the was glad of the opportunity that offered of effecting her darling fcheme, that of uniting me to Mr. Crump. She accordingly fent back the money; and my pride affifting her views, the now made fure of bringing her long-wifhed-for project to bear. Miss O'Hara, who was perfectly well acquainted with my fentiments on the fubject, endeavoured by every argument in her power, to diffuade her from pursuing a plan to which I was fo inflexibly averfe. But her endeavours were ineffectual. My mother continued as refolute as her daughter; though I unfortunately found means to fruftate her intentions.

As the regard Mr. Metham and myself entertained for each other, had now attained fuch a pitch, that I confidered him as my future husband, I made no fcruple to accept the prefents he was continually offering me. These past unobferved by my mother, who concluded that what money I had, was the confequence of my Lord's affection, which feemed daily to increafe. The eye of envy, however, would not fuffer fo fufpicious a circumftance to pafs unnoticed; nor was fo favourable a conftruction put upon my apparent affluence by my two threatrical companions, Mrs. Woffington and Mrs Ward. Being unwilling to account for the elegance of my drefs, by imputing it, as my mother had done, to an allowable fource, they thought it could only proceed from my

having

having formed an unallowable connection with Mr Metham. Taking this for granted, they did not hesitate to mention it as an affair that was abfolutely fettled. I did not indeed, hear of this fcandal, at the time it was propagated by thefe cenforious ladies at the theatre, having no intimacy with any perfon belonging to it, except Mr. Quin, Mr. Rich's family, and Mrs. Ridout. This amiable woman, I muft ftop to tell you, fell a victim to her fondness for her husband, the lofs of whofe affections fhe could not outlive; and I never reflect on her untimely death, without beftowing a figh on her virtues.

Had I heard of thefe afperfions, confcious of my innocence, I fhould have treated them with the contempt they deferved; but, as I have juft faid, from my having fo little communication with the people belonging to the theatre, I was not at that time made acquainted with them. Mrs. Woffington, however, notwithstanding fhe had propagated this fcandalous report, reflecting that my quitting the theatre, particularly as the benefits were coming on, would prove an effential detriment to the whole company, fhe fent Mr. Swyny to me, in order to prevail on me to relinquifh my intention.

This gentleman had attached himself to her as a warm friend. And he gave her a fubftantial proof of his regard, by leaving her the bulk of his fortune at his deceafe. But though

this

this lady's ambaffador urged her fuit with all his rhetoric, I would not come to any determination relative to it, till I had confulted Mr. Quin on the fubject, agreeable to the refolution I had lately formed.

As foon as I fent to this best of friends, he came to me; and upon talking over the affair, he judged it most prudent for me to continue my attendance at the theatre during the present season, as it was now drawing near a conclufion. Among other reasons he obferved, that as I was in all the pieces commanded, on every Thurfday night, by the prince and princefs of Wales, and had been honoured with diftinguifhed marks of approbation from their Royal Highneffes, as well as the public, he thought no pecuniary motive fhould induce me to decline playing during the remainder of the season. Giving up my refentment, therefore, to the opinion of fo good a judge, and so fincere a friend, I continued to perform as ufual, without coming to an open rupture with the proprietor on account of his duplicity.

G. A. B.

LET

TH

LET

LETTER

XXXV.

July 21, 17-.

HE fame evening, when Lord Tyrawley came to fup with me as ufual, I informed him of the ill treatment I had received. His Lordship feemed difpleafed that I did not carry my firft refolution of quitting the theatre into execution. Notwithstanding his Lordfhip was reconciled to me, and he ftill continued to live at fuch an expence as to involve himself annually, although in receipt of immenfe fums from his employments and commiffion, I could not help obferving that he made no offer of furnishing me with a provifion adequate to the emoluments I reaped from my profeffion. As I confidered the affront I had received from the proprietor, of the higheft magnitude to my theatrical confequence, I own I was much furprised at his being fo lukewarm upon the occafion.

A few minutes, however, explained the mystery. For looking kindly at me, his Lordship faid, "Pop! you do not love me "fo well as you did even fome few weeks ago." Struck at the truth of the accufation, a confcious blush fpread itself over my face, and I remained filent. "Why do you "not fpeak?" continued he. If your heart is engaged to a proper object, I will

"give

"give him your hand. I flattered myfelf "indeed, that your affection for me was fo

unbounded, that you would have left the "choice to me."

This alone could have restored to me the power of fpeech. Mr. Crump's letter feemed now to be fully explained; and the dash appeared to have been fubftituted in the room of Lord Tyrawley's name. I told his Lord

fhip, that as nothing fhould tempt me to lofe fight of fincerity, I would freely acknowledge to him, that though I loved and revered him much, I felt a ftrong prefentiment in favour of another. But unless his Lordship would give me time to examine into the real ftate of my heart, I must beg to be excufed from making him acquainted with the name of the perfon.

His Lordship having heard of the adventure of the chair and the note, already related, and having been likewife informed that Mr. Bullock's father had fworn that he never would fee or fpeak to his fon again, if he married me; and confidering, likewife, that he himself could not offer a fortune with me. fufficient to mollify the old gentleman; his Lordship, (for the first time I ever heard him fwear, although a foldier) told me with an oath, that he already knew the perfon, and that I might reft affured he never would confent to an union with him.

The