Strap, with two men in livery,.on horseback. about twenty miles from this place; and As we made easy stages, my charmer held when we came within half a league of the it out very well till we arrived at Edinburgh, house, were met by a prodigious number of where we proposed to rest ourselves some poor tenants, men, women and children, weeks.

who testified their joy by loud acclamations, Here Don Rodrigo having intelligence that and accompanied our coach to the gate. the fox-hunter had spent his estate, which As there is no part of the world in which was to be exposed to sale by public auction, the peasants are more attached to their lords he determined to make a purchase of the than in Scotland, we were almost devoured spot where he was born, and actually bought by their affection. My father had always all the land that belonged to his father. been their favourite, and now that he ap.

In a few days after this bargain was made, peared their master, after having been we left Edinburgh, in order to go and take thought dead so long, their joy broke out possession; and, by the way, halted one into a thousand extravagancies: when we night in that town where I was educated. entered the court-yard, we were surrounded Upon inquiry, I found that Mr Crab was by a vast number, who crowded together so dead; whereupon I sent for his executor, closely to see us, that several were in dan. paid the sum I owed, with interest, and took ger of being squeezed to death; those who up my bond. Mr Potion and his wife hear- were near Don Rodrigo fell upon their knees ing of our arrival, had the assurance to come and kissed his hand, or the hem of his garto the inn where we lodged, and sent up ment, praying aloud for long life and prostheir names, with a desire of being permitted perity to him; others approached Narcissa to pay their respects to my father and me; and me in the same manner; while the rest but their sordid behaviour towards me, when clapped their hands at a distance, and inI was an orphan, had made too deep an im- voked heaven to shower its choicest blesspression on my mind, to be effaced by this ings on our heads. In short, the whole mean mercenary piece of condescension; I scene, though rude, was so affecting, that therefore rejected their message with disdain, the gentle partner of my heart wept over it, and bade Strap tell them, that my father and and my father himself could not refrain from I desired to have no communication with dropping a tear. such low-minded wretches they were. Having welcomed his daughter and me

They had not been gone half an hour, his house, he ordered some bullocks to be when a woman, without any ceremony, killed, and some hogsheads of ale to be opened the door of the room where we sat, brought from the neighbouring village, to and, making towards my father, accosted him regale these honest people, who had not en. with, “ Uncle, your servant-I am glad to joyed such a holiday for many years before. see you.” This was no other than one of Next day we were visited by the gentlemy female cousins, mentioned in the first men in the neighbourhood, most of them our part of my memoirs, to whom Don Rodrigo relations, one of whom brought along with replied, — Pray, who are you, madam ?" him my cousin the fox-hunter, who had stayed “O!” cried she, “my cousin Rory there at his house since he was obliged to leave his knows me very well. Don't you remember own. My father was generous enough to me, Rory?" “ Yes, madam,” said I, “ for receive him kindly, and even promised to my own part, I shall never forget you. Sir, purchase for him a commission in the army, this is one of the young ladies who (as I for which he expressed great thankfulness formerly told you) treated me so humanely and joy. in my childhood.” When I pronounced My charming Narcissa was universally these words, my father's resentment glowed admired and loved, for her beauty, affability in his visage, and he ordered her to be gone, and good sense; and so well pleased with with such a commanding aspect, that she the situation of the place, and the company retired in a fright, muttering curses as she round, that she has not, as yet, discovered went down stairs. We afterwards learned the least desire of changing her habitation. that she was married to an ensign, who had We had not been many days settled, when already spent all her fortune; and that her I prevailed upon my father to pay a visit to sister had bore a child to her mother's foot. the village where I had been at school. man, who is now her husband, and keeps a Here we were received by the principal petty ale-house in the country.

inhabitants, who entertained us in the church, The fame of our flourishing condition hav- where Mr Syntax the schoolmaster (my ing arrived at this place before us, we got tyrant being dead) pronounced a Latin oranotice that the magistrates intended next tion in honour of our family. And none day to compliment us with the freedom of exerted themselves more than Strap's father their town; upon which my father, consider- and relations, who looked upon the honest ing their complaisance in the right point of valet as the first gentleman of their race, view, ordered the horses to the coach early and honoured his benefactors accordingly. in the morning

Having received the homage of this place, We proceeded to our estate, which lay we retired, leaving forty pounds for the

66

benefit of the poor of the parish; and that same sum; so that they lived in great peace very night, Strap being a little elevated with and plenty within half a mile of us, and the regard that had been shown to him, and daily put up prayers for our preservation. to me on his account, ventured to tell me, If there be such a thing as true happiness that he had a sneaking kindness for Miss on earth, I enjoy it. The impetuous transWilliams, and that, if his lady and I would ports of my passion are now settled and use our interest in his behalf, he did not mellowed into endearing fondness and trandoubt that she would listen to his addresses. quillity of love, rooted by that intimate conSurprised at this proposal, 1 asked if he nexion and interchange of hearts, which knew the story of that unfortunate young nought but virtuous wedlock can produce. gentlewoman : upon which he replied Fortune seems determined to make ample “Yes, yes, I know what you mean-she has amends for her former cruelty ; for my procbeen unhappy, I grant you—but what of that? tor writes, that notwithstanding the clause I am convinced of her reformation, or else in my father-in-law's will, on which the you and my good lady would not treat her squire founds his claim, I shall certainly rewith such respect—as for the censure of the cover my wife's fortune, in consequence of world, I value it not a fig's, end—besides, a codicil annexed, which explains that clause, the world knows nothing of the matter." I and limits her restriction to the age of ninecommended his philosophy, and interested teen, after which she was at her own dispoNarcissa in his cause; who interceded so sal. I would have set out for London immeeffectually, that in a little time Miss Wil- diately after receiving this piece of intelli. liams yielded her consent, and they were gence, but my dear angel has been qualmish married with the approbation of Don Rodrigo, of late, and begins to grow remarkably round who gave him five hundred pounds to stock in the waist; so that I cannot leave her in a farm, and made him overseer of his estate. such an interesting situation, which I hope My generous bed-fellow gave her maid the will produce something to crown my felicity.

END OF RODERICK RANDOM.

THE

ADVENTURES OF SIR LAUNCELOT GREAVES.

a

CHAPTER I.

merchant ship in the Mediterranean trade

for many years, and saved some money by In which certain personages of this de- dint of frugality and traffic. He was an ex

lightful history are introduced to the cellent seamen, brave, active, friendly in his reader's acquaintance.

way, and scrupulously honest; but as little

acquainted with the world as a sucking It was on the great northern road from York child: whimsical, impatient, and so impetuto London, about the beginning of the month ous, that he could not help breaking in upon of October, and the hour of eight in the even the conversation, whatever it might be, with ing, that four travellers were, by a violent repeated interruptions, that seemed to burst shower of rain, driven for shelter into a little from him by involuntary impulse. When he public house on the side of the highway, dis- himself attempted to speak, he never finished tinguished by a sign which was said to ex- his period, but made such a number of abrupt hibit the figure of a black lion. The kitchen, transitions, that his discourse seemed to be in which they assembled, was the only room an unconnected series of unfinished sen. for entertainment in the house, paved with tences, the meaning of which it was not easy red bricks, remarkably clean, furnished with to decypher. three or four Windsor chairs, adorned with His nephew, Tom Clark, was a young shining plates of pewter, and copper sauce- fellow, whose goodness of heart even the pans nicely scoured, that even dazzled the exercise of his profession had not been able eyes of the beholder; while a cheerful fire to corrupt. Before strangers he never own. of sea-coal blazed in the chimney. Three of ed himself an attorney without blushing, the travellers, who arrived on horseback, though he had no reason to blush for his own having seen their cattle properly accommoda- practice ; for he constantly refused to ented in the stable, agreed to pass the time, until gage in the cause of any client whose chathe weather should clear up, over a bowl of racter was equivocal, and was never known rumbo, which was accordingly prepared ; but to act with such industry as when concerned the fourth, refusing to join their company, for the widow and orphan, or any other obtook his station at the opposite side of the ject that sued in forma pauperis. Indeed chimney, and called for a pint of twopenny, he was so replete with human kindness, that with which he indulged himself apart. At a as often as an affecting story or circumstance little distance, on his left hand, there was was told in his hearing, it overflowed at his another group, consisting of the landlady, a eyes. Being of a warm complexion, he was decent widow, her two daughters, the elder very susceptible of passion, and somewhat of whom seemed to be about the age of fif- libertine in his amours. In other respects, teen, and a country lad, who served both as he piqued himself on understanding the waiter and ostler.

practice of the courts, and in private compaThe social triumvirate was composed of ny he took pleasure in laying down the law; Mr Fillet, a country practitioner in surgery but he was an indifferent orator, and tediand midwifery, Captain Crowe, and his ously circumstantial in his explanations. nephew Mr Thomas Clarke, an attorney. His stature was rather diminutive; but, upon Fillet was a man of some education, and a the whole, he had some title to the characgreat deal of experience, shrewd, sly, and ter of a pretty dapper little fellow. sensible. Captain Crowe had commanded a The solitary guest had something very