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 fiity 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 atmosphere 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 dueensbury, which no man could refuse who had 
but half an eye in his 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 him 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 making 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. Flis 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 
five 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 puz- 
