Generofity and Treachery 26 of the firit, nor of this appeared, till, . Jan. who put an end to his life within four months after obtaining this laft confidence. Ardelio was given to understand by a paper left under his betrayer's hand writing, that the first voyage had actually incurred a debt, and that the value of the latter was unfortunately fhipwrecked at Ws Ch-c-1-te H-, in a defperate attempt to retrieve all at the gaming table. Two thousand pounds was now the whole of Ardelio's fortune, who had the mortification to find himself treated first with coldnefs, and afterwards with all the cruel infolence of contempt, by the father of his adored Belinda, who, by his tyranny, was facrificed, in the twentieth year of her age, to a wealthy dotard of leventy-two. Ardelio heard the pointed intelligence with a mind truly heroic, though he fuffered upon this occafion all that a foul of the tendereft fenfibility could indure, but never permitted a curfe to efcape him on the perfidy of his betrayer, who left a widow and two children, oppreffed with all the miferies of wretchednefs and contempt. Ardelio, by a private hand, fent rool. to their relief, but forbad that they should be told from whence this fupply proceeded, left gratitude to her injured benefactor (hould opprefs the mind of this unhappy woman. A diforder invincible by art, fucceeded to Ardelio's lofs of Belinda Anxiety to conceal it from his friends obliged him to put on an air of gaity whenever a filent concern fpoke their apprehenfions, but within five months he was obliged to hear, what at first appeared only as a fight indifpofition, treated as a ferious matter by a phyfician, with whom he confult ed, and who frankly told him a fhort reprieve was all he must reckon upon. Two other perfons with myfelf were prefent at this folemu interview, and the only forrowful auditors of this melancholy fentence. Ardelio re ceived it without the leaft emotion, and fmiling demanded, What our tears meant? Since they only could give aman difturbance, who had nothing to bope from this world, and nothing to fear in the next. He was vifited, during the laft fix weeks of his life, only by my felf, and two other particular friends, one of whom would often be gratify 1766. DISPLAY E D. ng a peevish hunhour by infinuations to the prejudice of mankind; particularly once he faid to Ardelio, that farely now he must be convinced of what he never yet would acknowledge atruth, that depravation had overspread the human species. Indelible be my remembrance of his reply, who, with a sweetness rather to be conceived than expreffed, thus delivered himself: "Your virtue, Severus, would fit upon you with much better grace, if you were more favourable in your allowances to the frailty of human nature; fince from frailty, alone, refults many an action that over-delicate virtue imputes to a principle of inveteracy. The most cordial pleasure of my declining life (next to the joys of confcious integrity) is to contemplate the general concurrence of mankind, for advancing one another's and the public welfare: The injuries I have futained do but prove, that one man has profaned the facred name of friendhip, which is no more an argument against the fpecies in general, than the promifcuous diftribution of evil to the juft, with men of a contrary character, prove the governor of the univerfe to be a malevolent being. Objects appear to us difcoloured by the medium through which we view them; but 'tis the property of judgment to rectify the miftaken evidence of prepoffeffion; and the very genius of that religion we profefs, to impute every doubtful action of other men to the moft favourable principle it will admit of. Tis difingenuous, dear Severus, to affirm, that nature delights in monstrous productions, because prodigious births have fometimes hap pened." This was Ardelio's laft opportunity of vindicating the injured dignity of human nature; an interval of four days between which and death, he employed in the most indearing offices of friendship, and, in the last moments of his life, embracing me, uttered this tender adieu: "Were heaven a place of lefs joy than it is, I fhould wait with imparience your arrival; there to be again united in a bond of friendship, that death can never vacate, though, for a fort feafon, it may diffolve." 27 Ardelio dying without any relations, many of his friends concluded, that he would bequeath what he poffeffed to fome public charity: But how great was their furprize to find, after lega cies of fifty pounds to each of his fervants, a paragraph in the following words: "I bequeath to Mrs. relict of my once friend in profeffion the refidue of my fortune, which, I hope, will fet her above the need of pity from thofe who make it a point of honour (falfely fo in the highest degree) to vifit with contempt the mifconduct of the husband and parent upon the innocent widow and children. Could I leave any stronger evidence than this, of my defire that her husband's ungenerous treatment of me fhould be for ever buried in obli.. vion, to do it would be but to fulfil the duties of a chriftian, and to gratify the most forcible propenfion of my nature." To Dr. Coox. IN SIR, Nov. 16, 1765. N the London Magazine for May, 1765, you thus expreffed yourself; "It is feveral days, if not weeks, before the approach of a candle, or offer of fome injury, can make infants twink." From which obfervation you conclude, that infants are born as blind as puppies. To this conclufion I object, that distance and motion are not objects of the vifive faculty. You agree with me that distance and motion are not objects of the vifive faculty; but then you think my objection of no force, because you have, you fay, made no mention of diftance and motion. Now, fir, I defire to be informed, what an approach is, if it be not a diminution of diftance by motion: be pleased alfo to explain what you mean by the words or offer of fome injury. Doth not this expreffion fhew it to be your opinion that, if infants were not blind, they would by fight perceive variety of dangers? I mean dangers to the eye. But it farther feems clear to you that if an adult, blind from his birth, was made to fee he would immediately twink were his eyes offended with too The perfon mentioned in the former part of this story to have embezzled and ship Turecked 12000 l. of Ardelio's fortune. much light. Now, fir, I fhould be glad to know your reafon for this opinion. Such a perfon could not expect, by dropping the eye lid, to prevent the entrance of light, which doth not seem to have any exiftence external to, or diftant from, the eye *. Neither by dropping the eye-lid could he hope to drive the offenfive light out of his eyes, this would be as abfurd as if a man should expect to strip a room of its furniture by shutting the door. In your last paragraph you quote Haller and others to prove the exiftence of the pupillary membrane. This, fir, is foreign to the purpose: for I have not denied the exiftence of this membrane; nor have I denied any matter of fact; I have only objected to your reasoning from matter of fact. I am, fir, Your most humble fervant, T. I. An Account of the new Comedy, called, The Double Miftake, which is performed at the Theatre Royal in Covent Garden. MEN. Lord BELMONT, a nobleman of sense, honour, and fpirit; Mr. Rofs. Sir CHARLES SOMERVILLE, his friend, a man of worth and character, labouring under a disappointment in love; Mr. Smith. Mr. BELMONT, uncle to lord Belmont, an old batchelor; a good natured, weak, amorous man, with a great paffion for, and equal ignorance of, medals, ftatues, and every thing of the virtú kind; Mr. Shuter. Elder FREEMAN, Mr. Hull; a citizen, of fortune, induftry, and honour, endeavouring to reclaim Younger FREEMAN, Mr. Dyer; his brother; one who has flip'd from behind the counter, and fets up for a beau and a fortune-hunter. Mr. SOUTHERNE, an old, abfurd, country gentleman, and an unfeeling father; Mr. Dunftall. WOMEN. Lady BRIDGET, Mrs. Walker; an old, affected maiden, aunt to lord Belmont, and a great pretender to lite rature. Lady MARY, Mis Macklin; a grave, Jan. well-behaved, fenfible young woman, fifter to lord Belmont. Lady LOUISA, Mifs Wilford; her fifter; a lively, giddy, romantic girl. EMILY SOUTHERNE, Mrs. Mattocks; a modeft, tender, delicate, young woman, labouring under an imputation on her character, from feveral untoward incidents. HE ftory of the piece is this: by her father (Mr. Southerne) who, among other cruelties, attempted to force her into a marriage with one whom the detefted; but being fuddenly taken ill, went to Bath, to which place Emily attended him. Here the happened to meet with a gentleman (Sir Charles Somerville) with whom at fchool fhe had contracted an early friendship, which was now grɔwn into a fincere and mutual paffion. He follicited the confent of her father to marriage, but was refused. Next morn ing Mr. Southerne being to leave Bath, Sir Charles requested a laft adieu of his dear Emily, after the family were gone to reft. While they were vowing eternal conftancy to each other, they heard a noife in an adjoining clofet; Sir Charles forced open the door, and, to their mutual aftonishment, out rufhed a man ; Sir Charles called to him to draw; but their fighting was prevented by Emily throwing herself between them. The family, however, being alarmed, and all coming into the room, Emily fled from the indignation of her father; and, running into the ftreet, found the Bath coach at that inftant fetting out for London, ftepped into it, without determining on any thing, except not to return. She took up her first refidence at an inn in town, and immediately fent to her friend and relation, Lord Belmont, who being come, the relates to him every canfe and circumstance of her diftrefs; and puts herself under his protection. He brings her to his own house, and determines to let her pafs for a daughter of a friend in the country, until he can fome way or other fettle this unhappy affair. While they are in converfation at his lordship's, a meffage is brought that Sir Charles Somerville is come to wait on his See Chefelden's anat. edit. 8, p. 300. lordship. 1766. THE DOUBLE MISTAKE. lordship. Emily is inftantly put into the next closet, and Sir Charles is introduced, who acquaints his lordship with an hafty refolution he has taken of leaving England directly. A deep figh from Emily being heard, Lord Belmont defires Sir Charles to withdraw, and to call again in half an hour. Emily comes forth, and conjures his lord hip to diffuade Sir Charles from his purpose of travelling again; declaring in the strongest manner, her innocence of the clofet affair. at Bath. Emily is introduced to his lordship's two fifters, Lady Mary and Lady Louifa; likewife to his uncle Mr. Belmont, and aunt Bridget. Lord Belmont accomplishes his purpole of perfuading his friend Sir Charles to poftpone his intended journey for a few days. The next fcene is between Emily, aunt Bridget, and the Virtuofo, which is highly entertaining. Aunt Bridget is perfectly ridiculous, with her ftiff, ftarched formality, and pretenfions to learning; as is alfo the Virtuofo, with his nonfense about birds, fhells, medals, and coins. One of thefe laft he fays he will prefent to Emily. He calls it his beft Otho: it has the true green mould upon it, and is fo very antique, that all the traces of the figure are worn out, and it looks for all the world like a bit of plain copper. The whole of this character is perfectly humourous, and is inimitably performed by Mr. Shuter. The scene is next changed to Younger Freeman's lodgings, who is just arrived in town; to him comes his elder brother, a banker in Lombard-street, whom he acquaints with a defign, or rather a fcheme, he has formed of marrying a lady with 10000l. but the elder brother detefts and abhors the whole plot, as clandeftine and fcandalous; and with a fevere contempt reproaches his brother's folly, prefumption, and artifice. The lady proves to be Lord Belmont's fifter, Lady Louifa, whom be impofes upon with falfe tales of his unalterable paffion, &c. The Virtuofo having conceived a paffion for Emily's true Cleopatran neck, as he calls it, take an opportunity, when the is alone, of acquainting her with it; but is terribly diftreffed to declare it. At length he hits on an expedient. He tells her he has got a fine parrot 29 that speaks very plain, and by the next morning he will tell Emily he loves her, and will marry her. Lady Louifa having confented to the admiffion of Younger Freeman, he comes, and after declaring his love, talking of his rents, on bis knees preffing her to fly with him, to which the almoft confents, news is brought that her brother, Lord Belmont, is coming up itairs. This obliges young Freeman to decamp down the back ftairs. The fcene is changed to a ftreet, with part of Lord Belmont's garden-wall and the door of the garden. Sir Charles Somerville is going to Lord Belmont's, when at the in-, ftant he is oppofite the garden-door, out comes Younger Freeman. Sir Charles is furprized and thunderftruck; as this is the fame man whom he found in Emily's closet at Bath. He goes directly to Lord Belmont, whom he upbraids, and even infults, with clandeftinely affifting his rival. After many high words, they come to understand each other; and Lord Belmont declares his refolution of finding out this fecret vifitor. Sir Charles goes out, and Mr. Southern, Emily's father, is next introduced, who is come to town to search for his daughter, about whom, however, he says, he will not give himfelf much trouble. He tells his lordship that he had defigned to marry her to his neighbour Winterbottom, a rich old man like himself, but rather than comply fhe fled. Lord Belmont having fent for his banker, Mr. Freeman, in order to fettle his accompts, which he conftantly does himself, afks after his brother. The account which Freeman gives of his brother, affords fome grounds for Lord Belmont's fufpecting he must be the man who had been in the house; and accordingly, at his next meeting with the ladies, he afks Emily if the knows one Mr, Freeman; fhe peremptorily, and without concern, anfwers fhe does not; but Lady Louisa faulters. Young Freeman having formed a defign of carrying off Lady Louifa in his brother's chariot, which stands waiting for him at the door, by ordering the coachman to drive to the garden gate; and being admitted to Louifa, eagerly preffes her to comply, but is prevented by fomebody's overlooking the garden. The scene changes 10 30 SEASONABLE ADDRESS to Lord Belmont's library, and in comes Sir Charles, to acquaint his Jordfhip, that leeing a chariot at the garden gate, he asked the coachman whom he belonged to, and he anfwered to Mr. Freeman; fo that Sir Charles is certain he must be in his lordship's houfe. Strict fearch is inftantly made, and Freeman flies from room to room; at length in the utmost diftrefs, and not knowing where to run, finding his purfuers at his heels, he burfts open another room door, which proves to be Emily's. She comes out in the greatest furprize, and finding him to be the man who had been concealed in her closet at Bath, fhe is in the utmost distraction. Lord Belmont and Sir Charles enter, as do likewife the ladies and all the family, even Emiy's father; from whofe knowledge Lord Belmont had kept her concealed. After fome severe expoftulations with Freeman, Lord Belmont demands to whom he came: He anfwers, to Emily, which greatly heightens her diftrefs; and increases Sir Charles's contempt for her. Being urged to marry her, he refules. Emily exclaims against his pernidy, and afferts her innocence. At length he confelles the truth, and Lady Louifa confirms it, with a proper indignation for his falfhoods concerning his birth and character, Lord Belmont having informed her he was only his banker's brother. All parties now feem to be reconciled and fatisfied of Emily's innocence, except Sir Charles, who defires the Bath affair may be explained. Young Freeman confefles he then came to the maid, and as he was paffing through Emily's room into her's, in came Emily and Sir Charles, and fhe, to prevent a dif covery, thrust him into the closet. Sir Charles is immediately reconciled to his fond and amiable Emily, who forgives him. The father likewife forgives her, and all parties are made happy in the marriage. This is the plot of the play. As to the language it is polite and elegant. A feafmable Addrefs to the Public, on the prefent Difcouraging State of our Trade North America. Birmingham, Dec. 27. HE purport of this addrefs, which we thould efteem ourfelves TH Jan. extremely happy in contributing to, Is to engage, in behalf of our numerous fellow fufferers, the fympathy and affiftance of every lover of his country, (in higher or lower stations, and whether directly interested or not) in warding off the evils which are feeming with hafty fteps to advance upon us. That thofe are neither the phantoms of a timid imagination, nor the caricatures of a political faction, we doubt not convincing every mind that is not already under very obstinate prejudices; and for this purpofe we would beg leave briefly to point out the value of what is now at ftake; and then what grounds we have for being apprehenfive about it. As the bafis of our attempt, we would obferve, that the vast increase in the export of the manufactures of Great Britain to North America, has been, for many years past, too confpicuous to escape the notice of any one who has viewed the mother country in a commercial light. May it not be faid, the progrefs therein has been aftonishing? Is there almoft a corner of this kingdom, which has not found fome employment for it's people from this fource? And, as to Our own town, with a very extended neighbourhood, we must acknowledge ourfelves peculiarly indebted thereto. The manufactory of iron wares alone (exclufive of great quantities of other wares fent thither) may have long been pronounced the most staple dependance we have had And it will be easily conceived by thofe who are acquainted with the fubject (both from the useful articles of life which this manufactory confits, of and the low coft of the first materials) that a very confiderable number of hands must have been engaged in it. When war has shut the ports of other nations against us, we have been fure of an open communication with our colonies. This we have juftly congratulated ourselves upon and we have at fuch times, had even fuch an acceffion to our trade from thence, as has greatly diminished in our eyes what we have loft from other quarters. On thefe, and many other accounts, does the importance of this object appear; and the more important, the greater must be our forprife and mor tification in feeing an embargo laid upon |