se disciples of humility, looked upon him with a
supercilious brow; the ladies too, who had before strove who should be
his partner at the balls, could not bear the sight of so shocking a
creature: thus despised is poverty and rags, though sometimes the veil of
real merit; and thus caressed and flattered is finery, though perhaps a
covering for shame, poverty of soul, and abandoned profligacy. One
character alone vouchsafed to look upon this contemptible object; the
good man looked upon him with an eye melting into tenderness and soft
compassion, while at the same time the hand which was stretched out to
relieve him, showed the heart felt all the pangs which it supposed him to
feel. But, notwithstanding the almost general contempt, he raised very
considerable contributions; for, as some tossed him money out of pride,
others to get rid of his importunity, and a few, as above, out of a good
heart, it amounted to no small sum by the end of the season.

It is almost unnecessary to inform the reader, that these successful
stratagems gained him high applause and honour in the company of the
gipseys: he soon became the favourite of their king, who was very old and
decrepid, and had always some honourable mark of distinction assigned him
at their public assemblies. These honours and applauses were so many
fresh spurs to his ingenuity and industry; so certain it is, that
wherever those qualities are honoured, and publicly rewarded, though but
by an oaken garland, there industry will outwork itself, and ingenuity
will exceed the common bounds of art. Our hero, therefore, was
continually planning new stratagems, and soon executed a very bold one on
his grace the Duke of Bolton. Coming to his seat near Basingstoke, in
Hampshire, he dressed himself in a sailor's ragged habit, and knocking at
the gate, desired of the porter, with a composed and assured countenance,
admittance to the duke, or at least that the porter would give his grace
a paper which he held in his hand; but, as he did not apply in a proper
manner to this great officer, (who we think may not improperly be styled
the turnkey of the gate) as he did not show him that passport which can
open every gate, pass by the surliest porter, and get admittance even to
kings, neither himself nor paper could gain any entrance. However, he
was not disheartened with this, but waiting near the gate for some time,
he at last saw a servant come out, whom he followed, and, telling him