thought few men in the kingdom could have done."

Please your honour, cried Jenkinson, I know the man it is certainly the fame; the beft runner in England; he has beaten Pinwire of Newcastle, Timothy Baxter is his name, I know him perfectly, and the very place of his retreat this moment. If your honour will bid Mr. Gaoler let two of his men go with me, I'll engage to produce him to you in · an hour at fartheft." Upon this the gaoler was called, who inftantly appearing, Sir William demanded if he knew him. Yes, please your honour,' replied the gaoler, I know Sir William Thornhill well, and every hody that knows any thing of him, will defire · to know more of him.'- Well then,' faid the

Baronet,

my request is, that you will permit this man and two of your fervants to go upon a meffage by my authority, and as I am in the commiffion of the peace, I undertake to fecure you.' promife is fufficient,' replied the other,

Your and you may at a minute's warning fend them over England whenever your honour thinks fit.'

In pursuance of the gaoler's compliance, Jenkinfon was dispatched in fearch of Timothy Baxter, while we were amufed with the affiduity of our youngest boy Bill, who had juft come in and climbed up to Sir William's neck in order to kifs him. His mother was immediately going to chaftife his familiarity, but the worthy man prevented her; and taking the child, all ragged as he was, upon his knee, What Bill, you chubby rogue,' cried he, do you remember your old friend Burchell? and Dick too, my honeft veteran, are you here? You shall find i have not forgot you.' So faying, he gave each a large piece of ginger-bread, which the poor fellows ate very heartily, as they had got that morning but a very fcanty break

faft.

We now fat down to dinner, which was almost cold; but previously, my arm ftill continuing painful, Sir William wrote a prescription, for he had made the study of phyfic his amusement, and was more than

moderately

moderately skilled in the. profeffion: this being fent to an apothecary who lived in the place, my arm was dreffed, and I found almoft inftantaneous relief. We were waited upon at dinner by the gaoler himself, who was willing to do our gueft all the honour in his power. But before we had well dined, another meffage was brought from his nephew, defiring permiffion. to appear, in order to vindicate his innocence and honour; with which request the Baronet complied, and defired Mr. Thornhill to be introduced.

CHAP. XXXI.

Former benevolence now repaid with unexpected intereft.

MR.

R. Thornhill made his entrance with a smile, which he feldom wanted, and was going to embrace his uncle, which the other repulfed with an air of difdain. No fawning, Sir, at prefent,' cried thé Baronet, with a look of feverity; the only way to my heart is by the road of honour; but here I only fee complicated inftances of falsehood, cowardice, and oppreffion, How is it, Sir, that this poor man, for whom I know you profeffed a friendship, is used thus hardly? His daughter vilely feduced, as a recompenfe for his hofpitality, and he himself thrown into prifon, perhaps, but for refenting the infult? His fon too, whom you feared to face as a man'

6

.

Is it poffible, Sir,' interrupted his nephew, that my uncle could object that as a crime which his repeated inftructions alone have perfuaded me to avoid?'

Your rebuke,' cried Sir William, is juft; you have acted in this inftance prudently and well, though not quite as your father would have done : my brother indeed was the foul of honour; but thou -yes, you have acted in this inftance perfectly right, and it has my warmest approbation.'

And I hope,' faid his nephew. that the rest of my conduct will not be found to deserve cenfure. I

peared, Sir, with this gentleman's daughter at fome places of public amufement; thus what was levity, fcandal called by a harfher name, and it was reported that I had debauched her. I waited on her father in perfon, willing to clear the thing to his fatisfaction, and he received me only with infult and abuse. As for the reft, with regard to his being here, my attorney and steward can best inform you, as I commit the management of bufinefs entirely to them. If he has contracted debts, and is unwilling or even unable to pay them, it is their business to proceed in this manner, and I fee no hardship or in• juftice in pursuing the most legal means of redrefs.' If this,' cried Sir William, be as you have ftated it, there is nothing unpardonable in your offence; and though your conduct might have been more generous in not fuffering this gentleman to be oppreffed by fubordinate tyranny, yet it has been at leaft equitable.'

He cannot contradict a fingle particular,' replied the 'Squire: I defy him to do fo, and feveral of my fervants are ready to atteft what I fay. Thus, Sir,' continued he, finding that I was filent, for in fact I could not contradict him, thus, Sir, my own innocence is vindicated; but though at your entreaty I am ready to forgive this gentleman every other offence, yet his attempts to leffen me in your • esteem excite a refentment that I cannot govern. And this too at a time when his fon was actually preparing to take away my life; this, I fay, was • fuch guilt, that I am determined to let the law take its courfe. I have here the challenge that was fent me, and two witneffes to prove it; one of my fervants has been wounded dangerously, and .even though my uncle himself fhould diffuade me, which I know he will not, yet I will fee public justice done, and he fhall fuffer for it.'

• Thou monster,' cried my wife, haft thou not had vengeance enough already, but muft my poor boy feel thy cruelty? I hope that good Sir William

• will

will protect us, for my fon is as innocent as a child; I am fure he is, and never did harm to man.' Madam,' replied the good man, your wishes for his fafety are not greater than mine; but I am forry to find his guilt too plain; and if my nephew perfifts But the appearance of Jenkinson and the gaoler's two fervants now called off our attention, who entered hauling in a tall man, very genteelly dreft, and answering the defcription already given of the ruffian who had carried off my daughter.

Here,' cried Jenkinfon, pulling him in, here we have him; and if ever there was a candidate for Tyburn, this is one.'

The moment Mr. Thornhill perceived the prifoner, and Jenkinson, who had him in cuftody, he feemed to fhrink back with terror. His face became pale with conícious guilt, and he would have withdrawn; but Jenkinfon, who perceived his defign, ftopt him. What, 'Squire,' cried he, are you afhamed of your two old acquaintances, Jenkinson and Baxter? But this is the way that all great men forget their friends, though I am refolved we will not forget you. Our prifoner, please your honour,' continued he, turning to Sir William, has already confeffed all. This is ⚫ the gentleman reported to be fo dangerously wounded: He declares that it was Mr. Thornhill who first put him upon this affair, that he gave him the clothes he now wears to appear like a gentleman, and furnished him with the poft-chaife. The plan 6 was laid between them that he should carry off the young lady to a place of fafety, and that there he 'fhould threaten and terrify her; but Mr. Thornhill was to come in in the mean time, as if by accident, to her rescue, and that they should fight awhile, and then was to run off, by which Mr. Thornhill would have the better opportunity of gaining her 'affections himself under the character of her defender.'

Sir William remembered the coat to have been frequently worn by his nephew, and all the reft the pri

foner himself confirmed by a more circumftantial account; concluding, that Mr. Thornhill had often declared to him that he was in love with both fifters at the fame time.

what a viper have And fo fond of pub

Heavens,' cried Sir William, • I been fostering in my bofom ! lic juftice too as he feemed to be. But he fhall have it; fecure him, Mr. Gaoler-yet hold, I fear there is not legal evidence to detain him.'

Upon this, Mr. Thornhill, with the utmost humility, entreated that two fuch abandoned wretches might not be admitted as evidences against him, but that his fervants fhould be examined.- Your fer

vants!' replied Sir William; wretch, call them yours no longer: but come, let us hear what thofe fellows have to fay; let his butler be called.'

or to

When the butler was introduced, he foon perceived by his former mater's looks that all his power was now over. Tell me,' cried Sir William fternly, have you ever feen your mafter and that fellow dreit up in his clothes in company together? Yes, please your honour,' cried the butler, a thoufand times; he was the man that always brought him his ladies. How,' interrupted young Mr. Thornhill, this to my face!'- Yes,' replied the butler, any man's face. To tell you a truth, Master Thornhill, I never either loved you or liked you, and I don't < care if I tell you now a piece of my mind.'' Now then,' cried Jenkinfon, tell his honour whether you know any thing of me.' I can't fay,' replied the butler, that I know much good of you. The night that gentleman's daughter was deluded to our house, you were one of them.' So then,' cried Sir William, • I find you have brought a very fine witness to prove your innocence: thou ftain to humanity! to affociate with fuch wretches! But,' (continuing his examination) you tell me, Mr. Butler, that this was the perfon who brought him this old gentleman's daughter. No, pleafe your honour,' replied the butler, he did not bring her, for • the