to the worthieft of men, who was at once, 66 66 my patron, father, friend." Sufpicious minds may perhaps annex another term to thefe; to fuch I fhall only fay, that, had I been at that time inclined to enter into a tender connection, I had many folicitations from thofe who would have supported me in a very high line. People judge in general from appearances; and if thofe concerned do not think it worth while to explain thefe appearances, they always receive an unfavourable interpretation. Any further explanation of the nature of the union which afterwards took place between this gentleman and myself will be unneceffary, as it might be collected from many paffages in the preceding part of this letter. At the conclufion of the feafon, I had permiffion, from his excellency Comte Haslang, to make a tour to the continent. His former houfe-keeper, who was now become Lady Paramount, had a houfe at Paddington, which induced his Lordfhip to prefer dining at the club; and, in the evening, to join his intime, Lord Falmouth, at Vauxhall, where the amusement of thefe two noblemen confifted in entertaining ladies of a particular denomination. Nothing happened during this excurfion worth relating. Upon my return, my mother's houfe being let to a family of the first quality, I took apartments VOL. IV. G apartments in Rider-street, St. James's; and as I was now at liberty to have Miss Wordley with me, I requested her company. I have already, I think, informed you, that this young woman, before she was ftage-ftruck, lived in the Earl of Powys's house, and was educated by her father, who was a profound scholar and divine, and endowed with a found understanding. As this daughter feemed to be the only one out of three that had the happiness of enjoying the gifts of nature in a fimilar manner with himfelf, Mr. Wordley had taken uncommon pains to cultivate the feeds fo vifible in her infant mind; and the culture was not bestowed in vain. She joined to a brilliant wit, the greatest humanity and the best of hearts. This naturally endeared her to me; and though by reafon of her marriage, and her being the celebrated Quaker preacher, I am now deprived of her company, yet I am happy, when the calls upon me, to fee that the retains her ufual chearfulness; and I cannot help regretting those days of entertainment and innocent mirth, we have fo often enjoyed together. About this period an application was made to me by Mr. Woodifield, to pay a confiderable fum for fome red champaign, which, by Mr. Calcraft's defire, I had ordered from him to fend to Lord Granby Granby in Germany; and I had another demand from Finmore, of the Star and Garter tavern, for claret, for which I had likewife indifcreetly wrote an order for Calcraft, when I refided in Parliamentftreet. As I could not think myself liable to these demands, I took no manner of notice of them ; the confequence of which was, that they both commenced actions against me. Accordingly, as I was preparing one night for the opera, I was honoured with a vifit from two of the catchpole fraternity, who told me I must take the air with them, before I indulged my ears. The debt I had contracted of Woodifield, on Lord Granby's account, I could by no means litigate. His Lordship was abroad, and I was too much indebted to his generofity to think of writing to him upon fuch a fubject. When I arrived at the officer's house, the man feeing me better dreffed than his vifitors ufually were, and recollecting my voice, he took my word for my fettling Mr. Woodifield's action the next day; and giving bail for the other, which I was determined to conteft, in order at once to expofe Mr. Calcraft, and try the validity of my protection. For though I did not lodge in the Ambaffador's houfe, I was actually his house-keeper, and remained upon the lift till the Comte's death. But I only availed myself of his protection once. Whilft G 2 Whilft this affair was in agitation, I fent for Mr. Willis, Mr. Calcraft's clerk, to whom I remonftrated upon this fresh inftance of his mafter's ill treatment, but could obtain no redrefs. My letter to Mr. Calcraft will, however, elucidate these mean and ungentleman-like tranfactions. I was obliged, by this unexpected event, to have recourfe, once more, to the friendship of Mr. Hearne, who immediately affifted me. This laft fum, accumulated that gentleman's debt to fix hundred and forty pounds; for, befides the different fums I had borrowed of him, he had redeemed fome valuables which I had left with Mr. Maclewain, of Dublin, in order to discharge every demand upon me when last I was in that kingdom. Among these things was a gold enamelled fnuffbox, a gift of the beautiful Countefs of Kildare (fince Duchess of Leinster), and as fuch was efteemed invaluable by me. This, I own, was the only piece of elegance I ever feverely regretted parting with; nor fhould I ever have parted with it, had there not been almost a certainty of my having fo valuable a mark of her Ladyfhip's partiality reftored to me. This depofit, together with three or four dividends, and fome tickets at my benefit, are all I have been able to pay of this large debt; and inexpreffibly happy fhall I be, if ever it is in my power to discharge it. In the mean mean time, I fhall retain the moft lively gratitude for fuch frequent interpofitions in my favour. The being too fanguine in my hopes has led me into many difficulties; but the indulgence of thefe expectations originated from my having been fo fupremely fortunate as to meet with fuch fingular friends as the Mifs Merediths, Mifs St. Leger, Mifs Conway, Lady Tyrawley, and Mrs. Cracroft, as well as Mr. Woodward, whose former paffion was now mellowed into friendship. I have, however, had the mortification to outlive them all. Female friendship never becomes the fubject of my pen, or of my converfation; but that most beautiful description given of it by Shakfpere, in his "Midfummer-Night's Dream *," immediately occurs to my memory, and raises in my mind the most pleasing sensations.-As it is not inapplicable here, the mutual affection which fub. fifted between the foregoing ladies and myfelf being of the pureft and most exalted kind, I will tranfcribe for you the lines: "Is all the counsel that we two have fhar'd, "All fchool-days friendship, childhood innocence ? |