ed with the alteration which had taken place in her ftep-dame's behaviour towards me.

About this time Mr. Kelly's "Thefpis" was published. He therein attributes my not making the fame eclat in my profeffion I had formerly done, to the embarraffed ftate of my finances; but, to make amends for this disagreeable observation, he pays a compliment to my feelings. I did not, however, efteem myself in the least obliged ; as I never with my left hand, upon fuch occafions, to know what my right hand does.

Just before the theatre opened, a very untoward circumftance happened to me, which gave the proprietors an opportunity, as they thought, of degrading me more in the eyes of the public than they had already endeavoured to do; and they did not fail to take advantage of it, as the enfuing feason was the laft of my article. I had paid Mrs. Ray, for that was the name of my inexorable profecutrix, for two years, the fum ftipulated; for which I only took receipts as it was paid, not knowing there was any neceffity to fee the four hundred pounds wrote off the obligation.

As this was the cafe, I was furprised to hear she had called very often at my lodgings. Comte Haflang being ill of the gout, my whole time was fo taken up by my attendance upon him, that I G 6

was

was feldom at home till late; by which means the was prevented from letting me know her bufinefs. She at laft left a note, informing me, that if I would infure my life, fhe fhould be perfectly eafy with regard to her debt. In order to get rid of fo difagreeable a vifitant, I fent her for answer, that, if she would appoint a proper perfon to tranfact the affair, I would comply with her requeft, as I would by no means fee or speak with her.

The next day my valuable friend and patron the eldest Mr. Fox, who ftill flattered me with marks of his attention, had promifed to dine with me.. Before his arrival, Mrs. Rav, accom panied by a man, came in a coach to the door. Though. I could not imagine what could be her motive for requesting me to infure my life, as I was at that time in perfect health, yet I expected the perfon fhe fhould. fend with impatience. Accordingly I ordered the man to be admitted; but the lady was refufed, as I had given pofitive order the fhould never be fuffered. to. enter my

- doors.

A man, who feemed to be an Italian Jew, now made his appearance. As foon as he was feated, not having any doubt of the nature of his business, 1 afked him what the infurance of my life, for the remaining four hundred pounds due to Mrs. Ray, would be? He appeared to be much furprised

at

at my question. Upon which I repeated it. When he informed me, in broken English, that I was mistaken in his bufinefs. He said, the Tripoline Ambaffador, to whom he was interpreter, having long admired me, and finding that I was indebted to the lady in queftion, he had offered to pay her the fum that was due to her, as well as my other demands, could fhe introduce his Excellency to me. I now found that the propofal for the infurance of my life was only made use of as introductory to this plan.

All the paffions that ever entered into a female breaft immediately exerted their whole dominion over me. I was in an instant torn by rage, contempt, and offended pride. I know not which was most predominant; they each ruled by turns.; and, as I had never met with fo grofs an infult before, the contending paffions deprived me of the power of utterance. I was almoft choaked. As foon as I could a little recover myself, I pulled the bell; and the fervant immediately answering it, I ordered him to fhew the fellow down ftairs. The pandar, fearing from my manner, and the appearance of the footman, that if he did not directly comply, he would be in danger of being shewn the shortest way down, haftily rejoined his companion, and away they drove; and I foon after found, to my coft, that, enraged at my not

falling

falling a prey to her machinations, Mrs. Ray went ftrait to her attorney, and entered up the judgment for the fum of nine hundred pounds, two of which confifted of debts that he had bought up to accumulate her own.

G. A. B.

LETTER LXXXIV.

October 15, 17

As foon as Mr. Fox, and fome other gueft, who had dined with me, were departed, I prepared to go to his Excellency's to cards; but, as I paffed through Jermyn-ftreet, I was overtaken by the wretch's brother, who, almoft breathlefs with running after me, informed me that a man, who came up at the fame time, had an action against me, at his fifter's fuit. The fhock had fuch an effect upon me, that I dropped down fpeechlefs in the ftreet. Two fuch infults, fo quickly fucceeding each other, were not to be fupported Had the latter come fingly, I could have borne it with Roman fortitude; but, united, they were too fevere a trial.

Had I been able to preferve my reafon upon this occafion, and been acquainted with the laws, I might have preferved my liberty, at least for that

night;

night; for it seems the fellows who arrefted me had, in their great hurry, forgot the warrant; without which, I find, the caption is not valid; but, during my imbecillity, one of them ran for it. You fee from this inftance, at once, how neceffary it is to preserve an equanimity of mind upon these trying occafions; and likewife how much it behoves perfons, who are so unfortunate as to be in debt, to make themselves acquainted with the powers of those who are employed in the execu→ tion of the laws by unfeeling and rigorous creditors. I have often lamented, that fimilar laws to thofe of Scotland are not in force here. There fuch as are fo unfortunate as to be confined for debt, upon delivering up their all, are liberated in a fhort time. By this means the prifons are emp ty, and the creditor receives at least a part of his debt; which, otherwise, would probably, as is too often the cafe, be diffipated during confinement, Lenity is productive of renewed industry; and, to the honour of the Scots, be it fpoken, that peo ple, as I had an opportunity of obferving when among them, join the most scrupulous honesty to that good qualification.

I was taken, during this state of infenfibility, to the officer's houfe in Stanhope-street, Claremarket; which happened to be the fame where my brother Captain O'Hara, as I have mentioned