A's he was in poffeffion of the fire-fide, they were under a neceffity of joining company with him, in order to dry themselves, which otherwife the meannefs of his appearance would probably have prevented their doing.

The new companions had not fat long together before the chearfulness of his temper, and fomething uncommonly droll in his converfation, made the others invite him to fup with them at their expence; where they entertained him fo generoufly, that, forgetting his national prudence he could not forbear fhewing his treasure, as a proof of his not being unworthy of the honour they had done him. The ftorm having obliged them to remain there all night, they departed together next morning; when, as a further mark of their regard, they kept company with him, though he travelled on foot, till they came into a folitary part of the road; when one of them, putting a pistol to his breaft, took from him the bag which contained the earnings of his life, leaving him only a fingle piece of gold, which by good fortune he had happened to have loofe in his pocket. His diftrefs at fuch a lofs may be cafily conceived: however, he funk not under it; a thought inftantly occurred to him, how it might poffibly be retrieved, which he loft not a moment to put in execution.

He

He had obferved that the mafter of the house, where he had met these two plunderers, seemed to be perfectly acquainted with them: he returned therefore thither directly, and feigned to have been taken fuddenly ill on the road with a diforder in his bowels; called for fome wine, which he had heated, and rendered still stronger with spice: all the time he was drinking which, he did nothing but pray for his late companions, who, he faid, had not only advised him to take it, but also been fo generous as to give him a piece of gold which he produced to pay for it; and then, feeming to be much relieved, he lamented most heavily his not knowing where to return thanks to his benefactors, which he said, the violence of his pain had made him for get to enquire.

The mafter of the house, to whom his guests had not mentioned the man's having money, that he might not expect to fhare it with them, never fufpecting the truth of his ftory, informed him, without fcruple, who they were and where they lived.

This was directly what he had schemed for. He crawled away till he was out of fight from the house, in order to keep up the deceit; when he had made all the hafte he could to town, and, en

quiring for his fpoilers, he had the fatisfaction to

hear

hear they were people in trade, and of good repute for their wealth. The next morning, therefore, as foon as he thought they were ftirring, he went to the house of one of them, whom he found in the room where his merchandize was expofed to fale. The merchant inftantly knew him; but, imagining he came on fome other bufinefs, for he did not think it poffible that he could have traced him, or even that he could know him in his altered appearance, asked him, in the ufual way, what he wanted.

I want to speak a word wi'ye in private, Sir," he answered, getting between him and the door; and then, on the merchant's affecting furprize, "In gude troth, Sir, he continued, I think it is. fomewhat ftrange that ye fhud na ken Sawney, who fupped with the neeght before lauft, after av the keendnefs ye fhewed to him!" Then, lowering his voice, fo as not to be overheard by the people prefent, he told him, with a determined accent, that if he did not inftantly return him his money, he would apply to a Magistrate for redress.

ye

This was a demand which admitted not of dif pute. The money was paid him, with a handfome gratuity for having lent it, and his receipt taken to that effect; after which he went directly

to the other, upon whom he made a like demand with equal fuccefs. ESSAY

THE

ESSAY

ON

FRIENDSHIP.

HE greatest happiness that we can poffefs in this world is in the enjoyment of friendship; but although its utility and pleafures have been celebrated and pointed out by the best ethical writers; and though it is univerfally admitted to promote our happiness and abate our misery, by doubling the former and dividing the latter, yet we seldom see this virtue practifed. We are often indeed entertained with profeffions of friendship, but do thefe generally bring forth their fruit in due feafon?-The theory in general is pretty well understood, but the practical part lies dormant.

This truly noble virtue confifts in an inclination and defire between two perfons to promote the welfare and happiness of one another. Efteem is the principal bafis on which it ftands; for it is impoffible to raise this virtue and feel its influence, however fenfible we may be of a man's worth and merits, without we efteem him. To this qualification may be added three others, virtue, conftancy, and faithfulness.

As

As to the neceffity of these, little need be faid; for virtue is fingled out by moft authors as effential in forming a tender and rational friendship, one of whom I fhall only mention, and that is Cicero. Friendship (fays he) cannot but be with the good, for friendship cannot be without virtue. As to conftancy and faithfulness, they are so neceffary, that it is utterly impoffible for real friendship to fubfift without them; for that is never like the mercury in the tube, rifing and falling according to circumstances, fuch a friendship as this, with efteem for its bafis, with virtue, conftancy, faithfulness, and their concomitants, for its fupporters, ever continues in its pure immaculate ftate, attuning all the foul to harmony and love, and uniting together what force can never part,

It has been afferted by fome, and laid down as a rule, that there fhould be equality in age and refemblance of inclinations, in two perfons, to raise a friendship towards each other. As to the firft, I think I may venture to fay, that most of us have known inftances to the contrary; and as to the other, is it abfolutely requifite? If we advert to history, we fhall find numerous inftances to prove the contrary; the mind is always pleased with novelty, and therefore it is a matter of no wonder to fee it fometimes delighted with thofe good qualities, perfections,