3^ 



they are overtaken by the eonfequences of 

 their mifcondud. No important perfonage is 

 fo unhandfomely, or fo unjuftly treated as that 

 poor, and modeft young lady Wife-fortune. 

 All the errors, and even the crimes of thofe 

 indifcreet damfels Mifs and Mifs-<ro#- 

 du£t) are laid to her charge ; and, however 

 frequently, however grievoufly the imprudent 

 fuffer from committing themfelves to the gui- 

 dance of thefe deceitful jilts, {till are they fo 

 infatuated as to proftrate themfelves at their 

 feet, and blindly attribute all the ills they fuffer 

 from them, to the more chafte, and innocent 

 Miff-fortune. How often do the unthinking 

 and the profligate cry aloud againft misfortune, 

 for bringing upon them the evils, which were 

 the plain and neceffary confequence of their 

 own folly, or depravity ; and which even the 

 fmalleft fiiare of common difcretion might, 

 with the utmoft certainty, have prevented ! 



If, inftead of thoughtlefsly blundering 

 into various and unneceffary delays, our hur- 

 rying Mac— had firft engaged a proper veflel 

 for taking off the cow, or even detained the 

 boat which had carried him on fhore, he might 

 have faved himfeif the accumulated vexation, 



9 



