ARTHUR MERVYN. : i . IN THREE VOLUMES. BY C. B. BROWN, AUTHOR OF JANE TALBOT, EDGAR HUNTLY, PHILIP STANLEY, &c- VOL. I. . LONDON: PRINTED FOR A. K. NRWMAN AND CO. LEA DENH ALL-STREET. 1821. Printed by J. Darling, Leadenhall-Street London. TS "34- ;'|'V V- I PREFACE. n JL HE evils of pestilence by which the city of Philadelphia has lately been afflicted, will probably form an aera in its history. The schemes of reformation and improvement to which they will give birth or, if no efforts of human wisdom can avail to avert the periodical visitations of this calamity, the change in manners and population which they will produce, will be in the highest degree memorable. They have already 157074 li PREFACE. already supplied new and copious ma- terials for reflection to the physician and the political economist. They have not been less fertile of instruction to the moral observer, to whom they have furnished new displays of the in- fluence of human passions and mo- tives. Amidst the medical and political discussions which are now afloat in the community relative to this topic, the author of these remarks has ventured to methodize his own reflections, and to weave into a humble narrative such incidents as appeared to him most in- structive and remarkable among those which came within the sphere of his own PREFACE. Ill own observation. It is every one's duty to profit by all opportunities of inculcating on mankind the lessons of justice and humanity. The influences of hope and fear, the trials of fortitude and constancy, which took place in this city in the autumn of 1 793, have per- haps never been exceeded in any age. It is but just to snatch some of these from oblivion, and to deliver to pos- terity a brief, but faithful sketch of the condition of this metropolis during that calamitous period. Men only re- quire to be made acquainted with dis- tress, for their compassion and their charity to be awakened. He that de- picts in lively colours the evils of dis- ease and poverty, performs an eminent service IV PEEFACE. service to the sufferers, by calling forth benevolence in those who are able to afford relief; and he who portrays ex- amples of disinterestedness and intre- pidity, confers on virtue the celebrity and homage that are due to it, and rouses in the spectators the spirit of salutary emulation. C. B. B. ARTHUJR MERVYN.- CHAP. I. INTRODUCTORY. JL WAS refident in the city of Philadelphia during the year 1793. Many motives con- tributed to detain me, though departure was eafy and commodious, and my friends were generally felicitous for me to go. It is not my purpole to enumerate thefe mo- tives, or to dwell on my prefent concerns and tranfadions, but merely to compofe a nar- rative of fome incidents with which my fituation made me acquainted. VOL, j. B Returning 3 ARTHUR MERVYN. Returning one evening, fomewhat later than ufual, to my own iioufc, my attention was attracted ju(t as I entered the porch, by the figure of a man reclining againft the wall at a few paces from me My fight was imperfectly afiifted by a diftant lamp; but -the pofture in which he fat, the hour, and the place, immediately fuggeftcd the idea of one difabled by ficknefs. It was obvious to conclude that his difeaie was ]-eftilential. This did not deter me from approaching, and examining him more cloftiy. He leaned his head againft the wall, his eyes were fhut, his hands clafped in each other, and his body feemed to be fultained in an upright pofition merely by the cellar- door, againft .which 1 he reftcd his left fhouldcr. The lethargy into which he was funk, feemed fcarcely imerrupted by my feel- ing his hand and his forehead. Mis throb- bing temples and burning ikin indicated a fever; and his form, already emaciated, feemed to prove that it had not been of ' Ihort duration. There ARTHUR MERVYN. 3 There was only one circumftance that hindered me from forming an immediate determination .in what manner this perfon fhould be treated. My family confifted of my wife and a young child. Our fervant maid had been feized three days before by the reigning malady, and, at her own re- queft, had been conveyed to the hofpital. We ourfelves enjoyed good health, and were in hopes of efcaping with our lives. Our meafures for this end had been cati- tioufly taken, and carefully adhered to. They did not confift in avoiding the receptacles of infcclion, for my office required me to go daily into the midft of them ; nor in filling the houfe with the exhalations of gunpowder, vinegar, or tar. They confifted in clean- lineis, reafonable exercife, and wholefome diet. Cuftom had likewife blunted the edge of our apprehenfions. To take this perfon into my houfe, and beftow upon him the requifite attendance, was the fcheme that firft occurred to me. In this, however, the advice of my wife was to govern me. B 2 I men- 4 ARTHUR MERVYN. I mentioned the incident to her. I pointed out the dsngcr which was to be dreaded from fuch an inmate. I drfired her to decide with caution, and mentioned my resolution to conform myftlf implicitly to her decifion. Should we refufe to har- bour him, we muft not forget that there was an hofpital to which he would perhaps con- fent to be carried, and where he would be accommodated in the bed manner the times would admit. " Nay," faid me, " talk not of hof- pitals ; at leaft let him have his choice. I have no fear about me for my part, in a cafe where the injunctions of duty are fb obvious. Let us take the poor unfortunate wretch into our protection and care, and leave the confequences to Heaven." I expected, and was pleafed with this propofal. I returned to the fick mat), and, on roufing him from his ftupor, found him flill in pofleflion of his reafon. By the light of a candle, I now examined him more accurately. His ARTHUR MERVYW. 5 His garb was plain, carelefs, and denoted ruflicity : his a r pe<5l was fimple and ^n- genuous, and his decayed vifige flill re- tained traces of uncommon, but manlike beauty. He had a:l the appearances of mere youth, unfpoiled by luxury and un- inured to misfortune. I fcarcely ever be- held an object which laid fo powerful and fudden a claim to my affection and fuccour* " You are fick," laid I, in as cheerful a tone as I could aflume. " Cold bricks and night airs are comfortiefs attendants for one in your condition. Rife, I pray you, anJ come into the houfe. We will try to fupply you with accommodations a little more fuitable." At this addrefs he fixed his languid eyes upon me. * c What would you have ?" faid he. " I am very well ; s I am. While I breathe, which will not be long, 1 fhall breathe with more freedom here than elfe- where. Let me alone I am very well as I am." Nay," ARTHUR MERVYN. "Nay," faid I, " this fituation is un- fuirable to -a fick man. I only afk you to come into my houfc, and receive all the kindnefs that it is in cur power to beflow. Pluck up courage, and I will anfwer for your recovery, provided you fubmit to our direc- tions, and do as we would have you. Rife, and come along with me. We will find you a phyfician and a nurfe ; and all we afk in return is good fpirits and compliance." " Do you not know," he replied, " what my difeafe is ? Why fhould you riik your fafety for the fake of one whom your kind- nefs cannot benefit, and who has nothing to give in return ?'' Tiiere was fomething in the flyle of this remark that heightened, my prepofleflion in his favour, and made me purfue my purpofe with more zeal. " Let us try what we can do for you," I anfwered. " If we fa ve your life, we fhall have done you fome fervice ; and as for re- compence, we will look to that." It ARTHUR MERVYN. .7 It was with confiderable difficulty that he was perfuaded to accept our invitation. He was conduced to a chamber, and the criti- calnefs of his cafe requiring unufual attention, - I fpent the night at his bedfide. My wife was encumbered with the care both of her infant and her family. The charming babe was in perfect health, but her mother's constitution was frail and deli- cate. We fimplified the houfehold duties as much as pofiible; but ftill thefe duties were confiderably burthenfome to one not ufed to the performance, and luxurioufly educated. The addition of a fick man was likely to be productive of much fatigue. My engagements would not allow me to be always at home ; and the (late of my patient, and the remedies neceffary to be prefcribed, were attended with many noxious and dif- guftful circumftances. My fortune would not allow me to hire affiftance : my wife with a feeble frame, and a mind mrinking on ordinary occailons from fuch offices with. B 4 faftidious O ARTHUR MERVYN. "Nay," faid I, " this fituation is un- fuirable to ^ fick man. I only afk you to come into my houfe, and receive all the kindneis that it is in cur power to beftovv. Pluck up courage, and I will anfwer for your recovery, provided you fubmit to our direc- tions, and do as we would have you. Rife, and come along wi:h me. We will find you a phyfician and a nurfe ; and all we afk in return is good fpirits and compliance." " Do you not know," he replied, " what my difeafe is ? Why mould you rifk your fafety for the fake of one whom your kind- nefs cannot benefit, and who has nothing to give in return ?'' There was fomething in the ftyle of this remark that heightened, my prepofieflion in his favour, and made me purfue my purpofe with more zeal. " Let us try what we can do for you," I anfwered. " If we fave your life, we lhall have done you fome fervice ; and as for re- compence, we will look to that." It ARTHUR MERVYtf. . ? It was with confiderable difficulty that he was perfuaded to accept our invitation. He was conduced to a chamber, and the criti- calnefs of his cafe requiring unufual attention, I fpent the night at his bedfide. My wife was encumbered with the care both of her infant "and her family. The charming babe was in perfect health, but her mother's conflitution was frail and deli- cate. We fimplified the houfehold duties as much as pofiible; but ftill thefe duties were confiderably burthenfome to one not ufed to the performance, and luxuriously educated. The addition of a fick man was likely to be productive of much fatigue* My engagements would not allow me to be always at home ; and the ftate of my patient, and the remedies neceffary to be prefcribed, were attended with many noxious and dif- guftful circumftances. My fortune would not allow me to hire affiftance : my wife with a. feeble frame, and a rnind mrinking on ordinary occafions from fuch offices with B 4 faftidious 8 ARTHUR MRVYN. faftidious fcrupuloufnefs, was to be his only or principal nurfe. My neighbours were fervent in their well- meant ztal, and loud in their remonftrances on the imprudence and rafhnefs of my con- duel: they called me prefumptuousand cruel in expofing my wife and child, as well as myfelf, to fuch imminent hazard, for the fake of one too who, moft probably, was worthlefs, and whofe difeafe had doubtlefs been, by negligence or improper treatment, rendered incurable. I did not turn a deaf ear to thefe cenfurers. I was aware of all the inconveniences and perils to which I thus fpontaneoufly expofed myfelf: no one knew better the value of that woman whom I called mine, or fet a higher price upon her life, her health, and her eafe. The virulence__and__a6i:ivity oj" this contagion, the dangerous condiiion_of ^ ki $ cna " racter, jvere not forgotten by me ; but ftill my conduct in this affair received my own entire ARTHUR MERVYN. 9 entire approbation. All objections on the fcore of my wife were removed by her own wiliingnefs and even folicitude to under- take the province. I had more confidence than others in the vincibility of this difeale, and in the lucceis 6V thole" 1 meaiures which we had ufed for our defence againft it : but, whatever were the evils to accrue to us, we were fure of one thing namely, that the conicioufnefs of having neglected this un- fortunate perfon wou'd Le a fource of more unhappinefs, than could poffibly redound from the attendant and care that he would claira. The more we faw of him, indeed, the more did we congratulate ourfelves on our proceeding. His torments were acute and tedious j but in the midft even of delirium his heart feemed to overflow with gratitude, and to be actuated by no wifh but to alle- viate our toil ;md our danger. He made prodigious exertion to perform neceffary offices for himfelf: he fupprefied his feelings, and ftruggled to main, in a chetrful tone and countenance, that he might -prevent B 5 that IO ARTHUR MERVYN, that anxiety which the fight of his fufferings produced in us : he was perpetually fur- niihing reafons why his nurfe mould leave him alone, and betrayed diflatisfaiflion whenever fhe entered his apartment. In a few days there was reafon to con- clude him out of danger : and in a fortnight nothing but exercife and' nourifhment was wanting to complete his reftoration. Mean- while nothing was obtained from him but general information, that his place of abode was Chefter County, and that fome moment- ous engagement induced him to hazard his iafety by coming to the city in the height of the epidemic. He was far from being talkative. His filence feemed to be the joint refult of modefty and unpleafing remembrances ; his features were characterized by pathetic feriouf- nefs, and his deportment by a gravity very unufual at his age. According to his own reprefentation, he was no more than eighteen years old ; but the depth of his remarks indicated a much greater advance. His name ARTHUR MERVYN. II name was Arthur Mervyn. He defcribed himfelf as having patted his life at the plough-tail and the thralhing-fioor, as being deftitute of all fcholaftic inftruction, and as being long fince bereft of the affectionate regards of parents and kinfmen. When quedioned as to the courfc of life he meant to purfue upon his recovery, he profeiled himfelf without any precife objeft. He was willing to be guided by the advice Cl fc~* * of others, and by the lights .which experi- ence fhoukl furnifh. The country v/as open to him, and he fuppofed that there was no part of it in which food could not be pur- chafed by his labour. He was unqualified by his education for any liberal profeffion. His poverty was likewife an infuperable im- pediment. He could afford to fpencl no time in the acquisition of a.,lra.de: he -muft labour not for future ^rholurji&n^ but for immediate fubfiftence. The only purfuit which his prcfent circumftances would allow him toadopr, was that which, he was inclined to believe, was iikewife the moft eligible. B 6 Without 14 ARTHUR. MERVYN. how to value the thoughts of other people, but he could not part with the privilege of obferving and thinking for himfelf. He wanted bufmefs which. would fuffer at leaft nine-tenths of his attention to go free. If it afforded agreeable employment to that part of his attention which it applied to its own ufe, fo much the better ; but if it did not, he mould not repine. He fiiould be content with a life whole pleafures were to its pains as nine are to one. He had tried the trade of a copy id, and in circumftances more favourable than it was likely he fhould ever again have an opportunity of trying it j and he had found that it did not fulfil the re- quifite conditions : whereas the trade of a ploughman was friendly to health, liberty, and pleafure. The peftilence, if it may be fo called, was now declining. The health of my young friend allowed him to breathe the frefh air, and to walk. A friend of mine, by name Wortley, who had {pent two months from the city, and to whom, in the courfe ARTHUR MERVYN. 15 courfe of a familiar correfpondence, I had mentioned the foregoing particulars, re- turned from his rural excurfion. He was porting, on the evening of the day of his arrival, with a friendly expedition to my houfe, when he overtook Mervyn going in the fame diredion. He was furprifed to find him go before him into my dwelling, and to difcover, which he fpeedily did, that this was the youth whom I had fo frequently mentioned to him. I was' prefcnt at their meeting. There was a ftrange mixture in the coun- tenance of Wortley when they were pre- fented to each other. His fatisfaftion was mingled with furprife, and his furprife with anger. Mervyn, in his turn, betrayed con- fiderable embarraiTment. Wortley's thoughts were too earned on fome topic to allow him to converle : he fhortly made fome excufe for taking leave, and rifing, addrefled him- felf to the youth, with a requeft that he would walk home with him. This invita- tion, delivered in a-tone which left it doubtful whether l6 ARTHUR MERVYN. whether a compliment or menace were meant, augmented Mervyn's confufion. He com- plied without fpeaking, and they went out together. My wife and I were left to com- ment upon the fcene. It could not fail to excite uneafmefs: they were evidently no ftrangers to each other. The indignation that fiafhed from the eyes of Wortley, and the trembling confcioufnefs of Mervyn were unwelcome tokens : the former was my deareft friend, and_yenerable for his difctrnment and integrity ; the latter appeared to have drawn upon himfelf the anger and difdain of this man. We already anticipated the mock which the dif- covery of his unworthinefs would produce. In half an hour Mervyn returned. His embarraffment had given place to dejection. He was always feri'^us, but his features were now overcaft by the .deepeft gloom. The anxiety which I fek would not allow me to hefitate long. " Arthur," faid I, " fomething is the matter with you. Will you not difclofe it to us? ARTHUR MERVYN. 17 us ? Perhaps you have brought yourfelf into fome dilemma, out of which we may help you to efcape. Has any thing of an unpleafant nature paffed between you and Wortley ?" The youth did not readily anfwer. He feemed at a lofs for a fuitable reply. At length he faid, that fomething difagree- able had indeed paiTed between him and Worcley. \He had had the misfortune to be connected with a man by whom Wortley conceived himfelf to be injured. He had borne no part in inflicting this injury, but had nevertheleis been tnreatened witli ill- treatment if he did not make difclofures which indeed it was in his power to make, but which he was bound oy every fan<5lion to withhold. This diiclofure would be of no benefit to Wortley it would rather operate injurioufly than otherwife j yet it was endea- voured to be wrefted from him by the heavieft menaces.! There he paufed. We were naturally inquifuive as to the fcope of thefe menaces ; but l8 ARTHUR MERVYN. but Mervyn entreated us to forbear any further difcuffion of this topic. He forefaw the difficulties _to which his filence would fubject him. One of its moft fearful con- fequences would be the lofs of our good opinion. He knew not what he had to dread from the enmity of Wortley : Mr. Wortley's violence was not without excufe. It was his mifnap to be expofed to fufpi- cions, which could only be obviated by break- ing his faith : but, indeed, he knew not whether any degree of explicitnefs would confute the charges that were made againrt him ; whether by trampling on his facred promife h? would not multiply his perils, inftead of lefiening their number. A dif- ficult part had been affigned to-him; by much too difficult for one young, impro- vident, and inexperienced as he wasj Sincerity perhaps was the belt courfe. Perhaps, after having had an opportunity for deliberation, he fliould conclude to adopt itj meanwhile he entreated permiffion to retire to his chamber. He was. unable to ARTHUR MERVYN. 19 to exclude from his mind ideas which yet could, with no propriety, at leaft at prefent, be made the theme of converfation. Thefe words were accompanied with fim- plicity and patho ; , aod with tokens of unaffected difrrefs. '* Arthur," faid I, *~J dinner is half a dollar, Sir." He had no leifure to attend to my fluftu- ations. After debating with myfelf on what was to be done, I concluded thai compliance was beft ; and leaving the money at the bar, re fumed my way. J had not performed more than half my journey, yet my purfe was entirely exhaufted: this was a fpecimen of the coft incurred by living at an inn. If I entered the city, a tavern muft, at leaft for fome time, be my abode, but I had not a farthing remaining to 48 ARTHUR MERVYN. to defray my charges. My father had for- merly entertained a boarder for a dollar per week; and, in a cafe of need, I was willing to fubfift upon coarfer fare, and lie on a harder bed than thofc with which our gueft had been fupplied. Thefe fuels had been the foundation of my negligence on "this occafion. What was now to be done ? To return to my paternal manfion was impoffible j to relinquifh my defign of entering the city, and to fcrek a temporary afylum, if not permanent employment, at fome one of the plantations within view, was the moft obvious expedient. Thefe deliberations did not flacken my pace ; I was almoft unmindful of my way, when I found I had pafled Schuylkill at the upper bridge. I was now within the prccin&s of the city, and night was haftemng; It behoved me to come to a fpeedy decilion. Suddenly I recollected that I had not paid the cuftomary toll at the bridge, neither had I money wherewith to pay it. A demand of payment would have fuddenly arrefted ARTHUR MERVYN. 49 arreftcd my progrefs ; and fo flight an inci- dent would have precluded that wonderful deftiny to which I was referved. The obftacle that would have hindered my advance, now prevented my return; fcrupulous honefty did not require me to. turn back, and awaken the vigilance of the toll-gatherer. I had nothing to pay, and by returning I fhould only double my debt. "Let it ftand," faid I, "where it does; all the t honour enjoins, is to pay when I aai able." I adhered to the crofs-ways till I reached Market- ftreet. Night had fallen, and a triple row of lamps prefented a Ipectacle enchanting and new. My perfonal cares were for a time loft in the tumultuous fen- fations with which I was now engrofled. I had never vifited the city at this hour : when my laft vifit was paid, I was a mere child ; the novelty which environed every object was therefore nearly abfolute. I proceeded with more cautious fteps, but was ftill ab- forbed in attention to paffing objects. I VOL. i. D reached 50 ARTHUR MERVYN. reached the market houfe, and, entering it, indulged myfelf in new delight and new wonder. I need not remark that our ideas of magnificence and fplendour are merely com- parative ; yet you may be prompted to fmile when I tell you that, in walking through this avenue, I for a moment conceived myfelf tranfported to the hail < pendant with many a row of ftarry lamps and blazing cjefcents fed by naphtha and afphaltos." That this tranfition from my homely and quiet retreat had been efFccled in fo few hours, wore the afpect of miracle or magic. I proceeded from one of thefe buildings to another, till I reached their termination in Front-flrett. Here my progrefs was checked, and I fought repoie to my weary limhs by fcating myfelf on a ftall. No wonder fome fatigue was fcJt by me, unaccuf- tomed as I was to ftrenuous exertions, fince, exclusive of the minutes fpent at breakfaft and dinner, I had travelled fifteen hours and forty -five m.ies. I began I began now to reflect, with fome earneftnefs, on my condition ; I was a llranger, friendlefs and moneylcfs I was unable to pufchafe food and (belter, and was wholly unufed to the bufmefs of begging. Hunger was the only ferious inconvenience to which I was immediately expofed. I had no objection to fpend the night in the fpot where I then fat I had no fear that my vifions would be troubled by the officers of police. It was no crime to be without a home ; but how mould I fupply my prefent cravings, and the cravings of to-morrow ? At length it occurred to me that one of our country neighbours was probably at this time in the city ; he kept a (lore, as well as cultivated a farm. He was a plain and well- meaning man j and mould I be fo fortunate as to meet him, his fuperior knowledge of the city might be of eflential benefit to me in my prefent forlorn circumftances j his generofity might likewife induce him to lend me as much as would purchafe one meal. 1 had formed the refolution to leave the city D 2 next 52 ARTHUR MERVYtf. next day, and was aftoniflied at the folly that had led me into it j but, meanwhile, my phyfical wants muft be fupplied. Where fhould I look for this man ? In the courfe of converfation I recolleded him to have referred to the place of his temporary abode. It was an innj but the fign, or the name of the keeper, for fome time withftood all my efforts to recal them. Ac length I lighted on the lad it was Lemer's Tavern. I immediately fet out in. learch of it. After many enquiries, 1 at laft arrived at the door. 1 was preparing to enter the houle, when I perceived that my bundle was gone I had left it on the flail where I had been fitting. People were per- petually paffing to and fro it was fcarcely poffible not to have been noticed - 3 no one that obferved it, would fail to make it his prey yet it was of too much value to me, to allow me to be governed by a bare probability. I refolved to lofe not a moment in returning. "With fome difficulty I retraced my Heps, but; ARTHUR MERVYN. 5J but the bundle had difappeared. The clothes ;v - * ' ; f were in themselves of fmall value, but they conftituted the vyhole of my wardrobe ; and I now reflected that they were capable of being tranfmuted, by the pawn or lale of them, into food, There were other wretches as indigent as I was, and I confoied myfelf by thinking that my {hires and liockings might furnifh a feafonable covering to their nakednefs ; but there was a relique concealed within this bundle, the lofs of which could fcarcely be endured by me- ic was- the portrait of a young man who died three years ago at my father's houfe, drawn by his own hand. He was difcovered one morning in the orchard with many marks of infanity upon him ; his air and drels befpoke fome eleva- tion of rank and fortune. My mother's compaflion was excited; and, as his fmgu- larities were harmlefs, an afylum was afforded him, though he was unable to pay for it. He was conftantly declaiming, in an incoherent cnanner, about fome miftrefs who had proved D 2. faithlefs ;, 54 ARTHUR MERVYN. faithlefs ; his fpeeches feemed, however, like the rantings of an aftor, to be rehearfcd by rote, or for the fake of exercife. He was totally carelefs of his perfon and health j and, by repeated negligences of this kind, at laft contracted a fever, of which he fpeedily died. The name which he aflumed was Clavering. He gave no diftincT: account of his family, but dated in loofe terms that they were refi- dents in England, high born and wealthy that they had denied him the woman whom he loved, and banifhed him to America, under penalty of death if he mould dare to return, and that they had refufed him all means of fubfiftence in a foreign land. He predicted, in his wild and declamatory way, his own death. He was very fkilful at the pencil, and drew his portrait a fhort time before his diffolution preferred it to me, and charged me to prefervc it in remem- brance of him. My mother loved the youth becaufe he was amiable and unfortunate, and chiefly becaufe (he fancied a very powerful refemblance between his countenance and mine. ARTHUR MERVYIT. $$ jmihtf, I was too young to build affection on any rational foundation. I loved him, for what reafon I know not, with an ardour unufual at my age, and which this portrait had contributed to prolong and to cherifli. In thus finally leaving my home, I was careful not to leave this picture behind j I wrapped- it in paper, in which a few elegiac ftanzas were inferibcd in my own hand, and with my utmoft elegance of pcnmanfhip $- I then placed it in a leathern cafe, which, for greater fecurity, was depofited in the center of my bundle. It will occur to you^ perhaps, that it would have been fafer in fome fold or pocket of the clothes which I wore ; I was of a different opinion, and was now to endure the penalty of my error. It was in vain to heap execrations on my negligence, or to confume the. little ftrength. left to me in regrets. I returned once more to the tavern, and made enquiries for Mr. Capper, the perfon whom 1 have juit men- tioned as my father's neighbour. I was informed that Capper was now in town that D 4 he 56 ARTHUR MERVYN. lie had lodged, on the laft night, at this houfe that he had expected to do the fame to-night, but a gentleman had called ten minutes ago, vvhofe invitation to lodge with him to-night had been accepted j they had juft gone out together** " Who," I afked, " was the gentleman ?" The landlord had no knowledge of him j he knew neither his place of abode nor his name. " Was Mr. Capper expected ta return hither in the morning ?" " No i he had heard the ftranger propofe to Mr. Capper to go with him into the country to-morrow, and Mr. Capper he believed had afiented. This difappointment was peculiarly fevere; 1 had loft, by my own negligence, the only opportunity that would offer, of meeting my friend : had even the recollection of my lofs been poftponed for three minutes, I mould have entered the houfe, and a meeting would have been fecured. I could difcover no other expedient to obviate the prefenc evil. My heart began now for the firft time JERTH'irR MERVYN. . 4 V v n ! ;ff .r * .1 Y v A. \ time to droop ; I looked back, with name- Jefs emotions, on the days of my infancy I called up the image of my mother I reflected on the infatuation of my furviving parent, and the ufurpation of the deteftable Betty with horror I viewed myfelf as the moft foT^ beings. At this time I was fitting in~tKe~c6mmoii room j there were others in the fame apart- ment, lounging, or whiilling, or finging. I noticed them not, but, leaning my head upon my hand, delivered myfelf up to- painful and intenfe meditation -, from this I was roufed by fome one placing himfelf on. the bench near me, and addreffing me thus "Pray, Sir, if you will excufe me, who was the perfon whom you were looking for juft now ? Perhaps I can give you the information you want. If I can, you will be very welcome to it.'*' I fixed my eyes with fome eagernefs on the peribn that [ Tpoke j he was a young man, expenfively and fafhionably drciTcd, whofc mien was very prepoficiling, and- D 5 whole: 58 ARTHUR MERVYN". whofe countenance befpoke fome portion of difcernment, I defcribed to him the man whom T fought. " I am in fearch of the fame man myfelf," faid he, " but I exped to meet him here. He may lodge elfewhere, but he promifed to meet me here at half after nine. I have no doubt he will fulfil his promife, fo that you will meet the gentleman." I was highly gratified by this information, and thanked my informant with fome degree of warmth. My gratitude he did not notice, but continued. " In order to beguile expectation, I have ordered fupper j will you do me the favour to j artake with me, unlefs indeed you have Tupped already ?" 1 was obliged, Ibmewhat awkwardly, to decline his invitation, confcious as I was that the means of payment were not in my power. He continued, however, to urge my compliance, till at length it was, ihough relufiantly, yielded. My chief motive was the certainty of feeing Capper. My ARTHUR MERVYN-. 59 My new acquaintance was exceedingly convertible, but his converfation was chiefly characterized by franknefs and good -humour. My reftrve gradually diminilhed, and I ventured to inform him, in general terms, of my former condition and prelcnt views. He liftened to my details with Teeming attention,, and commented on them with fome judi- cioufnefs ; his ftatements;, however, tended to difcourage me from remaining in the city. Meanwhile,, the hour pafled, and Capper did not appear. I noticed this circumftance to him with no little folicitude ; he faid that pofiibly he might have forgotten or neglected' his engagement his affair was not of the higheft importance, and might be readiry poftponed to a future opportunity. He per- ceived that my vivacity was greatly damped by this intelligence ; he importuned me to difclofe the caufe he made himfelf very merry with rny diftrefs when it was at length difcovered. As to the expence of fupper, I had partaken of it at his- invitation} he: therefore fhould of courfe be charged - w-ith &6 it.- 60 ARTHUR MERVYN. it. As to a lodging, he had a chamber and a bed, which he would infift upon my Iharing with him. My faculties were thus kept upon the ilretch of wonder every new aft of kind- nefs in this man furpaffed the fondcft ex- pectation thit I had formed. I faw no reafon why I mould be treated with bene- volence I fliould have afbed in the fame manner if placed in the fame circumftances, -yet it appeared incongruous and inexplica- ble. 1 know not whence my ideas of human nature were derived they certainly were not the offspring of my own feelings ; thefe #ould have taught me that intereft and duty were blended in every act of generality. I did not come into the world without my fcruples and fufpicions ; I was more apt to impute kindnefs to finider and hidden, than to obvious and laudable motives. I paufed to reflect upon the poffible defigns of this perfon. What end could be ferved by this behaviour ? I was no fubject of violence or fraud I had neither trinket nor coin to ftimulate - ARTHUR MERVYN. 6l flimulate the treachery of others ; what was offered was merely lodging for the night. Was this an ad of fuch tranfcendent difin- tereftednefs as to be incredible ? My garb was meaner than that of my companion, but my intelleftual accomplifhments were at lead upon a level with his. Why mould he be fuppofed to be infenfible to my claims upon his kindnefs ? I was a youth deftitute of experience, money, and friends j but I was not devoid of all mental and perfonal endowments. That my merit fhould be difcovered even on fuch (lender intercpurfe, had furely nothing in it that had (hocked belief. While I was thus deliberating, my new friend was earned in his folicitations for my company j he remarked my hefitation, but afcribed it to a wrong caufe. " Come," faid he, " I can guefs your objeftions, and can obviate them. You are afraid of being u (he red into company ; and people who have pafled their lives like you, have a wonderful antipathy to ftrange faces : 3 but 6l ARTHUR but this is bed-time with our family, fb that we can defer your introduction to them till to-morrow. We may go to our chamber without being feen by any but fervants." I had not been aware of this circumftance my reluctance flowed from a different caufe-; but now that the inconveniences of ceremony were mentioned, they appeared to me of confiderable weight. I was well pleafed that they Pnould thus be avoided,, and confented to accompany him. We patted feveral ftreets r and turned feveral corners ; at laft he led me into a kind of court whichfeemed to be chiefly occupied by ftables. " We will go," faid he, "by the back- way into the houfe ; we mail thus fave our- felves the neceffity of entering the parlour, where fome of the family may dill be." My companion- was as talkative as ever, but faid nothing from which I could gather any knowledge of the number, character, and condition of his family, CHAP. ARTHUR MERVYN. 6$ CHAP. IV. A DANGEROUS SITUATION. arrived at a brick wall, through which we patted by a gate into an extend vc court, or yard : the darknefs would allow me to fee nothing but outlines ; compared with the pigmy dimenfions of my father's wooden hovel, the buildings before me were of gigantic loftinels. The horfes were here far more magnificently accommodated than I had been. By a large door we entered an elevated hall. " Stay here," faid he, juft while I fetch a light." He 64 ARTHFR He returned with a candle, before I had time to ponder on my prefent fituation. We now afcended a flaircafe, covered with painted canvas. No one whofe inex- perience is lefs than mine, can imagine to himfelf the impreffions made upon me bjr furrounding objefts. The height to which- this ftaircafe afcended, its dimenfions and its ornaments, appeared to me a combination of all that was pompous and fuperb. We flopped not till we had reached the third ftory : here my companion unlocked and led the way into a chamber. alarm the lady. She befought him to ascertain the matter. This to my utter difmay he at firft confcnted to do ; but prefently obfcrved that probably his ears had misinformed him : it was hardly pofTible that the found pro* ceeded from them : it might be a rat, or his own fancy might have falhioned it. It is not ealy to defcribe my trepidations while this conference was holding. I faw how eafilv their (lumber was . difturbed. The obllacks to my efcape were lefs furmountablc than 1 had imagined. O In a little ti.ne all was again ft ill. ' I waited till the ufual tokens of deep were diftinguimable. I once mofe relumed my attempt. The bolt was withdrawn with all poffible flownels; but I could by no means prevent all found. My ftate was full of inquietude and iufpcnfe ; my, attention being painfully divided between the bolt and the condition ot the flcepers. The difficulty 5 lay 8l ARTHUR lay in giving that degree of force which was barely fufficient. Perhaps not lefs than fifteen minutes were confumed in this opera- tion. At lad it was happily effected, and the door was caudoufly opened. Emerging as I did from utter darknefs, the light admitted into three windows, pro- duced to my eyes a confide rable illumination* Obj,ds which on my ftrft entrance into this apartment were invisible, were now ckarly diicerned. 1 he bed was fhrouded by curtains j yet I fhiunk back into my covt-rt, fearful of being feen. To facilitate my efcape, I put off my fhoes^ My mind was fo full ot objects of more us gent mo- ment, that the propriety of taking them with me never tccurred. I left them in the clofet. I now glided acrofs the apartment to the do r. I was not a little difcouraged by obferving that the key was wanting: my whole hope depended on the omiflion to lock t. In my hafte to afcertain this point fume noifc, which again loufed one of ARTHUR MERvyW. 83 of the fleepers. He ftarted, and cried " Who is there ?" I now regarde ] my cafe ame one he believed was at the door, but these was no danger of their entering,, for he had locked it, and the key was in his pocket. My courage was completely annihilated by this intelligence. Mv refourccs were now at an end. I could only remain in tli is fpot till the morning light, which could be at no great diftance, mould difcover me. My inexperience difabled me from estimating all the perils- of my fituation. Perhaps I had no more than temporary m- convenicn.es to diead:- my intention .was innocent,, and I had been betrayed into my E 6 prefent $4 ARTHUR MERVTN 1 . prefent fituation, not by my own wicked- neis, but the wick ednefs of others. I w s deeply impreffed with the ambi- guoulhefs v\hich would neceflarily reft upon my motives, and the fcriuiny to which they wou'd be iu jedtecl : I fhuddered at the bare poffibility of I eing ranked with thieves. Thefe reflections again gave edge to my ingenuity in fcarch of the means of efcape. I had carciully attended to the circumfla, ce& of their entrance. Pofribly the aft of lack- ing had been unnoticed ; but was it not like- wife poflible that this perfon had been niif- taken ? The key was gone. Would this have been the cafe if the door were un- locked. My fears, rather than my hopes, impelled me to make the experiment. I drew back the latch ; and, to my unfpeakable joy> the door opened. I palled through, -and explored my way to the ftaircafe. 1 dcicended till I reached the bottom : I could not recoiled: with, accuracy the pofuioa of the door leading into the ARTHUR MERVYN. 85 the court ; but bv carefully feeling along the wall with my hands, I at length di jeft. My ruftic ftmplictty, he might think, would fugged no more ambiguous or elaborate expedient ; he might likewife have predetermined to interfere if my. fafety had been really endangered; On the morrow the two doors of the chamber, and the window below, will be found, unclofed j- they will fufpeft a defign to pillage, but their fearches will terminate in nothing but in the difcovery of a pair of clumfy and dufty fhoes in the clofet. Now that I was fafe, I could not help fmiling at the pifture which my fancy drew of their anxiety and wonder j thefe thoughts,, how- ever, 88 ARTHUR MERVYN. ever, gave place to more momentous con- fide rations. I could not image to my r elf a more perfect example ofindigence than I now exhibited ; there was no being in the dry on whole kindnefs I had any claim. Money I had none, and what 1 then wore comprifed my whole ftock of moveable . I had juft loft my fhoes, and this lofs rendered my (lockings of no ufe. My dignity remonftrated againffc a barefoot pilgrimage, but to this neceffity now reconciled me. I threw my ftocid gs between the bars of a (table windo v, belong- ing, as I thought, to the manfion I had jufb left ; thefe, together with my fhoes, J left to pay the cod of my entertainment. I law that the city' was no place for me. The end that I had had in view, of pro- curing fome mechanical employment, could only be obtained by the ufc of mean? ; but \vhac means to purue I knew not. This night's perils and deceptions gave me a diitaUe to a city life, and my ancient occu- pations rofc to my view, eimanced by a 5 thouiand ARTHUR MERVYN. 9 thoufand imaginary charms. I refolved forth- with to ftrike into the country. The day began now to dawn. It was Sunday, and I was defirous of eluding ob- fervation. I was fomewhat recruited by reft, though the languors of fleepleffhefs op- prefied me. I meant to thro A' myfelf on the firft lap of verdure I fhould meet, and indulge in fleep that I fo much wanted. I knew not the direction of the ftreets, but followed that which I firft entered from the court, trufting that, by adhering fteadily to one courfe, J mould fome time' reach the fields. This ftreet, as I afcerwards found* led to Schuylkill, and foon extricated me from houlcs. I could not crofs this river without payment of toll: it was requi- fite to crofs it, in order to reach thar part of the country whither I was defirous of going ; but how fhould I effeft my paffage ? I knew of no ford, and the fmalleft expence exceeded my capacity. Ten thouiand guineas and a farthing were equally remote from nothing. 9O ARTHUR MERVTN. nothing, and nothing was the portion allotted to me, While my mind was thus occupied, I turned up one of the ftreets which tend northward ; it was for fome length unin- habited and unpaved. Prefently I reached a pavement and a painted fence, along which a row of poplars was planted. It bounded a garden-, into which a knot-hole permitted me to pry. The enclofure was a charming .green, which I faw belonged to a houfe of the lofueft and moft ftately order ; it fecmed like a recent erection^ had all the glok of novelty, and exhibited, to my un- pra&ifed eyes, the magnificence of palaces. My father's dwelling did not equal the height of one ftory, and might be eafily comprifcd in one- fourth of thofe buildings which here were defigned to accommodate the menials. .My heart dictated the com- panion between my own condition and that of the proprietors of this domain How wide sad how impaffable was the gulf by which we ARTHUR MERVYbT. t we were feparated ! This fair inheritance had fallen to one who, perhaps, would only abule it to the purpofes of luxury, while I,. with intentions worthy of the friend of man- kind, was doomed to wield the flail and the mattock. J had been entirely unaccustomed to this train of reflection j my books had taughjt me the dignity and fafety of the middle path, and my darling writer abounded with enco.- miums on rural life. At a diftance from luxury and pomp, I viewed them, perhaps, in a juft light. A nearer fcrutiny confirmed my early prepofTcfTionSi but at the diftance at which I now flood, the lofty edifices, the fplendid furniture, and the copious accom- modations of the rich excited my admiration and my envy. I relinquifhcd my ftation, and proceeded, in a heartlefs mood, along the fence. I now came to the manfion Ufelr ; the princi- pal door was entered by a (laircafe of marble. [ had never fcen the ftone of Carrara, and wildly fuppofed this to have been dug from Italiaa $2 ARTHUR MERVYNV Italian quarries. - The beauty of the poplars, the coolnefs exhaled from the dew-befprent bricks, the commodioufnefs of the feat which thefe ftcps afforded, and the uncertainty into which 1 was plunged refpecYmg my future conduct, all combined to make me paufe. I fat down on the lower ftep, and began to meditate. By fome tranfition it occurred to me that the fupply of my moft urgent wants might be found in fome inhabitant of this houfe. I needed at prefent a few cents; and what were a few cents to the tenant of a manfion like this ? I had an invincible aversion to the calling of a beggar i but I regarded, with ftili more antipathy, the vocation of a thief: to this alternative, however, 1 was now reduced 1 mutt either fttal or beg, unlefs indeed afiiftance could be procured under the notion of a 1 >an. Would a flran^er refuft to lend the pittance that 1 wanted ? Surely not, when the urgency of my wants was explained. I rctoikcied other obftacles. To fummon the ARTHUR MERVYN. 9J the mafter of the houfe from his bed perhaps, for the fake of fuch an application, would be prepofterous I mould be in more danger of provoking his ange.r, than exciting his benevolence. This requeil might furely, with more propriety, be preferred to a paf- fenger I mould probably meet feveral before I ihould arrive at Schuylkill. A fervant juft then appeared at the door with a bucket and brufh j this obliged me, much fooncr than I intended, to decamp. With fome reluctance I rofe, and proceeded. This houfe occupied the corner of the ftreet, and I now turned this corner towards the country. A perfon at fome diftanee before me was approaching in an oppofite direction. n to refund the money. He liftened with a moft inqui- fitive air his eye furveyed me from head to foot. Afcer fome paufe, he faid, in a very emphatic manner " Why into the country ? Have you family kindred friends ?" " No," anfwered I, " I have neither > I go in fcarch of the means of fubfiftence. I have pafied my life upon a farm, and pro- pofe to die in the fame condition." " Whence have you come ?" " I came yelterday from the country, with a view to earn my bread in fjme way ; but have changed my plan, and propofe now to return." " Why have you changed it ? In what way are you capable of earning your bread ?" " I hardly ARTHUR MERVYSt. I hardly know," faid I ; " I can as yet manage no tool that can be managed in the city, but the pen. My Jul^sjiaye^ in fomt^-firrall-tiegree, .qualified me for a writer j 1 would willingly accept employment of that kind.'* He fixed his eyes upon the earth, and was filent for fome minuses. At length reco- vering himfelf, he faid " Follow me to my houfe perhaps fomething may be done for you ; if not, 1 will lend you fixpence." It may be fuppofed that I eagerly com- plied with the invitation. My companion faid no more, his air betpeaking him to be abforbed by his own thoughts, till he reached his houfe, which proved to be that at the door of which I had been fcuted. We entered a parlour together. , Unlefs you can aifumc my ignorance and my fimplicity, you will be unable to con- ceive the impreffions that were made by the fize and ornaments of this apartment, i mall omit thele impreffions, which, indeed, no defcriptions could adequately convey, and dwell ARTHUR MERVYW. 97 dwell on incidents of greater moment. He afked me to give him a fpecimen of my penmanmip. I told you that I had beftowed very great attention upon this art. Imple- ments were brought, and I fat down to the tafk. By fome inexplicable connection, a line in Shakefpeare occurred to me, and I wrote, ** My poverty, but not tny will confents.'* The fcmiment conveyed in this line powerfully affected him, but in a way which I could not then comprehend. I collected from fubfequent events that the inference was not unfavourable to my underftanding or my morals. He queftioned me as to my hiftory. I related my origin, and my inducements to dcfert my father's houfe. "With refpect to laft night's adventures I was filent ; I faw no ufeful purpofe that could be anfwered by difclofure, and I half fufpected that my companion would refute credit to my tale. There were frequent intervals of abftrac- tion and reflection between his queftions. VOL. i. E My 98 ARTHUR MERVYN. My examination laftcd not much Icfs than an hour. At length he faid " I want an ama- nuenlis or copyilt on what terms will you live with me i 1 " I anfwered that I knew not how to efti- mate the value of my fervices I knew not whether thefe fervices were agreeable or healthful. My life had hitherto been active ; my conftitution was predifpofed to difeafes of the lungs, and the change might be hurtful. 1 was willing, however, to try, and to content myfelf for a month or a year with fo much as would furniih me with food, clothing, and lodging. cf 'Tis well," f~id he ; " you remain with me as long, and no longer than both of us pleafe. You fl all lodge and eat in this houfe j I will fupply you with clothing, and your tafk will be to write what I dictate. Your perfon, J fee, has nor ihared much of your arrention ; it is in my power to equip you i ftantly in the manner which becomes a rcfidcnt in this hcuie. Come with me." He led the way into the court behind, and ARTHUR MERVYN. 99 and thence into a neat building, which con- tained large wooden veflels and a pump. " There, faid he, " you may wa(h your- felf; and whe,n that is done, I will conduct you to your chamber and your wardrobe." This was fpeedily performed, and he ac- cordingly led the way to the chamber. It was an apartment in the third (lory, finimed and furnifhed in the fame coftly and fuperb flyle with the reft of the houfe. He opened clofets and drawers which overflowed with clothes and linen of all and of the bell kinds, " Thefe are your's," faid he, " as long as you flay with me ; drefs yourfelf as you like beft here is every thing your naked- ncfs requires. When drefied, you may defcend to breakfaft." With thefe words he left me. The clothes were all in the French ftyle, as I afterwards, by comparing my garb with that of others, difcovered ; they were fitted to my fhape with the niceft precifion. I bedecked myfelf with all my care I remem- F 2 be red 1OO ARTHUR MERVYtf. bered the ftyle of drefs ufed by my beloved Clavering. My locks were of fhining auburn, flowing and fmooth like his. Having wrung the wet from them, and combed, I tied them carelefsly in a black ribbon. Thus equipped, I furveycd myfelf in a mirror. You may imagine, if you can, the fenfa- tions which this inftantaneous transformation produced. Appearances are wonderfully in- fluenced by drefs. A check fhirt buttoned at' the neck, an awkward fuftian coat, check trowfers, and bare feet were now fupplanted by linen and muflin, nankeen coat ftriped with green, a white fiik waiftcoat elegantly needle- wrought, kerfeymere pantaloons, {lockings of variegated filk, and {hoes that, in their foftnefs, pliancy, and polished fur- face, vied with fatin. 1 could fcarcely forbear looking; back to fee whether the O image in the glafs, fo well proportioned, fo gallant, and fo graceful, did not belong to another ; I could fcarcely rccognife any lineaments of my own. I walked to the window. " An hour ago," faid 1, " I was ARTHUR MERVYN. 1O* Cf I was traverfing that path a barefoot beggar now I am thus!" Again I furveyed myfelf. " Surely fome infanity has fattened on my understanding my fenfes arc the fport of dreams j fome magic that difdains the cumbroufnefs of nature's progrefs has wrought this change !" I was roufed from thefe doubts by a fummons to breakfaft, obfequioufly delivered by a black fervant. . JO I found Welbeck (for I mail henceforth 'call him by his true name) at the breakfaft table. A fuperb equipage of filver and China was before him. He was itartled at my entrance : the change in my drels feemed for a moment to have deceived him his eye was frequently fixed upon me whh unulual fledfaitnefs. At thefe times there was inqui- etude and wonder in his features. I had now an opportunity of examining my hoft. There was nicety, but no ornament in his drefs. His form was of the middle height, fpare, but vigorous and graceful. His face was caft, I thought, in a foreign F 3 mould. IO2 ARTHUR MERVYtf. mould. His forehead receded beyond the ufual degree in vifages which I had feen. His eyes large and prominent, but imparting no marks of benignity and habitual joy. The reft of his face forcibly fuggefted the idea of a convex edge. His whole figure impreflfed me with emotions of veneration and awe - t a gravity that almoft amounted to fadnefs invariably attended him when we were alone together. He whifpered the fervant that waited, who immediately retired. He then faid, turning to me " A lady will enter pre- fently, whom you are to treat with the refpecl: due to my daughter. You muft not notice any emotion me may betray at the fight of you, nor expect her to converfc with you ; for fhe does not underhand your language." He had fcarcely fpoken, when fhe entered. I was feized with certain mifgivings and flut- terings which a clownim education may account for. I fo far conquered my timidity, however, as to fnatch a look at her. 1 was not born to execute her portrait. Perhaps the ARTHUR MERVYN. the turban that wreathed her head the bril- liant texture and inimitable folds of her drapery, and nymphlike port, more than the eftential attributes of her perfon, gave fplendour to the celeftial vifion j perhaps it was her fnowy hues and the caft rather than the pofition of her features that were fp prolific of enchantment ; or perhaps the wonder originated only in my own igno- rance. She did not immediately notice me. When fhe did, fhe almoft (bricked with furprife. She held up her hands, and gazing upon me, uttered various exclamations which I could not undcrdand. I could only remark that her accents were thrillingly mufical. Her perturbations refufed to be ftilled j it was with difficulty that (he withdrew her regards from me. Much converfation pafled between her and Welbeck, but 1 could comprehend no part of it. I was at liberty to animadvert on the vifible part of their intercourfe. I diverted fame part of my attention from my f 4 own 104 ARTHUR MERVYN. own embarraffinents, and fixed it on their looks. In this art, as in mod others, I was an unpractifed fimpleton. In the countenance of Welbeck there was fomewhat elfc than fympathy with the aflonifhment and diftrefs of the lady j but I could not interpret thefc additional tokens. When her attention was engroffed by Welbeck, her eyes were fre- quently vagrant or downcaft, her cheeks contracted a deeper hue, and her breathing was almoft prolonged into a figh. Thefe were marks on which I made no comments at the time ; my own fituation was calculated to breed corfulon in my thoughts, and awk- wardnefs in my gefturcs. BreakfaO being finished, the lady, appa- renrly at the requeil of Welbeck, fat down to a piano forte. Here agrin I muft be filfnt. I was not wholly deftitute of mufical practice and imifical tafte ; I had that degree of know- ledge which enabled me to eftimate the Uanfcenderit ARTHUR MERVYV. 10$ tranfcendent fkilf of this performer. As if the pathos of her touch were infufHcient, I fjund after fome time that the lawlefs jarrings of the keys were chaftened by her own more liquid notes. She played without a book ; and though her bafs might be preconcerted, it was plain that her right- hand notes were momentary and fponta- n^ous infpirations. Meanwhile, Welbeck flood leaning his arms on the back of chair near her, with his eyes fixed on her face. His features were fraught with a mean- ing which I was eager to^ interpret, but unable. I have read of tranfitions effected by magic I have read of palaces and deferts which were fubjeft to the dominion of fpells. Poets may fport with their power,, but I am certain that no tranfidon was ever con- ceived more marvellous, and more beyond the reach of fore fight, than that which I had juft experienced. Heaths, vexed by a midnight ftorm, may be changed into a hall of ciiorai nymphs and regal banquetting ; F 5 foreft 1O6 ARTHUR MERVYtf. forcft glades may give fudden place to colon- nades and Carnivals j but he whofe fenfes are deluded, finds himfelf ftill on his natal earth. Thefe miracles are contemptible when compared witb that which placed me under this roof, and gave me to partake in this audience. I know that my emotions are in danger of being regarded as ludicrous by thole who cannot figure to themfelves- the confequences of a limited and ruftic education. CHAP. ARTHUR MERVY1I. 107 CHAP. VI. NEW SCENES* IN a fliort time the kdy retired. I natu- rally expected that fome comments would be made on her behaviour, and that the caufe of her furprife and ciiftrefs on feeing me would be explained ; but Welbeck faid nothing on that fubject. When me was gone, he wenc to the window, and ftood for fome time occupied, as it feemed, with his own thoughts ; then he turned to- me, and calling me by my name, defired me to> accompany him up flairs. There was neither cheerfulnefs nor mildnefs in his addrels, but F d neither 1O3 ARTHUR MERVYN. neither was there any thing domineering or arrogant. . We entered an apartment on the fame floor with my chamber, but feparated from it by a fpacious entry. It was fupplied with bureaus, cabinets, and bookcafes. " This," faid he, " is your room and* mine j but we muft enter it, and leave it together. I mean to aft not as your mafter,. but your friend. My maimed hand," fo faying, he fhewed me his right hand, the forefinger of which was wanting, c< wi'l not allow me to write accurately or copioufly j for this reafon I have required your aid in a work of fome moment. MUCH hade will not be requifite ; and as to the hours and duration ot employment, tnefe will be ftafon- able and (hort. *' Your prefent fituation is new to you, and we will therefore defer er.tcring on our bufinefs ; meanwhile, you may amuic your- fclf in what manner you p'cafc. Confider this houfe as your home, a id make yourlclf familar Witii it. Siay witnin or go out, be bufy ARTHUR MERVYtf. IG<> buty or be idle, as your fancy (hall prompt ; only you will conform to our domeftic fyftem as to eating and fleep the lervants will inform } ou of this. Next week we will enter on the tafk for which I defign you. You may now withdraw," I obeyed this mandate with fome awkward- nefs and hefitation. I went into my own chamber, not difpleafed with an opportunity of lonelinefs. I threw myfclfon a chair, and refigned myfelf to thofc thoughts which would naturally ariie in this fituation. I fpe- culated on the character and views of Wei- beck. I faw that he was embofomed in tranquillity and grandeur ; riches, therefore, were his but in what did his opulence confift, and whence did it arife ? What were the limits by which it was confined, and what its degree of permanence I I was un- habituated to ideas of Seating or transferable wealth: the rentofc houles and lands was the eniy fpecies of property which was as yet perfectly intelligible. My previous ideas led n:e to regard Wclbeck as the proprietor of 5 this IIO ARTHUR MERVYtf. this dwelling, and of numerous houfes and farms. By the fame caufe I was fain to fuppofe him enriched by inheritance, and than his life had been uniform. I next adverted to his focial condition. This manfion appeared to have but two inha- bitants be fides fervants. Who was the nympli who had hovered for a moment in my fight ? Had he not called her his daughter I The apparent difference in their ages would juftify this relationj but herguife, her features, and her accents were foreign her language I fuf- peded flrongly to be that of Italy. How fhould he be the father of an Italian ? But were there not fome foreign lineaments in his countenance ? This idea feemed to open a new world to my view. I had gained from my books con- fufed ideas of European governments and man- ners. I knew that the prefent was a period of revolution and hoftility j might not thefe be illuftrious fugitives from Provence or the Milanefe ?. Their portable wealth, which, may reafonably be fuppofed to be great, they have ARTHUR MERVVN. ill have tranfported hither. Thus may be ex- plained the forrow that veils their countenance > the lofs of eftates and honours the untimely death of kindred, and perhaps of his wife, may furnifh eternal food for regrets. Wei- beck's utterance, though rapid and diftinct, partook, as I conceived, in fome very flight degree of a foreign idiom. Such was the dream that haunted my urt- difciplined and unenlightened imagination ; the more I revolved it, the more plaufible it feemed. On this fuppofition every appear- ance that I had witnefled was eafiJy folved, unlefs it were their treatment of me. This at firft was a fource of hopelefs perplexity -, gradually, however, a clue feemed to be afforded. Welbeck had betrayed aftonim- ment on my firft appearance :. the lady's wonder was mingled with diftrefs. Perhaps they difcovered a remarkable refemblance between me and one who ftood in the relation- of fon to Welbeck, and of brother to the lady. This youth might have perimcd on, the fcaffold or in war. Thefc, no doubt, were his 112 ARTHUR MERVtN. his clothes. This chamber might have been referved for him, but his death left it to be appropriated to another. I had hitherto been unable to guefs at the reafon why all this kindnefs had been lavifhed on me. Will not this conjecture fufficiently account for it ? No wonder that this refcmblance was enhanced by affuming his drcfs. Taking all cireumftances into view, thefe ideas were not, perhaps, deftitute of proba- bility. Appearances naturally fuggeftcd them to me ; they were alfo powerfully enforced by inclination. They threw me into tranfports of wonder and hope. When I dwelt upon the incidents of my pad life, and traced the chain of events from the death of my mother to the prefent moment, I almoft acquiefced in the notion that fbme beneficent and ruling genius had prepared my path for me. Events which, when forefeen, would moft ardently have been deprecated, and when they hap- pened, were accounted in the higheft degree lucklefs, were now fcen to be propitious. Hence ARTHUR MERVYN. I IJ Hence I inferred the infatuation of defpair, and the folly of precipitate conclufions. But what was the fate referved for me ? Perhaps Wclbeck would adopt me for his own fon. Wealth has ever been capricioufly diftributed ; the mere phyfical relation of birth is all that entitles us to manors and thrones : identity itfelf frequently depends upon a cafual likenefs, or an old nurfe's impofture. Nations have rifen in arms, as in the cafe of the Stewarts, in the caufe of one, the genuinenefs of whofe birth has been denied, and can never he proved ; but if the caufe be trivial and fallacious, the effects are momentous and folid -, it afcertains our portion of felicity anJ uf fulneis, and fixes our lot aaiong peafants or Princes, Something may depend upon my own deportment. Will it not behove me to cultivate all my virtues, and eradicate all my defects ? I lee that the abilities of this man are venerable. Perhaps he will not lightly or nattily decide in my favour he will be governed by the proofs that I mall give of difcernment. JI4 ARTHUR MERVYN. difcernment and integrity. I had always been exempt from temptation, and was there- fore undepraved ; but this view of things had a wonderful tendency to invigorate my virtuous refutations ail within me "was exhi- laration and joy, There was but one thing wanting to exalt me to a dizzy height, and give me place among the ftars of heaven. My refemblance to her brother had forcibly affected this lady -, but I was not her brother I was raifed to a level with her, and made a tenant of the fame manfion. Some intercourfe would take place between us ; time would lay level impediments, and eftablith familiarity, and this intercourfe might fofier love, and ter- minate in marriage ! Thefe images were of a nature too glowing and expanfwe to allow me to be longer in- active. 1 failied forth into the open air. This tumult of delicious thoughts in fome time fubfided, and gave way to images relative to my prefent fuuaiion. My curiofity was awake - t as yet I had fecn Uttie of the city, and ARTHUR MF.RVVN. 115 and this opportunity for obfervation was not to be negle&ed. 1 therefore courfed through feveral ftreets, attentively examining the objects that fuccefiivcly prefented them- fclves. At length it occurred to me to It-arch out the houfe in which 1 had lately been im- mured. I was not without hopes that at fome future period I mould be able to comprehend the allufions, and brighten the obfcurities that hung about the dialogue of laft night. The houfe was eafily difcovered. I re- connoitred the court and gate through which I had pafled. The manfion was of the firft order in magnitude and decoration. This was not the bound of my prefent difcoveryj for I was gifted with that confidence which would make me let on foot enquiries in the neighbourhood. I looked around for a fuitable medium of intelligence. The oppo- fite and adjoining houfes were fmall, and apparently occupied by perfons of an indi- gent clafs. At one of thefe was a fign> denoting Il6 ARTHUR MERVYN. denoting it to be the refidence of a tailor. Seated on a bench at the door was a young man with coarfe uncombed locks, breeches- knees unbuttoned, ftockings ungartered, (hoes flip-fhod and unbuckled, and a face im- wafhed, gazing ftupidly from hollow eyes. His afpeft was embdiifhed with good- nature, though indicative of ignorance. This was the only perfon in fight, He might be able to fay fomething concerning his opulent neighbour to him, therefore, I refolved to apply. I went up to him, and pointing to the houfe in queftion, alked him who lived there. He anfwcrcd, " Mr. Matthews." " What is his proleiiion his way of life ?" " A gentleman. He does nothing but walk about." " How long has he been married ?" " Married ! He is not married as I know on. He never has been married : lie IS a bachelor." This intelligence was unexpected. It made me ARTHUR MERVYN. H7 me paufe to reflect whether I had not mif- taken the houfe. This, however, feemed impoffible. I renewed my queftions. " A bachelor, fay you ? Are you not miftaken ?" tc No : it would be an odd thins: if he 9 was married. An old fellow, with one foot in the grave comical enough for him to^// a vife /" " An old man ? . Does he live alone ? What is his family ?" " No; he does not live alone: he has a niece that lives with him. She is married, and her hufband lives there too." " What is his name ?" " I don't know. I never heard it as I know on." " What is his trade?" " He's a marchant; he keeps a ftore fome where or other, but I don't know where." " How long has he been married ?" " About two years. They loft a child lately. The young woman was in a huge taking about it. They fays fhe was quite crazjr Il8 ARTHUR MEP.VYN. crazy fome days for the death of the child : and fhe is not quite out of the dumps yet. To be fure, the child was a fweet little thing; but they need not make fuch a rout about it. I'll warn they'll have enough of them before they die." " What is the character of the young man ? Where was he born and educated ? Has he parents or brothers ?" My companion was incapable of anfwering thefe queftions, and I left him with little cfiential addition to the knowledge I already poflefled. CHAP. ARTHUR MERVYN. 1 19 CHAP. VII. CURIOSITY. A.FTER viewing various parts of the city, intruding into Churches, and diving into alleys, I returned. The reft of the day I fpent chiefly in my chamber, reflecting on my new condition, furveying my apartment, its prefles and clofets, and conjecturing the caufes of appearances. At dinner and flipper I was alone. Ven- turing to enquire of the fervant where his matter and miftrefs were, J was anfwered that they were engaged. I did not queftion him ISO ARTHUR MERVYN. him at to the nature of their engagement, though it was a fertile fource of curiofity. Next morning, at breakfaft, I again met Welbeck and the lady. The incidents were nearly thofe of the preceding morning, if it were not that the lady exhibited tokens of feme what greater uneafinefs, When fhe left us, Welbeck funk into apparent medi- tation. I was at a lofs whether to retire, or remain where I was. At laft, however, I was on the point of leaving the room, when he broke {ilence> and began a convcrlation with me. He put queftions to me, the obvious fcope of which was to know my fentiments on moral topics, I had no motives to conceal my opinions, and therefore delivered them with franknefs. At length he introduced allufions to my own hiftory, and made more particular enquiries on that head. Here I was not equally frank j yet I did not feign any thing, but merely dealt in generals. J had acquired notions of propriety on this head, perhaps fomewhat faitidious. Minute details reflecting ARTHUR MERVYN. 121 fefpecVing our own concerns are ap! to weary all but the narrator himfdf. I (aid thus much, and the truih of my remark was eagerly aflented to. With feme marks of hefitation, 2nd after various preliminaries, my companion hinted that my own intereft, as well as his, en- joined upon me filence to all but himfclf, on the fubjecl: of my birth and early adventures. It was not likely that, while in his fervice, my circle of acquaintance would be large, or my intercourfe with the world frequent i but in my communication with others, he re- quefted me to fpeak rather of others than of myfclf. This requeil, he laid, might appear fingular to me ; but he had his reafons for making it, which it was not ncccfTary at prefent to difclofe ; though when I ihould . know them, I ihould readily acknowledge their validity. I fcarccly knew what anfwer to make. I was willing to oblige him. 1 was far from expecting that any exigence would oc.ur, making difclofure my duiy. The emplcy- VOL. i. G menc 122 ARTHUR MERVYN. ment was productive of pain more than of pleafure ; and the curiofity that would ufe- lefsly feck a knowledge of my pad life, was no lefs impertinent than the loquacity that would ufelefsly communicate that knowledge. I readily promifed, therefore, to adhere to his advice. This affurance afforded him evident fatis- faction ; yet it did not feem to amount to quite as much as he wifhed. He repeated, in frronger terms, the neceflity there was for caution. He was far from fufpecling me to pofTcfs an impertinent and talkative difpo- fition, or that in my eagernefs to expatiate on my own concerns, I mould overftep the limits of politenefs. But this was not enough : I was to govern myfclf by a per- fuafion that the interdts of my friend and myfelf would be materially affected by my condudt. Perhaps I ought to have allowed thefe infinuations to breed fufpicion in my mind ; but, confcious as I was of the benefits which I had received from this man, prone, from my ARTHUR MERVYN.- 'my inexperience, to rely upon profeffions, and confide in appearances, and unaware that I could be placed in any condition in which mere filence refpecling my felf could be in- jurious or criminal, I made no fcruple to promife compliance with his wifhes. Nay, I went farther than this I defired to be accurately informed as to what it was proper to conceal. He anfwered that my filence might extend to every thing anterior to my arrival in the city, and my being incorporated with his family. Here our converfation ended, and I retired to ruminate on what had pafTed. I derived little latisfadion from my reflec- tions. I began now to perceive inconveniences that might arife from this precipitate promife. Whatever mould happen in confequence of my being immured in the chamber, and of the lofs of my clothes and of the portrait of my friend, I had bound myfelf to filence. Thefe inquietudes, however, were tranfient. I trufted that thefe events would operate aufpicioufly ; but my curiofity was now c 2 awakened 124 ARTHUR MERVYN. awakened as to the motives which Welbeck could have for exacting from me this con- cealment. To act tinder the guidance of another, and to wander in the dark, ignorant whither -my pnh tended, and what effects might flow from my agency, was a new and irkfome filiation. From tbefe thoughts I was recalled by a mef- fae from Welbeck. He e;ave me a folded O G paper, which he requefted me to carry to No. South Fourth Street. " Enquire,'* faid he, the day before yefterday it was in mine. I loft it by a ftrange accident; and as I deem it of ineftimable value, I hope you will have no objection to reftore it." During this fpeech the lady's countenance exhibited marks of the utmoft perturba- tion. tf Your picture !" me exclaimed ; " you loft it ! How ? Where ? Did you know that perfon ? What has become of him ?" I knew him well," faid I.. " That: picture was executed by himfelf.. He gave k to me with his own hands j and till the moment I unfortunately loft it, it. was my dear and perpetual companion." '' Good Heaven !" fhe exclaimed with increafing vehemence, " where did you mtet with him ? What is become of him ? Is he dead or alive ?" Thffc appearances fulHciently fhewed me that Clavering and this lady were connected by ARTHUR MERVYff. 13 I by Come ties of tendernefs. I anfwered that he was dead; that my mother and myfelf were his attendants and nurfes, and that this portrait was his legacy to me. This intelligence melted her into tears; and it was fome time before fhe recovered ftrength enough to reftime the converfation. She then enquired when and where it was that he died ? e ' c How did you lofe this por- trait ? It was found wrapped in forne coarfe clothes, lying in a ftall in the market-houfe en Saturday evening. Two negro women, fervants of one of my friends-, drolling through, the market, found it, and brought it to their miftrefs, who,, recognifing the por- trait, fent it to me. To whom did that bundle belong? Was it your's." Thefe queitions. reminded me of. the painful predicament in which I now flood. I had promifed Welbeck to conceal from every one my former condition ; but to explain in what manner this bundle was loft, and how my intercourfe with Clavcring had, taken place, was to violate this promife. It c 6 was 132 ARTHUR MERVYN. was pofiible, perhaps, to efcape the con- feffion of the truth by equivocation. Falfe- hocds were eafily invented, and might lead her far away from my true condition ; but I was wholly unufed to equivocation never yet had a lie polluted my lips. I was not weak enough to be aihamed of my origin. This lady had an intereft in the fate of Clavering, and might juftly claim all the information which I was able to impart ; yet to forget the compact which I had fo lately made, and an adherence to which might poffibly be in the highrft degree beneficial: to me and to Wclbeck, I was willing to adhere to it, provided falichood could be avoided. Thefe thoughts rendered me filent. The pain of my embarraffment amounted almolt to agony. I felt the keeneft regret at my own precipitation in claiming the picture: its value to me was altogether imaginary. The arilfHan which this lady had borne the original,, whatever was the fource of that O f affec.iion, would prompt her to cherifh the ARTHUR MERVYN. copy; and, however precious it was in 'my eyes, I mould cheerfully refign it to her. In the confufion of my thoughts, an ex- pedient fuggefted icfelf fufficiently inartificial and bold. Here fucceeded a new paufe. The courfe of his thoughts Teemed now to become once more tranquil. Sadnefs, rather than fury, overfpread his features j and his accent, when he fpoke to me, was not faltering, but folemn. " Mervyn," faid he, " you comprehend not this fcene. Your youth and inexperience make you a ilranger to a deceitful and flagi- tious world. You know me not. It is time that this ignorance ihould vanim. The knowledge of me and my actions may be of ufe to you it may teach you to avoid the fhoals on which my virtue and my peace have been wrecked ; but to the reft of man- kind it can be of no ufe. The ruin of my fame is perhaps irretrievable ; but the height of my iniquity need not be known. I perceive in you a rectitude and firmnefs worthy to be trufted ; promife me, therefore, that not a fyllable of what I tell you mail ever pafs your lips.'* I had lately experienced the inconvenience of a promife j but I was now confufed, embarrafled, ARTHUR MERVYtt. 1J I tmbarraffed, ardently inquifitive as to the nature of this fcene, and unapprized of the motives that might afterwards occur, per- fuading or compelling me to difclofure. The promife which he exacted was given. He refumed " I have detained you in my fervice, partly for your own benefit, but chiefly for mine. I intended to inflict upon you injury, and to do you good. Neither of rhefe ends can I now accomplifli, unlefs the leflons which my example may inculcate, fhall in- fpire you with fortitude, and arm you wich caution. '" What it was that made me thir, I know not. I am not deftitute of under- Handing. My third of knowledge, though irregular, is ardent. I can talk and feel as virtue and juftice prefcribe; yet the tenor of my a&ions has been uniform. One tifiue of iniquity and folly has been my life, while my thoughts have been familiar with enlightened and difinterefted principles. Scorn and deteftation I have heaped upon i 2 myfel ARTHUR MERVYN- rnyfelf. Yefterday is remembered with re- morfe ; to-morrow, is contemplated with anguifo and fear; yet every day is pro- duftive of the fame crimes and of the fame follies. tc I was left by the infolvency of my father (a trader of Liverpool) without any means of fupport but fuch as labour mould afford me. Whatever could generate pride and the love of independence, was my portion. Whatever could incite to diligence, was the growth of my condition j yet my indolence was a curelefs difeafe, and there were no arts too fordid for me to practiie. " I was content to live on the bounty of a kinfman. His family was numerous, and his revenue fmall. He forbore to upbraid me, or even to infmuate the propriety of providing formyfelf; but he empowered me to purfue any liberal or mechanical pro- feffion which might luh my taile. 1 was infenfible to every generous motive, I laboured to forget my dependant and dif- graceful condition, becaufe the remembrance was a fource of anguifh, without being able to ARTHUR MERVVtf. 175 to infpire me with a fteady refolution to change it. " I. contracted an acquaintance with a woman who was unchafte, perverfe, and malignant. Me, however, me found it no difficult tafk to deceive. My uncle remon- flrated againft the union. He took infinite pains to unveil my error, and to convince me that wedlock was improper for one de- ftitute as I was of the means of iupport, even if the object of my choice were per- fonally unexceptionable. " His reprefentations were liftened to with anger. That he thwarted my will in this refpect, even by affectionate expoftula- tion, cancelled all that debt of gratitude which I owed to him. I rewarded him for all his kindnefs by invective and difdain, and haftened to complete my ill-omened marriage. I had deceived the woman's father by afTertions of pofieffing fecret re- fources. To gratify my paffion, I defcended to diffimulation and falfehood. He admitted me into his family as the hufband of his child j but the character of my wife, and i 3 the 174 ARTHUR MERVYN. the fallacy of my affertions were quickly difcovered. He denied me accommodation under his roof, and I was turned forth to the world, to endure the penalty of my ram- nefs and my indolence* ct Temptation would have moulded me into any villanous fhape. My virtuous theories and comprehenfive erudition would not have faved me from the bafeft of crimes. Luckily for me, I was, for the prefent, ex- empted from temptation. I had formed an acquaintance with a young American Cap- tain. On being partially informed of my fituation, he invited me to embark with him for his own country. My pafiage was gra- tuitous, i arrived in a fhort time at Charlefton, which was the place of his, abode. " He introduced me to his family, every member of which was, like himfelf, imbued with affeclion and benevolence. I was treated like their Ion and brother. I was hofpitably entertained until I mould be able to felect fome path of lucrative induftry. Such ARTHUR MERVYW. 17$ Such was my incurable depravity, that I made no hafte to felect my purfuit. An interval of inoccupation fucceeded, which. I applied to the word purpofes. " My friend had a filter who was married; but, during the abfence of her hufband, rcfided with her family. Hence originated our acquaintance. The pureft of human hearts, and the mod vigorous underftanding were her's. She idolized her hufband, who well deferved to be the object of her adora- tion, Her affection for him, and her general principles, appeared to s be confirmed beyond the power to be maken. I fought her in- tercourfe without illicit views ; I delighted in the effufions of her candour, and the flafhes of her intelligence j I conformed, by a kind of inftinctive hypocrify, to her views; I fpoke and felt from the influence of imme- diate and momentary conviftion. She ima- gined fhe had found in me a friend worthy to partake in all her fympathies, and forward all her \vifhes. We were mutually deceived. She was the victim of fclf-delufion ; but I i 4 mult 176 ARTHUR MERVYW. muft charge myfelf with pra&ifing deceit both upon myfelf and her. te I reflect with aftonimment and horror on the fteps which led to her degradation and to my calamity. In the high career of paffion all confequences were overlooked. She was the dupe of the moft audacious fophiftry, and the grofleft delufion. I was the flave of fenfual impulfes and voluntary blindnefs. The erTVct may be eafily con- ceived. Not till fymptoms of pregnancy began to appear, were our eyes opened to the ruin which impended over us. " Then J began to revolve the confe- quences which the mift of paffion had hitherto concealed. I was tormented by the pangs of remorfe, and purfucd by the phantom of ingratitude. To complete my defpair, this unfortunate lady was apprized of my mar- riage with another woman a circumftance which I had anxioufly concealed from her. She fled from her father's houfe at a time when her hufband and brother were hourly expected. What became of her I know not. She ARTHUR MERVYN. 177 She left behind her a letter to her father, in which the melancholy truth was told. " Shame and remorfe had no power over my life. To elude the ftorm of invective and upbraiding, to quiet the uproar of my mind, I did not betake myfelf to voluntary death. My pufillanimity (till clung to this wretched exiftence. I abruptly retired from the fcehe, and, repairing to the port, em- barked in the firft veffel which appeared. The fhip chanced to belong to Wilmington, in Delaware j and here I fought ouc an obfcure and cheap abode. " I poflfefled no means of fubfiftence. I was unknown to my neighbours, and defired to remain unknown. I was unqualified for manual labour by all the habits of my life j but there was no choice between penury and diligence between honeft labour and cri- minal inactivity. I mufed inceflantly on the forlornnefs of my condition. Hour after hour patted, and the horrors of want began to encompafs me. i foughr with eagernefs for an avenue by which I mignt efcape from it. 15 The 178 ARTHUR MERVYN. The perverfenefs of my nature led me on from one guilty thought to another. I took, refuge in my cuftomary fophiftries, and re- conciled myfelf at length to a fcheme of forgery I CHAP. X. t * THE TALE CONTINUED* < JnLAVINGr ascertained my purpofe, it was requifite to fearch out the means by which I might effect it. Thefe were not clearly or readily fuggefled. The more I contem- plated my project, the more numerous and arduous its difficulties appeared. I had no aflfociates in my undertaking. A due regard to my fafety, and the unextinguifhed fenfe of ARTHUR MERVYN. 179 fhonour deterred me from feeking auxiliaries and co-agents. The efteem of mankind was the fpririg of all my activity, the parent of all my virtue and all my vice. To preierve this, it was necefTary that my guilty projects fhould have neither witnefs nor partaker. " I quickly difcovered that to execute this- fcheme demanded time, application, and money ; none of which my prefent (ituation would permit me to devote to it. At firft it appeared that an attainable degree of fkill and eircumfpection would enable me to arrive,, by means of counterfeit bills, to the pinnacle of affluence and honour. My error was detected by a cloier fcrutiny j and I finally faw nothing in this path but enormous perils, and infurmountable impediments. " Yet what alternative was offered me ? To maintain myfelf by the labour of my hands,, to perform any toilfbme or prefcribed tafk* was incompatible with my nature. My habits debarred me from country occupations. My pride regarded as vile and ignominious i 6 drudgery, l8o ARTHUR MERVYN. drudgery, any employment which the town could afford. Meanwhile, my wants were as urgent as ever, and my funds were ex- haufted. " There are few, perhaps, whofe external iituation refembled mine, who would have found in it any thing but incitements to in- duftry and invention. A thoufand methods of fubfiftence, honeft, but laborious, were at my command ; but to thefe I entertained an irreconcileable averfion. Eafe, and the refpedt attendant upon opulence, I was willing to purchafe at the price of ever- wakeful fufpicion and eternal remorfe 3 but* even at this price, the purchafe was im- poflible. " The defperatenefs of my condition became hourly more apparent. The further I ex- tended my view, the darker grew the clouds which hung over futurity. Anguifli and infamy appeared to be the infeparable con- ditions of my exigence. There was one mode of evading the evils that impended. To ARTHUR MEKVYff. To free myfelf from felf- upbraiding, and to fhun the perfections of my fortune, was poffible only by (baking off life icfelf. J by whom I had been fo eminently benefited, and whofe kindnefs I had compenfated by the ruin of his filler, and the confufion of his family. " An interview with this man was lefs- to be endured, than to look upon the face of an avenging Deity. I was determined to- avoid this interview, and for this end to- execute my fatal purpofe within the hour. My papers were collected with a tremulous hand, and configned to the flames. I then, bade my landlord inform all vifitants that I fhould not return till the next day, and once more flattened towards the river. " My way led pad the inn where one of the ftages from Baltimore was accuftomed to ftop. 1 was not unaware that Watfon had poflibly been brought in the coach which had recently arrived, and which now flood before ARTHUR KERVYN.. r8j before the door of the inn. The danger of my being defcried or encountered by him as I patted, did not fail to occur. This was to be eluded by deviating from the main ftreet. " Scarcely had I turned a corner for this purpofe, when I was accoffed by a young man, whom I knew to be an inhabitant of the town, but with whom I had hitherto had no intercourfe but what confided in* a tranfient falutation. He apologized for the liberty of addrefling me, .and at the fame time enquired if I underftood the French language. Cf Being anfwered in the affirmative, he proceeded to tell me that in the ftage juftr arrived, had come a paflenger a youth who appeared to be French, who was wholly unacquainted with our language, and who had been feized with a violent difeafe. " My informant had felt' companion for the forlorn condition of the ftranger, and had juft been feeking me at my lodgings^ in hopes that my knowledge of French would 14 ARTHUR MERVYN. would enable me to converfe with the fick man, and obtain from him a knowledge of his fituation and views, " The apprehenfions I had precipitately formed were thus removed, and I readily confented to perform this fervice. The youth was indeed in a deplorable con- dition. Befides the pains of hisdifeafe, he was overpowed by dejection. The innkeeper \vas extremely anxious for the removal of his gueft j he was by no means wi.ling to fuftain the trouble and expence of a fick or a dying man, for which it was fcarcely probable that he mould ever be reimburfed. The traveller had no baggage, and his drefs. betokened the prefTure of many wants. an American Captain, for whom he had con- tracted a friendfhip. The veffel was bound to Philadelphia j but the conduct me was to purfue, and the abode me was to felect on her arrival, were known only to the father, whofe untimely death involved the fon in confiderable uncertainty with regard to his filter's fate. His anxiety on this account induced him to feize the firft conveyance that offered. In a fhort time he landed at Bal- timore. f As foon as he recovered from the fatigues of his voyage, he prepared to go to Phila- delphia: thither his baggage was imme- diately fent under the protection of a paffenger and countryman. His money confided of Portuguefe gold, which, in purfuance of advice* lS8 ARTHUR MERVYJT. advice, he had changed into bank-note$r He befought me, in pathetic terms, to fearch out his fitter, whofe youth, poverty, and ignorance of the language and manners of the country might expofe her to innumerable hardships. At the fame time he put a pocket-book and a'fmall volume into my hand, indicating, by his countenance and geftures, his defue that I would deliver them to his fitter. " His obfequies being decently performed, I had kifure to reflect upon the change in my condition which this incident had produced* In the pocket-book were found bills to the amount of twenty thoufand dollars. The volume proved to be a manufcript, written by the elder Lodi in Italian, and contained memoirs of the Ducal houfe of Vifconti, from whom the writer believed himfelf to have lineally defcended. " Thus had I arrived, by an avenue fo much beyond my forefight, at the polfcffion of wealth. The evil which impelled me to the brink of fuicide, and which was the fource, ARTHUR MERVYN. 189 fource, though not of all, yec of the larger portion of my anguifh, was now removed. What claims to honour or to cafe were con- f-quent on riches, were, by an extraordinary fortune, now conferred upon me. " Such for a time were my new-born, but tranfitory raptures. I forgot that this money was not min? that it had been received under every fanclion of fidelity for another's ufe. To retain it was equivalent to robbery. The fitter of the deceafed was the rightful claimant: it was my duty to fcarch^her out, and perform my tacit, but facred obli- gations, by putting the whole into her pof- femon.