without being able to diftinguish between Fas &Nefas; but it feems we are all to live and learn. I remember my old Schoolmafter, who < was a prodigious great Scholar, ufed often to fay, Polly Matete cry Town is my Daskalon.. The English of which, he told us, was, That a Child may fometimes teach his Grandmother to fuck Eggs. I have lived to a fine Purpose truly, if I am to be taught my Grammar at this Time of Day. Perhaps, young Gentleman, you may change your Cpinion, if you live to my Years: For I remember I thought myfelf as wife when I was a Stripling of one < or two and twenty as I am now. I am fure I always taught alienus, and my Mafter read it fo before me.'

There were not many Instances in which Partridge could provoke Jones, nor were there many in which Partridge himself could have been hurried out of his Refpect. Unluckily however they had both hit on one of these. We have already feen Partridge could not bear to have his Learning attacked, nor could Jones bear fome Paffage or other in the foregoing Speech. And now looking upon his Companion with a contemptuous and difdainful Air (a thing not ufual with him) he cried, Partridge, I fee thou art " a conceited old Fool, and I wish thou art not ⚫ likewise an old Rogue. Indeed if I was as well • convinced of the latter as I am of the former, thou fhouldft travel no farther in my Com'pany.'

The fage Pedagogue was contented with the Vent which he had already given to his Indignation; and, as the vulgar Phrafe is, immediately drew in his Horns. He faid, he was forry he had,

utered

uttered any thing which might give Offence, for that he had never intended it; but Nemo omnibus baris fapit.

As Jones had the Vices of a warm Disposition, he was entirely free from thofe of a cold one; and if his Friends must have confeft his Temper to have been a little too easily ruffled, his Enemies must at the fame time have confeft, that it as foon fubfided; nor did it at all resemble the Sea, whofe Swelling is more violent and dangerous after a Storm is over, than while the Storm itfelf fubfifts. He inftantly accepted the Submiffion of Partridge, fhook him by the Hand, and with the moft benign Afpect imaginable, faid twenty kind Things, and at the fame Time very feverely condemned himself, tho' not half fo feverely as he will moft probably be condemned by many of our good Readers.

Partridge was now highly comforted, as his Fears of having offended were at once abolished, and his Pride completely fatisfied by Jones having owned himself in the Wrong, which Submiffion he inftantly applied to what had principally nettled him, and repeated, in a muttering Voice, To

be fure, Sir, your Knowledge may be fuperior ⚫ to mine in fome Things; but as to the Grammar, I think I may challenge any Man living. I think, at least, I have that at my Finger's • End.'

If any thing could add to the Satisfaction which the poor Man now enjoyed, he received this Addition by the Arrival of an excellent Shoulder of Mutton, that at this Inftant came fmoaking to the Table. On which, having both plentifully feasted, they again mounted their Horfes, and fet forward for London.

СНАР.

What happened to Mr. Jones in his Journey from St. Albans.

TH

HEY were got about two Miles beyond Barnet, and it was now the Dufk of the Evening, when a genteel looking Man, but upon a very fhabby Horfe, rode up to Jones, and asked him whether he was going to Londen, to which Jones anfwered in the Affirmative. The Gentleman replied, "Ifhould be obliged to you, Sir, if you will accept of my Company; for it is very late, and I am a Stranger to the Road.' Jones readily complied with the Requeft; and on they travelled together, holding that Sort of Difcourfe which is ufual on fuch Сccafions.

Of this, indeed, Robbery was the principal Topic; upon which Subject the Stranger expreffed great Apprehenfions; but Jones declared he had very little to lofe, and confequently as little to fear. Here Partridge could not forbear putting in his Word. Your Honour,' faid he, may "think it a little, but I am fure, if I had a hun• dred Pound Bank Note in my Pocket, as you have, I should be very forry to lofe it; but, for my Part, I never was lefs afraid in my Life; 'for we are four of us, and if we all stand by one · another, the beft Man in England can't rob us. Suppose he should have a Pistol, he can kill but one of us, and a Man can die but once-That's my Comfort, a Man can die but once.'

6

Befides the Reliance on fuperior Numbers, a kind of Valour which hath raised a certain Nation among the Moderns to a high Pitch of

Glory,

Glory, there was another Reafon for the extraordinary Courage which Partridge now difcovered; for he had at prefent as much of that Quality as was in the Power of Liquor to beftow.

Our Company were now arrived within a Mile of Highgate, when the Stranger turned fhort upon Jones, and pulling out a Pistol, demanded that little Bank Note which Partridge had mentioned.

Jones was at firft fomewhat fhocked at this un expected Demand; however, he prefently recollected himfelf, and told the Highwayman, all the Money he had in his Pocket was entirely at his Service; and fo faying, he pulled out upwards of three Guineas, and offered to deliver it; but the other anfwered with an Oath, That would not do. Jones anfwered coolly, He was very forry for it, and returned the Money into his Pocket.

The Highwayman then threatned, if he did not deliver the Bank Note that Moment, he must shoot him; holding his Piftol at the fame Time very near to his Breaft. Jones inftantly caught hold of the Fellow's Hand, which trembled fo that he could fcarce hold the Piftol in it, and turned the Muzzle from him. A Struggle then enfued, in which the former wrefted the Piftol from the Hand of his Antagonist, and both came from their Horfes on the Ground together, the Highwayman upon his Back, and the victorious Jones upon him.

The poor Fellow now began to implore Mercy of the Conqueror; for, to fay the Truth, he was in Strength by no Means a Match for Jones.

Indeed, Sir, fays he, I could have had no Intention to fhoot you; for you will find the Pifto was not loaded. This is the firft Rob

bery

bery I ever attempted, and I have been driven by Diftrefs to this.'

At this Instant, at about an hundred and fifty Yards Distance, lay another Perfon on the Ground, roaring for Mercy in a much louder Voice than the Highwayman. This was no other than Partridge himself, who endeavouring to 'make his Escape from the Engagement, had been thrown from his Horfe, and lay flat on his Face, not daring to look up, and expecting every Minute to be fhot.

In this Pofture he lay, till the Guide, who was no otherwife concerned than for his Horfes, having fecured the ftumbling Beaft, came up to him and told him, his Mafter had got the better of the Highwayman.

Partridge leapt up at this News, and ran back to the Place, where Jones ftood with his Sword drawn in his Hand to guard the poor Fellow; which Partridge no fooner faw, than he cried out, Kill the Villain, Sir, run him through the Body, kill him this Inftant."

Luckily however for the poor Wretch he had fallen into more merciful Hands; for Jones having examined the Pistol, and found it to be really unloaded, began to believe all the Man had told him before Partridge came up; namely, that he was a Novice in the Trade, and that he had been driven to it by the Diftrefs he mentioned, the greatest indeed imaginable, that of five hungry Children, and a Wife lying in of a fixth, in the utinoft Want and Mifery. The Truth of all which the Highwayman most vehemently afferted, and offered to convince Mr. Jones of it, if he would take the Trouble to go to his House, which was not above two Miles off; faying, That he de

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• fired