pofe, has adopted an abftemious regimen, to enable himself to live to be revenged. Our youthful hero, who had been y a continental tour; and who had is Melancholy Catastrophe arifing from proved only in the vices of a French a Gambling. WONDERFUL, as it may appear, to thofe who are not intimately acquainted with the ftratagems and frauds made ufe of by thofe nefarious fwarms who live, as they term it, by being fortunate at play; yet, certain it is, that the practice of fuch devices are not, at this day, confined to the lower and more indigent orders, but that they are adopted by men whom the pride of birth, independence, and profeffion, fhould elevate above the level of ignominy. It is not many years ago fince a Reverend Sharper was actually kicked out of a public affembly at the Hot-wells; it is not many years ago fince a military fharper fhared the fame fate at Buxton: but a very fhort time ago, a grave difciple of Efculapius, was a known detected Greek; and it is not a matter of doubt, but that feveral of our nobility and gentry, after being made poor themfelves by gamblers, become gamblers in their turn, and impoverish and ruin the unguarded, by the fame difhoneft means, which they have experienced. A certain baronet, who for fear of being libellous, we fhall diftinguifh by the name of Sir Samuel Swindle, was left by his worthy father, an ancient gentleman of an ancient family in Wiltfhire, a clear eftate of 3,000l. per annum, befides the fum of 60,cool. in the public funds-but more, he left him, alfo, the example of a great and benevolent difpofition; for, although he died at the advanced period of 83, his honours and his virtues were ftill in full bloom! -He left alfo, a widow, whofe character was equally refpectable; and who, although the was not the actual mother of our hero, was, during a series of many years, a fond and virtual parent. This excellent woman, had a jointure of fix hundred pounds a year upon the family eftate, and the old Baronet, to prove his affection, left alfo one of his family Italian education; no fooner faw the man laid low, than he began to rife pride, in diffipation, in vanity, and vice of every kind His own form, During the few years that the old la lived, he was reduced to the utm diitrefs; her common exiftence at t depended upon the caprice of fortuxa and he was now accuftomed, toga with a faithful maid fervant, who com tinued with her frequently to want fu ficient nutriment; often, indeed, whe the wretch who fhould have been het comfort and protector, had it in his power to make her life more tranquil, he neglected and deferted her-The charitable, though cold hand of Death, however, foon clofed the scene of mifers, the paid the debt of nature, and was tranflated from nature to eternity. As the firft favour that Sir Samud could poffibly confer upon our youthfui citizen, he introduced him to a club in which were feveral as arrant rafcals a ever graced humanity-Confederate fharpers, who, upon feeing any air occafion, never hefitated to determine upon C ป 略 upon ruin-Such was, indeed, the fatal tion was performed with the moft confequence of this connection, that fuperlative adroitnefs. In about half. Foung Townly, fo we fhall call this weal- a year, he found himself in circumhy citizen, was a comple pauper in two years! nay, not only himself was ruined, but the firm of his father's houfe, hook almoft to diffolution. Distracted, and not knowing what o do, the unfortunate Townley at length made his cafe known!" What comfort like the bofom of a friend?" he informed Sir Samuel of his misfortunes, and Sir Samuel, who, by the bye, knew of them altogether as well as himfelf, heard him with apparent attention, and concern-He blamed him for playing fo deep, and wondered at his want of penetration, in not difcovering that he had been duped by certain perfons, who made it their practice fo to do to every young perfon that came across them But, indeed," obferved he, "the maxim all is fair, however deceitful, in a ftate of war, might now be applied to a ftate of modern play," and, at length frankly confeffed that he himfelf often threw at certainty It was the only way of dividing property;" in thort, faid he, to ufe a recent expreffion, it is the only affiliation of equality." It muft here be obferved, that nature had been very bountiful to young Townley His perfon was elegant, his manner graceful, and his addrefs conciliating. The Baronet therefore thought him an acquifition, as a friend and confederate, and although the developement when firft made, furprized and fhocked, yet, fuch were the effects of temptation, and the ftrong defire of reinftating his father, in fome part at leaft, of the large fhare which he had loft of his property that he fuffered his finer feelings to be overs ruled, and confented to become a confederate in fyftematic plunder! Having received every useful leffon from the Baronet, and having, like other modern gamblers, provided himself with the implements of fraud, he foon became an eminent artift. His cards were better and more imperceptibly fhaved at the fides and ends his dice, in the fame requifite manner, more expeditiously prepared; and, from the peculiar neatness of his hands, and the cafe of his manner, every decep ftances tolerably eafy; and, in the beginning of the enfuing feafon went down with a fuitable fuite to Scarborough, in company with his feducer. t The great refpectability of his father's houfe in London, added to his many perfonal conciliations, foon procured him admiffion into the first circles; many private parties were formed, and the tide ran full and fmoothly on, for a confiderable time. But, what fortune can evade the defigns of treachery? One unfortunate evening, in a company more numerous than ufual, the dice, as ufual, were obferved to run in a particular bias; and Sir Samuel, whofe character had been for fome time fufpected, clearly perceived the eye of one or two lofers, to be conftantly fixt upon him. His friend below, or rather his fiend below, therefore, fuggefted to him the diabolical expedient of cftablifhing a character, at the expence of poor Townley-with this determi nation, he winked at one of the lofers, and while Townley was bufily employed in collecting his winnings, retired with this ftranger into an adjacent apart ment. "I perceive, Sir," faid the perfidious Baronet, that you are hurt at your loffes, and I am not at all furprised at it; there is, in truth, no knowing whom to truft-for myself, the large fums of money which I have loft, induce me to fufpect every one; and I believe, in the prefent inftance, my caution and watchfulness have difcovered the foul means by which we have this evening been plundered out of fo much money-→→→ without further preface, I have every reafon to fufpect that the dice are loaded, and I am not at a lofs to point out the performer, in the perfon of young Townley; you may ufe your own dif cretion, but let not my name be mentioned." The perfon to whom he made this communication was an officer of the Liverpool Blues, a corps raised at the end of the American war-He was impetuous, proud, and tenacious of -honour : honour; and upon returning into the room, in a little while declared his fufpicions, that the dice, and not the chance of play, was the caufe of his loffes; and looking at the fame time fernly at young Townley, faid, 'Sir, with your leave, I will put my fufpicions to the proot.' Calling for a table-knife and a hammer, and at the fame inftant feizing the pregnant inftruments of difgrace, he cut them both open, and expofed to the whole indignant circle their illegitimate, though golden burdens. Shame, confufion, and defpair, at once poffelfed the breaft of Townley. He boldly denied the imputation, and to make the iffue brief, threw in the detector's face a handful of guineas which lay before him. The company now interpofed; every mind had been made up upon the bufinefs; but Townley knowing that no pofitive proof could fall upon him, perfifted in his refentment, and the affembly breaking up, a meeting was agreed upon the next morning. ton. MORNING DRESSES. Scarlet cloth great coats trimmed with fable, or Silefia cloth bordered with or pink fur. Small Turkish fatin caps trimmed with coloured furs, or fable. Gold links for earrings. Mullin chemises with clofe fleeves. Indian callico jackets and petticoats very long trains. Black fattin flippers trimmed wid fteel. The fashions this winter will tak their ton from the duchefs of Rutland lady Anne Fitzroy, lady Molineuz, Mrs. Robinfon. and Mrs. Stanhope,who have entirely abolished the large heads, and introduced the prefent elegant mode of dreffing. In this dilemma, Townley, as was natural, applied to the treacherous Baronet for his affiftance; but the Baronet, after alledging many plausible reafons, declined attending him in the capacity of fecond. One or two others were then reforted to, but the event of the preceding evening was now notorious, and dreading that by undertaking fo active and friendly an office, fufpicions of a difadvantageous nature might arife, every one from whom he afked the favour denied him. The ftings of thefe refufals added bitter torments to poor Townley's mental anguish, but refolving, however his honefly might have fuffered, that his courage fhould be manifefted, he went alone the field of action, where in a fhort time, his antagonist, with a fecond, and an eminent furgeon, arrived alfo. Some hints at an accommodation were thrown out, but Townley, all alive to inexpreffible feelings, fpurned at the idea of every medium. The ground was measured, Townley received the firft fire, the ball went O&. through the centre of his heart, and Dec. he fell dead and friendlefs in an inftant. to (To be continued.) The Sportman's General Calender. Sept. 14. Growfe-fhooting begins. 1. Pheafant fhooting begins. 25. Fox hunting begins. Alexis; or, the Cottage in the Wats. cerity of a man found hidden in a cup (Continued from p. 405.) F Alexis ftops the blood which gufbes from the wound he has received in his face, and the baronefs not having examined him well, perfeveres in her notion, and orders him to be put into an excellent bed. Julia, faid the to her wo man, I could not fee his wound without fainting-poor child-go and drefs it -to-morrow morning, I fhall fee how he does, and fhall my felf bring him his breakfaft. In fact, the femme de chambre, who had newly entered the fervice of the baronefs, goes up ftairs to Alexis's apartment, and by dint of application to the patient's face, covered it fo much, that his nofe, eyes, and mouth, were the only parts left free. Sciocco who ftood by his friend's bedfide, gaped with aftonishment; and though he did not know the motive of all this, yet he failed not to attribute it, within himself, to the order of things, and predeftination. When every body had left the apartment, mie car pudrone, faid he, will you fay now, that hazard brought you to this caftle?I don't know; I have fomething elfe to think on, Sciocco. And what is that? What a wretch, does thy confcience not upbraid thee with the murder of the unhappy man at the inn, a murder of which we are the caufe !—Oh! we are the caufe! You had better own Signor, that yourfelf was the only caufe; for my part, you know-Alas! you fpeak the truth!-yes, my fufpecting temper. But how to truft the finHib. Mag. Dec. 1794. board?-He had his reafons for it!- My God! it is I who have murdered Sciocco would have gone farther, but a fervant came in with a meffage that the baronefs invited him to fupper. Sciocco, who did not want to be afked twice, went down ftairs to the old lady,' and ate with a moft hearty appetite. The baronefs afked him a thousand queftions, to which he made no answer, left he should deceive her, and be orderN O T E * Sweet fir. Let him come out. My dear fir, let her alone. § Good Rtars. S. 63 ed to leave the house. -you know well that I have a feeling heart!" Madam, the reception you gave me, puts it out of all doubt; but permit me to undeceive you? I am not-Come, be of good cheer?-What fignifies that bathfulness more fhalt thos Ah! poor Alexis! have you known him long, fir? No, madama pro! he is a very amabile cavaliere Aye, quite amiable is is only ten days fince he has been here,uol ridere la Signorat We have juft left Marfcilies, where we that low voice ?-Indeed, I hardly faid above a fortnight.-Why are you know you again. I believe you, madam, fo pleafed to contradict me? I know because I never had the honour to be him well, the cruel little man!But known to you.-Ah! you diffembletell me as you are his friend, and know cruel creature! you are forry that fate his fecrets, what has he done fince our has brought you again to my feetlaft parting. Since your parting? you mean to but the artifice is too palYes, we parted upon the road, about pable-I have got thee again, litte one league further!Upon my word, wretch, and never madama, I know nothing of it-Oh! leave this place. It is all over, thou but I know better!-where did he come art with me for life. from just now?where did you get acquainted with him?have you had any difpute? who were the aggreffors? The baronets would never have put an end to her queftions; and Sciocco, who faw plainly that the miftook his mafter for fome other perfon, was at a lofs what answer to make, fo great was his apprehenfion of being difpofiefied of his good birth. The baronefs, who for her own part, did not know what to make of Carlo's jargon; imagined that he was non compos mentis, and the blows he received in the combat, muft have difordered his fenfes. After fupper, Sciocco, returned to our hero's apartment, and repeating the converfation which he had juft had with the hoftefs, afked him what he thought of it. Alexis, who was not framed for falfehood, promifed, that on the next morning he would difcover himself to the baronefs, and rather quit her houfe than fuffer her any longer to remain in her miftaken notions. Alexis frightened at this menace, wa going to reply, when the baronefs being informed that fomebody defired to speak to her below, fuddenly left the apartment. It was one of her farmers who had come to fettle accounts with her lady fhip, which would not futer her to return to her young patient. Sciccco had exhaufted his whole rheto ric during that interval, to convince Alexis that it was very lucky for him to be thus mistaken for another. Alexi rejected his arguments. His fufpicious difpofition even made him find in th old lady's conduct, fome fecret enc which did not alarm him a little; h imagined that the muft have fome vi lent defign upon him. If not, said k to Carlo, we are fallen into a den e ruffians.-What can she want of me Why does that woman threaten me with perpetual confinement ?-Oh!! will be free this very night!-Is it poffble you should think fo, mio padru? -Poffible you fay !don't you obfert At the break of day, the old lady in the baronefs and all her domeftics, an went up to her patient, whofe face the air of favagenefs,-an air fo fingular? did not know, on account of the lint, Why, I believe they look much like applied to it by Julia; the fat down by every body--Oh, oh !——- ——every him, and addreffed him in the following body-only obferve them, Sciwords: "So you ungrateful little man, occo. Joke apart, I am not cafy in I have you again in my caffle.I ought this place. This is another inftance of not to fed the leaft concern for you, the effect of your prejudices, your fears, fince you behaved fo fcandalously to your fufpicions -But, let us be fort wards me; but my indulgence-my-why thould I be kept here in fpite of weaknefs -you know myfelf?--Suppofe, it is in the order of things. Sciocco I perceive fome fatal omens-Come, let us get out of this place,But, your wound ?-My N O T *Indeed, or by God. E Your ladyfhip is a joking. S. me: |