as for the dead corpfe, a countryman of his worked for a perfon belonging to the police, to, whom he would apply relative to the interment of it. This being approved of, my servant immediately set out, to carry the plan he had propofed into execution.

Whilst he was gone, I could not help taking notice, that gratitude did not make a part of those two ladies' good qualities. They appeared infenfible to the fate of their benefactor, and fhewed themselves true Irishwomen, by attending only to their own intereft. I was so disgusted at the discovery of these felfish fentiments, that I propofed taking my leave as foon as poffible. And this I accordingly did, when my fervant returned, who had agreed for board and lodging for the whole family at twelve ducats per month,

When I was going away, Mrs. Bramfted asked me if I recollected my little favourite Sally French? Upon my telling her I did, fhe faid, "She is much in "the fame fituation with myself; only love engroffes "her heart, and the cares of the world mine. When

fhe has been married fo long as I have, she will not be "fuch a fool." IfI was not much pleafed before with the fentiments of my new-found friends, this did not give me a better opinion of them. She then proceeded to inform me, that the unfortunate girl fhe had mentioned had been induced to leave her uncle, on whom

was all her dependence, by an officer who was going to join his regiment in Flanders. In his way he had called at Antwerp, to fee a relation, a widow, who kept an hôtel there. By this relation he was prevailed upon to defert his fellow-traveller; which he accordingly did, early one morning, leaving only a letter for her, wherein he informed her, that she must now shift for herself. My informant concluded, by telling me, that Mifs French was now become a prey to grief and despair; that he had refufed all fuftenance, and feemed determined to put an end to her miferable life, as an atonement for her folly.

As foon as I was told where I could find this unfortunate young girl, I hastened to her, leaving the fifters and children to go to their new refidence; as their happiness feemed to centre merely in themfelves. As I had not seen Mifs French for many years, and fhe was very young when I knew her, it was hardly poffible for me to recollect her; yet as I had been uncommonly fond of her, and there was no very material alteration in my figure, fhe readily recognized me.

I found the unhappy girl in a decent apartment, and was ftruck with her appearance. She was indeed the most beautiful creature I ever faw. Her perfon was tall, and there was a dignity about her that commanded awe, as well as admiration. She knew my

$

voice the moment I fpoke, and thus accofted me, in a faint accent, “How good are you, my dear Ma"dam, to notice the moft wretched being upon "earth!" I defired her to compofe herself; telling her, that I feared there were very many as wretched as herself; and that fhe ought to efteem herself happy, that her feducer had left her before she had a young family. I then informed her that I was come to take her away with me. You may be fure she did not hesitate to accept of my offer. Her countenance, which had just been overclouded with grief, began to affume a cheerfulness; and the fmile that fucceeded, put me in mind of the fun fhining through an April fhower. There being little to fettle, as the wretch had paid for every thing previous to the day he had abandoned her, which was about a month, and grief had been the chief of her fubfiftence fince, fhe was foon ready to accompany me.

I fear I have tired you with a relation of these two long ftories. But as they are fo interwoven with the circumftances of my life, and make a part of my adventures, I thought it neceffary to infert them.

July 5, 17

IT is impoffible to defcribe to you the infolence of

the people belonging to the hôtels in this city, or the exorbitance of their charges. Upon our return to that at which we had put up, I found the hostess greatly offended that I had not ordered dinner before I fet out in the morning to view the place. Indeed, I had totally forgot the circumftance. And the two rencontres I had met with, during my abfence, had prevented my returning in time to do so.

As foon as I entered the hôtel, I ran into a room, the door of which ftood open, where an object prefented itself to my view, that terrified me greatly. A large crucifix stood in a niche, opposite the window, and upon which a lamp reflected a dimly glimmering light. By this deceptious light the figure appeared to be animated; and my fancy, aided by my fears, reprefented it to my imagination as writhing in the agonies of death. My fcreams, upon beholding this fpectacle, alarmed the whole house. Among the rest, appeared the good hoftefs, who upon learning the occafion, coolly replied, I was not the first that had been terrified at the fight: but people who were so

timorous,

timorous, ought to burn lights conftantly in the room they fat in. To which fhe added, with the most infolent air imaginable, "Ifhould not think indeed "of perfons taking up apartments in an hôtel, with

out ordering what is neceffary. But it shall make 66 no difference; for I fhall charge both meals to"gether." This fhe accordingly did. And upon my attendant's finding fault with the enormous charge, fhe told him with a fupercilious fmile, that it was well he had demurred inftead of me; for if I had done it, fhe would have doubled the fum.

Could you have conceived fuch treatment poffible in fo large and populous a city? After paying this bill, I found I had but a few ducats left; which would go but a little way towards fuch unreafonable demands as I was here fubject to. And what was to be done I knew not. I had nothing of value with me, being in mourning, but my watch, and an Agnes Dei, which had a diamond of fome coft at the top of it. As the people of Antwerp are bigots to a degree, I thought I could readily difpofe of the latter. This I determined to do, and immediately to fet out for the Hague. In order to accomplish my plan, I called in my travelling attendant, who told me there would be no neceffity for my difpofing of the jewel, as he I 5 could