Her virtue was now nodding, and she was ready to fall into the arms of
any gallant, like mellow fruit, without much trouble in the gathering.
Sir Thomas Skipwith, a character of gaiety of those times, and, who
it seems had theatrical connections, was recommended to her, as being
very able to promote her design in writing for the stage. This knight
was in the 50th year of his age, and in the 60th of his constitution,
when he was first introduced to her, and as he had been a long
practised gallant, he soon made addresses to her, and whether or no
this knight, who was more dangerous to a woman's reputation, than her
virtue, was favoured by her, the world was so much convinced of it,
that her character was now absolutely lost. Sir Thomas was a weak,
vain, conceited coxcomb, who delighted in boasting of his conquests
over women, and what was often owing to his fortune, and station in
life, he imputed to his address, and the elegance of his manner, of
both which he was totally destitute. He even published Mrs. Manley's
dishonour, and from that time our sprightly poetess was considered, by
the sober part of the sex, quite abandoned to all shame.

When her affair with this superannuated knight was over, she soon
engaged in another intrigue, still more prejudicial to her character;
for it was with a married man, one Mr. Tilly, a gentleman of the Law;
with whom she lived a considerable time: while he underwent at
home many of those severe lectures, which the just provocation, and
jealousy of his wife taught her to read him. Mrs. Tilly at last died,
and our gallant was left at his freedom to marry the object of his
passion; but unluckily his finances were in such a situation, that he
was obliged to repair them by marrying a woman of fortune. This was a
cruel circumstance; for he really loved, and doated upon Mrs. Manley,
and had the felicity of a reciprocal passion. She agreed however, in
order to repair his fortune, that he should marry a rich young widow,
whom he soon won by the elegance of his address, while our authoress
retired into the country to spend her days in solitude and sorrow, and
bid an everlasting farewel to the pleasures of love and gallantry.
Mr. Tilly did not many years survive this reparation: his life was
rendered miserable at home by the jealousy of his young wife, who had
heard of his affair with Mrs. Manley; he lost his senses, and died in
a deplorable situation.

During her retirement, our authoress, who