I cannot omit giving the World an account, of the uncommon Villany of a
Gentleman of a good Family in _England_ practis’d upon his Sister, which
was attested to me by one who liv’d in the Family, and from whom I had
the whole Truth of the Story. I shall conceal the unhappy Gentleman’s
own, under the borrow’d Names of Sir _William Wilding_, who succeeded
his Father Sir _Edward_, in an Estate of near 4000_l._ a Year,
inheriting all that belong’d to him, except his Virtues. ’Tis true, he
was oblig’d to pay his only Sister a Portion of 6000_l._ which he might
very easily have done out of his Patrimony in a little Time, the Estate
being not in the least incumbred. But the Death of his good Father gave
a loose to the Extravagancy of his Inclinations, which till then was
hardly observable. The first Discovery he made of his Humour, was in the
extraordinary rich Equipage he prepar’d for his Journey to _London_,
which was much greater than his fair and plentiful Fortune cou’d
maintain, nor were his Expences any way inferior to the Figure he made
here in Town; insomuch, that in less than a Twelve-Month, he was forc’d
to return to his Seat in the Country, to Mortgage a part of his Estate
of a Thousand Pounds a Year, to satisfy the Debts he had already
contracted in his profuse Treats, Gaming and Women, which in a few Weeks
he effected, to the great Affliction of his Sister _Philadelphia_, a
young Lady of excellent Beauty, Education, and Virtue; who, fore-seeing
the utter Ruin of the Estate, if not timely prevented, daily begg’d of
him, with Prayers and Tears, that might have mov’d a _Scythian_ or wild
_Arab_, or indeed any thing but him, to pay her her Portion. To which,
however, he seemingly consented, and promis’d to take her to Town with
him, and there give her all the Satisfaction she cou’d expect: And
having dipp’d some paltry Acres of Land, deeper than ever Heaven dipp’d
’em in Rain, he was as good as his Word, and brought her to Town with
him, where he told her he would place her with an ancient Lady, with
whom he had contracted a Friendship at his first coming to _London_;
adding, that she was a Lady of incomparable Morals, and of a matchless
Life and Conversation. _Philadelphia_ took him in the best Sense, and
was very desirous to be planted in the same House with her, hoping she
might grow to as great a Perfection in such excellent Qualifications, as
she imagined ’em. About four Days therefore after they had been in Town,
she sollicits her Brother to wait on that Lady with her: He reply’d,
that it is absolutely Necessary and Convenient that I should first
acquaint her with my Design, and beg that she will be pleas’d to take
you into her Care, and this shall be my chief Business to Day:
Accordingly, that very Hour he went to the Lady _Beldams_, his reverend
and honourable Acquaintance, whom he prepar’d for the Reception of his
Sister, who he told her was a Cast-Mistress of his, and desir’d her
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