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we had a very hatefull Profpect before us; having but two Methods to chufe of, which was either to give up our Mortgage, or else to engage in another Lawsuit; and that too, with one of the fubtileft, and richest old Foxes in the whole Nation. This, as you may be sure, we took a great Deal of Pains, Care, and Time to be well advised in. And at length, with the Advice of feveral learned Counfel, we have begun our Suit for the Recovery of our Mortgage Money. But what will you fay, when I fhall inform you that this Piece of Knavery was brought about by the ungratefull and malicious Contrivance. of the very fame Attorney that I had employ'd in the aforefaid Cause for the Recovery of my Father in Law's Estate? And what is ftill more aggravating, that I may not yet get clear of him, he is now employ'd against me by our Adverfary in the present Caufe: Nor does he ever meet me in the Street, or elfewhere, that he does not laugh in my Face; and impudently infult me, with an infolent! fneering! and moft audacious Grin.

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CHAP. XVII.

Wherein Mr. Sette continues the Delivery of his own lamentable Hiftory. And whereby the Lord Blaze (if there ever was any fuch Man, and that he be still living) may find himself a Scandal to the high Title he fo foully disgraces.

H

ERE, the whole Company exprefs'd

their general Sorrow for Mr. Settee's Misfortunes; and poor Wilfull was already half perfuaded that they deferved Pity and Redrefs, even much more than his own: Nay, he confefs'd that he conceiv'd his own the lighter, by finding another who feem'd as wretched as himself: For that he could not avoid feeling a moft fenfible Share of this Gentleman's heavy Griefs. And that at the fame Time, the Character of Mr. Settee's Attorney, and the former as well as the prefent Behaviour of his own, fo allarm'd his Apprehenfions, that his whole - Frame, Blood, Nerves, and Muscles, were palpably affected by it.

Thefe Grievances, Gentlemen, continued. Mr. Settee, would doubtlessly have been reguarded by me as very heavy ones, had not

much

much greater very suddenly have fucceded them. But in my present unspeakable Wretchedness, fuch a Situation as that would have been Heaven to it. My Wife bore all thofe Inconveniences without the leaft Complaint, or outward Uneafiness still exhorting me to fupport my Spirits, and truft in Providence. And I refolved to follow her comfortable Advice: But Fortune, as though he took a Pleasure in sporting with my Mifery, refolv'd not to forfake me, and leave my Ruin only gone through by halves. In order, therefore, to render my Hiftory, the clearer to you, I muft now acquaint you, that my eldest Daughter at this Time, was about fourteen Years of Age, and my Son (for I had but that one) was about thirteen, and his Facy not leading him to a Liking of my own Bufinefs, I gave an hundred Guineas with him to a Jeweller, which he chose for himself: And he was just put from me, when another Accident happen'd in my Affairs.

A Perfon of Fortune, and a very good Cuftomer of mine, whom I had a great While work'd for, came to me, with great Joy and told me, that he hoped, he had done me a great Piece of Service, which would in fome Measure help to repare my late Loffes: For he had dined that Day with the Lord Blaze, and his Lordship had promifed, that I fhould have the whole fur

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nishing of a fine new Houfe, which would coft him fifteen or fixteen thoufand Pounds the Building: The Completion of which he did not doubt but would come to four or five thoufand Pounds, especially as he intended to do it in the moft fuperb Taste imaginable, and every Thing entirely New.

A Day was accordingly appointed foon after, for me to wait upon his Lordship, to view the House, and take his present Inftructions. When his Lordfhip gave me a Commiffion, and inform'd me, that I must be as expeditious as poffible in the Affair; and if I could compleat the whole in fix Months Time, I fhouid very much oblige him, and that my Money was ready for me, as foon as I had done. I could not doubt the Truth of this Affertion, because every body knew that his Lordfhip had a very great Eftate, befides a Pl-ce at C-t of two or three thousand a Year. So that I went boldly to Work upon this Warrant, and employ'd a fufficient Number of Men to carry on whatever was requifite in it. And work'd and ftudy'd early and late, Night and Day, myself, to do every Thing in the most excellent Taste, and in the most compleat Manner. And indeed, I fo far fucceeded there, that every Body who beheld my Work was ravish'd with the lively and easy Freedom of its Tafte. His Lord

ship,

fhip, alfo honour'd me with the most profound and liberal Approbation. In fhort, I got the whole compleated by the Time required; and though I gave feveral diftant Hints, how ferviceable a little Money would be to me; yet none of them were understood in the right Sense. I founded the Steward upon that Head, who told me that my Money was ready for me as foon as my Work was finifh'd. I, accordingly fatisfy'd my Creditors with the Truth of every thing; and by that Time I had finifh'd the whole Job, I found myself upwards of three thoufand Pounds in Debt, and near 2000 Pounds of my own Money fcatter'd about his Lordship's new Houfe in fine Furniture. When I carry'd in my Bill, which amounted to five thousand four hundred Pounds, and upwards, his Lordship told me, that I was a Man of excellent Taste and Induftry; that he would look over my Bill, and if I would call again that Day Seven-Night, I fhould have my Money. These glad Tidings I immediately posted with to my Creditors; many of whom had put themselves to great Inconveniences on this Account, as well as myself. But alas! when the appointed Time was come, my Lord, inftead of paying my Bill, was the Night before flip'd out of Town; and what was ftill more mortifying, I was inform'd, the fame Day, that he had fold

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