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removing of dunghills, pulling down cottages, and punishing of vagrants, that one half of the neighbours are scarce in speaking terms with the other. Some of them, who are enemies to the patriotic measures of Mr. Bustle, have, I understand, privately stirred up and supported those law-suits in which his public spirit has involved him. These I cannot help being uneasy about, as of very serious consequence to his fortune and family; but he himself seems not to regret them in the least. He assures me, he shall carry them all with costs, and talks rather with satisfaction of going to town to assist in their management. If you should happen to meet with him, Mr. Lounger, I should be happy for my part, if you could teach him somewhat of your love of ease and indolence. I have many reasons for wishing to forego all the reputation he will acquire by his activity, for a little peace and quiet. There is a saying of his father's, which I have heard the same old steward I mentioned before repeat very often, but Mr. Bustle would never pay any regard to it: When things are well as they are, he's a fool who tries how they may be.'

I am, &c.

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BARBARA BUSTLE,

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N° 79. SATURDAY, AUGUST 5, 1786.

SIR,

To the AUTHOR of the LOUNGER.

My father was a country-clergyman, a man of worth and probity, and who had the reputation both of learning and abilities. Being his eldest child, and, as he, perhaps partially, thought, of no unpromising capacity, it was his pleasure to instruct me in various branches of knowledge, to which he judged my understanding was equal, and to cultivate my taste by an early acquaintance with the best authors in our own language. Preposterous acquisitions, Mr. Lounger, for persons in my station of life!He died about three years ago, leaving my mother and four children, with no other fund for their maintenance than that slender pension which in this coun try is provided for the widows and children of the clergy. There were indeed about 150 sermons of my father's composition, together with many other manuscripts relating to church-history and antiquities; from all which my mother for some time had formed to herself many golden expectations; but on offering them for sale to a bookseller, he refused to give more than Five Pounds for the whole parcel, and she rather chose to retain them in her own hands.

To relieve her of part of the burden of her family, a gentleman, who was a distant relation of my father's, was kind enough to take charge of the education of one of my brothers; and as I was now seventeen, and, besides the less useful acquisitions I have mentioned, was moderately skilled in most of

the ordinary accomplishments of my sex, it cost some deliberation, whether I should look out for the place of a lady's waiting-maid, or aspire to the more honourable occupation of a mantua-maker. While my plan was yet undetermined, the same gentleman who had taken my brother under his protection, wrote to my mother informing her, that an elderly lady of rank, with whom he had the honour of being acquainted, was in search of a young person, to reside with her rather as a companion than as a servant; and that he had no doubt, if that establishment were agreeable to me, it would be in his power to procure it for me. He represented my Lady Bidmore (the lady in question) as a mighty good sort of woman; and though he owned she had some particular whims, he doubted not that I could easily accommodate myself to them, as they did not proceed from any fault of temper, but a singularity of taste, which a lady of great fortune might easily be excused for indulging herself in. In short, Sir, my mother and I judged this opportunity not to be neglected, and within a few days, our good friend acquainting us that he had arranged every thing for my reception, I set off for town in the stage-coach, to wait on my Lady Bidmore in the capacity of her gentlewoman or humble friend.

It is proper, Sir, to inform you, that this lady owed her birth to a decayed tradesman of this metropolis, and her education to a charity school. At the age of eighteen she had gone to reside with a relation in London, where it was her good fortune to engage the affections of an eminent pawn-broker, with him she lived thirty years; and being left a widow, with a fortune, as was said, of 20,000l. she soon after received the addresses of Sir Humphrey Bidmore, Knight, alderman and grocer, then in the 70th year of his age, After a year and a half

N° 79. SATURDAY, AUGUST 5, 1786.

SIR,

To the AUTHOR of the LOUNGER.

My father was a country-clergyman, a man of worth and probity, and who had the reputation both of learning and abilities. Being his eldest child, and, as he, perhaps partially, thought, of no unpromising capacity, it was his pleasure to instruct me in various branches of knowledge, to which he judged my understanding was equal, and to cultivate my taste by an early acquaintance with the best authors in our own language. Preposterous acquisitions, Mr. Lounger, for persons in my station of life!— He died about three years ago, leaving my mother and four children, with no other fund for their maintenance than that slender pension which in this coun try is provided for the widows and children of the clergy. There were indeed about 150 sermons of my father's composition, together with many other manuscripts relating to church-history and antiquities; from all which my mother for some time had formed to herself many golden expectations; but on offering them for sale to a bookseller, he refused to give more than Five Pounds for the whole parcel, and she rather chose to retain them in her own hands.

To relieve her of part of the burden of her family, a gentleman, who was a distant relation of my father's, was kind enough to take charge of the education of one of my brothers; and as I was now seventeen, and, besides the less useful acquisitions I have mentioned, was moderately skilled in most of

the ordinary accomplishments of my sex, it cost some deliberation, whether I should look out for the place of a lady's waiting-maid, or aspire to the more honourable occupation of a mantua-maker. While my plan was yet undetermined, the same gentleman who had taken my brother under his protection, wrote to my mother informing her, that an elderly lady of rank, with whom he had the honour of being acquainted, was in search of a young person, to reside with her rather as a companion than as a servant; and that he had no doubt, if that establishment were agreeable to me, it would be in his power to procure it for me. He represented my Lady Bidmore (the lady in question) as a mighty good sort of woman; and though he owned she had some particular whims, he doubted not that I could easily accommodate myself to them, as they did not proceed from any fault of temper, but a singularity of taste, which a lady of great fortune might easily be excused for indulging herself in. In short, Sir, my mother and I judged this opportunity not to be neglected, and within a few days, our good friend acquainting us that he had arranged every thing for my reception, I set off for town in the stage-coach, to wait on my Lady Bidmore in the capacity of her gentlewoman or humble friend.

It is proper, Sir, to inform you, that this lady owed her birth to a decayed tradesman of this metropolis, and her education to a charity school. At the age of eighteen she had gone to reside with a relation in London, where it was her good fortune to engage the affections of an eminent pawn-broker, with him she lived thirty years; and being left a widow, with a fortune, as was said, of 20,000l. she soon after received the addresses of Sir Humphrey Bidmore, Knight, alderman and grocer, then in the 70th year of his age. After a year and a half

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