not help, in justice to himself, declaring, that | dark, and even before they had intelligence the same person was, in reality, the madman, of his retreat. But, next day, they kept who had given his keepers the slip; that, themselves upon the watch till he appeared, therefore, he (the landlord) would not find and Pipes lifting his hat, as Crabtree passed, his account in complying with his orders, and-" O damn ye, old dunny," said he, " you encouraging him to frequent his house; and and I must grapple by and by; and a-gad I that, for his own part, he would never enter shall lie so near your quarter, that your ear the door, or favour him with the least trifle ports will let in the sound, tho'f they are of his custom, if ever he should for the future double caulked with oakum." find himself anticipated in his payments by that unhappy lunatic. The vintner was confounded at this retorted charge; and, after much perplexity and deliberation, concluded, that both parties were distracted; the stranger in paying a man's debts against his will, and Pickle, in being offended at such forwardness of friendship. CHAPTER C. These associates commit an assault upon Crabtree, for which they are banished from the Fleet-Peregrine begins to feel the effects of confinement. The misanthrope's ears were not quite so fast closed, but that they received this intimation; which, though delivered in terms that he did not well understand, had such an effect upon his apprehension, that he signified his doubts to Peregrine, observing, that he did not much like the looks of that same ruffian with the wooden leg. Pickle assured him he had nothing to fear from the two sailors, who could have no cause of resentment against him; or, if they had, would not venture to take any step, which they knew must block up all the avenues to that reconcilement about which they were so anxious; and, moreover, give such offence to the governor of the place as would infallibly induce him to expel them both from his territories. OUR adventurer having dined at an ordina- Notwithstanding this assurance, the young ry, and in the afternoon retired to his own gentleman was not so confident of the lieuapartment, as usual, with his friend Cadwal- tenant's discretion, as to believe that Crablader, Hatchway and his associate, after they tree's fears were altogether without foundahad been obliged to discuss the provision for tion; he forthwith conjectured that Jack had which they had paid; renewed their confer- taken umbrage at an intimacy from which he ence upon the old subject. Pipes giving his found himself excluded, and imputed his dismessmate to understand, that Peregrine's grace to the insinuations of Cadwallader, chief confidant was the old deaf bachelor, whom, in all likelihood, he intended to punwhom he had seen at his lodging the preced-ish for his supposed advice. He knew his ing day, Mr Hatchway, in his great penetra-friend could sustain no great damage from tion, discovered that the young gentleman's the lieutenant's resentment, in a place which obstinacy proceeded from the advice of the misanthrope, whom, for that reason, it was their business to chastise. Pipes entered into this opinion the more willingly, as he had all along believed the senior to be a sort of wizard, or some caco-demon, whom it was not very creditable to be acquainted with. Indeed, he had been inspired with this notion by the insinuations of Hadgi, who had formerly dropped some hints touching Crabtree's profound knowledge in the magic art; mentioning, in particular, his being possessed of the philosopher's stone; an assertion to which Tom had given implicit credit, until his master was sent to prison for debt, when he could no longer suppose Cadwallader lord of such a valuable secret, or else he would certainly have procured the enlargement of his most intimate friend. With these sentiments, he espoused the resentment of Hatchway. They determined to seize the supposed conjuror, with the first opportunity, on his return from his visit to Peregrine, and, without hesitation, exercise upon him the discipline of the pump. This plan they would have executed that same evening, had not the misanthrope luckily withdrawn himself by accident, before it was he could immediately alarm with his cries, and therefore wished he might fall into the snare, because it would furnish him with a pretence of complaint; in consequence of which, the sailors would be obliged to shift their quarters, so as that he should be rid of their company, in which he at present could find no enjoyment. Every thing happened as he had foreseen; the misanthrope, in his retreat from Peregrine's chamber, was assaulted by Hatchway and his associate, who seized him by the collar without ceremony, and began to drag him towards the pump, at which they would have certainly complimented him with a very disagreeable bath, had not he exalted his voice in such a manner, as in a moment brought a number of the inhabitants, and Pickle himself, to his aid. The assailants would have persisted in their design, had the opposition been such as they could have faced with any possibility of success: nor did they quit their prey, before a dozen, at least, had come to his rescue, and Peregrine, with a menacing aspect and air of authority, commanded his old valet to withdraw; then they thought proper to sheer off, and betake themselves to close quarters while our hero accompanied the affrighted Cadwallader to the gate, and exhib- | thus unprovided against, slily bestowed upon ited to the warden a formal complaint against him a peg under the fifth rib, that in an inthe rioters, upon whom he retorted the charge stant laid him senseless on the pavement, of lunacy, which was supported by the evi- at the feet of his conqueror. Pipes was condence of twenty persons, who had been eye- gratulated upon his victory, not only by his witnesses of the outrage committed against friend Hatchway, but also by all the bythe old gentleman. standers, particularly the priest who had espoused his cause, and now invited the stran house, where they were entertained so much to their liking, that they determined to seek no other habitation while they should continue in town; and, notwithstanding the disgrace and discouragement they had met with, in their endeavours to serve our adventurer, they were still resolved to persevere in their good offices, or, in the vulgar phrase, to see him out. The governor, in consequence of this information, sent a message to Mr Hatchway,gers to his lodging in a neighbouring alewarning him to move his lodgings next day, on pain of being expelled. The lieutenant contumaciously refusing to comply with this intimation, was in the morning, while he amused himself in walking upon the Bare, suddenly surrounded by the constables of the court, who took him and his adherent prisoners, before they were aware, and delivered them into the hands of the turnkeys, by whom they were immediately dismissed, and their baggage conveyed to the side of the ditch. This expulsion was not performed without an obstinate opposition on the part of the delinquents, who, had they not been surprised, would have set the whole Fleet at defiance, and, in all probability, would have acted divers tragedies, before they could have been overpowered. Things being circumstanced as they were, the lieutenant did not part with his conductor, without tweaking his nose, by way of farewell; and Pipes, in imitation of such a laudable example, communicated a token of remembrance, in an application to the sole eye of his attendant, who, scorning to be outdone in this kind of courtesy, returned the compliment with such good will, that Tom's organ performed the office of a multiplying glass. These were mutual hints for stripping; and accordingly each was naked from the waist upwards in a trice. A ring of butchers from the market was immediately formed; a couple of the reverend flamens, who, in morning gowns, ply for marriages in that quarter of the town, constituted themselves seconds and umpires of the approaching contest, and the battle began without further preparation. The combatants were, in point of strength and agility, pretty equally matched; but the jailor had been regularly trained to the art of bruizing he had more than once signalized himself in public, by his prowess and skill in this exercise: and lost one eye upon the stage in the course of his exploits. This was a misfortune of which Pipes did not fail to take the advantage; he had already sustained several hard knocks upon his temples and jaws, and found it impracticable to smite his antagonist upon the victualling office, so dexterously was it defended against assault. He then changed his battery, and being ambidexter, raised such a clatter upon the turnkey's blind side, that this hero, believing him left-handed, converted his attention that way, and opposed the unenlightened side of his face to the right hand of Pipes, which being While they settled themselves in this manner, and acquired familiar connexions round all the purlieus of the ditch, Peregrine found himself deprived of the company of Cadwallader, who signified by letter, that he did not choose to hazard his person again in visiting him, while such assassins occupied the avenues through which he must pass; for he had been at pains to inquire into the motions of the seamen, and informed himself exactly of the harbour in which they were moored. Our hero had been so much accustomed to the conversation of Crabtree, which was altogether suitable to the singularity of his own disposition, that he could very ill afford to be debarred of it at this juncture, when almost every other source of enjoyment was stopped. He was, however, obliged to submit to the hardships of his situation; and as the characters of his fellow-prisoners did not at all improve upon him, he was compelled to seek for satisfaction within himself. Not but that he had an opportunity of conversing with some people who neither wanted sense, nor were deficient in point of principle; yet there appeared in the behaviour of them all, without exception, a certain want of decorum, a squalor of sentiment, a sort of jailish cast contracted in the course of confinement, which disgusted the delicacy of our hero's observation. He therefore detached himself as much as he could, without giving offence to those among whom he was obliged to live, and resumed his labours with incredible eagerness and perseverance, his spirits being supported by the success of some severe philippics, which he occasionally published against the author of his misfortune. Nor was his humanity unemployed in the vacations of his revenge. A man must be void of all sympathy and compassion who can reside among so many miserable objects, without feeling an inclination to relieve their distress. Every day almost presented to his view such lamentable scenes as were most likely to attract his notice and engage his benevolence. Reverses of fortune, attended with the most deplorable circumstances of domestic woe, were continually intruding | living like his fellow-sufferers, in the most upon his acquaintance; his ears were invaded abject degree of dependence. If he refused with the cries of the hapless wife, who, from to accept of favours from his own allies and the enjoyment of affluence and pleasure, was intimate friends, whom he had formerly forced to follow her husband to this abode of obliged, it is not to be supposed, that he wretchedness and want; his eyes were every would listen to proposals of that kind from minute assailed with the naked and meagre any of his fellow-prisoners, with whom he appearances of hunger and cold; and his had contracted acquaintance; he was even fancy teemed with a thousand aggravations more cautions than ever of incurring obligaof their misery. tions; he now shunned his former messmates, in order to avoid disagreeable tenders of friendship. Imagining that he perceived an inclination in the clergyman to learn the state of his finances, he discouraged and declined the explanation, and at length secluded himself from all society. CHAPTER CI. He receives an unexpected visit; and the clouds of misfortune begin to separate. Thus situated, his purse was never shut while his heart remained open. Without reflecting upon the slenderness of his store, he exercised his charity to all the children of distress, and acquired a popularity, which, though pleasing, was far from being profitable. In short, his bounty kept no pace with his circumstances, and in a little time he was utterly exhausted. He had recourse to his bookseller, from whom, with great difficulty, he obtained a small reinforcement, and immediately relapsed into the same want of retention. He was conscious of his infirmity, and found it incurable: he foresaw WHILE he pined in this forlorn condition, that by his own industry he should never be with an equal abhorrence of the world and able to defray the expense of these occa- himself, Captain Gauntlet arrived in town in sions; and this reflection sunk deep into his order to employ his interest for promotion in mind. The approbation of the public, which the army; and, in consequence of his wife's he had earned or might acquire, like a cordial particular desire, made it his business to often repeated, began to lose its effect upon inquire for Peregrine, to whom he longed to his imagination; his health suffered by his be reconciled, even though at the expense of sedentary life and austere application; his a slight submission. But he could hear no eyesight failed, his appetite forsook him, histidings of him, at the place to which he was spirits decayed; so that he became melancholy, listless, and altogether incapable of prosecuting the only means he had left for his subsistence; and (what did not at all contribute to the alleviation of these particulars) he was given to understand by his lawyer, that he had lost his cause, and was condemned in costs. Even this was not the most mortifying piece of intelligence he received; he at the same time learned that his bookseller was bankrupt, and his friend Crabtree at the point of death. directed; and, on the supposition that our hero had gone to reside in the country, applied himself to his own business, with intention to renew his inquiries after that affair should be transacted. He communicated his demands to his supposed patron, who had assumed the merit of making him a captain, and been gratified with a valuable present on that consideration and was cajoled with hopes of succeeding in his present aim by the same interest. Meanwhile, he became acquainted with one of the clerks belonging to the war-office, whose advice and assistance, he was told, would be a furtherance to his scheme. As he had occasion to discourse with this gentleman upon the circumstances of his expectation, he learned that the nobleman, upon whom he depended, was a person of no consequence in the state, and altogether incapable of assisting him in his advancement. At the same time his counsellor expressed his surprise that Captain Gauntlet did not rather interest in his cause the noble peer to whose good offices he owed his last com These were comfortable considerations to a youth of Peregrine's disposition, which was so capricious, that the more his misery increased, the more haughty and inflexible he became. Rather than be beholden to Hatchway, who still hovered about the gate, eager for an opportunity to assist him, he chose to undergo the want of almost every convenience of life, and actually pledged his wearing apparel to an Irish pawnbroker in the Fleet, for money to purchase those things, without which he must have absolutely perished. He was gradually irritated by his misfortunes into a rancorous resent-mission. ment against mankind in general, and his heart so alienated from the enjoyments of life, that he did not care how soon he quitted his miserable existence. Though he had shocking examples of the vicissitudes of fortune continually before his eyes, he could never be reconciled to the idea of This remark introduced an explanation, by which Godfrey discovered, to his infinite astonishment, the mistake in which he had continued so long with regard to his patron; though he could not divine the motive which induced a nobleman, with whom he had no acquaintance or connexion, to interpose his influence in his behalf. Whatsoever that | many a consort in my time, that is, in the might be, he thought it was his duty to make his acknowledgement; and for that purpose went next morning to his house, where he was politely received, and given to understand that Mr Pickle was the person to whose friendship he was indebted for his last promotion. way of good fellowship, and I always made a shift to ware'em at one time or another, but this headstrong toad will neither obey the helm nor the sheet; and, for aught I know, will founder where a lies at anchor." Gauntlet, who conceived part of his meaning, alighted immediately; and being conducted to the sailor's lodging, was informed of every thing that had passed between the lieutenant and Pickle. He, in his turn, communicated to Jack the discovery which he had made, with regard to his commission; at which the other gave no signs of surprise; but, taking the pipe from his mouth,Why, look ye, captain," said he, "that's not the only good turn you have owed him. That same money you received from the commodore as an old debt, was all a sham, contrived by Pickle for your service; but a wool drive under his bare poles without sails and rigging, or a mess of provision on board, rather than take the same assistance from another man." Inexpressible were the transports of gratitude, affection, and remorse, that took possession of the soul of Gauntlet, when this mystery was unfolded.-"Good heaven!" cried he, lifting up his hands, "have I lived so long in a state of animosity with my benefactor? I intended to have reconciled myself at any rate before I was sensible of" this obligation, but now I shall not enjoy a moment's quiet until I have an opportunity of expressing to him my sense of his heroic friendship. I presume, from the nature of the favour conferred upon him in my behalf, that Mr Pickle is well known to your lordship, and I should think myself extremely happy if you could inform me in what part of the country he is to be found for the person with whom he lodged some time ago could give me no intelligence of his motions." The nobleman, touched with this instance of generous self-denial in Peregrine, as well as with the sensibility of his friend, lamented the unhappiness of our hero, while he gave Gauntlet to understand that he had been long disordered in his intellects, in consequence of having squandered away his fortune; and that his creditors had thrown him into the Fleet prison; but whether he still continued in that confinement, or was released from his misfortunes by death, his lordship did not know, because he had never inquired. Godfrey was not only amazed, but chagrined at the knowledge of this anecdote; which gave umbrage to his pride, while it stimulated his desire of doing something in return for the obligation. He inquired into the present circumstances of the prisoner; and understanding that he was indisposed, and but indifferently provided with the common necessaries of life, though still deaf to all offers of assistance, began to be extremely concerned at the account of his savage obstinacy and pride, which would, he feared, exclude him from the privilege of relieving him in his distress. However, he resolved to leave no expedient untried, that might have any tendency to surmount such destructive prejudice; and entering the jail, was directed to the apartment of the wretched prisoner. He knocked softly at the door, and when it was opened, started back with horror and astonishment; the figure that presented itself to his view was the remains of his once happy friend; but so miserably altered and disguised, that his features were scarce cognisable. The florid, the sprightly, the gay, the elevated youth, was now metamorphosed into a wan, dejected, meagre, squalid spectre; the hollow-eyed representative of distemper, indigence, and despair: yet his eyes retained a certain ferocity, which threw a dismal gleam athwart the cloudiness of his aspect, and he, in silence, viewed his old companion with a look betokening confusion and disdain. As for Gauntlet, he could not, with Godfrey no sooner received this intimation, than, his blood boiling with grief and impatience, he craved pardon for his abrupt departure; then quitting his informer on the instant, reimbarked in his hackney-coach, and ordered himself to be conveyed directly to the Fleet. As the vehicle proceeded along one side of the market, he was surprised with the appearance of Hatchway and Pipes, who stood cheapening cauliflowers at a green-stall, their heads being cased in worsted nightcaps, half covered with their hats, and a short tobacco-pipe in the mouth of each. He was rejoiced at sight of the two seamen, which he took for a happy omen of finding his friend; and, ordering the coachman to stop the carriage, called to the lieutenant by his name. Jack, replying with an holloa, looked behind him, and recognis-out emotion, behold such a woful reverse of ing the face of his old acquaintance, ran up to the coach with great eagerness. Shaking the captain heartily by the hand,-" Odds heart!" said he, "I am glad thou hast fallen in with us; we shall now be able to find the trim of the vessel, and lay her about on t'other tack. For my own part, I have had fate, in a person for whom he entertained the noblest sentiments of friendship, gratitude, and esteem: his sorrow was at first too big for utterance, and he shed a flood of tears before he could pronounce one word. Peregrine, in spite of his misanthropy, could not help being affected with this un " common testimony of regard; but he strove | no vestige of animosity, but considered him to stifle his sensations: his brows contracted themselves into a severe frown; his eyes kindled into the appearance of live coals; he waved with his hand in signal for Godfrey to be gone, and leave such a wretch as him to the misery of his fate; and, finding nature too strong to be suppressed, uttered a deep groan, and wept aloud. in the light of an affectionate comrade, the ties of whose friendship adversity could not unbind. He mentioned Sophy in the most respectful terms; spoke of Emilia with the most reverential awe, as the object of his inviolable love and veneration; but disclaimed all hope of ever more attracting her regard, and excused himself from profiting by Godfrey's kind intention; declaring, with a resolute air, that he had broken off all connexion with mankind, and that he impatiently longed for the hour of his dissolution, which, if it should not soon arrive by the course of own hands, rather than be exposed to the contempt, and more intolerable pity, of a rascally world. Gauntlet argued against this frantic determination with all the vehemence of expostulating friendship; but his remonstrances did not produce the desired effect upon our desperate hero, who calmly refuted all his arguments, and asserted the rectitude of his design from the pretended maxims of reason and true philosophy. The soldier seeing him thus melted, unable to restrain the strong impulse of his affection, sprung forwards, and clapsing him in his arms,-"My dearest friend, and best benefactor," said he, "I am come hither to humble myself for the offence I was so un-nature, he was resolved to hasten with his happy as to give at our last parting; to beg a reconciliation, to thank you for the ease and affluence I have enjoyed through your means, and to rescue you, in spite of yourself, from this melancholy situation, of which, but an hour ago, I was utterly ignorant. Do not deny me the satisfaction of acquitting myself in point of duty and obligation. You must certainly have had some regard for a person in whose favour you have exerted yourself so much; and if any part of that esteem remains, you will not refuse him an opportunity of approving himself in some measure worthy of it. Let me not suffer the most mortifying of all repulses, that of slighted friendship; but kindly sacrifice your resentment and inflexibility to the request of one who is at all times ready to sacrifice his life for your honour and advantage. If you will not yield to my entreaties, have some regard to the wishes of my Sophy, who laid me under the strongest injunctions to solicit your forgiveness, even before she knew how much I was indebted to your generosity; or, if that consideration should be of no weight, I hope you will relax a little for the sake of poor Emilia, whose resentment hath been long subdued by her affection, and who now droops in secret at your neglect." While this dispute was carried on with eagerness on one side, and deliberation on the other, a letter was brought to Peregrine, who threw it carelessly aside unopened, though the superscription was in a handwriting to which he was a stranger; and, in all probability, the contents would never have been perused, had not Gauntlet insisted upon his waving all ceremony, and reading it forthwith. Thus solicited, Pickle unsealed the billet, which, to his no small surprise, contained the following intimation. tunity of writing by our purser, who goes express with dispatches for the Company, that you may have this satisfactory notice as soon as possible, relating to one whom I suppose you have long given over as lost. I have inclosed it in a letter to my broker, who, I hope, knows your address, and will forward it accordingly and I am, with respect, Sir, your most humble servant, "Mr P. PICKLE-Sir, this comes to inform you, that, after many dangers and disappoint. ments, I am, by the blessing of God, safely arrived in the Downs, on board of the Gomberoon Indiaman, having made a tolerable voyage; by which I hope I shall be enabled to repay, with interest, the seven hundred Every word of this address, delivered in pounds which I borrowed of you before my the most pathetic manner, made an impress-departure from England. I take this opporion upon the mind of Peregrine: he was affected with the submission of his friend, who, in reality, had given him no just cause to complain. He knew that no ordinary motive had swayed him to a condescension so extraordinary in a man of his punctilious temper; he considered it, therefore, as the genuine effect of eager gratitude and disinterested love, and his heart began to relent accordingly. When he heard himself conjured in the name of the gentle Sophy, his obstinacy was quite overcome; and when Emilia was recalled to his remembrance, his whole frame underwent a violent agitation. He took his friend by the hand, with a softened look; and, as soon as he recovered the faculty of speech, which had been overpowered in the conflict of passions that transported him, protested, that he retained "BENJAMIN Chintz." He had no sooner taken a cursory view of this agreeable epistle, than his countenance cleared up, and, reaching it to his friend," with a smile,-" There," said he, "is a more convincing argument, on your side of the question, than all the casuists in the universe can advance." Gauntlet, wondering at this observation, took the paper, and casting his eyes greedily upon the contents, congratulated |