fro in a hurry, and the young lady and her brother gazing through the window to see if they knew the livery: she remarked every circumstance which denoted her own importance with exultation; and enjoyed the solicitude which her presence produced among those, from whose society she had so lately been driven with disdain and indignation. She now increased their wonder, by sending in a servant to acquaint the old gentleman, that a lady desired to speak with him about urgent business, which would not however long detain him; he courteously invited the lady to honour him with her commands, hasted into his best parlour, adjusted his wig, and put himself in the best order to receive her; she alighted, and displayed a very rich undress, which corresponded with the elegance of her chariot, and the modish appearance of her servants. She contrived to hide her face as she went up the walk, that she might not be known too soon; and was immediately introduced to her old friend, to whom she soon discovered herself to his great astonishment, and before he had recovered his presence of mind, she addressed him to this effect, 'You see, sir, an orphan who is under the greatest obligations to your bounty, but who has been equally injured by your suspicions. When I was a dependent upon your liberality, I would not assert my innocence, because I could not bear to be suspected of falsehood: but I assert it now I am the possessor of a paternal estate, because I cannot bear to be suspected of ingratitude: that your son pressed me to marry him, is true; but it is also true that I refused him, be'cause I would not disappoint your hopes, and impoverish your posterity.' The old gentleman's confusion was increased by the wonders that crowded upon him: he first made some attempts to apo 6 logise for his suspicions with awkwardness and hesitation; then doubting the truth of appearances, he broke off abruptly and remained silent: then reproaching himself, he began to congratulate her upon her good fortune, and again desisted before he had finished the compliment. Melissa perceived his perplexity, and guessed the cause; she was, therefore, about to account more particularly for the sudden change of her circumstances, but Miss, whose maid had brought her intelligence from the servants, that the lady's name who was with her papa was Melissa, and that she was lately come to a great estate by the death of her uncle, could no longer restrain the impatience of her affection and joy; she rushed into the room and fell upon her neck, with a transport that can only be felt by friendship, and expressed by tears. When this tender silence was past, the scruples of doubt were soon obviated; the reconciliation was reciprocal and sincere; the father led out his guest, and presented her to his son with an apology for his conduct to them both. Melissa had bespoke a dinner and beds at the inn, but she was not suffered to return. Within a few weeks she became the daughter of her friend, who gave her hand to his son, with whom she shared many years that happiness which is the reward of virtue. They had several children, but none survived them; and Melissa, upon the death of her husband, which happened about seven years ago, retired wholly from town to her estate in the country, where she lived beloved, and died in peace. N° 9. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1752. ...Εν προτέροις θηκη διδασκαλιην. VET. EPIGR. He hung th' instructive symbol o'er his door. SIR, TO THE ADVENTURER. I SHOULD be sorry to take off your attention from matters of greater moment; and to divert you from the speculation of faults, that present themselves directly before your eyes, by desiring you to contemplate the enormities that hang over your head. It has been customary, I know, with you writers of essays, to treat the subject of Signs in a very ludicrous manner: for my part, I cannot help thinking, that it deserves a more serious consideration. The attacks of your predecessors on the absurdities which tradesmen usually commit in these pendent advertisements, have been very slight, and consequently have produced no salutary effect: blunders have to this day been handed down from master to 'prentice, without any regard paid to their remonstrances; and it is left to the sturdy Adventurer, if he pleases, to combat these monstrous incongruities, and to regulate their Babel-like confusion. I am at present but an humble journeyman signpainter in Harp-alley: for though the ambition of my parents designed that I should emulate the immortal touches of a Raphael or a Titian, yet the want of taste among my countrymen, and their prejudice against every artist who is a native, have degraded me to the miserable necessity, as Shaftesbury says, "of illustrating prodigies in fairs, and adorning heroic sign-posts." However, as I have studied to improve even this meanest exercise of the pencil, I intend to set up for myself; and under the favour of your countenance, to reduce the vague practice of Sign-painting to some standard of elegance and propriety. It cannot be doubted, but that signs were in-. tended originally to express the several occupations of their owners; and to bear some affinity, in their external designations, with the wares to be disposed of, or the business carried on within. Hence the Hand and Shears is justly appropriated to taylors; as the Hand and Pen is to writing-masters; though the very reverend and right worthy order of my neighbours, the Fleet-parsons, have assumed it to themselves as a mark of marriages performed without imposition.' The Wool-Pack plainly points out to us a Woollen-Draper; the Naked Boy ele gantly reminds us of the necessity of clothing; and the Golden Fleece figuratively denotes the riches of our staple commodity: but are not the Hen and Chickens, and the Three Pigeons, the unquestionable right of the poulterer; and not to be usurped by the venders of silk or linen? It would be endless to enumerate the gross blunders committed in this point, by almost every branch of trade. I shall therefore confine myself chiefly to the numerous fraternity of Publicans, whose extravagance in this affair calls aloud for reprehension and restraint. Their modest ancestors were contented with a plain Bough stuck up before their doors: whence arose the wise proverb, Good wineneeds no bush:' but how have they since deviated from their ancient simplicity! They have ransacked earth, air, and seas; called down sun, moon, and stars, to their assistance, and exhibited all the monsters that ever teemed from fantastic imagination. Their Hogs in Armour, their Blue Boars, Black Bears, Green Dragons, and Golden Lions, have already been sufficiently exposed by your brother essay writers: -Sus horridus, atraque Tigris, With foamy tusks to seem a bristly boar, VIRG. DRYDEN. It is no wonder that these gentlemen, who indulge themselves in such unwarrantable liberties, should have so little regard to the choice of Signs adapted to their Mystery. There can be no ob'jection made to the Bunch of Grapes, the Rummer, or the Tuns: but would not any one inquire for a Hosier at the Leg, or for a Locksmith at the Cross Keys? And who would expect any thing but water to be sold at the Fountain? The Turk's Head may fairly intimate that a seraglio is kept within; the Rose may be strained to some propriety of meaning, as the business there transacted may be said to be done under the Rose:' but why must the Angel, the Lamb, and the Mitre, be the designations of the seats of drunkenness or prostitution? Some regard should likewise be paid by tradesmen to their situation; or, in other words, to the propriety of the place: and in this too the Publicans are notoriously faulty. The King's Arms, and the Star and Garter, are aptly enough placed at the court end of the town, and in the neighbourhood of the Royal Palace; Shakspeare's Head takes his station by one Play-house, and Ben Johnson's by the other: Hell is a public-house adjoining to West |