but he removed them: for, alas! how readily do we credit what we wish to be true; and how eafy was it to impofe on a young girl who knew nothing of these matters? A clergyman came in less than an hour; but I muft freely confefs, that his miferable appearance shocked and alarmed me; though I have often fince feen many fuch, deplorable to behold, in the ftreets of this city. Mr. G** told me, "That he was an affiftant to the parish curate's affiftant; and, as his pay was but fmall, his wigs could not be expected to abound with curl, nor his gowns with blackness. But that his poverty made no difference; the ceremony was as valid, when performed by him, as by the best-powdered dean, or most downy doctor in England.”—Mr. G**'s good humour and sprightliness, which I attributed to his paffion, dispelled every idea of doubt or apprehenfion from my breast: the mumbling priest muttered over the ceremony; my maid and Mr. G**'s man were our attendants; the priest was difmiffed; reluctance was no more; and, we were― for I had no consciousness of guiltwe were most blest.

Mr. G** continued faithful and fond; but I muft freely confess I was far from happy, faving when my fadder reflections were diffipated by his company, which I rarely enjoyed till the evening. The remembrance of my parents haunted me continually; and though I wrote to let them

know

know I was well, fafe, and married, yet I wanted fomething more; I wanted to fee them and be reconciled. This Mr. G** convinced me was impoffible; for I now was informed by him, that his own was a ftate of perfect dependance; that an uncle, his only friend, had procured him a place in one of the public offices, and was fing his intereft to advance him: but that if he fhould be informed of his marriage, he would utterly reject him; and thus he should lofe all his future profpects-His intereft was so much mine, that I readily acquiefced but the knowledge of his circumstances rendered me anxious and careful; and few women in my state, I believe, would have lived with greater œconomy.

Indeed I had very little reason to be expenfive; for I faw, I could fee, no company. I found that I was generally esteemed by the fober neighbourhood in an offenfive character; and, therefore, I could make no acquaintance with them: and I had no inclination to affociate with the abandoned, and loft to reputation; fince I knew, (or at leaft imagined) there was no blot upon my own. My maid, and the good woman of the house where I lodged, were all my acquaintance; and a walk, in the dusk of the evening, my only refreshment and recreation. Mr. G** would now and then bring a gentleman to pafs the evening; but their converfation was generally too loose for me then to relish; and I was

apt

apt to be displeased with him, for allowing his friends fome liberties with me, which I thought did not agree with the delicacy of a husband. Mr. S* in particular feemed my husband's favourite ; came with him the most frequently; was most affiduous to attract my notice; and was by far the most agreeable man that vifited us.

In this manner a twelvemonth passed away; and as I had brought Mr. G** a fine little girl, the neceffary attention to this sweet babe rendered my fftuation much more comfortable. But one evening Mr. G**, by hint, following hint, alarmed my fufpicions; and at length led me to know, that his uncle had procured a confiderable place for him, fomewhere in America, whither he must speedily fail, though not without hopes, he added, of a happy return to me in proper time.-Judge, Sir, what I felt upon this information. My blood grew cold; my heart was ready to burft; my limbs trembled; I fainted away! Oh that I had died! would God, that I had died that moment! Oh that I had never more recovered from that fwoon recovered to mifery and guilt, to poverty and woe, to fin and forrow! Oh that my eyes never more had opened to the scene of anguifh before me !

It was to no purpose that I entreated or complained; that I upbraided or befought; that I pleaded the calls of the mother, or the wife; refpecting each, he dropped fome things which shock

ed

inmoft foul; and, after a night, a night of such horror, as I wifh no poor young woman may ever experience, he left me; and I was undone!

For not many hours after his departure, Mr. S* his friend (whom I mentioned before) brought me the following letter, which I will give you in his own words.

I

My dear Molly,

AM forry our hard fates oblige us to part;

but there is no remedy. If I had stay'd in England, you would have still kept me conftant; but as it is, you must endeavour to make the beft on't. I make Mr. S** the bearer, and recommend him to your kindness; he will deferve it and he brings you the laft prefent I fhall be able to fend you. You have been under a great mistake in supposing yourself my wife. That could not be. Mr. S** will fet you right in that affair. I would advise you to fend the child you have had to the Foundling Hospital: and you don't approve Mr. S**, your best way will be to reconcile yourself to your parents. You may make up a good story enough, and lay all the blame on the faithlefs man. Though I hope you will at all times do me the juftice to own, that if you had not run away with me from your father's, the reft could not have followed. You are young, and may yet make your VOL. II. fortune,

if

M

fortune, which will be a pleasure to me to hear, in the most diftant parts of the world.

I am your former lover,

T. G**.

Every word of this letter was keener than a dagger; and all this from the man I loved above all things! who could fupport it? However, there is a curiofity even in forrow; we are anxious to know the worst. Mr. S* informed me that the licence was forged; and the priest, a vile pander, who, at Mr. G**'s follicitation, had hired the wig and habit of an old clergyman for a pot of porter; and that the whole was a device to conquer my virtue. Worthy conqueft truly! Inhuman favage, boast thy fubtlety and fuccefs!

You cannot wonder that abhorrence took the place of affection; and that no monster in nature appeared equally fhocking, equally meriting deteftation, in my judgment, with this cruel, cruel man! Mr. S* found little fatisfaction in my company, for I was distracted: - I wept, I raved; reason was loft, hope seemed to have forfaken me; I gave myself up to all the anguifh of defpair.

But as nothing violent can last long, my fad reflections began to calm; and indeed I was fummoned by necefity to ferious deliberation. For as Mr. G**'s income never supplied me with much affluence, fo my want of money foon

fhewed