I was twenty-one years of age the 11th of September 1767, the election was over the latter end of March 1768. It was in this year that my new mafter's wife insisted on my purchafing milk of a milk-maid who was a customer at the fhop; which command I refused to comply with, as I had a smart little milk-maid of my own. But as my miftrefs wore the breeches, my mafter was obliged, by his wife's order, to inform me that I must comply with her mandate, or get another master. I left him without hesitation; and the fame afternoon went to Wellington, took leave of my father and mother, and informed them of my intention to go to Bristol. After two or three days, I returned back to Taunton, where I stayed a day or two more. In which time I became enamoured with, or infatuated by, the beautiful Nancy Trott: and although I saw the impropriety of the measure, yet I could not refift the fair tempter, who prevailed with me to permit her to accompany me in my journey.

"Reafon

"Reason was given to curb our headstrong will,
"And yet but shews a weak physician's skill;
"Gives nothing while the raging fit does laft,
"But stays to cure it when the worst is past.
"Reafon's a staff for age, when Nature's gone;
"But Youth is ftrong enough to walk alone."
DRYDEN'S Con. of Gran.

We refted a week in Bridgewater, where I worked and got money to convey us to Exbridge, feventeen miles on this fide Bristol; and there I saw my conduct in fuch a point of view as made me refolve to leave her.

"In well-feign'd accidents, now they hail my ear,

My life, my love, my charmer, or my dear."

"As if these founds, these joylefs founds could prove
"The fmalleft particle of genuine love.

"O! purchas'd love, retail'd through half the town.
"Where each may fhare on paying half-a-crown;

"Where every air of tenderness is art,

"And not one word the language of the heart;
"Where all is mockery of Cupid's reign,

"End in remorfe, in wretchednefs and pain.

Art of living in London.

My finances amounted to three fhillings and one penny, out of which I gave her half-a

crown,

crown, and with the remaining fevenpence, without informing her of my purpose, I fet off for Briftol; where I arrived in a few hours, and got work the fame evening.

A few days after, I went to the inn where the Taunton carrier put up, to enquire after Mifs Trott, as I wanted to know if she had returned fafe to Taunton. I was informed that she was in Bristol nearly as foon as I was. Knowing but little of the world, and ftill lefs of women of her defcription, I was quite unhappy on her account, for fear that being in a strange place she might be in want and distress; which thought induced me to offer to several of my countrymen five fhillings to the first who should bring me an account where I might find her; but I did not fee her until feveral weeks after that.

The Taunton Carrier gave me a letter from my good Mistresfs Bowden (who by marrying again had changed her name to Dingle). The contents of this letter very much furprised me. It informed me that a day or two

The

before I fell out with my last mistress (which was the trifling caufe of my leaving Taunton) Betty Tucker, a common lafs, had fworn a child to me; that the parish officers had been to my mafter's fhop within an hour after I had left it to go to Wellington, and that they had been at Wellington just as I had left that place, and afterwards hearing that I was in Bridgewater they had pursued me thither. But the morning on which they arrived, I had fet off for Exbridge; and believing that I had intentionally fled before them, they had given over the chafe for the present.

Reflecting on this affair, although my conduct was very far from entitling me to entertain such a fuppofition, yet I was then weak enough to imagine, that being a particular favourite of heaven a kind of miracle had been wrought to fave me from a prison, or from marrying a woman I could not bear the idea of living with a fingle week; and as I had not any knowledge of her being

with child (not having seen her for three months before) I had not taken any measure to avoid the confequence, but put myself in the way of the officers: for, as I have just told you, after I had taken leave of my father and mother, I went back to Taunton, and walked about publicly one whole day, and part of another.

This girl was delivered about two months afterwards of a ftill-born child, fo that I was never troubled for expences.

are ready to fay with Pomfret,

Methinks you

" "Tis easy to descend into the snare,
"By the pernicious conduct of the Fair:
"But fafely to return from their abode

Requires the wit, the prudence of a God.”

1 am,

Dear Friend,

Yours, &c.

LETTER