They bruised my head and face, and cursing me for having no more money, tipped me into the dam, crying, Lie there, parson, till to-morrow!

Engraved by Walker, from a drawing by E. F. Burney.

'got hold of me, and swore bitterly they would kill me, if I 'did not give them what I had. They rummaged my pockets, ' and took from me my snuff-box, my seal-ring, and half a guinea, and some silver, and halfpence; also my handker'chief, and two or three letters I had in my pockets. By good 'fortune, the letter Mrs. Pamela gave me was in my bosom, and so that escaped: but they bruised my head and face, and 'cursing me for having no more money, tipped me into the dam, crying, Lie there, parson, till to-morrow! My shins and knees were bruised much in the fall against one of the stumps; and I had like to have been suffocated in water and 'mud. To be sure, I shan't be able to stir out this day or two: 'for I am a frightful spectacle! My hat and wig I was 'forced to leave behind me, and go home, a mile and a half, 'without; but they were found next morning, and brought 'me, with my snuff-box, which the rogues must have dropped. 'My cassock is sadly torn, as is my band. To be sure, I was 'much frightened; for a robbery in these parts has not been 'known many years. Diligent search is making after the rogues. My humble respects to good Mrs. Pamela: if she pities my misfortunes, I shall be the sooner well, and fit to 'wait on her and you. This did not hinder me in writing a 'letter, though with great pain, as I do this (To be sure this ' good man can keep no secret!) and sending it away by a man and horse, this morning. I am, good Mrs. Jewkes,

'Your most obliged humble servant.

God be praised it is no worse! And I find I have got no 'cold, though miserably wet from top to toe. My fright, 'I believe, prevented me from catching cold; for I was not rightly myself for some hours, and know not how 'I got home. I will write a letter of thanks this night, 'if I am able, to my kind patron, for his inestimable ' goodness to me. I wish I was enabled to say all I hope, 'with regard to the better part of his bounty to me, in'comparable Mrs. Pamela."

The wicked brute fell a laughing, when she had read this

letter, till her fat sides shook. Said she, I can but think how the poor parson looked, after parting with his pretty mistress in such high spirits, when he found himself at the bottom of the dam! And what a figure he must cut in his tattered band and cassock, and without a hat and wig, when he got home. I warrant, added she, he was in a sweet pickle!-I said, I thought it was very barbarous to laugh at such a misfortune: but she replied, As he was safe, she laughed; otherwise she would have been sorry: and she was glad to see me so concerned for him-It looked promising, she said.

I heeded not her reflections; but as I have been used to causes for mistrusts, I cannot help saying that I don't like this thing: And their taking his letters most alarms me.— How happy it was they missed my packet! I knew not what to think of it!-But why should I let every accident break my peace? Yet it will do so, while I stay here.

Mrs. Jewkes is mightily at me, to go with her in the chariot, to visit Mr. Williams. She is so officious to bring on the affair between us, that, being a cunning, artful woman, I know not what to make of it: I have refused her absolutely; urging, that except I intended to encourage his suit, I ought not to do it. And she is gone without me.

I have strange temptations to get away in her absence, for all these fine appearances. "Tis sad to have nobody to advise with!-I know not what to do. But, alas for me! I have no money, if I should, to buy anybody's civilities, or to pay for necessaries or lodgings. But I'll go into the garden, and resolve afterwards—

I have been in the garden, and to the back-door: and there I stood, my heart up at my mouth. I could not see I was watched; so this looks well. But if anything should go bad afterwards, I should never forgive myself, for not taking this opportunity. Well, I will go down again, and see if all is clear, and how it looks out at the back-door in the pasture.

To be sure, there is witchcraft in this house; and I believe

Lucifer is bribed, as well as all about me, and is got into the shape of that nasty grim bull to watch me !-For I have been down again, and ventured to open the door, and went out about a bow-shot into the pasture; but there stood that horrid bull, staring me full in the face, with fiery saucer eyes, as I thought. So I got in again, for fear he should come at me. Nobody saw me, however.-Do you think there are such things as witches and spirits? If there be, I believe, in my heart, Mrs. Jewkes has got this bull of her side. But yet, what could I do without money, or a friend?-Oh this wicked woman! to trick me so! Everything, man, woman, and beast, is in a plot against your poor Pamela, I think!—Then I know not one step of the way, nor how far to any house or cottage; and whether I could gain protection, if I got to a house: And now the robbers are abroad too, I may run into as great danger as I want to escape; nay, greater much, if these promising appearances hold: And sure my master cannot be so black as that they should not!-What can I do?—I have a good mind to try for it once more; but then I may be pursued and taken; and it will be worse for me; and this wicked woman will beat me, and take my shoes away, and lock me up.

But, after all, if my master should mean well, he can't be angry at my fears, if I should escape; and nobody can blame me; and I can more easily be induced, with you, when all my apprehensions are over, to consider his proposal of Mr. Williams, than I could here; and he pretends, as you have read in his letter, he will leave me to my choice: Why then should I be afraid? I will go down again, I think! But yet my heart misgives me, because of the difficulties before me, in escaping; and being so poor and so friendless!-O good God! the preserver of the innocent! direct me what to do!

Well, I have just now a sort of strange persuasion upon me, that I ought to try to get away, and leave the issue to Providence. So, once more-I'll see, at least, if this bull be still there.

Alack-a-day! what a fate is this! I have not the courage to go, neither can I think to stay. But I must resolve. The