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been a defign to ruin the king, and the nation. The old game has been renewed, and this has been the main incendiary. He is as modeft now, as he can be; but the time was, when no man was so ready at―bind your kings in chains, and your nobles in fetters of iron-and-to your tents O If rael. Gentlemen, for God's fake, don't let us be gulled twice in an age," &c. In the conclufion of his fpeech, he told the jury," that if they, in their confciences, believed he (Baxter) meant the bishops and clergy of the church of England, in the paffages which the information referred to, they MUST find him Guilty, and he could mean no man elfe. If not, they must find him Not guilty." When the chief juftice had ended his speech, Mr. Baxter said,

"Does your lordship think any jur will pretend to pass a verdict upon fuch a trial?""I'll warrant you, Mr. Baxter, replied his lordship, don't you trouble yourself about that." And the jury immediately, without going from the bar, found him Guilty!As he was going from the bar, Mr. Baxter told the chief justice, in anfwer to the reproaches he had loaded him with, "that a predeceffor of his had other thoughts of him." To which he replied, "That there was not an honeft man in England but what took him for a great knave."The defendant had subponed several clergymen, who appeared in court, but could be of no use, on account of the violence and arbitrariness of the chief justice. Such was the lord chief justice JEFFERIES!

The Fatal Indifference: or, The Interefting Hiftory of Mrs. Matilda Markham, Published from her own Manufcript.

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tleman, who held an employment that amounted to 500l. a year; yet though this employment was his principal dependance, and though he was always under a neceffity of appearing rather elegantly in the world, still no care was omitted to give his favourite Matilda a finished education. I was therefore instructed at an early period in French and Italian, was taught all the fashionable needle-works that keep a young woman regularly employed, without anfwering any one purpofe of real utility; and made fuch a miftrefs of the harpsichord before I attained my fourteenth year, that I was confidered by the connoiffeurs on this inftrument, as a kind of mufical miracle: add to all thefe accomplishments, that I fung with fome voice and much tafte, danced with remarkable grace, and poffeffed a perfon which was the inceffant object of general adulation.

fhall not be fufpected of vanity, becaufe at the very period I am speaking of, I was much more intitled to pity than praife; my education had been elegant, but no way useful, and it rather ferved to increase my pride, than to enlarge my understanding.— Inftead of teaching me to be chearful, humble, and obliging, it rendered me fullen, froward, and capricious, and therefore, instead of modeftly endeavouring to obtain the esteem of thofe with whom I converfed, I laid an infolent claim to their admiration. My poor father, who imagined the world beheld me with the eyes of his own partiality, rather encouraged, than discountenanced the extraordinary value which I fet upon my own accomplishments, and neglected the cultivation of my mind, though he hourly facrificed to my vanity. He fancied that the knowledge of a language or two,

would

The interefting Hiftory of Mrs. Matilda Markham.

would neceffarily give me good fenfe, and believed the turn of my difpofition must be right, because I fung prettily, and made a figure at my harpfichord. Alas! how feverely has experience convinced me, that a fingle fcruple of difcretion, outweighs all the benefits to be reaped from the French or the Italian: and how heartily do I wish that the hours which have been fo prodigally lavished in the attainment of mere embellishments, had been wifely employed in the less fashionable studies of regulating a family.

Wishes, however, will not, to use the forcible language of a modern writer,

Roll back the flood of never ebbing time,
and therefore, from useless exclama-
tion, I fhall proceed with the fimple
narration of facts.-Notwithstanding
my boundless vanity, and notwith-
ftanding the well-known flenderness
of my father's circumftances, I had
feveral advantageous matches pro-
pofed to me before I reached my
eighteenth year; but these were in
general difregarded, both because no
impreffion had been made upon my
heart, and because I fancied my won-
derful merit would at any time pro-
cure me a husband with an affluent
fortune. At length Mr. Markham,
who had acquired a prodigious for-
tune during the late war, making
overtures, my father thought it
dent to confent, and as I had no ob-
jection whatever to Mr, Markham's
fortune or manner, we were married
in a few weeks, and I found myself
miftrefs of a magnificent house in the
neighbourhood of Merrion-fquare.

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Being thus happily fettled, and indulged with every wish of my heart by Mr. Markham, my pride foon broke out into the most exceffive extravagance, and I grew wholly indifferent to every enjoyment but my rage for admiration. In vain my husband exerted every argument of

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tenderness, and every act of generofity, to fhew me the folly, nay, the danger, of my purfuit. His remonftrances I conflrued into infolence, and imagined he was fufficiently happy in the poffeffion of fo invaluable a treasure as myself, without putting a difagreeable reftraint upon my inclinations. The truth was, he had married me from a principle of affection, and I had given him my hand entirely from motives of vanity. He expected to have his paffion returned with transport, and I looked for a continued round of glitter and diffipation. He pined to have me more at home, and I fickened for every fashionable amusement. The confequence at last was, that he became gloomy in proportion as I grew indifferent, and this gloominefs appearing, in my conception of things, very ungrateful, I determined to punifh it as much as poffible, by engaging myself abroad in an endless round of pleasure, and by making little more than a fleeping place of his houfe.

In this manner matters continued almost two years, during which time we had two children; but the maternal duties were much too vulgar for a woman of my fuperior accomplishments, therefore I did not honour home the more with my prefence on account of this increase of my family. Notwithstanding my continual en gagements abroad, however, I was about this time informed of a circumftance which extremely mortified my vanity-and this was, that Mr. Markham and my woman, who was a very likely girl, had frequent meetings at a milliner's, in one of the bye-streets of our neighbourhood. Though I never felt any tenderness for Mr. Markham, this intelligence gave my pride a very fenfible mortification: However indifferent I might be about him, there was no fupporting the idea of his infidelity to me; I could

bear

The inconfiderate, the unpardon able ftep I had taken, was not long concealed, nor did it ever ftrike me, till it was published, that without making my infamy univerfally known, I could enjoy no triumph over poor Mr. Markham. It was, however, no fooner known, which was in a few days, through the vanity of my pa ramour, than I was overwhelmed not only with difgrace, but with remorse

bear to fee him miferable by my nègligence, but it was intolerable to think of his being attached to any body elfe-it was treafon against the majefty of my merit, and I determined in a fatal hour to be amply revenged on the criminal. O ye daughters of reputation, beware of exerting a falfe refentment, even where the perfidy of your husband may be evident. Let not his errors lead you into actual crimes, nor mad--and difcovered that my resentment ly make a facrifice of your own hap pinefs, and your own character, thro' a ridiculous notion of retaliating your wrongs you can fuffer no diftrefs that will equal a fall into infamy, The affliction of the innocent is an Elyfium compared to the anguifh of the guilty, and the ftroke of cala mity is always keen in proportion to the donfcioufnefs of having deferved it. Had I prudently confidered this, while the confideration could have been useful, my bloom of life would not be chilled by the blafts of fhame, nor had the storm of reproach rooted up all the flattering profpect of my future felicity---the funfhine of tranquillity would have fmiled upon my morning, and my evening would have been wholly unimbittered with tears. But, alas! I muft refent where I ought to reconcile, and inftead of recovering my hufband's affection, I muit excite his deteftation. It is unneceffary to explain myself farther. 'Tis needless to tell you, that there are men enough to flatter a woman who has youth and a paffable perfon, especially where fhe is a flave to diffi pation. This was unhappily my cafe; and in the rafh, the wretched moment of my indignation at Mr. Markham's infidelity, fome demon rendered a professed admirer of mine fo very importunate, that I liftened to him from motives of revenge, and yielding to his folicitation on purpofe to punish my husband, was utterly undone.

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against my unfortunate husband was as unjustly founded, as the fatal indifference which originally gave birth to my crime. Mr. Markham, indeed, had frequent meetings with my woman at the milliner's I have men, tioned; but thefe meetings were perfectly innocent, nay, they were perfectly laudable; the round of amusements in which I was conftantly en gaged, and the avidity with which I liftened to every coxcomb that of fered up incenfe at the fhrine of my vanity, had for a long time filled him with doubts of my honour, and he naturally enough imagined, that she, who difdained to preserve the appear ance of reputation, would entertain but little regard for the reality. Actuated by a belief of this nature, and fuppofing that my woman must neceffarily be my confidant, in cafe of any illicit correfpondence, he had frequently appointments with her at the milliner's, not chufing, for fear of fufpicion, to converse with her pri vately in his own houfe. Thus the very measures he took to fave me from ruin became material causes of my deftruction; and thus, by the prepofterous pride of a wretch, who was wholly unworthy of him, the happinefs of his family was eternally blaited, while he earnestly laboured for its reftoration.

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Had the unhappy confequences, however, terminated here, I think it would have been poffible for a life of penitence to give me fome diftant

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The interefting Hiftory of Mrs. Matilda Markham.

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idea of comfort, and the difgrace to
which I am juftly caft out, might be
confidered as a kind of expiation for
my crime---but, alas! the guilt or
infidelity was to be attended with
blood, and Mr. Markham was not
only to be ruined in his peace, but
my father:---Oh, Sir, the recollec-
tion, the bare recollection of the mi-
feries which my infamy has produced,
almost drives me into madness; and
I am aftonished that the laws do not
cut off fuch moniters as myfelf from
the face of fociety.---Mighty God,
look down upon me with an eye of
compaffion---thefe tears are not the
tears of disappointed pride; nor are
thefe treffes now torn from my mifer-
able head, because my vanity is no
longer to be indulged. No, the an-
guish of my foul is now the genuine
refult of contrition; and I will hope
for pardon in the future world, tho'
I neither can look for tranquillity or
forgiveness in this---but to go on.
...The inftant that my perfidy reach
ed Mr. Markham's ears, he flew
to me, (I was then in my dreffing-
room) and in a tone of the utmoft de-
fpair exclaimed, "O Matilda! what
have I done to deserve this ?---Was it
not enough to deftroy my repofe,
without murdering my reputation;
or if you had no regard for my ho-
nour, why were you loft to all pity
for your helpless innocents? They have
never offended, though I may have
unhappily displeased, and they were
entitled to fome little compaffion,
though no pity whatsoever might be
due to me:---but, madam, continued
he, raising his voice into a fiercenefs
that petrified me, tho' you have
made me wretched, you fhall not
make me contemptible---this moment
you must quit my house, nor fhall you
enter my habitation more---the un-
happy little ones will be carefully at-
tended to, but they fhall be taught
to forget every trace of a mother who
has covered them with infamy, and

131

planted daggers in the bofom of their unfortunate father."--Saying this, he hurried out, while I fainted in the arms of my woman, and I remained fo wholly fenfeless for several hours, that my recovery was entirely defpaired of.

On recovering the ufe of my fenfes, O what a misfortune is the power of recollection to the wretched! I was removed in obedience to Mr. Markham's pofitive order, to my father's. Here,inftead of receiving confolation, I was to look for the keenest of all reproach; but, contrary to my expec→ tations, the voice that hailed me was the voice of pity, and the venerable author of my being was almost in the agonies of death, as they led me trembling to his apartment.---He had been for a long time confined by the gout, and this unlooked-for calamity throwing it instantly into his ftomach beyond the power of medicine, he lay patiently waiting for the moment of diffolution. On my entrance, he was raifed up in his bed, where he held forth his trembling hands, and with fome difficulty articulated, "O Matilda, forgive your dying fatherit was my mistaken manner of education that has ruined my unhappy child."---He could utter no more--his pangs came on him too fast, and he expired before they could conver me from the dreadful fcene to another room.---Here I was feized with a violent fever, and lay delirious feveral days.---When the violence of my diforder was abated---I enquired---İ ventured to enqnire, after Mr. Markham and my poor children---the accounts I received were flattering, and greatly forwarded my recovery---but my health was no fooner re-established, than I found these accounts to be entirely the pious frauds of friendfhip, and calculated only to haften my amendment.---The truth was, Mr. Markham had been obliged to fly for killing the wretched partner of my

-

guilt,

guilt, in a duel, and he took the two children along with him---where he had taken refuge nobody could tell me, nor have I to this hour difcovered the place of his retreat :--his house, his eftates, his property in the funds, were all converted into money; and once a year I receive a cover containing a note for two hundred pounds---it comes from his appointment I am well convinced, but there is no poffibility of tracing him, though it is now seven years fince he justly fpurned me from his protection.--O that he knew the anguish of my heart, or heard that my time is wholly paffed in folitude and tears. O that he would blefs me with one look at my poor children!---'Tis true their mother is a fcandal to them, and the mention of her name muft tinge their young cheeks with an inftant glow of indignation---but my fweet babes---my lovely little ones, though your mother is an outcaft--though the is a wretch, fhe feels for you with the keenest fenfibility, and would facrifice her life with joy to be convinced that you are in health and

fecurity, ---fhe muft not dare to indulge the hope of ever feeing your highly-injured father--that happiness fhe has eternally forfeited--could fhe, however, clafp you for a moment, a fingle moment to her agonizing bofom, fhe would.---O Mr. Markham, if this paper should happily fall into your hands, beftow one charitable thought upon a creature now humbled in the duft, and bleeding with the deepest contrition for her crime.-As a wife fhe does not presume to mention herself---nor means to addrefs your tenderness, but to implore your humanity---have pity on her, therefore, dear Sir,---only say that you are well yourself, and that your children are in fafety, and, if the prayers of fuch a monfter to the throne of mercy can be any way efficacious, the little remnant of her unfortunate life fhall be employed in fupplicating that happiness for you and yours, both here and hereafter, which fhe can never enjoy in this world, and which, without your forgiveness, the may poffibly forfeit in the next.

MATILDA MARKHAM.

A Defcription of the curious Boat lately brought from India, and presented to their Majefties by Governor Vanfittart. With a Copper-plate annexed.

T

HIS magnificent boat is called a Mohr Punkee, or PeacockBoat, from its refemblance to a peacock, having at its prow the figure of that bird, the tail of which is prolonged the whole length of the boat, the plumage on each fide being moft beautifully painted and varnished. The length is about eighty feet; and the extreme breadth, which is towards the front, is nine feet, from whence it gradually diminishes to the ftern, which is terminated by the grotefque or imaginary figure of a fith's head, richly gilt, confidered in India as an enfign of royalty, and permitted to be borne only by per

fons of the highest diftinction. Over the broadeft part of the boat is erected a pavilion, the canopy of which is fix feet high, and covered with crimfon velvet, very richly embroidered with gold, as are likewife the curtains which hang from it on every fide, the whole being fupported by feveral varnished pillars, the bottom of which is furrounded by a small rail: a narrow balcony hanging over the fides of the boat, ferves as a receptacle for confectionary, fruit, sherbet, or other refreshments on the paffage. The floor of the pavilion is covered with fcarlet cloth, upon which are feveral crimfon velvet

cufhions

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