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 ftill-born child, fo that I was never troubled for expences. Methinks you are ready to say with Pomfret, ""Tis eafy to defcend into the fnare, By the pernicious conduct of the Fair: I am, Dear Friend, Yours. LETTER LETTER XII. "Terror in dreams the anxious mother moves, Mr. PRALL DEAR FRIEND, THE fubject of my last re calls 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, ftrolled into the yard, and feeing the hoftler, asked him if he could inform him where they took in the news? The hoftler understanding him in a literal a literal fenfe, directed him to a bookfeller's fhop on the oppofite fide of the way; this. shop was kept by Miss A-d-n, a beautiful young lady of irreproachable character, and one whofe fine understanding and polished taste did honour to the profeffion; which profeffion fhe only adopted for an amufement, as the poffeffed an independent for tune. Our gentleman on entering the fhop, enquired of the shopmaid for her mistress, but the maid being used to serve in the shop, and knowing that her miftrefs had fome ladies with her, informed the gentleman that she could help him to any thing that he wanted. But on his faying he had fome private busi nefs with her mistress, he was fhewed into a back parlour, and the miftrefs being informed a gentleman wanted to speak to her, The went directly to him. The moment The entered the room, he clafped her in his arms, called her a divine creature, &c. This fo alarmed Miss A-d-n, that the fcreamed aloud; on hearing of which, the ladies, pre ceded ceded by the houfemaid and fhopmaid, rea paired to the parlour, where they found Mifs A-d-n almost in fits. The gentleman thinking that it was only a trick to raise her price, took but little notice, on which one of the maids ran out and called in feveral of the neighbours, who on coming into the parlour, faw with astonishment our Sir Harry Wildair taking improper liberties with Mifs A-d-n, and defired him to defift. But he defired them not to attempt to put tricks on travellers, and ordered them to leave the room. Inftead of obeying his injunctions they in a refolute tone ordered our spark to go inftantly about his bufinefs. However he ftill kept his ground, until the mayor of the town, who happened to live just by, was called in. Mr. Mayor demanded to know why he took fuch freedom with the lady? Our gentleman, seeing that the affair began to look very ferious, now became calm, and informed the company that having an inclination for a frolic, he had enquired for a bad houfe, and had been directed there; adding that if there had been any miftake, he was very forry for it, and would beg the lady's pardon. On hearing this the company was more furprized than before, and demanded of the gentleman, who had informed him that that houfe was a bawdy-houfe? He, without hesitation, replied, the hoftler at the White Hart. Upon this the hoftler was fent for, and on his being afked, if he had directed that gentleman, to Miss A—d—n's as to a bawdy-houfe? The poor fellow, with marks of terror and furprife, answered, No. The Gentleman never asked me for a bawdyhoufe, he only afked me for a house where they took in the news. So that the hostler's understanding him in a literal fenfe, caused all the confufion. The affair however had got fo much air, that our spark was glad to leave the town immediately. A very ftrange unaccountable circumstance happened in this Inn, about the fame time; one of thofe occurrenees that puzzle the philofopher, and ftrengthen fuperftition in weak minds. Three or four gentlemen of the neighbourhood were drinking wine in one |