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 FEB 2 4 1989 
 MAR 4 1992 
 APR ^2 : 
 
 22
 
 BRIGHTON 
 
 IN AN 
 UPROAR; 
 
 COMPRISING 
 
 ANJECBOTJES 
 
 OF 
 
 """ "aI?!? T ^^'''''^' Mr. ABRAHAMS, SOLOMONS, 
 ALIAS MODISH AND FAMILY, &c. &c. &c. 
 
 A NOVEL, 
 
 Sfoumtti on facte. 
 
 By H. M. MORIARTY. 
 
 ••'V Truths like these 
 
 Will none offend, ,.hoin 'tis a praise to please." 
 
 Ilf TWO VOLUMES, 
 
 VOL. I. 
 SECOND EDITION. 
 
 lonuon : 
 
 ..TKAND, ANDBY ALL THKBOOKSELLEHS. 
 W.aLI«D05, FMNIISIl, RUPERX-.TKEET, UAYltARKET. 
 
 1811.
 
 Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
 in 2009 with funding from 
 
 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/brightonirNjproar01mori
 
 fA8Mt> 
 
 v.i 
 
 BRIGHTON 
 
 IX AN 
 
 UPROAR. 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 Here as with doubtful pensive steps I range. 
 Trace former scenes, and wonder at the change. 
 Remembrance walces with all her busy train, 
 Swells at my breast, and turns the past to pain, 
 
 GOLDSMITIJ. 
 
 -^ It was a gloomy^ cold evening, in the 
 month of January, when a lady descend- 
 ed from a diligence at ihc Lion d'Jr gent ^ 
 
 n in Calais. As few persons who travel 
 c3* by such a conveyance venture to take up 
 
 TOL. I. B
 
 2 BUIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 their residence at a hotel of such magni- 
 ficence, it was a novel sight to the inha- 
 bitants : the servants flocked to see who 
 could possibly come to their house in a 
 diligence ; at last they conjectured that 
 most assuredly it must be some femme de 
 cliamhre, who was directed to order pre- 
 parations for the family of mi Lord An- 
 glois ; and they ran with this agreeable 
 intelligence to their master, without stop- 
 ping to take the luggage from the dili- 
 gence, or once considering that the person 
 who had excited their curiosity was still 
 standing in a large court-yard^ and from 
 cold and fatigue was nearly fainting and 
 exhausted. 
 
 But it would be difficult to describe 
 the servants' astonishment, when Monsieur 
 du Crocq made his appearance, at seeing 
 him express the most profound respect 
 and the greatest delight when he saw the 
 lady ; ordering lights to be immediately 
 placed in the most elegant apartments, 
 and directing each servant to bring such
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 3 
 
 provisions as he thought would prove 
 most agreeable to his guest. 
 
 ^'Mais est il possible que Madame is 
 come alone: where be the domestic? Par 
 adventure some accident has happened 
 todi Voiture — et Monsieur^ where be he, 
 for I did hear dat Mademoiselle were 
 married." 
 
 '^ You are right. Monsieur du Crocq ; 
 I have been married some years, and I 
 have three children; but my situation in 
 life is very different now from what it 
 was when we last met : I keep no car- 
 riage, very few servants, and those are 
 left with my family. Colonel Mortimer 
 now commands at Woolwich, and as in 
 England we are fearful that the peace 
 which we now enjoy will only prove of 
 short duration, officers find great diffi- 
 culty in procuring leave of absence from 
 the country. I came to Brussels to en- 
 deavour to recover some of my property, 
 but the disastrous Revolution has destroy- 
 ed the most valuable part, and I fear the 
 u2
 
 4 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 little that remains I shall have great 
 trouble in obtaining, consequentljj my 
 old .friendj you will see the necessity of 
 my frugality. I came to your house be- 
 cause I have known you from a child ; 
 but as I can no longer afford those luxu- 
 ries which I formerly enjoyed, I beg 
 that I may be shewn into a less splendid 
 apartment. My stay here will be very 
 short: to-morrow I shall pass with the 
 nuns, and the day following I propose to 
 sail for England.'* 
 
 ''Madame cannot go to England, as 
 only de French Packet Boat do go now, 
 derefore it would not be right, as Ma- 
 dame have no servant ; den I must go 
 see you safe to Dover." 
 
 " That is impossible, Du Crocq ; never- 
 theless I feel greatly obliged to you for 
 your offer ; but, as I before observed, I 
 am not in aflfluence, consequently I can- 
 not make you a remuneration, therefore 
 I am compelled to decline your kind 
 proposal."
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN L'PROAR. 5 
 
 '' Dat cannot be, for I will go see jou 
 safe. I do think dat English gentleman * 
 do take more care of dere horse den of 
 derewifcj for if jour husband had sent a 
 horse he would send a groom to take care 
 of him, but he lets you come all alone.** 
 
 This observation of the innkeeper 
 brought some disagreeable recollections 
 to Mrs. Mortimer, which occasioned a 
 few tears ; but, whatever cause she had 
 for grief, she was not of a disposition to 
 eiicourage unavailing regret; but perhaps 
 she never felt more forcibly the change 
 in her establishment than at this moment. 
 However, she had too much good sense to 
 make any reply to Monsieur du Crocq, 
 but turned the conversation, by inquiring 
 after many friends whom she had not 
 heard from since the commencement of 
 the Revolution ; and her feelings were 
 frequently wounded by the recital of the 
 sufferings which some had experienced 
 by not embracing the cause of liberty. 
 
 She was delighted at hearing that les 
 b3
 
 6 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 Dames Dominicaioes resided together. 
 Monsieur du Crocq went to inform those 
 ladies that one of their fornier pupils was 
 arrived/and in a few minutes Mrs. Mor- 
 timer had the heart- felt satisfaction of 
 being pressed to the bosom of St. Vic- 
 toire. Those who have experienced reverse 
 of fortune, and been separated from the 
 friends of their jouth, can alone appre- 
 ciate such a meeting : thoy chatted of 
 former times and present prospects, with- 
 out considering that awful monitor time, 
 and the nun was astonished to find that 
 she had been so agreeably engaged, by 
 referring to the past, that she had entirely 
 forgotten the future; for on looking at 
 her watch she found that vespers had 
 been over above an hour, and that the 
 usual period for her retiring to rest was 
 also past. She regretted that she had 
 not a bed to offer the traveller, but it was 
 decided that during Mrs. Mortimer's 
 stay in France she should be constantly 
 with the nuns.
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 7 
 
 Mrs. Mortimer rang for the purpose 
 of being shewn into her sleeping roora^ a« 
 she had very recently recovered from a 
 dangerous illness. The fatigue of her 
 journey, with the agitation that her 
 spirits had experienced in again seeing 
 her beloved friend, and the thought of 
 being in a place which was endeared to 
 her by the recollection of former times, 
 had quite exhausted her spirits, and she 
 was anxious to go early to rest, that she 
 might gain sufficient composure of mind 
 to enable her to meet the abbess and the 
 rest of the nuns the following morning 
 with cheerfulness; but she was disap- 
 pointed in her calculations, for Monsieur 
 du Crocq answered the bell. 
 
 '' Ma foi Madame, I did not like to 
 intrude when di Soeur St. Victoire was 
 here, but Monsieur le Baron de St. Au- 
 bert have been here two or three times, 
 to know if he could pay his respects to 
 Madame, and he desires his compliments, 
 and will call in de morning. Monsieur 
 b4
 
 8 BRrGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 ]e Baron be married, but he never have 
 been happy since Madame left Calais. 
 Why did you leave us ? All de nuns were 
 so fond of youj and la Baron dc St. Au- 
 bert would have made yon a better hus- 
 band den any English mi lord : he be a 
 good husband, aldo he only marry to 
 please his mother, because he was di last 
 of his family, as all dc rest be guillo- 
 tined/' 
 
 '' These are subjects on which I cannot 
 enter : I have the greatest respect for the 
 Baron de St. Aubert and his mother ; it 
 will give me pleasure to see him, and 1 
 trust he will be rewarded for his duty to 
 his parent, by being happy as a husband 
 and a father.'* 
 
 " Escusez, Madame, I do not mean to 
 offend, but you look so different from what 
 you was when Mademoiselle Godefroi, 
 dat I cannot think you do like England 
 so well as France ; you used to be di life 
 of Calais; at all di balls, di spectacles, no 
 one so lively and gay as Mademoiselle,
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 9 
 
 and now, excusez.you do not look happy." 
 " Yoa should not judge so hastily; I anfi 
 fatigued with travelling, and seeing old 
 friends creates a heartfelt melancholy, 
 which is a delightful sensation to a feel- 
 ing disposition. When you knew me I 
 was young, and had every thing in view 
 which could make this life desirable. I 
 have now a family to think of; my hus- 
 band I left in bad health, and those spi- 
 rits which would be a recommendation at 
 sixteen, would be deemed levity in a mar- 
 ried woman of six-and-twenty.'* 
 
 Monsieur du Crocqtook his leave, and 
 the fille de chambre made her appear-^ 
 ance. 
 
 The next morning Mrs. Mortimer was 
 awakened by an alarming clap of thun- 
 der ; the wind howled horribly, and the 
 rain, which fell in torrents, penetrated 
 into her room : she arose, and was pleased 
 to find that it was only seven o'clock, as 
 she purposed, as soon as she was dressed^ 
 to surprise the nuns by an early visit; 
 b5
 
 10 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 but before she had finished her toilet, 
 she as informed that the abbess was 
 come to fetch her to breakfast. This 
 was an attention from a lad of eightj- 
 four years of age tha- --be did not ex- 
 pect ; and while she was expressing her 
 thanks in a message, St. Etienne en- 
 tered. It was the first visit she had paid 
 since she was driven from her convent. 
 She came, she said, out of respect to her 
 late pupil, and she requested that Mrs, 
 Mortimer would attend her home imme- 
 diately, as the nuns would not go to 
 prayer without her. 
 
 Mrs. Mortimer was a Protestant, but 
 she respected every person who lived up 
 to the faith of the religion they professed ; 
 consequently she had no objection to 
 comply with the wishes of St. Etienne, and 
 she was much gratified in seeing all her 
 old friends assembled. It was in a cellar, 
 for during the Revolution they were 
 compelled to perform their religious du- 
 ties in private ; but the chapel was so
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 11 
 
 neatly fitted up that you soon forgot the 
 approach to it. When the service was 
 over she was conducted to the refectory. 
 It is true that it had white-washed walls, 
 oak tables^ chairs and forms to corres- 
 pond ; but the crackling faggot blazed on 
 the humble hearth : resignation and cheer- 
 fulness sat on the countenances of the sis- 
 terhood : the meal on the table was plain, 
 but wholesome ; and Mrs. Mortimer had 
 the delight of seeing in this house of pri- 
 vation and abstinence, that luxury^ which 
 no riches can purchase — contentment. 
 
 As soon as the repast was finished the 
 abbess invited Mrs. Mortimer into a 
 small room, which she called her cell; 
 for as soon as these ladies were compel- 
 led to leave their convent they took a 
 house large enouglr to contain them all, 
 as they determined to dedicate their lives 
 to the benefit of society ; and during the 
 Revolution, did these valuable women, 
 when the Catholic faith and all religfous 
 ceremonies were prohibited, run the risk
 
 13 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 of being guillotined, by constantly per- 
 forming, and exhorting others to join in 
 their religious duties ; and that the 
 rising generation might not imbibe the 
 pernicious principles which then pre- 
 vailed, St. Etienre, at her advanced age^ 
 kept a day-school, and by her cheerful 
 manners and assiduous application, taught 
 the young people to venerate and wor- 
 ship that Supreme Being whose goodness 
 and bounty bad enabled their ancient pre- 
 ceptress, in the dreadful prison of Arra5, 
 and before that tribunal at which Robes- 
 pierre presided, to stand firm in her reli- 
 gious and moral duties, and to persevere in 
 acknowledging her God and her king. 
 
 St. Etienne was dragged from her 
 home and placed in a prison: the only 
 accusation against her was, that her fa- 
 mily name was Grey, and as General 
 Grey at that period commanded the Bri- 
 tish army in Flanders, they persisted that 
 she was related to him, and that she had 
 forwarded information which had proved 
 destructive to the French interest. At this
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 13 
 
 period St. Etienne laboured under great 
 bodily infirmity, but she could obtain no 
 commiseration : to prison she must 
 gOj placed among common felons; and 
 the indecencies and enormities which 
 were tolerated in the prison were such as 
 excited the greatest horror; but Mrs. 
 Grey had made her vows from choice ; 
 she had sworn at the altar to devote her 
 life to her maker, and it appeared to her 
 that the period was now arrived when her 
 exertions might probably save some of 
 her depraved companions from perdition ; 
 she therefore hailed that moment as the 
 most fortunate of her existence, which 
 had placed her in a situation where she 
 could, by preaching repentance and for- 
 giveness, probably recall numerous sin- 
 ners to a sense of their wickedness^ and 
 induce them to return to the paths of 
 virtue. 
 
 When first she began to say mass, she 
 only met with derision and indignity 
 from the prisoners ; the jailor rebuked
 
 14 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 and threatened her for daring to fly in the 
 face ot the laws of liberty ; but St. Eti- 
 enne possessed a firmness of mind which 
 rises superior to mere self-preservation: 
 if they put her to death she knew that 
 she had forfeited her life in preaching 
 that Gospel which she had vowed to pro- 
 pagate : existence, therefore, could have 
 no charms for her if she was divested 
 of the power of serving her creator. She 
 accordingly persevered in her laudable 
 undertaking, and her perseverance was 
 crowned with success : every day lessened 
 the ridicule she experienced^ and after a 
 few weeks her companions voluntarily 
 attended her devotions both morning and 
 evening : in a short time that prison, 
 which had been a scene of licentiousness 
 and riot, became quiet ; the prisoners 
 "were industriously employed, and most 
 grateful to their instructress, for her 
 endeavours to save them from everlasting 
 perdition. 
 
 St. Etienne assured Mrs, Mortimer
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 15 
 
 that she felt amply repaid for all the insults 
 and the great hardships wliich she had 
 endured, bj seeing those poor wretches 
 endeavouiv, by their exertions^ to become 
 useful to that society which thej had dis- 
 graced. 
 
 The blessed day which relieved the 
 world from that monster^ Robespierre^ 
 opened the prison doors to the abbess; 
 but this amiable woman felt no pleasure 
 in her emancipation. She considered 
 that her beloved and pious sisterhood no 
 longer wanted her example to excite 
 them to perform with cheerfulness the 
 austerities of their religious order^ and to 
 preach faith, hope, and charity ; she felt 
 that in a prison she could be of more 
 service to her fellow creatures than in the 
 world, as by her patience and forbear- 
 ance she could teach them that only the 
 good and the virtuous can inherit the 
 kingdom of heaven. But the dangerous 
 state of her health induced her friends 
 to insist upon her returning to them, that
 
 16 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 she might not only have the best advice^ 
 but that she might have every care and 
 attention paid to promote her comfort ; 
 but they had great difficulty in accorn- 
 plishing their wishes^ as unknown to them 
 she had petitioned to end her days in that 
 very prison, the horrors of which, at en- 
 tering, had even appalled her firm mind. 
 
 The furniture of St. Etienne's cell con- 
 sisted of an iron bedstead without hang- 
 ings, a small chest of drawers, above 
 which was a crucifix ; one chair, and an 
 old carpet which had been presented to 
 her by Mrs. Mortimer when she was a 
 pensioner in the convent of les Dames 
 Dominicaines at Calais. 
 
 '^ This carpet, my dear, has been my 
 constant companion, and, I may add, my 
 greatest luxury : when in prison, I slept 
 on it, for only straw with one blanket 
 was allowed me. Every day I prayed 
 for the donor, that she might escape from 
 experiencing such miseries as I then en- 
 dured ; or, if it pleased the Almighty
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 17 
 
 to afflict her, that he might give her 
 strength to meet her fate with resigna- 
 tion, being convinced that whatever is, is 
 right, and that the merciful Disposer of 
 all human events only chastises for wise 
 purposes, ever holding in mind, that as we 
 bear our trials here, so shall wc be re- 
 warded hereafter. 
 
 '' St. Victoire related to me the conver- 
 sation which passed betv^eea her and jou 
 last evening. I am grieved to leara 
 that you have had no reason to rejoice 
 that you left this country ; if you had foi- 
 lo^ved ray advice you would have re- 
 mained with us, and have become one of 
 our holy order : you would then only 
 have known worldly sorrows by name; 
 after the disappointment which you had 
 experienced, it was not probable that 
 you would ever be happy as a wife. '^ 
 
 " Had I been permitted, my dear 
 mother, to peep into the book of futu- 
 rity, in all likelihood I should have fol- 
 lowed your advice, as assuredly, the
 
 18 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 hardshirs which I have encountered 
 in a married life naturally induce 
 me frequenily to regret that I ever left 
 jour peaceful abode, aud that I did not 
 take those vows which would have se- 
 cured me a residence in a house from 
 which are excluded all the vexations and 
 vanities of this world. You have long 
 known my sentiments on religion, and, 
 with such impressions, had 1 embraced a 
 monastic life, I should have been unwor- 
 thy of your friendship, as in seeking the 
 retirement of a cloister only to elude 
 those afflictions, which are attached to 
 the female character, appears to my weak 
 judgment as tending to defeat the end 
 for which we were created. I am now 
 called on to perform the sacred duties of 
 a wife and a mother, and having been edu- 
 cated by you, I feel assured, that in those 
 characters you will never be ashamed to 
 acknowledge me as your pupil." 
 
 " I shall at all times, I am sure, be 
 proud to acknowledge you ; believe
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 19 
 
 t»c, the satisfaction which I feel at again 
 conversing with jou is the greatest plea- 
 sure I have known since compelled to 
 leave our dear convent. 
 
 " But I called you into my cell at the 
 particular request of all the community; 
 we all entreat that when jou and your 
 children are disposed to retire from the 
 busy scenes of the world, that you will 
 remember that our house is open to re- 
 ceive you ; your children we consider as 
 our children, for are you not our beloved 
 daughter ?" 
 
 Mrs. Mortimer was interrupted in her 
 reply to this generous offer by the en- 
 trance of some of the sisterhood to ex- 
 press the great pleasure they felt in an- 
 nouncing that the storm had increased so 
 violently that it must be some days be- 
 fore a packet boat would venture to sea, 
 consequently that their old friend must be 
 detained lenger with them than she ex- 
 pected. Several persons were also wait- 
 ing to see Mrs. Mortimer; among them
 
 20 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 were the old Baroness de St. Aubert and 
 her son : she insisted upon Mrs. Mortimer 
 dining with her : indeed^ all her friends 
 were most pressing with invitations to 
 their houses; but as she wished to pass 
 all the lime she could with St. Victoire, 
 she Requested the abbess to settle her en- 
 g-agemeists. St. Etienne therefore de- 
 cided that Mrs, Mortimer should break- 
 fast and sup with the nuns, during the 
 time which she remained in France, and 
 the rest of the day she should devote io 
 those esteemed friends who had been the 
 companions of her youth. 
 
 It may easily be imagined that time 
 glided swiftly in such society, in defiance 
 of weather : there was not a walk, or a 
 place, which was endeared to Mrs. Mor- 
 timer by past scenes which she did not 
 visit : assuredly it was a melancholy plea- 
 sure, nevertheless, to such feelings as 
 her's it was a delightful sensation, al- 
 though, reflecting on the past^ occa- 
 sioned some painful ideas.
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 21 
 
 On the fourth evening- after Mrs. Mor- 
 timer's arrival at Calais, as slie was re- 
 turnin£' to the Lion d 'Argent^ she met 
 Monsitur Dii Crocq, who seemed de- 
 sirous of relating some extraordinary 
 occurrence. She had scarcely gained her 
 apartment before he entered it. 
 
 '' Ma foi Madame, dis be de luckiest 
 ting in de world : Monsieur le Che- 
 valier Flight be just arrived from Paris, 
 he have brought only one valet wid 
 him, and he be going to England. I 
 took di liberty to say, dat one English 
 lady be going to Angleterre, and asked 
 the chevalier to let Madame belong to 
 his suite ; derefore, if Madame will per- 
 mit, to-morrow morning I will introduce 
 Monsieur le Chevalier Flight to Ma- 
 dame." 
 
 Mrs. Mortimer felt the full force of 
 Monsieur du Crocq's attention, and was 
 glad to avail herself of.this introduction ; 
 accordingly, at the proper time, she was 
 introduced to Sir Timothy Flight, and
 
 22 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 everj thing was then settled that she 
 should profit by his politeness, the ba- 
 ronet en2:aging to see her safe to her 
 house in Rochester. 
 
 Sir Timothy Flight was just of age; 
 his father died when he was an infant, 
 and he had only one sister and a brother 
 living ; they all resided with their mo- 
 ther, who for beauty, accomplishments, 
 and worth, was surpassed by none of her 
 sex. 
 
 To Sir Timothy Flight Pro>idence 
 had been most bountiful, as his face, per- 
 son, and manners, were such as to prepos- 
 sess every one in his favour. He was 
 quite a stranger in Calais, and he com- 
 plained to Mrs. Mortimer that he found 
 lounging in an inn most insufferably dull. 
 She offered to introduce him to her old 
 friends : the proposal was accepted with 
 avidity, and as he was prevented by the 
 inclemeacy of the weather from leaving 
 France, he visited the nuns every day ; 
 and if Mrs. Mortimer was struck by his
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 23 
 
 manners and appearance at first sight, on 
 a further acquaintance slie was convinced 
 that he possessed a heart and mind the re- 
 sidence of every virtue. 
 
 While he remained in Calais all his 
 time was devoted to doing good ; he 
 frequented the haunts of misery, and his 
 purse was always open to relieve the dis- 
 tressed. He gave money to St. Etienne 
 to purchase meat and clothing for the in- 
 digent^ and it mattered not to him of 
 what country or of what religious per- 
 suasion ; they were fellow creatures^ and 
 in absolute want, consequently he con- 
 sidered that they had claims on his huma- 
 nity. He was blessed with a mind which 
 was too liberal to limit his bounty to 
 those only who were his countrymen and 
 Protestants; neither did he wait to search 
 for those who are termed proper objects 
 on which to confer his charity. He 
 trusted that all those who partook of his 
 munificence would be grateful to their 
 Creator, for having in such a season sent
 
 24 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 Ihcrn a friend who had the power and 
 inclination to relieve their miseries. He 
 judged, that Providence, in having amply 
 given him the means to be charitable, 
 had entrusted to him riches, not merely 
 to indulge in the luxuries and pleasures 
 of this world, but also that he must here- 
 after be accountable for the use which he 
 had made of them. He considered that 
 he had no right to judge the actions of any 
 individual ; to relieve those whom he 
 knew to be objects of compassion and 
 deserving of his attention, was to him the 
 greatest felicity: neither did he withhold 
 his benevolence from the undeserving, if 
 in real distress, as in his opinion they were 
 the greatest objects of commiseration, 
 and he trusted that they would be sensi- 
 ble of their error, and reform. A cir- 
 cumstance of this nature occurred to him 
 as he was going to Paris, about a year 
 previously to his introduction to Mrs. 
 Mortimer. 
 
 Sir Timothy was walking in some fields
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 25 
 
 a short distance from Dover, and was 
 amusing himself by admiring the beauties 
 of nature. It was in the earlj part of 
 autumn^ when the country is decked ia 
 rich and beautiful foliage. lie stop- 
 ped to take a sketch of the castle, 
 which struck his fancy : no sound was 
 to be heard, save the shepherd's dog and 
 bleating sheep. ' It had been some hours 
 since he had seen the human face divine,* 
 when all at once his attention was arrest- 
 ed by the most heart-piercing sighs and 
 sobs : on turning to whence they pro- 
 ceeded, he perceived a pretty young 
 woman, apparently in the deepest dis- 
 tress. 
 
 Sir Timothy could never see an object 
 in misery without participating in their 
 sorrows ; he approached, and gently in- 
 quired if it were possible to alleviate her 
 grief. The girl started at being address- 
 ed by such a fine gentleman. 
 
 " Oh, no — and please your honour^ 
 Betsey can have no comfort— for Robert 
 
 VOL. I. c
 
 ^6 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 is gone, and father be so angrj that I 
 wish I were dead." 
 
 Sir Timothy inquired into further par- 
 ticularSj and the result proved that her 
 father was a tradesman, and that she had 
 got acquainted with a young nnan of dis- 
 sipated habits. It was natural for a 
 father to object to such a character for 
 the husband of his child ; and to prevent 
 their union, he got a prcssgang to 
 take Robert on board a tender. Betsey 
 followed, and remained some days near 
 hina, and her father had just brought her 
 home when Sir Timothy heard her 
 lamentations. The young woman said 
 she was sure that Robert would be steady 
 and good in future if her father could be 
 prevailed on to let her marry him, and 
 only give them a smiill sum to remove 
 them to a distance from all Robert's bad 
 companions, and set them up in a little 
 shop. She pleaded so powerfully to Sir 
 Timothy's feelings that he got Robert 
 discharged : they were married^ and he
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 27 
 
 sent them to one of his estates in the 
 north. Betsey is an excellent dairy-wo- 
 man, and Robert attends the cattle : 
 hitherto he has had a good account of 
 them, and has every reason to believe that 
 Robert will prove deserving of his further 
 patronage. 
 
 Such was the character of the man 
 under whose protection Mrs. Mortimer 
 was to return to her husband. As par- 
 ticular business demanded Sir Timothy's 
 presence in England, and as Mrs. Mor- 
 timer was impatient to return to her 
 children, it was agreed that they should 
 sail by the first packet. They made 
 several applications to obtain an English 
 vessel, but Monsieur M. was in- 
 exorable. The inns were all crowded, 
 consequently they prepared themselves 
 for a disagreeable passage, as of course 
 they would have more companions than 
 the packet could conveniently accom- 
 modate. 
 
 At last Mrs. Mortimer was summoned 
 c2
 
 28 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 to prepare for her departure^ as a vessel 
 would sail in a few hours. When the 
 moment arrived that she was to bid adieu, 
 probably for ever, to those friends from 
 whom she had ever received even parental 
 kindness and affection, it required all 
 her fortitude, and indeed more than she 
 possessed, to disguise the repugnance she 
 felt at again visiting her native country. 
 She was going to be separated from per-« 
 sons whom she sincerely loved, whose 
 manners and pursuits suited her disposi- 
 tion, to return to a joyless home, to a 
 country in which she had only known 
 sorrow. Her children were most dear to 
 her, she doated on them, but they were 
 not of an age either to participate in her 
 pleasures, or to sympathize in her misfor- 
 tunes. Her situation was such that she 
 could nerer look at these objects of her 
 affections without lamenting the past, and 
 dreading what their fate might be in 
 future. 
 When she approached the pier. Sir
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 29 
 
 Timothy was ready to receive her. As he 
 had a great quantity of luggage^ the boat 
 which was to take them to the vessel was 
 completely loaded : the sea looked most 
 awful, and the foaming billows bounded 
 and recoiled in the most violent agitation. 
 
 ''God send you safe to the packet, 
 my dear child !** exclaimed St. Victoire, 
 crossing herself; ''^ but indeed you had 
 better return^ and not venture till the sea 
 is more calm. My foreboding mind prog- 
 nosticates that some direful misfortune 
 awaits you/* 
 
 At this instant Mrs. Mortimer was 
 lifted into the boat^ and the nun's prog- 
 nostications threatened every moment to 
 be verified^ as they were scarcely seated, 
 before two of the oars were washed 
 away by the fury of the waves ; the rud- 
 der next followed ; and that they reached 
 the packet in safety, is among those 
 wonderful incidents in life which weak 
 mortals cannot fathom. Mrs. Morti- 
 mer's dangers, however, did not terminate 
 c3
 
 30 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 here; she had never heen used to en- 
 counter with difficulties of any kind ; 
 she was extrcmelj near-sig^hted^ and in 
 stepping from the boat to the vessel, she 
 did not fix her foot on the right place ; 
 the consequence was that she slipped. 
 Fortunately a sailor caught her by the 
 gown, but she had been up to the waist 
 in the sea, and she was brought on deck 
 insensible to all the cares of this world. 
 As soon as she recovered she went to 
 bed, but her situation was truly de- 
 plorable, as she lay for ten hours in her 
 wet cloaths, which circumstance induced 
 her to rejoice when she landed at Dover, 
 an event which she thought most impro- 
 bable when she left Calais. 
 
 It was night when they reached Eng- 
 land, and those who are accustomed to 
 
 ■» 
 
 travelling will not be surprised to hear, 
 that it was late the next evening before 
 they could get their luggage from the 
 Custom House, and pursue their journey. 
 Sir Timothy sent his valet by a public
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 3t 
 
 conveyance, and gave Mrs. Mortimer a 
 seat in his carriage. The travellers 
 reached Rochester about two in the 
 mornino:. Colonel Mortimer instantly 
 arose, supper was served, and tliej did 
 not separate for some hours. The co- 
 lonel regretted that he had not kno\vn of 
 Sir Tiinothj*s honouring him with a visit, 
 that a bed might have been prepared for 
 his reception, which he felt himself obliged 
 to decline offering, as himself and wife 
 had been so long absent, he was fearful 
 that they might not be aired, but his 
 servant had ordered one at the Crown inn, 
 where he would attend on the baronet; 
 and Sir Timothy departed with the pro- 
 mise of breakfasting with them the next 
 morning. 
 
 Every parent will be aware of the joy 
 which Mrsf Mortimer felt at finding all 
 her children in perfect health, and that 
 they had recovered from the hooping- 
 cough, which they had caught in her 
 absence. 
 
 c 4
 
 ^% BRIGHTON IN AN UPUOAR. 
 
 Sir Timotlij was an early riser, and 
 came to breakfast by nine o'clock. Co- 
 lonel Mortimer was soon convinced by 
 his conversation that he merited the strong 
 encomiums which his wife had bestowed 
 on him^ and they separated with great 
 regret, as the conciliatory manners of the 
 Baronet created an ardent desire in the 
 Colonel to cement a friendship with a 
 person every way so calculated to excite 
 esteem. Sir Timothy appeared equally 
 desirous of improving an acquaintance 
 which accident had commenced, and he 
 promised to visit Kent the ensuing sum- 
 men
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. SS 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 Avails it aught that nature's liberal hand, 
 With every blessing grateful man can know, 
 
 Cloaths the rich bosom of yon smiling land, 
 The mountain's sloping side, or pendant brow^ 
 
 If meagre famine paint your pallid cheek, 
 
 If breaks the midnight bell your hours of rest. 
 
 If, midst heart-chilling damps, and winter bleak, 
 You shun the cheerful bowl, and moderate feast? 
 
 Temp'rance, not abstinence, is every bliss, 
 
 Is man's true joy, and thereforeheaven's command^, 
 
 The wretch who riots, thanks his God amiss, 
 AVho starves, rejects the bounty of his hand. 
 
 W. Whitehead, 
 
 As Mrs. Mortimer will prove a con- 
 spicuous person in these anecdotes, it 
 may be agreeable to the reader to be in- 
 formed of her parentage and education. 
 
 Her father. Major Godefroi, of the 
 Inniskilling Dragoons, served under the 
 c5
 
 34 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 great Duke of Cumberland in Flanders. 
 He was a genllcinan of such strict honour 
 and gentlemanly manners^ that he was an 
 universal favourite. When he was first 
 quartered at Brussels, he had just entered 
 his twenty-second year ; his father was 
 recently dead, and had bequeathed to 
 him a handsome fortune. He had two 
 sisters, both of whom were considerably 
 older than himself, and had been married 
 some years, one to an a'lmiral in the Bri- 
 tish navy, the other to a doctor of di- 
 vinity. The Major was of an ancient fa- 
 mily, as he traced his ancestors having 
 landed in England with William the 
 Conqueror. Colonel Honeywood, who 
 served in the same brigade, had been 
 educated at the same school with the 
 Major; they were both extremely ac- 
 complished, inseparable friends, and their 
 society was courtt d by every one. 
 
 Colonel Honeyvi^ood had been, pre- 
 viously to this period, sometime in Brus- 
 sels, and had formed a friendship with
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 35 
 
 the chancellor of the Low Countries. 
 The Baron d'Arrambert was a sen.«ible 
 man, of retired habits. He had married 
 a beautiful woman, much younger than 
 himself, by whom he had one son and 
 two daughters. The Baron never entered 
 into public amusements or large parties, 
 but he did not deprive his wife of those 
 pleasures which suited her time of life 
 and disposition. The situation he held 
 under government took up much of his 
 time, and consequently prevented his be- 
 ing much at home. The baroness was 
 of a lively character, had been educated 
 in France, and was fond of company. 
 Her house was open twice in every week, 
 when she gave petit soupees, which were 
 delightful She possessf-d great wit, was 
 visited by persons of the highest rank, 
 and, in short, was quite the fashion. Her 
 conduct as a wife was irreproachable, as 
 she blended good sense and religion with 
 her accomplishments ; and the Baron was 
 certain, that in trusting his honour to her
 
 36 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 keeping, he liad placed it under a guar- 
 dianship which would never betray the 
 sacred trust. The Mademoiselles d'Ar- 
 rarabert had been sent to a convent as 
 soon as they came from nurse, and the 
 son was with a priest. 
 
 Madame d'Arrambert saw her children 
 frequently, and she anticipated each in- 
 terview with the fondest expectation ; 
 but in the round of pleasure in which she 
 was engaged, according to foreign cus- 
 toms, and with her ideas of propriety, to 
 Lave had her daughters with her would 
 have been highly indecorous. The eldest 
 was engaged at the time she had com- 
 pleted her fourteenth year to marry her 
 cousin the Count de Belgrade ; the union 
 was to take place in a few months, and 
 she was not to make her appearance in 
 public till the ceremony was over. Hu- 
 bertine d'Arrambert had only once seen 
 her intended husband; he had a large 
 fortune, and the alliance was approved 
 ef by both families. Josephine, the
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 37 
 
 youngest sister, was destined to take the 
 veil, as the Baron d'Arrambert possessed 
 all the pride of his ancestors, and con- 
 sidered, that by devoting his youngest 
 child to her Maker, he should be enabled 
 to increase the fortune of his son, who 
 would thereby be better able to support 
 the dignity'of his house. His wife made 
 no objection to these arrangements ; she 
 saw no reason why Josephine should not 
 be a nun, especially as it was the custom 
 in all families of rank to devote some of 
 the females to a monastic life, and she 
 had a sister, who was abbess of the con- 
 vent in which her children resided. 
 
 Such was the situation of the chan- 
 cellor's family, when Colonel Honeywood 
 introduced Major Godefroi to the Baron 
 d*Arrarabert. The friends attended all 
 Madame d'Arrambert's parties, and she 
 invited them to join several of her rela- 
 tions, who were to accompany her to 
 Antwerp, where she was going to see her 
 daughters^ and to be present when a re-
 
 38 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 lation of her's \vas professed, wiio had 
 just then completed lier noviciate. This 
 ceremony was to take place in a few days. 
 Colonel Honeywood and Major God efroi 
 were delighted at having such a favour- 
 able opportunity of gratifying their cu- 
 riosity^ and accepted the invitation. As 
 the party were to stay sometime at Ant- 
 werp^ a large house was taken for their 
 accommodation, and Hubertine d'Ar- 
 rambert being soon to pledge her faith at 
 the altar, the Count de Belgrade was of 
 course one of the party, and as a great 
 indulgence, the sisters were permitted to 
 remain wi(h their mother. 
 
 Hubertine d'Arrambert was uncom- 
 monly tall of her age, and assuredly very 
 handsome ; she was extremely lively, and 
 was in such raptures at being in the 
 world, that she appeared like a bird 
 escaped from its cage. 
 
 Major Godefroi was soon sensible of 
 the charms and amiable disposition of 
 Hubertine, and she was delighted in
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 39 
 
 having an opportunity of improving her- 
 self in the English language, which she 
 was stndj ing in (he convent. She, there- 
 fore, constantly walked with the IMajor^ 
 and before she was aware of being in 
 danger, had disposed of her heart; for 
 she was so unacquainted with the man- 
 ners of society, that she knew no reason 
 why she should disguise her feelings. 
 Every one was so taken up with viewing 
 the beautiful paintings of the Dutch and 
 Flemish schools, that they did not notice 
 what was going forward ; and Hubertine 
 and the Major had come to a full ex- 
 planation of the sentiments which they 
 entertained for each other, before the ex- 
 piration of the week. The Count de 
 Belgrade was an amiable man, and cal- 
 culated to make the marriage stale happy, 
 as he possessed a good heart and many 
 valuable qualifications; but he had paid 
 no more attention to Hubertine d*Arram- 
 bert than to the rest of the party. It had 
 been agreed for some years that one
 
 40 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 should be his wife^ and he had no idea 
 that anj thing could prevent an alliance, 
 which was verj desirable^ as the Baron 
 d'Arrambert's estates joined his, and 
 some land, which the Count de Belgrade 
 had long been anxious to possess, was to 
 be part of Hubertine's portion. 
 
 An awful bell announced that the morn- 
 ing was arrived when Mademoiselle de 
 Colbert was to resign the pomp and va- 
 nities of this wicked world, and thepartj 
 were summoned to the convent of Notre 
 Dame ; but the multitude which were 
 assembled in the hope of obtaining per- 
 mission to see the beautiful girl make her 
 vows was so great as to render it difficult 
 to gain admittance. As soon as it was 
 known that the Baroness d*Arrambert 
 and her party were waiting, measures 
 were taken to procure them an entrance. 
 Places had been prepared for them in a 
 gallery opposite to the spot where Sophia 
 de Colbert was to take her station. The 
 chapel was filled with novices, who were
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 41 
 
 V 
 
 decorating it with ornaments and flowers ; 
 and at the upper end was an eminence 
 covered with a rich carpet, where the 
 object who had brought so many specta- 
 tors was to be seated. The ceremony 
 that followed was most imposing : the 
 father and brother of the devoted vic- 
 tim were both present, and weeping : 
 they were dressed in deep mourning, and 
 the English friends found great difficulty 
 in refraining from joining them in tears. 
 Their attention was now roused by the 
 most solemn airs being performed on a 
 fine-toned organ, accompanied by some 
 of the most liarmonious voices which 
 they had ever heard, and immediately 
 afterwards the procession commenced. 
 The lady abbess first made her appear- 
 ance, followed by all the nuns; after 
 these came all the novices and the chil- 
 dren educated in the convent; then So- 
 phia de Colbert, holding a lighted taper 
 in her hand. She was conducted by two 
 sisters to the altar, which was nearly in
 
 42 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 the centre of the chipel^ where she re- 
 mained some time at her devotions, after 
 which the superior of the convent of 
 St. Dominique addressed the novice with 
 great feeling : the exhortation was re- 
 plete with unaffected eloquence^ and So- 
 phia gave the most steady attention. She 
 then advanced between two of the nuns, 
 and made her profession in distinct and 
 clear language, meekly kneeling before 
 the priest. Prajers followed. 
 
 The proper dress of the order was laid 
 on a table. The ladj abbess took off 
 the white veil from Sophia, and placed 
 on her head a black one; a belt and 
 beads were fastened round her waist, and 
 the priest sprinkled the devotee with 
 holy water. She then delivered to him 
 a box containing all the rich and valuable 
 ornaments which she had worn while in 
 the world : the holy man stamped on 
 them with the greatest indignation, and 
 she trampled them under her fcetj as 
 being now unworthy of her attention. Se-
 
 BIUGHTON IX AN UPROAR. 43 
 
 veral grand choruses succeeded by the 
 priests and nuns ; and mass was per- 
 formed in the most superb manner^ and 
 >vith all its priestly ornaments. The fa- 
 ther and brother of the beautiful victim 
 came in the hope of prevailing; on Sophia, 
 even at the altar, to change her resolution, 
 in the fond hope that parental and brother- 
 ly affection would predominate over her 
 religious vows, and induce her to return 
 to her afflicted relatives. They placed 
 themselves in a conspicuous part of the 
 chapel ; but the novice was so intent 
 on the duties she wae then performing 
 that the ceremony was nearly finished be- 
 fore they met her attention. When they 
 did attract her notice, she withdrew her 
 eyes with great precipitation ; for a mo- 
 ment she appeared agitated, but, as if re- 
 collecting herself, with a haste and reso- 
 lution which confounded her relations, 
 she arose from her kneeling attitude, and, 
 having retired a few paces back, threw 
 herself at full length on the carpet, with
 
 44 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 her face to the ground : humbled thus 
 to the earth., she kissed it., to signify her 
 lowness of spirit/ and to prove that she 
 had renounced all the vanities and follies 
 of this VForld. The passing-bell began 
 to toll, and she was covered with a pall, 
 as if the breath of life had really de- 
 parted from her. 
 
 The countenances of the father and 
 brother at this moment were such as to 
 excite the most powerful commiseration : 
 despair was painted in every feature ; to 
 5peak was impossible, for the power of 
 articulation was suppressed. The whole 
 congregation became extremely affected 
 at this part of the ceremony, and for some 
 minutes an awful silence prevailed. 
 
 The burial service was chaunted in the 
 most solemn manner : the organ, assisted 
 by the vocal powers of the priests and 
 nuns, seemed to exalt the soul. At last 
 Sophia raised her eyes and fixed them on 
 her father and brother ; and at this in- 
 stant it might be discovered that nature
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 45 
 
 was not extinct in her breast. Her frame 
 shook, her heart was agonized, and she 
 was unable to repress her sighs. This 
 was too much for the miserable parent;- 
 he sunk senseless into the arms of his 
 son^ and was instantly conveyed from the 
 scene which had caused him such heart- 
 piercing sorrow. 
 
 This event interrupted the ceremony for 
 sometime : poor Sophia was led to a 
 chair, and prayed most devoutly : her 
 soul had overcome trials which demanded 
 the assistance of every surrounding ob- 
 ject, rather than to experience those feel- 
 ings which only served to afflict her. 
 
 The sacrament was now administered 
 with all the solemnities of the Catholic 
 Church. This ended, St. Therese, (the 
 appellation by which, in future, Sophia 
 de Colbert was to be known) arose^ 
 kissed the priest's garment, bowed to the 
 crucifix, then to the lady abbess, the 
 nuns, novices and pensioners, and some 
 young ladies who resided in the convent
 
 46 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 strewed flowers over them as they pro- 
 ceeded to the last ceremony, that of * 
 crowning, supposed to be emblematical 
 of that crown of glory which is to be 
 the reward of the good in the world to 
 come. 
 
 The rest of the day was passed in in- 
 nocent festivity, to prove that the young 
 nun felt no regret in having renounced 
 the world. Indeed^ her whole deport- 
 ment was such as to convince the specta- 
 tors that in changing her plan in life she 
 had only varied her happiness. 
 
 *' How happy is the blameless vestal's lot, 
 
 *' The world forgotten, by the world forgot ; 
 
 •* Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind, 
 
 ^' Each pray'r accepted, and each wish resigned. 
 
 *' Labour and rest at equal periods keep, 
 
 '' Obedient slumbers, that can wake and weep ; 
 
 '^ Desires composed, afifections ever even, [ven. 
 
 *^ Tears that delight, and sighs which waft to hea- 
 
 *' Grace shines around her with serenest beams, 
 
 " And whispering angels prompt her golden dreams: 
 
 *' For her th' unfading rose of Eden blooms, 
 
 '* And wings of Seraphs shed divlae perfumes.
 
 BRIGHTON IN IN UPROAR. 47 
 
 ** For her the spouse prepares the bridal ring, 
 *' For her white virs^ins hymcne.il sing ; 
 ** To soiKiils of heav'niy harp she dies away, 
 *' And melts in visions of eternal day." 
 
 The cxpence of the entertainment is al- 
 ways defrayed by the nun, and Madame 
 d'Arrambert had been very liberal to her 
 friend on this occasion ; she and her 
 lovely daughters were of course invited, 
 and the priest from the neighbouring 
 convent, with a few friends, composed 
 the party. 
 
 The English, who were of the Ba- 
 roness's party, returned in a most melan- 
 choly state of mind : it appeared to 
 them as one of the most sorrowful sights 
 which they had ever behi^ld ; and thej 
 were shocked to think (hat the young and 
 beautiful Josephine was in a few years 
 to go througli the same awful cere- 
 mony. 
 
 They expressed these sentiments to the 
 Count (le Belgrade, who was really a 
 fine young man, and for whom Colonel
 
 48 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 Honeywood had a great esteem^ which 
 was however materially lessened when he 
 heard the Count declare that he thought 
 it very proper to sacrifice children to the 
 life of a cloister when the parents could 
 not give them ample fortunes without in- 
 juring the dignity of their family by less- 
 ening the son's inheritance. 
 
 This induced Major Godefroi to in- 
 quire whether Sophia de Colbert had 
 been the victim of family pride. The 
 Count assured him that her seclusion pro- 
 ceeded from choice ; that her father had 
 an immense fortune^ and only two chil- 
 dren. Sophia lost her mother when 
 she was an infant^ had been educated at 
 the same convent with the Baroness d'Ar- 
 rambertj and had resided much with her 
 friend since she married. To the great 
 surprise of every. one, she determined to 
 leave the world : every person was igno- 
 rant of her intention till a few weeks be- 
 fore she entered the convent of Notre 
 Dame : she had always a pensive turn of
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 49 
 
 mindj and was fond of retirement ; but 
 the general opinion was, that she had a 
 partiality for a young man, who was 
 drowned about two years before. To 
 dissipate their melancholy reflections, 
 the gentlemen took a walk into the coun- 
 Uy, and proposed to pass by the house of 
 the Baron de Colbert to inquire after his 
 health. They were concerned to hear 
 that he had continued for some time in 
 htSj and was supposed to be in a very 
 dangerous state, his son having just sent 
 for additional medical assistance. 
 
 On their return to Antwerp^ they 
 found Madame d*Arrambert alone ; she 
 had left her daughters in the convent, as 
 •he proposed returning to Brussels the 
 next day. Her deportment was more 
 grave than usual, and the traces of recent 
 tears were visible on her still beauteous 
 face. 
 
 The Major inquired how she had left 
 St. Therese. ''To all appearance/' she 
 laid, *' perfectly happy. Indeed, lam con- 
 
 VOL. I. D
 
 5(5 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 vinced that Sophia has chosen a life best 
 suited to her character and disposition ; 
 but I confess I could not help being 
 much affected at taking my leave of her : 
 my poor Josephine I fear is not so well 
 calculated to find happiness in the seclu- 
 sion of a convent as my friend.'* 
 
 The party called at the convent the 
 following morning, when they saw St. 
 Therese and Mademoiselle d'Arrambert. 
 Hubertine was to be married in three 
 months^; but though the Count de Bel- 
 grade took his leave of her with great 
 politeness^ yet any person might discover 
 that this was to be a match of conve- 
 nience, not affection. 
 
 Soon afterwards Major Godefroi made 
 his friend acquainted with what had 
 passed between him and Mademoiselle 
 d'Arrambert; and it was decided that 
 Colonel Honeywood should speak to the 
 lady's father on the subject. The Ma- 
 jor asked for no fortune, but requested 
 that Josephine might have what had
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 51 
 
 been iutcnded for her sister. The Ba- 
 ron d'Arrambcrt made no objection, and 
 consented to what, he was told, would 
 make one child happy by marrying the 
 man of her choice, and the other equally 
 so by giving her the option of remaining 
 in the world, or ending her days in No- 
 tre Dame. However, when Madame 
 d'Arrambcrt Was consulted, she gave a 
 decided negative; she had rather follow 
 her child to the grave than sc« her 
 united to a heretic. As this objection 
 was insurmountable. Major Godcfroi 
 contrived to see Hubertine, and inform 
 her of the ill-success of his application. 
 She really disliked her cousin, the Count 
 de Belgrade, and a little persuasion in- 
 duced her to elope with the Major. Se- 
 veral of the British officers assisted, mea- 
 sures being taken to elude the vigi- 
 lance of the abbess, and Ilubertine was 
 conveyed out of the Emperor's domi- 
 nions Arriving at Aaisterdam, she was 
 married to Major Godefroi, who imme- 
 d2 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF 
 ILLINOIS LIBRARY
 
 52 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR: 
 
 diately conducled her to his family in 
 England^ where ihey were again mar- 
 ried previously to his returning to join 
 the army in Flanders. Madame d^Arram- 
 bert could never be prevailed on to for- 
 give or to see her daughter ; and Jose- 
 phine soon became the wife of the 
 Count de Belgrade : her fortune received 
 considerable increase by the Major re- 
 fusing to accept of any with Huber- 
 tine. 
 
 Mrs. Godefroi's situation when her 
 husband left England was by no means 
 enviable. She was left with her sister-in- 
 lawj who had both a decided antipathy 
 to Foreigners and Catholics ; and, having 
 very contracted ideas, it ' was not likely 
 that the lively animated manners of Hu- 
 bertine should meet with their approba- 
 tion. It was also some time before the 
 Major's uncle, the Bishop of E — , could 
 be prevailed on to admit her into his pre- 
 sence ; Hubertine therefore contemplated 
 with delight the moment when her hus-
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR 53 
 
 band should return ; anticipating in that 
 event that all her sorrows would be at an 
 end. But disappointment was yet in store 
 for her, for when he arrived^ he was ex- 
 tremely ill, a wound which he had re- 
 ceived having so injured his constitution 
 that he lingered with a consumptive com- 
 plaint for many years, when he left 
 his widow with four children. Huber- 
 tinc, the youngest, was born in the same 
 week in which her father expired, and 
 was immediately sent to a relation of her 
 mother's, who was then residing in the 
 Dominican Convent at Calais, where she 
 remained till she was five years of age. 
 
 Mrs. Godefroi was still a beautiful 
 woman, and possessed all the fascinating 
 manners of the French, was very fond of 
 company and devoting her whole time to 
 pleasure. Her two sons went into the 
 army ; the eldest into the third regiment 
 of Guards, and the younger into the 
 twenty- fifth regiment of foot. Her 
 daughter married an officer in the Horse- 
 d3
 
 54 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 guards when only fifteen years of age. 
 Hubertine was several years younger 
 than her brothers or sister^ a^id not hav- 
 ing been nursed at home, had seldom 
 been with them ; rrither did her mother 
 feel the same affection for her as for her 
 other children. It was likewise repre- 
 sented to Major Godefroi's family that 
 Hubertine's education was neglected, 
 and that she was not treated with that 
 kindness and affection that her tender 
 years required. They therefore made 
 application to the lord chancellor^ who 
 nominated proper guardians to superin- 
 tend the education of Hubertine; and 
 she was taken from her mother, and 
 placed at Mrs. Pugh's school, at Great 
 Baddow, in Essex. In that lady's affec- 
 tion and kindness Hubertine found the 
 tender care of a mother. She remained 
 at Baddow till nearly fourteen years of 
 age, when she separated from her friend 
 and instructress with great regret. 
 
 She then went to reside with one of
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 55 
 
 her guardians, Mr Stanton, a gentleman 
 high in the law. He had a wife and 
 six children ; and Hubertine not only 
 found here an eligible home, but she was 
 in every respect treated the same as his 
 own daughters. To enumerate the many 
 virtues which this family possessed, and 
 the innumerable kindnesses which she 
 received from them, would take up several 
 pages. Her other guardian was a bishop, 
 and it was his orders that she should 
 only be permitted to see her mother and 
 sister occasionally, as they almost kept 
 open house, frequented balls, masque- 
 rades, and. all fashionable places of 
 amusement ; and he thought his ward too 
 young to enter into such scenes of dissi- 
 pation. Mr. Stanton was of the same 
 opinion, and partly complied with his 
 lordship's wishes ; but he was himself a 
 father, and could feel the full force of 
 parental love. 'Therefore when Mrs. 
 Godefroi pleaded to have her daughter 
 with her, he frequently granted her re- 
 n4
 
 66 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 quest : and although Hubertine never 
 slept out of her guardian's house, she 
 passed the greater part of her time with 
 her mother and sister. Her brother-in- 
 lawj Captain H. resided in May- fair; he 
 plajed deep, visited persons of high rank 
 and fashion, and Hubertine of course had 
 soon a numerous acquaintance. 
 
 Among those who were most intimate 
 with Captain H. was Charles Fitzosborn, 
 who was the second son of a merchant. 
 He paid great attention to Hubertine ; 
 and in a few months the young people 
 became much attached to each other. 
 Her sister was the only person who knew 
 of this partiality, and it was carefully 
 concealed from the guardians of Huber- 
 tine. At last Fitzosborn was determined 
 to ask his father's consent to marry Miss 
 Godefroi'; but he met with a refusal. 
 She received this intelligence in a letter 
 from Fitzosborn; and the same day she 
 had a visit from IV] r. Mac Namara, a so- 
 licitor This gentleman informed her
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 5? 
 
 that old Fitzosborn bad desired bira to 
 assure ber, the only objection be bad to 
 receiving ber as bis son's wife was, ber 
 fortune being too small, as be bad a large 
 family to provide for ; and be could not 
 consent to tbeir marrying witbout ob- 
 taining more money tbau sbe possessed ; 
 that tbe young Fitzosborn bad been ac- 
 customed to all tbe luxuries of life, was 
 very extravagant, and consequently tbat 
 tbeir union could only terminate in ruin 
 to botb parties. Tbose wbo bave really 
 loved can only form an idea of wbat were 
 tbe feelings of Hubertine ; sbe was in- 
 deed miserable : ber attacbment to Cbarles 
 Fitzosborn was most sincere ; sbe bad 
 never known tbe blessing of residing 
 eitber witb fatber, motber, brother, or 
 sister ; ber's was not a divided affection. 
 Fitzosborn was tbe first person who bad 
 awakened in ber bosom warmer st?nti- 
 inents than tbose of esteem ; and she felt 
 that in losing bis society she was bereft 
 of all tbat could make this life desirable. 
 
 d5
 
 58 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 When her guardians were informed of 
 "what had passed^ they were angry with 
 her for encouraging the attentions of any 
 person, without their knowledge. Her 
 father's family never forgave her, as 
 they considered it an indignity to them 
 that she should be refused to be received 
 into the family of a merchant, as they 
 piqued themselves that none of their an- 
 cestors had ever been in trade. One of 
 her cousins had written a challenge to 
 Fitzosborn, and his valet mentioning the 
 circumstance to Hubertine, she prevailed 
 on the man to give it to hi- master's sis- 
 ter, and her interference prevented its 
 being sent. 
 
 Hubertine was compelled to disguise 
 her feelings, as they only created anger 
 instead of exciting commiseration ; but 
 she was agreeably surprised by Fitzos- 
 born, a few days after, appointing a time 
 to meet her at her sister's. They met, 
 and past misery was obliterated by an- 
 ticipation of future happiness. It was
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 59 
 
 agreed that Ihey should wait till some 
 favourable-change took place, and Mrs. 
 
 H consented that thev should meet 
 
 occasionally at her house; this they did 
 for sometime, but Ilubertine being in a 
 continual state af anxiety, her health vi- 
 sibly declined. Her relations heard that 
 she saw Fitzosborn at her sister's, and 
 they prohibited her^ on pain of their 
 everlasting displeasure, ever seeing him 
 again ; for if his father would affer mil- 
 lions they would never consent to her 
 entering into his family after having been 
 once rejected. She knew the impropriety 
 of these stolen interviews, and at length 
 determined to obtain her guardian's per- 
 mission to leave England. She pleaded 
 her desire of improving herself in the 
 fine arts, and they consented, provided 
 that she resided in a convent. An elderly 
 lady, who had a great regard for Ku- 
 bertine, went with her, and the South of 
 France was fixed on for their residence^ 
 till Miss Godefroi's health should be re-
 
 60 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 established. Thry sailed for Bourdeaux, 
 but as ihey sought for retirement^ they 
 only remained a short time in that city; 
 they then proceeded to St. Foy^ a beau- 
 tiful small town on the Banks of the 
 Dordogne. Here Hubertine recovered 
 her health ; but neither herself or com- 
 panion could gain admittance as boarders 
 in the convent of Les Dames de la Foy, 
 as their order would not allow them to 
 take Protestants; otherwise, in right of 
 her mother, Hubertine could have de- 
 manded an asylum with them. They, 
 however, got lodgings near the convent, 
 and the greater part of their time waa 
 passed with the ladies of that monastery. 
 Hubertine read, worked, and drew with 
 them; she also studied music : in short, 
 this was the happiest period of Miss 
 Godefroi's life. Every post brought her 
 letters from Charles Fitzosborn, whilst 
 her hours were dedicated to improvement, 
 in the delightful anticipation that she 
 was gaining knowledge and accomplish-
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 61 
 
 ments that Mould render her a more 
 pleasing companion to the object of her 
 affections. 
 
 When her health was sufficiently esta- 
 blished, she left St. Foy, as the Marquis 
 de St. Viilere had made her an offer of 
 his hand; and although he had been re- 
 fused, he would not forbear intruding 
 upon her. This determined her to return 
 to the Dominican convent in Calais, at 
 which place Fitzosborn came to see her, 
 and his attention was suchj as to convince 
 her^ that no alteration had taken place in 
 his sentiments since she had last seen 
 him. 
 
 Hubertine continued to devote all her 
 time to the improvement of her mind : 
 she learnt Italian^ read Ancient and Mo- 
 dern History ; in short, every moment 
 was employed in the hope of giving plea- 
 sure to Fitzosborn. With this impres- 
 sion, it is impossible to describe her feel- 
 ings, when she was informed that a per- 
 son had a parcel which he could only
 
 62 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR 
 
 deliver into her hands : she went to the 
 parlour, where she saw an English 
 groom : demanding his business, he an- 
 swered that he was servant to Lord 
 Compton, but the parcel came from Mr. 
 Charles Fitzosborn. She opened it with 
 the fond expectation of hearing of his 
 health and happiness, when the first ob- 
 ject which attracted her notice was her 
 own picture, with a few lines in the co- 
 ver to request that his might be returned 
 to him, and also his letters, as he had 
 enclosed her's. 
 
 Astonishment seemed to petrify all her 
 faculties ; she became a perfect statue, 
 and had neither power to articulate or 
 move. The parcel fell from her hands, 
 and she sunk without motion into a chair. 
 The groom felt for her situation, and 
 rang the convent-bell violently. Her old 
 friend, Mrs. Grant, was called, and 
 Hubertine was carried to her apartment 
 in a stupor. No tears could she shed ; 
 she seemed insensible to all surrounding
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 63 
 
 objects^ and the phyaician compelled 
 them to endeavour to rouse her attention, 
 bj producing the picture and papers 
 which had occasioned her malady. 
 
 *' The tempest in my mind 
 
 '^ Doth from my senses take all feeling else, 
 
 '^ Save what beats there : 
 
 '* For where the greater malady is fix'd, 
 
 *' The lesser is scarce felt.'* 
 
 The tempest in Hubertine's mind re- 
 mained in this alarming state for several 
 weeks, during which period Mrs. Grant 
 wrote both to Fitzosborn and to his fa- 
 ther, but no notice was taken of the ap- 
 plication. 
 
 Report said that Charles Fitzosborn 
 had met with a lady at a watering-place, 
 with whom he had flirted, and that her 
 brother interfered, and insisted upon his 
 marrying her. Another was, that Huh 
 bertine's brothers and sister had been so 
 extravagant and dissipated, that Fitz- 
 osborn's father had convinced him that 
 he would find no happiness in an alliance
 
 64 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 with such connections; but these were 
 only reports, for Hubertine never knew 
 from what cause Charles Fitzosborn had 
 thus doomed her to wretchedness. 
 
 Her character became quite changed ; 
 she could not settle to any thing : read- 
 ing, drawing, and needle-work^ were all 
 neglected. Music had such an effect on 
 her spirits, that if by chance she heard 
 the sound of an instrument she wept bit- 
 terly. In this situation of mind, her 
 friends^ the Abbess and St. Victoire, 
 thought it a favourable opportunity to 
 prevail on her to embrace the Catholic 
 faith^ and leave a world in which she 
 could only meet with perfidy and deceit. 
 Most gladly would she have taken the 
 veil, but Mrs. Grant informing her 
 guardians of what was likely to happen, 
 they desired, that if she could not pre- 
 vail on Hubertine to return to England, 
 that she would make a tour, as probably 
 change of scene might restore to her that 
 serenity which she had lost.
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 65 
 
 Mrs. Grant loved Hubertine as a 
 daughter, and had long wished to see 
 her united to the Baron de St. Aubert, a 
 young man who had shewn a great par- 
 tiality for her; therefore she contrived 
 to make a party for the intended expe- 
 dition, in which the Baron de St. Aubert 
 and his mother should form apart. They 
 visited all Picardy, and then remained 
 sometime with Hubertine*s relations in 
 Flanders. Her uncle at this time held 
 the same office that his brother had filled, 
 and the Archduchess at this period also 
 held her court at Brussels. The Baron 
 d'Arrambert presented his niece to her ; 
 and if Hubertine could have forgotten 
 Charles Fitzosborn, she might have been 
 happy. She was by no means a beauty, 
 but her person and accomplishments were 
 sucl] as to attract admiration; added to 
 which, as her uncle had no children, 
 and was chancellor of the Low Countries, 
 it was presumed that her fortune would 
 not be contemptible. She had already
 
 65 BRIGHTON IN AN UPRdiR. 
 
 eight thousand pounds^ which, though 
 it was not reckoned much in England, 
 was thought a handsome fortune in a 
 foreign country, and her connections in 
 Brussels placed her in the first rank of 
 society. 
 
 The Baroness de St. Aubert was ex- 
 tremely fond of Hubertine. The Baron 
 was an only child, and she knew his hap- 
 piness depended on his marrying Miss 
 Godefroi. The old lady pleaded his 
 cause most powerfully, and her uncle 
 approved of her espousing a foreigner. 
 She therefore felt that she could make no 
 reasonable objection to uniting herself to 
 the Baron de St. Aubert ; but the idea of 
 entering into any matrimonial engage- 
 ment was to her dreadful ; for although 
 his name never passed her lips, yet Fitz- 
 osborn was never from her thoughts. 
 She was, however, so importuned by 
 Madame de St. Aubert and her uncle, 
 that she determined to sacrifice her own 
 feeliDgSj as she had now given up all
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 67 
 
 idea of happiness. She therefore can- 
 didly told the baroii every thing which 
 had passed ; the strong attachment which 
 slie feared she still felt for Fitzosborn, 
 \\hom she would endeavour to obliterate 
 from her recollection, and if he could, 
 after such a recital, wish to have her, 
 she would consent to become his wife on 
 that day twelve months. So far from 
 objecting, he was delighted at obtaining 
 such a promise. All the party were re- 
 joiced that she had given her consent ; 
 feasting, dancing, and all sorts of amuse- 
 ments, were resorted to during their re- 
 sidence in the Low Countries ; and, from 
 being of a retired habit, Hubertine be- 
 came absolutely dissipated, frequenting 
 all public amusements, and never easy 
 but when in large companies. In fact, 
 she frequented these gay assemblies, be- 
 cause she felt it now her duty to forget 
 Fitzosborii ; and it was only in scenes of 
 feasting and mirth that he was for one 
 moment absent from her mind., It is
 
 68 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 difficult to describe her feelings: slic 
 thought of him with no sentiment of 
 anger; he was dear to her recollection, 
 and with pleasure would she have re- 
 signed her existence id promote his wel- 
 fare ; she wished to be assured that he 
 was happj, although married to another. 
 On her returning to Calais she found 
 some very kind letters from her father's 
 family, expressing their approbation of 
 her having accepted the Baron de St. 
 Aubert, and being no longer in the dis- 
 graceful situation of keeping up a cor- 
 respondence with a man, whose father 
 objected to her becoming one of his fa- 
 mily ; that she would now be in a rank 
 of life superior to Fitzosborn, and hoping 
 that she would not, on any account, ever 
 see or write to him again, Hubertine 
 now determined to remain in England till 
 she married, and it was about this period 
 that her guardian, the late Mr. Stanton, 
 died, and also one of his daughters, who 
 had accompanied Miss Godefroi. Her
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 69 
 
 death was a melancholy one : she^ with 
 Hnbertine and Mrs. Grant, left Calais 
 about (i\e o'clock in the evening, and 
 got to Dover in the night. The next 
 morning Mrs. Grajit rose earlj, as she 
 wished to dine in London, but a scene 
 she little expected frustrated her inten- 
 tion. On calling on Miss Stanton to rise, 
 she was alarmed at not being able to ob- 
 tain any reply : she entered her room^ 
 but still no answer could she obtain to 
 any question ; the young lady only gave 
 her a vacant stare, and the motions she 
 made indicated that she suffered great 
 pain. A physician was sent for, who 
 pronounced that her indisposition pro- 
 ceeded either from having taken too 
 much opium, or having broken a vessel 
 in the head, by the straining produced 
 by sea-sickness. Other advice was called 
 in, but all the exertions made to save her 
 proved of no avail, and a few hours ter- 
 minated her existence. An express had 
 been sent for Mrs. Stanton, as soon ^^
 
 70 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 the doctor had declared that his patient 
 ^vas in danger : she^ with four of her 
 children, arrived the same day that Miss 
 Stanton expired. This interview between 
 Mrs. Stanton and Hubertine proved to be 
 most sorrowful ; the former deplored the 
 loss of a beloved daughter, and the latter 
 lamented a friend whom she had loved as 
 a sister, whose amiable disposition, ele- 
 gant accomplishments and manners, ren- 
 deredher an invaluable companion. What 
 added, if possible, to the melancholy 
 catastrophe, was, that the cause of Miss 
 Stanton's dissolution was never rightly 
 ascertained. The medical gentlemen 
 wished to open the head, but strong ob- 
 jections were made to this by an aunt, 
 who had accompanied the family to 
 Dover. 
 
 Three weeks elapsed before Mrs. Stan- 
 ton departed from Kent. The Baron de 
 St. Aubert, as soon as he was informed 
 of the melancholy event that had taken 
 place, was anxious to join Hubertine ;
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 71 
 
 but this she would not permit, as she 
 was resolved to go to a cousin of her's 
 who resided in Wiltshire. She was in 
 hopes, by being with Mr. and Mrs. 
 Banter, that she should be reconciled to 
 the rest of her family, all of whom she 
 had displeased by encouraging Charles 
 Fitzosborn, after she had been rejected 
 by his father. 
 
 When the funeral was over, the party 
 proceeded to Loudon. As Hubertine had 
 not been for sometime in England, die 
 had several purchases to make, besides 
 many commissions which she had to exe- 
 cute for her friends in France. She also 
 bespoke her wedding paraphernalia ; a 
 handsome chariot v\as also ordered, and 
 every morning v^'as occupied with shop- 
 ping. She had heard that Fitzosborn 
 was soon to be married, and she sincerely 
 prayed that it might prove for his hap- 
 piness ; yet, while he remained single, 
 she had still hopes. She reasoned with 
 herself on the subject, and although she
 
 72 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 confessed that should he even again re- 
 turn to her, no dependance could be 
 placed in a character which did not pos- 
 sess stability ; and to a disposition like 
 her*s, if after marriage he neglected her, 
 ^ she should be a most wretched and mi- 
 serable creature. Yet such was her in- 
 fatuation, that she would much rather 
 have been his wife, in the most indigent 
 circumstances, than united to any other 
 person in the greatest affluence. She 
 wished, yet dreaded to meet him; and 
 the day previous to her leaving town, as 
 she was coming out of a music-shop in 
 the Strand, she saw him with his elder 
 brother. They did not even bow ; and 
 fof the first time in her life, Hubertine 
 felt angry with Charles Fitzosborn. This 
 was a decided insult in her opinion ; and 
 if the Baron de St. Aubert had made his 
 appearance at that moment, in her pre* 
 sent state of mind, she would most wil- 
 lingly have become hi» bride.
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 73 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 Ah ! why, my heart, thus nurse a flame, 
 
 Which reason should remove ? 
 Why dwells remembrance on a name 
 
 I dare no longer love? 
 
 Yet, ah! the bands affection wove 
 Were twin'd with every thought; 
 
 While hope to guard the blossom strove^ 
 Ilcr fostering sunshine broirght. 
 
 Pratt. 
 
 HuBERTiNE did not depart for Wilt- 
 shire in the best spirits in the world, for 
 Charles Fitzosborn, not taking any 
 notice of her, had wounded her pride*. 
 She was received with great afFeclion by 
 Mr. and Mrs. Banter, and everj day they 
 were engaged to formal dinner parlies^ 
 which, with ether visiting, took up the 
 
 VOL. I. E
 
 74 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 greater part of their time. They also 
 attended Salisbury races, so that during 
 the first month of Hubertine being in the 
 country they were constantly engaged. 
 
 The Baron de St. Aubert was a regular 
 correspondent; she allowed he had great 
 merit, and was deserving of her undivid- 
 ed affection: his mother treated her with 
 the greatest respect, and declared that to 
 see her son united to Hubertine was the 
 wish nearest her heart. She was convinc- 
 ed that the family she was about to enter 
 would do every thing which depended on 
 them, to contribute to her comfort and 
 happiness; and she preferred residing ia 
 France to remaining in England. The 
 Jjaron de St. Aubert was very handsome, 
 and had received a liberal education. 
 Both her English and Foreign relatives 
 approved of the match, and preparations 
 were making for its completion. Had 
 Hubertine never known Fitzosbornj the 
 Baron de St. Aubert would assuredly have 
 Ibcen the object of her choice; his beha-
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 75 
 
 ▼ioiir to her was generous and delicate, 
 and she was sure that she should 
 have no reason to repent of any engage- 
 ment which she entered into with him ; 
 but, strange as it must appear, having seen 
 Charles Fitzosborn, although he treated 
 her with neglect, and not even with com- 
 mon civility, it had brought past scenes 
 so forcibly to her recollection, that she 
 feared, in giving her hand to the Baron, 
 the sliould not make him happy, whilst 
 she would herself be perfectly miserable, 
 as she was now convinced that neither 
 absence or neglect could obliterate from 
 her memory the recollection of Fitzos- 
 born. 
 
 She was in this agitated state of mind 
 when two letters were presented to her, 
 the one from Charles Fitzosborn, the 
 other from his father. They were pre- 
 cisely on the same subject; that if she 
 would give up all claims to Fitzosborn, 
 and promise never in future to receive any 
 addresses from him, that his father would 
 e2
 
 76 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 take him into partnership. Hubertine's 
 spirit now indeed rose; this was a cruel 
 insult; had she not been twice rejected, 
 (the last time no reason assigned for such 
 treatment) and now to wound her feel- 
 ings by such a request^ appeared to her 
 a refinement on cruelty. She immediately 
 replied to Mr. Fiizosborn, inclosing his 
 own and son's letter^ and expressing her- 
 self in such language as must convince 
 him he had nothing to fear from any at- 
 tachment that his son had or might have 
 for her. To Charles Fitzosborn she gave 
 no answer; her pride, and the situation she 
 stood in with the Baron St. Aubert, for- 
 bade her painting the agony of her feel- 
 ings to him ; for^ although he had render- 
 ed her for ever miserable^ she could not 
 bring herself to write any thing which 
 might give him pain. Her relations were 
 averse to her {aking notice of cither of 
 the letters, but for her to treat the father 
 of Fitzosborn with disrespect was im- 
 possible. Every thing was now at an
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 77 
 
 end between her and Fitzosborn : she bad 
 pledged her honour in the most solemn 
 manner, that in future she would neither 
 correspond with him or receive his visits, 
 and at this moment her existence was a 
 load which she would gladly have resign- 
 ed ; but the trials of her heart were not to 
 end here. 
 
 The following morning she was desired 
 to attend a young gentleman, who had 
 just arrived in a post-chaise and four, 
 apparently in great haste. He refused 
 giving his name, said his business was 
 urgent, and he must see Miss Godefroi 
 immediately. When she entered the room 
 she was surprised to see Charles Fitzos- 
 born, and her astonishment gained addi- 
 tional force at his informing her, that not 
 having had any answer to a letter which 
 lie had addressed to her, he come to im- 
 plore that she would give him such a 
 release as would prove to his father that 
 she had no claims on him. This he en- 
 treated to have immediately, as some 
 
 £3
 
 78 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 family arrangements were then taking 
 place. Miss Godefroi convinced liim 
 that she had satisfied his father on this 
 head, and he took his leave. This was 
 the last time she saw Filzosborn. That 
 such a meeting was most distressing to 
 her may easily be believed ; but she was 
 compelled to smother her feelings, as her 
 relations had no compassion for her, as 
 they thought that she wanted that proper 
 pride which every female ought to pos- 
 sess on a similar occasion, Fitzosborn 
 was scarcely departed before Mr. and 
 Mrs. Banter gave her to understand that 
 they should no longer request her re- 
 sidence with them, than while she adhered 
 to her engagements with the Baron de 
 St. Aubert ; and that in future Charles 
 Fitzosborn could not be received into 
 their house. This rebuke obliged her to 
 explain to them from what cause his ap- 
 pearance originated. 
 
 Hubertine at this period was indeed an 
 object of the greatest compassion;
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 79 
 
 deserted by the man she fondly loved, and 
 compelled either to marry the Baron de 
 St. Aubert, or disoblige all her relations. 
 In the retirement of the country she could 
 not fly from herself; there were no pub- 
 lic places open that she could resort to 
 for the purpose of dissipating her ideas ; 
 every hour she regretted the past^ and wai 
 more averse to the future. Soon after 
 this she was informed that Fitzosborn 
 was married ; in fact, he had been long 
 the same as dead to her : she heard that 
 his wife was amiable, and that he had 
 every prospect of being happy ; she fer- 
 vently prayed that he might be so. She 
 mourned his loss as a departed friend, 
 but lier heart could never form another 
 attachment. 
 
 At this period she had a most melan- 
 choly letter from the Baron de St. Au- 
 bert; it was written in absolute despair, 
 and contained the most soul- afflicting in- 
 telligence. The enormities committed 
 by the friends of liberty became every 
 e4
 
 80 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 day more horrible. Madajnede Lambaile 
 v/as his near relation ; he was also par- 
 tial to her for her charitable disposition^ 
 her graceful manner^ and the numerous 
 virtues which she possessed. Only the 
 malicious and the envious cculd accuse 
 her of faiiin^^s, the shadow of which 
 never passed her mind^ but it was suffici- 
 ent to be the favourite of a queen^ io be 
 pre-eminent for grace^ talents^ and beautj> 
 to become the subject of secret malignity 
 or open detraction ; for it is a rule 
 always to abuie those whose merit is bet- 
 ter rewarded than the defamers. St, 
 Aubert considered Madame de Lamballe 
 as a perfect character ; he knew that 
 poverty and sorrow in her ever found a 
 friend^ that her benevolence even sur- 
 passed her beauty^ and when he learned 
 that this exalted woman, a pattern for her 
 seXj haa been rudely torn from the Hotel 
 de la force, where she had been confined 
 and treated with the greatest indignity 
 and cruelty, to witness scenes too horriblf
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 81 
 
 for fancy to dwell on^ and after viewing 
 the murderers pursuing their sanguinary 
 desolations, and putting questions to her 
 which she could not satisfy them by an- 
 swering ; this 80 enraged the wretches 
 that they stripped^ insulted her, and put 
 an end to her existence in a manner too 
 dreadful to relate. The Baron de St. 
 Aubert gave this account, and mentioned 
 that his mother was anxious for him to 
 leave France as soon as possible, and he 
 trusted that Hubertine would, in the 
 present crisis of affairs, see the propriety 
 of acceding to his wishes, by permitting 
 him to come immediately to England^ 
 and ratifying those engagements which 
 would secure his happiness ; that his 
 mother would follow as soon as she 
 could settle her affairs, as he could not 
 think of returning to France, till some 
 change had taken place in the govern- 
 ment of that distracted country. 
 
 Hubertine lost no time in assuring the 
 Baron de St. Aubert that she should be 
 R 5
 
 83 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 glad to see him, and would with plea- 
 sure comply with his wishes. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Banter removed to their residence 
 in Bath; a:id preparations wereriiade for 
 the nuptials of Hubertine. The Baron 
 arrived, the day was fixed, and Miss 
 Godefroi* thought her fate was inevita- 
 ble, when news reached them that Ma- 
 dame de St. Aubert was conveyed to pri- 
 son, and the estate seized on in the name of 
 the Republic ; that the Prince of Conde 
 was raising an army, and that all the nobi« 
 lity of distinction joined him. The Ba- 
 ron de St. Aubert was grieved at this in- 
 telligence ; but he would not inyolve 
 Hubertine in the misfortunes of his house. 
 The marriage was postponed ; and he 
 hastened to join the Prince of Conde. 
 
 The parting from the Baron de St. 
 Aubert was among the most painful sen- 
 sations which Hubertine had ever expe- 
 rienced. She had brought herself to 
 consider him as her husband, protector, 
 and friend. His amiable qualifications
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 83 
 
 ensured him the esteem of every person ; 
 his generosity and goodness to her knew 
 no bounds : he was going to face rather 
 a banditti than a foe ; he had lost his fa- 
 mily estates^ and, in being separated from 
 her, his happiness. It appeared to her 
 as if she was left alone in the world : 
 she had no communication with her near 
 relations: those with whom she was to 
 reside were only cousins, and she per» 
 ceived that her stay with them would no 
 onger be pleasant than while she could 
 contribute to their amusements, as the 
 lady had been a spoiled child, and was 
 also spoiled by her husband. She was 
 capricious and overbearing, and depended 
 on those about her for entertainment, as 
 she had no resources in herself. Huber- 
 tine was extremely accomplished; she 
 had in the convent learned all sorts of 
 fancy work, and the novelty of these 
 tri6es, for some time, amused her female 
 relation, and she reigned as prime favou- 
 rite : but Huber tine was considerably
 
 81 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 younger than her cousin, and, being sin- 
 gle, the men paid her more attention. 
 The liberal education she had received, 
 and the easy manners she had acquired 
 in France, made her society to be 
 courted by both sexes ; and in a short 
 time Mrs. Banter grew jealous of the at- 
 tention which was paid to Miss Gode- 
 froi*. Her behaviour became totally 
 changed ; she found fault with every 
 thing which Hubertine did; and the 
 latter perceived that it was impossible to 
 give satisfaction. Her situation became 
 insupportable, for she had no friend near 
 to whom she could apply for advice. 
 
 What equal torment to the grief of mind, 
 And pining anguish hid in gentle heart. 
 
 That inly feeds itself with thoughts unkind^ 
 And nourishes her own consuming smart ? 
 
 What medicine can any leech's art 
 
 Yield such a sore, that doth her grievance hide, 
 
 And will to none her malady impart ? 
 
 Spenser.. 
 
 She occasionally heard from the Baron 
 de St. Aubert; but he had po safe pro-
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR, 85 
 
 tection to offer her, for France continued 
 a scene of blood and slaughter ; and he 
 could not even mitigate his sufferings by 
 hearing from her, as, should her letters 
 be intercepted, his life would be the for- 
 feit. Manj of his relations had already 
 died martyrs to their king and country, 
 and she had every reason to dread that 
 the same wretched fate awaited him. 
 Hubertine's sister was in Holland ; for 
 from the extravagance of both parties. 
 Captain H. had been obliged to leave 
 England, and he had the good fortune to 
 be appointed to a lucrative post under go- 
 vernment in that country. Hubertine de- 
 termined to go to them^ concluding that 
 there she might have it in her power to 
 gain some intelligence of the Baron de 
 St. Aubert. Change of country would 
 occupy her mind ; and she was strongly 
 induced to leave her present abode, and 
 get rid of the addresses of an old Irish 
 nobleman, whom her relations thought 
 would prove a desirable alliance, by ag-
 
 86 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 grandizing the family. Hubertine was 
 of a different opinion, for she had no wish 
 ever to change her situation ; but if she 
 did, she felt herself bound in honour to the 
 Baron de St. Aubert: for although pre- 
 viously to his leaving her he had nobly 
 and generously released her from all en- 
 gagements, she determined to marry no 
 other. 
 
 As soon as she made her intentions 
 known of going to Holland, her relations 
 expressed the greatest sorrow at parting 
 from her ; for though her cousin had been 
 such a spoiled daughter and wife, so that 
 she preserved no command over a natural 
 violent disposition, she possessed many 
 amiable qualities : they separated on 
 the most friendly terms ; and Hubertine 
 w^as obliged to promise that she would 
 only ma'ie a short residence in Holland, 
 and return to them. 
 
 In the society of her sister and her ac- 
 complished daughters, Hubertine felt a 
 serenity to which she had long been a
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 87 
 
 stranger ; and she resolved to make the 
 Brill her home till the fate of France 
 was decided^ an event which was then 
 thought at no great distance : but it 
 seemed decreed by Providence that Hu- 
 bertine should only experience disap- 
 pointments on this side of the grave. 
 
 Six years had only elapsed since the 
 Dutch had been in a state of insurrection; 
 in fact, it was still hidden^ only under a 
 veil of well- dissembled loyalty, waiting 
 to shew itself when a convenient oppor- 
 tunity offered ; and the time appeared as 
 if it was now arrived. The disasters of are- 
 cent campaign had created an abhorrence 
 to the measures which the Stadtholder 
 had pursued ; and on seeing the reinforce- 
 ments now preparing to join the army^ 
 the disaffected Hollanders loudly vocife- 
 rated — '' See what brave fellows are coai- 
 pelled to march to the shambles \'' This 
 created in the soldiery a dispirited sort of 
 alarm : they performed their preparations 
 with visible reluctance and great delay :
 
 88 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 they appeared disheartened^ and looked 
 upon their baggage waggons as if they 
 were taking a survey of their hearses. 
 The drums and fifes, which so wonder- 
 fully exhilirate the spirits on some oc- 
 casions, now sounded in their ears a dead 
 march. The Stadtholder was alarmed 
 at this appearance in his troops ; but 
 complimenting them on their martial ap- 
 pearance, he rallied their spirits, and 
 expressing the high sense he entertained 
 of their renowned valour, told them that 
 he considered them as the defenders of 
 their country. His smiles and attention 
 had the wished-for effect, and they de- 
 parted with more cheerfulness than could 
 have been expected. But if even a few 
 thousands of the inhabitants heaved a 
 sigh for loyalty, and prayed for a safe re- 
 turn of those brave troops, and that they 
 might be crowned with laurels, greater 
 numbers scrupled not openly to express 
 their wishes that they might be van- 
 quished.
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN irPROAR. 89 
 
 The fury of party now reigned in Hol- 
 land ; and even the love of ^aln gave 
 way to this infatuation. The richest 
 merchants espoused the cause of French 
 liberty, although sensible that if the prin- 
 ciples of equality were universally adopt- 
 ed, they must divide that wealth which 
 they had accumulated by years of indus- 
 try with the sons of freedom, for they, in 
 fact, could not be gainers, but great losers. 
 
 The situation which Captain H. held 
 in Holland made him very obnoxious to 
 the Dutch ; and Hubertine saw that if 
 very great changes did not soon take 
 place on the continent, that her sister and 
 herself must be compelled to return to 
 England. This she extremely regretted, 
 as she was with relations and friends 
 whose pursuits were similar to her own. 
 She was passionately fond of music : se- 
 veral emigrants were then at the Brillj 
 who excelled in that delightful science, 
 and they had frequent concerts and balls. 
 A private theatre was attached to the
 
 90 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 house; and as Mrs. H. was highly ac- 
 complished, and possessed fascinating 
 manners, she very often indulged her 
 friends with theatrical amusements. 
 
 The country appeared to be the resi- 
 dence of peace and plenty : the well- 
 cultivated grounds, the beautiful white 
 cottages, and comfortable farm houses, 
 were objects highly pleasing; and the 
 water excursions were delightful. Hu- 
 bertine preferred the society of the 
 French, as the Dutch parties were too 
 formal to prove agreeable to her, and she 
 had an invincible dislike to tobacco. The 
 ceremony at these Dutch routs was in- 
 supportable : the custom of sitting with 
 the feet on a box containing a stove, 
 which is supplied with burning turf or 
 live ashes, was intolerable ; and the gen- 
 tlemen's spitting boxes were extremely 
 disgusting. Fortunately these visits were 
 not of long duration, as supper was never 
 introduced : but when a supper was given, 
 it always comprehended a card party.
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 91 
 
 with the enormous et cetera of tea, cof- 
 fee, punch, cakes, &c. all of which were 
 handed separately at least six or eight 
 times to each person. These feasts ge- 
 nerally' begin about five in the afternoon, 
 and end about one in the morning, the 
 whole of which time is passed in sraoak- 
 ing and gormandizing. 
 
 Captain H. in the course of a few 
 months informed his family that it would 
 be advisable to hold themselves in readi- 
 ness to sail for England at a moment's 
 notice, as the Dutch now openly favoured 
 the French party, and the Prince of 
 Orange was no longer in security at the 
 Hague. 
 
 Of the Baron de St. Aubert, Huber- 
 tine could gain no intelligence : he had 
 left the army of the Prince of Conde, and 
 no one knew to what place he had gone. 
 After eighteen months residence in Hol- 
 land, Hubertinc once more saw her na- 
 tive land. This was a subject of deep 
 regret to her ; every place she passed
 
 OS BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 bringing to lier recollection past sceneS;, 
 which induced her to compare her present 
 unprotected state with her early pros- 
 pects in life. She had materially injured 
 her fortune ; she had allowed her mo- 
 ther fifty pounds annually for many 
 years: she had also assisted her relations, 
 and she was aware that her present in- 
 come would not maintain her in England 
 in the manner she had been accustomed 
 to appear. It was improbable she should 
 ever again hear of the Baron de St. Au- 
 bert, as the reports which had reached 
 her gave her every reason to suppose 
 that he was dead. She had always been 
 averse to marrying; and she now determin- 
 ed to sink the remainder of her fortune in 
 an annuity on her life. This she soon 
 accomplished, and got two hundred and 
 eighty pounds per annum, leaving a few 
 hundreds in the Bank, in case of sick- 
 ness or any other contingency. 
 
 As soon as Mr. and Mrs. Banter heard 
 that she was in Essex^ she received a
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 93 
 
 pressing invitation to make their house 
 her home ; she accepted the friendly 
 offer, as she hoped her absence had proved 
 to them that she had felt their former uq- 
 kind treatment. In all the time which she 
 had been in Holland she had never gained 
 any intelligence of the Baron de St. Au- 
 bert, or his mother. She now constantly 
 made inquiries about Charles Fiizosbornj 
 and it gave her sincere satisfaction to hear 
 that he was perfectly happy, and had a 
 family of promising children, and that 
 his father had given him an ample share 
 in the business. 
 
 Hubertine was now miserable ; she 
 passed her life in a round of dissipation 
 ill suited to her disposition ; she was na- 
 turally extremely lively^ but the disap- 
 pointments she had met with in an early 
 attachment, and the disagreeable situa- 
 tions in which all her nearest rela- 
 tions were placed by their extravagance, 
 bajd given a pensive colour to her 
 mind. Retirement, music^ books^ and a
 
 94 BRIGHTON IN AN rPROAR. 
 
 few chosen friends, could alone prove 
 agreeable companions to Hubertine ; as* 
 semblies, balls, and routs, had no longer 
 anj charms for her. 
 
 She had a friend for whom she felt a 
 sisterly affection ; this friend was the wife 
 of a gentleman who was secretary to a 
 noble lord, who then commanded in the 
 Mediterranean ; she was a beautiful wo- 
 man, possessed agreeable manners, and re- 
 sided in a village near Fareham in Hamp- 
 shire. Hubertine had long promised to 
 pass some months with her, and she now 
 determined to fulfil her engagement. In 
 the society of this lady time flew rapidly, 
 and several naval gentlemen residing near^ 
 they had frequently parties on board ship. 
 At a ball on board the Prince George^ 
 Hubertine attracted the notice of a Colo- 
 nel of Royal Marines : he got introduced to 
 her friends, and soon made her an offer of 
 his hand, which she instantaneously reject- 
 ed, and thought no more of this hero: some 
 time after he wrote to her to renew hi»
 
 ^ BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 95 
 
 mddresses, when she answered him by 
 candidly explaining' her situation to him, 
 and her determination of always remain- 
 ing single. He was so disappointed in 
 this application that he changed duty 
 with a brother officer, and sailed with 
 Admiral Christian for the West Indies ; 
 but contrary winds and storms, such as 
 the oldest persons had never before wit- 
 nessed, compelled the Admiral three times 
 to return, and the ship in which Colonel 
 Mortimer sailed was ordered to join the 
 Channel fleet. Hubertine had for some 
 time left Hampshire and returned to Bath, 
 but experiencing some neglect from Mrs. 
 Banter, she determined to have a home 
 of her own : her limited income it was 
 true would not enable her to procure 
 those luxuries to which she had ever been 
 accustomed, but in the country she could 
 live respectably, and she decided upon 
 having a small house in the neighbour- 
 hood of Titch field ; when she heard that 
 Colonel Mortimer was returned to Eng-
 
 96 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 land. The Colonel appeared to her to 
 be a sensible man ; his manners were 
 those of a polished gentleman, and he 
 was considerably older than herself, which 
 was an additional reconmiendation to 
 Hubertine^ and at this moment, when 
 she felt piqued at the treatment of her 
 relation, she renewed her correspondence 
 with the Colonel, and appointed a day 
 when she would meet him at her friend's 
 house in Hampshire. They met, and she 
 consented to be his wife. He had only 
 his pay to offer, but with her annuity, 
 both together would be sufficient to pro- 
 cure the necessaries of life. One part of 
 the agreement was that she should always 
 reside in the sama village with her friend ; 
 but when the deed was done, to describe 
 Hubertine's agony of mind would be to- 
 tally impossible. When she reflected 
 coolly, and compared Colonel Mortimer 
 either with Charles Fitzosborn or the 
 elegant Baron de St. Aubert, he lost con- 
 siderably in her estimation. Her friends
 
 BRIGHTON IS AN UPROAR. 97 
 
 were all astonished ; they advised, they 
 entreated her to cancel an engagement 
 which they feared could only be produc- 
 tive of misery-, as they had been told 
 tliat the Colonel possessed a violent tem- 
 per : — but the die was cast. Ilubertine 
 ]]id pledged her honour, and, in her 
 state of mind, she felt indifferent to what 
 might prove her future lot. 
 
 Hubertine now found that to be con- 
 stantly in the Colonel's company had be- 
 come distressing to her, and she deter- 
 mined to go to some friends she had in 
 Essex, and remain with them till the 
 awful day arrived when she was to vow 
 obedience to her future husband. In 
 this absence she thought she should gain 
 sufficient strength of mind to meet her 
 fate with resignation, for in her union 
 with the Colonel she did not expect 
 romantic happi{,ess ; she only wished tp 
 find in him a protector, an agreeable 
 companion, and a sincere friend. 
 
 The family with whoni Hubertine was 
 
 VOL. I. F
 
 98 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 going to stay consisted of a widow and 
 two daughters, the joungest of whom 
 was married to a Major in the army, but 
 still resided with her mother. By marriage 
 they were connected with Miss GodefroFs 
 family ; they possessed a hospitable dis- 
 position, and every social virtue, and 
 were that description of persons who 
 could emblazon a court, or render a 
 clay-built hut enviable : 
 
 '^ They were fitted 
 
 '* Or in courts to shine 
 
 *' With unaffected grace, or walk the plain, 
 
 ^' With innocence and meditation join'd 
 
 *' In soft assemblage !'* 
 
 These ladies were blessed with a warmth 
 of heart which extended their benevo- 
 lence to every individual in distress ; and 
 in this house of peace and quiet Huber- 
 tine's expectations were answered. She 
 reflected on the misfortunes of her past 
 life ; she considered her present situation, 
 and examined her own heart : the result
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 99 
 
 of this inquiry was, that, as a reason- 
 able being, she might end her dajs com- 
 fortably with Colonel Mortimer. His 
 letters were extremely mteresting, and 
 written in a superior style ; and she had 
 reason to conclude that he would be an 
 entertaining companion. 
 
 Thus did Hubertine reconcile herself 
 to her approaching marriage, which she 
 requested might be as private as possible : 
 only the friends with whom she then wa« 
 attended her to the altar, and the re- 
 spectable Mr. Darby O 'Grady gave her 
 away. Her grief and agitation were such, 
 during the ceremony, that the clergymaa 
 felt a reluctance in proceeding, and she 
 was fearful that it would be impossible for 
 her to remain in the church till the ser- 
 vice was concluded. The party returned 
 to an elegant breakfast, vv'hich was pre- 
 pared at her friend's house, after which 
 the bride and bridegroom proceeded to 
 London. Their stay in the metropolis 
 was short, as Colonel Mortimer had taken 
 F 2
 
 iOO BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 a house in Titcbfield, which was ready 
 for their reception, Mrs. Mortimer was 
 received by her friends in Hampshire 
 with great kindness, and she began to be 
 reconciled to her new situation ; but this 
 feeling was only of short dgration^ as ia 
 the course of six weeks she perceived a 
 visible alteration in her husband. He 
 became absent, thoughtful, and so irrita- 
 ble, that it was impossible to please him ; 
 and he frequently quitted home for seve- 
 ral days together. Hubertinc took no 
 4)otice of this; she never made any in- 
 quiries where he had been, and always 
 received him with cheerfulness, but on 
 his return one evening he accused her of 
 want of feeling, in never having asked the 
 cause which had produced such a change 
 in his behaviour. He informed her, that 
 however small the degree of affection she 
 might have for him, yet in the present 
 instance her own welfare was materially 
 concerned; that it was most painful to 
 him to be obliged to disclose his real situ-
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 101 
 
 otion ; but as lie bad reason to expect 
 (bat sbe would resent bisbaving imposed 
 on ber, be trusted tbat sbe would be- 
 lieve hinij when he assured her tbat be 
 had expected to receive some prize-money 
 that was due to him from the capture of 
 Toulon^, which would have enabled bini 
 to discharge a few debts, which bad now 
 placed him in an awkward predicament ; 
 he bad also to inform her tbat be bad 
 two sons, the eldest fifteen, the youngest 
 twelve years of age ; that they were then 
 at school at the Whalebone Academy, 
 and tbat be bad at that moment intelli- 
 gence that if their school- bill was not 
 paid they would be sent home, and legal 
 measures taken to recover the debt due 
 for their board and education. 
 
 Mrs. Mortimer was petrified at this 
 information ; it terminated by his point- 
 ing out, that the only way to save his 
 credit and conimission was for Huber- 
 tine to consent to have her annuity sold^ 
 as he confc^ed that he had raised money 
 F 3
 
 J02 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 on his pay, for which he had insured his 
 life; and agreed to paj the interest, and 
 part of the principal annually, which re- 
 duced his pay to sixty pounds a year. 
 Mrs. Mortimer had no alternative, and 
 her annuity was parted with. Her hus- 
 band disposed of the money as he thought 
 proper, and soon after he was ordered to 
 sea. In the first letter she received from 
 him he requested that she would have 
 his sons home, as keeping them at school 
 was attended with an enormous expence ; 
 and that she was perfectly qualified to 
 instruct them in English, French, draw- 
 ing, and geography^ and that as soon as 
 he returned he would think of placing 
 them either in the army or navy. Mrs. 
 Mortimer did not feel herself equal to 
 educate two boys of such an age, but 
 she was fearful of offending the Colonel, 
 therefore she applied to her relations for 
 their advice, being determined to abide 
 by their opinion. They objected to her 
 having the children home, unless the
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 10^ 
 
 Colonel chose to instruct them himself; 
 and they desired that she would imme- 
 diately come to them, to prevent their 
 being sent to her in the absence of her 
 husband. She gladly accepted of the invi- 
 tation^and the Colonel finding that she was 
 averse to haiving any thing to do with the 
 boys^ removed them to a finishing school 
 in Islington. Indisposition obliged him 
 to return home sooner then yvas intended^ 
 for the goutj from which he was a great 
 sufferer^ had attacked his stomach with 
 such dangerous symptoms^ that his life was 
 in imminent danger. Mrs. Mortimer also 
 expected to encrease her family, and in 
 this situation, orders arrived for his im- 
 mediately joining his division at Chat- 
 ham. This was a heart-breaking cir^ 
 cumstance to Ilubertlne — she must purf 
 from her house and furniture^ and in ail 
 likelihood never return to reside with 
 those friends whose society constituted 
 her only comfort. The Colonel's circnm- 
 stances had become much embanassed, 
 f4
 
 104 BRIGHTON Ix\ AN UPROAR. 
 
 and Hubertine was going to a strange 
 placcj knowing no person near^ and in a 
 situation which required the greatest care 
 and kindness. The idea of going into 
 barracks was most repugnant to her sense 
 of delicacy and propriety, and her bus* 
 band was of the same opinion ; he made 
 every exertion to obtain a house; but 
 Chatham was then full of naval and mi- 
 litary officers, and it was some time 
 before he could procure a Residence at a 
 moderate rent. About this time she also 
 had the affliction of losing her youngest 
 brother, to whom she was sincerely at- 
 tached ; he was a captain in the army, 
 with every prospect of rising rapidly^ but 
 the yellow fever terminated his existence 
 in the prime of life. He had not been long 
 married to the sister of a baronet^ who 
 ■was an admiral, serving at that period 
 in the West Indies, and when his wife 
 learnt the fatal news of his death, it af- 
 fected her intellects, and she never re- 
 covered her reason. 
 
 A few weeks after Colonel Mortimer
 
 BRIGHTON IN" AN UPROAR. 105 
 
 became settled in his house in Troy 
 Town -his family was augraented by a 
 *on, and Hubertine had scarcely left her 
 roonjj after her confinement, before the 
 Colonel was ordered to Ipswich^ on the 
 recruiting service. He had a long sea 
 credit, and it was concluded that he 
 would be continued in Suffolk for two or 
 three years. Previously to his departure 
 he sent both his natural sons to sea, and 
 as out of their limited income it was im- 
 possible to support two establishments, 
 it was determined, that as soon as Mrs. 
 Mortimer could bear the journey, she 
 should let their house furnished, and joio 
 the Colonel. Unluckily, the wife of the 
 General who then commanded the Royal 
 Marines at Chatham was a woman of 
 terylowextraction, andas Colonel Morti- 
 mer possessed great wit, and disliked vul- 
 garity, he had incurred her displeasure, 
 and, as is always the case in such connec- 
 tions, the lady had her husband under 
 excellent command, and was in fact com- 
 f5
 
 106 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 mandinc^ officer; therefore^ at the end of 
 a month, the Colonel was ordered to join 
 quarters, and a few days afier sent with 
 a recruiting party to Scotland. This ex- 
 pence greatly increased his pecuniary dif- 
 ficuUies, and obliged him to dispose of 
 Ills furniture and house in Troy Town. 
 Mrs. Mortimer was left to conduct this 
 business, but before it was accomplislied 
 she had a letter from the Colonel's servant, 
 to beg that she would immediately join 
 his master, as he had a return of the go^it 
 in bis stomach, and the faculty thought 
 he could not long survive. In conse- 
 • quence of this information, she expedited 
 the sale; but was compelled to wait till 
 that was finished for having a supply of 
 money to defray the expence of her 
 journey. 
 
 Although Mrs. Mortimer saw to every 
 thing herself, and was to appearance 
 composed, she very severely felt her hap- 
 less lot : and the consequence was, that 
 the child, whom she then nursed, became
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 107 
 
 SO extremely ill, that the physician assur- 
 ed her if she attempted to proceed to 
 Scotland by land, that his life would be 
 the forfeit. It was in the month of De- 
 cember, during the time of a deep snow 
 and piercing frost, that she took her pas- 
 sage in a Leith packet, and after suffering 
 extreme cold, and all the disagreeable 
 circumstances to which she must be ex- 
 posed in such a vessel, besides being 
 chased by a French privateer, she reach- 
 ed Edinburgh at the expiration of twelve 
 days, and had the pleasure to find Colo- 
 nel Mortimer in a convalescent state. Her 
 own family had given her letters of in- 
 troduction to some of the principal per- 
 sons in Glasgow, from whom she received 
 every possible attention. Happiness, 
 however, she was never to know 
 in this world : her husband sincerely 
 loved her ; he was proud of her ac- 
 complishments, but his temper was such, 
 that it was impossible to give him satis- 
 faction, for what would please him one
 
 108 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 day, would provoke bis anger anolher. 
 Frequently when she had engaged hrrscli 
 to go to a rout, or an assembly, after she 
 "Was dressed for the occasion, he would 
 insist upon her not going, alleging that 
 the expence of such parties did not suit 
 ,his finances. A few hours after he would 
 find fault with her for not having gone, 
 saying that he only meant for the future 
 she should decline such invitations, and 
 when she did refuse, he would make her 
 go; as it was proper, however distressed 
 their situation, that they should keep up 
 an appearance equal to their rank. 
 
 They only remained one year in North 
 Britain, and as soon as they returned to 
 Rochester, the Colonel was appointed to 
 a guard-ship at the Nore. Mrs. Morii- 
 mer had now two children, and she was 
 compelled to forego, not only the com- 
 forts, but the necessaries of life, to keep 
 up that respect in the corps which was 
 absolutely necessary for her husband's re- 
 spectability. She parted with great part
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 109 
 
 of her wardrobe, which, when she marri- 
 ed, was of considerable value; and if it 
 had not been for the sake of her children, 
 Bhc would have sunk under the miserable 
 circumstances in which she now found 
 herself. The Colonel's health was so bad 
 that he was frequently at home during 
 the time he belonged to the guard-ship. 
 When he was ill Mrs. Mortimer never left 
 him, and sometimes for six weeks to- 
 gether, in the most severe weather, she 
 has sat in his bed-room without fire, a"s 
 he conceived it affected his respiration, 
 A civil reply was seldom given to any 
 thing she said, and in short she was a per- 
 fect slave to his caprice ; even not havings 
 the indulgences of a common servant. 
 When she could no longer conceal her 
 misery, he was like a distracted person, 
 asked pardon, promised more kindness 
 in future, imputed his behaviour to 
 jealousy^ as he was sure she preferred the 
 Baron de St. Aubert, or Charles Fitzos- 
 born to him : regretted that she had
 
 110 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 been educated with such high notions^ a? 
 they made her unfit to encounter the dif- 
 ficulties attendant on a soldier's life. 
 
 One day a demand was made on him 
 for payment of a note of hand, which had 
 entirely escaped his recollection. Ho 
 came to Hubertine in the greatest agita- 
 tion, declaring that if ever he was ar- 
 rested he would shoot himself, and shew- 
 ing his pistols, said he always kept them 
 loaded for that purpose. He hinted that 
 he knew Hubertine had some trinkets 
 which were valuable ; they had been 
 given her by the Baron de Si. Aubert ; 
 excepting a ring, set with small brilliants, 
 in which was Fitzosborn's hair. In re- 
 signing this, she felt as if she were sepa- 
 rating from all that her heart held most 
 dear. The Colonel then requested that 
 she would take them, with some of the 
 plate, to a person in London, to whom he 
 would give her a letter, and that they 
 would advance money on the articles. 
 She accordingly went to a Mr. Parker, in
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. Ill 
 
 Princes Street, Leicester Square, and ob- 
 tained the sum requested^ but the arti- 
 cles were never redeemed. 
 
 Peace now took place, and Colonel 
 Mortimer was made a lieutenant-colonel 
 in the Royal Marines, for hitherto he had 
 only had brevet rank; this increased bis 
 pay,and Hubertine hoped thej should now 
 experience more comfort. Her relations 
 had several limes assisted her in pecuniary 
 concerns, or she would have been in a 
 deplorable situation. She also received 
 inielligencc of the death of her uncle, the 
 Baron d'Arrambert ; and that his will had 
 been made in her favour, but the presence 
 of either herself or husband was necessary 
 immediately in Brussels. Mrs. Morti- 
 mer had now three children^ and since 
 her last confinement her health had been 
 extremely delicate ; she felt herself totally 
 unequal to such a journey^ but the Colo- 
 nel was of a different opinion. He did 
 not like trouble of any description, and she 
 being perfect mistress of the French and
 
 1\2 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. |^ 
 
 Flemish languages, he fixed a daj for 
 her departurv*. She did all in her po\Ycr 
 to avoid this journey, for she had a few 
 months before received a letter from the 
 Baron deSt. Aubert^ expressing bis asto- 
 nishment at never hearing from her, as 
 he had written repeatedly. He had left 
 the Prince of Conde's army several years, 
 had returned to France io disguise, and 
 remained concealed till the peace. He had 
 4-ecovered his property ; and his mother 
 was preparing every thing for Hubertine's 
 reception, as she trusted she should now 
 see her son happy. Mrs. Mortimer en- 
 closed this letter to her old friend, and re- 
 quested Mrs. Grant to give a circum- 
 stantial account of her situation. It may 
 naturally be supposed that after such 
 intelligence she could not wish to go to 
 France ; but she made it an invariable 
 rule never to oppose the Colonel's wishes, 
 for she had determined religiously ta 
 perform those duties which she had 
 vowed stA the altar, that hereafter she
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 113 
 
 might never have to reflect upon herself 
 for her past conduct. At the appointed 
 time she attempted to go to France, but 
 from great indisposition and anxiety of 
 mind, when she arrived at the coach 
 olHce at Rochester, she was seized with 
 ftiiiting fits ; a surgeon was sent for, and 
 slic was conveyed home without any 
 symptoms of ever recovering. An ex- 
 press was sent for Colonel Mortimer, who 
 then commanded at Woolwich : he was 
 much afflicted to find her in such a situa- 
 tion, and remained at home till she was 
 pronounced out of danger. 
 
 He implored her, as soon as she was 
 able_, to go to Brussels^ as he wanted two 
 hundred and Miy pounds immediately : 
 this she painfully promised; and attheend 
 of three weeks once more set off for the 
 Low Countries. The Colonel gave her 
 six guineas to defray the expcnces of her 
 journey; but as contrary winds detained 
 her for five days at Dover^ after paying 
 the captain of .the packet^ she had only
 
 114 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 fi\e shillings left. She landed at Bolognc, 
 and fortunately a Monsieur Audibert re- 
 sided there, to whom she was known ; 
 she explained her situation to him, and he 
 advanced her money to proceed to Flan- 
 ders.
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 115 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 From the gay world we'll oft retire 
 To our own family and fire. 
 
 Where love our hours employs ; 
 No noisy neighbour enters here. 
 No intermeddling stranger near, 
 
 To spoil our heart-felt joys. 
 
 To be resign'd when ills betide, 
 Patient when favours are denied, 
 
 And pleas'd with favours given ; 
 Dear Chloe, this is Avisdora's part, 
 This is that incense of the heart, 
 
 Whose fragrance smells of heaven. 
 
 Cotton". 
 
 It was on Mrs. Mortimer's return 
 from the Low Countries that she was 
 introduced to Sir Timothy Flight. How 
 different was her reception at home to 
 what she had experienced in France.
 
 116 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 Colonel Mortimer was glad to see lier^ 
 because she was necessary to regulate bis 
 bouse concerns, and bis bad bealth re- 
 quit-ed constant attendance ; but Huber- 
 tinc was really sbocked at seeing the 
 great alteration wbicb bad taken place in 
 bis appearance since she parted from him. 
 He informed her that he had been very 
 ill^ and he could not help suspecting that 
 he had experienced a paralytic affection, 
 which had affected one of his feet. He 
 expressed great displeasure at her having 
 brought over only four hundred pounds, 
 as he expected and required a much 
 larger supply; and she had great diffi- 
 culty in convincing him that to procure* 
 tliat sum it had nearly cost her double, 
 as the legacy left her by her uncle would 
 not become due for sometime, and that 
 it would not be paid till the expiration 
 of the year. She was consequently obliged 
 to raise the money which she now pre- 
 sented to him, as the Baron d'Arram- 
 bert's affairs were in a very deranged
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. IIT 
 
 state ; and as it bad npt been ascertained 
 wbat would prove to be tbe amount of 
 bis property, wbat her share might be 
 was extremelj uncertain. 
 
 This sum came very opportunely to 
 the colonel^ as it extricated him from the 
 most pressing of his difficulties ; added 
 to which, Mrs. Mortimer had a consi- 
 derable quantity of her aunt's wardrobes. 
 The laces were very valuable^ and she 
 cleared by the disposal of them nearly 
 three hundred pounds. Hubertine was 
 very anxious that all the property she 
 had become entitled to by her uncle's 
 death should be settled on her children; 
 but she \Aas disappointed in this, as she 
 had ever been in any wishes she had 
 formed. 
 
 The journey abroad had not added to 
 her domestic felicity ; she had met with 
 s!jch a warm and affectionate recei)tion, 
 and such kindness from ht r friends on the 
 Continent, that the cold meeting which 
 she received from her husband, his au-
 
 118 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 stere manners, and constant ill-bumour, 
 caused her to lament that she had ever 
 united her fate with his. His health 
 continued cxtremelj bad, which increased 
 his natural peevish disposition, and made 
 it require all the fortitude which she 
 could muster to perform her duties with 
 any degree of cheerfulness. 
 
 She only returned from France in Fe- 
 bruary, and war was again expected in 
 the month of April. Colonel Mortimer 
 expressed his fears, that if, during the 
 peace, he did not secure his wife's 
 property in Flanders, he should never 
 get possession of it, and he again pro- 
 posed that she should go to Brussels, 
 This she made strong objections to, as 
 her uncle had not yet been dead more 
 than nine months, and her legacy there- 
 fore could not be paid ; even if it was, 
 most probably the property could not be 
 disposed of without considerable loss. 
 She also hoped, by its remaining abroad, 
 to secure it to her children ; but all she
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 11^ 
 
 could advance on this subject was of no 
 avail. He insisted on her going and 
 disposing of her share of the Baron's pro- 
 perty immediately ; but she had suffered 
 such insults in travelling in the public 
 diligences without a companion or ser- 
 vant in her former expedition, that she 
 resolved, let the consequences prove ever 
 so fatal to her, not to undertake such a 
 journey a second time without a female 
 attendant. At length the Colonel con- 
 sented to her being accompanied by the 
 widow of a clergyman; and as she paid 
 half her own expences, it did not cost 
 him more than if he had sent a servant 
 with his wife. 
 
 The ladies reached Calais without any 
 accident, and Ilubertine once more had 
 the pleasure of finding her beloved nuns 
 all well. She only staid a few hours 
 with them, as in the present crisis of po- 
 litical affairs she thought it prudent to 
 pursue her journey immediately, and not 
 run the risk of being detained in France,
 
 120 BRIGHTON IN AN t'PROAR. 
 
 which, to say the truth, would have 
 been most agreeable to her feelings, if 
 she had not had children who demanded 
 her immediate care and attention. 
 
 When she arrived in Brussels, she 
 found every thing in the same state as she 
 left them at her departure from thence. 
 Much of her uncle's property had not 
 yet been discovered : they had found 
 some money buried in his garden, and a 
 small quantity of plate; and tl^ey had 
 reason to suppose that the earth concealed 
 much more. Great objections were ad~ 
 duced respecting selling the estates, as 
 money was at that time very scarce, and 
 the country still felt the disastrous effects 
 of the war, under which they had re- 
 cently smarted, and the people dreaded 
 that they should soon be engaged in ano- 
 ther ; few persons were therefore anxious 
 to purchase land, as they preferred keep- 
 ing their money for fear of, or rather to 
 J)e prepared for, the future. 
 
 By every post Mrii. Mortimer received
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 121 
 
 letters from the Colonel, urging her to 
 dispose of her legacy at all events, as it 
 was ahsolutely indispensable that he 
 should have money. She consulted her 
 relations abroad, candidly explaining' to 
 them her situation ; and as they found 
 that she could not return to England 
 without money, they had proper deedj 
 drawn, making over her share of tha 
 Baron d'Arrambert's property to a Mon- 
 sieur de la Motte for Rye hundred 
 pounds. The latter was a man of strict 
 honour^ and could be trusted; and a 
 clause was inserted in the deed, by which, 
 if the property sold for more than that 
 sum, Hubertine was to have the half of 
 such increase. The woods, which were 
 valuable, and could uot then be disposed 
 of, ^^-ere not included in this agreement. 
 
 Mrs. Mortimer staid about a fortnight 
 in Flanders, as she thought it adviseabic 
 to pay some attention to her mother's re- 
 lations: they were persons of rank and 
 wealth; and she hoped^ hereafter^ that 
 
 VOL. J. Q
 
 123 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR: 
 
 thej might be of service to her children, 
 whom she was sensible she had materially 
 injured, in compljing with their father's 
 wishes; but it would have been impos- 
 sible for her to have lived with Colonel 
 Mortimer, if she had not implicitly 
 obeyed him. 
 
 Hubertine and her friend had pro- 
 ceeded to Brussels by land ; but as the 
 season of the year was now most inviting, 
 they determined to return in the barges, 
 by which means ihey should see more of 
 the country. This conveyance was also 
 much less fatiguing than the public car- 
 riages, which are very different from the 
 comfortable stage-coaches in England. 
 They met with a large family-party in 
 the barge from Ghent, being not less 
 than fifty persons, and containing six ge- 
 nerations. They had come from Holland 
 to attend the fair at Bruges, and it was 
 a charming sight to see so many happy 
 faces : the countenances of the old grand- 
 father and grandmother bore testimony to
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 155 
 
 the merit of their children ; thej seemed 
 perfectly contented^ and looked with de- 
 light at their numerous progeny. Tliej 
 told Mrs. Mortimer that every summer 
 they treated their family with a jaunt; 
 tliat the young people had expressed a 
 great desire to see the neighbouring 
 country, and to give them pleasure they 
 had undertaken the journey. The com- 
 pany was so numerous that it waj> diffi- 
 cult to find room for all the passengers at 
 dinner, which was served in a very neat 
 •tylc on board the barge, to the great 
 surprise of Hubertine's companion. Tijej 
 were so pleased with the family they had 
 met with, that Mrs. Mortimer agreed to 
 itay one day at Bruges. The fair fully 
 answered their expectations : it was held 
 in the town-house, which was crowded 
 \vith genteel company, and the booths 
 and shops were superbly furnished with 
 articles of every description, which ap- 
 peared to be extremely cheap. They 
 dined with the Dutch family at a tabla 
 q2
 
 124 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 d'hote, not less than one hundred persons 
 of all nations, trades, and occupations, 
 sitting down to dinner. Three b^nds of 
 music played during the repast: several 
 children danced figure dances, and such 
 a noise was never before heard, the va- 
 rious languages spoken giving an idea of 
 the confusion of tongues at Babel. The 
 ladies were soon tired, and they quitted, 
 without regret, a scene, the novelty of 
 which at first amused their attention, but 
 which ended in such tumult and noise as 
 completely disgusted them.. 
 
 Mrs. Mortimer had determined to pass 
 a week at Calais, arid had anticipated 
 with delight the prospect of being once 
 more with her dear St. Victoire; but 
 alas ! a fatality continued to frustrate all 
 her wishes; for unforseen events pre- 
 vented their arriving at Calais till the 
 next evening. Being fatigued with their 
 journey, they proposed retiring early to 
 rest, and to defer seeing the nuns till the 
 next day ; but scarcely had they undressed
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 125 
 
 themselves, before they were roused bj 
 Monsieur du Crocq, to inform them that 
 a courier had just arrived from Paris, and. 
 if thev did not sail by the packet, which 
 was then going, most probably they 
 would be detained sometime in France, 
 as orders were issued to forbid any com- 
 munication with England till farther 
 orders. 
 
 Hubcrtine felt this to be a very severe 
 disappointment, but it was her duty to 
 sacrifice her own pleasures to the welfare 
 of her husband and children ; and how- 
 ever reluctant she felt at leaving a place 
 endeared to her by former happy scenes, 
 she instantly held herself in readiness to 
 depart. The packet, in consequence of 
 its being the last to sail for England, 
 was so crowded as scarcely to admit of 
 standing room ; but a gentleman seeing 
 that Mrs. Mortimer appeared much in- 
 disposed, humanely insisted upon resign- 
 ing his bed to her. As John Bull sel- 
 dom lets any opportunity slip of takins;
 
 1^6 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR, 
 
 advantage of the timesj the captain of 
 the Yessel demanded three guineas, of 
 each passenger, which thej felt no reluc- 
 tance in paying to escape from being 
 placed in a French prison. 
 
 Luckily their passage proved a short 
 one. Mrs. Mortimer an j her friend only 
 breakfasted at Dover, and surprised the 
 Colonel by an unexpected return^ as from 
 bis wife's letters he had no expectation of 
 seeing her for some days. 
 . No kind reception greeted Mrs. Morti- 
 mer on her arrival : he only appeared 
 anxious to hear how she had disposed of 
 her late uncle's property, and what sum 
 3lie had brought over for him. He was 
 extremely displeased to find that she had 
 not either disposed of or raised money on 
 her share in the woods ; and this induced 
 her still more to lament that she had not 
 settled the whole of the legacy which 
 the Baron d'Arrambert had bequeathed 
 her on her children, as it was left entirely 
 at her own disposal. If the Revolution
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 127 
 
 had not taken place, which had proved so 
 detrimental to the interest of all those 
 who held places under the monarchy, her 
 fortune would have been very considera- 
 ble : as it was, if Colonel Mortimer had 
 not insisted on her dis[»osing of her le- 
 gacy, she would have received treble the 
 sum she did, as she was allowed only a 
 trifle for what was in the bank at Vi- 
 enna. 
 
 For some months after Mrs. Morti- 
 mer's return home not any thing very 
 particular happened. She increased her 
 family by a fourth child, at which time 
 Colonel Mortimer was confined with the 
 gout ; and before it was safe for Hubcr- 
 tine to leave her room, he entreated her 
 attending to put on his flannels, to which 
 she acceded ; but the consequence was 
 that she caught such a violent cold that 
 for some days her life was in danger. 
 When the Colonel found that he had oc- 
 casioned her being in such an alarming 
 situation, he was perfectly distracted : 
 G 4
 
 128 BRIGHTON IN AN IPROAR; 
 
 lie sent for Dr. V — to attend her, and 
 "would, at that niouient, have sacrificed 
 every thing for her recoverj. Before 
 she was well^ her eldest dai-ighter wa« 
 seized with the scarlet fever ; and to de- 
 scribe the deplorable state to which the 
 child was reduced is scarcely possible. 
 When she shewed symptoms of recovery 
 she had every appearance of being an 
 idiot; she was perfectly deaf, nearly 
 dumb, and had entirely lobt the use of 
 her right side, and to add to Mrs. Morti- 
 mer's affliction. Dr. V — at this perio(J 
 informed her that she must prepare her- 
 self for a severer trial : as Colonel Mor*- 
 timer had a large family, he considered 
 it an indispensable duty in him to tell her, 
 that if his worldly concerns were not 
 settled, that no time should be lost in ar- 
 ranging them. He confessed that there 
 was very little probability of either her 
 husband or her child V recovery, as the 
 Colonel's complaint \yas a dropsy in the
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 129 
 
 chesty which always terminates in sudden 
 death. 
 
 The Colonel suspected what his com- 
 plaint was^ and was so afraid of dying 
 that he would never let his wife be one 
 moment out of his presence. In her weak 
 state she had not only her own illness to 
 contend with, but was obliged to attend 
 on her husband and sick infant, and 
 from their limited income^ compelled to 
 consider how she could lay out every 
 penny to the greatest advantage. At 
 lengthy finding she could not do justice 
 both to her child and the Colonel, she 
 placed her daughter under the care of an 
 old servant who had lived many years 
 with her. For ten nights Ilubertine had 
 never been in bed, or undressed, when a 
 favourable change took place in the Co- 
 loneFs disorder, and he was pronounced 
 out of danger, which added greatly to 
 the shock she received, when in taking a 
 dish of tea out of her hand he fell back 
 and expired. 
 
 «5
 
 ISO BRIGHT®N IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 How many fall as sudden, not as safe! 
 As sudden, though for years adnionish'd home. 
 Of human ills the last extreme beware, 
 Beware, Lorenzo! a slow, sudden death. 
 How dreadful that deliberate surprise! 
 Be wise to-day, *tis madness to defer ; 
 Next d.iy, the fatal precedent will plead ! 
 Thus on, till wisdom is push'd out of life : 
 Procrastination is the thief of time ; 
 Year after year it steals, till all are fled, 
 And to the mercies of a moment leaves 
 , The vast concerns of an eternal scene ! 
 If not so frequent, would not this be strange ? 
 That 'tis so frequent, this is stranger still. 
 
 Young, 
 
 Mrs. Mortimer lamented the death of 
 the Colonel, as the father of her children, 
 as his advice and interest would have 
 been of great use to them. With re- 
 spect to herself, she was released from a 
 life of misery ; and when she reflected 
 on her own conduct, she could not accuse 
 herself, in any one instance, of having 
 given him offence. She had strictly per- 
 formed the duties of a wife, and this he 
 had always done her the justice to de-
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 131 
 
 clare^ and had expressed that he was 
 vexed that his own wayward dispositioa 
 frequently caused him to treat her with 
 a severity which she by no means me- 
 rited. Since her marriage she had only 
 known sorrow ; she had sacrificed her 
 fortune, and devoted the whole of her 
 time to contribute to his happiness, and 
 she had ia return only experienced un- 
 kindness and misery. 
 
 She was now left with four children, the 
 eldest of whom was only five years of age, 
 and the youngest but three months old, 
 "with no more than three pounds in the 
 house, and her pension of fifty pounds 
 per annum, to maintain herself and help- 
 less infants ; and it would be some 
 months even before it was paid. In this 
 distressing situation she wrote to her late 
 husband's agent, (who had been a bro- 
 ther ofiicer) to request that he would 
 permit her to draw on him for thirty 
 pounds to defray some necessary ex- 
 pences respecting the funeral. The re-
 
 ]3S BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 plj was, ihat as Colonel Mortimer Lad 
 died in his, debt he could not coniplj 
 with her wishes. This was an ad- 
 ditional alRiction ; but the humane and 
 good Colonel T. of the Rojal Marines 
 came to her, with the General who com- 
 manded the Chatham division, and de- 
 sired that she would make herself easy, 
 as he would undertake to have a proper 
 funeral for his late friend ; and as Dr. V. 
 had informed him that the house was in 
 an infectious state, that he should take 
 the two bojs with him, and in the even- 
 ing send a chair for Mrs. Mortimer and 
 her infant, as his relation, Mrs. Barnes, 
 who resided in the Vines, at Rochester, 
 would with pleasure accommodate her. 
 Mrs. Barnes was an elderly lady of large 
 fortune : her house was in an airy situ- 
 ation, and the benevolent owi.ir was uni- 
 versally beloved and respected for her 
 charity and generosity. Hubert iue re- 
 mained with this lady for three weeks, as 
 her house was obliged to undergo a
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 135 
 
 complete painting", white- washing, and 
 cleaning:, before it was safe for either 
 herself or children to return Her 
 old friend Mrs. Grant came to her, and 
 they looked into all the Colonel's papers. 
 She found a will executed at sea^ leaving 
 her sole executrix ; and she also met 
 with some memorandums, indicating that 
 he had, out of the last remittances from 
 Brussels, cancelled the i>reater part of 
 the money for which his life was insured, 
 and that the policies of those insurances 
 were in his agent's hands, and amounted 
 to upwards of £300. Mrs/Morti- 
 r.icr wrote to the gentleman, expressing* 
 her surprise that he could refuse to ad- 
 vance thirty pounds when he had security 
 in his hands to such an amount, espe- 
 cially when he knew she wanted the mo- 
 ney to bury his late friend. In answer 
 to this, he informed her that one of the 
 policies was lost, therefore it was un* 
 certain whether she could ever re-
 
 134 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 cover the money; but as Mrs. Mortimer 
 was not such a novice in money concerns 
 as to be satisfied with this reply, she 
 consulted a professional gentleman of emi- 
 mence on the subject^, who informed her 
 that as there was a proof that the agent 
 had received the policies oT insurance^ 
 they must be produced by him. Several 
 letters passed on the occasion, and it was 
 nine months from the death of her hus- 
 band before she received the money, as 
 she was sometimes put off by being in- 
 formed that the agent had the gout, and 
 could not attend to business : then he 
 was gone to Richmond for change of 
 air ; and at last she was obliged to em- 
 ploy a gentleman to settle the business for 
 her. 
 
 Mrs. Mortimer's little girl continued 
 in the most deplorable way, so that she 
 required constant care and attendance, 
 which increased her expences in such a 
 manner that fche could verv ill afford.
 
 BRIGHTON IX AN UPROAR. 155 
 
 llubcrtlne was now called on to make 
 considerable exertions to enable her to 
 educate her cbildren and provide for 
 them: she prudentlj considered, that 
 
 ** The wise and active conquer difliculties 
 ** By daring to attempt them. Sloth and folly 
 *' Shiver and shrink at sight of toil and hazard, 
 *' And make the impossibility they fear," 
 
 Mrs. Mortimer advertised for two or 
 three ladies to board with her : she suc- 
 ceeded in procuring one ; and the aunt 
 of one of the officers belonging to the 
 corps in which her husband had served 
 also came to reside with her. Mrs. Forth 
 was a lady of great accomplishments, 
 aid most pleasing manners: her behaviour 
 to Hubcrtine and her children was such 
 as rendered her an invaluable friend, and"^ 
 meeting with such an inmate was a great 
 blessing to Mrs. Mortimer in her present 
 distressed situation. When her family 
 was settled, she considered how she
 
 136 BUIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 could turn to her children's advantage 
 the trifling accomplishiHents she possess- 
 ed. Drawing had always heen a favou- 
 rite occupation with her ; and she was ad- 
 vised to publish a botanical work by 
 subscription. She was averse to this^ as 
 she knew her abilities were not equal to 
 such a task ; but as it was expected of 
 her, she immediately set about it, trust- 
 ing that a generous public would make 
 allowances when they considered the mo- 
 tive which induced her to intrude such a 
 publication on them. Another strong 
 inducement to publish by subscription 
 waSj the ardent desire which she had to 
 liquidate her late husband'^s debts ; and 
 in this she succeeded^ as from her exer- 
 tion's she paid them all within tw o yearSj 
 amounting to the sum of four hundred 
 and eighty pounds. 
 
 Within a year after the Colonel's death 
 Mrs. Mortimer was agreeably surprised 
 at receiving the following letter from Siy 
 Timothy Flight.
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 137 
 
 Madam, 
 
 You may recollect my having had 
 the pleasure of accompanying jou from 
 Dover to Rochester. When last in 
 town, I heard, from jour cousin d'Orville, 
 of the misfortune which you had expe- 
 rienced. It was my wish to serve you, and 
 I succeeded in obtaining two subscrip- 
 tions, one from Mrs. D. wife of the Bi- 
 shop of D — , and one from the Bishop of 
 B — . But when I sent the names to the 
 bookseller, he refused to take them, 
 unless the persons came themselves, 
 and gave their money. Allow me to 
 sav, this strikes me as a bad plan, and 
 if I may take a further liberty, 
 would it not be adviseable, if the rais- 
 ing a sum be an object, to publish a 
 small cheap epitome of your work with- 
 out plates, which would satisfy those 
 subscribers who wished to serve you^ 
 without having so handsome an equiva^ 
 lent for their subscription as your present
 
 138 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 work^ which might be an inducement to 
 persons unacquainted with you to sub- 
 scribe. I Jiope that you will not think 
 my advice indelicate^ nor my begging 
 you to address a few lines to me^ South- 
 streetj Grosvenor- square^ where 1 shall be 
 on Tuesday, mentioning the circum- 
 fttances in which you are placed, which 
 may be the means of my further serving 
 you. When your children are of an age 
 to be placed at school, it would give me 
 pleasure to assist them, if you wish to 
 send a boy to Eton through me, if it 
 should be in my power. 
 
 I remain. Madam, 
 Your obedient humble servant, 
 
 Timothy Flight. 
 
 Walllngton, October Soth, 1805, 
 
 This was a most unexpected offer; 
 and Mrs Mortimer gave such a reply as 
 induced Sir Timothy to make a minute 
 inquiry, by return of post^ into the state 
 of her finances.
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 139 
 
 South-street. 
 Madam^ 
 
 I received your letter^ and trust 
 that you will forgive my troubling you 
 again ; but may I ask, whether the £bO, 
 a year is all that you have to maintain 
 yourself, and educate your children ? and 
 whether your friends let you be without 
 assistance in snch a situation ? You 
 will pardon the liberty I take, as any 
 little service I can render you I shall be 
 better enabled to do, by being accurately 
 and fully acquainted with the circum- 
 itances in which you are placed, 
 I remain. Madam, 
 Your obedient humble servant, 
 
 Timothy Flight. 
 P. S. Be good enough to direct forme at York, 
 
 On the receipt of this epistle Mrs. 
 Mortimer referred Sir Timothy to Colo- 
 nel B. of the Royal Marines, who was 
 then on the recruiting service in London, 
 for such particulars relating to her situ-
 
 no BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 ation as might convince him that her- 
 self and children were objects of com- 
 passion. He had some conversation with 
 Colonel B — on the subject^ and Sir 
 Timothj settled with the Colonel the 
 manner in which he could best serve 
 Mrs. Mortimer and her family. Every 
 person who has experienced reverse of 
 fortune, or who can feel the anxiety of a 
 parent for the welfare of her children, 
 will form some idea of Mrs. Mortimer's 
 delight at reading the following letter. 
 
 York, Nov. 4th. 
 Madam, 
 
 I trust you vt'ill forgive the 
 liberty I have taken in inquiring into 
 the state of your circumstances. My 
 motive was not idle curiosity, and it must 
 be a source of gratification to you, that 
 the slight inquiry I have made has sa- 
 tisfied me thai not only your misfortunes 
 but your conduct entitles you to any slight 
 assistance it may be in my power to offer 
 you. With this impression, it affords me
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 141 
 
 the higliest pleasure to assist you, in giv- 
 ing a fair trial of your boy's abilities. — I 
 will undertake the expence of his educa- 
 tion to qualify him for the church, and 
 if, as I doubt not, he will turn out well, 
 having some friends in the church, he 
 may be enabled in a few years to provide 
 a comfortable home for you, if you 
 should then feel tired of your present situ- 
 ation, and disposed to retire to the tran- 
 quillity of a country life. You may re- 
 member, madam, when I had the pleasure 
 of accompanying you from Dover, that 
 I mention to you, from my habits not be- 
 ing expensive, that I had amply the 
 means in offering, what might be squan- 
 dered in idle superfluities, any trifling as- 
 sistance to any persons, whose "misfor- 
 tunes and merit gave them a claim on my 
 feelings, and you might perceive, though 
 not of ihe flriished manners of many young 
 men. Scruple not then, to be under a 
 trifling obligation to a person with whOm 
 jou are so slightly acquainted ; the ob-
 
 142 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 ligation will be on me, if by jour good 
 care of him, your boy turns out what I 
 fondly hope he may, a valuable member 
 of a church which I revere and love. 
 
 Though it would be gratifying to me 
 occasionally to see how your boy goes on, 
 as the mention of my name might create 
 reports disagreeable to you, if it be your 
 wish, you may mention to me occasion- 
 ally^ by letter, an accountof his progress, 
 and I shall desire my bankers to accept 
 any drafts you draw under another name. 
 You will be good enough never to men- 
 tion my name to any person living, as, 
 though not of equal consequence to me 
 as to yourself, it would hurt me to hear 
 idle reports circulated ; you will be good 
 enough likewise to burn all my letters ; 
 this will preclude the possibility of my 
 name ever being known, which the com- 
 mon disposition to represent circumstances, 
 justifies me, if only for your sake^ in 
 my precaution to conceal. You will 
 be good enough to draw on Dcvaynes^
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 143 
 
 Noble, and Co. No. 39, Pall Mall, in 
 the name of Henry Norton, Esq. or if 
 jou prefer any other n:ethod it shall be 
 adopted ; and let me heg; of you. Ma- 
 dam, not to scruple to draw liberally for 
 every necessary expence in your boy's 
 education ; it is not such trifles as these ; 
 it is idle equipage, dissipation, and the 
 gaming table, which can alone make me 
 feel, whether I have expended my income, 
 which I assure you is sufiiciently ample, 
 were the object twenty fold greater. 
 I remain, Madam, ^ 
 Your obedient humble servant, 
 
 Timothy Flight. 
 
 The concealment of Sir Timothy 
 Flight's bounty Mrs. Mo;timer objected 
 lo extremely, as she thought, if any ac- 
 cident should reveal it hereafter, it was 
 much more likely to create suspicion, 
 than if it was at once made public that he 
 educated her son ; as it was not an extra- 
 ordinary circumstance that a gentleman
 
 144 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 of his large fortune should assist an 
 officer's widow, left with four infants in 
 great indigence, especially as his ami- 
 able disposition and charitable character 
 were universally known. She consulted 
 her friends, and determined to regulate 
 her reply by what they might consider to 
 be right, and they coincided in the pre- 
 sent instance with her ideas of propriety ; 
 upon which, Mrs. Mortimer expressed 
 her thanks to Sir Timothy for his bene- 
 volent offer, and informed him, that if 
 any secrecy was required, she must be 
 obliged to decline it, for reasons which 
 are given above. This produced the 
 following kind answer, 
 
 Nov. 22nd, 
 Madam, 
 
 As my only wish respecting your 
 son is that he should have in every re- 
 spect a proper and liberal education, to 
 qualify him for the respectable profession 
 for which you intend him, you will be 
 the best judge of the situation most pro-
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 145 
 
 per and agreeable to yourself. Had you 
 not known a good school^ I had thought 
 of recommending Mr. Johns* school at 
 Kensington ; but the education there is 
 not so immediately to the object of pre- 
 paring boys for Eton, and therefore Mr. 
 Birch's school (which I hope is the very 
 best school in your neighbourhood) 
 will be the best, and you will have the 
 satisfaction, of having him near to you. 
 
 It is not my wish to place you in a dis- 
 agreeable situation by the concealment of 
 my name ; which I shall only merely beg 
 you not to mention unnecessarily. Were . 
 you to publish an epitome of your bota- 
 nical work, on the plan I took the liberty 
 of suggesting, it might, I should hope/ 
 preclude the necessity of your naming 
 nie, which it appears to me adviseabic, if 
 possible to avoid. 
 
 I trust tliat you will not oblige me to 
 repeat my request, that you will draw 
 liberally for every requisite expence : in 
 the arliclc of food, may I beg that he 
 
 VOL. I. H
 
 146 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 may be allowed (if it be not the diet of 
 the school) a liberal quantity of tea and 
 porter, or two or three glasses of wine 
 every day ; it cannot be expected that a 
 growing child can apply much, unless 
 he has a proper quantity of plain whole- 
 some food ; such innocent refreshment a? 
 that I have mentioned to his delicate 
 spirits, and which is very different from 
 pampering a child with trash. I take 
 the liberty of suggesting these things, of 
 which you will be the best judge, as I 
 remember the effects on my health and 
 spirits, by having been stinted when 
 young. 
 
 I remain, Madam, 
 Your obedient humble servant, 
 
 Timothy Flight. 
 
 Mrs. Mortimer had mentioned <he 
 school of the Rev. Mr. Birch in Roches- 
 ter, as it was not an expensive one, and 
 the child would have been immediately 
 under her own inspection ; but when Sir
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 14^ 
 
 Timothy mentioned the Rev. Mr. Johns* 
 school^ she was extremely pleased that 
 he took such an interest in her hoy's wel- 
 fare, as it was the best private school in 
 England, consequently she lost no time in 
 assuring Sir Timothy that she would ac- 
 cede to his wishes. The following is his 
 answer. 
 
 York, 5. 
 
 Madam, 
 
 It strikes me as more desirable, in 
 every point of view, that yourboy should 
 be at Mr. Birch's school ; he will 
 then be under your eye, and Mr. Johns' 
 school is not a preparatory school for 
 Eton. If you think, or can learn on in- 
 quiry, that Mr. Johns' school is better 
 than Mr. Birch's, it will be sufficient to 
 say, I took the liberty of recommending 
 the school. But I remember the disad- 
 vantage, when I went to Eton, of not 
 having been prepared for it. As you 
 think your son's health does not require 
 wine, allow me at least to beg you will 
 H 2
 
 148 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 desire that he may have a proper quan- 
 tity of plain wholesome food, particu- 
 larly of tea. I have known the bad 
 effects of not having proper food at school, 
 where the slops given to growing boys 
 are scarce fit for pigs. Persons have 
 fancies about tea ; in fact, if made of 
 sufficient strength, and taken cold, it 
 is as strengthening as bark, and much 
 lighter ; it is drinking it hot, and weak, 
 and making it too sweet, that affects the 
 stomach and nerves ; and I consider it an 
 absolute necessary for a studious person. 
 Though not so fattening as milk, which 
 is sometimes given to boys, it is much 
 more strengthening, more warming, and 
 yet more refreshing. It is impossible 
 that a boy who feeds on heavy food, fit 
 for a labourer's child, can be expected to 
 apply with advantage or pleasure to study. 
 You will have the goodness not to quote 
 me as having made this dissertation, but 
 it must certainly be your wish, that in so
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 149 
 
 trifling a circumstance as dict^, jour son 
 should have every advantage. 
 
 The plan I took the liberty of recom- 
 mending, relative to your work, was to 
 publish a small epitome, that the sub- 
 scribers might have their choice: you 
 have shewn your liberality in publishing- 
 it on its present scale, and the bookseller 
 might inform the subscribers that the 
 epitome was published, by the recommen- 
 dation of your friends, for those who did 
 not wish to have the large work. 
 I remain, Madam^ 
 Your obedient humble servant^ 
 
 Timothy Flight. 
 
 P. S. Should you ever find yourself 
 in any immediate pecuniary embarrass- 
 ment, you will I hope draw on my 
 bankers. 
 
 On the receipt of this letter Mrs. 
 Mortimer consulted several gentlemen, 
 who all advised her to place her son at 
 II 3
 
 150 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 the school recommended by Sir Timo- 
 thy, as being a far superior seminary 
 to the one which she had in view, and 
 that he would there make such connec- 
 tions, as might be of great service to him 
 through life. In consequence of this 
 arrangement. Colonel B. waited on the 
 Rev. Mr. Johns, itiforming him, that 
 at the desire of Sir Timothy Flight, 
 Master Lutterel Mortimer was to be 
 placed under his care, and it was 
 wished that his education should qua- 
 lify him for the church. Mrs. Mor- 
 timer went to Kensington with her son, 
 and was much pleased with the healthy 
 situation of the school; she was delighted 
 with the manners of Mr. Johns, his 
 wife, and sister, and was convinced 
 that her boy must be happy under the 
 inspection of persons of their amiable 
 deportment. On her return to Kent she 
 informed Sir Timothy that her child was 
 at school, and he gave an immediate re- 
 ply to the information.
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 151 
 
 South-street, 16. 
 
 Madam, 
 
 Having been sent for to town on 
 a melancholy occasion, I omitted answer- 
 ing your last letter from Sutton. 
 
 It gives me pleasure to hear that you 
 have fixed on Mr. Johns' school. I beg- 
 he may learn any thing you wish. IMy 
 bankers will acknowledge your drafts. 
 I remain. Madam, 
 Your obedient humble servant, 
 
 Timothy Flight. 
 
 A few days after Mrs. Mortimer liad 
 another letter from Sir Timothy, dated 
 from Lincoln. 
 
 Madam, 
 
 When in town on a late melan- 
 choly occasion, I fully expected to have 
 seen your son : he is, I trust, at present^ 
 settled at Mr. Johns*. Let me beg you. 
 Madam, to desire that he may be allowed 
 tea for breakfast ; and if he have milk, 
 let it be for supper, and as much plain 
 H 4
 
 Ib2 BRrGHTON ilS AN UPROAR. 
 
 food, as -bread and butter, plain meat, 
 and plain fruit-tarts, as be likes ; if it be 
 your wisb, good beer, for the beer be 
 will be allowed is probably wretched. 
 These things appear trifling ; but having 
 known the misery of being stinted at 
 school (which jbu will be good enough 
 not to repeat), it is my wifth that he should 
 not only have plenty of wholesome food, 
 but by baling his tender spirits nourish- 
 ed, at least, by so innocent a refreshment 
 as tea, which I wish him to have of 
 pale black, at least eight or ten shillings 
 a pound, to be moderately sweetened 
 with the best double-refined sugar, which 
 is cheaper, as well as more wholesome 
 than the coarse ; and that you would 
 speak to Mr. Johns, to see himself that 
 it be not changed for inferior sorts, (he 
 might breakfast with Mrjs. Johns) that 
 be may take pleasure in bis studies. 
 Children, by being fed worse than our 
 calves and pigs, arc made to hate school, 
 which they should like as their home.
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 153 
 
 By a little slight encouragement on jour 
 part^ remember. Madam, it is possible 
 for him, in this glorious country, to raise 
 himself to the summit of his profession : 
 the necessary foundation is, that he be 
 well grounded by you in good religious 
 principles, not in the austerity of a Me- 
 thodist, but the pleasant gentlemanly 
 faith of Christianity, whose yoke is easy, 
 and whose ways are pleasantness and 
 peace. 
 
 Our Saviour's blessing was on the wi- 
 dow's mite ; and what offering can we 
 suppose more grateful to heaven than 
 your instructing your child in these days 
 in good principles ; encouraging him to 
 store his mind to qualify himself to serve 
 his Creator, in rendering himself a dis- 
 tinguished member of the most distin- 
 guished and liberal of professions — the 
 church ? 
 
 As In the Arabian Nights the piece 
 of lead proved the best gift, your son 
 may hereafter find that the piece of lead 
 u 5
 
 154 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 it lias been in jiiy power to offer him^ hi 
 his education, may prove the best act of 
 kindness I could shew him; and you 
 would feel pleasure if you could do the 
 same by your daughters from the fruit of 
 your own exertions. In that point of 
 view you will forgive me for saying, it 
 would be mistaken delicacy, in my idea, 
 not to publish a plain shilling or half- 
 crown epitome of your work: yon have 
 shewn your liberality, by proposing to 
 publish your work o;i its present scale. The 
 bookseller need not solicit, butorJy ir>en- 
 tion the fact ; it would still be optional to 
 the subscribers. I cannot conclude with- 
 out explaining a trifling circumstance, 
 which perhaps made you, at the moment, 
 consider me in an unfavourable light. I 
 mentioned on the road from Dover, talk- 
 ing of the eccentricity and perfect imio- 
 cence of niirid of a drawing-master, who 
 taught my sister, that when drawing a 
 figure, she had made the outline incor- 
 rect, he said. Miss, your thigh is too
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 155 
 
 fleshj. It would have been as well not 
 to have mentioned such an anecdote, 
 however simple, but it struck me you 
 misunderstood me, and were it not ex- 
 plained, must have considered me defi- 
 cient in the common manners and ideas 
 of a gentleman. You will be good 
 enough to burn this letter, and nut to 
 mention, excepting as coming from your- 
 self, my ideas about your son's diet. I 
 am ever ready to encounter ridicule, if 
 necessary ; but it is idle, wantonly, to 
 expose ourselves to a keen wind. 
 I remain. Madam, 
 Your obedient humble servant, 
 
 Timothy Flight. 
 
 Mrs. Mortimer inquired of some young 
 gentlemen who had been educated at 
 Mr. Johns' school, respecting the diet, 
 and from their account she found it would 
 be useless to request any other attention 
 paid to her boy's food than what was 
 customary iu the seminary, as they had
 
 156 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 ample provision, anJ of the best kind ; 
 and the countenances of the children must 
 convince every parent that their health 
 was carefully attended to ; consequently 
 she did not permit her son to have any of 
 those indulgences which Sir Timothy had 
 so liberally offered. Indeed, it would be 
 difficult to speak in too high terms of the 
 school ; and it was a subject of deep re- 
 gret to Mrs. Mortimer, that she could 
 not afford to place her other boy there. 
 
 It may be concluded that Mrs. Mor- 
 timer felt the most ui.bounded gratitude 
 for Sir Timothy Flight : she looked up 
 to him as a superior being ; and her chil- 
 dren, as soon as they could lisp, were 
 taught to pray for him as the benefactor 
 of the orphans. 
 
 The school-bills were regularly paid. 
 Sir Timothy had taken Lutterel Morti- 
 mer home to his house at the Midsummer 
 vacation, and the child was treated with 
 the greatest kindness and attention. Har- 
 riet Mortimer continued so bad, that it
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 157 
 
 Nvas^ doubtful whether the child could 
 survive many weeks. Sir Timothy heard 
 of this, and addressed Mrs. Mortimer, 
 as follows : 
 
 York. 
 Madam, 
 
 Let me entreat you to have the 
 
 very best advice for your dear daughter, 
 
 and let me insist on your giving your girls 
 
 the very best education. It will not ruin 
 
 me, depend on it. Heaven bless your 
 
 dear child, and may your boy prove a 
 
 consolation to you, which may you never 
 
 need. Believe me, 
 
 Your's, very truly, 
 
 Timothy Flight.
 
 158 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR, 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 ** Alas ! how is it with you, 
 That you do bend your eye on vacancy, 
 And with the incorporeal air do hold discourse ? 
 Forth at your eyes your spirits wildly peep ; 
 And, as the sleeping soldiers in the alarm, 
 Your bedded hair, like life in excrements, 
 Starts up and stands on end. O, gentle son, 
 Upon the heat and flame of thy distemper 
 Sprinkle cool patience, whereon to look.'* 
 
 When Lutterel Mortimer's second 
 school-bill was presented for payment at 
 Messrs. Devajnes, Noble, and Co. the 
 bankers refused to honour it. Mr. Johns 
 informed Mrs. Mortimer of this disagree- 
 able circumstance^ upon which she wrote 
 to the bankers for some information on 
 the subject^ when she received the fol- 
 lowing letter from Sir Timothy Flight's 
 solicitor.
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 159 
 
 Lincoln's Inn. 
 Madam, 
 
 If you will let your draft for twen- 
 ty-five pounds be again presented to Sir 
 Timothy Flight's ba^ikers, it will be 
 paid ; but I am desired to say, that no 
 farther drafts will be attended to. 
 I am. Madam, 
 Your most obedient humble servant, 
 George Equitv. 
 
 Mrs. Mortimer could not conceive 
 from what cause Sir Timothy Flight had 
 withdrawn his voluntary bounty : she was 
 perfectly miserable, as she concluded that 
 either she had offended him, or that he 
 had received some unfavourable impres- 
 sion of herself, or child. She therefore 
 immediately wrote to Mr. Equity, en- 
 treating him to inform her by whose au- 
 thority he was directed to forbid her 
 drawing on Messrs. Devaynes and Co. in 
 future, for her son's education; to which 
 he gave her this reply :
 
 160 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR; 
 
 Lincoln's Inn. 
 Madam, 
 
 Mr. Flight, the brother of Sir Ti- 
 mothy Flight, is now in town, in South- 
 street^ Grosvenor-square ; if you will 
 have the goodness to explain to him your 
 expectations, he will answer you. 
 I remain. Madam, 
 Your most obedient humble servant, 
 George Equity. 
 
 This letter did not clear up the mys- 
 tery; and as Colonel B. had transacted 
 every thing respecting Mrs. Mortimer's 
 son being educated by Sir Timothy, she 
 requested that he would see Mr. Flight, 
 and gain the necessary information from 
 him, relating to the correspondence which 
 she had had with Mr. Equity. Soon 
 after this. Colonel B. wrote to her. 
 
 19, Piccadilly. 
 
 Deur Madam, 
 
 Mr. Flight has just called upon 
 me, and has made a confidential commu-
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 161 
 
 nication respecting the situation of his 
 brother, and upon which he requests you 
 will preserve an inviolable secrecy. The 
 unfortunate circumstance is, that Sir Ti- 
 mothy has become so much deranged, 
 that the family have been under the ne- 
 cessity of placing him under the care of 
 proper people; and he unluckily never 
 made any mention to them respecting his 
 placing your son at school, or his future 
 views for his welfare. Mr. Flight lias 
 however desired me to say that he has 
 consulted with his uncle the Bishop of 
 , and that Lutterel is to be conti- 
 nued at school for the present, though 
 they cannot pledge themselves as to pro- 
 viding for him in future; but the hope 
 is, that a few months proper care and 
 attention may restore his brother, and 
 then every thing he promised will cer- 
 tainly be done. He requests to hear from 
 you the terms of the school, which I 
 could not exactly recollect, also what 
 has been paid, and what may now be due 
 to Mr. Johns.
 
 162 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 Trusting that every thing respecting 
 Lutterel will go on agreeably to the ut- 
 most wishes you could have formed, 
 I am J dear Marl am, 
 Your's, very truly, 
 
 James B . 
 
 This account of Sir Timothy Flight 
 was a great affliction to Mrs. Mortimer. 
 That so good a man should be so heavily 
 afflicted was a public calamity, for he 
 was the widow's friend, a father to the 
 orphan, and his hand was ever extended 
 to the repentant sinner. 
 
 " O, what a noble mind was here overthrown I 
 The courtier's, soldiers, scholar's eye, tongue, 
 
 sword : 
 Th' expectancy and rose of the fair state, 
 The glass of fashion, and the mould of form, 
 Th'observ'd of all observers! quite, quite down I'* 
 
 Mrs. Mortimer sent the copies of all . 
 the letters she had ever received from Sir 
 Timothy Flight to his brother ; and 
 when the next school-bill became due.
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR, 163 
 
 she informed Mr. Flight of the amount^ 
 who immediately gave her this reply, 
 enclosing a draft for the sum :— 
 
 South Street. 
 Madam, 
 
 I have had the honour of receiv- 
 ing your letter, and I confidently trust 
 that my brother will have it very soon iu 
 his own power to write to you himself, 
 and to fulfil in his own person his inten- 
 tions towards your son. 
 
 I have the honour to remain. 
 Madam, 
 Your obedient and humble servant, 
 William Flight. 
 
 Mrs. Mortimer had a great weight 
 taken from her heart, by having the 
 eldest son educated for the church, as she 
 hoped that his house hereafter would be 
 an asylum for her two girls ; the eldest 
 of whom she thought would probably be 
 a cripple. This child was an enormous 
 expence to her, for she was obliged to pay
 
 V J 64 BKiGlITON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 for her board near London, that she 
 might be under the care of an eminent 
 professional man, in the hope that by 
 constant care and attention she would 
 recover her hearing. 
 
 Two of her own male relations were 
 extremely kind to her, and freciuently as- 
 sisted her. Her husband's family she 
 knew very little of ; she had only been 
 introduced to his brother, who was a 
 naval officer out of employment. He 
 had married a very amiable woman, a 
 kdy of quality; her brother educated 
 and supported both his children, and 
 allowed also an annuity to his wife. Her 
 family, on the first of her marriage, which 
 was against their consent, would have 
 got hitn some lucrative appointment in 
 the West Indies, but he objected to the 
 climate. This disobliged them; and as 
 he was a gentleman of expensive habits, 
 and his lady seldom resided with him, 
 they gave up all communication with 
 him, and when Colonel Mortimer died.
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 165 
 
 lie was on the impress service in Ireland. 
 Ilubertine informed liim of the melan- 
 choly loss which she had sustained, to 
 which he gave an unfeeling reply; of 
 this she took no notice, but, from time to 
 time, informed him of his nephews and 
 nieces, for she never forgot that he was 
 brother to the father of her children, and 
 ought to be acquainted witli wiiatever 
 concerned his relatives; but he never 
 gave himself the trouble to answer her 
 letters, or took the least notice of the 
 children. The next letter which Mrs. 
 Mortimer received from Mr. Flight gave 
 her some hopes of Sir Timothy's speedy 
 recovery. 
 
 Sunning Hill, Staines. 
 Madanij 
 
 Owing to my absence from home, 
 
 I did not receive your letter until this 
 
 morning: I have enclosed a draft on 
 
 Messrs. Devaynes, for £ 37. 85. 7c/. 
 
 dated August the 25th, to allow you time 
 
 to inform me if the letter has reached
 
 166 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 you: I am happj to acquaint jou that 
 my brother is daily growing better. I 
 have the honour to remain. 
 Madam, 
 
 Your obedient humble servant, 
 William Flight. 
 
 P. S, I M'ill trouble you to direct for me at 
 Sunning Hill, Staines. 
 
 Not long after this letter from Mr. 
 Flight, she was informed that he was 
 supposed to be in a decline, and was gone 
 to Lisbon for the recovery of his health. 
 Mrs. Mortimer had not the pleasure of 
 knowing him, but report spoke loudly 
 in his praise ; he was the counterpart of 
 what Sir Timothy was when first intro- 
 duced to her; he possessed every virtue, 
 and when the news arrived of his death, 
 not only his relations, but all who knew 
 him, sincerely lamented his loss. Lady 
 Flight then wrote a polite note to Mrs. 
 Mortimer, and till Sir Timothy recover- 
 ed, paid Lutterel Mortimer's school-bills.
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 167 
 
 Mrs. Mortimer^ some months after this 
 period^ came to fetch her little girl from 
 Richmond, and hearing that Sir Timothy 
 was recovered, called on him. He look- 
 ed ill, but appeared perfectly recovered, 
 which gave her great pleasure^ as she felt 
 a very sincere regard for him. After this, 
 Mrs. Mortimer experienced great trou- 
 ble; her invaluable friend, Mrs. Forth, 
 died, and the other boarders who came to 
 her, so far from making amends for such 
 a loss, were old maids and discontented 
 widows, whom it was impossible to please, 
 as, although they had never been accus- 
 tomed either to the elegancies, or even 
 comforts of life, her table could never 
 meet with their approbation. 
 
 To increase the unpleasantness of her 
 situation, Harriet Mortimer had a com-- 
 plaint formed near the joint of her elbow, 
 which was thought to be a white swelling, 
 and in a few weeks became so bad, that 
 amputation was recommended. Although ' 
 Mrs Mortimer had the advantage of
 
 168 ERIGIITON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 being in a town where she could have 
 excellent medical assistance^ she regret- 
 ted that she was so situated, as to be in- 
 capable of applying to several surgeons 
 for their opinion, before her child lost 
 her right arm. She wrote this wish to 
 an officer of the Royal Marines, who was 
 then at Deal, and from whom she had 
 received the greatest kindness and atten- 
 tion. He 'spoke to the surgeons of the 
 naval hospital at that place, who most 
 humanely offered, if Mrs. Mortimer 
 \vouId bring the child to them, and re- 
 main in the neifrhbourhood of the hospi- 
 tal, that they would constantly attend her 
 gratis. This was too eligible an offer to 
 be refused, but she could not accomplish 
 this cxpence without selling all her furni- 
 ture, which she did immediately. As 
 soon as she heard from the surgeons, 
 that they did not apprehend her child's 
 complaint was a white swelling, and that 
 amputation -would not be necessary, she 
 left three of her children, with a servant.
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 169 
 
 under the care of her friend^ the marine 
 officer at Deal, and took a lodging in Hat- 
 ton Garden, that she might be near a per- 
 lon who taught the art of making earners 
 hair, fitch, and sable pencils ; for which 
 she paid him twenty guineas. The usual 
 time for learning this trade was twelve 
 months; but as Mrs. Mortimer painted in 
 oil and water colours, it was not so dif- 
 ficult for her to learn as a person who 
 could not tell a good pencil from a bad 
 one ; and as she devoted her whole time 
 to it, she returned to her family at the 
 end of six weeks. She got a considerable 
 order from a fashionable house in the 
 metropolis, and she used to work from 
 six in the morning till twelve at night, 
 and by sending a man to Margate, Dover, 
 and the neighbouring towns, to dispose of 
 the produce of her labour, she supported 
 her children respectably. The marine 
 officer, when on shore, boarded with her, 
 as also did Mr. Stanton and his child. 
 Mrs. Mortimer now founds as her 
 
 TOL. I. I
 
 170 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR 
 
 familj increased in size^that it was neces- 
 sary she should do something more for 
 their maintenance than taking boarders: 
 the trade which she had adopted she 
 could do in private, and her daughters 
 hereafter do the same ; as she wished, 
 although she knew it to Le a false pride, 
 to keep up that rank in society in which 
 she had lived from her birth. 
 
 As the winter came on, the sea air 
 proved too piercing for Harriet Morti- 
 mer, and her mother thought that in 
 London she could exert herself more for 
 the advantage of her ftimilj, and with 
 greater secrecy, than in a country 
 town. Her friend the marine officer again 
 stepped forward to assist her; he had two 
 nieces, who wished for some improve- 
 ment in the superficial parts of education; 
 and their brother, who was in the law, 
 had business in town, \Yhen it was decided 
 that Mrs. Mortimer should take a house 
 in an airy situation. As soon, therefore, 
 as she was settled in a street near Caven-
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 171 
 
 disli-square, Mr. and the two Miss Lan- 
 tons came to her. Here she began to ex- 
 perience some quiet : her child was nearly 
 recovered. She let her first floor, and 
 with what she received for the board of 
 Mr. and Miss Lantons, painting glass 
 vases, making pencils, &c. &c. she con- 
 trived to provide for her children, and 
 was thankful that she had received such 
 an education as could make her useful 
 to her family, and grateful to those who 
 had instructed her, as she perfectly agreed 
 in opinion with Rowe, respecting the true 
 end of education. 
 
 *' And therefore wert thou bred to virtuous know- 
 ledge, 
 And wisdom early planted in thy soul, 
 That thou might'st know to rule thy fiery passions, 
 To bind their rage and stay their headlong course, 
 To bear with accidents, and every change 
 Of various life; to struggle with adversity, 
 To wait the leisure of the righteous Gods, 
 Till they, in their own good appointed hour. 
 Shall bid their better days come forth at once, 
 A long and shining train, till thou, well pleas*d, 
 Shall bow, and bless thy fate, and say the Gods are 
 just. 
 
 i2
 
 172 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 When she had been about six months 
 in her new residence, she had a letter from 
 the Reverend Doctor Johns, informing 
 her that Messrs. Devajnes and Co. were 
 no longer Sir Timothy Flight's bankers, 
 and she was directed to apply to Mr. 
 Abraham Modish, in the Temple, who 
 would give her the necessary information 
 respecting the change that had taken 
 place. Mrs. Mortimer accordingly went, 
 and was shewn through a suite of apart- 
 ments, elegantly fitted up, apparently 
 quite new, and very unlike the solicitor's 
 rooms she had been accustomed to see, 
 ?is the papers, books, &c. all appeared as 
 if just arrived from the shop At length 
 she was introduced to a little Jew look- 
 ing fellow, as Mr. Alexander Modish. 
 He was all politeness, saying that his 
 father would be sorry that she called in 
 his absence ; that they had now the 
 honour of being Sir Timothy Fiight*g 
 agents and bankers ; that he would him- 
 self call on her in a few days, and bring
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. llS 
 
 her the amount of Master Lutterel Mor- 
 timer's school-bill^ which he accordinglj 
 did, at the same time representing that 
 he tliought (he charges enormous^ as he 
 himself had been educated in a school 
 in the vicinity of the metropolis for half 
 the sum^ >vith several other observations 
 on the same topic^ \vhich offended Mrs. 
 Mortimer, as she thought the young 
 solicitor was taking a great liberty in 
 finding fault with the school at which 
 his employer thought proper to place her 
 tson. She happened to be busily employed 
 when Mr. Alexander Modish entered, in 
 fitting up some card-racks and pin- 
 cushions, &c. for exportation ; he offered 
 to purchase some of the articles; this also 
 was disagreeable to Mrs. Mortimer, as she 
 never sold her work by retail. He took 
 his leave with saying that Sir Timothy 
 Flight would be soon in town, which 
 determined Mrs. Mortimer to paint a 
 small vase, for Lutterel Mortimer to pre- 
 sent to his patron. She had before paint- 
 i3
 
 174 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAU. 
 
 ed a set of skreens for him, not by way 
 of making any return for his munificence^ 
 but to prove that she felt grateful for his 
 bounty. 
 
 Mrs. Mortimer's time was so fully em- 
 ployed that she had very little leisure for 
 visiting ; but it was grateful to her feel- 
 ings to receive invitations from persons 
 of rank, who had known her previously 
 to her marriage^ as it convinced her that 
 they considered the exertions which she 
 made for her children's welfare was no 
 disgrace to her : every one, however, 
 was not of this opinion. On her first going 
 into barracks, she was introduced to a par- 
 ticular friend of Colonel Mortimer ; he 
 was then just appointed to that division, 
 and had brought his wife and daughter. 
 With this family Mrs. Mortimer wa» 
 particularly intimate : they were in li- 
 mitted circumstances, and resided in a 
 lodging, with one man and one maid 
 servant ; and the lady and her daughter 
 were compelled to assist in the household
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 175 
 
 concerns. Seldom a day passed that this 
 family and the Mortimers did not meet : 
 the elderly lady suffered under very se- 
 vere indisposition ; and Mrs. Mortimer 
 really loved the family^ so that she at- 
 tended her in sickness, and when in health 
 contributed to her amusement, and looked 
 upon them as sincere friends. The gen- 
 tleman was of no family or education; a 
 weak man, and easily led by those about 
 him : and, as is the case with weak 
 minds, not able to bear prosperity with 
 humility. A rapid promotion which 
 took place in the corps exalted this little 
 man (in his own ideas) to be equal with 
 a king. He was removed from Chat- 
 ham ; but as his attendance was some- 
 times requisite with the division, after 
 Colonel Mortimer's death, he and his fa- 
 mily on those occasions favoured Mrs. 
 Mortimer with their company : and she 
 was delighted to have her friends with 
 her. But when the dreadful situation of 
 Harriet Mortimer obliged her mother to 
 i4
 
 J76 BRIGHTON IN AN DPROAR, 
 
 leave Rochester, and to learn a trade to 
 maintain her infants, these sincere friends 
 were informed of her future plans, and 
 thus ended all communication ; for they 
 were now such little great people, that to 
 visit a person who had recourse to labour 
 to procure a livelihood would have been 
 highly indecorous in a man of his rank, 
 Mrs. Mortimer was not aware that such 
 friendship as had existed between them 
 could be terminated hy her making pen- 
 cils; therefore,' as they did not call on 
 her when first she came to town, she 
 concluded that some of the family were 
 ill, and she went to see them, when she 
 was received with great form, but with- 
 out any signs of friendship. The lady 
 mentioned that her son had been married 
 some months. This Mrs. Mortimer knew, 
 but had taken no notice of it, as she sup- 
 posed his having married the sister of 
 some milliner at Cork, without a sixpence, 
 ivas rather a subject of grief than rejoic- 
 ng; but as the old lady had men- 
 iioned twice that her son had married a
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 177 
 
 very pretty woinan^ who was going 
 abroad with him, she concluded that the 
 old folks were oftcnded at hey: not having 
 sent a congratulatory epistle on the occa-i 
 sion ; consequently^ when she got homCj 
 she wrote what she conceived would 
 please the old gentlewoman. In reply to 
 this letter Mrs. Mortimer was informed 
 that since they came to reside in London 
 they had so increased their acquaintance 
 that they could not augment them ; that 
 they heard that she had some ladies com- 
 ing to reside with her ; and they sin- 
 cerely hoped that her new employment 
 might prove successful. Mrs. Morti- 
 mer felt hurt and disgusted at this let- 
 ter, as she knew their great society con- 
 sisted of a few clerks and their wives ; 
 but she determined never to enter their 
 doors again. Not long after, the gentle- 
 man called on her ; but she had gi\en 
 orders always -to be denied to any part of 
 that family. 
 
 i5
 
 178 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 Sir Timothy Flight came to town^ and 
 Lutterel Mortimer took him as a present 
 the vase which Mrs. Mortimer had paint- 
 ed. He was pleased with the perform- 
 ance^ and wrote to her in a few dajs. 
 
 South-street, Friday morning. 
 Dear Madam, 
 
 Excuse haste; I shall be happy 
 to see you any day. I dine at half past 
 fivC;, if you like to t^ke my mutton 
 with me any day ; and be good enough 
 to bring some of your choice specimens 
 of drawing. 
 
 I remain your's, &c, &c. 
 
 TiMOTHT Flight. 
 
 By the desire of her friends, Mrs. Mor- 
 timer fixed a day for herself and son to 
 dine with the Baronet. On the morning 
 of that day his servant gave her this let- 
 ter. 
 
 Dear Madam^, 
 
 I think it necessary to mention 
 that I have a young lady living with rae
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 179 
 
 who is by the world considered mj mis- 
 tress. 
 
 I need not assure you, from my con- 
 duct to Lutterel, that my chief mo- 
 tive in taking her under my care was 
 pity at seeing a child fifteen years old, as 
 she then was, with a father, mother, sis- 
 ter and brother, and yet not a house whi- 
 ther to go. They who ought to have 
 guarded her were the first ready to plunge 
 her into perdition. I snatched her from 
 so horrible an abyss ; and no one need 
 now know but that she is my young 
 cousin, cheerful and lively, like a child 
 from school. 
 
 As one must be guided by the rules of 
 society, you need not feel scruples when 
 you know all last year all the fashion- 
 able, with their sons and daughters, were 
 
 crowding to Mrs. , who is only a 
 
 Prince's kept mistress. 
 
 As from extreme delicacy, you can 
 come as to see me, and can behave to any 
 one else, if you feel prudish, with com-
 
 180 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 Hion civilitjj as jou would to any person 
 who might have sailed in the packet. 
 I ani^ Madam, 
 
 YourSj &c. &c. 
 
 Timothy Flight. 
 
 Sunday morning. 
 
 P. S. Do not come if you had rather not. 
 
 This was a distressing piece of intelli- 
 gence ; for tlie letter was dictated in such 
 terms as gave doubts to Mrs. Mortimer 
 respecting the character of the young 
 person alluded to : but upon a second 
 perusalj she felt ashamed of doubting, for 
 one monieijt, the motive which induced 
 Sir Timothy to take a young creature 
 under his protection. Had he not, unso- 
 licited, engaged to provide for her child f 
 The world she knew Was censorious; and 
 if persons sacrificed their feelings to the 
 opinion of the multitude, the widow and 
 the helpless orphan would have few 
 friends ; for those whose hearts are too 
 contracted to allow them to perform a 
 single generous action, always scandalizs
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 181 
 
 those who are possessed of such a bless- 
 ing : so sure it is, thatj more or less^ 
 every one judges of others by their own 
 standard. With the infipression of seeing 
 a school- girl Mrs. Mortimer repaired 
 to Sir Timothy Flight's. She had only 
 seen him twice since the death of her 
 husband; and with the partiality of a fond 
 mother, concluded that the more he saw 
 of her son the stronger interest he would 
 feel in his future welfare. She also felt 
 it her duty, as far as she was able, to 
 meet his wishes on all occasions; and it 
 struck her; that probably the poor girl, 
 of whom he made such pathetic mention, 
 remained at his house because he knew 
 DO person with whom he could place her ; 
 or, that with his own benevolent ideas, 
 he was fearful that if trusted to strangers 
 she might not be treated with such ten- 
 derness as her unprotected situation de- 
 manded. Mrs. Mortimer therefore de- 
 termined to examine the young lady's 
 behaviour minutely ; and if she really
 
 J82 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 appeared what she ardently wished to find 
 her^shewouldofFerSir Timothy to receive 
 her, and that she should find in her a se- 
 cond mother, as she would, if necessary, 
 instruct her, and shew her the same affec- 
 tion that she had for her own children- 
 
 At the appointed time Mrs Mortimer 
 took her son to South- street. The Ba- 
 ronet had not returned from his morning's 
 drive ; but she found books, paintings, 
 &c. which enabled her to pass her time 
 agreeably till his return. She saw him 
 descend from his curricle with a lady 
 who appeared to be more that fifteen ; 
 and soon afterwards he entered with Mr. 
 Alexander Modish, who was dressed in 
 the style of a Sunday Hyde Park jockey. 
 Sir Timothy, with his usual elegance of 
 manners, made an apology for not being 
 aware that the distance of the place to 
 which he had been would prevent his 
 being at home in time to receive Mrs. 
 Mortimer and her son : he hoped she 
 would also pardon his leaving her for a
 
 BlUGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 183 
 
 few minutes to change his dress. Mr. 
 Alexander Modish remained ; and she 
 took the opportunity^ of Sir Timothj'i 
 absence to ask him respecting Jthe young 
 ladv whom she had seen. He gave Mrs. 
 INIortimer to understand that she was a 
 protegee of the Baronet's^ and he had 
 taken her out of compassion. The world, 
 he observed, was censorious ; '' But jou. 
 Madam, know Sir Timothy Flight's phi- 
 lanthropy, and that his goodness is such 
 that he is ever ready to assist the unfor- 
 tunate." 
 
 The young lady did not make her ap- 
 pearance till dinner was served, and Sir 
 Timothy did not introduce her, which ra- 
 ther surprised Mrs. Mortimer : she there- 
 fore requested to know her name. "- Har- 
 riet Shark/* he replied. The conver- 
 sation while at table was chiefly on th« 
 progress which Lutterel had made in 
 his education, excepting ever and anoa 
 the Baronet spoke in very disrespectful 
 terras of his nearest relations, in which 
 Mr. Alexander Modish joined, saying
 
 184 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 it was shameful that more had not been 
 made of the Baronet's fortune during 
 his long minority ; that ten thousand 
 pounds had never been accounted for ; 
 and that his former solicitor^ Mr, Equity, 
 should have recovered it when the Ba- 
 ronet came of age. All this appeared 
 very wonderful to Mrs. Mortimer, as 
 when she first knew Sir Timothy, he ap- 
 peared to idolize his family, and she knew 
 them to be persons of rank and great re- 
 spectability, and incapable of doing a 
 mean action. 
 
 In the afternoon Sir Timothy told 
 Mrs. Mortimer that he was extremely 
 sorry to find that she worked to support 
 her children, as she had always had his 
 permission to draw on his bankers when 
 under any pecuniary embarrassment. She 
 told him that she was sensible of his li- 
 berality, but she could not think of avail- 
 ing herself of it ; that what he did for 
 her boy was more than she could have 
 expected ; and she had, invariably, when
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 185 
 
 she drew for hor son's sthool-billjSent.Dr. 
 Johns' account with the draft. He then 
 said that she could be of the greatest ser- 
 vice to him; that iiis mother could not 
 live many weeks,, and having no near fe- 
 male relation to take an interest in his 
 concerns, he was imposed on by his ser- 
 vants and trades-people, and wanted some 
 one about him who had his interest at 
 heart; that he could trust her to write 
 for him, and^ in short, to superintend 
 all liis affairs ; that if Mrs. Mortimer 
 would do this^ she must remove to Brigh- 
 ton, where he had a cottage^ which he 
 would let her reside in, and allow her a 
 handsome remuneration for her trouble : 
 that it \^as his intention to educate her 
 other boy ; but as he was not designed 
 for the church she must look out for a 
 cheaper school than Dr. Johns'; but he 
 hoped to see her often, and that they 
 would then settle something for her ad- 
 vantage. Mr. Alexander Modish ex- 
 pressed his wishes that Mrs. Mortimer
 
 186 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 would comply with Sir Timothy's desire, 
 as he had several houses at Brighton, 
 which wanted furnishing, and that he 
 really required a respectable female to 
 superintend his concerns. 
 
 As to Miss Shark, Mrs. Mortimer 
 was at a loss what to think of her ; she 
 was very pretty, and appeared to be 
 about six or seven and twenty ; she af- 
 fected a naivete of manner, which was 
 pleasing; her behaviour was perfectly 
 correct, but there was something in her 
 appearance, and the manner in which 
 the gentlemen behaved to her, that cre- 
 ated some suspicion in the breast of Mrs. 
 Mortimer. 
 
 It was natural for Mrs. Mortimer to 
 turn in her mind the oflfer which Sir 
 Timothy had made her ; she also talked 
 with Mr. Charles Stanton and some 
 friends on the subject, and they agreed 
 with her in thinking, that independent of 
 its being a very lucrative situation, that 
 it was an indispensable duty in her, to
 
 BRIGHTON IxN AN UPROAR. 187 
 
 devote her whole time, and to do every 
 thing in her power, (o promote the Baro- 
 net's welfare ; as it was only by proving 
 in this manner her gratitude, that she 
 could convince him how thankful she 
 was for his benevolence to her son ; and 
 by her fidelity in serving Sir Timothy 
 she would secure him as a benefactor to 
 her children. On the Tuesday morning 
 followins: this note was delivered to her : 
 
 "to 
 
 My dear MadacQ^ 
 
 If disengaged, should you like to 
 come, and delinitively conclude your bar* 
 gain to-morrow, or next day, by which 
 you arc only to amuse yourself in the 
 mornings by drawing a little, when it 
 suits your pleasure. 
 
 Believe me, dear madam^ 
 Your's truly, &c. &c. 
 
 Timothy Flight. 
 
 Tuesday Morning. 
 
 Mrs. I^Iortiraer attended Sir Timothy 
 the same day, when he offered her five
 
 188 BRIGHTON IN AN UPKOAR. 
 
 hundred pounds a year ; this sle de- 
 clined, considering it far too la^ge a 
 salary. It was then decideJ that she 
 should have three hundred ppr annum, 
 and a house to reside in free of reiit a.id 
 taxes ; hut this was a verbal agrei rfteiit, 
 in presenci^ of Miss Shark and Mr Alex- 
 ander Modish ; Mrs. Mortimer having 
 such an opinion of Sir Timothy, that to 
 ask for any written document never en- 
 tered into her mind. In consequence of 
 this arrangement, Mrs. Mortimer parted 
 from her house in Charles- ^trtx:, the 
 two Miss Lantons were to return to their 
 friends in Scotland, and Mrs. Mortimer 
 and her family remove to Bii^.hton. All 
 this, however, took some weeks to ac- 
 complish, during wbith period Sir 
 Timothy sent for Mrs. Mortimer every 
 day to South -street, generally at his 
 breakfast hour. She lamented to see 
 that he had an occasional eccentricity, 
 which might be productive of bad conse- 
 quences, for he was so incapable of du-
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 18^ 
 
 plicity ill his own character, that he sus- 
 pected it not ill others, and she saw, with 
 concern, that Mr. Alexander Modish 
 governed all his actions, and either hc^ 
 or his younger brother, Mr. Symphony 
 Modish, were constantly with the Baro- 
 net, to appearance by accident ; but 
 Mrs. Mortimer began to suspect that 
 that was not the case. While Sir Timo- 
 thy was at breakfast, generally one of 
 these gentlemen dropped in ; soon after, 
 persons would call with snuff-boxes, dia- 
 mond -ringSj neck-laces, watches, and 
 various articles of jewellery ; the Mr. 
 Modisbes would extol the beauty of 
 the articles, and tell the Baronet that 
 a person of his rank should have a cabi- 
 net of curiosities : one man brought a 
 ring — it was an antique, set round with 
 a few brilliants : the foreigner to whom 
 it belonged assured Sir Timothy that 
 he was the first person who had seen it ; 
 it was the self same ring which Bona- 
 parte wore on hia finger when he con-
 
 190 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 quered Egypt. Mrs. Mortimer having 
 some doubts of this, asked the man how 
 it came into his possession ; he said that 
 the Emperor Napoleon had given it to 
 one of his victorious generals^ who had 
 presented it to his favourite mistress, with 
 whom he had quarrelled; that the lady 
 had occasion for money, and had given 
 him the ring to dispose of. Of course, so 
 great a curiosity was purchased, to add 
 to the rest. From the description of some 
 of the watches and boxes, which were 
 imposed on Sir Timothy, Mrs. Mortimer 
 was informed that they were the re- 
 mains of a museum, which was formerly 
 exhibited in London by a Mr. Cox. 
 She thus frequently saw thousands ex- 
 pended in a morning, and when she ven- 
 tured to make any observation on the 
 great expence attending this cabinet of 
 curiosities, Mr. Alexander Modish al- 
 ways replied, that as the Baronet did not 
 dissipate his fortune at a gaming-table, 
 such trifling expences could not be felt
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 191 
 
 hy him. The Mr. Modisbes were pre* 
 sented with watches^ and elegant diamond 
 broaches, by Sir Timothy, with leave to 
 chuse such ornamental trinkets as were 
 worn by young men of fashion, at his 
 expence, in consfderation of their having 
 recommended him to a jeweller and silver- 
 smith in the Strand, who would give him 
 any length of credit which suited his con- 
 venience. It was also observed, by Mr. 
 Alexander Modish, that when the Baro- 
 net was tired of these baubles, they 
 could be sent abroad, where they would 
 fetch double the price that had been 
 given for them. 
 
 This was not the only imposition which 
 roused Mrs. Mortimer's suspicion re- 
 specting Sir Timothy's solicitors ; they 
 would bring leases, &c. for him to sign, 
 just as dinner was served, and he exe- 
 cuted these deeds, or leases, without ex- 
 amining the contents ; and frequently, 
 when Sir Timothy was in such an agi- 
 tated state of mind as to render him to-
 
 192 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 tally unfit for business of any sort. 
 Sir Timothy was by no means mad, 
 for he possessed for hours together, 
 and even for days, a sound state of 
 mind ; but it was necessary that he 
 should have some pursuit, to keep his 
 attention fixed, and it depended on those 
 about him to direct those pursuits into 
 a proper channel. At times he certainly 
 had a flightiness of imagination, which 
 appeared to proceed from an elevated 
 mind, and in those moments he would 
 promise to patronize people, advance 
 them money to procure patents for the 
 accomplishment of impossibilities ; and 
 Mrs. Mortimer saw, with heart-piercing 
 grief, that the benevolent benefactor of 
 her son, in these moments of irritation, 
 became the dupe of a party of designing 
 villains. This party took advantage of 
 his calamity, by making him execute 
 bonds and drafts, upon which, when he 
 reflected coolly, he was loath to abide by,, 
 but was compelled to do so, for fear of 
 their exposing him, as his dread of being
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 195 
 
 confined in a mad-house embittered bis 
 life, and the artful persons with whom 
 he was connected took advantage of this 
 fear, by which means he was completely 
 in their power. Miss Shark acted the 
 part of an accomplice ; as Mrs. Mor- 
 timer ioarut that the young lady, who 
 had been presented to her as a boarding- 
 school iNJiiSj had been a common prosti- 
 tute^ and was thrown in Sir Timothy's 
 way_, with an artful story of distress^ a& 
 the party knew that his heart would 
 instantly feel interested for the person so 
 represented. It answered their expecta- 
 tion, and he took her home : had she 
 possessed one atom of generosity in her 
 composition, she would have exerted the 
 influence she had over him, to prevent 
 his being ruined by the wretches who 
 preyed on him ; instead of which, she 
 joined in deceiving him, and continued 
 to pursue the same libertine life, from 
 which he thought he had extricated her, 
 
 VOL. I. K
 
 194 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR: 
 
 for he took her from a scene of vice and 
 profligacy. 
 
 Sir Timothv, a few days after Mrs. 
 Mortimer had settled with him to super- 
 intend his concerns, requested that she 
 would go down to Brighton, to take the 
 plans of some houses for which he was 
 in treaty, and also to ascertain what fur- 
 niture would be required to furnish four 
 houses fit for the reception of lodgers. 
 He said his steward would be in town, 
 and Mr. Chissel would see that she had 
 proper accommodation prepared for her 
 reception ; as it would be unpleasa X to 
 go to a strange place alone. He desired 
 that she would take the youngest Miss 
 Lanton with her, and that if possible be 
 would join lier there the next week. 
 Previous to her departure Mrs. Morti- 
 mer was introduced to Mr. Chissel; and 
 as he will frequently make his appear- 
 ance in these anecdotes, it may be plea- 
 sant to the reader to have some know- 
 ledge of this great personage.
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 195 
 
 That he had a father and mother is all 
 that ever could be known of his pedi- 
 gree ; he was brought up a carpenter, 
 but not being in a situation to obtain em- 
 ployment, he enlisted into a regiment 
 of dragoons, from which he either de- 
 serted. Of was discharged, and, for some 
 years, the world laboured under the af- 
 fliction of not knowing what had become 
 of this knight of the chip. Reports va- 
 ried concerning him ; some said he had 
 been sent against his inclination to Nesv 
 South Wales to fetch wool : others, that 
 he had never been out of the kingdom 
 which had given birth to so great a hero. 
 He himself assured every one that he had 
 been the intimate friend and travelling 
 companion of a German Baron ; that he 
 had made the tour of Europe, to study 
 agriculture, and that he was now supe- 
 rior to any other person in the know- 
 ledge of that useful art. He had suf- 
 fered greatly from being so much in 
 foreign parts, as from the variety of lan-
 
 196 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 guages, which he had been under the 
 necessity of learning, he returned to his 
 native land incapable of speaking one; 
 as^ although he conversed in English, it 
 "uas onljthat part of the languiige called 
 the vulgar tongue in which he excelled^ 
 and could be clearly understood. 
 
 To the great benefit of society, when 
 His Royal Highness the Prince built his 
 spacious stables at Brighton, workmen 
 flocked from all parts of England to ob- 
 tain employment, and amongst them Mr. 
 Chissel, the late friend of the German 
 Baron ; but as he could not get sufficient 
 business, being a man of a liberal mind, 
 he did job-work for the inhabitants at a 
 reduced price. Mr. Chissel, however, 
 had the good fortune to be born under a 
 lucky planet, and in this situation Captain 
 Flash, who had the command of a troop 
 in the regiment of dragoons in which Mr. 
 Chissel had served, recognized him. He 
 asked Chissel how he w^as engaged, and 
 being informed that he had to support a
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 197 
 
 wife and family by chance custom, it 
 struck the noble Captain, that, in serving 
 this man, he could essentially benefit his 
 own family. His father had an estate 
 tenanted by a set of turbulent people : 
 he could not manage them himself; and 
 although the Captain could swear, they 
 did not mind him; but as Mr, Chissel 
 was a man six feet high ; could swear, 
 even better than the Captain ; could box, 
 if required ; and could frighten several 
 by his appearance, he was appointed by 
 Captain Flash to be the steward of this 
 estate, that he might bring this riotous 
 tenantry into better order. When the 
 Mr. Modishes became solicitors to Sir 
 Timothy Flight, and keeping the old 
 steward on the estates would have been 
 impolitic, Mr. Chissel was advanced to the 
 office of steward to Sir Timothy, with a sa- 
 lary of three hundred pounds per annum. 
 From his long residence with his friend 
 the Baron, and having imbibed high no- 
 tions, he threw his tools to the do^s, 
 k3
 
 108 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 jporled a gig decorated with red morocco 
 and jellow painty and kept a saddle- 
 horse. A house was taken in a pleasant 
 situation at Brighton for him to reside 
 in^ and the Master and Miss Chissels sent 
 to a boarding-school. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Chissel now commenced people of fa- 
 shion, but the poor lady did not long 
 enjoy her happy situation, for she was in 
 \'ery bad health, occasioned by her hus- 
 band's unkindness ; and when Miss Lan- 
 ton and Mrs. Mortimer visited Brighton, 
 the poor creature kept her bed. 
 
 Mr. Chissel was very attentive to Mrs. 
 Mortimer, and she thought that he really 
 was a rough diamond, for he spoke of 
 Sir Timothy Flight's solicitors as a de- 
 signing set of Jews, and entreated Mrs. 
 Mortimer to warn the Baronet of his 
 danger, for he was sure he would be 
 ruined. He said that they had lately 
 taken a house near Chelsea, which was 
 fitted up in a sumptuous manner ; that, 
 in fact, it was all at the Baronet's ex-
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR, 190 
 
 pence, as he advanced the money, and 
 old Modish was to set it off in his ac- 
 count, which was not to be delivered to 
 Sir Timothy till the expiration of three 
 years ; and that they had a carriage and 
 horses, all of which were paid for out of 
 the Baronet's money. Mrs. Mortimer 
 was extremely distressed to hear this, 
 and foresaw that if she continued in Sir 
 Timothy's service, she should have an 
 arduous task. When she went to his 
 house in Brighton, she found it filled 
 with actors and actresses, who danced 
 and played at a circus, which in one of 
 the Baronet's flighty fits he had pur- 
 chased. 
 
 Mrs. Mortimer was to see several 
 houses, and send the particulars of each 
 to Sir Timothy, which she did, and re- 
 ceived this reply: 
 
 London, Wednesday. 
 Dear Madam, 
 
 I propose running down to-mor- 
 
 jrow for a day, if I can ; if not, pray 
 
 ]l4
 
 200 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 forward the particulars and terms of all 
 the houses I stated in the good situa- 
 tions; as the west sides particularly of 
 German-place^ of the New Steyne^ even 
 of the Crescent^ whole of Dorset Gar- 
 dens, the west side of Broad-street, 
 Nos. i 1 and 12, and anj other good houses 
 on the Stevne. Mj assisting any person 
 to furnish two or three bouses for letting 
 would be a livelihood to any one, so that 
 if I were willing to take tbe trouble of 
 taking all Brighton, it would be the 
 luckiest thing for them ; whereas, I only 
 desire you to get the terms and particu- 
 lars of all the best streets, not forgetting 
 the large houses at the end of German* 
 place and Broad-street. Such particu- 
 lars as who the ground and the houses 
 belong to, if to be had only yearly, or 
 whether on lease, renewable on lives at a 
 certain fine, and any other particulars ; 
 I then can pick and choose. Brighton 
 is a sinking place in itself: I am posi- 
 tively informed the Prince is quitting it.
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 201 
 
 and unless some superior and extraor- 
 dinary genius (modest you will say) in- 
 terpose, the place will fall to nothing, if 
 only from the very great danger of the 
 cliffs being washed into the sea^ which^ 
 with the Prince's departure, and the place 
 being over built, is likely to press very 
 hard. You will now see that it will be 
 almost the interest of Brighton to let me 
 have all the houses on the Crescent and 
 the Cliff, at least for nothing: I will 
 not only save the place, but make it the 
 first place any where. Do not repeat 
 this, they would increase their price. 
 Get the estimate from Lucas, Middle- 
 street, of the New Groin I mentioned to 
 him. If you are at a pinch for money, 
 Mr. Chissel, on shewing him this, will 
 supply you. I have desired Mr. Chissel 
 to have you supplied with every thing, as 
 long as you stay, by my trades-people. 
 If not disagreeable or unpleasant, pray 
 
 notice Miss L , a good little girl, 
 
 who dances at ray circus, and she is in
 
 203 BRIGHTON IM AN UPROAR. 
 
 distress I fear. Pray comfort her poor 
 little heart, like a mother : the kindness 
 of a friend in need, to an unprotected 
 girl too, is a heavenly balm to bestow. 
 You see I am not such a starvina: mana* 
 ger as Monsieur — . You may 
 send to Mr. B. a painter, he has some 
 secret about paint without turpentine, 
 I hope the lad, Tom C. has not made 
 off with Ihe clothes ; if so, he should be 
 taken up to be tried for the theft. 
 Believe me, your's truly, 
 
 Timothy Flight. 
 P. S. Pray answer all my questions. 
 
 The greater part of this letter was in- 
 comprehensible to Mrs. Mortimer, and 
 she desired Mr. Chissel to give her in- 
 formation on the different subjects: she 
 feared that it must have been written 
 when Sir Timothy's mind was in a state 
 of irritation, as it was so unlike all his 
 former correspondence. She inquired 
 about Miss L , and found that she
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 203 
 
 was a girl of good character, and resided 
 with some other theatrical geniuses in Sir 
 Timothy's house. The Baronet sent Mrs. 
 Mortimer another letter a few dajs after : 
 
 Dear Madam, 
 
 You know I am rather occupied, 
 which must excuse my neglect in writing. 
 My wish was to get the terms of the 
 west side (my house is on the west side 
 
 of ) of Broad-street, of the New 
 
 Steyne, likewise of ihe house next to the 
 Old Bank. I have told the men all this, 
 and I am obliged to give you all the 
 trouble. Getting the terms of every 
 house in Brighton does not oblige me to 
 take them, and only gives me the choice. 
 You may tell the Brightoneers that when 
 I have sent some of their great rascals to 
 
 h , the little ones will follow; they 
 
 had better offend the d — 1 tlian me. 
 It was the great new house I thought 
 of; otherwise, the east side of streets i& 
 horrible in summer.
 
 204 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 I like the idea of painting Mason's 
 green; a pale green, with gold mould- 
 ing, is neat. Pray scold that stupid 
 beast and his wife, Botts, for not writ 
 ing ; tliej live on me, and do nothing ; find 
 tell "Blacky if he does not do every thing 
 I bid him, 1 can soon Lring down a Lon- 
 don coal- merchant, and pay for under- 
 selling, if I cannot think of belter means 
 to blow him to pieces. I must end at 
 present. 
 
 Your's, in haste, 
 
 Timothy Flight. 
 
 If Mrs. Mortimer was astonished at 
 the former letter, this gave her still more 
 sorrow: what a difference in the Senti- 
 ments of violence expressed, compared 
 with his former placidness and kindness. 
 She consulted with Mr. Chissel what she 
 had best do; and understanding from 
 him that when Sir Timothy's mind was 
 set on any particular object, it was ne- 
 cessary to humour him. Two houses
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 205 
 
 were taken in German-place, with the 
 plans of several others, and at the ex- 
 piration of ten days Mrs. Mortimer re- 
 turned to London. Sir Timothy was 
 pleased with what she had donc^ and ap- 
 peared to have great confidence in her : 
 she therefore took an opportunity, when 
 he was perfectly collected, to express her 
 sorrow at his having taken his affairs out 
 of Mr. Equity's hands, as she understood 
 he was'a crentleman whose character stood 
 high in the estimation of the public : she 
 hoped he had done himself no injury by 
 the change, but was he sure that the 
 persons in whom he now confided were 
 men of character, and would not betray 
 the trust reposed in them. Sir Timothy 
 confessed he had some doubts respecting 
 their probity, but observed, that they 
 were men of abilities, and, if honesty 
 might be of great service to him ; if they 
 were otherwise, he was entirely in their 
 power, and they could injure him very 
 materially. He much wished that she
 
 206 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 would inquire into their charactcrsj for 
 he was sure that she would not deceive 
 him; and confessed he was himself sur- 
 prised to hear that he was in their debt 
 eight thousand pounds^ as they had only 
 been fourteen months his solicitors, when 
 the sum of sixty thousand pounds was 
 paid into their hands, 
 
 Mrs. Mortimer now regretted that she 
 had given up her house near Cavendish- 
 square, and that the Miss Lantons were 
 to leave her in a few davs^ for she was 
 fearful that she had undertaken a situa- 
 tion, the business of which she would 
 find difficult to discharge, without cre- 
 ating herself many enemies. She related 
 her situation to Mr. Charles Stanton, who 
 told her he thought it was her duty to 
 save Sir Timothy, if possible, from ruin; 
 that his solicitors were Jews of notorious 
 character, and that if the Baronet's af- 
 fairs were not taken out of their hands, 
 he would soon be ruined. Mrs. Morti- 
 mer introduced Mr. Charles Stanton to
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 207 
 
 Sir Timothy, for he was sunounded by 
 such a set of miscreants, that she thought 
 it riiiht to secure him at least one friend, 
 wlio would exert himself to save him. 
 As she saw tl>at it was necessary to pre- 
 vent Sir Timothy from being agitated^ 
 she determined to ask her agent, a re- 
 spectable gentleman near Leicester-square, 
 if he could inform her of any solicitor 
 who she could recommend to the Baro- 
 net, and if he would advance the money 
 to extricate him. This he said he would 
 do, and that the solicitor whom he em- 
 plojed, he would not only recommend, 
 but become securit}' for his honourable 
 conduct in the sum of a thousand pounds. 
 The day before Mrs. Mortimer took her 
 famil)' to Brighton, she dined in South- 
 street : Mr. Charles Stanton was of the 
 party ; and at her taking leave. Sir Ti- 
 mothy gave her all his keys, and desired 
 she would take possession of his house, 
 and act as she thought proper for him, 
 in Brighton. He told her that he should
 
 208 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 come down as soon as ever the fate of 
 Ladj Flight was decided,, as in her pre- 
 sent state of health she could not long 
 survive. Mrs. Mortimer, on all occa- 
 sions^ endeavoured to prevail on him to 
 be on good terms with his familj ; but 
 he said^ that as they had confined him 
 once in a mad-house^ he never could for- 
 give them for so doing; and he- was sure 
 ;they would again do the same^ if they 
 got him in their power. He desired Mrs. 
 Mortimer to keep a good look out after 
 Mr. Chissel^ as he had taken the liberty 
 of riding his horses^ and doing many 
 things of which'he did not approve. Mr». 
 Mortimer considered Mr. Chissel a vul- 
 gar man ; but she thought him honest, 
 and spoke much in his favour. Not long 
 before he had given her^ in the presence 
 of the two Miss Lantons^ a fifty pound 
 notCj as a present from Sir Timothy, to 
 settle any littlq debts she might have in 
 town, and to pay the expences of remov- 
 ing her children to Brighton,
 
 SRIGIITON IN AN L'PROAR. 209 
 
 CHAP. VI, 
 
 Reflect that life and death, aflecting sounds, 
 Are only Taried modes of endless Being. 
 Reflect that life, like every other blessing. 
 Derives its value from its use alone; 
 Nor forjtsclf, but for a nobler end, 
 Th' Eternal gave it, and that end is virtue. 
 When inconsistent with a greater good, 
 Reason commands to cast the less away ; 
 Thus life, with loss of wealth, is well prescrv'd. 
 And virtue cheaply sav'd with loss of life. 
 
 Johnson. 
 
 On Mrs. Mortimer's arrival at Brioh- 
 ion, she took up her residence in one of 
 Sir Tiniothj Flight's houses, till his 
 steward could procure her one, as posses- 
 sion %( the cottage, which the Baronet 
 had designed for her, could not be ob- 
 tained, the person with whom he had 
 sonie cancern in the circus refusing to
 
 210 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 give it up, and a law-suit was then 
 depending", which some respectable per- 
 sons assured Mrs. Mortimer would prove 
 Sir Timothy not only to be a partner in the 
 concern, but would involve him in great 
 expence and disgrace. Mrs. Mortimer felt 
 it her duty to write this to Mr. Alexander 
 Modish ; she also informed Sir Timothy 
 that no blame could be imputed to the 
 gardener, for not supplying his table 
 more profusely, as not less than thirty 
 persons were furnished with vegetables 
 from his ground. To this he answered 
 as follows ; — 
 
 Madam, >- 
 
 I am surprised at the impudence 
 of the people who have been robbing ray 
 garden; no one of course is to be sup- 
 plied without my permission ; as far as 
 he can make up the account, let him send 
 in the bill of what they have had, and 
 make them pay for every thing. 
 
 Chissel should give all these people a
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 211 
 
 good lecture not to forget themselves; if 
 they do not take care I will send them to 
 jail. If you can tell me how many glasses 
 you want, I will try to send you some, 
 unless you fear breakage. You do not 
 say what quantity of spoons, &c. you 
 want: besides, Chissel making bulls in 
 law, owing to his cleverness, half my 
 volunteers have been dismissed in dis- 
 grace. Even in managing the land it 
 would be as well to consult a little, where 
 he can and has time, with me ; for Miss 
 Shark, many wise men have had their 
 plagues, but few know how to make 
 light of it, and that is my chance. 
 
 Believe me your's very truly^ 
 Timothy Flight. 
 
 By the same post Mrs. Mortimer re- 
 ceived the following letter from Mr. 
 Abraham Modish
 
 212 BRIGHTON IN AN VTROJLTl. 
 
 Temple. 
 Madam, 
 
 My son not having been at the 
 Chambers this day, 1 have the honour to 
 acknowledge the receipt of your favour 
 to his address. Your sentiments respect- 
 ing the persons alhided to perfectly coin- 
 cide with my own on the subject, and 
 shall have their due weight in my repre- 
 sentation to Sir Timothy Flight. Have 
 the goodness to tell Mr. Chissel my son 
 will be ready at the time stated^ who will 
 be able to apprise you of Sir Timothy's 
 determination on the subject you have so 
 justly descanted en, and will probably be 
 able to send the necessary directions by 
 to-morrow's post. I have the honour to 
 subscribe myself. 
 Madam, 
 Your most obedient humble Servant, 
 Abraham Modish. 
 
 The next morning Mrs. Mortimer had 
 a letter on the same subject from Alexan- 
 der Modish.
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 213 
 
 Temple. 
 Mj dear Madam, 
 
 Your letter is" this moment before 
 me, and I am really obliged to you for 
 the information. Zealous as my father 
 and myself have ever been, not only for 
 the interest of our client, but his reputa- 
 tion, we see with pleasure your discreet 
 conduct, and ^re convinced Ihat you will 
 be sedulous in attending to either, as we 
 should be. Your remarks, relative to 
 the appendages of the circus, are per- 
 fectly correct, and Sir Timothy has pro- 
 mised to give these faithful slaves their 
 manumission immediately. In the mean 
 time you may safely order that no one is 
 to have the produce of the garden, with- 
 out Sir Timothy's order. Should any 
 thing else occur that contravenes our 
 client's interest, you will be good enough 
 to let us know. 
 
 Your's sincerely, in haste, 
 
 Alexander Modish. 
 
 Mrs. Mortimer soon got rid of all the
 
 214 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR.' 
 
 tribe of actors and actresses which in- 
 habited the Baronet's house^ as she sent 
 persons in to clean and to paint it. Upon 
 examining the contents of his habitation, 
 she was surprised at the various articles 
 it contained : as to whips, the whole 
 county of Sussex could have been sup- 
 plied by him, without his missing them. 
 Earthen- ware was also in great profusion. 
 Mrs. Mortimer, in the presence of a wit- 
 ness, took an inventory of every thing, 
 and sent a copy to Sir Timothy. She 
 was taken by Mr, Chissel to all the 
 Baronet's trades-people, and they were 
 desired to supply her with every thing 
 she pleased to have. Previous to her 
 leaving Town, Sir Timothy had promis- 
 ed her eldest boy aponey, and till he came 
 home for the holidays his brother was 
 to ride; but upon sending for it, she was 
 informed that the poney belonged to Mr. 
 Chissel, and that his sons wanted it. 
 This she took no notice of, as she thought 
 whtn Sir Timothy came^ he would settle
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 215 
 
 'whether her son was to have the poney, 
 or whether it really belonged to Mr. 
 Chissel^ who was in a few days going 
 into Yorkshire, to receive the rents. 
 Before he w^ent, he took a house by Sir 
 Timothy's instructions, for Mrs. Morti- 
 mer to reside in, while she remained oa 
 the Baronet's business in Brighton. It 
 was in High -street, and as she Nvas fur- 
 nishing houses, and might want money 
 before his return, he advanced her fifty 
 pounds of her salary, and the morning he 
 went he sent the poney for Edmund 
 Mortimer to ride. She wished to know 
 how Sir Timothy really was, and desired 
 Mr. Chissel would inform her, which he 
 very kindly did in the following elegant 
 epistle. 
 
 Mrs. Mordincrj Gcrman-placCj Brighton. 
 Madam, 
 
 I arrived safe in town on Thurs- 
 day morning. After taking breakfast at 
 Mrs. Flash's, I waited on Sir Timothy, 
 and thank God found him in better health
 
 216 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 than I ever saw bim. I have seen Mr, 
 Modish three or four times, and was at 
 his house last night, and a more hand- 
 some house I never saw in the course of 
 my life. Every thing in a princely style ; 
 they were all very polite to me ; we shall 
 start to-morrow at six o'clock for Lincoln- 
 shire. Sir Timothy and his servant. 
 Modish and me in the travelling coach 
 of Sir Timothy. I am very glad, I will 
 assure you, he is going, as he now is col- 
 lected, and knows well what he is about. 
 Mr. Modish has had a new carriage given 
 to him by Sir Timothy, and they are all 
 coming I understand to Brighton this 
 season ; and from what I can hear, are to 
 have one of the houses in German Place, 
 but which I cannot tell as yet; should 
 you wish to have the poncy, tell Lamb to 
 get him from the farm as soon as your 
 dear boy comes home, and if you want to 
 write to me, direct I. Chissel, post-office, 
 Newark, Nottinghamshire. Give my love 
 to my dear Sarah and your dear children.
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 21T 
 
 and please to accept^ Madam, my best 
 wishes for your health and happiness. 
 
 John Chissel. 
 James-street, Westminster, London. 
 
 Mrs. Mortimer had women to help her 
 to furnish Sir Timothy's houses. She cut 
 out all the bed furniture herself, and was 
 always up by five in the morning, and 
 worked till twelve at night. She fur 
 nished four houses for less than eleven 
 hundred pounds, including linen for two 
 of them. She painted seven pair of card- 
 racks, two glass vases, and a pair of 
 large fire-skreens. She was indefatiga- 
 ble, in the hope of proving to Sir Ti- 
 mothy that herself and children merited 
 his bounty. At this time Mr, Chissel 
 became a widower, and he gave up 
 housekeeping. He sent all his furniture 
 to be put into the houses which Mrs. 
 Mortimer was furnishing for the Baro- 
 net ; but such rubbish was never seen : 
 what to do she did not know. He said 
 
 TOL. I. L
 
 S18 BJHIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 Sir Timothy had decided to take it, and 
 that he had had it appraised. This gave her 
 some suspicions of the steward's honesty, 
 which were not lessened by finding from 
 the gardener that he had orders to sup- 
 ply the school with vegetables where his 
 daughter was placed. This Mrs. Mor- 
 timer forbade, when the school-mis- 
 tress came to say that she had taken Miss 
 Chissel at a reduced price in consequence 
 of their being supplied with vegetabh?s 
 and milk by Mr. Chissel. This opened 
 Mrs. Mortimer's eyes completely ; and 
 she feared that neither the steward nor 
 the solicitors were to be depended on. 
 She was grieved to hear every one say 
 that Sir Timothy was mad, and that his 
 friends should confine him. This she 
 took great pains to contradict, because 
 she was convinced that it was not the 
 case; but she wished that he had one of 
 his relations to reside with him. for she 
 feared that every advantage was taken of 
 his eccentricity, and continually regret-
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 219 
 
 ted that she had ever come to Brighton: 
 not that she was averse either to the trou- 
 ble or fatigue, but she soon saw that she 
 had to act with unprincipled people, and 
 she thought she should never be able to 
 contend with them. As soon as Sir Ti- 
 mothy reached York he wrote the fol- 
 lowing letter to her. 
 
 York. 
 • Dear Madam, 
 
 I am ashamed (o have been so 
 
 long in answering your letter. I quitted 
 
 Town rather suddenly, and hope to be 
 
 soon back ; should you, however, be in 
 
 haste for the things you mentioned, jou 
 
 can write to Mrs. Brush, at my house in 
 
 South-street, and she can send for Mr. 
 
 Bounce, silversmith, in the alley leading 
 
 from Leicester-fields to Covent-garden, 
 
 near the Panorama. There are a dozen 
 
 common silver spoons in my house, which 
 
 she might spare you ; and I believe 
 
 Bounce has some plain spocns he has 
 
 made for me : at any rate she can get 
 
 l2
 
 220 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 some plate from him that jou may want 
 most. She may apply to Watson, Vigo- 
 lane^ the top of Sackville-street ; he 
 would supply it if he has it by him, at 
 rather a more reasonable rate than the 
 other. 
 
 I remain your's truly, 
 
 Timothy Flight. 
 
 The plate which the Baronet mention- 
 ed was for his lodging houses ; but Mrs. 
 Mortimer did not send for any, fearful 
 that his housekeeper might lead him to 
 too great an expence. Mrs. Mortimer 
 placed her son at school in Brighton, 
 and did not mean to charge Sir Timo- 
 thy with more than thirty pounds per 
 annum for his schooling, as at this pe- 
 riod government had most humanely es- 
 tablished a fund for the relief of marine 
 orphans, from the benevolent representa- 
 tion of an admiral of high rank, who 
 never let an occasion pass of performing 
 a brave or a charitable action ; and they
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 221 
 
 had been graciously pleased to grant each 
 of her children ten pounds per annum 
 from that bounty. A friend of Mrs. 
 Forth, who had so long resided with 
 Mrs. Mortimer, was now in Brighton^ 
 and she wished to board and lodge with 
 her, which was very agreeable to Mrs. 
 Mortimer. She was an elderly lady of 
 large fortune and good connections, and 
 such a companion was very desirable ; 
 but the house which Mr. Chissel had 
 taken for Mrs. Mortimer was in a si- 
 tuation which turned out very unpleasant 
 for the ladies, and they determined to 
 remove when they could meet with ano- 
 ther which would suit them. 
 
 Mr. Chissel now returned from th« 
 north, and alarmed Mrs. Mortimer with 
 the account he gave of the journey. He 
 told her that Sir Timothy Flight would 
 soon be done up ; that Mr. Alexander 
 Modish had the direction of every thing; 
 and that one of the best of his estates was 
 made over to him as security for money 
 L 3
 
 222 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 which he had advanced for Sir Timothy ; 
 and that as soon as he had received the 
 rents from Mr. Chissel, amounting to 
 upwards of six thousand pounds, he 
 bought himself a horse and rode off with 
 the raonej. Mrs. Mortimer thought 
 this a favourable time to write to Sir 
 Timothy^ to inform him the true charac- 
 ters of the persons he employed^ and to tell 
 him that if being in their debt prevented 
 his taking his affairs out of their hands, 
 that he could be supplied with any sum 
 immediately for that purpose. She also 
 mentioned that his steward had given her 
 great part of the information, and had 
 also told her the quantity of plate which 
 Mr. Modish had in lieu of charging 
 more than five per cent, interest when he 
 advanced money for the Baronet ; and 
 Sir Timothy gave her this reply. 
 
 Dear Madam, 
 
 Your alarms and schemes are 
 quite unnecessary, and your information
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 223 
 
 incorrect. If jour friend would, lend me 
 fifty or a hundred thousand pounds, I 
 would not horrow a shilling of him^ as 
 I do not want it. I am going to try 
 farming on a small scale : in case I find 
 it answer, it is possible that I may feel 
 disposed, at a future time, to buy a good 
 quantity of land. If your friend have 
 idle money, you may safely assure him 
 that I will never borrow where I cannot 
 pay, and that where I give my word, that 
 his money would be as safe as in the Bank 
 of England. You will probably find, that 
 with all his false abuse of others, that he 
 would not advance even a paltry sum of 
 four or five thousand without my mort- 
 gaging, or some other method. 
 
 Pray tell Mr. Leap that I say I will be 
 answerable for his paying the people for 
 the rent when it becomes due. I hope 
 you have given Mr. Chissel a lecture, as 
 1 begged. To conclude with the subject 
 I began with, there is no man in the king- 
 dom less likely to be ruined than myself: 
 L 4
 
 S24 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 were anj (as there are mraiy who are 
 very glad to put money out at the usual 
 interest when it is secure) to oflfer to 
 lend me a large sum, I might perhaps 
 be glad to ha,ve a large sum lent me in 
 case of a desirable purchase offering it- 
 self; but were any one to offer the 
 wealth of the Indies, if I gave my simple 
 word, it would be as safe as the Bank, 
 because I never would give my word but 
 where I was sure I could at all events repay 
 every shilling. Believe me, dear Madam, 
 Your's truly, 
 
 Timothy Flight. 
 , P. S. I shall try to come down shortly. 
 
 This epistle convinced Mrs. Mortimer 
 that the only method to be adopted to 
 get Sir Timothy out of the hands of his 
 solicitors was to prevail on Mr. Charles 
 Stanton to explain to him their nefarious 
 practices ; and when he once consented, 
 immf.diately to remove his business from 
 them. She was anxious to see the Baro-
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 225 
 
 net restored to his faraily, and to that 
 rank in society which he was so eminently 
 calculated to adorn. She was shocked to 
 see him waste the prime of his life in the 
 company of designing sharpers: she felt for 
 his situation; she had the most unbounded 
 gratitude for his kindness to her and her 
 children, and most willingly would she 
 have devoted every hour of her existence 
 to promote his welfare. This she thought 
 could only be accomplished by his being 
 in quiet, eligible society ; as the noise^ 
 drinking, and tumult of the vulgar, 
 was ill calculated to calm his perturbed 
 mind. She had just finished furnishing 
 some houses in German-place when she 
 was addressed to this purpose. 
 
 Riissel-square. 
 Madam, 
 
 Owing to the dangerous state which 
 
 Lady Flight is now in. Sir Timothy does 
 
 not intend visiting Brighton for some 
 
 lime, and has requested that we will 
 
 l5
 
 §26 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 make u?e of his house in Dorset-place 
 till he arrives. Sir Tiraothj will esteem 
 himself obliged if you will order the 
 beds &c. to be ready by Wednesday 
 night; and if jou will have the good- 
 ness to request Mr. Chissel to procure 
 stabling and provision for throe horses. 
 Mr. Fuel presents his corncliments to 
 you and Mr. Chissel ; and 
 
 Believe me. Madam, 
 
 Your's respectfully, 
 
 E. Fuel. 
 
 As Mrs. Mortimer did not know who 
 Mr. and Mrs. Fuel were, she asked Mr. 
 Chissel, who informed her that the gen- 
 tleman was a Jack of all trades, and his 
 present profession a coal merchant ; that 
 he was a designing man, and had got a 
 gfeat deal of money from the Baronet ; 
 that he was now coming to Brighton 
 with Sir Timothy's horses and curricle 
 in hopes of being set up in business 
 there. They came, and took possession
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 227 
 
 of one of Sir Timothy's houses ; but 
 as Mr. Alexander Modish did not ap- 
 prove of the connection^ at the expiration 
 of a fortnight they lost all their luxuries, 
 having had notice to quit. The Baronet's 
 horses and carriage were all taken away; 
 and they were compelled to return to 
 London in a very different style to what 
 they left it. 
 
 Mrs. Mortimer being soon after this 
 giving directions to some women who 
 were furnishing Sir Timothy^s own house, 
 Mr. Chissel entered, and without any pre- 
 face addressed her with — '' Madam, you 
 and your beggarly brats may all decamp 
 from Brighton ; Sir Timothy wants none 
 of your advice, and you shall never have 
 any thing more to do with his concerns : 
 you, truly, who are nobetterthana pauper, 
 to pretend to say that Mr. Modish is not 
 a honest man ; and then to say that I 
 
 told you so, and be d d to you : but 
 
 we will do for you, so I say out you may 
 go." This^spcech was interlarded with
 
 228 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 oaths^ which proved that Captain Flash 
 knew the value of the person he had re* 
 commended to be his father's steward. 
 Mrs. Mortimer was so frightened that 
 she made no replj ; and ail the inhabit- 
 ants in the street came out of their houses 
 to know who the terrible creatvi re was who 
 had even frightened them. As soon as 
 he took his leave, Mrs. Mortimer set off 
 for Town^ where^ having arrived, she told 
 Sir Timothy the treatment v>^hich she had 
 received, and regretted that she could ^e 
 of no further use to him, net chusing to 
 subject herself to such aliise in future. 
 He told her it should never happen again, 
 for he would instantly dismiss Mr. Chis- 
 sel, although at that moment it would be 
 attended with inconvenience, as he was 
 just then valuing some timber. Mrs. 
 Mortimer insisted that he should not b^ 
 turned away, but that in future he should 
 never speak to her; and Sir Timothy 
 wrote to him to that effect. He then de- 
 sired that she would return to Brightoa^,
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 229 
 
 saving that lie would soon come dov.n 
 himself, and he relied upon her to see 
 that he was not iinposed on, as she would 
 be a check upon others. He also re- 
 quested that she would pay particular at- 
 tention to his garden, and was astonish* 
 ed when he heard Ihat Captain Flash had 
 his vegetables from it. lie requested 
 that a bill might be sent to the Captain 
 with an account of what he had been 
 served with. This Mrs. Mortimer could 
 not think of doing, nor did she like to 
 send a message by the gardener, forbid- 
 ding them to be served in future ; there- 
 fore she went to Captain Flash, and told 
 him what Sir Timothy had said, and 
 that he had better himself decline having 
 them, otherwise it would appear odd to 
 the gardener. The Captain said he had 
 always paid for them; but 6n Mrs. Mor- 
 timer asking to whom, as she had the 
 care of the garden, and the money had 
 never been given to her, he told her that 
 Chissel was to pay three shillings per
 
 230 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 '.veek for what he had out of the garden. 
 She observed that such a sum was not 
 adequate to the vegetables he had been 
 supplied with, as he had always been 
 served with the earliest and best which 
 the garden produced : but Mrs. Flash, 
 who was a genteel, amiable woman, 
 said that they had been deceived by Mr. 
 Chissel, who told them that they might 
 have vegetables and milk from Sir Timo- 
 thy Flight's. 
 
 Mr. Chissel never after spoke or even 
 looked at Mrs. Mortimer; but did all he 
 could to prevent her boy having the po- 
 ney; and as she did not chuse to have 
 any transaction with him, she asked Sir 
 Timothy to give her an order. Sir Ti- 
 mothy also told her that Mr. Modish had 
 found out that she had a bad opinion of 
 him, and that he had taxed Mr. Chissel 
 "with having told her some circumstances, 
 which came to his knowledge, upon which 
 Chissel denied the whole, and it was that 
 which had induced him to abuse Mrs.
 
 RRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. ^31 
 
 Mortimer : but Sir Timothy was alarmed 
 when Chissel put himself in a passion ; 
 but that he could not bear him is evident 
 from this letter. 
 
 South-street. 
 Dear Madam, 
 
 I feel quite astonished at Chisser& 
 conduct. I left the ponejs in his care, 
 and should not have objected to any of 
 his boys riding either of them occasion- 
 ally gently, when they were not wanted 
 elsewhere. At present I have autho- 
 rised you to let Chisssel ride one, and 
 Mrs. Fuel's boy the other of them ; and 
 if Chissel cannot keep them^ they may go 
 to some stable. I should be glad to have . 
 No. 4 furnished with a few beds, chairs^ 
 and such things. If you think that 
 things can be bought better in London I 
 would have them procured for you : the 
 chance of breakage may be considered. 
 I should think you might save yourself 
 the trouble of coming up, and state the 
 particulars to me by letter. I am now
 
 232 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 grown stronger, and can attend a little. 
 Mj mother is s^o very ill that I must stay 
 here perhaps a few weeks. Have the 
 Botts tried any thing about soup and 
 tripe ? He talked much about it. Be- 
 lieve me^ 
 
 Dear Madam, your's truly, 
 
 Timothy Flight. 
 PS. I think of sending down my Indian 
 cattle soon, of course io be forwarded to 
 the farm. 
 
 Mrs. Mortimer pointed out to the Baro- 
 net how much he was imposed on by the 
 theatrical persons whom he patronized ; 
 and that it was a disgrace to him to ap- 
 pear with such companions. She pointed 
 all this out in the most delicate manner, 
 for she had his interest at heart as much 
 as if he had been her son or brother. To 
 these representations of her's he imme- 
 diately replied. 
 
 Dear Madam, 
 
 It is by no means unpleasant to 
 me to hear truth and good sense. As to
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR, 233 
 
 Boiis, and those who abuse my kindness, 
 they shall smart for it handsomely. I 
 have written to Chissel to take up James, 
 as it might be an unpleasant business to 
 you. I shall get down on Wednesday or 
 Thursday, and shall set all these things 
 to rights. 
 
 I remain your's, &c. &c. 
 
 TixMOTHY Flight. 
 
 The next post brought the melancholy 
 news of Lady Flight's decease. 
 
 Dear Madam, 
 
 My poor mother died yesterday ; 
 I therefore shall be detained some days. 
 I hope you will get Captain Flash to 
 keep Chissel in good order, as you may 
 shew him my writing, if necessary, saying 
 that I had rather lose half my income 
 than be disgraced by any indecent con- 
 duct of his. 
 
 I remain your's, &c. &c. 
 
 Timothy Flight.
 
 334 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 The following week Mrs. Mortimer 
 had this letter from the Baronet. 
 
 Dear Madam, 
 
 I hope to get out of Town to-mor- 
 row or Saturday. It is painful to see 
 things go on as thejdo. As I have been 
 prevented coming to Brighton hy. such 
 melancholy circumstances, those who 
 had any thing to do for me, should have 
 been particularly guarded, and of course 
 to have observed common decency. If 
 you see Captain Flash, you can say that 
 I told you I left the ponies for Chissel, 
 to take the greatest care of; my old 
 horse I never remember to have given 
 him leave to ride at all, much less to 
 ride him seventy miles in one day from 
 Yorkshire. I have not time to write 
 more at present. 
 
 I remain, Madam, 
 Your's truly, 
 
 TiMOTHY Flight.
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 235 
 
 P.S. If jou see Captain Flash, you may 
 state to him that Chissel's sending away 
 James would strike any one as very 
 strange. I toid him to look after him, 
 as to corn, &c. &c. hut for a land-stew- 
 ard to dismiss grooms is ludicrous. He 
 is useful to me in business, but must be 
 under check in future. 
 
 Mrs. Mortimer longed for the Baro- 
 net's arrival, for she was told, by every 
 one, that his steward and solicitors were 
 making large fortunes at his expence. 
 Mr. Chissel behaved in the most indecent 
 manner, by frequenting all the public 
 houses, and making Sir Timothy Flight's 
 eccentricities the subject of mirth ; by 
 describing his fighting with Miss Shark; 
 and that he knew, in the course of a year, 
 his relations would confine him; there- 
 fore he was drawing all the money he 
 could, for if the Baronet's affairs once 
 got into Chancery, he should never get 
 any. The reports circulated were that
 
 236 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 Sir Timothy did not come to Brighton 
 because he was insane^ and confined ia# 
 London, and that he had two doctors 
 from St. Luke's to attend him. Mrs. 
 Mortimer traced this report to have ori- 
 ginated with some persons in Captain 
 Flash's and Mr. Chissel's service. 
 
 Sir Timothv, who was a great mecha- 
 nicj invented a gun, which was the sub- 
 ject also of Mr. Chissel's conversation, 
 and the laugh of his companions. When 
 the Baronet came to Brighton, he re- 
 ceived Mrs. Mortimer with the greatest 
 kindness, and the next day told her of 
 this gun, which he meant to send for the 
 use of the troops in Spain, and he had 
 ordered a quantity for that purpose. 
 Mrs. Mortimer of course could be no 
 judge of guns, but she knew the great 
 expence attending such an order as the 
 Baronet had described, and was anxious 
 to stop it. He had an opinion of her, 
 and she only wished to exert the little in- 
 fluence she might have with him, to for-
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 23T 
 
 ward his welfare. She therefore repre- 
 sented to Sir Timothy, tliat by sending 
 the guns to Spain, they might fall into 
 the hands of the French, and become de- 
 structive to that country f"r whuse be- 
 nefit they had been invented ; that she 
 had a particular friend in the royal ma- 
 rine artillery, who would soon return 
 from Scotland ; that if the Baronet would 
 permit, she would ask him to try his 
 gun, and should it prove worthy of at- 
 tention, through that gentleman it might 
 be introduced into the British service. 
 He was pleased with this idea^ and till 
 the officer had passed his opinion^ a stop 
 was put to the order. Mrs. Mortimer, 
 however, lamented to see) that as sooa 
 as she had set aside one expensive roman- 
 tic project, another succeeded ; for the 
 next thing on which she was consulted 
 was the iidiuraanity of the present mode 
 of killing animals. Sir Timothy, who had 
 a heart overflowing with the milk of hu- 
 man kindness, wished to adopt som«
 
 238 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 manner toterrninate the existence of those 
 animals^ designed by providence for our 
 food^ which would prove instantaneous^ 
 and his steward had recommended to him 
 to establish butchers*" shops in different 
 parts of the town, and to advance money 
 to some men of his recommendation^ who 
 were to be set up in business at the Baro- 
 net's expence^ and to shoot the cattle in 
 the ear, instead of destroying them in the 
 usual manner. A farm was also taken 
 from a connection of Captain Flash's, 
 which the steward was to manage, and 
 supply these humane butchers with oxen, 
 sheep, and pigs. Sir Timothy asked 
 Mrs. Mortimer her opinion, which she 
 was incapable of giving, being totally 
 unacquainted with the business ; but she 
 applied for information to a respectable 
 butcher in Brighton, who soon convinced 
 her of the impracticability of doing any 
 good by such a proceeding, as from 
 shooting a calf, or a sheep, in the ear, 
 the coagulated blood would render
 
 BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 239 
 
 the head and neck useless. Mrs. Mor- 
 timer took an opportunity of convincing 
 the Baronet of the impossibility of mak- 
 ing such shops answer, and persuaded 
 him to have one of the houses immedi* 
 ately let. About three weeks after Sir 
 Timothy came into Sussex Mr. Alex- 
 ander Modish made his appearance. Mr. 
 Symphony Modish had taken a house in 
 St. James's street for his family, who 
 were to leave London as soon as the old 
 gentleman had recovered from the gout. 
 Seldom a day passed without Sir Timo- 
 thy's sending for Mrs. Mortimer to dine 
 with him, one of the Mr. Modishes 
 always being of the party : they were 
 so over attentive, and so full of their 
 compliments to her, that she suspected 
 theiii not to be sincere, and at last they 
 came to inform the Baronet that Mr. 
 Mrs. and Miss Modish were arrived. 
 Sir Timothy desired that Mrs. Mortimer 
 would visit them ; this, however, she de- 
 clined, as she had a few very old friends
 
 tiO BRIGHTON IN AN UPROAR. 
 
 in Brighton^ and, with her large family, 
 had little time to devote to amusement. 
 He entreated that she would, for he had 
 doubts of their friendship and integrity, 
 and 'he thought that she would be a 
 check on them. It was therefore decided 
 that when the family were settled, Mrs, 
 Mortimer should call on them, but as 
 they will be often introduced in these 
 anecdotes, and as they have already cut 
 a conspicuous figure in the world, it 
 would be highly indecorous, and de- 
 grading to their dignity, to give their 
 history at the end of a chapter. 
 
 BWD OF VOL. I. 
 
 B. Clarke, Printer, WtU-Street, Loodoi.
 
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