support my present misfortunes a little like a man.'

The gentleman smiled at this, and cried, 'Indeed, captain, you are a young philosopher.'

'I think,' cries Booth, 'I have some pretensions to that philosophy which is taught by misfortunes; and you seem to be of opinion, sir, that is one of the best schools of philosophy.'

which is performed at the Theatre-royal But even here, the catastrophes and calamities which are represented, are capable of affecting us. The wisest men can deceive themselves into feeling the distresses of a tragedy, though they know them to be merely imaginary; and the children will often lament them as realities; what wonder, then, if these tragical scenes, which I allow to be a little more serious, should a 'I mean no more, sir,' said the gentleman, little more affect us? where, then, is the 'than that, in the days of our affliction, we remedy, but in the philosophy I have menare inclined to think more seriously, than in tioned; which, when once, by a long course those seasons of life when we are engaged of meditation, it is reduced to a habit, in the hurrying pursuits of business and teaches us to set a just value on every thing, pleasure, when we have neither leisure nor and cures at once all eager wishes and abinclination to sift and examine things to theject fears, all violent joy and grief, concernbottom. Now, there are two considerations, which, from my having long fixed my thoughts upon them, have greatly supported me under all my afflictions. The one is the brevity of life, even at its longest duration, which the wisest of men hath compared to the short dimension of a span. One of the Roman poets compares it to the duration of a race; and another, to the much shorter transition of a wave.

The second consideration is the uncertainty of it. Short as its utmost limits are, it is far from being assured of reaching those limits. The next day, the next hour, the next moment may be the end of our course. Now, of what value is so uncertain, so precarious a station? This consideration, indeed, however lightly it is passed over in our conception, doth, in a great measure, level all fortunes and conditions, and gives no man a right to triumph in the happiest state, or any reason to repine in the most miserable. Would the most worldly men see this in the light in which they examine all other matters, they would soon feel and acknowledge the force of this way of reasoning: for which of them would give any price for an estate from which they were liable to be immediately ejected? or, would they not laugh at him as a madman, who accounted himself rich from such an uncertain possession? This is the fountain, sir, from which I have drawn my philosophy. Hence it is, that I have learned to look on all those things, which are esteemed the blessings of life, and those which are dreaded as its evils, with such a degree of indifference, that, as I should not be elated with possess ing the former, so neither am I greatly dejected and depressed by suffering the latter. Is the actor esteemed happier, to whose lot it falls to play the principal part, than he who plays the lowest? and yet, the drama may run twenty nights together, and by consequence, may outlast our lives; but, at the best, life is only a little longer drama; and the business of the great stage is consequently a little more serious than that

ing objects which cannot endure long, and may not exist a moment.'

You have expressed yourself extremely well,' cries Booth; and I entirely agree with the justice of your sentiments; but, however true all this may be in theory, I still doubt its efficacy in practice. And the cause of the difference between these two is this; that we reason from our heads, but act from our hearts:

-Video meliora, proboque;
Deteriora sequor.

Nothing can differ more widely than wise
men and fools in their estimation of things;
but, as both act from their uppermost pas-
sion, they both often act alike. What com-
fort then can your philosophy give to an
avaricious man who is deprived of his rich-
es; or to an ambitious man who is stripped
of his power? to the fond lover who is torn
from his mistress; or to the tender husband
who is dragged from his wife? Do you
really think, that any meditations on the
shortness of life will sooth them in their
afflictions? Is not this very shortness itself
one of their afflictions? and if the evil they
suffer be a temporary deprivation of what
they love, will they not think their fate the
harder, and lament the more, that they are
to lose any part of an enjoyment to which
there is so short and so uncertain a period?'

'I beg leave, sir,' said the gentleman, 'to distinguish here. By philosophy, I do not mean the bare knowledge of right and wrong; but an energy, a habit, as Aristotle calls it; and this I do firmly believe, with him and with the Stoics, is superior to all the attacks of fortune.'

He was proceeding, when the bailiff came in, and in a surly tone bade them both goodmorrow; after which, he asked the philosopher, if he was prepared to go to Newgate; for that he must carry him thither that afternoon.

The poor man seemed very much shocked with this news. 'I hope,' cries he, ́ you will give a little longer time, if not till the return of the writ. But I beg you particu

'Nay, for my part,' said the bailiff, I don't desire to do any thing barbarous. I know how to treat gentlemen with civility as well as another. And when people pay as they go, and spend their money like gen-ed by act of parliament are almost out; and tlemen, I am sure nobody can accuse me of any incivility since I have been in the office. And if you intend to be merry to-night, I am not the man that will prevent it. Though I say it, you may have as good a supper dressed here as at any tavern in town.'

fortunes? At which words he gave the bailiff a good shove, and threw him from him.

ing to see your honour; and I hope you will be with her within this half-hour.' And now the three gentlemen entered the Very well, sir,' cries the bailiff; I will room; these were an attorney, the person swear both an assault and an attempt to res-whom the sergeant had procured in the cue. If officers are to be used in this man-morning to be his bail with Colonel James, ner, there is an end of all law and justice. and lastly, Dr. Harrison himself. But though I am not a match for you myself, I have those below that are.' He then ran to the door, and called up two ill-looking fellows, his followers, whom, as soon as they entered the room, he ordered to seize on Booth, declaring he would immediately carry him to Newgate; at the same time pouring out a vast quantity of abuse, below the dignity of history to record.

Booth desired the two dirty fellows to stand off, and declared he would make no resistance; at the same time bidding the bailiff carry him wherever he durst.

The bailiff no sooner saw the attorney, with whom he was well acquainted, (for the others he knew not,) than he began, as the phrase is, to pull in his horns, and ordered the two followers, who were now got again on their legs, to walk down stairs.

'So, captain,' says the doctor,' when last we parted, I believe we neither of us expected to meet in such a place as this.'

'Indeed, doctor," cries Booth, 'I did not expect to have been sent hither by the gentleman who did me that favour.'

'How so, sir?' said the doctor,' you was sent hither by some person, I suppose, to whom you was indebted. This is the usual

I'll show you what I dare,' cries the bailiff; and again ordered the followers to lay hold of their prisoner, saying,' 'He has as-place, I apprehend, for creditors to send saulted me already, and endeavoured a res- their debtors to. But you ought to be more cue. I shan't trust such a fellow to walk surprised that the gentleman who sent you at liberty. A gentleman, indeed! ay, ay, thither is come to release you. Mr. MurNewgate is the properest place for such phy, you will perform all the necessary gentry; an arrant carrion as ever was car-ceremonials.' ried thither.'

The attorney then asked the bailiff with how many actions Booth was charged; and was informed there were five besides the doctor's, which was much the heaviest of all. Proper bonds were presently provided, and the doctor and the sergeant's friend signed them; the bailiff, at the instance of the attorney, making no objection to the bail.

The fellows then both laid violent hands on Booth, and the bailiff stepped to the door to order a coach; when, on a sudden, the whole scene was changed in an instant; for now the sergeant came running out of breath into the room; and seeing his friend the captain roughly handled by two ill-looking fellows, without asking any questions, stepped briskly up to his assistance, and in- Booth, we may be assured, made a handstantly gave one of the assailants so violent some speech to the doctor for such extraora salute with his fist, that he directly mea-dinary friendship, with which, however, we sured his length on the floor.

Booth, having by this means his right arm at liberty, was unwilling to be idle, or entirely to owe his rescue from both the ruf fians to the sergeant; he therefore imitated the example which his friend had set him, and, with a lusty blow, levelled the other follower with his companion on the ground. The bailiff roared out, 'A rescue, a rescue!' to which the sergeant answered, there was no rescue intended. The captain,' said he, 'wants no rescue. Here are some friends coming who will deliver him in a better manner.'

The bailiff swore heartily he would carry him to Newgate in spite of all the friends in the world.

do not think proper to trouble the reader; and now every thing being ended, and the company ready to depart, the bailiff stepped up to Booth, and told him he hoped he would remember civility-money.

'I believe,' cries Booth, 'you mean incivility-money; if there be any fees due for rudeness, I must own you have a very just claim.'

'I am sure, sir,' cries the bailiff, 'I have treated your honour with all the respect in the world; no man, I am sure, can charge me with using a gentleman rudely. I knows what belongs to a gentleman better; but you can't deny that two of my men have been knocked down; and I doubt not but, as you are a gentleman, you will give them something to drink.'

'You carry him to Newgate!' cried the sergeant, with the highest indignation. 'Of- Booth was about to answer with some fer but to lay your hands on him, and I'll passion, when the attorney interfered, and knock your teeth down your ugly jaws.'-whispered in his ear, that it was usual to Then turning to Booth, he cried, "They will make a compliment to the officer, and that be all here within a minute, sir; we had he had better comply with the custom. much ado to keep my lady from coming her- 'If the fellow had treated me civilly,' self; but she is at home in good health, long-answered Booth, 'I should have no objec

tion to comply with a bad custom in his | manner? it is a pity, that instead of a cusfavour; but I am resolved, I will never re-tom of feeing them out of the pocket of the ward a man for using me ill; and I will not poor and wretched, when they do not behave agree to give him a single farthing.'

But will any man,' cries Dr. Harrison, 'after what the captain hath told us, saying. that the bailiff hath behaved himself as he Mr. Booth then took his leave of the phiought; and if he had, is he to be rewarded | losopher, and departed with the rest of his for not acting in an unchristian and inhuman friends.

BOOK IX.

given to these affairs in the country, which were owing a good deal to misfortune, and some little perhaps to imprudence, the whole neighbourhood rung with several gross and scandalous lies, which were merely the inventions of his enemies, and of which the scene was laid in London since his absence. Poisoned with all this malice, the doctor came to town; and, learning where Booth lodged, went to make him a visit. Indeed, it was the doctor, and no other, who had been at his lodgings that evening when Booth and Amelia were walking in the park; and concerning which the reader may be pleased to remember so many strange and odd conjectures.

Here the doctor saw the little gold watch, and all those fine trinkets with which the noble lord had presented the children; and which, from the answers given him by the poor, ignorant, innocent girl, he could have no doubt had been purchased within a few days by Amelia.

This account tallied so well with the ideas he had imbibed of Booth's extravagance in the country, that he firmly believed both the husband and wife to be the vainest, silliest, and most unjust people alive. It was, indeed, almost incredible, that two rational beings should be guilty of such absurdity; but, monstrous and absurd as it was, ocular demonstration appeared to be the evidence against them.

In this temper of mind, he resolved to pay Amelia a second visit; and was on his way to Mrs. Ellison's, when the sergeant met him, and made himself known to him. The doctor took his old servant into a coffee-house, where he received from him such an account of Booth and his family, that he desired the sergeant to show him presently to Amelia; and this was the cordial which we mentioned at the end of the ninth chapter of the preceding book.

The doctor became soon satisfied con cerning the trinkets which had given him so much uneasiness, and which had brought so much mischief on the head of poor Booth.

Amelia likewise gave the doctor some satisfaction as to what he had heard of her husband's behaviour in the country; and assured him, upon her honour, that Booth could so well answer every complaint against his conduct, that she had no doubt, but that a man of the doctor's justice and candour would entirely acquit him, and would consider him as an innocent unfortunate man, who was the object of a good man's compassion, not of his anger or resentment.

This worthy clergyman, who was not desirous of finding proofs to condemn the captain, or to justify his own vindictive proceedings, but, on the contrary, rejoiced heartily in every piece of evidence which tended to clear up the character of his friend, gave a ready ear to all which Amelia said. The doctor departed from their lodgings To this, indeed, he was induced by the love enraged at this supposed discovery, and un- he always had for that lady, by the good happily for Booth, was engaged to supper opinion he entertained of her, as well as by that very evening with the country gentle-pity for her present condition, than which man of whom Booth had rented a farm. nothing appeared more miserable; for he As the poor captain happened to be the sub- found her in the highest agonies of grief ject of conversation, and occasioned their and despair, with her two little children crycomparing notes, the account which the ing over their wretched mother. These doctor gave of what he had seen that even- are, indeed, to a well-disposed mind, the ing, so incensed the gentleman, to whom most tragical sights that human nature can Booth was likewise a debtor, that he vowed furnish, and afford a juster motive to grief he would take out a writ against him the and tears in the beholder, than it would be next morning, and have his body alive or to see all the heroes who have ever infested dead. And the doctor was at last persuad- the earth, hanged all together in a string. ed to do the same. Mr. Murphy was thereupon immediately sent for; and the doctor in his presence repeated again what he had seen at his lodgings as the foundation of his suing him, which the attorney, as we have before seen, had blabbed to Atkinson.

But no sooner did the doctor hear that Booth was arrested, than the wretched condition of his wife and family began to affect his mind. The children, who were to be utterly undone with their father, were entirely innocent; and as for Amelia herself, though he thought he had most convincing proofs of very blameable levity, yet his foriner friendship and affection to her were busy to invent every excuse, till, by very heartily loading the husband, they lightened the suspicion against the wife.

The doctor felt this sight as he ought. He immediately endeavoured to comfort the afflicted; in which he so well succeeded, that he restored to Amelia sufficient spirits to give him the satisfaction we have mentioned; after which, he declared he would go and release her husband; which he accordingly did, in the manner we have above related.

CHAPTER II.

In which the history goes forward. We now return to that period of our history, to which we had brought it at the end of our last book.

Booth and his friends arrived from the