7 morning received from Mr. Baldwin, by which it was apparent, that he really was in Bristol. The story was then told round the neighbourhood, and all the old women concluded that Mr. Baldwin muft certainly be dead, and that he died at the very instant that the gentlemen faw him come into the room; but Mr. Baldwin returning two days after, rendered, it neceffary for them to vary their story; they then afferted that it was a token, or fome warning of his death, and had no doubt but it would very foon happen. It was generally thought that Mr. Baldwin was weak enough to pay fuch attention to the ftory and the inference, as to hurt his health, as he really died within a year after, and the old women were not a little pleased at the event, as it tended to juftify the truth of their prediction. A more ridiculous affair happened about ten years fince, at the two Bells, oppofite Whitechapel Church. The landlord was fitting one night with fome jovial company, one of whom happening to say that he prayed to to God, that fuch a thing should not come to pafs, the landlord replied in a good humoured manner, your prayers will neither do good or harm; upon which the other said a deal to perfuade the hoft that his prayers would do great things; but the more he faid in praise of his prayers, the more the landlord' laughed at, and ridiculed him. The man at laft infifted that he could pray the landlord to death in two months time, and offered to bet him a crown bowl of punch to the truth of it, which the landlord accepting, the wager was laid, and almost every night after this, the man came to the house, and conftantly laughed at the landlord, and affured him that he would lofe his wager; and however ftrange it may appear, our host did die within the time, and his widow paid the wager. I think there cannot remain a doubt but that the ridiculous talk of the fellow actually affected the landlord's mind, and haftened his death, and the following inftances tend alfo to fhew how eafily the lives of fome are fhortened. H 4 Joseph Jofeph Scales, Efq. about five years fince, in turning fhort one day in one of the ftreets of London, met a man whom he had not feen for fome time, and innocently addreffed him with, Ha! what are you alive. yet! which had fuch an effect on the poor man that he died a few hours after. Being at Bristol about four years fince, I enquired after a worthy leatherseller whom I had formerly known, and was informed that he was lately dead, and that his death was supposed to have been haftened by a famous. fortuneteller, who having caft his nativity, declared that he would die within fix months, which affected his mind fo as to accomplish the prediction. The story of the late Dr. Pitcairn, of Edinburgh, and the collier is well known. I have fet down the above inftances, in order to fhew how eafy it is to trifle away the lives of our fellow creatures, and furely fuch who wantonly do it, must afterwards have very gloomy reflections. I am, dear Friend, Yours, &c. LETTER XIII. "I had a Friend that lov'd me: "I was his Soul: he liv'd not but in me. DRYDEN'S All for Love. DEAR FRIEND, IN my laft I mentioned my arrival at Bristol, where I took a lodging in a street, called (I think) Queen-Street, in Caftle-ftreet, at the houfe of a Mr. James; a much more decent refidence, than commonly falls to the lot of journeymen shoemakers. In this house I found a Mr. John Jones, a genteel young man, just turned of twenty-one years of age: He was alfo a fon of Crispin, and made women's ftuff fhoes; which he fold by the dozen to warehouses. This Mr. Jones and I were foon very intimate; we kept ourselves neatly dreffed, and in general worked worked hard, fpending our money chiefly in the company of women. As, "All men have follies, which they blindly trace, POMFRET. We followed this course about four months. During this time Mr. Jones once perfuaded me to go with him to the Playhouse, where we faw Shakespear's fine comedy of " As you like it." This was a feast indeed to me, who had never before seen nor even read any theatrical production. 'Tis impoffible for me to describe my fenfations on the occafion. Between the play and the entertainment (which was the Mayor of Garrat) Mr. Edward Shuter performed a short piece called "The drunken man." This was the only time that I ever faw that extraordinary genius, but he made fuch an impreffion on my mind, that it is impoffible I ever fhould forget him. I believe it is not generally known, and as few would ever have fufpected, that |