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violent rap at the door alarmed us. As fuch an incident was unusual, I ordered the fervant not to open the door, but to enquire what occafioned it from the area. Upon her going out for that purpofe, fhe was informed, that if fhe did not immediately open the door, it would be broke open, as they had got the broad feal. Not knowing what was meant by having the broad feal, I demanded from the window their business. To this they anfwered, that I' fhould be informed when they were Jet in; and if that was not done presently, they had authority to break open the door.

Find there was no probability of preventing their ance, I ordered the door to be opened; who live or fix fellows rushed in, and took pofii, in the name of that honour to his honouhole profeffion, my Coufin Crawford.

That worthy and confcientious man no fooner heard of my mother's death, and found that I had been fo imprudent as not to make any legal claim to her property, than he took out letters of adminiftration, by fwearing himself her legitimate heir. Fearless of the iniquity of the measure, or the confequence of it, my honeft kinsman thought if he could but appropriate her effects to his own ufe, he would fet at defiance a future reckoning. He accordingly adopted this mode with fuccefs.

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I immediately apply'd to the late Sir John Fielding, hoping he would point out fome mode of redress; and notwithstanding, I had not seen him for many years, his retentive faculties were fo nearly in their full force, that the moment I spoke, he called me by my name, and was forry it was out of his line to affift me upon the occafion.

As it happened not to be term time, I had no refource but patience; for I found it to no manner of purpose to endeavour to bring the favages by which I was furrounded, to reafon. A fruitless altercation indeed took place, but they perfifted in my quitting the premises that night. It was by this time paft eleven o'clock; Mrs. Butler's children. were in bed; and where to get a lodging at that late hour I knew not. At laft I thought of fending to Mr. Woodward, who had taken a large houfe in Leicester-ftreet, in order to let part of it. That gentleman confented, with great chearfulnefs, to accommodate us till I could provide myfelf, though he was obliged to get out of his b.d to receive us.

The next day I fent to inform Mr. Gordon, the undertaker that had depofited the remains of my much-loved mother, of what had happened, and defired him to look to the adminiftrator for

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the expences of the funeral. He fent for anfwer, that as I had ordered the funeral, he should expect me to pay for it; that it was a very genteel one; and he defied any one of the trade to furnish one more elegant for fifty guineas, though he should only charge me forty-two. As Mr. Gordon was a neighbour, and my mother was fo greatly refpected that numbers attended her manes without invitation, I was in hopes he would have been my friend upon the occafion, and have endeavoured to ease me of that load; but no! he chose to be his own friend, and to fix the debt upon me, without giving himself any trouble.

What made this event more vexatious was, that the feven hundred pounds, owing by the Widow Lock to my mother, as already mentioned, was to have been paid the Wednesday following. In the confufion and fright I was in when I left the house, I forgot the papers relative to this debt. As they were placed in a china clofet in the parlour, that they might be ready when wanted, the wretches who had taken poffeffion, probably thought them of no value, and had thrown them by as wafte paper. So that all I got by the death of my dear mother, was a poor girl fhe recommended to my charge, and who became an

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additional burthen to me. I never knew fhe was a relation, till my dying mother enjoined me to find her out, and take care of her.

The effects belonging to my mother were fold for an old song, as the saying is; but as the house was let to me, though only verbally, the fixtures could not be difpofed of. I commenced a fuit in the Commons against the depredator, which I should undoubtedly have gained, as I was born in wedlock; but an unexpected circumftance prevented me from receiving any redrefs. The wretch having spent all the money that arose from the fale of the effects, and having befides bullied fome tenants that rented the ftables belonging to the house out of what money was due; and being now apprehenfive of the confequences of his infamous tranfactions; he took the Gravefend boat in order to fly his country. Justice, however, here overtook him; for being much intoxicated, he fell into the river, and was never heard of more.

Had he received the defert due to his crimes, he would have been exalted inftead of funk. In this opinion I dare fay you will readily concur with me, when I relate to you the following instance of his rapaciousness and inhumanity; though indeed from those I have already prefented you with, B. 6 I think

I think I need not doubt of your entertaining the utmoft abhorrence for his conduct.

This unnatural being, (I will not debase the name of father by beftowing it on him,) kept his fon in prison, for refufing to join with him in difpofing of an annuity in which he had an interest. This was an annuity of fifty pounds a year in the Exchequer, the remains of two hundred; Crawford's wife having, during her life-time, joined with him in difpofing of the other hundred and fifty. He had also spent ten thousand pounds in money; part of which, in justice, ought to have been mine, as it devolved to him from another branch of the Sykes's family.

In order to terrify the lad into a compliance with his requifition, the inhuman monfter threw him, although yet a minor, into the Fleet Prison, after having arrefted him for board and lodging; and here this unfortunate young man remained till Crawford's death, as he had refolution enough to bear a difagreeable confinement, rather than confent to fo unjust a propofal.

Muft there not be fome place, red with uncommon vengeance, where a fevere retribution will await fuch complicated crimes, fuch a continued fyftem of difhonefty? There muft; there will! -Though

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