"the poor, and the rich govern the law. I am then for, and would die for, monarchy, facred mo"nachy; for if there be any thing facred amongst men, it must be the anointed SOVEREIGN of his "people, and every diminution of his diminution of his power in "war, or in peace, is an infringement upon the real "liberties of the fubject. The founds of liberty, "patriotifm, and. Britons have already done much, "it is to be hoped that the true fons of freedom "will prevent their ever doing more. I have known many of thofe pretended champions for liberty in my time, yet do I not remember one "that was not in his heart and in his family a tyrant."

My warmth I found had lengthened this harangue beyond the rules of good breeding: but the im patience of my entertainer, who often ftrove to interrupt it, could be reftrained no longer. "What,' cried he," then I have been all this while entertaining a Jefuit in parfon's cloaths; but by all "the coal mines of Cornwall, out he fhall pack, if my name be Wilkinfon." I now found I had gone too far, and afked pardon for the warmth with which I had fpoken. Pardon," returned he in a fury: "I think fuch principles demand ten thou"fand pardons. What, give up liberty, property, "and, as the Gazetteer fays, lie down to be faddled "with wooden fhoes! Sir, I infift upon your "marching out of this houfe immediately, to pre"vent worse confequences, Sir, I infift upon it.” I was going to repeat my remonftrances; but just then we heard a footman's rap at the door, and the two ladies cried out, "As fure as death there is 66 our master and miftrefs come home." It seems my entertainer was all this while only the butler, who, in his master's abfence, had a mind to cut a figure, and be for a while the gentleman himself; and, to fay the truth, he talked politics as well as most country gentlemen do. But nothing could

now

ours.

now exceed my confufion upon feeing the gentleman and his lady enter, nor was their furprize, at finding fuch company and good cheer, less than "Gentlemen," cried the real mafter of the house to me and my companion, " my wife and I "are your most humble fervants; but I proteft this "is fo unexpected a favour, that we almoft fink "under the obligation." However unexpected our company might be to them, theirs, I am fure, was ftill more fo to us, and I was ftruck dumb with the apprehenfions of my own abfurdity, when whom fhould I next fee enter the room but my dear Mifs Arabella Wilmot, who was formerly defigned to be married to my fon George; but whofe match was broken off, as already related. As foon as the saw me, fhe flew to my arms with the utmoft joy.

My dear fir," cried fhe, "to what happy accident is it that we owe fo unexpected a vifit? I "am fure my uncle and aunt will be in raptures "when they find they have the good Dr. Primrose "for their gueft." Upon hearing my name, the old gentleman and lady very politely ftept up, and welcomed me with moft cordial hofpitality. Nor could they forbear smiling upon being informed of the nature of my prefent vifit: but the unfortunate butler, whom they at firft feemed disposed to turn away, was at my interceffion forgiven.

Mr. Arnold and his lady, to whom the house belonged, now infifted upon having the pleasure of my ftay for fome days, and as their niece, my charrning pupil, whofe mind in fome measure had been formed under my own inftructions, joined in their entreaties, I complied. That night I was fhewn to a magnificent chamber, and the next morning early Mifs Wilmot defired to walk with me in the garden, which was decorated in the modern manner. After fome time spent in pointing out the beauties of the place, the enquired with feeming unconcern, when

laft

laft I had heard from my fon George. "Alas! "Madam," cried I, he has now been nearly three years abfent, without ever writing to his friends 66 or me. Where he is I know not; perhaps I "fhall never fee him or happiness more. No, my "dear Madam, we fhall never more fee fuch pleaf"ing hours as were once spent by our fire-fide at "Wakefield. My little family are now difperfing 66 very faft, and poverty has brought not only want, "but infamy upon us." The good-natured girl let fall a tear at this account; but as I faw her poffeffed of too much fenfibility, I forbore a more minute detail of our sufferings. It was, however, fome confolation to me to find that time had made no alteration in her affections, and that fhe had rejected feveral offers that had been made her fince our leaving her part of the country. She led me round all the extenfive improvements of the place, pointing to the feveral walks and arbours, and at the fame time catching from every object a hint for fome new question relative to my fon. In this manner we fpent the forenoon, till the bell fummoned us in to dinner, where we found the manager of the ftrolling company that I mentioned before, who was come to difpofe of tickets for the Fair Penitent, which was to be acted that evening, the part of Horatio by a young gentleman who had never appeared on any ftage. He feemed to be very warm in the praises of the new performer, and averred, that he never faw any who bid fo fair for excellence. Acting, he observed, was not learned in a day; "But this gen❝tleman," continued he, "feems born to tread the

ftage. His voice, his figure, and attitudes are "all admirable. We caught him up accidentally "in our journey down." This account, in fome measure, excited our curiofity, and at the entreaty of the ladies, I was prevailed upon to accompany them to the play-houfe, which was no other than a barn.

a barn. As the company with which I went was inconteftably the chief of the place, we were received with the greatest respect, and placed in the front feat of the theatre; where we fate for fome time with no finall impatience to fee Horatio make his appearance. The new performer advanced at laft, and let parents think of my fenfations by their own, when I found it was my unfortunate fon. He was going to begin, when turning his eyes upon the audience, he perceived Mifs Wilmot and me, and stood at once fpeechlefs and immoveable. The actors behind the fcene, who afcribed this pause to his natural timidity, attempted to encourage him; but instead of going on, he burst into a flood of tears, and retired off the ftage. I don't know what were my feelings on this occafion; for they fucceeded with too much rapidity for defcription: but I was foon awaked from this difagreeable reverie by Mifs Wilmot, who pale and with a trembling voice defired me to conduct her back to her uncle's. When got home, Mr. Arnold, who was as yet a ftranger to our extraordinary behaviour, being informed that the new performer was my fon, fent his coach and an invitation for him; and as he perfifted in his refufal to appear again upon the stage, the players put another in his place, and we foon had him with us. Mr. Arnold gave him the kindeft reception, and I received him with my ufual tranfport; for I could never counterfeit falfe refentment. Mifs Wilmot's reception was mixed with feeming neglect, and yet I could perceive the acted a ftudied part. The tumult in her mind feemed not yet abated; the faid twenty giddy things that looked like joy, and then laughed loud at her own want of meaning. At intervals fhe would take a fly peep at the glafs, as if happy in the confcioufnefs of irrefiftible beauty, and often would afk queftions without giving any manner of attention to the answers.

CHAP,

CHAP. XX.

The hiftory of a philofophic vagabond pursuing novelty, but lofing content.

AFTER

we had fupped, Mrs. Arnold politely offered to fend a couple of her footmen for my fon's baggage, which he at firft feemed to decline; but upon her preffing the request, he was obliged to inform her, that a ftick and a wallet were all the moveable things upon this earth that he could boast of. Why, ay my fon,' cried I, you left me but poor, and poor I find you are come back; and yet I make no doubt you have seen a great deal of the world.'- Yes, Sir,' replied my fon, but travelling after fortune is not the way to fecure her; and indeed of late I have defifted from the purfuit. I fancy, Sir,' cried Mrs. Arnold, that the account of your adventures would be amufing: the first part of them I have often heard from my niece; but could the company prevail for the reft, it would be an additional obligation. Madam,' replied my fon, • I promife you the pleasure you have in hearing, will not be half fo great as my vanity in repeating them, and yet in the whole narrative I can scarcely promife you one adyenture, as my account is rather of what I faw than what I did. The first misfortune of my life, which you all know, was great; but though it diftreft, it could not fink me. perfon ever had a better knack at hoping than I. The lefs kind I found fortune at one time, the more I expected from her another, and being now at the bottom of her wheel, every new revolution might lift, but could not deprefs me. I proceeded,

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