moment fuppofe, even had I been fo unreafonable as to make fuch a weak propofal, that a person who knew the value of money fo well as he did, would have confented to have me (to make ufe of a political phrase) tacked to him by way of dependent. For notwithstanding friendship is a very fine thing to talk of, very few would prove fuch devotees to it, as to facrifice a thousand pounds a year upon account of it. As for my own ideas of that facred union, they are fo truly romantic, and fo very unfashionable, that I am almoft afhamed to make them known; but I fhould not think worlds too dear a purchase, for the perfon towards whom I profeffed a friendship. I now regretted, more poignantly than before, that I had made Mr. Colman my enemy. Though I deplored his refentment, I acknowledged the juftice of it. I have, however, the confolation to add, that from that gentleman's liberal behaviour for fome time paft, I have every reason to believe his displeasure has fubfided, and that I have the happiness, once more, to look upon him in the light of a friend. Upon the third of December I always made a dinner for fome friends, in honour of its being the name-day of Comte Haflang. I had accordingly invited fome ladies, and his Excellency's Secretary, to dine at my mo 2 ther's, ther's, where I now refided when I came to town. The evening previous to that day my mother feemed to be indifpofed, but as I was in hopes that it was only a flight indispofition, and the herfelf objected to my putting off the party, I had not done fo. When I returned home from paying the ufual compliments upon the occafion, I found her in the parlour, much worse than when I left her. Seeing this, I entreated her to permit me to fend for advice; which the refufed, but confented to return to bed. As I did not apprehend any real danger from my mother's illness, good company, joined to good cheer, and good humour, made us laugh rather too loud; when, to our great furprife, fhe entered the room, in the midst of our feftivity, and turning to Mrs. Howe, one of the ladies prefent, defired her not to raise a mob about the door by her immoderate laughing. As my mother was a remarkable well-bred woman, and was very particular in her behaviour to those who were tinged with nobility, we concluded this uncommon rudeness muft arife from fome extraordinary cause. And fo it proved to be; for we foon perceived, from the tenor of her behaviour, that fhe was light-headed. I therefore fent away immediately for Doctor Macdonald, a phyfician of whom she had fuch a very high opinion, B 24 that |