with which fhe has fo frequently belaboured me. So quick is generally the tranfition, that the might be faid to give with one hand, and immediately to rob me of the newly-poffeffed gift with the other. As if the fickle Goddess had determined that I fhould never retain the poffeffion of any property, let it be thrown into my lap by her from whatever quarter it would.

My vifitor, Mrs. Butler, and myself, were fitting together in converfation one evening, foon after the death of my mother, when a loud and violent rap at the door alarmed us. As fuch an incident was unufual, I ordered the fervant not to open the door, but to enquire what occafioned it from the area. Upon her going out for that purpose, she was informed, that if she did not immediately open the door, it would be broke open, as they had got the broad feal. Not knowing what was meant by having the broad feal, I demanded from the window their bufinefs. To this they anfwered, that I fhould be informed when they were let in; and if that was not done prefently, they had authority to break open. the door.

Finding there was no probability of preventing their entrance, I ordered the door to be opened; when five or fix fellows rushed in,. and took poffeffion, in the name of that honour to his honourable profeffion, my Coufin Crawford.

That worthy and confcientious man no fooner heard of my mother's death, and found that I had been fo imprudent as not to make any legal claim of her property, than he took out letters of administration, by fwearing himfelf her legitimate heir. Fearless of the iniquity of the meafure, or the confequence of it, my boneft kinfman thought if he could but appropriate her effects to his own ufe, he would fet at defiance a future reckoning. He accordingly adopted this mode with fuccefs.

As it happened not to be term time, I had no refource but patience; for I found it to no manner of purpofe to endeavour to bring the favages by which I was furrounded, to reafon. A fruitlefs altercation indeed took place, but they perfifted in my quitting the premises that night. It was by this time paft eleven o'clock; Mrs. Butler's children were in bed; and where to get a lodging at that late hour I knew not. At laft I thought of fending to Mr. Woodward, who had taken a large house in Leicefter-street, in order to let part of it. That gentleman confented, with great chearfulness, to accommodate us till I could provide myself, though he was obliged to get out of his bed to receive us.

The next day I fent to inform Mr. Gordon, the undertaker that had depofited the remains of my much-loved mother, of what had happened, and defired him to look to the adminiftrator for the expences of the funeral. He

fent

fent for anfwer, that as I had ordered the funeral, he should expect me to pay for it; that it was a very genteel one; and he defied any one of the trade to furnish one more elegant for fifty guineas, though he should only charge me forty-two. As Mr. Gordon was a neigh bour, and my mother was fo greatly refpected that numbers attended her manes without in vitation, I was in hopes he would have been my friend upon the occafion, and have endeavoured to eafe me of that load; but no he chose to be his own friend, and to fix the debt upon me, without giving himself any trouble.

What made this event the more vexatious was, that the feven hundred pounds, owing by the Widow Lock to my mother, as already mentioned, was to have been paid the Wednesday following. In the confufion and fright I was in when I left the houfe, I forgot the papers relative to this debt. As they were placed in a china closet in the parlour, that they might be ready when wanted, the wretches who had taken poffeffion, probably thought them of no value, and had thrown them by as waste paper. So that all I got by the death of my dear mother, was a poor girl fhe recommended to my charge, and who became an additional burthen to me. I never knew he was a relation, till my dying mother enjoined me to find her out, and take care of her.

The effects belonging to my mother were fold for an old fong, as the faying is; but as the house was let to me, though only verbally, the fixtures could not be difpofed of. I commenced a fuit in the Commons against the depredator, which I fhould undoubtedly have gained, as I was born in wedlock; but an unexpected circumftance prevented me from receiving any redrefs. The wretch having fpent all the money that arofe from the fale of the effects, and having befides bullied fome tenants that rented the ftables belonging to the houfe out of what money was due; and being now apprehenfive of the confequences of his infamous tranfactions; he took the Gravefend boat in order to fly his country. Justice, however, here overtook him; for being much intoxicated, he fell into the river, and was never heard of more.

Had he received the defert due to his crimes, he would have been exalted inftead of funk. In this opinion I dare fay you will readily conEur with me, when I relate to you the following inftance of his rapacioufnefs and inhumanity; though indeed from those I have already presented you with, I think I need not doubt of your entertaining the utmost abhorrence for his conduct.

This unnatural being, (Iwill not debase the name of father by bestowing it on him,) kept bis fon in prifon, for refufing to join with him in difpofing of an annuity in which he had an

intereft,

intereft. This was an annuity of fifty pounds a year in the Exchequer, the remains of two hundred; Crawford's wife having, during her life-time, joined with him in difpofing of the other hundred and fifty. He had also spent ten thousand pounds in money; part of which, in justice, ought to have been mine, as it devolved to him from another branch of the Sykes's family.

In order to terrify the lad into a compliance with his requifition, the inhuman monfter threw him, although yet a minor, into the Fleet Prifon, after having arrefted him for board and lodging; and here this unfortunate young man remained till Crawford's death, as he had refolution enough to bear a difagreeable confinement, rather than confent to fo unjuft a propofal.

Muft there not be fome place, red with un common vengeance, where a fevere retribution will await fuch complicated crimes, fuch a continued fyftem of difhonetty? There muft; there will!-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 juftice had nearly overtaken him) yet he will not have it in his power to eschew her rigorous grafp in that ftate, where all accounts of this nature are fettled: The day of reckoning muft come.

I was now obliged to fend word to the Bishop of Gloucester that I could not wait on B 6

him