RICHARD SAVAGE.

A ROMANCE OF REAL LIFE.

EDITED, WITH OCCASIONAL NOTES,

BY CHARLES WHITEHEAD,

AUTHOR OF 'THE SOLITARY.'

CHAPTER XXX.

Richard Savage makes the acquaintance and secures the friendship of a worthy peer, and is for the present raised out of want into affluence.

LET me not step forth from Newgate before I acknowledge the kindness of many friends, some altogether unknown to me, who, during my confinement in that place, sent me considerable presents, out of which I was able not only to support myself more luxuriously than is usual with persons in a like condition, but to procure such medical advice, and purchase such delicacies for my friend Gregory, as his ill state of health rendered necessary to him. Honest Dagge! keeper of his Majesty's gaol at Bristol,-perhaps, ere I conclude this familiar abstract of my life, I may pass an eulogium upon thee! For, sure, if a man in prison has little reason to expect friendship from those who are without its walls, still less has he to look for it from him who has him in custody. And yet, from thee, good fellow, have I received benefits, unasked of thee, that shall one day, if my life be spared, and fortune at last relent in my favour, meet a handsome reward; but no such reward, I take upon me to assert, as thy heart has already bestowed upon thee, which is, I know, all that thou desirest.

In a few weeks after our liberation, Gregory was made happy in the possession of his Martha, and shortly afterwards obtained a more lucrative appointment at the Custom-house than the one he had heretofore enjoyed.

In the meantime I was greatly shocked and grieved at hearing of the lamentable end of Merchant, who was found drowned, closely wedged between two barges near Westminster Bridge. It was doubtful whether he had fallen or had thrown himself into the river.

My first impulse, on leaving Newgate, was to threaten my mother with so public an exposure of her infamy as would terrify her into a compliance with a certain demand I resolved to make upon her,a demand of money; but no such sum as would have satisfied me years before, and as would then have purchased my silence. I determined to raise my price; since it was hardly reasonable in her to expect that I should permit her to enjoy gratuitously the luxury of persecuting me, or that I should tamely submit to endure any wrongs she might please to inflict upon me. I designed, therefore, to propose for her approbation the following alternatives, to wit,either to consent to be exhibited before the world, with all the poignancy my malice, my wit, and my invention could supply, as the

most detestable woman that ever outraged human nature; or to make me an allowance properly, nay, legally secured to me, for the term of my natural life, not exceeding, and not falling short of, five hundred pounds per annum. I could by no means forego the gratification of my revenge for a penny less money. It was fairly worth five hundred a year; not to speak of my claim of relationship upon her, which I dutifully held as worth nothing.

- But from the prosecution of this scheme I was withheld by a variety of pleasing and social engagements that courted my acceptance, and during several months engaged my attention.

My indolence during many weeks favoured my mother; and it was not until I had been for the space of a month without a lodging, in which time I fared very ill both as to bed and board, the butcher's stall more frequently contributing to my repose than to my subsistence, it was not, I say, till I found that my affairs were in a state of the most pressing necessity that I sat down and addressed a letter to Mrs. Brett, in which I candidly unfolded the design I had upon her, and in which I enclosed a copy of verses, by way of specimen of my abilities, in the flaying strain. However, she deigned not to return an answer; although, I was given to understand, my threats had not a little terrified her. I urged my demands a second time, and despatched another copy of verses. These were, I admit, shocking couplets, such, indeed, as, had she not in a manner capitulated, I had hardly dared to publish, being, as they were, altogether as unworthy of me as they were worthy of her.

These verses had the effect intended. On the evening following the day on which I had transmitted them, calling at the coffee-house at which I had directed any communication she might be pleased to make to me to be addressed, I found a letter lying for me. It was from Lord Tyrconnel, and requested that Mr. Savage would do him the honour of calling upon him at an early hour next morning, his Lordship having something very particular to say to him, in relation to two letters he had recently forwarded to his mother.

I waited upon Lord Tyrconnel punctually at his appointed time. I have mentioned that his Lordship had been very civil to me on several occasions, when I had met him at taverns and coffee-houses, and that he appeared in my favour on the trial. There was no diminution of cordiality in his reception of me now; on the contrary, he was excessively friendly, himself setting me a chair, and kindly complaining that I had not before visited him. We talked for some time on general topics; at length, drawing forth his pocketbook, his Lordship selected from amongst other documents my two letters to my mother, and holding them towards me, said, with a smile,

'You know these, I presume. Mrs. Brett has put them and their inclosures into my hands. Oh! they are too severe. Upon my soul, now, too bitter, Mr. Savage.'

The degree of bitterness is best decided by the provocation,' I returned. They are not too bitter, my Lord, I assure you. Nay, they were not written to wound her feelings, but to excite her fears. I designed them as a punishment, not as a correction. You do not know, my Lord, how basely I have been treated by this lady.

I believe I know all,' he replied. The glosses she puts upon her own conduct I can see through, and despise. But now

He

paused, but presently added, 'Come, what do you say, sir ?—what is to be done?'

To say the truth, my Lord,' said I, drawing myself up, what is to be done by Mrs. Brett, or what will be done, I know not. All I am clear upon at present is as to what I myself intend to do, should that person resolve to do nothing. These letters signify my course of action. But I take it for granted, or you had not summoned me hither,—that you have some proposal to make to me from the lady.'

-

Why, no direct proposal,' he answered. 'The case is this. We-that is to say, myself and her other relations are more solicitous about her reputation than she herself appears to be; not but I believe your threats have in no small measure frightened her. But I suspect she doubts whether you will carry them into effect. She gives you credit, you see, for a generosity and forbearance she certainly has no claim to.'

I could not help breaking forth at this. Execrable and inexplicable woman!' cried I. By the living God! Lord Tyrconnel, she may expect no further lenity from me. I concur to the commission of her crimes, while I continue the submissive subject of them. What the world knows through myself and others of her conduct I cannot recall, nor would I recall it if I could. But she may yet buy my silence for the time to come. Her money shall render me as mute as though I were in the grave, to which she has twice endeavoured to bring me. But tell her from me, my Lord, that no time, that no money, though a hundred years were required to the telling of it,-can, or if it could, shall, abate the disgust, the contempt, the abhorrence with which she has filled my soul.'

'I shall tell her no such thing,' said he, laughing. Your warmth contradicts your words. My object is, since peace between you is hopeless, to establish a truce. But first let me know whether you really have given her reasonable cause of offence.'

'You shall judge, my Lord, for yourself,' said I. To enable you to do so, it will be necessary that I make you acquainted with all that has at any time passed between us.'

'I am impatient to hear it.'

I satisfied his impatience on the instant. It was a long story; but my companion paid the utmost attention to it, frequently enlivening it by interjectional comments, that redounded very little to the honour of

Mrs. Brett.

I would thank you, my Lord, for a moral to this pretty story,' said I, in conclusion, laughing lightly. Don't you think an attractive novel might be written upon it? What say you? Shall we put our materials into the hand of Mrs. Haywood? A pity Mrs. Manly is dead. She would, I think, have managed it with more

art.'

O God! don't talk so,' cried his Lordship, with a shudder. He fell into a long contemplation. I don't know,' said he at length, 'whether what I am going to tell you will change your wrath against your mother into pity, or whether it will not rather cause you to hate her more.'

That is very unlikely, my Lord,' said I.

'I understand you. You mean that is impossible. You would, at least, be glad to be told why she has treated you as she has done?'

'Certainly I should not shut my ears against such a communication,' I replied; though, to say the truth, I feel little desire to hear it. The reason she alleges is probably false.'

It is too characteristic to be so, I think,' he replied. You will readily believe that she never loved her first husband, and perhaps you will concede the possibility that she might have loved Earl Rivers. There cannot be a doubt of it; since for his sake she was willing to risk-nay, she voluntarily made a sacrifice of-her reputation. She has been condemned for having made the avowal that led to the divorce, but in my opinion very unjustly. It is true, it was on the faith of a promise, made to her by Lord Rivers, of marriage, when the divorce was obtained, that she was induced to confess her disgrace; but, whatever were her motives, I cannot but believe she acted rightly. It would never have done, Mr. Savage,' here his Lordship assumed an important air, 'to impose a supposititious heir upon a noble family. I will not blame her for doing that.'

Nor I, my Lord; although it seems I am to be the sufferer alike by her virtue and her vice. But, when one comes to think of it, no great harm had been done either. I fancy some of our nobility had been all the better for a little imposition. Their legitimates do them small honour sometimes.'

'Ha! very well-very well, indeed,' said he. But let me go on. After the divorce, your mother naturally expected that Lord Rivers would fulfil an engagement to which he had set his solemn word of honour, and rescue her from an infamy into which, for his sake alone, she had plunged herself; but this his lordship absolutely refused to do. What says Mr. Congreve?

"Earth knows no rage like love to hatred turn'd,
Nor hell a fury like a woman scorn'd."

She is not a woman to supplicate. Her pride was as intense as her love. The knife did not reach his heart-the fury was dragged from his throat. He survived her vengeance; nor was it ever known that she had attempted his life. Her hatred died not with him, but has been transferred to you.'

I must bear it, as I have borne it, as well as I can,' I replied; 'but not as heretofore, without a consideration. Look you, my Lord, this lady mother of mine derives as much delight from hating me, as your common vulgar mothers do from loving their children. Now, some of the young hopefuls make their parents pay pretty smartly for their love; and I know not why I should not tax the hate of Mrs. Brett, which is all the more likely to last, in consequence. But I will not be unreasonable with her. Čast your eye over my conditions. It will not cost her much-a mere trifle-not worth mentioning to a lady of her spirit and liberality.'

I am sorry to hear you talk in this forced strain,' said Lord Tyrconnel. I had thought what I have been telling you might have weighed with you in her favour. She was basely wronged by Lord Rivers. Her conduct to you, bad as it has been, and indefensible as it is, is not beyond human forgiveness when the provocation is considered. It is, at least, intelligible.'

To me it is not so, my Lord. On the contrary, you have shown me a character that I hardly supposed could exist, except in a novel or a play. I thought she was merely wicked; you have told me she

is a fool. Pardon me, sir, when I tell you that Mrs. Brett has cajoled you. She is no such fool. She hates me, but not because Lord Rivers was a very sad fellow. Hers is the common cant of those who, being heavily laden with sin, are for others carrying it.' He shook his head.

'She married Colonel Brett that she might expunge the memory of her shame. You were placed out of the way, and in a short time she heard with delight that you the witness, the proof of her shame -were dead. Consider how galling to a woman of her spirit, after an interval of many years, to undergo that shame anew.'

'Let her consider that that was no fault of mine. Sometimes, nay often, I wish to heaven I had never known who were my parents,— that Lady Mason had left me in the hands of the poor wretches to whom I was intrusted,-that I had never sought a mother, or never found one! But now, my lord, be pleased to let me know why I have been summoned hither.'

'I will tell you in few words,' he returned. You are a man of sense and spirit, Savage; and, accordingly, I make little doubt that you will at once see and feel the force of the appeal I am about to make to you. Mrs. Brett has many relations-all persons of honour and condition. You know what a world it is. Any public exposure of your mother, such as you have threatened, however she might carry it, would wound us deeply. The infamy would be reflected upon us. Now, I ask you whether you can consent to pursue your revenge upon her, knowing that you will injure us more than you can punish her. Hitherto we have not interfered, because we felt you had an indisputable right (as we acknowledge you still have) to resist her persecution. But now-it is a question that I wish you seriously to take to heart-have you not already gone far enough? To proceed further, would it be to your honour, and, therefore, to your advantage? I could say much more; but I see I have said sufficient. Her relations, of whom I am one, hope for your forbearance.'

I hesitated; but it was only for a moment. I could never resist an appeal to my generosity.

You have said sufficient, my lord,' I answered, 'and I thank you that you have said it. Revenge is blind, or sees nothing between itself and its object. I will confess the truth to you. Necessity alone set me upon this work, which hereby I renounce. But that want incited me, I had disdained this pitiful wrangling with a wretch so despicable. Your timely remonstrance has saved her. Her relations need be under no further apprehensions. I desist.'

This,' cried Lord Tyrconnel, his eyes glistening, is generous beyond expectation. You have done yourself great honour.' He came towards me, and shook me cordially by the hand. We must be better acquainted. You must do me yet one further favour.'

I cannot conjecture how I can be of service to Lord-Tyrconnel.' 'By making my house your home,' he replied. I hope to be distinguished as the friend of Mr. Savage, and I shall study to deserve his friendship. Your merit has been proclaimed; but it must be seen as well as known. I will allow you two hundred a year till my interest, which, I must whisper it in your ear, is considerable with the ministry, obtains an independent appointment for you.