 acquainted him, that he had been the Night before at an
Ale-house, where he heard one Mr. Murphy an Attorney declare, that he would get
a Warrant backed against one Captain Booth at the next Board of Green-Cloth. »I
hope, Sir,« said he, »your Honour will pardon me; but by what he said, I was
afraid he meant your Honour; and therefore I thought it my Duty to tell you; for
I knew the same thing happen to a Gentleman here t'other Day.«
    Booth gave Mr. Atkinson many Thanks for his Information. »I doubt not,« said
he, »but I am the Person meant; for it would be foolish in me to deny that I am
liable to Apprehensions of that sort.« »I hope, Sir,« said the Serjeant, »your
Honour will soon have Reason to fear no Man living; but in the mean time, if any
Accident should happen, my Bail is at your Service as far as it will go; and I
am a Housekeeper, and can swear myself worth 100l.« Which hearty and friendly
Declaration received all those Acknowledgments from Booth, which it really
deserved.
    The poor Gentleman was greatly alarmed at this News; but he was altogether
as much surprized at Murphy's being the Attorney employed against him, as all
his Debts, except only to Captain James, arose in the Country, where he did not
know that Mr. Murphy had any Acquaintance. However, he made no doubt that he was
the Person intended, and resolved to remain a close Prisoner in his own
Lodgings, till he saw the Event of a Proposal which had been made him the
Evening before at the Tavern, where an honest Gentleman, who had a Post under
the Government, and who was one of the Company, had promised to serve him with
the Secretary at War, telling him, that he made no doubt of procuring him whole
Pay in a Regiment abroad, which in his present Circumstances was very highly
worth his Acceptance; when indeed that, and a Goal, seemed to be the only
Alternatives that offered themselves to his Choice.
    Mr. Booth and his Lady spent that Afternoon with Mrs. Ellison. An Incident
which we should scarce have mentioned, had it not been that Amelia gave, on this
Occasion, an Instance of that Prudence which should never be off its Guard in
married Women of Delicacy: for before she would consent to drink Tea with Mrs.
Ellison, she made Conditions, that the Gentleman who had met them at the
Oratorio should
