her such a question; but assured him she | down, and warm himself while she made never tasted any such thing.'

The lawyer was inquiring into the circumstances of the robbery, when the coach stopped, and one of the ruffians, putting a pistol in, demanded their money of the passengers; who readily gave it them; and the lady, in her fright, delivered up a little silver bottle, of about a half-pint size, which the rogue, clapping it to his mouth, and drinking her health, declared, held some of the best Nantes he had ever tasted this the lady afterwards assured the company was the mistake of her maid, for that she had ordered her to fill the bottle with Hungary-water.

As soon as the fellows were departed, the lawyer, who had, it seems, a case of pistols in the seat of the coach, informed the company, that if it had been daylight, and he could have come at his pistols, he would not have submitted to the robbery: he likewise set forth, that he had often met highwaymen when he travelled on horseback, but none ever durst attack him; concluding, that if he had not been more afraid for the lady than for himself, he should not have now parted with his money so easily.

As wit is generally observed to love to reside in empty pockets, so the gentleman whose ingenuity we have remarked, as soon as he had parted with his money, began to grow wonderfully facetious. He made frequent allusions to Adam and Eve, and said many excellent things on figs and fig-leaves; which perhaps gave more offence to Joseph than to any other in the company.

his bed. The coachman, in the mean time, took an opportunity to call up a surgeon, who lived within a few doors; after which he reminded his passengers how late they were, and, after they had taken leave of Joseph, hurried them off as fast as he could.

The wench soon got Joseph to bed, and promised to use her interest to borrow him a shirt; but imagining, as she afterwards said, by his being so bloody, that he must be a dead man, she ran with all speed to hasten the surgeon, who was more than half dressed, apprehending that the coach had been overturned and some gentleman or lady hurt. As soon as the wench had informed him at his window, that it was a poor foot-passenger who had been stripped of all he had, and almost murdered, he chid her for disturbing him so early, slipped off his clothes again, and very quietly returned to bed and to sleep.

Aurora now began to show her blooming cheeks over the hills, whilst ten millions of feathered songsters, in jocund chorus, repeated odes a thousand times sweeter than those of our laureat, and sung both the day and the song, when the master of the inn, Mr. Tow-wouse, arose, and learning from his maid an account of the robbery, and the situation of his poor naked guest, he shook his head and cried, 'good-lack-aday!' and then ordered the girl to carry him one of his own shirts.

Mrs. Tow-wouse was just awake, and had stretched out her arms in vain to fold her departed husband, when the maid entered the room. "Who's there? Betty!'Yes, madam.'- Where's your master?""

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The lawyer, likewise, made several very pretty jests, without departing from his He's without, madam; he hath sent me profession. He said, 'If Joseph and the for a shirt to lend a poor naked man, who lady were alone, he would be more capa- hath been robbed and murdered.'- Touch ble of making a conveyance to her, as his one, if you dare, you slut,' said Mrs. Towaffairs were not fettered with any incum- wouse: your master is pretty sort of a brance; he'd warrant he soon suffered a man, to take in naked vagabonds, and recovery by a writ of entry, which was clothe them with his own clothes. Í shall the proper way to create heirs in tail; have no such doings. If you offer to touch that for his own part, he would engage to any thing, I'll throw the chamberpot at make so firm a settlement in a coach, that your head. Go, send your master to me.' there should be no danger of an eject- Yes, madam,' answered Betty. As ment;' with an inundation of the like gib-soon as he came in, she thus began: What berish, which he continued to vent till the the devil do you mean by this, Mr. Towcoach arrived at an inn, where one ser- wouse? Am I to buy shirts to lend to a set vant-maid only was up, in readiness to of scabby rascals?'My dear,' said Mr. attend the coachman, and furnish him Tow-wouse, 'this is a poor wretch.'with cold meat and a dram. Joseph de-Yes,' says she, I know it is a poor sired to alight, and that he might have a wretch; but what the devil have we to do bed prepared for him, which the maid with poor wretches? the law makes us readily promised to perform; and being provide for too many already. We shall a good-natured wench, and not so squea- have thirty or forty poor wretches in red mish as the lady had been, she clapped coats shortly. My dear,' cries Towa large faggot on the fire, and furnish-wouse, this man hath been robbed of all ing Joseph with a great-coat belonging to he hath.'- Well then,' says she, where's one of the hostlers, desired him to sit his money to pay his reckoning? Why

doth not such a fellow go to an alehouse? I shall send him packing as soon as I am up, I assure you.'-'My dear,' said he, 'common charity won't suffer you to do that.' Common charity, a f-t!' says she, 'common charity teaches us to provide for ourselves, and our families; and I and mine won't be ruin'd by your charity, I assure you.'—'Well,' says he, 'my dear, do as you will, when you are up; you know I never contradict you.'-'No,' says she, if the devil was to contradict me, I would make the house too hot to hold him.'

hoped he might recover, yet he thought himself obliged to acquaint him he was in great danger; and if the malign concoction of his humours should cause a suscitation of his fever, he might soon grow delirious, and incapable to make his will. Joseph answered, That it was impossible for any creature in the universe to be in a poorer condition than himself; for since the robbery, he had not one thing of any kind whatever, which he could call his own.'-'I had,' said he, a poor little piece of gold, which they took away, that would have been a comfort to me in all my afflictions; but surely, Fanny, I want nothing to remind me of thee. I have thy dear image in my heart, and no villain can ever tear it thence.'

With such like discourses they consumed near half an hour, whilst Betty provided a shirt from the hostler, who was one of her sweethearts, and put it on poor Joseph. The surgeon had likewise at last visited him, and washed and dressed his wounds, Joseph desired paper and pens, to write and was now come to acquaint Mr. Tow- a letter, but they were refused him; and wouse, that his guest was in such extreme he was advised to use all his endeavours danger of his life, that he scarce saw any to compose himself. They then left him; hopes of his recovery. Here's a pretty and Mr. Tow-wouse sent to a clergyman kettle of fish,' cries Mrs. Tow-wouse, you to come and administer his good offices to have brought upon us! We are like to have the soul of poor Joseph, since the surgeon a funeral at our own expense.' Tow-despaired of making any successful appliwouse, (who, notwithstanding his charity, cations to his body. would have given his vote as freely as ever he did at an election, that any other house in the kingdom should have quiet possession of his guest,) answered, My dear, I am not to blame: he was brought hither by the stage-coach; and Betty had put him to bed, before I was stirring. I'll Betty her,' says she-At which, with half her garments on, the other half under her arm, she sallied out in quest of the unfortunate Betty, whilst Tow-wouse and the surgeon went to pay a visit to poor Joseph, and inquire into the circumstances of this melancholy affair.

CHAPTER XIII.

What happened to Joseph during his sickness at the inn, with the curious discourse between him and Mr. Barnabas the parson of the parish.

Mr. Barnabas (for that was the clergyman's name,) came as soon as sent for: and having first drank a dish of tea with the landlady, and afterwards a bowl of punch with the landlord, he walked up to the room where Joseph lay; but finding him asleep, returned to take the other sneaker; which when he had finished, he again crept softly up to the chamber-door, and, having opened it, heard the sick man talking to himself in the following manner:

'O most adorable Pamela ! most virtuous sister! whose example could alone enable me to withstand all the temptations of riches and beauty, and to preserve my virtue pure and chaste, for the arms of my dear Fanny, if it had pleased Heaven, that I should ever have come unto them. What riches, or honours, or pleasures, can make us amends for the loss of innocence? Doth not that alone afford us more consolation, than all worldly acquisitions? What but As soon as Joseph had communicated a innocence and virtue could give any comparticular history of the robbery, together fort to such a miserable wretch as I am? with a short account of himself, and his in- Yet these can make me prefer this sick and tended journey, he asked the surgeon, if painful bed to all the pleasures I should he apprehended him to be in any danger: have found in my lady's. These can make to which the surgeon very honestly an- me face death without fear; and though I swered, 'He feared he was; for that his love my Fanny more than ever man loved pulse was very exalted and feverish, and a woman, these can teach me to resign if his fever should prove more than symp-myself to the divine will without repining. tomatic, it would be impossible to save him.' Joseph, fetching a deep sigh, cried, 'Poor Fanny, I would I could have lived to see thee! but God's will be done.'

The surgeon then advised him, if he had any worldly affairs to settle, that he would do it as soon as possible; for though he

O, thou delightful charming creature! if Heaven had indulged thee to my arms, the poorest, humblest state, would have been a paradise; I could have lived with thee in the lowest cottage, without envying the palaces, the dainties, or the riches of any man breathing. But I must leave thee.

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leave thee for ever, my dearest angel! I| Joseph desired to know what that for must think of another world; and I heartily giveness was. That is,' answered Bar pray that thou may'st meet comfort in nabas, 'to forgive them as-as-it is to this.-Barnabas thought he had heard forgive them as-in short, it is to forgive enough; so down stairs he went, and told them as a christian.' Joseph replied, Tow-wouse he could do his guest no ser-He forgave them as much as he could. vice; for that he was very light-headed, Well, well,' said Barnabas, that will and had uttered nothing but a rhapsody of nonsense all the time he stayed in the

room.

The surgeon returned in the afternoon, and found his patient in a higher fever, as he said, than when he left him, though not delirious; for, notwithstanding Mr. Barnabas's opinion, he had not been once out of his senses since his arrival at the inn.

do.' He then demanded of him, 'If he remembered any more sins unrepented of; and if he did, he desired him to make haste and repent of them as fast as he could, that they might repeat over a few prayers together.' Joseph answered, ‘He could not recollect any great crimes he had been guilty of, and that those he had committed he was sincerely sorry for it.' Barnabas said that was enough, and then proceeded to prayer with all the expedition he was master of; some company then waiting for him below in the parlour, where the ingredients for punch were all in readiness; but no one would squeeze the oranges till he came.

Joseph complained he was dry, and desired a little tea; which Barnabas reported to Mrs. Tow-wouse, who answered, She had just done drinking it, and could not be slopping all day; but ordered Betty to carry him up some small beer.

Betty obeyed her mistress's command; but Joseph, as soon as he had tasted it, said, he feared it would increase his fever, and that he longed very much for tea; to which the good-natured Betty answered, he should have tea, if there was any in the land; she accordingly went and bought some herself, and attended him with it; where we will leave her and Joseph together for some time, to entertain the readers with other matters.

Mr. Barnabas was again sent for, and with much difficulty prevailed on to make another visit. As soon as he entered the room, he told Joseph, 'He was come to pray by him, and to prepare him for another world in the first place, therefore, he hoped he had repented of all his sins.' Joseph answered, He hoped he had: but there was one thing which he knew not whether he should call a sin: if it' was, he feared he should die in the commission of it; and that was, the regret of parting with a young woman, whom he loved as tenderly as he did his heartstrings.' Barnabas bade him be assured, that any repining at the divine will was one of the greatest sins he could commit; that he ought to forget all carnal affections, and think of better things. Joseph said, That neither in this world nor the next, he could forget his Fanny; and that the thought, however grievous, of parting from her for ever, was not half so tormenting, as the fear of what she would suffer, when she knew his misfortune.' Barnabas said, 'That such fears argued a diffidence and despondence very criminal; that he must divest himself of all human passions, and fix his heart above. Being very full of adventures, which succeeded Joseph answered, "That was what he desired to do, and should be obliged to him if he would enable him to accomplish it.' Barnabas replied, That must be done by grace. Joseph besought him to discover how he might attain it. Barnabas answered, By prayer and faith.' He then questioned him concerning his forgiveness of the thieves. Joseph answered, 'He feared that was more than he could do; for nothing would give him more pleasure than to hear they were taken.' That,' cries Barnabas, is for the sake of justice.' 'Yes,' said Joseph, but if I was to meet them again, I am afraid I should attack them, and kill them too, if I could.' -Doubtless,' answered Barnabas, 'it is lawful to kill a thief: but can you say, you forgive them as a christian ought?'

CHAPTER XIV.

each other at the Inn.

Ir was now the dusk of the evening, when a grave person rode into the inn, and committing his horse to the hostler, went directly into the kitchen, and having called for a pipe of tobacco, took his place by the fireside; where several other persons were likewise assembled.

The discourse ran altogether on the robbery which was committed the night before, and on the poor wretch who lay above, in the dreadful condition in which we have already seen him. Mrs. Towwouse said, 'She wondered what the devil Tom Whipwell meant, by bringing such guests to her house, when there were so many ale-houses on the road proper for their reception. But she assured him, if he died, the parish should be

at the expense of the funeral. She added, then you have practised in the hospitals Nothing would serve the fellow's turn perhaps.'-'No, sir.''Hum! not that neibut tea, she would assure him.' Betty, ther? Whence, sir, then, if I may be so who was just returned from her charitable bold to inquire, have you got your knowoffice, answered, she believed he was a ledge in surgery?Sir,' answered the gentleman, for she never saw a finer skin gentleman, I do not pretend to much; in her life. Pox on his skin!' replied but the little I know I have from books.'Mrs. Tow-wouse, I suppose that is all Books!' cries the doctor. What, I supwe are like to have for the reckoning. I pose you have-you have read Galen and desire no such gentlemen should ever call Hippocrates! No, sir,' said the gentleat the Dragon, (which it seems was the man. 'How! you understand surgery!' sign of the inn.) answers the doctor, and not read Galen and Hippocrates?'Sir,' cries the other, I believe there are many surgeons who have never read these authors.'I believe so, too,' says the doctor, "more shame for them; but thanks to my education, I have them by heart, and very seldom go without them both in my pocket.'-"They are pretty large books,' said the gentleman. Ay," said the doctor, I believe I know how large they are, better than you.' (At which he fell a winking, and the whole company burst into a laugh.)

The gentleman lately arrived, discovered a great deal of emotion at the distress of this poor creature, whom he observed to be fallen not into the most compassionate hands. And indeed, if Mrs. Towwouse had given no utterance to the sweetness of her temper, nature had taken such pains in her countenance, that Hogarth himself never gave more expression to a picture.

Her person was short, thin, and crooked. Her forehead projected in the middle, and thence descended in a declivity to the top of her nose, which was sharp and red, and would have hung over her lips, had not nature turned up the end of it. Her lips were two bits of skin, which, whenever she spoke, she drew together in a purse. Her chin was peaked; and at the upper end of that skin, which composed her cheeks, stood two bones, that almost hid a pair of small red eyes. Add to this a voice most wonderfully adapted to the sentiments it was to convey, being both loud and hoarse.

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The doctor, pursuing his triumph, asked the gentleman, If he did not understand physic as well as surgery. Rather better,' answered the gentleman. Ay, like enough,' cries the doctor, with a wink. Why, I know a little of physic too.'-'1 wish I knew half so much,' said Towwouse, I'd never wear an apron again.'Why, I believe, landlord,' cries the doctor, there are few men, though I say it, within twelve miles of the place, that handle a fever better.-Veniente accurite morbo: that is my method. I suppose, brother, you understand Latin?'-A little,' says the gentleman. Ay, and Greek now, I'll warrant you: Ton dapomibominos poluflosboio thalasses. But I have almost forgot these things: I could have repeated Homer by heart once.'-Ifags! the gentleman has caught a traitor,' says Mrs. Towwouse; at which they all fell a laughing.

It is not easy to say, whether the gentleman had conceived a greater dislike for his landlady, or compassion for her unhappy guest. He inquired very earnestly of the surgeon, who was now come into the kitchen, whether he had any hopes of his recovery? He begged him to use all possible means towards it, telling him, 'It was the duty of men of all professions, to The gentleman, who had not the least apply their skill gratis for the relief of the affection for joking, very contentedly sufpoor and necessitous.' The surgeon an- fered the doctor to enjoy his victory; swered, He should take proper care; which he did with no small satisfaction; but he defied all the surgeons in London and having sufficiently sounded his depth, to do him any good.'-'Pray, sir,' said the he told him, He was thoroughly convincgentleman, what are his wounds?'-ed of his great learning and abilities; and Why, do you know any thing of wounds?' that he would be obliged to him, if he says the surgeon (winking upon Mrs. would let him know his opinion of his paTow-wouse.) Sir, I have a small smat- tient's case above stairs.'-'Sir,' says the tering in surgery,' answered the gentle-doctor, his case is that of a dead manman. A smattering,-ho, ho, ho!" said The contusion on his head has perforated the surgeon, 'I believe it is a smattering the internal membrane of the occiput, and indeed. divellicated that radical small minute in

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The company were all attentive, expect-visible nerve, which coheres to the pericraing to hear the doctor, who was what they nium; and this was attended with a fever call a dry fellow, expose the gentleman. at first symptomatic, then pneumatic; and He began therefore with an air of tri- he is at length grown deliriuus, or deliriunph: Isuppose, sir, you have travelled?ous, as the vulgar express it.' 'No really, sir,' said the gentleman. 'Ho!| He was proceeding in this learned man

ner, when a mighty noise interrupted him. | and could find nothing about the captive Some young fellows in the neighbourhood likely to prove any evidence; for as to the had taken one of the thieves, and were clothes, though the mob were very well bringing him into the inn. Betty ran up satisfied with that proof, yet, as the surstairs with this news to Joseph; who beg-geon observed, they could not convict him, ged they might search for a little piece of because they were not found in his custobroken gold, which had a ribband tied to it, dy; to which Barnabas agreed, and added, and which he could swear to amongst all that these were bona waviata, and belonged the hoards of the richest men in the uni- to the lord of the manor. verse.

Notwithstanding the fellow's persisting in his innocence, the mob were very busy in searching him, and presently, among other things, pulled out the piece of gold just mentioned; which Betty no sooner saw, than she laid violent hands on it, and conveyed it up to Joseph, who received it with raptures of joy, and, hugging it in his bosom, declared he could now die contented.

Within a few minutes afterwards, came in some other fellows, with a bundle which they had found in a ditch, and which was indeed the clothes which had been stripped off from Joseph, and the other things they had taken from him.

The gentleman no sooner saw the coat, than he declared he knew the livery; and, if it had been taken from the poor creature above stairs, desired he might see him; for that he was very well acquainted with the family to whom that livery belonged.

He was accordingly conducted up by Betty; but what, reader, was the surprise on both sides, when he saw Joseph was the person in bed; and when Joseph discovered the face of his good friend Mr. Abraham Adams!

'How,' says the surgeon, do you say these goods belong to the lord of the manor?'I do,' cried Barnabas. "Then I deny it,' says the surgeon: 'what can the lord of the manor have to do in the case? Will any one attempt to persuade me that what a man finds is not his own? I have heard,' (says an old fellow in the corner,) justice Wiseone say, that if every man had his right, whatever is found belongs to the king of London.'-'That may be true,' says Barnabas, in some sense; for the law makes a difference between things stolen and things found; for a thing may be stolen that is never found; and a thing may be found that never was stolen. Now goods that are both stolen and found are waviata; and they belong to the lord of the manor.'-'So the lord of the manor is the receiver of stolen goods,' (says the doctor;) at which there was an universal laugh, being first begun by himself.

While the prisoner, by persisting in his innocence, had almost, (as there was no evidence against him,) brought over Barnabas, the surgeon, Tow-wouse, and several others to his side; Betty informed them, that they had overlooked a little piece of gold, which she had carried up to the man It would be impertinent to insert a dis- in the bed; and which he offered to swear course which chiefly turned on the relation to amongst a million, ay, amongst ten thouof matters already well known to the read-sand. This immediately turned the scale er; for as soon as the curate had satisfied Joseph concerning the perfect health of his Fanny, he was on his side very inquisitive into all the particulars which had produced this unfortunate accident.

To return therefore to the kitchen, where a great variety of company were now assembled from all the rooms of the house, as well as the neighbourhood: so much delight do men take in contemplating the countenance of a thief.

Mr. Tow-wouse began to rub his hands with pleasure, at seeing so large an assembly; who would, he hoped, shortly adjourn into several apartments, in order to discourse over the robbery, and drink a health to all honest men. But Mrs. Tow-wouse, whose misfortune it was commonly to see things a little perversely, began to rail at those who brought the fellow into her house; telling her husband, They were very likely to thrive, who kept a house of entertainment for beggars and thieves.'

The mob had now finished their search ;

against the prisoner; and every one now concluded him guilty. It was resolved therefore, to keep him secured that night, and early in the morning to carry him before a justice.

CHAPTER XV.

Showing how Mrs. Tow-wouse was a little mollified; and how officious Mr. Barnabas and the surgeon were to prosecute the thief: with a dissertation accounting for their zeal, and that of many other persons not mentioned in this history.

BETTY told her mistress, she believed the man in bed was a greater man than they took him for; for, besides the extreme whiteness of his skin, and the softness of his hands, she observed a very great familiarity between the gentleman and him; and added, she was certain they were intimate acquaintance, if not relations.

This somewhat abated the severity of