To a benevolent disposition, every state of life will afford some opportunities of contributing to the welfare of mankind. Opulence and splendor are enabled to dispel the cloud of adversity, to dry up the tears of the widow and the orphan, and to increasea the felicity of all around them: their example will animate the persuit ofb virtue, and retardc the progress of vice. And even indigence and obscurity, though without power to confer happiness, may at least prevent misery, and apprize those who are blinded by their passions that they are on the brink of irremediable calamity.d

Pleased, therefore, with the thought of recoveringe others from that folly whichf has embittered my own days, I have presumed to address the Adventurer from the dreary mansions of wretchedness and despair, of which the gates are so wonderfully constructed, as to fly open for the reception of strangers, though they are impervious as a rock of adamant to such as are within them:

Suffer me to acquaint you, Sir, that I have glittered at the ball, and sparkled in the circle; that I have had the happiness to be the unknown favourite of an unknown lady at the masquerade, have been the delight of tables of the first fashion, and the envy of my brother beaux; and to descend a little lower, it is, I believe, still remembered, that Messrs. Velours and d'Espagne stand indebted for a great part of their present influence at Guildhall, to the elegance of my shape, and the graceful freedom of my carriage:

As I entered into the world very young, with an elegant person, and a large estate, it was not long before I disentangled myself from the shackles of religion; for I was determined to the persuit of pleasure, which according to my notions consisted in the unrestrained and unlimited gratification of every passion and every appetite: and as this could not be obtained under the frowns of a perpetual dictator, I considered religion as my enemy, and proceeding to treat her with contempt and derision, was not a little delighted that the unfashionableness of her appearance, and the unanimated uniformity of her motions, afforded frequent opportunities for the sallies of my imagination.

Conceiving now that I was sufficiently qualified to laugh away scruples, I imparted my remarks to those among my female favourites, whose virtue I intended to attack; for I was well assured, that pride would be able to make but a weak defence, when religion was subverted; nor was my success below my expectation: the love of pleasure is too strongly implanted in the female breast, to suffer them scrupulously to examineg the validity of arguments designed to weaken restraint; all are easily led to believe, that whatever thwarts their inclination must be wrong: little more, therefore, was required, than by the addition of some circumstances, and the exaggeration of others, to make merriment supply the place of demonstration;h nor was I so senseless as to offer arguments to such as could not attend to them, and with whom a repartee or catch would more effectually answer the same purpose.i This being effected, there remained only “the dread of the world:”1 but Roxana soared too high, to think the opinion of others worthy her notice; Laetitia seemed to think of it only to declare, that “if all her hairs were worlds,”j she should reckon them “well lost for love;”2 and Pastorella fondly conceived, that she could dwell for ever by the side of a bubbling fountain, content with her swain and fleecy care; without considering, that stilness and solitude can afford satisfaction only to innocence.

It is not the desire of new acquisitions,k but the glory of conquest, that fires the soldier's breast; as indeed the town is seldom worth much, when it has suffered the devastations of a siege; so that though I did not openly declare the effects of my own prowess, which is forbidden by the laws of honour, it cannot be supposed that I was very solicitous to bury my reputation, or to hinder accidental discoveries. To have gained one victory, is an inducement to hazard a second engagement: and though the success of the general, should be a reason for increasing the strength of the fortification; it becomes, with many, a pretence for an immediate surrender, under the notion that no power is able to withstand so formidable an adversary; while others brave the danger, and think it mean to surrender, and dastardly to fly: Melissa, indeed, knew better; and though she could not boast the apathy,3 steadiness, and inflexibility of a Cato, wanted not the more prudent virtue of Scipio, and gained the victory by declining the contest.

You must not, however, imagine, that I was during this state of abandoned libertinism, so fully convinced of the fitness of my own conduct, as to be free from uneasiness: I knew very well, that I might justly be deemed the pest of society, and that such proceedings must terminate in the destruction of my health and fortune: but to admit thoughts of this kind, was to live upon the rack; I fled, therefore, to the regions of mirth and jollity, as they are called, and endeavoured with burgundy, and a continual rotation of company, to free myself from the pangs of reflection. From these orgies we frequently sallied forth in quest of adventure, to the no small terror and consternation of all the sober stragglers that came in our way: and though we never injured, like our illustrious progenitors the Mohocks,4 either life or limbs; yet have we in the midst of Covent-Garden buried a taylor, who had been troublesome to some of our finel gentlemen, beneath a heap of cabbage leaves and stalks, with this conceit,

There can be no reason for mentioning the common exploits of breaking windows and bruising the watch, unless it be to tell you of the device of producing before the justice broken lanthorns, which have been paid for a hundred times; or their appearance with patches on their heads, under pretence of being cut by the sword that was never drawn: nor need I say any thing of the more formidable attack of sturdy chairmen, armed with poles; by a slight stroke of which, the pride of Ned Revel's face was at once laid flat, and that effected in an instant which its most mortal foe had for years essayed in vain. I shall pass over the accidents that attend attempts to scale windows, and endeavours to dislodge signs from their hooks: there are many “hair-breadth 'scapes,” besides those in the “imminent deadly breach”;6 but the rake's life, though it be equally hazardous with that of the soldier, is neither accompanied with present honour nor with pleasing retrospect: such is, and such ought to be the difference, between the enemy and the preserver of his country.

Amidst such giddy and thoughtless extravagance, it will not seem strange, that I was often the dupe of coarse flattery. When Mons. L'Allonge assured me, that I thrust quart over arm better than any man in England, what could I less than present him with a sword that cost me thirty pieces? I was bound for a hundred pounds for Tom Trippit, because he had declared that he would dance a minuet with any man in the three kingdoms except myself. But I often parted with money against my inclination, either because I wanted the resolution to refuse, or dreaded the appellation of a niggardly fellow; and I may be truly said to have squandered my estate, without honour, without friends, and without pleasure. The last may, perhaps, appear strange to men unacquainted with the masquerade of life: I deceived others, and I endeavoured to deceive myself; and have worn the face of pleasantry and gaiety, while my heart suffered the most exquisitem torture.

By the instigation and encouragementn of my friends, I became at lengtho ambitious of a seat in parliament; and accordingly set out for the town of Wallop in the west, where my arrival was welcomed by a thousand throats, and I was in three days sure of a majority: but after drinking out one hundred and fifty hogsheads of wine, and bribing two thirds of the corporation twice over, I had the mortification to find, that the borough had been before sold to Mr. Courtly.

In a life of this kind, my fortune, though considerable, was presently dissipated: and as the attraction grows more strong the nearer any body approaches the earth, when once a man begins to sink into poverty, he falls with velocity always increasing; every supply is purchased at a higher and higher price, and every office of kindness obtained with greater and greater difficulty. Having now acquainted you with my state of elevation,p I shall, if you encourage the continuance of my correspondence, shew you by what steps I descended from a first floor in Pall-mall to my present habitation.

I am, Sir,

Your humble servant,

qMISARGYRUS.7

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