She might have fpared herfelf the trouble and expence of fuch a manoeuvre, as I am very certain he never meant to fee her after their feparation, his affections being at that time really fixed upon another perfon. I must here ftop to declare, that I acquit Mr. Digges Had of any intended deception toward me. he not been unfortunately embarraffed in his circumftances by a former connection, the delicacy of his tenderness, and the unremitting attention he always paid me, would have prevented my having the leaft caufe of complaint.

of

By what a chain of fand do all the hopes poor blind mortals hang!- Take what fteps we will to render it durable, even those which are apparently the refult of prudence, and they cannot infure permanency to it.Some unexpected ftroke breaks the contexture, and our most fanguine expectations are fcattered by the winds. No woman has furely fo much reafon, as I have repeatedly faid, to complain of thefe fudden attacks of fortune, as myfelf.-Be my intentions ever fo pure, and well planned, fome incidental obitruction fruftrates the purpofed end.-It is a long time fince I troubled you with any complaints of this nature.-Bear therefore with this, as the occafion fo pointedly excites it.

G. A. B.

LET

Sept. 5, 17

TH

HE incredible marks of friendship I had received during my refidence in Scot land, claimed every acknowledgment on my part. To fhew, therefore, that I was not infenfible of this indulgence, I inferted the following advertisement in the public papers, every day, for the month I ftaid after my difengagement, in order to pay my refpects to those who had particularly honoured me with their patronage.

"As Mrs. Bellamy has diffolved her engagement with the proprietors of the Thea"tre in the Cannongate, fhe begs leave to

return her warmeft thanks to the public "in general, and to those friends in parti"cular, who have done her the honour to

patronize her in fo flattering a degree, "fince her refidence in Scotland; of which "fhe will ever retain the moft grateful fenfe, "as their favours are deeply impreffed in "hear heart.

"N. B. All perfons who have any legal "demand upon Mrs. Bellamy, are requested "to deliver in their accounts at her house "oppofite Lord Milton's, in the Cannonr gate, within one month of this date, in "order to receive the fame."

The

The first among my patrons was the prefent firft Baron, the worthy Mr. Montgomery; a gentleman as well known for his goodness as his great knowledge. He not only extricated me from the perfecuting fpirit of an infatiable creditor, as before reAated, but introduced me to the ladies of his family, who were the most amiable of women. One of thefe is the prefent Viscountess Townfhend, whofe goodnefs excels her beauty, though that is fo acknowledged. In this circle I had the happiness of being introduced to the late Dutchefs of Douglas, who ever after honoured me with her patronage. These ladies gave me a general invitation, and not only received my vifits with pleasure, but returned them.

We had befides formed a little party of particular friends, who met once or twice a week at my houfe. We termed this fociable meeting the "Nonfenfe Club." Mifs Wordley was fixed upon for the goddefs. And I really believe, as much innocent mirth, wit, and good humour abounded in it, as ever did in any affembly of the fame nature. Every body was anxious to please. Ill-humour, ill-manners, and all indecency were banished from it, and inftruction and mirth only reigned. The gentlemen that were admitted to our little fociety were chiefly ftudents and young men poffeffed of learning

and

and understanding greatly above the common rank.

The Dean of the Faculty had likewife been a volunteer in my caufe upon the occafion before mentioned; and though the fuit was pending two terms, the only expence I was at, was for printing the cafes, which came but to a trifle. Upon a moderate computation, this fuit would have coft hundreds in the English courts of commonlaw.

There was a circumftance attending this litigation, which I own greatly furprized me. The great advocate, Mr. Lockart, who was retained by my opponent, when it came before the court, beftowed the moft virulent abuse upon me. Every thing that even the utmost malice of an enraged bad woman could have fuggefted, he loaded me with. But when he afterwards honoured me with a vifit in my dreffing-room, he told me he was much concerned at his having been mifinformed. "However," continued he, "do "not give yourself any uneafinefs about "what I faid in the court. For what I ut"tered in the pleadings, except what im"mediately related to the cafe in point, was "not paid the least attention to.”

And indeed, a moment's reflection convinced me of the truth of the learned advocate's observation. For my being both before, and afterwards, careffed by ladies of

VOL. IV.

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the

the most exemplary character, as well as of exalted rank, affured me, that whatever had been spoken to my difadvantage, upon the occafion, had not gained any credit. Had that been the cafe, I fhould not have retained their good opinion; but, on the contrary, I was as much careffed in private, as admired in public. The very flattering reception I met with wherever I went, banished every apprehenfion; and clearly evinced, that they were merely words of course.

But notwithstanding I was fortunate enough to escape the effects of this official scandal, how many are there whofe future lives are rendered unhappy by it! The indifcriminate and generally unmerited abufe with which fuch as are fo unfortunate as to have any concerns in a court of justice, are befpattered by the counfel of their opponents, calls for reprehenfion. It affords but very little confolation to the unjustly abused perfon, to hear it afterwards faid, " I am forry "for it"-" I was mifinformed"-" It will "not be regarded."-The bur of fcandal fticks clofe-The impreffion is not easily defaced-It goes into the world; tinctures every action; and caufes the whole of the future conduct to be viewed with a fufpicious eye. That gentlemen of enlarged minds, as those belonging to the bar are known to be, (a few excepted) fhould condefcend to have recourfe to fo mean and unjust a me

thod