he person and name of
one of them; and burning some part of his coat and hat, as an ocular
demonstration of his narrow escape, he made the best of his way to places
at some distance, and there passed for one who had been burnt out; and to
gain credit, showed a paper signed with the names of several gentlemen in
the neighbourhood of the place where the fire happened, recommending him
as an honest unhappy sufferer, by which he got considerable sums.

Under this character, he had once the boldness to address Justice Hall,
of Exmouth, in Devon, the terror and professed enemy of every order of
the gipseys; however, our hero managed so artfully, though he went
through a strict examination, that he at last convinced his worship that
he was an honest miller, whose house, mill, and whole substance had been
consumed by fire, occasioned by the negligence of an apprentice boy, and
was accordingly relieved by the justice.

Coming one day to Squire Portman's, at Brinson, near Blandford, in the
character of a famous rat-catcher, with a hairy cap upon his head, a buff
girdle about his waist, and a tame rat in a little box by his side, he
boldly marched up to the house in this disguise, though his person was
well known by the family, and meeting in the court with Mr. Portman, the
Rev. Mr. Bryant, and several other gentlemen whom he well knew, but did
not suspect he should be known by them, he accosted them as a
rat-catcher, asking if their Honours had any rats to kill. Do you
understand your business well? replied Mr. Portman. Yes, and please your
honour; I have followed it many years, and have been employed in his
majesty's yards and ships. Well, go in and get something to eat; and
after dinner we will try your abilities.

Our hero was accordingly placed at the second table to dinner, and very
handsomely entertained; after which he was called into a great parlour,
among a large company of gentlemen and ladies. Well, honest Mr.
Rat-catcher, said Mr. Portman, can you lay any schemes to kill the rats,
without hurting my dogs? Yes, boldly replied Mr. Carew, I shall lay it
where even cats can't climb to reach it. And what countryman are you,
pray? A Devonshire man, please your honour. What may be your name? Our
hero now perceiving, by the smiles and whispering of the gentlemen, that
he was known, replied very composedly, B, a, m, p, f, y, l, d, e, M, o,
o, r, e, C, a, r, e, w. This occasioned a good deal of mirth; and Mr.
Carew