peared, the applause was great, but, upon the young gentleman's entering, it increased; and the Dutchess of Douglas making more courtesies upon the occafion than her companion thought needful, the leaned over the young gentleman who fat between them, and cried out, "Sit "down, Peg!" This had fuch an effect upon me, who flood on the fame fide, ready to make my appearance, that I burst into fuch a fit of laughter as prevented me from going on imme diately, as I ought to have done. But this was not all. Her Grace being in high good-humour, The kept calling out, occafionally, loud enough for me to hear, "Well faid, Mary!" "Bravo, "Mary!" which, united with the former, was very near turning the faid ftory we were enacting into a Tragi-Comedy; for it was with the greatest difficulty I could keep my rifible faculties in any decorum.

At the conclufion of the feafon, I found that it had turned out a very beneficial one. This arofe not only from the patronage of the ladies already mentioned, and many others, but it received fome addition from the generofity of an unexpected benefactor; of which, though truly ridiculous in itself, I am tempted to give you the particulars; as perhaps they may have the fame effect upon your muscles, as the Dutchefs of Queenfberry's verbal applause had upon mine.

An

An old gouty Knight, Banker, and Alderman, had entertained a partiality for me. As his lady was an elegant and accomplished woman, and in poffeffion of youth as well as a fortune, it is really to be wondered at that she should have facrificed herself to waning age and disease, merely for the fake of a title. But my old friend verified the adage of "Tout jour perdri, ne vaut rien." He had sent me at my benefit an extraordinary prefent, and as his honour was not accustomed to do generous deeds, I might naturally have fuppofed that I was not to place it to the score either of humanity or liberality.

He accordingly called fome days after, when he was informed that I was not at home; but fufpecting the veracity of my servant, he went to fome little diftance, and ordered the house to be watched. In a fhort time after I went out; and whether his Mercury had not readily found him, or his corpulence had curbed his activity, I cannot fay, but he did not overtake my chair till I had reached Leicefter-house.

I there heard a voice, seemingly of a perfon out of breath, cry, "Stop, chairmen, ftop." The two-legged poneys, however, continued their trot; at last a man, in a horseman's coat, came up to the fide of the chair, and, in an imperative tone, commanded the chairmen to fet down; he at the

fame

fame time knock

greatly alarmed,

for which I can

the uncommonne

withstanding did a

inexpreffible furp

elder, who feeme

to fhew his gallant As he could not repeatedly, what nefs? Upon whic only to recover br gold lace upon his woman I must be

panting voice told

ftantial proof of 1

fides thirty pound for money borrowe he had never dema Hearing this ur my panting lover, about his bufinefs inform his young la I then told him, ↑ any account, to tal I was not fo frie would intereft ther his infolence.

fame time knocked at the fide-window. I was greatly alarmed, and experienced perturbations for which I can no otherwife account, than from the uncommonnefs of the circumftance. I notwithstanding did as I was ordered; when, to my. inexpreffible surprise, I beheld my impaffioned elder, who feemed to me to have broke his wind to fhew his gallantry.

As he could not immediately speak, I asked him, repeatedly, what was the occafion of fuch madnefs? Upon which, unbuttoning his furtout, not only to recover breath, but to dazzle me with the gold lace upon his coat, wifely judging, that as a woman I must be captivated by finery, he in a panting voice told me, he had given me a substantial proof of his affection at my benefit, befides thirty pounds, the balance of a former debt for money borrowed upon my jewels, and which he had never demanded.

Hearing this uncommon falutation, I defired my panting lover, in a very resolute tone, to go about his business; for, if he did not, I would inform his young lady of his depravity and folly. I then told him, that if ever he prefumed, upon any account, to take fuch a liberty with me again, I was not fo friendless, but that fome perfon would intereft themselves in my cause, and punish his infolence.