-The little dogs and all,

Hundred;' a circumftance most artfully introduced to remind us of the first affront he received, and to fix our thoughts on the caufes of his diftraction.

General criticism is on all fubjects ufelefs and unentertaining; but is more than commonly abfurd with respect to Shakespeare, who must be accompanied ftep by step, and fcene by fcene, in his gradual developements of characters and paffions, and whofe finer features muit be fingly pointed out, if we would do compleat justice to his genuine beauties. It would have been ealy to have declared, in general terms, that the madness of Lear was very natural and pathetic; and the reader might then have

bark at me.

He again refumes his imaginary power, and orders them to anatomize Regan; See what breeds about her heart-Is there any caufe in nature that makes thefe hard hearts! You, Sir,' fpeaking to Edgar, I entertain for one of my

multitude of well-known quotations: but then it had been impoffible to exhibit a perfect picture of the fecret workings and changes of Lear's mind, which vary in each fucceeding paffage, and which render an allegation of each particular fentiment abfolutely neceffary.

VIRG.

DRYDEN.

SIR,

TO THE ADVENTURER.

Will not anticipate the fubject of this letter, by artling the motives from which I have written it; nor fhall I expect it to be published, if, when you have read it, you do not think that it contains more than one topic of inftruction.

My mother has been dead fo long that I do not remember her; and when I was in my eighteenth year, I was left an orphan with a fortune of twenty thoufand pounds at my own difpofal. I have been often told, that I am handfome; and I have some reasons to believe it to be true, which are very far from gratifying my vanity or conferring happiness. I was foon addreffed by many lovers, from among whom I felected Hilario, the elder brother of a good family, whofe

paternal eftate was fomething more than equivalent to my fortune.

Hilario was univerfally admired as a man of fenfe; and, to confefs the truth, not much leis as a man of pleasure, His character appeared to rife in proportion as it was thought to endanger those about him; he derived new dignity, not only from the filence of the men, but the blushes of the ladies; and thofe whofe wit or virtue did not suffer by the admiffion of fuch a gueft, were honoured as perfons who could treat upon equal terms with a hero, who was become formidable by the number of his conquests: his company, therefore, was courted by all whom their fears did not reftrain; the reft confidered him as moving in a sphere above them, and in proportion as they were able to imitate him, they became vicious and petulant in their own circle.

He had ordered his chariot at cleven: I, therefore, wrapped myself up in an undrefs, and fat alone in my room till I faw him drive from the door. I then came down, and as foon as he had turned into St. James's Street, which was not more than twenty yards, I went after him, and meeting with a hackneycoach at the end of the street, I got hatily into it, and ordered the driver to follow the chariot at some distance, and stop when it stopped.

I pulled up both the windows; and after half an hour spent in the most tormenting fufpence and anxiety, it stopped at the end of Tavistock Street. I looked haftily out of the window, hiding my face with my handkerchief, and faw Hilario alight at the distance of about forty yards, and go into a warehouse of which I could eafly distinguish the fign. I waited till he caine out, and as foon as the chariot was out of fight, I discharged the coach, and going immediately to the warehouse that Hilario had left, I pretended to want a habit for myfelf. I faw many lying upon the counter, which I fuppofed had been brought out for Hilario's choice; about thefe, therefore, I was very inquifitive, and took particular notice of a very rich Turkish drefs, which one of the fervants took up to put away. When I faw he was about to remove it, I asked haftily whether it was hired, and learned with unspeakable fatisfaction, that it had been chofen by the gentleman who was just gone. Thus far I fucceeded to the utmolt of my hopes, not only by difcovering Hidario's drefs, but by his choice of one fo very remarkable; for if he had chofen a domino, my fcheme would have been rendered impracticable, becaufe in a domino I could not certainly have diftinguifhed him from others.

As I had now gained the intelligence I wanted, I was impatient to leave the fhop; which it was not difficult to do, as it was just filled with ladies from two coaches; and the people were in a hurry to accommodate them. My drefs did not attract much notice, nor promife

When I got into the street, I confidered that it would not have been prudent to have hired a habit, where Hilario would either come to dress, or fend for that which he had hired for himself: I, therefore, took another coach at the end of Southampton Street, and went to a fhop near the Hay-market, where I had before purchased a capuchin and fome other trifles, and where I knew habits were to be hired, though not in fo public a manner as at other places.

I now returned home; and fuch was the joy and expectation which my fuccefs infpired, that I had forgot I had fucceeded only in an attempt, for which I could find neither motive nor apology but in my wretchedness.

During the interval between my return and the time when the doors of the theatre were to be opened, I fuffered the utmoft inquietude and impatience. I looked every moment at my watch, could fcarce believe that it did not by fome accident go too flow, and was continually listening to difcager whether it had not. stopped: but the lingering hour at length arrived; and though I was among the firit that entered, yet it was not long before I fingled out my victim, and found means to attract his regard.

I had, when I was at fchool, learned a way of expreffing the alphabet with my fingers, which I have fince discovered to be more generally known than at that time I imagined. Hilario, during his courtship, had once obferved me uting it to a lady who had been my fchool-te.low, and would never let me rest till had taught it him. In this manner I faw my Turk converfing with a Nun, from whom he fuddenly turned with an appearance of vexation and disappointment. I thought this a favourable opportunity to accoft him; and, therefore, as he paffed by me, I pulled him gently by the fleeve, and fpelt with my angers the words I understand.' Át firit I was afraid of being difcovered by thewing my art; but I reflected, that it would effectually fecure me from being difco vered by my voice, which I confidered as the more formidable danger. I perceived that he was greatly pleafed; and after a very fhort converfation, which he feemed to make a point of continuing in the manner I had begun, an affignation

was made, in confequence of which we proceeded in chairs to a bagnio near Cov.at Garden. During this journey my nd was in great agitation; and it is celt to determine whether pleasure e pain was predominant. I did not,

however, fail to anticipate my triumph in the confufion of Hilario; I conceived the manner and terms in which I would addrefs him, and exult in the fuperiority which I should acquire by this op pofition of his character to mine.

ANIMORUM

Hmy chair was brought into the en

E was ready to receive me when

my

ry; and, giving me his hand, led me aily up itairs. As foof as we entered the room he hut the door, and, taking of his mask, run to me with the utmoft rpatience to take off mine. This was he important moment; but at this moment I difcovered, with inexpreffible afonifhment and terror, that the perfon with whom I was alone in a brothel was not Hilario, but Caprinus, a wretch whom I well remember to have feen among the rakes that he frequently brought to his table.

At this fight, fo unexpected, and fo dreadful, I fhrieked aloud, and threw myfelf from him into an eafy-chair that food by the bed-fide. Caprinus, probably believing I had fainted, hartily tore away my mafk to give me air. At the firft view of my face, he started back, and gazed at me with the fame wonder that had fixed my eyes upon him. But our amazement was the next moment increased; for Hilario, who had fucceeded in his intrigue, with whatever lady, happened to be in the next room, and either alarmed by the voice of diftrefs, or knowing it to be mine, rushed in at the door which few open before him; but, at the next ftep, itood fixed in the fame ftupor of aftonishment which bad feized us. After a moment's recollection, he came up to me; and, dragging me to the candle, gazed itedfaftly in my face with a look fo frightful as never to be forgotten; it was the pale counteLance of rage, which contempt had diftorted with a finile; his lips quivered, and he told me in a voice fcarce articulate, that though I might well be frighted at having ftumbled upon an acquaintance whom I doubted whether I could trust, yet I should not have

Juv.

fcreamed fo loud. After this infult, he quitted me with as much negligence as he could affume; and bowing obfe- quioufly to Caprinus, told him, he would leave me to his care. Caprinus had not fufficient prefence of mind to reply, nor had I power to make any attempt, either to pacify or retain Hilario.

When he was gone I burst into tears, but was ftill unable to fpeak. From this agony Caprinus laboured to relieve me; and I began to hope, that he fincerely participated my diftrefs: Caprinus, however, foon appeared to be chiefly folicitous to improve what, with refpect to himself, he began to think a fortunate mistake. He had no conception, that intended an affignation with my husband; but believed, like Hilario, that I had mistaken the perfon for whom my favours were intended: while he lamented my diftrefs and difappointment, therefore, he prefied my hand with great ardor, wished that he had been thought worthy of my confidence and my love; and to facilitate his defign upon the wife of his friend, declared himfelf a man of honour, and that he would maintain the character at the hazard of his life.

To fuch an addrefs, in fuch circum. ftances, what could I reply? Grief had difarmed my refentment, and the pride of futpected virtue had forfaken me. I exprefied myfeif, not in reproaches but complaints; and abruptly difengaging myfelf from him, I adjured him to tell me, how he had procured his habit, and whether it had not been hired by Hilario. He feemed to be ftruck with the question, and the manner in which I urged it: 'I

hired it,' faid he, myself, at a warehoufe in Tavistock Street; but when I came to demand it, I was told it had been the fubject of much confufion and dispute. When I made my agree

ment

ment the mafter was abfent; and the fervant neglecting to acquaint him with it at his return, he afterwards, in the absence of the fervant, made the fame agreement with another, but I know not with whom; and it was with great difficulty that he was brought to relinquish his claim, after he had been convinced of the mistake." I now clearly difcovered the fare in which I had been taken, and could only lament that it was impoffible to escape, Whether Caprinus began to conceive my defign, or whether he was indeed touched at my diftrefs, which all his attempts to alleviate increafed, I know not; but he defifted from further protestations and importunity, and at my earnest request procured me a chair, and left me to my fortune.

I now reflected, with inconceivable anguish, upon the change which a few hours had made in my condition. I had left my houfe in the height of expectation, that in a few hours I fhould add to the dignity of an untainted reputation the felicity of conjugal endearments. I returned difappointed and degraded; detected in all the circumftances of guilt, to which I had not approached even in thought; having justified the jealousy which I fought to remove, and forfeited the cfteem which I hoped to improve to veneration. With thiefe thoughts I once more entered my dreffing-room, which was on the fame floor with my chamber, and in lefs than half an hour I heard Hilario come in.

He went immediately to his chamber; and being told that I was in the next room, he locked the door, but did not go to bed, for I could hear him walk backward and forward all the night.

Early in the morning I fent a fealed billet to him by his valet; for I had not made a confidante even of my woman: it contained only a preffing intreaty to be heard, and a folemn afleveration of my innocence, which I hoped it would not be impoffible to prove. He fent me a verbal anfwer, that I might come to hin: to him therefore I went, not as a judge but a criminal; not to accuse him whom I knew to be guilty, but to juftify myself whom I knew to be innocent; and, at this moment, I would have given the world to be restored to that state, which the day before I had thought intolerable.

I found him in great agitation; which

6

yet he laboured to conceal. I therefore hafted to relate my project, the motives from which it was undertaken, and the means by which it had been disappointed. He heard me with calmnefs and attention, tili I related the particular of the habit: this threw him into a new fit of jealoufy; and, ftarting from his featWhat, faid he, have you paid for this intelligence? Of whom could you learn it, but the wretch with whom I 'left you? Did he not, when he found you were disappointed of another, folicit for himself?' Here he paused for my reply; and as I could not deny the fact, I was filent: my inviolable regard for truth was mistaken for the confufion of guilt, and equally prevented my jus tification. His paffion returned with yet greater violence. I know,' faid he, that Caprinus related this incident only that you might be enabled to impofe upon my credulity, and that he might obtain a participation of the favours which you lavished upon others: but I am not thus to be deceived by 'the concurrence of accident with cunning, nor reconciled to the infamy which you have brought upon my name.' With this injurious reproach he would have left me; but I caught hold of him, and intreated that he would go with me to the warehouse, where the teftimony of perfons, wholly difinterefted, might convince him that I was there immediately after him, and enquired which drefs he had chofen. To this request he replied, by afking me, in a peremptory tone, whether Caprinus had not told me where the habit was hired? As I was ftrtick with the fuddennefs and the defign of the queftion, I had not the fortitude to confeís a truth which yet I difdained to deny. Hilario again triumphed in the fuccessful detection of my artifices; and told me, with a fincer of infupportable contempt and derition, that he, who had fo kindly directed me to find my witneffes, was too able a folicitor not to acquaint them what testimony they were to give.

Expoftulation was now at an end, and I difdained to intreat any mercy under the imputation of guilt. All that remained, therefore, was ftill to hide my wretchedness in my bofom; and, if poffible, to preferve that character abroad, which I had loft at home. But this I foon found to be a vain attempt; it was

immediately