seat
from him, nor yet the much more tremendous figure of Mr. Tom Jones, in a
light-coloured coat covered with streams of blood; no, but the foot-post
from Silverton, with letters to Sir William. This proved to be little
less than a very sharp sword hanging by a hair over Mr. Carew's head,
for, as he thought it natural Sir William would ask him some questions
about Mr. Moore, and as he did not choose, though he had passed Sir
William's strict examination, to undergo a fresh one, he made great haste
to rise from table, and set out without using much ceremony. A few miles
distant from hence he met Dr. Poole going from Dulverton to Sir
William's, who, knowing Mr. Carew, stopped his horse to talk to him.
Amongst other conversation at Sir William's, the Dr. happened to mention
whom he had met that day (not knowing that he had been lately there); it
was soon known by the description he gave of his person and habit, to be
no other than the unfortunate Silverton man, to whom Sir William and his
friends had been so generous, which occasioned a great deal of mirth.
About two months after, Mr. Carew again ventured to pay his honour a
second visit, in the habit and character of an unfortunate grazier; he
met the worthy baronet and his lady taking the air in a chaise, in a
meadow where some haymakers were then at work; he approached them with a
great deal of modest simplicity, and began a very moving tale of the
misfortunes he had met with in life. In the midst of his oration, Sir
William called to the haymakers to secure him; which struck his eloquence
dumb, or at least changed it from the pathetic to the tragic style, for
he could not conceive what might be the end of this; however, the baronet
soon gave him a choice of either a true confession of his name and
profession, or a commitment to prison; he made choice of the former, and
confessed himself to be Bampfylde Moore Carew, sovereign of the whole
community of mendicants. Sir William, with a great deal of good-nature,
treated him with all that respect which is due to royalty; entertained
him generously at his house, and made him a very handsome present at his
departure, desiring him to call upon him as he came that way; and he was
ever a constant friend and benefactor to him.

Soon after this he planned a new design, which he put into execution with
great success. Dressing himself up in a chequered shirt, jacket, and
trowsers, he went upon Exeter quay, and, with the rough b