that if I have done him any injury I am sorry for it." Mr. Jenkinson took pen and ink, and wrote down my submission nearly as I have expressed it, to which I signed my name. My son was employed to carry the letter to Mr. Thornhill, who was then at his seat in the country. He went, and in about six hours returned with a verbal answer. He had some difficulty, he said, to get a sight of his landlord; as the servants were insolent and suspicions: but he accidentally saw him as he was going out upon business preparing for his marriage, which was to be in three days. He continued to inform us, that he stept up in the humblest manner, and delivered the letter, which, when Mr. Thornhill had read, he said that all submission was now too late and unnecessary; that he had heard of our application to his uncle, which met with the contempt it deserved; and as for the rest, that all future applications should be directed to his attorney, not to him. He ob

served, however, that as he had a very good opinion of the discretion of the two young ladies, they might have been the most agreeable in

tercessors.

,,Well, Sir," said I to my fellow-prisoner,,,you now discover the temper of the man who oppresses me. He can at once be facetious and crnel; but let him use me as he will, I shall soon be free, in spite of all his bolts to restrain me. I am now drawing towards an abode that looks brighter as I approach it this expectation cheers my afflictions; and though I leave an helpless family of orphans behind me, yet they will not be utterly forsaken; some friend, perhaps, will be found to assist them for the sake of their poor father, and some may charitably relieve them for the sake of their hea yenly father,

Just as I spoke, my wife, whom I had not seen that day before, appeared with looks of terror, and making efforts, but unable to speak.,,Why my love," eried. I,,why will you thus increase my 1. afflictions by your own? What though no submission can turn our severe master, though he hàs doomed me to die in this place of wretchedness, and though we have lost a darling child, yet still you will find comfort in your other children when I shall be no more. “We have indeed lost," returned she, a darling child. My Sophia, my dearest is gone: snatched from us, carried of by ruffians!*

How, Madam cried my fellow-prisoner:,,Miss Sophia carried off by villains! Sure it cannot be ?“

She could only answer with a fixed look, and a flood of tears. But one of the prisoner's wives, who was present, and came in with her, gave us a more distinct account: she informed us, that as my wife, my daughter, and herself, were taking a walk to gether on the great road, a little way out of the village, a post-chaise and pair drove up to them, and instantly stopt upon which a well-drest man, not Mr. Thornhill, stepping out, clasped my daughter round the waist, and forcing her in, bid the postilion drive on, so that they were out of sight in a

moment.

but

,,Now," cried I,,,the sum of my miseries is made up, nor is it in the power of any thing on earth to give me another pang. What not one, left! -not leave me one! the monster! the child that was next my heart! she had the beauty of an angel, and almost the wisdom of an angel But support that woman, nor let her fall. Not to leave me one! Alas, my husband," said my wife,,,you seem to want comfort even more than I. Our distresses

are great; but I could bear this and more, if I saw you but easy. They may take away my children, and all the world, if they leave me but you."

I

My son, who was present, endeavoured to mode. rate our grief; he bade us take comfort, for he hoped that we might still have reason to be thankful. ,,My child cried I,,,look round the world, and see if there be any happiness left me now. Is not every ray of comfort shut out; 'while all our bright prospects only lie beyond the grave.",,My dear father," returned he,,,I hope there is still something that will give you an interval of satisfaction; for I have a letter from my brother George."

,,What of him, my child," interrupted I,,,does he know our misery? I hope my boy is exempt from any part of what his wretched family suffers ?—,,Yes, Sir," returned he,,,he is perfectly gay, cheerful, and happy. His letter brings nothing but good news; he is the favourite of his colonel, who promises to procure him the very next lieutenancy that becomes vacant!

,,And are you sure of this," cried my wife; „,are you sure that nothing ill has befallen my boy?"-Nothing indeed, Madam," returned my son;,,you shall see the letter, which will give you the highest pleasure and if any thing can procure you comfort, I am sure that will." ,,But are you sure," still repeated she,,,that the letter is from himself, and that he is really so happy ?",,Yes, Madam," replied he,,,it is certainly his, and he will one day be the credit and the support of our family!";,Then I thank Providence," cried she,,,that my last letter to him has miscarried.",,Yes, my dear," continued she, turning to me,,,I will now confess, that though the hand of Heaven is sore upon us in other instances, it has been favourable here.

By

the last letter I wrote my son, which was in the bitterness of anger, I desired him, upon his mother's blessing, and if he had the heart of a man, to see justice done his father and sister, and avenge our cause. But thanks be to Him who directs all things, it has miscarried, and I am at rest." Woman," cried I,,,thou hast done very ill, and at another time my reproaches might have been more severe. Oh what a tremendous gulph hast thou escaped, that would have buried both thee and him in endless ruin. Providence, indeed, has here been kinder to us than we to ourselves. It has reserved that son to be the father and protector of my children when I shall be away. How unjustly did I complain of being stript of every comfort, when still I hear that he is happy, and insensible of our afflictions; still kept in reserve to support his widowed mother, and to protect his brothers and sisters. But what sisters has he left? he has no sisters now, they are all gone, robbed from me, and I am undone!",,Father," interrupted my son,,,I beg you will give me leave to read his letter, I know it will please you. „Upon which with my permission, he read as follows:

,,Honoured Sir,

,,I have called off my imagination a few mo,,ments from the pleasures that surround me, to fix ,,it upon objects, that are still more pleasing, the dear ,,little fire-side at home. My fancy draws that harm,,less groupe as listening to every line of this with ,,great composure. I view those faces with delight, ,,which never felt the deforming hand of ambition or distress. But whatever your happiness may be at ,,home, I am sure it will be some addition to it, to ,,hear that I am perfectly pleased with my situation ,,and every way happy here.

*,,Our regiment is countermanded, and is not to ,,leave the kingdom; the colonel, who professes ,,himself my friend, takes me with him to all companies where he is acquainted; and after my first ,,visit, I generally find myself received with in,,creased respect upon repeating it. I danced last 1,night with Lady G, and could I forget you -,,know whom, I might be perhaps successful. But it is my fate still to remember others, while I am myself forgotten by most of my absent ,,friends; and in this number, I fear, Sir, that I ,,must consider you, for I have long expected the pleasure of a letter from home to no purpose. Olivia and Sophia too promised to write, but seem ,,to have forgot me. Tell them they are two arrant ,,little baggages, and that I am this moment in a most ,,violent passion with them: yet still, I know not ,,how, though I want to bluster a little, my heart ,,is respondent only to softer emotions. Then tell ,,them, Sir, that after all I love them affectionately; ,,and be assured of my ever remaining your dusiful ",son."

In all our misery," cried I,,,what thanks have we not to return, that one at least of our family is exempted from what we suffer. Heaven be his guard, and keep my boy thus happy to be the support ofhis widomed mother, and the father of these two babes, which is all the patrimony I can now bequeath him! May he keep their innocence from the temptations of want, and be their conductor in the paths of honour! I had scarce said these words, when a noise, like that of a tumult, seemed to proceed from the prison below; it died away soon after, and clanking of fetters was heard along the passage leading to my apartment, The keeper of the prison entered, holding a man all bloody, wounded, and fettered with the