you are made a party in it, I fhall be very much displeased.

The Welchman's face changed in a moment, and he protefted he was a man of no skill, if he knew any thing more of the matter than the carver had told him, and whofe words he had already repeated.

Upon the credit of this, I let him into the whole ftory, making him, at the fame time, acquainted with all my designs, views, and pasfions, in regard to Shenstone-Green.

I had no fooner finished my dif course, than this unaccountable man jumped fix or feven inches from his chair, fkipped about the room, as fkippeth a goat over the mountains; and then, fhaking my hand, till we

were

were both red in the face, he caught up his hat, without saying a syllable, and fet off from the house on the full ftretch, running over the hills like a rabbit.

If thou goeft by the way of Shenstone-Green, faid I to myself, and if, peradventure, any of the workmen see thee, then will they fwear the doctor is ten times madder than the patient.

This prophecy was really fulfilled; for, in less than three quarters of an hour, a party of the builders, armed with the inftruments of their trade, had caught up the miferable apothecary, and were escorting him to the manfion-house, that, there, measures might be taken to fend him home to his family in peace.

I no

I no fooner appeared at the door, in order to enquire the cause of this fingular confufion, than the difaftrous furgeon began to fkip, and bound. and fnap his fingers over his head, and fing forth his Welch ditties, with more vigour than ever; but what was, at that time, more ridiculous ftill, the workmen feemed to stand aloof, as if afraid to advance.

At length, Mr. Philip Flourish, the carver and the wit, marched forwards to the head of the troop, and. in a violent voice, for he was occafional a comedian, harangued as follows:

Friends and fellow-workmen,

SUFFER me to tell in the best language I am able, wherefore we are affembled:

Noble

Noble Sir Benjamin Beauchamp! you are our patron, and therein do we bear unto you refpect. Hear me, therefore, for my cause; and do you, carpenters and joiners, be filent that I may be heard. Cenfure me in your wifdom, fir, and awaken those fenfes which we fear you have loft, that you may the better judge. If there be any in this affembly that is the dear friend of Sir Benjamin Beauchamp, to him I fay that Phil. Flourish's love to Sir Benjamin is. no less than his. If then that friend. demand why Brutus, I mean Philip Flourish, rose against our Cæfar, that is to fay, Sir Benjamin Beauchamp, this, in the name of all the 'workmen, is my anfwer:-Not that we loved Sir Benjamin lefs, but that we

love

love our honour more. As Sir Benjamin loves us, I weep for him; as he is throwing away his fortune, I am forry for it; as he is a worthy gentleman, I honour him; but as he feems to be out of his own fenfes, and can put other folks (as this poor apothecary, for inftance) out of their's, we are afraid to come near him. Thus, fir, there are fears for your lofs of wits, honour for your goodnefs, and forrow for your fituation. Who's here fo bafe that would not work for Sir Benjamin Beauchamp? Who's here fo rude that would pick his pocket? Who's here fo vile that does not pity this poor apothecary? I paufe for a reply.

Mr. Philip Flourish having finished his harangue, in the tragic ftyle, I learned