U3IIVJJU- _^UFCAIIF0% ^^AHvuan-i^ .\MEUNIVER% ^^lOSANCElfX^ •/'rinniav rAiNiN" '^/saaAinnjwv cue O ^UIBRARY^/r 4? i ir-^ ^ ^^l•UBRARYQ^. %JJ3A1N[131\V^ ^n^rnW^ '^.SfOJIWD-JO'^ c >■ o -Ti O 50 O i <^- "^/saaAi v'AJivaaiH^ ^OfCAllFOR^ c-> 5^ ^1 i©».i ^lOSANCElf/^ %J13AINa-3\V^ %. -ri O ^lOSANCElfj.^ .0 ■^/ia3AINn-3WV ^. ^lOSANCElfjv> %a9AINIl-3WV DIVERT/A AjclOSANCEl^ -5^llIBRARY<9/. -v^lLIBRARYQ^^ '^'un I nw-\ if\>^ ^^03 ITVJJO^ ^^ ^V\EUNIVERS■/A A>:lOSANCElfX;> ^f^AavHan-^- ^TiijoNvsoi^ CO so 3> %a3AINn3WV^ ^ -s^lUBRARYi?^ ^lLIBRARY^/> %a3AiNn-3y\v> ^.sojiivdjo^^ ^•jojiivd-jo'^ ^lOSANCEl£j}> ^ 6 %a3AiNn3y^^ ^OFCALIfO% ^OFCAIIFO% 9/^ ^vSlllBRARYQr ^MEUNIVER% y"^' '^ >> ^lOSANGElfj^ ^^IUBRARY^l•llBRARYQ^ '%a3AiNn3WV^ %oi\mi^'^ .^OFCAIIFO% > ^OJITVDJO^ ^OFCAIIFO^^ <^ EMIILY, A MORAL TALE, INCLUDING LETTERS FROM FATHER TO HIS DAUGHTER, UPON THE MOST IMPORTANT SUBJECTS. % the Rev. HENRY RETT, ^ELLOW OF TRINITY COLLEGE, OXFORD, J AUTHOR OF THE ELEMENTS OF GENERAt KNOWLEDGE, &C. IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. I. THE SECOND EDITION. LONDON: rUINTED FOR MESSRS. RIVINGTONS, NO. 62, ST. Paul's chuRch-yard; PAYNE, I'ALL-MALL; LU>'N, SOIIO SQUARF EGERTON, CHARING-CROSS ; AND HATCHARD, PICCADILLY, I8O9. Printed by Law an4 Gilbert, St. Tuhn's Square, ClerkenweJi. TO THEIU ROYAL HIGHNESSES THE PUINCESSE* AUGUSTA, ?K ELIZABETH 3IARY, SOPHIA, AND AMELIA, THE FOLLOWING WORK, INTENDED TO KECOMMEND THE CULTIVATION OF THOSE VIHTUE^ AND THE ACQUIttEMENT OF THOSE BRANCHES OF USEFUL KNOAVLEDGF., WHICH THEY GRACE BY THE ELEfeANCE OF THEIR MINDS, AND DIGNIFY BY THEIR EXALTED RANK, IS, WITH THEIR PERMISSION, HUMBLY DEDICATED BY THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESSES, MOST RESPECTFUL AND DEVOTED SERVANT, HENRY KETT. irvf?^£*?9 ADVERTISEMENT. THE very favourable reception which " The Elements of General Knowledge" have met with, has encouraged the Author to intro- duce another Work to public notice, defigned more particularly for the fervice of the Ladies. In the courfe of the following narrative he has en- deavoured to inftru6l his Readers by the importance, and to amufe tiiem by the variety of his fubjefits ; with this view he has united Converfations and Letters with Sketches of original Charafters, curious Ad- ventures, and Descriptions of interefting Places. To point fevere and indifcriminate cenfures againll the times in which we live, is perhaps rather the part Tl ADVERTISEMENT. part of an ill-natured fatyrill than of a candid ob- ferver of mankind ; for every age, like every indi- vidual, is marked by chara6leriftic virtues and de- fers. But we caniibt, if is piefumed, take a view of the prefent ftate of fociety, without obferving that too many young perfons of both fexes are dif- pofed to look upon the reltraints of parental autho- rity as an intolerable check to the freedom of their actions ; to reft their claims to diftin6lion and praife too much upon trifling accomplifliments ; a)id to fliink that conftant appearance in public, and a con- tinual roimd of amufenients are effential to their well- Leing. If fuch be, in any refpeft, a true defcription of the fentiments and the manneis of the young, that writer cannot be fairly cenfured as aiming at an un- %vorthy, or a trivial object, — as miferaploying his time, or degrading his talents, who endeavours ta correft fuch difpofitions by difplaying the advantages, and defcribing the pleafures that refult from the per- fevering cultivation of filial love, from the acquire- 9 Incnt ADVERTISEMENT. vii ^lent of elegant and iifeful knowledge, and from the exercifc of fuch virtues as are calculated to fhcd luftre upon the walks of domeiljc and private life. The Author of this Work, during many years, has been attempting to find the road that leads to Happiness, and he leaves the candid and theju- »licious to determine how far the methods he recom- mends are likely to aflift his young Readers in making this moll important, and moft defirable of ftii difcoverjes. EMILY. CHAP. I. — — How could my tong\ie Take plcafure to be lavilh in thy praife! How could I fpcak thy nobieners of nature, Thy o|)en, manly heart» thy courage, conftancy, * And inborn trutli unknowing to difiemble ! RowE. C/OLOXEL LoRTON was deiccnded from one of the molt antient and refpe6lable fami- lies in the north of England. He had en- joyed tlie advantages of a Uberal education, and pafled fome time at the Univerfity ; but as he was of an active and enterprizing tem- per, his father purchafed a commiffion for him in the aiTny, and he ferved for fome time, both at home and abroad. Naturally of a quick an(| inquifitive difpofition, he im- proved every oppoitunity of feeing the world; VOL. I. B and 2 L.Airi.r. and as he belonged to a repi;iinciit, in whrcb tlie oilkers Avere intelligent and well-edu- eatcd, he niado it liis Itudy to keep j)aec Avith them upon all lubjects otufeful informa- tion, lie Avas Itationed, for fom€ time, Avith his rc2;iment at Gibraltar, duvins; the me- morable and long liege by the Spaniards^ Avlien that impregnable gaiThlbn Mas com- manded by (iovcrnor Elliot, afterwards raifed to a peerage by the title of Lord Ilea'th- lield, . In the fortie made by the Britiln troops upon the Spanilh camp, (Joloncl Lor- ton received a woimd, not fo fevere as ano- ther in his face, ,o;iven htra at Naples, uhcrc he faved the life of a ftranger from the afiault of afl'aiiins. This fecond wound compelled hhn.to quit liis profellion, and try the beneficial client ef his native climate. Still in the prime of life, he. retired to his paternal eftate in Cumber- land, and ihortly after married a lady of a c;ood family, who had from his carlieft youth been tlie obje6l of bis ardent atTection. She had very precarious health, and after mak; inu; EMILV. 3 iiig liiin happy by the birth of a daughter, wJiose name was Emily, fell a prey to a lin- gering illness. The place of Colonel Lorton's reiidence was at a Ihort diftance from Kefwick in Cumber- land. This county is well known to abound in the romantic beauties of lofty mountains, pic- turefque rocks, gleaming lakes, rapid rivers, and fertile vallies. It prcfents various changes of landfcape, as often as the tra- veller purfues the common roads, or ftrikes into the devious tracks ; and there are few- parts of Europe m hich dil'play lb many fub. lime and beautiful fcenes, within the fame extent of ground. The views indeed prefented amid the Lukes in the 7iorth of England are wild as nature can produce, and various as imagination can form. The endlefs combinations of wood and water, mountain, and valley, if beheld at the proper feafon of the year, when the fun diftufes the Itrength and beauty of hi? magic influence ; the gleams of light fpread over the bold rocks, or illuminating the ex- 4 KMILV. panrive lakes, the mountains half concealed in the clouds, or thrown into dark fliado>v, during the Iblitude and I'tillncfs that reign around at noon-day as dccj) as at midnight — thcfe objects give the eyes fuch entertain- ment, and awaken in the mind fuch de- lightful enthuiicifni, as thofe who live on plains, or arc confmed to cities, arc not in a lituation to experience, and cannot fully conceive. Lorton lioufe, an old but convenient man- fion, was beautifully fituated : in its front w as an extenfive and verdant lawn, interfperfed with cium}}s of flowering Oirubs, and where mountain allies, planes, birch, lir, and other Tiees difpofed with great tafte, flourillied in a ibil well known to be highly favourable to their rapid and luxuriant growth. The houfe was Iheltered from the north by a hill covered with a Hoping wood, at the bottom of the lawn flowed a meandering river, for fome diftance foaming and rapid, in other parts gliding in a clear and tranquil frream. On the oppoiite hill flood the vil- lage EMILY. 5 lage church, and not far diftant the parfonage houfe, partly concealed by tall fycamores ; around this eminence were numerous fmall inclollires, chiefly of pafture divided by wav- ing lines of hedge rows ; a few cottages checkered the profpe6i;, which was termi- nated by a bending chain of mountains, and among them, far pre-eminent rofe the ma- jeftic Skidd aw. The diftance at which many of theie mountains were placed, made them feem fmaller than they really were ; in fummer they appeared of an aerial azure colour; in that fea- fon of the year the profpe6t from Lorton houfe was pifturefque in the highcft degree, particu- larly when the fun brightened the landfcape with a foft and golden light, and its rays ftreamed between tlie openings of the moun- tains upon the verdant and flowery vale. CHAP. II. As the vernal flou'r Cut by the plouqii-fhare hangs its head, and dici", Amelia finks in fading beauty's prime, And virtue's bloilbm ; whom th' Almighty loves, He calls with early mandate to himfelf. A. -iVlRS. LoRTON was a lady of a good fa- mily ; ilie had been well educated, and her inind took a religious turn ; but her piety was neither auftcre, gloomy, nor enthufiaftic : it was of an unaffecled and moft amiable caft, and was far from fouring her temper, or deprefling her fpirits, although it occa- fionally checked a little of her natural viva- city. The genuine precepts of the gofpel accorded with the feelings of her tender and benevolent heart ; her religion was vital and practical ; its fphere of action was her own houfe, and her own village, or wherever the helplefs E.MJLV. 7 iit'lplefs infant, the decrcpid labourcF, tliede- ierted orphan, or the forlorn widow j^^quired her read}^ aliiftance. Her goodnefs wa3 active without often ta- tion, and unnoticed by the voice of fame, was perceived only in its falutary effec'ts. Thus does the Itream of the valley purfue its filent courfe, and imparts it limpid and re- frefhing waters to the thirfty fliepherds and their flocks. At the village church, Mhere Airs. Lorton was a "conftant attendant, as long as her Jiealth permitted her to appear there, her un- affeQ;ied and fervent devotion gave a perfua- live example to her own houfehold, and to the whole pariih. This publick exercife of piety on a^ Sunday Mas a certain prelude to the difcharge of her more active duties on the other days of the week, and her general conduct was a full difplay of chriftian excel. Icnce. Her example was not difregarded by any one, and leaft of all was its effect loft on Colonel Lorton, who veil knowing the fin- perity of her difpofition, and the ftrength of hGV 8 2LMILV. her undcrftandinrr, which always gave a rii^lit direction to her conduct, loved her the more for her ferious turn of mind, and was the more ftrongly inclined to tread tiie path of religion, from having a perfon fo ineftima- bly dear to him his zealous afibciatc in the performance of its commands. But their happinefs increafcd by fuch pure and exalted caufes was too great to be laft- ing. The health of Mrs. Lorton, as has been before obferved, began to fail ; a neg- le6led cold brought on a continued fever, which terminated in a rapid decline. The aid of phyficians and change of air to a milder part of the kingdom were tried in vain : the waters of Briftol Wells raifed her hopes of recovery, but afforded no eiiectual relief On her return to Lorton houfe, the forrowful looks of her family too plainly betrayed their opinion, that the patient fuf- ferer was far woife than -when ilie left them, and her own increafed weaknefs convinced her, that llie had revilited her beloved home, only to bid a laft farewell to its formerly de- lightful licrhtful fcenes. The time v. as now arrived, \vhen ilie wilhed more than ever to fpeak her mind at large ui)on a fubjcSl molt dear to her heart, and flic thought herfelf happy al- moft beyond expreffion, that a fulpenlion of pain gave her power to converfe in the fol- lowing manner : " The indifpofition," laid Mrs. Lorton to the Colonel, " that has lb long affli6:ed me, gains ftrength every hour ; alas, I fear, my Itay in this world will be very Ihort." " Take comfort," faid the Colonel, ten- derly embracing her. " For your lake I wilb to live," conti- nued Mrs. Lorton, with greater emotion, and increafed difficulty of utterance : " and for the fake of that dear child now playing in the room, unconfcious of her mother's feeble itate ; but not on my own account, for in fuch an illncfs as mine, extended life will only be extended mifery; my feelings too plainly tell me what will loon happen — the Tather of mercies will Ihortly take me to himfelf. 10 KMII.Y. "himielf. 1 pray that you innv have the cori- folatioiis of his grace, to enable you to bear our reparation !" . Here ihe paufed, being exliauited l>y the great exertion ilie iiad made to fpeak ; and after- a ihort intenal of filence, interrupted bv the fighs of the Colonel, and his lifter, Mrs. Lorton riling fupcrior to her o\\n fuller- ing.':, and living as llie had always done for the iiood of otlicrs, thus in a more feeble tone proceeded : — • " To clofe my eyes on the light of the fun, to behold no more the fweet profpects that formerly gave me fuch delight ; to be fepa- rated from my hulband, my child, and my lifter, is affliclion inexpreflible ; but although it is the will of tlie Almighty that I mult Ihortly leave you, I am perfuaded Me lliall meet again in heaven, to part no more. To your efpecial care I commend Emily, the darling, the fole pledge of our love. It is my ardent, my anxious v.ifli, that you and her aunt fliould undertake the charge of her education. education-. Let it l>2 your delight, as it would have been mine, to cxercife a con- Itant care over iier ; to check every difpofi- tion to anger, vanity, pride, and ill-nature ;. teach her to love trutli, and to hate fallhood' and deceit ; educate her not merely as a be- ing born to exift for a few fhort years in this vain world, but as one whole greateft and bcft intcrcft, even that of her precious and inmiortal foul is placed beyond the grave." She ceafcd, unable to fay more ; for lier fliort interval of cafe was like the lively but fleeting gleam of an expiring taper. The flulli of fever glowing upon her face as fhc "s\as fpeaking, gradually faded a-v^-ay, fl'ie turned pale, and clofed her languid eyes ; and while the Colonel and his fifter hun^ over her in filent anguiili, flie funk down feeble and opprefled by the Deep of death. The Colonel ftood liftening as if he ftill heard that voice, which had for fo many years been the voice of his comfort, peace, and joy. Tears of agony ftartcd from his eyes, 12 LMILY. cj^es, as he retired frotii the chamber, leading out his child aiid iiller ; his grief was iilent and deep, he treaiured every word of Iiis de- parted wife in his memory, and how iar he comphed with the tenour of her laft requcft, the following narrative will prove. CHAP. 111. Dctiglitful talk to ivar the tondcv ihoughr, Totcacli tlie young iilca how to ilioot, To pour till' frc/li inltruction oVr the mind, To bi-eathe th' enlivening ipirit, atid to fix Tiic generous purpofe in the glowing bread. Thomson's Spring. 1 HE paternal eftate of Colonel Lorton con- tilted of a confulerable portion of land, chiefiy extending; alon^^ tiie borders of Kefuick Lake. The beauties of the country, as vvcll as his fondnefs for agricultural purfuits, were no finall inducements to him to fettle there. lie had found the dwelling houfe and other buildings in fo ruinous a condition, %yhcn he lirft lucceeded to tlie property, and the land required (o niucii expenfe for drain- ing, and bringing it into proper cultivation, that lie \va$ obliged to borrow a confulerable fum 14 F.MILV. fum of money from .Mrs. M'ilfon, a diftant re- lation to Mrs. Lorton. He had lived fo much in the bulile of the world, that retire- ment furniflied him with the molt gratifying fources of enjoyment ; m ith liis fequeltered relidcnce lie aifociated the painfully plealing rememljrance of his departed wife, and here he thought he could belt attend to a con- cern, iioxv tlie only one dear to his heart — the education of IvAi I Lv his only child, his beloved daughter. To this objeci' he devoted a large portion of his time, and the belt efforts of his dili- gence and care. Whatever his own obfer- vations and experience did not afford, he Ava?? reiolved to fupply by all the aids that able inftruttors, friends, and books could give. lie had never wholly laid alidc his clafiical lUidies, and he was a proficient in the belt modern languages, and thus he was qualified to examine every author likely to affilt him for trie execution of hi-f pleafing but arduous, talk. . He EMILV. 1$ lie thought tlmt Roiiflcaivs plan of ed ni- dation, founded as it is upon no good prin- ciple, can be conducive to no spod end. It ihows great ignorance of lunnan nature, bcr- cauie it is evident if a child is .left to the un- reftraincd cxercife of its own caprice and paliions, it is likely to be more wild and niif- chievous than any other young animal. Cor lonel Lorton rejecting \\ithout hefitation all fuch fanciful fchenies of education, coniidered moral difcipline as elibntiully conducive to the right contlucl of the human mind, and he was tirmly pcrfuaded that this moral difci- pline ought to be enforced by all the power-* ful and falutary aids which Chriftianity cait fui)ply ; he therefore began at a very early period of her life to inftil into the tender mind of his daughter the important truths of revelation. Equally in compliance with Mrs. Lorton ^ laft requeft, and from liis own conviction of its rcafonablenefs, he was determined to make the education of his d;tughter domeftlCy for as girls are designed by nature. for retired life, S 16 EJMILV. lite, and boys for public lituations in llit- world, he thought their early habits and iii- ftruftions ought to be adapted to their re- Ipeflivc deltiiiations. He derived confiderable affiftance ia the execution of his plans from his lilter INIrs. iMapleton, who had retided with him for fome time before the death of Mrs. Lorton. JVlrs. Mapleton's temper was gentle, and her imderftanding excellent; Ihe loved Emily, and was beloved by her; ihe vie^ved with delight the expanding powers of her niece's mind, and was eager to contribute all Ihe could towards her improvements. The time fet apart for Emily's inftruction was divided into equal portions, during which llie alternately attended her aunt and her father. The former taught her to read, write, ufe her needle, and play on the forte piano ; the latter gave her lelions in gram- mar, arithmetic, French; geography, and draAving. The whole bulinel's w as conduced with fpirit and cheerful nefs ; the leiTons were rather frequent tiian long, fo as not to be fatiiiuinif EMILY. 17 fatiguing to the Scholar, nor Interfering ^\ith the other occupations of the teachers. The mind of Emily was Iharpened by this quick alternation of ftudy and repofe ; and as ho feverity was neceflary, flic did not learn to connect the idea of books with hardfliip, but ran to them with as much pleafure, as to her other fources of amufement and paitimc. Although never harfhly reftrained, flie ^Aas kept in a Cortftdnt ftate of control and de- pendence upon the will of her father and aunt ; whatever indulgence llie was al- lowed was the rewai*d of her good behavi- our only, not a concefllon to her tears, en - treaties^ or blandilhments : no fault was fuffered to pafs unnoticed, and flic was fel- dom praifed in her own hearing. A gentle and a fteady curb \vas kept upon her tem- per and difpofition ; and Ihe felt the happy eflfefts of this mild and prudent difcipline, throughout the whole coyrfe of her life. VOL. I. c CHAP CHAP. IV. ■ ■ " For feveral virtues Have 1 lik'd feveral women, never any, With fo full foul, but fome defect in her, Did quarrel with the noblcft grace (he ow'd, And put it to the foil. But you, O you. So perfeifl and fo peerlefs are created, Of every creature's bell ! The Tempest. Colonel Lohton procured for his daugliter a companion of her own age, whofe name, was Fanny Flowerdale, the youngeft child of a virtuous family in the next village. Fanny, was a.gjrl .of.aj'weet and gentle temper, and Emily foon liked her fo Avell, that far from treating her Avith unkindnefs or caprice, and obliging her to acl the part of a timid and artful r.MiLr. 19 aitftil attendant, Ihe conliclered her as in- trufted to her protection, and behaved to lier rather as a relative, tlian a miftrefs. She endeavoured to teach Fanny every one of her own leiTons, fo that as Toon as fhe had beeti inltrufted by her aunt to ipell a hard word, or repeat one of Watts's hymns, or liad finiflied a talk of writing or arithmetic, fiie V\as ahtay§ arixious for Fanny to atterhpt to do the farhe. She had great pleafure in acting the part of the governefs, and Fanny thought it an ho- nour to be her fcholar. Mrs. Mapleton en- couraged this practice of her niece, as fhe faw it was greatly conducive to het iltipl'ove- meht, and Ihortened her own labour of in- ftruction ; being well convinced of what may appear to be a paradox, that it is an excellent method of underfiamling any thing perfectly, after you have gained a proper knozvledge of its principles, to become a teacher of it yourfelf Faiiny Flow erd ale, fo far from abufmg the indulgence ihowed her by the family, con- fcious of her humble tank in life, always be-' haved as a dependant upon their bounty. C2l She 20 EMILY, She efcapcd much of the jealoufy likely te be attached to the favourite of her young miltrefs by the fcrvants, as llie conducted herfelf towards them all in an obliging and unalfuming manner. Improved by the example of her aunt, as well as by her inftruciions, Emily derived from her the moft ufeful habits of activity and diliirence. She learned to be a »;reat economift of her time, particularly by ac- quiring an extraordinary quicknefs in drefl- ing; but her appearance vras always neat and pleafmg, and fimplicity was the charac- tcriftic of her attire. Her dii'patch in drefi- ing was promoted by her fathers impatience to have her as much in his prefence as ])oiri- ble, and was confirmed into a conftant prac- tice by her folicitude to be punctual upon all Gccafions. Among her other ufeful acquire- ments llie excelled in all kinds of needlework. She occafionally fuperintended the domefiic concerns of the family, perfeftly learned from her aunt what the duty of the fervants was, and connnended and valued them, not merely 8 for EMILY. Ql for tlieir attention to herfelf, but becaufe they were honelt, faithful, and diligent. Her relaxations from ftudy confiftcd in little excurfions with lier father or her aunt into the neiffhbourino; villages. Often in purfuit of Fanny, with her cheeks glowing ^with exercife, and her heart bounding with joy, llie ran round the lawn with the fpeed of an Atalanta. In the winter flic fed the red-breafts that every morning flew to her window ; in the fpring llie watched the firft Opening of the fnow-drop, crocus, and prim- rofe, and enjoyed the fongs of the variou;} birds that frequented the plantations. She was furprized that the boys of the village could be fo cruel as to rob the fweet warblers of their eggs, and even of their young. A neft of young linnets was given to her ; (lie placed them in a cage, and fed them every day with the greatcft care, till they M^ere fufficiently grown to fly : flie then con- iiilted with Fanny what Ihould be done with them. Fanny wifhed them to be kept pri- 5)ners, for the pleafure of continuing to fee4 S'i EMILY. feeql them, and hear th^ip fing in the cage. Emily urged, that it was cruel to confine them, as they would be much happier in their native fields. When her fjither told her file might difppfe of them as flie pleafed, {he inftantly ran with the cage into the gar- den, and opeflcd the door. It Avould be dif- ficult to defcribe her joy, and how much llie laughed and danced with delight, when Ihe {ii-w ail the young linnets wing their way- over the lawn, and efcape to the woods. '\\'hen Emily had reached her feventeenth year, ibe began to accompany her father in his vifits to the neighbouring fdmilies, and difplaying at this interefting feafon of life the bloom of her charms, ilie became an object of regard and love Miierever Ihe went. In ftature llie was rather above the middle fize, her features were delicate and regular, her fine and full auburn locks ihaded her face, her complexion was fair, her cheeks were tinged with the rofeg of health, and her dark bright eye^ beamed with foft and benignant luftrc. No EMILY. 23 No one who is furceptiblc of the enjoy- ment of fweet founds can be indifferent to the voice of female youth and fimplicity. The voice of Emily was melodious and foft; her manner of fpeaking was fometimes fo plaintive and tender as to border upon me- lancholy, particularly when ihe talked carn- eltly upon any fubjeel : her tone was capa- ble of thofe tine modulations, which under the direction of a Ikilful matter would have rendered her an accompliihed fmger. The mind of Emily was no Icfs bountifully gifted by nature than her perfon : her me- mory was retentive, and her lively imagina- tion was regulated by an accurate judgment: flie had an eager defire for every kind of ufeful knowledge, and her curiofity was al- ways dire6ted to proper objects of inquiry. In mixed parties ftie talked little; her re- marks were ihort and pertinent, and often fhowed a degree of propriety bryond her years. Her temper Avas fweet ond inge- nuous, flie admired in others the franknefs M hich marked her own difpofition ; her great diffi- C^ tMILV. diffidence induced her to think humbly of hcrfclf, and highly of others : Ihe attributed every attention paid to her to the indulgence of her friends, and never to her own merit Gentle as the dove was Emily, and fo eafilv aft'ecled that a harih word failed not tq bedew her eyes with tears. If the malevo- lent ever made any remarks upon her, for the flies will fometimes fix upon the faireft fruits, they muft have been wholly unmerited, as it was her conftant endeavour to give pleafure, and communicate kiqdnefs by every word and action of her life : hpr hpart was as enlarged as it was warm and lincere ; flie wilhed to iViarc the forrows, and increafe the happinefs of all within the circle of her fo- ciety, and her benevolence was extended tp every creature. A liability and fweetnefs flione in her eyes, ^nd gave the livelieft animation to her f?ice : when her looks a\ ere grave and ferious, Ibe conimanded that attention froni her adi^irers which might occafionally wander to other objeds, but it was impofllble not t,o have that attention EMILY. «5 attention fixed cxclufively upon herfelf, by the- fafcination of her fmiles. Such beauty, much as it may be heightened by vivacity, cannot be complete without fen- $iment; to lee it then exerting all its power, we mutt have beheld Emily bending in pa- tient fufferancc under pain, fympathiling in the generous folicitudes of friendlliip, or Marmed with the foft tranfports of filial affection. Unhappily for her, many of the occur- rences of her future life gave too much fcopc for the trial of her fenfibility ! The power of afFedion is the greateft when it has few obje^ls to fix upon ; it is then like the rays of the fun brought to a focus, the ftronger for being concentered. Emily was fond of her aunt and her companion, but Ihe loved her father vvith a kind of enthu- liafm. As (lie grew up to the age of reflection, ftie faw ihe owed every thing to his kind- nefs — her fubliftence, many of her inftruc- tions, and even many of her amufements. As often as he embraced her with a warm exclamation, t6 JL^lILY, exclamation, " How exactly you refcmble your mother !" there was a coniiict between gj'icf and joy de})i6lured in his countejuance — grief for the lofs of an in\alua,ble Mife, and joy, tliat the child ilie had bequeathed to bis efpccial care was the image no Icfs of her fweetncis of dif})olition, than of the beauty of her perfon. To tcacli Emily to fpeak and write her own language correctly and elegantly- — to form pro|)er and edifying notions of the Chriftian Religion and its divine Author, and to fix her mind upon the beautiful and fublime works of creation, were the leading topics of her fathers inftructions. They be- came at various tunes the fubjects of the followinn; Converfations. CHAP CHAP. V, THE ADVANTAGES OF A KNOWLEDGE OF ENGLISH GRAMMAR. CONVERSATION 1. ArTER Emily had carefally gone through the molt important parts of Lindley Murray s F.ngUjh Grammar^ and tranfcribed many of its rules, her father had the following con- verfation with her upon the fubje6t. Emily. As you are fo kind as to teach me Grammar, I hope you will tell me the ufe of it. Colonel Lorton. The knowledge of Gram- mar will enable you to fpeak and wTite in a proper manner. This knowledge marks the diftinclion between the well informed and the illiterate^, and is the certain ]:»roof of a polite education. Emily. 28 tNGLisii (;r.\mmar. Einilif. M'hat is the nicanini::; of Ortlw- graph]), the firft part of Grammar r Colond Lorton. It i: the method of fpcll- ing ^vith correetnefs. I^aults in fpcliing arc deemed inexciifable in perfons ^ho have had a good education. Accuracy in this rcfpccf, it is true, ^vill not entitle you to i)raire, but it will fecure you from blame. Faults may be avoided by confultini^ a fpelling dictionary, and you had much better take the trouble of turning over a few leaves to find a Avord, than expofc yourfelf to the ccnfure or the ridicule of your corrcfpondents. . The dictionary of Dr. Johnfon is the beft in our iansua^e. You have the octavo edition, which is an abridgment of the original work, and is very convenient for a ladys ufe. You will find it of great fcrvice in the definitions, that is, in explaining the mean in o; of words. Em'ihf. Docs Dr. Johnibn always follow the lame rule in fpelling ? Colonel Lorton. He fpelled many words originally derived from Latin like the French becaufe it was his opinion, that we took them from ENGLISH GRAMMAR. 29 from the latter language ; for example, he ■wrote favour and honour, and yet he always fpelled author without an u. lie wrote i?:- quirc not (^/^quire, and yet he recommends ty/tlre iiom the French entier, instead of ini\re from the Latin word Integer. The prefent mode of fpcUmg requires us to omit the u in all words of more than two fyllables, as irt ambuilad{>/', governor, proteftor, &c. F., I am at a lofs liow to fpell words that are fonietimes ended with /:, and fometimes without it. C Dr. Jolmfon prefcrvcs, \ believe al- ways, the mode of ending fuch words as muiic, critic, ruftic, and profaic, with a h. One who doubts of every thing muft furely be a very ftrange being ; and how unpleafmg to the eye does the word ajipear which ex- prelfes thefe ideas, when reprcfented thus — Skcptick — fuch is Dr. Johnfon's mannor of fpelling it in his Dictionary. Partiality to this letter exifts no longer, though we retain it indeed in Jtiek, and its compounds candle- ftick, Jb ENGLISH GllAM.VfAft. Irick, Sec. and in words of one fyllable, aS in lick, &c. £. ^Vhat is the meaning of Etymology^ the fecond part of Grammar ? C It treats of tlie ditlcrent kinds of words, and the words from which others are derived. E. What is its ufe? C. Without fome knowledge of Etymology, you will be liable to make frequent, and fome- tinics ridiculous miftakes, by ufing one word inftead of another which refembles it. This was the cafe with the perfon, who after having feen an obelj/lc, which means a pillar, fuid he had feen a bafdi/k, which means a fnakc ; and complained that he was confined to a ftrifil reglmtnt, wliich means a number of foldiers under a colonel, infread of regimen^ which means a manner of living according to rule. E. I believe the Avords Orthography and Etymology arc derived from the Greek; is our language derived from others as ivell as Greek? C. Yes, for we have w ords derived froni 2 Latin, ENOLISH GRAMMAR. 3t Latin, German, Italian, and French. Yoil may recolleft Ibme inltanccs of the truth of tliis obfcrvation as far as French and Italian are concerned ; and you may rely on the af- furance, that'niafty of our words of two or more fyllables are derived from Latin or Greek. This is more particularly the caie with refpect to the terms of fcience. E. Are there not many words in our lan- guage that have the fame meaning ? C. No, very few. Grammar is very ufe- ful in teaching the diftinctions which fubftft between words, and you will find few in any language that are ftriftly fynonymous, that is, that have exactly the liime meaning. They may indeed agree in exprefiing one principal idea, ])ut they ditier in fome particulars, and the more you can difcover this diiierence, tlie greater progrefs you will make in knowledge, and the more accurately you will exprefs yourfelf ; and you will have the flimo advan- tage over a perfon who confounds the diP tinctions of words, that a painter has who inftantly difcovers the different fliades of co- lours, 52 E!fGLISII GRAMMAR. lours, A^Iiich efcape the notice of the carekfe Ipeftator. E. Pray tell me what is the difterence between- pride and vamty? C. A proud man values himfelf for things comparatively great, fuch as his antient fa- mily, title, or property. A vain mart for little things, fuch as his drefs, his liveries,' &c. E. I heard you fay the other day yoil wef^ furprhcd and qjhfiijhcd ; could you not as pro})crly have liiid you were ainazed and cotij'oitndcd ? C; By no means : 1 am furpi'ized at what is new or unexpected, I am aftoniflied at what is o-reat, I am amazed at what I can- not undcrftand, and I am confounded ^^ ith what is frightful. Some very common words cannot be nfed for others without impropriety : for example^ the verb to learn., inftead of the verb to teach. If I fay, I will learn you a leflbn, I exprefs myfelf improperly, for I ought to ufe the word teach. In order to fee the diftinction, recollect EN^GLISII GRAMMAR. S3 recolIe^V, that the mafier teaches, and the' filwlar learns. Similar is the miitake with refpe6t to the verbs laij and lie. To lie has a variety of fenfes ; the prevailing one is, to reft, as in bed; to lay, is to cmife to lie. The accuracy of the Scripture language may lead you to fee clearly the diftin6liofi here pointed out. The ruler of the fyna- gogue, mentioned by St. IMark, faid to our Saviour, " My little daughter lieth at the point of death, I pray thee comQ and lay thy hands upon her, that (he may be healed." ' ,' Take care you do not confound ingemous with ingenuous, as the former means Ikilful ; for inftance, we fay, " an ingenious artift ;" tlic latter means open, or candid, as we fay, *' a perfon of an ingenuous difpofition.'' Preferve the diftinClion between to Jit and to fet ; for example, " I fit in a chair, the gar- dener fets plants in the garden." Never ufe the prefent tenfc of the verb to JJiew for the paft ^nfe. You may fee the diftin6lions VOL. I. P this 54 ENGLISH GRAMM'AR, this verb requires in the following fentencc/ " IJhew you my book to-day, as you /heaved yours to me yelterday ; but it was not Jhewn to me before." It is become more the cuftoni of late to ufe the verb io Jliaxo the pift tcnkjhozvedy and the paffive participle JJi(m'n. Conn fill is advice, council is an affembly of pei'fons ; prefidcnt is a pcrfon who has the chief authority, a precedent is an example : principal, an adjective, ineans the chief, principle a fubftantive, means a conftitueut part. Kemember my Emily, that thinking a^ ■vvell as expressing our thoughts, is the pro- perty of a rational being. Be careful there- fore neither to talk nor to write without re- flecting on- the true meaning of your word.s, left the volubility of the tongue, or the rapi- dity of the pen Hiould betray you into miftakes. E. I think I know the accidence, which you and my aunt taught me w. CHAP. VIII. ON' THE STL'DY OF GEOGRAPHY, CONVERSATION IV. ^ PARTY was one day aflembled at Lorton Houfe, and the taking of Surinam from the Dutch was the fubje^t of converfation. Some of the company pretended they knew a great deal of the place. One fdid that it was in a cold country, another that it was at no great diftance from England ; and a third, probably miftaking it for Sumatra, coniidently alferted that it was an ifland. A queltion arofe in what quarter of the globe it was fituated~0Qe faid it was in Jlurope, 70^ GLOGRAPIIV. Europe, another contended for Afia, and a third was as conhdent for Africa. Colonel Lorton produced a map of the Morld, and all thofe mIio had talked fo plaulibly were equally at a lofs where to look for Surinam. At laft they determined to refer to Mrs. IMapleton, whofe obferva- tions were at firft difregarded amid the cla- mour of thefe confident pretenders to know- ledge. As foon as the map was laid before her, without the leaft hefitation fhe pointed out the place. " There it is," faid ihc, " not far from the line, and of courfe the climate mull; be very hot. It is a part of Guiana, fituated upon the coaft of South America; and as to its diftance from Eng- land, if we were to fail two thoufand miles towards it, I am afraid we fliould ftill have many more to go, before we arrived there." "When the vifitors were gone, the Colonel aiked Emily, which of the company had talked upon the fubje^l in the beft manner. E. My aunt, without doubt, becaufe llie gave information to all the reft. . C. Then GEOCKAPIIY. 71 C Then from thisiiiftancc you may judgp how deiirable it is to be funiiilied Avith llich very ufetul knowledge its Geography can give. E. But I fear I iliall foon grow tired of the ftudy, Ihould it all relate to fubjefts that liave fuch hard names as dj-is, arctic, and antarRic circles, equator, and ecliptic. C. By the explanations I have given you of thefe terms, I hope you fee clearly that they belong to the artificial globe, and are chiefly ufed becaufe they are neceifary to explain the motion of the earth revolving round the fun : when you come to confider the natural globe of the world as compofed of earth and water, and its divifions, you will examine obje6ls as they really exift: tiie ideas which they prefent are natural and obvious, and therefore will be more cafy for you to underlland and remember. E. As it is not probable I fliall ever ex- tend my travels beyond my native iiland, what is the ufe of gaining a knowledge of foreign countries ? a The 7'2 GEOGRArilY. C. The place of your relklence can be no objection to the acquirement of fuch infor- ination as may be in any degree eitiier ufe- ful, or ornamental. Of ail branches of knoAvlcdge there are few more ufeful than Geography. A liberal education is very in- complete without it. Young perfons fhould be inftructcd in it, that they may form pro- per notions of the globe they inhabit, of the relative fituations of different countries, and their foils and productions. It gives them a profpect of the various inhabitants of the world, and thus gratities their curiofity with pleafmg fubiecls, all tending to fliow the great variety of nature in the works of cre- ation, and the different conditions of man- kind advancing from fdvage life, as among the Hottentots at the Cape of Good Hope — to civilifed fociety, as it is difplayed in the moft refined nations in Europe. You v/ill fmd, too, that Geography is con- nected with many other kinds of knowledge, for inftance with natural hiitory, and the manners and culloms of ditfcrent nations — fubjects GEOGRAPHY. 7^ fubjcfts you arc very fond of hearing mc talk of. E. When you taught nie tiie divifions of tlie globe into land and water, there were a few I did not clearly underftand ; what is an JJihmm? C. It is a narrow neck of land, ^%hich joins a peninfula to a continent. Obferve in the map, the iftlunus of Suez joins Africa to Europe, and the ifthmus of Darien joins North to South America. E. What is the ditference between an Ocean and a Sea ? C. The former is a large body of fait wa- ter, bounded by fome of the larger divifions of the earth : the latter is a fmaller body of fait water communicating with the ocean by a ftraight, as the Baltic, the Mediterranean, and the Euxine feas. There are three prin- cipal Oceans — -the Atlantic, the Pacilic, and the Indian. Your curiofity to learn Geography will be increafed by your obferving, that wc have many articles of provifion, furniture, drcfs and ornament r4f' GKOGRAI'IiV. ornamcrit connected with the knowledge of other countries, and which we fliould enjoy more pcrtecUy, and value more highly, if we conlidered with Arhat labour they are pro- cured, and from ^\•hat diftant places they are brouo;ht Take for example the mahognny breakfalt. table, and its appendages; the tea, the cof- fee, the fugar, the cups, and faucers, the tea-fpoons, and the mahogany table itfelf. E. I know already, that tea grows in China, and that thcfe cups and faucers were made tliere of a fine fort of clay called por- celain ; coffee is brought from Turkey, and the Weft-Indies ; fugar is made from the ftrgar-cane, which grows in Jamaica, and other illands in the Weft Indies ; but pray inform me where the mahogany tree grows ? C. That which is of an inferior kind grows in Honduras, a province of Mexico, in North America ; that which is of a finer grain, and is ufed for elegant cabinet-work, grows m Jamaica. A mahogany tree fome- limes reaches the height of eighty feet : this wood GEOGRAPIir, 75 wood afnong its other excellent properties feldoni rots, and is never eaten by the worms. E. You mentioned drefs, as being con- nected with a knowledge of geography, I know that my muflin and callico gowns are made of cotton — but what is cotton ? C. It is the fruit of tlie cotton llirub, which grows in China, the Eaft and Weft Indies, and on the weftern coaft of Africa, tlie fnieft fort is brought from Bengal, and the coaft of Coromandcl. The cotton fhrub which is propagated by feed, grows about tuo feet high, and bears yellow or red flowers : each flower is fucceeded by a fmall button, the fize of a nut, which when ripe opens in three places, and difclofes three or four foldings of beautifully white cotton ; this is carefully gathered, carded, and fpun, and wove into calicoes for the drcffes of the na- tives. It fervcs to furnilli the clothing to the inhabitants of warm climates, as the fleeces of Iheep do to thofe of the cold ones. An immenfe quantity is font to England and Scotland. You have heard of the curious mills yfj OFOGnAPnv. mills at Nottingham, Alancheftcr, and otlier places, where the cotton is Ipun in lb much perfection by means of machinery. It is af- terwards manufactured into mullins, calicoes, fliawls, &c. 11. AVHiere is gold found ? C. Gold is found cliietly in the Bralils, Africa, and Hungary. Some has been lately dilcovered in the county of AVicklow in Ire- land, where a very large piece of native gold ■^^•as dilcovered ; it weighed twenty-two ounces, and was almolt pure. Gold is ge- nerally found in grains, called gold-dult, in the beds of torrents, or mixed with the fand of rivers, that flow down the mountains. The Portuguese employ many Haves to fearch for this precious metal in the mountains near Rio de Janeiro in the Jjrafils ; and it is com- puted that the quantity exported from thence to Europe does not amount to lefs than the value of two millions per annum. Gold is the heavitft of the metals except platina, and the mo ft ductile. JE. \Miat is meant by duclile ? C. E Hfy GEOGRArilY. 7/ C Ealy to be di-awn out in length ; a finale grain of pure gold may be beaten out to a furtace of tifty fquare inches. An ounce of gold may be beaten into fixteen hundred leaves, each three inches fquare, and thus extended it takes up more than 139,000 times its original furface. E. Mliere is filver found ? C. In no place is a greater quantity found tlian in the mountain of Potofi, which is fituated in the province of Peru, in South America, near a town of the fame name. iA.ll the country belongs to the Spaniards. Accident led to the difcovery of the precious metal which this mountain contains. An Indian, ^hofe name was Hualpa, purfued fome wild goats up the mountain, and com- ing to a very fieep part took hold of a ihrub, in order to allift him in climbing, but the flirub not being lirong enough to fupport his weight, came up by the roots, and difco- vered to his aftonifhed eves a mafs of bright fiher, and fome lumps of the fame metal among the clods that adhered to the roots. The 78 .Gi:OGRAPiIV. The delighted Indian hiiftened home Avith his treafure, Avaihcd it, exchanged it for va- rious articles of drefs and furniture, and when he wanted more, repaired to the fani jects it prefents are calculated to dilYufe a ibft com})lacency over the mind, and to iu- fpire THE FLOWER GARDEN. 91 fpire it a\ itb cheerfulnefs. In a garden, fome of the wifeft and belt of men have fought and found the trueft enjoyment of thenifelves, and in Paradife, which means a garden, our firlt parents, while pure and innocent, fliared that delight, which niade of earth a heaven." " Your praife of a garden, cannot, I think," faid Emily, " be better applied than to our own at this feafon. The gardener has fol- lowed your directions very exactly; Ave have here every kind of flow^er the foil will admit growing in thefe borders, and in no fummer did I ever fee them blooming in greater beauty, or profufion. C One of the moil Itriking characteriftics of flowers is their variety. They iliovv the hand of a confummate deligner, who requires not to have recourfe to the repetition of the fame effort to prove his Ikill. There is diverfity in them without confufion, and elegance without famenefs : they difplay a fertility of invention in their plan, and a deli- cacy of pencilling in their execution, wh ch may excite wonder, but defy imitation. E. The S^ TH? FLOWER GvVRDEK". E. The colours of flovvers are as pleafni^ to the eye as their variety ; how rich, how Jively they ar^ ! C. Tlie colours of foiiie floAvers are ftrong, others are faint ; fome are fpotted, others are ftriped, but whether their tints are blended together, or are diftincl aud contrafted, tliey are fo diftributcd, as to delight the be- holder. There is a ftile of colouring appa- rent in them, wliich Iho^s the excellency of Nature in thefe moft tender of her works. In point of richnefs and livelinefs, thefe co- lours can only be compared to the traixfient tints given to the clouds by the morning and evening fun, or the plumage which adorns the peacock and the pheafant. What aro tlie fmeft colours of the painter, what thole of the richeft Gobelin or Bruffels tapeftry, compared to thofe of Nature ! Van Huy^ fum muft drop his pencil, and ]\Iifs Linwood her needle, and confefs the inability of art t© produce an adequate imitation of nature. Pla>ce a ficv/er- by the fide of its moft admired copy. THE FLOWER CAUDEX. 93 copy, and you vv ill inftantly difcover the wide difterence between them. . Who can paint Like Nature ? Can Imagination boaft Amid its gay creation, hues liin. The 06 THE ^T.o^vER gardeic. llic Ihow-drop, crocus, and aconite, lead the train of Flora ; then the itock-giUiflower, hyacinth, fweet-pca, pink, auricula, ane- mone, lily of the valley, carnation, tulip, ranunculus, jonquil, and others fucceed. Thefe bloom as the fummer advances, and the beams of the fun give more lively and varied colours. Autumn boafts her gay pro- geny in fun-flowers, marigolds, tuberofes, ftocks, and afters, and many others, which feem reluftantly to fuiTcnder their fading petals to the chilling blafts and frofts of the declining year. Who does not plwck thefe fucceffive flowers \Aith delight? What poet from Homer to Darwin has not fung their praife with tranfport, and the pleafure which the poet takes in defcribing them, can only yield to that which animates his fong, when he celebrates the fair who adorns herfelf with them. E. Do you think that all perfons take as much pleafure in flowers as we do ? C. As time purfues its courfe, the failiioft"S of THE FLOWER GARDEX. 97 Of mankind vary, and in all human inven- tions not only novelty but caprice is found to prevail. That this is not the cafe with rcfpecl: to tkc productions of nature may be proved by the continual fondnefs for flowers in every age and country. It pervades all ranks, from the lady of falliion, adorned with the coftly bouquet at Chriltmas, to the cot* tage children, v. lio unbidden rove the v.oods and meadows to gather the primrofcs and violets of the fpring. E. If I cannot fee fiovvers grov.ing in the garden, I have no fmall pleafiire in fee- ing good imitations of them in cut paper, drawings, or paintings. C. This is very natural, for of fuch obje^s every tolerable refcmblance affords pleafure. We fee them reprefented by the archite6l upon the capitals, cornices, and frieze ot baildhigs : the carver imitates them in the lighter ornaments of wood, where the deli- cacy of their forms makes amends, in fome decree, for the want of faitable colours, Flovv-ers too give beauty to embroidery, and vol. I. H the 03 THE FLUWI^E GAapt5t' liic iigiit (Ir.ipvMy of the iVir borwus ele- gance fi'om a iuriu of jcirumine, or a w rcath of myrtle. And to prove ypur foiKlut'fs foi" iiuita'dii^ iiovvcr:^, 1 reiiicmbcr how delighted you \v:€re when I hrft «;ave you a pencil aint colours to dnr-v and paint them. £. Of what particular fubitanccs arc flowers mtidc? C. This i-s a queftion, Uke many others tliat relate to the works of Nature, iwteafily anfwered. I had once itmie converfatiou^ with a chemjft iipon the fubject. lie t,old me they all cfjnfiited ot" tije fame cgi^injpii, priaciples, tliat is, calcareous earth, oil, \ya- ter, and air, with a nuautity of iron, to which? ti^ey osvo tlipk colours.- IJut hf? could not in- form Hie how the diixerence between tiowers wa-i prodii/j£|d ; thi:i wa?> a lecyjLl of Is\itur«' aa ujikiip.wn to h^ni as* to nie. lie could m^t iuUru(*t iiiC in wiiat maiutcr,. ox in whiit pro- portions the earth, air, dews, rains, and the fun contribute to the formation of v.egetablcsr and ulliit their progrefs to maturity. V^'c fecr ejtiis^ my Emily, but v>e mufc be content to remain l-HF, FLOWER GARDEN. QQi remain ignorant of caufes, and the fcicntifie bptaiiilf, Avho can refer every plant to it^ proper clafs, as well as the illiterate gardeiier w ho rearo it, mult be equally loft in aduiil'filr tion of the myfterious ,v,orji3 of God. E. I obferve a number of double flowers in the garclen ; are there lione growing wild in the tield^? . ... C They are only the produce of the rich foil of gard^n^ : they becoitie double by change of noyrilhment, and are coniidcved merely as the fpqrts of nature. E. I ani at a lofs to expreis to yqu »fha| difappointmcnt I felt yefterday morning : I came here intending to pluck a full-blown rofe, and I found half its petals had fallen lu the ground. C. Tliis difajppoiatmei^t fugg$fts to me a reflection, which throw-s -a gloojiu, over ttie gay • profpeCtof the f.ower-garden. Beautiful as are the colours of ilowers, and delicious ^ are their perfumes, hocw tranfientis- their exiftence, meafurcd fometimes by a few days, or weeks at moft. Ilcvijit qi^r^ j^rders, now h2 fo 100 THE rLO^\ER G A RUE NT.'' fo gay -with ne\\ly-blown flowers, a little time' hence; and vou At^ll" feek for them too late.' Nor is their mortality the effeft of rude blafts, or of winter, but their fixed period comes, and- the 'pride "of the garden is no' more. Thus does the lark foar on- high to falute the fun with her early fong ; and thus the nightingale, conce'aled in fliades, thrills her hoteihraiigh the grove: wben their appointed feafon is once palled, mute is the melody of the feathered race, and mixed with the duft of the'eaith are the fliort-lived flowers. Sweet blufliing Rofe, I mourn'd for thee, Once pendent from the mofly thorn, To think how brief thy dcftiny, •H^w.-Tobn thy fading flovrers were gone ! : IL. ^mblenl of Beauty's tranfient bloonij • That grac'd my Anna good .as fair; I gave her to thp liient tomb, "And wifli'd that lilcht tomb to fliafc. HI. Forgetful, .THE FLOWER GARDEN. 101 III. Forgetful, that the lovelioft forms» Like rainbow colours of the Iky, . , Bright harbingers of vernal liorms, Shine but to be admir'd, and die. IV. Forgetful, that the foy^rtign Lord, Who lent her fwccts to us below, Will wake her with his potent word, And youth unfading will beltow. On fcraphs' wings Ihe will arife, To join her kindred choir above; ^ "Will bloom an Angel in the ikies, Blcfs'd with her Saviour's' endlefs love. ,' The Colonel repeated thefe lines- in a mournful tone, which brought the tears of for- Towful aft'e6lion into the eyes of EiTrrly,-*at tlie remembrance of her mother* — the fubjfO; of the plaintive and pious ftrains. After a iliort paule, flie refunied the convcrfation, wilhing to check her father's purfuit of a fubject fo dear, yet fo painful to her Qwu heart as well as to his. . £. I 102 Tin: 1L0V.-£R GAUDEy. E. I obferve the feeds and roots of floAvcrs are brought from one garden to another : ^vhcre arc they to b6 foiirtd groAtin^^ v. ilrl, and in a perfectly natural ftate ? C. Flowers are the olfspring of various foils and climates, and molt of them Merc brought from foreign countries, and natu- ralifed in England. The auricura i:^;, 1 be- lieve, a native of Egypt, the pink and the carnation wen: brouglit from Italy, the lily from Syria ; and your favourite, the common jcflarnine, that climbs lip tH yolir chamber window, from the E^ft Ifidies. For fome of the moft elegant fpecies of rofes we arc indebted to France, Korth America, the ije^&nh, and Chiria. None of thfc tulips, and only a ie:^1i' fpecies of the anemone, are ?!9tires of this .illand. Many of the flocks ftre foreigners, fo are all tiie pailibn tiowersj ftnd many of the violets. The only fpecies cff Digit ali$, ot Fox glove, which is not an £!^oticj is the purpurea; this in the tnonths of June and July is a grfcat ornamerit to our road-fides and hedges. ■ The daify, bellis pc^ ixnnis, ..-c^/?/>, the dog rofe, rofd ctttfinct, and l^e' lior/evfacklc, loiiiccya ctiprijolium, the wixivt lily, mpHphd'd tttba, t\-h}ch opens in tli^ iriorfi- \x\^ find clofcs in t!ie tvcniiip:, 'are ntttivcs of Entrljtnd, ^nd arc foftic of the inofi beauti- ful of our A^ ild i!oA\ers- The poet Cowpcr obferve^ in a line, which, thougli profaic^ conveys a very jiilt jcmaik- " Who loves a garden, loves a grwn-houfc too. Aiid this elegant appendage to a garden Owes much df its beautv to tlic aloe, the nivftlc, th'e c6V"ciis, the njeryhlbriantliemliui, and the gerariiiini, v.hich are hativcs of warrtier tli- rtlat'es. Of the nufnerous criccc, or heaths, which fahiion Iras lately iiitroduced into green-houfes, I believe not more than four are to be found upon onr mountains. E. ^Vhat is the particular ufe of flower's ? C. To ■ infpire us ^^ith chcerfulnefs, to pleafe our fight and fmell, and more efpecially to excite our gratitude to the benevolent Giver of all things. Duly imprcfTed by fuch a fen- 104 THE FLOWER GARDEN". a fcntimcnt, wc Ihall not merely throw a iuperticial glance upon the objects that fur- round us, but iTiall derive ibnie ufeful in- ftru6lion from almoft every walk we take : even a daify or a cowflip will teach us a mo- ral leilbn : This our life exempt from public haunt Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, Sermons in ftoncs, and good in every thing. If the great and Avife Creator has fo regarded the lily of the iield, that even Solomon, the moft powerful king of Ifrael, w^hen appear- ing in his robes of ftate, was not fo ele- gantly drelled ; how much more, as we are allured by our blelTed Saviour himfelf^ will his providential care be extended to us, if we ftudy to obey his commands ? Thefe remarks I hope will rather excite than fatisfy your curiofity, as I wjfli you not to rell contented with a little knowledge us a florift, but to afpire to the more exteniive and fcientific information of a botanift. You are, I hope, eager to pafs beyond the bounds THE FLOWER CARDEY. 105 bounds of the garden, to wander in tiie more fpacious and luxuriantly wild garden of Na- ture : of tliis plcafure I promife you the full enjoyment : we will range the woods, de- Icend into the vales, and climb the moun- tains together, and I ihall be happy to lliow you with what care Nature adapts her pro- duce to various foils, and how liberal llie is in beftowing upon- this our native county of Cumberland many fpecies of plants not to be found in the more fouthern parts of the iiingdom. CHAP. CHAP. X. MiiA tiiir 'j^iaits ^ficir, Crtrttfcnl hie trra>^s V.\c p.ilh of iivimblo life, Ati4 Hlcc the glorious Mafrer whom he fcrvos, ^t once fupplics the 1« iToii, and e.tample : Each word is mildnofs, anJ each at'Hon love ; He forms a train of follower's like Hirjflir, I'd flfivh fir cr6^H^-ii!^nK)#aK A. Vv II AT is truly ufcfiil tmrl excellent is al- ways prized in proportion to its rarity, and the dituculty of procuring it. To know the juft value of good neighbours, a pcrfon niuft rcficic in a retired place where few are to be found within the compafs of fevei'al miles. Colonel Lorton was fortunate in having one neighbour whofe excellence made him ample amends for the want of more — this was the Reverend Doftor Marriot, the curate of the parifh. Doctor EMILT. 107 Do6lor Marriot had been brought up in tlio fcvere unci hardy IcJiool of indtgcnce ; and • although he had been compelled to fubiuit to many privations of eafe and luxury, he had formed habits moll ui'eful m life — thole of diligence and economy. He was enabled by the kinducfs of fome friends to linilli his education at the univcriity, and to obtain holy orders. He ujan icd m ithout any profpect of an income beyolid the cn-y raey bf the parilh wherfc he refided, and a fganty falary arhing from one of thofe fmall endowed fchools common in the North of Euglaud, to which the village children are ferit for gratuitous education. He v.-as gentle in mahnersj his eyes bearhed w ith good-na- ture, and his heart expanded with charity. No fports of the field, or amufemcnts at home, ever interrupted the dilcharge of his duties ; he irrftru6ted the young, and he cheered the old; he rccoiiciled thofe who M'ere at variance ; he was the comforter of the fick, and the friend of the poor. Such condu6l endeared him to all who knew him. him. As: he walked through tlie village he was often greeted with the bleffings, and al- '^vays with the grateful falutations of all he 'met. His fermons were directed to the moft •ufeful topics of practical religion ; they •Tvere exprelTed in very plain yet nervous language, and hrought home to the feelings of his attentive audience hy a peculiar ear- neftnefs of manner. Colonel Lorton, who >vas his conftant hearer^ failed not to de- rive both from his difcourfes and converfa- tions, many ufeful hints for the inftru^-fion of his daughter, of which evident traces are to be found, in the courfe of this work, par- ticularly in his Converfations and Letters Oo her upon fubjects of religion. Doctor jMarriot loved folitudc, and his fa- vourite fcene of contemplation, vrhencver he had leifure, was within hi^s church. 1 here he fometinies Avalked till the ihadcs of even- ing clofcd in darknefs : ho paced liowly up and dov.'n the fdcred place, while the fiience that reigned around, was interrupted only by EMILY. 10.9 by the clock ftriking tlie hour with folcnin founds, aiid reminding him tbitt it was time to depart. His fondnefs for fiich retirement may be imputed to a romantic, but it- was not ow- ing to a melancholy turn of mind. It gave himfmgular pleafure to feclude himfelf where, without interruption, he could purfuc the courfe of his own ideas : he was capable in an extraordinary degree of mental exertion and mental abftra&ion; yet his meditations were not more fublime than edifying, for he was fond oi fearing from reflections on the vanity of all human affairs, and, the un- certainty of human life,— -topics fuggefted by the rcpofitories of death around him, to the thoughts of immortality, and the happi- nefs of heaven. CHAP. CHAP xr. Ilis years but young, but his cxppricnf the %plt iiUies of tlie lakes ^nd riyer-s, s^d £ew birds at which he difclaarged his guiij co'dld .efcap.e his fte^dy aim. It Wvas the great object of Doftor ^lar- riot's pudeavoms to give iiis (op j^k ^IJ^ education as to qufdify hmi J^qr ;tbc p.rofe'^ fipia of d. <:IergYm,au, .uQd he pr,^i^iif(i?d tlia moft rigid economy in his pwn, i^^aiily, in oi-dtr to utVord him the advantage p.f e(>m- |)leting his lluiLlics in the (.miyqiiity. Pair- ing Edvvaj-d's. j:eiidenee in coUege, lus ir-jaik and fociable difpoiition gaiiied him admif- iip^ iiito good cQmpany, ,and Ihun.ning, rs much }\t EMILY. miicli from incliiK'ition as motives of pru- dence, thofc intemperate parties Avliich af- finning the mafk of pleafure, ultimately ex- pofe thoughtlefs youths to punifliment and diftrefs, he fought for rational and improv- ing focicty. To his feniors he uas refpccl- ful and attentive, and among his compa- nions a prime favourite, for no one was more cheerful or inoffenfive ; no one could fmg a better fong, or tell a more pleafant ftory. Of all his ftudics t^^e moft attra6live was hiftory. The works of the beft Greek and Roman writers, in which are defcribed the memorable actions of the heroes of antiquity, he read with great attention. But that branch of biography was his moft favourite purfuit, which related to the illuftrious cha- rafters of oin* OA^h country. Great was the admiration of the conduct of Sir Philip S'uhicy, in the clofing fcene of life, 'when fainting and thirfty, he offered the cup' of water brought for himfelf to the dying foklier. He lamented the untimely f afi 6 EMILY. 113 fall of the gallant Wolfe, flain in the mo- ment of vi6tory ; and he mourned the lofs of tiie humane and adventurous Howard, who after traverfmg many diftant parts of the globe to alleviate the fufferings of prifoners, fell a facrifice to his arderlt philanthropy. In every fuch biographic fcene, fired with the greateft ardour of youth, he fancied him- fclf an after, and thought the glory of a true heroe cheaply purchafed at the expenfe of toil and danger, and even of life itfelf He became impatient to mix in the bufy world, that he might imitate thofe illuftrious ex- amples of virtue, he was ever ready to ap- plaud and admire. That thefe fair bloflbms of his education were matured into the fruits of excellence, the fubfequent aftions of his life will fufficiently prove. VOL. 1. I CHAR CHAP. xn. Mctliiiiks I feci my. heart on lire, My breaft is adumant, niy^tlioughts have wings, To bear me to yon azuro fields of hcav'n : Can I not feck tlie eagle in his eyry, Pcrch'd on the fummit of Kiliarney's craggs ; Or led by pi-ty break the captive's chain, Wlio many a year has figh'd for native home, That mock'd his dreams? Such is the vvilli of youth, Whofc fancy roams through the wide field of a-itioh,. And like the generous courfer fcovns aH bounds. That Hop his fwift career. ' A. 1 HE followmcf occuiTcnce which afforded to o Edward IMarriot an opportunity of beginning his courfe of intrepidity and ui'eful exertion, gave a peculiar turn to his mind, and had no linall influence on his happinefs. There was, according to annual cuftom, a rigatta and boat race upon Kelwick Lake. It was attended bv a great concourle of 6 fpe^t^tors, EMILY. 115 fpcclators, mid among the company \vh.Q ro- forted thither, were the Lortoii and JMarriot families. At the lignal given by hring a gun, a number of boats ftarted frpni tJie Ihorc to row aroLind Pocklington Inland lor the prize. The numerous veffels of different fizes drefled up ^vith coloured ftreamers and flags, and lillcd with ladies and geptlemeUj variegated the furface of the lake, and. the dalhing of the oars, and the ir^erriment of the company refounded on all iides. Emily Lorton was with a party in one boat, and Edwai'd j\Iarriot not far diftaqt in another. In the afternoon, the weather became un- favourable, the fun was obicured, the dark clouds arofe in tlireatening ar/ay *fvQ^ Bor- rowdale, the wind founded hollow, the mountains were concealed in thick mifts, and the fcream of the water fowls, the cer- tain indication of an approaching ftcrm, was heard, as they palled over in rapid flight. The lake began to rife in large waves, aud fwelled in violent agitation : the flailies of lightening were vivid, and the thunder rolled I i' in lib KMII.\. in lengthened })eals, (liltinctly re-echoed I'everal times by the mountains, after inter- vals of aw fill filence. By fome untkilfuhiefs, or hurry in the management of the boat, in which llmily was, one lide wus expofed to the waves, the water rulhed in full tiow, and the boat was upfet. Emily, the only lady on that fide the boat, gave a loud fcream as Ihe fell ; her terrified companions were wholly occupied in providing for their own fafety, and waded to the land without reji-ardino; the fmkinjr DO C fair one. But her cries Mere not uttered in vain ; they inftantly drew the attention of young Harriot to her : he fprang from his boat into the lake, feized the fainting Emily, and witli fome flight afliftance from his party, conveyed her to a houfe near the Ihore. Her spirits were violently agitated by this accident, and flie was for a Ihort time indif- pofed. Her thanks to Providence for her efcape were araent, and often repeated, and when flie thought of her youthful preferver, there EMILV. Il7 there was a fentiment which mingled witli the recollection of his promptitude, courage, and hunianit}^ ; fay ye fagacious Cafuifts,^ — ouglit it to be called efteem, gratitude, or friendlliip ; or can it be beft expreflcd by the nioft tender and endearing of all appel- lations ? Nor was young Marriot lefs affected by what had happened. He had always re- garded Mil's Lorton with admiration ; but on account of the wude difference of their fituations ; himfelf the fon of an obfcure clergyman, without fortune or preferment ; • — Ihe the only c h'ld and heirefs of a diftin- guilhed officer who prided himfelf upon the antiquity, as well as the property of his family ; and more than all thefe confidera- tions, when lie thought of her perfonal charms and excellent qualities of mind, he regarded her rather as an an2;el, than a mor- tal, moving in a fphere far above fuch as he could ever afpire to. From tliis time he was rcquefted with particular earneftnefs by Colonel Lorton to be 118 Ertt'r.Y. be a frequent vifttor at his houib ; and tliis cir- cuiiiftance, as it gave him opportunities of converfing T\ith Emily, increafcd the rifirig i!ame of his attachment. When Ihe thanked him for having preferved her hfe, the tone of her voice, her grateful manner, and her expreffive eyes gliftening Avith tears, fo fully convinced him of her fenfibility, that he thought himfelf fure of her pity, however he might fail of her love. He encouraged the paffion, v/hich he dared not to avow; unceafmgly he nourifhed it with the moft tender thoughts; and indulged his fancy with the fweet illulions natural to a firft attach- ment. To enjoy the fociety of Emily, to fee her fmile, to hear her converfc, fcemed to him the only objects tliat made his life pre- cious. When abfent from Lorton ^''ale, he confidered hinn'clf as banifiied from the Gar- den of Eden ; the lovely form of Emily was ever preiei^t to his mind, and no company, hov^ever lively or gay, equalled in his opi- nion, the luxury of linding out fome folitary place ;---the iliade of a wood, or the banks of a inuY- EMILY. 119 a murmuring rivulet, and there meditating on her charms. He often wiihed himfelf a monarch, that he might have the merit of offering himfelf, and every appendage of royalty to her ac- ceptance : yet fo humble did he think his actual condition, and fo trivial his pretert- lions to her favour, that he had not the llighteft hope of being entitled to any higher privilege than a Ihare of thofe fnriles of affa- bility, and expreflions of benevolence, which flie beftowed with native goodnels on all around her. The families exchanged feveral vifits, in the courfe of which the young friends amufed themfelves and the company, with little concerts. Emily had an excellent ear for mufic, and touched the piano-forte \^'ith neatnefs and delicacy of execution ; her voice gave the fineft expreffion to every note of the compofcr, and was peculiarly fuited for rapturous piety, and tender lenti- ment : her execution of an air of Handel or a Scotch fong could hardly be furpaflcd. Edward 120 EMILY. Edward played on the flute and clarinet, and although he was a felf-taught mulician, he managed thefe inftruments with tafte and (kill. It was however remarked by the Co- lonel, that the young friends when playing together, feldom kept good time ; the truth was, they ^vere thinking too much pf each other to do jufticc to their mulic. A walk in the garden led Edward and Emily to make fome remarks on the flowens then blooming, in the pride of June, •' Of all flowers," faid Emily, as Edward plucked and prefented to her a half-blown rofc, " this I jnoft admire ; its petals are fo finely formed, its colours arc fo clear, and tender, and its fragrance fo delicate, I believe it has always been the favourite among all nations, and is carefully reared inalmoft all climates. Does not the lover think he pays his mif- trefs the higheft compliment by comparing her to the rofe ; and does not the poet difplay his fancy to the greateft advantage in tinging its praife ?" " You have good reafons for your par- tiality/ EMILY. 121 tiality/' replied Edward ; " yet allow me to fay, I think the violet has nearly equal prc- teniions to your regard. The rofe, it is true, gloAvs with the blufh of beauty, but does not the violet relembie the azure of the fky? Suppofe I had a violet in my hand, and the pretty flower had the gift of fpeech, and could make you the following addrefs, I hope you would not be difp leafed at its requeft, nor with my changing the language in which it is conveyed ; as I muft confels, that for the original thought I am indebted to a French poet." THE PETITION OF THE VIOLET. I. Beneath the friendly hawthorn's fpray, A native of the lowly vale, I bafliful fliun the eye of day, And with my breath perfume the gale. II. When vernal zephyrs foftly rtfe, As you fair maid unconfcious tread, ^ly sweets your raptur'd fcnfc furprize, And veiled in leaves betray my head. III. Like 1^2 tMTty. III. Like you in modcft garb attir'd, A foe to ihow, and gay parade, Lefs iVcn, by all the more admir'd, I flourifh in the rural ihade. IV. O place me on thy fnowy breaft, Exalted to that ti)rone of love, The humble violet, fo blef'j'd, The proudeft of the fiowcrs will prove. CHAP. CHAP. XIII. Sometimes the pencil in cool airy lialh Biule the gay bloom of vernal lantlfcapes rifr. Or autumn's varied lliades imbrown the walls ; Now the black tempell Ihikes the aftonitli'd eyes, Now down the llecp the tlalhing torrent flics ; The trembling fun now plays o'er ocean blue, And now rude mountains frown amid the fkics ; Wliate'er Lorraine light touch'd with foftening hand, Or favage Rofa dafli'd, or learned Pouffin drew, Thomson's Callle of Indolence. JjiDWARD v,as fond of drawing, and his natural genius for that elegant art had been improved by the leifons of an able teacher. He traced his outlines with a very correcb hand, meafured his diftances with an accu- rate eye, took his views with rapidity and cxactnefs, and his pencil was frequently employed to delineate the objects of his na- tive fcenery. Emily 1C4 ZMILV. Emily was delighted \vith his Iketche?, her attention to thcni Avas the fource of new pieafure, for it gave her a more diftinft idea of the beauties of nutvn'c that iurrounded her dwelling, and adorned the romantic country', in which it was fituatcd. It may be readily imagined, that flie did not copy any other drawings with equal fatisfaclion. When Emily Ihowed her copies to Ed- ward, he was careful to point out their de- fects, as well as beauties ; and Ihe was bet- ter fatisfied with his frankncfs, than fhe would have been with his flattery : becaufe fhe was anxious for improvement. lie in- deed who could recommend his criticifms by a peculiar fweetnefs of manner, needed not flatter in order to pleafe. As flie took great pains to excel, flie foon made an ex- traordinary progrcfs, and was delighted with his praife, as flie gre^- more and more con- fcious of deferving it. " How amulinsi," faid Emily to Edward, ** is the art of drawing ! I think I perceive in it peculiar advantages over other accoui- pUdimcnts : EMILY. Ifi5 plithments : they require many aids, while this wants very few. Society is indifpcnfa- bly neceliary tor dancing. With regard to Hiulic, in order to play a tune, I muft have my forte-piano ; but for drawing, I require only a pencil, and a Iheet of paper, wiiich are cheaply purchafed, cafily procured, and are eaiily portable, wherever I may go. " Surely I have reafon to congratulate myfelf on my iituation, being fo favourable to my improvement in drawing, as every walk I take prcfents me with the fineft fub- jccts for my pencil : nature in this our w ild and lovely country difplays all the piQ:u- refque before me in the happieft variety of mountains, rocks, lakes, and rapid rivers. I have heard there are grander views in Scotland, particularly in the neighbourhood of Loch Lomond, but the profpects there muft, I thinic, be too extenfive and vafr, for an artift to be able to reprefent all their features in any landfcape with effecl." " The propriety of your remark," fa id Edward, " is confirmed by traveller-^ with refpeci I£6 E?.fILt. refpca both to Switzerland and Italy. They fay nothing can exceed the grandeur of the l^es of Laufanne and Geneva, the valley of Chamouni, and the Glaciers towering rpajeftically above them, and covered ^ith tjie; collected fnows of centuries ; but for Ccenery and proipe6ts not boundlcfs, but limited ; not favage, but fweetly wild ; not dim but diftin^ ; you muft proceed to the olive-crowned hills and blooming vales of Italy, and vilit the cafcades, groves, and ruins that adorn the clafiical villages of Tivoli, Albano, and Frefcati.' "" Drawing," continued Emily, "furniflies me with the beft notices of perfons and places ; it is a good fubftitute for defcription, and conveys more diftinfl; ideas of vifible pbjefts. Even a few lines accurately traced can convey a more exa6t notion of a per- fon or a landfcape, than twice the number of fentences written to defcribe them. Danc- ing may be faid to exift only in motion, and mulic in fleeting founds, but the productions of my pencil are permanent ; furely if .1 may judge EMILY. V27 judge by its iife and beauty, drawing imift be, aji art of great antiquity." " It is," laid Ed- ward, " i\)Y we trace it in the liieroglypliics, or facred characters of the ancient Egyptians; and when the Spaniards difcovcred Mexico, the only mode vvhicii the ingenious people of that country had to convey intelligence of the arrival of the Spaniards, was to paint a fliip, and the figures of the invaders, and fend the picture to their emperor. " No doubt you have heard, that among the Greeks., it was fuppofed to derive its origin from the moft tender of the paiTions — it is faid to have been invented by a maid of Corinth." " You allude to fome ftory I never heard," faid Emily, " pray favour me with a recital of it." " A beautiful maid, of Corinth," laid Ed- ward, " I tliink her name was Dione, was ftrongly attached to Polemon, an amiable youth of the fame place. I'hey had ex- changed their mutual vows, and agreed to vifit the temple of Hym.en ; but it was ne- celiary 1*28 EMri.v. ceffary for the youth to taki^ a journey f^ a diftant country, previous to their mar- riage. The enamoured nymph, the night bfcfore his departure, entered his apartment, and found him afleep : a hmip was burn- ing on the table, and the ihade of his face appeared diftin6tly on the wall : this ihe re- marked, and quick in invention, for how ingenious is love ! llie feized a piece of charcoal, and traced his profile. It was a rude and imperfeft ell ay, as you may fup- pofe, but even the iliade of a perfon fo beloved could not fail to give her pleafurc, whenever it was contemplated ; and it fbothed her fancy during the heavy hours of abfence with a memorial, that enlivened remem- brance, and cheriilied her affeftion." " What a pleaiing ftory," faid Emily, " and what an excellent fubje^t for the •' pencil!" " I have,"faid Edward, " an engraving that repreients the fubje^t very pleafmgly ; and it is at your fervicc to copy — with it I will fend a com})anion. founded on a whim of my own r.Mir.r. ICf? own: I have reprcfcntcd the I\faid of Co- rinth ailcep, and her lover tracing Jicr like- neis upon the wall." " This idea," faid Emily, " ho\Vever it may oftend againlt hiltorical truth, has, I think, greatly tlic advantage in point of de- licacv of dclign, for which reafon I had ra- thcr copy your improvement, than the ori- ginal.'* Edward's drawing was done in crayons, a kind of colouring which jjivcs the imita- tion of the bloom of flclh colour in the fofteft and moft natural manner. Emily saw or fancied Ihe faw in his ]\Iaid of Corinth a re- femblance of herfelf. She did not venture to alk him the queftion ; but Ihe certainly was not wrong in her conjecture. She made an accurate copy of his drawing : he pro- pofed an exchange, to which Ihe readily acceded ; and it is only in the power of pet- fons in their fituations, and influenced by their feelings, to eftimate the value of fuch prefents. VOL. I. K CHAP. CHAP. XIV. THE WONJ>ERS QF THE OCEAN. CONVERSATION VI. As Colonel Lorton's health had fuficrcd h\ his frequent 'expolure to the clnlling Waits of the northern fprings and winters, during his clofe attention to his agricultural concerns, he was adviled to try the eliefts of fea-bath- ing, and to drink mineral water at the foun- tain-head. Tills double beneiit could be afforded to him at Scarborough, whither ho refolved to go, and to take Emily witli him. They purfued their journey w hliout delay, till they reached the antient city of York, and there the minfter, the moft fublime and venerable monument of Gothic architecture in the world occupied much of their atten- tion. 8 Thev THE VONDER« OF THE OCEAN. 131 Tlicy entered tlie church while the fer- vice was performing : on approaching the clioii', they heaid tlie colle6b, beginning with the words " Lord of all Power and Might," fung as an anthem. It was fet to mulic by the poet J\fafon, formerly Precentor of York, in a Itile that does honour to his genius. Tlie organ accompanied the fweet voices of the chorilters in die moft harmonious man- ner. Such facred mufic as Emily had ne\'er heard before, added to the grandeur and the folemnity of all the furrounding objects, jfiUed lier mind with wonder and delia;ht. She was indeed enraptured ; her fancy was raised to the moft fublimc contemplations, and flie thouglit flie was liftening to more than mortal founJs, in an edifice raifed by more than mortal hands. She prevailed upon her father to linger with her in the church for fome time alter the fervice was ended, and as Ihe -vvas una- ble to exprefs what Ihe thought of the ge- neral grandeur of the building, and the juft proportions of tlie different parts, Ihe was K 2 deliijhted 132 THE -woxDERS or Tilt ccrAV, delighted with inufing in filent admiration. Advancing vith flow I'tcps, llic gazed upon tho long-extended aillcs, the lofty and niaiiy pillars, and the richly painted windows, which admit fufticient light to make tlic choir, the ti'anfepts, and the nave diltinctly vilible, and yet exclude the glare of day. When her father conducted her back to the inn, Emily complained, that her pleafure had been too fliort, and flic expreflcd a wiili to return to hear the fervice the next morn- ing ; but the indifferent ftate of her father, s health, made it necefikry to proceed on their journey without delay. The fea-port to\^•n of Scarborough which they foon after reached, is lituated in the North Riding of Yorkfliirc, near a fine bay, from which it rifes in the form of a crei.^ cent : a fteep rock llieltering the town from the north, and the ruins of a caftle. crown- ing its fummll, have a bold and picturefque appearance. As tlie Colonel's Indifpofition was not of fo ferious a nature as to require confine- ment, THE "WONDERS OF TUE OCEAN. 133 ment, he and his daughter fometimcs mixed in the cuftomary local aniulenients ; fuch as attending the libraries, failing and fiili- ing. Emily was much plcaled with the place, as it furnilhed her witli new lubje^ts for her pencil, \\hether they walked upon the wide extending fands, or took a view of the town, and the furronnding objects from the caftlc rock. " I faw," faid Emily, " the minfter at York with wonder, but 1 think no object can be fo grand and aftonilhing as the iea. " Thus," faid the Colonel, " you juftly mark the fuperiority of natui'e to art." ^' The profpecl of the fea I am now en- joying," faid Emily," attracts my eyes, more than any thing I ever fa\v before, whether I watch the courfe of its rolling waves breaking in hoarfe murmurs on the fliore, or extend my view along its diftant floods till they feemed mixed, and loft in the clouds." ColoJicl 154 THE WOXDFRS OF THL OCEA.V. Colonel Lorton. The ocean is the centre to A\ hich all the great rivers of the world direct their courfe ; but although they flow into it, as into a grand relervoir, yet its quantity of waters is not perceptibly in- creafed. Em'dif. All great rivers then flow into the fea, as fome of the fnialler do into our lakes. But what is UUfwater, the largelt of our lakes, compared to the ocean r Here I can fee no bounds, no fhores. The view as far as I can judge, is truly fublime, but what is the ufe of this vaft expanfe of water ? Colonel Lorion. The fea is calculated to excite our admiration of the power and wif^ dom of the Almighty, and it affords fuch productions as are of the greateft fervice to mankind. Although it appears to op- pofe bounds to the adventurous fpirit of man, he has contrived by his ingenuity in conftruftino; veflels, and his ikill in f!;uidincf them, THE W'O'NDEllS OF TIIH OCEAX. 135 them, to render it a channel of GQmmunica- tion with his feilow-^rreatures however dif- tant ; ouf com-itiyHicn in partiqular not only, make the ocean the channel o.f their com- merce, but the fceiie of theif uavai triumphs, over all our enemies. Emilif. Obferve yondei- ihip how fa ft it fails : not long; ao-o I faw the whole of it ; at fn-ft its hull, then the lower parts of its mafts (lifappeared, an4 nQw it is almoft all. out of fight, for I can only dillinguilh its topfails. Thefe appearances ar^ vevy fur- prizing ; how are they to be accounted, for ? C. They arife from the form of the fur- face of the fea, which is nearly round. Thefe appearances at fea will no longer furprize you, if you recolle6l what you muft often have obferved by land. Suppofe you were not far from the top of a mountain, and fa\9^ u perfon upon the top going to the oppofite fide ; in proportion as he moved froni you, you would fee leis ancj lefg of hii«, tii( at la(t he would appear to fii).k entife^y qvi^ 9C your fight. The difeent ^ppe^rappes of the ihip )3G THE WONDERS OF THE OCEAN. iliip you have noticed, afford a proof that the true figure of the globe is what the geogra- phers call fpheroidical, or nearly round. Another proof is, that the fea, when calm, always appears to be bounded by fome por- tion of a circle. a. I think I have heard of pcrfons, who have failed round the world. C. Lord Anfon, Captain Cook, and many others, have literally done fo. Had the fea been one continued level furface, the longer they had failed, the farther they would have gone from home ; inftead of which, by con- stantly fleering a ftrait courfe, they returned to England from whence they fu'ft fet out. E. But how could they, or how can any fdilors find their Avay acrofs the wide and pathlefs fea to the inoft diftant fliores, parti- cularly in the night, and in fogs ? C. They freer a fliip in a certain courfe according to the rules of navigation, and th«y find the port to which they are bound by the affiftance of the ■Mariners' Compafs, £, M'liat is the Mariners' Compafs? C. It THE VGXDERS OF TIIF, OCEAN'. 137 C It is a circular box, the infide of which is marked at equal diftanccs with the points' of tlic conipafs, that is, the -four cardinal- points EWNs, and the other' intermediate di- vifions, making 32 hi all. In this box a needle is nicely hung, fo as to turn upon a centre, with the flighteft impulfej E. What is the ufe of this needle? --- C. To iliow the north and fouth {joints 'of the compafs. A needle will acquire th.5s Avonderful property by having been rubbed with a magnet, or load-ltonc; E. AVhat is a magnet ? C. The natural magnet is a hard dark-co- loured mineral llibltance, generally found In iron mines. Every magnet and every needle that is made an artilicial magnet by being rubbed with a natural one, has a noith end and a fouth end, called the north and fouth poles. The failors by obferving the needle in the compafs can always tell very nearly which is the north, and which the fouth point, and know what courfe to'^fteer. E. A\'hy is the water of the fea fait ? a It 138 inE t\"o::t)EEs at the cCEAy. C. It is probable that the Creator gave the fea-wiiter this ialtnefs, not only to prc- fei've it from corruption, but to enable it to bear the greater burthens. Salt-water is much heavier, and of courfe is more buoyant than frefh. Sea- water ^vithin the torrid zone, where exceffive Jicat avouM fubjc6t every thing to putrefaction, is found to be faltelt, but the nearer you approach the cold climate of the poles, the faitnefs is lefs perceptible. It is however obferved, that faitnefs alone does not prevent corruption, for ftagnant fait wa- ter like frefh, foon grows putrid. This has been proved by experiments made by IMr. Boyle and otlier naturahfts. The motion of the fea is therefore ncccllary to prevent its waters from becoming putrid. J^. I obferve the waves of the fea ad- vance upon the fliore, and retire at different times, not merely when they are driven by the w inds, but in calm weather ; — does this motion depend upon any regular caufes? C The THE WONDERS OF THE OCEAN. 139 C. The fea has a regular, uniform, and periodical motion; this is caufed by the tides. After a continual flux of about fix hours it is flood tide, the fea feems then to rel't for a quarter of ^n hour, and then be- gins to ebb or flow back again for about fix liours, in which time by the water finking^ the livers refunie tiicir natural level, and former courfc. E. What is the caufe of the tides? C They are caufed by the attraction of the fun, and more particularly of the mooii; when the moon is ncareft to the earth, or as the aftronomers fay, in conjunftion with it^ the tides rife the hisheft, and when flie is far- theft off, or in oppofition to the earth, thcj are the loweft. E. What is a fpring tide ? C It happens by the fea being raifed in certain places many feet above the natural level, at the new and full moon, when the fun arid the moon arc in conjun^ion, that is, are neareft to each other. E, ^\^lat 140 TIIL WOXDERS OF THE OCEAN. K. What is a neap tide, and when docs it happen ? ('. It a low tide, and it happens ^hen the moon is in her qnarters; and of courle in oppolition to the fun. Thefe were the laws impofed npon tlie ocean at the creation of the world, and they liave continued in full and undiminifhed force to the profent hour. A\ Are the tides the fame in all places ? C. No : they are influenced by the depth or fliallownefs of the fca, or the obftrnftions of flioals or ftraits : the tide flows Mith great flrength in the Englini channel, and the Gorman ocean ; but in tiie IMcditerranean and Black Sea, there are no apparent tides. The higheft tide known in England is, I believe, in the river Wye at ChepftOM- bridiie, in Monmouthfliire, where the water has been obferved to rife more than 50 feet. E. If the fea can rife fo high, does it not fomctimes gain upon the land ? C. A ftruggle for empire is conftantly kept THE -VrOXDERS OF THE OCF.AX. 141 kept up between the fea and the land, and in ibme places the one not only gains, but keeps what the other lofes. Dunwich, a town in the county of Suffolk, once three miles from the lea is now nearly dcltroyed by its incroaclnncnts : of its eight ancient clmrches, not one is left, and the beach di- viding the church-yard of the largelt, has expofed to view the graves of its ancient in- habitants. An inundation which hajipened in the reign of Henry I. is faid to have co- vered the eftates of Earl Goodwin, now known by that dangerous bank oppofite to Ramfgate, called, the Goodwin Sands. The town of Aigues IMortes, not far from INIont- pcUicr in France, was a fea-port in the reign of Louis I. but thefea has fmce re- tired to the diftance of four miles. E. At tiie beafts that move upon the earth, or the birds that fly in the air, I am not much furprized ; becuufe they live in tlie fame clement that man does, but the fiilies that live either in freili or fait water, e:;- cite 142 TJEIE WONDERS OF THE OCEAX. cite my wonder, for how can tli€v brcailie ill tlie ■water r C 1 lie prefcnce of air is as neccflary to them as to any other animals, and tliat they enjoy the full life of it, and muft ncceffarily die if deprived of it, has been i<)roveil by experiments. Tlit^y l^reatlie by means of their gills, wliich fupply tlie place -of lungs. />. How can they moire in the water? C. Tlic watei- to thejM is as the air is to us, and vei-y eaiily gives way to their mo- tions. Their forms enable tlvjm to pais through the water with eafe anid iM-jftnefs. We imitate their fhape in the conftrucUon of boats and Ihips, yet the courfe of a vef- ^1 moved on by the brii3<^eft gale, h tardy in the extreme compared to the velocity of the finny race. The fligirt of an arrow is hardly more rapid than the motion of a fgtlmon. Every part of their bodies, parti- ticularly their fins, air bladders, and tails ;^0ift fiflies in cutting their >^ ay through the yielding fluid. C. We THE Vv'CXDr.US OF THE OCEAN, 143 C. Vt c have often converled upon the fiibje6t of f'.vallows, and otiier birds of paf- fage, but I do not remember we evei' talked of tiiat equally curious part of na- tural liiftory, Avhich relates to tilhes of paf- lage. E. To what pai'ticular kinds do you al- hide ? C. The moft remarkable are the mack- •erfil, the herrijig and the pilchard. They Airrive at ftated feaibns upon our coaftg, fometimes with fuch punctuality, that they iiave been obfcrvcd to return in fucceeding yjEms in the fanie week, and even on the dame day of the month. E. \V'lience do they come, and why do they leave the places wiiere they were bred ? C. Herrings aad pilchards are found in the greateft quantity in the higli northern latitudes near the polai* circle. Their im- menfe numbers are fuppofed to make their removal necellary, and like fwarms of bees iffuing from the pareBt hives, they proceed in fearch of new fettlements. Their arrival upon 14-* THE WGXDLRS OF TilE OCKAK. upon our coalts is announced to the fifhcrmen bythe appearance of their cliiFerent enemies ofthcfcaand air. Their Ihoals (lifcolour the fca, and are often fonie miles in length. In fine weather when the fun Ihines, they re- flect a variety of beautiful colour.% and the water api>ears like a held bei'pimgled with azure, purple and gold. Although the quan- tity of pilchards caught at a fmgle draught fometimes amounts to fifteen hundred bar- rels, yet this makes no vifible decreafe of their numbers. E. AVhat an advantage it is that thefc fifties come to invite the fiftiermen to catch them, for if they remained in the places where they were bred, they could not bo caught at all. C. If they did not quit their remote re- cedes among the ice ; if thev foujiht the depths of the fea inftead of the IhuUows ; if they did not fwim nearly upon the furface inftead of diving to tlie bottom, they could not be caught, at leaft not in fuch great nurnbcrs; and if thr-y were not fo nume- roui TUB M'ONDERS OF THE OCEAN. 145 reus, they \vouid not repay the labour of the titliermen. Such fiflies as afford whole- fomc food to man approach the ill ores ; many others, either hurtful or ufelefs, con- ftantly live in the deep. Such evident marks as thefe of the goodnefs of the Creator to mankind, cannot efcape your attention. E. Before we return home, I wiih to make a colle£lion of Ihells. C. You have already procured from the fiiliermen of Scarborough fome fine fpeci- mens of the chama and the tdima kinds ; but you cannot procure many more here, as the moft beautiful are brought from diitant feas. The Red Sea abounds with Ihells of all kinds : many of very rich co- lours are found between the tropics, where the heat of the fun has a fimilar etfeci upon them, as on the birds, and gives them a peculiar luftre and brilliancy of co- lours. The fea-coafts of Afia furnifli peafl- oyfters and fcallops ; the fhores of Malabar abound with a fpecies of beautiful fnails ; Japan produces many bivalves, or lliells VOL. I. L compofed 146 THE WONDER.? OF THE OCEA??. compofcd of double pieces, and the limpet' Ti'hofe radiated form refembles the head of an umbrellaj is louncl near the ifland of Cyprus. I will carry ynu to fee a collec- tion offhells, where ni addition to fpecimens of fuch as I have mentioned, you will find others as curious, iUch as the cowry with leopard fpots, the admirals, the numerous echini, the nautilus, the Guernfey fnail, the Ethiopian crown, the Panama fliell, the mo- ther-of-pearl,, the porcelain, the parroquet fhell, the Venus neart cockle, the ducal mantle pecten, and many others. You will likewife fee fome very curious folTils there. E. What are foffils ? C. A foffil means in general any thing dug out of the earth, ^^•hether at fii1t pro- dticed there as metals and ftones, or fome foreign fubftances placed in the earth by fome extraordinary means, as a flood, or a an eartliquake. Of this latter kind, many ai-e the fpoils of the ocean, fuch as fliells, the' teeth or bones of liihes, and complete Mies. All thefe are found in a petrified S ftate, THE WONDERS OF THE OCEAX. H7 ftate, that is, ciianged to ftone, on the tops of mountains, in quarries of ftone, and beds of gravel and chalk far remote from the fea. Thefe cannot be, as fome fuperhcial natu- ralifts imagine, hifas nalurcs, that is, the mere fportive productions of nature, for if foffil fliells and foffil fillies are examined with the lead attention, we fiiall be con- vinced they are exactly like Ihells and fifties found in the ocean. In the Ifle of Sheppey, in Kent, infinite numbers of thefe curioiities have been dug up. That place forms a kind of cabinet of nature, containing fpecimens collected from the molt diftant feas, and amaiTed there, moft probably, at that awful era of the world, when water was made the inftrument of the divine difpleafure, and the guilty race of men, with the exception of righteous Noah and his family, were deftroyed by the general deluge. E. If it was pofTible to walk with fafety at the bottom of the fea, what curiofities Ihould I find there ? L 2 C If 148 Tll£ WOXt)EJlS OF THE OCEA!T. C. If we were able to do this, we fhoulc^ no doubt find it in many I'cfpefls like the land. It is varied by cavities, rocks, and mountains, inhabited by animals fuited to their refpeftive abodes. The bottom of the Red Sea is a foreft of fubmarine plants and beds of coral, formed by infecls for their habitation ; and in other Teas, madrepores, millepores, fponges, moffes, and fea mulli- rooms abound. The bottom of the fea on the coaft of America is covered with vege- tables, which are the food of turtles and other animals. Could you realife the fables of antiquity, by being transformed into a Nereid, or Sea- nymph, and traverfc the caverns, grottoes, and recelies at the bottom of the ocean, how great would be your aftonilhment ! There tiie fubliuic procelfes of Nature are carried on — there the tides and currents that flow beneath the earth have their fources ; and myriads of animals, vegetables, and mine- rals, unknown to man, exift and anfwer the purpofes of their creation. jE. SueU THE WONDERS OF THE OCEAN. 14^ E. Such relearchcs, were it ])ofiible to make them, would certainly gratify my cu- riofity ; but you have faid enough to convince me of the wonders of the great deep, and the t)enefits maiikind may draw from it. How very happy are we, whom the fea at this time protects from the invalion of the French ? C. The conviction of this happinefs lliould be a motive to excite our gratitude to Hinij who fets bounds to the ambition of man, as well as to the advances of the ocean. IMuch do we owe to the valour -of our failors, fo often manifefted in our defence; but our debt of obligation for our co?ithmed fafety cannot in any due degree be didbharged, unlefs we afcribe all honour anil praife to Him wbofe protection does not depend upon the frail and perilhablc arm of tielli — -to jHim who has begirt our ifland -with this neverr failing rampait, and wJio tells us by the fub- lime voice of Nature, as often as we hear the waves either gently murmur, or tem- peftuoufly daih upon any part of our lliores, J3llITQNSj 150 THE "WONDERS OF THE OCEAN. Britons, be pious, loyal, and united, and you shall be for ever happy and FREE. As the Colonel foon found benefit from bathing, and drinking the waters of Scarbo- rough, his ftay there was ftiort. Emily at- tended him with all the anxiety naturally arifmg from her tendernefs and affeftion. She returned to Lorton Houfe, rich in Iketches, fnells, and fea-plants, and antici- pated the pleafure of entertaining her aunt with an account of all fhe had feen ; but no- thing made her feel fo mucii fatisfaclion on reaching her native place, as the thought that her father's recovery would enable them to continue the enjoyments of their retire- ment, among the greateft of which {he reck- oned the purfuit of her ftudies, and the im- DTovement of her mind. CHAP. CHAP. XV. THE STARRY HEAVENS. CONVERSATION VII. j\ OT long after their return from Scarbo- rough, Einily took a walk with her father upon the banks of Kefwick Lake. The weather was deligluful, the air balmy and loft, and the breezes gently agitated the leaves of the filver-barked birch trees, that grew from the fiffures of the rocks. The fun was fmking below the horizon, and the tints of evening began to obfcure every ob- jeO:. The water-falls, unperceived during the day, were now heard to give various founds, fome near, others more remote. The long 152 THE STARRY HEAVEN?, long Ihadows of tlic mountains were foon after projected far into the ^^•ater, which prefentcd a fmooth and dark farface, fpan- gled with the reflected ftars. As the full moon rofe in cloudlefs fplendour, its light hrft touched the fummits of the mountains and woods, and as it afcended higher in the heavens, poured a foft and filvery brightnefs over the calm and unruffled bofom of the lake, " You are very filent," faid Emily to her father ; " I Avifli to know what you are think- iiig of while you look lb attentively at the neavens." '' I am admiring," faid the Colonel, " the glorious appearance of the moon and the ftars, and my admiration is fucceeded by ambition and curiofity. I wifh to foar on hish, and vifit the moon and fome of the more diftant orbs of light, and to fee what are their inhabitants and produ6tions. But as I am convinced of the impoffibility of taking fuch a flight, my mind defcends to thoughts more fuited to my accuftomed ha- bits THE STARRY HEAVENS. 153 bits and feelings. Yoiiv prefencc adds greatly to the pleafure I derive from this profpecb t were you abfent, I (liould Avilli, ardently M-ifli for your company to enjoy this grand difplay of Nature with mc. E, Why do the Harry heavens attraSb fo little attention from people in general ? C. Becaufe fuch an appearance is com-- mon. If there was fuch a night as this only once in the courfe of a perfon's life, every one who enjoyed the faculty of fight would be alive to the difplay of its beauty. All would then be duly impreffed with the con- ■^iclion of the power and the wifdom of the g;eat Creator : they would be fully fenfible of his immediate prefence ditfufed through tHs his magnificent palace of the univerfe, of which the depths of azure form the circuit, the myriads of ftars are the luminaries, and mankind are permitted, by efpecial favour, to oe the fpeclators. £. As we are at fo great a diftance from the heavenly bodies, is it in the power of men to know any thing certain concerning them ? a Thofe S5-i THE STARRY HEAVEXS. C. Thofe who are ignorant of altronomy may fiippofe that all that has been written upon the fiibjecl is nothing more than inge- nious conjecture. There is however a fuel which will coQvince you that aftronomers proceed upon the true principles of fcicnce, that is, rightly explain the la^-s of Nature, when they inftru^^t you as to the fizes, mo- tions, and diftances of the largeft and moft confpicuous of the heavenly bodies. I al- lude to the exactnefs with which they calcu- late eclipfes. E. What is an eclipfe ? C. An eclipfe meatus a failure, or v.ant d light. Eclipfes depend upon this caufc — all dark bodies when expofed to a light ore, as for inftance to the fun, caft a Ihadow be- hind them, juft as a ball does placed upon a table near a candle. If aftronomers can foretel when eclipfes will happen, ought 30U not to give them credit for tlieir knowledge of other fa6ts which belong to their pro- vince ? And that they can do this, a com- mon almanack may convince you ; for you will THE STAr.RY HEAVENS. 155 will tliere obferve all the eclij3lcs, both of the fun and the moon, that will happen in the couiTe of the year, diitineily mentioned, and the days and hours very exactly ftated, as to their beginning, continuation, and end, and how much of the body of the fun or the moon will be darkened. E. What is an eclipfe of the fun ? C. An eclipfe of the fun happens when the fun's light is fo cut off by the moon, that to any part of the earth the fun appears to be partly or a\ holly covered by a Ihadow. H. What is an eclipfe of the moon? C. An eclipfe of the moon happens wheii the globe of the earth paifes between the fun jund the moon, and the moon falls into the earth's ihadow ; and as llie has no light of her own, flie futfers an eclipfe, in confequence of the fun's rays being intercepted, or cut off; E. Do eciipfes happen very often? C. In any year the number of eciipfes, both of the, fun and the moon, cannot be lefe than two, or more than feven ; the ufual number 16G THE STARRY HEAVENS. number is four, and it is very uncommon to have more than lix. The lim is more fre- quently cclipfed than the moon, and yet moi-e cclipfes of the moon are viiible, than of the fun^ A'. Ouirht we not to think onrfelves much obliged to the aftronoiners for the notice tlicy give us of approaching cclipfes ? C Certainly ; lor before the caufes of fuch appearances were difcovercd, they were be- held with teiTOr and difmay. The knoA\'ledge which enables the aftronomers to calculate them, forms one of tlie great diftinclious be- tween civilifed and barbarous nations. £. Can you give me an example of this diftin^ion ? C. I can — -you have heard me talk of the wreat Chriftopher Columbus, who difcovered America. In tlie courfe of one of his voy- ages, his fhip was driven by a ftorm to the eoaft of Jamaica, and he was reduced to (Ijftrefs for want of provifions. On being rf'fufed fupplies by the barbarous inhabitants «l the iHand, he told them, that the Deity whom he THE STARRY HEAVENS, 157 he worfliipped was fo angry at their inhu- manity to him, that he would Hiortly punilu them with a plague ; and as a proof that what he threatened was certain to liappcn, the moon would be darkened at a particular hour the next night. The truth was, Colum- bus, by his Ikill in aftronomy, knew that a kmar eclipfe would happen at the time he mentioned. It accordingly took place, and the people were fo terrified that they brought him all kinds of provifions, and entreated him to appeafe the wratli of his Deity, and fupplicate him to reltore the light of the moon. E. In what elfe docs aftronomy inftru61; us? C. In the knowledge of the fjiar fy-ftem. By this fyftem I mean the eftablillied order of that part of the creation whicli relates to the fun, and the heavenlv bodies that move round him. The fun is fixed in the centre of this fyftem, and the planets, or moving ftars, with their fatellites, ormoons, m.ove round him in different times and at different diftnnoes. E, Do ]j8 the starry heavens. E. Do you fay the fun is fixed ? Does he not move, as he appears to do? C. The fun has a motion upon his own axis, and that has been difcovered by ob- ferving that tlie fpots on his furface change their places. The earth moves round the fun, and not the fim round the earth. E. Be fo good as to explain to me the motion of the earth. C. The earth has two motions, one upon its own axis every twenty-four hours, which caufes the fucceffion of light and darknefs, and of day and night ; and another round the fun in a little more time than .365 days : It comes to the fame place in the heavens again in that time, and fo completes the year. This motion of the earth round the fun caufes the different lengths of the days and nights, and of courfe of the different feafons of the year. E. If the fun does not move round the earth, why do we fay that the fun r'lfcs and ftts? C. When we ufe tlicfc words, we exprefs the THE STARRY HEAVENS. 159 the common notions of mankind, and not the true nature of things. Aitronomy teaches us to diftinguifli reaHty from appearance. This appearance will be the fame to us whe- ther the fun move round the earth, while the earth ftands ftill, or the fun ftands ftill, and the earth moves on its axis the contrary way to that which it appears to move. E. I cannot clearly conceive this : give me fome example that w-ill affift me to un- derftand you. C. Do you not recollect when we were returning from Scarborough, and our chaife was driven very rapidly along a level road, you faid the trees and hedges appeared to move the contrary way to that we were going ; and when we have been failing upon the lake in fmooth water, have not the fhores appeared to move from us, and not we from them ? K. Our real motion then in the carriage and the boat, I fuppofe, is intended to repre- fent the real motion of the earth ; and tlie apparent motion of the trees and the ihores to 160 THE sTAi'.nv heavens* to reprcfent the apparent motion of the fuil^ 1'hefe inftances greatly alfilt nic to corrc^ my former error. Is tlie fun a very large body ? C. It is computed to be more than a million times larger than the earth ; it would therefore be abfurd to fuppofe that the for- mer moved round the latter. You might as well imagine that a millftone moved round a pebble. E. How many planets are there in the folar fyftem ? C. There are feven, and they are called Mercury, VenuS; the Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Sa- turn, and the Georgium Sidus. I name them in the order of their diftance from the fun. Mercury is the nearelt, and the Georgium Sidus the moft remote. Thefe planets are in themfelves opaque, that is, dark-coloured bodies reflecting the light of the fun, which makes them fliinc with more or lefs fplen- dour. E. Are there any other bodies belonging to the folar fyftem ? C Eighteen THE STARRY HEAVENS. 1^1 C, Eighteen have been difcovered : they are galled Satellites, or IMoons. The moft confpicuous is our Moon, which moves round the earth in fomething lefs than twenty- eight days ; four move round Jupiter, rfev^eji round Saturn, and iix round the Georgium Sidus. They move round their refpc^live planets in the fame manner as the planets move round the fun, from weft to eaft ; .ex- cept thofe of the Georgium Sidus, which appear to move in the contrary dire6;ion. E. Were the antients acquainted with the folar fyftem ? C. It was known to Pythagoras, an .emi- nent Grecian philofopher, who lived ,S,Qp years before Chrift ; and it was revived by Copernicus, a Prufllan altronomer, wljo fiou- riilied in the 15th century : in honour of him it is frecjuently called the Copernican Syftem, E. What are Comets ? C. They are ftars of various fizes, with long bright tails, refembling a bluilh llaine. E. Are there any that belong to our fyftem ? VOL. I, M C. Several 162 THE STARRY HEAVE^♦S^ C. Several have been obferved both ii^ antient and modem times. They move vert irregularlv, and with inconceivable fwiftnefe round the fun, and they crofs tlie orbits of the planets in all directions. Then- periodical timei, that is, the time in M-hich they return to a given place, 13 very dif- ficult to be known. Dr. Ilalley, however, a great aftronomcr of the laft century, calcu- lated the time when one of thfm would re- turn, and the event agreed very nearly with his calculation. E. Do any other heavenly bodies, befides thofe we have mentioned, move round the fun? C. No: the other heavenTy bodies at'e called Fixed Stars. E. What is the nature of the fixed ftars ? C As they Hiine with their own light, they are fuppofed to be funs, and that eacli is placed in the centre of a fyftem, in which planets revolve round them as ours do round the fun. — Imagine, for a moment, that we could foar on high, as I was w ilhing to do juft THE STARRY HEAVENS. 163 juft before we began this converfation, and we were placed as near to any one of the ftars, as we are now in the earth to the fun ; that ftar would appear as near to us as the fun now does, and our fun would appear no larger than a fixed ftar. Every ftar there- fore may be conlidered as the fun of a fyftem, confifting of planets governed by laws, and revolving round their centre with regular motions, and invariably keeping the tracks marked oat for them, like the planets of our lyftem. E. This is wonderful indeed, particularly as the fixed ftars appear to be innumerable. Look how many there are ; I tliink there are thoufands, nay millions, of different fizes. C. You arc greatly miftakeii ; for the moft accurate and keen-eyed aftronomers have ob- ferved, that not more than a thqufand ftars are vilible at one time to the naked eye. Many more indeed have been brought to view by the affiftance of telefcopes, and the greater the magnifying power of fuch glalfes is, the greater is the number difcovered. 16'4. tYie starry iif.avej^s. Dr. Herfchel, whofe application to nfirc* noniy has been inceflant, by the aid of hie telcibopcs of very great magnifying power, not only difcovcrcd the Georgium Sidus and its fatellites, but has afcertained, that tli* whole luminous track in the heavens, com- monly called the JU'dky Way, coniifts en- tirely of ftars, and that their number cannot be lefs than fifty thoufarid. Huygens, an eminent aftronomer, carried his ideas fo far with refpe6l to the probable exiftence of un- difcovered ftars, as to think there may be itars at fuch an inconceivable diftance, that their light has hot yet reached the earth fmce its creation, notM-ithftanding the fwift- nefs of light, which flies ti million of times after than a cannon-ball. I cannot form, nor endeavour to convey to you a more fuh- iinie and aitonilhing ideu than this, of the power, vrifdom, and goodncfs of the Almighty, extended to numberlefs lyftems of worlds "placed in the immenfe regions of fpaee. E. As the univerfe gives us fuch an enlarged notion of the greatnefs and the power 5 THE STARRY HEAVEN& 165 power of God, does it not make mankind appear very liumble, and too mean to be worthy of his care ? Does not the Pfalmill fay, / icill confidtr thy keavens^ even tlie 'works of thy finger Sy the moon and thcjlars iihich thou hajl ordamed: What is 77ian that thou art mindful of him^ and the fan of man that thou vyiteft him ? • C. This reflefition is ufcful to abate our pride, and to teach us humility ; but it is far from the intention of the Pfahiiift to prove, nor is there reafon for concluding that we are too iniignificant to engage the attention of the Almighty. For fuppofmg millions of worlds to exift, and every one of them to be full of inhabitants, ftill Ave have iiifficient proofs afforded to us in the order an,d regularity with which all things are conduced in this our world, in our defire of knowledge, and the means afforded to us of acquiring it ; in the comforts allowed to us in this life, and the affurance conveyed by Revelation of a better world to come, to be fatisfied that we partake, ii? common with the reft of created being,^ 166 THE STARRY HEAVENS. beings, the bounty and the care of the AlmifThtv. I hope, my dear Emily, I have faid enough to diveft your mind of the notions which the vulgar are apt to entertain of the ftars, as if they were only little lights placed in the heavens to catch the eyes of a few accidental fpeSlators. E. From all you have faid I am certain that aftronomy is a noble ftudy ; I am eager to know more of it. C. What I have told you is very fuperfi- cial and imperfecl, and by no means does juftice to the fubject. In order that you may enter more fully into the fpirit of it, we will read Fontenelle's Plurality des Mondes, and Fergufon's Aftronomy : they are the eafieft and the pleafanteft books of the kind I know. During this converfation, Emily, leaning upon her father's arm, moderated his pace by her own flow fteps, and they both fre- quently paufed, in admiration of the moon- light beauties of the profpeft, where all was calm, folemn, and delicious. As THE STARRY HEAVENS. l67 As they were returning with mare hafte— ■ in one of their intervals of filence, on a fud- den a clarinet was heard, and the notes ot a wild and plaintive tune faluted their ears. The echoes caught the delightful fouijds, and repeated theiii from different rocks; fome- times they fwellcd full in tlie breeze, and while they were liftening to fome notes that were d3^ing away in the diftance, others nearer and louder ftruck their attention. The . fcene appeared like tlie effeO; of enchant- ment — fo indeed did the mufic : it refembled the ifland of Profpero, and his attendant Ariel warbllnii; " fwcct airs," The modulation of the inftrument was fo fme and varied, the tones ib clear and me- lodious, and the paufes fo well managed, that Colonel Lorton declared he had never heard more affecting mufic. Emily was mo- tionlefs, and filent — for what was her furprize, when Ihe recognized the very fame air Edward Harriot had often played at Lorton Houfe, and Ihe had commended : to complete her ^ftonifliment, it proceeded from nearly the fame 1 68 THE' STARRV HEAVENS. fame place — a finall opening between the mountains, whither flic iiad been conveyed after her efcape from the imminent danger of a watery death. The coincidence of circumftances very for- cibly itruck her mind — and what, thought llie, if this mufician fliould be my preferverhimfelf, and how can I fail to entertain and encourage an idea fo flattering to my Avillies ? — She was right in her conje6tiu'c, for Fxiward during many,; a fina evening had frequented the me- iiftCHtible fpdt, and took this method of cht- rflhing. the fweet remembrance of her, whofe image was pngraved on his heart. CHAP. CHAP. XVI. She would fit, and tell Of iTiadowy gholls, that glide the church-yard patlij And fcare the fchool-boy — of the death-bed call Heard by the fell aflaflin — of blue flames IScen in the lonely tower at eventide ; Till her pale auditors with panic chill'd, Dar'd not to look aflcance A, About this time the attention of the family, at Lorton hoiife was dire6;ed to an incident which gave rife to an intereiting conveiTation. IVIrs. Mapleton remarked to her brother, that, none of their fei-vants for.tlie laft evening or two, would go alone into any of the rooms in the houfc, but two or three always went together, and they all. feemed, the men aa well as the women, to be in great fright and agitation. The cook-maid appeared to ba more alarmed than the reft : and Mrs. Ma-- pleton, 170 EMILV. pletion, ^v^l'hing licr brother to hear what caufe the girl had to alfign for licr fti'angc alteration of behaviour, called her into the parlour ; and the account llie gave, with much hefitation, and a faltering voice, was as folios^ s : *' I was fent," faid Ihe, " on an errand to Dr. Marriot's, and was kept there fo long, that I was obliged to return home alone, a little before it was quite dark : juft a-s I bad pafled through the church- yard, I thought I heard a noife behind me, and on looking back, I faw a nioft terrible fight indeed' — it was a ghoft with large flaminiT eyes moving flowly towards the church door : I was fo terrified, I hardly dared to ftir or breathe ; but at laft I ran about a hundred yards, and tlien ventured to look back, when the whole infide of the church appeared to be in a blaze of fire. As foon as I came home, I told what I had feen to my fellow-fervants, and they all faid, that what I had feen could be nothing elfe but farmer Davis's ghoft, that cannot reft in the grave, becaufe^, EMILV. 171 becaufe, cruel wretch as he was, he beat his poor plough-boy to death. I affure you, dame Rogers told us, he has often been feen in that place. I hope, Sir, you will not be angry, but for my part, I would not venture to go alone again acrofs the church-yard at night, no, not if you would give me a purfe of gold." . Had Colonel Lorton or his fifter fuppofed the cook-maid would have related fuch a Itory, they would on no account have al- lowed her to do fo, when Emily and Fanny were prefent. Both of them liftened to every word Ihe faid with fixed attention : at firft they furveycd her with aftonifliment ; at the end of her narrative, Emily was ftanding clofe to her father, with her arms thrown around him, and the trembling Fanny ftood. near ]\Irs. ^lapleton, and coi^cealed her, face. " Well," faid the Colonel, laughing, " this is a terrible adventiu'e indeed; why, cook, how came the glioft not to fly a>\ay both with you and the church : but I fuppofe you you would have been rather too heavy for hirn to carry. Now what will you lay, it I explain the whole myftery. Take my word- foi" it, what you law was only the Doctor walking acrofs the church-yard with his lantern in his hand, and; what you mif- took for the church in a blaze, was nothing but the li^^ht of the lantern Ibining through the windows, v;hile the doctor was walking in the church. 7'hat you and the other fer- vants may be free from any^ more alarms, and have the laugh completely turned againft you, I will take a walk to the doclors houfe, and clear up the whole wonder." The colonel went there, and in a fhort time returned, fully confirmed in hie con- jf clure. The ti'uth was, the doctor accord- iiVj^ to cuftom, had been taking one of his evening walks in the church, and thinking it would foon grow dark, carried his lantern ready lighted' in his hand. Tranquillity was thus in a great degree rcftored in the kitchen, but the mind of Emily was difturbed ; Ihe had indeed no longer lenger any doubt as. t© the true caulc of Ihe iate alarm among the fervants, yet the ^'arious tales ike had heard from them, oc- curred to her recollection, and {iie ventiu'cd to ftty, *' Pray, dear father, tell me the ici- fon, why fo many ftories are told of ghofts •and apparitions ?" " \'Tarioiis caufes," faid tb^ colonel, " may be ailigned. for their origin and circulation. Before the Reformation, the priefis of tlie church of Rome endeavoured to fupport -their falling credit by telling ftories of faife miracles, and fupernatural appearances ; fu- pcrftition, bad confciences, and low fpirits have added to their number; the impreffion df them has been deeply fixed in the minds of the ignorant and the timid, and their fond- iiefs for whatever is marvellous has induced them to circulate thefe tales, and deliver tbem down from one generation to another, clothed with additional circumltances of ten'or and difmay." ''' One very great fource of thefe tales is fear, which had vou know fuch an etfe6l upon 174 £5titr. upon die poor cook as to make her trans* form the do6lor irtto a jrhoft ; another caufe ahmoft as fruitful is artifice— ^this prevails in cafes where perfons have recourfe to fome contrivance, and fpread a falfe report, that they may without interruption caiTy on fome bad practices ; and as I look upon this to be a mode of producing the terrific^ againft which you ought particularly to be put upon your guard, I will read to you from an ancient family manufcript, the ftory of an adventure that bcfcl one of our an- ccftors. The fervants were all ordered to attend in the parlour, and the Colonel began as follows : '' Some centuries ago, when the fpirit of romantic enterprize fired the breaft of every gentleman, as much as fupcrltition and ter- ror haunted the minds of the lower ranks of focicty, Sir Martin dc Courcy, a pious and brave knight, who had obtained renown at the battles of Creci and Poitiers, vvas tra- velling toward3 the north of England, at- tended EMILY. 175 fended by fcveral domeftics, charged with important dii*pa,tches to king Edward the third. After a tedious journey through a ■wild countrv, he reached a final 1 village near which was an antient caftle. He in- quired in the village, if he could be accom- modated with entertainment and lodging in the cafile. " Sir knight," faid a hoary-headed cottas^er, " von miift not think of foiourninc there, the place has been long uninhabited, and no one ventures to approach nearer to it, than the draw-bridge ; for ftrange noifes have been h.eard to proceed from thence by night, lights have been (Qen moving along the windo\vs, and the place is certainly haunted by evil fpirits ; they wander about the great rooms, and in the dark and vaft dungeons under them, wh^rc it is fiiid they chain and torment all rafn intruders upon their deeds of darknefs." '' Good Friend," faid Sir Martin, *' I know ' no fear, becaufe my confciencc reproaches me with no criaje. I am a true Knight, and I hope a true Chriftian ; curious and eager have 17^ EMILY. have I been from my childht>od tt) con- verfe with unembodicd fpirits, if fiich abide here or elfe^\hcrc. I am therefore refolved to pafs this night in the caftlc, whatever may be the iffue of the adventure." The knight commanded his fervants to attend hiin with wine and candles, and de- fired the old cottager to lead the way. " To the caftle yard Avill I aitend you full rea- dily," faid he, " but not a ftep farther ; I will not fo much expofe myfelf to the anger of thefe fpirits, as to be guilty of raflinefs like thine." They afcended the hill upon which the caftle ftood, and pafed through the firft gate jnto the court-yard, which was overgrown with fpire grais and weeds. They pafTed over the draw-bridge ; under it appeared the dark and deep water of the moat, which furrounded the ceiftle. As Ihey were pro- ceeding to the fecond portcullis-gate, the moon before obfcurcd by clouds, flione clearly, and llied its light upon the lofty towers, and filvercd with full fplcndour the long EMILV. \T7 long liiie of grated windows of the caftle- hall, while the broken arches and walls neareft to them remained in deep Ihadow. They advanced up a liight of fteps to an im- menfe door, plated with iron, which grated harflily on its hinges as they with difficulty opened it. They entered the great hali, and by the light of the torches they furveyed its ample fpace, the roof was raftered, the fire-place was of very >A'ide extent, over it were hung coats of mail, and on the walls were arranged corilets, fpears, and helmets : under the windows ftood long tables, Avhere the lord of the caftle had in old time been accuftomed to feaft his knights and valfals : there was a gallery formerly the fta- tion of the harpers and minftrels, but now vaniflied was the banquet, and mute was the harp ; all was filent and gloomy as the grave. . When they advanced to the upper end of the hall, the fervants of Sir Martin were ftartled at feeing two gigantic forms of men in complete armour ftanding in niches : Sir Martin, nothing daunted, dreAv his fword, VOL. I. N and 178 L.MiLr. and on advancing nearer, difcovored ihc one to be a Itatue of Guy Earl of Vvarvvick, ^vlla flew Colebrand the Dane, in Hnglc combat;, and the other Avas Sir Hugh Ca^fareo the Knight of the Forcft of Indewood, avIio iiibducd four C'alcdonians of redoubtable prowefs. They then entered a room, for- merly the private apartment of the lord of the caftle ; the furniture confifted of an an- tient ebony tablc^ and high backed chairs, curiouflv carved ; pictures of old warriours and ladies, iiwulderhig in their frames hnn^; around." Sir IMartin ordered a fire to be lighted in this apartment, the candles to he placed upon tlie table, and bade his fervants^ return to the village. He hicard diftincdy the found of their re- firing footfreps, and the harlh grating of the- ponderous door as they fiiut it after theni, till at laft all was lilcnce. He then laid his fword upon the table, took out his mafs book, and fervently repeated Ids vefpersv He could not iio\\^ever bring his mind into- a itate of perfect cORipofure, but walked alx)ut lMILY. 17$ about I he room. As he grew more sai^ more reltlefs, he took a candle to examine the obje6is around hhn, and difcovered a pair of folding doors ; on opening them he faw an apartment lofty, fpacious, and grand, hung round with rich tapeftry much faded by length of time. On one fide of the room was wrought the death of St. Edmund t!ie king and martyr, who was bafely (lain by the Pugan Danes, near Framlinglunn caftle, in Norfolk. His pallid head lay at a diftance from his body, and the blood feemed to be flowing in a frefh ftream. Oppofite this was curiouily wrought llie itory of Don Orlando the Spaniih knight, and his miftrefs tlie falfe Ifabel of Arragon. The knight in complete armour was fitting in despair at the tomb of Ifabel, to whom he had plighted his love, tiefore he went to the Holy Wars ; her corfe, beautiful even in death, was laid at his feet ; and the fatal dao;n;er was fixed in her fnowv bofom. Al ft diltarxce wa£ tlie body of his rival Almida ."t^e Moor, whflm Pan Qrlandp Jiad llain in N S Tmgl« iingle combat. Each of tliefc pieces bf tapeltry had explanatory infcriptions worked in large Gothic charaelers. While Sir INIartiii was attentively looking at theie tragical i'ubjc^ts, fo deeply affefting to one in his peculiar lituation, he heard a rultlin"; noife at one of the windows ; on turning round ho perceived, though indil^ tinclly, on the outfid« of the window two lofty and dark trgures bending backward and forw ard — 'he ftood firm, and demanded who was there, but no- anfwer was returned — all was profoundly fdent. He then clofed the beaver of his helmet, grafped his fword, and advanced with a How pace, aixl juft as he ajyproached the window, the moon flione out brightlj, and difcovered thefe figures to be two tall trees waving in the wind. This incident confirmed his courage, , and he fmiled to think how alarmed his fer- vants would have been, had they been fpec- tators of this appearance. . As he returned through the room, he fuFs- yeyed the tapclrry again, the e'yes of tfce figures EMILY. i81 figures feeined to glare upon him, and yet >vas his heart unajipalled ; lie ftirred the timbers ahiiol't expiring on the hearth in the fmall room, and then refolved to r.eligri himfelf to llcep. For a Ihort time he dozed, till the clock of the caftle, M'ith folemn, ■deep, and diftant ftrokes fit long intervals, •founded the hour of midnight, and awoke him. An av\'ful filenee ilicceeded, broken only by the hollow murmuriniT of the wind around the walls and battlements of the eaftle. Sir ]\Iartin Mas at length ftartled by hear- ing, or thinking he heard,- a diftant noiie which feemed to proceed from the farther .end of the long tapeftry room. It feemed like the clanking of chains, , and fuch it really was, and the found of feet ftrongly and firmly treading, announced the app>roach of feme one. And now Sir ^f artin, tlie adven- ture began to affume a ferious appearance, .and required the utmoft exertion of thy in- trepidity to fupport thee ! The folding doors flew open, and a lofty figure of a knight ■ clothed 1^2 r.MiLv. clothed in coinplctc armour appeared, hold- ing a blazing torch in one liand, and a liea\ y chain in the other ; his head was covered with a helmet furnioimted by a black Mav- ing plume of feathers. The figure advanced tbivards Sir jNlartin, then ftopped, but fpoke not a Avord. Sir jSlartin rofe from his feat, and in a firm tone demanded, in the name of the Holy Virgin and St. George, vvhat catife brought him there. The figure waved Ids torch, pointed it to the place from whence he had come, tliade fi^ns for Sir Martin to follow bim, and then flowly turning round, ftalkcd axvay. Sir Martin grafping his fvA'ord in his Hjrht hahd, took a candle in liis left, and obeyed. The figure led the way with flow fteps ; but ftill he fpoke not a Mord. When he camC to the end of the tapcftry room, he opened a fecret door, and Sir ^Martin fol- lowed him down a flight of wide and wind- ing ftairs. They then came to the end of a long vaulted pafTage, and all on a fudden his myfterious guide difappeared. Sir Mar- tia E5III.Y. ISi) tin funk do\A'n through a trap-door, and on recovcriiv2; from a llight fall, he found hini- felf iu a large vault well liglited by lamps — and in the power, not of fpectres, appari- tions, or f ipeniatural beings, but of a num- ber of ftout and licrcely looking men, of black and difnal afpccls, Avho inftantly furrounded him, and threatened him with death. His great foul meditated rcliitance, but what could one knight do when oppofed to fuch numbers ? '' Ralli ftranger," faid their leader, " in defiance of the meafures we have taken to deter all perfons tVom coming hither, thou haft dared to violate this retreat, in which \^e carry on our occupation of coining, and fo })repare, inftantiy, to futtbr for thy folly." Here he paufed, and Sir Marthi obtained permiffion to fpeak. " Gentlemen,'' faid he, *' my conduct in coming to this caftle may make you think me prefumptuous and de- iiiining, but I afllire you upon the facred \\ ord of a true knight, I promife to keep this adventure a fecret; fo do not, 1 conjure you. 184 EMILY. \ou, commit a crime by putting a man to death, who never had the leaft intention to injure you : fliouhl you take my life, con- fider the confequences of a deed not only cruel, but impolitic in the extreme. I am the bearer of letters of great importance to the king, which I am bound to deliver in perfon : I have many trulty fervants in the village, they will make the moft diligent fearch after me, and at laft this place and you will be difcovered ; Avhat the confe- quences will certainly be, as you may calily guefs, I need not defcribe." The argument of the knight prevailed; and tiie coiners agreed to truft to his promife, after having made liim fwear by the Holy Evangelifts, that he would relate the moft terrible account of his adventures in the caftle. They then conducted him courte- oufly back to the tapeftry room, and as foon as the day dawned, he returned to the village, and aflured the people he had feen fuch things as were too frightful to defcribe. Some e:mily. 185 Some years after this adventure, as Sir Martin was entertaining a party of friends in his own cattle, he was informed a ftranger had brought iiim two fine horfes, and re- qucfted leave to fpeak to him — but refufed to enter the caftie. lie went out, and the ftranger, whofe voice he thought he had ibme where licard before, informed him, that the perfons, \\ho had fworn him to fecrecy in the haunted caftie, returned him thanks for having kept his promife, and now re- leafed him from it, as they had quitted the caftie for ever. " I am the perfon," con- tinued he, " whofe office it Avas to terrify every one who came to pry into our fecrets, by dreffmg myfelf in complete armour, and appearing in the tapeftry room. In the name of my companions I beg your accept- ance of a prefent of horfes as a proof of our gratitude." He had tied the horfes to a tree, and as foon as he had ended his fpeech, galloped awav, with the greateft fpeed. Sir ISG J;M!LV. 3ir Martin then return^\d to hi.s iinpii- tient friends, and related tii'j particulars of tliis fmgular adventure. They warmly con- gvatulatel him on the proof he had given of undaunted courage, and his nohlc triinnph m'cv popular fuperftition. " My courage," faid he, " is greatly con- firmed by a fure confidence in my great CrciiLor. I fupplicatc his guidance by prayer, mvJ I endeavour to defei've his ])rQteCtion by a Ijoly life. If the -world was as much un- der the control of fpiritual Beings, as the vuig-ar chriltians of this age imagine, ftill I iiiould be conlident they mult act under the direction of the Almighty ; and that he will either avert every niifchief they meditate ajiainlt us, or will caufe Mhatevcr evil thev may be permitted to inflict, to turn to our g.dvantage." The Colonel read the forcjjjoini' narrative in a very serious and imprcffive manner. At firft the eyes of Ennily and Fanny were fixed fteadily upon him, and they fcarcely ventured EillLY. IS? ventured to move : tou ards the conclullon they felt iiiore at eafe, and their eyes bright- ened with their accultonied cheerfulnels. The fervants Ihowed various degrees of anxiety, fear, and furprize. No one vras more at- tentive than the cook- maid. She fcreamed at the defcription of " tiie chinking eliains," and hftened with vvikl amaze to the account of "the clock ftriking twelve," and the ap- pearance of " the tall armed figure with waving plumes, who fpoke not a word." Emily, when alked what lire thought of the ftory, ventured to fay, with a face fuf- fufed with blulhes — "That Sir Martin was too curious, but fhe was glad, very glad in- deed, as he was fo good and brave, that he ^fcaped from the old caftle without injurv." CHAP. CHAP. XVIL "" 'There is not a more promifnig fign in a youn^ pcrfon, than a readinefs to bear the advice ,of thoik iv'hofe a^e aud experience qualify them for judging maturely. " Life is a journey, and they only who have tra- velled a confidcrablc way in it, are fit to dired tlfofe who are fctting out." , Burgh's Dignity of Human Nature. The next time the Lorton and IVIarriot families met, the Colonel related what had palled, and favoured Dr. Marriot and Ed- ward Avith the perufal of the ftory of Sir Martin, and the haunted caftle. They ex- prefled great approbation of the method the Colonel had taken to diveft his family of their teiTOurs with regard to ghofts, and tlie Doctor BUILY. 18<^ jDb6tor hr^hly applauded the religious turn given to the conclulioii of the narrative. '•'The frequent vifits of the two families now fending towards fqnie interefting explana- tions, were interrupted by the departure of Emily to London. Mrs. Wilfon, a diftant relation of her mo- ther, who, as has been before hinted, had lent the Colonel a fum of money for the im- provement of his" eilate, earneftly requefted her company to pals fome time with her in town. The reafon fhe urged was, that fhe wilhcd to ftrengthen her conne^lion with his family, for which lire profeiled a great re- <^rd, and was very defirous to give Emily the advantages of completing her education, and being introduced into liich fociety as fhe had no opportunity of feeing at home. The Colonel thought this vifit likely to prove highly advantageous to his daughter in all thefe refpefts; and as he was under fach obligations to Mrs. Wilfon, he was anxious to accede to her propofal, particularly as Mrs. jVIapleton concurred witli him in opi- nion. 190 t^MILV. nion. He \MOir to ]\[ns. Wilfou, to C2ipters^ \n< rcadv acceptance a£ her offer, not fuf- pecting, as he had heard littk of her mode of life, for a confidtrable time, that llie had made a great progrefs m didipation. " I am going," laid Colonel Lorton to Emily, " to give Mrs, Wilfon the greatcft proof of mv^ confidicnce, by placing you un- der her care. I uell know, that at prcfent for my fake, and very foon for your owo, U9 the cannot be inlenfiule to yovir merit, (lie will render you every act of kindnefs ;— but there are attentions wiiich flie is unable to pay to you. ' " With refpecl to manners, and all the exterior poliih of taihion.abie life, you can- not have a better inftructor; but as I am apprehenfive of her neglect of what I deem far more elVential to your future comfort and iaappinefs, I mult endeavour to fupply the cicticiency, tuid attend to the moral difcipline of your mind , I rauft keep you u pon the alert, ttt^ dear Emily, as I ufed to do imy regiment. There muft be vigilance to prevent defer tion, and EMIT.V. \9l mid occupation to exclude idlcncls — wc muls take care to guard ajvainft tliat inlidious, ftihtlc, and inlinuatiuii; enemy, an exceffive love of Pleaiure, and all will be well. — Sup- pole \vc agree to keep up a regular corrc- fpondeuce ?"' '■ Nothing, uiy dear Sir," . faid Emily, '• will dve me more pleaiure : and from tlie variety of objects I fiiall fee, and the nume- rous juvrties into which I fball be introduced, I think I iliftll not want fubjects to enter- tain you/' '' In my letters to yon," fard tlie Colonel, " it will be my endeavour, in conformity with the former courfe of your education, t^ ft-rengthcn your religious principles, to rm- yirovc you in various branches of knowledge? nnd to Hx your attention upon fuch topics ae may enrich, refine, and enlarge your mind. I Ihall direct you to fubje6fs rather ufefsl, than ornamental ; and thus I ihall enable you to lay up a valuable ftock of MJifiom nnd knowledge for future years; tor IhouUl you ?)/f/rt'j/s vent will thus be better qualified both, 192 LMILV. bofch to conuminicate information to your children, and to be a judge of the inftruc- tions rnoft proper for them to receive : or if you remain Jingle^ your hours of leifure, un- interrupted by the cares of a family, may be moft pleafantly filled up by purfuing, to any extent you plcafe, your progrefs in ufeful ftudies." " Such purfuits, my dear father," faid Emily, " will have every claim to my beft attention, particularly as they will be en- deared by your recommendation." " Never forget," continued the Colonel, " the ineftimable value of Time : it is a trea- fure entrufted to our care, and we are re- fponfible to our great Creator for the ufe we make of it. Time once gone is loft for ever ; and you may as well attempt to call back the rapid ftream of the Greeta, or ftop the clouds .now flying over Borrowdale, as recover the hours that are gone. The ftream, the clouds, and the hours all move with a courfe we cannot control, and are all equally irrevo- cable. " Look EMILY. 193 " Look upon every day as a blank leaf of a memorandum-book, given to you to fill up with notices of fome ufeful, or at leaft fome harmlefs employment; and remember that whatever you write in it, can never be blotted out. Take care therefore not to in- fert any thing that will excite the blulh of iliame, or the tear of regret. I hope you M ill read every one of thefe memoranda with pleafure fifty years hence, and you will do well to think now, in what manner you will then wilh you had palled this prime of your life. " Above all things, my Emily, avoid idle- nefsj for it is nbt only allied to folly, but to vice. Be afl'ured too that it reduces a per- fon to a very vexatious and even painful ftate : I never knew an idler who was not infinitely more perplexed and uncomfortable for want of fomething to do, than the dili- gent ever are when doing what they ought. " With regard to the fubjeBs of your let- ters to me, I wifh to leave them intirely to your own choice, in order that you may write VOL. I. o to ]9^ Ei^lLX. to me with fjMrit and pleafurc, for I prefer half a dozen lines written fron; the heji'rt, at tiie moment you are animated by feme fa- vourite fubjc^t, to -whole Hicets compofed \vith rc}u6tance, merely becaufe you are un- der tiie neceflity of eorrefponding with your father. Leave journals to failors and ti'avel- lers, and imitate Mife Byron, the heroine of Sii" Cliarles Grandifon, in every thing but her prolix details of minute occurrences." " Thefe kind expreftions of your reliance on my judgment," laid Emily, " I will en- deavour to deferve. Upon Avhatever fubje6ls- I Ihall think of fujfficient importance to com- municate, I am refolved to m rite ■\^ithGut re- ferve : for by concealing any circuHiftances, which it is my duty to impart, or by dreffing them iJ^p in deceitful colours, Ihall I not for- fake the path of truth, which your example as wejl as your inftru6iions have always taught me to purfue? Shall I not forfeit your love, without which my life would ceafc to )t|e m enjoyment?" I^ tlic courfe of the eonv^rfation, Emil^^ 8 difcoveredi dilbovered figns of dejection — " I am going;," f^id Ihe, " to London, into fccnes of ele- gance aii^ refinement ; but educated, as I have been, in the country, and corifcious of my llender abilities and attainments, I Hiall appear to great difadvantage among thofe girls, who have had evei y affiftance to im- prove their talents, and are adorned with the moft falhionable accompHfhments." " Take courage, my dear," rephed her fa- ther, " and be allured, that among perfons of found kji{e, fuch unafiuming fimpHcity of character, and defire to pleafe, as you pofiefs, will be fufficient recommendations to notice and efteem. |<'or are you fo deficient in ac- complifliments as your diffidence induces you to fuppofe ; and if you Ihould prove inferior to many ladies of falliion, who I have heard are finilhed painters, muficians, and dancers, you will have this confolation — as you neither challenge competition, nor demand praife, you will awaken no jealoufy; fmce they will not confider you as a rival, they may be pleafed to give you many ufeful hints as an admirer 02 of 196 EMILY. of their talents, and a humble imitater of their excellence. The London ladies may boaft of more fliowy attainments, but they cannot juftly pride tliemfelves upon inftruftions, M'hich have objefts in view fuperior to your own. Leave to them the oftentatious difplay of accomplilliments, envy them not the fruits of forced cultivation, which only impoverifli the foil of the mind, and make it incapable of producing futiu'e plenty. If I have pur- fued a right method with you, the propriety of my plan will be juftified by the courfe of events, and the progrefs of time, when you will be placed in new fituations, and be obliged to act for yourfelf ; when prudence and refolution niuft be called into aftion, and you muft praftife the leflbns you have been taught. If the Virtues go before, I ihall be glad to have the Graces follow in their train; but the facrifice by which their favour is to be obtained muft not be made at the expenfe of principle, or by the negleO: of any part of moral cultivation. CHAP. CHAP. XVIII. I'cll how her manners, by the world rcfin'd. Left all the taint of modifli vice behind ; And made each charm of polifli'd crowds agree With candid Truth's fimplicity. And iincorrupted Innocence ; Tell — how to more than manly fenfe, She join'd the foftening influence Of more than female tendernefs. Lord Lyttleton's Monody. As foon as Edward heard Emily was gone to London, confidering himfelf as cut off, he know not for how long a period, from her delightful fociety, vexation and forrow took poffeffion of his mind. Fortunately, the fum- mer vacation was expired, and he found no inconfiderable relief from his feelings of un- happincfs in change of place, and returning to his ftudies and his companions in the univ^rfity. When 198 EMILY. WliQii Emily arrived in town, llie met witli a very cordial reception from Mrs. ^\'ilfon. That lady A\as the Avidow of a rich mer- chant, who left her a very handfome fortune. In addition to an excellent houfe in town flie had an elegant villa at liampftead. She had married when very young againft the confent of her parents, and unlike her coufm, Mrs. Lorton, in every refpe8; except her fe- cial difpofition, fhe had been fpoiled by too much indulgence ; fhe had been unchecked by thofe falutary reftraints in the early part of life, which however irkfome at the time, be- come ultimately invaluable benefits, as ge- neral experience proves, and every fenfible perfon, who has fubmitted to them, is \villing to acknowledge. Fafliion was the idol which Mrs. Wilfon wor{hipped : fhe difplayed all its excelTes in her drefs, furniture, and equipage, and her choice of the various articles fhe thought iieceffary to keep up her celebrity was often dictated by the moft ihort-lived caprice. At one time the Mandarin, Seve, or Drefden porcelain EMILY. I9i^ rj7orccluin Avcre all the rage — at another flie aftecied to be patriotic, and aiicrtcd tlie fu- :perior excellence of Britiih manufaftures, and then l-.er rooms were decorated "with Worcelter and Derby ciiina. One day her dreffing-tablcs, cabinets, and commodes, were all of fdtin-A\ood ; on another, they A^ere ex- changed for rofe, and the chairs and fofas lately covered with lilk, were foon after en- veloped in chintz. She was equally as muta- ble in regard to her carriages, the falliion of her liveries, and the choice of her lap-dogs. Although flie always rofe very latfe, much time hung heavy upwi her hands : Ihe how- ever contrived to get rid of many hours by her morning calls — that is, by driving from ftreet ■to Itreet, and hearing her footman thunder at the doors of her friends ; but flie ^vould have been fliocked at the awkward and em- barrafilng vulgarity of any one of their por- ters, had he told the truth, and informed her that his miftrefs was at home. In fliort, fmce the time Colonel Lorton had laft vifited Mrs. Wilfon, or heard much of 5200 EMILY. of her habits of life, Ihe had made great progrefs in what llie thought refinement. She was well verfed in the language of po- lite affefclation. She profefled to be tranf- ported with joy if one lady came early to her houfe, and flie was almoft dead with fear that fome difafier had happened if ano- ther arrived late. She bewailed Mils C.'s misfortune, becaufe fhe had broke one of her bracelets ; and as her grief was always in exaft proportion to the rank of her vifitors, Ihe told Lady O Ihe had been much diitreffed ever fince fhe heard of her having loft an ear-ring at the Opera; and flie affured the Duchefs of S , in the moft forrowful tone, fhe had been ablblutely inconfolable, becaufe fome villain had run away with her Grace's lap-dog. The evening after Emily arrived in Lon- don, Mrs. Wilfon gave a concert and fupper, to which all her acquaintance, without any regard to their various ranks and lituations in life, were invited. Her exceffive vanity prompted her to attempt to rival entertain- ments EMILY. 201 ments given by ladies of large fortune and high rank, to which lli« had once or twice . been invited. The inceflant thundering at the door for fome hours announced the arrival of the vifitors ; their carriages rattled through the fquare, and their fcrvants thronged the hall. They conlifted chiefly of thofe volatile cha- racters, who are inltigated by the reigning rage for fociety to go to every place, and know every perfon ; who are gregarious ra- ther than fociablc, and often afi'emble for no other purpofe than to gaze at each other, and ridicule the perfon who gives the party. Mrs. Wilfon's company was as mifcella- neous as the means adopted to entertain them were extravagant : they confifted partly of the acquaintance of her late hufband, and partly of thofe fhe had made fmce her re- moval into her prefent more fafhionable reli- dence. They came from the eaft and the weft ends of the town : there were merchants from Mark-lane, elbowing peers from Port- land-place, city ladies and courtly counteffes ; miffes £C2 r.MiLv. miflfes in th^ir teens and antiquated maids; officers of tlie jTiiards and captains of the Tower Hamlets ; JBoiid-ftreet loungers and Cheapfide bucks. Such a crowd comprelfed into a fmall place changed the atmofpliere of the apartments, and produced the climate of Calcutta in the meridian of London. A month's preparation had fcarcely been fufficient for the reception of thefe motley groupes : carpenters, cabinet-makers, con- fefitioners, and cooks, had been bufily em- ployed to contribute their fliares to this oc- calion ; and half a year's income would have been infufficient to defray the whole expence, had Mrs. Wilfon been fo old-faftiioned as to make the prompt payment of her bills ; but fo fond was the of having her name recorded in a tradefman's book, that llie never paid, even for a pair of gloves, if ciedit Avould be a fubltitute for money. Much good furniture had been exchanged for more ftyliih decorations of inferior ufe and value. Two apartments upon the ground- floor were laid into one, in order to give the appear- EMILY. £03 appearance of a confervatory. Geraniuivis, laurels, myrtles and orange-trees were ar- ranged in large vafes; various flowers adorned a gay parterre; and upon alight trellis, which crolied the room in dilierent directions, were entwined branches of vines, from which hung bunches of the molt expenlive grapes. Tiic colour oi tlie drawing-room, which was newly fitted up to ferve as a concert- room, was Iky-blue, with gold- bordered pan- nels : the draperies were of crimlon-fatin, and the curtains were embroidered with white velvet. While the eyes of the com- pany were dazzled by thefe rich colours, their ears were treated with the moft coftly founds. The vocal performers were of the firft order, and did Mrs. Wilfon the honour of accepting her notes in return for their own ; they gained more by an hour's attendance to fmg two or three airs, than a curate, who performs the moft facred of all duties, or a foldicr, who fights tlie battles ©f his country, is paid in a year. The il04 EMILV. I'hc tables in the fupper-rooin were co- vered with proful'c delicacies, and the crowded guelts were regaled with various liqueurs and wines. It was however the etiquette to regard the tables as prefenting a treat rather to the eye than to the palate : the afparagus \\'anted colour, as much as the ducklings wanted taftc ; thofe who ate any of the premature dainties of the feafon remarked, that the peas, ftrawberries, and cherries, tinged with the fickly hues of forced vegetation, were perfectly infipid ; and they fufpeCted the liqueurs Avere town-made, and that the Cham- pagne and Old Hock had not been long imported from a neighbouring cider-cellar. This conjefture was not improbable, as Mrs. Wilfon was fupplied with every article of this expenfive feall by contract, and had every thing of the woilt quality upon the moft extravagant terms. Emily was ftruck A\ith wonder upon this novel occafion; for her fenfes were con- founded by the number, the buftle, and the inceiTant loquacity of the company. She was liMiLY. i:o.> was at firft amufed vvitli the fplendid aad gay concourfe of belles waving oftrich fea- thers, and beaux dangling opera hats; but fimple and unaccuftonied to mix in fo large a party, ihe felt a deep fenfe of her own in- fignificanee ; and the only pleafure ilie en- joyed was to retire, as foon as propriety allowed, to her own apartment, there to meditate on Mhat ihe had feen. " Why," thought flie, " this wafte of mo- ney, this parade rather than enjoyment of a feaft, this confufion of night with day ? ail which only atti'a6t a crowd to give them an opportunity to laugh at the expenfive exer- tions made to regale them, and to complain of diftrefles of their own creating. One lady was miferable, becaufe Ihe had loft the party fhe came with ; another exclaimed fiie was fuffocated with heat ; and a third told a difaftrous ftory of a pannel of her newly-^ painted carriage being broken in attempting to pafs another in the fquare. But theie falhionable people are thoughtlefs -and cruel, a«? well as felf-tormehtors, for they forget that while 206 EMILY. while they are overpowering themfelvcs with heat in crowded rooms, their fervants and horfcs are fnivering with cold in the ftreets till break of' day, and yet how angry they wou}d be, if any one was even to hint at their inhumanity ? They are unmindful that althoudi thev have all their time at their conniiand, they are paffmg in unfeafonable diffipation the hours of night deftined by Nature to repofe. At the period their {lum- bers will commence this morning, were I at Lorton Iloufc I fhould be rifmg to hail the return of the liirht and the fun, or perhaps be employed in reading, or playing on my piano forte/' Deeply imprefied by thefe refle6lions, and little relifhing this initiation into the buftle of failiionable life, Emily wiilied herfelf at home. She had now no garden, where flie could ftray unobferved and at eafe with Fanny Plowerdalc ; flic was excluded from " each rural fight, each riu'al found." Surrounded on all fides by long-extended ftreets, and breathing an air impregnated with fmoke, ihe the eoiild remark no beauties of the ad- vancing fpring. She conld not hear the cooing of tlie dove& from the tall ehp.s in Lorton Grove; — no bleating of lambs upon the Borrowdale mountains. She never went out but in coiapany with ]\Irs. Wilfon, to make a formal promenade m the fquai^e,. or attended that lady, cooped up in her carri- age, to pay dull vifits of ceremony. She would have expreffed to her father her defire of returning home, had flie not formed high ^xpeciations of improvement fvom the m^f- ters wIk) were to initru6l her in dancing, mufic, and di-awing. No foooer was Emily introduced by Mrs. Wilfon to the large circle of her acquaint- ance, than flie became the objecl of mucb intereft — fuch was the fweetnefs of her tem- per, her affability was fo engaging, and her manners Mere fo unafluming, that Die had the rare felicity to efcape the envv of her own fex, and even to obtain their praife. All the moft cenforious had to objeft was — that her complexion was too ruddy, and that gOS L.yULY. that it was a pity fo fine a girl as Mife Lorton, had been fo long buried in the country, and had not fooner received the advantages of a fafliionable polifli at fome finiihing fchool in London. If great attention was paid to her by the ladies, it is natural to fuppofe the gen- tlemen would be particularly afliduous in their endeavours to gain her notice. She was foon furrounded by a crowd of ad- mirers ; but although her charms caught every eye, and there were few young men of falhion, who did not feize every oppor- tunity of addreffnig the moft complimentary fpeeches to her, yet her native modefty by giving her an air of referve, awed them into refpeft, and kept them at a diftance. She was grateful for their efforts to pleafe her, her mind however was fo truly noble and free from vanity, that fh.e was rather amufed tiian gratified, even by their moft delicate flatter}\ THE THE CORRESPONDENCE. At this period commenced the correfpond- ence between Colonel Lorton and his daugh- ter, and it was carried on for more than two years, during her ftay at j\Irs. Wilfon^s. They condu6ced it in fuch a manner, as did honour to them both, and contributed to their mutual fatisfa6tion ; for their commu- nications were always cordial, and unre- ferved. Emily gave her father a very en- tertaining account of the company Ihe was introduced to ; her defcriptions of charac- ters ihowed great acutencfs of obfervation, and was often enlivened by touches of ge- nuine humour, and delicate pleafantry ; but as Ihe had the ftrifteft regard for pro- VOL. r. , p priety 210 THE CORRESPONDENCE. pricty and truth, and was always influenced by genuine goodncls of heart, her dcfcrip- tions were neither weakened by prolixity, fwelled by exaggeration, nor degraded by fcandal. Her father, on his part, endeavoured to fulfil his proniife by making his Letters as inftruftive as he could. They were tlie fruits of his molt diligent inquiries, and deliberate reflections. He often gave up his walks and rides, and even interru})ted the fuperintcnd- ance of his favourite farm, and the infpec- tion of the labours of his w'orkmen, wlien any fubjeft for a Letter to Emily occurred to him. And this Correfpondence was no fmall folace and relief for her long abfence, dur- ing which he had the more eafy talk of edu- cation, to confirm virtuous habits rather than to inftil the firft principles ; and well knowing that Emily w as fond of variety, he diverlified his fubjeds, as far as he judged to be confiftent with the due cultivation of her mind. The THE COratESPONDEXCE. 211 The following Letters are lelefted from the number Colonel Lorton wrote to Emily. They arofe from the occaiions alluded to in them, and each Avill be found to have a reference to fome principle of religion, or fome topic of ufeful knowledge ; and all by their united influence conduce to raife the mind above the levities of failiion, the dan- ger of diffipation, and the folly of frivolous purfuits, and fix it upon its molt important duties, and moft beneticial impiovement» ^ e LETTER LETTER I. COLONEL LORTON TO HIS DAUGHTER. THE IMPROVEMEXT OF THE MIND. Your remarks upon the pra6lice of the young ladies of your acquaintance in I^on- don, as well as my own obfervations upon thofe I meet with in the country convince me, that the eagernei-s for acquiring accom- plilliments is become a general falhion, and girls are obliged to employ by far too much of their time in attemping to be proficients in dancing, drawing, and more particularly in mufic. I can fee no obje6bion to a girl, in a genteel fituation in life, learning and purfuing any of them, if Ihe has a genius for it ; but in the name of propriety, I wilh to proteft a^ainft that indilcriminate rage for accomplilhmenti^, which now pervades all ranks £14 THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE MIND. ranks — from the daughter of a duke to the daughter of a farmer ; as if female education could not be complete, unlefs all girls above the degree of a peufant, were educated ex- actly in the fame manner, and the whole harmony and welfare of focicty depended upon being taught to play upon the piano forte, and fing Italian fongs. At the time I make this obfervation, I am not at all inclined to detract from the advan- tages that are generally afcribed to accom^ plifiiments. They undoubtedly fcrve to fill up ia- an agreeable and harmlcfs manner many vacant hours. Mufic and dancing are excellent fubftitutes for card-playing, which although it may anfwer the pur{)ofe of thofe who are advancing in life, as the moft agree- able method of paffing many of their hours, is certainly not fo well adapted to the ac- tive difpofition, and the vivacity of the young. Mufic, the moft fafliionable of all accomplifhments, has a tendency to foften the temper, and improve the tafte ; and if a girl has a genius for it, llie cannot fail to acquire THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE MIND. 215 acquire in the progrefs of her improvement a refined plcafure, which is mucli heightened by the coniideration, that flie communicates to others, while Ihe is playing, a great iliare of the delight llie feels. The influence of thefe accompliflmnents is rxtcniive and powerful ; for what man is there of fo morofe a temper, as not to be fenlible of the additional attractions they be- ftow upon their fair poifeflbr. Their effects are evident in the looks of delight, and the exprefflons of approbation which arc Ijeitowed by their friends upon fucji young females, as can ling and play with tafte, . correftnefs, and fpirit, — as can Ihow the elegant produc- tions of their pencil, or like the graces, can " trip on the light fantaftic toe," Having made thefe allowances in favour of acconiplifliments, I now wilh you to con- fider their relative value. By relative I mean as they arc connected with the well being and happinefs of mortals, whole life is lliort, who are accountable for the ufe of their time, and have various duties to perform ; who 216 THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE .^IIXD. who are fent into the worhl not only to at- tract the attentif)n of admirers by external graces, but are defigned to infpire atieftion, and deferve efteem by their amiable tempers, good i'enie, and improved nnderftandings : and if they enter into the married ftate, the difcharge of the moft nfcful and important duties, may reafonably be expected frmii them, as the mothers of families, and the guides of their cliildren in the paths of reli- gion and ufeful knon^ledge. A little reflcftion will, I hope, convince you, that mere accomplifliments cannot fecure the qualifications neceflary to form thefe important characters, as they aftbrd no moral or literary impro-^mcnt to the mind : they can neither make you more virUious, nor moTt- wife ; they have more of the 7ne- chanical, than the intellectual in them, and they employ the eyes, the hands, and the feet, rather than the underftanding, the head, and the heart. In Ihort, they are fupcrficial, the mere appendages to youth and beauty : and do not THE IMPROVEMEXT OF THE MIXD. 217 not conititute their folid and permanent ex- cellence. They are to the miiad what fringe and lace and ribbons are to your drefs, not its elTential parts, but its pleafing embellilli- ments. Thus the trellis entwined Mith flowers in the front of a houfe, or the or- naments that decorate the Corinthian pillar, are both of them beautiful to the eye ; but neither is abfolutely neceflar\^, or conducive to the fupport or ufes of the building. How foon is the fealbn of accomplifli- nients gone, when the fingle is changed for the married ftate ! Of dancing few opportu- nities may occur to the wife ; forfaken are her pencils, or they are only taken up again to amufe her children ; and how rare is it to find her piano-forte kept in tune, when the cares of the mother liave fucceeded to the amufements of the sirl. How long; docs flie continue her application to mufic, for the mere intrinfic pleafure of the practice? If Ihe has a family, Ihe can have little time to fpare for J\lozart, or Haydn, and if llie has a good tafte, fhe will foon prefer to her own ills THE IIMI^ROVEMENT OF THE MIXD. OAvn impcrfcft and interrupted performances, the more indolent pleafure of liearin^ thr beft miific at a regular concert. If then the reign of thefe arcomplil"hment,s is fo fhort, and they are likely to be fuper- feded bv other occupations, as yon advance in life, you muft bo convinced, that they arc rather to be valued for conferring prelcnt amufement, than for any permanent and long continued advantages ; of courfc they cannot be brought into comi)etition \vith ttfeful knowledge, and folid improvement. And by what methods you may aik me, can fuch acquirements be made ? I anfv\cr, by attending to the converfa- tion of the virtuous, the ingenious, the wife, and the experienced, and by the perufal of well chofen books. I'he former is highly defirable, and one of the moft rational ob- jects of your ambition : but as you cannot always gain admittance into the moft im- proving company, you muft find oat the beft fubftituic for it you can. ^Deprived of the fociety of your excellent Friends Airs. Mapleton THE improve:mext of the mind. 219 IMaplcton and Dr. jMarriot; you muft feek initru6iion and entertainment in the pages of Addiibn, Johulbn, and the ]\Xarchionefi de Lambert. And you may be allured, that as long as I can command money, after providing for the fupply of our common comforts, you lliall never be without the company of thofe filent monitors of life, thofe inotfenlive and plealing companions, thole anodynes of the troubled mind, which a well chofen library can always fupply. Recolle6l the advice I gave you on the neceflity of improving your time. Employ fome portion of every day in reading, tran- fcribing fele6t palfages from tlie beft authors, and committing the moft plealing of them to memory. In the courfe of your read- ing, endeavour to form a habit of clofe at- tention. Give your mind to your authory remembering that whatever is worth doing at all, is worth doing well ; and never flatter yourfclf, that a book, which may be replete with genius, learning, or acute obfervations, perhaps tlie tardy fruit of many a ftudious, vear, 220 Tiir. T:\n'Rovr.MF.\T of the mind. year, and the moft elaborate effort of an author's Hie can be fully comprehended by a fuperiicial reader, Avho turns ovt-r the pages, as faft as flic can. You may almoft as well fuppofe, that you can fee all the company at a crovrded rout or ball, the moment you enter the room; or can dif- tinguilli with one glance of your eye, all the lakes, rivers, vallies, and villages, that may be feen from the top of Skiddaw, or Hel- vellin. If vou read too hajlUif, you v.ill learn nathinfT, and the ideas of an author Mill glide before your mind like the viiions of a dream ; they Avill be broken, confuted, and tranficnt. If you read Avith attention, vou will fee the fcope of a work, and compre- hend the full meaning of an author; you will ftrengthen your memory, as A^'ell as ex- ercife your judgment^ and you will have abundant reafon to be pleafed with your o^vn acquilitions of knowledge, which will he highly valuable, either as fubje6ts for iblitary reflection, or pracfical ufe. Every THE IMPllOVEMFNT OF THE MIND. 221 Every inducement confpircs to direct your attention to ■vrcll lelcftcd books, as a prin- cipal means to enricii and adorn your mind. To your fex whofe fituations in life are ne- celTarily more retired and domeftic than thole of men, books are of peculiar ufe, as they enlarge your views of tlie world, and corre^; the wrong and contracted opinions you may be apt try folely to the favour of divine ]*ro- vidcuce. When the Spanith Anviada \\as de- frafed, QuCen Elizabeth caiifcd medals to be ftnick, upon which W(sre f^prefented the S|m- mlh iTiij}? difpcrfed bv a ftorn) A^•ith this appro- priate motto, " God caufed the vinds to blo'vv, and they arc fcattcred." Am] tliat the fpirit of piety has iKcn preft rved among tbfc heroes of our own tiiries, we may prove bv leferring to the brave Nelfon, v^lio, in bis late difpatciics, attributed liis ligival vic- tory in the bay of Aboukir to '" Almigiity God/' For the moft ftriking proofs of thfc fupcr- jnteTidcnce of divine Providence, we may a]ipf"dl to the courie of our o . n experience. Have ON- DTVIXK PROVIDF.NCE. 235 Have we ever been afliicled by fic'kncfs? hotv often has Hope reiiovalcd our exhaurted fpirits, and fpoken peace to our trou!)lcd ibuls ! Aik thofe who liave been in poverty and Avant — have they never received relief at a time when they gave thenilelves up for loft ? has not foine kind friend fucconrcd them like a guardian angel ? Has there not been in the life of every one fonie extraordi- nary coincidence of circumfrances equally eait of the reach of his })0^^ cr to produce ? The unthinking may talk of chance and good luciw but thefe are only founds without fenfe, plaufible names which mean nothing, when applied to the important concerns of x^)ur lives. Be aiilired, that the whole fchemc' of our exiftence has been planned by a Avife and benevolent Power; that nothing hap- pens without his knowledge and perniiliion ; and that as there is notiiing ^hich with re- fpect to his Prefcience is unforefeeri, fo there is nothing which with refpcft to his Provi- ilence is cafual. We may fonictim.cs borroAv ii afeful leiibn even upon fubjecVs of religion from £56 ON DIVIN'L PR0VIDL\C£. from the heathen writers. The fatyrift Ju- venal, for iiiltance, has recommended tlie tclief of a divine Providence, and reliance upon it as the beft means to difpel the fears, and reprefs the anxiety of mankind. Receive my counfel, and fccurcly move, Intruft thy fortune to the Powers above : Leave thenj to manage for thee, and to grant What their nnerring wifdom fees the want : In gootinefs as in grcatncfs they cxcef, Ah i that we lov'd ourfclvos but half fo well ! Dryben's Juvenal, Sat. X. But what in a pagan writer could be only cori- je6t«re, or at molt probability, ^nth refpect to the difcovery of this doclrine, in aChriftian af- fumestiie^ fubltance of certainty, derived from the grcateft and beft authority: and the aflu- moce of Scripture is no lels confolatory than tiitc. " Behold the fowls of the air, for they (bw not, neither do they rcai), nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly I'atlier feedetii t!iem : Are ye not much better than they ? Which of you by taking thought can add one ON DIVINE PROVIDENCE. 237 one cubit unto his ftature? And why take ye thought tor raiment? Conlider the lilies of the licld, how they grow — they toil not^ neither do they fpin ; and yet I fay unto you, that even Solomon, in all his glory, was iiiot arrayed like one of thefe. Where- fore if God fo clothe the grafs, which to-day is, and to-morrow is caft into the oven, ihall he not much more clothe you, oh ye of little faith?" I fliall only fuggcft to you, in a few words, fome of the principal advantages to be de- rived from a firm perfuafion of the truth of this doctrine. It convinces us of the folly, or rather the fin, of that exceffive Iblicitude, which many perfons fliow for the good things of this world — particularly for its riches — a folici- tude which deprives them of the enjoyments they can command, and makes them queru- lous and wretched, even when in polieflion of the means of comfort: 'It IS a great fource of confolation in times of 255 ON DIVINE PROVIDENCE. of difliculty and diftrefs : Mliat though the evils of Hfo prels hard upon me, and I am fiuTOundcd by dangers ; \vhat though the Itonn impends, the thunders roll, and the lightnings flalh, I will remain tirm and un- iliaken at my poft ; for I have an Almighty Protector, whofe eye can penetrate the dark- nels of the ftorm, who Mill enable me eitlier to bear its violence with fortitude, or will prefent to me fome method of efcaping it. . Supported by this belief, the poor man fmiles in his clay-built cottage. He is con- vinced, tliat the Almighty is his friend ; and that he marks his diltreiies ; and although for ^he trial of his virtues many comforts are de- ijiied him in this world, he looks forward with certain hope to that heaven, where want and hardthip will be no more. To the rich man it cannot fail to be falu- tary ; it abates his pride, and awes him into refpcft for the rights of others ; it induces him to condefcend to men of low eftate, from the conviction, that he has a M alter in heaven, 6 ox DIVIN'K PROVmLXCi:. 239 hciwcn, who is above all, who views all his uclioiis. and will call him to give an accouat ot" his itewardlhip. And if liC liavc a finii pcrruafion of il, my Emily, we iii-iy rile in the morning to purine onr daily occupations, and retire to reft at night with equal, cpmpofure ; allured, that we are fqperiutended by a Guardian, who "■ neither IhnnbGranor ilecps,"' and whole ineeliant vii^ilance is our beft fecuritv. LRT LETTER III. From the fame to the fame. ON CHRISTIAN CHARITY. 1 o u tell me, that your friend Lady S made a merit of giving money to a beggar upon a public road, and you very properly doubt, whether fuch an a6t can be rightly deemed an acl of genuine charity. If Ihe thought that it conltituted the whole duty of charity, ilie had certainly a very imperfect notion of the fubje6t She might yield to the impulfe of thofe generous feelings, which Ihowed the goodnefs of her heart, but I wilh you to confider, that as Chrijtians we ought to act from principle, as well as fenfibility, and OSt CHRISTIAN CIIAIllTV. 241 and you may be afiiired tluit oftcntation can tonn no part of true charity. It appears from holy Scripture, that Cha-* rity, the nobleft and heft of the virtues, flows from the pureft motives — the love of God our Creator, and Chrilt our Redeemer, and is of fo comprehenfive a nature, as to include all the thoughts, words, and aftions, benevo- lence can di6late ; and embraces all the du- ties w^e owe to mankind. The practice of it, arifmg from thefe motives, is of the higheil value and importance ; for we are afibred that our Saviour will reward, as an acl of perfonal kindnefs to himfelf, any exercife of it even to the humbleft of his followers — In as much as you did it unto one of the Itajt of thefe my brethren, you did it unto me. In order that you may till up the defe61s of this iketch, I delire you to read the elo- quent and very copious defcription, which St. Paul has given of Charity in the flrft Epiftle to the Corinthians, and I entreat you to be very attentive to the train of his argument — Though I befiow all my goods to VOL. I. R feed '■fii'2 QV CHRISTIAN CHAMTV. feed til c poor, ftiitl the Apoille, and have not Charily, ii projitetk mc nothing. Perhaps you may alk, can I perform lo benevolent an office, as that here defcribcdj and yet be deftitute of Charity ? Yes, you certainly may > for you may feed the poor from motives of oftentation or vain glory, and may not b« influenced at all by the principle, the pure 9nd difmterefted principle, which gives it all its value in the fight of God. Obferve too the particular caution of our blclled Saviour-— /F/ic';i thou git'efi thine alms, do it fea^etlj/, and thy Father uhioh feeth in feci'etjhall reward thee openlif. This precept is as excellent in regard to the deli- cacy that may be due to the feelings of th^ Receiver, as ^vlth refpect to the fincerity of the giver : But as a6ts of public beneficeuce are equally conducive to the honour of God, and the goovintry blafts ; but too many of their defcendants refemble the tender poplars that fliake at every paffing breeze. We are now too delicate for the climate in which we live, " Like flowers tranfplanted to a colder iky," ^nd invalids of both fexes are every day paying the deareft price for the luxuries which their parents have enjoyed, or in which they indulge themfelves. Their con- ftitutions do not fuit the places which it is their lot to inhabit, and they may be faid rather to breathe, than to be well, if health confifts, as it alTuredly does, in the lively and perfe6l enjoyment of exiftence. How far nervous complaints are imagi- nary, or have their origin in the conftitu- VOL. I. u tion. £90 ON" THE I>RESERVATIQ>' OF HEALTH. tion, we muft leave the phyiicians to deter- raiiic. They certahily derive great ftrength Iroiii indolence and indidgence, and may be leflened, if not eradicated by exertion and exercife. What is the reafon that the Iom er orders of the community feldom complain of them, and that thcv are confined to thofe who breathe in carpeted and hot rooms, and are moved about in clofc carriao;es r Whv is a lady ready to faint, and thrown into a vio^ lent nervous agitation, at the barking of a dog, or a loud rap at the door ; when her fervants are perfeClly unmoved by fuch in- cidents ? Surely becaufe lervants are more accuftomed to the open air, are fidly em- ployed, and have no time to encourage nervous diforders. To thofe who are af- flicted with them, occupation will fupply one of the bell means of cure, conftant ex- ercife is an excellent alterative, and al- though too many dofes of fedentary em- ployment are not to be recommended, it is aftonifhing how perfectly Mrs. R. — • got rid of this malady, Mhen lire employed herfelf two 6 ON tHE PRESERVATION OF HEALTH. 291 two or three hours a day in making drelTes for poor cliildren. And now left you Ihould think me deter- mined to aflunie the office of a Galen, or an Hippocrates, and was with all due gra- vity going to prefcribe for you, 1 iliall con- clude this letter with making a few obfer- fervations, which I hope you will carefully retain, and conftantly a6t upon. If fafhion fays what reafon cohtradicls, you muft obey reafon, or take the confe-* quence. It will be a poor confolation to refleft, that you have followed the fafliion, when you have caught a cold, which almoft reduces you to a Ikeleton, and the doctor as a lall refource configns you to Briftol, or Lifbon. Remember health is the daughter of exercife and temperance, and the parent of good fpirits ; fo that no felf-denial or re- ftraint. can be too great to fecure her com- pany. If you facrifice your health to the graces, it may be the laft facritice you will make to them, — except your life. If exer- cife produces fatigue, you fruftrate the end u 2 of 592 ON TFtE PRESERVATION OF HEALTH. of taking it — to explain my meaning more fully, it is better to take two ftiort walks, oi' rides, than one loBg one. In your drefs confult the ftate of your own health, the wea- ther and the feafon, or you will foon be obliged to confult the phyfician ; and be alTuredj tliat the indolence and indulgence of youth will be puniflicd by the maladies of age. That you may purfue every plan condu- cive to the prefer vation of your health with fo much perfeverance, as to live as long and, continue as blooming, as the celebrated Ninon d TEnclos, who preferved her health, beauty, and vivacity to a very advance4 period of life, is my lincere wilh. XETTEK LETTER IX. From the fame to the fame. ON CONTENTMENT. I ou aik mc, my Emily, with a degree of anxiety fuited to the importance and the fe- rioufnefs of fuch a queftion — ^Where is H.ajp- PiNESS to be found ? On what favoured and delightful fpot of the earth does (lie fix her abode ? Docs ilie refide with the rcclufe in his fecret retirement ? Converfe with him, and you will find that he is frequently a prey to Ennui and melancholy. Is (he to be fought for in falhionable crowds ? There the mind has no folid entertainment; all is bultlc, iliow, and found. Does the rich man claim her as his own,? Claim her he may, but the anxiety 294 ON CONTENTMENT, anxiety which attends the pofiefilon of wealth futhciently lho\\s the vanity of liis preten- fipns. That the poor man complains of her ab- fence with fufficient reafon, is evident from his ragged attire, and fcanty fare. Is ihe to be dilcovered in the glow of friendfliip, or the tenderneis of love ? There one would think the fweet ftranger might be found, if llie was deltined by Providence to vifit thefe lower regions ; but who is not fenfible to what fenfations of anxiety, and anticipation of evil, the hearts even of the friend and of the lover are expofed. After all our enquiries, we muft then ac^ knowledge, that Happinefs is the daughter of the Skies, and is not deltined, for wife reafons, to fix her abode on Earth. Felicity is a bleiling, which can only be the portion of beingg, whofe minds are not agitated by tliole reftlefs hopes and fears which arife in the huuian breaft. But there is one fub- ftantial comfort, which it is in our power to obtain, provided we quit the fruitlefs purfuit of ON^ CONTENTMENT. 295 of Happinefs, and endeavour to fecure the good within our power, and that good is Contentment. If, as I travel along the road, I obferve an indolent gipley covered with tatters, and incrufted with dirt, furrounded by children as fqualid as herfelf, who have been taught to crave a pittance from each paffing tra- veller, I abufe the term if I call her con- tented. This is, properly fpeaking, an in- ftance of culpable floth, or habitual indiffer- ence. Contentment, to be meritorious, muft be allied to Virtue; and Virtue always implies laudable exertions. If I fee an induftrious cottager repofmg at his door, and dividing his brown bread with his wife and healthy children, and in whole houie there is every appearance of neatnefs ; here I behold the virtue of Contentment illuftrated to my fatisfa6lion : it is a pifture worthy of the contemplation of a philofopher, and even of a monarch. One great argument in favour of Content- ment arifes from Comparifon. It is very true, you may not have the fplendid carriage and numerous 295 ON CONTENTMENT. numerous attendants of a duchefs; but, on the other hand, you are not fo deftitute of the common comforts of liie, as the multitudes by wliom you are furrounded. If I move in a humble fphere, I think I have no better reafon to murmur at my lot, than a perfon of high rank has to be })roud. The gradations of rank were not eftablilhed in fociety for the particular accommodation or detriment of any individual, but for the general benefit of all. If you fuppofe that perfons, even of the higheft dignity, have no- thing to do but to repofe upon the down of indolence, and pluck the flowers of pleafure and luxury, nothing can be farther from the truth : they have as many duties to fulfil as others, and they are vefted with an aw- ful refponfibility, in proportion to the talents committed to their care. Ambition is a moft refllefs pafifion : we muft check its jmpulfes, or we fhall never enjoy tranquillity — the moft defn'able inmate of the human breaft. Suppofe you were to follow the di6tates of ambition, you would be like |;he traveller who thinks that by afcending one Oisr CONTENTMENT. 297 one of our mountains he ilia 11 command a boundlefs profpcCt : he begins to climb Skid-' daw, or Helvellyn ; after advancing a iliort diftance, he fancies he fees the top of the jnountain — -he climbs higher, and finds he iias fiill ftir to go — he continues his afpiring fteps till faint and almofc breathlefs he reaches the fummit. When he has gained this delired point, other mountains as high, if not higher, meet his view ; and he finds his exertion as been all vanity and vexation of fpirit. To promote Contentment, confider your own merits or demerits. If you have not as many of the good things of this M'orld as you defire, have you not as many, or even more, than you deferve ? Are you as good a member of fociety as the mother of a fa- mily, who is diligent in her occupations, in* ftru6ls her children in their various duties, and yet has only the very fcantieft means of fubfillence ? In any common excurfion of bu- fmefs or pleafure, a peep into many a cottage ^"ill teach this leiVou of contentment. Cicero, 595 ON CONTENTMENT. Cicero, the great Roman orator, ■vvifliing to check the afpirhig pretenfions of Marc Antony, recommends him to coniider not fo much the company he kept, as the family from which he fprung. Compare your for- mer with your prefent ftate of life, the fupe- rior ftile of elegance or of comfort in which you now live, to that in which your parent:?, or at lealt fome of your iNslations, Isave lived, and you will be fenfible of fo great a differ- ence in your own favour, that you will have no reafonable grounds to be diiiatistied with your lot. And if anyone be unhappily the victim of misfortune, affliction, or pain, produced by his own folly, imprudence, or vice, he has no juft caufe of complaint. Should he la- bour under unmerited evils, he oushtto bow with humble refignation; and be ailbrcd, that, by making a religious ufe of his fuffer- ings, " his affliction, which is but for a mo- ment, will, through the merits of his Re- deemer, work for him a far more exceeding and eternal wci<2;ljt of ji'lorv." it is an al- lowed ON CONTENTMENT. 299 \o\yed principle, that phyfical evil produces moral good ; and that misfortunes are fome- tinies bleffino;s in dirsfuiie. Never forget that we are appointed to the ftation we fill in this life by the wife Difpofer of all things, who knows what ig fuited to our capacities and talents much better than we do ourfelves ; and we are not certain but he may be merciful in what he denies to our petitions, as well as in what he grants ; for we are not competent to judge of the final refult of events, or what is beft for us up07z the whole; and certain it is that the afpiring and ambitious have often met with mifery and diftrefs in the accompliih- ment even of their darling wiflies. It is na- tural for the poor man to defire riches ; but is he fure that he is qualified for a change to a condition of affluence? Alas! he knows not his own temper, he knows not the deceit of his own heart ; and fhould he be richer, is he certain he fhall be a better man ? He is ignorant of the vexations and anxieties of the wealthy; he confiders not the ftrong, and too ON CONtEICTMEKT. and even the dangerous attachment ^^hich fhen often form to riches, and their reluct- ance to quit them Ht the hour of death : he Judges by outward appearances, ^vhich are Always fallacious ; he fees indeed the nume- rous retinue, the fplendid carriage^ the ftately manfion, and the coftly furniture, but he catmot difcern the fecret vexation that often preys upon the heart of the poffeilbr, an(i iike the canker' eats the fiower of his joys. Such is the genuine language of Reafon and Experience : but to murmur at our ftation in lifc^ is no lefs irreligious than it is imprudent; we thus become our own tor- mentors, and deprive ourfcives of the enjoy- ments which are really in our power. If we cannot be rich, it is not necefiary that we flioidd be wretched; if we cannot be adorned with titles, are ^\e not free from the envy which is often the attendant on fuch dif- tinftions ? If you agree with me, my Euiily, in the juftnefs of thefe obfervations, agree with me ]ikewife in being gratified with the common t) blcflings ON CONTENTMENT. ^01 bieffings which Nature bellows indilcrinii- nately upon all her children, and adopt the. beautitld fentiment of Contentment and Inde^ pendence thus expreil'ed by our favourite poet Thomfon in tlie Caftle of Indolence : .. ^ '•"■ ■ • ^ -'1 [ ',.;... . ■ • ^wi> I care not. Fortune, what yoti me deny, You cannot rob me of free Nature's grace; -You cannot Ihut the windows of the flcy, Thro' which Aurora fhows her beauteous face, i- You cannot bar my conflant feet to trace, The woods and lawns by living ftrcam at eve; Let health my nerves and finer fibres brace, And I their toys to the great children leave; Of fancy, reafon, virtue, nought can me bereave. ' A party of friends were going on a tour, ^nd they determined to make every incident of their journey a fubject of pleafantry.., They met with bad inns, faucy waiters, rough roads, and indilTerent weather; but- what was all this to the fons of cheerfulnefs, who were determined to confine their views to the bright fide of things? Vivacity gave its colours to every objeB, and like tlie touch of "Midas, which is faid to have turned eveiy 302 ON CONTENTMENT. every thing into gold, converted every inci- dent into merriment: they beguiled the even- ing with a fong, and with the anticipation of the pleaiing fcenes the morrow might produce, to compenfate the dulnels of to- day : mirth and good humour fparkled in their converfation, hilarity quickened their fteps, and hope brightened their profpe6ls : wherever their road lay, down tlie valley, or up the mountain ; whether the fun fcorched, or the rain beat upon them, they " ftrewed the way over with flowers." In your journey of life, try fuch an expe- riment as this; but fail not to remember, tliat its fuccefs will much depend upon the road yoiJ choofe, and the feleftion you make of Your companions. LET- •^< LETTER X, From the fanic to tlie fame. ox THE DECEPTiOX OF APPEAFiAXCES. 1 liAT it is vcrv ralh, arid mav be dangerous, to trult to appearances, is a truth 1 willi to iniprels deeply upon your mind, as a proper attention to it may be of the greatelt lervice to you in the courfe of your Hfe, and mav fave you from no llight uneafmefs and cm- barraliinent. EI ad I been doubtful of tiie foundnefs of this maxim, I lliould have had the lulleft contirmution of it from my obfer- vations on a company, in ^vhich 1 was lately prcfent. The party confifted of ]\Irs. Volu- ble, jVIifs Vainlove, Alifs Kofe, j\Iajor Ratkr, Ca[)tain Alanly, j\Ir. Sycophant, the Reve- rend ]\ir. Good, and myfelf. The Major favoured 804 THE DECEPTION OF APrEARANCES. favoured us with a long detail of his cam- paigns, the battles he had fought, and the various countries he hud vifited ; with no very diftant hint, that all his eminent fervices had been very ill requited by Government. Captain Manly talked little, and feemed oc- cafionally to difcover, more by his looks than Jiis words, confiderabie furprife at the bold affertions. of the Major. Mrs. Voluble talked loudly of the ladies of quality of her acquaint- ance : flie aiVured us ihe had paflcd feveral weeks with a baronet's lady, had jult left her card with a marchionefs, and was promifed a feat in a duchefs's box at the opera. This lady, although exhibiting the countenance and figure of more than foity years of age, was dreffed like a ftylilh girl of eighteen : ihe was adorned, or rather ftriped, with necklaces, bracelets, and armlets, and ihe took infinite pains to difplay the numerous rings that hooped her fingers, for flie was continually flouriihing her hands, and raifing them to her head. IVIifs Vainlove endea- voured to dazzle us with the fplendour of her Ttit DECEPtiON OF APPEARANCES. S05 her drefs, which was of the newcft falliion. JSlie tallvcd of carriages of various kinds, and the comparative convenience of curricles, laundaulets, and barouches, but the more ihe faid, the more llie expofed her vanity and attestation. ^lifs Rofe, another young lady of a very diffident appearance, was drefled very plainly, and had a fenlibility in her countenance and a loftnefs in her manners that were very engaging ; llic faid little^ but it was evident from her expreffive looks flie thought much of the converfation incredible, and all of it extraordinary, ]\Ir. Sycophant was upon the alert, whenever he found an opportunity to make an obfervation : all his fpeechcs were complimentary, and adapted to each perfon with confiderable addrefs. He compared i\fajor Ratlei* to John Duke of Marlborough, and to Charles the twelfth of Sweden. He alTured IMrs. Voluble llie looked move charmingly every day: he told Mifs Vainlove Ihe had the molt refined talte in drefs of any lady in town ; and he whifpered aerofs VOL. I. X the 30G THI-: DECEPTION OF APPEABANCF^. the table to Mr. Good, that his laft charity fcrmon woukl have done honour to a bilhop. Tliis clergyman had no chance of gaining his Hiare of tiie converfation among fo many incelTant tattlers, fo lie fat quietly Tipping his coffee, and had no other ambition to diitinguilh himfelf, than occafionally to catch the attention of the humblcft of the dramatis perfona) in this motley group, viz. jNiili-* Rofe and myfelf. Now fuppofmg I had endeavoured to form an intimacy w ith any of the more pro- minent and daihing part of this company, in confequence of my conceiving a high idea of their importance, and had formed a ftrong prepoffeffion in favour of their fupe- rior merit from their difplay of themfclvcs in the manner I have defcribed, what a srofs miftake Ihould I have made, and into what an cmbarrafiiiient I miglit have been; led ! and what injuftice I might have done to the truly worthy and amiable perfons in the company, if I had conceived a mean opinion of them, becaulc they did not force them- THE DECEPTION OP APPEARANCES. 307 tliemfelves upon my notice by a itylilh ap- pearance, and inceliant tattling. For now, my dear Emily, I am going to prcfent to you thele perlonages diveited of the ornaments in uhich tbey difguii'ed tliem- felves, and appearing in their real charac- ters. Major Ratler had not feen half the fervice of ^vhich he boafted ; and fo far from having any juft grounds to complain of go- vernment, he had been difmifled the fervice for making too free with the money of his regiment. The filent and fedate Captain Manly was an officer of great merit, who had experienced many *' A hair breadth 'fcape in the imminent deadly breach." But like a truly brave man, content with the confci- oufnefs of having done his duty, he left his praife to the voices of others. Mrs. Vo- luble, the falhionable Mrs. Voluble, will you believe it? formerly kept a Milliner's ' Ihop in Bond-ftreet, and on retiring from bufuicfs with a competent fortune, was found fo ufeful to many ladies of failiion, that in return for the honour of their invitations, X 2 ihe SOS THE DECEPTION OP APPEARANCES. Ilie gave them tafte in caps, bonnets, rib- bons, and drciles ; and this will account for her boafted intimacy with the nobility. As for ^lifs Vainlove, her father liad been a coach-maker in Long-acre, and this will give you a clue to her accurate knowledge of carriages. Mifs Rofe was a well-edu- cated girl of great merit, who ftruck me leaft at firft fight, but was raifed the higher in my efteem, the more frequently I con- verfed with her. Mr. Sycophant's character correfponded exactly with his name ; he had formed fo degrading an opinion of mankind, as to think they could all be made the dupes of the grofleft Hattery, and the fuccefs he often met with in the application of this principle, gave him fufficient encouragement to perfevere in his artful praftice. To con- clude my explanation of thcfe characters, the clergyman was a perfon of modeft merit and learning, but his gentle voice was fel- dom heard, or rather was drowned in the general torrent of converfation. I flatter THE DECEPTION OF APPEARANCES. S09 I flatter myfelf that if Lavater, the great adept in phyiiognomy, had been vvith me, he Mould have applauded my mode of difcrimi- nating characters. I make this conclufion from the following excellent remark. " Wherever I meet the fmile of felf-fuificiency, or the ob- lique look of envy, I turn away, and ieek him who remains oppreffed by the loud Toice of confidence. I placed my felf rather by the fide of tJie anfwerer, than the man of clamorous loquacity, and ftiil fooner by the fide of tlie humble inquirer , than the vo- luble folver of all difficulties." Such a fcene as I have defcribed is not fingidar. Believe me, my Emily, you will often be prefent at a fimilar difplay of ftrongly marked, and as ftrongiy contracted characters. Paufe, and examine them as I did, or you may be led into error. If you fufter yourielf to be dazzled by appearance, and milled by plaufibility, you may too late lament your folly and credulity. You will fonn attachments to thofe whom you ought to avoid, and 3-012 will encourage prejudices againit 310 THE DECEPTION 01- APPEARANCES* againft thole ^vho are in all rcfpccls worthy 6f your crteein. When you go into com- pany, look beyond the mere ornaments of th.e perfon, in which the belles and beaux are decorated, and fearch for thofe of the mind. Amid the overbearing aliertions, and loud laughs of felf-fufiicient arrogance, be attentive to the crentle voice and downcait looks of unaflfuminij merit. An amiable temper, good fenfe, genuine modcfty, and unaffected delicacy, true politenefs, uleful attainments, elegant accomplilliments, and virtuous difpofitions, are the brighteft jewels that can engage your obfervation. Tliefe are not open to the gaze of every tranfient fpec- tator, but may be difcovered by the careful obferver. If 3'ou once acquire a true relilli for them, you will foon - abate your eager- nefs to behold, and foon correft your difpo- fition to admire the ijlitterina; forms of faihion, equipage, drefs, and pomp, and you aviII fearch for tiie treaf r- es that lie concealed in tiie head and the heart, and are inlrinfically bright and valuable, which power, opulence, and THE DECEPTION OF APPEARANCES. 3^11 ond rank can neither give nor take away, and A\hich will be in falhion, not for a fleeting month or two, but in every ftate and every change of fociety. Would it not be thought a reflection upon our underftandings, if we judged in the fame manner of the excellence of fome of the inferior clalies of the animal creation from their external appearances, as we fometimes do with refpeCl to mankind ? How gaudy are the peacock and the butter- fly, how beautiful are the ravenous leopard, and the poifonous fnake ! In what plain at- tire has nature dreflfed the induftrious bee, the ant, the flieep, the cow, and the horfe. You muft be prepared to take notice that tlie man of the greateft merit in company may not be a flnillied beau, or decorated with a gaudy military uniform, poflibly he may be drefled in the moft unoftentatious manner; and perhaps the lady whofe acquaintance, and even intimacy, would prove a great ad- dition to your comfort, may be a month or two behind hand in point of falhion, and may 312 THE decp:ption of appearances. riiay neither keep a carriage, nor a foot,-' man, For 'tis tlic mind that makes the body rich, And as the fun breaks through the darkcft clouds, So honour pcereth in the meaneft habit. What ! is the jay more precious than the lark, Becaufc his feathers arc more beautiful ? Or is the adder better than the eel, Becaufc his painted (kin contents the eye ? O no good Kate, neither art thou the worfc, For this poor furniture, and mean array *. The rules of good manners doubtlefs re-^ quire us to be polite and affable to all to whom we are introduced, but before we prO" (ceed to cultivate an acquaintance we muft recoUe6l, that we ought not to pay that homage to drefs and ornament, Mhich is due to virtue and merit. We muft imitate the real connoilTcur in pictures : he fets little value upon the gilded frame, or the high varnillijbut he accurately examines the whole fubjecl of the picture, and if he fnids in it jntrinfic excellence, if he traces the pencil of ■* Shakefpeare's Taming of the Shrew, a Us^' TilE DECEPTION OF APPEARAXCES. 313 a Raphael, a Titian, or a Giiido, he fets the liighelt value upon it, and experiences in- crealing pleafuie, the more frequently he (urveys it. Upon this fubjecfc of judging by appear- ances, Shakefpcare can give you anotiier ad- mirable lelion from the jMerchant of V enice. The vain prince of I\iorocco flatters himfelf he fliall obtain the beautiful Portia in mar- riage by ■ ehoofing the golden calket. His decifion proves the folly of trulling to out- T^-ard Ihow. Fai' differently does Baffanio, the true lover, reafon and determine. The world is ftill deceived by ornament, Tliere is no vice fo fimplc, but alTumos Some mark of virtue in his outward parts; He therefore prefers the leaden caiket, and to his great delight finds in it the portrait of his beloved Portia, and the fair original be- comes the reward of his difcernment. As you are beginning to difcriminate cha- racters, you are gradually making a progrefs 'ya the moft ufcful of all ftudies, the know- ledge 514 THE 'DF.CKPTIO'K OF APPEARANCES. ledge of the zcdrld ; but your proficiency in rCritHnc; mankind will, I triift, be coiii'tantly attended by the cxeixifc; of candour and ge- ceroiitv ; for if you arc acute enough to find ont the predoininant or the concealed pai- {jons, weaknetTes, and foibles of others, you ou2;ht neither to hold them up to ridicule, nor endeavour to i>cnd theiH to your o^^n intercited purpoles. The prime advantage of this knowledge Mill be fccured, if you learn to be upon jour guard againlt fuch as you difrover to be artful and infidious ; to dc- fpife the mean and the unprincipled, toefteem tlie meritorious, and to achnit to your confi- dence and friendlhip none but thofe whofe chara6lers and conduct \vill iran.-i the tell of ftrict inquiry. • Bfifore I conclude thefe ohfervations, let me remind vou of the diftinjiuilhcd li£ure made by Mr. Sycophcoit in the party I de- Icribed. You muft guard with unremitting caution againlt tlic fnarcs, which he and all his numerou-; la nity are conftanlly fitting to entrap the female i.eart. 'i'l ey will fcatter around THE DECEPTION OF APPEARANCES. 315 around you the fvveet eHence of flattery, but if they are adepts in tiieir art, and fufpeft you perceive their deiign, they will diminilh the quantity, or prcfent it to you at a more propitious moment. In proportion as you add the knowledge of your j elf to the know- ledge of others, and become fenfible of the defccls of your own character, and the niuii- ber of your own faults, you will fee, that the mirror held up to you by adulation, gives you by far too favourable a view of yourfelf, and if you once difcover that flat- tery is a tribute paid to your vanity, at the expenfe of your underftanding, you will be convinced, that it is unworthy of your ac- ceptance, unlefs you choofe to receive it as ironical, or a fatirc, and then you ought to let the giver know by the manner in which you thank him, that you perfectly underftand his meaning, and think him entitled — not to your gratitude, but your ridicule and your contempt. LET- LETTER XL From the fame to the fame^ ON FRIENDSHIP. I AM not at all furpriibd to hear that yoa are delighted with your new acquaintance Mif& S, and your expreffions of regard for lier,, fioAv- naturally from tlie wai'ni and inge- Duoiis feelings of your heart. Allow ine, lioweverj. \o afk you before you and j\Iifs S — , lilte ^Matilda Pottingen and Cecilia Muck- ingfeldt, in the ludicrous play of The Rovers^ Iwear, " an eternal friendfhip ;'^ whether vonr partialitv' proceeds only from her gay and lively converfation, her ftylilh appear- ance, and the whim of the moment? If thefe OX" FRIENDSHIP. 317 thele are the iliglit materials of which 3'onr eternal fricndiliip is compofed, it can hardly be expi-t^ted to continue longer than the talliion of a cap, or a ribbon, and ferve for j'Our amiifement for lialf a dozen routs and concerts. As your Letter to me upon this fubjecl gives me fo fair an opportunity I Ihail make a few remarks, which may ferve as a telt, by which you may try tlie pretenfions of your new Iriend to your efteem and affec- tion. No attachment merits the exalted name oi friemljhip, unlefs it be not only warm, but linccre and perfectly difmterefted ; it cannot, therefore, exift without virtue for its foundation. I leave you then to determine what pretenfions the exceffivc lovers of plea- fure or riches, the very vain, proud, capri- cious, or fervile can have to your friend- iliip ; much lefo perfons who are grolsly im- moral, and vitious. All they are capable of is an acquaintance fuggrcfted b^ tlieir own felfifh gratifiCiitiom or intereft, an acquaint- ancr 13 iS ON rRIENDSIIIP. ance lliort-livcd and tranfient, becaufe it is continually changing with the objects of their purfuit. Of real friendfliip as I feel the ftrong and delightful influence, I will endeavour to de- fcribe the nature and properties. I feel it for my worthy neighbour and exemplary Paftor Dr. Marriot, combined with a por- tion of veneration. For you, niy beloved daughter, I feel it founded on paternal tcn- dernefs and love, and of courfe animated with the greateft warmth. Confidered in its general nature, it is the tie that binds per- fons of equal or nearly equal rank in life ; it originates in congeniality of difpofition, good- nefs of heart, and fmcerily and confiftency of character, and conduct. It is confirmed by mutual acts of kindnefs, and is ri vetted by nothing fo clofely as by the participation of the fame misfortunes. It baniflies all felf- ifimefs, for the feparate interelts of friends (oon become identified, and unite in the fame ftream. Did not Diogenes enter into the fpirit of true friendlhip when he obferyed, 6' on O^J IRIENDSHIP- 3jP Oil borrowing money of his friend, " that he did but aik for his ov.ii."' If one friend bt; prolpcrous, it gives the other more de- lidit tlian if fortune liad finiled on him- felt. In llioit, fricndlhip is neceifary lor, the con J fort of everv fituation and every period of iife ; w ithout it prulperit}^ is joy- lefs and imperfect, und advcrtily is infup- portable. It heightens, I had ahnoft faici conUitntes the plciifnres of 3'outh ; it is the fiipport of age, and fometinies proves iif only earthly confolation. This you may fay is a beautiful theory, or picture of friendlhip, as it cxiftcd in the golden age, but are we to expccl among the weak and frail mortals, who have lived fince, fueh friends as anfwer the defeription ? I am neither fo fully convinced of the caprice or the depravity of mankind, nor To incHned to doubt the truth of hiltory, as to fuppofe that the account we iiave of David and Jonathan, Pylades and Oreftes,. Damon and Piiintias, Scipio and Lac^lius, are fabulous. Nor do I think the world, ^ven in our own times, 320 ON FRIENDSHIP. times, is become fo dctrenerate, that if you derei've a true friend, you may not find one ; only ycu nuifc make great allowances, as your friend muft in your cafe, for the foibles and infirmities incident to human nature. And it is of prime importance to mark the diftinGtion very ftrongiy between companions ?jiA friciids ; a diliincrion very neceliary ta be pointed out to the young and tiioughtlefs. The former may be found m all places, where there is any thing deferving the name of fo-' ciety : the latter are almoft as rare as aloes in blofibm, or eagles upon our mountains ; and you may think yourfelf happy, if, exclu- live of the circle of your own relations, ^'ou meet with two or tlnee in the courfe of all your life. A long feparation may -weaken, and death may interrupt, but neither of them can dif- folve fuch a friendiliip as that I have de- fcribed to you. Such was that I felt for Captain Olborn, of my own regiment, with 'T\ho!U I lliared the dangers and hardlliips of many a campaign. His temper., was >varm^ frank. ON FRIENDSHIP. 3qi Irank, and gcncrons ; his knowledge of the world exteniive; his manners elegant; his accomplilhments various ; his attachment to rac proved by many an inltance of dihnte- refted exertion. He died at Gibraltar, and as there were no relations to conduct the mournful ceremony of his interment, it de- volved on me. Upon his grave, over which the laurel and the cyprefs ^ave their united branches, I llied the tear of undiflbmbled forrow; but that tear will never acquit me of an obligation which my heart tells me is indiflbluble. I am fenfible I have ftill a tri- bute to pay to him, which is no lefs my fo- lace than my duty. I ought to cherilli his memory, and proclaim his praife; and as I am convinced, that no monument I could raife to his fame would be more acceotable Lam determined to perfevere in that path of honour we trod together .vith double delialn becaufe the one was confident that it was "Ap- proved by the other, ^rhether in the fepa- rate ftate of the foul my friend is fo far int- relted in the a(iairs of this lower world as to feci 323 ox rniENDsifTp. feel any fatisfaclion in this my conduQ-, I am ignorant; but of this I am perfuaded, that it is a great encouragement to virtuous attachments to think that they are not mor- tal, ' like the men who form them, but will flourilh to all eternity. With what ardour do I embrace the fentiment of Tickell, con- veyed in the beautiful invocation to his de- parted friend Addifon ! *' O if fometimes thy fpotlefs foul defcend, To mc thy aid, thou guardian Genius, lend! When Rage niilguides me, or when Fear alarms, "When Pain diftrefles, or when Pleafure charms, In filcnt whifperings purer thoughts impart, And turn from ill a frail and feeble heart; Lead through the paths thy virtue trod before, Till Blifs fliall join, nor Death can part us more." You may afk, what is the duty of a friend ? It includes the performance of every office which Affection can dictate, and Virtue ap- prove. Judicious and temperate admoni- tion forms one of its important exercifes. Your ox FRIENDSHIP. 323 Yoiir friend will feel peculiar paia when Hie oblerves you at any time deviating from tlie line of propriety : in any fuch cafe llie will not be influenced by any falfe delicacy to preferve an unbecoming filence, nor will Ihe alTume the inalk of a flatterer, and applaud you againit the conviction ol»,her judgment; no, Ihe will rather take the hrft favourable opportunity of giving her candid opinion, and w^il remonftrate with you in the moft •delicate manner; but then Ihe will neither imrt your feelings by her feverity, nor offend your pride by an affectation of fuperior fenfe, or fuperior dignity; flie Avill endeavour to convince you, that her remonftrances flow from diflnterelted kindnefs, and having no reafdn to doubt her finceritv, vou ou2;ht im- plicitly to believe her. Give her the cleareft proofs of your con- fidence; conceal no foible, palliate no im- propriety. Receive from her with gratitude the kind reproof that flows from tendernefs and a deflre for your happinefs. Confefs vour 324 ox FRIENDSHIP. your faults to her Avith all candor, and cor- rect them at her initigation witii all diligence; io iliall you be more m orthy of your OAvn ap- probation, and of her love. But flie will not only lliow her zealous attachment by words ; her aciions will con- vince you that llie deferves to be conlidercd as another felf : llie will rejoice in your pro- fperity, and do every thing in her power to promote it ; and lliould any aftiicling event happen, flie will divide the burden of your forrows. The lonely fufferer feels the fmart of pain, or the load of misfortune, almoft in- fupportable ; but when her friend appears, ihc is inftantly relieved ; her mind becomes tranquillized, and the fmiles of pleafure foon fucceed to the tears of afRiclion. Thus the fim darts his rays through the ftormy clouds, and the profpe6l of nature brightens with greater luftre, from the contraft A^ itli its recent gloominefs. There are pcrfons who think that women arc not fo capable of firm and lafting friena- ihip for each other as men ; and for that 1 reafon ON FRIENDSHIP. 325 i:eafon the eminent examples of friendihip recorded in hiftory relate Ibldy to our fex. For my part, I mult do them the jultice to fay, that I know many inftances of their attachment, which intitle them to fliare the praife of friendlhip ^ith the " Lords of the Creation." Perhaps they are unfortunate, as the lion in the fable well obferved with refpect to the victories obtained by his own fpecies over men, in having no hiltorians of their own fex. But if it be true that we do really excel in this refpect, let the ladies of the prefentday emulate the example we have fet them, and as far as is in their power ef- face the imputation of ficklenefs caft upon their fex. The friendlhip of amiable females for each other, exclulive of various other ad- vantages, cannot fail to increafe the motives for our love of them ; for love, however fu- perior in ardor to friendlhip, policies in common with it the fame })rincjples of dif- intereftednefs, conftancy, and fmcerity, lo render its nature i)erfeft. T" 326 ON FRIENDSHIP. To return to the fubjeft which fuggefted thefe obfervations. — As I well know that to pour the warm effufions of the heart into the bofom of a friend is at all periods of life, and particularly at your's, to be ranked amcrigft our moft exquifite pleafures, far be it from me to check the current of your joys by oppofmg to it any unneceifary obftacle. All I with is to dire6l that current to a right channel. All I wifh is to guard you — againft the forwardnefs and infmuations of any who may wifli to intrude into your heart ; — againft ever tailing the bitter fruits of mifapplied con- fidence> and adding one to the lift of thofe who complain of the ingratitude, perfidy, and treachery of mankind. If then you have reafon to conclude from your own attentive obfcrvation, and the beft information yon can obtain, that INIifs S. is good-natured, virtuous, modeft, and difcreet, and has fenfe and fenfibility enough to love you unfeignedly; encourage her advances to your confidence, nourifli the young plant of your ON FRIENDSHIP. S91 your friendiliip, and may it produce the moft abundant fruits and flowers of fympa- thy and mutual confidence throughout the whole courfe of your Hves ; may it be fof- tered by the funfliine of your fmiles, and never watered by the tears of your regret ! END OF VOL. 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