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his ufual cordial civility, he informed me, laughing, that he was come ambaffador from the junto, and had the happiness to be deputed by them to engage me; adding, that there was a neceflity for the engagement's being figned that evening.

Upon my expreffing my aftonishment at the celerity required, and the urgency made ufe of, he acquainted me, that he had been honoured with a vifit from Colonel Brudenell, who had peremptorily demanded that I fhould be engaged in four and twenty hours, or elfe he should be obliged to compel them to a compliance. As the refolution of this gentleman was well known; and, likewise, that he was diftinguished by having the ear of royalty; the proprietors thought it better to comply with his demand, than to rifque incurring the difpleasure of a perfon whofe favour was of fuch importance to them.

As a further confideration, they knew he had great influence over all the young men of quality, many of whom would be happy in having an opportunity of breaking chandeliers, and pulling up benches.

It must be supposed that I was not a little mor tified, when I confidered that a performer, who had always been esteemed of confequence, and who had every reafon to conclude herfelf in fome estimation with the public, fhould, according to

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the stage phrafe, be forced upon the managers.

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was, however, confoled by the reflection, that I was ftill honoured with the friendship of my worthy benefactor Mr. Brudenell, who had induced his brother the Colonel to efpoufe my caufe fo warmly.

I immediately fent my good friend, Alderman Cracroft, intelligence of this unexpected fuccefs. He was much pleased to hear of it; but acquainted me, at the fame time, of his having been informed, that my inexorable profecutrix had bought up two notes of mine, in order to make her debt above a thousand pounds; by which the intended to prevent me from taking the benefit of any act of infolvency. And this fhe had done, notwithstanding I had regularly paid her the ftipulated two hundred pounds a year, and had given a proof of my honeft intentions, by fcorning even a thought of taking advantage of an act, at the time I owed near twice the fum I now did. He therefore advised me by all means to apply to Comte Haflang, with whom I had formerly had the honour to be upon the most friendly terms, to request that he would retain me for his houfekeeper, as a fecurity for my perfon.

The application was no fooner made, than granted; and my protection was drawn up nearly in these words:

"WHEREAS

"WHEREAS George Anne Bellamy, my houfe-keeper, inforins me, that he has con"tracted fome debts which she is anxious to pay ; "and as she is offered an engagement at Covent"Garden theatre; I grant her my leave to per"form at the faid theatre, upon this condition only, that the appropriates her whole falary for "the ufe of her creditors.

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The next day, my engagement at Covent-Garden theatre was publicly announced in the papers, together with my intended appearance, the Friday following, in the character of Cleone.

I had now obtained the fummit of my prefent hopes; and as I know your feelings are fet in unifon with my own, I dare fay you will enjoy with me this momentary refpite of mine from trouble.-A momentary respite I call it-For as Eloisa fays, upon reading Abelard's Letters,

"Whene'er thy name I find,

"Some fure misfortune follows close behind;"

fo, with me, fresh troubles tread upon the heels of a relaxation from pain; as the hurricanes in the Weft-Indies, and other countries fubject to them, are furely preceded by a dead calm.

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-LETTER LXXXI.

Sept. 20, 17

INOW imagined my perfon to be fecure, and

that all my affairs were fettled, except that of my obdurate female creditor; and even her I had now no apprehenfions from, as I concluded the would take the yearly fum fhe had agreed to do, rather than attempt breaking through the laws of nations by attacking a perfon, who was actually the known domeftic of a foreign minifter: and as I was certain that I fhould be able to pay her the ftipulated fum, from the produce of my benefit, as it was not due till the April following, I fet my heart at rest upon that score. I was likewife perfectly happy, that, notwithstanding my fudden decampment in the middle of the season, I had nothing to apprehend from the lofs of the public favour; as, the very morning the play I was to appear in was advertised, every place in the house was taken.

But, to my very great morrification, I found the tranquillity, which I had affumed, to be fallacious; and the ferene profpect, that seemed to prefeut itfelf, as unfubftantial as the bafelefs fabric of a dream. The houfe-keeper who lived with me

during

during my abode in Jermyn-ftreet, and in whom I had wholly confided, had appropriated the money allowed for the expences of the house to her own ufe; and, by bringing me in falfe vouchers, made me believe every thing was paid for; by which means I found myfelf two hundred pounds more in debt than I thought for. With the money thus fraudulently obtained, she had purchased herfelf a husband, whom the accompanied to Switzerland, his native country.

This occafioned me many unwelcome visitors, and obliged me to be troublesome once more to my good friend Mr. Hearne, who lent me the money, and I difcharged all their bills. I now concluded I was exonerated from all claims that could be made upon me, but I was ftill deceived. Upon the renewal of my letter of licence, I had fent it to Mr. Deard, to whom I owed about seventeen pounds, for him to fign. I did this as a mere matter of form; for, as I had expended large fums with his father as well as himfelf, I had no apprehenfions about fuch a trifle.

But, inftead of figning it, Mr. Deard fent me word he would call upon me. This he did on the morning of the day I was once more to exhibit myself to the public. He was informed that I was engaged, and could not fee him; But as he was very preffing, and had formerly F 5

been

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