inquired where she was to be found, and declared, he would not depart till he had seen her; nay, not till he had married her: for, indeed his passion for her was truly honourable; in other words, he had so ungovernable a desire for her person, that he would go any lengths to satisfy it. He then pulled out the casket, which he swore was full of the finest jewels, and that he would give them all to her, with other promises; which so prevailed on Miss Doshy, who had not the common failure of sisters in envying, and often endeavouring to disappoint each other's happiness, that she desired Mr Wild to sit down a few minutes, whilst she endeavoured to find her sister, and to bring her to him. The lover thanked her, and promised to stay till her return; and Miss Doshy, leaving Mr Wild to his meditations, fastened him in the kitchen by barring the door, (for most of the doors in this mansion were made to be bolted on the outside), and then slapping to the door of the house with great violence, with out going out at it, she stole softly up stairs, where Miss Lætitia was engaged in close conference with Mr Bagshot. Miss Letty, being informed by her sister in a whisper of what Mr Wild had said, and what he had produced, told Mr Bagshot, that a young lady was below to visit her, whom she would dispatch with all imaginable haste, and return to him. She desired him, therefore, to stay with patience for her in the mean time, and that she would leave the door unlocked, though her papa would never forgive her if he should discover it. Bagshot promised, on his honour, not to step without his chamber; and the two young ladies went softly down stairs; when pretending first to make their entry into the house, they repaired to the kitchen, where not even the presence of the chaste Lætitia could restore that harmony to the countenance of her lover, which Miss Theodosia had left him possessed of; for, during her absence, he had discovered the absence of a purse containing bank-notes for 9001. which had been taken from Mr Heartfree, and which, indeed, Miss Straddle had, in the warmth of his amorous caresses, unperceived drawn from him. However, as he had that perfect mastery of his temper, or rather of his muscles, which is as necessary to the forming a great character, as to the personating it on the stage, he soon conveyed a smile into his countenance, and concealing as well his misfortune as his chagrin at it, began to pay honourable addresses to Miss Letty. This young lady, among many other good ingredients, had three very predominant passions, to wit, vanity, wantonness, and avarice. To satisfy the first of these, she employed Mr Smirk and Co.; to the second, Mr Bagshot and Co.; and our hero had the honour and happiness of solely engrossing the third. Now, these three sorts of lovers she had very different ways of entertaining. With the first, she was all gay and coquette; with the second, all fond and rampant; and with the last, all cold and reserved. She

therefore told Mr Wild, with a most composed aspect, that she was glad he had repented of his manner of treating her at their last interview; where his behaviour was so monstrous, that she had resolved never to see him any more; that she was afraid her own sex would hardly pardon her the weakness she was guilty of in receding from that resolution, which, she was persuaded, she never should have brought herself to, had not her sister, who was there to confirm what she said, (as she did with many oaths,) betrayed her into his company, by pretending it was another person to visit her: but however, as he now thought proper to give her more convincing proofs of his affections, (for he had now the casket in his hand,) and since she perceived his designs were no longer against her virtue, but were such as a woman of honour might listen to, she must own-and then she feigned an hesitation, when Theodosia began: "Nay, sister, I am resolved you shall counterfeit no longer. I assure you, Mr Wild, she hath the most violent passion for you in the world; and indeed, dear Tishy, if you offer to go back, since I plainly see Mr Wild's designs are honourable, I will betray all you have ever said."—" How, sister, (answered Lætitia,) I protest you will drive me out of the room: I did not expect this usage from you." Wild then fell on his knees, and taking hold of her hand, repeated a speech, which, as the reader may easily suggest it to himself, I shall not here set down. He then offered her the casket, but she gently rejected it; and, on a second offer, with a modest countenance and voice, desired to know what it contained. Wild then opened it, and took forth (with sorrow I write it, and with sorrow will it be read) one of those beautiful necklaces, with which, at the fair of Bartholomew, they deck the well bewhitened neck of Thalestris Queen of Amazons, Anna Bullen, Queen Elizabeth, or some other high princess in drollic story. It was, indeed, composed of that paste, which Derdæus Magnus, an ingenious toyman, doth at a very moderate price dispense to the second rate beaus of the metropolis. For, to open a truth, which we ask our reader's pardon for having concealed from him so long, the sagacious Count, wisely fearing lest some accident might prevent Mr Wild's return at the appointed time, had carefully conveyed the jewels which Mr Heartfree had brought with him, into his own pocket; and in their stead had placed in the casket these artificial stones, which, though of equal value to a philosopher, and perhaps of a much greater to a true admirer of the compositions of art, had not however the same charms in the eyes of Miss Letty; who had indeed some knowledge of jewels: for Mr Snap, with great reason, considering how valuable a part of a lady's education it would be to be well instructed in these things, in an age when young ladies learn little more than how to dress themselves, had in her youth placed Miss Letty as the hand

maid (or house-maid, as the vulgar call-it,) of an eminent pawn-broker. The lightning, therefore, which should have flashed from the jewels, flashed from her eyes, and thunder immediately followed from her voice. She be-knaved, berascalled, be-rogued the unhappy hero, who stood silent, confounded with astonishment, but more with shame and indignation, at being thus out-witted and over-reached. At length, he recovered his spirits, and throwing down the casket in a rage, he snatched the key from the table; and, without making any answer to the ladies, who both very plentifully opened upon him, and without taking any leave of them, he flew out at the door, and repaired with the utmost expedition to the Count's habitation.

CHAP. IV.

In which Wild, after many fruitless endeavours to discover his friend, moralizes on his misfortunes in a Speech, which may be of use (if rightly understood) to some other considerable speechmakers.

NOT the highest-fed footman of the highest bred woman of quality knocks with more impetuosity, than Wild did at the Count's door, which was immediately opened by a well-dressed livery-man, who answered, that his master was not at home. Wild, not satisfied with this, searched the house, but to no purpose; he then ransacked all the gaming-houses in town, but found no Count. Indeed that gentleman had taken leave of his house the same instant Mr Wild had turned his back, and, equipping himself with boots and a post-horse, without taking with him either servant, clothes, or any necessaries for the journey of a great man, made such mighty expedition, that he was now upwards of twenty miles on his way to Dover.

Wild finding his search ineffectual, resolved to give it over for that night; he then retired to his seat of contemplation, a night cellar, where, without a single farthing in his pocket, he called for a sneaker of punch, and placing himself on a bench by himself, he softly vented the following soliloquy:

"How vain is human GREATNESS! What avail superior abilities, and a noble defiance of those narrow rules and bounds which confine the vulgar; when our best concerted schemes are liable to be defeated! How unhappy is the state of PRIGGISM! how impossible for human prudence to foresee and guard against every circumvention! It is even as a game of chess, where, while the rook, or knight, or bishop, is busied in forecasting some great enterprize, a worthless pawn interposes, and disconcerts his scheme. Better had it been for me to have observed the simple laws of friendship and morality, than thus to ruin

my friend for the benefit of others. I might have commanded his purse to any degree of modera tion; I have now disabled him from the power of serving me. Well! but that was not my design. If I cannot arraign my own conduct, why should I, like a woman or a child, sit down and lament the disappointment of chance? But can I aequit myself of all neglect ? did I not misbehave in putting it in the power of others to outwit me?" but that is impossible to be avoided. In this a Prig is more unhappy than any other: a cautious man may, in a crowd, preserve his own pockets by keeping his hands in them; but while the Prig employs his hands in another's pocket, how shall he be able to defend his own! Indeed, in this light, what can be imagined more miserable than a Prig? How dangerous are his acquisitions! how unsafe, how unquiet his possessions! why, then, should any man wish to be a Prig, or where is his greatness? I answer, in his mind: 'tis the inward glory, the secret consciousness of doing great and wonderful actions, which can alone support the truly GREAT Man, whether he be a CONQUEROR, a TYRANT, a STATESMAN, or a PRIG. These must bear him up against the private curse and public imprecation; and while he is hated and detested by all mankind, must make him inwardly satisfied with himself. For what but some such inward satisfaction as this could inspire men possessed of power, of wealth, of every human blessing, which pride, avarice, or luxury could desire, to forsake their homes, abandon ease and repose, and at the expence of riches and pleasures, at the price of labour and hardship, and at the hazard of all that fortune hath liberally given them, could send them, at the head of a multitude of Prigs called an army, to molest their neighbours; to introduce rape, rapine, bloodshed, and every kind of misery among their own species? What but some such glorious appetite of mind could inflame princes, endowed with the greatest honours, and enriched with the most plentiful revenues, to desire maliciously to rob those subjects of their liberties, who are content to sweat for the luxury, and to bow down their knees to the pride of those very princes? what but this can inspire them to destroy one half of their subjects, in order to reduce the rest to an absolute dependence on their own wills, and on those of their brutal successors? what other motive could seduce a subject, possessed of great property in his community, to betray the interest of his fellow-subjects, of his brethren, and his posterity, to the wanton disposition of such princes? Lastly, what less inducement could persuade the Prig to forsake the methods of acquiring a safe, an honest, and a plentiful livelihood, and, at the hazard of even life itself, and what is mistakenly called disbonour, to break openly and bravely through the laws of his country, for uncertain, unsteady, and unsafe gain? Let me then hold myself content

ed with this reflection, that I have been wise, though unsuccessful, and am a GREAT, though an unhappy man."

His soliloquy and his punch concluded toge ther; for he had at every pause comforted himself with a sip. And now it came first into his head, that it would be more difficult to pay for it, than it was to swallow it: when, to his great pleasure, he beheld, at another corner of the room, one of the gentlemen whom he had employed in the attack on Heartfree, and who, he doubted not, would readily lend him a guinea or two; but he had the mortification, on applying to him, to hear that the gaming-table had stripped him of all the booty which his own generosity had left in his possession. He was therefore obliged to pursue his usual method on such occasions: so, cocking his hat fiercely, he marched out of the room, without making any excuse, or any one daring to make the least demand.

CHAP. V.

Containing many surprising adventures, which our Hero with GREAT GREATNESS achieved.

We will now leave our hero to take a short repose, and return to Mr Snap's, where, at Wild's departure, the fair Theodosia had again betaken herself to her stocking, and Miss Letty had retired up stairs to Mr Bagshot; but that gentleman had broken his parole, and having conveyed himself below stairs behind a door, he took the opportunity of Wild's sally to make his escape. We shall only observe, that Miss Letty's surprise was the greater, as she had, notwithstanding her promise to the contrary, taken the precaution to turn the key; but, in her hurry, she did it ineffectually. How wretched must have been the situation of this young creature, who had not only lost a lover, on whom her tender heart perfectly doated, but was exposed to the rage of an injured father, tenderly jealous of his honour, which was deeply engaged to the sheriff of London and Middlesex for the safe custody of the said Bagshot, and for which two very good responsible friends had given not only their words, but their bonds.

But let us remove our eyes from this melancholy object, and survey our hero, who, after a successless search for Miss Straddle, with wonderful greatness of mind, and steadiness of countenance, went early in the morning to visit his friend Heartfree, at a time when the common herd of friends would have forsaken and avoided him. He entered the room with a cheerful air, which he presently changed into surprise on seeing his friend in a night-gown, and with his wounded head bound about with linen, and looking extremely pale from a great effusion of blood. When Wild was informed by Heartfree what had happened, he first expressed great sorrow, and

afterwards suffered as violent agonies of rage against the robbers to burst from him. Heartfree, in compassion to the deep impression his misfortune seemed to make on his friend, endeavoured to lessen it as much as possible, at the same time exaggerating the obligation he owed to Wild, in which his wife likewise seconded him; and they breakfasted with more comfort than was reasonably to be expected after such an accident; Heartfree expressing great satisfaction that he had put the Count's note in another pocket-book, adding, that such a loss would have been fatal to him; "for, to confess the truth to you, my dear friend,” said he, “I have had some losses lately which have greatly perplexed my affairs; and though I have many debts due to me from people of great fashion, I assure you I know not where to be certain of getting a shilling." Wild greatly felicitated him on the lucky accident of preserving his note, and then proceeded, with much acrimony, to inveigh against the barbarity of people of fashion, who kept tradesmen out of their money.

While they amused themselves with discourses of this kind, Wild, meditating within himself whether he should borrow or steal from his friend, or indeed whether he could not effect both, the apprentice brought a bank-note of 5001. in to Heartfree, which, he said, a gentlewoman in the shop, who had been looking at some jewels, desired him to exchange. Heartfree looking at the number, immediately recollected it to be one of those he had been robbed of. With this discovery he acquainted Wild, who, with the notable presence of mind, and unchanged complection, so essential to a great character, advised him to proceed cautiously; and offered (as Mr Heartfree himself was, he said, too much flustered to examine the woman with sufficient art) to take her into a room in his house alone. He would, he said, personate the master of the shop, would pretend to shew her some jewels, and would undertake to get sufficient information out of her to secure the rogues, and most probably all their booty. This proposal was readily and thankfully accepted by Heartfree. Wild went immediately up stairs into the room appointed, whither the apprentice, according to appointment, conducted the lady."

The apprentice was ordered down stairs the moment the lady entered the room; and Wild, having shut the door, approached her with great ferocity in his looks, and began to expatiate on the complicated baseness of the crime she had been guilty of. But though he uttered many good lessons of morality, as we doubt whether, from a particular reason, they may work any very good effect on our reader, we shall omit his speech, and only mention his conclusion, which was by asking her, what mercy she could now expect from him? Miss Straddle, for that was the young lady, who had had a good education, and had been more than once present at

the Old Bailey, very confidently denied the whole charge, and said, she had received the note from a friend. Wild then raising his voice, told her, she should be immediately committed, and she might depend on being convicted; "but," added he, changing his tone," as I have a violent affection for thee, my dear Straddle, if you will follow my advice, I promise you on my honour to forgive you, nor shall you be ever called in question on this account."-"Why, what would you have me to do, Mr Wild?" replied the young lady, with a pleasanter aspect." You must know then,” said Wild, "the money you picked out of my pocket (nay, by G-d you did, and if you offer to flinch, you shall be convicted of it) I won at play off a fellow, who, it seems, robbed my friend of it; you must, there fore, give an information on oath against one Thomas Fierce, and say, that you received the note from him, and leave the rest to me. I am certain, Molly, you must be sensible of your obligations to me, who return good for evil to you in this manner." The lady readily consent d, and advanced to embrace Mr Wild, who stept a little back, and cried, "Hold, Molly; there are two other notes of 2001. each to be accounted for; where are they?" The lady protested, with the most solemn asseverations, that she knew of no more; with which, when Wild was not satisfied, she cried, "I will stand search."-"That you shall," answered Wild, "and stand strip too." He then proceeded to tumble and search her, but to no purpose, till at last she burst into tears, and declared she would tell the truth, (as indeed she did): She then confessed that she had disposed of the one to Jack Swagger, a great favourite of the ladies, being an Irish gentleman, who had been bred clerk to an attorney, afterwards whipt out of a regiment of dragoons, and was then a Newgate solicitor, and a bawdy-house bully; and as for the other, she had laid it all out that very morn ing in brocaded silks and Flanders lace. With this account Wild, who indeed knew it to be a very probable one, was forced to be contented; and now, abandoning all further thoughts of what he saw was irretrievably lost, he gave the lady some further instructions, and then, desiring her to stay a few minutes behind him, he returned to his friend, and acquainted him that he had discovered the whole roguery; that the woman had confessed from whom she had received the note, and promised to give an information before a justice of peace; adding, he was concerned he could not attend him thither, being obliged to go to the other end of the town to receive thirty pounds, which he was to pay that evening. Heartfree said, that should not prevent him of his company, for he could easily fend him such a trifle. This was accordingly done and accepted, and Wild, Heartfree, and the lady, went to the justice together.

The warrant being granted, and the constable

being acquainted by the lady, who received her information from Wild, of Mr Fierce's haunts, he was easily apprehended, and, being confronted with Miss Straddle, who swore positively to him, though she had never seen him before, he was committed to Newgate, where he immedi ately conveyed an information to Wild of what had happened, and in the evening received a visit from him.

Wild affected great concern for his friend's misfortune, and as great surprise at the means by which it was brought about. However, he told Fierce that he must certainly be mistaken in that point, of his having had no acquaintance with Miss Straddle; but added, that he would find her out, and endeavour to take off her evidence; which, he observed, did not come home enough to endanger him; besides, he would secure him witnesses of an alibi, and five or six to his character, so that he need be under no apprehension, for his confinement till the sessions would be his only punishment.

Fierce, who was greatly comforted by these assurances of his friend, returned him many thanks, and both shaking each other very earnestly by the hand, with a very hearty embrace they separated.

The hero considered with himself that the single evidence of Miss Straddle would not be sufficient to convict Fierce, whom he resolved to hang, as he was the person who had principally refused to deliver him the stipulated share of the booty. He therefore went in quest of Mr James Sly, the gentleman who had assisted in the exploit; and found, and acquainted him with the apprehending of Fierce. Wild then intimating his fear lest Fierce should impeach Sly, advised him to be beforehand, to surrender himself to a justice of peace, and offer himself as an evidence. Sly approved Mr Wild's opinion, went directly to a magistrate, and was by him committed to the Gatehouse, with a promise of being admitted evidence against his companion.

Fierce was, in a few days, brought to his trial at the Old Bailey, where, to his great confusion, his old friend Sly appeared against him, as did Miss Straddle. His only hopes were now in the assistances which our hero had promised him. These unhappily failed him; so that the evidence being plain against him, and he making no defence, the jury convicted him, the court condemned him, and Mr Ketch executed him.

With such infinite address did this truly great man know how to play with the passions of men, to set them at variance with each other, and to work his own purposes out of those jealousies and apprehensions, which he was wonderfully ready at creating, by means of those great arts, which the vulgar call treachery, dissembling, promising, lying, falsehood, &c. but which are by great men summed up in the collective name of policy, or politics, or rather politricks; au

art of which, as it is the highest excellence of human nature, perhaps our great man was the most eminent master.

CHAP. VI.

Of Hats.

WILD had now got together a very considerable gang, composed of undone gamesters, ruined bailiffs, broken tradesmen, idle apprentices, attorneys-clerks, and loose and disorderly youth, who being born to no fortune, nor bred to any trade or profession, were willing to live luxuri ously without labour. As those persons wore different principles, i. e. Hats, frequent dissentions grew among them. There were particularly two parties, viz. those who wore hats fiercely cocked, and those who preferred the Nab or trencher hat, with the brim flapping over their eyes. The former were called Cavaliers and Tory Rory Ranter Boys, &c. the latter went by the several names of Wags, Roundheads, Shakebags, Oldnolls, and several others. Between these continual jars arose, insomuch, that they grew in time to think there was something essential in their differences, and that their interests were incompatible with each other, whereas, in truth, the difference lay only in the fashion of their hats. Wild, therefore, having assembled them all at an ale-house on the night after Fierce's execution, and perceiving evident marks of their misunderstanding, from their behaviour to each other, addressed them in the following gentle, but forcible manner. "Gentlemen, I am ashamed to see men embarked in so great and glorious an undertaking as that of robbing the public, so foolishly and weakly dissenting among themselves. Do you think the first inventors of hats, or at least of the distinctions between them, really conceived that one form of hats should inspire a man with divinity, another with law, another with learning, or another with bravery? No, they meant no more by these outward signs than to impose on the vulgar, and instead of putting great men to the trouble of acquiring or maintaining the sub

stance, to make it sufficient that they condescend to wear the type or shadow of it. You do wisely, therefore, when in a crowd, to amuse the mob by quarrels on such accounts, that while they are listening to your jargon, you may, with the greater ease and safety, pick their pockets; but surely to be in earnest, and privately to keep up such a ridiculous contention among yourselves, must argue the highest folly and absurdity. When you know you are all Prigs, what difference can a broad or a narrow brim create? Is a Prig less a Prig in one hat than in another? If the public should be weak enough to interest themselves in your quarrels, and to prefer one pack to the other, while both are aiming at their purses, it is your business to laugh at, not imitate their folly. What can be more ridiculous than for gentlemen to quarrel about hats, when there is not one among you whose hat is worth a farthing? What is the use of a hat farther than to keep the head warm, or to hide a bald crown from the public? It is the mark of a gentleman to move his hat on every occasion; and in courts and noble assemblies, no man ever wears one. Let me hear no more therefore of this childish disagreement, but all toss up your hats together with one accord, and consider that hat as the best which will contain the largest booty." He thus ended his speech, which was followed by a murmuring applause, and immediately all present tossed their hats together, as he had commanded them.

CHAP. VII.

Shewing the consequence which attended Heartfree's adventures with Wild; all natural, and common enough to little wretches who deal with Great Men; together with some precedents of letters, being the different methods of answering a dun.

LET us now return to Heartfree, to whom the Count's note, which he had paid away, was returned, with an account that the drawer was not to be found; and that, on inquiry after him, they had heard he was run away, and conse