clinable to adminifter as his mother: and this not only for the emoluments I might receive, but from a defire to pay all the debts he had contracted here, exonerate his memory, and, at the fame time, clear myself from the heavy obligation I had entered into with him. Inftigated by thefe motives, I perfevered in my defign, and, after fome months application, got Mr. Goodflefh, a principal creditor, to intereft himfelf in it. That gentleman prevailed upon Mr. Buckle, his attorney, to enter into an engagement for me at the commons, that I fhould pay as far as the affets would admit, first repaying myfelf the expences which had been incurred, After much trouble, letters of adminiftration were granted; when, to my infinite furprife, I was informed by Mr. Barry, General Dalling's fecretary, that there was a will, and of which he would fend me a copy. This has put it out of my power to act under my letters of administration, and confequently prevented me from taking any steps towards paying his debts. Befides which, it has involved me more than ever. The agents have refused to give me any account; and notwithstanding I have, for these three years, repeatedly wrote to several perfons perfons at Jamaica, I have never been able to get any account whatsoever of the real ftate of his circumstances. And I am ftill at a lofs, from the many different reports, to guess whether he died in circumstances, or infolvent. Thus continually difappointed in all my expectations, the fport of fortune, and the flave of misfortune, I knew not which way to turn myself. However, to my no fmall fatisfaction, his Excellency Comte Haflang about this time recovered from his late indifpofition, and promised to renew the little income he had allowed me. The affliction I had undergone, had greatly impaired my health, but my spirits more. Whatever affiftance I from time to time received, was devoted before it came into my hands. I once more applied to the proprietors of Covent-Garden theatre for tickets, which Mr. Harris kindly granted me. But from a mistake in the night, and an alteration in his play, his kindness had not the defired effect. I received, indeed, twenty guineas from Mrs. Armstead for a box; and what adds to the obligation is, that I have not the pleasure of knowing her perfonally, though I have reason to be well acquainted with her liberal heart. At this period Comte Haflang had a relapse, which gave me great uneafinefs. Every Every thing now feemed to tend to augment my diftreffes and unhappiness.-No fooner did a new hope of extrication from my difficulties fpring up, than it evaporated, and fhewed that it had only been an empty bubble.-Every friendly twig that presented itself, and seemed to promise relief, broke on the first preffure, and I found myfelf rapidly hurried away by the tide of misfortune.These observations recal to my memory a saying of my dear mother's, which I will give you, and with it conclude my letter. She used to tell me, when I was in very different circumftances from what I am at prefent, that Fortune had knocked fo often at my door, and fo often been denied admittance, that fhe much feared the fickle dame would fend an ugly relation of hers to call upon me, a Miss of her name; who, when she came, would be fo bold an intruder that fhe would I have woefully experiMifs-fortune has, indeed, not take a denial. enced her affertion. called upon me, nor could I fhut the door against her. She has not only been a visitor, but is become an inmate with me. And I have been obliged, forely against my inclination, to keep this maiden lady company. G. A. B. LETTER LETTER March 9, 17 THE failure of what was promifed me as a fupport till my affairs were fettled, and which L depended upon, but which was again put a stop to by Comte Haflang's relapfe, ftill left me involved. I immediately leffened my expence, and removed to a cheap lodging, which I had formerly occu→ pied, till I could afford a better fituation., In order to exonerate myfelf from debt, I accepted of a propofal made me by Mr. Woodward's brother, of difpofing of the money in the three per cent. confols, the intereft of which he was to receive for his life. What made his propofal feem the more eligible, was, that Mr. Willet had repeatedly affured us, that if we filed an amicable bill for this purpofe, he would by no means oppose it. We accordingly brought the request before the Barons of the Exchequer; and as we concluded there would be no oppofition from the executor's attorney, we did not retain counfel to fhew caufe,. and fet forth the reafons of our petition. But, tothe perfect amazement of the folicitor employed by Mr. Woodward and myself, Mr. Willet used every argument in his power to prevent the bill from paffing. He affured the court, that the petition was contrary to the letter and intent of the will; which was meant to tie me up, fo as to prevent me from parting with the leaft tittle of what was bequeathed me, as the teftator wifhed to guard against my extravagance, of which he had the greatest apprehenfions. Upon this the bill was difmiffed. What could occafion fuch an alteration in Mr. Willet's fentiments, and excite him to fuch a wanton piece of cruelty, I am at a loss to determine; unless it was the fear of being obliged to come to a regular account, which it feems our folicitor had at the fame time prayed for, and he muft have fubmitted to, had our petition been granted; or else that he might have the pleasure of expending a little more of the money which was bequeathed me, upon another law-fuit, to his own emolument. But this was of a piece with the rest of his conduct; and will, I trust, meet, ere long, with the cenfure it deferves. The confequences of this unexpected disappointment were, that I became more deeply involved, and was obliged in my turn to disappoint several |