for the truth of it.

However," added he, "at all events you must be a gainer by playing with my partner, whofe confequence ftamps merit where there is none, and in"creases it where there is."

I was greatly difpleafed at the deception which had been practifed upon me, although I was not, from my refentment to Mr. Rich, forry for the confequences; and the Manager and I parted. not on the best terms-Such a palpable impofition, founded on chicanery and falfehood muft not pass unnoticed.Little reafon has a man to boast of his cunning, when his fchemes are effected at the expence of truth, and at the price of his honour.-My blood boils in my veins at the recollection. There is no calamity that I could not bear with patience, fooner than to be tricked, even into that for which I moft wifhed. There is fuch a meannefs in deception, that my nature recoils at it. And as I am incapable of it myself, I can forgive it the lefs readily in others-But-requiefcat in pace. May he reft in peace.-It is the deed, and not the man, that is the object of my indignation.

The fame day, juft as I was fitting down to dinner, Mr. Rich and Mr. Bencroft came in. He faluted me with his ufual friendship; but as there was other company, we could not fpeak of bufinefs before we had dined. As foon as we found an opportunity, he inform

ed

ed me that he had engaged Mr. Barry, and had brought with him articles for me to fign. I asked him why it was neceffary I fhould fign an agreement now, fuppofing I was to be of his company, as I never before had? He started at the word fuppofing; and repeating it, faid, he hoped it was no fuppofition. Upon which I acquainted him that I had actually figned an agreement, that very morning, with Mr. Lacy, in confequence of hearing from him, that Mrs Cibber was engaged at Covent-Garden.

I will not pretend to defcribe Mr. Rich's feelings on receiving this information. He looked at me, for fome time, as if he wifhed to difbelieve it. I really felt for him; and again execrated in my mind the fiend-like wretch who had occafioned his disappointment; whilft he perhaps was triumphing in the fuccefs of his fallacy, and enjoying the most pleasing ideas, unconscious of the dearnefs of their purchase. Is it right that deception fhould be rewarded; while the well meaning dupe is a prey to uneafinefs and dejection ? there must be an hereafter; if but to vindicate the justness of that Being who permits this feeming injustice.

Mr. Rich now told me, that he had withftood the most urgent folicitations from Mr. Barry relative to an engagement with Mrs. Cibber, as she had offered to come to Covent Garden for feven hundred pounds, which

was

was lefs than fhe had at Drury-Lane the winter before. The laft feafon, she had not been able to play, through indifpofition. He added, that to fhew his regard for me, and the fincerity of his intentions, he had brought articles with him for three years. at five, fix, and feven hundred pounds annually. He produced the agreement, which he had got drawn up the preceding day,. having then abfolutely refused to enter into any engagement whatfoever with Mrs. Cibber. "And now," continued he, "muft I "be obliged to give her any terms fhe fhall. "demand."

Upon this explanation, I was equally dif treffed with Mr. Rich; and fincerely wished I could recall what I had done, not only because the agreement I had entered into with Mr.. Lacy was but for three hundred pounds a year, but on account of Mr. Barry's excellence in performing the characters of lovers, which was the line of acting fuited to my figure, youth, and powers.

Tho' Mr. Lacy's conduct in this tranfaction. is not to be juftified, yet I must take fomefhare of blame to myfelf, from the precipitation with which I engaged with him.Precipitation, as I have before obferved, is the grand bane of happiness-Had I adhered to the refolution I had formerly made, of confulting my friend, Mr. Quin, upon every step of confequence I was about to take, all

then

then would have been well. I fhould have difcovered the fallacy of my temper, and have been upon my guard against any impofition that might have been defigned. Instead of which, by giving way to the first transports of my refentment, without knowing whether it was well founded or not, I precipitately committed an error fo much to my own difadvantage, and Mr. Rich's vexation.

G. A. B.

UPO

LETTER XLIPI.

September 27, 17

PON my arrival in town from Rich→ mond, I found that the ambaffadors ftill continued in their refolution of fetting up a Pharoah bank. As I was determined that every thing fhould be conducted in an elegant style, I engaged Goundu, the most eminent cook of his time; and O'Bryen happening to be in a bad state of health, I hired his wife alfo to attend upon me as my French

woman.

Having borrowed fome money to make up my quota of a thousand pounds, we fet off in a very splendid manner. The Marquis de Vernueil or myself always dealt. We were fuccessful, as the bank was rich. But notwithstanding we always won, I only obferved one person that feemed to regret their ill

fuccefs,

fuccefs; and that was the Marquis of Granby. It could not be fuppofed that this diffatisfaction arose from his want of money. He never knew the love of that, any more than my- · self. It was rather an impatience in his temper, which threw him off his guard, and added to his ill luck.

- Mr. Metham writing me word that he fhould not be in town till Christmas, I was enabled to carry on our scheme fo much the longer. Our petit foupers, and convivial parties, drew all the gay, fluttering, unthinking, young people of fashion to us. They procured me the happinefs of being introduced to the honourable Mifs Moftyns, with whom General Wall was very intimate. The eldeft of thofe ladies. poffeffed an understanding fuperior to moft of her fex. And without youth or beauty, the company of all of them was eagerly folicited by every one that had a tafte for genteel fociability. They were named, out of pleasantry, as they were formed rather in a spiral than a direct line, Crimp, Crump and Crumpling.

In a fhort time I had been fuch a gainer by our bank, that I was not only enabled to redeem my jewels, but to pay my debts, and put fome hundreds into my pocket; notwithstanding the great expence I was at. The General and Comte frequently made me prefents of wine, chocolate, &c. &c. and had not my theatrical avocations called me