 and well made. His Face too was
accounted handsome by the Generality of Women, for it was broad and ruddy, with
tolerably good Teeth. Such Charms did not fail making an Impression on my
Landlady, who had no little Relish for this kind of Beauty. She had, indeed, a
real Compassion for the young Man; and hearing from the Surgeon that Affairs
were like to go ill with the Volunteer, she suspected they might hereafter wear
no benign Aspect with the Ensign. Having obtained, therefore, leave to make him
a Visit, and finding him in a very melancholy Mood, which she considerably
heightened, by telling him there were scarce any Hopes of the Volunteer's Life,
she proceeded to throw forth some Hints, which the other readily and eagerly
taking up, they soon came to a right Understanding; and it was at length agreed,
that the Ensign should, at a certain Signal, ascend the Chimney, which
communicating very soon with that of the Kitchen, he might there again let
himself down; for which she would give him an Opportunity, by keeping the Coast
clear.
    But lest our Readers, of a different Complexion, should take this Occasion
of too hastily condemning all Compassion as a Folly, and pernicious to Society,
we think proper to mention another Particular, which might possibly have some
little Share in this Action. The Ensign happened to be at this Time possessed of
the Sum of fifty Pounds, which did indeed belong to the whole Company: For the
Captain having quarreled with his Lieutenant, had entrusted the Payment of his
Company to the Ensign. This Money, however, he thought proper to deposite in my
Landlady's Hand, possibly by way of Bail or Security that he would hereafter
appear and answer to the Charge against him; but whatever were the Conditions,
certain it is, that she had the Money, and the Ensign his Liberty.
    The Reader may, perhaps, expect, from the compassionate Temper of this good
Woman, that when she saw the poor Centinel taken Prisoner for a Fact of which
she knew him innocent, she should immediately have interposed in his Behalf; but
whether it was that she had already exhausted all her Compassion in the
above-mentioned Instance, or that the Features of this Fellow, tho' not very
different from those of the Ensign, could not raise it, I will not determine;
but far from being an Advocate for the present Prisoner, she urged his Guilt to
his Officer, declaring with uplifted Eyes and Hands, that she would not have had
any Concern in the Escape of a Murderer for all
