wards paying the forfeiture of the bond, and I believe I got thirty guineas towards it.

In confequence of my maid's not appearing, the man was discharged, and the very fame night he called at my house. As I fuppofed he had no other bufinefs with me than to return me thanks for my lenity, and acknowledgments of that nature being moft disagreeable to me, I told the fervant who brought in his name, that I was bufy, and could not fee him. Upon which the fellow fent in word, that he must see me, or it would be worfe for me; for I had compounded felony, and before a few hours were paffed I might be called to answer for it.

I was alarmed at the infult, but not being converfant with the law, I was at a lofs to comprehend his meaning. It was therefore neceffary to refer to fome one for advice. And as I could think of no perfon at the time to confult but my coufin Crawford, who had taken the benefit of the late infolvent act, and was returned to his chambers and bufinefs, I fent for him to fettle the affair; and, in the mean while, the ungrateful wretch waited at a neighbouring public house. When Mr. Crawford came, the fellow made a peremptory demand of fifty pounds, which he infifted on being paid immediately, otherwise he would go and lodge an information against me.

Finding

Finding from my good coufin that there was no redress, I paid the money.

Thus did I become a victim to my humanity, by means of a monfter who deferved to fuffer the severest inflictions of the law for his ingrati→ tude, though he had escaped the due deferts of his difhonefty. This inftance ferves to prove, that, however ftrongly humanity might urge to the contrary, the regular profecution of an offender against the laws of his country is a duty we owe to ourselves as well as to the community.-In fuch cafes, lenity ceafes to be a virtue.-A ftronger claim than delicacy of feeling calls for a spirited exertion upon thefe occafions.-The trouble and inconveniencies which attend a profecution ought to be chearfully fubmitted to; and though fervices rendered our country of this kind are not attended with fo much eclat as thofe where life is expofed in her defence; yet they are a duty incumbent on every good citizen, and as deferving of a civic crown.-Juftice, indeed, fhould ever be tempered by moderation; and humanity fhould always be exerted, whenever prudence does not forbid.

The theatre not opening fo foon as was expected, I had leifure to vifit, and be vifited by, what the world generally denominate friends; that is, thofe who will entertain you as long as you are amufing,

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amufing, and are the fashion; but the moment ftern adverfity throws her contemptuous robe over you, they no longer are your friends. Like the poor fequeftered ftag, fo pathetically described by Shakfpere*, Thefe velvet friends abandon you. "The carelefs herd, full of the pasture, jump "along by you, and never ftay to greet a poor "and broken bankrupt." On the contrary, they join in the cry against you, and accuse you of faults you never committed, in order to excuse themselves from affifting you.

It has often excited my wonder, when I have reflected how much the word friendfhip is abufed, and how it is prostituted in its application, by, those who are unacquainted with its meaning. Since adverfity has vifited me, I have frequently found thofe, whom I have always thought to be endowed with the moft refined and liberal fentiments, to be as ready to avoid the perfon they once affected to admire, and loaded with profef fions of regard, as the fervile herd: and I can with truth affirm, that among the numbers I formerly had it in my power to oblige, I never met with a grateful return but from one gentleman, of whose gratitude I fhall give you an account in my future letters. Was I to mention to you fome very extraordinary inftances which I have it in

* As You Like it, A&t 1. Scene I.

my power to do, fome of my former nominal friends would not be very well pleafed at the dif‐, closure. But they may fleep in quiet. My injuries, however irritating, fhall not impel me to disturb their peace, if peace can ever find a place in an ungrateful mind.

Yet why fhould I expect to be exempted from the natural confequences of imprudence and diftrefs?-Neglect and cenfure conftantly attend the depreffive turn of Fortune's wheel. It ever was, and ever will be fo.-How juft and exemplary is the proof my beloved and often quoted author gives us of this human depravity, in his "Timon of Athens * !"

"As we do turn our backs

"From our companion thrown into the grave, "So his familiars from his buried fortunes "Slunk all away; leaving their falfe vows with him, "Like empty purfes pick'd. Whilft his poor Self, "A dedicated beggar to the air,

"With his disease of all-fhunn'd poverty, "Walk'd, like Contempt, alone.”

As I am upon this topic, let me add, that the many favours for which I am indebted to those, whofe humanity has induced them to afford me relief fince diftrefs has come upon me, are deeply imprinted on my memory; and the impreffion, I

* A&t IV. Scene II.

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truft,

truft, will never be eradicated. Whilft I am condemning ingratitude in others, I would not with to be guilty of it myself. I would therefore here return my moft grateful acknowledgments for the numerous favours I have received, not only from many noble perfonages, whofe virtues add luftre to their high rank, but likewife to the community to which I formerly belonged. To them I fhall always esteem myself greatly indebted, and affure them it will be the highest happiness I can experience, if ever I have an opportunity to evince my gratitude.

But to return. Mr. Rich produced, this season, a most fuperb Reprefentation of a Coronation, in the hiftorical plays of Shakspere. And in order to prevent the principal performers from refufing. to appear in the proceffion, he propofed walking in it himself, as Queen's Chamberlain. Unfortunately, however, he was taken ill at the last rehearsal, and never had the pleasure of seeing the grand pageant he had spared no expence to render as magnificent as poffible. As I performed in moft of the plays, and walked as Queen every night, I had very little leifure to pay any attention to my domestic affairs. I left the conduct of my houfe entirely to my own maid, having no doubt of her honesty; and fuppofing the weekly vouchers. fhe brought me in a fufficient check upon her.

As