In the month of March following, I had the pleafure to inform Lady Lindsay in perfon, that her four children were placed upon the compaffionate lift, with an appointment of ten pounds a year cach; and further, that his majesty, in confideration of her late husband's having loft his life, whilft he was bravely fighting in his fervice, had granted her fifty pounds yearly out of the treasury, in addition to her pension.

When I had made her happy with this pleasing intelligence, I afked her why I had never feen her fince her first application to me? She replied, that the alteration in her family had taken up all her attention; and as fhe thought I felt too much at her diftrefs when the first made me acquainted with it, and perceived that nothing could hurt me so much as thanks, he had refrained from giving me further pain. She told me that the fuppofed I had been made acquainted with Mr. Fox's bounty, who had provided against her wants for fome time, by nobly giving her, in the bill I faw, fifty pounds.

Lady Lindsay added, that her eldest daughter, the cripple, was happily released by death from her miferable fituation; and that the child of whofe mental faculties fhe had been apprehensive, was now, to her great comfort, become one of the most fprightly boys of his age. She much regretted his not being at home to thank me; but, continued her Ladyship, we pray for you and our worthy-benefactor

nefactor every night and morning. Just as I was taking my leave, the little fellow came in; and from the description his mother had, I suppose, given of me, immediately knew me; for he ran to me, and, kneeling down with a graceful ease, kiffed my hand. I raised and careffed him; and defired his mother would bring him often to see me, it being only over the way, as they lived but in King

Street.

Never did I feel more real happiness, than in being the means of relieving this amiable woman and her family from the extreme diftrefs in which they were involved. The fame pleasing reward attended, I doubt not, the great and good man, to whose noble beneficence that relief principally owed its furtherance. How fupremely bleft are those who poffefs as he did, the power, as well as the inclination, to relieve the diftreffes of the unfortunate!

I can scarcely refrain here from entering into a long eulogium on that first of virtues benevolence ; but having done it in a former letter, I fhall refer you to that for my fentiments on this nobleft propenfity of the mind.

G. A. B.

LET

LETTER LVIII.

March 21, 17

WHILST the scene described in my last let

ter paffed in my dreffing room, Mr. Fox, who had an eye like an eagle, caft them upon the part of Alzira, which lay upon my dreffing table. I faw that he wished to speak to me relative to it, but fome company coming in, immediately as Lady Lindsay went out, he was prevented from having an opportunity to do fo. A gentleman had, at my requeft, altered fome paffages in the tragedy, which I propofed taking for my benefit, and in which he * was to play Zamor. This gentleman had talents for the stage, and made the first attempt on it this season; but he was a better critic than an actor,. and equally as good a play-wright as a critic: he has for fome years quitted the stage for the bar, at which he makes a confpicuous figure.

As there was company in the drawing-room when the Secretary at War came to dinner, and he was impatient to speak to me concerning the part of Alzira, he defired I would permit him to accompany me into another room for a few minutes. Mr.

Mr. Murphy.

Calcraft

Calcraft having been informed that Mr. Fox had been a confiderable time in my dreffing-room during the forenoon, he made no doubt but that I had been complaining to him, and acquainting him with the nature of our connection; an event which he much dreaded and his fufpicion was confirmed, by feeing his patron enter without me, and not appearing to be pleased. When the ladies and myself withdrew from table, his apprehenfions increased by seeing Mr. Fox take hold of my hand as I passed by him, faying, at the fame time, "I defire you "will." Nor were they leffened by hearing me reply, "I will confider of it,

The ineffable contempt I had fhewn towards Calcraft in the morning, had greatly alarmed him. His confcience, (no, let me correct that word) his fears left his deceptions fhould be difcovered, excited in his breaft unusual perturbations. For he ftill wished to preserve the appearance of that principle for which he had hitherto been famed, and which had procured him, as I have already obferved, the title of boneft Jack Calcraft. It was not from any incitements of rectitude, or of humanity to me, nor from any regret for the falfehoods he had imposed upon me relative to his patron, (the particulars of which will be presently developed) but the cenfures of the world, and the blafting his undeferved good character, that he was apprehensive of;

the

the time, however, was not yet arrived, when a discovery of his cruel duplicity was to take place.

His infolence and meannefs made me defpife, though I did not as yet hate him. His love of money increased every day. And from accumulating, as he did, a fortune fo rapidly, he affumed a confequential air, which rendered him ridiculous even to his own fervants. For, endeavouring to appear the great man, his ignorance led him into vulgarity. Indeed, he poffeffed two qualifications necessary to the acquirement and enjoyment of a fortune, and thofe în an eminent degree. Thefe were the art of keeping a ledger, (which I have already celebrated) and an excellent judgment in wine. In the latter he was a complete connoiffeur. And as the intereft of his patron, and his connection with me, procured him the honour of the best company at his table, he had an opportunity of difplaying this valuable branch of knowledge.

A propriety of demeanour upon an elevation from a low station of life to a high one, is what cannot be acquired by a little mind. The fame meannefs and contraction of foul will accompany them, though they are elevated to the highest rank, and become poffeffed of princely fortunes.---The only way that can enter into their narrow conception of increasing their confequence proportionably to the increafe of their wealth, is by affuming an haughty air, and an

infolence