whom, as nothing paffed, which in the leaft concerns us or our Reader, we shall not fuffer ourfelves to be diverted by it from matters which must seem of more.confequence to all those who are at all interested in the affairs of our Hero.

CHA P. V.

An Adventure which happened to Mr. Jones, Lodgings, with fome Account of a young Gentleman who lodged there, and of the Mistress of the House, and her two Daughters.

THE next morning, as early as it was decent, Jones attended at Mrs. Fitzpatrick's door, where he was answered that the Lady was not at home; an answer which furprised him the more, as he had walked backwards and forwards in the street from break of day; and if fhe had gone out, he must have feen her. This anfwer, however, he was obliged to receive, and not only now, but to five feveral vifits which he made her that day.

To be plain with the Reader, the noble Peer had from fome reafon or other, perhaps from a regard for the Lady's honor, infifted that fhe fhould not fee Mr. Jones, whom he looked on as a fcrub, any more; and the Lady had complied in making that promise to which we now fee her fo ftrictly adhere.

But as our gentle Reader may possibly have a better opinion of the young gentleman than her Ladyfhip, and may even have fome concern, should it be apprehended, that during this unhappy feparation from Sophia, he took up his refidence either at an inn, or in the street; we shall now give an account of his lodging, which was indeed in a very reputable houfe, and in a very good part of the town.

Mr. Jones then had often heard Mr. Allworthy mention the gentlewoman at whofe house he used to lodge when he was in town. This perfon, who, as Jones likewife knew, lived in Bond-street, was the widow of a clergyman, and was left by him at his decease in poffeffion of two daughters, and of a compleat fet of manufcript fermons.

Of these two daughters, Nancy, the elder, was now arrived at the age of feventeen, and Betty, the younger, at that of ten.

Hither Jones had dispatched Partridge, and in this house he was provided with a room for himfelf in the fecond floor, and with one for Partridge in the fourth.

The first floor was inhabited by one of those young gentlemen, who, in the last age, were called men of wit and pleasure about town, and properly enough for as men are ufually denominated from their business or profeffion, fo pleasure

pleasure may be faid to have been the only bufinefs or profeffion of those gentlemen to whom fortune had made all useful occupations unneceffary. Play-houses, coffee-houses, and taverns, were the fcenes of their rendez-vous. Wit and humor were the entertainment of their loofer hours, and love was the bufinefs of their more ferious moments. Wine and the Mufes confpired to kindle the brighteft flames in their breafts; nor did they only admire, but fome were able to celebrate the beauty they admired, and all to judge of the merit of fuch compofitions.

Such therefore were properly called the men of wit and pleasure; but I question whether the fame appellation may, with the fame propriety, be given to thofe young gentlemen of our times, who have the fame ambition to be diftinguished for parts. Wit certainly they have nothing to do with. To give them their due, they foar a step higher than their predeceffors, and may be called men of wifdom, and vertú (take heed you do not read virtue). Thus at an age when the gentlemen above mentioned employed their time in toasting the charms of a woman, or in making fonnets in her praise; in giving their opinion of a play at the theatre, or of a poem at Will's or Button's; thefe gentlemen are confidering of methods to bribe a corporation, or meditating fpeeches for the House of Commons, or rather for the magazines. But the fcience of gaming is that which above all others employs their VOL. III.

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thoughts. Thefe are the ftudies of their graver hours, while for their amusements they have the vaft circle of connoiffeurship, painting, mufic, ftatuary, and natural philosophy, or rather unnatural, which deals in the wonderful, and knows nothing of nature, except her monsters and imperfections.

When Jones had spent the whole day in vain inquiries after Mrs. Fitzpatrick, he returned at laft difconfolate to his apartment. Here while he was venting his grief in private, he heard a violent uproar below stairs; and foon after a female voice begged him for Heaven's fake to come and prevent murder. Jones, who was never backward on any occafion to help the diftreffed, immediately ran down stairs; when stepping into the diningroom, whence all the noise iffued, he beheld the young gentleman of wisdom and vertú juft before mentioned, pinned close to the wall by his footman, and a young woman standing by, wringing her hands, and crying out, "He will be murdered, he will be murdered;" and indeed the poor gentleman feemed in fome danger of being choked, when Jones flew haftily to his affistance, and rescued him juft as he was breathing his last, from the unmerciful clutches of the enemy.

Though the fellow had received feveral kicks and cuffs from the little gentleman, who had more fpirit than ftrength, he had made it a kind of fcruple of confcience to strike his Master, and would have

contented himself with only choking him; but towards Jones he bore no fuch refpect: he no fooner therefore found himself a little roughly handled by his new antagonist, than he gave him one of thofe punches in the guts, which, though the fpectators at Broughton's amphitheatre have fuch exquifite delight in feeing them, convey but very little pleasure in the feeling.

The lufty youth had no fooner received this blow, than he meditated a moft grateful return; and now ensued a combat between Jones and the footman, which was very fierce, but fhort; for this fellow was no more able to contend with Jones, than his Master had before been to contend with him.

And now fortune, according to her ufual cuftom, reversed the face of affairs. The former victor lay breathlefs on the ground, and the vanquifhed gentleman had recovered breath enough to thank Mr. Jones for his feasonable affiftance. He received likewife the hearty thanks of the young woman prefent, who was indeed no other than Mifs Nancy, the eldest daughter of the house.

The footman having now recovered his legs, fhook his head at Jones, and with a fagacious look, cry'd, "O d-n me, I'll have nothing

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more to do with you; you have been upon the stage, or I am d-nably mistaken." And indeed we may forgive this his fufpicion; for fuch