the man by whom you were likewise overreached." tained with the memoirs of a noted personage, whom he sees by accident in the Fleet. THE knight had scarce finished his narrative, when our hero was told, that a gentleman in the coffee-room wanted to see him; and when he went thither he found his friend Crabtree, who had transacted all his affairs, according to the determination of the preceding day; and now gave him an account of the remarks he had overheard, on the subject of his misfortune;-for the manner of arrest was so public and extraordinary, that those who were present immediately propagated it among their acquaintance, and it was that same evening discoursed upon at several tea and card tables, with this variation from the truth, that the debt amounted to twelve thousand instead of twelve hundred pounds: from which circumstance it was conjectured, that Peregrine was a bite from the beginning, who had found credit on account of his effrontery and appearance, and imposed himself upon the town as a young gentleman of fortune. They rejoiced, therefore, at his calamity, which they considered as a just punishment for his fraud and presumption, and began to review certain particulars of his conduct, that plainly demonstrated him to be a rank adventurer, long before he had arrived at this end of his career. "Oh! damn the rascal," cried the knight, "were I his judge, he should be condemned to flames everlasting. A villain! to disgrace me in such a manner, before almost all the fashionable company in town." Our hero expressing a curiosity to know the particulars of this adventure, the knight gratified his desire, by telling him, that one evening, while he was engaged in a party of cards, at a drum in the house of a certain lady of quality, he was given to understand by one of the servants, that a stranger, very richly dressed, was just arrived in a chair, preceded by five footmen with flambeaux, and that he refused to come up stairs, until he should be introduced by Sir Sipple. "Upon this notice," continued the knight, "I judged it was some of my quality friends; and having obtained her ladyship's permission to bring him up, went down to the hall, and perceived a person, whom, to the best of my recollection, I had never seen before. However, his appearance was so magnificent, that I could not harbour the least suspicion of his true quality; and, seeing me advance, he saluted me with a very genteel bow, observing, that though he had not the honour of my acquaintance, he could not dispense with waiting upon me, even on that occasion, in consequence of a letter which he had received from a particular friend. So saying, he put Pickle, who now believed his glory was set a paper into my hand, intimating, that he had for ever, received this intelligence with that got a writ against me for ten thousand disdain which enables a man to detach himpounds, and that it would be my interest to self effectually from the world, and, with submit without resistance, for he was provid- great tranquillity, gave the misanthrope an ed with a guard of twenty men, who sur- entertaining detail of what he had seen and rounded the door in different disguises, de- heard since their last parting. While they termined to secure me against all opposition. amused themselves in this manner over a dish Enraged at the scoundrel's finesse, and trust- of coffee, they were joined by the parson, ing to the assistance of the real footmen as- who congratulated our hero upon his bearing sembled in the hall,- So, you are a rascally this mischance with such philosophic quiet, bailiff,' said I, who have assumed the garb and began to regale the two friends with of a gentleman, in order to disturb her lady-some curious circumstances relating to the ship's company. Take this fellow, my lads, private history of the several prisoners as and roll him in the kennel; here are ten they happened to come in. guineas for your trouble.' These words were At length a gentleman entered; at sight no sooner pronounced, than I was seized, of whom the clergyman rose up, and saluted lifted up, placed in a chair, and carried off in him with a most reverential bow, which was the twinkling of an eye; not but that the graciously returned by the stranger, who, servants of the house and some other footmen with a young man that attended him, retired made a motion toward my rescue, and alarmed to the other end of the room. They were all the company above; but the bailiff affirm- no sooner out of hearing, than the commuing, with undaunted effrontery, that I was nicative priest desired his company to take taken up upon an affair of state, and so many particular notice of this person to whom he people appearing in his behalf, the countess had paid his respects: "That man,” said he, would not suffer the supposed messenger to be" is this day one of the most flagrant instances insulted; and he carried me to the county jail, without further let or molestation." CHAPTER XCVIII. Pickle seems tolerably well reconciled to his cage; and is by the clergyman enter of neglected virtue which the world can produce. Over and above a cool discerning head, fraught with uncommon learning and experience, he is possessed of such fortitude and resolution, as no difficulties can discourage, and no danger impair; and so indefatigable in his humanity, that even now, while he is surrounded with such embarrassments as would distract the brain of an ordinary and Buchanan, that he was seized with an mortal, he has added considerably to his in- irresistible thirst of military glory, and decumbrances, by taking under his protection sire of trying his fortune in the army. His that young gentleman, who, induced by his majesty's troops taking the field, in consecharacter, appealed to his benevolence for quence of the rebellion which happened in redress of the grievances under which he the year seventeen hundred and fifteen, this labours from the villainy of his guardian." young adventurer, thinking no life equal to that of a soldier, found means to furnish himself with a fusil and bayonet, and, leaving the school, repaired to the camp near Stirling, with a view of signalizing himself in the field, though he was at that time but just turned of thirteen. He offered his service to several officers, in hope of being enlisted in their companies; but they would not receive him, because they rightly concluded, that he was some school-boy broke loose, without the knowledge or consent of his relations. Notwithstanding this discouragement, he continued in camp, curiously prying into every part of the service; and such was the resolution conspicuous in him, even at such a tender age, that, after his small finances were exhausted, he persisted in his design; and, because he would not make his wants known, actually subsisted for several days on hips, haws, and sloes, and other spontaneous fruits which he gathered in the woods and fields. Meanwhile, he never failed to be present, when any regiment or corps of men were drawn out to be exercised and reviewed, and accompanied them in all their evolutions, which he had learned to great perfection by observing the companies which were quartered in the place where he was at school. This eagerness and perseverance attracted the notice of many officers, who, after having commended his spirit and zeal, pressed him to return to his parents, and even threatened to expel him from the camp, if he would not comply with their advice. Peregrine's curiosity being excited by this encomium, he asked the name of this generous patron, of which when he was informed, "I am no stranger," said he, "to the fame of that gentleman, who has made a considerable noise in the world, on account of that great cause he undertook in defence of an unhappy orphan; and, since he is a person of such an amiable disposition, I am heartily sorry to find that his endeavours have not met with that successful issue which their good fortune in the beginning seemed to promise. Indeed the circumstance of his espousing that cause was so uncommon and romantic, and the depravity of the human heart so universal, that some people, unacquainted with his real character, imagined his views were altogether selfish; and some were not wanting, who affirmed he was a mere adventurer. Nevertheless, I must do him the justice to own, I have heard some of the most virulent of those who were concerned on the other side of the question, bear testimony in his favour, observing, that he was deceived into the expense of the whole, by the plausible story which at first engaged his compassion. Your description of his character confirms me in the same opinion, though I am quite ignorant of the affair; the particulars of which I should be glad to learn, as well as a genuine account of his own life, many circumstances of which are, by his enemies, I believe, egregiously misrepresented." "These remonstrances having no other "Sir," answered the priest, "that is a piece of satisfaction which I am glad to find my-effect than that of warning him to avoid his self capable of giving you: I have had the pleasure of being acquainted with Mr Mfrom his youth; and every thing which I shall relate concerning him, you may depend upon as a fact which hath fallen under my own cognizance, or been vouched upon the credit of undoubted evidence. "Mr M's father was a minister of the established church of Scotland, descended from a very ancient clan, and his mother nearly related to a noble family in the northern part of the kingdom. While the son was boarded at a public school, where he made good progress in the Latin tongue, his father died, and he was left an orphan to the care of an uncle, who, finding him determined against any servile employment, kept him at school, that he might prepare himself for the university, with a view of being qualified for his father's profession. "Here his imagination was so heated by the warlike achievements he found recorded in the Latin authors, such as Cæsar, Curtius, monitors, they thought proper to alter their behaviour towards him, took him into their protection, and even into their mess; and what, above all other marks of favour, pleased the young soldier most, permitted him to incorporate in the battalion, and take his turn of duty with the other men. In this happy situation he was discovered by a relation of his mother, who was a captain in the army, and who used all his authority and influence in persuading M to return to school; but finding him deaf to his admonitions and threats, he took him under his own care, and, when the army marched to Dumblane, left him at Stirling, with express injunctions to keep himself within the walls. "He temporised with his kinsman, fearing, that, should he seem refractory, the captain would have ordered him to be shut up in the castle. Inflamed with the desire of seeing a battle, his relation no sooner marched off the ground, than he mixed in with another regi tion. Having made such progress in his studies, he resolved to qualify himself for the church, and acquired such a stock of school divinity, under the instructions of a learned professor at Edinburgh, that he more than once mounted the rostrum in the public hall, and held forth with uncommon applause: but being discouraged from a prosecution of his plan, by the unreasonable austerity of some of the Scotch clergy, by whom the most indifferent and innocent words and actions were often misconstrued into levity and misconduct, he resolved to embrace the first favourable opportunity of going abroad being inflamed with the desire of seeing for ment, to which his former patrons belonged, and proceeded to the field, where he distinguished himself, even at that early period of life, by his gallantry, in helping to retrieve a pair of colours belonging to M's regiment; so that, after the affair, he was presented to the duke of Argyle, and recommended strongly to Brigadier Grant, who invited him into his regiment, and promised to provide for him with the first opportunity: but that gentleman in a little time lost his command, upon the duke's disgrace, and the regiment was ordered for Ireland, being given to Colonel Nassau, whose favour the young volunteer acquired to such a degree, that he was recommended to the king for an en-eign countries, and actually set out for Holsigncy, which in all probability he would have obtained, had not the regiment been unluckily reduced. land, where, for the space of two years, he studied the Roman law, with the law of nature and nations, under the famous profess ors Tolieu and Barbeyrac. "Having thus finished his school education, he set out for Paris, with a view to make himself perfect in the French language, and learn such useful exercises, as might be acquired with the wretched remnant of his slender estate, which was by that time reduced very low. In his journey through the Netherlands, he went to Namur, and paid his respects to Bishop Strickland and General Collier, by whom he was received with great civility, in consequence of letters of recommendation, with which he was provided from the Hague, and the old general assured him of his protection and interest for a pair of colours, if he was disposed to enter into the Dutch service. 66 "In consequence of this reduction, which happened in the most severe season of the year, he was obliged to return to his own country, through infinite hardships, to which he was exposed from the narrowness of his circumstances and continuing still enamoured of a military life, he entered into the regiment of Scots Greys, at that time commanded by the late Sir James Campbell, who being acquainted with his family and character, encouraged him with the promise of speedy preferment. In this corps he remained three years, during which he had no opportunity of seeing actual service, except at the affair of Glensheel; and this life of insipid quiet must have hung heavy upon a youth of M's active disposition, had he not found exercise for the mind, in Though he was by that time pretty well reading books of amusement, history, voy-cured of his military quixotism, he would ages, and geography, together with those not totally decline the generous proffer, for which treated of the art of war, ancient and which he thanked him in the most grateful modern, for which he contracted such an terms, telling the general that he would pay eager appetite, that he used to spend sixteen his duty to him on his return from France, hours a day in this employment. About that and then, if he could determine upon re-entime he became acquainted with a gentlemen gaging in the army, should think himself of learning and taste, who observing his in- highly honoured in being under his comdefatigable application, and insatiable thirst mand. after knowledge, took upon himself the "After a stay of two months in Flanders, charge of superintending his studies; and, by he proceeded to Paris, and, far from taking the direction of such an able guide, the up his habitation in the suburbs of St Geryoung soldier converted his attention to a main, according to the custom of English more solid and profitable course of reading. travellers, he hired a private lodging on the So inordinate was his desire of making other side of the river, and associated chiefly speedy advances in the paths of learning, with French officers, who (their youthful that, within the compass of three months, sallies being over) are allowed to be the po he diligently perused the writings of Locke litest gentlemen of that kingdom. In this and Malebranche, and made himself master scheme he found his account so much, that of the first six, and of the eleventh and he could not but wonder at the folly of his twelfth books of Euclid's Elements. He countrymen, who lose the main scope of their considered Puffendorf and Grotius with un-going abroad, by spending their time and common care, acquired a tolerable degree of knowledge in the French language, and his imagination was so captivated with the desire of learning, that, seeing no prospect of a war, or views of being provided for in the service, he quitted the army, and went through a regular course of university educa fortune idly with one another. "During his residence in Holland, he had made himself acquainted with the best authors in the French language, so that he was able to share in their conversation; a circumstance from which he found great benefit; for it not only improved him in his knowledge of that tongue, but also tended to the enlargement of his acquaintance, in the course of which he contracted intimacies in some families of good fashion, especially those of the long robe, which would have enabled him to pass his time very agreeably, had he been a little easier in point of fortune: but his finances, notwithstanding the most rigid economy, being in a few months reduced to a very low ebb, the prospect of indigence threw a damp upon all his pleasures, though he never suffered himself to be thereby in any degree dispirited: being in that respect of so happy a disposition, that conscious poverty or abundance made very slight impressions upon his mind. "This consumption of his cash, however, involved him in some perplexity; and he deliberated with himself, whether he should return to General Collier, or repair to London, where he might possibly fall into some business not unbecoming a gentleman; though he was very much mortified to find himself incapable of gratifying an inordinate desire which possessed him of making the grand tour, or at least of visiting the southern parts of France. "While he thus hesitated between different suggestions, he was one morning visited by a gentleman who had sought and cultivated his friendship, and for whom he had done a good office, in supporting him with spirit against a brutal German, with whom he had an affair of honour. This gentleman came to propose a party for a fortnight, to Fontainebleau, where the court then was; and the proposal being declined by Mwith more than usual stiffness, his friend was very urgent to know the reason of his refusal, and at length, with some confusion, said, Perhaps your finances are low.' M replied, that he had wherewithal to defray the expense of his journey to London, where he could be furnished with a fresh supply; and this answer was no sooner made, than the other, taking him by the hand, -My dear friend,' said he, 'I am not unacquainted with your affairs, and would have offered you my credit long ago, if I had thought it would be acceptable; even now, I do not pretend to give you money, but desire and insist upon it, that you will accept of the loan of these two pieces of paper, to be repaid when you marry a woman with a fortune of twenty thousand pounds, or obtain an employment of a thousand a year.' So saying, he presented him with two actions of above two thousand livres each. "Mwas astonished at this unexpected instance of generosity in a stranger, and, with suitable acknowledgement, peremptorily refused to incur such an obligation; but at length he was, by dint of importunity and warm expostulation, prevailed upon to accept one of the actions, on condition that the gentleman would take his note for the sum; and this he absolutely rejected, until M-promised to draw upon him for double the value or more, in case he should at any time want a further supply. This uncommon act of friendship and generosity, M— afterwards had an opportunity to repay tenfold, though he could not help regretting the occasion, on his friend's account. That worthy man having, by placing too much confidence in a villainous lawyer, and a chain of other misfortunes, involved himself and his amiable lady in a labyrinth of difficulties, which threatened the total ruin of his family; Mfelt the inexpressible satisfaction of delivering his benefactor from the snare. "Being thus reinforced by the generosity of his friend, M— resolved to execute his former plan of seeing the south of France, together with the seaports of Spain, as far as Cadiz, from whence he proposed to take a passage for London by sea; and, with this view, sent forward his trunks by the diligence to Lyons, determined to ride post, in order to enjoy a better view of the country, and for the conveniency of stopping at those places where there was any thing remarkable to be seen or inquired into. While he was employed in taking leave of his Parisian friends, who furnished him with abundant recommendations, a gentleman of his own country, who spoke little or no French, hearing of his intention, begged the favour of accompanying him in his expedition. "With this new companion, therefore, he set out for Lyons, where he was perfectly well received by the intendant and some of the best families of the place, in consequence of his letters of recommendation; and, after a short stay in that city, proceeded down the Rhone to Avignon, in what is called the coche d'eau; then visiting the principal towns of Dauphine, Languedoc, and Provence, he returned to the delightful city of Marseilles, where he and his fellow-traveller were so much captivated by the serenity of the air, the good-nature and hospitality of the sprightly inhabitants, that they never dreamed of changing their quarters during the whole winter and part of the spring: here he acquired the acquaintance of the marquis d'Argens, attorney general in the parliament of Aix, and of his eldest son, who now makes so great a figure in the literary world: and when the affair of Father Girard and Mademoiselle Cadier began to make a noise, he accompanied these two gentlemen to Toulon, where the marquis was ordered to take a precognition of the facts. "On his return to Marseilles, he found a certain noble lord of great fortune, under the direction of a Swiss governor, who had accommodated him with two of his own relations, of the same country, by way of companions, together with five servants in his train. They being absolute strangers in the place, M- introduced them to the in tendant, and several other good families: the noble peer never once made mention of and had the good fortune to be so agreeable the annuity which he had promised to settle to his lordship, that he proposed and even upon him, nor did M- remind him of it, pressed him to live with him in England as because he conceived it was his affair to fula friend and companion, and to take upon fil his engagements of his own accord. him the superintendence of his affairs, in M— being tired of the manner of living at which case he would settle upon him four this place, made an excursion to Bath, where hundred a year for life. he staid about a fortnight, to partake of the diversions, and, upon his return, found his lordship making dispositions for another journey to Paris. "Surprised at this sudden resolution, he endeavoured to dissuade him from it; but his remonstrances were rendered ineffectual by the insinuation of a foreigner who had come with extravagant notions of pleasure, infinitely superior to any which he could enjoy while he was in the trammels and under the restraints of a governor. He therefore turned a deaf ear to all M-'s arguments, and "This proposal was too advantageous to be slighted by a person of no fortune, or fixed establishment: he therefore made no difficulty of closing with it; but as his lordship's departure was fixed to a short day, and he urged him to accompany him to Paris, and from thence to England, Mthought it would be improper and indecent to inter-over with him, and filled his imagination fere with the office of his governor, who might take umbrage at his favour, and therefore excused himself from a compliance with his lordship's request, until his minority should be expired, as he was within a few months of being of age. However, he re-entreated him to accompany him in the jourpeated his importunities so earnestly, and the governor joined in the request with such appearance of cordiality, that he was prevailed upon to comply with their joint desire; and in a few days set out with them for Paris, by the way of Lyons. But, before they had been three days in the city, M-perceived a total change in the behaviour of the Swiss and his two relations, who, in all probability, became jealous of his influence with his lordship; and he no sooner made this discovery, than he resolved to withdraw himself from such a disagreeable participation of that young nobleman's favour. He therefore, in spite of all his lordship's entreaties and remonstrances, quitted him for the present, alleging, as a pretext, that he had a longing desire to see Switzerland and the banks of the Rhine, and promising to meet him again in England. ney; but this gentleman, foreseeing that a young man, like my lord, of strong passions, and easy to be misled, would, in all probability, squander away great sums of money, in a way that could neither do credit to himself, nor to those who were concerned with him, resisted all his solicitations, on pretence of having business of consequence at London; and afterwards had reason to be extremely well pleased with his own conduct in this particular. "Before he set out on this expedition, M- -, in justice to himself, reminded him of the proposal which he had made to him at Marseilles, desiring to know if he had altered his design in that particular; in which case he would turn his thoughts some other way, as he would not in the least be thought to intrude or pin himself upon any man. My lord protested in the most solemn man"This his intention being made known to ner, that he still continued in his former rethe governor and his friends, their counten- solution, and again beseeching him to bear ances immediately cleared up, their courtesy him company into France, promised that and compliance returned, and they even fur- every thing should be settled to his satisfacnished him with letters for Geneva, Lau- tion upon their return to England. Msanne, Bern, and Soleures; in consequence however, still persisted in his refusal, for the of which he met with unusual civilities at above-mentioned reasons, and though he these places. Having made this tour with never heard more of the annuity, he neverhis Scotch friend (who came up to him be-theless continued to serve his lordship with fore he left Lyons), and visited the most considerable towns on both sides of the Rhine, and the courts of the electors Palatine, Mentz, and Cologne, he arrived in Holland; and from thence, through the Netherlands, repaired to London, where he found my lord just returned from Paris. his advice and good offices ever after; particularly in directing his choice to an alliance with a lady of eminent virtue, the daughter of a noble lord, more conspicuous for his shining parts than the splendour of his titles (a circumstance upon which he always reflected with particular satisfaction, as well "His lordship received him with express-on account of the extraordinary merit of the ions of uncommon joy, would not suffer him to stir from him for several days, and introduced him to his relations. "Maccompanied his lordship from London to his country-seat, where he was indeed treated with great friendship and confidence, and consulted in every thing; but lady, as because it vested in her children a considerable part of that great estate, which, of right, belonged to her grandmother), and afterwards put him in a way to retrieve his estate from a heavy load of debt he had contracted. When my lord set out on his Paris expedition, the money M had received |