The parents of this worthless fellow lived in Gloucestershire, and gave him an education suited to his station. Leaving the country, and coming to London, the abode of the most distinguished virtue as well as of the most consummate villany, he was introduced into the service of a great duchess at St. James’, and stayed there for two years. He was at last dismissed for improper conduct; but while he remained there, he had obtained a general key which opened the lodgings in St. James’. Accordingly, he went to a mercer, and desired him to send, with all speed, a parcel of the best brocades, satins, and silks, for his duchess, that she might select some for an approaching drawing-room. Having often gone on a similar errand, the mercer instantly complied. His servant, and a porter to carry the parcels, accompanied Dick, and when arrived at the gate of some of the lodgings, he said, “Let’s see the pieces at once, for my duchess is just now at leisure to look at them.” So receiving the parcel, he conveyed it down a back stair, and went clear off. After waiting with great impatience for two or three hours, the porter and the man returned home, much lighter than when they came out. About a month after, one evening when Dick had been taking his glass pretty freely, he unfortunately came by the mercer’s shop, while the mercer was standing at the door; the latter recollected and instantly seized him, saying, “Oh sir, have I caught you! you are a fine spark indeed! to cheat me out of two hundred pounds’ worth of goods! but before I part with you, I shall make you pay dearly for them!” Adams was not a little surprised at being so unexpectedly taken; but instantly seeing the bishop of London coming up in his carriage, he said to the mercer, “I must acknowledge that I have committed a crime to which I was forced by extreme necessity; but I see my uncle, the bishop of London, coming this way in his coach; therefore, I hope that you’ll be so civil as not to raise any hubbub of a mob about me, by which I should be exposed and utterly undone: I’ll go speak to his lordship about the matter, if you please to step with me; and I’ll engage he shall make you satisfaction for the damage I have done you.”