having skipped nimbly up a hill, with the assistance of a speaking trumpet informed us, that he saw a town a very little way off. This news so comforted me, and gave me such strength, as well as spirits, that, with the help of my old friend, and another, who suffered me to lean on them, I, with much difficulty, attained the summit; but was so absolutely overcome in climbing it, that I had no longer sufficient strength to support my tottering limbs, and was obliged to lay myself again on the ground; nor could they prevail on me to undertake descending through a very thick wood into a plain, at the end of which indeed appeared some houses, or rather huts; but at a much greater distance than the sailor had assured us; the little way, as he had called it, seeming to me full twenty miles, nor was it, I believe, much less."

CHAP. IX.

Containing incidents very surprising.

"THE captain declared, he would without delay proceed to the town before him; in which resolution he was seconded by all the crew: but when I could not be persuaded, nor was I able to travel any further before I had rested myself, my old friend protested he would not leave me, but would stay behind as my guard; and, when I had refreshed myself with a little repose, he would attend me to the town, which the captain promised he would not leave, before he had seen

us.

"They were no sooner departed than (having first thanked my protector for his care of me) I resigned myself to sleep, which immediately closed my eyelids, and would probably have detained me very long in his gentle dominion, had I not been awaked with a squeeze by the hand of my guard; which I at first thought intended to alarm me with the danger of some wild beast; but I soon perceived it arose from a softer motive, and that a gentle swain was the only wild beast I had to apprehend. He began now to disclose his passion in the strongest manner imaginable, indeed with a warmth rather beyond that of both my former lovers, but as yet without any attempt of absolute force. On my side remonstrances were made in more bitter exclamations and reviling than I had used to any, that villain Wild excepted. I told him that he was the basest and most treacherous wretch alive; that his having cloaked his iniquitous designs under the appearance of virtue and friendship, added an ineffable degree of horror to them; that I detested him of all mankind the most, and could I be brought to yield to prostitution, be should be the last to enjoy the ruins of my honour. He suffered himself not to be provoked by this language, but only changed his method of solicitation from flattery to bribery. He un

ript the lining of his waistcoat, and pulled forth several jewels; these, he said, he had preserved from infinite danger to the happiest purpose, if I could be won by them. I rejected them often with the utmost indignation, till at last, casting my eye, rather by accident than design, on a diamond necklace, a thought, like lightening, shot through my mind, and, in an instant, I remembered, that this was the very necklace you had sold the cursed Count, the cause of all our misfortunes. The confusion of ideas into which this surprise hurried me, prevented my reflecting on the villain who then stood before me; but the first recollection presently told me it could be no other than the Count himself, the wicked tool of Wild's barbarity. Good heavens! what was then my condition! How shall I describe the tumult of passions which then laboured in my breast! However, as I was happily unknown to him, the least suspicion on his side was altogether impossible. He imputed, therefore, the eagerness with which I gazed on the jewels to a very wrong cause, and endeavoured to put as much additional softness into his countenance as he was able. My fears were a little quieted, and I was resolved to be very liberal of promises, and hoped so thoroughly to persuade him of my venality, that he might, without any doubt, be drawn in to wait the captain and crew's return, who would, I was very certain, not only preserve me from his violence, but secure the restoration of what you had been so cruelly robbed of. But, alas! I was mistaken." Mrs Heartfree again perceiving symptoms of the utmost disquietude in her husband's countenance, cried out, "My dear, don't you apprehend any harm.-But, to deliver you as soon as possible from your anxiety,-when he perceived I declined the warmth of his addresses, he begged me to consider; he changed at once his voice and features, and, in a very different tone from what he had hitherto affected, he swore I should not deceive him as I had the captain; that Fortune had kindly thrown an opportunity in his way, which he was resolved not foolishly to lose; and concluded with a violent oath, that he was determined to enjoy me that moment, and, therefore, I knew the consequence of resistance. He then caught me in his arms, and began such rude attempts, that I screamed out with all the force I could, though I had so little hopes of being rescued, when there suddenly rushed forth from a thicket a creature, which, at his first appearance, and in the hurry of spirits I then was, I did not take for a man; but indeed had he been the fiercest of wild beasts, I should have rejoiced at his devouring us both. I scarce perceived he had a musket in his hand, before he struck my ravisher such a blow with it, that he felled him at my feet. He then advanced with a gentle air towards me, and told me in French, he was extremely glad he had been luckily present to my

assistance. He was naked except his middle and his feet, if I can call a body so which was covered with hair almost equal to any beast whatever. Indeed his appearance was so horrid in my eyes, that the friendship he had shewn me, as well as his courteous behaviour, could not entirely remove the dread I had conceived from his figure. I believe he saw this very visibly; for he begged me not to be frightened, since, whatever accident had brought me thither, I should have reason to thank Heaven for meeting him, at whose hands I might assure myself of the utmost civility and protection. In the midst of all this consternation, I had spirits enough to take up the casket of jewels which the villain, in falling, had dropt out of his hands, and conveyed it into my pocket. My deliverer telling me, that I seemed extremely weak and faint, desired me to refresh myself at his little hut, which, he said, was hard by. If his demeanour had been less kind and obliging, my desperate situation must have lent me confidence; for sure the alternative could not be doubtful, whether I should rather trust this man, who, notwithstanding his savage outside, expressed so much devotion to serve me, which, at least, I was not certain of the falsehood of, or should abide with one whom I so perfectly well knew to be an accomplished villain. I there fore committed myself to his guidance, though with tears in my eyes, and begged him to have compassion on my innocence, which was absolutely in his power. He said, the treatment he had been witness of, which, he supposed, was from one who had broken his trust towards me, sufficiently justified my suspicion; but begged me to dry my eyes, and he would soon convince me, that I was with a man of different sentiments. The kind accents which accompanied these words, gave me some comfort, which was assisted by the repossession of our jewels by an accident so strongly savouring of the disposition of providence in my favour.

"We left the villain weltering in his blood, though beginning to recover a little motion, and walked together to his hut, or rather cave; for it was under ground, on the side of a hill; the situation was very pleasant, and, from its mouth, we overlooked a large plain, and the town I had before seen. As soon as I entered it, he desired me to sit down on a bench of earth, which served him for chairs, and then laid before me some fruits, the wild product of that country, one or two of which had an excellent flavour. He like wise produced some baked flesh, a little resem bling that of venison. He then brought forth a bottle of brandy, which, he said, had remained with him ever since his settling there, now above thirty years, during all which time he had never opened it, his only liquor being water; that he had reserved this bottle as a cordial in sickness, but he thanked Heaven he had never yet had occasion for it. He then acquainted me

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that he was a hermit; that he had been former. ly cast away on that coast, with his wife, whom he dearly loved, but could not preserve from perishing; on which account he had resolved never to return to France, which was his native country, but to devote himself to prayer and a holy life, placing all his hopes in the blessed expectation of meeting that dear woman again in heaven, where he was convinced she was now a saint, and an interceder for him. He said he had exchanged a watch with the king of that country, whom he described to be a very just and good man, for a gun, some powder, shot, and ball, with which he sometimes provided himself food, but more generally used it in defending himself against wild beasts; so that his diet was chiefly of the vegetable kind. He told me many more circumstances, which I may relate to you hereafter: but to be as concise as possible at present, he at length greatly comforted me, by promising to conduct me to a seaport, where I might have an opportunity to meet with some vessels trafficking for slaves, and whence I might once more commit myself to that element, which, though I had already suffered so much on it, I must again trust, to put me in possession of all I loved.

"The character he gave me of the inhabitants of the town we saw below us, and of their king, made me desirous of being conducted thither; especially as I very much wished to see the captain and sailors, who had behaved very kindly to me, and with whom, notwithstanding all the civil behaviour of the hermit, I was rather easier in my mind than alone with this single man; but he dissuaded me greatly from attempting such a walk, till I had recruited my spirits with rest, desiring me to repose myself on his couch or bank, saying, that he himself would retire without the cave, where he would remain as my guard. I accepted this kind proposal, but it was long before I could procure any slumber; however, at length, weariness prevailed over my fears, and I enjoyed several hours sleep. When I awaked, I found my faithful centinel on his post, and ready at my summons. This behavi our infused some confidence into me, and I now repeated my request, that he would go with me to the town below; but he answered, it would be better advised to take some repast before I undertook the journey, which I should find much longer than it appeared. I consented, and he set forth a greater variety of fruits than before, of which I ate very plentifully. My collation being ended, I renewed the mention of my walk; but he still persisted in dissuading me, telling me, that I was not yet strong enough; that I could repose myself no where with greater safety than in his cave; and that, for his part, he could have no greater happiness than that of attending me; adding, with a sigh, it was a happiness he should envy any other, more than all the gifts of Fortune. You may imagine I

began now to entertain suspicions; but he presently removed all doubt, by throwing himself at my feet, and expressing the warmest passion for me. I should have now sunk with despair, had he not accompanied these professions with the most vehement protestations, that he would never offer me any other force but that of entreaty, and that he would rather die the most cruel death by my coldness, than gain the highest bliss, by becoming the occasion of a tear of sorrow to those bright eyes, which, he said, were stars, under whose benign influence alone he could enjoy, or indeed suffer life." She was repeating many more compliments he made her, when a horrid uproar, which alarmed the whole Gate, put a stop to her narration at present. It is impossible for me to give the reader a better idea of the noise which now arose, than by desiring him to imagine I had the hundred tongues the poet once wished for, and was vociferating from them all at once, by hollowing, scolding, crying, swearing, bellowing, and, in short, by every different articulation which is within the scope of the human organ.

CHAP. X.

A horrible uproar in the Gate.

BUT however great an idea the reader may hence conceive of this uproar, he will think the occasion more than adequate to it, when he is informed that our hero (I blush to name it) had discovered an injury done to his honour, and that in the tenderest point. In a word, reader, (for thou must know it, though it give thee the greatest horror imaginable,) he had caught Fireblood in the arms of his lovely Lætitia.

As the generous bull, who having long depastured among a number of cows, and thence contracted an opinion that these cows are all his own property, if he beholds another bull bestride a cow within his walks, he roars aloud, and threatens instant vengeance with his horns, till the whole parish are alarmed with his bellowing: not with less noise, nor less dreadful menaces, did the fury of Wild burst forth, and terrify the whole Gate. Long time did rage render his voice inarticulate to the hearer; as when, at a visiting day, fifteen or sixteen, or perhaps twice as many females of delicate but shrill pipes, ejaculate all at once on different subjects, all is sound only, the harmony entirely melodious indeed, but conveys no ideas to our ears: but at length, when reason began to get the better of his passion, which latter being deserted by his breath, began a little to retreat, the following accents leapt over the hedge of his teeth, or rather the ditch of his gums, whence

VOL. I.

those hedge-stakes had long since, by a patten, been displaced in battle with an amazon of Drury.

:

-Man of honour! doth this become a friend? Could I have expected such a breach of all the laws of honour from thee, whom I had taught to walk in its paths? Hadst thou chosen any other way to injure my confidence, I could have forgiven it; but this is a stab in the tenderest part, a wound never to be healed, an injury never to be repaired: for it is not only the loss of an agreeable companion, of the affection of a wife, dearer to my soul than life itself, it is not this loss alone I lament; this loss is accompanied with disgrace, and with dishonour the blood of the Wilds, which hath run with such uninterrupted purity through so many generations, this blood is fouled, is contaminated: hence flow my tears, hence arises my grief. This is the injury never to be redressed, nor ever to be with honour forsaken."-" My-in a bandbox," answered Fireblood; "here is a noise about your honour : if the mischief done to your blood be all you complain of, I am sure you complain of nothing; for my blood is as good as yours."-" You have no conception," replied Wild," of the tenderness of honour; you know not how nice and delicate it is in both sexes; so delicate, that the least breath of air, which rudely blows on it, destroys it."-" I will prove from your own words," says Fireblood, "I have not wronged your honour. Have you not often told me, that the honour of a man consisted in receiving no affront from his own sex, and that of a woman in receiving no kindness from yours? Now, sir, if I have given you no affront, how have I injured your honour ?"-" But doth not every thing," cried Wild, "of the wife belong to the husband? A married man therefore hath his wife's honour as well as his own, and by injuring her's you injure his. How cruelly you have hurt me in this tender part, I need not repeat; the whole Gate knows it, and the world shall. I will apply to Doctors Commons for my redress against her, I will shake off as much of my dishonour as I can, by parting with her; and as for you, expect to hear of me in Westminster-hall; the modern method of repairing these breaches, and of resenting this affront.". "D-n your eyes," cries Fireblood, "I fear you not, nor do I believe a word you say."

Nay, if you affront me personally," says Wild, "another sort of resentment is prescribed."At which word, advancing to Fireblood, he presented him with a box on the ear, which the youth immediately returned; and now our hero and his friend fell to boxing, though with some difficulty, both being incumbered with the chains which they wore between their legs. A few blows passed on both sides, before the gentle

SD

men, who stood by, stept in and parted the combatants. And now both parties having whispered each other, that, if they out-lived the ensuing sessions, and escaped the tree, the one should give, and the other should receive, satisfaction in single combat, they separated, and the Gate soon recovered its former tranquillity.

Mrs Heartfree was then desired, by the justice and her husband both, to conclude her story, which she did in the words of the next chapter.

CHAP. XI.

The conclusion of Mrs Heartfree's adventures.

"IF I mistake not, I was interrupted just as I was beginning to repeat some of the compliments made me by the hermit."-"Just as you had finished them, I believe, madam," said the justice." Very well, sir," said she, "I am sure I have no pleasure in the repetition. He concluded, then, with telling me, though I was, in his eyes, the most charming woman in the world, and might tempt a saint to abandon the ways of holiness, yet my beauty inspired him with a much tenderer affection towards me, than to purchase any satisfaction of his own desires with my misery; if, therefore, I could be so cruel to him, to reject his honest and sincere address, nor could submit to a solitary life with one who would endeavour, by all possible means, to make me happy, I had no force to dread; for that I was as much at my liberty as if I was in France or England, or any other free country. I repulsed him with the same civility with which he advanced; and told him, that as he professed great regard to religion, I was convinced he would cease from all farther solicitation, when I informed him, that if I had no other objection, my own innocence would not admit of my hear ing him on this subject, for that I was married. He started a little at that word, and was for some time silent; but at length recovering himself, he began to urge the uncertainty of my husband's being alive, and the probability of the contrary: he then spoke of marriage as of a civil policy only; on which head he urged many arguments not worth repeating, and was growing so very eager and importunate, that I know not whither his passion might have hurried him, had not three of the sailors, well armed, appeared at that instant in sight of the cave. I no sooner saw them, than, exulting with the utmost inward joy, I told him my companions were come for me, and that I must now take my leave of him; assuring him that I would always remember, with the most grateful acknowledgment, the favours I had received at his hands. He fetched a very heavy sigh, and squeezing me tenderly by the hand, he saluted my lips with a little more eagerness than the European salutations admit of; and told me, he should like

wise remember my arrival at his cave to the last day of his life; adding-O that he could there spend the whole, in the company of one, whose bright eyes had kindled-But I know you will think, sir, that we women love to repeat the compliments made us; I will therefore omit them. In a word, the sailors being now arrived, I quitted him, with some compassion for the reluctance with which he parted from me, and went forward with my companions.

"We had proceeded but a very few paces before one of the sailors said to his comrades, 'D-n me, Jack, who knows whether yon fellow hath not some good flip in his cave?' I innocently answered, the poor wretch had only one bottle of brandy.-'Hath he so?' cries the sailor; "'fore George, we will taste it.' And so saying, they immediately returned back, and myself with them. We found the poor man prostrate on the ground, expressing all the symptoms of misery and lamentation. I told him in French (for the sailors could not speak that language) what they wanted. He pointed to the place where the bottle was deposited, saying, they were welcome to that, and whatever else he had; and added, he cared not if they took his life also. The sailors searched the whole cave, where finding nothing more which they deemed worth their taking, they walked off with the bottle, and immediately emptying it, without offering me a drop, they proceeded with me towards the town.

"In our way I observed one whisper another, while he kept his eye stedfastly fixed on me. This gave me some uneasiness; but the other answered, 'No, d-n me, the captain will never forgive us: besides, we have enough of it among the black women; and, in my mind, one colour is as good as another.' This was enough to give me violent apprehensions; but I heard no more of that kind till we came to the town, where, in about six hours, I arrived in safety.

"As soon as I came to the captain, he inquired what was become of my friend, meaning the villainous Count. When he was informed by me of what had happened, he wished me heartily joy of my delivery, and, expressing the utmost abhorrence of such baseness, swore, if ever he met him, he would cut his throat; but indeed we both concluded that he had died of the blow which the hermit had given him.

"I was now introduced to the chief magistrate of this country, who was desirous of seeing me. I will give you a short description of him. He was chosen (as is the custom there), for his superior bravery and wisdom. His power is entirely absolute during its continuance; but, on the first deviation from equity and justice, he is liable to be deposed, and punished by the people, the elders of whom, once a year, assemble to examine into his conduct. Besides the danger which these examinations, which are very strict, expose him to, his office is of such care and

trouble, that nothing but that restless love of power, so predominant in the mind of man, could make it the object of desire; for he is indeed the only slave of all the natives of this country. He is obliged, in time of peace, to hear the complaint of every person in his dominions, and to render him justice. For which purpose every one may demand an audience of him, unless during the hour which he is allow ed for dinner, when he sits alone at the table, and is attended in the most public manner, with more than European ceremony. This is done to create an awe and respect towards him in the eye of the vulgar; but, lest it should elevate him too much in his own opinion, in order to his humiliation, he receives every evening in private, from a kind of beadle, a gentle kick on his posteriors; besides which, he wears a ring in his nose, somewhat resembling that we ring our pigs with, and a chain round his neck, not unlike that worn by our aldermen; both which I suppose to be emblematical, but heard not the reasons of either assigned. There are many more particularities among these people, which, when I have an opportunity, I may relate to you. The second day after my return from court, one of his officers, whom they call SCHACH PIMPACH, waited upon me, and, by a French interpreter who lives here, informed me, that the chief magistrate liked my person, and offered me an immense present, if I would suffer him to enjoy it, (this is, it seems, their common form of making love). I rejected the present, and never heard any further solicitation; for, as it is no shame for women here to consent at the first proposal, so they never receive a second.

"I had resided in this town a week, when the captain informed me, that a number of slaves, who had been taken captives in war, were to be guarded to the sea-side, where they were to be sold to the merchants, who traded in them to America; that if I would embrace this opportunity, I might assure myself of finding a passage to America, and thence to England; acquainting me, at the same time, that he himself intended to go with them. I readily agreed to accompany him. The chief, being advertised of our designs, sent for us both to court, and, without mentioning a word of love to me, having presented me with a very rich jewel, of less value, he said, than my chastity, took a very civil leave, recommending me to the care of Heaven, and ordering us a large supply of provisions for our journey.

"We were provided with mules for ourselves, and what we carried with us; and in nine days reached the sea-shore, where we found an English vessel ready to receive both us and the slaves. We went aboard it, and sailed the next day with a fair wind for New England, where I hoped to get an immediate passage to the Old; but Providence was kinder than my expectation; for the third day after we were at sea, we met an

English man of war homeward bound; the captain of it was a very good-natured man, and agreed to take me on board. I accordingly took my leave of my old friend the master of the shipwrecked vessel, who went on to New England, whence he intended to pass to Jamaica, where his owners lived. I was now treated with great civility, had a little cabin assigned me,-dined every day at the captain's table, who was indeed a very gallant man, and, at first, made me a tender of his affections; but when he found me resolutely bent to preserve myself pure and entire for the best of husbands, he grew cooler in his addresses, and soon behaved in a manner very pleasing to me, regarding my sex only so far as to pay me a deference which is very agreeable to us all.

"To conclude my story, I met with no adventure in this passage at all worth relating, till my landing at Gravesend, whence the captain brought me in his own boat to the Tower. In a short hour after my arrival, we had that meeting which, however dreadful at first, will, I now hope, by the good offices of the best of men, whom Heaven for ever bless, end in our perfect happiness, and be a strong instance of what I am persuaded is the surest truth, THAT PROVIDENCE WILL, SOONER OR LATER, PROCURE

THE FELICITY OF THE VIRTUOUS AND INNO

CENT."

Mrs Heartfree thus ended her speech, having before delivered to her husband the jewels which the Count had robbed him of, and that presented her by the African chief, which last was of immense value. The good magistrate was sensibly touched at her narrative, as well on the consideration of the sufferings she had herself undergone, as for those of her husband, which he had himself been innocently the instrument of bringing upon him. That worthy man, however, much rejoiced in what he had already done for his preservation, and promised to labour, with his utmost interest and industry, to procure the absolute pardon rather of his sentence than of his guilt, which he now plainly discovered was a barbarous and false imputation.

CHAP, XII.

The history returns to the contemplation of Greatness.

BUT we have already, perhaps, detained our reader too long in this relation, from the consideration of our hero, who daily gave the most exalted proofs of greatness, in cajoling the prigs, and in exactions on the debtors, which latter now grew so great, i. e. corrupted in their morals, that they spoke with the utmost contempt of what the vulgar call Honesty. The greatest character among them was that of a pickpocket, or, in truer language, a file; and the only cen

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