The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1804-12-28 00:00:00

-

7

-

THR STORT OF GEORGE DADE.

Gzerge Dade, a Nottinghamshire peasant, who
passing through the different gradations of domestic
servitude, in which too many acquire habits of self
islutess and low cunning, gave a striking proof of
scrupulous honour, and delicate disiluerestedness,
which, for precept as well as example, deserves to be
recorded ; as it was an opnortunity which most men
would have seized for securing independence, and
under circumstances, in which the peace of a thou-

sand families is daily and irreparably injured, by a
perverse combination of folly and indecorum, with
fraud and impudence.
The subject of our present article had, for some
years, secured the esteem of his master, and all who
knew him, by integrity, diligence, and aflahility, set
off and improved by the graces of a well-proportion-
ed form, a manly and pleasing countenance.
Thus enjoying general regard, and that first of
satisfaCtions, the approbation of his own heart, the
tranquillity of his mind was suddenly interrupted by
discovering that he had unintentionally won the af-
feCtions of a young lady in the family, rich, hand-
some, and accomplished, the sister to his master,
whom, of all women on earth, he would have pre.
ferred, had his station been more exalted, or her's
less elevated. Agitated and alarmed, and under the
deepest impressions of gratitude, propriety, and ho-
nour, which, in the war of interests, are found to
have so little weight with his superiors, and trim the
impossibility of entering on an explanation, without
mentioning a name, which he resolved to run all
risks, rather than to bring into question ; he instantly,
without communicating his reasons, quitted his post
fur the metropolis.
Several years elapsed, before the honourable mo-
tives of his abrupt departure were at all suspeaed ;
but the fair one's attachment to, and perpetual repe-
tition of tunes which George was known to have
been constantly playing on his flute, her working in
embroidery, a little drawing of his sketching, which
he had left in the butler's pantry, first excited notice.
These, and other hale circumstances, which alone
would hardly have been considered as evidence, but
combined with the state of her health and spirits
from the time of Dade's departure, amounting to
substantial proof, at length convinced her brother
of the generous condu& of his excellent and faithful
domestic. Lost in astonishment, and sympathising
with the struggle in his sister's bosom, and assured
of the worth of the man she had loved, notwith-
standing the inequality of condition; he could not
rest till he had discovered the retreat of one who
had distinguished himself by so uncommon an aCt of
self-denial. He recommended him effeCtually to a
man in power, who gave him a lucrative employ-
ment, and he gradually acquired sufficient wealth,
for a moderate man.

Accident, or the impulse of an unconquerable at-
tachment, produced a meeting with his tormer mis-
tress, and (I am not writing a novel) marriage
speedily ensued. Mr. Dade, at the moment I write,
is in the enjoyment of that affluence aril domestic
happiness, which worth like his deserves. I trust
his gond sense will excuse my holding forth his ho-
nourable cooduet, as an exception to the base obli-
quities of the common herd of sordid and profligate
menials, who, to forward the interest of a groveling
spirit, from dirty sensuality, or incorrigible indo-
lence, marry for bread ; and are perpetually on the
watch, to take advantage of youthful folly, or ma-
ture indiscretion. The miserable viainis of these
inauspicious onions, which commence without pro-
bability of happiness, and are carried on in obscene
obscurity, repent when it is too late, and find them-
selver chained for life, to brutality,
,discord, ruin,
and disgrace.

MARRIED.

Ymterday, at Clapham Church, Charles l'Aoney, tic!. r•
Mist Copland, of Clapham; aftei which they set off for Mr.
TAuoey's cutuge, near Oxfutd.

DEATHS.
Saturday evening, at Eyrielowa House, Rath, Mrs Anne
Pigott, third daughter of Robert Pigott, E.g. of Chctwytid,
Shropshire.
Friday, at Rah, MN. Hazard, wife of Mi. Hazard, book.
seller; a worth•, 'god woma R.
At Stratford Pal tonne, in Norfolk (the rectory of which pt
had lately resigned), yesterday sennight, greatly lamented, the
Rev Nareissu. Charles Parity, Rector of Tialden ham St. Miry,
Norfolk, which last preferment it at the presentatrua of the
Right Ron tlii. Earl of-Bristol.