CHAPTER I.

Giving an account of the author's birth and family.-The fondness of his mother.-His being put to an academy at sixteen, by the advice of his friend.-His thoughts of his own illiterature.

I was born at Penhale, in the county of Cornwall, on the 21st day of December, 1685, about four months after my father, Peter Wilkins, who was a zealous protestant, of the Church of England, had been executed by Jeffreys, in Somersetshire, for joining in the design of raising the Duke of Monmouth to the British throne. I was named, after my father and grandfather, Peter, and was my father's only child by Alice, his wife, the daughter of John Capert, a clergyman in a neighbouring village. My grandfather was a shopkeeper at Newport, who, by great frugality and extraordinary application, had raised a fortune of about one hundred and sixty pounds a year in lands, and a considerable sum of ready money; all which, at his death, devolved upon my father, as his only child; who, being no less parsimonious than my grandfather, and living upon his own estate, had much improved it in value, before his marriage with my mother; but, he coming to that unhappy end, my mother, after my birth, placed all her affection upon me (her growing hopes as she called me), and used every method, in my minority, of increasing the store for my benefit.

In this manner she went on, till I grew too big, as I thought, for confinement at the apron-string, being then about fourteen years of age; and having met with so much indulgence from her, for that reason found very little or no contradiction from any body else; so I looked on myself as a person of some consequence, and began to take all opportunities of enjoying the company of my neighbours, who hinted, frequently, that the restraint I was under was too great a curb upon an inclination like mine of seeing the world; but my mother, still impatient of any little absence, by excessive fondness, and encouraging of every in

clination I seemed to have, when she could be a partaker with me, kept me within bounds of restraint till I arrived at my sixteenth year.

About this time I got acquainted with a country gentleman, of a small paternal estate, which had been never the better for being in his hands, and had some uneasy demands upon it. He soon grew very fond of me, hoping, as I had reason afterwards to believe, by a union with my mother to set himself free from his entanglements. She was then about thirty-five years old, and still continued my father's widow, out of particular regard to me, as I have all the reason in the world to believe. She was really a beautiful woman, and of a sanguine complexion; but had always carried herself with so much reserve, and given so little encouragement to any of the other sex, that she had passed her widowhood with very few solicitations to alter her way of life. This gentleman, observing my mother's conduct, in order to ingratiate himself with her had shown numberless instances of regard for me, and, as he told my mother, had observed many things in my discourse, actions, and turn of mind, that presaged wonderful expectations from me, if my genius was but properly cultivated.

This discourse, from a man of very good parts, and esteemed by every body an accomplished gentleman, by degrees wrought upon my mother, and more and more inflamed her with a desire of adding what lustre she could to my applauded abilities, and influenced her so far as to ask his advice in what manner most properly to proceed with me. My gentleman then had his desire; for he feared not the widow, could he but properly dispose of her charge; so, having desired a little time to consider of a matter of such importance, he soon after told her, he thought the most useful method of establishing me would be at an academy, kept by a very worthy and judicious gentleman, about thirty or more miles from us, in Somersetshire; where, if I could but be admitted, the master taking in but a stated number of students

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at a time, he did not in the least doubt but I should fully answer the character he had given her of me, and out-shine most of my contemporaries. My mother, over-anxious for my good, seeming to listen to this proposal, my friend, as I call him, proposed taking a journey himself to the academy to see if any place was vacant for my reception, and learn the terms of my admission; and in three days' time returned with an engaging account of the place, the master, the regularity of the scholars, of an apartment secured for my reception, and, in short, whatever else might captivate my mother's opinion in favour of his scheme; and indeed, though he acted principally from another motive, as was plain afterwards, I cannot help thinking he believed it to be the best way of disposing of a lad sixteen years old, born to a pretty fortune, and who at that age could but just read a chapter in the Testament. For he had before beat my mother quite out of her inclination to a grammar-school in the neighbourhood, from a contempt, he said, it would bring upon me from lads much my juniors in years, by being placed in the first rudiments of learning with them.

Well, the whole concern of my mother's little family was now employed in fitting me out for my expedition; and as my friend had been so instrumental in bringing it about, he never missed a day inquiring how preparations went on, and, during the process, by humouring me, ingratiated himself more and more with my mother, but without seeming in the least to aim at it.

In short, the hour of my departure arrived; and though I had never been master of above sixpence at one time, unless at a fair or so for immediate spending, my mother, thinking to make my heart easy at our separation, which, had it appeared otherwise, would have broke hers, and spoiled all, gave me a double pistole in gold, and a little silver in my pocket to prevent my changing it.

Thus I, the coach waiting for us at the door, having been preached into a good liking of the scheme by my friend, who now insisted upon making one of our company to introduce us, mounted the carriage with more alacrity than could be expected from one who had never before been beyond the smoke of his mother's chimney; but the thoughts I had conceived from my friend's discourse of liberty in the academic way, and the weight of so much money in my pocket, as I then imagined would scarce ever be exhausted, were prevailing cordials to keep my spirits on the wing. We lay at an inn that night, near the master's house, and the next day I was initiated; and, at parting with me, my friend presented me with a guinea. When I found myself thus rich, I must say I heartily wished they were all fairly at home again, that I might have time to count my cash, and dispose of such part of it as I had already appropriated to several uses then in embryo.

The next morning left me master of my wishes. For my mother came and took her last (though she little thought it) leave of me, and smothering me with her caresses and prayers for my well doing, in the height of her ardour put into my hand another guinea, promising to see me again quickly; and desiring me, in the meantime, to be a very good husband, which I have since taken to be a sort of prophetic speech, she bid me farewell.

I shall not trouble you with the reception I met from my master, or his scholars; or tell you how soon I made friends of all my companions, by some trifling largesses which my stock enabled me to bestow, as occasion required; but I must inform you that, after sixteen years of idleness at home, I had but little heart to my nouns and pronouns, which now began to be crammed upon me; and being the eldest lad in the house, I sometimes regretted the loss of the time past, and at other times despaired of ever making a scholar at my years; and was ashamed to stand like a great lubber, declining of hæc mulier, a woman, whilst my schoolfellows and juniors by five years were engaged in the love stories of Ovid, or the luscious songs of Horace. I own these thoughts almost overcame me, and threw me into a deep melancholy, of which I soon after by letter informed my mother; who (by the advice as I suppose of my friend, by this time her suitor) sent me word to mind my studies, and I should want for nothing.

CHAPTER II.

How he spent his time at the academy.-An intrigue with a servant-maid there.-She declares herself with child by him.-Her expostulations to him-He is put to it for money.-Refused it from home, by his friend, wh had married his mother.-Is drawn in to marry the maid. -She lies in at her aunt's.-Returns to her service-He has another child by her.

I HAD now been passing my time for about three months in this melancholy way, and you may imagine, under that disadvantage, had made but little progress in my learning; when one of our maids, taking notice one day of my uneasiness, as I sat musing in my chamber according to my custom, began to rally me, that I was certainly in love, I was so sad. Indeed I never had a thought of love before; but the good-natured girl seeming to pity me, and seriously asking me the cause, I fairly opened my heart to her; and for fear my master should know it, gave her half-a-crown to be silent. This last engagement fixed her my devotee, and from that time we had frequent conferences in confidence together; till at length inclination, framed by opportunity, produced the date of a world of concern to me; for, about six months after my arrival at the academy, instead of proving my parts by my scholarship, I had proved my manhood by being the destined father of an infant, which my female correspondent then assured me would soon be my own.

We nevertheless held on our frequent intercourse; nor was I so alarmed at the news, as I ought to have been, till about two months after, when Patty (for that was the only name I then knew her by) explained herself to me, in the fol lowing terms:-"You know, Mr. Peter, how matters are with me; I should be very sorry, for your sake, and my own too, to reveal my shame; but in spite of us both, nature will show itself; and truly, I think, some care should be taken, and some method proposed, to preserve the infant, and avoid, as far as may be, the inconveniences that may attend us; for, here is now no room for delay." This speech, I own, gave me the first reflection I for a long time; nor was I able, for the variety of ever had in my life, and locked up all my faculties

ideas that crowded my brain, to make a word of answer, but stood like an image of stone; till Patty, seeing my confusion, desired me to recollect my reason, for as it was too late to undo what had been done, it remained now only to act with that prudence and caution, which the nature of the case required; and that, for her part, she would concur in every reasonable measure I should approve of; but, I must remember, she was only a servant, and had very little due to her for wages, and not a penny besides that; and that there must necessarily be a preparation made for the reception of the infant, when time should produce it. I now began to see the absolute necessity of all she said; but how to accomplish it, was not in me to comprehend. My own small matter of money was gone, and had been so a long time; we therefore agreed I should write to my mother for a fresh supply; I did so, and, to my great confusion, was answered by my former friend, in the following words :

Imagine, if it is possible, my consternation at the receipt of this letter. I began to think I should be tricked out of what my father and grandfather had, with so much pains and industry, for many years been heaping up for me; and had a thousand thoughts all together, justling out each other; so could resolve on nothing. I then showed Patty the letter, and we both condoled my hard fortune, but saw no remedy. Time wore away, and nothing done, or like to be, as I could see. For my part, I was like one distracted, and no more able to assist, or counsel what should be done, than a child in arms. At length poor Patty, who had sat thinking some time, began with telling me, she had formed a scheme, which in some measure might help us ; but, fearing it might be disagreeable to me, she durst not mention it, till I should assure her, whatever I thought of that, I would think no worse of her, for proposing it. This preparatory introduction startled me a great deal; for it darted into my head, she waited for my concurrence to destroy the child; to which, I could never have consented. But, upon my assuring her, that I would not think the worse of her, for whatever she should propose, but freely give her my opinion upon it; she told me, as she could see no other way before us, but what tended to our disgrace and ruin, if I would marry her, she would immediately quit her place, and retire to her aunt, who had brought her up from a child, and had enough prettily to live upon; who, she did not doubt, would entertain her as my wife, but she was assured, upon any other score, or under any other name, would prove her most inveterate enemy. When Patty had made an end, I was glad to find it no worse, and revolving matters a little in my mind, both as to affairs at home, and the requested marriage, I concluded upon this latter, and had a great inclination to acquaint my

mother of it; but was diverted from that, by suspecting it might prove a good handle for my new father, to work with my mother some mischief against me; so determined to marry forthwith, send Patty to her aunt's, and remain still at the academy myself, till I should see what turn things would take at home. Accordingly, the next day, good part of Patty's wages went to tie the connubial knot, and to the honest parson for a bribe to antedate the certificate; and she very soon after took up the rest to defray her journey to her aunt's.

Though Patty was within two months of her time, she had so managed, that no one perceived it; and, getting safe to her aunt's, was delivered of a daughter, of which she wrote me word, and said, she hoped to see me at the end of her month. How, think I, can she expect to see me? money I have none; and then, I despaired of leave for a journey, if I had it; and to go without leave, would only arm J. G. against me, as I perceived plainly his interest and mine were very remote things; so I resolved to quit all thoughts of a journey, and wait till opportunity better served, for seeing my wife and child, and our good aunt, to whom we were so much obliged. While these and such like cogitations engrossed my whole attention, I was most pleasingly surprised one day, upon my return from a musing walk by the river side, at the end of our garden, where I frequently got my tasks, to find Patty sitting in the kitchen, with my old mistress, my master's mother, who managed his house, he having been a widower many years. The sight of her almost overcame me, as I had bolted into the kitchen, and was seen by my old mistress, before I had seen Patty was with her. The old lady perceiving me discomposed, inquired into the cause, which I directly imputed to the symptoms of an ague, that, I told her, I had felt upon me best part of the morning. She, a good motherly woman, feeling my pulse, and satisfying herself of its disorder, immediately ran to her closet to bring me a cordial, which she assured me had done wonders in the like cases; so that I had but just time to embrace Patty, and inquire after our aunt and daughter, before madam returned with the cordial. Having drank it, and giving thanks, I was going to withdraw, but she would not part with me so; for nothing less than my knowledge that this cordial was of her own making, from whence she had the receipt, and an exact catalogue of the several cures it had done, would serve her turn; which, taking up full three quarters of an hour, gave room to Patty and me, to enjoy each other's glances for that time, to our mutual satisfaction. At last, the old Prattlebox having made a short pause to recover breath from the narrative of the cordial; "Mr. Peter," says she, "you look as if you did not know poor Patty; she has not left me so long that you should forget her; she is a good tight wench, and I was sorry to part with her; but she is out of place, she says, and as that dirty creature Nan is gone, I think to take her again." I told her, I well knew she was judge of a good servant, and I did not doubt Patty was such, if she thought so; and then I made my exit, lighter in heart by a pound than I came.

I shall not tire you any farther with the amours between self and Patty; but to let you know, she quitted her place again, seven months after, upon the same score.

CHAPTER III.

Minds his studies.-Informs his master of his mother's marriage, and usage of him.-Hears of her death.-Makes his master his guardian.-Goes with him to take possession of his estate.-Is informed all is given to his fatherin-law. Moral reflections on his condition, and on his father's crimes.

I WAS now near nineteen years of age; and though I had so much more in my head than my school-learning, I know not how it happened, but ever since the commencement of my amour with Patty, having somebody to disburthen my mind to, and participate in my concerns, I had been much easier, and had kept true tally with my book, with more than usual delight; and being arrived to an age to comprehend what I heard and read, I could, from the general idea I had of things, form a pretty regular piece of Latin, without being able to repeat the very rules it was done by; so that I had the acknowledgment of my master, for the best capacity he ever had under his tuition: this, he not sparing frequently to mention it before me, was the acutest spur he could have applied to my industry; and now, having his good-will, I began to disuse set hours of exercise, but at my conveniency applied myself to my studies, as I best pleased, being always sure to perform as much, or more, than he ever enjoined me; till I grew exceedingly in his confidence, and by reason of my age (though I was but small, yet manly) I became rather his companion upon parties, than his direct pupil.

It was upon one of these parties, I took the opportunity to declare the dissatisfaction I had at my mother's second marriage. "Sir," says I," surely I was of age to have known it first, especially, considering the affection my mother had always shown to me, and my never once having done the least thing to disoblige her; but, Sir (said I) something else I fear is intended by my mother's silence to me; for I have never received above three letters from her, since I came here, which is now, you know, three years; and those were within the first three months." I then showed him the forementioned letter I received from my new fatherin-law, and assured him, that gave me the first hint of this second marriage.

I found, by the attention my master gave to my relation, he seemed to suspect this marriage would prove detrimental to me; but not, on the sudden, knowing what to say to it, he told me, he would consider of it; and, by all means, advised me to write a very obliging letter to my new father, with my humble request, that he would please to order me home the next recess of our learning. I did so, under my master's dictation; and not long after received an answer to the following effect:

"Son Peter,

"Your mother has been dead a good while ; and as to your request, it will be only expensive, and of little use; for a person who must live by his studies, can't apply to them too closely."

This letter, if I had a little hope left, quite subdued my fortitude, and well nigh reduced me to clay. However, with tears in my eyes, I showed it to my master; who, good man, wishing me well, "Peter," says he," what can this mean? here is some mystery concealed in it; here is some ill-design on

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foot ;" then, taking the letter into his hand: "A son who must live by his studies," says he, "here is more meant than we can think for. Why? Have not you a pretty estate to live upon, when it comes to your hands? Peter (says he) I would advise you to go to your father, and inquire how affairs your are left; but I am afraid to let you go alone, and will, when my students depart at Christmas, accompany you myself, with all my heart; for, you must know, I have advised on your affair already, and find you are of age to choose yourself a guardian, who may be any relation, or friend you can confide in; and may see you have justice done you." I immediately thanked him for the hint, and begged him to accept of the trust, as my only friend, having very few, if any near relations; this, he with great readiness, complied with, and was admitted accordingly.

So soon as our scholars were gone home, my master lending me a horse, we set out together, to possess ourselves of all my father's real estate, and such part of the personal as he had been advised would belong to me. Well, we arrived at the old house, but were not received with such extraordinary tokens of friendship, as would give the least room to suppose we were welcome. For my part, all I said, or could say, was, that I was very sorry for my mother's death. My father replied, so was he. Here we paused, and might have sat silent till this time for me, if my master, a grave man, who had seen the world, and was unwilling any part of our time there, which he guessed would be short, should be lost, had not broke silence. "Mr. G.," says he, "I see the loss of master Wilkins's mother puts him under some confusion; so that you will excuse me, as his preceptor and friend, in making some inquiry, how his affairs stand, and how his effects are disposed; as I don't doubt you have taken care to schedule every thing that will be coming to him; and though he is not yet of the necessary age for taking upon himself the management of his estate, he is nevertheless of capacity to understand the nature and quantum of it, and to show his approbation of the disposition of it, as if he was a year or two older." During this discourse, Mr. G. turned pale, then reddened, was going to interrupt, then checked himself; but however, kept silence, till my master had done; when, with a sneer, he replied, "Sir, I must own myself a great stranger to your discourse; nor can I, for my life, imagine what your harangue tends to; but sure I am, I know of no estate, real or personal, or any thing else belonging to young Mr. Wilkins to make a schedule of, as you call it : but this I know, his mother had an estate in land, near two hundred a year, and also a good sum of money, when I married her; but the estate, she settled on me before her marriage, to dispose of after her decease, as I saw fit; and her money and goods are all come to my sole use, as her husband." I was just ready to drop, while Mr. G. gave this relation, and was not able to reply a word; but my master, though sufficiently shocked at what he had heard, replied, "Sir, I am informed the estate, and also the money you men tion, was Mr. Wilkins's father's at his death, and I am surprised to think any one should have a better title to them than my pupil, his only child." “Sir,” says Mr. G., "you are deceived, and though what you say seems plausible enough, and is in