history as the ftandard of our language even to the prefent age." Sir Walter alfo wrote many fmall tracts, and feveral poems, which were collected and publifhed in two volumes, 8vo. in 1748. Among thefe pieces are the following, viz. 1. A Difcourfe on the Intention of Shipping; 2. Obfervations concerning the Caufes of the Magnificence and Opulence of Cities: 3. The Prince; or Niaxims of State: 4. A Dialogue between a Counsellor of State, and a Juftice of Peace, concerning the Prerogative of Parliament: 3. Obfervations concerning the Royal Navy and Sea-fervice: 6. Inftructions to his Son, and Pofterity. Hiaries of the Tete-a-Tete annexed: or, 7HEN fo very extraordinary a cha his appearance in elegant life, the curiofity of the public is naturally excited to be acquainted with the moft ftriking memoirs and anecdotes that have diftinguished him in the world: for which reafon we make no farther apology for prefenting our readers with the following Tete-a-Tete. 64 181 in this elevated fphere. The bottle having circulated pretty brifkly, and Morpheus having diftinguished him for his votary, Dick R-by, who was of the party, calling out very vehemently, Waiter, empty the jordan;" our hero jumped up, half afleep, and forgetting upon what footing he then was, ran down ftairs, as it were by intuition, with the whole river overflowing its banks, when unfortunately miffing a ftep, in his hurry and confufion, upon turning the balluttrade, a complete difcharge took place, which reduced him to the neceffity of fending home for dry clothes. As foon as he had re-equipped himfelf, he made his appearance in the company, and apologized for the blunder he had committed, adding, " that as he was dozing, he had entirely forgot himfel." "No, by G-, faid Dick R--by you have not recollected yourfelf, or be twenty years." After thus far having illuftrated our hero's character, the reader may think it time to confider what pretenfions he had to the favour of the ladies, and what fuccefs he met with. In the early part of his life, from the nature of his vocation, he We early meet with our hero in the ca- had frequent intercourfe with the Thais's pacity of an oftler, in Yorkshire, where of that time; but fince his exaltation, he he drew his first breath. A few years after, bad difcontinued his acquaintance with he figured in a more brilliant character, ladies of that complexion, whofe favours that of a waiter at a certain tavern near were to be purchafed at a minute's warnPall-mall. In this menial station he moving. An anecdote relative to him and ed for fome years, and by œconomy, and a ftrict application to his bufinefs (in which he literally played his cards to great advantage) he faved a confiderable fam of money. Being like most other men, emulous of advancing his fortune, and appearing in a fuperior line, he purchased a lot tery ticket, which was drawn amongst the fortunate numbers, it coming up a five thousand pound prize. With this acquifition he quitted his fervile ftate, and commenced wine-merchant. Having by his former faithful fervices, in many particular cafes, that required fome addrefs, obtained the good-will and patronage of feveral noblemen and gentlemen of rank, they now chearfully promoted his intereft, and not only became customers themfelves, but alfo recommended him to their friends. From this lucky combination of circumstances, he rapidly acquired an ample fortune, and began to confider himself upon a par with many of his former patrons, who, finding he made an excellent Butt, when there was a ftagnation of converfation, often admitted him into their company. A whim fical adventure occurred one evening whilft the Daring Magiftrate was Kitty Fisher may not be unacceptable to our readers. Being introduced to that celebrated courtezan at Vaux-hall, after fupper, in the hilarity of his heart, he afked her if he would do him the honour to accept of a pipe of Madeira, which he thought was as good as any in the kingdom: fhe modeftly acquiefced, and the next day the wine was fent to her house. Our hero plumed himself greatly upon this ftroke of gallantry, and had the vanity to boat, he should, that evening, fup with Kitty, and drink fome of his own wine. The gentleman to whom he made this declaration, had been that very morning with the lady in quefiion, who communicated to him the circumftance of the prefent, and concluded with faying, "I fuppofe the dotard thinks to partake of his wine, and my favours, for this compliment-but I can affure you, he shall do neither one nor the other, for I have given ftrict orders that he shall never enter my doors." Our hero being ignorant of this declaration, and the gentleman fmiling at his vanity, his pride was fo hurt, that he offered a wager of fifty pounds, that be should be happy with Kitty within four and twenty hours. The gentle man man nailed him down, and the money was depofited; but, alas! when our hero had decorated himself to the best advantage, adonized in the glafs for upwards of an hour, upon fallying forth to New Norfolkftreet, he foon had the mortification to be informed by Kitty's fervant, that he was gone into the country, and would not be at home for a fortnight It were needlefs to add, that he did not make his appearance at the coffee-houfe, where the wager had been depofited, for fome time; in the mean while, his antagonist coolly pocketed the affront, and prefented Kitty, that very night, with the fruits of his good luck, and his antagonist's folly. There are fome other anecdotes, of a similar nature, related of the Daring Ma giftrate; but we think this fpecimen of his good fortune with the ladies will fuffice for the prefent, as we now propofe introducing our heroine, who it muit be owned has proved infinitely more kind to him. Mrs. Br-n is the daughter of a capital foap-boiler, who, from unforeseen misfortunes, became a bankrupt. Her perfon was elegant and engaging, her eyes captivating, and her lovely treffes were fo many fnares to every male beholder. Add to thefe recommendations, she had received a genteel education, and was remarkably graceful when the figured in a minuet. From this defcription of Mrs. Br-n's perfon and accomplishments, it may eafily be imagined, he had many admirers; but upon the failure of her father, it became expedient that the fhould quit the city, and take refuge with an aunt, who now became her fole fupport. The idea of dependance muft be difagreeable in its most favourable light; but when this idea was farther aggravated by a peevish, morofe difpofition, too commonly attendant on old maids, it became alimolt intolerable. Our heroine accordingly refolved to embrace the first oppor. tunity of changing her fituation. Mr. Br-n, who had a place in the cuftoms, being fmitten with her charms one day at church, found means to be introduced to her, and foon made her overtures, which the judged it prudent not to reject. In a word, he folicited her hand, and the, with a becoming modefty, yielded it to him. For more than two years, the thought herfelf as happy a female as a fond bufband could make her; and though his income was but fmall, as he was quite the domestic man, and seldom paffed an even ing abfent from home, their hours glided in mutual felicity. But, alas! how unfubftantial is all worldly happiness-a fever carried him off, and left her a widow at two and twenty. Notwithflanding Mr. Br-n's economy, it was not in his power to make any provision for his wife; and she discovered that her affairs would foon be very much deranged, unless the could alter her coudition. In this opinion she did not then, however, entertain the most diftant thought of yielding to any man but upon honourable terms. Diftrefs, however, gradually taring her in the face, and having no of fers made of a matrimonial kind, the was, at length, induced to liften to the overtures of our hero, through the medium of her milliner. After a few interviews, he came to an explanation, which, tho' very difagreea ble, he was compelled to liften to from neceffity. The negociation being settled, he took her a fmall house in the New Buildings, where the has refided ever fince, and where our hero frequently visits her. Her fidelity, we believe, is incontestible; and he endeavours to make her fituation as agreeable as possible. co After having thus happily fixed our hero's heart near Berners-itreet, we cannot conclude thefe memoirs, without touching thofe traits of his portrait, which have so jully entitled him to the appellation of the Daring Magiftrate. We are forry to bring to our reader's recollection the tumults that occurred laft fummer, but, upon this oceafion, we hope to be forgiven. Our hero had then prefided, for fome time, in a magisterial capacity, in one of the most opulent cities in this kingdom. He had, in the first part of his reign, distinguished himself for his nomy, and his ftrict attention to morality. At an Eafter ball, he put out the lights at a very early hour, that morning fhould not be broke in upon; and fo rigid was he in this refpect, that, in despite of fome of the ladies of the first rank prefent, he or dered the mufic to be discharged, and obfcurity fucceeded fo immediately, that many accidents happened in the company's defcent from the upper apartments, occafioned by their chaotic confufion. As he had been accused of fome small deviations from the regular line of prudence in fome parts of his life, he was refolved to diftinguifh this period of it, by his utter difapprobation of luxury and extravagance; and accordingly retrenched many tables, which had hitherto been fupported by his voluptuous predeceffors. Shining examples of fortitude, difcretion, and virtue, highly deferving of imitation by all hi fucceffors! But to revert to the introductory part of our hero's magifterial conduct, we are well informed, that in June last, when the rioters had affembled in numerous bodies, and committed 1781. committed the most unprecedented depredations in many parts of the metropolis and its environs, when applied to in his official capacity, to give proper orders for the fuppreffion of thofe tremendous tumults, he, with all the Cynic apathy of a Diogenes, replied to the meffenger, he fhould not trouble himself about fuch trifles, and, as he was then at dinner, immediately called for a half pint bumper, which he drank to cheer his fpirits. Being, however, fome time after, feverely cenfured by a certain patriotic alderman for his behaviour in this very critical conjuncture, he was compelled to acknowledge" He was feized with a fit of temerity, and had not the power to Thoughts on Parental Care and Filial Duty. move. Thoughts on Parental Care and Filial Duty and for tune of its object. In the lower claffes of ative life, neceffity will not fuffer the immediate tenderness of the parent to be prolonged to any great degree beyond the infant itate. The child muft foon enter into the school of labour, in order to learn the art of getting that bread which his parents can no longer give him. Health and trength are his fole patrimony; and, poffeffed of them, he leaves little to be wifhed for in the parental bofom, whofe regards, though originally the fame, are prevented, by the continual avocations of their station, from feeling the augmented tenderness of thofe in higher life. They, meeting with no interruption to the courfe of their affections, find them grow with the growth, and ftrengthen with the frength, of their offspring. 183 citude will be found gradually to encrease, When the age of reafon and maturity has given the child fome degree of power and authority over himfelf, he begins to look about to the establishment of connections which are to give a colour to the reft of his life. The alarms of the parent now begin to encreafe, left the views of intereft or ambition, which had grown along with his affection for his child, and had become a part of it, fhould be deftroyed by the imprudence of youth. The apprehentions of this period are commonly the molt poignant of parental life; when it fometimes happens, that in one moment all 1 titude, and the anxious expectation of years vanishes into all the mifery of disappointment. It is a common, and, too often, a juft complaint, that children, when the age of manhood and the period of independence are attained, throw afide, as it were, all thoughts of filial refpect, and act towards the authors of their being with almolt the fame infenfibility that the bird poffeffes, who, feeling the power of its wing, at once quits the neft where it had But if children are gene been nurfed into strength, and knows its parent no more. rally difpofed to do little for their parents, it must be acknowledged that parents are equally inclined to expect too much from their children. It is a difficult matter for the former to curb the liberty which they have juft attained; and the latter are not difpofed to give up the power they have fo long poffeffed. There must be great good fenfe on both fides whenever this matter is fettled to the fatisfaction of one and the other. I would be underfood to be confidering the fituation of a fon and a father; for wha ever age a daughter may attain, the world will not let her quit the mater nal protection but for that huiband. Nature feems to make no diftinction While the infint hangs at the breaft of its mother. The beggar hugs her child, which the can fearce cover from the wind, clofely to her as the greatest princefs, who has a crown to give it; but the many weruptions to maternal tendernets which the former must experience from her diftres and penury, will tend to weaken the tie which binds her to it. The ftorms of Marriage is the grand and clofing object her life forbid that flow of ferene hours which give the finer affections time to ex- of rich and noble parents; and their gepand. The growth of her offspring is not neral conduct in this important circum. always attended with heart felt pleasure; ftance of their children's happiness, proves and that dire neceflity which operates to how infenfibly the fondeft feelings of tenthe deftraction of every feeling foreign to dernels melt away before the powerful p itfell, will make her feparation from it a proaches of worldly intereft matter of no extreme anxiety. In the numberless and continu lexamples, where Ligher claffes of life, where not only the the mother, who would have guarded the teter feelings of the mind have le fure to life of her infant at the excace of her own, after it has grown into maturity, and is gros into refinement, but domestic inte accompanied with every advantage of a res, and the gratification of selfith poffi fice ●ns, fometimes, mingle with parental toll-long and affiduous education, thall facri There are fice it at once to mifery and greatnefs with a molt eager fatisfaction. The worst of all bondage is marriage unfanctified by affection; it not only produces infidelity but vice. It leads to an abandoned and profligate life, proceeds in diftrefs, and ends in ruin. With fo many examples of this nature continually prefented to them, how is it poffible to reconcile the infatuation of parents, who are daily offering up the honour and happiness of their children at the thrine of interest and ambition? On Women. I remember twenty years ago I used to converfe often on this fubject, with a coufin of mine, an officer, who was a very wild young man, So oppofite were our opinions on this bead, that we never met, but we quarrelled. He swore" women were as wily as ferpents;" I faid, "that they were harmlefs as doves." I was perpetually comparing them to lambs; he was continually comparing them to wild cats. He went abroad; and as he was a very amiable man, he made him felf friends wherever he went. I have not feen him thefe fifteen years till yefterday. We [From the Revd. Mr. Sherlock's “Letters."] dined together tete-a-tete, and talked war, over the days of our youth and our tra vels. We talked of men and manners, women and things; and, in short, of a great variety of fubjects. Well, fays he ? to me, have you the fame ideas of the fublime virtues and celeftial foftness of the fair fex you had when I knew you Yes, faid I, I have never kept company but with good women; and I think more highly of them every day: you thought ill of them before you went abroad, and, I dare fay, you think much worfe of them now that you are returned. Says he, you are mistakes; when I knew you, I had feen but few women; and thote merited the character I gave them. Since we parted I have feen a great many, both in England and on the Continent; and this is the refult of my knowledge and obfervation. Women, refemble a ladder; and this ladder refembles Virgil's + oak; tarus: I have mounted every rung of it; its top points to heaven, its foot to TaI have ftudied women from the court to the cottage; and have, in confequence, divided the fex into ten claffes. The tr clafs are angels; the laft clafs are devils. Neither of thefe claffes is large. The fecond is charming: the ninth is wicked. Thefe two claffes are very confiderable. The latter of them may be juftly compar And laid at laft old Troy in afhes? Wo-ed to apes, foxes, hyenas, wild cats; the man: former to every thing that is amiable in the creation. Of the remaining fix, there are two that are fupremely ridiculous, and four as infipid as unfeafoned melons. I told him, Ma'am, I fhould write you our dialogue, and afked him in what clafs you his anfwer. Had he ranked you in Ifhould place you. I am afraid to tell the first clafs, I fhould have told you with pleafure; but I dare not tell you he placed you only in the fecond. |