J' 
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES 
 
 Ex Libris 
 
 SIR MICHAEL SADLER 
 
 ACQUIRED 1948 
 
 WITH THE HELP OF ALUMNI OF THE 
 SCHOOL OF EDUCATION 
 
 - 5 S A
 
 A DESCRIPTION of 
 
 MILLENNIUM HALL, 
 
 AND THE 
 
 COUNTRY ADJACENT: 
 
 Together with the 
 
 CHARACTERS of the INHABITANTS, 
 And fuch Hiitorical 
 
 ANECDOTES and REFLECTIONS, 
 
 A S 
 
 May excite in the READER proper Sentiments of 
 Humanity, and lead the Mind to the Love of 
 V i R T u E. 
 
 B Y 
 A GENTLEMAN on his Travels. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed for J. NEW BE R Y, at the Bible and Sun, 
 in St. Paul's Church-yard. 
 
 M DCC LX1I.
 
 ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 THE Publifher of this Volume is under fome 
 Difficulties ; not from any Apprehenfions 
 of lofmg by the Book ; for great part of the Im- 
 prefTion is befpoke ; his Anxiety arifes from the 
 Author's addrefling the Volume to him, and 
 making him a Compliment in the Beginning; 
 which, as he is confcious he does not deferve, 
 he hopes the Reader will impute to its proper 
 Caufe, namely, to the Warmth of Friendfhip, 
 which is too apt to exalt the ObjedT: it efteems. 
 The Gentleman who wrote this Volume, is of too 
 much Confequence to be obftinately contradicted ; 
 and as the Bookfeller could not prevail on him 
 to leave out the Compliment above-mentioned, 
 he hopes his publifhing of it will not be imputed 
 to any other Motive, but that of his Keadinefs to 
 obey. 

 
 A DESCRIPTION of 
 
 MILLENIUM HALL. 
 
 DEAR SIR, 
 
 THOUGH, when I left London, Ipromif- 
 ed to write to you as foon as I had reached 
 my northern retreat, yet, I believe, you lit- 
 tle expected inftead of a letter to receive a volume ; 
 but I mould not ftand excufed to myfelf, were I 
 to fail communicating to you the pleafure I received 
 in my road hither, from the fight of a fociety, 
 whofe acquaintance I owe to one of thofe fortu- 
 nate, though in appearance trifling, accident 1 , from 
 which fometimes arife the moft pleafing circum- 
 ftances of our lives ; for as fuch I muft ever efteem 
 the acquaintance of that amiable family, who have 
 fixed their abode at a place which I mall nominate 
 Millenium Hall, as the beft adapted to trie lives of 
 the inhabitants, an& to avoid giving- the real name, 
 fearing to offend that modefty which has induced 
 them to conceal their virtues in retirement. 
 
 In giving you a very circumftan^l account of 
 this fociety, I confefs I have a view beyond the 
 pleafure, which a mind like yours muft receive from 
 the contemplation of fo much virtue. Your con- 
 ftant endeavours have been to inculcate the beft 
 principles into youthful minds, the only probable 
 means of mending mankind ; for the foundation of 
 moft of our virtues, or cu' vices, are laid in that 
 feafon of life when we are moft fufceptible ofimpref- 
 fiojij and when on our minds, as on a fheet of white 
 B paper,
 
 .1 A D E S C R I P T I O N OF 
 
 paper, any characters may be engraven ; thefe lau- 
 dable endeavours, by which v/c may reafonably ex- 
 pecl: the rifinc; generation will be greatly improved, 
 render particularly due to you, any examples which 
 may teach thofe virtues that are not eafily learnt 
 by precept, and (hew the facility of .what, in meer 
 Speculation, might appear furrounded with a dif- 
 cotiraging impracticability : you are the beft judge, 
 whether, by being made public, they may be con- 
 ducive to your great end of benefiting the world. I 
 therefore fubmit the future fate of the following 
 Iheets entirely to you, and {hall not think any 
 prefatory apology for the publication atall requifite ; 
 for though a man who fuppofes his own life and ac- 
 tions deferve univerfal notice, or can be of general 
 ufc, may be liable to the imputation of vanity, yet, 
 as I have no other mare than that of a fpetator, 
 and auditor, in what I purpofe to relate, I prefume 
 no apology can be required ; for my vanity muft 
 rather be mortified than flattered in the defcription 
 .of fuch virtues as -will continually accufe me of 
 my own deficiencies, and lead me to make an 
 
 - humiliating companion between thefe excellent 
 ladies and myfelf. 
 
 You may remember, Sir, that when I took 
 leave of you with a defign of retiring to my native 
 county, there to enjoy the plenty and leifure for 
 \vhich a few years labour had furnifhed me with 
 
 the necefiary requifites, I was advifed by an emi- ' 
 ncnt phyfician to make a very extenfive tour 
 through the weftern part of this kingdom, in or- 
 der, by frequent change of air, and continued ex- 
 rrcife, to cure the ill effe&s of my long abode in 
 the hot and unwholfome climate of Jamaica, where, 
 \vhile I increafed my fortune, I gradually impair- 
 ed my conftitution ; and though one, who like me, 
 
 . bus dedicated all his application to mercantile gain, 
 
 will
 
 MILLENIUM HALL. 3 
 
 will not allow that he has given up the fubftance 
 for the fhadow, yet perhaps it would be difficult 
 to deny, that I thus facrificed. the greater good in 
 purfuit of the lefs. 
 
 The eargernefs with which I longed to fix in 
 my wifhed for retirement, made me imagine, thac 
 when I had once reached -it, even the purfuit of 
 health would be an inefficient inducement to de- 
 termine me to leave my retreat, I therefore chofe 
 to make the advifed tour before I went into the 
 north. As the pleafure arifmg from a variety of 
 beautiful objects is but half enjoyed, when w-e have 
 no one to fhare it with us, I accepted the offer 
 Mr. Lamont (the fon of my old friend) made of 
 accompanying me in my journey. As this you HIT; 
 gentleman has not the good fortune to be known 
 to you, it may not be amifs, as will appear in the 
 fequel, to let you into his character. 
 
 Mr. Lamont is a young man of about f.\ver,!y- 
 five years of age, of an agreeable perfcn, and jivi !y 
 undcrftanding ; both perhaps have concurred to 
 render him a coxcomb. The vivacity of his parts 
 foon gained him fuch a degree of encourage- nu-nt 
 as' excited his vanity, and raifcd in him an high 
 opinion of himfelf. A very generous father ena- 
 bled him to partake of every fafh-ionable amu le- 
 nient, and the natural bent of his mind foon led him 
 into all the difiipation v/hich the gay world affords. 
 Ufeful and impr^ying ftudies were laid afi'3e for 
 fuch defultory reading, as he found moft proper to 
 furnifh him with topics for converfation,.in the 
 idle focietics he frequented. Thus 'tha-t vivacity, 
 which, properly qualified, might have become true 
 wit, degenerated into pertnefs and' impertinence. 
 A Ponfcioufnefs of nn undcrifynding, which uc 
 never exerted, rendered him coned ired ; ihofe ta- 
 lents which nature kindly befto'vved upon him, by' 
 B 2 . . beiia
 
 4 A DESCRIPTION OF 
 
 heing perverted, gave rife to his greateft faults. 
 His reaioning faculty, by a partial and fuperficial 
 life, led him to infidelity, and the defire of being 
 thought fuperiorly diftinguifhing, eftablifhed him 
 an infidel. Fafhion, not reafon, has been the guide 
 of all his thoughts and a&ions. But with thefe 
 faults he is good-natured, and not unentertaining, 
 efpecialiy in a tete a tete, where he does not defire to 
 fhine, and therefore his vanity lies dormant, and fuf- 
 fers the bevt qualifications of his mind to break forth. 
 This induced me to accept of him as a fellow traveller. 
 We proceeded on our journey as far as Cornwall, 
 without meeting with any other than the ufual in- 
 cidents of the road, till one afternoon, when our 
 chaife broke down. The worft circumfbrice attend- 
 ing this accident was our being feveral miles from 
 a town, and fo ignorant of the country, that we 
 knew not whether there was any village within a 
 moderate diflance. We fent the poflilion on my 
 man's horfe to the next town to fetch a fmith, and 
 leaving my fervant to guard the chaife, Mr. Lamont 
 and I walked towards an avenue of oaks, which 
 we obferved at a fin all diftance. The thick made 
 they afforded us, the fragrance wafted from the 
 woodbines with which they were encircled, wus fo 
 delightful, and the beauty of the grounds fo very 
 attracting, that we ftro'led on, defirous of ap- 
 proaching the ho ufe to which this avenue -led, 
 It is a mile and a half in length, but the eye is fo 
 charmed with the remarkable verdure and neatnefs 
 of the fields, with the beauty of the flowers which 
 are planted all round them, and feem to mix with 
 the quickfet hedges, that time fleals away infenfibly. 
 When we had walked about half a mile in a 
 fce/ie truly paftoral, we began to think ourfclves 
 .in the days of Theocritus, fo fwcetiy did the found 
 of a flute come wafted through the air. Never 
 
 did
 
 MILLENIUM HALL. 5 
 
 did paftoral fwain make fweeter melody on his oaten 
 reed. Our ears now afforded us frefh attraction, and 
 with quicker fteps we proceeded, till we came 
 within fight of the mufician that had charmed us. 
 Our pleafure was not a little heightened, to fee, as 
 the fcene promifed, in reality a fhepherd, watching 
 a large flock of fheep. We continued motionlefs, 
 liftening to his mufic, till a lamb ftraying from its 
 fold demanded his care, and he laid afide his inirru- 
 ment, to guide home the little wanderer. 
 
 Curiofity now prompted us to walk: on ; the 
 nearer we came to the houfe, the greater we found 
 the profufion of flowers which ornamented every 
 field. Some had no other defence than hedges of 
 rofe trees and fweet-briars, fo artfully planted, 
 that they made a very thick hedge, while at the 
 lower part, pinks, jonquills, hyacinths, and va- 
 rious other flowers, feemed to grow under their 
 protection. Primrofes, violets, lillies of the val- 
 ley, and polyanthufes enriched fuch fnady foots, 
 as, for want of fun, were not well calculated for 
 the production of other flowers. The mixture of 
 perfumes which exhaled from this profufion com- 
 pofed the higheft fragrance, and fomedmes the 
 different fcents regaled the fenfes alternately, and 
 filled us with reflections on the infinite variety of 
 mature. 
 
 When we were within about a quarter of a 
 mile of the houfe, the fcene became ftill more ani- 
 mated. On one fide was the greateft variety of 
 cattle, the moft beautiful of their kinds, grazing in 
 fields whofe verdure -equalled that of the fined turf, 
 nor were they deftitute of their ornaments, only 
 the woodbines and jeflamine, and fuch flowers, a? 
 might have tempted the inhabitants cf thefe paftures 
 to crop them, were defended with rofes and fweet- 
 briars, whofe thorns preferved them from all attacks. 
 . B 3 Though
 
 6 A DESCRIPTION OF 
 
 Though Lament had hitherto heen little accuf- 
 tomed to admire nature, yet was he much captivated 
 vvirh this fcene, and with his ufual levity cried out, 
 
 * If Nebuchadnezzar had fuch paftures as thefe to 
 4 range in, his feven years expulfion from human 
 
 * fociety might not be the leaft agreeable part of his 
 ' life.' My attention was too much engaged to 
 criticize the light turn of Lament's mind, nor did 
 his thoughts continue long on the fame fubjedr, for 
 our obfervation was foon called off, by a company 
 .PC" hay-makers in the fields on the other fide of 
 the avenue. The cleanlinefs and neatnefs of the 
 ytung women thus employed, rendered them a 
 more pleafing fubjet for Lament's contemplation 
 than any thing we had yet feen j in them we beheld 
 rural finoplicity, without any of thofe marks of 
 poverty and boorifh rufticity, which would have 
 fpoilt the paftoral air of the fcene around us ; but 
 not even the happy amiable innocence, which their 
 figures and countenances expreffed, gave me fo 
 much fatisfa&ion as the fight of the number of 
 children, who were all exerting the utmoft of their 
 ftrength, with an air of delighted emulation between 
 themielves, to contribute their (hare to the general 
 undertaking. Their eyes fparkled with that fpirit 
 which health and activity can only give, and their 
 rofy cheeks fhewed the benefits of youthful labour. 
 
 Curiofity is one of thofe infatiable paffions that 
 grow by gratification ; it ftill prompted us to pro- 
 ceed, not unfatisfied with what we had feen, but 
 defirous to fee ftill more of this earthly paradife. 
 We approached the houfe, wherein, as it was the 
 only human habitation in view, we imagined mufl: re- 
 fide the Prirnum Mobile of all we had yet beheld. 
 We were admiring the magnificence of the ancient 
 ftruture, and inclined to believe it the abode of 
 the genius which prefided over this fairy land, 
 
 when
 
 MILLENIUM HALL. 7 
 
 when we were furprized by a ftorm, which had 
 been for fome time gathering over our heads, though 
 our thoughts had been too agreeably engaged to pay 
 much attention to it. We took flicker under the 
 thick (hade of a large oak, but the violence of the 
 thunder and lightening made our fituation rather 
 uncomfortable. All thofe whom we had a little 
 before feen fo bufy, left their work on hearing the 
 firft clap of thunder, and ran with the utmoft {peed 
 to Millenium Hall, fo I (hall call the noble man - 
 fion of which I am fpeaking, as to an allured afylum 
 againft every evil. 
 
 Some of thele perfons, I imagine, perceived us ; 
 for immediately after they entered, came out a wo- 
 man, who, by her air and manner of addrefs, we 
 gueiTed to be the houfe-kceper, and defired us to 
 walk into the houfe till the ftorm was over. We 
 made fome difficulties about taking that liberty, but 
 {he ftill perfifting in her invitation, had my curio- 
 fity to fee the inhabitants of this hofpitable manfion 
 been lefs, I could not have refufed to comply, as 
 by prolonging thefe ceremonious altercations I 
 was detaining her in the ftorm, we therefore agreed 
 to follow her. 
 
 If we had been inclined before to fancy ourfelves 
 on enchanted ground, when after being led through 
 a large hall, we were introduced to the ladies, who 
 knew nothing of what had paffed, I could fcarcely 
 forbear believing myfelf in the Attick fchool. The 
 room where they fat was about forty-five feet long, 
 of a proportionable breadth, with three windows on 
 one fide, which looked into a garden, and a large 
 bow at the upper end. Over againft the windows 
 were three large book-cafes, upon the top of the 
 middle one flood an orrery, and a globe on each of 
 the others. In the bow fat two ladies reading, with 
 pen, ink, and paper on a table before them, at 
 B 4 which
 
 8 A DESCRIPTION OF 
 which was a young girl translating out of French-. 
 At the lower jend of the room was a lady painting, 
 with exquifite art indeed, a beautiful Madona \ 
 near her another, drawing a landfcape out of her 
 own imagination ; a third, carving ?. picture-frame 
 in wood, in the fineft manner; a fourth, engraving; 
 and a young girl reading aloud to them; the dif- 
 tance from the ladies in the bow-window being 
 fuch, that they could receive no difturbance from 
 her. At the next window were placed a group of 
 girls, from the age of ten years old to fourteen. 
 Of thefe, one was drawing figures, another a land- 
 fcape, a third a perfpe&ive view, a fourth engrav- 
 ing, a fifth carving, a fixth turning in wood, a 
 feventh writing, an eighth cutting out linnen, another 
 making a gown, and by them an empty chair and a 
 tent, with embroidery, finely fancied, before it, 
 which we afterwards found had been left by a young 
 girl who was gone to pra&ife on the harpfichord. 
 
 As foon as we entered they all rofe up, and the 
 houfe-keeper introduced us, by faying, {he faw us 
 branding under a tree to avoid the ftorm, and fb had 
 defired us to walk in. The ladies received us with 
 the greateft politenefs, and exprefled concern, that 
 when their houfe was fo near, we mould have re- 
 courfe to fo infufficient a flicker. Our furprize at 
 the fight of fo uncommon a fociety, occafioned 
 our making but an awkward return to their oblig- 
 ing reception ; nor when we obferved how many 
 arts we had interrupted, could we avoid being 
 afbamed that we had then intruded upon them. 
 
 But before I proceed farther, I mail endeavour 
 to give you fome idea of the perfons of the ladies, 
 whole minds I fhall afterwards beft defcribe by their 
 actions. The two who fat in the bow window 
 were called Mrs. Maynard and Mrs. Selvyn. Mrs. 
 Maynard is between forty and fifty years of age, a 
 
 little
 
 MILLENIUM HALL; 9 
 
 little woman, well made, with a lively and genteel 
 air, her hair black, and her eyes of the fame 
 colour, bright and piercing, her features good, 
 and complexion agreeable, though brown. Her 
 countenance exprefies all the vivacity of youth, 
 tempered with a ferenity which becomes her age. 
 
 Mrs. Selvyn can fcarcely be called tall, though 
 {he approaches that ftandard. Her features are too 
 irregular to be handfome, but there is a fenfibility 
 and delicacy in her countenance which render her 
 extremely engaging; and her perfon is elegant. 
 
 Mrs. Mancel, whom we had difturbed from her 
 painting, is tall and finely formed, has great ele- 
 gance of figure, and is graceful in every motion. 
 Her hair is of a fine brown, her eyes blue, with all 
 that fenfible fweetnefs which is peculiar to that co- 
 lour. In fhort, fhe excels in every beauty but the 
 bloom, which is fo foon faded, and fo impoflible to 
 be imitated by the utmoft efforts of art, nor has (he 
 fuffered any farther by years than the lofs of that 
 radiance, which renders beauty rather more refplen- 
 dant than more pleafing. 
 
 Mrs. Trentham, who was carving by her, was 
 the talleft of the company, and in dignity of air 
 particularly excels, but her features and complexion 
 have been fo injured by the fmall pox, that one can 
 but juft guefs they were once uncommonly fine ; a 
 fweetnefs of countenance, and a very fenfible look, 
 indeed, ftill remain, and have baffied all the moft. 
 cruel ravages of that dirtemper. 
 
 Lady Mary Jones, whom we found engraving, 
 feems to have been rather pleafing than beautiful. 
 She is thin and pale, but a pair of the fineft black 
 .eyes I ever faw, animate, to a great degree, a coun- 
 tenance, which ficknefs has done its utmoft to ren- 
 der languid, but has, perhaps, only made more 
 delicate and amiable. Her perfon is exquifitely 
 B 5 genteel,
 
 10 A DESCRIPTION o? 
 
 genteel, and her voice, in common fpeech, enchant* 
 ingly melodious. 
 
 Mrs. Morgan, the lady who was drawing, ap- 
 pears to be upwards of fifty, tall, rather plump, 
 and extremely majeftic, an air of dignity diftin- 
 guiflies her perfon, and every virtue is engraven in 
 indelible characters on her countenance. There is 
 a benignity in every look, which renders the decline 
 of life, if poflible, more amiable that the bloom 
 of youth. One would almoft think nature had 
 formed her for a common parent, fuch univerfal 
 and tender benevolence beams from every glance 
 (he cafts around her. 
 
 Thedrefs of the ladies was thus far uniform, the 
 fame neatnefs, the fame fimplicity and cleanlinefs 
 appeared in each, and they were all in luteftring 
 night-gowns, though of different colours, nor was 
 there any thing unfamionable in their appearance, 
 except that they were free from any trumpery orna- 
 ments. The girls were all clothed in camblet 
 coats, but not uniform in colour, their linnen ex- 
 tremely white and clean though courfe. Some of 
 them were pretty, and none had any defect in 
 perfon, to take off from that general pleafingnefs 
 which attends youth and innocence. 
 
 They had been taught fuch an habit of atten- 
 tion, that they feemed not at all difturbed by our 
 converfation, which was of that general kind, as 
 might naturally be expected on fuch an occafion, 
 tihuugh fuppoited by the ladies with more fenfibie 
 vivacity and politenefs, than is ufual> where part of 
 the company are fuch total Grangers to the reft ; till 
 by chance one of the ladies called Mrs. Maynard by 
 her name. 
 
 From the moment I faw her, I thought her face 
 not unknown to me, but could not recollect where, 
 cr when I had been acquainted with her, but her
 
 MILLENIUM HALL, n 
 
 name brought to my recollection, that fhe was not 
 only an old acquaintance, but a near relation. I 
 obferved, that fhe had looked on me with particular 
 attention, and I begged her to give me leave to afk 
 her, of what family of Maynards fhe was ? her 
 anfwer confirmed my fuppofition, and as fhe told me, 
 that fhe believed ihe had fome remembrance of 
 my face, I foon made her recollect our affinity 
 and former intimacy, though my twenty years 
 abode in Jamaica, the alteration the climate had 
 wrought in me, and time had made in us both, 
 had almoft effaced us from each other's memory. 
 
 There is great pleafure in renewing the acquaint- 
 ance of our youth ; a thoufand pleafmg ideas accom- 
 pany it; many mirthful fcenes and juvenile amufe- 
 ments return to the remembrance, and make us, as 
 it were, live over again what is generally the 
 moft pleafmg part of life. Mrs. Maynard feemed 
 no lefs fenfible of the fatisfaclion arifing from this 
 train of thoughts than myfelf, and the reft of 
 the company were fo indulgently good-natured, as 
 in appearance, to fhare them with us. The tea 
 table by no means interrupted our converfation, 
 and I believe I fhould have forgot that our journey 
 was not at an end, if a. fervant had not brought in 
 word, that my man, who had obferved our moti- 
 ons, was come to inform us, that our chaife could 
 not be repaired that night. 
 
 The ladies immediately declared, that though 
 their equipage was in order, they would not fullec 
 it to put an end to a pleafure they owed to the acci- 
 dent which had happened to ours, and infifted we 
 fhould give them our company till the fmith had 
 made all neceflary reparations, adding, that I could 
 not be obftinately bent on depriving Mrs. Maynard 
 ib foon of the fatisfaclion fhe received, from having 
 recovered fo long loft a relation, I was little in- 
 B 6 clined
 
 12 A DESCRIPTION OF 
 
 clined to reject this invitation : pleafure- was the 
 chief defign of my journey, and I faw not how 
 I could receive more, than by remaining in a fa- 
 mily fo extraordinary, and fo perfectly agreeable. 
 When both parties are well agreed, the neceffary 
 ceremonies previous to a compliance are foon over, 
 and it was fettled that we fh.ould not think of de- 
 parting before the next day at fooneft. 
 
 The continuance of the rain rendered it impofll- 
 ble to ftir out of the houfe 7 my coufin, who feem- 
 ed to think variety neceffary to amufe, afked if 
 we loved mufic ? which being anfwered in the 
 affirmative, fhe begged the other ladies to entertain 
 us with one of their family concerts, and we join- 
 ing in the petition, proper orders were given, and 
 we adjourned into another room, which was well 
 furnimcd with mufical inftruments. Over the door 
 was a beautiful faint Cecilia, painted in crayons by 
 Mrs. Mancel, and a fine piece of carved work over 
 the chimney, done by Mrs. Trentham, which was 
 a very artificial reprefentation of every fort of mufical 
 inftruments. 
 
 While we were admiring thefe performances, 
 the company took their refpedtive places. Mrs. 
 M;uicel feated herfelf at the harpfichord, Lady 
 Mary Jones played on the arch lute, Mrs. Morgan 
 on the organ, Mrs. Selvyn and Mrs. Trentham 
 each on the fix-ftringed oafs ; the (hepherd who 
 had charmed us in the field was there with his 
 German flute ; a venerable looking man, who is 
 their fteward, pla'yed on the violincello, a lame 
 youth on the French horn, another, who feemed 
 very near blind, on the baffoon, and two on the 
 fiddle. My coufin had no mare in the performance 
 except finging agreeably, wherein (he was joined 
 by fome of the ladies, and where the mufic could 
 bear it, by ten of the young girls, with two or 
 
 three
 
 MILLENIUM HALL; 13 
 
 three Bothers whom we had not feen, and whofe 
 voices and manner were equally pleafing. 1 hey 
 performed feveral of the fineft pieces of the 
 Mefliah and Judas Maccabeus, with exquifite tafte, 
 and the moft exact time. There was a fufEcient 
 number of performers to give the chorufes all their 
 pomp and fullnefs, and the fongs were fung in a 
 manner fo touching and pathetic, as could be equal- 
 led by none 4 whofe hearts were not as much affect- 
 ed by th? words, as their fenfes were by the mufic. 
 The fight of fo many little innocents joining in 
 the moft fublime harmony, made me almoft think 
 myfelf already amongft the heavenly choir, and it 
 was a great mortification to me to be brought back 
 to this fenfual world, by fo grofs an attraction as a 
 call to fupper, which put an end to our concert, 
 and carried us to another room, where we found a 
 repatt more elegant than expenfive. 
 
 The evening certainly is the molt focial part of 
 the day, without any of thofe excefles which fo 
 often turn it into fenfelefs revelry. The conver- 
 fation after fupper was particularly animated, and 
 left us ftill more charmed with the fociety into 
 which chance had introduced us ; the fprightli- 
 nefs of their wit, the juftneis of their reflexions, 
 the dignity which accompanied their vivacity, plainly 
 evinced with how much greater ftrength the mind 
 can exert itfelf in a regular and rational way of 
 life, than in a courfe of diffipation. At this houfe 
 every change came too foon, time feemed to wear a 
 double portion of wings, eleven o'clock {truck, and 
 the ladies ordered a fervant to fhew us our rooms, 
 themfelves retiring to theirs. 
 
 It was impoffible for Lament and I to part till we 
 had fpent an hour in talking over this amiable 
 family, with whom he could not help being much 
 delighted, though he obferved, * they were very 
 
 ' deficient
 
 14 A DESCRIPTION OF 
 
 deficient in the bon ton, there was too much 
 folidity in all they faid, they would trifle with 
 trifles indeed, but had not the art of treating more 
 weighty fubjecls with the fame lightnefs, which 
 gave them an air of rutticity; and he did not 
 doubt, but on a more intimate acquaintance we 
 fhould find their manners much rufticated, and 
 their heads filled with antiquated notions, by 
 having lived fo long out of the great world.' 
 I rofe the next morning very early, defirous to 
 make the day, which I purpofed for the laft of my 
 abode in this manfion, as long as I could. I went 
 directly into the garden, which, by what I faw 
 from the houfe, was extremely pretty. As I pafied 
 by the windows of the faloon, I perceived the ladies 
 and their little pupils were earlier rifers than myfelf, 
 for they were all at their various employments. I firfl 
 went into the gayeit flower garden I ever beheld. 
 The rainbow_exhibits not half the variety of tints, 
 and they are fo artfully mingled, and ranged to 
 make fuch a harmony of colours, as taught me 
 how much the moft beautiful objects may be 
 improved by a judicious difpoiition of them. Be- 
 yond thefe beds of flowers rifes a fhrubbery, where 
 every thing fweet and pleafing is collected. As 
 theie ladies have no tafte but what is diredted by 
 good fenfe, nothing found a place here from being 
 only uncommon, for they think few things are 
 very rare but becaufe they are little defirable ; and 
 indeed it is plain they are free from that littlenefs 
 of mind, which makes people value a thing the 
 more for its being poflefTed by no one but them- 
 felves. Behind the fhrubbery is a little wood, 
 which affords a gloom, rendered more agreable by 
 its contrail with the dazzling beauty of that part of 
 the garden that 'leads to it. in the high pale which 
 enclofes this wood I obierved a little dojr ;. curio- 
 
 fuy
 
 MILLENIUM HALL. 15 
 
 fity induced me to pafs through it^ I found it 
 opened on a row of the neateft cottages I ever faw, 
 which the wood had concealed from my view. 
 They were new and uniform, and therefore I 
 imagined all dedicated to the fame purpofe. Seeing 
 a very old woman fpinning at one of the doors, I 
 accofted her, by admiring the neatnefs of her ha- 
 bitation. 
 
 ' Ay, indeed, faid fhe, it is a moft comfortable 
 
 * place, God blefs the good ladies ! I and my neigh * 
 
 * hours are as happy a^ princefles, we have every 
 thing we want and wifh, and who can fay more ?' 
 ' Very few fo much, anfwered I, * but pray what 
 
 * {hare have the ladies in procuring the happinefs 
 ' you feem fo fenfible of.' 
 
 ' Why Sir, continued the old woman, it is 
 
 * all owing to them. I was almoft ftarved when 
 
 * they put me into this houfe, and no fhame of 
 
 * mine, for fo were my neighbours too ; perhaps 
 
 * we were not fo pains- taking as we might have 
 4 been j but that was not our faults, you know, as 
 ' we had not things to work with, nor any body 
 ' to fet us to work, poor folks cannot know every 
 ' thing as thefe good ladies do ; we were half dead 
 
 * for want of victuals, and then people have not 
 
 * courage to fet about any thing. Nay, all the 
 ' parifh were fo when they came into it, young 
 6 and old, there was not much to chufe, few of 
 ' us had rags to cover us, or a morfel of bread 
 ' to eat, except the two 'Squires ; they indeed grew 
 
 * rich, becaufe they had our work, and paid us not 
 4 enough to keep life and foul together ; they live 
 ' above a mile off, fo perhaps they did not know 
 
 * how poor we were, I muft fay that for them ; 
 c the ladies tell me I ought not to fpcak againft 
 ' them, for every one has faults, only we fee other 
 ' peoples, and are blind to our own ; and certainly 
 
 ' it-
 
 16 A DESCRIPTION OF 
 
 ' it is true enough, for they are very wife ladies 
 
 ' as well as good, and mull know fuch things.' 
 
 As my new acquaintance feemed as loquacious as 
 her age promifed, I hoped for full fatisfaclion, and 
 afked her, * How {he and her neighbours employed 
 themfelves ?' ' Not all alike, replied the good 
 woman, I will tell you, all about it. There are 
 twelve of us that live here. We have every one 
 a houfe of two rooms, as you may fee, befide 
 other conveniences, and each a little garden, but 
 though we are feparate, we agree as well, per- 
 haps better, than if we lived together, and all 
 help one another. Now, there is neighbour 
 Sufan, and neighbour Rachel ; Sufan is lame, 
 fo fhe fpins cloaths for Rachel ; and Rachel 
 cleans Sufan's houfe, and does fuch things for her 
 as fhe cannot do for herfelf. The ladies fettled 
 all thefe matters at firft, and told us, that as they, 
 to pleafe God, aflifted us, we muft in order to 
 pleafehim ferve others ; and that to make us happy 
 they would put us in a way, poor as we are, to 
 do good to many. Thus neighbour Jane, who 
 poor woman is almoft ftone deaf, they thought 
 would have a melancholy life if fhe was to be al- 
 ways fpinning and knitting, feeing other people 
 around her talking, and not be able to hear a word 
 they faid, fo the ladies bufy her in making broths 
 and caudles, and fuch things, for all the lick poor 
 in this and the next parifh, and two of us are 
 fixed upon to carry what they have made to thofe 
 that want them ; to vifit them often, and fpend 
 more or lefs time with them every day accord- 
 ing as they have, or have not relations to take 
 care of them ; for though ^the ladies always hire 
 nurfes for thofe who are very ill, yet they will 
 not truit quite to them, but make us overlook 
 
 . ' them,
 
 MILLENIUM HALL; 17 
 
 * them, fo that in a fickly time we (hall be all day 
 4 going from one to another.' 
 
 * But, faid I, there are I perceive many chil- 
 
 * dren amongft you, how happens that ? your 
 
 * ages fhew they are not your own/ 
 
 4 Oh ! as for that, replied my intelligencer, I 
 
 4 will tell you how that is. You muft know thefe 
 
 * good ladies, heaven preferve them ! take every 
 { child after the fifth of every poor perfon, as 
 4 foon as it can walk, till when they pay the 
 4 mother for nurfing it; thefe children they fend 
 ' to us to keep out of harm, and as foon as they 
 4 can hold a knitting-needle to teach them to knit, 
 4 and to fpin, as much as they can be taught before 
 
 * they are four or five years old, when they are re- 
 
 * moved into one of the fchools. They are pretty 
 
 * company for us, and make us mothers again, as it 
 ' were, in our old age ; then the childrens rela- 
 
 * tions are all fo fond of us for our care of them, 
 
 * that it makes us a power of friends, which you 
 < know is very pleafant, though we want nothing 
 ' from them but their good wills/ 
 
 Here I interrupted her by obferving-, that it muft 
 take up a great deal of time, and {top their work, 
 confequently leflen their profits. 
 
 * 7'here is nothing in that, continued the good 
 woman, the ladies fteward fends us in all we 
 want in the way of meat, drink, and firing ; 
 and our fpinning we carry to the ladies ; they 
 employ a poor old weaver, who before they came 
 broke for want of work, to weave it for us, and 
 when there is not enough they put more to it, fo 
 we are fure to have our cloathing ; if we are not 
 idle that is all they defire, except that we fhould 
 be cleanly too. There never pafles a day that one 
 or other of the ladies does not come and look 
 all over our houfes, which they tell us, and cer- 
 
 tainly
 
 i8 A DESCRIPTION OF 
 
 tainly with truth, for it is a great deal of trouble to 
 them, is all for our good, for that we cannot be 
 healthy if we are not clean and neat. Then 
 every faint's day, and every Sunday after church, 
 we all go down to the hall, and the ladies read 
 prayers, and a fermon to us, and their own family ; 
 nor do they ever come here without giving us 
 fome good advice. We ufed to quarrel, to be 
 fure, fometimes when we firft came to thefe 
 houfes, but the ladis condefcended to make it 
 up amongft us, and (hewed us fo kindly how 
 much it was our duty to agree together, and to 
 forgive every body their faults, or elie we could not 
 hope to be forgiven by God, againft whom we 
 fo often finned, that now we love one another 
 like fitters, or indeed better, for I often fee fuch 
 quarrel. Belide, they have taught us that we are 
 generally in fault ourfelvesj and we find now 
 that we take care not to be perverfe, o<-r neigh- 
 bours are feldom in the wrong, and when they 
 are, we bear with it in hopes they will bear with 
 us when we are as much to blame, which we 
 may be fure enough will happen, let us try ever 
 fo much to the contrary. Then the ladies feem 
 fo pleafed when we do any kindnefs to one ano- 
 ther, as to be fure is a great encouragement ; and 
 if any of us are fick they are fo careful and fo 
 good, that it would be a fhame if we did not do 
 all we can for one another, who have been ?lway3 
 neighbours and acquaintance, when fuch great 
 ladies, who never ; knew us, as I may fay, but 
 to make us happy, and have no reafon to take 
 care of us but that we are poor, are fo kind and 
 condefcending to us.' 
 
 I was fo pleafed with the good effect which the 
 charity of her benefactors had on the mind, as well 
 as the fituatiou of this old, woman, whole neighbours
 
 MILLENIUM HALL. 19 
 
 by her own account were equally benefitted by the 
 bleffings they received, that I fhould have flayed lon- 
 ger with her, if a bell had not rang at Millenium 
 Hall, which {he informed me was a fummons to 
 breakfaft. I obeyed its call, and after thanking her 
 for her converfation, returned with a heart warmed 
 and enlarged, to the amiable fociety. My mind 
 was fo filled with exalted reflections on their vir- 
 tues, that I was lefs attentive to the charms of in- 
 animate nature than when I firft pafled through the 
 gardens. 
 
 After breakfaft the ladies propofecl a walk, and as 
 they had feen the courfe I took when I firft went 
 out, they led us a contrary way, left, they faid, I 
 ihould be tired with the repetition of the fame fcene. 
 I told them with great truth, that * what I had be- 
 held could never weary, for virtue is a fubject 
 we muft ever contemplate with frefli delight, 
 and as fuch examples could not fail of improving 
 every witnefs of them, the pleafure of reflection 
 would encreafe, as one daily grew more capable 
 of enjoying it, by cultivating kindred fenfati- 
 ons.' By fome more explicit hints they found 
 out to what I alluded, and thereby knew where I 
 had been, but turning the converfation to pre- 
 fent objects, they conducted us to a very fine 
 wood, which is laid out with fo much tafte, that 
 Lamont obferved the artift's hand was never more 
 diftinguifhable, and perceived in various fpots the 
 direction of the perfon at prefent moft famous for 
 that fort of improvement. 
 
 The ladies fmiled, and one of themanfwered, * He 
 
 * did their wood great honour, in thinking art had 
 
 * lent her afliftance to nature, but that there was 
 ' little in that place for which they were not folely 
 
 * obliged to the latter.' Mrs. Trentham interrupted 
 her who was fpeaking, and told us, that, * As me 
 
 bad
 
 ao A DESCRIPTION 0? 
 had no {hare in the improvements which had been 
 made, flie might with the better grace aflure Mr. 
 Lament, that lady Mary Jones, Mrs. Mancel, and 
 Mrs. Morgan, were the only perfons who had laid 
 out that wood, and the commoneft labourers in 
 the country had executed their orders.' Lament 
 was much furprized at this piece of information, and 
 though he would have thought it ftill more exqui- 
 fitely beautiful had it been the defign of the pcrfon 
 he imagined, yet truth is fo powerful, that he could 
 not fupprefs his admiration and furprize. Every 
 cut in it is terminated by fome noble object. In 
 feveral places are feats formed with fuch ruftic fim- 
 plicity, as have more real grandeur in them, than 
 can be found in the moft expenfive buildings. On 
 an eminence, * bofomed high in tufted trees,' is a 
 temple dedicated to iblitude. The ftructure is an 
 cxquifite piece of architecture, the profpect from 
 it noble and extenfive, and the windows fo placed, 
 that one fees no houfe but at fo considerable a dif- 
 tance, as not to take oft" from that folitary air, 
 which is perfectly agreable to a temple declaredly 
 dedicated to folitude. The moft beautiful object in 
 the view is a very large river, in reality an arm of 
 the fea, little more than a quarter of a mile diftant 
 from the building ; about three miles beyond it lies 
 the fea, on which the fun then {hone, and made it 
 dazzlingly bright. In the temple is a picture of 
 Contemplation, another of Silence, two of various 
 birds and animals, and a couple of moon-light 
 pieces, the workmanfliip of the ladies. 
 
 Clofe by the temple runs a gentle murmuring 
 rivulet, which flows in meanders through the reft of 
 the wood, fomctimes concealed from view, and then 
 appearing at the next turning of the walk. The 
 wood is well peopled with pheafants, wild turkies, 
 fquirrels and hares, who live fo unmolefted, that 
 
 they
 
 MILLENIUM HALL. 21 
 
 they feem to have forgot all fear, and rather to wel- 
 come than fly thofe who come amongfl them. Man 
 never appears there as a mercilefs deftroyer ; but the 
 preferver, inftead of the tyrant of the inferior part 
 of the creation. While they continue in that wood, 
 none but natural evil can approach them, and from 
 that they are defended as much as poflible. We 
 there ' walked joint tenant of the {hade,' with 
 the animal race ; and a perfect equality in nature's 
 bounty feems enjoyed by the whole creation. One 
 could fcarcely forbear thinking thofe happy times 
 were come, when ' The wolf (hall dwell with the 
 lamb, and the leopard (hall lye down with the 
 kid ; and the calf, and the young lion, and the 
 failing together, and a young child fhall lead 
 them. The wildernefs and the folitary place 
 (hall be glad for them, and the defart fhall rejoice, 
 and Mortem as the roftr.' 
 
 At the verge of this wood, which extends to the 
 river I have mentioned, without perceiving we 
 were entering a building, fo well is the outfide of 
 it concealed by trees, we found ourfelves in a moft 
 beautiful grotto, made of fofiils, fpars, coral, and 
 fuch {hells, as are at once both fine and ruftic ; all 
 of the glaring, tawdry kind are excluded, and by 
 the gloom and fimplicity preferved, one would 
 imagine it the habitation of fome devout anchoret. 
 Ivy and mofs in fome places cover, while they 
 feem to unite, the feveral materials of the varie- 
 gated walls. The rivulet which runs through tiic 
 wood, falls down one fide of the grotto with great 
 rapidity, broken into various irrcams by tHfc i'par 
 and coral, and palling through, forms a fine caf- 
 cade juft at the foot of the grotto, from whence 
 it flows into the river. Great care is taken to pre- 
 vent the place from growing damp, fo that we fat 
 
 fome
 
 22 A DESCRIPTION OF 
 
 fome time in it with fafety, admiring the finooth 
 furface of the river, to which it lies very open. 
 
 As the ladies had fome daily bufinefs on their 
 hands which they never neglect, we were obliged 
 to leave this lovely fcene, where I think I could 
 have pafied my life with pleafure, and to return 
 towards the houfe, though by a different way from 
 that we came, traverfing the other fide of the wood. 
 In one fpot where we went near the verge, I ob- 
 ferved a pale, which, upon examination, I found 
 was continued for fome acres, though it was re- 
 markable only in one place. It is painted green, 
 and on the infide a hedge of yews, laurel, and 
 other thick evergreens, rife to about feven or eight 
 feet high. I could not forbear afking what was 
 thus fo carefully enclofed ? the ladies fmiled on 
 each other, but evaded anfwering my queftion, 
 which only encrcafed my curiofity. Lament, not lefs 
 curious, and more importunate, obferved, that 
 the inclofure bore fome refemblance to one of 
 Lord Lamore's, where he kept lions, tygers, 
 leopards, and fuch foreign animals, and he would 
 he hange-d, if the ladies had not made fome fuch 
 collection, intreating that he might be admitted 
 to fee them ; for nothing gave him greater enter- 
 tainment than to behold thofe beautiful wild 
 beafts, brought out of their native woods, where 
 they had reigned as kings, and here. tamed and 
 fuhjected by the fuperior art of man. It was a 
 triumph of human reafon, which s could not fail 
 to afford great pleafure.' 
 
 ' Not to i:s, I affurc you, Sir, replied Mrs. 
 Mancel, when reafon appears only in the exer- 
 tion of cruelty and tyrannical oppreflion, it is 
 furely not 2 gift to be boafted of. When a man 
 forces the furious fteed to endure the bit, or 
 bieaks oxen to the yoke, the 2;r<;at benefits he rc.- 
 
 ' ceivts
 
 MILLENIUM HALL. 23 
 
 ' ceives from, ,and communicates to the animals, 
 excufes the forcible methods by which it is ac- 
 
 * complifhed. But to fee a man, from a vain defire 
 
 < to have in his pofieffion the native of another 
 6 climate and another country, reduce a fine and 
 noble creature to mifery, and confine him within 
 
 * narrow inclofures whofe happinefs conflfted in 
 ' unbounded liberty, ftiocks my nature. There 
 ' is I confefs fomething fo amiable in gentlenefs, 
 ' that I could be pleafed with feeing a tyger carefs 
 6 its keeper, if the cruel means by which the 
 
 < fierceft of beafts is taught all the fervility of a 
 
 < fawning fpaniel, did not recur every inftant to 
 
 < my mind ; and it is not much lefs abhorrent to 
 
 < my nature, to fee a venerable lion jumping over 
 ' a ftick, than it would be to behold an ho-.ry phi- 
 
 * lofopher forced by fome cruel tyrant to fpend his 
 
 < days in whipping a top, or playing with a rattle. 
 
 * Every thing to me loofes its charm when it is put 
 ' out of that ilation wherein nature, or to fpeak 
 more properly, the all-wife Creator has placed it. 
 ' I imagine man has a right to ufe the animal race 
 
 * for his own prefervation, perhaps for his conveni- 
 ' ence, but certainly not to treat them with wanton 
 c cruelty, and as it is not in his power to give them 
 
 * any thing fo valuable as their liberty, it is, in 
 ' my opinion, criminal to enfhve them, in order 
 ' to procure ourfelvcs a vain arnufement, if \ve 
 4 have fo little feeling as to find any while others 
 differ.' 
 
 ' I believe madam, replied Lamont, it is moit 
 c advifeable for me not to attempt -to defend what 
 ' I have (aid ; Ihould I have reafon on my fide, 
 
 * while you have humanity on yoi;rs, I fhoulcl make 
 ' but a bad figure in the argument. What ndvan- 
 ' tage could I ex peel: from applying to the unaer- 
 
 * {landing, while your amiable difpofition would 
 
 1 captivate
 
 24 A DESCRIPTION OF 
 
 captivate even reafon itfelf ? but ftill I am puz- 
 zled j what we behold is certainly an inclofure, 
 how can that be without a confinement to thofe 
 that are within it ?' 
 
 ' After having fpoken fo much againft tyranny, 
 faid Mrs. Mancel fmiling, I do not know whe- 
 ther I fliould be excufable, if I left you to be ty- 
 rannized by curiofity, which I believe can inflict 
 very fevere pains, at leaft, if I may be allowed to 
 judge by the means people often take to fatisfy it. 
 I will therefore gratify you with the knowledge of 
 what is within this inclofure, which makes fo ex- 
 traordinary an impreffion upon you. It is, then, 
 an afylum for thofe poor creatures who are ren- 
 dered miferable from fome natural deficiency or 
 redundancy. Here they find refuge from the ty- 
 ranny of thofe wretches, who feem to think that 
 being two or three feet taller gives them a right 
 to make them a property, and expofe their un- 
 happy forms to the contemptuous curiofity of the 
 unthinking multitude. Procruftes has been brand- 
 ed through all ages with the name of tyrant j 
 and principally, as it appears, from fitting the 
 body of every {hanger to a bed which he kept as 
 the necefiary ftandard, cutting off" the legs of 
 thofe whofe height exceeded the length of it, 
 and ftretching on the rack fuch as fell {hort of 
 that meafure, till they attained the requifite pro- 
 portion. But is not almoft every man a Pro- 
 cruftes ? we have not the power of {hewing our 
 cruelty exaclly in the fame method, but actuated 
 by the like fpirit, we abridge of their liberty, 
 and torment by fcorn, all who either fall fhort, 
 or exceed the ufual ftandard, if they happen to 
 have the additional misfortune of poverty. Per- 
 haps we are in no part more fufceptiblethan in our 
 vanity, how much then muft thole poor wretches 
 
 fuffer,
 
 MILLENIUM HALL. 25 
 
 fuffer, whofe, deformity would lead them to wifh 
 to be fecluded from human view, in being ex- 
 pofed to the public, whofe obfervations are no 
 better than expreflions of fcorn, and who are fur- 
 prized to find that any thing lefs than themfelves 
 can fpealc, or appear like intelligent beings. 
 But this is only part of what they have to en- 
 dure. As if their deficiency in height deprived 
 them of the natural right to air and funfhine, 
 they are kept confined in fmall rooms, and becauie 
 they fill lefs fpace than common, are fluffed into 
 chairs fo little, that they are fqueezed as clofe as a 
 pair of gloves in a walnut-fhell. 
 4 This miferable treatment of perfons, to whom 
 compafF.on fliould fecure more than common in- 
 dulgence, determined us to purchafe thefe worft 
 fort of flaves, and in this place we have five who 
 owed their wretchednefs to being only three foot 
 high, one grey-headed toothlefs old man of iixteen 
 years of age, a woman of about feven foot in 
 height, and a man who would be ftill taller, if 
 the extreme weaknefs of his body, and the 
 wretched life he for fome time led, in the hands 
 of one of thefe monfter-mongers, did not make 
 him bend almoil double, and oblige him to walk 
 on crutches ; with which infirmities he is well 
 pleafed, as they reduce him nearer the common 
 Standard. ' 
 
 We were very defirous of feeing this enfran- 
 chifcd company ; but Mrs. Morgan told, us it was 
 what they feldom granted, for fear of inflicting 
 fome of the pains from which they had endeavour- 
 ed to refcue thofe poor creatures, but fhe \vould 
 ir.ep in, and afk if they had no objection to our ad- 
 miffion, and if that appeared really the cafe fhe 
 would gratify us. 
 
 C I Jus
 
 26 A DESCRIPTION OF 
 
 This tendernefs to perfons who were under 
 fuch high obligations, charmed me. She foon re- 
 turned with the permiflion we wifhed, but intreated 
 us to pay all our attention to the houfe and garden, 
 and to take no more than a civil notice of its in- 
 habitants. We promifed obedience, and followed, 
 her. Her advice was almoft unnecefiary, for the 
 place could not have failed of attracting our par- 
 ticular obfervation. It was a quadrangle of about 
 fix acres, and the inward part was divided by nets 
 into eight parts, four of which alternatively were 
 filled with poultry of all forts, which were fed here 
 for the ufe of the hall, and kept with the moil exact 
 cleanlinefs. The other four parts were filled with 
 fhrubs and flowers, which were cultivated with 
 great delight by thefe once unfortunate, but now 
 happy beings. A little ftream ran acrofs the qua- 
 drangle, which ferved for drink to the poultry, and 
 facilitated the watering of the flowers. I have al- 
 ready faid, that at the inward edge of the pale was 
 a row of ever-greens ; at their feet were beds of 
 flowers, and a little gravel walk went round the whole. 
 At each corner was an arbour made with wood- 
 bines and jeflamine, in one or two of which there 
 was always an agreeable fhade. 
 
 At one fide of the quadrangle was a very neat 
 habitation, into which a dwarf invited us to enter, 
 to reft ourfelves after our walk ; they were all pafling 
 backwards and forwards, and thus gave us a full 
 view of them, which would have been a {hocking 
 fight, but for the reflexions we could not avoid 
 making on their happy condition, and the very ex- 
 traordinary humanity of the ladies to whom they 
 owed it ; fo that inftead of feeling the pain one 
 might naturally receive from feeing the human 
 form fo difgraced, we were filled with admiration 
 of the human mind, when fo nobly exalted by vir- 
 tue,
 
 MILLENIUM HALL. 27 
 
 *ue, as it is in the patronefles of thefe poor crea- 
 tures, who wore an air of chearfulnefs, which 
 (hewed they thought the churliflinefs wherewith 
 they had been treated by nature fufficiently com- 
 penfated. The tender inquiries the ladies made 
 after their healths, and the kind notice they took 
 of each of them, could not be exceeded by any 
 thing but the affection, I might almoft fay adora- 
 tion, with which thefe people beheld their benefac- 
 trefles. 
 
 This fcene had made too deep an impreffion on 
 our minds, not to be the fubjecl of our difcourfe all 
 the way home, and in the courfe of converfation, 
 I learnt, that when thefe people were firft refcued 
 out of their mifery, their healths were much im- 
 paired, and their tempers more fo : to reftore the 
 firft, all medicinal care was taken, and air and 
 exercife aflifled greatly in their recovery ; but to 
 cure the malady of the mind, and conquer that in- 
 ternal fource of unhappinefs, was a work of longer 
 time. Even thefe poor wretches had their vanity, 
 and would contend for fuperior merit, of which, 
 the argument was the money their keepers had 
 gained in exhibiting them. To put an end to this 
 contention, the ladies made them unt'erftand, that 
 what they thought a fubjecl: for boafting, was only 
 a proof of their being fo much farther from the 
 ufual ftandard of the human form, ond therefore a 
 more extraordinary fpectacle. But it was long be- 
 fore one of them could be pcrfuaded to lay afide 
 her pretenfions to fuperiority,- which (he claimed 
 on account of an extraordinary honour (he had re- 
 ceived from a great princefs, who had made her a 
 prelent of a fedan chair. 
 
 At length, however, much reafo.ning and per- 
 
 fuafion, a conviction of principles, ci which they 
 
 had before no knowledge, the happiiiefr of their 
 
 C 2 fituation.
 
 2-3 A DESCRIPTION OF 
 fituation, and the improvement of their healths, 
 concurred to fweeten their tempers, and they now 
 live in great harmony. They are entirely mirtreffts 
 of their houfe, have two maids to wait on them, 
 over whom they have fole command, and a perfon 
 to do fuch little things in their garden as they can- 
 not themfelves perform ; but the cultivation of it is 
 one of their great pleafures j and by their extraordi- 
 nary care, they have the fatisfadtion of preienting 
 the fineft flowers ofthefpring to their benefa&refTes, 
 before they are blown in any other place. 
 
 When they firit came, the ladies told us, that 
 the horror they had conceived of being exhibited as 
 public fpedtacles, had fixed in them fuch a fear of 
 being feen by any flranger, that the found of a 
 voice, with which they were not acquainted at the 
 outfide of the palling, or the trampling of feet, 
 would ft them all a running behind the bufhes to 
 hide themfelves, like fo many timorous partridges in 
 a mew, flurrying behind fheaves of corn for (hel- 
 ter ; they even found a convenience in their fize, 
 which, though it rendered them unwilling to be 
 fcen, enabled them fo eafily to find places for con- 
 cealment. 
 
 By degrees the ladies brought them to confent to 
 fee their head fervants, and fome of the beft people 
 in the parifli ; defirine, that to render it more agree- 
 able to their vifitors, they would entertain them 
 with fruit and wine ; adviiing them to aflift their 
 neighbours in plain work ; thus to endear them- 
 felves to them, and procure more frequent vifits, 
 which as they chofe to confine thcrnfelves within 
 fo narrow a compafs, and enjoyed but precarious 
 health, their benefaarefles thought a neceffary 
 amufement. T'hefe recommendations, and the 
 incidents wherewith their former lives had furnifti- 
 ed them to amufe their company, and which they 
 
 nov/
 
 MILLENIUM MALL. 29 
 
 now could relate with pkafure, from the happy 
 fenfe that all mortifications were pall, rendered 
 their converfation much courted among that rank 
 of people. 
 
 It occurred to me, that their diflike to being 
 feen by numbers, muft prevent their attendance cm 
 public worfhip, but my coufin informed me that 
 was thus avoided. There was in the church an 
 old gallery, which from difufe was grown out of 
 repair j this the ladies caufed to be mended, and 
 the front of it fo hightened, that thefe little folks 
 when in it could not be feen ; the tall ones con- 
 trived by {looping when they were there, not to 
 Appear of any extraordinary height : To this they 
 were conveyed in the ladies coach, and fet down 
 clofe to covered flairs, which led up to the gal- 
 lery. 
 
 This fubje& employed our converfation til! 'we 
 approached the hall ; the ladies then, after infilling 
 that we fhould not think of going from thence that 
 day, all left us except Mrs. Maynard. It may 
 feem ft; ange that I was not forry for their departure ; 
 but, in truth, I was fo filled with aflonifhment, at 
 characters fo new, and fo curious to know by 
 what Heps women thus qualified both by nature 
 and fortune to have the world almoft at command, 
 were brought thus to feclude themfelves from it, 
 and make as it were a new one for themfelves, 
 conftituted on fuch very different principles from 
 that I had hitherto lived in, that I longed to be 
 alone with my coufin, in hopes I might from her 
 receive fome account of this wonder. I foon made 
 my curiofity known, and befeeched her to grati- 
 fy it. 
 
 c I fee no good reafon, faid fhe, why I fhould 
 
 ' not comply w^th your requefl, as my friends are 
 
 ' above wjfbing to conceal any part of their lives, 
 
 C 3 though
 
 30 A DESCRIPTION, &c. 
 
 though themfelves are never the fubjecl: of their 
 own converfation. If they have had any follies 
 they do not defire to hide them ; they have not 
 pride enough to be hurt with candid criticifms, 
 and have too much innocence to fear any very 
 fevere cenfures. But as we did not al] reach 
 this paradife at the fame time, I (hall begin with 
 the firft inhabitants of, and indeed the founders 
 of this fociety, Mrs. Mancel and Mrs. Morgan, 
 who from their childhood have been fo connected, 
 that I could not, if I would, difunite them in my 
 relation ; and it would be almoft a fin to endea- 
 vour to feparate them even in idea.' 
 We fat down in an arbour, whofe made invited 
 us to feek there a defence againft the fun, which 
 was then in its meridian, and fhone with uncom- 
 mon heat. The woodbine*, the rofes, the jeiTa- 
 mines, the pinks, and above all, the minionette 
 with which it was furrounded, made the air one 
 general perfume ; every breeze came loaded with 
 fragrance, ftealing and giving odour. A rivulet 
 run bubbling by the fide of the arbour, whofe gentle 
 jnurmours foothed the mind into compofure, and 
 Itemed to hufh us to attention, when Mrs. May- 
 nard thus began, to fliew her readinefs to comply 
 with my requeft., 
 
 . THE
 
 T H E 
 
 HISTORY 
 
 O F 
 
 Mifs MANGEL, 
 
 A K D 
 
 Mrs. MORGAN. 
 
 YOU may perhaps think I am prefuming on 
 your patience, when I lead you into a 
 nurfery, or a boarding-fchool ; but the life 
 of Louifa Mancel, was fo early chequered with 
 that various fate, which gives this world the motley 
 appearance of joy and forrow, pain and pleafure, 
 that it is not in my power to pals over the events 
 of her infancy. 1 (hall, however, fpare you all 
 that is poflTible, and recommend her to your notice 
 only when (he attracted the obfervation of Mr. 
 Hintman. This gentleman hearing that a. perfon 
 who rented fome land of him was come to London, 
 and lodged at one of thofe public houfes which by 
 the landlord is called an inn, at the out-fkirts of 
 London, on the Surry-fide ; arid having fome occa- 
 C 4 fion
 
 %l 7' HE HlSTORY OF 
 
 fion to fpeak to him, he went thither. The peo- 
 ple of the houfe called the man Mr. Hintman en- 
 quired for, who immediately came down ftairs, 
 wiping tears from his eyes; the continuance of 
 which he could hardly reftfain. Mr. Hintman afk- 
 ing the reafon of thofe appearances of forrow, 
 the good-natured old man told him, his vifit had 
 called him from a fcene which had fhocked him 
 exceflively. * The firfl day I came here, faid he, 
 I was induced by the frequent groans which ifTueci 
 from the next chamber, to enquire who lodged 
 there; I learnt, it was a gentlewoman, who ar- 
 rived the day before, and was immediately taken 
 fo ill that they apprehended her life in danger ; 
 andj about two hours ago, the maid of the houfe 
 ran into my room, begging me to come to her 
 affiflance, for the gentlewoman was in fuch ftrong 
 fits, fhe was not able to hold her. I obeyed the 
 fummons, and found the poor woman in fits in- 
 deed ; but what appeared to me the laft agonies 
 of a life, which near exhaufted, lavifhes away its 
 fmall remains in ftrong convulfions. 
 ' By her bed -fide flood the moft beautiful child I 
 ever beheld, in appearance about ten years of 
 age, crying as if its little heart would break ; not 
 with the rage of an infant, but with the fettled 
 grief of a perfon mature both in years and afflicti- 
 on. I afked her if the poor dying woman was 
 her mother ; fhe told me, no, fhe was only her 
 aunt ; but to her the fame as a mother ; and fhe 
 did not know any one elfe that would take care 
 of her. 
 
 ' After a time the poor woman's convulfions left 
 her ; fhe juit recovered fenfe enough to embrace 
 the lovely girl, and cried out, Oh ! my dear child, 
 what will become of you ! a friendlefs, helplefs in- 
 fant ; and feeing me at her bed-fide, fhe lifted up 
 
 4 her
 
 Mifs MANCEL and Mrs. MORGAN. 33 
 
 her hands in a fuppliant pofture ; and with eyes 
 that petitioned in ftronger terms than words could 
 exprefs, Oh ! Sir, faid (he, though you are a ftran- 
 ger to me, yet I fee you are not fo to humanity ; 
 take pity on this forlorn child j her amiable dif- 
 pofition will repay you in this world, and the 
 great Father of us all will reward you in the next, 
 for your companion on a wretched friendlefs 
 girl ! but why do I call her frieridlefs ! her 
 innocence has the beft of friends in heaven ; the 
 Almighty is a parent (he is not left to feek for ; 
 he is never abfent ; Oh ! bleiled Lord ! cried 
 file, with a degree of extacy and confidence, 
 which moft fenfibly affected us all, to thy care I 
 refign her ; thy tender mercies are over all thy 
 works, and thou, who careft for the fmallefl part 
 of thy creation, will not deny her thy protection. 
 Oh ! Lord defend her innocence ! let her obtain 
 a place in thy kingdom after death ; and, for all 
 the reft I f^bmit to thy providence; nor pre- 
 fumptuoufly pretend, to dictate to fupreme wifdom. 
 Thou art a gracious father; and the afflictions 
 
 thou fendcft are Here her voice failed her ; 
 
 but, by her geftures, we could perceive (he con- 
 tinued praying ; and, having before taken the; 
 child in her arms ; the little angel continued 
 there for fear of difturbing her. By looks 
 fometimes turned towards the poor infant, and 
 fometimes with her hand on her own heart, and 
 then her eyes lifted up as it were to heaven, 
 we faw ihe mixed prayers for the little mourner, 
 with interceffions for herfelf, till fcnfe and mo- 
 tion feemed to fail her ; fhe then fell into a 
 convulfion, and expired. 
 
 ' The little girl perceived fhe was dead ; and 
 became, almoft as fcnfelefs, as the lump of 
 clay which had fo lately been her onlv friend. 
 C 5 * We
 
 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 We had but juft taken her from the body 
 fir, when you came ; and this was the oc- 
 cafion of the emotions you obferved in me. 
 ' The caufe was indeed fufficient, replied Mr. 
 Hintman, but 1 am glad your forrow proceeded 
 from nothing more immediately concerning your- 
 felf: Mifery will ftrike its arrows into a hu- 
 mane heart ; but the wound-, it makes are not fo 
 lafling, as thofe which are impreffed by pafiions 
 that are more relative to ourfelves. Oh fir, 
 faid the old man, you cannot form an ade- 
 quate idea of the effeft this fcene muft have on 
 every fpe&ator, except you had feen the child ! 
 furely nature never formed fo lovely a little crea- 
 ture !' He continued his praifes of Louifa, till 
 at length he excited Mr. Hintman's curiofity ; who 
 expreffing a defire of feeing this miracle, he was 
 carried up into the good man's room, to which 
 they had removed her. She, who had cried moft 
 bitterly before the fatal ftroke arrived, was now fo 
 opprefled, as not to be able to fhed a tear. They 
 had put her on the bed, where me lay fighing with 
 a heart ready to break ; her eyes fixed on one 
 point, me neither fa\v nor heard. 
 
 Though her countenance exprefTed unutterable 
 woe, yet fhe looked fo extremely beautiful, that 
 Mr. Hintman, highly as his expectation had been 
 raifed, was ftruck with furprize. He allowed he 
 never faw any thing fo lovely ; and the charms of 
 which her melancholy might deprive her, were more 
 than compenfated in his imagination by fo ftrong 
 'a proof of extreme fenfibility, at an age when few 
 children perceive half the dreadful confequences of 
 fuch a misfortune. 
 
 He advifed that fhe mould be blooded, to prevent 
 any ill effects from fo fevere a mock ; for as fhe 
 felt it as ftrongly as one of a more mature age, 
 
 the
 
 Mifs MANCEL and Mrs, MORGAN. 35 
 the fame precautions fhould be ufed. In this he 
 was obeyed ; and it gave her fuch relief that (he 
 burft into a flood of tears ; a change which ap- 
 peared fo falutary, that Mr. Hintman would not 
 immediately interrupt her. But his curiofity did 
 not fuffer him long to forbear afking her name, and 
 many other particulars ; feveral of which (he could 
 not anf'wer ; all the account {he was able to give 
 of herfelf was, that ' her name was Mancel ; 
 that the perlbn for whom fhe grieved was her 
 aunt ; but had had the fole care of her from her 
 earlieft remembrance. This aunt, (he faid, 
 had often told her (he had a father and mother 
 living ; but when {he enquired why me never faw 
 or heard from them ; fhe could get no fatisfac- 
 (orv anlwer, but was put off with being told 
 they were not in England ; and that {he {hould 
 know when me grew older. 
 
 ' This perfon had bred her up with the utmoft 
 tendernefs, and employed the moft affiduous care 
 in her education ; which was the principal ob- 
 ject of her attention. They had lived in a 
 neat cottage in the moft retired part of Surry 
 from A'lifs Mancel's earlieft remembrance, till 
 her aunt, after having been fome time in a 
 bad ftate of health, fell into a galloping 
 confumption. As foon as fhe apprehended 
 the danger with which her lire was threatned, 
 {he prepared every thing for her removal to Lon- 
 don ; but as {he did not expect ever to return, 
 this took more time than the quicknefs of her 
 decay could well allow. The hafty approach of 
 her diflblution affected her extremely on the ac-< 
 count of her little neice, and {he often exprefTed 
 her concern in terms intelligible to her whp was 
 the occafion of it, who gathered from the ex- 
 prefiions which fell from her aunt, that the 
 C 6 * motive
 
 ^ THE HISTORY OF 
 
 motive for the journey was to find out fome 
 of Mifs Mancei's relations, to whom fhe 
 might deliver her before death had put a pe- 
 riod to her own life ; and where (he might 
 fafely remain till the return of her parents into 
 England. 
 
 * In this refolution fhe difcharged the only 
 fervant fhe kept, delivered up her houfe to her 
 landlord, and, after having fettled all her pecu- 
 niary affairs, fhe fet out on her journey with 
 her little charge ; but grew fo ill on the road, 
 that fhe defired to be fet down at the firft 
 inn; and her illnefs encreafed fo faft fhe 
 had no thought of removing ; nor was fhe 
 able to make any very exat enquiries after 
 the perfons of whom fhe came in fearch.' 
 This account was interrupted with many tears, 
 which ferved to render it more affecting, and Mr. 
 Hintman as much touched as the good old 
 man, who was the occafion of his having heard 
 it, agreed with him, that it would be proper to 
 examine into the effe&s of which the deceafed was 
 then poftefTed ; and to fee if they could find any 
 paper which v/ould in a degree clear up the myfteri- 
 ous part of this affair. 
 
 This was accordingly performed ; but as to the 
 latter intention without any fuccefs ; for after all 
 the examination they could make, they remained 
 as much in the dark as ever. 
 
 They found in her trunk rather more money 
 than was requisite to bury her in a manner be- 
 coming her rank ; to defray the expences of her 
 fickneis j and to reward thofe that had attended 
 her. 
 
 The old man exprefled a willingnefs to take the 
 ehild ; he faid, * it was a legacy left him by one 
 4 who had conceived forae confidence in his hu- 
 
 * manity,
 
 Mifs MANCEL and Mrs, MORGAN. 37 
 manity, and he could not in conference difap- 
 point an opinion which did him honour ; though, 
 having children of his own, he did not pretend to 
 breed her up in the genteel manner to which fhe 
 feemed by birth entitled.' 
 
 Mr. Hintman replied, that, he fhould have 
 great reafon to reproach himfelf, if with the 
 ample fortune he enjoyed, and having no chil- 
 dren, or family to partake of it, he fhould fuf- 
 fer another to take that charge, to whom it 
 could not be fo convenient; he therefore would 
 immediately receive her as his child ; and fee 
 her educated in all accompliftiments proper for 
 a young perfon of fafhion and fortune ; as he 
 fhould be able to fupply all deficiency, if ne- 
 ceflary, in the latter particular.' 
 The old man was very glad to have the child 
 better eftablifhed than with him ; though he had 
 for fome hours looked with fo much pleafure on 
 her as his adopted daughter, that no confidera- 
 tion, but the profpeft of her greater advantage, 
 could have reconciled him to parting with 
 her. 
 
 In purfuance of the refolution Mr. Hintman 
 had taken, he carried Mifs Mancel to a French 
 boarding fchool, which he had heard commend- 
 ed; very prudently judging, that his houfe was 
 not a proper place for education, having there 
 no one fit to take care of a young perfon. 
 
 Louifa was fo oppreiTecl by the forlornnefs of 
 her fituation, that fhe felt none of that reluct- 
 ance to going amongft ftrangers, fo u&al with 
 children of her age. All the world f^p equally 
 unknown to her, therefore fhe was indifferent 
 where fhe was carried, only fhe rather wifhed 
 not to have been taken from the good old man, 
 whofe venerable afpeft, and companion a. te beha- 
 viour,
 
 3g THE H is TO R y OF 
 
 viour, had in fome degree attached her to him ; 
 hut fhe felt the generofity of Mr. Hintman's 
 declared intentions ; and, young as fhe was, had 
 too much delicacy to appear ungrateful, by fhew- 
 ing an unwillingiiefs to accompany him. Ma- 
 demoiielle d'Avaux, the miftrefs of the fchool, 
 was pleafed with the appearance of her young 
 fcholar, whofe tears had ceafed for fome time ; 
 and her face bore no disfiguring figns of for- 
 row ; the dejection which overfpread it, giv- 
 ing charms equal to thofe of which it robbed 
 it. 
 
 Mr. Hintman defired Mademoifelle d'Avaux 
 to take the trouble of providing Mifs Mancel 
 with all things requifite, and to put her in pro- 
 per mourning ; thofe minute feminine details be- 
 ing things of which he was too ignorant to acquit 
 himfelf well ; and gave ftricl: charge that her mind 
 fhould be cultivated with the greateft care, and no 
 accomplifhment omitted which fhe was capable of 
 acquiring. 
 
 What contributed much towards gratifying this 
 wiftiof Mr. Hintman's, was Mademoifelle d'Avaux's 
 houfe being fo full, that there was no room for 
 Louifa, but a {hare of the apartment which Mifs 
 Melvyn had h v herto enjoyed alone, and of which 
 fhe could not willingly have admitted any one to 
 partake but the lovely child who was prefented to 
 her for this purpofe. Her beautiful form prejudiced 
 everyone in her favour; but the diftrefs and forrow 
 which were imprefled on her countenance, at an 
 age generally too volatile and thoughtlefs to be 
 deeply afrV^ed, could not fail of exciting a tender 
 fenfibility in the heart of a perfon of Mifs Melvyn's 
 difpofition. 
 
 This young lady was of a very peculiar turn 
 of Mind. She had been the darling daughter of 
 
 Sir
 
 Mifs MANCEL and Mrs. MORGAN. 39 
 Sir Charles and Lady Melvyn, whofe attachment 
 to her had appeared equal ; but, in the former, 
 it was rather the refult of habit, and compliance 
 with Lady Melvyn's behaviour, than a deep-rooted 
 affection, of which his heart was not very fufcepti- 
 ble ; while Lady Melvyn's arofe from that entire 
 fondnefs which maternal love, and the moft diftin- 
 gu idling reafon could excite in the warmeft and 
 tendered of hearts. 
 
 Sir Charles was an eafy tempered weak man, 
 who gave no proof of good fenfe, but the fecret 
 deference he had to his wife's judgment, whofe 
 very fuperior underftanding was on nothing fo afli- 
 dubufly employed, as in giving confequence to 
 the man with whom {he was united, by the defire 
 of her parents, contrary to her inclination. Their 
 authority had been neceflary to reduce her to com- 
 pliance, not from any particular diflike to Sir 
 Charles, who had defervedly the reputation of fo- 
 briety, and great good nature, and whofe perfon 
 was remarkably fine ; but Lady Melvyn perceived 
 the weaknefs of his underftanding, and ignorant 
 of the ftrength of her own, was unwilling to en- 
 ter into life without a guide, whofe judgment was 
 equal to the defire he might naturally be fuppofed 
 to have to direct her right, through all the various 
 paths in which fhe might be obliged to walk j an 
 alljftance fhe had always expected from an hufband ; 
 and thought, even a neceffary part of that cha- 
 racter. She was befides fenfible of the difficulty 
 of performing a promife fo folemnly made, as that 
 of honour and obedience to one who, though fhe 
 knew not half her own excellence, fhe muft be 
 fenfible was her inferior. 
 
 Thefe reafons had deterred LaJy Melvyn from 
 marrying Sir Charles, but when fhe could no lon- 
 ger avoid it without violating her duty to her pa- 
 rents.
 
 4o THE HISTORY OF 
 
 rents, fhe refolded to fupply the apparent deficien- 
 cies in her hufband's underitanding, by a moft re- 
 fpetful deference to his opinions, thus conferring 
 diftindion on him, whom fhe wifhed every one to 
 efteem and honour ; for as there was no affeclati- 
 on in this part of her conduct, any more than in 
 the reft of her behaviour, all were convinced, that 
 the man. who was refpe&ed by a woman of an un- 
 derftanding fo fuperior to moft of her own fex, and 
 the greateft 'part of the other, muft have great 
 merit, though they could not perceive wherein it 
 confided. 
 
 In company Lady Melvyn always endeavoured 
 to turn the converfation on fuch fubje&s as fhe 
 knew were beft fuited to Sir Charles's capacity, 
 more defirous that he mould appear to advantage, 
 than to difplay her own talents. She contrived to 
 make all her actions appear the refult of his choice, 
 and whatever he did by her infHgation, feemed 
 even to himfelf to have been his own thoijght. 
 As their way of life was in every circum fiance 
 confonant to reafon, religion, and every virtue 
 which could render them ufeful and respectable to 
 others, Sir Charles acquired a character in the neigh- 
 bourhood, which Lady Melvyn thought a fufficient 
 reward for the endeavours fhe ufed to fecure it to 
 him ; and, for that purpofe, fixed her abode en- 
 tirely in the country, where his condudt might 
 give him the refpecl. which would not be fo eafily 
 obtained in a gayer fcene,where talents are in high- 
 er eftimation than virtue. 
 
 Sir Charles and Lady Melvyn had no other 
 child than the daughter I have mentioned, whofe 
 education was her mother's great care ; and me 
 had the pleafure of feeing in her an uncommon 
 capacity, with every virtue the fondelt parent could
 
 Mifs MANGEL and Mrs. MORGAN. 41 
 
 wifh ; and which indeed (he had by inheritance ; 
 but her mother's humility, made them appear 
 tro her, as a peculiar gift of providence to her 
 daughter. 
 
 Lady Melvyn foon began to inftil all the prin- 
 ciples of true religion into her daughter's infant 
 mind ; and, by her judicious inftructions, gave 
 her knowledge far fuperior to her years ; which 
 was indeed the moft delightful tafk of this fond 
 parent ; for her daughter's uncommon docility and 
 quick parts, continually ftimulated by her ten- 
 dernefs for the beft of mother's, made her 
 improve even beyond Lady Melvyn's expecta- 
 tion. 
 
 In this happy fituation Mifs Melvyn conti- 
 nued till near the end of her fourteenth year, 
 when (he had the misfortune to lofe this excel- 
 lent parent, nor was {he the only fufferer by Lady 
 Melvyn's death; every poor perfon within her 
 knowledge loit a benefa&refs ; all who knew her, 
 an excellent example ; and, fome, the beft of 
 friends; but her extraordinary merit was but im- 
 perfectly known till after her deceafe ; for (he had 
 made Sir Charles\ appear fo much the principal 
 perfon, and director of all their affairs ; that till 
 the change in his condudl proved how great her 
 influence had been, {he had only {hared the ap- 
 probation, which, afterwards, became all her 
 own. 
 
 Human nature cannot feel a deeper affliction 
 than now overwhelmed Mifs Melvyn ; wherein 
 Sir Charles bore as great a mare, a* the eafmefs of 
 his nature was capable of; but bis heart was 
 not fufceptible, either of ftrong, or lafting im- 
 preflions. He walked in the path Lady Melvyn 
 had traced out for him ; and fuffered his daughter 
 to imitate her mother in benevolent duties j and 
 
 {he
 
 "if 2 THE HISTORY of 
 
 fhe had profitted too much by the excellent pattern, 
 whereby fhe had endeavoured to regulate her acti- 
 ons, not to acquit herfelf far beyond what could 
 have been expe&ed at her years. 
 
 Mifs Melvyn was not long indulged in the only 
 confolation her grief could receive, that of being 
 permitted to aim at an imitation of her mother, 
 for Sir Charles had not been a widower quite a 
 year, when he married a young lady in the neigh- 
 bourhood, who had defigned him this honour from 
 the hour of Lady Melvyn's death ; and to procure 
 better opportunity for affecting her purpofe, had 
 pretended a moft affectionate companion for Mifs 
 Melvyn's deep affliction ; me vifited her continu- 
 ally j and appeared fo tenderly attached to her, 
 that Mifs Melvyn, who had neither experience, 
 nor any guile in her own heart to infpire her with 
 fufpicions of an attempt to deceive her, made that 
 return of affection which (he thought gratitude re- 
 quired ; nor was (he at all difturbed when (he found 
 fhe was foon to look on this lady in another light, 
 than that in which fhe had hitherto feen her ; it 
 was eafy for her to refpedl one whom fhe before 
 loved ; and fhe had been taught fo true a venera- 
 tion for her father, that fhe felt no averfenefs to 
 obey whomfoever he thought proper to give a title 
 to her duty. 
 
 Mifs Melvyn had but very little time to congra- 
 tulate herfelf on having acquired for a mother, a 
 friend in whofe converfation fhe hoped to enjoy 
 great fatisfa&ion, and to feel the tendernefs of an 
 intimate changed into the fondnefs of a parent. 
 She behaved to her with the fame perfect refpect, 
 and all the humility of obedience, as if nature - 
 had placed her in that parental relation ; fearing, 
 if fhe gave way to the familiarity which had fub- 
 filled between them when they were on an equa- 
 lity,
 
 Mifs MAUCEL and Mrs. MORGAN. 43 
 lity, it might appear like a failure in the reverence 
 due to her new Situation. 
 
 But this behaviour, amiable as it was, could not 
 make the now Lady Melvyn change the plan fhe 
 had formed for her future conduit. She had not 
 been married above a month, before (he began to 
 intimate to Sir Charles, ' that Mifs Melvyn's edu- 
 cation had been very imperfect ; that a young 
 lady of her rank ought to be highly accomplifhed ; 
 but that after (he had been fo long indulged by 
 her parents, if a mother-in-law were to pretend 
 to direct her, it might not only exafperate Mifs 
 Melvyn, but prejudice the world againft herfelf ; as 
 people are too apt to determine againft perfons in 
 that relation, without examining the merits of 
 the caufe j and though, fhe faid, {he was little 
 concerned about the opinion of the world, in 
 comparifon with her tender regard for any one 
 that belonged to him j yet fhe was much in- 
 fluenced by the other reafon fhe had alledged, for 
 not appearing to dictate to Mifs Melvyn, being 
 very defirous of keeping on affectionate terms 
 with her; and fhe was already much mortified, at 
 perceiving that young lady had imbibed too many 
 of the vulgar prejudices againft a mother-in-law ; 
 though, for her part, fhe had endeavoured to 
 behave with fubmiffion to her daughter, inftead 
 of pretending to aflume any authority.' The 
 confequence and concluflon of all thefe insinuations . 
 was, that c it would be advifeable to fend Mifs 
 
 * Melvyn to a boarding fchool.' 
 
 Sir Charles was foon prevailed with to comply 
 with his lady's requeft ; and his daughter was ac- 
 quainted with the determination ; which Lady Mel- 
 vyn allured her, < was very contrary to her inclina- 
 
 * tion, who fhould find a great lofs of fo agreeable 
 
 * a friend, but that Sir Charles had declared his in- 
 
 * tention
 
 44 THEHISTORYOF 
 
 * tention in fo peremptory a manner, that fhe 
 
 ' dared not contend.' 
 
 Mifs Melvyn had before obferved, that marriage 
 had made a great alteration in Lady Melvyn's beha- 
 viour j but this was a ftroke fhe did not expert, 
 and a very mortifying one to her, who had long 
 Jaid afide all childifh amufements ; had been taught 
 to employ herfelf as rationally as if {he had arrived 
 at amaturer age, and been indulged in theexercife 
 of a moft benevolent difpofition, having given fuch 
 good proofs of the propriety with which fhe emplov- 
 ed both her time and money, that fhe had been dif- 
 penfed from all reftraints; and now to commence a 
 new infancy, and be confined to the fociety of chil- 
 dren, was a very afflicting change ; but it came from 
 a hand fhe too much refpe&ed to make any refiit- 
 ance, though fhe eafiiy perceived that it was entire- 
 ly at her mother's inftigation ; and knew her father 
 too well, to believe he could be peremptory on any 
 occafion. 
 
 A very fhort time intervened between the de- 
 claration and execution of this defign, and Mifs 
 Melvyn was introduced to mademoifelle d'Avaux 
 by her kind mother-in-law, who with fome tears, 
 and many affurances of regret, left her there. 
 Mifs Melvyn had been at this fchool three months 
 when Louifa Mancel was brought thither, and 
 though a feparation from a father fhe fmcerely 
 loved, and the fear of the arts Lady Melvyn might 
 ufe to alienate his affections from her, after having 
 thus removed her from his prefence, greatly affect- 
 ed her fpirits, and fhe found no companions fit to 
 amufe her rational mind, yet fhe endeavoured to- 
 fupport her mortifications with all the chearfulnefs 
 fhe could aflume ; and received fome fatisfa&ion 
 from the converfation of Mademoifelle d'Avaux, a 
 
 ' woman
 
 Mifs MANGEL and Mrs. MORGAN-. 45 
 woman of tolerable underftanding, and who was 
 much pleafed with Mifs Melvyn's behaviour. 
 
 Mifs Mancel's dejected air prejudiced Mifs Mel- 
 vyn much in her favour j the ufual confequence of 
 a fimiHtude of mind or manners ; and when by a 
 farther knowledge of her, me perceived her un- 
 common mare of underftanding ; her defire to 
 learn ; the flrength of her application ; the quick- 
 nefs of her apprehenfion ; and her great fweetnefs 
 of temper, me grew extremely fond of her ; and 
 as Mifs Mancel's melancholy rendered her little in- 
 clined to play with ihofe of her own age, me was 
 almoft always with Mifs Melvyn, who found great 
 pleafure in endeavouring to inftrucl: her ; and grew 
 to feel ior her the tendernefs of a mother, while 
 Mifs Mancel began to receive confolation from ex- 
 periencing an affection quite maternal. 
 
 At the beginning of the winter, Lady Melvyn, 
 who had lefs ambition to imitate the real merit of 
 her predeceffor, than to exhibit her own imaginary 
 perfections, brought Sir Charles to London, there 
 to fix their refidence for the enfuing half year. 
 This made little alteration in Mifs Melvyn's way 
 of life. Sir Charles and his lady would fometimes 
 call upon her, the latter not chofing to truft Sir 
 Charles alone with his daughter, left fhe mould 
 reprefent to him, how unworthily fhe was treat- 
 ed ; but as he was not devoid of affection for her, 
 he would fometimes vifit her privately ; concealing 
 it from his lady, who endeavoured to prevent this, 
 by telling him, that ' fchool-miftrefles were apt to 
 6 take amifs a parent's vifiting his children too of- 
 ' ten, conftruing it as a diftruft of their care ; and 
 
 * therefore if he offended, in that way, Mademoifelle 
 
 * d'Avaux's difguft might affect her behaviour to 
 ' Mifs Melvyn, and render her refidence there ve- 
 
 * ry difagreeftble, which Lady Melvyn's great tender- 
 
 * mfs
 
 46 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 * nefs made her ardently wifii to avoid, as (he wai 
 
 * defirous every thing mould be agreeable to her 
 ' dear daughter.' Sir Charles could not be entire- 
 ly reftrained by thefe kind admonitions, from in- 
 dulging himfelf with the fight of Mifs Mel- 
 vyn. 
 
 His lady had little reafon to be afraid of thefe 
 interviews, for her daughter-in-law had too ftrong 
 a fenfeof filial obedience, and too delicate a regard 
 for her father's happinefs, to fuffer the leaft intima- 
 tion of a fault in his wife to efcape her lips, as a 
 good opinion of her was fo neceflary to his eafe j 
 but as (he foon found out thefe vifits were made by 
 ftealth, they gave her great pleafure, as a plain 
 proof of his affection. Lady Melvyn thought her 
 daughter's coming abroad would be as hurtful as her 
 being vifited at home, and therefore very feldom 
 fent for her to her houfe; and when fhe did, took 
 care to have her carried home before the hour that 
 {he expected company, on pretence of preferving the 
 regularity of hours, which me knew would be agree- 
 able to Mademoifelle d'Avaux. 
 
 The true reafon of this great caution, was an 
 unwillingnefs to be feen with one whofe perfon, 
 all her vanity could not prevent her from being fen- 
 fible, was more attractive than her own. Mifs Mel- 
 vyn was very pretty, had an engaging fweetnefs in 
 her countenance, and all the bloom which belongs 
 to youth, though it does not always accompany 
 it. Her perfon was elegant, and perfectly gen- 
 teel. 
 
 Lady Melvyn was void of delicacy ; flie had a 
 regular fet of features, but they wanted to be foft- 
 ened into effeminacy, before they could have any 
 }ull pretence to beauty. Her eyes were black, and 
 not void of vivacity, but they neither expreffed 
 penetration nor gentlenefs. Her perfon was well 
 
 proportioned,
 
 Mifs MANCEL and Mrs. MORGAN. 47 
 proportioned, but {he was formed on too large a 
 fcale, and deftitute of gr?ce. She was not ill 
 bred, but had none of that foftnefs of manners 
 which gives rife to all the fweet civilities of life. In 
 fhort, Lady Melvyn was one, who, by herfelf, and 
 many others, would be efteemed a fine woman, and 
 by many more, ranked only under the denomina- 
 tion of a fhewey woman ; like Mr. Bayes's hero, 
 fhe was unamiable, but fhe was great; flie excited 
 the admiration of fome, but pleafed none. 
 
 As foon as fhe appeared in the world as Lady Mel- 
 vyn, (he began to exercife what fhe thought only 
 lively coquetry ; but her entire want of grace and 
 delicacy, often made that appear like boldnefs, 
 which fhe defigned for vivacity. As her ambition. 
 to charm was as great as if fhe had been better 
 qualified for fuccefs, it is not ftrange, that fhe did 
 not choofe to give opportunities of comparifon be- 
 tween herfelf and a daughter, who, though not fo 
 ftriking at firft fight, was filled with attractions. 
 
 The contempt which her ladyfhip thought fhe 
 muft in juftice to her own underrtanding fhew for 
 her hufband's, and the fupercilious coldnefs with 
 which fhe treated Mifs Melvyn, made that young 
 lady very glad that fhe was fo feldom fent for to 
 her father's houfe. But fhe wifhed to learn fuch 
 accomplifhments, as whilft fhe lived in the coun- 
 try were out of her power, and therefore inti- 
 mated to lady Melvyn her defire of bein^ taught 
 mufic and drawing, with the better hope of fuc- 
 cefs, as the necefihy of compleating her education 
 had been made the excufe for fending her to a 
 boarding fchool ; but this requeft was denied her on 
 frivolous pretences, the real caufe, when fhe per- 
 ceived the very extravagant turn of her mother-in- 
 law, fhe foon underftood was to avoid expence. 
 
 She
 
 48 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 Shc had flattered herfelf fhe might obtain per- 
 miffion to have her books fent to her ; but upon 
 enquiry, found that Lady Melvyn had removed them 
 to her drefling-room, and intermixed them with 
 china, in fo ornamental a manner, fo truly expref- 
 five of the turn of her mind, where a pretended 
 love of reading was blended with a real fondnefs 
 for trifles, that (he had no chance for this indul- 
 gence. 
 
 While Mifs Melvyn was fuffering all thefe mor- 
 tifications from a parent, Mifs Mancel was recei- 
 ving every proof of the moil tender affe&ion from 
 one bound to her by no paternal ties. Mr. Hint- 
 man, as foon as the feafon of the year brought him 
 to town, vifited his little charge, and was charmed 
 with the vivacity which was now reftored to her. 
 He called upon her frequently, and ieldom with- 
 out fome prefent, or a propofal of iome pleafure. 
 He would continually entreat her to make, him 
 fome requeft, that he might have the pleafure of 
 gratifying her. He frequently gave Mademoifelle d'- 
 Avaux tickets for the play and the opera, that the 
 young Louifa might have fomebody to accompany 
 her ; but as Mifs Melvyn did not think it proper at 
 her age to go often with only her fchool-miilrefs, 
 or, according to the language of fchools, hergovcr- 
 nefs, Mifs Mancel frequently declined being of the 
 party, rather than leave her amiable friend. and in- 
 Itruaor, 
 
 There was no one who (hewed any particular ci- 
 vility to Mifs Mancel, but received (bine reiuin 
 from Mr. Hintman. Mifs Melvyn was very de- 
 Tervedly the chief object of his gratitude ; but as 
 the declined accepting the prefents he olFered her, 
 he chofe a way more agreeable to himfelf, is ic 
 would make his little Louifa the rev. aider of the 
 favours fhe received, He therefore was lavifh of
 
 Mifs MANGEL and Mrs. MORGAN. 49 
 his money to her, and entreated her to lay it out 
 in fuch manner, as would be moft agreeable to hef-- 
 felf and Mifs Melvyn ; at the fame time afking her, 
 ' by what means fhe could moft gratify that young 
 4 lady?' 
 
 Mifs Mancel faid, * fhe knew nothing that 
 
 * would be fo acceptable to Mifs Melvyn as books.' 
 To this Mr. Hintman replied, * Since that was 
 ' (he cafe, he could very eafily accommodate them, 
 for he had by him a very pretty library left him 
 ' by his fifter about a year before, which he had 
 
 * never unpacked, having moft of the fame books 
 
 * in his own frudy.' 
 
 This accordingly he fent to Mifs Mancel, with 
 proper book-cafes to contain them, which they 
 immediately put up in their apartments. This was 
 the moft agreeable acquifition imaginable ; for 
 Mifs Hintman having been a very fenfible young 
 lady, the collection- was extremely valuable. 
 
 Mr. Hintman's great indulgence could not fail 
 of receiving from J'viifs Mancel the wifh'd for re- 
 turn of affection and gratitude ; whenever he came 
 fhe flew to him with delight, carefled him with all 
 the fondnefs fo enchanting at that age, and parted 
 from him with the extremeft reluctance. Her great 
 obligations to him were the frequent fubjecls of her 
 difcourfe with Mils Melvyn, who had the higheft 
 admiration of his generofity. 
 
 His allowance to Mifs Mancel was fufiicient to 
 have defrayed all her expences, but thofe were to 
 be the care of Madtmoifelle d'Avaux, for the mo- 
 ney he gave Louifa was for no other purpofe than 
 her gratifications ; neceflity, or even ufefulnefs was 
 out of the queftion ; every thing of that kind be- 
 ing provided for her. Nor was he more fparing in 
 what concerned her education, fhe learnt dancing, 
 mutic, and drawing - } befides other things generally 
 D taught
 
 50 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 taught at fchools ; but her greateft improve- 
 ment was from reading with Mifs Melvyn, who 
 inftructed her in geography, and in fuch parts of 
 philofophy of which her age was capable ; but above 
 all, me was mort attentive to inculcate into her 
 mind the principles of true religion. 
 
 Thus her underltanding opened in a furprizing 
 degree, and while the beauty and graces of her per- 
 ibn, and her great progrefs in genteel accomplifh- 
 ments, charmed every eye, the nice difcernment, 
 and uncommon flrength of reafon which appeared 
 in her converfation, aitonifhed every judicious ob- 
 ferver ; but her moft admirable qualities were her 
 humility and modefty ; which, notwithftanding her 
 great internal and external excellencies, rendered 
 her diffident, mild, bafhful, and tractable ; her heart 
 feemed as free from defects, as her underftanding 
 was from the follies, which in a degree are incident 
 to almoft every other perfon. 
 
 Mifs Melvyn and her little companion received 
 a confiderable encreafe of happinefs from the pre- 
 fent of books Mr. Hintman had made them ; the 
 latter had no wifh, but that Mifs Melvyn might re- 
 ceive equal indulgence from parents, that me en- 
 joyed from one who bore no relation to her. The 
 firft defire that occurred to her on Mr. Hintman's 
 profufe prefents of money, was to treat her friend 
 with mailers for mufic and drawing, and fuch other 
 things as file knew me had an inclination to learn ; 
 but as fhe was not unacquainted with her delicacy 
 on that fubjecl, as foon as Mr. Hintman left her, 
 {he ran to Mils Melvyn with fome of the impatience 
 in her countenance, though fhe endeavoured to 
 conceal it, with which her heart was filled, and tri- 
 ed every tender carefs, every fond and humble pe- 
 tition, to obtain a promife from that young lady, 
 that fhe would grant her a requeft fhe had to make. 
 
 She 
 ft
 
 Mifs MANGEL and Mrs. MORGAN. 51 
 She hung round her neck, and endeavoured to pre- 
 vail by a thoufand engaging infantine arts ; and 
 when me found they would not fucceed, fhe knelt 
 down before her, and with all the grace and impor- 
 tunity of the moft amiabl'e fuppliant, tried to win 
 her to compliance. Nothing would avail, for Mifs 
 Melvyn was convinced by her earneftnefs, that her 
 defign was to confer fome favour ; (he knew the 
 generofity of her youthful mind too well to believe 
 fhe ib ardently aimed at any thing that was for her 
 own private gratification. 
 
 Thus Louifa found herfelf reduced to explain the 
 ufe fhe intended to have made of the promife fhe 
 wanted to obtain ; and having acquainted Mils 
 Melvyn with Mr. Hintman's generous allowance, 
 and of the payment fhe had received of the firtt 
 quarter, fhe in explicit terms told her, ' Mr. Hint- 
 man has indeed given me money, but it depends 
 on you to make that money yield me pleafure, by 
 fuffering me to apply it to fuch ufes, as will pro- 
 cure me the inexpreffible joy of contributing in 
 fome degree to the pleafure of one who renders 
 my life fo very happy.' 
 Mifs Melvyn was fo pleafed with the generofity 
 of her little pupil, that fhe gave her as many caref- 
 fes as the other had lavifhed on her, in order to ob- 
 tain the promife fhe fo much wifhed for ; but fhe 
 could not be induced to grant her requeft. Mifs 
 Melvyn was void of that pride which often con- 
 ceals itfelf under the name of fpirit and greatnefs 
 of foul ; and makes people averfe to receiving an 
 obligation, becaufe they feel themfelves too proud 
 to be grateful, and think that to be obliged, im- 
 plies an inferiority which their pride cannot fup- 
 port. Had Louifa been of the fame age with her- 
 felf, fhe would have felt a kind of property in all 
 fhe pofTeffed ; friendfhip, the tenure by which fhe 
 D 2 held
 
 52 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 held it ; for where hearts are ftriclly united, /he 
 had no notion of any diltindiion in things of lefs im- 
 portance, the adventitious goods of fortune. The 
 boundaries and barriers raifed by thofe two watchful 
 and fufpicious enemies, Meum and Tuum, were in 
 her opinion broke down by true friend/hip ; and all 
 property laid in one undiftinguilhed common ; but to 
 accept Mifs Mancel's money^efpecially in fo great 
 a proportion, appeared to her like taking advantage 
 of her youth ; and as (lie did not think her old 
 enough to be a fufficient judge of the value of it, 
 fhe did not look upon her as capable of being a party 
 in fo perfect a friendfhip, as was requifite to confti- 
 tute that unity of property. 
 
 Poor Louifa by this difappointment of the firft 
 \vifh of her heart, found what older people often 
 experience, that her riches inftead of pleafure pro- 
 cured her only mortification. She could fcarcely 
 refrain from tears at a refulal which {he thought mult 
 arife from want of affection, and told Mifs Melvyn, 
 fhe faw that (he loved her but imperfectly ; for, added 
 fhe, * Could we change places, with how mjch 
 pleafure fhould I have accepted it from you ! and 
 the fatisfaciion that learning thefe things now 
 give me would be turned into delight, by reflect- 
 ing on the gratification you would receive in hav- 
 ing been the means of procuring them for me. 
 I iliould not envy you the joy of giving, becaufe 
 I as receiver (hould not have the Ids {hare of that 
 fati faction, fmce by reflecting on yours I muft par- 
 take of it, and fo encreafe my own.' 
 Mifs Melvyn could not forbear blufhing at find- 
 ing a fuperior degree of delicacy, and a gentrolity 
 much more exalted, in one fo young, than fhe had 
 felt in herfelf. She plainly faw, that the greateft 
 proof of a noble mind is to feel a joy in gratitude; 
 far thofe who know all the pleafures of conferring 
 
 an
 
 Mifs MANCEL and Mrs. MORGAN. 53 
 an obligation, will be fenfible, that by accepting it 
 they give the higheft delight the human mind can 
 feel, when employed on human objects j and there- 
 fore while they receive a benefit, they will tafte not 
 only the comforts arifing from it to themfelves, but 
 fhave the gratification of a benefactor, from reflect- 
 ing on the joy they give to thofe who have conferred 
 it : thus the receiver of a favour from a truly gene- 
 rous perfon, * by owing owes not, and is at once 
 * indebted and difcharged.' 
 
 As Mifs Melvyn felt her little friend's reproach, 
 and faw that (he had done her injuftice in thinking 
 her youth rendered her incapable of that perfecloii 
 of friend(hip, which might juftify the accepting of 
 her offer ; fhe acknowledged her error, and afTureJ 
 her, c (he Would comply if {he had no other means 
 of obtaining the inftru<5tion fhe propofed to pur- 
 chafe for her ; but that was not the cafe, for fhe 
 found fhe could very well learn from feeing the 
 matters teach her, and pra&ifing in their ab- 
 fence.' 
 
 Mr. Hintman exprefied a defire that Mifs Mancel 
 fhould learn Italian, if fhe had no objection to it ; 
 for he never dictated to her, but offered any advice 
 he had to give, or any inclination which he chofe 
 to intimate, with the humility of a dependant, ra- 
 ther than the authority of a benefactor ; and in- 
 deed it was fufficicnt ; for the flighteft hint that any 
 thing would be agreeable to him, met with the molt 
 impatient defire in Mifs Mancel to perform it : ac- 
 tuated by fin cere affection, and the ftrongeit grati- 
 tude, nothing made her fo happy, as an oppor- 
 tunity to fhew him the readinels of her obedi-- 
 ence. 
 
 But as they were at a lofs for a matter to teach 
 
 her that language, Mifs Melvyn told them fhe knew 
 
 an Italian gentleman, who had been at Sir Charles's 
 
 D 3 houfe
 
 54 THE HISTORY- OF 
 
 houfenear two months before fhe had the misfortune 
 of lofing the beft of mothers. Lady Melvyn had 
 begun to teach her daughter Italian, but defirous 
 that fhe fhould fpeak it with great propriety, fhe 
 invited this gentleman to her houfe, who was re- 
 duced to great diftrefs of circumftances, and whofe 
 perfon, as well as his many virtues, fhe had known 
 from her childhood. He had been a friend of her 
 father's, and fhe was glad of this excufe for making 
 him an handfome prefcnt, which otherwife it was 
 not eafy to induce him to accept. 
 
 Mr. Hintman was not long before he procured 
 this Italian mafter for Mifs Mancel ; nor did flic 
 delay making ufe of his inltruclions ; but I fhall not 
 defcribe her progrefs in the acquifitions of this, any 
 rrrore than her other accomplifhments, in all which 
 fhe excelled to a furprizing degree j nor did Mifs 
 Atfelvyn fall very fhort of her, though (he was at 
 fuch difadvantage in her method of learning many 
 of them, not having the affiftance of a mafter. 
 Their time was fo entirely engrailed by thefe em- 
 ployments, that they had little leifure, and ft ill lefs 
 dc fire to keep company with the reft of the fchool ; 
 but they faved themfelves from the diflike which 
 might naturally have arifen in the mint's of the 
 other fcholars, from being thus neglected, by 
 little prefents which Mifs Mancel frequently made 
 them. 
 
 Thefe two young ladies were very early rifers, 
 and the time which was not taken up by Mifs 
 Mancel's mafters, and that wherein it was requi- 
 fite to praclife what they taught her, they employed 
 in reading, wherein Mr. d'Avora, their Italian maf- 
 ter, often accompanied them. 
 
 Mr. d'Avora was a man of excellent underftand- 
 ing, and had an incomparable heart. Misfortunes 
 had foftened common humanity into a nioft tender 
 
 difpofition j
 
 Mifs MANCEL and Mrs. MORGAN. 55 
 
 difpofition ; and had given him a thorough know- 
 lege of mankind, without lefiening his benevolence 
 for individuals ; though fuch as learn it by adverfity, 
 the fureft fchool for that fcience, feldom fee them 
 in an amiable'light. 
 
 Mr. d'Avora \vas not lefs acquainted with parti- 
 cular nations than with mankind in general ; he 
 had travelled through all the countries in Europe, 
 fome parts of Afia and Africa, and having traverfed 
 them with difcernment, and the curiofity of wifdom, 
 not of impertinence, he received fuch improve- 
 ment of underftanding, as few travellers can 
 boaft. 
 
 He had an affeclion for Mifs Melvyn, both for her 
 own merits and the obligations he had to her fami- 
 ly, and a very (hort acquaintance with Mifs Man- 
 eel made him extremely fond of her. He took 
 great pleafure in afiifting them in the improvement 
 they fo induftrioufly laboured for, and as he was a 
 man of univerfal knowlege, he was capable of being 
 very ufeful to them in that refpeft. For this pur- 
 pofe he often read with them, and by explaining 
 many books on abftrufe fubje&s, rendered feveral 
 authors intelligible to them, who, without his affift- 
 ance, would have been too obfcure for perfons of 
 their age. He had very few fcholars, therefore had 
 much leifure, and with great fatisfa&ion dedicated 
 part of it to our young ladies, as he faw he thereby 
 gave them a very lincere pleafure ; and he was much 
 gratified with thinking that by his care, and inftruc- 
 tion of Mifs Melvyn, he made fome return for the 
 fricndmip he had received from her family ; and 
 that could her mother be ienfible of his attendance 
 on her much-loved and now neglected daughter, it 
 would be highly agreeable to her. 
 
 D 4 In
 
 56 T H E H I S T O R Y OF 
 
 fn the manner I have mentioned, thefe two 
 young ladies paft their time, till Mils Mancel reach- 
 ed her fifteenth year, with little alteration, except 
 the encreafe of her charms, and her great improve- 
 ment in every accomplifhment. Her appearance 
 began to grow womanly, (he -was indeed, 
 
 * In the bloom of beauty's pride,' 
 
 Dazzlingly handforne at fiifl view; but fuch nume- 
 rous and various charms appeared on a more inti- 
 mate acquaintance, that people forgot how much 
 they had been {truck by the firit fight of her, loll in 
 wonder at her encreafmg attractions, to the force 
 of which fhe was the only perfon that was infenfi- 
 ble. Humble piety rendered her indifferent to cir- 
 cumftances, which fhe looked upon rather as fnares 
 than bleflings, and like a perfon on the brink of a 
 precipice could not enjoy the beauty of the profpectj 
 over-awed by the dangers of her fituation. 
 
 She had indeed too much of human nature in 
 her not to feel fometimes a little flufli of vanity on 
 feeing herfelf admired ; but fhe immediately cor- 
 rected the foible, by reflecting, that whatever ad- 
 vantages of mind or form had fallen to her fhare, 
 they were given her by one who expected {he 
 fhould not luffer her thoughts or attention to be 
 withdrawn thereby from him, who was the per- 
 fection of all excellence, while fhe at beft could 
 but flatter herfelf with being leh imperfect than ma- 
 ny of her fellow creatures. 
 
 Sheconfidered flattery and admiration as the rocks 
 on which young people, who are at all fuperior to 
 the multitude, are apt to be wrecked ; deprived of 
 .quiet happinefs in this world, and exalted felicity 
 in the next ; and as (he was really convinced, that 
 file had only a few obvious external advantages 
 
 over
 
 Mifs MANGEL and Mrs. MORGAN. 57 
 over others, fhe oppofed to the praifes lavifhed on 
 her, reflections on her imperfections, which, though 
 not apparent to any one but herfelf, fhe verily be- 
 lieved were uncommonly great, as fhe beheld them 
 with very fcrutinizing and rigid eyes, while fhe 
 looked on thofe of others with the greateft lenity. 
 But of all the means fhe ufed to preferve her hu- 
 mility, fhe was the moft affiduous in praying to 
 him who made her heart, to preferve it humble. 
 
 Though the degree of piety I mention, rnny 
 found in the ears of many too grave for fo young 
 a perfon, yet it by no means rendered her fb ; fho 
 had great vivacity 5 a lively imagination; an un- 
 common fhare of wit; and a very happy manner 
 of" cxpreffing herielf. She had all the amiable gai- 
 ety of youth, without the leaft tendency to impru- 
 dence ; and when fhe talked moft, and, in appear- 
 ance, let fancy aiiume the reins, laid nothing to. 
 repent of. Her heart was all purity, univcrfal be- 
 nevolence and good -nature ; and as out of its abun- 
 dance Her mouth (pake, fhe was in little danger of 
 offending with her tongue. 
 
 It is not ilrange that Mr. Hlntman's fondueis 
 fhould increafe with fvjifs Mancel's excellencies^ 
 but the care lies which fuited her earlier years were 
 now become improper; a*nd Mr. Hintman, by ap- 
 pearing infenftble of the necefi'ary change, of beha 
 viour, reduced her to great difficulties ; fhe could not 
 reconcile herielf to receiving of them , and yet to. 
 inform him of the impropriety, implied a forward 
 conicioufneis which fhe was not able to afTume. 
 
 She communicated the vexation of her minu to 
 IVIifs Melvyn, who was ft ill more alarmed, as her 
 fupu'ior age and experience rendered her more ap.- 
 prehenfive ; but ilie knew not what to advife. 
 
 D 5 Is
 
 g8 THU HISTORY OF 
 
 In this dilemma Mifs Melvyn had recourfe to 
 their good friend, whofe knowledge of mankind, 
 his integrity and prudence, rendered him the fafeft 
 guide. Accordingly one day when Louifa was call- 
 ed from them to Mr. Hintman, who came to make 
 her a vifit, Mifs Melvyn inform'd Mr. d'Avora, of 
 the reafon why her friend obeyed thefummons with 
 Jefs joy, than he had obferved in her on the like oc- 
 cafion the year before. 
 
 Mr. d'Avora was much difturbed at this infor- 
 mation ; but not chufing to increafe the uneafinefs 
 the young ladies feemed to be under till he had 
 more certain foundation for his opinion, he only in- 
 timated, that cuftoms were hard to break, but he 
 * fhouldhope, that when Mr. Hintman reflected on 
 the impropriety of behaving to a young woman 
 as if (he was ftill a child, he would alter it, and 
 if he was not immediately fenfible of the differ- 
 ence a fmall addition of age makes, yet her be- 
 haviour would lead him to recollect it.' 
 Although Mr. d'Avora feemed to pay little re- 
 gard to what Mifs Melvyn faid, yet it made great 
 impreflion on him, and as foon as he left her, he 
 took all proper meafures to enquire into the cha- 
 racter, and ufual conduct of Mr. Hintman. 
 
 This fcrutiny did not turn out at all to his fatis- 
 faction, every account he received was the fame ;. 
 he had not the pleafure of finding what is ufually 
 aflerted, that * all men have two characters ;' for 
 Mr. Hintman had but one, and that the moft 
 alarming that could be for Mifs Mancel. Every 
 perfon told him, ' that Mr. Hintman had a very 
 great fortune, which he fpent entirely in the gra- 
 tification of his favourite vice, the love of wo- 
 men j on whom his profufenefs was boundlefs. 
 That as he was eafily captivated, fo he was foon 
 tired 3 and feidorn kept a woman lc)ng after he 
 
 had
 
 Mifs MANGEL and Mrs. MORGAN, 59 
 had obtained the free pofieflron of her ; but ge- 
 nerally was more bountiful than is cuftomary 
 
 * with men of his debauched principles at parting 
 
 * with them.' 
 
 This, Mr. d'Avora was afiured, was Mr. Hint- 
 man's only vice ; that he was good-natured, and 
 generous on all occafions. From this account he 
 faw too great reafon to fear, that all the care which 
 had been taken to improve Mifs Mancel, arcie 
 only from a fort of epicurifm in his predominant 
 vice, but yet this was too doubtful a circumflance 
 to be the ground-work of any plan of action. A 
 man of acknowledged generofity and good-nature, 
 however vicious, might do a noble adtion without 
 having any criminal defign. In this uncertainty of 
 mind he knew not what to advife her, and was un- 
 willing to excite fuch fears in the breafts of the'e 
 two young friends, as might be groundlefs ; but 
 yet would entirely deftroy their peace ; therefore, 
 he only told Mifs Melvyn in general terms, that, 
 Mr. Hintman's character was fuch, as rendered it 
 very necefiary that Lou i fa fhould be much on her 
 guard ; but that whether more than prudent cau- 
 tion, and decent referve were reqaiute, her own 
 obfervation muft difcover, for no one elfe could 
 determine that point, fmce he had the reputation 
 of being generous as well as debauched ; there- 
 fore his actions towards her might be, and he 
 hoped were, the refult of his greciteft virtue, rather 
 than of his predominant vice.' 
 Mifs Melvyn made a faithful report of what Mr. 
 d'Avora had faid to her, which filled both her- 
 felf and her friend with inexprefiible uneafi- 
 nefs. 
 
 Louifa was in great difficulty how to ad, be- 
 tween gratitude and affection on the one fide, and 
 neceffary caution and referve on the other. She was 
 I> 6 alm&it
 
 60 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 almort as much afraid of appearing ungrateful, as of 
 being imprudent. She found little aififtance from 
 the advice of her friends, who declared themfelves 
 incapable of directing her, therefore (he was obli- 
 ged to lay afide all dependance on her own care, and 
 to truft in that of heaven, convinced that her inno- 
 cence would be guarded by that power who knew 
 the integrity and purity of her heart ; and that while 
 file preferved it unblemifhed, even in thought antl 
 inclination, her prayers for his protection would not 
 be unavailing. 
 
 The remainder of the winter pafTed like the for- 
 mer part, only that the encreafe of her apprehenfi- 
 ons, fo far leflened her eafy vivacity, that Mr. 
 Hintman obferved the alteration, and complained of 
 the conftraint and awe which damped her converfa- 
 tion. 
 
 As the fchool broke up at Eafter, he entreated 
 her to accompany him that {hort time into the 
 country, from which {he would gladly have ex- 
 cufed herfelf, both on account of her fears, and of 
 her unwillingnefi to leave Mifs Melvyn, of whofe 
 conversation {he was now more particularly tena- 
 cious, as lady Melvyn had determined to furFer her 
 to return home in a {hort time, not knowing how 
 to jexcufe her remaining longer at fchool, as {he was 
 entered into her one and twentieth year. Mifs 
 Jvl el vy would have been glad that her lad) {hip had 
 not {hewn this token of regard to popular opinion ; 
 for fmce {he had enjoyed Mifs Mancel's company, 
 and been in pofleffion of fo good a collection of 
 books, {he was grown perfectly contented withhor 
 fituation. 
 
 Louifa, to make Mr. Hintman defift from the re- 
 queft he urged with fo much importunity, tried 
 every means that did not appear like a total difm- 
 clination to accompany him, for any . thing that 
 
 bore
 
 Mifs MANCEL and Mrs. MORGAN. 61 
 bore the air of ingratitude could not be fupported 
 by her, w,hofe heart was fo void of it, and who 
 thought (he could never feel enough for her bene- 
 factor, if his defigns were not fo criminal, as 
 fhe feared, bat fcarcely could fuffer herfelf to> 
 iufpecl. 
 
 Mr. Hintman was too ardent in his purpofes to 
 give up his favourite fchems, and Louifa beheld 
 with inexpreffible concern the day approach, when 
 fhe mu ft either accompany him into the country, 
 or difobh'ge him for ever, and make herfelf appear 
 extremely ungrateful in the eyes of a man, whom.: 
 ihe loved and honoured like a father. Her addrefies 
 to heaven for protection now became more vehe- 
 ment and continual, and the gre?/.it part of her time 
 was fpent on her knees ui. praying to that power i& 
 whom file trufted. MiisMelvyn and Mr. cTAvora-were 
 fcarcely lefs anxious, or under fewer apprehenfions 
 th^ui herfelf, but could fee no refburce except in the 
 protection of the Almighty, to whom we feldom ap- 
 ply with entire faith and rcfignation while we have 
 any hopes in human affiflance. 
 
 Two days before that fixed on for the purpofed 
 journey, when Louifa's anxiety was rifeii to the 
 utmoft height, the fchool-miftrefs entered the room, 
 with a countenance fo melancholy, as was more fu it- 
 able to t e fituation of mind in which the two 
 young friends were then in, than to any reafcm 
 they apprehended flie could have for an air of fo 
 rAuch forrow. She foon began a difcourfe, which 
 they immediately apprehended was preparatory 10 
 the opening of fome fatal event, and which, as rs 
 ufual in fuch cafes., was, if poflible, more alarming 
 than any misfortune it . could precede. The la- 
 dies exprefled their fears, and begged to be acquaint- 
 ed with what had befallen them. After conlidera- 
 ble efforts to deliver her of the fecret wiih which 
 
 fhe
 
 6l THEHlSTORYOF 
 
 (he was pregnant, they learnt that a gentleman 
 was in the parlour, who came to inform Mifs Man- 
 eel, that Mr. Hintman died the day before in a fit 
 of an apoplexy. 
 
 All Louifa's fears and fufpicions vanished at once, 
 and grief alone took pofleffion of her heart. The 
 fhock fo entirely overcame her, that fhe was not 
 able to fee the fatal meflenger of fuch melancholy 
 tidings as the death of her benefactor, and fecond 
 father. Mifs Melvyn was obliged to undertake this 
 office, and learnt from the gentleman, that Mr. 
 Hintman died without a will, and therefore left the 
 poor Louifa as deftitute, except being enriched by 
 various accomplifhments, as he found her, and at a 
 much, more dangerous time, when her beauty would 
 fcarcely fuffer compaflion to arife unaccompanied 
 with fofter fentiments. This gentleman proceeded 
 to inform Mifs Melvyn, that c iiis father and ano- 
 ther perfon of equal relation to Mr. Hintman, 
 were heirs at law. He expreffed great concern 
 for Mifs Mancel, and wifhed he had his father's 
 power of repairing Mr. Hintman's negledr, but 
 that his influence extended no farther than to 
 obtain a commiflion to pay the expences of ano- 
 ther year at that fchool, that the young lady 
 might have time to recollect herfelf after fo fa- 
 tal a change, and determine at leifure on her future 
 courfe of life.' 
 
 Mifs Melvyn was fo fenfibly touched at the prof- 
 peel: of the approaching diftrefs with which her 
 friend was threatened, that (he burft into tears, 
 and uttered feme exclamations concerning * the in- 
 ' confiitency of that affe&ion, which could fuffer 
 * a man to reft a moment without fecuring a pro- 
 vifion in cafe of death, to a young woman he 
 ' feemed to love with the greateft excels of tender- 
 ' nefs.' * Believe me, madam, faid the young gen- 
 tleman.
 
 Mifs MANCEL and Mrs. MORGAN. 63 
 tleman, l Mr. Hintman was capable of no love 
 4 that was not entirely fenfual, and confequently 
 4 felfifh ; all who knew him lamented the fate of a 
 
 * young woman, who by every account is fo fu- 
 ' periorly lovely. Among his friends he made no 
 4 lecret of his defigns in all he had done for her, 
 c and boafted frequently of the extraordinary charms 
 4 which were ripening for his pofleffion. It was 
 4 but two days ago, that he was exulting in the 
 ' prcfence of fome of them, that the time was now 
 approaching, when he fhould be rewarded for 
 
 * long expectation, and boundlefs expence j for he 
 4 fhould then, he faid, be fure of her perfon, and 
 
 * had long fecured her heart. He knew he had 
 
 * ftrong prejudices and ftrange fcruples to combat ; 
 4 but was prepared, and fhould not find them diffi- 
 
 * cult to conquer; at worft, his freward in a par- 
 
 * fon's habit would lull them all to fleep.' 
 
 4 Good heaven ! cried Mifs Melvyn, could there 
 
 * be fuch a wretch, and were there men who- 
 
 * would keep company with him, who would bear 
 
 * the difgrace of being called his friends r 
 
 4 Your notions, madam, replied the gentleman, 
 
 * are too refined for perfons who live in the world : 
 4 fhould a man infifl on ftricl: morals in all his ac- 
 4 quaintance, he might *>njoy a foiitude in the moil 
 
 * populous city ; though, I confefs, nothing but 
 6 ties of kindred could have made me intimate with 
 
 * cne of Mr. Hintman's character, which I fhould 
 ' not thus have expofed to you, but as I imagined 
 
 * a better knowledge of the mau 3 might alleviate 
 
 * the affliction you feemed to feel for Mifs Mancel's 
 4 having loft one whom you elteemed fo fin cere a 
 4 friend. I fhould have been glad, continued he, 
 4 could I have feen the young lady, of whom Mr. 
 
 * Hintman told fuch wonders ; but I will not pre- 
 
 * fume to prefs it, time may offer me fome oppor- 
 
 * tucity
 
 64. THE HISTORY OF 
 
 ' tunity for fatisfying my curofity without paining 
 ' her, I therefore take my leave, with only requeft- 
 ' ing your permiflion to remit the'mcmey of which 
 ' I was made the bearer.' 
 
 Mils Melvyn was fo much affected with her 
 friend's fituation, that (he took the paper the gen- 
 tleman oftered her, without having power to reflect 
 whether fbe ought to accept it, or being able to 
 make him any acknowledgment ; and he retired di- 
 rectly. She was obliged to ftay fome time to com- 
 pofe her fpirits before (he went to her friend, that 
 flie might be the better able to comfort her. On 
 examining the paper, {he. found it a bank-note of 
 an hundred pounds, which was now become all 
 Mifs Mancel's fortune. 
 
 Lament could not forbear interrupting Mr . 
 Maynard in this place, by fome very fevere reflexi- 
 ons on Mr. Hintman's having neglected to make a 
 provifion for Mifs Mancel in cafe of his death, 
 which I believe was the part of his conduit that to 
 Lament appeared moft inexcufable ; for though he 
 is too fafhionable to think intriguing very criminal, 
 yet he is naturally generous, as far as money is con- 
 cerned. * I cannot think, replied my coufm, that " 
 Mr. Hintman's behaviour in that particular can 
 be much wondered -at. Death to fuch a man 
 muft be fo dreadful an event, that he will natu- 
 rally endeavour to banifh it from his mind, when- 
 ever it attempts to intrude, and when a perfou 
 takes fo little care to make provifion for his own 
 happinefs after death, is it ftrange he fhould be 
 unmindful of what {hall befall another after that 
 fatal period ? when a man negledts his own fou!^ 
 and deprives himfeif of all hope of everlafting 
 felicity, can we expect he fhould take any trou- 
 ble to provide for the temporal convenience cf 
 another perfon ? 
 
 Befides,.
 
 Mifs MANGEL and Mrs. MORGAN. 65 
 
 * Befidcs, could lie, who aimed at reducing an 
 
 * innocent and amiable young woman to guilt and 
 
 * infamy in this world, and eternal perdition in the 
 
 * next, be under any concern left fhe (hould fall 
 
 * into the lelTer miseries of poverty ? it would 
 
 * have been an inconfiitency in fuch a cha- 
 
 ' You fee gallantry in a very ferious light, ma- 
 ' dam, laid Lament i* 
 
 ' I do indeed, fir, anfwered Mrs. Maynard, I 
 ' look on it as the moil dangerous of vices, it de- 
 ' ttroys 'truth, honour, humanity, it is directly 
 ' contrary to the laws of God, is the deftruclion 
 
 * of fociety, and almoft as inconfiftent with mo- 
 
 * rality as with religion.' 
 
 { I beg pardon, madam, interrupted Lamont, 
 (who felt himfelf a little touched with what fhe 
 4 faid) for breaking into your narrative, and muft 
 
 * beg you will continue it.' 
 
 Mifs Melvyn, refumed- Mrs. Maynard, was too 
 well acquainted with the ftrength of Louifa's mind, 
 to think it necefiary to conceal from her any part 
 of what had pafied between herfelf and Mr. Hint- 
 man's relation. 
 
 Louifa, much affected by Mr. Hintman's dying, 
 with a heart fo unfit to appear at the tribunal be- 
 fore which he was fo fuddenly fummoned, thought 
 not immediately of herfelf; but when fhe re- 
 flecled on the dangers fhe had efcaped, (he blefled 
 her poverty, fince it was the confequence of an 
 event which delivered her from fo much greater evils, 
 and fent up many fincere and ardent thanksgivings 
 to heaven, for fo fignal a prefervation. Thefe 
 thoughts pofleffed our young friends for the firft 
 three or four days after Mr. Hintman's death ; but 
 then they began to think it requifite to confult 
 with Mr. d'Avora, on what courfe of life it was 
 
 moft
 
 66 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 moft advifable for Mifs Mancel to enter. This was 
 a difficult point to determine ; though her under- 
 {landing and attainments were far fupcrior to her 
 years, yet they were fenfible her youth would be a 
 great impediment to her in any undertaking. Mr. 
 d'Avora therefore advifed, that fhe fhould continue 
 a little longer at the fchool, and then fix in the 
 moft private manner imaginable for three or four 
 years, by which time he hoped to be able to efta- 
 blifh her in fome widow's family, as governefs to 
 her children ; for he told her {he muft not expect, 
 while her perfbn continued fuch as it then was, 
 that a married woman would receive her in any capa- 
 city that fixed her in the fame houfc with her hufband. 
 
 As Mifs Mancel had many je%vels and trinkets 
 of value, fhe had no doubt but that with oeconomy, 
 ihe might fupport herfelf for the term Mr. d'Avora 
 mentioned, and even longer if requifite, as ihe 
 could add to her little fund by the produce of her 
 indufhy. As IVI ifs Melvyn's return home drew near, 
 it was agreed, that fhe fhould feek out Tome place 
 in Sir Charles's neighbourhood, where Louifa might 
 lodge cheaply and reputably ; and in the mean time 
 Mr. d'Avora fhould difpofe of whatever fhe had of 
 value, except her books and her harpficord ; thefq 
 fhe refolved not to part with till the produce of her 
 other things, and the money fhe had by her, was 
 /pent, as they would not only amufe her in the 
 country, but afford her the power of improving 
 herfelf in thofe accomplifhments which were to bo 
 her future provifion. 
 
 This plan foftened the pangs of feparation when 
 the time of Mifs Melvyn's departure arrived. It 
 was not long before fhe found out an apartment at 
 a reputable farmers, where Mifs Mancel rnight 
 lodge conveniently. Had it been a lefs tolerable 
 place, its vicinity to Sir Charles's houfe, from which 
 
 it
 
 Mifs MANGEL and Mrs. MORGAN. 67 
 it was but a quarter of a mile diftant, would have 
 made it a very delightful abode to her, and {he 
 ibon repaired thither. 
 
 Great was the joy of the two friends at meeting. 
 Mifs Melvyn's fituation at home was rendered as 
 irkfome as poffible, by Lady Melvyn's behaviour 
 both to her and Sir Charles, who, notwithstanding 
 her ill treatment, was extremely fond of, and to- 
 tally guided by her. His mind was fo entirely en,- 
 flaved, that he beheld nothing but in the light 
 wherein (he pleafed to reprefent it, and was fo ea- 
 fy a dupe, that {he could fcarcely feel the joys of felf 
 triumph in her fuperior art, which was on no fub- 
 jecT: fo conftantly exerted, as in keeping up a cold- 
 nefs in Sir Charles towards his daughter ', this {he 
 had with tolerable facility effected in her abfence, 
 and was affiduoufly careful to preferve now flie was 
 prefent. To thofe who know not the power an art- 
 ful woman can obtain over a weak man, it would 
 appear incredible, that any father could be preju- 
 diced againft a daughter, whofe whole attention 
 was to pleafe him. She had fo perfect a command 
 over her temper, that fhe never appeared to take 
 offence at any thing Lady Melvyn faid or did, 
 though that lady endeavoured by every provocation 
 to throw her off her guard. This behaviour only 
 encreafed her hatred, which was not in the leaft 
 abated by Mifs- Melvyn's taking every opportunity 
 of being ferviceable to her brothers and fifters-in- 
 law. Lady Melvyn perfuaded Sir Charles, that his 
 daughter's calmnefs was only affumed in his pre- 
 fence, and continually complained of her infolence, 
 when he was not by. If he ever appeared to doubt 
 the truth of her report, flie would burft into tears, 
 complain of his want of love, and little confidence 
 in her ; and fometimes thought proper to {hew her 
 grief at fuch treatment, by a pretended hyfteric fit, 
 
 always
 
 68 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 always ready at call to come to her affiftance, though 
 really fo unneceffarily lavifhed on one eafily duped 
 without thofe laborious means, that it appeared a 
 wantonnefs of cunning, which was thus exerted 
 only for its own indulgence. She foon perceived 
 that Mifs Melvyn rather chofe to fubmit to any af- 
 perfions, than to render her father unhappy, by un- 
 deceiving him ; and taking advantage of this gene- 
 rofuy, Would fometimes, to eftablifh his opinion of 
 her veracity, accufe Mil's Melvyn to her face of of- 
 fences which {he had never committed, and things 
 {he had never faid. 
 
 In fuch a fituation the arrival of a friend, into 
 whofe fympathetie bofom fhe could pour all her 
 griefs, and in whofe delightful focietylhe could for- 
 get them, was the higheft bleffing. But Lady Mel- 
 vyn contrived to make her feel mortifications even 
 in this tendereft particular, for though fhe was in 
 her heart glad to have her out of the houfe, that 
 fhe might not be witnefs of much improper beha- 
 viour, yet (he would fometimes mortify herfelf in 
 order to teaze Mifs Melvyn, by preventing her from, 
 going to her beloved friend ; and continually alledg- 
 ed, her fpending fo much time with Louifa, as a 
 proof of that averfion fhe had made Sir Charles 
 believe Mifs Melvyn had to her. 
 
 Louifa felt deeply her friend's uneafmefs, but 
 when they were together they could not be unhappy. 
 They feldom parted a day without feeing each other, 
 but as Lady Melvyn had taken no notice of Louifa, 
 fhe could not go to her boufe, therefore their meet- 
 ings were at her lodgings, where they often read to- 
 gether, and at other times would apply to mufic to 
 drive away melancholy reflexions. As Louifa wifli- 
 ed to remain near her friend as long as poffible, fhe 
 endeavoured, by taking in plain-work, to provide 
 for iome part of her current expcnces, the lefs to di- 
 
 minifh
 
 Mifs MANGEL and Mrs. MORGAN. 69 
 minifh the little fund file had by her. She like wife 
 employed part of her time in painting, having rea- 
 fon to hope-, that if (he could find a means of offer- 
 ing her pictures to fale, fhe might from them raife 
 a very convenient fu:n. While he was thus con- 
 triving to enable herfelf to enjoy for many years 
 the converfation of her friend, Lady Melvyn was 
 as induftrioufiy laying fchemes that, if fuccefsful, 
 muft difappoint all the young ladies hopes. 
 
 Towards the end of the autumn, Mr. Morgan, 
 a man of fortune, who had fpent above half a year 
 in a fruidefs purfuit after health, made a vifit to a 
 gentleman in the neighbourhood. Unfortunately 
 Mifs Melvyn's charms made a conqueft of this gen- 
 tleman, in whom age had not gained a viclory over 
 pailion. Mifs Melvyn's , b*mility occafioned her 
 being the laft perfon who perceived the impreflion 
 {he had made on his heart, and his age would fcarce- 
 ly fuffer her to believe her fenfes when the fymp- 
 toms became mod apparent. A girl may find fome 
 amufement in a young lover, though fhe feels no 
 difpofition in herfelf to return his paffion, her va- 
 nity is flattered by his addreiles, and a woman mull 
 be very little difpofed to be pleafed, who receives 
 no pleafure from one who is continually endeavour- 
 ing to oblige and amufc her ; but the moft whim- 
 fical of the poets never fancied a grey- bearded Cu- 
 pid, or reprefentcd Hymen with a torch in one hand, 
 and a crutch in the other. I allow that, 
 
 * Oft the matrimonial Cupid, 
 
 * Lafh'd on by time grows tir'd and ftupid,' 
 
 And dees not always wear that blooming joyous 
 countenance, which the painters give him ; but 
 fhould any capricious artift take the fickle out of 
 the hand of old Time, and in its place put Hymen's 
 
 torch,
 
 jo THE HISTORY OF 
 
 torch, the picture might be thought very unnatural, 
 yet would reprefent a proper hymeneal Cupid to at- 
 tend Mr. Morgan to the altar. 
 
 Such a lover could excite no emotion in his mif- 
 trefs's heart but difguft. Mifs Melvyn's principles 
 were too delicate to fuffer her to think, (he had any 
 title to ridicule a man for his partiality to her, how- 
 ever ill-fuited to himfelf; but no confideration 
 could prevent his addrefles from being extremely 
 difagreeable : however, fhe could without any great 
 difficulty have fo for commanded herfelf, as to have 
 treated him with complaifance, till he gave her an 
 opportunity of rejecting his courtfhip, had fhe not 
 been apprehenfive that this affair would give Lady 
 Melvyn a new fubjecT: for perfecution. She was 
 pretty certain, that lady would be glad to fettle her 
 in another county ; and that her averfenefs to fo ill- 
 fuited a marriage would only ferve as an additional 
 recommendation to her mother. She was indeed 
 determined in juftice to Mr. Morgan, and compaf- 
 fton to herfelf, not to be induced by any follicita- 
 tions to marry a man whom (he could not hope, that 
 even the ftrongeft attachment to duty could render 
 fo well as indifferent to her, but fhe dreaded the 
 means that might be taken to oblige her to accept 
 Mr. Morgan's propofal. 
 
 Little did fhe guefs what thofe means would be. 
 She expected to be attacked alternately with all the 
 violence of pailion, the affected foftnefs of diflimu- 
 lation, and every art that cunning could devife, to 
 force Sir Charles to concur in her perfecution. 
 Thefe indeed were employed as foon as Mr. Mor- 
 gan made his propofals ; but her ladylhip had too 
 many refources in her fertile brain to perlevere long 
 in a courfe fhe found unavailing. The farmer where 
 Mils Mancel lodged had a fon, who was in treaty 
 with Lady Melvyu for a farm, which at the end of 
 
 the
 
 Mifs MANCEL and Mrs, MORGAN. 71 
 the year would become vacant. r i his perfon (he 
 thought fit for her purpofe, as Mifs Melvyn's going 
 fo frequently to Mifs Mancel, might give fome 
 colour to her invention. She there-ore took care 
 to be found by Sir Charles drowned in tears ; he 
 prefled to know the occafion of her grief, but (he 
 refifted his importunity in fuch a manner, as could 
 not fail to encreafe it, ftill fhe declared, that ' {he 
 loved him to that excefs (he could not communi- 
 cate a fecret which {he knew mufl affiift him, 
 even though the fuppreffion and inward preyings 
 of her forrow {bould prove fatal to her life.' 
 Sir Charles now on his knees intreated her ' to 
 acquaint him with the misfortune me endeavour- 
 ed to conceal, afifuring her, that nothing could 
 give him fo much concern as feeing her in that 
 condition.' She told him, ' me was fenfible, that 
 as his wife it was her duty to obey him ; (a duty 
 newly difcovered, or at leaft newly performed by her 
 ladyfhip) but {he feared me had not ftrength left 
 to give it utterance.' The endeavour threw her 
 into an hyfteric fit, which was fucceeded by fo ma- 
 ny others, that Sir Charles was almoft frantic with 
 his fears for fo tender a wife, who was thus reduced 
 to the laft agonies by her affectionate apprehenfions 
 of giving him pain. , 
 
 After rubbing her hands and feet till they were 
 fore, fuffbcating her with burnt feathers, and half 
 poifoning her with medicines, Sir Charles and her 
 fervants fo far brought her to life, that after fend- 
 ing her attendants out of the room, {he had juft 
 power to tell him, ' {he had difcovered an intrigue 
 ' between his daughter and Simon the young farmer,' 
 and then immediately funk into another fit, which 
 however did not lait fo long ; for as me had remo- 
 ved the heavy burden, off her mind, {he foon began 
 to recover. 
 
 Sir
 
 72 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 Sir Charles was very much fhocked at what Lady 
 Melvyn told him, but could not doubt the reality 
 of the fact, when he had feen the very violent ef- 
 fect it had had on his .tender wife. He afked her 
 advice how to proceed j and it was foon determined that 
 it was neceflary,either to oblige Mifs Melvyn to marry 
 Mr. Morgan directly, or to difclaim her for ever, 
 and remove the difgrace of fo infamous a conduct 
 as far from themfelves as poffible. With this re- 
 folution {he was to be immediately acquainted. 
 
 Mifs Melvyn was accordingly called in, and bit- 
 terly reproached by Sir Charles ; to which my La- 
 dy added frequent lamentations, that (he fhould fo 
 far forget herielf, and difgrace fo worthy a family, 
 interfperfing with them many expreffions of the 
 undeferved tendernefs fhe had always had for her, 
 and her great confidence in Mifs Melvyn's pru- 
 dence and virtue, {hedding tears for her having fo 
 unhappily fwerved from them. 
 
 As all this pafled for fome time in general terms, 
 Mifs Melvyn was in doubt whether (he or her pa- 
 rents had loft their fenfes ; convinced there muit be 
 diftradion on one fide or the other. As foon as 
 ihe could recover her furprize, fhe begged to know 
 what crime fhe had committed? her aflonifhment 
 was frill increafed by the anfwer fhe received, which 
 was an accufation of this flrange intrigue ; and her 
 frequent vifits to Mifs. Mancel were brought as 
 proofs of it. The fubmiflive and mild temper 
 which had hitherto moft ftrongly charafterifcd her, 
 vanifhed at fo injurious a charge, and fhe denied 
 the fact with that true fpirit which innocence in- 
 fpires. She told Lady Melvyn, that ' though fhe 
 
 * had hitherto filently fubmitted to all her ill ufase, 
 
 * yet it was her duty to repel an injury like this, 
 .* and when her reputation was fo cruelly afperfed, 
 it would be criminal to fuirer the vile inventors 
 
 4 to
 
 Mifs MANGEL and Mrs. MORGAX. 73 
 
 * to pafs unexpofed. She infifted on being con- 
 
 * fronted with her accufers, a privilege allowed to 
 6 the greateft criminals, and by the fevereft judges, 
 
 * therefore furely could not be refufed by a father 
 ' to a daughter, on a charge fo highly improbable, 
 ' and for which no lightnefs in her conducf ever 
 ' gave the leaft ground.' 
 
 As Mrs. Maynard was in this part of her narra- 
 tive a bell rang, which informed us that dinner was 
 ready, and we were unwillingly obliged to poft- 
 pone the continuation of the hiflory of the two 
 young friends, till a more convenient opportunity. 
 
 In the afternoon before we rofe from table, four 
 ladies came to drink tea with this admirable fociety. 
 No addition was necefTary to render the converfa- 
 tion amufing; but the Grangers feemed to look on 
 the ladie-s of the houfe with fuch gratitude and ve- 
 neration, and were treated by them with fo much 
 friendly politenefs, as gave me pleafure. I found 
 by the various enquiries after different perfon?, that 
 thefe vifitors likewife lived in a large fociety. When 
 they rofe up to take leave, Mrs. Trentham propo- 
 fed to walk part of the way home with them. Ko 
 one objected to it, for the evening was inviting, 
 and they had defigned to fpend it in the park, 
 through which thefe Ladies were to pafs j for Lrdy 
 Mary obferved, that ' after having {hewn us the 
 4 beauties of the place, they ought to exhibit th- 
 4 riches of it.' 
 
 The park is clofe to one fide of the houfe ; it is 
 not quite three miles round ; the inequality of the 
 ground much increafes its beauty, and the timber 
 is remarkably fine. We could plainly perceive it 
 had been many years in the pofleifion of good reco- 
 nomifts, who unprompted by necefiity, did not 
 think the profit that might arife from the fale, a 
 E fufficicfrt
 
 7-4- THE HISTORY OF 
 
 fufficient inducement to deprive it of fome fine 
 trees, which are now decaying, but fo happily 
 placed, that they are made more venerable, and 
 not lefe beautiful by their declining age. This 
 park is much ornamented by two or three fine 
 pieces of water ; one of them is a very noble ca- 
 nal, fo artfully terminated by an elegant bridge, 
 beyond which is a wood, that it there appears like a 
 fine river vanifhing from the eye. 
 
 Mrs. Morgan flopped us in one fpot, faying, 
 from hence, as Lady Mary obferved, you may 
 behold our riches, that building, (pointing to 
 what we thought a pretty temple) which perhaps 
 you imagine defigned only for ornament or plea- 
 fure, is a very large pidgeon houfe, that affords a 
 fufficient fupply to our family, and many of our 
 neighbours. That hill on your right-hand is a 
 warren, prodigioufly flocked with rabbits ; this 
 canal, and thef^ other pieces of water, as well 
 as the river you faw this morning, furnifh our 
 table with a great proluiion of fifli. You will 
 eafily believe from the great number of deer you 
 fee around us, that we have as much venifon as 
 \ve can uie, either in prefcnts to our friends, or 
 our own family. Hares, and all forts of game 
 likewile abound here ; fo that with the help of a 
 good dairy, perhaps nofituation ever more amply 
 :.abi Jed all the neceflaries of life. Thefe are in- 
 deed our riches ; here we have almoft every thing 
 we can want, for n very fmall proportion of that 
 expence which others are at to procure them. 
 * Such a fituation, faid I, would be dangerous 
 to many people, for if, as fome have fuppofed, 
 and, in regard to a great part of the world, I 
 fear with truth, mutual wants are the great bands 
 of iociety, a perfon thus placed, would be in 
 danger of feeling hirnfelf fo indeperidant a being,
 
 Mifs MARCEL and Mrs. MORGAN. 75 
 
 * as might tempt him to difclaim all commerce 
 ' with mankind, fince he could not be benefitted 
 c by them. He would look on himfelf in the light of 
 ' a rich man gaming with fliarpers, with a great 
 
 * probability of lofmg, and a certainty of never be- 
 
 * ing a gainer/ 
 
 ' I do not think the danger, replied Lady Mary, 
 ' fo great as you imagine, even though we allow 
 ' .that fociety arifes from the motive you mention. 
 ' However fortune may have fet us above any bo- 
 dily wants, the mind will ftill have many which 
 
 < would drive us into fociety. Rcafon wiihes for 
 
 * communication and improvement ; benevolence 
 ' longs for obie<Sh on which to exert itfelf ; the fo- 
 
 * cial comforts of friendfhip are fo neceflary to our 
 
 * happinefs, that it would be impoflible not to en- 
 
 * deavour to enjoy them. In ficknefs the langour 
 of our minds makes us wifh for the amufements 
 
 * of converfation ; in health the vivacity of our 
 fpirits leads us to defire it. To avoid pain we 
 
 * feek after corporeal conveniencies, to procure 
 4 pleafure we aim at mental enjoyments ; and I be- 
 
 * lieve, if we obferve the general courfe of men's 
 actions, we fliall fee them at leaft as ftrongly ac- 
 
 < tuated by the defire of pleafure, as by the fear 
 
 * of pain ; though philofophers, who have formed 
 ' their judgments more on reafon than the know- 
 lege of mankind, may have thought otherwife.' 
 
 ' I think, faid Mrs. Selvyn, fomebody has af- 
 
 * ferted, that he who could live without fociety 
 muft be more than a God, or lefs than a man'; 
 
 * the latter part of this aflertion would have held 
 
 * good had he carried it farther, and faid lower 
 
 * than a brute, for there is no creature in the uni- 
 4 verfe that is not linked into fome fociety, except 
 we allow the exiftence of that exploded and im- 
 
 * fodable bird the Phoenix.' 
 
 E 2
 
 6 THE HISTORY or 
 
 * I am furprized, interrupted L'amont, to hear 
 Ladies, who feclude themfelves from the world 
 in this folitary though beautiful place, fo ftrong- 
 ly plead for fociety.' 
 
 * Do you then, replied Mrs. Mancel, miftake a 
 croud for fociety ? I know not two things more 
 opppfite. How little fociety is there to be found 
 in what you call the world ? It might more pro- 
 perly be compared to that flate of war, which 
 Hobbes fuppofes the firft condition of mankind. 
 The fame vanities, the fame paffions, the fame 
 ambition, reign in almoft every breaft ; a con- 
 ftant defire to fupplant, and a continual fear of 
 being fupplanted, keep the minds of thofe who 
 have any views at all in a ftate of unremitted 
 tumult and envy j and thofe who have no aim in 
 their actions are too irrational to have a notion 
 of focial comforts. The love, as well as the 
 pleafures of fociety, is founded in reafon, and can- 
 not exift in thofe minds which are filled with irra- 
 tional purfuits. Such indeed might claim a place 
 in the fociety of birds and beafts, though few 
 would deferve to be admitted amongft them, but 
 that of reafcnable beings mufl be founded in rea- 
 fon. What I underftand by fociety is a {rate of 
 mutual confidence, reciprocal fervices, and corref- 
 pondent affections ; where numbers are thus uni- 
 ted, there will be a free communication of fenti- 
 ments, and we (hall then find fpeech, that pecu- 
 liar blefllng given to man, a valuable gift indeed j 
 but when we fee it retrained by fufpicion, or 
 contaminated by detraction, we rather wonder 
 that fo dangerous a power was trufted with a 
 race of beings, who feldom make a proper ufe of 
 it. 
 
 ' You will pity us perhaps becaufe we have no 
 cards, no afiemblies, no plays, no mafqurrades,
 
 Mifs MANCEL and Mrs. MORGAN. 77 
 
 * in this folitary place. The firft we might have if 
 ' we chofe it, nor are they totally difclaimed by us > 
 e but while we can with fafety fpeak our owri 
 
 * thoughts, and with pleafure read thofe of wifer 
 perfons, we are not likely to be often reduced to 
 ' them. We wiih net for large aflemblies, becaufe 
 '- we do not defire to drown converfation in noife ; 
 ' the amufmg nfHons of dramatic writers are not 
 
 * neceflary where nature affords us fo many real de- 
 
 * lights ; and as we are not afraid of {hewing our 
 
 * hearts, we have no occafion to conceal our per- 
 
 * fons, in order to obtain either liberty of fpeech or 
 
 * action,' 
 
 ' What n ferious world fhould we have, madam, 
 ' replied Lament, if you were to regulate our con- 
 duct." 
 
 ' By no means, fir, anfwered Mrs. Mancel, 1 
 
 * wifh to make only thefe alterations, to change 
 noife for real mirth, flutter for fettled chearfulnels, 
 
 * affected wit for rational converfation ; and would 
 1 but have that degree of diflipationbanifhed, which 
 
 * deprives people of time for reflection on the mo- 
 
 * tives for, and confequences of, their actions, that 
 
 * their pleafurec may be real and permament, and 
 4 followed neither by repentance nor punifliment. 
 ' I would wim them to have leifure to confider by 
 < whom they were fent into the world, and for 
 6 What purpofe, and to learn, that their happinefs 
 < confifts in fulfilling the defign of their Maker, in 
 4 providing for their own greateft felicity, and 
 contributing all that is in their power to the 
 ' convenience of others.' 
 
 * You feem, madam, anfwered Lament, to 
 
 * choofe to make us all flaves to each other ? 
 
 ' No, fir, replied Mrs. Mancel, I would onlf 
 
 * make you friends. Thofe who are really fuch 
 
 * are continually endeavouring to ferye and oblige 
 
 E 3 < each
 
 ^8 THE HISTORY or 
 
 * each other j this reciprocal communication of'bt- 
 
 * nets fhould be univerfal, and then we might 
 ' with reafon be fond of this world.' 
 
 * But, laid Lament, this reciprocal communi- 
 ' cation is impoflible ; what fervice can a poor man- 
 ' do me . ? I may relieve him, but how can he re- 
 
 * turn the obligation ? ' 
 
 * It is he, anfwered Mrs. Mnncel, who f.rft con- 
 
 * ferred it, in giving you an opportunity of reliev- 
 
 * ing him. 1 he pleafuie he has afforded you, is 
 as far fuperior to the gratification you have pro- 
 
 * cured him; as it is more blciTed to give than to 
 receive. You will perhaps fay of him, as th 
 
 * apothecary in Romeo and Juliet cioes of hunfzlf, 
 ' and tell me that, 
 
 *' His poverty and not his will fiQllft&tSr? 
 
 * So let it be, and do you 
 
 " Pay his poverty and not his will." 
 
 But certainly the higheft fatisfaHon is on your 
 fide, and much obliged you are to that poverty^ 
 which enables you to obtain fo great a gratifica- 
 tion. But do not think the poor can make no ade- 
 quate return. The greateft pleafure this world 
 can give us is that of being beloved, but how 
 fhould we expect to obtain love without deferving 
 it ? Did you ever fee any one that was not fond 
 of a dog that fondled him ? Is it then poflible to 
 be infenfible to the affection of a rational be- 
 ing ? ' 
 
 * If Mr. Lamont, faid one of the vifitors, has 
 not fo high a fenfe of the pleafure of being grate- 
 fully loved and efteemed, we ought not to blame 
 him i he, perhaps, like the greateft part of tho 
 
 ' world,
 
 Mifs MANCEL and Mrs. MORGAN. 79 
 world, has not fufficiently tried it, to be a pro- 
 per judge ; Mrs. Mancel is certainly very deep in 
 this knowledge, and her opinion may be received 
 as almoft an infallible decifion, fince it is found- 
 ed on long experience ; and how nobly does (he 
 calm the eager wifhes of impotent gratitude, iii 
 declaring he/felf to be the moft benefitted when 
 fhe confers obligations.' 
 
 This was uttered with fo much warmth, srul 
 accompanied by looks fo expreflive of affection and 
 grateful fenfibility, that I plainly faw it proceeded 
 from fomething more than mere fpeculative appro- 
 bation. Lament declared, that * he was well con- 
 
 * vincedofthejuftnefs of what Mrs. Mancel had foid ; 
 ' at firft it appeared rather a fentiment uttered iu 
 ' fport, than an opinion which could be proved by 
 ' argument; but that a little reflexion on ones own 
 ' fenfations, would afford fufficient conviction of 
 
 * the truth of her affertion, and that the gcncr:;! 
 ' errors in the conduct of mankind plainly evinced 
 
 * they were of the fame opinion, though they of- 
 e ten miftook the means ; for what, continued he, 
 ' do people ruin themfelves by pomp and fplendor, 
 c hazard their lives in the purfuits of ambition, 
 < and, as Shakefpear fays, 
 
 " Seek the bubble reputation even in the can- 
 " non's mouth j" 
 
 ' But to gain popular applaufe and efteem ? For 
 
 ' what do others throw away their time in ufelefs 
 
 civilities, and politely flatter all they meet, but 
 
 ' in hopes of pleating? Even thofe who make- it 
 
 * their bufmefs to fiander merit, and exaggerate 
 
 * the faults of others, do it from a defire of railing 
 
 * themfelves in the opinion of mankind, by low- 
 
 E 4 * ering
 
 8o T H E H i s T o R Y OF 
 
 * ering thofe whcr-may be brought into comparifon 
 
 * with them.' 
 
 During this converfation we had advanced with- 
 in a field of the houfe, and the ladies flopped to 
 take their ieave, faying, ' as the evening was too 
 
 * far advanced to/ufFer them to make any flay with 
 
 * their good friends, they would not diihtrb them 
 
 * by juit entering their doors.' But as fome parley 
 en (vied, feveral ladies who had feen us from the 
 windows jan out, juft to pay their compliments 
 to the worthy inhabitants of Millenium - Hall. 
 The pleafure of this fliort meeting fcemed recipro- 
 cal, and both fides appeared unwilling to part, but 
 ihe fetting fun admonimed us to return. 
 
 The houfe to which we had fo nearly approached 
 
 was a verv large old manfion, and its inhabitant^ 
 
 fo numerous, that I was curious to know how fo 
 
 jr.-any became alFembled together. Mrs. Maynard 
 
 faid, tha^t ' if fhe did not fatisfy my inquiries, I 
 
 was in great danger of remaining ignorant of the 
 
 nature of that fociety, as her friends would not 
 
 be eafily prevailed with to break fUence on that 
 
 fubjeft. 
 
 * Thefe ladies, faid (he, long beheld with com- 
 panion the wretched fate of thofe women, who 
 from fcantinefs of fortune, and pride of family, 
 are reduced to become dependant, and to bear all 
 the infolence of wealth, from fuch as will receive 
 them into their families ; thefe, though in fome 
 meafure voluntary flaves, yet fuffer aril the evils 
 of the fevered fervitude, and arc, I believe, the 
 mod unhappy part of the creation. Sometimes 
 they are unqualified to gain a maintenance, edu- 
 cated as is called, genteelly, or in other words 
 idly, they are ignorant of every thing that might 
 give them fuperior abilities to the lower rank of 
 people^ and their birth renders them lefs accept- 
 
 * able
 
 Mifs MANGEL and Mrs. MORGAN. 81 
 able fervants to many, who have not generofity 
 
 * enough to treat them as they ought, and yet do 
 
 * no: choofe while they are acting the mittrefs, 
 4 perhaps too haughtily, to feel thefecret reproach- 
 4 cs of their own hearts. Pofiibly pride may ftill 
 ' oftener reduce thefe indigent gentlewomen into 
 
 * this wretched ftate of dependance, and therefore 
 4 the world is lefs inclined to pity them ; but my 
 4 friends lie human weaknefs in another light. 
 
 * They imag'ne thernfelves too far from perfec- 
 1 tion to have any title to expeft k in others, and 
 think, that there are none in whom pride is fo ex- 
 
 * cufable as in the poor; for if there is the fmalleft 
 4 fpark of it in their compofitions, and who is en- 
 4 tircly free from it, the frequent neglecb and in- 
 4 dignities they meet v/ith mult keep it continually 
 1 alive. If \ve are defpiJcd for cafual deficiencies, 
 4 we naturally leek in ourfelves for fome merit, to 
 1 reftore us to that dignity in our own eyes, which 
 
 * thofe humiliating mortifications would otherwife 
 
 * debafe. Thus we learn to fet too great a value 
 ' on what we ftill polfe^, whether advantages of 
 
 * birth, education, or natural talents ; any thing 
 4 will ferve for a refource to mortified pride ; and 
 4 as every thing grows by oppofition and per fee u- 
 
 * tion, we cannot wonder, if the opinion of our- 
 
 * felves increafes by the fame means. 
 
 ' To perfons in this way of thinking, the pride 
 which reduce- many to be, what is called with too 
 
 * little humanity, toad-eaters, does not render them 
 
 * unworthy of compaflion. Therefore for the re- 
 ' lief of this race they bought that large manfion. 
 
 ' They drew up feveral regulations, to fecure the 
 
 * peace and good order of the iociety they defigned 
 ' to form, and fending a copy of it to all their ac- 
 ' quaintance, told them, that any gentleman's 
 
 * daughter, whofe character was unblemithed, 
 
 E 5 might,
 
 82 THE Hi STORY OF 
 
 * might, if he defired it, on thofe terms be received 
 
 * into that fociety.* 
 
 I begged, if it was not too much trouble, to know 
 What the regulations were. 
 
 ' The firit rule, continued Mrs. Maynard, was, 
 ' that whoever chofe to take the benefit of this 
 
 * afylum, for fuch I may juftly call it, fhould 
 
 * depofite, in the hands of a perfon appointed for 
 
 * that purpofe, whatever fortune flie was miftrefs 
 
 * of, the fecurity being approved by her and her 
 
 * friends, and remaining in her pofTeflion. When- 
 ' ever flie leaves the fociety, her fortune fhould be 
 
 * repaid her, the intereft in the mean time being 
 
 * appropriated to the ufe of the community. The 
 
 * great defign of this was to preferve an exat 
 
 * equality between them ; for it was not expected, 
 
 * that the intereft of any of their fortunes fhould 
 ' pay the allowance they were to have for their 
 *" cloaths. If any appeared to have fecreted part of 
 
 * her fortune (he (hould be expelled the fociety. 
 
 * Secondly, Each perfon to have a bed-chamber to 
 
 * herfelf, but the eating-parlour and drawing-room 
 
 * in common. 
 
 4 Thirdly, All things for rational amufement 
 
 * fhali be provided for the fociety ; mufical inftru- 
 
 * merits, of whatever fort they fhall chufe, books, 
 
 * tents for work, and in fliort conveniences for every 
 
 * kind of employment. 
 
 * Fourthly, They mufl conform to very regulaf 
 
 * hours. 
 
 * Fifthly, An houfe-keeper will be appointed to 
 
 * manage the houfehold affairs, and a fufficient 
 
 * number of fervants provided. 
 
 * Sixthly, Each perfon (hall alternately, a week 
 
 * at a time, prefide at the table, and give what fa- 
 
 * mily orders may be requifite. 
 
 - '-.Seventhly, Twenty five-pounds a year fhall be 
 
 allowed
 
 Mifs MANGEL and Mrs. MORGAN. 84 
 4 allowed to each perfon for her cloaths and pocket 
 ' expences. 
 
 ' Eighthly, Their drefs (hall be quite plain and 
 ' neat, but not particular nor uniform. 
 
 Ninthly, The expences of ficknefs (hall be dif- 
 
 * charged by the patronefTes of this ibciety. 
 
 4 Tentbly, If any one of the ladies behaves with 
 
 * imprudence fhe fhall be difmiiTed, and her fortune 
 
 * returned ; like wife if any fhould by turbulence or 
 pettifhnefs of temper, difturb the fociety, it fhall 
 
 * be in the power of the reft of them to expel 
 
 * her; a majority of three parts of the community 
 
 * being for the expulfion, and this to be performed 
 ' by ballotting. 
 
 * Eleventhly, A good table and every thing fuit- 
 
 * able to the convenience of a gentlewoman, fhall 
 
 * be provided. 
 
 * Thefe were the principal articles j and in lefs 
 
 * than two months a dozen perfon s of different ages 
 
 * were eftablifhed in the houfe, who feemed tho- 
 ' roughly delighted with their fituation. At the 
 
 * requeft of one of them, who had a friend tint 
 
 * wifhed to be admitted, an order was foon added, 
 
 * by the confent of all, that gave leave for any 
 
 * perfen who would conform exactly to the rules 
 
 * of the houfe, to board there for fuch length of 
 
 * time, as fhould be agreeable to herfelf and the 
 
 * fociety, for the price of an hundred pounds 
 
 * a year, fifty for any -child fhe might have, twenty 
 
 * for a maid-fervant, and thirty for a man. 
 
 * The number of this ibciety is now increafed to 
 thirty, four ladies board there, one of whom 
 
 * has two children, and there are five young 
 4 ladies, the eldeft not above twelve years old, 
 4 whofe mothers being dead, and their families 
 
 * related to fome of the fociety, their kinfwomen 
 
 * have undertaken their education ; thefe likewile 
 
 E 6 * pay
 
 B4 T H E H I S T O R V O F 
 
 * pay an hundred pounds a year each. It has 
 
 * frequently happened, that widow ladies have 
 
 * come into this fociety, till their year of deep 
 
 * mourning was expired. 
 
 ' With thefe afliflances the fociety now fubfifts 
 
 * with the utmoft plenty and convenience, without 
 
 * any additional expence to my good friends, ex- 
 
 * cept a communication of what this park affords ; 
 ' as our fteward provides them with every thing, 
 
 * and has the entire direction of the houfehold 
 
 * affairs, which he executes with the moft fenfible 
 
 * ceconomy.' 
 
 * 1 fhould imagine, faid I, it were very difficult to 
 
 * preferve a comfortable harmony among fo many 
 perfons, and confequently fuch variety of tem- 
 
 * pers ?' 
 
 ' Certainly, anfwered Mrs. Maynard, it is not 
 ' without its difficulties. For the firfl year of this 
 
 * eftablifhment my friends dedicated moft of their 
 
 * time and attention to this new community, who 
 ' were every day either at the hallj or thefe ladies 
 
 * with them, endeavouring to cultivate in this 
 
 * fifterhood that fort of difpofition which is moft 
 
 * productive of peace. By their example and 
 
 * fuggeltions, (for it is difficult to give unreferved 
 *' advice where you may be fufpected of a defign to 
 4 dictate) by their examples and fuggeftions there* 
 4 fore, they led them to induftry, and (hewed it 
 
 * to be necefiary to all ftations, as the bails of 
 
 * almoit every virtue. An idle mind, like fallow 
 ' ground, is the foil for every weed to grow in ; in 
 ' it vice ftrengthens, the feed of every vanity 
 flouriftes unmolefted and luxuriant; difcontent, 
 
 * malignity, ill humour, fpread far and wide, and the 
 
 * mind becomes a chaos, which it is beyond hu- 
 ' man power to call into order and beauty. This 
 therefore my good friends .oboured to expel from 
 
 * their
 
 Mifs MANCEL and Mrs. MORGAN. 85 
 their infant eftablifhment. They taught them 
 that it was the duty of every perfon to be of fer- 
 vice to others. That thofe whofe hands and 
 minds were by the favours of fortune exempt 
 from ihe neceffity of labouring for their own fup- 
 port, ought to be employed for fuch as are defti- 
 tute of thefe advantages. They got this fifterhood 
 to join with them in working for the poor people, 
 in viilting, in admonifhing, in teaching them 
 wherever their fituations required thefe lervices. 
 Where they found that any of thefe ladies had a 
 tafte for gardening, drawing, mufic, reading, 
 or any manual or mental art, they cultivated it, 
 aflifted them in the pleafanteft means, and by va- 
 rious little fchemes have kept up thefe inclinations 
 with all the fpirit of purfuit, which is requifite to 
 prelerve moft minds from that Hate of languidnefs 
 and inactivity, whereby life is rendered wearifome 
 to thofe who have never found it unfortunate. 
 * By fome regulations made as occasions occurred, 
 all burdenfome forms are expelled. The whole 
 fociety indeed muft aflemble at morning and 
 evening prayers, and at meals, if iicicnefs Joes 
 not prevent, but every other ceremonious depcn- 
 dance is banifhed ; they form into different 
 parties of amufement as beft fuit their inclina- 
 tions, and fometimes when we go to fpend the 
 afternoon there, we fhall find a party at cards in 
 one room, in another fome at Work, while one is 
 reading aloud, and in a feparate chamber a fet 
 joining in a little concert, though none of them 
 are great proficients in mufic ; while two or three 
 fhail be retired into their own rooms, fome go 
 out to take the air, for it has feldom happened 
 to them to have lefs than t\vo boarders at a time 
 who each keep an equipage ; while others fhall be? 
 amufing themielves in the garden, or walking in
 
 86 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 4 the very pleafant meadows which furround their 
 4 houfe. 
 
 ' As no one is obliged to ftay a minute longer in 
 < company than fhe chufes, fhe naturally retires 
 4 as foon as it grows difpleafmg to her, and does 
 4 not return till fhe is prompted by inclination, and 
 4 confquently well diipofed to amufe and be amufed. 
 
 * They live in the very ftri& pra&ice of all religious 
 4 duties; and it is not to be imagined how much 
 4 good they have done in the neighbourhood; how 
 4 much by their care the manners of the poorer 
 
 * people are reformed, and their neceflities relieved, 
 
 * though without the diftribution of much money j 
 4 I fay much, becaufe, fmall as their incomes are, 
 
 * there are many who impart out of that little to 
 4 thofe who have much lefs. 
 
 4 Their vifits to us are frequent, and we are on. 
 fuch a footing, that they never impede any of our 
 
 * employments. My friends always inftfted when 
 
 * they waited on the community, that not one of 
 the fifterhood fhould difcontinue whatever they 
 found her engaged in ; this gave them the hint 
 to do the fame by us, and it is a rule, that no 
 
 * book is thrown afide, no pen laid down at their 
 4 entrance. There are always fome of us manually 
 4 employed, who are at leifure to converfa, and 
 
 * if the vifit is not very mort, part of it is generally 
 fpent in hearing one of the girls read aloud, who 
 4 take it by turns through a great part of the day j 
 
 * the only difference made for this addition to th 
 
 * company is a change of books, that they may 
 
 * not hear only part of a fubject, and begin by a 
 
 * broken thread. Thus they give no interruption, 
 4 and therefore neither trouble us, nor are them- 
 
 * felves fcrupulous about coming, fo that few days 
 pafs without our feeing fome or" them, though fre- 
 
 * quently
 
 Mifs MANCEL and Mrs. MORGAN. 87 
 
 * quently only time enough to accompany us in 
 
 * our walks, or partake of our mufic.' 
 
 Have you not, faid Lamont, been obliged to 
 
 4 expel many from the community? Since you do 
 
 4 not allow petulancy of temper, nor any light- 
 
 * nefs of conduct, I fhould expert a continual 
 
 * revolution.' 
 
 4 By no means, anfwered Mrs. Maynard, fince 
 
 * the eilablifhment of the community, there has 
 4 been but one expelled ; and one finding fhe was 
 4 in danger of incurring the fame fentence, and I 
 4 believe inwardly difgufted with a country life, 
 ' retired of her own free choice. Some more have 
 
 * rendered themfelves fo difagreeable, that the 
 4 queilion has been put to the ballot ; but the fear 
 
 * of being difmifled made them fo diligent to get 
 4 the majority on their fide, before the hour ap- 
 4 pointed fordecifion arrived, that it has been de- 
 
 * termined in their favour, and the earned defire 
 
 * not to be brought into the fame hazard again, 
 4 has induced them to mend their tempers, and 
 
 * fome of thefe are now the moft amiable people 
 
 * in the whole community. 
 
 * As for levity of conduct they are pretty 
 
 * well fecured from it, by being expofed to few 
 
 * temptations in this retired place. 
 
 * Some, as in the coupfe of nature muft happen, 
 4 have died, and moft of them bequeathed what 
 4 little they had towards conitituting a fund for the 
 4 continuation of the community. More of them 
 4 have married ; fome to perfons who knew them 
 
 * before, others to gentlemen in the neighbourhood, 
 4 or fuch as happened to come into it ; to 
 
 * whom their admirable conduct recommended 
 
 * them.' 
 
 I could
 
 8 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 I could not help exclaiming, * In what a hea- 
 ven do you live, thus furrounded by people who 
 owe all their happinefs to your goodnefs ! This 
 is, indeed, imitating your Creator, and in fucti 
 proportion as your faculties will admit, partaking' 
 of his felicity, fmce you can no where caft your 
 eyes, without beholding numbers who derive 
 every earthly good from your bounty, and are 
 indebted to your care and example for a reaibn- 
 ab!e hope of eternal happinefs.' 
 * I will not, laid Mrs. Maynard, give up my 
 (hare of the felicity you fo juftly imagine theie 
 ladies mull enjoy, though I have no part in what 
 occafions it. When I reflect on all the bleffmgs 
 they impart, and fee how happinefs flows, as it 
 were, in an uninterrupted current from their 
 hands and lips, I am overwhelmed with grati- 
 tude to the Almighty difpofer of my fate, for 
 having fo mercifully thrown me into fuch a 
 fcene of felicity, where every hour yields true 
 heart-felt joy, and fills me with thankfgivings to 
 Him, who enables them thus to difpenfe innu- 
 merable bleffings, and fo greatly rewards them 
 already by the joyful confcioufnefs of having 
 obeyed him.' 
 
 The Ladies at this time were at too great a 
 diftance to hear our converfation j for not chufing 
 to be prefent while their actions were the fubje&s 
 of difcourfe, they had gradually ftrayed from us. 
 Upon enquiring of my coufm, whether the perfons 
 in the large community we had been talking of 
 brought any fortunes with them, (he told me that 
 moft of them had a trifle, fome not more than 
 an hundred pounds. That in general the ladies 
 chofe to admit thofe who had leaft, as their ne- 
 ceffities were greateft, except where fome parti- 
 cular cir.cuinitan.ces rendered protection more re-
 
 Mifs MANCEL and Mrs. MORGAN. 89 
 
 quifite to others. That the houfe not being 
 large enough to contain more than were already 
 eftablilhed in it, they have been obliged to refufe 
 admiifion to many, and efpecially fome young 
 women of near two thoufand pounds fortune, 
 the expenfivc turn of the world now being fuch, 
 that no gentlewoman can live genteelly on the 
 intereft of that fum, and they prefer this Society 
 to a retirement in a country town. Some who 
 vvifhed to board, have likewife been refufed. As 
 the expences of the firft community, fall fo far 
 fhort of their expectation, and the fums appro- 
 priated for that purpofe, they determined to haz- 
 ard another of the fame kind, and havejuft con- 
 cluded a treaty for a ftill larger manfion, at about 
 three miles diftance, and by the perfons now 
 waiting for it, they have reafon to believe it will 
 not be lefs fuccefsful than the other, nor more 
 expenfwe ; but fhould they be miftaken in that 
 particular, they have laid afide a fund fuffictent 
 to difcharge it.' Their fcheme I find is to hava 
 fome of the ladies down to Millennium Hall, as foon 
 as they have made the purchafe, and there they are^ 
 to remain, while the nec-fTary repairs and additions- 
 are making to the houfe deligned for their habita- 
 tion, which they imagine will not be compleated 1 
 in lefs than half a year. They hope, by having 
 the fiift admitted part of the eommuivty thus in 
 the houfe with them for ib long a time, to com- 
 penfate, in a good degree, for the difadvantages 
 of being fettled fo much farther from them. 1 he 
 fifterhooJ of the other fociety, likewife, in pity 
 to thofe who are expofed to the fame fufferings 
 from which they have been delivered, have offered 
 to croud themfelves for a few months, to leave va- 
 cant rooms for fome who are dtftined to the other 
 houfe, till they can be there accommodated. Thefe 
 
 alfo
 
 90 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 alfo will be fitted for their new way of life, antf 
 taught to aim at the happinefs enjoyed in this com- 
 munity, by the fame means that they have attained 
 to it. 
 
 Our fubject ended with our walk. Supper wa* 
 ierved as foon as we entered the houfe, and general 
 eonverfation concluded the evening. 
 
 Had I not been led by feveral fa<5ls to repeat al- 
 ready fo many converfations, I fliould be induced 
 not to bury all that paffed at this time in filence ; 
 but though I have taken the liberty, when the re- 
 lation of facts naturally led to it, to communicate 
 fuch difcourfes as were pertinent to the fubject, it 
 would be prefuming too far on your time, to re- 
 peat converfations which did not ferve to illuftrate 
 any particular actions, however worthy they may 
 be of recollection. I (hall therefore only fay, that 
 it was not with iefs reluctance I retired to my 
 chamber, at the hour of bed-time, than the night 
 before. 
 
 The next morning proved rainy, which pre- 
 vented me from making any early excurfion. But 
 as it cleared up about eleven o'clock, Lament and 
 I went into the garden, to enjoy the fragrance 
 which every herb and flower exhales at this time of 
 the year, after the defirable refreshment of gentle 
 fhowers. I conducted him to the flower garden, 
 which had fo much delighted me the morning be- 
 fore ; and we had not paid due admiration to all 
 the vegetable beauties there exhibited to our view, 
 when Mrs. Maynard joined us. 
 
 I told her, ' It was but a poor compliment to 
 
 * her eonverfation, to fay, I longed for her com- 
 ' pany, fmce now my curiofity might occafion that 
 
 * impatience, which I fliould nevertheless have 
 felt, had I not been left in painful fufpence, by 
 
 ' the
 
 Mifs MANCEL and Mrs. MORGAN. 91 
 the interruption we had received the day before^ 
 in the mid ft of her narrative.' 
 * It would be unnatural, faid {he, for a woman 
 to quarrel with curiofity; fo far from complain- 
 ing of yours, I am come merely with a defign 
 to gratify it, and only expect you will judge of 
 my defire to oblige you, by my readinefs in/obey- 
 ing your commands, were I rryfelf the fub- 
 je, the motive for my obedience might be 
 vocal.' 
 
 Mifs MANCEL and Mn. MORGAN'S 
 
 coniinnccL 
 
 T 
 * 
 
 Think, continued Mrs. Maynard, we left Mil* 
 Melvyn requiring to be confronted by her ac- 
 cufer, a requeft which her mother-in-law was not 
 inclined to grant ; for though in her dealings with 
 young Simon, file had perceived fuch a degree of 
 follicitude for his own intereft, and fuch flagrant 
 proofs of want of integrity, that (he did not doubt 
 but that by promifing him the farm, on rather 
 better terms than, (he had yet confented to, he 
 might be prevailed with to join fo far in her fcheme, 
 as to affert any thing to Sir Charles, yet {he dared 
 not venture to produce him face to face to Mills 
 Melvyn, fearing left his aflurance fliould fail him 
 on fo fevere a trial. 
 
 She replied, therefore, that, c the proofs were 
 ' too flrong to admit of doubt, but (he could not 
 ' think of expofing Mifs Melvyn to the mortifica- 
 ' tion of hearing her depravity witnefled by, per- 
 
 * haps
 
 92 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 haps, the laft perfon whom fhe expelled fhould 
 acknowledge it. Befides, that by fuch an eclat the 
 difgrace muft infallibly become public, and fhe 
 be deprived of the only means left her of refcuing 
 her reputation from that infamy, to which, in a 
 very fliort time, it muft have been irrecoverably 
 condemned ; for it could not be fuppofed, that Mr. 
 Morgan would accept as his wife a woman with 
 a fullied character.' 
 
 Mifs Melvyn was almoft diftrafted, at being both 
 fo injuriously accufed, and denied the liberty of de- 
 fending herfelf ; fhe begged, fhe intreated, on her 
 knees, that Sir Charles would not fuffer her to fall 
 a prey to fuch undeferved malice. She aflerted her 
 innocence in the ftrongeft and moft perfuafive 
 terms, and infilled fo warmly on her demand of 
 being confronted with her accufers, that her father 
 grew inclined to" grant her juft requeft. Lady 
 Melvyn perceiving he began to comply, repeated 
 her refufal in the moft peremptory manner ; and de- 
 claring to Mifs Melvyn, that fhe had no other choice 
 left her, but either to refolve to marry Mr. Mor- 
 gan, or to be expofed to fhame, in being publicly 
 difclaimed by her parents, who would no longer fuf- 
 fer her to remain in their houfe, led Sir Charles out 
 of the room ; and he, though reluctant, dared not 
 refufe to accompany her. 
 
 Mifs Melvyn was now left to reflect on this 
 dreadful alternative. Filled with horror at the 
 fhocking conduct of her mother-in-law, ter- 
 rified with her threats, and fenfible there was no vil- 
 lany fhe was not capable of perpetrating, rather 
 than give up a point fhe was thus determined to 
 carry, fhe was incapable of forming any refolution. 
 She ran to her friend, to feek from her that advice 
 and confolation, which her own diftra&ed thoughts 
 could not afford her.
 
 Mifs MANGEL and Mrs. MORCAN T . 93 
 Mifs Mancel was fo ftruck with the terror and 
 amazement which were ftill imprefTed on Mifs 
 Melvyn's countenance, that fhe had not for fome 
 time courage to afk the caufe. Trembling with 
 fears of flie knew not what, fhe embraced her 
 diftrefTed friend with an air of fuch tender, though 
 jilent fympathy, as foftened the horror of Mils 
 Melvyn's mind, and brought a (bower of tears to 
 her relief, which at lengtrTenabled her to relate all 
 that had patted between her and her parents. 
 Louifa found it much eafier to join in her friend's 
 grief than to adminifter confolation. She knew 
 npt what to advife ; two artlefs, virtuous young 
 women were ill qualified to contend with lady 
 Melvyn, efpecially in an affair which could not be 
 rendered public without hazarding Mifs Melvyn's 
 character; for reputation is fo delicate a thine;, that 
 the leaft furmize cafts a blemifh on it ; the woman 
 who is fufpected is difgraced ; and though lady 
 Melvyn did not Hand high in the public opinion, yet 
 it was fcarcely poffible for any one to believe fhe 
 could be guilty of fuch flagrant wickednefs. 
 
 Mifs Melvyn had a very ftrong diflike to Mr. 
 Morgan, whofe difpofition appeared as ill fuited to 
 hers as his ae;e; to enter into wedlock without any 
 proipecl of focial happinefs, feeined to her one of the 
 greateft misfortunes in life ; but what was ft ill of 
 more weight in her eitimation, fhe thought it the 
 higheft injuftice to marry a man whom fhe could 
 not love, as well as a very criminal mockery of the 
 moft folemn vows. On the other -fide fhe con* 
 fidered, that to prcferve her reputation was not only 
 neceffary to her own happinefs, but a duty tofociety. 
 4 It is true, faid fhe, I am not placed in a very 
 * confpicuous fphereoflife, but I am far from being 
 1 of a rank fo obfcure, that my actions will affect no 
 4 one but myfelf i nor indeed do I know any fo low, 
 
 4 but
 
 94 THE HISTORY OP 
 
 but that they have their equals who may copy 
 after them, if they have no inferiors. The care 
 
 < of our virtue we owe to ourfelves, the preferva- 
 tion of our characters is due to the world, and 
 
 < both are required by Him, who commands us to 
 
 < preferve ourfelves pure and unpolluted, and to 
 
 < contribute as far as we are able to the well-being 
 
 < of all his creatures. Example is the means given 
 
 < univerfally to all whereby to benefit fociety. I 
 therefore look on it as one of our principal duties, 
 
 < to avoid every imputation of evil ; for vice ap- 
 pears more or lefs hateful, as it becomes more or 
 
 < lefs familiar. Every vicious perfon abates the 
 horror which it fhould naturally excite in a vir- 
 
 < tuous mind. There is nothing fo odious, to which 
 cuftom will not in fome degree reconcile us ; can 
 
 < we expect then, that vice, which is not without 
 its allurements, fhould alone retain all its defor- 
 
 < mity, when we are familiarized to its appear- 
 ance. I fhould never therefore efteem myfelf in- 
 e nocent, however pure my actions, if I incurred 
 the reputation of being otherwife, when it was in 
 my power to avoid it. With thi? way of think- 
 
 * ing, my Lou i fa, you may imagine that I might 
 
 < be brought to believe it my duty to facrifice my 
 eafe of mind, to the prefervation of my charac- 
 
 < ter ; but in my cafe, there is no choice ; I muft 
 
 * either add to the contamination of a very profli- 
 ' gate world, or, in the face of Heaven, enter into 
 the mod folemn vows to love a man, whom the 
 
 * moft I can do, is not to hate. This is wilful 
 perjury. In fuch an alternative duty cannot direct 
 
 * me, and mifery muft follow my decifion, let me 
 
 * determine as 1 will.' 
 
 In this irrefolution, Mifs Melvyn left her friend, 
 but the vent fhe had given to her grief had greatly 
 calmed her fpirits, and refioreu her to the power of 
 
 reflection.
 
 Mifs MANGEL and Mrs. MORGAN. 95 
 reflexion. At her entrance into the houfe, flie met 
 Lady Melvyn, who with a very ftern countenance, 
 ordered her to go and entertain A4r. Morgan, who 
 waited for her in the parlour. She found him alone, 
 and as he began to renew his addrefles, which a 
 repulfe from her had not discouraged, fince he hop- 
 ed to fucceed by the influence her parents had over 
 her, file immediately formed the refolution of en- 
 deavouring to make him relinquifh his pretenfions, 
 in hopes, that if the refuial came from him, he 
 might become the object of her mother's indigna- 
 tion, and her perlccution might drop, at lca.il for a 
 time. She therefore frankly told him, that c Tho* 
 her affections were intirely difengageo, yet he 
 was fo very repugnant to them, that it v/as im- 
 po'Iible fhe fliould ever feel that regard for him, 
 which he had a right to expect from his wife; 
 and therefore intreated him, in confideration of 
 his own happinefs, if her's were indifferent to 
 him, not to perfift in a purfuit, 'which, if fuccefs- 
 ful, could not anfwer his hopes, nor reduce her 
 to render herfelf wretched by becoming his wife, 
 or to exafperate her parents by refufmg him.' 
 She then added all her heart could fuggelt to flatter 
 him into compliance with this requeft. 
 
 Mr. Morgan's foible was not an excefs of deli- 
 cacy j he told her plainly, ' He admired her elo- 
 quence prodigioufty, but that there was more rhe- 
 toric in her beauty, than any compofition of 
 words could contain ; which pleading in direct 
 contradiction to all fhe had faid, fhe muft excufe 
 him, if he was influenced by the more pow- 
 erful oratory of her charms ; and her good 
 fenfe and unexceptionable conduct convinced 
 him, that when it became her duty to love him, 
 ihe would no longer remain indifferent.' 
 
 All
 
 $6 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 All Mifs. Melvyn, could urge to fhevv him thii 
 was but a very poor dependance, had no fort ot 
 weight, and he parted from her only more deter- 
 mined to haften the conclufion of their marriage. 
 
 Lady Melvyn had not been idle all this time ; 
 fhe had prevailed on young Simon to acquiefce in 
 the queftions ftie put to him before Sir Charles, ei- 
 ther by giving fhort anfwers, or by down caft eyes, 
 which fignified aflent. With this Sir Charles ac- 
 quainted Mifs Melvyn, and infifted on her not 
 thinking of expofing herfelf to the indignity of 
 having the whole affair difcufTed in her prefence. 
 All the indignation that undeferved calumny can ex- 
 cite in an innocent mind, could not have enabled 
 Mifs Melvyn to bear being charged before fo low 
 a creature, with a pafiion for him, and dill lefs to 
 have heard the fuborned wretch pretend to con- 
 fefs it. She therefore found no difficulty in obey- 
 ing her father in that particular, and rather chofe 
 to fubmit to the imputation, than to undergo the 
 fhame which me muft have fuffered in endeavour- 
 ing to confute it. She attempted to perfuade Sir 
 Charles, c To permit hef to flay in the houfe under 
 what reftricYions he and his lady fhould think pro- 
 per, till her conduct fhould fufficiently convince 
 him of her innocence, and not to force her into 
 a hated marriage, or unjtiflly expofe her to dit- 
 grace and infamy.' Her tears and intreaties 
 would foon have foftened his heart ; and as far as 
 he dared, he fhewed an inclination to comply with 
 fo reafonable a propofal ; but his lady eafily obliged 
 him to retracl, and to deprive Mifs Melvyn of all 
 hopes of any mi igation of the fentence already 
 pronounced againft her. 
 
 Could fhe without the lofs of reputation have fled 
 to a remote part of the kingdom, and have hid her- 
 felf in fome obfcure cottage, though reduced to 
 
 labour
 
 Mifs MANGEL and Mrs. MOR'C A. 97 
 labour for a fubfiftence, fhe would have thought it: 
 a ftate far more eligible than becoming Mr. Mor- 
 gan's wife ; but if fhe thus turned fugitive and 
 wanderer, in what light could fhe expecSt to be feert 
 by the world j efpecially, as Lady Melvyn would 
 infallibly, to remove any blame from herfelf, be 
 liberal in her afperfions ? Where fhe fliould be un- 
 known, whatever difgrace might be affixed to her 
 name, fhe herfelf might efcape cenfure j but yet fhe 
 would not be lefs guilty of a violation of her duty 
 to fociety, fince fhe muft appear very culpable to 
 thofe who knew her, and contribute to the de- 
 pravity of others, as far as was in her power, by an 
 example, which her motives being unknown, would 
 appear a very bad one. 
 
 This confideration determined her to facrifice 
 her peace to her character j for by having told Air. 
 Morgan the true ftate of her heart, fhe had acquit- 
 ted herfelf from any charge of attempting, by the 
 gift of her hand, to deceive him into a belief that 
 he was the objet of her afFecYions. She ftill had 
 fcruples about entering into the matrimonial ftate, 
 on motives fo different from thole which ought 
 to influence every one in an union of that kind : 
 thefe were not to be removed, but fhe imagined 
 this might in fome meafure be excufed, as the lead 
 culpable part fhe could act j and fince man was 
 herein neither her judge nor accufer, fhe hoped the 
 integrity of her mind would be received as fome 
 alleviation of a fault fhe was thus forced to com- 
 mit, fince me was determined in the ftriclsft man- 
 ner to adhere to every duty of her (ration. 
 
 Having formed this refalution., fhe uvnt to con*" 
 fult her friend upon it, who v/as a perfon lei's per- 
 plexed, though {Scarcely lefs concerned, as their - 
 affe&ions v/ere fo ftrongly united, that cji 
 could not fufFcr without the oihsi'* feeling equal 
 F pin-,
 
 98 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 pain, might poiTibly be a calmer judge in fo delicate 
 a point. Louifa fubfcribed to her friend's fenti- 
 rnents on the occafion, only * defired her to con- 
 
 * fider well, whether {he fhould be able to bear all 
 
 < the trials {he might meet with in the married 
 4 Itate, when the was entirely indifferent to her 
 
 * hufband.' 
 
 6 My profper., faid Mils Mclvyn, I am fenfible 
 
 * is extremely melancholy. All inclination mult 
 e now be laid afide, and duty mufl become my fole 
 ' guide and director. Happinefs is beyond my 
 view ; I cannot even hope for eafe, fince I mult 
 
 * c keep a conflant reitraint on my very thoughts. 
 
 < Indifference will become criminal ; and if I can- 
 6 not conquer it, to conceal it at leaft will be a 
 ' duty. I have learnt to fuffer, but v/as never yet 
 taught difguife and hypocrify ; herein will conlift 
 my greateft difficulty ; I abhor deceit, and yet 
 muft not'fhew the real fentiments of my heart. 
 
 < Linked in fociety with a man I cannot love, the 
 
 * world can afford me no plcafure, indeed no com- 
 
 < fort, for I am infenfible to all joy but what arifes 
 
 * from the focial affections. 7 he grave, I confc's, 
 
 * appears to me far more eligible than this marri- 
 
 * ao;e, for I might there hope to be at peace. Mr. 
 
 < Morgan's fortune is large, but his mind is nar- 
 
 * row and ungenerous, and his temper plainly not 
 
 * good. If he really loved me, he could not fuffer 
 
 * me to be forced into a marriage which he well 
 
 * knows I deleft : a knowledge which will not 
 
 * mend my fate, molt certainly. 
 
 ' Could I enjoy the pleafures of felf-approbation, 
 e it would be irr.poffible to be very wretched, but 
 -' the moft exact performance of my duty will not 
 6 yield me that gratification, fince 1 cannot be per- 
 
 * fe&ly fatisfiecl that I do right, in marrying a man 
 
 * fo very difagreeable to me. I fear the pride of 
 
 ' reputation
 
 Mifs MANGEL and Mrs. MORGAN. 99 
 reputation influencies me more than I imagine, 
 and though it is as juftifiable as any pride, yet 
 {till it is certainly no virtue.' 
 When I reflect, faid fhe, afterwards, on the 
 ftep I am going to take, my terrors are inexpref- 
 fible; how dreadful is it at my age, when nature 
 feems to promife me fo many years of life, to 
 doom myfelf to a ftate of wretchednefs, which 
 death alone can terminate, and wherein I muft 
 bury all my forrows in filence, without even the 
 melancholy relief of pouring them forth in the 
 bofom of my friend, and feeking, from her tender 
 participation, the only confolation 1 could receive ! 
 for after this dreaded union is compleated, duty 
 will forbid me to make my diftrefTes known, even 
 to my Louifa ; I muft not then expofe the faults 
 of him whofe flighteft failings I ought to conceal. 
 One only hope remains, that you, my firft and 
 deareft friend, will not abandon me j that what- 
 ever cloud of melancholy may hang over my 
 mind, yet you will ftill bear with me, and remove 
 your abode to a place where I may have the ccn- 
 folation of your company. If it be in my power 
 to make my houfe a comfortable habitation to my 
 Louifa, I cannot be entirely wretched.' 
 Mifs iVIancel gave her the tendered afiurances of 
 fixing at leaft in her neighbourhood, fince a fecond 
 paradife could not recompenfe her for the lofs of 
 her fociety ; and that on no terns could fhe pre- 
 vail on herielf to continue in a houfe where ihe 
 muft fee that wretched Simon, who had been a vile 
 inftrument in reducing her friend to that diftrefsful 
 fituation. This gleam of comfort was a very fea- 
 fonable relief to Mifs Aieivyn's dejected fpirits, and 
 gave fome refpile to her tears. 
 
 F 2 As
 
 loo THE HISTORY OF 
 
 As foon as fhe returned home, fhe acquainted Sir 
 Charles and Lady Melvyn with her refolution, who 
 foon communicated it to Mr. Morgan ; and nothing 
 was now thought of but haftening the wedding as 
 much as poflible. 
 
 4 I wonder, interrupted Lamont, how Mifs 
 Melvyn could bring herfelf to let her mother-in- 
 law have fuch an opportunity of exulting in the 
 fuccefs of her detertable arts.' 
 * That, replied Mrs. Maynard, was a confidera- 
 tion which had no weight with her, nor fhould 
 it indeed be any mortification to our pride, that 
 deceit and cunning have triumphed over us. 
 Wickednefs ferves itfelf by weapons which we 
 would not ufe, and if we are wounded with them, 
 we have no more reafon to be mortified, than a 
 man would have to think his courage difgraced, 
 becaufe when he lay fleeping in his bed, he wag 
 taken prifoner by a body of armed men. To be 
 circumvented by cunning, muft ever be the fate, 
 but never the difgrace of the artlefs.' 
 As Mifs Melvyn's compliance procured her a 
 greater degree of favour at home than fhe had ever 
 before enjoyed, Mifs Mancel was fuffered to come 
 to the houfe, and met with an obliging reception 
 from the whole family. Her continual prefence 
 there was a great fupport to her friend in her very 
 tlifagreeable fituation, and after indulging her for- 
 i'ow in their private converfation, and mingling 
 their fymphathetic tears, fhe was the better able to 
 endure the reftraint which fhe was obliged to under- 
 go, when any other perfon was prefent. 
 
 The dreaded day fixed on for this unhappy union 
 foon came, and Mifs Melvyn received Mr. Mor- 
 gan's hand and name with all the fortitude fhe 
 could aflume j but her diftrefs was vifible to all, 
 
 even
 
 Mifs MANGEL and Mrs. MORGAN. 101 
 
 even to Mr. Morgan, who was fo little touched 
 with it, that it proved no abatement to his joy ; a 
 fymptom of fuch indelicacy of mind, as increased his 
 bride's grief and apprehenfions. 
 
 The day after their marriage, Mrs. Morgan afk- 
 ed his permiflion to invite Mifs A4ancel to his houfe, 
 to which he anfwered, c Madam, my wife mud 
 have no other companion or friend but her huf- 
 band ; I fhall never be averfeto your feeing com- 
 pany, but intimates I forbid ; I {hall not choofs 
 to have my faults difcufled between you and your 
 friend? 
 
 Mrs. Morgan was not much lefs dunned by this 
 reply, than if (he had been flruck with lightening. 
 Pra&ifed as fhe had long been in commanding 
 her paflions and inclinations, a torrent of tears 
 forced their way. 
 
 * I did not want this proof, refumed Mr. Mor- 
 gan, that I have but a fmall fibape of your affedti- 
 ons j and were I inclined to grant your requefr, 
 you could not have found a better means of pre- 
 venting it ; for I will have no perfon in my houfe 
 more beloved than- myfelf. When you have no 
 other friend, added he with a malicious fmile, I 
 may hope for the honour of that title.' 
 Mrs. Morgan was fo well convinced before of the 
 littlenefs of his mind, that fhe was more afflicted 
 than furprized at this inftance of it, and wifhed he 
 would not have rendered it more difficult to efteem, 
 him, by fo openly profeflmg his ungenerous temper. 
 However me filently acquiefced ; but that her friend 
 might not feel the pain of believing herfelf neglect- 
 ed, fhe was obliged to tell her what had parted. 
 
 The new married couple (laid but two days longei 
 at Sir Charles's. Fortunately Mr. Morgan fpent 
 the laft day abroad in paying vifits in the neigh- 
 bourhood, which gave the two unhappy friends lei- 
 F 3 fure
 
 1O2 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 fure to lament their ill fortune in this cruel fepara- 
 tion,- without giving the caufe of it any new of- 
 fence. They took a melancholy leave that flight, 
 fearing that even a correfpondence between them 
 might be considerably reftrained by this arbitrary 
 hufband, who feemed to think his wife's affections 
 were to be won by force, not by gentlenefs and ge- 
 nerous confidence. 
 
 This was the fevereft affliction they had ever yet 
 experienced, or indeed were capable "of feeling. 
 United from their childhood, the connection of foul 
 and body did not feem more indifToluble, nor were 
 ever divided with greater pain. They forefaw no 
 end to this cruel feparation ; for they could not ex- 
 peel that a hufband s complaifance to his wife fhould 
 increafe after he ceafecl to be a bridegroom. Louifa 
 indeed, who wiflied if poflible to reconcile her 
 friend to her fate, pretended to hope that her good 
 conduct: might in time enlarge his mind, and cure 
 him of that mean fufpicious temper, which then 
 made him fear to have his faults expofed by a 
 wife, whfe chief endeavour would be to conceal 
 them. 
 
 But fuch diftant views afforded no confolation to 
 Mrs. Morgan's affectionate heart j the prefent pain 
 engaged her thoughts too much to fuffer her to 
 look fo far off for comfort. She had flattered her- 
 ielf not only with the hopes of enjoying Mil's Man- 
 eel's company, but of delivering her from all the 
 difficulties of her fituation, in offering her a pro- 
 tection from infult or poverty. To be difappointed 
 of fo delightful a profpect was her greater! afflicti- 
 on, and fat much heavier on her mind, than the 
 lofs of her beloved fociety. - 
 
 The evening was far fpent, when Lady Melvyn 
 found them drowned in tears, anticipating the 
 pangs of parting, the employment of that whole 
 
 dav j
 
 Mifs MANGEL and MFS. MORGAN. 103 
 Jay ; and as her ladyfhip's hatred for her daughter- 
 in-law was much fubfided, fince (he no longer fear- 
 ed theobfervation of her too-virtuous eye, her na- 
 tural difpofition inclined her to prevent the wife's 
 difcovering her real fentiments to her hufband ; {he 
 therefore reminded them, that Mr. Morgan mutt then 
 be on his way home, and advifed, that by all means 
 they fhould part before his return, left he fhould be 
 witneis of a forro'.v which he would take amifs. 
 They were fenfible that in this her ladyfhip judged 
 well, and Louifa's fear of occafioning any additi- 
 onal uncafinefs to. -her friend, gave her refolution 
 and ftrength to take a laft farewel. Mrs. Mor- 
 gan's maid attended h^r home, as fhe was too much 
 affected to be able to perform that little walk with- 
 out fome fupport. Mrs. Morgan's condition was 
 ft ill more deplorable ; more dead than alive, fhe 
 followed Louifa's fteps with eager eyes, till a turn- 
 ing in the road robbed her of the fight of her 
 friend ; and then, as if her eyes had no other em- 
 ployment worthy of them left, they were again 
 overwhelmed in tears. Lady Melvyn found her 
 incapable of confolatioa ; but more fuccefsfully en- 
 deavoured to make her fupprefs the indulgence of 
 her grief, by alarming her fears with the approach 
 of Mr. Morgan. As loon as fhe was a little com- 
 pofed, fhe led her into the garden for air. The 
 night was fine, and the moon fhone very refplend- 
 ent, the beauty of the fcene, and the frefhnefs of 
 the air a little revived her ; and as Mr. Morgan 
 fti-.id out later than they expected, fhe had time to 
 acquire a fufficient command over herfelf to receive 
 him with an air of tolerable chearfulnefs. 
 
 The new- married pair fet out early the next 
 morning, and arrived at Mr. Morgan's feat the fol- 
 lowing day. The houfe \vas large and old, the 
 furniture not much lefs ancient, the fituation drea- 
 F 4 ry,
 
 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 ry, the roads every where bad, the foil a ftiff clay, 
 tvet and dirty, except in the midft of furnmer; the 
 country round it difagreeable, and in {hort, defti- 
 tute of every thing that could afford any fatisfaftion 
 to Mrs. Morgan. Nature nowhere appears graced 
 with fewer charms. Mrs. Morgan however had 
 vexations fo fuperior, that ihe paid little regard to 
 exterm.1 circumftances, and was fo fully deter- 
 mined to acquit herfelf properly in her new fphere, 
 that ihe appeared pleafed with every thing around 
 her. Hypocrify, as (he obferved, was now become 
 a virtue, and the only one which ihe found it diffi- 
 cult to pra<ftife. They were received on their ar- 
 rival by a maiden fifter of Mr. Morgan's, who till 
 then had kept his houfe, and he intended fhould 
 frill remain in it ; for as .through the partiality of 
 -an aunt, who had bred her up, fhe was pofleffed of 
 a large fortune, her brother, in whom avarice was 
 the ruling pafT.on, was very defirous of keeping in 
 her favour. 
 
 Mrs. Sufanna Morgan had lived immaculate to 
 the age of fifty-five. The ftate of virginity cculd 
 not be laid to her charge as an offence againft fo- 
 cicty, for it had not been voluntary. In her youth 
 fhe was- rather diftiiiguifhed for fenfibility. Her 
 aunt's known riches gave the niece the reputation 
 of a great fortune, an attraction to which fhe was 
 indebted for many lovers, who constantly took their 
 leave on finding the old lady would not advance 
 any part of the money which {he defigned to be- 
 queath her niece. Mifs Sufanna, extremely fuf- 
 ceptible by nature, was favourably difpofed to all 
 her admirers,, and imagining herfelf fucceffively in 
 love with each, lived in a courfe of difappoint- 
 ments. In reality, the impreffion was made only 
 on her vanity, and her heart continued unengaged; but 
 ihe felt fuch a train of mortifications very feverely, 
 
 and.
 
 Mifs MANGEL and Mrs. MORGAN. 105 
 and perhaps differed more upon the whole, than if 
 flie had been ftrongly impreiled with one paflion. 
 In time the parcimony of her old aunt became ge- 
 nerally known, and the young lady then was left 
 free from the tender importunity of lovers, of which 
 nothing elfe could probably have deprived her ; for 
 as (he never had any natural attractions, (he was not 
 fubject to a decay of charms ; at near fifty-three her 
 aunt departed this life, and left her in pofleffion of 
 twenty-thoufand pounds, a fortune which ferved to 
 fwell her pride, without increafing her happinefs. 
 
 Nature had not originally beftowed upon her 
 much fweetnefs of temper, and her frequent dif- 
 appointmems, each of which fhe termed being 
 crofted in love, had completely foured it. Every 
 pretty woman was the objedt of her envy, I might 
 almoft fay every married woman. She defpifed all 
 that were not as rich as herfelf, and hated every one 
 who was fuperior or equal to her In fortune. Tor- 
 mented inwardly with her own ill-nature, (lie was 
 incapable of any fatisfaclion but what arofe from 
 teazing others ; nothing could difpel the frown on 
 her brow, except the fatisfaclion fhe felt when (he 
 had the good fortune to give pain to any of her 
 dependants ; a horrid grin then diftorted her features, 
 tand her before lifelefs eyes giiitened with malice 
 and rancorous joy. She had read juft enough to 
 make her pedantic, and too little to give her r.ny 
 improving knowledge. Her understanding was na- 
 turally fmall, and her feli-conceit great. In her 
 perfon (he was tall and meagre, her hair black, and 
 her complexion of the darkeft brown, with an ad- 
 ditional fallownefo at her temples and round her 
 '"yes, which were dark, very large and prominent, 
 and entirely without luftre ; they had but one look, 
 which was that of gloomy ilupid ill-narure, excepf, 
 as I have already iai J, when they were enlivened 
 F s by
 
 I0 6 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 by the fupreme fatisfation of having made fome- 
 body uneafy, then what before was but difagreeable 
 became horrible. To complete the defcription of 
 her face, flit had a broad flat nofe, a wide mouth, 
 furnifhed with the woril fet of teeth I ever faw, 
 and her chin was long and pointed. She had heard 
 primnefs fo often mentioned as the characleriftic of 
 an old maid, that to avoid wearing that appearance, 
 (he was flatternly and dirty to an excefs; befides me had 
 great addition of filthinefs, from a load of Spanifh 
 inuff, with which her whole dreis was covered, as 
 if, by herprofufion in that particular, fhe thought to 
 compenfate for her general parfimony. 
 
 This lady, Mrs. Morgan found in pofleflion of 
 her houfe, and was received by her with that air of 
 fuperiority, to which Mrs. Sufanna thought herfelf 
 jnthled by her age and fortune. , Mrs. Morgan's 
 charms, though drooping like a blighted flower, ex- 
 cited much envy in Suf.mna's brcaft, and me 
 ibon congratulated her, on her extraordinary happi- 
 nefs in having captivated a gentleman of fo large a 
 fortune, when her own was at prefent fo very final]. 
 
 At firft fhe commended her, for not being elated 
 with fo great an acquifition, but in a littltr time 
 taxed her with ungrateful infenfibility to fo prodi- 
 gious a blefiing. Sh? continually criticized her 
 oeconomy, accufing her of indolence ; reprefeming, 
 how * {he ufed every morning to roufe the fervants 
 4 from their idleneis, by giving each fuch a fcold, 
 ' as quickened their diligence for the whole day ; 
 ' nor could a family be well managed by any one 
 who omitted this necefiaryduty.' Mrs. Morgan's 
 deilre that her fervants mould enjoy the comforts of 
 plenty, and when fick, receive the indulgence 
 which that condition requires, brought her conti- 
 nual 'admonitions agaiuft extravagance, whu iein 
 Mr. Morgan tcadily joined i for his avarice was fa 
 
 great,
 
 Mifs MANGEL and Mrs. MORCA\ T . 107 
 great, that he repined at the moft necefiary ex- 
 pences. 
 
 His temper was a mixtuie of pnflion and pevifh* 
 uefs, two things that fcldoni go together ; but he 
 would fret himfeif into a paflion, and then through 
 v/earinefs of fpirits cool into fretfulnefs, till he was 
 fufficiently recovered to rife again into rage. This 
 was the common courie of his temper, which af-- 
 forded variety, but no relief. 
 
 Senfible that his wife married him without affec- 
 tion, he feemed to think it impoffihJe ever to gain 
 her love, and therefore fpared himfeif all fruitlefs 
 endeavours. He was indeed fond of her perfon ; 
 he admired her beauty, but defpifed her undedtand- 
 ing, which in truth was unavoidable ; for his ideas 
 and converfation were fo low and fordid, that he 
 was not qualified to diftinguifti the charms of her 
 elegant mind. Thofe who know Mrs. Morgan 
 beft, are convinced that {he fufiered lefs uneafmefs 
 from his ill-humour, brutal as it was, than from 
 his naufeous fondnefs. But the account I give of 
 him, I have received from others ; Mrs. Morgan 
 never mentions his name, if it can poflibly . be 
 avoided ; and when (he does, it is always with re- 
 fpect. In this fituation, a victim to the ill- humour 
 both of her hufband and his After ; we will leave 
 Mrs. Morgan, and return to that' "friend whofe 
 letters were her only conlblation. 
 
 Mifs ManceFs perfon was fo uncommonly fine, 
 that fhe could not be long fettled in the country 
 without attracting general notice. Though the 
 lower rank of people may be lefs refined in their 
 ideas, yet her beauty was fo very ftrikrng, that it 
 did not efcape their admiration, and the handfime 
 lady^ as they called h.:r, became the general fubje^t 
 of difcourfe. As church was the only place where 
 {he was expofed to public view, Ihe had from the 
 F 6 fait
 
 jo8 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 firft endeavoured to elude obfervation, by mingling 
 in the croud, and fitting in the moft obfcure 
 feat ; but when fame had awakened the curi- 
 ofity of thofe of higher rank, fhe was eafily 
 dirtinguifhed, and in a fhort time many inhabitants 
 of the neighbouring parifties came to that church to 
 fee her. She more than anfwered every expectati- 
 on ; for fuch perfection of beauty fcarcely ever came 
 Out of the hands of nature. Many ladies in the 
 heighbourhood introduced themfelves to her, and 
 found her behaviour as enchanting as her perfon. 
 She could not be inlenfible of the.approbation which 
 every eye fignificantly exprefled 3 but fhe was 
 bafhed, and in fome degree more mortified than 
 delighted by it. She well remembered what Mr. 
 d'Avora had faid to her on that fubjet, and faw 
 that in her fituation beauty was a difadvantage. 
 He often repeated the fame thing to her in letters, 
 (for fhe and Mifs Melvyn keeping up a conftant cor- 
 refpondance with him, the latter had acquainted 
 him with the general admiration paid to Louifa) 
 and told her, that he feared the plan they had formed 
 for her future way of life, was at a ftill greater dif- 
 tance than they had hoped, fince her beauty was 
 the great obftacle to its being put in execution. 
 
 The ladies of the beft fafhion in the neighbour- 
 hood begged leave to vifit herj and though fhe 
 more than ever wifhed to have her time uninter- 
 rupted, fince as fhe had no profpccl: of any other 
 means of fupport," it was necefTary, by fuch little 
 additions as fhe could make to her fmall fund, to 
 .prevent its quick diminution, yet fhe could not de- 
 cline the civilities fo obligingly offered her, but 
 avoided all intimacy with any of them as foreign 
 to her plan, and hurtful to her intereft. Thus 
 was fhe circumftanced in refpe& to the neighbour- 
 hood when Mifs Melvyn married. 
 
 As
 
 Mifs MANCEL and Mrs. MORGAN. 109 
 As after this event Louifa was determined to 
 change her habitation ; fhe began to enquire for 
 fome family, where fhe might be accommodated in 
 the fame manner, as in that where fhe was then 
 fixed. Among the perfons who had taken moft 
 notice of her was Lady Lambton, a perfon of 
 admirable underftanding, polite, generous and 
 good-natured ; who had no fault, but a confidera- 
 ble fhare of pride. She piqued herfelf upon the 
 opulence of her family, and a diftinguifhed birth, 
 but her good fenfe, and many virtues, fo qualified 
 this one blemtfh, that it did not prevent her be- 
 ing a very amiable woman. 
 
 When fhe found Mifs Mancel defigned to change 
 her abode, fhe told her, that at an honeft farmer's 
 near her houfe, fhe might be accommodated, but 
 that as fome little alterations would be requifite to 
 make the place fit for her, fhe, in the moft obliging 
 manner, defired her company till the apartment was 
 ready ; which would give her opportunity to fee 
 that fuch things were done to it, as would be moft 
 convenient and agreeable. Lady Lambton infifted 
 fo ftrongly on Mifs Mancel's accepting this invita- 
 tion, that fhe could not without incivility refufe it ; 
 and, as after the lofs of her friend, all places were 
 alike to her, fhe had no reafon to decline fo oblig- 
 ing an offer. 
 
 No great preparations were required for this re- 
 moval of abode. Lady Lambton came herfelf to 
 fetch Mifs Mancel home. The old lady was charm- 
 ed with her new gueft; many of whofe accom- 
 plifhments were unknown to her till fhe came un- 
 der the fame roof, and would not fuffer any prepa- 
 rations to be made for another lodging, but infifted 
 on her continuing much longer with her. 
 
 Lady
 
 no THE His TORY OF 
 
 Lady Lambton behaved in fo very obliging- a 
 manner, and Louifa found fo much pleafure and 
 improvement in the converfation of a woman, whofe 
 admirable underftanding and thorough kno\v]edge 
 of the world are feldom to be parallelled, that fhe 
 could not be more agreeably placed; as {he dared 
 not go even into Mrs. Morgan's neighbourhood, 
 for fear of giving additional uneafmefs to one, whofe 
 fituation fhe plainly perceived was by no means hap- 
 py ; for though Mrs. Morgan fuppreffed all com- 
 plaints, never hinted at the treatment fhe received, 
 and endeavoured to reprefent her way of life in ths 
 beft colours, to fave her friend the fympathetic 
 pangs of heart, which {he knew fhe would feel for 
 her fuiTeringj ; yet the alteration in her ftile, the 
 melancholy turn of mind, which in fpight of all 
 her care, was vifible in her letters, could not efcape 
 the obiervation of one whofe natural difcernment 
 was quickened by affec'tion. 
 
 The full perfuafion of Mrs. Morgan's unhnppinefs, 
 and that anxious foilicitude which arofe from her 
 ignorance as to the degree of her wretchednefs, 
 was a fource of continual grief to her mind, which 
 Lady Lambton's fmcere friendmip could fcarcely 
 alleviate. But fhe knew too well, how few people 
 can bear the unhappy, to Itiffer her uneaftnefs to 
 appear. She ftifled therefore every expreflion of 
 that kind ; for if Lady Lambton had generoufly 
 fympathize'd in her affliction, it would have given 
 her pain to know fhe had occadoned that lady's 
 feeling any; and if fhe had been infenftble to it, 
 complaints would not fail to difguft her. 
 
 Lady Lambton was fond of muftc, and not void 
 of tafte for painting ; Miis Mancel's excellence in 
 thefe arts, therefore afforded her the higheft eiUcrr- 
 tainment. Her ladyfhip was likewife a miflrefs of 
 languages, and was pleafed to find Louifa equally 
 
 acquainted
 
 Mils MAN'CEL and Mrs. MORGAN, in 
 acquainted with them. In this houfe Mifs Mancel 
 had paiTed above a twelve- month, when Sir Edward 
 Lambton returned from his travels, in which he 
 had fpent four years. As foon as he arrived in the 
 kingdom he came to wait on Lady Lambton, his 
 erandmother; who was likewife his guardian, his 
 father and mother being both dead. She had 
 longed with impatience for his return, but thought 
 herfelf well repaid for his abience by the great im- 
 provement which was very vifible both in his man- 
 ner and perfon. 
 
 Sir Edward was extremely handfome, his perfon 
 fine and graceful, hi- converfation lively and enter- 
 taining, politenefs adding charms to an excellent un- 
 derftanding. His behaviour, I have been told, was 
 particularly engaging, his temper amiable, thoug-h 
 ibmewbat too warm, and he had all his grandmother's 
 generoiity, without any of her pride. 
 
 It would have been {trance if a man of three and 
 twenty years old (for that was Sir Edward's age) 
 had not been much charmed with fo lovely a woman 
 as Mifs Mancel. That he was fo, foon became vi- 
 fible, but {he, as well as his grandmother, for 
 iome time imagined the attentions he paid her were 
 only the natural refult of the gallantry ufual at his 
 age, and improved into a fofter addrtfs, by a man- 
 ner acquired in travelling through countries where 
 gallantry is publicly profefied. Lady Lambton 
 however, knowing her own difcernment, exprefied 
 fome fears to Louifa, left her grandfon mould be- 
 come ferioufly in love with her, in order to difco- 
 ver by her countenance, whether there was really 
 any ground for her apprehenfions, which fhe 
 founded on the impoifibility of his marrying a wo- 
 man of imall fortune, without reducing himielf to 
 the greateft inconvenience, as his eftate was ex- 
 tremely incumbered, and he was by an intail de- 
 prived
 
 H2 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 prived of the liberty of felling any part of it to dif- 
 charge the debt. She was too polite to mention 
 her chief obje&ion to Mifs Mancel, which was in 
 reality the obfcurity of her birth.-' 
 
 Louifa, who fincerely believed Sir Edward had 
 no real paflion for her, anfwered with a franknefs 
 which entirely convinced Lady Lambton that fhe 
 had received no ferious addrefs from him ; but 
 Louifa, who faw herfelf now in the fituation which 
 Mr. d'Avora had warned her againf}, beg-jed per- 
 miflion to leave Lady Lambton's, to prevent her 
 ladyfhip's being under any uneafmefs, and to avoid 
 all danger of Sir Edward's receiving any flrong im- 
 preflion in her favour. 
 
 Lady Lambton was unwilling to part with her 
 amiable companion ; and befides, thought if her 
 grandfon was really enamoured, fhe fhould increafe 
 the danger rather than leiTen it, by not keeping 
 Louifa under her eye ; fhe therefore told her fhe 
 could not confent to lofe her company, and was 
 certain fhe might depend on her honour. Louifa 
 thanked her for her good opinion, and afiured her 
 fhe would never do any thing to forfeit it. 
 
 Sir Edward was more captivated than either of' 
 the ladies imagined, and every day increafed his 
 paflion. Louifa's beauty, her converfation, and 
 accomplishments were irrefiftible j but as he knew 
 the great occaflon he had to marry a woman of for- 
 tune, he long endeavoured to combat his inclina- 
 tions. He might have conceived hopes of obtain- 
 ing any other woman in her circumftances on eafier 
 terms ; but there was fuch dignity and virtue fhone 
 forth in her, and he was fo truly in love, that fuch 
 a thought never entered his imagination. He re- 
 verenced and fefpected her like a divinity, but 
 hoped that prudence might enable him to conquer 
 his paflion, at the fame time that it had hot force 
 
 enough
 
 MifsMANCEL and Mrs. MORGAN. 113 
 
 enough to determine him to fly her prefence, the 
 only poffible means of leflening the impreflion 
 which every hour engraved more deeply on his 
 heart, by bringing fome new attractions to his 
 view. He little confidered, that the man who has 
 not power to fly from temptation, will never be 
 able to refift it by {landing his ground. 
 
 Louifa was not long before (he grew fenfible, that 
 what (he had offered to Lady Lambton for the eafe 
 of her ladyfhip's mind, was advifable to fecure the 
 peace of her own. Sir Edward's merit, his fin- 
 cere refpect for her, which certainly is the moft 
 powerful charm to a woman of delicacy, could 
 fcarcely fail to make an impreflion on a heart fo 
 tender, fo generous as her's. She kept fo flric~fc 
 a watch over herfelf, that (he foon perceived 
 her fenfibility, and endeavoured to prevail on Lady 
 Lambton to part with her ; but the old lady ima- 
 gining it was only in order to quiet her apprehen- 
 fions, would not confentT; and the difficulty in 
 finding a place where (he could be properly receiv- 
 ed, frrongly difcouraged her from infixing on it. 
 If fhe continued in the neighbourhood, her purpofe 
 would not be anfwered; for fhe could not avoid Sir 
 Edward's vifits ; her only friend was denied the 
 liberty of protecting her, and to go into a place 
 where (he was unknown, would fubject a young wo- 
 man of her age and beauty to a thoufand dangers. 
 
 Thefe difficulties detained her, though unwil- 
 lingly, at Lady Lambton's for above half a year 
 after Sir Edward's return ; who, at length, unable 
 to confine in filence a pafiion which had long been 
 obvious to every obferver, took an opportunity, 
 when alone with Louifa, to declare his attachment 
 in the molt affecting manner. She received it not 
 with furprize, but with real forrow. She had no 
 tincture of coquettry in her compofition ; but if fhe 
 
 had
 
 ii4 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 had been capable of it, her affections were too 
 deeply engaged to have fuffered her to retain it. 
 Her fenfibility was never fo ftrongly awakened ; all 
 her endeavours to reftrain it were no longer of 
 force, her heart returned his pafiion, and would 
 have conquered every thing but her jufUce and her 
 honour ; thefe were deeply engaged to Lady Lamb- 
 ton ; and (he would have detefted herfelf,if fhe could 
 have entertained a thought of making that lady's 
 goodnefs to her, the occafion of the greateft vexa- 
 tion fhe could receive. iShe therefore never hefi- 
 tated on the part fhe fhould act on this trying dcca- 
 fion ; but the victories which honour gains over the 
 tender affections, are not to be obtained without 
 the fevereft pangs. Thus tormented by the ftrug- 
 gles between duty and affection, fhe was not imme- 
 diately capable of giving him an anfwer ; but find- 
 ing that her difficulties were increafmg, by his re- 
 peated profeffions, and animated by the neceffity of 
 filencing a love, which too fuccefs fully follicited a 
 return of affection, fhe affumed a fufficient com- 
 mand over herfelf to conceal her fentirnents, and 
 with averted eyes, left her heart fhould through 
 them contradict her words, fhe told him, ' he 
 diftreffed her to the greateft degree ; that the 
 refpect fhe had for him on account of his own 
 merit, and not lefs for the relation he bore to 
 Lady Lambton, made her extremely concerned 
 that he fhould have conceived a pafiion for her, 
 which it was not in her power to return ; nor 
 could fhe liften to it in juflice to Lady Lambton, 
 to whom fhe was bound in all the ties of grati- 
 tude ; neither fhould any thing ever prevail with her 
 to do any thing prejudicial to the intereits of a 
 family into which fhe had been io kindly re- 
 ceived.' 
 
 Sir
 
 Mifs MANGEL and Mrs. MORGAN. 115 
 Sir Edward was too much in love to acquiefce in 
 fo nice a point of honour ; but Louifa would not 
 wait to hear arguments which it was fo painful 
 to her to refute, and retired into her own chamber, 
 to lament in fecret her unhappy fate in being ob- 
 liged to reject the addrefies of a man, whofe af- 
 fections, were ftie at liberty, fhe would think no 
 facrifice too great to obtain. 
 
 Mifs Mancel endeavoured as much as pofHble to 
 avoid giving Sir Edward any opportunity of renew- 
 ing his addrefles ; but his vigilance found the means 
 of feeing her alone more than once, when he warmly 
 urged the partiality of her behaviour, reprefenting 
 how much more his happinefs was concerned in 
 the fuccefs of a palHon which poffefied his whole 
 foul, than his grandmother's could be in difap- 
 pointing it. Mie, he obferved, was actuated 
 only by pride, he by the fincereft love that ever 
 took place in a human heart. In accepting his 
 addreiTes Louifa could only mortify Lady Lamb- 
 ton ; in rejecting them, fhe mttft render him mi- 
 ferable. Which, he afked, had the bell title to 
 her regard, the woman who could ungenerouHy 
 and injudicioufly fet a higher value on riches and 
 birth than on her very fuperior excellencies, or 
 the man who would gladly facrifice fortune, and 
 every other enjoyment the world could afford, to 
 the poflefiion of her j of her who alone could 
 render life defirable to him ? ' By thefe, and 
 many other arguments, and what was more preva- 
 lent than all the arguments that couW be deduced 
 from reaibn, by the tendereft intreaties that the 
 moft ardent pa&on could, dictate, Sir Edward en- 
 deavoured to perfuade Louifa to confent to marry 
 him, but all proved unavailing. She fometimes 
 thought what he faid was juft, but aware of her 
 partiality, ihe could not believe herfelf an unpreju- 
 diced
 
 Ii6 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 diced judge, and feared that {he might miftake the 
 fophiftry of love, for the voice of reafon. She was 
 fure, while honour, truth, and gratitude, pleaded 
 againft inclination they mull: be in the right, though 
 their remonfirances were hufhed into a whifper by 
 the louder follicitations of palfion. Convinced that 
 fhe could not be to blame, while foe acted in con- 
 tradiction to her fecret choice, fmce the fincerity 
 cf her intentions were thereby plainly, though pain- 
 fully evinced, (he perfifted in refufmg to become 
 Sir Edward's wife, and told him, that ' if he did 
 ' not difcontinue his addreffes, he would force her to 
 ' leave thehoufe, and retire to any place that would 
 
 * afford her a quiet refuge from his importunity.' 
 A hint of this fort was fu&cient to drive Sir 
 
 Edward almoft to diffraction, and Louifa dared not 
 purfue the fubject. When he found fhe could not 
 bz induced to content to an immediate marriage, he 
 endeavoured to obtain a promife of her hand after 
 Lady Lambton's deceafe ; though to a man of his 
 impatient and ftrong paffions fuch a delay was 
 worfe than death j but Mifs Mancel told him, ' by 
 
 * fuch an engagement fhe fhould be guilty of a 
 ' mean evafion, and that fhe fliould think it as great 
 
 * a breach of honour as marrying him directly/ 
 The defpair to which Louiia's conduct reduced 
 
 Sir Edward, whofe love feemed to increafe with the 
 abatement of his hopes, was very vifible to his 
 grandmother, but her pride was invincible ; nei- 
 ther her affection for him, nor her great efteem 
 for Mifs Mancel's merit, could conquer her averfi- 
 o;i to their union. She faw them both unhappy, 
 but was convinced the pangs they felt would not be 
 of very long continuance, trufting to the ufual 
 inconstancy of young perfons, while the in- 
 conveniencies attending an incumbered fortune, and 
 the difgrace which fhe Imagined mult be the confe- 
 
 quence
 
 Mifs MANCEL and Mrs. MORGAN. 1 17 
 quence of Sir Edward's marrying a woman of ob- 
 fcure birth, would be permanent, and influence the 
 whole courfe of his life. 
 
 Louifa, unable to fupport fo hard a conflict, con- 
 tinually refifting both her lover, and her love, was 
 determined to (eek fome relief from abfence. She 
 wrote Mr. d'Avora a faithful account of all the dif- 
 ficulties of her fit ation, and intreated him to re- 
 ceive her into his houfe, till he could find fome 
 proper place wherein to fix her abode. 
 
 This worthy friend approved her conduct, while 
 he grieved for her diftrefs ; his honeft heart felt a 
 fecret indignation againft Lady Lambton, who 
 could, by falfe pride, be blinded to the honour 
 which he thought fuch a woman as Mifs Mancel 
 muft reflect on any family into which me entered. 
 He wrote that young lady word, that ' (he might 
 
 * be affured of the beft reception his houfe could 
 e afford, and every fervice that it was in his power 
 
 * to render her ; defiring that fhe would let him 
 ' know when fhe propofed fetting out, that he 
 ' might meet her on the road, not thinking it pro- 
 
 * per fhe mould travel alone.' 
 
 This letter gave Mifs Mancel much fatisfaction ; 
 fhe was now fecure of an afylum ; , but the great 
 difficulty {till remained, fhe knew not how to get 
 away from Lady Lamb ton's in a proper manner ; 
 for to go clandeftinely was not fuitable to her cha- 
 racter, and might bring it into fufpicion. In this 
 dilemma fhe thought it beft to apply to that lady, 
 and with her ufual franknefs told her, (what had 
 not efcaped her difcernrr.ent) the affection Sir Ed- 
 v/ard had conceived for her, and the return her own 
 heart made to it; only fuppreflmg his felicitations, 
 as her ladyfhip might be offended with his proceed- 
 ing fo far without her coafent. She reprefented 
 
 * the imprudence of her continuing in the houfe 
 
 with
 
 iS THE HISTORY OF 
 
 with Sir Edward, whereby both his pafiion and 
 her own muit be increased} and yet {he was at 
 a lofs how to depurt privately, but was convinced 
 it could not be affected with his knowledge, with- 
 out fuch an eclat as muft be very difagreeable to 
 them all ; nor could {he anfwer for her own re- 
 folution, when put to fo fevere a trial ; as {he 
 {hould have more than her full meafure of afflic- 
 tion in going from thence, without being witnefs 
 to its effecr. on him.' 
 
 One {hould have imagined that the generofity of 
 Mifs Mancel s conduct, might have influenced 
 Lady Lambton in her favour ; but though it in- 
 creafed her efteem, it did not alter her refolution. 
 With inexcufableinfenfibility fhe concerted meafures 
 with her, and engaged to procure Sir Edward's ab- 
 fence for a {hort time. Some very neceflary bufi- 
 nefs indeed demanded his prefence in a neighbour- 
 ing county, where the greateft part of bis eftate 
 Jay, but he had not been able to prevail on himfelf 
 to leave Louifa ; too much enamoured to think 
 any pecuniary advantage could compenfate for 
 the lofs of her company. But as it was natural 
 that an old grandmother {hould fee the matter in 
 another light ; her prefiing him to go and fettle his 
 affairs, gave him no caufe to fufpecl any latent 
 meaning, and was too reafonable to be any longer 
 oppofed. 
 
 Though Sir Edward was refolved on fo quick a 
 difpatch of bufmefs, as promifcd him a fpeedy re- 
 t in, yet any feparation from Mifs Mancel, how- 
 ever {hoFt, appeared a fevere misfortune. The 
 evening before the clay of his departure, he con- 
 trived to f;e her alone, and renewed his importu- 
 nities with redo .bled ardour, but with no better 
 fucccis than before. He lamented the-neceffity he 
 was under of leaving her, though but for a little 
 
 time,
 
 Mifs MANGEL and Mrs. MORGAN. iFg 
 time, with an agony of mind better fuited to an 
 eternal reparation. She, who faw it in that light, 
 was overcome with the tender diftrefs which a per- 
 fon muft fed at taking a final leave of one who 
 is extremely dear to her. Her own grief was more 
 than (lie could have concealed ; but when (he an- 
 ticipated in her thoughts, what he would fuffer 
 when he knew he had loft her for ever, and judged 
 from the pain he felt on the approach of what he 
 thought fo {hort an abfence ; how very great his 
 diltrefs wou;d be, fhe was unable to fupport the 
 fcene with her ufuallteadinefs, Tears infenfibly ftole 
 down her face, and beftowed on it ftill greater charms 
 than it had ever yet worn, by giving her an air of 
 tendernefs, which led hirr\to hope that me did not 
 behold his paffion withim'ifference. This thought af- 
 forded him a confutation which he had never before 
 received ; and though it increafed his love, yet it 
 abated his diftrefs, and rendered him more able to 
 leave her, fmce he flattered himfelf me would with 
 pleat" re fee him return, which he was now more 
 than ever refolved to do as fpeedily as poflible. 
 
 The day of his departure fhe fpent chiefly in 
 her own room, to conceal, as far as fhe was able, 
 a weaknefs me was afhamed of, but could not con- 
 q er. ^he had written the day before to inform 
 Mr. d'Avora, that (be fhould fet but for London 
 four days after her letter. Accordingly at the time 
 appointed, after having agreed with Lady Lamb- 
 ton, that Sir Edward muft be kept ignorant of the 
 place to which me was gone, (he fet o.:t with that 
 lady, who carried her in her coach twelve miles of 
 ths way, and then delivered her to Mr. d'Avora, 
 who was come thither to receive her. Lady Lambton 
 could not part with her amiable companion with- 
 out regret, and exprefied her true feufe of her me- 
 rit
 
 1 2O TflEHlSTORY OF 
 
 rit in fuch ftrong terms to Mr. d'Avora, who could 
 not forgive that pride which occafioned fo much pain 
 both to Louifa and Sir Edward, that he told her in 
 plain terms, how very happy, and how much ho- 
 noured any man muft be, who had her for his wife. 
 Perhaps Lady Lambton would have fubfcribed to 
 his opinion, had any one but her grandfon been 
 concerned ; but the point was too tender, and it 
 was no fmall command over herfelf, that prevented 
 her giving the good old man a hint that fhe thought 
 him impertinent. 
 
 Our travellers arrived in town the next day, af- 
 ter a melancholy journey, for even the company 
 of a friend fhe fo much loved and efteemcd, could 
 not reftore Mifs Mancel's natural vivacity, though 
 in compaflion to the good old man, who fympa- 
 thifed tenderly in her diftrefs, (he endeavoured to 
 the utmoft of her power, to conceal how very 
 deeply fhe was afflidted. It was fome little time 
 before her fpirits were fufficiently compofed to form 
 any fcheme for her future life, nor were they be- 
 nt-fitted by a letter from Lady Lambton, which 
 acquainted her that Sir Edward, at his return, find- 
 ing fhe had left the place, that his grandmother 
 had confented to her departure, and refufed to tell 
 him where fh.e was gone, was for fome days fran- 
 tic with rage and grief, and had juft then left Lady 
 Lampton, with a determination to fcrve as volun- 
 teer in the army in Germany, in hopes, he faid, to 
 find there a releafc from his afflictions, which no- 
 thing but the hand of death could befto\v. 
 
 The old lady was much fhocked at this event, but 
 hoped a little time would reftore his reafon, and 
 enable him to bear his difappointment with pati- 
 ence. c There was room to believe, fhe faid, that 
 4 the reft of the campaign would pafs over without 
 
 * a battle
 
 Mifs MANGEL and Mrs. MORGAN. 12 p 
 6 a battle, and if fo the change of fcene might 
 ' abate his pafiion.' 
 
 Louifa's heart was too tenderly engaged to rea- 
 fon fo philofophically, (he was almoft diftrackd 
 with her fears, and was often inclined to blame her 
 own fcruples, 'that had driven fo worthy a man to 
 fuch extremities. All Mr. d'Avora could urge to 
 reconcile her to herfelf, and to calm her apprehen- 
 fions for Sir Edward, were fcarcely fufficient to re- 
 ftore her to any eafe of mind ; but at length he 
 brought her to fubmit patiently to her fate, and to 
 fupport her prefent trial with conftancy. 
 
 They were {till undetermined as to her future efta- 
 blimment, when Mr. d'Avora one day met an old 
 acquaintance and countryman in the ftreet. As this 
 perfon had many years before returned to his native 
 country, Mr. d'Avora inquired what had again 
 brought him into England ? His friend replied, 
 that he was come in quality of factotum to a wi- 
 dow lady of fortune. In the courfe of their con- 
 verf-ition he aiked Mr. d'Avora, if he could recom- 
 mend a waiting woman to his lady, her's having 
 died on the road. The character this man gave of 
 his miftrefs inclined Mr. d'Avora to mention the 
 place to Mifs Mancel, who readily agreed, that hs 
 fhould" endeavour to obtain it for her. 
 
 Mr. d'Avora had engaged the man to call on him 
 the next day, by telling him he believed he might 
 be able to recommend a moft valuable young per- 
 fon to his lady. lie was punctual to his appoint- 
 ment, and conducted Mr. d'Avora and Louifa to 
 Mrs. Thornby's, that was the name of the lady in 
 qu eft ion. 
 
 Mifs Mancel was dreffed with care, but of a 
 
 very different fort from what is ufually aimed at ; 
 
 all her endeavours had been to conceal her youth 
 
 and beauty as much as poflible under great gravity 
 
 G of
 
 122 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 of drefs, and to give her all the difadvantages con- 
 iiirent with neatnefs and cleanlinefs. But f'ucb art 
 was too thin a veil to hide her charms. Mrs. 
 Thornby was immediately ftruck with her beauty, 
 and made fome fcruple of taking a young perfon 
 into her fervice, whom fhe fhould look upon as a 
 great charge, and fhe feared her maid might require 
 more attention from her, than (he mould think ne- 
 ceffary for any fervant to pay to herfelf. Mr. 
 d'Avora reprefented to her, ' how cruel it was that 
 beauty, which was looked upon as one of the 
 moft precious gifts of nature, fhould difqualify 
 a young woman for obtaining a neceffary provi- 
 villon. That this young perfon's prudence was 
 fo irreproachable, as fufticiently fecured her from 
 any difadvantages, which might naturally be 
 feared from it. But ftill he allowed, her perfon 
 would juftly deter a married woman from receiv- 
 ing her, and might make a cautious mother 
 avoid it, fince her good conduit v/ould rather add 
 to, than diminifh her attractions, therefore it was 
 only with a fmgle lady {he could hope to be placed ; 
 and he was well convinced, that fuch an one 
 would have reafon to think herfelf happy, in fo 
 accomplifhed a fervant ; fince her mind was ftill 
 more amiable than her perfon.' 
 Mrs. Thornby allowed what he faid to be reafona- 
 and was fo charmed with Louifa's appearance, that 
 (he allured him fhe would receive her with pleafure. 
 She was in hafte for a fervant, and Mils Mancel 
 had no reafon to delay her attendance, therefore it 
 was agreed fhe fhould enter into her place the next 
 day. 
 
 When Lady Lambton took leave of Louifa, fhe 
 would have forced her to receive a very handfome 
 prefent ; Louifa had accepted many while fhe lived 
 with her ladylhip, but at this time fhe faid, * it 
 
 ' would
 
 Mifs MANGEL and Mrs. MORGAN. 123 
 would look like receiving a compenfation for the 
 lofs of Sir Edward ; and as fhe chofe to facrifice 
 both her inclinations and happinefs to her regard 
 for Lady Lambton, fhc could not be induced to 
 accept any thing that looked like a reward for an 
 action, which if fhe had not thought it her duty, 
 nothing could have prevailed with her to per- 
 form.' The tendereft affe&ions of her heart 
 were too much concerned in what fhe had done, to 
 leave her the power of feeling any apprehenfions 
 of poverty ; all the evils that attend it then ap- 
 peared to' her fo entirely external, that fhe beheld 
 them with the calm philofophy of a ftoic, and not 
 from a very contrary motive ; the infenfibility of 
 each arofe from a ruling paffion ; the itoic's from 
 pride, her's from love. But though fhe feared not 
 poverty, fhe faw it was advifable to fix upon fome 
 ertablifhment, as foon as it could be obtained; and 
 therefore received great fatisfaction from being af- 
 fured of Mrs. Thornby's acceptance of herfervices. 
 Mr. d'Avora was not without hopes, that if Sir Ed- 
 ward continued conftant till Lady Lambton's death, 
 Louifa might then, without any breach of honour 
 or gratitude, marry him ; though to have engaged 
 herielf to do fo, would, as fhe obferved, have been 
 fcarcely lefs inexcufable than an immediate confent ; 
 therefore he advifed her to afTume another name, as 
 Sir Edward might not choofe, after fhe was his 
 wife, to have it known that fhe had been reduced 
 to fervitude. 
 
 Louifa was accordingly received at Mrs. Thorn- 
 by's by the name of Menil. Her good fenfe and 
 affiduity enabled her to acquit herfelf fo well in her 
 new place, as greatly delighted her miftrefs ; and 
 though fhe concealed the greateft part of her ac- 
 complifhments, fenfible they could be of no affift- 
 ance, and might on the contrary raife a prejudice 
 G 2 againft
 
 124 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 agairvft her; yet her behaviour and converfation fo 
 plainly indicated a fuperior education, that before 
 fhe had been there a week, Mrs. Thornby told her, 
 {lie was certain fhe had not been born for the fta- 
 tion fiie was then in, and begged a particular ac- 
 count of her whole life. 
 
 Louifa fearing that a compliance would render 
 her lefs agreeable to her miflrefs, who already treat- 
 ed her with a refpedt, which feemed more than was 
 due to her fituation, and often appeared uneafy at 
 ieeing her perform the necefTary duties of her place ; 
 intreated to be fpared a talk, which, fhe faid, was 
 attended with fome circumUances fo melancholy, 
 as greatly affected her fpirits on a particular re- 
 collection. 
 
 Mrs. Thornby's curiofity was not abated by this 
 infmuation, and fhe repeated her requeft in a 
 manner fo importunate, and at the fame time fo 
 kind, that Louifa could no longer, without mani- 
 feft difrefpea, decline it. 
 
 She began then by acquainting her, that fhe 
 went by a borrowed name ; but had proceeded 
 no farther in her narration, than to tell her that 
 her real name was Mancel, and that fhe had been 
 left to the care of an aunt, in her earlieft infancy, 
 by parents who were obliged, for reafons fhe could 
 never learr, to Iqave their country, when Mrs. 
 Thornby exclaimed, My child ! my child ! and fink- 
 ing on her knees, with eyes and hands lifted up 
 towards heaven, poured forth a mod ardent ihankf- 
 giving, with an extacy of mind not to be defcribed. 
 tier firil fenfation was that of gratitude to the Al- 
 mighty Power, who had refer ved fo great a blef- 
 fing for her ; maternal tendernefs alone gave rife to 
 the fucceeding emotions of her heart ; fhe threw 
 her arms round Louifa, who on feeing h.r fail on 
 her knees, and not comprehending the meaning 
 
 of
 
 Mifs MANGEL and Mrs. MORGAN. 125 
 of her a&ion ran to her ; but ftruck with aftonifh- 
 ment and reverence at the awful piety in her coun- 
 tenance and addreis, bent filent and motionlefs over 
 her. Mrs Thornby leaning her head on Louifa' s 
 bofom, burft into fuch a flood of tears, and was 
 fo oppreffed with joy, that the power of fpeech to- 
 tally failed her. Louifa raifed her from the ground, 
 crying, * Dear madam, what can all this mean; 
 ' What does th is extreme agitation of your mind give 
 1 me room to hope ?' 
 
 * Every thing, my child ! my angel ! that a fond 
 ' parent can beflxnv, replied Mrs. Thornby. I 
 ' am that mother, that was obliged to leave thee to 
 c another's care ; and has Heaven preferved my 
 ' daughter, and reftored her to me fo lovely, fa 
 ' amiable ! Gracious Providence ! Merciful beyond 
 ' hope ! Teach me to thank thee as I pught for this 
 ' laft inrtance of thy goodnefs !' And then her 
 whole foul feemed again poured forth in grateful 
 adoration. 
 
 Louifa could fcarcely believe this event was real j. 
 thus unexpectedly to meet with a parent, whom fhe 
 fuppofed loft to her for ever, almoft ftunned her ; 
 her thoughts were fo engroffed by the raptures 
 of her joyful, mother, that {he did not feel half her 
 good fortune ; and the delight fhe received in fee- 
 ing her mother's happinefs, robbed her of every 
 other fenfation. 
 
 It was fome hours before Mrs. Thornby's mind- 
 was fuiTicientlv compoied to enter into any con- 
 nected conversation. From broken fentences Mifs 
 Mancel learnt, that * her father and mother, by 
 the complicated dtftrefb of ruined fortune, and 
 the too fatal fuccefs of a duel, in which Mr. 
 Cancel was unwillingly engaged, had been 
 obliged to abfeni: themfelves from England. They 
 went to one of the American colonies, in hopes 
 G 3 of
 
 126 THEHISTORYOF 
 
 ' of finding means to improve their circumftances, 
 ' leaving the young Louifa then in her cradle^ with 
 4 a fitter of Mr. Mancel's, who readily undertook 
 ' the care of her. They were fcarcely arrived in 
 
 * America, when Mr. Manccl was feized with a 
 
 * fever, of which he foon died, and with him all 
 
 * their hopes. Mrs. Mancel was left entirely de- 
 4 ftitute, at a lofs how to hazard the tedious paf- 
 
 * fage home, without the protection of a hufband, 
 ' and with hardly a fufficient fum remaining to dif- 
 
 * charge the expences of it. 
 
 * Her melancholy fituation engaged fome of the 
 
 * inhabitants of the place to offer her all necefTary 
 ' accommodations, till fhe could find a proper op- 
 ' portunity of returning to England. During this 
 
 * time, Mrv Thornby, a gentleman who had ac- 
 
 * quired a fortune there, faw her, and was fo well 
 4 pleafed with her perfon and conduct, that he very 
 
 * warmly follicited her to marry him. Every perfon 
 
 * fpoke in his favour, and urged her to confent ; her 
 
 * poverty was no faint advifer, and with general 
 
 * approbation, at the conclufion of the firft year of 
 
 * her widowhood, fhe became his wife. 
 
 ' His affairs foon called him into a more inland 
 
 * part of the country, to which fhe attributed her 
 
 * never having heard from her fifter, to whom fhe 
 
 * wrote an account of her hufband's death j but 
 
 * by what Mifs Mancel told her fhe imagined her 
 
 * letter had not been received. 
 
 * Mr. and Mrs Thornby continued in the fame 
 ' place, till about two years before her arrival in 
 
 * England^ but his health growing extremely bad, 
 ' he was advifed by his phyficiano to return to 
 ' Europe. He vvifhed to re-vifit his native country, 
 
 * but was perfuaded, for the re-ettablifhment of his 
 ' conflitution, to fpend fome time in Italy. The 
 
 climate
 
 Mifs MANGEL and Mrs. MORGAN. 127 
 
 climate at firft feemed to relieve him, but his 
 complaints returning with greater violence, hedfcd 
 in the latter part of the fecond year of his abode 
 there. 
 
 ' His.eftate in the Indies he bequeathed to a 
 nephew, who lived upon the fpot ; but the money 
 he had fent before him into England, which 
 amounted to about forty thoufand pounds, he left 
 to his widow. He had defired to be interred at 
 Florence, where he died. As foon as the fune- 
 ral was over, and fome other neceflary affairs fet- 
 tled, Mrs. Thornby fet out for England, where 
 flie no fooner arrived than fhe employed intelli- 
 gent perfons to find out her fifter-in-law and 
 daughter, but had not received any account from 
 them, when her daughter was reftored to her as 
 the free gift of providence.' 
 Mrs. Thornby was now more defirous than ever, 
 to hear each minute particular that had befallen 
 her Louifa ; but Louifa begged that before me 
 obeyed her orders, fhe might have permiffion to 
 communicate the happy event to Mr. d'Avora, 
 whofe joy fhe knew would be nearly equal to her 
 own. A mefTenger was difpatched for this purpofe, 
 and then fhe related circumftantially all the inci- 
 dents in her fhort life, except her partial Tegard to 
 Sir Edward Lambton, which filial awe induced her 
 to fupprefs. 
 
 Mrs. Thornby grew every day more delighted 
 with her daughter, as her acquired accomplifh- 
 ments, and natural excellencies, became more con- 
 fpicuous on longer acquaintance. Her maternal 
 love feemed to glow with greater warmth for hav- 
 ing been fo long ftifled, and Louifa found fuch de- 
 light in the tender affection of a mother, that fhe 
 was fcarcely fenfible of the agreeable change in her 
 fituation, which was now in every circumflance 
 . G 4 the
 
 128 THEHlSTORYOF 
 
 the moil tlefirable. All that fortune could give, 
 {he had it in her pov/er to enjoy, and that eftccrw 
 which money cannot purchafe, her own merit fe- 
 cured her, beh'des all the gratification a young wo- 
 man can receive from general admiration. But 
 ftill Louifa was not happy, her fears for Sir Ed- 
 ward's life, while in fo dangerous a fituation, would 
 wot fuffer her mind to be at peace. She might hope 
 very thing from her mother's indulgence, but had 
 not courage to confefs her weaknefs, nor to intimate 
 wifh, which might occafion her fcparation from a 
 parent, vvhofe joy in their re-union frill rofe to rap- 
 ture. Chance, that deity, which though blind, is 
 often a powerful friend, .did what Ihe could not 
 prevail .on herfeif to do. 
 
 One morning the news paper of the day being 
 brought in, Mrs, Thornby .taking it up, read to 
 her daughter a paragraph, which contained an ac- 
 count of a battle in Germany, wherein many of th* 
 Engiifh were faid to be fhiin, but few of their names 
 fpecified. Louifa immediately turned pale, her 
 work dropped out of her hand, and an univerfa.I 
 trembling -feized her. Mrs. Thornby was to.o at- 
 tentive not to bbferve her daughter's diftrefs, and 
 fo kindly inquired the reaion, that Louifa ventured 
 to tell her for whom {he was fo much interetted ; 
 and gave an exact account of Sir Edward's addrefs 
 to her, her behaviour upon it, and the great regard 
 ihe had fci him. 
 
 Mrs. Thornby affectionately chid her for having 
 till then concealed a circum fiance whereon fo muoh 
 of her happinefs depended, and offered to write to 
 Lady Lambton immediately, and acquaint her, that 
 if want of fortune was her only objection to A'Jifs 
 JVIancel, it no longer fubfifced, for that fhe was 
 ready to anfwer any demands of that foit, which 
 her ladyfhip fhould chufe to make, as fhe thought 
 
 (he
 
 Mifs MANCEL and Mrs, MORGAN. 129 
 (he fhould no way fo well fecure her daughter's 
 happinefs, as by uniting her with a gentleman of 
 Sir Edward's amiable chara&er, and whpfe affec- 
 tion for her had fo evidently appeared. 
 
 Louifa could not rejecl: an offer which might ref- 
 cue Sir Edward from the dangers that threatened 
 him, . and with pleafure thought of rewarding fo 
 generous and fo fmccre a pallion. Perhaps (he 
 found fome gratification, in {hewing that gratitude 
 alone dictated her refufal. The letter was imme- 
 diately diipatched, and received with great pleafure 
 by lady Lambton, whofe efteem for Mifs Mancel, 
 would have conquered any thing but her pride. 
 She accepted the propofal in the politeft manner, 
 and that Sir Edward might be acquainted with his 
 happinefs as foon as poffible, difpatched her fiew- 
 ard into Germany, ordering him to travel with the 
 utmoft expedition, and gave him 'Mrs. Thornby's 
 letter, with one from herlelf, containing an account 
 of the great change in Louifa's fortune. 
 
 The fervant obeyed the directions given him, and 
 performed the journey in as fhort a time as po/Tible ; 
 but as he entered the camp, he met ^ir Edward in- 
 deed, but not as a future bridegroom. He was 
 borne on mens fhoulders, pale and almoft breath- 
 lefs, juft returned from an attack, whereby his too 
 great rafnnefs, he had received a mortal wound. 
 He followed him with an aching heart to his tent, 
 where Sir Edward recovering his fenfes, knew him, 
 and afked, ' What brovght him there fo opportunely, 
 ' to clofehis eyes, and pay th't luft duties, to one of 
 4 whofe infancy he had been fo careful ?' for this 
 fervant lived in the family when Sir Edward was 
 born, and loved him almoft with paternal fond- 
 nefe, which occafioned his defire of being himfdf- 
 the mellenger of fuch joyful news. 
 
 G 5 Tim
 
 i go THE HISTORY OF 
 
 "The poor man was fcarcely able to anfwer a 
 queltion expreffed in fuch melancholy terms, and 
 was doubtful whether he ought to acquaint him with 
 a circumftance, which might only increafe his re- 
 gret at lofmg a life, which would have been blefT- 
 ed to his utmoft wifh, but incapable in that ftate 
 of mind of inventing any plaufible reafon, he told 
 him the truth, and gave him the two letters. 
 
 Tlie pleafure Sir Edward received at the account 
 of Louifa's good fortune, and the ftill greater joy 
 he felt at fo evident a proof of her regard for him, 
 made him for a time forget his pains, and .flat- 
 tered the good old fteward with hopes, that his cafe 
 was not fo defperate as the furgeons reprefented it ; 
 but Sir Edward told him, ' he knew all hope was 
 vain.' ' I muft accufe myfelf, faid he, of lofmg 
 ' that lovely generous woman j what a treafure 
 
 * would have gladdened my future days, had I not 
 
 * rafhly, I fear criminally fhortened them, not by 
 '-my own hand indeed, but how little different ! 
 ' Mad with defpair, I have fought all means of ob- 
 
 * taining, what I imagined the only cure for my 
 
 * diftempered mind. Weary of life, fmce I could 
 
 * not poflefs her, in whom all my joys, all the 
 ' wimes of my foul were centered, 1 feized every 
 4 occafion of expofing myfelf to the enemy's fword. 
 ' Contrary to my hopes, I efcaped many times, 
 
 * when death feemed unavoidable ; but grown more 
 'i-ctefperate by difappointment, I this morning went 
 
 * on an attack, where inftcad of attempting to con- 
 4 quer, all my endeavour was to be killed, and at 
 ' laft I fucceeded, how fatally !' Oh ! my Louifa, 
 
 * continued he, and do i then lofe thee by my own 
 
 * impatience! Had I, like thee, fubmitted to the 
 
 * difpofition of providence, had I waited, from its 
 
 * mighty power, that relief which it alone can 
 
 * give, I might now be expecting with rapture the 
 
 hour
 
 Mifs MANCEL and Mrs. MORGAN. 131 
 hour that mould have united us for ever, inftead 
 of preparing for that which mall fummon me to 
 the grave, where even frhou fhalt be forgotten, 
 and the laft traces of thy lovely image effaced. from 
 my too faithful remembrance. How juft are the 
 decrees of the Almighty ! Thy patience, thy re- 
 fignation, and uncommon virtues are rewarded 
 as they ought ; my petulance, my impatience, 
 which, as it were, flew in the face of my Maker, 
 and fought to lofe a life which he had intruded to 
 my keeping, and required me to preferve, is de- 
 fervedly punimed. I am deprived of that exift- 
 ence, which I would now endure whole ages of 
 pain to recal, were it to be done, but it is paft, 
 and I fubmit to thy juftice, thou all wife difpofer 
 of my fate.' 
 
 The agitation of Sir Edward's mind had given 
 him a flow of falfe fpirits, but at length they failed, 
 leaving him only the more exhausted. He kept 
 Mrs. Thornby's letter on his pillar, and read it m"- 
 ny times. Frequent were his expreffions of regret 
 for his own ramnefs, and he felt much concern 
 from the fear that Louifa would be mocked with 
 his death. Her mother's proceedings convinced 
 him fhe was not void of regard for him ; he now 
 faw that he had not vainly flattered himfelf, when 
 he imagined, from many little circumftances, that 
 her heart fpoke in his favour; and the force fhe 
 mult have put on her affections, raifed his opinion 
 of her almoft to adoration. He often told his 
 faithful attendant, that in thofe moments he felt a 
 joy beyond what he had ever yet experienced, in 
 believing Louiia loved him ; but thefe emotions 
 were foon checked by reflecting, that if fhe did fo, 
 {he could not hear of his death without filtering 
 many heart-felt pangs. 
 
 G 6 He
 
 132 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 He lingered for three days, without the leaft en- 
 couragement to hope for life, and on the laft died 
 with great refignation, receiving his death as a pu- 
 nimment juftly due to his want of fubmiffton in 
 the divine will, and that froward petulance which 
 drove him to defperation, in not fucceeding to his 
 wifhes, juft at the time, that to his impetuous 
 paftions, and fhort-fighted reafon, appeared moft 
 defirable. 
 
 The afflicted fteward wrote an account of this 
 melancholy event to Lady Lambton, and ftaid to 
 attend Sir Edward's body home, that his laft re- 
 mains might be depofited in the family vault. 
 
 Lady Lambton received thefe mournful tidings 
 with exceflive grief, and communicated them to 
 Mrs. Thornby. Louifa, from the time of the mef- 
 fenger's fetting out for Germany, had been pleafing 
 herfelf with reflecting on the joyful reception he 
 would meet with from Sir Edward, and had fre- 
 quently anticipated, in imagination, the pleafures 
 fhe and Sir Edward would receive at feeing each 
 other, after fo melancholy a ieparation. She now 
 every hour expected him, and when Mrs. Thornby 
 began to prepare her agair.il furprize, fhe imagined 
 he was arrived, and that her kind mother was en- 
 deavouring to guard her againlt toe fudden joy. She 
 attempted to break through the delay, which muli 
 arife from all this caution, by begging to know if 
 he was in the houfe, defiring her not to fear any 
 ill effects from his fudden appearance, and rafe from 
 her feat, in order to attend her mother to Sir Ed- 
 ward. Mrs. Thornby made her fit down again, 
 and with a countenance which fpoke very_ different 
 things from what fhe expected, acquainted her with, 
 the fatal end of all her hopes. 
 
 Louifa was fhocked in proportion to the degree 
 to which fhe was before elated. She funk iifelefs 
 
 in
 
 Mifs MANGEL and Mrs. MORGAN. 133 
 in the arms of her mother, who had clafped her 
 to her breafr, and it was a confiderable time before 
 their cruel endeavours to bring her to her fenfes 
 fucceeded. Her firft fenfation was an agony of 
 grief; (he accufed herfelf of being the occafion of 
 Sir Edward's death, and from the unfortunate con- 
 fequcnces of her actions, arraigned her motives /or 
 them. Mrs-. Thornby and Mr. d'Avora, whom fhe 
 had fen t for on this occafion, endeavoured to con- 
 vince her, fhe was no way to blame, that what fhe 
 had done was laudable, and fhe ought not to j ! -dge 
 of an action by its .confcquences, which mult al- 
 ways remain in the hands of the Almighty, to 
 whom we are accountable for our motives, bi;t who 
 beft knows when they ought to be crowned with 
 fuccefs. When they had prevailed with her to ex- 
 culpate herfelf, her piety and patience made it the 
 more eafy to perfuade her calmly to fubmit to the 
 decrees of providence. She foon law, that to 
 fufrer was her duty, and though fhe might grieve, 
 fhe muft not repine. The good advice of her two 
 friends was fome fupport to her mind, but her chief 
 ftrength arofe from her frequent petitions to him 
 who tried her in fufferings, to grant her patience 
 to bear them with due refionation. Such addreffes, 
 fervently and fmcerely made, can never be una- 
 vailing, and fhe found the confolation fhe afked 
 for. Her affliction was deep, but filent and fub- 
 iniffivc, and in no part of her lile did fhe ever ap- 
 pear more amiable than on this trying occafion, 
 when her extreme fenfibility could never extort one 
 word or thought which was not dictated by humble 
 piety, and the molt exemplary refignation. That 
 Sir Edward had had fo jiift a fenfe of his own error, 
 and fo properly repented his impatience was a great 
 coniblation, and {he hoped to meet him whom 
 
 Ihe
 
 134 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 (he had fo foon loft, in a-ftate of happinefs, where 
 
 they fhould never more be parted. 
 
 Mrs Morgan had borne a tender fhare in all 
 Louifa's joys and for rows ; for in the frequency of 
 her corrcfpondence, every circumftance that at- 
 tended the latter was faithfully imparted, though 
 the communication was lefs free on Mrs. Morgan's 
 fide, who, contrary to her natural temper, acted 
 with referve on this particular ; induced by a dou- 
 ble motive, a belief that it was her duty to con- 
 ceal her hufband's faults, and a defire to fpare her 
 friend the pain of fuffering participation in her 
 vexations. She longed to attend Mifs Mancel 
 in her affliction, but dared not urge a requeft 
 with which fhe knew Mr. Morgan would not 
 comply. He lived intirely in the country, and 
 feemed to be totally infenhble to the pleafure of 
 contributing to the happinefs of others. All his 
 tendernefi was confined within the narrow circle of 
 himfelf, Mrs. Morgan daily beheld diftrefs and po- 
 verty without the power of relieving it, for his par- 
 cimony would not let him truft her with the dif- 
 pofal of what money was neceffary for her own 
 expence , his fifter always bought what they in 
 their wifdoms judged requifite, and Mrs. Morgan 
 was treated in thole affairs like a little child. 
 
 In matters too trifling to come within Mr. Mor- 
 gan's notice, Mrs. Sufanna, fearing her fifter 
 ihould enjoy a moment's eafe, took care to per-' 
 form her part in teazing, as if their joint bufmefs 
 \vas only to keep that poor woman in a conftant 
 ftate of fuffering. To compleat her vexation, Mr. 
 Morgan, who had always drank hard, increafed 
 fo much in that vice, that few days paffed wherein 
 he was not totally intoxicated. Mrs. Morgan 
 faw no means of redrefs, and therefore thought it 
 
 belt
 
 Mifs MANGEL and Mrs. MORGAN. 135 
 
 beft to fuffer without complaint ; fhe confidered, 
 that, by contention, (he could not prevail over 
 their ill temper, but muft infallibly four her own, 
 and deftroy that compofure of mind, necefTary to 
 enable every one to acquit herfelf well in all Chrif- 
 tian duties. By this patient acquiefcence her vir- 
 tues were refined, though her health fuffered, and 
 fhe found fome fatisfaclion in reflecting, that him 
 whom fhe moft wifhed to pleafc, would gracioufly 
 accept her endeavours ; however unavailing they 
 might be towards obtaining the favour of thofe on 
 whom her earthly peace depended. 
 
 At this part of Mrs. Maynard's narration we 
 were again interrupted by dinner, but the arrival 
 of fome vifitors in the afternoon, afforded Lamorit 
 and myfelf an opportunity of begging her to give 
 us the fequel, and for that purpofe we chofe a re-^ 
 tired feat in the garden ; when fhe thus pro- 
 ceeded. 
 
 The next fix years of Mifs Mantel's life pafled 
 in a perfect calm ; this may appear too cold an ex T 
 prefiion, fmce her fituation was fuch, as would 
 by moft people have been thought confummate 
 happinefs. Mrs. Thornby's ample fortune ena- 
 bled them to live in great figure, and Mifs Mancel's 
 beauty and underftanding rendered her the object 
 of general admiration. Had her conduct been lefs 
 amiable, fhe could not but have acquired many 
 lovers ; it is not ftrange then, fuch as fhe was, 
 that fhe fhould be addreffed by many men of dif- 
 tinguifhed rank and fortune. Wherever fhe ap- 
 peared, fhe attracted all eyes, and engrofied the 
 whole attention. Mrs. Thornby, more delighted 
 with the admiration paid her daughter than fhe 
 herfelf, carried her frequently into public, and kept 
 a great deal of company. Louifa could not be in- 
 
 fcnfible
 
 136 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 fenfible to the general approbation, but was hurt, 
 with the ferious attachment of thofe who more par- 
 ticularly addrefTed her. As fhe was determined 
 never to marry, thinking it a fort of infidelity to a 
 man, whofe death was owing to his affection for 
 her, fhe always took the firft opportunity of dif- 
 couraging every purfuit of that kind; and reftrain- 
 ed the natural vivacity of her temper, left it fhould 
 give rife to any hopes which could end only in dif- 
 appointment. She endeavoured to make publickry 
 known her fixed determination never to marry ; 
 but as thofe refolutions are feldom thought unal- 
 terable, many men flattered themfelves, that their 
 rank and fortunes, with their perfonal merits, 
 might conquer fo ftrange an intention, and there- 
 fore would not defift without an exprefs refufal. 
 
 In the feventh year after Mrs. Thornby's re- 
 turn into England, fhe was taken off by a fever, 
 and left Mifs Mancel, at twenty four years of age, 
 in pofTeffion of forty thoufand pounds, a fortune 
 which could not afford her any confolation for the 
 lofs of fo tender a parent. Having nothing to at- 
 tach her to any particular part of the kingdom, 
 fhe more than eve^ longed to fettle in Mrs. Mor- 
 gan's neighbourhood, but feared to occafiou fome 
 new uneafmefs to her friend, and was fenfible, that 
 if, when vicinity favoured them, they fhould be de- 
 nied the pleafure of each others company, or very 
 much reftrained in it, the mortification would be 
 ftiil greater than when diftance would not permit 
 them to meet. She had the fatisfadtion of hear- 
 ing from her friend, that Mr. Morgan feemed to 
 efteem her more than for fome years after their 
 marriage, and often gave her _reafon to think he 
 did not defpife her underftanding, and was well 
 pleafed with her conduct. The truth was, this 
 gentleman's eyes were at laft opened to the merks 
 
 of
 
 Mifs MAMCEL and Mrs. MORGAN. 137 
 
 of his wife's behaviour, the long trial he had made 
 of her obedience, which was implicit, and per- 
 formed with apparent chearfulnefs ; if compared 
 with his filter's conduit, could not fail of appear- 
 ing in an amiable light, when he was no longer 
 befet with the malicious infmuattons of Sufanna, 
 who had beftowed herfelf on a young enfign, whofe 
 fmall hopes of preferment in the army, reduced him 
 to accept that lady and her fortune as a melancholy 
 refource, but his only certain provifion. This al- 
 teration in Mr. Morgan's temper gave Mrs. Mor- 
 gan and Louifa room to hope that he might not 
 always continue averfe to their becoming neigh- 
 bours. 
 
 While they were flattering themfelves with this 
 agreeable profpe<St, Mr. Morgan was feized with a 
 paralytic diforder, which at firft attacked his limbs, 
 but in a very fhort time affected his head fo much, 
 as almoft to deprive him of his fenfes. He was 
 totally confined to his bed, and feemed not to know 
 any one but his wife. He would take neither me- 
 dicine nor nourifhment except from her hands ; as 
 he was entirely lame, file was obliged to feed him, 
 and he was not eafy if fhe was out of the room. 
 Even in the night he would frequently call to her; 
 if fhe appeared at his bed-fide, he was then con- 
 tended, being fure {he was in the chamber, but 
 would fall into violent paflions, which he had not 
 words to exprefs (for he was almoft deprived of 
 his fpeech) if fhe did not inftanrJy appear. 
 
 When Mifs Mancel heard of his deplorable fi- 
 tuation, fhe was under the greateil apprehenlions 
 for her friend's health, from fo clofe and fo fatiguing 
 an attendance, and be^ed fhe might come to her, 
 as he was then incapable of taking umbrage at it. 
 The offer was too agreeable- to be rejected, and 
 thefe ladies met after fo long an enforced fepara- 
 
 tion.
 
 138 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 tion, with a jcy not to be imagined by any heart 
 lefs fufceptible than theirs, of the tender and de- 
 licate fenfations of friendfhip. Louifa was almoft 
 as conftantly in Mr. Morgan's room in the day 
 time, as his wife, though {he kept out of his fifjht, 
 and thus they had full opportunity of converging 
 together ; for though the fick man often called 
 Mrs. Morgan, yet as foon as he faw fhe was in 
 the chamber, he funk again into that ftate of ftu- 
 pefaction, from which he never recovered. Mrs. 
 Morgan put a bed up in his room, and Jay there 
 conflantly, but as he was as folicitious to know 
 fhe was prefent in the night, as in the day, (he 
 could never quite undrefs herfelf the whole time ot 
 his ficknefs. 
 
 Tn this condition Mr. Morgan lay for three 
 months, when death releafed him from this world ; 
 and brought a feafonable relief to Mrs. Morgan, 
 whofe health was fo impaired by long confinement, 
 and want of quiet reft, that (he could not much 
 longer have fupported it ; and vexation had before 
 fo far impaired her conftitution, that nothing could 
 have enabled her to undergo fo long a fatigue, but 
 the infinite joy fhe received from Mifs Mancel's 
 company. 
 
 When Mr. Morgan's will was opened, it ap- 
 peared, that he had left his wife an eftate which fell 
 to him about a month before the commencement 
 of his illnefs, where we now live. The income of 
 it is a thoufand pounds a year ; the land was tho- 
 roughly flocked, and the houfe in good repair. Mr. 
 Morgan had at his marriage fettled a jointure on 
 his wife of four hundred pounds a year rent charge, 
 and in a codicil made juft after his fitter's wedding, 
 he bequeathed her two thoufand pounds in ready 
 money. 
 
 After
 
 Mifs MANCEL and Mrs. MORGAN. 139 
 After Mrs. Morgan had fettled all her affairs, it 
 was judged neceiTary, that, for the recovery of her 
 health, fhe fhould go to Tunbridge, to which place 
 Mifs Mancel accompanied her. As Mrs. Mor- 
 gan's drefs confined her entirely at home, they 
 were not in the way of making many acquaintance ; 
 but lady Mary Jones being in the houfe, and hav- 
 ing long been known to Mifs Mancel, though no 
 intimacy had fubfifted between them, they now be- 
 came much connected. The two friends had a- 
 greed to retire into the country, and though both 
 of an age and fortune to enjoy all the pleafures 
 which moil people fo eagerly purfue, they were de- 
 firous of fixing in a way of life where all their fa- 
 tisfaclions might be rational, and as conducive to 
 eternal, as to temporal happinefs. They had laid 
 the plan of many things, which they have fince put 
 into execution, and engaged Mr. D'Avora to live 
 with them, both as a valuable friend, and an ufe- 
 ful affiftant, in the management of their affairs. 
 
 Lady Mary was at that time fo much in the 
 fame difpofition, and fo charmed with fuch part of 
 their fcheme as they communicated to her, that fhe 
 begged to live with them for half a year, by which 
 time they would be able to fee whether they chofe 
 her continuance there, and fhe fhould have expe- 
 rienced how far their way of life was agreeable to 
 her. Lady Mary's merit was too apparent not to 
 obtain their ready confent to her propofal, and 
 when they had the fatisfaclion of feeing Mrs. Mor- 
 gan much recovered by the waters, and no farther 
 benefit was expected, they came to this houfe. 
 
 They found it fufficiently furniflicd, and in fuch 
 good order, that they fettled in it without trouble. 
 The condition of the poor foon drew their atten- 
 tion, and they inftituted fchcols for the young, and 
 alms-houfes for the old. As they ordered every 
 
 thing
 
 140 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 thing in their own family with great ceconomy, and 
 thought themfelves entitled only to a part of their 
 fortunes, their large incomes allowed them full 
 power to affift many, whofe fituations differed very 
 eiTentially from theirs. The next expence they" 
 undertook, after thefe eftayifhment of fchools and 
 alms-houfes, was that of furnifhin? a houfe for e- 
 very young couple that married in their neighbour- 
 hood, and providing them v.'ith fome fort of ftock, 
 which by induftry would prove very conducive to- 
 wards their living in a comfortable degree of plenty. 
 They have always paid nurfes for the Tick, fent 
 them every proper refrefnment, and allow the fame 
 fum weekly which the Tick perfon could have gain- 
 ed, that the reft of the family may not lofe any 
 part of their fupport, by the incapacity of one. 
 
 When they found their fortunes would {till af- 
 ford a larger communication, they began to receive 
 the daughters of perfons in office, of other life-in- 
 comes, who, by their parent's deaths, were left 
 deftitute of provifion ; and when, among the lower 
 fort, they meet with an uncommon genius, they 
 will admit her among the number. The girls you 
 fee fit in the room with us are all they have at 
 prefent in that way j they are educated in fuch a 
 manner as will render them acceptable, where ac- 
 complifhed women of an humble rank and beha- 
 viour are wanted, either for the care of a houfe or 
 children. Thefe girls are never out of the room 
 with us, except at breakfaft and dinner, and after 
 eight o'clock in the evening, at which times they 
 are under the immediate care of the houfc-keeper, 
 with whom they are allowed to walk out for an hour 
 or two every fine day ; left their being always in 
 our company fhould make them think their litua- 
 tion above a menial ftate ; they attend us while we 
 are drefling, and we endeavour that the time they
 
 Mifs MANGEL and Mrs. MORGAN. 141 
 are thus employed fhali not pafs without improve- 
 ment. They are clad coarfe and plain for the 
 fame reafon, as nothing has a itronger influence on 
 vanity than dref?. 
 
 Each of us takes our week alternately of more 
 particular inflection over the performances of thefe 
 girls, and they all read by turns aloud to fuch of 
 us, as are employed about any thing that renders 
 it not inconvenient to liften to them. By this fort 
 of education my friends hope to do extenfive good, 
 for they will not only ferve, thefe poor orphans, 
 but conter a great benefit on all who fhall be com<- 
 mitted to their care, or have occafion for their fer- 
 vice ; and one can fet no bounds to the advantages 
 that may arife from perfons of excellent princi- 
 ples, and enlarged under ft an dings, in the fituations 
 wherein they are to be placed. In every thing 
 their view is to be as beneficial to fociety as pof- 
 fible, and they are fuch ceconomifts even in their 
 charities, as to order them in a manner, that as 
 large a part of mankind as poffible fhould feel the 
 happy influence of their bounty. 
 
 In this place, and in this way of life, the three 
 Ladies Already mentioned have lived upwards .of 
 twenty yeai's ; for Lady Mary Jones joined her for- 
 tune to thofe; of the two friends, never chufing to 
 quit them, and is too agreeable not to be very de- 
 firable in the fociety. Mifs.Mancel has often de-r 
 claied, that me plainly fees the merciful hand of 
 providence bringing good out of evil, in an event, 
 which (he, at the time it happened, thought her 
 grcateft misfortune ; for had foe married Sir Ed- 
 ward Lambton, her fincere affection for him would 
 have led her to conform implicitly to all his incli- 
 nations, her views would have been confined to this 
 earth, and too ftrongly attached to human objects, 
 to have properly obeyed the giver of the bieilings 
 
 Ihe
 
 142 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 fhe fo much valued, who is generally lefs thought 
 of, in proportion as he is more particularly boun- 
 tiful. Her age, her fortune, and compliant tem- 
 per, might have feduced her into diffipation, and 
 have made her lofe all the heart-felt joys fhe now 
 daily experiences, both when fhe reflects on the paft, 
 contemplates the prefent, or anticipates the fu- 
 ture. 
 
 I think I ought to mention Mrs. Morgan's be- 
 haviour to her half filters. Sir Charles died about 
 five years ago, and through his wife's extravagance, 
 left his eftate over-charged with debts, and two 
 daughters and a fon unprovided for. Lady Mel- 
 vyn's jointure was not great j Sir George, her eldeit 
 fon, received but juft fufficient out of his eftate to 
 maintain himfdf genteelly. By the firft LadyMel- 
 vyn's marriage fettlements, fix thoufand pounds 
 were fettled on her children, which, as Mrs. Morgan 
 was her only child, became her property j this fhe 
 divided between her mother-in-law's three younger 
 children, and has befides conferred feveral favors on 
 that family, and frequently makes them valuable 
 prefents. The young gentlemen and ladies often 
 pafs fome time here j Lady Melvyn made us a vifit 
 in the firft year of her widowhood, but our way 
 of life is fo ill fuited to her tafte, that, except 
 during that dull period of confinement, fhe has 
 never favoured us with her company. 
 
 My coufm, I believe, was going to mention 
 fome other of the actions of thefe ladies, which 
 feemed a favorite topic with her, when the reft of 
 he company came into the garden, and we thought 
 ourfelves obliged to join them. 
 
 The afternoons, in this family, generally con- 
 cluded with one of their delightful concerts ; but 
 as foon as the vifitors were departed, the ladies 
 fcid, they would amufe us that evening with an en- 
 tertainment,
 
 
 Mifs MANCEL and Mrs, MORGAN. 143 
 tertainment, which might poffibly be more new to 
 us, a ruftic ball. The occafion of it was the mar- 
 riage of a young woman, who had been brought 
 up by them, and had for three years been in fer- 
 vice, but having for that whole time been courted 
 by a young farmer of good character, fhe had been 
 married in the morning, and that evening was de- 
 dicated to the celebration of their wedding. 
 
 We removed into the fervants hall, a neat room, 
 and well lighted, where we found a very numerous 
 aiTembly ; fixteen couple were preparing to dance; 
 the reft were only fpeftators. The bride was a 
 pretty genteel girl, drefled in a white callicogown, 
 white ribbons, and in every particular neat to an 
 excefs. The bridegroom was a well looking young 
 man, as clean and fprucely drefled as his bride, 
 though not with fuch emblematic purity. This 
 couple, contrary to the cuftom of finer people on 
 fuch occafions, were to begin the ball together ; 
 but Lament afked leave to be the bride's partner 
 for two or three dances, a compliment not difa- 
 greeable to the ladies, and highly pleafing to the 
 reft of the company, except the bride, whofe va- 
 nity one might plainly fee did not find gratification 
 enough in having fo genteel a partner, to recom- 
 pence her for the lofs of her Colin ; he, however, 
 feemed well fatisfied with the honour conferred on 
 his wife. 
 
 That the bridegroom might not be without his 
 fhare of civility, the ladies gave him leave to dance 
 with the eldeft of the young girls more particu- 
 larly under their care, till his wife was reftored 
 to him. 
 
 We fat above an hour with this joyous company, 
 whofe mirth feemed as pure a? it was flncere, and 
 I never faw a ball managed with greater decorum. 
 There is a coquettry and gallantry appropriated to 
 
 all
 
 144- THE HISTORY OF 
 
 all conditions, and to fee the different manner in 
 which it was exprefied in this little fet, from what 
 one is accuftomed to behold in higher life, afford- 
 ed me great amufement j and the little arts ufed 
 among thefe young people to captivate each other, 
 were accompanied with fo much innocence, as 
 made it exceflively pleafing. We ftaid about an 
 hour and half in this company, and then went to 
 fupper. 
 
 My coufin told me that Mrs. Mancel gave the 
 young bride a fortune, and that fhe might have her 
 fhare of employment, and contribute to the pro- 
 vifiori for her family, had flocked her dairy, and 
 furniflied her with poultry. This, Mrs. Maynard 
 added, was what they did for all the young wo- 
 men they brought up, if they proved deferving ; 
 {hewing, likewife, the fame favor to any other 
 girls in the parifli, who, during their fmgle Hate, 
 behaved with remarkable induilry and fobriety. By 
 this mark of diflinction they were incited to a pro- 
 per behaviour, and appeared more anxious for this 
 benevolence, on account of the honour that arofe 
 from it, than for the pecuniary advantage. 
 
 As the ladies conducl in this particular was un- 
 common, I could not forbear telling them, that * I 
 
 * was furprized to find fo great encouragement given 
 
 * to matrimony by perfons, vvhofe choice fliewed 
 
 * them little inclined in its favour.' 
 
 Does it furprize you, anfwered Mrs. Melvyn fmil- 
 ing, ' lo fee people promote that in others, which 
 ' they themfclves do not chufe to practife ? We 
 
 * confider matrimony as abfolutely neceflary to the 
 4 good of fociety ; it is a general duty; but as, ac- 
 c cording to all antient tenures, thofe obliged to 
 'perform knight's feivice, might, if they chofe 
 
 * to enjoy their own fire-fides, be' excufed by 
 6 fending deputies to fupply their places 5 fo we, 
 
 1 ufmg
 
 Mifs MANGEL and Mrs. MORGAN. 145 
 4 ufing the fame privilege fubftitute many others, 
 
 * and certainly much more promote wedlock, than 
 4 we could do by entering into it ourfelves. 
 4 This may wear the appearance of fome devout 
 ' perfons of a certain religion, who equally indo- 
 
 * lent and timorous, when they do not chufe to 
 4 fay fo many prayers as they think their duty, 
 4 pay others for fupplying their deficiencies.' 
 
 .' In this cafe, faid I, your example is fomewhat 
 c contradictory, and fhould it be intirely followed, 
 1 it would confine matrimony to the lower rank of 
 4 people, among whom it feems going out of fa- 
 4 fhion, as well as with their fuperiors ; nor indeed 
 ' can we wonder 2t it, for diffipation and extra- 
 ' vagance are now become fuch univerfal vices, that 
 
 * it requires great courage in any to enter into an 
 4 indifloluble fociety. inftead of being furprifed 
 4 at the common difinclination to marriage, I am 
 4 rather difpofed to wonder when I fee a man ven- 
 ' ture to render himfelf liable to the expences of a 
 
 * woman, who lavifhes both her time and money 
 4 on every fafhionable folly, and ftill more, when 
 4 one of your fex fubjects herfelf to be reduced' 
 4 to poverty, by a hufband's love for gaming, and 
 4 to neglect by his inconstancy.' 
 
 4 1 am of your opinion, faid Mrs. Trentham, 
 4 to face the enemv's cannon appears to me a lefs ef- 
 4 fort of courage, than to put our happinefs into the 
 
 * hands of a perfon, who perhaps will not once 
 
 * -reflecl: on the importance of the truft committed 
 4 to his or her care. For the cafe is pretty equal 
 4 as to both fexes, each can deftroy the other's 
 4 peace. Ours feems to have found out the means 
 4 of being on an equallity with yours. Few for- 
 1 tunes are fufficient to ftand a double expence. 
 
 * The hufband muft attend the gaming-table and 
 
 * horfe-races j the wife muft have a profufion of 
 
 H 4 ornaments
 
 i4 f > THE HISTORY o F 
 
 * ornaments for her perfon, and cards for her en- 
 f tertainment. The care of the eitate and family 
 1 are left in the hands of fervants, who, in imita- 
 ' tion of their mafters and miftrefles, will have 
 ' their uleafures, and thefe muft be fupplied out of 
 
 * the fortunes of thofe they fcrve. Man and wife 
 
 * are often, nothing better than afliftants in each 
 ' others ruin ; domeitic virtues are exploded, and 
 4 focial happinefs defpifcd, as dull and infipid. 
 
 * The example of the great infects the whole 
 community. The honelt tradefman who wifhes 
 
 * for a wife to aff.ft him in his bufmefs, and to 
 
 < take care of his family, dare not. marry, when 
 *. every woman of his own rank, emulating her fu- 
 
 * periors, runs into fuch fafhions of drefs, as re- 
 
 * quire great part of his gains to fuppiy, and the 
 
 * income which would have been thought fuffi- 
 
 < cient fome years ago for the wife of a gentleman 
 
 * of large eitate, will now fcarcely ferve to enable 
 
 < a tradefman's wife to appear like her neigh- 
 
 < hours. They too muft have their evening par- 
 
 * ties, they muft attend the places of public di- 
 
 < verfion, and mult be allowed perpetual diflipation 
 ' without controul. 'I he poor man fighs after the 
 
 * days when his father married j then cleanlinefs 
 ' was a woman's chief perfonal ornament, half the 
 ' quantity of filk fufficed for her cloaths, variety 
 ' of trumpery ornaments were not thought of, her 
 ' hufband's buiinefs employed her attention, and 
 
 * her children were the objfcls of her care. When 
 
 * he came home, wearied with the employment of 
 
 * the day, he found her ready to receive him, and 
 
 * was not afraid of being told (he was gone to the 
 play or opera, or of finding her engaged in a 
 
 * party at cards, while he was reduced to fpend 
 4 his evening alone. But in a world fo chang- 
 
 * ed, a man dare nof venture on marriage which 
 
 4 promife?
 
 Mifs MANCE^ and Mrs. MORGAN. 147 
 
 * promiies him no comfort, and may occafion his 
 ' ruin, nor wifhes for children, whofe mother's ne- 
 4 glecl: may expofe them to deftruclion. 
 
 4 It is common to blame the lower fort of peo- 
 
 * pie for imitating their fuperiors j but it is equally 
 4 the fault of every ttation, and therefore thofe of 
 ' higher rank {hould confider it is their duty to fet 
 4 no" examples that may hurt others. A degree 
 ' of fubordination is always acquiefced in, but 
 ' while the nobleman lives lik e a prince, the gen-. 
 ' tleman will rife to the proper expences of a no- 
 < bleman, and the tra-defman take that vacant 
 
 * rank which the gentleman has quitted; nor will 
 
 * he be afhamed of becoming a bankrupt, when 
 4 he fees the fortunes of his fuperiors mouldering 
 4 away, and knows them to be opprefled with 
 4 debts. "Whatever right people may have to make 
 4 free with their own happinefs, a beneficial ex- 
 4 ample is a duty which they indifpenfibly owe to 
 6 fociety, and the profufe have the extravagance 
 4 of their inferiors to anfwer for. The fame may 
 4 be faid for thofe who contribute to the dillipa- 
 
 * tion of others, by being dufipated themfelves.' 
 
 4 But, madam, interrupted Lament,, do you 
 4 think it incumbent en people of fafhion to re- 
 4 linqutm their pleafures, left their example fhould 
 
 * lead others to neglect their bufmefs ?' 
 
 4 I fhould certainly^ replied Mrs. Trentham, 
 4 anfwer you in the affirmative, were the cafe as 
 4 you put it, but much more ib in the light I fee 
 4 it. Every ftation has its duties, thofe of the 
 4 great are more various than thofe of their infe- 
 
 * riors. They are not fo confined to ccconomical 
 4 attentions, nor ought they to be totally without 
 4 them ; but their more extenfive influence, their 
 
 * greater leifure to ferve their Creator with all the 
 
 * .powers of their mi-nds, conititute many dutiej on 
 
 H 2 4 their
 
 148 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 * their part, to which diffipation is as great an e- 
 
 < nemy, as it can be to thofe more entirely domef- 
 ' tic ; therefore on each fide there is an equal neg- 
 < let ; and why fhould we expect that fuch as we 
 ' imagine have fewer advantages of education, 
 ' fhould be more capable of refifting temptations, 
 
 < and dedicating themfelves folely to the perform- 
 ' ance of their duties, than perfous whole minds 
 are more improved ?' 
 
 c I cannot deny, anfwered Lament, but what 
 c you fay is juft, yet I fear you have uttered truths 
 
 < that muft continue entirely fpeculative ; though 
 
 < if any people have a right to turn reformers, 
 you ladies are beft qualified, iince you begin by 
 4 reforming yourfelves ; you prac/Hfe more than 
 you preach, and therefore muft always be liftened 
 6 to with attention.' 
 
 ' We do not fet up for reformers, faid Mrs. 
 * Mancel, we wifli to regulate ourfclves by the 
 fc laws laid down to u-, and as far as our influence 
 can extend, endeavour to ir.force them ; beyond 
 
 < that fmall circle all is foreign to us ; we have 
 
 * fufficient employment in improving ourfelves ; to 
 mend the world requires much abler hands.' 
 
 * When you talk of laws, madam, by which 
 ' you would regulate your actions, faid Lament, 
 you raife a juit alarm ; as for matter of opinion, 
 
 * every one may demand an equal power, but laws 
 1 feem to require obedience ; pray, from whence 
 
 * do you take thofe which you \vifli to make your 
 rule of life?' 
 
 From whence, anfwered Mrs. Mancel, fhould 
 
 < a Christian take them, from the Alcoran, think 
 y u > r fr m tne w if er Confucius, or would you 
 '. feek in Coke on Littleton, that you may efcape 
 4 the iron hand of the legifiative power ?' No, fure- 
 
 * ly, the Chriftian's law is written in the Bible, 
 
 there,
 
 Mils MANGEL and Mrs. MORGAN. 149 
 there, independent of the political regulations o^ 
 particular communities, is to be found the law 
 of the fupreme Legiilator. There, indeed, is 
 contained the true and invariable law of nati- 
 ons ; and according to our performance of it, we 
 ihall be tried by a Judge, whofe wifdom and im- 
 partiality fecure him from error, and \vhofc po\vc;- 
 is able to execute his own decrees. This is the 
 law I meant, and whoever obeys it, can never 
 offer.d eilentialiy againft the private ordinances 
 of any community. This all to whom it has 
 been declared are bound to obey, my confent to 
 receive it for the rule of my actions is not ma- 
 terial ; for as whoever lives in England muft fub- 
 mit to the laws of the country, though he may 
 be ignorant of many of the particulars of them ; 
 fo whoever lives in a Chriftian land is obliged to 
 obey the laws of the Gofpel, or to fuffer for in- 
 fringing them ; in both cafes, therefore, it is 
 prudent for every man to acquaint himfelf tho- 
 roughly with theie ordinances, which he cannot 
 break with impunity.' 
 
 ' If fuch obedience be neceflary, faid Larnont, 
 what do you imagine will be the fate of moft 
 of the inhabitants of Chriftendom ; for you will 
 allow, that they do not regulate their conduct by 
 fuch fevere commands ?' 
 
 4 What will be their fate, replied Mrs. Man- 
 cel, I do not pretend even to fuppofe, my bufi- 
 nefs is to take care of my own. The laws a- 
 gainft robbery are not rendered either lefs juft, 
 or lefs binding, by the numbers that daily fteal, 
 or who demand your purfe on the high-way. Laws 
 are not abrogated by being infringed, nor does 
 the difobedience of others make the obfervance 
 of them lefs my duty. I am required to anfwer 
 only for myfelf, and it is not man whom I am 
 H 3 * ordered
 
 J/^O T H E H I S T O R Y O F 
 
 ' ordeied to imitate. His failings will not exctife 
 
 * mine. Humility forbids me to cenfure others, 
 
 * and prudence obliges me to avoid copying them.' 
 * Lament thought Mrs. Mancel too fevcre in 
 
 ' her doSrine; but there was fomething fo refpect- 
 .* able in her feverity, that he forbore to conteft it, 
 
 * and owned to me afterwards, that, while fhe 
 ' fpoke, and he contemplated that amiable fociety, 
 
 * his heart filently acquiefced in the juttnefs of her 
 4 fentiments.' 
 
 We parted at our ufual hour ; and at the fame 
 time the company in the lower part of the houfe 
 broke up, eleven o'clock being the {rated hour for 
 them on thofe occafions to return to their refpeclive 
 homes. 
 
 The next morning, as I went down flairs, I 
 met the houfe- keeper, and entered into converfa- 
 tion with her, for which the preceding night's fef- 
 tivity furnifhed me with topics. From her i learnt^ 
 that fince the ladies had been eftablifhed in that 
 houfe, they had given fortunes from twenty to an 
 hundred pounds, as merit and occafion directed, to 
 about thirty young women, and that they had fel- 
 dom celebrated frwer than two marriages in a year; 
 fometimes more. Nor does their bounty ceafe on 
 the wedding-day, for they are always ready to af- 
 fift them on any emergency ; and watch with fo 
 careful an eye over the conduct of thefe young peo- 
 ple, as proves of much greater fervice to them than 
 the money they beftow. They kindly, but ftrong- 
 Jy, reprehend the firft error, and guard them by. 
 the moil prudent admonitions againft a repetition of 
 their fault. By little prefents they {hew their ap-- 
 probation of thofe who behave well, always pro- 
 portioning their gifts to the merits of the pcrlbn ; 
 which are therefore looked upon as the moft ho- 
 nourable teftimony of their conduct, and are trea- 
 
 .fured
 
 Mifs MANGEL and Mrs. MORGAN. 151 
 fured up as valuable marks of dhtinftion. This 
 encouragement has great influence, and makes'them 
 vye with each other in endeavours to excel in fo- 
 br.iety, cleanlinefs, meeknefs and induftry. She 
 told me alfo, that the young women bred up at the 
 fchools thefe ladies fupport, are ib much etteemed 
 for many miles round, that it is not uncommon 
 for young farmers, who want fober good wives, to 
 obtain them from thence, and prefer them to girls 
 of much better fortunes, educated in a different 
 manner, as there have been various inftances where- 
 in their induftry and quicknefs of underftanding, 
 which in a great meafure arifes from the manner of 
 their education, has proved more profitable to their 
 hufbands than a more ample dower. 
 
 She added, that fhe keeps a regifter of all the 
 boys and girls, which, by her good ladies means, have 
 been eftablifhed in the world ; whereby it appears, 
 that thirty have been apprenticed out to good trades, 
 threefcore fixed in excellent places, and thirty mar- 
 ried. And it feldom happens, that any one takes 
 an apprentice or fervant, till they have firft fent to 
 her ladies to know if they have any to recom- 
 mend. 
 
 I exprefTed a defire to fee the fchools, which fhe 
 obligingly offered to (hew me, but feared we could 
 not then have time to go thither, as breakfaft was 
 juft ready. While [ was talking with her, I ob- 
 ferved, that the fingers of one of her hands were 
 contracted quite clofe to the palm. I took notice 
 of it to her, Oh ! fir, laid fhe, it was the luckieil 
 accident that could poflibly be j as I was obliged 
 to work for my fupport, 1 was very much /hock- 
 ed at my recovery from a fever, to find myfelf 
 deprived of the uie of an hand, but ftill tried if 
 1 could get myfelf received into fervice; as I was 
 fenfible I could, notwithstanding my infirmity, 
 H 4 perform
 
 152 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 perform the bufmefs of an houfe-keeper ; but nd 
 one would take me in this maimed condition. 
 At Jaft I was advifed to apply to thefe ladies, and 
 found what had hitherto been an impediment, 
 was a ftrongr.er recommendation than the good 
 character I had from my lait place ; and 1 am 
 fure I have reafon to value thefe diftorted fingers, 
 more than ever anyone did the handfomeit hands 
 that ever r;ature made. But, added {he, fmil- 
 ing, fe\v of my fellow-fervants are better quali- 
 fied ; the cook cannot walk without crutche?, 
 the kitchen maid has but one eye, the dairy maid 
 is almoft flone-deaf, and die houfe mukl has but 
 one hand j and yet, perhaps, there is no family 
 where the bufunefe is better done j for gratitude, 
 and a conviction that this is the only houfe into 
 which we can be received, makes us exert our- 
 i elves to the utmoft j and moft people fail not 
 from a deficiency of power, but of inclination. 
 Even their muficians, if you obferved it, fir, are 
 much in the fame condition. The Iteward, in- 
 deed, muft be excepted ; he is one whom the 
 good Mr. d'Avora chofe for the fake of his inte- 
 grity fome years before he died, as his fuecefibr 
 iu the care of the ladies affairs, and employed 
 him fof ibm time under his own infpe6tion, that 
 he might be fure he was fit for the purpofe, 
 though he perfuaded the ladies to receive their 
 ,own rents, and diret all the chief concerns of 
 their eftates, which they have done ever fmce, 
 fb that theirs is rather an houfhold than a land 
 Iteward. But, except this gentleman and the 
 fhepherd, there is not one of their muficians, 
 that is not under fome natural difadvantage ; the 
 defedls of two of them are fo vifible, I need not 
 point them out, but of the other two, one is 
 iubjet to violent fits of the ftone, and the other 
 
 to
 
 Mifs MANGEL and Mrs. MORGAN. 153 
 to the afthma. Thus difabled from hard labour> 
 though they find ibme employment in the ma- 
 nufacture, yet the additional profit which accrues 
 from their playing here, adds much to their com- 
 fort, as their infirmities render greater expences 
 neceffarjr to them than to others in their fla- 
 tion.' 
 
 There was fomething fo whimfically good in the 
 'conduct of the ladies in thcle particulars, as at 
 firft made me fmile j but when I confidered it more 
 thoroughly, 1 perceived herein a refinement of cha- 
 rity, which, though extremely uncommon, was 
 entirely rational. I found, that not contended 
 wich meerly bedewing on the indigent as large a 
 part of their fortunes as the-/ can pofiibly ipare, 
 they carry the notion of their duty to the poor fo 
 far as to give continual attention to it, and en- 
 deavour fo to apply all they fpend, as to make al- 
 n-.oif every (hilling contribute towards the fupport 
 of fome perfon in real neceflity j by this means e- 
 vcry expence bears the merit of a donation, in the 
 fight of hinVwho knows their motives ; and tleir 
 constant application is directed towards the relief of 
 others, while to fuperficial obfervers they feem only 
 providing for.their own convenience. The fafliion- 
 ble tradefman is fure not to have them in the lift 
 of his dUftoftters ; but fhould he, through the ca- 
 price of the multitude, be left vsrithout bufinefs, and 
 ice his elated hopes blafted, in all probability he 
 will find theie ladies his friends. Thofe whole 
 youth render them difregarded, or whofe old age 1 
 breeds neglect, will here meet with deferved en- 
 couragement. This fort of ceconomy pleafes me' 
 much, it is of the higheft kind, fince it regards 
 thofe riches which neither moth nor ruft can cor- 
 rupt, nor thieves break through and fteal ; and is 
 within 'the reach of every perfon's imitation, for 
 H the
 
 154 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 the pooreft may thus turn their neccflary expences 
 into virtuous adions. In this they excel others, as 
 much as the bee doet> the common butterfly ; they 
 both feed on the fame flowers ; but while the but- 
 terfly only gains a tranfient fubfiftcnce, and flies and 
 flutters in all its gaudy pride, the bee- lays up a 
 precious ftore for its future well being, and may 
 brave all the rigours of winter. Man, indeed, of- 
 ten encroaches on the labours of the bee, and dif- 
 appoints it of its reafonable hope ; but no one with- 
 out our own concurrence can defpoil us of the 
 treafures laid up in heaven. 
 
 As the good houfe-keeper foretold, the bell foou 
 fummoned me to breakiaft ; which, like every o- 
 ther hour fpent in that fociety, was rendered de- 
 lightful by their rational chearfulnefs, and polite 
 freedom. We offered to take our leave, but (hould 
 have been difappointed had we not been afked to 
 prolong our vifit ; nor were we fo infincere as to 
 make much refiftance to this agreeable invitation ; 
 we exprefied fome fears of interrupting their better 
 employments; to which Mrs. Morgan replied, by 
 alluring us, that we did not do fo in the leaft; but ad- 
 ded, ' I will tell you plainly, gentlemen, the only 
 alteration we (hall wifh to make, if you will fa- 
 vour us with your company a few days longer. 
 Our family devotions are regular, as you were 
 Strangers we have not fummoned you to them, 
 but for the reft of your vifit we muft beg leave 
 to alter that method ; for we do not think it a 
 proper example to our fervants, to fuffer any one 
 in this houfe to be excluded from them ; though 
 as your coming was fuddtn, and has been pro- 
 longed only, as it were, from hour to hour, we 
 at firit did not think it neceflary to require your 
 prefence.' 
 
 You
 
 Mifs MANCSL and Mrs MORGAN. 155 
 You may imagine we expreiTed ourfelves obliged 
 by this fro-nknefs ; and, for my own part, I was 
 glad of what appeared to me like being received 
 into a community of faints; but was forced to wait 
 for it till night, the devotion of the morning hav- 
 ing been paid before breakfafl, as was uiual in that 
 family. 
 
 Mrs. Maynard accompanied us that morning into 
 the park, and having placed ourfelves on a green 
 bank under an elm, by the fide of the canal, i cal- 
 Jed on her to perform her promife, and increafe my 
 acquaintance with the reft of the ladies, by giving 
 fome account of them. 
 
 ' I mall not the lefs readily comply, fhe anfwer- 
 ed, for being able to bring what I have to fay of 
 them into lefs compafs, than I did my hiflory of 
 Mrs. Morgan and Mifs Maivrel, of whom, whrn 
 I begin to fpeak, I always find it difficult to leave 
 off, and am led by my fondnefs for the fubjecl into 
 a detail, perhaps too circumilantul. Lady Maiv 
 Jones, by what I have already faid, you may 
 have perceived muft come next in order.' 
 
 H 6 THE
 
 [ '561 
 
 THE 
 
 HISTORY 
 
 O F 
 
 Lady MARY JONES, 
 
 LADY Mary was daughter to the Earl of Brump- 
 ton by his fecond wife, who furvived the birth of 
 her child but a few hours. The earl died when his 
 daughter was about ten years old, and having before 
 his iecond marriage mortgaged to its full value all 
 of his eftate which was not fettled on a fon born of 
 his firft lady, his daughter was left entirely def- 
 titute of provifion. But as fne was too young to be 
 much affe&ed with this circumftance, fo fhe had 
 little reafon to regret it, when an increafq of years 
 might have awakened a fenfrbility to that particu- 
 lar. Immediately on her father's death fhe was 
 taken by her aunt Lady Sheernefs, who declared 
 ihe fhould look upon her as her own child, and 
 indeed her indulgence verified the truth of her de- 
 claration. 
 
 Lady Sheernefs was a widow ; her jointure con- 
 fiderable j and her lord at his deceafe left her fome 
 thoufand pounds in ready money. When he died 
 file was about twenty five years old, with a good 
 perfon, and infinite vivacity, An unbridled ima-
 
 Lady MARY JONES. 157 
 gination, ungovernable fpirits, with a lively arch 
 countenance, and a certain quaintnefs of expref- 
 fion, gained her the reputation of being poiTefled 
 of a great deal of wit. Her lord, in the decline 
 of life^had been captivated by her youthful charms, 
 when fhe was but fixteen years old. His extreme 
 fondnefs for her, led him to indulge her vivacity 
 in all its fallies ; and frequently while he was laid 
 up at home in the gout, her ladyihip was the fineft 
 and gayeft woman at every place of public refort. 
 Often, when the acutenefs of his pains obliged 
 him to feek relief from the foporific influence of 
 opium, file collected half the town, and thouoh his 
 reit was difturbed every moment by a fuccefllon of 
 impetuous raps at the door, he was never offended; 
 on the contrary, he thought himfelf obliged to her 
 for flaying at home, which {he had allured him 
 was, 4 becaufe {he could not bear to go abroad 
 4 when he was fo ilj.' This, as the grerueft mark 
 of her tendernefs he ever received, he failed not to 
 acknowledge -with gratitude. She fcarcely took 
 more pleafure in having a train of admirers, than 
 his lordihip felt from it ; his vanity was flattered 
 in feeing his wife the object of admiration, and 
 fancied himfelf much envied, for fo valuable a pof- 
 feflion. Her coquettry charmed him, as the faliies 
 of that vivacity of which he was fo fond. He had 
 no tincture of jealoufy in his v/hole competition ; 
 and acknowledged, as favors conferred on himfelf, 
 the attentions paid to his wife. 
 
 Though Lord Sheernefs's conduct may appear 
 rather uncommon, yet it feemed the refult of fome 
 difcernment, or at leaft his lady's difpofition was 
 fuch as juftifies this opinion ; Ihe had received a 
 genteel education; no external accomplifhrnents had 
 been neglected ; but her underftanding and princi- 
 ples were left to the imperfection of nature cor- 
 rupted
 
 158 THE HISTORY OF 
 i"upted by cuftom. Religion was thought too feri- 
 ous a thing for fo young a perfon. The opinion of 
 the world was always reprefented to her as the true 
 criterion by which to judge of every thing, and 
 fafhion fupplied the place of every more material 
 confuleration. With a mind thus formed, (he en- 
 tered the world at fixteen, {'unrounded with pomp 
 and fplendor, with every gratification at her com- 
 mand, that an affluent fortune, and an indulgent 
 hufband could beftow : by nature inclined to no 
 vice, free from all dangerous paffions, the charm of 
 innocence accompanied her vivacity ; undefigning 
 and artlefs, her follies were originally the confe- 
 quences of her fituation, not conftitutional, though 
 habit engrafted them fo ftrongly, that at length 
 they appeared natural to her. Surrounded with 
 every fnare that can entrap a youthful mind, fhe 
 became a victim to diffipation, and the love of fa- 
 fhionable pleafures ; deftitute of any ftable princi- 
 ples, fhe was carried full fail down the ftream of 
 folly. In the love of coquetry and gaming, ftw 
 equalled her : no one could exceed her in the pur- 
 fuit of every trifling amufement ; fhe had neither 
 leifure nor inclination to think, her life parted in an 
 uninterrupted fucceffion of engagements, without 
 reflexion on the paft, or ponfideration on the future 
 confequences. 
 
 The lightnefs of her conduct expofed her to 
 the addreffes of many gay men during the life o{ her 
 lord; but an attachment was too ferious a thing for 
 her ; and while her giddinefs and perpetual diffipa- 
 tion expofed her to fufpicion, they preferved her 
 from the vice of which fhe was fufpefted : fhe dai- 
 ly paflfed through the ordeal trial ; every ftep {he 
 took was dangerous, but fhe came ofFunhurt. J-Ier 
 reputation was indeed doubtful, but her rank and 
 fortune, and the continual amufements which her 
 
 houf*
 
 Lady MARY JONES. 159 
 
 houfe yielded to her acquaintance, rendered her 
 generally carrcfled. 
 
 Her lord's death made no alteration in her way 
 of lite ; and as her mind was never fixed an hour 
 on any fubjeft,. fhe thought not long enough of 
 marriage, to prepare for that {rate, and therefore 
 continued a widow. She was upwards of forty 
 years old, unchanged in any thing but her perfon, 
 when fhe took lady Mary Jones, I will not fay into 
 her care, for that word never entered into her voca- 
 bulary, but into her houfe. Lady Mary had natu- 
 rally a very good understanding, and much vivacity, 
 ths Vatter met with every thing that could aff.ft in 
 its increafe in the company of Lady Sheernefs, the 
 other was never thought of: fhe was initiated into 
 every diverfion at an age, when other girls are. con- 
 fined to their nurfery. Her aunt was fond of her, 
 and therefore inclined to indulgence, befides /he 
 thought the knowledge of the world, which in her 
 opinion was the mod eflential qualification for a 
 woman of fafhion, was no way to be learnt, but 
 by an early acquaintance with it. 
 
 Lady Mary's age and vivacity rendered this 
 doctrine extremely agreeable; {he was pretty,and very 
 lively and entertaining in her converfation, there- 
 fore at fifteen years of age fhe became the moft 
 carreffed perfon in every company. She entered 
 into all the falhionable taftes, was coquettifh and 
 extravagant ; for Lady Sheernefs very liberally fur- 
 nifhed.her with money, and felt a fort of pride in 
 having a niece diftinguimed by the fmenefs of her 
 drefs, and herprofufion in every expence, as it was 
 well known to have no other fource, but in her 
 Ladyfhip's generofity. Though Lady Mary receiv- 
 ed much adulation, and was the object ot" general 
 courtfhip, yet fhe had no ferious love made to her, 
 till bc was between fixteei; and feventeen, when 
 
 fher
 
 160 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 fhe accompanied her aunt to Scarborough : ftie was 
 there very allidoufly followed by a gentleman, re- 
 puted of a large fortune in Wales. He was gay and 
 well-bred, his perfon moderately agreeable, his 
 imderllanding fpccious, and his manner infinuiitin^. 
 There was nothing very engaging in the man, 
 except the appearance of a very tender attach- 
 ment. She had before found great pleafure in 
 being admired ; but her vanity was {till more flat- 
 tered in being loved : fhe knew herfelf capable of 
 amufing ; but till now had never been able to give 
 either pleafure or pain, according to her fovereign 
 decree. She grew partial to Mr. Lenman (that 
 was the name of her lover) becaufe he raifed her 
 confequence in her own eyes : fhe played off a 
 thoufend airs of coquettry, which fhe had never 
 yet had an opportunity to exercife for want of a 
 real lover. Sometimes fhe wcuid elate him by en- 
 couragement ; at others, freeze him into defpair 
 by her affecled coldnefs : fhe was never two hours 
 the fame, becaufe fhe delighted in feeing the vari- 
 ety of paffions fhe could excite. 
 
 Mr. Lenman was certainly fufficiently torment- 
 ed j but fo great a proficiency in coquettry, at fo 
 early an age, was no difcouragcment to his hopes. 
 There are no people fo often the dupe of their own 
 arts as coquets ; efpecially when they become fo 
 very early in life ; therefore, inftead of being 
 damped in his purfuit, he adapted his behaviour to 
 her foible, vanity, and by afiuming an air of in- 
 difference, could, when he pleafed, put an end 
 to her affe&ed referve ; though he was not fo un- 
 polite a Jover, as quite to deny her the gratifica- 
 tion fhe expccled from her little arts. He found 
 means, however, to command her attention, by 
 the very ferious propofal of matrimony. She had no 
 great inclination for the ftate, but the novelty pleafed 
 
 her.
 
 Lady MARY JONES. 161 
 her. Thepleafure fhe received from his addrefies fhe 
 mi(took for love, and imagined herfelf deeply enamour* 
 ed, when fhe was in reality only extremely fluttered ; 
 the common error of her age . In the company Ihe 
 had kept matrimony appeared in no very formidable 
 light; fhe did not fee that it abridged a woman of 
 any of the liberties fhe already enjoyed ; it only af- 
 forded her an opportunity of chufing her own di- 
 verfions ; whereas her talte in thofe points, fome- 
 times differed from her aunt's ; to whom, however, 
 flic was obliged to fubrnit. Thus prepofTeffed, both 
 in favour of her lover and his propofal, fhe liften- 
 ed to him with more attention than fhe chofe he 
 fhould perceive ; but he was too well acquainted 
 with the pretty arts of coquettry, not to fee through 
 them. He therefore took courage to infinuate his 
 deflre of a private marriage, and ventured to per- 
 fuade her to take a trip with him to the northern 
 fide of Berwick upon Tweed. 
 
 Lady Mary could not fee as Mr. Linman's fbr- 
 tunewas confiderable, and her 's entirely precarious, 
 why he was fo apprehenfive of not being accept- 
 ed by her aunt, but there was fomething fpirited 
 in thofe northern journies, that had always been the 
 objects of her envy. An adventure was the fupreme 
 pleafure of life, and thefe pretty flights gave mar- 
 riage all the charms of romance. To be forced to 
 fly into another kingdom to be married, gave her 
 an air of confequence ; vulgar people might tie the 
 .knot at every parifh-church, but people of diftinc- 
 tion fhould do every thing with an eclat. She 
 imagined it very probable, that her aunt would con- 
 fent to her union with Mr. Lenman ; for, though 
 he was not equal to her in birth, yet he was her 
 fuperior in fortune ; but yet fhe looked upon his 
 fears of a refufal as meritorious, fince he aflured 
 her they arofe from his extreme afte&ion, which 
 
 filled
 
 1 62 T H E H I S T O R Y OF 
 
 filled him with terrors, on the leaft profpet of 
 lofmg her. * Should Lady Sheernefs, he urged, 
 reject his propofal, {he might then be extremely 
 offended with their marrying, after they knew 
 her difapprobation ; but if they did it without 
 her knowlege, fhe would not have room to com- 
 plain of downright difobedience, and if it .was 
 difpleafing to her, yet being done, and paft re- 
 medy, fhe would be inclined to make the befl of 
 what was unavoidable, and forgive what fhe 
 could not prevent.' 
 
 Thefe arguments were fufficiently folid for a 
 girl of fixteen, who never thought before, and 
 could fcarcely be faid to do fo then. Lady Mary 
 complied with his plan, and the day was fixed 
 when they were to take this lively ftep ; their fe- 
 veral frages fettled, and many more arts and con- 
 trivances to avoid difcovery concerted, than they 
 were likely to have any occafion for j but in that 
 variety of little fchemes, and romantic expedients, 
 her chief pleafure in this intended marriage con- 
 fifted. 
 
 The day before that on which Lady Mary and 
 her lover were to fet out for Scotland, fhe was air- 
 ing with Lady Sheernefs, when one of the horfes 
 taking fright, they were overturned down a very 
 fteep declivity. Lady Sheernefs was but very little 
 hurt, but Lady Mary was extremely bruifed ; one 
 fide of her face received a blow, which fwelied it 
 fo violently, that her eye was quite clofed, and her 
 body was all over contufions. She was taken up 
 fenfclefs, entirely ftunned by the fhock. As footi 
 as fhe wns carried home, fhe was put to bed ;* a 
 fever enfued, and fhe lay a fortnight in a deplora- 
 ble condition, though her life was not thought to be 
 in danger. Her pain, for the greateit part of that 
 time, was 00 acute to fuffer her to reflect much 
 
 on
 
 Lady MARYJONE* 163 
 
 on the Different manner in which fhe had intended 
 to employ that period ; and when her mind be- 
 came more at liberty, her difappointment did not 
 fit heavy on her fpirits ; for as her heart was not 
 really touched, fhe confidered the delay which this 
 ill-timed accident had occafioned without any 
 great concern, and rather pleafed herfelf with 
 thinking, that fhe fhould give an uncommon 
 proof of fpirit, in undertaking a long journey, fp 
 foon after fhe was recovered, from a very evident 
 proof, that travelling is not free from danger. As 
 fhe had during this confinement, more time to think 
 than all her life had yet afforded her, a doubt 
 would fomejimes occur, whether fhe did right in 
 entering into fuch an engagement without the con- 
 fent of her aunt, to whom fhe was much obliged* 
 But thefe fcruples foon vanifhed, and fhe wondered 
 how fuch odd notions came into her head, never 
 having heard the word duty ufed, but to ridicule 
 fomebody who made it the rule of their conduct. 
 By all fhe had been able to obferve, pleafure was 
 the only aim of perfons of genius, whofe thoughts 
 never wandered but from one amufement to an- 
 other, and, ' why fhould not file be guided by in- 
 * clination as well as other people?' That one 
 queftion decided the point, and all doubts were 
 banifhed. 
 
 Before the blacknefs which fucceeded the fvvel- 
 ling was worn off her face, and confequently be- 
 fore fhe could appear abroad, a young Lady of her 
 acquaintance, who, out of charity^ relinquiihed the 
 diversions of the place, to fit an afternoon with 
 Lady Mary, told her, as a whimfical piece of news 
 fhe had jutt heard (and to tell which was the real 
 motive for her kind viiit, having long felt a fecret 
 envy of Lady Mary) that, ' her lover, Mr. Len- 
 ' man, had been married fome years, to a young 
 
 < lady
 
 1 64 ^T H E HISTORY OF 
 lady of fmall fortune, whom he treated on that 
 account with fo little ceremony, that for a con- 
 fiderable time he did not own his marriage, and 
 fmce he acknowleged it, had kept her conitantly 
 at his houfe in Wales.' 
 This was indeed news of confequence to Lady 
 " Mary, but Ihe was little inclined to believe it, and 
 enquired .what proof there was of this fact. The 
 young lady replied, that * fhe had it from a rela- 
 tion of her's lately arrived at Scarborough, who 
 having been often in Mr. Lenman's neighbour- 
 hood, was well acquainted both with hi'-n and 
 his wife, and had in a pretty large company, 
 where fhe was prcfent, afked him after Mrs. Len- 
 man's health, to which he made as ihort an an- 
 fwer as he could, but fuch as fhewed there was 
 fuch a perfon, and his confufion on this queftion 
 made her relation enquire what could be the 
 meaning of it, which all the company could ea- 
 fily explain.' 
 Lady Mary was prodigioufly diiconcerted with 
 this intelligence ; her informer imagined the vifible 
 agitation of her fpirits proceeded from her attach- 
 ment to Mr. Lenman, but in reality it was the 
 effect of terror. She was frighted to think how 
 near {he was becoming the object of general ridi- 
 cule and difgrace, wedded to a married man, and 
 duped by his cunning; for {he immediately per- 
 ceived why her aunt was not to be let into the le- 
 cret. How contemptible a figure mult (he afterwards 
 have made in the world ! 1 here was fomething in 
 this action of. Mr. Lenman's very uncommon, 
 fafhionable vices and follies had in her opinion re- 
 .ceived a fanction from curtom, but this was of a 
 different and a deeper dye ; and little as fhe had 
 been ufed to reflect on good and evil, in anv other 
 
 light
 
 I-ady MARTT JONES. 1 65 
 
 light than as plcafant and unpleafant, file conceived 
 an horror at this action. 
 
 After her vifitor departed, fhe began to reflect on 
 the luckinefs of the overturn, which had obftru&ed 
 her ram dcfign, and admiring her good fortune, 
 would certainly have offered rich facrifices on the 
 flijrine of Chancx', had there been a temple there 
 creeled to that deity. 
 
 While her mind was filled with thefe impreifions, 
 the nurfe, who had attended her in her ficknefs, 
 and was not yet difmiffed, entered the room, cry- 
 ing with joy, and told her, that ' fhe had jufl re- 
 * ceived the news of the mip's being loft wherein 
 ' her fon was to have embarked, had he not been 
 f feized with a fit of ficknefs two days before it fet 
 ' fail, which made it impoflible for him to go on, 
 4 board.' The poor woman was profufe in her 
 acknowledgements for God's great mercy, who had 
 by this means prevented the dettru&ion of her 
 dear child ; ' to be fure, added file, I fhall never 
 again repine at any thing that happens to me. 
 How vexed I was at this clifappointment, and 
 thought myfelf the moft unfortunate creature in 
 the world, bccaufe my fon miffed of fuch a good 
 poft as he was to have had in this fhip ; I was 
 continually fretting about it, and fancied that fo 
 bad a letting out was a fign the poor boy would 
 be unlucky all his life. How different things 
 turn out from what we expect ! Had not this 
 misfortune, as I thought it, happened, he would 
 now have been at the bottom of the fea, and my 
 poor heart would have been broken. Well, to 
 be fure God is very kind ! i hope my boy will 
 always be thankful for this providence, and love 
 the lx>rd who has thus preferved him.'
 
 i66 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 This poor woman fpoke a new language to Lady 
 Mary. She knew, indeed, that God had made the' 
 world, and had fent her into it, but fhe had never 
 thought of his taking any farther care about her. 
 She had heard, that he had forbidden murder, and 
 ftealing, and adultery, and that, after death, he 
 would judge people for thofe crirries, and thefe fhe 
 fuppofed was the utmoft extent of his attention. 
 But the joy fhe felt for her own deliverance, from 
 a misfortune into which {he was fo near involving 
 herfelf, and the refemblance there was in the means 
 of her prefervation, to that for which her nurfe 
 was fo thankful, communicated to her fome of the 
 fame' fenfations, and fhe felt a gratitude to him 
 who, fhe imagined, might poflibly be more careful 
 over his creatures than fhe had ever yet fup- 
 pofed. 
 
 Thefe impreffions, though pretty ftrong at the 
 time, wore off after fhe got abroad. A renewal 
 of the fame difiipation fcattered them with every 
 other ferious thought ; and fhe again entered into 
 the hurry of every trifling amufement. Mr. Len- 
 man, as foon as he found that his marriage was be- 
 come public, defpairing of the fuccefs of his fcheme, 
 left the place before Lady iViary was out of her 
 confinement, afraid of meeting the reproachful 
 glances of a woman, whom he defia;ned to injure; 
 and \vhofe innocence, notwithstanding her 1 vity, 
 gave her dignity in the eyes of a man, who had 
 really conceived an ardent paflion for her. 
 
 Lady Sheernefs and her niece flaid but a fhort 
 time at Scarborough after the latter was perfectly 
 recovered, the feafon being over. They returned 
 to London, and all the gaiety it affords; and 
 though the town was at that time not full, yet 
 they had fo general an acquaintance, and Lady 
 Sheernefs rendered her hoijfe fo agreeable, that (he 
 
 -never
 
 Lady MARY JONES. 167 
 never wanted company. Every feafon has its dif- 
 ferent amufements, and thefe ladies had an equal 
 taftc for every thing that bore the name of diver- 
 fion. It is true, they were not always entertained ; 
 but they always expected to be fo, and promifed 
 themfelves amends the following day, for the dif- 
 appointment of the prefent. If they failed of plea- 
 furc, they had diifipation, and were in too conti- 
 nual a hurry to have time to afk themfelves whe- 
 ther they were amufed ; if they faw others were fo, 
 they imagined themfelves rhuft be equally enter- 
 tained ; or if the dullnefs of the place was too 
 great to be overlooked, they charged it on their own 
 want of fpirits, and complained of a languor, which 
 rendered them incapable of receiving pleafure. 
 
 Lady ,Vlary fortunately had had no confidant in 
 her defign of running away with Mr. Lertman, 
 and the part he had a6ted was fo difhonourable, he 
 could not wifh to publim it ; her imprudence was 
 therefore known only to herfelf ; and the fear of 
 difobliging her aunt, by letting her intended difo* 
 bedicnce reach her ears, induced her to conceal it; 
 otherwife, moil probably, in fome unguarded hour, 
 fhe would have amufed her acquaintance with the 
 relation, embellifhed with whatever circumftances 
 would have rendered it amufmgj for the love of 
 being entertaining, and the vanity of being littened 
 to with eagernefs, will lead people of ungoverned 
 vivacity to expole their grcatell failings. 
 
 Lady Mary's levity encouraged her admirers to 
 conceive hopes, which her real innocence fhould 
 have repreffed. Among this number was Lord Ro- 
 bert St. George. He was both in perfon and man- 
 ner extremely pleafmg ; but what was a ftronger 
 charm to a young woman of Lady Mary's turn of 
 mind, he was a very famionuble man, much ca- 
 reiled by the ladies, and fuppofed to have been fuc- 
 
 cefsful
 
 1 63 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 cefsful in his addrefics to many. This is always a 
 great recommendation to the gay and giddy ; and 
 a circumftance which fhould make a man fhuned 
 by every woman of virtue, fecures him a favoura- 
 ble reception from the moft fafhionable part of our 
 fex. 
 
 L-ady Mary would have accufed herfelf of want 
 of taftc, had {he not liked a man, whom fo many 
 others had loved : She faw his attachment to her 
 in the light of a triumph over feveral of her ac- 
 quaintance ; and when a man raifes a woman in 
 her own efteem, it is feldom long before he gains a 
 confiderable (hare of it for himfelf. Vanity repre- 
 fented Lord Robert as a conqueft of importance, 
 and his qualifications rendered him a very pleafing 
 dangler. Lady Mary liked him as well as her lit- 
 tle leifure to attend to one perfon would permit : 
 She felt that pleafure on his approach, that pain at 
 his departure, that follicitude for his prefence, and 
 that jealoufy at the civilities he paid any other wo- 
 man, which girls look upon as the fymptoms of a 
 violent paflion, whereas if they were to examine 
 their hearts very nicely they would find, that only 
 a fmall part of it proceeded from love. 
 
 Lord Robert was too well fkilled in thefe mat- 
 ters, to remain ignorant of the impreflion he had 
 made ; and if he had been lefs quick-lighted, the 
 frequent intelligence he received of it, would not 
 have' fuffered him long to remain in ignorance. 
 Lady Mary, vain of her conquefr, and proud of 
 neing in love, as is ufual at her age, Jet every in- 
 timate into her confidence, and by mutual commu- 
 nication they talked a moderate liking into a palfion. 
 Each of thefe young Ladies werft as ready to tell 
 their friend's fecrets as their own, till the circle tf 
 that confidence included, all their acquaintance. 
 
 From
 
 Lady MARY JONES. 169 
 From many of thefe Lord Robert heard of Lady 
 Mary's great attachment to him, which ferved not 
 a little to flatter his hopes. He imagined he fhould 
 meet with an eafy conquefl of a giddy, thoughtlefs 
 girl, entirely void of all fixed principles, and vio- 
 lently in love with him ; for his vanity exaggerated 
 her paflion. In this perfuafion he fuppofed nothing 
 was wanting to his fuccefs but opportunity, for 
 which he took care not to wait lone. 
 
 He was intimately acquainted with an old lady, 
 whom he often met at Lady Sheernefs's, whole dif- 
 pofition he knew well failed to his purpofe ; fhe 
 had before proved convenient to him and others .; 
 not indeed by unrewarded affiftance ; for as her for- 
 tune was too fmall to fupply* the expences of the 
 genteel way of life fhe aimed at, fhe was glad to 
 have that deficiency made up by prefents, which 
 fhe was therefore very adiduous to deferve. This 
 lady, as fhe was a woman of fafhion, and lived in 
 figure, was politely received in all gay companies, 
 who were not dilpofed to take ihe trouble of ex- 
 amining fcrupuloufly into her character. She had 
 one material recommendation ; fhe played high at 
 cards, and omitted nothing; to make her houfe agree- 
 able ; and few were more crouded. 
 
 This Lady had often been vifited -by Lady Sheer- 
 nefs and her niece, though generally at the fame 
 time with the multitude; but one day, when fhe 
 knew the former was confined at home by indifpo- 
 fition, fhe invited Lady Mary, whofe aunt's com- 
 plaifance would not naffer her to refufe the invita- 
 tion on her account. 
 
 Lord Robert was there, and as it was only a pri- 
 vate party, there was no card-tables but in the out- 
 ward room. The miftrefs of the houfe drew Lady 
 Mary into the inner, on pretence of having fome- 
 I thing
 
 170 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 thing particular to fay to her ; Lord Robert foon 
 followed. The converfation grew lively between 
 him and Lady Mary ; and when the convenient 
 gentlewoman faw them thoroughly engaged and 
 animated in difcourfe, {he quietly withdrew, rer 
 turning to the company, whofe attention was too 
 much fixed on the cards, to perceive that any one 
 was mifling ; and to keep their thoughts more en- 
 tirely engrofled, {he betted with great fpirit at every 
 table. 
 
 Lady Mary did not perceive {he was left alone 
 with Lord Robert, till the growing freedom of his 
 addrefs made her oblerve it; but as prudence was 
 Jiot one of her virtues, {he was not at all dif- 
 concerted with this tete a tele ; nor did it leffcn 
 her vivacity. Lord Robert, encouraged by her 
 eafmefs on the occafion, declared himfelf fo plain- 
 ly, that fhe was no longer able to blind herfelf 
 to his views, and with furprize found fedudion 
 was his aim, if that word may be ufed for a 
 man's defigns againft the honour of a woman who 
 feems fo carelefs of it. Her heart was entirely 
 innocent of vice, and {he could not imagine 
 how his lordfhip could conceive it pofl.ble to 
 iucceed with her in intenfions of that fort. She 
 had always thought fiich imprudence in a woman 
 a very great folly, for in a graver light fhe had 
 never beheld it, and {hewed herfelf offended at 
 his fuppofmg her capable of fuch a weaknefs ; but 
 without that ho n eft indignation which a woman 
 would have felt, who had a6led on better princi- 
 ples. , 
 
 Lord Robert was not much difcouraged ; a wo- 
 man is under great difadvantage, when her lover 
 knows himfelf to be fo much beloved, that me 
 dare not let her anger continue long, for fear of 
 
 lofms
 
 Lady MARY JONES, 171 
 lofmg him for ever. He was well convinced, that 
 meer worldly prudence could not make a lafting re- 
 fiftance againit a ftrong paffion, and fuch he flat- 
 tered himfelf her's was. He therefore ventured to 
 refume the fu-bjecl: ; but his perfeverance increafed 
 Lady Mary's furprize, and fhe began to think her- 
 felf affronted. Her partiality pleaded in his fa- 
 vour Ibme time ; but at length fhe thought it ne- 
 ceflary to retire, notvvithftanding his utmoft en- 
 deavours to detain her. As fhe left him, (lie de- 
 fired him to learn to believe better of her under- 
 ftanding : fhe perceived it no otherwife an infult ; 
 her education had deprived her of that delicacy, 
 which fhould have made her feel a fevere mortifi- 
 cation at the little {hare file had of the good 
 opinion of a man fhe loved ; on the contrary, (he 
 efteemed the affront fhe had received a proof of his 
 affeilion. She had often indeed heard the name of 
 virtue, but by the ufe fhe had known made of the 
 word, it appeared to her to have no other fignification 
 than prudence. She was not at all (hocked with 
 Lord Robert's conduct ; but refolved not to concur 
 in his views, becaufe fhe had no inclination to do 
 fo, that overbalanced her very moderate degree of 
 j;rudc-nce. On this account fhe determined to avoid 
 being again alone with him. 
 
 Lady Mary's natural fenfe gave rife to fome 
 doubts, whether the very open profeflions of gal- 
 lantry, which Lord Robert had made to her were 
 common ; fhe had been frequently addrefted with 
 freedom, but his behaviour fec'med more than com- 
 monlyprefuming. In order to find what others would 
 think of it ; Ihe often turned the converfation to thofe 
 fort of fubjects, and was a good deal Itartled one day 
 by a lively, but amiable and modeft young lady,- 
 who faid, (he believed no man that was net an abf 
 
 . I 2 folute
 
 jji THE HISTORY OF 
 
 folute fool, or at the time intoxicated, ever infult- 
 o.i a woman with improper behaviour or difcourie ; 
 if he had not from ibme impropriety in her con- 
 duel fe?en reason to imagine it would not be ill re- 
 ceived j and I am fure, added {he, ' if fuch a thin;* 
 was ever to befal me, it would convert me into a 
 Itarched prude, for fear that hereafter innocent 
 vivacity might be miflaken for vicious levity : I 
 fnould take myfelf very feverely to talk, convinc- 
 ed the offence was grounded on my conduct ; for 
 I am well perfuaded there is fomething fo re- 
 fpectable in virtue, that no man will dare to in- 
 fult it, except when a great difparity in circum- 
 fiances encourages an abandoned wretch to 
 take advantage of the necelLty of the indigent.' 
 Lady Mary was greatly affected by this fenti- 
 ment : me began to reflect on her own behaviour i 
 and could not but fee, that Lord Robert might, 
 without any great danger of offending, hazard the 
 behaviour he had been guilty of; fmce in effect 
 flic had not conceived much anger againft him, 
 and though fhe had hitherto avoided being again 
 alone with him, yet fhe had not fliewn any very 
 great marks of difpleafure. She now watched with 
 attention the conduct of other young ladies ; many 
 of them feemed to act on the fame principles as 
 herfelf ; but me obferved that fhe who had by her 
 declaration, firft raiftd in her fufpicions about her 
 own behaviour, had a very different manner from 
 her's. She. was indeed gay and lively ; but her 
 vivacity feemed under the dire6tion of modefty. In 
 her greateft flow of fpirits, fhe hazarded no im- 
 proper expreffion, nor (uffered others to do fo with- 
 out a manifeft difguft : (lie faw that the gentle- 
 men who converfed with her, preferred an air 
 of refpect and deference, which they laid afide when 
 
 they
 
 Lady MARY JONES. _ 173 
 they addrefled women, whofe vivacity degenerated 
 into levity. She now began to perceive fome im- 
 propriety in her own behaviour, and endeavoured 
 to correct it ; but nothing is more dilEct.lt thru 
 to recover a dignity once loft. When fhe attempt- 
 ed to reftrain her gaiety within proper bounds, ii,; 
 was laughed at for her affectation : if, when the 
 converfation was improper, fhc aiTumed an air ot 
 gravitv, {he was nccufed of the vapours, or re- 
 ceived hints that fhe was out of humour. 
 
 Thefe were great difcouragcments in her endea- 
 vours to correct the errors of her conduft, but 
 gave her lefs pain than the difficulties Ihe w-s 
 under about Lord Robert St. George. He ftill 
 continued to addrefs her with a freedom of manners 
 which (he now perceived was infulting ; fhe wanted tf> 
 difcourage his infolence, but feared giving a torsi 
 offence to a man who had too great a fhare of her 
 affections ; fhe was apprehenfive, that if fhe quit 
 deprived him of his hopes, {he fhould entirely lofe 
 him, and he would attach himfelf to fome other 
 woman. This fituation was dangerous, and Lord 
 Robert knew the power he had over her. The 
 dt'emma fhe was in really abated the vivacity fhe 
 wifhed to reflrain, but it was immediately attri- 
 buted to the anxiety of a love-fick mind, and 
 flie was expofcd to continual raillery on that fub- 
 jcct. Her lover fecretly triumphed, flattering him- 
 fc!i", that her pallion was now combating on his 
 Tide. 
 
 In this fituation fhe was unable to determine 
 what part to act, and all her intimates were too much 
 like herfelf, to be capable of advifmg^her. Thus 
 diftrefled, fhe refolved to cultivate the acquaintance 
 of the young lady who had opened her eyes to 
 her own conduct, and try what relief" fhe could 
 I 3 obtain
 
 i74 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 obtain from her advice. This was eafily effected ; 
 Lady Mary was too amiable, not to have any ad- 
 vances fhe made anfvvered with pleafure. An in- 
 timacy foon enfued. 
 
 Lady Mary communicated to her new friend all 
 the difficulties of- her fituation, and confefled to her 
 the true itate of her heart. That young lady was 
 not void of companion for her uneannefs ; but told 
 her, that, ' while fhe was encouraging Lord Ro- 
 bcrc's paffion, fhe was lofmg his efteem, which 
 alone was worth preferving. I allow, faid fhe, 
 that by depriving him of his hopes, you may put 
 an end to his addrefles ; but confider, my dear 
 Lady Mary, what fatisfaction they can afford 
 you, if they are only the refalt of a fondnefs for 
 your perfon, which would lofe all its charms for 
 him, as foon as it became familiarized by pofieffi- 
 on. You would then at once find yourfelf both 
 neglected and defpifed by the man, for wbofe 
 fake you had rendered yourfelf truly defptcable. 
 I know you are incapable of an action that 
 would at the fame time rid you of his efteem, 
 and of the more valuable confcioufnefs of know- 
 ing yourftlf to be truly eftimable. I am not of 
 the opinion of thofe, who think chaftity the only 
 virtue of confequence to our fex; but it is cer- 
 tainly fo very effential to us, that the who vio- 
 lates it, feldom preferves any other. And how 
 fhould fhe ? for if there are others as great, 
 greater there cannot be, there is none fo necef- 
 fary. But herein I know you are of my opini- 
 on ; I only therefore intreat you to fhew Lord 
 Robert that you are fo ; do not let him miltake 
 your real fentiments ; nor in order to preferve 
 his love, if cuPcom will oblige me to call his 
 pa/lion by that name, leave him reafon'to flatter 
 
 himfelf
 
 Lady MARY JONES. 1 75 
 
 * himfelf that you will fall a vi6lim to his arts, 
 ' and your own weaknefs. 
 
 ' Confider with yourfelf, continued (he, which 
 ' is moft defirable, his efteem or his courtfhip ? if 
 ' you really love him, you can make no compari- 
 
 * fon between them ; for furely there cannot be a 
 
 * greater fuffering than to ftand low in the opinion 
 ' of any peifon who has a great fhare of our af- 
 
 * fe&iom. If he negle&s you, on finding that his 
 
 * criminal defigns cannot fucceed, he certainly 
 
 * does not deferve your love, and the confciouf- 
 ' nefs of having raifed yourfelf in his opinion, and 
 
 * forced him to efteem you, together with the 
 
 * pleafure of reflecting that you have acted as you 
 4 ought, will afford you confolation.' 
 
 Thefe arguments had due weight with Ladjj 
 Mary ; {he determined to follow her friends advice, 
 and fubmit to the confequences. Lady Sheernefs 
 had company that evening, and among the rcfl 
 Lord Robert. He was, as ufual, afliduous in his 
 addrefles to Lady Mary, who withdrawing to a little 
 diftance from the company, told him, that, ' fhe 
 had too Ions; fuffered his lordfhip to continue a 
 courtfhip, which he had plainly acknowledged 
 was made with fuch views, as gave her great 
 reafon to blame herfelf, for ever having liftened 
 to it. She acknowledged, that the levity of her 
 conduct had been fuch, as leflened her right to 
 reproach him. Encouraged by her errors, and 
 prefuming perhaps on a fuppofition, that he was 
 not unpleafing to her, he had ventured to infult 
 her in a flagrant manner; but without complain- 
 ing of what was palt, {he thought herfelf ob- 
 liged to tell him his purfuit was in vain ; that 
 the errors in her conduct were the fault of edu- 
 cation j nor might (he fo foon have been con- 
 I 4 vinced
 
 176 THE HISTORY of 
 
 vinced of them, if his behaviour had not awaken" 
 ed her to a fenfe of fome impropriety in her own 
 conduct, which, confcious of the innocence of 
 her intentions, (he had never fufpecled: fhe then 
 told him, that if he did not entirely defift from 
 all addrefles to her, {he fbould be obliged to ac- 
 quaint her aunt with his behaviour, who could 
 not buffer fuch an infult oh her niece to pafs un- 
 refented.' 
 
 As foon as (he had 'thus explained herfelf to 
 Lord Robert, (he mingled with the croud, though 
 with a mind little inclined to join in their conver- 
 iation ; but her young friend was there, and en- 
 deavoured to fupport her fpirits, which were over- 
 come by the effort fhe had made. This young la- 
 dy foon after went into the country, and returned 
 no more to London. 
 
 Lord Robert was fo difconcetted, that he left the 
 room as foon as Lady Mary had thus given him his 
 c'ifmifllon. As their acquaintance lay much in the 
 fame fet, they frequently faw each other. Lord 
 Robert endeavoured to conquer Lady Mary's refo- 
 lution, by fometimes exciting her jealoufy, and at 
 others making her the objet of his addrefles; but 
 fhe continued fteady in her conduct, though with 
 many fecret pangs. Pie began at laft to converfe 
 with her with greater cafe to himfelf, as his paffion 
 abated when no, longer nourished by hope ; and 
 notwithftanding a remainder of pique, he could not 
 forbear treating her with a refpect which her con- 
 duel deferved ; for he plainly faw fhe had atcd in 
 contradiction to her own heart. This alteration in 
 his behaviour afforded her great fatisfadlion ; and 
 though her love was not extingu idled, it ceaf.-d 10 
 be very painful, when fhe was perfuaded fhe had ob- 
 tained fomc fhare of his efteem. 
 
 When
 
 Lady M A R Y J o N E s. 177 
 
 When Lady Mary was in her twentieth year, 
 Lady Shecrntis was ieized with a lingering, but 
 incurable difor-der. It made little alteration in -her 
 mind. In this melancholy fituation fhe applied to 
 cards and company to keep up her fpirits, as af- 
 fiduoufly as fhe had done during her better health. 
 She was incapable indeed of going fo much abroad, 
 but her acquaintance, who Hill found herhoufo 
 agreeable, applauded their charity in amending her 
 at home. Cards even employed the morning, for 
 fear any Intermiffion of vifitors fhould leave her a 
 moment's time for refleclion. In this manner fhe 
 palTed the fhort remainder of her life, without one 
 thought of that which was to come. Her ac- 
 quaintance, for I cannot call- them as they did 
 themfeives, friends, were particularly careful to 
 avoid every fubjeil that might remind her of death. 
 At night file procured fleep by laudanum ; and 
 from the time fhe rofe, fhe took care not to have 
 lei lure to think; even at meals (he conftanr.lv en- 
 gaged company, left her niece's converfation 
 fhould not prove fufficient to dhlipate her thoughts. 
 Every quack who propofed curing what was in- 
 curable was applied to, and Ihe was buoyed up with 
 iucceffive hopes of approaching relief. 
 
 She grew at laft fo weak, that unable even to 
 perform her part at the card-table, Lady Mary wr.a 
 obliged to deal, hold her cards, and fort them for 
 her, while fhe could mil take them out one by one, 
 anc! drop them on the table. Whifc and quadrille 
 became too laborious to her weakened intejlecis 
 but loo fuppiied their places, and continued her 
 amufement to the lafr, as reafon or memory were 
 not ueceiTary qualifications to play at it. 
 
 I < Hei
 
 i? 8 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 Her acquaintance fhe found at length begin to 
 abfent themfeivcs, but fhe re-animated their cha- 
 rity, by making frequent entertainments for them, 
 and was reduced to order genteel flippers to en- 
 liven the evening, when fhe herfelf was objiged 
 to retire to her bed Though it was for a conii- 
 derable time doubtful whether fhe fhould live till 
 morning, it was no damp to the fpirits of any of 
 the company from which fhe had withdrawn, ex- 
 cept to Lady Mary, who, with an aching heart, 
 v/as obliged to prefide every evening at the table, 
 and to fhare their unfeeling mirth, till two or three 
 o'clock in the morning. 
 
 She was greatly afflicted with the thought of her 
 aunt's approaching death, whofe indulgence to her, 
 however blameable, had made a deep impreffion en 
 her heart ; as this gave a more ferious turn to her 
 mind, fhe could not fee Lady Sheernefs's great 
 infenfibility to what mufl happen after death with- 
 out much concern. The great care that was taken 
 to rob her of leifure to reflect on matters of fuch 
 high importance fhocked her extremely ; and fhe 
 M'as difgufted with the behaviour of thofe fhe call- 
 ed h.er friends, who fhe plainly perceived would 
 have fallen into a total neglect of her, had fhe not 
 found means to render her houfe more amufing to 
 them, than any into which they could enter. She 
 now faw that friendfhip exifted not without erreem; 
 and that pleafurable connedtions would break at 
 the time they were moft wanted. 
 
 This courfe of life continued, till one evening 
 Lady Sheernefs was feized with a fainung fit 
 at the card table ; and being carried to her bed, in 
 half, an hour departed to a world of which fhe 
 had never thought, and for which fhe was totally 
 unpr" pared. 
 
 A?
 
 Lady MARY JONES. 1 79 
 
 As Lady Mary was not able to return to the 
 company, they in decency, not in a/Biction, re- 
 tired. 
 
 Having long expected this event, her grief was 
 grater than her furprize. She lent for the gen- 
 tleman who {he knew was her aunt's executor, that 
 her will might be opened, and neceffary directions 
 given for the funeral. . Lady Mary had no doubt 
 of fucceeding to an eafy fortune, and when the 
 will was read it confirmed her in that fuppofition, 
 by appointing her fole heirefs. But the executor told 
 her he feared {he would find no inheritance. The 
 will was made on her firft coming to Lady Sheer- 
 nefs, when there was ibme remains of the money 
 her lord had left her ; but he was well convinced, 
 it had fince been not only entirely expended, but 
 confiderable debts incurred. 
 
 This account was foon proved true, by the de- 
 mands of numerous creditors. Lady Mary gave 
 up all her aunt's effects, which fell fhort of the 
 debts, and remained herfelf in the fame destitute 
 condition from which Lady Sheernefs had refcued 
 her. This was a very fevere {hock ; ihe had feen 
 fufficient proof of the little real friendship to be 
 found in fuch fafhionable connexions as (he had 
 been engaged in, to know that {he had nothing to 
 hope from any of her acquaintance. Her father 
 had been at varience with moft of his relations, 
 and Lady Sheernefs had kept up the quarrel. She 
 had therefore little expetatipn of afliitance from 
 them, in the only wifh fhe could form, which was 
 to obtain a penfion from the government, whereto 
 her rank feemed to entitle her. ihe faw no re- 
 fource but in the pride of fome infolent woman, 
 who would like to have a perfon of her quality de- 
 ' pendant on her ; a profpect far w^orfe than death. 
 I 6 Or
 
 j80 THEHlSTORYOF 
 
 Or pofljbly, good-nature might procure her a re- 
 ception among fome of her acquaintance ; but as 
 (he had nothing even to anfwer her perfonal ex- 
 pences, how foon would they grow weary of fo 
 chargeable a vifitor ? 
 
 While {he was opprcfTed with thefe reflexions, 
 and had nothing before her eyes but the gloomy 
 profpeft of extreme diftrefs, (he received a mefiage 
 from Lady Brumpton, who waited in her equipage 
 at the door, defiring to be admitted to fee her, for 
 Lady Mary had given a general order to be denied, 
 being unfit to fee company, and unwilling to be 
 expofed to the infulting condolence of many, whole 
 envy at the fplendor in which fhe had lived, and 
 the more than common regard that had ufually 
 been {hewn her, would have come merely to enjoy 
 the triumph they felt on her preient humiliation. 
 
 Lady Brumpton was widow to Lady Mary's 
 half brother. She had been a private gentlewoman 
 of good family, but fmall fortune ; by marrying 
 whom, her lord had given fuch offence to his fa- 
 ther, that he would never after admit him to his 
 prefence. Lady Sheernefs had {hewn the fame re- 
 fentment, and there no longer fubfifted any com- 
 munication between the families. Lord Brumpton 
 liad been dead about three years, and left no chil- 
 dren. 
 
 His widow was ftill a fine woman. She was by 
 Mature generous and humane, her temper perfectly 
 good ; her underftanding admirable. She had been 
 educated with great care, was very accomplifhed, 
 had read a great deal, and with excellent tafte ; 
 fhe had great quicknefs of parts, and a very un- 
 common {hare of wit. Her beauty firft gained her 
 tmich admiration ; but when {he was belter known, 
 the charms of her underftanding teemed to eclipfe 
 
 thef*
 
 Lady MARY JONES. iSi 
 thofe of her perfon. Her converfation was gene- 
 rally courted, her wit and learning were the perpe- 
 tual fubjects of panegyric in verfe arid profe, which 
 unhappily ferved to increafe her only failing, 'vanity. 
 She fought to be admired for various merits. '1 o 
 recommend her perfon ihe ftudied drefs, and went 
 to a confiderable expence in ornaments. Tofhew 
 her tafte, Hie diflinguifhed herfelf by the elegance 
 of her houfe, furniture, and equipage. To prove 
 her fondnefs for literature, fhe collected a coniide- 
 rable library ; and to {hew that all' her eileem was 
 not engroffed by the learned dead, fhe carefied all 
 living genius's ; all were Welcome to her houfe, 
 from the rsgged pliilcfopher, to the rhiming peer ; 
 but while fhe only exchanged adulation with the 
 latter, {he generouily relieved the ncceflities of the 
 former. She aimed at making her houle a little 
 academy ; ail the arts arid fciences were there dif- 
 cufle'd ; and none dared to enter who did not -think 
 themfeives qualified to fhine, and partake of the 
 ]uftre which was dirTufed round this affembly. 
 
 Though encircled by fcience and flattery, Lady 
 Mary's ciiftreis reached Lady Brumpton's ears, and 
 brought her to that young lady's door, who was 
 furprizcd at the unexpected vifit, but could not re- 
 fufe her admittance. Lady Brumpton began by 
 apologizing for her intrufion, but excufed her- 
 felf on the great defire fhe had oi being acquaint- 
 ed with fo. near a relation of her lord's, who, as fhe 
 was too young to have any {hare in the unhappy 
 divifions in the family, fhe was perfuaded was free 
 from thofe ill-grounded refentmems, which the 
 malice and impertinence of tale-bearers are alw,ays 
 watchful to improve ; and when flic confidered her- 
 felf as the firft occafion of the quarrel, {lie thought 
 it her duty, in regard to her ucceafed Icrd's me- 
 mory >
 
 182 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 mory, to offer that protection his fitter might juftly 
 
 demand from her, and which her youth rendered 
 
 neceffary. 
 
 Lady Mary was charmed with the politenefs of 
 
 Lady Brumpton's addrefs, but Itill more with the 
 
 generofity of her behaviour in feeking her out, at 
 
 a time when fo many were diligent to avoid her. 
 
 The acknowledgments fhe made for the favour 
 
 done her, fpoke as much in her recommendation 
 
 as her perfon. Lady Brumpton after fome conver- 
 
 fation told her fhe had a requeft to make, to which 
 
 {he could not well naffer a denial j this was no other 
 
 than that, fhe would leave that melancholy houfe, 
 
 and make her's the place of her fixed abode ; for 
 
 as, by Lord Brumpton's will, he had bequeathed 
 
 her his whole fortune, fhe fhould not enjoy it 
 
 with peace of mind, if his filter did not fhare in 
 
 the pofleffion.' 
 
 This very agreeable invitation rilled Lady Mary 
 with joy and furprize. She made a proper return 
 to Lady Brumpton for her generofity, and they 
 agreed, that Lady Mary fhould remove to her houfe 
 the next day. 
 
 When Lady Mary was left alone to reflect on 
 this unexpected piece of good fortune, and conft- 
 dered the diitrefs fhe had been in but two hours 
 before, and from which fhe was now fo happily 
 delivered; when fhe reflected on the many calami- 
 ties wherewith from her childhood fhe had been 
 threatened, and by what various means fhe had 
 been faved fo often from ruin, fhe could not for- 
 bear thinking that fhe was indeed the caro of that 
 Being, who had hitherto employed fo Jittle of her 
 thoughts. Such frequent mercies as fhe had re- 
 ceived, fometimes in being preferved from the fatal 
 confequences of her own follies, at others from 
 
 the
 
 Lady MARY JONES. 183 
 
 the unavoidable diftrefles to which (he had been 
 expofed, awakened in her mind a lively gratitude 
 to the fupreme Difpoier of all human events. The 
 poor confolations to which her aunt had been re- 
 duced in the melancholy conclufion of" her life, 
 fhe\ved her, that happinefs did not confift in diffi- 
 pation, nor in tumultuous pleafures, and could 
 alone be found in fomething which every age and 
 every condition might enjoy. Reafon feemed this 
 ioarce of perpetual content, and fhe fancied that 
 alone would afford a fat i.s faction fuitable to every 
 Hate of mind and body. Some degree of reli- 
 gion fhe imagined neceftary, and that to perform 
 the duties it required was requifite to our peace. 
 But the extent of true religion {he had never con- 
 f:dered, though her great good fortune told her, that 
 fhe ought to be thankful for the blefiings conferred, 
 and not diftruft the care of providence, of which 
 (he had received fuch fignal proofs. 
 
 She had often heard Lady Biumpton ridiculed 
 under the appellation of a genius, and a learned 
 lady ; but when fhe recollected who thofe perfons 
 were, no other than the open profeflbrs of folly, 
 it did not prejudice that lady in her opinion, hut 
 rather railed her expedition of being introduced 
 into a fuperior race of beings, for \\hofe conver- 
 fation fhe knew herfelf unqualified, but from whom 
 fhe hoped for fome improvement to her under- 
 handing, too long neglected. 
 
 In this difpofition of mind Lady Brumpton found 
 her at the hour that fhe had appointed to fetch her. 
 They went direftly into Lady Brumpton's dreft ng 
 room, who prefented Lady Mary with a fettlement 
 fhe had prepared of a hundred pounds a year, 
 which fhe begged her to accept for her cloaths ; 
 and defired, that whenever fhe found it infufficient, 
 
 fhe
 
 184 TH& HISTORY OF 
 
 he would draw on her for more : ihe at the fame 
 
 time, made her the firil payment. 
 
 Lady Mary now entered into a new fet of com- 
 pany, frequently found herfelf entirely at alofs ; for 
 {he was fo totally unacquainted with the fubjecls 
 of their difcourfe, that (he underltood them almoft 
 as little as if they had talked another language ; 
 {he told Lady Brumpton how much (he was con- 
 cerned at her own ignorance, and begged fhe 
 would give her fome directions what {lie fnould 
 read. That Lady, whofe chief aim was to fhine, 
 recommended to her the things tnoft likely to fall 
 into converfation, that fhe might be qualified to 
 bear her part in it. Lady Mary took her advice, 
 and read iome moral effay.", juft published ; then a 
 new play ; after that the hifiory of one fhort pe- 
 riod 3 and ended with a volume of fermons then 
 much in fafhion. When {he began to examine 
 what {he had acquired byJier ftudies, {he found 
 fuch a confufion in her memory, where an hifto- 
 rical anecdote was crouded by a moral fentiment ; 
 and a fcrap of a play interwoven into a fermon, 
 that {he determined to difcontinue that mifcellane- 
 ous reading, and begin a regular and improving 
 courfe, leaving to others the privilege of fetting in 
 judgment on every new production. 
 
 In this fituation Lady Mary continued fome 
 years, without any mortification, except what fne 
 felt from feeing the confequences of Lady Brump- 
 tons too great vanity, tt led her into expences, 
 which though they did not confiderably impair her 
 fortune, yet fo far {heightened it, that fhe fre- 
 quently had not power to indulge the gcneroiity of 
 her mind, where it would have done her honour, 
 and have yielded her folid fatisraUon. The adu- 
 lation which flie received with too much vifible 
 
 complacency,
 
 Lady MARY JONES. 185 
 
 complacency, infpired her with fuch an opinion of 
 herfelf, as led her to difpife thofe of lefs fhining 
 qualities, and not to treat any with proper civility, 
 whom {he had not fome particular defire to pleafe, 
 which often gave fevere pangs to bafhful merit, 
 and called her real fuperiority in queftion ; for thofe 
 who obferved fo great a weaknefs, were tempted 
 to believe her understanding; rather glittering than 
 folid. The defire of attracting to her houfe every 
 perfon who had gained a reputation for genius, 
 occafioned many to be admitted, whofe acquaint- 
 ance were ^ difgrace to her, and who artfully 
 taking advantage of her weaknefs, by excefs of 
 flatter)-, found means ofimpofmgon her to any de- 
 gree they pleafed. 
 
 The turn of converfation at her houfe was ridi- 
 culed in every other company, by people who ap- 
 peared moft defirous of being in her parties. And 
 indeed it was capable of being fo j the extreme en- 
 deavour to fhine, took off from that eafe in con- 
 verfation which is its greater! charm. Every per- 
 fon was like a bent bow, ready to {hoot forth an 
 arrow ; which had no fooner darted to the other 
 fide of the room, than it fell to the ground, and 
 the next perfon picked it up, and made a new fhot 
 with it. Like the brifk lightning in the Rehearfal, 
 they gave fiafh for fiafh ; and they were continu- 
 ally ftriving whofe wit {hould go off with the 
 greateit report. Lady Mary, \vho has naturally a 
 great deal of vivacity, and a fufficient {hare of 
 wit, made no bad figure in the brilliant afiembly ; 
 for though {he perceived an abfurdity in thefe mock 
 ikirmifties of genius, yet {he thought proper to 
 conform to her company ; but faw plainly that a 
 iprightly look, and lively elocution, made the 
 
 chief
 
 i86 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 chief merit of the heft bons mats that were uttered 
 among them. 
 
 After fhe had fpent about five years with Lady 
 Brumpton, this lady was feized with a nervous fe- 
 ver, which all the art of her phyficians could not 
 entirely conquer. Her fpirits were extremely af- 
 fected, and her friends decreafed in their attentions, 
 as her vivacity decayed. She had indeed always 
 been fuperior to her company, in every requifite 
 to pleafe and entertain, therefore when fhe could 
 not bear her part the conversion flagged ; they 
 dwindled from fomething like wit into oddity, and 
 then funk into dullnefs. She was no longer equal- 
 ly qualified to pleafe or to be pleafed ; her mind 
 was not at unifon with fhallow jefters, and there- 
 fore they could make no harmony. 
 
 Her diforder wore her extremely, and turned to 
 an atrophy. In that gradual decay (he often told 
 Lady Mary, 4 (he was awakened from a dream of 
 vanity ; fhe faw how much a defire to gain the 
 applaufe of a few people, had made her forget 
 the more neceffary aim of obtaining the appro- 
 bation of her Creator. She had indeed no cri- 
 minal actions to lay to her charge ; but how 
 fhould fhe ? vanity preferved her from doing 
 any thing which fhe imagined would expofe her 
 to cenfure. She had done Come things com- 
 mendable, but fhe feared the defire of being com- 
 mended was part of her motive. The humility 
 and calmnefs of a true chriftian difpofition had 
 appeared to her meannefs of fpirit or affectation, 
 and a religious life as the extremeft dullnefs ; but 
 now too late fhe faw her error, and was fenfible 
 fhe had never been in the path of happinefs. 
 She had not erred from want of knowledge, but 
 from the ftrong impulfe of vanity, which led her 
 
 1 to
 
 Lady MARY JONES, 187 
 
 ' to neglect it; butficknefs, by lowering her fpirits, 
 
 * had taken away the falfe glare which dazled her 
 
 * eyes, and reftored her to her fight.' 
 
 Lady Brumpton was fenfible of her approaching 
 death fome weeks before {he expired, and was 
 perfectly refigned. Lady Mary had a fecond time 
 the melancholy office of clofmg the eyes of a be- 
 nefaclrefs and relation whom {he fmcerely loved. 
 Lady Brumpton, to remove from her any anxiety on 
 her own account, acquainted her, as foon as her dif- 
 eafe became defperate, that {he had bequeathed 
 her ten thoufand pounds, and all her plate and 
 jeweh. 
 
 Lady Mary found this information true, and re- 
 ceived the fum. She was tenderly concerned for 
 the lofs of fo good a friend ; and by the various 
 circumflances of her life, and the many bleffings 
 bellowed on her, had a heart fo touched with the 
 greatnefs of divine mercy, that her mind took a 
 more ferious turn than common ; and tired of the 
 multitude in which {he had fo long lived, {he was 
 feeking for a retirement, when {he met Mrs. Mor- 
 gan and Mrs. Mancel at Tunbridge ; and as 
 I have already told you, came hither with them. 
 
 Mrs. Maynard was not a little wearied with fo 
 long a narrative, and therefore did not continue 
 much longer with us ; but Lamont and I remain- 
 ed in the park till dinner. 
 
 In the afternoon the Ladies propofed we mould 
 go upon the water, a fcheme very agreeable to us 
 all j fome of the inhabitants of the other commu- 
 nity were of the party. We got into a very 
 neat boat, of a fize fufficient to contain a large 
 company, and which was rov/ed by the fervants of 
 the family. We went about three miles up the 
 river, with great pleafure, and landed juft By a 
 
 neat
 
 i88 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 neat houfe, where we understood we were to drink 
 tea. The miflrefs of it received us with great joy^ 
 and told the ladies fhe had longed to fee them, 
 their young folks having quite finifhed her houfe, 
 which fhe begged leave to fhew us. Its extreme 
 neatnefs rendered it an object worthy obfervation ; 
 and I was particularly attentive, as its fize fuitifig 
 my plan of life, I determined to copy it. 
 
 The rooms were neither large nor numerous, but 
 moft of them hung with paper, and prettily adorn- 
 ed. There were fevcral very good drawings framed 
 with file] Is, elegantly put together j and a couple 
 of cabinets defigned for ufe, but they became orna- 
 mental by being painted, and fea-w'eeds ftuck there- 
 on, which by their variety, and the happy difpo- 
 fition of them, rendered the doors, and each of 
 the drawers, a cliftincT: landfcape. Many other 
 little pieces of furniture were by the fame art made 
 very pretty and curious. I learnt in a whifper from 
 Mrs. Maynard, that this gentlewoman was widow 
 to the late minifter of the parifh, and was left at his 
 death with five fmall children, in very bad 
 circumftances. The ladies of Millenium Hall 
 immediately raifed her drooping fpirits, fettled 
 an income upon her, took this hou r e, furnifhed it, 
 and lent her fome of their girls to aflift in making 
 up the furniture, and decorating it, according to 
 the good woman's tafte. She carried us into 
 her little garden, that was neat to an excefs, and 
 filled with flowers, which we found fome of her 
 children tying up, and putting in order, while the 
 younger were playing about, all drefled with the 
 iame exact neatnefs as herfelf. 
 
 When we had performed this little progrefs we 
 found tea ready, and fpent the afternoon with 
 greater pleafure, for obferving the high gratification 
 
 which
 
 Lady M A R v JONES. 189 
 which this vifit Teemed to afford the miftrefs of the 
 houfe. In the room \vhere we fat was a book-cafe 
 well (locked j my curiofity was great to fee what it 
 contained, and one of the ladie?, to whom I men- 
 tioned it, indulged me by opening it herfeif, and 
 looking at fome of the books, I found they con- 
 fifted of fome excellent treadles of divinity, feve- 
 ral little things published for the ufe of children, 
 and calculated to inilill piety and knowledge into 
 their infant minds, with a collection of our beft 
 periodical papers, for the arrrufement of lighter 
 hours. Moil of thefe books, I found, were Mrs. 
 Mancel's prefent. 
 
 The finenefs of the evening made our return 
 very delightful, and we had time for a little concert 
 before i upper. 
 
 The next morning I called up Lament very early, 
 and reminded the houf -'-keeper of her promife of (hew- 
 ing us the fchools ; which ihe readily performing, 
 conducted us firft to a very large cottage, or rather 
 five or fix cottages laid together. Here we found 
 about fifty girls, clad in a very neat uniform, and 
 perfectly clean, already feated at their refpedlive 
 bufmefles. Some writing, others cafting accounts, 
 fome learning lelibns by heart, feveral employed in 
 various forts of needle-work, a few fpinning, and 
 others knitting, with two fchool-miftrefies to in- 
 fpecl them. The fchool-room was very large, and 
 perfectly clean, the forms and chairs they fat on 
 were of wood, as white as pofiibie ; on fhelves 
 were wooden bowls and trenchers equally white, 
 anu ihin'mg pewter and brafs leemed the ornaments 
 of one fide of the room ; while pieces of the chil- 
 dren's work of various kinds decorated the other j 
 little famples of their performances being thus ex- 
 hibited as encouragement to their ingenuity.
 
 i<jo THE HISTORY OF 
 
 I afked many queftions as to their education, 
 and learnt, that they are bred up in the ftricteft 
 piety ; the ladies by various fchemes, and many 
 little compofitions of their own, endeavour to in- 
 culcate the pureft principles in their tender minds. 
 They all by turns exercife themfelves in the feve- 
 ral employments which we faw going forward, that 
 they may have various means of gaining their fub- 
 fiftence, in cafe any accident fhould deprive them 
 of the power of purfuing any particular part of 
 their bufmefs. The ladies watch their genius's 
 with great care ; and breed them up to thofe things, 
 which feem moft fuitable to the turn of their minds. 
 When any are defigned for fervice, they are taught 
 the bufmefs of the place they are beft fitted for, by 
 coming down to the hall, and performing the necef- 
 fary offices under the direction of the excellent fer- 
 vants there. 
 
 A very large kitchen garden belongs to the houfe, 
 which is divided into as many parts as there are 
 fcholars ; to weed, and keep this in order, is 
 made their principal recreation ; and by the no- 
 tice taken of it, they are taught to vye with each 
 other which fhall beft acquit themfelves, fo that 
 perhaps never was a garden fo neat. They like- 
 wife have no fmall fhare in keeping thofe at the 
 hall in order; and the grotto and feats are chiefly 
 their workmanship. 
 
 I gave them due praife upon their performances 
 at the clergyman's widow's, and delighted two of 
 them very much by my admiration of a little ar- 
 bour, which they had there planted with woodbines 
 and other fwect fhrubs. In their cwn garden they 
 are allowed the indulgence of any little whim 
 which takes not up too much room ; and it is pretty 
 
 to
 
 Lady MARY JONES. 191 
 to fee their little feats, their arbours and beds of 
 flowers, according to their feveral taftes. As foon 
 as fchool breaks up, they run with as much eager- 
 nefs and joy to their garden, as other children do 
 to their childifh fports ; and their higheft pleafure 
 is the approbation their patroneiTes give to their 
 performances. They likewife take it by turns to 
 do the bufmefs of the houfe, and emulation excites 
 them to a cleanlinef?, which could not by any other 
 means be preferved. 
 
 From this fchool we went to one inftituted for 
 boys, which confifted of about half the number, 
 and moft of them fmall, as they are difmifled to 
 labour as foon as they are able to perform any 
 work, except incapacitated by ill health. This is 
 tnttituted on much the fame principles as the other, 
 and every boy of five years old has his little 
 fpade and rake, which he is taught to exercife. 
 
 We returned from our little tour time enough 
 for prayers, with minds well prepared for them, 
 by the view of fuch noble fruits of real piety. 
 Indeed the fteward who reads them, does it 
 with fuch extreme propriety, and fuch humble 
 and fincere devotion, as is alone fufficient to 
 fix the attention, and warm the hearts of his 
 hearers. 
 
 After breakfaft was over, we got Mrs. May- 
 nard to accompany us into the garden, fhe in 
 complaifance to us, abftaining while we were 
 at the hail, from her {hare in the daily vifits 
 the ladies pay to their feveral inftitutions, and 
 to the poor and fick in their village. Their 
 employments are great, but their days are pro- 
 portionable ; for they are always up by five o'clock, 
 and by their example the people in the village rife 
 equally early ; at that hour one fees them all en- 
 gaged
 
 J92 T H E H I S T O R Y OF 
 
 gaged in their feveral bufinefTes, with an afli- 
 
 duity, which in other places is not awakened till 
 much later. 
 
 I called on Mrs. Maynard to continue her 
 
 tafk, which without any previous ceremony fhe 
 did as follows. 
 
 THE
 
 [ '95 1 
 
 THE 
 
 HISTORY 
 
 O F 
 
 Mrs. S E L V Y N. 
 
 MR. Selvyn, the younger brother of an anci- 
 ent family, whofe fortune was inferior to 
 the rank it held in the country, where it had long 
 been fixed, was placed in trade in London ; but 
 his fuccefs not anfwering his hopes, he gave it up 
 before it was too late to fecure himfelf a fmall fuh- 
 fiftence, and retired into the country, when Mifs 
 Selvyn was about five years old. His wife had 
 been dead two years ; thus his little girl's education 
 devolved entirely on himfelf. 
 
 He bred her up genteely, though his fortune 
 was fmall, and as he was well qualified for the 
 part, became himfelf her tutor, and executed that- 
 office fo well, that at twelve years old (he excelled 
 all the young ladies in the neighbourhood of her 
 own age, in French, and writing, either for hand 
 or ftile ; and in the great propriety and grace with 
 which fhe read Englifli. She had no fmall know- 
 ledge of accounts 3 and had made fome progrefs 
 K in
 
 196 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 in the ftudy of hiftory. Her perfon was elegant 
 and pleaiing, and her temper and manner perfectly 
 engaging ; but yet thefe charms could not induce 
 the neighbouring families, to forgive her for ex- 
 celling other girls in her accompliihments. 
 
 They cenfured Mr. Selvyn, for giving his 
 ' daughter an education, to which her fortune was 
 4 fo little fuited, and thought he would have done 
 better to have bred her up to houfewifery, and 
 < qualified her for the wife of an honelt tradefman j' 
 for part of what he had was known to be a life in- 
 come ; a fmall fine cure having been procured him 
 by his friends in town, before he retired into the 
 country. 
 
 The cenfures of thofe who love to fnew their 
 own wifdom by blaming others, had little effect on 
 iVlr. Selvyn; he continued his diligence in culti- 
 vating his little girl's mind ; and even taught 
 himfelf many things, that he might be able to in- 
 i'trudt her. If he did not breed her up in a man- 
 ner to gain a fubfiftence by the mod ufual means, 
 he however qualified her to fubfill on little; he 
 taught her true frugality without narrownefs of 
 mind ; and made her fee how few of all the ex- 
 pences the world ran into v/cre necefTary to hap- 
 pineis. He deprived her of all temptation to pur- 
 chafe pleafures, by inliru6ting her to leek only in 
 herfelf for them ; and by the various accomplifh- 
 ments he had given her, prevented that vanity of 
 mind, which leads people to feek external amufe- 
 ments. The day was not fufficient for her em- 
 ployments, therefore fhe could not be reduced to 
 trifle away any part of it, for fear of its lying heavy 
 on her hands. 
 
 Thus Mifs Selvyn was bred a philosopher from 
 her cradle ; but was better inftrudeu in the doc- 
 trine
 
 Mrs. S E L v Y N. 197 
 
 triue of the ancient moral ifts, than in the principles 
 of chriftianity. Mr. Selvyn was not absolutely a 
 free-thinker ; he had no vices that made him an 
 enemy to chriftianity ; nor that pride which tempts 
 people to contradict a religion generally received ; 
 he did not apprehend that difbelief was a proof of 
 wifdom, nor wifhed to lefTen the faith of others, 
 but was in himfelf fceptical ; he doubted of what 
 he could not entirely comprehend, and feemed to 
 think thofe things at leaft improbable which were 
 not level to his undefftanding. He avoided the fub- 
 jedl with Mifs Selvyn, he could not teach her what 
 he did not believe ; but chofe to leave her free to 
 form that judgment, which fhould in time feem 
 moft rational to her. 
 
 I could not forbear interrupting Mrs. Maynard, 
 
 to fignify my approbation of Mr. Selvyn's conduct 
 
 in this particular, as the only inftance I had ever 
 
 met with of a candid mind, in one who had a 
 
 tendency towards infidelity; for c I never knew 
 
 any who were not angry with thofe that believed 
 
 more than themfelvcs, and who were not more 
 
 eager to bring others over to their opinions than 
 
 moft foreign miffionaries ; yet furely nothing 
 
 can be more abfurd, for thcfe men will not dare 
 
 to fay that the virtues which chriftianity requires 
 
 are not indifpenfible duties ; on the contrary, 
 
 they would have us imagine they are moft fui- 
 
 cercly attached to them; what, ad vantage then 
 
 can accrue to any one, from being deprived of 
 
 the certainty of a reward for his obedience ? 
 
 If we deny revelation, we muft acknowledge 
 
 this point to be very uncertain ; it was the fub- 
 
 jedT: of difpute and doubt among all the philo- 
 
 fophers of antiquity ; and we have but a poor 
 
 dependance for fo great a blefling, if we reft 
 
 our expectation where they did theirs. Can a 
 
 K 2 * man
 
 98 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 man therefore be rendered happier by being de- 
 prived of this certainty ? Or can we fuppofe he 
 will be more virtuous, becaufe we have removed 
 all the motives that arife from hope and fear ? 
 And yet, what el fe can excufe an infidel's defire 
 to make converts ? Nothing. Nor can any thing 
 occafion it but a fecret confcioufnefs that he is 
 in the wrong, which temps him to wifh for the 
 countenance of more aflbciates in his error ; this 
 likewife can alone give rife to his rancour agairift 
 thofe who believe more thav. himfelf ; he feels 
 them a tacit reproach to him, which to his pride 
 is infupportable.' 
 
 4 But, faid Lamont, do you imagine that a 
 free-thinker may not be certain of a future 
 flate?' 
 
 1 Not pofitively, anfwered Mrs. Maynard ; if he 
 is certain of that point, he is a believer without 
 owning it ; he muft have had his certainty from 
 Scripture; all the reafon he boafts can only fhew 
 it probable, and that probability is loaded with fo 
 many difficulties, as will much weaken hope. 
 Where can reafon fay immortality mail Hop ? 
 We muft allow that Omnipotence may bellow it 
 on fuch ranks of being as he pleafes : But how 
 can reafon tell us to whom he has given it ? 
 Whether to all creation, or no part of it ? Pride 
 indeed makes man claim it for himfelf, but deny 
 it to others ; and yet the fuperior intelligence 
 perceivable in fome brutes, to what appears in 
 fome of his owji fpecies, fhould raife doubts in 
 him who has nothing but the reafonings of his 
 own weak brain to go upon. But to proceed 
 with my fubjecl.' 
 
 The minifter of the parifh wherein Mr. Sel- 
 
 vyn dwelt, was a gentleman of great learning and 
 
 i& probity. He had every virtue in the moft 
 
 amia-
 
 Mrs. S E L v Y N. 199 
 
 amiable degree, and a gemlenefs and humility ot 
 mind which is the mod agreeable chara&eriftic of his 
 profeflion. lie had a (Irons; fenfe of the duties of 
 his function, and dedicated his whole time to the 
 performance of them. He did not think his in- 
 ftruclions (hould be confined to the pulpit ; but fen- 
 fible that the ignorant were much more effectually 
 taught in familiar converfation, than by preaching ; 
 he vihted frequently the very pooreft of his pa- 
 rimioners; and by the humility of his behaviour, 
 as much as by his bounty (for he diftributed great 
 part of his income among the neceffitous) he gain- 
 ed the affections of the people fo entirely, that his 
 advice was ail-powerful with them. 
 
 This gentleman's great recreation was vifiting 
 Mr. Selvyn, whofe fenfe and knowledge rendered 
 his converfation extremely entertaining, and Mifs 
 Selvyn's company was a great addition to the good 
 minifter's pleafure ; he took delight in feeing her, 
 as Hamlet fays, 4 bear her faculties fo meekly.' 
 She was entirely void of conceit and vanity, and 
 did not feem to have found out that her knowledge 
 exceeded that of moil perfons of her age, at leait 
 (he looked upon it as a cafual advantage, which re- 
 flected no honour to herfelf, but was entirely owing 
 to Mr. Selvyn. Her youthful chearfulnefs enliven- 
 ed the party, without rendering the converfation 
 lefs folid ; and her amiable difpofition made the 
 good minifter particularly anxious for her wel- 
 fare. 
 
 He foon found out Mr. Selvyn's fcepticifm, and 
 endeavoured to remove it. He reprefented to him 
 that, ' his not being able to underftand the moft 
 ' myfterious parts of chriftianity was no argument 
 4 againft the truth of them. That there were 
 many things in nature, whofe certainty he by no 
 * means doubted, and yet was totally ignorant of 
 K 3 < the
 
 20O THE HISTORY OF 
 
 the methods whereby many of them operated, 
 and even of the ufe of fonne of them. Could 
 ha fay what purpofe the fiery comet anfwers ? 
 flow is its motion produced, fo regular in its 
 period, fo unequal in its motion, and fo ex- 
 centric in its courfe ? Of many other things man 
 is in reality as ignorant, only being able to form 
 ;i fyftem, which fecms to fuit in fome particulars, 
 he imagines he has difcovercd the whole, and 
 will think fo till forhe new fyftem takes place, 
 and the old one is exploded. He afked Mr. 
 Selvyn, If they descended to the meaneft objects, 
 in what manner could they account for the poly- 
 j:us's property of fupplying that part of its body- 
 which {hall be cut away ? That infect alone, of 
 all the creation, does not continue maimed by 
 amputation, but multiplies by it. To what can 
 we attribute this difference in an infecl, which in 
 all particulars befide, refembl<;s fo many others ? 
 Yet who doubt* of the reality of thefe things ? 
 If we cannot comprehend the fmalleft works of 
 almighty wifdom, can we expe6l to fathom that 
 wifdom itfelf ? And fay, that fuch things he can- 
 not do, or cannot chufe, becaufe the fame effects 
 could be produced by other means ? Man no 
 doubt might exert the fame functions under ano- 
 ther form, why then has he this he now wears ? 
 Who will not reply, becaufe his Maker chofe it, 
 and chofe it as feeing it beft. Is not this the 
 proper anfwer on all occafions, when the decrees 
 of the Almighty are difcufl'ed ? Fas only are 
 obvious to our rcafon ; we mud judge of them 
 by the evidence of their reality ; if that is fufE- 
 cient to efcabliih the fats ; why, or how they 
 were produced, is beyond our comprehenfion. 
 Let us learn that finite minds cannot judge of 
 infinite wifdom, and confine our reafon within. 
 
 ' its
 
 Mrs. S E L v Y N. 20 1 
 
 ' its proper fphere.' By thefe, and many other ar- 
 guments, Mr. Selvyn was brought to believe the 
 poflibiiity of what he did not comprehend ; and by 
 this worthy clergyman's care, Mifs Selvyn was 
 early taught the truths of chriftianity, which though 
 the mod necefiary of all things, was at firft the only 
 one neglected. 
 
 In this retired fituation they continued till Mifs 
 Selvyn was near feventeen years old ; Mr. Selvyn 
 then determined to remove tc London ; and taking 
 a finall houfe in Park-&reet, fixed his abode there. 
 Lady Emilia Reynolds lived next door ; and foon 
 after their arrival made them a vifit ; a compliment 
 he faid, fhe looked upon as due to fo near a neigh- 
 bour. Some other ladies in the fame ftreet follow- 
 ed her example, and in a very fhort time Mifs Sel- 
 vyn was introduced into as large an acquaintance 
 as was agreeable to her for fhe was naturally averfe 
 to much diflipation. 
 
 Lady Emilia Reynolds was a fingle lady of very 
 large fortune, her age upwards of thirty, her per- 
 fon fine, her manner gentle and pleafing, and an 
 air of dejection did not render her countenance the 
 lefs engaging. She was grave and ienfible, and 
 kept a great deal of good company, without en- 
 tering into a gay way of life. Mifs Selvyn's mo- 
 defty and good fenfe feemed to have great charms 
 for her ; fhe cultivated a friendfhip with her, not- 
 withftanding fome difparity in their ages ; and nei- 
 ther of. them appeared fo happy as when they were 
 together. 
 
 Mr. Selvyn could not be difpleafed at an inti- 
 macy fo defirable; nor could Mifs Selvyn be more 
 properly introduced into the world, than by a per- 
 fon of Lady Emilia's refpectable character. 
 
 K 4 At
 
 202 THE HISTORY) 
 
 Atherhoufe Mils Selvyn faw a great deal of good 
 company, an d was fo gene rally liked, that many in- 
 treated Lady Emilia to bring her to them, whenever 
 her ladyfhip favoured them with a vifit. Thefe invi- 
 tations were generally complied with, as under 
 fuch a prctectrefs Mifs Selvyn might properly ven- 
 ture to any place. Lady Sheernefs was one of this 
 number, whofe rank, and fome degree of relation- 
 Ihip, brought acquainted with Lady Emilia, though 
 the different turn of their minds, and their very 
 oppofite tafte of life, prevented any intimacy be- 
 tween them. Lady Emilia was not blind to Lady 
 Sheernefs's follies, but (he efteemed them objects of 
 her companion, not ofhercenfure ; nicely circum- 
 fpect in her own conduct, {he judged with the ex- 
 tremeft lenity of the behaviour of others, ready to 
 attempt excufmg them to the world, and not even 
 fuffering herfelf to blame what {he could not ap- 
 prove ; {he fmcerely pitied Lady Mary Jones, who 
 ieemed by fortune (aerified to folly; and {he was 
 in continual fear left {he fliould fall a victim to 
 that imprudence, which in her cafe was almoft un- 
 avoidable. 
 
 By this means Mifs Selvyn became acquainted 
 with Lady Mary, and was the young woman 1 be- 
 fore mentioned, as Lady Mary's advifer and con- 
 ductor, in putting an end to Lord Robert St. 
 George's courtftiip. 
 
 Not long after {he had the fatisfadtion of thus 
 aflifting a youne lady, whofe failings gave her al- 
 moft as many charms as they -robbed her of, {he 
 had the misfortune to lofe Mr. Selvyn. All that a 
 child could feel for the lofs of a tender parent Mifs 
 Selvyn fuffered. His death was not fo iudden, but 
 that it afforded him time to fettle his affairs, and 
 to give every direction to Mifs Selvyn, which he 
 thought might fave her from all embarafiment en 
 
 .the
 
 Mrs. S E L v Y N. 203 
 
 the approaching event. He recommended to her, 
 as her fortune would be but frrull, to attach her- 
 felf as much as pofTible to Lady Emilia, fince ihs 
 now became ftilJ more neceffary as a proteftrefs, 
 than Ihe had before been definable as a friend, and 
 that intereft as much as gratitude required her cul- 
 tivating the affection that Lady had already fhewn 
 hex. 
 
 The latter motive was fufficient to influence 
 Mifs Selvyn, whole heart fmcerely returned the 
 regard Lady Emilia had for her; but at that time 
 Ihe was too much affected with Mr. Selvyn's ap- 
 proaching diiiblution to think of any thing elle. 
 His care for her in his lalt moment-, ftill more en- 
 deared him, who through life had made her happi- 
 nefs his principal ftudy. Her affliction was extreme, 
 nor could Lady Emilia by the tendereft care for 
 iome time afFord her any confolation. 
 
 Mifs Sel vyn found herfelf heirefs to three thoufand 
 pounds, a fortune which exceeded her expectation, 
 though it was not fufficient to fuffer her to live in 
 London with convenience. Lady Emilia invited 
 her to her houfe ; and as the fpring advanced, her 
 ladyfhip inclining to pafs the fine feafon in the 
 country, hired a houfe about a hundred miles from 
 London, whii h (he had formerly been fond of, and 
 was but juft become empty. She had been but 
 little out of town for fome years, and went to her 
 new habitation with plealure. Mifs Selvyn bid 
 adieu without regret to every thing but Lady Mary 
 Jones, for whom {he had conceived a real affecti- 
 on, which firft took its rife from companion, and 
 was ftrengtheneJ by the great docility \vith which 
 fhe followed her advice about Lord Robert, and the 
 refolution with which fhe conquered her inclina- 
 tion. Lady Mary grieved to lofe one whom (lie 
 K 5 eiteemcd
 
 2O4 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 efteemed fo prudent and faithful a friend, and con- 
 fidered her departure as a real misfortune ; but they 
 agreed to keep up a regular correfpondence as the 
 beft fubftitute to converfation. 
 
 The country was perfectly agreeable to Lady 
 Emilia and her young friend. The life they led 
 was moft fuitable to their inclinations, and winter 
 brought with it no defires to return to London ; 
 whereupon Lady Emilia difpofed of her houfe 
 there, and fettled quite in the country. They were 
 both extremely fond of reading, and in this they 
 fpent rrDft of their time. Their regular way of 
 life, anu the benefits of air and exercile, feemcd to 
 abate the dejeition before fo vifible in Lady Emi- 
 lia j and ftie never appeared to want any other coii- 
 verfation than that of Mifs Selvyn, whom (he 
 loved with a tendernefs fo juflly due to her 
 merit. 
 
 After they had been fettled about two years in 
 the country, Lord Robert St. George, who was 
 colonel of a regiment quartered in a town not far 
 from them, came to examine into the date of his 
 regiment ; and having at that time no other en- 
 gagement, and the lodgings he had taken juft out 
 of the town being finely fituated, he determined 
 to make fome ftay there. Here he renewed his 
 flight acquaintance with Lady Emilia and Mifs 
 Selvyn j and by favour of his vicinity faw them 
 often. Lord Robert's heart was too fufceptible of 
 foft impreffions, not to ftel the influence of Mifs 
 Selvyn's charms. He was ftrongly captivated by 
 her excellent underftanding and engaging manner; 
 as for her perfon, he had known many more beau- 
 tiful, though none more pleafmg ; but the uncom- 
 mon turn of her mind, her gentlenefs, and fen- 
 fible modeftys had attractions that were irrefrftible. 
 
 Lord
 
 Mrs. SELVYN. 205 
 
 Lord Robert's attachment foon became vifible ; 
 but. Mifs Sclvyn J:new him too well to think his 
 addrefTes very flattering, and bv his behaviour to 
 Lady Mary Jones, feared Ibme infulting declara- 
 tion j but from thefe apprehenfions he Joon deli- 
 vered her. Real affection conquering that afiur- 
 ance which nature had firft given, and fuccefs en- 
 creafed, he had not courage to declare his paffion 
 to her, but applied to Lady Emilia, to acquaint 
 her friend with his love, and bsgged her intereft in 
 his behalf, fearing that without it, Mifs Selvyn's 
 reierve would not fuffer her to liften to his ad- 
 dreffes. 
 
 Lady Emilia promifed to report all he had faid, 
 and accordingly gave Mifs Selvyn a circumftantial 
 account of the whole converfation, wherein Lord 
 Robert had laid before her the flate of his fortune, 
 which was fuvFicicnt for a woman of her prudence; 
 and fhe added, that ' fhe did not fee how Mifs 
 ' SeJvyn could expect to be addrefled by a man 
 
 * more eligible, whether flie confidered his birth, 
 
 * his fortune, or his perfon and accomplishments.' 
 Mifs Selvyn was a little furprized, that fo gay a 
 
 man mould take fo ferious a refolution. She al- 
 lowed the juftnefs of what Lady Emilia faid in his 
 favour, and confefTed, that it was impoffible Lord 
 Robert could fail of pleafing ; but added, that c it 
 could not be advifable for her to marry ; for en- 
 joying perfect content, fhe had no benefit to ex- 
 pect from change ; and happinefs was fo fcarce a 
 commodity in this life, that whoever let it once 
 flip, had little reafon to expect to catch it again. 
 For what reafon then fhould fhe alter her liate ? 
 The fame difpofition which would render Lord 
 Robert's fortune fufficient, made hej's anfwer all 
 her wilhes, fmce if fhe had not the joy of living 
 K 6 * with
 
 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 ' with her ladyfhip, it would ftill afford her every 
 ' thing flie defired.' 
 
 LadyEmelia faid fome things in recommendation 
 of marriage ; and feemed to think it improbable 
 Mifs Selvyn ftiould not be a little prejudiced in fa- 
 vour of fo amiable a lover as Lord Robert, which 
 empted that young lady to tell her, that ' though 
 fhe allowed him exceOively pleafmg, yet by fome 
 particulars, which formerly came to her know- 
 ledge, Hie was convinced his principles were 
 iuch, as would not make her happy in a huf- 
 band.' 
 
 Lady Emilia allowed the force of fuch an ob- 
 jection, and did not prefs a marriage, for which 
 flie had pleaded only out of an apprehenfion left 
 JMifs Selvyn's referve might lead her to act contrary 
 to her inclinations ; and therefore fhe h:.d endea- 
 voured to facilitate her declaration in favour of 
 Lord Robert, if fhe was in reality inclined to ac- 
 cept his propofals. She acquiefced then readily in 
 her friend's determination ; only defired (he would 
 herfelf acquaint Lord Robert with it, as he would 
 not eafily be filencecl by a refufal which did not pro- 
 ceed from her own lips. 
 
 His lordfhip came in the evening to learn his 
 
 fate, and Lady Emilia having contrived to be ab- 
 
 fent, he found Mifs Selvyn alone. Though this 
 
 was what he had wifhed, yet he was fo difcon- 
 
 certed, that Mifs Selvyn was reduced to begin the 
 
 fubjecl herfelf, and to tell him, that ' Lady Emilia 
 
 had acquainted her, with the honour he had done 
 
 her, that fhe was much obliged to him, for his good 
 
 opinion, and hoped he would be happy with fome 
 
 woman much more deferving than herfeJf; but flie 
 
 could by no means accept the favour he intended 
 
 her, being fo entirely happy in her prcfent fituation, 
 
 that nothing in the world ihould induce her to 
 
 change it.' This
 
 Mrs. SELVYN. 207 
 
 This declaration gave rife to a very warm con-, 
 teft ; Lord Robert folliciting her to accept his 
 love, with all the tendernefs of the ftrongeft paf- 
 fion, and fhe with equal perfeverance perfifting in 
 her refufal. He could not be periuaded, that her 
 motive for doing fo was really what (he alledged, 
 but as fhe continued to affirm it, he begged how- 
 ever to know, c if ihe had not made fo ftrange a 
 ' refolution in favour of a fingle life, whether fhe 
 
 * mould have had any particular objection to 
 him ? ' 
 
 Mifs Selvyn (hewed the ufeleflhefs of this quef- 
 tion, fince the reafon of her refufing the honour 
 he intended her, would have made her reject the 
 addreffes of every other man in the world. Lord 
 Robert could not believe this poiTible, and there- 
 fore defifted not from urging a queiiion fo difa- 
 greeable to anfwer. 
 
 When Mifs Selvyn found it Jmpoflble to avoid 
 fatisfying him in this particular, fhe told him, that 
 
 * if he were entirely unexceptionable, fhe mould 
 ' be fixed in the fame determination ; but fince he 
 4 infilled on knowing if fhe had any objection to 
 4 him, fhe was -obliged to confefs, that had fhe 
 
 * been better inclined to enter into the matrimo- 
 nial ftate, his lordfhip was not the man fhe 
 
 * mould have chefen, not from any diflike to his 
 1 perfon or understanding, but from difapproba- 
 
 * tion of his principles ; that, in regard to her fex 
 
 * he had a lightnefs in his way of thinking, and 
 
 * had been fo criminal in his conduct, that of all 
 ' men fhe knew, fhe thought him moft improper 
 ' for an hufband.' 
 
 Lord Robert was furprifed at fo new an objec- 
 tion, and told her, that ' he did not apprehend 
 
 * himfelf more blamable in thofe refpedls than moft 
 ' young men. Gallantry was fuitabie to his age, 
 
 * and
 
 208 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 and he never imagined, that any woman would 
 have reproached him with his regard for her fex, 
 when he gave To ftrong a proof of an inclination 
 to leave them all for her.' 
 
 * I am forry, replied Mifs Selvyn, that your 
 
 Lordfhip thinks me mean enough to take plea- 
 
 fure in fuch a triumph, or fo vain as to imagine 
 
 I can reform a man of diffolute manners, the 
 
 laft thing I fhould hope or endeavour to fucceed 
 
 in. Such a tin&ure of corruption will always 
 
 remain in the mind of what you are pleafed to 
 
 term a gallant man, to whom I mould give the 
 
 lefs polite appellation of vicious, that I could 
 
 not be happy in his fociety. A reformed rake 
 
 may be fober, but is never virtuous.' 
 
 Lord Robert growing very urgent to know what 
 
 {he had particularly to lay to his charge j fhe told 
 
 him frankly, that ' his treatment of Lady Mary 
 
 * Jo-nes had difgufted her, as fhe, and perhaps 
 
 ' fhe only> had been acquainted with the whole.' 
 
 Lord Robert endeavoured to excufe himfelf on 
 
 the encouragement Lady Mary's levity had givea 
 
 to his hopes ; obferving, that < when a woman's 
 
 behaviour was very light, his fex were not apt 
 
 to imagine there was any great fund of virtue ; 
 
 nor could it be expected, that any one elfe fhould 
 
 guard that honour, of which fhe herfelf was 
 
 carelefs.' 
 
 ' I am fure, replied Mifs Selvyn, your lordfhip's 
 hopes muft have been founded on Lady Marv's 
 folly, not her real want of innocence ; a folly 
 which arofe-from the giddinefs of youth, and the 
 hurry of diffipation ; for by nature Lady Mary's 
 underftanding is uncommonly good. By what 
 you fay, you imagined her honour was lawful 
 prize, becaufb fhe appeared carelefs of it ; would 
 this way of arguing be allowed in any other 
 
 cafe;
 
 Mrs. S E i v Y N. 209 
 
 ' cafe ? If you obferved a man who neglected to 
 4 lock up his money, and feemed totally indiffer- 
 4 ent what became of it, {hould you think your-' 
 4 felf thereby juftified in robbing him ? But how 
 4 much more criminal would you be, were you to 
 4 deprive him of his wealth, becaufe he was either 
 4 fo thoughtlefs or fo weak, as not to know its va- 
 4 lue ? And yet furely the injury in this cafe would 
 4 be much leis than what you think fo juftifiable.' 
 4 If the world has but the lead fenfe of real ho- 
 4 notir, in this light they mult fee it; and to that 
 4 tribunal I imagine you only think yourfelf an- 
 1 fwerable ; for did you reflect but one moment, 
 ' on another bar, before which you will be fum- 
 4 moned, you would fee, there can be no excufe 
 
 * for violating the laws by which you are there 
 
 * to be tried. If you could juftify yourfelf to the 
 ' world, or to the women of whofe folly you take 
 4 advantage, by the fallacious arguments which 
 4 you have fo ready for that purpofe, fuch cobweb 
 
 * fophiftry cannot weaken the force of an exprefs 
 
 * command.' 
 
 ' I will not pretend, anfwered Lord Robert, to 
 ' deny the truth of what you fay, but muft beg 
 4 you will ccnfidcr it is more eafy for you to urge 
 4 thefe truths, than for thofe to obey them who 
 4 are expofed to, and fufceptible of temptations'. 
 4 When a woman has no -title to our refpec"r, hoxv 
 4 difficult is it to confider her in the light you re- 
 4 quire ! levity of conduct we are apt to look upoti 
 4 as an invitation, which a man fcarcely thinks it 
 4 confiftent with his politenefs to negle<5t.' 
 
 4 I wifh, replied Mifs Selvyn, that women were 
 4 better acquainted wifh the ways of thinking fo 
 4 common with your fex ; for while they are igno- 
 
 * rant of them, they act to a great disadvantage'. 
 
 * They obtain by that levity which deprives them 
 
 * &f
 
 210 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 of your efteem, a degree of notice and pretended, 
 liking, which they miftake for approbation ; did 
 they but know that you in your hearts deipife 
 thofe moft, to whom you are moft affiduoufly 
 and openly attached, it would occafion a great 
 change in their behaviour; nor would they naffer 
 an adthefs, to which they cannot liften without 
 incurring your contempt. How criminally de- 
 ceitful is this behaviour? And what real virtue 
 can a man truly boaft, who ac~ts in this manner ? 
 What woman in herfenfescan enter into an union 
 for life with fuch a manf ' 
 ' Why not, madam ? faid Lord Robert, my be- 
 haviour to you fnews, that we yield to merit the 
 homage it deferves ; you would lofe all your 
 triumph, were we to put you and the lighter part 
 of your fex on an equality in our opinions. We 
 are always ready to efteem a woman who will 
 give us leave to do fo ; and cart you require us 
 to refpeft thofe who are not in the leaft refpe6l- 
 able ? ' 
 
 ' No, anfwered Mifs c elvyn, I only wifh you 
 would ceafe your endeavours to render thofe wo- 
 men objects of contempt, who deferve only to be 
 neglected, and particularly not to deprive them 
 of the very fmall portion of regard they are en- 
 titled to, by the fallacious appearance of an at- 
 tachment of the tendereft kind ; which in reality 
 arifes from contempt, not love. But, added fhe, 
 I have faid more than I defigncd on the fubjeft ; 
 I only meant to anfwer the quefiion you put to" 
 me with fo much importunity > and muft now 
 confhm what i have already declared, by telling 
 you, that were I inclined to marry, I would not 
 on any account take an hufband of your lord- 
 fhip's principles ; but were you endowed with 
 all the virtues that ever man poiidTed, I would 
 
 ' not
 
 Mrs. S E L v Y NT. 21 1 
 
 * not change my prefent happy fituation for the un- 
 ' certainties of wedlock.' 
 
 When Lord Robert found all his follicitations 
 unavailing, he left the country, and returned to 
 London, where he hoped, by a feries of diverfions, 
 to efface from his heart the real paifion he had con- 
 ceived for Mifs Selvyn ; fhe forbore inform- 
 ing Lady Mary Jones, though their corref- 
 pondence was frequent, of Lord Robert's court- 
 fhip ; {he did not doubt butherladymip was fmcere, 
 when (he ailured her, fhe now beheld him with the 
 indifference he deferved, but thought that to tell 
 her fhe had received fo very different an addrefs 
 from him, would bear too much the air of a tri- 
 umph, a meannefs which her heart abhorred. 
 
 Lady Emilia and Mifs Selvyn had lived feveral 
 years in the country with great rational enjoyment, 
 when the former was feized with a fever. All the 
 fkill of her phyficians proved ineffe5lal, and her 
 diftemper encreafed daily. She was fenflble of the 
 danger which threatened her life, but infifted on 
 their telling her, if they had any great hopes of her 
 recovery, affuring them, that it was of importance 
 to her, to know their opinions with the utmolt 
 franknefs. Thus urged, they confefied they had 
 but little hopes. She then returned them thanks 
 for their care, but ftill more for their fincerity ; 
 and with the greateftcompofure took leave of them, 
 defiring to be left alone with A/Iifs Selvyn, who was 
 in tears at her bed-fule. Every one elfe withdrew, 
 when taking Mifs Selvyn in her arms, and fhedding 
 a few filent tears, fhe afterwards thus addreffed 
 her. 
 
 * At the moment that I muft bid you a long 
 ' farewel, you will know, that you have a mother 
 ' in her whom you before thought only your 
 ' friend. Yes, my deareit Harriot, I am you'f 
 
 4 mother
 
 212. THE HISTORY OF 
 
 mother, afhamed of my weaknefs, and {hocked 
 at my guilt, while your gentle but virtuous eyes 
 could reproach your unhappy parent, 1 could not 
 prevail on myfelf to difcover this fecret to you, 
 but I cannot carry to my grave, the knowledge 
 of a circumftance which concerns you. Yes, 
 you are my daughter, my child, ever moft dear 
 to me, though the evidence and continual remem- 
 brancer cf my crime.' 
 
 Mifs Selvyn imagined the difternper had now 
 feized Lady EmiJia's brain, which it had hitherto 
 fpared ; and entreated her ' to compofe herfelf, af- 
 furing her, that what fo much agitated her decay- 
 ing frame, was only the phantom of an over- 
 heated imagination ; for her parents were well 
 known, neither was there any myftery in her 
 birth.' 
 
 ' Oh ! interrupted Lady Emilia, do not fufpedi 
 me of delirium ; it has pleafed the Almighty to 
 fpare my fenfes throughout this feveie diforder, 
 with a gracious defign of allowing me even the 
 Jaft moments of my life to compleat my repent- 
 ance. What I tell you is but true, Mr. Selvyn 
 knew it all, and like a man of honour faved me 
 from {hame, by concealing the fatal fecret; and 
 a&ed the part of a father to my Harriot, without 
 having any {hare in my guilt. But I feoyou do 
 not yet believe me ; take this, pulling a pa- 
 per from under her pillow, herein you will find 
 an account of the whole unfortunate affair, 
 written a year ago ; left at the time of my death 
 I mould not be able to relate it; this will prove, 
 by the nice connexion of every circumitance, 
 that the words therein contained are not the fug- 
 geftions of madnefs.' 
 Mifs Selvyn accordingly read as follows, 
 
 ' When
 
 Mrs. SELVYN. 213 
 
 4 When t was feventeen years old, Lord Pey- 
 ton afked me of my father, but not till after he 
 had fecured my tendered affe&ions. His eflate 
 was fufficient to content a parent who was not 
 regardlefs of fortune and fplendor; and his pro- 
 pofals were accepted. But while the tedioufnefs 
 of the lawyers made us wait for the finifhing of 
 fettlements, Lord Peyton, who was in the army, 
 was commanded to repair immediately to his 
 regiment, then ftationed in Ireland. He endea- 
 voured to prevail with my father to haften our 
 marriage, offering every kind of fecurity he could 
 defire, inftead of the fettlements fo long delayed j 
 my wifhes concurred \wth his, rather than fuffer 
 him to go without me into a kingdom, which I 
 imagined would not prove very amufing to him. 
 But my father, who was a very exat obferver of 
 forms, would not confent to any expedient. No 
 fecurity appeared to him equivalent to fettle-j 
 ments ; and many trifling circumftances requi-i 
 fite to the fplendor of our firft appearance were, 
 not ready ; which to him feemed almoft as im-, 
 portant, as the execution of the marriage writ- 
 ings. 
 
 * When Lord Peyton found my father inexora- 
 ble, he attempted to perfuade me to agree to a 
 private marriage ; only defiring, he faid, to fe- 
 cure me entirely his before he left the kingdom ; 
 and propofed, that after his return, we fhould be. 
 publickly married, to prevent my father's fuf- 
 pe<5ting that we had anticipated his confent. 
 But this I rejected} difobedience to a parent, and 
 other objections, were fufficient to make me re- 
 fufe it ; and we faw ourfelves reduced to feparate 
 when we were fo near being united. As Lord, 
 Peyton was an accepted lover, and our intended 
 marriage was publickly known, and generally. 
 
 >* approved,
 
 214 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 approved, he patted great part of his time with 
 me. My father was obliged to go out of town 
 on particular bufmefs, the day before that ap- 
 pointed for Lord Peyton's departure. It is natu- 
 ral to fuppofe we pafled it intirely together. The 
 concern we were both under, made us wifh to 
 avoid being feen by others, and therefore I was 
 denied to all vifitors. Lord Peyton dined and 
 fupped with me ; and by thus appropriating the 
 day to the ceremony of taking leave, we ren- 
 dered the approaching feparation more afflicting 
 than in reafon it ought to have been, and indeed 
 made it a lafting affliction j a grief never to be 
 waflied away. 
 
 ' Lord Peyton left London at the appointed 
 hour, but the next days, and almoft every fuc- 
 ceeding poft, brought me the tendered expreffi- 
 bns of regret for this inforced abfence, and the 
 ftrongeft affu ranees of the conftancy of his af- 
 fe&ion. Mine could not with truth be written 
 in a more indifferent ftrain, my love was the 
 fame, but my purpofe was much altered ; as foon 
 as I had calmnefs of mind enough to reflel on 
 what had pafled, I refolved never to be Lord 
 Peyton's wife. I faw my own mifcbnducl: in all 
 its true colours. I defpifed myfelf, and could 
 not hope for more partial treatment from my 
 hufband. A lover might in the height of his 
 paffion excufe my frailty, but when matrimony, 
 and continued pofleffion had reltorecl him to his 
 reafon, I was fenfible he muft think of me as I 
 was confcious I deferved. What confidence, 
 what efteem could I hope from an hufband, who 
 fo well knew my weaknefs j or how could I 
 fupport being hourly expofed to the fight of a 
 man, whofe eyes would always feem to reproach 
 me ! I could fcarcely bear to fee myfelf j and I 
 
 * was
 
 Mrs. S E L v Y N. 215 
 
 * was determined not to depend on any one who 
 6 vyas equally confcious of my guilt. 
 
 * I foon acquainted Lord Peyton with this re- 
 e foliuion, which he combated with every argu- 
 4 ment love could di6tate. He aflured me in the 
 4 moft folemn manner of his entire efteem, infift- 
 ' ed that he only was to blr.rne, and that he fhculd 
 never forgive himfelf for the uneafmei's he had 
 4 already occafioned me ; but intreated me not to 
 punifri him fo feverely, as ever again to give the 
 4 leaft intimation of a defign not to confirm our 
 marriage. As I refitted my own paffion, it may 
 
 * be fuppofcd that, although too late, I was able 
 
 * to refill his. I faw that a generous man muft 
 
 < a& as he did, but no generofity could reftoreme 
 < to the fame place in his efteem I before pollened, 
 
 < His behaviour on this occafion, fixed my good 
 
 * opinion of him, but could not reftore my opi- 
 
 < nion of myfelf. All he could urge therefore was 
 ' unavailing ; the ftronger my aileclion, the more 
 determined I v/as in my purpofe ; fince the more 
 
 * I valued his efteem, the greater would my fuffer- 
 
 * ing be, at knowing that I had forfeited it. I 
 ' acquainted my father with my refolution, alledg- 
 ' ing the beft txcuies I could make. He was at 
 ' firft angry with my inconitancy, charged me with 
 
 * capricioufnefs, and want of honour; but at laft 
 
 < was pacified, by my afiuring him I would never 
 
 * marry any man. As he had been forry to part 
 ' with me, the thought of my continuing with him 
 
 * as long as he lived, made my peace. 
 
 ' Lord Peyton's impatience at being detained in 
 Ireland, increafed with his defire of perfuading 
 
 * me to relinquifh a defign fo very grievous to my 
 ' own heart, as well as to his; but he could not 
 f pbtain leave to return, into England, before I 
 
 4 found
 
 2 1 8 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 * my father as frequently as I ufually did, when 
 ' abfent from him. Within the fortnight from 
 ' the time of my departure from my own houfe 
 ' I returned to it again, after delivering my dear 
 f Harriot into the care of thefe good people, who 
 ' promifed to treat her as their own child. Un- 
 ' dcr pretence of a cold I confined myfelf till I 
 was perfectly recovered. 
 
 < Lord Peyton detained my father till he heard 
 
 * I was entirely well ; and then went with impa- 
 ' tience to fee his little daughter, over whom he 
 ' died many tears, as Mr. Selvyn afterwards in- 
 ' formed me ; telling it that it was a conftant 
 ' memorial of the greatcft misfortune of his life, 
 ' and could never afford him a pleafure that was 
 
 * not mingled with the deepeft affliction. 
 
 ' Mrs. Selvyn had lain in about fix weeks before 
 I went to her, the child fhe brought into the 
 
 < world lived but a few months ; upon its death, 
 ' at Lord Peyton's defire, they took you from 
 
 < nurfe, and pretending you their own, privately 
 
 * buried their child, who was likewife nurfed 
 abroad. Mr. Selvyn was a merchant, but had 
 
 * never been fucceisful, his wife died when you 
 
 * were about three years old. Having no children 
 
 * to provide fgr, and not being fond of trade, he 
 
 * was defirous of retiring into the country. Lord 
 ' Peyton to facilitate the gratification of his wi/h, 
 1 procured him a fmall fine cure ; gave into his pof- 
 feffion three thoufand pounds, which he fecured 
 to you ; and allowed him an hundred a year for 
 
 * the trouble of your education ; with an unlimited 
 ' commiflion to call on him for any iums he ihould 
 
 * want. 
 
 * The conftant fenfe of my guilt, the continual 
 
 * jegret at having by my own ill conduct forfeited 
 
 ' the
 
 Mrs. SELVYN. 217 
 
 the happinefs, which every a6Hon of Lord Pey- 
 ton's proved that his wife might reafonably ex- 
 pect, fixed a degree of melancholy on my m'ind, 
 which no time has been able to conquer. I lived 
 with my father till his death, which happened 
 not many years ago j at his deceafe, I found 
 myfelf m'iftrefs of a large fortune, which enabled 
 me to fupport the rank I had always enjoyed. 
 Though Lord Peyton had provided fufficiently 
 for Mr. Selvyn's and our convenience, yet I 
 conftantly fent him a yearly prefent ; till no 
 longer able to deny myfelf the pleafure of feeing 
 my dear child, I prevailed on him to remove to 
 London, and to fix in the fame ftreet with me, 
 taking care to fupply all that was requifite to 
 enable him to appear there genteelly. You 
 know wi.h what appearance of accident I firit 
 cultivated a friendfhip with you, but you can- 
 not imagine, with how much difficulty I concealed 
 the tendernefs of a mother under the ceremonies 
 of an acquaintance. 
 
 < Of late I have enjoyed a more eafy ftate of 
 mind : I have fcmetimes been inclined to flatter 
 myfelf, that your uncommon merit, and the 
 great comfort I have received in your fociety, 
 are figns that Heaven has forgiven my offence, 
 and accepted my penitence, which has been fin- 
 re re and long, as an- atonement for my crime ; 
 in which bltilcd hone I ftial), I truft, meet death 
 without terror, and fubmit, my dear daughter, 
 whenever I am called hence, in full confidence 
 to that Power, whofe mercy is over all his works. 
 I ought to add a few words about your dear 
 father, who feemed to think my extreme re- 
 gi:lar conduct, and the punifhmentl had inflicted 
 on myfelf, fuch an extenuation of my weaknefs, 
 that he ever behaved to me with the tendercft 
 L refpecr,
 
 2.1*8 T H E H I S T O R Y O F 
 
 refpe&, I might almoft fay reverence, and till 
 his death gave me every proof of the pureft and 
 the itrongeit friendfhip. By confent we avoided 
 each others prefence for three years, by which 
 time we hoped the violence of our mutual paffion 
 would be abated. He fpent the greateft part of 
 it abroad ; and at the end of that period we met 
 with the fincerer joy, from finding we were not 
 deceived in our hopes. Our attachment was 
 fettled into the tendereft friendfliip ; we forbore 
 even the mention of your name, as it muft have 
 reminded us of our crime ; and if Lord Peyton 
 wanted to communicate any thing concerning 
 you, he did it by letter; avoiding with the ex- 
 tremeft delicacy ever to take notice, that any 
 fuch letters had parted between us ; and even in 
 them he confulted about his child, in the ftile of 
 a man who was writing to a perfon that had no 
 other connexion with it than what her friendfhip 
 for him muft naturally occafion, in a point where 
 he was interefted by the tendereft ties of the moil 
 extreme paternal love. 
 
 ' I have often with pleafure heard you mention 
 his great fondnefs for you in your childhood, when 
 he vifited at your father's ; your growing years 
 encreafed it, though it obliged him to fupprefs 
 the appearance of an affection which you would 
 have thought improper. I need not tell you, that 
 I had the misfortune to lofe this worthieft of 
 friends, about half a year before you came to 
 London, which determined me to fend for you, 
 that I might receive all the confolation the world 
 could give me, and fee the inheritor of her dear 
 father's virtues. While he lived I dared not have 
 taken the fame ftep ; your pre fence would have 
 been too painful a teftimony againft me, and 
 continually reminded my lord of a weaknefs, 
 
 * which
 
 Mrs. S E L v Y N. 219 
 
 which I hope time had almoft effaced from his re- 
 membrance.' 
 
 Mifs Selvyn was extremely affected with the 
 perufal of this paper ; me was frequently inter- 
 rupted by her tears ; grieved to the heart to think 
 of how much uneafmefs me had been the caufe. 
 As foon as me had concluded it, me threw herfelf 
 on her knees at Lady Emilia's bed-fide, and taking 
 one of her hands, which (he bathed with her 
 tears, * Is it poffible then, faid me, that I have 
 
 * thus long been ignorant of the beft of parents ?' 
 6 And muft I lofe you when fo lately found ? Oh f 
 ' i'iy dear mother, how much pleafure have I loft 
 
 * by not knowing that t might call you by that 
 ' endearing name ! What an example of virtue 
 
 * have you fet me ! How noble your refolution ! 
 ' How uniform and conftant your penitence ! Bleft 
 
 * you muft be fupremely by him who loveth the 
 
 * contrite heart ; and you and my father I doubt 
 4 not will enjoy eternal felicity together, united 
 
 * never more to part. Oh ! may your afflicted 
 ' daughter be received into the fame place, and 
 partake of your happinefs ; may me behold your 
 4 piety rewarded, and admire in you the bleffed 
 
 * fruits of timely repentance ; a repentance fo inv 
 ' mediately fucceeding the offence, that your 
 ' foul could not have received the black im- 
 
 < preflion ! ' 
 
 ' Can you, who have never erred, faid Lady 
 
 * Emilia, fee my offence in fo fair a light ? What 
 ' mayl not then hope from infinite mercy? I do hope; 
 
 < it would be criminal to doubt, when fuch confo- 
 4 latory promifes appear in almoft every page or" 
 
 * holy writ. With pleafure I go where I am call- 
 c ed, for I leave my child fafe in the Divine Pro- 
 tetion, and her own virtue ; I leave her, I hope, 
 
 * to a happy life, and a far more happy death ; 
 
 L 2 * when
 
 220 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 when joys immortal will blefs her through all 
 eternity. I have now my love difcharged the 
 burden from my mind; not many hours of life 
 remain, let me not pafs them in carefling my 
 dear daughter, which, though molt pleafmg to my 
 fond heart, can end only in making me regret 
 the lofs of a world which will foon pafs from 
 my fight. Let me fpend this hour, as I hope to do 
 thofe that will fucceed it through all eternity. 
 Join with me in prayers to, and praifes of him, 
 in whom confifts all our lading happinefs." 
 Mifs Selvyn fent for the Minifter of the parifh, 
 at Lady Emelia's defire, and the remainder of her 
 life parted in religious exercifes. She expired with- 
 out a groan, in the mid ft of a fervent prayer, as 
 if her foul was impatient to take its flight into the 
 prefence of him, whom {he was addrefiing with fo 
 much ardour. 
 
 Mifs Selvyn's affliction was at firft extreme, but 
 when fhe reflected on her mother's well-fpent life, 
 and moft happy death, it much abated the excefs 
 of her grief. By that lady's will, fhe found herfelf 
 heir to twelve thoufand pounds, and all her perfo- 
 nal eftate. .She had been charmed with the account 
 Lady Mary Jones had fent her of this fociety, and 
 wiihed to increafe her acquaintance with that lady, 
 and therefore offered, if p.roper, to make her a fhort 
 vifit, as foon as her neceffary affairs were fettled. 
 This met with the moft welcome reception, arid 
 fhe came hither as a vifitor. Her flay was gradu~ 
 ally prolonged for near two months ; when having 
 reafon, from the great regard fhewn her, to think 
 lhe fhould be no difagreeable addition, fhe afked 
 leave to join her fortune to the common flock, and 
 to fix intirely with them. Nothing could be more 
 agreeable to the other three ladies than this offer, 
 and with extream fstisfadion lhe fettled 'here. 
 
 Upon
 
 Mrs. SELVYN. 221 
 
 Upon this incrcafe of income it was that my 
 friends eftablifhed the community of indigent 
 gentlewomen, which gave you fo much pleafure. 
 
 JLamont was much irruck with the condu6t of 
 Lady Emilia ; {he had fhewn, he faid, a degree of 
 delicacy and prudence, which exceeded what he 
 had a notion of; he never met with a woman wh<> 
 forefaw the little chance fhe had for happinefs, in 
 marrying a man who could have no inducement ' 
 to make her his wife, hut a nice, often a too nice, 
 ienle of honour ; and who certainly could have no 
 great opinion of her virtue. The folly of both 
 men and women in thef'e late unions was the fub- 
 jeft of our converfation till we feparated. 
 
 In the afternoon the ladies afked us to accompany 
 them to the houfe they had juft taken for the new 
 community, to which they were obliged to go that 
 day, as they had fet feveral perfons to work there. 
 They keep a poft -coach and poft-chaife, which 
 with the help of our's, were fufficient to accommo- 
 date us all. A fhort time brought us to the houfe, 
 a very old, and formerly a very fine manfion, but 
 now much fallen to decay. The outfide is greatly 
 out of repair, but the building feems ftrong. The 
 infide is in a manner totally unfurniftied; for though 
 it is not empty, yet the rats and mice have made 
 fuch confiderable depredations on what time had 
 before reduced to a very tattered condition, that the 
 melancholy remains can be reckoned little better 
 than lumber. 
 
 The laft inhabitant of this houfe we were in^- 
 formed was an old mifer, whofe paflion for accu- 
 mulating wealth, reduced him into almoft as un- 
 fortunate a ftate as Midas, who, according to the 
 fable, having obtained the long defired power of 
 turning every thing he touched to gold, was ftarv- 
 ed by the immediate tranfmutation of all food into 
 L 3 that
 
 222 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 that metal, the inflant it touched his lips. The 
 late poflefTor of the houfe I am fpeaking of, when 
 he was about fifty years old, turned away every 
 iervant but an old woman, who if fhe was not 
 honeft, was at leaft too weak to be able to put 
 any diOionefty in praftife. When he was about 
 threefcore, (he died, and he never could venture 
 to let any one fupply her place. He fortified every 
 tu>or and window with fuch bars of iron, that his 
 houfe might have refitted the forcible attack of a 
 whole army. Night and day growled before his 
 inhofpitable door a furious D.utch maftiff, whofe 
 r.atural ferocity was fo increafed by continual 
 hunger, for his mailer fed him moil fparingly, 
 that no ftranger could have entered the yard with 
 impunity. 
 
 Every time this churlifli beaft barked, the old 
 gemieman, with ferror and difmay in his counte- 
 nance, and quaking limbs, ran to the only win- 
 dow, he evtr ventured to unbar, to fee what dan- 
 ger threatened him ; nor could the fight of a bare- 
 foot child, or a decrepid old woman, immediately 
 difpel his fears. As timorous as Falftaff, his ima- 
 gination firft multiplied, and then cloathed them 
 in buckram ; and his panic ceafed not till they 
 were out of view. 
 
 This wretched man upon the death of his only 
 fervant, agreed with an old woman to buy food 
 for him, and bring it to the well defended door of 
 his yard ; where informing him of her arrival, by a 
 fignal agreed upon between them, he ventured otrt 
 of his houfe to receive it from her ; and drefied it 
 himfelf ; till worn out by anxiety of mind he grew 
 too weak to perform that office, and ordered fhe 
 woman to bring it ready prepared ; this continued 
 for a little time, till at kit he appeared no more at 
 
 his.
 
 Mrs. S E L v Y N. 223 
 
 his gate. After the old woman had knocked three 
 days in vain, the neighbourhood began to think it 
 neceffary to take forrre meafures thereupon ; but 
 not chufing to run the hazard of breaking open the 
 houfe, they fent to the old gentleman's nephew, 
 whofe father had been fuftered to languifh in ex- 
 treme poverty many years before his death ; nor 
 was the fon in much better condition ; but he had 
 acquainted fome of the neighbours with the place 
 of his abode, in hopes of the event which now in- 
 duced them to fend for him. 
 
 As foon as he arrived, he prepared to force his 
 way into the noufe, but it was found fo impracti- 
 cable, that at length they were obliged to untile 
 part of the roof, from whence a perfon defcended, 
 and opened the door to thofe who did not chufe fo 
 dangerous an entrance, as that through which he 
 had paffed. 
 
 They found the old man dead on a great cheft 
 which contained his money, as if he had been de- 
 firous to take porTeffion even in death. 
 
 His nephew wasjuft of age, and having till then 
 been expofed to all the evils of poverty, was al- 
 moft diflra&ed with joy at the fudden acquifition of 
 a large fortune. He fcarcely could be prevailed 
 with to ftay long enough in this houfe to pay the 
 Jaft duties to an uncle, who had no right to any 
 thing more from him than juft the decent ceremo- 
 nies ; and without giving himfelf time to look 
 over his eftate, haftened to London. 
 
 He hired a magnificent houfe in Grofvenor- 
 Square ; befpoke the moft elegant equipages ; 
 bought the fineft let of horfes he could hear of, 
 at double their real value ; and launched into every 
 expence the town afforded him. He foon became 
 ne ot the moft conitant frequenters of Whites ; 
 L 4 kept
 
 224 THI HISTORY OF 
 
 kept feveral running horfes ; diftinguifhed himfelf 
 at Newmarket, and had the honour of playing 
 tleepT, and betting with more fpirit, than any 
 other young man of his age. There was not an 
 occurrence in his life about which he had not iome 
 wa^:-T depending. The wind couM not change, 
 or a thower fall without his either loiing or gain- 
 in ' y it. Hs had not a dog or cat in his houfe on 
 life he had not bought or fold an annuity. 
 By thefe ingenious methods in one year was circu- 
 ; ated through the kingdom, the ready money which 
 his uncle had been half his life ftarving himfelf and 
 f..ni;ly to accumulate. The fecon-i year obliged 
 him ro mortgage great part of his land, and the 
 th iaw him reduced to fell a confiderabie portion 
 . ais eftate, of which this houfe, and the land 
 belonging to it made a part. 
 
 I ccuM not h?lp obferving the vari@u9 fate of 
 anfipn, originally the feat of ancient hofpi- 
 trJity ; then falling into the hands of a mifer, who 
 had not fpirit to enjoy it, or fenfe enough to fee, 
 that he y as impairing fo valuable a part of his pof- 
 fe.lons, by grudging the necefiary expences of rer 
 piirs ; from him devolving to a young coxcomb, 
 who by negledt let it fink into ruin, and was 
 Spending in extravagance, what he inherited from 
 avarice j as if one vice was to pay the debt to foci- 
 ety which the other had incurred ; and now it was, 
 purchafed to be the feat of charity and benevolence. 
 How direclly were we led to admire the fuperior 
 fenfe, a? well as tranfcendent virtue of thefe ladies, 
 when we compared the ufe they made of money, 
 with that to which the two late pofleilbrs had ap- 
 propriat.d it ! While we were in doubt which 
 mod to blame, he who had heaped it up without 
 comfort, in fordid inhumanity ; or he who fquan- 
 flered it in the gratification of gayer vices. "Equal- 
 ly
 
 Mrs. S E L v y N. 225 
 
 ly Grangers to beneficence, felf-indulgence was 
 their fole view ; alike criminal, though not equally 
 unfafhionable, one .endeavoured to ftarve, the 
 other to corrupt mankind ; while the new owners 
 of this houfe had no other view, than to conveni- 
 ence, and to reform all who came within their influ- 
 ence, themfelves enjoying in a fupreme degree, the 
 happinefs they difperfed around them. 
 
 It was pleating to fee numbers at work to repair 
 the building, and cultivate the garden, and to ob- 
 fcrve, that at length from this inhofpitable manfion 
 " Health to himfelf, and to his children bread, the 
 " labourer bears." Within it were all the biggeft 
 fchool girls, with one of their miitrefles to dirccT: 
 them in mending fuch furniture as were not quite 
 deftroyed ; and I was pleafed to fee with how 
 much art they repaired the decays of time, in 
 things which well deferved better care, having 
 once been the richeft part of the furniture belong- 
 ing to the opulent pofleflbrs. 
 
 In our way home we called at a clergyman's 
 houfe, which was placed in the fineit fituation 
 imaginable, and where we beheld that profufion 
 of comforts, which fenfe and ceconomy will, ena- 
 ble the pofleflbrs of narrow fortunes to enjoy. 
 This gentleman and his wife have but a fmall 
 living, and ftill lefs paternal efvate'; but the neat- 
 nefs, prettinefs, and convenience of thefr habifa- 
 tion, were enough to put one out of humour with 
 riches, and I Ihould certainly have breathed forth 
 Agar's prayer with great ardour, if I had not been 
 flopped in the beginning, by confidering how great 
 a bleffing wealth may be when properly employ- 
 ed, of which I had then fuch hourly proof. 
 
 At our return to Millenium-Hall we found 
 
 feme of the neighbouring fociety, who were come 
 
 to ftiare the evening's concert, and fup with us, 
 
 L 5 But
 
 226 THE HISTORY, &c. 
 
 But at teft o'clock they departed ; which I under- 
 ftood was fomewhat later than ufual, but they con- 
 formed to the alteration of hours our arrival had 
 occafioned. 
 
 The next day being very hot, we were afked to 
 breakfaft in a delightful arbour in the Flower gar- 
 den. The morning dew, which ftill refreshed the 
 flowers, increafed their fragrance to as great an 
 excefs of fweetnefs as the fenfes could fupport. 
 Till I went to this houfe, I knew not half the 
 charms of the country. Few people have the art 
 of making the moft of nature's bounty ; thefe la- 
 dies are epicures in rural pleafures, and enjoy them 
 in the utmoft excefs to which they can be carried. 
 All that romance ever reprefented in the plains of 
 Arcadta, are much inferior to the charms of Mille- 
 hium-Hal), except the want of fhepherds be judg- 
 ed a deficiency, that nothing elfe can compen- 
 fate ; there indeed they fall fhort of what roman- 
 tic writers reprefent, and have formed a female 
 Arcadia. 
 
 After breakfaft all the ladies left us except Mrs. 
 Maynard. We were fo charmed with the fpot we 
 were in, ihafc we agreed to remain there, and I 
 calfed on my coufm to continue the tafk fhe had 
 undertaken j which ihe did in the following 
 manner. 
 
 Tbe
 
 [ "7 1 
 
 THE 
 
 HISTORY 
 
 O F 
 
 Mrs. TRENTHAM. 
 
 "jV/f RS. Trentham never knew the blefling of a 
 * * mother's care, her's died the fame month 
 which gave her daughter birth ; and Mr. Trent- 
 ham furvived his wife but eight years. He left his 
 little girl. eleven thoufand pounds, recommending; 
 both her perfon and fortune to his Mother Mrs. 
 Alworth. 
 
 Mrs. Alworth was an old 3ady of good fenfe and 
 merit. She had felt the moft melancholy, but not 
 unufual effect of long life, having outlived all her 
 children. This misfortune {he alleviated in the 
 beft manner Ihe was able, by receiving hex grand- 
 children into her family. Her fon by her fecond 
 hufband left behind him a boy arid girl, the for- 
 mer at the time I fpeak of, about eleven years old, 
 the latter ten. Her daughter had married Mr. 
 Denham, and at her death left two girls. Mr. 
 Denham entering into wedlock a fecond time, 
 L 6 very
 
 228 THE HISTORY o* 
 
 very willingly complied with Mrs. Alworth's defire 
 of having his two slaughters. The eldeft of thefe 
 was twelve years old, the youngert eleven. 
 
 Thefe children had lived with the old lady fome 
 years, when (he took home Harriot Trentham. 
 As their grand-mother was rich, there had been 
 a ftrong contention among- them for her favour, 
 and they could not without great difguft fee an- 
 other rival brought to the houfe. Harriot was ex- 
 tremely handfome and engaging. The natural 
 iweetnefs of her temper rendered her complying 
 and obfervant ; but having been bred under the 
 care of a fenfible and indulgent father, (he had 
 never been taught the little arts of behaviour, 
 which mothers too commonly inculcate with fo 
 much care, that children are as void of fimplicity 
 at eight, as at eight and tweir.y years eld. The 
 firft thing a girl is taught is to hide her fentiments, 
 to contradict the thoughts of her heart, and tell 
 all the civil lies which cuftom has fan&ified, with 
 as much affectation and conceit as her mother; and 
 when fhe has acquired all the folly and impertinence 
 of a riper age, and apes the woman more un- 
 gracefully than a monkey does a fine gentleman, 
 the parents congratulate themfelves with the ex- 
 tremeft complacency, on the charming education 
 ihey have given their daughter. 
 
 Harriot had been taught no fuch leflbns. Her 
 Father had a ftrong didike to prematurity, and 
 feared that communication with the world would 
 too foon teach her art and difguife, the laft things 
 he would have chofen to anticipate. 
 
 By teaching her humanity, he initiated her into 
 civility of manners. She had learnt, that to give 
 pain was immoral ; and could no more have borne 
 to have (hocked any perfon's mind, than to have 
 racked mY body. Any thought therefore that 
 
 coukJ
 
 Mrs. T R E N T H A M. 229 
 
 could hurt fhe fupprefTed as an indifpenfable duty, 
 and to pleafe by her actions, and not offend by her 
 words, was an efiential part of the religion in 
 which fhe was educated : but in every thing 
 whereby no one could fuffer, (he was innocence 
 and fimplicity itfeif ; and in her nature (hone pure 
 and uncorrupted, either by naiural or acquired 
 vices. 
 
 Mrs. Alworth, though fond of all her grand- 
 children, could not conquer a degree of partiality 
 for Harriot, vvhofe attractions, both perfonal and 
 mental, were very fuperior to thofe of her coufins. 
 Her beauty fecured her the particular attention of 
 all Grangers, fhe 'gained their favour at firfr. fie;ht, 
 and fecured it by her amiable difpofition when they 
 became more acquainted with her. 
 
 Envy is one of the firft paffions that appears in 
 the human mind. Had Mifs Alworth and Mifs 
 Denhams been much younger, Harriot would not 
 have pafled unenvied. Every day increafed their 
 diflike to her, as fhe grew daily more beloved by 
 others, and they let no opportunity efcape of mak- 
 ing her feel the effects of their little malice. Their 
 hatredtoher produced an union among themfelves; 
 for the firil time they found fomething in which they 
 all agreed. They were continually laying little 
 plots to lefTen her in their grand-mother's opinion j 
 frequent were the accufations again ft her, but her 
 innocence always triumphed, though it never dif- 
 couraged them from repeating the fame unfuccefs- 
 ful attempts. Mrs. Alworth was txtremely fond 
 of them all, but yet fhe faw through their malice, 
 and their behaviour only ferved to endear Harriot 
 the more, who defended herfelf without anger, and 
 retained no rancour in her mind. Free from re- 
 fcntment or fufpicion fhe was ever open to their 
 arts, and experience did not teach her to be on her 
 
 guard
 
 230 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 guard againft them, which often occafioned their 
 having appearances on their fide, and might have 
 raifed prejudices againft her in Mrs. Alworth's 
 mind, had {he not found a defender in M after Al- 
 vvorth, who alone of all her coufins was free from 
 envy. He was naturally of an honeft and fweet 
 difpofition, and being fond of Harriot, for beauty 
 has charms for all ages, felt great indignation at the 
 treatment {he received, and would often exprefs a 
 refentment from which flie was wholly free. 
 
 Mrs. Alworth's great fondnefs for her grandfon, 
 and ftrong prejudices againft fchools, from a belief 
 that boys acquire there more vice than learning, 
 had determined on a private education. She there- 
 fore provided a tutor for him before he was feven 
 years old ; a man of learning and fenfe, with a 
 great deal of religion and good humour ; and who 
 was very attentive to the employment for which he 
 had been chofen. 
 
 Mafter Aiworth, by being thus kept at home, had 
 frequent opportunities of obferving the malice of 
 his fifter and Mifs Denham againft Harriot, and 
 never failed expofing their practices to his grand- 
 mother; who from thence learnt to fufpcct their 
 reports about things which paffed in his abfence, 
 and confequently could not be cleared up by him, 
 His fondnefs for Harriot foon made him beloved by 
 her, and as {he found little pleafure in the fociety 
 of her other coufins, {he fought his company, but 
 as he was much engaged by his ftudies, ihe feldom 
 found him at kiiure to play. The tutor greatly 
 delighted with her, tried to awaken in her mind a 
 iefire of improvement, and found it an eafy tafk ; 
 fhe was inclined to learn, and capable, of doing it 
 with great quicknefs. Mrs. Aiworth readily en- 
 tered into the good man's views, and was pleafcd 
 with the eagernefs of Harriot's application. Mafter 
 
 Aiworth
 
 Mrs. TRENTHAM. 231 
 
 Alworth was far enough advanced in learning to 
 aflift his favourite, and from him flie received in- 
 ftruction with double pleafure, and more eafily com- 
 prehended his explanations than thofe of their tu- 
 tor, who found it difficult to divert himfelf fuffici- 
 ently of fcientific terms, which greatly retard the 
 increafe of knowlege in a youthful mind. 
 
 Thus beloved by her grand- mother and Mr. 
 Alworth, and hated and traduced by her female 
 coufins, Harriot lived till fhe was fixteen. Years 
 had ftill improved her perfon, and ihe had made 
 considerable progrefs in learning, when Mrs. Al- 
 worth judged it proper that hergrandfon fhould go 
 abroad, to compleat an education which fhe flat- 
 tered herfelf was hitherto faultlefc. He had no ob- 
 jcftion to the fcheme but what arofe from his un- 
 willingnefs to leave Harriot, who faw his departure 
 approach with great concern. She loved and re- 
 fpe&ed her grand-mother, but Mr. Alworth was 
 the only perfon whom fne could look upon in the 
 tender and equal light of a friend. To be depri- 
 ved of his fociety was lofing the chief pleafure of 
 her life, and her beft guardian againfl her ene- 
 mies. 
 
 Mrs. Alworth was pleafed with the affe&ion 
 which fo evidently appeared between thefe two 
 young people, fhe hoped to fee an happy union 
 arife from it. Their fortunes and ages were pro- 
 perly fuited, and a love which had taken root in 
 childhood, and grown with their encreafing years, 
 feemed to promife a lafting harmony, of which the 
 fweetnefs of their difpofitions would be no bad fe- 
 curity. Thefe pleafing ideas amufed this worthy 
 woman, but the two friends themfelves had not ex- 
 tended their views fo far. Bred up like brother and 
 iifter, a tenderer degree of relation had not enter- 
 ed
 
 232 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 ed their thoughts, nor did any thing more appear 
 neceffary to their happinefs, than a couftant enjoy- 
 ment of each others friendship. 
 
 In this difpofition they parted when Mr. Al- 
 worth went abroad. His tutor thinking himfelf 
 not properly qualified to conduct him in his tra- 
 vels, recommended another gentleman, and Mr. 
 Alworth, at Harriot's requeft,. prevailed with their 
 grandmother to detain his old tutor till Harriot's 
 education was compleated. 
 
 Mr. Alworth continued abroad two years, during 
 which time Harriot had applied with fuch unweari- 
 ed diligence, that fhe was perfect mhtrefs of the 
 living languages, and no lefs acquainted with 
 Greek and Latin. She was well inftrucled in the 
 ancient and modern philofophy 3 and in almoft 
 every branch of learning. 
 
 Mr. AKvorth found his coufin not alone im- 
 proved in urtderftandirig, her beauty was juft then 
 ' in its perfection, and it was fcarcely poffible to 
 conceive any thing handfomer. She had great ele- 
 gance of manner, a point wherein her grand-mo- 
 ther excelled, and was as far removed from conceit 
 as from ignorance. Her fituation was much mend- 
 ed by the .marriage of the eldeft Mifs Denham ; 
 and Mifs Alworth waited only for her brother's ar- 
 rival and approbation, to enter into the fame ftate. 
 The gentleman to whom {be was going to be 
 married had firlt made his addrefies to Harriot ; 
 but, as well as feveral others, was refufed by her. 
 She was not inclined to change her fituation, or 
 this gentleman's fortune, perfon, and character 
 were unexceptionable; however one circumftance 
 without any other objection would have been fuin- 
 cient to have rendered his fuit unfuccefsful ; fh 
 perceived that Mifs Alworth was in love with 
 
 him,
 
 Mrs, TR'ENTHAM. 233 
 
 him, nd though (he had little reafon to have much 
 regard for her, yet good nature made her anxious 
 for the fuccefs of a paSon which (he faw was deep- 
 ly rooted. 
 
 She therefore, while fhedifcouraged his addrefles, 
 took every means of recommending Mifs Alworth, 
 whofe treatment of her me believed rather pro- 
 ceeded from compliance with Mifs Denham's than 
 from 511 temper. 
 
 This gave her hopes that fhe might make a good 
 wife to Mr. Parnel, the object of her affections. 
 He foon perceived, that Mifs Alworth did not be- 
 hold him with indifference ; but as he was much 
 captivated by Harriot's charms, it at firft had no 
 other effect, than leading him to indulge in com- 
 plaints of her cruelty to Mifs Alworth, who liften- 
 ed with compaffion. Harriot often reprefented to 
 him how little he ought to wifh for her confent to 
 marry him, which he fo flrongly follicited ; for 
 fhould ihe grant it, he would be miferable with a 
 wife who did not love him. She told him, that 
 were he indifferent, her being fo might do very 
 well, and they live on together in that eternal 
 ennui) which muft ever fubfift between a married 
 couple who have no affection for each other, and 
 while natural good temper and prudence enabled 
 them to dream away a dull life in peace and dead 
 infenfibility, the world might call them happy j 
 but that if he really loved her, her indifference 
 would render him more wretched than the molt 
 blameable conducV She would then reprefent the 
 advantages of marrying a woman whofe fole affec- 
 tions he poffefied, though at firft he felt for her 
 only efteem and gratitude ; and advifed him by all 
 means to feek for one whofe heart was in that fitu- 
 ation, which he was well qualified to find. 
 
 Thou-gh
 
 234 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 Though Harriot forbore to mention Mifs Al- 
 Worth's name, Mr. Parncl well underftood to 
 whom {he alluded, but found it difficult to take her 
 advice." At length however, deprived of all hope 
 of obtaining the woman he loved, and moved to 
 compaffiou by the vifible unhappinefs of one who 
 loved him, he began to IHten to it, and frankly 
 told Harriot, that he underftood the aim of \vhat 
 fhe had faid. She was not forry to throw off all 
 reftraint, as it gave her the power of fpeaking more 
 to the purpofe ; and at length brought him to fay, 
 that he fhould not be unwilling to marry her. Har- 
 riot feared left the belief of Mr. Parnel's itill retain- 
 ing an affection for her, might render Mifs Alworth 
 uneafy, and therefore advifed him gradually to flack- 
 en his addrefles to her, and at the fame time to in- 
 creafe in proportion his attentions for Mifs Alworth, 
 that he might appear to prefer her, fince a fymptom 
 of inconftancy me knew would not fo much affeft 
 her as any ftgn of indifference, and Harriot's genero- 
 fity fo far exceeded her vanity, that (he very fincere- 
 ly defired to be thought neglected, rather than give 
 any alloy to the happinefs of her coufm. 
 
 There was the more colour for this fuppofition, 
 as Mr. Parnel had never been publicly difcarded by 
 her, fmce for the completion of her views fhe had 
 found it necefiary to preferve his acquaintance. 
 
 Mifs Alworth was happy beyond expreflion when 
 fhe found herfelf the object of Mr. Parnel's addrefs- 
 es. Her wifhes fo far blinded her, that fhe really 
 believed Harriot was neglected for her j but yet 
 knew fhe had long been endeavouring to ferve her, 
 and was obliged to her for fome inftru&ions how 
 to behave fo to Mr. Parnel as to fecure his efteem 
 and confidence, the beft foundation for love. As 
 her brother was then foon expeted over, Mrs. Al- 
 worth
 
 Mrs. TRENTHAM. . 235 
 worth thought that to wait for his approbation was 
 but a proper compliment. 
 
 Mr. Alworth was not at all inclined to obje& to 
 fo good a match, efpecially as it was much defired 
 by his filter, and the marriage was celebrated foon 
 after his return. This ceremony did not fo engage 
 his attention, as to render him lefs fenfible of the 
 pleafure of renewing his friendship with Harriot, 
 who received him with the fmcereft joy. He found 
 her greatly improved, and every hour pafTed agree- 
 ably that was fpent in her company. They were 
 continually together, and never happy but when 
 they were fo. Every one talked of their mutual 
 paifion ; and they were fo often told of it that they 
 began to fancy it was true, but were furprized to 
 find that name fhould be given to an affection calm 
 and rational as theirs, totally free from that turbu- 
 lency and wildnefs, which had always appeared to 
 them the true chara&erjftics of love. They were 
 fenfible however, that nothing was fo dear to them 
 as each other, they were always forry to part, un- 
 cafy afunder, and rejoiced to meet ; a walk was 
 doubly pleafmg when they both fhared it ; a book 
 became more entertaining if they read together ; 
 every thing was infipid that they did not mutually 
 enjoy. When they confidered thefe fymptoms, 
 they were inclined to think the general opinion 
 was juft, and that their affection, being free from 
 paflion, proceeded from fome peculiarity of tem- 
 per. 
 
 Mrs. Alworth thought fbe (hould give them great 
 fatisfaftion in propofing a fpeedy marriage ; and 
 rejoiced to fee the firft wim of her heart, which had 
 been for their union, fo nearly compleated. The 
 old lady's propofal made them a little thoughtful ; 
 they faw no very good reafon for their marrying ; 
 
 they
 
 236 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 they enjoy eu each others fociety already, and did 
 not wifh for any more intimate tie. But neither 
 knew how to refufe, fmce the other might take it 
 for an affront, and they would not for the world 
 have had the fmcerity and tendernefs of their af- 
 fection brought into doubt. Befides they began to 
 think, that as their love was fo generally looked 
 upon as certain, it might become difficult to con- 
 tinue the fame degree of intimacy without expofing 
 themfefves to.cenfure. This thought was fufficient 
 to determine them to marry ; and their entire af- 
 feflion for, and confidence in each other, convin- 
 ced them they ran no hazard in this ftep ; and that 
 they could not fail of being happy as man and wife, 
 who had fo long enjoyed great felicity in the moft 
 intimate friendship. 
 
 In confequence of this refolution, lawyers were 
 employed to draw up fettlements, and every thing 
 requifite for a proper appearance on their marriage 
 was ordered ; but they were fo very patient on the 
 (ubjecl, that the preparations went on flowly. Some 
 who hoped to have their diligence quickened, in a 
 manner ufual on fuch occahons, affected delays, 
 but were furprized to find that no complaint en- 
 fued. They grew ftill more dilatory, but the only 
 confequence that arofe from it was a decent feli- 
 citation to difpatch, without any of thofe more ef- 
 fectual means being ufed, which impatient love or 
 greedy avarice fuggeft. 
 
 Thefe young people were perfectly happy .and 
 contented, and therefore waited with compofure 
 for the conchifion of preparations, which however 
 ilowly did howev r proceed. The old lady indeed 
 was lefs patient, but a grandmother's follicitations 
 have no very powerful effect on lawyers ; therefore 
 her's availed little. 
 
 During
 
 Mrs. TRENTHAM. 237 
 
 During thefe delays Mrs. Tonflon, formerly the 
 elded MifsDenham, having been extremely ill, was 
 fcnt to Buxton for the recovery of her health. As 
 this place was but a day's journey from Mrs. Al- 
 worth shoufe,{he exprefled a defire to fee her grand- 
 daughter, and iV'Jr. Al worth and Harriot, as well 
 as A'lifs Denham, very readily accompanied her 
 thither. 
 
 The accommodations at Buxton allow very lit- 
 tle feclufion ; and as Mrs. Tonlton was fufficiently 
 recovered to conform to the cuftoms of the place, 
 they joined in the general focicty. The ftrftday at 
 dinner Mr. A I worth's attention was much engrolTed 
 by Mifs Melman, a very pretty woman. She 
 was far from a perfect beauty, but her countenance 
 exprefied an engaging vivacity, and great good hu- 
 mour, though a wandering unfixed look, indicated 
 a light and unfteady mind. Her perfon was little 
 but elegant ; there was a fprightlinefs in her whole 
 figure which was very attractive : her converfation 
 was fuitable to it, (he had great life and fpirit, all 
 the common rontlne of difcourfe, and a fafhion- 
 able readinefs to (kirn lightly over all fubjecls. Her 
 underftanding was fufficiently circumfcribed ; tut 
 what (he wanted in real icn'e, fiie made up in viva- 
 city, no unfuccefsful fubftitute irv general eftima- 
 tion. 
 
 This young lady was almoft a new character to 
 Mr. Al worth. He had lived conftantly at his 
 grand-mother's till he went abroad, and as foon as 
 he returned into the kingdom he went thither ; 
 from which, as it was the middle of fummer, and 
 confequently London had no temptations, he had 
 never ftirred. He therefore had been little ufed to 
 any woman but his fober and fenfible grand-mother's 
 two coufins who were pretty enough, but had no 
 great charms of underftanding ; a filter rather filly, 
 
 and
 
 238 THE HISTORYOF 
 
 and the incomparable Harriot, whofe wit was as 
 found as her judgment folid and fterling, free 
 from affectation, and all little effeminate arts and 
 airs. Reafon governed her thoughts and actions, 
 nor could the greateil flow of fpirits make aer for 
 a moment forget propriety. Every thing in her 
 was natural grace, {he was always confident and 
 uniform, and a ftranger to caprice. 
 
 Mifs Milman was a compleat coquet, capricious 
 and fantaftical. As Mr. Alworth was the prettieft 
 man at the place, and known to have a good for- 
 tune, (he foon fingled him out as a conqueft wor- 
 thy of her, and fuccefsfully played off all her arts. 
 By appearing to like him, (he inticed him to ad- 
 drefs her , and by a well managed capricioufnefs 
 of behaviour kept up the fpirit of a purfuit. She 
 frequently gave him reafon to believe her favoura- 
 bly diipofed towards him, and as often, by obliging 
 him to doubt of it, encreafed his defire to be cer- 
 tain it was true. She kept him in a ftate of con- 
 flant anxiety, and made him know her confequcnce 
 by the continual tranfition from pleafure to pain in 
 which he lived. 
 
 He had not been much more than a fortnight at 
 Buxton, when his attachment to MifsMelman be- 
 came very apparent. Harriot faw an afliduity in 
 hfs behaviour very different from what he had ever 
 (hewn to her. He felt that in the circumftances 
 wherein he and Harriot then were, his conduit 
 muft appear injurious, and fhame and the fecret 
 reproaches of his confcier.ce made him take all pof- 
 fible opportunities of avoiding her preience : if he 
 was obliged to converfe with her, it was with au 
 air fo reftrained and inattentive, as made her fear 
 his regard for her was entirely vanifhed. The fin- 
 cere attention fhe had for him rendered this appre- 
 
 ' henfi,on
 
 Mrs. T R E N T H A M. 239 
 
 heniion extremely painful. She would have been 
 Contented to have feen another woman his wife, but 
 could not bear the thought of lofing his friendfhip. 
 At firft fire paffed over this change in filence, and. 
 appeared even not to obferve it ; but when they 
 received an account that the marriage writings 
 were finifhed, fhe thought an affected blindnefs 
 highly unfeafonable, and told him, in the moft 
 friendly and generous manner, that, ' nothing re- 
 
 * mained to be done but to cancel them, that, 
 4 fhe plainly perceived another had obtained the 
 4 heart fhe never poffeffed; that, the meafures taken 
 4 for their marriage were of no fort of confequence, 
 ' and fhe flattered herfelf fhe might retain his 
 
 * friendfhip, though he gave his hand to ano- 
 ' ther.' 
 
 Mr. Alworth at firft appeared confounded, but 
 recovering himfelf, confefied to her frankly, < he 
 4 never knew the weaknefs and folly of the human 
 4 heart, till his own convinced him of it; that, 
 he had always felt for her the moft perfect efteem, 
 
 < joined w r ith the tendereft affection ; but his paf-' 
 
 * fions had had no fhare in his attachment. On 
 
 < the contrary, he found them ftron^ly engaged 
 ' on the fide of Mifs Melman, and felt an ardour 
 4 for her which he had never before experienced. 
 4 That, he could not think of being her hufband 
 4 without rapture, though he faw plainly fhe was 
 4 inferior to his Harriot both in beauty and under- 
 
 * ftanding ; and as for her principles, he was to- 
 4 tally ignorant of them. He now, he faid, per- 
 4 ceived the difference between friendfhip and love, 
 4 and was convinced, that efteem and paflion were 
 4 totally independant, fince fhe entirely poffefled 
 4 the one, while Mifs Melman totally engroffed 
 the other.' 
 
 Haruot
 
 240 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 Harriot was pleafed with the franknefs of Mr. 
 .Alworth's confeffion, and wiflied only to be fee u re 
 of his efteern, but fhe faw him fo wholly taken up 
 with Mifs Melman, that fhe was convinced paffion 
 had greater power over his fex than efteem, and 
 that while his mind was under the tumultuous in- 
 fluence of love, {he muft expect very little fatis- 
 fation from his friendfhip. 
 
 She took upon herfelf the talk of breaking off 
 their treaty of marriage, and acquainted her grand- 
 mother with her refolution, who faw too plainly 
 the reafon for her doing fo to blame her conduct, 
 though fhe grieved at the neceflity for it, and 
 could not fincerely forgive her grandfon's levity 
 and want of judgment, in preferring a wild fan- 
 taftic girJ, to the extreme beauty, and folid well- 
 known merit of Harriot, an error for which fhe 
 prophetically faw he would in time be feverely 
 punifhed. 
 
 Harriot, from the intended bride, now became 
 the confidant of Mr. Alworth, though with an 
 aching heart; for fhe feared that after experiencing 
 the more adive fenfations of a ftrong paffion, 
 friendfhip would appear too infipid to have any 
 charms for him. bhe accompanied Mrs. Alworth 
 home before the lovers chofe to leave Buxton, but 
 not till fhe had prevailed with her grandmother to 
 confent to the marriage between Mifs Mehnan and 
 Mr. Alworth fhould be celebrated at her houfc. 
 
 When every thing requifite for the ceremony 
 was ready, they came to Mrs. Al worth's, where 
 the indiflbluble knot was tied, and in the bride- 
 oroom's opinion the moll perfect happinefs fecured 
 to his future years. They tfaid but a few days af- 
 ter the marriage, and then went to her father's 
 houfe, till the approaching winter called them to 
 London. 
 
 Harriot
 
 Mrs. T R E N T tt A M. 241 
 
 Harriot found a great lofe of a friend flic fo fm- 
 cerely loved, but fhe hoped he would be as happy 
 as he expected, and had the fatisfadtion of be- 
 lieving he retained a tender regard for her. They 
 correlponded frequently ; and his letters aflured 
 her of his felicity. After he had been fome time 
 fixed in London, he grew indeed lefs eloquent on. 
 the fubjedl, which did not furprize her, as the va- 
 riety of his engagements fhortened his letters, and 
 denied him leifure to expatiate on the molr. pleafmg 
 topics. 
 
 Mifs Denham had accompanied her fifter home, 
 and in the winter Mrs. Alworth was informed by 
 Mrs. Tonfton, that Mifs Denham had received a 
 propofal from a gentleman of a good eftate, but 
 he infiited on a fortune of nine thoufand pounds, 
 which was two more than fhe was poflefled of; and 
 as they wifhed the old lady to make that addition, 
 Mrs. Tonfton as an inducement added, that the 
 gentleman was extremely agreeable to her filter. 
 
 Mrs. Alworth was not inclined to comply with 
 their views, and made no other anfwer to all 
 Harriot urged to prevail with her to give the re- 
 quifite fum, than that it was more than perhaps 
 would at her death fall to Mifs Denhanvs (hare, 
 and {he faw no temptation to purchafe fo merce- 
 nary a man. When Harriot found that all fhe 
 could fay was unavailing, fhe told Mrs. Alworth, 
 that, ' if (he would give her leave, fhe was deter- 
 mined to make the required audition out of her 
 fortune ; for fhe could not bear her ccufm fhould 
 be difappointed in a particular (he thought eften- 
 tial to her hsppin-efs,, by the want of a fum of 
 money which ihx could very well ipare ; adding, 
 that the treatment ihe had. receive; 1 from her 
 coufins, flie attributed to childiflirrefs and 
 
 Ivi and
 
 2 .1 2 T I! E II I S T O R Y O F 
 
 ind fhouH be far worfe than they were, if (he 
 
 ' could remember it with refentment.' 
 
 Mrs. Alworth was greatly touched with this in- 
 fbnce of Harriot's generofity, and finding that no- 
 thing but the exertion of her authority, which her 
 grand-daughter acknowleged abfolute, and always 
 obeyed implicity, could prevent her from perform- 
 ing her purpofe ; (lie determined to take the moft 
 effectual means of hindering it, by advancing the 
 money herfelf, and invited Mifs Denham and her 
 lover to her houfe ; where the marriage was per- 
 formed, and they departed. 
 
 Mrs. Alworth began to feel the infirmities of 
 age, and now that ihe and Harriot were left to 
 continual iete a t'cte, abfolute quiet might have de- 
 generated into fomething like dullnefs ; but the 
 difturbance they found not at home, reached them 
 from abroad. Mr. Parnel was wearied with his 
 wife's fondnefs, who not confidering that he had 
 married her more out of gratitude than affection, 
 had difgufted him with the continual profeffions of 
 a love, to which his heart would not make an equal 
 return. This fondnefs teazed a temper, naturally 
 good, into peevifhnefs, and was near converting in- 
 difference into diflike. Mrs. Parnel diflrefled be- 
 yond meafure at an effecl: fo contrary to what 
 (he intended, reproached him with ingratitude, 
 and tormented him with tears and complaints. 
 
 Harriot, who confidered this match as in a great 
 meafure her own work, was particularly defirous 
 of redrefllng thefe grievances, and took great pains 
 to perfuade Mrs. Parnel to reftrain her fondnefs, 
 and fupprefs her complaints, while ihe endeavour- 
 ed to make her hufband fenfible, that he ought, in 
 confideration for the caufe, to pardon thetiouble- 
 fome effe&s, and not to fuffer himfdf. to be dif- 
 
 gufted
 
 Mrs. TRENTHAM. 243 
 
 gulled by that affection in his wife, which to moft 
 hufbands would appear a merit. Mrs. Alworth 
 joined to Harriot's perfuafion, the influence her age 
 and refpec~table character gave her, and though 
 not without great difficulty, they at laft faw Mr. and 
 Mrs. Parnel live in peace and amity, without any 
 of the pleafures arifing from ftrong and delicate 
 affections, or the fufFerings occafioned by ill hu- 
 mour and hatred ; and whatever void they might 
 find in their hearts, they v/ere fo happy as to have 
 well filled by two very fine children, which Mrs. 
 Parnel brought her hufband ; who always treated 
 her with great indulgence, in hopes of fixing Har- 
 riot's good opinion ; for though defpair had damp- 
 ed his pafllon, yet he fr.il! loved her with the ten- 
 dereft refpecl and reverence. 
 
 Towards the latter end of the fecond year of 
 Mr. Alworth's marriage, his grand-mother died, 
 much regretted by Harriot, whom me left miftrefs 
 of her own fortune, with the addition of four 
 thoufand pounds, part of it the accumulated in- 
 tereft of her paternal inheritance, the reft Mrs. 
 Alworth's legacy. Her grandfon fucceeded to her 
 houfe, and intreated Harriot, that he might find 
 her there when he came to take pofieflion. 
 
 Their correfpondence had been regular, "but 
 they had never met fince his mariage. Mrs. Al- 
 worth was not fond of the converfation of an old 
 lady ; and from feeing herfelf not very agreeable 
 to her grandmother, felt an uncommon awe in her 
 prefence. Harriot had received repeated invitati- 
 ons from them, but could not be prevailed with to 
 leave old Mrs. Alworth, who had no other com- 
 panion. 
 
 M2 The
 
 244 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 The only relief file found in her affliction for 
 the lofs of fo worthy a parent, was putting the 
 houfe, and all belonging to it, in order, for the re- 
 ception of her firft friend, in whole focieiy {he ex- 
 pected to renew the happinefs (he had fo long en- 
 joyed from it. Nor was fhe difappointed in hei* 
 hopes of finding him ftill her friend j they met 
 with mutual joy, and Mrs. Alworth feemed at 
 firir. as much pleafed with her new pofleffion, as 
 they were with each other. But Harriot foon 
 found her happinefs confiderably damped. Mr. 
 Al.vorth, unwilling to let his grandmother know 
 the ill fuccefs of an union which he was fenfible 
 fhe difapproved, had been filenton that fubjecl in his 
 letters, but he was too well acquainted with the 
 generofity of Harriot's temper, to fear fhe would 
 triumph at the natural confequence of his ill- 
 grounded paflion, and therefore concealed not 
 from her any part of the uneafmefs which his 
 wife's difpofition gave him. He too late faw the 
 difference between fenfible vivacity and animal 
 fpirits, and found Mrs. Alworth a giddy coquet, 
 too volatile, to think, too vain to love; pleafed 
 with admiration, infenfibie to affe&ion, fond of 
 flattery, but indifferent to true praife ; imprudent- 
 ly vivacious in mixed companies, lifelefs when 
 alone with him ; anddefirous of charming all man- 
 kind except her huiband, who of his whole fex 
 i'eemed the only perfon of no confequence to her. 
 As her view was to captivate in public, fhe co- 
 vered a very pretty complexion with pearl-powder 
 and rouge, becaufe they made her more refplen- 
 dent by candle-lij?ht, and in public places. Mr. 
 Alworth had in ftrong terms expreffed his abhor- 
 ence of that pradtice ; but, * fhe was furprized 
 * he fhould intermeddle in an affair that was no 
 
 < bufinefs
 
 Mrs. TRENTHAM. 245 
 4 bufmefs of his, furely {he might wear what com- 
 * plcxion file pleafed.' The natural turn of his 
 temper inclined him to rational fociety, but in that 
 his wife could bear no part* The little time fhe 
 w-as at home was employed in drefling, and a 
 fnultitude of coxcombs attended her toilet. Mr. 
 ft 1 worth's extreme fondneis for her made him at 
 firft very wretched j he foon found himfelf the moil 
 disregarded of all mankind, and every man ap- 
 peared his rival ; but on nearer observation he. per- 
 ceived his jealoufy was groundleis, and that fhe 
 was too giddy to love any thing. This made his 
 pride eafy. but his tenderncfs fh'll had much to 
 endure, till at length contempt produced fome de- 
 gree of indifference, and his iufferings became lei's 
 acute, though he lived in continual grief, at find- 
 ing himfelf disappointed of ail his airy hopes of 
 happinefs. 
 
 Harriot was fcarcely lefs afflicted than himfelf, 
 fhe endeavoured to render him more contented 
 with his fituation, and attempted to teach Mrs. 
 Aiworth to think, but in both was equally un- 
 fuccefsful. However this was not all fhe had to 
 endure. When Mr. Aiworth began with unpre- 
 judiced eyes to compare her he had loft, with the 
 woman- for whom he relinquifhed her; when ha 
 fa\v how greatly Harriot's natural beauty eclipfed 
 JVlrs. Alworth's, notwithflanding the addition of 
 all her borrowed charms, he wondered what ma- 
 gic had blinded him to her fuperiority. But when 
 he drew a comparifon between the admirable uri- 
 der^ianding of the one, her great fund of know- 
 lege, the inexhauftible variety in her conveifation, 
 with the infipid dulnefs, or unmeaning vivacity of 
 the other, he was ftill more aftonifhed, and could 
 not forgive his ftrange infatuation. .This train of 
 M 3 thought
 
 246 THE HISTORY or 
 
 thought perhaps had no fmall (hare in giving rife 
 to a pafTion for Harriot, which he had never felt, 
 while it might have been the fource of much hap- 
 pinefs to them both. In fhoit, he became violently 
 in love with her, and fell a prey to the moll cruel 
 regret and defpair ; fenfible that all he fuffered was 
 the coniequence of his own folly. 
 
 Refpevfl for Harriot made Mr. Al worth endea- 
 vour to conceal his paffion, but could not prevent 
 its daily increafe. At this time I became acquaint- 
 ed with her, during a vifit I made in the neigh- 
 bourhood ; and as the natural opennefs both of her 
 difpofttion and mine, inclined us to converfe with 
 much freedom, I one day took the liberty to tell 
 her how much Mr. Alworth was in love with her. 
 She had not the leaft fufpicion of it, the entire af- 
 feclion which had always fubfifted between them, 
 jhe imagined fufficient to lead me into that error, 
 but told me the thing was impoffible ; and to prove 
 it, related all the circumfbnces of their intended 
 union. Appearances were too itrong to fufFer me 
 tobeperfuaded that I was miftaken ; lacknowleged 
 that what fhe urged feemed to contradict my opi- 
 nion, but that it was no proof; for the perverfe- 
 nefs of human nature was fuch, that it did not 
 appear to me at all improbable that the eafmefs of 
 obtaining her, when they had both been, as it 
 were, bred up with that view, might be the fole 
 occafion of his indifference ; and the impoffibility 
 cf ever poflefTing her now, would only ferve to 
 inflame his paflion. 
 
 Harriot accufed me of reprefenting human na- 
 ture more perverfe and abfurd than it really was, 
 and continued firm in the perfuafion of my being 
 mivtaken. Whatever glaring figns of Mr. Al- 
 worth's love appeared, fhe fet them all down to the 
 
 account
 
 Mrs. T R E N T H A M. 247 
 
 account of friendfhip ; till at length his mind was 
 fo torn with grief and defpair, that no longer able 
 to conceal the caufe of his greateft fufferings, he 
 begged her to teach him how to conquer a pailion, 
 which, while it exited, muft make him wretched ; 
 and with the greateft confufion told her how un- 
 accountably unfortunate he was, both in not lov- 
 ing, and in loving, each equally out of feafon. 
 Almoft diftrated with the diftrefsful ftate of his 
 mind, he was in the utmoft horror left this declara- 
 tion fhould offend her ; and throwing himfelf at 
 her feet, with a countenance and manner which 
 fhewed him almoft frantic with defpair, terrified 
 her fo much, that fhe did not feel half the fhock 
 this declaration would have given her, had it been 
 made with more calranefs. 
 
 bhe ftrove to filence him ; file endeavoured 
 to raife him from her feet, but to no purpoie ; 
 {lie could not abate the agonies of his mind, v/kh- 
 out alluring him fhc forgave him. Her fpiriti were 
 in extreme agitation till ihe faw him a little com- 
 pofed ; for fhe feared his fenfes were affected ; but 
 when her alarm began to abate, the effect of her 
 terrors and her grief appeared in a flood of tears ; 
 Mr. Al worth found them infectious, and fhe was 
 obliged to dry them up in order to comfort him. 
 When he grew more com pofed, Harriot ventured, 
 after expre i;ng her concern for his having conceived 
 fo unfortunate a pailion, to intimate that abfence 
 was the belt remedy, and that there was nothing 
 to be done but for her to leave the houfe. 
 
 Mr. Alworth was not able to fupport the men- 
 tion of her going away, and intreatcd her, at leaft 
 to give him time to arm himfelf againil the great- 
 eft misfortune that could befal him, the lofs of her 
 fociety. She dared not controul him in. any thing 
 M 4 material,
 
 248 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 material, while his mind continued in that <Tefj>3- 
 rate fituation, and therefore confented to flay 
 fome time longer. She found it very difficult to 
 make him think, that there ever was a proper time 
 for her to depart, though his paffion was much lefs 
 tormenting fince he had ventured to declare it ; 
 and what before arofe nearly to difr.ra6r.ion, furtk 
 now into a foft melancholy. Mrs. AKvorth paid 
 fo little attention to her huCband, th:>.t fhe had not 
 perceived the conflict rn his mind. She was wea- 
 ried with the country to the greateft degree, and 
 made the tirefome days as fhort as fhe could, by not 
 rifmg till noon ; from that time till dinner, her 
 toilet found her fufficient employment. As the neigh- 
 bourhood was large, fhe very frequently Contrived 
 to make a party at cards ; but as her company was 
 not ufed to play high, this afforded her little relief, 
 except fhe could find fomebody to bet with her, 
 which was not very difficult, as fhe was contented 
 to do it to a difadvantage. 
 
 In this way fhe contrived, jufr, as fhe called it,> 
 
 * to drag on life ; and wondered how fo fine a wo- 
 
 * man as Harriot, could have fo long buried herfelf 
 
 * in that place, fcarcely more lively than the fa- 
 ' rrtily vault.' 
 
 When Harriot thought fhe had fufficiently con- 
 vinced Mr. Al worth of the neceflity of her ab- 
 fence, fhe took her leave with much greater con- 
 cern than fhe would fufter to appear, though fhe 
 did not afrecl indifference ; but the truth was, Mr. 
 Alv/orth's paffionate tcndernefs for her, had made 
 an impreffion on her heart, which without it, all 
 his merit could not effe<5r. The melancholy lan- 
 guor which overfpread his countenance, gave It 
 charms fhe had never before difcovered in it ; the 
 fol't accents in which he breathed the moft delicate 
 
 love,
 
 Mrs. T R E N T H A M. 249 
 
 love, penetrated to her very foul, and fhe no lon- 
 ger fo :nd that indifference which had been fo re- 
 markable a part of her character. But flie care- 
 fully concealed thefe new fenfctions, in hopes that 
 he would more eafily conquer his paffion, for not 
 thinking it returned. 
 
 Though the winter was fcarcely begun, yet ha- 
 ving no inducement to go to any other place, fhe 
 went to London ; and as I had prolonged my flay 
 in the country only to gratify my inclination for 
 her company, I went with her to town. Mrs. 
 Alworth did not continue there a month after us ; 
 but her hufbund, whofe health was by no means in 
 a good ftate, went to Bath ; and that he might not 
 be quite deflitute of pleafure, he carried his little 
 boy with him, though but a year and a quarter old. 
 His wife did not contend with him for this privi- 
 lege, fhe would have feen little more of the babe 
 had it been in London. 
 
 Harriot Trentham, was at her firft arrival, in 
 very low fpirits, and every letter (he received from 
 Mr. Alworth increafed her dejection, as it painted 
 his in very itrong colours. As the town filled (lie 
 began to try if didipation could difpel her melan- 
 choly. Her beauty, the fmenefs of her perfon, 
 and her being known to have a large fortune, 
 which Fame even exaggerated, procured her many 
 lovers, and (lie became the moft admired woman 
 in town. This was a new fource of pleafure to her. 
 She had lived where fhe faw not many fmgle men, 
 and though few of thefs who dared to flatter them- 
 ielves with hopes, had failed paying their addrefles 
 to her, yet thefe fucceffive courtfhips were very 
 dull, when compared with all the flutter of gene- 
 ral admiration. Her books were now neglected, 
 and to avoid thinking on a fubjedt which conftant- 
 
 M 5 ly
 
 250 THE HISTORY, OF. 
 
 ly afflicted her, {he forced herfelf into public, and 
 was glad to find that the idlenefs of the men, and 
 her own vanity, could afford her entertainment. 
 
 She was not however fo totally engroffed by this 
 pleafmg diffipation, as to neglect any means of 
 ierving the diftrefied. Mrs. Tonfton exerting the 
 genius fhe had fo early (hewn for traducing others, 
 let her hufband and his family at variance, till at 
 length the falfhoods, by which fhe had effected it, 
 came to be difcovered. Her hufband and fhe had 
 never lived well together, and this proof of her 
 bad heart difgufted him fo intirely, that he turned 
 her out of his houfe, allowing her a meer trifle 
 for her fupport. In this diftrefs fhe applied to Har- 
 riot, who flie knew was ever ready to ferve even 
 thofe who had moft injured her. 
 
 Her application was not unfuccefsful. Harriot 
 fcnt her a confulerable prefent for her immediate 
 convenience, and then went into the country to 
 Mr. Tonfton, to whom fhe reprefented fo effectu- 
 ally his ungenerous treatment, fmce the fortune 
 his wife brought him gave her a right to a decent 
 maintenance, that he made a proper fettlemenc 
 upon her, and gave the writings into Harriot's 
 hands, who not only law the money paid regu- 
 larly, but took fo much pains to convince Mrs. 
 Tonfton of tht- malignity of her difpofition, that fhe 
 brought her to a due fenfe of it, and by applying 
 jfo:' his aififtance to mend her heart, who beft knew 
 its defects, fhe became fo altered in temper, that 
 live years afcer her feparation from her hufband r 
 Haniot eftccted a reconciliation, and they now 
 live in great amity together, gratefully acknow- 
 ledging ihdr obligations to her, 
 
 I
 
 Mrs. T R E N T H A M. 25! 
 
 I have anticipated this fadr. in order to render my 
 narrative lei's tedious, or 1 fhould have flopped at 
 Harriot's procuring a fettlement fer Mrs. Tonfton, 
 and have told you, that by lying in her return at 
 an inn where the fmall-pox then was, {he caught 
 that diftemper, and foon after fhe arrived in Lon- 
 don it appeared. I ne.d not fay that fhe hud it 
 to a very violent degree. Being then in town I 
 had the good fortune to nurfe her, and flatter my- 
 felf that my care was not ufelefs ; for in cafes (o 
 dangerous, no one who does not feel all the ten- 
 der foliicitude of ,a friend, can be a proper 
 nurfe. 
 
 Mrs. Alworth wrote her hufband word of Har- 
 riot's illnefs, who came poft to London, filled 
 with the extremeir. anxiety, and fhared the fatigue 
 of nurfing with me > fhe was all the time delirious. 
 When fhe came to her fenfes, fhe at fiifr. feemed 
 mortified to think Mr. Alworth had feen her in 
 that diongured condition ; but on reflexion told 
 me, ' fne rejoiced in it, as fhe thought it muft 
 1 totally extinguish his palnon ; and her ireat- 
 4 ell ibllicitude was for . his happinefs.' But (he 
 afterwards found her expectation was ill grounded. 
 
 When fhe recovered, fhe perceived 'that the 
 fmall-pox had entirely cleftroved her beauty. She 
 acjkno'.vleged fhe was not infenfible to this mortifi- 
 cation j and to avoid the obfervation of the envi- 
 ous, or even of the idly curious, fhe retired, as 
 foon as fhe was able to travel, to a country boufe 
 \vhich i hired for her. 
 
 In a very fhort time fhe became perfectly con- 
 tented with the alteration this cruel diftemper had 
 made in her. Her love for reading returned, and 
 {he regained the quiet happinefs of which flutter 
 M 6 and
 
 252 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 and diffipation had deprived her, without fubfti- 
 tuting any thing fo valuable in its place. She has 
 often faid, * ih^ looks on this accident as a re- 
 ward for the good fhe had done Mrs. Toufton, 
 and that few benevolent actions receive fo im- 
 mediate a recompence, or we fhould be lefs re- 
 mifs in our dutie?, though not more meritori- 
 ous in performing them.' She found retirement 
 better calculated for overcoming an hopelefi paffi- 
 on than noife and flutter. She had indeed bydifti- 
 pation often chafed Mr. Alworth from her thoughts, 
 but at the firft moment of leifure his idea returned 
 in as lively colours, as if it had always kept pof- 
 feftion of her mind. In the country fhe had time 
 to reflect on the neceffity of conquering this in- 
 clination, iffhe wifhed to enjoy any tolerable happi- 
 nefs ; and therefore took proper meafures to combat 
 it. Reafon and piety, when united, are extremely 
 prevalent, and with their affiftance fhe retrained 
 her afFeclion once more within its ancient bounds 
 of friendfhip. Her letters to Mr. Alworth, were 
 filled with remonftrances againft the indulgence df 
 his love, a.nd the fame means fhe had found effec- 
 tual, fhe recommended to him, and with fatisfac- 
 tion learnt, that though they had not entirely fuc- 
 ceeded, yet he had acquired fuch a command over 
 his heart, that he was as little wretched as a man 
 can be, who is a living monument of the too 
 common folly of being captivated by a fudden 
 glare of perfon and parts 3 and of the fatal error 
 of thofc men who feek in marriage for an amufing 
 tfifler, rather than a rational and amiable compa- 
 nion, and too late find that the vivacity which 
 pleafes in the miftrefs, is often a fatal vice in a wife. 
 lie lives chiefly in thecpuntry, has generally a few- 
 friends
 
 Mrs. TRENTHAM. 253 
 friends in the houfe with him, and takes a great 
 deal of pains in the education of his two fons ; 
 while their mother fpends almoft'the whole year in 
 town, immerfed in folly and diflipation. 
 
 About fourteen years ago Harriot, who I ought 
 to begin to call Mrs. Trentham, came to fee a 
 lady in this neighbourhood, and thus was firil 
 known to the inhabitants of this manfion. They 
 were much pleafed with her acquaintance, and 
 when (he had performed her vlfit, invited her to 
 pafs a little time with them. She required no fol- 
 licitation, for it was the very thing (he wifhed, and 
 here (he has remained ever fmce. When Mr. 
 Iviaynard died, leaving me but a fmall jointure, 
 Mrs. Trentham was indulged in her inclination, of 
 afking me to fpend the firft part of my widowhood 
 with her and her friends ; and I have been fortunate 
 enough to recommend myfelf fo effectually, that 
 they have left me no room to doubt they chufe I 
 fhould continue with them, and indeed 1 think I 
 could fcarcely fupport life were I banifhed from 
 this heavenly fociety. 
 
 Mrs. Trentham and Mr. Alworth keep up a con- 
 ftant correfpondence by letters, but avoid meeting. 
 His wife has brought him one daughter, and Mrs. 
 Trentham's happinefs has been rendered compleat, 
 by obtaining from her permiiHon to educate this 
 child ; a favour, which contrary to what is ufual, is 
 efteemed very fmall by her who granted, and very 
 great by the perfon that received it. This girl js 
 now ten years old, and the moft accomplifhed of 
 her age of any one, perhaps, in the kingdom. 
 Her perfon is fine, and her temper extremely en- 
 gaging. She went about a week ago to her father, 
 whom (he vifits for about three weeks twice in a 
 year, and never returns unimproved. 
 
 As
 
 254 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 As Mrs. Trentham's fortune made a good addi- 
 tion to the income of the fociety, they on this oc- 
 cafion eftablilhed in the parilh a manufacture of 
 carpets and ruggs, which has fucceeded fo well, 
 as to enrich all the country round about. 
 
 As the morning was not very far advanced, I 
 afked Mrs. iVIaynard to conduct us to this manufac- 
 ture as in my opinion there is no fight fo delight- 
 ful as extenfive induftry. She readily complied, 
 and led us to a fort of ftreet, the mo-ft inhabited 
 part of the village, above half a mile from Mil- 
 lenium-Hall. Here we found feveral hundreds of 
 people of all ages, from fix years old to four-fcore, 
 employed in the various parts of the manufacture, 
 fome Spinning, fome weaving, others dying the 
 worked, and in fhort all bufy, finging and vvhift- 
 ling, with the appearance of general chearfulnefs, 
 and their neat drefs (hewed them in a condition of 
 proper plenty. 
 
 The ladies, it feems, at firft hired perfons to in- 
 firuct the neighborhood, which was then bur- 
 dened wkh poor, and fo over flocked with hand, 
 that only a fniall part of them could find v/oik. 
 But as they feared an enterprifing undertaker might 
 ruin their plan, they themfelves undertook to be 
 ftevvards ; they flood the firit expence, allowed a 
 confiderable profit to the directors, but kept the 
 distribution of the money entirely in their own 
 hands: thus they prevent the poor from being op- 
 preficd by their fuperiors, for they allow them great 
 wa^es, and by their very diligent inspection hinder 
 any frauds. 1 never was more charmed, than to 
 fee a manufacture fo well ordered, that fcarcely 
 any one is too young or too old to partake of its 
 emoluments. A the ladies have the direction of 
 
 the
 
 Mrs. T R E N T H A M. 
 the whole, they give more to the children and the 
 aged, in proportion to the work they do, than to 
 thofe who are more capable, as a proper encourage- 
 ment, and reward for induftry in thofe feafons of 
 life in which it is fo uncommon. 
 
 We were fo taken up with obferving thefe peo- 
 ple, that we got home hut jult as dinner was carry- 
 ing in. 
 
 In the afternoon we informed the ladies how we 
 had fpent the latter part of the morning, and in 
 the courfe of conversation Lament told them, that 
 4 they were the firft people he ever knew who 
 
 * lived entirely for others, without any regard to 
 1 their own pleafurej and that were he a Roman 
 4 Catholic, he fhould beg of them to confer on him 
 
 * the merit of ibme of their works of fupererroga- 
 4 tion.' 
 
 I do not know where you could find them, re- 
 plied Mrs. Mancel, 4 I believe we have not been 
 4 able to difcover any fuch ; on the contrary, we are 
 
 * fenfible of great deficiencies in the performance 
 4 of our duty ' 
 
 ' Can you imagine, Madam, interrupted La- 
 ' mont, that all you do here is a duty ? 
 
 4 Indcfpenfibly fo, anfwered Mrs. Mancel, we 
 
 * are told by him who cannot err, that our time, 
 4 our money, and our opderftandings, are entruft- 
 4 ed with us as fo many talents, for the ufe of 
 4 which we muft give a (trier, account. How we 
 4 ought to u!e them he has likewife told us ; as to 
 4 our fortunes in the moft exprefs terms, when he 
 4 commands us to feed the hungry, to cloath the 
 4 naked, to relieve the prifoner, and to take care 
 
 * of the lick. Thofe who have not an inheri- 
 4 tance that enables them to do this are commanded 
 
 4 to
 
 256 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 to labour, in order to obtain means to relieve 
 thole who are incapable of gaining the necefla- 
 ries of life. Can we then imagine, that every one 
 is not required to aflift others to the utmoft of his 
 power, hnce we are commanded even to work 
 for the means of doing fo? (Jod's mercy and 
 bounty is univerfal, it flows unafkcd, and un- 
 merited ; we are bid to endeavour to imitate 
 him as far as our nature will enable us to do it. 
 What bounds then ought we to let to our good 
 offices, but the want of power to extend them 
 farther? Our faculties and our time fhould be 
 employed in directing our donations in a 
 manner the moil condufive to the benefit of 
 mankind, the moft for the encouragement of 
 virtue, and the fuppreflion of vice; to aflift in 
 this work is the bufinefs of fpeech, of reafon, and 
 of time. Thefe ought to be employed in feek- 
 ing out opportunities of doing good, and in con- 
 triving means for regulating it to the belt pur- 
 pofe. Shall I allow much careful thought to- 
 wards fettling the affairs of my houfhold with 
 oeconomy, and be carelefs how I uiftribute my 
 benefactions to the poor, to whom I am only a 
 fteward, and of whofe interefts I ought to be as 
 careful as of my own? By giving them my 
 money I may facrifke my covetouinefs, but by 
 doing it negligently I indulge my indolence, 
 which I ought to endeavour to conquer as much 
 as every other vice. Each ftate has its trials ; 
 the poverty of the lower rank of people exercifes 
 their induftry and patience ; the riches of the 
 great are trials of their temperance, humility, 
 and humanity. Theirs is perhaps the more 
 difficult part, but their prefent reward is alfo 
 
 ' greater
 
 Mrs. TRENTHAM. 257 
 
 greater if they acquit themfelves well ; as for the 
 future, there may probably be no inequality. 
 ' You obferved, Sir, faid Mrs. Trentham, that 
 we live for others, without any regard to our 
 own pleaiure, therefore I imagine you think our 
 way of life inconfiftent with it; but give me 
 leave to fay you are mistaken. What is there 
 worth enjoying in this world that we do not 
 pofiefs ? We have all the conveniences of life, 
 nay, all the luxuries that can be included among 
 them. We mishit indeed keep a large retinue; 
 but do you think the fight cf a number of ufelcfs 
 attendants could afford us half the real fatisfaction, 
 that we feel from feeing the money, which muil 
 be lavifhed on them, expended in iupporting the 
 old and decrepid, or nouridiing the helplefs in- 
 fant? We might drefs with fo much expence, that 
 we Could fcarcely move under the burden of our 
 apparel ; but is that more eligible, than to fee the 
 fhivering wretch clad in warm and comfortable 
 attire ? Can the greatcft luxury of the table afford 
 fotrueapleafure, as the reflection, that inftead of its 
 being over-charged with fuperfluities, the homely 
 board of the cottager is bleiled with plenty ? We 
 might fpend our time in going from place to 
 place, where none wifh to fee us except they find 
 a deficiency at the card table, perpetually living 
 among thofe, whofe vacant minds are ever feek- 
 ing after pleafurcs foreign to their own taftes, 
 and purfue joys which vanifh as foon as poilefled; 
 for thefe would you have us leave the infinite fa- 
 tisfaction of being beheld with gratitude and 
 love, and the fucceffive enjoyments of rational 
 delights, which here fill up every hour ? Should 
 * we do wifely in quitting a fcene, where every 
 
 objed
 
 258 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 * objecl: exalts our mind to the great Creator, to 
 ' mix among all the folly of depraved nature? 
 
 * If we take it in a more ferious light ftill, we 
 
 * fhall perceive a great difference in the comforts 
 
 * arifmg from the reflexions on a life fpent in an 
 
 * endeavour to obey our Maker, and to correct our 
 
 * own deftxfts, in a conftant fenfe of our offences, 
 1 and an earneft defire to avoid the commiflion of 
 them for the future, from a. courfe of hurry and 
 c diffipation, which will not afford us Jeifure to re- 
 ' collect our errors, nor attention to attempt 
 ' amending them.' 
 
 ' The difference is indeed ftriking, faid La- 
 mont, and there can be no doubt which is moft 
 
 * eligible ; but are you not too rigid in your cen~ 
 ' fures of diflipation ? You feem to be inclined to 
 ' forbid all innocent pleafjres.' 
 
 ' By no means, replied Mrs. Trentham, but 
 ' things are not always innocent becaufe they are 
 
 * trifling. Can any thing be more innocent than 
 
 * picking of ftraws, or playing at puih-pin ; but if 
 ' a man employs himfelf fo continually in either, 
 ' that he neglects to ferve a friend, or to infpect 
 ' his affairs, does it not ceafe to be innocent? 
 .' Should a fchool-boy be found whipping a top 
 
 * during fchool hours, would his mafter forbear 
 ' correction becaufe it is an innocent amufement ? 
 
 * And yet thus we plead for things as trifling, tho* 
 ' they obftruc^t the exercife of the greateft duties 
 ' in life. Whatever renders us forgetful of our 
 ' Creator, and of the purpofes for which he called 
 
 * us into being, or leads us to be inattentive to his 
 
 * commands, or neglectful in the performance of 
 
 * them, becomes criminal, however innocent in 
 1 its own nature. While we purfue thefe things 
 
 4 with
 
 Mrs. TRENTHAM. 
 6 with a moderation which prevents fuch effects, 
 ( they are always innocent, and often defireable, 
 ' the excefs only is to be avoided.' 
 
 ' I have nothing left me to fay, anfwered La- 
 mont, than that your doctrine mujl be true, and 
 
 * your lives are happy ; but may I without imper- 
 
 * tinence obferve, that I fhould imagine your ex- 
 
 * tenfive chanties require an immenfe fortune.' 
 
 6 Not fo much, perhaps, faid Mrs. Morgan, as 
 you fuppofe. We keep a very regular account, 
 ' and at an average, for every year will not be 
 
 * exactly the fame, the total flands thus. The 
 6 girls fchool four hundred pounds a year, the boys 
 
 * an hundred and fifty, apprenticing fome and 
 4 equipping others for fervice one hundred. The 
 1 cloathing of the girls in the houfe forty. The 
 
 * alms houfes two hundred. The maintenance of 
 ' the mongers an hundred and twenty. Fortunes 
 ' and furniture, for fuch young perfons as marry 
 
 * in this and the adjoining pari(hes > two hundred. 
 
 * All this together amounts only to twelve hun- 
 
 * dred and ten pounds a year, and yet afford all 
 ' reafonable comforts. The expences of ourfelves 
 ' and houffhold, in our advantageous fituation, 
 4 come within eight hundred a year. Finding fo 
 ' great a balance in our favour, we agreed to ap- 
 ' propriate a thoufand a year for the fociety of 
 ' gentlewomen with fmall or no fortunes ; but it 
 ' has turned out in fuch a manner that they coft 
 ' us a trifle. We then dedicated that fum to the 
 ' edablifhment of a manufacture, but fmce the 
 
 * fourth year it has much more than paid its expen- 
 ' ces, though in many refpects we do not acr, with 
 
 * the ceconomy ufual in fuch cafes, but give very 
 ' high wages, for our defign being to ferve a mul- 
 
 * titudc
 
 260 THE HISTORY OF 
 ' titu<Je of poor deftitute of work, we have no 
 nice regard to profit. As we did not mean 
 ' to drive a trade, we have been at a jofs what 
 ' to do with the profits. We have out of 
 ' it made a fund for the Tick and difabled, from 
 which they may receive a comfortable fupport, 
 ' and intend to fecure it to them to perpetuity in 
 
 * the heft manner we can.' 
 
 4 How few people of fortune are there, faid 
 Lament, who could not afford raoo/. a year, 
 with only retrenching fuperfiuous and burden- 
 ' fome expences ? But if they would only imitate 
 f you- in any one branch, how much greater plea- 
 iure would they then receive from theii fortunes 
 
 * than they now enjoy?' 
 
 While he was engaged in difcourfe with the 
 
 ladies, I obferved to Mrs. Maynard, that by the 
 
 account file; had given me of their income, their 
 
 expences fell far fhort of it. She whifpered me, 
 
 that * their accidental charities were innumerable, 
 
 all the reft being employed in that way. Their 
 
 acquaintance know they cannot fo much oblige, 
 
 as by giving them an opportunity of relieving 
 
 diftrefs. They receive continual applications, 
 
 and though they give to none indifcriminateiy, 
 
 yet they never refufe any who really want. 
 
 Fheir donations fometimes are in great fums, 
 
 where the cafe requires fuch extraordinary a'iif- 
 
 tance. If they hear of any gentleman's family 
 
 opprefled by too many children, or impoverished 
 
 by ficknefs, they contrive to convey an adequate 
 
 prefent privately, or will fometimes afk permif- 
 
 fion to put fome of their children Mto buiinefs, 
 
 or buy them places or cornmiHioaii.' t 
 
 We
 
 Mrs. TRENTHAM. 261 
 
 We acquainted the ladies that we fhould trouble 
 them no longer than that night, and with regret 
 faw it fo foon ended. The next morning, upon 
 going into Lament's room, I found him reading 
 the New Teftament ; I could not forbear exprefimg 
 ibme pleafure and furprize, at feeing him thus un- 
 commonly employed. 
 
 He told me, t he was convinced by the conduct 
 of the ladies of this houfe, that their religion 
 muft be the true one. When he had before 
 confidered the lives of chriftians, their doc- 
 trine feemed to have fo little influence on their 
 actions, that he imagined there was no fufficient 
 efFec-l produced by chriftianity,to warrant a belief, 
 that it was eftablimed by a means fo very extra- 
 ordinary ; but he now faw what that religion in 
 reality was, and by the purity of its precepts, 
 was convinced its original muft be divine. It 
 now appeared evidently to be worthy of its mi- 
 raculous institution. He was refolved to examine, 
 whether the moral evidences concurred with that 
 divine ftamp, which was fo ftrongly imprefled 
 upon it, and he had rifen at day break to get a 
 Bible out of the parlour, that^ he might ftudy 
 precepts, which could thus exalt human nature 
 almoft to divine.' 
 
 It was with great joy I found him fo ferioufly 
 affected ; and when we went to breakfaft, could 
 not forbear communicating my fatisfaclion to my 
 coufin, who fincerely fhared in it. As foon as 
 breakfaft was over we took leave of the ladies, 
 though not till they had made us promife a fecond 
 vifit, to which we very gladly agreed, for could 
 we with decency have prolonged this, I know not 
 when we fhould have departed. 
 
 You,
 
 262 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 You, perhaps, wifh we had done it fooncr, and 
 may think I have been too prolix in my account 
 of this fociety; but the pleafure I find in recol- 
 lection is fuch, that I could not reftrain my pen 
 within moderate bounds. If what I have defcribed, 
 may tempt any one to go and do likewife, 1 fhall 
 think myfelf fortunate in communicating it. For 
 my part, my thoughts are all engaged in a fcherae 
 to imitate them on a fmaller fcale. 
 
 I am, Sir.
 
 B O K S juft PubKJhed by J. NEWBERY, at the 
 Bible and Sun in St. Paul's Church-Yard, London. 
 
 THE 
 
 HISTORY of MECKLEN BU R GH, 
 
 From the firll Settlement of the VANDALS in that 
 Country to the prefent Time ; including a 
 Period of about Three Thoufand Years. 
 
 Adorned with a Copper-plate Print of the QUEEN 
 (from an original Drawing) and Dedicated to her 
 MAJESTY. One Volume Octavo. Pr. 5 s. bound. 
 
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 On a NEW PLAN. 
 Illuftrated with a great Variety of Examples from 
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 Ancients; together with fuch Reflections and Critical 
 Remarks as may tend to form in our Youth an elegant 
 Tafte, and render rhe Study of this Part of the Belles 
 Lettres, more rational and pleafing. In two Vols. 
 I2mo. Pr. 6s. bound. 
 
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 By the AUTHOR of the RAMBLER. 
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 In Two Volumes, Price Five Shillings fewed, or Six 
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 LONDON, January 14, 1762. 
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