with as fincere an affection as if I had really been her daughter. To her Ladyfhip was I indebted for my introduction to an intimacy with the late Lady Powerfcourt and the dowager Lady Dillon. As fhe looked upon the contract Mr. Calcraft had given me as an actual engagement to marry me, fhe made no feruple to hint to thofe ladies that I was married. And as they were patterns of virtue and due decorum, no one imagined they would fo far tranfgrefs the rules of both, as to vifit a perfon where the connection was of a lefs honourable nature.

Lord Digby having been indifpofed, he refided for fome days at Mr. Calcraft's house, left his mother, whofe affection for him was unbounded, might be too much alarmed. But he removed, as foon as poffible, to enjoy, what he preferred to all human enjoyments, the felicity of making a mother happy. Having the moft tender affection for his mother and brothers, he lived with them in a moderate, regular manner, without indulging himself in thofe exceffes the juvenile part of the nobility generally run into. As this young nobleman might be truly denominated a miracle of nature, a rara avis, from the many great and good qualities he poffeffed, I muft here dwell a little on his character, and give you an anecdote or two of him that greatly redound to his honour.

With

With a most beautiful figure, he was bleffed with the best of hearts. He was generous, without being oftentatious; and though he had travelled, modeft to a degree. He spoke little, but what he faid declared that he poffeffed great good fenfe. He was never known to say an unkind thing, nor to be guilty of an unkind action, to any perfon whatever. His Lordship's mother, and my valuable friend, Mr. Fox, were twins; and the affection which fubfifted between them, was as uncommon as the circumftance of their birth.

Lord Digby came often to Parliamentftreet, and as I had by this means an opportunity of obferving his conduct, I could not help remarking a fingular alteration in his demeanour and dress, which took place during the great feftivals. At Chriftmas and Eatter he was more than ufually grave, and then always had on an old fhabby blue coat. I was led, as well as many others, to conclude, that it was fome affair of the heart which caused this periodical fingularity. And this was no improbable fuppofition.

Mr. Fox, who had great curiofity, wished much to find out his nephew's motive for appearing at times in this manner, as, in general, he was esteemed more than a welldreffed man. Upon his expreffing an inclination to that purpose, Major Vaughan and another gentleman undertook to watch his

Lord

Lordship's motions. They accordingly fet out; and observing him to go towards St. George's Fields, they followed him at a dif tance, till they loft fight of him near the Marshalfea prison.

Wondering what could carry a person of his Lordship's rank and fortune to fuch a place, they enquired of the turnkey, if a gentleman, defcribing him, had not entered the prifon. "Yes, Mafters !" exclaimed the fellow with an oath; "but he is not a "man; he is an angel. For he comes here "twice a-year, fometimes oftener, and fets ❝ a number of prifoners free. And he not "only does this, but he gives them fuf"ficient to fupport themselves and their

families till they can find employment." "This," continued the man, is one of "his extraordinary vifits. He has but a few "to take out to-day." "Do you know who "the gentleman is ?" enquired the Major, "We none of us know him by any other "marks," replied the man, "but by his humanity, and his blue coat."

The gentlemen having gained this intelligence, immediately returned, and gave an account of it to Mr. Fox. As no man poffeffed more humanity, (of which I have already given a proof) than the Secretary at War, the recital afforded him exquifite pleafure. But fearing his nephew might be dif pleased at the illicit manner in which the in

formation

formation had been obtained, he requested that we would keep the knowledge of it a profound fecret.

I could not refift my curiofity of making further enquiries relative to an affair from which I reaped fo much fatisfaction. I, accordingly, the next time his Lordship had his alms-giving coat on, asked him what occafioned his wearing that fingular drefs? With a smile of ineffable sweetness he told me, that my curiofity should foon be gratified; for, as we were congenial fouls, he would take me with him when he next vifited the: place to which his coat was adapted. A compliment more truly flattering, and more acceptable to me, than any I ever had, or could receive.

The night before his intended vifit, his Lordship requested that I would be in readi nefs to go with him the next morning. We then went together to that receptacle of mifery which he had so often vifited, to the confolation of its inhabitants. His Lordship would not suffer me to enter the gate, left the noisomeness of the place fhould prove dif agreeable to me; but he ordered the coachman to drive to the George Inn in the Borough, where a dinner was ordered for the happy wretches he was about to liberate. Here I had the pleasure of feeing near thirty perfons rescued from the jaws of a loathfome prifon, at an inclement season of the

year,

year, it being Christmas; and not only releafed from their confinement, but restored to their families and friends, with fome provifion from his Lordship's bounty for their immediate fupport.-I will not pretend to defcribe the grateful tribute his Lordship' received upon the occafion from the band he had just fet free; nor the fatisfaction he reaped from the generous deed. I participated in the heavenly pleasure; and never was witness to a more delightful scene.

How fhall I tell the fequel of the tale!But it must be told.-Yet whilft I do it, I am almoft ready to accufe Heaven of unkindness, in untimely cutting off fo fair, fo fweet a flower, the pride of the English garden. His Lordship went fome few months after these beneficent acts, to vifit his eftates in Ireland. Where, being obliged, by the mistaken hofpitality of the country, to drink more than he was accustomed to do, and that at a time when he was indifpofed from a violent cold, a fever, attended with a putrid fore throat, was the fatal consequence. And -drop not, thou selfish tear !-my amiable young friend was removed to thofe realms, where alone his expanded heart could find its benevolent propenfities indulged and rewarded.

By the death of this valuable young nobleman, the poor were deprived of a generous benefactor, his acquaintance of a defir

able