'landmen rather seemed to be captives on board an เ enemy's vessel. This is a grievous misfortune, and ' often proves so fatal to the service, that it is great pity เ some means could not be found of curing it.'

Here Mr. Booth stopt a while, to take breath. We will therefore give the same refreshment to the reader.

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CHAPTER V.

The arrival of Booth at Gibraltar, with what there befel him.

'THE adventures,' continued Booth, which happened to me from this day till my arrival at Gibraltar, are 'not worth recounting to you. After a voyage, the ' remainder of which was tolerably prosperous, we 'arrived in that garrison, the natural strength of which is so well known to the whole world.

'About a week after my arrival, it was my fortune ' to be ordered on a sally-party, in which my left leg ' was broke with a musket-ball; and I should most 'certainly have either perished miserably, or must have owed my preservation to some of the enemy, 'had not my faithful servant carried me off on his 'shoulders, and afterwards, with the assistance of one of his comrades, brought me back into the garrison.

'The agony of my wound was so great, that it threw 'me into a fever, from whence my surgeon apprehended 'much danger. I now began again to feel for my Amelia, and for myself on her account; and the disorder of my mind, occasioned by such melancholy contemplations, very highly aggravated the distemper of my body; insomuch that it would probably have

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proved fatal, had it not been for the friendship of one 'captain James, an officer of our regiment, and an old 'acquaintance, who is undoubtedly one of the pleasantest เ companions, and one of the best-natured men in the 'world. This worthy man, who had a head and a heart 'perfectly adequate to every office of friendship, stayed ' with me almost day and night during my illness; and by strengthening my hopes, raising my spirits, and 'cheering my thoughts, preserved me from destruction.

'The behaviour of this man alone is a sufficient proof of the truth of my doctrine, that all men act entirely from their passions; for Bob James can never be supเ posed to act from any motive of virtue or religion; 'since he constantly laughs at both: and yet his con'duct towards me alone demonstrates a degree of goodness, which, perhaps, few of the votaries of either virtue เ or religion can equal.'

'You need not take much pains,' answered Miss Matthews, with a smile, to convince me of your doctrine. I 'have been always an advocate for the same. I look เ upon the two words you mention to serve only as 'clokes under which hypocrisy may be the better enabled 'to cheat the world. I have been of that opinion ever 'since I read that charming fellow Mandevil.'

'Pardon me, Madam,' answered Booth, 'I hope you do 'not agree with Mandevil neither, who hath represented 'human nature in a picture of the highest deformity. 'He hath left out of his system the best passion which 'the mind can possess, and attempts to derive the effects 'or energies of that passion from the base impulses of เ pride or fear. Whereas it is as certain that love exists ' in the mind of man, as that its opposite hatred doth; and the same reasons will equally prove the existence ' of the one as the existence of the other.'

'I don't know, indeed,' replied the lady, 'I never

VOL. VIII.

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thought much about the matter. This I know, that 'when I read Mandevil, I thought all he said was true; ' and I have been often told, that he proves religion and 'virtue to be only mere names. However, if he denies 'there is any such thing as love, that is most certainly wrong.—I am afraid I can give him the lie myself.'

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'I will join with you, Madam, in that,' answered Booth, at any time.'

Will you join with me?' answered she, looking eagerly at him-'O Mr. Booth! I know not what I was going to say-What-Where did you leave off?-I 'would not interrupt you-but I am impatient to know something.'

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What, Madam?' cries Booth, ' If I can give you any ( satisfaction-'

'No, no,' said she, 'I must hear all, I would not for 'the world break the thread of your story-Besides, I ' am afraid to ask-Pray, pray, Sir, go on.'

'Well, Madam,' cries Booth, 'I think I was mentioning the extraordinary acts of friendship done me by 'captain James; nor can I help taking notice of the 'almost unparalleled fidelity of poor Atkinson (for that was my man's name), who was not only constant in the assiduity of his attendance, but, during the time of my danger, demonstrated a concern for me which I can hardly account for, as my prevailing on his captain to 'make him a serjeant was the first favour he ever re'ceived at my hands, and this did not happen till I was 'almost perfectly recovered of my broken leg. Poor 'fellow! I shall never forget the extravagant joy his 'halbert gave him; I remember it the more, because it was one of the happiest days of my own life; for it was upon this day that I received a letter from my dear Amelia, after a long silence, acquainting me that she was out of all danger from her lying-in.

'I was now once more able to perform my duty; 'when (so unkind was the fortune of war), the second 'time I mounted the guard I received a violent contu'sion from the bursting of a bomb. I was felled to the ground, where I lay breathless by the blow, till honest 'Atkinson came to my assistance, and conveyed me to my room, where a surgeon immediately attended me.

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The injury I had now received was much more dangerous in my surgeon's opinion than the former; it caused me to spit blood, and was attended with a fever, and other bad symptoms; so that fatal conเ sequences were apprehended.

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'In this situation, the image of my Amelia haunted 'me day and night; and the apprehensions of never เ seeing her more were so intolerable, that I had thoughts ' of resigning my commission, and returning home, weak เ as I was, that I might have, at least, the satisfaction of 'dying in the arms of my love. Captain James, however, persisted in dissuading me from any such resolu'tion. He told me, my honour was too much concerned, 'attempted to raise my hopes of recovery to the utmost 'of his power; but chiefly he prevailed on me by sugเ gesting, that, if the worst which I apprehended should เ happen, it was much better for Amelia that she should 'be absent than present in so melancholy an hour. "I ""know," cried he, "the extreme joy which must arise "in you from meeting again with Amelia, and the com""fort of expiring in her arms; but consider what she "herself must endure upon the dreadful occasion, and 6.66 you would not wish to purchase any happiness at the "price of so much pain to her." This argument, at length, prevailed on me; and it was after many long ' debates resolved that she should not even know my present condition till my doom either for life or death 'was absolutely fixed.'

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'Oh! Heavens! how great! how generous!' cried Miss Matthews. Booth, thou art a noble fellow; and 'I scarce think there is a woman upon earth worthy so 'exalted a passion.'

Booth made a modest answer to the compliment which Miss Matthews had paid him. This drew more civilities from the lady; and these again more acknowledgments. All which we shall pass by, and proceed with our history.

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CHAPTER VI.

Containing matters which will please some readers. 'Two months and more had I continued in a state of uncertainty, sometimes with more flattering, and some'times with more alarming symptoms; when one afternoon poor Atkinson came running into my room, all pale and out of breath, and begged me not to be surเ prised at his news. I asked him eagerly what was the ' matter, and if it was anything concerning Amelia ?'I had scarce uttered the dear name, when she herself 'rushed into the room, and ran hastily to me, crying, "Yes, it is, it is your Amelia herself!'

'There is nothing so difficult to describe, and generally เ so dull when described, as scenes of excessive tender( ness.'

Can you think so?' says Miss Matthews; 'surely 'there is nothing so charming!-O! Mr. Booth, our sex is d-ned by the want of tenderness in yours-O were they all like you-certainly no man was ever your ' equal.'

Indeed, Madam,' cries Booth, 'you honour me too 'much-But-well-when the first transports of our