186 Account of BAMPFYLDE MOORE CAREW. April came out with open throats, fo that be B D Carew fo eafily entered into every charafter, and moulded himself into fo many different forms, that he gained the highest applaufes from that apparently wretched community to which he belonged, and foon became the favourite of their king, who was very old. This flattered his low ambition, and prompted him to be continually planning new ftratagems, ameng which he executed a very bold one on his grace the duke of Bolton: Dreffing linelf in a failor's ragged habit, and going to his grace's feat near Bafing ftoke E in Hampshire, he knocked at the gate, and with an affured countenance, defired admittance to the duke, or at least that the porter would give his grace a paper which he held in his hand : But he applied in vain, but not being difcouraged, he waited till he at laft faw a fervant come out, and telling him that he was a very unfortunate man, defired he would be fo kind as to introduce him where he might fpeak with his grace; as this fervant had no intereft in locking up his matter, he very readily promifed to comply with his request, as foon as the porter was off his ftand; which he accordingly did, introducing him into a hall where the duke was to pafs thro'. He had not been long there, before the duke came in; upon which he clapped his knee to the ground, and offered him a petition, fetting forth, that the unfortunate petitioner, Bampfylde Moore Carew, was fu percargo of a veffel that was caft away coming from Sweden, in which were his whole effects, none of which he had been able to fave. The duke feeing the name of Bampfylde Moore Carew, and knowing those names to belong to families of the greatest worth and note in the weft of England, afked him feveral questions. about his family and relations, when being furprised that he fhould apply for relief to any but his own family, which was fo well able to affift him, Carew replied, that he had difobliged them by fome follies of youth, and had not feen them for fome years. The duke treated him with the utmost humanity, and calling a fervant, had him conducted into an inner room, where being shaved by his grace's order, a fervant was sent to him with a fuit of cloaths, a fine Holland shirt, and every thing neceffary to his making a genteel appearance; he was then called in to the duke, who was fitting with feveral other perfons of quality, who were all taken with his perfon and behaviour, and presently raised for him a fupply of 10 guineas. His grace being engaged to go out that afternoon, defired that he fhould ftay there that night, and gave orders that he should be handfomely entertained, leaving his gentleman to keep him company. But the duke was fcarcely gone, when Carew found an opportunity to fet out unobserved towards Basingstoke, where he went to a houfe frequented by fome of his community. He treated the company, and informing them of the bold ftratagem he had executed, the whole place refounded with applaufe, and every one acknowledged that he was most worthy of fucceeding their prefent king. In this difguife he impofed upon several others, and having spent fome days in hunting with the late col. Strangeways, at Melbury in Dorfet, the converfation happened one day at dinuer to turn on Carew's ingenuity; the colonel feemed furprized that feveral who were fo well acquainted with him, fhould have been fo deceived: Afferting, that he thought it impoffible for Mr. Carew to deceive him, as he had fo thoroughly observed every feature and line in his countenance; on which he modeftly replied it might be fo, and fome other fubject being started, the matter dropped. Early the next morning Carew being called upon to go out G with the hounds, defired to be excused, which the colonel being informed of, went to the field without him. Soon after, Carew came down ftairs, and flightly enquiring which way the colonel generally returned, walked out, and going to 1753. Account of BAMPFYLDE MOORE CAREW. A a house frequented by his community, exchanged his cloaths for a ragged habit, made a counterfeit wound in his thigh, took a pair of crutches, and having difguifed his face with a venerable pitymoving beard, and fome other alterations, went in fearch of the colonel, whom he found in the town of Everfhot. His lamentable moans began almost as foon as the colonel was in fight: His countenance expreffed nothing but pain his pretended wound was expofed to the colonel's eye, and the tears trickled down his filver beard. As the colonel's heart was not proof against such an affecting fight, he threw him half a crown, which Carew received with exuberant gratitude, B and then with great fubmiffion defired to be informed if col. Strangeways, a very charitable gentleman, did not live in that neighbourhood, and begged to be directed the nearest way to his feat; on which the colonel, filled with compaffion, fhewed him the shortest way to his own houfe, and on this he took his C leave. Carew returned before the colonel, and pretended to be greatly refreshed with his morning's walk. were fet down to dinner, Carew enquired When they what fport they had had, and if the colonel had not met a very miferable object? Aye, a very miferable object, indeed, replied the colonel, he looked most piteoufly, and had a very bad wound in his thigh. Did not you direct him here? Yes, replied the colonel, I did; and he has got here before you, fays Carew, and is now at your table. This occafioned a great deal of mirth; but the colonel could not be perfuaded of the truth of what Carew afferted, till he flipped out, and hopped in again upon his crutches. About this time Claufe Patch, the king of the Mendicants, died, and Carew had the honour of being elected king in his room; by which dignity, as he was provided with every thing neceffary by the joint contributions of the community,' he was under no obligation to go on any eruize. Notwithstanding this, Carew was as active in his ftratagems as ever; but he had not long enjoyed this honour, when he was feized and confined as an idle vagrant, tried at the quarter sessions, at Exeter, and transported to Maryland; where being arrived, he took the oppor tunity, while the captain of the veffel and a person who feemed difpofed to buy him, were drinking a bottle of punch in a publick-houfe, to give them the flip, and to take with him a pint of brandy and fome bifcuits, and then betake himself to the Woods. Having thus eluded their fearch, as he 187 was entirely ignorant that none were allowed to travel there without proper paffes, or that there was a confiderable reward granted for apprehending a runaway, he congratulated himfelf on his happy escape, and did not doubt but he But going one morning early thro' a nar fhould find means to get to England. row path, he was met by four men, when not being able to produce a pafs, he was feized, carried before a justice of peace, and clapped in prifon. But here happily getting intelligence, that fome captains to whom he was known, were lying with their fhips in the harwhich they paid him a vifit, and told bour, he let them know his fituation, on him, that as he had not been fold to a planter, if the captain did not come to demand him, he would be publickly fold the next court day, and then generously agreed to purchase him among themselves, and to give him his liberty: Carew, fays nefs, that he could not confent to purour author, was fo ftruck with their kindchafe his liberty at their expence, and defired them to tell the captain who brought the transports where he was. They at laft agreed to his request; the captain received this news with great pleasure, fent round his boat for him, and had him feverely punished with a cat-of-nineto his neck, and with this gauling yoak tails, and had a heavy iron collar fixed he was obliged to perform the greateft drudgery. One day, when his fpirits were ready to fink with defpair, he faw the captains Harvey and Hop. kins, two of thote who had propofed to purchafe his liberty; they were greatly affected with the miferies he suffered, E and after having founded the boatswain and mate, prevailed on them to wink at his escape; but the greatest obstacle was there being 401. penalty and half a year's impriforment for any one that took off his iron collar, fo that he must be obliged to travel with it on. captains acquainted him with all the difThe ficulties he would meet with; but he F was far from being difcouraged, and refolved to fet out that night, when directing him what courfe to take, they gave him a pocket compass to steer by, a feel and tinder-box, a bag of bifcuits, a cheese and fome rum. affectionate leave of his benefactors, he After taking an Gbefore he began to reflect on his wretchfet out; but he had not travelled far, ed condition: Alone, unarmed, unacquainted with the way, gauled with a heavy yoke, expofed every moment to the most imminent dangers; and a dark tempestuous night approaching, increased A a 2 D his 188 IMMORALITY of DETRACTION. A his terror; his ears were affaulted by the yells of the wild beafts; but kindling fome sticks, he kept them all night at a distance, by constantly swinging a fire-brand round his head. When daylight appeared, he had nothing to do but to feek for the thickest tree he could find; and climbing into it, as he had travelled hard all night, he foon fell afleep. Here he ftaid all day, eating (paringly of his bifcuit and cheese, and night coming on he took a large dram of rum, and again purfued his journey: In this manner travelling by night, and concealing himfelf by day, he went on till he was out of danger of purfuit, or being ftopped for want of a pafs, and then travelled B by day. His journey was frequently interrupted by rivers and rivulets, which he was obliged either to wade thro', or swim over. At length he difcovered five Indians at a distance; his fear represented them in the most frightful colours; but as he came nearer, he perceived them cloathed in deer-fkins, their hair was exceeding long, and to his inexpreffible joy, he discovered they had guns in their hands, which was a fure fign of their being friendly Indians; and these having accofted him with great civility, foon introduced him to their king, who spoke very good English, and made him go to his wigwam, or houfs, when obferving that he was fo much hurt by his collar, the good king immediately fet himself about freeing him from it; and at last effected it by jagging the feel of Carew's tinder-box into a kind of faw, his majesty fweating heartily at the work. This being done, he fet before Carew fome Indian bread and other refreshments. Here he was treated with the greatest ho- E fpitality and refpect; and fcarce a day paffed, in which he did not go out with fome party on a hunting match, and fre. quently with the king himself. One day as they were hunting, they fell in company with fome other Indians near the river Delaware, and when the chace was over fat down to be merry with them. Carew took this opportunity to flip out, and going to the river fide, feized one of their canoes, and tho' entirely unacquainted with the method of managing them, boldly pushed from shore, and landed near Newcastle in Penfylvania. April But for this practice, however vile, fome have dared to apologize, by contending that the report by which they injured an abfent character, was true: This, however, amounts to no more, than that they have not complicated malice with falfhood, and that there is fome difference between detraction and flander. To relate all the ill that is true of the best man in the world, would probably render him the object of fufpicion and distrust ; and if this practice was univerfal, mutual Dconfidence and efteem, the comforts of fociety, and the endearments of friendship would be at an end. Carew now transformed himself into a quaker, and behaved as if he had never fen any other fort of people; and in this G Inanner travelled to Philadelphia, meeting every where with the kindest treatment, and the most plentiful fupply; from hence he went to New-York, where going aboard a veifel belonging to capt, After all the bounty of nature, and all the labour of virtue, many imperfections will be ftill difcerned in human beings, even by those who do not fee with all the perfpicacity of human wisdom; and he is guilty of the most aggravated detraction, who reports the weakness of a good mind difcovered in an unguarded hour; fomething which is rather the effect of negligence, than defign; rather a folly, than a fault; a fally of vanity, rather than an irruption of malevolence. It has therefore been a maxim inviolably facred among good men, never to disclose the fecrets of private converfation; a maxim, which though it seems to arife from the breach of fome other, does yet imply that general rectitude, which is produced by a confciousness of virtuous dignity, and a regard to that reverence which is due to ourselves and others; for to conceal any immoral purpofe, which to disclose is to disappoint; any crime, which to hide is to countenance; or any character, which to avoid is to be fafe; as it is incompatible with virtue, and injurious to fociety. can be a law only among those who are enemies to both. A NEW SONG. Sung by Mifs FALKNER, at Marybon-Gardens. 189 # Daphne on her arm reclin'd, Thus express'd her angry mind; See the couples how they run, Preffing all to be undone : Lifted now in endlefs ftrife, Forth they iffue man and wife. Seas unruffled often ir Aow; Are thefe calms in marriage?-no. 2. Visionary scene and vain, 3. Thus the fair in anger spoke 'Gainst poor Hymen's rugged yoke ; Cupid in the form of youth Swore he'd prove the virgin's truth; Ev'ry human art he try'd, Knelt, and vow'd, and wept, and figh'd; Poetical ESSAYS in APRIL, 1753. 190 Poetical ESSAYS in APRIL, 1753. On Captain WEBB's having a Ship. AY gentle Thetis be your happy MAY guide, And you triumphant on the billows ride; And faithlefs nations tremble at your name; Epitaph on Ld. BARGANY. By Mr. H. Young turkies I allow you four, Now as to liquor, why indeed, And fometimes walk, and fometimes ride : [hill, Health oft'ner comes from Blackdown Than from the apothecary's bill. Be not in haft, nor think to do By method led and gentle course; And prize Pomona in a pye; For breakfaft, it is my advice, Enrich'd by thofe whom you survive: An EPIGRAM: On a Clergyman's fucing a very honest Quaker for Dues, in the Spiritual Court, (when he might have recover ed them in the fummary Way) and bad enty the mean Satisfaction of fending bim to Prijon. FIE IE doctor! where's the Chriftian You lofe the fee, and get the spleen! W. I. An |