man was unfortunately as ignorant of the town as she was herself. They miffed their way, and inflead of getting to their deftination, wandered through Holborn, and were reconnoitred by one of those sharpers, who, under the character of fmugglers, impofe on the ignorant the manufactures of Manchester and Spitalfields, as the finest foreign filks. Finding her by her appearance and addrefs to be a ftranger in London, and one fit for his purpose, he told her he had the pattern of a filk gown which was finuggled-that he would let her have a bargain of it-that it lay at a certain public houfe fome distance from Holborn, and defired the might come and fee it. She at first objected to go, alledging that the would be too late for the ftage, as it was to fet out for Eltham at two o'clock; but he bid her not be under any apprehenfion of being too late, for the ftage would not go out until four o'clock. She being willing to make a purchase, which the imagined would be very advantageous, and not doubting but he would be time enough for the tage, fuffered herself to be prevailed upon to go with this pretended fmuggler; who in reality wanted nothing elfe but to impofe damaged goods for that of foreign, and thereby draw more than double their value from the pockets of the fimple and unwary. At length they ar rived at the above-mentioned houfe, and after calling for a pot of beer, produced his pretended foreign piece of filk. It appeared well to her eye, and without uting many words fhe paid him his full demand, leaving herfelf but a few fillings. This piece of knavery being over, he fmiled in his fleeve at the trick he had played on her, but affuring her the had got a rare bargain. He then told them it was time for them to be at the stage, and, very civilly put them into the road to NOTE. One of those sharpers, fome time ago, accofted a gentleman, who was very carefully picking his fteps, to fave himfelf from the dirt, and the plafhing in the ftreets. Being perfectly acquainted with all the fratagems of the town, he was aftonished at the fellow's attack upon him; but yielding to his folicitation, they went to the next pot-house, and the fmuggler difplay ed all his trumpery. The gentleman undeceived him with refpect to his prize, and having called for fome liquor, afked the fellow, in perfect good humour, "What mark or fign there was about him, which could make him imagine that he was a countryman ?" The harper in. ftantly replied, "Becaufe, Sir, you wore white ftockings on a dirty day." Charing Crofs, where they arrived about three in the afternoon; and, to their inexpreflible forrow, found that the coach set off at two o'clock, and did not go again till eight next morning. As the footman was obliged to go home to wait at dinner, they must separate, and they agreed that the fhould purfue her way on foot. Juft as a gay young fellow was coming by, the footman gave her the following diftinct route, by which to pursue her way: "You must, Kitty, make the beft of your way down the Strand-along Fleet-treet-up Ludgate-hill-through St. Paul's Church-yard-along Cheapfidepaft the 'Change-down by the Monument-over London Bridge-through the Borough-and then you must ask the way to Eltham in Kent." With this direction, after fhaking her by the hand, away he went, and the poor unfortunate girl was left ftanding at Charing Crofs, at three o'clock in the afternoon of one of the dark days of November, to make the beft of her way to Eltham, without knowing a foot of it. She continued here fome time, with a heart overwhelmed with the deepeft diftrefs, and eyes roving here and there expreffive of the greateft anxiety. But, alas, how hard is it for a young woman to efcape unnoticed by thofe vicious rangers of the great metropolis? The gay young fellow that was pafling by just as the fervant left her, ftood at a convenient diftance, watching all her motions with a jealous eye, and a heart captivated with the most unlawful defire. It feems he was one of thofe that compose the grand affembly of the nation, who are forward to eftablifh laws for the protection of the female fex, but yet, alas, the most forward to violate thofe laws they themselves establish. And it must be so, while the Senate Houfe is filled with boys of one-and-twenty. Thefe gentlemen are everlastingly in the purfuit of intrigue; and they have fuch opportunities and knowledge, that, in traverfing the streets, they can felect from the number of paffengers the particular girls, whofe roving eyes, and giddy manners, give them to understand, that they have more paffion than prudence; and that if they have not yet fallen, it is because they have not yet run the gauntlet of ardent folicitation. Hear this, ye volatile, and flighty girls; whether you are fempftreffes or fervants, milliners or mantua-makers—whether you go to church of to market-hear and be alarmed. You cannot throw about you one inviting glance-you cannot harbour one lurking leer-you cannot breathe one melting figh you cannot indulge one tempting titter, without being obferved. He made up to her without the embarraffment of ceremony, and with that fami. liar expreffion in his countenance which was calculated to reconcile her to the im. pudence of his intrufion,-" Pray, my dear (fays he) will you give me leave to conduct you to the end of your journey?" There are moments in which the heart is eafily befet. Let the reader imagine the fituation of the forlorn and fimple girl. She was in a state of mind favourable to furprise, and, alas! but too favourable to the defigns of gallantry. She turned to the young fellow, on this addrefs, and in the pure ingenuousness of diftrefs, burst into tears. "Heavens! my good girl, (fays the gentleman) what ails you? Are you unhappy, and can I be of fervice to you?" Kitty told him, with much dif. composure, that she had not a friend in the world, and hardly an acquaintance, that he was in fearch of a father whom fhe had not feen for many years, and of whofe existence the was ignorant,-and that he was going to Eltham, and did not know a foot of the way-This account of herself, fo fingular and pathetic, at once rouzed his fufpicions, his curiofity, and his feelings. He knew the town well enough to be on his guard against the lures of the hacknied, he was aware that artifice might be dignified with the semblance of fimplicity. At the fame time he was anxious to difcover the truth of what the told him, from an earnet defire to affift her if the forrow was real; for he mixed benevolence with gallantry; and though he was heartily difpofed to debauch her if innocent, he was as well inclined to proted her if friendlefs. He foothed her with the most endearing condefcenfions, and intreated her to flep in fomewhere, that he might be able to inquire if the conches for Eltham were gone out, or that he might provide for her in fome way or another. She made no hefitation, and he carried her into the Rummer tavern, one of thofe convenient honfes where in trigues, in whatever place they may be begun, are generally concluded. He called for a bottle of wine, and heard from Kitty the particulars of her ftory, as we have related them. The romantic fate of her mother-and the very lamentable fituation of the girl herfelf, made him take a peculiar intereft in her affairs. He determined with glowing and boneft generofity, to hield her from all the difficulties to which he was expofed: But while he was thus to guard her from others, he made a refervation in favour of himself. He no longer doubted her fincerity. Nature was in her face; he had teftimonies of truth in her features and behaviour which could not be feigned, and which he could not mistake. But this was not enough to deter him from an attempt on her virtue, He was the Bave to paffion. His habits had given fuch an afcendency to his defires over reason, morality, and honour, that he was conftantly in the purfuit of objects of intrigue; and a mind not by nature vicious, was rendered fo by indulgence. He attacked her with all the violence of ungovernable appetite. He promised her immense fums-threw his purse upon the table--and ufed every art that defire or gallantry could invent to produce her compliance ;--but Kitty refifted him with the native dignity of innocence. She broke from his arms-reproached him with the bafeness of infulting an unprotected woman, whom misfortune and not error had put into his power; and overwhelmed with grief and fatigue, fhe burst into a flood of tears. The hurry of her fpirits increased the invitation of her looks. The blooming health that flushed in ber checks received a deeper tincture; and the blood which seemed to be too copious for its channels, was warmed into a more rapid courfe. The gentleman was agonized with paffion, but he was checked by the commanding influence of modeßy. He then endeavoured to calm her tumults-he spoke to her with the most gentle and compaffionate toneand affured her that he would not dare to offend her more. She was huthed into confidence, and for a few minutes they converfed on the means of her going down to Eltham that night. The waiter was fent to know if there was any coach to go that road; he returned and informed them, that none would go before eight the next morning. This disappointment threw poor Kitty into the moit excruciating ftate of mind: He feized on this circumftance as a new ground of hope; and under the tyranny of his erratic paffion, he again importuned her to make him happy. She now ftarted up, and in her fim-. ple but honeft refentment of his behaviour, pulled out of her pocket her whole treafure-a few, very few remaining shillings, a, nutmeg grater, and a thimble: From this she took and threw a fhilling on the table to pay her fhare of the reckoning, "that he might not (she said) be under the fmalleft obligation to fuch a villain." He could not avoid fmiling at her fimplicity; but it co cluded his profpects, and his hopes of function were now converted into the most fervent withes to protect ber. He again with much difficulty, and many affeverations, reconciled her to her feat; and he procured her promife that he would take up her abode for that night in the tavern where they were, and in the care of the landlady, to whom he would speak, and in the morning he would take a ride with her down to Eltham, and affift her in fearch of her father. If they failed, he promised her upon his honour, that he would provide for her and protect her till they could look out for a genteel fervice, and he would not harbour the moft diftant intention against her. With thefe affurances the appeared to be fatisfied. It was now between three and four, o'clock. It was the first day of the meeting of parliament, and he was a member of the lower house. He promifed to return by eight in the evening, and after giving orders to the houfe to fupply her with whatever the might want, and intreating her to compofe herself and remain in the confidence of his protection, he left her. The poor unfortunate girl having had the experience of his ungovern.. able temper, and justly fearing that he their fearch, and it was by mere good for- Fair fanguine Dreams, that feem to cheer. T HE propofal for each county to fit out and man a fhip of the line, at its again in his power, flew from the house, own expence, has monopolized my mind on the infant of his departure. With a for fome days, It has prevented me from forrowful heart he walked along the eating and from fleeping till last night, Strand, and down Fleet-ftreet; at. the when my body and mind being oppreffed bottom of which she was perfectly bewil. and fatigued with the labour of long thinkdered, and stood crying in the middle of ing, I funk into a profound lumber. The the street: She was however directed across fancies of the night were the fame as those Blackfriars bridge; but by the time that of the day; but my mind was cheared the wandered up as far as the obelifk with a dream, which I truft was propheit was dark-a very heavy fhower came tic of that renovation of ftrength, and reon, and she was wetted to the skin. She newal of glory, which the tried honour, înaiked her way at the turnpike, to Eltham., tegrity, and abilities of the prefent adminif The people were ftruck with her misfor-tration give the people reason to hope for. tunes; and an old man after examining her very closely, progured her a lodging for the night at the houfe of a washerwoman in the neighbourhood. The gentleman who had left her in the Bagnio returned according to his promife at eight o'clock, and on being told by the waiter that he had left the houfe immediately after him, flew into a vehement paffion, and fwose that they wished to fecrete her. In truth he believed fo, and with all his debauchery he was exceedingly anxious to fave her from their mischievous defigns. He fearched the whole house, and was only convinced from their patience while he did this, that the girl had gone away. The next morning he rode down to Eltbam, and juft as he was turning into the village he came up with Kitty, who had fet off on foot at a very early hour, and had made her way to the place without any further accident. The meeting occafioned confiderable apprehenfion on the part of Kitty, but he difpelled her fears by the openness and refpect of his beha⚫ viour. The whole day was fpent in feeking for her father, whofe obfcurity eluded I thought I was fitting upon the shore of the isle of Wight, at the dawn of day,. watching the effect of the rifing fun upon the arch of heaven. The fky appeared clear, except at the horizon, where a few clouds were collected, as if to receive the glorious luminary. They were attired in their gay and gorgeous fiveries of purple, edged with gold. The bofom of the deep was agitated with a gentle heaving, and the sporting winds fpread around the fragrance of the adjacent fields. The extafy of my foul was inexpreffible it was loft in delightful meditation! From this fituation, however, I was roufed by an appearance that astonished me. An old man, clothed in armour, with a fword, and bearing on his left arm a fhield, ornamented with a red cross, appeared before me. A lion stood on his right, and a mattiff on his left hand. I am, faid this reverend, yet warlike figure, the Genius of England. I have long flept under the influence of a magic fpell, but thefe faithful animals have at length rouled me from my lethargy.'This addrefs drew my attention to the lion and maftiff, and I perceived they had collars on their neeks bearing infcriptions. The in England. The other representatives of collar of the Lion appeared a circle of folid counties were not lefs emulous. They diamond, emboffed with the letters Nobi- cheered each other with repeated fhouts,' lity. The collar of the Maftiff was of pure and fupported each other on every trying gold, deeply engraven with the characters occafion, The London and the French People. The letters on the Lion's collar Admiral grappled. Five French fhips came were Roman capitals. The characters on to the affittance of their Admiral; but the the Maftiff's collar were Old English. Middlefex, the Suffex, and the Effex, bearing down, fo mauled them, that one went to the bottom, one theered off, and three ftruck. I will fhew you, faid the Genius of England, the most amazing fight the world ever beheld-Here, continued he, (prefenting me with a little phial) here, rub your eyes with this elixir, it will enable you to fee clearly not only the coaft of England, but the coaft of France; it is the fame elixir with which I anointed the eyes of Raleigh and of Chatham, and it has restored to fight my Lion and my Maftiff, who for fome time were afflicted with a horrid blindness.' On applying the elixir to my eyes, the horizon extended, and the coasts of France and England, with every object on the intermediate fea,appeared plain to my view. I had not looked long, when two fleets appeared. The one iffued from Breft harbour, and I reckoned fixty fail of the line, befides frigates, &c. The other fleet if fued from Portsmouth; I reckoned fortythree fail of the line, and twelve frigates. The English fleet made a tack, which gave me a full view of their sterns, and to my infinite joy, I faw that each of forty-one of the line of battle fhips bore the name of an English county, and each of the frigates bore the name of a Welsh county-the other two fhips of the line were named The City of London, and the Metropolitan. You are furprifed at this fight, faid the Genius of England, but I will explain it to you-every county in England has fitted out a fhip of the line, every county in Wales, a frigate-the city of London has fitted out two fhips of the line, one for the Channel fervice, which you fee, the other for the Weft Indies; and the Clergy of England, determined not to be outdone in patriotifm, loyalty, and grace, met in convocation, and fubfcribed for that fhip which you fee bears the name of Metropolitan. The other Beet is the united Reet of France and Spain.' The two fleets now drew up in line of battle, and the fight began-the Metropolitan and the City of London engaged the French and Spanish Admirals, yardarm and yard-arm, and it was impoflible for me to decide, whether the zeal of the Church, or the patriotifm of the City, kept up the most conftant fire. The ardour with which the English fhips fought is almost inexpreffible. The Kent fought danger every where, determined to keep up that distinguished character for courage, which her name has ever borne The French Admiral fought with great bravery, but the courage fhewn by the London was irrefiftible. Prince WilliamHenry fought as Lieutenant on board this fhip. I faw him head a party of feamen and marines who boarded the enemy. faw him attack the quarter-deck, and carry it fword in hand. I faw him ftrike the colours of France, and erect the Royal Standard of England. I Heaven! what a fhout was given from ship to fhip, when the Lilies of France were hauled down! Three general cheers fucceeded. They began with the Northumberland, who fought at one extremity of the line, and ended with the Cornwall, who fought at the other extremity. The Metropolitan was not idle; never did the Canons of the Church render Old England fuch effential service. The Span fh fons of Superftition could not stand before them. In vain they pray to and call upon Anthony. St. George prevailed, and down came the Standard of Spain. Fear and difinay now poffeffed the enemy-they fled on every fide. Ifaw twelve of their firft rates burned on the coaft of France by the Welsh frigates, and in fight of two encampments, in which 40,000 men were quartered, for the purpose of invading England after deftroying her fleet. Sixteen fail I faw towed into Portfmouth; and from the quantity of timber and the number of hulks floating and blazing on the water, I concluded that the reft were deftroyed. The coaft near Portfmouth was covered with people. The whole nation feemed to have congregated there. I faw a pavilion, from which the King came to receive his brave Son and brave Admirals. Soon as the Royal feaman landed, the Genius of England embraced him, and took him by the hand; the Lion and the Maftiff followed. The King and Queen now met him, and fell upon his neck. The thousands who furrounded them wept. It was the overflowing of joy and gratitude. There was filence of two minutes-but the difcharge of a gun roufing the multitude-a fhout inftantly took place, in which I joining with all my ftrength, it awoke me from my dream. BRITISH BRITISH and IRISH BIOGRAPHY. Life of Sir Cloudefley Shovel. HOVEL (Sir Cloudefley) a gallant fea- and furnished him with proper rules for conducting his enquiries and obfervations. The dey's behaviour the fecond time was worfe than the former; but Mr. Shovel bore it with patience, and made ufe of it as an excufe for staying fome time longer on hore. When he returned, he affured the admiral, that it was very practicable to burn the fhips in the harbour, notwithftanding their lines and forts. Accordingly, in the night of the 4th of March, lieutenant Shovel, with all the boats in the fleet, filled with combustible matter, boldly entered the harbour, and deftroyed the enemy's fhips. This intrepid action ftruck the Tripolines with amazement, and made them inftantly fue for peace. Sir John Narborough gave fo honourable an account to the King of Mr. Shovel's courage and conduct in this action, that the next year he was rewarded with the command of the Sapphire, a fifth rate; whence he was foon after removed to the James Galley, a fourth rate, in which he continued till the death of Charles II. He was known to be no friend to the arbitrary proceedings of James II. However, that prince preferred him to the command of the Dover, a fourth rate. He accepted the commiffion, without changing his principles; and at the Revolution, joining heartily with the new government, he was very active in the fervice. He commanded the Edgar, a third rate, at the battle of Bantry Bay, in 1689; where he gave fuch fignal proofs of valour and conduct, that king William conferred on him the honour of knighthood. In 1690 he was made rear-admiral of the Blue, and, as a mark of royal favour, the king delivcred him his commiflion with his own hand. In the fpring of the year 1692, juft before his majefty fet out for Holland, he appointed Sir Cloudesley Shovel rearadmiral of the Red, and at the fame time commander of the fquadron that was to convoy him thither. On his return from thence, he joined the grand fleet under admiral Ruffel, and had a great fhare in the famous victory at La Hogue. In 1693, inftead of appointing one admiral to command the fleet, the king granted a commiffion to Henty Killigrew, Efq; Sir Ralph Delaval, and Sir Cloudefley Shovel, to execute that office in conjunction. But this proved a bad expedient; for fome difagreement between these joint admirals is fuppofed to have occafioned the deftruction of the Smyrna fleet, which fo much difgraces our annals of this year. However, fo high an opinion was univerfally entertained of the courage, abilities, and integrity of Sir Cloudefley Shovel, that no imputation was fixed upon his conduct. Gg In |