LETTER CII. March, 23. 17 A Little after Christmas, as a gentlewoman with whom I was very intimate, was condoling with me upon the many untoward events of my life, and the almost incredible difappointments I had met with, my maid came up, almoft breathless with joy, for money to pay for a letter, which the poftman faid came from India. Concluding it was from my fon, as he used always to direct for me by the name of West, and not having a doubt but it was for me, in the agitation of fpirits I was thrown into by the unexpected occurrence, I tore it open, where it was already almoft open at the back; when, instead of the letter I was in hopes of receiving, I found two bills of exchange; one drawn upon agenntleman in Marlborough-ftreet for fifty pounds, which was the fecond; and the other on a gentleman in Ireland for thirty, with a letter of advice written to him; but no other let ter. I fent immediately to enquire if any other Mrs. Weft lived in the neighbourhood, but could not learn that there was. I then recollected that Mrs. Charles Charles Smith, of Wimpole-ftreet, had called at my lodgings a year and a half before, and had left a card. As I had not the honour of knowing that lady, I judged fhe might have intended the vifit for another Mrs. Weft, and confequently might be able to give me fome intelligence relative to the affair. I accordingly wrote to inform her of my having received a pacquet; but as it contained no letter by which it could be known from whom it came, it might be intended for another. To this note I received no answer. I wrote again; when the chairman brought a verbal message which could not understand. It was, either that the lady was abroad or, in the country. Not being able to gain any intelligence, after waiting fome time, I carried the bill of fifty pounds for acceptance, it being at thirty days fight. When I prefented it, the gentleman enquired where the first bill was, to which I answered, that I had not received it. We therefore conjectured it to be loft. At the time the bill became due, the friend with whom I had left it, fent me word [that there was another claimant, who had produced the third bill of exchange, and proved to be the hufband of the Mrs. Weft, in whofe favour the bills. were were drawn. I therefore delivered him the other bill and the letter. And thus vanifhed this pleafing expectation, as fo many others had done before. About this time Mrs. Douglas came, as fhe faid, from Scotland. I met her with that open cordiality, which I hope will mark every action of my life, and fhared with pleasure my little with her. But, like others, when her fituation altered, fhe wifhed to withdraw herself. For this purpose, The contrived to excite a difagreement between us. She commenced her rancour, by loading with abufe one of the first characters in the kingdom; whom the knew I loved when a child, and admire as a man. A delicacy with regard to her fituation, induced me to let that pafs unnoticed. When this method failed, enraged at my hinting that fhe claimed relationship with a gentleman, to whom she had no nearer affinity than as sister to one of Adam's fons, her rage grew ungovernable. She fcolded like one of thofe good women that take their feats at Billingfgate; and in their language, bestowed upon me every epithet that rancour, malice, abfurdity, a poor weak woman could invent. This had, however, no other effect, than making me fmile, which VOL. V. H which increafed her rage even to madnefs. But I ftill made no return; for it has been an invariable rule with me, when I met with ingratitude, duplicity, or intentional infult from a perfon I regard, to fet them down in the Book of Memory, as departed this life; a mode which prevents thofe acrimonious feelings that refult from two much fenfibility. I confequently now efteem this lady as fafely laid in the ground, and buried with her fathers, nor any longer an inhabitant of the terreftrial world. Forgive an impromptu upon this occafion Avaunt, Duplicity, detefted child of art, begot by Deceit, and nurfed by Hypocrify! Dare not intrude thyfelf into the generous bofom, left every vice, thy fure attendants, follow.-But come, oh come, thou faithful inmate of my breaft, Sincerity, daughter of heaven! And with thee bring white-handed Hope, and the fweet cherub, Peace. Poffefs me all, till the cold arms of death embrace me, and this vain world deludes no more. I have now, madam, gone through every incient of my life. A life that has been, as the relation of them muft have convinced you, perpetually fubject to viciffitude, disappointment, trouble and anxiety. And I think I have recollected every circumftance that will tend, either to furnifh you I and and the public with amufement; to convey fome degree of instruction; or to promote my principal defign, that of laying, in an open and candid manner, before the world, the whole of my conduct. "Nothing have I extenuated, nor fet down aught in malice." Whilst I have faithfully recounted my errors, I have traced them to the fource from which they originated ; and this I truft, will procure me fome degree of exculpation. Sincerity, as I have often obferved, is my boaft. Indeed it is fo much fo, that were I guilty of the worft of crimes, I would not add to them by a denial. I need not, I think, affure you, that the whole of the foregoing narrative consists of real facts. And though some of them may appear almost fabulous, there are many living witneffes to the truth of them. Nor are thofe incidents, which do not immediately relate to myfelf, lefs authentic. They either paffed under my own observation, or are recited from undoubted authority. I flatter myself you will readily perceive, from the circumstances I have laid before you, and from the general tenor of my conduct, that my misfortunes have rather proceeded from a train of untoward events, than from any other caufe; and that |