be given up, nothing could exceed his disappointment. He now saw that his money must all go to enrich one who had no fortune of his own. He could bear his being a rascal, but to want an equivalent to his daughter's fortune was wormwood. He sat, therefore, for some minutes, employed in the most mortifying speculations, till Sir William attempted to lessen his anxiety. I must confess, Sir,' cried he, that your present disappointment does not entirely displease me. Your immoderate passion for wealth is now justly punished. But though the young lady cannot be rich, she has still a sufficient competence to give content Here you see an honest young soldier, who is willing to take her without fortune; they have long loved each other; and. for the friendship I bear his father, my interest shall not be wanting in his promotion. Leave, then, that ambition which disappoints you, and for once admit that happiness which courts your acceptance.'

'Sir William,' replied the old gentleman, 'be assured, I never yet forced her inclinations, nor will I now. If she still continues to love this young gentleman, let her have him with all my heart. There is still, thank Heaven, some fortune left, and your promise will make it something more. Only let my old friend here, (meaning me,) give me a promise of settling six thousand pounds upon my girl, if ever he should come to his fortune, and I am ready this night to be the first to join them together.'

As it now remained with me to make the young couple happy, I readily gave a promise of making

the settlement he required; which to one who had such little expectations as I, was no great favour. We had now therefore the satisfaction of seeing them fly into each other's arms in a transport. 'After all my misfortunes,' cried my son George, 'to be thus rewarded! Sure this is more than I could ever have presumed to hope for. To be possessed of all that's good, and after such an interval of pain! my warmest wishes could never rise so high! Yes, my George,' returned his lovely. bride, now let the wretch take my fortune; since you are happy without it, so am I. O! what an exchange have I made, from the basest of men to the dearest, best! Let him enjoy our fortune, I now can be happy even in indigence.' And I promise you,' cried the squire, with a malicious grin, 'that I shall be very happy with what you despise.'' Hold, hold, Sir,' cried Jenkinson, 'there are two words to that bargain. As for that lady's fortune, Sir, you shall never touch a single stiver of it. Pray, your honour,' continued he to Sir William, 'can the squire have this lady's fortune, if he be married to another?How can you make such a simple demand?' replied the baronet; ' undoubtedly he cannot.'-'I am sorry for that,' cried Jenkinson; for as this gentleman and I have been old fellow-sporters, I have a friendship for him. But I must declare, well as 1 love him, that his contract is not worth a tobacco-stopper, for he is married already.'-'You lie like a rascal,' returned the squire, who seemed roused by this insult; 'I never was legally married to any wo

man. Indeed, begging your honour's pardon,' replied the other, 'you were; and I hope you will show a proper return of friendship to your own honest Jenkinson, who brings you a wife; and if the company restrain their curiosity a few minutes, they shall see her.' So saying, he went off with his usual celerity, and left us all unable to form any probable conjecture as to his design. Aye, let him go,' cried the squire; 'whatever else I may have done, I defy him there. I am too old now to be frightened with squibs.'

'I am surprised,' said the baronet, 'what the fellow can intend by this; some low piece of humour, I suppose ?'. Perhaps, Sir,' replied I, 'he may have a more serious meaning. For when we reflect on the various schemes this gentleman bas laid to seduce innocence, perhaps some one, more artful than the rest, has been found able to deceive him. When we consider what numbers he has ruined, how many parents now feel with anguish the infamy and the contamination which he has brought into their families, it would not surprise me, if some of them-Amazement! Do I see my lost daughter? Do I hold her? It is, it is, my life, my happiness! I thought thee lost, my Olivia, yet still I hold thee, and still thou shalt live to bless me! The warmest transports of the fondest lover were not greater than mine, when I saw him introduce my child, and held my daughter in my arms, whose silence only spoke her raptures. 'And art thou returned to me, my darling,' cried I, ‘to be my comfort in age? That she is,' cried Jen

kinson, and make much of her, for she is your own honourable child, and as honest a woman as any in the whole room, let the other be who she will.-And as for you squire, as sure as you stand there, this young lady is your lawful wedded wife; and to convince you that I speak nothing but the truth, here is the licence by which you were married together.' So saying, he put the licence into the baronet's hands, who read it, and found it perfect in every respect. 'And now, gentlemen,' continued he,' I find that you are surprised at all this; but a very few words will explain the difficulty. That there squire of renown, for whom I have a great friendship, but that's between ourselves, has often employed me in doing odd little things for him. Among the rest, he commissioned me to procure him a false licence and a false priest, in order to deceive this young lady. But as I was very much his friend, what did I do but went and got a true licence and a true priest, and married them both as fast as the cloth could make them. Perhaps you'll think it was generosity made me do all this. But, no; to my shame I confess it; my only design was to keep the licence, and let the squire know that I could prove it upon him, whenever I thought proper, and so make him come down whenever I wanted money.' A burst of pleasure now seemed to fill the whole apartment; our joy even reached to the common room, where the prisoners themselves sympathized;

And shook their chains

In transport and rude harmony.

Happiness was expanded upon every face, and even Olivia's cheeks seemed flushed with pleasure. To be thus restored to reputation, to friends, and fortune, at once, was a rapture sufficient to stop the progress of decay, and restore former health and vivacity. But perhaps among all, there was not one who felt a sincerer pleasure than I. Still holding the dear loved child in my arms, I asked my heart, if these transports were not delusion. 'How could you,' cried I, turning to Jenkinson, 'how could you add to my miseries by the story of her death? But it matters not; my pleasure at finding her again is more than a recompence for the pain.'

'As to your question,' replied Jenkinson, 'that is easily answered. I thought the only probable means of freeing you from prison, was by submiting to the squire, and consenting to his marriage with the other young lady; but these you had vowed never to grant while your daughter was living; there was therefore no other method to bring things to bear, but by persuading you that she was dead. I prevailed on your wife to join in the deceit, and we have not had a fit opportunity of undeceiving you till now.'

In the whole assembly, there now appeared only two faces that did not glow with transport. Mr. Thornhill's assurance had entirely forsaken him; he now saw the gulph of infamy and want before him, and trembled to take the plunge; he therefore fell on his knees before his uncle, and in a voice of piercing misery, implored compassion. Sir William was going to spurn him away, but at my request