vants, and bestowed Largeffes upon the Soldiers, with a princely Magnificence, particularly to those who every Day arrived at Williamstadt from England, yet unacquainted with the Hardships and Fatigues of the War.

We hired a Veffel for ourselves, but, Capt. Sharpley foon after meeting with the Captain of a Man of War of 20 Guns, an old Acquaintance, he got Leave of the Commodore to take us on Board, and ftand over to Harwich ; which he did, and we fafely landed at that Place, in 36 Hours after we weighed from Holland, making Captain Tripfack, our Commander, a very handsome Prefent for his Good-nature and Politeness, and beftowing a confiderable Benefaction upon his Brave and undaunted Seamen.

CHA P. LX.

By

Is accosted by an Acquaintance.-Makes him an bandsome Prefent.-They fet out for London. - Are known at Colchester. whom difcovered.-They arrive in London, -Send for Mr. Prig.-Tender Scene between Thompson and Miss Rich.

E had juft fettled ourselves, and were going

WR

at

to Dinner at the best Inn in the Town, when Word was brought me, that a Gentleman, who had feen us come in, defired to speak to me;

upon

upon which I begged the Favour of the Meffenger to defire him to walk in;-he came, and at his firft Entrance I really did not at all remember him, but he no fooner effayed to pass the usual Compliments upon me, than I, fhaking his Hand with a good deal of Heartinefs, faid, What,- Mr. Brifk, my old Friend, how could you know a Man fo much altered fince you faw him in the Fleet, both in Habit and Perfon? Sir, he replied, it was a long Time before I could recollect you; but, at laft, I did make shift to remember Mr. Thompson, my Master's Friend, whom I left but Yesterday; and he telling me, you was every Day expected from France, it added to my Memory's Ability. I asked him, What brought him down to Harwich? He told me, that, by his Mafter's Recommendation, he was appointed Clerk to the British Commissary in Flanders, and was going to Helvoetfluys in the Pacquet from Harwich, having transacted first fome Business for Mr. Prig at Colchester. I was glad to fee this young Gentleman, to whom I had forgot to be grateful for his former ready and willing Attendance under my Misfortune; and after ftaying him to Dinner, and entertaining him with agreeable Satisfaction, I took him afide, and told him, that I was forry I had not thought of my Obligations to him before I left England; but I hoped he'd excuse me, and that it was not too late to fhew him my Gratitude; upon which I put a Bank

note

note for an Hundred Pounds into his Hands. He blushed, and would have refused the Favour; but I infifted on his Acceptance of it, and told him, that, when he came again to England, I would endeavour to fettle him in his old Profeffion, in which, I was fure, from the Example of Mr. Prig, he would behave fo as to become a Bleffing, and not a Curfe to the World, as too many Attornies were. He was all Rapture at my Kindness, and returned me a Million of Thanks; but, the Pacquet being ready to fail, I had not an Opportunity of further Converfation, and he took his Leave.

The next Day we hired a Coach and a Sett of Horses, and fet out full of Joy for London. We were now upon English Ground, and haftening to the Embraces of our Friends, who I did not doubt were impatient to fee me, and had for a long Time expected my Arrival; tho', as to Captain Sharpley and the Ladies, they could have no Idea of the Arrival of fuch Perfons. Oh! what Floods of rapturous Delight overfpread our Bofoms, the nearer and nearer we approached the Place of our Nativities, or the Scenes that were to terminate our uncommon Adventures, in fo glad fome, fo happy an Union, as we expected foon to experience? At Colchester, when we had juft alighted in the Innyard, I was feized by the Arms of a Gentleman in Boots, who hugged me fo closely, fo fwiftly, and fo eagerly, that I had not Time to difcover who

he

he was, till I heard him repeat, every now and then, My dear Mafter, arrived at laft, my Friend,-my Son, my every thing that is valuable; and then, by the Expreffion and the Voice, I knew it to be my honeft faithful Truman. I returned his Careffes, with an enlivening Fervour, and an Emotion of Heart, that was inexpreffibly touching to me; we fhed Tears, and my Company foon understood, by hearing me repeat,--Dear Truman,-over and over, that he was that worthy Domeftic they had heard me fo often celebrate the Praifes of. We retired into a Room, and I presented him to Sharpley and the Ladies, who careffed him without Meafure; when he approached my Louifa, he started back fome Paces, and, lifting up his Hands and Eyes, turned towards me, and faid, Ah, dear Sir, what do I fee! you are either very happy, or my Fancy has cheated me with an Illufion; fure it is Mifs Rich, whom I have fo often feen in Yorkshire,―arifen from the Dead, and whom you have fo forely, and for fo many Years, fo juftly lamented. Yes, the dear Maid replied, I can't keep fo good a Friend to Mr. Thompson in the Pain of Sufpence: I am that Perfon, and have as fincerely lamented your Mafter, who I thought was loft for ever. Truman fell on his Knees, and kiffed her Hand, again and again, and was fo tranfported, that for fome Time he could only utter fuch dif jointed Sentences, as the Fulnefs of his Joy would permit.

permit. He danced, he fung, and practifed over fo many different Movements of Paffion, that I feared it would turn his Brain. When fomewhat calmer, he, on my Enquiry, told me, Mr. Goodwill and his Spoufe, Mr. and Mrs. Bellair, and Mifs Sukey, were in Town, and that he left them at Mr. Diaper's, where his Son alfo was, in earnest Expectation of my Arrival; that, at their Defire, and from his own Impatience to fee me, he had undertaken to crofs in the Pacquet to Holland, and, having obtained a proper Paffport, to wait upon me at Paris, for which Purpose he had got as far as Colchester on his Way, when he had the good Fortune to meet us in fo furprising and unexpected a Manner. Your Father, Sir, added he, has been in Town twice fince your laft Letters; but is at prefent gone down again to Yorkshire, where he hopes foon to fee you. He did not remember any thing of Sharpley, till he told him who he was, at which he embraced him feelingly, and congratulated his fafe Arrival in England, telling him, his Father was very well, with the whole Family: But, Sir, he continued, is my dear Lady here to be discovered immediately? If I might advise, I would perfuade her to be disguifed, that fhe may fee Sir Walter, without his knowing her, and, which I am fure he'll be ready to do, he may give her to your Arms himself, without knowing he bestows his Daughter upon you, whofe Lofs, and the Injuries he has caufed