of an eftate, though it was greatly involved, it was not difficult to raise money upon their joint fecurity. But, as is frequently the cafe in these negociations, they feldom got more than forty pounds in cafh for their notes of an hundred. The confequence of this manner of going on was, that my son soon found himself greatly entangled, and obliged to return to Jamaica.

Just before he went, a beautiful young creature called upon me with a letter from him; which, as affording the mistress of my fon protection, might appear to you and the world, as if I countenanced his illicit connections, and draw on me an additional load of cenfure, I fhall transcribe verbatim.

"My Dear Madam,

"LET my fituation plead my excufe for "this. It is to introduce to you a young wo"man, whofe greatest fault is an attachment to 66 your fon. I have no resource left, but to rely "upon my father's generefity; a faint but only ❝ hope. But though I cannot count upon his "protection, I can on your's; who are too good, and have too much fenfe to be offended when "I tell you, that at this time he is entitled to my "tendereft regards..

" My

'

My circumstances are fuch, that I could "not even call on you before I go; but I hope a "few years will amply compenfate for the mif"fortunes of this; and that we may both live, till "I have proved in numberless inftances, with “what truth I am

"Your most affectionate and dutiful fon,

"George Montgomery Metham."

London, Dec. 22, 1778.

My birth-day.

My circumstances at this time were not in the moft flourishing state, but in confideration of my fon's requeft, and the young perfon's fituation, I promised to allow her a weekly pittance, as long as I could afford to do fo. This, however, it was not in my power to do but for a few weeks.

At the expiration of the time usually limited for executors to fettle the affairs entrusted to their care, a truft of the moft facred and important nature, I waited on Mr Woodward's executors to know what had been done. When, to my inexpreffible astonishment, I was informed, that there was no money for me, nor the least room for me to expect any. They added, that I muft

1:

D. 6.

I must apply to Mr. Willet, their attorney; as they were determined to be guided wholly by him, and being refolved not to act themselves, they had given their power up to him.

Having met with this unexpected rebuff, I prevailed upon a friend of Mr. Woodward's to call on Mr. Bromfield, but he would not hear what he had to fay. I wrote repeatedly to him with as little effect, my letters being referred to Mr. Willet. At length driven by diftrefs, I called at the house of the latter, where I was treated with an infolence I never before experienced.

He informed me, that he had proceeded againft Mr. Crawford till he had got execution against him. And upon my representing that the warrants to the bonds were in the hands of Mr. Burton of Dublin, he infolently replied, that indeed he would not cross the herring-pond. Upon my aking him when he thought I might expect any advantage, he told me, I had nothing to expect; that the executors had as good a right as myfelf to the effects, if there were any; as I fhould fquander it all away, fuppofing any advantages were to arife to me.

It was in vain for me to remonftrate with a perfon who could have the effrontery to tell me

this.

this. What was to be done I knew not. Mr. Cornish by this time had retired from business into the country; and Mr. Bromfield ftill perfifted in not liftening either to personal applications or letters; or, if he did, I received the ufual reference to one from whom I had nothing to expect.

Thus were my hopes from this quarter, from which I had the most rational grounds of expectation, according to my ufual ill fortune fruftrated; and that, like many of the former, not through any mifconduct of my own. This confideration affords me great comfort amidst my diftreffes, and gives me room to hope, that the application I made in my last letter to the gentlemen of the law, will not prove ineffectual, but procure me from among them fome humane and powerful protector.

Finding my diftreffes through this disappointment become ferious, I discharged my man fervant; which I did with reluctance, as he was very faithful, and had lived with me a confiderable time. I likewife gave up the apartments I occupied at first, and went into an upper room in the fame houfe, as I was unable to pay what was already due.

My

My fon Metham had promised to send me money from Jamaica, but I could not expect to receive it for fome time. I found myself greatly diftreffed, as I had borrowed money from Mr. Woodward's brother, with the fure expectation of being able to repay it at the expiration of the year. The faithful girl who attended me would not leave me, and rather chose to fhare my diftrefs. Besides all these disagreeable circumstances, I had contracted a debt at a fhop in the neighbourhood, that supplied me with every neceffary except bread and meat. I had given a note for the fum, which was now become due, and for which I was threatened with confinement. This was a double distress to us, as it deprived us of the greatest part of our fubfiftence, and reduced us to the utmost extremity of want.

I had now parted with every thing I could raise a fhilling upon; and poverty, with all her horrid train of evils, ftared me in the face. In this dreadful fituation, worn out with calamity, and terrified with the gloomy profpect which prefented itself to my view, I endeavoured to perfuade myself that fuicide could not be a crime. I had no perfon to look up to. Every body to whom I was united by the ties of blood, were abroad.

Sir