when he was informed it was by her own exprefs defire. Poor man! what would he have fuffered, could he but have known that his own earthly remains would be deposited in a place to which he had fo great a diflike? It is true, that "the mean and mighty, rotting together, have one duft; yet Reverence, the Angel of the "world, doth make diftinction of place 'twixt high and low."

All his dignities and honours could not fecure him from repeated infults. For in addition to the foregoing, a chaplain, whom he had dismissed, and who had publicly affronted him, including his whole family, was immediately fent for, to fill up one of the vacancies.

I have dwelt much longer upon this fubject, than otherwife I fhould have done, as the event, has occafioned great furprise and much enquiry," And though the respect I bear the memory of fo worthy a man, and fo good a friend, might be fuppofed to make me partial, I can truly affirm, that I have recited the circumftances of his difrefpectful treatement, and unfeemly exit from the ftage of life, after he had trod it fo long, and in fo irreproachable a manner, without the

*Cymbeline, A& IV. Scene 4.

leaft

leaft exaggeration. Indeed, I have mentioned it with far more lenity than the subject deserves.

The accumulated misfortunes, by which I was now overwhelmed, made me almost despair of ever conquering them. But upon my going to hear the Comte's funeral fervice, it was fo perfectly and awfully performed by two of his Lordship's own Chaplain's, that, ftruck with reverence and fubmiffion, I found myself enabled, by divine Providence, to bear whatever might happen, with fortitude and refignation.

So totally was I immerfed in those thoughts which the folemn fcene excited, that 1 did not obferve that the pew of the deceased was filled with ladies; an indelicacy that was remarked even by the strangers, whom curiofity had led to fee the ceremony. It certainly would have greatly added to the folemnity, had his feat been left vacant; as the regret of the congregation would have récéived no little augmentation, from turning towards it the brimful eye, and miffing the noble owner, who fo lately as the Sunday before had graced it.

My forrow at the recollection of the loss of this good friend is ftill fo lively, that had I not reached the usual length of my letters, I fhould . here

G 4

here be obliged to lay down my pen and conclude

this.

G. A. B.

LETTER CI.

March 13, 17

IN the diftrefsful embarraffinent to which I was now reduced, I advertised for a place as housekeeper, or attendant upon an elderly lady or gentleman. As I had been accustomed to a fick-room, was naturally tender to those who are indifpofed, and had acquired much experience from the illneffes of feveral of my friends, as related, I flattered myself I fhould not fail to please whoever fhould honour me with the acceptance of my offered fervice.

As 1 ftill retained the name of Weft, I imagined that my having been formerly upon the ftage, as well as the character for extravagance which had been imputed to me, would not prove an impediment to my fcheme: and if it fhould afterwards be found out, I trusted, that my utility, and unremitted attention in my new employment, would endear me so much, that it would rather

be

be a circumstance in my favour than disfavour. So fanguine was I of meeting with fuccefs in this application, that all my thoughts were employed in forming an under-plot to my piece; which was to introduce my partner in misfortune (to whom I was now confiderably indebted) into a fimilar fituation. But to our very great mortification, though I frequently repeated the advertisement, to the visible decrease of my nearly exhausted finances, I found I had nothing to hope from my new adopted scheme. Not a foul ever enquired after the advertiser, notwithstanding she could have rendered herself fo ferviceable.

So much do the news-papers now abound with offered fervices of this kind, that I believe the greatest part of them meet with the fame fate mine did. They, indeed, answer more than one good. purpose; for in the first place they tend to the increase of his Majesty's revenue, and in the next, to the emoluments of the proprietors of the papers: though this affords very little confolation tothe poor wretches who embark their laft fhilling. upon the uncertain adventure.

About this time, I renewed an intimacy which had formerly subfifted between Mrs. Greville and myself; a lady whom my mother had known,

and been partial to from a child. This lady had been rendered unfortunate by her union with a man that treated her with the greatest barbarity. She had endeavoured, by the most unremitted industry, to manage a trifling income left by her fifter Lady Diemar. For, notwithstanding her theatrical talents are univerfally allowed, from fome ftrange circumftances, fhe had been unemployed for feveral feasons. It is a mystery I could never unravel, why this lady fhould be thrown by, while others, with not half her merit, have engagements. The goodness of her heart prevailed over her fcanty circumstances, and fhe chearfully offered me the little affiftance fhe could fpare. But as it must be supposed from what I have faid, that it could only be a temporary relief, and given at different times it could not extricate me from my difficulties.

I wrote to India to my fon and nephew, but no anfwers could be expected from them for two or three years; and how to fubfift was the labour of my thoughts, My maid was my greatest unhappiness; for as to myself, I had now acquired a perfect indifference to whatever might befal me; and my mind was more calm than it had ever been fince my early days. This fere

nity