notwithstanding the rest of the creditors were willing to accept thirteen shillings in the pound, with a promise to pay all the rest, should it ever be in his power.

Wor. Well, and as times go, this was an honourable composition. No doubt but that such a story would immediately captivate the attention of the tender-hearted Mr. Lovely, especially if he saw the young man broken and penitent under the evil of sin. And how did Mr. Lovely proceed?

Loveg. After we took leave of the prisoners, who followed us with a thousand blessings, Mr. Lovely, on inquiry, found that this cruel voracious creditor was possessed of a lease which his old uncle had purchased at a low rate, many years ago, which now only depended on one old infirm life. It seems the old miser was very fond of buying leases of this sort, if he could get them at a cheap rate, as he knew what their future advantages would be; and by a clause in his will, Mr. Lovely is prevented from renewing them, so that it is probable he will be twice as rich as his uncle was, notwithstanding his liberality, if he lives a few years longer.

Wor. Pray, who was this hard-hearted wretch?

Loveg. Sir, his name is Squeezer; his family, it seems, originally came from Grediton: he is a patent screwmaker; and Mr. Lovely would insist upon it, that I should go with him immediately from the gaol to his house. He did not at first let him know who he was; only began after his mild style and manner, to expostulate with him on the injustice of attempting to extort from a poor widow, her daughter and her children, that which in conscience he had no right to expect, or demand; and that he ought to accept the same compromise offered by the rest of the creditors. Supposing him to be some lawyer's clerk, that Mr. Hyde had sent to him, he began blustering about, asking what busi

ness it was of his? and declaring he would see him rot in gaol, unless he paid the whole of the debt, and the lawyer's expenses into the bargain. Immediately Mr. Lovely, fired in a manner I never saw him before,* though I could not but admire the cause of his displeasure, yet I had my fears, lest, contrary to the natural suavity of his temper, he might have gone a little too far. He directly told his name, while Mr. Squeezer coloured up to his ears, and then added, "Sir, I give you to understand, that if you do not come into the compromise with the rest of the creditors, I'll turn screw-maker as well as yourself; and if you won't liberate the young man directly, who has been cast into prison by your bond, as sure as you have a head upon your shoulders, I'll screw you tight enough, by doubling and trebling your rent directly as the lease drops, or turn you and your screws into the streets." Mr. Squeezer said, "Sir, I'll consider of it." Lovely fired again, "Sir, you shall have no time to consider of it; I'll have the young man out of prison before three o'clock, at the very latest, as by then I must leave the town."

Wor. Well, I must confess this was a delightful way of falling into a passion, on so good a cause. You know what St. Anthony discovered, that there was no taking the Devil by the nose, but with a pair of tongs; and how did matters succeed?

Loveg. Sir, within about an hour afterwards, all things were completely settled, and his discharge was actually procured. The young man wanted to run home to his wife and family directly; for though he had been thoughtless and giddy, yet he was of an affectionate disposition. However, Mr. Lovely insisted upon it, that he and his family should come and dine with him at the inn, as he wanted to give them all some further

I believe he was angry and sinned not.

advice; and to see the rapture and astonishment of the youth, while he followed his kind deliverer to the inn, is not to be described. Mr. Lovely ordered a plentiful repast, and sent a note to the young man's wife and her mother, requesting their attendance, as they might hear of something considerably to their advantage.

Mrs. Wor. What a meeting this must have been!

Loveg. Quite as affecting as any we had before in the gaol, though of a very different sort. After the young man had been with us about a quarter of an hour, the mother and daughter, and her two children came in-the daughter, the young man's wife, ran to her husband, and cried, "O my dear! what are you here? Tell me how it was that you could get out of prison!" He answered, "That dear gentleman has procured me my release." She immediately cried, "O Sir! who are you? who can you be? I heard it was Mr. Lovely, the sheriff, who has procured a pardon for two of the poor criminals who were to have been executed this day-are you that gentleman?" He answered, "Yes, madam, my name is Lovely; but you must compose your mind, and after dinner, which is coming up directly, I have to give you and your husband some further advice for your future good."

Wor. But what were the mother's feelings on this occasion?

Loveg. Sir, though I am neither a dreamer of dreams, nor an interpreter of dreams, nor in general a believer in dreams, yet I was much surprised to hear the old lady cry, after a solemn pause, "That was the very gentleman I saw the night before last in my dream, who came to me, and said he was going to bring my son-inlaw out of gaol; and that they would be a very happy couple for the time to come: and when he ap

VOL. III.

peared to be going from me, I thought it was certainly an angel."

Wor. She really was not far beside the mark; for no man living deserves to be taken for an angel, more than he. But I remember he acted the same part once before, when he released a poor creature, whom his great uncle had confined.

Loveg. Yes, Sir, but with this difference; that poor man had a sort of claim upon him, having been thrown into gaol by the extortionate disposition of his uncle, while he possessed the property; but this unfortunate youth had no sort of claim upon him, but upon his humanity.

Wor. And that is the best claim after all. But what did he do with him afterwards?

Loveg. O Sir, he first gave him some most solemn cautions and admonitions against that giddy and thoughtless turn of mind which had, in a great measure, been the cause of his failure in the world; and then, most affectionately recommended him to seek for the power and grace of God upon his heart, whereby alone he could be made " sober and temperate in all things." That all he could do would be of no avail to make him happy, unless he was possessed of that heavenly wisdom, and sedateness of mind, which were the constant concomitants of the grace of God upon the soul. He next gave a similar exhortation to his wife, at the same time putting into her hands, Witherspoon's Essay on Regeneration, beseeching her that she would not cease to pray to God, till she found the same change was wrought in her, which she would find so well described in that book; that glorious change being the only ground-work, on which the good of our future conduct could depend. Then he advised them both to put their shoulders to the same burden; observing, that if they

paid due diligence to their business, their business would duly pay them for their attention. He next took out his pocket book, and said, "Sir, you want something to begin your business anew-here is fifty pounds for you; and as I wish you to go to work directly, having given you one fifty, I shall lend you fifty more; nor shall I hastily demand the debt, if you are more attentive, industrious, and diligent for the time to come.

Consid. With what wisdom, zeal, and liberality this incomparable young gentleman conducts himself in all his noble acts of charity! what minister upon earth could have given better advice, as it relates to our social and relative connections through life!

Wor. [To Mr. Lovegood.] Why, Sir, he quite took your office as an exhorter out of your hands.

poor

Loveg. Indeed, Sir, none of us had power to say a single word, we were all so struck and surprised. And it was much more consistent that he should give the advice, by whose liberality the young man was redeemed from ruin, and restored to the enjoyment of the comforts of life, from which he was so cruelly debarred. But I have not told all yet. While his you wife was weeping with astonishment and surprise, quite overcome with gratitude, he immediately cried, "Madam, you must not be so downcast-I was once afflicted by some family difficulties as well as yourself: drink another glass of wine, and see how that reads." She attempts it and fails. He cries, "Madam, it is only another twenty-pound bank-note from Mrs. Lovely: she is one of the most tender-hearted women on the earth, and I should be sure to have one of her good-natured lectures, if I did not communicate a present from her to you." And this most elegant and affectionate method of administering relief, instead of drying our eyes, affected us more than ever. And just then, one of the little