The Microcosm

by Maureen Duffy

  Compassion led her to visit him there though she had not the power to deliver him from that dismal abode but in her wishes. My good sir, cried our adventurer, you cannot conceive with what distress I behold you reduced to this unhappy condition after your great kindness to me, and with your permission I will set on foot a scheme I have at heart which will release you from this place and may perhaps return you to the favour of the town and to your former happiness. You have a humorous piece of your own composing which if you will allow me I will exhibit upon the Hay-Market stage, providing the performers and my own service, and taking the entire management upon myself without fee or reward unless the nightly receipts empower you to gratify me for my trouble, which I do not doubt for the piece has merit and I have ever found you among the most generous of men. As to the money I will have nothing to do with it; both door and office keepers shall be of your own providing, but the people if I engage them shall be paid nightly according to the agreement made with them for I know what it is to stand in want and gape upon promises; and as for me I shall think myself amply rewarded if I can be but partly the happy instrument of your being set at liberty.

  What, he cried, here is another come to torment me and deceive me with lies as if they had not already done more than enough. I will not trust them. They smile and smile yet I will not trust them. A little startled at first, she soon became convinced of his growing misfortune and too plainly perceived that he was not entirely in his senses and that nothing was to be gained by further discourse. With real concern she left him to return in a few days hoping to find him in a more settled order. Yet on entering his room it was immediately apparent that from a man of sense he was absolutely changed to a driv’ling ideot nor was there the least consistency in one single syllable he uttered though she at length managed to gather that a person had run away with his only hope of relief.

  In about a fortnight after this interview, passing through Newgate, she called to know how he did and was informed he was removed by a Habeas to the Fleet. As it lay upon her way, she stopped there and enquired after him, upon which she was desired to walk up two pairs of stairs and in such a room she should find him. She expressed to the persons who directed her a great concern for him and they as naturally answered ’twas very kind and good in her and desired her very civilly to walk up, which she accordingly did, and after having rambled into several people’s rooms through mistake, arrived at that of Mr. Russel.

  The reader may conceive a description of our adventurer’s surprise quite unnecessary on this occasion when she saw that Mr. Russel’s remains only were deposited there, though in a handsome shroud and coffin, but she was for some time very near motionless as the deceased person, until she began to be very angry with the woman who had sent her up without informing her that he was dead.

  But, said she when taxed upon this score, I had thought you knowed the poor gentleman was dead, he having been gone two days, and that you was come out of friendship and curiosity to see his sad remains. Nay madam, was the reply, That I did not but am glad to see him provided so well with a handsome shroud and coffin that he is not to be hustled hugger-mugger into the ground. As for that, the woman answered, they are but for shew and provided by a friend, for they must both be taken from him and he put into a plain box provided by the parish, for ’tis the law when a debtor dies without effects or means to satisfy their creditors they must be so interred, for if their friends be allowed to bury them decently the warden of this place is held liable for all their debts if can be proved he suffered it.

  ’Tis a hard case notwithstanding, our adventurer answered, that humanity should not extend itself even to the dead without hurting them whose principles of Christianity excite ’em to it. Here was one universally admired, and for some time as much the fashion in families as their clothes. But alas! Misfortunes are too apt to wear out friendship and he was cast off in three months with as much contempt as an old coat made in Oliver’s time.

  How true, said a voice. How well I know those sentiments to be true. And turning she found a young man, an intimate friend of the deceased had entered, whom she recognised from her association with Mr. Russel. I am deeply grateful for your concern, he continued. This has been a terrible affair, made only bearable by some two or three who have shewn compassion for his sufferings as you have done. A man of such sensibility is not able to support such a reverse of fortune and the knowledge that he had been betrayed by the villain instructed to solicit the nobility on his behalf quite undid him. The sum collected amounted to upwards of a hundred pounds which would have more than effected his relief.

  And what is to become of his figures? she enquired. I would be willing to take them myself as they can only be an encumbrance to one who does not understand their management. His landlord has them, the young man replied, And has valued them at three-score guineas and the money down. That is the end of my hope then, replied she, For I have not even the hope of that much money in the world. Had I done so Mr. Russel need never have been brought to the state of losing them, his reason and life all together. I do believe you, the young man answered, And may affirm that I stand in the same case as you may readily believe. Thus with many reflections on the cruel malice of Fortune our adventurer took her leave, seriously representing to herself her own situation and that she must hustle if she were not to find herself confined as her deceased friend had been, though as to madness and the losing of her senses she had always had the advantage of Spirits to surmount them for which she devoutly thanked Heaven.

  However that may be though my dear, she said when arrived home again, Spirits alone are not enough to supply our bread and clothing for our backs. I will engage myself at May-Fair and thus make shift until the next Bartholomew but then, my family being unwilling to help me to a living and my Father’s mind still poisoned against me even though I have often sued for favour and expressed myself a dutiful child, and thus all prospect of advancement in the town closed to me, the girl and I must go into the country to see what we may prog there, and I shall take upon me that dear name of Brown once more, the better to make my way, for if my family conceive that I am gone out to earn my bread their malice will reach out to me even there. But I would not force you to bear company and suffer with us. You have borne enough since you first took us into your house when I was stricken with the fever, and that only out of sincere friendship and an uncommon easiness of temper for sure you could never have hoped for any return of your goodness.

  Mrs. Brown however was not to be dissuaded being fully resolved that where her friend went she would bear them company although she was not without some small resources of her own and had no need to quit the town. Their first venture indeed nearly brought our adventurer back again for being engaged at Sunning-Hill in her old part of Captain Plume she found herself obliged to blend it with that of Sylvia, the lady who should have represented it being unable to speak a plain word or even to keep her ground. Yet this was trifling to what they afterwards beheld for there were Emperors as drunk as Lords, and Lords as elegant as ticket porters; a Queen with one ruffle on, and Lord Townly without shoes, or at least but an apology for them.

  On one occasion when Mrs. Brown was playing the part of the Queen in the Spanish Fryer, Charles, who was anxious to see how she acquitted herself and himself having no business with her since he was playing Lorenzo, watched from the wings, and found her to speak sensibly but, to his surprise, observed her to stoop extreamly forward, on which he concluded she was seized with a sudden fit of the Chollick and when she came from the stage asked her if this was so. She replied in the negative but at her next appearance, he remarked that she sunk down very much on that side he stood, on which he conjectured her to be troubled with a Sciatick pain in her side and made a second enquiry only to receive the same answer as before. Upon this he desired to know the reason of her bending forward, and fideling so. ’Tis a trick I have got, she answered. Then ’tis a very new one, said he, for I never saw you do so before. But he began to suspect s
omething was the matter and resolved to find it out.

  Presently the Royal Dame was obliged to descend to the Dressing Room from the stage, and made a discovery, by the tossing up of her hoop, of a pair of naked legs. Her Majesty having observed Torrismond to have a dirty pair of yarn stockings with above twenty holes in sight, kindly stripped her own legs of a pair of fine cotton and lent them to the hero thinking her own not so exposed to view. Charles let us say was both pleased and angry to find Mrs. Brown’s humanity had extended so far as to render herself ridiculous, besides the hazard she run of catching cold. Yet so common was this kind of circumstance that they began to think that going a-strolling was engaging in a little, dirty kind of war, and a very contemptible life, rendered so through the ignorant and impudent behaviours of the generality of those who pursued it, and that it would have been more reputable to have earned a living cinder sifting at Tottenham-court for a groat a day.

  In the course of their travels they went to a town called Cirencester in Gloucestershire, when an odd thing happened which I will now relate. For three years Charles had suffered intermittently with a nervous fever and lowness of spirits throughout which Mrs. Brown had been a devoted nurse. However when they came to the afore mentioned town he was so near death that his dissolution was every minute expected. The illness came to a crisis which our adventurer survived and began slowly to amend. As soon as he could creep about the house he was advised by the apothecary to ride out if he was able to sit a horse.

  There was in the same house a reverend looking elder, about sixty years of age, with a beautiful curling head of hair and florid complexion that bespoke at once both admiration and respect. His temper they found agreeable to his aspect, extreamly pleasing and his company entertaining with which he had often obliged Charles while Mrs. Brown attended her business of a play night. This person furnished them with two horses so that Mrs. Brown too could have the benefit of riding out to take the air after the fatigue of three years nursing during which she never once repined.

  After two or three days the old gentleman said one evening, I perceive you grow better. Do you like the horse? Charles answered that he greatly approved it for ’twas an easy and willing animal. Then, said the old man, He is yours and Mrs. Brown may keep the other to ride out together whenever you wish, for it does an old man good to see you both amended by taking the air, only for sometimes I may beg the favour of borrowing him until such time as I can send an order to my estate in Oxfordshire for another for my nephew Jemmy when I send him about the country on business.

  Charles thanked the old man heartily and Mrs. Brown happening to come in at that moment he made her aquainted with the old man’s goodness. There is yet another thing that I have been turning over of late, the old gentleman continued, that is whether you have ever had thoughts of quitting the stage for in your weak condition ’twould seem to me better avoided than pursued. And on this score I have a proposition which should you think fit to accept it would soon restore you to health and spirits and ensure you both an easy mind for the rest of your days. I have as you know a considerable estate in Brill which I am obliged to neglect to chase about the country on business to keep my stocks supplied for a grazier without cattle is like a sailor without a ship. I have need of someone to superintend my affairs and manage the estate in my absence and also of someone to have the management of the family at home which consists of myself and nephew and about seven or eight servants employed in the husbandry. Now it has come to my mind that you and Mrs. Brown would fill the bill to perfection and if you think proper to quit the strolling life you shall be comfortable as long as you both or I shall live.

  Our adventurers looked at each other scarce able to believe their ears or credit that Fortune should smile on them so suddenly and conceiving that the man must be dropped from Heaven to put an end to their miseries. In earnest of my intention, he continued, Here is a trifle for Mrs. Brown as there was never woman yet that could refuse a little adornment; and so saying he drew from his pocket an old-fashioned gold necklace with a lock of the same material which altogether by the weight could not be worth less than twenty pounds, there being several rows and the beads not small.

  Charles took it into his hand and having examined it closely desired the old gentleman to keep it ’till they were settled. For, said he, ’twould be a terrible thing if she should lose it in the crush of a play night. Let her put it up herself then, the other cried where she may take it out and look at it from time to time. Mrs. Brown was on the point of agreeing with this and had opened her mouth for that purpose but shut it again when Charles answered that they had no place to keep it but in their boxes which were frequently left unattended and that the elder would give it better care, and so it was agreed at last.

  In their own room again, Mrs. Brown demanded the reason for his extreme caution which had deprived her of a valuable ornament. Sure, said he, You would not wear it for ’tis more proper for the neck of a country housewife than a tragedy queen. It’s being so old fashioned would make people stare to see an actress so equipped. This mingling of flattery with reason mollified her a little although she continued to wonder to herself whether it would not have suited well with the new clothes she had just received as a present from her relations. The next morning they give warning to Mr. Linnet, the manager, that they would leave the company at the end of the month. The thought of being so well settled and provided for both their lives was greatly conducive towards the restoration of Charles’ health, and their friendship with the old gentleman and his nephew daily encreased.

  About a week or so later their new friend, with the utmost ceremony, begged the favour of borrowing the horse and away went the nephew. When he had been gone some three or four days longer than intended his Uncle began to grow uneasy until he worked himself into a downright passion with threats of cutting him off with a shilling for rambling about when he had sent him upon weighty business. Perhaps, Charles suggested, ’Tis the same weighty business that keeps him. He has always seemed to me a sober young man, not likely to be idle in your service. I dare swear when he returns you will find upon enquiry ’tis some grave concern that hath kept him and ’twould be unjust to condemn him without a hearing.

  You are right, said the old gentleman, And I thank you for reminding me of it. We are often over hasty to condemn the young for idleness but yours is far the wiser advice. I take it kindly that you should speak for him in his absence where some would be quick to drive the wedge farther between us. ’Tis an earnest of that honesty I may expect in all my dealings with you and when Jemmy comes home you shall have fifty pounds at your service, for honesty should not go without reward. In the meantime you must want for nothing that might hasten your recovery.

  However had Charles’ recovery depended upon this he might have lain again at Death’s door for before Mr. James came back came a sudden order from the Magistrate of the town to insist on the old man’s leaving it at a moment’s warning on pain of being sent to Gloucester Jail if he refused to obey. In the interim, home comes the nephew with the same charge but they huddled up their affairs in a strange manner and ventured to stay three days longer though very little seen.

  The reader may imagine the terrible consternation of our two friends who still could not arrive at the truth of the affair. At length came Mr. Linnet to them almost breathless and with a truly frighted aspect let them know what he had heard from the town’s people. They be both positively gamblers and housebreakers, he cried, and if you are foolish enough to listen to them any longer you will not only be well codded but made innocent sufferers for their guilt, and like to dangle at a rope’s end. They have no doubt seen your boxes full of fine linnen and the present of clothes to Mrs. Brown when they have visited you to play cards under show of friendship while you lay sick. As for the old rogue in his venerable beard, others than you have been deceived for he hath been a noted pickpocket, and sometimes highwayman, for upwards of forty years.

  O what an instinct for our preservatio
n was mine, cried Charles when they were once more alone together, That I would not suffer you to wear that detested necklace. Had you been seen with it about your neck by the rightful owner you might have been provided with one of a rougher kind and both of us disgracefully exalted for being harmlessly credulous. Let us lift up our hearts to Heaven with grateful sense of its providential care of us and send back the horses at once, for had this wicked man perpetrated his design we might have been made innocent sacrifices to save his horrid life, and branded with the guilt of crimes we should never have thought of committing.

  Thus though they had lost their imaginary fortune our friends secured their lives and the little all they were both worth upon the face of the earth, but business falling off they decided to join the company of Mr. Richard Elrington which was then in Devonshire and accordingly set out. They finally met up with them some five miles beyond Tiverton in their more rural retreat, and great was Mrs. Elrington’s joy to see them coming into town, Charles and the girl double upon a strapping beast which was of proper size to have rank’d in the number of dragoons and Mrs. Brown single. But the tale she told them of the company’s miserable state of affairs was so dismal that had she not rallied her misfortunes with such vivacity that her wit was too strong for their resolution, they should certainly have gone back by the next post.

  As they were just entering the town a good looking farmer met them, and guessing what they were by their appearance, asked if they were not comedians. When they answered in the affirmative he cried, Then if you have any pity for yourselves turn back for else by all that is above us ye shall starve of a certainty. This relevation, with Heaven as its witness, threw Mrs. Brown who was not ever the best horsewoman in the world, into such a fright that she dropped her bridle. Her hungry steed seizing the advantage at once made for the nearest meal and run her into the hedge where he dropped her in the ditch.