born to ignorance, and will work the harder the lefs they know. She told her friends, that London was in confufion by the infolence of fervants; that fcarcely a wench was to be got for all work, fince education had made fuch numbers of fine ladies, that nobody would now accept a lower title than that of a waiting-maid, or fomething that might qualify her to wear laced fhoes and long ruffles, and to fit at work in the parlour window. But she was refolved, for her part, to spoil no more girls; those who were to live by their hands, fhould neither read nor write out of her pocket; the world was bad enough already, and the would have no part in making it worse.

She was for a short time warmly oppofed; but she perfevered in her notions, and withdrew her fubfcription, Few liften without a defire of conviction to those who advise them to spare their money. Her example and her arguments gained ground daily, and in less than a year the whole parish was convinced, that the nation would be ruined, if the children of the poor were taught to read and write.

Our school was now diffolved; my mistress kissed me when we parted, and told me, that, being old and helpless, she could not affift me, advised me to feek a service, and charged ́me not to forget what I had learned.

My reputation for scholarship, which had hitherto recommended me to favour, was, by the adherents to the new opinion, confidered as a crime; and, when I offered myself to any mistress, I had no other answer than, Sure, child, you would not work; hard

work is not fit for a pen-woman; a scrubbing-brush would spoil your hand, child!

I could not live at home; and while I was confidering to what I fhould betake me, one of the girls, who had gone from our fchool to London, came down in a filk gown, and told her acquaintance how well fhe lived, what fine things fhe faw,. and what great wages fhe received. I refolved to try my fortune, and took my paffage in the next week's waggon to London. I had no fnares laid for me at my arrival, but came fafe to a fifter of my miftrefs, who undertook to get me a place. She knew only the families of mean tradesmen; and I, having no high opinion of my own qualifications, was willing to accept the first offer.

My first mistress was wife of a working watchmaker, who earned more than was fufficient to keep his family in decency and plenty; but it was their conftant practice to hire a chaife on Sunday, and spend half the wages of the week on Richmond Hill; of Monday he commonly lay half in bed, and fpent the other half in merriment; Tuesday and Wednesday confumed the rest of his money; and three days every week were paffed in extremity of want by us who were left at home, while my maf ter lived on truft at an alehouse.

You may be

fure, that of the fufferers the maid fuffered most, and I left them, after three months rather than be ftarved.

I was then maid to a hatter's wife. There was no want to be dreaded, for they lived in perpetual

luxury,

luxury. My miftrefs was a diligent woman, and rofe early in the morning to fet the journeymen to work; my master was a man much beloved by his neighbours, and fat at one club or other every night. I was obliged to wait on my mafter at night, and on my miftrefs in the morning. He feldom came home before two, and she rose at five. I could no more live without fleep than without food, and therefore entreated them to look out for another fervant.

My next removal was to a linen-draper's, who had fix children. My mistress, when I first entered the house, informed me, that I must never contradict the children, nor fuffer them to cry. I had no defire to offend, and readily promifed to do my best. But when I gave them their breakfaft, I could not help all first; when I was playing with one in my lap, I was forced to keep the rest in expectation. That which was not gratified always resented the injury with a loud outcry, which put my mistress in a fury at me, and procured fugar-plums to the child. I could not keep fix children quiet, who were bribed to be clamorous; and was therefore difmiffed, as a girl honest, but not good-natured,

I then lived with a couple that kept a petty shop of remnants and cheap linen. I was qualified to make a bill, or keep a book; and being therefore often called, at a busy time, to serve the customers, expected that I fhould now be happy, in proportion as I was useful. But my miftrefs appropriated every day part of the profit to fome private ufe,

H 4

and,

and, as fhe grew bolder in her theft, at last deducted fuch fums, that my mafter began to wonder how he fold fo much, and gained fo little. She pretended to affift his enquiries, and began, very gravely, to hope that Betty was honeft, and yet thofe fharp girls were apt to be light-fingered. You will believe that I did not stay there much longer.

The rest of my ftory I will tell you in another letter, and only beg to be informed, in fome paper, for which of my places, except perhaps the laft, I was disqualified, by my skill in reading and writing.

I am, SIR,

Your very humble fervant,

BETTY BROOM.

NUMB. 27. SATURDAY, October 21, 1758.

T has been the endeavour of all those whom

1T

the world has reverenced for fuperior wisdom, to perfuade man to be acquainted with himself, to learn his own powers and his own weakness, to obferve by what evils he is most dangerously befet, and by what temptations moft eafily over

come.

This counsel has been often given with ferious dignity, and often received with appearance of conviction; but, as very few can fearch deep into their own minds without meeting what they wish to hide from themfelves, fcarce any man perfifts in cultivating fuch difagreeable acquaintance, but draws the veil again between his eyes and his heart, leaves his paffions and appetites as he found them, and advises others to look into themfelves.

This is the common refult of enquiry even among thofe that endeavour to grow wifer or better, but this endeavour is far enough from frequency; the greater part of the multitudes that fwarm upon the earth have never been disturbed by fuch uneafy curiofity, but deliver themselves up to business or to pleasure, plunge into the current of life, whether placid or turbulent, and pass on from one point of prospect to another, attentive rather to any thing than the state of their minds;