August 6, 17

WHEN the feafon began, I took a house in Jermyn-ftreet; and by a most fortunate political event I was enabled to live in a degree of elegance little inferior to what I had been accuftomed to. Mr. Digges had embarraffed himself, both in England and Scotland, for a woman he had formerly been connected with. This, with our living feparately, doubled my expences. And the latter fubjected me to folicitations, to which every woman, who has been fuppofed to make one in the gay world, is liable. A great part of this I indifcreetly drew upon myself, by not making Known to the world the reafons of Calcraft's treacherous conduct. Had I done fo, the liberal of mankind would have pitied me.

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Among the competitors for my favour, which were numerous, there was one who actually offered me ten thousand pounds to be admitted as a favoured lover. As the gentleman is now happily married, I will not mention his name; there are, however, I believe, living vouchers of the truth of this affertion. And here I can fafely aver, that, notwithstanding ill-nature or envy might

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might have fuggefted infinuations to the contrary, I never, even in thought, deviated from the duty I owed, as I imagined, to Mr. Digges, whilft the union between us exifted.

Whilft my house in Jermyn ftreet was fitting up, I continued to fleep at Chelsea, but was in town all day. The drawing-room and beft bedchamber being not yet finished, the upholsterer's man fecreted nine yards of damafk, a quantity of chintz, and fome very fine Drefden china, which were prefents. As his honefty had been more than once fufpected by his employer, a fearchwarrant was obtained to examine his lodgings. This being carried into execution, the whole of my property, which was very remarkable, was found, but nothing belonging to his mafter.

The upholsterer was one of the most implacable of men. He came to Chelfea in the evening, whilft I was abfent; and by means of threats fo far intimidated my maid, as to prevail upon her to go to the juftice's, and fwear to the goods which were found. This fhe did, and was bound over to prosecute in the penalty of forty pounds. But the offender having a very large family, I was fo far influenced in his favour by my natural humanity, as to keep my maid from appearing against him. I then fet on foot a fubfcription towards

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wards paying the forfeiture of the bond, and I believe I got thirty guineas towards it.

In confequence of my maid's not appearing, the man was discharged, and the very fame night he called at my house. As I fuppofed he had no other business with me than to return me thanks for my lenity, and acknowledgments of that nature being moft difagreeable to me, I told the fervant who brought in his name, that I was busy, and could not fee him. Upon which the fellow fent in word, that he must fee me, or it would be worfe for me; for I had compounded felony, and before a few hours were paffed I might be called to answer for it.

I was alarmed at the infult, but not being converfant with the law, I was at a lofs to comprehend his meaning. It was therefore neceffary to refer to fome one for advice. And as I could think of no perfon at the time to confult but my coufin Crawford, who had taken the benefit of the late infolvent act, and was returned to his chambers and bufinefs, I fent for him to fettle the affair; and, in the mean while, the ungrateful wretch waited at a neighbouring public house. When Mr. Crawford came, the fellow made a peremptory demand of fifty pounds, which he infifted on being paid immediately, otherwife he would go and lodge an information against me. Finding

Finding from my good coufin that there was no redress, I paid the money.

Thus did I become a victim to my humanity, by means of a monfter who deferved to fuffer the fevereft inflictions of the law for his ingratitude, though he had escaped the due deferts of 1 dishonesty.—This inftance ferves to prove, that, however ftrongly humanity might urge to the contrary, the regular profecution of an offender against the laws of his country is a duty we owe to ourselves as well as to the community.-In fuch cafes, lenity ceases to be a virtue.-A ftronger claim than delicacy of feeling calls for a spirited exertion upon these occafions.-The trouble and inconveniencies which attend a profecution ought to be chearfully fubmitted to; and though fervices rendered our country of this kind are not attended with fo much eclat as thofe where life is expofed in her defence; yet they are a duty incumbent on every good citizen, and as deferving of a civic crown.-Juftice, indeed, fhould ever be tempered by moderation; and humanity should always be exerted, whenever prudence does not forbid.

The theatre not opening fo foon as was expected, I had leifure to vifit, and be vifited by, what the world generally denominate friends; that is, those who will entertain you as long as you are amufing,

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amufing, and are the fashion; but the moment ftern adverfity throws her contemptuous robe over you, they no longer are your friends. Like the poor fequeftered stag, fo pathetically described by Shakspere*, Thefe velvet friends abandon you. "The careless herd, full of the pafture, jump "along by you, and never ftay to greet a poor "and broken bankrupt." On the contrary, they join in the cry against you, and accuse you of faults you never committed, in order to excufe themselves from affifting you.

It has often excited my wonder, when I have reflected how much the word friendship is abused, and how it is prostituted in its application, by those who are unacquainted with its meaning. Since adverfity has vifited me, I have frequently found thofe, whom I have always thought to be endowed with the most refined and liberal fentiments, to be as ready to avoid the person they once affected to admire, and loaded with profeffions of regard, as the fervile herd; and I can with truth affirm, that among the numbers I formerly had it in my power to oblige, I never met with a grateful return but from one gentleman, of whofe gratitude I fhall give you an account in my future letters. Was I to mention to you some very extraordinary inftances which I have it in

* As You Like it, Act I. Scene I.

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