the Door and Time pressed when
Homely
and his
Peggy
with open Arms trembling Lips and swelling Eyes began to take their Leave Then
Homely
cried aloud God be with you God be with you never never till I get to Heaven shall I meet with such another dear Assembly All then broke aloud into Tears and Sobbings while
Homely
took his weeping
Peggy
by the Hand and breaking forth with a heavy Heart placed her and his Family in the Carriages And away they went though in opulent Circumstances yet with much more oppressed Spirits than when they arrived
Mr
Fenton
now judged it time to forward his
Harry
s Education especially with respect to his Knowledge of the World of the Views Pleasures Manners Bents Employments and Characters of Mankind
For this Purpose he proposed to leave
Arabella
sole Regent of his Family And for a few Weeks to stay with
Clement
and
Harry
in
London
there to shew him whatever might gratify his Curiosity or merit his Inspection
While the Coach was in waiting and they All stood on the Hill the great City being extended in ample View beneath them Mr
Fenton
exclaimed O
London London
thou Mausoleum of dead Souls how pleasant art thou to the Eye how beautiful in outward Prospect but within how full of Rottenness and reeking Abominations They Dealers are all Students in the Mystery of Iniquity of Fraud and Imposition on Ignorance and Credulity Thy public Offices are hourly exercised in Exactions and Extortion Thy Courts of Judicature are busied in the Sale the Delay or Perversion of Justice they are shut to the Injured and Indigent but open to the wealthy Pleas of the Invader and Oppressor Thy Magistracy is often employed in secretly countenancing and abetting the Breach of those Laws it was instituted to maintain Thy Charities subscribed for the Support of the Poor are lavished by the Trustees in pampering the Rich where Drunkenness swallows till it wallows and Gluttony stuffs till it pants and unbuttons and stuffs again Even the Great Ones of thy Court have audaciously smiled away the Gloom and Horrors of Guilt and refined as it were all the Grossness thereof by new inverting Terms and palliating Phrases While the Millions that crowd and hurry through thy Streets are universally occupied in striving and struggling to rise by the Fall to fatten by the Leanness and to thrive by the Ruin of their Fellows Thy Offences are rank they steam and cloud the Face of Heaven The Gulf also is hollow beneath that is one Day to receive thee But the Measure of thy Abominations is not yet full and the Number of thy Righteous hath hitherto exceeded the Proportion that was found in the first
Sodom
That Evening they went to the Opera where
Harry
was so captivated by the sentimental Meltings and varied Harmony of the Airs that he requested Mr
Fenton
to permit him to be instructed on some Instrument Not by my Advice my Dear answered Mr
Fenton
I would not wish you to attempt any thing in which you may not excel Music is a Science, that requires the Application of a Mans whole Lise in order to arrive at any Eminence As it is enchanting in the Hand of a Master it is also discordant and grateing in its inferior Degrees Your Labours have been employed to much more valuable Purposes and I would not as they say give my Childs Time for a Song
Harry
instantly acquiesced with the best Temper imaginable as the Will of his beloved Patron was truely speaking his own Will and that he only wanted to know it to be at all Times and on all Occasions conformable thereto
A few following Days were employed in visiting the Tower in surveying the Armory Regalia
c
in viewing the royal Beasts the Monument and Exchanges and lastly in contemplating the Solemnity of
Westminster
Pile with the marbled Effigies and monumental Deposits of the Renowned in Death the Place as Mr
Fenton
affectingly observed to which all the Living must finally adjourn
The next Night they went to the Theatre to see the Feats of Signor
Volanti
the celebrated
Italian
Posturemaster Ropedancer and Equilibrist Such Wonders are now so common as to be scarce entertaining but at that Time they were received with Bursts and Roars of Applause
Our Hero felt himself attached by the similar Excellences of his own Activity in Another and going behind the Scenes he accosted
Volanti
in
French
Signor said he I have been highly entertained by your Performance this Night and here are five Guineas in return of the Pleasure you have given me The Foreigner looked at
Harry
and then at the Money with a kind of Astonishment I thank you noble Sir he cried my poor Endeavours are seldom so liberally rewarded Pray how long do you stay with us In about a Fortnight so please your Nobleness I intend to leave
London
But before I go I would do something to leave a Name behind me A Day or two before my Departure I will fly from the Spire of Saint
Clement
s Church in the Sight of all the People and this I will do
gratis
or rather in Acknowledgment of the Favours I have received in this Kingdom But is it possible to execute what you propose With all Ease and Safety Sir I have done nearly as much three Times in
Germany
and once at
Madrid
Here an arch Thought struck
Harry
and musing a Moment will you permit me said he to be the Conductor of this Affair Allow me only to appoint the Day and draw up your Advertisement and I will make you a Present of twenty Pieces Agreed Sir cried
Volanti
and twenty thousand Thanks to confirm the Bargain Accept these five Guineas then in Earnest of my Engagement my Servant here will tell or shew you where I am to be found
That Night at Supper Mr
Fenton
remarked an unusual Pleasantry in the Muscles of his Darlings sweetly sober Countenance My
Harry
I find said he does not always impart all his Secrets to his Friends he has certainly some roguish Matter in Cogitation
Magicum calles
Sir cried
Harry
You are a Conjurer thats certain Why the Public as you know Sir have put the FOOL on me from my Birth
Homer
says that Revenge is sweet as Honey to the Taste and so I am meditating in turn how to put the FOOL upon the Public And how do you contrive it
Harry
only by acting the old Proverb that
one Fool makes Many
But pray ask me not about the Manner till I bring the Business to some Bearing
The next Day being
Thursday
they All went in Mr
Fenton
s Coach to
Smithfield
where Numbers of Tents were set up and several Drolls and Pantomimes
c
prepared in Imitation of the Humours of
Bartholemew
Fair The Weather was fair and calm and they let down all the Glasses that they might see without Interruption whatever was to be seen
Their Coach stopped just opposite to an itinerant Stage where a Genius who comprised within his single Person the two important Functions of a Tumbler and MerryAndrew by his successive Action and Oratory extorted Plaudits and Huzzas from all the Spectators
Among the rest a Countryman who rode upon a Mule sat gaping and grinning by Intervals in all the extatic Rapture that can be ascribed to Enthusiasm While his Attention was thus rivetted two knavish Wags came and ungirthing his Saddle supported it on either hand till a Third of the Fraternity led his Mule away from under him and a Fourth came with a three legged Horse such as Houswives dry their Linnen on and having jammed it under the Saddle they all retreated in Peace
The Populace were so delighted at this humorous Act of Felony that instead of interrupting it it only served to redouble their Joys and Clamours
Harry
too greatly chuckled and laughed at the Joke But when he saw the Beast led off and that the amazed Proprietor on stooping to take the Bridle had fallen precipitately to the Ground his Heart twitched him with a Kind of Compunction and throwing himself out at the Coach Window he made all the Speed that the Press would admit and recovering the Mule brought it back to its Owner
Here Friend said he here is your Beast again take Care the next time that they dont steal your Teeth Thank you Master said the Clown since you have been so honest as to give him to me back I will never be the One to bring you to Sizes or Sessions I am much obliged to your Clemency answered
Harry
but pray let me have the Pleasure of seeing you safe mounted So saying he held the Stirrup while the Booby got up and said Well my Lad very well if we happen to meet at
Croydon
we may take a Pot together
Mr
Fenton
beheld and contemplated this whole Scene with all the cordial Gratifications that the Heart of Man could seel and langhing as his Favourite entered the Coach my honest Friend said he your Officiousness might have brought us All into a Scrape for had you been given in Charge to the Constable you would probably have applied to your Companions for Bail I dont think Sir said
Clement
that the Action would have been bailable neither could we deny that we saw the stolen Beast in his Custody In Truth Gentlemen said
Harry
I partly begin to be of Mr
Veer
s Opinion that the Peasantry of
England
are the most boorish and insensible of all the human Species
In the Evening they adjourned from Coffee to Davids Harp in
Fleetstreet
in order to hear
Marmulet
the famed
Genoese
Musician who performed on the Psaltery the Viol dAmor and other Instruments not known till then in
England
They took Mr
James
with them to partake of the Entertainment and were shewn to a large Room where Each paid Half a Crown at the Door
The Room was divided into a Number of Boxes where each Company sat apart while they were jointly gratified and charmed by the inimitable Execution of the Musician
A Flask of Burgundy was set before Mr
Fenton
and his Friends while Mr
Hardy
and Mr
Hilton
who sat in the next Box were regaling themselves with a Flask of Rosa Solis
All was Silence and Attention till there was a Pause in the Performance Then said Mr
Hardy
do you know
Jack
that the Earl of
Albemarle
is to have a Mask on
Monday
Night I am sorry to hear it said Mr
Hilton
as I am obliged to be out of Town I may happen to save something by that said
Hardy
you must lend me your Domino Indeed I cannot it was torn to Fritters in a Scuffle as I came out from the last Masquerade Lend me your Mask then That too was lost at the same time but what occasion can you have for a Mask
Hardy
I am sure no One will take that for a natural Face Mine is the Face of
Mars Hilton
yours that of
Adonis
with which no Modern
Venus
will ever be sinitten I promise you I will engage to outrival an Army of such Jackanapes in an Assault on the Fair If Impudence may compensate for the Want of other Artillery I believe you may do Wonders
Hardy
And it does compensate my Friend Women take my Word and Experience for it love nothing of their own Resemblance except in the Glass They detest any thing that looks like an Ambiguity in the Sex While what you are pleased to call Impudence
Jack
spares their Modesty saves them the Appearance of an Advance on their Part and gives them the Pleasure of piquing themselves on their extraordinary Virtue in Case they should happen to make a Defence However since you have complimented me on my Assurance I will put it to the Test on this Occasion and go to his Excellencys Ball without any other Vizard save this which Nature in her great Bounty hath bestowed
When our Company were on the Return to their Lodgings
Harry
said Mr
Fenton
would you not like to go to this Masquerade Why Sir as I have not yet seen One perhaps it might not be amiss to satisfy my Curiosity for once in my Life In Truth said Mr
Fenton
I wish they never had been introduced into this Kingdom as they are Inlets to Intrigue and give Countenance to Licentiousness However for once in your Life as you say you shall be gratified my
Harry
Be pleased to tell me Sir are they very entertaining They would be extremely diverting my Dear if People acted up to the Characters that they pretend to represent But on the contrary they have Sailors who dont know a Point in the Compass or the Name of a Rope in the Ship Shepherds and Shepherdesses who never eloped from the cockney Dialect of the City Indian Queens who can say nothing as to their Subjects or their Sovereignty Gods and Goddesses totally ignorant of their own History in the Mythology And
Italian
Cardinals who will swear you in the Phrase of a
Yorkshire
Foxhunter
But what shall we do for Tickets
Harry
I dont care to apply to my Friends for Fear of discovering that we are in Town O Sir said Mr
James
I am acquainted with his Excellencys Major Domo and can procure you as many Tickets as You please
Mr
Fenton
assumed to himself for the present the Appointment of
Harry
s Character and Dress As the Plainness of your Garb has hitherto said he been a Mask and Disguise to your internal Ornaments the Brilliancy of your Dress shall now on the other Hand disguise and conceal the Simplicity of your Manners
About two Hours before the Opening of the Ball
Harry
wrapped himself in a Cloak of black Bays and stepped into a hackney Coach with Mr
James
who had promised to introduce him to his Friend Mr
Dominic
in order for him to reconnoitre the several Scenes of Operation before the Action began
The Major Domo received
Harry
with the utmost Complacence for he held his Mask in his Hand and the Loveliness of his Aspect shone with peculiar Lustre through the Blackness of his Attire
After surveying several Apartments they passed through the long Room and entered by an arched Gateway into a Kind of Saloon at the upper End of which was a Pedestal of about five Feet in height whereon a celebrated Statue of the
Hercules Farnese
had formerly stood
Harry
eyed it attentively and conceiving a sudden Frolic he instantly cast away his Cloak clapped on his Mask and winged Helmet grasped his Caduceus with his Right and laying his Left on the Top of the Pedestal sprung lightly up and threw himself into that Attitude to which the Statuaries have formed their
Mercury
when just prepared for flight
His Headpiece was of thinly plated but polished Gold buckled together at the joining by four burning Carbuncles His Jacket was of Genoa Silk died in Ultra Marine exceeding the Tint of an Egyptian Sky It was braced close to his Body with Emerald Clasps that shewed the Finess of his Proportion to inimitable Advantage and over the Whole in celestial Confusion were sown Stars of different Magnitudes All powdered with Diamonds
The Moment that
Harry
cast himself into his Posture Mr
Dominic
started back seven or eight Paces and raising his Hands with stareing Eyes and a Mouth of open Amazement at length he exclaimed Stay a little my dear sweet Master do now do but stay just as you are for a Minute and you will oblige me past Expression I will be your Own for ever
So saying he turned off and running to an adjacent Apartment where their Majesties with the Princess of
Denmark
the Princess of
Hesse
and the Chief of the Court were gathered he told his Master aloud that he had the greatest Curiosity to shew him that human Eye ever beheld
All rose with Precipitation and crowded after the Earl and the royal Pair as close as Decency would admit till they came to the Saloon and beheld with Astonishment the Person Shape Attitude and Attire of our Hero
Some doubted but Most believed that he was a real Statute placed there by his Excellency on Purpose for a Surprise Sir
Fielding
who was the acknowledged Connoisseur of the Age and was in Fact what the People of taste call an
elegans Formarum Spectator
exclaimed with some Vehemency Never never did I behold such Beauty of Symmetry such Roundings of Angles where where my Lord could you get this inestimable Acquisition Others cryed
Phidias Phidias
never executed the like all the Works of
Praxiteles
were nothing to it
The Earl however was well apprised of the Deception and knew that our
Mereury
was no Part of his Property Son of
Maia
said he aloud what Tidings from Heaven A Message answered
Harry
from my Father
Jupiter
to their Majesties And pray what may your Errand intend Matters of highest Importance that they are the favourite Representatives of my Father upon Earth And that while their Majesties continue the Monarch of a free and willing People they are greater than if they were Regents of a Universe of Slaves All buzzed their Applause and Admiration It must be he whispered the King it can be no Other cried the Queen
Albemarle
whispered his Majesty we have marked this Youth for our Own keep your Eye upon him and do your best Endeavours to engage and bind him to us
In the mean time
Harry
on delivering his celestial Message flew like a Feather from his Post and casting his Cloak about him vanished into an adjoining Closet
The Company now began to gather fast and
Harry
stealing from his Retreat kept his Cloud about his Sky and mingled in the Crowd Mr
Clement
had accompanied Mr
Fenton
in Dominos They soon discovered
Harry
and were highly diverted by the Account which he gave them of his Metamorphosis into a Statue
While the Assembly was dividing into Pairs and chatty Parties a Phenomenon entered that drew all their Attention The Honourable Major
Gromley
the lustiest and fattest young Man in the Kingdom advanced without a Mask in Petticoats a slobbering Bib and Apron He carried a large Round of Bread and Butter in one Hand while Lady
Betsy M
nit
an elderly Miss of about three Feet high held his Leading Strings with her Left and in her Right brandished a Birch Rod of lengthened Authority His Governante pressed him forward and seemed to threaten Chastisement for his Delay while the jolly broad foolish humourous half laughing half crying Baby Face of the Major extorted Peals of Laughter from All who were present And this is sufficient to convince us that the Performers of the ancient Drama could not possibly in Masks excite the Passions of Nature. No Excellence of Voice or Gesture of Action or Emphasis could compensate for the Exclusion of the immediate Interpreters of the Soul the living Speech of the Eye and varied Expression of the Countenance
After the Major had leisurely traversed the full length of the Room and inimitably executed the Whole of his Part he retired to undress and assume a new Appearance
Mean while two Females entered in very unusal Habits The First was dressed in a choice Collection of old
English
and
Scotch
Ballads from Chevy Chase and the Fragment of Hardy
Canute
down to
Barbara Allen
and the Babes in the Wood The Other was all hung from Top to Bottom with Lookingglasses
Immediately the Crowd gathered about them All who were fond of their own History preferable to that of Others paid their Homage in a circling Throng to the Queen of the Lookingglasses While the Few who preferred Instruction were intent in perusing the Fair who was covered with Knowledge But the Lady of the Mirrors did not long retain her Votaries her Glasses were all Emblems of her own Disposition they were the Glasses of Scandal and Calumny and represented the human Species in the most distorted View Some lengthened and Some widened their Objects
Measure while Others wholly in
and turned them topsy turvy All
away in Disgust from such Prospects or their own Persons and the reflecting Lady was justly lest to glitter apart from Society
The next who entered was a
Goliah
all sheathed in compleat Steel He advanced with slow and majestic Steps to the Sideboard and asking for a Flask of Champain turned it down without taking it once from his Head He then demanded Another and Another and so on till the Providore who had looked and longed in vain to see him drop ran pannicstruck to his Master and in a half Whisper said my Lord your Cellars will scarcely suffice to quench the Thirst of one Man here he has already turned down fifteen Flasks of Champain and still is unsatisfied and calls for more Then give him fifteen Hogsheads replied the Earl laughing and if that will not answer send out for another Set
In the mean time the mailed Champion had withdrawn from the Sideboard and with a large drinking Glass in his Hand advanced till he got into the midst of the Assembly He then turned a little Instrument that was fixed in a certain Part of his double cased Armour and filling the Glass to the Brim he unclasped the lower Part of his Bever and accosting a
Peruvian
Princess who stood just opposite permit me the Honour Madam says he of drinking your Highnesss Health So saying the Liquor was out of Sight in a Twinkling Will your Royal Highness continued he be pleased to try how you relish our European Wines I am obliged to you Sir said she I am actually athirst then raising her Mask below she pledged him to the Bottom Her Companion a shining
Arcadian
advanced and requested the same Favour Then Another and another Lady and several Others in Succession All of whom he graciously gratified till he was nearly exhausted Some of the Men then pressed to him and entreated for a Glass no no Gentlemen said he go and be served elsewhere I am a Merchant for Ladies alone I import no Liquors for vile male Animals
Our former Acquaintance Mr
Hardy
had adventured according to Promise without a Mask After looking about a while for some Object of his Gallantry he fixed upon a Lady of a very elegant Shape and sprightly Appearance
When they had bandied between them some occasional Chat of more Smartness than Humour and more Wit than Meaning He called for a favourite Air and led the Fair One a Minuet in which they Both performed
assez bien
He now began to grow more warm in his Addresses If your Face Madam said he should happen to be answerable to the Enchantments of your Form and the Siren in your Voice I beseech you to keep that Mask on for ever the Safety of Mankind is interested in my Request But suppose said she that my Face should happen to prove an Antidote to the Danger of my other Charms then Madam let me see it by all Means and make haste I pray you before I am past Remedy I see said she tittering I see that you are already more than half a dying Man poor Wretch I pity you and have taken it into my Head to slay you outright in order to put you out of Pain
So saying she drew her Mask on one Side and shewed him indeed a very lovely Countenance But while his Flood of complimentary Eloquence was just upon breaking forth hush Sir cried the Lady I will not hear a Syllable till you first return the Compliment that I have paid you and let me see what you have got under that Vizard of yours Here
Hardy
in spite of Impudence stood mute with Astonishment The Lady burst into a Laugh the Joke was caught and spread like wild Fire the Laugh grew universal all Eyes were on poor
Hardy
and a hundred Tongues cried at once your Mask Sir your Mask take off your Mask for the Lady This was something more than human Assurance could stand
Hardy
retired with precipitate Confusion and justly suffered for the Presumption of his boasted Facility of Conquests over the Fair
Our Hero had hitherto kept himself concealed being secretly ashamed of the Lustre of his Apparel but at Mr
Fenton
s desire he laid his Cloak aside and instantly all the Eyes of the Assembly were upon him In order to avoid their Gaze he advanced into the Throng where a Parcel of circling Females asked him a Number of insignificant Questions to which he returned in Kind Answers pretty nearly as insignificant
At length a
Diana
approached whose Diamond Crescent was of the Value of a princely Ransom She took him carelesly by the Hand and said come Brother
Mercury
let us give these Mortals a Sample of what we Coelestials can perform Lead where you please Madam said
Harry
I cannot miss my Way while I tread in the Light of so fair a Moon
The Lady called to the Orchestre for a Saraband and All made ample Room attentive to the Motions of the shining Pair
The Dance began and the Spectators in a Manner suppressed their Breathing for fear of giving or receiving the smallest Interruption The Performers stepped Music their Action was Grace and they seemed with Difficulty retained to the Floor over which they moved They ended and the Assembly was still mute with Astonishment till they broke out into a general Murmur of Praise
Mr
Mercury
said
Diana
the Story of
Argus
tells us that you were formerly accustomed to set Folk to sleep but for the present you have opened all Eyes to Observation Ah Madam answered
Harry
could I have guessed at the Moon that was to shine this Night I should have assumed a very different Character What Character I pray you that of
Endymion
Madam I wish she whispered that You were a Prince or that I were a Peasant and so saying she turned from him and mixed in the Crowd
Harry
was next addressed by a Shepherdess and again by a Nun But he declined as honourably as he could to tend the Flock of the One or to be the Cause of any Breach of Vows in the Other observing to her that she had already taken the Veil The Boys a FOOL said she I know said
Harry
A Gipsy then accosted and taking him by the Hand will you be pleased Sir to be told your Fortune said she By no Means my sweet voiced
Cassandra
answered
Harry
I would avoid above all things prying into Futurity Knowledge Sir is surely desirable and above all Foreknowledge Not so said
Harry
Foreknowledge of Evil would but double the Misery and Foreknowledge of Good would deprive me of Hope by Certainty and Hope is a Blessing perhaps preferable to Possession Tell me Sir and tell me truly did you ever yet see the Girl that you could like Yes Madam two or three for whom I have conceived a very tender Friendship but no One yet for whom I have conceived a Passion Ah then Mr
Mercury
said the gentle Prophetess I have only to desire the last Cast of your Office when I am dead be so grateful as to waft my friendly Spirit to the Shades of
Elysium
there to join
Dido
and other unfortunate Lovers
So saying She turned and retired with a Sigh that entered and sunk into the Heart of our Hero
The Company now began to depart when the Earl of
Albemarle
coming up to
Harry
took him a little apart and throwing his Arm over his Shoulder pressed him to him and said my dear Fellow you have done me signal Honour this Night pray double the Favour to me by letting me see you again speedily and as often as you can For the present you must not go till their Majesties have spoke with You Not to Night so please your Excellency answered
Harry
at all other Times I shall be ready to attend and serve their Majesties without any Mask
The next Morning Mr
Fenton
was much surprised by a Visit from the great Man Mr
Dominic
had apprised his Master where he was to be found During Breakfast the Earl pressed eagerly for
Harry
s Attendance at Court and promised every Advantage and Honour that the Crown could bestow You must pardon me my Lord said Mr
Fenton
I am willing to advance to You two hundred thousand Pounds more toward his Majesties present Expedition against the
French
whom I look upon to be our natural and salutary Enemies They are as
Carthage
was to
Rome
they hold us in Exercise and keep a quarrelsome People from falling out among themselves Indeed my Lord I am desirous of gratifying my royal Master with any Thing except the Sacrifice of my Child I cannot part with him till his Education is completed and then if he answers my Expectations I doubt I may be more unwilling to part with him than ever
In the Afternoon our Company went again to the Tower to see as well as to hear the recent Story of the great Lion and the little Dog
They found the Place thronged and All were obliged to pay treble Prices on Account of the unprecedented Novelty of the Shew so that the Keeper in a short Space acquired a little Fortune
The great Cage in the Front was occupied by a Beast who by Way of preeminence was called the Kings Lion and while he traversed the Limits of his straitened Dominions he was attended by a small and very beautiful black Spaniel who frisked and gamboled about him and at Times would pretend to snarl and bite at him and again the noble Animal with an Air of fond Complacence would hold down his Head while the little Creature licked his formidable Chops Their History as the Keeper related was this
It was customary for All who were unable or unwilling to pay their Sixpence to bring a Dog or Cat as an Oblation to the Beasts in lieu of Money to the Keeper Among Others a Fellow had caught up this pretty black Spaniel in the Streets and he was accordingly thrown into the Cage of the great Lion Immediately the little Animal trembled and shivered and crouched and threw itself on its Back and put forth its Tongue and held up its Paws in supplicatory Attitudes as an Acknowledgment of superior Power and praying for Mercy In the mean Time the lordly Brute instead of devouring it beheld it with an Eye of philosophic Inspection He turned it over with one Paw and then turned it with the Other and smelled to it and seemed desirous of courting a further Acquaintance
The Keeper on seeing this brought a large Mess of his own FamilyDinner but the Lion kept aloof and refused to eat keeping his Eye on the Dog and inviting him as it were to be his Taster At length the little Animals Fears being something abated and his Appetite quickened by the Smell of the Victuals he approached slowly and with trembling ventured to eat The Lion then advanced gently and began to partake and they finished their Meal very lovingly together
From this Day the strictest Friendship commenced between them a Friendship consisting of all possible Affection and Tenderness on the Part of the Lion and of the utmost Confidence and Boldness on the Part of the Dog insomuch that he would lay himself down to sleep within the Fangs and under the Jaws of his terrible Patron
A Gentleman who had lost the Spaniel and had advertised a Reward of two Guineas to the Finder at length heard of the Adventure and went to reclaim his Dog You see Sir said the Keeper it would be a great Pity to part such loving Friends However if you insist upon your Property you must even be pleased to take him yourself it is a Task that I would not engage in for five hundred Guineas The Gentleman rose into great Wrath but finally chose to acquiesce rather than have a personal Dispute with the Lion
As Mr
Fenton
had a Curiosity to see the two Friends eat together he sent for twenty Pounds of boiled Beef which was accordingly cut in Pieces and given into the Cage when immediately the little Brute whose Appetite happened to be eager art the time was desirous of making a Monopoly of the whole and putting his Paws upon the Meat and grumbling and barking he audaciously flew in the Face of the Lion But the generous Creature instead of being offended by his impotent Companion started back and seemed terrified at the Fury of his Attack neither attempted to eat a Bit till his Favourite had tacitly given Permission
When they were Both gorged the Lion stretched and turned himself and lay down in an evident Posture for Repose but this his sportive Companion would not admit He frisked and gamboled about him barked at him would now scrape and tear at his Head with his Claws and again seize him by the Ear and bite and pull away while the noble Beast appeared affected by no other Sentiment save that of Pleasure and Complacence
But let us proceed to the tragic Catastrophe of this extraordinary Story a Story still known to Many as delivered down by Tradition from Father to Son
In about twelve Months the little Spaniel sickened and died and left his loving Patron the most desolate of Creatures For a time the Lion did not appear to conceive otherwise than that his Favourite was asleep He would continue to smell to him and then would stir him with his Nose and turn him over with his Paw but finding that all his Efforts to awake him were vain he would traverse his Cage from End to End at a swift and uneasy Pace then stop and look down upon him with a fixed and drooping Regard and again lift his Head on high and open his horrible Throat and prolong a Roar as of distant Thunder for several Minutes together
They attempted but in vain to convey the Carcass from him he watched it perpetually and would suffer nothing to touch it The Keeper then endeavoured to tempt him with a Variety of Victuals but he turned from all that was offered with loathing They then put several living Dogs into his Cage and these he instantly tore piecemeal but left their Members on the Floor His Passions being thus inflamed he would dart his Fangs into the Boards and pluck away large Splinters and again grapple at the Bars of his Cage and seem enraged at his Restraint from tearing the World to Pieces
Again as quite spent he would stretch himself by the Remains of his beloved Associate and gather him in with his Paws and put him to his Bosom and then utter under Roars of such a terrible Melancholy as seemed to threaten All around for the Loss of his little Playfellow the only Friend the only Companion that he had upon Earth
For five Days he thus languished and gradually declined without taking any Sustenance or admitting any Comfort till one Morning he was found dead with his Head lovingly reclined on the Carcass of his little Friend They were Both interred together and their Grave plentifully watered by the Tears of the Keeper and his loudly lamenting Family But to return
When our Company were on their Way from the Tower to their Lodgings Sir said
Harry
what we have just seen reminds me of the Opinion of my Friend
Peter Patience
that One who is fearless cannot be provoked You saw how that little teasing petulant Wretch had the Insolence to fly in the Face of his Benefactor without offending or exciting in him any Kind of Resentment True
Harry
for the Lion was sensible that his testy Companion was little and impotent and depended upon him and had Confidence in his Clemency and therefore he loved him with all his Faults Anger however in some Cases is not only allowable but becomes a Duty The Scripture says
be angry but sin not
We ought to feel and fear for Others and Lust Violence and Oppression of every Sort will excite the Indignation of a generous and benevolent Person though he may not fear for himself
After Supper
Harry
appeared to ruminate and said How comes it Sir that Creatures not indued with Reason or Conscience shall yet in the Affections that are peculiarly called humane exceed even most of the human Species You have seen that it was the Case between the Lion and little Dog
It was the Opinion my
Harry
of an ancient Philosopher that God was the Soul and Spirit of Brutes and this he judged from observing that what we call Instinct was incomparably wiser more sagacious and more accomplished for attaining its Ends throughout its Sphere of Action than the most perfect human Reason. Now had this Philosopher instead of saying that God was the Soul of Brutes barely alleged that he ruled and dictated within them he would not have gone a Tittle wide of the Truth
God indeed is himself the Beauty and the Benefit of all his Works As they cannot exist but in him and by him so his Impression is upon them and his Impregnation is through them
Though the Elements and all that we know of Nature and Creature have a Mixture of natural and physical Evil God is however throughout an internal though often a hidden Principal of Good and never wholly departs from his Right of Dominion and Operation in his Creatures But is and is alone the Beauty and Beneficence the whole Glory and Graciousness that can possibly be in them
As the Apostle says
the invisible Things of God are made manifest and visible by the Things that are seen
He is the secret and central Light that kindles up the Sun his dazzling Representative and he lives enlightens and comforts in the Diffusion of his Beams
His Spirit inspires and actuates the Air and is in it a Breath of Life to all his Creatures He blooms in the Blossom and unfolds in the Rose He is Fragrance in Flowers and Flavour in Fruits He holds Infinitude within a Speck and opens his World of Wonders in the Minims of Nature. He is the Virtue of every Heart that is softened by a Sense of Pity or Touch of Benevolence He coos in the Turtle and bleats in the Lamb and through the Paps of the stern Bear and implacable Tigress he yields forth the Milk of loving Kindness to their little Ones Even my
Harry
when we hear the delicious Enchantment of Music it is but an external Sketch a distant and faint Echo of those sentimental and rapturous Tunings that rise up throughout the Immensity of our God from Eternity to Eternity
Thus all Things are secretly pregnant with their God And the Lover of Sinners the universal Redeemer is a Principle of Good within them that contends with the Malignity of their lapsed State And thus as the Apostle speaks
all Nature is in Travail and groaneth to be delivered from the Evil
Till the Breath of the Love of God shall kindle up the final Fire out of which the new Heavens and new Earth shall come forth as Gold seven times refined to shine for ever and ever
HARRY agreeable to his Covenant with Signor
Volanti
had penned the following Advertisement and inserted it in all the public Papers to wit
On
Saturday
next between the Hours of Ten and Twelve in the Forenoon the celebrated
Dominico Jachimo Tonino Volanti
will take his Flight from the Spire of
Clement
s Steeple and alight at the Distance of two Bows shot on the
Strand
and this he will perform before the Eyes of all People
On the impatiently expected Morning
Harry
took Mr
Clement
with him in a hack Chaise and found an innumerable Concourse as well of the Gentry in their Coaches as of the Populace on Foot
London
had poured forth its Numbers to behold this astonishing Flight The Windows were all Eyes on every Side and the House Tops were hung with Clusters of People as of Bees
After
Harry
had surveyed the Crowd with inward Titillation he whispered to
Clement
and said You shall see now what a sudden Discomfiture I will make of this huge Army
He then put forth his Head and said to All around Dont Ye yet perceive my Friends what Fools we are all made dont ye remember that this is the
First of April
He had scarce spoke the Words when they spread from Man to Man and soon were muttered throughout the Assembly And then louder and more loud the
First of April
the
First of April
was repeated all about
The Company now began to be in Motion All Heads were instantly withdrawn from the late thronged Windows and the House Tops began to be cleared with a shameful Caution
Immediately was heard the rolling of many Wheels and the Lashing of many Whips while every Coachman pressed through the Crowd impatient to deliver his honourable Freight from the public Shame But the Populace now began to relish a Joke that was so much against their Betters and in Peals of Laughter and united Shouts of Triumph they echoed and reechoed after them
April Fools April Fools
Among Others Lord
Bottom
had come with his Friend
Rakely
in an elevated Phaeton of which his Lordship was Charioteer As they happened to brush close by
Harry
s Carriage swearing and puffing and lashing and cursing at the Crowd
Harry
cried to his old Enemy you need not be in so violent a Hurry my Lord perhaps you are not so great a Foot as you imagine
The Fools of Fashion were scarce withdrawn when a long and strong Rope was let down from the Top of the Steeple to which it was fastened at the upper End A Man then laying hold on it below dragged it along through the Crowd and braced it at a great Distance to an Iron Ring that was stapled into a Post purposely sunk on a level with the Pavement They then brought a large and well stuffed Feather Bed and fixed it under the Cord where it joined the Ring
In the mean time
Volanti
appeared on the Top of the Steeple and bending cautiously forward and getting the Cord within an Iron Groove that was braced to his Bosom he pushed himself onward and with a kindling Rapidity flew over the Heads of the shouting Multitude poising himself with expanded Legs and Arms as he passed till he was landed without Damage on his yielding Receiver And in the very next Papers
Harry
published the following Advertisement to wit
Before the First of
April
next Signor
Dominico Jachimo Tonino Volanti
by the Help of Canvas Wings contrived for the Purpose proposes to fly over Sea from
Dover
to
Calais
and invites all his
London
Friends to come and see him set out
On the Evening of the following
Monday
our Company went to the Kings Theatre and Mr
Clement
told Mr
Fenton
by the Way how
Harry
had made double Fools of the Citizens first in bringing them together and then in sending them away
The Moor of
Venice
was the appointed Entertainment for the Night Mr
Montfort
was to perform the Part of
Othello
Mrs
Montfort
that of
Emilia
and Miss
Bracegirdle
their young Ward the Part of
Desdemona
All was carried on to the Satisfaction of the Audience till they were somewhat advanced in the Fourth Act when Lord
Mohun
as
Milton
has it flown with Insolence and Wine entered and seated himself in one of the StageBoxes
He gave his whole Attention and Applause to the fair
Desdemona
and as soon as the Act was over he slipped behind the Scenes and began to address her in a Strain of licentious Gallantry But as Miss
Bracegirdle
answered him with a cold Kind of Disdain his Nobility was piqued and catching her about the Neck he thrust his Hand into her Bosom
The Girl instantly shrieked and
Montfort
coming up forbear my Lord said he the young Gentlewoman is virtuous and of good Education and such Treatment is unbeseeming a Man of Honour Virtue and Education among Actors and Actresses exclaimed his Lordship hence vile Plebeian and know your Distance better And so saying he proceeded to an Action of still greater Indecency
The unhappy
Montfort
then cried I will not suffer such Usage from any Man under the Crown I am her Guardian it is my Duty to protect her and at the same Time he pushed away his Lordship with some Violence A Blow a Blow cried
Mohun
and from a Vagabond too Wretch take the instant Chastisement of your Insolence Then springing back he suddenly plucked out his Sword and ran the worthy
Montfort
through the Body who immediately dropped and expired on the Spot
The Women instantly uttered Shriek after Shriek and falling on the Body sent forth repeated Cries of the bitterest Lamentation The Audience were then in an Uproar and called aloud to know the Meaning of the Disturbance when an Actor hastily advanced to the Front of the Stage and with wringing Hands informed them of what had happened
Our Hero thereupon started up and putting one Hand between the Spikes he vaulted high over them into the Stage and drawing out his Sword he ran about searching for and enquiring after the Murderer as did some other Gentlemen who hastened round for the Purpose But Lord
Mohun
for the present had made his Escape And though he was afterward indicted the Great Ones contrived Means for quashing the Affair and he was never brought to Trial
The Blood of the Good
Montfort
however was not long unatoned Lord
Mohun
shortly after fell by the Hand of the Duke of
Hamilton
in a Duel behind
Montague
House
Harry
had now seen whatever
London
could exhibit of elegant curious or pleasing and Mr
Fenton
judged it Time to hold up to him the melancholy Reverse of this Picture to shew him the
House of Mourning
the
End of all Men
to shew him the dreary Shades and frightful Passages of Mortality which Humanity shudders to think of but through which human Nature of Necessity must go
For this Purpose he took him to the GENERAL HOSPITAL where Death opened all his Gates and shewed himself in all his Forms But the great Poet on this Occasion hath anticipated all Description
Immediately a Place
Before his Eyes appeared sad noisome dark
A Lazarhouse it seemed wherein were laid
Numbers of all Diseased all Maladies
Of ghastly Spasm of racking Torture Qualms
Of heartsick Agony all feverous Kinds
Convulsions Epilepsies fierce Catarrhs
Intestine Stone and Ulcer Colic Pangs
Demoniac Frenzy moping Melancholy
And Moon struck Madness pining Atrophy
Dropsies and Asthmas and jointracking Rheums
Dire was the tossing deep the Groans Despair
Tended the Sick busiest from Couch to Couch
And over them triumphant Death his Dart
Shook but delayed to strike though oft invoked
With Vows as their chief Good
MILTON
While Mr
Fenton
led his Pupil through groaning Galleries and the Chambers of Death and Disease
Harry
let down the Leaf of his Hat and drew it over his Eyes to conceal his Emotions All that Day he was silent and his Countenance downcast and at Night he hastened to Bed where he wept a large Tribute to the mournfully inevitable Condition of Mans miserable State upon Earth
The next Day Mr
Fenton
took him to the Bethlehem Hospital for Idiots and Lunatics But when
Harry
beheld and contemplated Objects so shocking to Thought so terrible to Sight when he had contemplated I say the Ruin above all Ruins human Intelligence and human Reason so fearfully overthrown where the Ideas of the Soul though distorted and misplaced are quick and all alive to Horror and Agony he grew sick and turned pale and suddenly catching his Uncle by the Arm come Sir let us go said he I can stand this no longer
When they had reached Home and that
Harry
was more composed Are all the Miseries Sir said he that we have witnessed these two Days the Consequences of Sin Even so indeed my
Harry
all these and Thousands more equally pitiable and disgusting are the natural Progeny of that Woebegetting Parent Nor are those Miseries confined to Hospitals alone every House nay every Bosom is a certain though secret Lazarhouse where the sick Couch is preparing with all the dismal Apparatus for Tears and Lamentations for Agonies and Death
Since that is the Case Sir who would laugh any more is it not like Feasting in the Midst of Famine and Dancing amid the Tombs
All Things in their Season my Dear provided that those who laugh be as though they laughed not remembering that they must weep And provided that those who weep be as though they wept not having Joy in their Knowledge that the Fashion of this World quickly passeth away
On the following Day Mr
Fenton
returned to
Hamstead
but left three thousand Pounds with
Harry
and Mr
Clement
to be disposed of at their Discretion among the Poor of the several Parishes of
London
and
Westminster
For this beneficent Purpose they applied to the Clergy and Churchwardens of the respective Parishes but did not wholly trust to their Recommendation They witnessed in Person the Merits of the several Objects After the Example of their divine Master
they went about doing Good
changing the Face of Affliction into Cheer turning the Voice of Mourning into Songs of Thanksgiving lightening every Burden supplying every Want and binding up the broken of Heart
One Evening as our Companions were drinking Tea in the TempleExchange CoffeeHouse a Man advanced in Years but of a very respectable Appearance got up and addressed the Assembly
Gentlemen said he among the several Hospitals and other charitable Foundations that have done Honour to the Humanity of the Inhabitants of this City there is one still wanting which as I conceive above all others would give Distinction to the Beneficence of its Founders it is a House for repenting Prostitutes an Assylum for unhappy Wretches who have no other Home to whom all Doors are shut to whom no Haven is open no Habitation or Hole for Rest upon the Face of the Earth
Most of them have been seduced from native Innocence and Modesty by the Arts of cruel Men Many have been deceived under Promise and Vows of Marriage some under the Appearance of the actual Ceremony and afterward abandoned or turned forth to Infamy by their barbarous and base Undoers Shall no Place then be left for Repentance even to those who do repent forbid it Charity forbid it Manhood Man is born the natural Protector of the Weakness of Woman and if he has not been able to guard her Innocence from Invasion he ought at least to provide a Reception for her Return to Virtue
I have the Plan of this charitable Foundation in my Pocket and if any of you Gentlemen approve my Proposal and are willing to subscribe or to solicit your Friends to so beneficent a Purpose I request your Company to the Leg Tavern over the Way
Here the Speaker walked toward the Door and was followed by
Harry
and
Clement
and thirteen or fourteen more of the Assembly
When a Flask of Port was brought and the Company seated round a large Table the Gentleman produced his Plan with a Summary of the Rules and Institutes for the Conduct of the House which he proposed to call the
MagdalenHouse
A Plan which hath since been espoused and happily executed by others without ascribing any of the Merit to the first Projector
As all present applauded the Manner of the Scheme and Intention of the Charity each of them subscribed from a hundred to twenty Pounds till it came to
Harry
s Turn who subscribed a thousand Pounds in Mr
Fenton
s Name
I suppose Sir said one of the Company that your largest Contributions will arise from the Ladies as the Whole is intended for the Benefit of the Sex I shall not answered the Gentleman apply to a single Lady on this Occasion Not one of them will dare to contribute a Penny lest it should be thought that they partly allow in themselves, the Vices that they can pardon or patronize in others It is this that makes the Case of the Wretches whom we are about to befriend deplorable beyond Measure They are first betrayed by our Sex and then driven out to irretrievable Infamy and Misery by their own For Women to Women are as Turkeys to Turkeys do but cast a little Dirt upon the Head of any one of them and the rest of the Flock combine in an Instant to pick out her Eyes and to tear her to Pieces
Mr
Mole
a learned Philosopher and a Man of principal Figure in the present Company then addressed the Projector and said if you will admit me Sir into Partnership in the Conduct of your Scheme I will engage to levy Contributions to the amount of some Thousands over and above the Hundred I have already subscribed You are heartily welcome Sir replied the Gentleman either to join or take the Conduct of the Whole upon yourself Provided the Good is done I care not by what Means all my Ends will be answered I wish to be nameless That is not fair neither said another of the Company you Mr
Goodville
had the Trouble of contriving this Business and you ought at least to have the Honour if not the Conduct of your own Plan
Mr
Goodville
Mr
Goodville
exclaimed
Clement
in a Surprise eagerly staring at him and recollecting as from a Dream the altered Features of his quondam Friend and Benefactor Pray Sir do you remember any thing of one
Clement
a worthless young Fellow whom once in your Goodness you condescended to patronize
Clement Clement
cried Mr
Goodville
getting up and hastening to him and catching him in his Arms my dear my dear
Clement
my Man of Merit and Misfortunes how rejoiced am I to find you God be praised God be praised it is at length in my Power to do something material for You But come with me to another Room I have something to say to You We will leave these Gentlemen the while to think further of the Plan that lies before them
When Mr
Goodville
and
Clement
had withdrawn Mr
Mole
said one of the Company you are concerned in a Number of these public Benefactions Yes Gentlemen answered
Mole
I believe there is no charitable Institution of any Note in
London
in which I am not a Trustee and to which I am not a Contributor For though I do not set up for Sanctification by Faith yet I think I may pretend to some Justification by Charity Let the vulgar Herd pay their Priesthood for cheating them out of their Senses I give nothing to the fat Impostors or their lucrative Fable my Substance is little enough for myself and the Poor Why pray Sir said
Harry
are you not a Christian No indeed Master answered
Mole
nor any Man who has Sense enough to think for himself Be pleased then cried
Harry
to hand me that Paper a Moment here Sir I dash my Name and Contribution from the List of the Subscribers He who denies
Glory to God in the highest
can never have
Peace or good Will toward Men
and so Sir you shall never be the Almoner of a Penny of my Money
You talk as you look my Dear cried
Mole
like One just eloped from the Nursery where you were frightened by Tales of Ghosts and Hobgoblins I acknowledge Gentlemen the Benefit and Beauty of Morality in its fullest Extent and had
Jesus
the Christian Prophet confined himself to his System of moral Precepts I think he would justly have been esteemed the greatest Philosopher and Legislator that ever breathed But when he or rather his Disciples in his Name in order to enhance the Authority of their Mission pretended to Divinity in their Master the low bred and ignorant Wretches pulled together against the Grain and compounded such a strange Medley of fighting Inconsistencies and selfevident Absurdities as are wholly evasive of every Principle of right Reason and common Sense They taught that God was made a Man that in order to expiate the Sins of the World the Innocent was appointed to suffer for the Guilty That the Sins of all Offenders were to be imputed to One who had never offended and that the Righteousness of him who had never offended was to be imputed to Criminals of the deepest Dye That the Creator submitted himself to the Malignity of his Creatures and that God himself died a shameful Death on the Cross And this Gentlemen makes such a Heap of ridiculous Incoherencies such Contradictions in Sense and Terms as exceeds even the Worship of Apes and Serpents Leeks and Onions and the other Garbage of
Egypt
You are a Villain and a Thief and a Liar cried
Harry
altogether enflamed with Choler
Mole
on hearing these Terms of highest Affront and Reproach instantly caught up a Bottle and threw it at our Heros Head but it happily missed him and only bruised the fleshy Part of the Shoulder of the Gentleman who sat next
Harry
instantly sprung up and made at
Mole
while the Company rose also and attempted to interfere but some he cast on one Hand and some on the Other and overturning such as directly opposed him he reached
Mole
and with one Blow of his Fist on the Temple laid him motionless along the Floor Then looking down on his Adversary I should be sorry said he that the Wretch would die in his present State of Reprobacy here Drawer run quickly and bring me a Surgeon Then returning to his Place he sat down with great Composure
After a Pause he looked around I hope Gentlemen said he that none of You are hurt Indeed I am much concerned for having in any Degree contributed to your Disturbance But had any of You a dear Benefactor and Patron to whom you were bound beyond Measure whom you loved and honoured above all Things could ye bear to hear him defamed and vilified to your Face No certainly answered One no Man could bear it cried Another but pray asked a Third how came you to call the Gentleman a Thief Because replied our Hero he attempted to rob me of my whole Estate He endeavoured to thieve from me the only Friend I had in the Universe the Friend of my Heart the Peace and Rest of my Bosom my infinite Treasure my never ending Delight the Friend without whom I would not choose to be without whom Existence would become a Curse and an Abhorrence unto me Happy young Creature exclaimed an elderly Gentleman I understand you you mean your Christ and my Christ the Friend who has already opened his early Heaven within You
By this Mr
Mole
began to move whereupon
Harry
rose and putting his Hand in his Pocket here Gentlemen said he is one Guinea for the Surgeon and another for the Reckoning When my Companion returns be pleased to tell him I am gone to our Lodgings For I will not stay to hold further Converse or Altercation with that Bane of Society that Pest which the Rulers in Darkness have commissioned to spread Contagion Distemper and Death among Men
Harry
went early to Bed but lay restless and much disturbed in his Spirit all Night Mr
Clement
had heard the Particulars of our Heros Behaviour which he partly disapproved but as he saw him already dejected he did not choose to expostulate with him for the present
The next Day they returned to
Hamstead
where Mr
Fenton
notwithstanding the constrained Smiles of his
Harry
observed an unusual Cloud and Uneasiness in his Countenance I want to speak with You my Love said he and beckoning him into his Closet he took him affectionately by the Hand and made him sit beside him What is the Matter my Dear said he looking concernedly in his Face what is it that has disturbed the Peace of the Bosom of my Beloved
Ah Sir cried
Harry
I am indeed very unhappy I doubt that I am partly losing my Faith and the Fear of that has given me inexpressible Horror It is like tearing me from a Fort out of which there is no Home or Rest for me in the Universe
Here
Harry
made a Recital of the late Affair to his Patron and having closed his Narrative is not this very wonderful Sir said he how or where in the World could this
Mole
have mustered together such Arguments against Reason such Appearances against Truth How must the Vulgar and Illiterate be staggered by such Objections when even I who have been bred as I may say at the Feet of such a
Gamaliel
have not been able to answer them otherwise than by the Chastisement which the Blasphemer received at my Hand
Here Mr
Fenton
smiled and said dont be alarmed my Love We shall quickly dispel the thin Mists of Infidelity that were collected to shut the Sun of Righteousness from your Eye I confess indeed that this Spawn of Antichrist has compiled a Summary of All that has ever been uttered against
the Lamb who was slain from the Foundation of the Word
yet he is but a
Mole
in Nature as well as Name and he with his BrotherMoles know no more and see no further than the little Heap of Dirt and Rubbish that the working of their own purblind and floundering Reason hath cast about them
Sacred Depths and stupendous Mysteries belong to this Matter and when you are able to bear them they shall be clearly and fully unfolded to you my
Harry
In the mean Space a few simple Observations will suffice to reestablish the Peace of your sweet and pious Heart
As Christianity was instituted for the Salvation of the Vulgar the principal Truths thereof are very obvious and plain and want no Learning no Letters to inculcate or teach them They speak the Language of Nature, and all Nature is expressive of the Sense and the Sound thereof Whatever is within you whatever is without you cries aloud for a Saviour For Sin hath been as the
Mezentius
of whom you read in
Virgil
who bound the Bodies of the Dead to the Persons of the Living Thus it is that the Sin of fallen Angels and of fallen Man hath bound Change and Corruption Distemperature and Death to the Elements to the Vegetables to Animals and even to the immortal Image of God himself in the Humanity so that all Things cry out with the Apostle Saint
Paul who shall deliver me from the Body of this Death
So that all Things cry out with the Apostle Saint
Peter save Lord or I perish
These are inevitable Truths my
Harry
which all Men at some time must feel throughout their Existence whether they read them or not And he alone who never experienced nor ever shall experience Frailty Error or Sickness Pain Anguish or Dissolution is exempt from our Solar System of Salvation from Sin
But what Sort of a Saviour is it for whom all Things cry so loudly Is it a dry Moralist a Legislator of bare and external Precepts such as your MolePhilosopher required our
Christ
to be No my Darling no The Influence and Existence of the Redeemer of Nature must at least be as extensive as Nature herself
Things are defiled and corrupted throughout they are distempered and devoted to Death from the inmost Essence of their Being and nothing under him in whom they live and move and have their Being can redeem can restore them
O Sir exclaimed
Harry
his Countenance brightening up why could I not think of this I should then have been able to foil my malignant Adversary even at his own Weapons
Our
Jesus
himself continued Mr
Fenton
appeals to the Truth I have told you where he says to the Sick of the Palsy Son be of good cheer thy Sins are forgiven thee But when the Pharisees thereupon concluded that he blasphemed he demonstrated his Influence in and over the Soul by the sensible Evidence of his Operation and Influence in and over the Body What reason ye in your Hearts said
Jesus
whether is it easier to say thy Sins be forgiven thee or to say rise up and walk Then said he to the Sick of the Palsy arise and take up thy Couch and go to thine House And immediately he rose up before them and took up that whereon he had been carried and departed to his own House glorifying God
Here it was necessary for the performance of this wonderful and instantaneous Cure that
Jesus
should instantly operate in and through every Member Nerve and Fibre of the Sick of the Palsy And it was equally necessary for that Purpose that the Sick of the Palsy should have lived and have had his Being in
Jesus
In like Manner also his Sins must have been pardoned by an inward Salvation by imparting to the Will of the Sinner a new and rectified Will and by informing his Spirit with a Detestation of Evil and a Love of Goodness and Virtue
But pray Sir if it is not too profound a Mystery for me be pleased to inform me how God could be made Man for this was one of the principal Objections of
Mole
God was never made Man my
Harry
God cannot be debased He could not degrade himself by any Change into Manhood though he could exalt and assume Humanity into God Neither could God die or suffer To this Christ himself who was God and Man bears Testimony where he cries out in the Agonies of his suffering Humanity
my God my God why hast thou forsaken me
And again where crying with a loud Voice he said
Father into thy Hands I commend my Spirit
But you are leading me something deeper than I chose to go for the present
From Eternity God saw that should he produce any Creatures in his own Image to be glorious by his Likeness and happy by his Communication he must of Necessity create them intelligent and free and that consequently as Creatures they must be finite and that as Creatures who were free they should also be fallible
He therefore saw that all might fall and he also foresaw that some would fall But his Graciousness had provided
two infallible Remedies
for this Evil of Fallibility He had provided a
Saviour
and he had also provided
Suffering
The
Saviour
was to restore them by an inward Redemption by a Reinfusion and new Birth of his own Nature in their Essence And
Suffering
was to prepare and open his Way by humbling their Pride by mortifying their Lust and thus compelling them to unfold their Hearts to their own Happiness
Indeed had no Creature ever fallen God could not have been duly glorified to all Eternity Millions of his infinitely amiable Qualities must have lain an inscrutable Secret to Worlds upon Worlds While all his Creatures were happy in him and participated of him no Distinction could be duly made between them and their Creator Had Evil never been Goodness would have sunk unspeakably in the Sense of its Value which is now infinitely heightened and glorified by the Contrast Free Grace and free Mercy on the Part of our God and Penitence and Thanksgiving on the Part of humbled Sinners would have been prevented of their thousand endearing Connections And all the Amities and Charities throughout the Brotherhood of Man all the melting and fond Relations which the VineChrist infuses throughout his engrafted Branches bearing Blossoms and Fruits of divine Fragrance and Flavour must ever have remained unblessing and as dead from Eternity to Eternity
But our God my Child is as powerful as he is gracious and wise to bring Light out of Darkness and Life out of Death and infinite and ever enduring Good out of the limited and short State of transitory Evil
To prove that no Being beneath himself could stand of their own Sufficiency God permitted his two principal Creatures the most immediate and most glorious Representatives of his divine Perfections to fall off from their Allegiance and consequently from their Happiness with all their Progeny The first was the Angel
Lucifer
who fell through
Pride
and the second was the Man
Adam
who fell through
Lust
These two capital Sins of
Pride
and of
Lust
are the genuine Parents of all moral and natural Evil of all the Guilt and Misery that ever did or ever can arise throughout Duration and our heavenly Father in his Love hath appointed intense Suffering to abate and abase the
one
and to mortify and slay the
other
that Transgressors may finally be capable of his Mercy through the Salvation and Grace of his Christ
The first of these Archfelons deemed himself worthy of Deity and being unexperienced in the Power with whom he had to contend he attempted to arrogate all Worship to himself and to rob his divine Benefactor of Glory and Godhead
The second of these Felons was tempted by the first to aspire through his own Merits at a godlike Independence to cast off his Allegiance to the Author of his Being and to expect Intelligence and Knowledge from the sensual Fruits of this World after which he lusted He accordingly took and eat of the Tree that was pregnant with all the Goods and all the Evils of this external elementary and transient System
according to his Faith it was done unto him
according to his Lust his Desire was accomplished his Nature became a Partaker of temporary Nature and he fell with his Progeny into all the Depravity and Evils that the Sin of fallen
Lucifer
had introduced into these vast Regions now made more exceedingly corrupt and sinful by the Sin of fallen
Adam
Why pray Sir demanded
Harry
had
Lucifer
any Concern in this World before the Fall of our first Parents
Yes my Dear all the Space that is now occupied by this Earth and these Elements with the Sun Moon and Stars to an inconceivable Extent was once the Heaven and Dominion of
Lucifer
and his Angels But when by their Apostasy from the Light and Love and Goodness of God they had caused Darkness and Malignity Envy Rage and Uproar and every Species of Evil and Horror to be predominant throughout their Kingdom God determined, by a new Creation to take it out of their Hands Accordingly he compacted it into the present System of temporary Nature whose Duration is to be measured by the Revolution of our Luminaries until the appointed Period of the great Consummation when all the Malignity that remains and is compacted therein shall be finally done away
To this Truth
Moses
bears Testimony where he tells you that at the Commencement of Creation Darkness was upon the Face of the great Deep And again where he tells you that the Tree of the Knowledge of the Goods and Evils of this World sprung up even in the Midst of the Paradise of God But it is altogether impious and blasphemous to suppose that God would create Evil or infuse a Tendency thereto into any of his Works Again the same Truth is attested by many Passages of the sacred Writings where
Lucifer
or Satan tells Christ to his Face that this World with all its Glories are his Portion and Property that they were delivered unto him and that he giveth them to whomsoever he will And again where Christ calls him the Prince of the Air and again where he says
the Prince of this World cometh and hath no Part in me
Now when God by his new Creation had delivered this System of Things from the Influence and Dominion of evil Spirits they became altogether Prisoners in their own Darkness But when
Adam
the second Lord of this vast Domain by a second Apostasy had brought additional Sin and Evil into temporary Nature the Paradise of God that was over all vanished and the new Guilt of
Adam
opened a new and wide Gate for the Readmission of
Lucifer
into his ancient Possessions And he remains a Prince and a Ruler in the Elements and Hearts of Men unto this evil Day
These two capital Apostates
Lucifer
and
Adam
who had thus robbed their kind God of their Affections and Allegiance were thereafter represented by the two Thieves who suffered in Company with Christ who reached out to them a bleeding Arm of his Mercy on either Hand The One accepted his Grace and on that Day entered Paradise along with his Lord The Other rejected the Christ with Contempt and Reproach and therefore if ever reclaimable must be constrained by Suffering to open his Heart to Redemption when after a Process of many many agonizing Ages blaspheming and indignantly spurning at the Power of his Punisher he may be compelled to cry out O Seed of the Woman heal heal the Head thou hast crushed and admit me also though last to some Part the least Portion of thy pardoning Salvation
These Two my
Harry
even
Lucifer
and
Adam
were also the Thieves among whom the Traveller fell going from
Jerusalem
to
Jericho
from the City and Place of Peace to the Place of Destruction He represented the wretched Race of fallen Man whom
Lucifer
and their first Father had robbed of all their Substance, and stripped of their Robe of Righteousness and wounded and left half dead in Trespasses and Sins Neither did the Law or the Priesthood avail any Thing for their Cure till JESUS the GOOD SAMARITAN had Compassion upon them and bound up their Wounds pouring therein the Oil of his Grace and the Wine of his Gladness and expended two Pence even the two precious Pence of his own Body and Blood for perfecting their Recovery
But my dearest Sir said
Harry
if my Question does not intrude pray how was it consistent with Justice that the Sufferings of the Innocent should atone both for and instead of the Guilty For this also was one of
Mole
s cardinal Objections
Your Question said Mr
Fenton
falls aptly in its Place When
Adam
as I have told you apostatized from his God and lusted after the gross and sensual Fruits of this World and fed upon them and thereupon became a Partaker of their Nature and Malignity he fell from his Paradise and Sovereignty together and he became a poor Subject and miserable Slave to all the Evils and Inclemencies of that temporary Nature over which he had been constituted a throned Lord and Controller
Here was a deep and a woeful Fall my
Harry
from Sovereignty to Slavery from Eternity into Time from Immortality into Corruption from Bliss into Misery and from Life into Death The very State in which the wretched Heirs of his fallen Nature find themselves at this Day How then was he to rise if ever to rise again could this be effected by any Powers of his own if he did not stand in the State of his Strength how shall he recover and be able to reascend in the State of his Weakness how think you my
Harry
A self evident Impossibility answered
Harry
Here then continued Mr
Fenton
we find the Universe of Man depraved fallen and sunk into the Darkness of Sin and Error into the Dungeon of gross and corruptible Flesh and circled about and closed in by the Barriers and Gates of Death And these Prisons were to be broken through these Gates were to be burst open before he could reenter upon Light and Immortality All the Enemies who had conquered Man
Sin Satan
and
Temptation
were also to be conquered But how was this to be done A World lay at Stake and the great Question was whether the whole Race of Man should continue in endless Guilt and Misery or be restored to everduring Purity and Blessedness Wherefore what all the Powers of Creation were not able to attempt
Jesus
in the Humanity undertook to accomplish
Here you see my Child that Justice had little to do in the Case It was not the
Justice of Punishment
but the
Mercy of Deliverance
that the Love of our heavenly Father required Justice indeed affirmed that Suffering was due to Sin and was the necessary Attendant and Consequence thereof but this also the Love of our Christ willingly took upon himself He conquered Suffering through Sufferings and was thereby made the perfect and accomplished Captain of our Salvation He entered into our Flesh he went through all the Passages of this Vale of Tears and Region of Misery into which we were fallen through Poverty Contempt Rejection Reproach through all that the Rage and Rancour of Men and Devils could inflict his bloody Sweat and anguishing Horrors of Hell Bonds Buffetings Spittings Scourgings the bloody Mockery of a thorny Crown and all the Soulrending Tortures of an agonizing Crucifixion till at last he triumphantly cried
it is finished
and gave up the Ghost From the Cross he descended into the Grave from the Grave again he rose in Glory and ascended into Heaven where he led Captivity Captive and shewed the Powers of Darkness bound that he might lead all the Followers of his beatific Cross in his own divine Process to Conquest through Sufferings to Glory through Abasement to Exaltation through Humiliation through Death unto Life and through the Calamities of Time to a never ending ever blessing ever joyful Eternity
But Sir said
Harry
was the Humanity of our blessed Saviour the same as ours is for so the Scripture seems to intimate where it says he was made Man like unto us in all Things Sin only excepted
This was only spoken answered Mr
Fenton
with respect to his outward Humanity His creaturely Soul indeed and the Flesh which he derived from his mortal Mother were even as ours are Sin only excepted But these were only as the Husk or Case of his internal and divine Humanity which was conceived from the Essence of the FATHER by the Operation of the HOLY SPIRIT in the Womb of a pure Virgin It was this Humanity to which JESUS was intimately united and that became one with the ever blessed TRINITY And it was of the Ubiquity of this Humanity that Christ speaketh when he says to
Nicodemus no Man hath ascended up to Heaven but he that came down from Heaven even the Son of Man which is in Heaven
But when the external Humanity of
Jesus
was by Suffering and Death prepared to be swallowed up of Glory the whole CHRIST was then assumed up into Godhead He saw all Things in
Jesus
as they were and shall be from Eternity to Eternity And though the Glory of his personal Appearance may be visible in certain Places yet he is invisibly present in all Places and in all Hearts begetting in them a new Birth of his own divine Humanity that their Bodies may also be fashioned like unto his glorious Body and that when our Corruptible shall have put on Incorruption and when that our Mortal shall have put on Immortality
We All may be made One as He is in the Father and the Father in him that we also may be One in them
An Elevation sure well worth the hardest Striving the highest Ambition
Thus I have shewn you my
Harry
the inevitable Necessity of the Suffering of our innocent Christ for the Salvation of guilty Sinners And this also shews you the equal Necessity of his taking upon himself the external Imputation of the Sins for which he suffered that he might thereby be inwardly imputed to us and become to us and in us the LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS and be to us a better
Adam
a second and divine Father regenerating us to a Birth of his own heavenly Nature And thus as the first
Adam
died unto God and lived to fallen Nature there was a Necessity that Christ as well in his own Person as his redeemed Progeny should die to the fallen Nature that through him they might live again unto God
O thank you thank you Sir cried
Harry
I shall henceforth be enabled to give an Account to all who ask of the Faith that is in me But pray did the divine Humanity of our Christ suffer in the Crucifixion
I believe it did
Harry
even as our Souls are found to suffer in our Bodies though of a Nature so very different from them It was the Suffering of this divine Humanity that caused such violent Repugnance and Convulsions in Nature; that shut up the World from Light even at mid Day that rent the Rocks that opened the Graves and gave up the Dead to attend their Lord and revive in the Life of his Resurrection
Will you be pleased Sir to indulge me in one Question more Could not God in his Omnipotence have affected the Salvation of Man by some other Means than the Suffering of our dear Christ I think were it to be done again I would rather forfeit my Salvation than that He should endure such Agony on my Account
I will not pretend my
Harry
to give Limits or Directions to the Measures of my God neither to say what he might or might not do within his own World and with regard to his own Creatures But it is certain that he chose the most effectual Method for compassing his great and eternal Purpose that infinite Love could dictate infinite Wisdom contrive and infinite Power execute O my
Harry
how unutterably endeared must this Measure make our God to the Universe of his Creatures and that to all Eternity It is herein that the Nature of our God is revealed it is hereby alone that he could ever have been duly known known to be the God of Love to be nothing but Love in this his wonderful Work of Mercy transcending Mercy and of Grace transcending Grace that he might bring us to Glory transcending Glory
In this stupendous Work of Redemption I say
Jesus
makes himself as it were little that we may become great He stoops into Manhood that he may exalt us into God He came not arrayed in the Fools Coat of the Lustre of this despicable World nor in the Weakness of its Power nor in the Meanness of its Dignity but over his Immensity he threw the Appearance of Limitation and with Time he invested his Eternity and his Omnipotence put on Frailty and his Supremacy put on Subjection and with the Veil of Mortality he shrouded his Beauty that he might become familiar to us that we might behold and converse with him Face to Face as Man converses with Man and grows fond of his Fellow
Before the Incarnation God was feared in his Thunders and adored in the Majesty and Magnificence of his Works But it is in the meek and lowly
Jesus
that he becomes the Object of Affection in the bleeding the suffering the dying
Jesus
we behold him with weeping Gratitude we love him with a Love of Passion and Burning a Love that languishes for him that cannot bear to exist without him
How could that perverse People shut their Eyes to the Divinity of their gracious
Messiah
while he gave such hourly and ocular Proofs of the Power and Extent of his Godhead in and over all Things while he went about doing Good carrying Healing in his Breath in his Touch in his Garments while the Lame sprung up as a bounding Roe at his Bidding while the Tempest heard his Voice and was still and the Sea spread itself as a Carpet beneath the Foot of its Creator While the deaf Ear was opened and the dumb Tongue loosed to Utterance while he poured the Beams of his Light upon the newopening Eyes of the blindborn Gazer and while in Death and amidst the Tombs his Word was Life and Resurrection
Thus my
Harry
you find yourself united to your Saviour by many endearing and intimate Connections by Creation by Redemption by Brotherhood by Fatherhood in the Flesh in the Spirit by his being Bone of your Bone and Spirit of your Spirit by being the
FirstBorn of many Brethren
and by being the divine Father of a new and celestial Progeny
But what need we further the World from the Beginning is fraught with him and speaks of him The World is in itself, no other than a History of the two capital and eternally important Truths THE GREATNESS OF THE FALL in
Lucifer
and
Adam
and THE GREATNESS OF THE REDEMPTION in
Jesus Christ
These Truths are engraven in the Rocks as deep as the Centre they are written on both Sides of every Leaf in Nature. All that is within us All that is without us utters forth the same Language proclaims the same Tidings aloud All Ceremonials all Institutions of divine Authority all ancient Predictions and Prophecies were pregnant with and in Travail of the GREAT DELIVERANCE to be achieved by the
Shiloh
who was to come They give us a previous History of his whole Process upon Earth from his Birth to his Resurrection as circumstantially as minutely as though it were a bare Transcript of what had recently passed before their Eyes But I shall only dwell a Minute on three principal Articles first that Messiah was to be God secondly that he was however to be a suffering Messiah and thirdly that he was to give himself to Death for the Salvation of Sinners
FIRST with Respect to his Divinity
Daniel
says
I saw in the Night Visions and behold One like unto the SON OF MAN came with the Clouds of Heaven and came to the ANCIENT OF DAYS and they brought him near before him And there was given him DOMINION and GLORY and a KINGDOM that all People Nations and Languages should serve him his DOMINION is an EVERLASTING DOMINION which shall not pass away
Again
Isaiah
Behold a Virgin shall conceive and bear a Son For unto us a Child is born unto us a Son is given, and the Government shall be upon his Shoulder and his Name shall be called WONDERFUL COUNSELLOR the MIGHTY GOD the EVERLASTING FATHER the PRINCE of PEACE Of the Increase of his GOVERNMENT and PEACE there shall be NO END upon the Throne of
David
and upon his Kingdom to order it and to establish it with JUDGMENT and with JUSTICE from henceforth even FOR EVER
SECONDLY with Respect to his Character of Rejection and Suffering
Who hath believed our Report and to whom is the Arm of the Lord revealed He is despised and rejected of Men a Man of Sorrows and acquainted with Grief and we hid as it were our Faces from him he was despised and we esteemed him not He was oppressed and he was afflicted he is brought as a Lamb to the Slaughter and as a Sheep before her Shearers is dumb so openeth he not his Mouth He was taken from Prison and from Judgment and who shall declare his Generation for he was cut off out of the Land of the Living for the Transgression of my People was he stricken And he made his Grave with the Wicked and with the Rich in his Death
Isaiah
David
too says
Dogs have compassed me the Assembly of the Wicked have enclosed me they pierced my Hands and my Feet They part my Garments among them and cast Lots for my Vesture But a Bone of him shall not be broken They shall look on him whom they pierced
THIRDLY with Respect to his being a willing Offering for Sin
Isaiah
says in the same Chapter
Surely he hath born our Griefs and carried our Sorrows yet we did esteem him stricken smitten of God and afflicted But he was wounded for our Transgressions he was bruised for our Iniquities the Chastisement of our Peace was upon him and with his Stripes we are healed All we like Sheep have gone astray we have turned every one to his own Way and the Lord hath laid on him the Iniquity of us All
Jeremiah
too
Here Mr
Fenton
was interrupted His Man
Frank
entered booted and all bespattered with Dirt and having whispered Something in his Masters Ear Mr
Fenton
turned aside his Head to hide his Concern from
Harry
and stepping to his Closet locked himself in
BUT it may be thought full Time to return to the HeadBranch of this noble Family
Nearly nine Years had now elapsed since the Earl and his Lady had seen or heard of their
Harry
except by two or three anonymous Notes in a Year giving a short Account of his Health and Accomplishments insomuch that Time and long Absence had in a Measure worn him from the Regrets of the Family excepting his Brother
Richard
on whom
Harry
s Generosity in taking his Quarrel upon himself had left an affecting and indelible Impression
Lord
Richard
was indeed sweetly dispositioned by Nature and of an Aspect and Person extremely elegant and as he had Tutors in all Branches in which he chose to be instructed he learned sufficient by Way of Amusement to render him One of the most accomplished Youths in the Nation He was also naturally unassuming and modestly disposed but the unremitted Adulation of Domestics and Dependents with the complimentary Artillery of all the Neighbours and Visitants could not fail of some Impression at least so far as to make it evident that he was conscious of his Condescension when he became familiar with you
He was however easy to All who applied to him for any Favour exceeding charitable to the Poor and particularly fond of our
Harry
s Fostermother and kind to her for
Harry
s Sake
With such amiable Qualities he was esteemed and beloved of All and became the little Idol of the adjacent Country insomuch that when he was seized with the Small Pox the Apprehension and Anxiety for him was universal, and the great Mansion House was hourly circled by People who came crowding to enquire concerning his Danger
The Eruption was but slight only a few Spots on his Face and other Parts so that my Lady was in high Triumph on observing that the Beauty of her Darling should not be defaced But ah how frail is the Foundation on which Mortality builds for Happiness who can ensure it who can arrest it for an Hour for a Moment On the eleventh Day when the Physicians pronounced that All was promising and full of Hope Lord
Richard
was suddenly taken with Convulsions and in less than an Hour expired
Lady
Enna
Countess of
Moreland
from whom the Seat had been newly denominated
Ennas Field
or
Enfield
was present at the Death of All that she held most precious upon Earth She had never left his Chamber since he had taken to his Bed and was now carried off in a deep and deathlike Swoon She never after recovered her Senses except by deplorable Starts to lament that she was the most wretched of All that ever were created and on the second Day She also expired and was interred in the same Tomb with the Offspring of her Body and the Idol of her Heart
Never was seen such a Concourse at any Funeral since the Funeral of
Jacob
on which all
Egypt
attended They crowded from a Distance of thirty Miles round But when they saw the old and revered Patron of the Country all covered with sad and solemn Weeds when they beheld his Countenance exceeding all Pomp of Sorrow and conceived the Weight and Wringing that was then at his Heart Envy was quite blunted and robbed of its Sting They now lamented the Living more than they mourned the Dead and the poorest among the Poor looked down with an Eye of Compassion upon the great Man now rendered as they deemed more pitiable and desolate even than themselves without Child or Kindred without Any to continue his Name or his Honours without Any who could claim a Share in his Wealth or his Woe without any Cause of further Comfort or further Care upon Earth
During the following Week the Earl kept his Chamber and would admit of no Visitor till Mr
Meekly
arrived
Mr
Meekly
had long estranged himself to
Enfield
he had gone elsewhere seeking the Houses of Mourning and breathing Peace and Consolation wherever he went but as soon as he heard of the Affliction of his noble Friend he hastened to help him to bear up under the Weight of his Calamity He entered and seating himself in Silence beside the Earl he there wept near an Hour without uttering a Syllable
My Lord was the first who spoke Mr
Meekly
said he my Heart gratefully feels this melting Proof of your Love You weep for me my Friend because You see and kindly feel that there is no other Comfort for me on this Side the Grave
God forbid God forbid said Mr
Meekly
the best and greatest of all Comforts is coming to you my Lord Eternal Truth has promised it and he will make it good to you
blessed blessed are they who mourn for they shall be comforted
Ah Mr
Meekly
replied the Earl the Comfort that you mention is promised only to the deeply contrite and broken of Heart to those who duly lament the Baseness of their Offences against so great and good a God Neither do I despair my Friend but that I also may finally share some Portion of that same Comfort for as I feelingly acknowledge myself the greatest of all Sinners so I wish for Grace to make me the greatest of Penitents
God be praised cried
Meekly
for the Grace already given There was a Time my Lord when as you told me you had nothing of these divine Dispositions when the World as you said seemed to hold out Happiness to you in either Hand when Fortune Title Precedence circling Honours about you and within you Youth and Health and a reveling Flow of Blood and Spirits wholly disguised and concealed the State of your Nature from you when they hid from you your own Body of Frailty Distemper Sin and Death and left you no Occasion to call out for a Saviour as you felt nothing from which you desired to be saved But God has now been graciously pleased to send you his Monitors and to call upon you by Affliction that you in your Turn may call upon him who alone can give you Consolation
It is not my Lord to the Mourners for Sin alone to whom Comfort is promised The State of Suffering and Mourning is in its Nature extremely salutary and of happy Tendency to Man and it is, therefore, that the suffering
Jesus
hath pronounced it blessed
The God of ALL LOVE takes no Delight in the Sufferings of his poor and pitiable Creatures neither would he have made this State of our Mortality a Vale of Tears and a State of Misery had it not been in order to conduct us through transitory Evils to ever enduring Bliss where he himself will wipe all Tears from our Eyes
When
Adam
by his Apostasy and falling off from his Maker had converted all the Goods of this temporary State into evil Incitements to Lust Covetousness and Sensuality God determined, by a gracious Reverse to turn all the Evils of corrupt and fallen Nature into Means of enduring Good to his fallen and frail Creatures he therefore appointed Pain Affliction Distress and Disease to be his Ministers his Monitors and Preachers within us to convince us of all the Evil of our depraved and mortal Nature to wean us from a World that is full of false Promises but empty of true Enjoyment to remind us that we are Strangers and Pilgrims upon Earth to turn our Eye to the Star that hath visited us from on high and finally through our Sufferings to accomplish the great Work of his own Salvation in us.
Thank you thank you Mr
Meekly
these are comforting Things indeed They pluck Comfort from the very Depth and Abyss of Affliction I love that my God should be lovely to my Heart You have now rent the dark Veil that long hung before my Eyes and the Sun of Righteousness breaks upon me through the Clouds of my Mortality But what of Death Mr
Meekly
what of Death my Friend I am interested in the Question my Time is approaching When this Body shall fall to Dust and all these Organs of Sensation be utterly cut off what remains what then shall follow by what Means shall my Spirit attain the Powers of new Perception or am I to lye in the Grave in a State of total Insensibility till the last Trumpet shall sound my Nature shrinks I confess from a total Deprivation of the Sense of Existence
It is no Way evident to me my Lord that Body or at least such gross Bodies as we now have are necessary to the Perceptions and Sensibilities of our Spirit God himself is a Spirit an allseeing allhearing alltasting allsmelling allfeeling allknowing and allgoverning Spirit He who made the Eye shall he not see He who made the Ear shall he not hear Wherefore as our Spirits are the Offsprings of his divine Spirit we may justly presume them endowed with like Capacities But if Body is necessary to the Perception of Spirit as
Zoroaster
the illuminated Philosopher seems to intimate where speaking of God he says
whose Body is Light and whose Soul is Truth
in this Case I say we may reasonably suppose that when our Spirits shall be parted from these gross and frail Bodies they shall be instantly clothed upon with more pure and permanent Bodies Or as I rather think that those pure and permanent Bodies are already forming and pregnant within our gross and corruptible Bodies and that when the Midwife Death shall deliver us from the dark Womb of our woeful Travail and Mortality we shall immediately spring forth into Incorruption and Glory
Of this my Lord I am confident as I am of my Being that He who by Faith hath already put on Christ shall break through Death in the Brightness of the Body of his new Birth incorruptible immortal and blessed to all Eternity
Tell me then my dearest
Meekly
what mean you by the Body of this new Birth For alas I am but too apt to cry out with
Nicodemus How can these things be
I mean my Lord the forming of Christ within us Our being formed anew of a divine Seed of our second
Adam
even as our gross Bodies were formed in the Womb from a corruptible Seed of the old
Adam
I mean the clothing of our Spirits with the heavenly Substantiality of the spiritual Body and Blood of the heavenly
Jesus
himself for as the Apostle says there is a spiritual Body as there is a carnal Body I mean a Body the same as that in which the believing Thief entered Paradise with his Lord on the Day of the Crucifixion
I am the Resurrection and the Life
saith JESUS
whoso believeth in me though he were dead yet shall he live and he who liveth and believeth in me shall never die
Death shall become a new and divine Birth unto him And the great Apostle says
there are celestial Bodies and Bodies terrestrial but the Glory of the Celestial is one and the Glory of the Terrestrial is another
And again he says
for we know that if our earthly House of this Tabernacle were dissolved we have a Building of God an House not made with Hands eternal in the Heavens
These are great Things indeed Mr
Meekly
and full of Hope as well as Incitements to divine Ambition
But why my Lord should a new Birth from
Jesus Christ
be thought wonderful is there any thing more wonderful in it than in the forming and unfolding of the whole stupendous Mechanism of the Body of our old Man from a scarce visible Speck of Entity Is there any thing more wonderful in it than in the Growth and unfolding of any common Vegetable from some latent Principle or invisible Speck in the Seed which not all the Optics and Glasses of a
Galileo
should be able to discover Were not these the known Facts of every Day and Hour Incredulity would have laughed the Supposition to naught But I think I have got about me Something most surprisingly analogous and apposite to the Nature and Manner of our new Birth in
Jesus
Mr
Meekly
then put his Hand to his Pocket and took out a Lump of Matter, in Form like a long and huge Maggot evidently without Motion apparently without Life and hard and incrusted all about to the Feeling
What have you got there my Friend said the Earl An old Worm my Lord that at this Instant is pregnant with the Birth of a new Creature Impossible cried the Earl the Thing is absolutely dead The Body of the old Worm is dead indeed my Lord but there is certainly a Principle of a new Life within it that will soon manifest itself in the Birth of a very beautiful and wonderfully glorious Creature And this you will find if you leave it for a few Days where it may get the fostering Warmth of the Sun through one of your Windows Have you ever seen the Fly they call the DragonFly my Lord
Yes and have admired the Elegance of its Shape the Mechanism of its double Wings and the Lustre of its Irradiations
This Mass my Lord of apparently insensible Matter is now actually pregnant with One of the same Species The Parent through whose Death it is to attain Life was no Other as you see than a vile and groveling Maggot who once fed and took its Delight in the Stench and Ordure of a Jakes But the new Creature that is to be born from it will be quite of a different Nature and Tendency It will loath the Food and Occupation of its foul Progenitor It will soar sublime over carnal and earthly Things It will drink the Dews of Heaven and feed on the consummate Nectar and Fragrance of Flowers
This indeed Mr
Meekly
rejoined the Earl is to make the invisible Things of God visible even to the naked Eye by the Things that are seen
While my Lord and his Friend were thus deeply in Discourse Mr
John
the HouseSteward came in and told his Master that One waited in the Hall with a Letter for him
A Letter cried the Earl what can I have to say
John
to any Letters or any of the Writers thereof But something is due to Humanity and it shall be paid desire him to step in
Hereupon a Stranger entered whose Figure instantly caught the Eyes and Attention of the Earl and his Companion in an astonished Captivity The Youth was dressed in simple Fustian and his dark brown Locks tied behind with a black Riband flowed carelessly between his Shoulders while some of the front straying Curls as in Sport alternately shaded and discovered a Part of his lovely Countenance He bowed he moved Attraction and gracefully advancing toward my Lord he again bowed laid a Letter before him on the Table and then silently retired backward a few Steps
They viewed him they gazed upon him as it had been the sudden Vision of an Angel of Light Mr
Meekly
was not able to utter a Word neither had my Lord the Power to lay a Finger on the Paper that was directed to him till Mr
Meekly
at last giving a great Stroke on the Table cried suddenly out I would lay a thousand Pounds of it It is He it is he My Heart tells me he can be no Other but your
Harry Clinton
Here
Harry
sprung forward and casting himself precipitately at the Feet of the Earl he clasped his Knees with an eager Reverence crying My Father my honoured my dear my dear Father and broke into Tears
My Lord all in a Tremor attempted to raise him to his Arms and
Harry
perceiving this rose and threw himself into the Bosom of his Father But the Earl gently and fondly put him off a little and gazing intently at a Countenance that appeared to him lovely above All that was lovely in the Circle of Creation he gathered new Strength and catching
Harry
to his Breast he exclaimed in a Transport
Let me die let me die since I have seen thy Face my Son
THUS my Lord in the recent Acquisition of such a Son forgot all his Losses and cast the whole Weight of his late Calamities behind him His Eye could not be tired with seeing him neither his Ear with hearing the Sweetness of his Voice and he continued to hold to gaze at him to caress him unmindful of aught else unmindful even of his Friend
Meekly
who sat enraptured beside him
Will you leave me again my Child cried out the Earl do you intend to go from me again my
Harry
you must not you shall not leave me not for an Hour no not for a Minute a second Loss of my Son would quickly bring my grey Hairs with Sorrow to the Grave Never never my Lord will I leave you tenderly cried
Harry
never for a Moment will I forsake you again my Father I come purposely to watch over to comfort to tend you while I have Life with all possible Tenderness Affection and Duty
But where hastily asked the Earl where is the Murderer who stabbed my Peace where is that old Thief that Robber who rent my Child from me Ah my Lord cried
Harry
he is very far from meriting such opprobrious Epithets He is a Summary of all that is excellent all that is amiable in Nature. He respects and loves you too above the World and all that is in it deserving of Love O had you lately seen his Grief for your Losses the Floods of Tears he shed for for for Here
Harry
could no more but on the Recollection of his Mother and Brother burst into Tears
But tell me my Dear continued the Earl tell me who and what he is whom you commend so highly
Even the Son of your own Mother my Lord my much loved my revered my most honoured Uncle
Impossible my Child That old despicable Man my Brother No no my
Harry
he must have deceived you My Brother was All that was amiable upon Earth
the Fairest among ten Thousand
the straightest Cedar in the Forest
And such he is at this Day my Lord But alas alas he has been broken by the Batteries of many Afflictions a Man wholly made up of Sorrows and acquainted with killing Griefs You wanted me not when he took me my Father You had other and richer Treasures Comforts that were infinitely more worthy your Regard But little and despicable as I was He had nothing but me I became his only Comfort the only Treasure in which he delighted Yet as soon as he heard that you wanted Consolation he chose rather to be without it himself and so he restores me to you if I may be any little Matter of Comfort to you my Father
And where is this dear Uncle this precious Brother my
Harry
Is he come with you shall I be so blessed to take him in with my Eye to take him in with my Arms to petition to obtain his Pardon to press him to my Bosom to my Heart to my Soul where is he where is this precious Brother my
Harry
He is not come with me my Lord he feared as he said that you would not forgive him the carrying off of your
Ganymede
but he is desirous of attending you on the first Intimation
Then you must write to him for that Purpose to Morrow my Son and dispatch your Invitation by some of our swiftest Horses The Influence of his Darling will unquestionably be greater than that of an offending and unnatural Brother Is this Letter from him
Harry
it is my Lord Then I will not peruse it till I get by myself It probably contains Reproaches but too well merited or possibly Matters of Consolation too tender for me to bear But Mr
Meekly
my dearest
Meekly
ten thousand Pardons
Harry
take to your Arms the Man in the World next to your Uncle most deserving of your Reverence most deserving of your Heart
Here Mr
Meekly
kissed and embraced our Hero with all the Tenderness of a Father and the Ardour of an old Friend
Mr
Meekly
cried
Harry
looking earnestly and fondly at him do I not remember something of that Face Mr
Meekly
Are you not the Gentleman for whom I long since conceived such an Attachment to whom my Heart cleaved as I may say from my Infancy
I am my heavenly Creature answered
Meekly
I am the Man indeed whose Soul was knit to yours like the Soul of
Jonathan
to
David
the first Moment I beheld you and who saw in you then all those noble generous and divinely humane Propensities that I see arrived to their Maturity at this happy Day
While Mr
Meekly
was thus rejoicing
Harry
happened to turn his Head aside and spying the lively Portraits of my Lady and Lord
Richard
he started he rose and gazing on them a Minute he went softly to the Window and taking out his Handkerchief kept his Back to the Company while he vented his Emotions in a silent Passion of Tears His Father and Mr
Meekly
perceived what he was about but they did not disturb him He brought fresh to their Remembrance all the Passages of late Affliction and they silently joined a Flow of Grief to his But their Tears were the Tears of sympathising Humanity or rather Tears of Delight on observing the sweet Sensibilities of their Darling
In the mean Time Mr
Frank
who attended on
Harry
had whisperingly given the mourning Domestics an Intimation concerning the Person of the Stranger who had arrived Some of them well remembered him and All of them had heard of him and conceived a very kindly Impression of our
Harry
They first expressed their mutual Joy by Kisses Embraces and silent Shakes of the Hand but in a little Space their Congratulations became more loud and tumultuous and the Voice of Exultation was heard through all the lower House
Harry
hereupon felt himself secretly hurt and turning to his Father his yet tearful Countenance my Lord says he I beseech you to suppress this unseasonable Sound of Joy among your Servants in a House that ought so justly to be the House of Mourning My Love mildly and kindly answered the Earl I cannot wholly refuse to my poor and afflicted People some Share of that Comfort which I myself feel on the Return of my
Harry
They are All my old and true Servants my Child this is no other than an Expression of their Love to you and to me and I request you to receive them affectionately for my Sake
Here the Earl rung a Bell and desired that all his Domestics should come in
They accordingly entered
Harry
perfectly recollected Mr
John
the Steward Mr
Samuel
the Butler and old Mrs
Mary
the Cook He called them by their Names reminded them of old Times and took them in his Arms with much Affection He then turned to the other Servants He took Each of them by the Hand in Turns and spoke to them with such a natural Ease and Lowliness as though he himself desired in his Fathers House to become also
as One of his hired Servants
Hereupon gathering All about him they catched and kissed his Hand by Force and then kneeling around they promiscuously petitioned for Blessings on his Head and rising retired in a pleasing Passion of Sobs and Tears while the enraptured Earl beheld All with a Mixture of such blissful Sensations as he had never felt before
It now began to grow late and after a short Repast of some small Matters my Lord proposed their retiring to Bed but my Friend said he to
Harry
you must content yourself with being my Prisoner for the present you must lie in my Chamber I will not trust my Lamb from my Side for Fear of its going once more astray Ah my Lord cried
Harry
there is no Fear of that My Heart is wholly your Property and you have thereby a sure Hold of all that I am or can have
The next Morning
Harry
impatiently rose before the Servants were stirring and unlocking the great Door and closing it softly after him he went out exulting on his premeditated Expedition He reconnoitered and recollected the quondam Scenes of his Childhood and flying like a Bird over the Hedges and other Obstacles he made the shortest Way to his still precious Mammys
When he approached the Place of his infant Endearments he met his Fosterfather going forth to his Field with a solemn and melancholy Air on his usual Occupations
Harry
instantly remembered the Features once so delightful and springing to him and catching at him he kissed and clasped him repeatedly and cried aloud my Daddy my Daddy my dear dear Daddy
Dobson
how glad am I to see you once again how is my Mammy my dear Mammy how is little
Tommy
and little
Rachel
and all our dear Family
The old Man then respectfully withdrawing a Space I dont know you my sweet Master said he I never saw you before Indeed but you did many and many a time and oft cried
Harry
you carried me in your Arms almost the livelong Day and pressed and hushed me to sleep at Night in your Bosom Dont you remember your little
Harry
dont you remember my two Dogs dont you remember my Cock
O exclaimed the good old Man I now believe that you are my Child the dearest Child that ever was born But I never hoped to see him such a Thing as you are I never thought to see such a glorious Creature upon Earth
Here old
Dobson
returned
Harry
s Caresses with a twofold Force and blubbering all aloud had like to have smothered him with the Intenseness of his Embraces
Bring me bring me cried
Harry
to the Sight of my dearest Mammy I am all impatient to behold her
Not so fast said Gaffer
Dobson
I love my old loving
Cate
and should she find you out of a sudden she would certainly die of Joy But I will bring you to her as a Stranger and so you may bring Matters about And indeed I fear that my own Head is likely to be crazed by this Business for I do not find that I am the same Man that I was a while agone I shall grow too proud I doubt and look down upon all my better Neighbours
Goodman
Dobson
then conducted
Harry
to their ancient Habitation Nurse
Dobson
was just up and preparing to comb the Heads of her Children when they entered
Cate
says he I have brought to you a young Stranger who says he can give you some Account of our little
Harry
who says he is still alive notwithstanding all your Frights and will shortly pay a Visit to some Parts of this Country and who knows then but that we among Others may happen to set our Eyes upon him and that I think would be a great Blessing my
Cate
O no no no exclaimed Nurse without deigning to cast her Eyes on the Stranger he is dead he is gone from me these many many Years I once hoped to have his Infant on my Knee and in my Bosom but that Hope is quite gone never never shall I behold my Darling again
Harry
had seated himself just opposite to Nurse when looking up she started and stared eagerly in his Face Dont impose upon me
William
says she tell me tell me at once mayhap this is my Child Ah against the World the Dimple in that Smile is the Dimple of my
Harry
Here
Harry
sprung up and at one Leap caught his rising Nurse in his Arms crying my Mammy my Mammy my dearest Mammy do I live to be pressed once more to your dear Bosom
But the poor Woman breathed short and could not get out a Word Twenty times she put him from her and catched him to her again gazing at him by Intervals with a frantic Affection At length she cast herself back on the Bench that was behind her and clapping her Hands together she gave a great Shout and burst into an hysterical Passion of Tears while
Harry
seated himself beside her and gently drawing her Head to him placed it fondly on his Bosom and mixed his Tears with hers
This Gush came very seasonably for our loving Nurses Relief She soon recovered her Breath and her Senses and seeing some Drops on her
Harry
s Cheeks she drew them in with her Lips crying precious Pearls be these I would not exchange One of them for the brightest Diamond in the Mines
Mammy says
Harry
I stole away to come and see you while my Father was asleep or else I should not have had Leave to stir from him a Foot But You and my Daddy must promise to come and dine with me we will have a Table by Ourselves And do You my dear Mammy step to our House and if my Father should miss me tell him I am gone into the Town and will be back with him before Breakfast
Harry
then stepped to the Village and remembering Gaffer
Truck
s House he went familiarly in and enquired of the good Woman how all the Family was Pray how is my honest old
Bartholemew
says he and how is your pretty Daughter
Molly
and above all what is become of my old Friend
Tom
The poor Woman all in Amazement cried a pretty
Tom
he is forsooth to be Friend to such a sweet young Gentleman as You are But Truth is that our
Tom
is at prentice to a Barber at next Door Well says
Harry
when Gaffer
Truck
comes Home tell him that his old Acquaintance
Harry Clinton
called to see him
Tom
had just finished an Operation on a Neighbour as our Hero entered How are you
Tom
says he carelessly
Tom
gaped and stared and gaped but answered not a Word Will you give me a Cast of your Office
Tom
Ay that I will Master as soon you get a Beard Why
Tom
you are grown a huge hulking Fellow since I saw you last will you step to yonder Green and wrestle one Fall with me No no Master I should hurt you methinks I could throw a Dozen of such fairweather Gentlemen as You are Master
Harry
instantly seized
Tom
by the Breast with one Hand and by the Shoulder with the Other when
Tom
feeling the Hardness and Hurt of his Gripe immediately exerted his Powers and grappled with his Adversary But
Harry
giving him a slight Foot laid him on the broad of his Back in the Middle of his own Floor but kept him with both Hands from being hurt against the Ground
I believe said
Tom
rising You must certainly be the Devil and come as they say to fling poor Sinners in the Shape of an Angel of Light Ah
Tom Tom
cried
Harry
this is not the first Struggle that you and I have had Do you remember the Bag of Nuts and poor blind
Tommy
have you forgot your old Friend your little
Harry Clinton
Blessed Mercy exclaimed
Tom
can you be my young Lord my Hearts dear young Master I am indeed answered
Harry
your old Acquaintance my dear
Tom
your loving Friend
Harry Clinton
And so saying he took
Tom
about the Neck and kissed him very cordially
Tom
says
Harry
I want you to take a Walk with me
Tom
instantly assented and out they went
As they walked along
Harry
began to grow sad
Tom
said he do you know where my dear Brother
Dickey
was buried Yes Sir said
Tom
a great Way off in yonder Church Yard below the Towns End Do you know where the Sexton lives
Tom
In a little white House Sir just joining the Yard
As soon as they arrived
Tom
called out the Sexton and
Harry
putting a Guinea into his Hand ordered him directly to unlock the Family Vault
The Man looked astonished but obeyed in Silence and
Harry
as he entered desired the Sexton and
Tom
to wait at a Distance and promised to be with them by and by
He put to the Door after him just leaving Light enough to distinguish the recent Deposits of the Dead
O said he as he advanced thou true House of Mourning thou silent End of all Men how sad art thou to Sense how sad to me above All who bearest in thy dark Bosom such precious and beloved Relics
Then casting himself on the Coffins of my Lady and Lord
Richard
as they lay Side by Side and clasping his Arms about them as far as he could reach O he cried my Mother my Brother my dearest Brother my dearest Mother you are gone you are gone from me and You never knew the Love that your Son and Brother had for You Ah how did I flatter myself what Happiness did I not propose in attending serving and pleasing You in doing thousands of tender kindly and endearing Offices about You but you are snatched from me my Mother you are snatched from me my Brother all my Prospects are defeated and cut away for ever You will no more return to me but I shall go to You and O that I were laid with You this Minute in this still and peaceful Mansion where Hopes and Fears cease and All are humbled together
Mean while Mr
Meekly
and gone abroad on his Mornings Walk He met Nurse on her Way to the Mansion House and accosting her in a kind of Triumph my good Nurse says he we have blessed Tidings for you Your
Harry
your Hero is come to the Country I know it Sir I know it answered Nurse it is but a little while ago that my Babe left my Bosom
Mr
Meekly
then proceeded in order to join his young Friend enquiring of All he met which Way Lord
Henry
went till at last he was directed to the Church Yard There he found
Tom
and the Sexton who on further Question silently pointed to the Door of the Family Vault that hung on the jar
Mr
Meekly
felt himself affected and withdrew to a greater Distance but still keeping his tearful Eye on the sad Mansion that now held the Living with the Dead
At length
Harry
came forth drying his Cheeks with his Handkerchief He assumed a constrained Air of Cheerfulness and joining
Tom
and the Sexton observed that a great Crowd was gathering in the Town
Who are Those
Tom
says he I suppose answered
Tom
your Honours Tenants and old Acquaintances who are getting together to welcome You to the Country If that is the Case
Tom
we must go and salute them and You shall introduce me and tell me who is who
Mr
Meekly
perceiving that
Harry
was on his Return kept onward aloof from him but with an Eye on his Motions
By this Time the Crowd had sorted themselves the Principals of the Families into one Group the young Men into Another and the fair Maidens into Another And as
Harry
approached They all set up a joint Shout of Triumph
Please your Honour says
Tom
this is my Father and this is Gaffer
Gubbins
and this Goodman
Demster
and this Farmer
Felster
and so on
Harry
with the Lowliness of a Washer of Feet would have kissed and embraced them All in Turns but pressing about him they seized a Hand on either Side and eagerly kissed them as also the Skirts of his Clothes all round
God bless your sweet Face God bless your sweet Face cried Goodman
Demster
who so sees it in a Morning cant fail I think of prospering the livelong Day
When he came in Succession to the Companions of his Infancy as he kissed and shook Hands with Each in turn Some reminded him of his having beat them at Boxing Others at Wrestling and All of his having played with them at PrisonBars Leapfrog Shoot the Gate and so forth
Mean while the Girls panted gazed at him and longed to get him to themselves Sir says
Tom
here is your old Acquaintance my Sister
Molly
there is not a Lad in the Town whom she is not able to toss except your Honour
Molly
looked full of Health as
Haebe
and rosy as the May and
Harry
caught her about the Neck and kissed her very cordially Do you remember me
Molly
O answered
Molly
I shall never forget since your Honours Lordship and I used to wrestle every Day behind our House Ay
Molly
cried
Harry
there was no Harm in it then but a Fall at this Day might be Dangerous to One of us above all things take Care of that my good
Molly
And if you know ere a pretty Lad to whom you have a Liking I will give You fifty Guineas for old Acquaintance sake toward making up your Portion
The Rest of the Girls now pressed for their Share of
Harry
and it was with Difficulty that he divided himself with any satisfactory Equality among them as they All kissed him so close and seemed so loth to part
At length
Harry
s Watch reminded him that it was Time to attend his Father and as he parted they shouted after him long Life and Health and Honours to our Townsman our own Boy our own dear sweet Child
In the mean time Mr
Meekly
had returned Home with his Heart full of Tidings to the Earl When
Harry
arrived Breakfast was on Table and he perceived that his Father had been in Tears But no Notice was taken of the Affair at the Charnel House on either Part
When Breakfast was over
Harry
called in
John
Mr
John
says he can you tell me how many Families there are in this Village of Yours Twenty five Families exactly my Lord Then
Harry
turned to his Father and said if your Lordship will be pleased to lend me five hundred Guineas for the present I will pay you very honestly the Hour that my Uncle comes to the Country Why Sirrah cried the Earl pleasantly what Right has your Uncle to pay your Debts especially to such a great Amount as you speak of O my Lord answered
Harry
I have already squandered away above fifty thousand Pounds of his Money and this is but a Trifle which I am sure I may very safely add to the Rest
Here the Earl looked truly astonished Fifty thousand Pounds he exclaimed impossible
Harry
Why you had neither such Ponds or Lakes as mine in
London
wherein you might make Ducks and Drakes of them How in the World could you contrive it where did you dispose of them
In Hospitals and in Prisons my Father answered
Harry
In Streets and Highways among the Wretched and the Indigent Supplying Eyes to the Blind and Limbs to the Lame and Cheerfulness to the Sorrowful and broken of Heart for such was my Uncles Orders
Let me go let me go from this Place my Lord cried
Meekly
this Boy will absolutely kill me if I stay any longer He overpowers he suffocates me with the Weight of his Sentiments
Well
Harry
said the Earl go to my Desk here is the Key of the Drawer on the left Hand and I make you a Present of the Key and the Contents perhaps you may find there nearly as much as will answer your present Exigencies
Harry
went and opening the Drawer was astonished to see it quite full of Gold However he took no more than just the Sum proposed and returning to his Father said what shall I do my Lord with that vast Heap of Money Why you extravagant Rogue replied the Earl there is not as much in it as will pay the Debt you have contracted with one Man O cried
Harry
I am quite easy upon that Score I will never affront my Uncle by the Offer of a Penny And dont you think said the Earl that we have got Poor among us in the Country as well as you have in the City
Harry
I believe you may have got Some my Lord but then I am much more difficult than you may think in the Objects on whom I would choose to confer Charity I look upon the Money amassed by the Wealthy to have been already extracted from the Earnings of the Poor the poor Farmer the poor Craftsman the hardhanded Peasant and the Day Labourer whose seven Children perhaps subsist on the Milk of a Couple of Cows Wherefore the Objects, on whom we bestow these Gatherings ought at least to be something poorer and more worthy of Compassion than Those from whom the Money was exacted So saying he stepped out
Amazing Boy cried Mr
Meekly
how new and yet how just was that Observation I am cried the Earl as it were in a Kind of delicious Dream and can scarce yet believe myself so blessed as to be the Father of such a Child
In the mean time
Harry
had called
John
aside Mr
John
says he here are five hundred Guineas Be pleased to step and distribute them by twenty Guineas to Each of the Families in the Village I would save you the Trouble and give them myself but that for the present my Heart turns with Disgust from their Thanks and their Honours Tell them that this is a Token in Memory of my dear Brother to keep them in mind of him Tell them further that I will have no Carousals no Rejoicings on Account of my Arrival and that it would please me infinitely better if my Return would bring their late Losses to their Remembrance and set them All in Tears and Lamentations
My Lord now proposed a Saunter into the Park in order to procure an Appetite for Dinner Accordingly the Gate was ordered to be unlocked and they entered on a Gravel Walk that was walled in on the left Hand and paled in on the Right along the Verge of five Canals that fell successively in Cascades the One into the Other Beyond the Canals a vast Lawn fled the Eye thinly interspersed with Trees of different Hues and Natures The Lawn again was closed by an extensive Lake and on the further Side of the Lake there rose and sunk several Glens that varied their Forms to the Prospect as they walked Beyond the Glens there arose again to the Eye a huge Forest of timeimmemorial Oaks And beyond All there ascended a Range of romantic Mountains whose Fronts were whitened here and there with impending Rocks but whose Tops scaled the Heavens and confounded their Forms and Colours with the Clouds
As they talked and walked along they met with a six barred Gate that directly thwarted their Passage and my Lord reached his Hand through the Rails for the Key that the Keeper had left in the Lock on the inside but he could not get at it We are All at a full Stop now said he unless
Harry
could make a Shift to climb over the Gate but no dont my Dear your Foot might happen to slip between the Rails and hurt you I will obey your Lordship answered
Harry
I will not venture a Foot upon One of them So saying he catched at the topmost Bar with his left Hand and throwing himself slightly over opened the Gate for his Companions The Earl and Mr
Meekly
stood mute in utter Astonishment At length the Earl cried Child you must surely be of more than mortal Mould or else you have a familiar Spirit that conveys you through the Air I have indeed a familiar Spirit my Lord answered
Harry
a Spirit much humbled by the Sense of its own Defects
On their Return
John
called his Master aside and told him of his due Distribution of
Harry
s Bounty to the Villagers But my Lord said he when I went down I found them All very busily employed in preparing Bonfires and Illuminations in Honour of my young Lord This however I was obliged to countermand by his special Order and it has greatly mortified all your poor People Well well said the Earl it cant be helped for the present we must not dare to offend our
Harry
at any Rate and so those Matters of Rejoicing may rest in Reserve till the Arrival of my Brother
Soon afterward our Heros Fosterers came decked out in their best Attire and
Harry
ordered a side Table to be covered for him and them but my Lord insisted on their dining all together
Harry
placed himself very lovingly between them at Table that he might help them and prevail upon their Bashfulness to eat
When the Repast was nearly over Nurse enquired after the little BeggarBoy whose Absence she imagined had caused the Elopement of her Darling He is come to great Fortune answered
Harry
he has found his Father and Mother and is Heir to a large Estate
Harry
then told the Manner in which
Ned
had been discovered and they were All highly pleased and affected by the Relation.
But Mammy says
Harry
what is become of my Sister
Nelly
on whose Milk I was suckled and what is become of my little Brother
Tommy
who was but two Years younger than myself They are both dead my Precious but God has been pleased to give me Others in their Room Well Mammy I find we must all die and some time or other that will be a great Grief to One of us whichever of us shall happen to outlive the Other I am satisfied to die once said Nurse but never let me hear again of your dying my Angel I cant suffer the Thought she cried and burst forth into Tears I couldnt bear I couldnt bear to die a thousand Deaths in the Death of my
Harry
But Mammy said
Harry
in order to divert her Passion you have not yet enquired after the Man with the Beard O the old Rogue exclaimed Nurse I cant think of him with Patience Ay but Mammy you must know that that same old Rogue is my own darling Uncle an own and only dear Brother to my own dear Father here If that is the Case said Nurse I dont wonder he should so greatly yearn after you and indeed I would rather wonder if all the World did not yearn and long after you my Love
And now Mammy to shew you how much you are obliged to this same darling Uncle he has ordered me to make you a Present of five hundred Pounds in Payment as he says of the Grief he has cost you And take no Heed for your Children Mammy I will take that Care upon myself for this same dear Uncle has made me a Gift of the Lands and House and Plate and Furniture that he has in this Town and so you see I am well able to provide for you All
Here my Lord cast an Eye of tender Jealousy upon
Harry
I perceive my Son said he that your Uncle is your only Trust the only Dependence that you choose to have upon Earth
Harry
with a Glance of his Eye instantly caught the Meaning of the Eye of his Father and throwing himself at his Feet O pardon my Lord he cried pray pardon the Overflowings of a grateful and simple Heart My Uncle is my Property but I am yours my Father to be disposed of in Life and in Death at your Pleasure I do trust I do depend upon you my Father and you have already overpowered me with the Weight of your Affections
My Lords Eyes then glistened and raising his Son and taking him fondly to his Bosom I believe I have been wrong my Love said he and hereafter I shall always think so rather than think any thing amiss in my
Harry
But tell me my Dear and tell me sincerely you speak of your Uncle as One of the richest and greatest Men upon Earth as a Prince as an Emperor enabled to give away Fortunes and Provinces at Pleasure
And he is my Lord cried
Harry
he is greater than any Prince or Emperor upon Earth To speak only of his temporal Wealth and Power the most inconsiderable Part of his Value He can do as I may say what he pleases in
England
The Ministry are at his Beck they profess themselves his Servants and even his Majesty acknowledges himself deeply his Debtor and owes him I dare say Half a Million of sterling
English
And yet this is the Man exclaimed the Earl turning an Eye of Penitence on Mr
Meekly
this is the Man as I told you my Friend on whom I looked down with such provoking Contempt whom I treated with such unpardonable Insolence and Ignominy
My Lord then enquired concerning the personal Adventures of our Hero in
London
the Account of which would have been more entertaining had not
Harry
suppressed throughout his Narration whatever he apprehended might tend to his own Honour
As soon as the Fosterers had taken their leave my Lord proposed a Walk to his Guests in the Gardens and after a few Turns they sat down in a rural Arbour that was interwoven all about with Jessamine and Honeysuckle
Mr
Meekly
said the Earl I have often longed to hear the Particulars of your Life and how you came to live by Faith and not by Sight and to hold your Conversation in Heaven as you do at this Day
I can soon obey your Lordship answered
Meekly
for my Story is very short and very simple and no way adorned with uncommon Incidents
My Mother died a few Hours after I was born My Father did not survive her two Years and I fell to the Care of my only Kinsman an Uncle by my Fathers Side
My Uncle was an old Bachelor and though he was of a cold Temper and had no Tenderness for any One he yet spared no Cost in my Education He sent me to
Eaton
School and from thence to
Cambridge
where I remained till I took my Degrees I then went to
London
bought a Sword and SwordKnot and commenced fine Gentleman
Though my Head had been duly stored by my Tutors in the Rudiments of our Religion my Heart had not yet felt any of its Precepts and I conceived that to go regularly to Church receive the Sacrament confess myself a miserable Sinner and avoid gross Vices was the Sum of Christianity I therefore entered without Scruple into all the fashionable Pleasures and Vanities of the Age and I held that to pardon an Affront would have been One of the deadly Sins in a
GentlemanChristian
One Day at
James
s Coffeehouse Colonel
Stannard
and another Gentleman engaged at Backgammon for five hundred Guineas and as the Stake was so considerable and both Parties celebrated for their Skill in the Game we all crowded about them to see the Issue
I happened to be next behind the Colonels Chair and Others pressed behind me eagerly bending and looking over my Shoulders At length he began to fret as the Game was drawing to a Close and going against him Pray Gentlemen he would cry dont bear upon me so for Heavens Sake keep off you will make me lose the Game Hereupon I did my utmost to bear back from him but the Company pressed me forward in Spite of all I could do Till the Colonel giving an unhappily decisive Cast turned about in a Fury and spit directly in my Face
Indignation gave me sudden and unusual Strength and casting All off who had borne upon me I instantly drew my Sword and ran the Colonel through the Body The Company cried out that all was fair and opening a Window for me they urged me to escape Accordingly I got off rode Post to
Dover
and there embarked for
France
The Colonel God be praised did not die of his Wound He lay under the Hands of the Doctors for about seven Months then recovered and went to join his Regiment in
Flanders
Of this my Uncle sent me Advice telling me at the same Time that I might return with safety Yes thought I with safety to my Life but with Death to my Honour I have taken Revenge indeed but not Satisfaction the Colonel must be compelled to make me personal Reparation for the Affront which he dared to put upon me His Recovery has again dashed the Spit into my Face and I will pursue him through the World till it is wiped from the Observation and Remembrance of all Men
With this deadly Determination I went Post from
Paris
to
Flanders
and traced the Colonel from Place to Place till I found him in a Village on the Road to
Amsterdam
I believe Sir said I bluntly you maynt remember me for our Acquaintance was sudden and of very short Duration I am the Man in whose Face you spit publicly at
James
s Coffeehouse Then Sir said he I am scarce yet recovered of the Cause which you gave me to bear you always in Mind but pray what may your Commands be with me for the present I am come to demand a Remedy at your Hands for the Wound which you gave my Honour and which otherwise must remain for ever incurable Ah he cried no Man ever exacted so severe a Satisfaction as you have already taken what then may be the Nature of the further Reparation that you are pleased to require Either to ask my Pardon or fight me within this Hour
That is very hard upon me indeed replied the Colonel the Honour of my Commission will not allow me to beg Pardon of any Man at least in order to avoid a Combat so Sir if you insist upon it I must obey your Summons though very reluctantly I confess Then Sir said I meet me in Half an Hour with your Pistols and Sword behind yonder little Hill
The Colonel was punctual to the Appointment We both grasped a Pistol at a Distance of twenty Paces and advancing Step by Step cried fire fire fire Each seeming determined to make sure of his Adversary till coming within Arms length I fired directly in his Face but the Ball passed through his Hat and only grazed the Skin of his left Temple
The Colonel then took his Pistol into his left Hand and reaching out his Right to me with a Smile of great Complacence I think Sir said he I may now ask your Pardon with Honour And to convince you that I did not come to engage You in Malice be pleased to examine my Arms you will not find so much as a Grain of Powder in the One or the Other
Ah Colonel I then exclaimed I acknowledge you my Conqueror both in Honour and Humanity Had I been so unhappy as to kill you and find your Arms unloaded I should certainly have done you Justice by shooting myself through the Head But why did I pursue you from Kingdom to Kingdom why was I unappeased by all the Blood that I shed was it from any Malignity of Heart toward you by no Means but while I lamented the Misery I had already occasioned You I was impelled to finish your Destruction by a barbarian World or rather by the bloody Prescribers of Custom whose Censure I dreaded worse than Death or even Futurity Courage Colonel incites Soldiers to fight for their Country but it is Cowardice alone that drives Duelists together
For three affectionate Days I remained with my late Enemy but now warm Friend He then was obliged to return to Quarters and we parted with a Regret much exceeding the Hostility with which we had met
On the Departure of the Colonel I went to
Amsterdam
from whence I drew upon my Uncle to the amount of £700 For I resolved before my Return to take a Tour through the Seven Provinces though I had gone for a very different Purpose
During nine Months I resided or journeyed from Place to Place among that People
Holland
is unquestionably the wealthiest the busiest and most populous State upon Earth Not a Hand is unemployed not a Foot of Ground unoccupied and for a long time I ascribed their extraordinary Prosperity to an Industry and Ingenuity peculiar to them alone But on further Observation I discovered the true Source as well of their Industry as their Opulence and am persuaded that any Nation bordering on the Ocean might derive the like Prosperity from the same Spring
Not my Lord that I think Opulence a real Benefit to a People for
Mans Life consisteth not in the Abundance of his Possessions
But I look upon Industry the natural Parent of Opulence to be as well a Blessing as a Duty to Man from the Time that he was appointed to
earn his Bread in the Sweat of his Brow
Many mental Virtues also as well as temporal Benefits follow in the Train of Industry it makes Men healthful brave honest social and pacific He who labours hard to acquire a Property will struggle hard to preserve it and Exercise will make him active robust and able for the Purpose As the Man of Industry hath in himself a living Fund of Competence for his own Occasions he will be the less tempted to plunder or prey upon Others and the poignant Sense and Apprehension of being deprived of a Property so justly acquired will give him the nicer and stronger Sense of such an Injury to Others Industry further incites to Commerce and good Neighbourhood in order to dispose of mutual Redundancies for the Supply of mutual Wants And lastly it delighteth in Peace that its Time and its Labours may not be interrupted nor the Fruits thereof endangered by Rapine and Invasion and all this may be said of Nations as well as of Men
Your Observations said the Earl are perfectly just the Works of Industry are unquestionably the Works of Peace and tend to open the Avenues wherein the Virtues may walk But how to incite Men or Nations to Industry that is the Question The finer Arts we see may be encouraged and promoted by National Bounties as now in
France
but there is no inciting the Bulk of the People to Industry in like Manner that would be as though the Public should grant a Bounty to itself. Nations certainly differ from Nations as Man differs from Man Some are by Nature industrious and ingenious such as
China
and
Holland
it is their Propensity their Talent while Others like
Ireland
are naturally lazy and listless and therefore remain in well merited Indigence
You have greatly mistaken this Point indeed my Lord
China
and
Holland
are industrious and ingenious because whether it were through good Hap or good Policy they hit upon the only Method whereby Industry and Ingenuity could be duly promoted Whereas
Great Britain
and
Ireland
are totally ignorant of the said Method to this Day though Both of them highly capable of having it put in Execution
You surprise me Mr
Meekly
said the Earl a Method to make Men ingenious a Method to make them industrious how can that be
Experience has proved it to be even so my Lord for where a Method may be found for encouraging and promoting Ingenuity and Industry that Method will infallibly make People become both ingenious and industrious No Man will work my Lord without some Hire or Wages or Return for his Labour neither will Any who are in Want refuse to work when assured of a due Reward for so doing
When the good Housholder walked out to the Marketplace and found Labourers loitering there when it was now toward Evening he asked them
why stand ye here all the Day idle
And when they answered
because no Man hath hired or given us Employment
he took this for a sufficient Apology he had Compassion upon them and he supplied them with the divinest of all Kinds of Charity
the Means of earning their own Bread
Now throughout
China
and
Holland
no Person is in Want because All are hired All employed the Young and the Old the Lame and the Blind and All find a ready Sale without Anxiety or Loss of Time without Travel or Delay for the Products of their Industry Throughout
Great Britain
on the contrary Nineteen in Twenty are in real Want and in
Ireland
as I am told Forty nine in Fifty are nearly in a State of Beggary merely for want of being employed for want of Encouragement to Labour
Permit me then to explain to your Lordship how some Men and some Nations come to be encouraged to Industry and Others to be discouraged or in a Manner prohibited from it
Different Men are endowed with different Talents and Powers insufficient in many Respects though superfluous in Others to their own Occasions Different Countries are also endowed with different Productions superfluous in many Respects to the Natives though necessary or desirable for the Wellbeing of Foreigners
Now these alternate Qualities of Deficiency and Abundance at once invite and impel all Men and all Countries to claim and to impart that reciprocal Assistance which is denominated Commerce Each gives what he can spare Each receives what he wants the Exchange is to the mutual Advantage of all Parties And could a Method be found out for encouraging Manufacturers to persevere in their Industry and improve in their Arts by a ready Conveyance and Sale of all their Redundancies neither Want nor Superfluity could find Place upon Earth
All this is quite clear and selfevident Mr
Meekly
but how to procure this ready Sale is the Question
Your Lordship must allow that the Way to procure it would be to bring Barterers and Commuters Buyers and Sellers All who mutually want and mutually abound together For this is the End and Purpose of every Market upon Earth
Now in
Great Britain
and
Ireland
and in all Continents or inland Countries the several Deserts Mountains Marshes and other Obstacles with the Difficulty Danger and Toil of Travel and the great Expense of Land Carriage have utterly precluded all Commerce and Communication to any considerable Extent Insomuch that it would be easier and cheaper to convey a Commodity of any Burden to either of the
Indies
than from many Parts of
Great Britain
or
Ireland
to Others by Land
While God appears to separate the several Nations of the Earth from Each other by the Intervention of Seas Lakes and Rivers he hath actually and intimately united them thereby
WATER serves to the Art and Navigation of Man as Air serves to the Wings of the feathered Species It is the easy and speedy Medium the ready Conduit and Conveyance whereby all Redundancies are carried and all Wants supplied It makes Man as it were a Denizen of every Country on the Globe It shortens every Distance and ties the remotest Regions together It carries and communicates the Knowledge the Virtues Manufactures and Arts of each Climate to All It gives new Springs and Motives to Industry Action and Invention It gives a general Importance to the meanest Manufacturer It gives to each Man an Interest in whatever is done upon Earth the Productions of every Region and the Tribute of every Nation
Now
China
and
Holland
are the only Countries upon Earth who have considerably availed themselves of this capital Benefit of WaterCarriage or WaterCommerce and therefore they are incomparably the most populous and most prosperous of all Countries in the World
China
as your Lordship knows extends from under the Tropic of
Cancer
to about thirteen hundred Miles
North
and thereby contains within itself all the Variety of Climate and Degrees of Heat and Cold that are requisite for the sundry Productions upon Earth Inspired by some Forecast or Sagacity not imparted to the rest of Mankind they cut and quartered this vast Continent by as many navigable Canals as answer to the Ducts and Veins in the human Body for the Dispensation of Life and Nourishment These Canals serve as Links or Chords to the grand Community of the
Chinese
they bind Region to Region House to House and Man to Man and hold the Whole as one System or Family together This great Kingdom is thereby become as one City and the Canals as so many Streets through which Plenty is diffused by Commerce to every Part If any Art or useful Invention commences or receives Improvement in any Place it is immediately conveyed to every Place for Imitation and Promotion No Portion of this wide Continent lies waste or uncultivated because the Canals are as so many Markets brought to every Mans Door and by the perpetual Demand of whatever is saleable incite the Natives to exert themselves in providing all the Redundancies they possibly can that they may derive Wealth to themselves by supplying the respective Wants of Others Thus throughout the expanded Dominion of
China
nothing is wasted nothing lost nothing superfluous nothing wanting All are employed active industrious ingenious and thriving Their Canals are intimately to them what Seas are diffusively to the rest of the Globe They are thereby become as a World within themselves sufficient to their own Happiness and Occasions They never change their Manners or Policy They never enterprise War against Others And
China
is affirmed at this Day to contain one hundred and twenty Million of prospering Inhabitants
The
Dutch
also about a hundred and forty Years ago followed the Example of the
Chinese
Their Country is now become as one great and extended Metropolis to the Universe and through their Canals as through paved and spacious HighWays the World resorts with all its Wealth So encouraged and so incited neither the Lame nor the Blind nor the Maimed sit unemployed Every Child is taught its Trade from the Moment it can apply its little Hands to a regular Motion and they bring to the Parents vast Sums in lieu of an infinite Variety of Toys and Trifles that are dispersed among the Idle of the other Children of Men For Barterers and Commuters Buyers and Sellers Manufacturers and Merchants like
Pyramus
and
Thisbe
want nothing but the removal of envious Obstacles to meet and to multiply a similar Progeny
From what has been premised my Lord it is most evident That Industry is the Parent of the Wealth of this World That no Mans Industry is sufficient to his own Occasions That the mutual Assistance denominated Commerce is, therefore, necessary to the Wellbeing of all People That the reciprocal Advantage of this Commerce consists in supplying mutual Wants with mutual Redundancies That this Commerce however cannot be carried on without a Medium for the Conveyance of such Supplies That such a Medium by Land even where it is practicable is tedious toilsome expensive extremely discouraging and cannot be pushed to any considerable Extent or Effect That God however hath opened for the Purpose an easy speedy and universal Medium of Seas Lakes and Rivers Part of which he hath left unnavigable that Man might finish by Art what Nature had prepared and contribute in some Degree to his own Advantages That accordingly
China
and
Holland
and
France
of late have pursued the Path so divinely appointed and that Power Wealth and Prosperity have flowed in upon them in Proportion as they have opened the Medium of Watercarriage for their Reception And that Causes which have produced their concomitant Effects without Variation from the earliest Ages to the present Period must be presumed to produce the like Effects through all Countries and Ages to the End of Time
I protest Mr
Meekly
exclaimed the Earl you have pushed this Matter into mathematical Demonstration What a happy what a glorious Prospect now opens to my View How easily how speedily how profitably might this Method be put in Execution throughout the Earth There is no Deficiency of Rivers or collateral Streams for the Purpose The Sinking into the Earth would give Vent to new Springs and extract Plenty of Water in all Places for an inland Navigation and Half the Number of Hands that perish through War and Want might be peacefully and plentifully employed in accomplishing this Weal of Mankind Famine and Depredation would then cease Nation would no longer rise up against Nation nor Man against Man The Earth by Culture would soon become capable of sustaining tenfold the Number of its present Inhabitants We should no more be tempted to push Each Other from Existence We should find ourselves mutually interested in preserving and multiplying the Lives of All from whose Labours we were to derive such Advantages All would be Plenty All Peace and Benevolence throughout the Globe The Number of Inhabitants instead of being a Burden would then become the Riches of every Climate All Hands would be set to Work when thus assured of a Purchaser for every Effect of Labour The Buzz of Wheels Reels and Looms the Sound of Hammers Files and Forges with the Shouts of Vintage and the Songs of Harvest would be heard in all Lands I am quite astonished that a Work so full of Benefit and Blessing to the Universe of Man is not already commenced advanced and completed
How comes this to pass Mr
Meekly
Have You yet mentioned this Matter to Any of our Great Ones
I have my Lord to Several They confessed themselves convinced of the Utility of the Scheme and could Each of them be assured of engrossing to himself the most considerable Part of the Profits that would thereby accrue to the Public the Work would instantly be begun and would shortly be perfected For such is the Nature of unregenerate Man that he grudges to Others any Portion of those Goods which he so eagerly craves and grapples after for himself He would hedge in the Air and make a Property of the Light In Proportion as he sees his Neighbours in comparative Want he exults in the Accumulation of imaginary Wealth But should he deem them in a Measure more prosperous than himself he sighs at his inmost Soul and grows wretched and repining
I protest cried the Earl were I young I would to Morrow Morning at my own Cost set about this great Work of national or rather of universal Beneficence But my
Harry
here has Youth enough with an Abundance of Benevolence also for the Purpose and I recommend it to him as the greatest of Charities a Charity to
Great Britain
a Charity to Mankind What would you think my Lord said
Harry
of my expending your whole Drawer of Gold upon this Business great as it is it would be but a small Matter toward the Value of purchasing Peace upon Earth and the Sons of Peace upon Earth will be likeliest to be the Sons of Love in Heaven So that we cannot lay out our Money to better Advantage in any Purchase for the Benefit of the Brothers of our own Frailty
Alas my Love rejoined Mr
Meekly
though you were Master of Half the Wealth of the People of
England
and were willing to employ the Whole for their Emolument in this Way the People themselves would oppose you in every Step you should take Some would be too proud to accept a Benefit from You Others would tell you that no Man should dare to violate their Property with either Spade or PickAxe and Others would indict you even for treading on their Grounds Nothing less than the Act of the whole Legislature to whom the People have committed their confluent Powers can avail for an Undertaking of such National Import
Then my dear Mr
Meekly
be pleased to let me have in Writing what you have already set forth on this Head and if I live to come to the lower House of Parliament I will bend all my Powers to this capital Charity And if no other Oratory will avail for the Purpose I will bribe the Members with a hundred thousand Pounds and corrupt them if possible into one Act of Patriotism
It is observable that within ten Years subsequent to the Period of the above Prouie the INLAND NAVIGATION of
England
commenced Since which Time the River
Isis
has been made navigable from
Oxford
to
Cricklade
in
Wiltshire
and to
Abington
in
Berkshire
The River
Avon
in
Warwickshire
from
Stratford
to the
Severn
The
Avon
from
Bath
to
Bristol
The
Medway
from
Maidstone
in
Kent
to
Tunbridge
The
Lug
in
Herefordshire
to the
Wey
The
Lea
from
Ware
to the
Thames
The River
Kennet
in
Berkshire
to the
Thames
at
Reading
containing 20 Locks in 17 Miles The River
Are
in
Yorkshire
containing 16 Locks whose Tolls are now valued at about £10000 yearly Beside the
Stroud
the
Nen
and the
Wey
with many Others now in Iland
But Mr
Meekly
I interrupt You Pray proceed in your Narrative
On my Return to
Amsterdam
from my Tour through the Seven Provinces I grew affected one Evening in a Manner I had never before experienced I did not feel myself any way sick or in pain and yet I wished to exchange my Sensations for any other Species of Malady I was wholly pervaded by a gloomy Despondence I looked abroad for Comfort but it was no where to be found every Object gave Disgust to my discontented Imagination I secretly enquired of my Soul if Riches Honours Dignities if the Empire of the World would restore her to Joy But She turned from them and said All these Things are Strangers and Aliens to my Peace Alas said I tell me then where your Peace may be found I know not she replied but I feel that I am wretched
For three Days I continued under this Oppression of Spirit And on the third Night an increasing Horror of deep and heavy Darkness fell upon me All Hope died within me and Misery seemed to open a Gulf of ever deepening Destruction in my Soul I lay all the Night bathed in Drops of unutterable Anguish I wished and struggled to arise and change my Situation but I felt that my Mind was its own Place and its own Hell from whence there was no Removal no possible Escape
I now concluded that some how I must have sinned beyond the Measure of all Sinners since my Damnation was deeper than that of any Other I therefore turned toward God and wished to repent but as I did not feel Conviction for the Sins of which I accused myself no Place for Repentance was found in my Soul
Tremendous Author I cried I find that thou canst sink and slay at Pleasure but canst thou not also raise up and make alive If all Things have their Existence in thee O God is it not near and easy unto thee to impart to us some Sensation of thine own Existence also some Sensation of thine own Peace the Sense that it is thou alone who canst be our Sustainer Save me
Jesus
save me from the Hell of mine own Nature Save me thou Son of
David
O save me from Myself
While I thus prayed in an Agony my whole Frame was suddenly overpowered and sunk as I suppose into a State of Insensibility till the following Day was far advanced At length I perceived that I still existed
I dreamed that I found myself in a deep and noisome Dungeon without a single Ray that might even suffice to shew me the Horrors of my Situation I attempted to rise and grope about but I perceived that I was tied and fastened down to Earth by a Number and Variety of Bands and Fetters
At length a sudden Light appeared and diffused itself throughout the Darkness of my Mansion When looking up I observed that the Keeper of my Prison had entered the Doors being yet locked His Head as I thought was bound about with a Tiara from whence the Glory arose that shone around me In the Coronet instead of Gems were inserted a Number of Thorns whose Points streamed with incessant and insufferable Brightness And on the golden Circlet was engraved in all Languages JESUS OF NAZARETH KING OF THE JEWS
Immediately my Shackles loosened and fell away of themselves and I wished to cast my whole Existence under the Feet of my Lord but was so overcome with Ecstasy that I could not rise When looking upon me with a Smile of ineffable Graciousness he approached and took me by the Hand and at the Contact I sprung up a great Height in my Bed and awoke to Sensations of indescribable Blessedness
You are come then my Lord my Salvation you are come my Master I cried and I will cling inseparably to you never O never more will I suffer you to depart Ah I have felt severely felt what it is to be without you For in your Absence though but for a Moment lies the Essence of Hell and Misery but in your Presence my Beloved in your Presence is Peace unspeakable and Joy for ever more
From that Day my Nature became as it were wholly inverted All the Honours and worldly Respects for which I formerly risked my Life were now my Aversion and I turned from carnal Indulgence and Sensuality with Loathing
Nothing could now affront nothing could now offend me As I totally despised myself so I wished after the Process of my divine Master to be despised and rejected of Men This made all others the very meanest of human Creatures respectable unto me Even in Reprobates methought I discerned some unerased Traces of the Image and Superscription of my God and I bowed down before it
If Any attempted to injure or defraud me of my Property I yielded it without Variance and thereby I found myself cordially enriched
I grew weary of my own Will and of my own Liberty and I earnestly prayed my Lord that he would rid me of them and be instead thereof a controlling Principle within me ever influencing and directing me according to his own Pleasure Turn me
Jesus
Master O turn me I cried from all the evil Propensities of my own evil Nature though thou shoudst turn me as thou didst
Sennacherib
with thy ruling Rein on my Neck thy Bridle in my Mouth and thy Hook in my Nose Take my Heart and Affections captive and into thine own divine Guidance compel me into all the Ways and all the Works of thy Commandments till thy Yoke shall become easy and thy Burden light and delightsome till I shall move as down a Descent wherever thy Goodness would guide me till I shall feelingly find and know that all thy Ways are Ways of Pleasantness and all thy Paths the Paths of Peace
This my Lord may look somewhat like Boasting but it boasteth of Naught excepting
Christ
crucified or rather arisen in me whereby all worldly Matters are crucified unto me
Within about a Fortnight after my Conversion I received a Letter from a Friend in
London
informing me that my old Uncle had secretly married a young Creature who was lately delivered of a Son That he now openly acknowledged her for his Wife and that this as he feared did not bode me any Good
At another Time these Tidings would have greatly alarmed me but I was now equally resigned and indifferent to all Events
In a few Days after as I was stepping out of my Lodgings I was arrested in the Name and at the Suit of my Uncle for £700 the precise Sum for which I had drawn upon him about nine Months before All the Consequences of this Caption immediately occurred to me I perceived that my Uncle intended to deprive me of my Patrimony in Favour of his new Family and as I had no Means for opposing his Machinations save what lay in his own Hands I concluded that a Jail was to be my Portion for Life Wherefore I lifted up my Heart and said within myself to Prisons and to Death give me cheerfully to follow thee O thou who in Death art the Life and Resurrection
My Spirit had no sooner uttered this short Ejaculation than I felt such a Weight of Peace descending upon me that my Heart leaped within me at the Prospect of Suffering and I would not have exchanged my Prison for a Throne
While I quietly walked with the Officers toward the Place of my Durance they came to a great Tavern where they entered and proposed to regale themselves at my Expense
Mean time a
Dutch
Merchant of great Eminence happened to be with his Lady in the principal Room and hearing a Bustle in the House he enquired the Cause and sent for the chief Bailiff
Soon after I was conducted into their Presence They Both rose as I entered and the Gentleman approaching took me familiarly by the Hand and said in
Dutch
Mr
Meekly
I hear You are in Distress and that is sufficient to recommend you to my Services but your Appearance exacts Something more from my Inclinations Pray let me know wherein and how far it may be requisite for you to command me
I muttered Somewhat as I suppose inarticulately toward an Answer For I protest my Lord I was so struck so awed so confounded by his Presence that I was lost for the Time to the Consideration of my own Affairs Mean while he placed me at Table just opposite to the heavenly Vision of his Bride and then went and resumed his Seat beside her while I gazing in Silence and utmost Wonder recollected those Lines of
Milton
where speaking of Adam and Eve he calls them
the loveliest Pair
That ever since in Loves Embraces met
Adam
the goodliest Man of Men since born
His Sons the fairest of her Daughters
Eve
The Gentleman perceived my Astonishment and graciously smiling again asked me what Sum was requisite to extricate me from my present Difficulty Ah Sir said I it is a Sum that far exceeds all human Bounty and indeed I would not accept the Obligation from any Man unless I were assured of being shortly in a Capacity to reimburse him of which I see no Likelihood I think no Possibility
Here I told him in few Words how my Father had left me an Infant at the Disposal of my Uncle who had now put me under Arrest for £700 which some time since he had freely remitted to me as in my own Right
I see said the Gentleman your Uncle is a Villain and means by casting You into Prison in a strange and distant Place to deprive you of the Power of bringing him to Account But he must be detected it is a Justice which you owe to the Public as well as yourself And as the Amount of the pretended Debt is not sufficient for that Purpose here is an Order on the Bank in Town for double the Sum For this you must give me your Note of Hand Be pleased to reimburse me when it is your Convenience If that should never happen be under no Concern for I hold myself already repaid with Usury in the Opportunity of serving an injured and a worthy Man
O Sir I cried I cannot indeed I cannot I will not accept it on any Account I am patient nay I am pleased with the Lot that is appointed me Shall I in an Instant break the Yoke and cast the Burden which my gracious Master but this Instant has laid upon me No Sir I submit myself to it with Thankfulness I take his Cross to my Bosom and press it to my Heart
O
Meekly
said he you are a very misdeeming Christian if you think yourself entitled either to assume or retain your proper Crosses at will There is too much of Self-Righteousness in such a Zeal
Meekly
Humility would rather bid the Will of our Master to be done and he offers you Enfranchisement by my Hand Do my dear Sir cried the Angel beside him do let me petition let me persuade you to accept this little Instance of our good Will to so good a Creature Though my Lord here has not been able to prevail a Lady has superior Claims and I must not be refused
Quite sunk quite overwhelmed I dropped involuntarily on my Knees before them Blessed Pair I exclaimed blessed and beauteous beyond Expression if Angels are like You what Happiness must be in Heaven I could no more my Words were choaked by my rising Emotions
My Benefactor then rose and coming tenderly toward me he took me warmly in his Arms My
Meekly
says he do not oppress me I pray you by this Excess of Acknowledgment I am but a worthless Instrument in the Hands of your Beloved for from him and him alone is every good Gift and even the Will of the Giver O Mr
Meekly
added the Lady her Eyes glittering through Water we thank you we cordially thank you Mr
Meekly
you have occasioned us much Pleasure this Day I assure you and the Means of our Happiness should be delightful in our Eyes
My Patron then rung a Bell and ordered his principal Gentleman into his Presence when putting the Order into his Hand here says he take this with the Bailiff directly to the Bank there pay him his Demand of £700 and Fees and bring me a hundred Pounds in Cash and the Remainder in Bills on
London
Then calling for Pen and Ink he drew the following short Note
I owe You fourteen hundred Pounds
To which I signed
Charles Meekly
On the Return of the Messenger I was put in Possession of the Cash and Bills and a Dinner of little Elegancies was served up
After a short Repast the Decanters and Glasses being placed and the Attendants dismissed my two Patrons gave a loose to social Joy and invited me to be a Partaker in their Festivity Never was I nor ever shall I again be witness to such Flights of Fancy such a spontaneous Fluency of Heartspringing Glee with what Pleasure did Erudition cast off its formal Garb how delightingly did Wisdom assume the Semblance and at Times the very Phrase of Childhood they laughed they rallied me themselves and the World Their Merriment was as the Breaking forth and Exuberance of overflowing Innocence and Virtue Conceive to yourself my Lord a large Room surrounded with Benches whereon are seated the principal Philosophers Literati Lawyers Statesmen chief Captains and chief Conquerors in all Ages then think you behold two sportively observant Children in the Midst looking and laughing at the Insignificance of the several Sages taking off and holding up the Solemnity and Selfimportance of each Profession in Caricature and setting the whole World with all its Wisdom its Toils and boasted Acquirements its Solicitudes Applications and Achievements at naught
The Gentleman indeed pretended and only pretended to defend the Sophists the Valiant and the Renowned of his Sex but he evidently exulted in his own Defeat while the Lady with a Drollery amazingly valuable ran through the Schools of Philosophy the Systems of human Policy and Histories of Heroism unpluming the Crested bringing the Lofty low and depreciating and reducing all Magnitude to Miniature And all this She did with an Archness of such pleasant Meaning with such Looks Eyes and Attitudes of bewitching Transition as would have infused Fascination into old Age and Ugliness what then must it have done when accompanied by a Beauty that scarce ever was equaled that could not be exceeded Did the
Sarah
of the Patriarch
Abraham
resemble her I wonder not that Nations should have been enamoured of her at the Age of Fourscore
At length the enraptured Husband no longer able to contain bent toward her with Looks of Souldarting Delight and restraining his Arms that would have crushed her to his Bosom O my
Louisa
he cried You are too much too pearly too precious a Treasure for me But giving him a sweetly petulant Pat on the Cheek away you Rogue she said Ill none of your Mockeries
What can Expression add further to this divinely preeminent of human Creatures whatever was her present Glance Aspect or Posture you would have wished to fix her in it that you might gaze and admire for ever But when she varied the Enchantment of her Action and Attitude you forgot the former Attractions and She became as it were a Newness of ever rising Delight
Alas how transient how momentary was the Bliss I then enjoyed A Chariot and six pied Horses drove up to the Door attended by a Retinue of ten or twelve Men All armed gallantly mounted and in rich Apparel
My dear
Meekly
mournfully said my Benefactor I am sorry that we are destined to different Departments Hodge to night at a Villa belonging to one of my Correspondents and Tomorrow we set out to visit some of the
German
Courts Fare fare you well
Meekly
for a short Season at least
I would have east myself at his Feet It was an Emotion a Propensity which I could not resist but he prevented me by kissing and casting his Arms affectionately about me The Lady then turned to me and with a Smile of Heartcaptivating Graciousness God be with You God be with You my good Mr
Meekly
she cried perhaps we may meet ere long in your own
England
I answered not but bending on one Knee I caught her Hand pressed it fervently to my Lips and permitted her to depart
Alas they did depart I saw them for the last Time They mounted their Carriage and being seated they bent forward and bowing to me with a fixed Regard off they drove and tore away with them as I thought the best Part of my Soul
I followed them with straining Eyes when out of sight methought I held them still in view and I blessed and kissed in Imagination the very Ground over which they went At length I awoke from my Delirium and with slow and heavy Steps turned back into the House
I had not yet through Shame so much as enquired the Name of my Benefactor I therefore called to my Host in order to inform myself of all that I could learn concerning him as also to make out a Bill for it had not been called for and I pleased myself with the Thought of discharging a Reckoning that my Friends had forgotten When I questioned my Host on this Head he put his Hands to his Sides and broke into a violent Fit of Laughter no no Master said he theres nothing for any One to pay in this House I assure You Mynheer never troubles himself about those Matters his Major Domo pays all ay and for every Guest too that happens to be in the same Inn with his Master
Why pray said I is he a Lord A Lord quotha not so little as that comes to neither no Sir he is a Prince the very Prince of our Merchants and our Merchants are Princes above all Lords And pray how do they stile or call him He has many Names and Titles when our Traders speak of him they call him Mynheer
Van Glunthong
but Others stile him my Lord of Merchants and Others my Lord the BrotherMan and my Lord the Friend of the Poor
The Remainder of my Story is very short and still more insignificant I soon set out for
England
in order to file a Bill against my Uncle and compel him to discover what Patrimony my Father had left me But God was pleased in the mean Space to cut off all Debate his Wife and Child had died of an epidemic Distemper and he did not survive them above a Fortnight He left me a penitential Letter with a small Will enclosed whereby I became entitled to three hundred a Year in right of my Father and an additional four Hundred in right of my Uncle with a Sum of near three thousand Pounds in ready Money
If I know my own Heart the only Cause of rejoicing that I felt on that Occasion was that it put it in my Power to discharge my Pecuniary Obligations to my late generous Preserver I immediately wrote and transmitted Bills to
Holland
for the Purpose but the Bills were returned and I could hear no Tidings concerning the Residence of my Patron I then put out his £1400 on the best Securities that I could procure It is now close upon five and thirty Years since I saw him and in that Time the Principal with Interest upon Interest yearly turned into Capital has amounted to nearly five thousand Pounds one Penny of which I never touch but hold the Whole as sacred
Mean Time it has cost me Hundreds upon Hundreds in Correspondences Advertisements and even in special Messengers to several Parts of
Europe
to discover where this Greatest this most eminent of Men could have concealed himself but alas my Search proved as fruitless as that of the Miser in hunting after the Pearl of mighty Price
During those five and thirty Years the Image of the Persons of those my two gracious Patrons never left my Memory were ever at my Heart Ah I would say to myself they are dead they are dead or rapt perhaps like
Elijah
alive into Heaven Flesh and Blood resumed as theirs might easily pass from its little Impurities through the Fire of the Love of God to the Place of its Bliss And again it was my daily and ardent Petition that if their Mortal was not yet swallowed up of Immortality I might once set my Eyes upon them before I died
Here Mr
Meekly
ended I thank you my dear Friend said the Earl for your History it has entertained me most pleasingly and I have also been highly edified by some Passages in it But with Respect to the Glimpse that you had of your two wonderful Friends I think it must have been a Vision or merely a Matter of Imagination for I never saw in Nature, nor read in Fiction of any thing comparable to the Excellencies that you have described in that exalted Pair If it was a Vision my Lord it must have been one of blessed Angels indeed but I hope you will allow that the Benefits which they conferred were no way visionary O Mr
Meekly
said
Harry
with a Sigh the Picture that you have drawn of that dear Lady has almost given me a Distaste to all the rest of her Sex Ah might I meet hereafter some Daughter some Descendent some distant Likeness of her how happy should I think myself May Heaven succeed your ominous Wish my dearest Child cried
Meekly
It is just perhaps prophetic that it should be so For never did I see so perfect a Resemblance between any two Creatures as between the Consort of that bewitching Woman and yourself it struck me the other Night the Moment you entered the Room and I thought that I beheld my very Benefactor newly arisen like a young
Phoenix
from the Ashes of old Age
Near a Fortnight more elapsed without any News or Notice from Mr
Clinton
or from the Messenger who was sent dispatch for him
Harry
daily advanced in the Favour and Familiarity of his Father And Mr
Meekly
continued with them in a most pleasing Society
On a fine Morning as they were walking together toward the Village this is the first Time my
Harry
said the Earl with a Sigh that I have ventured to turn my Face this Way since the Death of my Wife and the Interment of your dear Brother O my Lord cried
Harry
I would gladly exchange my Lot in Life with the meanest of yonder Cottagers who earns his daily Bred by the Labour of his Hands provided I might thereby restore them Both to your Bosom Not so not so my Son fervently replied the Earl I would not lose my
Harry
though I were thereby to resuscitate All that are dead in
England
I have no Cause no Manner of Right to complain I am still happy wonderfully happy too happy in the Possession of such a Child
Just then a great Shouting and Uproar was heard in the Village The huge Mastiff belonging to
Peregrine Pelt
the Tanner had run mad and came foaming up the Road pursued by thirty of the Townsmen armed with Staves Spits and Pitchforks The Dog rushed on at such a Rate that there was no Possibility for our Company to escape him and
Harry
observing that he made directly toward his Father threw himself full in his Way Instantly the envenomed Monster sprung up and cast himself open Mouth upon our Hero but
Harry
with a wonderful Presence of Mind having wrapped his left Arm in the Skirt of his Coat dashed it into the frothing Jaws of the terrible Animal when giving a Trip at the same Time to his hinder Legs he threw him flat on the Ground and springing up into the Air he descended upon him with all the Force of his Heels and dashed his Bowels to Pieces whereupon the Creature uttered a faint Howl sprawled awhile and expired
The Earl and Mr
Meekly
stood yet a while pale astonished and unassured and my Lord looking about in a Panic cried where is the Dog whats become of the mad Dog In the mean time the Villagers came on in full Pursuit crying out the mad Dog the mad Dog take Care of the mad Dog But when they All arrived and beheld their huge Enemy looking formidable even in Death never was Amazement equal to theirs They stared at the Earl
Meekly
and
Harry
in Turns and seeing no Weapon in any of their Hands God cried Goodman
Demster
God has been wonderfully gracious in your Deliverance my Lord for nothing less than a Thunderbolt could so suddenly have stricken this Monster dead I protest said the Earl I was so much alarmed that I know not how it happened I remember nothing further than that my dear Child here thrust himself between his Father and Danger But I beheld said
Meekly
when with one Stroke of his Arm he dashed the Creature to the Ground and then instantly crushed him to death with his Feet Not I Mr
Meekly
modestly replied
Harry
God gave me Strength for the Season in Defence of my Father But are you not bit are you not hurt my Child cried the Earl coming up tremblingly to his Son Not touched indeed my Lord Glory for that in the Highest exultingly cried the Earl
I knew exclaimed
Tom Truck
with a Shout and Look of Triumph I knew it could be no Other but my brave and noble young Master who did the Feat On my Life cried Farmer
Felster
he is able with his naked Arm like another young
David
to save his Lambs from the Jaws of the Lion and the Paws of the Bear
Though these Praises served only to put our Hero to Confusion they went trickling like Balm of
Gilead
to the Heart of his Father
Pelt
said the Earl let it be your Task to flea and tan me the Hide of your own Dog I will have his Skin stuffed with Incense and his Nails of solid Gold and he shall hang up in my Hall from Generation to Generation to commemorate the Piety and Prowess of my Son Mean while my good Friends I invite you All with your Families Kinsfolk and Neighbours to come and feast with me this Day Sorrow hath endured her Night but Joy cometh with my Child and ariseth on us as a new Morning
In the Afternoon all the TownsFolk and Neighbours with their Wives and Children convened to the great House having their Cattle and themselves heavy laden with Faggots for a magnificent Illumination The whole Court was spread with Tables and the Tables with Victuals and Liquors beside two Hogsheads of
October
that stood apart
The Earl in the Joy for his own Escape and the recent Prowess of his young Hero went forth with a cheerful Countenance and graciously welcomed all his Guests whereat they wished Health and long Life to his Lordship and their young Lord and giving a joint Huzza sat down to their Banquet From whence after a Night far spent in Carousal their great Fire being out and their great Hogsheads exhausted they peacefully helped EachOther to their respective Homes regretting however that they had not been honoured with the Presence of their young Master among them For
Harry
had besought his Father to dispense with him yet awhile from partaking in any Party or Scene of Festivity especially when appointed in his own Honour and Mr
Meekly
highly approved and applauded his Motion
On the Eve of the following Day Mr
Meekly
rode abroad on a charitable Visit to a dying Man in the Neighbourhood and my Lord was fondly toying and patting the Cheek of his Darling as they stood at the Hall Door when
Harry
spied a mourning Coach turning up the lower End of the great Avenue and instantly cried out theres my Uncle my Lord my Uncle my dearest Uncle and off he shot like Lightning The Coach drove but slowly
Harry
was up with it in a Twinkling and vaulting in at the Window was in the Instant in the Bosom of his best Friend and Patron
In the mean time the Earl had retired into the House in great Agitation He feared and was jealous of the Manner in which his Brother would meet him and this gave him equal Doubt and Hesitation respecting the Manner in which he ought to receive his Brother Mr
Clinton
on the other Hand was not wholly without some similar Emotions so that when
Harry
introduced his Uncle into the Parlour no two noble Personages could salute Each other with a more distant Respect
The Earl however on casting a Glance upon the Face of his Brother felt a Tide of returning Affection and lifting up his Hands and Eyes exclaimed it is he it is he my
Harry
my
Harry Clinton
my dear my long lost my long sought Brother then hastened forward in a Gush of Passion and caught him in his eager Arms When Mr
Clinton
alternately folding the Earl to his Bosom cried I am content O my God give me now to depart in Peace since at last I find and feel that I have indeed a Brother
Our Hero observing the Violence of their Emotion interposed with a gentle Care and supporting them to Seats placed them tenderly by each other
For a while they Both sat silent with a Handkerchief at their Eyes till the Earl turned and plaintively said you dont forgive me
Harry Clinton
you never will you never can forgive me my Brother Whereupon Mr
Clinton
caught up the Earls Hand to his Lips and pressing it with a fervent Respect cried my Brother and my Lord my Brother and my Lord
O then said the Earl you do forgive me I find but never can I never will I forgive myself My Faults toward you my noblest Brother for these many long Years have been ever before me my Neglects my Pride and Insolence my contemptuous Treatment of One so highly my Superior of my
Harry
the only Boast and Glory of our House
Mean while our Hero stood aloof with his Head averted weeping and sobbing with evident Agitation Till Mr
Clinton
cried no more my Brother no more I beseech you It is already too much I cannot bear my present Excess of grateful Affection for you it struggles to rush forth but Utterance is not given Beside we shall break the Heart of our dear Child there his Nature is too tender to support such a Scene as this
Harry
then smilingly turned his Face toward his Parents all shining through Tears as the Sun in a Shower And advancing and kneeling before them as they sat he took the Hands of Each alternately and pressed them in Silence to his Lips
In about an Hour after while their Affections were still at the highest but their Spirits somewhat composed Mr
Meekly
returned The Earl immediately rose and advancing took him by the Hand with a cordial Familiarity Mr
Meekly
says he I shall now have the Pleasure of introducing you to that inestimable Brother of whom you have heard me speak so often Brother this is Mr
Meekly
my best and worthiest Friend
Mr
Clinton
rose and advanced and
Meekly
approached with an abased Reverence not venturing to look up but saluted him as he would have saluted an Angel of Light
Meekly Meekly
cried Mr
Clinton
I have surely heard that Name before Pray Mr
Meekly
were you ever abroad have you travelled Sir were you ever in
Holland
Mr
Meekly
Here
Meekly
started as awaked by the Sound of a Voice whose recollected Tunings went thrilling to his Heart and lifting up his Eyes and beholding the Traces of Features once so lovely and ever deeply endeared to his Memory he started and staggering back some Steps he sunk down on a Chair behind him almost in a fainting Fit
The Earl greatly alarmed went up and taking him by the Hand what is the Matter my Friend says he are you taken suddenly ill are you not well my
Meekly
O my Lord he pantingly cried there he is as sure as I live my Patron my Benefactor the wondrous Man that I told you of there he stands in his own precious Person before us
Mr
Clinton
then approached and taking a Seat beside him leaned toward him with a melting Complacence Mr
Meekly
said he I expected ere this to have embraced you in Heaven but I rejoice to meet you even on Earth for I have ever retained a very affectionate Impression of you and I more especially rejoice to meet you in the present Society
But then but then you come alone you come alone my Lord and Master Alas you wipe your Eye O then it must be so And here he broke into a passionate Gush of Tears
My Lord and our Hero hereupon recollecting the engaging Circumstances of a Character on whose Description they had been so lately enamoured could not refuse their Tribute to the Memory of that admirable Lady to whose Person they now found themselves endearingly attached by Affinity
At length Mr
Clinton
distressed to the last Degree for the Distress in which he saw the forlorn
Meekly
sweetly turned from his own Affliction to the Consoling of that Friend whom he found so deeply afflicted for him
Mr
Meekly
says he let us not weep for the Living but rather for the Dead for those who are yet in the Vale of Mortality Shall we mourn the Condition of Angels shall we lament that a Weight of Glory is fallen on those whom we loved No let us rather rejoice in the Prospect of being speedily Partakers
When Supper was over
Harry
laid hold of the first Interval of Converse to enquire after his Friends in Town more especially Mr
Clement
his
Arabella
and their little
Dicky
They are come said Mr
Clinton
to sudden and great Affluence Old
Clement
is thoroughly reconciled to his Son and is dotingly fond of
Arabella
and her Child I am glad of it with all my Heart cried
Harry
clapping his Hands but pray how did this Matter come about Sir By an Event my Dear in which the Arm of Providence was signally visible But before I say how it came to pass you ought to give our Company a short History of this worthy Family they will then become interested in their Success
Harry
willingly and gracefully performed the Task enjoined him and then his Uncle proceeded
The second Day after you lest me a Man of a genteel Appearance but pale and bleeding was carried stretched on a Door by some of our charitable Townsmen and brought to my House I was then abroad with
Clement
on a Visit to your old Friend
Vindex
but the Stranger was instantly admitted and while some of the Servants rode off for a Surgeon others tenderly undressed and put him into a warmed Bed
Soon after I had returned and was informed of what had passed the Surgeon arrived and putting five Guineas in his Hand I desired him to attend his Patient and bring me Word of his Estate In Half an Hour he came forth and shaking his Head said our Patient Sir will not do He is wounded in the Groin with a Pistol Bullet The Ball has got within the Abdomen my Instruments will not reach it and if it has entered the Viscera he will die of Convulsions in less than three Hours I have accordingly told the Gentleman what I thought of him and advised him immediately to settle his worldly Affairs He tells me his Name is
SaintBelial
and he requested me as soon as I reached
London
to send Mr
Clement
to him who lives over against the blue Posts on the Strand
The Name of
Clement
made me curious to know who the Party was and entering his Chamber I took a Chair and sat down softly by the Side of his Bed But the Moment that I cast my Eye on his Visage I shrunk inward at the Shock for all the Malignity and Horrors of Hell were jointly legible on his Countenance
Humanity however compelled me to address him I am sorry to hear Sir said I that you are not for this World but I trust that your Hope looks forward to a better Home I have no Hope said he save such as my Faith has been that since I must die I shall die wholly
I protest I was so stunned and disconcerted by the Words and Looks of the Man that I found no Answer and he proceeded
As I have no further Concern with this World I have sent for an old Gentleman with whom I had some Connections and resolve to do an Act of Justice before I die the only One that ever I did during my Lifetime For your Charity and that of your People has half frightened me into a Notion that there may be something of that which is called Goodness upon Earth and then how fearful how tremendous must my Situation be Wherefore as old
Clement
may not arrive in Season I will with your Permission inform you of such Things as concern him For as I have nothing to hope through all Eternity neither have I any thing to fear on this Side of it
My Fathers Name was
Belcher SaintBelial
He was an under Retainer to the Law and raked up a little Fortune by sidelong Practices so that he grew ambitious of preferring me his only Child to the Bar and in that View sent me to School and from School to
Oxford
College But I ought to have began my History earlier
If there are Devils I surely had One before I saw the Light and was filled with the evil Spirit from my Mothers Womb insomuch that my Nurse died of a Cancer in her Breast occasioned by the envenomed Bites I gave her Nipple with my toothless Gums while she suckled me
While an Infant I took a heartfelt Pleasure in dismembering Flies and impaling Worms alive upon Pins and when at School I was the Promoter of all Parties for worrying and torturing Cats and Dogs to death But my principal Amusement lay in catching and fleeing Frogs in seeing them spring about in the Rage of their Pains and so leaving them to perish in unutterable Anguish
As I grew in Stature I grew also in the Strength of my Malignity Evil became my Good My Enjoyments lay in the Loss Damage and Detriment of Others I conceived a Kind of envious Hate against Those who had done me a Benefit I requited open Friendship with hidden Malevolence and I cannot remember that ever I felt a Sense of any thing that goes by the Name of Gratitude Humanity or Virtue
I usually carried about me a walking Stick or Cane in the hollow Part of which an Iron Spike was contained which I could cause to spring forth with a Shake of my Arm and again return to its Case at Pleasure With this as I strolled the Fields which I often did for the Purpose I stabbed the Cattle of the Neighbours in the Belly or Fundament and chuckled to see them leap and kick and plunge about in their Agonies In short I drew to myself a Kind of Comfort from a Comparison with the Miseries that I inflicted on other Creatures and had the Elements been at my Controul nothing but Pest and Hurricane Distemper and lingering Death should have arisen and prevailed throughout the State of Nature.
At the College I got acquainted with one
Clement
a gentle tempered but weak Lad of whom I made a Property And I prevailed upon him to turn away several of his Servants under Colour of their having stolen the Cash Books and other Effects of which I had secretly plundered him
At length I had private Intelligence that my Father had been pilloried for Forgery and other double handed Dealings that he had died of the Bruises which he received on the Execution of his Sentence and that his Effects had been seized by a Variety of Claimants Whereupon without taking any Notice of my Father or Family I made my shortest way to
London
with All that I could borrow or lay a light Hand upon among my Acquaintance
The first Thing I did at the City was to wait upon old
Clement
the Father of my Friend with a forged Draught upon him for a hundred Pounds on the Sight of which he so fretted and exclaimed and walked about in such Perturbation that I greatly feared I had overshot my Mark At length however he laid me down the Money but catching up a Book swore that it was the last Penny his Son should receive from him for six Months to come
He then began to question me touching the Character of the young Gentleman and under Colour of praising him for Articles to which I perceived the old Man had an Aversion I exasperated him to such a Degree that he again swore he would hold no further Correspondence with him until he should be fully assured of his Reformation
Having thus effectually cut off all Commerce between my Friend and his Father I cast aside my Fears of being suddenly brought to Account for my late Acquisition I was even so daring as to take Lodgings the very next Door where I got in League with a young Woman of a most seducing Face and Person but whose Profligacy of Manners was artfully covered by the most artless Appearance of shamefaced Innocence that ever graced the feigned Character of any Actress on any Stage
She did not attempt however to impose upon me for kindred Minds like Ours instantly saw into Each Other and we soon concerted a Plan for her marrying Goodman
Clement
and dividing the Spoils of the old Miser between us
This we easily brought about and never was Man so happy in being so imposed upon while I shared with him in the Possession of his Purse and his Bride
In the mean time as I had promised to procure him Intelligence concerning his Son I produced several forged Letters from pretended Correspondents in
Cambridge
containing such Accounts of the Gallantries and other Extravagancies of young
Clement
as wholly alienated his Fathers Affections from him and he sent him a final Note whereby he discarded him from his Fortune for ever
About two Years thus passed in the full Enjoyment of All that could glut Flesh and Blood though in order to ingratiate myself with the old Man I appeared to him the most frugal and abstemious of Mankind But one Night while Mrs
Clement
and I sat together indulging ourselves in the Hope that the good Man had been knocked on the Head or had fallen dead of an Apoplexy He was brought to us in a Chair pale and wounded and told us that he should have been certainly murdered had he not by the most wonderful Providence met with his Son who bravely knocked down the Robber and happily delivered him and that he had given him what Cash he had about him with a Note for £ 500 on the Bank
All in a Panic and thunderstruck as I was by this News I yet pretended to congratulate him on the Return of his Son to Duty but advised him to Bed directly for the Recovery of his Health and Spirits
The Remainder of the Night I walked about agonizing and racking my Brain for some Expedient to divert the instant Ruin that impended when a sudden Thought started or was rather infused into me and at Dawn of Day I went to an Agent who had done several Jobs for me of no very laudable Tendency
When I had given him his Lesson and put twenty Guineas into his Hand he hastily went and desired to see Mr
Clement
on Business of great Consequence when falling on his Knees he confessed with appearing Penitence that he was the Person who had wounded him the foregoing Night that he did not intend to hurt him so much but that young Mr
Clement
had hired him for the Purpose and lay in wait hard by in order that he might appear to come in to his Rescue
This Tale was so feasible that the old Man swallowed it as a greedy Fish swallows the Bait that at the same time conveys the Barb into his Bowels He thereupon had me called to him in a Hurry told me what he had discovered and gave me an Order to stop Payment of the £500 with a hasty Note to be left at the Bank for his Son
On the Way I recollected an Advertisement in the public Papers that offered a large Reward for the Caption of one
Arabella Clement
who had been guilty of the Murder of the late Lord
Stivers
and it instantly occurred to me that She was probably the Wife of my quondam Friend and Patron Wherefore as soon as I had dispatched my Business at the Bank I ran and collected a Number of Constables and waited with them aloof till I saw the Object, whom I dreaded and detested above Plague and Poison enter and return discontented from the CountingHouse We then dogged him at a Distance till we saw him safe lodged and following softly up Stairs we demanded a Woman who stood before us for our Prisoner
Young
Clement
then all enraged exerted himself with wonderful Action and Intrepidity With one Stroke of a Poker he tore off my right Ear and cleft my Shoulder to the Bone then drove us All down Stairs though several Shot were fired at him
What happened to him afterward I knew only from Report for I lay ill of my Wounds for several Months together and on my Recovery could learn no Tidings concerning him
In the mean Space my continual Fears of his Appearance made my Life extremely miserable My Paramour and I had often Thoughts and Consultations touching the Expediency of making away with the old Gentleman but it occurred to us that young
Clement
might still be alive and on the Death of his Father might bring us to a severe Account for his Substance
At length about six Weeks ago as I returned from transacting an Affair at
St Albans
I met and instantly recognized my old Enemy walking with a young Gentleman about a Mile above this Town Immediately I stopped and pulling my Hat over my Eyes pray Gentlemen said I am I on the right Road to
London
for I have travelled far and fear I may have gone astray You are on the direct Road said the Lad but if you choose to stop short you are heartily welcome to a Lodging with us for the Night Why Gentlemen said I do you live in yonder Town We do said
Clement
In that Answer I had all the Intelligence I desired and away I spurred
From that Time scarce a Day passed wherein I did not take an Airing on the same Road still expecting and panting to meet my Adversary I rode armed with one Case of Pistols before me and Another in my Pockets and I determined though I should meet
Clement
in the Midst of a hundred Men to shoot him directly through the Head and trust to the Speed of my Horse for my Escape But this Day as I returned near the farther End of the Town a white Goat pursued by a Dog rushed suddenly through a Hedge whereupon my Horse plunged and one of the Pistols that was ready cocked in my Waistcoat Pocket went off and reduced me to the Condition in which you behold me
His last Words were scarce intelligible He was seized with Convulsions and lay speechless near two Hours At length old
Clement
arrived his Servants helped him out of his Coach I met him in the Hall and led him into the Parlour
There being both seated I succinctly gave him the Heads of
Saint Belial
s History When looking earnestly at me you appear Sir said he to be much of the Gentleman but if you were an Angel I would credit nothing against the Honesty of that good Young Man and least of all to the Prejudice of the dear young Innocent that I have married
I confess I was somewhat piqued at this sudden Rebuff but suppressing the Tendency that I had to Resentment I wish said I you had come Time enough to be present at the unhappy Mans Confession but it may yet please God to open your Eyes to your own Wrongs before he expires
So saying I conducted him to the Room where the Wretch lay to all Appearance insensible I then recollected an approved Elixir that I had in my Closet and sending for it I infused a Teaspoon full Drop by Drop into his Mouth
In a Quarter of an Hour he came perfectly to his Senses and turning his languid Eyes toward the old Man You are come then said he to hear my dying Words I forged the Note for which you gave me a hundred Pounds I forged all the Letters that you received to your Sons Prejudice I was the Father of the Child which the Strumpet with whom you live brought into the World She is not your Wife She is Wife to
Caleb Cable
the Boatswain who lives by the Monument He has got Hundreds of your Money for keeping Counsel It was in truth your Son who rescued you from the Hands of the Robber I forged the Tale and bribed the Man who deceived you in that Matter Often as you lay in Bed
Moll Cable
has urged me to dispatch you before Morning Had I murdered your Son as I long since intended you should not have survived him four and twenty Hours
Here turning his eager and ghastly Visage upon me O Sir said he is there is there for certain a Judgment to come Alas I answered Death Judgment Heaven and Hell are the four capital Things of which the Universe affords the highest and deepest Assurance O then he cried I am going down down down
This he spoke with all the visible Horrors and Desperation conceivable in
Judas
when just about fixing the Rope to his Neck and lapsing into his last Agonies he soon after expired
All pale and astonished the old Gentleman sat silent and panting and seeing he was about to faint I ordered some Drops and Water with a Bottle of Wine while I supported him from falling
When he was somewhat restored and had recovered his Speech he laid hold on my Hand and said I beg your Pardon Sir I would do it if I were able upon my Knees But who could have thought this I wish that I had indeed been murdered I would that I had died before I was thus undeceived in the only Objects of my Love Alas Sir I have now no Relation no Kindred no Friend except yourself upon Earth All Others are equally Plunderers and Murderers in my Eyes These Words were interrupted by a Flood of Tears
Having consoled him in the kindest Manner I could Word was brought that Dinner was served and I led him partly by Constraint to the Table but whispered private Orders that
Arabella
and her
Dickey
should not appear for
Clement
staid to dine with his Friend
Vindex
After Dinner and three Glasses which was all I could force upon him I remonstrated the Expediency of his immediate Return to secure his Effects lest all should be spirited away upon any Intimation of the present Accident Ah Sir said he I shall scarce I fear be able to bear the Sight of a Place in which I so long thought myself so very happy but if you will be so gracious as to accompany me I will venture I will said I on Condition that you engage to return and sleep here this Night
Early in the Afternoon we arrived at his House in my Coach attended by his two Servants and Four of mine well armed As we entered the Parlour his supposed Wife rose in an Alarm that she evidently endeavoured to suppress What is the Matter Love said she advancing for what did
Saint Belial
send to you it became him much better to have attended on You methinks I fear my Love is sadly tired But pray what did he want with you To tell me answered old
Clement
that he was a dying Man that I was a Dupe and a Cuckold and that you were a Strumpet
Of ye Love said she those are very naughty Names but you cannot be in earnest
Step said he and enquire of
Caleb Cable
the Boatswain tell him at the same time that I cannot afford to maintain his Wife any longer and that he has seen the very last of his hush Money Ah
Polly Polly
he continued meltingly all this I could almost away with but Murder is a frightful Thing who could think that my
Polly
would murder her old Man
O then she cried I see that the Villain has betrayed me I see that Im undone My Youth and Beauty cast away my Arts and Time spent in vain Why you doting driveling Wretch your Fortune was little enough to compensate the Pains I took in disguising my Aversion to you But you shall not live to triumph in my Disappointment
So saying she sprung forward and grasping his Neck in both her Hands he instantly grew black in the Face his Eyes rolled his Jaws expanded and he must have expired on the Spot But I stepped hastily to her and seizing both her Wrists I gave them a sudden Wrench whereupon she loosed her Hold shouting out that her Arms were broke and throwing herself groaning into a Chair she called for instant Perdition on me the crazy Dotard herself and all the World
In the mean time the old Gentleman had sunk panting to the Floor But raising him gently I placed him on a large Sofa where he began to respire with Freedom
I then sent for a Sergeant at Mace and his Attendants and giving our Heroine with a Mittimus into his Hands I desired him to provide her with a decent Room and suitable Accommodations and not to admit any Company except her Servant till further Orders Ay away with her away with her at any Rate exclaimed the old Man she has the Looks of a very
Gorgon
and every Hair of her Head is turned into a frightful Serpent
As soon as she was gone I called her principal Maid and putting a few Pieces into her Hand I desired her to follow her Mistress and to serve her with Care and Tenderness and further to intimate to her that when she gave any Proofs of Repentance and Reformation she should yet be humanely and generously provided for
Having thus far settled Matters I gave Commission to
James
and
Andrew
with a male Domestic in whom the old Man confided to remain and take care of the House and Effects and taking the Keys of the Cabinets with us we set off on our return to
Hamstead
On the Way Mr
Clement
grew deeply dejected and sighing said O Sir how strong how very strongly is the Desire of Society impressed on the human Heart when even in the Absence of Robbers and Murderers I feel a Want and Disconsolation that I cannot express I have now no Relation no Friend but Yourself no Kindred or Connection with any Other upon Earth To You indeed I owe my Life and all else that I am worth and if you will not chase me from You if you will allow me to remain with You You shall be all the World to me the Heir and sole Possessor of all that I possess
But have You not a Son I cannot think I have said he it is now above eight Years since I set Eyes on my dear
Hammel
the precious Pearl whom in my Dotage I madly cast away But were he still living after what is past I could never more have the Courage to look him in the Face A cruel and a false Pelican have I proved to my Little One instead of fostering him with my Vitals I have withheld and torn from him even the common Means of Life
Do you know None of your Name said I who may claim your Substance under Colour of being of your Blood Not Any Sir my Father was a Foreigner and I never heard of any Other of the Name in this Nation
There is One of your Name said I who lives in our Town But then he is in flowing Circumstances quite above the Desire of increasing his Fortune by base or low Means He is my most intimate Friend a very accomplished Gentleman and has one of the finest Women to Wife and two of the loveliest Children that I have seen If you please I will invite and introduce them to You to Night or to Morrow
On our Arrival I left old
Clement
a while in the Parlour while I stepped to give private Directions respecting the Conduct of your Tutor
Harry
and the Interview which I proposed between him and his Father
Sir said I as I returned I have taken the Liberty to invite your Namesakes to sup with You They are a very amiable Family and I hope that their Company and Acquaintance will prove a Matter of Consolation perhaps a Blessing to You Ah he cried my Claims are of a very different Nature I have no Right to Blessings or Consolations of any Kind
Some time before Supper a Rapping was heard and
Arabella
entered leading in a little Daughter of about four Years old and followed by her Son
Dickey
All elegantly dressed
Madam said I this is a Namesake of Yours my worthy Friend Mr
Clement
pray let me have the Pleasure of introducing You to each Other
When they were both seated the old Gentleman took out his Perspective and peering at her for some Time ah he cried what lovely Faces there are in the World but All have not proved lovely throughout like You Madam
He then called
Dickey
to him and taking him by both Hands and bringing him forward between his Knees what is your Name my Dear says he
Richard Clement
Sir so please You I would it were
Bartholomew
replied the old Gentleman but Names signify nothing You are a sweet little Fellow and perhaps may be something the better for my Death I would not wish your Death Sir said
Dickey
for All that I could get by You O how very heavenly exclaimed the old Man how heavenly is the Simplicity and Disinterestedness of Infants
He next requested
Arabella
to spare her little Daughter to him for a Minute and she accordingly took and led her to him When fondly caressing her and seating her on his Knee Could you find in your Heart says he to love such an ugly old Thing as I am Yes me could says she and me has got some Comforts for you in my Pocket Whereupon she produced a little Paper and unfolding it presented him with some candied Seeds and Almonds O my God cried the old Man what a Heaven I should yet enjoy upon Earth could I but purchase the Society of these dear Infants I heard him with a moistening Eye and rejoiced in the ripening Fruits of my little Project
Pray Madam says I what is become of our good Friend your Husband are we not to have the Happiness of his Company to Night Sir says she he was engaged on indispensable Business at the Time but will certainly attend you before Supper
She had scarce spoke when a second Rapping was heard and in came our
Hammel
not in gay but costly Apparel as I had appointed
On introducing the Son to his venerable Father they respectfully saluted Each other as utter Strangers For our present
Hammel
was more different from the meagre and threadbare
Hammel
that his Father had last seen then
Pharaoh
s fat Kine could be from his lean Ones
During Supper and after I purposely threw out occasional Topics and gave several Opens wherein I knew that
Hammel
could shine and he accordingly made Use of them with great Spirit and Advantage
His Father gazed at him with a respectful Admiration and at length exclaimed You are an Ornament an Honor Sir to your Name to your Lineage and the Country wherein you were born But pray of what Family Alas Sir you add Stings to the Recollection of my Faults this Day I once had a Son a Son who in an humble Degree might now have resembled yourself but my Unkindness must long since have broken his gentle Heart My Child saved me from Murderers and I in Return was the Murderer of my Child O
Hammel
my
Hammel
my Son my Son
Hammel
would to God I had died before I wronged thee Would God I had died for thee O
Hammel
my Son my Son
His last Words were broken and nearly suppressed by a Gush of Tears when the tender hearted
Hammel
turned an Eye upon me and cried O Sir we have gone too far Then hastily advancing he threw himself at the Knees of his Father I am here Sir he cried your
Hammel
your own
Hammel
in all Duty and Affection submissive and prostrate before you
You my
Hammel
are you my
Hammel
asked the old Man Ah had you but his famished Face and his tattered Garment I would take you to my Arms to my Heart into my Vitals
O my Father cried
Hammy
look not so strange and wild upon me I am indeed your Child once the Darling of your Heart whom you fostered so tenderly and nurtured at School and College the true Son of your true Wife look upon me my Father You often told me that I was her Picture do you not see the very Features of my dear Mother in my Face
Yes yes I think I do But then I have been mightily imposed upon of late I would you were leaner and worse clad my Child however if you come in the Name of my Son I also will kneel down and crave his Pardon and your Pardon
Here the old Gentleman sunk down upon his Knees and poor
Hammel
starting up at the same instant cried aloud Alas Sir he is beside himself and I too shall go distracted
I then was grieved at Heart for the Stratagem I had made Use of to connect this worthy Family the more endearingly together And coming soothingly to him and raising him in my Arms I replaced him in his Seat and said believe me trust to me my dear Mr
Clement
this is your true Child your only Child your true
Hammel
He has lived with me many Years I can prove him to be yours by a thousand Witnesses by those who can witness what he has suffered on account of being your Son
Well well well said he whisperingly it does not signify much for I have another One coming my
Polly
is now in the ninth Week of her Reckoning Ay but that
Saint Belial
who knows but the Child may be an Imp of his Begetting A cursed Couple they are Im sure she a Succubus and he the Devil himself incarnate I hope they didnt hear me shut the Door O there they are Save me save me they come upon me My Throat they gripe my Throat My Breath my Breath O h
Here he swooned But on taking a little Blood he came to himself So I ordered all to be kept quiet about him and getting him to Bed he swallowed a soporific Draught slept soundly till Morning and awoke in his perfect Senses
I then went to bid him Goodmorrow and took a Chair by his Bedside That was a mighty agreeable Family said he who supped with you last Night Sir The very worthiest I replied that I know upon Earth You called them
Clement
I think That is their Name Sir Pray did they go Home No they are here still at Times we make but one Family and one Household
While I spoke I was surprised to see
Clement
enter dressed in the same shabby Clothes in which we first found him
Harry
and the old Gentleman turning his Head to the Door started up in his Bed and cried if I am a living Man that is surely my
Hammel
my very Son
Hammel
On hearing this poor
Clement
leaped hastily forward and falling by the Bed seized One of his Fathers Hands repeatedly kissed it and wept upon it You are restored to me then he cried my Father my Father God be praised God be praised You are restored to me entire I trust with all that paternal and melting Fondness which was once the Blessing and the Treasure that I prized above the World No
Hammy
said the old Man I will not deceive you I cannot love you as I once loved you because you never can forgive me If you could forgive me
Hammy
I would love you with a double Love a Love passing the Love of Fathers
O my Father exclaimed
Hammel
this one happy Moment of Reconciliation amply cancels all Offences and outweighs all Sufferings Permit me then my dearest Father to introduce Those to you who have an equal Right to your Blessing
So saying off he went and brought in
Arabella
with her attending Children and all the Four kneeled down by the Side of the old Man
O my God he cried out you are too bountiful too gracious you oppress you crush me to nothing with this exceeding Weight of your Benefits I was a withered and a blasted Branch and you have caused me like
Aaron
s Rod to Bud and Blossom anew and to bear these blessed Fruits I trust to your Glory
When Breakfast was laid and the old Gentleman dressed I sent up for him and when we were seated
Clement
entered with his Family All elegantly dressed as on the preceding Night
Hammy
said I how came you by that Disguise which you put on this Morning You looked so unlike yourself you almost frightened me Dont you remember that Dress Sir How should I remember what I never saw before O you did see them before Sir those were the Weeds I wore when you saved me and Mine from famishing and I have ever since preserved and shall ever preserve them as the precious Memorial of my Obligations to you What exclaimed the old Gentleman my Life and your Life has he saved your Life also my Son Yes Sir cried the grateful Creature All who are alive here live only by Here while I put one Hand to the Mouth of my Friend his venerable Father seized hold on the Other and bending one Knee he pressed it to his Lips in a Silence that passed all possible Utterance
But pray Mr
Clement
said I to turn aside the Subject what do you propose to do with Mrs
Cable
You know that in Case of Penitence I promised to have her taken Care of To be sure Sir said he I will make good all your Engagements and I will further do whatever she desires on Condition of her residing in a different Country or rather in a different Kingdom for I would not for the World that she should come within the Reach of me by fifty Leagues at least unless you were always to be with me for a Safeguard
I laughed and immediately Mrs
Cable
s Maid entered all in a Heat with a frightened and imploring Countenance So my good Girl said I how is your Mistress to Day Ah Sir she cried I have but a very sad Account to give you of my Commission My Mistress is dead and I doubt that I myself have been ignorantly her Murderer
Soon after she was shewn to her Apartment
Hetty
says she I find myself growing very sick pray step and bring me the little Bottle of Cordial that you will find standing in such a Corner of my Closet I did as I was ordered and returning in all Haste I presented her with the Bottle When looking mournfully at it and giving a heavy Sigh Ay she cried this is the right Cordial this will do the Business then calling for a Wine Glass she filled and drank it off
In a little while after she complained of being drowsy whereupon I undressed and helped her to Bed and lighting a Candle I sat down to watch beside her For a Time she appeared to sleep quite sound and easy but again began to moan and toss the Clothes In a while after however she seemed quite composed But toward the Dead of Night not hearing her breathe I held up the Candle and saw that her fine Face was livid and ghastly and her Skin all discoloured
I then thought that I myself should have dropped dead on the Spot I gave a great Shriek and I believe continued shrieking till the Keeper and a Servant Maid came in So Sir if your Honour is pleased to think that the Blame of this Matter belongs to me I am come to deliver myself up to Justice
No my Girl said I you are not at all suspected I dont perceive any Interest that you could possibly have in this melancholy Event No Sir said old
Clement
I can answer for her Innocence she is but a late Comer she was particularly tender of me and I dare say knew nothing of the ill Designs of her Mistress And so
Hetty
I will recommend you to a better Mistress
Hetty
an Angel of a Mistress even to my own dearest Daughter who sits blushing before you there
That Night after the Inquest of the Coroners Mrs
Cable
was secretly buried in the Fields and my Servants interred her Confederate on the high Road for I did not choose to have the sacred Ceremony of our Church profaned over a Reprobate who rejected the Hope of a blessed Resurrection
The Day before I set forward our kindhearted
Clement
earnestly petitioned to accompany me and urged his Impatience to embrace You my
Harry
but this I peremptorily refused as I was sensible that his own Affairs demanded his Presence So I came away alone yet attended by the Tears and good Wishes of the happiest Family that is I think within his Majestys Dominions
My dearest Brother said the Earl the latter Part of your Story is exceedingly pleasing and yet scarce makes Amends for the Horrors that preceded My Flesh as well as my Spirit still shudders at the Character of that accursed
Belial
I did not think that such a Malevolence and Malignity of Disposition could be generated in the Bottom of Hell itself.
And yet my Lord I am persuaded said Mr
Clinton
that could it please God at this Instant to withdraw from me the Influence of his holy and happy Spirit I should become altogether as evil as
Belia
himself
I cannot think so my Brother replied the Earl You would still continue a Rational and free Creature There is certainly a Distinction in the Nature of Things there is the Beautiful and Deformed the Amiable and Detestable your Judgment would approve the One and reject the Other and your Freedom of Agency would act conformable to your Election
Ah my Lord cried Mr
Clinton
what Things what Beauty what Amiableness what Freedom is this that you speak of Have you found out another Universe or another Deity beside Him in whom our Life subsists Are there any Things in Nature, save the Things of our God Or what Beauty or Amiableness can they possibly exhibit save what they derive from him save some Quality or Impregnation some Manifestation or Impression of his own Beauty or Amiableness
To make this Matter clear let us go somewhat deeper quite back if you please my Lord to the very Birth of Things
Throughout Nature we find that God can impart to his Creatures a Being an Identity a Fire of Life an Intelligence or Sagacity a Consciousness a Force or Action a Will and a Freedom distinct from himself and distinct from each Other and this is the utmost Extent of Creaturely Nature whether respecting the Powers that are in Hell or in Heaven whether respecting the highest Seraphim that are in Bliss or in Perdition
Now all these Powers or high Prerogatives although distinct from God are infinitely far from being independent of him for he will not he cannot depart from his Supremacy nor that Universality of Essence by and in whom alone all Essences subsist He can indeed impart the forementioned Powers to any limited Degree that he pleases but then in their highest Degree of Fire Life or Sagacity Force Action or Freedom you will perceive on the slightest Reflection that there is nothing of the
Beautiful
or
Amiable
that You spoke of but that they are equally applicable and may be equally exercised to evil or good Purposes according to the Nature or Disposition of the Agent
Your Pardon for one Minute my noble Brother I have already specified the many great and wonderful Powers that God can impart to his Creatures distinctly though not independently from Himself But there is one Power one Quality which God cannot make Creaturely which with all his Omnipotence he cannot possibly impart in any Kind of Distinction or Separability from himself and this Quality is called GOODNESS
And now my dear Lord in order to convince You of this most capital and most important of all Truths a Truth upon which Time Eternity and the Universe all turn as on their Axis it may be necessary to enquire what GOODNESS is
It will be answered that GOODNESS is various and infinite in its Kinds and Degrees It is so indeed for it is at once ONE and MANY It springs forth from our God as the living Fountain in Paradise that thence divided it into Rivers and numberless Streams to water and replenish the whole Earth All those Streams however were but so many Parts or Portions of the one variously blessing Fountain and that Fountain is LOVE it is the LOVE of Others my Lord
There is no Species of allowed or conceivable Virtue that is not reducible under the Standard of this their great Leader and all generating Parent called LOVE GOOD WILL is the eternal Blesser of All to whom it is beneficent and also generates its own Blessing in the very Act of its Love
Here lies the great and impassable Gulf between God and his Productions between the Creature and the Creator The Will of God is an Eternal FIRE OF LOVE toward his Creatures and goes forth in Blessings upon them as wide and universal as his own Existence But the Will of the Creature is confined and limited like its Essence While it is distinct or uninformed of the Will of God it cannot possibly act beyond or out of itself; it cannot possibly feel for any Thing except itself; it cannot wish any Welfare except its own Welfare and this it endeavours to compass by the Exertion of all its Powers Indeed we may as well suppose that a crude Rock at the Extremity of either Pole while compassed by perpetual Darkness and compacted by perpetual Frost should yet kindle itself, and beam forth in Light and Warmth upon All around as that any creaturely Will should of its own Powers go forth in Affection or Kindness upon Others
From this distinct selfish and craving Will of the Creature springs every possible Evil whether natural or moral From the Preference of its own Identity to that of Others ariseth Pride From the Eagerness of its grasping at all Advantages to itself, ariseth the Envy of any imaginary Advantage to Another Pride Covetousness and Envy beget Hatred Wrath and Contention with every Species and Degree of Malevolence and Malignity and the Disappointment of these Passions produces Rancour and Misery and Altogether they constitute the whole Nature and Kingdom of Hell itself in the Soul
But when God is pleased to inform the Will of the Creature with any Measure of his own benign and benevolent Will he steals it sweetly forth in Affection to Others He speaks Peace to the Storm of rending Passions and a new and delightful Dawning arises on the Spirit And thus on the grand and final Consummation when every Will shall be subdued to the WILL OF GOOD TO ALL our
Jesus
will take in Hand the resigned Cordage of our Hearts he will tune them as so many Instruments to the Song of his own Sentiments and will touch them with the Finger of his own divine Feelings Then shall the Wisdom the Might and the Goodness of our God become the Wisdom Might and Goodness of all his intelligent Creatures The Happiness of Each shall multiply and overflow in the Wishes and Participation of the Happiness of All The Universe shall begin to sound with the Song of Congratulation and all Voices shall break forth in an eternal Hallelujah of Praise transcending Praise and Glory transcending Glory to God and the Lamb
Hasten hasten that blessed Period great God we beseech thee exclaimed the Earl But tell me my heavenly Brother for it is surely in Heaven that you hold your Conversation and from whence you derive all your Knowledge and Lights tell me then is there no Distinction no Preference in Matter of Goodness between Creature and Creature between Man and Man For this seems to be the Consequence of what You have set forth very nearly I acknowledge to mathematical Demonstration
Your Question my dear Lord is very deep said Mr
Clinton
and still leads to greater Depths than I would choose to disclose before our
Harry
yet awhile I will however attempt in few and simple Words to give you some Satisfaction on this most interesting Article
There are two great and capital Errors under which the World of Man hath laboured and still continues to labour ever since the Creation The
First
is that of ascribing and imputing to Ourselves every Emotion and Inclination toward Virtue or Goodness that we seal within us The
Second
is that as free Agents we are enabled to elect and reject merely by the Act of an own Will independent of any Impulse or Bias whatever
I have already shewn your Lordship that every creaturely Will independent of the Will of its God can be no other than an eager Craving after its own Happiness and cannot possibly be affected in Behalf of another Creature who is wholly distinct from it and wholly an Alien to it Wherefore every creaturely Will in such a separate and adverse State is altogether as an
Ishmael
whose Hand is against every One and every Ones Hand against him
On the other Hand I have shewn You that God the sole Fountain of all Being and Blessedness can in his Nature and Disposition be nothing but LOVE and that even in loving Himself he must love his own Productions the Realizing of his own Ideas, and the Works of his own Power What indeed should hinder our God from being wholly a God of Love Was there any thing before him was there any thing coeval with him to control or oppose him Had he any thing to envy had he any thing to excite his Anger except his own Conceptions, and These he was at Liberty to bring or not to bring into Existence or Perceptibility even at his own Pleasure What then should affect him with the slightest Tincture of Malignity Could he add to his own Happiness by rousing the hateful Passions within his own blessed Bosom We may more rationally suppose that the Sun in his distant Zenith of burning Superiority should have his Light impaired by the Squirt of a Schoolboy than that the Deity should be affected with any Touch of Malevolence by any Creature or by all the Creatures that his Omnipotence can produce
Purblind Reason here will say even the Goodness of God himself in the human Heart will say if our God is all LOVE if he is a Will to all Rectitude and Happiness in his Creatures why did he suffer any Evil to begin in Nature or Creature Could Evil have arisen contrary to the Will of Omnipotence if Omnipotence had willed that it should not arise
Ah my Friends no Evil ever did nor ever can approach the Will of God neither can he will or affect any Species of Evil in Nature or Creature but he can allow a temporary Evil in the Creature as a Travail toward its Birth into the more eminent Degree of that Goodness and Happiness which God affects God cannot affect or take Delight in the Sufferings of the most abandoned Reprobate that ever blasphemed his Name but he can will that the Sinner should be reclaimed to Happiness even by Suffering when there are no other Means in Nature, whereby he may be reclaimed
Could Creatures without the Experience of any Lapse or Evil have been made duly sensible of the Darkness and Dependence of their creaturely Nature and of the Distance and Distinction between themselves and their God could they have known the Nature and Extent of his Attributes with the Infinity of his Love could they have known the dreadful Consequences of falling off from him without seeing any Example or experiencing any Consequence of such a Fall could they have otherwise felt and found that every Act of creaturely Will and every Attempt at creaturely Power was a Forsaking of that eternal Wisdom and Strength in which they stood could all intelligent Creatures have been continued in that Lowliness that Resignation that Gratitude of burning Affection which the slain Will of the mortified Sinner feels when called up into the Grace and Enjoyment of his God could those endearing Relations have subsisted in Creation which have since newly arisen between God and his lapsed Creatures wholly subsequent thereto those Relations I say of Redemption of Regeneration of a Power of Conversion that extracts Good out of Evil of a Love that no Apostasy can quench that no Offences can conquer if these eternal Benefits could have been introduced without their Ground or Foundation in the Admission of Evil no Lapse or Falling off would ever have been
To make this Matter still clearer if possible In the dark and the boundless Mirror called Nature God beheld and contemplated from all Eternity the Loveliness of his own Light and the Beauty of his own Ideas even those Ideas to which he had determined to impart Perceptibility or a Consciousness and Feeling of an Owness of Existence in Him He also contemplated therein the whole Infinity of Possibilities all Causes with their Consequences in the remotest Relation all Events that ever should or ever could come to pass
He saw that without an intelligent Desire no Creature could be excellent or formed in his Likeness But he saw also that unless such Intelligence should be ruled by his Wisdom and such a Desire wholly conformable to his Will the Creature could not be wise the Creature could not be happy
In the Possibility of the Creatures Desire of Independence God saw the Possibility of moral and natural Evil But he saw that such partial and temporary Evil might be converted to the Production of an Infinity of Good and he saw that without the Admission of such Evil the Good that bore Relation thereto could not arise
He knew that till the Lapse or Falling off of some of his Creatures his own infinite Attributes could not duly be manifested could not be duly adored in the Glory of their Contrast That no Creature till then could be duly sensible of its own Fallibility could be duly sensible that Sufficiency and Perfection were solely in God and that all Things depended on him as well for every Quality of Blessedness as of Being
He foresaw all the Misery that should attend upon Error but he saw also how amiable how beneficial was the Sense of such Error how it might serve to sap the Self-Confidence of the Creature and engage him to cast his Trust where his Strength alone lay And he the more willingly permitted the Sufferings of all his fallen Offspring as the future blissful Period was already present to him when the Miseries of the short Parenthesis called Time should be for ever shut up between the two Eternities and when all his beloved and rectified Creatures should enter upon the Fullness of the Enjoyment of their God
From the Blackness of Guilt and the Cloud of Pains Calamities Diseases and Deaths God saw Remorse Contrition Humility Patience and Resignation beaming forth into new Wonders of Light and eternal Life He saw new Relations new Connections new Endearments arise between
Creaturely
Good and
Creaturely
Evil between Transgression and Redemption Repentance and Pardon and he joyed without Beginning in calling his loved Offspring from Error to Rectitude from Lowliness to Exaltation from Death into Life from Time to Eternity and from transitory Afflictions into ever enduring and ever increasing Blessedness
God foresaw in future Worlds of new and wonderful Construction the Frailty and Lapse of his favourite Family of Man He saw him sunk into the Inclemency of outward Elements and into the inward Darkness and Wrath of his distinct and limited Nature externally besieged and tempted by lying Offers of Enjoyment and internally rent by disappointed Desires and malignant Passions But he had provided a Redemption of such stupendous Potency as would not suffer the perverse Creature to tear itself out of the Arms of his Affection He had provided a Seed of the SON OF HIS LOVE that should take Root in Mans World of inward and outward Evil that should grow as a fragrant Flower through Corruption and Abomination into the Freedom the Light and the Purity of Heaven that should reprove his Unrighteousness that should convict him of Wickedness that should convince him of Weakness and soften him into Sorrow for his own Transgressions that should melt him into a Sense of the Calamity of others that should diffuse as a dawning Light through his dark and angry Nature subduing his Pride assuaging his Passions calling him forth from Self into the Expansion of Benevolence into all the Charities and Amities the Feelings and Offices of the human Heart thus made divine and lastly maturing in him a different Nature and a new Creature that God may be in all Men the ONE WILL TO THE ONE GOODNESS thereby uniting all Men as one Man in their God For deep indeed are all his Counsels and all the Mazes of his Providence will finally unwind themselves in the Rectitude and Fullness of the Wisdom of his Love
That a Creature inexperienced or newly brought into Being should stand in the State in which he felt his Delight Or even that he should fall therefrom by attempting at something through an own Will and the Presumption of an own Power does not appear to have any Thing very wonderful in it But that a Creature already fallen into the Misery and Depravity of a second and base Nature should rise again superior to its original Goodness and Glory this is the Work produced in Time that will be Matter of chief Amazement throughout the second Eternity
That Man I say fallen into a Body of bestial Flesh and Members fallen into the Properties of a dark and wrathful Nature fallen into circling Elements of Hostility Distemperature and Dissolution to his Frame that Man I repeat it thus degraded and weakened thus oppressed and assaulted from within and from without should yet advance and proceed through his Course of appointed Warfare denying his own Appetites pulling down his own Pride combating Sufferings with Patience subduing Injuries with Love delighting to labour under the hinder Part of that Cross which
Simon
the
Cyrenian
was compelled to bear conquering rising triumphing over Desires Disappointments Tribulations Languor Sickness failing Existence and Death and All this without any Constraint or Violation of that Principle of Liberty which his ETERNALLY FREE PROGENITOR imparted unto him this indeed is a Wonder to
Cherubim
and
Seraphim
and from Eternity to Eternity the GREATEST WORK of God
Here Brother said the Earl you expressly acknowledge that Man is a free Agent
I acknowledge answered Mr
Clinton
that Man has a Principle or Seed of Liberty within him a Power of turning or at least of leaving his Will to the Impulse of Good on the one Hand or of Evil on the Other he could not otherwise be accountable and this brings me directly to your Lordships Question respecting the Distinction, in Matter of Merit between Man and Man
KNOW THYSELF was the wisest of all the
Saws
in the ancient Schools for the most useful of all Studies to Man is that of Man
MAN has been represented by the Boastings of pagan Philosophy as equal in many Respects and in some Articles superior to what they conceived of Godhead
They define him a rational and lordly Intelligence sole Dictator to his own Actions Controller of his own Passions and of Powers Virtues and Faculties wholly free and independent But what says Nature on this Head
Man goes out of this World even as he comes into it quite passive and without his own Consent From the Womb to the Time of his maturing in Reason and even till some Degree of Power is awakened in him toward governing his Appetites and resisting his Inclinations he is as merely a sensual and servile Machine as any inferior Animal or Brute in the Creation His Pulses beat his Blood circulates and all the Offices of Respiration Secretion and Perspiration are performed alike awake as asleep without any more Attention or Care on his Part than if he had no Interest or Concern therein
In the mean Time he is begirt by outward Objects and outward Elements that hold an intimate Correspondence and perpetual Communication with his Flesh with all his Organs and his animal Life exciting in him a Variety of Appetites and Desires that he can no more resist than a Twig can swim against a Torrent insomuch that were this the Whole of the Man with Respect to his Appetites he would of Necessity be a Brute and with Respect to his Passions he would of Necessity be a Devil
Thus far my Lord you see that Man is wholly acted upon and does nothing but as he is incited or impelled thereto and were there no other Agent within him to act upon him on the opposite Part had he no present Friend to combat with and control the evil Propensities of his Nature he would be as totally a Slave to his carnal and diabolical Lusts as the GalleyRower is to the Bench whereon he is chained
But blessed be our allcreating allredeeming and allloving Friend who is ever present in us and to us and does not leave our Impotence destitute of his Help who in the Centre of our old and reprobated
Adam
hath implanted a divine Seed of a new Nature and a new Creature even the renewed Image of himself in our Souls It is this infant Resemblance of himself in our Essence which God always cherishes which he always elects which he pursues which he calls upon by the Word of the Son of his Love which he informs with the Breath of his holy Spirit whispering into it the still Voice of his own beatifying Affections
Now though these two Seeds or Principles are so intimately united in us, that very few observe any Distinction between them yet no two Things can be more opposite than they are to Each Other both in their Natures and Propensities And accordingly the great Apostle
Paul
hath specified and marked out their separate Offices and Departments with the most exact Precision Reach me yonder Bible
Harry
Here it is
That which I do I allow not for what I would that do I not but what I hate that do I If then I do that which I would not I consent unto the Law that it is good Now then it is no more I that do it but Sin that dwelleth in me For I know that in me that is in my Flesh dwelleth no good Thing for to will is present with me but how to perform that which is good I find not For the Good that I would I do not but the Evil which I would not that I do Now if I do that I would not it is no more I that do it but Sin that dwelleth in me I find then a Law, that when I would do Good Evil is present with me For I delight in the Law of God
after the inward Man
But I see another Law in my Members warring against the Law of my Mind and bringing me into Captivity to the Law of Sin which is in my Members O wretched Man that I am who shall deliver me from the Body of this Death
Here my Friends You see the Apostle distinguishes most precisely between the opposite Natures and Tendencies of the two several Seeds of the
first
and the
second Adam
between the
Outward
and
Inward
the
Vitiated
and
Regenerate
the
Old
and the
New Man
The
Old
warring against the
New
and endeavouring to bring him into Captivity to Sin and Death insomuch that our own evil
Cain
would willingly slay outright the good
Abel
that is in us.
Now between these adverse Offsprings of the earthly and heavenly
Adams
our
Will
or
Principle of Freedom
or
Power of Election
is placed
On the one Part we are besieged and assailed by a World of tempting and seducing Objects that hold intimate Intercourse with our Flesh and carnal Sensibilities and impel their Influences on our Spirit through every Organ While the Rulers in Darkness enter through the said sensual Avenues excite their diabolical Passions within us and begin to open a Kingdom of their own in our Soul
On the contrary Part our heavenly Father is graciously pleased to act upon us through the kindred Seed of that divine Nature which he had implanted in our Essence He attracts us strongly though not forcibly and he sheds into us a Species of mental Feelings and Affections to which Flesh and Blood is wholly an Alien
Here then when the Will turns away from divine Influence and delivers itself up to the Impulses and Operations of the evil Agents the whole Man becomes a Prisoner in the Regions of Darkness and Shadows of Death and Nothing but intense Sufferings can awake him to a Sense of the Error Insufficiency and Folly of his Pursuits and of the Loss and Horror of the State in which he lies
But when the Will turns and yields itself to the gracious Drawings and Influence of Gods blessing Spirit God opens himself unto it and attracts it still more powerfully till he gradually delivers it from the Slavery of Sense, of Sin and of Self, into the perfect Freedom of a willing Service to Goodness
Above all when the Will is assaulted by violent pressing and permanent Temptations if yet with the Assistance of supporting Grace it strives and struggles to maintain the Fight and to tear itself away from the Custody of Evil though anguishing in the Strife and pierced even to the dividing of the Bone from the Marrow then is the Scripture fulfilled that says
the Kingdom of Heaven suffereth Violence and the Violent take it by Force
then is our
Jesus
in the highest Height of his Throne and Dominion then does he deem all his Sufferings overpaid and he will himself be the Champion in the Will of such a Champion and he will fight the good Fight and run the good Course and hold fast the good Faith both in him and for him and he will impute the Whole of his Conquests to the willing Instrument of his Operations and will crown him with the Crown of his own Glory and will stretch out his Existence to the Reception and Expansion of his whole Heaven within him
Here then my honoured Brother You have your Question fully answered touching the Difference in Point of Merit between Man and Man since no Creature can have any Merit save so far as he opens his Will to the Impressions of the Goodness of God upon his Spirit
What you will say is this the utmost Merit that the Best of Men can boast that of barely yielding his Will to the Drawings and Influence of the Spirit of Goodness It is indeed my Lord the very Whole of the Merit that any Creature can have as his own Merit the very utmost that he can do toward cooperating with his God and conducing in any Degree to his own Salvation and Happiness
O that all Men that all Men had this Merit my Friends that All would open the Gates of their everlasting Souls and humbly and earnestly petition the King of Glory to come in This would lead to ever during and ever increasing Merit for our God would then impute his own Merits unto us not by an outward but inward Imputation even the feeling Sense and Participation of his Nature his Powers and Qualities within us We should become good in his Goodness wise in his Wisdom and strong in his Omnipotence By resigning and surrendring to him our dark empty hungry and uncomfortable Creature we should gain in lieu thereof the Plenitude of the rich and illuminating Creator The Fullness of all Delight would become our Portion and Inheritance and the Proprietor of the Universe would be our Property and Possession
Here Mr
Clinton
paused and his Auditors continued in a kind of respectful Musing as attentive to what he might further offer At length the Earl exclaimed Never never more my Brother will I debate or question with You further than asking your Advice or Opinion to which I shall instantly and implicitly submit as I would to that of the highest Seraph in Heaven Our dear
Meekly
here and I had some former Converse on a few of these deep Subjects and I received much Satisfaction and Instruction from him but he was not quite so explicit and convincing as You have been
Ah my Lord cried
Meekly
were I as intimate with the Fountain of all Knowledge as your precious Brother is You would not then have posed me in the Conversation we last held on those Heads
On the following Day at Breakfast Mr
Meekly
took out his PocketBook and produced Bank and StockBills to the amount of something upward of three thousand Pounds He then presented them to Mr
Clinton
and said Here Sir is a little Matter toward Repayment of the Loan I had from You in
Holland
I bless I bless my God that he has enabled me thus far to approve myself an honest Man but above all I bless him for giving me once more a Sight of the gracious Countenance of my Patron But for You I had miserably perished in a Dungeon to You Sir I owe my Liberty to You I owe my Life to You I owe the Recovery of the Inheritance of my Fathers With Respect to such Obligations I am indeed a beggared Insolvent But my Heart is pleased with the Thought that the Connection between us of Creditor on your Part and of Debtor on mine should remain on Record to all Eternity
Here the worthy
Meekly
became oppressed under Sensations of grateful Recollection and putting his Handkerchief to his Eyes he sobbed out his Passion
In the mean time Mr
Clinton
held the Bills in his Hand and carelessly casting his Eye over them perceived the Amount As soon as he saw that his Friends Emotion had partly subsided You have Mr
Meekly
says he You have been quite a Gospel Steward and have returned me my Own with most unlooked for Usury and I heartily pray God in Recompense of your Integrity to give You the Principality of many Cities in the coming Kingdom of his Son But what shall I do with this Money my dear
Meekly
My Wealth already overflows it is my only Trouble my only Encumbrance It claims my Attention indeed as it is a Trust for which I know I am strictly accountable But I heartily wish that Providence would reclaim the Whole to himself and leave me as One of his Mendicants who daily wait on the Hand that supplieth All who seek his Kingdom with necessary Things For my
Harry
has enough and more than enough now in the Abundance of his noble Father You must therefore keep these Bills to yourself my worthy Friend retain or give or dispose of them even as it shall please You whether as your Property or as my Property it matters not Sixpence but take them back you must take them back indeed my
Meekly
And so saying he shoved them over from him on the Table
Ah my most honoured Sir exclaimed the repining
Meekly
sure You would not serve me so My Soul is but just eased of a Load that lay heavy on it for many many Years Be not then so severe as to replace the Burden upon me It would break my very Heart should you persist in refusing this little Instance of Acknowledgment from One of your warmest Lovers
Here
Harry
found himself affected and distressed for the Parties and in order to relieve them took the Decision of the Matter upon himself
Gentlemen says he I will with your good Pleasure put a very quick End to this Dispute and I offer myself to You as your joint Trustee to be your Almoner and Disposer of these Bills
As I was lately on my Rambles through some Villages near
London
the Jingle of a Number of infant Voices struck my Ear and turning and looking in at the GroundFloor of a long Cottage I perceived about thirty little Girls neatly dressed in a Uniform and All very busily and variously employed in hackling carding knitting or spinning or in sewing at their Sampler or in learning their Letters and so forth
The adjoining House contained about an equal Number of Boys most of whom were occupied in learning the Rudiments of the several HandyCrafts while the rest were busied in cultivating a back Field intended as a Garden for these two young Families
I was so pleased with what I saw that I gave the Masters and Mistresses some small Matter and I resolved within myself if ever I should be able to gather together a little Family of my own for the like Purposes
Now Gentlemen here comes Mr
Meekly
s Money quite in Season for saving just so much of my own But hang it since I am grown suddenly rich I think I will be generous for once in my Life and add as much more out of my proper Stock I shall also make so free as to draw on my Uncle there for the like Sum and these totted together will make a pretty Beginning of my little Project As to my poor Father here he has nothing to spare for he has already lavished all his Wealth on his naughty Boy
My Lord and the Company laughed heartily at
Harry
s little Pleasantry But heark ye honest Friend added the Earl you must not think to expose me by leaving me out of your Scheme cant you lend me as much
Harry
as will answer my Quota Yes my Lord said
Harry
upon proper Securities I think I may venture You are a Rogue and a Darling and my Treasure and my Honour and my Ornament cried the Earl turning and bending fondly toward him While
Harry
s Eyes began to swim with Pleasure and casting himself into his Fathers Bosom he there hid the Tears of his swelling Delight while Mr
Clinton
and Mr
Meekly
sat silently wrapped in the Enjoyment of the tender Scene
When
Harry
was reseated Gentlemen says he I must bid you adieu I am engaged on a Party in the Village this Morning For this Day I must quit the Honour of being your Lordships Son and shall content myself with the Station of One of your Vassals or Dependents and so saying he rose and away he shot
Immediately the Earl rung the Bell and Mr
John
entered
John
said he do you know any thing of
Harry
s Expedition into our Town to Day Why my Lord said
John
our loving Townsmen have agreed to do all the Honour they can to the Arrival and Welcome of your honourable Brother The Day is to be spent in Sports and Tomorrow is to be lighted up with the Bonfires and illuminations of this very Night There is a Football also to be and I fancy that my Master
Harry
designs to be no better than a Hail Fellow among them
Tell me then my good
John
could you contrive so as to place us where we might see some of these Diversions without being seen Why please your Honours the Football is to be in our Park and I can raise a Stage of Boards where by the Help of a Step Ladder your Honours may get up and peep over and so see all that passes Get it done then get it done good
John
immediately
When
John
had gone out to execute his Commission I believe Sir said
Meekly
to Mr
Clinton
that there is not such a Boy as your Nephew no not in the whole Universe every Look and Accent every Motion Fibre and Member so wonderfully answering to the Meekness and Modesty the Honour the Gallantry and Intrepidity of his Spirit He shrinks from Praise he is ashamed before it and yet his Words sink as Balm on the Heart and his Actions compel People to affront him with rejected Honours wherever he goes While I look on his lovely and lowly Countenance and inwardly embrace him as I would a Part or Portion of my God I secretly say to myself you are a Proof my
Harry
that the lower the Roots of Humility strike into the Depths beneath the more the exalted Branches ascend the Heights of Heaven I attend I study him as well for my Instruction as Delight and look upon and revere him as the most perfect Copy that ever yet was taken of the omnipotent Babe in the Manger
The other Day he preserved his noble Father and me from being rent in Pieces by a mad and foaming Monster of a Mastiff But his Calmness of Courage with his Quickness of Action his Prowess and Power on that Occasion exceeded all that I ever met with in Fable Pray my Lord have you not yet told you Brother of that wonderful Incident No indeed said the Earl my
Harry
continued with us till within this Minute and I was cautious of offending him by mentioning the Matter before him For he can scarce bear to be thanked for the Charity that he gives and much less to be praised for any Virtue or Accomplishment O my Brother my Brother what do I not owe you a Debt immense indeed never never to be paid for this precious this inestimable Treasure of a Boy
Ah my Lord cried Mr
Clinton
I am already overpaid your Pearl has overpaid me for all my polishing Nay I am become his Debtor I am indebted to him for my Life if that were a Thing of Value It is now about three Weeks since he delivered me from the greatest Peril I ever was in and in the wonderful Manner I am going to tell you
The Day before he set out for this Place I desired him to take a Walk with me in the Fields where I intended gradually to discover to him the heavy Tidings of the Death of his Mother and Brother
Just as I began to open the Matter to him I heard a sudden and terrifying Roar and turning my Eye to the Place from whence it came I perceived a monstrous Bull tearing the Ground with his Foot and denouncing his Wrath in the Voice of Thunder when quitting a few Kine among whom he stood he made directly at us Instantly I cried out to
Harry
and charged him to fly for his Life but instead of obeying me he advanced with a hasty Pace to meet the enraged Animal
Never was I in such a Panic as I then was for our precious Boy I shook from Head to Foot and was just going to drop when the furious Beast stooped his Head to dash our Child to Pieces but
Harry
quick as Thought laid hold on a Horn with one of his Hands and rising into the Air threw himself astride upon the Creatures Neck
The Bull plunged and tossed and tore about at a frantic Rate endeavouring to disencumber himself of his Rider while
Harry
took out his Penknife and urged him to greater Madness by pricking him with the Point At length the Monster all panting and white with Foam stood still as a Post When
Harry
stooping made Way through his Hide opened the jugular Vein and cut his Windpipe in two and after some imperfect Roars the Creature sunk breathless beneath him
Think of my Transports then my Brother when I saw my Hero safe and smilingly triumphant I said and did Things I believe that were quite beside my Reason but I shall not be so readily alarmed for him hereafter as I see that his Action Intrepidity and Presence of Mind make him more than a Match for any living Creature
In some Time after
John
returned and gave his Lord Notice that their Station was prepared whereupon our Company issued forth and ascended their Seat of Eminence where through the Cover of some Trees they could see and observe without being observed
After they had been seated and had talked awhile of Truth the LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS of Heart felt Peace and the fearful looking out for Judgment from the God of Love a promiscuous Crowd of many Hundreds of Old and Young Male and Female entered and flooded the Park
As All thronged about
Harry
with an affectionate Familiarity he appointed that Football should begin the Sports and two Champions being chosen Each of them chose his Man and that Man Another alternately till about forty strenuous and active Youths were ranged on either Side
The Field was then divided and the Ball being tossed aloft in the Midst they All mingled and jostled together like Hailstones till after much running wrestling and sweating two Games were successively lost on the Side of the Party where
Harry
had ranged himself
Ah cried the Earl my poor
Harry
I find is not accustomed to rude Sports of this Kind whereupon Mr
Clinton
laughed and cried he is a Rogue he is a Rogue as you will quickly see my Lord
Master
Harry
Master
Harry
exclaimed his Associates had you staid among us instead of going to that dull and heavy heeled
London
we would have taught you to play Football better than you do
I never play right answered
Harry
but when the Girls are on my Side And here I lay a Wager of twenty Guineas in Hands of my Daddy
Dobson
that give me but my Choice Twenty of these pretty Lasses and I will beat your two Parties of Fourscore from one Barrier to the other What say you
Polly Truck
will you be on my Side I will side with your Honour against the World cried
Polly
and away went her Clothes to her Jacket and under Petticoat
On this facetious Proposal of our Heros a loud Roar and Laugh was set up that lasted a long Time Well well Gentlemen said
Harry
I will give you leave to double your Laugh as soon as you are Winners In the mean Time my good
Polly
be pleased to choose me out the rest of our fair Fellows at Football
When this was done
Harry
took them All both Males and Females to the extremity of the Barrier just opposite to his Father extending to about a Mile in Length and while the Girls stood panting through Fear and Emulation behind him he took the Ball in Hand and throwing it into the Air gave it a Kick as it descended aloof from his Adversaries who were ranged directly against him and then following it like a Bullet he gave it another Kick before it touched the Ground and pursued and pursued it with astonishing Rapidity till he gave it the last Kick high over the Trees that reached high over the Wall and over the Heads of his Parents
In the mean Time
Polly Truck
had followed her beloved Patron with all imaginable Zeal and Speed and had overrun all the Lads by near a Furlong At last she came up to
Harry
panting and quite spent and wished to wish him much Joy but was not able
While these Things were in Agitation our Company beheld All from behind their Cover and as
Harry
approached their Hearts beat a quick and equal Measure with his Feet even with such Emotions as
Virgil
ascribes to the Bosom of
Latona
while she beholds and contemplates her fair Daughter
Dian
so eminently transcending the Choruses of her Nymphs in Grace Beauty and Excellence
As soon as
Polly Truck
was come to her Speech Laws your Honour says she where in the World do you contrive to hide your Wings I have nine Holland Smocks that I won by running at nine Wakes and never was beaten before in my Life
Harry
laughed and gave his quondam Playfellow a friendly Shake of the Hand
The Company now began to come in apace though yet awhile incapable of Utterance but gathering about
Harry
they silently eyed him from Head to Foot and beheld him with a Kind of venerating Astonishment At last young
Felster
the Wit of the Town cries I have always heard till now that All were Fellows at Football but here is One I am sure who has no Fellow I will bet upon his Head or rather on his Heels against the ninetynine Shires and desire no better than Cripples to side him
At length Old and Young Men and Maidens got once more together and the Question was started concerning the next Sports upon which they should enter when they beheld a mighty Giant approaching with Strides that would have suited the Arch of a River He was called by way of Eminence the great
Roger
of
Rosstown
and was accompanied by his Kinsman
Pelt
the Tanner
As soon as
Roger
came up he very affectionately saluted those of his Acquaintance asking what Sport have ye got forward my brave Boys The best Sport answered
Jack Felster
would be to see your Highness Mr
Roger
get a Fall before Night That Man cried
Pelt
does not step on
English
Ground who will ever be able to crack of that Feat Why as to that Matter said
Roger
though I rose early this Morning I have a strong Fancy that I am up for the whole Day
Tom Truck
cries
Felster
if you will get on one Side of him I will get on tother and try what Hand we can make of this famous Champion
Accordingly the Attack began but
Roger
smiled superior and handled and played them together as a ShowMan plays his Puppets Another Wrestler was then added and then Another but the Four could no more move him than if he were a Tower while he lifted them up in Turns and laid them successively on the Ground with the best natured Caution
Harry
then came smilingly up and said Mr
Roger
if youll be so kind to teach me the Art of Wrestling I will make you a Present of twenty Guineas for your Pains my Daddy
Dobson
there has the Money in his Pocket
Roger
here surveyed our Hero with the most inquisitive Attention I rejoice to see your Honour says he with all my Heart and indeed it was for that only Purpose that I came here to Day having already heard the Story of my Cousins great Mastiff But Sir as you were proposing and as I honestly think you may do wonderfully well for a Wrestler of Quality for you are exceeding finely made as any Thing can possibly be for the Volume of you and as the Jockeys say are the prettiest Fellow of your Inches I ever set my Eyes on But you want something of my Bulk Master to give you the full Powers However I thank your Honour for your generous Proffer I am ready to enter on my Office whenever you please and I hope to make the very most of the little Matter that is in you
They then grappled not as Combatants but as Tutor and Pupil and the Rogue
Harry
submitted himself as a pliant Twig in his Hands while
Roger
continued to initiate him in this Trip and that Trip and in the various Methods of assailing and evading When
Harry
perceiving his Instructor a little over poised suddenly gave him an inside Foot and a Push at the same Instant toward the Part to which he inclined Strait like a Promontory sapped with all its Pines nine Paces huge the Giant sidelong veered the tenth on bended Knee his mighty Arm upstaid Amazement filled the rustic Powers to see with such Slight moved their Mightiest and a universal Shout rent the wide Welkin
Roger
rose and returned something abashed at his Foil but said with apparent good Humour I am sorry that I have not twenty Guineas in my Pocket to pay your Honour for shewing me that same Trip However I hope you will give me one Turn more for the Victory I now engage you as a Learner not as a Teacher As you will says
Harry
Here
Roger
laid hold on
Harry
with a truly hostile Gripe while
Harry
seized his brawny Muscles as with little Cramps of Steel Then was seen on either Side the long calculated Proportions of Weight against Action and of Action against Weight
Roger
several Times assayed to lift our Hero between his Hands and to lay him as he had served the other Peasants on the Ground but could not compel him to quit his Gripes He then swayed him hither and thither and thrust him from him and pulled him to him and hooked and tripped him on every Side but felt himself often staggered by the quick Efforts of
Harry
while the Scales of Contest seemed alternately inclining to either Part At length
Roger
beginning to find himself overbreathed plucked his Adversary to him and bending heavily forward overshadowed and overbore our Hero to the Earth
Great
Roger
then rose triumphant and
Harry
also arose in the best Humour imaginable Mr
Roger
says he I hold it truly an Honour that you think me worthy of Contention although you have conquered But this has been a Kind of Fling for which I dont owe you a Farthing till you can make me of a Bulk approaching to yourself But come Mr
Roger
I will not take you at an Advantage recover your Breath and then as you said to me I hope you will give me another Chance for the Victory
Soon after the Combatants again engaged and mutually exerted their very utmost
Roger
for saving his Honour and
Harry
for preventing an open Disgrace before the Face of so great an Assembly They struggled they put every Power of Strength and Art to the Proof till
Roger
finding himself beginning to fail had recourse to his former Stratagem and plucking
Harry
suddenly to him would again have overlaid him but our Hero now aware slipped nimbly from under him and setting his right Foot before the right Foot of his Adversary he gave a Shove with his left Hand to the Others right Shoulder and prostrate fell the great
Roger
of
Rosstown
extended over half a Rood of Ground
Then indeed the Clamours became immoderately high young
Felster
above all Others grew insolently triumphant and the Girls could scarce be detained on the Ground while they clapped Hands and shouted and sprung up aloft in the Congratulation of
Harry
s unexpected Victory
Our Hero then very affectionately stepped forward and gave
Roger
a Hand to help him up but he rose very slowly as he was something hurt by his Fall Mr
Roger
says
Harry
I am now doubly your Debtor and will accordingly pay you double Wages as you have taught me not only to throw Others but to throw yourself also Adad cried
Roger
I find and feel too that you are already but too well taught to my Hand
As soon as
Harry
had paid
Roger
his forty Guineas Part of which he borrowed from Goodman
Demster Roger
seized his Hand and kissing it ardently he cried O my Conqueror my Hero my noble Child throughout Life may all Enemies fall before you nor Death itself be able to fling my Boy
Just then the great Bell rung loudly for Dinner and
Harry
turning and measuring the Height of the Park Wall with a Glance of his Eye took a short Race and running up it some Steps caught hold of the Coping and threw himself over while all the Assembly poured after him a Shout of Amazement
Harry
happened to alight within a few Paces of the Stage where his Father and Uncle sat but not attending to that he was hastening homeward when Mr
Clinton
cried out Ho ho honest Friend whither away so fast
Harry
stopped and started and turning about looked something abashed to find that his so highly revered Friends had been the Spectators of his little Feats and Follies however he advanced toward them in order to help them down while the Earl whispered to his Brother and said Now we shall see how proud our
Harry
will be of having overcome the famous
Roger
of
Rosstown
While they sat over a temperate Meal why
Harry
said the Earl somewhat slyly the great
Roger
of
Rosstown
was but a Babe in your Hands Ah my Lord cried
Harry
smiling and blushing you are not yet rightly apprized how that Matter stands It cost me no less than forty Guineas to prevail upon Mr
Roger
to let me cast him but when your Lordship was a Boy perhaps you would have thought it but a small Matter for the Purchase of Honour especially in the Eyes of the pretty Wenches Indeed my
Harry
said the Earl I was a very very naughty Boy at your Years and had I been such a Fellow as you are at this Day I should have kept as large a Seraglio as the
Sophy
himself and that also of willing and kind hearted Girls
Just then
John
entered with Tidings that an Embassy of a Score of Wenches waited at the HallDoor and were pushing before them the prettiest Maiden he ever beheld to be their Spokeswoman
Immediately my Lord ordered that they should All be introduced and quickly after a Clatter was heard without crying Indeed indeed now Miss
Aggy
You must and shall speak for us
The Door was then thrown open and a young Creature entered colouring panting and palpitating and followed by the Group of Wenches who put her forward before them
The Earl in Pain for her sweet Confusion did his best to encourage her and ordered
Harry
to help them round with a Glass of Wine By the Time that this was done Miss
Aggy
became a little better assured but had not yet dared to look One of them in the Face but kept her Eyes bent on the Ground as though she had been ashamed of their Brightness
If if my Lord said she tremblingly and whisperingly if your honoured your very honourable Brother is here we come to invite him and his Company to our TownBall And we will attend you with Pleasure my little Angel cried the Earl But pray who are you and where do you live So please You my Fathers Name is
Abel Jessamin
and he is lately come Tenant to Part of your Lordships Estate Then I will make him a Present of at least a Years Rent for his fair Daughters Sake Here
John
give five Guineas apiece to these pretty Lasses to buy each of them a Riband And do you hear bring me twenty Guineas for this their chief Ambassadress Not for the World my Lord indeed I will not accept a Farthing My Father though poor is very jealous of his Honour and should I take any thing from any Man living he would never suffer me to darken the Light that shines in at his Door
Aggy
then made an elegant Curtsey to the Ground and retreated attended by her own Graces and by the revering and affectionate Regards of the Company
Who can this Creature be cried out the Earl so lovely so uncommon such a sweet Distinction about her Ah exclaimed Mr
Clinton
what a Pity it would be that such Innocence should be seduced and such Purity corrupted And yet that is most likely to be the Case said Mr
Meekly
since Beauty is the Bawd that procures its own undoing and Loveliness the very Magnet that attracts Men to its Destruction
Harry
half suppressed a Sigh but said nothing
The Horses were now immediately ordered to be put to and our Company drove into the Town accompanied by the Acclamations of Hundreds upon Hundreds who lined the Way
As soon as they came to the Market Place the Coach set them down near a spacious Flooring that was raised in open Air about a Foot from the Ground and surrounded with Benches behind Benches and Benches above Benches to a great Elevation
When they were shewn to the Seats prepared for them they were served with a Variety of Wines and Cakes for our open hearted Townsmen had spared no Cost for the Entertainment of their noble Guests and their Neighbours The Band of Music the choicest that could be got then struck up and the Jubilee was opened in full Triumph
My Lord then wished in secret that
Harry
and Miss
Jessamin
would lead the Ball but observing that his Son looked something dejected he imputed it to Fatigue and suppressed his Desire In the mean Time the Lads and Lasses entered upon the Stage and several footed it away featly and with all due Applause
As
Harry
had not yet opened his Lips to the too too amiable
Aggy
nor even presented his Hand to lead her out she declined every other Hand that was offered to her At length as the Day began to lose of its Lustre Mr
Clinton
whispered to
Harry
and requested the Favour that he would dance an
Entry
The Desire of Father or Uncle was instantly to
Harry
the same as the Command of the Grand Seignior to his Slave He rose stood forth and appointed the Air and began to move with a slow and graceful Measure But as the Notes of the Tune quickened he quickened his Motions Ether now appeared to be wholly his native Element No Eye could perceive that his Foot condescended to claim Acquaintance with Earth He trod Air He spun around He soared aloft like a Pyramid of Fire while his Limbs preserved the Measure and his Heels traversed each other as he shot forward or sideways with a Quickness that dazzled the Sight Till poor
Aggy
in the Exuberance of her Admiration very innocently and very inadvertently exclaimed Sure sure that Girl is not born who can deserve to have him All to herself
Happily for
Aggy
the Company was so intent on the Motions of our Hero that Few attended to her save
Harry
himself who heard what she said to the very Bottom of his Heart
But
Aggy
utterly confounded at the Recollection of what she had uttered thought that the Company and the whole World were privy to her Shame Her Face Neck and Bosom were instantly suffused with Crimson and she did not presume to raise her Eye to any Face or any Object till she gently pulled her elderly Aunt by the Sleeve and stealing away deprived the Assembly of its principal Object and Ornament
That Night after Supper while
Harry
joined with the Company in a Kind of constrained Cheerfulness they began to compliment him on the Achievements and Honours of the Day when
Harry
replied in evident Discontent No more no more my Friends Indeed I never so thoroughly despised and detested myself as I do at this Instant And so saying he rose hastily and withdrew to his Chamber
Mr
Meekly
soon followed for he was to lye in the same Room And he sat down in Silence while
Harry
was slowly undressing My dear young Friend says he at length I grieve to see you indisposed Indeed Sir said
Harry
I am not quite as I wish and fear I shall disturb you Ah my dear Boy cried
Meekly
I know your Disorder perfectly well I marked the Rise and the Progress I saw the Whole as plain as
Paul
s Had
Aggy Jessamin
been indifferent to you You would have danced and conversed as familiarly with her as with any other Wench But you dreaded your own Feelings and you dreaded still more that those Feelings should be betrayed to the Observation of Others I know
Aggy Jessamin
and her Father She is indeed very lovely and very deserving but yet She is no Mate for you my
Harry
Ah Sir cried
Harry
since you have already seen so far into my Soul I think I had better open my whole Bosom to you You will look down upon me to be sure you will hold me in the utmost Contempt but no Matter for that so You promise not to love me the less
Here I am deemed a mighty clever Fellow forsooth at leaping high Walls and flinging huge Giants while alas I am flung myself by the least of my own Infirmities and can no more wrestle against one of my Passions than if Each of them were a
Grecian Hercules
I own to you Mr
Meekly
that I love
Aggy Jessamin
my Heart also tells me that I shall always love her What then must be the Consequence of my unhappy Affection Neither my Father nor Uncle will ever approve of our Union and I would rather pine to Death than offend the One or the Other
Should I happen to meet the sweet Girl apart I fear nay I feel that I could not be able to resist the Temptation and should she happen to yield what a Ruin must ensue If she loved me it would break the poor Things Heart to be forsaken and the Breaking of hers would break my Heart also And yet I could never think of continuing in a criminal Commerce
Ah my dear Mr
Meekly
pity the Weakness of your Friend and pity the Ignorance that he is in of his own Spirit My Heart exulted this very Day in its own Humility while it felt itself insensible to the Acclamations of the Vulgar and while I reflected that a few Years would soon cripple the Performer of such trifling Exploits or possibly render me in old Age the ridiculous Boaster of the Feats of my Childhood But when the sweet Breath of
Aggy
gave its pleasing Applause to my little Matters Vanity and Selfesteem sunk with her Approbation deep into my Bosom and I have not yet been able to dispossess them
O such is my Passion for her that could I get a Dispensation but for a single Trespass I would willingly do for it whole Years of hermitical Penance in the Wilderness But what would that avail my Friend or how might a whole Eternity atone for the Seduction of Innocence and Corruption of Virtue
O help me then Mr
Meekly
help me to struggle against myself better is it to suffer All that the cruel Conflict may cost me than to suffer the Stings of that never ending Remorse which would tear my Soul for having injured the Object of my Affection
Meekly
was in Tears and could not answer for some time Yes says he at length I will assist you in this Combat a Combat more glorious than ever was fought by all the
Caesars
and
Alexanders
that ever drew Sword And I will pray to the Captain of our Salvation in your Behalf that he may sight the good Fight both in you and for you and finally crown you with the Wreath of eternal Glory But then you must be ruled you must conform to the Prescriptions of your severe but wholesome Physician in short my dear Child you must not see her any more What never Mr
Meekly
never see her any more That is hard indeed It is a necessary Hardship could you answer to yourself the Consequences of such an Indulgence I could not I could not I confess it my Friend I will prevail upon her Father to send her far from you and I will look out for some agreeable and kind hearted Man who may make her a worthy Husband and be sensible of her Merits
O you bear too hard upon me too hard indeed cried
Harry
What give her to Another And yet thats an ungenerous Regret for why should I grudge that Happiness to Another which I cannot enjoy Well then be it so since it must be so Mr
Meekly
Take her bear her tear her away from my Sight from my Vitals But then she must not go empty Take for her two thousand three thousand five thousand Pounds she is welcome she is welcome to All that I am worth
Here
Harry
sat down and wept and was accompanied by his Friend But the Conflict was now over and though his Heart was deeply grieved it was much more at Ease
The next Morning at Breakfast
Harry
appeared to be quite composed When the Earl taking a Bundle of Papers from his Pocket turned with a fond and conciliating Air to Mr
Clinton
and said My dearest Brother when You shall be at Leisure to cast your Eye over this Parcel You will find that I have not been altogether at least not all along the unnatural Kinsman you had Cause to apprehend These are Copies of the Letters which I sent in search of You through several Parts of Europe and in which I petitioned you to pardon my past Offences and to return and possess yourself of your Rights in the Half of my Fortune and the Whole of my Heart
Precious Pledges cried Mr
Clinton
are all Things to me that bring me any Instance of the Affection of so dear a Brother and so saying he put the Papers into his Bosom
But tell me my ever amiable
Harry Clinton
continued the Earl where in the World could you hide yourself from my Enquiries these twenty Years past I have got some scattered Sketches of your History from Mr
Meekly
and my Son here and have been burning to learn the Whole but dreaded to ask you that Favour lest the Recollection of some Passages should give You Distress I refuse no Pain to do you a Pleasure my Brother
Here the honourable Mr
Clinton
began his Story as formerly recited and that Night sent his Auditors weeping to Bed
On the following Morning when he came to that Part of his Narrative where Lady
Maitland
broke away he proceeded as followeth
Having travelled through several Parts of
France
and
Italy
I took
Germany
in my Tour I staid some time at
Spa
where I drank the Waters and within the Year arrived in perfect Health at
Rotterdam
On a Visit to Mr
De Wit
at his Villa near the City he told me over our Bottle that he had at that Time in his House and in his Guardianship one of the most extraordinary Women in the Universe Though she is now says he advancing toward the Decline of Life she is by far the most finished Female I ever beheld while all she says and all she does give a Grace to her Person that is quite indescribable She has a Youth too her Son with her who is nearly as great a Rarity as herself and were it not that his Complexion is sallow and that he is something short of a Leg and Blind of one Eye he would positively be the most lovely of all the human Species
You put me in mind said I laughing of the
Barratarian
Wench who was commended to Governor
Sancho
as the most accomplished Beauty within a League with this Exception only that one Eye was blind and that the Other ran with Brimstone and Vermilion But pray who are these Wonders
That said he I either cannot or must not declare They are evidently People of the first Fashion and must have some uncommon Reasons for their present Conduct as they live quite retired and admit of no Company
I protest said I you have raised my Curiosity in Earnest is there no managing so as to procure me a short
tete a tEte
with em I wish there was says he for I long to know how far your Sentiments agree with mine in this Matter Yesterday the Lady told me that she intended to go and reside some Time in
England
and that I would oblige her by getting a Person duly qualified to initiate her and her Son in the Language of the Country And now if such a fine Gentleman could condescend to undress himself you might come Tomorrow as a Person who wanted Hire and I might introduce you to an Interview by the way of treating provided you are upon Honour not to reveal any thing concerning them or their Place of Abode
The next Morning I waited on Mr
De Wit
under the Appearance of a reduced Gentleman a Character that excites a Mixture of Contempt and Compassion
The Lady received and spoke to me with that dignified Complacence which awes while it engages and while it attracts forbids an irreverent Familiarity She was indeed every thing that my Friend had boasted of her for though her Person was all Majesty her Manner was all Grace Will you answer for the Discretion of this young Man Mr
De Wit
I will Madam says he I bowed to them both
On turning I perceived that her Son eyed me with much Attention and I on my Part surveyed him with the utmost Astonishment He laboured indeed apparently under all the Disadvantages that my Friend described but Enchantment lurked in his Accents and in the dimpling of his Lips and when he smiled Heaven itself was infused through the fine Roundings of his Olivecoloured Countenance
In short I felt such a sudden Attachment to these extraordinary Personages that I resolved to keep on the Deception at least for a few Days and accordingly engaged with them at a stated Salary
I entered on my Province My young Pupil especially began to improve apace And as I was particularly cautious of observing the distant Respect that suited my Station I grew into great Favour both with Mother and Son
How long Mr
De Wit
would say do you propose to carry on this Farce Till I can prevail upon them I answered to accompany me to
England
For I feel my Affections so tied to them that I cannot think of parting
On a Day as I sat with my Pupil in his Apartment he happened to let his Book fall and as I stooped to take it up the Picture of my
Matilda
that was richly enameled and set with Brilliants to a great Value suddenly loosed from its Ribbon and dropped thro the Bosom of my Shirt upon the Floor
I stood concerned and greatly abashed by this Accident but my Pupil still more alarmed started up and catching at it gazed upon it intensely Ha my Friend said he I doubt you are an Impostor The Proprietor of this Jewel would never set himself out to hire without some sinister Design Who Sir and what are you
I own said I my sweet Fellow that I am not what I seem I am of noble Descent and of Riches sufficient to purchase a Principality And what then could induce you to impose upon us as you have done Curiosity at first and then the strong Inclination which I took both to you and your Mother at our first Interview neither did I propose to reveal myself till we should reach my native Country where all Sorts of Honours and Affluence attend you Tell me then said he whose Picture is this a very lovely One indeed is this the Face Sir of your Mistress or your Wife looking very inquisitively at me Ah said I she was once Mistress of thousands of Hearts Nobles waited before her Drawing Room and Dukes near her Toilet She was once also my Wife But the dear Saint is now eternally blessed in a more suitable Bridegroom
Will you indulge me Sir said he with the Story of your Loves It may atone in great Measure for your late Deception which however well meant was very alarming
Here I related to him the short pathetic History that I told you of my
Matilda
with which he was so affected and in such violent Agitation that I was quite affrighted for him and stopped several Times but he insisted on my proceeding
Ah said he when I concluded should I ever be consorted in the Manner that you and your
Matty
were how blessed I shall think myself I have says I a little Cousin in
England
perhaps the loveliest Child in the World and if you will marry her when you Both come to proper Years I will settle ten Million of
French
Money upon you Mean Time I beseech you to say nothing to your Mamma of what has passed I will not said he unless I see a discretionary Necessity for it
That Night I went to the City to settle the Affairs of my Household On my Return next Morning I met Mr
De Wit
at the Gate of his Court Ah my Friend said he our amiable Guests are departed Gone I cried gone which Way where to I pray you That also is a Secret said he which I am not permitted to tell you Late in the Evening there arrived a Retinue of about twenty Servants strongly armed and mounted with a flying Chaise and six Horses and a Packet of Letters The Lady did not go to Bed but ordered all Things to be in Readiness for their Departure against the Rising of the Moon When they were near setting out and going to bid me adieu Have you no Commands Madam said I for the good young Man your Tutor Not a Penny says she I cant afford Wages equivalent to Servants of his Quality How Madam said I is my Friend then detected But it was a very innocent and friendly Fraud I assure you I should not have imposed him upon your Ladyship did I not know you to be safer in his honourable Hands than in those of any Other
I then gave them an Account of your Family your vast Fortune nor was I quite silent as to your Merits my dear
Harry
and I added that I was sensible you would be deeply afflicted at the Departure of Persons to whom you were so strongly attached There is no Help for it replied my Lady we have Reasons of utmost Import for not disclosing ourselves to him Tell him however that we esteem him highly affect him tenderly shall think of him shall pray for him and and lastly that you saw us drop a grateful Tear to his Remembrance
As I could extort no further Intelligence from my Friend Mr
De Wit
I parted in a half Kind of Chagrin and prepared to pursue my Fugitives though I knew not what Road to take nor where to turn me for the Purpose At all Adventures however I set out on the Way to
France
as they appeared to be of that Country as well by the Elegance of their Manners as by their Fluency in the Language
I was attended by eleven of as brave and faithful Fellows as ever thrust themselves between their Master and Danger
On the fifth or sixth Day as we got on the Borders of
French Flanders
in an open and desolate Way with a Forest far on the left a Man rode toward us on the Spur and approaching cried out Help Gentlemen for Heavens Sake help to rescue my dear Ladies who are plundered and carried away by the Banditti They have already killed twenty of my Companions and I alone am left to cry out for Relief I bid him lead and we followed
In a few Minutes we came where we saw a great Number of the Dead and dying covering the Sand and thin Herbage But our Leader cried out Stop not here my noble Friends Yonder they are yonder they are they have but just taken away all our Horses Luggage and Coach and are now at the Plunder I am weak thro Loss of Blood but will help you the best I may
Here he spurred again toward the Enemy but his Horse would not answer his Courage I then looked about to observe if any Advantage could be taken for I perceived that the Ruffians were still very numerous about Thirty who had survived the late Combat but seeing that the Country was quite open and that we had nothing but Resolution and our God to help us I commended myself to him in so good a Cause and putting my Horse to Speed I rode full at the Foe confident of being well and gallantly seconded
When the Banditti perceived us they instantly quitted the Plunder and gathering into a Group they prepared their Carabines and discharged them full at us as we drew near
As I happened to be foremost I received the greatest Damage One of their Balls gave me this Mark in my Neck Another passed through the Flesh of my left Shoulder and Another through my Hat and left this Scar in my Head
But when we came in upon them as the
Romans
say
comminus ense
Hand to Hand had they doubled their Numbers they would have been as nothing to us My faithful
Irishman
levelled Half a Score of them with his own Hand and in less than three Minutes we had no Opponent in the Field I then rode up to the Coach and perceived two Ladies in it pale as Death and sunk senseless to the Bottom
Immediately I ordered
James
my Surgeons Mate to take a little Blood from them and on their Recovery to follow me with all my People and all the Horses Baggage
c
to the nearest Inn Then feeling my Wounds begin to smart I took my Surgeon with me and galloped away
In about a League we came to a large House of Entertainment and finding myself sick and qualmish through the great Effusion of Blood I had my Wounds directly dressed and taking a Draught of Wine Whey got into a warm Bed
After a Night of uneasy Slumbers the Curtain of my Bed was gently drawn aside and awaking I heard a Voice say in soft Music Ah my dear Mamma it is he it is he himself
On lifting my feeble Eyes I perceived a Vision at my Side of a female Appearance but more wonderful and more lovely than any thing I had ever conceived of the Inhabitants in Bliss Her Eyes swam in Glory and her whole Form seemed a Condensing or Substantiation of Harmony and Light
While I gazed in silent Astonishment I heard another Voice say Dont you know us my Son my dear Mr
Clinton
dont you remember your Pupils dont you remember your blind lame and tawny
Lewis
he is now turned into that passable Girl there whose Honour and whose Life you Yesterday preserved at the great Peril of your own
Here seizing her Hand I pressed it to my Lips and cried Am I then so blessed my honoured Madam as to have done some Service to the two dearest Objects of my Hearts fixed Affections Soft says she none of these Transports your Surgeon tells us that Repose is necessary for you Mean time we will go and prepare the best Regimen that the Place can afford for your Nourishment And after that I will send a Dispatch to my Lord and let him know how far how very deeply He and we and all his House are indebted to you
For that Day and the following Week as my Fever grew something high I saw no more of the Daughter and the Mother staid no longer than to administer something to me or barely to enquire how I was At length I got a Cool and began to recover when the former Vision descended upon my ravished Senses the vision of that
Louisa
the Sight of whom never failed to bring Cheer to the Eyes and Delight to the Hearts of all Beholders
They sat down by my Side and my Lady taking my Hand and looking tenderly at me what would you think said she smiling of my
Louy
for a Wife Ah Madam I exclaimed She would be too much of Bliss too precious too glorious too overpowering for the Heart and Senses of any Mortal Dont tell me cries my Lady in my Eyes my
Harry
you are full as amiable for a Husband as she can be for a Wife Beside you have earned her my Son she is your own dear Purchase by a Service of infinite Value and at the Price of your precious Blood She has told me the Story of your first Love and the Recollection of it never fails to bring Tears from my Eyes But I must hereafter hear the Whole from your own Mouth with all your other Adventures the smallest Incident will be very interesting to me I assure you O my dear my sweet Fellow you are to a Hair the very Man I wish for my
Louisa
the brave the tender gentle and generous Heart just the Thing I would have wished for myself when I was at the Age of my
Louy
But my dearest my honoured Madam loved and honoured next to Heaven you have not yet told me how your
Louisa
is inclined Whereupon the bewitching Creature archly smiling and blushing and reaching forth a polished Hand of living Alabaster Here she cried I present you with this Trifle in Token that I dont hate you very much
My
Clinton
said my Lady I have sent off my favourite Servant
Gerard
with my Dispatches to my Lord He is the only One that remains of all my Retinue Your Surgeon has dressed his Wound and pronounces it so slight as not to incommode him in his Journey I chose him more particularly for the Carrier of my Purposes as he was the Witness of your Valour as he can testify to my Lord with what Intrepidity you rushed foremost into the Thick of the Assassins and with what unexampled Bravery you defeated in a short Time a Body of four or five times your Number These Things I trust will have their due Weight for though my Lord is of a lofty and inflexible Nature he is yet alive to the Feelings of Honour and Justice so that our Affairs have a hopeful and auspicious Aspect But you are a little flushed my Child we will not encroach further upon you till Tomorrow
During the three following Weeks though confined to my Bed I was permitted to sit up and my Wounds though not skinned were healing apace What Happiness did I enjoy during that ecstatic Interval the maternal and filial Angels scarce ever left my Side One Morning when I just awoke from a terrifying Dream they both entered with Peace and Comfort and Healing in their Countenances
What is the Matter my
Harry
said my Lady your Face does not seem composed to that Fortitude and Complacence which is seated in your Heart Ah Madam I cried I have been all Night tormented with the most alarming and horrible Visions I ever had in my Life Three times I dreamed successively that my
Louisa
and I were walking Hand in Hand through the Fields of
Elysium
or on the Banks of
Meander
or in the Gardens of
Alcinous
gazing and drinking in large Draughts of Love from Each Other when at one Time a huge and tremendous Dragon and again a sudden Earthquake and again an impetuous Hurricane came and caught and severed us far asunder
But my Visions my honest Friend said the heavenly smiling
Louisa
have been of a very different Nature I dreamed that while we were standing on the Brink of a frightful Precipice together your
Matilda
descended all celestial and a thousand Times more lovely than she appears in the lovely Portrait that you carry about you At first I feared that she came to reclaim you to herself but instead of that she smiled upon me and began to caress me and taking my right Hand she put it into Yours Then ascending in her Brightness she hovered awhile on high and casting down upon me a Look of fixed Love she gave me a Beck with her Hand as it were to follow and was immediately lost in Glory
O my dear Children cried the Marchioness for such she was might I but once see ye united how I should lift my Head or rather how satisfied I should be to lay it down in Peace having nothing further to care for on this Side of Eternity
That Night I slept sounder than usual and did not awake till the Day was something advanced On opening the Curtain I saw
James
seated in a moody Posture by the Side of my Bed How are the Ladies
James
said I Gone Sir Gone gone I cried out Yes Sir gone indeed but with very heavy Hearts and Both of them drowned in Tears Here has been a large Body of the
Gens dArmes
sent for them so that there was no resisting Poor
Gerard
went on his Knees to his Lady to beg Permission to throw himself at your honoured Feet as he said and to bid you adieu but She would not allow him Mean time she charged me with this Watch and Ring and this Letter for your Honour
I catched at the Letter and tearing it open read over and over a thousand Times what will for ever be engraven in my Memory and on my Heart
WE leave you we leave you most Beloved of Men and we are miserable in so doing but alas we are not our own Mistresses My Lord for this Time has proved unjust and ungrateful and refuses your
Louisa
as well to my Prayers as to your infinite Merits He has affianced her as it seems to a Prince of the Blood and his Ambition has blinded him to all other Considerations Be not yet in Despair we shall exert our very utmost to get this injurious Sentence reversed and if your
Louisa
inherits my Blood or Spirit not all the Engines in
France
will ever compel her to give her Hand to Another In the mean Time follow us not come not near us we beseech You Should you be discovered you will inevitably be assassinated and we also should perish in your Loss my Son We are distracted by our Fears for you and it is this Fear that has prevented us from disclosing ourselves fully to You Keep up your Correspondence however with our Friend
De Wit
and thro him you shall learn the first favourable Turn that happens in our Affairs I leave You my Ring in Token of your being the wedded of our Heart and
Louisa
leaves you her Watch to remind you of Time past and to look upon when at Leisure and think of
your ELOISA DE
your LOUISA DE
Yes I cried ye precious Relicks ye delicious Memorandums to my Lips to my Heart Be ye the Companions of my Solirude the Consolers of my Affliction sooner shall this Arm be torn off and Time itself pass away than One or the Other shall be divided from my Custody
Ah how useless are Admonitions to the Impatience of a Lover Fervent Love can know no Fears I was no sooner able to sit my Horse than I set off directly for
Paris
with this Precaution only that my People would call me by my Mothers maiden Name of
Goodall
As we knew not the Names or Titles of those after whom we were in search our Eyes became our only Inquisitors and we daily ranged the Town poreing into every Carriage of Distinction for a Sight of the Mother or Daughter and even prying among the Lacqueys and Liveries for the Face of our Friend
Gerard
On a Day as my valiant
Tirlah
and I rode a broad reconnoitring the Suburbs we heard a Noise and a Shout of Distress that issued from a distant FarmHouse and as we hastened up the Tumult grew louder and the Cry of Help and Murder was several Times repeated
We instantly knocked at the Door but were refused Admittance when
Tirlah
alighting ran against it and breaking through Bars and all with his Foot threw the Door off its Hinges
On entring we saw a Man stretched on the Broad of his Back in the Floor with four Others about him who were going to use him very barbarously Stay your Hands I cried I will shoot the first Man through the Head who shall dare to proceed in this Business
Why Sir said a young Fellow rising this Man wanted to be gracious with my pretty young Wife I caught him in the very Attempt and so I think it but fair and honest to spoil him at such Sport for Time to come Ay but said I you might murder him and I cant suffer that Come my Friend no Harm appears to be done as yet and if he pays a handsome Penance for the Wickedness of his Intention I would advise you to pass Matters over for the present Say how much do you demand Five hundred Louis dOrs said the Fellow if he pays that he shall be quit for this Turn
Five hundred Louis dOrs I exclaimed why all the Clothes on his Back are not worth the hundredth Part of the Sum True Master said the Peasant winking but his Pockets may happen to be richer than his Clothes Well said I if he secures you in Half the Sum I think you may be satisfied Why Master since you have said it I will not go back Whereupon the astonished Prisoner was permitted to rise
What do you say you sad Man you are you willing to pay this Fellow the Sum I agreed for in Compensation of the Injury you attempted to do him I am Sir said he with many Thanks for your Mediation Then hastily putting his Hand to his Pocket he took out a Note on the Customs which with some small Matter of Cash made up the Money and we departed the House together
As I was just going to mount he came up and accosted me with Elegance and Dignity Sir said he You have made me your Debtor beyond Expression beyond the Power of Princes to pay Be pleased however to accept the little I have about me here are five thousand
Louis
in this little NoteBook Not a Penny Sir indeed I am by no Means in want You must not refuse said he some Token of my Acknowledgment here is a Stone valued at double the Sum I offered you Then taking from a Pocket the Diamond Button of his Hat he presented it to me You must excuse me Sir said I I can accept of no Consideration for doing an Action of Humanity and I rejoice to have preserved a Person of your Distinction and Generosity I then turned my Horse and though he called after me I rode away being neither desirous of knowing or being known
My Researches hitherto being altogether fruitless I imagined I might with better Likelihood meet my Beloved in the public Walks public Theatres or Rooms of distinguished Resort
One Night as I sat alone in a side Box at the Opera intently gazing and hungering around for some Similitude of my
Louisa
there entered One of the loveliest young Fellows I ever beheld He carelessly threw himself beside me looked around withdrew his Eyes and then looked at me with such a long and piercing Inquisition as alarmed me and gave me Cause to think I was discovered
Though the
French
seldom hesitate he seemed at once backward and desirous of accosting me At length he entered upon Converse touching the Drama and the Music and spoke with Judgment and Elegance superior to the Matter while I answered him with due Complacence but in a Manner that partook of that Regardlesness for Trifles which then sat at my Heart
Between the Acts he turned and cast his Eye suddenly on me Sir says he do you believe that there is such a Thing as Sympathy Occasionally Sir I think it may have its Effect though I cant credit all the Wonders that are reported of it I am sorry for that said he as I ardently wish that your Feelings were the same as mine at this Instant I never saw you before Sir I have no Knowledge of you and yet I declare that were I to choose an Advocate in Love a Second in Combat or a Friend in Extremity You You are the very Man upon whom I would pitch
I answered not but seized his Hand and pressed it to my Bosom I conceive Sir continued he notwithstanding your Fluency in the Language that you are not a Native My Name is
DAubigny
I live at such a Place and if you will do me the Pleasure of a single Visit all the Honours Respects and Services that our House can confer shall be yours without Reserve Sir said I I am of
England
my Name is
Goodall
and as soon as a certain Affair allows me to admit of any Acquaintance in
Paris
You shall be the first Elected of my Arms and my Heart
In a few Nights after as
Tirlah
and I were turning a Corner of the
Rue de St Jaques
we saw three Men with their Backs to the Wall attacked by nearly three times their Number We did not hesitate a Moment what Part to take At the first Pass I ran one of the Assassins through the Body
Tirlah
levelled Two more with his oaken Staff and the rest took to Flight
Gentlemen said One of the Three I thank you for this brave and seasonable Assistance
Roche
run for a Surgeon I am wounded I doubt dangerously
Pierre
lend me your Arm Come Gentlemen we have but a little Way to my House
Though the Night was too dark for examining Features I thought that the Voice was not quite unknown to me Within a few Minutes we arrived at a Palace that retired inward from the Houses that were ranged on either Hand On pulling the Hanger of a Bell the great Door opened upon a sumptuous Hall which led to a Parlour enlightened by a silver Sconce that hung from the Vaulting
As we entered the Master turned short upon me and looking full in my Face and starting and lifting his Hands in Surprise Great Ruler of Events he cried the very Man I wished my Brother and Companion thro Life and this is the very Man You have sent to my Rescue
Just then the Surgeon arrived and I heard him hastily asking where the Marquis was On entering he said Im sorry for your Misfortune my Lord but Matters may be better than we apprehend And immediately he took out his Case of Instruments One of the Ruffians said the Marquis before I was aware came behind and ran me through the Back
The Surgeon then tipped open his Lordships Wastecoat and changed Colour on seeing his Shirt drenched in Blood But getting him quickly undressed and having probed his Wound he struck his Hands together and cried Courage my Friends it is only a Fleshbusiness the Weapon has passed clear of the Ribs and Vitals
As soon as the Marquiss Wound was dressed and that we had got him to Bed I fancy Sir said I to the Surgeon I may have some small Occasion for a Cast of your Office I feel a little Smart in my Sword Arm
On stripping he found that a chance Thrust had entered about Half an Inch into the Muscle above my Elbow and had ripped up some of the Skin But he quickly applied the proper Dressing and I was preparing to take my Leave when the Marquis cried out You must not think of parting my dear Friend You are the Master of the Master here and Lord of this House and of All that is in it
The Surgeon then ordered his Lordship to compose himself as soon as possible and having wished him a good Night I sent
Tirlah
to my Lodgings to let my People know that I was well and in friendly Hands I was then conducted by the Domestics to a superb Apartment where a Bed was prepared and where a small Supper of Elegancies lay fuming on the Sideboard
Having swallowed a few Bits with a Glass or two of Wine I rose and sauntered through the Room musing on my
Louisa
heavily sighing and nearly despairing of being ever able to find her
Some time after I sat down to undress and get to Bed when a Number of the Officers of Justice silently entered my Chamber seizd my Sword that I had put off and coming whisperingly to me commanded me to accompany them without making any Noise
I saw that it was Madness to resist and as I went with them I observed that two of the Family Liveries had joined themselves to the Officers It then instantly occurred that I was in the House of my Rival that the Marquis was the very Person to whom my
Louisa
had been destined that I was somehow discovered and that they were conducting me to the
Bastile
of which I had heard as many affrighting Stories as are usually told of the Inquisition
Ah Traitor said I to myself is it thus you serve the Man who but now saved your Life at the Expense of his own Blood Let no One hereafter trust to the bleating of the Lamb or the courting of the Turtle the roaring of the Lion and the Pounces of the Vulture may thus deceitfully lurk under the One and the Other
After passing some Streets they took me to a large House where dwelt One of their chief Magistrates being also a Member of their Parliament Having knocked respectfully at the Gate and waited some Time at length we were admitted and they took me to a kind of Lobby where we staid while One of the Posse went to advise the Justiciary of my Attendance At length he returned and accosting me in a Tone of surly and discouraging Authority Friend says he my Lord is engaged and not at Leisure to Night Tomorrow perhaps he may hear what you have to plead in your own Defence So saying he and his Fellows thrust me into a waste Room and locked and chained the Door upon me and laughing bid me to warm or cool my Heels at Pleasure
Fool Fool that I was said I to quit the Side of my brave and faithful Companions how quickly should we have discomfited this Magistrate and all his Host but I must be a Knight Adventurer forsooth and draw my Sword in the Defence of every Scoundrel who goes the Street
I then went and felt the Windows to try if I could force a Passage for making my Escape but finding that all were grated with strong and impassable Bars of Iron O I cried that this Marquis this ungrateful
DAubigny
were now in his fuilest Strength and opposed to me Point to Point that I might reclaim from him in an Instant the Life I have given
I then traversed the Room with an inconsistent Pace now rashly resolving on furious Events and again more sedately deliberating on what I had to do Till having ruminated thus for the Remainder of the Night I at last became more at Ease and resigned myself to the Dispensations of Alldisposing Providence though I confess with a gloomy and reluctant Kind of Content
When the Day appeared and was something advanced I heard my Door unlocking and the Chain taking away and I concluded that they came to summon me to my Tryal But instead of the Officers of Justice I saw near twenty Men in the Marquiss Livery who silently bowed down before me and respectfully shewed me with their Hand the Way out of my Prison I followed them also in Silence and getting into the Street I wished to know if I was really free and turned from them down the Way that led to my Lodgings whereupon they cast themselves before me and in a supplicating Posture besought me to go with them
Finding then that I was still their Prisoner I gave a longing Look out for my valiant Fellows but as they did not appear I suffered myself to be reconducted to the Marquiss Palace and followed my obsequious Commanders into the proud Apartment to which they had led me the preceding Night and where bowing to the Ground they all left me and retired
As I had been much fatigued in Body and Mind I threw myself on the Bed leaving Events to their Issues and fell into a Kind of starting and intermitting Slumber when I heard a Voice at my Side shout out in once loved Accents O my dearest Mamma it is He indeed tis he it is he himself
On this I awoke and rouzed myself and lifting my languid Eyes and fixing them on the Object that stood before me and are you then I cried are you also
Louisa
in the Confederacy against me Say nothing you are not the
Louisa
I once knew I will arise I will go forth not all your Gates and Bars and Bolts shall hold me I will tear my Body and my Soul too if possible from you for ever Go to your Betrothed to your Beloved and leave me to perish it is a Matter of no Import I am yet pleased that I saved your Chosen as it may one Day serve to reproach you with the Merits of the Man whom he has so unworthily treated
I could no more A long Silence on all Sides ensued save the Language that was uttered by Heavings and Sobbings When the Marchioness coming and casting herself on her Knees by my Bed you have Reason Sir she exclaimed you have Reason to reproach and to detest every Branch of our ungrateful Family for ever you saved myself you saved my Daughter and yet the Father and the Husband proved averse to your Deservings and turned your Benefits into Poison You have now saved our Son the only One who can convey our Name to Posterity and yet from the Beginning you have received nothing in Return save Wounds Pains and Sickness Losses Damages and Disappointments and at this very Day the most ignominious Usage where you merited endless Thanks and everlasting Renown Blame my
Louisa
then and me but blame not my Son Sir for these unworthy Events he is quite innocent of them he is shocked and distracted by them he respects and loves you more than ever
Jonathan
loved the Son of
Jesse
But he will not he dare not see you till we have in some Measure made his Peace
How Madam I cried but no more of that Posture it pains me past bearing Is it a Fact can it be possible that the Marquis
Daubigny
should be your Son Is he not of the Blood royal the very Rival whom your Letter rendered so formidable to me and was it not by his Order that I was disgracefully confined in a Dungeon all Night
No no said my Lady he would have suffered the Rack first He is in Despair quite inconsolable on that Account Let us go my dearest
Harry
let us go and carry Comfort to him of whom you are the Beloved
Ah no my Mamma cried out
Louisa
let us put no Constraint on Mr
Clinton
I pray you there has been enough of Confinement we leave him now to his Liberty let him go even where and to whom he likes best Once indeed we could have tied this allconquering Champion with the Spinning of a Silkworm but now he tells us that neitheir Gates Bars not Bolts shall hold him to us
Here I threw myself precipitately at her Feet Pardon pardon my
Louisa
I cried O pardon the misdeeming Transports of your Lover and pardon the Faults that Love alone could commit My Enemies are foreign to me they and their Injuries affect me not but you are Regent within my
Louisa
you sit throned in my Heart and the Presumption of an Offence from you makes strange Uproar in my Soul Well says she reaching her Hand and smiling through Tears since it is so poor Soul here is the golden Sceptre for you I think I must take you to Mercy
I caught her Hand and impressed my very Spirit on the Wax and my Lady casting her Arms about us and kissing us both in Turns requested that we should go and carry some Consolation to her dear repining
Lewis
As we entered his Chamber the Marchioness cried out here he comes my Son we have brought your Beloved to you yet not your Mr
Goodall
as you thought but One who is at once both your Good Angel and our good Angel even our own
Harry Clinton
the Betrothed of our Souls
I took my Seat on the Side of the Marquiss Bed and looking fondly upon him would have enquired of his Health but my Speech for the Time was overpowered by my Affections Then taking my Hand in his the Power of this Hand says he I have found to be great but has your Heart the Power to pardon the Insults and Outrage you have received in the House of him who is so deeply your Debtor My Lord said I I have already drank largely of
Lethe
on that Head nothing but my Diffidence of your Regard can offend me
You know not said my Lady you know not yet my dear
Harry
how this provoking Business came about I will explain it in a few Words
On our Return to
Paris
and on our Remonstrances to my late Lord of the inestimable Services you had rendered to his Family he enquired your Character among the
English
and notwithstanding the Report of the Nobility of your Birth and your yet nobler Qualities hearing also that you had acquired Part of your Fortune in Trade he conceived an utter Contempt for you and took an utter Aversion to you
Some Time after as he took Notice that
Louisa
and I wanted our Watch and our Ring I dreaded his Displeasure and gave him Room to think that the Robbers had taken them from us in
Flanders
and this Report became current among our Domestics
In the mean Time my Lord became importunate with our
Louisa
respecting her Marriage with the Prince of
C
who was then with the Army and her Prayers and Tears hitherto had been the only Artillery which she had used in her Defence But when the Couriers brought Word that the Prince was on his Return my Lord sent for
Louisa
and gave her instant and absolute Orders to prepare for her Nuptials But she full as positively and peremptorily replied that her Soul was already wedded that she would never prostitute her Body where her Heart was an Alien and that all the Tortures of the Inquisition should not change her Resolution Her Father thereupon rose to such ungovernable Fury that with one Blow of his Hand he struck her senseless to his Feet But when he saw my Lamb my Darling all pale and as dead before him the Tide of Nature returned and the Conflict of his Passions became so violent that an Impostume broke in his Stomach and falling he was suffocated and expired on the Spot
Soon after the Prince arrived He had never seen my Daughter but his Ambition to possess a Beauty of whom the grand Monarch himself was said to have been enamoured had caused him to demand her in Marriage For that Purpose he also did us the Honour of a Visit
Louisa
refused to appear and I told his Highness with the best Grace I could that she happened to be preengaged In a few Days after he met my Son in the
Thuilleries
and accosted him to the same Intent but my Son had been previously prejudiced in your Favour my
Harry
and answered the Prince with so cold or so haughty an Air that further Words ensued they both drew and his Highness was slightly wounded but as Company interposed the Affair was hushed up and shortly after the Prince was killed in a nightly Broil upon the
Pont neuf
We then wrote to our Friend
De Wit
to advertise you of these Matters and to hasten you hither but you arrived my Child you arrived before there could be any Expectation of an Answer
Two Days ago as I observed that my Lambs Spirits were something dejected I prevailed upon her to take an Airing to our Country Villa On our Return this Morning we were struck half dead with the News that our
Lewis
was wounded and dangerously ill in his Bed We flew into his Room and were still more alarmed to find him in a Fury that is not to be imagined while
Jacome
his old Steward was on his Knees all pale and quaking at a Distance before him Villain he cried what have you done with my Friend what have you done with my Champion the Preserver of my Life Please your Lordship said he trembling I took him for a Highwayman I saw my Ladys Ring and my young Mistresss Watch in his Custody I will swear to the Property before the Parliament of
Paris
and so I lodged him in Prison till till
Go Wretch cried my Son recall your Information take all your Fellows with you and instantly bring me back my Friend or your Ears shall be the Forfeit but conduct him to his own Chamber I cannot yet bear to see him I cannot bear the Reproach that his Eye must cast upon me
All afflicted and yet more astonished my
Louisa
and I sat down by the Side of my Son casting Looks of Surprise and enquiring Doubt on Each Other At length I said what is this that I hear of our Ring and our Watch Alas he is no Highwayman who took them from us they were our own free Gift a Mite in Return for a Million of Services But do you know any thing of the Possessor I know answered
Lewis
that he is the loveliest of Mankind the Preserver of my Life and that his Name is
Goodall
Ah screamed out
Louisa
there we are lost again this
Goodall
must certainly have murdered our precious
Clinton
and possessed himself of our Gifts he would never have parted with them while he had Life O my Sister said my Son when you see my Friend
Goodall
you will think nothing of your
Harry Clinton
why why were you so hasty so precipitate in your Choice a Robber a Murderer no Had I a thousand Lives I would pawn them all for the Probity that Heaven has made apparent in the Face of my Preserver
It is with Shame and great Reluctance my dearest Brother that at Times I recite Passages tending so much to my own Praise and yet did I omit them I should do great Injustice to the kind and amiable Partiality of Those who were so fondly my Lovers and my Beloved
But Madam said I to the Marchioness did you not hint something of his Majestys being enamoured of my
Louisa
Ah such a Rival would be a terrible Business indeed especially in a Country of unlimited Power
There is no Fear of that now said my Lady The King has changed his Fancy from young Mistresses and old Counsellors to young Counsellors and old Mistresses But what I mentioned was once very serious and alarming
My
Louisa
was scarce turned of fourteen when the Dutchess
de Choisseul
requested her Company to
Marlay
where the Court then was The King fixed his Eye on her and enquired who she was but took no further Notice at that Time Missing her however at the next and again at the following DrawingRoom he asked the Marquis what became of his fair Daughter said he had a Place in his Eye for her and desired in an Accent of Authority that he would send her to Court
The Marquis instantly took the Alarm He was ever jealous of his Honour and singularly nice in Matters of female Reputation He gave his Majesty a Sort of equivocal Consent and hurrying Home ordered me directly to prepare for carrying my Daughter out of the
French
Dominions The Night was employed in hastening and packing We disguised our
Louisa
in the Manner as you saw her metamorphosed at
Rotterdam
and set off for
Holland
before Day The rest you know my
Clinton
as You were the principal Mover in all our Concerns But tell me my
Lewis
can you conjecture on what Account those Assassins set upon you I declare Madam said the Marquis I cannot perhaps they mistook me for Another or now I recollect it might be owing to some familiar Chat which I had the other Night with a pretty Opera Girl who is said to be in the keeping of a very great Man But Madam you forgot to tell my Brother how my Father was banished on Account of
Louisa
to his paternal Seat in
Languedoc
on the Borders of the
Mediterranean
Very true said the Marchioness and was not recalled till Madame
Maintenon
was taken into supreme Favour
But I wonder what is become of our faithful
Gerard
I thought that he would have been the first to come and to throw himself at the Feet of his Hero Indeed my
Harry
he would have tired Any who loved you less with his Praises and perpetual talking of you and your Exploits O here he comes Step in
Gerard
Is there any One in this Company that you remember beside the Family
Gerard
then advanced with a halffrantic Aspect and kneeling and grappling at my Hand seemed desirous of devouring it God be praised he cried God be praised my noble my glorious Master that I see you once again and above all that I have the Blessing of seeing you in a Place where a Throne of beaten Gold should be raised to your Honour O had I been here all Sorts of Respects and Worships instead of Indignities should have been paid to your Deservings But I have provided for the Hangdog
Jacome
I have tied him Neck and Heels and tumbled him into the dark Vault
Ay said I but my good Friend
Gerard
I have not yet got my Share of Satisfaction upon him pray shew me where he is I then followed
Gerard
to the Place where the deplorable Wretch was cast and cutting all his Cords I led him back to the Company and warmly joined his Petition for Pardon and Restoration
As soon as
Jacome
and
Gerard
were withdrawn Ah my Brother cried the Marquis what new Name shall we find for a Man of your new Character Moreover what shall we do with you what shall we do for you You have quite overpowered us we sink we drown under the Sense of our Obligations We have nothing worth your Acceptance save this simple Wench and what is She in Comparison of what we owe you Ah I cried She is That without whom all Things are nothing She is the living Treasure the
Rachel
of
Rachels
seventy times seven Years were too short a Service for her I would not exchange this little pearly Joint of this very little Finger for all the Gems that glow in the Mines of
India
and so saying I pressed the precious Finger with my Lips while
Louisa
turned upon me an Eye of such ineffable Satisfaction and melting Acknowledgment as sunk upon my Soul and wrapt it in
Elysium
Ay but my
Harry
said the Marquis you ought not to prize your
Louy
as much as me She did not fall in love with you at first Sight as I did How do you know that honest Friend cried
Louisa
Is there a Necessity that our Tongues as well as our Blushes should be Telltales Are Maidens to trumpet forth their Thoughts like You broad fronted Men
whose Ornament is your Boldfacedness
Thus happy above All stiled happy upon Earth we joyed and lived in Each Other continuing a mutual Commerce of delightful Sensibilities and Love for Love
Alas our blissful Junto was soon to be broken in upon In a few Days One of the royal Pages came and intimated to the Marchioness that his Majesty required her immediate Presence at Court And we remained in a Kind of fearful and fluctuating Suspense till her Return
As She entered the Consternation in her Countenance instantly struck an Alarm to all our Hearts O my Children my dear my dear Children we must part she cried and that too speedily Our Hour of Bliss is past our Sunshine is over and the Clouds gather thick upon us heavy laden with Wretchedness Alas my Heart misgave me ever since that inauspicious Encounter the other Morning As we came from our Villa a great Funeral met us a bad Omen as I have heard Our Carriage stopped to let them pass and the Carriage of the Duke of
Ne rs
drove up beside us As we remained within a few Paces of each other he gazed at
Louisa
with such an unmannered Intenseness as caused her to colour and turn aside However he accosted us not nor enquired concerning us it seems our Arms and Livery were too sure an Indication of our Name and Quality In short on my approaching the Presence the King affected to smile very graciously upon me and said I have provided Madam a noble and princely Husband for your Daughter it is the Duke of
Ne rs
Ah I cried bending my Knee in a supplicating Posture my Daughter is already engaged by Bands of the most endearing and indissoluble Obligations to a Man who has preserved the Lives and Honours of all our Family to a Man who I trust by his eminent Courage and Qualities will become the brightest Jewel in your Majestys Crown Madam said he severely you must withdraw your Election I find I have ordered Matters superior to your Merits but my Will is the Law here and shall be obeyed I rose dejectedly curtsied and withdrew without Reply
Ah I exclaimed on what Summit does this Rival hold his Abode I will instantly go and scale it and at once put an End to his Life and his Pretensions My Lady then throwing her Arms about my Neck and pressing her Lips to my Cheek what Romance says she is this my
Harry
would you at once fight the Duke and the King and the whole Army of
France
No my Child Prudence reduces us to more salutary however deplorable Measures We must part my
Harry
we must part this very Night and my
Louisa
must depart with you My Chaplain shall this Minute unite you by Ties that Death alone can sunder Alas my precious Babes I little expected that your Nuptials should be celebrated by Tears and Wailings But better these than no Nuptials When You are once joined I shall care little for myself And if we meet no more here we may yet meet hereafter as happily as the Barbarians who tear us asunder
The Chaplain was then summoned and having performed his Office no Congratulations nor Salutations ensued save a Kiss and a Sigh of mine on the Hand of my Angel The Marquis then called me and drawing me down to him he pressed me ardently to his Bosom cried O my
Harry
O my
Harry
burst into Tears and dismissed me
Mean while all was in Bustle and Hurry throughout the Palace No Festival was prepared no Bridal Bed laid Horses Arms and Carriages were all the Cry and the Marchioness with an anguishing Heart but amazing Resolution issued her Orders with a Presence of Mind that seemed serene in the Midst of Tempest
I then sent for my brave Fellows with Orders to double their Arms and to double their Ammunition They came accordingly It was now within three Hours of Day All was dispatched all in Readiness the Carriages were at the Gate Silence sat on every Tongue and a Tear on every Cheek I threw myself at my Mothers Feet I clasped I clung to them she wept aloud over me but neither of us uttered a Word When rending myself away I took my sobbing
Louisa
under my Arm seated her gently in her Chariot placed myself to support her and away we drove
When we got clear of the Town and were speeding on the Way my
Louisa
started and cried out O how fast how very fast they take me from you my Mamma Whither whither do they carry me perhaps never to return never to meet again I answered not but kissed her Head and drew her gently to me and she seemed more at Ease But after a while I felt her Agitation at my Bosom and she exclaimed From my Birth to this Hour of Wee my blessed Mamma never was I from those dear Arms of yours shall I ever shall I ever again behold those Eyes that used to look with such Fondness upon me
Here I could no longer contain but taking her Hands between mine and weeping upon them I said will you then my Angel are you resolved upon breaking the Heart of your
Harry
O no says she no not for Worlds upon Worlds would I break that dear and feeling Heart the Heart of my Heart the Heart of which I became enamoured She then leaned her Head fondly over and in awhile fell fast asleep while my Arms gently encircled and my Soul hovered over her as the Wings of a Turtle over her newbegotten
When She awoke and found herself so endearingly situated she gave me a Look that overvalued the Ransom of a Monarch she kissed my Hands in turns she kissed the Skirts of my Garments O she cried I will endeavour I will do my best to be more composed I know I ought not to repine I am too rich too happy I ought to wish for nothing more I ought to wish for no One more since my
Harry
is so near me since I have him to myself But but And here her lovely Lips began again to work and the Drops that trembled in her living Brilliants could hardly be restrained from breaking Prison Soon after the Grief of her Heart overweighed her Spirits and she fell again asleep into my Arms that opened of themselves to receive her
On setting up for the Night I rejoiced to find that my
Louisa
was something more alive and that her Repose on the Way had greatly deducted from the Fatigue that I apprehended
When we had eaten a Bit of Supper She looked to me and from me with downcast Lids and with changing Looks and a faultring Accent began to say Will you will you permit me my Love to be Regent for a little Time and in a very trifling Matter Allow me only to be Governess for a few Days and I promise that you shall be my supreme Lord and sweet Master all the rest of my Life
I swear said I in a Transport by that precious Head that you are already QueenRegent of all my Thoughts and Actions and that during my Existence you shall dispose of all that I have and all that I am at Pleasure
O then said she my
Harry
we must lye apart for some Nights I would not have our chaste and blessed Bridal stained by Tears and Dirges Nay no Hesitation you have sworn that I am Ruler and I will be obeyed
I then cast myself at her Knees and hiding my Face in her Lap Cruel cruel
Louisa
I cried I find You are not yet mine What shall I do to earn You But I will be patient if possible I would not for the World put the Colour of Constraint on the Love of my Beloved And so I kissed her Gown in Token of due Homage
Arising I called her Maids and desired that they would order their Mistresss Chamber to be prepared as also a Bed for themselves in the same Apartment I then secretly ordered that a Pallet should be spread for myself before her outer Door and laying myself down with my Arms at my Side I guarded like the Dragon of old the precious Fruit of my
Hesperia
At length we reached
Calais
and immediately sent to the Beach to engage a Ship for wafting us over to the Land of Freedom and Rights but the Wind was contrary
Mean while the Day advanced toward Evening and my
Louisa
and I sat together in the Arbour of a little PleasureGarden that lay behind the House when
James
came hastening to us and cried Hide yourself Madam for Heavens Sake hide yourself here is the Duke de
Ne rs
with a large Party of the Kings light Horse
Poor
Louisa
started up and attempted to fly but She trembled and grew faint and sunk down again on her Seat
James
said I stay and take care of your Mistress Then turning with hasty Steps to the House I recommended my Spirit in a short Ejaculation and entered determined that the Duke should accompany me in Death His Highness was in the Parlour I advanced fiercely toward him So Sir says he you have cost us a warm Chase Heavens what do I see and so crying out he threw himself back into an Arm Chair all panting and his Aspect working with Distraction and Disappointment Cursed Chance he again exclaimed are you the Man
Clinton
Ah I must not hurt You I ought not to injure You but what is then to be done Where have you put my
Louisa
But no Matter let her not appear let me not see her I could not answer the Consequence I would be just if I could
Clinton
O Love O Honour how you do distract me You refused my Treasures and Jewels
Clinton
but then you have rent from me a Gem more estimable than my Dukedom Help Saints help Angels help me to wrestle with myself Honour Virtue Gratitude O compel me to be just Tear tear me away while theres Strength to depart Adieu
Clinton
you are recompensed should we happen to meet again I may assail you without Reproach And so saying he rose suddenly and rushed out of the House
I then hastened to seek my Love but had scarce entered the Garden when I saw
James
on his Knees before her endeavouring to oppose her Way to the House But she cried away Villain let me pass they are murdering my Lord they are murdering my Husband I will go and perish with him Then breaking away from him she shot along like a Lapwing till seeing me advancing she sprung upon my Bosom crying O my
Harry
O my
Harry
are you safe are you safe and fainted away in my Arms
The rest of my Story my Lord is no way material or entertaining The Serene of heartfelt Happiness has little of Adventure in it and is only interesting to the Possessors
Having settled my Affairs in
London
and carrying my
Eden
along with me I passed into
Holland
to settle and be quit of Matters there also For the World that I wished was in my Holding and all Things else appeared either nugatory or encumbering
It was there that I met our
Meekly
and taking a pleasant Tour through the Skirts of
Germany
we entered
France
and leaving
Paris
on the right Hand we reached the Marquiss Country Seat situate near twenty Leagues beyond the Metropolis
What a Meeting what an Interview My
Louisa
sunk in Tears for Half an Hour on the Bosom of her Mother And the Marquis would put me from him and pull me to him again all panting with Transport and insatiate of his Caresses It was too much of Joy it was Pleasure to paining The Domestics would no longer be estrained from their Share of the Felicity they rushed in and as though we had been
ew descended Divinities they dropped on their Knees they fell prostrate and clung about us kissed our Feet our Hands our Garments and broke forth into Cries as though it had been the House of Mourning and Lamentation
On retiring they got my
Louisa
s
Gerard
to themselves he now became a Man of mighty Importance among them They crowded about him and in a joint Voice but a Distraction of Questions enquired after our Travels our Adventures our good and evil Occurrences and all that concerned us
The Marchioness then coming and casting her honoured Arms around me and weeping upon me cried aloud O
Harry
my Son my Son I delivered my Daughter to you even as
Edna
committed her
Sarab
of special Trust to
Tobias
and I see that you have entreated her very kindly my Son my Son
As my
Louisa
now began to be apparently pregnant I earnestly pressed my precious Mother and Brother to accompany us to
England
the Place where Law was Regent where there was no Apprehension of Inquisitions or Bastiles and where the Peasant was guarded as with a Bulwark of Adamant against every Encroachment of arbitrary Power They assented with Joy and the Marquis going to his Escritoir brought forth Bills to the amount of ten Million of Livres the Produce of some Concerns which he had disposed of for the Purpose Here my Brother says he if I am not able to be grateful if I am not able to be generous I will at least be just here is the Patrimony to which my lovely Sister is entitled But I said to the Marquis my
Louisa
can admit of no Accession of Value Keep your Goods to yourself Remember how
Esau
said to
Jacob
I have enough enough my Brother these Things can add nothing to the Abundance of my Blessings But then he cried you must accept them as a Token of our Loves and so he constrained and impelled them upon me
Soon after we passed to
London
where we continued some Months and where my
Louisa
was delivered of my little
Eloisa
who was said to be the beautiful Likeness of her Father
We then retired to my Seat near
Stratford
on the fatal
Avon
the chief of the landed Possessions that Mr
Golding
had bequeathed me where we remained something upward of five Years happy I think above All that ever were happy upon Earth For my
Louisa
was perpetual Festivity to our Sight and to our Hearts her Eyes beamed with living and sentimental Glory her Attitudes were Grace her Movements were Music and her Smiles were Fascination Still varying yet exhibiting the same Delight like the
Northern
Aurora she shone in all Directions And she sported as though she had gone to Heaven from Time to Time and borrowed all her Plays from the Kingdom of little Children
But she needed not to go to Heaven since Heaven was ever in her and round about her and that she could no more move from it than she could move from herself She had been from her earliest Years the beloved Disciple of the celebrated Madam
Guyon
and the World with all its Concerns its Riches and Respects had fallen off from her as the Cloak fell away from the burning Chariot of
Elijah
She looked at nothing but her Lord in all Things she loved nothing but him in any Thing. She was the sweetest Playfellow that ever lived for the Babe of the Manger of
Bethlehem
and he was in her Heart a Pleasure passing Sense as well as a Peace that passed Understanding Even in conjugal Endearment her Manner refined and chastened the Sense of Possession and her Pudicity awed me in the Midst of Transport
Our Friends now prevailed upon us to accompany them in our Turn to
France
together with our prattling
Eloisa
who was become the darling and inseparable Companion of her Grandmother and her Uncle We again took
London
in our Way I there renewed for a while my old Acquaintance with my Fellows in Trade and they persuaded me to join them in a Petition to his Majesty for the Restoration of some of the lapsed Rights of their Corporation as your Lordship may remember
From
Calais
we turned and by long but pleasant Journeys at length arrived at the Marquiss paternal Seat in
Languedoc
that opened a delightful Prospect on the
Mediterranean
And here we continued upward of five Years more even as
Adam
continued in Paradise compassed in by Bliss from the rest of the World
During this happy Period I often pressed my dear Marquis to marry but he would take me to his Arms and say O my
Harry
shew me but the most distant Resemblance of our
Louisa
and I will marry and be blessed without Delay
In the mean while my Angel made me he joyful Father of a little Son who was also said to be the happier Resemblance
of his happy Father Then though I had long disregarded the World and all its Concerns as I saw a Family increasing upon me and also considered the Poor as my appointed and special Creditors I resolved once more to return and settle my long suspended Accounts
As for the Marchioness she protested that she could not think of parting with her little
Eloisa
and that she should not be able to survive her Absence ten Days So my
Louisa
and I and my little
Richard
who was named after you my Lord set out by Sea and after a favourable Voyage arrived in
England
comforted however with the Promise that our Friends would join us as soon as possible in
Britain
Within the ten subsequent Months we received the joyful Tidings that our Brother was married to the Third Daughter of the Duke of
Alenson
that they were all in the highest Triumph and would speedily be with us in a joint Jubilate on the Banks of the
Avon
Soon after as my
Louisa
and I rode along the River pleasing ourselves with the Prospect of a speedy Union with Persons so dear to us and talking and laughing away at the Cares of the Covetous and the Ambition of the Highminded a Fowler inadvertently fired a Shot behind us and my Horse bounding aloft plunged with me into the Current from whence however I was taken and unwillingly reserved to Years of inexpressible Misery of a Misery that admitted not of a Drop of Consolation
Mean while my Love had fallen with a Shriek from her Horse and lay senseless on the Sod Some of my People flew back and bringing a Carriage conveyed us gently home where my
Louisa
was undressed and put into a Bed from whence she never rose Her Fright had given such a Shock to her Blood and Spirits as threw her into a violent Fever
On the second Day while I sat with the Physicians by her Side
James
put in his Head and beckoned me forth Ah my dearest Master says he I pray God to give you the Strength and Patience of
Job
you have great Need of them for your Calamities like his come All in a Heap upon you Here is a Messenger dispatched from
France
with very heavy Tidings that my sweet young Lady your darling
Eloisa
was cast away in a Sloop upon a Party of Pleasure and that the good old Marchioness did not outlive her five Days Then lifting my Eyes to Heaven Strip strip me my God I cried to the Skin to the Bone leave leave but my
Louisa
and I will bless thy Dispensations
On the next Day my little
Dickey
was taken ill of a severe Cold that he caught through want of due Attention during the Sickness of his Mother As he was of a florid Complexion his Disorder fell suddenly in an Inflammation on his Lungs and in less than twentyfour Hours he went to join his little Brother and Sisters in their Eternity Did I not feel these Losses Yes yes my Friends they wrung they rent my Vitals Yet I still lifted my Heart in an eager Prayer and repeatedly cried Take take All even the last Mite leave leave me but my
Louisa
and I will bless thee O my Creator
Alas what could this avail Can an Insect arrest the Motion whereby the round Universe continues its Course On the fifth Day I perceived that the Eyes of my
Louisa
the Lamps of my Life began to lose their Lustre The Breath that was the Balm of all my Cares and Concerns grew difficult and short The Roses of my Summer died away on her Cheek All agonizing I felt and participated her Changes and she expired while I dropt and lay senseless beside her
I knew not what our People did with her or me afterward For three Weeks I lay in a Kind of dosing but uneasy Stupor neither do I recollect during that Period when or whether I received any Kind of Sustenance
At length I awoke to the Poignancy and Bitterness of my Situation I did not awake to Life but rather to the blackest Gloom of the Regions of Death And yet it was from this Depth and enfolding of Death alone that my Soul could find or would accept an Alleviation of its Anguish
O Earth I cried where is thy Centre how deeply am I sunk beneath it How are the Worms exalted over me How much higher are the noxious Reptiles that crawl upon Earth I will not accuse thee thou great Disposer I have had my Day the sweetest that ever was allotted to Man but O thy past Blessings serve only to enhance my present Miseries and to render me the most accursed of all thy Creatures
I then rose and threw myself along the Floor and my faithful and valiant Companions immediately gathered to me But finding that I would not be removed they cast themselves around me
All Light was shut out save the Glimmering of a Taper and for seven Nights and seven Days we dwelt in Silence except the solemn Interruptions of smothered Sobs and Wailings
At length my Spirit reproved me What Property said I to myself have these People in my Sufferings or why should I burden those who love me with my Afflictions I then constrained myself and went and took out a Drawer Here my Friends I said here is something that may help hereafter to dry up your Tears Divide these Thousands among ye neither these Counters nor your Services are now of further Use Fare ye well fare ye well my worthy and beloved Brothers God will give you a more gracious Master but but such another Mistress ye never never will find I then took Each of them to my Arms and kissed them in turns and the House was instantly filled with hearttearing Lamentations
I now expected and wished to be left wholly alone but
James
and two Domestics remained against my Will I then endeavoured to seem easy I even struggled to appear cheerful that I might communicate the less of Grief to the voluntary Sharers in my Misery O World World I said to myself thou once pleasant World we have now bid a long an eternal Adieu to Each Other From thee I am cut asunder thou art annihilated to me and we mutually reject every Kind of future Commerce
Ah how much deeper was my Death than that of those in the Tomb
where the Wicked cease from troubling and where the Weary are at Rest
While I was dead to every Relish of Light and of Life I was wholly alive to all the Gloom and Horrors of the Grave The Rays of the Sun became an Offence to my Soul the Verdure of the Fields the whole Bloom of Nature were blasted and blasting to my Sight and I wished to sink yet deeper and to own a lower Bottom to myself of Darkness and Distress
I no longer regarded what the World thought of me or what it did to me and I left my Hairs and my Nails even as those of
Nebuchadnezar
to grow like Eagles Feathers and Birds Claws
My Friend
James
in the mean Time took a Place for me in this Town in order to remove me from Scenes that could only serve to perpetuate or aggravate my Misery by reminding me of the Blessedness that I had once enjoyed
He was now become my Controller I was patient and passive to any Thing, to every Thing and so he conducted me hither I neither knew nor cared how
In all this Time though I panted after a State of Insensibility even as a Traveller in the burning Desart thirsts after a cool and slaking Stream I never attempted to lay a violating Hand on the Work of my Creator I did not even wish an Alleviation of my Misery since my God had appointed that I should be so very miserable
At length my Spirit rose from its Blackness to a Kind of calm Twilight I called for a Bible and since this World was incapable of a Drop of Consolation I wished to know if the next had Any in Store
As I read the Whole of the Letter and of the Facts contained therein appeared as so many Seals and Veils that removed from before my Eyes and discovered Depths under Depths and Heavens above Heavens to my amazed Apprehension I had no Vision no Revelation of these Matters but the Conviction was impressed as strongly on my Soul as though an Angel or God himself had revealed them to me
How this came to pass I know not
Homer
gives to his Heroes a Sight into Futurity at the Time that their Spirits are breaking away from the Shackles of Flesh and Blood And it is not unlikely that the Eye of the Soul when wholly turned from all carnal and earthly Objects can penetrate with the greater Scope and Clarity into Concerns that are merely celestial and divine
I have now told ye the Whole of my dreary History my Friends till I met with our
Harry
and the rest our
Harry
can tell
But
Harry
was in no Manner of Vein at present for entertaining or receiving Entertainment from any One His Eyes were swelled with weeping his Spirits totally depressed and getting up as with the Burden of fourscore Years on his Shoulders he retired slowly and silently to his Apartment
Here Mr
Meekly
took the Opportunity of our Heros Absence to apprise the Company of what had passed respecting the fair
Aggy Jessamin
And why my dear
Meekly
said the Earl why would you baulk my Boy I would rather than fifty thousand broad Pieces get any Offspring of my
Harry
into my Arms however little it might be legitimate or illegitimate He is a glorious Fellow he cannot be debased by marrying a Kitchen Wench although his Alliance would ennoble a Princess Whats your Opinion Brother Indeed said Mr
Clinton
if the Girl is virtuous as her Countenance promises I have no Objection
Mr
Meekly
instantly went with these indulgent Tidings to
Harry
but he shook his Head and said No no my Friend I will not abuse their Goodness Beside since I heard the Story of my Uncles
Louisa
my Passion is not quite so violent I have formed a perfect Idea of the Bride I would wish and if I get not some One answering to the Image in my Heart I will go unmarried to my Tomb Yet as I still ardently love the sweet Girl I would not for the World risk the Temptation of a Meeting with her and I am willing to pay roundly for her Removal Be pleased then my dear Friend to settle this Matter with her Father the stipulated Sum shall be ready on Demand to any Amount that you please if they may serve to promote her Happiness
On the next Day Mr
Meekly
introduced to
Harry
a tall and comely young Man in a peasant Dress but of an Air and Deportment much superior to his Appearance My Lord said
Meekly
as he entered you must quit all further Thoughts of the lovely Miss
Jessamin
I have here brought a prior Claimant to whom I am confident the Probity the Generosity of your Heart will give Place
Harry
rose to receive him when the Stranger looking earnestly and amazedly at him cried out Ah no we must All give Place here I find Does she know him has
Aggy
seen him I will then go and bury myself where my Heart may break in Despair of ever reclaiming her Affections
No fear Sir said
Harry
reaching his Hand give me but to know that you have entitled yourself to her Regards and my own Heart shall break in a thousand Pieces rather than oppose or disturb the Peace of two gentle Lovers
I will give you our Story my Lord in a very few Words Mr
Jessamin
and my Father
Jessop
served an Apprenticeship to the same Merchant and when that was expired they joined in Trade to the
Levant
But as my Father was of the more adventurous Temper they soon after broke Partnership My Father traded to
Turkey
and the Isles of the
Archipelago
and Mr
Jessamin
confined himself to the
Italian
Coast
In one of his Voyages to
Genoa
he there married and begot the charming
Aggy
and returning to
London
after a Number of Years he fitted out a Ship of considerable Force in order to convoy his Wife and Daughter with all his Treasures to
England
On their Way home they were taken by a
French
Privateer Their Ship and rich Cargo were sent to
Toulon
And Mrs and Miss
Jessamin
with some other Prisoners were taken on board the Enemys Vessel that proceeded on her Cruise for further Captures
I happened at the Time to be on my Return homeward in a Ship called WELCOME ENEMIES she had the Appearance of a Merchant but was actually better fitted for War than Trade
The same Privateer came up with us and bearing on us with Confidence commanded us to strike but we answered them with an unexpected Broadside and coming to close Quarters we nearly cleared their Deck by the Discharge of our small Arms Soon after we grappled and boarded when hastening down to the Cabbin I there for the first Time beheld my
Aggy
in a fainting Fit with her lovely Head reclined on the Lap of her Mother
As I kneeled to give Assistance toward her Recovery she first opened the Morning of her Eyes upon me then turning them to her Mother cried Ah Madam what new Misfortune has been added to our Misery I hope we have not fallen into the Hands of the Infidels No Miss I said you are free you are free and you are freed by Hands that offer themselves of their own Accord to your Shackles
When we came to Port I divided the Freight of our Prize among the brave Fellows who had seconded me so gallantly And having sold the Vessel for three and twenty hundred Pounds I compelled Mrs
Jessamin
to accept of it as some small Compensation for the Losses that her Family had sustained
As soon as I had paid my Duty to my Father and that the Warmth of his first Caresses was over Sir said I I have melancholy News to tell you I fear your old Friend and Partner Mr
Jessamin
is undone as to Trade great Part of his Fortune has been seized by the
French
and that may prove a heavy Loss to myself also He has but one Daughter and might I prevail upon her to accept of my Hand I should thereby become entitled to all her Fathers Possessions But Sir I cried casting myself passionately at his Feet if the Happiness of your Son is of any Weight with you You will still assent to our Union and thereby make me the most blessed of all human Beings
Everard
said my Father sedately you know I love you and I am willing to divide that Love between your Fancy and your Fortune If
Jessamin
lays down twenty thousand Pounds in Hand toward portioning your four Sisters I will consent to your Union And thats what I would not do with any other Wench under double that Sum
As I knew my Fathers Disposition to be as obstinate as it was affectionate I rose and retreated without Reply I instantly went to Mr
Jessamin
s I found my Charmer alone I threw myself at her Knees I solicited I urged her to an immediate Marriage When blushing like the Morning when it arises as ashamed of the Brightness that it brings Sir said she we owe you all Things I never can refuse you any Thing that Virtue will allow me to grant Ah how cold is that I cried I will not accept You as a Debt my
Aggy
if your Heart is not a freewill Offering then let mine burst in sunder they can have no Commerce together Indeed says she giving her Hand I never had an Inclination for any Other and I have in the World but the one Objection to you What is that what is that It is she cried with filling Eyes that I fear to hurt You by a Match so very much disproportioned to your Merits
Her Parents entered and found me still at her Feet I rose in much Confusion and taking a Seat I candidly told them what had passed between my Father and me and urged the same Petition to them that I had to their Daughter when Mr
Jessamin
recollecting himself gave me an Answer deserving of everlasting Memorial
Mr
Jessop
says he had I a Province to bestow along with my Child you should have it as freely as I would give of my WaterCistern to a thirsty Traveller But here it happens that the inestimable Obligations which you have heaped upon my Family are quite averse to the Promotion of your present Desires
In the first Place as a Man of Probity if I wish one Day to merit the Happiness of your Alliance I cannot consent to be a Party in any clandestine Matter Again shall a Heart full and bursting with Gratitude be a Partaker in bringing either Damage or Disgrace on the only One whom I account my Benefactor and Patron Lastly shall a Father who estimates the Honour of his Child as a Pearl above the Worlds Purchase shall he subject her tender perhaps her melting Gratitude to the Temptation of yielding further than she ought or even to the Temptation of binding her virtuous Affections beyond the Power of a Retreat This would be too severe a Tribute even for All that you have done for us Do not exact it my Son My Heart wrings under the Necessity of rejecting your Suit You cannot be pained as I am by this Refusal But it is inevitable You and my Daughter must meet no more till these Clouds are overpassed and that a new Light of happier Influence begins to dawn upon us
I answered not I wept where I sat for Half an Hour I was not unaccompanied and I then withdrew
But my Lord I begin to grow tedious in Spite of my Intentions I returned to my Father and requested him in order as I said to get rid of my present Passion that he would dispatch me abroad upon another Voyage
I had given him a very lucrative Account of my last and that made him the less inquisitive respecting the Prize we had taken
He assented with Joy as he feared that my Love might yet contend and prevail in the Combat against Duty And he took upon himself the Care of equipping out my Ship in a more gallant Plight than ever
The Day before I went on board I stepped to Mr
Jessamin
s My
Aggy
did not appear and I found her Parents employed in preparing for a disconsolate Retreat to the Country I told them I came to take my Leave and asked if they would send any Venture by me The very worthy Man then went to his Desk and taking out the Bills of the Sale of the Privateer here my
Everard
says he I have nothing to adventure with you save your own free Gift The Remainder of the Wreck of my Fortune is little enough to supply us with very frugal Accommodations in our desired Exclusion from the World and its Ways And here is a little Note of the Place of our Retreat if ever my Child if ever if ever we shall happen to meet on this Side of Eternity O I cried kissing the Bills if I do not bring you a good Account of these Ventures never indeed shall we meet till parting shall be no more
We then set about taking Leave and having several Times rushed alternately into the Arms of Each other we again sat down and wept till no Tears were left when rending myself away from them and nearly blind to the Way that I went I departed
Within a Year and a Half I returned and in a Storm put in at
Plymouth
But notwithstanding the Intrepidity and great Affection of my Companions though I had made Death and Success as Matters equally indifferent and on one of which I was determined yet our high Hopes and Enterprizings had failed us on several Occasions and I am come back with little more than ten thousand Pounds for Mr
Jessamin
over the Produce of the Voyage which my Father may exact from me
Wherefore with post Horses and a beating Heart I have crossed the Country in Disguise impatient yet fearful to know how the Heart of the nobly inexorable
Jessamin
may be affected toward me and this Morning as I skulked about the House this Gentleman met me and having questioned me brought me directly to your Lordship
Here
Harry
covered his Eyes with his Hand and musing for a Time at length said I fear my Friends it may be difficult to bring this Matter about with Propriety I would not willingly affront Mr
Jessop
here by a Gift of the Sum that is deficient to his Happiness Neither indeed would it be duly delicate in Mr
Jessop
to offer to his Fatherinlaw a Penny beyond what his Venture so well supported by Mr
Jessop
s Bravery had acquired You therefore my dear Mr
Meekly
shall be the Conduit of the Expedient that I propose on the Occasion I question if the War was proclaimed when
Jessamin
s Ship was made Prize but be that Matter as it may I trust I have Interest sufficient to procure a Restoration the first Treaty of Peace Do you therefore my Friend get me an Order from
Jessamin
for £10000 on the first of his Effects in
France
with legal Interest however and then take this Key and deliver to our Friends the very utmost of the Sum required by the Father of the darling Fellow who is now before me
Meekly
then sprung up advanced in Years as he was and catching and clinging about
Harry
O my Hero my
Scipio
he cried you are the Champion whom Heaven delighteth to empower to subdue itself by Violence Go on till the Wreath of Triumph shall be bound to your Head in all its prepared Glories
Mean while young
Jessop
lay prostrate in the Oppression and Agony of Gratitude at the Feet of his younger Patron But
Harry
gently and affectionatly disengaging himself from them withdrew to his Closet saying to his own Heart now
Aggy
adieu adieu
Aggy
for ever
For three succeeding
Sundays
our Hero heard the Bands of Marriage published between
Everard Jessop
and
Agnes Jessamin
all which he bore with the Firmness of a Stoic or rather with the Resignation of a Christian who keeps a Look forward to a more pearly Hope
Perhaps some may be curious to know how
Aggy
stood affected in regard to our young Lord Let it suffice to be told that she made the worthiest of Wives to the very worthy
Everard
notwithstanding that he had the Imprudence to tell her of
Harry
s Regard for her as also of the Obligations by which he had bound them
Aggy
therefore could not justly refuse
Harry
a Share in her Friendship and there is something extremely tender in the Friendship of a generous Female
Be that as it may in about three Weeks after her Marriage as she walked with two fair Visitants in a pleasant Field behind the Town she saw our Hero coming toward her attended by two Servants and galantly mounted on a proud young Steed whom he had undertaken to dress and was now gracefully riding to the Manage
She felt a sudden Alarm she knew not why and as
Harry
approached she turned away that he might not recognize her But as soon as he had passed she gave one Look after him and feeling herself discomposed by a little hysterical Fit she sat down on the Grass between her Companions and wept till she was restored to her Strength and Spirits
In a few Days after she set out for
London
where she became the daily Idol of her Fatherinlaw and saw our
Harry
no more
On an Evening after Coffee as the Earl stood fondly fooling with his
Harry
as one Child with Another he turned to Mr
Clinton
and said How came it to pass my Brother that
Jesus
suffered near four thousand Years to elapse before he became incarnate for the Salvation of the World although it was by him alone that the World could be saved
We may as well demand of God said Mr
Clinton
why he suffered near four Days of Creation to lapse before he compacted yon glorious Body of far beaming Light For this Matter was barely a Type and the Sun himself but a Shadow of the CHRIST that was to come But did the World want Light before Light became incorporated in its illustrious Circumscription No my Lord JESUS who was from Eternity the Illumination of the dark Immensity of Nature;
Jesus
who alone is the living Light of Spirit Soul and Sentiment the perpetual Fountain of the Streams of Beauty and Truth he said LET THERE BE LIGHT and instantly through the Darkness of a ruined World the
Internity
of his ever living Light kindled up an
Externity
of corporeal Irradiation that has its Effluence from him and cannot beam but by him
Now as a Day is as a thousand Years and a thousand Years as a Day in the Sight of God you see that the fourth Day of Creation wherein the Light of this outward World was compacted into the glorious Body of the Sun precisely answers to the four thousandth Year wherein
Jesus
the Light of Eternity was to become embodied and incarnate in Christ the SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
But as the World wanted not Light before the Sun opened his first Morning in the East neither did it want the Means of Salvation before the blessed Doctrine of MESSIAH was promulged upon Earth
All Sorts of Sectarians All Persons of selfish and little Minds would make a Monopoly of the SAVIOUR they would shut him up into a Conventicle and say to their God
thus far shalt thou go and no further
But he is not so to be confined The Spirit of our
Jesus
bloweth wide and where he listeth And he is at once both the Purifier and Redeemer as well of all Nations as also of all Nature
Accordingly we see that the
Turks
who are wholly unblessed by true Religion or Liberty who live the Slaves of Slaves without a Form of civil Government temporally subjected to the Will of a Tyrant and spiritually to the Worship of a sensual Impostor yet want not the Feelings of our JESUS in their Heart
Even the wild
Indians
who never listened to the Toll of a Bell nor ever were called into any Court of civil Judicature These want not their Attachments their Friendships their Familyfeelings nor the sweet Compunctions and Emotions of the human Heart by
Jesus
forming to DIVINE
The Truth is that People live incomparably more by Impulse and Inclination than by Reason and Precept Reason and Precept are not always within our Beck to have their due Influence they require frequent Inculcation and frequent Recollection but Impulse and Inclination are more than at Hand they are within us and from the Citadel rule the Outworks of Man at Pleasure
When the Apostle speaking of CHRIST affirms that
there is no other
NAME
under Heaven whereby a Man may be saved
And again when he affirms that Those
who have not received the Law are a Law unto themselves
He intends one and the same Thing He intends that CHRIST from the Fall of Man is a PRINCIPLE OF REDEMPTION in the Bosoms of All Living That he is not an
outward
but an
inward Redeemer
working out our Salvation
by the Change of our depraved Nature
That in and from Him alone arise all the Sentiments and Sensibilities that warm the Heart with Love that expand it with Honour that wring it with Compunction or that heave it with the Story of distant Distress And that He alone can be qualified to be Judge at the last Day Who from the first Day to the last was internally a CoOperator and Witness of all that ever passed within the Bosoms of all Men
Hence it is that although the Christian Countries have received the
two Tables
of the Laws of Christ his
external
as well as
internal Revelation
Each witnessing to the Other that the God of our
Gospel
is the God of our
Nature
the Nations however who are Strangers to his Name yet acknowledge his Influence they do not indeed
hear
but they
feel
the Precepts of that LIGHT
which lighteth every Man who cometh into the World
My dearest Brother said the Earl my Conceptions are quite clear with respect to the Omnipresence of Christs Divinity But as his Body is circumscribed by external Features and Lineaments I can form no Notion of its being in several Places at once How then will it be I pray you at and after the last Day Will he be present to and approachable only by a select Number of his Saints or will he go certain Journeys and Circuits through the Heavens blessing All in Rotation with his beatific Presence
Is not the Body of yonder Sun circumscribed my Lord Most certainly It is now said Mr
Clinton
at a Distance of many Millions of Leagues from You and yet You see it as evidently and feel its Influence as powerfully as if it were within your Reach Nay it is more than within your Reach it is within your Existence It supplies Comfort and Life to your animal Body and Life and you could not survive an Hour without its Influence and Operations
Now this is no other than the apt Type and prefiguring Promise of what Christ will be to his Newbegotten in the Resurrection when
Corruption shall be swallowed up of Glory and Mortal of Immortality
The same blessed Body which for the Redemption of commiserated Sinners went through the shameful and bloody Process of Scourges Thorns Spittings and Buffettings which hung six agonizing Hours on the Cross which descended into the Grave and thence opened the Way through Death into Life and through Time into Eternity Even this Body shall then shine forth in ineffable Beauty and Beatitude in effentially communicative Grace and Glory through the Heighth and through the Depth through the Length and through the Breadth beaming wide beyond the Universe from Infinity to Infinity.
Father Son and Holy Spirit will then become coembodied in this divine Body they will be the Repletion of it they will operate all Things by it To bring the Creator nearer to his Creatures the invisible Godhead will then become visible the Infinite circumscribed the Unapproachable accessable and the Incomprehensible comprehended within the Humanity of our CHRIST
Then will his Cross be exalted for an Ensign to the circling bending and worshipping Universe His Wreath of Thorns will kindle all Nature with the Dartings and Castings forth of its Corruscations And his Reed of Mockery will become the Sceptre of unlimited Domination
From his five Wounds shall be poured forth incessant Floods of Glory and wide diffusing Blessedness upon all his Redeemed Adoring Worlds in selfAbjection shall strive to sink beneath the Abjection that became their Salvation These ever apparent Ensigns of so dearly purchased Benefits shall inevitably attract the Wills of all Creatures they shall cause all Hearts and Affections to rush and cleave to him as Steel Dust rushes to Adamant and as Spokes stick in the Nave whereon they are centred There shall be no Lapse thenceforward forward no Falling away for ever But God in his Christ and Christ in his Redeemed shall be a Will and a Wisdom and an Action and a Mightiness and a Goodness and a Graciousness and a Glory rising on Glory and a Blessing rising on Blessedness through an ever beginning to a never ending ETERNITY
O Brother Brother Brother exclaimed the Earl I am enraptured I am entranced I see it all I feel it all I am already with all my Corruptions with all my Transgressions desirous of being crushed to Nothing under the Foot of my Redeemer But he comforts instead of crushing me O that I were this Night this very Moment to be dissolved and to be with my Christ
That Night the Earl was quite happy and pleasant and affectionate even beyond his Custom He said and did every Thing that could be endearing to his
Harry
and to his Friends He caressed them at parting for Bed He smilingly shook Hands with all the Domestics that approached him and in the Morning was found dead without any Notice or Warning to the Servants who attended and lay in the Room
A sudden and grievous Alarm was instantly given through the Family and quickly reached the Town and spread through the adjacent Country
Harry
fell upon his Fathers Face and wept upon him and kissed him and wept aloud and kissed him again crying my Father O my Father
And they laid his Remains in a plated Coffin under Escutcheons and a sable Canopy of Velvet And the House and the Court was circled with Mourners from all Parts And they mourned for him fifty and nine Days And on the sixtieth Day he was deposited in his Family Tomb but Mr
Clinton
would not permit
Harry
to attend the Funeral of his Father
Our Hero was now the Master of Millions approaching to the Prime of Youth glowing with Health Action and Vigour of Beauty incomparable beloved of All who knew him and the Attraction and Admiration of every Eye where he passed Yet all these Advantages with all his higher Accomplishments became as Matters of no Value they sunk and sickened to his Sense while he felt a Void in his Bosom eager after he knew not what sighing he knew not why keen and craving in his Desires yet pining and languid in the Want of Possession
What is the Matter my Love said Mr
Clinton
my dear Brother died in a good old Age Such Things should be expected we know that they must be and we ought not to grieve as Persons who are without Hope
True Sir said
Harry
and yet it is a very melancholy Thing for a poor Man to reflect how very rich he was a very little while ago I lately had a dear Brother a dear Mother and the dearest of Fathers but where are they All now I look round the World and see nothing but yourself therein And should you too should you too Here
Harry
could no more His Uncle also broke into Tears at the Thoughts of parting with his Darling
Harry
though it were to join his
Louisa
My
Harry
says he at last we have yet two precious Treasures left upon Earth if we did but know where to find them it is your Cousin the Countess of
Maitland
and the Brother of my
Louisa
the Marquis
DAubigny
Let us go in Search of them my Son Next to my
Louisa
they are the loveliest of all Living They abound in all human and divine Affections and will caress us with kindred and corresponding Hearts
Soon after they set out for
France
and by a roundabout Tour of short but pleasant Journeys arrived at
Paris
where Mr
Clinton
ordered his large Retinue to his ancient Inn and taking only two Footmen he and
Harry
went in their PostChaise to the Marquiss Palace
On the ringing of the Bell and the opening of the Gate a single Domestic came forth Mr
Clinton
perceived that all was dark in the Hall and this instantly gave an Alarm to his ever ready Feelings
He alighted however and stepping with his
Harry
up the Flight of Marble Where is your Master says he where is my Brother the Marquis Heaven bless us cried the Fellow are you my Masters Brother I have heard a Deal of and about your Lordship though I never was so happy as to see your Face before Ho he continued and rung another Bell come All of You attend the Brother of your Lord attend the present Master and Lord of your Household
Immediately the Palace was in Commotion the Parlour and Hall were lighted up and All seemed to have acquired a Set of Wings to their Motions
Mr
Clinton
looked with Eagerness at Each of the Domestics endeavouring to recollect the Features of some old Acquaintance but all the Faces were strange to him Pray tell me my Friends says he where is your Master where and how are he and his Lady are they still in good Health has he had any Children by her
Please your Honour said an elderly Man my Masters first Lady died of Childbirth and her Infant perished with her But he is since married to One of the loveliest Women in the World He is gone a Year since on an Embassy into
Africa
his Lady would not be left behind we lately heard from them they are Both in Health and we expect that less than a Month will bring them safe to us indeed the Sum of our Prayers is for their happy and speedy Return
What said Mr
Clinton
are there none of my old Friends not one of our ancient Domestics to the fore Please your Lordship
Jacome
the white headed Steward is still left but though in good Health he is very little more than half alive Pray go and tell him that an old Friend of his is here and would be very glad to see him but dont do Things suddenly and be very tender and careful in bringing him to me
Old
Jacome
was wheeled in wrinkled pale and paralytic and all enfeebled as he sat reclining in an easy Chair he seemed to recover Life and new Spirits as they brought him forward Bring me to him bring me to him my Eyes are wondrous dim bring me closer that I may know if it is my very Master indeed Bring me but once to know that it is his sweet pardoning Face and then let me die with all my Sins upon me I care not
Mr
Clinton
then took him very lovingly by the Hand my good Friend
Jacome
says he we are both growing old I find I rejoice however to see you once more upon Earth O cried the old Man a well known and a sweet tuned Voice is that Voice it is you then it is you yourself my Master Alas for all your Losses since last we parted I have got a salt Rheum in my Eyes of late and I never thought of you but it began to come down
Here
Jacome
sobbing aloud provoked the joint Tears of his attending fellow Servants though they had never been Partakers in the foregone Calamities farther than by the Ear whence they were now recollected and carried home to their Hearts
My Lord says
Jacome
at last I am not the only One that remains of your old Servants Your
Gerard
too who Blessings on his Hands once tied me Neck and Heels
Gerard
too is forthcoming and near at Hand Your Honours wonderful Bounty made a Gentlemen of him at once and he is now in a high Way with a Wife and three Children A hundred and a hundred Times have we washed your Remembrance with our Tears And indeed I think your Honour ought not to send for him lest he should suddenly die or run distracted at your Sight
In the mean time One of the Lacqueys had officiously gone and informed
Gerard
of the Arrival of his Patron He came panting and rushed forward as it were to cast himself at the Feet of his Lord But stopping suddenly and drawing back some Steps he nailed his Eyes as it were on the Face of Mr
Clinton
and spreading his Hands cried
You live then my Lord you still live my dearest Master you survive all your Deaths and Sufferings and the Weight of ten Mountains has not been able to crush you O the Times the Times my Master never more to return will there be such Times in Heaven think you Will there be such Angels there as we once lived with upon Earth
Here he clapped his Hands together and set up such a Shout of bitter Lamentation as was enough to split the Heart of every Hearer and in a Manner to split the Graves of the Persons whom he deplored
As soon as Mr
Clinton
and his two old Friends had parted for the Night Tell me my dear Sir said
Harry
are there different Kinds of Grief or is it merely that Grief affects us in different Manners
When I wept for my dear Father my Mother and Brother my Affliction was anguishing and altogether bitter without any Species of alleviating Sensation to compensate my Misery But it was far otherwise with me to Night when I grieved in the Grief of your old and faithful Domestics I felt my Heart breaking but I was pleased that it should break I felt that it was my Happiness so to grieve and I could wish a Return of the same sweet Sensations
The Reason is this my Love When you lamented your Parents you lamented Yourself in your private and personal Losses Your Affliction was just it was natural it was laudable But still it was confined it participated but little of the Emotion that is excited by the Affliction of Others and the Anguish was the keener by being nearly limited to your own Bosom and your own Concerns
But in the Griefs of my old and loving Servants this Night you became wholly expanded you went beyond you went out of yourself You felt without Reflection how delightful it is to go forth with your God in his social generous noble and divine Sensibilities And you delightfully felt my
Harry
that such a House of Mourning is more joyous to your Soul than all the Festivals that Flesh and Sense can open before you
And now my Child I will finally and once for all lay open the very horrible and detestable Nature of SELF in your Soul
SELF appears to us as the Whole of our Existence as the Sum total of All in which we are interested or concerned It is as a NARCISSUS selfdelighted selfenamoured It desires it craves and claims as its Right the Loves Attachments and Respects of all Mankind But does it acquire them my
Harry
O never never SELF never was beloved never will be beloved never was honourable or respectable in the Eye of any Creature And the Characters of the
Patriot
the
Hero
the
Friend
and the
Lover
are only so far amiable so far revereable as they are supposed to have gone forth from the Confines of SELF.
As Mr
Clinton
proposed to wait the Return of the Marquis he employed the mean Season in Endeavours to amuse his Darling and to dispel the Cloud of Melancholy that continued to hang over him
For this Purpose he went with him to
Versailles
and to the many other elegant Environs of
Paris
He also shewed him the
Thuilleries
and other public Walks where our Hero became oppressed by his involuntary Attraction of all Eyes upon him
One Night happening to go to the Play without the Company of his Guardian as he came forth with the Crowd a Carriage was opened for him which he took to be his own and in he stepped and away he was taken
In the mean Time Mr
Clinton
waited Supper for him and began to grow uneasy when the Clock struck Twelve At last his Carriage and Servants returned with Tidings that they staid for him above an Hour at the Theatre after the Play was over and had ever since been in Search of him to no Purpose
Though Mr
Clinton
was by Nature of an intrepid Spirit and was still more assured by his Reliance on Providence he yet found himself agitated in a very alarming Manner He therefore retired to his Closet and there on his Knees fervently commended his
Harry
to the Protection of his God
At length the Clock struck Three Soon after the Bell was heard from the Hall and
Harry
entering with a Page in a rich Livery flew like Lightening up Stairs and cast himself into the Bosom of his Patron
My Father my Father he cried I have been in sad Pannics for you I knew the Love that you bore to your good for nothing
Harry
But indeed I could not help it I could not get to you till this Instant I have been a Prisoner Sir and here is my dear Deliverer
As soon as they were something composed and All seated
Harry
proceeded to satisfy the Impatience of his Uncle
As I came out of the Theatre ruminating on a Passage in one of
Racine
s Tragedies I found a Chariot in the Spot where I had left my own and stepping heedlesly into it I was soon set down and hastening through the great Hall flew up Stairs to salute you But think how I was surprised when I suddenly found myself in the most sumptuous Chamber perhaps in the Universe It was wainscotted with Mirrors of the most perfect Polish whose Plates were artfully buttoned and buckled together by Diamonds and other Gems of a most dazzling Lustre
All astonished I recoiled and was going to withdraw when I was met by a Lady who followed and accosted me Have you Commands Sir says she for any One in this House A thousand Pardons Madam I perceive my Error I really thought I was set down at my own Lodgings No great Offence Sir but now that I look at you again I think you ought to pay the Forfeit of your Intrusion by giving me one Hour of your Company at least You must excuse me Madam my Guardian would be under the most terrifying Alarms for me A Fig for Guardians she cried You are now my Prisoner and nothing less than my Friend
Lewis
with his Army at his Back shall be able to take you out of my Hands
So saying she rung a Bell and immediately a folding Door of pannelled lookingGlass flew open and shewed us to another Apartment where a Supper composed of all the Elegancies of the Season was served up as by Magic and lay fuming on the Table
She then took me by the Hand and having graciously seated me placed herself opposite A Number of Servants then vanished on the Instant leaving a dumb Waiter of Silver behind them
Sir said she we are not to have any further Company You alone were expected you alone are desired All Others are forbidden In short I have seen you often at the public Walks and Theatres You did more than strike my Fancy you laid hold on my Heart I enquired every Thing about you I know your Rank Title and Fortune I made use of this Nights Stratagem to decoy you to me and though there are few Women in
Europe
of equal Opulence or Dignity I think I cannot much demean myself by an Alliance with a sweet Fellow whom I so ardently love But come our Supper cools
I gazed at her with Admiration She was indeed the most finished Beauty I ever beheld And I was inwardly flattered and in a Manner attached to her by her Partiality in my Favour
After Supper and some futile and insignificant Chat she drew her Chair nearer to me What say you my Lord says she fondly am I to live or to perish
Ah Madam I cried Love is as a little Bird if you cage it it will beat itself to Pieces against its Prison Not that I regard your late Threats of Confinement my own Arm is at all Times sufficient to deliver me from your Thraldom but in Truth I am partly become a willing Prisoner to You and Time may possibly reconcile me to your different Customs
What Customs I pray you Why Madam the Ladies in my Country use no Paint except the Rouge of Nature's Blush and the Paleness of Chastity Love also in
England
is a Kind of Warfare between the Sexes just such as once happened between the
Parthians
and old
Rome
our Ladies conquer by flying and our Men are vanquished while they pursue
Persons Sir of a certain Rank said she are dispensed with from conforming to little Matters of Decorum However if you will endeavour to adopt the Manners of my Country I will do my best on my Part to conform to those of Yours
So saying she looked languishingly at me and drew her Chair quite close when by an involuntary Motion I put mine further back Dont be alarmed my Lord says she Women of my Condition know always where to stop Right Madam said I but possibly you might not be quite so successful in teaching me where to be stopped
Cold constitutioned Boy she cried indignantly rising and colouring your Bed lies yonder you may go to it if you like and ruminate till Morning on the Danger of slighting and insulting a Princess So saying she swept haughtily out of the Room and locked me in
During an Hour after she had withdrawn while I walked about considering what I had to apprehend from the Threats of this extraordinary Woman I heard a great Bustling in and about the Falace but within another Hour All was quiet and still again
I then conceived Thoughts of attempting my Escape But again I held it beneath me to be caught in the Manner and so I resolved to wait till Morning and then to force my Passage through her Guards in open Day
In the mean Time I imagined that a Pannel in the Wainscot stirred And soon after it was removed and my young Friend here entered my Chamber on Tiptoe He beckoned me to Silence and taking me by the Hand he led me through the Way by which he came
We then descended a narrow Pair of back Stairs and groping along a dark Entry he cautiously unbolted a Door that opened into a Garden and hurrying with me across he unlocked another Door that opened to the Street and out we got rejoicing
Soon after we met a Party of the Guards who were patroling the Streets and putting a few Pieces into their Hand I requested their safe Convoy and they conducted us Home
My Lords said
Perrè
for that was the Pages Name it would be extremely dangerous for Ye to remain another Day or even till Morning in
Paris
The Princess is the most intimate Friend of Madame
Maintenon
and through her can do what she pleases with the King During my Residence with her she grew tired of two handsome Lovers in Succession but they told no Tales and no One can yet tell what became of them
Mr
Clinton
was quite of
Perrè
s Opinion He instantly sent for his People All was Hurry Pack and Dispatch and toward Dawning they set out on a Road that led to the Cantons But changing their Course again for several successive Mornings they arrived at
Calais
by a long Tour of near five Weeks travel
Mr
Clinton
set up at his old Inn and after Dinner the Host entered to pay his Compliments Have you any News Landlord Nothing at present my Lord all is quiet again But here has been a fearful Bustle about three Weeks ago The Kings Army came down in Pursuit of young
Englishman
who ran away with a Lady of Quality from
Paris
For my Share continued he looking earnestly at
Harry
I fear that You pretty
English
Lads will hardly leave us a lovely Wench in the Nation
Harry
looked quite secure being wholly innocent of any present Design on the Sex but poor little
Perrè
turned as pale as the Table Cloth
I remember continued our talkative Host that just such another Affair happened when I was a Boy and Servant in this House Here came a young
Englishman
just such another sweet Fellow as this before me and he brought with him an Angel of a Creature the like of whom my Eyes never did nor ever shall open upon till they close in Death After him came one of our great Dukes with a Party of the Kings Army and terrible Things were expected But they made it up in a Manner I know not how And my Lord
Anglois
carried off his Prize in Triumph Mr
Clinton
stooped his Head and dropt a silent Tear but held no further Converse with our Landlord on the Subject
That Evening a Gale sprung up and going on Board they were safe anchored before Morning in the Bay of
Dover
They then mutually embraced and
Harry
catching his beloved Deliverer to his Bosom we are now upon
English
Ground says he welcome to my Arms my dear
Perrè
no longer my Page or Servant but my Friend and my Brother You cant conceive what Pain your Officiousness has hitherto cost me but there must be no more of this You shall hereafter be served and attended as I am nay I myself will gladly serve You to the utmost of my Power and the Extent of my Fortune
Ah my Lord cried the lovely
Perrè
gently falling at the Feet of his Master if you deprive me of the Pleasure of serving You you deprive me of all the Pleasure that the World can afford me If you knew the Delight I find in being always about you in watching your Thoughts and Motions in looking into your fine Eyes and there reading your Desires before they rise to Expression You could not find in your Heart to deprive me of such a Blessing Well then said
Harry
raising him fondly in his Arms our future Contest shall be which of us shall serve the Other with most Affection and Sedulity
After Dinner the Evening being calm and shiny
Harry
took his
Perrè
with him along the Shore that stretches under the stupendous Cliffs of
Dover
They had not walked far when getting out of the Sight of People within the Winding of a Creek a Man advanced toward them and taking out a Pistol called to
Harry
and ordered him to throw down his Purse Our Hero did not regard his Purse but thinking it an Indignity to be robbed by one Man he put his Hand to his Sword Hereupon the Villain cocked and levelled his Pistol and the faithful
Perrè
observing that he was going to fire instantly jumped in between her Master and Danger and received the Ball into her own lovely Bosom
Harry
saw his Darling drop and flying all enraged at the Robber he ran him thrice through the Body and pinned him to the Ground Then flying as swiftly back he threw himself by the Side of his dying
Perrè
and gently raising her languishing Head placed it fondly on his Bosom
You are wounded my Friend dangerously wounded I fear says
Harry
Yes my Lord I am wounded just as I could wish and I would not exchange my preent blessed Death for the longest and happiest Life that the World could bestow But it is Time to undeceive and eveal a Secret to you which nothing but death should ever have extorted from me I am not what I seem my most beloved Master I am a foolish and fond Girl who at the first Glance conceived a Passion for you My Name is
Maria de Lausanne
I am Niece to that bad Woman whom you justly rejected But what did I propose by this Disguise First your Deliverance my Lord and that I effected But did I further aspire to the Honour of your Hand Far from it far from it I felt my own Unworthiness I did not think you could be mated by any Thing less than an Angel But then to see you to hear you to serve to touch to be near you to fix my Eyes on you unheeded and if possible to win your Attention by the little Offices of my Fondness this was my Happiness the Whole of the Heaven that I proposed upon Earth I have had it I have enjoyed it and I ought to die content But alas to part from you there is the Pang of Pangs O if this Day merits any Thing, by the Offer of my own Life for the Preservation of my Beloved Then cause my chaste Clay to be kindly deposited in the Tomb of your Ancestors that when Time shall come my Dust may be neigh boured to your precious Dust and there sleep in Peace beside you till we spring together from Corruption into Glory and Immortality
During these short Sentences and difficult Respirations
Harry
could answer nothing He was suffocated by his Grief But putting his speechless Lips to the fading Lips of his
Maria
he drew her latest Breath into his own affectionate Bosom and Angels instantly caught her Spirit into the Regions of Purity of Love and of Faith unfailing
Harry
then plucking up Strength from Oppression and Courage from Despair pressed his Lips to the pale and unfeeling Lips of his true Lover and cried Yes my
Maria
our Dust shall be joined and I feel that our Spirits too shall shortly be wedded Then raising her in his Arms and pressing her to his Bosom he bore her to the Town while he poured upon her all the Way the two Fountains of his Affection
When he got to the Inn and came to is Uncle Here Sir said he I present you with a very precious little Burden a Burden that lies much heavier on my Heart than
did in my Arms He then related to Mr
Clinton
the Whole of what had passed then heavily sighing and shedding a Tear Mr
Clinton
cried Ah my
Harry
I would to Heaven that your
Maria
had lived She exceeds your
Aggy Jessamin
all to nothing
Harry
ordered a Carriage on Purpose for himself and his Beloved She was deposited in a Coffin hurried up for the Occasion and notwithstanding all the Remonstrances and Entreaties of his Parent
Harry
proved a Rebel for the first Time and would not be divided from his
Maria
till they reached
London
There our Hero ordered a Coffin of unallayed and beaten Silver to be prepared for her Reception And though near five Days had passed since the Departure of her Spirit her chaste Flesh remained as pure and untainted as that of a Lamb newly slain
While they were putting her into her solemn Repository Ah Sir said
Harry
I pretend not to compare with you your Losses I own have been greater than mine You are a Man like your divine Master wholly made up of Sorrows and acquainted with killing Griefs But still you must allow that for my little Time I have had a competent Share It matter not I am reconciled to them I begin to be pleased with them And indeed Joy is become my utter Aversion while I think on this loved Creature who willingly bled and died for my Sake
As
Harry
thought it his Duty so he thought it would be his Delight to weep and lament his
Maria
for ever But Passions seldom are permanent and Time though it may not wholly efface daily wears away an insensible Portion of the deepest Impressions
Harry
caused the Coffin of his Deliverer to be exalted on a Cabinet in his Bedchamber that it might be always in his Sight But the Familiarity of affecting Objects daily lessens their Force and
Harry
Week after Week began to contemplate the Repository of the loved Remains of his
Maria
with abating Affliction
In the mean Time Mr
Clinton
received a Letter by the
French
Mail in answer to One which he had left for his Brotherinlaw at
Paris
And this Letter informed him under the Marquiss Hand that he had returned from his Embassy to the Court of
Morocco
and that he and his Lady would be shortly in
England
And at the Bottom he found written in a different Character
Will it be any Satisfaction to see them accompanied by your once loved
FANNY GOODALL
We have found them my
Harry
he cried we have found them our long and far sought Friends the two Treasures which our God had graciously laid in Store for the Comfort of us poor People who lost All beside But dont let us do them the Disgrace my Son of meeting and receiving them with Tears and Dirges Let me then prevail upon you to permit your faithful
Perrè
to be conducted by some of our People with an honourable Train of Undertakers to
Enfield
and there to be treasured up in your Family Vault where I shall speedily join her and whereto even my
Harry
must finally adjourn
Harry
wiped his Eye and said be it as you please my Father
Within the following Fortnight as our Hero stood with a single Attendant in
Cheapside
overagainst the
Devil Tavern
where the Club called
Legion Club
was kept he was accosted by a glittering Appearance who took him by the Hand and said How are you Master
Fenton
Well Sir I thank you Lord
Bottom
I presume The same Sir And pray how are the worthy Lord and Lady
Mansfield
as also your lovely Sister the Lady
Louisa
Passable Sir but what makes you in black I hope Mr
Fenton
is still in the Land of the Living He is my Lord But Black is a cheap Kind of Wear it is a Matter of Frugality to kill a Cousin once in a Twelvemonth Well be that as it may I insist on your stepping over the Way to take one Glass with me Your Lordship must excuse me I am going to the Wharf to enquire concerning some Friends whom I expect from
France
O I protest Master
Fenton
you shall not disappoint me I insist on renewing our old Acquaintance
Harry
could hardly have found it in his Heart to refuse the Request of an avowed Enemy much less could he think of rejecting an Invitation that was made under a warm Appearance of Friendship
When Lord
Bottom
had seated his old Enemy as he still supposed him to be in the Midst of fourteen or fifteen Bloods and Bucks
Harry
would gladly have retreated but rejected the Thought lest they should think that he was intimidated
Gentlemen cried Lord
Bottom
give me Leave to introduce a Phenomenon to you my Friend yonder is a CHRISTIAN A Christian cried One a Christian cried Another Ay said Lord
Bottom
a Christian of the right Cast he literally conforms to the Example of his Master If you smite him on the one Cheek he will turn the Other to you and you cannot delight him more than by Kickings Spittings and Spurnings
Pray Sir said One of the Company are you actually a Christian I hope so Sir said
Harry
And may I spit in your Face Sir said Another without Fear of Chastisement You may Sir said
Harry
I told ye so Gentlemen I told ye so exclaimed Lord
Bottom
I have myself put the Christianity of my Friend there to the Proof I have made him the But and the Jest of all Companies I have dubbed him with the Title of FOOL I have pasted it on his Back in Capitals in the Midst of the Levee and in the Presence of his Majesty And yet he never shewed the least Instance of his being offended For Example now and so saying he spit directly in
Harry
s Face
Another then and then Another and so on in a numerous Succession spit full at our Hero While he without the smallest apparent Emotion barely took out his Handkerchief and wiped the Moisture from his Face
At rength a lustylooking young Man arore Damn the Rascal said he I will not demean myself by spitting at him I will piss upon the Rascal which he accordingly prepared to do But
Harry
perceiving his Approach turned mildly and said I do not recollect Sir that this was any of the Indignities to which my Lord and Master submitted Then without rising from his Seat he gave him a Knuckle in the Temple which laid him asleep on the Floor
Sbl d cried One of the Company I fear
Jemmy Bottom
you have brought us into the wrong Box You have certainly mistaken your Man
He has indeed said
Harry
calmly He calls me
Fenton
but my Name is not
Fenton
my Name is
Henry
Earl of
Moreland
and you shall every Man lie these twelve Months in
Newgate
for this Days Breach of Privilege against a Peer of the Realm Here is my Star Gentlemen I can put my Riband on at Pleasure
The whole
Legion
were instantly struck with mute Terror and Astonishment They lifted up their Hands or sunk to their Knees in petitioning Postures But
Harry
said with a firm and alarming Accent I desire your Reformation Gentlemen and I will endeavour to compleat it I have hitherto only shewn you the first Part of Christianity in the Example of meek and lowly Sufferance The second Part remains It is to teach You abject Wretches to suffer in your Turn However I am not of a very vindictive Nature and if All of you will be upon Honour to give me your Hands I will pardon what is past and dismiss you in Succession
Lord
Bottom
and his Friend
Rakely
were the first who advanced lowly bowing to claim the proposed Terms of Peace when
Harry
seizing
Bottom
s Hand with a strong and agile Gripe crushed the Bones and the Grisles as it were into one Mass and
Bottom
giving a huge Scream dropt roaring on the Floor
Rakely
then would have recoiled but
Harry
catching at him sent him to join his Brother in Iniquity and Affliction on the Boards
Well Gentlemen said
Harry
what keeps you in your Seats Why do ye not come and give me the Honour of your Hands as was agreed If you do not do it directly I will take Each of you very quietly by the Nose and kick you through the Crowd of Attendants down Stairs
My Lord cried One of the Company I will not give you my Hand neither shall any Man living take me by the Nose So saying he sprung up and catching at his Sword which lay with Others on a Table he hastily drew it and stood on his Defence
O fye Sir said
Harry
without moving from his Seat you dont put yourself in a Posture Any Man who was not a very good natured Man might take you at an Advantage and run you under the Open that you give to your right Flank But Sir said
Harry
rising I will only caution you by a little Puncture in the Sword Arm I dont mean you much Hurt And so saying he passed his Sword through the Flesh of his Adversarys right Arm and taking him to the Door he wished him a good Evening and turned him down Stairs to seek for a Surgeon
He then returned to the Company and taking Each of the intimidated Wretches in Succession by the Nose he led them out and footed them down Stairs through the Midst of their own Servants the Waiters
c
crying a Kicking to all the infamous and scoundrel Sons of
Belial
who dare to spit at Christianity
Then calling two of the Drawers Here is something for yourselves my Lads says he and here I leave you yonder Swords and these two very fine Gentlemen in pawn for your Reckoning So saying he walked quite composedly away through the Midst of two long Ranges of bowing Admirers who lined the Stairs and the Entry and thus
Harry
dissolved the
Legion Club
The next Morning early before Mr
Clinton
was up while
Harry
sat sipping a Dish of Tea dressed in a dark grey Frock his Hair slightly bound up after the Footman Fashion and his long Staff of quarter cleft Oak without Knot or Flaw standing polished beside him Mr
Frank
introduced a young Man whom he recommended to his Lordships Service
Harry
measured him with a Glance from Top to Toe and was instantly struck by the visible Action Power and Energy of his Proportions
Sit down
Frank
says
Harry
while your Friend and I treat What is your Name my Lad
John Sutton
so please you And what Wages do you desire From one Pound to one hundred yearly A great Difference indeed
John
Why please your Honour if I maynt happen to like you I shall march without asking a single Penny But if I should have the Misfortune to love you as your Countenance threatens I shall certainly deserve the whole of my Demand by All that I shall do and dare to do in your Service
Can you wrestle
Jack
Whenever your Honour shall get a Man through the Shires of
England
who is able to fling me I will serve you the Remainder of my Life for nothing Can you cudgel
Jack
I was born a Fencer so please your Lordship my Father was a famous Prizefighter and my Mother could beat my Father himself at the Quarter Staff Did you ever read the History of
Robin Hood Jack
I did Sir Then you may remember that honest
Robin
never took an Abettor into Pay save such a One as was able to cope with himself
Frank
here shall sit and see fair Play
Harry
then rose and taking two Sticks gave one of them to his Opponent then putting a Brass Helmet upon
Jack
s Head there is something said he to save you from Hurt and now come at the Thickness of my Skull as fast as you can
To it they strait fell with equal Confidence of Ability But
Harry
perceiving that
Jack
intended to spare him cried Come
Jack
the best the very best that you can do or not a Penny a single Penny of Wages I assure you
Jack
then exerted his utmost and put nearly the fullest Powers of our Hero to Proof till
Harry
dazzling his Eyes by a sudden Flourish gave him a smart Stroke on his brazen Headpiece and drove him stunned and staggering several Paces backward till he rested against the Wall that stood behind him
Ha said
Jack
recovering and casting his Cap aside that indeed was a Blow which neither my Father nor Mother ever taught me to fence
Well my Friend said our Hero as soon as you are rested we must have a little Turn or so at Wrestling No no cried
Jack
I would not advise your Lordship to that there lies all my Excellence the very best of my Manhood Well
Jack
said
Harry
a Fling on this Floor cant hurt us a Whit more than a Fall on the Downs
They closed they grappled they griped under and over at Hip and at Shoulder alternately lifting and lifted till they were nearly overbreathed Then parting for a Moment they rushed forward and seized each other by the Breast when
Harry
giving his Adversary a sudden Twist on one Side and then an agile Jerk and Foot on the other cast him sidelong on the Carpet
Poor
Jack
rose astonished and in utter Abasement ashamed even to lift his Eyes toward the Eyes of his Friend
Frank
when
Harry
took him by the Hand and forceably seated him at the Teatable Come
Jack
says he dont be discouraged You have put me harder to it than did the great
Roger
of
Rosstown
though I think I am much abler than I was at that Day Here
Frank
order us something more substantial for Breakfast while your Friend and I endeavour to accommodate our Differences
When Breakfast was over
Harry
looked fixedly at his late Opponent and said I will give you
Jack
a little Matter above the Extent of your Demand I will give you one Hundred a Year for your Cudgelling another Hundred for your Wrestling and as you say you can love I will lay another Hundred in store for you till that Promise is put to Proof and here is twenty Guineas as Earnest of our Agreement
Jack
then threw himself prostrate before the Feet of his new Master Keep your Bounties keep your Bounties for my Executors he cried for I feel that when your Service demands my Life I shall not survive another Minute
Harry
then rose and putting another Quarterstaff into the Hand of his new Servant here is a Horse for you
Jack
says he in case you should tire for we have a long Walk from PalMall here to the Customhouse Wharf and back again
As they drew near the Quay
Harry
observed a great Crowd all in Motion and shouting as in the Midst of an Affray Immediately he hastened up and making way through the Mob perceived that they were kicking and wounding and dragging above twenty unhappy Foreigners along the Pavement While a Lady who stood with her Women on the Stairs cried aloud five hundred a thousand five thousand Pounds to Any who will save my poor People
Come
Jack
says our Hero let us try to deliver these abused Strangers from the Cruelty of our savage Countrymen
On the Word
Harry
found himself well seconded by
Jack
and in less than a Minute above thirty of the Assailants lay sprawling on the Area while the wounded and bruised Foreigners arose as well as they could or crawled and got in a Group to the Feet of their Mistress
The Mob thereupon rallied and gathering to the Number of some Hundreds advanced in a formidable Body against our two Champions But they had better have kept aloof For
Harry
running upon them overturned the First he met with one End of his Staff and laid a Second at his Feet with the Revolution of the other End insomuch that at every Motion as it were he dispatched two Men
Neither was
Jack
unactive The Crowd began to recoil when rushing into the Midst they overthrew such as opposed them and whirling their Staffs about their Heads they quickly opened and cleared large Room for themselves No One dared to abide within the Wind of their Weapons and the Mob flying several Ways left our Hero quiet Master of the Field of Battle
Mean time the Lady stood fixed in utter Astonishment at the Feats which she had seen when
Harry
gracefully approaching I think myself happy Madam says he in having done some small Service to a Lady of your fair and noble Appearance of what Country may I presume Of
England
Sir says she and I am ready to discharge my Promise of five thousand Pounds for the gallant Rescue which you brought to me and my People
No Madam said our Hero I will not debase the little Merit of my Humanity by the Acceptance of a Bribe But I shall not be easy till I see You and your Attendants out of the Reach of these
London
Barbarians They may return with different Weapons and a larger Reinforcement He then called to some Porters and throwing them a Parcel of Silver ordered them to bring all the Coaches they could muster And go You
Jack
says he to the Shipping enquire after the Friends that I told you of and then follow me to the White Cross Tavern in
Cheapside
The Coaches came and
Harry
assisted his Porters in carrying helping and gently stowing the Maimed and the Wounded into half a Dozen of them He then handed in the Lady and next coming to a Blackamoor Boy who had a Coronet of Diamonds inserted in his Cap he offered to lift him in But the Youth bending one Knee to the Dust and seizing on
Harry
s Hand eagerly and repeatedly kissed it crying out in
French
heavenly heavenly Creature and then breaking into Tears sprung into the Coach and sat down by the Lady
Our Hero then bestowed the four female Attendants with such Luggage as was brought on Shore into the four remaining Coaches Then grasping his Quarterstaff and ordering the Porters to attend he guarded and escorted All safe to the White Cross
The first Thing he then did was to order private Apartments for the Lady and her Attendants He next dispatched the Waiters for all the Surgeons in the Neighbourhood He then locked the Room where he saw the Luggage safe lodged ordered a sumptuous Dinner to be prepared as soon as possible and lastly discharged the Coaches and Porters who poured their parting Blessings upon his Head and all this he did with wonderful Dispatch for
Harry
was now in the wide Element of his Beneficence as a Whale in the Ocean
Four Surgeons then came and our Hero putting five Guineas apiece into their Hands desired them to examine and dress their Patients and staid till he heard the delighting Tidings that None of them were incurable He then sent up to the Lady to desire Permission to attend her She rose and met him as he entered Child of Heaven said she from which of the Orders of Angels have you descended I have heard as well as seen what you have wonderfully done for us Madam said
Harry
endeavouring to turn the Discourse I would not advise you to remove your People for some Time I have ordered Beds and Apartments for them in this House where those who are tolerably well may assist the Doctors to attend their sick Fellows till All shall be restored In the mean time I have sent to my Fathers for his Coach and Chariot to convey You and this young Gentleman and your Women to our House where you can want for no Servants since my Father and I and All will be truely and tenderly your Servants We are your Property Sir said the Lady dispose of us as you please
But pray Madam said our Hero what could provoke the Rabble to insult You and Yours in the Manner that they did this Day I protest Sir said she I cannot conceive except it be that as some One says in LEAR
our Countenances liked them not
In a little Time after Dinner was served up and
Harry
happening to turn his Head perceived the black Youth by stealth kissing the Hat and pressing the Gloves to his Bosom that he had laid on a Table
Whatever the Darkness or Deformity of any Aspect or Person may happen to be if the sentimental Beauty of Soul shall burst through the Cloud upon us the Dark becomes Light the Deformed quite comely and we begin to affect what was lately our Aversion Thus it was that
Harry
found himself suddenly and inevitably attached by the two recent Proofs that this outlandish Youth had given of his Affection
Being all seated
Harry
looked earnestly at the young Moor and turning to the Lady said I now perceive Madam how ridiculous all Sorts of Prejudices are and find that Time and Observation may change our Opinions to the Reverse of what they were I once had an Aversion to all Sorts of Blacks but I avow that there is something so amiable in the Face of this Youth and his Eyes cast such a Lustre over the Darkness of his Countenance as is enough as
Shakespear
has it to make us in love with Night and pay no more Worship to the gaudy Sun
The Moor hereat smiled celestial Sweetness and Joy beamed from his Eyes and throughout his dimpling Aspect
But who can you be my sweet Fellow said the Lady who are the Picture the Image almost the Thing itself that I was so sadly in love with five and thirty Years ago Why Madam said our Hero you could not have been born at that early Day Ah you Flatterer says she I am turned of Forty But pray Madam who was he that was so happy as to attract your infant Affections His Name was
Harry Clinton
Why Madam
Harry Clinton
is my Name
Harry Clinton Harry Clinton
screamed out the Lady and started up from her Chair Yes Madam I am Son to the Earl of
Moreland
and I almost dare to hope that you were once the enchanting
Fanny Goodall
Yes my lovely Kinsman I am indeed your
Fanny Goodall
Harry
then sprung forward and seizing her Hand kept it dwelling on his Lips But disengaging it she opened her Arms and clasped him to her Bosom and wept over him as a Mother would over a longlost Son While the young
Moor
ran and danced about the Room like a mad Thing clapping Hands and springing like an
Antelope
almost to the Cieling
When they were something composed the
Moor
caught the Lady about the Neck and kissing her cried Joy Joy my dearest Madam the greatest of all Joys Then turning to our Hero he took each of his Hands in Turns and pressed them to his Lips while
Harry
kissing his Forehead cried my Brother my Brother
When they were again set to Dinner
Jack
entered My Lord says he I have been all along the Quays and the Shipping but can learn no Tidings of the Marquis
DAubigny
nor of any
French
Family save that of the Dutchess
Bouillon
who this Morning came up the River with a numerous Train
Well says
Harry
our Happiness has been already quite sufficient to the Day To morrow may crown our Wishes with full Success
No my Love said the Lady you cannot see the Marquis for some Time The Truth is that you find in me your
Fanny Goodall
the Marchioness
DAubigny
and the Duchess
de Bouillon
But these Matters shall be explaimed more clearly when I am blessed with the Sight of your precious Uncle
News was now brought that the Carriages were at the Door when taking a hasty Bit or two they visited and left Orders for the Care of the Sick and Wounded and then set out in a Hurry for
Pal Mall
When they arrived the Dutchess hastened in enquiring for Mr
Clinton
and when she came where he was she cried out as she advanced and as he rose to receive her your
Fanny
your
Fanny Goodall
my Cousin and throwing herself into his Arms dwelt there for a Minute Then recoiling awhile she looked fondly at him and cried your Sister also my Brother your Sister
DAubigny
the Wife of the Brother of your heavenly
Louisa
then clasping him to her Arms she broke into Tears and again quitting him sat down to quiet her Emotions
Mr
Clinton
having seated himself affectionately beside her said These are wondrous Things that you tell me my precious Sister by what Miracle have these Blessings been brought about
I am too much agitated at present says she let me have a little Coffee and the Matter shall be unravelled
As they were settling to the Teatable give me Leave Sir said the Duchess to introduce my little black Companion to your Notice He is a sweet Fellow I assure you notwithstanding his Complexion He is Child to our royal Friend the Emperor of
Morocco
who has entrusted him to our Guardianship for his Travel and Education However he might have come by his sable Outside his Father the great
Abenamin
is the least of the tawny of any Man I saw in
Africa
and his Mother is one of the fairest and finest Women that ever opened a Pair of living Diamonds to the Light but she took Fright while she was pregnant at the sudden Sight of a
Blackamoor
But my Brother I shall more particularly recommend him to your Regard by telling you that he is an exceedingly pious Christian though as playful as Lambs and as chuckling as Infancy
She then turned and taking the little
Abenamin
by the Hand led him up and placed him before her Brother When the Youth suddenly dropping on his Knees looked up to Mr
Clinton
with Eyes that spoke Love and reverential Awe and besought his Blessing
The old Gentleman found himself surprizingly affected and lifting up his Hands cried God be gracious to you my Child and make your Soul as bright as your Countenance is sable and may the Sun of Righteousness shine with Power upon you and soon disperse or illumine every Shade that is about You The Prince embraced his Legs kissed his Knees and arose
Soon as the Coffee was removed You may remember my dearest Cousin said the Duchess in what a Hurry I last parted from you Mr
Fairface
with whom the Bulk of my Fortune was deposited went off with above a hundred thousand Pounds of my Substance beside four times that Value entrusted to him by Others
I traced him to
Paris
and there he had the Impudence to give me an Interview but at the same Time had the Impudence to bid me Defiance
Immediately I commenced Suit and sent dispatch to
London
for my Papers and Witnesses
On the Opening of my Cause in Court I was summoned by the Title of Countess of
Maitland
otherwise
Frances Goodall
On hearing the Name a Gentleman who was near me started and turning and coming up Pray Madam says he are you any way related to the honourable
Harry Clinton
who once went by that Name in this City I am Sir said I almost the nearest Relation that he has upon Earth He is Madam my dearest Friend and Brother Pray speak to your Advocates to postpone your Suit for a few Days till I am informed of the Nature and Merits of your Cause
This was accordingly done He desired to know where I lodged and in less than an Hour his Chariot was at my Door
Except yourself my Cousin the Marquis had the most lovely and winning Aspect and Person that ever I beheld I soon convinced him of the Equity of my Demand and of the Villainy of my Trustee and made him perfect Master of the whole Affair But he still continued to visit and to stay with me a considerable Part of every Day under Colour of being better informed touching this and the other Particular the remaining Time was spent in soliciting for me
At length a Hearing came on and after a short Trial honest
Fairface
was cast in Principal and double Costs He was instantly taken into Custody and put under Confinement till he discharged the whole Amount of the Judgment in my Favour
No sooner was one Suit over wherein I was Plaintiff but Another was commenced wherein I happened to prove but a very weak Defendant The Marquis now became Solicitor for himself but with such a sweet Timidity as seemed to doubt and greatly dread the Success of his Cause
I could not refuse my Time to him who had devoted the Whole of his Time and Assiduity to me We spent whole Days together But O what Floods of Tears did that Time at Times cost both him and me while he pathetically and feelingly related your History from the Place where you broke off to the Death of your
Louisa
and your precious Infants
I believe my Cousin that as Grief is a greater Softener so it is a greater Cementer of Hearts than any other Passion I gave the Marquis in my Turn my little Story and dwelt on every tender Minuteness of my infant Passion for you Ah said he what a pity that a Heart so susceptible of all divine and humane Feelings should sit as a lonely Turtle upon the Housetop without a suitable Mate
I took him for that Mate my Cousin and in a Husband I found the truest and tenderest of Lovers I became pregnant for the first Time of my Life and was delivered of a sweet and promising little Fellow whom we left at Nurse in our Country Seat while I attended my Lord on his Embassy to
Morocco
But here I must stop my Brother I am under the positive Interdiction of an imperial Thing called a Husband not to divulge a Word further till he sees you Face to Face But I trust that he has blessed Tidings for you my Brother he says that he otherwise would not have dared to present himself before you after his Loss of your
Eloisa
Mr
Clinton
smiled careless as at the Impossibility of any consoling Event upon Earth Again smiling archly I protest my Sister said he you appear to me to grow younger for your Years I see no Manner of Alteration save that you are something plumper and not quite so slender as when we parted O says she laughing there may be a Reason in Nature for that
I rejoice at Heart to hear it said Mr
Clinton
but pray when may we expect my Brother In about two Months at present he is engaged with the King who is extremely fond of him and lately created him a Duke on account of the Services which he rendered the State in
Africa
We received your dear Letter my dearest Brother at
Paris
but wondered who the sweet Fellow could be who was said to accompany you
In the mean Time our Hero and the young Prince were in close Combination
Abenamin
stepped about and about
Harry
and toyed with him and twisted the Curls of his careless Locks around his Fingers Then turning and looking fondly up in his Face Ah how fair says he does this black Visage of mine shew in those fine Eyes of yours It is in Truth said
Harry
so fair in my Eyes that I would not exchange it for fifteen of the fairest female Faces in
Britain
The Prince then caught his Hand and pressed it to his Bosom But what shall I call you says he you are a great Lord in this Country and in my own Country I am greater than a Lord But I hate the Formality of Titles between Friends and I will call you my
Harry
provided you promise to call me your
Abenamin
A Bargain says
Harry
let us seal it with a Kiss No no says the Prince we never kiss Lips in
Africa
but I will kiss your Head and your Hands and your Feet too with Pleasure But tell me
Harry
what makes you so mighty clever a Fellow will you teach me to be a clever Fellow also Ay that I will says
Harry
and to beat myself too provided you promise not to hit me over hard
Abenamin
fell a laughing and aimed a little Fist as though he meant to overturn him
As soon as
Harry
s Grief for his late
Maria
would allow him to associate he had been to seek his old Friend and Tutor Mr
Clement
but he found only a single Domestic at home who told him that the old Gentleman had been some Time dead and that the Family were lately gone to take Possession of a new Seat that they had purchased in the Country
However as
Harry
found himself quite happy in the present Society he sought no further Acquaintance or Amusement in
London
In less than three Weeks the Retinue of the Prince and the Dutchess were well restored and they All set out for
Enfield
there to await the wished Arrival of the Duke
They slept the first Night at
Oxford
and toward the Noon of the third Day they set up at the Angel Inn in
Coventry
It happened to be a Season of Festivity in the Town Over against the front Windows a Stage had been erected for a Mountebank and his Merry Andrew and as soon as they had dismounted it became a Stage for Combatants Two Quarterstaffs and a Pair of Baskethilted Cudgels lay thereon while an adjoining Pole was hung with a Variety of Prizes destined to the Conquerors
Immediatley two Champions mounted with two Seconds appointed to see fair Play But One of the Combatants was quickly dismissed with a broken Head Another then succeeded and then Another to the Amount of half a Score but the first Hero still kept the Field of Battle While
Harry
sat with his Company looking out of the DiningRoom Windows at the Diversion
At length
Jack
came behind his Lord and giving him a Touch on the Shoulder whisperingly begged his Permission to claim the Stage
Harry
assented
Jack
was up in a Twinkling and quickly dispatched the Victor as he had served his Predecessors A Number of Candidates then succeeded but with no better Fortune and the Prize was taking down to be delivered to our Friend
Jack
when an elderly looking Man desired to be lifted on the Stage
Come says he to
Jack
you seem to be a clever Fellow let us quit this Boys Play and take up the Quarterstaff when
Jack
remembering a Piece of an old Ballad repeated
accurssed be he Earl
Piercy
said by whom it is denied
They grasped their formidable Weapons and Each threw himself into an expert Posture of Defence Then began the Work to grow warm and these Champions had twice traversed the whole Round of the Stage before a Wound or Bruise was received on either Part
At the third Bout the old Stager made a Feint at his Adversarys left Leg and in attempting to defend it the Sconce of our Friend
Jack
was covered with Blood and he sprung off the Stage and instantly vanished
Harry
then stepped backward and ordered his Servant to be called and laughing cried Ah my poor
Jack
I knew what would be your Fate the Moment I saw the Face of your Opponent You unfortunatley met with the famous
Oakum
the old Prizer of
Islington
many and many a Lesson have I got from him But you may happen to get some Satisfaction ere long Run and give yonder Fool a Crown for the Loan of his patched Coat for a few Minutes
Jack
flew on his Embassy while
Harry
burned a Stick at a back Room Fire with which he made to himself very formidable Eyebrows and Whiskers Then hurrying on the Fools Coat he stepped forth and desired to be lifted on the Stage
Oakum
little expected a second Adversary but when he saw the MerryAndrew as he supposed he had like to be suffocated by a sudden Fit of Laughter while the Crowd tore the Elements to Fritters with their Clamour
Harry
then put himself in an aukward and peasantlike Posture while
Oakum
advancing carelessly made a slight but as he thought demolishing Stroke at him But
Harry
setting it aside with the one End of his Staff gave
Oakum
with the other End as it were a chance Chuck under the Chin and tossed him on the broad of his Back along the Stage
The Shouts of the Populace were then redoubled At length
Oakum
arising fixed his Eyes upon
Harry
with an inquisitive Astonishment as desirous of knowing how this Business came about While
Harry
with a Grin of stupid Amazement seemed equally to wonder at what he had done
Again they set themselves in hostile Opposition
Oakum
then aimed a disabling Stroke at
Harrys
right Shin but
Harry
quick as Thought slipping his Leg backward gave the Weapon Room to pass and at the same Time bestowing a sudden Tip on the Crown of his old Master he cut him along the Skull and gave him once more to measure his Length upon the Boards
The Crowd stood awhile silent as scarce crediting what had passed before their Eyes till
Oakum
rising and staggering and again fastening his Sight upon our Hero cried aloud either You must be the DEVIL or young HARRY FENTON
Harry
then stepped up and put his Mouth to the Ear of his Adversary
Oakum
says he here are five Guineas to help toward the Cure of your broken Head But remember that it is not honourable for the Masters of our Science to set themselves in Competition against the Ignorant
Oakum
bowed and withdrew crying Heaven be praised that it is no Other than my own Scholar who foils me
The Clamours of the Populace now became outrageous The Prize of a silvered Coronet interwoven with Laurel was plucked down in a hurry and placed on the Head of our Hero All the Townspeople then put their Hands in their Pockets and mustering their Shillings and Sixpences threw them in Showers on the Stage while the Dutchess Mr
Clinton
and the generous
Abenamin
also emptied their Pockets to reward the Prowess of the Man who had vindicated the Quarrel of their favourite
Jack
All this Profusion of Money was faithfully gathered up by the two Seconds and delivered in a Hat full of Silver to
Harry
who bestowing a Handful on Each delivered the Remainder to his Man
Jack
who stood by the Stage
The Crowd then ascended and laying violent Hands on our Hero bore him triumphantly away They then placed him in an ArmChair erected on long Poles and hoising his Carriage on their Shoulders they carried him in the Midst of Peals of Shouts up the Street while an appointed Herald went before them and cried O the FOOL the FOOL the brave the noble FOOL who beats the Skill of the Wise and the Acts of the Mighty to Pieces At length
Harry
growing tired of this Parade put his Hand on the Head of one of his Carriers vaulted lightly over instantly vanished from their Sight and flew up Stairs to his Company
His Friends now began to recognize their
Harry
in the Coat of the Fool and broke into repeated Fits of Laughter
Abenamin
then turned to his beloved Friend and cried whats become of my handsome
Harry
why he is turned to almost as ugly a Fellow as myself Then kissing his Forehead and stroaking his Cheeks he said O It was the cleverest and darlingest FOOL that ever I knew in the livelong Days that I have passed upon Earth
When the Populace perceived their favourite Fool seated in the Midst of Quality they All gathered to the Inn and commenced their Shouts anew But
Harry
calling for his Hat of Silver as also for all the Change that could be mustered in the House amounting to the Value of about thirty Guineas he threw his Cash in Handfulls on every Side till he was nearly exhausted and that the Crowd cried out Enough enough your Honour too much too much indeed⪠O that All would equally learn to set Bounds to their Avarice
When Dinner was over and that
Harry
was restored to his former Self our Company again set out on their Journey amidst the Blessings and Acclamations of the whole City who had ranged themselves on each Side to behold and pay them Obeisance as they passed
The next Day as they stopped at a Village to repair the fractured Harness of an over mettled Horse
Harry
mean while took a walk with his
Abenamin
along the Road In their Way they came to a long and waste Cottage where they heard the confused clattering of junior Voices
Harry
stepped to the Door and looking in perceived about forty or fifty Boys ranged on Benches of Turf while a Man of a pale Aspect sat on a decayed Chair instructing them in their Lessons
Your Servant Sir says
Harry
pray what Language do you teach I can teach
Latin
and
Greek
too so please your Honour but the People of this Country choose to confine themselves to the Language of old
England
If I am not too free Sir pray what is your Name
Longfield
so please your Honour
Longfield Longfield
I have surely heard that Name before Pray were you ever acquainted with a Man called
Hammel Clement Hammel Clement
Sir he was my dearest Friend the Friend whom I injured the Friend of my Heart Then cries
Harry
you are the Friend of my Heart too my
Longfield
and so saying he embraced and pressed him to his Bosom
The poor Man shrunk back in half Wonder and half Terror at what this might mean but the benevolent
Harry
soon quieted his Apprehensions Your Friend
Clement
sayshe is come to great Fortune and I dare answer for him would be nearly distracted with Joy at your Sight and would gladly divide his Substance with you but if you please you shall be no Encumbrance upon his growing Family You shall instantly come with me and as
Pharaoh
said to
Jacob
regard not your Stuff for the Good of all my Lands lies before You my
Longfield
And I rejoice more in acquiring such a Heart as Yours than if I had acquired the Possession of a Province
Harry
then called a few of the Neighbours in and giving them some Guineas to be changed and divided among the Children in order to enable them to see a new Master He and
Abenamin
took the threadbare
Longfield
on each Side under the Arm and carried him away
When they came to the Turn that led to the Mansion House
Harry
perceived with much Pleasure that the two SchoolHouses which he had put in Hand before the Death of his Father were now completed They stood opposite to each other with the Road between them Their Fronts were of hewn Stone and a small Cupola rose over Each with Bells to summon the Children to Meals and to Lesson
Here
Longfield
says our Hero is to be your Province You are to superintend these Schools at a Salary of three hundred a Year And I will soon send you with proper Means throughout the Country to muster me a Hundred chosen Children of each Sex for I yearn to be a Father
Longfield
and to gather my Family of Little Ones under my Eye and my Wing
As soon as they alighted Mr
Clinton
and his
Harry
once more welcomed the Dutchess and her
Abenamin
to their Home and their Hearts and the late House of Mourning became a House of Joy
Above All
Abenamin
inspired Mirth and Good humour throughout the Family and Melancholy fled before him wherever he turned He was daily inventive of new Matters of Entertainment He danced
African
Dances for them with wonderful Action and Grace and he sung
African
Songs that imitated and exceeded the wild and inarticulate Warblings of the Nightingale So that he became the Darling and little Idol of the whole Household
Harry
had sent for the Town Taylor and got
Longfield
fitted with three or four Suits from his Fathers Wardrobe He then sent him on his Commission in Company with Mr
Trustly
the Agent whom he ordered to shew him the Country to introduce him to the several Families of the Peasantry and to furnish him with whatever Sums he should call for
In the mean Time our Hero and
Abenamin
became inseparable He made the Prince a Present of his little dressed Jennet and at Times rode out with him and taught him the Manage At other Times they would run and wrestle and play a hundred Gambols through the Walks and the Gardens
Did you ever see the Chase of the Antelope
Harry
Not I truely You shant be long so says the Prince Go gather me all the House Man Woman and Child before the Door here You shall be the Huntsman and I will be the Antelope and if any of your People can catch me in a Miles Running they shall have my Cap for a Kerchief
Immediately the whole Posse was summoned to the amount of about sixty Persons Male and Female and Mr
Clinton
and the Dutchess hearing what they were about came laughing to the Door to see the Diversion
Harry
then gave his royal Antelope about fifty Yards Law then cried away and instantly all Heels and all Voices were loosed after him
The Prince then turned and bounded over an Aha that was sunk on the right Side of the Avenue then clearing several other Obstacles whereby he threw out the greatest Number of his Pursuers he at length reached the Fields and shot away like an Arrow
Our Friend
Jack
headed about nine foreign and domestic Footmen who still held the Chase though at a Distance while
Abenamin
led them a Round of above a Mile Then turning short homeward he came flying up the Avenue with only
Jack
and two Followers puffing far behind At length reaching near the Door the Prince threw himself precipitately into the Arms of his Friend as it were for Protection crying Save me my
Harry
save save your little Antelope
Mr
Clinton
and the Dutchess then successively embraced the Victor and wished him Joy I protest
Harry
cried Mr
Clinton
I will bet a thousand Pieces with you on the Head of my
Abenamin
against your famous
Polly Truck
That Night as our Hero sat with the Prince in his Apartment Have You ever been in Love my
Harry
says he I confess said
Harry
that I have had my Twitches and Tendencies that Way
He then gave him a Narrative of the Struggles of his Heart respecting the fair
Aggy Jessamin
And again he related to him the Tragedy of his faithful
Maria
which cost the Prince the drenching of a Handkerchief in Tears
Ah exclaimed the Prince never never will I forgive your
Maria
her Death Why was it not my Lot by some severer Doom to prove to you the Superiority of my Friendship and Affection What cried
Harry
would you not leave me a single Companion upon Earth when my
Abenamin
quits the World I shall also bid it adieu
When Tears were wiped away the Prince took his Friend by the Hand and said I have a Sister my Brother a Sister twinned with me in the Womb and as fair as I am black All
Africa
is pleased to hail her as the Beauty of the Universe but the Truth is that I think but poorly of her The Duke brought her with him to
France
and should he bring her to
England
beware of your Heart my
Harry
for though I am prejudiced against her she is the Idol of all Others who bow down to her as before a little Divinity This has made her so excessively vain that she holds herself of a different Species from the rest of Mankind and thinks the Homage of the World nothing less than her Right And now my
Harry
though I earnestly wish to be allied to you by a Tie nearer if possible than that of Friendship yet I would not wish my own Happiness at the Expense of your Peace and so I give you timely Warning against this dangerous and haughty Girl
Our Company had now been upward of six Weeks at the Mansion House
Harry
hitherto had never seen any Part of the Country or any Part of his own Estate above a Mile from the House Wherefore leaving his Friend
Abenamin
in Bed in the Presumption of his being tired with his last Days Fatigue He issued early forth accompanied only by
Jack
and his Agents Runner who knew and was known every where
With their Staffs in their Hands they crossed and quartered the Country at Pleasure without Let or Obstacle
At length they came within Prospect of a House sumptuously fronted and of a happy Situation
Harry
stopped here with Pleasure comparing as he approached the Acquirements of Art with the Advantages of Nature; when a Servant issued forth and humbly besought him to walk in
Harry
heard the Voice of Music What is your Masters Name says he
Fielding
so please your Honour and we are this Day celebrating the Nuptials of his Son the young Squire
The Master of the Family met our Hero at the outward Door
Harry
recoiled at recognizing the Face of the Mr
Fielding
whom he had seen at
Hamstead
but taking no Notice walked with him into the House
Breakfast soon after was ushered in and Mrs
Fielding
and Mr and Mrs
Catharines
and
Ned
came with his blooming and blushing Bride to the Table
Harry
chuckled and rejoiced at Heart but still took no Note when after some cursory Conversation
Ned
looked at him with an eager Disturbance and cried Bless me my Heart tells me that there is something in that Face which is not quite unknown to me If I could think after my many and late Enquiries that my Patron was alive bating the Difference of Years I should verily believe that you were your
Harry Fenton
cried our Hero springing up your
Harry Fenton
my dear
Ned
Harry
then opened his Arms to receive his Friend while
Ned
leaped and catched at him as the grapling Iron of a Corsair would catch at a Ship from which great Prize was expected
All the Family then so highly as they had been obliged by our Hero and his Father struggled who should be foremost in their Acknowledgments and Caresses The holy
Catharines
fondly taking him to his Arms cried Christ be gracious to you my Child and may the God who has formed you as an Angel upon Earth make you also of the highest Order of Angels in Heaven
After Dinner
Harry
rose and took his Leave but they all got in a Group and opposed his Passage telling him he must be their Prisoner for that Night I consent only on this Condition said
Harry
that you promise to dine with me All Tomorrow Why pray Sir where do you live says Mr
Fielding
At
Enfield
with the young Earl of
Moreland
says
Harry
but he has a great Friendship for me and the House is as it were my own
Much Company arrived in the Evening and the Ball was opened and held till late But our Hero declined dancing that his Friend
Ned
might stand forth peerless in the Eyes of his Bride
Harry
rose by the Dawning and footed it in an Hour to
Enfield
He flew up Stairs to salute the Family but found no One save Mr
Clinton
from whom he received at once a warm Blessing and Embrace
Where is the Dutchess Sir and my Friend
Abenamin
Gone
Harry
says his Uncle about Breakfast Time Yesterday a Courier arrived with the joyful Tidings that my Brother was on the Road and so my Sister and our
Abenamin
hastened to meet him By this Time I suppose they are All on their Return And now take Care of yourself my
Harry
The Duke brings with him the Sister of our
Abenamin
the fair Princess
Abenaidè
the Dutchess tells me that a lovelier Creature never beheld the Light so that you must guard your Heart with double Bars against the Power of this Beauty She is vain and disdainful Sir excessively vain I am told so that her Pride will prove an Antidote against the Poison of her Charms However I will haste to meet and welcome your most noble Brother
Harry
was mounted on a haughty Charger that cost fifteen hundred Guineas when a Colt in
Mauritania
He was white as new fallen Snow save a black Mane and Tail one Foot jet Black to the Joint of the Fetlock and three large bloodlike Spots on the far Shoulder He was so perfectly instructed and subdued to the Manage that he seemed to have no Will save the Will of his Rider while
Harry
s least Motion like Electricity informed every Joint and Member O that the Wills of all Men were equally subdued to the Sceptre of the Prince of Righteousness reigning and ruling within them
The Princess came foremost in an open Chariot drawn by six spotted Arabians The Chariot was plated all around in burnished Gold emblazoned with Gems of Lustre But if the Eye could scarce bear the Blaze of the Vehicle much less could it support the Brightness of the Beauty who sat enthroned within it
Harry
bowed twice as he approached but she scare deigned a perceptible Nod of Acknowledgment to his Salute Our Hero felt himself piqued Proud Beauty thought he I thank you for your timely Prevention of a Passion that perhaps might have proved unhappy to me He then passed forward with affected Carelesness to salute the Duke
When he came up the Coach stopped and
Harry
flying from his Saddle approached the Window while his Steed stood trembling but motionless behind him
My Lord said
Harry
seizing the Dukes Hand and respectfully kissing it if you were sensible of the Joy that my Heart receives from your Presence I think it would make you nearly as happy as myself My sweet Fellow said the Duke I have often heard of you at
Paris
as also by the Letters of my Love here my Longing at last is gratified though my Wonder is increased
But Madam says
Harry
what have you done with my little Playfellow whats become of my
Abenamin
O cried the Dutchess laughing he is forthcoming I warrant you but what has so bewitched you to him I think you could not be fonder if he were a Mistress True Madam answered
Harry
sighing I never look to have a Mistress that I shall love half as well but pray put me out of Pain and let me know where he is Be pacified said the smiling Duke he is not far off and here is my Hand and Promise that you shall see him before Night
Our Hero then turned and touching his left Hand to the Shoulder of his Horse he rose perpendicular like a Pyramid of Fire and again descended on his Seat as a Flake of Snow on a RoseBud He then touched his white Wand to the Neck of his Steed who instantly mounted the Air like a winged
Pegasus
while the Dutchess shouted out thinking her
Harry
a gone Man but he returned as composed as though he were seated on a Bed of Cotton
The Coach now began to move and
Harry
put his Wand to the Flank of his Horse who turning his Head to the Carriage as of his own Accord moved sidelong toward
Enfield
with a proud but gentle Prancing while the Duke cried out Look look O the Boy O the Boy the lovely glorious Boy
As our Hero attended the Carriage of the Duke the Princess and her Train had got to the House and alighted while
Harry
opened the Coach Door and handed out the noble Pair who alternately kissed and took him to their Arms Mr
Clinton
then came forth and received them All with Transport But
Harry
under some Pretence walked away ruminating in order to avoid the disdainful Regards of the young Lady
In the mean Time our Company rejoicing and caressing Each other all the Way had got slowly though very lovingly to the great Mansion Parlour The Duke then respectfully taking the young Lady by the Hand Permit me Brother says he to recommend to you my lovely Ward the fair Princess of
Morocco
The Lady then gently bent one Knee toward the Ground while she received the cordial Blessing and Salute of the old Gentleman
They then took their Seats When Mr
Clinton
while he looked more earnestly on the Princess grew suddenly affected and called out for a Glass of fair Water and Hartshorn When he drank it be found himself in a Measure restored and lifting his Hands he cried I protest One would think that Nature had copied this young and lovely Creature from an Image that has lain impressed upon my Heart near these forty Years
You are in the right my Brother exclaimed the Duke it is even as you surmize Allow me then once more to introduce to you the Counterpart of our once adorable
Louisa
to introduce to you my Niece and your own Offspring my Brother even the Daughter of your still living and ever precious
Eloisa
The Princess then sprung forward and dropping precipitately at the Feet of her Grandfather she put her Face between his Knees and seizing both Hands she bathed them with her Tears crying My Father O my Father my dear my dearest Father how inexpressibly blessed I think myself to be the Offspring of such a Father Mr
Clinton
then raising her and seating her fondly on his Knee and grasping her to his Bosom I will not ask he cried how these Miracles came about it is enough that I feel the Attraction which pulls you into my Heart And so saying their Tears flowed till they mingled on the Flooring
Go my Angel said Mr
Clinton
and take yonder Seat that I may view and delight my Soul with your Sight at Leisure My Eyes begin at these Years to see best at a Distance
At length the soft Voice of our
Harry
was heard in the Hall and the Duke whispering his Brother requested him for a little Time to take no Notice of what had passed
Our Hero then entered bowing respectfully and gracefully but carelessly toward the Side where the Princess sat He then took his Seat beside the Duke and bending fondly to him and seizing a Hand with both his Hands he pressed it to his Lips and cried Welcome welcome my dearest Lord to the House and the Hearts of your truest Lovers
Then giving a Glance to the Side where the Princess sat he caught a Glimpse of her Attractions and sighing said to himself O the Pity the Pity But no Matter her Pride shall never suffer a single Charm to take Place and so thinking he turned his Eyes aside
Mean time
Abenaidè
arose with as little Noise as a Hare from her Seat and stealing round like a Cat circumventing a Mouse She came behind
Harry
s Chair and reaching and covering an Eye with each of her Hands she turned his Head to her and made a Sound with her Lips as though she had kissed him
Harry
opened his Eyes in utter Astonishment while in a Twinkling standing before him she chuckled a Laugh and cried Ha ha he my
Harry
what have you forgot me dont you remember your old Playfellow your little Friend
Abenamin
Harry
s Eyes were now opened in the Midst of the Hurry and Agitation of his Soul At a Glimpse he took in the whole Oppression of her Beauties and casting himself quick as a Glance of Lightning at her Feet he seized the Hem of her Robeing and glued it to his Mouth
At length lifting up his Eyes he cried Ah what are all these Wonders to me or my Happiness unless my
Abenamin
will also become my
Abenaidè
That replied the Princess is not at my Option there sits my Lord and Father at whose Disposal I am
Harry
then rose and throwing himself at the Feet of his revered Patron embraced his Legs in Silence while Mr
Clinton
cried out Yes my
Harry
I understand you nothing shall ever be wanting to the Happiness of my Darling that the Power of his tender Parent and loving Uncle can effect I can have nothing in Heaven or Earth that is not the Property of my
Harry Harry
kissed his Feet and sprung up
Mr
Clinton
then continued I aver I am still in a Labyrinth Did you not say my
Abenaidè
that you were also our
Abenamin
I did my Lord says she but I did not dare to avow myself Ah what a painful Struggle did that Restriction cost me while I panted to catch and to cling to your honoured Feet while I used to look and gaze upon you unperceived while my Heart swelled with Affection and my Eyes with restrained Tears and while I kissed in secret the Book that you read and the Ground that you trod on
Abenaidè
then sat down and
Harry
lightly throwing himself on the Ground beside her looked beseechingly around and cried My Lord my dearest Lady our still precious
Fanny Goodall
can you vouch can ye warrant that I am safe in this Matter Then looking up to the Princess and drinking her in No he cried you cannot engage it I feel that I shall perish in the very Ecstasy of the Expectation of being united to her
Just then Mr
Meekly
came in He had been long and far away upon many a blessed Tour of doing good through the Earth But as soon as he heard of the Arrival of his beloved Patron and young Lord he rode post to embrace them
Harry
sprung from Love to Friendship and catching him in his Arms cried O my
Meekly
my dearest
Meekly
how seasonably you come to temper by your Advice the insufferable Transports of my Soul behold the Regent of my Heart behold the Queen of all my Wishes
Meekly
then fixed his Eyes upon the Princess and soon after exclaimed Gracious Father what do I see Can
the Louisa
be resuscitated and new raised from the Dead O then it must be so she must be her Descendent No One save my peerless Patroness could produce the Likeness of my Patroness But how this blessing Miracle was brought about is the Question
That is my Question too my dear
Meekly
said Mr
Clinton
if my most noble Brother would be so good as to solve it I will gratify you Gentlemen said the Duke in as few Words as possible Mean while the Princess withdrew
On my Embassy to the Court of
Morocco
I had several private Interviews with the Emperor before my Credentials were opened in Public I had the good Fortune to be liked by him so that he suffered no Day to pass without seeing me His Name was
Abenamin
he was accounted a great Captain he exceeded All in his Dominions for Grace of Person and Beauty of Aspect and that which rendered him still more singular was that he had given Liberty to all the Ladies of his Seraglio and for many Years had kept constant to the reigning Sultana said to be the most exquisite Beauty upon Earth
As we grew more intimate in the Exuberance of his Affection for his Empress he could not refrain from speaking of her to me and he promised that before I departed I should see and converse with her a Grace he said never granted to any other Man
At length the Day being appointed for my public Entry I rode through the City attended by a sumptuous Train and alighting before the Palace advanced to the Hall of Audience
The Emperor was seated with his Sultana at his right Hand upon a Throne of Ivory As soon as I had approached the Presence and began to open my Commission the Empress gave a great Shriek and fell over in a Swoon upon the Bosom of her Husband
The royal
Abenamin
instantly turned pale as Death tore off her Veil with trembling Hands to give her Air and called me to his Assistance as it is accounted Profanation for any Moor to touch the Person of the Empress But O Heaven O my Friend think what was my Astonishment when in the pale Face of the Queen I beheld the loved Features of our darling
Eloisa
The Court broke up in Confusion and her Women came hurrying with Drops and Essences As soon as she recovered she opened her Eyes upon me and reaching out her Arms and catching me to her she cried O my Uncle my dearest Uncle am I so blessed then as to behold you before I expire
The Monarch in the mean Time looked upon me with a jealous Eye and twice put his Hand to the Haft of his Dagger but checked his rising Indignation till he should have the Mystery of his Queens Behaviour explained The Women then raised her up and bore her to her Apartment while the Emperor turning to me with no very friendly Aspect ordered me to follow him
When I had attended a considerable Time in the Antichamber He came forth with a serene and joyous Countenance and embracing me cried O my Friend my dear Kinsman how transported I am to find and acknowledge You for such the Parent of my Angel becomes a Part of myself
He then led me by the Hand into the Bedchamber of my
Eloisa
where we renewed our Caresses without Restraint But the Monarch fearing that these Emotions would be too much for her told me that he had something for my private Ear till Dinner and took me into an adjoining Closet
There seating and taking me affectionately by the Hand I will now tell you my Uncle says he how I came by this inestimable Treasure of your Niece
I had fitted out a royal Ship of my own not as a Corsair but rather for Trade in the
Mediterranean
On their Return from the Coast of
Egypt
as they past after a violent Hurricane within Sight of old
Carthage
my People perceived at a Distance a Sloop stranded on a Shoal of Sand about a League from the Shore Immediately they sent out a Boat and took the distressed Company in consisting of my Charmer two female Companions and three Servants in Livery beside the Boatmen
The Intendants of my Ship behaved themselves with all possible Respect toward the young Lady and her Attendants and endeavoured to quiet her Terrors by assuring her that she was free and that their Prince was a Person of too much Honour and Humanity to derive any Advantage from the Disasters of the Unfortunate
The Moment that they brought her before me pale trembling and in Tears while she dropt on her Knees and lifted to me her fine Eyes in a petitioning Manner the Gates of my Soul opened to the sweetly affecting Image and ever after closed of their own accord upon it
Ah I cried heavenly Creature calm calm your causeless Fears I swear by our Prophet and the God of our Prophet that I would rather suffer the Gaunch than put the smallest Constraint on your Person or Inclinations You are free Madam you shall ever be free save so far as I may bind you by my tender Offices and Affections
I raised her and she grew something better assured when bending a Knee in my Turn I kissed her Robe and cried Look not upon me as your Tyrant look not on me as your Lover but look upon me as your Friend the tenderest and truest of Friends who shall ever be ready to sacrifice his own Happiness to Yours
From that Time I studied every Amusement every Diversion that might serve to dissipate the timid Shrinkings of her remaining Apprehensions While I conducted myself toward her with a distant though fond Respect not even presuming to touch her ivory Hand
In the mean Time my Soul sickened and grew cold to all other Women If you were ever in Love my dear
DAubigny
you know that it is a chaste as well as a tender Passion I languished indeed for her I longed and languishd to Death but then it was rather for her Heart than her Person that I languished
One Day as she heaved a heavy but half suppressed Sigh Ah my Angel I cried I can have no Joy but Yours and yet You have Griefs to which you keep your Friend your
Abenamin
a Stranger True my Lord says she Tears breaking from her all your Bounties have not been able to silence the Calls of Kindred or Claims of Nature within me Ah my Parents my dear Parents I feel more for You than I feel even for myself in being torn from you
The Weight of her Affliction fell like a Mountain on my Soul and crushed me to her Feet You would leave me then
Eloisa
you wish to leave me but your Generosity delays to tell me so for fear of breaking my Heart Well be it so go from me you know I cannot survive you but my Death is of no Consequence my
Eloisa
shall be happy I will go this Instant I will dispatch my swiftest Galley to
Languedoc
I will write Word to your Parents that you are safe that you are beloved and yet pure and untouched since respected as a Deity I will invite them to come and take Possession of my Treasures my Dominions my Heart But should they reject my Suit I again swear by
Alla
to send You to them laden with Wealth though I myself should drop dead at the Instant of your Departure
The noble Soul of my
Eloisa
became instantly affected She caught a Hand between both of hers and bathing it with Tears cried O now indeed you have bound me by Chains infinitely stronger than all the Shackles that fasten the Slaves to the Gallies of
Africa
I kept firm to my Engagement and in a few Weeks my winged Messengers returned But O the Tidings the very doleful Tidings for my Beloved They brought Word that they found no Creature save two ancient Domestics in the great Hotel as two Ravens in the Midst of a lonely Forest
From these they learned that my
Eloisa
s Mother and little Brother were dead that her Grandmother was dead her Aunt the Marchioness also dead and that the Marquis had retired they knew not whither
She wept incessantly and I wept with her At length she softly said You have conquered my Lord you have conquered I am subdued by your Weight of Affection O that You could but conform to one Article more that we might be united as one Heart and one Soul and one Sentiment for ever
It was now for the first Time that I dared to seize her Hand I crushed it to my Lips and thrust it into my Soul What would you enjoin I cried I would do any Thing, dare any Thing to be united to my
Eloisa
in Life and in Death Body to Body and Dust to Dust never never to be sundered till her Spirit should make the Heaven of my Spirit hereafter
Ah she suddenly exclaimed that that is the very Thing I so eagerly desire Let the God of my Heart be the God of your Heart let the God of my Spirit be the God of your Spirit so shall we be united in him and jointly partake of his Blessedness through Eternity
Ah I cried can I forego the divine Precepts of our Prophet Your Prophet says she preaches only to the Eye and the Ear and this is all that he does or can pretend to But
Christ
my Prophet preaches in the Heart to the Affections From him is every good Motion divine or human He is the unknown God of your Spirit my Master my
Abenamin
and you feel his precious Power while you disavow his Name
I was puzzled I was silenced I bent a Knee in Reverence kissed her Hand and withdrew
I sent for the Chief of the Christian Missionaries throughout the City and Country I consulted Each of them in private but received no Satisfaction from them They All appeared equally zealous for my Reformation but attempted it by different and even by opposite Arguments
Some would have persuaded me to be Christian by shewing the Absurdity of every Religion that was not Christian Others affirmed that my eternal Salvation depended on my Conformity to certain external Rules and Penances While the greatest Number inveighed against the Christians of every other Denomination and would have thrust me wholly from Christ if I did not consent to receive him within their stinted Pale
I knew not what to do I was put to a Stand and quite confused by this Multiplicity of conflicting Opinions At length a Countryman of my own came to me from the Desart He had been a great Sinner but was converted by the Sense of his Sins and he was revered and resorted to by All the Friendless and Afflicted
I opened my Soul to him with all its Doubts and Difficulties My Friend in CHRIST said he with a gentle and still Voice they have been leading you all astray quite away from the Haven that stretches forth its Arms for the Reception of long toiled Mariners whom Storms have at length compelled to seek a final Port
The God of your Creation can alone be your Redemption the God of your Nature can alone be the Salvation of the Nature that he imparted But who shall convince you of this Not all the Angels in Heaven nor all the Doctors upon Earth till the Christ of your Heart shall be pleased to convince you that you are as indeed you are however mighty a Monarch a poor frail erring vile and despicable Creature subjected to innumerable Lapses and Infirmities Sickness Passions and Crosses Griefs Agonies and Death When this is effectually done the Whole of the Business is done You will call for and catch at a Saviour in the Sensibility of your Want of him When you come thus laden with your Sins to him he will in no wise cast you out But he will take you as
Noah
took the wearied Dove into the Ark He will take you within the Veil of his own Temple of Rest and all Sects Forms and Ceremonies will be as the outward Courts with which you shall have no Manner of Commerce or Concern
My Heart felt the Weight and the Fullness of Conviction I took him to my Arms and requested instant Baptism My
Eloisa
was called we locked ourselves in And I was washed by Water and Faith into Christ while my kneeling Angel wept a Stream of Delight beside me
It is said that Possession cloys But I experienced my dear
DAubigny
that Love never cloys Every Day with my
Eloisa
seemed to triumph in heartfelt Happiness over my first bridal Day But O what was the Joy the Exultation of my fond Heart when she gave me to be the Father of a little Daughter of Paradise
One Day while we were toying and fooling with the smiling Infant and throwing her as she crowed from the One to the Other Ah my Husband cries
Eloisa
how poor I was lately no Parents no Kindred nothing but my
Abenamin
upon the whole Earth and now God has been pleased to make my Affliction to laugh and to give this Babe for a further Band a precious Link of Love between us
He was just in this Part of his Narration when the Music sounded to the Banquet We instantly rose and joined our
Eloisa
When the Collation was removed Madam said I to the Empress have you ever heard of a Relation, of yours christened by the Name of
Fanny Goodall
and lately Countess of
Maitland
I have said she often heard my fond Father speak of her with filling Eyes She is in this City Madam She is no longer Countess of
Maitland
She is now doubly your Relation your Aunt as well as your Cousin and goes by the Title of the Marchioness
DAubigny
With the good Leave of my Lord here I will bring her to you directly
I went to the Palace appointed for my Residence I there gave my
Fanny
a few Heads of the Story of our
Eloisa
and took her hastily to the Presence
The Ladies looked at Each other in long and silent Admiration Then opening their Arms and rushing together they continued some Minutes locked in mutual Embraces
Madam said the Emperor smiling I think I ought to be allowed the same Liberties with my Aunt that your Husband took with his Niece Whereon he welcomed and caressed her with an affectionate Fervour
O exclaimed the royal Fair how very poor and how very rich our God can suddenly make us But then Lord of my Life to think of parting of parting with these dear Friends again perhaps never to see them more thats what sinks and wrings my Heart in the very Midst of Exultation
That my Love said the Emperor is the very important Article on which I wish to consult with you and our Friends here our dear Kindred in Christ But I must first shew them their young Relation my little Enchantress my priceless Pearl my Eye delighting
Abenaide
He then stept forth and after a while led in a gracefully moving Creature but veiled from the Head to the Waist Throw up your Veil my Love says he here are none but your Friends your very dear Relations your lovely Aunt and your Uncle the Marquis and Marchioness
DAubigny
She did as she was ordered and instantly broke upon my Sight like a new Glory arisen upon Midday
My
Fanny
seized upon her as desirous of devouring her And I in turn took her to me with tearfull Eyes as almost persuaded that I embraced the newly revived Person of my dearest Sister
Louisa
so perfect was the Resemblance in every Grace and Feature
When we had nearly oppressed the celestial looking Maid with our insatiate Caresses She seized our Hands and kissing them cried What a blessed Day is this that enriches
Abenaidè
with two Parents more another precious Father and another lovely Mother happy happy
Abenaidè
Her royal Father then gave a Beck and she instantly vanished while her Absence seemed to cast a Shade throughout the Room
The Monarch then deeply musing and heavily sighing began I am now my dearest Friends Friends beloved above the World and all that it contains I am now to open to you my inmost Heart and to reveal a Purpose whereon I have been ruminating these many Months but could not hit on an Expedient for bringing it to pass How opportune has our
Jesus
sent you to us on this Occasion
I have but the two Children living my
Abenaidè
and a Son by a former Woman of my Seraglio His Name is
Abencorrage
he is a Youth renowned in the Field but of a proud and impetuous Demeanour He had long conceived an illicit Passion for his young and lovely Sister At length the Fire broke forth and he lately attempted her Honour
I would instantly have put him to death had I any other Heir to succeed to my Dominions I therefore contented myself with banishing him my Court and my Presence though I am sensible that this has not availed for the extinguishing his horrid Flame
Now my Friends should I die or should this violent Boy break into Rebellion for he is the Favourite of the licentious Soldiery I tremble to think what would become of my bright eyed Dove within the Talons of such a Vulture
This together with my eager Desire of quitting a Kingdom of Infidels and of joining with the blessed Society and Communion of Saints has after some Struggles determined me to abdicate my Throne as soon as I can amass and transmit a Fund sufficient for supporting my
Eloisa
and myself with becoming Dignity in her native Country
Ah my Lord I cried clasping him passionately in my Arms regard not your Treasures delay not a Moment for that your
Eloisa
s Relations both by Father and Mother are possessed of princely Fortunes and they will all be freely at the Disposal of your Majesty
Ah my
DAubigny
said he I am not yet so duly mortified a Christian as needlesly to elect a State of Dependence or willingly to descend at once from the King to the Beggar I have however been preparing I have already converted a large Part of my Effects into Bills and Jewels of high Value but light Portage to the amount as I think of about Sixty Million of
French
Money this I will transmit by you and as soon as I shall have compassed an equal Sum I will stay no longer in
Africa
I will fly to your Bosoms my precious Friends
In the mean Time this violent and lustful Boy gives no Rest to my Apprehensions It is therefore necessary that I commit my
Abenaidè
to your Trust It is necessary I say that I tear away my choicest Limb the dearest Part of my Vitals Support me Christ in the Trial but it must be gone through
This however must be done with all possible Privacy I am persuaded that my young Villain has his Spies in and about my Palace I shall therefore request my dear Aunt to disguise my little Girl in Boys Apparel and to blacken every Part of her visible Complexion that she may pass unnoticed as your Page through the Midst of my Attendants As also that it may prove during the Travels of my Darling a Preservative against the Lust of the Eye and any further Attempt tending to Violation
At length the Time approached and pressed for my Departure but how to part was the Question All Attendants were ordered to avoid the Presence far away Our metamorphosed
Abenaidè
stood weeping beside us while her Father and Mother crushed us successively to their Bosoms All was Passion a Gush of Tears but not a Word was uttered on any Part
O my
DAubigny
cried the Emperor at length Friend Brother of my Heart can you conceive what I feel at this Instant I regard not the World nor the Things of the World Omit such necessary Accommodations as are common to us with Brutes and All belonging to the immortal and divine Humanity of Man is Magnetism is Fellowship the Feeling as of Steel to Adamant and of Adamant to Steel There is the Friendship the Endearment the Love passing Love and surpassing all other Enjoyment If we meet again my
DAubigny
I shall anticipate my Heaven
Again he embraced his little Angel and again he embraced his Queen and besought her to be comforted We then took Leave as for the last and again they called us back and embraced and took Leave again till seeing no End I suddenly broke away hurrying with us our
Abenaidè
for fear of Observation I forgot however to tell You that the Day before our Departure the royal
Abenamin
had enjoined me to set apart twenty Million of Livres for the Portion of his Child in case she should be married to any great Prince or Potentate requesting me at the same Time not to put any Constraint on the Inclinations of his Lamb
I have little further to say my Brother We arrived safe at
Paris
where we received your Letter and impatient to make you happy I dispatched my
Fanny
with her Train and your
Abenaidè
before me enjoining them however not to reveal our Secret till my Arrival For as I had charged myself with the Loss of your
Eloisa
I deemed myself best entitled to make you Reparation in Person But I ought not to omit that before I left
Paris
I received a further Remittance of twenty Million from your Soninlaw so that we may speedily look to have the royal Pair in
England
Soon after a Post Chaise whirled into the Court and
Harry
flying out caught
Clement
and
Arabella
into his strict Embrace He then hurried them in where Mr
Clinton
received and caressed and introduced them to the Duke and Dutchess as Persons of great Merit and his highly valued Friends He then presented to them his
Abenaidè
who accordingly saluted
Clement
and embraced
Arabella
with an affectionate Familiarity
O Sir cried our Hero kissing his Uncles Hand am I to be the last Person in the World whom you will honour with a Salute from your bewitching Daughter I ask your Pardon my Lord said Mr
Clinton
solemnly Allow me then at length to repair my Omission by presenting to your Earlship her little Highness
Abenaidè
The Duke and Dutchess and
Meekly
laughed But
Harry
was not a whit the slower in laying hold of his Advantage He kissed her Forehead her Eyes her Cheeks and lastly dwelt upon her Lips as though he would have infused his Soul between them
Harry Harry
cried Mr
Clinton
I will never introduce you to my Girl again unless you promise not to kiss so hard and bring so much Blood into her Face
Just then a Footman entered My Lord says he to
Harry
here are three Carriages and several Horsemen waiting without the Gate they enquire for one Master
Fenton
who they say lives with the Earl of
Moreland
but I assured them there was no such Person in the House O Sir said
Harry
these are our old Friends the
Fieldings
and out he flew
As he approached the Carriages the Company gave a Shout of Joy Why Sir said Mr
Fielding
a Servant denied you to us and said that no One of the Name of
Fenton
lived here O says
Harry
dont heed the Puppy he is but a new Comer
He then opened the Doors of the Carriages and handed and kissed them in Turns as they came out Mr and Mrs
Fielding
the reverend Mr
Catharines
and his sainted
Phaebe
and
Ned
and his blooming Bride
Mr
Clinton
received them at the Door with the Joy of his Heart apparent in his Countenance He then introduced them to his most noble Brother and Sister to his Friend
Meekly
and lastly he presented his
Abenaidè
to them on whom they all gazed in mute and reverential Astonishment
Harry
then observing that his Uncle had not equally presented his Daughter to
Ned
Sir says he I apprehend that this is not quite fair I have already kissed the fair Bride of my Friend with all my Heart and it is but honest that he should be favoured with a Salute from Mine in turn
Harry
then took
Ned
by the Hand and presented him to his Beloved While
Ned
bent the Knee and touching her Hand tremblingly looked awfully to her Face and said Yes Bride of
Eden
lovely Extract of every Beauty You alone can reward You alone can deserve him You alone are fitted to be the Mate of my incomparable Lord and Master my Patron and Preserver So saying he lightly touched his Lips to the polished Hand But the Praises of her
Harry
had gone with a pleasant Trickling to the Heart of
Abenaidè
and gently raising
Ned
she affectionately saluted him with a glistening Eye
Pray Sir said Mr
Fielding
whisperingly to Mr
Clinton
is the Earl of
Moreland
in Company That is he Sir pointing to
Harry
O then cried
Fielding
he is titled below his Merits it was for an Emperor that Nature intended him
Dinner was then served During the Repast the Duke said Let us not my Brother keep our
Harry
in Pain Why should we delay the Happiness of Children so very dear to us With Regard to your Childs Marriage to some mighty Prince as your Soninlaw hinted I think her more ennobled and more illustrious by her Marriage with our Hero here who purchased her at his Peril than if she were mated to the greatest Potentate on Earth
You must excuse me my noble Brother said Mr
Clinton
I will have no clandestine Doings in this Business My Girl shall be married in the Face and witnessing of Thousands left hereafter this young Rogue should have the Effrontery to deny her What Day of the Week is this
Thursday
I think let
Monday
Sennight be the Day
Harry
rose and pressed and kissed the Hand of the Duke with Rapture and then kissed the Hand of his Patron in silent Submission
They kept the
Fieldings
with them for three Days But
Harry
would not part with his
Clement
nor
Abenaidè
with
Arabella
till the Marriage should be over
Harry
in the Presence of these two Friends attempted to take some little accustomed Liberties under her Name of
Abenamin
But the Proprietor of his Heart sweetly repulsed him and cried No no honest Friend I will box with you whenever and as often as you please but no more wrestling my
Harry
In the mean Time all Preparations were pushed into Forwardness by Mr
Clinton
The many Shops of the many Towns within many Miles around were emptied of their Boards and Sheeting their Knives and Forks
c
Thousands of Tables and Forms were framed Thousands of Tents were erected Proclamation was made in every Village and all People within thirty Miles invited to the Wedding
When the Day approached one hundred Oxen were slain five hundred Sheep three hundred Swine with fifty fat Deer
c c
The Spits fried and the Cauldrons smoaked over the Fires of many a Field
At length the auspicious Morning rose and
Harry
and his Bride were already up and dressed in their respective Apartments
Harry
wore a Jacket and Drawers of white Satin His Locks flowed through a Knot of oriental Pearl And a Mantle of purple Velvet embroidered with Needle wrought Flowers of Gold hung over his left Shoulder and came under the right Arm in floating Skirts joined at the Ends by a Buckle of Carbuncles
The Princess was habited after the
Persian
Fashion in a Vest of Silver Brocading scollopd over a Petticoat of the same Fabric that flowed in a Train behind A Scarf of cerulean Tint flew between her right Shoulder and her left Hip being buttoned at each End by a Rose of Rubies Her shining Tresses of jetty Black bound together at her Neck beneath a huge Amethyst fell down in luxuriant Ringlets and shaded and revealed by Turns the fine Bend of her tapering Waist A Coronet of Diamonds through which there waved a white Branch of the Feathers of the Estrich was inserted on the left Decline of her lovely Head And a Stomacher of inestimable Brilliants rose beneath her dazzling Bosom and by a fluctuating Blaze of unremitted Glory checked and turned the Eye away from too presumptuous a Gaze
Our Hero coming forth beheld her as a Pillar of Fire just issuing from her Antichamber He stepped back as she advanced and fixed his Eyes upon her in mute Astonishment then springing forward he fell prostrate and kissed the Hem of her Robeing Again rising on one Knee he lifted his Hands toward Heaven and his Eyes to her glowing Countenance Oppressive Power of Beauty he cried O may every Day rise like this on my Soulenrapturing
Abenaidè
encircling her with Friendship Love and Joy and the Knee of admiring Thousands
Arabella
attended her royal Friend and
Clement
his noble Pupil just as
Longfield
entered to give an Account of his Expedition But he had scarce begun his Detail when catching the Image that had long since made an Impression on his Heart he started and turned pale and breaking off he cried Bless me my Lord Mrs
Clement
I think Yes my
Longfield
said
Harry
and here too is your old and fast Friend
Hammel Clement Clement
would not have known
Longfield
in his present genteel Plight but hearing his Name and recollecting him at a Glance he flew and seized upon him with a strenuous Embrace
Arabella
then advanced to welcome her old Friend but poor
Longfield
respectfully bowed and shrunk back
You shall not escape me so my dear Mr
Longfield
says she I cannot forget what I owe you even my Life and Reputation and I bless the Father of Mercies who has put it in our Power to pay Part of our Debt and so saying she embraced him with Freedom and Cordiality Yes my dear
Longfield
cried
Hammel
yours is the Half of our Fortunes and more than the Half of our Hearts Your Heart Sir said
Longfield
will ever be most valuable but as to any Thing additional the Bounty of my young Master has rendered all further Fortune quite superfluous to me
Longfield
then beckoned his Lord forth that he might relate to his Eye rather than to his Ear the Success of his Commission They hastened to a long Barn where he shewed
Harry
two Ranges of beautiful Children One of a hundred chosen Girls Another of a hundred chosen Boys All dressed in a clean and elegant Uniform
Harry
walked between the Ranks his Heart exulting in the Sense of its own divine Humanity Then embracing his Agent Yes my
Longfield
he cried These shall be indeed my Children and I will prove a true and affectionate Father to them But let us hasten to bestow upon them a tender Mother too I trust
He flew back as a Glimpse of Lightening and seizing and half devouring the Hand of his Bride Will you pardon me my Beloved says he some Matters that happened before our Union I have collected all the Children I ever had before Marriage I scorn any Thing that is clandestine They wait for your Inspection and I hope that you will not prove a hard Stepmother to them You are a Rogue says she archly smiling and giving him a Pat on the Cheek but come along and so saying away they tripped
The Princess walked with a silent and musing Attention up and down the Ranges Her Heart grew strongly affected and taking out her Handkerchief she wiped away the dropping Tear And has my Lord says she to
Longfield
has he indeed taken upon him to be a Father to all this pretty Host of Little Ones He has so please your Highness says
Longfield
and has accordingly cloathed and provided for them O she cried under the FATHER which is in Heaven he is the dearest and sweetest Father that ever was upon Earth So exclaiming she sprung at
Harry
and notwithstanding her late Coyness scarce vouchsafing a Hand to his Lips she now grappled about his Neck half smothering him with the Repetition of her Kisses and Caresses and then thrusting her Face into his Bosom she vented her Passion in Tears
On their Return they perceived Mr
Clinton
the Duke and Dutchess all standing in the great folding Door and flying up the marble Steps they Both bent the Knee and received the joint Blessings and successive Caresses of their three exulting Parents
Just then
Harry
spied Goodman
Dobson
and his Dame coming diffidently but puffingly up the Avenue Instantly he caught his Angel by the Hand and hastened to meet them He took them successively in his Arms and kissed them with warm Affection while with yearning Hearts and Bowels they wished him Joy upon Joy They then kneeled down on each Side of the Princess kissing her Hands and Garments and blessing her for bestowing such a Heaven of Beauty upon their
Harry
But as soon as
Harry
told her that they were his Fosterers his very dear Daddy and Mammy she raised and kissed them in turns with her Arms about their Necks and besought them to be her Daddy and Mammy also for alas says she my Daddy and Mammy are far away
Harry
then gave them into the Hands of his Man
Jack
with Orders to take them to the Larder
The Multitude before this began to thicken apace And the Youth had got together in the great Lawn casting the Coit and the Sledge and leaping over a Cord that was raised between two Posts
My lovely
Harry
cried the Duke I have heard Things almost incredible of your Prowess and Action but never saw any Sample save the mounting of your
Bucephealus
Will you be so good to give me some Instance of your Excellence among yonder young Competitors whom I suppose to be the most eminent that the Shire can exhibit Do my
Harry
said Mr
Clinton
clasping and kissing him indulge my dearest Brother on this our Day of Jubilee
Harry
bowed and ordered
Jack
to bring him his Quarterstaff and dispatched Another for a Cord and two long Poles He then walked down the Avenue attended by the Males and Females of the whole Family
As they approached the Lawn a Youth of uncommon Vigour had cleared the former Cord though raised to something upward of five Feet in Height but All who attempted to follow either recoiled or pitched over
Harry
then caused his two Poles to be erected to an Elevation of ten Feet with a Cord reaching from Top to Top The Multitude came down in Thousands to see what they were about When
Harry
having cleared the contested Cord with a standing Hop went backward from his lofty Poles about the Distance of thirty Paces then rushing forward he advanced one End of his Staff to the Ground and springing and raising and rising upon the opposite End he pitched himself over the elevated String while the Multitude beheld him as a new risen Phenix suspended and glittering in the Air and then alighting as winged on the other Side
The Elements were rent by a universal Shout which followed and undulated after our Company till they sheltered themselves within the House
The
Fieldings
then arrived with the reverable Mr
Catharines
who was appointed to join the angelic Pair
After Breakfast the Carriages were ordered out First Mr
Clinton
and his
Meekly
moved away in Mr
Clinton
s Coach and Six to the Church The Family of the
Fieldings
then followed in a Coach and Six and two Chariots Next went
Clement
and his
Arabella
in their Post Chaise and Four The Duke and Dutchess then succeeded in a sumptuous Coach proudly drawn by Six
German
Greys attended by a long Retinue of
French
Liveries and the Dutchesss Women in a Coach and Four Last advanced the Princesss four faithful
Moors
mounted on fiery Coursers and All glistering in
Barbaric
Gems and Adornments And last of all came our Hero and his
Abenaidè
enthroned in her open Chariot as two Pearls of the Orient in a Case of burnished Gold her six spotted
Arabians
restraining their Impatience beat Measures with their Feet scarce seeming to advance the Pace of a Tortoise Never will any Sight so glorious be exhibited till the heavenly
Jerusalem
shall descend upon Earth
Harry
s
Jack
closed the Rear mounted on his Lords rhone Charger who stepped foaming behind the Chariot and the long Cavalcade nearly reached from the great Hotel to the Entrance of the Town
The Crowd however extended wide and far beyond the Cavalcade They bowed respectfully and payed Obeysance to Mr
Clinton
the Duke
c
as they passed but as soon as they got a Glimpse of the Chariot of their young
Phaeton
their Acclamations became unremitted and almost insufferable to the Ear like the Shouts of a
Persian
Army at the rising of the Sun
Slowly as our
Harry
moved the Multitude strove to retard him by throwing themselves in his Way that they might satiate their Eyes and Souls with the Fullness of Beauty Bended Knees and lifted Hands Prayers Blessings and Exclamations were heard and seen on all Sides and all the Way as they went Thousands upon Tens of Thousands shouted forth the Hymeneal of the celestial Pair