hope, difappoint me; I brought you out to divert and agreeably entertain your Thoughts.

You have, Sir, faid I, in a most inftructing Manner. What means my Charmer? Elfe where I will be more explicite, this is not a proper Place. He took me by the Hand, and whifper'd, I hope that Fiend Jealoufy has not taken Poffeffion of you, to difturb our Peace. I anfwer'd in: the fame low Voice, No, I call Heaven to witnefs, I am a Stranger to every jealous Thought. I know your Love of Truth, faid he, and am fatisfied.

The Milliner open'd a Box, and fhew'd my dear Mafter fome very rich Handkerchiefs of, Turkish embroidery: he defired I would chufe a Couple that were moft agreeable to my Tafte. I left the Choice to him, faying, that his liking them would enhance their Value with me.

He pick'd out two of the richest, paid feven: Guineas for thein, and leaving the Milliner, return'd to our Coach, which he order'd to drive. to the Royal-Exchange. There faid he, my Pamelaz I will fhew you the Props of the Nation, and the Fountains whence flow the publick Treasure, and. fupport the Glory of the British Name, as the Nerves of War, and Bands of Peace, to which under God, ought in Juftice to be attributed all the Succefs of thofe glorious Campaigns, which, have immortalized the Name of Marlborough, which are, in a Word, the Caufe of that Plenty we enjoy, when the Olive Branch fucceeds to the Laurel Wreath."

Pray, Sir, who, or what do you describe as the Author, or Authors of fo many publick Bleffings? How can my penetrating dear Pamela be igno rant that I have been talking of the Merchants, and Traders? Thefe for the tranfa&ting their Bufinefs

B 3

finefs meet at the Royal-Exchange every Day, and according to the Countries, to and from which they Trade, are to be found in particular Parts of that Area, or, under the Piazza's, diftinguifh'd by the Names of different Nations, as the French, Walk, the Italian Walk, &c.

When we came to the Exchange, Mr. B handed me up a pair of Stone Stairs, which led us to Galleries built round the Area, here and there were a few Shops. This place, faid he, when I was a Boy, was full of Tradeímen, and vacant Shops were gaped after with as much Avidity, by Dealers, as the Death of a cruel avaritious Parent, by his Son and Heir..

Oh, Sir, faid I, 'tis a cruel Reflection that of a Child's wifhing his Death from whom he derives his own Life. My dear, replied Mr. B

when Parents fet the Example, and the Love of Gold banithes Nature, no wonder, if Neceffity has the fame Effect on their Children, and makes them with their Death, as it is the only End they can fee of their own Miferics.

When we had paffed through the Galleries I mention'd, and which doubtless you have often feen, Mr. Bordered John to open the Door of a Balcony. We went into it, and looking down, I faw fuch a Number of Men throng'd to gether, that I fancy'd one might have walk'a upon their Heads, yet, Mr. B faid, there were not fo many as on another Day. I heard one continued hum or buzz, proceeding from the different Difcourfe of those below, but in which no one articulate Sound cou'd be diftinguish'd.

Thefe, faid my dear Mr. B, are the Supports, the Props of our Country, to whose Induftry we owe every Thing we hold dear, with regard to this Life: nay Liberty itfelf, the great

eft

eft. Bleffing in it, may be faid to be preferved by thefe; for thefe have been found of Weight to curb the Ambitious Views of wicked and corrupt Minifters at Home: and thefe, by their Industry, are our Protection against any Attempts from Abroad, of making us groan under a foreign Yoke. The Trade thefe valuable Men, thefe ufeful and worthy Members of the Society, the Trade, I say, thefe carry on, is the Nurfery of our Sea-men, by which the Royal Navy is fupplied; and our Naval Force is the Bulwark of our Nation, it is I may fay our Barrier Towns.

Methinks, faid I, thefe Gentlemen represent a Hive of Bees. They may be well compared to that Induftrious Flie, replied Mr. B, their Induftry produces excellent Honey: But in this, the Comparison will not hold good. The Bee won't allow any lazy Drones to partake of the Fruits of their Labour, and the publick Advantages which flow from the Merchants, fupport a great many who deserve no other Appellation.

We return'd to the Coach, and Mr. B ordered John to bid drive to the Tower: Here I was fhewn a great many ancient Records, and fome old English Coins, the Magazine, the Arms taken from the Spaniards in Queen Elizabeth's time. In the Window of the Room where these were kept, lay a rusty Ax, with which I was told Mary Queen of Scots was Beheaded. What a flender Bulwark, a poor Defence is the highest Rank, nay Royalty itfelf against the Viciffitudes to which our Lives are fubjected and what a Leffon does this Ax read me, not to relie on my prefent happy Scituation, and puff'd up with the Bleffing, imagine it not fubject to a Change, which may make me altogether as Wretched, as I am now Happy! Thefe and fuch like Reflections

1

employed

-employed my Mind, till Mr. B, taking me by the Hand, faid, my Pamela, I must now fhew you the Regalia. Having feen thefe, and got again into the Coach, he ordered it to drive to Brawn's.

In the Way, he told me this Brawn was the most celebrated Cook in England, and his House frequented, not only by the most, eminent Mer chants, but by the greatest Quality: That he formerly was Cook in the Kitchen of the Houfe, of which he is now Master: That on the Death of the Vintner, fome Gentlemen who had long frequented that House, and remark'd his Diligence, lent him a confiderable Sum to take it and purchafe the Furniture and Stock: That he has by a Continuance of the fame Industry and an obliging Behaviour, raifed a confiderable Fortune, with a clear Reputation, and without Envy. Indeed, continued he, fome attribute a great Part of his Wealth to his good Fortune at Play, for he will hazard a thousand Guineas a-night, and is fo little moved with his Loffes or Winnings, that no one, by his Countenance, can difcover whether the Dice. have turned for or against him. Few who play deep, and have the Luck to win, have alfo the good Fortune to preferve their Character. Brawn, however, is one of thefe happy Few, for he never had the leaft Reflection thrown on him, or the leaft Infinuation to the Prejudice of his good Name.

When we alighted, the Mafter of the House, who faw Mr. B-, came up and paid him his .Compliments, faying, he could not have expected the Honour of his Company at this Season of the Year, concluding he was at his Country Seat,

Mr. Brawn, faid my dear Mafter, I wou'd not have it known that I am in Town, as I leave it again next Monday. I have been to fhew my Wife, whom you fee, and who is a Stranger to the

Town

Town, what is moft worthy of a young Lady's Notice; and having fhewn her your Houfe, and the elegant Manner in which you receive your Guefts, I think he has feen all.

Sir, anfwer'd Mr. Brawn, you make me a Com pliment, to which I can make no Reply, and which I attribute to your good Nature, willing to be pleased your felf, and glad to fee others fo. Will you give me Leave to fhew your Honour a Room? With all my Heart, answer'd Mr. B, for I have a Favour to ask you. You know, Sir, you command your humble Servant. Saying this, Mr. Brawn went up Stairs, and we followed him into a Room very finely furnished. Now, Sir, faid he, give me Leave to wish you and that fair Lady all poffible Joy in a married State, and to defire the Honour of your Commands.

Mr. Brawn, reply'd my dear Mafter, in the first Place you will order me a Manchet and a Bottle of Champaign; in the next, three or four small Plates, I leave you to make the Bill of Fare; but the Favour I have to ask is, that you will your felf prepare us a little Fricaffee. Sir, faid he, with great Pleasure. I affure you no one fhall intermeddle in the Dreffing any thing for your Dinner, I will my felf have the Satisfaction of doing it. Saying this, he took his Leave, and Mr. B. and I chatted on what he had fhewn me, till Mr. Brawn return'd, follow'd by three Servants. He fet the firft Dish on the Table, and the Servants fet on that, each refpectively brought.

The Dinner was a very rich Soupe, four Ortelans, a white Fricaffee of two fmall Chickens, and a Ragout of Veal Sweet-breads. Every thing was elegantly dreffed, and all the Service Plate, with the fineft Damask Linnen. The Fricaffee was exquifite; it excelled, by much, any that I have

tafted,