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for you," cried he, "it is too fraught with horrour to be surveyed with indifference. Nature sickens at the recollection, but you need say no more; depend upon it, I shall make a proper representation of your case. Through me, your wrongs shall find a tongue. I will proclaim to the world all that I have heard you utter. That mass of horrours, that system of iniquity, which your highness would describe, shall be laid open to the eye of day, and its wicked, nefarious, abominable, and detested author, exposed to the just indignation of the congregated universe!"—At these words, again bowing to the ground, he turned round and departed. As I had no doubt of the unhappy man's insanity, I exceedingly rejoiced at his departure, and that he had done no mischief to himself or others during this paroxysm of delirium.

Among the crowd, which the vociferation of this unhappy maniack had attracted round us, I perceived one of the gentlemen I had met at Miss Ardent's; and was happy

to take the opportunity of renewing our acquaintance. From him I learned, that the notice of the noisy orator had been drawn upon me by a paragraph inserted in a newspaper of that morning, which, after mentioning my name and describing my person, falsely and wickedly insinuated, "that I had come there on behalf of the Hindoo inhabitants of Bengal, to complain of the horrid cruelties and unexampled oppression, under which, through the maladministration of the British governour of India, we were made to groan."

I was exceedingly shocked at the idea of the consequences that might arise to the chosen servant of the minister, the writer of the newspaper, from having suffered himself to be thus imposed upon. I did not know what punishment might await the confidential conductor of this vehicle of intelligence, should his master discover that he had suffered a falsehood to pollute that pure fountain of publick instruction, in which his care for the morals, the virtue, the fortune,

the health, and the beauty of all the subjects of this extensive Empire, is so fully evinced. The gentleman observing my anxiety, told me that the best method of proceeding was, to authorise the publisher to contradict the paragraph alluded to in the next paper. And that he would, if I chose it, go then with me to his house.

Eager to extricate the poor man from the the dilemma into which his ignorance had thrown him, I gladly accepted the friendly offer, and we proceeded immediately to the office of this prime minister of fame, who received us with all the stateliness which an idea of the consequence of situation never fails to inspire. The gentleman took upon himself to open the business; which he did by saying," that he had brought with him a stranger, of high rank, who considered himself aggrieved by a paragraph which had been that morning inserted in his paper; and then pointing it out, he told him, that I would expect to see a contradiction of that part of it which related to the British go

vernour of India, for whom I entertained sentiments of the most profound respect." The conductor shrugged up his shoulders, and said, "the paragraph had been paid for."-"That is to say, the contradiction of it must be paid for likewise," returned the gentleman. "I dare say the Rajah will have no objection." Observing the astonishment that was painted in my countenance, he told me that nothing was more commonly practised. "Yes," added the news writer," the gentleman must certainly allow, that when a falsehood has been paid for, it is not reasonable to expect that it can be contradicted for nothing!-It would be quite dishonourable!" "What !” cried I, with an emotion no longer to be suppressed, "and is it then in the power of a piece of gold to procure circulation to whatever untruths the base malignity of envy or of hatred may choose to dictate? Are these the articles of intelligence diffused at such vast expense over this Christian kingdom? Ah! ye simple people! whom distance has happily pre

served in ignorance of the ways of news writers, how little do ye know the real value of what ye so liberally pay for !"

So much was I disgusted, that if my own character alone had been concerned, I would rather have submitted to the evil than to the remedy.-As it was, I threw down the guinea and departed, with rather less reverence for the authenticity of newspaper intelligence, than I had entertained at my entrance.

The disagreeable consequences of this affair have not stopped here; I can no longer stir abroad without attracting the gaze of observation.-Places of publick entertainment are filled by the bare expectation of beholding me; all those of resort in the outskirts of the town have advertised me as part of their bill of fare; and I am this evening disappointed of the pleasure I expected at a new species of amusement, called a Masquerade, from seeing in the newspaper that my intention is known to the publick.-In fine, I can no longer find happiness in this

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