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a poor woman fixteen pence for a tale fheep's head and pluck, which would not have fold a few weeks ago for above a groat. If the price even of the offal meat is kept so high, how are the poor to live?

Nearly at the fame time a poor man was obliged to pay three pence for a cow-heel, the ordinary price of which is only three haifpence; and another gave fix-pence for a piece of tripe, which used always to be fold for three. pence halfpenny.

The poor now pay at the rate of 6d. per pound for Chefhire cheese, and 5d. for the ordinary Lancashire and Warwickshire; and falt butter is 9d. and fresh is. per pound.

Laft Saturday died at Leith, aged 109, Elizabeth Greig, a beggar-woman; the retained her fenfes and spirit to the laft; and a few days before her death had vigour fufficient to go about in queft of alms.

On Wednesday fevennight died at Montrofe, Alexander Strachen, of Tarry, Efq; in the 84th year of his age. He is fucceeded by Alexander Strachen, now of Tarry, his grandchild.

On Monday last a woman, who fold milk, went into the house of a publican in Deadman's Place, Southwark, and was fuddenly taken ill, when the landlord very humanely ordered her to be put to bed, where the foon after expired in laying her out, 100 guineas was found fewed in her fhift; and on fearching her lodgings, a large quantity of plate was found: the above woman always pleaded the greatest poverty, and ufed conftantly to attend at her parish church on Sundays, in order to receive loaves and other charitable contributions.

Newcastle, March. 3. Last week died, in a greatly advanced age, Mr. Richard Sparrow, faid to be poffeffed of effects to the value of 20,000l. or upwards. He was an unmarried man, and lived many years very privately as a boarder in a fmall houfe, or rather cottage, on the river Wear, about ten iniles above Sunderland.

It's faid that the hereditary Prince and Princefs of Brunfwick will stay at

the court of Brunswick till about the middle of April, and then make a tour to Berlin.

By letters from Amfterdam, of the 14th, we learn that the hereditary Prince aud Princess of Brunswick had a very narrow escape, in paffing the Iffel on the 11th ult. in their way to Twickel; as in about an hour after they had passed a dike, which contained the waters of that river, the violence of those waters, all of a sudden, made a very confiderable breach in the dike, and carried off a great part of the bank along with them.

Since our people have been in possesfion of the gulph and river of St. Law rence, they have discovered a very valuable whale fishery there, which was unknown to the French. Upon this difcovery the people of New England fitted out ten veffels, of near 100 tons burden each, for that fishery in 1761, and had fuch fuccefs, that in 1762 they fent out fifty veffels for the fame purpose, and last year employed upwards of eighty; and we are affured, that a still larger number will be employed the enfuing season.

The quantity of whalebone, imported from New England within these two years, has already reduced that commodity from 500l. to 350l. a ton.

His royal highnefs the duke of York propofes to vifit the court of Berlin before he returns to England.

March 7. This day Sir John Hind Cotton, Bart. fet out for Cambridge, to offer himself a candidate to reprefent the faid county in parliament, in the room of lord viscount Roftyn, now earl of Hardwicke.

This day the captains Galbreth, Abercrombie, Gardner and Griffin, who are to command the Lord Anson, Prince of Wales, Solebay, and Beckenham, lately stationed in the Eaft Indies, were fworn in before the court of directors of the hon. East India company.

Thursday the fheriffs of London and Middlesex went to the Parliament Houle, with a petition from the City, for power to rebuild the gaol of Newgate.

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LIFE of the WOMAN of the Tow N, Concluded.

W

E left the night-cellar immediately, and I went home tired with what I had feen; my curiofity was fatisfied, I would not have any more tours to become a fpectator of mankind —I had seen enough of them.

The next day I refolved to retire into the country, and break off all my connexions and dependancies; I had acquired a large fum of money, and was determined no longer to bear capriciousness. My houfe I let to my partner, my jewels, fide board of plate, and other fuch fuperfluities, I fold by auction. I had found out a place in the country much to my fatisfaction, and there I was refolved honeftly to spend the remainder of my days. And as I had hitherto been careful of my perfon, I thought it was time for me to confider of what was hereafter to happen.

As foon as I had fettled my affairs, I fet out for Devonshire, only attended by one fervant of my sex, whofe fidelity I had often experienced.-All the way on the road, I reflected with rapture on the alteration of my condition. The fields looked fo lovely, fo fweet finelt the air, the birds fung out fo mufically, all seemed paradife around me.

I was recommended to a clergyman's house to board at in the Southams. I passed for the widow of an officer in the army, and was treated with the utmoft refpect; and in a few weeks I perceivVOL. III.

ed a remarkable alteration in myself for the better.

My fpirits, my appetite, were mended, my colour came once more in my cheeks, I could hardly believe I was the fame perfon, who, but fo lately, had looked fo pale, fo relaxed, fo void of appetite, without any spirits, but what the factitious help of liquor afforded me.

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All the enjoyments I before had tafted, compared to my prefent fatisfactions, were but fo many delirious dreams; I was no longer liable to be fent for to any libidinous debauchees, and endure all the mifery of feigning affection; and fuffering all the debilitated attempts of vitiated powe.lefs tormenting inclination.

I was now my own miftrefs, and none but those who have been dependant, and dependant in so abject a fate, as proftitution is, can conceive the happinefs of my change.My life was now, indeed, a life of luxury; the more I thought upon London, the more I laughed at it. I enjoyed the happines of my fituation, and was refolved never to trouble this metropolis again, nor be troubled in it.

I compared my late life and prefent condition, to that of a lad who had been decoyed from his friends or master, to ramble about the country with ftrolers, and was at laft returned to his friends again, and lived happy. Yet it is

U

often

often seen, that when once rambling has been practised, by any young fellow, et his profpects be ever fo good afterwards, he never can fettle, as he should do, there is a fort of an infatuation in irregularity; a life of eafe and innocence foon grows infipid to thofe, whofe youth have been intoxicated by any intemperances.

It was fo with me. The life I lived, of ease and innocence, began to be too easy for me. The prejudices I had imbibed, could not be eradicated; I was vice tainted, depraved in tafte, and all the fine profpects of the country began to grow fainter and fainter to me.

I began to talk of London to my fervant, as we used to walk out together; and was wont to fay, that I wondered what our old friends were doing in town; and used to wish I could fee them, and not be feen, juft for half an hour or fo but I declared, I never intended to live in London again.

But I did not know myself; the more healthy I grew, the more I was in fpirits, and high in blood, and began to wish for fome of thofe fatisfactions, which, though I had formerly been glutted with, even to a loathing, yet now a total deprivation of them made their remembrance fweet- as prohi bited goods will ever be most fought after.

It is Hamlet, I think, who fays, Frailty, thy name is woman - I confef's myself to be fo--I grew tired for want of variety; the fame fcenes every day made the country pailing;. I could not bear any longer to get up in a morning, to walk merely for the fake of walk, to eat, drink, fleep one 24 hours, and the next, and the next, ditto repeated, without one the most trivial incident to alter the round. - I pined for novelty; and, as the affizes were to be foon at Exeter, I defired my landlord would write there, and fecure lodgings for me during the week.

I appeared there at the affembly, and was complimented very much, not only for my perfon, but my taste in dress. My cloaths which I wore, tho' plain silks, were well fancied, and I believe not in

elegantly put on; my behaviour I chofe fhould be confonant to my appearance, and had the pleasure of hearing, in half whispers, from all parts of the room, as I happened to be in, that I was a charming creature, and they were certain I must be a perfon of distinction.

The vicar, with whom I lodged in the Southams, had recommended me to dance with a young gentleman of his acquaintance, whose estate lay near Mr. Dernly, the vicar's refidence.

This welt country Efquire had 2001. per annum, was a paffable man as to figure, and feemed to have a great good nature, and fome understanding, yet nothing either in mind or person striking. Notwithstanding which, I had been fo long rufticated from any thing like address and gaiety, that I was peculiarly pleased at the affiduities of my partner; nay, what with the exercise, the mufic, the warmth of the room, the fipping of negus now and then, the preffing of palms, and other little auxiliaries, which happen on a night's country dancing, and exhilerate the heart, had fuch an effect on me, that I, who had for fo many months lived reclufe, was now on fire for poffeffion; the latent sparks of impure taste were awakened in me; I had no checks from rifing fhame to deter me, no tender confcientious reflexions to damp my defires; but eager to indulge the impetucfity of my defires, I was mad for enjoyment.

He attended me from the affembly to where I lodged; luckily the family, to fhow me the greater respect, fat up for me; for had he, as I could not but alk him to walk in when he had ushered me home, and had we been alone, I should have yielded to his leaft importunity, nay, fo ungovernable grew my defires, I fhould more than half way met his wishes.

As foon as he faw me home he took his leave of me, and for the first time faluted me. That kifs, I could then fay with the girl in the Beggars Opera, His kifs was fo fweet, &c. That I languifhed and pined till ! granted the rest.

In the afternoon, he called to enquire after my health; I was ftill in bed, reflecting on what was like to, happen; on hearing his name, I defired he would stay, and huddling on my cloaths, I came down to him.

Before I came down, he had made the vicar, my landlord, his confidant, and begged his recommendation to me, that I would accept of him as a husband. When the vicar told me this, and withal gave me fo good a character of a person whom I already thought fo favourable of; Treplied, that I did not know— I should fee-could not tell was very happy in my fingle ftate-however, could not fay-and fuch evafive maiden-like answers- - but as he ob tained that day my confent to vifit me, he foon after obtained my confent to be married; but before that day, I honefly discovered to him what I had been. He was charmed with my fincerity, and the very next day fucceeding my discovering myself we were married, and I once more gave up all thoughts of London.

I was now a lawful wife-there was fomething I thought awful in the ceremony, and after it was over, I imagined myself of more confequence than ever I had before been. Sure then, thought 1, there must be fomething really great in virtue, if only the outward part of it can feem thus fatisfactory.

I had received him as my husband, as I thought him one I could like; but I foonbegan to esteem him; he was fond of me beyond defcription; I doted upon him. My whole delight was him; I was the girl of his affection; he the man of my heart. He had married a prostitute, one whom he knew to be fo; yet he tenderly loved me; my gratitude to him was unbounded.

How different are the true fenfations of love, from the violence of inordinate defires. Indeed I had often, warmed by bumpers and loofe converfation, made an affignation with fome man in the company, not for the fake of lucre, but what I then thought love, and made my bed-fellow for 24 hours, Whim,

fome particularities in the evening's converfation, or that unaccountable fomewhat, which fo often unites two perfons of different fexes on their first meeting.

So it was with me; I used now and then fo to indulge, and giving a loose to defire, revel with fome fellow of my fancy for 3 or 4 days; but when the dull pause of exhausted appetite came on, and the edge of novelty was worn off, we then, being heartily fatisfied on each fide, uled to part with the most extreme ind fference, as we had met in the highest rapture.

But it now was not fo; I was ftill eager in paffions, my defires full as strong, but they were properly conducted; my affections were fincere, and I who formerly was fatigued, was fick with every man's fondness that I was obliged to endure; and though I was fure to be most liberally paid for every kifs that I granted, yet those toyings

were then the most naufeous of all ac

tions to me; yet now I could fit for hours fondling with my husband, all now was elyfium with me, I could dwell for hours on his lips, it was happiness for me when he laid his cheeks on my neck; nay, I was even altered in my taste, no inore I wished to change, I despised variety, and my whole wishes were centered in him, whom, without fhame and affectation, I could publicly exprefs my love for.

The following winter, I was obliged to come to London on account of my money, all which I generously, fome perfons may fay foolishly, gave iny hufband. But the most knowing people, they fay, are one time or another the molt fimply taken in.

When we came to London, and I had fettled every thing to my own fatisfac tion, I had not even a wish left for curiofity; my husband was every thing to me; I every thing to him.

But little did I know of either of us; for this dear husband, this my lord and master, to whom I had made a prefent of upwards of goool. aud a perion he was often pitaled to fay was fuperior to

all

all the fortunes in the world; whofe look was enough to make me fly to serve him, and prevent his even mentioning what he wanted.

Yet this my fpoufe, when we had been but a week in London, picked up a girl in the Strand, and the correfpondence continued with fuch fondness on his fide, that he took her into keeping, and told me he liked London fo well, he did not intend to leave it for the winter feason.

His will was to me pleasure; though I thought it strange, that any thing could fo particularly and fuddenly attach him to be fond of a place, he had always before expressed a diftafte to. But I was not long kept in the dark; too much experienced myself formerly in feigning fondnefs, he could not deceive; I found foon his affections were eftranged from me; 'tis true, indeed, he endeavoured to feem as tender as ever, but with me that could not do. I foon discovered his haunts; and one day, about 3 in the afternoon, furprized him and his lady in bed together.

Would not any one fuppofe that I fhould rave, fall upon the woman, raife the neighbourhood, and do every other outrageous action; had it been a man who only kept me I should have done fo; but the cafe was different, I was married; I fcorned to expose either my husband or self, any more than what my first bursting into the room might occafion. The curtains were undrawn, and no window fhutters to the fafhes; they both started upright at my en trance, and the girl feemed ftartled, as at the fight of a bailiff; he could not ftir, but fat like a person struck with a blaft, and the ufe of his limbs, even power of motion in his face, taken from

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knew too much, I told her, myself of the miseries of her profeffion, to blame her for accepting of a man who would maintain her-but addreffing myself to my husband

What happened afterwards for some time I can't relate; I was insensible, overcome by the different ftifled paffions of refentment, difappointment, pride, all at once ftriving to mafter me, I endeavouring to appear cool it was too much for me, I funk down in a swoonI was taken home, put to bed, á fever entued, which was attended with a mifcarriage-I was for fome time given over, but refolution more than medicine I think recovered me I was determined, a husband, who had behaved so ungratefully to me, fhould never break my heart. I ftrove against my illness, and at laft, contrary to all expectations, I recover'd my former health, and I even could endure again to look at myself. My husband

with reverence let

me mention fo dignified a title thought proper only to enquire after my health, never chofe to appear in fight and when he found my conftitution ef tablished, went over with his lady to Jamaica to a brother he had there, who had lived many years upon the island.

Villain and fool as the fellow was, on whom I had fo rafhly bestowed myselfyet I must do him this piece of justice, that he did not take my fortune with him, he left me above two thirds of it; and having fold it all out of the stocks, and taken Bank bills for the money, leaving only 500 1. for himself, he fent me the Bank notes for the refidue in a pacquet by my servant-maid, and also a deed, wherein he made over the Devon. fhire estate to me, as it was left him in fuch a manner, that he could dispose of it to whom he pleased.

He at the fame time wrote a letter to the clergyman in the Southams, wherein he corroborated the powers he had given me, and at the fame time laid the blame of his mifconduct entirely upon himself, and like a malefactor confeffed that he was, infatuated, and didn't know what he did.

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