withdrew, and wrote directly to my lord; and she not disapproving of it, I sent it away. The purport as follows; for I took no copy.

"That I was much obliged to his lordship for his intended goodness to me, on an occasion the most solemn of my life. That the admirable lady, whom he so justly praised, thought his lordship's proposals in her favour too high. That she chose not to make a public appearance, if, without disobliging my friends, she could avoid it, till a reconciliation with her own could be effected. That although she expressed a grateful sense of his lordship's consent to give her to me with his own hand; yet presuming, that the motive to this kind intention was rather to do her honour, than it otherwise would have been his own choice (especially as travelling would be at this time. so inconvenient to him) she thought it advisable to save his lordship trouble on this occasion; and hoped he would take as meant her declining the favour."

I conclude with telling him, "That I had offered to present the lady his lordship's bill; but on her declining to accept of it (having myself no present occasion for it) I return it inclosed, with my thanks, &c."

A

MR. LOVELACE TO JOHN BELFORD, ESQ.

IND now, that my beloved seems secure in my net, for my project upon the vixen Miss Howe, and upon her mother, in which the officious prancer Hickman is to come in for a dash.

But why upon her mother, methinks thou askest, who, unknown to herself, has only acted by thy impulse through thy agent, Joseph Leman, upon the folly of old Tony the uncle ?

No matter for that, she believes she acts upon her own judgment, and deserves to be punished for pretending to judgment when she has none. Every living soul, but

myself, I can tell thee, shall be punished, that treats either cruelly or disrespectfully so adored a lady. What a plague; is it not enough that she is teazed and tormented in person by me?

I have already broken the matter to our three confederates; as a supposed, not a resolved on, case indeed. And yet they know that with me, in a piece of mischief, execution, with its swiftest feet, is seldom three paces behind projection, which hardly ever limps neither.

The project, in short, is this:-Mrs. Howe has an elder sister in the Isle of Wight, who is lately a widow; and I am well informed that the mother and daughter have engaged, before the latter is married, to pay a visit to this lady, who is rich, and intends Miss for her heiress; and in the interim will make her some valuable presents on her approaching nuptials; which, as Mrs. Howe, who loves money more than anything but herself, told one of my acquaintance, would be worth fetching.

Now, Jack, nothing more need be done than to hire a little trim vessel, which shall sail a pleasuring backward and forward to Portsmouth, Spithead, and the Isle of Wight, for a week or fortnight before we enter upon our parts of the plot. And as Mrs. Howe will be for making the best bargain she can for her passage, the master of the vessel may have orders (as a perquisite allowed him by his owners) to take what she will give; and the master's name, be it what it will, shall be Ganmore on the occasion; for I know a rogue of that name, who is not obliged to be of any country, any more than we.

Well, then, we will imagine them on board. I will be there in disguise. They know not any of ye four, supposing (the scheme so inviting) that thou canst be one.

'Tis plaguy hard if we cannot find or make a storm. Perhaps they will be sea-sick; but whether they be or not, no doubt they will keep their cabin.

Here will be Mrs. Howe, Miss Howe, Mr. Hickman,

a maid, and a footman, I suppose; and thus we will order

it.

I know it will be hard weather: I know it will: and before there can be the least suspicion of the matter, we shall be in sight of Guernsey, Jersey, Dieppe, Cherbourg, or anywhither on the French coast that it shall please us to agree with the winds to blow us; and then, securing the footman, and the women being separated, one of us, according to lots that may be cast, shall overcome, either by persuasion or force, the maid-servant; that will be no hard task; and she is a likely wench (I have seen her often): one, Mrs. Howe; nor can there be much difficulty there, for she is full of health and life, and has been long a widow; another (that, says the princely lion, must be I), the saucy daughter, who will be too much frighted to make great resistance (violent spirits in that sex are seldom true spirits 'tis but where they can); and after beating about the coast for three or four days for recreation's sake, and to make sure work, and till we see our sullen birds begin to eat and sip, we will set them all ashore where it will be most convenient; sell the vessel (to Mrs. Townsend's agents, with all my heart, or to some other smugglers) or give it to Ganmore; and pursue our travels, and tarry abroad till all is hushed up.

Now I know thou wilt make difficulties, as it is thy way; while it is mine to conquer them. My other vassals made theirs, and I condescended to obviate them, as thus I will thine, first stating them for thee according to what I know of thy phlegm.

What, in the first place, wilt thou ask, shall be done with Hickman? who will be in full parade of dress and primness, in order to show the old aunt what a devilish clever fellow of a nephew she is to have.

What! I'll tell thee: Hickman, in good manners, will leave the women in their cabin, and, to show his courage with his breeding, be upon deck

VOL. II.

H

Well, and suppose he is?

Suppose he is! Why then I hope it is easy for Ganmore, or anybody else, myself suppose in my pea-jacket and great watch-coat (if any other make a scruple to do it) while he stands in the way, gaping and staring like a notice, to stumble against him, and push him overboard! A rich thought!-is it not, Belford? He is certainly plaguy officious in the ladies' correspondence; and, I am informed, plays double between mother and daughter, in fear of both,—dost not see him, Jack? I do: popping up and down, his wig and hat floating by him; and paddling, pawing, and dashing, like a frighted mongrel; I am afraid he never ventured to learn to swim.

But thou wilt not drown the poor fellow, wilt thou?

No, no!—that is not necessary to the project. I hate to do mischiefs supererogatory. The skiff shall be ready to save him, while the vessel keeps its course. He shall be set on shore with the loss of wig and hat only, and of half of his little wits, at the place where he embarked, or anywhere else.

Well, but shall we not be in danger of being hanged for three such enormous rapes?

Yes, to be sure, when caught: but is there any likelihood of that? Besides, have we not been in danger before now, for worse facts? And what is there in being only in danger? If we actually were to appear in open day in England before matters are made up, there will be greater likelihood that these women will not prosecute, than that they will. For my own part, I should wish they may. Would not a brave fellow choose to appear in court to such an arraignment, confronting women who would do credit to his attempt? The country is more merciful in these cases than in any others; I should therefore like to put myself upon my country. ·

Let me indulge a few reflections upon what thou mayest think the worst that can happen. I will suppose that

thou art one of us, and that all five are actually brought to trial on this occasion; how bravely shall we enter a court, I at the head of you, dressed out each man, as if to his wedding-appearance! You are sure of all the women, old and young, of your side.-What brave fellows !-What fine gentlemen!-There goes a charming handsome man !— meaning me, to be sure !-Who could find in their hearts to hang such a gentleman as that? whispers one lady, sitting perhaps on the right hand of the Recorder (I suppose the scene to be in London); while another disbelieves that any woman could fairly swear against me. All will crowd after me; it will be each man's happiness (if ye shall chance to be bashful) to be neglected; I shall be found to be the greatest criminal; and my safety, for which the general voice will be engaged, will be yours.

But then comes the triumph of triumphs, that will make the accused look up, while the accusers are covered with confusion.

Make room, there!-Stand by!-Give back!-One receiving a rap, another an elbow, half a score a push apiece!

Enter the slow-moving, hooded-faced, down-looking plaintiffs :

And first the widow, with a sorrowful countenance, though half-veiled, pitying her daughter more than herself. The people, the women especially, who on this occasion will be five-sixths of the spectators, reproaching her,-You'd have the conscience, would you, to have five such brave gentlemen as these hanged for you know not what?

Next comes the poor maid, who perhaps had been ravished twenty times before; and had not appeared now, but for company's sake; mincing, simpering, weeping, by turns, not knowing whether she should be sorry or glad. But every one dwells upon Miss!-See, see, the handsome gentleman bows to her!