THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 s 
 
 ' ' ' V,-M 
 


 
 I
 
 H 

 
 C H R Y S A Lj 
 
 O R T H E 
 
 Adventures of a Guinea. 
 
 Wherein are exhibited 
 
 VIEWS of feveral flriking Scenes, 
 
 WITH 
 
 Curious and interefting ANECDOTES of the 
 moft Noted Perfons in every Rank of 
 Life, whofe Hands it pafled through 
 
 I N 
 
 AMERICA, ENGLAND, HOLLAND, 
 GERMANY, and PORTUGAL. 
 
 Hold the Mirror up to Nature, 
 
 To fliew Vice its own Imasje, Virtue her own Likenefs, 
 
 And the very Age and Body of the Times 
 
 His Form and PreH'ure, SHAKZSPJCAR. 
 
 Qui capit, il!c facit. 
 
 By an A D E P T. 
 
 <_ 
 
 V O L. I. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed for T. BECKET, at Tuliy's Head, near 
 Surry Street, in the S.'iand. 
 
 MDCCLX.
 

 
 
 TO THE. 
 
 Right Honourable 
 
 WILLIAM PITT, Efq; 
 
 SIR, 
 
 7^HE Publifher of thefe pa-, 
 pers is feniible, that the 
 time devoted to the care of na- 
 tions, is too valuable to be {pa- 
 red to the perufal of them, ytt 
 he fLould think himfelf guilty 
 A 2 oY
 
 iv DEDICATION. 
 of a breach of the general grati- 
 tude, which, at this time, fwells 
 every honeft heart, in Britain^ 
 if he omitted to lay at your feet, 
 a work, in which every occafton 
 of difplaying the blefiings of a 
 good adminiftration appears to 
 have been fought with pleafure, 
 and dwelt upon with judg- 
 ment. 
 
 The genius of my author was 
 evidently fo averfe to adulation, 
 that it would be doing him, the 
 fevereft injuftice, to join any 
 thing to his work, which even 
 envy could poflibly pervert to 
 fuch a motive, by infinuating, 
 that the pictures he draws, in 
 many places, of national good 
 conduct, and the happy ftate of 
 it, are a panegyrick on prefent, 
 
 not
 
 DEDICATION, v 
 
 not a reprefentaticn of imaginary 
 fcenes. 
 
 A fenfe of this precludes me 
 from the pleafure of illuftrating 
 his remarks with particular in- 
 fiances ; but in return for that 
 painful felf- denial, I muft be 
 indulged -in a profeflion of the 
 joy, with which I (as muft 
 every Briton whofe heart feels 
 for his country) congratulate 
 my felf, on rny happy fate, in 
 living under an adminiliratioiij 
 in which the flights of imagina- 
 tion of a vifionary reclufe, dead 
 fo many years ago, may be ta- 
 ken for a relation of the real 
 events of the prefent times. 
 
 Here my addrefs to MR. PITT 
 
 muft flop ! But nothing can ever 
 
 flop my prayers to Heaven for 
 
 A 3 the
 
 vi DEDICATION. 
 
 the prefer vat ion and happinefs 
 of a life, on whofe labours, the 
 welfare, not only of this mighty 
 empire, but alfo of the greater 
 part of Europe^ do now fo emi- 
 nently depend. 
 
 A Briton. 
 J -6 . K 
 
 PREFACE
 
 PREFACE, 
 
 By the PUBLISHER. 
 
 TO acquit myfelf of the fufpicion 
 of prefuming to aim at parti- 
 cular characters, in the follow- 
 ing Work, fhould any fancied likenefs 
 be thought to direct an application ; as 
 well as to do julHce to the real author 
 of it, I think it my duty to make 
 known the manner by which it hap- 
 pened to come into my hands. 
 
 A 4. As
 
 viii P R E F A C E. 
 
 As I was walking one evening, laft 
 fummer, along White-Chapel, I was 
 obliged to take fhelter from a fhower 
 of rain, in a cottage near the Turn- 
 pike. The family were at Breakfaft, 
 at their tea, and as the rain continued, 
 I had leifure to reflect on thej advantages 
 of commerce, which thus in a manner 
 joins the oppolite extremities of the 
 earth, by bringing their products toge- 
 ther : at the fame .time, ,that the variety 
 iu the equipage of the tea-table, or in- 
 deed ftool, on which there was nothing 
 of a piece, fuggefted a juft ridicule on 
 the vanity of luxury. 
 
 This laft reflection was extended to 
 all the pur&its of man, on the fight of 
 a piece; of written paper, that ferved 
 inftead of a plate, to hold their butter, 
 c Who knows (thought I) but the 
 ( writer of this, bellowed time and care 
 1 upon it, and promifed himfelf both 
 
 * profit and fame, in reward of his la*-- 
 
 * bour ?' 
 
 This
 
 PREFACE. ix 
 
 This thought prompted curiofity to 
 look at the paper, which, by this time, 
 was fcraped quite clean. I therefore, 
 after a few words of converfation, to 
 introduce my requeft, deiired leave to 
 fee it, which was readily granted, when 
 I was furprized to find my conjectures, 
 as I imagined, confirmed, by its ap- 
 pearing to be part of feme regular 
 work. 
 
 Curiofity had now a flronger motive, 
 than idle gratification ! I aiked where 
 they had got that paper ; and on their 
 telling me, at the chandler's mop next 
 door, though this difcoufaged me a , 
 good deal, I refolved to purfue my en- 
 quiry, and went to the /hop, as if for 
 fome fnurF, which, as I expected, was 
 given me on a piece of the fame paper. 
 
 The rain ftill giving me a pretence 
 for delaying there, I entered into dif- 
 courfe with the woman, and among 
 other idle queftions, aiked her where 
 (he ufually got p.iper to wrap her wares 
 in, t> which me an-fwered, ' Some- 
 A $ c times
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 times from the public offices, and 
 fometimes from the bookfellers and 
 printers > and when me was difap- 
 pointed at thofe places, me was forced 
 to buy brown paper, which was much 
 dearer j though at prefent, me made 
 ufe of fome old fluff, that had lain a 
 great while, lumbering her garret, ha- 
 ving belonged to a lodger of her mo- 
 ther's, who died many years ago.' 
 
 I then changed the difcourfe, for fear 
 {he mould perceive my defign ; but pre- 
 fently feeing her going to tear more, 
 for fomebody elfe that came in, I could 
 not forbear any longer, but offered 
 her brown paper for all the written pa- 
 per me had, as that was moft proper for 
 feme work I defigned, which me readily 
 agreed to, and fold me her whole fbck 
 for eighteen-pence. 
 
 This adventure put an end to my 
 walk, fo I took the firft coach that went 
 by, and hurried home to examine my 
 pu rebate, which I found to confift of
 
 PREFACE. xi 
 
 a number of fragments, upon various 
 fubjects, whether originally left unfi- 
 nimed, or torn thus in the chandler's 
 fhop, it was impofTible to fay : and 
 among the reft, the following work, 
 which feemed to have undergone a dif- 
 ferent, though not much better fate, 
 being blotted in many places, often pa- 
 ragraphs, and fometirnes whole pages 
 being erafed j and what was woril, this 
 havock was made in the rnoft curious 
 and entertaining part of the whole, the 
 pbilofopby of the nature and agency of 
 /pints. 
 
 The oddity of this collection made 
 me refblve to try if I could learn any 
 thing of the author, from the woman of 
 the mop, where I had made my pur- 
 chafe; accordingly I called upon her, 
 one evening, as if merely by accident, 
 and fending for a pint of wine, to ftt 
 her tongue a going, I no fooner liir/ted 
 my delire, than (he dircclly gave me 
 the following account, 'which T /hall 
 _ report AG nearly as pofiible, inf'ifcr tg 
 
 A 6 words,
 
 xii PREFACE. 
 
 words, mortening it only of expletive 
 exclamations and repetitions. 
 
 ' My father (faid ilie) dying young, 
 and leaving his family but poorly, my 
 mother took this {hop to help her to 
 bring up three children, of whom I, 
 the eldeft, was but five years old. The 
 times being hard, me was obliged to 
 make every honefl mift, and there- 
 fore took in lodgers, and among the 
 reft, an elderly man who rented the 
 garret to fleep in, and a little turret in 
 the garden, which he fitted up for 
 himfelf for a work-mop : but what 
 bufinefs he followed me never kriew, 
 as he let no body fee him at work ; 
 nor did me trouble herfelf to enquire, 
 as he always paid her punctually : btit 
 Jhe imagined he was a fmith of ibme 
 {brt, from the quantities of charcoal 
 lie burned, aod the constant blowing 
 of his bellows. 
 
 In this place he fpent all his time y 
 often not quitting it & whole days 
 
 * and
 
 PREFACE. xiii 
 
 { and nights together, till hunger has 
 
 * forced him to crawl like a ftarved rat, 
 
 c out of his hole, to get a bit of vie- 
 
 4 tuals. 
 
 c At firft, my mother was uneafy at 
 this, and imagining he rnaft be cut of 
 bis mind, or troubled in confcience, 
 fhe fpoke about him to a worthy gen- 
 tleman, a clergyman, that lived in 
 the neighbourhood ; out he coming 
 to lee him at a time when he had a 
 clean fhirton, and had eat his victuals 
 and flept regularly for feme time be- 
 fore, his difcourfe was fo fenfible and 
 pleafant, that the doctor could -not 
 help telling him the caufe of his vifit, 
 as a joke, at my mother, to whom he 
 faid, when he was going away, that 
 fo far from being mad, he believed 
 her lodger was the beft fcholar in the 
 whole parifh. 
 
 * My mother's good-nature had like 
 to have loft her her lodger, for as foon 
 as the doctor was gone a he gave her 
 
 * warning
 
 xiv PREFACE. 
 
 ' warning, but upon her promising ne- 
 { ver to be guilty of the like indifcre- 
 
 * tion again, nor to trouble herfelf any 
 
 * farther about him, than juft to give 
 
 * him what he fhould call for, he con- 
 ' fen ted to flay. 
 
 4 From that time he lived among us, 
 1 as unnoticed as he could defire, fol- 
 
 * lowing his bufinefs without diftur- 
 ' bance from any one, nor appearing to 
 c give himfelf the leaft trouble about 
 
 * that of any other perfon living, ex- 
 4 cept it was me, whom he taught to 
 ' read, and faid he would make his 
 
 * heir. An unhappy heirfhip, I am 
 
 * fure for me ; for it hindered my mar- 
 1 rying Jack Tiaift the rope-maker, who 
 ' is now the toppingift man in all R.ad- 
 ' cliff-highway, and then offered to take 
 me in my mift. 
 
 c But there's. no help for that now! 
 
 * Luck is all ! To be lure we thought 
 
 * he muft be fonie extraordinary man, 
 < for he never wanted money, and then 
 
 4 we
 
 PREFACE. xv 
 
 we ufed to hear him talking to him- 
 felf fometimes, as if all the world was 
 his own, of building colleges^ and 
 churches^ and boufes, and altering St. 
 Paul's,, and I do not know what great 
 things -, and one day in particular, I 
 remember he faid, before us all, that 
 before feven years, he would hire an 
 army, that mould drive the pope and 
 the devil (Lord blefs us) out of Rome ; 
 for to be fure, he would talk before 
 us, as if we could not hear him, as 
 we would alfo do any thing before 
 him, as freely, as if he was a cat or a 
 dog ! Well as I was faying, it was 
 no wonder, to be fure, that fuch ig- 
 norant, poor folks, as we, mould 
 think much of him, eipecially after 
 what the doctor faid, and accordingly 
 build great hopes, upon his promifes. 
 
 { He went on thus for near 20 years, 
 no foul ever coming near him, nor he 
 going out, above once or twice in a 
 year, and then not flaying above an 
 hour or two at a time. 
 
 At
 
 xvi P R E F A C E. 
 
 1 'At length his health began to break 
 very much, which made my mother 
 <pften fpeak to him, not to work fo 
 hard, for he had been with us fo 
 long, and was fo quiet, and paid f6 
 honeftly, that we all loved him, as if 
 he was our father. But her advice 
 was all to no purpofe j he {till went 
 on, bidding her not trouble herfelf, 
 nor be afraid about him. But this 
 did not fatisfy her ; and one day 1 , 
 when he had been locked up, from, 
 the morning before, without having 
 any victuals, or going to bed, me re- 
 folved to break through his orders, 
 and call him to dinner. 
 
 When flie came to the turret, which 
 he called his laboratory, fhe tapped 
 gently at the door, but receiving no 
 anfwer, nor hearing any noife within, 
 me was fo frighted, that me called 
 me, to fetch the kitchen poker, with 
 which we made a fhift to force ft 
 open, when we found the poor mah 
 
 < ftretched
 
 P fc F A *C E. xvii 
 
 ilretched at his length, upon the fioon 
 to all appearance dead. 
 
 * This (hocked us greatly 3 but we did 
 not alarm the neighbours, as we ima^- 
 gined there were things of value 
 there, that might be difplaced^ or 
 taken away in the confufion : we 
 therefore raifed him up ourfelves, and 
 after a little while, perceiving figns 
 of life, carried him in, and laid him 
 in our own bed, and pouring fome 
 drops into his mouth and nofe, at 
 length brought him to himfelf; when 
 his firft care was to enquire for tlie 
 key of the turret, and whether any 
 one elfe had been there, or any thing 
 in it flirred : our anfwers fatisfying 
 him, he feemed quite eafy, and in a 
 little time recovered, to all appear- 
 ance, as well as ever. 
 
 i 
 
 c From this time, he changed his 
 * way of life a good deal ; and though 
 ' he was much in the turret, which 
 e we obferved he ever after called his
 
 xviii PREFACE. 
 
 ' ftudy, and not his laboratory, he never 
 ' fat up whole nights in it, as before, 
 ' nor bought any more charcoal, nor 
 ' even oil for his lamp, but went to 
 
 * bed orderly when we did. 
 
 * But this change came too late, 
 ' for about fix months after, we found 
 4 him one morning dead in his bed; 
 
 * though he had been as cheary in the 
 ' evening, as he had for a long time 
 ' before. 
 
 ' This was a great furprize and con- 
 ' cern to us ! But what avails grief: 
 ' we mufl all die, and he was a very 
 
 * old man. As foon as we were cer- 
 
 * tain that he was dead, the firfl thing 
 ' my mother and I did, was to go to 
 
 * the turret, impatient enough to take 
 ' poiTefllon of our heirfhipj where, 
 < Lord help our poor heads ! what did 
 ' we find ? only a few great old books, 
 c and thofe papers you got ; the very 
 ' bellows, and tools, and pots that we 
 ' faw there before, being all gone, and 
 
 ' no
 
 PREFACE. xix 
 
 ' no more fign of a work-mop to be 
 ' feen, than if it was not the fame 
 ' place, we had been in, but fix months 
 ' before. What he could have done 
 ' with his things, we could not ima- 
 * gine, for we never observed him to 
 c carry them out, fo that we concluded 
 c he muft have burned them. 
 
 ' This was a fore difappointment to 
 me, not to mention the Icfs to my 
 mother, to whom he owed a quar- 
 ter's rent, befide an account of near 
 twenty {hillings in the mop j and fe- 
 ven millings and two-pence half-pen- 
 ny, was all the money in his pocket, 
 nor did we ever find one penny more 
 after him, though we fe arched clofe 
 enough ! Well ! patience is a re- 
 medy for all things, but death I We 
 were forced to fubmit ; thought I 
 cannot help grieving, when I think 
 of it, to this day, efpecially when I 
 fee Peg Sprout, the green-woman's 
 daughter, from Wapping^ that Jack 
 Twijl married out of diipair, when I 
 
 re-
 
 KX PREFACE. 
 
 ' refufed him, ride by, in her rhuife, 
 1 like a lady; and it is now 30 years 
 
 * ago ! No! let me fee! it will be ex-" 
 ' actly 29 years come next MichaEl- 
 1 mas ; I am fure I have Teafon to re- 
 
 * member it well, for my poor mother 
 
 * took it fo to heart, that me never 
 ' held up Jrer head after, till it finiihed 
 ' her, in about nine years ; though I 
 
 * cannot fay, but forrrethrng elfe might 
 have helped, for me took cruelly t6 
 ' drinking drams, though as .me .began 
 ' it, to comfort foer, for this misfbr- 
 
 * tune, it was all owing to that; and 
 -' poor fider Bett, too' 
 
 I was obliged to interrupt her here, 
 by afking her, what kind of a perfon 
 he was, or me would have gone on to 
 give me the hiftory of her whole family, 
 to which (lie anfwered thus, ' What 
 c fort of a man ? I'll tell you then : 
 f for I think I fee him before my eyes, 
 ' this minute. He was a tall thin man, 
 ' above fix foot high, and no thicker 
 c than a watchman's ftaif, as I may fay; 
 
 then
 
 PREFACE. xxi 
 
 then his conftant leaning over his 
 work, bent his long back, like a bow, 
 elpecially as he had no belly to keep 
 it up, for he lived, almoft upon no- 
 thing, fo that when he walked, the 
 length of his legs, and his great ftoop 
 made him look as if he had no body 
 at all. As for his face, it was as long 
 as my arm, and not broader than the 
 edge of my hand ; his eyes were funk 
 half a foot into his head, and always 
 covered with fpectacles : his nofe was 
 : hooked over his- mouth, as his chin 
 turned up an 'handful to meet that: 
 and. the conftant toafling, over the 
 ( * charcoal, had fhriveled- up his (kin 
 1 fb, that his whole face looked, as if if 
 ' was covered with fcorched parchment. 
 1 His drefs (for. I never knew him 
 '- have but one) was a. black coat, with- 
 ' little buttons all.ov.er it ; which being- 
 ' made for him, while he flood upright, 
 ' now that he ftooped fo much, hung- 
 ' down to his ankles : a broad leather 
 ' belt, that kept his coat about him ; a 
 'cloak, which, he hung upon his fhouk- 
 
 ' ders,
 
 xxii PREFACE. 
 
 ' ders, but was fo worn, that it fhewed 
 ' his fkeleton through every part of it ; 
 4 and an old high-crowned hat. In 
 
 * fhorthe had fo little of the appearance 
 ' of a creature of this world, in his 
 
 * looks or drefs, that whenever he went 
 ' out, in the day time, the mob all 
 
 * gathered about him, and hooted him 
 < home, juft as the little birds do an 
 ' owl ; aud fome of our wicked neigh- 
 ' bours, when any accident has 'hap- 
 ' pened, have often threatened to take 
 
 * him up, and dip him for a witch, 
 ' though I am perfuaded, that was no- 
 ' thing but wickednefs and malice, and 
 
 * that he knew no more harm than a 
 baby.' 
 
 My curiofity being thus fatisfied as to 
 the author, there was but one thing 
 more, that 1 defired to know, and that 
 was, how thofe papers came to have fo 
 many blots made in them, which by 
 the difference of the ink, I could fee 
 was done long fince the firft writing, 
 to which me anfwered, that fome time 
 
 after
 
 PREFACE. xxiit 
 
 after the old man's death, her mother 
 let his apartment to one that called 
 himfelf a clergyman, and was a great 
 fcholar, and ufed to make almanacks, 
 and other books ; that he had looked 
 over thofe papers, and, me believed, 
 taken out fuch as he liked, and done 
 what he pleafed with the reft ; for they 
 fet no regard on them j and particular- 
 ly me remembered to have heard him 
 fay, that he would make fomething of 
 one of them j but me believed, he 
 found it would not do, for he foon 
 after left their houfe, and joining with 
 thofe methodifts, that were juft then 
 come up, went away with them, preach- 
 ing about the country. 
 
 I thought it but reafonable to re- 
 ward the good woman's expence of 
 breath, with half a crown, and fo 
 took my leave, though with a fe- 
 cret refolution, to give her half the 
 profit, if there arifes any, from the 
 fale of the books -, not thinking that 
 fuch a purchafe, as I had made from an
 
 xxiv PREFACE. 
 ignorant woman, could give me a juft 
 title to the whok heirfkip, as fhe called 
 it, that had coft her fo dear, as the lofs 
 of her old fweet-heart Jack 7W/?, 
 
 This good-woman's-.account explained 
 to me, in fome meafure, the nature of- 
 this work, from the circumstances of 
 the author, who,- I could fee, had been 
 a fchemer, who had wafted his whole 
 fortune, in the fearch, after the philo- 
 fbpher's ftone, and having- his eyes at 
 length opened ^to- his folly, though too 
 late to remedy it, yet was able to divert 
 the grief of his difappointment, by 
 writing thefe 4 papers, in ridicule of fuch 
 notions, and from- the fale of which he- 
 might alfo expect fome relief to his 
 wants. 
 
 How juft this- expedition might 
 have been then, it is- now very hard to 
 fay, in their prefentf mutilated con- 
 dition ; or what could have moved any 
 man; to make fueh havoek in them ; 
 without it was, that the orthodoxy- ef\ , 
 
 the
 
 PREFACE. xxv 
 
 the clergyman was offended at the au- 
 thor's notions, which he wanted judg- 
 ment to fee, were only a delicate ridi- 
 cule, of thofe wild, idle dreams, which 
 forne men, who call themfelves philo- 
 fophers, have thought proper gravely 
 to obtrude upon the world, as learning 
 and knowledge. 
 
 But whatever the motive was, the 1 
 lofs is now irreparable, and has re- 
 duced the work to the appearance of 
 a novel or romance, almoll the whole 
 philofophical part having been erased 5 
 for as to the perfonal application of any 
 thing in it, to the prefent times, tha 
 leaft attention to this account of th^ 
 authour, will ffcew the abfurdity and in- 
 juftice of fuch an attempt; asit.wa* 
 wrote fo long ago, and by a perfon fb 
 little acquainted with the world, that 
 all the ftories in it muft necefTarily be 
 the mere creatures of imagination. 
 
 For the manner in which they are 
 
 publiihed, I ihall only fay, that it is 
 
 b ftridliy
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 agreeable to the faith of the 
 text ; not one, of the many alterations, 
 and interpolations, which were in _an-. 
 other hand, being given j but where- 
 ever I could not clearly make. out the 
 very words of the author, I honeflly 
 oinitted the whole, not thin king it al- 
 lowable or jult, to palm my own words 
 or fentiments upon the world, on the 
 credit of another.- 
 
 How fcrupulous I have been, in this, 
 point, will appear to any one, who 
 (hall take the pains of confulting the 
 original, manufcript, which mall be de- 
 pofited in the publick library of one of 
 the univerfities, as foon as the work is 
 printed. The only liberty I have taken, 
 bciwg in a few notes in the margin. 
 
 .... 
 C H R Y S A L :
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 BOOK THE FIRST. 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 rff E apparition of C H R Y s A L to an A D E P T , 
 in the very moment of PROJECTION. His 
 
 account of himfelf, and the caufe of his 
 appearing to the authour. Page i 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 CHRYSAL z-iw an account oj the per f on who 
 dug up his body^ in the mine. Ths parti- 
 cular manner of % his acquiring the knowledge 
 of his life^ with an explanation of the na- 
 ture of memory and ccnfcioufncfs . 7 
 
 C H A P. III. 
 
 '/ 'be htjlvry C/TRAFFICK. His father's eid- 
 
 we to him j containing feme general cbfer- 
 
 b 2 nations
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 valient on the nature and end of trade -, with 
 rules to enfttre fuccefs in it. 1 2 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 ^he hiftory C/TRAFFICK continued: His fa- 
 ther's death. He continues in trade, and 
 turns fchemer. His various fchemes end in 
 his ruin. 'The rife and -progrefs of his 
 pajfionfor AMELIA. The bafe abufe of her 
 confidence^ by which he cheated far of the 
 great eft part of her for tune , and afterwards 
 formed difoonourabk defigrn againft her- 
 felf. 21 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 Continued. He cheats AMELIA of the re- 
 fidue of her fortune, and marries another 
 woman. AMELIA fues him at law-, is 
 caft, and goes for JAMAICA. He is ruined ', 
 and follows her. 29 
 
 CHAP. VI. 
 
 Ccnclufion of the hi/lory of TRAFFICK. He 
 arrives in Jamaica, where he learns that 
 AMELIA bad been taken by the Spaniards. 
 
 He
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 He turns buccanier, and ravages the Spa- 
 nifh wafts* when hs finds AMELIA. Jufi 
 as he is going to feize her, he i-s knocked 
 down-, by her hujband,. and taken prifoner. 
 He is condemned to die. He fetes to. AME- 
 LIA/^ mercy \ fhe rejects him with abhor- 
 rence. His punijhment is changed from death 
 to the mines.. 36 
 
 C ET A P. VIL 
 
 CHR-YSAL purfues the hijlory of his adven- 
 tures. He explains fame difficulties in his 
 cwn nature. , Hs is offered at confefjion f) 
 a prieft. The ccnfejfivn and creed of a na- 
 tive PERUVIAN. The pennance enjoynsl 
 bim by a Jefuit. 46 
 
 CHAR VIII. 
 
 2j&> holy father's tendernefs to another penitent, 
 who had ravijhed, murdered, and rob be I 
 his own brother's wife. He accepts thi 
 fpoils as a recommence to the church. H? 
 hints a method of preventing the danger of 
 bis brothers refentment r , and difiniffes him 
 witbghoftly advice.. 54^ 
 
 fa 3 CH;AP^
 
 C O N T E N T-S. 
 
 CHAP. IX. 
 
 Ike father's rage en blaring that his penitent 
 had fecreted fome of the jewels. The officer 
 is purfued by his brother to the convent ', ivhi- 
 ther he flies for fanftuary. His reception 
 
 from the father, and the terms of their re- 
 conciliation. The father fends away the 
 
 judge in a fright. he officer is received into 
 thefociety; 60 
 
 CHAP. X. 
 
 CH R Y s A L changes his fervice, and embarks for 
 Europe in an Englifh man of war. The 
 caufe and manner of his coming that way. 
 The occurrences of his pfffage. On his ar- 
 rival in England be is font by his mafler to 
 fettle fome mijlakes in the 'voyage. 69 
 
 . 
 
 CHAP XL 
 
 Vbe good conferences of a' right underflanding 
 belii-em certain perfons. CHRYSAL'J re- 
 foftfons on his firjl feeing the publick offices 
 in London. His mafler vijitt a gentleman, 
 wbo> in the vehemence of his rage againfl 
 
 certain
 
 CONTENT S. 
 
 certain abufes, hits himfelf a violent Jlap~on 
 t be face. The neceffity of decency, and ths 
 methods of fupporting *'/, inftanced. in the~ 
 hijlery of a pretty fellow.. 77,- 
 
 xn; 
 
 CHRYSAL'J- majler gives his friend fame hints v , 
 that make him lower his note. . An uncom- 
 mon piece of generojity returned more pditely r , 
 than could be expefled from the parties. Ari' 
 cddftory of an unfajhionable Jteward. Tde . 
 fuccefs <?/GHRYSAL ? J mediation in favour of 
 hislate.mafter.. 86 > 
 
 C H A P. XliU. 
 
 GHRYSAL explains fame farther properties of'' 
 his -nature. He changes bis appearance f&r ' 
 the. mode of the country \ and ent&rs into the 
 fervice of a noble lord. The jagacity of ' 
 Mr. Poundage, and. his addrefs in bit- 
 nefs. a,-.
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAP. XIV. 
 
 'The hijlory of Mr. Thomas Poundage. ,His 
 lord/hip goes to his appointment. ' An 'even- 
 ings entertainment in high life. CHRYSAL 
 changes his fervice : bis rc/teffions en the 
 
 ruling pajfion of the times. QQ 
 
 .t> r M J wy 
 
 
 
 CHAP. XV. 
 
 CHRYSAL reprefents the company inperfpefiive. 
 Anecdotes of fame of the mojl remarkable per- 
 fons of the party. A painter-general de- 
 ceived by his own judgment and eminent tafte 
 for VIRTU. 105 
 
 CHAP. XVI. 
 
 ' 
 
 CHRYSAL gives a farther account of bis iate 
 lord. The methods by which he had been 
 initiated in the myjteries of polite life. Svmt 
 Jketches of the character of his next tnqfter, 
 . who gives him to an extraordinary per- 
 fon, 1 1 2 
 
 C II A P.
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 CHAP. XVII. 
 
 1'le btflory and character of CHRYSAL'J new 
 
 mafter. His adventures at the coffee-hcufe. 
 The fun of a modern GENIUS retorted upon 
 kimfelf, by the grave rebuke of a tejly ve- 
 terans. . 117 
 
 C II A P. XVIII. 
 
 Seme further account of CHRYSAL'J mafter, 
 His ' convcrfation and engagements v^ith two 
 bookjellers. Some cf the Jeer els of the trade. 
 CHRYSAL changes bis fa-vice. 125 
 
 BOOK
 
 O N T E.N.T.'S 
 
 B O O K THE SECOND. 
 CHAP.. I. 
 
 GHRYSAL enters into theftrvice of the gen- 
 tleman of a general. Gratitude in high and 
 low life.- The modern way of rijing in the 
 world* an ^ tk* happinefs of dependant. 
 Influence of CHRYSAL'J mafter^ with Fis 
 curious manner offupportingit. 135, 
 
 C HA P. 1L 
 
 fbe hijlory of Mr. WILLIAM. Some odd cir- - 
 cumjlances in his conduct accounted for. By 
 a progrejfion equally polite and frugal^, 
 G H R Y s A L co mes fro m bis pcffejfion . into that 
 of a celebrated female. . 143.; 
 
 C H A P. III. 
 
 fhe manner in which CHRYSAL'J new miftrefs^ 
 received and took care of her friend. How 
 
 Jhe.
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 (he employed berf elf while be was aflcep. Her 
 management of him next morning. 150 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 The hiftory and charaEler of CHRYSAL'-T mif- 
 /;>'/}. She gives him to a noted matron. 
 Some account of his new mrftrtfs t and her 
 manner of managing her family. 157 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 CHRYSAL'J miftrefs pays a vifit to the laft 
 place Jhe could have been fufpefted'for going 
 to. She meets a young lady, with whom^ 
 by an artifice, jhe goes horns. Her fchemcs 
 to enfnare the lady. - 1 62 
 
 C r ! A P. VI. 
 
 fbe hiftory of the young lady. She is critically 
 
 interrupted by the arrival of an unexpected 
 
 per fan. She. is . reconciled to her father, 
 
 who rewards the woman of the houfe, and 
 
 rtfohes topunijh the bawd. i / 1 
 
 CHAP.
 
 CONTENTS. 
 CHAP. VII. 
 
 The addrefs cf CHRYSAL'J wiftreff, and civi- 
 lity cf a ccnficlh. She arrives at the ju- 
 fticfs, end isjiftedandfoftenedly bis clerk, 
 and terrifted l-y Us wor/bip. CHRVSAL 
 changes bis fcr^ice. 179 
 
 CHAP. VIII.. 
 
 She is difcharged on proper bail. T'be labours 
 of CHRY&AL'.? new maftcr, in the fet vice of 
 the public, with feme cf ,tbe varicus myfte- 
 ries cf his office. iS8 
 
 CHAP, IX. 
 
 An highway '-man, improperly taken, faves bis 
 life, by lofing bis reafon. Judicial faga- 
 city, and eloquence triumphant over common' 
 fenfe, and matter of f aft. This myjiery ex- 
 plained. 195 
 
 CHAP. X. 
 
 An injlance of bis wor/hip's exemplary jttftice 
 on a Jhop-lifter. The unfajhionaUe com-
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 pajjion and gmsrofily of a failor. A dif- 
 pute about fuperiority of Jkill between bis 
 worflnp and his clerk, opens new tnyft cries 
 in the profeffion. 204 
 
 CHAP. XL 
 
 The breach happily made up by the arrival of 
 company. 'The evening concluded in cha- 
 rafter. His worjhip goes next morning to 
 bear a charity -fermon, and from thence to 
 e-at a charity* feaft^ where CHRYSAL enters 
 into a new fervice. Some account of the 
 nature of a charity -feaft. 212 
 
 CHAP. XII. 
 
 A reprefent-ation of the company. 'The hiftcry 
 of one of the principal members. The 
 modern method of bribing heaven with the 
 wages of hell, 218 
 
 CHAP. XIII. 
 
 Continued : The hi/lory of a general almoner. 
 His method of making charity begin at home. 
 He converts a noted bawd^ but disappoints 
 
 fa
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 his defigns, by too great confidence in Us oivn 
 (kill. The char after of a clergyman. 227 
 
 CHAP. XIV. 
 
 The reprefentation concluded with an eminent 
 man midivife.* His motives for taking up 
 that profejfion, izith fome unfortunate anec- 
 dotes of his practice. 234 
 
 CHAP. XV. 
 
 Some account of the officers cf the charity. 
 Their care of tbemfeives. They fall cut 
 about the dii'ifion of the fpoil. A terrible 
 uproar is appeafed by a demand of general 
 concern. The concife manner of pajffing pub- 
 lick accounts. CHRYSAL changes his fer- 
 vice. 241 
 
 CHRYSAL:
 
 C H R YS A L; 
 
 OR THE 
 
 ADVENTURES 
 
 O F A 
 
 GUINEA. 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 e Apparition of CHRYSAL to an ADEPT, 
 in the I'ery moment cf projection. His ac 
 count of kimfelfi and the caiife of his ap- 
 pearing to the author. 
 
 N a day, when long and drift 
 abftinence had purified my body 
 from every terrene incumbrance, 
 J # andintenie contemplation wound 
 up my mind to an enthufiafm 
 fit for f/'tf/jmz/converfation, as I flood with 
 my eyes riveted on the obftetrick flame, in 
 flrong expedition of the birth of the my- 
 jtick child, thefirft-born of the morning, ready 
 B to
 
 2 C H R Y S A L : Or the 
 
 to feize the happy moment, when the earth 
 Jufficitntly impregnated with the water^ afcen- 
 deth white and fpkndent^ that I might com- 
 pound the pure elements^ before they fly from 
 the fin ', and, fo per f eft the great work ; my 
 eyes began to dazzle, and the power of ima- 
 gination overwhelmed my foul. 1 faw a 
 
 blue effulgence break from the liquid gold, 
 and play about the genial vafe ! I was 
 aftonifhed ! I thought it t\\z fubftantial form 
 ofthefon of the fun ! I thought the happy 
 moment was come, when the rofe cf the 
 *xft Jkould bkcm in the defart^ and mine the 
 favoured hand to cultivate its growth ! I 
 indulged the pleafing thought ! I melted in 
 the virtuous joy ! and in obedience to the 
 "divine impulfe, I kneeled to receive the re- 
 ward of all my labours, the radiant crown of 
 wifdom and' glory ) from the hand of nature, 
 with every fenfe and faculty fufpended, for 
 fear of interrupting the myfteriotis procefs. 
 As my foul hung in this extafy, the 
 fiame which wrapped the facred birth in the 
 bed of 'purification, arofe with a glory too 
 ilrong for mortal fenfe, and filled the room, 
 My fenfes funk under the prefTure, and I 
 was difTolved into a trance, when a voice, 
 cele.iially harmonious, encouraged me to 
 raife my eyes, and I beheld the body of the 
 effulgence condenfe into an incorporeal fubflance 
 
 in
 
 Adventures of a G u i \ r A . ^ 
 
 intbeformofafyirit* while a placid fliade 
 foftened the ficrceneis of the radiance, and 
 made it tolerable to human fenfc. 
 
 An holy horror curdled all my blood'; 
 but the melody of the fame voice, which 
 had before emboldened me to look up, re- 
 aillired my fainting heart with thefe words; 
 " Son of pains and votary of fcience ! thy 
 " unwearied perfeverance has prevailed, 
 " and I am lent to crown thee with the vir- 
 tc gin rofe ! lamCnRYSAL, the fpirit of 
 *' that incorruptible mafs now glowing in 
 *' that vafe before thee, who in reward of 
 ** thy noble conftancy in offering this thy 
 tc lalt mite, on the fhrine of knowledge, 
 44 am come to reveal the myfteries of nature 
 " to thee, and fatisfy that raging third for 
 " wifdom, \vhich has fo long excrutiated 
 " thy foul, and thus emaciated thy body! 
 ** And that thou mayefl the better compre- 
 '* hend the greatnefs of this honour vouch- 
 " fafed unto thee, I fhall trace the opera - 
 " tions of nature through her moft fecrec 
 <e recefles, and illuftratethe truth of what I 
 " fay, by a detail of the various incidents 
 " of my being, in my prefent ftate, to 
 " prepare thee for the reception and proper 
 " Life of that grand fecret, which I fly! I af- 
 " terwards communicate! 
 
 B 2 "I
 
 4 C H R Y S A L : Or tie 
 
 " I can fee your thoughts; and Vviil 
 <c anfwer every doubt which may arife in 
 " your mind at the wonders of my rela- 
 " tion, without the interruption of your 
 " inquiries, as awful Jilence is the effence cf 
 " my converfe, the lead breach of which 
 " puts an end to it for ever ! liften then ia 
 " mute attention, nor let a breath difturb 
 " themyftick tale!" 
 
 The works of nature are infinitely va- 
 rious, and her methods of operation infcru- 
 table to the curiofity of that vain intruder 
 Reafon, which has of late prefumed to pry 
 into her ways, and to doubt, if not deny, 
 the reality of all effects, which her fhorr- 
 fighted eye cannot trace to their caufes ! a 
 prefumption that has juftly fhortened the 
 iine of human knowledge, and condenfed 
 the mift of ignorance which overfpreads the 
 world ! Some noble efforts though I fee the 
 nature of man preparing to make, to recover 
 that eminence of conjecture and credulity 
 which alone can merit fuch a communi- 
 cation of extraordinary knowledge as is now 
 indulged to you. Some of the mod hid- 
 den truths which I fhall here unfold, has 
 unaffifled genius difcovered already ; and 
 more fhall curious penetration make learned 
 gueffes at, even in this fceptick age *. 
 
 f See all the modern hypothetical philofophy. 
 
 Know
 
 sldveitiures of a GUINEA. 5 
 
 Know then, that in the economy of na- 
 ture, to eafe the trouble, and keep up the 
 ftate of its great authour, * a fubordination 
 of minifterial ipirits executes the fyftem of 
 his government in all its degrees , one of 
 whom, for the greater order and expedition, 
 is made to actuate every divided particle of 
 matter in this immenfe univeri?. In this 
 diftribution, that portion of gold was af- 
 ligned to my charge, upon its firft feeling 
 the influence of the f etherial fire of the 
 fun, the general miniiler of the divine 
 commands. This happened in Peru, where 
 that body of which I then became the fpi- 
 rit, was torn from its peaceful bed 200 fa- 
 thoms deep in the bowels of the earth. 
 
 I mall not defcribe my furprize, at my 
 firft plunging into thofe realms of darknefs, 
 nor mall I fatisfy the curiofity I fee rifing in 
 you, whether that period was the beginning 
 of my exiftence, or whether I was, either 
 as a punifhment or reward for a paft, or a 
 preparation for a future life, thrown into 
 
 * Eflay on Spirit. 
 
 f Siris. 
 
 . Would not thefe, and many other pafTages of 
 
 the fame nature which fupport the fyftems of thofe ce- 
 lebrated works, almoft tempt us to -think, that the 
 writers of them mull have had a communication with. 
 this or fome fuch fpirit, to come at knowledge fo fu- 
 per natural ? 
 
 B 3 this,
 
 6 C H R Y S A L : Ox tie 
 
 this. Thefe are myfteries not yet difco- 
 vered, though often moil learnedly guefled 
 at. All I mall unfold to you are points 
 already known, or fuch as I fee ready to be 
 found out by human induftry, as it would 
 pur an end to learning to make a revelation 
 of the objects of its enquiries! fuch mat- 
 ters, I fay, I mail explain to you, and far- 
 ther, relate fome occurrences, the know- 
 ledge of which will be equally ufeful and 
 entertaining, which happened to the feveral 
 perfons with whom I have had intercom fe, 
 in the various ftages of my prefent ftate. 
 
 And as you may be at a lols, to know 
 how I 'could arrive at the knowledge of fuch, 
 facls, many of which happened long be- 
 fore my converfe with thofe perfons, I mail 
 inform you, that befides that intuitive know- 
 ledge, common to all fpirits, we of fuperior 
 orders, who animate this univerfaJ monarch 
 GOLD, have alfo a power of entering into 
 the hearts of the immediate poireffors of 
 our bodies, and there reading all the fecrets 
 of their lives. And this will explain to 
 you, the caufe of that love of gold, which 
 is ib remarkable in all who poffefs any 
 quantity of that metal. * For the operation 
 of every material caufe, is in proportion to 
 
 * Eflay on Spirit. 
 
 the
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 7. 
 
 the ftrength of the fpirit actuating that 
 cdufe i as the ftrength of the fpirit is reci- 
 procally in proportion to the quantity of 
 his material body : and confequenrly, when 
 the mighty fpirit of a large mafs of gold 
 takes pofleffion of the human heart, it in- 
 fluences all its actions, and overpowers, or 
 banifhes, the weaker impulfe of thofe im- 
 material, uneffential notions called virtues. 
 And this intuition, and power of tranfmi- 
 gration I have thus explained, to remove 
 every fhadow of doubt of what I mall re- 
 late. 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 CHR YS AL gives an account of tie perfon who 
 dug up bis body^ in the mine, 'fhe parti- 
 cular manner of his acquiring the knowledge 
 of his life y with an explanation of the na- 
 ture of memory and confdoufnefs. 
 
 TH E firft object that ftruck me, when 
 I darted on the power of a fun-beam, 
 into thofe infernal regions where my body 
 was juft dug up, was the perfon in whofs 
 hands it was when I took pofleffion of it. 
 
 B 3 Dark
 
 S C H R Y S A L : Or tie 
 
 Dark as the gloom of fuch a place mull 
 be, a melancholy, that doubled the hor- 
 rors of it, fat upon his brow. He gazed a 
 moment on me, in filent .grief, and then 
 groaned out thefe words with a vehemence 
 that feemed toburfthis heart : " Damned, 
 damned, pernicious, damning gold! 
 how dearly do I purchafe this momen- 
 tary poiTeflion of thee ! But let me ac- 
 knowledge the juftice of my fate ! I 
 wifhed only for gold, and now, this 
 equivocal grant of that wifh, is the j lift 
 punimment of the folly, and the wick- 
 ednefs of it." Grief here choaked his 
 utterance ! he could fay no more, but fob- 
 bed aloud, while all the dreary caverns 
 echoed to his anguim. 
 
 Curiofity prompted me to learn the caufe 
 of his diftrefs : I therefore immediately en- 
 tered into his heart, to read the events of 
 his life, which I doubted not but I mould 
 find deeply imprinted there : but I was fur- 
 prized to find that room in it, which, I 
 could plainly fee, had been poffefTed by the 
 love of gold, fo filled with fenfe of pain, 
 with grief, and remorfe, that I could fcarce 
 gain admiffion. 
 
 Upon this I mounted into the cenforium 
 of his brain, to learn from the fpirit of 
 confcioufnefs, which you call SELF, the 
 
 caufe
 
 Adventures 0/" # GUINEA. 9 
 
 caufe of fo uncommon a change, as it is 
 contrary to the fundamental rules of our 
 order, ever to give up an heart of which 
 we once get poiTeffion. 
 
 I found the fpirit very bufy, though I 
 thought fomewhatodly employed : fhe was 
 running over a number of nickes^ or im- 
 prefTions, on the fibres "of the brain, fome 
 of which I obferved me renewed with fuch 
 force, that fhe almoft effaced others, which 
 me pafled over untouched, though inter- 
 fperfed among them. The fight of we 
 feemed to fufpend her works a moment, 
 but as if that paufe was only to recover 
 itrength, me inflantly renewed her labour 
 with greater afliduity. 
 
 I looked at her, my defire to know the 
 meaning of what fhe was doing, and to 
 fignify the caufe of my vifit, to which me 
 returned me this anfwer in a glance, that 
 interrupted not her work. 
 
 (I fee you wonder, that I fpeak of this, 
 fpirit, though the SELF of a man, as if it 
 was a female j but in this there is a myflery ;. 
 every fpirit is of both lexes, but as the fe- 
 male is the worthier with us, we take our 
 denomination from that.) 
 
 You are lurprifed, (looked //v) to find 
 
 me fo earneftly engaged, in woik which 
 
 you do not underftand , but in this work. 
 
 B 5
 
 io C H R Y S A L : Or the 
 
 confifts my very effence. This place, where 
 we are, is the feat of memory , and thefe 
 traces, which you fee me running over 
 thus, are the impreflions made on the brain 
 by a communication of the imprefiions made 
 
 on the fenfes by external objeds. Thefe 
 
 firft impreffions are calkd ideas, which are 
 lodged in this repofitory of the memory, in 
 thefe marks, by running which over, I can 
 raife the fame ideas^ when I pleafe, which 
 differ from their firft appearance only in this, 
 thar, on their return, they come with the 
 familiarity of a former acquaintance. 
 
 How this communication though is made, 
 I cannot fo well inform you ; whether it is 
 by the of dilation cf the nervous fibres ', or by 
 ihecperation of a certain invi/ible fluid> called 
 animal fpirits, on the nerves -, no more than 
 I can explain to you, how my touching 
 thefe marks, on this material fubflance the 
 brain, can raife ideas in the immaterial 
 mind, and with the addition of acquain- 
 tance befide ; for thefe are matters not 
 quite fully fettled among the learned. 
 
 All I know i c , that the thing is agreed to 
 be fo by fome, or other, or all of thefe 
 means ; and that my whole employment, 
 and end of being, is to touch them over, 
 and acknowledge their acquaintance thus ; 
 without my doing which, a man would no 
 longer continue the fame perfon, for in this 
 
 ac-
 
 Adventures of a Gu i N E A . i r 
 
 acquaintance, which is called confcioufntfs, 
 does all perfonal identity confift.* 
 
 As for the work, I am juft now particu- 
 larly engaged in, you muft know, that this 
 man whom, as I am his f elf t I mall hence- 
 forth, for concifenefs and perfpicuity, call 
 my felf, was once poflefled of, or in power 
 of pofleffing,, every real happinefs of lite, 
 till an infatiable defire of riches hurried him 
 into meafures which overturned all that 
 happinefs, and in the end plunged him into 
 this gulph of mifery. 
 
 The traces of that happinefs are thofe 
 which you fee me pafs over without renew- 
 ing -, by which means he forgets that he was 
 ever happy, except fometimes, when the 
 trace of any particular unhappinefs comes 
 fo near that or" any inflance of happinefs, as 
 unavoidably to touch it , which touch, by 
 the renewal of the idea of fuch happinefs,, 
 only aggravates the fenle of the prefent want 
 of it : And thus 7 make memory either a 
 bleffing or a curfe, according to the nature 
 of the trace which / renew. 
 
 I fee you are afloniihed, how a perfon, 
 who was ever happy, could poffibly fall into 
 fuch mifery as 1 am now in ; bur I mall 
 remove that aftoniihment, by the hiftory 
 of my life, in which I fhall accommodate- 
 
 * Locke,
 
 12 C HR Y S AL: Or the 
 
 my accounts of places and things to the 
 circumftances of my prefent ftate, without 
 regard to the univerfaiity of our fpiritual 
 nature ; and call them by their names 
 among men, without die delay or trouble 
 of defcription. 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 %'be btftory of TRAFFICK. His father's ad- 
 vice to him \ containing fome general obfer- 
 v fit ions on the nature and end of trade -, with 
 rules to enfure fuccefe in it. 
 
 MY name is 'Traffick ; I was the only 
 fon of a wealthy merchant in Lon- 
 don, who bred me to his own bufmefs. 
 There was nothing remarkable in my youth, 
 except that the characteriftick pafTion of my 
 heart, mewed itielf, in the very dawn of 
 reafon, in my eagernefs to engrofs and 
 hoard up the bawbles of my play-mates, 
 and the far-fetched fchemes I laid to over- 
 reach them in all our little bargains. 
 
 My father was at firft delighted with this 
 cunning, which his fondnefs took for the 
 firit effays of a great genius ; but, when he 
 law me perfift in it after I grew up, and 
 attempt to pradife the fame arts, in the 
 
 courfe
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 13 
 
 courfe of my bufinefs, it gave him ferious 
 alarms for my future conduit ; for he had 
 ever been averfe to thefe artifices which are 
 called the myfleries of commerce, and owed 
 his fuccefs folely to clofe application, in the 
 plain way of a fair trader. 
 
 But this caution I looked upon with con- 
 tempt, as timidity and want of genius, anct, 
 undifcouraged by his conftantrepulfes to all 
 my bold ftrokes and deep fchemes, which I 
 was continually fuggefting to him, I refol- 
 ved, when I mould be at liberty, to indulge 
 my own inclinations, to ftrike out new 
 ways, that fliould afford me opportunities 
 of exerting my abilities in their full ftrength, 
 and mewing them in their proper luftre. 
 
 The vanity which prompted avarice ra 
 form thefe defigns, would fo often break 
 out in boafting, that my father was fully 
 acquainted with them ; and a fenfible de- 
 cline in his health quickening his apprehen- 
 fions for me, his tendernefs would omit 
 nothing which might 'mew me my errour, 
 in its proper light, and prevent my falling 
 into fo deftruftive ways. 
 
 Calling me therefore into his elofet, one 
 morning, he addrefled me in thefe words ; 
 words which dear experience has now prin- 
 ted deeply on my heart, though then they 
 had no weight with me. 
 
 " My
 
 i 4 C HR Y S AL: Or tie 
 
 " My fon (faid he) the day approaches 
 " faft, when you will be in poffeflion of the 
 " fruits of my honeft induftry. I leave 
 " you a good fortune ; and I have the 
 " happinefs to be able to tell you, in this 
 " trying moment, that no wilful private 
 " wrong, or public fraud, makes me wifh 
 " it were, by one penny, lefs. As there - 
 " fore it was acquired in the fear of God, 
 " if not abufed, it will wear with his blef- 
 " fmg. Habit had fo wedded me to my 
 *' bufmefs, that I could not leave it off 
 " myfelf , and I bred you to it, to in- 
 " dulge, as I thought, the bent of your 
 " genius, and to prevent idlenefs from 
 " tempting youth to folly. But now, that 
 *' dangerous feafon is pafl with you ; and 
 " the labour of my life has taken away all 
 " neceflity of labour from yours. Be 
 *' wife then, my fon, and enjoy the happi- 
 " nefs which Heaven offers you, without 
 " tempting a reverfe ! You will have 
 " riches, more than enough, for every 
 *' natural want, for every rational wifh ;. 
 4t and it will fwetten your enjoyment of 
 * ( -rthemv'40d*draw down the bleflings of 
 " heaven on your head,- to employ the 
 " fuper-plus in acts of private benevolence,. 
 44 and public fpirit ; in which belt ofem- 
 *' ployrnents, the abilities, with which you 
 
 " are
 
 debentures of a GUINEA. 15 
 
 are fo liberally blefied, will find ample 
 room for their exertion i and your pious 
 endeavours be rewarded with a fuccefs,. 
 that will be an happinefs to your life, and. 
 an honour to your name. 
 " As for the profefllon of a merchant* 
 to which you have been bred, heaven 
 points it out to the inhabitants of this 
 country, by our fituation , nor can any 
 other be more advantageous to it ; but 
 ftill, even that advantage may be pijr- 
 fued too far, and the extreme of induftry 
 may link into avarice, and fo difappoint 
 its own end. 
 
 " For I muft tell you, my fon, that 
 though trade adds to the wealth, yet too 
 eager a purfuit of it, even with the great- 
 eft fuccels, diminimes the ftrength of a 
 nation. I am fenfible, that tliis is. 
 againft received opinion ; but truth, when 
 properly difplayed, will force convic- 
 tion. 
 
 " The real ftrength of a nation confifts 
 in the prevalence of difmterefted fpirit, 
 which, regrad lei's of Jelf y throws its. 
 weight into the public fund ; as may be 
 proved by many examples of fmall, poor 
 ftates, conquering large wealthy ones.. 
 Whereas the fpirit of commerce centers, 
 ailing, difcouraging and defpifing, as. 
 
 !' folly,
 
 16 CHRYS AL: Or tie 
 
 " folly, every thought which does not tend 
 " that way ; and Ib breaking that unani- 
 " mity, which is the very effence of power, 
 
 " and only can give it fuccefs. A re- 
 
 " fledion this, my fon, which obiervation 
 " confirms too flrongly at prefent, and 
 " which feems to overcaft the profpect of 
 " this happy nation. 
 
 " My advice therefore to you is, to re- 
 " tire from bufinefs, though not to idle- 
 " nefs. You will have a fortune that will 
 u make you of confequence in the ftate, 
 *' and give you fufficient employment in the 
 ** conduct of it, without embarraffing your 
 " mind with anxiety for more. And, to 
 " to enable you to follow this advice with 
 " the greater eafe, I have fettled all my 
 " affairs, and fliall leave you free from 
 ** every entanglement of life. This is the 
 " advice, the requeft of a fond father, who 
 " defires compliance from his dear fon, and 
 " would not force unwilling obedience, by 
 
 ** any aft of authority or command. 
 
 *' But mould the love of bufinefs Have taken 
 " fuch an hold of your heart, as habit gave 
 " it of mine, and not permit you to com- 
 " ply with this requeft, take, my fon, the 
 " advice of experience, and hold faft the' 
 " clue it offers, to guide you through the 
 " labyrinths of trade, in which the vivacity 
 
 " of
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 17 
 
 " of your genius may, otherwife, lofe its 
 " way. Nor are the rules, I mall hint to 
 tc you, many to be remembered, or ditfi- 
 " cult to be obferved. 
 
 " Be juft^ my fon, in all your dealings -, 
 " wrong not individuals, nor defraud the pub- 
 " lie. 
 
 " Thefe are all the rules I recommend ; 
 
 * but in them is comprized more than, 
 4 perhaps, appears at firft view. Do not, 
 ' therefore, think them too obvious to have 
 ' been neceflary to be repeated ! nor let 
 6 the mention of them give offence, by any 
 ' feeming implication of perfonal doubt. 
 
 " In the bufmefs of a merchant, thefe 
 " rules comprehend a great extent of mean- 
 ' ing, though I mall mention but a few 
 ' inftances of it at prefent. 
 
 " As for the firft, every mifreprefenta- 
 c tion to miflead ignorance, or abufe cre- 
 4 dulity, every taking advantage by fupe- 
 
 * rior knowledge, is a wrong to the party 
 ' fo deceived, as every artifice to evade 
 ' the intention of the legiflature is a fraud 
 " againft the public, nay, againft your- 
 " felf, and every individual who claims 
 " the benefits provided by the ordinances, 
 56 fo defeated of their fupport. 
 
 " This indeed is fo obvious, that it were 
 " an affront to reafon to infift on any proof 
 
 " of
 
 i8 C M R YS AL: Or the 
 
 " of it. The mod eag^r purfuer of illicit 
 44 trade will not vindicate a general indul- 
 64 gence of it ; and if it is not lawful for all, 
 44 how can it be for him ; or with what co- 
 44 lour can he claim a profit, which he is 
 '* confcious arifes only from deceit, and 
 44 from the benefit of thofe very laws, which 
 " it thus defeats. 
 
 " The temptations to this breach of ho- 
 " nefty, I own, are many and great, and 
 " fome of them perhaps plaufible; par- 
 " ticularly in thole branches of trade, 
 44 which feem to bear a more than equal 
 " mare of the weight impofed for general 
 " advantage. Bur, in opposition to this, 
 '- it muft be confidered, that it is impoffi- 
 '* ble to provide fo exaclly for a thing, of 
 *' fo fluctuating a nature as trade, that the 
 '* ballance fliall not incline, in fome one 
 41 inftance -, and that it muft, by the fame 
 ** motion which opprefTes one, be favour- 
 4 * able to fome other ; and fo prefer vc the 
 *' equi-poife in the whole ; and this ob- 
 ** viates the only fliadow of an argument, 
 " that can be brought in defence of this 
 44 too common practice. 
 - " As for the former, of avoiding pri- 
 " vate wrong, that is more difficult, and 
 " lefs defenfible, if poffible, than even 
 *' this. For where all the powers of the 
 
 " mind
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 19 
 
 mhidare turned to make advantage, it is 
 very hard to refrain from taking it, where 
 we ought not, and bringing the great 
 bufmefs of life into common practice, in 
 its minuteit concerns. 
 " The man whole foul 5s on the flretch 
 " to take advantage, in a bargain for thou- 
 " fands, on the kxcbange, will be apt pcr- 
 " haps infenlibly to overlook an errour 
 ** that is not to his difadvantage, in a 
 " tradefman's bill, or to take no notice of 
 " a guinea given inflead of a milling in 
 " change at the tavern, though either is as 
 " great diihonefty as if he took them, in a 
 " manner punifhable with death by the 
 '* laws : not to mention the -innumerable 
 " little initances of temptajiQA to this kind 
 *' of wrong, which occur in every moment's 
 *' dealing. That we may avoid temptation, 
 " is one of the petitions of the divine prayer, 
 " and never more neceffary to be offered 
 " up than in this profefllon, whofe con- 
 " ftant practice opens innumerable inftances 
 " of it upon us. 
 
 " In a word, my fon, there are fo many 
 and fo ftrong arguments of this nature, 
 to be given againft all trade, that the 
 general advantage of the common-wealth, 
 alone can, in any way, fupport it againft 
 them. This therefore mould be written 
 
 " in
 
 20 C H R Y S A L : Or the 
 
 " in the deepeft characters, on the heart of 
 " every merchant, that he Jhculd never let 
 " private interefl tempt him to engage in any 
 tc trade or fcbeme that can interfere isoith the 
 " publick inter eft ^ or is forbidden by the laws 
 
 . " of his country. 1 (hall fay no more; 
 
 " nor burthen your mind with farther ad- 
 " vice. Obferve this, and be happy." 
 
 I was obliged to hear him , but his word?, 
 at that time, made no more imprefllon on 
 my mind,- than the whiflling of the winds, 
 nor in the le aft altered my intentions -, though 
 I felt no fcruple in promifing obedience, 
 the breach of which could never be up- 
 braided to me, as I could not think of 
 praftifing it, before his death mould remove 
 the only perfon who had fuch an autho- 
 rity. f H 
 
 CHAP.
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 21 
 
 ********* ********* * 
 
 C H A P. IV. 
 
 7' he hiftory of TRAFFICK continued : His fa- 
 ther's death. He continues in trade^ and 
 turns fchemer. His various fcbemes end in 
 Us ruin. The rife and progrefs of his 
 pajjion for AMELIA. The bafe abufe of her 
 confidence^ by 'which he cheated her of the 
 greatejt part of her for tune ^ and after-ivards 
 formed dijhonourable defigns againft her- 
 fe/f. 
 
 opportunities which I had long 
 JL panted for, arrived too foon : my 
 father dying juft after I was of age, and 
 leaving me pofiefied of wealth fufficient for 
 me to exercife my talents on, as I was not 
 blefled with prudence to take his advicp, 
 and put it to its proper ufe, in rational en- 
 joyment. 
 
 I was immediately a man of confequence, 
 and that, not only in my own eyes. I made 
 a figure upon Change ; I figned among the 
 foremoft in the public fubfcriptions. But 
 all this did not fatisfy me. I fickened at the 
 thought of having an equal, not only in 
 wealth, the darling paffion of my foul j but 
 
 alfo
 
 22 C H R YS AL.- Or -At 
 
 alfo in the reputation of acquiring it by 
 methods of my ownfirilkingouti as I looked 
 upon the known courfe of bufmefs as too 
 flow for my advances, and too limited ior 
 my genius. 
 
 I therefore immediately became a SCHE- 
 MER, and entered into every project which 
 my own brain could invent, or artful impo- 
 fition fuggeft to me, blindly, wilfully giv- 
 ing up the ferenity of an open mind, for 
 the vain appearance of myfterious confe- 
 quence and defign ; and making my fortune 
 a prey to every marking projeftor who flat- 
 tered my vanity with promifes of fuccefs, 
 in the very attempts which had been his 
 own ruin. 
 
 The perplexity in which this infatuation 
 foon involved my affairs, far from opening 
 my eyes, only fet me upon deeper fchemes. 
 Sporting upon private adventures, taking in 
 unwary confidence, flinging the fair trader, 
 by eluding the reilrictions of law, were 
 now too fmall a game for me : I was en- 
 tangled, and muft cut the Gordian knot by 
 fome bold flroke. 
 
 I therefore threw off all reflraint, and 
 entered into meafures the moft injurious to 
 my country, which was then engaged in a 
 juft and extenfive war. I infured the effects 
 of its enemies, and of confequence gave 
 
 them
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 23 
 
 them information how to avoid its forces. 
 I carried on their trade with other countries : 
 \fuppliedt\\em with provilions from ours; 
 and at length went ib far, as to lend, and 
 procure them money to fupport the war again tl 
 ourfelves. 
 
 But all my fchemes met their juft fate. 
 Though I could give their mips informa- 
 tion how to avoid our fquadrons, yet they 
 fell into the hands of unftationed privateers. 
 My fnbterfugcs for carrying on their trade 
 were ieen through, and a Hop put to them 
 before I could receive the ftipulated profit. 
 The flores I bought for them wefe inter- 
 cepted by our fleets, and, to conclude all, 
 the enemy, by one flretch of arbitrary 
 power, at the conclufion of a peace, can- 
 celled all the debts of the war. 
 
 This finifhed 'my ruin : I had not only 
 lent them all my own fortune, but had alfo 
 borrowed much more to fupply them, on 
 confidence in their promifes, than I was 
 now able to pay. 
 
 In this fituation, the advice of my father 
 returned full upon me, and aggravated my 
 diftrefs. But 1 had no time for reflection ; 
 the horrors of a jail ftared me full in the 
 face, which I had no way to avoid but by 
 flight, the equivocalnefs of my characl-er 
 having made every honeft man, who was 
 
 able
 
 24 C H R Y S A L : Or the 
 
 able to aflift me, afraid of being concerned 
 with me. 
 
 I therefore immediately raifed all the 
 money I pofllbly could, and embarked fe- 
 cretly in a fliip of my own, for Jamaica ; 
 Heaven, to make its juftice the more fig- 
 nal, ufing my blackeft guilt as a chain to 
 draw me to the vengeance I deferved. 
 
 I muft flop here, and look back, to give 
 you an account of an affair, which the pre- 
 cipitancy of my ruin prevented my men- 
 tioning in its proper order. 
 
 Much as fuch a complicated fcene as I 
 have defcribed, muft have taken up my 
 rime and engroflfed my thoughts, I had ftill 
 found leifure for guilt of another nature, 
 though ultimately fpringing from the fame 
 caufe. 
 
 I have told you, that my father had ac- 
 quired his own fortune by induftry ; but as 
 the greateft induftry requires a foundation 
 to work upon, his had been affifted by the 
 perfon to whom he ferved his apprentice- 
 fhip, who knowing his abilities, and con- 
 fiding in his honefty, upon the decline of 
 his own health, eftablifhed him in partner- 
 fhip with his only fon, whom he thought 
 too young to conduct fo extenfive a bufi- 
 ncfs. 
 
 My
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 25 
 
 My father faithfully executed this great 
 truft, and continued the partnerlhip, till 
 his oblervation of my unfortunate difpo- 
 iition determined him to make me quit 
 bufmefs ; when it was diffolved, without: 
 the leaft breach in that real friendfhip 
 which had fo long fubfifted between them. 
 Though I did not obey my father's defire, 
 and retire from bufmefs on his death, yet 
 my vanity would not admit a thought of 
 recommencing the partnerfhip, as it would 
 have been but a curb on my favourite 
 fchemes, and have implied a want of afTift- 
 ance, which, in my own opinion, I was 
 far above. On the contrary, I rather de- 
 clined too clofe a connection with him in 
 bufinels , as I feared he might have taken 
 upon him to interpofe his advice againft any 
 thing, which his narrow fearful temper 
 might difapprove in my great defigns-, buc 
 as 1 kept up every other appearance of re- 
 gard, and even refpect for him, this fhy- 
 nefs was not obfervcd, nor any coolnefs oc- 
 cafioned by it, in the intercourfe of intimacy 
 between us. 
 
 But for this conduct I had another mo- 
 tive, befides regard for kim. He had an 
 only daughter, enriched with every beauty 
 and virtue that could mark the favourite 
 work of heaven : fhe was about four years 
 C younger
 
 26 CHR YS AL: Or tie 
 younger than me, which difference of age 
 Had given me an opportunity of treating 
 her with fuch a fondtiefs, from her very 
 infancy, as railed a real love in her grate- 
 till heart, as her beauties did the ftrongeft 
 one it was capable of feeling in mine. Our 
 fathers had leen this growing attachment, 
 with the greateft pleafure, from the begin- 
 ning, and encouraged it between us, (our 
 mothers both died in our infancy) joining 
 in. the general opinion, that the union which 
 had always been between their families 
 would be compleated by the intermarriage 
 of their children : an opinion that was then 
 my pride, and feemed a pleafure to the 
 young Amelia's honeft heart, that was above 
 difguife. 
 
 But my father's death, before me was of 
 an age to undertake the care of fuch an 
 awful Hate, and a long illnefs of her fa- 
 ther's after, during which her filial piety 
 and love would not admit a thought of any 
 thing that mould interfere with her tender 
 regard for him, prevented my happinefs 
 from being accomplimed, while there was 
 any obftacle that could hinder my evil ge- 
 nius from defeating it. 
 
 At length, after languilhing five years,' 
 her father died, without a moment's more 
 
 im-
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 27 
 immediate warning, having been on the 
 Exchange that Day as ufual. 
 
 In the tumult of this lofs, I was fent for ; 
 and no will being found, for he unhappily 
 had not imagined his end fo near, nor made 
 any fettlement of his affairs, in the confi- 
 dence of our attachment, Amelia gave every 
 thing into my hands, and requested me u>. 
 make up ail her father's accounts, and con- 
 clude her dealings with the world. 
 
 Tliis happened jult as my feheming had 
 begun toembarrals my affairs. My hearc 
 iherefbre, never proof to much temptation, 
 yielded to fuch an opportunity .of recover- 
 ing the ioffes of my folly at her expence, 
 k\ finking the greateit part of her fortune 
 ro my own uie ; never confidering, that I 
 might have the whole in a. juft and ho- 
 nourable way, enhaunced with the greater 
 bieffing of herfdr'. 
 
 To accomplish this clefign, and prepare 
 her for what was to follow, I pretended to 
 /imdia, that I found many difficulties in her 
 father's affairs \ and having fecreted as much 
 as I thought proper, and could with fafe- 
 ty, and deftroyed every memorial that 
 might detect me, for all which her un- 
 bounded confidence gave ample opportu- 
 nity, I at length gave her in an account, 
 with the ftrongelt exprefiions , of concern, 
 C 2 to
 
 23 CHR YS AL: Or the 
 to find that what I had long apprehended was 
 too true, and her father's affairs in a very bad 
 Jztuation , that 1 had however, with great 
 difficulty ', got together fomet king above io,ooo/. 
 and was convinced* that this perplexity in his 
 Affairs* was the occa/ion of his long illnefs* 
 and had not left him fpirit enough to enquire 
 into them* and make a will. 
 
 This reprefentation had the effect I dc- 
 figned -, Amelias confidence in me would 
 not admit a thought of my deceiving her ; 
 as pride, too powerful in the pureit human 
 heart, prevented her revealing her circum- 
 ftances to any one elfe, who might have 
 attempted to difprove what I faid ; though 
 indeed it was fcarce natural to fufpect me 
 of a deceit, that, according to the opinion 
 which then prevailed concerning Amelia and 
 me, could only affecl: myfelf. 
 
 She, therefore, with an appearance of 
 furprize rather than doubt, or even con- 
 cern, acquiefced, and figned a receipt in 
 full, defiring me to deftroy all her father's 
 books and papers, as they could be of no 
 farther Ufe to her. 
 
 This compleated my defign, beyond a 
 poffibility of detection, and even raifed a 
 new one againft the poor pittance I had 
 left her, though it was not quite a fourth 
 part of what was really her right : for I had 
 
 now
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 29 
 
 now thrown off all thoughts of marriage 
 with one fo far beneath me in fortune, looking 
 vpon it as a reproach to my wifdom and know- 
 ledge of the world, to make any bargain in 
 which IJhcu'd not have the advantage : for 
 what I had fo baiely defrauded her of, I 
 confidered merely as an acquisition of my 
 fuperiour (kill in bufinefs, and absolutely 
 my own, without any manner of obliga- 
 tion to the perlbn from whom I had ob- 
 tained it : not that I had loft my dejire for 
 hcrperfon, (the only degree of love my heart 
 was capable of feeling) but the advantage I 
 had it now in my hopes to obtain over her, 
 made me look upon her as a fure prey to 
 my pleafure. 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 Continued. He cheats AMELIA of the re- 
 Jidue of her fortune, and marries another 
 woman. AMELIA fas him at taw, is 
 tajl, and goes for JAMAICA. He is ruined* 
 and follows her. 
 
 THOUGH my whole life was one 
 countinued fcene of v ill any, yet in 
 all, there was a gradation, a regular de- 
 C 3 fcent
 
 30 C H R Y S A L : Or the 
 fcent from bad to worfe ; each fuccefsful 
 crime opening new opportunities and fug- 
 gefting fchemes which never entered into 
 my thoughts before. 
 
 This was exactly my cafe v/ith regard to 
 Amelia. While ihe was in pofTefiion. of ,her 
 whole fortune, the higheft wifh of my heart 
 was to marry her j but no fooner had an 
 unhappy accident given me an opportunity 
 of defrauding her of far the greater! part of 
 it, than that refpectful love immediately 
 lunk into loofe defire, and my fuccefs in 
 the former fet my thoughts at work to ac- 
 complifh the gratification of the latter, on 
 my own bafe terms. 
 
 To bring this defign to perfe&icm, it was 
 necefiary that I mould get her fortune en- 
 tirely into my. power; which I accordingly 
 formed fchemes to accomplifh without de- 
 lay : for the iucceft' of my former attempt, 
 fo far from fatisfying my avarice, or raifing 
 any fenfe of companion in my breafr, for 
 her wrongs, had : made me look upon her- 
 felf, and all that belonged to her, a>s my 
 property,- which I was as impatient to pof- 
 fefs as if it was detained from me by in- 
 juflice. 
 
 I therefore took occafion one day, when 
 we were alone together, to drop fome 
 words of concern, at my not having im- 
 mediately
 
 Adventures of t GUINEA, 31 
 
 mediately by me, a fum of money to lay 
 out on moft advantagious terms, which 
 had been that very morning propofed to 
 me. 
 
 She directly took the hint, and faid, her 
 little fortune was ftill in her hands, in the 
 fame bank-notes I had given her ; and if 
 the ufe of it, for any time, could be of 
 advantage to me, fhe fhould feel a greater 
 pleafure in my taking it, than in any pro- 
 fit flie could make of it any other way. 
 
 This was juft what I wiftied ; and though 
 I could fcarce refrain from laughing, at the 
 eafmefs with which fhe took the bait, I 
 would not accept of her offer but with tins 
 reftridtion, that I would confider whether the 
 terms propofed to me might notfui:/;jr, and 
 benioreadvaatagious thao-ths imereftl could 
 afford her if I fhould make ufc of it i 
 felf. I faid this with an equivocal f: 
 which fhe underftood as I would have her, 
 and immediately, with an alien ting blufh 
 the notes into my hand, withou: recK.i. 
 a receipt or any kind of acknowledgment 
 for them. 
 
 Having thus gained that which I rec- 
 koned the better part of Amelia, and fure, 
 as I imagined, of herfeif, when necefllty 
 fhould humble her to my defigns, as I had 
 her whole means even of fubfiftence in my 
 C 4 power
 
 32 C H R Y S A L : Or the 
 
 power, I diredtly refolved to clofe with an 
 cffer, fome time before made me by a 
 wealthy merchant, of a large fortune, with 
 his daughter, whom I accordingly married 
 a few days after J had got pofifeflion of A- 
 metia's money. 
 
 I (hall fpare myfelf the pain of any far- 
 ther defcription of my wife, than that fhe 
 was the very reverfe of Amelia^ in foul and 
 body -, and my marriage confequently as 
 unhappy as I juftly deferved. 
 
 But I comforted myfelf with hopes of 
 happinefs in the enjoyment of Amelia, whom 
 I looked upon as my own, and only de- 
 ferred making my bafe propofals to, till 
 her refentment at my marriage fhould cool, 
 -and I could devife fome plan of privacy to 
 elude the vigilance of my wife. Not but I 
 dreaded the firft emotions of her anger, 
 which I expefted to break out in loud com- 
 plaints. But I was miftaken, in meafuring 
 her foul thus by my own. She fcorned to 
 complain ; nor did I hear a word from her, 
 to interrupt the riot of my wedding. A 
 greatnefs of foul, fo far above my compre- 
 henfion, that I attributed it to fear of giv- 
 ing offence to one, in whofe power fhe 
 muft be fenfible fhe was. 
 
 But, at the end of the month, I was 
 awoke from thofe dreams, by a mefTage 
 
 from
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. gg : 
 
 from her, delivered by a relation of her's, 
 to defire I fhould pay in her money to him,, 
 for which he would give me her receipt. 
 As I was not prepared for this, I believe it 
 threw me into a confufion too vifible , but 
 I foon recovered prefence of mind enough 
 to anfwer, that " I could not but be fur- 
 prized at fuch a demand,, as Amelia muft. 
 be fenfible, that I had paid her all the mo- 
 ney of her's that was in my hands, for 
 which I had her difcharge in full. 
 
 The gentleman replied in aftonimment,, 
 " Her difcharge, Sir ! that was when you 
 4 fettled her affairs j but me fays, that me, 
 <c fince then, gave her whole fortune into 
 " your hands,, to lay out for her. And, 
 ".- Sir,- my coufm is known to be neither a 
 tc fool nor a liar ; though I fear fhe has 
 ** fufFered feverely for her ill-placed con- 
 tc fidence ". " Perhaps me fays fo, Sir,. 
 44 (faicl I) but. I know, nothing of the mat- 
 '.* ter, and am- not accountable for what 
 " fhe fays or you think, Sir-, and' I fop- 
 " pofe, if your coufm is not a fool, fhe 
 " has not given her money without feme*-- 
 " thing to fhew for it. But you muft ex^ 
 " cufe my talking any longer on fo idle a 
 " a fubjecl:; and fo Sir, your fervant. " 
 The mine was now fprung, and I waited 
 with impatience for the event. As to her 
 C 5 demand:
 
 34 C H R Y S A L : Or ibe 
 demand, I knew fhe could never fupport 
 it, as there was no peribn prefent when me 
 gave me the notes , and I had negociated 
 them in a manner, beyond all poffibility 
 of. their being traced, 
 
 While I was hugging myfelf in this fe- 
 curity, the friends of Amelia perfuaded her 
 to bring a bill in Chancery againft me, in 
 which the whole affair was let forth without 
 any exaggeration. But this I made light 
 of, as I had &y lawyer ready, under whofe 
 directions I fwore fnch an anfwer as fet her 
 charge entirely afide. Elate with this fuc- 
 cefs/ I thought this the time to purfue my 
 victory, and wrote her a letter, in which I 
 attributed every thing in my conduct of 
 Tate, that might have furprized her, to 
 love, and defpair of obtaining her by any 
 other method ; and offered her a fettlement 
 above the demand fhe had made to me, if 
 fhe would confent to my defires. This I 
 wrote^n fuch general terms, that my letter 
 could i^pt be brought in evidence againft 
 me, and the largenefs of the offer was only 
 to decoy her into a treaty, there being no- 
 thing farther from my thoughts than ever 
 to make her independant of my plea- 
 fure. 
 
 This infult only added new fewel to her 
 
 rcfrntment ; and all the anfwer I received, 
 
 - - was
 
 Adventures ef a GUINEA. 35 
 
 was by another bill ; but this met the fame 
 fate, by the fame methods, with the 
 former. 
 
 After this, I heard no more of Amelia 
 for fome time : but what was my aftontfh- 
 rnent, when I was informed, that fhe had 
 fold off her jewels, and other little effects, 
 and was gone to a relation of her's, who 
 lived in "Jamaica. This broke all my cle- 
 ligns ; and defpair of ever obtaining her 
 awoke my love, and aggravated my re- 
 morfe for my ill ufage of her almoft to mad- 
 nefs. 
 
 From this time the hand of heaven feemed 
 to be upon- me , every thing I had any 
 concern in mifcarried , and to haften* on 
 my ruin, my houfe was a perfect fink of 
 riot and debauchery : my wife, as ilie had 
 no charms to excite defire, in a manner 
 publickly purchafing the gratification of 
 her lufts at the moft extravagant expence, 
 and living in a profufion that mud defhoy 
 even a royal fortune. 
 
 Mine, great as it had been, funk under 
 fo many diffipa-tions of ail kinds , and I 
 had no refource left as I faid before, but in 
 precipitate flight, which heaven made my 
 paflion for Amelia clire<5t to 'Jamaica, to 
 mark the juftice of its vengence' the more 
 plainly. 
 
 c 6 CHAP!
 
 S 6 CHR Y S AL: Or the 
 
 CHAP. VL 
 
 Conclufion of the biftory C/"TRAFFICK. He 
 arrives iu Jamaica, where he learns that 
 AMELIA had been taken by the Spaniards. 
 He turns buccanier, and ravages the Spa- 
 nifh c oajls^ where hefnds AMELIA. Juft as 
 he is going to feize her ; he is knocked down 
 by her hujband, and taken frifoner. He is 
 condemned to die. He fues to AMELIA far 
 mercy ; Jhe re.jefts him with abhorrence. His 
 punijhment is changed from, death to the 
 Mines. 
 
 I Had hitherto varnifhed over my vil- 
 lanies with hypocriiy, and ftrove to pre- 
 ferve fome appearance, at lead, of virtue. 
 But this was a reftraint no longer pofTible, 
 nor indeed profitable to me now, when my 
 flight took off the veil, and alarmed all 
 mankind againft me-, fo that mine was 
 really a (late of war with all the world. 
 
 On my arrival in Jamaica, I had the ad- 
 dition to my grief to find, that Amelia had 
 been taken in her paflage thither by a Spa- 
 mjh privateer : for fhe had kit England fome 
 
 time
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA, 37 
 
 time before the conclufion of the peace had 
 compleated my ruin. 
 
 This drove me to defpair : I was wearied 
 of life-, but refolved not to die unrevenged 
 on thofe who had thus, as I thought, rob- 
 bed me of my hopes , never reflecting on 
 the improbability of her hearkening to my 
 fuit. 
 
 Burning with this project,. I fitted out 
 my Ihip, and manned her with a crew as 
 defperate as myfeif ,, refolving, though the 
 war was at an end, to purfue my revenge 
 upon the Spaniards on the defencelefs coafts 
 of their American dominions, in which my 
 other paffions were urged to hade, by fear 
 of my creditors, the news of my failing 
 having come to 'Jamaica almoil as foon as 
 myfeif. 
 
 We therefore fet out upon our cruife, or 
 rather piracy, without delay, of which I 
 fhall net raife your horror with any further 
 particulars,, than that we went directly into 
 the Spanifh Mam, where we not only rifled 
 all the mips we met, but alfo made defcents 
 on the coafts, and ravaged with a. barbar 
 rity that was a reproach to human nature. 
 
 The tumult and hurry of this life kept 
 my fpirits in an agitation, that gave a kind 
 of refpite to my grief;: and the fpoil we 
 n>ade in our firft enterprizes was fo great, 
 
 as
 
 38 C H R Y S A L: Or the 
 as to awake hopes of reftoring my affairs, 
 fo as to enable me to return to England with 
 all the credit health could give. 
 
 And could I have known when to (lop, 
 I was ibon rich even beyond my rnoft fan- 
 guine hopes : But urged by avarice, and 
 encouraged by fuccefs, I (till went on head- 
 long to my fate, which I met in an attempt 
 upon a Town, fome way up in the coun- 
 try, the convenience and pleafantnefs of 
 whofe Situation had made it the refidenoe 
 of the richeft families in the whole province-, 
 as its diilance from the coaft made them 
 live in a ftate of perfect fecurity, without 
 any fortification or guard. 
 
 To this place we d^ecled .OUF march, 
 one evening, and arrived at it a little alter 
 midnight, with an intention to furprize the 
 inhabitants, and return to our (hip with the 
 fpoil, before the country could rile to ineer- 
 cept us. 
 
 The firft part of our Defign fucceeded, 
 and we got pofiellion of the town without 
 any refiftance ; where we committed all the 
 outrages, and roamed about with the 
 licentious carelefnefs of free-booters, under 
 no command. 
 
 While every one thus prowled about for 
 prey, fate goa-ded me to an arbour in a gar- 
 den, whither I followed the cries of wome. 
 
 I
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 39 
 
 { was juftrumingin among them, inflamed 
 with brutal deiire, when what was my 
 aitonifhment to iee Amelia^ in the moit 
 magnificent undrefs, throwing heaps of 
 gold and jewels into a vault that opened by 
 a trap-door into the arbour. I ftood mo- 
 tionlefs at the fight for fome moments, in 
 diftruft of my fenfes, but two fuch objects 
 as me and her riches, foon woke me from 
 my trance, and I advanced to take pofief- 
 lion of both, refolving not to diicover my- 
 felf till a more proper time , the ffcrangenefe 
 of my drefs, that was defigaed to ftrike 
 horror, and the blood which, from fcenes 
 of cruelty and murder juft committed, ftill 
 reeked upon my bands and face, making k 
 impofilble that fne fhould know me. 
 
 At the fight of me, the women ail 
 fhrieked, and Amelia^ as I advanced to lay 
 hold on her, fell into a fwoon. This em- 
 barrafied me greatly, as ' I had no time to 
 lofe, for our centinels juft then founded a 
 retreat. However, I thought I would wait 
 a little, to fee if me recovered, and Hoop- 
 ing to raife her, to give her air, I received 
 fuch a blow from behind, as deprived me 
 of all fenfe for feveral hours ; when, on 
 my recovering, I found myfelf chained cm 
 the ground in a dungeon.
 
 40 C H R Y S A L : Or fa 
 
 I was fome time before I could believe 
 my fenfes, or conceive where I was : but I 
 foon found my fate, when the jailor coming 
 to fee if I was alive, gave me to underftand, 
 that my companions had gone off without 
 me, and left me in the hands of a noble- 
 man, who had himfelf knocked me down, 
 as I was- going to commit a rape upon his 
 lady, while fhe lay in a fwoon ; and that I 
 had been thrown into this dungeon, that if 
 I recovered, I might fuffer the punimment 
 due to the outrages we had committed both 
 here, and in feveral other places of their 
 dominions. 
 
 I wanted no further information to mew 
 me the horrors of my fituation. I faw them 
 all, and aggravated an hundred fold, by the 
 accufations of my own confcience, that 
 could now trace the hand of Heaven.in the 
 juftice of rny punimment, which had thus 
 overtaken me, in the prefence, and on the 
 account of Amelia. I wifhed for death, as 
 my only relief, and determined to feek it : 
 But, alas! my refokuion failed me-, and. I 
 feared to die. In this mifery I was dragged 
 before a magiftrate, who, enumerating the 
 crimes we had been guilty of, condemned 
 me to immediate deatru This fentence, fo 
 much milder than my fears, awoke an-hope 
 of farther mercy, to obtain which, my evil 
 
 genius-.
 
 del-ventures of ^GUINEA. 41 
 
 genius fuggefted it to me, to apply to Ame- 
 lia, abfurdly flattering myfelf, that feme 
 Iparks of her love for me might yet remain 
 alive, or at lead, her goodnefs take delight 
 in mewing itfelf fuperior to my ill-treatment, 
 Bafe hope, that met its juft reward ! 
 
 1 therefore waved attempting a defence 
 of other crimes, as I was confcious, that I 
 could not make any, but afferted my inno- 
 cence, as to the particular charge of a bafe 
 defign upon Amelia, at the time I was ta- 
 ken, adding, that " I had the honour of 
 Ct being nearly related to that lady, and 
 " that, if I was indulged with a few words 
 " with her, in the prefence of all there, I 
 ** hoped I might be found to merit a miti- 
 " gation of my fentence." 
 
 On my mentioning the name of Amelia, 
 I obferved one of the principal perfons in 
 the court, whom I foon understood to be 
 her hufband, kindle into rage. He did 
 not however interrupt me ; but as foon as 
 I had concluded, he darted up, and ex- 
 claimed with the mod furious indignation : 
 Amelia tby relation ! No more than angels are 
 related to devils, by (Bringing from the fame 
 Creator I Her virtues are dijhonoured by the 
 claim / But Jhe Jhall appear and difprove the 
 odious calumny ! Saying which words, he 
 inftantly went for her, while an hollow 
 
 murmur
 
 42 C H R Y S A L : Or the 
 murmur of furprize and deteftation made 
 the filence of the court the more dreadful, 
 and heightened the horrors of my ful- 
 pence. 
 
 But I waited not long ; Amdia foon ap- 
 peared, led in by her hufband, and being 
 ieated by the judge, " Where (faid me, 
 " looking round with the ierenity of con- 
 " fcious virtue) Where is the perfon who 
 ' c fays he is related to me ?" 
 
 The fight of her threw me into fuch a 
 conflict of pafiicns, that, without reflecting 
 where I was, or how necefiary it might be 
 for me to raife her companion by feme 
 moving addrefs, that might fcften the- fe- 
 verity of her refentment for my forrnw 
 treatment of her,, as welil as aflure her of 
 .my innocence of any bafe defign againft her 
 perfon, in the condition me was in when 1 
 was taken, I could not forbear crying out in 
 Englijb, for I had fpoken before in Spanijh^ 
 in which I exprefied myfelf but badly. 0, 
 Amelia ! baft thou then forgot me ? 
 
 At the found of my voice, fixe darted, 
 and looking earneftly at me for a moment, 
 fell upon her knees, and lifting her hands 
 and eyes to Heaven, fhe faid aloud in Spa- 
 nifo^ " O God, how fignal is thy juftice ! 
 " Let me, let all the world acknowledge 
 " and adore it P' And then rifing; and 
 
 turning
 
 Advent if/es of a GUINEA. 43 
 
 turning to her hufband, who flood in a- 
 mazement; ' This, my lord (faid flie) 
 ' this is the man of whom I have informed 
 4 you : This is that Trqffick whole bafe 
 ' difhoneily obliged me to leave my na- 
 
 * tive country ; and ib, by that providence 
 ' which is able to turn the greateii misfor- 
 4 rune into a blefiing, was made the caufe 
 
 of my prefent happinefs with you. I ab- 
 ' jure all kindred with him; I defire he 
 4 may be examined as to my (lory ; and if 
 " he can vary in the leaft from what / have 
 4 told, you, let. me be condemned to the 
 ' fevereft punifhment, but that of Haying 
 '- longer in his fight, or ever feeing his 
 1 face- rn ore. '. 
 
 On this/ fhe withdrew, without deigning 
 a Fook at me: But her words had. a p; 
 effed upon my heart, .and I rcfolved to do 
 her juftice. I therefore, prevented her hul : - 
 band's command^ and, in as few \vords: a^ 
 :poflibk, related the black aitair with the 
 Itrifteft, truth. When I had concluded 1 , 
 her lord declared, that I had not only con- 
 firmed every thing me had' toid him, but 
 alfo- added marry circumltances of my ov/n 
 guilt, which me had omitted, or perhaps 
 not knov/n. 
 
 So complicated guilt Teemed to require 
 cop&imtion to find out proper punifliment, 
 
 fo
 
 44 C H R Y S A L r Or the 
 fo I was remanded to my dungeon, bur 
 without the leaft encouragement to hope, 
 The next day I was again brought into the 
 court, where my former fentence was chan- 
 ged into that of being broke alive upon the 
 wheel ; and this feverity was faid to be in 
 juftice to Amel:a. 
 
 When I had flood fome moments flupi- 
 fied with fear, the judge addreficd me again 
 in thefe words : ' Thou haft heard, O 
 wretched man, the fentence due to thy 
 crimes , but great as they have been, 
 mercy extends her hand to thee. The 
 virtues of the illuftrious Dcnna slmelia 
 over-ballance thy guilt, and have pre- 
 vailed for a mitigation of thy punifh- 
 ment, in gratitude to that divine provi- 
 dence which made thee the caufe of her 
 coming among us. Thou malt not die, 
 becaufe we would not kill thy foul, before 
 thou haft had time to repent of thy 
 crimes -, nor fhalt thou fuffer torture, that 
 thy ftrength may not be impaired for the 
 labour to which thy life is doomed ; for 
 . this is the laft day that thou malt ever be- 
 hold the light of heaven : Thou fhalt 
 immediately defcend into the mines, there 
 to work out the refidue of thy unhappy 
 days, in railing that Gold for the ufe of 
 
 * others,
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 45 
 
 ' others, the infatiable defire of which was 
 ' the caufe of all thy guilt.' 
 
 I would have fpoken, in the agony of 
 my foul, to defire death , but I was (topped 
 by the judge, who fternly faid, that to hear 
 a word from me would be an infult upon 
 juftice. On his faying which, I was hur- 
 ried away to the mountains over us, and 
 precipitated into this gulph, where I have 
 now been near. 
 
 Juft as he faid this, I was obliged to fly 
 away to my body, which the unhappy Fraf- 
 jick had thrown from his Hand, into the 
 veffel in which it was to be raifed from the 
 Mine. 
 
 The length of this ftory will make you 
 wonder, when I tell you, that the fpirit of 
 fraffick Jhewed it to me in a moment, for 
 no longer did the gold remain in his poflef- 
 fion , and I am always obliged to attend my 
 body whenever it changes its matter. But 
 to underftand this, you muft be informed, 
 that we fpirits do not diftinguifh our exif- 
 tence by Time, or a fucceflion of parts, as 
 men do ; with us, there is nothing paft or 
 to come, but every thing is prefent in one 
 view, fo far as the natural courfe of caules 
 and effects is preferred free from interruption 
 by fuperior power. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 46 C H R Y S A L : Or tic 
 
 CHAP. VII. 
 
 CIIRYSAL furfuas the hijlory of bis adven- 
 tures. He explains feme difficulties, in bis 
 own nature. lie is offered at ccnfeffion to 
 a frieft. 'The confeffion and creed of a na 
 five PERUVIAN. T'he p-nnancz enjoined. 
 him by a Jefuit. 
 
 is no crime, however black 
 in its own nature, that does not re- 
 ceive an aggravation from hypocrify , but 
 the higheft exeition of this \ice is, .when it 
 makes a pretext of the bed inftitnrions, to 
 promote the practice of the word actions. 
 Of this 1 have iecn innumerable inilance?, 
 in the adventures of my preient flute ; 
 though none ib flagrant as \vhat I ihali no'v 
 relate. 
 
 You may imagine I felt^e*f*e at emer- 
 ging from that infernal abyfs into light. 
 There was nothing remarkable in the three 
 or four firft ftages I went through, my tem- 
 porary owners being only the re liners and 
 other tradeimen, wno purified me from 
 mixtures of mineral droJs, - 
 
 I
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 47 
 
 I fee you are defirous to know how I 
 could preserve my identity, when melted 
 down with large quantities of the fame me- 
 tal. But you muft know, that fpirits have 
 a power of expanding or contracting them- 
 felves into what dimenfions they pleafe j 
 and that their life is not confined to any 
 particular parts, as the heart, or head, as 
 in man, but is dififiifed through their whole 
 bodies, fo that any part being feparated 
 from the reft, does not die, but that por- 
 tion of fpirit which was in it, at the time 
 of fuch feparation, ferves as a life for it, 
 and becomes adiftincT: fpirit, to inform that 
 diftinct body, and fo on, ad infinitum : For 
 as it is agreed upon, that bodies can be in- 
 finitely divided, upon the fame principles 
 fpirit muft alfo : for it would be moft ab- 
 furd and impious to deny of the fuperiour, 
 any perfection which \vc attribute to the in- 
 
 teriour The enlarging of my body, 
 
 therefore, by the addition of more matter, 
 or the lefTeningit by ever fo many divifions^ 
 makes no alteration in my famenefs, fo long 
 as my confcioufnefs remains : The former 
 only encreafing my energy, by the acceflion 
 of fo much fpirit as informed the additional 
 matter, for we fpirits embody ourfelves en- 
 tirely in commixtion, and refolve into one ; 
 
 as
 
 4 S C H R Y S A L : Or the 
 
 as the latter feparates us again into dtf- 
 tindt beings, to animate our feparated bo- 
 dies. 
 
 The firft abfolute owner to whom I be- 
 longed, was a native Peruvian, who had 
 found means to purloin a confiderable 
 quantity of gold, part of which I was, and 
 who prefented me, as a peace-offer ing, to an 
 ecclefiaftick at confefiion. 
 
 I fee you have a curiofity to know my 
 lentimems on religious matters j but I have 
 told you before, that I am not allowed to 
 make revelations. Sufficient on this head 
 have been already made to man, did not his 
 perverfenefs diftort them from their original 
 perfpicuky and perfection. 
 
 As there was fomething in the tranfac- 
 tions which pafied, when I was offered to 
 this ecclefiaftick, that may be new to you, 
 I mail repeat fome particulars of them. 
 
 You muft have heard of the authority of 
 the clergy, in all the countries which pro- 
 fefs the religion of the Roman pontiff, and 
 particulaily thofe under the Spanijh monar- 
 chy. Of all the feveral orders which compofe 
 this political hierarchy, thofe who call them- 
 
 felveS THE COMPANIONS OF THEIR GOD, 
 
 have acquired the greateft power. 
 
 Though this title may appear profanely 
 great to you, yet they feem to fuppdrt it 
 
 by
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 49 
 by the mare which they aflume, in Come 
 of his mod facred prerogatives. 
 
 To a reverend father, of this order, was 
 1 prefented, on the . feftival called Rafter. 
 He was feated in a retired chamber of his 
 temple, in the exercife of one of the func- 
 tions of the deity, bearing^ and funijhing y or 
 forgiving fins, according to his ibvereign 
 pleafure. It is not poffible to give you here 
 an idea of the iblernnity of this ceremony, 
 in a country where all religion is evaporated 
 into Ihew. Be it fufficient to fay, that the 
 pageantry was fuch a mockery of the deity, 
 as no other of his creatures, but man^ would 
 dare to commit. The man who . brought 
 me into this myfterious fane, advanced 
 with fear and trembling to the apparent 
 deity of the place, and kneeling before him, 
 confefled himfelf guilty of feveral heinous 
 crimes, in the admifiion of involuntary 
 thoughts, and indulgence of the appetites 
 of nature, contrary to the rules laid down 
 .for him by his fpiritual guide. But this 
 will be beft explained by inflances. The 
 lirft crime which the penitent revealed, was 
 having raflsd a rrorfel of flefh on a day, 
 when it was prohibited. The father, with 
 a fcvere frown told him, ' that was a great 
 ' fin, which he muft attone for, by. work- 
 * ing two days for the church, without hire, 
 
 VOL. I. D 4 and
 
 5 o C H R Y S A L : Or the 
 
 c and abftaining from flefh, at the fame 
 ' time, though it was generally allowed.' 
 
 He next confefied, that he had beaten a 
 
 dog belonging to a pried, which had broke 
 
 into his hut, and eaten the pottage prepared 
 
 for him, by which means he had been 
 
 obliged to go to fleep without his fupper. 
 
 .At this, the prieft knitting his brow into 
 
 tenfold aufterity, exclaimed, ' this is 
 
 rebellion ! rebellion againft your God ! 
 
 Do you not know, that the dog of an ec- 
 
 clefiaflick, is above the greatefl (even 
 
 white) layman, much more a wicked 
 
 native ! you muft make amends ! you 
 
 muft ! or' The tone and gefture 
 
 with which he fpcke thefe word.% fo terri- 
 fied the trembling w retch, that he inflantly 
 put his hand into his bofom, and pulling 
 me out, prefented me, to make his peace. 
 As foon as 7 appeared, the prieit's features 
 foftened, the tone cf his voice fell, and re- 
 ceiving me, v.'iih a gracious fmile, ' You 
 have not faid (fays he) that the mailer of 
 the dog was a Jefui: ! thy c ri TV.', there- 
 fore, though great, may be forgiven ! 
 but beware for the future, and remember, 
 that the vvoiid, and all in it, belongs to 
 us-, and fhai to be guilty of the leaft dif- 
 obcdicnce, even in thojght, is treafon, 
 and deferves the fevered pun mment. 
 
 ' Proceed !
 
 Adventures of ^GUINEA. 51 
 
 Proceed ! unburthen your confcience ! I 
 know your thoughts, but would have 
 you fpeak them, that I may prove your 
 fmcerity. Proceed ! I am in hafte !* 
 The penitent then went on c O father, 
 be merciful, and I will confefs all ! Re- 
 turning from my labour one evening late, 
 I found my door fattened, and no one 
 anfwering when I called, I burft it in, 
 when behold, I faw father Ignatius in the 
 very adt of carnality with my beloved 
 mfe'Mffoteiv ! I was amazed ! and though 
 fear prevented my ilriking him, I could 
 not forbear thinking in my heart, that 
 he who does thofe things, can be no 
 god^ he muft be only man\ and I curfed 
 him in the bitternefs of my foul ; but he 
 was drunk with wine, and did not hear 
 me.' 
 
 c Wretch ! devil ! heretick ! (exclaimed 
 the father in a rage) thou intrude upon 
 the privacy of a Jcfuit ! thou fay, he was 
 butaw / thou th'nk, he could not know 
 thy very thoughts, bccaujfe he had drank 
 wine ! audacious Qave ! Art not thou, 
 and thy wife his ? had he not a nght to 
 to ufe his ov/n ? was it not an honour to 
 thee, ungrateful wretch ? and dareft thou 
 to think a Jcfmt is but a man ? But it 
 is enough j the inqaifition mall teach 
 D 2
 
 5 2 CHR YS A L: Or the 
 
 ' thee faith and obedience , the inquifition 
 
 * * 
 
 At that tremendous word, the wretch, 
 half decid with fear, fell at his feet, crying 
 out, ' O father, O God, O king, forgive, 
 
 * forgive ! (and pulling out of his bolbm 
 ' the reft of his gold) take this, O lord, 
 4 from your poor (lave, and forgive. Take 
 ' this, which I got at the peril of my life, 
 6 and faved to buy the liberty of my dear 
 
 * child, whom my mailer took from me; 
 ' take it, and forgive ; let her ftill be a 
 ' flave ; let me never fee her more ! But 
 
 * O the inquifition ! O forgive, forgive !' 
 The prieft, mollified at the fight of the 
 
 gold, replied, 4 Thou knowefl my com- 
 ' pafiion, but thou abufeft it, and thy 
 ' crimes are almoft too great for mercy. 
 ' In hope thou wilt amend, and tranfgrefs 
 
 * fo no more, I will forgive thee now : but 
 ' thou mult be punilhed : Haft thou no 
 ' more gold ?' ' O, father, no more, no 
 
 * more ! and this I Javed to redeem my 
 
 * dear child: O let me get my child!' 
 
 * What ! infolent ! daft thou prefume to ca- 
 
 * pitulate ? thou JJjf.lt be puni/hed : Injlcad of 
 ' getting back thy daughter , tbcu jh alt bring 
 
 * me tbyfcn, whom I [aw yejlfrday, "jtkm I 
 c bade thes come to confejjlon. Ihe boy I blef- 
 
 * fedy and kijj'ed upon my knee?* 1 " O father, 
 
 * father,
 
 Adventures of A GUINEA. 53 
 
 c father, take all the gold, and let my 
 '. daughter remain : But fpare my fon -, he 
 4 is too young, O father, too young for 
 4 tbee' ' 1'be inquifition /' ' O take him, 
 4 father, take him, take all, but fpare me j 
 4 I fly to bring my child to thee ; O fpare 
 4 me from the inquifition !' 4 'Tiswc-ll-, 
 1 'be comforted ; thy fms Jkall be forgiven -, 
 4 perhaps, if tbou behavefl well, thy fon may 
 4 alfo be reftcred. 1 fear tbou haft forgo lit; t 
 4 tby Chrijlian faith ; let me hear thee repeat 
 4 thy creed? The man, fome what reafili red, 
 to hear that he mould efcape the inquifition, 
 and comforted with the hope of having his 
 fon reftored, began thus 6 I believe 
 
 * that God made the world, and all things 
 ' in it, for my lords THE JESUITS ; and 
 ' that I muft worfhip him, by obeying 
 ' them, and faying the prayers they direct 
 ' me, to the faints, and the blefled virgin, 
 
 * the mother of God, and above all, to 
 
 * the great faint IGNATIUS LOYOLA. But 
 ' if I difobey their commands in any thing, 
 
 * or rapine at their fervice, or think, j:hat I 
 4 muft obey the viceroy before them, I mall 
 ' be burned to death in the inquifition here, 
 ' and the great devil will burn me for 
 4 ever, after I am dead.' 4 Well, fon, 
 4 remember and praftife thy creed, and thy fms 
 
 D 3 JhaU
 
 54 C H R Y S A L : Or the 
 
 ' Jhall be forgiven thee : Go auditing the Icy 
 ' when it is dark.' 
 
 ********* ##******** 
 
 CHAP. VIII. 
 
 1'he holy father's tendernefs to another penitent, 
 who had ravijked, murdered, and robbed 
 his own brother's wife. He accepts the 
 fpoils as a recommence to the church. He 
 hints a method of preventing the danger of 
 his brother's refentment, and difmiffes him 
 with ghojlly advice. 
 
 f T^HE feverity with which the Jefuit re- 
 Jk. quired fatisfa6lion for the imaginary 
 faults of the poor Penmian^ may, perhaps, 
 Jead you to think, that his zeal would be 
 inexorable to real crimes ; but the follow- 
 ing account will mew you, that it was no 
 fuch thing, and that he looked upon no- 
 thing as a crime, which was not detrimen- 
 tal to the power, or .temporal intereft, of 
 his fociety. The next penitent who ap- 
 proached the mercy-feat, was a commander 
 in the army. He advanced with a military 
 intrepidity, and kneeling down in form, 
 Father (faid he) I have a long reckoning 
 to make, and fome of the articles are rather 
 
 heavy.
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 55 
 heavy. My fon (replied the piieft) you 
 have had experience of the indulgence of 
 the church, and that no crimes are too 
 black for her mercy, on proper penitence. 
 Proceed then, and open your wounds to 
 your phyfician -, nor fear the efficacy of his 
 medicines. 
 
 ' You know then. Father (faid the peni- 
 tent) that I have long burned with a paf- 
 fion for the wife of my brother the judge. 
 It was the fiibject of my laft confefilon.' 
 I remember it right well (replied the 
 father) and you may remember alib 
 what ghoflly, yet comfortable advice I 
 gave you, to ftrive againft and fupprefs 
 it, if you could.' * True, father; but I 
 told you then, that I knew it would be 
 in vain for me to drive, as I was refolved 
 to enjoy her, though at the hazard of my 
 life.' ' But, fon, did I not comfort you, 
 by faying, that if you found it in vain to 
 drive, and could not live without her, as 
 life was the greateft good, in this world, 
 it was juft that you mould preferve yours, 
 by obtaining what you were fo violently 
 fet upon, but always to be careful that 
 you conducted matters Ib, as not to give 
 offence by your fuccefs.' ' Ah ! but fa- 
 ther, that was not in my power : She was 
 deaf to all my entreaties , and that threw 
 D 4 me
 
 56 CHR YSAL: Or tbe 
 
 4 me into fuch defpair, that, not able to wait 
 
 4 any longer, I have this very morning had 
 
 * recourfe.to force.' 4 That was really bad, 
 
 * if it could have been avoided ; but, as 
 
 * you would not have forced her, if fhe 
 4 would have complied willingly, that al-. 
 ' ters the cafe very much in your favour, 
 4 and perhaps fhe put you to that trouble, 
 ' only to fave the appearance of her own 
 4 virtue, and if fo, you have both acted 
 4 right, and there is no harm done, pro- 
 4 vided the affair is not difclofed.' 
 
 * O, father, that is the thing ; I was 
 
 * afraid of that ; and as her hufband had 
 4 always been a father to me, and all my 
 4 future hopes depended on him, I fo 
 c greatly dreaded her telling him, that, to 
 4 prevent it, as foon as I had enjoyed her, 
 4 I cut her throat.' 
 
 * Murder ! O fie ; it is an heinous crime : 
 
 * blood calls for blood : your cafe is terri- 
 x ble.' 4 I feared ib, father ; but I de- 
 
 * pended on your tendernefs ; and as I did 
 
 * not think it reaibnable, that I mould 
 4 have ail the pleafure of the crime, and 
 ' you only the trouble of forgiving, I 
 4 I flripped her of tbefe jewels, which give 
 4 me leave to offer you.' 
 
 * You are a prudent man, my fon , I 
 
 * thought you would ac~t with difcretion.
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 57 
 
 * I accept the jewels, as a peace-offering to 
 4 the holy church^ for your fins ; and as the 
 ' value of them (indeed they are coftly 
 4 gems) proves the fincerity of your repen- 
 ' tance, I (hall not hefitate to pronounce 
 4 your fins forgiven. 
 
 4 For though adultery is a great fin, and, 
 ' in this cafe, aggravated by rape and in- 
 6 celt, yet, as you fay, it was not becaufe 
 4 fhe was the wife of another man, and 
 1 efpecially your brother, that you defired 
 4 her, but merely as fine was a beautiful 
 ' woman, therefore the adultery and incefl 
 
 * come in but by accident , and then, as you 
 4 ravifhed her only becaufe me would not 
 4 comply, the fin of the rape is certainly her's, 
 4 as I faid before j for, if I force a man to 
 ' commit a crime, I am guilty of that 
 4 crime, and not he : And again, though 
 4 murder is a mod heinous fin, yet as you 
 4 killed her, not merely to indulge a mur- 
 
 * derous intent, but to prevent her difco- 
 4 vering your having forced her, and fa 
 4 ruining you, the intention quite akers the 
 4 nature of the fact, -and makes it but felf- 
 4 prefervation, which is the firft law of na- 
 4 ture. And laftly, as you took the jewels, 
 4 not with a defign to rob her, but to offer 
 ' them to the church, and accordingly have 
 4 brought them, that concjufion fanclifies 
 
 D 5 the
 
 58 C H R Y S A L : Cr the 
 
 4 the whole action, and makes your peace 
 
 * with heaven. 
 
 'For know, my fon, that crimes which 
 ' refpect man only, as in your cafe, rape, 
 
 * adultery, inceft, murder, and robbery, 
 
 * though bad in themfelves, 'tis true, yet 
 
 * are a pleafure to the church to forgive, to 
 
 * a faithful and penitent fon, who believes 
 
 * all ber doftrines, and pays due obedience to 
 
 * her clergy, the vicegerents of God on earth, 
 ' the receivers of her revenues, and difpenfers 
 ' of her favours, and vengeance ; to whom all 
 ' earthly power is fubfervient, who are the 
 
 * kings of kings, and lords of the world? 
 
 * This, my fon, is the doctrine of our holy 
 
 * church, as delivered by the moft learned 
 ' fathers of our order, in the belief of which 
 
 * you will be fafe from all the powers of 
 * hell : do what you will, while you pay 
 4 faith and obedience to the church, me 
 
 * will pardon all your fins.' 
 
 When he had concluded his inftructions, 
 wi;h this pious exhortation, and fealed his 
 abfolution with a bleffing, the purified 
 faint arofe, and faid, * Holy father, thou 
 ' haft let my foul at eafe, with regard to 
 
 * hereafter, but ftill I fear for this world. 
 ' It unfortunately happened, that 1 was 
 ' feen in the fact by a fer^ant who efcaped 
 4 me, or I ihould have charmed her filence 
 
 * tOO;
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 59 
 
 too ; and now I apprehend me will in- 
 form my brother.' ' This is unlucky, 
 mod unlucky (replied the priell) I know 
 not what to advife ; I am utterly at a 
 lois : If you fhould prevent her malice, 
 and accule her of" the fact.' c O, but fa- 
 ther, the rape ; there may be appearances 
 of that, which would difprove my charge 
 againft a woman.'' Miftake me nor, 
 my fbn, I did not advife any fuch thing ! 
 heaven forbid that I fbouki advife to bear 
 talfe witnefs agaicil an innocent life ; I 
 am utterly at a lofs.' 4 Suppole, father, 
 1 mould itili ftrive to prevent my fears, 
 by taking off my brother, as I cannot 
 find her : this is the only way to make 
 meeafy ; ha, father ; is not that an hap- 
 py thought , I wifh it had occurred 
 fooner, and then I fl^.uid have p;iven you 
 but the one troub e.' ' \Vhy, truly, fon, 
 the dead neitfhei . jcive uifco- 
 
 veries j and lelf-preferv.'ron will certainly 
 juftify any thing, ai, I have faid before : 
 but I muft not ad vile you, your own ge- 
 nius is ready, and can improve an hint ; 
 I mult kiv, IM hing, air is 
 
 done: ait I can lay, is, that work unfi- 
 niiuLd had better never hare been be- 
 gusa, 
 
 D 6 Aiier,
 
 60 C H R Y S A L : Or the 
 
 * Adieu, my fon, my blefling waits on 
 * all your undertakings. But be fure to 
 4 hold the indulgent mercy of the church in 
 ' grateful remembrance.' 
 
 The officer went away, happy in having 
 lightened the burthen that was upon his 
 confcience, and big with the pious project 
 of making the murder of his brother the 
 firft-fruits -of his regeneration. He was 
 the laft -penitent of that morning, and as 
 ibon as he was gone, his ghoftly director 
 retired to mortify his appetites in the re- 
 fectory of the convent. 
 
 '* # # ************ * * * * 
 CHAP. IX. 
 
 tfbe father's rage on hearing that his penitent 
 had fecretedfome of the jewels. Tbe officer 
 i spur/tied by his brother to the convent, whi- 
 ther he fiies for fanffuary. His reception 
 from the father ', and the terms of their re- 
 conciliation. 'The father fends away the- 
 judge in a fright. T'he officer is received 
 into the fociety-i 
 
 E honours of this world may be 
 faid to be placed upon an hill, the 
 aflrent to which is through different paths, 
 
 the
 
 Adventures of *z GUINEA. 61 
 
 the one, which virtue leads through, diffi- 
 cult and long, but certain , the other fhort 
 and eafy, but dangerous and deceitful, yet 
 flill by much the moil frequented, vice, the 
 guide through it, ufing all her allurements 
 to decoy unwary adventurers, and magni- 
 fying every inflance of fuccefs fo highly, as 
 to make the numberlefs mifcarriages over- 
 looked. 
 
 The great value of the jewels, which the 
 officer had prefented to my matter, took 
 up fo much of his thoughts, that as foon 
 as he had finifhed his collation, he retired 
 to his cell, to meditate on the farther ad- 
 vantages he might make of this affair. 
 
 While he was in this pleafing employ- 
 ment, another ecclefiaftick entered, to ac- 
 quaint him with the murder and robbery" 
 of the judge's wife, and among other par- 
 ticulars of the ftory, faid, that her cruci- 
 fix, thought to be the richeft in lay pof- 
 feffwn in all Peru, had been taken from 
 
 her. 'That crucifix!' exclaimed 
 
 my mailer flatting, for he knew it well, 
 and had long paid his devotions to it, and 
 now to be cheated thus of it, when he 
 thought it fo juftfy his due, provoked him 
 altnofl to madnefs) ' That crucifix taken 
 * too ! Damned ! murderous ! deceitful 
 
 " vil-
 
 62 CHRYSAL: Or tie 
 
 c villain ! villain, on ail fides ! But I 
 ' will be revenged ! " 
 
 The other prieft underftood not what he 
 meant, and was juft going to enquire, 
 when in ruilied the captain, all a^haft. 
 ' O father ! father ! (faid he, as foon as he 
 ' could fpeak) lanctuary ! fanctuary ! my 
 1 brother is at the gate, with all the offi- 
 ' cers of juftice ! ' At this the father 
 grin'd an infulting fmile, and beckoning to 
 the other prieft to withdraw, l Wretch, 
 (faid he) thou facriledgious wretch ! how 
 could'ft thou dare to enter thefe holy 
 walls, violated by thy guilt ? Did'ft thou 
 not fear the fate of Ananias and Sappkirti ? 
 As thou did'ft deceive me, with thy 
 feigned penitence, and haft lied to the 
 Lord, in concealing what thou had'ft 
 moft juftly devoted to him, I revoke the 
 ablblution I gave thee, and will deliver 
 thee to juftice, to receive the punifhment 
 due to thy crimes. Thefe holy walls af- 
 ford no ianclua. y to facriledge P 
 The poor criminal ftood confounded at 
 reproaches, which he dared not interrupt, 
 though he could not comprehend the caufe 
 or meaning of them. At length, when 
 the prieft had exclaimed himie'f out of 
 breath, the trembling wretch replied, ' O 
 ' father ! what can have kindled thy wrath
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 63 
 
 againft me ? I have committed no crime, 
 fince thy abfolution purged my foul ! I 
 was only going towards my brother's 
 houfe, when I met him, and the fervant 
 with him, with all the officers of juftice, 
 in fearch of me, on which I fled direclly to 
 you for fanctuary.' 'I grant no fanctuary 
 
 to facriledge.' 4 What facriledge, O 
 
 father ?' 'The crucifix, deceitful wretch! 
 Where is thy filler's crucifix ? Haft thou 
 not defrauded the church of her due ? 
 Did'fl thou not fay, that thou tookedft 
 thy filter's jewels, only to make a peace- 
 offering for thy fins, and then to fecrete, 
 thus, the moft valuable part of them ! 
 1'his is defrauding the labourer of his hire ! 
 This is defrauding the church of her 
 rites, without making the proper com- 
 penfation ! And what can be greater 
 facriledge ? ' 
 
 Juft at thefe words, a knocking at the 
 gate awoke the penitent from his amaze, 
 and made him apprehend that he had not a 
 minute to Jofe ; he therefore, with the 
 readied prefence of mind replied, c The 
 ' crucifix, father ! you aitoniih me ! did I 
 
 * not give it to you ?' And then putting 
 
 his hand into his bofom, and pulling it out 
 with a look of furprize, he reached it to 
 him. c Forgive, O father (faid he) 
 
 6 the
 
 64 C H R Y S A L : Or the 
 
 * the crime of inadvertency ; I meant nor 
 ' to have kept it from you, but only over- 
 4 looked it, in my confufion ! accept it ! 
 
 * accept all I am rnafter of, and fave my 
 life.' 
 
 ' Son (replied the father, foftening his 
 voice, and taking the crucifix) I am 
 glad thou wail not intentionally guilty of 
 fo unpardonable an offence ! 1 believe, 
 and accept thy excufe. Be comforted, 
 therefore, my fon, thy fins are forgiven. 1 
 
 O but father, the officers of juftice.' 
 
 What officers ! what juftice dares attempt 
 to (hew her face within thefe walls ? Thou 
 art my penitent, I have abfolved thee,. 
 and I will defend thee. Sit down, and 
 compofe thy fpirits, while I repel this 
 bold intrufion, on the peace and privi- 
 ledge of thefe holy walls.* 
 Saying thus, the father went to the gate 
 of the convent, where ilood the judge, dif- 
 playing the guilt of the fugitive to the holy 
 fathers, to engage them to refufe him fanc- 
 tuary, and give him up to juftice. But my 
 mafterfoon flopped him. ' Ceafe (faid he, 
 with a low voice, and downcaft, medita- 
 tive look) difturb not the peace of thefe 
 holy walls. The man you feek is my 
 penitent. He has made fatisfaction to 
 the church, and reconciled himfelf to 
 
 4 heaveru
 
 Adventures cf a G u i N E A . 65 
 
 heaven. I come this moment from giv- 
 ing him the feal of abiblution. Diffurb 
 not the raptures of his foul, that is now 
 joining with the angelick choirs, in the 
 hymns of joy railed in heaven for his re- 
 pentance. Depart in peace.' 
 ' How father (exclaimed the judge) can 
 a wretch, guilty of fuch crimes, fo foon 
 have made his peace ! He has deceived 
 you, father ; he has not told you half 
 his guilt : rape, inceft, adultery, and 
 murder ! Can tbsy be thus forgiven ? So 
 
 eafy pardons but encourage vice.' * And 
 
 who art thou, prefumptuous man ! (re- 
 plied the father, raifmg his voice, and 
 putting on an air of authority) and who 
 art thou, that darefl thus to call the power 
 of God's holy church in queftion ? What 
 faith, or rather what herefy has taught 
 thee this prefumption ? Doft thou mea- 
 fure the divine authority of our unerring 
 tribunal by the wenk rules of thy blind 
 law ? Are not the keys of heaven ours \ 
 and hive we not the power to loofe as well 
 as bind ? But I fhall not argue more with 
 thee here ; there is a tribunal proper for 
 fuch opinions as thine \ there try if thy 
 knowledge of the laws will juftiiy thy he- 
 refies i there thou art not judge.' 
 
 The
 
 66 CHR YS AL: Or tbe 
 
 The ftrft mention of herefy had fttuck 
 fuch a- terrour into the heart of the poor 
 judge, that he was for fome moments un- 
 able to reply. At lad, recollecting him- 
 felf a little, I fubmit, O father, (laid he) 
 I am no heretick ; I have no opinions but 
 what I learn from the holy church whofe 
 power I acknowledge in all its divine 
 
 plenitude.' c 'Tis well, (replied the 
 
 prieft) 'tis well , depart in peace, and 
 to morrow I will vifit thee, and examine 
 the Hate of thy confcience.' 
 The judge then making a profound re- 
 verence, withdrew without a murmur, and 
 the triumphant father returned to his peni-. 
 tent. ' My fon (faid he) thine enemies 
 are defeated. Thy reft is fecure here. 
 But fuch is their power, and fo ftrong the 
 general abhorrence that purfues thy late 
 guilt, that it will not be fafe for thee 
 ever to leave this fanc~tuary.' c O father, 
 muft I be confined for ever here ? 5 ' I 
 faid not fo, my fon : there is a way for 
 thee to go in triumph out, above the 
 
 power of thy prefent perfecutors.' 
 
 O name it, father.' ' Take our 
 
 vows. Heaven has blefTed thee with a 
 fertile genius, and fteel'd thy foul with 
 fortitude. Thefe talents muft not be 
 buried, an account will be required of 
 
 ' them ;
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 67 
 
 them -, and where can they be put to pro- 
 per life, except in the fervice of the do- 
 nor, in his church , there they will rails 
 thee to that rank and power, which thou 
 feeft us enjoy. I fee thou yielded. Re- 
 fill not the motions of the holy fpirit. I 
 receive thee into the fold. I falute thee, 
 brother. From this moment of thine 
 election may'ft thou date thy entrance 
 into the highefl honours of this world. 
 The day approaches, when thy military 
 knowledge and valour may aifo be called 
 into practice. Great events are ripening 
 
 in the womb of time !' -' I yield, O 
 
 father, (replied the penitent) I receive 
 thine offer with due fubmiffion and re- 
 fpecl:. And from this moment dedicate 
 my valour, (kill, 1 and every power of my 
 foul and body, to the implicit fervice of 
 
 4 thine holy order. 3 ' It is the hand 
 
 of heaven that leads thee, no longer fon, 
 but brother. I will go and acquaint our 
 brethren with thy miraculous converfioa 
 and election. Thou haft no more to do 
 but to make thy will, and bequeath all 
 
 thy wealth to our order.' ' Bequeath, 
 
 my father, muft I die ? ' ' But to 
 
 the world, brother, to live with us.' 
 
 But I have nothing to bequeath.' 
 
 Leave that to us. Do you only give all 
 
 4 your
 
 3 C H R Y S A L : Or the 
 
 your fortune, in the hands of your bro- 
 ther, to our fociety, in confequence of 
 your admiflion -, and let us find that for- 
 tune. I go. The bell rings for vefpers. 
 I mall fend our notary to you , and when 
 that is done, we will reftore our exhaufted 
 fpirits with a flight repaft in the refectory, 
 where I will introduce thee to our bre- 
 thren.* 
 
 In a word, all things were executed, and 
 the new brother admitted in proper time 
 into the order, of which he has fince rifen 
 to be one of the brighteft ornaments. And 
 the judge, to avoid the imputation of he- 
 refy, which his implied doubt of the church's 
 fanftuary had given my mafter the hint of, 
 was glad to pay half his wealth to the fo- 
 ciety, as the fortune of his pious brother. 
 
 Soon after this affair was thus happily 
 compleated, my mafter, that he might 
 openly mew his adoration of me to the 
 world, had me made into a crucifix, in 
 which fliape I was fattened to his rofary, 
 and there puhlickly received that adoration 
 from the knee, which before was paid me 
 
 only in the heart. ~ A repetition of all 
 
 the occurrences I faw in the fervice of this 
 mafter were unneceffary, as the two I have 
 related give a general idea of them, ail 
 tending to the gratification of his ruling 
 
 paflioris
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 69 
 
 paffions of revenge, luft, and avarice, wkh 
 the variation only of accidental circum- 
 ftances, according to the difference of their 
 objects. 
 
 C H A P. X. 
 
 CHRYSAL changes bis fervice, and embarks 
 for Europe in an Englifh man of war. 
 The caufe and manner of bis coming that 
 way. The occurrences of his paffhge. On 
 his arrival in England he is fent by his 
 majter to fettle fome mi/lakes in the voyage. 
 
 I Was heartily fick of fuch a fcene, when 
 the time came for fending me into thefe 
 parts of the world, where fcarchy enhances 
 my value, and makes my power more ex- 
 ten five. There being a war between Spain 
 and England at that time, about a liberty 
 of cutting flicks upon a defert ihore, it was 
 neceffary to fecure a fafe pafTage for the 
 treaiure, by eltablifhing a right undei Hand- 
 ing with the commander of an Englifh man 
 of war, which was cruizing in thofe feas. 
 It fell to my lot to go on this errand in 
 the fhape of a doubloon^ into which I was 
 
 caft,
 
 7 o G H R Y S A L : Or the 
 
 caft, to fave the profanation which a cruci- 
 fix muftfuffer in the hands of hereticks. 
 
 There was fome little addrefs requifite to 
 conduit this affair with the captain, in fuch 
 a manner as to keep it fecret from his of- 
 ficers, to gain all of whom would have 
 been too expenfive, befide that he would 
 never tru ft hisfacred honour to the fidelity 
 of fo many. But this was readily adjufted. 
 The refinements of modern politenefs hav- 
 ing foftened the natural ferocity of a ftate 
 of war, and admiting an intercourfe of 
 courtefy between parties who profefs to feek 
 each other's deftrucYion, the Spanijh gover- 
 nor fent out a boat, with his compliments 
 to the Englijh captain, with a large fupply 
 of frefh provisions, fruits, wine, '&c. 
 
 This neceffarily produced a return of ci- 
 vility from the well-bred captain ; and in 
 this intercourfe were the terms of his conni- 
 vance fettled, as the feal of which / was 
 delivered to him, among a very large num- 
 ber of my fellows, who honourably punc- 
 tual to his promife, at the appointed time, 
 failed away from that ftation, in qiteft cf 
 fomejhips of the enemy's which he exp effect to 
 meet elfcwhere, and did not return till the 
 Spanijh treafure was beyond his reach. 
 
 As this was a compliment of great con- 
 fequence to the Spaniards, the captain had 
 
 been
 
 ^id-ventures of a GUINEA. 71 
 
 been fo handfomely confidered for it, that 
 his defires were fatisfied, and he only wifh'd 
 to be fafe at home, to enjoy the wealth he 
 had fo happily acquired. Often would he 
 take me our, for the beauty of my new. im- 
 prefiion had {truck his eye, and gained me 
 the honour of being kept in his purfe, often, 
 I fay, would he take me out of his purfe, 
 and gazing on me till his eyes watered, 
 O thou end of all my toils and dangers ! 
 (would he fay) thou crown of all my 
 hopes ! now I have obtained thee I am 
 content ! Let others feek that phantom 
 glory, I have in thee the more folid re- 
 ward, for which I always fought, nor 
 mall any thing tempt me to hazard being 
 feparated from thee.' A refolution which 
 he had an opportunity of fhev;ing in all its 
 ftrength a few days after, when a fhip ap- 
 peared v/hich he thought to be a Spanijh man 
 of war. 
 
 As ours was a fhip of force, and all the 
 officers (except the captain now) were very 
 poor , and as the Spanijh mips are always 
 richly laden with treafure in thole feas, the 
 crew was in the higheft fpirits at this fight, 
 and made every thing ready to attack her, 
 with the rnoft eager alacrity. But the cafe 
 was quite different with the captain. He 
 was now as rich as he delired, and dreaded 
 
 the
 
 72 C Fl R YS A L: Or tie 
 
 the lofs of that wealth which he had fo long 
 laboured for. He, therefore, retired imo 
 his cabbin, while the lieutenants were 
 clearing Jbipi and taking me out of his purfe, 
 with a look of tendernefs that brought the 
 tears into his eyes, * And fliall I hazard the 
 lofs of thee, (he cried) the object, the 
 reward of a life of toil and danger ? Shall 
 I facrifice the only real good of life, to 
 that chimera, honour ? to that bubble 
 lighter than air, and more variable than 
 the wind, the intereft of my country ? 
 What is honour without wealth? What 
 is a country to him who has nothing in 
 it ? Let the poor fight for money, I 
 have enough : let the ambitious fight for 
 glory, I defpife the empty name. Let 
 thofe who have a property in their coun- 
 try fight for it, I have none, nor can 
 have, nor any of its bleffings, without 
 thee ; and therefore will not venture 
 thy lofs for any fuch vain confidera- 
 tions.* 
 
 As foon as he had formed this prudent 
 refolution, he clafped mt to his heart, killed 
 me, and returned me into his purfe, ju'fr. 
 as the lieutenant came in j to tell him, they 
 cou'd now make the fhip, which muft be 
 vaftly rich, me was fo deep in the water. 
 My mailer made no reply, but taking a 
 
 teie-
 
 Adventures of ^GUINEA. 73 
 
 icope in his hand, he went upon the quar- 
 ter-deck, and viewing her for fome time, 
 with great apparent earneftnefs, c You are 
 al! miftaken (faid he) in that fhip ! rich 
 indeed ! and To (he may remain for us. 
 That fhip is a firft-rate man of war by her 
 fize : and as for her depth in the water, 
 me is only brought down by her guns 
 which are fifty- two pounders at. lead. 
 Put about the fhip, and make all fail pof- 
 fible from her. 1 am anfwerable for his 
 majeily's fhip, committed to my care, 
 and will not ll-icriiice her againft luch 
 odds. Her weight of metal would blow 
 us out of thf water. Befide, I have a 
 packet on board, and mull not go out ot 
 my way : about jlrip, and away directly, 
 I fay.' 
 
 The officers flood aghafl at this fpeech, 
 that difappointed all their golden hopes. 
 They urged, they befeeched, they remon- 
 flrated, that it was impofiible me could be 
 what he faid : they infilled that the colour 
 of her fails, and the heavinefs of her going, 
 proved her to be a fhip of trade that had 
 been long at fea ; and as for her bulk, ic 
 only encouraged them to hope Hie would 
 prove the better prize, as all the mips that 
 carry the treafure are very large , that 
 rhey hadobferved they wronged her fo much, 
 Vol. I. E they
 
 74 C H R Y S A L : Or the 
 
 they could go round her if they pleafed ; 
 2nd begg'd only that they might be per- 
 mitted to take a nearer view of her, which 
 they were confident would prove her to be 
 what they faid. They alledged the oppor- 
 tunity of making all their fortunes , the 
 honour, the intereft of their country. They 
 begged, fwore, flormed, and wept -, but 
 all in vain. The captain had taken his re- 
 folution; and would vouchfafe no other 
 anfvver than a repetition of what he had 
 faid before, ' that be was accountable for 
 his majefty's (hip, and would not hazard 
 her, to gratify them : befide, the delay of 
 the packet he had on board, might be of 
 worfe confequence than the taking of 
 fuch a fhip, ihould me even be what they 
 faid, though he was certain to the con- 
 trary, would make amends for. And 
 that, as to going nearer to her, the length 
 of her guns would enable them to drive 
 every mot through and through his fhip, 
 at a diftance that his could never reach 
 her from ; though if they mould be mad 
 enough to engage her, his fmall mot 
 could never pierce fuch mountains of 
 timber as her fides were barricaded with.' 
 And Ib, as his power was abfolute, they 
 were obliged to fubmit, and off be Jheer^d. 
 
 It
 
 sldventures of a GUINEA. 7^ 
 It is impoffible to defcribe the diflraction 
 which this affair threw our fhip into. The 
 officers acted all the inconfiftent outrages 
 of madnefs. The men chewed the quid, 
 damned their eyes and limbs for their bad 
 luck, and went to work as ufual ; while 
 feveral poor fick wretches, whofe fpirits had 
 been fo raifed by the hopes of fuch a prize, 
 that they had forgot their complaints, and 
 exerted all their ftrength, to affift in the 
 engagement, now funk under the weight 
 of the difappointment, and crawled back, 
 many of them to die in their hammocks. 
 
 But the captain had carried his point, 
 and regarded nothing elfe : though indeed 
 he was fomewhat difconcerted a few days 
 after, when he learned from another fhip, 
 that me really was a regifter fhip of im- 
 menfe value, and fo weakened by hard 
 weather and ficknefs, that fhe could not 
 have attempted any refinance, but had pre- 
 pared to Jlrike the moment me faw us. 
 This information added fuch fuel to the 
 rage that inflamed the officers before, that 
 all intercourfe between them and their cap- 
 tain was intirely broke of, fo that / be- 
 came his fole companion. 
 
 This lafted all the while we were at a 
 
 diftance from England, but as we drew near 
 
 home, the captain's ftiffhefs began to bend, 
 
 E 2 and
 
 76 C H R Y S A L : Or the 
 
 and he made feveral advances to a recon- 
 ciliation and general amnefty, as he could 
 not but feel fome apprehenfions for his 
 conduct from his fuperiors. But all was in 
 vain. The thought of returning in po- 
 verty, inftead of that wealth which he had 
 clifappointed them of, kept up their refent- 
 ments, and they determined to complain, 
 if only for the fatisfaction of revenge. 
 
 This convinced my mafter, that methods 
 muft be taken to obviate their attempts, 
 or he might run a greater hazard at home 
 than he had intended to avoid abroad. He 
 therefore prudently concluded, that the 
 fame argument which had been fo powerful 
 with himfclf, would be the moft effectual to 
 vindicate what he had done with others, and 
 that it would be better to mare the fpoil, 
 than riik the lofs of all. 
 
 For this intent, as foon as he arrived in 
 
 England, he took me from his purfe once 
 
 more, and looking earneftly at me for fome 
 
 moments, ' We muft part (faid he, with a 
 
 figh) we muft part! but I hope to good 
 
 purpofe. Thou only waft the caufe of 
 
 that conduct which now gives me fear ; 
 
 exert therefore thy influence equally, 
 
 where I now fend thee, and thou wilt ex- 
 
 cufe my fault, if it is one.' Tears, at 
 
 the thought of lofing me, here choaked his 
 
 lit-
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 77 
 
 utterance. He gave me a laft kifs, and 
 feat me directly away, in company with a 
 ccnfiderable number more, to mediate his 
 peace. 
 
 C H A P. XL 
 
 ffie good conferences of a right underjlcintiing 
 between certain perfons. CHRYSALV re- 
 flekliens on his firjl feeing the publick offices 
 in London. His wajler r vi/its a gentleman, 
 who, in the vehemence of his rage againft 
 certain abufes, hits himfelf a violent flap on 
 the face. The necejjity of decency -, and the 
 methods of fupporting it, inftanced in the 
 biftory of a pretty fellow. 
 
 A^S the delicate nature of this trajifac- 
 tion required ibme addrefs, he en- 
 trufted the management of it to his purfer, 
 who had convinced him, by many inltances, 
 of his iagacity in the methods of obtaining 
 an influence over the great. 
 
 As foon as my new mafter arrived in 
 London, his firft care was to execute the 
 commifllon for which ive had been given 
 to him ; but the perfon, to whom his ap- 
 plication was to be made, happening to be 
 E 3 out
 
 ;8 C H R Y S A L : Or the 
 
 out of town for a few days, that he might 
 not lofe any time, he proceeded to fettle 
 ibme affairs of his own ; in the courfe of 
 which, I had an opportunity of feeing into 
 ibme part of the fecrets of his myfterious 
 bufmefs. 
 
 The profefied motive for his coming to 
 town, was to fettle his own, and pafs his 
 captain's accounts, between which there was 
 a connection not necefiary to be known to 
 any other -, for though my late matter did 
 not think it confident with his dignity to be 
 too familiar with his officers, and generally 
 flighted their opinion, if only to mew his 
 own fuperiority and keep them at a proper 
 diftance, with him and his purfer the cafe 
 vras quits otherwife, the beft underftanding 
 always fubfifting between them, and every 
 affair being concerted with the greateft har- 
 mony, to their mutual advantage : an 
 agreement, which befide the comfort and 
 convenience of it to themfelves, had this hap- 
 py influence over the reft of the fhip's com- 
 pany, that it kept them, if not eafy, at leaft 
 quiet, from all murmurings, and com- 
 plaints of bad provifions, fliort weights, 
 and fuch like imaginary grievances, which 
 the reftlefs temper of feamen is too apt to 
 make the caufe of much trouble to the pur- 
 fer, and difturbance to the captain, when 
 
 thefc
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 79 
 
 thefe happen not to agree between themfelves. 
 But as the contrary was the cafe here, their 
 common intereft animated the afiiduity of 
 my m after, and made him go directly to 
 the feveral offices and contractors, with 
 whom his bufmefs lay, to prepare every 
 thing in proper order for publick infpeclion. 
 On my firft going to thefe publick of- 
 fices, every thing gave me plealure. There, 
 was fuch an appearance of regularity in all 
 the proceedings, of eafe and affluence in 
 the officers, that I could not help faying to 
 myfelf, * happy ftate, whofe meaner! fer- 
 
 * vants are gentlemen ! whofe bufinds is 
 
 * reduced to a fyftem, above danger of ccu- 
 
 * fufion or abufe!' But a nearer view 
 mewed things in another light. The fir it 
 perlbn my m after went to, was the gentle- 
 man who fupplied him with thofe kinds of 
 cloathing for the feamen, which are by thefq 
 merry poor fellows emphatically called 
 flops. As he was juft going to dinner, my 
 mafter accepted of his invitation, and fat 
 down with him. A round or two of loyal 
 toads, to the fuccefs of the navy, and con- 
 tinuance of the war, having warned down 
 their fare, and refrelhed their fpirits after 
 the fatigue of a full meal, they proceeded to 
 bufinds. ' I come, Sir (faid my mafter; 
 
 * to fettle the account of the laft cruize. 
 
 E 4 ' Here
 
 So CHRYSAL:0 tie 
 
 e Here it is : you fee moft of the articles 
 
 * have gone oft pretty well : but I muft 
 
 * tell you, that yon are more obliged to 
 
 * fome of your friends for that, than you 
 
 * *re aware of perhaps , for if I had not 
 
 * prevailed on the captain, to let the ale- 
 ' houfe-keeperSj and gin-women come on 
 
 * board, and keep the flop- fellers off, when 
 
 * the men' received their pay, on going 
 ' out, you would have had but a blank lift 
 ' of it. But, by this management, the 
 
 * fellows Ipent all their money in drink, 
 
 * and then neceffity drove them to me for 
 ' cloths.' 
 
 ' Here is to the captain's good health 
 
 ' (anfwered the other) and that I may foon 
 
 ' fee him at the head of the navy : I am 
 
 * very much obliged to you and him, and 
 
 * mail confider your friendfhip properly. 
 
 * But is there no way of preventing thole 
 
 * pedlars from intruding thus upon us ? I 
 ' am refolved I will try : I believe I can 
 4 make an Intereft, (you underftand me) 
 ' that will procure me an order to exclude 
 c them : at lead, if I cannot do that, I 
 
 * will infift on raifing my terms j for every 
 ' branch of bufinefs is now fo loaded with 
 
 * prefents and perquifites, that there is 
 ' fcarce any thing to be got. A man who 
 ' goes to a public office, to receive money, 
 
 runs
 
 Adventures of a G u i K E A . 8 1 
 
 6 runs the gauntlet through fb many of 
 
 ' them, that if he does not make up his 
 
 ' accounts, in a very mafterly manner m- 
 
 * deed, he will have but little to fhew, for 
 ' his pains, in the end.' 4 Very true (re- 
 ' plied my matter) I have had experience 
 ' of what you fay, this very morning. 
 ' You know it is fome years fince I have 
 ' been in town before : I was therefore 
 ' quite furprized at the gay appearance of 
 
 * every clerk, in the offices. Our mid- 
 
 * fhipmen, on the pay ing off of a fhip, are 
 ' nothing to them : So ! thought I to my- 
 ' ielf : this is very well ! Such fine gentie- 
 
 * men as thefe will never ftoop to take the 
 
 * little perquifites which their ihabby pre- 
 4 deceilbrs were fo eager for : They can- 
 * not want them. Accordingly, as foon 
 4 as I had done my bufmefs, I was prepa- 
 4 ring to make an handfome fpeech, and 
 ' a leg, and fo walk off; but I was loon 
 
 * undeceived ; and found, to my no fmall 
 4 aftonimment, that if the cafe was altered, 
 ' it was no way for the better, for me ; the 
 4 preient fine gentlemen being to the full 
 4 as rapacious as the former poor fellows, 
 c and with this addition to the evil, that 
 4 their expectations were raifed, in propor- 
 4 'tion to their appearance, fo that they 
 
 E 5 ' mult
 
 8T2 C H R Y S A L : Or tbt 
 
 muft have a crown, where the others 
 were fatisfied with a fhilling. 
 ' And how can it be otherwife (returned 
 the other) while the principals fet them 
 fuch an example of extravagance, and 
 inforce obedience to it in the manner they 
 do : for though their own exorbitant fa- 
 laries enable them to live with the luxury 
 of aldermen at home, and make the ap- 
 pearance of courtiers abroad, how can 
 they think, that their hackney under- 
 lings mall be able to change their drefs, 
 with the court, and appear with all the 
 precife foppery of pretty fellows, if they 
 have not clandeftine ways of getting mo- 
 ney : and that this is the cafe, I can give 
 you an inftance not to be contradicted. 
 * Perhaps you may remember a little 
 boy, that ran about the houfe here, 
 when you were in town laft. His mo- 
 ther was fervant to my firft wife : you 
 cannot forget black -ey'd Nan : who was 
 the father is nothing to my flory, but I 
 took care of the boy. When he grew up, 
 I thought the beft thing I could do for 
 him, was to get him into one of the pub- 
 lic offices, for he was toofoft for my own 
 bufmefs, and this I imagined would mar- 
 pen him, and 50 /. a year keep him from 
 bejn'g an expence to me. Accordingly, 
 
 I
 
 Adventures of a Gu i K E A-. 83 
 
 I got him admitted as an additional 
 clerk, in this bufy time ; and that his 
 appearance mould not fhame my recom- 
 mendation, I added a London-made fuit 
 to his country wardrobe, which I thought 
 good enough for him, to wear every 
 day. 
 
 ' Well ; thus equipped, to the office he 
 went, as good-looking a lad as ever came 
 from a 1 2 /. a year academy in Yorkfhire, 
 which had been the height of his educa- 
 tion. But I foon found that I had been 
 out in my reckoning, for going with him 
 to introduce him to the head-clerk, whom 
 I had before fpoken properly to, in his 
 behalf, I found the whole office in deep 
 mourning, which, as it had been ordered 
 only for the court, and was to hold but for 
 a fortnight longer, I had never thought of 
 dremng him in -, but I foon found that I 
 had not a proper opinion of the confe- 
 quence of the place. For the head clerk 
 gave me a friendly hint, that it was ex- 
 pected, that all the clerks in his majefty's 
 offices, mould fhew the decent refpect of 
 conforming to the drefs of the court, on 
 thefe fulemn occafions. I could not help 
 exclaiming, I believe a little too fbortly, 
 What, Sir ! upon a falary of 50 /. a year ? 
 Sir (replied he) no body is forced to 
 E 6 take
 
 4 C H R Y S A L : Or He 
 
 take that falary 5 and they who do not 
 like the rules of the office, are at liberty 
 to leave it : and then turned off upon his 
 heel. ' I beg your pardon, Sir (faid I, 
 feeing my error) it was an overfight of 
 mine , but it mall be amended.* ' The 
 fooner the better, Sir (anfwered he) for 
 his lordmip will be in the office to-morrow, 
 and he mud not fee any thing fo irregular; 
 and pray fir ("turning to the lad) get that 
 fleece on your head Ihorn a little (his hair 
 hung down, in modeft ringlets, upon his 
 moulders) and drive to appear fomething 
 like a gentleman. 
 
 ' I faw it was in vain to fay any thing, 
 and fo took the boy away with me ; and 
 by noon, next day, brought him again, 
 in all the fafhionable trappings of woe, 
 and with his hair Ihorn indeed, and tied 
 up in a bag, by a French barber, for I 
 v/ould not (land for a trifle when my hand 
 
 j* in, defirous to fee how h'e would be 
 received .in his new appearance ; but alas r 
 I had forgot that indifpenfible article of a 
 o-entleman's drefs, a fword, which I was 
 Therefore obliged to fend out for diredly. 
 In a fortnight's time, the order for the 
 court's going into fecond mourning, put 
 me to the fame ex pence over again -, for 
 the rules of decency were not to be dif- 
 
 penfed
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 85 
 
 penfed with-, and then, in a month after, 
 it was as neceffary to trim his light grey 
 frock with a filver edging of coxcombe, 
 that he might not appear worfe than his 
 fellows -, all which, with many other 
 as neceflary et cetera's^ by the end of the 
 firft quarter, confumed his year's fa- 
 Jary. 
 
 ' This enraged me to that degree, that 
 I was going to take him away directly ^ but 
 the boy had by this time, got fome infight 
 into the ways of the place, and prevented 
 me, by faying, that if I would try, but 
 for another quarter, he was fatisfied that 
 his perquifites would more than defray 
 all fuch expences j and fo I find they do, 
 for though he is now as fmart well-drefled 
 a young fellow as any about town, he has 
 never fince troubled me for a ihilling : 
 nay, more than all this, he allures me, 
 there are fome of his fellow clerks who 
 keep footmen and horfes, and have routs 
 and concerts at their houfes, as regularly 
 as people of the firft rank ; and all by the 
 perquifites of a place of fifty pounds a 
 year. 
 
 ' Now as all thofe perquifites are draw- 
 backs upon us, as I faid before, we can- 
 not carry on the bufinefs on the ufual 
 terms, if we do not bring up our lofs in 
 
 < the
 
 86 C H R Y S A L : Or the 
 
 the quality of the goods, for it would be 
 abfurd to expect, that we fhould lower our 
 living to let fuch fellows run away with the 
 profit of our induftry. In fhort, my wife's 
 chariot lhall not be put down, nor will I 
 deny myfelf a bottle of claret to give you, 
 or any other friend, to fave all the feamen 
 in Britain from perifhing with cold : Cha- 
 rity begins at home ; I will infift upon 
 having thofe pedlars prevented from inter- 
 loping upon our trade , and fo, Sir, my 
 fervice to you.' 
 
 CHAP. XII. 
 
 CHRYSAL'J mafter gives his friend fome 
 that make him lower bis note. An uncom- 
 mon piece of generojity returned wore p cltely, 
 than could be expettedfrom the parties, jln 
 odd ftory of an unfajhionalle fteward. The 
 fuccefs C/CHRYSAL'.? mediation in favour of 
 his late mafter. 
 
 MY mafter had heard him out, though 
 not with the greater! patience, and 
 now taking the opportunity of his flop- 
 ping to drink, ' All this may be true ({aid 
 ' he) and what you propoie might pofiibly 
 
 * have
 
 Adventures of GUINEA. 87 
 
 have been done, and with the effeft you 
 defire, feme time ago : but matters are 
 altered a good deal, at prefent, both a- 
 mong the gentlemen of the navy, and 
 here to, as I am told : and indeed, in 
 refpecT: to this affair, thofe things are 
 made fo infamoufly bad, and rated fo 
 high, that no body can ipeak in the de- 
 fence of them : nay, it even goes almoft 
 againft my own confcience to utter them ; 
 for only think with yourfelf, what a bare- 
 faced impofition it is, to make a poor 
 wretch pay feven millings for a courfe 
 rotten jacket, when even a Jew mail fell 
 him a found one, and of finer fluff, for 
 four and fixpence ; and every thing elfe 
 at the fame rate. In fhort, this point is 
 fo overftrained, that it will probably over- 
 turn the whole trade, in the end , for fe- 
 veral of the captains are fo provoked at 
 it, that they take every method they can, 
 to prevent the men from taking up any 
 thing from us , particularly, that which I 
 hinted before, of keeping off the alehoule- 
 keepers, and fuch people, and encoura- 
 ging flop-fellers to come on board, when 
 the men are paying, by which means 
 they buy good comfortable cloaths, at 
 half the price of our rotten trafh : Indeed, 
 one of them went fo far, as to buy in a 
 
 ' parcel
 
 88 CHR YS AL: Or tie 
 
 4 parcel of good Jhoes, at his own expencer, 
 ' and make a prefent of a pair a- piece to 
 
 * all his top-men^ when they were going 
 
 * out on a cruize, as they had fpent their 
 4 money, and could not buy for ourfelves, 
 c and our (hoes were fo bad, that the firft 
 4 time they went aloft with them, after 
 4 they were wet, the rattlings tore them all 
 4 to pieces, fo that it was a common thing 
 4 to fee a man come down bare-footed, 
 4 who had gone up with a new pair of moes 
 4 on. Though it is but juil to comfort you, 
 4 with an account of the return which he 
 * met for his kindnefs, which was no lefs 
 1 than a round-robin * to the lords of the 
 4 admiralty, for his refufing to let them go 
 ' amore, and fpend their money, in the 
 4 fame manner, the next time they came 
 4 in. 
 
 ' And fuch a return may their ofHciotof- 
 4 nefs always meet (replied the other) for 
 4 meddling with matters which do not con- 
 6 cern them : cannot they be content with 
 4 their own large gains, without interfering 
 4 to hinder others ? But I fee how it is : 
 4 the fpirit of patriotifm has got into them 
 
 * The name that feamen call their complaints a- 
 gainit their captain; it is taken from the manner of 
 their figning them, which is in a circle, fo that there 
 is no knowing who figns firlt.
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 89 
 
 too, forfooth, and they muft be fhewing 
 
 their regard to the publick ! What an evil 
 
 efFecl: will the bad example of one irun 
 
 have ! There was a time, when they 
 
 would not have dared to do this. To fay 
 
 the truth, my friend, this is not the firlt 
 
 alarm we have received on this head ; 
 
 though what to do about it, we cannon 
 
 tell: indeed, I believe we muft e'en mend 
 
 our hands ; which, as half a loaf is better 
 
 than no bread, hard as it is upon us, is 
 
 preferable to lofing the trade quite ; in 
 
 the mean time, I am obliged to you and 
 
 your captain for your friendfhip, and hope 
 
 you will accept of this return.' They 
 
 then proceeded to fettle their accounts, as 
 
 foon as which were finifhed, my matter 
 
 took his leave, and went on with his bufi- 
 
 neis, which was exactly of the fame nature, 
 
 and concluded in the fame way, with every 
 
 perfon whom he dealt with. 
 
 As Icon as thefe tranfactions were ended, 
 his next care was to pafs his captain's ac- 
 counts, which he alfo fucceeded in, without 
 any difficulty, though for this he was more 
 indebted to the chance of a lucky minute, 
 than he had apprehended. For they were 
 no fooner doled, than an affair happened 
 that gave a turn, entirely new, to the whole 
 courfe of bufmefs, in that channel. 
 
 When
 
 90 C H R Y S A L : Or tbe 
 
 When the accounts of the next captain 
 came to be examined, the clerk glancing 
 his eye curforily over them, in the ufual 
 manner, on looking at the amount, ' There 
 muft be fome miftake here (faid he).'- 
 How fo, Sir (faid the captain, who was 
 prefent) Jet me look at the account, if 
 you pleafe. No, Sir, there is no miftake, 
 I believe. Pray where do you mean ?' 
 In the cafting it up, Sir (anfwered the 
 clerk) you fee, the amount is made to be 
 but 8oo/.' ' Nor mould it be more (re- 
 plied the captain) I fummed up the ac- 
 count myfelf, and thefe figures are of my 
 own writing.' 4 How can that pofllbly 
 be, Sir (returned the clerk in a furprize) 
 but 800 /. for all the repairs, wear and 
 tear, of a man of war, on fuch a ftation, 
 for four years ! I fuppofe then, Sir, the 
 Ihip had a thorough repair going out, 
 and wants the like now ! To be fure, it 
 can be done better, and cheaper here, 
 than abroad, and therefore you were in 
 the right to bring her home, to get it.' 
 Not at all, Sir (added the captain) that 
 was not the cafe : me had no thorough 
 repair going out, and is come home in 
 better order than me went, as this return 
 of the officers of the yard mews.' c Good 
 God I S/r, how did you manage ?' * To 
 
 the
 
 Adventures of a G u i N E A . c; i 
 
 the bed of my judgment, Sir-, I laid out 
 nothing but what I thought neceiTary, and 
 I charged nothing but what I laid out : I 
 mean not to arraign the conduct of others , 
 I only fpeak for myfelf. In thefe cafes, I 
 look upon a man as a fteward to the pub- 
 lick ; and I mould think it as great dif- 
 honefty to betray, or break that truft, as 
 to wrong a private perfon.' 
 This fpeech was heard with aftonilhment, 
 and returned with a cold compliment ; as it 
 came too home to many, to meet general 
 approbation ; however, the affair necefla- 
 rily had an effed not very agreeable tofome 
 prefent , for the next captain's accounts 
 arifing to near four times the fum of the 
 lair, fuch an immediate precedent made 
 the difference fo glaring, that it was impof- 
 fible to avoid putting a flop to them ; 
 though ours, which had been ftill higher, 
 had gone off fmoothly, and without the 
 leaft remark. 
 
 My matter having concluded this affair 
 fo happily, proceeded next on the great 
 caufe of his coming to town, in which, 
 with our affjftance, he laboured fo fuccefs- 
 fully, that the captain's miftake met only 
 a gentle reprimand, 
 
 I
 
 92 C H R Y S A L : Or tie 
 
 I here came into the pofTeflion of a new 
 matter, and immediately after changed my 
 Spanijh appearance for the fafhion of the 
 country, and in the fhape of a guinea, en- 
 tered into the moil extendve ftate of fublu- 
 nary influence, becoming the price of every 
 name, that is rcfpected under heaven. 
 
 CHAP. XIII. 
 
 CHZ YSAL explains fome farther properties of 
 bis nature. He changes his appearance for 
 the mode of the country ; and enters into 
 tbefervice of a noble lord. The fegacity of 
 Mr. Poundage, and his addrefs in Bu- 
 ftnefs. 
 
 I Am now entering upon a ftage, where 
 the fcenes are fo various, and Ib quick- 
 ly changed, that it will require your ftricteft 
 attention to keep pace with my relation. 
 But to make this the eafier to you, and to 
 difmcumber your furprize from doubts, at 
 my repeating the paft lives of perfons, in 
 whofe pofieffion I have, been; but a few 
 moments, I muft premife to you, that our 
 knowledge is very diilerent from that of 
 
 men,
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 93 
 
 men. I have told you, that we know all 
 things intuitively, without the trouble, de- 
 lay, and errors of difccurje or reafoning. 
 I mud now further inform you, that this 
 intuition extends not only to the prefent 
 face of things, but alfo has a retrofpect to 
 the whole feries of their exiftence, from its 
 firft beginning : the concatenation between 
 caufe and effect being fo plain to our eyes, 
 that let us but fee any one event of the'life 
 of a man, and we immediately know every 
 particular that preceded it. 
 
 As to futurity indeed, it is not yet deter- 
 mined how far forward we can look into 
 that , fome allowing us to have the fame 
 power of forefight as we have of retrofpefl ; 
 which was the opinion that fupported the 
 credit of oracles in former days. But that 
 notion is now exploded, and men argue, 
 that our forefigbt extends only to natural 
 caufes and effects : but in the actions of 
 man, his free-vmU fo often breaks that or- 
 der, that it is impofllble for us to know 
 this moment how he will act the next, from 
 any obfervation of the paft ; and they think 
 they prove their argument by this, -that if 
 fpirits could fore-know all a man's actions, 
 - it would fpare them the trouble of tempt- 
 ing him to any particular ones. A fa- 
 vourite opinion, this of temptation, in the 
 
 pre-
 
 94 C H R Y S A L : Or the 
 
 prefent way of thinking, as it is a ready 
 excufe for throwing the blame of every 
 unfortunate or evil action on the poor Devil, 
 who perhaps knew nothing of the matter 
 all the while. 
 
 But though the Devil may not be always 
 able to foretell pofitively, every one allows 
 that be can generally guefs well ; a power 
 which I mention to you, as I may often ex- 
 ert it in this account. I fay, The Devil, to 
 accommodate himfelf to the general mode 
 of fpeaking, which refers every action, 
 good or bad, the caufe of which men do 
 not know, to fome being which they call 
 by that name. But to return to my ftory. 
 
 From the Mint? where I put on the 
 fhape of a guinea, I was fent to the Eank^ 
 where the pleafure I had felt at the beauty 
 and convenience of my new figure was con- 
 fiderably cooled, at my being thrown into 
 fo large an heap, as took away all my par- 
 ticular confequence, and leemed to threaten 
 a long ftate of inaftivity, before it might 
 come to my turn to be brought into action. 
 But I foon found myfelf agreeably inifta- 
 ken, and that the circulation there was too 
 quick to admit of fuch delay : for I was 
 that very day paid out to a noble lord, in 
 his penfion from the miniftry. 
 
 Jt
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 95 
 
 It was about two in the afternoon, when 
 I was brought to his lordiliip's levee, where 
 the grandeur of his looks, and the mag- 
 nificence of every thing about him, made 
 me fo pleafed with my fituation, that I 
 thought I could be fatisfied to fix my abode 
 with him for fome time. 
 
 He was juft arifen, and feated at the fire, 
 leaning on a writing table covered with 
 green velvet, on which lay fome books 
 open, and leveral letters which he had juft 
 broke the feals off, and was beginning to 
 read, while a female fervant, beautiful as 
 Hebe, poured out his tea at a fide-board, 
 and a page, like Ganymede, handed it to 
 him. 
 
 In this eafy indifference he fat, cafting an 
 eye upon a book, or reading a paragraph 
 in a letter, between every fip of his break- 
 faft, when I was laid upon his table, by 
 his ileward, with thefe words, ' Two 
 4 hundred, my lord' l Two hundred, (re- 
 4 plied his lordfhip) the order was for five 
 1 hundred !' ' But, my lord, the butcher, 
 ' the baker !' 4 What are thefe wretches to 
 
 * me ! Is not my whole cftate fufficient for 
 
 * them r * My lord, there is not a milling 
 
 * to be got from your tenants, the times are 
 
 * fo bad and the taxes fo high ! and an ounce 
 4 of provifions could not be had ' ' Then 
 
 < you
 
 96 C H R Y S A L : Or tke 
 
 'you might have all fajledl I miift have mo- 
 4 ney for this evening , / am engaged in a 
 4 PARTY, and cannot be off. ' 4 My lord, 
 4 your lordfliip's taylor defired me to fpeak 
 4 to you ; he is to appear before his com- 
 c mifTioners to-morrow, and begs* - - - 
 
 * What can I do? I would rdieve him if I 
 
 * could, but 1 have not money for myfelf : I 
 4 can not, will not do without five hundred more 
 4 this evening, get it where or how you will '. 
 
 * My lord, I was thinking to apply to Mr. 
 4 Difcount, the fcrivener, but he faid the 
 ' Jaft time, that he would lend no more on 
 1 that eftate, without the immediate power 
 4 o i cutting the timber. ' ' Wdl, damn 
 4 him, let him have it, though it will net be 
 '-fit to cut thefe ten years \ and, do you hear, 
 4 get me a thoufand to day ' ' A thoufand, 
 ' my lord ! you faid five hundred : I am 
 4 afraid he will think a thoufand too much ! ' 
 Then he fljall never have it , let me do as 
 4 / will ; do not 1 know, that the. timber is 
 ' worth twice as much this moment, if 1 could 
 4 wait to jet it to fale ; I will not be impofed 
 4 on by the. rafcal : ril go my f elf to my migh- 
 4 bour Worth! and direftly \ he ?T a man of 
 4 honour, and will be above' taking advan- 
 4 tage, though I did cppofe his cletlion? c As 
 4 your lordlhip pleafes for that. But then, 
 4 perhaps, Mr. Difcount will call in all his 
 
 4 money,
 
 Ad-ventures of a GUINEA. 97 
 money, if he faw you put yourfeif into 
 other hands , befide, . 1 am not certain 
 that he will refute, and therefore I fhoultl 
 think it better to try him firft ; you may 
 do this after. Though I muft take the 
 liberty to fay, I fhould be fony to fee 
 your lordfhip obliged to (loop to Sir John 
 IVorthland, after all the expence you have 
 been at to give him trouble. For to be 
 fure he would boaft of it in the country^ 
 if it was only to make you look little, 
 and prevent your oppofing him again' 
 Why there way be fometking in that : and 
 therefore fee what is to be dons with DIS- 
 COUNT ; but I muft have the thciifand at any 
 rate, Jive hundred cf which give to -poor 
 Buckram, and bring me. the other as foon as 
 poff'ible, for I am in hajle out.'' ' Then 
 your lordihip had better iign this deed 
 firft, to lave the time of coming back 
 again, if he mould do it'- c dye, kt me 
 fee it-, there : and make hajle. (And then 
 turning to his page) reach me ibat paper, 
 this pen is fo good it tempts me to write a 
 letter, while I wait for Poundage** return? 
 And fo humming a new tune, he went on 
 with his breakfail without the leaft con- 
 cern, 
 
 You are fo great a ftranger to the ways 
 
 of that part of the world which deals in 
 
 VOL. I. F money-
 
 98 C H R Y S A L : Or the 
 
 money-matters, that you will be furprizeci 
 when I tell you, that while this Mr. Pounr 
 dage brought me from the Bank, he had 
 called upon Mr. Difccunt and brought him 
 to his lord's, to do bis bufmefs. 
 
 But you muil not imagine this was to 
 lend his lordfhip money. Nothing lefs. 
 It was only to appear as the nominal lender 
 of iooo/. of his lordfhip's own money, 
 \vhich Poundage had that very morning re- 
 ceived from Ibme of his tenants in the 
 country, and which, if he could not bring 
 it in better, he meant to replace with part 
 of the price of the timber, which he was to 
 buy in Difeount's name, who was a creature 
 of his own. 
 
 So remarkable a tran faction gave me a 
 curiofity to take a view of Poundage's life, the 
 main lines of which I will juft touch over, 
 while you may think him gone for the mo- 
 ney, and his lordfhip dreffing for his en- 
 gagement. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 Aavmtures of ^GUINEA. 99 
 
 ********* ********** 
 CHAP. XIV. 
 
 STfc* //?fry of Mr. Thomas Poundage. M$ 
 
 lord/hip gees to bis appointment. An even- 
 ings entertainment in high life. C H R Y s A L 
 changes bis fir-vice : bis reflexions on the 
 ruling pfjfion of the times. 
 
 MR. Thomas Poundage was the offspring 
 of a gypfy, who had left him in the 
 icr.ivv he was born on, in an old barn near 
 his lordlhip's fathers, his wcaknefs and de- 
 formity making her not think him worth 
 the trouble of carrying away. 
 
 'I 'he old lord himfell happening to be the 
 fir it who heard his cries, as he was riding 
 by, took compafiion on the little helplefs 
 wretch, and ordered him to be taken care 
 of at his own expence, and not lent to the 
 parifh. 
 
 Such an uncommon instance of charity 
 was immediately attributed to a tenderer 
 motive : a fufpicioo, however injurious to 
 his lord/hip, fo advaraagipus to the found- 
 //, that it Doubled c he care and attendance 
 on'hini* and made him appear of luch con- 
 iequence, that Mr. Thomas Poundage him- 
 F 2 felf,
 
 ioo CHR YS A L: Or tie 
 
 felf, his lordfhip's ileward, condefcended 
 to ftand god-father for him, and gave him 
 his own name. As Maftcr Tommy grew up, 
 he mewed all- the fharpnefs an-d cunning of 
 his race, which old Poundage reprefenting 
 to his lord, as a capacity for learning, he 
 was put to the beft fchools ; and being of 
 the fame age with his lordfliip's eldeft fon, 
 his prefent mailer, was fettled as an hum- 
 ble companion and attendant upon him; in 
 which flation, the pliancy of his temper 
 foon gained him his matter's favour, as his 
 fecrecy and difcretion did his confidence ; 
 no fervice appearing too difficult or mean 
 for his undertaking, to pleafc his matter, 
 especially in the mytteries of intrigue j nor 
 a look ever betraying his fuccefs. 
 
 Thefe fervices naturally produced an in- 
 timacy, that opened to him all his matter's 
 fecrets, and gave him fuch confequence 
 with him, that upon the death of his father, 
 old Poundage was fuperannuatcd upon a pen- 
 ficn^ and the place given to him, in which 
 he had behaved himfelf fo judicioufly, that 
 in about ten years he had amafied fo large a 
 fortune, as to be able to fupply his matter's 
 wants (with the affittance ot his own mo- 
 ney fometimes) without the fcandal of ex- 
 pofing them to any other : a fervice that 
 itrriply recompenced to his lordfhip's honour, 
 
 what-
 
 AdvMnres of a GUINEA. 101 
 whatever prejudice it may be fuppcfed to 
 do his affairs. 
 
 'Tis true, his thus fnpplanting his god- 
 father and benefactor old Poundage, had not 
 met with tiie approbation of fuch as were 
 not well acquainted with the world, and 
 particularly, as the old gentleman, in his 
 rage, had accounted for all his kindnefs to 
 him, by owning a relation, which he had 
 before ftrove to fix upon his lord, by many 
 plain infinuations, though he now faid he 
 had -long before revealed to his ungrateful 
 fon, the fecret of his birth. 
 
 However, if he had communicated this 
 fecret, our fon of fortune had kept it fo 
 w,dl, that he cpwldnow deny it with fafety ; 
 nor had he profited fo little by his fathers 
 example, as to be moved with a fuggeftioa 
 that evidently appeared, however true it 
 might be in itfelf, to fpring at that time 
 from refentment. And as he could not ex<- 
 peer, to reap any great advantage from being 
 acknowledged for the fpurious ion of one 
 who had many legitimate children to in- 
 herit his fortune, he thought it better to 
 confirm the former opinion, by his flights 
 of the cjaim of Poundage^ and fmce he rriuft 
 be the baftard of one of them, 1 chufe the 
 lord before his fervant. 
 
 F-3 But
 
 102 CXI R Y S A L: Or th 
 
 But to return to my matter. He was 
 drefied by that time Poundage came back 
 with the money, when taking the five hun- 
 dred /#r his oivn ^'.fe^ he went to his appoint- 
 ment. 
 
 As to the other five hundred, which he 
 had ordered to be paid tohis taylor, tor tear 
 of the wretch's applying to tli lord him- 
 fell-, in his difpair, Poundagt did lend for 
 him, and in ccmpaffion to his diftrefs, fid- 
 i-anced him- 400 -I . of his own money, -forht 
 had not a /hilling of bis lord's in bis bands ; 
 for ii-bich piece of fervice he defired no ether 
 confederation, than a receipt for 500 /. though 
 if might be fo long before he could get it back^ 
 that he expefled to be a lofer by his friend/hip^ 
 which Mr. Buckram need nof, as be cvuld 
 bring it up in his next bill. 
 
 It was five o'clock, and dinner juft ferr- 
 ing up, when my lord joined his company. 
 At dinner, and during the reign of the 
 bottle for a couple of hours after, the con-, 
 verfation turned upon all the polite topicks 
 of the times, -wherein there could be no 
 Jong difputes, as every difference in opinion 
 was immediately determined by a &ef, the 
 fupreme decifion of peace, war, religion 
 and law. But this difllpated pidUng ibon 
 i^ive way to the ferious bnfinefs of the even- 
 irgj to which th^y alt- adjourned, with an 
 
 at-
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 103' 
 attention and anxiety worthy of the confe- 
 quence at Hake. 
 
 It is impoflible to give you any idea of 
 this fcene, in which every moment produ- 
 ced fuch fudden tranfitions from uifpair 
 to exultation, from fhouts of joy to the 
 mod blafphemous execrations of th/ir very 
 being, on the viciilitudes in the momentary 
 fortunes of the adors, that the very recol- 
 lection of it is a pain even to me, as it bears 
 too f ilrong a reiemblance to the tortures of 
 the damned. 
 
 However, it made no fuch impreflion 
 upon them : but they continued at it till 
 about fix in the morning, when they retised 
 for the night. 
 
 In the courfe of the evening, I often went the 
 circuit of the whole company round, and at 
 length was carried home by a new mailer. 
 But before I fay any thing of him, I mud 
 give you a few flight fketches of the cha- 
 racters of fome others of the company, and 
 particularly of my late lord, in whole whole 
 appearance and behaviour there was fome- 
 thing fo extraordinary. 
 
 There is fcarce a ftronger inftance of the 
 tyranny of avarice over the heart of man, 
 than the paffion for play, which now is fo 
 general and prevalent, as to feem in a man- 
 ner to have drowned every other. The 
 F 4 ten-
 
 104 CHR YS AL: Or the 
 tendereft, the ftrongeft connections ofiriend- 
 Ihip and nature, yield to the force of this 
 refiftlefs infatuation. The perfons who 
 elteem each other moft in the world this 
 moment, no fooner fitting down to this de- 
 cifion of fate, than they labour for each 
 other's ruin, with all the affiduity and eager- 
 nefs of the moft inveterate hatred and re- 
 venge. 
 
 Nor is this practice confined to thofe 
 alone whom neceflity may feem toftimulate 
 to fo defperate a reiburce. The richeft are 
 often found to be the moft infatuated with 
 this paffion, who pofleffing already more 
 than they can enjoy, yet hazard that, and 
 give themfelves up a prey to anxiety, and 
 often todefpair, to indulge a fruitless defire 
 for more. 
 
 Of this laft clafs were moft of the com- 
 pany, among whom my late lord had fpent 
 this evening : fome few indeed there were 
 whom this folly had reduced to the former, 
 and neceflitated to live by their experience 
 in the art which had been their ruin. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 105 
 
 CHAP. XV. 
 
 CHRYSAL reprefents the company inpsrfpettiv e 
 Anecdotes of fome of the moft remarkable per- 
 fcm of the party. A -painter-general de- 
 ceived by his own judgment and eminent ttijie 
 for VIRTU. 
 
 Ifee your curiofity rife at the mention of 
 fo ftrange a fcene as this muft be. It 
 is natural, and therefore (hall be indulged. 
 But as all defcription muft fall mort of it, 
 I fliall reprefent it to you in perfpective. 
 Do you therefore refolve fenfe into imagi- 
 nation, a praflice not uncommon with the phi- 
 lofophick mind, and to pure abftradted at- 
 tention, fhall my words become things, 
 and appear as vifible to its eyes, as if they 
 were purged with euphrafie and rue. 
 
 Obferve now at the head of the table, 
 that heavy looking figure, vrhofe faturnwg 
 complexion gives a iblemnity to his ap- 
 pearance, even beyond his declining years. 
 This man wore out the prime of his life 
 in indigence and hardfhips, till chance, by 
 one fucceisful ftroice in his bufmefs, gave 
 F hitn
 
 io6 CHR YS AL: Cr/fc 
 
 him fuch a fortune, as was deemed fuifi;- 
 
 cient merit to deierve nobility, and entitle 
 
 him to one of the firft employments in the 
 
 Hate. 
 
 Sudden elevation makes a weak head 
 giddy ; the plain, good-natured, chearftil 
 man, is loft in the folemn proud peer ; 
 who is harder of accefs than his Tovreign, 
 and feerns to value himfelf on having all 
 the hours he has fpent in ci inging to xhe 
 
 freat, repaid teniold in attendance upon 
 im. As to the bufmefs of his office, the 
 wholefyftem of human politicks is in general 
 fuch ajumble of blundering and villany, that 
 I can feldom bring myfclf to bellow a mo- 
 ment's notice on it, To' can fay no more of 
 his, than that the little attention, and lefs 
 capacity he has for it, may molt probably 
 give juft occafion for all the murmurings 
 that are againit him. But. this was not the 
 motive of my pointing him to you. It was 
 bis infatuation to the love of play, which 
 makes him hazard that wealth which he To 
 long felt the want of, in hopes of acquiring 
 more, though he has already more than he 
 can enjoy. 
 
 This has been an unfuccefsful night with 
 him.. Obferve how ftupified he looks at hia 
 4o is ! extend the view but a few moments 
 farther, and fee how he fits down in the 
 
 com-
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 107 
 common hall of the tavern, among fervants 
 a/id chairmen, infenfible of the impropriety 
 of fuch a place, and unable to order his fer- 
 vants to carry him iiome: nor is it impro- 
 bable that theicene he hasjuft quitted may 
 remain ib Itrongly on his imagination to- 
 morrow, that he may write down the rules 
 of the game he has been playing at, inflead 
 of the orders of his office, as he has dpne 
 once before. 
 
 Next to him, you fee a fhort, ruddy, 
 chearful looking man. That is one of the 
 deplorable inftances of the evil of this pre- 
 pofterous paflion. With every advamage 
 of rank, abilities and fortune, did that per- 
 ibn let out in life But alas ! foon was the 
 profpedt of his future happinefs and gran- 
 deur overcait! foon did gaming reduce him 
 not only to a neceflity of proftituting his abi- 
 Jities to the prejudice of his country, but 
 alfo of defcending to every iniquitous my- 
 itery of the art to fupport his practice of it ; 
 for ib bewitched is he to it, that he cannot 
 defiit, though he now can icarce get any 
 perfon to play with him, his want of money" 
 and his (kill being ib well known. 
 
 This has been a iuccefsr'ul evening wkh 
 
 him, as you may fee by his extraordinary; 
 
 Mow of fpirits : not that liis natural vivacity 
 
 ever fails liim in the woi-ft reverfeof fortune.. 
 
 F 6 i U
 
 io8 CHR YSAL: Or tie 
 
 He has won a confiderable part of the great 
 loofings of the perfon we have juft been 
 taking notice of , and though he has many 
 demands upon him for every fhilling of it, 
 yet fo far from thinking of paying one of 
 them, he is this moment planning new 
 fcenes of pleafure to confume it all, pre- 
 ferring to let his creditors all be bankrupts, or 
 even to compound with them as a bankrupt 
 himfelf, rather than deny his appetites 
 their full gratification. 
 
 Oppofite to him, at the other fide of the 
 table, obferve an uncommonly large- boned 
 bulky man : that is one of the inftances of 
 the infufficiency, and weaknefs of human 
 Jaws, which ftriving to remedy one evil, of- 
 ten make way for a greater. That man is 
 now advanced to the foremoft rank of the 
 military lift, without one military virtue to 
 aflift his rife, but merely and folely by^- 
 niority! A grievous abufe of that inftitu- 
 tion, which to prevent favour from advan- 
 cing its minions over friendlefs merit, or- 
 dains, that no fenior officer (hall ferve un- 
 der his junior , but now, by the natural 
 force of human perverfion, this well- 
 defigned regulation is made a pretext for 
 giving command to fuch as have no other 
 claim to it, than (what mould indeed inca- 
 pacitate them) old-age, and fo keeping 
 
 back
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 109 
 back the advance, and damping the ardour 
 of youth. 
 
 As there is no man without fome particu- 
 lar ambition, his has taken a turn, which 
 perhaps you may think the mofl remote 
 from his profeffion of a foldier. Pictures ! 
 painting, is the fole object of his admira- 
 tion, the only knowledge he values himfelf 
 upon. Tell him of a liege, or a battle, an 
 attack or a retreat, conducted with the 
 greatefl fkill, and he hears you unmoved, 
 nor will interrupt your account with a fingle 
 queflion : but name Rembrandt or Titian, 
 and he immediately gives you a dirTertation 
 on their excellencies, and the difference of 
 their fchools ! Tell him but of a fale of 
 pictures, on the day fixed for a review, and, 
 if he is forced to feign ficknefs to excufe his 
 attendance in the field, he will be at it. 
 
 Such abfurd paflions are always the ob- 
 jects of artifice and impofition. An inge- 
 nious painter of this country, not very long 
 fince, whofe works would have been a cre- 
 dit to the bell of foreign fchools, but were 
 defpifed at home, bethought himfelf of 
 a way to turn this perion's foible to 
 fome advantage. He made fome defigns, 
 landfcapes, and other drawings, in the 
 manner of fome of the greaicft of che 
 ancient Italian matters, whofe names he 
 
 marked
 
 no CH R YS AL: Or tke 
 
 marked upon the .backs of them, in the 
 rude charade, s of thtir times, and giving 
 them the roofage, made them tip, in an 
 Italian cheft. and by the afiiftance of a cap- 
 tain of a fhip, had them entered at the 
 cultom-houfe, as directly from Italy, and 
 configned to a ftranger, as from a friend 
 there, to be cjifpofed of in Lmdori. 
 
 The report inilant y reached this lover of 
 virtu, who was ib ravifhed with the thought 
 of gaining fuch a treafnre, that he flew to 
 the place, and being convinced by his judgment 
 of the authenticity of them., bought them all 
 together for a very large fum, but far fliort 
 of their real value, had they been to be dif- 
 pofed of by a peribn acquainted with it. 
 
 Though this fuccefs was very pleafing, 
 and uleful to the painter, he did not ftop 
 here. This perfon had ibme way taken a 
 diflike to him, which he indulged, by run- 
 ning down his work. This therefore Av as 
 an opportunity for revenge, not to be mif- 
 fed. He let him boaft of his acquifmon in 
 all companies, and difplay his judgment in 
 proving them to be the genuine productions 
 of thole great maflers, by criticiims which 
 none but a connoifeiir could make : but 
 then, as foon as the whole affair was fo 
 pub'ick, that there was no denying it, what 
 does the incenfed artift but produce the 
 
 coua-
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. nj 
 counterparts of them all, which he had 
 kept for the occafion, fo like as not poffibte 
 to be known afunder, and unravelled the 
 whole affair, taking care only to keep him- 
 felf clear of the" law, by faying, that he 
 had fold thofe things as of no value, at a 
 very fmall price, to a Jew. 
 
 This 'was a fevere ftroke ! -It overturned 
 the only reputation which he had even an 
 ambition of, and robbed him of a large 
 fum of money befide, to recover which 
 lofs, and divert the chagrine of the whole 
 deceit, he has recourfe to play, which he 
 follows with the eagernefs you fee. 
 
 I fee your fenfes fail, under fuch an ex- 
 traordinary exertion, I mail therefore clofe 
 this fcene with observing, that the whole 
 company may be characterized under the 
 few I have pointed to you. In this view of 
 them, I chofe to take the filent moment,, 
 when their bufmefs was near over, for in 
 the height of it, the agitation of fuch com- 
 plicated paflions would have been too horri- 
 ble for reprefentation. 
 
 C H A P.
 
 C HR YS AL: Or the 
 
 CHAP. XVI. 
 
 CHRYSAL gives a farther account of his latt 
 
 lord. The methods by which he had been 
 
 initiated in the myfteries of polite life. Sotw 
 
 Jketches of the character of his next mafter^ 
 
 who gives him to an extraordinary perfon. 
 
 I Prom i fed to give you fome account of 
 my late lord. He was the fon of one 
 of the moft diftinguifhed perfons of his 
 age, who had acquired a fortune in the 
 fervice of his conntry, fuflfcient to.fup- 
 port, with proper dignity, the nobility with 
 which his faithful zeal was rewarded by his 
 grateful fovereign. 
 
 The youth of his fon opened with fuch 
 promifing hopes, that it was expected he 
 would advance, in the fteps of his father, 
 to the highefl rank of a fubject. To faci- 
 litate thefe hopes, at his return from his 
 travels, in which he had not only gone to 
 fee, but had alfo taken time to confider the 
 principal countries of Europe, with thofe of 
 Africa and Afia, whofe interefts might any 
 way affect thofe of his own, or whofe hif- 
 
 tory,
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. j j j 
 tory, illuftrated thus by obfervation, might 
 teach him to improve the advantages of his 
 own country, and avoid the evils which had 
 been the ruin of others, he was placed in 
 the lower houfe of the fenate, with every 
 advantage of fortune, inteieft, and opinion, 
 to fupport the exertion of his abilities. 
 
 He had fcarce made himfelf known here, 
 n his proper light, when the death of his 
 father railed him into the houfe of peers* 
 where he foon eftablilhed a weight that made 
 him of real confequence to the nation, and 
 alarmed the fears of the miniftry, who, as 
 they could not confute, reiblved to corrupt 
 him, if poffible ; for which end the deepeft 
 fchemes were put in pradice, to relax his 
 morals, and embarrafs his fortune, as the 
 prefent fituation of both, railed him above 
 their attempts. 
 
 It would require uncommon virtue to re- 
 fill the temptations to vice, in an age whofe 
 refinements have taken off every grofTnefs, 
 and almoft every horror of its appearance. 
 His regard was won, by a moft delicate 
 application to that vanity, which is too of- 
 ten the Ihadow of merit, efpecially in youth; 
 the very perfons who defigned to change 
 his principles, feeming to give up theirs to 
 the fuperior force of his reaibn. 
 
 Such
 
 M4 C HR YS AL: Or the 
 
 Such artifice foon won the confidence of 
 his unguarded heart, and inclined it to re- 
 ceive their opinions and advice, without 
 farther examination ; as the heat of youth, 
 and a vivid imagination affifted their de- 
 iqgns againft his fortune, the fuccefs of 
 which was in itfelf a fufficient reward. 
 
 He had always exprefled a diflike to/>%, 
 nor ever gave into it, but in eomplaifance 
 to company. To conquer this averfion 
 was therefore their laft labour, in which 
 they found eafier fuccefs than they could 
 have even hoped for. The affluence of his 
 fortune made him above apprehenfion of 
 Jofs, and a difdain to be excelled, even in 
 an art he disproved, engaged him with a 
 keennefs, that foon made his advances in 
 the art a pleafure to him. 
 
 The work was now done ; and a few- 
 years of his own induftry, with the afiif- 
 tance of his friends, and the management 
 of his f.ithful fteward, made him willing 
 to enter into the pay of a miniftry, which 
 he might, in lefs time, have over-turned. 
 
 This was his fituation at that time; but 
 fome fee ret ftruggles which I favv reaibn 
 and virtue making in his heart, made me 
 think he meditated a revolt from his infa- 
 tuation, which the leaft liberty to his natu- 
 ral good fenfe could not fail to accompli Ih ; 
 
 an
 
 Ad-venttffies of a GUINEA. 11.5 
 <tn event, which the rapacity of poundage 
 nuifl haflen to his own ruin 
 
 Theperfon, in whofe pofleffion I left the 
 fcene you have juft beheld, was one of 
 thole who had been fo fuccefsful in initiating 
 my late mafter into all the myfteries of 
 pleafure. Indeed, he Teemed defigned by 
 nature to extend its empire over all man- 
 kind, making it the fole object of abilities 
 equal to the moil exalted purfuits, to invent 
 new, to improve the old methods of grati- 
 fying fenfe, and enforcing his precepts, by 
 an example fo keen, and a converfation fo 
 captivating, as not to be refilled. 
 
 Appetites fo extenfive required a large 
 fupport ; to provide which, for fortune had 
 fo far frowned upon his birth, that he was 
 but a younger brother, he was compelled 
 to lleal fome moments from his darling 
 pleaiures, and facrificc them to bufmefs. - 
 The intereil of his family, and his own abi- 
 lities had raifed him to the firft employ- 
 ments in the ft ate _; but as the fole motive 
 of his fubmiLiing to the reftraint of any 
 application, was to acquire a fund for the 
 gratification of his pleafures, his hafte to 
 arrive at. that end, precipitated him into the 
 mod deitruclive meailnes, and made him 
 ready and eager to embrace every opportu- 
 nity of facrificing, >r ra.-: her feUing the in- 
 
 tereflr
 
 n6 C H R Y S AL: Or the 
 
 tereft of his country for prefent private 
 gain. 
 
 The proper application of the gifts of 
 heaven, makes them a bleffing. Thiscaft 
 of his difpofition, made thofe abilities, 
 which under a light direction, would have 
 been of the higheft fervice to himfelf and 
 his country, a real prejudice to both, ma- 
 king him the ready arid dangerous inftru- 
 ment of the moft enormous crimes, that 
 could promife prefent gratification to his 
 paffions. 
 
 Jn fuch a life, there muft necelTai iiy be 
 many difagreeable occurrences, but they 
 make no imprefiion on him, for his whole 
 foul is fo devoted to pleafure, that upon 
 the lead mifcarriage in bufjnefs, he finds 
 immediate relief in the reurn to that, which 
 he can fly to, without any difficulty, the 
 natural vivacity of his temper, that makes 
 his converfation fo bewitching to others, 
 never yielding to a fecond moment's vexa- 
 tion, at any one event. 
 
 A s the viper bears in herfelf the antidote 
 of her poifon, this diflipation of temper 
 prevents his abilities from doing all the 
 mifchief he otherwife might, by pulling off 
 the mafk, and mewing his defigns, too foon 
 for their accomplifhmeat. The very per- 
 ibns, who would gladly avail themfelves of 
 
 the
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 117 
 
 the venality, not daring to truft to the in- 
 conftancy of his difpofition ; fo that he foon 
 loft his greatefl power of doing evil, other- 
 wile than by oppofing, and impeding the 
 meafures of thole, whofe fuccefsful honefty 
 difappointed his defigns, and (hewed the 
 danger of them in its proper light. 
 
 You will not imagine, that my flay 
 could be long in his poffeffion. He that 
 very day gave me to an author, for throw- 
 ing dirt on the characters of thofewho had 
 detected and defeated his fchemes of leading 
 his country into ruin. 
 
 CHAP. XVII. 
 
 be hi/lory and character <?/CHRYSAL'J new 
 mafter. His adventures at the coffee houfe. 
 The fun of a modern GENIUS retorted upon 
 himfelf, by tie grave rebuke of a tefty ve- 
 terans. 
 
 MY new matter was a votary of Apollo, 
 in the double capacity of phyfic and 
 letters : for the former not affording fcope 
 enough for his genius, he ufually dedicated 
 his leifure hours to the gentler entertainment 
 of the latter, through the extenfive circle 
 
 of
 
 n8 C H R Y S A L: Or the 
 
 of which he had occafionally ran ; there 
 not being a branch, in the wide wood of 
 Science, which had not felt his pruning. 
 The loweft rudiments of the molt vulgar 
 arts, being, in his opinion, no more be- 
 neath the philofophick pen, than the mod 
 abftrufe heights of (peculation. 
 
 It muft be owned, that in fuch a latitude 
 of ftudy, he often was obliged to proftiruie 
 his labours , but for this he had the folid 
 confolation, that his gain generally roie, in 
 proportion as his fubjeft lunk, the caprice 
 of the world paying bed, that is, buying 
 mod eagerly, what it affected to decry mod. 
 Nor is this to be wondered at, a loofe talc, 
 or a receipt for cooking a new diih, being 
 better adapted to general tade, than a moral 
 efTay, or m'etaphyfical (peculation. 
 
 From his patron's Jevee, my m after went 
 directly home, and und retting into his cap 
 and flippers, afcended to his ftudy, and 
 took a meditative turn or tv/o, revolving 
 in his mind the many grievances that called 
 upon him for redrefs, from the fucctfs of 
 that morning. 
 
 At length, burding into a rapture, he 
 cried, c I'll think no morel Be the wants 
 ' of yefterday forgot ! thofe of to-morrow 
 ' will come too foon, without the anticipa- 
 ' tion of thought ! I cannot pay all I owe ! 
 
 * I
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. no 
 c I cannot provide all I want ! Hence then 
 1 vain care ! I'll depend on fortune, and 
 ' my felt", for a greater fupply, another 
 ' day, and indulge my genius with the 
 * preient.' Big with this heroick relblu- 
 tion, he gave orders for dinner, and then 
 lending for his bell fuit home, drefled him- 
 felf in all his pride, and went to the coffee- 
 houfe to look at the papers. 
 
 The pleafure of my company had given 
 fuch a flow to his fpirits, naturally high, 
 that he foon drew the attention of the coffee- 
 room, the greater part of the company ga- 
 thering in a circle round him, to hear his 
 remarks on the publications of the day, 
 which he threw out with the confidence of 
 one, who thought his opinion the eftablifhed 
 flandard of all writing j and at the fame 
 time, with a fprightlinels that made his 
 very impudence and abfurdity entertain- 
 ing. 
 
 While he was thus running on, in the tor- 
 rent of harangue, a veterane, whole only em- 
 ployment, for many years, was talking 
 over the actions of his youth, and compa- 
 paring them to the miftakes and loffes of the 
 prefent times, no longer able to contain his 
 rage, at having his audience drawn from 
 him, in the midft of his daily tale, rofe up 
 with an execration that fhook the room, and 
 
 calling
 
 izo C H R Y S AL: Or the 
 
 calling for his cloak and cane, ' This is 
 not to be borne (exclaimed he). Here, 
 waiter, take for my coffee ! I fhall ftay 
 in iuch a place no longer : is this the 
 land of freedom, forfooth ! that a man 
 muft be difturbed in his difconrfe, and 
 not have liberty to fpeak where he fpends 
 his money. Had I but the command 
 here, I'd fettle other orders ; fevery pra- 
 ting puppy fhould not prefume to inter- 
 rupt his betters : things are like to go 
 well with us, when matters of the highefl 
 conlequence can be broken in upon by 
 noife and nonfcnfe. This is freedom 
 wkh a vengeance !' 
 
 The look and accent with which thefe 
 words were pronounced, were too terrible 
 for my mafter to encounter , both nature 
 and experience having given him fo lively 
 an apprehenfion of danger, that his readied 
 prefence of mind was not always able to 
 conceal it. He was, therefore, cut fhort 
 "at once, and could fcarce mufter fpirits to 
 throw a wink at fome of thole about him, 
 as the man of war looked another way. 
 
 But the triumph was not fo abfolute over 
 all the company, one of whom, refolving 
 to have fome fun, cries out, ' Pray doctor 
 
 * pfoceed , you are juft, in the moil in- 
 
 * tefefling part of your flory : the colonel 
 
 ' could
 
 Adventures of a G u i N E A . 121 
 1 could not mean to interrupt you ; he is 
 1 too fond of telling his own (lory, to give 
 
 * another fuch pain : go on, you fhould* 
 6 not be frighted at a fiafh in the pan.' 
 
 ' Frighted indeed' (replied the doctor, 
 gathering courage when he faw himfelf fup- 
 ported) ' at what, I wonder ! at the fight 
 
 * of what old age can fink to ! no, no ! 
 ' I am not fo eafily frighted ! I leave that 
 
 * to your antiquated heroes, the exploits of 
 4 whofe youth have exhauiled their cou- 
 ' rage : I mean no offence-, but to go on, 
 
 * as I was faying, the difaiwy of the JL>ep of 
 1 plants accounts in the clear ef manner* 
 ' Hold, doctor (cries the other) that was not 
 ' as you ivere faying, you were telling us of 
 4 the nobleman, who caught his coachman 
 
 * in bed with his lady, one morning, when 
 
 * he came home, fooner than ufual from 
 c the tavern, pray how did me bring her- 
 fclf off. 
 
 4 Oh, was that it (replied the doctor) 
 
 * faith I had forgot ; the fury of Mars had 
 
 * like to have made a gap in the annals of 
 
 * Venus: ha! ha! ha! why me made no- 
 4 thing of it, but laughing in his face, moft 
 ' heroically, tit for tat my dear is but fair 
 
 * play (faid me) while I fay nothing at 
 
 * your ftaying out night after night with 
 
 Vol. I. G
 
 122 CHR YS A L: Or the 
 
 * Kilty t you cannot in confcience blame my 
 
 * comforting myfelf a little with John.'' 
 
 The colonel ftool all this while con- 
 vulfed with rage, too big for utterance, 
 but the univerfal laugh that followed 
 the doctor's laft words, roufing him 
 from his reverie, he advanced to him, 
 Whom do you dare to laugh at, fottl- 
 iron ? ( fays he, taking him by the 
 nofej whole courage is exhaufted ? but 
 you are beneath my notice or refentment, 
 farther than this' (then fpitting full in 
 his face, he turned to the gentleman who 
 had let the doctor on, and who now be- 
 gan not to like the joke any farther) ' But 
 
 * for you, Sir, you perhaps may be a gen- 
 
 * tleman, and worth calling to a further 
 ' account, will you pi cafe to walk up ftairs 
 
 * with me, and let me know what you 
 6 meant by a flafh in the pan ?' 
 
 The ceremonies of attending him, on 
 fuch an expedition, would not have been 
 much more agreeable to this gentleman, 
 than to my mafler, but he had more com- 
 mand of his fear, and was well ufed to bring 
 himfelf off with a joke. ' Sir (fays he) 
 
 * you need not give yourfelf the trouble of 
 4 going up flairs, for what I can as well do 
 4 here ! By bidding the doctor not be 
 ' frighted, I meant at the circumftances of 
 
 4 his
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 11$ 
 
 * his own ftory, for juft as you interrupted 
 
 * him, he had faid, that the lord fnapped a, 
 4 piftol at his lady, which had flamed iri 
 4 the pan ! That was all, Sir ! I could ne- 
 4 ver mean it to offend you, or (hew a doubt 
 
 * of your courage, which I have heard you 
 
 * relate fo many furprizing inftances of, fo 
 4 often, and always fo invariably alike, 
 6 that they muft be true.' 
 
 4 Sir ! Sir ! have a care (replied the co- 
 
 4 lone!) I donotdefire to be troubled with 
 
 4 fuch a gentleman, as I perceive your are ! 
 
 ' But let me tell you, Sir, that I havefeen 
 
 4 a man's face broke, before now, for 
 
 ' wearing fuch a fneer ! As to the (lories I 
 
 1 tell, I am fatisfied they will be of no fer- 
 
 " vice to you, nor raife the lead emulation 
 
 4 in a man who can flay lounging about 
 
 i town, when his country has occafion for 
 
 4 him. I was younger than you, when I 
 
 4 went a voluntier with lord Cutts^ under 
 
 4 the duke of Marlborough^ nor was I urged 
 
 * by want. I had a good eftate, Sir, fuf- 
 1 ficient to lupply me with what you call 
 
 * the pleafures of life, if I could have 
 
 * thought any thing a pleafure that was not 
 ' attended with honour. Sir, I loft this 
 4 hand at B/ettfoeim, and this leg at Malpla- 
 ' qtietl But why do I tell you fo ! you will 
 
 * prefeive your hands to take fnuff-, and 
 
 G 2 ' your
 
 124 C HR Y S A L: Or the 
 
 * your legs, to walk the park, the proper 
 
 .' fcene of your campaigns.' With which 
 
 words the doughty heroe marched away to 
 .his chariot. 
 
 Though this lecture was rather too grave 
 .for the tafte of the perlbn to whom it was 
 addreffed, it gave great pleafure to the un- 
 .concernecl part of the company, and to 
 none more than my mailer, who had wiped 
 .his face, and began to come to hiircfdf, as 
 loon as he faw the danger directed another 
 .way. 
 
 Before the gentleman could fpeak, the 
 doctor came up to him, and faid, l I am 
 
 * forry, Sir, that you fliould have drawn 
 .' this itorm upon youricii, upon my ac- 
 . ' count ! But I bore the word of it ! You 
 
 * heard but the whiftling of the winds, the 
 
 * ihower fell on me ! 'tis well though, that 
 " what fuch dotards do, is not efteemed 
 
 * an affront !' * An affront, Sir (replied 
 
 * the other) I do not underftand you ! I 
 ' hope you do not infinuate, that there was 
 
 * any affront offered to me, or that I was - 
 
 * in the leaft concerned in what was faid, 
 ' only to you !' c Not at all, Sir (retur- 
 ' ned the doctor) not at all, Sir ! the colo- 
 ' nel's difcourfe was all directed to me, to 
 
 * be lure ! and I hope to profit by it, thus 
 4 far, that I will never interrupt him again ! 
 
 And
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 125 
 And with thefe words, he left his former' 
 friend the field, not caring to enter into-any 
 farther altercation with him, for fear he 
 might take it into his head to vindicate his 
 character on him, as be knew bis man. 
 
 Such flight rebuffs made not a moment's' 
 impreffion on the temper of my matter : 
 he was ufed to, and made nothing of 
 them ! A good dinner, and a bottle of 
 wine, fent him in the evening, in a critical 
 enthufiafm, to the theatre, where all action" 
 fell mort of the fublimity of his conception, 
 all expreflion, of the warmth ot his feeling, 
 as he fully explained, to every company in 
 the coffee- houfe, while he fet at public Hip- 
 per, after the play was done. 
 
 CHAP. XVIII. 
 
 Some farther account of CHRYSAL'J mafier. 
 His converfation and engagements idtb two 
 bookfellers. Some of tbe fecrets of the Ira* f. 
 CHRYSAL changes his fervice. 
 
 EXtenfive as thefe fcenes were, they 
 mewed not my matter in his proper 
 light. His peculiar fphere was his ftudy, 
 where the inconfiftency of his works mewed 
 G 3 the
 
 126 CHR YS AL: Cr tbs 
 
 the chaos in the brain, from whence they 
 fprung. Chaos did I lay ? Chaos is order to 
 the confufion there, for furely the diicor- 
 dant feeds of fuch ill-matched things were 
 never jumbled together before. An auc- 
 tioneer's library is a regular fyftem, in com- 
 panion to his head. Such an Leap has 
 neither beginning nor end. No fixed point 
 to commence a defcription from. I mail 
 therefore wave fuch an attempt, and only 
 itrive -to convey ibme idea of it, from its 
 
 effects. At five next morning he arofe 
 
 to his labours, the firil of which was to 
 confider, what he fhould begin the day 
 with, fuch was the multitude he had in. 
 hand. But what reafon couid not deter- 
 mine, chance mud, and he took them as 
 they happened to lie, pawgyrick, libel, phy- 
 jlck, divinity, cochty, criticifm, politicks, 
 ballads, bolavy, &c. &c. &c. In all of 
 which he indefatigably worked the tafk of 
 the day, changing his fubject with as little 
 concern as he did his paper : and though 
 fiich rambling prevented his ever getting 
 deeper than the furface of any fubject, yet 
 it mewed the extent and volubility of his 
 capacity, and that it wanted only regular 
 application, to any -fciftice, to be eminent 
 in it. 
 
 As
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 127 
 As Toon as he had finifhed, and the devils 
 had carried away his labours, he was juft 
 deicending to go out, when a bookieller 
 came to pay him a vifit. After much 
 ceremony on one fide, and little civility on 
 the other, Mr. Vellum thus accofted my 
 mafter : * Well, Sir, I fee there is no depen- 
 4 dance on the word of an author! I thought 
 ' I was to have the anfv/er to yefterday's 
 
 * pamphlet laft night ! Somebody elfe will 
 ' do it, and then I lhall be finely off.' 
 
 ' Upon my honour, Sir (replied my 
 
 * matter) I affure you I mould have done 
 
 * it, but fome bufmefs* What bujinefs can 
 
 * you have, thatjhould interfere a moment with 
 ' your engagements with me?' * Dear Mr. 
 
 * Vellum do but hear me ! There is a noble 
 
 * lord going to be divorced for impo- 
 
 * tence , I juft got an hint of the matter, 
 ' the night before laft, and fo waited u r >on 
 
 * his lordfhip's gentleman yefterday morn- 
 
 * ing, with whom I have a particular inti- 
 
 * macy, having lerved him in my protef- 
 
 * fion more than once ; and from him I 
 4 have learned the whole ftory, and now 
 4 leave me to fet it out ! I'll engage to 
 
 * make a noble eigh teen-penny worth of it 
 
 * at leaft by to-morrow morning/ e Why^ 
 ' there-may befcmeikingm.kat\ but in ihc mean 
 c time you Jhould not let other matters cool ! ' 
 
 G 4 ' Never
 
 J28 C HR Y S A L: Or the . 
 
 * Never fear ; pray how did yefterday's 
 pamphlet do?' ' V/hy tolerably well ; but 
 the fcandal was fo grofi, thai I was alaiojt 
 afraid.' ' Aye ! aye ! never fear me fof 
 an home cut ! never fear me !' 'But 1 bear 
 nothing of the ex cr tit aliens ! ' ' No ; your 
 devil carried away the fheet above an hour 
 ago !" ' Then there's that look you promifed 
 to re -write ; feme cm elf 6 -will do it, avdprt- 
 vent- yen. 9 ' Never fear, I have juit laid 
 down a fcale for the ftile , befide, 1 have 
 altered the title already, and that you 
 know is the principal thing.' ' I'Lat is 
 right ! Now youfpeak cf titles, I wan' half a 
 dozen direEIly! ibis very dc,y if pcjjible :" : 
 *Tis rather too late now ; but where are 
 the books ?* c In the lumber-garret, where 
 they have lain thefe feven years.'' ' That's 
 well ; they are forgot by this.' ' Forgot ! 
 why they were nei'cr known ! the author was a 
 man of fortune, who printed them at his own 
 expence, but I prevented the f ale, andfo had 
 them fcr the pui lifting! Hal ha I ha I be- 
 f>de a gccdcoii/ideraiionfcr the buying up, at a 
 double price, what I had (NOT) fold of them -, 
 fo that it was not a bad job ; and now he is 
 dead, they mayfafely come out, under new titles ! 
 // will be too great a delay to wait to fee 
 them, but hers are the old titles, which 1 fup- 
 ray do.' * Why aye j they may do ! 
 
 ' but.
 
 Adventures of a GUIN 1^9 
 
 6 but I cannot poffibly write tliern thi>* 
 
 * evening; you know I mufb anfv/er th.. 
 'pamphlet I wrote lait week, before it i. 
 c forgot: I have an aniwer ready, that will 
 ' make a noiie ; I expect it will rails a cu-- 
 ' riofity, that will fell another edition oi 
 ' the pamphlet. I left opens for flich IY- 
 4 to; ts upon the characters I praifed in tha~, 
 
 ' and have fuch pieces of fecrct hiilory to- ' 
 ' hit them off with, that Til engage for the- 
 6 fuccefs .' Aye, fecte! blfiory, and florin- 
 ' of family misfortunes, and fucb like, may i* 
 ' fomet'bing \ But I bad like to have for&t 
 ' the main bufmefs of my anting. There is at 
 
 * account of the death of an eminent dhnne, this 
 ' morning : could -ive n-t vamp up a velum? or 
 
 * two of fermcns fcr kirn, think you? He was 
 < " fafye&sd of Lerefy end atkeifm, and you knov.\.. 
 ' that would make tiny thing in his name go off'. 
 ' Egad, a good thought! and particularly 
 4 lucky at this time : for as I have been 
 
 engaged in divinity lately, I know the 
 4 weak fides of the queltion, and. a little .in- 
 
 * fidelity will be a refreihment to me. It 
 
 * fhall be done ! the fermons lliall be ready 
 ' without delay ! Have not you got fome 
 
 * by you that did not go off: let me have 
 
 * one of each, and 1'JJ interline it to lave 
 ' time; but will you publifh them yourfeif?- 
 
 * I thought, you had given up il-rmons !' 
 
 G Mell:
 
 j 30 CM R Y ,S AL: -Or fix 
 
 MjfJf! no I no ! Til fend tbem in to Mr. 
 Vampe : rilreftrvetbe confutation of tbem to 
 wyftlf!' ' Egad, another good thought - y 
 the confutation will do better ! .and I'll 
 take care to make it a fmart one, and 
 play the devil with the author-, ha, ha, 
 ha. But, Mr. Vellum, your coming here 
 this morning prevented my waiting on 
 you : it is a great while fince you pro- 
 mifed to fettle with me. You fhould con- 
 fider, Sir' ' What pray, good Sir, Jhouldl 
 conjider ? that Ihavefuppcrtedyou /' ' Sup- 
 ported me, Mr.ye/lum! Sir, Ihaveapro- 
 feflion' c 1 know you have, Mr. Doftor , a 
 
 profeffion indeed, in which his mcjefty'sfubjecfs 
 may bkfs God that nine in ten of you would. 
 
 ftarve, if they had not fome other way of get- 
 ting bread, befide that* * Mr. Vellum, 
 
 you know this way of talking fignifies* 
 nothing. It is a long time fmce we have 
 fettled any account, and there are a great 
 many articles! Let me fee : aye, here they 
 are ! and a long lift it is ! NINETEEN 
 
 PAMPHLETS, With ANSWERS tO FOUR- 
 TEEN of them, NINE RAPES, six MUR- 
 
 DERF, FIVE FAST and FOUR FUNERAL 
 SERMONS, THIRTY-SIX ESSAYS, TWEN- 
 TY-TWO TITLES, FOUR QJ/ARTO VO- 
 LUMES RE-WRIT, SEVENTEEN WILLS," 
 
 TWENTY-FOUR* - Go on, Sir, go on \ 
 
 * but
 
 Adventures of a GUI ME" A. 131 
 e but when you have done look at THIS, and 
 ' then talk to me of an account ; here is your 
 bond for 1 5 /, which is due thefe tvvo years \ 
 ' and it is very likely, to be fure, that yen 
 4 Jhould leave it out-ftandingfo long, if you had 
 4 any account to fet offagaivft it ! hit 1 am glad 
 4 / know you ; andjince you tdk of accounts, 
 4 obferve that I demand my money, due on ibis 
 
 * bond, which I will have, and win n you have 
 
 * paid that, it will be time enough for me to fct- 
 
 * tie accounts with you, fo Sir your fervatit'- > 
 4 Mr. Vellum, good Mr. Vellum, do not be ib 
 4 haily ! I did not mean to give you offence* 
 ' Accounts indeed] have I not fupplied you 
 
 * with paper above the weekly allowance we 
 
 * agreed for, and yet you will talk to meT 
 
 * Mr. Vellum, I may be in the wrong ; let 
 4 matters (land as they are : but you have 
 4 not told me what fize you would have this 
 4 affair of the divorce, that I mentioned to 
 
 * you juftj uft now' 4 There it is now, that 
 
 * is your way always \ yen know my eafy temper, 
 4 and that you can bring me down when you 
 4 pleafe : why if the ftoryivtll bear much paint- 
 
 * ing, and the circumftances are very firing and 
 
 * plain, 1 believe you may draw it out to two 
 
 * /bi/lir/gs , and to encourage you, andjhow you 
 
 * that I mean genercujly by you, when you have 
 
 * fiwjhed that, and the Anfwer, and the Ser- 
 4 mons, and the Confutations, and the Titles,, 
 
 * ^^//^Exercitations, I will give you up your 
 
 G 6 bend
 
 i 3 2 -C HR-Y S A L: Cr tke 
 
 4 bond, and lien ive ccv'// begin .an ace: -Ant en 
 
 * fair eien terms. Bt(t I e.m in bc.jle \ 1 have 
 
 * three or jour ether gentleman to call upcn ; I 
 
 * foall depend upon your t romifc, and fc good 
 
 * morning? 4 Good morning to yoiu 
 
 ' good Mr. Vellum Damn'd, impofing, 
 
 ' grinding icoundrel , but I'll be quit with 
 
 * you, for all your tricks (laid the doctor, 
 
 * as Toon as Mr. Vellum was out of the 
 
 * room) and teach fuch ftupid rafcals to 
 
 * attempt outwitting men of genius. 
 When I confident! the nature and im~ 
 
 portance of my mafter's demand, I could 
 
 not but wonder at the eafe with which he 
 
 took a denial, and the joy he exprefled at 
 
 Mr. Vellum's departure ; but the myfttry 
 
 was foon cleared up, by the arrival of M-v 
 
 ' Pamphlet y another of the trade, almoft the 
 
 "very moment Vellum went down flairs, and 
 
 whom I faw by his reception, my mafter 
 
 expected. 
 
 If I was before mocked at the cruelty 
 with which I thought Vellum treated my 
 mafler, I was now no lefs fo, at the part Be 
 acted with Pzmpblet, with whom he bar- 
 gained over again for the very fame ware 
 which he before promifed to Vdlum, anci 
 flattered him with an aflurance of having 
 "bis bufinefs done, that is, the anfvvers and 
 
 re-
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 1^3 
 re-writing, before Vellum poffibly could, 
 for they were monal enemies. 
 
 The difcourfe between thefe was much 
 the lame as the former, only that it was 
 concluded in a different manner -, Pam- 
 phlet giving my mafter a couple of pieces 
 to keep him in mind of his engagement. 
 
 I was utterly at a lofs to think how he 
 meant to act between thefe two j when he 
 put an end to my doubts by this foliloquy. 
 ' So, now I have difpatched you two, the 
 * day is my own , keep my engagements ! I 
 * will, with both alike. Let me fee, 
 there is nothing in it, but a little trouble 
 of writing : I can divide the hits between 
 both anfwers according to the opens I 
 have left on purpofe, and fo fend them 
 to both at the lame time ; only to divide 
 the alterations in my fcalc of flile, and 
 make a fecond title, and fo 'tis done. 
 This method that I have found, of ufing 
 a feigned name, makes it alleafy. Wei!, 
 let thofe who were born to fortunes, 
 fpend them in iloth and ignorance. I have 
 an eftatein myfelf, that can never be ex- 
 haufled. I am obliged to nature only 
 for my abilities, and carry the fountain 
 of honour and fortune in the fluency of 
 my genius.* 
 
 He
 
 134 C HR Y S AL: Or the 
 
 He then deicended from his aerial cita- 
 del, and going out to vifit his patients, 
 changed me at the coftee-houfe, where I 
 was immediately bo: rowed at the bar by an 
 -officer, who was going to dine with his 
 general, and wanted money to give his fer- 
 vants. 
 
 END of the FIRST BOOK, 
 
 BOOK
 
 of a GUINEA. 
 
 BOOK 1L 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 CHRYSAL enters into the fervice of the gen- 
 tleman of a general. Gratitude in high and 
 low life. The modern way of riftng in the 
 world, and the happinefs of dependance. 
 Influence of CHRYSAL'J mafter r with his 
 curious manner of [importing it. 
 
 YO U may judge that my (lay with this 
 owner was but ihort : he gave me 
 directly to the general's gentleman^ with a 
 letter to be prefented to his excellency next 
 morning, as he could not find courage to 
 Ipeak to him in perfon. 
 
 The cafe of this perfon, though not un- 
 common among men, I own affected me- 
 He was the fon of an officer of diitinguimed 
 merit, the fcrvices of whofe life had, in 
 the 8oth year of it, been rewarded with 
 the command of a regiment, and the hopes 
 of his fon crowned with a pair of colours ; 
 which, on the death of his father, in fix 
 months after his elevation, he found to be 
 
 his
 
 *3 C H R y S A L: Crfbe 
 his whole inheritance ; the fees of office, 
 and the equipage for his new rank, having 
 exhaufted all the favings of the old man's 
 ill bal tern frugality. 'I he moil exem- 
 plary duty, in five warm campaigns, had 
 advanced the ion to the rank of a lieute- 
 nant, when the exaltation of the perfon to 
 whom, he now applied, raifed his hopes to 
 a company, which was vacant in the regi- 
 ment, and his right by feniority : for fuch 
 was his ignorance of mankind, that he 
 built fangiiine expectations on the very 
 reaibns that ihould have deprived him of 
 any, the obligaiuns of the perfcn, to whom 
 be applied, to bis father ', who had taken him 
 up, the poor friendlefs orphan of a young 
 enfign, educated him at his own ex'pence, 
 procured him his fir it com million, arid af- 
 terwards lent him the money with which he 
 had purchafed his company : a debt which 
 the fon was weak enough to expect a friend- 
 ihip from, though it, and much more, 
 had long fince been cleared at play. 
 
 But though the character of the fon, and 
 the general's known intimacy with the fa- 
 ther, in a manner obliged him to prbmife 
 him his friendfhip, yet nothing was farther 
 from his thoughts than ever to do him any 
 rc;il fervice ; as he imagined that would be 
 acknowledging the obligations which his 
 
 very
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 137 
 very attendance feemed to upbraid him 
 with : a dinner now and then being the 
 only favour he ever had or ever meant to 
 give him. You may perhaps have expe- 
 rienced the miiery of a dependant's dinirg 
 r:t the table of his patron, where the tor- 
 tures of Tantalus are aggravated by anxiety 
 of giving oifeace. I mail therefore hatteir 
 over this, and the other fcenes of that even- 
 ing, which were but the common occur- 
 rences of military greatnefs, and ended in 
 a deep debauch, as loon as all but the 
 cbofenfew had retired, to come to the con- 
 clulion of my late matter's ttory, in which 
 my -prefent bore a confiderable part. 
 
 As foon as the general had flept off the 
 fumes of his wine, and awoke next morn- 
 ing, my matter's hour of influence arrived, 
 which he never failed to improve. After a 
 prelude of coughing and fpitting, the fcene 
 
 opened thus, * Who's there? William T 
 
 ' Sir,' 4 William, was not I very drunk loft 
 4 night ? my head achs mofl confoundedly.'' 
 * Your excellency was a little cut, but you 
 4 broke up much the ftrongeft of the com- 
 4 pany.' * Aye, I wonder at (hat, I fpend 
 4 my f elf with talking, when I begin to go, and 
 4 tiot.it helps a man on damnably : that Jlory of 
 4 the battle, where I was. taken prifoner, is a 
 4 battle in my way always? 4 That foreign
 
 38 C H R Y S A L : Or the 
 
 gentleman, who never fpeaks a , word, 
 has a great advantage then' * Aye, fo Li 
 has , but he is a damned hone ft fellow, and a 
 very good cmpam<>n\ he always fills a bumper 
 and never fpeaks a word. But my bead.' 
 Perhaps your excellency had better take 
 fomething' c AX / have taken too much al- 
 ready ; though that's right , give me aglafs of 
 the old Geneva ; I am to go to council to day y 
 and mujl fettle my head Ays, that -will do, 
 I am much better now ; there is nothing like a 
 hair of the old dcg\ 
 
 This converfation continued till he 
 was feated to breakfaft, when my ma- 
 fter turned to a new topic. ' I was very 
 
 * forry (faid he) that your excellency hap- 
 ' pened to fit in laft night, as Mrs. Mo- 
 4 therly was to call' c /F/y tbafs true, Wil- 
 
 * Ham j 1 did not think of one engagement whey 
 ' I madt the other-, and whenfhe called me out, 
 ' I iy as not in cue -, Iitastoofargtne. H r e old 
 ' fellows are not Jpar rows j the jpirit is often 
 
 * witting) when the fleflj is weak; ha, ha, ha\ 
 r ' Your excellency is pleafed to be merry, 
 ' but to my thinking, the youngeft fellow 
 ' of the age has not more vigour ' ''Aye, 
 
 * William, do you think fo indeed ? But why da 
 c you think fo William .?' ' Becaufe your ex- 
 
 ' cellenry always chufes fuch green things : 
 
 * ow I iliould think a ripe woman would 
 
 pc
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 139. 
 be better , I am fare me would give Jefs 
 trouble.' c Ha 9 ha, ha t why that's your 
 tajte > but youth is mine ; and while / have 
 powers (and 1 do not think mine quite gone 
 yet) / will pleafe my tafte. But what had 
 Mrs. Motherly loft night T ' A very fine 
 girl as your excellency could wifh to fee* 
 tiowttdT 'About fixteen.' 'PJha, mel- 
 low pears ; Iloathfu(h trajh? ' But Mrs. 
 Motherly faid {lie could fwear fhe was un- 
 touched. She came from the country 
 but yefterday, a relation of her own : the 
 poor thing knew nothing of the matter, 
 and thought fhe came to be hired for a 
 1 laundry-maid.* ' Why that is fomething \ 
 ' but I wi/JjJh^ were younger 1 * If your excel- 
 
 * cellency pleafes but to wait a little, I have 
 4 one in my eye that will fuit your tafte ex- 
 4 actly , a fweeter child is not in all En- 
 ' gland'* Aye, good William (fpitting once 
 er twice, and wriggling in his chair) Aye^ 
 
 * that isfcmething , but how old ?' ' Juft 
 
 4 ten, and finely grown' ' Right \ the 
 
 right age. That's true! Pllfpeaktbis very 
 day for that place for your brother. Tell him, 
 to come to-morrow ; / will not be refufed.'- 
 We are. both obliged to your excellency 
 
 for all your favours' 'But whenjhall I 
 
 fee this girl? Give Motherly fome excufewitb 
 her ripe fruit. Sixteen ! Jizty! pfha /' 
 
 1 Sir
 
 140 CHR YS AL: Or the 
 
 Sir I fliall go about it this very evening. 
 A letter from captain Standard; will your 
 
 excellency pleafe to read it' ? Deimn 
 
 him and bis letter : throw it into the fire ! 
 What ivculdthetmreafonablefcoundrcl bane ? 
 Did 1 not give him bis dinner yeftcrday? Hiis 
 he not been intrcduced to good company at my 
 table ? If he had any indujtry orfpirit, iviih 
 tbefe advantages, he would have learned 
 to play, and made his fortune as ethers do* 
 Since be grows troublefoms on encouragement, 
 PHJlarve Urn into better manners. Bid the 
 porter ftrike him off the dinner lift* * I beg 
 your excellency^ pardon, for mentioning 
 him , but the manner I have heard you 
 talk to Kim made me imagine you really 
 did defign to provide for him ; and he 
 lays there is a vacancy in the regiment 
 juft now' c Damn his impudence ! a vacancy 
 indeed ! IJhall r.ever think there is a good one 
 
 till he makes it at Tyburn.'' ' I beg your 
 
 excellency's pardon : I mall never mention 
 him more. Would you have me go 
 about the child this evening ; it is a little 
 angel to be fure' ^his moment if you 
 
 think you can fuccced.' c I fhall try at any 
 
 rate : but there is one obftacle' c What is 
 that ? you km-w I never grudge money on tbefe 
 
 occaficns. How much will do ?' c That 
 
 is not the difficulty here ; money will not 
 
 4 do*
 
 Ad-ventures cf a GUINEA. 141 
 
 * do, and I hardly know what will' 
 
 * Money not do ? Wty ivhat the devil can it be^ 
 4 that money will not do? 'I icarce know 
 ' how to mention it to your excellency, but 
 ' the little cherub is neice to captain Stan- 
 4 dard^ his fiftei's daughter, and while he 
 4 is in the way, there will be no poflibility 
 c of getting at her' Is that all? He/hall 
 
 * join the regiment to-morrow? * But then 
 
 4 he will leave iiich an impreflion of your 
 4 iinkindnefs upon his lifter, if there is no- 
 4 thing done for him, after waiting fo long, 
 4 that it will be impofilble for any perfon 
 
 * belonging to you to gain accefs.' What 
 
 * would you, have ms da ? I never ivill bear to 
 
 * have the fellow get a com-pany in my regiment : 
 4 tbai would be acknowledging the obligations he 
 ' I as the impudence to fay 1 received from his 
 4 father ; / never will bear it? c 1 beg your 
 4 excellency's pardon , I did not prefume to 
 4 point out any fuch thing, and indeed the 
 4 pofTeirjon of fuch a baty (though my eyes 
 4 never beheld her fellow) is not worth your 
 4 giving yourielf fo much trouble about ; 
 4 (he is quite too young, though fo well 
 
 * grown' ' Ton'fay Jhe is but juji ten!- and 
 4 fuch a beauty ! ' 4 I wiJli your excel- 
 
 * lency could but fee her, for I am unable 
 4 to delcribe her' ' But cannot fame way be 
 4 found 9ttt, befide fixing this fellow under my 
 
 nofe ?
 
 i 4 2 C MR YS AL: Or He 
 
 no fe ?' ' That was juft what I was 
 
 going to take the liberty of hinting to 
 your excellency. There are feveral gen- 
 tlemen of fortune, in the troops juft or- 
 dered to America^ who have no liking to 
 the voyage. Now I think, with fubmif- 
 fion, that you would oblige fome of them, 
 with an exchange into your regiment, 
 and let captain Standard go in his place. 
 And this will oblige him too -, for I have 
 often heard him wifh to go there, in 
 hopes of rifing, when they come into 
 action.' 'A good thought* and fo I will. 
 Let'the fellow go to America and get fcalpcd\ 
 his hot head wants to be cooled : fuch poor 
 wretches as be are juft fit to be transported 
 there. 'Tell him to prepare dircclly ! I long 
 to bt rid of him. But when Jhall J fee the 
 dear little creature?* 'In twenty-four 
 hours after he is gone, I'll undertake to 
 have her eating iu gar- plumbs, and fob- 
 bing in your bofom. It cannot poflibly 
 be fooner, for you know the captain's 
 fpirit, and that he would cut die throat 
 of a prince, who mould dishonour his 
 family, as he calls it.' ' Aye^ damn Us 
 fpirit , that is true; that is what has kept me 
 civil to the fellow fo long : I know he has all 
 the romantic madnefi abcut honour ', and fuch
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 143 
 
 * fluff, that made his fool of a father live and 
 
 * die a beggar'. 
 
 By this time his excellency was drefled, to 
 go to council, for which another dram let- 
 tied his head. 
 
 I fee your furprife, at the brutal beha- 
 viour of the mailer, and the infamous de- 
 figns of the man. The former is beyond 
 aggravation ; but the latter were only an 
 ho n ell artifice in favour of his friend, who 
 had no fuch neice in the world. 
 
 C H A P. II. 
 
 fbe h/jloiy of Mr. WILLIAM. Some odd 
 circuMjlances in his conduct accounted for. 
 By a progrcffion equally polite and frugal \ 
 CHRYSAL c owes fro:n his pojfijficn into that 
 of a celebrated female . 
 
 WILLIAM was a fon of the regiment, 
 born of one of the general wives that 
 followed it. He was about the fame age with 
 Standard, who had taken fuch a likingto him, 
 when they were boys, that he fhared his al- 
 lowance with him, gave him his old cloaths, 
 and taught him what he learned at fchool. 
 A natural acutenefs of genius improved 
 
 thefe
 
 144 CH R Y S A L: Or the 
 
 thefe advantages fo well, that William 
 could read and write enough tor a gentle- 
 man j dance, fence, and fcrape on the 
 violin, before his friend's power of ferving 
 him was put an end to, by the death of 
 his father ; and his fpirit and appetites wcie 
 too great, to accept of his offer, of the 
 beft fupport an eniign could fpare him, to 
 maintain him as a cadet ^ till his merit 
 mould get him a commiflion. But though 
 he would not accept, he did not forget the 
 offer, nor make his obligations a caufe of 
 hatred, now that it was in his power to 
 make fome return , a way of thinking, 
 that proved the meannefs of his birth , for 
 quitting the barren paths of military honour, 
 he had turned his genius to the more thriv- 
 ing proieffion of a footman -, through the 
 various afcents of which, he had riien to 
 his prefent rank, of his excellency's gentle- 
 man ; in which he had the unfafhionable 
 gratitude to return the favours of his for- 
 mer benefactor in the above manner, which 
 his experience and knowledge of his matter's 
 temper convinced him to be the only one 
 he could hope to fucceed in. As to his 
 promife about the child, he was in no pain 
 about that, there being no perfon who 
 fcould contradict whatever excufe he mould 
 pleafe to give. 
 
 There
 
 Adventures of a Gu i N E A . 145 
 
 There is one cir cum (lance, which I fee 
 puzzles you, in the character of this man* 
 and that is his taking me from his friend, 
 when he muft be fenfible how badly he 
 could fpare fuch a fum. But you muft 
 confider the power of nature when ftrength- 
 ened by habit. 
 
 From his mother, William had inherited 
 venality, which the bribery of vails, in his 
 prefent profeflion, had confirmed beyond 
 all poffibility of correction-, fo that it was 
 no more in his power to refufe a guinea 
 when offered to him, than to change his 
 ftature or complexion. And attention to 
 this obfervation would take off the won- 
 der, and eafe the world from the trouble 
 of the exclamations that are daily made 
 againft the rapacity of perfons in office, for 
 as fuch are generally taken from the clafs 
 of William, it cannnt be expected but they 
 muft act from the fame natural principles 
 with him. 
 
 I fee the depravity of human nature, 
 when ftripped of difguife and ornament, 
 affects your unexperienced heart too ftrong- 
 ly. But confider, that we fee things as 
 they really are, and to reprefent them other- 
 wife to you, would invert the defign of my 
 miflion, and confirm, rather than remove 
 
 VOL. I. H the
 
 14-6 C HR Y S A L: Or the 
 
 the prejudices that lead ailray the mind of 
 man. 
 
 However, this confolation I can give 
 you, that the vices I have already drawn, 
 and may hereafter draw to your view, are 
 not particular to this age or country : they 
 are the weeds which in every age and clime, 
 have always, and always will, over-run the 
 human heart. 
 
 Nor is it juft to call them vices (though 
 in compliance with the language of men I 
 do call them fo) which perhaps are but 
 * neceflary parts of this univerfal fyftem ; 
 and though in a particular inftance, and 
 viewed by themfelves, they may appear 
 deformed, yet when thrown into the ge- 
 neral reprefentation of things, they may 
 have their beauty and ufe, if only to diver- 
 fify the fcene : and with relpect to men in 
 particular, be as ~}~ advantagious to the 
 community as they are prejudicial to indi- 
 viduals. 
 
 But to return to my mafter William. 
 Befide the advantages ot education, he had 
 iiith fro,m nature, that he was not only the 
 
 * From hence it fliould feem, the hint of a late 
 treatife, on t<he origin of evil, was borrowed or elfc 
 tiittated by the fame fpirit. 
 
 >j- fable of the bees. 
 
 mod
 
 ddwntures of a GUINEA. 147 
 moft accompliflied gentleman, but alfo the 
 handfomeft fellow of his time , an happinefs 
 of which he availed himfelf ib well in the 
 polite world, that he was the favourite of 
 all the compliant fair, who mared with him 
 the plcaibres they only differed from his fu- 
 periors for hire. 
 
 Of this I faw fufficient proof that very 
 evening, when he went to an affignation 
 wirh the moft celebrated courtefan of the 
 age , who facri Being avarice to pleafure, 
 gave orders to be denied to every body, 
 and (hut hcrielf up with him, to give a 
 loofe to joy for the evening. 
 
 This was a fcene too Jenlual for a fpirit to 
 defcribe: I mail therefore only fay, tha 
 their fatigue and wafte of fpirits were re- 
 cruited with the higheft delicacies and richefl 
 wines, and the paufes of joy enlivened with 
 the recital of the adventures of their pro- 
 feflions, heightened with the moft poignant 
 ridicule of thofc whofe folly was their for- 
 tune. 
 
 Before fatiety could pall their pleafures, 
 time fummoned them to bufinefs. The 
 fair, to prepare for the reception of her 
 friend ; and my mafter to wait on his ; when, 
 to conclude the evening with proper gal- 
 lantry, he prefented me to the maid at the 
 door. 
 
 H 2 1
 
 J4* C H R Y S A L : Or the 
 
 1 was a good deal furprifed, at being re- 
 ceived with lefs emotion by this portrefs of 
 Venus then I had ever found before \ the 
 fight of me having always raifed joy. But 
 this was foon explained, when, on return- 
 ing to her miftrefs, ihe threw me on the 
 table, and received a milling in exchange. 
 An inftance of. that methodical ceconomy 
 which by many fmall favings makes up for 
 one large expeiice, and extracts profit even 
 from pleafure. 
 
 The joy of the miflrefs feemed to make 
 amends to my vanity for the indifference of 
 her maid, and promife me the full pofleflion 
 of her heart, but I foon found myfelf 
 miftaken, and that her love for me was 
 only while I was the property of another ; 
 for no fooner did I become her own, than 
 fhe threw me carelefsly into her purfe, and 
 turned her thoughts immediately to the ac- 
 quifition of more. But though I loft the 
 greatelt part of my power over her, by 
 coming into her porTefiion, I ftill found 
 ample room in her heart for my abode. 
 
 The apartments were fcarce got in order, 
 and my miftrefs new drefled, when her 
 friend appeared, to whom me flew with all 
 the appearance of rapture. But however 
 be might be deceived, the difference was 
 plain to me, between the joy lefs carefies fhe 
 
 fold
 
 Adventures of a GUISTEA, 149 
 fold to him, and the extafy fhe fhared with 
 my late mailer, the glow of whole kiffes 
 yet reeked upon her lips. Nor was this 
 Itrange : the ardor of her lover met her 
 half way, and communicated as much fire 
 as it received j but with her keeper the cafe 
 was quite otherwife : all the advances were 
 to come from her ; all her carefles were a 
 duty i nor were the tendereft me could be- 
 ftow, able to warm him to the lead re- 
 turn. 
 
 You wonder, that a perfon in fuch cir- 
 cumftances mould be at the expence an 1 
 trouble of keeping a miltrefsy whole extra- 
 vagance was to be equalled only by her 
 infolence. But this is only a fmall inftanc? 
 of the tyranny of fafhion : and how will 
 your aftonimment be encreafed, when I 
 tell you, that this very man, in the prime 
 of life, was remarkable for the coolnels of 
 his conftitution, and now in its decline was 
 married to a beautiful young lady, whole 
 refentment at his conjugal neglect rofe fo 
 high, as to charge it to inability, and per- 
 haps to return it with infidelity, 
 
 Whether this was really the cafe, and 
 that he kept my miftrefs to hide it, as a fail- 
 ing tradefman fets up a coach, or whether 
 the pallion remained, but fo feebly fup- 
 ported, as to require the lafcivious blan- 
 H 3 dilhments.
 
 *50 C H R Y S A L : Or the 
 
 difhments of a profticute, cannot deter- 
 mine, as I was never in his poflefiion, to 
 take a view of his heart. 
 
 CHAP, III. 
 
 7' he manner in which CHRYSAL'J new miftrefs 
 received and took care cf her friend. Hew 
 Jhe employed herfdf 'while he was ajkep* 
 Her management of him next morning* 
 
 IT was about two in the morning when 
 my miftrefs received him drunk and ftu- 
 pified with play, at which he :had loft deep- 
 ly that night. On his. coming into her 
 room, he threw himfelf into a chair, with- 
 out faying a word, or fhewing the leaft 
 fcnfibility of her carefies , where after fome 
 time, he fell faft afleep, which my miftrefs. 
 no fooner perceived, than calling her maid 
 to undrefs and roll him into bed, ' Here 
 Jane (faid me) take my place, by this 
 heap of mortality. I'll ffcep to 
 
 flreet ; perhaps the company may not be 
 all gone. Never fear, I'll infure you 
 from a rape ! He wants nothing in a bed- 
 
 * fellow but to keep him warm, and you 
 
 * fliay do that, while I pafs my night better 
 
 &H* than
 
 of a GUINEA. 151 
 4 than in nurfing his infirmities i I'll be 
 
 * home before he itir:;'. 
 
 Jane obeyed her miftrefs, who flipped 
 into a chair, and went away directly to an 
 houie, where (he ufed to piddle away her 
 leifure hours with any chance cuftomers, 
 rather than be idle. 
 
 Abou: five ended this fcene, in the rites 
 of which my miftrefs bore a diftinguioied 
 part. 1 mall not attempt to defcribe thefe 
 myfteries : they were too grofs for my re- 
 lation, as well as your conception, in yo.ir 
 prefent mortified habic. She then returned 
 home, and laying Her pure body in her maid's 
 place, betide her/r/VW, who had not iVirre d 
 yet, her fatigues foon threw her into a llccp, 
 as found as his. 
 
 It was noon before thefe fond lav vs 
 awoke : the firft was my miftrefs, who en- 
 raged that any thing which bore the nam: 
 of man, mould mew fo little fenfibility of 
 her charms, refolved to teize him with en- 
 dearments, which, as he was feldom in a. 
 humour to return in kind, he never failed 
 to pay for in a more fubftantial manner. 
 
 When me had awoke him with her 
 toying, the fyren thus began her fong : 
 
 * How can my deareft fleep fo long, when 
 6 his little girl lies languifhing by his fide ! 
 
 * O turn, and let me lay my head on that 
 
 H 4
 
 J52 C H R Y S A L : Or the 
 
 * dear bofom.' Ha ! what is it a clock ? 
 
 (replied the lover, yawning, and rubbing 
 his eyes) * Alas I know not ! I have told 
 fo many tedious hours, that I've forgot 
 them : but what is time to us, who only 
 live to love?' Paft 12 / I muft be gone I 
 feme bufinefs* ' Buiinefs ; leave that for 
 duller fouls, who have no tafle for plea- 
 fure : can you leave love and me for bufi- 
 nefs ?' I am ferry I happened to overjleep 
 wyfdf, my dear \ I believe 1 was bewitched, to 
 drink fo much - 9 but we'll make it up another 
 time." * So you fay always -, but that other 
 time will never come : but I will not be 
 ferved fo ; I am fiem and blood, what- 
 ever other people may be , and you your- 
 lelf know, it is not for want of friends, I 
 keep myfelf up, thus like a nun, for you; 
 and all, I do not know for what !' Is 
 the girl mad ? Do not I give you every thing 
 you want, every thing you defere?' ' No,. 
 
 nor any thing I defire ! I defire now 
 
 So, you will get up and leave me : I will 
 not be ufed thus : you have got fome 
 other woman* but I here give you fair 
 warning, that I will be even with you ! 
 Sir George was here yefterday ; and fo 
 was the young lord but I would not fee 
 either of them : and I am well requited 
 now : but I know where to fend to them : 
 
 \
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 153 
 I will not be made a fool of every way,, 
 for nothing; and fo you may Jleep where 
 
 you pleafe, I care not.' c Come my dear* 
 
 let us not fall out for nothing -, you have not 
 Jhewn me the diamond ear-rings you got loft 
 
 week* * No, my dear, they are not come 
 
 home.' * / thought you told me they were^ 
 fnijhcd when J gave you the money to psy for 
 
 them' * They were fo ; out when he 
 
 brought them home, I did not like them. 
 The jeweller told me, they were not fo 
 fine as thofe he made for your lady, fome 
 time ago ; fo I fent them back, and or- - 
 dered him to make me a pair, that mould - 
 
 be as good as her's at leaft.' c Not good 
 
 enough^ child! were they not to coft 1 50 1.' - 
 And what is 1507. Sir Richard gave his- 
 girl a pair that coft 500 , but if you think 
 thefe are too dear, you are not obliged to 1 
 pay for them : there is another, who will- 
 be glad to do jr.' l - And pray what are thefe ' 
 fine ones to coft *' Why only but kifs - 
 me firft only zoo I. But then I have 
 
 befpoke a necklace with them' 4 'Zounds^ 
 a diamond necklace /* ' And what mighty 
 matter is a diamond necklace ? Pray has 
 not your wife one ? But I fee how it is ; 
 you think any thing good enough for-rne j 
 
 and. nothing good enough for her : ' but-" 
 
 G 5 * every;
 
 CHR YS AL: Or tit 
 
 * every one does not think fo : I am not at 
 
 * a lofs.* ' Well, y&ufawcy little minx ; and ~ 
 
 * what do they all come to /" ' Another kifs^ 
 4 and I'll tell you : why don't frown ; 
 
 * or I won't tell you at all ; only 500 /.' 
 ' 500 devils-, that's more than my wife's coft 
 
 ' by 100. ' And do not you love me" 
 4 100 times better than your wife ? I have 
 ' given up thonfands for you. Bur, as I 
 ' laid before, you need not pay for them, ' 
 
 * if you do not chufe it: there are others.' 
 
 * who will : I feel am flighted , and I die-' 
 
 * ferve it, for flighting fo many good of- 
 4 fers : but I will not always be a fool !' 
 
 * Well, my dear, for this one time I -will humour 
 'you: give me the pen and ink.: but you muft 
 
 * notexpeff that IJball ever gratify your extra- 
 
 * vaga^e fo far again:' ' I thank you, my 
 
 ' lord ; J mall no': trouble you again this. 
 
 * great while. But what is this? 3507. ! 
 
 * you have made a miftake, my lord \ I 
 
 * told yon 500/.' ' Well child, did 1 net 
 
 * giveycu 150 to -pay for the other pair ?' 
 
 * Yes, my lord; but that was not to pay 
 
 * for this pair though, you know thefe are 
 ' dearer.' But that and this will. * I am 
 
 * a 1 raid not . ' ' How fo, child j do not 150 and 
 
 * 3 50 make 500 i* c Indeed I am a poor ao 
 
 * coutitanti but Iknow it will not do.' 
 
 'No!
 
 Adventures of a GUI ME A. i -- 
 
 * N0! ivbyfo -, Tdomtunderftamlyou'S-~<- I'll 
 ' kiis you firit, and then I'll tell you.' 
 
 * PJha ; ceafe fooling , / am in hc.fle ; I muft 
 ' go to court , and have fear ce time to Jrefe ; 
 
 * where is the 150!. ? * ' There (kiffing 
 
 * him)' Where ? ' Gone, as that kits is ; 
 c all gone, and only the relim left behind, 
 s to give an appetite for more.' 6 Infenu I 
 
 * jade /' (afide) l What do you fay, my 
 ' lord?' That I cannot i 'will not bear fucb 
 
 * extravagance,'' ' I am glad I know yoir. 
 * mind, my lord : then if you do not* 
 ' fomebody elfe will, who will not make 
 ' fuch a ftir about trifles.' c Well* give r,.& 
 ' that bill' e No, thank you, my dear.' 
 
 * Why f os* c JFor fear you fhouid be a 
 
 4 bold boy, and not return it. If you. 
 ' pleafe to give me the other 150 /. I'll get, 
 c the necklace and earings ', if not, this 
 
 ' will ferve for fome other ufe. 3 ' Dam~ 
 
 ' nation! and then I mujl give it to her all over 
 ' again 9 (afide). ' Well, my lord; you faid 
 c you were in hade, and io am I.' ' Give 
 
 * me the pen and Ink : there it is you little tcr- 
 
 * magant : but once more, let me caution y^u 
 
 ' againft fitch extravagance for the future? 
 
 4 And once more r let me teli you, my lord, 
 ' not to give yourfelf fuch airs : extrava- 
 c gance ! they that will have delicacies, 
 " nniil pny for them : and if you thir.k the- 
 
 ii 6 ' ike
 
 156 C H R Y S A L : Or tie 
 
 price too dear, there are more cuftomers, 
 in the market j and fo, my lord,- like it,. 
 or like it not, I will be fupported j and 
 more than that, what I want in pleafure,. 
 mall be made up in profit : let wives 
 fave, who may be the better for the fa- 
 vings, 0#rbufmefs is to make hay while 
 
 the fun mines.' ' Come, my dear ; let ui 
 
 have no difptttes : you have the money now ^ 
 next time we will clear off the other f cere : give. 
 me a kifs, Pile all in the evening, and take & 
 dijh of tea with you : farewell'* '- Good 
 
 morrow (after he is gone} for an old 
 
 impotent, poor-fpirited letcher, that muft. 
 he treated like a dog, to make you know, 
 your duty. What fool would ever be at 
 the trouble of behaving well to any fel- 
 low, when me can, fo much better^ 
 mould him to her. pleafure by ill ufage ?' 
 
 H A P..
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA,. 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 be hiftory and char after of CHRYSAL'J mif- 
 trefs. She gives him to a noted matron. 
 Some account of Us new miftrefs^ and her 
 manner of managing her family. 
 
 THIS principle me acted up to, for two 
 days that I was in her pofleflion, 
 without any other variation in her conduct, 
 than juft what was neceflary to work on the 
 various tempers of her lovers, making no 
 real difference between them, except it was,, 
 that me always ufed thofe word, who ufect 
 her beft. 
 
 I have often told you, that fenfuality is 
 difagreeable to a fpiritual being.. I' there- 
 fore longed to quit this miftrefs, th'e.fuc- 
 ceflion of whofe amours was fo conftant and- 
 quick, that I was aftomfhed how nature. 
 could afford a fund of love for them all, in. 
 fo young a creature, for me was not 20. 
 years old. -I fee you have a curiofity to 
 know the hiftory of this young votary of. 
 Venus, in. which you think there muft be. 
 fomething extraordinary : but you are de-- 
 
 ceived 5 .
 
 I 5 8 C H R Y S A L : Or the 
 
 ceived , it contains nothing but common 
 occurrences. 
 
 She was the daughter of tradefpeopie, in 
 moderate circumftahces, whole foolifh fond- 
 nefs, .becauie fhe was a pretty, fmart child* 
 
 fave her an education above her rank, in 
 opes of her making her fortune by mar- 
 riage. 
 
 This raifed the vanity, natural to the fe- 
 male heart, fo high, that fhe defpifed her 
 own ftation, and not being fo fortunate as 
 immediately to climb to the one me defired, 
 by the way propofed, ihe fell an eafy vic- 
 tim to the firtt ieducer who promife4 it, in 
 any other. 
 
 Thus the acccmplifhments, by which, 
 the injudicious tendernefs of' her parents 
 meant to raife her into a- rank higher than 
 their own, became the cauie of her falling 
 into that of the loweft of all human beings : 
 a fall, though deplorable in itfelf, yet un- 
 affecling to her, as the time, in which her 
 mind fnould have been formed to virtue, 
 v/as given up to ihe nou riming that vanity 
 which proved her ruin ; fo that me is abfo- 
 lutely inienfible of the wretchednefs of her 
 condition, and never has the purfuit of her 
 mod infamous profeffion diflurbed by a 
 moment's remorfe.. 
 
 I
 
 of a GUINEA. 159- 
 I told you of her fpending the hours that 
 were unemploy'd at home, at an houfe in 
 ' ftreet, where fhe was always lure of 
 bufinefs. Though this venerable manfion 
 was dedicated to the myfterious rites of un- 
 reftrained love, yet as the priefts of all tem- 
 ples expect to live by the offerings made at 
 them, her confcience would not permit the 
 prieftefs of this to break through an ordi- 
 nance, ib long eftabliflied, and Ihe exalted 
 fees from die votaries of her's : not indeed 
 a tythe, indifcriminately from all, whether 
 they received benefit from their devotion, or 
 not ; but always in proportion to the fruits 
 they reaped .. 
 
 At this fhrine was I offered, the third 
 night of my being in the pofieffion of this 
 young devotee, when the plenteoufnefs of 
 her gain r from a multitude of lovers, 
 feemed, to her piety, to merit fo rich a re- 
 turn. 
 
 I now entered into a much more exten- 
 five fcene than my laft, the proflitution of 
 which made but a fmall part of the bufinefs 
 of the profeffioru But what I have related 
 in the hifhory of my late miftrefs, fhall fuf- 
 fice for that branch, nor mall I give more 
 than fome outlines of the horrors of the 
 reft. 
 
 My
 
 u6'o- GHR YS AL: Or the 
 
 My new miftrefs had originally been of 
 the fifterhood of my laft, who having fallen? 
 a prey to lull,, aimoft in her infancy, and 
 having no beauty, nor any thing but ex- 
 treme youth, to recommend her, as foon as 
 that was worn our, neglecl obliged her to 
 apply to other bufmefs for bread, and. her 
 natural turn determining her to this, as well: 
 as the outrageous virtue of the undiscovered 
 part of her own fex, excluding her from 
 every other, me changed her occupation,, 
 from yielding^ to/wwWwg'pleafure, in which- 
 her fuccefs was Ib great, that me foon be- 
 came the moft eminent of her profeflion. 
 
 It was near five in the morning, when I: 
 changed my fervice ; and bufmefs being 
 ended, my late miftrefs having reigned fok' 
 miflrefs of the night, and feen out all the 
 company, : there remained nothing to do,. 
 after fhe went home, , but to fee the inmates 
 to their truckle-beds in the cock lofts j. 
 where ftripping off every part, not only of 
 the finery, but even of the comforts of; 
 drefs, they were crowded three or four 
 together, to keep each other warm, under 
 a ragged coverlet > upon a bare mattrefs, ( 
 where their mudderings and groans, made a. 
 juft contraft. to the fpirited wickednefs of 
 their converfation fome hours. before.. , 
 
 This.
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 1 6 r 
 
 This was always the fate of thofe who 
 were not fo fuccefsful in the evening as to 
 earn the price of a better bed, above the 
 fees of the houfe, and hire of cloaths. 
 
 Thefe happy few were treated with fond- 
 nefs, while they fquandered their poorpecu- 
 lium in a drop of cordial to fettle their heads, 
 and were lodged in apartments fuited to 
 their purfes ; though the night before per- 
 haps they had experienced the fame fate 
 with their fifters above ftairs, and knew 
 they muft expecl: it again the next, if un- 
 fuccefsful in their bufinefs. 
 
 When matters were thus fettled, this 
 happy family difpofed themfelves to take 
 the beft repofe which difeafe in mind and 
 body would permit. 
 
 An active fpirit difdains reft. Though 
 debauchery had anticipated old age, in the 
 conftitution of my miftrefs, yet her appli- 
 cation to bufmefs, made her refufe nature 
 even ncceflary indulgence. She was ready 
 to go out before ten that morning, when the 
 modeft decency of her drefs and appearance 
 were fuch as drew the general good opinion, 
 and would almoft deceive the devil himfelf, 
 on whofe moft favourite fervice fhe was gOr 
 ing. 
 
 CHA&
 
 162 C HR YS AL: Or the 
 
 # * ft **#&##*$*##* * # * * 
 
 C H A P. V. 
 
 CHP.YSAL'^ mijlrefs pays a vijit to the loft 
 place foe cculdkave been fufpe&ed for going 
 to. She meets a young lady, with whom, 
 by an artifice^ Jhe goes horns. Her f(b&m& 
 to enfnare the lady. 
 
 IF a judgment were to be formed for the 
 whole day, from the manner of begin- 
 ning it, my miftrefs mould have fpenther's 
 molt happily ; her firit vifit being to church, 
 where the piety of her behaviour was an 
 edification to the devout matrons, who ha- 
 ving nothing to do at home, meet there 
 regularly, to compare their aches and 
 dreams of the night before, and enjoy the 
 innocent amufement of a little gofliping 
 over the affairs of their neighbours. 
 
 But her devotion wafted not itfelf fa 
 fruitlefly : her indiiftry had formed expec- 
 tations of drawing confiderable advantage 
 from it, and fo anticipating futurity, and 
 making fure of the reward here, which 
 others waked for in another world. The 
 immediate motive of her devotion, this 
 aborning, wa& to fee a young lady with 
 
 whom
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 163 
 whom me bad commenced an acquaintance 
 at this church, and who conftantly attended 
 divine fervice there. You are * furprized 
 how me could think of going to fuch a 
 place, on fuch an errand ; but the wolfe 
 roams about for prey every where, and is 
 often moft fuccefsful, where his attempts 
 are leaft fufpecled : though I muft rob her 
 induftry of the merit of defign in the firft 
 introduction to this affair. 
 
 Going through St. Martin's Lave one 
 morning, about a month before, me was fo 
 ftruck with the appearance of a lovely young 
 creature, in widdow's-weeds, who was go- 
 ing into the church, that me followed her ; 
 where the fervency, with which (lie poured 
 out .her foul in devotion, gave fuch a luttre 
 to her beauty, and truvde it mine fo lovely 
 through her grief, that my miftrefs imme- 
 diately marked her for her ///?, not doubt- 
 ine; but flie mould be able to turn her diltrefs 
 to fuch advantage, as (hould bring her inta 
 her meafures, and make her beauty yield 
 her a rich return for her pains, from ibme- 
 of her ciiftomersi If you confider the na- 
 ture of woman-kind, you will not wonder 
 at this- inftance of the profligacy of my niii- 
 trefs. They are ever in extremes , either 
 the bcft or worft of human creatures.- 
 From church fhe dogged lier to iier lodg-
 
 164 CHR YS AL: Or tie 
 
 ing, in a little court, where (he lived with 
 a poor, but honeft family, in fuch privacy, 
 that no one in the neighbourhood could 
 give any account of her. 
 
 Real virtue (bines with a luftre that daz- 
 zles the moft confirmed vice, and keeps it 
 at an awful diftance. My miilrefs, har- 
 dened as me was in all the ways of fin and 
 impudence, dared not to go direclly to her 
 without fome bufmefs or introduction : but 
 as flic had not either, her ready genius 
 prompted her to win her good opinion, un- 
 der an appearance of religion, and then an 
 acquaintance would come eafily. 
 
 She was not deceived in her expectations : 
 a few morning's conftant attendance at 
 church, and the exemplary warmth of her 
 devotions, (truck the eye, and opened the 
 heart of unexperienced innocence to the 
 acquaintance (he wiflied for, which (he did 
 not fail to improve, by the fame arts, to 
 fome degree of intimacy. 
 
 In this fituation they were, when (he went,. 
 but without any appearance of defign, to 
 meet her this morning at church, as ufuaL 
 As they came out together, my miflrefs,. 
 turning with her fair friend* faid (he had 
 fome bufinefs into Long-Acre, and a(ked 
 her, if fhe went that way, to which the 
 young lady innocently anfwered,. that (he 
 
 did,,
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 165 
 did, and mould be glad to walk with 
 her. 
 
 As they walked together, my miftrefi; 
 turned her converfation on the wicked ways 
 of the town, and particularly the many 
 bafe defigns that were laid to infnare un- 
 wary innocence, adding, that all the plea- 
 fure which fenfualky could give the moft 
 luxurious heart, mu ft fall infinitely fhort 
 of what me felt at that very moment, in 
 the defign fhe was then going upon, of re- 
 lieving the diftrefles of a worthy family. 
 
 She had timed her difcourfe fo as to fay 
 thefe words, j lift as me came to the entrance 
 of the court, in which fhe knew the widow 
 lived, when, feigning to flip, me fell all 
 along, crying our, as in the utmoft agony, 
 that fhe had wrenched her ankle. 
 
 The lady, raifing her with the greatefl 
 tendernefs, expreffed her concern for the 
 unhappy accident, and defiredfhe would fub- 
 mit to be helped into her lodgings, which 
 fortunately were at the next door, where, 
 though fhe could be but poorly accommo- 
 dated, me might be more at her eafe, than 
 in a more fumptuous place, and mould 
 have all the care in her power. This was 
 juft what my miftrefs had fchemed for, 
 who courteouCy accepting of the offer, 
 
 made
 
 166 C H R YS A L: Or the 
 
 made a Ihift to limp in, without any other 
 afliftance than her's. 
 
 Jt raifed my indignation to fee the ten- 
 derneis with which the beautiful young 
 creature pulled off her moe and ftockmg, 
 and chafed her ankle, thrown away upon ib 
 unworthy an object, as it did my abhor- 
 rence to he?r the counterfeit fhrieks and 
 groans of my miftrefs, and the aflurance 
 with which, fhe attributed the fwellings 
 cauled by debauchery, to this immediate 
 accident. 
 
 This affrighted the young lady fo, that 
 me in a manner forced her to fend for a 
 furgeon, which with much intreaty me 
 yielded to do, but it muft be for '^fric/id 
 ot her own, a gentleman who lived a eon- 
 fiderable way off, at the polite end of the 
 town, for Ihe could not think of letting any 
 common loiv- lived fellow come near her. 
 
 Upon this, a porter was diredly dif- 
 patched for her own furgeon, and in the 
 mean time, as me began to grow eafier, 
 ihe recovered her fpirits, and renewed the 
 converfation that had been broken off by 
 this accident. 
 
 6 I was telling you, my dear friend (faid 
 * fhe) for fo I fhall ever call you from this 
 6 moment, your kindnefs having com- 
 ' pleated the conqueft which your beauty 
 
 4 had
 
 Altutnfytrcs of a GUIN T EA. 167 
 
 had before made of my heart, I was tel- 
 ling you, that I was going to vifit a fa- 
 mily this morning, where I promiied my- 
 felf the highert joy that a human heart is 
 capable of feeling, in lightening the di- 
 ftrefs of the virtuous, by fharing with 
 them fome of that wealth which heaven 
 has abundantly blefibd me with, and 
 which can juftly be applied to no other 
 ufe, than making this grateful return 10 
 that goodnefs which bellowed it. 
 4 But my heart was too elate with the 
 thought, and I receive this accident as a 
 caution from heaven not to flatter myfelf 
 with any thing fo ftrongly for the future. 
 But though I could not have this plea- 
 fure myfelf, the benefit fhall not be de- 
 layed to them. I will make you my al~ 
 -,nomr \ an office that I know will fuit the 1 
 goodnefs of your heart. You mall give 
 this packet, which will put an end to all 
 their diftrefles' 
 
 fc Oh madam ! your good opinion is the 
 greateft honour to me (replied the lady) 
 raid I hope I iliall never forfeit it, efpe- 
 cially in this com million, which I mail 
 undertake with the moft finceie joy ; but 
 pray dear madam who are the perfons to 
 whom I mult difpenfe your goo/dnefs ? f 
 
 That
 
 1 68 C H R Y S A L : Or the 
 
 ' That's true, my dear (returned my mi- 
 ftrefs) I mould give you fome account of 
 them, that you may be the better able to 
 judge of the joy I feel in ferving them. 
 It is the widow of an officer, who has 
 been killed in this war, and left her with 
 three poor babes, deftitute of every fup- 
 port, but the allowance of the govern- 
 ment, which, wretched as it is, and only 
 aggravating mifery by barely prolonging 
 life under it, is often gafped for by the 
 hungry mouth in vain, where intereft is 
 wanting to procure the immediate relief 
 of it, as was her unhappy cale, fo that 
 
 . they muft have actually perifhed for want 
 of food, had not providence brought them 
 into my knowledge, feemingly by the 
 greateft accident, about fix months ago, 
 fince when, I have myfelf afforded them 
 the neceflary comforts of Jife, and have 
 
 . alfo made fuch intereft for them, with 
 fome of my friends, that I have here got 
 them a grant of a penfion, on the Iri/h 
 eftablijhment) fufficient to bring up the 
 children, and make the remainder of the 
 mother's days happy -, for, my dear, I 
 never do any thing by halves Good God, 
 child ! what is the matter with you ? 
 what do you weep fo for ? 
 
 ' No-
 
 <?/ # G u i N E A. 169 
 6 Nothing^ dear madam (replied the lady) 
 nothing; I only fympathize in the diftrefs of 
 
 the poor widow*. ' But, my dear, 
 
 that diftrefs is now as an end.' ' O 
 
 madam, let me carry her the bkffmg ! let me 
 not delay her happiness a moment I Who 
 knows but her heart is this minute burjling 
 with the dreadful apprehcnjions, of want for 
 herfelf, and her dearer infants ! ' With 
 all my heart madam , but you will pleafe 
 to order a chair to be called to carry me 
 home, when you go , for I cannot flay 
 here alone.' ' Dear madam, forgive my 
 rudenefs \ I beg your pardon, pray forgive 
 me : the dijlrefs of the widow put every 
 thing out of my head ; indeed it did ; pray 
 
 excufe me.* c Excufe you, my dear, 
 
 1 honour the heart that feels another's woe j 
 you mail go direfcly , you fhali be the 
 meflenger ot glad tidings to them. But 
 my deareft young lady, give me leave to 
 tell you, that I fear you have not an- 
 fwered me fmcerely ; I fear your tears 
 flow from fome other caufe, than mere 
 fympathy ; fpeak, my child ! does any 
 thing affect your own heart ? Can I any 
 way be ferviceable to you ? Command 
 me freely, and make me happy in ferv- 
 ing one for whom my heart has con- 
 ceived fo tender an efleem ! Speak as 
 Voi-, I. I * you
 
 ;6 C H R Y S A L : Or the 
 
 you would to your own mother, and 
 wrong not my friendfhip with a doubt.' 
 
 madam, madam / (replied the mourner, 
 as foon as fobbing permitted utterance) 
 / have no mother to make my complaint to ; 
 
 1 am the wretched widow you have defcribed! 
 A widow without fupport, without friends, 
 or any other hope, than juft in heaven ! ' - 
 And heaven will raife you friends, my 
 deareft child ! heaven has raifed you a 
 friend in me ! You lhall be my child ! I 
 look upon you as my own ! as a gift 
 from heaven, from this moment ! You 
 fhall leave this place this very day ! it is 
 not fit for my child ! I will take a lodging 
 for you, near myfelf, till my nephew, 
 who is lately come to town to fee me, 
 goes home -, and then you mail live with 
 me for ever.' 
 
 Saying thefe words, (he threw her arms 
 round her deftined victim, and wiped away 
 the tears that flowed down her cheeks, while 
 a variety of paffions filled her tender heart 
 almoit to burfting. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 of a GUINEA. -171 
 
 CHAP. VI. 
 
 *rhe hijlory of the young lady. She is critically 
 interrupted ly the arrival of an unexpected 
 per f on. She is reconciled to her father, 
 who rewards the woman cf the houfe, and 
 refolves topunijh the bawd. 
 
 WH E N fhe had recovered herfelf a 
 little, my miftrefs thus rcfumed her 
 lore , * Weep not my deareft child, all 
 
 * will be well. And have you any dear 
 ' little infants too ?' c Oh no ! my wretch- 
 4 nefs, thank heaven, is all my own!' 'But 
 
 * may I, my dear, afk your name, and the 
 
 * circumftances of your ftory ! I would 
 
 * know all, that nothing may be unre- 
 
 * drefTed.' ' You are all goodnefs, ma- 
 
 * dam ! My ftory, alas, has few circum 
 
 * fiances, and they are all diftreffcs ! I loft 
 4 my mother while I was yet a child ; my fa- 
 
 * thtr left me in the country to the care of a 
 
 * governefs, the wife of his chaplain, who 
 
 * educated me in the fentiments of piety and 
 4 virtue. When I was fcarce fourteen, I re- 
 
 * turned the love of her fon, the mofi dcferv- 
 
 * ing and mofi lovely of his fex, who was two 
 
 I 2
 
 172 CHR YS AL: Or tie 
 
 * years older than me : but young as we were, 
 
 * we concealed our paflion, till my father ob- 
 ' tamed him a comr/riffion in the arm} 1 ; when, 
 
 * on the regiments being ordered to America, 
 
 * 1 yielded to his fears of lofing me, and con- 
 
 * fented to a -private marriage, which was 
 
 * foon difcovered ly a- letter's falling into my 
 
 * father's hands, who in his rage, turned my 
 
 * hufl>and's father and mother, and me, out of 
 
 * dears, nor would ever fee us more. Afmall 
 
 * vicarage afforded us a prefent fupport. My 
 
 * mother-in-law foon died; the fufpicion cf 
 
 * her having betrayed the confidence of my fa- 
 
 * ther, and been injlrumental in my marriage, 
 
 * breaking her heart ; as did the account of 
 
 * my hufband's death, his father's. I then 
 
 * was left quite dejlitute -, and havefmce fup- 
 
 * ported a wretched being, by my work, which 
 
 * the honeft woman of this houfe takes in for 
 
 * me, without the leajt hope of relief in this 
 
 * world, till your goodnefs has, this day taken 
 
 * compf>Jfion on me' * And what is your 
 
 * father's name, my dear' * That 1 have 
 
 * never yet revealed, as I would willingly hide 
 ' the dijgrace, my d/flrefi may be thought to him ; 
 
 * but with you I need not ufe that caution ; his 
 
 * name is' 
 
 Juft at this word, the furgeon, who had 
 been fent for, to my miflrefs, enterejd, and 
 prefented a new fcene. 
 
 .At
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 173 
 
 At the firil fight of this perfon, the young 
 
 lady gave a great fhriek, and iwooned away. 
 
 The gentleman ftood a moment itupiiied 
 
 with altonifhment, when turning haitily to 
 
 my miflrefs, ' Is this the lady ? f (faid he/ 
 
 ' Aye, and a lovely one Ihe is (anfwered 
 
 me) but help me to raife her up, when 
 
 you will fee her better , Ihe has been ju:t 
 
 telling me her ftory, and the grief of ic 
 
 has over come her ! it is a moving one -, 
 
 and me mult be our own.' 
 
 ' Ob, my child! my child? (exclaimed hff 
 
 in a transport) and fpurning my mi ft re fa 
 
 from her with his foot, railed her himfe'f, 
 
 and leaned her head upon his boforn, kitting 
 
 her, and almoit (mothering her with his 
 
 tears. ' Ob my poor child! what have yo;t 
 
 ' efcaped! what have you endured!* 
 
 It is impoflible to defcribe the frtuation 
 of my miftrefs at this fcene. She law the 
 error me had been guilty of, in introducing 
 a woman to whom me was a ftranger; and 
 was aware of the danger, with which ths 
 horror of luch an interview on fuch an oc- 
 cafion, threatened her. While therefore 
 the father feemed wrap'd in an extafy, that 
 made him as infenfible as his daughter, flid 
 thought it her belt way to retire from, ths 
 firft burft of his anger, and forgetting her 
 iprained ankle, was going diredJy awav , 
 I 3 but
 
 174 CHR YS AL: Or tke 
 
 but he perceived her intent, and calling her 
 with a voice, that nailed her to the ground, 
 c ftir nor, upon your life (faid he) 1 will 
 ' have this whole myftery cleared up.' 
 
 His daughter, juft then, opening her 
 eyes, and rinding herfelf laid upon her fa- 
 ther's bofom, love, refpect, duty, fear, 
 and joy, filled her heart with fuch a va- 
 riety of paffions, that fhe funk under their 
 weight, and fwooned again. 
 
 This embarrafTed the father almoft to 
 diftraclion, till the woman of the houfe 
 coming in, with her afiiftarice fhe was at 
 length recovered, for my miftrefs was fo 
 irj vi^cd, siiat (he did not dare to approach 
 her. 
 
 As foon as the lady had lightened her 
 heart by a flood of tears, fhe threw herfelf 
 at her father's feet, unable either to look up, 
 or (peak to him. Moved with the mute 
 eloquence of her grief, and melting in the 
 warmth of nature, he raifed her from the 
 ground, and fpoke to her in thefe words. 
 * Be comforted, my child ! I am ! I will 
 4 be your father ! But tell me what has 
 e paftcd between you and this vile woman !' 
 c Ob fir, isjhc mt my bejl, my only friend? 
 4 Hasjke not rejiored me to your fave ?' - 
 ' Have a care child ! fhe your friend ! 
 1 then you are loft beyond recovery in- 
 deed f
 
 Adventures cf a Gi INEA. 175 
 
 * deed ! She is a reproach to her fex ! to 
 
 4 human nature !' ' Oh fir ! bow can 
 
 4 /#/ be ? did foe not bring you here, to me ? 
 4 does not that J/jeiv her virtue, and compajjicn 
 4 to my d'flref? * Compofe yourielf a little, 
 4 child ! it is true, fhe brought me here ; 
 4 but tell me, I charge you, on what terms 
 6 fhe told you, I was to come j and how fhe 
 
 * came to interelt herfelf in your affairs { 
 
 * Fear not, but fpeak the truth/ 
 
 On this fhe told him the whole of her 
 acquaintance with my miftrefs, and by 
 what acciclsnt, and in what character fhe 
 imagined he had been lent for , but that, 
 as foon as fhe faw him enter the room, fhe 
 thought my miilrds muft have been ac- 
 quainted with her ftory, and had taken this 
 method of introducing her to him, in hopes 
 the furprize, and fight at her diftrefs, might 
 operatate on his companion. 
 
 Truth forces conviction. He was fatis- 
 
 fied with the account fhe gave him ; and 
 
 taking her again in his arms, ' I have found 
 
 you again, my child (laid he) and I will 
 
 never lofe you more ! Be the errors of 
 
 your youth ; be my fe verity forgotten ! 
 
 From henceforth you are my child, and I 
 
 will be your father ! as to that vile wretch, 
 
 know, that her whole acquaintance, with 
 
 you* was fougjit with a premeditated de- 
 
 1 4 fign.
 
 176 CHR Y S AL: Cf tbe 
 
 fign cf betraying you to ruin. She told 
 me the whole, nearly as you have done; 
 and encouraged by your diftrefs, of which 
 fhe had gotten fome general hints, but 
 ignorant who you were, fhe laid the 
 icheme of this pretended accident, to 
 get ad million into your houfe , for fhe 
 well knew where you lived; and then fent 
 for me to a place I had appointed, that I 
 might come and fee you, under the ap- 
 pearance of a furgeon; that if I liked you, 
 I might have the preference of her inte- 
 reft in jou: for fo deep had fhe laid her 
 fcheme, that you could not have efcaped 
 her : the trial would have been too great 
 for human fortitude ! and this moft exe- 
 crable myftery of iniquity did fhe under- 
 take for thepaultry reward of 50!. which 
 I muft take the fname upon myfelf to 
 own, I had promifed her, little imagining 
 that I was bargaining for the feduction of 
 my own innocent child. But I fee, I ac- 
 knowledge the hand of heaven in this 
 whole affair, that has thus opened my 
 eyes to the danger of fuch a licentious 
 courfe of life, and made the recovery of 
 my child the means, and the reward of my 
 converfion 1 
 
 * Weep not, my dear -, juftly may you 
 turn your eyes with deteftatiori from fuch
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 177 
 a fiend : But I mall take care that ill* 
 meets a juft reward ; while you prepare 
 to go home with me, for I will not leave 
 you a moment in this fcene of horror.'- 
 Oh, mercy, mercy,, my lord !. (cried my 
 miitrefs) have mercy on me I nor over- 
 whelm with your anger a wretched crea- 
 ture, whofe remorfe is a load too great to* 
 bear.' ' Away vile wretch (replied he, 
 in a rage) nor dare to fpeak an' :her word ! 
 and here fellow (calling to the porter who. 
 had directed him to the houfe) bring me. 
 the parifh conftable.' 
 While the porter went for him, my mil- 
 trefs, wretched now indeed, her guilty fear 
 magnifying her danger, flood trembling,, 
 but afraid to eflay his pity with another 
 word. 
 
 After he had walked a turn or two about, 
 the room, his daughter entered, and with. 
 her the woman of the houfe with her little 
 effects, which were foon packed up. ; at the 
 light of them his countenance foftened :. 
 well, my dear, (faid he. to his daughter). 
 I fee you are ready to come with me ; 
 but Imuft wait a moment to dojuftice to> 
 the wretch who brought me hither. 
 Plead not for her ! I would not have yoin 
 ever fue to me in vain, again ; and any 
 thing in her favour I cannot yield ! B/it: 
 
 t 5 fc m -y
 
 178 C H R Y S AL: Or the 
 
 my juftice fhall not be only fevere, nor 
 confined to her alone. You have faid 
 that this honefl woman has been a friend 
 to you ! me mall be rewarded. Here, 
 good-woman, is the fum of money I was 
 to have given this vile creature for my 
 daughter, in another fenfe. Take it, as 
 the reward of your honefty and kindnefs 
 to her , and call on her, every year of 
 your life for the fame fum. 
 The poor woman took it, with a reve- 
 rence, but was unable to fpeak her gra- 
 titude, her heart was fo full, while his 
 daughter dropped fuddenly on her knees, 
 and raifing her hands and eyes to heaven, 
 exclaimed in rapture, Ob pour thy Ueffings^ 
 heaven, on bis bead^ who thus difpenfes bap- 
 
 pinefs on all wbo merit it. As me faid 
 
 theie words, the conftable came, into whofe 
 charge his lordfhip gave my miflrefs, to be 
 taken to a juftice of the peace, whither he 
 appointed to follow her ; and then handed 
 his daughter into a coach, in which he took 
 her directly home. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 579, 
 
 CHAP. VIL 
 
 The addrefs of CHRYSAL'J tmftrefs, and civi- 
 lity of a conftable. She arrives at the ju- 
 picfs, and is fifted and foftened by his clerk ? 
 and terrified by his wor/hip. CHRYS^L 
 changes his fervice. 
 
 AS foon as this happy couple were gone r 
 my miftrefs recovered her fpirits, and 
 fmiled with contempt, at a danger me had 
 often gone through before, without harm. 
 And fo (fays me) mailer conftable , lam- 
 given in charge to you ! and for what 
 pray? But I am no fuch novice, as to yield 
 myfelf a prifoner, till I fee proper autho- 
 rity to hold me ; therefore,- Sir, I mail 
 wilh you a good morning : if you pleafe, 
 you may go tell his lordfhip, that I was- 
 not at leifureto wait for him, at the ju- 
 ftice's v and becaufe you may be dry af- 
 ter your walk, here is a crown ta drink, 
 
 * my health.' 
 
 * I thank you miflrefs (replied the ma- 
 
 * giftrate, taking the money) but in the 
 
 * mean time, you mull come ! I am forry 
 
 * I cannot let you go.' - c Cannot 1st me go I 
 
 16 '
 
 i8o CHR YS AL: Or the 
 
 pray, Sir, where is your authority to keep 
 
 me? 9 ' Here, miftrefs! (producing 
 
 his ftaff)' 4 But your warrant ?' 
 
 Oh ! as for that, I'll make bold to do 
 without one this time \ and take you to 
 thejuftice on my own authority, and his 
 lordfhip's requeft ; and fo, miflrefs, you 
 had better come along, for I am in hafte : 
 you may have a coach if you pleafe.' 
 Aye, fo I will, to carry me home ; and here's 
 fcmething for you to pay the coachman (put 
 
 ting a guinea into his hand)' ' Tis 
 
 very well, miftrefs, I will fee you fafe 
 home, to be fure, if you defire it ; and 
 the juftice gives you leave ; for to him 
 
 we muft go direcftly.' ' T'hen give me 
 
 my money \ and be affured youjhall anfwer for 
 
 this falfe iwprifonment ' 4 Your money, 
 
 miftrefs! why, aye! folwill, if I do not 
 
 earn it.' * 'Then let me go home this 
 
 moment.'' * No, no, miftrefs ! that I 
 
 cannot do, till you have been to vifit his 
 worfhip -, and then I will fee you fafe 
 home, if he gives me leave, and drink 
 your health into the bargain-, and that 
 was what you gave me the money for : 
 come, come, miftrefs! one of your trade 
 mould know better things, than to afk 
 far money back again ! Have I not 
 
 1 Ihewed
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 181 
 
 * (hewed you all the civility in my power ? 
 ' Do you think I would ftand preaching 
 
 * with you here this hour for nothing ! 
 
 * come along, the coach is at the door.' 
 
 I faiv you were furprized at the addrefs 
 and turn of expreflion in my miftrefs's con- 
 verfation with this young lady, before the 
 arrival of her father, as above her fphere -, 
 but nature had given her a capacity equal 
 to any thing, and her intercourfe, with the 
 polite world, had gained her an eafe of beha- 
 viour, and elegance of expreflion, that 
 made every condition of life feem natural to 
 her. As to the ftory of the family, whom 
 fhe was going to relieve, me had actual]/ 
 prepared one of her confederates to have 
 acted that part, fo that the lord might 
 juftly fay, her defign was laid fo well,, that 
 it was next to impofTible for her to mifs of 
 fuccefs. For by this deceit fhe would have 
 gained the young Lady's confidence, to re- 
 ceive favours from her, and when fhe had 
 her in her debt, fhe thought fhe could- make 
 her own terms. 
 
 As foon as my miftrefs and her conduc- 
 tor were come into the antichamber of juf- 
 ftice, the clerk recognizing her, addrefled 
 her thus : ' Good-morrow, miftrefs Pray 
 
 * what has got us the favour of your com- 
 4 pany ? You have been fo great a ftranger 
 
 of
 
 182 CHR YSAL: Or tie 
 
 * of late, that 1 was beginning to think we 
 had loft you,' ' Pray Sir (faid Ac) 
 
 * let me fpeak a word with you in the next 
 
 * room.' On which he ordered her to 
 
 be {hewn in, and only waited to afk the 
 conftable, by whom, and for what fhe was 
 fent there, who was able to give him no 
 other anfwer, than that the lord had ordered 
 him to bring her, and faid he would follow 
 himfelfdiredly. 
 
 Having got this full information, the 
 .clerk came into the room to my miftrefs, 
 and told her, with a look of importance 
 and concern, that he was forry to fee her,. 
 on fo bad an account. 4 So bad an ac- 
 
 * count, Sir ? (faid fhe) why ! pray what 
 
 * do you think I am brought here for ? 
 
 * nothing in this world ! they can charge 
 ' me with nothing: but intention; and I 
 
 * kope that is not punifhable by the law !' 
 * I hope it will appear fo (replied he) 
 
 * but (fhrugging up his moulders) my 
 lord has ient a meffage here, that has 
 
 another appearance !' ' And pray , Sir r 
 
 what does my lord charge me with .?'. 
 You'll excufe my revealing the fecrets of 
 a privy counfellor ! He will be here too 
 
 ' foon, I am afraid, to tell you himfelf.' 
 
 Verfe-d as my miftrefs was in all. the wiles 
 of man, the look and manner of his faying 
 
 thefc
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA." 183 
 thefe words, alarmed her confcious fears. 
 Pray Sir (faid me) what has his lordihip 
 faid ? or, if you do not think proper to 
 tell me that ; at leaft, you can dired: me 
 how to make the beft defence againft 
 his defigas ! I mall not be ungrateful } 
 
 you know I never was.' c Why that's 
 
 true, madam (replied he) and indeed I 
 mould take great pleafure in ferving you, 
 and getting you out of this hole^ but my 
 lord, you know, is a great man, and can, 
 in a manner, do what he pleafes with 
 poor people.' ' Pray, Sir, can Ifpeak a 
 word to the jufticeT ' I fear he is en- 
 gaged juft now i befides, it is fo long 
 fince he has feen or heard from you, that 
 I believe you muft expect but little favour 
 
 from him.' * Why that is the very thing 
 
 I would fpeak to him about ; and believe me? 
 it was my bufinefs out fo early this morning , 
 //// / was delayed by this unlucky accident. 9 
 c As for that matter, you know you 
 may fay any thing to me, as well as to 
 him, and I can tell him.'' That is 
 true ; why, all I have to fay to him at pre- 
 fent, is to beg his acceptance of thefe five gui- 
 neas for his paj} favours, and his advice how 
 to get out of this fcrape ; and pray do you 
 take thefe three for your trouble. I am forty 
 I have no tfwre fo offer, but really the times 
 
 ' are
 
 i8 4 CHR YS AL: Or tit 
 
 are very bad, and Hi tie or no money ftirring 
 among the gentlemen ; bejide, all my ladies 
 have been very unlucky of late, and the doc- 
 tor, you know, mujl be always paid in hand' 
 
 ' I am forry things go ib badly with 
 
 you ; I will fpeak to the juftice, and let 
 you know what he fays, and you may 
 depend on my friendftiip and intereft at all 
 times; though I am afraid this is a very 
 bad affair. I will goto him directly, and 
 return to you, as foon as pofiible.' 
 I here left my miftrefs to her medita- 
 tions, having been one of the pieces me had 
 given to the clerk. You may imagine I 
 was glad to leave fuch a fervice, though I 
 could not promife myfelf much pleafure, 
 befide variety, in the exchange, from what 
 I had already ieen of that, which I was en- 
 tering into. 
 
 The juftice was in his office, bufied in 
 examining the informations of fomeofhis 
 people, who had made fome lucky bits the 
 evening before. On a wink from his clerk, 
 they were all ordered to withdraw, when 
 reaching me, and four more of my brethren, 
 to his worfhip ; ' here, Sir (faid he) five 
 
 ' guineas from Mrs. !* 'So 
 
 4 then, (replied he) Jbt has thought pro- 
 
 * per to come at loft* c To come ? 
 
 *- no, no, Sir! fhe has been brought, or 
 
 4 clfr
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 185 
 
 * elfe I believe you would have hardly feen 
 
 * her.' ' The ungrateful jade : but what 
 
 ' is the matter now ?' ' I really cannot 
 
 ' well tell i nor does the conftable know 
 ' any more, than that my lord or- 
 ' dered him to bring her, and faid that he 
 1 fhould follow himfelf.' < My lord? tken 
 
 * / muft be ready to receive him properly : He 
 ' is a great man : quick ! reach me my green 
 
 * velvet cap , red flipper s> and new gown^ and 
 ' open half a f core of thofe booh , the largeft of 
 ' them^ and lay them en that great table i as if 
 c / had been referring. There ! now I look 
 4 like ajuftice! and bid thofe gentry ', / was 
 
 * fpeaking to, go backwards till my lord is 
 4 gone : He muft not fee fuch faces , they might 
 ' prejudice him again/I us , and he is a great 
 
 * man : fo! now Pll open the NEW JUSTICE, 
 
 * and his lordfhip may come as foon as he 
 4 pleafes: 
 
 Juft as all things were thus prepared for 
 his lordfhip's reception, in proper forma- 
 lity, a fervant brought a note from him, to 
 let his worfhip know, he could not come 
 himfelf that morning, but defired he would 
 take proper care of the woman he had or- 
 dered to be taken before him, who kept an 
 houfe of bad fame in fuch a ftreet, where, 
 upon the leaft enquiry, he would not fail to 
 
 find
 
 186 C H R YS AL: Or the 
 
 find fufficient matter againft her, from her 
 neighbours. 
 
 Though his lordihip's not coming was a 
 difappointment to his worlhip, after the 
 preparations he had made to receive him ; 
 and baulked him of an important advertife- 
 ment for the next morning, yet the general 
 wording of his note gave him fome confola- 
 tion, as it might feem to authorize any 
 meafures he might pleafe to take, to fqueeze 
 the criminal before him. 4 This may 
 ' do (faid he to his clerk) this may do 
 ' fomething : but we muft proceed with 
 ' caution, for Mrs. is an old hand: 
 
 * let her be called in ; Til f of ten her a little 
 
 * firft, and then you may- work upon her 
 ' after as you pleafe.' 
 
 As foon as me came in, his worihip ac- 
 cofted her thus : ' So, miftrefs j this is a 
 fine affair ; I knew what your doings 
 would come to, at lad; I have often war- 
 ned you ; but you would take no advice j 
 and now you fee the confequence ! Do, 
 make her mittimus ! I muft wait upon his 
 lordmip , and I cannot go aft me is com- 
 mitted !' ' Committed! dear your worjhip-, 
 for what muft 1 be committed ? I have done 
 nothing? 4 No ! to be fure you have 
 done nothing ! his lordmip would profe- 
 cute you fo feverely for nothing : Look 
 
 4 at
 
 Adventures of a, GUINEA. 187 
 at this letter! do you know this hand- 
 writing ? His lordfhip has here given me 
 an account of the whole affair, and de- 
 fired that I would proceed againfl you, 
 with the utmoft rigour of the law ! 
 I have already fent BO fearch your 
 houfe.* 
 
 This word compleated the terrors, into 
 which the fight of his lordfhip's well-known 
 hand had thrown her j and deprived her of 
 all refolution and prefence of mind. She 
 burft into tears, and throwing herfelf on her 
 knees, c Oh, good your worfhip ! dear 
 Mr. Clerk (laid fhe) advife me : affift 
 me to get over this misfortune! here is 
 -my watch; it cofl 50 /. at a pawn-bro- 
 ker's but a month ago ; it is a repeater ! 
 take it, Mr. Juftice ! Mr. Clerk, here 
 are my rings ! they are the only valuable 
 things I have : take them, and help me 
 out at this dead lift : fend, and flop the 
 
 rople from going into my poor houfe ; 
 mall be blown up ! the gentlemen will 
 all defer t me : I (hall be ruined, juft 
 when I have brought things to a little 
 bearing :' help me but this once, and I 
 never will give you caufe to complain of 
 me again : I will always be punctual to 
 my promife.' 
 
 CHAP.
 
 i88 CHR YS AL: Or the 
 
 CHAP. VIII. 
 
 tf difcharged on proper bail. 'The labours 
 <?/"CHRYSAL J J new mafter, in the fervice of 
 the public, with feme of the various myfte- 
 ries of his office 
 
 HE work was now. done, and a wink 
 having fettled the cue between the 
 juftice and his clerk, the latter began thus : 
 If I may prefume to advife your worfbip, 
 though this is a very bad affair to be 
 fure, yet as it is not quite felony, by the 
 flatute^ I am humbly of opinion, that if 
 bail could be got' '-'Dear Mr. clerk> I am 
 obliged to you* c But then confider, my 
 Lord is a great man.' ' That is true, 
 pleafe you worlhip ; but the law is greater 
 than any man, and the law is very tender 
 of the liberty of the fubject, and fays ex- 
 prefly in the Jtatute In favor e libertis^ that 
 no perfon mall be confined that cart get 
 bail ; and befide, who knows, if me was 
 at liberty, but me might find means to 
 be reconciled to his lordfhip ; and fo all 
 would be well.' Dear Mr. clerk^ that 
 is true ; / could eafily be rewncikd to him ; 
 
 4 [
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 189 
 
 * I know how to gain his favour, when his 
 c r.nger is a little cooled' < Why, Mrs. if 
 ' you are quite fure of that, I believe we 
 
 * may venture to bail you : but where are 
 
 * your friends ?' ' Dear your worjhip^ I 
 ' have no friends ; / have nothing to make 
 ' friends with-, I throw myfelf upon you, gen- 
 
 * tlcmen!' ' Why really this is a nice cafe, 
 
 * but if you'll ftep into the next room, we 
 4 will confider what can be done -for you.' 
 ' Oh ! but fend and flop the men that went 
 ' to my houfe !' ' Never fear, they were 
 
 * not to go without further orders.' 
 When me was gone out, ' Well (faid 
 
 ' the juftice) this has been a good bit ^ it 
 
 * makes up for the bad week : but cannot 
 
 * you guefs what this matter is ?' Not a 
 
 * word of it (replied the clerk) me has not 
 
 * dropped a fy liable herfelf, that could let 
 
 * me the leaft into it, and I would not dif- 
 
 * cover my ignorance by afking her any 
 
 * queftions. But I fuppofe it is only fome 
 
 * trick me has played my lord, about a 
 
 * girl, for you know me has often told us, 
 e that he was one of her beft cuftomers, 
 ' and boafted of his protection ; and if it is 
 
 * no more than that, as I imagine, he will 
 
 * think no more of it, and fo the beft way 
 ' is to let her go, for indeed we cannot 
 
 * keep her, if we would j though to keep 
 
 ! up
 
 99 o C H R Y S A L : Or the 
 
 up. the form, for fear me fhould fmeU us 
 out, fhe muft have fome bail : and there- 
 fore I'll go and fill a bond, and make a 
 couple of our people put on their BAIL- 
 ING CLOATHS, and come and fign with 
 her, though I do not think fhe has mo- 
 ney left to pay for the bond, or make the 
 fellows drink : but fhe has done pretty 
 well already, that is the truth.' 
 Saying this, he went out, and in a little 
 time returned with my late miftrefs, and 
 two of the fellows, the fhabbinefs of whole 
 appearance had made his worfhip order 
 them out of the lord's fightjuft before, now 
 dreffed out like reputable houfe-keepers, 
 who gravely figned with my miftrefs, with- 
 out ever afking what; and, upon her re- 
 turning a negative fhrug, to a wink from 
 the clerk, went out, without a word. 
 
 The bufmefs was now over, and my late 
 miftrefs difmiiTed to follow her occupation, 
 and make up, by double diligence, for the 
 misfortunes of that morning, only with an 
 aflurance to the clerk, that fhe would re- 
 member his kindnefs, , and be punQud for 
 the future. 
 
 I was now entered into a fervice, where I 
 had an opportunity of feeing into the whole 
 my'ftery of juftice : but you muft not ex- 
 pec} that I mould reveal all the fecrets of fo 
 
 vene-
 
 * of a GUINEA. 191 
 
 venerable a trade j though I may give a 
 few general hints for your information, in 
 Ib abitrule and intricate a fcience. 
 
 The affair of my late miftrefs was the lad 
 of that morning. My worfhipful mailer 
 putting me into his purfe, and going di- 
 rectly to dinner, which had walled for him 
 fome time. But though his fare was good, 
 his care for the public would not permit him 
 to make long meals, or debauch away his 
 time. After a fhort refrefhment of only 
 two hours, he returned to his office, where 
 he reaffumed his labours, in all the various 
 branches of his extenfive employment. 
 The fir ft thing he looked into, was the in- 
 formations, which the affair of my miftrefs 
 had interrupted in the morning, as I told you 
 before-, when calling his people, one after 
 another, before him, he went through them 
 regularly, in this manner : ' John Gibbet, 
 you here inform me that you have found 
 out the perfon who took the gentleman's 
 hat, in the quarel in Cbelfea fields, laft 
 Sunday evening, which you think to 
 make a robbery of : Let me hear the cir- 
 cumftances of that affair, for you are fo 
 keen a blood-hound, when you get upon 
 any fcent, that you are for making every 
 thing robbery, be the cafe what it will.' 
 
 Pleafe
 
 i 9 2 CHR YSAL: Or the 
 
 1 Pleafe your worfhip (replied Gibbet \ 
 turning the quid in his cheek, and fquirt- 
 ing out the juice) I do all things for the 
 bell, and that you know ; and that I have 
 brought many things to bear, which no- 
 body elfe would undertake, as witnefs 
 that affair on Sbuter's-hill, that got you 
 fo much credit, and money too.' ' Why 
 that is true, JOHN ; but then you Jhould 
 remember alfo the curfed f crape you brought 
 me into about the young fellow who wrote the 
 threatening letters to the farmer, about bur- 
 ning his barns ; you undertook to prove that 
 too : but you know how you left me in the 
 lurch, after I had gone fuch lengths, as had 
 like to have ruined me. Plain fwearing will 
 not always do, though never fo home ; you 
 Jhould remember that : you Jhould attend to 
 circumflances alfo : but as to this affair^ let 
 me hear what you can make of it .?' 
 * Your worfhip mud know, that 7, and 
 two or three more of our people, having 
 nothing to do, Jhammed a quarrel, in 
 which a gentleman, who was coming by, 
 loft his hat. It was a large hat, with a 
 very broad gold lace, fuch as your fo- 
 reigners wear ; it was I that moved off 
 c the hat, and feeing a fliabby idle-looking 
 ' young fellow Handing by, without one, 
 * I took it up, and afking him if it was his, 
 
 ' reached
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 193 
 
 * reached it to him, and faw him make off 
 ' with it directly. Now if this is not a 
 ' plain robbery, I do not know what is ! a 
 
 * fellow runs away with a gentleman's hat, 
 ' who advertifes it, with a reward for ta- 
 
 * king the thief, whom he will profecute ! 
 
 * now I have found out the fellow's haunts, 
 4 for indeed I dogged him, and will have 
 ' himielf whenever you pleafe, and can 
 ' clench the profecution, by fwearing that 
 
 * I faw him carry off the hat ; and you 
 
 * know I need fay no more, nor take any 
 
 * notice who gave it to him.' 
 
 * Why, JOHN, there may be fomellwg 
 
 * in this affair I like it very well, JOHN I 
 c and fo clerk, you may enter him on the lift, 
 * for next feffions. 'This affair has a gocd kok \ 
 nor is there any thing unjuft in it ; for though 
 ' y ou g a< ve him the hat \ as he knew it was net 
 ' his own, and vef carried it off, he is /, i 
 
 c of the theft , and that is the fame as robbery, 
 ' mjuj&C, though it way not in law ; and juf- 
 c ties is the tbing to go b)\ witb a faft con- 
 
 * f denes. And fo you may go, John, 1 will 
 1 lei you know ivhen it will be prop-r to 
 ' have him taken up, only have an eys to him, 
 ' for fear any one elfe Jhould fnap him out of 
 
 4 our hands. Who comes next I RICHARD 
 
 ' SLY, you fay you have found out the knot of 
 
 * young fdlcws tint have began to infeft the 
 
 Vol. 1. K ' facts
 
 J 9 4 CHR YS AL: Or tte 
 
 * jireetsfor feme nights pa/I* ' Aye, pleafc 
 
 * your worfhip (lays 5/y, fhrugging up his 
 
 * ihoulders, and grinning) I have found them 
 ' out, to be fare ; and well I might! for 
 
 * it was I firft fet them on the lay* ' Hczv, 
 1 RICHARD ! tc.ke care of what you fay /' 
 
 * Oh, your worfhip, never fear Dick Sly 
 
 * for a flippery trick ! I know what I fay 
 
 * very well : I have known for fome time 
 
 * that thefe youths have been playing a 
 
 * fmajl game, cribbing from the //?/, and 
 
 * building fccnces 9 and fuch like tricks, that 
 ' there was no taking hold of ; 1 therefore 
 
 * thought it would be right to bring them to 
 
 * juliice, at any rate, and fo laid the plan of 
 
 * this gang, and entered them into the bufi- 
 c nefs myielf, and now, whenever you have 
 
 * a mind to nub them, you need only take me 
 
 * up, and I can peach them all, which will 
 
 * be no bad affair, there are fo many of them. 
 * Wly that is true i RICHARD ; but they 
 
 * have done nothing yet that defer "ces fo fevsre 
 
 * a remedy c.s the gallows ! therefore let them 
 
 * along \ perhaps they may mend : or if they do 
 
 * not, it will be time enough to take them up 
 
 * when they defer'ue it more than now. To be 
 
 * fure, your peaching them, who jirft drew 
 ' them /', is not fo very juft - t but then the 
 
 * law willfupport you in *'/, and while a man 
 
 * bos the la_w of bit fide, be may laugh at the
 
 j&hehtures of a G u i N E A .' 195 
 
 ' galkws. And fo RICHARD, have a good 
 ' look out till thefe youths are ripe for TY- 
 ' BURN, and then your harveft will come. 9 
 
 It would be endlefs to go through this 
 whole bufmefs particularly. Be it fufficient 
 to lay, that there was no breach of the laws, 
 which fome of his people did not give him 
 an information of, and almoft alJ, as ac- 
 complices, while his whole care was to con- 
 fider, which could turn mod to his advan- 
 tage, in the conviction, and to fettle the 
 evidence agamft them, foas it might befure 
 nor to mifcarry. 
 
 CHAP. IX. 
 
 An highway-man, improperly taken, faves bis 
 life, by lofuig bis reafon. Judicial faga- 
 <7'/r, and eloquence triumphant ever common- 
 fetifgj and matter of f aft . Ybis myftery ex- t 
 plained. 
 
 WHILE he was in the midft of this 
 bufmefs, he was furprized with the 
 news of an highway- man, that moment 
 brought in by a gentleman who had taken 
 him, in the very attempt of robbing him 
 on Turnham-Green. This threw the whole 
 houfe into an uproar, c An highwayman 
 K ^ takat,
 
 196 C HR Y S A L: Or tic 
 
 < taken, end ly tie very party I (exclaimed 
 
 * .tjie juftice in an agony of rage and vexa- 
 
 * tion) This is me ft unfortunate ; there. is 40 /. 
 * .- dead lofs, beftde the foame of it : bow Jhall 
 
 * I f upper t my confluence, if other people can 
 
 * ferue the publick without my ajjjftance?' 
 
 ' I wonder who it can be (laid the clerk) 
 
 * .1 fuppofe the man on the white mare, or 
 ' the mafk, from . Putney-Common ! but 
 
 * whoever it is, fomething muft be done ! 
 
 * He muft be faved this time, to fave cur 
 
 * credit, and we may have him the next, 
 
 * ourfelves ! Here they come : do you keep 
 
 * the gentleman in difcourfe, while I fpeak 
 
 * to the prifoner, and fee how he can ccme 
 
 * down. I mail readily give you your 
 
 * cue* 
 
 Juft then entered the gentleman with his 
 prifoner, whom they dircclly knew to be an 
 old offender, who had long baffled their 
 purfuit : a circumftance, that heightened 
 the vexation of his being taken by another, 
 and was not a little favourable to him at this 
 time. 
 
 His worfhip received the gentleman moft 
 politely, and defired him to fit down a mo- 
 nrent, till he mould finim a letter he was 
 writing to the fe cretary ofjlate, and then he 
 would attend to his bufmefs, ordering the 
 
 prifoner
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 197 
 prilbner to be removed into another room 
 for the mean time. 
 
 He then fate him fell" down to write, with 
 great deliberation, and had juft fimjhedy, 
 \vhen his ck.k came to deliver him a letter 
 from the lord m.iycr^ which he read over at- 
 tentively, and laying it was very weii, he 
 tlien turned to the gentleman, and afkin ; 
 his pardon for making him wait fo long,, 
 ordered the prifoner to be brought in. 
 
 The highway-man appeared now a quite 
 different perfon from what; he did, when he 
 was in the room a few minutes before , his- 
 looks, which were then clouded with the 
 gloom of liftlefs dejedtion and defpair, be- 
 ing inflamed into- the fierceft aginations o/ 
 phrenzy. 
 
 The gentleman (hewed his far prize 
 change, as did his wormi.- iiu> an 
 for his own fafety, from 
 rageous a madman. As i<;on us 
 cured; thejuftice addreiiing himie% 
 the height of judicial folemnky, fo ttie :ro- 
 fecutor, c Pray Sir (laid he; svih you ^i-ufe 
 4 to inform me what you have to ailed. j 
 4 againft this unhappy perfon ?' 'Sir (rj- 
 ' plied the gentleman) all I have to fay, is, 
 ' that he flopped me this afternoon, upon 
 4 Turnham-'^reen, and prefenting a piilol \~. 
 ' me, bid me deliver my money^. but be- 
 K 5 ' ing.
 
 198 C H R Y S A L : Or the 
 
 ing well armed, and having mo re about me 
 than I chofe to lofe, inftead of my purfe, 
 1 drew a piftol too, and his mi fling fire, I 
 grappled with, and took him on the fpot, 
 and from thence brought him directly 
 here : that is all I have to fay, Sir !' 
 ' And pray, Sir, what did be j'ay when you 
 lad taken him ?' ' Not a word, Sir, nor* 
 has he fpoke a fyllable fince ; nor an- 
 fwered any one queftion he has been 
 afked.' - c Aye, 'tis fo ! poor gentleman, 
 it is fo ! And pray, Sir, did he make muck 
 ref fiance when you took him /" c The ut- 
 moft he was able , but being better moun- 
 ted, and much ilronger than him, I foon 
 overpowered him, though not without 
 great danger, for after I had him down, 
 he drew this knife, and very narrowly 
 miffed plunging it into my body ! You 
 fee what a cut he made in my coat and 
 waiftcoat !' c Aye, poor man, madnefs is 
 always defperate : I fear, Sir, you have been 
 too hefty in this affair." ' How, Sir, too 
 hafty, to take a man in the very action of 
 highway robbery ? I do not underftand 
 you, Sir P 
 
 ' Sir, I mean that this perfon is no robber, 
 lut an unhappy gentleman of fawily and for- 
 tune, who has been for fome time out of kis 
 mind : I have been applied fo ly his relations, 
 
 * wore
 
 'Adventures of a GUINEA. 197 
 
 * more than once, to try to bai'e him appro - 
 e bended, thai he might be confined -, and new 
 4 be is fecured, they will take proper care of 
 
 4 him,, that he foall not frighten any body far ' 
 4 the future-, for I am falitfied, Sir, tbct was 
 4 all bs meant \ and that he would not bai-t 
 4 taken y -cur money, bad you offer edit to him :' 
 4 Ifuppcfe you [earcbed him, when you Lad 
 ^ overpowered him, poor man, as you juftlv 
 4 termed it ! Pray, Sir, did you find am' 
 4 thing upon him, to make you think he u\:s 
 
 * an highway-man? Any watches! jj-^jls /' 
 41 or different purfes of money ? or more ;;<* 
 ' than you might think it probable a ptrfin cf 
 * his appearance might commonly carry ay tut 
 
 * him ?' 
 
 4 No really, Sir, I did not find any thing 
 
 * like what you mention ! this purfe, which 
 
 * feems to have about 30 or 40 guineas iti 
 ' it, (for I have not reckoned them) was the* 
 
 * only thing in all his pockets^ except the 
 * knife which he drew on me -, his pift >ls 
 4 were openly in his faddle, as gentlemen 
 
 * commonly wear them.' 
 
 4 Very well, and does not his prefent bcha- 
 *' viour and whole- conduff in this affair con- 
 4 vince you, that the unhzppy man could ba~j3 
 
 * no felonious intent, in bis mad attack upon 
 
 * you: for men, mad as he is, have no in- 
 fr tetttion at all; and, without a felonious in- 
 
 K 4 4 tmt,.
 
 2co C H R Y S A L : Or tie 
 
 4 tent, there can be no robbery : but, I pre- 
 4 fume, you may underftand fomcthing of the 
 4 lawyourfclf, Sir?' 
 
 ' No indeed, Sir, I cannot fay I know 
 ' any more law, than juft not to wrong any 
 4 perfon, nor let them wrong me, if I can 
 c help it, as far as common fenfe will di- 
 
 * reel rne : I thank God, I have fpent my- 
 4 days quietly in the country, and never 
 ' had a difpute with any man in my life.' 
 
 4 Common. fenfe, dear Sir! common fenfe is 
 4 a Hind guide in matters of law ! Law and 
 4 common-fenfe are quite different things ; but 
 
 * as I was faying, Sir, where there is no felo* 
 4 mows intent, there can be no felony ; now 
 4 robbery is punifoedonly becaufeit is felony, for 
 ' fo the indictment mujl be laid; FELON ICE, 
 ' Sir, FELON ICE, or it will not do ! I'he m- 
 4 diriment will be quajhed without that word j 
 4 and who can charge a man with a felonious 
 4 intent, who is difordered in mind, and can 
 4 have no intention at all. *?is true, the ap- 
 4 pearance was bad, and fufficientty terrifying, 
 
 * to authorize your apprehending him; but as 
 ' ycu fuffered neither lofs, nor hurt, I cannot 
 
 * fuppofe, that a gentleman of your humane ap- 
 4 pearance would defire to add to the mifery of 
 4 his prefent unhappy condition, that of ' impri* 
 
 * fonment till the next fejjions, when he muft 
 
 * be acquitted of courfe, as that would cer*
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 201 
 
 * tainly make his madnefs for ever incurable ; 
 
 * Whatever expence ycu have been at in 
 
 * bringing him here^ I 'will take upon me to 
 ' reimburfe you, out of the money in his purfe^ 
 ' bejide what gratification you pleafe to require, 
 ' for your own time and trouble ! his, &r, is 
 ' what 1 w-ould recommend to you, as a Chrijiain 1 
 ' and a gentleman^ as you appear to be : but if 
 ' you are of another opinion, you muft onlyfweaf 
 4 to your information^ and enter into a recov- 
 4 nizance of profecution^ while Ifgn his MIT- 
 ' TIMUS, and fend word to his friends, wbo ; 
 ' are people of condition. 1 
 
 ' Indeed, Sir, you judge very rightly of- 
 
 * me , I would not aggravate the diftrefs- 
 ' of any human being ! If you know the 
 fr unhappy man, and that he is under fo 
 ' fevere an affliction, as the Jofs of realon,. 
 ' I have nothing farther to fay, than thai I 
 
 * arn forry for his misfortune, and would 
 
 * notfor the world be-the caufe of heighten-- 
 c ing it, as I had no motive for apprehcnd- 
 *- ing him, but the duty which I and every 
 member owe the pubiick. I thank hea- 
 4 ven for my own elcape from him, and do- 
 c not defire to make any advantage of it. 
 
 * As to the people who afillled me in bring- 
 
 * ing him hither, they are flill unpaid, arid 
 
 * you know bell how to deal with them, fo 
 
 K 5 'I
 
 202 C H R Y S A L : Or the 
 
 ' I leave the whole affair to you, and arm 
 Your humble fervant/ 
 
 I have not interrupted this account, with 
 any notice of the behaviour of the criminal, 
 as it confided only of the moil outragious 
 imitation of madnefs, with imprecations 
 and blafphemies too horrid for repetition. 
 
 As foon as the gentleman was gone, and 
 the room cleared of all, but thejuftice, his 
 clerk, and the madman^ who was left bound 
 to keep up the farce, his worfhip thus ad- 
 drefled him, ' So fir, you thought to reign 
 for ever \ but you fee v/hat your feats 
 have come to ! I fuppofe you are fur- 
 prized at the pains I have taken to bring 
 you through this affair!' 'Not at all 
 fir, (replied the criminal) the bank note 
 for 200 L which I had concealed in the 
 fleeve of my coat, and gave your clerk* 
 -r- 4 How,, fir, (faid the juftice in a rage), 
 do you pretend to fay k was upon any fuch 
 account ? But you judge of others by 
 yourfelf. However, I mall not ftand to 
 argue the matter with you now ; you 
 have efcaped for this time,, and may be 
 glad of it! but take care for. the future! 
 your luck may not always be fogpod' * 
 Will your wjirjkip p leaf 3 to order your people 
 to return me my horfi and arms ? and I h&pe 
 you. will give: me my purfe ^ for life without.
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 203 
 * fame thing to f upper t it is no great obligation* 
 ' What fir ! do you pretend to capitulate! 
 Your horfe you (hall have, not that you 
 have any right to expert him, but bs- 
 caufe it would not be proper to keep him, 
 after the reprefentation that impofed upon 
 the fool- who took you , and here are half 
 a (core guineas to carry you to fome place 
 where you are not known,, and to main-- 
 tain you till you can- get into fome honelt 
 way of earning your bread. The Felt is 
 little enough to give the people infteaJ- 
 of your horfe, and to flrop their mouths. 
 You may ftay here till the crowd is dif- 
 perfed, when you may go where you 
 
 pleafe.' As there was no remedy, the 
 
 criminal was forced to fubmit , nor ir.de(\l 
 did he feem much difladsfied at the heavi- 
 nefs of his competition. 
 
 X6 CHAP
 
 204- C H R Y S A L : Or tie 
 
 CHAP. X. 
 
 An inftame of bis worfhip's exemplary jujlice 
 on a fiop-lifter. The unfajbictiable com* 
 pajfion and generoftty of a fuller. A dif- 
 
 bis 
 
 about fupericrity of Jkill between 
 worjhip and bis clerk, opens new m\fteries 
 in the prcfeffion, 
 
 T T was now pretty late, and my mailer 
 X was juft retiring to fupper, pleafed with 
 having made fo good a day, when he was 
 flopped by more bufmefs. A woman who 
 kept a chandler's mop, in the next ftreet, 
 had dragged before him one of her poor 
 neighbours, whom me had caught in the 
 very facl of dealing a pound of cheefe off 
 her counter, as me was reaching her a two- 
 penny loaf from the fhelf : a crime that 
 was heightened by ingratitude too, as (he 
 was giving her the loaf on truft -, the thief 
 having owned to her, that me had not a 
 farthing in the world to pay for it, nor a 
 moriel to give her three fmall children, 
 who had been failing the whole day. 
 
 Enraged at the heinoufnefs of the crime, 
 and at being kept from fupper, while the 
 
 chickens
 
 Adventures cf a GUINEA. 205 
 chickens and afparagus were cooling on the 
 table, his worfhip, knitting his brows, and 
 putting on ail the magiftrate, afked the 
 trembling wretch, with a voice that pierced 
 her foul, What (he had to fay for her- 
 ' felf, and whether fhe was guilty of the 
 ' crime laid to her charge, or not.' 
 
 The poor creature, almoft dead with 
 
 wretchednefs, want, and fear, threw her- 
 
 felf at his feet, and pouring out a flood of 
 
 tears, that for ibme moments choaked her 
 
 utterance, 4 O mercy ! mercy ! (faid fhe) 
 
 for the love of the fweet Jefus y havo 
 
 mercy on a poor wretch, whom want 
 
 alone compelled to this firft offence, to 
 
 fave the lives of three poor infants, who 
 
 are this moment perifhing with hunger. 
 
 Oh, fend, and prove the truth of what I 
 
 fay ; fend and learn their mifery, and it 
 
 will move you to relieve them, and then 
 
 I care not what becomes of me.' 
 
 Very fine trudy I if we admit fuch excuses 
 for /hop- lifting^ there will be enough ready 
 to plead them. Here^ make her mittimus; 
 flje confeJJ'es the fatt \ as for her brats^ baf- 
 tards too, Ifuppofe, let them be fent to the 
 
 is}ork-houfe > ' Oh the poor creatures! 
 
 they are not baftards , and they have no 
 parifh to be fent to. My hufband is a 
 fail or, who was preffed on board a man of 
 
 ' war
 
 2 o5 C H R Y S A L : Or tbe 
 
 * war fix years ago, and has been in the 
 * Weft-Indies ever fince, till this fummer, 
 
 * when the fhip was ordered home to be 
 
 * laid up.. Poor foul !- he thought he Ihould 
 
 * be paid off, and fo wrote me word to 
 
 * Corke, to come to him, for he meant to 
 ' go and fettle in Scotland^ his own country; 
 
 * but the moment he came to For tf mouth, 
 
 * he was turned. over into another ihip, with- 
 
 * out getting a jQiilling of his fix years 
 
 * wages or. prize-money, and fentaway di- 
 ' re&ly to America j fo that, after {pending 
 ' every penny I had in the world, to come 
 4 to him from Ireland^, as hedefired, I am 
 ' left here with my poor children, toftarve 
 ' in a flrange place, where no-body has .any 
 
 * compaffion for me, though my hufband 
 
 * wrote me word, that he had above 300!. 
 *' due to him for wages and prize-money ; 
 ' here is his letter ! I never ga without itl 
 * it is all the comfort. 1 have in -my diftrefs.' 
 
 * Aye, 1 thought, fo! I thought you' were 
 
 * one of thofe Infti. thieves that came to rob us ^ 
 ' and cut our throats. I but I -/hall take care 
 *' of you! I Jhall make you wifoycubad-con- 
 
 * tinned eating potatoes at home. I wijh I 
 * could provide as well for everyone of your 
 ** country ! we Jhall never b f . wel^ til', we have 
 * hangd you all. 1 * Oh gooa your wormip \ 
 ^ I. am no thief i I never itoie any thing 
 
 * before. .
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 207 
 
 before. And this woman, who has. 
 
 brought me before you, knows the truth 
 
 of every thing I have told your worihip , 
 
 and that I have always paid her honellly 
 
 while I had a. penny in. the world , for I 
 
 have dealt with her ever fmce I came to 
 
 London \ but hunger, and the cries of 
 
 three ftarving children, forced me to this ! 
 
 Oh my children, my children !' l Peace, 
 
 woman ! all you can fay fignifies nothing ; 
 
 you were taken in the faff, and to Newgate 
 
 youjhall go, direclly. And as for your brats, 
 
 it is better for them to die of hunger now,. 
 
 than to live to be hanged like, their- mother '.' 
 
 By this time,, the mittimus was ready, 
 
 which he figned without the leaft hefitation 
 
 or pity, and then hurried away to his flip- 
 
 per, having almoft fretted his bowels out,. 
 
 to think it was fpoiled by waiting fo long. 
 
 But though the Juftice's companion 
 could not be moved, by fuch a poor wretch, 
 his clerk was not fo inexorable, but yielded 
 to the perfuafion of an honeft tar, who fee- 
 ing a croud at the door, had given fix-pence 
 to go in, and fee the fun ; and for two 
 guineas, which barely f aid the fees, ventured 
 to make up the affair, and let her go about her 
 hufmefs, though he did not know what .might 
 be the conference, if it Ihculd ever come to his 
 knowledge. Jack took no notice of 
 
 what
 
 208 CHRYSAL:Or/& 
 
 what he faid, but taking the poor creature, 
 who was juft finking under the agitations 
 of fear, joy, and gratitude, by the hand, 
 Chear away, filler (faid he) chear away , 
 we'll bring up all this lee-way, next trip.. 
 Damn my eyes and limbs, if I'll fee a 
 brother feaman's family at fhort allow- 
 ance, while I have a milling ! come, 
 heave a-head ; I'll rig and victual you 
 and your children, againft your hufband 
 comes, to man you for a voyage home. 
 Til fwing my hammock in the next birth, 
 and you mall cook the kettle, while I 
 flay alhore.' Saying which words, he led 
 her off in triumph. Thi&> the clerk told 
 his worlhip, when he come' in to fupper, 
 giving him one of the guineas, as his 
 mare of the compofition. 
 
 I now thought the bufmefs of the day 
 over, and was preparing to take a view of 
 my new matter's heart, while he and his 
 clerk where enjoying their fuccefs over ah< 
 hearty bottle. But I was prevented, by an 
 accident, which diiturbed for a while, anda 
 had like to have entirely broken off this- 
 harmony between them, a difpute, like 
 thofe between all conquerors, arifmg about 
 the divifion of the fpoil, and the merit in 
 the acquifition of it. 
 
 This
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 209 
 * This will do (laid his worfhip, clap- 
 ping his hands a kimbo, after a full glals) 
 this will do ! what between the bawd in 
 the morning, and the highwayman in 
 the afternoon, we have made a noble day 
 of it ! But what have you ordered about 
 that fellow ? I hope you have taken care 
 that we may have him ourfelves next.' 
 , Never fear (replied the clerk) I have done 
 for him. 1 have fent people to lay all the 
 roads he can go, from the inn where he 
 ordered his horfe , and plaujible 'Tom is 
 fixed there, to fcrape an acquaintance 
 with him, fo that he cannot efcape. 
 ' Aye, let Tom alone to manage him j 
 many a cunning fellow* s heart has that Tom 
 crept into , till ht has wheedled him to fyburn*. 
 Not a lawyer of tbsm all has a fntj other 
 tongue. But did not I improve the hint of 
 the madnefs well? .how quietly the gudgeon 
 Jwallowed it / If I were to fit about it, I 
 believe in my foul, 1 could have fsrfuaded 
 him out of his own ft nfes, and m -de him think 
 himfelf mad, as well as the highwayman ! 
 ha ! ha ! ha / Though you were not quite 
 clear enough in your note ; you fiould have 
 told me all the particulars ; I was often at a 
 lofs; but upon the whole, I think I did pretty 
 well , pretty well^ I think /' 
 
 Why
 
 210 CHRYSAL:Or/& 
 
 c Why aye, you did fo manage it pretty 
 well, when I had given you the cut, and* 
 fo might any one have done. But how 
 would you hive contrived to bring him 
 off, if I had not made that hit !' c Hemf 
 
 why eafih eneugb / * / would bare- 
 
 Bnt what btrrfrzx dene with the lar.k-note ? 
 let mefff tbat /* * The note ! it is fafa 
 enough. But you do not tell me, how 
 you would have managed to have earned 
 it ; I think you mould do that before you 
 
 afk for ir* ' Hem I would have earnsf 
 
 it * wbyfray, good ftr? doycukncw wbcm 
 
 you tslk to in this manmr ?' * Whom 
 
 I talk to ! I talk to the worihipful juffcce 
 whofe betters I have talked to 
 
 before now; and who would not have 
 aflced me that queftion fome years ago, 
 when he applied to me, to inftruft him 
 in the bufinefe of his office !' ' Infolence f 
 inflruQ me! fff make ym knew fir, tbat 
 I under/land my bufinefs^ without your in- 
 ftruSion ! Ptt take another clerk to-myrrcw.*~ 
 * Wkh all my heart* good mafterjuftice ! 
 with all my heart ; and fee who will be 
 the lofer by that. If you do not know it 
 yet, you will foon lee then, whether the 
 bufinefs comes to the juftice or his clerk ; 
 for I give you notice, that I lhall take all 
 the people with mej you (hall have the 
 
 fe credir
 
 dfotntures of c, GUIXEA. 211 
 credit of making up a new fet for your- 
 
 felf, I afibre you.' * 1/eryjiiu ! very 
 
 fne treatment this!' 4 Why do you 
 
 deferve it then, fir, if you do not like it. 
 I fay very fine treatment too ! that you 
 mould take upon you to undervalue 
 my fkill, and ailume the credit of it to 
 yourfeif ; you, whom I firft taught, and 
 ftill fupport in your office, in deipight of 
 ail your blunders ! As for the bank- 
 note, here it is, and here it {hall be, till 
 we have fettled the account of the lafl fef- 
 fions, when you were fo clever upon 
 me, fending me, on a fool's errand, out 
 of the way, while you took up the re- 
 ward. Perhaps you thought 1 did not 
 fee through your defign, or that 1 was 
 afraid to fpeak of it, but you were quite 
 miilaken ; 1 only waited till the remedy 
 mould come into my own hands, and 
 now it has, be affured I mail make ufe 
 of it, whatever you may think, fir ! and 
 farther let me tell you, that if you fay 
 much more, I will think of parting in 
 earned, if you do not think proper to 
 come to a new agreement : for I fee no 
 reaibn why you mould carry off two thirds 
 of the profit, only becaufe you vrtjtifltce 
 indeed, though I do all the bufmeis V 
 
 C H AP
 
 C H R YS AL: Or tbe 
 
 CHAP. XL 
 
 Ibe I reach happily made up ly the arrival of 
 campany. The evening concluded in cha- 
 ratfer. His wcrfiip goes next morning to 
 hear a charity -fennon, and from ihsnce to 
 eat a cbetntytfeafa where CHRYSAL enters 
 into a new fer-rice. Some account of the 
 nature of a charity feajl. 
 
 MATTERS were now at fuch an 
 height, that I every minute ex- 
 peded they would have proceeded from 
 words to blows, when a pull at the bell 
 brought them both to themfelves in an In- 
 Itant. 
 
 ' Hah ! that is true ! this is quarter night 
 ' (faid the juftice) and here the ladies are 
 c come ! Give me your hand : why mould 
 
 * we fall out about our fkill, while the bii- 
 ' fmefs goes on well : here's my fervice ta 
 ( you ; and let there be no more of it.' 
 
 * With all my heart (replied the clerk). 
 
 * but why will you urgs me on thus, when 
 
 * you know that I cannot bear to have my 
 
 * Hull called in queftion r'~ 
 
 By
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 213 
 
 By this time the ladies entered, whom I 
 direftly faw to be the commode matrons, and 
 compliant fair, of his diftridt, who came 
 duly to compound with him, for the breach 
 of thofe laws he was appointed to {up- 
 port. 
 
 The very mention of this fcene, iuffi- 
 ciently explains the nature of it, and makes 
 a more particular defcription unneceiTary. 
 All parties behaved properly on theoccafion. 
 %bcy paid their fubfidies, for which he re- 
 turned them very wholefome advice, to be- 
 have with diligence and dilcretion in their 
 profefiions , and efpecially thofe who lived 
 in his neighbourhood, he cautioned to avoid 
 all riots, and caufes of offence, which might 
 bring his connivance and protection into 
 fufpicion ; then relaxing from the feverity 
 of his morals, he gave up the reft of the 
 night, and a good part of the next morn- 
 ing, to mirth and good-fellowfhip, in the 
 company of a few of his particular fa- 
 vourites, and beft cuftomers of this motly 
 fet, having difmifled the reft to the purfuit 
 of their occupations. 
 
 The bufmefs of the day, and pleafures of 
 the night, had fo far exhaufted his Ipirits, 
 that nature required a long paufe : accord- 
 ingly, no bufmefs coming in to difturb 
 him (for fuch was his vigilance in his office, 
 
 and
 
 214 CHR YS AL: Or the 
 and care for the public, that every thing 
 gave way to that) he made a late morning, 
 not waking till he was called to attend a 
 fermon and dinner, which were to be that 
 day for the benefit of a charity, to which 
 he was a conftant benefactor j as indeed his 
 publick fpirit made him, to all that were 
 already ettablifhed, and prompted him to 
 ftrike out many new , in which, as the au- 
 thor of them, he hoped to have the ma- 
 nagement, while novelty fhould make it 
 the fafhion to fupport them. 
 
 But in this he was always difappomted. 
 For though, in the multitude of his fchemes, 
 he fometimes ftumbled upon a good one, 
 yet his head was fo cor.fufed, and his notions 
 fo wild and immethodical, that before he 
 could digeft his plans into any regularity, 
 fome one elfe took up the hint, and ran 
 away with the credit of the defign. 
 
 At church he edified greatly, by a com- 
 fortable nap) during the fermon, which fi- 
 nifhed his retrefhment, and fent him with 
 a clear head, and keen flomach, to the 
 feaft, where every perfon feemed to vie, in 
 <iemonftrating his attachment to the caufe of 
 their meeting, by the quantity he eat and 
 drank. 
 
 I here changed my fervice once more, 
 being given by his worfhip in his fublcrip- 
 
 tion,
 
 Adv&tures of a GUINEA. 215 
 tion, and To came into the pofleilion of a 
 community in general, which gave me an 
 opportunity of feeing the human heart in a 
 more complicated view, than perhaps any 
 other fcene of its actions could afford ; as 
 there was hardly a profefllon, degree, or 
 rank of life, which had not a reprefentative 
 in this meeting, nor a motive of action, 
 however apparently contrary to its defign, 
 or contradictory to each other, which did 
 not contribute its influence to the bringing 
 them together. 
 
 While I lay in the hands of the treafurer 
 of the charity, unafligned to any particular 
 ufe, or perfon, I enjoyed a ftate of liberty, 
 fbmething like that of living in a common- 
 wealth, having it in my power to enter into 
 the hearts of all the governors (who were 
 now my owners) as 1 liked, and to make 
 any oblervations, without reflraint to any 
 particular perfon, time, or place. 
 
 Charity is the moft amiable, and mod 
 exalted of the human virtues, and that 
 which rifes to the neareft imitation of the 
 divine. Nor can any thing be a ftronger 
 proof of the beneficence of the author of 
 the human nature, than his placing this 
 virtue, which is the perfection of it, within 
 the reach of every individual. 
 
 For
 
 fei6 C H R YS AL: Or tie 
 
 For charity is a difpofition to think well 
 of, and do well to, every other human be- 
 ing, without partiality, prejudice or re fpeclr, 
 to any other motive, than this univerfal 
 duty ; giving of alms being no more than 
 one, and that perhaps the very meaneft, 
 effect of it. 
 
 But this extenfivenefs of the nature of 
 charity is the reafon of its being generally 
 mifconceived, and moft erroneoufly con- 
 fined to this effect, by minds unable to com- 
 prehend its greater excellence-, and from 
 this miftake, have proceeded many of the 
 extraordinary inltances of this effect of cha- 
 rity, which diftinguiflies the prefent age. 
 
 This is a moft dangerous error ; it is too 
 like thinking to bribe heaven with the wages 
 of hell ; and yet profanely abfurd as fuch a 
 notion is, daily obfcrvation fhews the ex- 
 teniive prevalence of it. 
 
 As charity is fuch a refined and exalted 
 virtue, and purely fpiritual, it mud appear 
 ftrange to you, how it fhoulcl enter into the 
 head of man, to make fo grofs, low, and 
 fenfual a paffion as eating, the foundation 
 of it ! Indeed fo unnatural is the thought 
 to pure fpeculation, unacquainted with the 
 pcrverfions of life, that a charity-feail, in 
 the literal meaning of the phrafe, muft be 
 taken for a meeting of the poor to eat the 
 
 pro-
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA? 217 
 provifions fupplied for them by the rich, 
 inftead of the rich meeting to gorge their 
 own appetites. 
 
 But a little obfervation of the prefent 
 byas of the world, will folve this difficulty. 
 Of all the natural appetites and paflions, 
 which pofiefs that part of mankind, v/hofe 
 age has enabled them to amafs money 
 enough to give away, eating is the moft 
 univerfal. I fay natural paflions, for fraud, 
 avarice, or ambition, or even luft, at that' 
 time of life, are not the paflions of na- 
 ture. 
 
 To gratify this, therefore, was the moil 
 probable fcheme for drawing them together : 
 and when that is fufficiently done, the full 
 heart opens eafily, and (hares its abundance 
 with the empty.. 
 
 Vol. I. L C H A P.
 
 US CHRYSAL: Or tbt 
 
 
 
 CHAP. XII. 
 
 . 
 
 A repreffntation of tbt tomjwg. Tke bi/luy 
 tf one of tbt principal members. Tb* 
 modern method fif bribing btavtn with the 
 wges of bcii* 
 
 badfcafttd* wr did their minds 
 yet restore fucb aiKtber banquet 9 when 
 J became a member of their fociety , you 
 muft not expect a particular account or 
 defcription of fucb a fcene. A few general 
 bints muft fatisfy your curiofity, as I have 
 told you on other occafions, 
 
 Let your imagination reprefent to you, 
 a number of people, whofe higheft pleafure 
 is eating, felted at a large table, covered 
 with ail the delicacies, all the rarities of 
 the feafon, in a plenty that promifed fatiety 
 to their keeneft appetites. But I muft flop ! 
 I fee the very thought has an effect upon 
 you, that favours too ftrongly of fenfuality, 
 and might, if not checked, put a flop to 
 our converiation, by fome human hanker- 
 ings. Let us therefore pafs over fuch a 
 
 * Homer. 
 
 fcene
 
 of a GTTN E A. 2 1 9 
 fcene, and turn our obfervation to the 
 company, as they fat, after the fragment* 
 of the reaft were removed. And here it 
 will be proper to have recourfe to the ex- 
 pedient we made ufe of before, and hold' 
 ing up the mirrour to imagination, view 
 the whole fcene as if actually prefen:. 
 
 Obferve then, that enormous bulk of 
 fiefh, that fits at the head of the table, with 
 his waiftcoat all unbuttoned, and gafping 
 for breath ; the difienfion of his fia.r. 
 having left his lungs fcarce room to per- 
 form the animal functions, and fat almoft 
 choaked the paflages of vital air. 
 
 He is one of the principal lupporters of 
 
 j and every other publick charity, 
 
 founded on the modern method of a feaft; ; 
 
 the natural avarice of his heart outwitting 
 
 >is inftance \ for as he is fure of 
 
 ring his appetites with more and better 
 
 victuals and wine, at thefe meetings, than 
 
 he could have at home, for much more 
 
 than the price of the ticket, the advantage 
 
 ._: bargain, always tempts him to go ; 
 
 and then the happineis of his heart, in th 
 
 fulnefsof his flom ach, opens his purfe, and 
 
 he fubfcribes with a liberality that ariies 
 
 almofl to profufion. 
 
 But look into his heart, and read the 
 
 reft of his life : the very money which he 
 
 J. 2 be-
 
 220 C H R Y S A L : Or the 
 
 beflows with fnch an appearance of virtue, 
 on this beft of ufes (for no error in motive, 
 or manner, muft take off the merit of an 
 action, that does good) this very money 
 (I fay) has perhaps been acquired, by 
 vices the moft oppofite to the virtues it is 
 applied to. 
 
 The greateft frugality, application, and 
 fkill in the myfterious bufmefs of a fcrive- 
 ner, have raifed this perfon, from the moft 
 abject poverty, to affluence, above the mo- 
 deration of a rational wifh. But fo power- 
 ful is the force of habit, that though the 
 caufe has been long fince removed, the ef- 
 fect ftill remains, and he perfifls to fave and 
 heap up money, by all the mean and ini- 
 quitous ways, which want firft fuggefted to 
 him. One inftance, and that not fingular, 
 in him, will give you a fufHcient infight in- 
 to his character. 
 
 A gentleman, whom indifcretion and in- 
 dolence of temper, had involved in fome 
 pecuniary diftrefles, had the greater misfor- 
 tune fome years ago, to be recommended to 
 this perfon, to borrow fuch afumof money 
 as mould extricate him from his immediate 
 difficulties, on a mortgage of his eftate. 
 
 As his fecurity was good, his bufmefs 
 was foon done , but the convenience of his 
 eftate, to another which this perfon had 
 
 lately
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 221 
 %ely purchafed in his neighbourhood, and 
 an acquaintance with the unwary eafmefs of 
 his ditpofition, made him caft a wifhful 
 eye upon it, and form fchemes for getting 
 it abfolutely into his pofleflion. 
 
 At firil he ftrove to tempt his indifcre- 
 tion, by the offer of more money to fupply 
 his pJeafures, but finding that would not 
 take, and that the fenfe of his former ex- 
 travagances dwelt fo ftrongly on him, as to 
 give his mind a kind of turn to induftry, 
 did he know how to apply it, his ready ge- 
 nius ftruck out a method, that he ima- 
 gined could not fail of fuccefs. 
 
 He therefore cultivated an intimacy with 
 the gentleman, in which, upon all occa- 
 fions, he affected to boaft of his own fuc- 
 cefs in life, and to attribute it to his having 
 always a command of money, to take the 
 advantage of any bargain that might of- 
 fer. 
 
 As this turn of converfation feemed to 
 flow only from the fulnefs of his heart, and 
 to be free from all defign, it had the effed 
 he propofed, and raifed a defire in his friend 
 to follow a method which had been fo fuc- 
 cefsful with him. He therefore, one day, 
 communicated to him a refolution, which 
 he had formed, of felling his eftate, and 
 applying the money to bufinefs \ and de- 
 L 3 fired
 
 222 C H R Y S A L : Or tie 
 
 fired his friend's afliftance to execute his 
 defign. After an appearance of furprize, 
 the fcrivener teflified his pleafure and ap- 
 probation of his prudence, by the readinefs 
 with which he undertook to ferve him. 
 
 The eafe with which the firft part of his 
 fcheme had fucceeded, made him form fur- 
 ther hopes, and think of getting the eftate 
 he defired, even at a cheaper rate than pur- 
 chafing it. 
 
 After fome time fpent, as he faid, in 
 fruitlefs enquiries, for a purchafer, he mod 
 artfully drew his friend, to defire that he 
 would buy it himfelf : at firft he feemed.. 
 to hefitate, but then, as it were yielding 
 to the impulfe of his friendship, he con- 
 cluded a bargain for it, on terms evidently 
 advantageous to the feller. 
 
 All things being agreed upon, the par- 
 ties met to conclude the affair, when the 
 writings being read over, and the money 
 lying on the table, while the fcrivener told 
 it, the gentleman executed the deeds of 
 conveyance, and receipt, before proper wit- 
 nefles, who withdrew as foon as they had 
 figned them. 
 
 In the mean time, the fcrivener conti- 
 nued to tell the money, till a fervant en- 
 tered haftily with a letter, as from a lord, 
 who was one of his beft clients, and defired 
 
 to
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 223 
 
 to fee him that moment. The difficulty 
 this threw him into was foon folved, by his 
 friend's compliance to defer his bufmefs for 
 a few hours, as the lord's urgency would 
 Hot admit the leaft delay. Accordingly, 
 he put up both the deeds and money, in all 
 the apparent confufion of hurry, and went 
 away to his lordfhip. 
 
 Next morning the gentleman called to re- 
 ceive the price of his eftate, but his friend 
 was not at home, nor to be fpoken with in 
 the afternoon, for his turn was now ferved, 
 and he neither defired, nor perhaps thought 
 it iafe, to keep up any farther acquaintance 
 with him. 
 
 As fuch things might happen to a man 
 in bufmefs, the gentleman took no notice 
 of them, but quietly fwallowed the fame 
 cxcufes for fome days fucceffively. At 
 length his patience began to be exhaufted, 
 and his fears alarmed at a behaviour fo 
 itrange, and contrary to that height of inti- 
 macy that had been between them, even 
 were there no bufmefs in the cafe. 
 In this perplexity he went one morning, re- 
 folved not to quit the houfe till he mould 
 fee him -, and when a meffage to that pur- 
 pofe was, after long attendance, complied 
 with, upon a warm expoftulation, he re- 
 ceived for anfwer, from his friend, that
 
 224 CHR YS AL: Or the 
 
 * he had been of late too much engaged in 
 
 * affairs of confequence, to attend compli- 
 
 * ments, and knew not any bufinefs he 
 4 could have with him.' 
 
 ' Not know .my bufinefs, Sir (replied 
 ' the gentleman in aftonilhment) I come, 
 
 * Sir, .for my money, and mail hereafter 
 c never trouble you more with bufinefs, or 
 
 * compliment.'- 6 Tour money, Sir ! I do 
 
 * net underftand you : -pray, S/r, what money 
 
 * do you mean?' ^-^ What money? the pur- 
 
 * chafe money of my eftate, Sir ; which 
 
 * you were to have paid me above a week 
 
 * ago, when I figned the deeds of fale.' 
 
 * Poor gentleman ; it isfo ! as I was informed, 
 
 * and' always feared. ' He has loft his reef on ; 
 
 * and IJhculd not feem much better, to truft 
 
 * my f elf longer with a man in his condition.' 
 
 * Take care, Sir -, this is too tender a point 
 4 to be trifled with : you almofr make me 
 
 * mad!' 4 Aye\ tbereitis: he is mad, poor 
 ' men ; and is even fenf.bk of it himfdf /' 
 ' Death, Sir ; do . not dare to dally with 
 
 * me a moment longer! anfwer me, di- 
 6 rectly ! pay me my money -, ' and do not 
 4 realiy provoke me to a madnefs, that may 
 
 * be fatal to us both.*' Sir, your madnefs, 
 ' or reajwij is nothing to me : however^ I will 
 c anfasr you aireftly, that I owe you no money , 
 1 au : m -ill J pay \<M. /lifer the pur- 
 
 ' ' ' cbafe-
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 225 
 c chafe money of your ejlate, your -parting 'with 
 ' which I fee has turned your brain, when you 
 ' come to yourfelf, you will recalled, that I 
 * paid it to you, when you executed the deeds of 
 4 fak -, or if you do not remember it, your own 
 4 receipt, properly witneffed, will prove it, fcr 
 . ' me, and I defire no more : and therefore* 
 4 Sir, let tne have no further trouble with you, 
 4 if you do not chuje to take up your lodgings in 
 4 MOORFIELDS.' 
 
 ' This is too much-, juft heaven! this 
 6 is too much : too much for human pa- 
 4 tience to endure ! or wait the law's delay 
 4 for remedy ! I will avenge myfelf, afiert 
 4 the can fe of juft ice -, and rid the groaning 
 4 world of fuch a monfter !' (exclaimed the 
 unhappy gentleman) now really irritated 
 into the . extremity of that phrenzy, which 
 the other only wanted to impofe upon him, 
 and drawing his fword, before the wretch 
 could call for help, or take any method of 
 defence, he plunged it through his body. 
 
 His fhrieks foon alarmed his fervants, 
 who ru thing in, found him weltering in his 
 blood, and the madman fmiling, in the 
 abfence of frantick extafy over him, and 
 incapable of attention to any other ctrcum- 
 ftance, though fome of them dragged him 
 before a magiftrate, while the red were bu- 
 fied in procuring relief for their mailer. 
 
 The
 
 226 CHRYSALiO/Z* 
 
 The madman was committed to prifoa 
 to wait the event of the wound he had gi- 
 ven, which heaven, to let the meafure of 
 the fcrivener's iniquity be full, had directed 
 to a part where it was not mortal. 
 
 In a word, he recovered, though not to 
 a fenfe of juftice or humanity, but perfifl- 
 ing in his iniquity, which now was fharp- 
 ened by a fpiritof revenge, for what he had 
 endured, the firft effort of his health, was 
 to have the unhappy fufferer confined in 
 Bed/am, where he ftill languifhes under all 
 the horrors that attend a total lofs of reafon, 
 without relief, or even companion from his 
 bafe undoer ; who, this very morning, as 
 he was ftepping into his chariot, to come to 
 this charity-feafti fpurned from him with his 
 foot, and refufed the fmalleft alms to the 
 wretched wife of the ruined madman, who 
 begs in the common ftreets, and was driven 
 by mifery and defpair, to throw herfelf even 
 at his feet, to implore relief. 
 
 I fee your abhorrence rife at fuch a mon- 
 fter, but how will wonder even heighten it, 
 when I tell you, that this opprefibr has 
 neither child, nor kinfman, to inherit his 
 -wealth ; for he was himfelf a foundling, 
 and reared at the publick expence, without 
 the knowledge or tendernefs of a parent, to 
 io i ten his rugged foul, nor would the 
 
 fclfilh-
 
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 227 
 felfifhnefs of his heart ever permit him to 
 marry, for fear of the expence of a family ; 
 but he is this moment meditating on fome 
 oftentatious fcheme of charity, to the foun- 
 dation of which, he defigns to dedicate the 
 wealth which he has amafled by fuch villa-, 
 nies. 
 
 CHAP. XIII. 
 
 Continued : The hiftory of a general almoner. 
 His method cf making charity begin at home. 
 He converts a noted bawd-, but dif appoints 
 his dejigns, by too great confidence in his own 
 Jkill. The character of a clergyman* 
 
 MOVE your eye to the left, and view 
 that demure-looking picture of de- 
 votion, who fits there in filence, lifting up 
 his eyes to heaven, and fighing in fpirit, 
 at the feftivity and fenfual converfation 
 found him. 
 
 Who, that can fee no deeper than out- 
 ward appearances, would not think that 
 man fincere in his profefTions of religion and 
 virtue ? whereas, in truth, he is the moil 
 abandoned contemnerof both ; and deepens 
 the dye of his blacked crimes by the moft 
 L 6 hardened
 
 228 C HR Y S AL: Or tie 
 
 hardened hypocrily, fecretly living on the 
 practice of thole very vices, of which he 
 profefles the greateft abhorrence. 
 
 With all that confequence, which he af- 
 fumes, in the direction of this charity, on 
 *he merit of the largenefs of his fubfcrip- 
 tion to it, in reality, he is but the difpenfer 
 of other people's benefactions, into whofe 
 good opinion he fo infmuates himfelf,. by 
 his pretended piety, that they intruft their 
 charity to his dilpoial, who always pays 
 himfelf for his trouble, by fubduding 
 largely, from the fums confided to him. 
 .For as real charity vaunteth not itfelf, they 
 never divulge the fecret, compleatly impo- 
 ied on, by his addrefs, that never lets one 
 half of his contributors know, of the other; 
 by which management, as the fums he 
 gives, are always made public, for exam- 
 ple and imitation, each thinks that be adds 
 
 moft liberally to his own donation. But 
 
 this is, not the only method by which he 
 turns his piety to advantage. The accefs 
 which the reputation of it gains him, into 
 almoft every family, open* him an oppor- 
 tunity of carrying on the deepeft intrigues, 
 and becoming a pandar, for vices both na- 
 tural and unnaturalj which the interefl o 
 the parties concerned makes them dill keep 
 fecret.~~ As for the former, the myftery of 
 
 that
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA, 229 
 that trade has been in part explained al- 
 ready -, and the latter is too horrible tor ex- 
 planation. I (hall therefore pafs over thole 
 fcenes, and conclude my account of this 
 extraordinary perfonage, with one inftance 
 of his addrefs, in finding out and managing 
 the weak fide of fuperftition and vice. 
 
 In the courfe of his love-negotiations, he 
 had made an acquaintance with a woman 
 who kept a publick bagnio, or houfe of 
 proflitution, which acquaintance mutual 
 intereil cemented into an intimacy. In this 
 moil infamous trade had this woman amaf- 
 fed confiderable wealth, the difpofal of 
 which (after her death) took up much of 
 her thoughts, in thofe moments, when the 
 confequences of her debauched life forced her 
 to think of dying. 
 
 As the fecrets of their trade had removed 
 every refer ve from between them, me often 
 ufed to confult him on this head ; when he 
 always comforted her with difiertations upon 
 religion and virtue, ftripping them of the vain 
 incumbrances of prieftcraft, and bringing them 
 back to their genuine principles of benevolence 
 and charity. 
 
 Frequent inculcation of this doctrine had 
 the effect he defigned \ the matron was 
 pleafed with the thought of having all the 
 benefit of religion, without the trouble of 
 
 the
 
 230 C H R Y S A L : Or the 
 
 the practice, and immediately began to ex- 
 erciie her devotion in donations to publick 
 charities, which as it was not quite fo much 
 in character for her to offer in perfon, while 
 fhe continued her profeflion, and fhe faw 
 no neceflity, nor felt inclination to quit 
 that, me always confided to the diltribution 
 of her fpiritual guide. 
 
 Nor did his fuccefs flop here ; he impro- 
 ved his influence on her fuperftition, ib far, 
 that he prevailed on her to compound with 
 heaven for the vices of her life, by be- 
 queathing the earnings of them to its ufe, 
 after her death. 
 
 For this purpofe he himfelf drew her 
 will, which pious application of her for- 
 tune fet her confcience at eafe , and fhe con- 
 tinued her ufual bufinefs to the hour of her 
 death, which happened three years after, 
 with fuch care and induftry, that fome in- 
 ftance of negligence, in one of her fervant's 
 adminiftring to the pleafure of her guefts, 
 gave her fuch uneafmefs, in her laft mo- 
 ments, that with her dying breath fhe la- 
 mented the ruin her houfe muft come to, 
 after fhe mould quit the care of it, for the 
 joys of heaven. 
 
 You muft not think, that his defign ex- 
 tended no farther, than to prevail on her to 
 make fuch a will \ he had drawn h: himfelf, 
 
 as
 
 'Adventures of a GUINEA. 251 
 as I have told you, and took care to word 
 it in fuch a manner, as he thought fhould 
 give him, under the appearance of her 
 executor and truftee, as me defigned him, 
 a real property in her wealth ; as it was im- 
 mediately to come into his hands, on her 
 death, and there was no time appointed for 
 the fulfilling her pious intentions. 
 
 But here his fagacity difappointed itfelf : 
 for neglecting to take proper advice, or 
 afraid of making any perfon privy to his 
 defigns, he had committed fuch material 
 errors in the/<?n of the will, as gave room 
 to learned counfel to fet it afide, in favour 
 of the heir at law, her nephew, who, from 
 cleaning Ihoes under a gateway, was en- 
 riched with at leafl a third part of his aunt's 
 fortune, which remained to him, after the 
 cofts of the fuit that had been carried on 
 for him, in forma pauperis, while her execu- 
 tor had the vexation of difappointment ag- 
 gravated by a decree to pay all the cofts. . 
 
 This was a fevere ftroke : but it did not 
 break his fpirit, though it obliged him to 
 return to m's former occupation of an al- 
 moner, which you fee he purfues with that 
 attention, which always enfures fuccefs. 
 
 I fee you fink under the pain of finding 
 the beft actions debafed, by fpringing from 
 fuch motives : but be careful to avoid an 
 
 errour, 
 

 
 252 CHRYSAL:0/^ 
 errour, fatally too prevalent, of concluding 
 from the abufe, againft the ufe of any thing 
 that may, in its end, be conducive to 
 good. 
 
 Thefe in fiances I have given ; and I 
 could add many more -, not to depreciate 
 the cuftom of giving to public charities, 
 which is the nobiefl ufe of wealth j but to 
 caution you againft the dangerous errour of 
 thinking, that fuch giving alone, without 
 reformation of life, and the aclive practice 
 of the other virtues, can be acceptable in 
 the fight of him to whom it is offered, or 
 efficacious to procure his favour ; and to 
 Ihevv the abfurd impiety of perifhing in vice, 
 with a vain hope of bribing heaven with 
 the wages of hell. 
 
 But to relieve your pain, behold that ve- 
 nerable perfon who fits oppofite to him -, the 
 ferenity of whoie looks mews the happinefs 
 of his mind. Read his heart, and you will 
 not find one difcontent, or forrow there, but 
 what humanity imprints for the diftrefTes 
 of his fellow-creatures, which his benefi- 
 cence, his real charity, is for ever finding 
 methods to relieve, not only by pecuniary 
 benefactions, though to thefe is devoted 
 the far greater part of his ample fortune, 
 but alfo by his advice, inftrudion, and 
 good offices, ..the judicious application and 
 
 fincerity
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 233 
 fincerity of which, makes them very rarely 
 fail of fuccefs. He is a real fupporter of 
 charity, in its mod extenfivefenfe ! his ex- 
 ample giving a fanction, a feal of virtue, 
 to every thing he appears in, which puts 
 wicked wit out of countenance, and flops 
 the tongue of calumny ; and is (even were 
 it alone) fufficient to counterbalance all 
 the inftances which could be brought againil 
 it. His long life, which has been extended 
 by heaven, as a bielTmg to mankind, has 
 been a conftant illurtration of the religion 
 he teaches ; not one inftance of his actions 
 ever contradicting his.profelTion, as near as 
 human weaknefs can act up to divine per- 
 fection. 
 
 Such is this clergyman ! fuch fhould all 
 .Clergymen be, to preferve the -purity, the 
 'dignity of a function, whofe rules are drawn 
 /rom perfection, and calculated to prepare 
 the human for a participation of the divine 
 .nature, to accomplim which greateft end, 
 all profefTion, not' enforced by practice, 
 muft be ineffectual. 
 
 To mention any one initance of his goocl 
 works, would be doing injuflice to the reil, 
 ,and contradicting the defire of his heart, 
 which, next to doing good, is to conceal 
 what he does, his actions being fo far from 
 oftentation, that to heaven only, and the 
 
 parties
 
 234 CHR YS AL: Or the 
 
 parties themfelves, are they revealed, no r 
 to thefe even is the hand that reaches them 
 the blefiing always known. 
 
 *************** * * * * 
 CHAP. XIV. 
 
 The reprefentation concluded with an eminent 
 man-midwife. His motives for taking up 
 that profeffion> with fome unfortunate anec- 
 dotes of bis praftice. 
 
 I Shall now prefent you with a character, 
 the folly of which is a made to its vir- 
 tues, and mews them through a medium 
 of ridicule and contempt, more humbling 
 to human vanity, than the moil atrocious 
 vice. 
 
 Obfervethat fkeleton, that figure of fa- 
 mine, who even after a feaft, looks as if he 
 had fafted for a month, and was juft ready 
 to perifh for want. That is another of the 
 principal promoters, and indeed fupporters 
 of publick charity, from the beft of mo- 
 tives : his benefactions always flowing from 
 the benevolence of his heart, though too 
 often qualified in the manner, by circum- 
 ftances that throw both the gift and giver 
 "into ridicule. 
 
 For
 
 'Adventures of a GUINEA. 25-5 
 For fuch is the vehemence of his temper, 
 that not fatisfied with providing for the 
 wants of the poor, he will fee that the fup- 
 plies which he beftows, are applied in the 
 manner he directs, which introduces him 
 too familiarly, into the domeftick diftrefies 
 of the unhappy, many of whom would 
 rather periih for want, than make the cir- 
 cumflances of their wants known : nor is 
 his fortune only devoted to thofe ufes, his 
 very perfonal fervice is always ready, par- 
 ticularly in fome cafes, where, unfortunate- 
 ly, a motive of a very different nature from 
 his real one, is too liable to be miftaken 
 for it, by the malignant temper of the 
 times. 
 
 There is no fituation of human diflrefs, 
 -that calls fo ftrongly for compaffion and re- 
 lief, as child-birth. How fevere then mull 
 the cafe of thofe unhappy creatures be, who 
 are left to ftruggle through fuch pangs, un- 
 afllfted, unprovided with any of the com- 
 forts, fo neceflary to fupport nature in fuch 
 a conflict. 
 
 A fenfe of this ftruck his humane heart ! 
 He felt the diftrefs, and liberally fupplied 
 the relief. Well had he flopped here ! But 
 fearing that fuch relief mould be mifapplied, 
 or inefficient, he would attend himfelf, to 
 fee that nothing was wanted ; and at length, 
 
 to
 
 236 C H R YS AL: Or 'the 
 to make his afliftance compleat, learned 
 the objle trick art, and now necefiarily has 
 more bufmefs in it, as he pays for being 
 employed, by the benefactions he beflows, 
 than any one member of the profeflion. 
 
 Laudable as this care, and the motive of 
 it, are, it would have been much better, 
 -had not the fanguinenefs of his temper hur- 
 ried him fo far ! Had he been content to 
 fupply their wants, and let others, whofe 
 -profeflion it more immediately is, admini- 
 fler relief. For now, what a field does it 
 open for ill-natured ridicule, to fee a man 
 -of his coniequence, defcend to offices, in 
 the ordinary acceptation of the world, fo 
 far beneath him ? How eafy is it to fay ! 
 how eafy to be believed, that idle curiofity, 
 or fome grofler motive, prompts to fuch un- 
 common affiduity ? 
 
 Nor is the evil of this indifcretion con- 
 fined to him alone j it reflects a kind of ridi- 
 cule upon the very virtue it would ferve ; and 
 makes lefs fanguine minds refrain from the 
 good, for fear they fliould alfo mare in the 
 reproach. For it is not fufficient for a man 
 to have the teftimony of his own confcience 
 for the reclitude of his inftructions ; there is 
 alfo a debt of appearance due to the publick, 
 to avoid offence, and inculcate virtue by 
 example. 
 
 One
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 237 
 
 One inftance will illuftrate this, and 
 ihew the inconveniences of his inconfiderate 
 zeal. 
 
 A poor woman applied to him for relief, 
 fome time before the moment. According 
 to his cuftom, he fupplied her neceffities, 
 and took a direction where to call and fee 
 her. The woman, either miftaken herfelf, 
 or tempted by diftrefs to deceive him, told 
 him a wrong time, which made him come 
 too foon , and as he always made her fome 
 charitable prelent whenever he came, me 
 ftill found fome complaints to induce him to 
 repeat his vifits. 
 
 At length, the frequency of his coming 
 took the notice of the alley in which me 
 lived, who could not conceive any honeft 
 bufinefs that a gentleman of his line ap- 
 pearance could have with fuch a poor wo- 
 man, in fo obicure a. place,; and as fuch 
 remarks are always improved, fome friend- 
 hinted to the woman's hufband, a labour- 
 ing man, who was out at his work all day, 
 and therefore could not be witnefs of his 
 difgrace, that his wife had many improper 
 vifitors come to her, and muft certainly 
 have taken to bad courfes, to encourage 
 fuch doings. 
 
 The cuckold in imagination, went di- 
 rectly home, in the greateit rage, at his 
 
 dif-
 
 CHRYSAL:Or/^ 
 
 difhonour, but the name of the vifitor, 
 and an aflurance that there came no other, 
 foon pacified him, efpecially as a ready 
 thought ftruck him, that he might turn the 
 good man's humanity to an advantage, of 
 a nature very different from what he de- 
 figned -, for the fellow was well fupplied 
 with what is called mother-wit, which want 
 had fharpened, and freed from every re- 
 flraint of honefty. He therefore fullenly 
 told his wife, that it might be fo as Ihe 
 faid, but he would have a better proof than 
 her word for it, and fhe rnufl let him fee 
 her vifitor the next time he came, and as 
 fhe valued her lite, afTent to every thing 
 which he, her hufband, fhould do or fay. 
 
 The readinefs of her confent encouraged 
 him to open his defign to her, which her 
 nuptial obedience, and hopes of gain, made 
 her not only give into, but fhe alfo impro- 
 ved the fcheme to a certainty of fuccefs. 
 
 The hufband accordingly having pre- 
 pared fome of his afibciates, placed them 
 properly, the next time the gentleman went 
 to vifit his wife, who immediately, upon,' 
 his coming into the room, began to cry out 9 
 and implore his afliftance. 
 
 Though the bufinefs came a little incon- 
 veniently upon him, as he was full drefled, 
 he would not defert her in her diftrefs, but 
 
 di-
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 23$ 
 directly fet about giving her the necefiary 
 affiftance, in the hurry of which, fome un- 
 lucky floop burfl the firing that tied his 
 breeches behind, and down they fell about 
 his heels, 
 
 Though this difafter difconcerted him a 
 good deal, the cries of his patient would 
 not give him time to adjuft himfelf, but he 
 was proceeding in his bufmefs, with the 
 moft anxious afliduity, when in rumed the 
 hufband, with his gang, and rewarded his 
 care with a flroke, that felled him, fettered 
 as he was in his breeches, to the ground. 
 
 The fcene was now changed ! the wo- 
 man, no longer in labour, cried only for 
 revenge, on the lafs man who had attempted 
 her vartue^ as the witneflcs prefent atteiled y 
 they had heard her before, and now caught 
 him in the very fact , which the pofture he 
 was in, and above all, the circumftances 
 of his breeches, too ftrongly confirmed, to 
 the croud whom the noife had drawn to- 
 gether. 
 
 Terrified almofl to death, at the threats 
 of the enraged hufband, who could hardly 
 be held from taking perfonal vengeance 
 that very moment, and fenfible of the con- 
 fequence, mould publick fame catch hold 
 of fuch a tale, the poor criminal threw him- 
 felf on his knees, and, convinced that all 
 
 vin.
 
 240 C H R Y S A L : Or the 
 
 vindication of his innocence would be in 
 vain, befought only a competition for his 
 offence. 
 
 This was juft what the parties wanted , 
 but ftill to encreafe his terrors, and en- 
 haunce the price of his efcape, fuch diffi- 
 culties were raifed, as made him glad to 
 yield to any terms they could impofe -, and 
 accordingly, he not only purged himfelf of 
 having done any adtual difhonour to her 
 hufband, for the intention they would not 
 admit him to controvert, but aifo made fa- 
 tisfadtion to his refentment for the attempt, 
 with lool. for which, as he had -not' fuch 
 a fum immediately about him, he gave a 
 draught on his banker, and waited in du- 
 refle, till the arrival of it releafed him. 
 
 This misfortune made him more cautious 
 for fome time , but he begins to forget it 
 now, and goes on with bis bujinefs"3is before. 
 One thing, indeed he takes Sufficient care 
 about, and that is, that the wafte of his 
 breeches is properly fecured : for fo ftrong 
 is the impreffion, which that accident made 
 upon him, that he never walks a dozen 
 fteps without pulling them up. 
 
 You fee moft of them begin to nod, I 
 fliall therefore draw the curtain here, and 
 leave them to their nap, with this obferva- 
 tion, that a few fuch examples, as the laft 
 
 but
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 235 
 but one, and many of the kind there are, 
 particularly eminent in this exalted virtue of 
 charity, in both the fexes, are fufficient to 
 take off the prejudice, which the others 
 mud excite, and to preferve the proper ref- 
 peft, to the principles they propofe to imi- 
 tation. 
 
 CHAP. XV. 
 
 Some account of the officers of the charity. 
 Their care of themjehes. They fall out 
 about the divifan of the fpoil. A terrible 
 uproar is appiafed by a demand cf general 
 concern. 'The concife manner of paffing pub- 
 lick accounts. CHRYSAL changes his fer- 
 vice- 
 
 \\J HEN I had taken a fufficient view 
 VV of the governors, I had lei- 
 turn my obferyations to the fervants of th 
 Ibciety, whofe behaviour railed ar, 
 tion too ftrong to be expreffed by won ' 
 
 If the governors feafted, they paid ibr 
 their feafting-, but the fervants feafted r,<5 
 lefs, and were paid for it! 'Nor WP- 
 enormity confined to this day : their vtjir/!;' 
 time was one confirmed fcene of :t, 
 VOL. I. M much
 
 230 C H R Y S A L : Or the 
 
 much the greater part of the contributions 
 of the public was proftituted to this abomi- 
 nable abufe : while the poor, for whofe re- 
 lief they were given, too often languilhed in 
 want df the meaneft necefiaries, the fund 
 being infufficient for their wants, and the 
 luxury and wages of their fervants. 
 
 I was diverted from theie reflections, by 
 an uproar, in one of the private apartments 
 of the houfe, where fome of the fuperiour 
 jervants, had got together over a bottle of 
 wine, to fettle their refpective dividends of 
 the fubfcriptions of the day. I call them 
 Servants, for that is the proper appellation 
 of all who ferve for hire. As I was yet un- 
 difpofed of to any particular peribn, I had 
 it in my power, as I have told you before, 
 to range through the whole territories of the 
 fbciety, to which I belonged, and therefore 
 flew to fee, what might be the caule of this 
 /iot, in fo improper a place, where I was 
 witnefs to fuch a fcene, as almoft tranfcends 
 belief. 
 
 At the upper end of the table fat the trea* 
 furer (for it would be a reproach to the 
 pooreft fociety, to have fewer officers than 
 the Hate) with his accounts before him. 
 After a bumper to the fuccefs of the charity* 
 * Mr. fteward (faid he) our fubfcriptions 
 ' have been io good this year, that I think 
 
 * we
 
 of a GUINEA. 227 
 
 * we may venture to enlarge our fa! lanes, 
 '- a little i for iafb year they were really 
 
 * fcarce worth a gentleman's acceptance.' 
 
 * That is true (replied the lie ward) and 
 
 * I believe we may enlarge the houfe-allow- 
 ' ance too, for upon the prefent eftabliJh* 
 
 * ment, it is hardly enough for the days 
 
 * we meet here, and wit] not afford any 
 ' thing to carry home, to entertain a frier.d 
 
 * with, as a gentleman would etc fire : it is 
 
 * but fweiiing fome of the ftck ^r/.v/V.-, 
 ' which at prefent are fcarce above the con- 
 
 * fumptiori. When I was cverfeer of the 
 ' pariih, we managed things better. We 
 ' then lived like gentlemen : nay, I re mem- 
 ' her when I was church-warden, that we 
 
 * fpent an whole fummer, jaunting about 
 < the country, in purfuit of a gentleman, 
 
 * who had a child fworn to him ; for fifty 
 
 * millings, which he had beed ordered to 
 
 * pay, tiil the bill of our expences came to 
 
 * 1 5 1. and yet no-body could fay againft it : 
 ' So that it is our own fault, if we do not 
 4 live well.' 
 
 ' Right (joined the apothecary) nor was 
 
 * the appointment for medicines any way 
 
 * fufficient. Had half what the phyficians 
 
 * prefcribed, been given, there would have 
 
 * been nothing to be got by the coAtracV- 
 ' How, Mr. apothecary (returned the cook, 
 
 M 2 with
 
 JU2 C>HR YS AL: Or the 
 
 4 with a fneer) nothing to be got \ pray, was 
 
 * not all you got clear gain ? I am fure, 
 
 * from the benefit received by the patients, 
 4 there did not appear to have been any 
 4 thing above brickduft, or powder of rot- 
 
 * ttn-poft, in any of the fluffs they took!' 
 
 Pray S S Sir (fluttered the apc- 
 
 * thccary, in a rage) wh wh what's that 
 
 * you fay ? who m m made you a 
 
 * judge of medicines ?' ' Not you, I 
 
 * thank God, Sir (faid the cook) as my 
 
 * health fhews. But I have good reafon for 
 
 * what I fay, for though I put double the 
 
 * quantity of meat in my broth, I could 
 
 * not prevent the people's dying, nor make 
 ' the few, who recovered, able to go out, 
 
 * in twice the ufual time. S S- Sir* 
 
 < 'tis all a d d damn'd lie. Their d 
 *. d dying was occafioned by the p p 
 
 * poornefs of the b b broth, and the 
 badnefs of their p p p - provifions, 
 
 * and not by the w w want of medi- 
 
 * cines , and ( I'll p p prove it, Sir : 
 4 and how you fup p p ported your 
 family on the m m meat that mould 
 
 * have been d d drefs'd for the fick !' 
 - * You'll prove it, Sir! Take care that 
 
 * you ! Gentlemen take notice of what he 
 ' fays ! This is flriking at my character ; 
 
 * and muft arFecl: my bread.' 
 
 1 That
 
 Ad-ventures of a GUINEA. 223 
 ' That is true, Mr. cook (faid the fecre- 
 tary, who had been an attorney's clerk; 
 and whatever flrikes at a man's character, 
 Ib as to affect his bread, is actionable.' 
 
 B b but Sir, he attacked my cha 
 
 cha cha character firft, and I'll b 
 
 b b bring my action too.' * So 
 
 you may, Sir (replied the lawyer) the 
 action will lie on both fides.'- ' 
 
 The clifpute had hitherto been kept up, 
 with fiich heat, that the company could noC 
 interpofe a word to pacify them, but the 
 mention of the law made it every one's con- 
 cern in a moment. c Silence, Gentle- 
 men (faid the treafurer, raifmg (lowly his 
 auguft bulk, and ftriking his hand upon 
 the table) Silence, I fay, and let me hear 
 no more 'of this brawling. Mr, cook! 
 Mr. apothecary ! what do you both mean ? 
 to difcover the fecrets of our fociety, and 
 to blow us all up at once ? You both heard 
 me fay, that every thing which was wrong 
 fhould be adjufted ! could you not wait 
 for that, without falling into this indecent, 
 this unprofitable wrangle ? As for you, 
 Mr. fecretary, the leven of your profef- 
 fion will break out i it is fufficient to in- 
 fed the whole mafs ! Is this your pro- 
 mife, your oath ? To follow your bufi- 
 nefs, and do as you are ordered quietly 
 
 and
 
 226 C HR YS A L: Or tk 
 
 and implicitly, without meddling any far- 
 ther, or perplexing us with the tricks of 
 your former trade ? But it was in vain 
 to expeft it. A lawyer can as well live 
 without food, as without fomenting quar- 
 rels, and fetting his neighbours together 
 by the ears : bring an adtion indeed ! and 
 fo betray our myftery, to the impertinent 
 remarks of counfeliors, and the fcofFs of 
 templers and attorney's clerks. Let me 
 hear one word more of the kind, and this 
 moment I declare off all connection, and 
 leave every man to mift for himfelf. Our- 
 general oath of fecrecy, attefted under 
 our hands, fecures me from information; 
 as it would invalidate the teftimony of us 
 all.' 
 
 With thefe words, he turned about, to 
 Jeave the room, when the fteward, catching 
 him by the bread, pulled him into his chair, 
 and holding him down, by mainforce, ad- 
 
 drefled him thus: ' Good God, Sir! 
 
 what do you mean ! to take notice of the 
 warmth of madmen, who know not what 
 they fay : you, Mr. Treafurer, have mo- 
 ved in an higher fphere of life, and ought 
 to be above fuch things. You were not 
 raifed from cleaning the fhoes of a . petti- 
 fogging attorney, in whofe drudgery you 
 loft your ears ! from being fcullion iii
 
 Adventures of a GUINEA. 231 
 a nobleman's kitchen, or fervant to a 
 mountebank, to difpence his packets to 
 the mob ; you were not railed, I fay, from 
 any of theie ftatlons to the rank of a go> 
 tleman, by this office, and mould be 
 above taking offence at the low-liv'd be- 
 haviour of fuch creatures, who know no 
 better.* 4 Nor w w w was I 
 a full-handed ten-times b b fa- 
 bankrupt (interrupted the apothecary, as 
 he would have done fooner, had rage left 
 him power of utterance) that b b 
 b being unable to get credit any 1 1 
 1- longer, came from cheating the p 
 p~ p- public, to cheating the p- p 
 p-~ poor! nor a c c c caft-off, 
 worn-out p p p pimping footman, 
 whofe dirty fervices w w w were 
 4 rewarded with this place.' 
 
 This made the madnefs general, and they 
 were juft going to proceed to blows, when 
 the porter entered haftily, and told them 
 the committee were adjourned to their 
 chamber, and had fent for their accounts, 
 to fit upon them dire&ly. 
 
 This brought them all to their fenfes, 
 and made them friends a moment. 4 Gen- 
 ' tlemen (faid the treafurer) we have all 
 been too hot, all to blame > but let there 
 
 * be
 
 234 CHR YS AL: Or the 
 
 ' be no more of it ! let us agree among 
 ' ourfelves, and we may defy the world.' 
 
 Upon this, a general make of the hand 
 put an end to the whole conteft, and they 
 proceeded to bufinefs, as if no fuch thing 
 had ever happened, unanimous in their en- 
 deavours to cheat the publick, and fatten 
 on the fpoils of the poor. 
 
 By that time the committee had fmoaked 
 a pipe, and drank their coffee, the accounts 
 were laid before them, over which they 
 nodded a few moments, and then pafied 
 them,- without exception. The next thing 
 was to pay the falaries of the officers, in 
 which diftribution, it fell to my lot to be 
 given to the chaplain. 
 
 End of the FIRST VOLUME.