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his design, even though he should be obliged to set out on foot.

When the good attorney found he could not prevail on Jones to stay, he as strenuously applied himself to persuade the guide to accompany him. He urged many motives to induce him to undertake this short journey, and at last concluded with saying, 'Do you think the gentleman won't very well reward you for your trouble?

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Two to one are odds at every other thing, as well as at foot-ball. But the advantage which this united force hath in persuasion or entreaty, must have been visible to a curious observer; for he must have often seen, that when a father, a master, a wife, or any other person in authority, have stoutly adhered to a denial against all the reasons which a single man could produce, they have afterwards yielded to the repetition of the same sentiments by a second or third person, who hath undertaken the cause without attempting to advance any thing new in its behalf. And hence, perhaps, proceeds the phrase of seconding an argument or a motion, and the great consequence this is of in all assemblies of public debate. Hence, likewise, probably it is, that in our courts of law we often hear a learned gentleman (generally a serjeant) repeating for an hour together what another learned gentleman, who spoke just before him, had been saying.

Instead of accounting for this, we shall proceed in our usual manner to exemplify it in the conduct of the lad above mentioned, who submitted to the persuasions of Mr. Dowling, and promised once more to admit Jones into his side-saddle; but insisted on first giving the poor creatures a good bait, saying, they had travelled a great way, and been rid very hard. Indeed this caution of the boy was needless; for Jones, notwithstanding his hurry and impatience, would have ordered this of himself; for he by no means agreed with the opi

nion of those who consider animals as mere machines, and when they bury their spurs in the belly of their horse, imagine the spur and the horse to have an equal capacity of feeling pain.

While the beasts were eating their corn, or rather were supposed to eat it (for as the boy was taking care of himseif in the kitchen, the hostler took great care that his corn should not be consumed in the stable); Mr. Jones, at the earnest desire of Mr. Dowling, accompanied that gentleman into his room, where they sat down together over a bottle of wine.

CHAP. X.

In which Mr. Jones and Mr. Dowling drink a Bottle together.

MR. Dowling, pouring out a glass of wine, named the health of the good 'squire Allworthy; adding, 'If you please, Sir, we will likewise re'member his nephew and heir, the young 'squire: 'Come, Sir, here's Mr. Blifil to you, a very pretty young gentleman; and who, I dare swear, will hereafter make a very considerable figure in his country. I have a borough for him myself in 'my eye.'

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Sir,' answered Jones, I am convinced you 'don't intend to affront me, so I shall not resent it; but, I promise you, you have joined two persons very improperly together; for one is the glory of the human species, and the other is a rascal who dishonours the name of man.'

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Dowling stared at this. He said, 'He thought 'both the gentlemen had a very unexceptionable 'character. As for 'squire Allworthy himself,' says he, I never had the happiness to see him; but all the world talks of his goodness. And, indeed, as to the young gentleman, I never saw him but once, when I carried him the news of the

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loss of his mother; and then I was so hurried, and drove and tore with the multiplicity of business, that I had hardly time to converse with ' him; but he looked so like a very honest gentleman, and behaved himself so prettily, that I protest I never was more delighted with any gen" tleman since I was born.'

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'I don't wonder,' answered Jones, that he should impose upon you in so short an acquaintance; for he hath the cunning of the devil him'self, and you may live with him many years 'without discovering him. I was bred up with him. 'from my infancy, and we were hardly ever asun'der; but it is very lately only, that I have dis'covered half the villany which is in him. I own I never greatly liked him. I thought he wanted 'that generosity of spirit, which is the sure foun'dation of all that is great and noble in human 'nature. I saw a selfishness in him long ago which 'I despised; but it is lately, very lately, that I have found him capable of the basest and black'est designs; for, indeed, I have at last found out, 'that he hath taken an advantage of the openness of my own temper, and hath concerted the deepest project, by a long train of wicked artifice, to work my ruin, which at last he hath effected.'

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Ay! ay!' cries Dowling; I protest, then, it is a pity such a person should inherit the great 'estate of your uncle Allworthy.'

'Alas, Sir,' cries Jones, 'you do me an honour to which I have no title. It is true, indeed, his goodness once allowed me the liberty of calling him by a much nearer name; but as this was only a voluntary act of goodness, I can complain of no injuctice when he thinks proper to deprive me of this honour; since the loss cannot be more 'unmerited than the gift originally was. I assure you, Sir, I am no relation of Mr. Allworthy; and if the world, who are incapable of setting a true value on his virtue, should think, in his behaviour

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to me, he hath dealt hardly by a relation, they 'do an injustice to the best of men: for I-but I ask your pardon, I shall trouble you with no par'ticulars relating to myself; only as you seemed 'to think me a relation of Mr. Allworthy, I thought proper to set you right in a matter that might draw some censures upon him, which I promise you I would rather lose my life, than give occa'sion to.'

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'I protest, Sir,' says Dowling, 'you talk very much like a man of honour; but instead of giving 'me any trouble, I protest it would give me great pleasure to know how you came to be thought a relation of Mr. Allworthy's, if you are not. Your 'horses won't be ready this half hour, and as you 'have sufficient opportunity, I wish you would 'tell me how all that happened; for I protest it seems very surprising that you should pass for a ' relation of a gentleman, without being so.'

Jones, who in the compliance of his disposition (though not in his prudence) a little resembled his lovely Sophia, was easily prevailed on to satisfy Mr. Dowling's curiosity, by relating the history of his birth and education, which he did, like Othello,

Even from his boyish years,

To th' very moment he was bade to tell:

the which to hear, Dowling, like Desdemona, did seriously incline;

He swore 'twas strange, 'twas passing strange;
"Twas pitiful, 'twas wonderous pitiful.

Mr. Dowling was indeed very greatly affected with this relation; for he had not divested himself of humanity by being an attorney. Indeed, nothing is more unjust than to carry our prejudices against a profession into private life, and to bor

row our idea of a man from our opinion of his calling. Habit, it is true, lessens the horror of those actions which the profession makes necessary, and consequently habitual; but in all other instances, nature works in men of all professions alike; nay, perhaps, even more strongly with those who give her, as it were, a holiday, when they are following their ordinary business. A butcher, I make no doubt, would feel compunction at the slaughter of a fine horse; and though a surgeon can conceive no pain in cutting off a limb, I have known him compassionate a man in a fit of the gout. The common hangman, who hath stretched the necks of hundreds, is known to have trembled at his first operation on a head: and the very professors of human blood-shedding, who in their trade of war butcher thousands, not only of their fellow professors, but often of women and children, without remorse; even these, I say, in times of peace, when drums and trumpets are laid aside, often lay aside all their ferocity, and become very gentle members of civil society. In the same manner an attorney may feel all the miseries and distresses of his fellow creatures, provided he happens not to be concerned against them.

Jones, as the reader knows, was yet unacquainted with the very black colours in which he had been represented to Mr. Allworthy; and as to other matters he did not shew them in the most disadvantageous light: for though he was unwilling to cast any blame on his former friend and patron; yet he was not very desirous of heaping too much upon himself. Dowling therefore observed, and not without reason, that very ill offices must have been done him by some body: For certainly,' cries he, 'the 'squire would never have disinherited you only for a few faults, which any young gentleman might have committed. Indeed, I cannot 'properly say disinherited; for to be sure by law you cannot claim as heir. That's certain; that

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