fpeaking of, the relict of Sir Logblin Fitzgibbons, an old Irish knight, who was immenfely rich, and married her when he was creeping upon all-fours, with fnow on his head, and froft in his bones, that he might lie by a naked beauty, and gaze at that awful fpot he had no power to enjoy. I did intend, on leaving this lady, to be at Knaresborough at night; but the fates, for a while, took me another way. At the inn where I dined, I became acquainted with a gentleman much of my own age, who was an ingenious agreeable man. This was Oliver Wincup, Efq; who had lately married. Mifs Horner of Northumberland, a fine young creature, and a great fortune. This gentleman, by his good humour, and feveral good fongs, pleafed me fo much, that I drank more than I intended, and was easily prevailed on to go with him, in the evening, to Woodcefter, the name of his feat; which was but ten miles from the house we had dined at. We came in just as they were going to tea. There was a great deal of company, at least a dozen ladies, befides half a score gentlemen, and all of them as gay and engaging as the best-bred young mortals could be.

tion of

§. 4. The vill here was very odd, but a A defcrip. charming pretty thing. The house confifted Woodcefter

of House.

The manner of liv

ing at

of feveral ground rooms, (ten I think) detached from one another, and feparated by trees and banks of flowers. They were intirely of wood, but finely put together, and all difpofed with the greatest fymmetry and beauty. They were very handfome without fide, and the infide furnished and adorned with the finest things the owner could get for money. Eafy hills, little vallies, and pretty groves, furrounded the sweet retreat, and the vallies were watered with clear ftreams. The whole had a fine appearance. The varied fcenes for ever pleased.

§. 5. At this delightful place I stayed ten days, and was very happy indeed. We Woodcefter. drank, we laughed, we danced, we fung, and chatted; and when that was done, 'twas night. But country dances were the chief diverfion; and I had a partner, who was not only a wonder in face and perfon, (divinely pretty) but did wonders in every motion. This was Mifs Veyfiere of Cumberland: the dear creature! Reader, when I was a young fellow, there were few could equal me in dancing. The famous Paddy Murphy, an Irish member of the house of commons, commonly called the Little Beau, well known at Lucas's coffee-house, Dublin: (He danced one night, in 1734, that I was. at the caftle, before the late Duke of Dorfet

and

and his Duchess, at their grace's request :) this gentleman, and Langham, the miller, who danced every night at the renowned Stretch's puppet-fhew, before the curtain was drawn up, were both deservedly admired for their performance in the hornpipe; yet were nothing to me in this particular: but Mifs Veyfiere out-did me far: her fteps were infinite, and fhe did them with that amazing agility, that the seemed like a dancing angel in the air. Eight nights we footed it together, and all the company faid, we were born for each other. She did charm me, and I should have asked her the question, to try her temper, if Wincup had not told me, her father intended to facrifice her to a man old enough to be her grandfather, for the sake of a great jointure; and in a week or two she was to dance the reel of Bogee with an old monk. Poor Mifs Veyhere! I faid; What connexion can there be between the hoary churl and you,

A

While fide by fide the blushing maid
Shrinks from his vifage, half afraid?

I do not wish you may feather him, but may
you bury him very quickly, and be happy.

ac

§. 6. Another of our diverfions at Wood- An cefter, was a little company of fingers and dancers Mr. Wincup had hired, to perform players a

count of a company of ftroling in Woodcefter

in a fylvan theatre he had in his gardens. These people did the mime, the dance, the Jong, extremely well. There was among them one Mifs Hinxworth, a charming young creature, who excelled in every thing; but in finging especially, had no equal I believe in the world. She was a gentleman's daughter, and had been carried off by one O Regan, an Irishman, and dancing-mafter, the head of this company. He was the most active fellow upon earth, and the best harlequin I have ever seen. Every evening we had fomething or other extraordinary from these performers. He gave us two pieces which fo nearly resembled the two favourite entertainments called Harlequin Sorcerer, and the Genii, (tho' in feveral particulars better) that I cannot help thinking Mr. Rich owed his Harlequin Sorcerer to O Regan: and that the Genii of Drury-Lane was the invention of this Irishman.

You know, reader, that in the first scene of Harlequin Sorcerer, there is a group of witches at their orgies in a wilderness by moon-light, and that harlequin comes riding in the air between two witches, upon a long pole: Here O Regan did what was never attempel at Covent-Garden houfe, and what no other man in the world I believe did ever do. As the witches danced round and round, hand in hand, as fwift as they could move,

count of

O Regan leaped upon the shoulder of one of them, and for near a quarter of an hour, jumped the contrary way as faft as they went, round all their fhoulders. This was a fine piece of activity. I think it much more wonderful, than to keep at the top of the outwheel of a water-mill, by jumping there, as it goes with the greateft rapidity round. This Mun. Hawley, of Loch-Gur in the county An acof Tipperary, could do. He was a charming fellow in body and mind, and fell unfortu- ly of nately in the 22d year of his age. In a plain Loch-Gur. field, by a trip of his horfe, he came down, and fractured his fkull. He did not think he was hurt: but at night as foon as he began to eat, it came up. A furgeon was fent for to look at his head. It was cracked in feveral places, and he died the next day. He and I were near friends.

Mr. Haw

The au

Woodcefter,

filent place

§. 7. The firft of June, 1731, at five June 1, in the morning, I took my leave of honeft 1731. Wincup, as chearful and worthy a fellow as thor leaves ever lived, and fet out for Knaresborough; and rides but loft my way, went quite wrong, and in to a lone three hours time, came to a little blind ale- called house, the fign of the Cat and Bagpipe, in a lone filent place. The mafter of this fmall inn was one Tom Clancy, brother to the well-known Martin Clancy in Dublin. He

came

Lafco.