362 ADVENTURES of a Country Retirement. about me, and finding no place more was the fittest to bestow that ex crement upon. To which he replied, You fhall hereafter have no fuch occafion to find fault with me, and therefore, next day, felling all he had, he became one of our fraternity. This is what has happened to me, fince I left you at Olympia. Farewel.. From the RAMBLER, July 27. SIR, HA AVING been long accuftomed to retire annually from the town in the fummer months, I lately accepted the invitation of Eugenio, who has an estate and feat in a dif tant county. As we were unwilling to travel without improvement, we turned often from the direct road, B Aug. the next bowling day, and others defirous of his intereft to accommodate difputes, or of his advice in the fettlement of their fortunes and the marriage of their children. The civilities which we had received were foon to be returned, and I pafled fome time with great fatisfaction in roving through the country, and viewing the feats, gardens and plantations, which were fcattered over it. My pleasure would indeed have been greater, had I been fometimes allowed to wander in a park or wilderness alone; but to appear as the friend of Eugenio was an honour not to be enjoyed without fome inconveniences. In these rambles of good neighbourhood, we frequently paffed by a house of unufual magnificence; and one day I enquired of Eugenio, as we rode by it, why we never, amongst our excurfions, fpent an hour where there were fuch an appearance of fplendor and affluence? Eugenio told me that the feat which I fo much admired, was commonly to please ourselves with the viewD called in the country the haunted of nature or of art, examined every houfe, and that no vifits were paid wild mountain and medicinal spring, there by any of the gentlemen whom criticised every edifice, contemplated I had yet feen. As the haunts of every ruin, and compared every incorporeal beings are generally fcene of action with the narratives of ruinous, neglected, and defolate, I hiftorians. By this fucceffion of eafily conceived that there was fomeamufements we enjoyed the exercife thing to be explained, and therefore of travelling, without fuffering the told him that I fuppofed it was only fatigue, and had nothing to regret, fairy ground, and that we might but that by a progrefs fo leifurely venture upon it by day-light without and gentle, we miffed the adventures danger. The danger, fays he, is of a poft chaife, the pleasure of indeed only that of appearing to alarming villages with the tumult of folicit the acquaintance of a man, our paffage, and of difquifing our in- F with whom it is not poffible to confignificancy by the dignity of hurry. verfe without infamy, and who has driven from him, by his infolence or malignity, every man who can live without him. The firft week after our arrival at Eugenio's houfe was paffed in receiving vifits from his neighbours, who crouded about him with all the eagerness of benevolence; fome impatient to learn the news of the court and town, that they might be qualified by authentick information to dictate to the rural politicians on E Our converfation was then accidentally interrupted, but my inG quifitive humour being now in motion, I did not reft without a full account of this newly difcovered prodigy. I was foon informed, that the 1751. Character of 'Squire BLUSTER. fine house and fpacious gardens were haunted by 'fquire Blufter, of whom it was very eafy to learn the character, fince nobody has regard for him fufficient to hinder them from telling whatever they could difcover. 'Squire Blufter is defcended of an antient family. The eftate, which his ancestors A had immemorially poffeffed, was much augmented by captain Blufter, who served under Drake in the reign of Elizabeth; and the Blufters, who were before only petty gentlemen, have from that time frequently reprefented the thire in parliament, been chofen to prefent addreffes, and given laws at hunting-matches and races. They were eminently hospitable and popular, till the B father of this gentleman died of a fever, which he caught in the crowd of an electron. His lady died foon after him, and left the heir, then only ten years old, to the care of his grandmother, who would not fuffer him to be controlled, because the could not bear to hear him cry, and never fent him to school, because the could not C live without his company. She taught him, however, very early to inspect the fteward's accounts, to dog the butler from the cellar, and to catch the fervants at a junket, fo that he was at the age of 18 a compleat master of all the lower arts of domestick policy; he had often, in the road, detected combinations between the coachman and the oftler, and had pro-D cured the discharge of 19 maids for illicit correfpondence with cottagers and chare women. By the opportunities of parfimony which minority affords, and the probity of his guardians had diligently improved, a very large fum was accumulated, and he found himself, when he took his affairs into his E own hands, the richest man in the county. It has been long the custom of this family to celebrate the heir's completion of his 21ft year, by an entertainment, at which the house is thrown open to all that are inclined to enter it, and the whole province Alocks together as to a general feftivity. On this occafion young Bluster exhibited the firft tokens of his future eminence, by F fhaking his purfe at an old gentleman, who had been the most intimate friend of his father, and offering to wager a greater fum than he could afford to venture; a practice, with which he has at one time or other infulted every freeholder within ten miles round him. His next act of offence was exerted in a contentious and fpiteful vind.cation of the privileges of his manors, and a vigorous and relentless profecution of every man that prefumed to violate his game. As he happens to have no eftate adjoining equal 363 to his own, his oppreffions are often borne without refiftance for lear of a long fuit, of which he delights to count the expences, without the least solicitude about the event; for he knows, that where nothing but an honorary right is contefted, the poorer antagonist must always fuffer, whatever shall be the laft decifion of the law. G By the fuccefs of fome of thefe difputes, he has fo elated his infolence, and by reflection upon the general hatred which they have brought upon him, fo irritated his virulence, that his whicle life is spent in meditating or executing mifchief. It is his common practice to procure the hedges to be broken in the night, and to demand fatisfaction for the damages, which his grounds have fuffered from his neighbours cattle. An old widow was yesterday foliciting Eugenio to enable her to replevin her cow then in the pound by 'quire Blufter's order, who had fent one of his agents to take advantage of her calamity, and perfuade her to fell her cow at an under rate. He has driven a day labourer from his cottage, for gathering blackberries in a hedge for his children, and has now an old woman in the county jail for a trefpafs which The committed, by coming into his grounds to pick up acorns for her fow. Money, in whatever hands, will confer power. Diftrefs will fly to immediate refuge without much confideration of remote confequences. Blufter has therefore a defpotick authority in many families, whom he has affifted on preffing occafions with larger fums than they can easily repay. The only vifits that he makes are to these houfes of misfortune, where he enters with the infolence of abfolute command, enjoys their terrors, exacts their obedience, riots at their charge, and in the height of his joy infults the father with menaces, and the daughters with obscenity. He is of late fomewhat lefs offenfive; for one of his debtors, after gentle expoftulations, by which he was only irritated to groffer outrage, feized him by the fleeve, led him trembling into the court-yard, and clofed the door upon him in a stormy night. He took his ufual revenge next morning by a writ, but the debt was discharged by the affiftance of Eugenio. It is his rule to fuffer his tenants to owe him rent, becaufe by this indulgence, he fecures to himself the power of feizure, whenever he has an inclination to amufe himself with calamity, and feat his ears with entreaties and lamentations. Such is the life of 'fquire Blufter; a man in whose power fortune has liberally placed the means of happinefs, but who has defeated all her gifts of their end by the depravity of his mind. He is wealthy with 364 Summary of the laft Seffion of Parliament. out followers; he is magnificent without A Summary of the most important Affairs in T A HE fame day, viz. Feb. 4, the or. der for hearing the merits of the Weftminster election, which stood for next day, was put off to the Thursday following, fo that the houfe, it frems; was refolved to vindicate their own privileges, before pro- B ceeding to hear that election; and on the Wednesday following, the house refumed the confideration of Mr. Murray's affair, and the high bailiff and counfel for Mr. Murray were called in the former thinking he had no occafion for any counfel) and feveral witneffts being examined on both fides, and parties and counfel withdrawn, it was moved to refolve, That it appeared to that houfe, that the Hon. Alexander Murray, Eiq; on May 15 Jast, being the day of the return of a member to ferve in parliament for the city of Weftminfter, attended hy a mch, did, before the return was made, come to the houfe of Mr. Baldwin, the deputy high-bailiff of the faid city, and then and there declared, D in a menang and infulting manner, that He and a thoufind more had' fworn, that the high bailiff fhould make his return in the middle of Covent Garden, and not in the portico; that he was a fool he had not ordered the iron rails before the portico to be cut down the night before; for that he had advifed with counfel, that if he had E done it, and had not taken the rails away, it would have been only a trefpafs; and that for 10s or 101. they might have been made good again; and that, had it not been to humour fome fint hearted fellows, it would have been done, or words to that effect; and that the faid Alexander Murray, immediately after the return was hade, appeared in Covent Garden churchyard, while the returning officer was in the veftry, near the place where the return was made, at the head of a mo, who appeared to be on the part of Sir Gen. Vandeput, and did then utter words exciting and inBaming the faid multirede to affault and murder the returning officer; and that af terwards, as the returning officer was go. G ing away, the faid Alexander Murray, perfevering in his wicked purposes, did, at the head of the faid mob, again incite them to afls of violence, faying, with impreca. F Aug. tions, "Will nobody knock the dog down? Will nobody kill the dog?" Or words to that effect. After a long debate, this motion was upon a divifion agreed to by 152 to 69. Then a motion was made, that the faid Alex. Murray fhould, for his faid dangerous and feditious practices, in violation and contempt of the authority and privileges of that houfe, and of the freedom of electi ons, be committed clofe prifoner to his ma. jefty's goal of Newgate; whereupon the journal of the houfe of Feb. 23, 1749, in relation to the proceedings of the house for the punishment of Wm. Myddelton Efq; bate agreed to; after which it was, after anwas read; and the motion after a new de nother debate, refolved, That he should then be brought to the bar of that house, to receive his fentence, there, upon his knees. He was accordingly brought to the bar, and directed by Mr. Speaker to kneel; but as he confidered, that he could not be dif. charged from Newgate during the feffion, without petitioning, and aknowledging an offence hich he did not think himself guilty of, and which he was refolved he never would do, he therefore refused to be upon his knees, especially as he thought that his faling voluntarily upon his knees, would be an acknowledgment of his being guilty. Upon this his refufal, he was taken from the bar, and it was refolved, That his hav ing, in a moft infolent and audacious manner, at the bar of that houfe, anfolutely refused to be upon his knees, as required by their former refolution, was a high and most dangerous contempt of the authority and privilege of that houfe'; in confeque ence of which it was ordered, that he should be order to his forth-coming, to abide fuch committed clofe prifoner to Newgate, in orders as fhould be made by that houfe, in relation to his faid contempt; and thit while there, he should not be allowed the ufe of pen, ink, or paper, nor any perfon admitted to have accefs to him, without the leave of the house. A committee was then appointed to confider what methods might be proper to be taken by the house, in relation to the faid contempt; who were to withdraw immediately into the Speaker's chamber, and impowered to fend for perfons, papers, and records, and to fit, notwithstanding any adjournment of the house. It being now half an hour past one of the clock on Thursday morning, the house the order for hearing Westminster election adjourned till Friday morning, by which was dropt; and Mr. Murray was, in an "hour or two after, carried to Newgate. Feb. 8, upon motion it was ordered, that the lord Elbank fhould have leave to 1751. Summary of the laft Seffion of Parliament. refort to his brother, the Hon. Alex. Murray, B Feb. 13, upon motion it was ordered, that the Hon. Mrs. Helen Murray (hould have leave to refort to her brother Mr. Murray, then a prifoner in Newgate; and that a nurse and another fervant should be admitted to be with him; and next day Mr. John Gibfon got his petition prefented to the house, expreffing his for- C row for having incurred the displeasure of the houfe, giving the strongest and most folemn affurances of his never giving the leaft offence for the future, and praying to be difcharged from his confinement; whereupon it was ordered, that he should be biought to the bar the next morning, in order to his being discharged, and that Mr. Speaker fhould iffue his warrants accordingly. Next day he was accordingly brought to the bar, where, upon his knees, he received a reprimand from Mr. Speaker; and was ordered to be discharged out of custo dy, paying his fees. D Feb. 18. Sir Wm. Yonge reported from the faid committee, appointed to confider and report to the houfe, what methods E might be proper to be taken by the houfe, in relation to the faid Mr. Murray, and the faid report being read, it appeared from thence, that no períon had ever refused to be upon his knees when directed by that houfe, except during the ufurpation which began in the reign of K. Charles I. and that even then clofe impr.forment was the only pun fhment inflicted. Therefore the houfe did not thereupon come to any new refolution, but only ordered, that the faid Dr. Lamond, and Mr. Cooke the apothe cary, fhould attend the house on that day fe'night. In the mean time, on Friday 22. the houfe being informed, that Mr. Murray was ftill fo very bad m Newgate, that it was neceffary for his being blooded, G and that one Mr. Golding had many years been his apothecary and furgeon, and consequently best acquainted with his conftitufion, therefore it was moved and ordered, that the faid Mr. Golding should be admit ted to refort to him; and on the 25th, Dr. 365 Lamond, and Mr. Cooke the apothecary, attending, according to order, the former was called in, and after a very strict examination, as to the present state of Mr. Murray's health, tho' the doctor affirmed, that it was ftill very bad, it was refolved, that no perfon allowed by that house to re fort to Mr. Murray, fhould have, without fresh leave of the house, any further accefs to him, except Dr. Lamond, and Mr. Cooke, and except the nurse who had been allowed to be with him; fo that from henceforth he was deprived of the compa ny of his brother and fifter, and the attende ance of his own apothecary and fervant.* From this time, until April 2, nothing paffed in relation to Mr. Murray; but on that day the house being informed, that the faid Dr. Lamond was attending at the door, and was defirous of giving the house fome information relating to him, he was called in, and acquainted the houfe, that he had that day attended Mr. Murray, that he ap prehended him to have the goal-distemper coming upon him, and that he left him fo extremely ill, that if he was not immedis ately removed from the place of his then prefent confinement, there would be no poffibility of faving him. Upon this it was ordered, that the faid Mr. Murray should be discharged from his confinement in Newgate, and delivered over into the custody of the ferjeant at arms, in order to give fatisfaction to that houfe from time to time, in relation to the fate of his health; and that Mr. Speaker hould iffae his warrant accordingly. It was also ordered, that no other person should be admitted to refort to him, while in fuch cuftody, except fuch other perfon or perfons as Mr. Speaker fhould, from time to time, think fit to authorife by warrant fo to do, upon proper application to be made to him for that purpofe; and that Mr. Speaker should be impowered to iffue his warrants accordingly and, thirdly, it was ordered, that Mr. Murray, while in fuch cuftody, fhould not be allowed the ufe of pen, ink, or paper, otherwife than as Mr. Speaker fhould, from time to time, think fit by his warrant to authorife; and that Mr. Speaker should be impowered to issue his warrants accordingly. Next day Mr. Speaker informed the house, that the deputy of the ferjeant at arms had fomething to communicate to the houfe, relating to the execution of the orders made the day before, for removing Mr. Murray from Newgate, into the cuftody of the ferjeant at arms; and the deputy being called in, he acquainted the house, that he did the evening before communicate to the keeper of Newgate Mr. Speaker's warrants for removing the id Mr. 366 Summary of the laft Seffion of Parliament. Mr. Murray; whereupon being admitted, And the faid deputy being farther examined, acquainted the house, that he found, from his converfation with Mr. Murray, that he had been informed of the steps which had been taken for the faid application to the house, and that he expreffed great uneafinefs thereupon, and ufed fome words of refentment towards one of his relations, on account of fuch application being made, faying, that it was a mean thing in him to apply to the house without his, the faid Mr. Murray's, confent. D The minutes of the information given by Dr. Lamond the preceding day, and his examination confequent thereupon, were E then read; and as Dr. Lamond was attending at the door, he was called in, and being examined, he gave the house an ac Aug. count in what condition he found Mr. Murray the night before, with his reasons for thinking it improper to have him removed at that time; and also acquainted the house, that Mr. Murray did not defire to be removed out of Newgate, unless he could have the benefit of the air and exercise, and was diffatisfied with the application which had been made to that house; and that he the faid doctor did not then perceive any symptoms of Mr. Murray's having the goal diftemper, but thought him much better than he was the preceding day, although far from being well. Thus we may fee, that as ill as Mr. Murray was, and as neceffary as air and exercife was for reftoring him to health, he would not deign to ask the favour of being admitted to bail, or fo much as that of being releafed from Newgate, However, as the forcing him from Newgate into the cuftedy of the ferjeant at arms might have been attended with scandalous fuggeftions, in cafe he had died while in that cuftody, the houfe very wifely revoked their orders for his removal, and ordered, that he should remain in the fame cuftody he was in, under the fame orders that were fubfifting when the revoked orders were made; and thus he remained till the end of the feffion, when he was of courfe difcharged, as the prorogation put an end to that authority by which he stood committed. This being the only important affair that happened laft feffion relating to elections, we fhall next proceed to give an account of the two grand committees of supply, and ways and means, the former of which was established in the ufual manner, and continued from Jan. 22, 1750-8 to May 3, 1751, both inclufive, in which time the refolutions they came to, which were agreed to by the house, were as follow, viz. Jan. 29, Refolved, 1. That 8000 men be employed for the fea fervice for 1751. 2. That 41. per man per month be allowed for maintaining them for 13 months, including the ordnance for fea fervice, Feb. 5, Refolved, 1. That 18857 effective men, (including 1815 invalids) commiffion and non-commiffion officers included, be the land forces employed for 3751. 2. That for defraying the charge of the faid land forces, there be granted 3. That on account of the reduced officers of the land forces, and marines, there be granted for 1751 4. That for out pensioners of Chelsea hospital there be granted for 1751, <. That for penfions to the widows of reduced officers, married to them before Dec. 25, 1715, there be granted for 1751 6. That the officers and private gentlemen of the two troops of korle guards, |