WHEN the Maid came home, the Count began to put it to her; offered her all he had, and promised Mountains in futuro; but all in vain, the Maid's Honesty was impregnable. She faid, She faid, "She would not "break her Trust for the World; no, not "if she could gain a Million of Money by " it." Upon which Wild ftepping up, and telling her: "She need not fear lofing her

Place, for it would never be found out; "that they could throw a Pair of Sheets "into the Street, by which it might ap

pear he got out at Window; that he "himself would fwear he faw him de

fcending; that the Money would be fo "much Gains in her Pocket; that, befides "his Promises, which he might depend on

being performed, fhe would receive from "him twenty Shillings and Nine-pence in ready Money, (for fhe had only laid out Three-pence in plain Spanish) and that befides his Honour, the Count should "leave a Pair of Gold Buttons (which "afterwards turned out to be Brass) of

great Value in her Hands as a farther "Pawn; and, lastly, that he himself would D 4 "lend

"lend his Friend Eighteen pence, being all "he had about him, to depofite in præfenti.

THESE Arguments at length prevailed with the Maid, who had always the Reputation of a very honeft Servant; and she promised faithfully in the Evening to open the Door to the Count.

THUS did our young Hero, not only lend his Rhetorick, which few People care to do without a Fee, but his Money too, Eighteen pence, a Sum which a Sum which many a good Man would have made eighteen Excuses before he would have parted with to his Friend, and procured him his Liberty.

1

BUT it would be highly derogatory from the GREAT Character of Wild, should the Reader imagine he lent fuch a Sum as eighteen pence to a Friend without the least View of ferving himself. As, therefore, he may easily account for it in a manner more advantageous to our Hero's Reputation, by concluding that he had fome interested View in the Count's Enlargement, we hope he

will judge with Charity, especially as the Sequel makes it not only reasonable but neceffary to fuppofe he had fome fuch View.

A LONG Intimacy and Friendship subsisted between the Count and Mr. Wild, who, being by the Advice of the Count dreffed in good Cloaths, was by him introduced into the best Company. They constantly frequented the Affemblies, Auctions, Gaming-Tables, and Play-Houfes; at which laft they saw two Acts every Night, and then retired without paying, being it seems an immemorial Privilege which the Beaus of the Town prescribe for to themselves. This, however, did not fuit Wild's Temper who called it a Cheat, and objected against it, as requiring no Dexterity but what every Blockhead might put in Execution. He faid it was a Custom very much favouring of the Sneaking-Budge, but neither fo honourable nor fo ingeni

ous.

WILD now made a confiderable Figure, and paffed for a Gentleman of great For

tune

tune in the Funds. Women of Quality treated him with great Familiarity, young Ladies began to fpread their Charms for him, when an Accident happened that put a Stop to his Continuance in a Way of Life too infipid and inactive to afford Employment for thofe great Talents, which were defigned to make a much more confiderable Figure in the World, than attends the Character of a Beau or a pretty Gentleman.

Mafter Wild fets out on his Travels, and returns home again. A very Short Chapter, containing infinitely more Time and lefs Matter than any other in the whole Story.

WE

E are forry we cannot indulge our Reader's Curiofity with a full and perfect Account of this Accident; but as there are fuch various Accounts, one of which only can be true, and poffibly,

and

and indeed probably, none; instead of following the general Method of Hiftorians, who in fuch Cafes fet down the various Reports, and leave to your own Conjecture which you will chufe, we shall pafs them all over.

CERTAIN it is, that whatever this Accident was, it determined our Hero's Father to fend his Son immediately abroad, for seven Years; and, which may feem fomewhat remarkable, to his Majesty's Plantations in America. That Part of the World being, as he faid, freer from Vices than the Courts and Cities of Europe, and confequently lefs dangerous to corrupt a young Man's Morals. And as for the Advantages, the old Gentleman thought they were equal there with those attained in the politer Climates; for travelling, he said, was travelling in one Part of the World as well as another: It confifted in being fuch a Time from home, and in traverfing fo many Leagues; and appealed to Experience, whether moft of our Travellers in France and Italy, did not prove at their

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