"The Satire on the Times," which Mr. Hardinge refers to, is to us unintelligible: it must allude to some of those political writings which were of a temporary nature, and have happily perished in the furious season that gave birth to them. We find that she used to receive anonymous letters occasionally, of caution, as to such publications; and many personal friends, besides Taylor, ventured to admonish the independent lady. But when Holcroft was committed to prison on a charge of high treason, she neither felt alarm about herself, nor would desert her friend; but went immediately with Robinson the publisher in a coach to Newgate to visit him: nor should it be forgotten that, a very short time before this happened, she wrote a letter to acquaint him, that, in consequence of the novel which he had just published, she broke off all acquaintance with him. Her temper, Mr. Hardinge, may be, as you say, impracticable; but surely her soul is generous. How many dastard spirits would have applauded their own prescience for anticipating Holcroft's commitment-rejoiced that they had broken with him so exactly in time -and left him in his gaol, unsoothed by the countenance which he had all but worshipped!

The Martin mentioned, is General Martin. The Bob Sundays are those she passes either with Mr. Babb or Robinson the bookseller; most probably the latter.

CHAPTER XV.

Begins a new comedy-Writes on Synonymy-Sheridan pays for 'The Wedding Day' before its performance!-Her sister Debby's decline and death-Comforts administered by Mrs. Inchbald -Pays the funeral expenses-Visits Suffolk-Buys into the Long Annuities—Another physician, Dr. Gisborne-His letters to Mrs. Inchbald, Sir Thomas (then Mr.) Lawrence-Dr. Gisborne-The farewell and return of love-The mighty Magician of Udolpho-In 1795 Mrs. Inchbald dislocates her shoulder-yet begins to write upon the Virtues and her own Life; identical subjects-Her brother Simpson falls in a duel-Mrs. Whitfield's death, and Mrs. Dobson's-Kemble-The Abercorns at Stanmore-Carlton House-Miss Wallis and the Loughboroughs-Lady Lanesborough denied-Savings of economy.

THE most remarkable events which she records, we shall pass through as rapidly as we can, allowing ourselves to pause only where she herself gives interest to the facts.

On the 5th of May she began a new comedy, of which we shall know more in the sequel; and in May wrote a critique on Synonymy, probably occasioned by Mrs. Piozzi's volumes on the subject. Mrs. Siddons made her a present of her bust by Mrs. Damer. She saw a good deal of the Kemble family this year, including the Twisses;

and at length Kemble came to explain to her why she had never got her money for the farce she had sold to them. The fact, it seems, was, that Sheridan had lost it: so at length she is requested to write another copy, upon the receipt of which Mr. Sheridan transmitted a note which was paid in July; and, a wonder indeed for such management, the author was actually paid before the piece was put into rehearsal !

Her sister Dolly we should conceive to have quitted Miss Pearce, with the view of filling a situation more amusing, to be sure,-that of barmaid at the Staple-Inn Coffee-house; kept, it should seem, by their friend Bob Whitfield: and there Mrs. Inchbald visited her frequently. The other sister, whose prettier face does not seem to have contributed to her advancement in life, poor Debby, was now approaching the end of her course, and in the greatest pecuniary distress. This burst through all the reserves of Mrs. Inchbald, and she hurried to support her in the dreadful crisis, which she took every pains to render less bitter. She supplied the required comforts of existence, gave her the attendance of a priest, and at her death took upon herself the whole funeral expenses. The miserable fate of this sister, deeply regretted, pressed long and heavily upon the mind of Mrs. Inchbald. She could not help reproaching herself with cruelty for that severity which had driven her from the door when

she came a supplicant, perhaps a penitent too. She had, for almost strangers, disdained the world's opinion; and ought she to have done less for her own sister? Perhaps, proud like herself, a different treatment might have rendered her as amiable as the favourite Dolly. She had not, she thought, sufficiently made the experiment; and now all change of system was closed. Her sister Bigsby's husband, too, was in danger of going blind. If her professional triumphs were brilliant, she had frequent occasions for the firmness of her philosophy; or a more tender, as well as purer guide, her religion.

As soon, however, as she had recovered composure, she thought it best to put herself in motion; and accordingly, in the afternoon of the 3rd of August, with her sister Mrs. Hunt, she left town in a stage-coach, and at three o'clock the next day arrived at her brother's house at Bury. On the 5th and 6th she rode about the country and visited her old acquaintances, and received company at dinner. On the 7th she paid a visit to her friend Lady Gage, and staid with her till the 12th, highly gratified by the pleasure she had given and received. On that day she removed to Sir Charles Bunbury's seat, where she remained till on the 16th she passed the day with her sister Bigsby; slept at night at Mr. James Hunt's; the day following, Sunday, went to chapel; took leave of Lady Gage, and other old friends; and

at six the following morning, with her sister, set out on her return to London. With all her pains, either of the head, or stomach, or side, she seems always insensible of fatigue, either personal or mental; whatever "thin partitions may divide their boundaries."

The production of her farce of The Wedding Day,' at the classical theatre, as all concerned in it called it and thought it, employed her assiduously during its rehearsal. It was acted the first time on the 1st of November, was very loudly applauded, and indeed few pleasanter farces have proceeded from her or any pen. It was extremely well acted, and highly serviceable to the theatre. Kemble wrote to Mrs. Inchbald, advising her to sell the copy-right, and her friend Robinson was ready to purchase. Of her profits she invested £ 137. 7s. ; for which, in the Long Annuities, she got £7 per annum. Her broker, Morgan, aided her judiciously, as to changing her securities from time to time, and deriving the largest income that could be had without sacrificing the principal; and she now looked to a five-act comedy as the means of purchasing considerably ere long. Chance again threw something like a matrimonial speculation in her way, in the attentions of a young physician, a Dr. Gisborne; who, as the French used to open their trenches in the days of gal