culiarly applicable to Mifs Ray.

She was beautiful, excelled in mufic, finging, and dancing, with language at her command, fhe could fuit it to any occafion; was modeft, alluring, and wanton in it, by turns; and to fum up all, fhe had the readieft conception, and a fund of vivacity never to be exhaufted.'

Mifs Martha Ray was born in the year 1746. Her father, Mr. Jonathan Ray, was formerly a woollendraper, in Tavistoc-court, Covent-garden, London. But his failure in trade, (the confequence, it is faid, of Mr. Ray's too great propenfity to pleasurable purfuits,) taking place, he did not long furvive the miffortune: the profpect of impending poverty, and the poignant reflection of having reduced from a state of affluence and independence, to want and diftrefs, an amiable wife and family, contributed to haften his death; foon after which Mrs. Ray, with her two daughters, (of whom Mifs Martha Ray is faid to have been the youngest,) retired to obfcure lodgings in Clerkenwell; where they continued to refile for a number of years. Mrs. Ray followed the profeffion of a mantua-maker.

During Mifs Ray's refidence at Covent-garden, fhe had conftantly attended the amusements of the theatre: to her lively fancy, it then prefented peculiar alurements, and the contracted a predilection for it, which the ever after retained. At length, mctives of neceflity, as well as inclination, induced her to embrace a theatrical life; and fhe was fcarcely fixteen, at her first appearance as a public finger, on

Covent

Covent-garden theatre. Tho' young, fhe alrea dy difplayed charms, which indicated-beautyripening into perfection: her perfon was engaging, and her voice flexible, full, and harmonious ; all contributed to the eclat with which her first performance was received; the connoiffeurs in beauty, and the critical judges of vocal excellence, were equally unanimous, and flattering, in the praife which they beftowed, and the future excellence which they announced.

In a fituation fo confpicuous, fhe foon became the object of general attention; and every day encreased the number of her admirers: (many of whom were profeffed fuitors), among thefe, Mr. Hackman was diftinguished by Mifs Ray with peculiar marks of esteein. Mr. Hackman to a fine perfon, added thofe captivating graces of address, and converfation; which form an irrefiflible union, and which rarely fail of making the powerful and favourable impreffion on a female heart. No wonder then, that whilft motives of mere intereft induced Mifs Ray to engage in amours with feveral, who, in rank and fortune, were fuperior to Mr. Hackman, that he, only should boaft of the united poffeffion of her heart and perfon.

Their connection continued for three years, in an uninterrupted flow of reciprocal enjoyment. Time, that clips the wings of love,' perceived no abatement in Mr. Hackman's affections, he doated on Mifs Ray to a degree that bordered on an enthusiastick

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attachment: but wifhing at once, by the moft honourable of ties, to crown and cement his happiness; he repeatedly propofed marriage to her, which she conftantly rejected; perhap; like Elo fa, (or the celebrated Mifs C, a lady, who, in our days, has adopted the fame doctrine, but with better fortune), she held that,

Love, free as air, at fight of human ties,

Spreads his light wings, and in a moment flies."

POPE.

But motives more prudential were affigned by Mifs Ray; a tie of children by a noble lord, high in office, put a bar to their union, and fhe was determined, in oppofition to the most prefling intreaties from Mr. Hackman, to decline matrimony. He being at this time an officer in the army, and neceffarily com pelled to leave her at times, her abfence was of too painful a nature for an affection like his to fuftain with fortitude he again renewed his folicitations to Mifs Ray, on the fubject, but with no better fuccefs than before.

At the commencement of Mifs Ray's connection with Lord S fhe is faid to have informed his

lordship of her prior acquaintance with Mr. Hackman, and of his fituation in life; and inférested herfelf fo effectually in Mr. Hackman's favour, that fhe obtained from his lordship a promife of promoting in

*Mifs Ray had five children by his lordship, one of which, a fine youth of fixteen, is now a lieutenant in the navy; and ferved under Sir Hugh Pallifer, in the Formidable, during the action of the 27th July laft.

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the utmost extent, Mr. Hackman's advancement in the churcht, which, however oppofite to the military profeffion

†The influence of Mifs Ray over her noble keeper was extreme; and it is faid, that many who now poffefs lucrative and honourable pofts, in the ecclefiaftical, civil, and military departments, are indepted to her mediation for their advancement. It has even been alfeited, but with what degree of truth we shall not pretend to determine, that fecrets of S- were not referved from this confidential favourite.-See the 'Political Duenna,* published a few months fince; the fatyrical author of which, under the name of Cla a Raymond, firft introduced her history to the world: the reader may form, from the following scene, no incomplete idea of the unfortunate lady's domestic character, and conduct, as well as that of her fond Limbe: ham.

Enter Twitcher.

Well, this girl is the plague of my life,-my punishment by day, and my to:ment by night.-Yet, fpight of age, and impotence, I love her,-and

SONG. Tune.-By him we love offended.

When those we love enrage us,

How foon our paffion flies!

The flut can re-engage us,
And kill us with her eyes!

Laft night, the little gipfy

I bid depart my house;
She told me I was tipsey,
Nor valued me a foufe.

Yet, were the now to enter,
And catch me in this place':

I fear I fcarce could venture,

To look upon her face.

When those we love, &c.

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profeffion, was confidered by the latter as the moft eligible line he could eggage in; and as prefenting

The little, artful baggage,

Has often faid the lov'd;
And tho' next hour the wrong'd me,

I told her I approv'd.

That all the did was charming,

So long as fhe was kind;

When with a fong the pays me,
Her faults are thrown behind.

Enter Clara Raymond.

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Clara. Where is this tyrant keeper of mine? this lord of anchors and cables? this emperor of the dock yards ?-O! are you there?-You fneaking, pimping, incapable-Oh! I could tear your eyes out, you old goat! you a peer! you are nothing but the pander of your own vices; like Chartres, you have long deferved the gallows, for what you have done, and what you cannot do.

Twitcher. Soft, my Clara,-foftly, I beseech thee,-a piano note, my lovely girl. Thou knoweft I cannot bear that thundering found.-Come, Clara, bufs and be friends.-Sing me a fong, you little devil.

Clara. Not I truly, I'll neither kifs nor fing. (peevishly.
Twitcher. Indeed but you must, my Clara.

Clara.

Buy me the diamond necklace then.

Twit. I would, if I could spare cash ;-but upon my honourClara. O curfe your honour,-I'll have none on't. The necklace, Sir, or the ready money,— —or I'm off,-positively off. Why I was better off when I was a mantua maker in Clerkenwell, than I am with you, cruel and unkind that you are.-(weeps. Twitcher. Nay, my lovely girl, I cannot bear those tears,― here, here, take this bill for a hundred; and thou shalt have

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