urtney, he was resolved to pay him three
visits that day: he went therefore to a house frequented by his order,
and there pulled off his fine clothes, and put on a parcel of rags; in
this dress he moved towards Sir William's: there, with a piteous moan, a
dismal countenance, and a deplorable tale, he got half-a-crown of that
gentleman, as a man who had met with misfortunes at sea; at noon he put
on a leather apron, a coat which seemed scorched by the fire, with a
dejected countenance applied again, and was relieved as an unfortunate
shoemaker, who had been burned out of his house, and all he had; in the
afternoon he went again in his trimmed clothes, and desiring admittance
to Sir William, with a modest grace and submissive eloquence he repeated
his misfortunes as the supercargo of a vessel which had been cast away,
and his whole effects lost, at the same time mentioning the kindness he
had received from his grace the Duke of Bolton. Sir William, seeing his
genteel appearance and behaviour, treated him with that respect which the
truly great will always pay to those who supplicate their assistance, and
generously relieved him, presenting him with a guinea at his departure.
There happened to be at that time a great number of the neighbouring
gentlemen and clergy at dinner with Sir William, not one of whom
discovered who this supercargo was, except the Reverend Mr. Richards, who
did not make it known till he was gone; upon which Sir William dispatched
a servant after him, to desire him to come back. When he entered the
room again, Sir William and the rest of the company were very merry with
him, and he was desired to sit down and give them an account by what
stratagem he had got all his finery, and what success he had with it,
which he did; after which he asked Sir William if he had not bestowed
half-a-crown that morning on a beggar, and at noon relieved a poor
unfortunate shoemaker. I remember, replied Sir William, that I bestowed
such alms on a poor ragged wretch. Well, said Mr. Carew, that ragged
wretch was no other than the supercargo now before you. Sir William
scarcely crediting this, Mr. Carew withdrew, and putting on the same
rags, came again with the same piteous moan, dismal countenance, and
deplorable tale, as he had done in the morning, which fully convinced Sir
William that he was the same man, and occasioned much diversion in the
company; he was however introduced again, and seated among them in his
rags;