and forward, and at last asked one of the Regent's attendants, Whether his Royal Highness was come to visit him as his Britannic Majesty's Ambaffador, or as Earl of Stair?"

To which receiving no anfwer, he replied, "If he comes to fee my Lord Stair, I fhall reckon it my greatest honour to receive any one officer of the Crown, much more the Duke-Regent, at the door of his coach; but if he comes to vifit the Ambaffador of my Royal Mafter, I think I fhould be unworthy the truft repofed in me, if I went a ftep further than I have done."

This being told to the Regent, he re-entered the coach, and afterwards caufed fignification to be made to his Excellency, that he was not defirous of feeing him at Court, and for fome months the Earl actually withdrew.

This was intended by the Regent as a flight on the British Ambaffador; but the wary and vigi lant Stair knew the etiquette of Courts too well, and had too much the honour of his Royal Mafter at heart, and the dignity of his country to be entrapped by him.

EQUA

EQUANIMITY.

VIL is uncertain, in the fame degree, as good; and for the reason we ought not to hope too fecurely, we ought not to fear with too

much dejection. The ftate of the world is continually changing, and none can tell the refult of the next viciffitude. Whatever is afloat in the ftream of time, may, when it is very near us, be driven away by an accidental blaft, which shall happen to cross the general courfe of the current. The fudden accidents by which the powerful are depreffed, may fall upon those whofe malice we fear; and the greatnefs by which we expect to be overborne, may become another proof of the falfe flatteries of fortune. Our enemies may become weak, or we grow ftrong, before our encounter; or we may advance against each other without ever meeting. There are indeed natural evils, which we can flatter ourselves with no hopes of escaping, and with little of delaying; but of the ills which are apprehended from human malignity, or the oppofition of rival interests, we may always alleviate the terror, by confidering that our perfecutors are weak, ignorant, and mortal, like ourselves.

ANEC

ANECDOTE

OF

SIR RICHARD STEELE.

EW people were greater admirers of pru dence and economy than Sir Richard Steele was in precept; yet nothing could be more difagreeable to his temper than the practice of either. A turn naturally gay and expenfive, frequently reduced him to difficulties, and exposed him to fome circumstances rather painful to a difpofition fo delicate and refined.

Among the number of people who were highly charmed with his converfation and writings, none profeffed a greater admiration of both than a Lincolnshire Baronet, who ufually fat at Button's. This gentleman poffeffed a very large fortune, had great interest, and more than once folicited Sir Richard Steele to command his utmost ability, and he should think himself under no little obligation. Thefe offers, though made with the moft feeming cordiality, Sir Richard, however, declined, with a grateful politenefs peculiar to himself, as at that time he flood in no need of the gentleman's afliftance. But fome inftance of extrava

gance

gance having once reduced him to the neceffity of borrowing a fum of money to fatisfy an importunate creditor, he thought this a very proper opportunity of calling on his friend, and requesting the loan of a hundred pounds for a few days.

The gentleman received him with much civility and respect, began to renew his offers of service, and begged Sir Richard would give him an occafion to fhew his friendship and regard.

"Why, Sir," faid Sir Richard, "I came for that very purpose; and if you can lend me an hundred pounds for a few days, I fhall confider it as a fingular favour."

Had Sir Richard clapped a piftol to his breast, and made a peremptory demand of his money, the gentleman could not have appeared in a greater furprize than at this unexpected request. His offers of friendship had only been made on a fuppofition of their never being accepted, and intended only as fo many baits for Sir Richard's intimacy and acquaintance, of which the gentleman, whilst it coft him nothing, was particularly proud. Recovering, however, from his furprize, he stammered out: "Why, really Sir Richard, I would

L

I would ferve you to the utmost of my power; but at prefent I have not twenty guineas in the house."

Sir Richard, who faw through the pitiful evafion, was heartily vexed at the meannefs and excufe. "And fo, Sir," said he, " you have drawn me in to expose the fituation of my affairs, with a promise of affiftance, and now refufe any mark of your friendship or efteem! A disappointment I can bear, but muft not put up with an infult; therefore, be fo obliging as to confider whether it is more agreeable to comply with the terms of my request, or to fubmit to the confequences of my refentment."

Sir Richard spoke this in fo determined a tone, that the Baronet was startled; and said, (feeming to recollect himself)-" Lord, my dear Sir Richard! I beg ten thousand pardons; upon my honour I did not remember. Blefs me! I have a hundred pound note in my pocket, which is entirely at your fervice!" So faying, he produced the note, which Sir Richard immediately put up; and then addreffed him in the following manner:

Though I despise an obligation from a person of fo mean a caft as I am fatisfied you are; yet, rather than be made a fool, I chofe to accept of