much prepossessed with the methodistical notions of free-grace, that would not let me be finally lost, presuming that I must wait as it were for a second call to repentance, justification, &c., which I had been taught to believe might take place instantaneously, and put the devil to flight in a hurry, and so matters would be all right again. And I have known many who, having these ideas, have continued to live very profligate lives to the end of the chapter.

I often privately took the bible to bed with me, and in the long summer mornings read for hours together in bed, but this did not in the least influence my conduct. As you know great events often arise from little causes, I am now going to relate a circumstance, trivial in itself, though productive of a more considerable change in my situation than any I had yet experienced.

I was twenty-one years of age the 11th of September 1767; the election was over the latter end of March 1768. It was in this year that my new master's wife insisted on my purchasing milk of a milk-maid who was a customer at the shop; which command I refused to comply with, as I had a smart little milk-maid of my own. But as my mistress " wore the breeches," my master was obliged, by his wife's order, to inform me that I must comply with her mandate, or get another master. I left him without hesitation, and the same afternoon went to Wellington, took leave of my father and mother, and informed them of my intention to go to Bristol. After two or three days I returned to Taunton, where I stayed a day or two more. In which time I became enamoured with, or infatuated by, the beautiful Nancy Trott; and although I saw the impropriety of the measure, yet I could not resist the fair tempter, who prevailed with me to permit her to accompany me in my journey.

"Reason was given to curb our headstrong will,
And yet but shows a weak physician's skill;

Gives nothing while the raging fit does last,
But stays to cure it when the worst is past.
Reason's a staff for age, when nature's gone;
But youth is strong enough to walk alone."

DRYDEN'S Con. of Gran.

We rested a week in Bridgewater, where I worked nard and got money to convey us to Exbridge, seventeen miles on this side Bristol; and there I saw my conduct in such a point of view as made me to resolve to leave her.

"In well-feign'd accents, now they hail my ear,
My life, my love, my charmer, or my dear.

As if these sounds, these joyless sounds could prove
The smallest particle of genuine love.

O! purchas'd love, retailed through half the town,
Where each may share on paying half-a-crown;
Where every air of tenderness is art,

And not one word the language of the heart;
Where all is mockery of Cupid's reign,
Ends in remorse, in wetchedness and pain."

ART OF LIVING IN LONDON.

My finances amounted to three shillings and one penny, out of which I gave her half a crown; and with the remaining seven-pence, without informing her of my purpose, I set off for Bristol, where I arrived in a few hours, and got work the same evening.

A few days after, I went to the inn where the Taunton carrier put up, to enquire after Miss Trott, as I wanted to know if she had returned safe to Taunton. I was informed that she was in Bristol nearly as soon as I was. Knowing but little of the world, and still less of women of her description, I was quite unhappy on her account, for fear that being in a strange place she might be in want and distress; which thought induced me to offer to several of my countrymen five shillings to the first who should bring me an account where I might find her; but I did not see her until several weeks after that.

"Some foe to his upright intent
Finds out his weaker part;
Virtue engages his assent,

But pleasure wins the heart.
'Tis here the folly of the wise,
Through all his arts we view,

And while his tongue the charge denies,
His conscience owns it true.'
99

COWPER.

The Taunton carrier gave me a letter from my good mistress Bowden (who by marrying again had changed her name to Dingle.) The contents of this letter very much surprised me. It informed me that a day or two before I fell out with my last mistress (which was the trifling cause of my leaving Taunton) Betty Tucker, a common lass, had sworn a child to me; that the parish officers had been to my master's shop within an hour after I had left it to go to Wellington, and that they had been at Wellington just as I had left that place; and afterwards hearing that I was in Bridgewater, they had pursued me thither. But the morning on which they arrived, I had set off for Exbridge; and believing that I had intentionally fled before them, they had given over this chase for the present.

Reflecting on this affair, although my conduct was very far from entitling me to entertain such a supposition, yet I was then weak enough to imagine that, being a particular favourite of heaven, a kind of miracle had been wrought to save me from a prison, or from marrying a woman I could not bear the idea of living with a single week; and as I had not any knowledge of her being with child (not having seen her for three months before) I had not taken any measure to avoid the consequence, but put myself in the way of the officers: for, as I have just told you, after I had taken leave of my father and mother, I went back to Taunton, and walked about publicly one whole day, and part of another.

This girl was delivered about two months afterwards of a still-born child, so that I was never troubled for expenses. Methinks you are ready to say with

Pomfret,

""Tis easy to descend into the snare,
By the pernicious conduct of the fair:
But safely to return from their abode,
Requires the wit, the prudence of a God."

I am, dear friend, yours.

LETTER XII.

"Terror in dreams the anxious mother moves,
Or bids fond virgins mourn their absent loves.
Sylvia in vain her wearied eyes would close,
Hark! the sad death-watch clicks-adieu repose;
The distant owl, or yelling mastiff near,
Terror still vibrates on the list'ning ear,
And bids the affrighted Sylvia vigils keep,
For fancy like Macbeth has murder'd sleep."

DEAR FRIEND,

MR PRALL.

THE subject of my last recalls to my mind a ridiculous affair which excited much mirth in that part of the country.

During the election at Taunton, a gentleman one day came in a post-chaise to the White Hart inn, kept by Mr Baldwin, and after having refreshed himself, strolled into the yard, and seeing the ostler, asked him if he could inform him where they took in the news? The ostler, understanding him in a literal sense, directed him to a bookseller's shop on the opposite side of the way; this shop was kept by Miss

A-d-n, a beautiful young lady of irreproachable character, and one whose fine understanding and polished taste did honour to the profession; which profession she only adopted for an amusement, as she possessed an independent fortune.

Our gentleman, on entering the shop, enquired of the shopmaid for her mistress; but the maid, being used to serve in the shop, and knowing that her mistress had some ladies with her, informed the gentleman that she could help him to anything that he wanted. But on his saying he had some private business with her mistress, he was shown into a back parlour, and the mistress being informed a gentleman wanted to speak to her, she went directly to him. The moment she entered the room, he clasped her in his arms, called her a divine creature, &c. This so alarmed Miss A-d-n, that she screamed aloud; on hearing which, the ladies, preceded by the housemaid and shopmaid, repaired to the parlour, where they found Miss A-d-n almost in fits. The gentleman, thinking it was only a trick to raise her price, took but little notice, on which one of the maids ran out and called in several of the neighbours, who on coming into the parlour, saw with astonishment our sir Harry Wildair taking improper liberties with Miss A-d-n, and desired him to desist. But he desired them not to attempt to put tricks on travellers, and ordered them to leave the room. Instead of obeying his injunctions, they in a resolute tone ordered our spark to go instantly about his business. However he still kept his ground, until the mayor of the town, who happened to live just by, was called in. Mayor demanded to know why he took such freedom with the lady? Our gentleman, seeing that the affair began to look very serious, now became calm, and informed the company that, having an inclination for a frolic, he had inquired for a bad house, and had been directed there; adding, that if there had been any

H

Mr