Volume 1, Book 2
Chapter 1
Page 155
THE HISTORY
OF THE
Countess of DELLWY N.
BOOK II.
CHAP. I.
The History of Mrs. Bilson.
WHEN Lady Dellwyn had silenced her Lord in his Praises of Mrs. Saunders, he was obliged to seek for another Subject for his future Encomiums, and was so fortunate as to find one which would not give Room for her Ladyship to make a bright Repartee; who had no Resource, but in declaring that she did not
H 6 pretend
Page 156
pretend to be better than others of her Rank, Age, and Person; and thought there was great Pride in contradicting by one's Conduct the reigning Customs or the World.
The Lady, who now engrossed all Lord Dellwyn's Panegyric, did indeed deserve much more than he could pay, having risen to a Degree of Excellence far above his Lordship's Comprehension; his Mind's Eye, according to Hamlet's Expression, was so short-sighted, it could only distinguish a small Part of her Character; but that contained a sufficient Number of Beauties to justify his Admiration, if they had not been heightened by the Contrast which was uppermost in all his Thoughts. The very peculiar Fate and Conduct of this Lady may render a farther Account of her agreeable, if Variety can please; for greatly doth she differ from all who may probably have fallen under the Reader's Notice.
Mrs.
Page 157
Mrs. Bilson (for by that Name I shall call the Lady I am going to mention) was Caughter to Colonel Lemster; she lost her Mother when she was about Eleven Years old; but by her Father's Tenderness, and great Care of her Education; she did not suffer as might have been expected from so great a Misfortune. When she was Sixteen, she became the Object of general Admiration, where-ever her prudent Father suffered her to appear in public. She was extremely beautiful, and had that tender Sensibility in her Countenance, mixed with a modest Vivacity, as rendered her as much the Object of Love as of Admiration. Nature had indeed lavished on her all those Graces, which the Poets have supposed it in the Power of Venus's Cestus to bestow.
Amongst many Admirers, none seemed more ardent, or more pleasing to Miss Lemster, than Mr. Bilson; but his Fortune was not sufficient to content a Father, who wished to see his
Daugh-
Page 158
Daughter placed in affluent Circumstances, tho' he did not think Riches alone sufficient to constitute Happiness. Mr. Bilson therefore met with no Encouragement from the Colonel, and still less from the young Lady; who added the shy Reserve of bashful Modesty to the Desire of obeying her Father, having never suffered herself to consider her own Inclinations after she knew his.
While Mr. Bilson's Passion was in this hopeless Situation, Colonel Lemster was ordered into an unhealthful Climate, on a very dangerous Service. He had too often braved Death to fear its Approach when his Duty was concerned, tho' it threatened him in different Shapes; but when he viewed his Daughter, he felt himself a Coward: Death appeared armed with Terrors, when he reflected on the deplorable Condition in which he must leave her. He had, as much from some unavoidable Accidents, as from
an
Page 159
an Imprudence too common in his Station, spent his Income, without having taken care to place his Daughter above the Danger of Dependance. He was of a noble Family, but was at Variance with the elder Branch of it; which deprived his Daughter of that last, and too often poor Resource, the Kindness of Relations. In the cruel Anxiety with which he was oppressed, he could perceive no Means of Security for his beloved Child but Marriage; and the Time of his Departure was so near, that it would not afford him Leisure to wait for such Offers as would be perfectly agreeable to him; therefore, tho' he saw that a narrow or precarious Fortune was not eligible, and that Seventeen Years of Age is very young to enter into the Cares and Duties of Wedlock, yet he found himself in a manner reduced to look with a more favourable Eye on Mr. Bilson's Address to his Daughter. He acquainted her with his Views, and the Circumstances that had produced them.
Miss
Page 160
Miss Lemster had been very wretched from the Time she first learnt where her Father's Regiment was destined; and less able to bear the Thoughts of parting with him, as he was in a very declining State of Health. She had used all the Arguments her Reason could suggest, and all the Endearments of Affection, to obtain Permission to attend him; but in vain: The Probability of his dying, and leaving her friendless and destitute in a far distant Country, rendered it impossible for him to grant her Request. I have already hinted that Mr. Bilson was agreeable to her, while she had Leisure to consult her own Inclinations; but when the Colonel informed her that he was inclined to favour his Address, her Thoughts were so entirely engrossed with the affliting Expectation of losing so much-loved a Parent, that weaker Affections were, at least for the Time, entirely extinguished; and she acquiesced in her Father's Determination, with no other View than to ease him
of
Page 161
of Part of the Burden, which so heavily oppressed his Mind, that it increased his Indisposition.
Mr. Bilson was soon acquainted, that his Proposals would at least be listened to with Politeness; and. was told the Colonel's Circumstances. He was too much enamoured to be deterred by that Information; pressed his Proposal; was accepted; and the anxious Father had the Satisfaction of leaving his Daughter under a Husband's Care, whose Affection had been most substantially proved by his Insensibility to a Defect, in most People's Eyes, of such Importance as the Want of Fortune.
Mr. Bilson was the Son of an Officer; who bred him up to the Law, and at his Death left him some Thousand Pounds;. a Sum sufficient to tempt him to neglect his Studies, but not to enable him to do without the Fruits which should arise from them. He was pleasing in his Person and Manner, and had very
bright
Page 162
bright Parts, capable of making a Figure in his Profession; but he was not so uncommonly happy as to have Wit without Vanity: he had all the Talents of Conversation, was the Delight of every Company; a sufficient Inducement for a vain Man to be little alone. He had so well employed his Time at School and College, that he was deficient in no Branch of the Belles Lettres; for as Learning was the Road to Praise in those Places, no one applied more assiduously than himself; but he looked on the Time of his coming into the World as the Harvest of Flattery, when he should reap the Fruits of all his Toil and Labour. Nor was he disappointed; the Men flattered, and the Ladies caressed him; yet none could engage his Affections but Miss Lemster. His Passion for her continued in full Force for upwards of Half a Year after their Marriage; during which Time she had the Misfortune to lose her Father, who died soon after he arrived at the Place of his Destination; a Misfortune she
would
Page 163
would scarcely have been able to support, had it not been for the tender Attentions of a Husband whom she loved to Excess.
Mr. Bilson had not given up the Profession of the Law, tho' he had not begun the Study of it. He chose his Wife should be placed near his Chambers; and therefore took a House in Chancery Lane, a considerable Distance from all her former Acquaintance; but this did not lead her to make an Objection to it. She knew so little of the World, that she imagined a Wife's Scene of Action ought to be in her own House, that there she should spend her Time, and there, or no-where, find her Happiness.
Mr. Bilson's Taste was not so domestic; his extreme Fondness for his Wife could not hinder him from going much into Company; but as she still enjoyed a great deal of his Conversation at home, and he always returned to her
with
Page 164
with Pleasure, she was perfectly contented; for she did not look upon a Husband as so domestic a Being: But when they had been married a little more than Half a Year, his Stay abroad grew longer, he returned home with less Joy in his Countenance, and appeared less attentive to her while he was there. This Carelessness in time grew to Indifference; his Days were passed in public, and his Evenings at the Tavern. He always indeed behaved with good Breeding, and in his Heart sincerely esteemed her; but the polite Husband was a bad Exchange for the tender Friend, and she was most sensibly afflicted with the Alteration. But Mrs. Bilson's good Sense convinced her, that she might, with greater Ease, render Home detestable to her Husband, than renew the Delight he once took in it; therefore her great Study was not to convert his Indifference into Aversion. She always received him with Affection; tho' much of her Tenderness she suppressed, lest he should find
it
Page 165
it troublesome, as his Heart did not correspond with hers. She never expressed a Desire that he should stay more at home, nor hinted that he had been too long abroad; secure from Reproaches, his own House had no Fault, in his Opinion, but that of being less lively than a Croud: But as no Restraint was put upon him, he was never discontented when he was there. He loved his Children (for they had Three), and esteemed his Wife too much not to be pleased in their Company; but his Mind could not be long contented without what he called Joy, which is to a vitiated Taste what Cordials are to a decayed Stomach; they give present Relief, but every Dose renders the Patient a Degree farther from found Health.
In this sort of Life they passed Ten Years; Mr. Bilson in the constant Pursuit of Pleasure; Mrs. Bilson in the continual Exercise of every domestic Virtue. She was sensible their Fortune
could
Page 166
could not admit of Mr. Bilson's expensive Way of Life; but fearing his Hatred more than Poverty, she forbore Remonstrances, from which she could expect but little Effect, and only endeavoured by her own Frugality to defer the impending Distress as long as possible; hoping that Reflexion might perhaps come time enough to save them from total Ruin. From this Motive, she, by degrees, dropped all her Acquaintance, but those who lived in the same Street, where she could go with- out much Expence; and even them she visited but seldom, finding sufficient Employ at home, in the frugal Plan by which she regulated her Conduct: And if she could obtain some Hours of Leisure, the Evils she suffered, and those she feared, were more entirely excluded from her Thoughts by Reading.
All Mrs. Bilson's Care could no longer delay the Misfortune she feared. One Day when Mr. Bilson had invited
Com-
Page 167
Company to Dinner, after they had waited some time for his Return, Mrs. Bilson received a Letter from him; informing her, that he was, on an Arrest for a Debt he could not pay, lodged in the fleet. This he did not tell her without many Invectives against his own Folly in distressing himself, and inexcusable Wickedness in having brought Ruin on so amiable a Wife and Offspring. He proceeded to tell her that he meant that as his last Farewel, having no Chance of ever getting out of his loathsome Confinement, and wishing she might find more Rectitude and Friendship from some of her Acquaintance than she had met with in her Husband. Mrs. Bilson's Distress was too exquisite to be concealed from her Company, who soon understood the Cause of it; and, fearing to be asked to give any Assistance, they expressed great Apprehensions lest their Presence should be inconvenient, and withdrew as fast as possible.
As
Page 168
As Mrs. Bilson did not expect any Benefit from them, their Departure gave her some Satisfaction, in leaving her at Liberty to vent her Grief without any Restraint; and, as soon as she grew a little composed, to confider what she could best do for her Husband's Relief. She flattered herself Affairs could not be quite so desperate as Mr. Bilson seemed to intimate, and was desirous of attributing it partly to Despondency.
When by this Hope she had stopped the Torrent of her Tears, she determined to go to the Prison, and learn the Truth from Mr. Bilson, and endeavour to comfort him. As it was now Winter, Night was come on before she had been able to form this Resolution; and Mr. Bilson's Servant being returned home, she was afraid of venturing to go alone, and therefore called on a Bookseller in the Neighbourhood, to whom her Husband had been a Customer, and easily prevailed on him to accompany her.
They
Page 169
They found Mr. Bilson in the utmost Dejection; which was ratier increased than abated by his Wife's Endeavour to console him, as it added to the Self-reproaches which were his severest Affliction, in giving him fresh Proofs of the Merit of the Woman he had ruined. He soon informed her that her Hopes of his being extricated from his present Difficulties were vain; for he had not run in Debt till his whole Fortune was spent. After many fruitless Attempts to comfort each other; they parted, and Mrs. Bilson returned home; where, instead of the Pleasure she used to enjoy in returning to her Children, she received all the Addition that could easily be made to her Grief, by finding her House in the Possession of Bailiffs; for her Landlord, hearing of the total Ruin of the Family, thought proper to secure himself from Loss, by distraining. Her eldest Son and Daughter, and a faithful Girl, the only Servant she had kept for above Three Years, were weeping
VOL. I. I with
Page 170
with Terror and Grief at this Event; but "where the greater Malady is fixed, the lesser is scarce felt." Mrs. Bilson was not so much afflicted, as shocked, at the Thought of passing the Night with a Set of Men in the House, at the very Name of whose Office our Natures are apt to recoil; but her honest Companion had the Satisfaction of giving her some Relief, by promising to sit with them, not only till the next Morning, but till some Measures were taken either to get her or them out of the House; and prevailed on her and her Family to go to Bed, that she might have a Chance for some Rest after so melancholy a Day, which had exhausted both her Strength and Spirits.
Mrs. Bilson's Sleep was short, and disturbed by the Phantoms of an afflicted Imagination; but yet she was so much refreshed by it, as to acquire Composure enough to consult with her only Friend, the honest Bookseller, and
his
Page 171
his Wife, who came to them in the Morning, what Course she could take. She had learned from Mr. Bilson, that the Sum due for Rent by no means equalled the Value of the Furniture; therefore it was thought adviseable, that she should go to her Landlord, with whom she had a small Acquaintance by visiting his Lady, to request of him Time to sell the Goods to the best Advantage, that she might have the just Surplus after he was paid, to satisfy other Creditors. As she was going out to execute this Resolution, she met at the Door a Woman, with a Girl neatly but coarsely dressed; who informed her that she came for a Month's Board for the Girl; Mr. Bilson always having paid her weekly till the Four past; and hearing the Misfortune which had happened to him, she called, for fear of losing her Due; which, being a poor Woman, she could not afford.
Mrs. Bilson, under a great deal of Surprize, asked what the Girl was to
I 2 Mr.
Page 172
Mr. Bilson, and why she should expect her Board from him? To which the Woman answered very abruptly, that truly she thought she might well expect a Father should pay for his Child, tho' it were not so honestly come by.
Upon examining the Girl's Face, Mrs. Bilson perceived so great a Resemblance to her Husband, as made her little inclined to doubt the Truth of the Woman's Assertion; but, on asking the Girl'sAage, was shocked to find she was within Three Months as old as her eldest Child: Had it been younger, it would have hurt and surprised her less; but to find Mr. Bilson so frail, and so void of Delicacy, at the Time that his Fondness for her appeared at the greatest Height, was a sensible Affliction: But as she had never on any Account reproached him, so she was now least of all inclined to add to his Grief, when he was paying a heavy Tax for all his Vices and Fol- lies. She paid the Woman what was
due;
Page 173
due; but said she could no longer afford to continue the Child with her, but that she should share her Fate and her Children's, whatsoever that should be; kissed it, desired it not to cry, and bid the Maid, who was present at this Scene, carry it to her Children, without a Hint who she was. The maid obeyed her; but was so angry with her Master, and so pleased with her Mistress, that she could not forbear giving a full Account of all that had passed to the honest Bookseller and his Wife. He blamed Mr. Bilson exeremely, and was perfectly charmed with Mrs. Bilson's Behaviour.
I 3 CHAP.
THE HISTORY
OF THE
Countess of DELLWY N.
BOOK II.
CHAP. I.
The History of Mrs. Bilson.
WHEN Lady Dellwyn had silenced her Lord in his Praises of Mrs. Saunders, he was obliged to seek for another Subject for his future Encomiums, and was so fortunate as to find one which would not give Room for her Ladyship to make a bright Repartee; who had no Resource, but in declaring that she did not
H 6 pretend
Page 156
pretend to be better than others of her Rank, Age, and Person; and thought there was great Pride in contradicting by one's Conduct the reigning Customs or the World.
The Lady, who now engrossed all Lord Dellwyn's Panegyric, did indeed deserve much more than he could pay, having risen to a Degree of Excellence far above his Lordship's Comprehension; his Mind's Eye, according to Hamlet's Expression, was so short-sighted, it could only distinguish a small Part of her Character; but that contained a sufficient Number of Beauties to justify his Admiration, if they had not been heightened by the Contrast which was uppermost in all his Thoughts. The very peculiar Fate and Conduct of this Lady may render a farther Account of her agreeable, if Variety can please; for greatly doth she differ from all who may probably have fallen under the Reader's Notice.
Mrs.
Page 157
Mrs. Bilson (for by that Name I shall call the Lady I am going to mention) was Caughter to Colonel Lemster; she lost her Mother when she was about Eleven Years old; but by her Father's Tenderness, and great Care of her Education; she did not suffer as might have been expected from so great a Misfortune. When she was Sixteen, she became the Object of general Admiration, where-ever her prudent Father suffered her to appear in public. She was extremely beautiful, and had that tender Sensibility in her Countenance, mixed with a modest Vivacity, as rendered her as much the Object of Love as of Admiration. Nature had indeed lavished on her all those Graces, which the Poets have supposed it in the Power of Venus's Cestus to bestow.
Amongst many Admirers, none seemed more ardent, or more pleasing to Miss Lemster, than Mr. Bilson; but his Fortune was not sufficient to content a Father, who wished to see his
Daugh-
Page 158
Daughter placed in affluent Circumstances, tho' he did not think Riches alone sufficient to constitute Happiness. Mr. Bilson therefore met with no Encouragement from the Colonel, and still less from the young Lady; who added the shy Reserve of bashful Modesty to the Desire of obeying her Father, having never suffered herself to consider her own Inclinations after she knew his.
While Mr. Bilson's Passion was in this hopeless Situation, Colonel Lemster was ordered into an unhealthful Climate, on a very dangerous Service. He had too often braved Death to fear its Approach when his Duty was concerned, tho' it threatened him in different Shapes; but when he viewed his Daughter, he felt himself a Coward: Death appeared armed with Terrors, when he reflected on the deplorable Condition in which he must leave her. He had, as much from some unavoidable Accidents, as from
an
Page 159
an Imprudence too common in his Station, spent his Income, without having taken care to place his Daughter above the Danger of Dependance. He was of a noble Family, but was at Variance with the elder Branch of it; which deprived his Daughter of that last, and too often poor Resource, the Kindness of Relations. In the cruel Anxiety with which he was oppressed, he could perceive no Means of Security for his beloved Child but Marriage; and the Time of his Departure was so near, that it would not afford him Leisure to wait for such Offers as would be perfectly agreeable to him; therefore, tho' he saw that a narrow or precarious Fortune was not eligible, and that Seventeen Years of Age is very young to enter into the Cares and Duties of Wedlock, yet he found himself in a manner reduced to look with a more favourable Eye on Mr. Bilson's Address to his Daughter. He acquainted her with his Views, and the Circumstances that had produced them.
Miss
Page 160
Miss Lemster had been very wretched from the Time she first learnt where her Father's Regiment was destined; and less able to bear the Thoughts of parting with him, as he was in a very declining State of Health. She had used all the Arguments her Reason could suggest, and all the Endearments of Affection, to obtain Permission to attend him; but in vain: The Probability of his dying, and leaving her friendless and destitute in a far distant Country, rendered it impossible for him to grant her Request. I have already hinted that Mr. Bilson was agreeable to her, while she had Leisure to consult her own Inclinations; but when the Colonel informed her that he was inclined to favour his Address, her Thoughts were so entirely engrossed with the affliting Expectation of losing so much-loved a Parent, that weaker Affections were, at least for the Time, entirely extinguished; and she acquiesced in her Father's Determination, with no other View than to ease him
of
Page 161
of Part of the Burden, which so heavily oppressed his Mind, that it increased his Indisposition.
Mr. Bilson was soon acquainted, that his Proposals would at least be listened to with Politeness; and. was told the Colonel's Circumstances. He was too much enamoured to be deterred by that Information; pressed his Proposal; was accepted; and the anxious Father had the Satisfaction of leaving his Daughter under a Husband's Care, whose Affection had been most substantially proved by his Insensibility to a Defect, in most People's Eyes, of such Importance as the Want of Fortune.
Mr. Bilson was the Son of an Officer; who bred him up to the Law, and at his Death left him some Thousand Pounds;. a Sum sufficient to tempt him to neglect his Studies, but not to enable him to do without the Fruits which should arise from them. He was pleasing in his Person and Manner, and had very
bright
Page 162
bright Parts, capable of making a Figure in his Profession; but he was not so uncommonly happy as to have Wit without Vanity: he had all the Talents of Conversation, was the Delight of every Company; a sufficient Inducement for a vain Man to be little alone. He had so well employed his Time at School and College, that he was deficient in no Branch of the Belles Lettres; for as Learning was the Road to Praise in those Places, no one applied more assiduously than himself; but he looked on the Time of his coming into the World as the Harvest of Flattery, when he should reap the Fruits of all his Toil and Labour. Nor was he disappointed; the Men flattered, and the Ladies caressed him; yet none could engage his Affections but Miss Lemster. His Passion for her continued in full Force for upwards of Half a Year after their Marriage; during which Time she had the Misfortune to lose her Father, who died soon after he arrived at the Place of his Destination; a Misfortune she
would
Page 163
would scarcely have been able to support, had it not been for the tender Attentions of a Husband whom she loved to Excess.
Mr. Bilson had not given up the Profession of the Law, tho' he had not begun the Study of it. He chose his Wife should be placed near his Chambers; and therefore took a House in Chancery Lane, a considerable Distance from all her former Acquaintance; but this did not lead her to make an Objection to it. She knew so little of the World, that she imagined a Wife's Scene of Action ought to be in her own House, that there she should spend her Time, and there, or no-where, find her Happiness.
Mr. Bilson's Taste was not so domestic; his extreme Fondness for his Wife could not hinder him from going much into Company; but as she still enjoyed a great deal of his Conversation at home, and he always returned to her
with
Page 164
with Pleasure, she was perfectly contented; for she did not look upon a Husband as so domestic a Being: But when they had been married a little more than Half a Year, his Stay abroad grew longer, he returned home with less Joy in his Countenance, and appeared less attentive to her while he was there. This Carelessness in time grew to Indifference; his Days were passed in public, and his Evenings at the Tavern. He always indeed behaved with good Breeding, and in his Heart sincerely esteemed her; but the polite Husband was a bad Exchange for the tender Friend, and she was most sensibly afflicted with the Alteration. But Mrs. Bilson's good Sense convinced her, that she might, with greater Ease, render Home detestable to her Husband, than renew the Delight he once took in it; therefore her great Study was not to convert his Indifference into Aversion. She always received him with Affection; tho' much of her Tenderness she suppressed, lest he should find
it
Page 165
it troublesome, as his Heart did not correspond with hers. She never expressed a Desire that he should stay more at home, nor hinted that he had been too long abroad; secure from Reproaches, his own House had no Fault, in his Opinion, but that of being less lively than a Croud: But as no Restraint was put upon him, he was never discontented when he was there. He loved his Children (for they had Three), and esteemed his Wife too much not to be pleased in their Company; but his Mind could not be long contented without what he called Joy, which is to a vitiated Taste what Cordials are to a decayed Stomach; they give present Relief, but every Dose renders the Patient a Degree farther from found Health.
In this sort of Life they passed Ten Years; Mr. Bilson in the constant Pursuit of Pleasure; Mrs. Bilson in the continual Exercise of every domestic Virtue. She was sensible their Fortune
could
Page 166
could not admit of Mr. Bilson's expensive Way of Life; but fearing his Hatred more than Poverty, she forbore Remonstrances, from which she could expect but little Effect, and only endeavoured by her own Frugality to defer the impending Distress as long as possible; hoping that Reflexion might perhaps come time enough to save them from total Ruin. From this Motive, she, by degrees, dropped all her Acquaintance, but those who lived in the same Street, where she could go with- out much Expence; and even them she visited but seldom, finding sufficient Employ at home, in the frugal Plan by which she regulated her Conduct: And if she could obtain some Hours of Leisure, the Evils she suffered, and those she feared, were more entirely excluded from her Thoughts by Reading.
All Mrs. Bilson's Care could no longer delay the Misfortune she feared. One Day when Mr. Bilson had invited
Com-
Page 167
Company to Dinner, after they had waited some time for his Return, Mrs. Bilson received a Letter from him; informing her, that he was, on an Arrest for a Debt he could not pay, lodged in the fleet. This he did not tell her without many Invectives against his own Folly in distressing himself, and inexcusable Wickedness in having brought Ruin on so amiable a Wife and Offspring. He proceeded to tell her that he meant that as his last Farewel, having no Chance of ever getting out of his loathsome Confinement, and wishing she might find more Rectitude and Friendship from some of her Acquaintance than she had met with in her Husband. Mrs. Bilson's Distress was too exquisite to be concealed from her Company, who soon understood the Cause of it; and, fearing to be asked to give any Assistance, they expressed great Apprehensions lest their Presence should be inconvenient, and withdrew as fast as possible.
As
Page 168
As Mrs. Bilson did not expect any Benefit from them, their Departure gave her some Satisfaction, in leaving her at Liberty to vent her Grief without any Restraint; and, as soon as she grew a little composed, to confider what she could best do for her Husband's Relief. She flattered herself Affairs could not be quite so desperate as Mr. Bilson seemed to intimate, and was desirous of attributing it partly to Despondency.
When by this Hope she had stopped the Torrent of her Tears, she determined to go to the Prison, and learn the Truth from Mr. Bilson, and endeavour to comfort him. As it was now Winter, Night was come on before she had been able to form this Resolution; and Mr. Bilson's Servant being returned home, she was afraid of venturing to go alone, and therefore called on a Bookseller in the Neighbourhood, to whom her Husband had been a Customer, and easily prevailed on him to accompany her.
They
Page 169
They found Mr. Bilson in the utmost Dejection; which was ratier increased than abated by his Wife's Endeavour to console him, as it added to the Self-reproaches which were his severest Affliction, in giving him fresh Proofs of the Merit of the Woman he had ruined. He soon informed her that her Hopes of his being extricated from his present Difficulties were vain; for he had not run in Debt till his whole Fortune was spent. After many fruitless Attempts to comfort each other; they parted, and Mrs. Bilson returned home; where, instead of the Pleasure she used to enjoy in returning to her Children, she received all the Addition that could easily be made to her Grief, by finding her House in the Possession of Bailiffs; for her Landlord, hearing of the total Ruin of the Family, thought proper to secure himself from Loss, by distraining. Her eldest Son and Daughter, and a faithful Girl, the only Servant she had kept for above Three Years, were weeping
VOL. I. I with
Page 170
with Terror and Grief at this Event; but "where the greater Malady is fixed, the lesser is scarce felt." Mrs. Bilson was not so much afflicted, as shocked, at the Thought of passing the Night with a Set of Men in the House, at the very Name of whose Office our Natures are apt to recoil; but her honest Companion had the Satisfaction of giving her some Relief, by promising to sit with them, not only till the next Morning, but till some Measures were taken either to get her or them out of the House; and prevailed on her and her Family to go to Bed, that she might have a Chance for some Rest after so melancholy a Day, which had exhausted both her Strength and Spirits.
Mrs. Bilson's Sleep was short, and disturbed by the Phantoms of an afflicted Imagination; but yet she was so much refreshed by it, as to acquire Composure enough to consult with her only Friend, the honest Bookseller, and
his
Page 171
his Wife, who came to them in the Morning, what Course she could take. She had learned from Mr. Bilson, that the Sum due for Rent by no means equalled the Value of the Furniture; therefore it was thought adviseable, that she should go to her Landlord, with whom she had a small Acquaintance by visiting his Lady, to request of him Time to sell the Goods to the best Advantage, that she might have the just Surplus after he was paid, to satisfy other Creditors. As she was going out to execute this Resolution, she met at the Door a Woman, with a Girl neatly but coarsely dressed; who informed her that she came for a Month's Board for the Girl; Mr. Bilson always having paid her weekly till the Four past; and hearing the Misfortune which had happened to him, she called, for fear of losing her Due; which, being a poor Woman, she could not afford.
Mrs. Bilson, under a great deal of Surprize, asked what the Girl was to
I 2 Mr.
Page 172
Mr. Bilson, and why she should expect her Board from him? To which the Woman answered very abruptly, that truly she thought she might well expect a Father should pay for his Child, tho' it were not so honestly come by.
Upon examining the Girl's Face, Mrs. Bilson perceived so great a Resemblance to her Husband, as made her little inclined to doubt the Truth of the Woman's Assertion; but, on asking the Girl'sAage, was shocked to find she was within Three Months as old as her eldest Child: Had it been younger, it would have hurt and surprised her less; but to find Mr. Bilson so frail, and so void of Delicacy, at the Time that his Fondness for her appeared at the greatest Height, was a sensible Affliction: But as she had never on any Account reproached him, so she was now least of all inclined to add to his Grief, when he was paying a heavy Tax for all his Vices and Fol- lies. She paid the Woman what was
due;
Page 173
due; but said she could no longer afford to continue the Child with her, but that she should share her Fate and her Children's, whatsoever that should be; kissed it, desired it not to cry, and bid the Maid, who was present at this Scene, carry it to her Children, without a Hint who she was. The maid obeyed her; but was so angry with her Master, and so pleased with her Mistress, that she could not forbear giving a full Account of all that had passed to the honest Bookseller and his Wife. He blamed Mr. Bilson exeremely, and was perfectly charmed with Mrs. Bilson's Behaviour.
I 3 CHAP.
Chapter 2
Page 174
CHAP. II.
The Continuation of the History of Mrs. Bilson.
BUT it is Time to follow Mrs. Bilson to Mr. Glegg's, her Landlord; whom she found at home, and was carried into his Study. She soon acquainted him with her Request; to which he returned no positive Answer, but enquired into her Intentions for her future Way of Life.
Mrs. Bilson was too undetermined to give him much Satisfaction in that Particular: All she had resolved upon, was to endeavour to support herself and Children, by some Means that should not deprive her of Mr. Bilson's Company, and leave him entirely a Prey
Page 175
Prey to Solitude and Confinement. Mr. Glegg had been little acquainted with Mrs. Bilson, yet always beheld her with Admiration; tho', till encouraged by her distressful Circumstances, he had never looked upon her as an Object for his Gallantry. He found great Fault with her principal Design; plainly told her that Mr. Bilson must be left to the Consequences of his own ill Conduct, and that she would give great Proof of her Generosity, if in her Heart she forgave him; but that it would be a despicable Meanness to take any farther Notice of him. He then assured her his only View in the Seizure he had made, was to secure her Furniture for her Use (tho', in reality, he had never harboured the Thought till after she had entered the Room); and assured her of the quiet Possession both of that and her House, and every other Assistance the truest Friend could give; and offered her then a Bank Note for any present Exi- I 4 gencies,
Page 176
gencies, in the most humble Stile of pretended disinterested Generosity.
Amongst all the Misfortunes Mrs. Bilson had apprehended from her present Distress, she had never foreseen a Possibility of being subject to such Insolence, and was shocked beyond Expression; but, as the only Resource for her just Indignation, would not entirely understand him, but rose up, saying, that, altho' she should not be ashamed of labouring for the Support of herself and Children, yet she was above living at the Expence of any other Person; for if the Motive was genuine disinterested Generosity, she should abuse it by accepting the Bounty, at an Age when she was able to gain her own Subsistence; and if he, who offered it, had any other, he greatly abused the casual Advantage of Fortune by insulting undeserved Distress.
Mrs. Glegg entered the Room just as her Husband ended his Offer; but, a Skreen
Page 177
a Skreen being placed before the Door, she was not seen, and they were both too much engrossed by their own Thoughts to hear the Door open. Mrs. Glegg had been told Mrs. Bilson was with her Husband, and came with a kind Concern to see her; but being struck with her Voice, which had a Sound of Indignation and Anger in it, not natural to her, she stopped; and knowing her Husband's Disposition, easily understood the Occasion.
As Mrs. Bilson was withdrawing when she had finished her Reply, Mrs. Glegg and she met. The former accosted her with Tenderness, having always conceived a great Regard for her; which was not lessened by what she had just overheard.
Mrs. Bilson was too much agitated, to be able immediately to compose herself sufficiently to make a proper Return to Mrs. Glegg; whose Husband, to excuse her Disorder, and carry it off with
Page 178
with an Air of Innocence, told his Wife Mrs. Bilson's Situation, and what had brought her thither.
Mrs. Glegg inquired whether he had granted her Request; to which he returned shuffling Answers, implying the Difficulty in doing it, and a visible Backwardness to do Mrs. Bilson a Favour without a Return. Mrs. Glegg then begged he would make her a Present of the Sum due for Rent; but saw little Prospect of obtaining it: Upon which she dropped an Intimation of having accidentally heard what had passed; which so discomposed Mr. Glegg, that he judged it advisable to purchase his Pardon by Compliance, and told Mrs. Glegg it was at her Service.
"Now, my dear Mrs. Bilson," said that Lady, "I hope I may be of some Service, which I have often wished when the Means of being so were less conspicuous; for I have always highly
Page 179
highly esteemed you, and perhaps the more for the little Success I have had in my Attempts to cultivate an Intimacy with you, as I saw through your Reason for avoiding it. The Present Mr. Glegg has now made me, I shall transfer to you, rather as a Loan than a Property; because I fear, was it your own, it would go to Creditors whom you could not satisfy, tho' the Strictness of your Justice would leave you entirely destitute."
Mrs. Bilson found that Gratitude was more difficult to express than Indignation; but yet hers was very visible, tho' Mrs. Glegg would not suffer her to speak on the Subject. Mrs. Glegg carried her home in her Coach, and freed her from her troublesome Intruders; and then sat down with her two already-mentioned Friends, to consider into what Way of Life Mrs. Bilson could enter. I 6 Nothing
Page 180
Nothing was practicable which would take her from her Children; and Plainwork was not profitable enough to sup- port so large a Family. Trade was hazardous; and it would rob her of the warmest Wish of her Heart, if it prevented her from spending her Time with Mr. Bilson, whose melancholy Situation rendered her almost insensible to her own Distress; well knowing that Liberty and Self-approbation are two of the greatest Blessings any one can enjoy; of both which he was deprived.
Mrs. Bilson told them the only Scheme that occurred to her, likely to answer the Purpose, was a portable Shop in the Manner of some Milaners; which might enable her to serve such Persons as she should be recommended to; for she confessed, that without a Recommendation, she should not be able to go to any one; but that such Sorts of Works were more profitable, and she was best able to do them; besides that
Page 181
that she could then perhaps procure a Room in the Fleet, where she and her Family might be a Comfort to Mr. Bilson.
They all approved Mrs. Bilson's Scheme; and engaged to assist her in their different Ranks to the utmost of their Power, and agreed that the Money arising from the Furniture should be expended in Stock.
As soon as Mrs. Glegg was gone; Mrs. Bilson proposed that they should go to the Fleet, and impart a Share of this Glimmering of good Fortune to the Prisoner; only suppressing the humiliating Scene between her and Mr. Glegg, as it must give a new Shock to Mr. Bilson to find he had exposed her to such Treatment. This was readily agreed to; for few are of so churlish a Disposition as not to chuse to give Pleasure; tho' some will not hazard the least Diminution of their own on that Account. I shall
Page 182
I shall not dwell on what passed on this Occasion, nor relate any of the Circumstances preparatory to Mrs. Bilson's Removal to the Prison; where she hired a tolerable Room with Two Beds: One of which served for Mr. Bilson and his Two Sons; the other for herself, her Daughter, and his natural Child.
The only Difficulty Mrs. Bilson had found in going to fix in the Fleet with her Husband, was the carrying of his Child thither; she feared he would be distressed at finding her acquainted with this Transaction, and prepared him for it as well as she could. Mr. Bilson was far from having the less Opinion of his Crime, for the little Stress she laid upon it; he was overwhelmed with all her Goodness; and the Fondness which Variety had suppressed, was rekindled with double Ardour; I might, not improperly, say, was arisen almost to a Degree of Adoration. Here we will stop to view them in their new Situation. Mr. Bilson turned School-master to
Page 183
to his Sons, the one of Eight, the other Seven Years of Age, to whose Instruction he gave his utmost Application; and at other times reading to, or conversing with, his Wife, wherein he began to find more solid Comfort than he had ever enjoyed while at Liberty; His Vanity, by Excess of Mortification, was almost extinguished; Good-sense was predominant; he had discovered Virtues in his Wife, which could never have been shown without her Trials, and perceived a Depth of Understanding which he had never sought for, and a Vivacity of Wit which his Insensibility had long cast a Cloud over; her Piety at once edified and instructed him; from her he learned both the Truths of, and the Benefits arising from, Religion. Her Trust in Providence taught him to hope; the Warmth of her Devotion taught him to adore; from her Resignation he learned to submit; and from her Patience to suffer without repining. It was not long before he grew sensible that God had most
Page 184
most shewn his Mercy in the painful Consequences of his Follies, as he had thereby been taught the Vanity of his Pursuits, and that all the Blessings of Prosperity cannot give true and lasting Happiness without Religion, and that those who are possessed of that, can by no Adversity be rendered absolutely miserable.
Mrs. Bilson's Charms were not merely mental; she was not above Seven-and-twenty Years old, and her Beauty was still in its highest Lustre, tho' something of the Bloom which she had at Sixteen was abated; but the Change was no other than from the Spring to the Summer; which varies the Beauties of Nature, but does not lessen them.
Mrs. Bilson was entirely employed in her new Occupation, and contrived to make their Children her Assistants; her Husband's natural Child, having been bred up coarsely, was much stronger than her own, tho' somewhat younger; and
Page 185
and having been already accustomed to hard Work, was very useful; for they had no Servant; tho' the only Female belonging to their House, having been bred up by Mrs. Bilson, begged very hard to continue to attend her without Wages; but that Lady would not suffer her Gratitude to rob her of the Advantages she might obtain in Service; and thought herself very fortunate in prevailing with Mrs. Glegg (who at that time wanted a Servant) to take her.
Mrs. Bilson rose every Morning before it was light, and sat up pretty late; and managed so well, that her Girls assisted much in her Work, tho' the eldest was little more than Nine Years old; but, by her Mother's Care, had been rendered forwarder in those respects than others of a much more advanced Age. Mrs. Bilson went through it all with Chearfulness; I might say, with Pleasure; seeing herself the Means of making, Mr. Bilson's Confinement not irksome to him; and was so industrious,
Page 186
dustrious, that she soon furnished her- self with a Variety of Female Ornaments, in which her Rank in Life had given her a Taste and Elegance, that made them greatly surpass what most Shops could exhibit.
Thus furnished, she went to the Places where Mrs. Glegg, and her good Friend the Bookseller's Wife, had recommended her, and met with an obliging Reception from all; her Beauty, and the Gracefulness of her Person, giving a Dignity even to so low an Employment. As they had been before prepossessed with the Notion of her Distress, they bought of her for the better Opportunity of satisfying their Curiosity; and proceeded as slowly as possible, that they might have Time to intrude Questions about her Situation. She answered all they asked with Truth and Sincerity; some pitied and wondered, and, while they looked at the Frippery they bought of her, forgot all they had heard: But others were touched
Page 187
touched with real Compassion, and gave her the Approbation she well deserved; these wished to serve her, and recommended her to their Acquaintance, and thus her Business was constantly increasing: Nor did she find those in a middling Station the worst Customers. The Novelty of the Case rendered it a Fashion to buy of her; and her Employ growing more than she could perform, Mrs. Glegg resigned her Servant to her; who longed to attend again on Mrs. Bilson, whom she loved as her Mother.
Mrs. Bilson wished to mend the Situation of some other of the Prisoners, who had been recommended to her Notice by the Gaoler's Wife; a Woman much more humane than most in her Station. These she found were there from Misfortunes in Trade, or etxravagant Children, and not in consequence of Idleness; and amongst her Friends procured them such Work as they could do; whereby they gained enough to supply
Page 188
supply them with all the Comforts their Situation would admit of; some even saved a little, with the flattering Hope of being able in time to pay the Debt for which they were confined. Many little Advantages besides she procured for other Prisoners, and lessened the Distress of Numbers; while she maintained her own Family, and saw her Stock, as well as Trade, in- crease.
In this Manner Mr. and Mrs. Bilson live a Year and a Half, when she met at the House of one of her Customers an old Lady, who was greatly charmed with her Appearance and Behaviour; and expressed her Sentiments on that Occasion, to which the Lady of the House said: "How much more, Madam, would you be charmed, if you knew her Conduct through Life? for whatsoever you may think of her Figure, but a small Part of her Charms are personal." "You
Page 189
"You raise my Curiosity extremely," replied Lady Dently (for that was her Title); "and I shall think I have great Reason to complain, unless you also gratify it."
"That I will readily," replied the Lady, "to the best of my Power; but if Mrs. Bilson will be so good as to undertake the Task, her Manner will give it Graces, which indeed are not requisite, but must render the Narration more engaging. I will act the Part of Querist; for I know otherwise we shall not get Half her History, since I am assured the only Insincerity she is ever guilty of, is concealing the Faults of others and her own Virtues."
Thus was much of Mrs. Bilson's History extracted from her, though a great deal of her Merit was concealed; being a Secret to the Lady, who put her under a Necessity of repeating all she had learned from others of Mrs. Bil- son's
Page 190
son's Friends. Lady Dently, who was endued with great Humanity and Generosity of Spirit, was much affected with Mrs. Bilson's Fate. She immediately shewed her Compassion by the many Purchases she made, and bespoke several other Things; with which Mrs. Bilson was to wait on her the next Day.
Lady Dently was so sensibly touched with the Behaviour and Merit of Mrs. Bilson, that she was impatient for the Hour she had appointed her. She enquired of her what her Name was before she was married; but was much surprised to hear it was Lemster, and to find that she was her Relation. Lady Dently had lived much in the Country, and Mrs. Bilson, as I have before hinted, had little Acquaintance with her Relations, therefore it was not wonderful that they should be unknown to each other; and Lady Dently had such a Share of Pride mixed with her many Virtues, as made her forbear to discover this Se- 4 cret;
Page 191
cret; which Mrs. Bilson was so far from penetrating, that the Glow which rose on her Ladyship's Cheeks, at the Mention of her Name, gave her no Suspicions. Tho' Lady Dently concealed this Circumstance, yet she regulated her Actions by it; treating her with a polite and friendly Freedom. She happened to be disengaged that Day, and not inclined to see much Company, being a good deal indisposed; she therefore pressed Mrs. Bilson so much to spend the Day with her, that she could not in Civility refuse: Nor indeed was she unwilling to cultivate her LadyShip's Favour.
Lady Dently had lived so much in Retirement, and been so conversant with People of Sense, having herself an exceeding good and improved Understanding, that she was disgusted with fashionable Life; from which she had long withdrawn herself, till Business had now brought her again to the Metropolis of the Kingdom and of Folly. She
Page 192
She was tired of Company without Conversation, and longed to return to a few rational Friends. She hoped Mrs. Bilson might, from her Vicissitudes of Fortune, have gained so much Experience and Reflexion, as to render her more conversible than Persons who live in the World like Squirrels in a Cage hung with Bells, in a Round of Noise, without Variety, till their Heads are too giddy to think on the future, or reflect on the past.
Lady Dently found her Expectations well answered, and indeed much exceeded; for she had never met with a Person so agreeable; who was at once blessed with so lively a Wit, so quick an Imagination, and so sound a Judgment. She found in her all the Vivacity requisite to make the most pleasing Trifler, and a great Depth of Understanding, improved by reading the best Authors; her Studies had been judiciously directed by her Father, and her Memory retained all her judgment ap- proved;
Page 193
proved; which, in other Words, was all that had any Merit.
Lady Dently had never passed so agreeable a Day; which the lengthened out as long as she could prevail on Mrs. Bilson to stay with her, and then sent her home in her Coach; but not till she had obtained a Promise of another Visit within a few Days; which she told Mrs. Bilson she should not think it reasonable to ask but on one Condition, which was, that she would suffer her to have another kind of Traffick with her than the rest of her Customers had, and that, as they bought the Produce of her Time, she might purchase her Time alone; for that nothing she could make would be half so valuable to her as her Conversation.
Mrs. Bilson renewed her Visit, and Lady Dently her Invitation; who engaged her to spend every Day with her that she could spare from her Bu- Vol. I. K siness.
Page 194
siness. Tho' Mrs. Bilson was extremely sensible of the Hounour conferred on her, and grateful for the Presents Lady Dently made her; which were beyond the Value of her Time, when estimated as a Workwoman; yet she was uneasy to be taken so much from Mr. Bilson and her Family: But he represented to her, in such true Colours, the Advan- tage that Lady's Favour might be to their Children, that her "Poverty, but not her Will, complied." CHAP.
CHAP. II.
The Continuation of the History of Mrs. Bilson.
BUT it is Time to follow Mrs. Bilson to Mr. Glegg's, her Landlord; whom she found at home, and was carried into his Study. She soon acquainted him with her Request; to which he returned no positive Answer, but enquired into her Intentions for her future Way of Life.
Mrs. Bilson was too undetermined to give him much Satisfaction in that Particular: All she had resolved upon, was to endeavour to support herself and Children, by some Means that should not deprive her of Mr. Bilson's Company, and leave him entirely a Prey
Page 175
Prey to Solitude and Confinement. Mr. Glegg had been little acquainted with Mrs. Bilson, yet always beheld her with Admiration; tho', till encouraged by her distressful Circumstances, he had never looked upon her as an Object for his Gallantry. He found great Fault with her principal Design; plainly told her that Mr. Bilson must be left to the Consequences of his own ill Conduct, and that she would give great Proof of her Generosity, if in her Heart she forgave him; but that it would be a despicable Meanness to take any farther Notice of him. He then assured her his only View in the Seizure he had made, was to secure her Furniture for her Use (tho', in reality, he had never harboured the Thought till after she had entered the Room); and assured her of the quiet Possession both of that and her House, and every other Assistance the truest Friend could give; and offered her then a Bank Note for any present Exi- I 4 gencies,
Page 176
gencies, in the most humble Stile of pretended disinterested Generosity.
Amongst all the Misfortunes Mrs. Bilson had apprehended from her present Distress, she had never foreseen a Possibility of being subject to such Insolence, and was shocked beyond Expression; but, as the only Resource for her just Indignation, would not entirely understand him, but rose up, saying, that, altho' she should not be ashamed of labouring for the Support of herself and Children, yet she was above living at the Expence of any other Person; for if the Motive was genuine disinterested Generosity, she should abuse it by accepting the Bounty, at an Age when she was able to gain her own Subsistence; and if he, who offered it, had any other, he greatly abused the casual Advantage of Fortune by insulting undeserved Distress.
Mrs. Glegg entered the Room just as her Husband ended his Offer; but, a Skreen
Page 177
a Skreen being placed before the Door, she was not seen, and they were both too much engrossed by their own Thoughts to hear the Door open. Mrs. Glegg had been told Mrs. Bilson was with her Husband, and came with a kind Concern to see her; but being struck with her Voice, which had a Sound of Indignation and Anger in it, not natural to her, she stopped; and knowing her Husband's Disposition, easily understood the Occasion.
As Mrs. Bilson was withdrawing when she had finished her Reply, Mrs. Glegg and she met. The former accosted her with Tenderness, having always conceived a great Regard for her; which was not lessened by what she had just overheard.
Mrs. Bilson was too much agitated, to be able immediately to compose herself sufficiently to make a proper Return to Mrs. Glegg; whose Husband, to excuse her Disorder, and carry it off with
Page 178
with an Air of Innocence, told his Wife Mrs. Bilson's Situation, and what had brought her thither.
Mrs. Glegg inquired whether he had granted her Request; to which he returned shuffling Answers, implying the Difficulty in doing it, and a visible Backwardness to do Mrs. Bilson a Favour without a Return. Mrs. Glegg then begged he would make her a Present of the Sum due for Rent; but saw little Prospect of obtaining it: Upon which she dropped an Intimation of having accidentally heard what had passed; which so discomposed Mr. Glegg, that he judged it advisable to purchase his Pardon by Compliance, and told Mrs. Glegg it was at her Service.
"Now, my dear Mrs. Bilson," said that Lady, "I hope I may be of some Service, which I have often wished when the Means of being so were less conspicuous; for I have always highly
Page 179
highly esteemed you, and perhaps the more for the little Success I have had in my Attempts to cultivate an Intimacy with you, as I saw through your Reason for avoiding it. The Present Mr. Glegg has now made me, I shall transfer to you, rather as a Loan than a Property; because I fear, was it your own, it would go to Creditors whom you could not satisfy, tho' the Strictness of your Justice would leave you entirely destitute."
Mrs. Bilson found that Gratitude was more difficult to express than Indignation; but yet hers was very visible, tho' Mrs. Glegg would not suffer her to speak on the Subject. Mrs. Glegg carried her home in her Coach, and freed her from her troublesome Intruders; and then sat down with her two already-mentioned Friends, to consider into what Way of Life Mrs. Bilson could enter. I 6 Nothing
Page 180
Nothing was practicable which would take her from her Children; and Plainwork was not profitable enough to sup- port so large a Family. Trade was hazardous; and it would rob her of the warmest Wish of her Heart, if it prevented her from spending her Time with Mr. Bilson, whose melancholy Situation rendered her almost insensible to her own Distress; well knowing that Liberty and Self-approbation are two of the greatest Blessings any one can enjoy; of both which he was deprived.
Mrs. Bilson told them the only Scheme that occurred to her, likely to answer the Purpose, was a portable Shop in the Manner of some Milaners; which might enable her to serve such Persons as she should be recommended to; for she confessed, that without a Recommendation, she should not be able to go to any one; but that such Sorts of Works were more profitable, and she was best able to do them; besides that
Page 181
that she could then perhaps procure a Room in the Fleet, where she and her Family might be a Comfort to Mr. Bilson.
They all approved Mrs. Bilson's Scheme; and engaged to assist her in their different Ranks to the utmost of their Power, and agreed that the Money arising from the Furniture should be expended in Stock.
As soon as Mrs. Glegg was gone; Mrs. Bilson proposed that they should go to the Fleet, and impart a Share of this Glimmering of good Fortune to the Prisoner; only suppressing the humiliating Scene between her and Mr. Glegg, as it must give a new Shock to Mr. Bilson to find he had exposed her to such Treatment. This was readily agreed to; for few are of so churlish a Disposition as not to chuse to give Pleasure; tho' some will not hazard the least Diminution of their own on that Account. I shall
Page 182
I shall not dwell on what passed on this Occasion, nor relate any of the Circumstances preparatory to Mrs. Bilson's Removal to the Prison; where she hired a tolerable Room with Two Beds: One of which served for Mr. Bilson and his Two Sons; the other for herself, her Daughter, and his natural Child.
The only Difficulty Mrs. Bilson had found in going to fix in the Fleet with her Husband, was the carrying of his Child thither; she feared he would be distressed at finding her acquainted with this Transaction, and prepared him for it as well as she could. Mr. Bilson was far from having the less Opinion of his Crime, for the little Stress she laid upon it; he was overwhelmed with all her Goodness; and the Fondness which Variety had suppressed, was rekindled with double Ardour; I might, not improperly, say, was arisen almost to a Degree of Adoration. Here we will stop to view them in their new Situation. Mr. Bilson turned School-master to
Page 183
to his Sons, the one of Eight, the other Seven Years of Age, to whose Instruction he gave his utmost Application; and at other times reading to, or conversing with, his Wife, wherein he began to find more solid Comfort than he had ever enjoyed while at Liberty; His Vanity, by Excess of Mortification, was almost extinguished; Good-sense was predominant; he had discovered Virtues in his Wife, which could never have been shown without her Trials, and perceived a Depth of Understanding which he had never sought for, and a Vivacity of Wit which his Insensibility had long cast a Cloud over; her Piety at once edified and instructed him; from her he learned both the Truths of, and the Benefits arising from, Religion. Her Trust in Providence taught him to hope; the Warmth of her Devotion taught him to adore; from her Resignation he learned to submit; and from her Patience to suffer without repining. It was not long before he grew sensible that God had most
Page 184
most shewn his Mercy in the painful Consequences of his Follies, as he had thereby been taught the Vanity of his Pursuits, and that all the Blessings of Prosperity cannot give true and lasting Happiness without Religion, and that those who are possessed of that, can by no Adversity be rendered absolutely miserable.
Mrs. Bilson's Charms were not merely mental; she was not above Seven-and-twenty Years old, and her Beauty was still in its highest Lustre, tho' something of the Bloom which she had at Sixteen was abated; but the Change was no other than from the Spring to the Summer; which varies the Beauties of Nature, but does not lessen them.
Mrs. Bilson was entirely employed in her new Occupation, and contrived to make their Children her Assistants; her Husband's natural Child, having been bred up coarsely, was much stronger than her own, tho' somewhat younger; and
Page 185
and having been already accustomed to hard Work, was very useful; for they had no Servant; tho' the only Female belonging to their House, having been bred up by Mrs. Bilson, begged very hard to continue to attend her without Wages; but that Lady would not suffer her Gratitude to rob her of the Advantages she might obtain in Service; and thought herself very fortunate in prevailing with Mrs. Glegg (who at that time wanted a Servant) to take her.
Mrs. Bilson rose every Morning before it was light, and sat up pretty late; and managed so well, that her Girls assisted much in her Work, tho' the eldest was little more than Nine Years old; but, by her Mother's Care, had been rendered forwarder in those respects than others of a much more advanced Age. Mrs. Bilson went through it all with Chearfulness; I might say, with Pleasure; seeing herself the Means of making, Mr. Bilson's Confinement not irksome to him; and was so industrious,
Page 186
dustrious, that she soon furnished her- self with a Variety of Female Ornaments, in which her Rank in Life had given her a Taste and Elegance, that made them greatly surpass what most Shops could exhibit.
Thus furnished, she went to the Places where Mrs. Glegg, and her good Friend the Bookseller's Wife, had recommended her, and met with an obliging Reception from all; her Beauty, and the Gracefulness of her Person, giving a Dignity even to so low an Employment. As they had been before prepossessed with the Notion of her Distress, they bought of her for the better Opportunity of satisfying their Curiosity; and proceeded as slowly as possible, that they might have Time to intrude Questions about her Situation. She answered all they asked with Truth and Sincerity; some pitied and wondered, and, while they looked at the Frippery they bought of her, forgot all they had heard: But others were touched
Page 187
touched with real Compassion, and gave her the Approbation she well deserved; these wished to serve her, and recommended her to their Acquaintance, and thus her Business was constantly increasing: Nor did she find those in a middling Station the worst Customers. The Novelty of the Case rendered it a Fashion to buy of her; and her Employ growing more than she could perform, Mrs. Glegg resigned her Servant to her; who longed to attend again on Mrs. Bilson, whom she loved as her Mother.
Mrs. Bilson wished to mend the Situation of some other of the Prisoners, who had been recommended to her Notice by the Gaoler's Wife; a Woman much more humane than most in her Station. These she found were there from Misfortunes in Trade, or etxravagant Children, and not in consequence of Idleness; and amongst her Friends procured them such Work as they could do; whereby they gained enough to supply
Page 188
supply them with all the Comforts their Situation would admit of; some even saved a little, with the flattering Hope of being able in time to pay the Debt for which they were confined. Many little Advantages besides she procured for other Prisoners, and lessened the Distress of Numbers; while she maintained her own Family, and saw her Stock, as well as Trade, in- crease.
In this Manner Mr. and Mrs. Bilson live a Year and a Half, when she met at the House of one of her Customers an old Lady, who was greatly charmed with her Appearance and Behaviour; and expressed her Sentiments on that Occasion, to which the Lady of the House said: "How much more, Madam, would you be charmed, if you knew her Conduct through Life? for whatsoever you may think of her Figure, but a small Part of her Charms are personal." "You
Page 189
"You raise my Curiosity extremely," replied Lady Dently (for that was her Title); "and I shall think I have great Reason to complain, unless you also gratify it."
"That I will readily," replied the Lady, "to the best of my Power; but if Mrs. Bilson will be so good as to undertake the Task, her Manner will give it Graces, which indeed are not requisite, but must render the Narration more engaging. I will act the Part of Querist; for I know otherwise we shall not get Half her History, since I am assured the only Insincerity she is ever guilty of, is concealing the Faults of others and her own Virtues."
Thus was much of Mrs. Bilson's History extracted from her, though a great deal of her Merit was concealed; being a Secret to the Lady, who put her under a Necessity of repeating all she had learned from others of Mrs. Bil- son's
Page 190
son's Friends. Lady Dently, who was endued with great Humanity and Generosity of Spirit, was much affected with Mrs. Bilson's Fate. She immediately shewed her Compassion by the many Purchases she made, and bespoke several other Things; with which Mrs. Bilson was to wait on her the next Day.
Lady Dently was so sensibly touched with the Behaviour and Merit of Mrs. Bilson, that she was impatient for the Hour she had appointed her. She enquired of her what her Name was before she was married; but was much surprised to hear it was Lemster, and to find that she was her Relation. Lady Dently had lived much in the Country, and Mrs. Bilson, as I have before hinted, had little Acquaintance with her Relations, therefore it was not wonderful that they should be unknown to each other; and Lady Dently had such a Share of Pride mixed with her many Virtues, as made her forbear to discover this Se- 4 cret;
Page 191
cret; which Mrs. Bilson was so far from penetrating, that the Glow which rose on her Ladyship's Cheeks, at the Mention of her Name, gave her no Suspicions. Tho' Lady Dently concealed this Circumstance, yet she regulated her Actions by it; treating her with a polite and friendly Freedom. She happened to be disengaged that Day, and not inclined to see much Company, being a good deal indisposed; she therefore pressed Mrs. Bilson so much to spend the Day with her, that she could not in Civility refuse: Nor indeed was she unwilling to cultivate her LadyShip's Favour.
Lady Dently had lived so much in Retirement, and been so conversant with People of Sense, having herself an exceeding good and improved Understanding, that she was disgusted with fashionable Life; from which she had long withdrawn herself, till Business had now brought her again to the Metropolis of the Kingdom and of Folly. She
Page 192
She was tired of Company without Conversation, and longed to return to a few rational Friends. She hoped Mrs. Bilson might, from her Vicissitudes of Fortune, have gained so much Experience and Reflexion, as to render her more conversible than Persons who live in the World like Squirrels in a Cage hung with Bells, in a Round of Noise, without Variety, till their Heads are too giddy to think on the future, or reflect on the past.
Lady Dently found her Expectations well answered, and indeed much exceeded; for she had never met with a Person so agreeable; who was at once blessed with so lively a Wit, so quick an Imagination, and so sound a Judgment. She found in her all the Vivacity requisite to make the most pleasing Trifler, and a great Depth of Understanding, improved by reading the best Authors; her Studies had been judiciously directed by her Father, and her Memory retained all her judgment ap- proved;
Page 193
proved; which, in other Words, was all that had any Merit.
Lady Dently had never passed so agreeable a Day; which the lengthened out as long as she could prevail on Mrs. Bilson to stay with her, and then sent her home in her Coach; but not till she had obtained a Promise of another Visit within a few Days; which she told Mrs. Bilson she should not think it reasonable to ask but on one Condition, which was, that she would suffer her to have another kind of Traffick with her than the rest of her Customers had, and that, as they bought the Produce of her Time, she might purchase her Time alone; for that nothing she could make would be half so valuable to her as her Conversation.
Mrs. Bilson renewed her Visit, and Lady Dently her Invitation; who engaged her to spend every Day with her that she could spare from her Bu- Vol. I. K siness.
Page 194
siness. Tho' Mrs. Bilson was extremely sensible of the Hounour conferred on her, and grateful for the Presents Lady Dently made her; which were beyond the Value of her Time, when estimated as a Workwoman; yet she was uneasy to be taken so much from Mr. Bilson and her Family: But he represented to her, in such true Colours, the Advan- tage that Lady's Favour might be to their Children, that her "Poverty, but not her Will, complied." CHAP.
Chapter 3
Page 195
C HAP. III.
A Continuation of the History of Mrs. Bilson.
LADY Dently's Approbation increased to the strongest Affection. She offered Mrs. Bilson an Apartment in her House for herself and Children. This Invitation had no Chance of being accepted, while the Person, to whose Society both Duty and Affection rendered her most attached, was excluded. With all the Acknowlegements Gratitude could dictate, she declined it; giving the true and only Reason, that she could not leave Mr. Bilson.
Lady Dently, even if Mr. Bilson had not been confined, could not think of K 2 being
Page 196
being troubled with a Gentleman in the House, whom she did not know, whose Character she did not approve; and the great Virtues, which his Wife boasted in him, she looked upon as the Phantoms of her partial Imagination. She offered to provide him with every Convenience and Pleasure his Situation would admit of; but Mrs. Bilson replied, she should be ungrateful if she did not believe he valued her Society, and that of his Children, above all that Money could bestow; and that, in reality, her Ladyship's Genorosity had been such, that he had already enjoyed every thing but Liberty; and that One Day in Seven, which to some is the only one of Liberty, and to too many of Licence, they generally went to some Country Place near London; taking either the Gaoler or his Wife, who were not bad People, with them; in hopes, by enjoying a little fresh Air sometimes, Mr. Bilson's Health would suffer less by his Confinement. The Excursion pleased the
Page 197
the Gaoler; and he was free from any Apprehensions of their designing to escape from him, as he knew they had so much Property in his House. He would even suffer them to enhance their own Pleasure, by giving a Share of it to some of the Prisoners, one at a time, who had gained his Confidence.
Lady Dently was sensibly mortified by this Refusal, yet her Esteem for Mrs. Bilson was increased by it; and her Ladyship greatly manifested the uncommon Goodness of her Mind, by not being displeased at Mrs. Bilson's pleading the Conveniencies her Husband enjoyed from her own Generosity, against complying with her Request, and Lady Dently grew still more importunate for her Company; but Visits were soon interrupted by a Fever, which seized Mrs. Bilson. Lady Dently was shocked at the News of her Illness, and resolved to go to the Fleet to see her. As few polite Ceremonies are regarded in that Place, her K 3 Lady-
Page 198
Ladyship was introduced without any previous Notice, and found Mr. Bilson on his Knees, at the Side of his Wife's Bed, endeavouring to recover her out of a fainting Fit, the Tears flowing fast from his Eyes; all the Children and Attendants were weeping likewise. So melancholy a Scene affected Lady Dently extremely; and she learned a very bad Account of Mrs. Bilson's Disorder from them, whose Concern represented it to them in the worst Light. Their Attention was so engrossed by the poor Invalid, that little Notice was taken of Lady Dently, till Mrs. Bilson, by recovering her Senses, set theirs more at Liberty; whom she perceiving, and observing her Concern (for she had joined in Tears with the rest of the Company); "A Thousand Thanks," said she, "Madam, for this Goodness. Heaven hath sent you hither to ease my Heart, and smooth my Passage into the other World. After so many Obligations as I have received from your Ladyship, it may appear
Page 199
appear great Want of Modesty to urge any further Request; but in my Situation, when all I love in the World is threatened with the utmost Extremities of Poverty and Distress, who would not be unreasonable. Your Goodess will excuse me, in consideration of the Exigency. Could I hope that you would continue your great Goodness to my Husband and Children, just to save them from Want, and put the Children in some Way honestly to gain their Subsistence, I should, with Peace of Mind and Resignation, leave this World, with Prayers for you, and Thanksgiving to the Almighty, who hath raised me such a Friend in my Distress. Believe me, Madam," continued she, "there is nothing that could befal me, only that, which should make me thus presume on your Generosity; but, for Persons so dear to me, what can I not attempt in this Extremity?" K4 Lady
Page 200
Lady Dently was not able to interrupt her, she was so much affected; but when Mrs. Bilson had done speaking, she gave her all the kind Assurances which her Grief would let her utter; promising to do much more than she requested; and the compassionate Workings of her Affection at that Instant baffled her Pride, and she added, that it was her Duty to provide for Mrs. Bilson's Family, they being so nearly related to her. The poor sick Woman was greatly revived by Lady Dently's generous Promises; and not a little, by finding she had a natural Cause to hope for Lady Dently's Protection of her little ones, which she had never suspected.
As Mrs. Bilson's Disorder had been greatly increased by the Apprehension she was under, lest her Husband and Family would suffer much by her Death, she received great Benefit by being relieved from her Fears; and in a Week's
Page 201
a Week's Time was in a fair Way of Recovery.
Lady Dently constantly visited her during the Time of her Confinement, and by that means became acquainted with Mr. Bilson; who, she found, answered the Character his Wife gave him, much better than the ill Report that had been made of him by others. This determined her to indulge her Friendship for Mrs. Bilson, and to receive her and her whole Family into her House.
This Resolution gave infinite Joy to our poor Prisoners; who esteemed Lady Dently's Society a Blessing, and thought it an Honour to be obliged to one of so noble a Disposition.
Lady Dently discharged all Mr. Bilson's Debts, and enabled Mrs. Bilson to repay Mrs. Glegg what she had so bountifully given her; with the most sin- K 5 cere
Page 202
cere Assurances, that her Gratitude did not end with the Debt.
This Family, equally happy in obligling and receiving Obligations, retired into the Country; but their Felicity was soon disturbed by the Death of Lady Dently, which filled Mr. and Mrs. Bilson with the deepest Affliction: Nor were they comforted by finding she had made them sole Heirs to an Estate of near Four thousand Pounds per Annum.
As soon as Mr. and Mrs. Bilson had performed the last Honours to Lady Dently, and given such Gratuities amongst her Domestics as shewed their Regard for every thing that belonged to her, they set out to gratify the Wish that had been nearest their Hearts; which was to set at Liberty all such Prisoners in the Fleet as deserved it. But in this Scrutiny they were not so rigid as to expect to find the human Perfection of Stoical Invention, before they
Page 203
they imagined they had found any proper Objects of Christian Charity. Lady Dently had left near Ten thousand Pounds in ready Money, which afforded a full Scope to their generous Intentions. They not only released all such as were more unfortunate than faulty, but set them up in their respective Callings; with all the Avantages that could tend to their future Success.
As soon as they had thus effected their Purpose, and done the same in the other Prisons, as far as they could obtain any Insight into the Characters of the Prisoners, they returned into the Country, and began to consider how to show their Gratitude to the Giver of so much Happiness as was fallen to their Share; which they thought they could no-way so well prove; as by communicating that Happiness to as many as possible. In order to be able to do this, they settled the Oeconomy of their House within very moderate K 6 Bounds;
Page 204
Bounds; Convenience and Decency being their Rule, not their Income.
Their Table was suited to Temperance; their Equipage and Attendants to Use and Convenience. Pomp and Splendor they despised, and forbore to dazle the Sight of their Superiors, that they might make their own Eyes sparkle with Joy; they excited no Envy in the Hearts of the Poor, but planted Gratitude in its stead. It might well be said of them, that when the Eye saw them, it blessed them; and when the Ear heard them, it gave Witness to them. They looked on their Fortune, their Time, and their Understanding, as Talents which God had intrusted with them; and that they must, at the Last Day, give a strict Account whether they had used them to the Purposes pleasing to a most merciful and bountiful Creator; who to some hath given Poverty, to try their Patience; and to others Riches, to prove their Temperance, Charity, and Humility. They
Page 205
They formed Seminaries for young People; taking some of the Children of Families that were overburdened with them, and those who had lost their Parents, or had such whose Ex- ample rendered them a Misfortune to their Offspring. These were educated in the strictest Principles of Industry, Virtue, and Religion; and instructed, according to their several Geniuses, in such Employments as would provide them a comfortable Subsistence.
The Aged were equally the Objects of their Attention; they built Almshouses for them, where Age could find no Evils but the Infirmities incident to it, and all the Relief for them that Care and Competence could give.
Whenever any young Couple married, they furnished their House, and stocked them with everything that could be useful. The Expences of Sickness they paid for all the Poor, and provided them with every Com- fort.
Page 206
fort. Such as were able to gain more than was necessary for their Maintenance, they encouraged to save, by making an Addition to it when it rose to a certain Sum, and assisting them in Ways of throwing it into some kind of safe Trade; which would not interrupt their usual Employ.
In these Charities they supported some Hundreds, besides the much greater Numbers who felt occasional Blessings from their Benevolence; whose Circle was as large as their Knowlege (either by their own Inspection, or by careful Enquiries) could extend: But in all, the utmost Oeconomy was preserved. The Old spun and knitted for the Young; and those who were not decrepid served for Nurses to the Sick; relieving each other by turns. They were all assistant to each other; every Institution had some Correspondence with the rest, which helped to lessen the Expence of all; for Mr. and Mrs. Bilson thought it
Page 207
it as much their Duty to give their Time and Attention, as their Money; and to make their Fortune extend to the Relief of as many as possible.
The Compassion of these worthy Persons was not confined to the lowest Poor; the Indigent of a higher Rank still more excited their Pity: Dependants on the Rich appeared to them more wretched Beings, than those who were brought up to Labour. They hired a large House as a Receptacle for Gentlewoman, who either had no Fortunes, or so little that it would not support them. For these they made the most comfortable Institution; every Convenience of Life was provided for them, and they were under no Restraints, but to the Rules of the House, which were regulated in the most exact and punctual Manner; and the wisest Regulations were to secure the Peace and Happiness of the Society, who were provided with all Conveniencies for rural Amusements, a Li- 8 brary,
Page 208
brary, musical Instruments, and Implements for various Works.
Great as the Expences of these several Institutions may appear, they were managed with so much Oeconomy, that Mr. and Mrs. Bilson had still a Fund appropriated for casual Relief of Persons of Birth, who were distressed by Accidents; such as Sickness of Themselves or Children, or unforeseen or unavoidable Losses and Expences: To these they would send Presents proportionable to the Exigence; but in such a manner as not to be guessed, but by their general Character. Their Gratitude to Mrs. Glegg and the honest Bookseller, who had been so useful to them, appeared in the noblest Returns; and Mr. Glegg dying, she lived chiefly with them. C H A P,
C HAP. III.
A Continuation of the History of Mrs. Bilson.
LADY Dently's Approbation increased to the strongest Affection. She offered Mrs. Bilson an Apartment in her House for herself and Children. This Invitation had no Chance of being accepted, while the Person, to whose Society both Duty and Affection rendered her most attached, was excluded. With all the Acknowlegements Gratitude could dictate, she declined it; giving the true and only Reason, that she could not leave Mr. Bilson.
Lady Dently, even if Mr. Bilson had not been confined, could not think of K 2 being
Page 196
being troubled with a Gentleman in the House, whom she did not know, whose Character she did not approve; and the great Virtues, which his Wife boasted in him, she looked upon as the Phantoms of her partial Imagination. She offered to provide him with every Convenience and Pleasure his Situation would admit of; but Mrs. Bilson replied, she should be ungrateful if she did not believe he valued her Society, and that of his Children, above all that Money could bestow; and that, in reality, her Ladyship's Genorosity had been such, that he had already enjoyed every thing but Liberty; and that One Day in Seven, which to some is the only one of Liberty, and to too many of Licence, they generally went to some Country Place near London; taking either the Gaoler or his Wife, who were not bad People, with them; in hopes, by enjoying a little fresh Air sometimes, Mr. Bilson's Health would suffer less by his Confinement. The Excursion pleased the
Page 197
the Gaoler; and he was free from any Apprehensions of their designing to escape from him, as he knew they had so much Property in his House. He would even suffer them to enhance their own Pleasure, by giving a Share of it to some of the Prisoners, one at a time, who had gained his Confidence.
Lady Dently was sensibly mortified by this Refusal, yet her Esteem for Mrs. Bilson was increased by it; and her Ladyship greatly manifested the uncommon Goodness of her Mind, by not being displeased at Mrs. Bilson's pleading the Conveniencies her Husband enjoyed from her own Generosity, against complying with her Request, and Lady Dently grew still more importunate for her Company; but Visits were soon interrupted by a Fever, which seized Mrs. Bilson. Lady Dently was shocked at the News of her Illness, and resolved to go to the Fleet to see her. As few polite Ceremonies are regarded in that Place, her K 3 Lady-
Page 198
Ladyship was introduced without any previous Notice, and found Mr. Bilson on his Knees, at the Side of his Wife's Bed, endeavouring to recover her out of a fainting Fit, the Tears flowing fast from his Eyes; all the Children and Attendants were weeping likewise. So melancholy a Scene affected Lady Dently extremely; and she learned a very bad Account of Mrs. Bilson's Disorder from them, whose Concern represented it to them in the worst Light. Their Attention was so engrossed by the poor Invalid, that little Notice was taken of Lady Dently, till Mrs. Bilson, by recovering her Senses, set theirs more at Liberty; whom she perceiving, and observing her Concern (for she had joined in Tears with the rest of the Company); "A Thousand Thanks," said she, "Madam, for this Goodness. Heaven hath sent you hither to ease my Heart, and smooth my Passage into the other World. After so many Obligations as I have received from your Ladyship, it may appear
Page 199
appear great Want of Modesty to urge any further Request; but in my Situation, when all I love in the World is threatened with the utmost Extremities of Poverty and Distress, who would not be unreasonable. Your Goodess will excuse me, in consideration of the Exigency. Could I hope that you would continue your great Goodness to my Husband and Children, just to save them from Want, and put the Children in some Way honestly to gain their Subsistence, I should, with Peace of Mind and Resignation, leave this World, with Prayers for you, and Thanksgiving to the Almighty, who hath raised me such a Friend in my Distress. Believe me, Madam," continued she, "there is nothing that could befal me, only that, which should make me thus presume on your Generosity; but, for Persons so dear to me, what can I not attempt in this Extremity?" K4 Lady
Page 200
Lady Dently was not able to interrupt her, she was so much affected; but when Mrs. Bilson had done speaking, she gave her all the kind Assurances which her Grief would let her utter; promising to do much more than she requested; and the compassionate Workings of her Affection at that Instant baffled her Pride, and she added, that it was her Duty to provide for Mrs. Bilson's Family, they being so nearly related to her. The poor sick Woman was greatly revived by Lady Dently's generous Promises; and not a little, by finding she had a natural Cause to hope for Lady Dently's Protection of her little ones, which she had never suspected.
As Mrs. Bilson's Disorder had been greatly increased by the Apprehension she was under, lest her Husband and Family would suffer much by her Death, she received great Benefit by being relieved from her Fears; and in a Week's
Page 201
a Week's Time was in a fair Way of Recovery.
Lady Dently constantly visited her during the Time of her Confinement, and by that means became acquainted with Mr. Bilson; who, she found, answered the Character his Wife gave him, much better than the ill Report that had been made of him by others. This determined her to indulge her Friendship for Mrs. Bilson, and to receive her and her whole Family into her House.
This Resolution gave infinite Joy to our poor Prisoners; who esteemed Lady Dently's Society a Blessing, and thought it an Honour to be obliged to one of so noble a Disposition.
Lady Dently discharged all Mr. Bilson's Debts, and enabled Mrs. Bilson to repay Mrs. Glegg what she had so bountifully given her; with the most sin- K 5 cere
Page 202
cere Assurances, that her Gratitude did not end with the Debt.
This Family, equally happy in obligling and receiving Obligations, retired into the Country; but their Felicity was soon disturbed by the Death of Lady Dently, which filled Mr. and Mrs. Bilson with the deepest Affliction: Nor were they comforted by finding she had made them sole Heirs to an Estate of near Four thousand Pounds per Annum.
As soon as Mr. and Mrs. Bilson had performed the last Honours to Lady Dently, and given such Gratuities amongst her Domestics as shewed their Regard for every thing that belonged to her, they set out to gratify the Wish that had been nearest their Hearts; which was to set at Liberty all such Prisoners in the Fleet as deserved it. But in this Scrutiny they were not so rigid as to expect to find the human Perfection of Stoical Invention, before they
Page 203
they imagined they had found any proper Objects of Christian Charity. Lady Dently had left near Ten thousand Pounds in ready Money, which afforded a full Scope to their generous Intentions. They not only released all such as were more unfortunate than faulty, but set them up in their respective Callings; with all the Avantages that could tend to their future Success.
As soon as they had thus effected their Purpose, and done the same in the other Prisons, as far as they could obtain any Insight into the Characters of the Prisoners, they returned into the Country, and began to consider how to show their Gratitude to the Giver of so much Happiness as was fallen to their Share; which they thought they could no-way so well prove; as by communicating that Happiness to as many as possible. In order to be able to do this, they settled the Oeconomy of their House within very moderate K 6 Bounds;
Page 204
Bounds; Convenience and Decency being their Rule, not their Income.
Their Table was suited to Temperance; their Equipage and Attendants to Use and Convenience. Pomp and Splendor they despised, and forbore to dazle the Sight of their Superiors, that they might make their own Eyes sparkle with Joy; they excited no Envy in the Hearts of the Poor, but planted Gratitude in its stead. It might well be said of them, that when the Eye saw them, it blessed them; and when the Ear heard them, it gave Witness to them. They looked on their Fortune, their Time, and their Understanding, as Talents which God had intrusted with them; and that they must, at the Last Day, give a strict Account whether they had used them to the Purposes pleasing to a most merciful and bountiful Creator; who to some hath given Poverty, to try their Patience; and to others Riches, to prove their Temperance, Charity, and Humility. They
Page 205
They formed Seminaries for young People; taking some of the Children of Families that were overburdened with them, and those who had lost their Parents, or had such whose Ex- ample rendered them a Misfortune to their Offspring. These were educated in the strictest Principles of Industry, Virtue, and Religion; and instructed, according to their several Geniuses, in such Employments as would provide them a comfortable Subsistence.
The Aged were equally the Objects of their Attention; they built Almshouses for them, where Age could find no Evils but the Infirmities incident to it, and all the Relief for them that Care and Competence could give.
Whenever any young Couple married, they furnished their House, and stocked them with everything that could be useful. The Expences of Sickness they paid for all the Poor, and provided them with every Com- fort.
Page 206
fort. Such as were able to gain more than was necessary for their Maintenance, they encouraged to save, by making an Addition to it when it rose to a certain Sum, and assisting them in Ways of throwing it into some kind of safe Trade; which would not interrupt their usual Employ.
In these Charities they supported some Hundreds, besides the much greater Numbers who felt occasional Blessings from their Benevolence; whose Circle was as large as their Knowlege (either by their own Inspection, or by careful Enquiries) could extend: But in all, the utmost Oeconomy was preserved. The Old spun and knitted for the Young; and those who were not decrepid served for Nurses to the Sick; relieving each other by turns. They were all assistant to each other; every Institution had some Correspondence with the rest, which helped to lessen the Expence of all; for Mr. and Mrs. Bilson thought it
Page 207
it as much their Duty to give their Time and Attention, as their Money; and to make their Fortune extend to the Relief of as many as possible.
The Compassion of these worthy Persons was not confined to the lowest Poor; the Indigent of a higher Rank still more excited their Pity: Dependants on the Rich appeared to them more wretched Beings, than those who were brought up to Labour. They hired a large House as a Receptacle for Gentlewoman, who either had no Fortunes, or so little that it would not support them. For these they made the most comfortable Institution; every Convenience of Life was provided for them, and they were under no Restraints, but to the Rules of the House, which were regulated in the most exact and punctual Manner; and the wisest Regulations were to secure the Peace and Happiness of the Society, who were provided with all Conveniencies for rural Amusements, a Li- 8 brary,
Page 208
brary, musical Instruments, and Implements for various Works.
Great as the Expences of these several Institutions may appear, they were managed with so much Oeconomy, that Mr. and Mrs. Bilson had still a Fund appropriated for casual Relief of Persons of Birth, who were distressed by Accidents; such as Sickness of Themselves or Children, or unforeseen or unavoidable Losses and Expences: To these they would send Presents proportionable to the Exigence; but in such a manner as not to be guessed, but by their general Character. Their Gratitude to Mrs. Glegg and the honest Bookseller, who had been so useful to them, appeared in the noblest Returns; and Mr. Glegg dying, she lived chiefly with them. C H A P,
Notes to Vol. 1, Book 2, Chapters 1-3
Notes to Chapter 1
Encomiums-noun meaning " A formal or high-flown expression of praise; a eulogy" (OED)
Repartee-noun meaning "Conversation or speech characterized by witty or sharp replies, or by a good-humoured exchange of witty remarks" (OED)
Panegyric-noun meaning "A public speech or published text in praise of a person or thing; a laudatory discourse; a eulogy" (OED)
Hamlet's Expression-reference to Hamlet's tunnel vision of others' characteristics
Venus's Cestus-Goddess Venus's girdle which suggested chaste love. In Greek tradition, the Cestus is seen as a love charm (Classical Myths and Legends in the Middle Ages and Renaissance: A Dictionary... By H. David Brumble) (google books)
affliting-meant to be 'afflicting'
and.-meant to be 'and'-no '.'
Belles Lettres-plural noun meaning "Elegant or polite literature or literary studies" (OED)
Croud-Archaic alternative to the word "crowd"
Invectives-late middle English noun meaning "A violent attack in words; a denunciatory or railing speech, writing, or expression" (OED)
Rectitude-noun meaning "The quality of being correct or true; rightness" (OED)
confider-meant to be 'consider'
ratier-meant to be 'rather'
distraining-verb meaning "To levy a distress upon (a person), in order by the sale of the chattels to obtain satisfaction for a debt, particularly for arrears of rent" (OED)
"where the greater Malady is fixed, the lesser is scarce felt."-quote from Shakespeare's King Lear: Act 3, Scene 4, between Kent and Lear, describing the ruin King Lear brought about through his actions (No Fear Shakespeare-Spark Notes)
Girl'sAage-meant to be 'Girl's Age'
Notes to Chapter 2
carried: Led or directed by a servant to the room
Design: “A plan conceived in the mind, and related senses.” (OED)
Bank Note: Mr. Glegg condescendingly offers Mrs. Bilson some handout money as if she is a beggar; she is indignant at this and
decides to leave.
decides to leave.
Advantage of Fortune: Mrs. Bilson thinks Mr. Glegg's fortunate wealth has made him arrogant, and that he thinks all needy
people are lazy and deserve their misfortune.
people are lazy and deserve their misfortune.
Skreen: “A contrivance for warding off the heat of a fire or a draught of air.” (OED)
accosted: “That has been approached and spoken to.” (OED)
Backwardness: “Reluctance, disinclination.” (OED)
Strictness of your Justice: Mrs. Bilson's inner principles of fairness and obligation to creditors would drive her to pay off debts
even if it meant she would go hungry.
Plainwork: “plain needlework or sewing, as distinct from fancy-work or embroidery.” (OED)
Milaners: (millener) “a seller of fancy wares, accessories, and articles of (female) apparel, esp. such as were originally made in Milan. Subsequently: spec. a person who designs, makes, or sells women's hats” (OED);
see http://www.history.org/almanack/life/trades/trademln.cfm
see http://www.history.org/almanack/life/trades/trademln.cfm
Fleet: Debtor’s prison where prisoners had to pay for their lodging and keep;
see http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=45111
see http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=45111
Stock: “The aggregate of goods, or of some specified kind of goods, which a trader has on hand as a provision for the possible future
requirements of customers.” (OED)
requirements of customers.” (OED)
Diminution: Lack of benevolence; some people are so selfish they won't lessen their own wealth in order to bring happiness to others.
Opinion of his Crime: Even though his wife never blamed or reminded him of his earlier lavish spending that put him in debt,
Mr. Bilson still felt guilty and had a sense of true atonement for his misdeeds.
Variety: During his earlier pursuit of varied nightly pleasures away from home, Mr. Bilson had neglected his wife and not shown
affection towards her.
affection towards her.
Excess of Mortification: “The feeling of disappointment, vexation, or humiliation.” (OED)
Insensibility: Mr. Bilson's earlier lack of appreciation for his wife's company prevented him from recognizing her keen mind and
witty intelligence.
Resignation: “The fact of resigning oneself or of being resigned to something; acquiescence, submission, compliance; readiness to
endure adversity without complaint.” (OED)
endure adversity without complaint.” (OED)
bred up coarsely: The child had gained physical strength by being accustomed to hard work at an early age.
Lady: Although Mrs. Bilson had no money to pay wages, her principles of justice and fairness would not deprive her maid of the
chance to earn wages working for some other gentlewoman.
rendered forwarder: “Well-advanced for one's years, precocious.” (OED) The child had gained experience in housework that was
advanced for her age, due to her mother's teaching.
advanced for her age, due to her mother's teaching.
Ornaments: “An accessory or adjunct, primarily functional, but often also fancy or decorative; (in pl.) equipment, trappings, furniture, attire.” (OED); spec: fashionable clothing accessories such as sleeve ruffles, necklaces, caps, handbags, bracelets, ribbons.
prepossessed: informed of information “that predisposes favourably; giving a favourable first impression; attractive, pleasing.”
(OED). In this case, knowledge of Mrs. Bilson's economic hardship and sympathetic towards it.
(OED). In this case, knowledge of Mrs. Bilson's economic hardship and sympathetic towards it.
Frippery: “Finery in dress, esp. tawdry finery; an example of this, an article of fashionable attire.” (OED).
Approbation: “approval expressed or entertained.” (OED)
middling Station: “Designating or relating to persons of moderate means or the middle class.” (OED).
Distress of Numbers: Mrs. Bilson lessened the distress of several numbers of prisoners.
Stock: “A sum of money set apart to provide for certain expenses; a fund.” (OED)
Querist: “A person who asks or enquires; a questioner.” (OED)
wonderful: “such as to excite wonder or astonishment.” (OED); in this case, not unusual or unexpected
fashionable Life: The trivial lives of leisure led by rich, upper class men and women concerned with ostentatious displays of fashion, wit, gossip, and shallow values.
Kingdom and of Folly: The vain, foolish, and pretentious behaviors of people in fashionable London society; allusion to Erasmus’
In Praise of Folly, a satiric allegory containing Goddess Folly who presides over a court of lesser fools who spend their time in endless self-praising. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Praise_of_Folly
In Praise of Folly, a satiric allegory containing Goddess Folly who presides over a court of lesser fools who spend their time in endless self-praising. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Praise_of_Folly
Vicissitudes of Fortune: economic hardships; see http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wheel_of_Fortune
Round of Noise: shallow relationships built on gossip and vain pursuits
Trifler: “one who wastes his time on trivialities; a frivolous person.” (OED); in this context, because of Lady Dently's admiration for
Mrs. Bilson's character, the narrator is drawing attention to the positive liveliness of Mrs. Bilson's conversation.
Mrs. Bilson's character, the narrator is drawing attention to the positive liveliness of Mrs. Bilson's conversation.
Traffick: “Social intercourse, communication; dealings, business.” (OED)
Will, complied: Mr. Bilson reminds his wife that Lady Dently's benevolence could help provide sustenance for their children; because of their impoverished condition, Mrs. Bilson reluctantly agrees to spend more conversational time with Lady Dently.
Notes to Chapter 3
Person: Her husband, Mr. Bilson
Gaoler: “One who has charge of a jail or of the prisoners in it; a jail-keeper.” (OED)
Apprehensions: “The product of grasping with the mind; a conception or idea; also, the abiding result of such conception; a view,
notion, or opinion entertained upon any subject.” (OED); intentions
notion, or opinion entertained upon any subject.” (OED); intentions
Goodness of her Mind: Showed great patience
importunate: “urgent. . . persistent or pressing in solicitation.” (OED)
more at Liberty: Eased the onlookers’ concerns
Want of Modesty: selfish
Exigency: “That which is needed or required; demands, needs, requirements.” (OED)
Extremity: condition near death
baffled her Pride: Lady Dently's sympathy for Mrs. Bilson's family overcame her own personal concerns
Felicity: “The state of being happy; happiness.” (OED)
Four thousand Pounds: a large sum of money by today’s standards
Stoical Invention: The Bilson's benevolent charity was non-judgmental; they did not require their fellow debtors to be "perfect"
citizens.
so well prove: The Bilsons regarded their own benevolence with extreme humility and tried to match Lady Dently's level of
generosity by helping as many people as possible.
generosity by helping as many people as possible.
Oeconomy: “The manner in which a household, or a person's private expenditure, is organized or managed.” (OED).
Equipage: “Small articles of domestic furniture, esp. china, glass, and earthenware; also, a carriage and horses, with the attendant
servants; in later use sometimes applied to a carriage alone.” (OED)
forbore to dazle: made no attempt to impress others with fancy displays of wealth or fashion
Geniuses: Individual talents
Almshouses: “a house for the accommodation or support of the poor or needy.” (OED) see Sidney Heath, Old English Houses of
Alms (1910) at https://archive.org/details/cu31924015418241
Alms (1910) at https://archive.org/details/cu31924015418241
Institution: Each charitable house or group of members communicated well with each other
Indigent of a higher Rank: The Bilsons also rescued the children or single women from the middle or upper landed-gentry class
whose source of income was unfortunately lost, due to perhaps the death of a husband or parent, or the loss of family property.
Receptacle: Home
Persons of Birth: Persons from middle or upper property-owning classes
Presents: Charitable assistance according to specific financial needs
she: The widow, Mrs. Glegg
