He

knows how to gloss over his abominable tenets. is an artful fellow; and if all be true, as wicked as any of us, and no wonder at it, from the doctrines he preaches. There is a fine story gone all round the country about him, and I'll warrant it is all true.

Consid. What is that Sir? I have heard it reported that my wife is too intimate with the parson. Is that the story you have got hold of? But instead of being jealous on that score, I wish her to be yet more intimate. I am sure she cannot have a more excellent and instructive acquaintance; and I now mean to go myself, with her and my daughters, much oftener than I have done; though being one of the corporation, I am expected at Mapleton Church more than I could wish. But pray what is the story?

Spitef. Why, have you not heard how Parson Lovegood has persuaded a lady to leave her husband; because he would not be converted to his religion, as well as herself; and that she would not live with him, because he was a carnal man, according to their canting way of talk: while madam, with all her pretended sanctity, is carnal enough to admit the parson to come and see her as often as he likes; and there he keeps her at Ned Swiggs, at the Golden Lion; and some say Mr. Worthy, with all his religion, is admitted to pay her the same sort of visits; and that Mrs. Worthy is quite jealous upon the occasion.

Madam Toog. O shocking! shocking! Well, I always thought Lovegood must be a very bad man at heart, from the first sermon I ever heard him preach ; for no one, I am sure, could have made out all people to be so very wicked, if he had not been a very wicked man himself: and from that time, I was determined never to hear him any more.

Consid. Why madam, I think we had all better have been at cards, though it is the week before sacrament, than talk scandal against the innocent; but I have heard, from my wife and others, a very different story, to what is now made out.

Spitef. Aye aye, they give it out that the lady was the gentleman's mistress; and that, when she saw the evil of her ways, by one of Lovegood's preachments, she would not live with him any longer; but he swore again and again by his Maker, that she was his lawful wife, and that he would soon prove it.

Consid. You know the old proverb," they that swear will lie ;" and I have no doubt but the uprightness of Mr. Lovegood's conduct will soon appear.

Spitef. They may preach up their innocence as long as they like; but Mr. Bluster, of Revel Hall, knows the family very well; and Mrs. Scandal, his aunt, says she could take her oath of it, that it is a fact.

Madam Toog. Yes, and she was going to tell me all about it one morning, when she met me at Friday prayers; but I had not time to stop to hear it all.

Miss Prateap. Yes, and Mrs. Tittletattle was at our house but yesterday to tea, and told us a great deal about it; I am sure Lovegood must be a very wicked man if it is true.

Consid. And I am sure you are all acting a very wicked part if it is false.

Spitef. False! how can it be false? are they not always prating and preaching about faith without works, though you pretend to deny it? and what can be expected among those who hold such loose notions of religion? Why to be sure, a conduct as loose as their religion every body knows it is all free' grace with them, that they may live as they list. I am afraid these abominable fellows will soon overturn both church and state

Consid. Why Mr. Spiteful, what can ail you tonight, to run on at this rate?

Spitef. Why, have you not seen Bishop Bluster's Charge against these mock reformers, proving, that under the mask of a great zeal for religion, they are notwithstanding, Infidels and Atheists ?**

* It seems, a charge not very dissimilar to Bishop Bluster's, made its appearance about this time.

Consid. How can you, in your conscience think so, while by Sunday schools, and every possible exertion, these people are doing all they can for the reformation of mankind?

Spitef. Fine reformers truly! when under the pretence of a reformation, their design is by their seditious machinations, to throw all things into anarchy and confusion; and the bishop says, this he knows to be a matter of fact. I wonder Government does

not stop their progress!

Consid. What! is it a matter of fact, that some attempt to make people infidels and atheists, by directing them to read their Bibles, and attend on the public worship of God? And as to the charge of sedition, malice can say any thing, but stops to prove nothing.

Wiseh. Bishop Bluster Sir! who is Bishop Bluster? Being a dissenter I am not so well acquainted with the names of the bench of bishops.

Spitef. Why Sir he is not only a man of very high blood, for he is cousin german to Mr. Bluster of Revel Hall, but a very learned man, I will assure you.

Consid. As for his learning, that I shall not attempt to dispute; but if a person wilfully, deliberately, and publicly, bears falsewitness against his neighbours, by urging such cruel charges without any evidence to substantiate the fact; while he can thus directly transgress the ninth command, it is no great evidence of his integrity: it will prove a sad injury to the Church, if ever we discover more than one Bishop Bluster, seated on that venerable bench at the same time.

Wiseh. Though I cannot altogether like Mr. Lovegood, and greatly disapprove of his irrational notions of religion, yet I do not think that either he or any of his sect are quite so bad as you make them out to be; he certainly is very charitable in his Parish. I wonder how he can do so much, for they say his living is but very small; and he has an increasing family.

Spitef. Ah! but I'll warrant it is Mr. Worthy's

purse that helps him out; they don't mind their money provided they can but bribe people to be of their religion.

Consid. Why is it then Sir, that you cannot get Mr. Bluster to bribe some people, after the same manner, to be of your religion? for whenever you preach, it seems, yours is but a very little flock.

Spitef. I do not mind your sneers Sir, but I have not half done yet; for there is Mr. Feigning, Mr. Worthy's steward, a rascal; and then I have heard a fine story of Mrs. Fairspeech, a drunken sow.

Consid. Sir, you need not spend your breath on such subjects: for hypocrites there always were, and will be; but nothing can be more cruel and unjust, than to charge the crimes of hypocrites on those who are upright and sincere.

Thus Mr. Spiteful was proceeding in his most vehement manner, and after the rate of his delightful fraternity, in which he would probably have proceeded for a considerable while longer, had he not been interrupted by his servant, who was sent after him from his house at Mapleton to Mrs. Toogood's, with the following letter :

(6 REV. SIR,

Wednesday Noon.

With great difficulty, I yesterday came from Revel Hall in Mr. Bluster's chaise. On Sunday, after the second service, I went to his house, according to appointment, that I might be present on Monday at the coursing match. My mare, you know, is rather spirited, and every now and then the young sparks that were there, smacked their whips and gave her a cut; and you know, if we, of our order, choose to keep company with the great, we must submit to such rubs as these. However so it was, that while we were all on the full speed, on a chase, my mare with the rest

of the company, attempted to clear a wide ditch, but missed her aim, and left me behind. I unfortunately fell head-foremost, and must soon have been suffocated in the mud and water, had not the gamekeeper, with the assistance of others, with great difficulty pulled me out. It was a fortunate circumstance that the bottom of the ditch was so soft, otherwise I must have been more severely bruised by the fall; but I still feel myself so much hurt about the neck and shoulders, that I can scarcely sit up in my bed to write these few lines to request you to undertake my duty for me, till I am recovered; or till the return of my curate, Mr. Brisk, who is gone with Lord Rakish to Gambleton Races, and who has some hopes of preferment from that quarter. I expect him to return in about a week or ten days, when if I am not recovered myself, I shall release you from all farther trouble.

I was engaged this evening to give the sacrament to Mrs. Formal, who is not likely to live many days: if you will call upon her, and perform that office for me, you will much oblige your humble servant,

RICH. DOLTtle.

P. S. I could avail myself of the assistance of Mr. Goodman; but as I have reason to believe, he has of late had a strong bias in favour of Lovegood's notions in religion, I should be much afraid to lend him my pulpil.

Mr. Spiteful having read the letter to himself, ex* claims :

Oh poor Mr. Dolittle! he has met with a dreadful fall from his horse, and he wants me to administer the sacrament to Mrs. Formal, who is supposed to be near death.-What can I do? I must go away directly.