sure was mingled with the most tender and melancholy regret. I have seen the mother hang over him with the most affecting expression of this kind in her aspect, the tears contending with the smiles upon her countenance, while she exclaimed,- Alas! my poor prisoner, little did your mother once think she should be obliged to nurse you in a jail. The captain's paternal love was dashed with impatience. He would snatch up the boy in a transport of grief, press him to his breast, devour him as it were with kisses, throw up his eyes to heaven in the most emphatic silence; then convey the child hastily to his mother's arms, pull his hat over his eyes, stalk out into the common walk, and, finding himself alone, break out into tears and lamentations.

mediately took the alarm. What!' cried she, starting up with a frantic wildness in her looks, then our case is desperate-I shall lose my dear Tommy?-The poor prisoner will be released by the hand of Heaven!-Death will convey him to the cold grave!' The dying innocent, hearing this exclamation, pronounced these words;Tommy won't leave you, my dear mamma-if Death comes to take Tommy, papa shall drive him away with his sword." This address deprived the wretched mother of all resignation to the will of Providence. She tore her hair, dashed herself on the pavement, shrieked aloud, and was carried off in a deplorable state of distraction.

"That same evening the lovely babe expired, and the father grew frantic. He made "Ah! little did this unhappy couple know an attempt on his own life; and being with what further griefs awaited them! The difficulty restrained, his agitation sunk into small-pox broke out in the prison, and poor a kind of sullen insensibility, which seemed Tommy Clewline was infected. As the to absorb all sentiment, and gradually vuleruption appeared unfavourable. you may garized his faculty of thinking. In order to conceive the consternation with which they dissipate the violence of his sorrow, he conwere overwhelmed. Their distress was ren- tinually shifted the scene from one company dered inconceivable by indigence; for by this to another, contracted abundance of low contime they were so destitute, that they could nections, and drowned his cares in repeated neither pay for common attendance, nor pro- intoxication. The unhappy lady underwent cure proper advice. I did on that occasion a long series of hysterical fits and other comwhat I thought my duty towards my fellow-plaints, which seemed to have a fatal effect creatures. I wrote to a physician of my on her brain as well as constitution. Coracquaintance, who was humane enough to dials were administered to keep up her spivisit the poor little patient; I engaged a rits; and she found it necessary to protract careful woman as a nurse, and Mr Norton the use of them, to blunt the edge of grief, supplied them with money and necessaries. by overwhelming reflection, and remove the These helps were barely sufficient to preserve sense of uneasiness arising from a disorder them from the horrors of despair, when they in her stomach. In a word, she became an saw their little darling panting under the habitual dram-drinker; and this practice exrage of a loathsome pestilential malady, du- posed her to such communication as dering the excessive heat of the dog-days, and bauched her reason and perverted her sense struggling for breath in the noxious atmos- of decorum and propriety. She and her husphere of a confined cabin, where they scarce band gave a loose to vulgar excess, in which had room to turn, on the most necessary they were enabled to indulge by the charity occasions. The eager curiosity with which and interest of some friends, who obtained the mother eyed the doctor's looks, as often half-pay for the captain. as he visited the boy; the terror and trepidation of the father, while he desired to know his opinion; in a word, the whole tenor of their distress baffled all description.

"At length the physician, for the sake of his own character, was obliged to be explicit, and returning with the captain to the common walk, told him, in my hearing, that the child could not possibly recover. This sentence seemed to have petrified the unfortunate parent, who stood motionless, and seemingly bereft of sense. I led him to my apartment, where he sat a full hour in that state of stupefaction; then he began to groan hideously; a shower of tears burst from his eyes; he threw himself on the floor, and uttered the most piteous lamentation that ever was heard. Meanwhile, Mrs Norton being made acquainted with the doctor's prognostic, visited Mrs Clewline, and invited her to the lodge. Her prophetic fears im

"They are now metamorphosed into the shocking creatures you have seen; he into a riotous plebeian, and she into a ragged trull. They are both drunk every day, quarrel and fight one with another, and often insult their fellow prisoners. Yet they are not wholly abandoned by virtue and humanity. The captain is scrupulously honest in all his dealings, and pays off his debts punctually every quarter, as soon as he receives his half-pay. Every prisoner in distress is welcome to share his money while it lasts; and his wife never fails, while it is in her power, to relieve the wretched; so that their generosity, even in this miserable disguise, is universally respected by their neighbours. Sometimes the recollection of their former rank comes over them like a qualm, which they dispel with brandy, and then humorously rally one another on their mutual degeneracy. She often stops me in the walk,

and, pointing to the captain, says, My hus-ments. But being deficient in true delicacy, band, though he has become a blackguard she endeavoured to hide that defect by affecjail-bird, must be allowed to be a handsome tation. She pretended to a thousand antipafellow still.' On the other hand, he will fre- thies which did not belong to her nature. A quently desire me to take notice of his rib, as breast of veal threw her into mortal agonies; she chances to pass. Mind that draggle- if she saw a spider, she screamed; and at tail'd drunken drab,' he will say, what an sight of a mouse she fainted away: she could antidote it is yet, for all that, Felton, she not, without horror, behold an entire joint was a fine woman when I married her-poor of meat; and nothing but fricassees and Bess, I have been the ruin of her, that is other made dishes were seen upon her table. certain, and deserve to be damned for bring- She caused all her floors to be lined with ing her to this pass.' green baize, that she might trip along them with more ease and pleasure. Her footmen wore clogs, which were deposited in the hall; and both they and her chairmen were laid under the strongest injunctions to avoid porter and tobacco. Her jointure amounted to eight hundred pounds per annum, and she made shift to spend four times that sum: at length it was mortgaged for nearly the entire value; but, far from retrenching, she seemed to increase in extravagance, until her effects were taken in execution, and her person here deposited in safe custody.

66

Thus they accommodate themselves to each other's infirmities, and pass their time not without some taste of plebeian enjoyment -but, name their child, they never fail to burst into tears, and still feel a return of the most poignant sorrow."

Sir Launcelot Greaves did not hear this story unmoved. Tom Clarke's cheeks were bedewed with the drops of sympathy, while, with much sobbing, he declared his opinion, that an action would lie against the lady's father.

Captain Crowe having listened to the "When one considers the abrupt transistory with uncommon attention, expressed tion she underwent from her spacious aparthis concern that an honest seaman should ments to a hovel scarce eight feet square; be so taken in stays; but he imputed all his from sumptuous furniture to bare benches; calamities to the wife: "For why?" said he, from magnificence to meanness; from afflu"a seafaring man may have a sweetheart inence to extreme poverty; one would imagine every port; but he should steer clear of a wife, as he would avoid a quicksand. You see, brother, how this here Clewline lags astern in the wake of a snivelling b-, otherwise he would never make a weft in his ensign for the loss of a child-odds heart! he could have done no more if he had sprung a top-mast, or started a timber."

she must have been totally overwhelmed by such a sudden gush of misery. But this was not the case: she has, in fact, no delicate feelings. She forthwith accommodated herself to the exigency of her fortune; yet she still affects to keep state amidst the miseries of a jail; and this affectation is truly ridiculous. She lies a-bed till two o'clock in the The knight declaring he would take ano- afternoon; she maintains a female attendant ther view of the prison in the afternoon, for the sole purpose of dressing her person. Mr Felton insisted upon his doing him the Her cabin is the least cleanly in the whole honour to drink a dish of tea in his apart-prison; she has learned to eat bread and ment, and Sir Launcelot accepted his invi-cheese and drink porter; but she always aptation. Thither they accordingly repaired, after having made another circuit of the jail, and the tea things were produced by Mrs Felton, when she was summoned to the door, and, in a few minutes returning, communicated something in a whisper to her husband. He changed colour, and repaired to the staircase, where he was heard to talk aloud in an angry tone.

pears once a-day dressed in the pink of the fashion. She has found means to run in debt at the chandler's shop, the baker's, and the tap-house, though there is nothing got in this place but with ready money: she has even borrowed small sums from divers prisoners, who were themselves on the brink of starving. She takes pleasure in being surrounded with duns, observing, that by When he came back, he told the company such people a person of fashion is to be dishe had been teased by a very importunate tinguished. She writes circular letters to beggar. Addressing himself to our adven-her former friends and acquaintance, and by turer," You took notice," said he, "of a this method has raised pretty considerable fine lady flaunting about our walks in all contributions; for she writes in a most elethe frippery of the fashion. She was lately gant and irresistible style. About a forta gay young widow that made a great figure night ago she received a supply of twenty at the court-end of the town; she distin-guineas; when, instead of paying her little guished herself by her splendid equipage, her rich liveries, her brilliant assemblies, her numerous routs, and her elegant taste in dress and furniture. She is nearly related to some of the best families in England, and, it must be owned, mistress of many fine accomplish

jail debts, or withdrawing any part of her apparel from pawn, she laid out the whole sum in a fashionable suit of laces; and next day borrowed of me a shilling to purchase a neck of mutton for her dinner.-She seems to think her rank in life entitles her to this

kind of assistance. She talks very pomp-steeled with rancour. 'Woman,' said he, ously of her family and connections, by 'these be hopeful babes, if they were duly whom, however, she has been long re- nurtured. Go thy ways in peace; I have nounced. She has no sympathy nor com- taken my resolution.' Her friends mainpassion for the distresses of her fellow-crea- tained the family for some time; but it is tures; but she is perfectly well bred; she not in human charity to persevere; some of bears a repulse the best of any woman I ever them died; some of them grew unfortunate; knew; and her temper has never been once some of them fell off; and now the poor man ruffled since her arrival at the King's Bench. is reduced to the extremity of indigence, -She now entreated me to lend her half a from whence he has no prospect of being guinea, for which she said she had the most retrieved. The fourth part of what you pressing occasion, and promised upon her would have bestowed upon the lady, would honour it should be repaid to-morrow; but I make this man and his family sing with joy." lent a deaf ear to her request, and told her in plain terms that her honour was already bankrupt."

Sir Launcelot, thrusting his hand mechanically into his pocket, pulled out a couple of guineas, and desired Felton to accommodate her with that trifle in his own name; but he declined the proposal, and refused to touch the money. "God forbid," said he, that I should attempt to thwart your charitable intention; but this, my good sir, is no object she has many resources. Neither should we number the clamorous beggar among those who really feel distress. He is generally gorged with bounty misapplied. The liberal hand of charity should be extended to modest want, that pines in silence, encountering cold, nakedness, and hunger, and every species of distress. Here you may find the wretch of keen sensations blasted by accident in the blossoms of his fortune, shivering in the solitary recess of indigence, disdaining to beg, and even ashamed to let his misery be known. Here you may see the parent who has known happier times, surrounded by his tender offspring, naked and forlorn, demanding food, which his circum

stances cannot afford.

He had scarce pronounced these words, when our hero desired the man might be called, and in a few minutes he entered the apartment with a low obeisance. "Mr Coleby," said the knight, "I have heard how cruelly you have been used by your creditor, and beg you will accept this trifling present, if it can be of any service to you in your distress." So saying, he put five guineas into his hand. The poor man was so confounded at such an unlooked for acquisition, that he stood motionless and silent, unable to thank the donor; and Mr Felton conveyed him to the door, observing that his heart was too full for utterance. But in a little time, his wife, bursting into the room with her five children, looked around, and going up to Sir Launcelot, without any direction, exclaimed, "This is the angel sent by Providence to succour me and my poor innocents." Then falling at his feet, she pressed his hand and bathed it with her tears. He raised her up with that complacency which was natural to his disposition. He kissed all her children, who were remarkably handsome and neatly kept, though in homely apparel: and, giving her his direction, assured her she might always apply to him in her distress.

After her departure, he produced a banknote of twenty pounds, and would have deposited it in the hands of Mr Felton, to be distributed in charities among the objects of the place; but he desired it might be left with Mr Norton, who was the proper person for managing his benevolence: and he promised to assist the deputy with his advice in laying it out.

CHAPTER XXII.

"That man of decent appearance and melancholy aspect, who lifted his hat as you passed him in the yard, is a person of unblemished character. He was a reputable tradesman in the city, and failed through inevitable losses. A commission of bankruptcy was taken out against him by his sole creditor, a quaker, who refused to sign his certificate. He has lived these three years in prison, with a wife and five small children. In a little time after his commitment, he had friends who offered to pay ten shillings in the pound of what he owed, and to give security for paying the remainder in In which Captain Crowe is sublimed into three years, by instalments. The honest quaker did not charge the bankrupt with any dishonest practices; but he rejected the proposal with the most mortifying indifference, declaring that he did not want his money. The mother repaired to his house, and kneeling before him with her five lovely children, implored mercy with tears and exclamations. He stood this scene unmoved, and even seemed to enjoy the prospect, wearing the looks of complacency, while his heart was

the regions of astrology.

THREE whole days had our adventurer prosecuted his inquiry about the amiable Aurelia, whom he sought in every place of public and of private entertainment or resort, without obtaining the least satisfactory intelligence, when he received, one evening, from the hands of a porter, who instantly vanished, the following billet:

"If you would learn the particulars of

Miss Darnel's fate, fail not to be in the fields | come and give him notice of his fate. Now by the Foundling hospital, precisely at seven o'clock this evening, when you shall be met by a person who will give you the satisfaction you desire, together with his reason for addressing you in this mysterious manner."

Had this intimation concerned any other subject, perhaps the knight would have deliberated with himself in what manner he should take a hint so darkly communicated: but his eagerness to retrieve the jewel he had lost divested him of all his caution; the time of assignation was already at hand, and neither the captain nor his nephew could be found to accompany him, had he been disposed to make use of their attendance. He therefore, after a moment's hesitation, repaired to the place appointed, in the utmost agitation and anxiety, lest the hour should be elapsed before his arrival.

he had an insuperable aversion to all correspondence with the dead; and taking it for granted, that the spirit of his departed friend could not appear to him except when he should be alone and a-bed in the dark, he determined to pass the remainder of the night without going to bed. For this purpose, his first care was to visit the garret, in which Timothy Crabshaw lay fast asleep, snoring with his mouth wide open. Him the captain with difficulty roused, by dint of promising to regale him with a bowl of rum punch in the kitchen, where the fire, which had been extinguished, was soon rekindled. The ingredients were fetched from a public house in the neighbourhood: for the captain was too proud to use his interest in the knight's family, especially at these hours, when all the rest of the servants had retired to their repose; and he and Timothy drank together until day-break, the conversation turning upon hobgoblins, and God's revenge against murder.

The cook-maid lay in a little apartment contiguous to the kitchen; and whether disturbed by these horrible tales of apparitions, or titillated by the savoury steams that issued from the punch-bowl, she made a virtue of necessity or appetite, and dressing herself in the dark, suddenly appeared before them, to the no small perturbation of both. Timothy, in particular, was so startled, that, in his endeavours to make a hasty retreat towards the chimney-corner, he overturned the table; the liquor was spilt, but the bowl was saved by falling on a heap of ashes. Mrs Cook having reprimanded him for his foolish fear, declared, she had got up betimes, in order to

Crowe was one of those defective spirits who cannot subsist for any length of time on their own bottoms. He wanted a familiar prop, upon which he could disburden his cares, his doubts, and his humours: an humble friend who would endure his caprices, and with whom he could communicate, free of all reserve and restraint. Though he loved his nephew's person, and admired his parts, he considered him often as a little petulant jackanapes, who presumed upon his superior understanding; and as for Sir Launcelot, there was something in his character that overawed the seaman, and kept him at a disagreeable distance. He had, in this dilemma, cast his eyes upon Timothy Crabshaw, and admitted him to a considerable share of familiarity and fellowship. These companions had been employed in smoking a social pipe at an ale-house in the neigh-scour her sauce-pans; and the captain probourhood, when the knight made his excursion; and returning to the house about supper-time, found Mr Clarke in waiting.

The young lawyer was alarmed when he heard the hour of ten, without seeing our adventurer, who had been used to be extremely regular in his economy; and the captain and he supped in profound silence. Finding, upon inquiry among the servants, that the knight went out abruptly, in consequence of having received a billet, Tom began to be visited with the apprehension of a duel, and sat the best part of the night by his uncle, sweating with the expectation of seeing our hero brought home a breathless corpse but no tidings of him arriving, he, about two in the morning, repaired to his own lodging, resolved to publish a description of Sir Launcelot in the newspapers, if he should not appear next day.

Crowe did not pass the time without uneasiness. He was extremely concerned at the thought of some mischief having befallen his friend and patron: and he was terrified with the apprehensions, that in case Sir Launcelot was murdered, his spirit might

posed to have the bowl replenished, if materials could be procured. This difficulty was overcome by Crabshaw; and they sat down with their new associate to discuss the second edition.

The knight's sudden disappearing being brought upon the carpet, their female companion gave it as her opinion, that nothing would be so likely to bring this affair to light, as going to a cunning man, whom she had lately consulted about a silver spoon that was mislaid, and who told her all the things that she ever did, and ever would happen to her, through the whole course of her life.

Her two companions pricked up their ears at this intelligence; and Crowe asked if the spoon had been found? She answered in the affirmative, and said, the cunning man described to a hair the person that should be her true lover, and her wedded husband: that he was a seafaring man; that he was pretty well stricken in years; a little pass| ionate or so; and that he went with his fingers clinched like, as it were. The captain began to sweat at this description, and mechanically thrust his hands into his pock

ets; while Crabshaw, pointing to him, told | captain insisted upon Crabshaw's making her he believed she had got the right sow by sail a-head, in order to look out afore; but the ear. Crowe grumbled, that mayhap for Timothy persisted in refusing this honour, all that he should not be brought up by such declaring, he did not pretend to lead, but he a grappling neither. Then he asked if this would follow, as in duty bound. The old cunning man dealt with the devil, declaring, gentlewoman abridged the ceremony, by in that case, he would keep clear of him; leading out Crabshaw with one hand, and for why? because he must have sold himself locking up Crowe with the other. to old Scratch; and being a servant of the devil, how could he be a good subject to his majesty Mrs Cook assured him, the conjurer was a good Christian; and that he gained all his knowledge by conversing with the stars and planets. Thus satisfied, the two friends resolved to consult him as soon as it should be light; and being directed to the place of his habitation, set out for it by seven in the morning.