N° 98. Saturday, March 1.

I

Aм the daughter of a Gentleman, who

during his life-time enjoyed a small income which arose from a Penfion from the Court, by which he was enabled to live in a genteel and comfortable manner.

By the fituation in life in which he was placed, he was frequently introduced into the company of thofe of much greater fortunes than his own, among whom he was always received with complaifance, and treated with civility.

AT fix years of age I was fent to a boarding school in the country, at which I continued till my father's death. This melancholy event happened at a time when I was by no means of fufficient age to manage for myself,

while the paffions of youth continued unsubdued, and before experience could guide my sentiments or my actions.

I was then taken from school by an uncle, to the care of whom my father had committed me on his dying bed. With him I lived feveral years, and as he was unmarried, the management of his family was committed to me. In this character I always endeavoured to acquit myself, if not with applaufe, at least without cenfure.

AT the age of twenty one a young gentleman of fome fortune paid his addreffes to me, and offered me terms of marriage. This propofal I fhould readily have accepted, becaufe from vicinity of refidence, and from many opportunities of observing his behaviour, I had in fome fort contracted an affection for him. My uncle, for what reason I do not know, refufed his confent to this alliance, though it would have been complied with by the father of the young gentleman; and as the future condition of my life was wholly dependent on him, I was not willing

to

to difoblige him, and therefore, tho' unwillingly, declined the offer.

My uncle, who poffeffed a plentiful fortune, frequently hinted to me in conversation, that at his death I fhould be provided for in fuch a manner that I fhould be able to make my future life comfortable and happy. As this promife was often repeated, I was the less anxious about any provifion for myself. In a fhort time my uncle was taken ill, and though all poffible means were made use of for his recovery, in a few days he died.

THE forrow arifing from the lofs of a relation, by whom I had been always treated with the greatest kindness, however grievous, was not the worft of my misfortunes. As he enjoyed an almost uninterrupted state of health, he was the lefs mindful of his diffolution, and died inteftate; by which means his whole fortune devolved to a nearer relation, the heir at law.

f THUS excluded from all hopes of living in the manner with which I have so long flat

tered

tered myself, I am doubtful what method I fhall take to procure a decent maintenance. I have been educated in a manner that has fet me above a state of fervitude, and my fituation renders me unfit for the company of those with whom I have hitherto converfed. But, tho' difappointed in my expeâations, I do not defpair. I will hope that affiftance may ftill be obtained for innocent diftrefs, and that friendship, tho' rare, is yet not impoffible to be found.

I am, Sir,

Your humble fervant,

SOPHIA HEEDFULL.

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N° 99.

Νο 99. Saturday, March 8.

S Ortogrul of Bafra was one day wandering along the streets of Bagdat, mufing on the varieties of merchandize which the shops offered to his view, and obferving the different occupations which bufied the multitudes on every fide, he was awakened from the tranquillity of meditation by a croud that obftructed his paffage. He raised his eyes, and faw the chief Vifier, who having returned from the Divan, was entering his palace.

ORTOGRUL mingled with the attendants, and being supposed to have some petition for the Vifier, was permitted to enter. He furveyed the spacioufnefs of the apartments, admired the walls hung with golden tapestry, and the floors covered with filken carpets, and despised the fimple neatness of his own little habitation.

SURELY,