indeed did his whole behaviour. Jones therefore believed the truth of what he had said, as to his original and education; and at length, after much entreaty, he said, 'Since you have heard, my friend, so much of my affairs, and seem so desirous to 'know the truth, if you will have patience to hear ' it, I will inform you of the whole.'-' Patience!' cries Benjamin, that I will, if the chapter was never so long, and I am very much obliged to you for the honour you do me.'

Jones now began, and related the whole history, forgetting only a circumstance or two, namely, every thing which passed on that day in which he had fought with Thwackum; and ended with his resolution to go to sea, till the rebellion in the North had made him change his purpose, and had brought him to the place where he then was,

Little Benjamin, who had been all attention, never once interrupted the narrative; but when it was ended, he could not help observing, that there must be surely something more invented by his enemies, and told Mr. Allworthy against him, or so good a man would never have dismissed one he had loved so tenderly in such a manner. To which Jones answered, He doubted not but such villa'nous arts had been made use of to destroy him.'

And surely it was scarce possible for any one to have avoided making the same remark with the barber, who had not, indeed, heard from Jones one single circumstance upon which he was condemned; for his actions were not now placed in those injurious lights in which they had been misrepresented to Allworthy; nor could he mention those many false accusations which had been from time to time preferred against him to Allworthy; for with none of these he was himself acquainted. He had likewise, as we have observed, omitted many material facts in his present relation. Upon the whole, indeed, every thing now appeared in such favourable

colours to Jones, that malice itself would have found it no easy matter to fix any blame upon him.

Not that Jones desired to conceal or to disguise the truth; nay, he would have been more unwilling to have suffered any censure to fall on Mr. Allworthy for punishing him, than on his own actions for deserving it; but, in reality, so it happened, and so it always will happen; for let a man be never so honest, the account of his own conduct will, in spite of himself, be so very favourable, that his vices will come purified through his lips, and, like foul liquors weil strained, will leave all their foulness behind. For though the facts themselves may appear, yet so different will be the motives, circumstances, and consequences, when a man tells his own story, and when his enemy tells it, that we scarce can recognise the facts to be one and the same.

Though the barber had drank down this story with greedy ears, he was not yet satisfied. There was a circumstance behind which his curiosity, cold as it was, most eagerly longed for. Jones had mentioned the fact of his amour, and of his being the rival of Blifil, but had cautiously concealed the name of the young lady. The barber, therefore, after some hesitation, and many hums and hahs, at last begged leave to crave the name of the lady, who appeared to be the principal cause of all this mischief. Jones paused a moment, and then said, Since I have trusted you with so much, and since, "I am afraid, her name is become too public already on this occasion, I will not conceal it from you. Her name is Sophia Western.'

Proh deum atque hominum fidem! Squire Western hath a daughter grown a woman! Ay, and such a woman,' cries Jones, that the world cannot match. No eye ever saw any thing so beautiful; but that is her least excellence. Such sense! such goodness! Oh, I could praise her for ever, and yet should omit half her virtues!'- Mr.

Western a daughter grown up!' cries the barber: I remember the father a boy; well, Tempus edax ' rerum.'

The wine being now at an end, the barber pressed very eagerly to be his bottle; but Jones absolutely refused, saying, 'He had already drank more than 'he ought; and that he now chose to retire to his 4 room, where he wished he could procure himself 'a book. A book!' cries Benjamin; what book would you have? Latin or English? I have some 'curious books in both languages; such as Erasmi Colloquia, Ovid de Tristibus, Gradus ad Parnassum ; and in English I have several of the best books, though some of them are a little torn; but I have a great part of Stowe's Chronicle; the sixth volume of Pope's Homer; the third volume of the Spectator; the second volume of Echard's Roman History; the Craftsman; Robinson Crusoe; Thomas a Kempis; and two volumes of Tom Brown's Works.'

Those last,' cries Jones, are books I never saw, so if you please lend me one of those volumes. The barber assured him he would be highly entertained, for he looked upon the author to have been one of the greatest wits that ever the nation produced. He then stepped to his house, which was hard by, and immediately returned; after which, the barber having received very strict injunctions of secrecy from Jones, and having sworn inviolably to maintain it, they separated; the barber went home and Jones retired to his chamber.

CHAP. VI.

In which more of the talents of Mr. Benjamin will appear, as well as who this extraordinary person was. IN the morning Jones grew a little uneasy at the desertion of his surgeon, as he apprehended some

inconvenience, or even danger, might attend the not dressing his wound; he inquired therefore of the drawer, what other surgeons were to be met with in that neighbourhood. The drawer told him, there was one not far off; but he had known him often refuse to be concerned after another had been sent for before him; but, sir,' says he, if you will take my advice, there is not a man in the kingdom can do your business better than the barber who was with you last night. We look upon him to be one of the ablest men at a cut in all this neighbourhood. For though he hath not been here above three months, he hath done several great 'cures.'

The drawer was presently dispatched for Little Benjamin, who being acquainted in what capacity he was wanted, prepared himself accordingly, and attended; but with so different an air and aspect from that which he wore when his basin was under his arm, that he could scarce be known to be the same person.

So, tonsor,' says Jones, 'I find you have more 'trades than one; how came you not to inform me of this last night? A surgeon,' answered Benjamin, with great gravity, is a profession, not a trade. The reason why I did not acquaint you last night that I professed this art, was, that I then 'concluded you was under the hands of another gentleman, and I never love to interfere with my brethren in their business. Ars omnibus communis. But now, sir, if you please, I will inspect your head, and when I see into your skull, I will give 'my opinion of your case.'

Jones had no great faith in this new professor however, he suffered him to open the bandage and to look at his wound; which as soon as he had done, Benjamin began to groan and shake his head violently. Upon which Jones, in a peevish manner, bid him not play the fool, but tell him in what con

dition he found him. • Shall I answer you as a surgeon, or a friend?' said Benjamin. As a friend, and seriously,' said Jones. Why then, upon my soul,' cries Benjamin, it would require a great deal of art to keep you from being well ' after a very few dressings; and if you will suffer me to apply some salve of mine, I will answer for 'the success.' Jones gave his consent, and the plaster was applied accordingly.

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There, sir,' cries Benjamin: now I will, if you please, resume my former self; but a man is obliged to keep up some dignity in his countenance whilst he is performing these operations, or the world will not submit to be handled by him. 'You can't imagine, sir, of how much consequence a grave aspect is to a grave character. A barber may make you laugh, but a surgeon ought rather <to make you cry."

'Mr. Barber, or Mr. Surgeon, or Mr. Barber'surgeon,' said Jones. O dear sir!' answered Benjamin, interrupting him, Infandum, regina, 'jubes renovare dolorem. You recal to my mind 'that cruel separation of the united fraternities, so 'much to the prejudice of both bodies, as all separations must be, according to the old adage, Vis unita fortior; which to be sure there are not wanting some of one or of the other fraternity who are ' able to construe. What a blow was this to me, who unite both in my own person.'- Well, by 'whatever name you please to be called,' continued Jones, you certainly are one of the oddest, most

comical fellows I ever met with, and must have 'something very surprising in your story, which you must confess I have a right to hear.'' I do 'confess it,' answered Benjamin, and will very readily acquaint you with it, when you have suf'ficient leisure, for I promise you it will require a good deal of time.' Jones told him, he could never