pleafing intelligence, he beheld the honour that was thus conferred upon me with an envious eye. This event confirmed that dislike he already had imbibed for me. For more apprehensive of a rivalship in fame, than an eaftern monarch of his power, he could not bear even a fifter near the throne.

LETTER XLVIII.

G. A. B.

O&. 30, 17

THE fatigue both of body and mind I had

gone

thro'

the preceding day, occafioned me to lie longer in bed than ufual the morning after my benefit. I had given my fervants orders not to admit Mr. Metham if he came. But he was the master, and would not be denied. He accordingly made his way to my bed-room, and came up to the fide of my bed with a look as frantic as if he had just escaped from Dr. Monro's. Then looking stedfastly at me, he asked me if I would live with him again? Upon my an, fwering in a determined tone of voice that I would not, he drew his hanger, and fwore by his Maker that I fhould then die with him. Very fortunately my little boy was playing in the room, who, upon feeing the fhining weapon held over me, he screamed out, "Oh my mama! my mama!

This exclamation of his child awaking a gleam of tenderness, and obferving that I was deprived of my fenfes, he came a little to his. As foon as I was recovered, he tried by threats and imprecations to prevail upon me to lay afide the refolution I had formed, and to renew our late intimacy; but in vain. I was not to be moved. Intimidation, as I have before obferved, never had any weight with me.Finding this method would not fucceed, he had recourse to milder means. He intreated; he prayed; and made ufe of every winning argument the utmost tenderness could fuggeft. This mode of proceeding was much more likely to answer his purpose than the other. Yet I fill refifted every offer, even that of his immediate hand; together with the moft folemn affurance that he would endeavour to atone for the offence he had given me, by the most unremit→→ ting attention during the whole of his life.

Upon my ftill obftinately perfifting in my refusal, his phrenzy again returned. I repeatedly defired him to leave me; and nothing but his exceffive tenderness, and the fear that I might be once more deprived of my fenfes, could have induced him to comply with my requeft. At length, however, feeing the fituation to which I was reduced, he went away. But this was only on condition that I would permit him to return in two hours. As he went

VOL. II.

I

out,

out, he gave the fervants ftrict orders not to fuffer any perfon whatsoever, to fee me. He then, as I afterwards learnt, proceeded to his lodgings, where he found Major Burton, who had been fome time in. London, and had poftponed his return to France on account of the diftraction of his friend.

The moment he was gone, I dispatched my maid upon a fleeveless errand to one of my female acquaintances. And, to prevent any apprehenfions, that might arife in her mind from being fent out, I told her I was fo ill that I would endeavour to compofe myself till fhe returned. But instead of doing, this, fhe was no fooner out of my room than I arose, and putting on the firft clothes I could find, I ran, more dead than alive, like a distracted woman, into the ftreet. The people at this time, it being Sunday, were juft coming from church; and seeing a, young creature in a drefs not adapted to walking in. the streets, and with a wildness in her looks, they naturally concluded I was deprived of my fenfes.

As I went along, I was compofed enough to recollect that my mother's lodgings, or the refidence of any one of my intimates, could not furnish me with a refuge, as those would be the first places my purfuer would fearch for me in, when he was acquainted with my flight. I therefore winged my steps to Southampton-fireet, to the house where I lodged

when

"

when I first returned from Ireland; which was the fame as the worthy Ganfels had taken up their abode in. Mrs. Smith, the mistress of it, did every thing in her power to compofe me. And after fhe had got me some breakfast, went herself to my mother to inform her of my being there. This precaution proved well-timed, as Mr. Metham was at her lodgings and raving like a madınan, He had been at Mr.' Calcraft's houfe, as he concluded he was the lure that had tempted me to fly. But being affured that I was not there, he continued his researches. Mr. Calcraft, upon hearing I had abfented myself, experienced nearly the fame tormenting fenfations that Methan did. Love and jealousy made him fuppose that I had put myself under the protection of Lord Downe; his Lordthip poffeffing every attraction which captivates our fex. He consequently felt little less from his jealous apprehenfions than Mr. Metham experienced.

My mother, after promising Mr. Metham that she would inform him of my retirement as foon as fhe had difcovered it, came to me. She would have been better pleased, had I accepted of what had heen fo long the grand object of her conflant folicitations and of my wishes, now it was offered to me; but as Metham was in the frantic ftate fhe had found him to be, and danger might have attended my continu

ing any longer at home, fhe did not entirely difap. aprove of my precipitate flight.

The paffion-week, very fortunately for me, was the fucceeding one to that in which I had experien. ced fuch a variety of perturbations. To obtain a little refpite from thefe, and to avoid the frantic Metham, till he fhould be reftored to a greater degree of tranquillity, I determined to feize this opportunity of paying a vifit to my friends at DonnaJan Park. Mrs. Smith, who had likewife received a preffing invitation from the hospitable owners of that manfion when they were at her house, agreed to accompany me.

Accordingly we fet out the next day, in a hired poft-chaife; and on our arrival were received by Mr. and Mrs. Ganfel with the greatest cordiality. In the old gentleman it was more than cordiality, it amounted to transport. He even declared, that the pleasure of seeing me would add ten years to his life, as he felt himfelf regenerated by it. He overpowered me with the profufion of praise with which he loaded me; fo that all those who were present fuppofed, that I not only furpaffed the Oldfield and Porter of his time, but equalled the inimitable Cibber of ours; a pitch of excellence to which I could fcarcely hope to arrive. My youth, indeed, claimed the indulgence of the public, and this they were

pleafed