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CHA P. XIX.

MR. SAMUEL SARCASM, THE STEWARD, SETS OUT ON A REMARKABLE JOURNEY.

I

WAITED now only for the ap proach of the next Spring (which was advancing) to people my new village. The workmen were all paid off and discharged, except John Sawe, the worthy exception made by Henry Hewit, and fome few others, who were retained as traders in the fervice of The Green. But the most delicate and embarraffing part of the business yet remained; this was, to announce my intentions to the neceffitous and unhappy, in fuch a manner, as might offer protection unac companied by infult. Here was a

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nice point. I was effectually puzzled. The fteward advised, that I should diftribute a printed hand-bill, in the way of, "Walk in, gentlemen, walk "in, to give way-The Green." At another time, he recommended me to place over the doors fome large figns, either of wood or metal, with the following infcription for the use of travellers: "Entertainment and an

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annuity, for man and horse, here, "GRATIS." But thefe farcafms, you may be fure, I avoided. They were amongst the waggeries woven into that honeft man's conftitution; and fo, in confideration of his other good qualities, I forgave him. Matilda was of opinion, that being for public utility, the advertisement could not be too general; and, therefore,

advised

advised the mode of the News-papers. But this did not feem to me fufficiently delicate. After much deliberation, I refolved upon the following. method, out of many others which feemed to be lefs plaufible, viz. That Samuel fhould be fent with circular letters from me to all my friends, in capital fituations, to recommend fuch of their humble or unhappy acquaintance, as might, upon their experience, deferve a -protection in Shenstone-Green; and alfo, that the like project fhould be feconded by Matilda in the letters which she should fend over town and country at the fame time.

One fair morning therefore, preparations having been made, Mr.

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Samuel Sarcafm clapped the faddlebags across his favourite pad, and was as well laden with letters as any mail whatsoever. But, he had not been absent three days before we received from him the following epistle :

To Sir B. BEAUCHAMP.

SIR,

"LOOKING upon it that I am "charged with fuch a commiffion as "no fteward had ever before in trust, "I am willing it fhould be fo done "as to hand down my name to pof

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terity in a way to do it honour.

Being now, as I take it, on the

"road of immortality, it behoveth 66 me not to ftumble. It is to this “end that I am baiting my horse at "a hedge

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a hedge ale-house, in my way to "London, where most of your letters "are directed. The horse, I fay, fir, "eateth while I write to know the.

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full extent of my commiffion. I for

got to ask certain particulars before "I fet out; fo pray tell me if I am "to go to London right on; or, "whether I may make fuch excur"fions as feem to promife me, in "the vagabond way, any fuccefs? "Am I to take notice of any ragged "tatterdemallions that I may meet, "overtake, or follow upon the road"fuch as beggars, gypfies, &c.-or "am I to let them alone? I have al

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ready paffed feveral very ill-looking "fellows, and as many dirty huffeys, who, I verily believe, would not "refufe to become our penfioners.

66

"There

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