fion of trade, I hope I fhall be always wife enough to retain my punctuality, and, amidst all my new arts of politeness, continue to despise negligence, and deteft falfehood.

When the death of my brother had difmiffed me from the duties of a fhop, I confidered myself as restored to the rights of my birth, and entitled to the rank and reception which my ancestors obtained. I was, however, embarraffed with many difficulties at my first re-entrance into the world; for my haste to be a gentleman inclined me to precipitate measures; and every accident that forced me back towards my old station, was confidered by me as an obstruction of my happiness.

It was with no common grief and indignation, that I found my former companions ftill daring to claim my notice, and the journeymen and apprentices fometimes pulling me by the fleeve as I was walking in the street, and, without any terrour of my new fword, which was, notwithstanding, of an uncommon fize, inviting me to partake of a bottle at the old house, and entertaining me with hiftories of the girls in the neighbourhood. I had always, in my officinal state, been kept in awe by lace and embroidery; and imagined that, to fright away these unwelcome familiarities, nothing was neceffary, but that I fhould, by fplendour of dress, proclaim my reunion with a higher rank. I therefore sent for my tailor; ordered a fuit with twice the ufual quantity of lace; and, that I might not let my perfecutors increase their confidence, by the habit of accosting me, staid at home till it was made.

This week of confinement I paffed in practifing a forbidding frown, a fmile of condefcenfion, a flight falutation, and an abrupt departure; and in four mornings was able to turn upon my heel, with fo much levity and fprightliness, that I made no doubt of discouraging all publick attempts upon my dignity. I therefore iffued forth in my new coat, with a refolution of dazzling intimacy to a fitter diftance; and pleafed myself with the timidity and reverence, which I should impress upon all who had hitherto prefumed to harafs me with their freedoms. But, whatever was the caufe, I did not find myself received with any new degree of refpect; thofe whom I intended to drive from me, ventured to advance with their usual phrases of benevolence; and those whofe acquaintance I folicited, grew more fupercilious and referved. I began foon to repent the expence, by which I had procured no advantage, and to fufpect that a fhining drefs, like a weighty weapon, has no force in itself, but owes all its efficacy to him that wears it.

Many were the mortifications and calamities which I was condemned to fuffer in my initiation to politenefs. I was fo much tortured by the inceffant civilities of my companions, that I never paffed through that region of the city but in a chair with the curtains drawn; and at last left my lodgings, and fixed myself in the verge of the court. Here I endeavoured to be thought a gentleman juft returned from his travels, and was pleafed to have my landlord believe that I was in fome danger from importunate creditors; but this scheme was quickly defeated by a formal deputation fent to offer me, though I had now retired from bufinefs, the freedom of my company.

I was now detected in trade, and therefore resolved to ftay no longer. I hired another apartment, and changed my fervants. Here I lived very happily for three months, and, with fecret fatisfaction, often overheard the family celebrating the greatness and felicity of the efquire; though the converfation feldom ended without fome complaint of my covetouf nefs, or fome remark upon my language, or my gait. I now began to venture into the publick walks, and to know the faces of nobles and beauties; but could not observe, without wonder, as I paffed by them, how frequently they were talking of a tailor. I longed, however, to be admitted to conversation, and was fomewhat weary of walking in crowds without a companion, yet continued to come and go with the reft, till a lady, whom I endeavoured to protect in a crowded paffage, as fhe was about to step into her chariot, thanked me for my civility, and told me, that, as she had often diftinguished me for my modest and respectful behaviour, whenever I set up for myself, I might expect to fee her among my firft cuftomers.

Here was an end of all my ambulatory projects. I indeed fometimes entered the walks again, but was always blafted by this destructive lady, whofe mifchievous generofity recommended me to her acquaintance. Being therefore forced to practise my adfcititious character upon another ftage, I betook myself to a coffee-house frequented by wits, among whom I learned in a fhort time the cant of criticism, and talked fo loudly and volubly of nature, and manners, and fentiment, and diction, and fimilies, and contrafts, and action, and pronunciation, that I was often defired to lead the hifs and clap, and was feared

and

and hated by the players and the poets. Many a fentence have I hiffed, which I did not understand, and many a groan have I uttered, when the ladies were weeping in the boxes. At laft a malignant author, whose performance I had perfecuted through the nine nights, wrote an epigram upon Tape the critick, which drove me from the pit for ever.

My defire to be a fine gentleman ftill continued: I therefore, after a fhort fufpenfe, chofe a new set of friends at the gaming-table, and was for fome time pleased with the civility and openness with which I found myself treated. I was indeed obliged to play; but being naturally timorous and vigilant, was never furprised into large fums. What might have been the consequence of long familiarity with these plunderers, I had not an opportunity of knowing; for one night the conftables entered and feized us, and I was once more compelled to fink into my former condition, by fending for my old mafter to atteft my character.

When I was deliberating to what new qualifications I fhould afpire, I was fummoned into the country, by an account of my father's death. Here I had hopes of being able to diftinguish myself, and to fupport the honour of my family. I therefore bought guns and horfes, and, contrary to the expectation of the tenants, increafed the falary of the huntfman. But when I entered the field, it was foon discovered, that I was not destined to the glories of the chace. I was afraid of thorns in the thicket, and of dirt in the marfh; I fhivered on the brink of a river while the sportsmen croffed it, and trembled at the fight of a five-bar gate. When the Ꮓ

VOL. V.

sport

sport and danger were over, I was ftill equally dif concerted; for I was effeminate, though not delicate, and could only join a feebly whispering voice in the clamours of their triumph.

A fall, by which my ribs were broken, foon recalled me to domeftick pleasures, and I exerted all my art to obtain the favour of the neighbouring ladies; but wherever I came, there was always fome unlucky converfation upon ribbands, fillets, pins, or thread, which drove all my ftock of compliments out of my memory, and overwhelmed me with fhame and dejection.

Thus I paffed the first ten years after the death of my father, in which I have learned at last to repress that ambition, which I could never gratify; and, inftead of wafting more of my life in vain endeavours after accomplishments, which, if not early acquired, no endeavours can obtain, I fhall confine my care to thofe higher excellencies which are in every man's power, and, though I cannot enchant affection by elegance and ease, hope to fecure esteem by honesty and truth.

I am, &c.

MISOCAPELUS.