I will not tire you with the various practices of usurious oppression; but cannot omit my transaction with Squeeze on Tower-hill, who, finding me a young man of considerable expectations, employed an agent to persuade me to borrow five hundred pounds, to be refunded by an annual payment of twenty per cent_. during the joint lives of his daughter Nancy Squeeze and myself.  The negociator came prepared to enforce his proposal with all his art; but, finding that I caught his offer with the eagerness of necessity, he grew cold and languid; “he had mentioned it out of kindness; he would try to serve me:  Mr. Squeeze was an honest man, but extremely cautious.”  In three days he came to tell me, that his endeavours had been ineffectual, Mr. Squeeze having no good opinion of my life; but that there was one expedient remaining:  Mrs. Squeeze could influence her husband, and her good will might be gained by a compliment.  I waited that afternoon on Mrs. Squeeze, and poured out before her the flatteries which usually gain access to rank and beauty:  I did not then know, that there are places in which the only compliment is a bribe.  Having yet credit with a jeweller, I afterwards procured a ring of thirty guineas, which I humbly presented, and was soon admitted to a treaty with Mr. Squeeze.  He appeared peevish and backward, and my old friend whispered me, that he would never make a dry bargain:  I therefore invited him to a tavern.  Nine times we met on the affair; nine times I paid four pounds for the supper and claret; and nine guineas I gave the agent for good offices.  I then obtained the money, paying ten per cent. advance; and at the tenth meeting gave another supper, and disbursed fifteen pounds for the writings.

Others who styled themselves brokers, would only trust their money upon goods:  that I might, therefore, try every art of expensive folly, I took a house and furnished it.  I amused myself with despoiling my moveables of their glossy appearance, for fear of alarming the lender with suspicions:  and in this I succeeded so well, that he favoured me with one hundred and sixty pounds upon that which was rated at seven hundred.  I then found that I was to maintain a guardian about me to prevent the goods from being broken or removed.  This was, indeed, an unexpected tax; but it was too late to recede:  and I comforted myself, that I might prevent a creditor, of whom I had some apprehensions, from seizing, by having a prior execution always in the house.

By such means I had so embarrassed myself, that my whole attention was engaged in contriving excuses, and raising small sums to quiet such as words would no longer mollify.  It cost me eighty pounds in presents to Mr. Leech the attorney, for his forbearance of one hundred, which he solicited me to take when I had no need.  I was perpetually harassed with importunate demands, and insulted by wretches, who a few months before would not have dared to raise their eyes from the dust before me.  I lived in continual terrour, frighted by every noise at the door, and terrified at the approach of every step quicker than common.  I never retired to rest without feeling the justness of the Spanish proverb, “Let him who sleeps too much, borrow the pillow of a debtor:”  my solicitude and vexation kept me long waking; and when I had closed my eyes, I was pursued or insulted by visionary bailiffs.