This girl was delivered about two months afterwards of a still-born child, so that I was never troubled for expenses. Methinks you are ready to say with Pomfret, "'Tis easy to descend into the snare, I am, dear friend, yours. LETTER XII. "Terror in dreams the anxious mother moves, DEAR FRIEND, MR PRALL. THE subject of my last recalls to my mind a ridiculous affair which excited much mirth in that part of the country. During the election at Taunton, a gentleman one day came in a post-chaise to the White Hart inn, kept by Mr Baldwin, and after having refreshed himself, strolled into the yard, and seeing the ostler, asked him if he could inform him where they took in the news? The ostler, understanding him in a literal sense, directed him to a bookseller's shop on the opposite side of the way; this shop was kept by Miss 85 A-d-n, a beautiful young lady of irreproachable character, and one whose fine understanding and polished taste did honour to the profession; which profession she only adopted for an amusement, as she possessed an independent fortune. Our gentleman, on entering the shop, enquired of the shopmaid for her mistress; but the maid, being used to serve in the shop, and knowing that her mistress had some ladies with her, informed the gentleman that she could help him to anything that he wanted. But on his saying he had some private business with her mistress, he was shown into a back parlour, and the mistress being informed a gentleman wanted to speak to her, she went directly to him. The moment she entered the room, he clasped her in This so his arms, called her a divine creature, &c. alarmed Miss A-d-n, that she screamed aloud; on hearing which, the ladies, preceded by the housemaid and shopmaid, repaired to the parlour, where they found Miss A-d-n almost in fits. The gentleman, thinking it was only a trick to raise her price, took but little notice, on which one of the maids ran out and called in several of the neighbours, who on coming into the parlour, saw with astonishment our sir Harry Wildair taking improper liberties with Miss A-d-n, and desired him to desist. But he desired them not to attempt to put tricks on travellers, and Instead of obeying ordered them to leave the room. his injunctions, they in a resolute tone ordered our spark to go instantly about his business. However he still kept his ground, until the mayor of the town, Mr who happened to live just by, was called in. Mayor demanded to know why he took such freedom with the lady? Our gentleman, seeing that the affair began to look very serious, now became calm, and informed the company that, having an inclination for a frolic, he had inquired for a bad house, and had been directed there; adding, that if there had been any H mistake, he was very sorry for it, and would beg the lady's pardon. On hearing this the company was more surprised than before, and demanded of the gentleman who had informed him that that house was a bad house? He, without hesitation, replied, "The ostler at the White Hart." Upon this the ostler was sent for, and on his being asked if he had directed that gentleman to Miss A-d-n's as to a bad house, the poor fellow, with marks of terror and surprise, answered "No; the gentleman never asked me for a bad house, he only asked me for a house where they took in the news." So that the ostler's understanding him in a literal sense caused all the confusion. The affair however had got so much air, that our spark was glad to leave the town immediately. A very strange unaccountable circumstance happened in this inn about the same time: one of those occurrences that puzzle the philosopher, and strengthen superstition in weak minds. Three or four gentlemen of the neighbourhood were drinking wine in one of the rooms, when the landlord of the inn (as it appeared to them) walked into the room, and coming up to the table around which they were seated, they addressed him with "Mr Baldwin, how do you do? Sit down, and take a glass of wine with us." But instead of doing as requested, the supposed innkeeper walked out of the room, without making any reply; which not only surprised but offended the company, who rang the bell violently, and on the waiter's appearance, they ordered him to send in his master. The waiter informed them that his master was not at home. The gentlemen replied that he was at home a few minutes since, and therefore they insisted on seeing him; but the man assured them they were mistaken, as his master was in Bristol, and had been there several days. They then ordered the waiter to send in Mrs Baldwin, who immediately appearing, the gentlemen asked her where Mr Baldwin was, and she informed them, as the waiter had already done, that he was in Bristol, and had been there for several days: on which the gentlemen grew very angry, and swore that Mr Baldwin had just before come into the room, and on their requesting him to partake of their wine, had insulted them by going out of the room without deigning to give them an answer. Mrs Baldwin then drew out of her pocket a letter she had that 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 must certainly be dead, and that he died at the very instant that the gentlemen saw him come into the room; but Mr Baldwin returning two days after, rendered it necessary for them to vary their story; they then asserted that it was a token or some warning of his death, and had no doubt but it would very soon happen. It was generally thought that Mr Baldwin was weak enough to pay such attention to the story 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 justify the truth of their prediction. A more ridiculous affair happened about ten years since at the Two Bells, opposite Whitchapel church. The landlord was sitting one night with some jovial company, one of whom happening to say that he prayed to God that such a thing should not come to pass, the landlord replied, in a good-humoured manner, "Your prayers will neither do good nor harm;" upon which the other said a deal to persuade the host that his prayers would do great things; but the more he said in praise of his prayers, the more the landlord laughed at and ridiculed him. The man at last insisted 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 constantly laughed at the landlord, and assured him he would lose his wager; and, however strange it may appear, our host did die within the time, and his widow paid the wager. I think there cannot remain a doubt that the ridiculous talk of the fellow actually affected the landlord's mind, and hastened his death; and the following instances tend also to show how easily the lives of some are shortened. Joseph Scales, esq., about five years since, in turning short one day in one of the streets of London, met a man whom he had not seen for some time, and innocently addressed him with, "Ha! what are you alive yet!" which had such an effect on the poor man that he died a few hours after. Being at Bristol about four years since, I inquired 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 hastened by a famous fortune-teller who, having cast his nativity, declared he would die within six months, which affected his mind so as to accomplish the prediction. The story of the late Dr Pitcairn, of Edinburgh, and the collier, is well known. This strong healthy collier was, on his way to Edinburgh, made to believe by the doctor's students, although in perfect health, that he was really very ill, and went home to bed and died. I have set down the above instances, in order to show how easy it is to trifle away the lives of our fellow-creatures; and surely such who wantonly do it, must afterwards have very gloomy reflections. I am, dear friend, yours |