favours； for they are all eager to detect and betray one
another。' 'But this is doing the devil's work for nothing （cried
I）。 What should induce them to revile their benefactor without
provocation？' 'Envy （answered Dick） is the general incitement；
but they are galled by an additional scourge of provocation。 S
directs a literary journal； in which their productions are
necessarily brought to trial； and though many of them have been
treated with such lenity and favour as they little deserved； yet
the slightest censure； such as； perhaps； could not be avoided
with any pretensions to candour and impartiality； has rankled in
the hearts of those authors to such a degree； that they have
taken immediate vengeance on the critic in anonymous libels；
letters； and lampoons。 Indeed； all the writers of the age； good；
bad； and indifferent； from the moment he assumed this office；
became his enemies； either professed or in petto； except those of
his friends who knew they had nothing to fear from his
strictures； and he must be a wiser man than me who can tell what
advantage or satisfaction he derives from having brought such a
nest of hornets about his ears。'
I owned； that was a point which might deserve consideration； but
still I expressed a desire to know his real motives for
continuing his friendship to a set of rascals equally ungrateful
and insignificant。 He said； he did not pretend to assign any
reasonable motive； that； if the truth must be told； the man was；
in point of conduct； a most incorrigible fool； that； though he
pretended to have a knack at hitting off characters； he blundered
strangely in the distribution of his favours； which were
generally bestowed on the most undeserving of those who had
recourse to his assistance； that； indeed； this preference was not
so much owing to want of discernment as to want of resolution；
for he had not fortitude enough to resist the importunity even of
the most worthless； and； as he did not know the value of money；
there was very little merit in parting with it so easily； that
his pride was gratified in seeing himself courted by such a
number of literary dependents； that； probably； he delighted in
hearing them expose and traduce one another； and； finally； from
their information； he became acquainted with all the transactions
of Grubstreet； which he had some thoughts of compiling for the
entertainment of the public。
I could not help suspecting； from Dick's discourse； that he had
some particular grudge against S； upon whose conduct he had put
the worst construction it would bear； and； by dint of cross…examination；
I found he was not at all satisfied with the
character which had been given in the Review of his last
performance； though it had been treated civilly in consequence of
the author's application to the critic。 By all accounts； S is not
without weakness and caprice； but he is certainly good…humoured
and civilized； nor do I find that there is any thing overbearing；
cruel； or implacable in his disposition。
I have dwelt so long upon authors； that you will perhaps suspect
I intend to enroll myself among the fraternity； but； if I were
actually qualified for the profession； it is at best but a
desperate resource against starving； as it affords no provision
for old age and infirmity。 Salmon； at the age of fourscore； is
now in a garret； compiling matter； at a guinea a sheet； for a
modern historian； who； in point of age； might be his grandchild；
and Psalmonazar； after having drudged half a century in the
literary mill； in all the simplicity and abstinence of an
Asiatic； subsists upon the charity of a few booksellers； just
sufficient to keep him from the parish； I think Guy； who was
himself a bookseller； ought to have appropriated one wing or ward
of his hospital to the use of decayed authors； though indeed；
there is neither hospital； college； nor workhouse； within the
bills of mortality； large enough to contain the poor of this
society； composed； as it is； from the refuse of every other
profession。
I know not whether you will find any amusement in this account of
an odd race of mortals； whose constitution had； I own； greatly
interested the curiosity of
Yours；
J。 MELFORD
LONDON； June 10。
To Miss LAETITIA WILLIS； at Gloucester。
MY DEAR LETTY；
There is something on my spirits； which I should not venture to
communicate by the post； but having the opportunity of Mrs
Brentwood's return； I seize it eagerly； to disburthen my poor
heart； which is oppressed with fear and vexation。 O Letty！ what
a miserable situation it is； to be without a friend to whom one
can apply for counsel and consolation in distress！ I hinted in my
last； that one Mr Barton had been very particular in his
civilities： I can no longer mistake his meaning he has formally
professed himself my admirer； and； after a thousand assiduities；
perceiving I made but a cold return to his addresses； he had
recourse to the mediation of lady Griskin； who has acted the part
of a very warm advocate in his behalf： but； my dear Willis； her
ladyship over acts her part she not only expatiates on the ample
fortune； the great connexions； and the unblemished character of
Mr Barton； but she takes the trouble to catechise me； and； two
days ago； peremptorily told me； that a girl of my age could not
possibly resist so many considerations； if her heart was not pre…engaged。
This insinuation threw me into such a flutter； that she could not
but observe my disorder； and； presuming upon the discovery；
insisted upon my making her the confidante of my passion。 But；
although I had not such command of myself as to conceal the
emotion of my heart； I am not such a child as to disclose its
secret to a person who would certainly use them to its prejudice。
I told her； it was no wonder if I was out of countenance at her
introducing a subject of conversation so unsuitable to my years
and inexperience； that I believed Mr Barton was a very worthy
gentleman； and I was much obliged to him for his good opinion；
but the affections were involuntary； and mine； in particular； had
as yet made no concessions in his favour。 She shook her head with
an air of distrust that made me tremble； and observed； that if my
affections were free； they would submit to the decision of
prudence； especially when enforced by the authority of those who
had a right to direct my conduct。 This remark implied a design to
interest my uncle or my aunt； perhaps my brother； in behalf of Mr
Barton's passion； and I am sadly afraid that my aunt is already
gained over。 Yesterday in the forenoon； he had been walking with
us in the Park； and stopping in our return at a toy…shop； he
presented her with a very fine snuff…box； and me with a gold
etuis； which I resolutely refused； till she commanded me to
accept it on pain of her displeasure： nevertheless； being still
unsatisfied with respect to the propriety of receiving this toy；
I signified my doubts to my brother； who said he would consult my
uncle on the subject； and seemed to think Mr Barton had been
rather premature in his presents。
What will be the result of this consultation； Heaven knows； but I
am afraid it will produce an explanation with Mr Barton； who
will； no doubt； avow his passion； and solicit their consent to a
connexion which my soul abhors； for； my dearest Letty； it is not
in my power to love Mr Barton； even if my heart was untouched by
any other tenderness。 Not that there is any thing disagreeable
about his person； but there is a total want of that nameless
charm which captivates and controuls the inchanted spirit at
least； he appears to me to have this defect； but if he had all
the engaging qualifications which a man can possess； they would
be excited in vain against that constancy； which； I flatter
myself； is the characteristic of my nature。 No； my dear Willis； I
may be involved in fresh troubles； and I believe I shall； from
the importunities of this gentleman and the violence of my
relations； but my heart is incapable of change。
You know I put no faith in dreams； and yet I have been much
disturbed by one that visited me last night。 I thought I was in
a church； where a certain person； whom you know； was on the point
of being married to my aunt； that the clergyman was Mr Barton；
and that poor forlorn I； stood weeping in a corner； half naked；
and without shoes or stockings。 Now； I know there is nothing so
childish as to be moved by those vain illusions； but；
nevertheless； in spite of all my reason； this hath made a strong
impression upon my mind； which begins to be very gloomy。 Indeed；
I have another more substantial cause of affliction I have some
religious scruples； my dear friend； which lie heavy on my
conscience。 I was persuaded to go to the Tabernacle； where I
heard a discourse that affected me deeply。 I have prayed
fervently to be enlightened； but as yet I am not sensible of
these inward motions； those operations of grace； which are the
signs of a regenerated spirit； and therefore I begin to be in
terrible apprehensions about the state of my poor soul。 Some of
our family have had very uncommon accessions； particularly my
aunt and Mrs Jenkins； who sometimes speak as if they were really
inspired； so that I am not like to want for either exhortation or
example； to purify my thoughts； and recall them from the vanities
of this world； which； indeed； I would willingly resign； if it was
in my power； but to make this sacrifice； I must be enabled by
such assistance from above as hath not yet been indulged to
Your unfortunate friend；
LYDIA MELFORD
June 10。
To Sir WATKIN PHILLIPS； of Jesus college； Oxon。
DEAR PHILLIPS；
The moment I received your letter； I began to execute your
commission With the assistance of mine host at the Bull and
Gate； I discovered the place to which your fugitive valet had
retreated； and taxed him with his dishonesty The fellow was in
manifest confusion at sight of me； but he denied the charge with
great confidence； till I told him； that if he would give up the
watch； which was a family piece； he might keep the money and the
clothes； and go to the devil his own way； at his leisure； but if
he rejected this proposal； I would deliver him forthwith t