nafty Captain? for my part I am only forry he let him off fo easily."

If a tea cup had not, at this inftant, dropt from the fair hand of Ifabella, by fome chance or other, and drawn the attention of the company to the accident, it is to be presumed the Reverend Mr. Claypole wou'd not have fuffered doctrine fo adverfe to his own to have been advanced by his niece without an anfwer; but as every body feemed interested about Ifabella, he let the matter pafs off, and contented himfelf with conveying his dif fent, by the vehicle of a reproving look.

The converfation was now refumed, and many enquiries made as to Blachford's extraordinary bequeft: was he fufficiently in his fenfes to dictate a will? and had they taken fuch precautions as would prevent a future litigation To this it was anfwered by Mr. L—, that himself, Zachary Cawdle, and Alexander Kinloch, were witneffes not to the will only, but to the capacity and found fenfes of the will-maker.-" Was it not, however," Mr. Claypole demanded, "the moft fingular and unexpected event that ever came to pass? and what cou'd have mov'd Blachford's heart fo on a fudden to beftow his whole

fortune upon one, whofe life he had attempted to take away ?"-To this queftion Mr. L-calmly replied, that he prefumed there could be little difficulty in accounting for what had been done by Mr. Blachford in the young perfon's favour, if it was admitted that the heart of a dying man was capable of being touched by repentance, and a defire of atoning for the crimes he had committed; and that it was fo, he believed the will itfelf would clearly evince, as it fpoke very plainly to the motives of the teftator. "There was," added he," a good creature, by name Ezekiel Daw, very much about him (too much perhaps for his body's health) who certainly cooperated with the terrors of death in bringing this about, which appears to you fo extraordinary an act: the man, it must be own'd, is fomething of an enthufiaft, and for fome time I kept him from my patient; but when it became a loft cafe, and the penitent on his death-bed eagerly demanded his return, I no longer oppofed it; he was, undoubtedly, the great inftrument of moving him to repentance, and to him I confider this young gentleman much indebted for the very ample atonement he will receive at Mr. Blachford's

decease:

decease: I understand there is fomething myfterious in his hiftory, but, from the reception he has met in this family, I can't doubt but he -well deferves the good fortune that has befallen -him."

Here Sir Roger Manstock broke filence, and in terms strong, though concife, gave his hearty teftimony to the merits and good qualities of our hero. When the worthy Baronet had ceafed fpeaking, Mr. L-- expreffed himself well pleased that his pre-poffeffions in this inftance had not mifled him." For I profefs to you," said he, addreffing himself to Sir Roger, "I did never in my life feel a a ftronger impreffion from the perfon and countenance of any man than in the instance of this youth, and his conduct in the affair with Captain Crowbery was exactly fuch as was beft calculated to confirm it."

Sir Roger, with a fmile of approbation, gave fign of his affent; Fanny Claypole faid, The believed there could be but one opinion. in the cale; and the Reverend Mr. Claypole, ftraying a little from the fubject in hand, obferved, that Henry would now find himfelf a very rich and happy man, glancing a look at

the fame time towards his niece.-"That is as it may be," said Sir Roger, "as to his riches; Mr. Blachford, perhaps, has poor relations left behind him, and my friend Henry has a worthy fpirit of his own." - Claypole's countenance fell, but Mr. L- relieved him from his embarraffiment, by faying, he could speak upon that fubject from the authority of Blachford himself, who had told him that he had not a fingle relation in existence, who could have a claim upon him; confeffing that he was the fon of a certain planter in Jamaica, long fince dead, by a Mulatto wench, who was his property, and that he was entirely the founder of his own fortune, which, if certain circumftances had not occurred, was once, as he was given to understand, bequeathed to the Lord Viscount Crowbery." Mark that,” said Mr. Claypole; "the cunning man is caught in his own trap: how just are the ways of Providence !"

But now time preffed with Mr. L-for his departure; the carriage was called to the door, and the friend of human mifery haftened away to foothe the pains of other sufferers, anxioufly expecting their relief from his hands; it

was

was a parting much regretted by Sir RogerWell," cried he, " if I live to go to London, fick or well I will cultivate the acquaintance of that amiable gentleman.

CHAPTER IX.

Bold Meafures boldly avowed.

THE Reverend Mr. Claypole having duly pondered these extraordinary occurrences in his mind, found himself not the less attracted towards Henry on the score of his good fortune; for in that gentleman's eftimate of his character, profperity was regarded as no contemptible recommendation; and he very justly confidered, that Mr. Blachford's great property would not make him one whit the worse husband to his niece, or his niece the lefs affectionate wife to him. Still the circumstance of his hafty departure with Captain Cary, and the wild idea of volunteering with him, as stated in his letter to Sir Roger Manftock, feemed to augur fo ill for Fanny, that he much doubted if that good understanding