affociate, not to be familiar, nay not to treat with a fort of confcious fuperiority, was mifery. We all practife that haughtinefs, ourselves, which, in others, is fo irritating to our feelings; and for which we pretend to have fo fovereign a contempt.

As I paffed a number of workmen, my moody apathy, though great, did not prevent me from hearing one of them exclaim, with a loud and fuddenly angry furprize," By G- that is he!"

I was at fome little distance. I heard the steps of a man running fpecdily toward me. I turned round. He looked me full in the face; and, with no less ea gernefs, repeated-"Yes! D-mn me if it is not! Dick! Will! Come here! Run!"

I ftood fixed. I did not recollect ever. to have feen the exact figure before me; but I had a strong and instantaneously a painful impreffion, of the fame form in a dif.

B 4

a different garb. It was the man whom I had accufed, the day before, of picking my pocket: the poor fellow who had been fo unmercifully ducked, and ill treated, by the mob.

His impatience of revenge was furious. Without uttering another word, he made a defperate blow at me. I was unprepared; and it brought me to the ground. His foot was up, to fecond it with as violent a kick; but, fortunately, the generous fpirit of my opponent and the laws of mob honour were mutually my fhield. He recollected the cowardice as well as the opprobrium of kicking a combatant, when down; and, in the tone of rage, commanded me to get up.

I was not flow in obeying the mandate; nor he in repeating the affault. I warded feveral of his blows, which were dealt with too much thoughtlefs fury to be dangerous; but again and again called on him to ftop, for a moment, and

hear

hear me.

I felt I had been the cause of

much mischief to the man; and had no

alacrity to increase the wrong. My behaviour was not that of fear; and his companions at length got between us, and for a moment prevented the battle.

We were at the bottom of the hill: the beginning of the fray had been seen, and the crowd was collecting in every direction. The beaus defcended from the crefcent; and left their belles to view us through their opera-glaffes, and pocket-telescopes, while they came to collect more circumftantial information. The Mowbray family had just arrived at this public promenade. Hector and tall Andrews joined the mob: the aunt and Olivia remained on the walk..

The ftory of the falfe accufation, the ducking, and the injuries done to my antagonist, ran, varied and mangled, from mouth to mouth a general fenfation of rage was excited against me;

and Hector and Andrews very charitably gave it every affistance in their power. Not fatisfied with this, they propofed the Lex Talionis; and called "Duck him!" "Duck him!" They took care, however, to turn their backs; imagining that, amid the hubbub, I fhould not distinguifh their voices.

My antagonift, though but a journeyman carpenter, had too much of the hero in him to admit of this mean revenge. His anger could only be appeafed by chaftifing me with his own arm; and proving to me, as well as to the crowd, how unworthy he was of that contemptible character which my accufation had endeavoured to fix upon him. He was therefore determined to oblige me to fight.

I never remember to have felt greater repugnance, than I now had, to defend myfelf, by committing more hurt and injury upon this indignant, but brave, fel

low.

low. I tried to expoftulate, nay to intreat, but in vain : my remonftrances were conftrued into cowardice, and fight I muft, or fuffer fuch difgrace as my tyrophilofophy was ill calculated to endure.

My antagonist was ftripped in form; and, as the diverfion of a battle is what an English mob will never willingly forego, I found partifans; who determined to see fair play, encouraged, inftructed me, clapped me on the back, and, partly by intreaty partly by violence, ftripped off my coat. They were vexed at my obftinate refufal to part with my waistcoat and shirt.

With their ufual activity, they foon made a ring; and I ftood undetermined, and exceffively reluctant; not very willing to receive, but infinitely averse tọ return the blows he now once more began to deal!

The carpenter was an athletic and powerful man; famous for the battles he B 6

had