In confequence of my maid's not appear. ing, the man was discharged, and the very fame night he called at my houfe. As I fup. posed he had no other business with me than to return me thanks for my lenity, and acknowledgments of that nature being moft difagreeable 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 fee 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 person, 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 business, I fent for him to fettle the affair; and, in the mean while, the ungrate ful wretch waited at a neighbouring public houfe. When Mr. Crawford came, the fellow made a peremptory demand of fifty pounds, which he infifted on being paid immediately, otherwife he would go and lodge an information againft me. Finding from my good coufin that there was no redress, I paid the money.

Thus did I become a victim to my hu manity, by means of a monfter, who de C 2 ferved

.

ferved to fuffer the fevereft inflictions of the law for his ingratitude, though he had efcaped 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 ourfelves 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 fpirited 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, hould 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, 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 de

6

fcribed

fcribed by Shakfpere *,

"Thefe velvet

friends abandon you. The careless herd, "full of the pafture, jump along by you, " and never stay to greet a poor and broken bankrupt." On the contrary, they join in the cry against you, and accufe you of faults you never committed, in order to excufe themselves from affifting you.

It has often exited my wonder, when I have reflected, how much the word friendship is abufed, and how it is proftituted in its application, by thofe who are unacquainted with its meaning. Since adversity has vifited me, I have frequently found thofe whom I have always thought to be endowed with the most refined and liberal fentiments, to be as ready to avoid the person they once affected to admire, and loaded with profeffions 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 whofe 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 my power to do, fome of my former nominal friends would not be very well pleased at the disclosure. But they may fleep in quiet. My injuries, however irritating, fhall not

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

impel me to disturb their peace, if peace ca 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,

เ

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 difeafe 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 thofe, 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 truft, will ne

* A& IV. Scene II.

ver be eradicated. Whilft I am condemning ingratitude in others, I would not wish 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 likewise to the community to which I formerly belonged. To them I fhall always esteem myself greatly indebted, and affure them it will be the higheft happiness I can experience, if ever I have an opportunity to evince my gratitude.

But to return.-Mr. Rich produced, this feafon, a moft fuperb Representation of a Coronation, in the hiftorical plays of Shakfpere. And in order to prevent the princi pal performers from refufing to appear in the proceffion, he propofed walking in it himself, as Queen's Chamberlain. Unfortu nately, however, he was taken ill at the laft rehearsal, and never had the pleasure of feeing the grand pageant he had fpared no expence to render as magnificent as poffible. As I performed in most of the plays, and walked as Queen every night, I had very little leifure to pay any attention to my domeftic affairs. I left the conduct of my houfe entirely to my own maid, having no doubt of her honefty; and fuppofing the weekly vouchers fhe brought me in, a fufficient check upon her.