rt of the mob, who bestirred themselves for the relief of
the supposed lady, no sooner perceived their mistake in the appearance
of the beau, who stared around him with horror and affright, than their
compassion was changed into mirth, and they began to pass a great
many unsavoury jokes upon his misfortune, which they now discovered no
inclination to alleviate; and he found himself very uncomfortably
beset, when Pickle, pitying his situation, interposed in his behalf, and
prevailed upon the chairmen to carry him into the house of an apothecary
in the neighbourhood, to whom his mischance proved a very advantageous
accident; for the fright operated so violently upon his nerves, that he
was seized with a delirium, and lay a whole fortnight deprived of his
senses; during which period he was not neglected in point of medicines,
food, and attendance, but royally regaled, as appeared by the contents
of his landlord's bill.

Our adventurer having seen this unfortunate beau safely housed, returned
to the scene of the other calamity, which, as it was no other than a
foul chimney, soon yielded to the endeavours of the family, and was
happily overcome, without any other bad consequence than that of
alarming the neighbours, disturbing the college, and disordering
the brain of a beau. Eager to be acquainted with the particular
constitutions of a society which seemed to open upon him by degrees,
Mr. Pickle did not fail to appear at the next meeting, when several
petitions were laid before the board, in behalf of those members who
were confined in the prisons of the Fleet, Marshalsea, and King's Bench.
As those unhappy authors expected nothing from their brethren but advice
and good offices, which did not concern the purse, the memorials were
considered with great care and humanity; and, upon this occasion,
Peregrine had it in his power to manifest his importance to the
community; for he happened to be acquainted with the creditor of one
of the prisoners, and knew that gentleman's severity was owing to his
resentment at the behaviour of the debtor, who had lampooned him in
print, because he refused to comply with a fresh demand, after he had
lent him money to the amount of a considerable sum. Our young gentleman,
therefore, understanding that the author was penitent, and disposed to
make a reasonable submission, promised to employ his influence with the
creditor towards an accommodation; and in a few days actually obtained
his release.