-Though he was able to fly from that punishment the laws of his country were on the point of inflicting on him, (for tardy-footed justice had nearly overtaken him) yet he will not have it in his power to efchew her rigorous grafp in that ftate, where all accounts of this nature are settled: The day of reckoning must come.

I was now obliged to send word to the Bishop of Gloucester that I could not wait on him to re ceive the seven hundred pounds due from Mrs. Lock to my mother, as the papers relative to the debt were loft. To which his Lordship returned for answer, that he could by no means think of paying the money, unless I could give up the obligations, as he should still be liable to pay it to those who might find them.

Thus, without being able to receive a fhilling of my mother's property, through the dishonesty of my worthy Coufin, I found I had the funeral expences to pay, together with fome demands fhe had incurred which I had promifed to discharge; and likewise the cofts of the fuit I had commenced in the Commons, which amounted to feven-teen pounds. So that I think I may say that, according to my ufual good luck, I gained a lofs upon the occafion. But ftrange events fometimes

produce

produce ftrange confequences, as was the cafe with this; for, foon after, I was honoured with a vifit from Lord Hampden, whom I had not feen fince a child, who prefented me with a bank note for twenty pounds, in as pompous a manner as if

IF

F I fhall not be thought worthy of any encomiums for the matter contained in my letters, or for my manner of inditing them, I flatter myfelf you will at least think me entitled to fome praife for my indefatigable application in writing them, for the more speedy gratification of your curiofity. A reference to the dates of my letters will convince you, that I have devoted almost every hour, fince I first began the task, to the employment. Indeed, a long confinement, occafioned by indifpofition and diftrefs, has not a little tended to accelerate my undertaking; and as neither of these causes are yet removed, there is a probability that I fhall be able to proceed with the fame expedition, and that it will not be long before I

fhall

fhall put an end to my tale, and with it your expectant wishes. For this purpose I will now proceed, without any further circumfcribation.

firft

Having fent for my furniture from Strand onthe Green, I was foon fettled again in Brewerftreet. Comte Haslang having heard of my distress, told me he would pay for the furniture of my floor, which came to one hundred and twenty pounds; and desired I would fix a time of payment with the upholsterer. Mr. Woodward complimented me with two capital baffo relievos for the door, three handfome girandoles, a beautiful grate, &c. &c. and as every perfon with whom I was intimate presented me with fome ornament or other, my house, in appearance, was a little cabinet.

Juft at this time Mr. Calcraft died. It was announced in the papers that he had left me a confiderable fum, but the report was entirely without foundation; my name was no otherwise mentioned in the will, than as the mother of his children. I believe I might venture to fay, that he was not regretted even by those to whom he left his fortune. The vexation he must feel at knowing himself to be despised and neglected to fuch a degree, as to be able to purchase no other company

company than that of a few wretched dependents, greatly affected his pride, for of true Spirit he had not a spark. Not all his riches, his fumptious dwellings, nor his luxurious wines, could procure him one refpectable individual as a companion : He was therefore obliged, as I have been informed, to take up with his clerk, an attorney, and I fuppose an exciseman, as a perfon of that calling generally makes one in fuch a group; for even his brother the General declined going near him. I must acquaint you, that he promifed to leave a handfome provision for his intimate, the clerk just mentioned, which 1 conclude was his inducement for bestowing fo much time on his defpifed mafter; instead of which, he only left him the immenfe fum of a hundred pounds. A deed which tallies with the many generous deeds I have already related of him.

He left behind him a princely fortune, but without bequeathing a fhilling to his wife, or even mentioning her name; a failure by which The recovered a third of his eftate, as well as of his perfonal fortune. This, however, has involved the estate in fuch difficulties, that I find his debts are not paid to this day. Every body feemed to rejoice when Mrs. Calcraft's fuit for the recovery

of

of her claim was attended with fuccefs; and I can fincerely fay, that no perfon received greater pleasure upon the occafion than I did, as I have been informed fhe is one of the beft of women.

At length the ftipulated day came, when I was to pay Mr. Cullen, the upholsterer, for the furniture of my firft floor, and which Comte Haflang had promised to enable me to do. I had appointed four o'clock for the hour of payment, and had wrote to his Lordship to acquaint him that was the time fixed. Mrs. Tuffnal and the Secretary were with me, when I received an anfwer, written upon a quarter of a sheet of paper, and fealed at the corner, like a common

note.

I opened it; and finding it begin in the usual style, of "I wonder you will not get an engagement," I concluded that the remainder was of the fame tenor, in order to excuse a breach of promise; and as I could not poffibly fuppofe any bill was inclosed in a note of that fize and form, I immediately threw it into the fire. Upon which Mr. Killroff jokingly faid, "Do you treat all your "billet-doux in that manner?" "A billet-doux!" I replied; "It is not of that nature; it is a trifling "fubterfuge to avoid paying a promife."