126 PROGRESS TO THE MINES. 



way of dealing there is, for some small merchant or pedler to buy a Scots 

 pennyworth of goods, and clap one hundred and fifty per cent, upon that. 

 At this rate the parson cannot be paid much more for his preaching than it 

 is worth. No sooner was our visiter retired, but the facetious widow was 

 so kind as to let me into all this secret history, but was at the same time 

 exceedingly sorry that the woman should be so indiscreet, and the man so 

 tame as to be governed by an unprofitable and fantastical wife. 



22d. We had another wet day, to try both Mrs. Fleming's patience and 

 my good breeding. The north-east wind commonly sticks by us three or 

 four days, filling the atmospliere with damps, injurious both to man and 

 beast. The worst of it was, we had no good liquor to warm our blood, and 

 fortify our spirits against so strong a malignity. However, I was cheerful 

 under all these misfortunes, and expressed no concern but a decent fear lest 

 my long visit might be troublesome. Since I was like to have thus much 

 leisure, I endeavoured to find out what subject a dull married man could 

 introduce that might best bring the widow to the use of her tongue. At 

 length I discovered she was a notable quack, and therefore paid that regard 

 to her knowledge, as to put some questions to her about the bad distemper 

 that raged then in the country. I mean the bloody flux, that was brought 

 us in the negro-ship consigned to Col. Braxton, She told me she made use 

 of very simple remedies in that case, with very good success. She did the 

 business either with hartshorn drink, that had plantain leaves boiled in it, 

 or else with a strong decoction of St. Andrew's cross, in new milk instead 

 of water. I agreed with her that those remedies might be very good, but 

 would be more effectual after a dose or two of Indian physic. But for fear 

 this conversation might be too grave for a widow, I turned the discourse, 

 and began to talk of plays, and finding her taste lay most towards comedy, 

 I offered my service to read one to her, which she kindly accepted. She 

 produced the second part of the Beggar's Opera, which had diverted the 

 town for forty nights successively, and gained four thousand pounds to the 

 author. This was not owing altogether to the wit or humour that spark- 

 led in it, but to some political reflections, that seemed to hit the minis- 

 try. But the great advantage of the author was, that his interest was so- 

 licited by the dutchess of Glueensbury, which no man could refuse who had 

 but half an eye in liis head, or half a guinea in his pocket. Her grace, like 

 death, spared nobody, but even took my lord Selkirk in for two guineas, to 

 repair which extravagance he lived upon Scots herrings two months after- 

 wards. But the best story was, she made a very smart officer in his majes- 

 ty's guards give her a guinea, who swearing at the same time it was all he 

 had in the world, she sent hiui fifty for it the next day, to reward his obe- 

 dience. After having acquainted my company with the history of the play, 

 I read three acts of it, and left Mrs. Fleming and Mr. Randolph to finish it, 

 who read as well as most actors do at a rehearsal. Thus we killed the time, 

 and triumphed over the bad weather. 



23d, The clouds continued to drive from the north-east, and to menace us 

 with more rain. But as the lady resolved to venture through it, I thought it 

 a shame for me to venture to flinch. Therefore, after fortifying myself with 

 two capacious dishes of coffee, and maki)ig my compliments to the ladies, 

 I mounted, and Mr. Randolph was so kind as to be my guide. At the dis- 

 tance of about three miles, in a path as narrow as that which leads to heaven, 

 but much more dirty, we reached the homely dwelling of the reverend Mr. 

 Marij. His land is much more barren than his wife, and needs all Mr. 

 Bradley's skill in agriculture to make it bring corn. Thence we proceeded 

 live miles farther, to a mill of Mr. Randolph's, that is apt to stand still when 

 there falls but little rain, and to be carried away when there falls a great 

 deal: Then we pursued a very blind path four miles farther, which piiz- 



