one saw me give the check to the fellow, and my high sentiments of generosity had prevented my requiring an acknowledgment from the rascal at the moment. The solicitor for the prosecution then observed, that though my name were Edward Jones, the signature, under the circumstances, would amount to the crimen falsi; and requested a further adjournment to afford time to find the ticket-porter, after whom every search had been made but without success, and his testimony was essential to connect the chain of evidence. I was accordingly again remanded. I do not understand to this hour how the cheat was effected. I am very clear about the substitution of a five for one, but the direction remains a mystery to me. The motive was also apparent: the prosecutor had a larger fund at his banker's than I had. at mine, a fact which was brought to bear against myself. Surely, I thought in my prison meditations, our laws attach too much importance to a name, or would not our legislators be usefully employed in ordaining that every man should be distinguished by some characteristic epithet, such as was common among the Celtic and other barbarous nations-squint-eyed, bow-legged, hump-backed, any thing to obviate that dreadful community of names, which had once got my back coloured with stripes, and now made my neck unwittingly twist under the fancied rope. I entirely overlooked the want of words to particularize every individual, in my abhorrence of those general ones which may bring a man to the gallows; and had this occurred to me, it would only have caused me to include the paucity of language in my curses.

"After a confinement of three days, I was discharged on my promise to appear when called on, in consequence of the prosecutor declining to proceed for fear no jury would bring in a verdict of guilty without the ticket-porter's evidence to connect me more closely with the affair, and he was not to be found. At first I was delighted with this sudden escape, but the appearance of the man would have been more satisfactory; as he could not have truly sworn to receiving a check from me, I should most probably have been honourably acquitted, and the real rogue discovered. I entertained some

idea of an action for false imprisonment to clear my character from the aspersions thrown on it; but a lawyer's opinion that the proceedings were not altogether untenable, and that a verdiet was very doubtful, made me fore go it, and I was thus left in the situation of the pannels, as they are termed in Scotland, when a jury returns not proven;' a verdict which, without absolute conviction, leaves the disgrace of suspicion as strong as ever.

"But the demons which haunted my course had not yet finished their work. When I presented myself at the clubhouse, the committee desired a private interview, at which they informed me that, in consequence of what had oc curred, a resolution had been unanimously passed that I should be called on to establish my right to associate with them as a gentleman. I indignantly referred them to Mr E. On the third day, as I was entering the room, a letter from the chairman was delivered to me, enclosing a copy of Mr E.'s answer. The old gentleman, with all the truth and candour which marked his career, detailed all the particulars with which he was acquainted, bestowed the highest encomiums up to the time of our parting; but concluded with informing the committee, that shortly after my last arrival in London I had desired to be addressed by the name of Jones, for what reason he was ignorant. This was enough: further enquiry the committee deemed unnecessary; a plain intimation was conveyed to me that my absence would be acceptable, and in the event of my not gratifying them in this respect, regular expulsion would follow. It is difficult to conceive what my emotions were. Had I met the vagabond Jones, in my pa roxysms of rage, I might actually have gone up stairs in the Old Bailey without benefit of clergy.

"I was now done with the elite who had composed my association. I tried

one

or two respectable boardinghouses; but, to say nothing of .Mrs L.'s tongue, I was unable to satisfy the proprietors as to the who and what, without effectually damning myself by publishing particulars which I would rather have forgotten. A strong spirit of resentment, which Roderick Random describes, fortunately sustained me in the injustice of my situation. I now turned City-ways,

and, leaving the west, procured quiet lodgings in the east, where payment beforehand silenced all objections. I forgot to tell you that my banker had declined receiving my money in future. My mercantile knowledge, which was previously very scanty, became much improved by the intercourse I was obliged to maintain with men whose whole souls were engrossed in business. Instead of club-houses, the coffee-houses were now my resort; and, not to detain you with sketches of the company I met, at length I ventured upon speculations myself, principally in insurances, sometimes gaining, other times losing, but without much difference either way. I need scarcely mention that I had devoted the name of Jones to the fate of Smith-the next I assumed being that of Arthur Williams.

"When I analyze my feelings, I cannot detect any reason that guided me in the choice of names-mere chance, or, if you will, my evil destiny alone directed me. Do not imagine that in the name of Williams I escaped any nominal troubles. Far from it. I got into a dispute once with a merchant newly arrived from China, for opening a letter directed to him at John's Coffee-house, to which place I was also a subscriber, and surprised him by assu rances that such a mistake should never occur again, as I would instantly adopt another name. This inadvertency had nearly caused me additional annoyance. The repeated transference of my stock by myself to other names, had not escaped notice; and the subscribers began to ask, What sort of man is this?' A well-contrived story had completely sunk all traces of my former self, and I had now, in addition, assured the subscribers, that I had no one, kith, kin, or otherwise, interested in my movements. As I had always immediately paid all demands upon me, the rising tumult of their mercantile souls was soon quelled, and I was suffered to pursue my usual avocations quietly. But I will not trouble you with all the vexations I endured from the cursed ubiquity of names, from which the most fanciful combinations were unavailing to defend me; except that I became utterly hopeless of success, when, after combining a number of them in what I considered the most out-of-the-way manner, I was arrested on a fugæ

"While passing along Cheapside one day, a servant in Mrs L.'s establishment made up to me, and addressing me as Mr Jones, informed me that shortly after I had left her mistress's house, a gentleman, apparently a foreigner, had called to enquire after me. Mrs L. stated the story of the check, and added that it was believed I had gone abroad, as I had not since been heard of. Upon which the gentleman, exclaiming, "My child, my child!" unceremoniously rushed from the house. This was extraordinary intelligence indeed. My various names had involved me in many perplexities, and now were perhaps the means of preventing the discovery of a parent. I could consult with no one, without exciting suspicions which in my present situation were unknown. I tried an advertisement which, without betraying me, might guide him to me, but was disappointed. I had long been growing weary of my City labours, and sighing for return to the otium cum dignitate of the west end; and this last occurrence completed my disgust. I had formed no friendships, because I had found none to consort with my disposition; and, since the deception practised on me by Jones, I was fearful of intimacy. I was alone in the world; and, with the power of wealth, was becoming misanthropic. My meditations alarmed myself. I at length determined upon a foreign journey; and having appointed a city banker as my agent, and provided myself with bills upon his correspondents abroad, I left the country, careless whether I returned to it or not. The name in which my passport was made out was Walter Campbell, which I was compelled to keep nolens volens, under the continental system of police, throughout my progress to the different capitals. With this nom de guerre, some irritating mistakes happened, as the Campbells are not rare, from France to Siberia, to which latter country my wanderings extended.

"Upwards of two years were spent in these travels, during which I always cherished hopes of meeting with the person who had so urgently sought after me; and at the lapse of that time, those thoughts which, without doubt, arise in the breast of every one after a prolonged absence from his native shores, arose in mine. They veered homewards, and I obeyed their direction. Sailing from Odessa to Marseilles, I thence came by land to Calais. At Dover, for the first time, I engaged a footman, I believe for the purpose, as much as any other, of checking my passion against names; for the attendance of a servant, I thought, would oblige me to adhere finally to my present one, and perhaps serve as a preventive to any more annoyances springing from a similarity of names. I once had a floating idea of resuming Smith, imagining that it might act as a guide to the unknown enquirer; but when I recollected the forest of Smiths, I easily gave it up —another cruel effort of destiny, as it eventually appeared. As it was a matter of indifference whither I turned my steps, I purchased two horses for myself and servant, and resolved to visit some of the watering-places, and ride through the country leisurely, Tunbridge Wells being the first place fixed upon. I now approach what I regard as the most important event in my life, which has in its issue left me utterly destitute of hope and desirewhich has reduced me to that state of mind which can defy not merely insignificant man, but the utmost might of nature's prodigious power. What should restrain me this instant from 'seeking the mysteries of the eternal abyss!

Here the stranger's feelings, which had latterly been evidently increasing in intensity, completely overpowered him; he paused, drank several glasses of wine with rapidity, as if some inward fever was raging, and then throwing himself back in his chair, gazed at me for a moment with a vacant stare. I felt painfully embarrassed, and at length was beginning gently to change the subject, and advert to other topics, when he interrupted me," No, no," said he, "I shall recover presently-I must apo.. logize for this outbreak of emotionyou will be enabled to judge whether I have not grounds for affliction;"

another short pause ensued, and then he proceeded.

"We were within about five miles of Tunbridge Wells, when we perceived a single person scuffling with several labourers; we rode up, and, leaping from our horses, we engaged in defence of the weaker party. We were nearly worsted, when, remembering my pistols, I drew them out, and threatened to fire on the villains if they did not desist. I extricated the unfortunate victim of their brutalitythe assailants immediately taking to their heels. The stranger thanked me in the most courteous manner; but it was not without much persuasion that I could induce him to mount my horse, while I walked by the sidemy man also having received a smart blow-while as yet I felt no ill effects from the mêlée. The stranger, as he recounted to me, had lately come from Paris. The stage-coach in which he had journeyed from London had set him down within seven miles of Tunbridge Wells, the coachman representing that he was only a short distance from that place an account which he, ignorant of the topography of the neighbourhood, never doubted till on the road. The men whom I saw had mischievously thrown mud over him, and on his remonstrating, had attempted to add robbery to insult. He was then about to join his mother and sister, who were staying in that place for the sake of the latter's health, accompanied by an elder brother.

When we arrived at an inn in the town, I was suddenly seized with a severe illness, resulting from a violent blow on the head, of which I had been hitherto unconscious, and in consequence was obliged to go to bed instantly, after ordering Samuel, my footman, to attend the stranger to his mother's residence.

"The next morning, as I was sitting in a private room, still suffering from the conflict, the dangerous effects of which, however, had been averted by timely precaution, he entered, and with him his brother, mother, and sister. The first thanked me rather formally, the second with expressions of real gratitude, but the accents of the third seemed to thrill my very heart's chords, as she gently assured me she should never forget my ser vices to her brother. I may as well tell you who they were. William,

(the eldest,) Edmund, and Louisa, were the children of a gentleman of small independent fortune, the interest of which he had bequeathed to his widow, the principal to be divided, at her death, among the survivers, except William, who had already been comfortably provided for by an uncle's bequest. Edmund was a junior partner in a mercantile firm, to the foreign business of which he principally attended. During the four or five days that I was confined, the visits of one or other of them never intermitted. Edmund and Louisa sometimes came by themselves, or with their mother only, unaccompanied by William, on which occasions I could not avoid remarking that their conversation was more unrestrained. When entirely convalescent, I received an invitation to their house, with which I willingly complied, for their unaffected solicitude had worn down a great deal of the growing asperity of my disposition to its former level, and a few visits let me into their respective characters. William was proud, imperious, and passionate, his domineering temper displaying itself on all opportunitiesin fact, seeming to seek for them. He was not long in insinuating to me that he was the appointed guardian of his sister, coupling with this piece of news several significant hints, which, however, I did not pretend to understand. In spite of their efforts to the contrary, the others could not conceal the truth that his presence, unenlightened as it was by the least scintillation of rational conversational acquirements, threw a heavy cloud over their enjoyments, while a bashaw's mandates could not have required more implicit obedience than his met with, cruelly selfish as I have sometimes known them. The fellow seemed to imagine, that he had an unqualified title to any sacrifice from them.

I

can aver, that his absence was a source of real gratification to me, for their sakes. Edmund was quite the reverse of this picture. He had a well-cultivated mind, and was free-hearted, manly, and gay, without overstepping the bounds of reason, his absence being precisely the presence of the other. Their outward figures were as opposite; the former being short, illfeatured, and conceitedly awkward; while the latter was tall, unaffectedly

NO. CCXCIII., VOL. XLVII.

graceful, and displayed his disposition on his handsome countenance, always radiant with the beams of good-humour. Louisa was almost a female fac-simile of Edmund-a lowness of spirits, which I attributed to the depressed state of her health, excepted. Mrs. V. the mother, was an elder prototype, if I may so speak, of her daughter: and thus I have sketched them.

"Our intimacy daily increased, particularly between Edmund and myself, the first friendship I had ever contracted. His nobility of soul fairly broke down all the moody resolutions upon which I had acted for a long time past, and I cannot say that I was pained at departing from them in his favour. When freed from the freezing coldness of William's company, we were all as happy as similar habits and tastes could make us. As for the latter, I treated him with civility, and more was impossible; but often did I burn with indignation at his mode of behaviour to beings so infinitely above him in every moral point of view; and my indignation would have burst out into open remonstrance, had I not restrained myself by considerations for their welfare. He returned my civility with superciliousness, which, for the same reason, I passed by without notice; but I could perceive the glance of enmity from beneath his shaggy eyebrows.

"Two or three months elapsed, and Louisa began to exhibit `manifest symptoms of returning health. Pleased as her mother was at this sight, her matron judgment took the alarm. She watched-and found that these symptoms were always more clearly developed in my company. She next questioned her, and their mutual confidence procured the ready avowal that I was not indifferent to her. The next time Edmund and I were together, he observed, My brother is certainly the most proper person to depute for this purpose; but my mother is so afraid of his violent temper, that the disagreeable task has fallen upon me. I have no suspicions-God knows, you have never given cause for any-but my sister's happiness is risked.' He then explained that she had conceived a warm partiality for me, which, if not impeded, would increase to an intense passion. He therefore begged to be

informed whether I had any serious intentions, as the instant withdrawal of either from the spot might prevent any mischief. Though I had viewed Louisa with admiration, I had not yet said to myself, I love her.' Edmund's words aroused me to the perception that I should be pained at parting from her-in short, that I was in love. My resolution was immediately taken. I represented to him, that, averse as I should have been at any time to throw an obstacle in the way of her complete restoration to health, which unsuccessful love was certainly not calculated to promote, I now felt, in addition, that my own happiness was concerned, and therefore, with his permission, I would at once assume the character of his sister's intended. I instructed him in so much of my life as related to my unknown birth and education; with the offer of reference to prove that I was qualified to maintain her in comfort, if not in splendour; fully purposing, at another opportunity, to have given him a relation of all my adventures, but one thing or other delayed it. Better, perhaps, would it have been for me had I entered upon it at the moment, but I did not. Edmund expressed himself satisfied, as did also Mrs. V. William alone remained to be consulted, and he, after several growls of remonstrance, declared that he should act as he thought fit, and that they were at liberty to do the same. The motives for his demeanour I could not fathom, unless it was that he looked upon me as a restraint, to a certain degree, upon his brutal freedom of action. However, as none but himself had any objection, Louisa and myself were closeted, and from her own lips I heard a warm confirmation of the fact. Though Edmund, with that unsuspicious generosity almost peculiar to himself, had refrained from the enquiries I courted, William was not so slack, but as yet he discovered no means of mischief; however, from some hints which my servant dropped, I found that he had condescended to tamper with him, and, though fearless of any reports which he could make, I was indignant at the idea of having such a spy upon me, and therefore discharged him.

"Not to trouble you with matters of trifling import, suffice it to say, that at

length we all departed for London; and now my story draws to a close. Enraptured with my felicity, no gaunt images of the past were permitted to intrude upon my imagination, the occurrences which marked my early residence in the metropolis being, as I imagined, consigned to oblivion. Taking up my abode for a few days in a tavern, I employed myself in furnishing a house in the outskirts of town, and visiting my Louisa, who became more and more endeared to me every hour: Edmund, meanwhile, having gone to Paris, promised to return to be present at our marriage. But my dream of pleasure lasted not quite a week. A fiend of earth was now in union with those invisible demons who had previously persecuted

me.

Be

William alone appeared dissatisfied at the approaching nuptials, which, however, he had yet devised no means to impede: and I now trace his motions to chagrin at the impending loss of superintendence and command over his sister and the funds assigned for her support, and perhaps a fear of being called to account. that as it may, on the evening of Tuesday week he came into the room where I was sitting at tea with Mrs V. and my beloved, and eyed me with a look of silent exultation, that disconcerted me, though I knew not why. Some unseen monitors-such, perhaps, as Defoe alludes to-bade me prepare for some cursed exigency, and not with

out reason.

"The following morning, as I was at breakfast in my new habitation, on which, by-the-by, I had entered only a couple of days, who was shown into the room but the identical Mr T. with whom I had such unpleasant communications on a former occasion? He seemed to recognise me directly; and, in answer to my queries, produced a warrant to apprehend Walter Campbell on a charge of swindling. I was thunderstruck; and some minutes passed before I could regain self-possession, though naturally convinced that there was another error of person. I entreated Mr T. to give me some information. The officer, whose performance of his painful duties was remarkable for an absence of unnecessary harshness, drew a paper from his pocket, and pointed my attention to a paragraph, warning the public-by