tial folks too-whew they would be fent to prison directly.

I

That is cruel.

Cruel, your Honour-why I tell you you are a nonfuch. I am a good judge. Look ye, fir, I was building up Sir James Ranter's chimneypiece, and a block of marble fell, and lent me fuch a fliver as broke my arm-there's a fcar for you. Wellgot two fhillings for this ftroke from Sir James, and two and twenty damns from the master-bricklayer, who therewithal difcharged me for being carelefs. But when I think of this, fir, my tongue cleaves to the roof of my mouth with revenge; it really makes me dry again. One little drop more, you please, fir.

if

With pleasure-drink heartily.

And

And fo, fir, you will act in contradiction to all the world? You will be a friend to the friendless?

I will.

Then am I a fad fcoundril to waste my time here in talking, when I might be better employed, faving your Honour's remarkable prefence, and when the fooner the work is done the better.

rofe up

Saying this, the man abruptly, made his bows, and ran off with his fledge of marble blocks as if they were fo many feathers.

A mighty action I fhall make of it after all, faid I; here is a poor fellow who labours in the cause, and wishes to finish the work, though his G 3

OWD

own interest depends on its continu

ance.

As I reflected on this matter, I regretted that a long habit of doing nothing, i. e. living like a gentleman, had made it impoffible for me to work myself and pay others at the fame time.

So then, faid I, all the merit I can claim upon this occafion is making a decent use of a large fortune, which came to me by inheritance, without any effort on my part. From this moment I looked on the multitude of workmen, which were variously employed, as more folid benefactors than myself. Whether I ever had reafon to change my opinion will be feen presently. All things in their order.

CHAP.

CHAP. XIV.

MORE WEAKNESS, AND AN EXTRAORDINARY PETITION.

THE

HERE are fingularities in my character, which, at different times, produced great pleasure and pain. As I now paffed by the files of labourers, each earnest in his occupation, I felt for them a genuine respect that led me incontinently to take off my hat, and even bow to feveral as I went along. This must have feemed ludicrous enough, for I perceived every man fufpending his work and looking at me with aftonifhment. How facred are the fillieft customs!

It was not without fome astonishment too, on my part, that I faw Mr. Samuel, the fteward, appear before me the next morning with a very difmal countenance, to tell me of a whisper that was running amongst the workmen not much to my advantage. 'Tis really fuppofed, fir, faid he, that you are a little injured here-pointing to his forehead. Mad, Samuel!

No, no, fir, not abfolutely mad; for, in that cafe, it would not be proper you should go about; only, as it were, shook or fhattered a little at top.

Is it poffible, Samuel?

Most veritable; and they go fo far as to tell me you was feen yester

day