"Three weeks after her elopement, I was "(fays Mr. R-t) going down Cheapfide one day, and faw a lady fomething like 46 my wife, but as the was fomewhat dif guised, and I could not fee her face, I 66 was not sure. At laft I ventured to look "under her bonnet, and found, that, fure "enough, it was fhe. I then walked three "times backwards and forwards in Cheap 66 66 fide, endeavouring to perfuade her to re turn with me, or to difcover where the "lived; but he obftinately refused to re turn, or to let me fee her retreat; and "here (fays Mr. R-t) I begged that the "would grant me a kifs; but the would not willingly. However, after fome bustle in σε "the street, I took a farewel kifs. Poor "dear foul! (figh'd he) she is rather too 66 Spiritual; for notwithstanding I laid by "her fide near fix months, fhe never would "be prevailed upon to do any thing carnal; "and although I did all in my power to get "the better of her spiritual scruples, yet she "was always fo in love with Chrift her hea 06 venly spouse, that when the eloped from me, she was, I affure you, as good a vir"gin as when I married her.' I must give you a story or two of the fame nature with the preceding. A gentleman of London happening to be on a visit at Bristol about three years fince, fell in love with a handsome young lady who was one of the holy fisterhood; after a few weeks acquaintance he made her an offer of his perfon and fortune, and the young lady, after proper inquiry had been made into the gentleman's family, fortune, &c. confented to make our lover happy. They were foon after married, and the fame day set off in a post-chaise towards London, in order to fleep the first night at an inn, and fo fave the lady the blushes occafioned by the jokes common on fuch occafions; this happy couple had been in bed about an hour when the cry of murder alarmed the house; this alarm proceeding from the room that was occupied by drew the company the bride and bridegroom, drew the that way; the inn-keeper knocked at the door, door, and demanded admittance; our Benedict appeared at the door, and informed the host that his lady had been taken fuddenly ill in a kind of fit he believed, but that he was better; and after the innkeeper's wife had been fent into the room to fee the young lady, and had found her well, all retired to bed. They had, however, not lain more than two hours, when the cry of murder, fire, &c. again alarmed the houfe, and drew many out of their beds once more. Our young gentleman then dreffed himself, and opening the door, informed the company that he had that morning been married to the young lady in bed, and that being married, he had infifted on being admitted to the privilege of an hufband, but that the young lady had talked much about the good of her poor foul, her fpiritual hufband, &c. and that instead of granting what he conceived to be the right of every husband, she had thought proper to disturb all in the house. He added, that having been thus made very ridiculous, ridiculous, he would take effectual care to prevent a repetition of the fame abfurd conduct. He then ordered a poft-chaife, and fet off for London, leaving our young faint in bed to enjoy her spiritual contemplations in their full extent; nor has he ever fince paid her any attention. Some time fince, being in a large town in the West, she was pointed out to me by a friend, as she was walking in the ftreet. I am also informed, from undoubted authority, that in the fame town there are a couple who have been married upwards of three years, and as yet the husband is not certain as to the fex of his wife; and on every attempt of the husband for that purpofe, the fervants are alarmed with the screams of the pious lady, who would not permit fuch carnal communication for the world. The preceding ftories put me in mind of what Ovid fays was practifed by young maids on the feftival of the celebrated J nymph Anna Perenna, thus tranflated by I know not who: "With promises the amorous god she led, Thither, her face conceal'd, is Anna led; "While rage and fhame alternate fwell his breast. } I know that there are now in Mr. Wefley's fociety, in London, fome women who, ever fince they were converted, have refused to sleep with their husbands, and that fome of those will not pay the leaft attention to any temporal concern whatever, being, as they term it, wholly wrapped up in divine contemplation, having their fouls abforbed in divine love, fo as not to be interrupted by the trifling concerns of a husband, family, &c. Mrs. G——— left her husband and children, one of whom was fucking at her breaft, and came from Ireland to London; and when fhe was upbraided with her unnatural behaviour, the |