parliament; and accordingly fet out for the town of Wallop in the weft, where my arrival was welcomed by a thousand throats, and I was in three days fure of a majority but after drinking out one hundred and fifty hogfheads of wine, and bribing two-thirds. of the corporation twice over, I had the mortification to find, that the borough had been before fold to Mr. Courtly.

In a life of this kind, my fortune, though confiderable, was presently diffipated; and as the attraction grows more strong the nearer any body approaches the earth, when once a man begins to fink into poverty, he falls with velocity always increasing; every fupply is purchased at a higher and higher price, and every office of kindness obtained with greater and greater difficulty. Having now acquainted you with my state of elevation, I fhall if you encourage the continuance of my correfpondence, fhew you by what steps I defcended from a firft floor in Pall-Mall to my present habitation.

I am, SIR,

Your humble fervant,

MYSARGYRUS.

NUMB. 41. TUESDAY, March 27, 1753.

I

SIR,

To the ADVENTURER.

Fleet, March 24.

NOW fend you the fequel of my story; which

had not been fo long delayed, if I could have brought myself to imagine, that any real impatience was felt for the fate of Mifargyrus; who has travelled no unbeaten track to mifery, and confequently can present the reader only with fuch incidents as occur in daily life.

You have seen me, Sir, in the zenith of my glory; not difpenfing the kindly warmth of an all-cheering fun, but, like another Phaeton, fcorching and blasting every thing round me. I fhall proceed, therefore, to finish my career, and pafs as rapidly as poffible through the remaining viciffitudes of my life.

When I first began to be in want of money, I made no doubt of an immediate fupply. The news

papers

papers were perpetually offering directions to men, who seemed to have no other bufinefs than to gather heaps of gold for those who place their fupreme felicity in scattering it. I pofted away, therefore, to one of these advertisers, who by his propofals feemed to deal in thousands; and was not a little chagrined to find, that this general benefactor would have nothing to do with any larger fum than thirty pounds, nor would venture that without a joint note from myself and a reputable housekeeper, or for a longer time than three months.

It was not yet fo bad with me, as that I needed to folicit furety for thirty pounds: yet partly from the greediness that extravagance always produces, and partly from a defire of feeing the humour of a petty ufurer, a character of which I had hitherto lived in ignorance, I condefcended to liften to his terms. He proceeded to inform me of my great felicity in not falling into the hands of an extortioner; and affured me, that I should find him extremely moderate in his demands: he was not, indeed, certain, that he could furnish me with the whole fum, for people were at this particular time extremely preffing and importunate for money; yet as I had the appearance of a gentleman, he would try what he could do, and give me his answer in three days.

At the expiration of the time, I called upon him again; and was again informed of the great demand for money, and that " money was money now :" he then advised me to be punctual in my payment, as that might induce him to befriend me hereafter; and delivered me the money, deducting at the rate of five VOL. III.

L

and

and thirty per cent. with another panegyrick upon his own moderation.

I will not tire you with the various practices of ufurious oppreffion; but cannot omit my tranfaction with Squeeze on Tower-hill, who finding me a young man of confiderable expectations, employed an agent to perfuade me to borrow five hundred pounds, to be refunded by an annual payment of twenty per cent. during the joint lives of his daughter Nancy Squeeze and myfelf. The negociator came prepared to inforce his propofal with all his art; but finding that I caught his offer with the eagernefs of neceffity, he grew cold and languid: "he had mentioned it out of kindness; "he would try to ferve me: Mr. Squeeze was an ho"neft man, but extremely cautious." In three days he came to tell me, that his endeavours had been ineffectual, Mr. Squeeze having no good opinion of my life: but that there was one expedient remaining; Mrs. Squeeze could influence her husband, and her good will might be gained by a compliment. I waited that afternoon on Mrs. Squeeze, and poured out before her the flatteries which usually gain access to rank and beauty: I did not then know, that there are places in which the only compliment is a bribe. Having yet credit with a jeweller, I afterwards procured a ring of thirty guineas, which I humbly prefented, and was foon admitted to a treaty with Mr. Squeeze. He appeared peevish and backward, and my old friend whispered me, that he would never make a dry bargain: I, therefore, invited him to a tavern. Nine times we met on the affair; nine times I paid four pounds for the fupper and claret; and nine

guineas

guineas I gave the agent for good offices. I then obtained the money, paying ten per cent. advance; and at the tenth meeting gave another fupper, and difburfed fifteen pounds for the writings.

Others, who ftiled themfelves brokers, would only trust their money upon goods: that I might, therefore, try every art of expensive folly, I took a house and furnished it. I amufed myself with defpoiling my moveables of their gloffy appearance, for fear of alarming the lender with fufpicions; and in this I fucceeded fo well, that he favoured me with one hundred and fixty pounds upon that which was rated at seven. hundred. I then found that I was to maintain a guardian about me to prevent the goods from being. broken or removed. This was, indeed, an unexpected tax; but it was too late to recede; and I comforted myself, that I might prevent a creditor, of whom I had fome apprehenfions, from feizing, by having a prior execution always in the house,

By fuch means I had fo embarraffed myfelf, that. my whole attention was engaged in contriving excufes, and raising small fums to quiet fuch as words would no longer mollify. It cost me eighty pounds in presents to Mr. Leech the attorney, for his forbearance of one hundred, which he folicited me to take when I had no need. I was perpetually haraffed with impor-. tunate demands, and infulted by wretches, who a few months before would not have dared to raise their eyes from the duft before me. I lived in continual terror, frighted by every noise at the door, and terrified at the approach of every flep quicker than com.. mon. I never retired to reft, without feeling the justness of the Spanish proverb, "Let him who fleeps