thofe enfnared Captives; and which, like the Jaws of Hell, it gaped fo readily to inclose; there enter'd a tall, grave, portly Gentleman, follow'd by a Leafh of fuch Animals, as were utter Strangers to the least Sense of Humanity; and who communicated a kind of an enraptur'd Sneer to Mrs. Trap at their Introduction of of him; as much as to say, there he is for you, fafe enough; let him get out again how But with no fympathizing Bowels of Compaffion for his Misfortunes, though they faw his manly Eyes drowned in a brimfull Flood of Heart-fed Tears; and his Countenance as expreffive of inward Griefs, as accumulated Woes could well imprint them.

he can.

Here, Mr. Wilfull and his Companions were disturbed in their above Engagement, to receive this new Brother in Mifery: For Mr. Trap having but this one convenient Room for the common and general Accommodation of his Cuftomers, Mr. Settee (for that was the Name of our new Gueft) was, according to Cuftom, with the ufual Ceremonies on these unhappy Occafions, introduced as above.

The first Sight of this unfortunate Gentleman, made fo quick and deep an Impreffion in the Mind of Captain Greenland, that he seemed quite Thunderftruck; and could by no means

recall

recall his bufy and penetrating Eyes from his noble, though forrowful, Countenance.

After he had been there about half an Hour, and had fent for what Friends he thought proper, Mr. Wilfull the Captain, and he began to be a little converfant with each other; that is to fay, as much fo, as the Time of their Acquaintance, and their present Circumstances could be supposed to admit of. And Mr. Settee, recollecting that he had heard Mr. Wilfull in a very deep Difcourfe; and that he had disturb'd them from what they were about, at his first coming in; he began to apologize for this unavoidable Intrufion. And they, in Return, made no Secret of what they had been employ'd in. So that now, in order to divert all melancholy Thoughts, Mr. Trap befought Mr. Wilfull that he would be pleased to re-affume the Relation of his own Hiftory, in order to beguile the Time till Dinner. Mr. Settee no fooner came to understand the Nature of their Amusement, but he fetched a deep Sigh,-Ah! Gentlemen, faid he, it is very happy for you, that you are capable of foft'ning the tedious Moments of forrowful Adverfity. My Miffortunes, heavy and dreadful as they are, must lye upon my poor oppreffed Spirits with all their dead and gloomy Weight. I have now,. nor Friend, nor Self-capacity that can in the K.6.

leaft:

leaft allay, or otherwise remove my too ponderous Burden!

Here, the Tears could no longer abide the over-flowing Portals of his Eyes; but left their briney Fountain, and fell in Streams upon his Breaft. Had I, continued he, a Pen to writemy Story, not Ink, but Murdered Blood fhould. tell my generous Readers my fad fraught Tale. I have, Gentlemen, an Occafion for the Patience of a thoufand Jobs to endure my Ills; and the Strength of an hundred Samfans to revenge my Wrongs. And I muft own they have fo far unnerved my former Strength of Mind, that now, Gentlemen, I can gather no Relief to my anguifh'd Soul, but by crying my Complaints to my troubled Hearers. Profound Sorrows, like elevated Rage, fometimes find Eafe in venting themselves: And therefore, Gentlemen, if you think that the Relation of an unfortunate, and most villainous Train of Mischiefs that ever befel an industrious undone Man, may any wife alleviate your own Anguish, and not be too fevere upon your Time and Patience, I will attempt to give it you.

Here, their natural Curiofity, fo heightened by his Grace, and manlike Deportment, was mounted too high, to decline a Prospect that promised them fuch an important History: And which

which our Readers will find he began to deliver as in the Contents of the next Chapter.

CHA P. XVI.

Containing Mr. Settee's Vocation, Appren ticeship and Marriage. A fatal LawSuit; the Behaviour of his own Attorney therein; and what followed by that bafe Man's Contrivances.

AM, faid Mr. Settee, the Son of a Country Gentleman, who gave feventy Guineas with me, Apprentice to an Upholder, with whom I ferved my Time. And then, by the further Indulgence of a tender Father, who added five hundred Pounds to the Donation of a thousand which was left me by an Uncle, I fet up in Trade for myself. Soon after this, I became acquainted with an agreeable young Lady, to whom I made my Addreffes; and with the full Confent of all her Friends, I married her. I had but five hundred Pounds with her, as a prefent Dower; but I had alfo the voluntary Promise of a very confiderable Estate, at the Demife of her Father, who was then old and infirm: And having lately bury'd a Son, he had. now no other Child but my Wife. To be

brief

1

.

brief as I can, Gentlemen, Trade improved; my Wife bleffed me with several Children; and I thought myself as happy and as comfortable as any Man could poffibly be. But now, which was about seven Years after I marry'd, Fortune began to turn her Back upon me. My Father in Law dyed, and having employed a Lawyer, (one Mr. Bubble) who was a distant Relation of his, to draw his Will, this honeft Attorney found Means to deceive the poor infirm Gentleman; fo that, he left open a moft palpable Breach in it, large enough for the whole Eftate, which was promised and intended for me, to find its Way to his own Poffeffion. And above five hundred Pounds of my own Money was thrown away in Pursuit of it. The Anxieties I felt in attending this vile Cause from Day to Day, and from Term to Term, even for Years; with the Lofs of Time, Neglect of Bufinefs, and other Inconveniencies, was much more injurious to me, than the Money I threw away in the Profecution of this villainous Suit, and for ought I know, the Lofs of my Estate into the Bargain.

It is too tedious to recount the many vile Shifts, and Practices that were made ufe of to compass their Ends against me. I was conftantly abused and deceived by my own Attorney; who continually fed me with a forged

Tale