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To George Mordaunt, Efq; Belmont- Houfe, July 3, 1762.' I A M indeed, my dear George, the moll happy of human beings ; happy ia the paternal regard of the beft of pa- rents, the fincere efteem of my worthy re- lations, lord and lady Belmont; and the friendlhip, the tender friendlhip of their Vol. I. B lovely , t The HISTORr of lovely daughter, the amiable lady JuFia. An cncrcafc of fortune, which you are kind enough to wifli me, might perhaps add fomething to my felicity, but is far from being neceflary to conftitute it, nor did it ever excite in my bofom an anxious wifla. My father, though he educated me to be- come the mod fplendid fituation, yet in- Itrudled me to be fatisfied with my own moderate one j he taught me that inde- pendence was all a generous mind re- quired ; and that virtue, adorned by that liberal education his unfparing bounty lavilhed on me, would command through life that heart-felt efteem from the worth}' of every rank, which the mod exorbitant health alone could never procure its pot feffors. Other parents hoard up riches far their children ; mine with a more no- ble-, more enlightened folicitude, expend- ed his in ftoring my mind with generous lentiments and ufeful knowledge, to which his I ■V Lady JiTLiA Mandevixle. j !his unbounded goodnefs added every out- ward accompli(hment that could give grace to virtue, and fee her charms in the fair- eft light. Shall I then murmur becaufe I was not born to affluence ? No, believe me, I would •not be the fon of any other than this mofl: excellent of men, to inherit all the ftores v^hich avarice and ambition figh for. I am prouder of a father to whole difcern- ing wiidom, and generous expanded heart, I am fo obliged, than I fhould be of one whom I was to fucceed in all the titles and poffeflions in the power of fortune to be- ftow. From him I receive, and learn pro- perly to value, the moft real of all treaiures, independence and content. What a divine morning! how lovely IS the face of nature ! The blue ferene of Italy, with the lively verdure of England. B 2 But ■J»3 ^ i 4 4 The HISTORY of But behold a more charming objeft than nature herfelf! the fweet, the young, the blooming lady Julia, who is this inftant ftepping into her pod chaife with lady Anne Wilmot. How unfpcakably lovely ! fhe looks up to the window, (lie fmilesj I underftand that fmile, (he permits me to have the honour of following her : Til order my horles, and whilft they are getting ready, endeavour to defcribe this moft an- gelic of woman kind. Lady Julia then, who wants only three months of nineteen, is exaftly what a poet or painter would wifli to copy who intend- ed to perfonify the idea of female foftnefs. Her whole form is delicate and feminine to the utmoft degree : her complexion is fair, enlivened by the bloom of youth, md oft- en diverfificd by blufhes more beautiful than thofe of the morning : her features are regular, her mouth and teeth particu- I larly I 1 r Ladv Julia Mandeville. c iarly lovely j her hair light brown; her eyes blue, full 01 /oftnefs, and (trongly ex- preinve of the exquifire fenfibiiity of her Ibul. Her countenance, the beauteous abode of the loves and the fmiles, has a niixrure of fwectnefs and fpirit, which givei life and exprelHon to her charms. As her mind has been adorned, not warped, by education, it is juft what her appearance promifes*, artlefs, gentle, ti- mid, foft, fmcere, companionate ; awake to all the finer impreflions of tendernefs, and melting with pity for every human woe. • But my horfes are in the court, and even this fubjeft cannot detain me a mo- ment longer. Adieu ! H. Makdeville* B To ^JT'lf ThcIIISTORrof if n, I n To George Mor daunt, Efqj YOUR raillery, my dear Mordaunt, gives me pain ; that I have the ten- dered attachment to lady Julia is certain ; but it is a-n attachment which has not tlie leaft refemblance to love. I fliould be the moft ungratcfuF of mankind to make fo ili a return to the friendfhip lord Bei^ mont honours me with, and the moft felf- jib io entertain a wilh fo much to lady Julia's difadvantage. My birth, it muft be confefTed, is not unworthy even her^ lince the fame blood fills our veins, my father being defcended from the eldeft bro- ther of the firft earl of Belmont, great grandfather of the prcfcnt : but it would ill become a man whofe whole expcdations are limited to the inheritance of 700L a year (long very long, may it be before che greatcft of all misfortunes makes even that '"* m Lady Julia Mandevill. 7 that little mine) to afpire to the hcirefs of twice as many thoufands. What 1 feel for this moft charming of women is the tendernefs of a relation, mixed with that foft and lively efteem which it is impofTible to refufe to the fineft underftanding and nobleft mind in the "world, lodged in a form almod celellial. Love, for I have tafted its poifened cup, is all tumult, diforder, madnefs *, but my friendfhip for lady Julia, warm and animated as it is, is calm» tranquil, gen- tle i produftive of a thoufand innocent pleafures, but a ftranger to every kind of inquietude: it does not even difturb my reft, a certain confcquence of love, even in its earlieft approaches. Having thus vindicated myfclf from all fiifpicion of a paffion, which in the prefent B 4 fituation ¥ hi i* I 8 T/;^ HISTORrof fituation of my fortune I fliould think al- mod a criminal one, I proceed to obey you in giving you the portraits of my rjoble friends, though, I affure you, my ll<:etches will be very imperfcdt ones. Lord Belmont, who lives eight months of the year at this charming feat, with all the magnificence and hofpitality of our ancient EngliQi nobility, is about fixty years old; his perfon is tall, well made, graceful ; his air commanding, and full of dignity : he has ftrong fenfe, with a competent Ihare of learning, and a juft and delicate tafte for the fine arts ; cfpecially mufickj which he ftudyed in Italy, under the beft mailers that region of harmony afforded. His politenefs is equally the refuk of a natural defire of obliging, and an early and extenfive acquaintance with the great world. AE. Lady Julia Mandeville. 9 A liberality which fcarce his ample pof- fefHons can bound, a paternal care of all placed by Providence under hi^ prote6tion, a glowing zeal for the liberty, profperity^ and honour of hJs country, the nobleft fpirit of independence, with the moft ani- mated attachment and firmeft loyalty ta his accomplifhed fovereign, are traits too ftrongly marked to efcape the moft care- fcfs obferver 5 buc thofe only who are ad- mitted to his neareft intimacy are judges of his domeftic virtues, or fee in full light the tender, the polite, attentive hufband,. the fond indulgent parent, the warm ua^ wearied friend. .'iii I If there is a (bade in this pi£lure, it is a prejudice, perhaps rather too ftrong, ini favour of birth, and a (lownefs to expeft: very exalted virtues in any man who canr DOt trace his anceilors as far back, at leaft,, as the conqueft. B 5 Lady *•# 1« lo The HISTORY of Lady Belmont, who is about fix years younger than her lord, with all the ftrength* of rcafon and fteadinefs of mind generally confined to the bed of our fex, has all the winning foftnefs becoming the moft ami- able of her own'; gentkj affable, focial, polite, fhe joins the graces of a court to the fimplicity of a cottage; and by an inexprcfTible eafe and fweetnefs in her ad- drefs, makes all who approach her hap^- py: impartial in her politenefs, at her ge- nial board no invidious diflindlions take place, no cold regards damp the heart of an inferior : by a peculiar delicacy of good breeding, and engaging attention to every individual, ftie banifhes referve, and dif- fufes a fpirit of convivial joy around her: encouraged by her notice the timid lofe their diffidence in her prefence, and often furprized exert talents of pleafing they were before themfelves unconfcious of pofTefTing, ^ The \. t Lady Julia Mandeville, ii The beft, and moft beioved of wives, of mothers, of miftrefles, her domeftic eharafter is moft lovely, indeed all her virtues are rendered doubly charining, by a certain grace, a delicate finiftiing, which it is much eafier to feel than to defcribe. The ceconomy of her houfe, which flie does not difdain herfelf to direft, is magiiiScent without profufion, and regular without conftraint: The effefts of her cares appear, the caufe is unobferved ; all wears the fmiling eafy air of chance, though Gondudled with the moft admirable order.. Her form is perfedly elegant ; and her countenance, without having ever been beautiful, has a benigaity in it more engage ing than beauty itfelf. Lady 12 Ithe HISrORTof Lady Anne Wilmot, my father, and myfelf, make up the prefent party at Bel* mont. Lady Anne, who without regularity of features has that animation which is the foul of beauty, is the widow of a very rich country gentleman ; if it be juft to pro- ftitutethe name of gentleman to beings of his order, only becaufe they have eftates of which they are unworthy, and arc de* fcended from anceftors whom 'hey dif* honour J who, when riding poffi through. Europe, happened to fee her with her fa- ther at Turin -, and as fhe was the hand- fomeft Englifti woman there, and the whim of being marryed juft then feized him^ afked her of Lord — , who could not re- fufe his daughter to a jointure of 3000 /. a year. She returned foon to England with her hufband, where duringfour years Ihe enjoyed the happinefs of liftening to the interefting hiftories of the chace, and entertaining the —(hire hunt at diiiier : her (lumbers Lady Julia Mandeville. rj numbers broke by the noife of hounds in a morning, and ch^ riotous mirth of lefs rational animals at night. Fortune however at length took pkty on her fufFerings, and the good 'fquire overheating himfelf at 2i fox chace, of which a fever was the confe- quence, left her young and rich, at full li- berty ta return to the chearful haunts of men, with na very high ideas of matri»» monial felicity, and an abhorrence of a country life, which nothing but her friend*^ Ihip for Lady Belmont could have onft momeat fufpended*. ! i A great flow of animal fpirits, and ai French education, have made her a Coquet,, though intended by nature for a much fii*- perior chara(fler. She is elegant in her drefs, equipage, and manner of living, and rather profufe in her expences. I had firft the honour of knowing her laft winter at Paris, from whence (he has been returned about S4 ^e HIsrORTof about fix weeks, three o£ which flic ha^ pafTed at Belmont. Nothing can be more eafy or agreeable than the manner of living here ; it is pe?- fcftly domeftic, yet fo diverfified; with amufements as to exclude that fatiety from which the beft and puseft of fublunary enjoyments are not feoure, if continued in too uniform a courfe. We read, we walk, we ride, weconverfe v we play, we dance, we fing ; join the company, or indulge in penfive folitude and meditation,, juft as fency leads; liberty, reftrained alone by virtue and politenefs, is the law, and incli^ nation the Ibvcreign guide, at this manfion ©f true hofpitality. Free from all the (hack- les of idle ceremony, the whole bufinefs of Lord Belmont's guefts, and the higheft fa- tisfaftion they can give their noble hoft, is to be happy, and to confult their own taftc entirely in their manner of being fo. Reading, ■'I M Lady Julia Mandeville. r^" Readingtmufick, riding, and converfation are Lord Belmont*^ favourite pleafures, but none that are innocent are excluded ; balls, plays, concerts, cards, bowls, billiards^ and parties of pleafiire round the neigh- bouring country, relieve each other; and whilft their variety prevents any of them from fatiating, all confpire to give a double poignancy to the fweeter joys of domeftic life, the calm and tender hours which this charming family devote to the endear* ing converfation of each other, and of thofe friends particularly honoured with; their efteem. I _ The houfc, which is the work of Inigo Jones, is magnificent to theutmoft degree; it ftands on the fummit of a flowly rifing hill, facing the South ; and, beyond a fpacious court, has in front an avenue of the tailed trees, which lets in the profpeft ©f a fruitful valley, bouriced at a diftancc i m i6 rhe HisroRr of by a mountain, down the fides of which rulhes a foaming cafcade which fpreads into a thou (and meandering ftreams ia the vale below. The gardens and park, which are behind the houfe, arc romantic beyond the wan- ton nefs of imagination-, and the whole ad>- jpining country diverfifyed. with hills, val- kys, woods, rivers, plains, and every charm of lovely unadorned nature. Here Lord Belmont enjoys the moft unmixed and lively of all human pleafures,^ that of making others happy. His eftate conveys the ftrongeft idea of the patriarchal government ; he feems a beneficent father furrounded by his children, over whom reverence, gratitude, and love, give him an abfolute authority, which he never exerts but for their good : Every eye fliines with tranfport at his fight j paren^^ point him our n J Lady Julia Mandeville. 17 out to their children ; the firft accents of prattling infancy are taught to lifp his ho- noured name ; and age, fupportcd by his bounteous hand, pours out the fervent prayer to hes-ven for its benefafVor. To a life like this, and to an ardent love of independence, Lord Belmont facrifices all the anxious and corroding cares of a- varice and ambition ; and finds his account in health, freedom, chearfulnefs, and *' that fweet peace which goodnefs bofoms *' ever." Adieu ! I am going with Lord Belmont and my father to Adon-GrangCj^ and fliall not return till Thurfday. H. MaND£VILLE4 To George Mordaunt, Efq; Friday. E returned ycftcrday about fix in the evening, and the moment we alighted, my Lord leading us into the garden^ w I If .\ i8 TAe HISrORT of garden, an unexpefted fccne opened on mf view, which recalled the idea of the fabu- lous plcafurcs of the golden age, and could not but be infinitely pleafing to every mind uncorrupted by theftlfc glare of tinfol pomp, and awake to the genuine charms of fimplicity and nature. On a fpacious lawn, bounded on every fide by a profufion of the mod odoriferous flowering (hrubs, a joyous band of villagers were aflTembled : the young men dreft in green, youth, health, and pleafure in their air, led up their artlefs charmers in Ilraw hats adorned with the fpoils of Flora, ta the ruftic found of the tabor and pipe : Round the lawn, at equal intervals, were raifed temporary arbors of branches of trees, in which refrefliments were prepared !br the dancers : and between the arbors, feats of mofs for their parents, fliaded from the fun by green awnings on poles, round which. p*^ • 'I Lady Julia Mandeville. tg which were twined wreaths of flowers, breathing the fweets of the fpring. The ilirprize, the gaiety of the fcene, the flow of general joy, the fight of fo many happy people, the countenances of the enraptured parents, who feemed to live over again the Iprightly feafon of youth in their children^ with the benevolent pleafurc in the looks of the noble beftowers of the feaft, filled iTiy eyes with tears, and my fwelling heart with a fenfation of pure yet lively tranf- port, to which the joys of courtly balls arc mean^ • 1*1 <» I The ladies, who were fitting in conver- fation with fome of the oldcft of the villa- gers, rofe at our approach, and my Lord giving Lady Anne Wilmot's hand to my father, and honoring me with Lady Julia's, we mixed in the ruftic ball. The love- lieft of women had an elegant fimplicity m her air and habit which became the fcene^ and 20 The HIS TORT of and gave her a thoufand new charms: fhe was dreft in a flraw- coloured Uiftring night gown, the lightefl gauze linen, a hat with purple ribbons, and a fprig of glowing purple amaranthus in her bofom : I know not how to convey an idea of the particular ftyle of beauty in which (he then appeared. — Youth, health, fprightlinefs and innocence, all ftruck the imagination at once— Paint to yourfelf the exquifite pro* portion, the playful air, and cafy movement of a Venus, with the vivid bloom of an Hebe *, —however high youraife your ideas, they will fall infinitely ihort of the divine original. The approach of night putting an end to the rural aflembly, the villagers retired to the hall, where they continued dancing, and our happy partie pafled the reft of the evening in that fwcet and lively converla- tion, which is never to be found but amongll thofc "m M --T_-— jW»a° Lady Julia Mandeville. 21 thofe of the firft fenfe and politenefs, united by that perfeft confidence which makes the mod trifling fubjc6l:s interefting ; none of us thought of feparating, or imagined it midnight, when my father opening a window, the rifing fun broke in upon us, and convinced us on what fwift and downy pinions the hours of fcitppinefs flit away. Adieu! , i "il. Mandeville* end Itired the :rfa. lofc To George Mordaunt, Efq; Belmont, NO, my friend, I have not always been this hero : too fenfible to the power of beauty, I have felt the keeneft pangs of unfuccefsful love : but I deferved to fufler-, mypaffion was in the highcfl: degree criminal, and 1 blufli, though at this diftance of time, to lay open my heart •vcn I. ^ « : ( 1 1 .' i :^ 22 r^^ HisroRT of even to the indulgent eyes of partial friend- fliip. When your father's death called you back to England, you may remember I continued my journey to Rome : where a letter from my father introduced me into the family of count Melefpini, a nobleman of great wealth and uncommon accom- plilhments. As my father, who has always been of opinion that nothing purifies the heart, refines the tafte, or polifhes the manners, like the converfation of an amiable, well-educated, virtuous woman, had par- ticularly entreated for me the honour of fhe countefs's friendfhip, whom he had known almofl: a child, and to whom he had taught the Englifh language ; I was admit- ted to the diftinftion of partaking in all her amufements, and attending her every where in the quality of Cecifbeo. To the arts of the • I ■4 ¥ "^ Lady Jqlia Mandevill^. 23 the libertine, however fair, my heart had always been fteeled ; but the countefs joined the muft piercing wit, the moft winning politenefs, the moft engaging fen- Ability, the moft exquifite delicacy, to a form .perfedly lovely. You will not there- fore wonder that the warmth and inexpe- rience of youth, hourly expofed in fo dan- gerous a fituation, was unable to refift fuch variety of attraftions; Charmed with the flattering preference fhe feemed to give me, my vanity fed by the notice of fo accom- pliflied a creature, forgetting thofc fen- timents of honour which ought never to be one moment fufpended, I became paf- fionately in love with this charming wo- man : for fome months I ftruggled with ray love -, till, on her obferving that my health feemed impaired, and I had loft my ufual vivacity, I took courage to confefs the caufe, though in terms which fuffici- cntly fpoke my defpair of touching a heart which 1 feared was too fenfible to virtue for 1 'i ■ 3H ■ i ; 3 b ^j7, \l i ■',• iii I 'f kil i I ll 24 516^ HISTORr of for my happinefs : I implored her pity, and protefted I liad no hope of infpiring a ten- derer fentiment. Whilft I was fpeaking, which was in broken interrupted fentences, thecountefs looked at me with the ftrong- eft forrow and compaflicn painted in her eyes; (he was for fome moments filent, and feemed loft in thought-, but at laft, with an air of dignified fweetnefs, "My «* dear Enrico," faid Ihe, " (hall I own *' to you that I have for fome time feared ** this confeflion ? I ought perhaps to re- *' fent this declaration, which from another •' I could never have forgiven : but as I *' know and efteem the goodnefs of your ** heart, as I refped your father infinitely, *' and love you with the innocent tender- ** nefs of a fifter, I will only entreat you to *' refleft how injurious this pafllon is to the ** count, who has the tendereft efteem for ** you, and would facrificc almoft his life << for your happinefs : be aflured of my eternal Y^ and ■ a ten • ■ iking» 1 encesy 1 trong. ^ in her filent. It laft. " My I own feared to re- lother t as I your itely. nder- ou to the n for s life ' my ernal i Lady Julia Mandeville. ^25 ** eternal friendfliip, unlefs you forfeit it " by perfifting in a purfuit equally deftruc- *' tive to your own probity and my honor; *' receive the tendered afllirances of it," continued fhe, giving me her hand to kils, " but believe at the fame time, that the *' count deferves and poflefles all my love, " 1 had almoft faid, my adoration. The *' fondeft afFeflion united us, and time, " inftead of leflening, every hour increafes " our mutual pafTion. Referveyour heart, " my good Enrico, for fome amiable lady ** of your own nation, and believe that " love has no true pleafures but when it '* keeps within the bounds of honour." It is impolTible, my dear Mordaunt, to exprefs to you the fhame this difcourfe filled me with : her gentle, her affeftion- ate reproofs, the generous concern fhe fhowed for my error, the mild dignity of her afpedt, plunged me into inexprefllble confufion, and fhew'd my fault in its Vol. I. C blacked* i 'v " m i' ■I -J: (,. it Wi 'I ^ . rheHISrORTof "blackcft colours, at the fame time that her behaviour, by increafing my cftcem> added t;o the excefsof my pafTion. I at- tempted to anfwer her; but it was im- .poffible ; awed, abafhed, humbled before •her, I had not courage even to meet her eyes : like the fallen angel in Milton, 4 vfcit ** How awful goodnefs is, and faw Virtue in her own fliape how lovely.** •iC The countefs faw, and pitied, my eon- fufion, and generoufly relieved me from 4t by rChanging the fubjeft: flie talked ^of my father, of his merit, his tendernefs for me, .and expedlations of my conduft ; which Ihe was fure I fhould never dif- appoint. Without hinting at what had paft, liie with the moft exquifite delicacy gave .rpe to underftand it would be bed i fhould leave Rome, by faying flie knew how ardently my father wiflied for my re- turn. '^'M si II w Lady Julia Mandeville. 27 turn, and that it would be the height of cruelty longer to deprive him of the pleafure of feeing a -ion fo worth/ of his affediion: " The count and myfelif," pur- fued fhe, *' cannot lofe you without inex- *'vpreirible regret, but you will alleviate ^it by letting us hear often of your wel- " fare. When you are united to a lady " worthy of you, my dear Enrico, we *'inay perhaps make, you a vifit in Eng- *' land : in the mean time be affured you *' have not two friends who love you with " a fincerer afiiftion." ft !■■!(■. At this moment the count entered, who, feeing my eyes filled with tears of love, defpair, and admiration, with the tendered anxiety enquired the caufe. " I (hall tell " you news which will afflidl you, my lord,'* laid the countefs : " Signor Enrico comes " to bid us farewel-, he is commanded by ^' his father to return to England 5 to- ** morrow is the laft day of his ftay in C 2 " Rome; \'m %-lff. i) m J*" I1»»1'"P> 28 The HIST0R7 of «« Rome : he promifes to write to us, and " to preferve an eternal remembrance of *« onr friendfhipv for which he is obliged «' only to his own merit : his tender heart, <* full of the moft laudable, the mod en- " gaging fenfibility, melts at the idea of a ** reparation which will not be lefs painful «* to us." ' v\ The count, after exprefllng the moft obliging concern at the thought of lofing ine, and the warmeft gratitude for thefe fuppofed marks of my friendfhip, infifted •on my fpending the reft of the day with them. I confented, but begged firft to re- turn to my lodgings on pretence of giving jfome neceflary orders, but in reality to give vent to my full hearty torn with a thoufand contrary emotions, amongft which, I am ifhocked to own, hatred to the generous count was not the weakeft. I threw my- felf on the ground in an agony of defpair ; I wept, I called heaven to witnefs the purity of my love^ I accifed the count- cfs ■I ;■""■ Ifand am irons my- tair; :nefs lunt- ■■•■•I. Lady Jui-iA ]VfANi)EViLLE. 29 cfs of cruelty in thus forcing me from Rome : 1 rofe up, I begun a letter to her, in which - 1 vowed an eternal filence and refpe6l, but begged fhe would allow me ftili the innocent pleafure of beholding her j fwore I could not live without feeing her, and that the day of my leaving Rome would be that of my death. — But why do I thus tear open wounds which are but juft healed ? let it fuffice that a moment's reflexion convinced me of my madnefs, and fhowed the charming countefs in the light of a guardian angel fnatching me from the edge of a precipice. My reafon in fome degree returning, I dreft myfelf mth the mod ftudious care, and returned to the Melefpini palace, where I found the abbate Camilli, a near relation of the family, whofe prefence faved me the con- fufion of being the third with my injured friends, and whofe lively converfation foon diflipated the air of conftraint I felt on C 3 entering v]„ l! ' *fl 30 The HlSTTORr of entering the room, and even difpelled parr of my melancholy.. The count, whofe own probity and vir- tue fet him far above fufpedl'ng mine, preffr ed me, with all the earnednefs of a friend- ihip I fo little merited, to defer my journey a week: on which 1 railed my downcaft eyes to madam Melefpini •, for fuch influence had this lovely woman over my heart, I did not dare to confent till certain of her permiflion ; and reading approbation in a fmile of condefcending fweetnefs, I con- fented with a tranfport which only thofe who have loved like me can conceive : my chearfulnefs returning, and fome of the mod amiable people in Rome com- ing in, we pad the evening in the utmoft gaiety. At taking leave I was engaged to the fame company in different parties of amufement for the whole time I had' to flay, and had the joy of being every day with the countefs 5 though I never . found my of Lady Julia MandeviIle. 3^ IburKl an opportunity of fpeaking to her without witneflcs, till the evening before 1 left Rome, when going to her hoUle an hour fooner than I was expefted,' I found her alone in her clofet. • When I approached her, my voice faltered^ I trembled, I wanted power' to addrefs her-, and this moment, fought with fuch care, wifhed with fuch ardor^' was the moft' painful of my Kfd Shailie atone presented my" retiring; my eyes were involuntarily, turned towards the door at which I entered, in a vain hope of that interruption I had before dreaded as the grcateft misfortune; arid even the prc^fence of my happy envied rival would at that moment have been moft welcome. ft The Countefs fcemed little lefs difcon- Gcrted than myfelf ; however recovering herfelf fooner, " Signor Enrico," faid fhe, •• your difcretion charms me ; it is abfo- lutely ncccflary you ftiould leave Rome ; C 4 &« Mm b-..;l 32 Tie HlSTORTof *' it has already coft me an artifice unwor* *' thy of my charafler to conceal from the •' Count a fecrec which would have wound- ** ed his nice honor, and deftroyed his *• friendfhip for you. After this adored " hufband, be aflurcd you ftand firftof all " your fex in my efleem : the fenfibility of " your heart, though at prefent fo unhap- ** pily mifplaced, encreafes my good opi- *' nion of you : may you, my dear Enrico, •' meet with an Englifh Lady worthy of •* your tcnderne.fs, and be as happy in mar- *• riage as the friends you leave behind. ** Accept,** puriued flie, rifing r»nd going to a cabinet, " thefe mitv^tures of the " Count and myfelf, which 1 give you by *' his command 5 and when you look on ** them believe they reprefent two faith- *' full friends, whofe efteernforyou neither time nor ab fence can leffen." Ci ■f I took the piftures eagerly, and kifled thai of the Countefs with a pallion I could *" not Lady Julia Mandeville. 33 not reflrain, of which however fhe took not the lead notice. I thanked her, with a confufed air, for fo valuable a prefent ; and intrcated her to pity a friendfhip too tender for my peace, but as refpeftful and as pure as fhe herfelf could wifh it^ ling the by on th- iher Hid lOt The abbate Caniilli here joined trs, and once more faved me a fcene too interefting for the prefent fituationof my heart. The Count entered the room foon after, and our converfation turned on the other cities of Italy, which I intended vifiting; to mod: of which he gave me letters of recommen- dation to the nobleft families, wrote in terms fo polite and affedlionate as ftabbed me to the heart with a fenfe of my own ingratitude. He did me the honor to ac- cept my pidlure, which I had not the cou- rage to offer the Countefs. After protradl- ing till morning a parting fo exquifitely painful, I tore myfelf from all I loved, and bathing with tears her hand which I prelTed C 5 eagerly li: f ■H't .M m t'-tV 34 The HISTORY of eagerly to my lips, threw myfelf in.to my chaife, and, without going to bed, took the road to Naples. Bat how difficult was this conqueft ! How often was I tempted to return to Romev, and ' throw myfeif at the countefs's feet, without confidering. the confequences of fo wild an allien ! You, my deareft Mordaunt, whofe difcerniiig fpirit knows all the windings, the ftrange incon£iflences of, the human heart, will pity rather than blame your friend, when he owns there were mo- ments in which he formed the infamous refolution of carrying her ofFby force. . But when the mid of pafTion a little dif- perfed, I began to entertain more worthy fentimcnts •, I determined to drive this lovely woman from my heart, and conquer an inclination, which the Count's generous unfufpecfling friendihip would, have made criminal even in the eyes of the mofl aban- doned libertine \ rather owing this refolution however i.to my I, took., iifficuk- was I " throw vithOut fo wild rdaunt, 1)1 the of the I blame ;re mo- famous :k dif. worthy this |nquer lerous made iban- lutibn ^ever ■ its n Lady J&lia Mandeville. jy however to an abfolute defpair of fuccefs than either to reafon or a fenfeof honor, my cure was a work ^ of time. I wasfo weak during fome months^as to confine my vifits to the families' where the Count's letters introduced me, that I might indulge my pafllon by hearing the^IovelyXounteis continually mentioned. Convinced at length of the folly of thus feeding fo hopelefs a flame, I refolved'to avoid every place where I had a enhance of hearing that adored name : 1 kft Italy for France, where I hoped a life of difiipatioii would drive her for ever from my remem- brance. I even profaned my pafTion for her by meeting the advances of a Coquette, but difguft fucceeded my conqueft, and I foiaid it^^was from time alone I muft hope a cure. I had been near a year at Paris, when, -in April lad, 1 received a letter from niy fa- ther, who prelTed my return, and appointed mc to meet him immediately at the Hague, from Hi f ,i ' rki\: ■'*' ( 36 -The HISTORToJ from whence we returned together; and after a few days ftav in London, came down to Belmont, where the charms of i.ady Julia's converfation, and the eftecm ihe. honors me with, entirely corrrpleated my cure, which time, -abfence, and the Count's tender and affedtionate letters, had very far advanced. There is a fweetnefs in her friendfhip, my dear Mordaunt, to which love itfelf muft y'eld the palm; the delicacy, yet vivacity of her fentiments, the foft fenfibility of her heart, which without fear liftens to vows of eternal amity ahd efteem. — O Mordaunt, I muft not, I do not hope for, I do not indeed willi for, her love ; but can it be poflible there is a man on earth to whom heaven deftines fuch a blefling ? H. Mandeville, i:.;;' To Lady Julia Mandeville. 37 rl To Col. Bellville. Tuesday, Belmont. OH ! you have no notion what a refor- mation : Who but Lady Anne Wii- mot at chapel every Sunday ? grave, devout, attentive ; fcarce dealing a look at the prettied fellow in the world, who fits clofe by me ! Yes, you are undone, Bellville ; Harry Mandeville, the young, the gay, the lovely Harry Mandeville, in the full bloom of conquering three and twenty, with all the fire and fprightilnefs of youth, the exqui- fite fymmetry and eafy grace of an Anti- nous ; a countenance open, manly, animat- ed ; his hair the brighteft chefnut ^ his complexion brown, flufhed with the ; ofe of health ; his eyes dark, penetrating, and full of fire, but when he addrefles our fex foftened into a fweetneis which is almofl: irrefiftible •, his nofe inclining to the aqui- line-, his lips full and red, and his teeth of the moft pearly whitenefs. 2 There, ( - / ■': '■■'• ^Ifel ill To Li >.'< 38 Tbe. HISIfORTof; There, read and die with envy : " You with envy, I with love/* Fond of me too, but afraid to declare his paffion ; refpe61ful — awed by the com- manding dignity of my manner — poor dear creature, I think I muft unbend a little, hide half the rays of my divinity, to encourage fo timid a worfhiper* , Some ftattering tawdry coxcombi I fup* gofe ; fome fool with a tolerable outfide.- No, you never was more miftaken^ Bell- ville : his charms 1 aflbre you are not all external. His underftanding is of the moft exalted kind, and has been improved by a very extraordinary education, in pro- j, admirable organ, fine voices, and the mod animated reader of prayers in the univerfe. Col. Mandeville, whom I fliould be ex- trcamly in love with if his fon was not five and twenty years younger, leaves us to- morrow Lady Julia Mandeville. 41 morrow morning, to join his regiment, the — fhire militia : he ferved in the late war with honour, but meeting with fome ill ufage from a minifter on account of ^ vote in parliament, he refigned his^ com- miflion, and gave up his whole time to the education of my lovely Harry, whofe tendernefs and merit are a full reward for all his generous attention. Adieu t A. WlLMOT. To Col. Bellville. Belmont, Thursday. 1L divine Enrico is a little in the Penfcrofo^ Poor Harry 1 I am charmed with his fenfibility, he has fcarce been him- felf fince he parted with his father yeftcr- day. He apologizes for his chagrin, but fays no man on earth has fuch ob- ligations to a parent. Entre nous, I fancy I know fome few fons who would be of a different way of thinking : the Col. has •^"fl ■ tl.*: r m ^'■: r;;:' i ■m i 'M^ i If ; ■ I m 42 rhe uisrourcf has literally governed his conduft by the old adage that, '* Learning is better than " houfc and land ;" for as his fon's learning advanced, his houfes and lands melted away, or at leaft would have done, had it not been for his mother's fortune, every (hilling of which, with half the profits of his eftate, he expended on Harry's educa- tion, who certainly, wants only ten thou- fand pounds a year to be the moft charm- ing young fcHow in theuniverfe. Well he muft e'en make the moft of his per- feftions, and endeavour to marry a for- tune, on which fubjeft I have a kind of a glrmpfe of a defign, and fancy my friend Marry has not quite fo great a contempt of -money as I imagined. You muft know then^ (a pretty ph^afe that, but to proceed) you muft know, that we accompanied Col. Mandcville fif- teen miles, and after dining together at an inn, he took the read to his regimtnt, and m ri ■ J.-M >w. at nd -%.:l K-.^ Lady Julia Mandeville. 43 and we were returning penfive and fildnt to Belmont, when my Lord, to remove the tender melancholy we had all caught from Harry, propofed a vifit at Mr. Weft-* brook's, a plump, rich, civil, cit, whofe houfe we muft of necefTity pals. As. my lord defpifes wealth, and, Mr. Weftbrook's genealogy in the third generation lofes itfeJf in a livery liable, he has always avoided an intimacy^ which the other has aaftudioufly fought; but as it is not in his nature to treat any body with ill-breeding, he has fuffered their vifits, though he has been flow in returning them ; and has fometimes invited the daughter to a ball, The lady wife, who is a woman of great erudition, and is at prefcnt intirely loft to the world, all her faculties being on the rack compofing a treatife againft the immortality of the foul,, fent down an apology ^ and we were entertained by Mademoifelle la Fille, who is little, lean, brown, with fmall pert black eyes, quick- ened V .'51 ■■) • ■} \i ■ 9 i' ■ r I- 'i ■■■ fW :..«j'tii-,nl.'i'' q,.:,::. ^ is 44 rhe HIS TORT cf cned by a large quantity of abominable bad rouge : fhe talks inceflantly, has a great deal of city vivacity, and a prodigious paf- fion for people of a certain rank, a phrafe of which fhe is peculiarly fond. Her mo- ther being above the little vulgar cares of a family, or fo unimportant a talk as the education of an only child, fhe was early entrufted to a French chamber-maid, who, having left her own country on- account of a Faux Pas which had vifible confe- quences, was appointed to inflill the prin- ciples of virtue and politenefs into the flexible mind of this illuftrious heirefs of the houfe of Weftbrook, under the title of governefs. My information of this morn- ing further fays, that, by the cares of this aecomplilhed perfon, fhe acquired a competent, though incorre6t, knowledge of the French language; with cunning, diffimulation, afTurance, and a tafte for gallantry; to which if you add a fervile pafljon for quality, and an oprefTive in- folence to all, however worthy, who want . that 1)1 1 1/ j Lady Julia Mandeville. 45 that wealth which (he owes to her father's /kill in Change alley, you will have an idea of the bride I intend for Harry Man- deville. Mcthinks, 1 hear you exclaim : *' Heavens! what a conjunrtion"! 'lis mighty well, but people mull live, and there is 80,000 /. attached to this animal, and if the girl likes him, I dont fee what he can do better, with birth, and a habit of profufe expence, which he has fo little to fupport. She fung, for the creature fings, a tender Italian air, which fhe ad- drefled to Harry in a manner and with a look, that convinces me her ftile is Tamorofe, and that Harry is the prefcnt objedl, After thefong Ifurprifed him talking low to her, and prefTing her hand, whilll we were all admirinor an India cabinet j and on feeing he was obferved, he left her with an air of confcious guilt which convinces me he intends to follow the purfuit, and is at the fame time afhamed of his purpofe. Poor fellow! I pity him j but marriage is his only r AJsl Sl'twii ru. u r V -: ■ "-J ■ 1 V 4' ' f-:-. 1^ !t 46 ne HISrORT of only card. Til put the matter forward» and make my lord invite her to the next 'ball. Don't you think I am a generous creature, to facrifice the man I love to his own good ? When fhdl I fee one of your Tclfifli fex fodifinterefted ? no, you men have abfolutcly no idea of fentiment. Adio! A. WiLMOT. To George Mo rd aunt, Efqj IT is the cuftom here for every body to fpend their mornings as they pleafe, whiiih does not however hinder our fome- times making parties all together when our inclinations happen all to take the fame turn. My lord this morning pro- pofed an airing to the ladies, and that we ftiould, inftead of returning to dinner, flop at the firft neat farm houfe where wc could hope for decent accommodations. Love of variety made the propolal agreea- ble to us all 5 and a fervanc being ordered before m.'-M . •. u Lady Julia Mandbville. 47 before to make fome little provifion, we (topped, after the plcafanteft airing ima- ginable, at the entrance of a wood, where, leaving our jcquipages to be fent to the neighbouring village, we walked up a winding path to a ruftic building, em- bofomed in the grove, the architeffcure of wtiich was in the mod elegant ftile of fim- plicity : the trees round this lovely retreat were covered with wood bines and jefla- mines, from which a gale of perfume met our approach : the gentlefl: breath of Ze- phyr juft moved the leaves, the birds fung in the branches, a fpring of the cleareft water broke from the rifing ground on the left, and murmuring along a tranfpa* rent pebbly bottom, feemed to lofe itlelf in a. thicket of roles: no rude found dif- turbed the Jweet harmony of nature i all breathed tl^e foul of innocence and tran- quillity, but a tranquillity raifed above it- ielf. My heart danced with pleafure, and ibe lovely lady Julia happening to be next I % ■ ■ 1 f I I. ' f ¥. ■k 48 The HISfORT of me, I kiffed her hand with an involuntary fervor, which called up into her cheeks a blufli " celeftial rofy red," When we en- tered the houfe, we were flruck with the propriety, the beauty, the fimplicity of all around us ; the apartments were few, but airy and commodious •, the furniture plain, but new and in the moll beautiful tafte; no ornaments but vafes of flowers, no at- tendants but country girls, blooming as the morn, and dreft with a neatnefs iaex- preflible. After an elegant cold dinner, and a de- fert of cream and the beft fruits in feafon, we walked into the wood with which the houfe was furrounded, the romantic va- riety of which it is impofTible to defcribci all was nature, but nature in her moft plea- fing form. We wandered over the fweet- ly varied fcene, refting at intervals in ar- bours of intermingled rofes and jeflamines, till we reached a beautiful mofly grotto, wildly *« Lady Jcx i A Ma n d evi ll e. 49 wildly lovely, whofe entrance was almoll hid by the vines which flaunted over its top. Here we found tea and co9«e pre- pared as if by invifible hands. Lady Anne exclaimed that all was enchantment ; and Lord Belmont's eyes fparkled with that lively joy, which a benevolent mind feels in communicating happinefs to others. 1 1 , .' Lady Julia alone feemed not to tade the pleafures of the day : Her charming eyes had a melancholy languor I never faw in them before: ftic was referved, filent, abfent •, and would not have efcaped Lady Anne's raillery, had not the latter been too much taken up with the lovely fcene 10 attend to any thing but joy. As friendfhip has a thoufand groundiefs fears, I tremble left I (hould have been fo unhappy as to offend her: I remember fhe feemed difplcafed with my kifling her Vol. L D hand. % ;T:; iH 50 rheHISrORT of hand, and fcarce fpoke to me the whdc day : I will beg of Lady Anne to alk the caufe, for I cannot fupport the apprehen- fion of. having offended her. * J * ■ " ■ *•? •, ' . It was with difficulty Lord Belmont forced us at night from this enchanting re- tirement, which he calls his hermitage, and which is the fcene of his moft pleafing hours. To Lady Anne and me it had a charm it did not want> the powerful charm of novelty : it is about four miles from Belmont houfc, not far diftant from the extremities of the park. To this place I am told Lord Belmont often retires, with his amiable family, and thofe particular]/ ,happy in his efteein, to avoid the hurry of company, and give himfelf up entirely to the uninterrupted fweets of domeftic en- joyment. Sure no man but Lord Belmont knows how to live I H. Mandeville. To Lady Juj-ia Mandbville. 51 if 1 ■•;- ■1 .' To Col. Bellville. • ■■ I ,»,; LORD, diefe prudes — no, don't let me injure her — thefe people of high rentiment,are fo tremblingly alive all o*er— there is poor Harry in terrible dilgrace with Lady Julia for only kifllng her hand, and amidft fo bewitching a fcene too, that I am really furprized at his moderation ; all breathed the foul of pleafure ; — rofy bowers and mofly pillows, cooing doves and whif- pering Zephyrs — I think my Lord has a ftrange confidence in his daughter's infen- fibility to tfuft her in thefe feducing groves, and with fo divine a fellow •in compa- ny — But as I was faying, fhe takes the affair quite ferioufly, and makes it an of- fence of the blacked die — Well, I thank my ftars, I am not one of thefe fenfitivc plants; he might have kiffed my hand twenty times without my being more a- D 2 ' larmed m :.l €-' I. it ' ^1 52 75&^ HISTORl of larmed than if a fly had fettled there; nay a thoufand to one whether 1 had even been ^onfcious of it at all. I have laughed her out of her refent- rnent, for it is really abfurd 5 the poor fel- low was abfolutely miferable about it, and begged my interceflion, as if it had been a matter of the higheft importance. When 1 faw her begin to be afhamed of the thing. Really my dear, fays 1, 1 am glad you are .convinced how ridiculous your anger was. for illnatured people might have put ftrAnge conftrudtions. -^ 1 know but one way of i^ccounting rationally —if I was Hairy I fliould be extremely flattered — one would almoft fuppofe *— This ^nfwered 5 — I car- ryed my point, and transferred the pretty thing's anger to me 5 it bjuihed with in- dignation, drew up, and,ifm^mma had not happened to enter the room at that indent, unagreeable fcene of altercation would pro- b.ably have cnfued; Ihe took that op- por. Lady Julia MandeviiLle. 53 portunity of retiring to her apartment, and yvt faw no more of her till dinner, when fhe was gracious to Harry, and ex- ceedingly (lately to me. .1 :-r--) O mon Dieu ! I. had almoft forgot i we are to have a little concert this cvenirrg and fee, my dear Lord appears to fummoir me. Adio I Caro ! A. WlLMOT. \-. To Henry Mandeville, Efqr YE S, my dear fon, you do me juftice : lam never fo happy as when I know ym are fo. I perfedtly agree with you as to the charms of Lord Belmont's hermit- age, and admire that genuine tafte for ele- gant nature which gives fuch a fpirited- variety to the life of the wifeft and moft amiable of men. But does it not, my dear Harry, give you at the fame time a very contemptible D 3 idea *' i ■|... ■HP I. '(/",) fU' 'V 'li 54 The HISrORT of idea of the power of greatnefs to make iti poiiefTors happy, ca fee it thus flying as it were from itfelf^ and feeking pleafurc not in the fruition, but in the temporary fuf- penfion, of thofc fuppofed advantages it has above other conditions of life ? Believe me, it is not in the coftly dome, but in the rural cott, that the impartial Lord of all has fjxed the chearful feat of happinefs. Health, peace, content, and foft domeftic tcndernefs, the only real fwects of life, driven from the gilded palace, fmilc on the humble roof of virtuous induflxy. The poor complain not of the tediouf- nefs of life : their daily toil makes fliort the flying hours, and every momem of. rcfl: from labour is to them a moment of enjoyment. Not fo the great : furrounded from earl ic ft youth by pleafures which court their acceptance, their tafl:e palled by habit,and the too great facility of fatiat- ing every wifh, laflitude and difguft creep on Lady Julia MandevilCe. 55 on their languid hours; and, wanting the doubtful gale of hope to keep the mind in gentle agitation^ it finks into a dead calm more deftrudive to every enjoyment than the rudeft ftorm of adverfity. The haughty dutchefs, oppreffed with taftelefs pomp, and finking under the weight of her own importance, is much lefs to be euvycd than '* the milk-maid finging blithe," who 13 ii> her eyes the objeft only of picy and contempt.' . , .. 4 - I . . V i * ■ < .... Your acquainance with the great world, my dear Harry, has Ihown you the fplen- did mifery of fuperior life : you have feen thofe nioft wretched to whom heaven has granted the ampleft external means of happinefs. Miferable flaves to pride, the moft corroding of human paffionsi ftrang- f rs to focial pleafure, incapable of love or JViendfhip, living to others not to them* felves, ever in purfuit of the fhadow of liappinefs, whilft the fubftance glides pall D 4,. tbcm \i^^ ^ ■ ■' 7 ;(.* . ;> •- V- I i U:r^^ mm. * ■ ; I'll i- *■■" 1 !tf ill ! ; i 1 M^li- y6 . It Hi' "' ^(.S |( 66 ne HI^TORT of ^ pleafure in compleating a purchafe that J fliall do in declining this, if I can be ib happy as to keep you amongft us. Your accepting this without hefitation, Nvill be a proof of your efteem which I can never forget, as it will fhew you think too high- ly of me to fear my making an ill ufe hereafter cf having had the happinefs of doing for you what» if wc were to change prefent fatuations, I know you would tt" joice in doing for me. 1 have a fund wHiclt I call the bank of friendship, on which it is my rule to take no intereft, which you may command to its utmoA extent. I am, dear Sir, Your affeftionare friend, and obedient fervant,* Belmont?. To Lady Julia Mandeville. 67 To Col. Bell viLle. 1 •: ,< 1 f ''ii- Thursoa?. WE have been dining Al frefco in a ruftic temple in a wood near the houfe : romanefque, fimple ; tlie pil- lars trunks of ancient oaks, the roof the bark of trees, the pavement pebbks, the feats mofs ; the wild melody cf nature our muflck 'y the diftant found of the cafcade jiift breaks on the ear, which, joined hy the chant of the birds, the cooing of the doves, the lowing of the herds, and the gently breathing weftern breeze, forms a concert mod divinely harmonious. Really tWs place would be charming if it was a little more replete with humaa beings ; but to me the fineft landfcape is a dreary wild, unlefs adorned by a few groups of figures. — There are Tquires indeed- well \rf: '■ ■>■■'■ |'i4 -'^ i:': .,, 1 'H: Hili bM ■rill tny tt ill 1 virii ■iB Bi 1 p; 'ffl ^IIm' *i tt^'^ i Iffirii il 1 ill H K 1 IP « n |:'|p Hi 68 7be HISTORT of — well abfulutely your Tquires are an agreeable race of people, refined, fcnti men- tal, formed for the Belle paflion ; tho* it muft be evened the 'fquires about Belmont are rational animals compared to thofe my Caro Spofo ufed to afTociate with : my Lord has exceedingly humanized ihcm, and their wives and daughters are decent creatures : which really amazed me at firft, for you know, Bellville, there is in general no ftanding the country mifles. Your letter is juft brought me : all you fiy of levees and drawing rooms, is thrown away. ** Talk not to me of courts, for I difdain ** All courts when he is by : far be the ** noife ** Of kings and courts from us, whofe ** gentle fouls •* Our kinder ftars have fleered another YeS:^ Lady JOLtA Mandeville. 69 Yes, the rural tafte prevails j my plan of life is fixed ; to fit under a hill and keep flieep with Harry Mandeville. O mon Dieu ! what do I fee coming down the avenue ? Is it in woman to refift that equipage ? Papier machee — highly gilded — . loves and doves —fix long tailed grey Arabians—by all the gentle powers of love and gallantry, Fondville himfelf — the dear enchanting creature — nay then -^ poor Harry — all is over with him — I difcard him this moment, and take Fond- ville for my Cecifbeo— frefh from Pari* — juft imported— O all ye gods! I \}M n FRIDA.Y Morning. I left you fomewhat abruptly, and am returned to fill up my epiftle with the ad- ventures of yefterday. The 70 TbeHISTORrof^ The great gates being thrown open, and the chariot drawn up to the fteps, my charming Fondville, dreft in a fuit of light* coloured filk embroidered with filver, a tiat with a black feather under his arm, and a large bouquet of artificial flowers in his button-hole, all Arabia breathing from his well-fcented handkerchief,defcend- ed, like Adonis from the carr of Venus, and,fuil of the idea of his own irrefiftibility, advanced towards the faloon— he advanced not with the doubtful air of a bafliful lover intimidated by a thoufand tender fears, but in a minuet ftep, humming an opera tune, and cafting a fide glance at every looking glafs in his way. The firft compliments being over, the amiable creature feared himfelf by me, and begun the following converfation : Well, but my dear lady Anne, this is fo furprizing — your ladyftiip in Campagna? I thought Wilmot had given you a furfeit of the poet's EJyzium——— horrid retire- ment— Lady JaxiA Mandbvjlle* 71 rmcnt— how do you contrive to kill time ? — tho* Harry Mandeville indeed — a widow of fpirit may find fome amufemcnt there. * ,; li Why really, Fondville, a pretty fellow does prodigioufly foften the horrors of folitude. O, nothing fo weH. And Harry has his attraftions. Attractions I ah! L'Amore! the faireH. eyes of Rome*^ But pray, my dear lord, hov/ did the court bear my abfence ? In defpalr: the very Zephyrs about Verfailles have learnt to figh, la belle An- gloife. And 'I . i- . ■iM -1 -.l^ii r^^'' ■m m # 72 ^-^rhe HISTORT ef ^ And Miremont ? I!t|| I' Inconfolable : (laid away from two ope fas. i. Is it pofllble ? the dear conftant creature ! tiow his fufferings touch me but here is company. Any body one knows ? 1 rather think not. What the good company of the Envi rons, the Arriere ban, the Pofle Comita- tus ? Even fo : my lord " brings down the •* natives upon us," but, to do the creatures juftice, one fhall feldom fee tamer favages. Here the door opening, Fondville rofe with us all, and leaning againft the wainf- coat, Lady Julia Mandeville. 73 coat, in an attitude of eafy indifference, half bowing, without deigning* to turn his eyes on thofe who entered the room, con- tinued playing my fan, and talking to mc in a half whifper, till all were feated ; when my dear lady Belmont, leading the converfation, contrived to make it general, till, tea being over, my lord propofed a walk in the guldens*, wiicre having trifled away an hour very pleaiantly, we found niufic ready in rht liilooii ai our retiJiu, and danced till midnight. 1 ^ 1 1 1 f 11- 1 f ' V ^ ■s.it- Lord Vifcount Fondville 'he would noi have you omit Vifcount for the world; left us this morning : my lord is extremely polite and attentive to him, on the fuppo- fition of his being my lover; otherwife he muft expedl no fupernumerary civiHties at Belmont; for, as it is natural to value moft thofe advantages one polTefTes ones ielf, my lord, whofe nobility is but of the third generation, but whofe anceftry lofes , VoL.L E itfelf '. -i ■ .ft 't»l m 74 ThcHISTORTof itfelf in the clouds, pays much greater relpedlto along line of illuftrious anceftors than to the moft lofty titles; an*.? lam forry to fay my dear Fondville*s pedigree will nf)t ftrind the tell ; he owes his fortune and rank to the iniquity of his father, who was deep in the infamous fecret of the South Sea bubble. 'Tis however a good-natured, inofTen- fivc, lively* fhowy animal, and does noi flatter difagreeably. He owns Belmont not abfolutely fliocking, and thinks lady Julia rather tolerable, if fhe was fo happy as to have a little of my fpirit and enjoue- ment. Adio ! A. Wilmot. O Ciel ! what a memory ! this is not pofl day. You may pofllbly gain a line or two by this ftrange forgetfulnefs of mine. SaTURDAYc Lady Julia Mandeville. 7^ STATURDAr,' m I • ^il Nothing new, but that La Signora Weftbrook, who vifited here yefterday, cither was, or pretended to be, taken ill before her coach came, and Harry, by her own defire, attended her home in lady- Julia's poft chaifc. He came back with fo grave an air, that I fancy fhe had been making abfolute, plain, down-right love to him : her ridiculous fondnefs begins to be rather perceptible to every body : real- ly thefe city girls are fo rapid in their a- mours, they won't give a man time to breathe. Once more. Adieu ! E 2 To )■ 1 1 M ^^n.- 1 I ■A m^h ^. , ■ ■; ii; ^ gK; 1 . jHB'i 9|/;:'v S|;;r ^XHS !*-■ viu. i^ ihI m I 1 I't! hi »HW! 76 72;^ HISTORT of To George MoRD A uNT, Efq; June 13th. I Have JLift received a letter which makes me the moft unhappy of man- kind: 'tis from a lady whofe fortune is greatly above my moft fanguine hopes, and whofe merit and tendernefs deferye ^thai heart which I feel it is not in my ppv/er to give her. The general complajGefiCy of my behaviour to the lovely fex, ^nd my hav- ing been accidentally ;her partner at two pr three balls, liiis deceived her into an opinion that fhe is beloved by me; and fhe imagines llie is only returning apafllon, which her fuperlority of fortune has pre- vented my declaring. How much is flie to be pitied ! my heart knows too well the pangs of di (appointed love not to fed moft tenderly for the fufferings of another, withouc the additional motive to compafTion of being the undefigned caufc I '; »! Lady Julia Mandeville. 77 caufe of thofd fufferings, the fevered of which human nature is capable. I am embarrafled to the greateft degree, not what refolution to take, that required not a moment's deliberation, but how to foften the (Iroke, and in what manner, without wounding her delicacy, to decline an offer, which ihe has not the leail doubt of my accepting with all the eager tranfport of timid love, furpriied by unexpeded fuc- cefs. il' 1^.:^ Ihave wrote to her, and think I jTiall fend this anfwer ; I enclofe you a copy of it: her letter is already deftroyed : her name I conceal. The honor of a lady is too facred to be trufted, even to the faithful bread " of a friend. ,.»: I to of ve ed E To ^^ 1 ' 78 ncHisroRrof To Mifs NO words, madam, can exprefs the warmth of my gratitude for your generous intentions in my favor, tho' my ideas of probity v/ill not allow me to take advantage of them. ii' ' To rob a gentleman, by whom I hav« been treated with the utmoft hofpitality, not only of his whole fortune, but of, what is infinitely more valuable, a beloved and amiable daughter, is an adion fo utterly inconfiftent with thofe fentiments of honor which 1 have always cultivated, as even your perfedtions cannot tempt me to be guilty of. I muil therefore, however unwillingly, abfolutely decline the hap- pinefs you have had the goodnefs to per- mit Lady Julia Mandeville. 79 mit me to hope for, and beg leave to lub- fcribe my 1 elf, Madam, ■ with the utmoft gratitude and mod lively efteem, your moft obliged and devoted fervanr, M. Mandeville. vl IP I ought perhaps to be more explicit in my refufal of her, but I cannot bring my- felf to ftiock her fenfibility, by an appear- ance of total indifference. Surely this is fuffichntly clear, and as much as can be faid by a man fenfible of, and grateful for, fo infinite an obligation. '^^ou will fmilewhen I own, that, in the midft of my concern for this lady, I teel a fecret, and, I fear, an ungenerous, plea- fure, in facrificing her to lady Julia's friend - Ihip, tho' the latter will never be fenfible of the facrifice. E 4 Yes^ So IL HlSrCRTcf Yes, my fri.^nd, every idea of an cila^ bliiliment in the world, however remote or however advantaorcous, dies awav be- fore the joy cf U-ing elkcmed by her,- and :U liberty to cultivate that efl:eem> deter- niined ap;ainil. marrin!>;e, I have no willi, no hope, but that of being for ever uncon- nedled, for ever bftil in her converfation; forever allowed, tininrerrupted, nnreftrain- ed by nearer tirs, to hear that enchanting- voice, to Iwear on that fnowy hand fteraal amity, to liften .o the unreferved hnLiiFienrs of the moft beautiful mind m the creation, uttered with the me- lody of angels. Had 1 worlds, I would give them to infpire her with the fame wiflies ! II, Mandeville. m To Lady Julia Mandeville. 8i ;»L I To Col. Bellville. Wednesday Night. Can't conceive, Bellville, what it i< Ticn s that makes me fo much the n tafle : 1 really think I am not handfome not lb very handfome — not fo handfome as lady Julia, — yet I don't know how it is — I am perfecLited to death amongft you — the m.isfortune to plcafe every bo- dy tis amazm cr no regularity of features — • fine eyes indeed — blo:;m — a feducing fmile — an ele form -^— ar air of the world — and fome- vivid gant rmeh :11 in the Toute enfem- b!e extre - a kind of an agreeable manner — eafy, fpinted, Degag-^e — * and for the un- derRanding — 1 flatter m.yfelf malice it- ielf cannot deny me the beauties of the mind. You might juO.ly fay to me, what the queen of Sweden faid to Made- moifelle le Fevre, ''with fuch an under- ]!, 5 ftanding^ 1: &^ Ill II-' ■v'^. ' Hi 82 r/je HISTORT of " Handing, are not you afhamed to be ^" handlbme ?'* Thursday Morning. Abfolutely defe rted. Lord and Lady Belmont are gone to town this morning on fudden and unexpedcd bufmefs i poor Harry's fuuation would have been piti- able, had not my lord, confidering how impoflible it was for him to be well with us both a Trio, fent to Fondville to fpend a week here in their ablence, which they hope will not be much longer. Harry, who is viceroy, with ablblute power, has only one commifTion, toamufe lady Julia and me, and not let us pafs a languid hour till their return. O Dio ! Fondville's Arabians 1 vhe dear creature looks up — he bows — '* That bow might from the bidding of the " gods command me" ■ ■ ■■--■>» 4. Don': vne the Lady Julia Mandeville. 83 Don't you love quotations ! I am im- menfely fond of them : a certain proof of 'erudition : and, in my fentiments, to be a woman of literature is to be In ihort, my dear Beilville, I early in life difcovered, by the the meer force of ge- nius; that there were two characters only in which one might take a thouland little in- nocent freedoms, without being ceniured by a parcel of impertinent old women, thofe of a Belle Efpirit and a Methodiil ; and, the latter not being in myilyle, 1 cholc to fet up for the former, in which I have had the happinefs to fucceed {o much be- yond my hopes, that the firfl: queftion now aflced amongft polite people, when a new Diece comes out, is, " What does lady Anne Wilmot fay of it ?" A fcornful fmile "rom me would damn the befl play that ever was wrote -, as a look of approbation, for I am naturally merciful, has faved many a dull one. In fliort, if you iliould happen to write an infipid poem^ which is ex- ]i 6 tremely r. a ,■■^■.r^ t^y I . ! ■'■' 84 Tbe HISrORToJ tremely probable, fend it to me, and my Fiat iliall crown you with immortality. Oh ! heavens ! a propos, do you know that Bell Martin, in the wane of her charms, and paft the meridian of her reputation, is iibfoulutely married to fir Charles Canterelt ? Aftonifhinsl till 1 condefcend to give the clue. She prailed his bad verfes. A thoufand things appear llrange in human hfe, which, if one l.ad the real key, are only natural efTe6ts of a hidden caufe. " My *' dear fir Charles, fays Bell, that divine fap- *' phic of yours — thofe melting founds — *' 1 have endeavoured to fet It — But Or- *' pheus or Amphion alone-- 1 would fingit *• — yet fear to truft my own heart — fuck '' extatic numbers — who that has a fouP — She funghalf a ilanza, and, overcome by \\\Q magic force of verfe, leaning on his IreaO", as if abforbed in fpeechlcfs tranfporr, *' (he fainted, funk, and dyed away". Find mt; the poet upon eartli who could have withltood Lady Julia Mandeville. 85 withftood this, tie married her the next morning. Oh ! Ciel ! liforgot the Caro Fondville. I am really inhuman. Adieu ! ** Je fuis votre amie tres fidelle". I can abfolutely afford no more at prefent. 1 1 1 ' 'f t 1 ! ,i| i' '';!^f 1 i. !' 1 1 \ I i To Henry Mandeville, Efq; London, June 20th. YO U can have no idea, my dear Mr. Mandeville, how weary 1 am vif being thefe few days only in town : that any one, who is happy enough to have a houfe, a cottage, in the country, lliould continue here at this fcafon, is to me incon* ceivable : but that gentlemen of large property, that noblemen fhould imprifon themfelves in this fmoaking fui nace, when the whole land is a blooming garden, a wil- tiernefs of fweets 5 when pleafure courts them ;*t '■>■;- 'imi m. 0i] li im 86 The HIsrORTof them in her faired form i nay, when the fordid god of modern days, when Intereft joins his potent voice *, when power, the beil power, that of doing good, folicits their prefence, can only be accounted for, by fuppofing them under the dominion of fafcination, fpell- caught by fomc mall" cious demon, an enemy to human hap- pinefs. I cannot refift addrefling them in a flan . za or two of a poem, which deferves to be written in letters of gold : *' Meantime, by pleafurc's fophiftry ai- " lur'd, « From the bright fun and living *' breeze ye flray : And, deep in London's gloomy haunts *' immur'd, *' Brood o'er your fortune's, freedom's^ •' health's decay, ♦« O, blind of choice, and to yourfelves l^ untrue \ '' The al- Lints Lady Julia Mandeville. 87 " The young grove flioots, their " bloom the fields renew, The manfion afks its lord, the fwains " their friend -, " While he doth riot's orgies haply *' (hare, " Or tempt the gamefter's dark deftroy- *' ing fnare, *' Or at fome courtly (hrine with fla- " villi incenfe bend. " And yet full oft your anxious tongues " complain " That carelefs tumult prompts the ** ruftic throng ; ** That the rude village inmates now " difdain " Thofe homely ties which rul'd their *' fathers long : ^* Aks ! your fathers did by other arts ** Draw thofe kind ties arouud their " fimple hearts, " And led in other paths their dudile r ^ill : ?^ By P^ ; :n f; 4- 90 T:he HISTORY of I love to converfe with thofe, ** whom •* age and long experience render wile" j and, in my idea of things, it is time to flacken the reins of pride, and to wave all fublunary diftindlions, when they are fo near being at an end between us. Befides I know, by my own feelings, that age wants the comforts of life : a plentiful table, ge- nerous wines, chearful converfe, and the notice of thofe they have been accuftomed to revere, renews in fome degree the fire of youth, gives a fpring to declining na- ture, and perhaps prolongs as well as en- livens the evening of their days. Nor is it a fmall addition to my fatisfa(5lion, to fee the refpeft paid the^n by the young of their own rank, from the obfervation of their being thus diftinguilhed by me : as an old man, I have a kind of intereft in making age an objedl of reverence •, but, were I ever fo young, I would continue a cuftom, which appears to me not lefs juf: than humane. Adieu 1 Lady Julia Mandeville. 91 Adieu ! my efteemed, my amiable friend ! how I envy you your larks and nightin- gales ! Your faithful Belmont, W I'm To Col. Bellville. Thursday, POSITIVELY, Bellville, I can an- fwer for nothing : thcfe fylvan fcenes are fo very bewitching, the vernal grove, and balmy Zephyr, are fo favourable to a lover's prayer, that, if Fondville was any thing but a pretty man about town, my fituation would be extremely critical. This wicked Harry too has certainly feme evil defign ; he forms nothing but enchanting rural parties, either a quarree, or with others of the young and gay : not a maiden aunt has appeared at Belmont fince his reign commenced. He fufFers no ideas to enter our imaginations but thofe of 'A m' ■'('■' r ^ [■ 'mi 92 ne HISTORT of of youth, beauty, love, and the feducing pleafures of the golden age. We dance on the green, dine at the Hermitage, and wander in the woods by moonlight, liften- ingto the fong of the nightingale, or the fweeter notes of that little fyren lady Julia, whofe impalTioned founds would foften the marble hear: of a virgin of eighty* five. I really tremble for my fair friend ; young, artlefs, full of fenfibility, expofed hourly to the charms of the prettieft fellow upon earth, with a manner fo foft, fo tender, fo much in her own romantic way-— A rap at my door — Fondville is fent for away — company at his houfe — lets out immediately — I muft bid the dear creature adieu — I am returned : pity me, Bellville. « The V J* Lacfy Julia Mandfville. 93 ** The ftreams, the groves, the rocks " remain, « But Damon ftill 1 feekin vain.** * 1 ^ Yes, the dear man is gone ; Harry is retired to write letters, and Lady Julia and I are going to take a walk, Tete a Tcte, in the wood. Jefu Maria ! afemale Tece ii Tete! — I fliall never go through the operation — if we were en confidence indeed, it might be bearable : but the litde innocent fool has not even a lecret. \dio ! Your's A. \ViLM0t. •i. [ '■ ^ ■' ■ .- ,f ■ To I: ■ .; : *f •I- 94 fhe HISTORT of «L To George MoROAUNx/Efq; OMordaunt! I am indeed undone: I was too confident of my own ftrength : I depended on the power of gra- titude and honor over my heart, but find them too weak to defend me againft fuch inexpreflible lovelinefs : I could have re- fifted her beauty only, but the mind which irradiates thofe fpeaking eyes — the melt- ing mufic of thofe gentle accents, *" foft " as the fleeces of defcending fnows," the delicacy, yet lively tendernefs of her fen- timents — that angel innocence — that win- ning fweetnefs — the abfence of her pa- rents, and lady Anne's coquetry with lord Fondville, have given me opportunities of converfing with her, which have for ever deftroyed my peace — I muft tear myfelf from her — I will leave Belmont the moment my lord returns — I am for ever loft — doomed to wretchednefs — but I will Lady JaLiA Mandeville. 95 I will be wretched alone — I tremble left my eyes fhould have dlfcovered —left pity fliould involve her in my milery. Great heavens! was I not fufficiently unhappy? to flab me to the heart, I have jud received the following letter from lord Belmont. , t To Henry Mandeville, Ef'-, June 22d; TH E prelent member of parliament for being in a flate of health which renders his life extremely uncertain, it would be very agreeable to me if my dear Mr. Mandeville would think of offering himfelf a candidate to fucceed him. I will however be fo plain as to tell him, he will have no afliftance from me except my wiflies, and has nothing to truft to but his merits and the name of Mandeville ; u' t '■■ \. rj •>". ■1* ■'■■ 'J., , *«■ :. '1 ; 96 fhe HISTORr of it being a point both of confcience and honor with me, never to intermeddle in eleftions. The prefervation of our happy conftitutlon depends on the perfeft inde- pendence of each part of which it is com- pofed on the other two : and the moment ^ heaven grant that moment to be far diftant ! when the houfc of lords can make a houfc of commons, liberty and prerogative will ceafe to be more than names, and boili prince and people become flaves. I therefore always, tho' the whole town is mine, leave the people to their free and uninfluenced choice : never interfering far- ther than to infift on their keeping them- felves as unbiaffed as I leave them. 1 would not only withdraw my favor from, but profecute, the man who was bafe enough to take a bribe, tho' he who offered it was my neareft friend. By '■■n Lady Julia Mandeville. 97 By this means I have the pleafure alfo of keeping myfelf free, and at liberty to confer favors where I pleafe -, fo that I fe- cure my own independence by not invad- ing that of others. This conduft, I cannot help thinking, if general, would preferve the ballancc of our glorious conftitution *, a ballance of much greater confequence to Britons than the ballance of power in Europe, tho* fo much Icfs the objeft of their attention. In this we refemble thofe perfons, who, whilft they are bufied in regulating the domeftic concerns of their neighbours, fufFer their own to be ruined. t 1 I' V But to return from this unintended di- greflion : You will perhaps objcft to what 1 have propofed, that during your father's life you are not qualified for a feat in par- liament. I have obviated this objection. Lady Mary, the only fifter of my father. Vol. I. F has mf^ m^'' \: ; tilL' 98 ne HISrORY of has an ample fortune in her own power to difpofeof: fome part of it was originally her own, but much the larger part was left her by her lover, Sir Charles Barton, who was killed in queen Anne's wars, the very jnorning betore he was to have fet out for England to complete his marriage. Be- ing the lad of his family, he had made a will, in which he left his eflate to lady Maiy, with a requeft, that, if fhe did not marry, fhe would leave it to one of the name of Mandeville. As (he loves merit, and has the happinefs and honor of our houfe warmly at heart, I have eafily pre- vailed on her to fettle 500 /. a year on you at the prefent, and to leave you a good part of the reft at her death. Her defign hitherto, I will not conceal fror-i you, has been to leave her fortune to my daughter, of whom (lie is infinitely fond 5 but Julia has enough, and by leaving it to you, fhe more exaftly fulfils the will of Sir Charles, who, tho' he has not exprefsly made the diftindion, ■15 Lady Julia MandevilIe. 99 diftinflion, certainly t.iCant it to a male of the Mandcville name. The eftate is about 2000/. a year; her own fortune of 14000/. I (hall not oppofe her leaving to my daughier, 1 know too well the generous fentiments of your heart to doubt that, in procuring this fcttlement, I give to my country a firm and unfliaken patriot, at once above de- pendence on the moft virtuous court, and the mean vanity of oppofing the juft mea- sures of his prince, from a too eager de- iire of popularity : not that I would have you infenfible to praife, or the efteem of your country •, but feek it only by deferr- ing it, and tho' it be in part the reward, let it not be the motive of your aftions : let your own approbation be your firft view, and that of others only your fecond. You may obferve, my dear Mr. Mande- ville, I only caution you agaioft being led F 2 awav f M \h f w> 1. \ i ■ '■ ' \ 1 ■fM ..' '? V k 1 f H m< joo TheHISrORTof away by youthful vanity to oppofe the juft meafures of your prince : I (hould wrong the integrity of your heart, if I fuppofed you capable of diftrefling the hands of go- vernment for mercenary or ambitious pur- pofes : a virtuous fenator will regard, not men, but meafures, and will concur with his bittereft enemies in every falutary and honeft purpole/, or rather, in a public light, he will have no enemies, but the enemies ot his country. . It IS with caution I give even thefe ge- neral hints ; far be it from me to attempt to influence your judgment : let your opi- nion be ever free and your own ; or, where your inexperience may want information, feek it from the beft, and moft enlightened of mankind, your excellent father, who has long fat with honor in the fame houfe. Let me now, my amiable friend, thank you for your obliging attention, not only I to Lady Julia Mandeville; tot to the ladies, of whom I could not doubt your care, but of my tenants, one of whom writes me word, that, coming to enquire when I fhould return, with a look of anx- iety which fhew*d my return was of con- fequence to him, you took him aiide, and, enquiring his bufinefs, found he wanted,, from an accident which had involved him in a iemporary d;ftrefs, to borrow looii for which you gave him a draught on your banker, with a goodnefs and fweetnefs of manner, which doubled the obligation; making only one condition, which the over- flowing of his gratitude has made him un- able to keep, that it ihould be a fecret to all the world. Can Lady Mary do too much for a maa who thus fliews himfelf worthy the name of Mandeville, the charafteriftick of which has ever been the warmeft benevolence? 4 p: t I ' , ■ i',. ■ t , ;',^t,' 1 j ,! , ^ !1 .'" :V'i-„ ,•'1 ■%6 n ^- ■ ;!«J F3 Another m !• '■ ■li U: jo% IheHISTORTof , Another would, perhaps, infift on re- turning the money to you^ but I will not rob you of the pleafure or making an ho- neft man happy : you will however ob- ferve, that it is this once only I indulge you ; and that you are the only perfon from whom I have ever fufFcred my fami- ly, for fuch I efteem al! placed by Provi- dence under my proteftion, to receive an obligation : 'tis a favor I have refufed even to your father. Do not anfwer this : I (hall pofTibly be with you before a letter could reach mc. Adieu. Your afifedionate Belmont. Can I, after this letter, my dear Mor- daunt, entertain a wifh for lady Julia, with- out the blacked ingratitude ? no, tho* I will not accept his generous offer, I can never forget he has made it. I will leave Belmont — ^I will forget her — what have I faid ? forget her ? I muft firft lofe all fenfe of my own being. Am Lady JiTLiA Mandeville. 103 Am I born to know every fpccies of mi- icry ? I have this moment received a fe-^ cond letter from the lady I once mention'd to you, filled with the fofteft and moft af- feding exprefTions of difinterefted tender- nefs : indilcreet from excefs of afFedion, file adjures me to meet her one moment in tliK. luftic temple, where fhe is waiting for me ; her meffenger is gone, and, as I will not hazard expofing her by fending my fer- vant, I have no choice left but to go : Heaven knows how unwillingly ! fhould we be feen, what an appearance would fuch a meeting have ! I left Lady Julia to write letters, and on that accounc excus'd myfelf from attending her : yet can I leave her whoiH love alone has made imprudent, to the confequence of her indifcretion, and' the wild fallies of a mind torn by difap- pointment and deipair ! I will go : but how ftall 1 behold her ! how tell her pity is all 1 can return to fo generous a pafTion ? Thefe trials are too great for a heart like mine, F 4 tender ?'^ ^ ^'x ■A I 1 ,.f m I 104 neHisronrof tender, fympathetic, compaffionatc ; and foftened by the fenfe of it's own fufFerings : I Ihall expire with regret and confufion at her fight. Farewell. H. Mandeville, To Col. B£LLVILL£« OU R party laft night did not turn out fo nrjuch in the ftilWife way as I ex- pefted — unfortunate that I am — two rivals at once— la BellifTima Julia has mod cer- tainly a penchant for Harry — *tis abfurd, for the thing is impoflible. In the firft place I am rather afraid he has a kind of attachment to this creature, and in the fe- cond, I know Lord Belmont's fentiments on this head, and, that with all his genero- fity, no man breathing has a greater aver- fion to unequal marriages : the difference is fo immenfe in every thing but birth and merit, that there remains not a fhadow of hope for hen But thefe people of !iigh heroics Lady Julia Mandevill.^. lojf heroics are above attending to fuch trifling things as poflibilities — I hope I am mifta- ken, but the fymptoms are ftrong iipoa. her, as you Ihall judge. I left you lad niglit, to accompany Lady Julia to the wood we are both fo fond of: the evening was lovely beyond defcription, and we were engaged in a very lively con- vcrfation ; \vhen, as we approached the temple, we faw Harry, who had juft left 'IS on pretence of writing letters, come out of it with the deteftable Weftbrook lean-* ing familiarly on his arm, her pert eyes foftened into languifliment, and fixed eao-eri ly on his : the forward creature darted at feeing us, and attempted to fly, which. Harry prevented,and, withdrawing his arm from hers, as.^ if mechanically, advanc*d * flowly towards us, with a look fo confus'd,' a mien fo difordei'd, . fo dilTercnt from that ' eafy air which givers ten thoufand graces to > the fmeft fofm in the wOrld, 43 convinced me F e, that J-J \P l t i- 1 » I n. i:i> If;- i ■( ■ l-u 1 m w ,.,.1. VK* ■ \i' I- I f'Ad^ mt io6 The HISTORTof that this meeting was not accidental. Lady Julia ftop'd the moment flie faw themj a deep blufh overfpread her face, flie fixed her eyes on the ground, and waited their ap- proach filent and unmov'd as a ftatue. Not fo the cit : the creature's aflurance, and the eafe with which fhe recovered herfelf and ad- drelTed Lady Julia, excited equally my a- ftoniflimcnt and indignation. She told her fhe came to wait on her Ladyftiip, and the finenefs of the evening had tempted her to leave her coach a: the entrance of the wood t that as flie walked thro' fhe happen'd to ineet Mr. Mandeville, quite by chance fhe afllired her Ladyfhip; as he would teflify. i larry difdain^d to confirm her falfhood even by an afTenting look • his filence, the cold- nefs of his manner, with the air of dignity and fpirit Lady Julia affumed,almoft difcon- certed her •, we walk'd filently to the houfe, where the girl only llay'd till her coach was order'd round, and then left us j her eyes afli'd Lady Julia Mandeville. 107 afk'd Harry's attendance, but he chofc not to underftand their language. This evening was the only unpleafant one I ever paft at Belmont : a rcferve un- known before in that feat of fincere fricnd- (hip, took place of the fweet confidence which ufed to reign there, and to which it owes its mod ftriking charms. We retired earlier than ufual, and Lady Julia, inftead of fpending half an hour in my apart*" ment, as ufuaU took leave of me at the door and pafTed on to her own. r am extremely alarmed for her-it would have been natural to have talked over fo extraordinary an adventure with me, if not too nearly interefted — There was a conftraint in her behaviour to Harry all the evening— an aflumed coldnefs — his affi- duity ^em'd to difpleafe her— fhe fighed often— nay once,when my eyes met hers, I obferved a tear ready to dart — flie may F 6 cad ^ ^ l^ \ . %'^[ m J ', ■ '■ \ ^ 1 ' fi l»'. >.** V If* f ) ' J 1 ' «r •• 1!; \ , ,i'. ;■;?, .' ! If j! ■'■*.- mc''p-' io8 rhe HISTORY of\ call this friendfhip if (he pleafes, but thefe very tender, thefe apprehenfive, thefe jea- lous friendfhips, between amiable young people (f difiFerent fexes, are exceedingly fufpicious. /I It is an hour later than her ufual time of appearing, and I hear nothing of her : I am determined not to indulge this tender melancholy, and have fent up to let her know I attend her in the faloon, for I often breakfaft in my own apartment, it being the way here for every body to do what- ever they like.— Indeed ! a letter from Lady Julia !— ^ a vindication ?--nay then — " guilty upon ** my honor." — Why imagine I fufpeft her?— O! Confcience! Confcience! Her extreme fear of my fuppofing her in love with Harry, is a convincing proof that flie is, tho' fuch is her amiable fince- riiy> Lady Julia Mandeville. tog rity, that I am fure (he has deceived her- felf before (he would attempt to deceive me; but the latter is not fo cafy 5 fitters by fee all the game. iShe tells m^, fhe cannot fee me till flie has vindicated herfelf from a fufpicion which the weaknefs of her behaviour yef- terday may have caufed : That fhe is not fure fhe has refolution to mention the fub- jc6t when prefent j therefore takes this way to afTure me, that, tender and lively as her friendfhip for Mr. Mandeville is, it is only friendfhip ; a friendfhip which his merit has hitherto juftified, and which has been the innocent pleafure of her life^ That born with too keen fenfibilities (poor thing I I pity her fenfibilities7 the ill treat- ment of her friends wounds her to the foul. That zeal for his honor and' the integrity of his charader, which fhe thinks injured by the myfterious a;r of laft night's adventure. '^.i '^m m }■' '^ i .' [ ■ ••' I ■ ) no f^> BIS70kr of adventure, her fliock at a clandeftine and diflembled appointment fo inconfiftent with that openncfs which Ihe had always admired in him, as well as with the re- fpeft due to her, now fo particularly in her father's abfence under his protedlion, had occafioned that concern which fhe fears may make her appear to me more weak than fhe is. In fhort, rtie takes a great deal of pains to lead herfelf into an error ; and ftruggles in thofc toils which (he will find great dif- ficulty in breaking. Harry's valet has juft told my woman his matter was in bed but two hours laft night : that he walked about his room till three, and rofe again at five, and went out on horfeback, without a fervant. The poor fellow is frighted to death about him, for he is idolized by his fervants^ and Lady Julia Mandeville. hi and this man has been with him from his child - hood. But adieu ! I hear Lady Julia upon the ftairs : I muft meet her in rhe faloon. m 1 1 ' I.' •^■r \i Eleven o'clock. Poor foul ! I never faw ^any thing like her confufion when wc met: (he blufhed, flie trembled, and funk half motiorvlefs into her chair : I made the tea, without taking theleait notice of her inability to do it i and by my eafy chit chat manner foon brought, her to be a little compofcd: though her eye was often turned towards the door, though fhe ftarted at every found, yet fhe never afted the caufe of Harry's abfence, which muft however furprize her, as he always breakfafts below. Forefeeing we fhould be a very awkward party to day a Triv>, I fent early in the morning to aik three or four very agree- able i M ■i'Ai ^/\W mm ■t '■ ■^ li I ■fir • i' ■ ' L .I-.' •-, . ' i Mm ri2 The HISrORTof ablf girls about two miles ofF, to come and ramble all day with us in the woods : happily for poor Lady Julia, they came in before we had done breakfaft, and I left them to go and look at fome fhellwork, whilft I came up to nnifli my letter. Harry is come back, and has fent to fpeak with me : I am really a perfon of great confequence at prefent. I am in a very ill humor with him ; he may well be afhamed to appear, however the word of criminals deferves to be heard. I will ad- mit him : he is at the door. Adio. A. WjlmoTi #♦"« la Lady Julia Mandeville, 1 13 To George Mordaunt, Efq; Wednesday, Five in the Morning; GREAT heaven! what a night h^ve I paft 1 all other fears give way before that of difpleafing her. Yes» let me be wretched, but let her not fuppofe me unworthy : let her not fee me in the light of a man who barters the fenti- ments of his foul for fordid views of avarice or ambition, and, ufing means proportioned to the bafenefs of his end, forges a fatfehood to excufe his attendance on her, feduces an heirefs to give him clandeftine aflignations, and m a place guarded, doubly guarded at this time, by the facred and inviolable laws of hofpi* tality, from fuch unworthy purpofes. I will clear my conduft, though at the hazard of cxpofing her whofc love for me deferve^ r.:.i, m ii\- •t M r I, ': V ■ .. ' ' ' • . 1 :^^^ 114 The BISTORT of deferves a different treatment : let her be the vi(flim of that indifcretion by which fhe has ruined me — and can I be thus bafe ? — Can I betray the believing un* fufpeding heart? — My mind isdiftradted— but why do 1 fay betray ? I know Lady Anne's great nefs of mind, and for Lady Julia — yes, the Tecret will be as fafe with them as in my own bofom. Shall I own all my folly ? I cannot, though (lie fhall never know my paffion for herfelf, fupport one moment the idea of Lady Julia's imagining I love another. I will go to Lady Anne, as foon as fhe IS up, and beg her to convince her lovely friend my meeting this Lady was acci- dental : I will not, if I can avoid it, fay more. I can iin^yB Lady Julia Mandeville. 215 I cannot fee her before this explanation, I will ride out, and breakfaft with fome friend: I would not return till they are gone back to their apartments, that I may fee Lady Anne aloiie. Twelve o*clofe- Lady Anne has probed me to the quick t I have truftcd her without rcfcrve as to this affair, I have begged her to vindicate me to Lady Julia, who is walking in the garden with fome ladies of the neigh* borhood: we are going tc follow them, I am to take the ladies afide, whilft Lady Anne pleadfi my caufe: fhe calls me» FarcwclK Twelve at Nigkf, She forgives me, and I am moft happy. Lady Anne has told her all, and has had the goodnefs to introduce me to her as we walked, unobfcrved by the ladies who were '■■- x'-' iff. :i PI it. j.'f ii6 T/je HisroRr of were with us. I have kifled her hand a$ a feal of my pardon. I'hat moment ! O Mordaunt! with wliat dilFicuity did I re- llrain the tranfport: of my foul ! Yes, my friend, rt orgives me, fweet benign ferenity reigns ia her lovely eyesv Ihe approves my condudl:; Ihe is pleafcd with the conctiu 1 (how at giving pain to the heart which loves me ; her chearfulnefs is returned, and has reftored mine ; fhe rules every movernent of my heart as fhe pleafes : never did I pafs fo happy a day. I am all joy ; no fad idea can enter ; I have fcarce room even for the tender compalTion I .owe to her I have made wretched. I am going to bed^ but without- the leaft expeftation of Qeep : joy will now have the fame efFeft as I laft night found from a contrary caufe. Adieu ! 1 H. Mandeville» To Lady Julia Mandeville. 117 a M To Col. Bellville. Th u r s d a y Morning. I Have reconciled the friends : the fccne was amazingly pathetic and pretty : I am only forry I am too lazy to defcribe it. He kiffed her hand, without her Ihowing the leaft fymptom of anger ; fhe blufhed indeed, but, if I underftand blufhes — in fliort, times are prodigioufly changed. The ftrange mifles were of infinite ufe, as they broke the continuity of the tender fcene (if I may be allowed the expreflion) which, however entertaining to Les Amies, would have been fomething fickly to my Ladyfhip, if it had laded. And now having united, it mud be my next work to divide them •, for ferioufly I am apt to believe, the dear creatures are in ■'%''^, u8 The HISrORT of in immenfe danger of a kind of partiality for each other, which would not be quite fo convenient. I have fome thoughts, being naturally, fentimental and generous, of taking Harry myfelf, meerly from compaffion to Lady Julia. Widows, you know, are in fome degree the property of handibme young felJows, who have more merit than for- tune ; and there would be fomething very heroic in devoting myfelf to fave my friend. I always told you, Bellville, I was more an antique Roman than a Briton. l3ut I muft leave you : I hear Lady Julia coming to fetch me : we breakfall a Trio in a bower of rofes. ^1 O heavens ! the plot begins to thicken— Lucretia's dagger — Rofamonda's bowl — . Harry has had a letter from his charmer — vows ftie can't live without him — deter- mined to die unlefs the barbarous man re- lents.—- ^fJI Lady Julia Mandeville, iig lents. — This cruel Harry will be the death pf us all. :. . - Did I tell you we were going to a ball to night, fix or feven miles off ? She has heard it, and intends to be there: tells him (he fhall there expedl the fentence of life or death from his lovely eyes : the fignal is appointed : if his favage heart is melted, and he pities her fufferings, he is to dance with her, and be mafter of her divine perfon and eighty thpufand pounds, to-morrow ; if not— but ihe expires at the idea fhe entreats him to foften the cruel ftroke, and not give a mortal wound to the tendereft of hearts by dancing with another. . . You would die to fee Harry's diftrefs,— fo anxious for the tender creature's life, fo incenfed at his own wicked attraftions, fo perplext how to pronounce the fatal fen- tence— for my part I have had the utmoft 4 diflRculty . I" i i "■ ■-■.J' ^ rM • : ^'M' f V '"■■.' ' J20 The HISrORr of difficulty to keep my countenance. — Lady Julia, who was to have been his partner, fighing with him over the letter, intreating him not to dance, pitying the unhappy love-fick maid, her fine eyes gliftening with a tear of tender fympathy. The whole fcene is too ridiculous to be conceived, and too foolifh even to langh at : I could iland it no longer, fo retired, and left them to their fofc forrows. You may talk of women, but you men are as much the dupes of your own vani- ty as the weakeft amongft us can be. Heaven and earth! that, with Harry*s iinderftanding and knowledge of the world, he can be ferioufly alarmed at fuch a let- ter. I thought him more learned in the arts ** of wilful woman laboring for her purpofe.'* Nor is flie the kind of woman •, I think I know more of the nature of love, than to imagine her capable of it. If there was r M' Lady Julia Mani>evii.le. jai was no other lover to be had indeed,— but he is led aftray by the dear felf- compla- cency of contemplating the fu-prizing ef- fects of his own charms. I fee he is fliocked at my infcnfibility, and fancies I have a mod unfeeling heart ; but I may live to have my revenge. Adio I I am going to my toilet. '* Now awful beauty puts on all its arms." Five o'clock. The coach is at the door: Harry isr dreft for execution j always elegant, he is to-day (hidioufly fo; a certain proof, to be fure,that his vanity is weaker than his eom- paffion: he is however right; if flie mult die, he is to be commended for looking as well as he can, to juftify a pafTion which is to have fuch fatal effcifts : he fees I ob- ferve his drefs, and has the grace to blufh a little. Adio! Carol Votre A. Wilmot; t y ■ •S Vol. I. To tZ2 ^the HISTORY of ■•I' ll! ji ji !!i'f; To Cd. Bellvilljb, Friday Morning, WE are again at Belmont. But Oh, how changed ! all our heroick« dcftroyed — poor Harry ! I can't look at hkn without laughing. Our journey thither was pcnfivc, twr convcrfation fentlmental ; wc entered the ball-room trembling with apprehenfion; where the firft objeft which ftruck our eyes iwas the tender, lovefick, dying maid, liftening with the moft eager attention to Foiiuvilie, who was at the very moment kiding her hand ; her whole foul in her eyes, her heart fluttering with a pleafure which ftie could not conceal, and every feature on the full ftretchof coquetry. An involuntaryfrown clouded the lovely countenance of my Harry, which wa.s not I leffened Lady Julia Mandeville, 123 kffened by his obferving a malicious fmile on mine : he advanced however towards her, when fhe, not doubting his defign was to afk her to dance, told him, in a faltering voice, with a mixed air of triumph and irrelblution, her eyes fixed on her fan, that (lie was engaged to Lord Fond- ville. hi . i Harry was thundcrftruck: a glow of indignation fluihed his cheek, and he left her without deigning to make her any re- ply •, which I obferving, and fearing (he might mifinterpret his filence, and that the idea of his fuppofed difappointment might flatter the creature's vanity, took care to explain to her that he was engaged to Lady Julia before we came •, a piece of information which made her feel to the quick, even through the pleafure of danc- jng with a Lord j a pleafure which has in- conceivable charms for a citizen's daughter, and which love itfelf, or what %e pleafes C 2 CO ft ># m m:fi I II J' iH TheHISrORTof to call love, could not enable her ta refift. The attention of all the company was now turned on Harry and Lady Julia, who were dancing a minuet : the beauty of their perfons, the eafy dignity of their air, the vivid bloom of their cheeks, the fpirit which fhone in their eyes, the inimitable graces of their movement, which received a thoufand additional charms from (what I hope no one obferved but myfelf) their defire of pleafing each other, gave me an idea of perfedion in dancing, which never before entered my imagination : all was dill as night ; not a voice, not a mo- tion, through the whole affembly. The Ipedators feemed afraid even to breathe, left their attention fhould be one moment fufpended: Envy herfelf feemed dead, or to confine her influence to the bofqm of Mifs Weftbrook. The minuet ended, a murmur of applaufe ran through tlie room, which, I If,' . ! '^ Lady Julia MANDEvfltE. 1 25 which, by calling up her blufhes, gave a ihoufand new charms to Lady Julia, which I obferved to the cir, adding alfo aloud that ic was impolTible any body fliould think of dancing minuets after them ; in which fentiment every body concurring, we began country dances. Harry never looked fo lovely •, his beauty, and the praifes laviflied on him, having ^wakened a fpark of that flanae, which hel* ambition had ft i fled for ^moment, the»girl cndeavor'd, at the beginning of theevening, to attraiSl his notice, but in vain : I had the pleafure to fee him negled all her little arts, and treat her with an ^ir of un- affected indifference, which I knew muft cut her to the foul. She then endeavoured to piqvie him by the moft flaming advances, to Fondville, which, knowing your capri- cious fex as I do, rather alarmed me •, I therefore determined to deftroy the efl^edt of her arts by playing off, in oppofition, a more refined ipecies of coquetry, which G 3 turned f\ i? k ii M I Wm 126 ^heHlSrORTof turned all Fondville*s attention on myfcif, and faved Harry from the frare (he was laying for him, a fnare of all others the hardefttoefcape. When I faw I had by the moft delicate jBattery chained Fondville to my carr for the night, and by playing ofiT a few quali- ty airs infpired him with the (Irongeft contempt for his city partner, I threw my- felf into a chair ; where, afiefting an ex- cefs of languor and fatigue, and wondering at the amazing conftrtutions of the country ladies, I declared my r«uention of dancing no more. Sir Charles Mellifont, who danced with me, fat down on one fide, and Fondville on the other, pouring forth a rhapfody of tender nonfenfe, vowing aH other women were only foils to me, envying Sir Chariest happinefs, and kiding my hand with an affection of tranfport, which f>leaied me, as , r Lady Julia Mandiville; 127 as I faw it mortified the cit, who fat fwel- Img with fpite in a window near us^ in a fituation of mind which I could almoft have pitied. I fat a fuIlhour,receiving the homage dS both my adorers, my head reclined, and niy whole perfon in an attitude of the moft graceful negligence and inattention; when^ obferving the Cittadina ready to faint with envy and indgnation, turning my eye carelefsly on her, O,. Heavens ! Fondville, faid I, you are an inhuman creature ; you have abfolutely forgot your partner: then, darting with Sir Charles, rejoined the dance with an air of eafy im* pertinence, which fhe could not Hand, but buril into tears, and withdrew. ■ t'i ■ Fi '•I I You muft know this affair was all of my contriving; I was determined to try the reality of the girl's paflion, to quiet Harry's confcience as to cruelty of rcjed- G 4 ing H* Ll ft .t >28 Ttg HISTORr of If ing her fuir, and remove thofe apprehen- lions for her life, which feemed fo infinite- ly to diftrefs hrm. Full of thefe ideas, I wrote by one of tny fervan^ts to Fondville, immediately after Harry communicated to us the Cittadina's tragedy-letter, commanding him to be at this ball, dreft'for conqueft, to enquire out Mifs Weftbrook, whom he had never feen, to pretend a fudden and violent paflion for her, and to entreat tlie honor of beii^g her partner : that it was a whim I had taken into my head \ that I would explain my reafons another time, but infifted on his implicit obedience. " He came, he faw, he conquered," as I imagined he would : I knew her rage for title, tirtfel, and "people of a certain rank,*' and that Fondville was exaftly cal- culated for the meridian of her tafte, un- dcrftanding and education. The over- charged Lady Julia Mandevjlle. . 1^9 charged fplendor of his drefs and equi- page muft have infinite advantages, with one who had fo long breathed city air, over the genuine elegance of Harry Mandeville's ; nor was it poffible in the nature of things for the daughter of an exchange-broker to prefer even perfonal perfedion to the dazzling blaze of a coronet; Harry's charms gave way be- fore the flattering idea of a title, and the gentle God refigned his place to the greater power, Ambition. Things to be fure have taken rather a difagreeable turn; but (he muft thank her own inconftancy, and be content for the future with making love to one man at a time. I have only one more fcene of mortifi- cation in view for her, and my malice will be fatisfied 5 1 would invite her to, a ball at Belmont, let Harry daiice with G 5 Lady i-''i i|-,^l t I 'IS 130 rhe HISTORTof Lady Julia, take Fondville myfelf, and pair her with the mod difagreeable fellow in the room. You have no notion how Harry's vanity is hurt, though he ftrives all he can to hide it ; piqued to death ; juft like one of us, who are pleafed with the love, though we diflike the lover : he begins to think it poilible fhe may furvive his cruelty. Lady Julia is all aftonilhment, had no idea of fuch levity — the amiable ignorant — how little (he knows us — the character of half the fex. Adio ! I am going with Lady Julia, to pay fome morning vifits in the environs. Three o'Clock. Till this morning 1 had no notion hour much Lord and Lady Belmont were be- loved, or, to (jpeak with more propriety, adored Lady Julia Mandeville. 13 r adored in their neighborhood : the eager enquiries of the good ladies after their re- turn, their warm expreffions of efteem' and veneration, are what you can fcarce conceive: the fwell of affeftion, which their prefence reftrained, now breaks forth with redoubled impetuofity. There are really a great many agree- able people hereabouts : Belmont is the court of this part of the world, and em- ploys its influence, as every court ought to do, in bringing virtue, politenefs, and elegant knowledge into fafliion. How forcible, how irrefiftible are fuch examples in fuperior life! who can know Lord and Lady Belmont, without endeavoring to imitate them ? and who can ir ;itate them without becoming all that is amiable and praife-worthy ? Do you know, Bellville, I begin ex- tremely to diflike myfelf? I have good G 6 quaiitiesy ■vl'i '': Bm k : ^ ''j,;li ' i 'S,^, 132 The HISTORY of qualities, and a benevolent heart, but have exerted the former fo irregularly, and taken fo little pains to rule and dire6l the virtuous iiDpiilfes of the latter, that they have hitherto anfwered very little purpofe either to myfelf or others. 1 feel 1 ara a comet, fhining, but ufelefs, or per- haps deftruftive, whilit Lady Belmont is a benignant ftar. But, for heaven's fake, how came the fpirit of reflexion to feize me? There is fomething in this air. — O Cielo 1 una. Carrozza ! — n^y dear Lord Belmont. Ifly — Adio! To lir";/! ■t n Lady JuLiA Man^eville. 133 Jtoe23A To George Mor daunt, Efq; npHEY arts the impatient eager to come J^ villagers crowd tl behold them, tranfport in every eye, whilft the noble pair fcarce retain the tender tear of glowing benevolence. How lovely a pidure was the audience they come from giving! how fweettheintercourfeof warm beneficence and ardent gratitude! my heart melted at the fight. This ev jining is devoted to joy — I alone — O Mor- daunt ! have I known this paradife only to be driven for ever from it ? I cannot to-night mention leaving Bel- mont ; to - morrow I will propofe it ; I am in doubt where to go; my father is abfent from camp on a vifit of a fortnight to the Duke of ' , his Colonel. I have !■ ']'■ \li t- 11 m jft t ■ .H" ^^'•■ 134 ne HlSrORT of have fome thoughts of going to Lord T— *s, till his return: perhaps I may come to town 5 all places but this are equal to me yet : I muft leave it ; I am every moment more fenfible of my danger: yes, Mordaunt, 1 1 >ve her> I can no longer deceive my felf;. I love her with thefondell paffion •, frif ndflaip is too cold a name for what 1 feel, too cold -for charms like hers to infpire : yet< heavea is my witnefs, I am incapable of a wiCh to her difad vantage j her happinefs is my firft, my.only objedt— I know not what I would fay, — why does fortune for ever oppofc the tender union of hearts ? Farewcl ! H. Mandeville, To f Lady Julia Mandeville. 13^ i 1 To Col. Bjllville; / Saturday, MY Lord has brought us a thoufand prefents, a thouiand books, a thou- fand trinkets, air in fo exquifite a tiafte — He is the fweeteft man in the world cer- tainly—Such delight in obliging— .'Tis happy for you he is not thirty years younger and difengaged*, I fhould infallibly have a paffion — He has brought Harry the di-» vineft horfc ; we have been feeing him ride, " fpring from the ground like fea- " ther'd Mercury** — you can have no con- ception how handlbme he looks on horfe- back — poor Lady Julia's little innocent heart — I can't fay I was abfolutely infenfi- ble myfelf — you know I am infinitely fond of beauty, and vaftly above diflembling it : indeed it feems immenfely abfurd that one is allowed to be charm'd with living per- fedion in every fpecies but our own, and that fr ^ '% !l .*'•¥! ^!'^, 136 ne HISrORTtf that there one muft admire only dead co^- lours : one may talk in raptures of a lifc- lefs Adonis, and not of a breathing Harry Mandeville. Is not this a defpicable kind of prudery ? For my part, I think nature's coloring vaftly preferable to the noblcft attempts of art, and am not the lefs fenfi- ble to the graces of a fine form becaufe it is animated. Adieu I we are going to dine at the hermitage ; Lord Belmont is to be my Cecifbeo. To George Mordaunt, Efqj HOW inconfiflent is the human mind! I cannot leave Belmont, I cannot give up the delight of beholding her: I fancy a ibftnefs in her manner which raifcs the mod flattering ideas; flie blufhes when her eyes meet mine — Tho* 1 fee the mad- nefs of hope, 1 indulge it in fpite of my- fclf. No one can deferve her ; yet, as Lord Belmont , ( Lady Julia Mandeville, i ^7 Belmont honors me with hh efteem, I would pcrfuade myfelf fortune alone for- bids — I will ftruggle with impoflibiJities ;. I have many and powerful friends ; we have a Prince in the early prime of life, the- feafon of generous virtue 5 a Prince to whom the patriot gbw> and that difinterefted loyalty, which is almoft my whole inherii- fance, cannot but be the ftrongeft recom- mendations; to him it may be merit to* have fufFered, when the bafeft of the peo- ple rofe on the niins of their countvy- Thofe ample pofTeflions, which would have- defcended to me, and might have raifed- my hopes to the nK>ft angelk ©f woman* kind, were glorioufly fpent in endeavQur- ing to fupport the throne, when Ihook by the rage of faclion and narrow-minded bigoted enthufiafm ; the younger branch^ of our family efcaped the ftorm by having a minor at it's head : to this accident, the partiality of an anceftor, and the mjiitary talents of his father, lord Belmont owes the \ ' ^yi ..;.U. ii! ' **ffft1^ J38 ne HISrORT of fihe affluence he fo nobly enjoys, and whicb I only, of all. mankind, have caufe to regree. Thefe circimiftances raife a flattering; hope — my views are confufcd, but I will purfue the track. If I fucceed, I may. openly avow my paffion ; if not, the fecret of my love Ihall die with me : never, my friend, will I attempt her heart by unwor<- thy means : let me endeavour to deferve,, ^d leave to heaven to determine whether I fhall poflefs,, the nobleft gift it has to. beIlow« Farewel*. H. Mandeville. To GeOUGS MaRDAUNT, Efq; Auguft ift. I Have Heard from my father on the fub- jedt of Lady Mary's intended fettle- nent, who extremely diftpproves my in- tention of entirely declining it, which he thinks cannot be founded on any motives worthy Lady JutiA Mandeville, 139 worthy of me, but on a faHc pride of difr daining to be obliged, wiiich is in this cafe uajuRy and greatly below my character: that I might as well obje6l to receiving a part of his eftate> which he intends to fet- tle on me at the fame ttme r he fays Lord Belmont ads properly, and confidently with himfelf, and does not at all mean to break in on that independence which can never be too highly valued: that Lady Julia would fcarce perceive fiich an additi- on to her already fplendid fortune, whilft this fettlement fixes in fome degree of af- fluence the elder branch of the family, which loft its fttpcriorrty, by the injufticc of an anceftor, and that heroic loyalty which has ever charaAerized our houfe. That he will talk further with me on this fubjefl: when we meet, but in the mean time ad- vifes me, as a friend zealous for my inte- reft, yet not the lefs attentive to my ho- nor, and the propriety of my condud, to accept the immediate fettlement of 500 /• a year^ hi :■ - 'i Pi mJx '^ B'vV' :&■ S JHv ;!'' m .140 me HI^rORTof a year, which will enable me to be fervice- abie to my country 5 but to poftpone to fome diftant time fettling the whole, and to infill that Lady Mary be convinced I deferve her friendfliip before (he lavifhes it lb profufely on me^ ' * > This advice gives me pleafure, as it coin- cides with my own prffeDt (Sentiments : , eager to purfue my fcheme of rifing to fuch confequcnce as may juftify my hopes of the only event defirable to me in this world, 1 am happy in the thought of appearing in every light in which I can attract the notice of my Prince \ and, by fteadily ferv- ing him and my country, whofe true in- t^refl: mufl: ever be the fame, deferve th^t favor on which all my defigns are founded. The time not being yet arrived when I can ferve the nobleft caufe in the fenate, I will go to Germany, and endeavour firft to fignalize myfelf in the manner moft fuited to len I Lte, I Irfl: to luited to Lady Julia Mandeville. t4r to my period of life, the feafon of aftion, not of counfel : it is fhameful, at my age» to recline in the flowery bower of indolence, when the whole world is in arms ; 1 have not yet begun to live ; my time has hither- to been lefs pafs*d in afting, than in prc-» paring to ad, my part on the great theatre of human life. i Oh, Mordaunt ! fliouldl fucceed in my views ! fhould the hour come when I may openly avow my pafllon for the moft lover !y of womankind ! this is the fweet hope which fires my foul, and animates me to the glorious purfuit. Why do clofeted moralifts, ftrangers to the human heart, rail iridifcriminately at love ? when infpir- ed by a worthy objed, it leads to every thing that is great and noble 5 warmed by the defire of being approved by her, there is nothing I would not attempt. I will to-day write to my father for his con- fent. I t'y ' if' i T42 The HISTORT of ient, and embark immediately for the army. I have juft received your letter : you call my defign madnefs,the light in which every animated purpofe will appear to minds in- a^live, unimpafTioned, and funk in the le- thargic calm of lifelefs tranquillity.— Mor* daunt^ you fpeak the cold language of a heart at xeft : talk not of impoflibilities j notliing is Impoflible to a foul impelled by the moft lively of all paffions, and ardent in a purfuit on which its whole happinefs depends ; nothing is impofTil^e to him who aTpires to pleafe the moft lovely, the4noft amiable, the moft exalted of her fex, I feel, I know I (hall be fuccefsfuh I aflc not advice, but declare my fettlecl pur- pofe : I am already determined, and;if your friendfhip be warm as mine, you will not torture me by further oppofition. My fa- ther alone has power to change my refolu* tion, .:r:l,l Lady Julia Mandeville. 143 tion, but it is a power he will not exert : I Ihall aflc his permiflion, but inform him at the fame time, that, by refufing, he cuts off all the hope of my future days, and chains me down to a life of taftelefs infenfibtlity, I know him well ; he will advife, he will remonftrate, if he difapproves 5 but he wili leave me that freedom of choice which is the inherent right of every rational being, and which he never, in one inftance, in- vaded, when I was mudi kfs capable of judging for myfelf. Fearful howeverleft he ihould difapprove my paflion for Lady Julia, I Iball not de- clare ic to him at prefent ; but, as I never will even tacitly deceive him, I (hall tell him 1 have a motive to this defign, which I beg his leave to conceal from him till I have a profpeft of fucce&. 1 I'il : m -.1 t im 1 this 4' 1^ i'-i. 144 ^i>e HISTORr of Il*' m !• I this morning mentioned leaving Bel- mont, but my Lord infifts on my flaying a few days longer, which are devoted todo- meftic happinefs. I cannot refufe without making him fufped: fome latent caufe -, nor will it make any difference in my plan, fince I muft wait fomcwhere an anfwer from my father, which will reach Belmont about the time \ (hall now leave it. Tomorrow fe'n- night expeft me in town : I fhall flay but two nights : I need little preparation : my equipage and attendance are already greatly beyond my fortune,and rather fuited to what you call the madnefs of my expectations : my father, the moft generous of mankind, has always propoitioned my expences more to my birth than his moderate income : as my companions have ever been of the firft rank, he has fupported me greatly above myfelf, and on a full equality with [them, left I fhould be dazzled to mean compli- ances with their faults,by the falfc fplendor they Lady Julia Mandeville. 145 they might receive from a fuperiority in thcfe outward diftinftions. 3 31 •>1 i1 > i I Did I tell you Lord Belmont had pre- fented mc with a beautiful Arabian horfe, which he bought when in town ? What delight has he in giving pleafure to others I "What addition, if that can admit addition, to the happinefs of the man who is bleft with Lady Julia, will it be to be fo nearly allied to worth like Lord Belmont's ! O Mordpuntf were it polTible ! — it is, it mud— 1 will not give room to the fainteft idea of difappointment. Adieu ! I have this moment a letter from my father, which I mull anfwer to-night. H. Mandeville. - '% Vol. h H To .;«ii 146 TbeHISrORTof mi To Henry Mandsville, Efq; Rofeberry-Houfc. Tuesday. m IT gives me the warmeft pleafure, my dear fon, to find you are pleafed with the expenfive education I have given you^ though it reduces your fortune confidera- bly below what it might otherwife have been : I confidered that wealth, if necef- fary to happinefs, which I do not believe, might be acquired ; but that the flying hours of youth, the feafon of inftrudion, are never to be recalled. ^i::.' I have the happinefs to fee you reward and juftify my cares by a generous freedom of thinking, and noblenels of fentiment, which the common methods of education might have crampt, or perhaps totally de- ftroy'd. It has always appeared to me, that our : ' l| 5' •■'■4*1 Lady Julia Mandeville. 147 our underftandings are fettered by fyftems, and our hearts corrupted by example : and that there needs no more to minds well difpofed than to recover their native free- dom, and think and a6t from themfelves. Full of this idea, I have inftruded you how, but never what to think ; I have pointed out the road which leads to truth, but have left you to difcover her abode by your own ftrength of mind : even on the moft important of all fubjedls, I have faid no more, than that convidion muft be on the fide of that religion, which teaches the pureft and moft benevolent morality, is moft conducive to the general happinefs of mankind, and gives the moft fublime idea of the Deity. Convinced that the feeds of virtue are innate, 1 have only watched to cherifli the iiiing ftioots, and prune, but with a trem- bling hand, the too luxuriant branches. w II 2 By -fi 1 ;, ■ ^ ■ ! ■ % '■ •■'1 IL. , ■ 11 ' m '1; ■ ?• .. 1'.' * *" \.' 1'.', ^ J| Si i fa ■'■■«■!, mS^^i 1 mt i»^P'^ i^^HL^^ifJIr r 148 rte HISrORY of , By virtue I would here be undcrftood to tnean^ not a partial attention to any one duty of life, but that redtitudc of heart, ^hich leads us to fulfil all, as far as the frailty of human nature will permit, and which is aconftant monitor of our faults, Confucius has well obferved, that virtue does not confift in never erring, which is impoiTible, but in recovering as faft as we can from our errors. With what joy, my deareft Harry, did I early fee in you that warn^th of temper, which is alone produ6live of every extra- ordinary exertion of the human mind, the proper iol of genius and the virtues ; that heat from which light is infeparable ! I have only one fear for you 5 inured to a habit of profufe expence, I dread your being unable to pradlice that frugality, which will now be indifpenfable. To lady Mary's intended fettlement, I will add a 5 third ftood to any one f heart, ir as the nit, and r faults. It virtue which is ift as we inured to ead your rugality, To lady 11 add a third Lady Julia Manbeville, 149 third of my cftate, but even that is below your birth, and the manner of life to which you are habituated. But why do I doubt you! I know your generofity of fpirit, and fcorn of every fpecies of flavery ; that you will not defcend to be indebted, to with-hold a moment the price of laborious induftry, or leffen the honeft profit of the trrder, by a delay yet more deftru6tive to yourfelf than to him. Intended to become a part of the legiQative power, you are doubly bound to keep your- felf from all temptation of corruption or de- pendence, by living within your income ; the ampleft eftatc is wretched penury, if ex* ceeded by the cxpcnces of its pofieflbr. Need I fay more to recommend cecono* my to a fpirit like yours, than that it is the fountain of liberality, and the parent of independence ? You enquire after the place where I am : it is, except Bchnont, the fweetefl: ipot I H i ever ' I m % m i ■ ■Ji" '■\ 150 rhe HIS'fORr of ever beheld, but in a different flyle : the fituation is rather beautiful than magnifi. cent. There is a mild elegance, a refined fimplicity in the air all around, ftrongly cxprefllve of the mind of its amiable pof- feffor ; a poetic wildnefs, a luxuriant glow, like that of primeval nature, adorned by the hand of the Graces. ^/^ w^ The fame fpirit of liberty breathes here as with you : we are all perfedlly at home; our time is fubjeft to no reftraint but that which our defire of obliging eadi other makes a voluntary impofition. I am now alone, fitting in an arbonr, attentive to the lively chant of the birds, who fwell their little throats with a morn- ing hymn of gratitude to their Creator : whilfl I liften, I think of thofe fweet lines of Cowley : ** All round the little winged choir, *' Pathetic tender thoughts infpire : «( With Lady Julia Mandeville. 15! " With eafe the infpiration I obey, "And fing as uncorlcern'd and as well " pleas'd as they.'* 'Tis yet early day : the flocks and herds are fpreading over the diftant meadows, and joining the univerfal fong of praife ta the beneficent Lord of nature. Rejoicing in the general joy, I adore the God who has expanded fo wide the circle of happinefs, and endeavour to regulate my own defires by attending to the fimpli- city of theirs. When I fee the dumb creation, my dear Harry, purfuing fteadily the purpofcs of their being, their own private happinefs, and the good of their peculiar fpecies, I am aftoniflied at the folly and degeneracy of man, who a6ls in general fo diredtly con- trary to bothj for both are invariably united. The wife and benevolent Creator has placed the fupreme felicity of every indi- H 4 vidual m M-y- -t> 152 7h€ HlSrORT of vidual in thofe kind domeftic fecial afFec tions, which tend to the well-being of the whole. Whoever prefumes to deviate from this plan, the plan of God and nature, Ihall find fatiety, regret or difappointment his reward. I this moment receive your letter : you judge perfecStly well in faying, there is an adivity and reftleflhefs in the mind c 5 man, which makes it impoflible for him to be happy in a (late of abfolute ina•" . 1; k I- ::^ . i ■i, W 158 The HISrORTof great degree of merit in winning of the friends, who happened to be of my party, with an abfurd conceited fquire, who loves quality, and thinks it the greateft honor in the world that I will condefcend to win his money. We had four tables under the fhade of a fpreading oak. « 1 can no more. — Adieu ! A. WlLiVPOT. m m- We have had a penitential letter from the Cittadina, with another from Papa, offer- ing 3O5OO0/. ac prelent, and 50,000/. at his death, on condition lord Belmont will get Harry an Irifh tide : knows its a bad match, but v/onr baulk his girl's fancy ; and b fides, confiders Harry has good blood in hi^ veins : we rejcded it politely, but with a little of the Mandeville Itatelinefs. O Henvc - ! Fondville's valet — Abillet- .rloux.— 1 iLiil be CI ..il, — I'his murderous form—. ii Lady Julia Mandeville. 159 form — I muft abfolutely hide myfelf, or wear a mafk, in pity to mankind. — My Lord has taken the letter — He brings it me — He is on the flairs-^ How ! gone on to lady Belmont's apartment! — A billet, andnotto me! — What can it mean?— Can the dear man be falfe ? , I: The infidel \ Yes, he has left me — for- got his vows.-— This bewitching lady Ju- lia*, it is really an heroic exertion of virtue not to hate her. Could you have thought it pofTible— but read his cruel letter. ft 'Hi To ^^■: 4* l6o The HISrORr of V 'If To the Earl of Belmont. My Lord, YOUR Lordflilp will be perhaps fur- prized— Yet why furprized ? Lady Julia is abfolutely an immenfe fine crea« ture : and though marriage, to thofe who know life, cannot but feem an impertinent affair, and what will fubjedt me to infi- nite ridicule ; yet cuflom, and what one owes to one's rank, and keeping up a family ! — In fliort, my Lord, people of a certain confequence being above thofe romantic views which pair the vulgar, I cliofe ra- ther to apply to your Lordfliip than the Lady, and flatter myfelf my eftate will bear the ilrideft infpcdlion : not but that, I alTure your I ordihip, I fet a due va- lue on Lady Julia's charms •, and, though I have vifited every court in Europe, and feen Lady Julia Mandeville. i6i feen all that is lovely in the Beau fexe, never yet beheld the fair whorn I would fo foon wifh to lee fill the rank of Lady Vifcountefs Fondville as her Ladydiip. If my pretenfions are fo happy as to be favorably received by your Lordfliip, I will beg leave to wait on Lady Julia to- morrow, and my lawyer fliall attend your Lordfhip's wherever and whenever you pleafe to appoint. Believe me, my Lord, with th« mod perfe6l devotion. Your Lordfhip*s mod Obedient and very Humble Servant, Fondville. m To -in,; ' xbz The, HISrORT of To Lord Vifcount Fondville. My Lord, I Am the laft man in the world to whom it was nceffary to apologize for an in- tention of entering into a ftate which, I have cxpericiiced, is produdlive of fuch ex- quifite felicity. My daughter's choice is perfeftly free ; nor fhall I ever do more than advife her, in an affair of fuch confequence to her- felf i but, from what I know of her charac- ter, think it highly improbable fhe fliould approve the pretenfions of a man, who profefTes being above thofe tender affedlions which alone can make happy fenfibility like hers. Allow me to take the liberty of obferv- ing, in anfwer to the latter part of your Lordfhip's wM. Lady Julia Mandeville. 163 Lordfhip's letter, that there are few ranks which Lady Julia Mandeville has not a right to fill. lam, my Lord, Your Lordlhip's mod Obedient and devoted Servant, Belmont. Don't come to Belmont, I charge you ; I fliall have this invincible Lady Julia fe- duce you too. Befides, I have fome reafons why I chufe our attachment fhould not yet come to a crifis ; till when, I will take Lidy Belmont's advice and be prudent : obey in filcnce ; let me have no more fighs till the milder influence of the hea- vens difpole me to be gracious. I am al- ways in good humor in Autumn -, your fate my pofTibly be determined in little i2iore than a month: afk no queftions: fijrpend : 1. ^m mi r64 "The HISrORT of fufpend your paflion, or at leaft the out- ^\'ard exprtluon of ir, and write to me in Amico. Adieu ! m To George Mordaunt, Efqj I Have been riding alone with Lord Bel- mont this morning, a ple^fure I very often enjoy, and on which I fet infinite value: in thofe hours of perfed confi- dence, I am certain of being inftruded and amufed, by a train of ideas uncom- mon, enlarged, noble, benevolent ; and adapted to infpire me with a love of virtue, by fhowing her in her native charms : I fhall be ail my life the wifer and worthier man, for the hours I have palTed at Bel- mont. But, out- me Lady Julia Mandeville. 165 But, OMordauntI fhall I be the hap- picft ? That is in the bofom of futurity : a thoufand times have I been tempted, in thefe hours of indulgentfriendfhip, to open all my heart to Lord Belmont. m m ^' .f,- 1 Bel- very ifinite confi- udted icom- •, and irtue, ns : I rthier cBel- But, I know his contempt of wealth, and how little he thinks it conducive to hap- pinefs. " Heaven," faid hs to me this very morning, " has bleft me with afflu- ence: I am thankful, and endeavor to de- ferve, by applying an ample portion of it to the purpofes of beneficence. But for myfelf, my pleafures are of founexpenfive and fimple a kind, that a diminution of fortune would take very Httle from my pri- vate felicity : Health, content, the fweets of focial and domeftic life, the only en- joyments fuited to the nature of man, arc and ought to be within the reach of all the fpecies : yes, my dear Mr. Mandeville ; it gives a double relilh to all my pleafures, to % 'f j:^ Irir' i66 rijc HISrORT of toreflcdl that they are fuch as every man may enjoy if he wiil." Can this man, my dear Mordaunt, fa- crifice the real happinefs of his child, the calm delight of domeftic frienddiip on which he fets fuch value himlelf, to the gaudy trappings of taftelcfs grandeur ? \ 13id fhe approve my palfion, I (hould hope every thing from the moft indulgent of fathers. fiM He has refufed Lord Fondville for Lady Julia, whofe fortune is as large as avarice itfelf could defire: Good heaven, that fuch a man, without one other recommen- dation, wichout a foul to tafte even the charms of her perion, can afpire to all thar can be imagined of perfection ! Adieu! H. Mandkvim.E: 1\> Lady Jvlia Mandeville, 167 1 man To Col. Bellville. Thur$day Afternoon. OCiel ! I faint ! what a world do we live in ! How many una void. ible enemies to enjoyment I It is fometimes too cold, fometimes too hot to be happy ! One is never pleafed a week together. I (haJl abfolutely grow a fnarling philofopher, and find fault with every thing. imen- n niJ.E Thefc unconfcionable lovers have dragged me crofs an open meadow, expof- cd to the fun's burning rays — no mercy on my complexion — Lady Julia lure, for her own fake, — yet Ihe is laughing at my diftrefs. I am too languid to fay more, — Oh ! for a cooling breeze ! " The whifpering zephyr, and the pu ri- te ing rilL j> We 1 1;?^ 1 68 The BISTORT of ■'^■Wfl- wl H^^lt! fc; mI.P W I^^^BC tsi ';••' ^M(l: IM pHm||> ii ^M^ii". frf ■P 1 flRi^iii Bi ' ^^I^Hr^K^ Vijsj HBi^ 1.'* s^^IBhk^w ^ If ^K^l M HHUmKaalif. ' Ible Emi- ave only endfliip: c is really eals ones z has the vexation Lady JoLiA Mandeville. 169 'Vexation to be forced to love her in fpite of ones felf. ■ She has been here three days, and in that fliort time (lie has gained amazingly upon my heart : her perfon is little, finely proportioned, and delicate almofl: to fragili- ty i her voice and manner foft and timid : her countenance a mixture of innocence and fweetnefs which would difarm the rage of a tyger : her heart is tender, kind, compafTionate ; and tremblingly awake to frienafhip, of which fhe is univerfally the objedl : Lady Julia doats on her, nor am I furprized at it: Ihe appei..rs fo weak, fo helplels, fo exquifitely feminine, it fcems cruelty not to be her friend : no one ever fiiw her without wifliing her happircfs : the love one has for her feems of a pecu- liar fpecies, or moll nearly rcfembles that in{lin(5tive fondnefs one feels for a beauti- ful child : it is independent of eileen], for one loves her before one knows her. It is the Vol. I. 1 pleafanteit t ti < 1 I V J: •5 •■•; [M If K ■:»•!-? ^..■'■M u. V !'f: 'SI *^lk l#W i» f>' 170 7Z'^ HISrORT of pleailintefl: kind of affeftion that can b« conceived. Yet, though flie is extremely handfome, or rather, to fuit the expreflion to her form, extremely pretty, fhe is very little the tafte of men j her exceflive modefty renders both her beauty and underftand- ing in fome degree ufelefs to her ; *' not obvious, not obtrufive," fhe efcapes the ob- fervation of common eyes ; and though infinitely lovely, I never heard (he was be- loved. For this very reafon, the women do her ample ju (lice ; flie is no woman's rival, flands in nobody's way, which cannot fail of exciting a general good will towards her, in her own fex ; they even allow her more beauty than jfhe really has, and take a delight m fetting her charms in oppofi- tion to every impertinent thing the men are fond of. *' Yes, the girl is very well, '' but 2 1^1 can b« dfome,, to her •y little nodefty srftand- " not i the ob- though was be- n do her s rival, nnot fail towards dlow her and take 1 oppofi- the rnea ery well, ^' but Lady Julia Mandeville. 171 " but nothing to Emily Howard,'* is the <:ommon cry on the appearance of a new beauty. There is another (Irong reafon for lov- ing her; tho* exad: in her own conducb, fhe has an indulgence to that of others, which is a confequence of her excefllve gentlenefs of.tecnper, and her feeing every -adion on the: favourable fide : one could own one's greatell weaicnefs to her almoft without blufliing, and at this very moment I dare fay Lady Julia is confefiing to her her pafTion for Harry Mandeville, who h riding out with my Lord. 1 dare fay (lie would find an excufe for my indifcretion in regard to you, and fee only the delicacy of our friendfliip. She fings and dances angeMcally, but flie bluflies to death if you tell htr ih. ;: •; : \- i i-' I 2 Such jiii •li- I (7 H-lij^/sj^ ■ hi m 4! f I •■%,, r^J2 TheHISTORT of Such gentle iinafTuming charaders as thefe, make the mofl agreeable friends in the world ; they are the mild green of the foul, on which it reds itfelf from more glaring cbjedls : one may be abfurd, one may be vain^ one may be imprudent, fecure of being heard with indulgence ; I know nothing which would make her more what I mean but her being a fool : however the indulgent fweetnefs of her temper anfwers almoft the fame purpofe. I am difconfolate that the Caro Enrico is going to defert us ; but the cruel man ris inflexible to all my fofc perfwafions, and determined to leave us on Wednefday. Adieu ! The fvs^eet Emily is going on Thurfday ,for ten days to Sir George Martin's, and then returns to finifli the fummer here, O, do lit . I E '^ ters as :nds in of the more •d, one , feci] re I know re what 'ver the anfwers Enrico lel man 3ns, and day. Adieu ! 'hurfday n's, and iiere. Lady Julia Mand^ville. / O, do you know that I am credibly in- formed, her favorite Suivante havino; told it ro one, who told it to another, who told it to a good old gofllping lady, who told it to mc, that the Cittadina, who has in vain wrote Harry a penitential letter, is playing oiT the fame arts, the fame dying airs, to Fondville, which had fiich extreme ill fuc- ■ cefs with him ; the ficge is at prelent M- pended, not by his addrefling Lady Julia,' which is a profound fecret to her and every* body without thefe walls, but by his mo- ther's death, which has called him haltily* to town; and which, by the way,adds 2000/. a year to his income. Do you know, that I think the thing may do, if Lady Julia- continues cruel •, they are abfolutely formed for each other, and it would be a thoufand pities tO p^art them. Ever yours, A. WiLMOT. ]•< I' ; -^^a '-/i r< : k -J t:r O, do I 3 ft"* J o t-', ;. l^a If I ^&\ ;i I I vJ t .1 ' f ■ ff '■■ft;, ..;.,f w- ~'^. $r 174 7be BISTORT of To Col. Bellville. AuQ-uft 6, CERTAINLY next to a li cw lover the pleafantcit thin(5 upon earth is a new friend ; let antediluvians take feven years to ?ix^ but for us inf^fls of an hour, nothing can be more abfurd : by the time one has try'd them on thefe maxims, ones taile for them is worn our 1 have made .:^ thoufand friendihips at firft fight, and fonierimes broke them at the fccond : there is a certain exertion of foul, a lively defire of pleafing, which gives a kind of volatile fpiric to a beginning acquaintance, Vv'hich is extremely apt to evaporate. Some ]:ecp'e make a great merit of conllancy, ?nd ii .s to be fure a very laud:ible virtue j h\ix for my part, I am above didembling: My fi'if-^.dihips v/car out like n'^y clorhts, but often much f after. Not M^'rf:t I Ladv TuLiA Mandeville. Not chat this is the cafe in reo;ard to E:nily Howard -, no, really, i think tJiis Fen h;;r/ is very likely t - be killing •, may pfobcibiy hold out the lummer. To-morrow, v/hen Harry leaves us, my Lord, to divert our chagrin, takes us> witli three ftrange belles, and five moft engag- ing beaux, a ramble I cannot tell whither. I*: ' \ 11; '^^ Saturday Morning. O heavens ! one of our male animals has difappo'nted i;s /\bfolutely I Ihall infid on Harry's attendance J he fhall defer his journey, I am refolved : there is no fup- porting a fcarcity of beaux. He goes with us ; Lady Julia's eyes have prevailed ; (he had feduced him be«» fore I went down : his chaife is ordered back to wait for ours. Adio, Cariflimo/ To ■■fi.: ' ■:;>. iy6 TbeHISrORTcf li'f- n¥i '-'^'^ tl Mi' To George Mordaunt, Efq^^ Saturday Night. A M dill here ; when fliall I have (irength of mind to go ? not having heard from my father in the time I exped- tJ, I was determined to go to Lord T— .*s, whole zeal for my intereft, and great know- ledge of mankind, makes him the proper- eft perfon I can confult. My chaife was this morning at the door, when my Lord told me. Lady Julia intreated my ftay a few days longer : Ihe blnfli'd, and with the lovelieil confufion confirmed my Lord's aiTcrtion : all my refolution vanifhed in a moment-, there is enchantment in her look, her voice — enchantment which it is not in man to refill, Sunday Lady Julia Mandeville. 177 Sunday Morning, - I am e^ery hour more unhappy : Lord Fondville's propofal gives me infinite unea- finels j not that I fear fuch a rival ; but ic has raifed the idea of other pretenfions, which may be accepted before it is time for me to avow my defrgns : 1 have pafs'd this night in forming fchemes to prevent fo fa-' tal a blow to all my hopes ; and am deter- mined to own my paffion to the lovely ob- ject of it-, and entreat her, if no other inan is fo happy as to poirefs her heart, to wait one year the refult of thofe views which that love which has infpired may perhaps profper. Not certain I (hall have courage to own my tendernefs in her prefence, I will vvrite, and feize lome favourable opportunity to fvive her the letter on which all my hap- pinefs depends: 1 will all: no anfwer I 5 bur .!- > I f- n \\ : U4I 178 Tie BISTORT of but from her eyes. How fliall I meet them after fo daring an attempt ? We are going to the parlfh church ; the coach is at thf^door: Adieu! fhe comes ! What graces pjay around that form ! What divinity in thole eyes ! O Mordaunt, what ta{]< will be difficult to him who has fuch a reward in view ! 'V^ fit" \' 111 ^'f ' To Col. Bellville. Sunday Evening. OU R ramble yeflerday was Infinitely agreeable^ there is fomething very charming in changing the fcene ; my Lord underftancs the art of making life pleafur- able by making it various. We have been to the parilh church, to hear Dr. H. preachy he has that fpirit in his Lady Julia Mandeville. 179 his manner wkliour '.vhich the moil fenfi- ble fcr non has very little effedl on the hearers The organ, which my Lord gave, is excellent. You know I think miifick an efTential part of public worflup, ufed a^ fuch by the wifeft nations, and com- manelc'd by God himfelf to the Jews; ic has indeed fo admirable an effed in diipo- fing the mind to devotion, that I think it fhould never be omitted.- m ; ! mK'i ■ Our Sundays here are extremely plea- fant : we have, afrer evening fervice, a moving rural pi6lure from the windows ot the faioon, in the villagers, for whofe a- mufement the gardens arc that day thrown open. Our ruflic Mall is full from Bve till eight, and there is an inexpreflible plealure in contemplating fo many groups ot neat, healthy, happy-looking people, enjo}ifig the diverfion of walking in thefe io^-ely I 6 fnauts, Ill ii:'-- p f*. 180 r/)^ IIIST0R2' 0* fhades, by the kindnefs of their beneficent Lord, who not only provides for their wan^s, but their pleafures. My Lord is of opinion that Sunday was intended as a day of rejoicing not of mor- tification j and meant not only to render our prailes to our benevolent Creator, but to give reft and chearful relaxation to the induftrious part of mankind, from the la- bors of the week* w ^'is^^M^e^'' On this principle, tho' he will never f'uf- fcr the leaft breach of the laws in being,, he wifhes the feverity of them loftened, by allowing Ibme innocent amufements after the duties of the day are paft : he thinks this would prevent thofe fumes of enthu- fiafm v/hich have had here fuch fatal ef- feds, and could not be offenfive to that gracious Povv^er who delights in the happi- nels of his cieatures, and who, by the royal poet, has commanded them to praife him in the cymbals and dances. For 4 • icent their y was mor- ender Vy but the ;he la- er fuf- beings ed, by after thinks nthu- tal cf- to that happi- royal him m Lady Julia Mandeville. i8i For my own part, having feen the good cfi^ed of this liberty in catholic countries, 1 cannot help wilhing, though a zealous proteftant, that we were to imitate them in this particular. It is worth obferving, that the book of fports was put forth by the pious, the reli- gious, the fober Charles the ill, and the law for the more (Iridl: obtervation of Sun- day pafled in the reign of the libertine Charles the 2d. Love of pleafure is natural to the hu- man heart, and the beft prefervative a- gainft criminal ones, is a proper indulgence in fuch as are innocent. Thefe are my fentiments, and I am happy in finding Lord Belmont of the fame opinion. Adio ! A. WlLMOT* To J fl ) ( *il '>> ^Is. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 1.1 |4J 110 |28 |2.5 ^ lii |2.2 I.R ^ us, m 1.25 |||.4 1.6 M 6" ► .^- VI % ^1 '/ ""e. /i Photographic Sdences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN SI REIT WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) S72-4503 iV 4 o ^ W ^"^ ^'V- eo !^ 1 82 The HIS70Rr of To George Mordaunt, Efq; Monday. MO R D A U N T, the die is caft, and the whole happinefs of my life hangs on the prefent moment. After having kept the letter confefTing my paf- fion two days without having refolution to deliver it, this morning in the gar- den, being a moment alone with Lady Ju- lia in a fummer-houfe, the company at fome diftance, I affumed courage to lay it on a table whilft (he was looking out at a window which had a profpeA that engag'd all her attention : when I laid it down, I trembled, a chillnefs leized my whole frame, my heart dy'd within me ; I with- drew inftantly, without even (laying to fee if (he took it up : I waited at a little dift- ance hid in a clofe arbour of woodbines, my heart throbbing with apprehenfion, and, by ! m and life Lfter paf- ition gar- / Jv> y at [ay it at a tag'd n, I hole iwith- o fee dift- iDines, and, by Lady Julia Mandeville. 183 by the time (he ftaid in the fummer-houfe, had no doubt of her having feen the let- ter. When (he appeared I was ftill more convinced ; fhe came out with a timid air, and looked round as if fearful of furprize : the lively crim(bn flu(hed her check, and was fucceeded by a dying palenefs ; I at- tempted to follow, but had not courage to approach hef . I fufFered her to pafs the arbor where I was, and advance (lowly to- wards the houfe : when fhe was out of light I went back to the fummer houfe, and found the letter was gone. I have not ktn her. I am called to dinner : my limbs will fcarce fupport me : how (hall I bear the firft fight of Lady Julia ! how be able to meet her eyes ! I have feen her, but my fate is yet un- determined; (he has avoided my eyes, which I have fcare dar' i to raife from the ground : I Once look'd at her when (he did not i i \\ HI ft h i # {;■ U^ K^ 184 The HISrORTof not obferve me, and law a melancholy on her countenance which ftab'd me to the foul. I have given lorrovv to the heart of her, whom I v;ould wi(h to be ever mod happy-, and to vvhofe good I would facri- fice the cleared hope of my foul. Yes, Mordaunt, let me be wretched, but lee every blc- fling heaven can beltow, be the. portion of the ioveliefl: of her fex. How little did I know of love, when I gave that name to the iliameful paffion 1 telt for the wife of my friend I The ex- treme beauty of the countefs Mtkfpini^ that unreferved manner which feldom fails to give hope, the flatttring preference flie. feemed to give me above all others, light- ed up in my foul a more violent degree of youthful inclination,which the elleem I had for her virtues refined to an appearance of the noblelt of aflfedlions, to which it had not the remoteft real refemblance. Without rj T on the t of noft acri- Yes, t let e the 'hen I Tionl be ex- .fpini, 1 fails Ice fliC light-^ Iree of Ihad Ince of id not 1'^' iXaowl Lady Julia Mandeville. iu^ Without any view in my piirfuit of her but my own felfifh gratification, 1 would have facrificed her honor and happinefs to a tranfient fondnefs, y;1)ich diflionored my charafler, and, if fucccfsful, might have corrupted a heart naturally full of probity -^ her amiable reproofs, free from that fevc- rity which robs virtue of half her charms,, with the generous behaviour of the molt injured of mankind, recalled my foul to honor, and ftoped me early in the career of folly ; time wore out the impreflion of her charms, and left only a cold efteem remaining, a certain proof that flie was ne- ver the objcft of more than a light defire, fince the wounds which real love inflifts are never to be intireiy healed. Such was the infamous pafTion which I yet remember with horror : but my tender- n^fs for Lady Jnlia, more warm, niore animated, more violent, has a delicacy of which thofc only who love like mc can form ifi m iS6 7he HISrORT of form any idea : independent of the charms of her perfon, it can never ceafe but witb- life i nor even then if in another fliue we have any fenfe of what has pafled in this;, it is eternal, and incorporated with the foul. Above every fclfiHi defirc, the firll objcdt of my thoughts and wilhes^ is her happinefsj, which I would die, or live wretched, to fccure : every adion of my life is directed to the fole purpofe ot pleaf- ing her: my nobleft ambition is to be worthy her efteem. My dreams are full of her; and when I wake, the firft idea which rifes in my mind is the hope of fee- ing her, and of feeing her well and happy: my mod ardent prayer to the fupreme Giver- of all good is for her welfare. In true love, my dear Mordaunti there IS a pleafure abftra6led from all hope of return ; and were I certain (he would ne- ver be mine, nay, certain I fliould never behold her more, I would not, for all the king" Lady Julia Mandevillb. iSy kingdoms of the world, give up the dear delight of loving her. Thofe who never felt this enlivening power, this divinity of the foul, may find a poor infipid pleafure in tranquillity, or plunge into vicious excefles to animate their tedious hours j but thofe who have, can never give up fo fweet, fo divine a tranfport, but with their exiftence, or tafte any other joy but in fubordination. ■i-i^ OMordaunt f when I behold her,read the foft language of thofe fpeaking eyes, hear thofe harmonious founds — who that has a^ foul can be infenfibk ! — yet there are men dead to all fenfe of perfection, who can re- gard that angel form without rapture, can hear the mufic of that voice without emo- tion ! I have myfelf v;ith aftoniihment feen them, inanimate as the trees around them, lilten coluly to thofe meliing accents — »». I i88 The HIsrORTof accents — There is a fweetnefs in her voice, Mordaunt,a melodious foftnefs,\v hie h fancy cannot paint: the enchantment ot her coa- verfation is inexpreflible. Four o'clock. lam the moft wretched of mankind, and wretched without the right of complain- ing: the bafenefsof my attempt deferves even the pangs I fuffer. Could I, who made a parade of refufmg to meet the ad- vances of the daughter of almoft a ftranger, defcend to fcduce the heirefs of him on earth to whom I am moft obliged ? O Mordaunt ! have we indeed two fouls ? Can I fee fo ftrongly what is right, yet want power to adl up to my own fenti- ments ? The torrent of pafllon bears down all before it. I abhor myfelf for this weak- nefs. I would give worlds to recall that fatal letter : her coldnefs, her refervc, are more than I can fupport. My madncfs has uruione me. — My aflTiduity is importu- nate. Lady Julia Mandeville. 189 nate. I might have preferved her friend- Ihip. I have thrown away the firft happi- nefs of my life. Her eyes averted Ihun me as an objed of hatred. I dial I not long offend her by my prefence. I will leave her for ever. I am eager to be gone, that I may carry far from her — O Mordaunt! who could have thought that cruelty dweJt in fuch a form ? She hates me, and all my hopes are deftroyed for ever. !^ Monday Evening. Bi;lmo NT. This day, the firfl: of my life ; what a change has this day produced ! Theie few flying hours have railed me above mortality. Yes: 1 am mod happy-, fhe loves me, Mordaunt: her confcious blufhes, her downcaft eyes, her heaving bofom, her fweet ccnfufion, have told me what her ^tongue could not utter : fhe loves- me, and all elfe is below my care : fhe loves me, -tind I will purfue her. What are the mean con- 'Ir .190 rhc HISrORT of confiderations of fortune to the tender unl- on of hearts ? Can wealth or titles defervc her? No, Mordaunt, love alone. — She is mine by the (Irongeft ties, by the facred bond of affedlion. The delicacy of her .foul is my certain pledge of happinefs : I can leave her without fear j Ihc cannot now be another's. I told you my defpair this morning ; my Lord propofed an airing; chance iplaced me in lady Julia's chaife. I enter- ed it with a beating heart: a tender fear of having offended, infcparable from real love, kept me fome time filent ; at length, •with fome hefitation, 1 beg'd her to par- don the effedl of paffion and defpair, vowed I would rather die than difpleaie her j that I did not now hope for her love, but could «ot uipport her hate. I then ventured to look up to the iovelieft of women •, her cheeks were fuf- lufcd li uni* fervc .She icred : her fs: 1 :now ling; hance 2nter< : fear n real :ngth, par- /owed that I could the le fuf- lufcd 'Lady Julia Mandeville. 19.1 ifuTcd with the deeped blulh; her eyes, in which was the mod dying languor, were call timidly on the ground, her whole frame trembled, and with a voice broken and interrupted, fhe exclaimed, '* Hate ** you, Mr. Mandeville, O heaven!" Ihc could fay no more; nor did (he need, the «iear truth broke like a fudden Rath of light on my foul. Yet think not I will take advantage of this dear prepofleffion in my favor, to fe- •xluce her from her duty to the bed of pa- rents -, from Lord Belmont only will 1 re- <:eive her : I will propofe no engagements contrary to the rights of an indulgent fa- ther, to whom fte is bound by every tie of gratitude and filial tenderneis ; I will pur- sue my purpofcr, and leave the event to heaven, to that heaven which knows the in- tegrity, the difintereHed purity of my in- tentions : I will evince the reality of rny paflion • ^, ■^! 192 The HISrORr of pafTion by endeavoring to be worthy of her. The love of fuch a woman, is the love of virtue itfelf: it raifes, it refines, it en- nobles every fentiment of the heart; how different from that fever of fclfifh defire I felt for the ar.Mable countefb! O Mordaunt ! had you beheld thofc bludies of reluftant fenfibility, feen thoTe charming eyes foftened with a tendernels ^s refined as that of angels. — She loves me — let me repeat the dear founds. — She loves me, and 1 am happier than a god ! 1 have this moment a letter from my father : he approves my defign, but begs me for a Ihort time to delay it : my heart ill bears this delay : I will rarry the letter to lady Julia. She approves my father's reafons, yet begs I will leave Belmont : her will is the law Lady Julia Mandeville, 193 law of my heart ; yet a few days I muft give to love. ' will go on Tuefday to lord T — 's. His friendihip will .ilTift mc in the only view which makes life fupportable to me i he will point out, he will lead mc to the path of wealth and greatncfs. f E^.peft to hear from me when I arrive at Lord T — 's. 1 fhall not write fooner : my moments here are too precious. Adieu, Your faithful II. MaNDJ: VJLL£, If' ..I 'm Vol, h Ic. II- h r 194 rheHISrORTof To Henry Mandevilli:, Efqv ' '■ Aug. 6th. HAPPY in feeing in my fon that heroic fpirit, which has ever di- (linguiflied our houfe, I fiioiild with plea- furc confent to his defign, were this a pros- per time to execute it, provided he went a volunteer, and determined to accept no command but as a reward of real fervices, and with a refolution it fhould never inter- fere with that independence to which I would have him facrifice every other con- fideration •, but, when there is fo {trong a probability of peace, his going would ap- pear like making a parade of that courage which he did not exped would be tried. Yes, my fon, I am well aflured we fhall have peace •, that the mod amiable of princes. 1^ ifqv ig. 6thf n that »r di- i plea- apro uvent a :pt no rvices, • inter- hich I tr con- rong a aid ap- our; led. ourage re (hall ible of )rinces. Lady Julia Mandeville. 195- princes, the friend of humankind, pitying the miferies of his fpecies, and melting with compaflion at the wide extended fcene of defolation, meditates fiich a peace as equally provides for the intereft and honor of Britain, and the future quiet of man- kind. The terms talked of arc fuch as give us an immenfc addition of empire, and ilrengthcn that fuperiorityof naval force on which our very being depends, whilft they proted: our former poflefllons, and remove the Iburce of future wars, by lecuring all, and much more than all, for which this Nvas undertaken j yet, by their juft moderation, convince the world a Bri- ti(h monarch is governed only by the laws of honor and equity, not by that impious thirfl: of falfe glory, which aftuates the lau- rel'd fcourges of mankind. After fo long, fo extenfivc and bloody a war, a war which has depopulated our K 2 counti^y. 196 rhe HISrORr of country, and loaded ns with a burden of *debt, from which nothing can extricate us but the noble fpirit of pubJic frugality, •which, if fteadily and unifornrxly purfued, will rank the name of our Prince with thofe of Elizabeth, and Henry the great. All ardently wiQifor peace, but thole who gain by the continuance of war ; the clamors of thefe are are inconceivable ; clamors which can be founded only in private intereft, becaufe begun before they could even guefs at the terms intended, and continued when fuch are mentioned as reafon herfelf would di^ftate : lut fuch ever will be the condu6l of thofe in whom love of wealth is the pri- 'Xmry paffion. Heaven and earth ! can men wearing the form, and profefTing the fentiments of hu- man iry, dc.\f to the cries of the widow and the orphan, labor to perpetuate the dread- ful carnage, which has deluged the world 4 with m w AH Lady Julia Mandeville. 197 with the blood of their fellow creatures, only to add to the mafs of their already unwieldy wealth, and prey longer on the diftrefles of their country ! Thefe clamors are as illegal as they are indecent : peace and war are the preroga- tive of the crown, facred as the liberties of the people, nor will ever be invaded by thofe who underftand and love our happy conftitution : let us ftrengthen the hands of our fovereign by our warm aprobatioii during thecourfe of this arduous work •, and if his minifters abufe their truft, let them' anfwer it, not to the noife of unthinking faction, or the unfeeling bolbm of private intereft, but to the impartial laws of their country. Heuven forbid I (liould ever fee a BritiCi King independent on his people coiledive- ly i but I would have him railed above K 3 private I :V . : 'i % ■I 198 rbcHisroRT of private cabals, or the influence of any par* tial body of men, however wealthy or re- fpeftable. If the generous views of our Prince do not meet with the fuccefs they merit, if France refufcs fuch a peace as fecures the fafcty of our colonies, and that fuperiority, as a naval power, fo neceffary to the liber- ties of Europe, as well as our own inde- j^endcnce, you fhall join the army in a man- ner becoming your birth, and theftyle of life in which you have been educated : till then, reftrain within juft bounds that noble ardor fo becoming a Briton, and ftudy to ferve that country with your counfels in peace, which will not, I hope, have occa- fion for your fword in wan Adieu. ^ .?1 Lady Julia Mandeyille. i 99 14 Wednesday, Auguft iu!v. To Mifs Howard. MY Emily, your friend, your un- happy Julia, is undone. He knows the tcndcrnefs which I have fo long en- deavored to conceal. The trial was too great for the foftnefs of a heart like mine •, I had almoft conquered my own palTion, when I became a vi(flim to his : I couid nu: fee his love, his defpair, withoui emotions which difcovered all my Ibul. 1 am no: formed for deceit : artlefs as che village maid, every ientiment of my foul is in my eyes •, I have not learnt, I will never learn, to difguire their expreflive language. With what pain did I affcdt a coldnefs to K 4 which 'f'X il 1^ iiF^ 'V 200 IheHISTORT of which I was indeed a ilranger ! But why- do I wrong my own heart ? I did not af- fe6t it. Tha native modcfty of my fex gave a referve to my behavior, on the firft difcovery of his paflion, which his fears magnified into hate. O, Emily! Do I in- deed hate him ! you to whofe dear bolbm your Julia confides her every thought, tell me if I hate this mod amiable of mankind ? You know by what imperceptible fteps my inexperienced heart has been feduced to love : you know how deceived by the facred name of friendfhip — But why do 1 feek to excufe my fenfibility ? Is he not worthy all my tendernefs ? are we not equal in all but wealth, a confideration below my care ? is not his merit above titles and riches ? How fhall I paint his delicacy, his refpedlful fondnefs ? Too plainly convinced of his power over my heart, he difdains to ufe that power to my d ifad vantage ; he decla'es he will never receive me but from my father, he con- fents why ot af- y fex lefirfl: fears ) I in- bofom It, tell ikind ? fteps educed by the t why ? Is he we not Icration above int his Too ver my :r to my 1 never he con- fents Lady Julia Mandbville. 201 fcnts to leave me till a happier fortune enables him to avow his love to all the world ; he goes without afking the lead promife in his favor. Heaven fure will profper his defigns, will reward a heart like his. O, my Emily, did my father fee with my eyes ! what is fortune in the ballance with fuch virtue ! Had I worlds in my own power, I fhould value them only as they enabled me to fhow more ftrongly the difintereftednefs of my affec- tion. Born with a too tender heart, which never before found an objedl worthy its attach- ment, the excefs of my afFedlion is un- fpeakable. Delicate in my choice even of friends, it was not eafy to find a lover equal to that idea of perfedlion my imagination had formed ; he alone of all mankind rifes up to it ; the fpeaking grace, the eafy dignity of his air, are the natural confe- quences of the fuperiority of his foul. He- K 5 looks H' \'^ r '- 202 : : The HISTORY of looks as if born to command the world I am interrupted. Adieu. August 15th. To Col. Bellville. You never were more miftaken: you wilt not have the honor of fee- ing me yet in town. My Lord thinks it infinitely more refpedlful to his royal MaP ter to celebrate this happy event in the countrv* W ** My congratulations, fays he, would be loft in the crowd of a drawing room, but here I can difFufe a fpirit of loyalty and joy through half a county, and imprefs all around me with the fame veneration and love for the moil amiable of Princes which burns in my own bofom". Ou? Lady Julia Man.^eville. 203 Our entertainment yefterday was mag- nifique, and in the Gufto Belmonto : there is a beautiful lake in the park, on the bor- ders of which, on one fide, interfperled amongft the trees, which form a woody theatre round it, at a diftance of about three hundred yards, tents were fixed for the company to dine in, which confided of all the gentlemen's families twenty miles round. Weftbrook and his daughter were there, as my Lord would not fiiock them by leaving them only out when the whole neighbourhood were invited •, though he obferved finiling, this was a favor, for thefekindof people were only gentlemen by the courtefy of England. Streainers of the gayeft colors waved on the tops of the tents, and glittered in the dancing funbeams: the tables were fpread with every delicacy in feafon, at which we plnvTd ourfelves in parties, without ceremony or diftin(5lion, juft as choice or accident directed. On a lirile ifland in ihc midfl af K 6 iho ?r ;,?; 204 ^he EISTORT of the lake, an excellent band of mufic was placed, which played fome of the fineft com- pofitions of Handel during our repaft; which ended, we fpread ourfelves on the borders of the lake, where we danced on the verdant green, till tea and coffee again fum- moned us to the tents ; and when evening *' had in her fober livery all things clad," a fuperb fupper, and grand ball in the faloon finiflied our feftival. Nor were the villagers forgot : Tables were fpread for them on the oppofite fide of the lake, under the ftiade of the tailed trees, and fo difpofed as to form the moft agreeable points of view to us, as our en- campment muft do to them. I am ill at deiviribing, but the feaft had a thoufand urifpeakable charms. Poor Harry I How I pity him ! His whole foul was abforbed in the contem- plation * (l fainting on Lady Anne, and hid my tears in her bo- fom : fhe hurried me to my apartment, and left me to give vent to my full heart ! She fees my weaknefs, and kindly ftrives to f I. i' ■ -. 2o8 rhe HISrORT of to hide it from others, whilft her delicacy prevents her mentioning it to myfelf : fhe has a tender and compaflionate heart, and my referve is an injury to her friend fhip. Lady Anne has fent to alk me to air ; 1 (hall be glad to avoid all eyes but hers ; perhaps 1 may have courage to tell her — . flie merit- all my confidence, nor is it dif- truft but timidity which prevents — fhe is here — I am afhamed to fee her. Adieu ! my deareft, my beloved friend 1 To Lady Julia Mandeville. 209 ;l: li' To Col, Bellvii^le. w T Friday Night. E have loft our lovely Harry ; he left us this morning for Lord -'s. Poor Lady Julia! how I adore her amiable fincerity ! (he has owned her paflion to me as we aired, and mentioned hopes which are founded in madnefs : I ventured gently to remonftrate, but there is no reafoiiing with a heart in love. Time and abfence may effedt a cure ; I am the confidente of both: I am perplexed how to proceed : 1 muft either betray the truft repofed in me, or abufe Lord Belmont^s friendfliip and hofpitality. In what a falfe fight do we fee every thing through the medium of pailjon ! Lady Julia is heirefs to 14,000/, a year, yet thinks 4 ' H if? I Jh .mii »• if- 2IO The RlSrORT of thinks Harry's merit may raife him to a fituation which will juftify his pretending to her, and that this ftupendous rife may be brought about in a twelvemonth : he too thinks it poflible, nay the fcheme is his. Heaven and earth ! yet they are not fools, and Harry has fome knowledge of mankind. I At prefent there is no talking reafon- ably to either of them. I muft foothe them, to bring them off* this ruinous incU« nation by degrees. As idlenefs is the nurfe of love, I will endeavour to keep Lady Julia continually amufed : a new lover might do much, but there is nobody near us that is tolerable : indeed the woman who has loved Harry Mandcville, will be fomewhat hard to pleafe. Chance n to a ending fe may :h: he erne is ire not jdge of Lady Julia Mandlville. 2 1 1 Chance favors my defigns ; my Lord has propofed a vifit of a fortnight to a neighbouring nobleman. Lord Rochdale, whofe houfe is generally full of gay peo- ple i his fon too, Lord Melvin, with whom I was acquainted abroad, and who is only inferior to Harry Mandeville, is hourly expelled from his travels. reafon- foothe s indi- I will inually h, but erable : Harry kard to Chanct Since I wrote the lafl: paragraph an idea has llruck me •, from a very particular ex- preflion in a letter I once received from Lady Belmont, in France, I have a ftrong fufpiciori Lord Melvin is intended for Lady Julia*, I wiflihe might be agreeable to her, for her prefent paflion is abfolute dif- traftion. We go to-morrow : when we come back you (hall hear from me : or, perhaps, for I am fomething variable in my determina- tions, as foon as I get thither. Expcft nothing however : if I do you the honor, you I gt If % if 212 ne HISTORT of you muft fee an immenfe value on my condefcenfion, for I know we fhall not Lave a moment tofpare from amufements. Adieu ! A. Wilmot, To George Mordaunt, Efq; I Have at lengih left Belmont, and left it certain of Lady Julia's tendernefs : I am the happieft of mankind ; Ihe loves xne, Ihe confefles it, I have every thing to hope from time, fortune, perfeverancc, and the conftancy of the moft amiable of hcrfex. Ail cold referve is banifhed from that charming bofom ; above the meannefs of fufpicion, flie believes my paflion noble and difinterefted as her own *, flie hears my vows with a pleafure which Ihc cannot, nay V my 11 not- lents. VIOT. fid left »rnefs : loves thing irancc, able of 1 n that nefs of noble ars my :annot, nay Lady Julia Mandeville. 213 nay which flie does not wifli to conceal ; Ihe luffers me to fwear eternal tendernefs — We dined on Wednefday at the hermit- age. The company dilperfed, the moft delicate of women, not from coquetry, but that fweet impulfive modefty, not ob- vious, not obtrufive, which gives to beauty its lovelieft charm, avoided an oppor- tunity, which eager watchful love at laft obtained : alone with her in thofe fweets fliades, — O Mordauntl let not the grofs unloving libertine talk of pleafure : how taftelefs are the falfe endearments, the treacherous arts of the venal wanton, to the fweet unafFe6led downcaft eye of vir- gin innocence, the vivid glow of artlefs tendernefs, the native vermiHon of blulh- ing fenfibility, the genuine faiile of un- diflembled love ! I write this on the road to Lord T % where I (hall be to night, I fhall expedite hear from you immediately. Adieu ! H. Mandeville. To 1.:^ m ■«rf ■ 'Mi 4 4 it 214 1'be JilSrORT of f To Henry Mandeville, Efq; Mount Melvln, Thursday. I Never fo ftrongly relifli the happinefs of my own manner of living, as when I compare it with that of others. I hear perpetual complaints abroad of the tediouf- nefs of life, and fee in every face a certain v/earinefs of themfelves, from which I am fo happy fis to be perfe(!illy free. I carry about me an innate difpofition to be pleaf- ed, which is the fource of continual pleafure. That I have efcaped what is in generl the fate of people of my rank, is chiefly owing to my fortunate choice in marriage : our mutual paflion, the only foundation on which fenfible fouls can build happinefs, has been kept alive by a delicacy of beha- viour, an angel purity, in Lady Belmont, to vin, sday. ►pinefs when I hear *dioui- certain h I am il carry pleaf- tinual [generl :hiefly jriage : lion on tinefs, beha- lont, to Lady Julia Mandeville. 215 to which words cannot do juftice. The tranfports of youthful paflion yield its fwcet- nefs to the delight of that refined, yet ani- mated fenfation which my heart feels for her at this moment. I never leave her without regret, nor meet her without rap- ture, the lively rapture of love, *' By long experience mellowed into friendihip," We liave been married thirty years. There are people who think Ilie was never hand- fome j yet to me fhe is all lovelinefs, I think no woman beautiful but as fhe refem- bles her •, and even Julia's greate It charm, in my eye, is the likenefs Ihe has to her amiable mother. This tender, this exquifite affedlicn, has diffufed a fpirit through our whole lives, and given a charm to the mod common occurrences •, a charm, to which the dulnefs of ^^ i,( •.. ■ ir V h IT V»»'' '■*"' 'I"! ' 216 The HISTORr of of apathy, and the fever of guilty paflion, arc equally ftrangers. The family where we are furniflia ftrik- ing example of the impofilbility of being happy without the fofc union of hearts. Though both worthy people, having been joined by their parents, without that affec- tion which can alone make fo near a con- nexion fupportable, their lives pafs on in a tedious and infipid round : without tafte for each other's converfation, they engage in a perpetual feries of diverfions, not to give relifh to, but to exclude, thofe retired domeftic hours, which are the mod fpright- ly, and animated of my life ; they feek, by crowds and amufements, to fly from each other and from themlelves. The great fecret of human happinefs, my dear Mr. Mandeville, confifts in finding fuch conitant employment for the mind, as, without »f'' «'1 iffion. ftrik- being learts. gbeea : afFec- a con- on in at tafte engage not to ; retired pright- eek, by m each lefs, tny fuch m Ind, as, without Lady Julia MandeVilLe. ^17 v/ithOut over-fatiguing, may prevent its knguifhing in a painful inactivity. To this end I would recommend to every man to have not only fome important point in view, but many fubordinate ones, to fill up thofe vacant hours, when our great pur- pofe, whatever it is, nvjfl be fufpended: our very pleafures, even the bed, will fa- tigue, if not relieved by variety : the mind . cannot alwayr, be on the flretch, nor at- tentive to the fame objecT:, however pleaf- ing : Relaxation is as ncceflciry as adlivity, to keep the foul in its due equipoife. No innocent amufement, however trifling ic n>ay fccm to the rigid or the proud, is be- low the regard of a rational creature, which keeps the mind in play, and unbends it from mere fcrious purluits. I cfcen regard at once with pity and ado- nhL:r/cnL, pciilbns of my own rank and age, dragged about in unvvitkly (late, forg- ing for theaifclvcs the galling fetters of if m Vol. I. eternal 2i8 rhe HISTORY of eternal ceremony, or the ftill heavier chains of ambition j their bodies bending under the weight of drcfs, their minds for ever filled with the idea of their own dignity and importance ; to the fear of lefl&ning which, they facrifice all the genuine plea- fures of life. Heaven grant, my dear friend, I may never be too wife, or too proud, to be happy ! To you, my amiable friend, who are juft entering on the ftage of life, 1 would recommend fuch aftive purfuits as many make you an ufeftjl member of fociety, and contribute to raife your own fortune and confequence in the world, as well as fecurc the elteem of your fellow citizens, and the approbation of your Prince. For my own part, like the Roman ve- terans, I may now be excufcd, if I afk my Lady Julia Mandeville, 219 my difcharge from tbofe anxious purfuits, which are only becotning in the vigor of our days, and from thofe ceremonial atton* tions, which are fcarce bearable even then. My duty as a fenator, and my refpeft to my king, nothing but real inability (hall ever fufpend ; but for the reft, I think it time at fixty to be free, to live to one's felf, and in one's own way ; and endeavour to bCy rather than to feem happy. 'I "I? %i n The reft of my days, except thofe I owe to my country and my prince, fliall be de- voted to the fweecs of conjugal and pater- nal affedlion, to the lively joys of friend- ibip. I have only one vvilh as to this world, to fee Julia married to a man who deierves her, who »has fenfibility to make her happy, and whofe rank and fortune are fuch as may juftify us to the world, above which t^ie moft philofophic mind cannot entirely rife j let me but fee this, and have a hope that they will purfue my L a plan ^26 rheHISTORTof ' plan of life, kt me fee them bleft in each other, and blelTing all around them, and my meafure of earthly felicity will be com- plete. ' ' • ' I; You know not, my dear Mr. Mandc- ville, how much my happinefs in this world has been owing alfo to the lively hope of another: this idea has given me a con- ftant ferenity, which may not properly be called the health of the mind, and which has diffufed a brightnefs over all my hours. Your accounr of Lord T— ^ made me fmile •, his fear of being difmifTed at fever - ty from the toilfome drudgery of bufinefs, is truly ridiculous : rich, childlefs infirm, ought not eafe and retirement to be the fird objt^dls of his wilhes ? But fuch is the v/retchcd Qavery of all who are under the abfolute dominion of any paflion, unguid- ed by the hand of reafon. The Lady Julia Mandeville. 221 The pafTions of every kind, under pro- per reftraints, are the gentle breezes which keep life from ftagnation ; but, let loofe, they are the llorms and whirlwinds which tear up all before them, and fcattcr ruir. and dcftru6tion around. Adieu. I ought to apologize for the length of this j but age is the feafon of garrulity. , . , ; Your affedionate Belmont.' To 222 The BISTORT of I To the Earl of Belmont. HO W happy wonld it be for mankind, if every perfon of your Lordfhip's rank and fortune governed themfHves by the inmc generous maxims ! It is with infinite pain I fee Lord T— • purfuing a plan, which has drawn on him the curfe of thoufands, and made his eftate a (bene of defolation : his farms are in the hands of a few men, to whom the fons of the old tenants are either forced to be fer- vants, or to leave the country to get their bread elfewhere. The village, large, and once populous, is reduced to about eight families •, a dreary filence reigns over their deferted fields •, the farm houfes, once the feats of chearful fmiling induftry, now uie- lefs. Lady Julia Mandeville, 223 lefs, are falling in ruins around him ; his tenants are merchants and ingrafrers,proud, lazy, luxurious, infoknt, and fpurning the hand which feeds then>. ikind, Khip's es by IT— in him eftate in the ons of e fer- their y and eight r their ice the w uie- lefs. Yeftrday one of them went off largely in hi^ debt : I took that occafion of preding him on his molt vulnerable nde» and remon> ftrating the danger of trading fo much of his property in one hand : but I am afraid all 1 can fay will have no effect, as he has, by this narrow fclfifh plan, a little encreaf- cd his rents at prefent, which is all he has in view, without extending his thoughts to that future time, when this wretched policy, by depopulating the country, will lower the price of all the fruits of the earth, and leffen, in confequence, the value of his eftate. With all my friendfliip for Lord T — , I cannot help obferving in him another fault greatly below his rank and underftand- L 4 ing. 224 r/jcHISTORrcf ' ing, I mean a defpicable kind of pride, which meafures worth by the gifts of for- tune, of which the largefl portion is too often in the hands of the leail deferving. His treatment of ibme gentlemen, whofe fortunes were unequal to their birth and me- rit, yellerday, at his table, almoft determin- ed me to leave his houfe : I expoftulated warmly, tho' not impolitely, with him on the fubjeft, and rhnoftgothim to confefs his error. My friendfhip for him makes me feel fenfibly what muft leflen his character in the eyes of all whofe efteem is defirable. I wifh him to pais a month at Belmont, that he may fee dignity without pride, and con- defcenfion without meannefs ; that he may fee virtue in her lovelieft form, and acknow- ledge her genuine beauty. . I am, my Lord, &c. H. Mandeville. To Lady Julia Mandeville. 225 .LE. To To George Mordaunt, Efq; Friday, I forti Lord Have pad a tedious T 's, without tailing any pleafure but that of talking of Lady Julia, with fDme ladies in the neighbourhood who know her. I eftimate the merit of thofe T converfe with, by thediftindlion of being known to her : thofe who are fo happy as to be of her acquaintance have, in my eye, every charm, that polifhed wit or elegant knowledge can give-, thofe who want that advantage fcarce deferve the name of hu- man beings: ailconverfation, of which fhe is not the fubjeifl, is lif ^lefs and infipid ; all, of which (lie is, brijl.ant and divine. My Lord rallies me on my frequent vifits to thefe Ladies, and, as one of them is extremely handsome, fuppofes it a be- ginning palTion : the Lady herielf, I am L 5 afraid. ^pm^nmnai m«i*i «ni«Hr 4^26 fhe msroRTof afraid, is deceived, for, asflie is particularly warm in her praifcs of Lady Julia, my eyes fparklc with pleafure at her approach, I fingle her out in every company, and dance with her at all our little parties *, I have even an attention to her fuperior to that of common lovers, and feel for her a tendernefs for which I want a name. Lady Anne has had the goodnefs to write twice to mc, from Lord Rochdale's, whither my Lord went, with his amiable family, two days after I left Belmont: Lady Julia is well, fhe loves me, fhe hears of me with pleafure. Ought I at prefent to wifh more ? I have hinted to Lord T — my purpofe, though not the dear motive which infpired it j he is warmly my friend, if there is truth in man. I will be more explicit the firft time 1 fee him alone : Ihall 1 own to you one weakncfs of my heart ? I would be ferved Lady Julia Mandeville. 2^7 ferved by any intereft but Lord Belmont's. How can I pretend to his daughter, if all I have is, in a manner, his gift ? I would be rich independently of his friend/hip. Lord T js walking in the garden alon^, I win go to him, and explain aU my dcfigns : his knowledge of mankind will guide me to the beft road to wealth and honor, his frlendfhip will affift me to the ample extent of his power. Adieu ! h e To 'i|HW f II •>28 \fbe HISTORY of To Henry Mandeville, Efq; OH, do you know I have a little re- qneft to make you ? but firft, by way of preface, I muft inform you, Lady Belmont has been reading me a ferious iedure about the Caro Bellville, who has wrote to her to beg her intercefllon in his favor. I find fools have been impertinent in re- gard to our friendQiip : there are fo few pleafures in this world, 1 think it extreme- ly hard to give up one fo lively, yet in- nocent, as that of indulging a tender efteem for an amiable man. But to our conver- fation : " My dear Lady Anne, I am convinced you love Colonel Eellville. Love him. Madam? no, I rather think riOt", 1 am not fure : The man is not fhocking, and dies for me : I pity him, poor creature; and Lady Julia Mandeville. 2^29 and pity, your Ladyfhip knows, is a-kin to love. Will you be grave one moment ? A thoufand, if your Ladyfliip defires it : nothing fo eaiy to me ; the graved creature in the world naturally. You allow Colonel Bellville merit ? Certainement. That he loves you ? To diftradlion. And you return it ? Why as to that — he fiatters agreeably, and I am forid of his convcrfation on that account: and let me tell you, my dear Lady Belmont, it is not every man that can flatter; it requires more gcrnius than one would fuppofe. You 230 T/je mSfORr of You intend fome time or other to marFy him ? Marry ? O heavens ! How did fueh a thought enter your Ladyfhip's imagina- tion ? Have not I been married already ? And is not once enough in confcience, for any reafonable woman ? Will you pardon me if I then afk, with what view you allow his addrefs ? 1 allow ? Heavens, Lady Belmont f I allow the addrefles of an odious male ani* mal ? If fellows will follow one, how is it to be avoided ? it is one's misfortune to be handfome, and one muft bear the con- fequences. # But, my dear Lady Anne, an uncone^ ed lite — * Is the pleafanteft life in the world. Have not 1 3000/. a year? am not 1 a widow ? miftrefs of my own ac- tions ? with youth, health, a tolerable un- derftanding, Lady JuxiA Mandevit.le. 231 dcrftanding, an air of the world, and a per- fon not very difagreeable ? AH this I own. AH this ? yes, and twenty times more^ or you do nothing. Have not thefe uj>- happy eyes carryed deftrudion from one climate to another ? Have not the fpright- ly French, the haughty Romans, confeft themfelvcs my flaves ? Have not — But • it would take up a life to tcJi you all my coliquefts. But what is all this to the purpofe, my dear ? Now I proteft I think it is vaftly to the puipofe. And all this you advlfe me to give np, to become a tane, domeftic, in^ animate — really, my clear Mjidam, I did not think it was in your nature to be fo unieafonable. I* It is with infinite pain, my deareft Lady Anne, I bring myfelf to fay any thing which 232 Ti)e HISTORY of which can give you a moment's uneafinefs. But it is the talk of true friendfliip— To tell difagreeable truths : I know that is what your Ladyfhip wouki fay : and, to fparc you what your delicacy darts at mentioning, you have heard afperfions on my charadler, which are the confe- quences of my friendfhip for Col. Bellville. ' ! I know and admire the innocent chear- fulnefs of your heart, but I grieve to fay, the opinion of the woirld As to the opinion of the workl, by which is meant tl^.e malice of a few fpite- ful old cars, I am perfedly unconcerned about it ; but your Ladyfliip's efteem is ^eceflary to my happincfs : I will there- fore to you vindicate my conduit : which, though indifcreet, has been really irre- proachable. Tb.oiigh a widow, and ac- countable to nobody, I have ever lived with by Lady Julia Mandeville. 2^3 with Colonel Bellville, with the referve of bluiliing apprehcnfive fifteen, vvhilft the warmth of my friendlLip for him, and the pleafure I found in his convernuion, have let loofe the baleful tongue of envy, and fubjeded my refolution to the malice of an ill-judging world, a world 1 defpife for h;s fake, a world, whole applaufe U too often beftowed on the cold, the feinih, and the artful, and denied to that generous unfufpcdingopennefs and warmth of heart, which are the (Irongeft charaderiflicks of true virtue. My friendjfhip, or, if you pleafe, my love, for Colonel Bellville, is the firft pleafure of my life ; the happieft hours of which have been pad in his converfation ; nor is there any thing I would not facrifice to my pafTion for him, but his happinefs 5 ,. vi^hich, for reafons known to your Ladv- fhip, is incompatible v/ith his marrying , me. Bu& 234 Ihe HISTORT of But is it not pofTible to remove thofe reafons ? I am afraid not. Would it not then, my dear Madam, be mod prudent to break off a connexion, •which can anfwcr no purpofe but making both unhappy i I own it would, but prudence was never a part of my charadter. Will you forgive and pity me, Lady Belmont, when i fay, that, though I fee in the ftrongeft ligljt my own indifcretion, I am not enough miftrefs of my heart to break with the man to whom I have only a very precarious and diftant hope of being united? There is an enchantment in his friendfliip, which 1 have not force of mind to break throughj he is my guide, my guardian, protedlor, friend; the only man I ever loved, the man to whom the lad receffes of my heart are open : muft I give up the tender ex- quifite, refined delight of his converfation, to Lady Julia Mandeviilk. 235 to the falfe opinion of a world, governed by prejudice, judging by the exterior, which is generally fallacious, and condennning, without diliindion, th fe foft afFeflions without which life is fcarcely abovfc vege- tation ? Do not imagine, my dear Lady Belmont, I have reaJly the levity I afFeft : or, had my prejudices againft marriage been ever fo ftrong, the time I have paffed here would have removed them : I lee my Lord and you, after an union of thirty years, with as keen a leliOi for each other's con- verlatioa as you could have felt at the mo- imrnt which firft joined you: I fee in you aU the attention, the tender folicitude of beginning love, with the calm delight and p^rfeft conEdenge of habitual friendfhip. I am thierefore qonvinced marriage is ca« pable o£ happinefs, to which an uncon* ned:ed {late is liielefs and infipid ^ and, from obfcrving the lovely delicacy of your Lady(hip'» 236 rbe HISrORTof Laciyfliip's conclud", I am inftrudled how that happincfs is to be fecured ; I am in- ftru6led how to avoid that taltelefs, languid, unimpalnoncd hoir'5 fo fatal to love and friend (hi ip. With the mr.n to whom I was a vidlinr, my life was one continued fcene of mifery ; to a fenfible niind, there is no cold me- dium in marriage •, its forrows, like its pleafures, are exquifite. Relieved from thofe galling chains, I have met with a heart fuited to my own ; born with the fame fenfibility, the fame peculiar turn of thinking: pleafed with the fame plea- fures, and exadly formed to make me happy : 1 will believe this fimilarity was not given to condemn us both to wretch- cdncfs : as it is impoflrbie either of us can be happy but with theother, I will hope the 'bar, which at prefent feems invinci- ble, may be removed : till then indulge me, my dear Lady Belmont, in the inno- cent Lady Julia Mandeville. ^37 cent pleafure of loving him, and trull to his honor for. the fafety of mine." The mofl candid and amiable of women^ after a gentle rcmonilrance on the impor- tance of reputation to happinefs, left me, fo perfediy fuisfied, that Ihc intends to invite Eellville down. 1 fend you this converfati* on as an introduction to a requeft I have to make you, which I mufl poflpone to my next. Heavens) how perverfe ! interrupt- ed by one of the veriefl: cats in nature, who will not leave us till ages after the poft is gone. Adieu ! for the prefent ! it is pretti- ly enough contrived, and one of the great advantages of Ibcicty, that one's time, the moft precious of all poiTeffiOns, is to be facrififed, from a falfe politenefs, to every idle creature who knows not what tl^c to j do. Every body complains of this, but nobody attempts to remedy it. A in 238 rhe HISrORT of Am not I the mod inhuman of women, to write two fheets without naming Lady Julia? She is well, and beautiful as an angel : we have a ball to-night on Lord Melvin's return, againft which flie is put- ting on all her charms. We fhall be at Belmont to-morrow, which is two or three days fooner than my Lord intended. Lady Julia dances with Lord Melvin, who is, except two, the moft amiable man I know : ihe came up juft as I fat down to write, and looked as if fhe had fomething to fay : (he is gone, however, without a word ; her childifh balhfulnefs about you is intolerable. The ball waits for us. I am interrupt- ed by an extreme pretty fellow. Sir Charles Mellifont, who has to-night the honor of my hand. Adio 1 A. WiLMOT. To -;^ Lady Julia Mandeville. ajj >mcn, Lady as ail Lord 5 put- . be at * three lelvin, le man own to ething hout a ut you rriipt- ::harle3 tnor of .MOT. To (C C( To Lady Anne Wilmot. WE have a ball to-night on Lord " Meivin*s return, againft which (he is putting on all her charms." Oh, Lady Anne ! can you indeed know what it is to love, yet play with the anxie- ty of a tender heart ? I can fcarce bear the thought of her looking lovely in my ab- fence, or in any eyes but mine -, how then can I fupport the idea of her endeavouring to pleafe another, of her putting on all her charms to grace the return of a man, yoUng, amiable, rich, noble, and the foa of her father's friend ? a thoufand fears, a thoufand conjeftures torment me : fhould (he love another— the poflibiiity diftradls nie.— 1^' ^w W « m 1. 11?; •3[-0 rije mSTORT of me. — Go to her, and aflc her if the tender- eil, moll: exalted pafTion, if the man who adores her— -I knownot what I would ^wy-^ you have fet me on the rack - If you have pity, my dcnreH: Lady Anne, lore not a Bioinenc to make me ealv. Yoiirs, he, II. Mandeville* ^■'(•^ End of the First Vol^ me, I'Hf*! ■»■■,- !■ .■.V "«!r;if : •* tendcr- M\ who 1 fay— . Ill have ; not a VILLE, ■£,