but by the rafhnefs and ill temper with which these heroines have mutually maintained their pofitions. Innovation struck the ball at first too impetuoufly: but Establishment took it at the rebound, and returned it with triple violence. Brunswickian manifeftoes, and exterminating wars, were not ill adapted to raise the diabolical spirit of revenge. An endeavour to starve a nation, which it was found difficult to exterminate by fire and fword, was not a very charitable act in Madam Establishment. Her fwindling forgeries were little better; and that her turn fhould come, to be ftarved and fwindled, is not miraculous: though it is deplorable. Heaven avert her claims to the guillotine!"

My antagonist had no immediate reply; and Rudge exclaimed, with fome fatisfaction, "Why, Trottman, you have met with your match!"

"Not I, indeed," anfwered he, peev

ishly. "I am only lost in a labyrinth of words; and am waiting for Principle to come and be my guide. But I am afraid The carries a dark lanthorn, which will but blind those that look."

"I fufpect, fir," faid I, "you are lefs at lofs for a joke than an argument; and that you prefer bufh-fighting. For my own part, I love the fair and open field of enquiry."

"As this is a field that has no limits, nor any end to its crofs roads, I am con-tent, as you fay, to fit down under my hedge and be quiet."

"No, no ; I did not fay that: for I fee you love to draw a fly bow at paffengers." "I have now and then brought down a gull, or an owl."

"Have you shot any of thofe birds today?"

I felt no compunction in making this triumphant retort to his fneer. And here our dialogue ended. Though it

was

was a kind of declaration of war; I mean a war of words; which, as we became more acquainted, was occafionally waged with fome afperity.

But, in one respect, Trottman was my fuperior. To fneer was habitual to him: but it was always done in a manner which feemed to indicate that he himself had no fufpicion of any fuch intent. So that he continually appeared to keep his temper; and never triumphed fo effectually as when he could provoke me to lofe nine. On which occafions his additional conciliatory farcafms, accompanied with smiles denoting the enjoyment of his victory, never failed to make me feel my own littleness. And this is a leffon for which I confider myfelf as very highly in his debt.

I now pursued my reading; and employed the rest of the day in beginning to copy the manufcript precedents, that were to capacitate me for the practice of

2

law :

law for the number of which, that were in his poffeffion, Mr. Ventilate was famed.

My ardour however had felt some trifling abatement, by the very different picture and panegyric of the law as given by Trottman, oppofed to that I had been contemplating. But I had this very powerful confolation: that, as Trottman knew very little of what I fuppofed to be the true principles of politics, it was highly probable he was no better acquainted with thofe of law.

CHAP. XV.

FORMER RESENTMENTS REVISED. DOUBTS PROTRACTED. CONJECTURES ON THE SINCERITY OF A DELICATE YET FIRM MIND.

ABOVE a fortnight paffed away, during which I received no word of intelligence concerning Olivia. At fome moments I

felt

felt great affliction from this suspense: at others I collected myself and determined to pursue my plan with all the vigour in which it had been conceived.

In the interval, I wrote feveral times to Mr. Evelyn. To this I was prompted from the very nature of my engagements and fituation. Befide which I had not forgotten my pamphlet against the Eart and the Bishop, that lay ready for publication; though the acrimony of my feelings was much abated. The propriety of making the world acquainted with this affair was one of the fubjects of my correfpondence, with Mr. Evelyn: to whom I had the candour to ftate my own opinions and fenfations, on one part; and, on the other, the objections that had been urged by Turl.

In the history I had given Mr. Evelyn of myself, I was impelled, as well by inclination as neceffity, to delineate, the character of Turl; with which he

could