v^ 
 
 t ' 
 
/ 
 
 / 
 
Proutifpiece 
 
A Description of 
 
 MILLENIUM HALL, 
 
 AND THE 
 
 COUNTRY Adjacent: 
 
 Together with the 
 
 Characters of the Inhabitants, 
 
 And fuch Hillorical 
 
 Anecdotes and Reflections, 
 
 A S 
 
 May excite in the Reader proper Sentiments of 
 Humanity, and lead the Mind to the Love of 
 Virtue, 
 
 B Y 
 
 A Gentleman on his Travels. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed for J. Newbery, at the Bible and Sun, 
 in St. Paul's Church-yard. 
 
 M DCC LXIL 
 
6^.3Sl6 
 

 ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 THE Publiflier of this Volume is under fome 
 Difficulties ; not from any Apprehenfions 
 of lofing by the Book ; for great part of the Im- 
 preflion is befpoke ; his Anxiety arifes from the 
 Author's addrefling the Volume to him, and 
 making him a Compliment in the Beginning; 
 which, as he is confcious he does not deferve, 
 he hopes the Reader will impute to its proper 
 Caufe, namely, to the Warmth of Friendfliip, 
 which is too apt to exalt the Obje61: it efteems. 
 The Gentleman who wrote this Volume, is of too 
 much Confequence to be obftinately contradi£ted ; 
 and as the Bookfeller could not prevail on him 
 to leave out the Compliment above-mentioned, 
 he hopes his publifhing of it v/ill not be imputed 
 to any other Motive, but that of his Keadinefs to 
 obey. 
 
— *t 
 
( I ) 
 
 A Description of 
 
 MILLENIUMHALL. 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 THOUGH, when I left London, I promif- 
 ed to write to you as foon as I had reached 
 my northern retreat, yet, I believe, you lit- 
 tle expeded inftead of a letter to receive a voliimc ; 
 but I fhould not ftand excufed to myfelf, were I 
 to fail communicating to you the pleafure I received 
 in my road hither, from the fight of a focicty, 
 whofe acquaintance I owe to one of thofe fortu- 
 nate, though in appearance trifling, accidents from 
 which fometimes arife the mofl pleafuig circum- 
 ftances of our lives ; for as fuch I muft ever eftecni 
 the acquaintance of that amiable family, who have 
 fixed their abode at a place which I fhall nominate 
 Millenium Hall, as the beft adapted to the lives of 
 the inhabitants, and to avoid giving the real name, 
 fearing to offend that modefty which has induced 
 them to conceal their virtues in retirement. 
 
 In giving you a very circumilantial account of 
 this fociety, I confcfs f have a view beyond the 
 pleafure, which a mind like yours muft receive from 
 the contemplation of (o much virtue. Your con- 
 fcant endeavours have been to inculcate the beft 
 principles into youthful minds, the only probable 
 means of mending mankind; for the foundation of 
 mxoft of our virtues, or our vices, are laid in that 
 feafon of life when we are moft i'ufceptible of impref- 
 fion, and when on our minds,' as on a (heet of v/hite 
 
 B P'ifcr, 
 
2 A Description of 
 
 paper, any charaders may be engraven ; thefe lau- 
 dable endeavours, by which we may reafonably ex- 
 pert the rifmg generation will be greatly improved, 
 render particularly due to you, any examples which 
 may teach thofe virtues that are not eafily learnt 
 by precept, and fhew the facility of what, in meer 
 /peculation, might appear furrounded with a dif-* 
 couraging impra£ticability : you are the beft judge, 
 whether, by being made public, they may be con- 
 ducive to your great end of benefiting the world. I 
 therefore fubmit the future fate of the following 
 fheets entirely to you, and fhall not think any 
 prefatory apology for the publication at all requifite ; 
 for though a man who fuppofes his own life and ac- 
 tions deferve univerfal notice, or can be of general 
 ufe, may be liable to the imputation of vanity, yet, 
 as I have no other fliare than that of a fpeftator, 
 and auditor, in what I purpofe to relate, I prefume 
 no apology can be required ; for my vanity muft 
 rather be mortified than flattered in the defcription 
 of fijch virtues as will continually accufe me of 
 my own deficiencies, and lead me to make an 
 humiliating comparifon betv/een thefe excellent 
 ladies and myfelf. 
 
 You may remember. Sir, that when I took 
 leave of you with a defign of retiring to my native 
 county, there to enjoy the plenty and leifure for 
 which a few years labour had furnilhed me with 
 the necefiary requifites, I v^as advifed by an emi- 
 nent phyfician to make a very extenfive tour 
 through the weftern part of this kingdom, in or- 
 der, by frequent change of air, and continued ex- 
 crcife, to cure the ill efFe6ls of my long abode in 
 the hot and unwholfome climate of Jamaica, where, 
 tvhile I increafed my fortune, I gradually impair- 
 ed my conftitution ; and though one, who like me, 
 has dedicated all his application to mercantile gain, 
 
 wiU 
 
MILLENIUM HALL. 3 
 
 will not allow that he has given up the fubilance 
 for the Inadow, yet perhaps "it would be difficurt 
 to deny, that I thus facrificed the greater good in 
 purfuit of the lefs. 
 
 The eargernefs with which I longed to fix in 
 my wiflied for retirement, made me imagine, that 
 when I had once reached it, even the purfuit of 
 health would be an infufficient inducement to de- 
 termine me to leave my retreat, I therefore chofe 
 to make the advifed tour before I went into the 
 north. As the pleafure arifmg from a variety of 
 beautiful objects is but half enjoyed, when we have 
 no one to fhare it with us, I accepted the offer 
 Mr. Lament (the fon of my old friend) made of 
 accompanying me in my journey. As this young 
 gentleman has not the good fortune to be known 
 to you, it may not be am'ifs, as will appear in the 
 fequel, to let you into his charailer. 
 
 Mr. Lament is a young m.an of about tvv^cntv- 
 five years of age, of an agreeable perfon, and lively 
 underitanding; both perhaps have concurred to 
 render him a coxcomb. The vivacity of his parts 
 foon gained him fuch a degree of cncouraocment 
 as excited his vanity, and raiftd in hini an hi2;h 
 opinion of himfelf. A very generous father ena- 
 bled him to partake of every fafliionable amufc- 
 tnent, and the natural bent of his mind foon Jed him 
 into all the diffipation which the gay Vv'orld affords. 
 Ufeful and improving ftudies were laid afide for 
 fuch defultory reading, as he found mofl proper to 
 furnifh him with topics for converfation, in the 
 idle focieties he frequented. Thus that vivacitV, 
 which, properly qualified, might have become true 
 wit, degenerated into pertnefs and impertinence. 
 A confcioufnefs of an undeiibjidinrr, v/hich he 
 never exerted, rendered him conceited; thofe ti- 
 lents which nature kindly bellowed upon him, by 
 
 ^^ 2 being 
 
4 'A Description of 
 
 being perverted, gave rife to his greateft faults. 
 His reafoning faculty, by a partial and fuperlicial 
 ufe, led him to infidelity, and the defire of being 
 thought fuperiorly diftinguifhing, eftabiiftied him 
 an infidel. Fadiion, not reafon, has been the guide 
 of all his thoughts and actions. But with thefe 
 faults he is good-natured, and not unentertaining, 
 cfpecially in a tete a tete, where he does notdefire to 
 ihine, and therefore his vanity lies dormant, and fuf- 
 fers the bed: qualifications of his mind to break forth. 
 This induced me to accept of him as a fellow traveller. 
 We proceeded on our journey as far as Cornwall, 
 without meeting with any other than the ufual in- 
 cidents of the road, till one afternoon, when our 
 chaife broke down. The v/orfl circumftance attend- 
 inof this accident was our beino- feveral miles from 
 a town, and fo ignorant of the country, that wq 
 knew not whether there was any village within a 
 moderate diilance. We fent the poftilion on my 
 man's horfe to the next town to fetch a fmith, and 
 leaving my fervant to guard the chaife, Mr. Lamont 
 and I walked towards an avenue of oaks, which 
 we obferved at a fmall diflance. The thick fhade 
 they afforded us, the fragrance wafted from the 
 woodbines v/ith which they Vvere encircled, was fo 
 delightful, and the beauty of the grounds fo very 
 attra6ling, that we ftroUed on, defirous of ap-^ 
 proachipg the houfe to which this avenue led. 
 It is a mile and a half in length, but the eye is fo 
 cljarmed with the remarkable verdure and iieatnefs 
 of the fields, Vv'ith the beauty o^ the Hov/ers which 
 are planted all round them, and feera to mix with 
 the quickfet hedges, that time fleals away infenfibly. 
 When we had v/alked about half a mile in a 
 fcene truly pafioral, we began to think ourfelves 
 in the days of Theocritus, fo fweetly did the lound 
 of a flute come wafted through the air. Never 
 
 did 
 
MILLENIUM HALL. 5 
 
 did paftoral Twain make fweeter melody on his oaten 
 reed. Our ears now afforded us fre{h attracftion, and 
 with quicker fteps we proceeded, till we came 
 within fight of the mufician that had charmed us. 
 Our pleafure was not a little heightened, to fee, as 
 the fcene promifed, in reality a fhepherd, watching 
 a large flock of iheep. We continued morionlefs, 
 liftening to his mufic, till a lamb fliraying from its 
 fold demanded his care, and he laid afide his inftru- 
 ment, to guide home the little v/anderer. 
 
 Curiofity now prompted us to walk on ; the 
 nearer we came to the houfe, the greater we fouixi 
 the profufion of flowers which ornamented every 
 field. Some had no other defence than hedges of 
 rofe trees and fweet-briars, fo artfully planted, 
 that they made a very thick hed^^c, while at the 
 lower part, pinks, jonquills, hyacinths, and va- 
 rious other flowers, feemed to grow under their 
 protection. Primrofes, violets, lillies of the val- 
 jey, and polyanthufes enriched fuch (bady fpots, 
 'as, for want of fun, were not well calculated for 
 the produtStion of other flowers. The mixture of 
 perfumes which exhaled from this profufion com- 
 pofed the higheft fragrance, and fometimes the 
 difi'erent fcents regaled the fenfes alternately, and 
 filled us with refledlions ou the infinite variety of 
 nature. 
 
 When we were within about a quarter of a 
 mile of the houfe, the fcene became ftill more ani- 
 mated. On one fide was the greateft variety of 
 cattle, the mod beautiful of their kinds, grazing in 
 fields whofe verdure equalled that of the finefl: turf, 
 nor were they deftitute of their ornaments, only 
 the woodbines and jeffamine, and fuch flowers, as 
 might have tempted the inhabitants cf thefe paftures 
 to crop them, were defended with lofes and fweet- 
 briarsj whofe thorns preferved them from all attacks. 
 
 B 3 Though 
 
^ A D E S Clt 1 P T I O N C F 
 
 Though Lament had hitherto been little accuf- 
 tomed to adnjire nature, yet was he much captivated 
 with this fcene, and with his ufual levity cried out, 
 
 * If Nebuchadnezzar had fuch paftures as thefe to 
 
 * range in, his feven years expulfion from human 
 ' fociety might not be the leaft agreeable part of his 
 
 * life.' My attention was too much engaged- to 
 criticize the light turn ofLamont's mind, nor did 
 hiy thoughts continue long on the fame fubje(5i-, for 
 our obfervation v/as foon called oft, by a company 
 of hay-makers in the fields on the other fide of 
 the avenue. The cieanlinefs and neatnefs of the 
 young women thus employed, rendered them a 
 more pleafmg fubje£l for Lament's contemplation 
 than any thing we had yet feen j in them we beheld 
 rural fimplicity, without any of thofe marks of 
 poverty and boorifh rufticity, which would have 
 Jpoilt the paftoral air of the fcene around us ; but 
 not even the happy amiable innocence, which their 
 figures and countenances exprelTed,, gave me fo 
 much fatisfa6tion as the fight of the number of 
 children, who were all exerting the utmoft of their 
 flrength, with an air of delighted emulation between 
 themfelves, to contribute their fhare to the general 
 undertaking. Their eyes fparkled with that fpiric 
 which health and acfiivity can only give, and their 
 rofy cheeks fhewed the benefits of youthful labour. 
 
 Curiofity is one of thofe infatiable paflions that 
 grow by gratification ; it flill prompted us to pro- 
 ceed, not unfatisfied with what we had feen, but 
 defirous to fee flill more of this earthly paradife. 
 We approached the houfe, wherein, as it was the 
 only human habitation in view, we imagined mufl re- 
 fide the Primum Mobile of all we had yet beheld. 
 We were admiring the magnificence of the ancient 
 llructure, and inclined to believe it the abode of 
 . the genius which prefided over this fairy land, 
 
 when 
 
MILLENIUM HALL. 7 
 
 when we were furprized by a ftorm, which had 
 been for fome time gathering over our heads, though 
 our thoughts had been too agreeably engaged to pay 
 much attention to it. We took fhelter under the 
 thick (hade of a large oak, but the violence of the 
 thunder and lightening made our fituation rather 
 uncomfortable. All thofe whom we had a little 
 before feen fo bufy, left their work on hearing the 
 firft clap of thunder, and ran with the utmoll: fpeed 
 to Millenium Hall, fo I fhall call the noble man- 
 fion of which I am fpeaking, as to an affured afylum 
 againft every evil. 
 
 Some of thefe perfons, I 'imagine, perceived us; 
 for immediately after they entered, came out a wo- 
 man, who, by her air and m.anner of addrefs, v/e 
 guefled to be the houfe-kceper, and defired us to 
 walk into the houie till the ftorm v/as over. Vv e 
 made fome difficulties about taking that liberty, but 
 fhe ftill perfifling in her invitation, had my curio- 
 fity to fee the inhabitants of this hofpitable m.anfion 
 been lefs, I could not have refufed to comply, as 
 by prolonging thefe ceremonious altercations I 
 was detaining her in the ftorm, we therefore agreed 
 to follow her. 
 
 If we had been inclined before to fancy ourfelves 
 on enchanted ground, when after being led through 
 a large hall, we were introduced to the ladies, who 
 knew nothing of what had pafled, I could fcarccly 
 forbear believing myfelf in the Attick fchool. The 
 room where they fat was about forty-five feet long, 
 of a proportionable breadth, with three windows on 
 one fide, which looked into a garden, and a large 
 bow at the upper end. Over againft the windows 
 were three large book-cafes, upon the top of the 
 middle one flood an orrery, and a globe on each of 
 the others. In the bow fat two ladies reading, with 
 pen, ink, and paper on a table before them, at 
 
 B 4 which 
 
8 A Description of 
 
 which was a young girl tranflating out of French, 
 At the lower end of the room was a lady painting, 
 with exquifite art indeed, a beautiful Madona ; 
 near her another, drawing a landfcape out of her 
 own imagination ; a third, carving a picture-frame 
 in wood, in the fineft manner ^ a fourth, engraving; 
 and a young girl reading aloud to them ; the dif- 
 tance from the ladies in the bow-window being 
 fuch, that they could receive no difturbance from 
 her. At the next windovi^ were placed a group of 
 girls, from the age of ten years old to fourteen. 
 Of thefe, one was drawing figures, another a land- 
 fcape, a third a perfpeiStive view, a fourth engrav- 
 ing, a fifth carving, a fixth turning in wood, a 
 feventh writing, an eighth cutting out iinnen, another 
 making a gown, and by them an empty chair and a 
 tent, with embroidery, finely fancied, before it, 
 which we afterwards found had been left by a young 
 girl who was gone to pra6life on the harpfichord. 
 
 As foon as we entered they all rofe up^ and the 
 houfe-keeper introduced us, by faying, fne faw us 
 il-anding under a tree to avoid the ftorm, and fo had 
 defired us to walk in. The ladies received us with 
 the greateft politenefs, and expreflTed concern, that 
 when their houfe was fo near, we fhould have re- 
 courfe to fo infufficient a flielter. Our furprize at 
 the fight of fo uncommon a fociety, occafioncd 
 our making but an awkward return to their oblig- 
 ing reception ; nor when we obferved how many 
 arts we had interrupted, could we avoid being 
 aihamed that we had then intruded upon them. 
 
 But before I proceed farther, I fhall endeavour 
 to give you fome idea of the perfons of the ladies, 
 whofe minds I fhall afterwards beft defcribe by their 
 actions. The two who fat in the bow window 
 were called Mrs. Maynard and Mrs. Selvyn. Mrs. 
 Maynard is between forty and fifty years of age, a 
 
 little 
 
MILLENIUM HALL. 9 
 
 little woman, well made, with a lively and genteel 
 air, her hair black, and her eyes of the fame 
 colour, bright and piercing, her features good, 
 and complexion agreeable, though brown. Her 
 countenance exprelles all the vivacity of youth, 
 tempered with a ferenity which becomes her age. 
 
 Mrs. Selvyn can fcarcely be called tall, though 
 fhe approaches that flandard. Her features are too 
 irregular to be handfome, but there is a fenfibility 
 and delicacy in her countenance which render her 
 extremely engaging ; and her perlon is elegant. 
 
 Mrs. Mancel, whom we had dlfturbed from her 
 painting, is tall and finely formed, has great ele- 
 gance of figure, and is graceful in every motion. 
 Her hair is of a fine brown, her eyes blue, with all 
 that fenfible fweetnefs which is peculiar to that co- 
 lour. In fhoj t, (he excels in every beauty but the 
 bloom, which is fo foon faded, and fo impoflible to 
 be imitated by the utmofl efforts of art, nor has flae 
 fufFered any farther by years than the lofs of that 
 radiance, which renders beauty rather more refplen- 
 dant than more pleafing. 
 
 Mrs. Trentham, who was carving by her, was 
 the talleft of the company, and in dignity of air 
 particularly excels, but her features and complexion 
 have been fo injured by the fmall pox, that one can 
 but juft guefy they were once uncommonly fine; a 
 fweetnefs of countenance, and a very fenfible look, 
 indeed, ftill remain, and have baffled all the mofl 
 cruel ravages of that di (temper. 
 
 Lady Mary Jones, whom we found engravings 
 feems to have been rather pleafing than beautiful. 
 She is thin and pale, but a pair of the finefi: black 
 eyes I ever faw, animate, to a great degree, a coun- 
 tenance, which ficknefs has done its utmoll to ren- 
 der languid, but has, perhaps, only made more 
 delicate and amiable. Her perfon is exquifitely 
 
 B 5 £^enteel^ 
 
40 A Description of 
 
 genteel, and her voice, in common fpeech, enchant- 
 ingly melodious. 
 
 Mrs. Morgan, the lady who was drawing, ap- 
 pears to be upwards of fifty, tall, rather plump, 
 and extremely majeftic, an air of dignity diftin- 
 guifhes her perfon, and every virtue is engraven in 
 indelible chara6lers on her countenance. There is 
 a benignity in every look, which renders the decline 
 of life, if poflible, more amiable that the bloom 
 of youth. One would almoft think nature had 
 formed her for a common parent, fuch univerfal 
 and tender benevolence beams from every glance 
 fhe cafts around her. 
 
 Thedrefs of the ladies was thus far uniform, the 
 fame neatnefs, the fame fimplicity and cleanlinefs 
 appeared in each, and they were all in luteftring 
 night-gowns, though of different colours, nor was 
 tliere any thing unfafhionable in their appearance, 
 except that they were free from any trumpery orna- 
 ments. The girls were all clothed in camblet 
 coats, but not uniform in colour, their linnen ex- 
 tremely white and clean though courfe. Some of 
 them 'were pretty, and none had any defecSt in 
 perfon, to take off from that general pleafingnefs 
 "Which attends youth and innocence. 
 
 They had been taught fuch an habit of atten- 
 tion, that they feemed not at all difturbed by our 
 converffitlon, which v/as of that general kind, as 
 mi<yht naturally be expelled on fuch an occafion, 
 though fupported by the ladies with more fenfible 
 viyacity and politenefs, than is ufual, where part of 
 the company are fuch total Grangers to the reft; till 
 by chance one of the ladies called Mrs. Maynard by 
 her name. 
 
 From the moment I faw her, I thought her face 
 not unknown to me, but could not recollect where, 
 er when I had been acquainted with her, but her 
 
 nams 
 
MILLENIUM HALL, ii 
 
 name brought to my recolle6tion, that fhe was not 
 only an old acquaintance, but a near relation. I 
 obferved, that fhe had looked on me with particular 
 attention, and I begged her to give me leave to afk 
 her, of what family of Maynards fhe was ? her 
 anfwer confirmed my fuppofition, and as flie told me, 
 that fhe believed fhe had fome remembrance of 
 my face, I foon made her recolledt our affinity 
 and former intimacy, though my twenty years 
 abode in Jamaica, the alteration the climate had 
 wrought in me, and time had made in us both, 
 had almofl effaced us from each other's memory. 
 
 There is great pleafure in renewing the acquaint- 
 ance of our youth ; a thoufand pleafmg ideas accom- 
 pany it ; many mirthful fcenes and juvenile amufe- 
 ments return to the remembrance, and make us, as 
 it were, live over again what is generally the 
 mofl pleafing part of life. Mrs. Maynard feemed 
 no lefs fenfible of the fatisfa6tion arifuiQ- from this 
 tram of thoughts than myfelf, and the red of 
 the company were fo indulgently good-natured, as 
 in appearance, to fhare them with us. The tea 
 table by no means interrupted our converfation, 
 and I believe I fhould have forgot that our journey 
 was not at an end, if a fervant had not brou<'-ht in 
 word, that my man, who had obferved our moti- 
 ons, was come to inform us, that our chaife could 
 not be repaired that night. 
 
 The ladies immediately deckred, that though 
 their equipage was in order, they would not fuffcr 
 it to put an end to a pleafure they owed to the acci- 
 dent which had happened to ours, and infixed we 
 fhould give them our company till the fmith had 
 made all neceffary reparations, adding, that I could 
 not be obftinately bent on depriving A4rs. Maynard 
 fo foon of the fatisfadion flic received, from having^ 
 recovered fo long lofl a relation. I was little in- 
 
 B 6 clined 
 
12 A Description of 
 
 clined to reject this invitation : pleafure was the 
 chief defign of my journey, and I faw not how 
 I could receive more, than by remaining in a fa- 
 mily fo extraordinary, and fo perfedly agreeable. 
 When both parties are w^ell agreed, the neccflary 
 •ceremonies previous to a compTiance are foon over, 
 and it vi'as fettled that we fhould not think of de- 
 parting before the next day at fooneft. 
 
 The continuance of the rain rendered it impofli- 
 ble to ftir out of the houfe ; my cou^fui, who feem- 
 cd to think variety neceffary'to amufe, afked if 
 we loved mufic ? which beino- anfwered in the 
 afhrmative, fhe begged the other ladies to entertain 
 us with one of their family concerts, and v/e join- 
 ing in the petition, proper orders were given, and 
 we adjourned into another room, which was well 
 furnifhed with mufical inftruments. Over the door 
 v/as a beautiful faint Cecilia, painted in crayons by 
 Mrs. Mancel, and a fine piece of carved work over 
 the chimney, done by Mrs. Trentham, which was 
 a very artificial reprefentation of every fort of mufical 
 inftruments. 
 
 While we were admiring thefe performances, 
 the company took their refpedive places, Mrs^ 
 Mancel feated herfelf at the harpfichord. Lady 
 Mary Jones played on the arch lute, Mrs. Morgan 
 on the organ, Mrs. Selvyn and Mrs. Trenthara 
 €?xh on the fix-ftringed bafs ; the fhepherd who 
 h.id charmed us in the field was there with his 
 German flute j a venerable looking man, who is 
 their fteward, played on the violinycello, a lame 
 vouth on the French horn, another, who feemed 
 very near blind, on the bafToon, and two on the 
 fiddle. My coufm had no fhare in the performance 
 except finging agreeably, wherein flie v/as joined 
 by fome of the ladies, and where the mufic could 
 bear it, by ten of the young girls, v/ith two or 
 
 three 
 
MILLENIUM hall; 13 
 
 three others whom we* had not (een, and whofe 
 voices and manner were equally pleafmg. "1 hey 
 performed feveral of the fineft pieces of the 
 Meffiah and Judas Maccabeus, with exquifite tafte, 
 and the moft exa6l time. There was a fufficient 
 number of performers to give the chorufes all their 
 pomp and fullnefs, and the fongs were fung in a 
 manner fo touching and pathetic, as could be equal- 
 led by none, whofe hearts were not as much affe£^- 
 ed by the words, as their fenfes were by the mufic. 
 The fight of fo many little innocents joining in 
 the moft fublime harmony, made me almoft think 
 myfelf already amongft the heavenly choir, and it 
 was a great mortification to me to be brought back 
 to this fenfual world, by fo grofs an attraction as a 
 call to fupper, which put an end to our concert, 
 and carried us to another room, where we found a 
 repaft more elegant than expenfive. 
 
 The evening certainly io the moft fecial part of 
 the day, without any of thofe excefles which {o 
 often turn it into fenfelefs revelry. The cpnver- 
 fation after fupper was particularly animated, and 
 left us ftill more charm.ed with the fociety into 
 which chance had introduced us ; the fprightli- 
 ncfs of their v/it, the juftnefs of their reflexions-,, 
 the dignity which accompanied their vivacity, plainly 
 evinced with how much greater ftrength the mind 
 can exert rtfelf in a regular and rational way of 
 life, than in a courfe of diffipation. At this houfe 
 every change came too foon, time feemed to wear a 
 double portion of wings, eleven o'clock ftruck, and 
 the ladies ordered a fervant to fhew us our rooms, 
 themfelves retiring to theirs. 
 
 It was impofTible for Lament and 1 to part till we 
 had fpent an hour in talking over this amiable 
 family, with whom he could not help being much 
 delighted, though be obferved, ' they were very 
 
 ' deficient 
 
14 A Description of 
 
 * deficient in the bon ton, there was too much 
 « folidity in all they Taid, they would trifle with 
 « trifles indeed, but had not the art of treating more 
 « weighty fubje6ts with the fame lightnefs, which 
 
 * gave them an air of rufticity; and he did not 
 
 * doubt, but on a more intimate acquaintance we 
 
 * ihould find their manners much rufticatcd, and 
 
 * their heads filled with antiquated notions, by 
 
 * having lived fo long out of the great world.' 
 
 I rofe the next morning very early, defirous to 
 make the day, which I purpofed for the laft of my 
 abode in this manfion, as long as I could. I went 
 dire6tly into the garden, which, by what I faw 
 from the houfe, was extremely pretty. As I pafled 
 by the windows of the faloon, I perceived the ladies 
 andtheir little pupils v/ere earlier rifers than myfelf, 
 for they were all at their various employm,ents. I firft 
 went into the gayeft flower garden I ever beheld. 
 The rainbow exhibits not half the variety of tints, 
 and thev are fo artfully mingled, and ranged to 
 make fuch a harmony of colours, as taught me 
 how much the moft beautiful objcdls may be 
 improved by a judicious difpofition of them. Be- 
 yond thefe beds of flowers rifes a flirubbery, where 
 everv thino- fweet and pleafing is colle6ted. As 
 thefe ladies have no tafte but what is directed by 
 good knCc^ nothing found a place here from being 
 only uncommon, for they think few things are 
 very rare but becaufe they are little defirable ; and 
 indeed it is plain they are free from that littlenefs 
 of mind, which makes people value a thing the 
 more for its being poflelTed by no one but them- 
 felves. Behind the fnrubbery is a little wood, 
 which aflords a gloom, rendered more agreable by 
 its contraft with the dazzling beauty of that part of 
 the garden that leads to it. in the high pale which 
 enclofes this wood I obferved a little door j curio- 
 
 fity 
 
MILLENIUM HALL. 15 
 
 fity induced me to pafs through It^ I found it 
 opened on a row of the neatelt cottages I ever faw, 
 which the wood had concealed from my view. 
 They were new and uniform, and therefore I 
 imagined all dedicated to the fame purpofc. Seeing 
 a very old woman fpinning at one of the doors, I 
 accofted her, by admiring the neatnefs of her ha- 
 bitation. 
 
 * Ay, indeed, faid (he,, it is a moft comfortable 
 place, God blefs the good ladies ! I and my neigh • 
 hours are as happy a-j princefles, we have every 
 thing we want and wifh, and who can fay more ?' 
 Very few fo much, anfwered I, ' but pray what 
 fhare have the ladies in procuring the happinefs 
 you feem fo fenfible of.' 
 
 ' Why Sir, continued the old woman, it is 
 all owing to them. I was almoil: ftarved when 
 they put me into this houfe, and no fhame of 
 mine, for fo were my neighbours too ; perhaps 
 we were not fo pains- taking as we might have 
 been ; but that was not our faults, you know, as 
 we had not things to work with, nor any body 
 to fet us to work, poor folks cannot know every 
 thing as thefe good ladies do -, we were half dead 
 for want of victuals, and then people have not 
 courage to fet about any tnhing. Nay, all the 
 parifh were fo when they came into it, young 
 and old, there was not much to chufe, few of 
 us had rags to cover us, or a morfel of bread 
 to eat, except the two 'Squires ; they indeed grew 
 rich, becaufc they had our work, and paid us not 
 enough to keep life and foul together j they live 
 above a mile off, fo perhaps they did not know 
 how poor we were, I mufl fay that for them ; 
 the ladies tell me I ought not to fpeak againft 
 them, for every one has faults, only we fee other 
 peoples, and are blind to our own 3 and certainly 
 
 ' it 
 
1 6* A Description of 
 
 * it is true enough, for they are very "wife ladies 
 
 ' as well as good, and mull know fuch things/ 
 
 As my new acquaintance ieemed as loquacious as 
 her age promifed, I hoped for full fatisfaclion, and 
 afked her, ' How {he and her neighbours employed 
 themfelves ?' ' Not all alike, replied the good 
 woman, I will tell you, all about it. There are 
 twelve of us that live here. We have every one 
 a houfe of two rooms, as you may fee, befide 
 other conveniences, and each a little garden, but 
 though we are feparate, we agree as well, per- 
 haps better, than if we lived together, and all 
 help one another. Now, there is neighbour 
 Sufan, and neighbour Rachel ; Sufan is lame, 
 fo fhe fpins cioaths for Rachel ; and Rachel 
 cleans Sui'an's houfe, and does fuch things for her 
 as fhe cannot do for herfelf. The ladies fettled 
 all thefe matters at firft, and told us, that as they, 
 to pleafe God, affilled us, we mull in order to 
 pleafe him ferve others ; and that to make us happy 
 they v/ouid put us in a way, poor as we are, to 
 do good to many. Thus neighbour Jane, who 
 poor v/oman is almoft ftone deaf, they thought 
 v/ould have a melancholy life if fhe w^as to be al- 
 ways fpinning and knitting, feeing other people 
 around her talking, and not be able to hear a word 
 they faid, fo the ladies bufy her in making broths 
 and caudles, and fuch things, for all the fick poor 
 in this and the next parilh, arvd two of us are 
 fixed upon to carry what they have made to thofe 
 that want them j to vifit themi often, and fpend 
 more or lefs time with them every day accord- 
 ing as they have, or have not relations to take 
 care of them ; for though the ladies always hire 
 n'urfes for thofe who are very ill, yet they will 
 not truft quite to them.,, but make us overlook. 
 
 '• tkeiBi 
 
MILLENIUM hall: 17 
 
 < them, fo that in a fickly time we iliall be all day < 
 *" going from one to another.' 
 
 ' But, faid I, there are I perceive many chil- 
 ' dren amongft you, how happens that ? your 
 ' ages fhew they are not your own.* 
 
 ' Oh ! as for that, replied my intelligencer, I 
 ' will tell you how that is. You muft know thefs 
 ^ good ladies, heaven preferve them f take every 
 ' child after the fifth of every poor perfon, as 
 
 * foon as it can walk, till when they pay the 
 ' mother for nurfing it ; thefe cliildren they fend 
 
 < to us to keep out of harm, and as foon as they 
 
 < can hold a knitting-needle to teach them to knit, 
 ' and to fpin, as much as they can be taught before 
 ' they are four or five years old, when they are re- 
 
 * moved into one of the fchools. They are pretty 
 
 * company for us, and make us mothers again, as it 
 « were, in our old age ; then the childrens rela-- 
 
 * tions are all fo fond of us for our care of them, 
 
 * that it makes us a power of friends, which you 
 
 < .know is very pleafant, though we want nothing 
 « from them but their good wills.' 
 
 Here I interrupted her by obferving, that it muft 
 take up a great deal of time, and Hop their work, 
 confequently lelTen their profits. 
 
 ' There is nothing in that, continued the good 
 « woman, the ladies fteward fends us in all we 
 ' want in the way of meat, drink, and firing ; 
 
 * and our fpinning we carry to the ladies ; they 
 
 * employ a poor old weaver, who before they came 
 ' broke for want of work, to weave it for us, and 
 « when there is not enough they put more to ir, fo 
 
 < we are fure to have our cloathing ; if we are not 
 ' idle that is all they defire, except that we (hould 
 ' be cleanly too. There never pafies a day that one 
 > or other of the ladies does not come and look 
 « all over our houfes, which they tell us, and cer- 
 
 ' tainly 
 
i8 A Description of 
 tainly with truih, for it is a great deal of trouble tcf 
 them, is all for our good, for that we cannot be 
 healthy if we ate not clean and neat. Then 
 every faint's day^ And every Sunday after church, 
 we all go down to the hall, and the ladies read 
 prayers, and a fcrmon to us, and their own family ; 
 nor do they ever come here without giving us 
 fome good advice. We ufed to quarrel, to be 
 fure, fometlmes when we firft came to thcfc 
 houfes, but the ladies condeicended to make it 
 up amongft us, and fliewed us fo kindly how 
 much it was our duty to agree together, and to 
 forgive every body their faults, or elfe we could not 
 hope to be forgiven by God, againft whom we 
 fo often finned, that now we love one another 
 like fleers, or indeed better, for I often fee fuch 
 quarrel. Befide, they have taught us that we are 
 generally in fault ourfelves; and we find nov7 
 that we take care not to be perverfe, our neigh- 
 bours are feldom in the wrong, and when they 
 are, we bear with it -in hopes they will bear with 
 us when we are as much to blame, which we 
 may be fure enough will happen, let us try ever 
 fo much to the contrary. Then the ladies feem 
 fo pleafed when we do any kindnefs to one ano- 
 ther, as to be fure is a great encouragement; and 
 if any of us are fick they are fo careful and fo 
 good, that it would be a fhame if we did not do 
 all we can for one another, who have been always 
 neighbours and acquaintance, when fuch great 
 ladies, who never knew us, as I may fiiy, but 
 to make us happy, and have no reafon to take 
 care of us but that we are poor, are fo kind and 
 condefcending to us.' 
 I was fo pleafed with the good efFe6i: which the 
 charity of her benefadors had on the mind, as well- 
 as the fituation of this old woman, whofc neighbours 
 
 by 
 
MILLENIUM HALL. 19; 
 
 by her own account were equally benefitted by the 
 bleilings they received, that I fhould have ftayed lon- 
 ger with her, if a bell had not rang at Millenium 
 Hall, which flie informed me was a fummons to 
 brcakfaft. I obeyed its call, and after thanking her 
 for her converfation, returned with a heart watmed 
 and enlarged, to the amiable fociety. My mind 
 was fo filled with exalted reflections on their vir- 
 tues, that I was lefs attentive to the charms of in- 
 animate nature than when I firft pafTed through the 
 gardens. 
 
 After brcakfaft the ladies propofed a walk, and as 
 they had feen the courfe I took when I firft went 
 out) they led us a contrary way, left, they faid, I 
 ihould be tired with the repetition of the fame fcene, 
 I told them with great truth, that * what I had be- 
 
 * held could never weary, for virtue is a fubje<fi; 
 
 * we muft ever contemplate with frefh delight, 
 
 * and as fuch examples could not fail of improving 
 
 * every witnefs of them, the pleafure of refledlron 
 
 * would encreafe, as one daily grew more capable 
 
 * of enjoying it, by cultivating kindred fenfati- 
 
 * ons/ By fome more explicit hints they found 
 out to what I alluded, and thereby knew where I 
 had been, but turning the converfation to pre-^ _ 
 fent obje6ls, they condu6led us to a very fine 
 wood, which is laid out with fo much tafte, that 
 Lamont obferved the artift's hand was never more 
 diftinguifhable, and perceived in various fpots the 
 direction of the perfon at prefent moft famous for 
 that fort of improvement. 
 
 The ladies fmiled, and one of them anfwered, ' Fie 
 
 * did their wood great honour, in thinking art had 
 
 * lent her afliftance to nature, but that there was 
 ' little in that place for which they were not folely 
 
 * obliged to the latter.* Mrs. Trentham interrupted 
 her who was fpeaking, and told us, that, * As fhe 
 
 ' had 
 
20 A Description of 
 
 ' had no fhare in the improvements which had been 
 ' made, fhe might with the better grace afiure Mr. 
 ' Lamont, that lady Mary Jones, iMrs. Mancel, and 
 ' Mrs. Morgan, were the only per(ons who had laid 
 ' out that wood, and the commoneft labourers in 
 ' the country had executed their orders." Lamont 
 was much furprized at this piece of information, and 
 though he would have thought it ftill more exqui- 
 iitely beautiful had it been the defign of the perlbn 
 he imiagined, yet truth is fo powerful, that he could 
 not fupprefs his admiration and fu rprize. Every 
 cut in it ii terminated by fome noble objev5^. In 
 feveral places are feats formed with fuch ruftic fmi- 
 plicity, as have more real grandeur in them, than 
 can be found in the moft expenfive buildings^ On 
 an eminence, ' bofomed high in tufted trees,' is a 
 temple dedicated to folitude. The ilcudlure is an 
 exquifite piece of architedlure, the profpedt from 
 it noble and extenfive, and the windows fo placed, 
 that one fees no houfe but at fo confiderablc a dif- 
 tance, as not to take off from that folitary air^ 
 v/hich is perfe6tly agreable to a temple declaredly- 
 dedicated to folitude. The moft beautiful objedl in 
 the view is a very large river, in reality an arm of 
 the fea, little more than a quarter of a mile diftant 
 from the building ; about three miles beyond it lies 
 the fea, on which the fun then flione, and made it 
 dazzlingly bright. In the temple is a pidlure of 
 Contemplation, another of Silence, two of various 
 birds and animals, and a couple of moon-light 
 pieccrs, the v/orkmanfhip of the ladies. 
 
 Clofe by the temple runs a gentle murmuring 
 rivulet, which flows in meanders through the refi: of 
 the wood, fomctimes concealed from view, and then 
 appearing at the next turning of the v/alk. The 
 wood is well peopled with pheafants, wild turkles, 
 iquirrels and hares, who live fo unmoleftedj that 
 
 they 
 
MILLENIUM HALL. 21 
 
 they feem to have forgot aU fear, and rather to wel- 
 come than fly thofe who come amongft them. Man 
 never appears there as a mercilefs deitroyer ; but the 
 preferver, inftead of the tyrant of the inferior part 
 of the creation. While they continue in that wood, 
 none but natural evil can approach them, and from 
 that they are defended as much as poffible. We 
 there ' walked joint tenant of the Ihade,' with 
 the animal race ; and a perfe6l equality in nature's 
 bounty feems enjoyed by the whole creation. One 
 could fcarcely forbear thinking thofe happy times 
 were come, when ' The wolf {hall dwell with the 
 
 * lamb, and the leopard fliall lye down with the 
 
 * kid ; and the calf, and the young lion, and the 
 ' fatling together, and a young child fhall lead 
 ' them. The wildernefs and the folitary place 
 
 * fliall be glad for them, and the defart fliall rejoice, 
 
 * and blollbm as the rofe.* 
 
 At the verge of this wood, which extends to the 
 river I have mentioned, without perceiving we 
 were entering a building, fo well is the outfide of 
 it concealed by trees, we found ourfelves in a mofi 
 beautiful grotto, made of fjiTils, fpars, coral, and 
 fuch fhells, as are at once both fine and ruftic ; all 
 of the glaring, tawdry kind are excluded, and by 
 the gloom ind fimplicity preferved, one would 
 imagine it the habitation of {omc devout anchoret. 
 Ivy and mofs in fome places cover, while they 
 feem to unite, the feveral materials of the varie- 
 gated walls. The rivulet which runs through the 
 wood, falls down one fide of the grotto with great 
 rapidity, broken into various llreams by the fpar 
 and coral, and pafling through, forms a f^ne caf- 
 cade juii at the foot c^f the grotto, from whence 
 it flows into the river. Great care is taken to pre- 
 vent the place from growing damp, fo that we fat 
 
 fome 
 
2z A Description of 
 
 fome time in it with fafety, admiring the fmooth 
 furface of the river, to wiiichSt lies very open. 
 
 As the ladies had fome daily bufmeis on their 
 hands which they never neglect, we were obliged 
 to leave this lovely icene, where I think I could 
 have pafled my life with pleaiure, and to return 
 towards the houle, though by a different way from 
 that we came, traverfing thcr other fide of the wood. 
 In one fpot where we went near the verge, I ob- 
 ferved a pale, which, upon examination, I found 
 was continued for ibme acres, though it was re- 
 markable only in one place. It is painted green, 
 and on the infide a hedge of yews, laurel, and 
 other thick evergreens, rile to about feven or eight 
 feet high. I could not forbear a(king what was 
 thus fo carefully enclofed ? the ladies fmiled on 
 each other, but evaded anfwering my quettion, 
 which only encreafed my curiofity. Lamont, not lefs 
 curiou?, and more importunate, obferved, that 
 *" the inclofure bore fome refemblance to one of 
 
 < Lord Lamore's, where he kept lions, tygers, 
 
 * leopards, and fuch foreign animals, and he would 
 
 * he hanged, if the ladies had not made fome fuch 
 
 * colledlion, intreating that he might be admitted 
 ' to fee them ; for nothing gave him greater enter- 
 
 * tainment than to behold thofe beautiful wild 
 
 * beads, brought out of their native woods, where 
 ' they had reigned as kings, and here tamed and 
 
 < fubje6ted by the fuperior art of man. It was a 
 ' triumph of human reafon, which ^could not fail 
 ' to afford great pleafure.' 
 
 ' Not to us, I affure you. Sir, replied Mrs. 
 
 * Mancel, when reafon appears only in the exer- 
 
 * tion of cruelty and tyrannical oppreffion, it is 
 
 * furely not a gift to be boafced of. When a man 
 
 * forces the furious fteed to endure the bit, or 
 
 < breaks oxen to the yoke, the great benefits he re- 
 
 ' ceives 
 
MILLENIUM HALL. 23 
 
 ceives from, and communicates to the animals, 
 excufes the forcible methods by which it is ac- 
 comgliihed. But to fee a man, from a vain dfefire 
 to hav^ in his polFeflion the native of another 
 climate and another country, reduce a fine and 
 noble creature to mifery, and confine him within 
 narrow inclofures whofe happinefs confifted in 
 unbounded liberty, fhocks my nature. There 
 is I confefs fomething fo amiable in gentlenefs, 
 that I could be pleafed with feeing a tyger carefs 
 its keeper, if the cruel means by which the 
 fierceft of beafls is taught all the fervility of a 
 fawning fpaniel, did not recur every inftant to 
 my mind ; and it is not much lefs abhorrent to 
 my nature, to fee a venerable lion jumping over 
 a (tick, than it would be to behold an hoary phi- 
 lofopher forced by fome cruel tyrant to ipend his 
 days in whipping a top, or playing with a rattle. 
 Every thing to me loofes its charm when it is put 
 out of that (tation wherein nature, or to fpeak 
 more properly, the all-wife Creator has placed it. 
 I imagine man has a right to ufe the animal race 
 for his own prefervation, perhaps for his conveni- 
 ence, but certainly not to treat them v/ith wanton 
 cruelty, and as it is not in his power to give them 
 any thing fo valuable as their liberty, it is, in 
 my opinion, criminal to enAave them, in order 
 to procure ourfelvcs a vain amufement, if we 
 have fo little fcding as to find any Vv'hile others 
 fufFer.' 
 
 ^ I believe madam, replied Lamont, it is moft 
 advifeable for me not to attempt to defend v/hat 
 I have faid ; fiiould 1 have reafon on my -fide, 
 while you have humanity on vours, I fhould make 
 but a bad figure in the argument. What advan- 
 tage could 1 expect from applying to the under- 
 ftfinding, v^'bile your amiable difpofition would 
 
 ' captivate 
 
24 A Description of 
 
 captivate even reafon itfelf ? but ftill I am puz- 
 zled ; what we behold is certainly an inclofure, 
 how can that be without a confinement to thofo 
 that are within it ?* 
 
 ' After having fpoken (o much againft tyranny, 
 faid Mrs. Mancel fmiling, I do not know whe- 
 ther I fhould be excufable, if I left you to be ty- 
 rannized by curiofity, which I believe can inflicSt 
 very fevere pains, at leall, if I may be allowed to 
 judge by the means people often take to fatisfy it/ 
 I will therefore gratify you with the knowledge of 
 what is within this inclofure, which makes fo ex- 
 traordinary an impreffion upon you. It is, then, 
 an afylum for thofe poor creatures who are ren- 
 dered miferable from fome natural deficiency or 
 redundancy. Here they find refuge from the ty- 
 ranny of thofe wretches, who feem toihink that 
 being two or three {eet taller gives them a right 
 to make them a property, and expofe their un- 
 happy forms to the contemptuous curiofity of the 
 unthinking multitude. Procrufles has been brand- 
 ed through all ages with the name of tyrant ; 
 and principally, as it appears, from fitting the 
 body of every ilranger to a bed v/hich he kept as 
 the necefTary ftandard, cutting ofF the legs of 
 thofe v/hofe height exceeded the length of it, 
 and flretchins; on the rack fuch as fell fhort of 
 that meafure, till they attained the requifite pro- 
 portion. But is not alrnofl every man a F'ro- 
 crufles ? we have not the power of fhewing our 
 cruelty exa6lly in the fame method, but a6tuated 
 by the like fpirit, we abridge of their liberty, 
 and torment by fcorn, all who either fall fliort, 
 or exceed the ufual flandard, if they happen to 
 have the additional misfortune of poverty. Per- 
 haps we are in no part more fufccptiblethan in our 
 yani-ty, how much then rnufl thofe poor wretches 
 
 ' fuffer. 
 
MILLENIUM HALL. 25 
 
 < (ufFer, whofe deformity would lead them to wifti 
 
 < to be fecluded from human view, in being ex- 
 
 * pofed to the public, whofe obfervations are no 
 « better than exprefllons of fcorn, and who are fur- 
 
 < prized to find that any thing lefs than themfelves 
 
 < can fpeak, or appear like intelligent beings. 
 ' But this is only part of what they have to en- 
 ' dure. As if their deficiency in height deprived 
 ' them of the natural right to air and funfhine, 
 
 * they are kept confined in fmall rooms, and becaufe 
 
 * they fill lefs (pace than common, are ftuffed into 
 
 * chairs fo little, that they are fqueezed as clofe as a 
 
 * pair of gloves in a walnut-fhell. 
 
 * This miferable treatment of perfons, to whom 
 
 * compaffion (hould fecure more than common in- 
 
 * dulgence, determined us to purchafe thcfe worft 
 
 * fort of'^flaves, and in this place we have five who 
 
 * owed their wretchednefs to being only three foot 
 ' high, one grey-headed toothlefs old man of fixtecn 
 
 * years of age, a woman of about feven foot in 
 
 * height, and a man who would be fiill taller, if 
 
 * the extreme weaknefs of his body, and the 
 
 < wretched life he for fome time led, in the hands 
 ' of one of thefe monfter-mongers, did not make 
 
 < him bend almort double, and oblige him to walk 
 
 * on crutches ; with which infirmities he is well 
 
 * pleafed, as they reduce him nearer the common 
 
 * ftandard.' 
 
 "We were very defirous of feeing this enfran- 
 chifcd company ; but Mrs. Morgan told us it was 
 what they feldom granted, for fear of inflicEling 
 fome of the pains from which ihey had endeavour- 
 ed to refcue thofe poor creatures, but (he would 
 ilep in, and afk if they had no objedlion to our ad- 
 milfion, and if that appeared really the cafe (he 
 wx)uld gratify us. 
 
 C Whl$ 
 
zS^ A Descripti (tn o p 
 
 This tendernefs to perfons who were under 
 fuch high obligations, charmed me. She foon re- 
 turned with the permiiTion we wifhed, but intreated 
 us to pay all our attention to the houfe and garden,, 
 and to take no more than a civil notice of its in- 
 habitants. We promifed obedience, and followed 
 ber. Her advice was almoft unneceflary, for the 
 place could not have failed of attra6ting our par- 
 ticular obfervation. It was a quadrangle of about 
 fix acres, and the inward part was divided by nets 
 into eight parts, four of which alternatively were 
 filled with poultry of all forts, which were fed here 
 for the ufe of the hall, and kept with the moO: exaiSl 
 cleanlinefs. The other four parts were filled with 
 fhrubs and flowers, which were cultivated with 
 great delight by thefe once unfortunate, but now 
 happy beings. A little ftream ran acrofs the qua- 
 drangle, which ferved for drink to the poultry, and 
 facilitated the watering of the flowers. I have al- 
 ready faid, that at the inward edge of the pale was 
 a row of ever-greens ; at their feet were beds of 
 flowers, and a little gravel walk went round the whole. 
 At each corner was an arbour made with wood- 
 bines and jeflamine, in one or two of which there 
 was always an agreeable (bade. 
 
 At one fide of the quadrangle was a very neat 
 habitation, into which a dwarf invited us to enter, 
 to reft ourfelves after our walk ; they were all pafling 
 backwards and forwards, and thus gave us a full 
 view of them, which would have been a fhocking 
 fight, but for the reflexions we could not avoid 
 making on their happy condition, and the very ex- 
 traordinary humanity of the ladies to v^'hom they 
 owed it; fo that inftead of feeling the pain one 
 might naturally receive from feeing the human 
 form fo difgraced, we were filled with admiration 
 of the human mind, whe;! fo nobly exalted by vir- 
 tue, 
 
MILLENIUM HALL, a/ 
 
 •ue, as it is in the patroneffes of thefe poor crea- 
 tures, who wore an air of chearfulnefs, which 
 (hewed they thought the churlifhnefs wherewith 
 they had been treated by nature fufficiently com- 
 penfated. The tender inquiries the ladies made 
 after their healths, and the kind notice they took 
 of each of them, could not be exceeded by any- 
 thing but the afFedlion, I might almoft fay adora- 
 tion, with which thefe people beheld their benefac- 
 trefles. 
 
 This fcene had made too deep an imprefllon on 
 our minds, not to be the fubje6l of our difcourfe all 
 the' way home, and in the courfe of converfation, 
 I learnt, that when thefe people were firft refcued 
 out of their mifery, their healths were much im- 
 paired, and their tempers more fo : to reftore the 
 firft, all medicinal care was taken, and air and 
 exercife aflifted greatly in their recovery ; but to 
 cure the malady of the mind, and conquer that in- 
 ternal fource of unhappinefs, was a work of longer 
 time. Even thefe poor wretches had their vanity, 
 and would contend for fupcrior merit, of which, 
 the argument was the money their keepers had 
 gained in exhibiting them. To put an end to this 
 contention, the ladies made them underftand, that 
 what they thought a fubjedl for boafting, was only 
 a proof of their being fo much farther from the 
 ufual ftandard of the human form, and therefore a 
 more extraordinary fpeCtacIe. But it was lon'->- be- 
 fore one of them could be perfuaded to lav afide 
 her pretenfions to fuperiority, which fhe claimed 
 on account of an extraordinary honour fhe had re- 
 ceived from a great princefs, who had made her a 
 prefent of a fedan chair. 
 
 At length, however, much reafoning and per-^ 
 fuafion, a convidion of principles, of which they 
 had before no knowledge, the happinefs of their 
 
 C ,2 fuuatioi). 
 
28 A Description of 
 
 fituation, and the improvement of their healths, 
 concurred to fweeten their tempers, and they now 
 Jive in great harmony. They are entirely millrefles 
 of their houfe, have tv^'o maids to wait on them, 
 over whom they have fole command, and a perfon 
 to do fuch little things in their garden as they can- 
 not themfelves perform ; but the cultivation of it i» 
 one of their great pleafures ; and by their extraordi- 
 nar)' care, they have the fatisfa^^ion of prefenting 
 the fineft fiowers of the fpring to their benefaiSlrefles, 
 before they are blown in any other place. 
 
 When they firft came, the ladies told us, that 
 the horror they had conceived of being exhibited as 
 public fpe6lacles, had fixed in them fuch a fear of 
 being feen by any flranger, that the found of a 
 voice, with which they were not acquainted at the 
 outfide of the pailing, or the trampling of feet, 
 would fet them all a running behind the bufhes to 
 hide themfelves, like fo many timorous partridges in 
 2. mew, hurrying behind fheaves of corn for fhel- 
 ter ; they even found a convenience in their fize, 
 which, though it rendered them unwilling to be 
 feen, enabled them fo eafily to find places for con* 
 ccalment. 
 
 By degrees the ladies brought them to confent to 
 fee their head fervants, and fome of the beft people 
 in the parifh ; defiring, that to render it more agree- 
 able to their vifitors, they would entertain them 
 with fruit and wine ; advifing them to affift their 
 neighbours in plain work ; thus to endear them- 
 ielvcs to them, and procure more frequent vifits, 
 which as they chofe to confine themfelves within 
 fo narrow a compafs, and enjoyed but precarious 
 health, their benefadirefles thought a neceflary 
 amufemcnt. Thefe recommendations, and the 
 incidents wherewith their former lives had furniih- 
 ed them to amufe their company, and which they 
 
 now 
 
MILLENIUM HALL. 29 
 
 now could relate with plcafure, from the happy 
 i'enfe that all mortifications were pait, renderc*.l 
 their converiation much courted among that rank 
 of people. 
 
 It occurred to me, that their diflike to being 
 feen by numbers, muft prevent their attendance oi\ 
 public worfhip, but my coufui informed me that 
 was thus avoided. There was in the church an 
 old gallery, which from difufe was grown out of 
 repair ; this the ladies cauled to be mended, and 
 the front of it fo hightened, that thefe little folks 
 when in it could not be feen ; the tall ones con- 
 trived by Hooping when they were there, not to 
 appear of any extraordinary height : To this they 
 were conveyed in the ladies coach, and fet down 
 clofe to covered ftairs^ which led up to the gal- 
 lery. 
 
 This fubje£l employed our converfatlon till we 
 approached the hall j the ladies then, after infilling 
 that we fhould not think of going from thence that 
 day, all left us except Mrs. Maynard. It may 
 feem ftrange that I was not forry for their departure ; 
 but, in truth, I was fo filled with aftonifhment, at 
 chara£^crs fo new, and fo curious to know by 
 what li ps women thus qualified both by nature 
 and fortune to have the world almofl at command, 
 were brought thus to feclude themfelves from it, 
 and make as it were a new one for themfelves, 
 conHiiruted on luch very different principles from 
 that 1 had hitherto lived in, that 1 longed to be 
 alone with my coufin, in hopes I might from her 
 receive fome account of this wonder. I foon made 
 my curlofity known, and befeeched her to grati- 
 fy it. 
 
 ' I fee no good reafon, faid fhe, why I fhould 
 
 ' not comply with your requefl, as my friends are 
 
 ' above Wiihing to conceal any part of their lives, 
 
 C 3 ' though 
 
'^o A Description, Src. 
 
 though themfelves are never the rubje6l of their 
 own converfation. If they have hiid any follies 
 they do not defire to hide them j they have not 
 pride enough to be hurt with candid criticifms, 
 and have too much innocence to fear any very 
 fevere cenfures. But as we did not all reach 
 this paradife at the fame time, I (hall begin with 
 the firft inhabitants of, and indeed the founders 
 of this fociety, Mrs. Mancel and Mrs. Morgan, 
 who from their childhood have been fo connected, 
 that I could not, if I would, difunite them in my 
 relation ; and it would be almoft a fin to endea- 
 vour to feparate them even in idea.* 
 We fat down in an arbour, whofe (hade invited 
 us to feek there a defence agalnft the fun, which 
 was then in its meridian, and flione with uncom- 
 mon heat. The woodbines, the rofes, the jefla- 
 mines, the pinks, and above all, the minionette 
 with which it was furrounded, made the air one 
 general perfume ; every breeze came loaded with 
 fragrance, ftealrng and giving odour. A rivulet 
 ran bubbling by the fide of the arbour, whofe gentle 
 murmours foothed the mind into compofure, and 
 feemed to hufti us to attention, when Mrs. May- 
 nard thus began, to fhev/ her readinefs to comply 
 with my requeft. 
 
 T HE 
 
THE 
 
 HISTORY 
 
 O F 
 
 Mifs M A N C E L 
 
 I 
 
 AND 
 
 Mrs. MORGAN. 
 
 You may perhaps think I am prefuming on 
 your patience, when I lead you into a 
 nurfery, or a boarding- fchool ; but the life 
 of Louifa Mancel, was fo early chequered with 
 that various fate, which gives this world the motley 
 appearance of joy and forrow, pain and pleafure, 
 that it is not in my power to pais over the events 
 of her infancy. I (hall, however, fpare you all 
 that is poHTible, and recommend her to your notice 
 only when fhe attracSted the obfervation of Mr. 
 Hintman. 7"his gentleman hearing that a perfon 
 who rented Tome land of him was come to London, 
 and lodged at one of thofe public houfes which by 
 the landlord is called an inn, at the out-flcirts of 
 London, on the Surry-fide ; and having fome occa- 
 
 C 4 fion 
 
32 The History o? 
 
 fion to fpeak to him, he went thither. The peo- 
 ple of the houfe called the man Mr. Hintman en- 
 quired for, who immediately came down Hairs, 
 wiping tears from his eyes ; the continuance of 
 which he could hardly rerfrain. Mr. Hintman ask- 
 ing the reafon of thofe appearances of forrow, 
 the good-natured old man told him, his vifit liad 
 called him from a fcene which had fhocked him 
 excefTively. ' The firft day I came here, find he* 
 I was induced by the frequent groans which ifTuea 
 from the next chamber, lo enquire who lodged 
 there; I learnt, it was a gentlewoman, who ar- 
 rived the day before, and was immediately taken 
 fo ill that they apprehended her life in danger ; 
 and, about two hours ago, the maid of the houfe 
 ran into my room, begging me to come to her 
 affiftance, for the gentlewoman was in fuch ftrong 
 fits, fhe was not able to hold her. I obeyed the 
 fummons, and found the poor woman in fits in- 
 deed ; but what appeared to me the laft agonies 
 of a life, which near exhaufted, lavifhes away its 
 fmall remains in ftrong convuliions. 
 * By her bed -fide Hood the moft beautiful child I 
 ever beheld, in apj^earance about ten years of 
 age, crying as if its little heart would break ; not 
 with the rage of an infant, but with the fettled 
 grief of a perfon mature both in years and aifiid^i- 
 on. I afked her if the poor dying woman was 
 her mother j Qic told me, lyo, — (he was only her 
 aunt ; but to her the fame as a mother -, and fhe 
 did not know any one elfe that would take care 
 of her. 
 
 ' After a time the poor woman's convulfions left 
 her ; — fhe juft recovered fenfe enough to embrace 
 the lovely girl, and cried out. Oh ! my dear child, 
 what will become of you ! a fricndlefs, helplefs in- 
 fant ; and feeing me at her bed-fide, fhe lifted up 
 
 ' her 
 
Mifs Mancel and Mrs. Morgan. 33 
 
 her hands in a fuppliant pofture ; and with eyes 
 that petitioned in ftronger terms than words could 
 cxprefs. Oh ! Sir, faid fhe, though you are a ftran- 
 ger to me, yet I fee you are not (o to humanity ; 
 — take pity on this forlorn child ; — her amiable dif- 
 pofition will repay you in this world, — and the 
 great Father of us all will reward you in the next, 
 for your compaflion on a wretched friendlefa 
 girl ! — but why do I call her friendlefs ! — her 
 innocence has the beft of friends in heaven ; — the 
 Almighty is a parent (lie is not left to feek for ; 
 he is never abfent ; — Oh ! blefled Lord ! — cried 
 fhe, with a degree of extacy and confidence, 
 which moft fenfibly affected us all, — to thy care I 
 rcfign her ; — thy tender mercies are over all thy 
 works, — and thou, who careft for the fmalleft part 
 of thy creation, will not deny her thy prote6tion. 
 Oh ! Lord defend her innocence ! — let her obtain 
 a place in thy kingdom after death ; and, — for all 
 the reft — I f.-bmit to thy providence j nor pre- 
 fumptuoufly pretend, to dictate to fupreme wifdom. 
 Thou art a gracious father; — and the aiHidlions 
 
 thou fendcft are Here her voice failed her; 
 
 — but, by her geftures, we could perceive {he con- 
 tinued praying ; and, having before taken the 
 child in lier arms ; — the little angel continued 
 there for fear of difturbing her. — By looks 
 foraetlmes turned towards the poor infant, and 
 fometimes with her hand on her own heart, and 
 then her eyes lifted up as it were to heaven, 
 we faw fhe mixed prayers for the little mourner, 
 with intercefiions for herfelf, till (cni'c and mo- 
 tion fccmed to fail her ; fhe then fell into a 
 convulfion, and expired. 
 
 ' The little girl perceived fhe was dead ; and 
 
 became, almoft as fenfelefs, as the lump of 
 
 clay which had fo lately been her only friond. 
 
 C 5 • We 
 
34 The History op 
 
 We had but juft taken her from the body 
 fir, when you came ; and this was the oc- 
 cafion of the emotions you obferved in me. 
 < The caufe was indeed fufficient, replied Mr, 
 HIntman, but I am glad your forrow proceeded 
 from nothing more immediately concerning your- 
 felf: — Mifery will ftrike its arrows into a hu- 
 mane heart ; but the wounds it makes are not fo 
 lafting, as thofe which are imprefled by paffions 
 that are more relative to ourfelves. — Oh fir, •— 
 faid the old man, — you cannot form an ade- 
 quate idea of the efFe<5l: this fcene muft have on 
 every fpe(Slator, except you had feen the child \ 
 furely nature never formed fo lovely a little crea- 
 ture !* He continued his praifes of Louifa, till 
 at length he excited Mr. Hintman's curiofity ; who 
 exprelling a defire of feeing this miracle, he was 
 carried up into the good man's room, to which 
 they had removed her. She, who had cried mod: 
 bitterly before the fatal ftroke arrived, was now fo 
 opprelled, as not to be able to fhed a tear. They 
 had put her on the bed, where fhe lay fighing with 
 a heart ready to break; her eyes fixed on one 
 point, fhe neither faw nor heard. 
 
 Though her countenance expreffed unutterable 
 woe, yet fhe looked fo extremely beautiful, that 
 Mr. Hintman, highly as his expectation had been 
 raifed, was flruck with furprize. He allowed he 
 never faw any thing fo lovely ; and the charms of 
 which her melancholy might deprive her, were more 
 than compenfated in his imagination by fo flrong 
 a proof of extreme fenfibility, at an age when few 
 children perceive half the dreadful confequences of 
 fuch a misfortune. 
 
 He advifed that fhe fhould be blooded, to prevent 
 any ill efFe6ts from fo fevere a fhock ; for as fhe 
 felt it as flrongly as one of a more mature age, 
 
 the 
 
Mifs Mancee; and Mrs. Morgan." 35 
 
 the fame precautions fhduld be ufed. In this he 
 was obeyed ; and it gave her fuch relief that fhe 
 burft' into a flood of tears ; a change which ap- 
 peared fo faJutary, that Mr. Hintman would not 
 immediately interrupt her. But his curiofity did 
 not fufFer him long to forbear afking her name, and 
 many other particulars; feveral of which (he could 
 not anfwer ; — all the account fhe was able to ^ive 
 of herfelf was, that ' her name was Mancel ; 
 
 * that the perfon for whom {he grieved was her 
 
 * aunt ; but had had the fole care of her from her 
 
 * earlieft remembrance. T^his aunt, flie faid, 
 
 * had often told her fhe had a father and mother 
 
 * living ; but when fhe enquired why fhe never faw 
 
 * or heard from them ; fhe could get no fatisfac- 
 
 * tory anfwer, but was put off with beine told 
 
 < they were not in England ; — and that fheftiould 
 
 * know when fhe grew older. 
 
 < This perfon had bred her up with the utmoft 
 
 * tendernefs, and employed the mofl affiduous care 
 
 * in her education ; which was the principal ob- 
 ' jeS: of her attention. They had lived in a 
 
 * neat cottage in the moft retired part of Surry 
 •from Mifs A/Iancel's earliefl remembrance, tilj. 
 
 < her aunt, after having been fome time In a 
 « bad flate of health, fell into a gallopincr 
 
 * confumptioL. As fc)on as fhe apprehendel 
 
 * the danger vith which her life was threatned, 
 
 * fhe prepared every thing for her removal to Lon- 
 *'don; but as fhe did not expect ever to return, 
 « this took more time than the quicknefs of her 
 
 < decay could v/ell allow. The hafly approach of 
 ' her difTolution affeded her extremely on the ac- 
 « count of her little neice, and (he often exprefled 
 
 * her concern in 'terms intelligible to her who was 
 
 * the occafion of it, who gathered from the cx- 
 
 * prefTxons which fell from her aunt, that the 
 
 C 6 « motive 
 
^6 The History of 
 
 * motive for the journey was to find out fome 
 
 * of Mifs Mancers relations, to whom Ihe 
 
 * might deliver her before death had put a pe- 
 
 * riod to her own life ; — and where (he might 
 
 * fafely remain till the return of her parents into 
 
 * England. 
 
 * In this refolution fhe difcharged the only 
 
 * fervant fhe kept, delivered up her houfe to her 
 
 * landlord, and, after having fettled all her pecu- 
 
 * niary affairs, fhe fet out on her journey with 
 
 * her little charge ; but grew fo ill on the road, 
 
 * that fhe defired to be fet down at the firfi: 
 
 * inn ; and her illnefs encreafed fo faft fhe 
 
 * had iio thought of removing; nor was fhe 
 
 * able to make any very exa£l enquiries after 
 
 * the perfons of whom fhe came in fearch.* 
 This account was interrupted with many tears, 
 
 which ferved to render it more affed^ing, and Mr. 
 Hintman ' — as much touched as the good old 
 man, who was the occafion of his having heard 
 it, — agreed with him, that it would be proper to 
 examine into the effects of which the deceafedwas 
 then poirefied ; and to fee if they could find any 
 paper which would in a degree clear up the myfteri- 
 ous part of this affair. 
 
 This was accordingly performed ; but as to the 
 latter intention without any fuccefs -, for after all 
 the examination they could make, they remained 
 as much in the dark as ever. 
 
 They found in her trunk rather more money 
 than was requifite to bury her in a manner be* 
 coming her rank ; to defray the expences of her 
 ficknefs j and to reward thofe that had attended 
 her. 
 
 The old man exprefled a willingnefs to take the 
 child i — he faid, ' it was a legacy left him by one 
 < who had conceived fome confidence in his hu- 
 
 * manityj 
 
Mifs Mancel and Mrs. Morgan. 37 
 
 * manity, and he could not in confcience difap- 
 
 * point an opinion which did him honour ; though, 
 
 * having children of his own, he did not pretend to 
 
 * breed her up in the genteel manner to which fhe 
 
 * feemed by birth entitled.' 
 
 Mr. Hintman replied, that, ' he fhould have 
 < great reafon to reproach himfelf, if with the 
 ' ample fortune he enjoyed, and having no chil- 
 ' dren, or family to partake of it, he (hould fuf- 
 ' fer another to take that charge, to whom it 
 
 * could not be fo convenient ; he therefore would 
 
 * immediately receive her as his child ; and fee 
 
 * her educated in all accomplifhments proper for 
 
 * a young perfon of faftiion and fortune ; as he 
 ' fhould be able to fupply all deficiency, if ne- 
 
 * cefTary, in the latter particular.' 
 
 The old man was very glad to have the child 
 better eftabliflied than with him ; though he had 
 for fome hours looked with fo much pleafure on 
 her as his adopted daughter, that no confidera- 
 tion, but the profpecSt of her greater advantage, 
 could have reconciled him to parting with 
 her. 
 
 In purfuance of the refolution Mr. Hintman 
 had taken, he carried Mifs Mancel to a French 
 boarding fchool, which he had heard commend- 
 ed; very prudently judging, that his houfe was 
 not a proper place for education, having there 
 no one fit to take care of a young perfon. 
 
 Louifa was fo opprefTed by the forlorn nefs of 
 her fituation, that flie felt none of that reluct- 
 ance to going amongft ftrangers, fo ufual with 
 children of her age. All the world was equally 
 unknown to her, therefore (he was indifferent 
 where fhe was carried, only ihe, rather wifhed 
 not to have been taken from the good old man, 
 whofe venerable afpe(^, and compaiTionate beha- 
 viour. 
 
38 The Historyof 
 
 viour, had in fome degree attached her to him ; 
 —hut ftie felt the generofity of Mr. Hintman's 
 declared intentions ; and, young as fhe was, had 
 too much delicacy to appear ungrateful, by fhew- 
 incr an unwillingnefs to accompany him. Ma- 
 demoifelle d'Avaux, the miftrefs of the fchool, 
 was pleafed with the appearance of her young 
 fcholar, whofe tears had ceafed for fome time j 
 and her face bore no disfiguring figns of for- 
 row ; the deje6lion which overfpread it, giv- 
 ing charms equal to thofe of which it robbed 
 
 it. 
 
 Mr. Hintman defired Mademoifelle d'Avaux 
 to take the trouble of providing Mifs Mancel 
 with all things requifite, and to put her in pro- 
 per mourning ; thofe minute feminine details be- 
 ing things of which he was too ignorant to acquit 
 himfelf well ; and gave ftrl(Sl charge that her mind 
 fhould be cultivated with the greateft care, and no 
 accomplifhment omitted which fne was capable of 
 acquiring. 
 
 What contributed much towards gratifying this 
 wifh of Mr. Hintman's, was Mademoifelle d ' Avaux's 
 houfe being fo full, that there was no room for 
 Louifa, but a (hare of the apartment which Mifs 
 Melvyn had hitherto enjoyed alone, and of which 
 {he could not willingly have admitted any one to 
 partake but the lovely child who was prefented to 
 her for this purpofe. Her beautiful form prejudiced 
 everyone in her favour; but the diftrefs and forrow 
 which were imprefled on her countenance, at an 
 age generally too volatile and thoughtlefs to be 
 deeply affeaed, could not fail of exciting a tender 
 fenfibility in the heart of a perfon of Mifs Melvyn's 
 difpofition. 
 
 This young lady was of a very peculiar turn 
 of Miud. She had been the darling daughter of 
 
 Sir 
 
Mifs Mancel and Mrs. Morgan. 39 
 
 Sir Charles and Lady IVtelvyn, whofe attachment 
 to her had appeared equal ; but, in the former, 
 it was rather the refult of habit, and compliance 
 with Lady Melvyn*s behaviour, than a deep-rooted 
 afFe6tion, of which his heart was not very fufcepti- 
 ble ; while Lady Melvyn*s arofe from that entire 
 fondnefs which maternal love, and the moft diftin- 
 guifhing reafon could excite in the warmeft and 
 tenderelt of hearts. 
 
 Sir Charles was an eafy tempered weak man, 
 who gave no proof of good fenfe, but the fecret 
 deference he had to his wife's judgment, whofe 
 very fuperior underftanding was on nothing fo afli- 
 duoufly employed, as in giving confequence to 
 the man with whom (he was united, by the deflre 
 of her parents, contrary to her inclination. Their 
 authority had been neceflary to reduce her to com- 
 •^pliance, not from any particular diflilce to Sir 
 Charles, who had defervedly the reputation of fo- 
 briety, and great good nature, and whofe perfon 
 was remarkably fine ; but Lady Melvyn perceived 
 the weaknefs of his underllanding, and ignorant 
 of the ftrength of her own, was unwilling to en- 
 ter into life without a guide, whofe judgment was 
 equal to the defire he might naturally be fuppofed 
 to have to dire£t her right, through all the various 
 paths in which (he might be obliged to walk ; an 
 adiftance (he had alv/ays expe(5^ed from an hufband ; 
 and thought, even a neceflary part of that cha- 
 radler. She was befides fenfible of the difficulty 
 of performing a promife fo folemnly made, as that 
 of honour and obedience to one who, though fhe 
 knew not half her own excellence, fhe muft be 
 fenfible was her inferior. 
 
 Thefe reafons had deterred Lady Melvyn from 
 marrying Sir Charles, but when i\\e could no lon- 
 ger avoid it without violating her duty to her pa- 
 rents. 
 
40 The History of 
 
 rents, (he refolved to fupply the apparent deficien- 
 cies in her hufband's undcrlianding, by a moft re- 
 fpedlful deference to his opinions, thus conferring 
 diftindtion on him, whom fhe wifhed every one to 
 efteem and honour ; for as there was no afFecStati- 
 on in this part of her condu6^, any more than in. 
 the reft of her behaviour, all were convinced, that 
 the man who was refpe<Sled by a woman of an un- 
 derftanding fo fuperior to moft of her own fex, and 
 the greateft part of the other, muft have great 
 merit, though they could not perceive wherein it 
 confifted. 
 
 In company Lady Melvyn always endeavoured 
 to turn the converfation on fuch fubjed^s as fhe 
 knew were beft fuited to Sir Charles's capacity, 
 more defirous that he fhould appear to advantage, 
 than to difplay her own talents. She contrived to 
 make all her ailions appear the refult of hib choice, 
 aiid whatever he did by her inftigation, feemed 
 even to himfelf to have been his own thought. 
 As their way of life was in every circumftance 
 confonant to .reafon, religion, and every virtue 
 which could render them ufeful and ref'peilable to 
 others. Sir Charles acquired a character in the neigh- 
 bourhood, which Lady Melvyn thought a fufficicnt 
 reward for the endeavours fhe ufed to fecure it to 
 him ; — and, for that purpofe, fixed her abode en- 
 tirely in the country, where his conduit might 
 give him the refpecfl, which would not be fo eafily 
 obtained in a gayer fcene,vvhere talents are in high- 
 er eftimation than virtue. 
 
 Sir Charles and Lady Melvyn had no other 
 child than the daughter I have mentioned, whofc 
 education was her mother's great care *, and fhe 
 had the pleafure of feeing in her an uncommon 
 capacity, with every virtue the fondeft parent could 
 
 wiih ; 
 
Mifs Mancel and Mrs. MoRGAff. 41 
 
 wifh ; and which indeed' ftie had by inheritance ; 
 but her mother's humility, made them appear 
 to her, as a peculiar gift of providence to her 
 daughter. 
 
 Lady Melvyn Toon began to inftil all the prin- 
 ciples of true religion into her daughter's infant 
 mind ; and, by her judicious inftrudtions, gave 
 her knowledge far fuperior to her years j which 
 was indeed the moft delightful tafk of this fond 
 parent ; for her daughter's uncommon docility and 
 quick parts, continually ftrmulated by her ten- 
 dernefs for the beft of mother's, made her 
 improve even beyond Lady Melvyn's expecta- 
 tion. 
 
 In this happy fituation Mifs Melvyn conti- 
 nued till near the end of her fourteenth year, 
 when {he had the misfortune to lofe this excel- 
 lent parent, nor was (he the only fufferer by Lady 
 Melvyn's death j every poor perfon within her 
 knowledge lolt a benefadlrefs ; — all who knew her, 
 an excellent example; — and, fome, the beft of 
 friends ; but her extraordinary merit was but im- 
 perfeCtly known till after her deceafe ; for (he had 
 made Sir Charles appear fo much the principal 
 perfon, and director of all their affairs ; that till 
 the change in his condu<St proved how great her 
 influence had been, (he had only fliared the ap- 
 probation, which, afterwards, became all her 
 own. 
 
 Human nature cannot feel a deeper affliftioii 
 than now overwhelmed Mifs Melvyn ; wherein 
 Sir Charles bore as great a fhare, as the eafmefs of 
 his nature was capable of ; — but his heart was 
 not fufceptible, either of ftrong, or lafting im- 
 preiTions. He walked in the path Lady Melvyn 
 had traced out for him ; and fufFered his daughter 
 to imitate her mother in behevolent duties -, and 
 
 (he 
 
42 TheHistoryof 
 
 ihe had profitted too much by the excellent patterf], 
 whereby fhe had endeavoured to regulate her a6ii- 
 ons, not to acquit herfelf far beyond what could 
 have been expected at her years. 
 
 Mifs Melvyn was not long indulged in the only 
 confolation her grief could receive, — that of being 
 permitted to aim at an imitation of her mother, — 
 for Sir Charles had not been a widower quite a 
 year, when he married a young lady in the neigh- 
 bourhood, who had defigned him this honour from 
 the hour of Lady Melvyn's death ; and to procure 
 better opportunity for atfedting her purpofe, had 
 pretended a moft aiTe61:ionate compafiion for Mifs 
 Melvyn' deep affli(5lion ; ihe vifited her continu- 
 ally ; and appeared fo tenderly attached to her, 
 that Mifs Melvyn, — who had neither experience, 
 nor any guiie in her own heart to infpire her with 
 fufpicions of an attempt to deceive her, made that 
 return of afTciStion which fhe thought gratitude re- 
 quired ; no" was fhe at all difturbed when (he found 
 fhc was foon to look on this lady in another light, 
 than that in which {he had hitherto feen her ; it 
 was eafy for her to refpciSt one whom {he before 
 loved ; and {he had been taught fo true a venera- 
 tion for her father, that {he felt no averfenefs to 
 obey whomfoever he thought proper to give a title 
 to her duty. 
 
 Mifs Melvyn had but very little time to congra- 
 tulate herfelf on having acquired for a mother, a 
 friend in whofe converfation {he hoped to enjoy 
 great fatisfadion, and to feel the tendernefs of an 
 intimate changed into the fondnefs of a parent. 
 She behaved to her with the fame perfect refpecSl, 
 and all the humility of obedience, as if nature 
 had placed her in that parental relation ; fearing, 
 if {he gave way to the familiarity which had fub- 
 filled between them when they were on an equa- 
 
Mifs Mancel and Mrs. Morgan. 43 
 lity, it might appear like* a failure in the reverence' 
 due to her new fituation. 
 
 But this behaviour, amiable as it was, could not 
 make the now Lady Melvyn change the plan fhe 
 had formed for her future conduct. She had not 
 been married above a month, before (he began to 
 intimate to Sir Charles, ' that Mifs Melvyn's edu- 
 cation had been very imperfect ; — that a young 
 lady of her rank ought to be highly accompliftied | 
 but that after fhe had been fo long indulged hy 
 her parents, if a mother-in-law were to pretend 
 to direct her, it might not only exafperate Mifs 
 Melvyn, but prejudice the world againft herfelf ; as 
 people are too apt to determine againft perfons in 
 that relation, v/ithout examining the merits of 
 the caufe ; and though, (he faid, (he was little 
 concerned about the opinion of the world, in 
 comparifon with her tender regard for any one 
 that belonged to him ; yet (he was much in- 
 fluenced by the other reafon (he had alledo;ed, for 
 not appearing to didtate to Mifs Melvyn, being 
 very defirous of keeping on afFedlionate terms 
 with her; and fhe was already much mortified, at 
 perceiving that young lady had imbibed too many 
 of the vulgar prejudices againft a mother-in law; 
 though, for her part, fhe had endeavoured to 
 behave with fubmiillon to her daughter, inftead 
 of pretending to afiume any, authority.' The 
 confequence and conclufion of all thefe infmuations 
 was, that « it would be advifeable to fend Mifs 
 
 * Melvyn to a boarding fchool.* 
 
 bir Charles was foon prevailed with to comply 
 with his lady's requeft; and his daughter was ac- 
 quainted with the determination ; which Lady Mel- 
 vyn afTured her, ' was very contrary to her inclina- 
 < tion, who fhould find a great lofs of fo agreeable 
 
 * a frkiid^ but that Sir Charles had declared his in- 
 
 ' tention 
 
44 TheHistory o? 
 
 * tention in fo peremptory a manner, that {he 
 
 • dared not contend.* 
 
 Mifs Melvyn had before obferved, that marriage 
 had made a great alteration in Lady Melvyn's beha* 
 viour ; but this was a ftroke fhc did not expeil, 
 and a very mortifying one to her, who had long 
 lsi't6 afide all childifh amufements ; had been taught 
 to employ herfelf as rationally as if {he had arrived 
 at a maturer age, and been indulged in the exercife 
 *r a moft benevolent difpcfition, having given fuch 
 good proofs of the propriety with which fhe emplov- 
 cd both her time and money, that fhe had been diT- 
 penfed from all reftraints ; and now to commence a 
 new infancy, and be confined to the fociety of chil- 
 dren, was a very aQi»5^ing change ; but it came from 
 a haml fhe too much refpefled to make any refin- 
 ance, though (he eafily perceived that it was entire- 
 ly at her mother's inftigation ; and knew her father 
 too well, to believe he could be peremptory on any 
 occafion. 
 
 A very fhort time intervened between the de- 
 claration and execution of this defign, and Mifs 
 Melvyn was introduced to mademoifelle d'Avaux 
 by her kind mother-in-law, who with fome tears, 
 and many affurances of regret, left her there. 
 Mifs Melvyn had been at this fchool three months 
 when Louifa Mancel was brought thither, and 
 though a feparatidn from a father (he fincerely 
 loved, and the fear of the arts Lady Melvyn might 
 ufe to alienate his affe6lions from her, after having 
 thus removed her from his prefence, greatly afFeft- 
 ed her fpirits, and fhe found no companions fit to 
 amufe her rational mind, yet fhe endeavoured to 
 fupport her mortifications with all the chearfulnefs 
 (he could aflume ; and received fome fatisfa6tion 
 from the converfation of Mademoifelle d'Avaux, a 
 
 woman 
 
Mifs Mangel and Mrs. Morgan-. 45 
 
 woman of tolerable underftanding, and who was 
 much pleafed with Mifs Melvyn's behaviour. 
 
 Mifs Mancel's dejected air prejudiced Mifs Mel- 
 vyn much in her favour; the ufual confequence of 
 a fimilitude of mind or manners ; and when by a 
 farther knowledge of her, fhe perceived her un- 
 common fhare of underftanding ; her defire to 
 learn ; the flrength of her application ; the quick- 
 nefs of her apprehenfion ; and her great fweetnefs 
 of temper, (he grew extremely fond of her ; and 
 as Mifs Mancel's melancholy rendered her little in- 
 clined to play with thofe of her own age, (lie was 
 almoft al> ays with Mifs Melvyn, who found great 
 pleafure in endeavouring to inftru6l her ; and grew 
 to feel for her the tendernefs of a mother, while 
 Mifs Mancel began to receive confolation from ex- 
 periencing an afFe6lion quite maternal. 
 
 At the beginning of the winter. Lady Melvyn, 
 who had lefs ambition to imitate the real merit of 
 her predeceflbr, than to exhibit her own imaginary 
 perfections, brought Sir Charles to London, there 
 to fix their refidence for the enfuing half year. 
 This made little alteration in Mifs Melvyn's way 
 Qf life. Sir Charles and his lady would fometimes 
 call upon her, the latter not chofing to truft Sir 
 Charles alone with his daughter, left (he (hould 
 reprefent to him, how unworthily (he was treat- 
 ed ; but as he was not devoid of afFedion for her, 
 he would fometimes vifit her privately ; concealing 
 it from his lady, who endeavoured to prevent this, 
 by telling him, that ' fchool-miftrefles were apt to 
 
 * take amifs a parent's vifiting his children too of- 
 
 * ten, conftruing it as a diftruft of their care ; and 
 
 * therefore if he offended in that way, Mademoifelle 
 
 * d'Avaux's difguft might afFeft her behaviour to 
 ' Mifs Melvyn, and render her refidence there ve- 
 ^ rj difagreeable, which Lady Melvyn's gr^at tender'* 
 
46 TheHistoryof 
 
 * nefs made her ardently wifli to avoid, as flic wag 
 
 * defirous every thing {hould be agreeable to her 
 < dear daughter.' Sir Charles could not be entire- 
 ly reftrained by thefe ^;W admonitions, from in- 
 dulging himfelf with the fight of Mifs Mel- 
 vyn. 
 
 His lady had little reafon to be afraid of thefe 
 interviews, for her daughter-in-law had too ftrong 
 a fenfe of filial obedience, and too delicate a regard 
 for her father's happinefs, to fufter the leaft intima- 
 tion of a fault in his wife to efcape her lips, as a 
 good opinion of her was fo neceflary to his eafe ; 
 but as fhe foon found out thefe vifits were made by 
 ftealth, they gave her great pleafure, as a plain 
 proof of his affedlion. Lady Melvyn thought her 
 daughter's coming abroad would be as hurtful as her 
 being vifited at home, and therefore very feldom 
 fent for her to her houfe ; and when fhe did, took 
 care to have her carried home before the hour that 
 fhe expelled company, on pretence of preferving the 
 regularity of hours, which fhe knew would be agree- 
 able to Mademoifelle d'Avaux. 
 
 The true reafon of this great caution, was an 
 unwillingnefs to be feen with one whofe perfon, 
 all her vanity could not prevent her from being fen- 
 fibl^, was more attra<Stive than her own. Mifs Mel- 
 vyn was very pretty, had an engaging fweetnefs in 
 her countenance, and all the bloom which belongs 
 to youth, though it does not always accompany 
 it. Her perfon was elegant, and perfedlly gen- 
 teel. 
 
 Lady Melvyn was void of delicacy; fhe had a 
 regular fet of features, but they wanted to be foft- 
 ened into effeminacy, before they could have any 
 jull pretence to beauty. Her eyes v/ere black, and 
 not void of vivacity, but they neither exprefied 
 penetration aor gentlenefs. Her perfon was well 
 
 proportioned, 
 
Mifs Mancel and Mrs. Morgan. 47 
 proportioned, but fhe was* formed on too large a 
 fcale, and deflitute of grace. She was not ill 
 bred, but had none of that foftnefs of manners 
 which gives rife to ail the fweet civilities of life. In 
 fhort, Lady Melvyn was one, who, by herfelf, and 
 many others, would be efteemed a fine woman, and 
 by many more, ranked only under the denomina- 
 tion of a ihewey woman ; like Mr. Bayes's hero, 
 fhe v/as unamiable, l?ut (he was great ; fhe excited 
 the admiration of fome, but pleafed none. 
 
 As foon as fhe appeared in the world as Lady Mel- 
 vyn, fhe began to exercife what fhe thought only 
 lively coquetry ; but her entire want of grace and 
 delicacy, often made that appear like boldnefs, 
 which fhe defigned for vivacity. As her ambition 
 to charm was as great as if fhe had been better 
 qualified for fuccefs, it is not flrange, that flie did 
 not choofe to give opportunities of comparifon be- 
 tween herfelf and a daughter, who, though not fo 
 flriking at firft fight, was filled with atcra61:ions. 
 
 The contempt which her ladyfhip thought fhe 
 mufl in juftice to her own underftanding fhew for 
 her hufband's, and the fupercilious coldnefs with 
 which fhe treated Mifs Melvyn, made that young 
 lady very glad that fhe was fo feldom fent for to 
 her father's houfe. But fhe wiflied to learn fuch 
 accomplifiiments, as whilft fhe lived in the coun- 
 try were out of her power, and therefore inti- 
 mated to lady Melvyn her defire of being taught 
 mufic and drawing, with the better hope of fuc- 
 cefs, as the neceffity of compleating her education 
 had been made the excufe for fending her to a 
 boarding fchool ; but this requefl was denied her on 
 frivolous pretences, the real caufe, when fhe per- 
 ceived the very extravagant turn of her mother-in- 
 iaw, (he foon underflood was to avoid expence. 
 
 She 
 
4$ The History or 
 
 She had flattered herfelf ftie might obtain pcr- 
 miillon to have her books fcnt to her ; but upon 
 enquiry, found that LadyMelvyn had removed them 
 to her drefTmg-room, and intermixed them vi^ith 
 china, in (o ornamental a manner, (o truly expref- 
 five of the turn of her mind, where a pretended 
 love of reading was blended with a real fondnefs 
 for trifies, that fhe had no chance for this indul- 
 gence. 
 
 While Mifs Melvyn was Tuffering all thefe mor- 
 tifications from a parent, MiTs iViancel wa: recei- 
 ving every proof of the moll tender affecS^ion from 
 one bound to her by no paternal ties. Mr. Hint- 
 man, as foon as the feafon of the year brought him 
 to town, vifited his little charge, and was charmed 
 with the vivacity v/hich was now reftored to her. 
 He called upon her frequently, and feldom with- 
 out fome prefent, or a propofal of feme pleafure. 
 He would continually entreat her to make him 
 fome requeft, that he might have the pleafure of 
 gratifying her. He frequently gave Mademoifelle d'- 
 Avaux tickets for the play and the opera., that the 
 young Louifa might have fomebody to accompany 
 her ; but as Mifs Melvyn did not think it proper at 
 her age to go often with only her fchool-millrefs, 
 or, according to the language of fchools, hergovcr- 
 nefs, Mifs Mancel frequently declined being of the 
 party, rather than leave her amiable friend and in- 
 ftructor. 
 
 There was no one who fhewed any particular ci- 
 vility to Mifs Mancel, but received fome return 
 from Mr. Hintman. Mifs Melvyn was very de- 
 fervedly the chief objecl of his gratitude ; but as 
 {he declined accepting the prefents he offered her, 
 he chofe a way more agreeable to himlelf, as it 
 would make his little Louifa the rewarder of the 
 fcavours ihe received. He therefore v^as lavifh of 
 
 his 
 
Mifs Matstcel and Mrs. Morgan. 49 
 
 his money to her, and entreated her to lay it out 
 in fuch manner, as would be moft agreeable to her- 
 felfand Mifs Melvyn ; at the fame time afking her, 
 ' by what means flie could moft gratify that young 
 <- lady?' 
 
 Mifs Mancel faid, ' (he knew nothing that 
 ' would be fo acceptable to Mifs Melvyn as books.' 
 To this Mr. Hintman replied, ' Since that was 
 
 the cafe, he could very eafily accommodate them, 
 ' for he had by him a very pretty library left him 
 
 by his fifter about a year before, which he had 
 
 never unpacked, having moft of the fame books 
 ' in his ov/n ftudy.' 
 
 This accordingly he fent to Mifs Mancel, with 
 proper book-cafes to contain them, which they 
 immediately put up in their apartments. This was 
 the moft agreeable acquifition imaginable -; for 
 Mifs Hintman having been a very fenfible young 
 lady, the colle6^ion was extremely valuable. 
 
 Mr. Hintman's great indulgence could not fail 
 of receiving from Mifs Mancel the wifh'd for re- 
 turn of affection and gratitude ; whenever he came 
 file flew to him with delight, carefTed him with all 
 the fondnefs fo enchanting at that age, and parted 
 from him with the extremeft reluctance. Her great 
 obligations to him were the frequent fubjeds of her 
 difcourfe with Mifs Melvyn, who had the higheft 
 admiration of his generofity. 
 
 His allowance to Mi^s Mancel was fufficient to 
 have defrayed all her expences, but thofe were to 
 be the care of Mademoifelle d'Avaux, for the mo- 
 ney he gave Louifa was for no other purpofe than 
 her gratifications ; neceility, or even ufefulnefs was 
 out of the queftion ; every thing of that kind be- 
 ing provided for her. Nor v;as he more fparin.^ in 
 what concerned her education, fhe learnt dancing, 
 mufic, and drawing j befides other things generally 
 
 D taught 
 
§o The FI I s t o r \' of 
 
 taught at Ichools ; but her greatell improve- 
 ment was from reading with M'lis Melvyn, who 
 inftruvSlcd her in geography, and in fuch parts or* 
 philolbphy of which her age was capable ; but above 
 all, fhe was mofl: attentive to inculcate into her 
 mind the principles of true religion. 
 
 Thus her underlbnding opened in a furprizing 
 degree, and while the beauty and graces of her per- 
 ion, and her great progrefs in genteel accomplifn- 
 ments, charmed every eye, the nice difcernment, 
 and uncommon flrength of reafon which appeared 
 in her converfation, aitonifhcd every judicious ob- 
 ferver ; but her moft admirable qualities were her 
 humility and modeftyj which, notwithdanding her 
 great internal and external excellencies, rendered 
 her diffident, mild, bafliful, and tra6lable ; her heart 
 fcemed as free from defcds, as her under (landing 
 was from the follies, which in a degree are incident 
 to almoft every other perfon. 
 
 Mifs Melvyn and her little companion received 
 a confidcrabic encrer.fe of happinefs from the pre- 
 i'ent of books Mr. Hintman had made them ; the 
 latter had no wifli, but that Mifs Melvyn might re- 
 ceive equal indulgence from parents, that fhe en- 
 joyed from one who bo»-e no relation to her. The 
 hrft defuc that occurred to her on Mr. Hrntman's 
 profufe prefents of money, was to treat her friend 
 with maimers for mufic and drawing, and fuch other 
 things as (he knew fhe had an inclination to learn ; 
 but as fhe was n' t unacquainted with her delicacy 
 on that fubjecSt, as foon as Mr. Hintman left her, 
 Ihe ran to Mifs Melvyn with fome of the impatience 
 in her countenance, though fhe endeavoured to 
 conceal it, with which her heart was filled, and tri- 
 ed every tender carefs, every fond and humble pe- 
 tition, to obtain a promife from that young lady, 
 that file v/ould grant her a rec^ueft flie l>ad to make. 
 
 She 
 
Mlfs Mangel and Mrs. Morgan. 55 
 
 She hung round her neck, and endeavoured to pre- 
 vail by a thoufand engaging infantine arts ; and 
 when (he found they would not fuccced, fhe knelt 
 dowti before her, and with all the grace and impor- 
 tunity of the moft amiable fuppliant, tried to win 
 her to compliance. Nothing would avail, for Mifs 
 Melvyn was convinced by her earneftnefs, that her 
 defign was to confer fome favour ; fhe knew the 
 generofity of her youthful mind too well to believe 
 fhe i'o ardently aimed at any thing that was for her 
 own private gratification. 
 
 Thus Louifa found hcrfelf reduced to explain the 
 ufe (lie intended to have made o{ the promife fhe 
 wanted to obtain ; and having acquainted Mifs 
 Melvyn with Mr, Hintman's generous allowance, 
 and of the payment flie had received of the firii: 
 quarter, flie in explicit terms told her, ' Mr. Hint- 
 ' man has indeed given m^e money, but it depends 
 ' on you to make that money yield me pleafure, by 
 ' fuffering me to apply it to fuch ufes, as will pro- 
 ' cure me the inexpreflible joy of contributino- in 
 < fome degree to the pleafure of one who renders 
 ' my life fo very happy.' 
 
 Mifs Melvyn was fo pleafed with the generofity 
 of her little pupil, that fhe gave her as many caref- 
 fes as the other had laviilied on her, in order to ob- 
 tain the promife flie fo much wifhed for ; but flie 
 could not be induced to grant her requefl. Mifs 
 Melvyn was void of that pride which often con- 
 ceals itfelf under the name of fpirit and greatnefs 
 of foul ; and makes people averfe to receivino; an 
 obligation, becaufe they feel themfelves too proud 
 to be grateful, and think that to be obliged, im- 
 plies an inferiority vvhich their pride cannot fup- 
 port. Had Louila been of the fimic age with her- 
 ielf, (he would have felt a kind of property in ail 
 fhe poflefTed 3 friendfhip, the tenure by which fhe 
 
 D 2 held 
 
5 2. 1' H E 1 1 I S T O R V O F 
 
 held it ; for where henrts arc ftriclly united, Hie 
 had no notion of anv di{lin6lion in thinc'S of lefs irn- 
 portance, the adventitious goods of fortune. The 
 hour daiies and barriers raifcd by tiiofe two watchful 
 ani fufpicious enemies, Meum and Tuum, were in 
 her opinion broke down by true fricndfliip ; and all 
 property laid in one undiftinguiflicd common ; but to 
 accept Mifs Mancel's money, efpccially in fo great 
 a proportion, appeared to her like taking adv^antage 
 of her youth ; and as flie did not think her old 
 enough to be a fufEcient judge of the value of it, 
 {he did not look upon her as capable of being a party 
 in fo perfect a fiiendfhip, as was requifite to confti- 
 tute that unity of property. 
 
 Poor Louifa by this difappointment of the firfl 
 w'lfh of her heart, found what older people often 
 experience, that her riches inftead of pleafure pro- 
 cured her only mortification. She could fcarcely 
 refrain from tears at a refufal which (lie thought mult 
 arife from want of afTe6fion, and told Mifs Melvyn, 
 file faw that fhe loved her but imperfedlly ; for, added 
 /lie, ' Could we change places, with how mjch 
 « pleafure (hould I have accepted it from you ! and 
 ' the fatisfa6lion that learnin'j; thefe thino;s now 
 
 * give me would be turned into delight, by refle(5l- 
 ' in^ on the gratification you would receive in hav- 
 
 * ing been the means of procuring them for me. 
 ' I fhould not envy you the joy of giving, becaufe 
 
 * I as receiver jfhould not have the Icfs fhare of that 
 
 * fati-fatStion, fmce by reflecfingon yours I mufl: par- 
 
 * take of it, and fo encreafe my ov/n.' 
 
 Mifs Melvyn could not forbear blufhing at fmd- 
 ins; a fuperior degree of delicacy, and a generofity 
 much more exalted, in one fo young, than flie had 
 felt in herfelf. She plainly fav/, that the greateft 
 proof of a noble mind is to feel a joy in gratitude; 
 for thofe who know all the pleafuies of conferring 
 
Mifs Mangel and Mrs. Morgan. 53 
 
 an obligation, will be fenfible, that by accepting it 
 fhcy give the higheft delight the human mind can 
 feel, when employed on human objects ; and there- 
 fore while thev receive a benefit, they will tafte not 
 only the comforts arifmg from it to themfelves, but 
 (hare the gratification of a benefa6lor, from reflect- 
 ing on the joy they give to thofe who have conferred 
 it : thus the receiver of a favour from a truly gene- 
 rous perfon, * by owing owes not, and is at once 
 ' indebted and difcharged.' 
 
 As Mifs Melvyn felt her little friend's reproach, 
 and faw that (he had done her injuftice in thinking 
 her youth rendered her incapable of that perfe(Slou 
 of friendfliip, which might juftify the accepting of 
 her 6lTer ; flie acknowledged her error, and adured 
 her, ' fhe would comply if fhe had no other means 
 ' of obtaining the iii{lru6lion fhe propofed to pur- 
 
 * chafe for her ; but that was not the cafe, lor flic 
 ' found fhe could very well learn from feeing the 
 
 * matters teach her, and pradifmg in their ab- 
 ' fence.' 
 
 Mr. Hintman exprefled a defire that Mifs Mancel 
 fhould learn Italian, if fhe had no objedlion to it -, 
 ' for he never diClaled to her, but ofiiered any advice 
 he had to give, or any inclination which he chofe 
 to intimate, with the humility of a dependant, ra- 
 ther than the authority of a benefactor ; and in- 
 deed it was fuiHcicnt ; for the flighteft hint that any 
 thing would be agreeable to him, met with the molt 
 impatient defire in Mifs Mancel to perform it : ac- 
 tuated by fincere affecSlion, and the ftrongeft grati- 
 tude, nothing made her fo happy, as an oppor- 
 tunity to fhew him the readineis of her obedi- 
 ence. 
 
 But as they were at a lofs for a mafler to tea^ h 
 her that language, Mifs Melvyn told them fhe knew 
 an Italian gentleman, who had been at Sir Charles's 
 
 D 3 houfe 
 
54 TiieHistoryof 
 
 houfenear two months before fhe bad the misfortune 
 of loling the beft of mothers. Lady Melvyn had 
 begun to teach her daughter Italian, but defirous 
 that /he fliouM fpeak it wkh great propriety, fhe 
 invited this gentleman to her houfe, who was re- 
 duced to ereat diftrefs of circumftances, and whofe 
 pcrfon, as well as his manv virtues, fhe had known 
 from her childhood. He had been a friend of Jicr 
 father's, and (he was glad of this excufe for making 
 him an handfome prei'ent, which othcrwife it was 
 not eafv to induce him to accept. 
 
 Mr. Hiniman was not long before he procured 
 this Italian mafl:er for Mifs Mancel ; nor did fhe 
 delay making ufe of his inllruiSlions ; but I fhall not 
 defcrlbe her progrefs in the acquifitions of this, any 
 more than her other accompliftiments, in all which 
 fhe excelled to a furprizing degree j nor did Mifs 
 Melvyn fall very fhort of her, though fhe was at 
 fuch difadvantage in her method of learning many 
 of them, not having the afTiflance of a malter. 
 Their time was fo entirely engrofled by the/e em- 
 ployments, that they had little leifure, and flill lefs 
 dcfirc to keep company with the refl of the fchool ; 
 but they faved themfelves from the dillike which 
 might naturally have arifen in the minds of the 
 other fcholars, from being thus neglcifted, by 
 little prefents v/hich Mifs Mancel frequently made 
 them. 
 
 Thefe two young ladies were very early rifers, 
 and the time which was not taken up by Mifs 
 Mancel's mafters, and that wherein it was requi- 
 file to pradife what they taught her, they employed 
 in reading, wherein Mr. d'Avora, their Italian maf- 
 ter, often accompanied them. 
 
 Mr. d'Avora was a man of excellent underftand- 
 ing, and had an incomparable heart. Misfortunes 
 had foftencd common humanity intp a moft tender 
 
 difpofition \ 
 
Mifs Mangel and Mrs. Morgan. §^ 
 
 difpofition ; and had given him a thorough know- 
 lege of mankind, without lefTening his benevolence 
 for individuals ; though fuch as learn it by advcrfity, 
 the fureft fchool for that fcience, feldom fee them 
 in an amiable light. 
 
 Mr. d'Avora was not lefs acquainted with parti- 
 cular nations than with mankind in general ; he 
 had travelled through all the countries in Europe, 
 fome parts of Afia and Africa, and having travcrfed 
 them with difcernment, and the curiofity of wifdom, 
 not of impertinence, he received fuch improve- 
 ment of underftandinsj, as few travellers caa 
 boaft. 
 
 He had an affe^rion for Mifs Melvyn, both for her 
 own merits and the obligations he had to her fami- 
 ly, and a very {hort acquaintance with Mifs Man- 
 cel made him extremely fond of her. He took 
 great pleafure in affifting them in the improvement 
 they ib induflrioufly laboured for, and as he was a 
 man of univerfal knowlege, he was capable of being 
 very ufeful to them in that refpedl. For this pur- 
 pofe he often read with them, and by explaining 
 many books on abftrufe fubje6ts, rendered feveral 
 authors intelligible to them, who, without his aflift- 
 ance, would have been too obfcure for perfons of 
 their age. He had very few fcholars, therefore had 
 much leifure, and with great fatisfa6tion dedicated 
 part of it to our young ladies, as he faw he thereby 
 gave them a very fincere pleafure ; and he was much 
 gratified with thinking that by his care, and inttruc- 
 tion of Mifs Melvyn, he made fome return for the 
 fricndfhip he had received from her family; and 
 that could her mother be fenfible of his attendance 
 on her much-loved and now negledted daughter, it 
 would be highly agreeable to her. 
 
 D 4 la 
 
5^ The History of 
 
 In the manner I have mentioned, thefe two 
 youngladicspaft their time, till Mifs Pvlancel reach- 
 ed her iifteenih year, with little alteration, except 
 the encreafe of her charms, and her great improve- 
 ment in every accomplifhmcnt. Her appearance 
 began to grow womanly, flic was indeed, 
 
 * In the bloom of beauty's pride,* 
 
 Dazzllngly handfonie at firft view; but fiich nume- 
 rous and various charms appeared on a more inti- 
 mate acquaintance, that people forgot how much 
 they had been ftruck by the firil fight of her, loll in 
 wonder at her encreafing attraciions, to the force 
 of which fhe was the only perfon that was incnfi- 
 ble. Humble piety rendered her indifferent to cir- 
 cumibnces, which (he looked upon rather as fnares 
 than.bleffings, and like a perfon on tiie brink of a 
 precipice could not enjoy the beauty of the profpecSl, 
 over-awed by th« dangers of her fituation. 
 
 She had Indeed too much of human nature in 
 her not to feel fometimes a little flufh of vanity on 
 feeing herfelf admired ; but fhe immediately cor- 
 re6led the foible, by rcfiecling, that whatever ad- 
 vantages of mind or form had fallen to her fhare, 
 they were given her by one who expected file 
 fhould not fufFer her thoughts or attention to be 
 withdrawn thereby from him, who was the per- 
 fection of all excellence, while (lie -at beft could 
 but flatter herfelf with being lefs imperfect than ma- 
 ny of her fellow creatures. 
 
 She confidered flattery and admiration as the rocks 
 on which young people, who are at all fupericr to 
 the multitude, are apt to be wrecked ; deprived of 
 quiet happinefs in this world, and exalted felicity 
 in the next; and as (he was really convinced, that 
 fl^e had only a few obvious external advantages 
 
 over 
 
Mifs Mancil and Mrs. Morgan. §y 
 
 over others, {he oppofed tcf the praifes lavifhed on 
 her, reile6lions on her imperfedlons, which, though 
 not apparent to any one but herfelf, fhe verily be- 
 lieved were uncommonly great, as (lie beheld them 
 with very fcrutinizing and rigid eyes, while (he 
 looked on thole of others with the greatcfl: lenity. 
 But of all the means fhe ufed to preferve her hu- 
 mility, fhe was the moil aiTiduous in praying to 
 him v/ho made her heart, to preferve it humble. 
 
 Though the degree of piety I mention, mav 
 found in the ears of many too grave for fo young 
 a perfon, yet it by no means rendered her fo ; (he 
 had great vivacity; a lively imagination; an un- 
 common fhare of wit; and a very happy manner 
 of exprefling herfelf. She had all the amiable gai- 
 ety of youth, without the leail tendency to impru- 
 dence ; and v^hen fhe talked moil, and, in appear- 
 ance, let fancy allumc the reins, ' faid nothina; to 
 repent of. Her heait was all purity, univcrfal be- 
 nevolence and good -nature ; and as out or its abun- 
 dance her mouth fpakc, ihe was in liiitle danger of 
 oHending with her tongue. 
 
 It is not llrange that Mr. Ilintman's fondnefs- 
 fhould ificreafe with ^iifs Mancel's excellencies, 
 but the careil'es which fuited her earlier years were 
 now become improper; ^'nd Mr. Hintman, bv ap- 
 pearing infenftble of the nccelTury change of beha • 
 viour, reduced her to great difHcukies ; fhe could not 
 reconcile herft-lf to receiving of them *, and yet to 
 inform him of the irr>propriety, implied a forvv^^rd 
 confcioufnefs which flie was not able to affume. 
 
 She communicated the vexation of her mind to 
 A'lifs Melvyn, v/ho was flill more alarmed, as her 
 fuperior age :.nd experience rendered her more ap- 
 prchenfive ; but fhe knew not what to advife. 
 
 D s In 
 
gS The History of 
 
 In this dilemma Mifs Melvyn had recourfe to 
 their good friend, whofe knowledge of mankind, 
 hi^ integrity and prudence, rendered him the fafeft 
 guide. Accordingly one day when Louifa was call- 
 ed from them to Mr. Hintman, who came to make 
 her a vifit, Mifs Melvyn informed Mr. d'Avora, of 
 the reafon why her friend obeyed the fummons with 
 lefs joy, than he had obferved in her on the like oc- 
 cafion the year before. 
 
 Mr. d'Avora was much difturbed at this infor- 
 mation ; but not chufing to increafe the uneafniefs 
 the young ladies fecmed to be under till he had 
 more certain foundation for his opinion, he only in- 
 timated, that ' cuftoms were hard to break, but he 
 
 * fhouldhope, that when Mr. Hintman refle<5^ed on 
 
 * the impropriety of behaving to a young woman 
 
 * as if fhe was ftill a child, he w^ould alter it, and 
 
 * if he was not immediately fenfible of the differ- 
 
 * ence a fmall addition of age makes, yet her be- 
 
 * havlour would lead him to recoiled^ it.' 
 Although Mr. d'Avora feemed to pay little re- 
 gard to what Mifs Melvyn faid, yet it made great 
 impreiTion on him, and as foon as hs left her, he 
 took all proper meafures to enquire into the cha- 
 racier, and ufual condu6l of Mr. Hintman. 
 
 This fcrutiny did not turn out at all to his fatls- 
 faction, every account he received was the fame ^ 
 he had not the pleafure of iinding what is ufually 
 aflerted, that ' all men have two chara6ters ;' for 
 Mr. Hintman had but one, and that the moft 
 alarming that could be for Mifs Mancel. Evejy 
 perfon told him, ' that Mr. Hintman had a very 
 ^ great fortune, which he fpent entirely in the gra- 
 
 * tification of his favcurite vice, the love of wa- 
 ' men ; on whom his profufenefs was boundlefs. 
 
 * That as he was eafily captivated, fo he was foon 
 
 * tired 3 and fcldom kept a wonian Jong after he 
 
 ♦ had 
 
Mifs Mancel and Mrs. Morgan. 59 
 ' had obtained the free pofieffion of -faer; but ge- 
 ' nerally was more bountiful than is cuftomary 
 ' with men of his debauched principles at parting 
 ^ with them/ 
 
 This, Mr. d'Avora was afTured, was Mr. Hint- 
 man's only vice ; that he was good-natured, and 
 generous on all occafions. From this account he 
 fav/ too great reafon to fear, that all the care which 
 h=id been taken to improve Mifs ManccJ, arofe 
 only from a fort of epicurifm in his predominant 
 vice, but yet this was too doub:ful a circumilance 
 to be the ground-work of any plan of acStion. A 
 man of acknowledged generofity and good-nature, 
 however vicious^ might do a noble action without- 
 having any criminal defign. In this uncertainty of 
 mind he knew not what to advife her, and was un- 
 willing to excite fuch fears in the breads of thefe 
 two young friends, as might be groundlefs ; but. 
 yet would entirely deftroy their peace ; therefore^ 
 he only told Mils Mclvyn in general terms, that, 
 ' Mr. Hintman's character was fuch, as rendered it 
 ' very neceflary that Louifa fliould be much on her 
 ' guard; but that whether more than prudent cau- 
 ' tion, and decent referve were requilite, her own 
 
 * obfervation muft difcover, for no one elfe could 
 < determine that point, fince he had the reputation 
 
 * of being generous as well as debauched; there- 
 ' fore his actions towards her might be, and he 
 
 * hoped were, the refult of his greatell virtue, rather 
 
 * than of his predominant vice.' 
 
 Mifs Melvyn made a faithful report of what Mr. 
 d'Avora had faid to her, which filled both her- 
 felf and her friend with inexpreflible uneafr- 
 nefs. 
 
 Louifa was in great difficulty how to a61:, be- 
 tween gratitude and affeilion on the one fide, and 
 necellary caution and referve on the other. She was 
 
 D 6 ahnoil 
 
6o The History of 
 
 almoft as much afraid of appearing ungrateful, as of 
 being imprudent. She found little alhftance from 
 the advice of her friends, who declared themfelves 
 incapable of dire6ling her, therefore fhe was obli- 
 ged to lay afide all dependance on her own care, and 
 to truft in that of heaven, convinced that her inno- 
 cence would be guarded by that power who knew 
 the integrity and purity of her heart ; and that while 
 Ihe preferved it unblemifhed, even in thought and 
 inclination, her prayers for his protection would not 
 be unavailing. 
 
 The remainder of the v-'inter pafTed like the for- 
 mer part, only that the encreafe of her apprehenfi- 
 ons, fo far leffened her eafy vivacity, that Mr. 
 Hintman obferved the alteration, and complained of 
 the conilraint and awe which damped her converfa- 
 tion. 
 
 As the fchool broke up at Eafter, he entreated 
 her to accompany him that fliort time into the 
 country, from v/hich (he would gladly have ex- 
 cuted herfelf, both on account of her fears, and of 
 her unwillingnefo to leave Mifs Melvyn, Of whofe 
 converfation fhe was now more particularly tena- 
 cious, as lady Melvyn had determined to fufFer her 
 to return hom^e in a fhort time, not knowing how 
 to excufe her remaining longer at fchool, as fhe v*^as 
 entered into her one and tv^entieth year. Mifs 
 Melvyn v/ould have been glad that her ladyfhip bad 
 jnot fhewn this token of regard to popular opinion ; 
 for fmce fhe had enjoyed Mifs ManceFs company, 
 and been in pofl'effion of fo good a colleffion of 
 books, fhe was grown perfectly contented with her 
 fituation. 
 
 Louifa^ to make Mr. Hintman defift from the re- 
 queffc he urged with fo much importunity, tried 
 every means that did not appear like a total difm- 
 ciination tg accompany himj for any ih'mg that 
 
 bore 
 
Mifs Mancel and Mrs. Morgai^. 6i 
 
 bore the air of ingratitude could not be fupported 
 by her, whofe heart was To void of it, and who 
 thought {he could never feel enough for her bene- 
 factor, if his defigns were not fo criminal, as 
 fhe feared, but Icarcely could fuffer herfelf to 
 fufpe6t. 
 
 Mr. Hintman was too ardent in his purpofes to 
 give up his favourite fcheme, and Louifa beheld 
 with inexprefTible concern the day approach, when 
 fhe muft cither accompany him into the country, 
 or difobligc him for ever, and make herfelf appear 
 extremely ungrateful in the eyes of a man, whom 
 ihe loved and honoured like a father. Her addrefles 
 to heaven for prote£lion now became more vehe- 
 ment and continual, and the greatell part of her time 
 was fpent on her knees in praying to that power in 
 whom fhe trufted. MifsMelvyn and Air. d'Avorav/ere 
 fcarcely lefs anxious, or under fewer apprehenfions 
 than he rfdlf, but could fee no rcfourC'S except in the 
 prote6tion of the Almighty, to Vv^hom we fcldom np- 
 ply with entire faith and rcfignation while we have 
 any hopes in human affiflance. 
 
 Tv/o days before that fixed on for the purpofed 
 journey, when Louifa's anxiety vvas rifcn to the 
 utmoft height, the fchool-miilreis entered the room, 
 with a countenance fo melancholy, as was more fuit- 
 able to t! e fituation of mind in which the two 
 young friends were then in, than to any reafon 
 they apprehended flie could have for an air of To 
 much forrow. She foon began a difcourfe, which 
 they immediately apprehended v/as preparatory to 
 the opening of fome fatal event, and which, as is 
 ufual in fuch cafes, was, if poffible, more alarming 
 than any misfortune it coiild precede. The la- 
 dies exprefTed their fears, and begged to be acquaint-^ 
 cd with what had befallen them, , After confidera- 
 ble efforts to deliver her of the fecret with which 
 
 file 
 
6i TheHistoryof 
 
 fhe was pregnant, they learnt that a gentleman 
 was in the parlour, who came to inform Mils Man- 
 eel, that Mr. Hintman died the dav before in a fit 
 of an apoplexy. 
 
 All Louifa's fears and fufpicions vanifhed at once, 
 and grief alone took poiTcllion of her heart. The 
 fhocic fo entirely overcame her, that fhe was not 
 able to fee the fatal meiTenger of fiich melancholy 
 tidine;s as the death of her benefaftor, and fecond 
 father. Mifs Melvyn was obliged to undertake this 
 office, and learnt from the gentleman, that Mr» 
 Hintman died without a will, and therefore left the 
 poor Louifa as deftitute, except being enriched by 
 various accomplifhments, as he found her, and at a 
 much more dangerous time, when her beauty would 
 fcarcely fufFer compafiion to arife unaccompanied 
 with fofter fentiments. This gentleman proceeded 
 to inform Mifs Melvyn, that ' his father and ano- 
 
 * ther perfon of equal relation to Mr. Hintman, 
 ' were heirs at law. He exprefled great concern 
 *. for Mifs Mancel, and wifhed he had his father's 
 
 * power of repairing Mr. Hintman's negie6f, but 
 
 * that his influence extended no farther than to 
 ' obtain a commiffion to pay the expences of ano- 
 
 < ther year at that fchool, that the young lady 
 ' might have time to recolledl: herfelf after fo fa- 
 ^ tal a change, and determine at leifureon her future 
 
 * courfe of life.' 
 
 Mifs Melvyn was fo fenfibly touched at the prof- 
 pe<5l of the approaching diftrefs with which her 
 friend was threatened, that fhe burft into tears, 
 and uttered fome exclamations concerning '- the in- 
 
 < confiilency of that afiecHon, which could fufter 
 « a man to reft a moment without fecuring a pro- 
 « vifion in cafe of death, to a young woman he 
 
 < feemed to love with the greateft excefs of tender-* 
 
 * nefs.' * Believe me, madam, faid the young gen- 
 
 tleman^i 
 
Mlfs Mangel and Mrs. Morgan. % 
 tlcman, ' Mr. HIntman* was capable of no love 
 « that was not entirely feniual, and confequently 
 < felfifti ; all who knew him lamented the fate of a 
 ' young woman, who by every account is fo fu- 
 « periorly lovely. Among his friends he made no 
 
 * fecret of his dcfigns in^all he had done for her, 
 *- and boafted frequently of the extraordinary charms 
 ' which were ripening for his poirefTion. It was 
 
 * but two days ago, that he was exulting in the 
 ' prcfence of fome of them, that the time was now 
 « approaching, when he ihould be rewarded for 
 « lono- expe6lation, and boundlefs expence ; for he 
 ' ihould then, he faid, be fure of her perfon, and 
 ' had long fecured her heart. He knew he had 
 
 * ftrong prejudices and ftrange fcruples to combat y. 
 
 * but was prepared, and fhould not find them diffi- 
 ' cult to conquer; at worft, his ilcward in a par- 
 
 * fon's habit would lull them all to fleep.' 
 
 ' Good heaven \ cried Mifs iMelvyn, could there 
 « be fuch a wretch, and were there men Vv'ho 
 ' would keep company with him, who would bear 
 
 * the difgrace of being called his friends ? 
 
 ' Your notions, madam, replied the gentleman, 
 « are too refined for perions who live in the world: 
 *• fhould a man infift on Uriel morals in all his ac- 
 < quaintance, he might enjoy a folitude in the moft 
 « populous city ; though, 1 confefs, nothing but 
 
 * ties of kindred could have made me intimate with 
 ' one of Mr. Hintman's charadler, v/hich I fhould 
 
 * not thus have expofed to you, but as I imagined 
 ' a better knowledge of the man? might alleviate 
 
 * the afHiclion you feemed to feel for Mifs Mancel'^ 
 ' having loft one whom you cltecm.ed fo fincere a 
 ' friend. I fliould have been glad, continued he, 
 « could I have feen the young lady, of whom Mr. 
 
 * Hintman told fuch wonders ; but I will not pre- 
 « fume to prefs it, time may offer me fome oppor- 
 
 ' tiunity 
 
64 The History of 
 
 * tunlty for fatisfying my curofity without paining 
 ' her, I therefore take my leave, with only rcqueft-i 
 ' ing your permiflion to remit the money of which 
 ' I was made the bearer/ 
 
 Mifs Melvyn was To much afFcdtcd with her 
 friend's fituation, that (he took the paper the gen- 
 tleman offered her, without having power to reflect 
 "whether fhe ought to accept it, or being able to 
 make him any acknowledgment ; and he retired di- 
 re*£lly. She v/as obliged to flay fome time to com- 
 pofe her fpirits before (he went to her friend, that 
 fhe might be the better able to comfort her. On 
 examining the paper, fhe found it a bank-note of 
 an hundred pounds, which was now become all 
 Mifs Mancel's fortune. 
 
 Lamont could not forbear interrupting Mrs. 
 Ivlaynard in this place, by fome very fevere reflexi- 
 ons on Mr. Hintman's having rjegle6i:ed to make a 
 provifion for Mifs Mancel in cafe of his death, 
 which I believe was the part of his condu6^ that to 
 Lamont appeared moft inexcufable ; for though he 
 is too fafhionable to think intriguing very criminal, 
 yet he is naturally generous, as far as money is con- 
 cerned. * I cannot think, replied my coufm, that 
 ' Mr. Hintman's behaviour in that particular can 
 ' be much wondered at. Death to fuch a man 
 
 < muft be fo dreadful ?n event, that he will natu- 
 
 * rally endeavour to banifh it from his mind, when- 
 ' ever it attempts to intrude, and when a perfon 
 ' takes fo little care to make provifion for his own 
 « happinefs after death, is it flrange he fhould be 
 
 < unminc^fui of what (hall befall another aft i that 
 ' fatal period ? when a man neglects his own foul, 
 ' and deprives himfelf of all hope of everlafting 
 
 < felicity, can we exped he fhould take any trou- 
 
 * ble to provide for the temporal convenience of 
 
 * another perfon P 
 
 * Befides, 
 
Mil's Mangel and Mrs. Morgan. 6^ 
 
 < Befides, could he, who aimed at reducing an 
 
 * innocent and amiaWc young v/oman to guitt and 
 ' intamy in this world, and eternal perdition in the 
 ' next, be under any concern left fhe (hould fall 
 .' into the leii'er miferies of poverty ? it would 
 ' have been an inconfiftency in fuch a cha- 
 
 * raster.' 
 
 ' You fee gallantry in a very ferious light, ma- 
 ' dam, faid Lamont.' 
 
 ' 1 do indeed, fir, anfwered Mrs. Maynard, I 
 ' look on it as the moft dangerous of vices, it de- 
 
 * ftroys truth, honour, humanity, it is direclly 
 
 * contrary to the laws of God, is the deftrucSlion 
 ' of fociety, and almoft as inconfiilent with mo- 
 
 * rality as with religion/ 
 
 ' I beg pardon, madam, interrupted Lamont, 
 ' (who felt himfelf a little touched with what flie 
 
 * faid) for breaking into your narrative, and muft 
 
 * beg you will continue it.' 
 
 Mifs Mehyn, refumed Mrs. Maynard, was too 
 well acquainted with the ftrength of Louifa's mind, 
 to think it neceifary to conceal from her any part 
 of what had palled between herfelf and Mr. Hint- 
 man's relation. 
 
 Louifa, much affe61:ed by Mr. Hintman's dying, 
 with a heart fo unfit to appear at the tribunal be- 
 fore which he was fo fuddenly fummoned, thought 
 not immediately of herfelf; but when fhe re- 
 fletSted on the dangers (he had efcaped, fhe blelTed 
 her poverty, fmce it was the confequence of an 
 event which delivered her from fo much greater evils, 
 and fent up many fmcere and ardent thankfgivings 
 to heaven, for fo fignal a prefervation. Thefe 
 thoughts pofl'efTed our young friends for the firlt 
 three or four days after Mr. Hintman's death ; but 
 then they began to think it requlfite to confult 
 with Mr. d' A vera, on what courfe of life it was 
 
 moll 
 
66 The History of 
 
 mofi: advlfablc for Mifs Mancel to enter. This was 
 a difficult point to determine ; though her under- 
 ftanding and attainments were far fiipcrior to her 
 years, yet they were fenfible her youth would be a 
 great impediment to her in any undertaking. Mr. 
 d'Avora therefore advifed, that fhe fhould continue 
 a little longer at the fchool, and then fix in the 
 moft private manner imaginable for three or four 
 years, by which time he hoped to be able to efta- 
 blifli her in fome widow's family, as governefs to 
 her children ; for he told her fhe mull not expe^l, 
 while her perfon continued fuch as it then was, 
 that a married woman would receive her in any capa- 
 city that fixed her in the fame houfe with her hufband. 
 
 As Mifs Mancel had many jewels and trinkets 
 of value, fhe had no doubt but that with ceconomy, 
 (he might fupport herfelf for the term Mr. d'Avora 
 mentioned, and even longer if requifite, as fhe 
 could add to her little fund by the produce of her 
 induftry. As M ifs Melvyn's return home drew near, 
 it was agreed, that fhe fhould feek out fome place 
 in Sir Charles's neighbourhood, where Louifa might 
 lodge cheaply and reputably ; and in the mean time 
 Mr. d'Avora fhould difpofe of whatever fhe had of 
 value, except her books and her harpficord ; thefe 
 fhe refolved not to part with till the produce of her 
 other things, and the money fhe had by her, was 
 fpent, as they would not only amufe her in the 
 country, but afford her the power of improving 
 herfelf in thofe accomplifhments which were to be 
 her future provifion. 
 
 This plan foftened the pangs of feparation when 
 
 the time of Mifs Melvyn's departure arrived. It 
 
 was not long before fhe found out an apartment at 
 
 _^a reputable farmers, where Mifs Mancel might 
 
 ^lodge conveniently. Had it been a lefs tolerable 
 
 place, its vicinity to Sir Charles's houfe, from which 
 
 it 
 
Mifs Mancel and Mrs. Morgan. 6^ 
 it was but a quarter of a^mile diftant, would have 
 made it a very delightful abode to her, and fhe 
 foon repaired thither. 
 
 Great was the joy of the two friends at meeting. 
 Mils Melvyn's fituation at home was rendered as 
 irkfome as poflible, by Lady Melvyn's behaviour 
 both to her and Sir Charles, who, notwithltanding 
 her ill treatment, was extremely fond of, and to- 
 tally guided by her. His mind was fo entirely en- 
 flaved, that he beheld nothing but in the light 
 wherein flie pleafed to reprefent it, and was fo ea- 
 fy a dupe, thatfhe could fcarcely feel the joys of felf 
 triumph in her fuperior art, which was on no fub- 
 je(5l fo conrtantly exerted, as in keeping up a cold- 
 nefs in Sir Charles towards his daughter; this ihe 
 had with tolerable facility effedled in her abfcnce, 
 and was afiiduoufly careful to preferve now fhe was 
 prefent. To thofe who know not the power an art- 
 ful woman can obtain over a weak man, it would 
 appear incredible, that any father could be preju- 
 diced againfl a daughter, whofe whole attention 
 was to pleafe him. hhe had fo perfect a command 
 over her temper, that fhe never appeared to take 
 offence at any thing Lady Melvyii faid or did, 
 though that lady endeavoured by every provocation 
 to throw her off her guard. This behaviour only 
 encreafed her hatred, which was not in the leaft 
 abated by Mifs Melvyn's taking every opportunity 
 of being ferviceable to her brothers and fifters-in- 
 law. Lady Melvyn perfuaded Sir Charles, that his 
 daughter's calm nefs was only affumed in his pre- 
 lence, and continually complained of her infolence, 
 when he was not by. If he ever appeared to doubt 
 the truth of her report, fhe would burft into tears, 
 complain of his want of love, and little confidenc^^ 
 in her ; and fometimes thought proper to (hew her 
 grief at fuch treatment, by a pretended hyfteric fit, 
 
 always 
 
6E The History of 
 
 always ready at call to come to her afiiftance, though 
 really To unneceiTarily lavifhed on one cafily duped 
 without thofe laborious means, that it appeared a 
 wantonnefs of cunning, which was thus exerted 
 only for its own indulgence. She foon perceived 
 that Mifs Melvyn rather chofe to fubmit to any af- 
 perfions, than to render her father unhappy, by un- 
 deceiving him ; and taking advantage of this gene- 
 roficy, would fometimes, to cftabiifh his opinion of 
 her veracity, accufe Mifs Melvjn to her face of of- 
 fences which fne had never committed, and things 
 {he had never faid. 
 
 In f:jch a fituation the arrival of a friend, into 
 whoO. fympathetic bofom fhe could pour ail her 
 grieJs, and in whofe delightful fociety file could for- 
 get them, was the higheil blefrmg. But Lady Mel- 
 vyn contrived to make her feci mortifications even 
 in this tendereft particular, for though fhe wao in 
 her heart glad to have her out of the houfe, that 
 fhe might not be witnefs of r. .ch improper beha- 
 viour, yet fhe would fometimes mortify herfllf in 
 order to teaze Mifs Melvyn, by preventing her from 
 going to her belov^ed friend ; and continually alledg- 
 ed, her fpending fo much time wi«-h Louifa, as a 
 proof of that averfion (he had made Sir Charles 
 believe Mifs Melvyn had to her. 
 
 Louifa felt deeply her friend's uneafniefs, but 
 when they were together they could not be unhappy. 
 They feldom pafTed a day without feeing each othcr^ 
 -but as Lady Melvyn had taken no notice of Louifa, 
 fhe could not go to her boufe, therefore their meet- 
 ings were at her lodgings, where they often read to- 
 gether, and at other times would apply to mufic to 
 drive away melancholy reflexions. y\s Louifa wifli- 
 ed to remain near her friend as long as pollible, {he 
 'endeavoured, by taking In plain-work, to provide 
 for fome part of her current expences, the lefs to dir 
 
 miniih 
 
Mifs Mangel and Mrs. Morgan. 69 
 
 minifh the little Fund fne Mad by her. She likewile 
 employed part of her time in painting, having rea- 
 fon to hope, that if ihe could find a means of offer- 
 ing her pictures to fale, {he might from them raife 
 a very convenient fum. While ihe was thus con- 
 triving to enable hcrfelf to enjoy for many years 
 the converfation of her friend, Lady Melvyn was 
 as induftrioufly laying fchemes that, if fuccefsful, 
 mull: difappoint all the young ladies hopes. 
 
 Towards the end of the autumn, Mr, Morgan, 
 a man of fortune, who had fpent above half a year 
 in a fruitlefs purfuit afier health, made a vifit to a 
 gentleman in the neighbourhood. Unfortunately 
 Mifs Melvyn's charms made a conqueft of this gen- 
 tleman, in whom age had not gained a vi61:ory over 
 paliion. Mifs Melvyn's humility occaiioned her 
 being the laft perfon who perceived the impreffion 
 fhe had made on his heart, and his age would fcarce- 
 ly fulfer her to believe her fenfes when the fymp- 
 toms became mod apparent. A girl may find fome 
 aniiifement in a young lover, though fUe /eels no 
 difpofition in herfelf to return his paffion, her va- 
 nity is flattered by his addreflcs, and a woman mull 
 be very little difpofed to be pleafed, who receiv^es 
 no pleafure from one who is continually endeavour- 
 ing to oblige and amufe her ; but the moll whim- 
 fical of the poets never fancied a grey-bearded Cu- 
 pid, or reprcfented Hymen with a torch in one hand, 
 and a crutch in the other. I allow that, 
 
 ' Oft the matrimonial Cupid, 
 
 ' Lailri'd on by time grows tir'd and llupid,* 
 
 And dees not always wear that blooming joyous 
 countenance, which the painters give him ; but 
 {hould any capricious artift take the fickle out of 
 |.he hand of old Time, and in its place put Hymen's 
 
 torch, 
 
JO The History of 
 
 torch, the picl:ure might be thought very unnatural, 
 yet would reprefent a proper hymeneal Cupid to at- 
 tend Mr. Morgan to the altar. 
 
 Such a lover could excite no emotion in his mif- 
 trefs's heart but difguft. Mifs Melvyn's principles 
 were too delicate to iuffer her to think flie had any 
 title to ridicule a man for his partiality to her, how- 
 ever iil-fuited to himfelf; but no confideration 
 could prevent his addreiles from being extremely 
 difagreeable : however, (he could without any great 
 difficulty have fo far commanded herfelf, as to have 
 treated him with compbifance, till he gave her an 
 opportunity of reje6ting his courtfhip, had {he not 
 been apprehenfive that this afFair would give Lady 
 Melvvn a new fubject for perfecution. She was 
 pretty certain, that lady would be glad to fettle her 
 in another county ; and that her averfenefs to fo ill- 
 fuited a marriage would only ferve as an additional 
 recommendation to her mother. She was indeed 
 determined in jullice to Mr. Morgan, and compaf- 
 fion to herfelf, not to be induced by any follicita- 
 tions to marry a man whom fhe could not hope, that 
 even the ftrongeft attachment to duty could render 
 fo well as indifferent to her, but fhe dreaded the 
 means that might be taken to oblige her to accept 
 Mr. Morgan's propofal. 
 
 Little did flie guefs what thofe means would be. 
 She expected to be attacked alternately with all the 
 violence of paflion, the afFedled foftnefs of diffinju- 
 lation, and every art that cunning could devife, to 
 force Sir Charles to concur in her perfecution. 
 Thefc indeed were employed as foon as Mr. Mor- 
 gan made his propofals ; but her ladyfhip had too 
 many refources in her fertile brain to perfevere long 
 in a courfe fhe found unavailing. The farmer where 
 Mifs Mancel lodged had a fon, who was in treaty 
 with Lady Melvya for a farm, which at the end of 
 
 the 
 
Mifs Manc£l and Mrs. Morgan. 71 
 
 the year would become vacant. "1 his perfon fhe 
 thought fit for her purpofe, as Mifs Melvyn's going 
 fo frequently to Mifs Alancel, might give Ibme 
 colour to her invention. She therefore took care 
 to be found by Sir Charles drovi^ned in tears ; he 
 preffed to know the occafion of her grief, but flie 
 refifted his importunity in fuch a manner, as could 
 not fail to encreafe it, ftill flie declared, that ' (he 
 
 * loved him to that excefs fhe could not communi- 
 
 * cate a fecret which fhe knew mult afflicl him, 
 ' even though the iuppreffion and inward preyings 
 ' of her forrow fnould prove fatal to her life.' 
 
 Sir Charles now on his knees intreated her ' to 
 ' acquaint him with liie misfortune {he endeavour- 
 ' ed to conceal, alluring her, that nothing could 
 ' give him fo much concern as feeing,- her in that 
 
 * condiiion.' She told him, ' fhe v/as fenfible, that 
 ' as his wife it was her duty to obey him ; (a duty 
 ' newly difcovered, or at lealt newly performed by her 
 ^ ladyihip) but (he feared file had not ftrrigth left 
 ' to give it utterance.' The endeavour threw her 
 into an hyfleric fit, which was fucceeded by fo ma- 
 ny others, that Sir Charles was almoft frantic with 
 his fears for fo tender a wife, vA^o was thus reduced 
 to the lall: agonic;, by her affectionate apprehenfions 
 of giving him pain. 
 
 After rubbing her hands and feet till they were 
 fore, fufFocating her with burnt feathers, and half 
 poifoning her with medicines, Sir Charles and her 
 fervants fo far brought her to life, that after fend- 
 ing her attendants out of the room, fhe had jufi: 
 power to tell him, ' fhe had difcovered an intrigue 
 ' between his daughter and Simon the young farmer,* 
 ajid then immediatelv funk into another fit, which 
 however did not laft fo loni^; ; for as fhe had remo- 
 ved the heavy burden off her mind, flie foon began 
 to recover. * 
 
 Sir 
 
72 The H.i story of 
 
 Sir Charles was very much (hocked at what Lady 
 Melvyn told him, but could not doubt the reality 
 of the fa6l, when he had feen the very violent ef- 
 feS: it had had on his tender wife. He afked her 
 advice how to proceed; and it was foon determined that 
 it was necefl*ary,eitherto oblige Mifs Melvyn to marry 
 Mr. Morgan direclly, or to difclaim her for ever, 
 and remove the difgrace of fo infamous a conducfl 
 as far from tbemfelves as poflible. With this re- 
 folution {lie v/as to be immediately acquainted. 
 
 Mifs Melvyn was accordingly called in, and bit- 
 terly reproached by Sir Charles ; to w^hich my La- 
 dy added frequent lamentations, that fhe fhould fo 
 far forget herfelf, and difgrace fo worthy a family, 
 interfperfmg with them many expreiTions of the 
 undeferved tendernefs {he had always had for her, 
 and her great confidence in Mifs Melvyn's pru- 
 dence and virtue, fnedding tears for her having fo 
 unhappily fwerved from them. 
 
 As all this pafled for fome time in general terms, 
 Mifs Melvyn was in doubt whether {lie or her pa- 
 rents had lofl their fenfes ; convinced there muft be 
 diflra6lion on one fide or the other. As foon as 
 fne could recover her furprize, fhe begged to know 
 what crime {lie had committed ? her afl:oni{hment 
 was flill increafed by the anfwer {he received, which 
 was an accufation of this ftrange intrigue ; and her 
 frequent vifits to Mifs. Mancel were brought as 
 proofs of it. The fubmiffive and mild temper 
 which had hitherto moft ftrongly characSterifed her, 
 vanifhed at fo injurious a charge, and flie denied 
 the fa6t with that true fpirit which innocence in- 
 fpires. She told Lady Melvyn, that ' though {lie 
 ' had hitherto filently fubmitted to all her ill ufage, 
 ' yet it was her duty to repel an injury like this, 
 
 * and when her reputation was fo cruelly afperfed, 
 
 • it would be criminal to fuffer the vile inventors 
 
 ' to 
 
Mifs Mangel ani;! Mrs. Morgan. 73 
 
 <- to pafs unexpofed. She infifted on being con* 
 
 * fronted with her accufers, a privilege allowed to 
 *" the greateft criminals, and by the fevereft judges, 
 
 * therefore furely could not be refufed by a father 
 ' to a daughter, on a charge fo highly improbable, 
 
 * and for which no lightnefs in her conducSl ever 
 
 * gave the leaft ground.' 
 
 As Mrs. Maynard v/as in this part of her narra- 
 tive a* bell rang, which informed us that dinner was 
 ready, and we were umvillingly obliged to poft- 
 pone the continuation of the hiftory of the two 
 young friends, till a more convenient opportunity. 
 
 In the afternoon before we rofe from table, four 
 ladies came to drink tea with this admirable fociety. 
 No addition was neceflary to render the converfa- 
 tion amufing ; but the Grangers feemed to look on 
 the ladie-s of the houfe with fuch gratitude and ve- 
 neration, and were treated by them with fo much 
 friendly politenefs, as gave me pleafure. I found 
 by the various enquiries after different perfons, that 
 thefe vlfitors likewlfe lived In a large fociety. When 
 they rofe up to take leave, Mrs. Trentham propo- 
 fed to walk part of the way home with them. No 
 one objected to it, for the evening was inviting, 
 and they had defigned to fpend it in the park, 
 through which thefe Ladies were to pafs ; for Lady 
 Mary obferved, that * after having {hewn us the 
 
 * beauties of the place, they ought to exhibit the 
 
 * riches of it.' 
 
 The park is clofe to one fide of the houfe ; it is 
 not quite three miles round ; the inequality of ths 
 ground much increafes its beauty, and the timber 
 is remarkably fine. We could plainly perceive it 
 had been many years in the pofTellion of good eeco- 
 nomifls, who unprompted by neceility, did not 
 think the profit that might arife from the fale, a 
 
 £ fufficieiit 
 
74 The History of 
 
 fufncient inducement to deprive it of feme fine 
 trtts^ which are now decaying, but To happily- 
 placed, that they are made more venerable, and 
 riot lefs beautiful by their declining age. This 
 park is much ornamented by two or three fine 
 pieces of water ; one of them is a very noble ca- 
 nal, fo artfully terminated by an elegant bridge, 
 beyond which is a wood, that it there appears lijce a 
 fine river vanifhing from the eye. 
 
 Mrs. Morgan flopped us in one fpot, faying, 
 from hence, as Lady Mary obferved, you may 
 behold our riches, that building, (pointing to 
 what we thought a pretty temple) which perhaps 
 you imagine defigned only for ornament or plea- 
 sure, is a very large pidgeon houfe, that afxords a 
 fuMicicnt fupply to our family, and many of our 
 neighbours. That hill on your right-hand is a 
 warren, pro'ligioudy flocked with rabbits j this 
 canal, and thcfe other pieces of water, as well 
 as the river vou faw this morning, furnifli our 
 table with a great profufion of fifli. You will 
 cafiiy believe from the great number of deer you 
 fee around us, that we have as much venifon as 
 we can ufe, either in prefents to our friends, or 
 our own family. Hares, and all forts of game 
 likewife abound here ; fo that with the help of a 
 good dairy, perliaps nofitnation ever more amply 
 afforded all the necefiaries of life, Thefe are in- 
 deed our richer ; here we have almoft every thing 
 we can want, for a very fmall proportion of that 
 expenc'e which others are at to procure them. 
 ' Such a fituation, faid I, would be dangerous 
 to many people, for if, as fome have fuppofed, 
 and, in regard to a great part of the Vv'orld, I 
 fear with truth, mutual v/ants are the great bands 
 of fociety, a perfon thus placed, v/ould be in 
 danger of ft-eling hirafelf fo independant a being, 
 
 ' as 
 
Mifs Mancel and Mrs. Morgan. 75; 
 
 as might tempt him to difclaim all commerce 
 with mankind, fmce he could not be benefitted 
 by them. He would look on himfelf in the light of 
 a rich man gaming with fharpers, with a great 
 probability of lofmg, and a certainty of never be- 
 ing a gainer.* 
 
 ' I do not think the danger, replied Lady Mary^ 
 fo great as you imagine, even though we allow 
 that fociety arifes from the motive you mention* 
 However fortune may have fet us above any bo- 
 dily wants, the mind will RiU have many which 
 would drive us into fociety. Reafon wifhes for 
 communication and improvement ; benevolence 
 longs for objefts on which to exert itfelf ; the fo- 
 cial comforts of friendship are fo neceflary to our 
 happinefs, that it would be impoffible not to en- 
 deavour to enjoy them. In ficknefs the langour 
 of our minds makes us wifli for the amufements 
 of converfation ; in health the vivacity of our 
 fpirits leads us to defire it. To avoid pain we 
 feek after corporeal conveniencies, to procure 
 pleafure we aim at mental enjoyments ; and I be- 
 lieve, if we obferve the general courfe of men's 
 a(Sl:ions, we fhall fee them at leaft as flrongly ac- 
 tuated by the defne of pleafure, as by the fear 
 of pain ; though philofophers, who have formed 
 their judgments more on reafon than the knov/- 
 lege of mankind, may have thought otherwife.' 
 ' I think, faid Mrs. Selvyn, fomebody has af- 
 ferted, that he who could live witlwut focietv 
 muft be more than a God, or lefs than a man^; 
 the latter part of this aflertion would have held 
 good had he carried it farther, and faid lower 
 than a brute, for there is no creature in the uni- 
 verfe that is not linked into fome fociety, except 
 we allow the exiftence of that exploded and un- 
 fociable bird the Phcienix.* 
 
 £ 2 « lam 
 
^5 The History of 
 
 ' I am furprized, interrupted Lamont, to hear 
 Ladies, who fcclude themfclves from the world 
 in this foiitary though beautiful place, fo ftrong- 
 \y plead for fociety.' 
 
 *- Do you then, replied Mrs. Mancel, miftake a 
 croud for fociety ? I know not two things more 
 oppofitc. How little fociety is there to be found 
 in what you call the world ? It might more pro- 
 perly be compared to that flate of war, which 
 Hobbes fuppofes the firft condition of mankind. 
 The fame vanities, the fame pafTions, the fame 
 ambition, reign in almoft every breafi: ; a con- 
 ftant defire to fupplant, and a continual fear of 
 being fupplanted, keep the minds of thofe who 
 have any views at all in a flate of unremitted 
 tumult and envy ; and thofe who have no aim in 
 their a6lions are too irrational to have a notion 
 of focial comforts. The love, as well as the 
 pleafures of fociety, is founded in reafon, and can- 
 not exift in thofe minds which are filled with irra- 
 tional purfuits. Such indeed might claim a place 
 in the fociety of birds and beafts, though few 
 would deferve to be admitted amongft them, but 
 that of reafonable beings mufl be founded in rea- 
 fon. What I underftand by fociety is a flate of 
 mutual confidence, reciprocal fervices, and corref- 
 pondent affe^iions j where numbers are thus uni- 
 ted, there will be a free communication of fenti- 
 ments, and we fliall then find fpecch, that pecu- 
 liar bleiling given to man, a valuable gift indeed ; 
 but when Vv'e fee it reflrained by (ufpicion, or 
 contaminated by detradVion, we rather wonder 
 that fo dangerous a power was trufled with a 
 race of beings, v/ho feldom make a proper ufe of 
 it. 
 
 ' You will pity us perhaps bccaufe we have no 
 cards, no aflemblies, no plays, no mafqucrades, 
 
 * in 
 
Mifs Mancel and Mrs. Morgan. 77 
 
 in this folitary plape. The firft we might have it 
 we chofc it, nor are they totally difclaimed by us ; 
 but while we can with fafety fpeak our own 
 thoughts, and with pleafure read thofe of wifer 
 perfons, we are not likely to be often reduced to 
 them* We wifh net for large afTemblies, becaufe 
 we do not defire to drown converfation in noife ; 
 the amufing iitSlions of dramatic writers are not 
 neceflary where nature affords us fo many real dcr 
 lights ', and as we are not affaid of fhewing our 
 hearts, we have no occafion to conceal our per- 
 fons, in order to obtain either liberty of fpeech or 
 allien,' 
 
 ' What a ferious world fhould we have, madam, 
 replied Lamont, if you were to regulate our con- 
 duaf 
 
 * By no means, fir, anfwered Mrs. Mancel, I 
 wifh to make only thefe alterations, to change 
 noife for real mirth, flutter for fettled chearfulnefs, 
 afFe£ied wit for rational converfation ; and would 
 but have that degree of diffipationbaniftied, which 
 deprives people of time for reflection on the mo- 
 tives for, and confequcnces of, their adtions, that 
 their pleafures may be real and permament, and 
 followed neither by repentance nor punifhment, 
 I wouid wifh them to have leifure to confider by 
 whom they were fent into the world, and for 
 what purpofe, and to learn, that their happinefs 
 confifts in fuliiUing the defign of their Maker, in 
 providing for their own greateft felicity, and 
 contributing all that is in their power to the 
 convenience of others.' 
 
 * You feem, madam, anfwered Lamont, to 
 choofe to make us all flaves to each other ? 
 
 ' No, fir, replied Mrs. Mancel, I would only 
 make you friends. Thofe who are really fuch 
 ^re continually endeavourino- to ferve and oblige 
 
 E 3 < each 
 
7^ TheHistoryof 
 
 * each other ; this reciprocal communication ofbe- 
 
 * nefits fliould be univerfal, and then wg might 
 
 * with reafon be fond of this world.' 
 
 ' But, faid Lamont, this reciprocal communi- 
 ' cation is impolTible ; what fcrvice can a poor mtiii 
 ' do me ? I may relieve him, but how can he re- 
 
 * turn the obligation ? ' 
 
 ' It is he, anfwered Mrs. Mancel, who firft con- 
 ' ferred it, in giving you an opportunity of reliev- 
 ' ing him. 7 he pleafure he has afforded you, is 
 ' as far fuperior lo the gratification you have pro- 
 
 * cured him i as it is more bleffed to give than to 
 
 * receive. You will perhaps fay of him, as the 
 
 * apothecary in Romeo and Juliet does of himfelf^ 
 f and tjjll jr*e that, 
 
 *' His poverty and not his will confents.'* 
 
 * So let it be, aixd do jou 
 
 " Pay his poverty and not his will/* 
 
 * But certainly the higheft. fatisfa6lion is on your 
 
 * fide, and much obliged you are to that poverty, 
 
 * which enables you to obtain fo great a gratifica- 
 
 * tion. But do not think the poor can make no ade- 
 ' quate return. The greateil pleafure this world 
 
 * can give us is that of being beloved, but how 
 
 * fhould we expedt to obtain love without deferving 
 
 * it ? Did you ever fee any one that was not fond 
 
 * of a dog that fondled him ? Is it then poflible to 
 ' be infenfible to the affedion of a rational be- 
 ' ing ? * 
 
 ' If Mr. Lamont, faid one of the vifitors, has 
 < not fo high a fenfe of the pleafure of being grate- 
 
 * fully loved and cflcemed, we ought not to blame 
 « him 3 he, perhaps, like the greateft part of the 
 
 ' world. 
 
Mifs Mancel and Mrs, Morgan. 79 
 
 * world, has not fufficiently tried it, to be a pro- 
 
 * per judge ; Mrs. Mancel is certainly Very deep in 
 
 * this knowledge, and her opinion maybe received 
 
 * as almoft an infallible decifion, fuice it is found- 
 
 * ed on long experience ; and how nobly does (he 
 
 * calm the eager wifhes of impotent gratitude, in 
 
 * declaring herfelf to be the moft benefitted when 
 
 * fhc confers obligations.' 
 
 This was uttered with fo much warmth,- nnd 
 accompanied by looks fo expreffive of affection and 
 grateful fenfibility, that I plainly faw it proceeded 
 from fomething more than mere fpeculative appro- 
 bation. Lament declared, that ' he was well con- 
 
 * vinced of the juffnefs of what Mrs. Mancel had faid ; 
 *• at flrft it appeared rather a fentiment uttered in 
 
 * fport, than an opinion which could be proved by 
 
 * argument; but that a little reflexion on ones own 
 
 * fenfations, would afford fufficient convidlion of 
 
 * the truth of her ailertion, and that the o-eneral 
 
 * errors in the condu6i; of mankind plainly evinced 
 
 * they were of the fame opinion, though they of- 
 ' ten miftook the means ; for what, continued he, 
 ' do people ruin themfelves by pomp and fplendor, 
 
 * hazard their lives in the purfuits of ambition, 
 ' and, as Shakefpear fa3^s, 
 
 " Seek the bubble reputation even in the can* 
 *' non's mouth ;" 
 
 ' But to gain popular applaufe and efteem ? For 
 ' what do others throw away their time in ufelefs 
 ' civilities, and politely flatter all they meet, but 
 ' in hopes of pleafmg? Even thofe who make it 
 ' their bufmefs to flander merit, and exao-crerate 
 ' the faults of others, do it from a defire of raifing 
 
 * themfelves in the opinion of mankind, by low- 
 
 ^4 ' ering: 
 
So TheHistort of 
 
 ' ering thofe who may be brought into comparifon 
 * with then:.' 
 
 During this converfatlon we had advanced with- 
 in a field of the houlb, and the ladies flopped to 
 take their leave, faying, ' as the evening was too 
 ' far advanced to fuffer them to make any Hay with 
 ' their gooj friends, they would not difturb them 
 ' by jult entering their doors.' But as fome parley 
 tnuicd, feveral ladies v^'ho had {ttn us from the 
 windows ran out, jufr to pay their compliments 
 to the v.orthy inhabitants of Millenium - Halh 
 The pleafure of this fhort meeting feemed recipro- 
 cal, and both fides appeared unv/illing to part, hut 
 the fetting fun admonifhcd us to return. 
 
 The houfe to which we had fo nearly approached 
 was a very laroe old manfion, and its inhabitants 
 fo numerous, that I was curious to know how fo 
 many became aflembled together. Mrs. Maynard 
 faid, that ' if fhe did not fatisfy my inquiries, I 
 ' was in great danger of remaining ignorant of the 
 *■ nature of that fociety, as her friends would not 
 
 * be cafily prevailed with to break filence on that 
 V fubjca. 
 
 * Thefe ladies, faid fhe, long beheld with com- 
 ' pad'on the wretched fate of thofe women, who 
 ' from fcantinefs of fortune, and pride of family, 
 ' are reduced to become dependant, and to bear all 
 *■ the infolence of wealth, from fuch as will receive 
 ' them into their families ; thcfe, though in fome 
 ' meafure voluntary flaves, yet fufFer all the evils 
 ' of the fevereft fervitude, and are, I believe, the 
 
 * moft unhappy part of the creation. Sometimes 
 ' they are unqualified to gain a maintenance, edu- 
 ' cated as is called, genteelly, or in other words 
 ' idly, they are ignorant of every thing that might 
 
 * give them fuperior abilities to the lower rank of 
 ' people, and their birth r&nders them lefs accept- 
 
 * able 
 
Mifs Mangel and Mrs. Morgan. 8i 
 
 ' able fervants to many, who have not generofity 
 
 * enough to treat them as they ought, and yet do 
 ' not choofe while they are z6\ing the miilrefs, 
 ' perhaps too haughtily, to feel the fecret reproach- 
 
 * es of their own hearts. Po/Iibly pride may ftill 
 ' oftener reduce thefe indigent gentlewomen into 
 
 * this wretched flate of dependance, and therefore 
 « the world is lefs inclined to pity them ; but my 
 ' friends fee human wcaknefs in another lidit. 
 
 * They imagine themfelves too far from perfec- 
 
 * tion to have any title to expe6l it in others, and 
 
 * think, that there are none in whom pride is fo ex- 
 
 * cufable as in the poor ; for if there is the fmallcft 
 
 * fpark of it in their compofitions, and who is en- 
 '- tirely free from it, the frequent neglects and in- 
 « dignities they meet with muft keep it continually 
 
 * alive. If we are defpifed for cafual deficiencies, 
 ' we naturally feek in ourfelves for fome merit, to 
 ' reflore us to that dignity in our own eyes, which 
 
 * thofe humiliating mortifications would otherwife 
 ' debafe. Thus we learn to fet too great a value 
 
 * on what we ftill poffefs, whether advantages of 
 
 * birth, education, or natural talents ; any thing 
 ' will ferve for a refource to mortified pride j and 
 
 * as every thing grows by oppofitioii and perfecu- 
 
 * tion, we cannot wonder, if the opinion of our- 
 
 * feives increafes by the fame means. 
 
 * To perfons in this way of thinking, the prid$ 
 < which reduces many to be, what is called with too 
 
 * little humanity, toad-eaters, does not render them 
 « unworthy of compaiTion. Therefore for the re- 
 
 * lief of this race they bought that large manfion. 
 
 * They drew up feveral regulations, to fecure the 
 
 * peace and good order of the fociety they defigned 
 
 * to form, and fending a copy of it to all their ac- 
 ' quaintance, told them, that any " gentleman's 
 
 * daughter, whofe charader was unblemillied, 
 
 E 5 might. 
 
82 TheHistor\^of 
 
 * might, if fhe defired it, on thofe terms be received 
 
 * into that fociety.' 
 
 I begged, if it was not too much trouble, to know 
 "what the regulations were. 
 
 * The firit rule, continued Mrs. Maynard, was, 
 
 * that whoever chofe to take the benefit of this 
 ■* afylum, for fuch I may juftly call it, fliould 
 
 * depofite, in the hands of a perfon appointed for 
 
 * that purpofe, whatever fortune fhe was miftrefs 
 
 * of, the fecurity being approved by her and her 
 
 * friends, and remaining in her polTeflion. VVhen- 
 ■* ever (he leaves the fociety, her fortune fhould be 
 
 * repaid her, the interell in the mean time being 
 
 * appropriated to the ufe of the community. The 
 
 * great defign of this was to preferve an exaft 
 
 * equality between them ; for it was not expe6i:ed, 
 
 * that the intereft of any of their fortunes fhould 
 
 * pay the allowance they were to have for their 
 
 * cloaths. If any appeared to have fecreted part of 
 
 * her fortune fhe fliould be expelled the fociety. 
 
 * Secondly, Each perfon to have a bed-chamber to 
 
 * herfelf, but the eating -parlour and drawing-room 
 
 * in common. 
 
 ' Thirdly, All things for rational amufement 
 ' fhali be provided for the fociety; mufical inllru- 
 
 * ments, of whatever fort they (hall chufe, books, 
 ^ tents for v;ork, and in fhort conveniences for every 
 
 * kind of employment. 
 
 * Fourthly, They muR conform to very regular 
 
 * hours. 
 
 ' Fifthly, An houfe -keeper will be appointed to 
 
 * manage the houfehold affairs, and a fufficient 
 ' number of fervants provided. 
 
 * Sixthly, Each perfon fhall alternately, a week 
 
 * at a time, prefide at the table, and give what fa- 
 
 * mily orders may be requifitc. 
 
 * Seventhly, Twenty five-pounds a year fhall be 
 
 ' allowed 
 
Mifs Mangel and Mrs. Morgan. 8 -^ 
 
 allowed to each perfon for her cloaths and pocket 
 cxpences. 
 
 < Eighthly, Their drefs fliall be quite plain and 
 neat, but not particular nor uniform. 
 ' Ninthly, The expences of ficknefs fliall be dif- 
 charged by the patronefTes of this fociety. 
 * Tenthly, If any one of the ladies behaves with 
 imprudence flie fhall be difmifled, and her fortune- 
 returned ; iikewife if any fhould by turbulence or 
 pettiihnefs of temper, difturb the fociety, it fliall 
 be in the power of the reft of them to expel 
 her; a majority of three parts of the community 
 being for the expulfion, and this to be performed 
 by baliotting. 
 
 ' Eleventhly, A good table and every thing fu it- 
 able to the convenience of a gentlewoman, fhall 
 be provided. 
 
 ' Thefe were the principal articles ; and in lefs 
 than two months a dozen pcrfons of different a(;e3 
 were eflablifhed in the houfe, who feemed tho- 
 roughly delighted with their fituation. At the 
 requeft of one of them, who had a friend that 
 wiflied to be admitted, an order was foon added, 
 by the confent of all, that gave leave for any 
 perfon who would conform exat^llj to the rules 
 of the houfe, to board there for fuch leno-th of 
 time, as fhould be agreeable to herfelf and the 
 fociety, for the price of an hundred pounds 
 a year, fifty for any child fhe might have, twenty 
 for a maid-fervant, and thirty for a man. 
 ' The number of this fociety is now increafed to 
 thirty, four ladies board there, one of whom 
 has two children, and there are five young 
 ladies, the ekleft not above twelve years old, 
 whofe mothers being dead,, and their families 
 related to fome of the fociety, their kinTwomcn 
 have undertaken thdr education > Uiefe Ukewite 
 
 E 6 ' pay 
 
^4 The History of 
 
 pay an hundred pounds a year each. It has 
 frequently happened, that widow ladies have 
 come into this fociety, till their year of deep 
 mourning was expired. 
 
 ' With thefe aiTiltances the fociety now fubfifts 
 with the utmolt plenty and convenience, without 
 any additional expence to my good friends, ex- 
 cept a communication of what this park affords ; 
 as our fteward provides them with every thing, 
 and has the entire direction of the houfehold 
 affairs, which he executes with the moft fenfible 
 ceconomy.' 
 
 * 1 ihould imagine, faid I, it were very difficult to 
 preferve a comfortable harmony am.ong fo many 
 perfons, and confequently fuch variety of tem- 
 pers ?* 
 
 * Certainly, anfwered Mrs, Maynard, it is not 
 without its difficulties. P'or the firft year of this 
 eftabliftiment my friends dedicated molt of their 
 time and attention to this new community, who 
 were every day either at the hall, or thefe ladies 
 with them, endeavouring to cultivate in this 
 fifferhood that fort of difpofition which is moft 
 produ6iive of peace. By their example and 
 fuggeilions, (for it is difficult to give unreferved 
 advice where you may be fufpecled of a defign to 
 dictate) by their examples and fuggeftions there- 
 fore, they hd them to induftry, and fhewed it 
 to be neceffary to all ftations, as the bails of 
 almoft every virtue. An idle mind, like fallow 
 ground, is the foil for every weed to grow In ; in 
 it vice ftrengthens, the feed of every vanity 
 flourifhes unmoleffed and luxuriant; difcontent, 
 malignity, ill humour, fpread far and wide, and the 
 mind becomes a chaos, which it is beyond hu- 
 man power to call into order and beauty. This 
 therefore my good friends laboured to expel from 
 
 ^ their 
 
Mifs Mancel and Mrs. Morgan. 85 
 
 their infant eftablifhment. They taught them 
 that it was the duty of every perfon to be of fer- 
 vice to others. That thofe whofe hands and 
 minds were by the favours of fortune exempt 
 from the neceflity of labouring for their own fup- 
 port, ought to be employed for fuch as arq defti- 
 tute of thefe advantages. They got this fiflerhood 
 to join with them in working for the poor people, 
 in vifiting, in admonifhing, in teaching them 
 wherever their fituations required thefe fe.rvices. 
 Where they found that any of thefe ladies had a 
 tafte for gardening, drawing, mufic, reading, 
 or any manual or mental art, they cultivated it, 
 aflifted them in the pleafanteft means, and by va- 
 rious little fchemes have kept up thefe inclinations 
 with all the fpirit of purfuit, which is requifite to 
 preferve moft minds from that Hate of languidnefs 
 and inactivity, whereby life is rendered wearifome 
 to thofe who have never found it unfortunate. 
 ' By fome regulations made as occafions occurred, 
 all burdenfome forms are expelled. 7'he whole 
 fociety indeed muft affemble at morning and 
 evening prayers, and at meals, if ficknefs does 
 not prevent, but every other ceremonious depen- 
 dancc is banifhed ; they form into different 
 parties of amufement as bcft fuit their inclina- 
 tions, and fometimes when we go to fpend the 
 afternoon there, we fhall find a party at cards in 
 one room, in another fome at work, while one is 
 reading aloud, and in a feparate chamber a fet 
 joining in a little concert, though none of them 
 are great proficients in mufic ; while two or three 
 fhall be retired into their own rooms, fome^ go 
 out to take the air, for it has.feldom happened 
 to them to have lefs than two boarders at a time 
 who each keep an equipage ; while others fhall be 
 amufing themfelves in the garden, or walking in 
 
 • the 
 
86 The Historyof 
 
 the very pleafant meadows which furround their 
 houfe. 
 
 ' As no one is obliged to ftay a minute longer in 
 company than (he chufes, fhe naturally retires 
 as foon as it grows difpleafmg to her, and does 
 not return till fhe is prompted by inclination, and 
 confquently well difpofed to amufe and be amufed. 
 They live in the very ftrid pra6tice of all religions 
 duties; and it is not to be imagined how much 
 good theyhave done in the neighbourhood j how 
 much by their care the manners of the poorer 
 people are reformed, and their necefTities relieved, 
 though v/ithout the didribution of much money j 
 I fay much, becaufe, fmall as their incomes are, 
 there are many who impart out of that little to 
 thofe who have much lefs. 
 
 * Their vifits to us are frequent, and we are on 
 fuch a footing, that they never impede any of our 
 employments. My friends always infiiled when 
 thev waited on the community, that not one of 
 the' fifterhood fhould difcontinue v/hatever they 
 found her engaged in ; this gave them the hint 
 to do the fame by us, and it is a rule, that no 
 book is thrown afide, no pen laid down at their 
 entrance. There are always fome of us manually 
 employed, who are at leifure to converfe, and 
 if the vlfit is not very fliort, part of it is generally 
 fpent in hearing one of the girls read aloud, who 
 take it by turns through a great part of the day ; 
 the only' difference made for this addition to th« 
 company is a change of books, that they may 
 not hear only part of a fubjetSt, and begin by a 
 broken thread. Thus they give no interruption, 
 and therefore neither trouble us, nor are them- 
 felves fcrupulous about coming, fo that few days 
 pafs without our feeing fome of theiii> though fro- 
 
 ' q^uently 
 
Mifs Mancel and Mrs. Morgan. $y 
 
 quently only time enough to accompany us in 
 our walks, or partake of our mufic' 
 ' Have you not, faid Lamont, been obliged to 
 expel many from the community ? Since you do 
 not allow petulancy of temper, nor any light- 
 nefs of condu6l, 1 fhould expe6t a continual 
 revolution.' 
 
 ' By no means, anfwered Mrs. Maynard, fmce 
 the eftablifhment of the community, there has 
 been but one expelled ; and one finding fhe was 
 in danger of incurring the fame fentence, and I 
 believe inwardly difgufted with a country life, 
 retired of her own free choice. Some more have 
 rendered themfelves fo difagreeable, that the 
 queftion has been put to the ballot ; but the fear 
 of being difmifTed made them fo diligent to get 
 the majority on their fide, before the hour ap- 
 pointed fordecifion arrived, that it has been de- 
 termined in their favour, and the earned defire 
 not to be brought into the fame hazard ao;aln, 
 has induced them to mend their tempers, and 
 fome of thefe are now the mod amiable people 
 in the whole community. 
 
 * As for levity of conduiSt they are pretty 
 well fecured from it, by being expofcd to few 
 temptations in this retired place. 
 ' Some, as in the courfe of nature mufi: happen, 
 have died, and moft of them bequeathed what 
 little they had towards conlHtuting a fund for the 
 continuation of the community. More of them 
 have married j fome to perfons who knew them 
 before, others to gentlemen in the neighbourhood, 
 or fuch as happened to come into it -, to 
 whom their admirable conduct recommended 
 them.' 
 
 I could 
 
88 The History of 
 
 I could not help exclaiming, ' In what a hea- 
 ven do you live, thus furrounded by people who 
 owe all their happinefs to your goodnefs 1 This 
 is, indeed, imitating your Creator, and in fuch 
 proportion as your faculties will admit, partaking 
 of his felicity, fincc you can no where cafl your 
 eyes, without beholding numbers who derive 
 every earthly good from your bounty, and are 
 indebted to your care and example for a reafon- 
 able hope of eternal happjnefs.' 
 ' I will not, faid Mrs. Maynard, give up my 
 (hare of the felicity you fo juftly imagine thefe 
 ladies mult enjoy, though I have no part in what 
 occafions ir. When I reflect on all the blelTjngs 
 they impart, and fee how happinefs flowsj as it 
 were, in an uninterrupted current from their 
 hands and lips, I am overwhelmed with grati- 
 tude to the Almighty difpofer of my fate, for 
 having (o mercifully thrown me into fuch a 
 fcene of felicity, where every hour yields true 
 heart-felt joy, and fills me with thankfgivings to 
 Him, who enables tbem thus to difpenfe innu- 
 merable bleffings, and To greatly rewards them 
 already by the joyful confcioufnefs of having 
 obeyed him.' 
 The Ladies at this time were at too great a 
 diftance to hear our converfation 5 for not chufing 
 to be prefent while their a6lions were the fubjedts" 
 of difcourfe, they had gradually ftrayed from iis. 
 Upon enquiring of my coufm, whether the perfons 
 in the large community we had been talking of 
 brought any fortunes with them, {he told me that 
 
 * mofl of them had a trifle, fome not more than 
 ' an hundred pounds. That in general the ladies 
 
 * chofe to admit thofe who had leaft, as their ne- 
 
 * ceflities were greateft, except where fome parti- 
 
 * cular circumftances rendered prote6lion more re- 
 
 * quifite 
 
Mifs Mangel and Mrs. Morgan. 89 
 
 * quifite to others. That the houfe not being 
 ' large enough to contain more than were already 
 ' eftabliflied in it, they have been obliged to refufe 
 « admiiTxon to many, and efpecially fome young 
 ' women of near two thoufand pounds fortune, 
 
 * the expenfive turn of the world now being fuch, 
 ' that no gentlewoman can live genteelly on the 
 *= intercfl of that fum, and they prefer this Society 
 
 * to a retirement in a country tovvn. Some who 
 ' wifhcd to board, have likewife been refufed. As 
 *^ the expenccs of the firft community, fall fo fat 
 
 * fhort of their expe6lation, -and the fums appro- 
 
 * priated for that puipofe, they determined to haz-^ 
 
 * ard another of the fame kind, and havejuft con- 
 
 * eluded a treaty for a ftill larger manfion, at about 
 
 * three miles uiflance, and by the perfons now 
 
 * waiting for it, they have reafon to believe it will 
 
 * not be lefs fuccefsful than the other, nor more 
 
 * expenfive ; but (hould they be miftaken in that 
 
 * particular, they have laid afide a fund fufEcient 
 
 * to difchargc it.* Their fcheme I find is to have 
 fome of the ladies down to Millennium Hall, as foon 
 as they have made the purchafe, and there they are 
 to remain, while the necefiary repairs and addition?, 
 are making to the houfe defigned for their habita- 
 tion, which they imagine will not be compleated 
 in lefs than half a year. They hope, by having 
 the firft admitted part of the community thus in 
 the houfe with them for fo long a time, to com- 
 penfate, in a good degree, for the difadvantages 
 of being fettled fo much farther from them. 1 he 
 fifterhood of the other fociety, likewife, in pity 
 to thofe who are expofed to the fame fufFerings 
 from which they have been delivered, have offered 
 to croud themfelves for a few months, to leave va- 
 cant rooms for fome who are deftined to the other 
 houfe, till they can be there ace cm mo da ted. Thele 
 
 alfo 
 
go TheHistoryof 
 
 alfo will be fitted for their new way of life, and 
 taught to aim at the happinefs enjoyed in this com- 
 fnunity, by the fame means that they have attained 
 to it. 
 
 Our fubjedl ended with our walk. Supper wa^ 
 ferved as foon as we entered the houfe, and general 
 converfation concluded the evening. 
 
 Had I not been led by feveral fa6ls to repeat al- 
 ready fo many converfatlons, I fhould be induced 
 not to bury all that pafied at this time in filence ; 
 but though I have talcen the liberty, when the re- 
 lation of fa6b naturally led to it, to communicate 
 fuch difcourfes as were pertinent to the fubje6f, it 
 would be prefuming too far on your time, to re- 
 peat converfations which did not fcrve to iJluftrate 
 any particular adions, however worthy they may 
 be of recolle6tian. I fhall therefore only fay, that 
 it was not with lefs reluctance I retired to my 
 chamber, at the hour of bed-time, than the night 
 before. 
 
 The next morning proved rainy, which |>re- 
 vented me from making any early excurfion-. But 
 as it cleared up about eleven o'clock. Lament and 
 I went into the garden, to enjoy tiie fragrance 
 which every herb and flower exhales at this time of 
 the year, after the defirable refrefhment of gentle 
 (bowers. 1 condu6led him to the flower garden> 
 which had fo much delighted me the morning be- 
 fore ; and we had not paid due admiration to all 
 the vegetable beauties there exhibited to our view, 
 when Mrs. Maynard joined us. 
 
 I told her, ' It v/as but a poor compliment to 
 
 * her converfation, to fay, I longed for her com- 
 
 * pany, fince now my curiofity might occafion that 
 < impatience, which I (hould ncverthelefs have 
 
 * felt, had I not been left in painful fufpencc, by 
 
 'the 
 
IVlifs Mancel and Mrs. Morgan. 91 
 
 < the interruption we had received the day before, 
 ^ in the midft of her narrative.' 
 
 < It would be unnatural, faid fhe, for a woman 
 
 < to quarrel with curiofity ; fo far from complain- 
 * ing of yours, I am come merely with a delign 
 
 to gratify it, and only expeft you will judge of 
 my defire to oblige you, by my readinefs in obey- 
 ing your commands, were I myfelf the fub- 
 jea, the motive for my obedience might be equi- 
 vocal.' 
 
 Mifs MANCEL and Mrs. MORGAN'S 
 Hijiory continued* 
 
 I Think, continued Mrs. Maynard, we left Mifs 
 Melvyn requiring to be confronted by herac- 
 cufer, a requeft which her mother-in-law was not 
 inclined to grant ; for though in her dealings with 
 young Simon, flie had perceived fuch a degree of 
 follicftude for his own intereft, and fuch flagrant 
 proofs of want of integrity, that fhe did not doubt 
 but that by promifmg him the farm, on rather 
 better terms than flie had yet confented to, he 
 might be prevailed with to join fo far in her fcheme, 
 as to aflert any thing to Sir Charles, yet (he dared 
 not venture to produce him face to face to Mifs 
 Melvyn, fearing left his affurance ftiould fail him 
 on fo fcverc a trial. 
 
 She replied, therefore, that, ' the proofs were 
 ' too ftrong to admit of doubt, but fhe could not 
 ' think of expofing Mifs Melvyn to the mortifica- 
 ' tion of hearing her depravity witnefTcd by, per- 
 
 ' haps 
 
92 The History of 
 
 * haps, the laft perfon whom fhe expe£led fhould 
 
 * acknowledge it. Befides, that by fuch an eclat the 
 
 * diferace muft infallibly become public, and (he 
 
 * be ceprived of the only means left her of refcuing 
 
 * her reputation from that infamy, to which, in a 
 
 * very fhort time, it muft have been irrecoverably 
 ' condemned ; for it could not be fuppofed, that Mr. 
 
 * Morgan would accept as his wife a woman with 
 ' a fullied charadler.* 
 
 Mifs Melvyn was almoft dlftra(5l:ed, at being both 
 fo injuFioufiy accufed, and denied the liberty of de- 
 fending herfelf ; fhe begged, file intreated, on her 
 knees, that Sir Charles would not fuffer her to fall 
 a prey to fuch undeferved malice. She aflerted her 
 innocence in the ftrongeft and mofl perfuaiive 
 terms, and inMed fo warmly on her demand of 
 l)eing confronted with her accufers, that her father 
 grew inclined to grant her juft requeft. Lady 
 Melvyn perceiving he began to comply, repeated 
 her refufal in the moft peremptory manner ; and de- 
 claring to Mifs Melvyn, that fhe had no other choice 
 left her, but either to refolve to marry Mr. Mor- 
 gan, or to be expofed to (hame, in being publicly 
 difclaimed by her parents, who would no longer fuf- 
 fer her to remain in their houfe, led Sir Charles out 
 of the room ; and he, though relu£l:ant, dared not 
 refufe to accompany her. 
 
 Mifs Melvyn was now left to refle6i: on this 
 dreadful alternative. Filled with horror at the 
 fhocking condudi: of her mother-in-law, ter- 
 rified with her threats, and fenfible there was no vil- 
 lany {he was not capable of perpetrating, rather 
 than give up a point fhe was thus determined to 
 carry, fhe was incapable of forming any refolution. 
 She ran to her friend, to feek from her that advice 
 and confolation, which her own diftradted thoughts 
 could not afford her. 
 
 Mifs 
 
Mifs Mangel and Mrs. Morgan. 93 
 
 Mifs Mancel was fo ftruck with the terror and 
 amazement which were iVill imprefled on Mifs 
 Alelvyn's countenance, that fhe had not for fome 
 time courage to afk the caufe. Trembling with 
 fears of flie knew not what, fhe embraced her 
 diilrefled friend with an air of fuch tender, though 
 filent fy mpathy, as foftened the horror of Mifs 
 Mclvyn's mind, and brought a fhower of tears to 
 her relief, which at length enabled her to relate all 
 that had palled between her and her parents. 
 I.ouifa found it much eafier to join in her friend's 
 grief than to admiaifter confolation. She knew 
 hot what to advifc) two artlefs, virtuous young 
 women were ill qualified to contend with ladv' 
 Melvyn, efpecially in an affair which could not be 
 rendered public without hazarding Mifs Melvyn's 
 character; for reputation is fo delicate a thing, that 
 the lead lurmize calls a blemifli on it ; the woman 
 who is fufpecSled is difgraced; and though lady 
 Melvyn did not Hand high in the public opinion, yet 
 it was fcarcely poflible for any one to believe fhe 
 could be guilty of fuch flagrant wickednefs. 
 
 Mifs Melvyn had a very flrong diilike to Mr* 
 Morgan, whofe difpofition appeared as ill fuited to 
 lier^s as his age; to enter into wedlock without any 
 profpe^t of fecial happinefs, Teemed to her one of the 
 greateft misfortunes in life ; but what was Hill of 
 more weight in her eftimaiion, {he thought it the 
 higheft injuftice to marry a man whom fhe could 
 not love, as well as a very criminal mockery of the 
 mofl folemn vows. On the other fide fhe con- 
 fidered, that to preferve her reputation was not only 
 necexTary to her own happinefs, but a duty tofociety. 
 
 * It is true, faid fhe, J am not placed in a very 
 
 * confprcuous fphereof life, but I am far from being 
 " of a rank fo obfcure, that my a6lions will affe6l no 
 
 * one but myfeif^ nor indeed do I know any fo low, 
 
 ' but 
 
94 The History or 
 
 but that they have their equals who may copy- 
 after them, if they have no inferiors. The care 
 of our virtue we owe to ourfelves, the preferva- 
 tion of our chara6lers is due to the world, and 
 both are required by Him, who commands us to 
 preferve ourfelves pure and unpolluted, and to 
 contribute as far as we are able to the well-being 
 of all his creatures. Example is the means given 
 univerfally to all whereby to benefit fociety. I 
 therefore look on it as one of cur principal duties, 
 to avoid every imputation of evil ; for vice ap- 
 pears more or lefs hateful, as it becomes more or 
 lefs familiar. Every vicious perfon abates the 
 horror which it fhould naturally excite in a vir- 
 tuous mind. There is nothing fo odious, to v/hich 
 cuftom will not in fome degree reconcile us j can 
 we expe6l then, that vice, which is not without 
 its allurements, fhould alone retain all its defor- 
 mity, when we are familiarized to its appear- 
 ance. I (hould never therefore efteem myfelf in-, 
 nocent, however pure my adions, if I incurred 
 the reputation of being otherwife, when it was in 
 my power to avoid it. With this way of think- 
 ing, my Louifa, ynu may imagine that I might 
 be brought to believe it my duty to facrifice my 
 cafe of mind, to the prefervation of my charac- 
 ter ; but in my cafe, there is no choice ; I mull 
 either add to the contamination of a very profli- 
 gate world, or, in the face of Heaven, enter into 
 the moft folemn vows to love a man, v/hom the 
 m.cft I can do, is not to hate. This is wilful 
 perjury. In fuch an alternative duty cannot dire<fl 
 me, and mifery muft follow my decifion, let me 
 determine as i will.' 
 In this irrefolution, Mifs Melvyn left her friend, 
 but the vent fhe had given to her grief had greatly 
 calmed her fpirits, ajid rellored her to the power of 
 
 reflexion, 
 
Mifs Manc£l and Mrs. Morgan. 95 
 
 reflexion. At her entrance into the houfe, fhe met 
 Lady Mclvyn, who with a very ftern countenance^ 
 ordered her to go and entertain Mr. Morgan, who 
 waited for her in the parlour. She found him alone, 
 and as he began to renew his addreffes, which a 
 repulfe from her had not difcouraged, fuice he hop- 
 ed to fucceed by the influence her parents had over 
 her, fhc immediately formed the refolution of en- 
 deavouring to make him relinquifh his pretenfions, 
 iji hopes, that if the refufal came from him, he 
 might become the obje6t of her mother's indigna- 
 tion, and her perfecution might drop, at leall for a 
 time. She therefore frankly told him, that ' Tho* 
 
 * her afFe<5lions were intirely difengaged, yet he 
 ' was fo very repugnant to them, that it was im- 
 < poffible ihe fhould ever ieel that regard for him, 
 ' which he had a right to expe6l from his wife; 
 
 * and therefore intreated him, in confideration of 
 ' his own happinefs, if hcr's were indifferent to 
 ' him, not to perfift in a purfuit, which, if fuccefs- 
 ' ful, could not anfwer his hopes, nor reduce her 
 ' to render lierfelf wretched by becoming his wife, 
 
 * or to exafperate her parents by refufing him.' 
 She then added all her heart could xuggell to flatter 
 him into compliance with this requeft. 
 
 Mr. Morgan's foible v/as not an excefs of deli- 
 cacy ; he told her plainly, ' He admired her elo- 
 ^ quenc2 prodigioufly, but that there was more rhe- 
 
 * toric in her beauty, than any compofition of 
 ^ words could contain ; v/hirh pleading in diredl 
 ' contradiction to all fhe had faid, Pac muft excufe 
 
 * him, if he was influenced by the more pow- 
 
 * erful oratory of her charms ; and her good 
 ' knk and unexceptionable conduit convinced 
 ' him, that when it became her duty to love him, 
 ' Ihe would no longer remain indifferent,' 
 
 All 
 
gG The History of 
 
 All Mifs. Melvyn could urge to fhew him this 
 was but a very poor dependance, had no fort of 
 weight, and he parted from her only more deter- 
 mined to haften the conclufion of their marriage. 
 
 Lady Melvyn had not been idle all this time ; 
 fhe had prevailed on young Simon to acquiefce in 
 the queilions fhe put to him before Sir Charles, ei- 
 ther by giving fhort anfwers, or by down caft eyes, 
 which fignified aflent. With this Sir Charles ac- 
 quainted Mifs Melvyn, and infifled on her not 
 thinking of expofing herfelf to the indignity of 
 having the whole affair difcuffcd in her prefence. 
 All the indignation thatuiideferved calumny can ex- 
 cite in an innocent mind, could not have enabled 
 Mifs Melvyn to bear being charged before fo low 
 a creature, with a paflion for him, and ftill lefs to 
 have heard the fuborned wretch pretend to con- 
 fefs it. She therefore found no difficulty in obey- 
 ing her father in that particular, and rather chofe 
 to fubmit to. the imputation, tlian to undergo the 
 fhame which fhe mull have fuffered in endeavour- 
 ing to confute it. She attempted to perfuade Sir 
 Charles, ' To permit her to flay in the houfe under 
 
 * v/hat rcllri(Slions he and his lady fhould think pro- 
 ^ per, till her conduAl fhould fufficiently convince 
 
 * him of her innocer/:., and not to force her into 
 
 * a hated marriage, cr unjuflly expofe her to dif- 
 ' Q-race and infamv.' Her tears and intreaties 
 would foon have foftened his heart ; and as far as 
 he dared, he fhewed an inclination to comply v/ith 
 fo reafonable a propofal ; but his lady eafily obliged 
 him to retra(5l, and to deprive Mifs Melvyn of all 
 hopes of any mi igation of the fentence already 
 pronounced againfl her. 
 
 Could {he without the Jofs of reputation have fled 
 to'a remote part of the kingdom, and have hid her- 
 felf in fome obfcure cottage, though reduced to 
 
 labour 
 
Mifs Mancel and Mrs. Morgan. 97 
 
 labour for a fubfiftcnce, (he would have thought it 
 a ftate far more eligible than becoming Mr. Mor- 
 gan's wife ; but if flie thus turned fugitive and 
 wanderer, in what light could fhe expe6t to be feert 
 by the world ; efpecially, as Lady Melvyn would 
 infallibly, to remove any blame from herfelf^ be 
 liberal In her afperfions ? Where flie fhould be un- 
 known, whatever difgrace might be affixed to her 
 name, (he herfelf might efcape cenfure j but yet flic 
 would not be lefs guilty of a violation of her dut/ 
 to focIe(y, fince fhe muft appear very culpable to 
 thofe who knew her, and contribute to the de- 
 pravity of others, as far as was in her power, by an 
 example, which her motives being unknown, would 
 . appear a very bad one. 
 
 This confideration determined her to facrificc 
 her peace to her charadlerj for by having told Mr, 
 Morgan the true ftate of her heart, (he had acquit- 
 ted herfelf from any charge of attempting, by the 
 gift of her hand, to deceive him into a belief that 
 he was the obje61: of her affections. She dill had 
 fcruples about entering into the matrimonial ftate, 
 on motives fo different from thofe which ought 
 to influence every pne in an union of that kind: 
 thefe were not to be removed, but fhe imagined. 
 this might in fome meafure be excufed, as the leall 
 culpable part fhe could a<Sl ', and fnicc m.an was 
 herein neither her judge nor accuier, {lie hoped the 
 integrity of her mind would be received as fome 
 alleviation of a fault fhe was thus forced to com- 
 mit, fince fliC was determined in the flritSleft rnan- 
 ner to adhere to every duty of her fiation. 
 
 Having formed this rcfolution, flie v/jnt to con- 
 fult her friend upon it, Vv'ho v/as a perfon lefs per- 
 plexed, though fcarcely lefs concerned, as their 
 afFedions were fo'" {lronf>]y united, that onci 
 could not fufi'er without the otliei'* feeling equal 
 
 F " pain. 
 
c 
 
 o3 The His r o r y of 
 
 pain, might poflibly be a calmer judge in fo delicate 
 a point. Louifa fubfcribed to her friend's fenti- 
 ments on the occafion, only ' defired her to con- 
 
 * fider v/ell, whether fhe fhould be able to bear all 
 *- the trials (lie might meet with in the married 
 ' rtate, when ihc was entirely indifferent to her 
 
 < hufband.' 
 
 ' My profpetEl:, faid Mifs Melvyn, I am fenfible 
 
 < is extremely melancholy. All inclination mull 
 nov/ be laid afide, and duty muft become my folc 
 
 « guide and dire(Si:or. Happinefs is beyond my 
 
 < view ; I cannot even hope for eafc, fince I mud: 
 
 * keep a conflant reitraint on my very thoughts. 
 
 < Indifference will become criminal ; and if I can- 
 
 * not conquer it, to conceal it at lead will be a 
 
 < duty. I have learnt to fuffer, but was never yet 
 ' taught difguife and hypocrify ; herein will confifl 
 
 < my greateft difficulty ; I abhor deceit, and yet 
 c mu{t not fliew the real fentiments of my heart. 
 ' Linked in fociety with a man I cannot love, the 
 ' world can afford me no pleafure, indeed no com- 
 
 * fort, for I am infenfible to all joy but what arifes 
 
 * from the focial affections. 'I he grave, I confefs, 
 
 * appears to me far more eligible than this marri- 
 
 < ajre, fori might there hope to be at peace. Mr. 
 
 < Moro-an's fortune is lara;c, but his mind is nar- 
 ' row and ungenerous, and his temper plainly not 
 ' good. If he really loved me, he could not fuffer 
 ^ me to be forced into a marriage which he well 
 
 * knov/s I deteil: : a knowledge which will not 
 
 * mend my fate, moll: certainly. 
 
 ' Could I enjoy the pleafures of felf-approbation, 
 ' it would be impoffiblc to be very wretched, but 
 
 * the mod exa6l performance of my duty will not 
 < yield me that gratification, fince I cannot be per- 
 
 ■ ' feclly fatisfied that I do right, in marrying a man 
 ' fo very difagreeabk to me. I fear the pride of 
 
 * reputation 
 
Mifs Man-cel and Mrs. Morgan, g^ 
 reputation infliiencies rr.e more than I imagine, 
 and though it is as juftiflable as any pride, yet 
 flill it is certainly no virtue/ 
 ' When I refled:, faid fhe, afterwards, on the 
 flep I am going to take, my terrors are inexpref- 
 fible ; how dreadful is it at my age, when nature 
 feems to promife me fo many years of life, to 
 doom myfelf to a flate of wretchednefs, which 
 death alone can terminate, and wherein I mufl 
 bury all my forrows in filence, without even the 
 melancholy relief of pouring them forth in the 
 bofom of my friend, and feeking, from her tender 
 participation, the only confolation I could receive I 
 for after this dreaded union is compleated, duty 
 will forbid me to make my diftrefles known, even 
 to my Louifa ; I muft not then expofe the faults 
 of him whofe ilighteft failings I ought to conceal. 
 One only hope remains, that you, my firft and 
 deareft friend, will not abandon me ; that what- 
 ever cloud of melancholy may hang over my 
 mind, yet you will ftill bear with me, and remove 
 your abode to a place where I may have the con- 
 folation of your company. If it be in my power 
 to make my houfe a comfortable habitation to my 
 Louifa, I cannot be entirely wretched.' 
 Mifs Mancel gave her the tcndereft aflurances of 
 fixing at leaft in her neighbourhood, fince a fecond 
 paradife could not recompenfe her for the lofs of 
 her fociety ; and that on no terms could fhe pre- 
 vail on herfelf to continue in a houfe where fhe 
 mufi: fee that wretched Simon, wlio had been a vile 
 inftrument in reducing her friend to that diftrefsful 
 fituatlon. I'his gleam of comfort was a very I'ea- 
 lonable relief to iViifs iVJelvyn's dejc6led fpirits, and 
 gave fome refpite to her tears. 
 
 As 
 
100 The History of 
 
 As foon as (lie returned home, the acquainted Sir 
 Charles and Lady Melvyn with her refolution, who 
 foon communicated it to Mr. Morgan ; and nothing 
 was now thought of but haftening the weddipg as 
 much as polTible. 
 
 ' I wonder, interrupted Lamont, how Mlfs 
 Melvyn could bring herfelf to let her mother-in-r 
 law have fuch an opportunity of exulting in the 
 fuccefs of her detellable arts.' 
 ^ That, replied Mrs. Maynard, was a confidera- 
 tion which had no weight with her, nor fhould 
 it indeed be any mortification to our pride, that 
 deceit and cunning have triumphed over us, 
 Wickednefs ferves itfelf by weapons which we 
 would not ufe, and if we are wounded with them, 
 we have no more reafon to be mortified, than a 
 man would have to think his courage difgraced, 
 becaufe when he lay fleeping in his bed, he was 
 taken prifoner by a body of armed men. To be 
 circumvented by cunning, muft ever be the fate, 
 but never the difgrace of the artlefs.' 
 As Mifs Melvyn's compliance procured her a 
 greater degree of favour at home than flie had ever 
 before enjoyed, Mifs Mancel was fufFered to come 
 to the houfe, and met with an obliging reception 
 from the whole family. Her continual prefence 
 {here was a great fupport to her friend in her very 
 difagreeable fituation, and after indulging her for- 
 row in their private converfation, and mingling 
 their fymphathetic tears, fhe was the better able to 
 pndure the reilraint which fhe was obliged to under- 
 go, when any other perfon was prefent. 
 
 The dreaded day fixed on for this unhappy union 
 fouii came, and Mifs Melvyn received Mr. Mor- 
 gan's hand and name with all the fortitude fhe 
 would afTume J but her diftrefs was vifible to all, 
 
 even 
 
IVIifs Mangel and Mrs. Morgan, loi 
 
 even to Mr. Morgan, who was To little touched 
 with it, that it proved no abatement to his joy ; a 
 fymptom of fuch indelicacy of mind, as increafed his 
 bride's grief and apprehenfions. 
 
 The day after their marriage, Mrs. Morgan afk- 
 cd his permiiHon to invite Mifs Mancel to his houfe, 
 to which he anfwered, ' Madam, my wife muH 
 ' have no other companion or friend but her huf- 
 ' band ; I fhall never be averfeto your feeing com- 
 ^ pany, but intimates I forbid ; I fhall not choofe 
 *■ to have my faults difcufl'ed between you and your 
 « friend.' 
 
 Airs. Morgan was not much lefs flunned by this 
 reply, than if (he had been ilruck with lightening. 
 Pra(SUfed as (lie had lono- been in commandiiujr 
 her paflions and inclinations, a torrent of tears 
 forced their way. 
 
 ' 1 did not v/ant this proof, refumed Mr. Mor- 
 ' gan, that I have but a fmall (liare of your aflecSli- 
 ' ons ; and were I inclined to grant your requeft, 
 ' you could not have found a better means of pre- 
 
 * venting it ; for I will have no perfon in my houfe 
 
 * more beloved than myfelf. When you have no 
 ' other friend, added he with a malicious fmile, I 
 
 * may hope for the honour of that title.* 
 
 Mrs. Mor2;an was fo well convinced before of the 
 littlenefs of his mind, that flie was more affli6ted 
 than furprized at this inftance of it, and wifiied he 
 would not have rendered it more difficult to edeem 
 him, by fo openly profeffing his ungenerous temper. 
 However ftie filently acquicfced ; but that her friend 
 might not feel the pain of believing; herfelf neglect- 
 ed, fhe was obliged to tell her what had palled. 
 
 The new married couple ftaid but two days longei^ 
 at Sir Charles's. Fortunately Mr. Morgan fpent 
 the laft day abroad in paying vifits in the neigh- 
 bourhood, which gave the two unhap|)y friends lei- 
 
 F 3 fure 
 
102 The History of 
 
 fure to lament their ill fortune in this'cruel repara- 
 tion, without giving the caufe of it any new of- 
 fence. They took a melancholy leave that night, 
 fearing that even a correfpondence between them 
 rnight be confiderably reftrained by this arbitrary 
 hufband, who feemed to think his v/ife's afFc6tions 
 were to be won by force, not by gentlenefs and ge- 
 nerous confidence. 
 
 This was the fevereft affliction they had ever yet 
 experienced, or indeed were capable of feeling. 
 United from their childhood, the conneifion of foul 
 and body did not feem more indiiToluble, nor were 
 ever divided with greater pain. They forefaw no 
 end to this cruel feparation ; for they could not ex- 
 pe£^ that a hufband s complaifance to his wife (hould 
 increafe after he ceafed to be a bridegroom. Louifa 
 indeed, who wifhed if poffible to reconcile her 
 friend to her fate, pretended to hope that her good 
 condu6l might in time enlarge his mind, and cure 
 him of that mean fufpicious temper, which then 
 made him fear to have his faults expofed by a 
 wife, whofe chief endeavour would be to conceal 
 ihem. 
 
 But fuch diftant views afforded no confolatlon to 
 Mrs. Morgan's afFe<9:ionate heart j the prefent pain 
 Asngaged her thoughts too much to fuffer her to 
 look fo far off for comfort. She had flattered her- 
 ihU not only with the hopes of enjoying Mifs Man- 
 eel's company, but of delivering her from all the 
 difficulties of her fituation, in offering her a pro- 
 tection from infult or poverty. To be difappointed 
 of fo delightful a profpciSl was her greatefi afflicti- 
 on, and fat much heavier on her mind, than the 
 lofs of her beloved fociety. 
 
 The evening was far fpent, when Lady Melvyu 
 found them drowned in tears, anticipating the 
 pangs of parting, the employment of that whole 
 
 day; 
 
Mifs Mangel ancMVTrs. Morgan. 105 
 
 day ; and as her ladyfhip's hatred for her daughter- 
 in-law was much fubfided, fmce (he no longer fear- 
 ed the obfervation of her too-virtuous eye, her na- 
 tural difpofition inclined her to prevent the wife's 
 difcovering her real fentiments to her hufband ; fhe 
 therefore reminded them, that Mr. Morgan muit then 
 be on his way home, and advifed, that by all means 
 they fliould part before his return, left he fliould be 
 witnefs of a forrow which he would take amifs. 
 They were fenfible that in this her ladyfhip judged 
 well, and Louifa's fear of occafioning any additi- 
 onal uneafniefs to her friend, gave her rcfolution 
 and itrens;th to take a laft farcwel. Mrs. Mor- 
 gan's maid attended her home, as fhe was too much 
 afFe(Sled to be able to perform that little walk with- 
 out fome fupport. Mrs. Morgan's condition was 
 flill more deplorable ; more dead than alive, fhe 
 followed Louifa's Iteps with eager eyes, till a turn- 
 ing in the road robbed her of the fight of Tier 
 friend ; and then, as if her eyes had no other em- 
 ployment worthy of them left, they were again 
 overwhelmed in tears. Lady Melvyn found her 
 incapable of confolatipn ; but more fuccefsfuUy en- 
 deavoured to make her fupprefs the indulgence of 
 her grief, by alarming her fearS with the approach 
 of Mr. Morgan. As foon as fhe was a little com- 
 pofed, file led her into the garden for air. The 
 «ight was fine, and the moon (hone very refplend- 
 ent, the beauty of the fcene, and the frefhnefs of 
 the air a little revived her ; and as Mr. Morgan 
 ftaid out later than they expc6ted, flie had time to 
 acquire a fufficlent command over herfelf to receive 
 him with an air of tolerable chearfulnefs. 
 
 The new- married pair fet out early the next 
 morning, and arrived at Mr. Morgan's feat the fol- 
 lowing day. The houfe was large and old, the 
 furniture not much lefs ancient, the fituation drea- 
 
 ^^ 4 j-y* 
 
104 The History of 
 
 .ry, the roads every where bad, the foil a Hiff cla}^, 
 *wet and dirty, except in the niidft of fummer -, the 
 country round it difagreeable, and in fiiort, defti- 
 tute of ev^ery thing that co-uld afford any fatisfa£lion 
 To Mrs. Morgan. Nature no where appears graced 
 with fewer charms. Mrs. Morgan however had 
 vexations fo fuperior, that {he paid little regard to 
 external circumftances, and was fo fully deter- 
 mined to acquit herfejf properly in her new fphere, 
 that fhe appeared pleafed with every thing around 
 her. Hypocrify, as {he obferved, was now become 
 a virtue, and the only one which (he found it diffi- 
 cult to praiftife. They were received on their ar- 
 rival by a maiden fjffer of Mr. Morgan's, who till 
 then had kept his houfe, and he intended fhould 
 ftill remain in it ; for as through the partiality of 
 an aunt, who had bred her up, fhe was pofTeiTed of 
 a large fortune, her brother, in whom avarice was 
 the ruling pail^on, was very defirous of keeping ii^ 
 her favour. 
 
 Mrs. Sufanna Morgran had lived Immaculate to 
 the age of hfty-five. l^he flate of virginity could 
 not be laid tp her charge as an offence againft fo- 
 cicty, for it h?d nr-i been volun':ary. In her youth 
 iho was rathe diuij-.gui&ed . for fenfibility. Her 
 aunt's knov.'n riches gave the niece the reputation 
 of a great fortune, an attra6lion to which (he was 
 indebted for many lovers, who conftantly took their 
 leave on finding the old lady would not advance 
 any part of the money which (he defigned to be- 
 queath, her niece. Mifs Sufanna, extremely fuf- 
 ceptible by nature, was favourably difpofed to all 
 Jier admJrers, and imagining hcrfelf fucceilively in 
 Jove with each, lived in a courfe of difappoint- 
 ments. In reality, the impreffon was made only 
 on her vanity, and her heart continued unengaged j but 
 'ihQ felt iuch a train of mortifications very feverely, 
 
 and 
 
Mifs Mangel and Mrs. Morgan. 105 
 
 and perhaps fufFered more upon the whole, than if 
 ihe had been ftrongly imprelTed with one paflion. 
 In time the parcimony of her old aunt became ge- 
 nerally known, and the young lady then was left 
 free from the tender importunity of lovers, of whiclr 
 nothing elfe could probably have deprived her; for 
 as {he never had any natural attractions, fhe was not 
 fubje6t to a decay of charms ; at near fifty-three her 
 aunt departed this life, and left her in pofTeilion of 
 twenty- thoufand pounds, a fortune which ferved to 
 fwell her pride, without increafing her happinefs. 
 
 Nature* had not originally beftowed upon her 
 much fweetnefs of temper, and her frequent dif- 
 appointments, each of which flie termed being 
 crofl'ed in love, had completely foured it. Every 
 pretty woman was the obje6l of her envy, I might 
 almoft fay every married woman. She defpifcd all 
 that were not as rich as herfcif, and hated every one 
 who was fuperior or equal to her in fortune. Tor- 
 mented inwardly with her own ill-nature, flic was. 
 incapable of any fatisfadfion but what arofe from 
 teazing others j nothing could difpel the frown on' 
 Her brow, except the fatisfa6lIon flie felt when Ihe 
 had the good fortune to give pain to any of her 
 dependants ; a horrid grin then diftorted her features, 
 and her before lifelefs eyes glillened with malice 
 and rancorous joy. She had read jufl enough to 
 make her pedantic, and too little to give her any 
 improving knowledge. Her undcr(l:andmg v/as na- 
 turally fmall, and her felf-conceit great. In her 
 perfon fhe was tall and meagre, her hair black, and 
 her complexion of the darkeft brown, with an ad- 
 ditional fallownefs at her temples and round her 
 eyes, which were dark, very large and prominent, 
 and entirely without luilre ; they had but one look, 
 which was that of gloomy ftupid ill-nature, except, 
 •as I have already faiJ, when they were enlivened 
 
 F 5 by 
 
io6 The History of 
 
 by the fupreme fatisfa6^ion of having made fome- 
 body uneafy, then what before was but difagreeable 
 became horrible. To complete the defcription of 
 her face, fhe had a broad flat nofe, a wide mouth, 
 furniflifed with the worll fet of teeth I ever faw, 
 and her chin was long and pointed. She had heard 
 primnefs fo often mentioned as the charafteriftic of 
 an old maid, that to avoid wearing that appearance, 
 Ihe was flatternly and dirty to an excefs; befides (he had 
 great addition of filthinefs, from a load of Spanifh 
 inuff, with which her whole drefs was covered, as 
 if, by herprofufion in that particular, (he thought to 
 compenfate for her general parfimony. 
 
 This lady, Mrs. Morgan found in pofleflion of 
 her houfe, and was received by her with that air of 
 juperiority, to which Mrs. Sufanna thought herfelf 
 intitled by her age and fortune. Mrs. Morgan's 
 charms, though drooping like a blighted flower, ex- 
 cited much envy in Sufanna's breaft, and fiie 
 foon congratulated her, on her extraordinary happi- 
 nefs in having captivated a gentleman of fo large a 
 iortune, when her own was at prefent fo very fmall. 
 
 At iirfl fhe commended her, for not being elated 
 with fo great an acquifition, but in a littl-j time 
 taxed her with ungrateful infenfibility to fo prodi- 
 gious a bleffing. She continually criticized her 
 ceconomy, accufmg her of indolence i reprei'enting, 
 how * {he ufed every morning to roufe the fervants 
 
 * from their idlenefs, by giving each fuch a fcold, 
 
 * as quickened their diligence for the whole day ; 
 
 * nor could a family be well managed by any one 
 
 * who omitted this neceflary duty.' Mrs. Morgans 
 defire that her fervants ihould enjoy the comforts of 
 plenty, and when fick, receive the indulgence 
 which that condition requires, brought her conti- 
 nual admonitions againft extravagance, wherein 
 •Mj. Morgan seadily joined ; for his avarice was fo 
 
 great. 
 
Mifs Mancel and Mrs. Morgan. 107 
 
 great, that he repined a^ the moft neeeiiary ex- 
 pences. 
 
 His temper was a mixtuie of paflion and pevllh* 
 liefs, two things that fcldom go together ; but he 
 would fret himfelf into a paflion, and then through 
 wearinefs of fpirits cool into fretfulnefs, till he was 
 fulBciently recovered to rife again into rage. This 
 w^as the common courfe of his temper, which af- 
 forded variety, but no relief. 
 
 Senfible that his wife married him without aftcc- 
 tion, he feemed to think it impoflihle ever to gain 
 her love, and therefore fpared himfelf all fruitlefs 
 endeavours. He was indeed fond of her perfon \ 
 he admired her beauty, but defpifed her undcrlland- 
 ing, which in truth was unavoidable ; for his ideas 
 and converl'ation were fo low and fordid, that he 
 was not qualified to diftingjiifli the charms of her 
 elegant mind. Thofe who know Mrs. Morgan 
 ieff, are convinced that fhe fufFered lefs uneafinefs 
 from his ill-humour, brutal as it was, than from 
 his naufeous fondnefs. But the account I give of 
 him, I have received from others j Mrs. Morgan 
 never mentions his name, if it can poflibly be 
 avoide J ; and when fhe does, i^ is always with re- 
 fpe6t. In this fituation, a vi6lim to the ill- humour 
 both of her hufband and his fifter ; we vf\\\ leave 
 Mrs. Morgan, and return to that friend whofe 
 letters were her only confolation. 
 
 Mifs Mancel's perfon was fo uncommonly fine, 
 that (he could not be long fettled in the country 
 without attracting general notice. Though the 
 lower rank of people may be lefs refined in their 
 ideas, yet her beauty was fo very ftriking, that it 
 did not efcape their admiration, and the handjome 
 lady^ as they called her, became the general fubje£l 
 of difcourfe. As church was the only place where 
 ihe was expofed to public view, ihe had from the 
 
 F 6 fisft 
 
ic8 The History of 
 
 firil endeavoured to elude obfervation, by mingling 
 in the croud, and fitting in the moft oblcure 
 ieat ; but when fame had awakened the curi- 
 tofity of thofe of higher rank, (he was eafily 
 dirtinguifhed, and in a fhort time many inhabitants 
 t>f the neighbouring parlfhes came to that church to 
 fee her. She rp^re than anfwered every expe(^ati- 
 on J for fuch pe'''"-£lion of beauty fcarcely ever came 
 t)ut of the hands of nature. Many ladies in the 
 neighbourhood introduced themfelves to her, and 
 found her behaviour as enchanting as her perfon. 
 She could not be infenfible of the approbation which 
 every eye fignificantly exprefled j but fhe was 
 abaflied, and in feme degree more mortified than 
 tlelighted by it. She well remembered what Mr. 
 d'Avora had faid to her on that fubje6t, and fav^f 
 that in her fituatlon beauty v/as a difadvantage. 
 He often repeated the fame thing to her in letters, 
 '{for {he and Mifs Melvyn keeping up a conftant cor- 
 refpondance with him, the latter had acquainted 
 him with the general admiration paid to Louifa) 
 •and told her, that he feared the plan they had formed 
 for her future way of life, was at a ft ill greater dif- 
 tance than they had hoped, fmce her beauty was 
 the great obftacle to its being put in execution. 
 
 The ladies of the beft faftiion in the neighbour- 
 hood begged leave to vifit herj and though fhe 
 more than ever v/ifhed to have her time uninter- 
 rupted, fmce as fhe had no profpedl of any other 
 ^mcans of fupport, it was neceffary, by fuch little 
 additions as (he could make to her fmall fund, to 
 prevent its quick diminution, yet fhe could not de- 
 cline the civilities fo obligingly offered her, but 
 .avoided all intimacy with any of them as foreign 
 4o her plan, and hurtful to her intereft. Thus 
 was fhe circumftanced in refpcft to the neighbour- 
 'hpod when Mifs Mdvyn m^rn^d, 
 .#► As 
 
Mifs Mancel and Mrs. Morgan. 109 
 
 As after this event Louifa was determined to 
 change her habitation ; fhe began to enquire for 
 fome family, where fhe might be accommodated in 
 the fame manner, as in that where (he was then 
 fixed. Among the perfons who had taken moft 
 notice of her was Lady Lambton, a perfon of 
 admirable underftanding, polite, generous and 
 good-natured ; who had no fault, but a confidera- 
 ble fhare of pride. She piqued herfelf upon the 
 opulence of her family, and a diftinguifhed birth, 
 but her good fenfe, and many virtues, fo qualified 
 this one blemifh, that it did not prevent her be- 
 ing a very amiable woman. 
 
 When (he found Mifs Mancel dcfio-ned to change 
 her abode, fhe told her, that at an honeit farmer's 
 near her houfe, fhe might be accommodated, but 
 that as fome little alterations would be requifite to 
 make the place fit for her, fhe, in the moft obliging 
 manner, defircd her company till the apartment was 
 ready ; which would give her opportunity to fee 
 that fuch things were done to it, as would be mofl 
 convenient and agreeable. Lady Lambton infifted 
 fo ftrongly on Mifs Mancel's accepting this invita- 
 tion, that fhe could not without incivility refufe it 5 
 and, as after the lofs of her friend, all places were 
 alike to her, fhe had no reafon to decline fo oblig- 
 ing an offer. 
 
 No great preparations were required for this re- 
 moval of abode. Lady Lambton came herfelf to 
 fetch Mifs Mancel home. The old lady was charm- 
 ed with her new guell ; many of whofe accom- 
 plifhments were unknown to her till fhe came un- 
 der the fame roof, and would not fuffcr any prepa- 
 rations to be made for another lodgings but infifted 
 on her continuing much longer with het. 
 
 Lady 
 
110 The History of 
 
 Lady Tvambton behaved in fo very obliging a 
 manner, and Louifa found fo much plcafure and 
 improvement in the converration of a woman, whofe 
 admirable underftanding and thorough knowledge 
 of the world are feldom to be parallelled, that fhe 
 could not be more agreeably placed ; as fhe dared 
 not go even into Mrs. Morgan's neighbourhood, 
 for fear of giving additional uneafinefs to one, Vv'hofe 
 fituation (he plainly perceived was by no means hap- 
 py ; for though Mrs. Morgan fuppreffed all com- 
 plaints, never hinted at the treatment fhe received, 
 and endeavoured to reprefent her way of life in the 
 beft colours, to fave her friend the fympathetic 
 pangs of heart, which {he knew fhe would feel for 
 her fufFerings ; yet the alteration in her flile, the 
 melancholy turn of mind, which in fpight of all 
 her care, was vifible in her letters, could not efcape 
 the obfervation of one whoie natural difcernment 
 was quickened by afFe6ticn. 
 
 The full perfuafion of Mrs. Morgan's unhappinefs, 
 and that anxious foUicitude which arofe from her 
 ignorance as to the degree of her wretchednefs, 
 was a fource of continual grief to her mind, which 
 Lady Lambton's fmcere friendfhip could fcarcely 
 alleviatt'. But fhe knew too well, how few people 
 can bear the unhappy, to fuffer her uneafmefs to 
 appear. She ftifled therefore every exprefTion of 
 that kind ; for if Lady Lambton had generoufly 
 fympathized in her affliction, it would have given 
 her pain to know fhe had occafioned that lady's 
 feeling any ; and if fhe had been infenfible to it, 
 complaints would not fail to difgufl her. 
 
 Lady Lambton was fond of mufic, and not void 
 of tafle for painting ; Mifs Mancel's excellence in 
 thefc arts, therefore afforded her the highefl enter- 
 tainment. Her ladyfhip was llkewife a miftrefs of 
 languages, and was pleafed to find Louifa equally 
 
 acquainted 
 
Mifs Mancel and Mrs. Morgan, hi 
 
 acquainted with them. In this houfe Mifs Mancel 
 had palled above a twelve month, when Sir Edward 
 Lambton returned from his travels, in which he 
 had fpent four years. As foon as he arrived in the 
 kingdom he came to wait on Lady Lambton, his 
 grandmother; who was lilcewife his guardian, his 
 father and mother being both dead. She had 
 longed with impatience for his return, but thought 
 herfelf well repaid for his abfence by the grest im- 
 provement which was very vifible both in his mail- 
 ntjr and perfon. 
 
 Sir Edward was extremely handfome, his perfon 
 fine and graceful, hi-, converfation lively and enter- 
 taining, politenefs adding charms to an excellent un- 
 derftanding. His behaviour, I have been told, was 
 particularly engaging, his temper amiable, thoiip;h 
 iomewhat too warm, and he had all his grandmother's 
 generofity, without i\ny of her pride. 
 
 It would have been ftranse if a man of three and 
 twenty years old (for that was Sir Edv/ards age) 
 had not been mucli charmed with fo lovely a woman 
 aslVlifs Mancel. That he was fo, foon became vi- 
 fible, but The, as well as his grandmother, for 
 fome time imagined the attentions he paid her were 
 only the natural refult of the gallantry ufual at his 
 age, and improved into a fofter addrefs, by a man- 
 ner acquired in travelling through countries where 
 gallantry is publicly profefled. Lady Lambton 
 however, knowing her own difcernment, exprcfled 
 fome fears to I.ouifa, left her grandfon fhould be- 
 come ferioufly in love with her, in order to difco- 
 ver by her countenance, whether there was really 
 any ground for her apprehenfions, which flie 
 founded on the impoflibility of his marrying a wo- 
 man of fniall fortune, without reducing himfelf to 
 the greateft inconvenience, as his eftate was ex- 
 tremely incumberedj and he was by an intail de- 
 prived 
 
112 The History of 
 
 prived of the liberty of felling any part 6f it to dif- 
 charge the debt. She was too polite to mention 
 her chief objedtion to Mifs Mancel, which was in 
 reality the obfcurity of her birth.' 
 
 Louifa, who fincerely believed Sir Edward had 
 no real pafTion for her, anfwered with a franknefs 
 which entirely convinced Lady Lambton that fhe 
 had received no ferious addrefs from him ; but 
 Louifa, who faw herfelfnow in the fituation which 
 Mr. d'Avora had warned her againft, begged pcr- 
 mifHon to leave Lady Lambton's, to prevent her 
 ladyftiip's being under any uneafmefs, and to avoid 
 all danger of Sir Edward's receiving any ftrong im- 
 preilion in her favour. 
 
 Lady Lambton was unwilling to part with her 
 amiable companion ; and befides, thought if her 
 grandfon was really enamoured, fhe fhouid increafe 
 the danger rather than lelTen it, by not keeping 
 Louifa under her eye ; fhe therefore told her fhe 
 could not confent to lofe her company, and was 
 certain fhe might depend on her honour. Louifa 
 thanked her for her good opinion, and alTured her 
 fhe would never do any thing to forfeit it. 
 
 Sir Edward was more captivated than either of 
 the ladies imagined, and every day increafed his 
 paflion. Louifa's beauty, her converfation, and 
 accomplifhments were irrefiftible ; but as he knew 
 the o-reat occafion he had to marrv a worR.an of for- 
 tune, he long endeavoured to combat his inclina- 
 tions. He might have conceived hopes of obtain- 
 ino- any other woman in her circumftances on eafier 
 terms ; but there was fuch dignity and virtue flione 
 forth in her, and he was fo truly in love, that fuch 
 a thought never entered his imagination. He re- 
 verenced and refpecled her like a divinity, but 
 hoped that prudence might enable him to conquer 
 his paflion, at the fame time that it had not. force 
 
 enough 
 
Mifs Mangel and Mrs. Morgan. 113 
 
 enough to determine him to flv her prefence, the 
 only polTible means of leflening the imprelTion 
 which every hour engraved more deeply on his 
 heart, by bringing fome new attractions to his 
 view. He little confidered, that the man who has 
 not power to fly from temptation, will never be 
 able to rcfift it by ftanding his ground. 
 
 Louifawas not long before fhe grew fenfible, that 
 what fhe had offered to Lady Lnmbton for the eafe 
 of her ladyfliip's mind, was ad\ ifable to fecure the 
 peace of her own. Sir Edward's merit, his fm- 
 cere refpe61: for her, which certainly is the moft 
 powerful charm to a woman of delicacy, could 
 fcarcely fail to make an imprcfiion on a heart fo 
 tender, fo generous as her's. She kept fo flri<5l 
 a watch over herfelf, that fhe foon perceived 
 her fenfibility, and endeavoured to prevail on Lady 
 Lambton to part with her ; but the old lady ima- 
 gining it was only in order to quiet her apprehen- 
 fions, would not confcnt ; and the difficulty in 
 finding a place where fhe could be properly receiv- 
 ed, flrongly difcojraged her from infifling on it. 
 If file continued in the neighbourhood, her purpofe 
 would not be anfwered; for die could not avoid Sir 
 Edward's vifits ; her only friend was denied the 
 liberty of protecting her, and to go into a place 
 where fhe was unknown, would fubjefi: a young wo- 
 m'an of her age and beauty to a thoufand dangers. 
 
 Thefe difficulties detained her, though unwil- 
 lingly, at Lady L^mbton's for above half a year 
 after Sir Edward's return ; who, at length, unable 
 to confine in fdence a pafTion which had long been 
 obvious to every obferver, took an opportunity, 
 when alone with Louifa, to declare his attachment 
 in the moll: afFeding manner. She received it not 
 with fu rprize, but with real forrow. She had no 
 tindure of coquettry in her compofition ; but if fhe 
 
 had 
 
U4 The History of 
 
 had been capable of it, her affections were too 
 deeply engaged to have fuffered her to retain k. 
 Her fenfibility was never fo flrongly awakened ; all 
 her endeavours to reftrain it were no longer of 
 force, her heart returned his paiTion, and would 
 have conquered every thing but her jultice an4 her 
 honour ; thefe were deeply engaged to Lady Lamb- 
 ton j and fhc would have detefled herfelf,if llie could 
 have entertained a thought of making that lady's 
 goodnefs to her, the occafion of the greateft vexa- 
 tion fhe could receive. She therefore never hefi- 
 tated on the part flie Ihould acl on this trying occa- 
 fion ; but the vi6lories which honour gains over the 
 tender affections, are not to be obtained without 
 the fevereft pangs. Thus tormented by the flrug- 
 gles between duty and affection, fhe was not imme- 
 diately capable of giving him an anfwer 5 but find- 
 ing that her difficulties were increafing, by his re- 
 peated profeffions, and animated by the necefHty of 
 filencing a love, which too fuccefsfully follicited a 
 return of affeCllon, fhe affumed a fuificient com- 
 mand over herfelf to conceal her fentiments, and 
 with averted eyes, left her heart fiiould through 
 them contradict her words, flie told him, ' he 
 
 * diftreffed her to the greateft degree 5 that the 
 
 * refpect {he had for him on account of his own 
 
 * merit, and not lefs for the relation he bore to 
 
 * Lady Lambton, made her extremely concerned 
 ' that he fhould have conceived a pallion for her, 
 
 * which it was not in her power to return ; nor 
 
 * could ilie liffen to it in juftice to Lady Lambton, 
 
 * to whom file was bound in all the ties o[ grati- 
 ' tude ; neither fhould any thing ever prevail with her 
 
 * to do any thing prejudicial to the interefts of a 
 < family into which fhe had been fo kindly re- 
 
 * ceived/ 
 
 Sir 
 
Mifs Mancel and Mrs. Morgan. 115 
 
 Sir Edward was too much in love to acquiefce in 
 (o nice a point of honour ; but Louifa would not 
 wait to hear arguments which it was fo painful 
 to her to refute, and retired into her own chamber, 
 to lament in fecret her unhappy fate in being ob- 
 liged to reje6t the addrefles of a man, whofe af- 
 fedions, were (he at liberty, fhe would think no 
 facrifice too great to obtain. 
 
 Mifs Mancel endeavoured as much as poflible to 
 avoid giving Sir Edward any opportunity of renew- 
 ing his addreffes ; but his vigilance found the means 
 of feeing her alone more than once, when he warmly 
 urged the partiality of her behaviour, reprefenting 
 
 * how much more his happinefs was concerned in 
 
 * the fuccefs of a paffion which pofleffed his whole 
 
 * foul, than his grandmother's could be in difap- 
 ' pointing it. She, he obferved, was adluatcd 
 
 * only by pride, he by the fincerefl love that ever 
 ' took place in a human heart. In accepting his 
 
 * addreffes Louifa could only mortify Lady Lamb- 
 
 * ton; in rejedling them, (le muft render him mi- 
 < ferable. Which, he alked, had the beft title to 
 
 * her regard, the woman who could ungeneroufly 
 
 * and injudicioufly fet a higher value on riches and 
 
 * birth than on her very fuperior excellencies, or 
 
 * the man who would gladly facrifice fortune, and 
 
 * every other enjoyment the world could afford, to 
 
 * the poffeiBon of her ; of her who alone could 
 
 * render life defirable to him ? ' By thefe, and 
 many other arguments, and what was more preva- 
 lent than all the arguments that could be deduced 
 from reafon, by the tendereft intreaties that the 
 moft ardent paffion could didate. Sir Edward en- 
 deavoured to perfuade Louifa to confent to marry 
 him, but all proved unavailing. She fometimes 
 thought what he faid was juft, but aware of her 
 partiality, (he could not believe herfelf an unpreju- 
 diced 
 
ii6 The History of 
 
 diced judge, and feared that fhe might miflake the* 
 fophiftry of love, for the voice of reafon. She was 
 fure, w^hile honour, truth, and gratitude, pleaded 
 againft inclination they muft be in the right, thou2;h 
 their remonih-ances were hufhed into a v/hifper by 
 the louder follicitations of pa(iion. Convinced that 
 fhe could not be to blame, while fhe acled in Con- 
 tradidion to her fecret choice, fince the fmcerity 
 ef her intentions were thereby plainly, though pain- 
 fully evinced, fne perfilkd in refuiing tol)ecome 
 Sir Edward's wife, and told him, that ' if he did 
 
 * not difcontinue his addreiles, he would force her to 
 ' leave thehoufe, and retire toanv place that would 
 
 * afford her a quiet refuge from his importunity.' 
 A hint of this fort was fufScient to drive Sif 
 
 Edward almofl: to difl:ra61:ion5 and Louifa dared not 
 purfue the fubjec^. When he found fhe could not 
 be induced to confent to an immediate marriao^e, he 
 endeavoured to obtain a promife of her hand after 
 Lady Lambton's deceafe ; though to a m.an of his 
 impatient and ftrong paflions fuch a delay was 
 w^orfe than death ; but Mifs Mancel told him, « by 
 
 * fuch an engagement Vfie fhould be guilty of a 
 
 * mean evafion, and that fhe fhould think it as p:reat 
 
 * a breach of honour as marrying him directly.' 
 The defpair to which Louila's conduft reduced 
 
 Sir Edward, whofe love feemed to increafe with the 
 abatement of his hopes, was very vifible to his 
 grandmother, but her pride was invincible ; nei- 
 ther her affe^lion for him, nor her great efleem 
 forMifs MznceVs merit, could conquer her averfi- 
 on to their union. She faw them both unhappy, 
 but was convinced the pangs they felt would not be 
 oi" very long continuance, trufting to the ufual 
 inconltancy of young perfons, while the in- 
 conveniencies attending an incumbered fortune, and 
 the difgrace v/hich fhe imagined muft be the confe- 
 
 auence 
 
MIfs Mancel and Mrs. Morgan, i : 7 
 
 quence of Sir Edward's marrying a woman of ob- 
 (cure birth, would be permanent, and influence the . 
 whole courfe of his life. 
 
 Louifa, unable to fupport fo hard a confli6l, con- 
 tinually refifting both her lover, and her love, was 
 determined to feek fome relief from abfence. She 
 wrote Mr. d'Avora a faithful account of all the dif- 
 ficulties of her fituation, and intreated him to re- 
 ceive her into his houfe, till he could find fome 
 proper place wherein to fix her abode. 
 
 This worthy friend approved her condutSt, while 
 Jie grieved for her diftrefs ; his honeft heart felt a 
 fecret indignation againft Lady Lambton, who 
 could, by falfe pride, be blinded to the honour 
 which he thought fuch a woman as Mifs Mancel 
 muft refledl on any family into which {he entered. 
 He wrote that young lady word, that ' fhe might 
 ^ be afTured of the befl reception his houfe could 
 ' afford, and every fervice that it was in his power 
 ^ to render her ; defiring that fhe would let him 
 
 * know when fhe propofed fetting out, that he 
 
 * might meet her on the road, not thinking it pro- 
 ^ per fhe fhould travel alone.' 
 
 This letter gave Mifs Mancel much fatisfaftion ; 
 ihe was now fecure of an afylum ; but the great 
 difficulty flill remained, fhe knew not how to get 
 away from Lady Lambton's in a proper manner 5 
 for to go clandeftinely was not fuitable to her cha- 
 racter, and might bring it into fufpicion. In this 
 dilemma fhe thought it beft to apply to that lady, 
 and with her ufual franknefs told her, (what had 
 not efcaped her difcernment) the affe£lion Sir Ed- 
 ward had conceived for her, and the return her own 
 heart made to it; only fupprefling his folicitations, 
 as her jadyfhip might be offended with his proceed- 
 ing fo far without her confent. She reprefented 
 
 * the imprudence of her continuing in the houfe 
 
 with 
 
iiS The History of 
 
 * with Sir Edward, whereby both his paflion and 
 
 * her own mu ft be increafed ; and yet fne was at 
 
 * a lofs how to depart privately, but was convinced 
 
 * it could not be afte6ted with his knowledge, with- 
 
 * out fuch an eclat as muft be very difagreeable to 
 
 * them all ; nor could fhe anfwer for her own re- 
 
 < folution, when put to fo fevere a trial ; as fhe 
 
 * fhould have more than her full meafure of afflic- 
 
 * tion in going from thence, without being witnefs- 
 
 < to its effect on him.' 
 
 One fhould have imagined that the generofity of 
 Mifs Mancel's conduct, might have influenced 
 Lady Lambton in her favour ; but though it In- 
 creafed her efteem, it did not alter her refolution. 
 With inexcufable infenfibility fhe concerted meafures 
 with her, and engaged to procure Sir Edward's ab- 
 fence for a ftiort time. Some very necefTary bufi- 
 nefs indeed demanded his prefence in a neighbour- 
 ing county, where the greateft part of Ms eftate 
 Jay, but he had not been able to prevail on himfelf 
 to leave Loulfa; too much enamoured to think 
 any pecuniary advantage could compenfate for 
 the lofs of her company. But as it was natural 
 that an old grandmother fhould fee the matter in 
 another lit2:ht ; her preffing him to go and fettle his 
 affairs, gave him no caufe to fulpe(Sl any latent 
 meaning, and was too reafonable to be any longer 
 oppofed. 
 
 Though Sir Edward was refolved on fo quick a 
 dlfpatch of bi fmefs, as promifed him a fpeedy re- 
 turn, yet any feparation from Mifs Mancel, how- 
 ever fhort, appeared a fevere misfortune. The 
 evening before the day of his departure, he con- 
 trived to fee her alone, and renewed his importu- 
 nities with redo bled ardour, but with no better 
 fuccefs than before. He lamented the neceffity he 
 was under of leaving her, though but for a little 
 
 time. 
 
Mifs Mangel and Mrs. Morgan, i ]g 
 time, with an agony of mind better fuited to an 
 eternal reparation. She, who faw it in that light, 
 was overcome with the tender diftrefs which a per- 
 fon mull feel at taking a final leave of one who 
 is extremely dear to her. Her own grief was more 
 than il^e could have concealed ; but when fhe an- 
 ticipated in her thoughts, what he would fuffer 
 when he knew he had loft her forever, and judged 
 from the pain he felt on the approach of what he 
 thought fo ihort an abfence ; how very Q;reat his 
 diftrefs would be, (he was unable to fupport the 
 fcene with her ufualfteadinefs. Tears infenfiblyftole 
 down her face, and beftowed on it ftill greater charms 
 than it had ever yet worn, by giving her an air of 
 tendernefs, which led him to hope that fhe did not 
 behold his pallion with indifference. This thought af- 
 forded him a confolation which he had never before 
 received ; and though it increafed his love, yet it 
 abated his dillrefs, and rendered him more able to 
 leave her, fince he flattered himfelf fhe would with 
 pleaf re fee him return, which he was now more 
 than ever refolved to do as fpeedily as poffible. 
 
 The day of his departure fhe fpent chiefly in 
 her own room, to conceal, as far as fhe was able, 
 a weaknefs fhe was afhamed^of, but could not con- 
 quer, vhe had written the day before to inform 
 Mr. d'Avora, that fhe fnould fet out for London 
 four days after her letter. Accordingly at the time 
 appointed, after having agreed w^th Lady Lamb- 
 ton, that Sir Edward muft be kept ignorant of the 
 place to which fhe was gone, flie fet o it with that 
 lady, who carried her in her coach twelve miles of 
 the way, and then delivered her to Mr. d'Avora, 
 who was come thither to receive her. Lady Lambton 
 could not part with her amiable companion with*- 
 out regret, and exprefTcd her true fenfe of her me- 
 rit 
 
1 20 TheHistoryof 
 
 fit in fuch ftrong terms to Mr. d'Avora, who could 
 not forgive that pride which occafloned fo much pain 
 both to Louifa and Sir Edward, that he told her in 
 plain terms, how very happy, and how much ho- 
 noured any man mull: be, who had her for his wife. 
 Perhaps Lady Lambton would have fubfcribed to 
 his opinion, had any one but her grandfon been 
 concerned ; but the point w*as too tender, and it 
 was no fmall command over herfelf, that prevented 
 her giving the good old man a hint that fhe thought 
 him impertinent. 
 
 Our travellers arrived in town the next day, af- 
 ter a melancholy journey, for even the company 
 .ef a friend fhe fo much loved and efteemed, could 
 not reftore Mifs Mancel's natural vivacity, though 
 in compaffion to the good old man, who fympa- 
 thifed tenderly in her diftrefs, {he endeavoured to 
 - the utmoft cf her power, to conceal how very 
 deeply fhe w^as aiBicSied. It was fome HilIc time 
 before her fpirits were fufficiently compofed to form 
 any fcheme for her future life, nor were they be- 
 nefitted by a letter from^ Lady Lambton, Vv'^hich 
 acquainted her that Sir Edward, at his return^ find- 
 ing ihe had left the place, that his grandmother 
 had confented to her departure, and refufed to tell 
 him where fhe was gone, was for fome days fran- 
 tic v/ilh rage and grief, and had juil then left Lady 
 Lampton, with a determination to ferve as volun- 
 teer in the army in Germany, in hopes, he faid, to 
 find there a releafe from his afHicSlions, which no- 
 thing but the hand of death could bellow. 
 
 The old lady was much fliocked at this event, but 
 hoped a little time would reftore his reafon, and 
 enable him to bear his difappointment with pati- 
 ence. ' There was room to believe, i^ac faid, that 
 « the reft of the campaign v/ould pafs over vv^ithout 
 
 *■ a battle 
 
Mifs Mancel and Mrs. Morg^^n. 121. 
 
 ' a battle, and if fo the change of fcenc might 
 *• abate his paiHon/ 
 
 Louifa's heart was too tenderly en.gaged to rea- 
 fon fo philofophically, fhe was almoit diftratSted 
 with her fears, and was often inclined to blame her 
 owiT fcruples, that had driven fo worthy a man to 
 fuch extremities. All Mr. d'Avora could urge to 
 reconcile her to herfelf, and to calm her apprehen- 
 fions for Sir Edward, were fcarcely futficient to re- 
 store her to any eafe of mind ; but at length he 
 brought her to fubmit patiently to her fate, and to 
 fupport her prefent trial with conftancy. 
 
 They were ftill undetermined as to her future efla- 
 blifliment, when Mr. d'Avora one day met an old 
 acquaintance and countryman in the llreet. As this 
 perfon had many years before returned to his native 
 country, Mr. d'Avora inquired what had again 
 brought him into England ? His friend replied, 
 that he v^^as come in quality of fa£lotum to a wi- 
 dow lady of fortune. In the courfe of their con- 
 verf-;tion he afked Mr. d'Avora, if he could recom- 
 mend a vv'aitino; woman to his lady, her's having 
 died on the road. The character this man gave of 
 his miftrefs inclined A4r. d'Avora to m.ention the 
 place to Mifs Mancel, who readily agreed, that he 
 fnould endeavour to obtain it for her. 
 
 Mr. d'Avora had engaged the man to call on him 
 the next day, by telling him he believed he might 
 be able to recommend a molt v^aluable young per- 
 fon to his lady. He was punctual to his appoint- 
 ment, and condu6led Mr. d'Avora and Louifa to 
 I^/Irs. Thornby's, that was the name of the lady in 
 qu eft ion. 
 
 Mifs Mancel v/as drefied Vv^lth care, but of a 
 very difFerent fort from what is ufually aimed at ; 
 all her endeavours had been to conceal her youth 
 and beauty as mich as pofRble under ureat gravity 
 
 G ^ ©f 
 
122 The History of 
 
 of drefs, and to give her all the difadvantages con- 
 liilent with neatnefs and cleanliners. But fuch art 
 was too thin a veil to hide her charms. Mrs. 
 Thornby vv^'as immediately 1-truck with her beauty, 
 and made feme fcruple of taking a young pcrlbn 
 into her fervice, whom fhe fhould look upon as a 
 great charge, and ilie feared her maid might require 
 more attention from her, than flie Ihould think ne- 
 cell'ary for any fervant to pay to herfelf. A'Ir. 
 d'Avora reprefented to her, ' how cruel it was that 
 
 * beauty, which was looked upon as one of the 
 
 * moft precious gifts of nature, ihould difqualify 
 
 * a young woman for obtaining a neceiiary provi- 
 
 * vifion. That this young perfon's prudence was 
 
 * fo irreproachable, as fufnciently fecured her from 
 
 * any difadvantages, which might naturally be 
 
 * feared from it. But ftill h.e allowed, her perfon 
 
 * would juitly deter a married woman from receiv- 
 
 * ing her, and might' make a cautious mother 
 
 * avoid it, fmce her good condu6l would rather add 
 
 < to, than diminifh her attra6lions, therefore it was 
 
 < only with a fmgle lady (he could hope to be placed 5 
 ^ and he was well convinced, that luch an one 
 
 * would have reafon to think herfelf happy, in fo 
 « accompli filed a fervant ; fince her mind was ftill 
 
 * more amiable than her perfon.' 
 
 Mrs. Thornby allowed what he faid to be reafona- 
 and was fo charmed with Louifa's appearance, that 
 fhe afTured him fhe w^ould receive her with pleafure. 
 She was in haile for a fervant, and Mifs Mancel 
 had no reafon to delay her attendance, therefore it 
 was agreed fhe fhould enter into her place the next 
 day. 
 
 When Lady Lambton took leave of Louifa, fhe 
 would have forced her to receive a very handlome 
 prefent ; Louifa had accepted many v/hile flic lived 
 with her ladyfhip, but at this time fhe faid, ' It 
 
 * ^ v/ould 
 
Mifs Mangel and'Mrs. Morgan. 123 
 
 * would look like receiving a compenfation for the 
 ' lofs of Sir Edward -, and as fhe chofe to facrifice 
 ' both her inclinations and happinefs to her regard 
 ' for Lady Lambton, fhe could not be induced to 
 ' accept any thing that looked like a reward for an 
 ' a6lion, which if fhe had not thought it her duty, 
 ' nothing could have prevailed with her to per- 
 ' form.' The tendered afFe6tions of her heart 
 were too much concerned in what fhe had done, to 
 leave her the power of feeling any apprehenfions 
 of poverty ; all the evils that attend it then ap- 
 peared to her fo entirely external, that fhe beheld 
 them with the calm philofophy of a lloic, and not 
 from a very contrary motive ; the infenfibility of 
 each arole from a ruling paiiion ; the Hole's from 
 pride, her's from. love. But though flie feared not 
 poverty, fhe faw it was advifable to fix upon fome 
 eftabliihment, as foon as it could be obtained ; and 
 therefore received great fatisfadion from being af- 
 fured of Mrs. Thoriiby's acceptance of herfervices. 
 Mr. d'Avora was not without hopes, that if Sir Ed- 
 ward continued conltanttill Lady LamSion's death, 
 Louifa might then, without any breach of honour 
 or gratitude, marry him ; though to have engaged 
 herlelf to do fo, would, as (he obferved, have been 
 fcarcely lefs inexcufable than an immediate confent; 
 therefore he advifed her to aflume another name, as 
 Sir Edward might rot choofe, after fhe was his 
 wife, to have it known that fhe had been reduced 
 to fervitude. 
 
 Louifa was accordingly received at Mrs. Thorn- 
 by's by the name of Menil. Her good fenfe and 
 affiduity enabled her to acquit herfelf fo well in her 
 new place, as greatly deh'ghted her miflrefs ; and 
 though fne concealed the greatcft part of her ac- 
 complifhments, fenfible they could be of no ailift- 
 ance, and might on the contrary raife a prejudice 
 
 G 2 againfi 
 
124 The History of 
 
 againft her; yet her behaviour and converfatlon fo 
 plainly indicated a fuperior education, that before 
 flic had been there a week, Mrs. '1 hornby told her, 
 Ihe was certain jQie had not been born for the fta-- 
 tion {iiQ was then in, and begged a particular ac- 
 count of her whole life. 
 
 Louifa fearing that a compliance would render 
 her lefs agreeable to her miftrefs, who already treat- 
 ed her wiih a refpedi, which feemed more than was 
 due to her fituation, and often appeared uneafy at 
 feeing her perform the necelTary duties of her place ; 
 intreated to be fparcd a tafk, which, fhe faid, was 
 attended with fome circumiiances fo melancholy, 
 as greatly affe^^led her fpirits on a particular re- 
 collection. 
 
 Mrs. Thornby's curiofuy was not abated by this 
 infmuation, and fhe repeated her requefl in a 
 manner io importunate, and at the fame time fo 
 kind, that Louifa could no longer, without mani- 
 feft difrefpe<3:, decline it. 
 
 She began then by acquainting her, that fhe 
 went by a borrowed name ; but had proceeded 
 no farthei' in her narration, than to tell her that 
 her real name was Mancel, and that fhe had been 
 left to the care of an aunt, in her earlieil infancy, 
 by parents who were obh'gcd, for reafons fhe could 
 never learr, to leave their country, when fvirs, 
 Thornby exclaimed, My child ! my child i and fink- 
 ing oji her knees, with eyes and hands lifted up 
 towards heaven, poured forth a moil ardent thankfr 
 giving, with an extacy of mind not to be defcribed. 
 Her firfl fenfatjon was that of s;ratitude to the Al- 
 inighty Power, who had referved fo great a blef- 
 fnig for her ; maternal tendernefs alone'gave rife to 
 the fucceeding emotions of her heart ; fhe threw 
 her arms round Louifa, v/ho on feeing h.r fall on 
 her knees, and not comprehending the meaning 
 
 of 
 
Mifs Mangel and. Mrs. Morgan. 12^ 
 
 of her a£i:ion ran to her ; but ftruck with aftonjfli- 
 ment and reverence at the awful piety in her coun- 
 tenance and addrefs, bent filcnt and motionlefs o-er 
 her. Mrs Thornby leaning her head on Louifa' s 
 bofom, burft into fuch a flood of tears, and was 
 fo opprelTed with joy, that the power of fpeech to- 
 tally failed her. Louifa raifcd her from the ground, 
 crying, ' Dear madam, what can all this mean; 
 ' What does th is extreme agitation of your mind give 
 ' me room to hope r' 
 
 ' Every thing, my child ! my angel ! that a fond 
 
 * parent can bcftow, replied Mrs. Thornby. I 
 ' am that moihar, that Vs'as ob]i.<j;ed to leave thee to 
 ' another's care ; and has Heaven preferved my 
 
 * daughter, and reftored her to me 16 lovely, fo 
 
 * amiable ! Gracious Providence ! Merciful beyond 
 ' hope ! I'each me to thank thee as I ought for this 
 ' lall inftance of thy goodnefs !' And then her 
 whole foul feemed again poured forth in grateful 
 adoration. 
 
 Louifa could fcarccly believe this event was real j 
 thus unexpectedly to meet with a parent, whom fhe 
 fuppofed loft to her for ever, almoft ftunned her ; 
 her thoughts were fo engrofled by the raptures 
 of her joyful mother, that Vae did not feel half her 
 good fortune ; and the delight fhe received in fee- 
 ing her mother's happinefs, robbed her of every 
 other fenfation. 
 
 It was fome hours before Mrs. Thornby 's mind- 
 was lufHciently compofed to enter into any con- 
 nected converfation. From broken fentences Mifs 
 Mancel learnt, that ' her father and mother, by 
 ' the complicated dillrefi, of ruined fortune, and 
 ' the too fatal fuccefs of a duel, in which Mr. 
 ' Mancel was unwillingly engaged, had been 
 ' obliged to abfent themfelves fromlingland. They 
 ' went to one of the American colonies, in hopes 
 ^ 3 of 
 
126 TheHistoryof 
 
 * of finding means to improve their circwmftance?, 
 
 * leaving the young Louila then in her cradle^ v/ith 
 ' a4ifter of Mr. Manccl's, who readily undertook 
 
 * the care of her. They were fcarcely arrived in 
 
 * America, when Mr. Iv^ancel was fcized v/ith a 
 
 < fever, of which he foon died, and with him all 
 
 * their hopes. Mrs. Mancel was left entirely de- 
 
 * IHtute, at a lofs how to hazard the tedious paf- 
 
 * fage home, without the protecSlion of a hufband, 
 ' and with hardly a fufEcient fum remaining to dif- 
 ' charge the expences of it. 
 
 ' Her melancholy fituation engaged fome of the 
 
 * inh^.bitants of the place to offer her all neceiTary 
 ' accommodations, till ChQ could find a proper op- 
 
 * portunity of returning to England. During this 
 
 * time, Mr. Thornby, a gentleman who had ac- 
 
 * quired a fortune there, faw her, and was fo well 
 
 * pleafed with hbr perfon and condu61, that he very 
 
 * warmly foliicited her to marry him. Every perfon 
 
 < fpoke in his favour, and urged her to confent ; her 
 
 * poverty was no faint advifer, and v/ith general 
 
 * approbation, at the conclufion of the firil year of 
 
 * her widowhood, fhe became his v/ife. 
 
 ' His affairs foon called him into a more inland 
 
 * part of the country, to v/hich fhe attributed her 
 
 * never having heard from her filler, to whom fhe 
 
 * wrote an account of her hufband's death -, but 
 '^ by w^hat Mifs Mancel told her fne imagined her 
 
 * letter had not been received. 
 
 ' Mr. and Mrs Thornby continued in the fame 
 
 * place, till about two years before her arrival in 
 
 * England j but his health growing extremely bad, 
 
 < he was advifed by his phyficians to return to 
 
 < Europe. He v/ifhed to re-vifit his native country, 
 
 * but was perfuaded, for the re-ellablifhment of his 
 
 * conftitution, to fpend fome time in Italy. The 
 
 climate 
 
Mifs Mangel and Mrs. Morgan. 127 
 
 * climate at firil feemed to relieve him, but his 
 
 * coinphiints returnins; with greater violence, he died 
 ' in the latter part of the lecond year of his abode 
 ' there. 
 
 ' His eflate in the Indies he bequeathed to a 
 ' nephew, v.'ho lived upon the fpot ; but the money 
 ' he had Tent before him into England, which 
 
 * amounted to about forty thoufand pounds, he left 
 
 * to his widow. He had deftred to be interred at 
 ' Florence, where he died. As foon as the fune- 
 ' ral was over, and fome other necefiary affairs fet- 
 ' tied, Mrs. Thornby fet out for England, where 
 ' ilie no fooner arrived than flie employed intelli- 
 
 * gent perfons to find out her fi(ler-in-law and 
 
 * daughter, but had not received any account from 
 
 * them, when hc-r diinghter was reiiored to her as 
 
 * the fre-^ gift of {)rovidence.* 
 
 Mis. 7'horriby was now more defirous than ever, 
 to hear each minute particular that had befaliea 
 her Louifa j but Louifa begged that before fhe 
 obeyed her orders, fhe might have permiffion to 
 communicate the happy event to Mr. d'Avora, 
 whofe joy fhe knew would be nearly equal to her 
 own. A mefienger was difpatched for this purpofe, 
 and then fhe related circumftantially all the inci- 
 dents in her fliort life, except her partial regard to 
 Sir Edward Lambton, which filial awe induced her 
 to fupprefs. 
 
 Mrs. Thornby grew every day more delighted 
 with her daughter, as her acquired accomplifh- 
 ments, and natural excellencies, became more con- 
 fpicuous on longer acquaintance. Her maternal 
 love feemed to glow with greater warmth for hav- 
 ing been fo long ffifled, and Louifa found fuch de- 
 light in the tender affe6^ion of a mother, that fhe 
 was fcarcely fenfible of the agreeable change in her 
 fituation, which was now in every circumllance 
 
 G 4. the 
 
128 TheHistoryof 
 
 the moft defirable. All that fortune could give. 
 Vac had it in her power to enjoy, and that eftcem 
 which money cannot purchafe, her own merit fe- 
 cured her, befides all the o-ratification n youna: wo- 
 man can receive from general admiration. But 
 ilill Louifa was not happy, her fears for Sir Ed- 
 ward's life, ivhile in fo dangerous a fituation, would 
 not fuffer her mind to be at peace. She miight hope 
 .every thing from her mother's indulgence, but had 
 not courage to confefs hcrweaknefs, nor to intimate 
 -a wiili, which might occafion her fcparation from a 
 parent, whofe joy in their re-union Ilill rofe to rap- 
 ture. Chance, that deity, which though blind, is 
 often a powerful friend, did what {ha could not 
 prevail on herfelf to do. 
 
 One morning the ne\^'S paper of the day bein^ 
 brought in, Mrs. Thornby taking it up, read to 
 her daughter a paragraph, which contained an ac- 
 count of a battle in Germany, wherein many of tiis 
 Englifli were faid to be flain, but few of their names 
 fpecined. Louifa immediately turned pale, he.r 
 work dropped out of her hand, and an univerfal 
 trembling feized her. Mrs. Thornby was too at- 
 tentive not to obferve her daughter's diftrefs, and 
 10 kindly inquired the reafon, that Louifa ventured 
 to tell her for whom (he was fo much interefted ; 
 and gave an exa^t account of Sir Edward's addrefs 
 to her, her behaviour ujwn it, and the great regard 
 ihe had for him. 
 
 Mrs. Thornby afFeccionately chid her for having 
 till then concealed a circumftance wdiereon fo much 
 of her happinefs depended, and offered to write to 
 Lady Lambton immediately, and acquaint her, that 
 if v/ant of fortune was her only objedion to iVIifs 
 Mancel, it no longer fubfifted, for that (he was 
 ready to anfwer any demands of that fort, which 
 her ladyihip iliould chufe to make, as fhe thought 
 
 fhe 
 
Mifs Mangel and Mrs. Morgan. 129 
 file fhould no way fo well * lecure her daughter's 
 happinefs, as by uniting her with a gentleman of 
 Sir Edward's amiable charader, and whofe affec- 
 tion for her had fo evidently appeared. 
 
 Louifa could not rejedt an offer which might ref- 
 f ue Sir Edward from the dangers that threatened 
 him, and with pleafure thought of rewarding fo 
 generous and fo fincere a palTion. Perhaps (he 
 found fome gratification, in (hewing that gratitude 
 alone dictated her refufal. The letter was imme- 
 diately difpatched, and received with great pleafure 
 by lady Lambton, whofe ellecm for Mifs Mancel, 
 would have conquered any thing but her pride. 
 She accepted the propofal in the politeft manner, 
 and that Sir Edward might be acquainted with his 
 happinefs as foon as polhble, difpatched her ft-jw- 
 aid into Germany, ordering him to travel with the 
 utmoll: expediiion, and gave him Mrs. Thornby's 
 letter, with one from heri'elf, containing an account 
 of the great change in l/ouifa's fortune. 
 
 The fervant obeyed ihe directions given him, and 
 performed the journey in as fhort a time as po/iible ; 
 but as he entered the camp, he met bir Edward in- 
 deed, but not as a future bridegroom. lie was 
 borne on mens fliouldcrs, pale aud almoft breath- 
 lefs, juil returned from an attack, whereby his toa 
 great raflinefs, he had received a mortal wound, 
 lie followed him with an aching heart to his tent, 
 where ^ir Edv/ard recovering his fenfes, knew him, 
 and afked, ' What broMght him there fo opportunely, 
 ' to clofj his eyes, and pay the laft duties, to one of 
 ' -v/hofe infancy he had been fo careful r' for this 
 fervant lived in tho family when Sir Edward was 
 born, and loved him almoR: with paternal fond- 
 nefs, which occafioncd his dcfire of being himfclf 
 the meiienger of fucli joyful news. 
 
 G 5 Ths 
 
J30 The History of 
 
 The poor man was fcarcely able to anfwer a 
 quelHon expreffed in iuch melancholy terms, and 
 was doubtful whether he ought to acquaint him with 
 •a circumftance, which might only increafe his re- 
 gret at lofmg a life, which would have been blelT- 
 ed to his utmoft wifli, but incapable in that ftate 
 of mind of inventing any plaufible reafon, he told 
 him the truth, and gave him the two letters. 
 
 7 he pleafure Sir Edward received at the account 
 of Louifa's good fortune, and the flill greater joy 
 he felt at fo evident a proof of her regard for him, 
 made him for a time forget his pains, and flat- 
 tered the good old fteward with hopes, that his cafe 
 was not fo defperdte as the furgeons reprefented it ; 
 but Sir Edward told him, ' he knew all hope v/as 
 vain.' ' I muft accufe myfelf, faid he, of lofmg 
 
 * that lovely generous woman j what a treafure 
 
 * would have gladdened my future days, had I not 
 
 * rafhiy, I fear criminally fhortened them, not by 
 
 * my own hand indeed, but how little different ! 
 
 * Mad with defpair, I have fought all means of ob- 
 
 * taining, what I imagined the only cure for my 
 
 * diftempered mind. Weary of life, fmce I could 
 
 * not poflefs her, in whom all my joys, all the 
 
 * wifties of my foul were centered, 1 feized every 
 ' occafion of expofmg myfelf to the enemy's fword. 
 
 * Contrary to my hopes, I efcaped many times, 
 
 * when death fecmed unavoid:;blc j but grown more 
 
 * defperate by dilappointment, I this morning went 
 
 * on an attack, where inftead of attempting to con- 
 
 * quer, all my endeavour was to be killed, and at 
 
 * laft I fucceeded, how fatally !* Oh ! my Louifa, 
 
 * continued he, and do I then lofe thee by my own 
 
 * impatience! Had I, like thee, fubmitted to the 
 
 * difpofition of providence, had I waited, from its 
 
 * mighty power, that relief which it alone can 
 
 * glvCy I might now be expecting with rapture the 
 
 hoar 
 
Mifs Mancel and Mrs. Morgan. 131 
 
 * hour that fhould have unTted us for ever, indead 
 < of preparing for that which (hall futnmon me to 
 ' the grave, where even thou fhalt be forgotten, 
 ' and the laft traces of thy lovely image efFaced from 
 ' my too faithful remembrance. Howjuft arc the 
 ' decrees of the Almighty ! Thy patience, tliy re- 
 ' fignatlon, and uncommon virtues are rewarded 
 ' as they ought ; my petulance, my impatience, 
 ' which, as it were, flew in the face of my Maker., 
 ' and fought to lofe a life which he had intruded to 
 *' my keeping, and required me to preferve, is de- 
 ' fervedly punifhed. I am deprived of that exiil- 
 ' ence, v/hich I would now endure whole ages of 
 ' pain to recal, were it to be done, but it is pall, 
 ' and 1 fubmit to thy juftice, thou all wife difpofer 
 ' of my tate.' 
 
 The agitation of Sir Edward's mind had given 
 him a flow of falfe fpirits, but at length they failed, 
 leaving him only the more exhaufted. He kept 
 Mrs. Thornby's letter on his pillai^, and read it ma- 
 ny times. P'reqiient were his expreflions of regret 
 for his own rafhnefs, and he felt much concern 
 from the fear that Louifa would be fliocked with 
 his death. Her mother's proceeuino;s convinced 
 him fhe was not void of regard for him ; he now 
 faw that he had not vainly flattered himfclf, v»'hen 
 he imagined, from many little circumftances, that 
 her heait fpoke in his favour; and the force fhe 
 mult have put on her afFedions, raifed his opinion 
 of her almoft to adoration. He often told his 
 faithful attendant, that in thofe moments he felt a 
 joy beyond what he had ever yet experienced, in 
 believing Louifa loved him ; but thefe emotions 
 were foon checked by reflc6ting, that if Ihe did fo, 
 fhe could not hear of his death without fuifering 
 many heart-felt pangs. 
 
 G 6 He 
 
132 The History of 
 
 He lingered for three days, without the lead en- 
 couragement to hope for life, and on the laft died 
 with great refignation, receiving his death as a pu- 
 nifliment juftly due to his want of fubmilTion in 
 the divine will, and that froward petulance which 
 drove him to defperation, in not fwcceeding to his 
 wifhes, juft at the time, that to his impetuous 
 pafTions, and fhort-fighted reafon, appeared moft 
 defirable. 
 
 The affli6^ed fleward wrote an account of this 
 melancholy event to Lady Lambton, and ftaid to 
 attend Sir Edward's body home, that his lalt re- 
 mains might be depofited in the family vault. 
 
 Lady Lambton received thcfe mournful tidings 
 with exceflive grief, and communicated them to 
 Mrs. 7" hornby. Louifa, from the time of the mef- 
 fenger's fetting out for Germany, had been pleafing 
 herfelf w^ith refle6iing on the joyful reception jie 
 "would meet with from. Sir Edward, and had fre- 
 quently anticipated, in imagination, the pleafures 
 .fhe and Sir Etiward would receive at fecino- each 
 other, after fo melancholy a feparation. She now 
 every hour expedted him, and when Mrs. Thornby 
 began to prepare her againil furprize, fhe imagined 
 he v^^as arrived, and that her kind mother was en- 
 deavouring to guard her againil too fudden joy. She 
 attempted to break through the delay, which muil 
 arife from all this caution, by begging to know if 
 he was in the houfe, dcfiring her not to fear any 
 ill effevffs from his fudden appearance^ and rofe from 
 her feat, in order to attend her mother to Sir Ed- 
 ward. Mrs. Thornby made her fit down again, 
 and with a countenance which fpoke very different 
 things from v/hat fhe expe6Lcd, acquair^tcd her wit]j 
 the fatal end of all her hopes. , ^ 
 
 Louifa was fhocked in proportion to. the degree 
 to which £he was before elated, She fuiik Jifclcfs 
 
 in 
 
Mifs Mangel and Mrs. Morgan. 13;^ 
 
 in the arms of her mother, Vv'ho had clafpcd her 
 to her brealr, and it was a con^derable time before 
 their cruel endeavours to bring her to her fenfes 
 fucceeded. Her fiift fenfation was an agony of 
 2;rief ; (he accufed herfelf of being the occi^fion of 
 Sir Edward's death, and from the unfortunate con- 
 fequenccs of her anions, arraigned her motives for 
 them. Mrs. Thornby aqd Mr. d'Avora, whom fhe 
 had fent for on this cccafion, endeavoured to con- 
 vince her, fhe v.-as no way to blame, that what (he 
 had done was laudable, and fhe ought not to judge 
 of an a(3:ion by its confcquences, which mull al- 
 ways remain m the hands of the Almighty, to 
 whom we arc accountable for our motives, biit who 
 beft knows when they ought to be crov/ned with 
 fucccfs. When they had prevailed with her to ex- 
 culpate herfelf, her piety and .pr.ticnce made it the 
 more eafy to perfuade her caTmly to fubm.it to the 
 decrees of providence. She fcon fav/, that to 
 fuller was her duty, and though (he might grieve, 
 fhe muft not repine. The good advice of her two 
 friends was fome fupport to her mind, but her chief 
 ftrength arofe from her frequent petitions to him 
 who tried her in fufFerings, to grant her patience 
 to bear them with due.refignation. Such addreffcs, 
 fervently and fuicerely made, can never be una- 
 vailing, and fhe found the confolation flie afked 
 for. Her alHiclion was deep, but filent and fub- 
 milnve, and in no part of her life did flue ever ap- 
 pear more amiable than on this trying occafion, 
 when her extreme fenfibility could never extort one 
 word or thought v/hich was not dif^ated by humble 
 piety, and the moft exemplary refignation. 7'hat 
 Sir Edvv-ard had had fo juft a fenfe of his ovv^n error, 
 ^mpd fo properly repented his impatience was a great 
 confolation, and fhs hoped to meet him whom 
 
 Hie 
 
134 T H E H I S T O R y OF 
 
 (lie had fo foon loft, in a ftate of happinefs, where 
 they ilioiild never more be parted. 
 
 Mrs Morgan had borne a tender fhare in all 
 Louifa's i'oys and forrow.s ; lor in the frequency of 
 her correfpondence, every circumftance that at- 
 tended the latter was faithfully imparted, though 
 the communication was lefs free on Mrs. Morgan's 
 fide, who, contrary to her natural temper, a6led 
 with referve on this particular j induced by a dou- 
 ble motive, a belief that it was her duty to con- 
 ceal her hufband's faults, and a dcfire to fpare her 
 friend the pain of fufeing participation in her 
 vexations. She longed to attend Mifs A/Iancel 
 in her afflitSlion, biit dared not urge a requeft 
 with which fhe knew Mr. Morgan would not 
 comply. Fie lived intirely in the councry, and 
 feemed to be totally infeniible to the pleafure of 
 contributing to the happinefs of others. All his 
 tendernef- was confined within the narrow circle of 
 himfelf. Mrs. Morgan daily beheld diflrcfs and po- 
 verty without the power of relicvifig it, for his par- 
 cimony v/ould not let him truft her with the dif- 
 pofal of what money was neceilary for her own 
 expence , his fifter always bought v/hat they in 
 their wifdoms judged requifite, and Mrs. Morgan 
 was treated in thole affairs like a little child. 
 
 In matters too trifling to come within Mr. Mor- 
 gan's notice, Mrs. Sufanna, fearing her fifter 
 fhould enjoy a moment's eafe, took care to per- 
 form her part in teazing, as if their joint bufmefs 
 was only to keep that poor v/oman in a conltant 
 ftate of fufFering. To compleat her vexation, Mr. 
 Morgan, who had always drank hard, increafed 
 fo much in that vice, that few days pafTed wherein 
 he was not totally Intoxicated. Mrs. Morgan 
 faw no means of redrefsj and therefore thought it 
 
 ' ;-^ beit 
 
Mifs Mangel and Mrs. Morgan. 135 
 
 beft to fuffer without complaint ; fhe confidered, 
 that, by contention, fhe could not prevail over 
 their ill temper, but mud infallibly four her own, 
 and deftroy that compofure of mind, necefTary to 
 enable every one to acquit herfelf well in all Chrif- 
 tian duties. By this patient acquiefcence her vir- 
 tues were refined, though her health fuffered, and 
 {he found fome fatisfadion in refleding, that him 
 whom file moil wifhcd to pieafc, would gracioufly 
 accept her endeavours ; however unavailing they 
 mi^^ht be towards obtaining the favour of thofe on 
 whom her earthly peace depended. 
 
 At this part of Mrs. Maynard's narration wc 
 were a<^ain interrupted by dinner, but the arrival 
 of fome vifitors in the afternoon, afforded Lamont 
 and myfelf an opportunity of begging her to give 
 us the fequel, and for that purpofe we chofe a re- 
 ^ tired feat in the garden j when flic thus pro- 
 ceeded. 
 
 The next fix years of Mifs Mancel's life paffed 
 in a perfc6l calm ; this may appear too cold an ex- 
 prcfTion, fmce her fituation was fuch, as would 
 by moft people have been thought conlummate 
 happinefs. Mrs. Thornby's ample fortune ena- 
 bled them to live in great figure, and Mifs Mancel's 
 beauty and undcrPcanding rendered her the objeit 
 of gejieral admiration. Had her conda£l been lefs 
 amiable, fhe could not but have acquired many 
 lovers ; it is not fcrange then, fuch as file was, 
 that fhe fhould be addreiTed by many men of dif- 
 tinguiflied rank and fortune. Wherever {he ap- 
 peared, fhe attracted all eyes, and cngrofied the 
 whole attention. Mrs. Thornby, more delighted 
 with the admiration paid her daughter than fhe 
 herfelf, carried her frequently into public, and kept 
 a great deal of company. Louifa could net be in- 
 
 fenfible 
 
136 The History of 
 
 fenfible to the general approbation, but was hurt 
 with the ferious attachment of thofe who more par- 
 ticularly addrellcd her. As fhe was determined 
 never to marry, thinking it a fort of infidelity to a 
 man, whofe death was owing to his affedlion for 
 her, fhe always took the firlt opportunity of dif- 
 couraging every purfuit of that kind ; and redrain- 
 ed the natural vivacity of her temper, left it fhould 
 give rife to any hopes which could end only in dif- 
 appointment. She endeavoured to make publickly 
 known her fixed determination never to marry ; 
 but as thofe refolutions are feldoni thought unal- 
 terable, many men flattered themfelves, that their 
 rank and fortunes, with their perfonal merits, 
 might conquer fo ftrange an intention, -and there- 
 fore would not defift v/ithout an exprefs refufal. 
 
 In the feventh year after Mrs. Thornbv's re- 
 turn into England, fhe was taken oit by a fever, 
 and left Mifs Mancel, at tu^enty four years of age, 
 in poffelTion of forty thoufand pounds, a foitune 
 which could not afford h'er any confolation for the 
 ■lofs of fo tender a parent. Having nothing to at- 
 tach her to any particular part of the kingdom, 
 fhe mor.e than ever longed to fettle in Mrs. iV'ior-- 
 gan's neighbourhood, but feared to occafion fome 
 new uneahnefs to her friend, and was fenfible, that 
 if, when vicinity favoured them, they ihould be de- 
 nied the pleafure of each others company, or very 
 much reftrained in it, the mortification would he 
 fliil greater than when diftance would not permit 
 them to meet. She had the fatlsfaclion of hear- 
 in^ from her friend, that Mr. Morgan feemeu to 
 efleem her more than for fome years after their 
 marriage, and often gave her reafon to think he 
 did not delpife her underilanding, and was well 
 pleafed with her conducSf. The truth was, this 
 gentleman's eyes were at laft opened to the merits 
 
 of 
 
Mifs Mancel and Mrs. Morgan. 137 
 
 of his Vv'ife's behaviour, the long trial he had made 
 of her obedience, which was implicit, and per- 
 formed with apparent chearfulnefs ; if compared 
 with his fifter's condu6i:, could not fail of appear- 
 ing in an amiable light, when he was no longer 
 befet with the malicious infmuations of Sufanna, 
 wiio had beftowed herfelf on a yoiing en'fign, whofe 
 fmall hopes of preferment in the ami)', reduced him 
 to accept that lady and her fortune as a melancholy 
 refource, but his only certain provillon. This al- 
 teration in Mr. A4organ's temper gave Mrs. Mor- 
 gan and Louifa room to hope that he might not 
 always continue avcrfe to their becoming neigh- 
 bours. 
 
 While they were flattering themfelves with this 
 agreeable profpedl, Mr. Morgan was feized with a 
 paralytic diforder, which at firft attacked his limbs, 
 but in a very fhort time affected his head fo much, 
 as almoft to deprive him of his fenfes. He was 
 totally confined fo,his bed, and feemed not to know 
 any one but his wife. He would take neither me- ^ 
 dicine nor nourifhment except from her hands ; as 
 he was entirely lame, fhe was obliged to feed him, 
 and he was not eafy if fhe was out of the room. 
 Even in the night he would frequently call to her; 
 if fhe appeared at his bed-fide, he was then con- 
 tended, being fure fhe was in the chamber, but 
 would fall into violent paflions, which he had not 
 words to exprefs (for he was almoft deprived of 
 his fpeech) if fhe did not inftantly appear. 
 
 When Mifs Mancel heard of his deplorable fi- 
 tuation, {he was under the greateft apprehenfions 
 for her friend's health, from fo clofe and fo fatiguing 
 an attendance, and begged flie might come to her, 
 as he was then incapable of taking umbrage at it. 
 The offer was too agreeable to be rejected, and 
 thefe ladies met after fo long an enforced fepara- 
 
 tion. 
 
138 The History of 
 
 tion, with a jcy not to be imagined by any heart 
 iefs lufceptible than theirs, of the tender and de- 
 licate fenfations of friendfliip. Louifa was almoft 
 as conftantly in Mr. Morgan's room in the day 
 time, as his wife, though (he kept out of his fin:ht, 
 and thus they had full opportunity of converfing 
 together ; for though the fick man often called 
 Mrs. Morgan, yet as foon as he iaw fhe v/as in 
 the chamber, he funk -again into that flate of Au- 
 pefa^tion, from which he never recovered. Mrs. 
 Morgan put a bed up in his room, and lay there 
 conilantly, but as he was as folicitious to knov/ 
 file was prefent in the night, as in the day, (lie 
 could never quite undrefs herfelf the whole time ot 
 his ficknefs. 
 
 In this condition Mr. Morgan lay for three 
 months, v/hen death releafed him from this world 5 
 and brought a fcafonable relief to Mrs. Morgan, 
 whofe health was fo impaired by long confinement, 
 and want of quiet reft, that fhe could not much 
 longer have fupported it ; and vexation had before 
 fo far impaired her conftitution, that nothing could 
 have enabled her to undergo fo long a fatigue, but 
 the infinite joy fhe received from Mifs Mancel's. 
 company. 
 
 When Mr. Morgan's will was opened, it ap- 
 peared, that he had left his wife an eftate which fell 
 to him about a month before the commencement 
 of his illnefs, where we now live. The income of 
 it is a thoufand pounds a year ; the land was tho- 
 roughly flocked, and the houfe in good repair. Mr. 
 Morgan had at his marriage fettled a jointure on 
 his wife of four hundred pounds a year rent charge, 
 and in a codicil made juft after his fifter's wedding, 
 he bequeathed her two thoufand pounds in ready 
 money. 
 
 After 
 
Mifs Mancel and Mrs, Morgan. 139 
 
 After Mrs. Morgan hadTettled all her affairs, it 
 was judgfed necelTary, that, for the recovery of hei* 
 health, ihe fhould go to Tunbridge, to which place 
 Mifs Mancel accompanied her. As Mrs. Mor- 
 gan's drefs confined her entirely at home, they 
 were not in the way of making many acquaintance j 
 but lady Mary Jones being in the houfe, and hav- 
 ino: lono- been known to Mifs Mancel, thouo-h no 
 
 CD ' O 
 
 intimacy had fubfifted between them, they now be- 
 came much connedted. The two friends had a- 
 greed to retire into the country, and though both 
 of an age and fortune to enjoy all the pleafure* 
 which mofl people fo eagerly purfue, they were de- 
 firous of fixing in a way of life where all their fa- 
 tisfa6lions might be rational, and as conducive to 
 eternal, as to temporal happinefs. They had laid 
 the plan of many things, which they have fmce put 
 into execution, and engaged Mr. D'Avora to live 
 with them, both as a valuable friend, and an ufe- 
 ful affiftantj in the management of their affairs. 
 
 Lady Mary was at that time fo much in the 
 fame difpofition, and fo charmed with fuch part of 
 their fcheme as they communicated to her, that fhe 
 begged to live with them for half a year, by which 
 time they would be able to fee whether they chofe 
 her continuance there, and fhe fliould have expe- 
 rienced how far their way of life was agreeable to 
 her. Lady Mary's merit was too apparent not to 
 obtain their ready confent to her propofal, and 
 when they had the fatisfadion of feeing Mrs. Mor- 
 gan much recovered by the waters, and no farther 
 benefit was cxpe6lcd, they came to this houfe. 
 
 They found it fufRcicntly furnifhed, and in fuch 
 good order, that they fettled in it without trouble. 
 The condition of the poor foon drew their *atten- 
 tion, and they inftituted fchools for the youn2;, and 
 alms-houfes for the old. As they ordered "every 
 
 thing 
 
I40 The History of 
 
 thing in their own family with great ceconomv, and 
 thought themielvcs entitled only to a part of their 
 fortunes, their large incomes allowed them full 
 power to alTill many, whofe fituations diftered very 
 elTentially from theirs. The next expence they 
 undertook, after thefe efcabliftiment of fchools and 
 alms-houfes, was that of furnilhing a houfe for e- 
 very young couple that married in their neighbour- 
 hood, and providing them with fome fort oi' ffock, 
 which by induirry would prove very conducive to- 
 wards their living in a comfortable degree of plenty. 
 They have always paid nurfes for "the fick, font 
 them every proper refrefhment, znd allow the fame 
 fum weekly which the fick perfon could have gain- 
 ed, that the reft of the family may not lofe any 
 part of their fupport, by the incapacity of one. 
 
 When they found their fortunes would ftill af- 
 ford a larger communication, they began to receive 
 the daughters of perfons in office, of other life-in- 
 comes, Vv'ho, by their parent's deaths, were left 
 deftitute of provifion ; and when, among the lower 
 fort, they meet with an uncommon genius, they 
 will admit her among the number. The girls you 
 fee fit in the room v/ith us are all they have at 
 prefent in that way ; they are educated in fuch a 
 manner as will render them acceptable, where ac- 
 complifhed women of an humble rank and beha- 
 viour are wanted, either for the care of a houfe or 
 children. Thefe girls are never out of the room 
 with us, except at breakfaft and dinner, and after 
 eight o'clock in the e\'ening, at which times they 
 are under the immediate care of the houfe-keeper, 
 with whom they are allowed to walk out for an hour 
 or two every fne day; left their being aUvays in 
 our company (hould make them think "their fitua- 
 tion above a menial ftate ; they attend us while we 
 are drelCng, and we endeavour that the time they 
 
Mifs Mancel and Mrs. Morgan. 141 
 
 are thus employed fliall not pafs without improve- 
 ment. They are clad coarfe and plain for the 
 iame reafon, as nothing has a ilronger influence on 
 vanity than drefs. 
 
 Each of us takes our week ahernatcly of more 
 pa4 ticuhir infpe^lion over the performances of thefe 
 girls, and they all read by turns aloud to fuch of 
 us, as are employed about any thing that renders 
 it not inconvenient to liilen to them. By this fort 
 of education my friends hope to do extcnfive good, 
 for they will not only fcrve thefe poor orphans, 
 but confer a great benefit on all who fhall be com- 
 mitted to their care, or have occafion for their fer- 
 vice ; and one can fct no bounds to the advantages 
 that may arife from perfons of excellent princi- 
 ples, and enlarged underftandings, in the fituations 
 wherein they are to be placed. In every thing 
 their view is to be as beneficial to fociety as pof- 
 fjble, and they are fuch oeconomifts even in their 
 charities, as to order them in a manner, that as 
 large a part of mankind as poflible fhould feci the 
 happy influence of their bounty. 
 
 in this place, and in this way of life, the three 
 ladies already mentioned have lived upwards of 
 twenty years ; for Lady Mary Jones joined her for- 
 tune to thofe of the two frienJs, never chufmg to 
 quit them, and is too agreeable not to be very de- 
 firable in the fociety. Mifs Mancel has often de- 
 clared, that file plainly fees the merciful hand of 
 providence bringing good out of evil, in an event, 
 which fne, at the time it happened, thought her 
 ereatcfl misfortune ; for had (lie married Sir Ed- 
 ward Lambton, her fmcere afFecJtion for him v/ould 
 have led her to conform implicitly to all his incli- 
 nations, her views would have been connned to this 
 earth, and too ftrongly attached to human objccSls,- 
 ^o have properly obeyed the giver of the blefTmgs 
 
142 The History of 
 
 fhe To much v^alued, who is generally lefs thought 
 of, in proportion as he is more particularly boun- 
 tiful. Her age, her fortune, and compliant tem- 
 per, might have feduced her into diffipation, and 
 have made her lofe all the heart-felt joys fhe now 
 daily experiences, both when VnQ reflcds on the paft, 
 contemplates the prefent, or anticipates the fu- 
 ture. 
 
 I think I ought to mention Mrs. Morgan's be- 
 haviour to her half fifters. Sir Charles died about 
 five years ago, and through his wife's extravagance, 
 left his eftate over-charged with debts, and two 
 daughters and a fon unprovided for. Lady Mel- 
 vyn's jointure was not great; Sir George, her eldell 
 fon, received but juft fufficient out of his eftate to 
 maintain himft If genteelly. By the firft Lady Mel- 
 vyn's marriage fettlemcnts, fix thoufand pounds 
 v/ere fettled on her children, which, as Mrs. Morgan 
 was her only child, became her property -, this fhe 
 divided between her mother-in-law's three younger 
 children, and has befides conferred feveral favors on 
 that family, and frequently makes them valuable 
 prefents. The young gentlemen and ladies often 
 pafs fome time here ; Lady Melvyn made us a vifit 
 in the firfl: year of her Vv'idowhood, but our way 
 of life is fo iii fuited to her tafte, that, except 
 during that dull period of confinement, fhe has 
 never favoured us with her company. 
 
 My coufui, I believe, v/as going to mention 
 
 fome other of the actions of thefe ladies, which 
 
 feemed a favorite topic with her, when the reft of 
 
 he company came into the garden, and we thought 
 
 ourfelves obliged to join them. 
 
 The afternoons, in this family, generally con- 
 cluded with one of their delightful concerts ; but 
 as foon as the vifitors were, departed, the ladies 
 faid, they would amufe us that evening with an en- 
 tertainment, 
 
Mifs Mangel and Mrs. Morgan. 14^ 
 
 tertainmcnt, which might poliibly be more new to 
 us, a ruilic ball. The occafion of it was the mar- 
 riage of a young woman, who had been brought 
 up by them, and had for three years been in fer- 
 vice, but having for that whole time been courted 
 by a young farmer of good chara6ier, fhe had been 
 married in the morning, and that evening was de- 
 dicated to the celebration of their wedding. 
 
 We removed into the fervants hall, a neat room, 
 and well lighted, where we found a very numerous 
 afl'embl)' ; iixteen couple were preparing to dance; 
 the reft were only fpe^tators. The bride was a 
 pretty genteel girl, drefled in a white callicogown, 
 white ribbons, and in every particular neat to an 
 excefs. The bridegroom was a well looking young 
 man, as clean and fprucely dreffed as his bride, 
 though not with fuch emblematic purity. This 
 couple, contrary to the cuftom of finer people on 
 fuch occafions, were to begin the ball together j 
 but Lamont afked leave to be the bride's partner 
 for two or three dances, a compliment not difa- 
 greeable to the ladies, and highly pleafmg to the 
 reft of the company, except the bride, whofe va- 
 nity one might plainly fee did not find gratification 
 enough in having fo genteel a partner, to recom- 
 pence her for the lofs of her Colin ; he, however, 
 feemed v/ell fatisfied with the honour conferred on 
 his wife. 
 
 That the bridegroom might not be without his 
 fhare of civility, the ladie» gche him leave to dance 
 with the eldeft of the young girls more particu- 
 larly under their care, till his wife was reftored 
 to him. 
 
 We fat above an hour with this joyous company, 
 whofe mirth feemed as pure as it was fincere, and 
 I never faw a ball managed with greater decorum. 
 There is a coquettry and gallantry appropriated to 
 
 all 
 
144 The History of 
 
 all conditions, and to fee the different manner in 
 which it was exprelTed jn this little fet, from what 
 one is accuftomed to behold in higher life, afford- 
 ed me great amufement ; and the little arts ufed 
 among thefe young people to captivate each other, 
 were accompanied with fo much innocence, as 
 made it exceffively pleafing. We ftaid about an 
 hour and half in this company, and then went to 
 fupper. 
 
 My coufm told me that Mrs. Mancel gave the 
 young bride a fortune, and tiiat flie might have her 
 Ihare of employment, and contribute to the pro- 
 vifion for her family, had flocked her dairy, and 
 furnifhed her with poultry. This, Mrs. Maynard 
 added, was what they did for all the young wo- 
 men they brought up, if they proved deferving ; 
 fhewing, likewife, the fame favor to any other 
 girls in the parifh, who, during their fmgle flate, 
 behaved with remarkable induftry and fobriety. By 
 this mark of diiiin61:ion they v/ere incited to a pro- 
 per behaviour, and appeared more anxious for this 
 benevolence, on account of the honour that arofe 
 from it, than for the pecuniary advantage. 
 
 As the ladies condu6l in this particular was un* 
 common, I could not forbear telling them, that ' 1 
 ' was furprized to find fo great encouragement given 
 ^ to matrimony by perfcns, v/nofe choice fhewed 
 ' them little inclined in its favour.' 
 
 Does it furprize you, anfwered Mrs. A-lelvyn fmil- 
 ing, ' to fee people promote that in others, which 
 ' they themfelves do not chufe to pra;5life ? We 
 
 * confider matrimony as abfolutely neceflary to the 
 
 * good of fociety ; it is a general duty ; but as, ac- 
 ' cording to all antient tenures, thofe obliged to 
 
 * perform knight's fervice, might, if they chofe 
 
 * to enjoy their own fire-fides, be excufed by 
 < fending deputies to fupply their places , fo we, 
 
 ^ ufing 
 
Mifs Majstcel and Mrs. Morgan. 145 
 
 ufing the fame privilege fubftltute many others, 
 and certainly much more promote wedlock, than 
 we could do by entering into it durfelves. 
 This may wear the appearance of fome devout 
 perfons of a certain religion, who equally indo- 
 lent and timorous, when they do not chufe to 
 fay To many prayers as they think their duty, 
 pay others for fupplying their deficiencies.' 
 ' In this cafe, faid I, your example is fomewhat 
 con trad icftory, and fhould it be intirely followed, 
 it would confine matrimony to the lower rank of 
 people, among whom it feems going out of fa- 
 fhion, as well as with their fuperiors ; nor indeed 
 can we wonder zx. it, for difiipation and extra- 
 vagance are now become fuch univerfal vices, that 
 it requires great courage in any to enter into an 
 indiflblublc fociety. Inftead of being furprifed 
 at the common difinclination to marriage, I am 
 rather difpofed to wonder when I fee a man ven- 
 ture to render himifclf liable to the expences of a 
 woman, who lavifhes both her time and money 
 on every fafhionable folly, and ftill more, when 
 one of your fex fubje6ls herfelf to be reduced 
 to poverty, by a htfband's love for gaming, and 
 to negled: by his incon{l:ancy,' 
 ' 1 am of your opinion, faid Mrs. Trentham, 
 to face the enemv's cannon appears to me a lefs ef- 
 fort of courage, than to put our happinefs into the 
 hands of a perfon, v/ho perhaps will not once 
 reflect on the importance of the truft committed 
 to his or her care. For the cafe is pretty equal 
 as to both fexes, each can deftroy the other's 
 peace. Ours feems to have foujid out the mean? 
 of being on an equallity with yours. Few for- 
 tunes are fufficient to ftarid a double expence. 
 The hufband muft attend the gaming-table and 
 horfe-races , the wife mufi: have a profufion of 
 H ^ ornaments 
 
4^ The II I s t o r y , o f 
 
 ornaments for her perfon, and cards for her en- 
 tertainment. The care of the eftate and familv 
 are left in the hands of fervants, who, in imita- 
 tion of their mailers and miftrefles, will have 
 their pleafures, and thefe muft he fupplied out of 
 the fortunes of thofc they Icrve. Man and wife 
 are often nothing better than afiiftants in each 
 others ruin ; domcftic virtues are exploded, and 
 focial happincfs dcfpifcd, as dull and infipid. 
 ' The example of the great infefts the whole 
 community. The honeft tradefman who wiihes 
 for a wife to afi^il him in his bufmcfs, and to 
 take care of hi-; family, dare not marry, when 
 every woman of his own rank, emulating her fu- 
 periors, runs into fuch fafhions of drefs, as re- 
 quire great part of his gains to fupnly, and the 
 income which would have been thought fufn- 
 cient fome years ago for the wife of a gentleman 
 of large eftate, will now fcarcely ferve to enable 
 a tradefman's wife to appear like her neigh- 
 bours. They too muft have their evening par- 
 ties, they muft attend the places of public di- 
 verfion, and muft be allowed perpetual diftipation 
 without controul. '1 he poor man fighs after the 
 days when his father married -, then cleanlinefs 
 was a woman's chief perfonal ornament, half the 
 quantity of ftlk fufficed for her cloaths, variety 
 of trumpery ornaments were not thought of, her 
 hufband's bufmefs employed her attention, and 
 her children were the ohjf'C^s of her care. When 
 he came home, wearied v/ith the employmentS»f 
 the day, he found her ready to receive him, and 
 was not afraid of being told (lie was gone to the 
 play or opera, or of fmding her engaged in a 
 party at cards, while he was reduced to fpend 
 his evening alone. But in a world fo chang- 
 ed, a man dare no/ venture on marriage which 
 
 ^ promifes 
 
Mifs Mangel and Mrs. Morgan. 147 
 
 promifes him no comfort, 'and may occafion his 
 ruin, nor willies for children, whofe mother's ne- 
 gletSl may expofe them- to de{lru6iion. 
 
 ' It is common to blame the lower fort of peo- 
 ple for imitating their fuperiors ; but it is equally 
 the fault of every llation, and therefore thofe of 
 higher rank fliould coniider it is their duty to fet 
 no examples that may hurt others. A degree 
 of fubordination is always acquiefced in, bat 
 while the nobleman lives like a prince, the gen- 
 tleman, will rife to the proper expences of a no- 
 bleman, and the tradefman take that vacant 
 rank which the gentleman has quitted j nor will 
 he be afliamed of becom.irig a bankrupt, when 
 he fees the fortunes oF his fuperiors mouldering 
 away, and knows them to be opprcfTed with 
 debts. Whatever right people may have to make 
 free with their .ov/n happinefs, a beneficial ex- 
 ample is a duty which they indifpenfibly owe to 
 focicty, and the profufe have the extravagance 
 of their inferiors to anfwer for. The lame may 
 be faiJ for thofe who contribute to the diil^pa- 
 tion of others, by being diffipated thcmfelves.' 
 
 ' But, madam, interrupted Lamont, do you 
 think it incumbent on people of fafliion to re- 
 linquifh their pleafures, left their example fhould 
 lead others to neglect their bufmefs ?' 
 ' I fliould certainly, replied Mrs. Trcntham, 
 anfwer V you in the affirmative, were the cafe as 
 you put it, but much more fo in the light I fee 
 it. Every ftation has its duties, thofe of the 
 great are m.ore various than thofe of their infe- 
 riors. They are i>ot fo confined to (economical 
 attentions, nor ought they to be totally without 
 them ; but their more extenfive influence, their 
 greater leifure to ferve their Creator with all the 
 powers of their mi-nds, conftitute many duties on 
 H 2 < thdr- 
 
143 The History of 
 
 their part, to which diflipation is as great an e- 
 nemy, as it can be to thofe more entirely domef- 
 tic ; therefore on each fide there is an equal neg- 
 lect ; and why Ihould we expe6l that fuch as we 
 imagine have fewer advantages of education, 
 fhould be' more capable of refifting temptations, 
 and dedicating themfelves folely to the perform- 
 ance of their duties, than perfons whofe minds 
 are more improved r' 
 
 ' I cannot deny, anfwereJ Lamont, but what 
 you fay is jufl:, yet I fear you have uttered truths 
 that muft continue entirely fpeculative ; though 
 if any people have a right to turn reformers, 
 you ladies are bed qualified, fmce you begin by 
 reforming yourfelves ; you pra6i:ife more than 
 you preach, and therefore muft always be liftened 
 to with attention.' 
 
 * We do not fet up for reformers, faid Mrs. 
 Mancel, we wi(h to regulate ourfelves by the 
 laws laid down to u^', and as far as our influence 
 can extend, endeavour to inforce them j beyond' 
 that fmall circle all is foreign to us ; we have 
 fufEcient employment in improving ourfelves ; to 
 mend the world requires much abler hands.' 
 
 * When you talk of laws, madam, by which 
 you would regulate your ad^ions, faid Lament, 
 you raife a jult alarm ; as for matter of opinion, 
 every one may demand an equal power, but laws 
 feem to require obedience ; pray, from whence 
 do you take thofe which you wifli to make your 
 rule of life ?' 
 
 ' From whence, anfv/ered Mrs. Mancel, (hould 
 a Chriftian take them, from the Alcoran, think 
 you, or from the wifer Confucius, or would you 
 feek in Coke on Littleton, that you may efcape 
 the iron hand of the Icgiflative power ? No, fure- 
 ly, the Chriftian's law is written in the Bible, 
 
 * there. 
 
Mifs Mancel and Mrs. Morgan. 149 
 there, independent of the political regulations o^ 
 particular communities, is to be found the law 
 of the fupreme Lcgiilator. There, indeed, is 
 contained the true and invariabh law of nati- 
 ons ; and according to our performance of it, we 
 fliail be tried bv a judge, whofe v/ifdom and im- 
 partiality fecurc him from error, and whofe power 
 is able to execute his ov/n decrees. This is the 
 law I meant, and whoever obeys it, can never 
 offend efientially againft the private ordinances 
 of any community. This all to whom it has 
 been declared are bound to obey, my confent to 
 receive it for the rule of my actions is not ma- 
 terial ; for as whoever lives in England mufl fub- 
 mit to the laws of the country, though he may 
 be ignorant of many of the particulars of them ; 
 fo whoever lives in a Chriftian land is obliged to 
 obey the laws of the Gofpel, or to fufFer for in- 
 fringing them ; in both cafes, therefore, it is 
 prudent for every man to acquaint himfelf tho 
 roughly with thefe ordinances, which he cannot 
 break with impunity.' 
 
 ' If fuch obedience be neceffary, faid Lament, 
 what do you imagine will be the fate of moft 
 of the inhabitants of Chriltendcm ; for yau will 
 allow, that they do not regulate their conduct by 
 fuch fevere commands ?* 
 
 ' What will be their fate, replied^ Mrs. Man- 
 cel, I do not pretend even to fuppofe, my bufi- 
 nefs is to take care of my own. The laws a- 
 gainft robbery are not rendered either lefs juft, 
 or lefs binding, by the numbers" that daily fteal, 
 or who demand your purfe on the high-way. Laws 
 are not abrogated by being infringed, nor does 
 the difobedience of others make the obfervance 
 of them lefs my duty. I am required to anfwer 
 only for myielf, and it is not man whom I arn 
 11 3 ' ordered 
 
I5O Th E FI I S T O R Y O F 
 
 , * ordered to imitate. His failings will not excufe 
 ' mine. Humility forbids me to cenfiire others, 
 ' and prudence obliges me to avoid copying them.' 
 
 ' Lamont ihoiig!it Mrs. Mancel too fevere in 
 ' her doclrinc; but there Avas fomething fo rcfpcc^- 
 ' able in her feverity, that he forbore to conteft it, 
 '- and owned to miC afterwards, that, while fhc 
 ' fpoke, and hs contemplated that amiable fociety, 
 ' his heart filently acquiefced in the ju'dnefs of her 
 * fentiments.' 
 
 We parted at our ufual hour ; and at the fame 
 time the company in the lower part of the houfe 
 broke up, eleven o'clock beinfr the flated hour for 
 them. on thofe occafions to return to their refpedtive 
 homes. 
 
 The next m.orning, as I went down flairs, I 
 met the houfe- keeper, and entered into converfa- 
 tion with her, for which the preceding night's fe{' 
 th'ky furniflied me with topics. From her I learnt, 
 that fmce the ladies had been eftablifiied in that 
 houff, they had given fortunes from twenty to an 
 iuindred pounds, as merit and occafion direcled, to 
 iibout thirty young women, and that they had fel- 
 doni celebrated fewer than two marriages in a year, 
 fometimes more. Nor does their bounty ceaie on 
 the v/edding-day, for they are ^W/clj^ ready to af-*" 
 fift them on any emergency ; and watch with fo 
 careful an eye over the coiidu£i: of thefe young peo- 
 ple, as proves of much greater fcrvice to them than 
 the money they bcftow. They kindly, but ftrong- 
 ]y, reprehend the firft error, and guard them by 
 the moil prudent admonitions againft a repetition of 
 iheir fault. By little prefents they {hew their ap-* 
 probation of thofe who behave well, always pro- 
 portioning their gifts to the merits of the perfon ; 
 which are therefore looked upon as the moil ho- 
 nourable teftimony of their conduct, ajid are trea- 
 • ^ , fured 
 
Mifs Mancel an'd Mrs. Morgan. 15I 
 
 fured up as valviable marks* of ciiflinclion. This 
 encouragement has great influence, and makes them 
 vye with each other in endeavours to excel in fo- 
 bricty, cleanlinefs, meeknefs and induflry. She 
 told me alio, that the young women bred up at the 
 fchools thefe ladies iupport, are fo much elteemed 
 for many miles round, that it is not uncomnioii 
 for young farmers, who want fober good wives, to 
 obtain them from thence, and prefer them to girls 
 of much better fortunes, educated in a different 
 manner, as there have been various inftances where- 
 in their induftry and qiiicknefs of undcrftanding, 
 v/hich in a great meafure arif'cs from the manner of 
 their education, has proved more profitable to their 
 hufbands than a more ample dower. 
 
 She added, that fhe keeps a regifter of all the 
 boys and girls, which, by her good ladies m.eans, have 
 been eftablifhed in the world j whereby it appears, 
 that thirty have been apprenticed out to good trades, 
 threefcore fixed in excellent places, and thirty mar- 
 ried. And it feldom happens, that any one takes 
 an apprentice or fervant, till they have firft fent to 
 her ladies to know if they have any to recom- 
 mend. 
 
 I exprefTed a defire to fee the fchools, which fhe 
 obligingly offered to,fhew me, but feared we could' 
 not then have time to go thither, as breakfaft was 
 juft ready. While i was talking with her, I ob- 
 ferved, that the fingers of one of her hands were 
 contracted quite cloie to the palm. I took notice 
 of it to her. Oh ! fir, fa id file, ' it was the luckieft' 
 ' accident that could pofTibly be ; as I was obfi2;ed' 
 ' to work for my fupport, I was very much iliock- 
 ' ed at my recoverv from a fever, to find myfelf 
 ' deprived of the ufe of an hand, but flill tried if 
 ' I could get myfelf received into fervice; as I was 
 ^' fenfible I could, notwithflanding my infirmity,' 
 
 H 4 • « perforin 
 
152 The History of 
 
 * perform the bufmefs of an houfe-keeper ; but no 
 
 * one would take me in this maimed condition. 
 ' At laft I ^^as advifed to apply to thefe ladies, and 
 
 * found what had hitherto been an impediment, 
 
 * was a ftronper recommendation than the good 
 
 * character I had from my lafl place ; and 1 am 
 
 * lure I have reafon to value thefe diftorted fingers, 
 
 * more than ever any one did the handfomeft hands 
 
 * that ever nature made. But, added Die, fmil- 
 
 * ing, few of my fellow-fervants are better quali- 
 
 * fied i the cook cannot walk without crutches, 
 "^ the kitchen maid has but one eye, the dairy maid 
 ' is almoft ftone-deaf, and the houfe maid has but 
 
 * one hand ; and yet, perhaps, there is no family 
 ' where the bufmefs is better done ; for gratitude, 
 ' and a convidion that this is the only houfe into 
 ' which we ca?n be received, makes us exert our- 
 •■ fclves to the utmoil j and moft people fail not 
 ' from a deficiency of power, but of inclination. 
 •• Even their muficians, if you obferved it, fir, are 
 ' much in the fame condition. The lleward, in- 
 ' dsea^ muft be excepted ; he is one whom the 
 ^ good Mr. d'Avora chofe for the fake of his inte- 
 ^ grity fome years before he died, as his fuccefibr 
 ' in the care of the ladies affairs, and employed 
 
 * him for fome time under his own infpedion, that 
 
 * he might be fure he was fit for the purpofe, 
 ' though he perfuaded the ladies to receive their 
 
 * own rents, and direcfl all the chief concerns of 
 
 ■ their eftates, which they have done ever fince, 
 
 ■ fo that theirs is rather an houfhold than a land 
 lleward. But, except this gentleman and the 
 ihepherd, there is not one of their muficians, 
 that is not under fome natural difadvantage ; the 
 defeats of two of them are fo vifible, I need not 
 point them out, but of the other two, one is 
 fubje£l to violent fits of the itone, and the other 
 
 * to 
 
Mifs Mancel and Mrs. Mqrgas. 15J 
 * to the afthma. Thus difablcd from liaid labour, 
 ' though they find fome einployment in the ma- 
 ' naiavSture, yet the additional profit which acciues 
 ' from their playing here, adds much to their com- 
 ' fort, as their infirmities render greater expences 
 ' neceflary to ihcm than to others in their fta- 
 ' tion.' 
 
 l>.ere was fomething fo whimfically good in the 
 conduct of the ladies in thefe particulars, as at 
 firft made me fmile ; but when I confidered it more 
 thoroughly^ I perceived herein a rjfinement of cha- 
 rity, v^hich, though extremely uncommon, was 
 entirely rational. I found, that not contended 
 with meerly bellowing on the indigent as larg«; a 
 part of their fortunes as they can poiTibly Ipare, 
 they carry the notion of their duty to the poor lo 
 far as to give continual attention to it, and en- 
 deavour fo to apply ail they fpend, as^ to make al~ 
 moft every Ihilling contribute towards the fupport 
 of fome pei/on in real neceflity ; by this means e- 
 vcry expence bears the meiit of a donation, in tlie 
 fight of him who knows their motives ; and tl.eir 
 conftant application is directed towards the relief of 
 others, while to fuperficial obfervers they feem only 
 providing for their own convenience. 'I'hc fafhion- 
 ble tradefman is lure not to have them in the lift 
 ol his cuiiomers ; but Ihould he, through the ca- 
 price of the muititLwde, be left without bufincfs, and 
 fee his elated hopes blafted, in all probability he 
 will find thefe ladies his friends. Thoie whofe 
 youth render them difregarded, or whofe old age 
 breeds negle61:, will here meet with deferved en- 
 couragement. This fort of ceconomy pleafca me' 
 much, it IB of the higheft kind, fiace it regards 
 thofe riches which neither moth liOr rufl can cor" 
 jrupt, nor thieves break through and {leal ; and is 
 within the reach of every perfon's imitation, for 
 
 H 5 the 
 
154 The History of 
 
 the pooreft may thus turn their neceffary expences 
 into virtuous adlions. In this they excel others, as 
 much as the bee doej the common butterfly ; they 
 both feed on the fame flowers •, but while the but- 
 terfly only gains a tranfient fubfiftence, and flics and 
 flutters in ail its gaudy pride, the bee lays up a 
 precious ftore for its future well being, and may 
 brave all the rigours of winter. Man, indeed, of- 
 ten encroaches on the labours of the bee, -and dif- 
 appoints itof its reafonable hope ; but no one with- 
 out our ov.n concurrence can defpoil us of the 
 treafures laid up in heaven. 
 
 As the good houfe-keeper foretold, the bell foon 
 fummoned me to breakfall ; which, like every o- 
 ther hour fpent in that fociety, was rendered de- 
 lightful by their rational chtarfulnefs, and polite 
 freedom. We offered to take our leave, but fhould 
 have been difappointed liad we not been aflced to 
 prolong our vifit -, nor v/ere we fo infmcere as to 
 make much refinance to this agreeable invitation ; 
 we exprelTed fome fears of interrupting their better 
 employments ; to which Mrs. Morgan replied, by 
 afihring us. that we did not do fo in the leaft ; but ad- 
 ded, ' I will tell you plainly, gentlemen, the only 
 
 * alteration we fhall wifh to make, if you will fa- 
 ^ vQur us with your com.pany a few days longer. 
 
 * Our family devotions are regular, as you were 
 
 * iir<\ngers we have not fummoned you to them, 
 
 * but for the reft of your vifit we muft beg leave 
 ' to alter that method j for we do not think it a 
 < proper example to our fervants, to fuffer any one 
 
 * in this houfe to be excluded from them; though 
 ' as your coming was fudden, and has been pro- 
 
 * longed only, as it were, from hour to hour, we 
 
 * at firit did not think it neceiTary to require your 
 
 * prefeiice.' 
 
 You 
 
Mifs Mangel and Mrs Morgan-. 155 
 You may imagine we expreiled ourfelves obliged 
 by this fvAuknek ; and, for my own part, I was 
 glad of what appeared to me- like being received 
 into a community of faints; but was forced to wait 
 for it till night, the devotion of the morning liav- 
 ing been paid before breakfall, as was ufual in that 
 family. 
 
 Mrs. Maynard accompanied us that morning into 
 the park, and having placed ourfelves^on a green 
 bank under an elm, by the fide of the canal, 1 cal- 
 led on her to perform her promifc, and increafe my 
 acquaiiitance with the reft of the ladies, by giving 
 fome account of them. 
 
 * I fhall not the lefs readily comply, (he anfwer- 
 ' ed, for being able to bring what I have to fay of 
 
 * them, into lefs compafs, than I did my hiilory of 
 
 * Mrs. Morgan and Mifs Manccl, of whom, wh'-ii 
 ' I begin to fpeak, I always find it difjicult to leave 
 *• -oft', and am led by my fondnefs for the fubjedt into 
 
 * a detail, perhaps too circumUantlal. Lady Mary 
 *■ Joiies, by what I have already faid, you may 
 ■^ have perceived muft come next in order.' 
 
 H 6 THE 
 
[ 156 1 
 
 THE 
 
 HISTORY 
 
 O F 
 
 Lady MARY JONES. 
 
 LADY Mary was daughter to the Earl of Bramp- 
 ton by his lecond wife, wlio f'urvived the birth of 
 her child but a fev/ hours. The earl died v/hen his 
 dauo-hter was about ten vears old, and havino; before 
 his fecond marriage mortgaged to' its full value all 
 of his eftate which w^as not fetrhd on a fon born of 
 his firfl lady, his daughter was left entirely dtf- 
 titute of provifion. But as flie was too young to be 
 much aifedled v/ith this circumftance, fo fhe had 
 iittle reafon to regret it, when an increafe of years 
 might have awakened a fenfibility to that particu- 
 lar. Immediately on her father's death file was 
 taken by her aunt Lady Sheernefs, who declared 
 fhe fhould look upon her as her own child, and 
 indeed her indulgence verified the truth of her de~ 
 claration. 
 
 Lady Sheernefs was a widow ; her jointure con- 
 iiderable ; and her lord at his deceafe left her fome 
 thoufand pounds in ready money. When he died 
 ihe was about twenty five years old, with a good 
 perfon^ and infinite vivacity. An unbridled ima- 
 
 ginatioHj 
 
Lady Mary Jones. 157 
 
 ginatlon, ungovernable fpirits, with a lively arch 
 countenance, and a certain quaintnefs of expref- 
 fion, gained her the reputation of being polleiled 
 of a ereat deal of vint. Her lord, in the decline 
 of life^had been captivated by her youthful charms, 
 when fhe v/as but fixteen years old. His extreme 
 fondnefs for her, led him to indulge her vivacity 
 in all its fallies ; and frequently while he was laid 
 up at home in the gout, her ladyfhip was the fineft 
 and gavefl v/oman at every place of public refort. 
 Often, when the acutcncfs of his pains obliged 
 him to feek relief from the foporific infiucnce of 
 opium, foe collected half the tovv'n, and though his 
 reft was difturbed every moment by a fucceffion of 
 impetuous raps at the door, he v^-as nevtr offended ; 
 on the contrary, he thought himfelf obliged to her 
 for flaying a: home, which {lie had aiiurcd him 
 was, *• becaufe Cae could not bear to go abroad 
 ' when he was fo ill.' This, as the greateft mark 
 of her tendernefs he ever received, he failed not to 
 acknowledge with gratitude. She fcarcely took 
 more plcafure in having a train of admirers, than 
 his lordfhip felt from it ; his vanity was flattered 
 in feeing his wife the obje^l of admiration, and 
 fancied himfelf much envied, for fo valuable a pof- 
 feffion. Her coquettry charmed him, as the failles 
 of that vivacity of which he Was fo fond. He had 
 no tincSlure of jealoufy in his v/hole compofition ; 
 and acknowledged, as favors conferred on himfelf, 
 the attentions paid to his wife. 
 
 Though Lord Sheernefs's condu61: may appear 
 rather uncommon, yet it feemed the refuk of fome 
 difcernment, or at leaft his lady*s difpofition was 
 fuch as julHfies this opinion ; ihe had received a 
 genteel education; no external accomplifhments had 
 been neglctSled ; but her underilanding and princi- 
 ples were left to the imperfedion of nature cor- 
 rupted 
 
158 The History of 
 
 Tupted by cuftom. Religion was thought too ferl- 
 ous a thing for lb young a perfon. The opinion of 
 the world was always reprefented to her as the true 
 criterion hy which to ji-dgc of every thing, ai;d 
 fafhion fupplied the place of every more material 
 confiJcration. With a mind thus formed, ihe en- 
 tered the world at fixteen, furroundcd with pomp 
 and fplendor, v/ith every gratification at her com- 
 mand, that an affluent fortune, and an indulgent 
 hufband could bcftow : by nature inclined to no 
 vice, free from all dangejous palTions, thech^rm of 
 innocence accompanied her vivacity ; undefigning 
 and artlefs, her' follies were originally the confe- 
 quences of her fituation, not coniiitutional, though 
 habit engrafted them (o ftrongly, that at length 
 they appeared natural to her. Surrounded with 
 every fnare that can entrap a youthful mind, fhc 
 became a victim to difTipation, and the love of ta- 
 fhionabie pleafures ; deftitutc of any flable princi- 
 ples, (he was carried full fail dowji the ft ream of ^ 
 folly. In the love of coquetry and gaming, few 
 equalled her ; no one could exceed her in the pur- 
 fuit of every trifling amufement ; fhe had neither 
 leifure nor inclination to think, her life palTed in an 
 uninterrupted fuccei]:on of engagements, without 
 reflexion on the paft, or confideration on the future 
 confequences. 
 
 The lightnefs of her conducSl expofed her to 
 the addrelfes of many gay men curing the life oFhec 
 lord ; but an attachment v/as too ferious a thine for 
 her 5 and while her giddijiiefs and perpetual diilipa- 
 ticn expofed her to rui'piclon, they preferved her 
 from the vice of w^hich Ihc was fufpe^^ed : fhe dai- 
 ly pafTed through the ordeal trial -, every ftep fhe 
 took was dangerous, but fhe came off unhurt. Her 
 repuiation was indeed doubtful, but her rank and 
 fortune, and the continual amufcments which her 
 
 houfe 
 
Lady M a r y J o n e s. 159 
 
 houfe yielded to her acquaintance, rendered her 
 generally carrelied. 
 
 Her lord's death made no alteration in her way 
 of life ; and as her mind was never fixed an hour 
 on any fubject, fhe thought not long enough of 
 marriage, to prepare for that flate, and therefore 
 continued a widow. She was upwards of forty 
 years old, unchanged in any thing but her perfon, 
 when file took lady Mary Jones, 1 will not fay into 
 her care, for that word never entered into her voca- 
 bulary, but into her houfe. Lady Mary had natu- 
 rally a very goodunderftanding, and much vivacity, 
 ■the latter met with every thing that could zCAl in 
 its increafe in the company of Lady Sheernefs, the 
 other was never thought of: fhe was initiated into 
 every diverfion at an age, when other girls arc con- 
 fined to their nurfery. Her aunt was fond of her, 
 and therefore inclined to indulgence, befides (he 
 thought the knowledge of the world, which in her 
 opinion was the mofl eflential quaiification for a 
 woman of fafhion, was no way to be learnt, but 
 by an early acquaintance with it. 
 
 Lady Mary's age and vivacity rendered this 
 doctrine extremely agreeable; fhe was pretty, and very 
 lively and entertaining in her converfation, there- 
 fore at fifteen years of age fhe became the moft 
 carrelied perfon in every company. She entered 
 into all the fafhionable tafles, was coquettifh and 
 yj<ravagant ; for Lady Sheernefs very liberally fur- 
 nifhed her with money, and felt a fort of piide in 
 having a niece diftinguifhed by the finenefs of her 
 drefs, and her profufion in every expence, as it was 
 well known to have no other fource, but in her 
 Ladyfhip's generofity. Though Lady Mary receiv- 
 ed much adulation, and was the obje6i of jreneral 
 courtfhip, yet fhe had no ferious love made to her 
 till fhe was between fixteen and feventeen, v/hQa 
 
 ihe- 
 
1 6o The FI i s t o r y o f 
 
 fhe accompanied her aunt to Scarborouj^h : file was 
 there very a.iidoufly foilowed by a gentleman, re- 
 puted of a large fortune in Wales. He was gay and 
 well-bred, his perfon moderately agreeable, his 
 undcrllanding fpecious, and his manner infinuatini^. 
 There was nothing very engaging In the man, 
 except the appearance of a very tender attach- 
 ment. .She had before found great pleafure in 
 being admired J but her vanity was llill more flat- 
 tered in being loved: fhe knew herfelf capable of 
 amufmg ; but till now had never been able to give 
 either pleafure or pain, according to her iovereign 
 decree. She grew partial to Mr. Lenman (that 
 was the name of her lover) becaufe he raifed her 
 confequence in her own eyes: fhe played off a 
 thoufand airs of coquettry, which fhe had never 
 yet had an opportunity to exercifc for want of a 
 real lover. Sometimes fhe would elate him by en- 
 couragement ; at others, freeze him into defpair 
 by her afFe6ted coldnefs : flie was never two hours 
 the fame, becaule fhe delighted In feeing the vari- 
 ety of paiTions flie could excite. 
 
 Mr. Lenman was certainly fufHciently torment- 
 ed ; but fo great a proficiency in coquettry, at To 
 early an age, was no difcouragcment to his hopes. 
 There are no people fo often the dupe of their own* 
 arts as coquets ; efpecially when they become (o 
 very early In life ; therefore, inltead of being 
 damped in his purfuit, he adapted his behaviour f» 
 her foible, vanity, and by aflliming an air of in- 
 difference, could, when he pleafed, put an end 
 to her affe6led referve ; though he was not fo un- 
 polite a lover, as quite to deny her the gratifica- 
 tion fhe expelled from her little arts. He found 
 means, however, to command her attention^ by 
 the very ferious propofal of matrimony. She had no 
 great inclination for the ftate, but the novelty pleafed 
 
 her. 
 
Lady Mary J o n e s. i6i 
 
 her, i'liepleafure fbe received from his addrelTes flie 
 mKtoo' .#"^r love, and imagined herfelf deeply enamour- 
 ed, when fhe was in reality only extremely fluttered ; 
 the eommon error of her age . In the company fhe 
 had kept matrimony appeared in no very formidable 
 lieht ; fhe did not fee that it abridg;ed a woman of 
 any of the liberties fhe already enjoyed ; it only af- 
 forded her an opportunity of chufmg her own di- 
 verfions ; whereas her tafle in thofe points, fome- 
 times differed from her aunt's ; to whom, however, 
 fhe was obliged to fubmit. Thus prepoilelTed, both 
 in favour of her lover and his propoial, fhe liften- 
 ed to him with more attention than fhe chofe he 
 fhould perceive j but he was too well acquainted 
 with the pretty arts of coquettry, not to fee through 
 them. He therefore took courage to infinuate his 
 defire of a private marriage, and ventured to per- 
 luade her to take a trip with him to the northern 
 fide of Berwick upon Tweed. 
 
 Lady Mary could not fee as Mr. Linman's for- 
 tune was confiderable, and her's entirely precarious, 
 why he was fo apprehenfive of not being accept- 
 ed by her aunt, but there was fomething fpirited 
 in thofe northern journies, that had always been the 
 objects of her envy. An adventure was the fupreme 
 pleafure of life, and thefe pretty flights gave mar- 
 riage all the charms of romance. To be forced to 
 fly into another kingdom to be married, gave her 
 an air of confequence ; vulgar people might tie the 
 knot at every parifh-church, but people of diflinc- 
 tion fhould do every thing with an eclat. She 
 imagined it very probable, that her aunt would con- 
 fent to her union with Mr. Lenman ; for, though 
 he was not equal to her in birth, yet he was her 
 fuperior in fortune ; but yet (he. looked upon his 
 fears of a refufal as m.eritorious, fmce he aiTured 
 her they arofe from his extreme affection, which 
 
 filled 
 
1 6 2 T H E - H I S T R Y OF 
 
 filled him v/ith tenors, on the lead profpecl of" 
 Ipfing her. ' Should Lady Sheeriieis/ he uraed, 
 ' rejecl: his propofal, fhe might then be extremely 
 
 * offended with their marrying, after they knew 
 
 * her difapprobation ; but if they did it without 
 
 * her knowlege, fhe would not have room to com- 
 ' plain of downright difobedience, and if it v/as 
 ' difpleafmg to her, yet being done, and pafl re-. 
 ' medy, fhe would be inclined to make the heft of 
 
 * what was unavoidable, and forgive what fhe 
 
 * could not prevent.' 
 
 Thcfe arguments were fufliciently folid for a 
 girl of fixteen, v/ho never thought' before, and 
 couid fcarcely be faid to do fo then. Lady iVlary 
 complied with his plan, and the day was fixed 
 when they were to take this lively ftep j their fe- 
 yeral flages fettled, and many more arts and con- 
 trivances to avoid difcovery concerted, than they 
 were likely to have any Q.ccafion for; but in that 
 variety of little fchemes, and romantic expedients, 
 her chief pleafure in this intended marriage con- 
 fided. 
 
 The day before that on which Lady Mary and 
 her lover were to fet out for Scotland, fhe was air- 
 ing with Lady Shecrnefs, when one of the horfes 
 taking fright, they were overturned down a very 
 fteep declivity. Lady Sheernefs was but very little 
 hurt, but Lady Mary was extremely bruifed ; one 
 fide of her face received a blow, Vv'hich fwelled it 
 fo violently, that her eye was quite clofed, and her 
 body was all over contufions. She was taken up 
 fenfelefs, entirely iiunned by the (hock. As foon 
 as fhe was carried home, Ihe was put to bed ; a 
 fever enfued, and fhe lay a fortnight in a deplora- 
 ble condition, though her life was not thought to be 
 in danger. Her pain, for the greatell part of that 
 time, w^a5 too acute to fuffcr her to reflecSt much. 
 
 oa 
 
Lady Mary Jones. 163 
 
 en -the different manner it) which flie had intended 
 to employ that period ; and when her mind be-? 
 came more at liberty, her difappointment did not 
 fit heavy on her fpirits ; for as her heart was not 
 really touched, flie confidered the delay which this 
 ill-timed accident had occafioned without any 
 great concern, and rather pleafcd herfeli" with 
 thinking, that fhe fhould give an uncommon 
 proof of fpirit, in undertaking a long journey^ fo 
 foon after flie was recovered, from a very evident 
 proof, that travelling is not free from danger. As 
 file had during this confinement, more time to think 
 than all her life had yet afforded her, a doubt 
 would fome^iimes occur, whether fhe did right in 
 entering into fuch an engagement without the con- 
 fent of her aunt, to whom flie was much obliged. 
 But thefe fcruples foon vanifhed, and fhe wondered 
 how ijuch odd notions came into her head, never 
 having heard the word duty ufed, but to ridicule 
 fomebody who made it the rule of their condu6l. 
 By all fhe had been able to obferve, pleafure was 
 the only aim of perfons of genius, Avhofe thoughts 
 never wandered but from one amufcment to an- 
 other, and, ' why fhould not fhe be guided by in- 
 ' clination as well as other people?' That one 
 queflion decided the point, and all doubts were 
 baniflied. 
 
 Before the blacknefs which fucceeded the fwel- 
 ling was worn off her face, and confequently be-- 
 fore fhe could appear abroad, a young Lady of her 
 acquaintance, who, out of charity^ relinquiihed the 
 div-erfions of the place, to fiL an afternoon with 
 Lady Mary, told her, as a whimfical piece of news 
 £i\Q had juit heard (and to tell which was the real 
 motive for her kind vifit, having long felt a fecret 
 envy of Lady Mary) that, ' her lover, Mr. Lei-^- 
 *• man, had been married fome years, to a young 
 
 ' lady 
 
164 The History of 
 
 « lady of fmaJI fortune, v/hom he treated on that 
 
 * account with fo little ceremony, that for a con- 
 
 * ilderable time he did not own his marriage, and 
 
 * fmce he acknowleged it, had kept her conitantly 
 
 * at his houfe in Wales.' 
 
 This was indeed nev/s of ccnfequence to Lady 
 Mary, but flie was little inclined to believe it, and 
 enquired what proof there was of this hS:. The 
 young lady replied, that ' fhe had it from a rela- 
 
 * tion of her's lately arrived at Scarborough, who 
 
 * having been often in Mr. Lenman's neighbour- 
 
 * hood, w^s well acquainted both with him and 
 
 * his wife, and had in a pretty large company, 
 
 * where fhe was prefent, afked him after Mrs. Len- 
 
 * man's health, to which he made as fhort an an- 
 
 * fwer as he could, but fuch as fhewcd there was 
 
 * fuch a perfon, and his confufion on this queftion 
 
 * made her relation enquire what could be the 
 
 * meaning of it, which all the company could ea- 
 
 * fily explain.' 
 
 Lady Mary was prodigioufly difconcerted with 
 this intelligence; her informer imagined the vifible 
 agitation of her fpirits proceeded from her attach- 
 ment to Mr. Lenman, but in reality it was the 
 efFe£l of terror. She was frighted to think how 
 near fhe was becoming the obje^l of general ridi- 
 cule and difgrace, wedded to a married man, and 
 duped by his cuaning ; for fiie immediately per- 
 ceived why her aunt was not to be let into the fe- 
 cret. How contemptible a figure muil Ihe afterwards 
 have made in the v^orld ! 7 here was fomcthintj: in 
 this aclion of Mr. Lenman's very uncommor^ 
 fafhionable vices and follies had in her opinion re- 
 ceived a fan.6i:ion from cuitom, but this v^as of a 
 different and a deeper dye ; and little as fhe had 
 been ufed to refisvt on good and evil, in any other 
 
 light 
 
Lady Mary Jones. 165 
 
 lio-ht than as pleafant and unpleafant, (he conceived 
 an horror at this a6tion. 
 
 After her vifitor departed, fhe began to reflefl on 
 the luckinefs of the overturn, which had obftrucled 
 her raHi defign, and admiring her good fortune, 
 would certainly have offered rich facrilices on the 
 fhrine of Chance, had there been a temple there 
 erc6led to that deity. 
 
 While her mind was filled with thefe Impreilions, 
 the nurfe, who had attended her in her ficknefs, 
 anJ was not yet difmifTed, entered the room, cry- 
 ing with joy, and told her, that ' flie had juft re- 
 ^ ceived the news of the fliip's being loft wherein 
 ' her fon was to have embarked, had he not been 
 * feized with a fit of ficknefs. two days before it fet 
 ' fail, which made It impoffible for him to go on 
 ' board.' The poor woman was profufe in her 
 acknowledgements for God's great mercy, who had 
 by this means prevented the deil:ru6tion of her 
 dear child ; ' to be Aire, added file, I fhall never 
 again repine at any thing that happens to me. 
 How vexed I was at this difappointment, and 
 thought myfelf the moft unfortunate creature in 
 the world, becaufe my fon miffed of fuch a good 
 poft as he was to have had in this fliip ; I was 
 continually fretting about it, and fancied that fo 
 bad a fetting out was a iign the poor boy would 
 be unlucky all his life. Hov/ different things 
 turn out from what we expe£i: ! Had not this 
 misfortune, as I thought it, happened, he would 
 now have been at the bottom of the fca, and my 
 poor heart would have been broken. Well, to 
 be fure God is very kind ! I hope my boy will 
 always be thankful for this providence, and love 
 the lyord who has thus preferved him.' 
 
 Ti.is 
 
i66 The History of 
 
 This poor woman fpoke a new language to Lady^ 
 Mary. She knev/, indeed, that God had made the 
 world, and had ient her into it, but fhe had never 
 thought of his taking any farther care about her. 
 She had heard, that he had forbidden murder, and 
 Healing, and adultery, and that, after death, he 
 would judge people for thofe crimes, and thefe fhe 
 fuppofed was the utmoft extent of his attention. 
 But the joy fhe felt for her own deliverance, from 
 a mdsfortune into which flie v.as fo near involving: 
 herfelF, and the refemblance there was in the means 
 of her prefervation, to that for which her nurfe 
 was fo thankful, communicated to her fome of the 
 fame fenfations, and fhe felt a gratitude to him 
 who, fhe imagined, might polTibly be more careful 
 over his creatures than flie had ever yet fup- 
 pofed. 
 
 Thefe imprefHons, though pretty flrong at the 
 time, wore ofF after fhe got abroad. A renewal 
 of the fame diilipation fcattered them with every 
 other ferious thoua;ht ; and fhe airain entered into 
 the hurry of every trifling amufement. JVlr. Len- 
 rnan, as foon as he found that his marriage was be- 
 come public, deipairing of the fuccefs of his fcheme, 
 left the place before Lady iVIary was out of her 
 confinem.ent, afraid of meeting the reproachful 
 glances of a v/oman, v/hom he defigned to injire; 
 and whofe innocence, notwithftanding her levity, 
 gave her dignity in the eyes of a man, who had 
 really conceived an ardent pailion for her. 
 
 Lady Sheernefs and her niece ftaid but a fhort 
 time at Scarborough after the latter was perfectly 
 recovered, the feafon being over. They returned 
 to London, and all the gaiety it affords ; and 
 though the town was at that time not full, yet 
 they had fo general an acquaintance, and Lady 
 Sheernefs rendered her houfe fo agreeable, that fhe 
 
 never 
 
Lady Mary J o nt e s. 167 
 
 never wanted company. Every feafon has Its dif- 
 ferent amufemcnts, and thefe ladies had an equal 
 tafte for every thing that bore the name of diver- 
 fion. It is true, they were not always entertained ; 
 but they always expeded to be ib, and promifed 
 themfelves amends the following day, for the dif- 
 appointmcnt of the prefent. If they failed of plea- 
 furcy they had diiTipation, and were in too conti- 
 nual a hurry to have time to afk themfelves whe- 
 ther they were amufed ; if they faw others were fo, 
 they imagined themfelves mud be equally enter- 
 tained ; or if the dullnefs of the place was too 
 great to be overlooked, tliey charged it on their own 
 want of fpirits, and complained of a languor, which 
 .rendered them incapable of receiving pleafure. 
 
 Lady Mary fortunately had had no confidant in 
 her defign of running awny with Mr. Lenman, 
 and the part he had a6ted was fo difhonourable, he 
 could not wifh to publifh it ; her imprudence was 
 therefore known only to herfelf j and the fear of 
 difoblig-ina her aunt, bv lettino; her intended difo- 
 bedience reach her ears, induced her to conceal it; 
 otherwife, moil probably^ in'fome unguarded hour, 
 fhe would have amufed her acquaintance with the 
 relation, embelliflied with whatever circumflances 
 would have rendered it amufing; for the love of 
 being entertaining, and the vanity of being liiloiied 
 to with eagernefs, will lead people of ungoverned 
 vivacity to expofe their greateft failings. * 
 
 Lady Mary's levity encouraged her admirers to 
 conceive hopes, which her real innocence fliould 
 have repreffed. Among this number was Lord Ro- 
 bert St. Cjeorge. He was both in perfon and man- 
 jier extremely plcafing 5 but what was a ftronger 
 charm to a young woman of Lady Mary's turn of 
 mind, he was a very fafhionable man, much ca- 
 reffcd by the ladies, and fuppoftd to have been fuc- 
 
 cefsful 
 
i68 The History of 
 
 ccfsful in his acldrefles to many. This is always a 
 great recommendation to the gay and giddy ; and 
 a circumftance which fliould make a man ihuned 
 by every woman of virtue, fecures him a favoura- 
 ble reception from the moft fafhionable part of our 
 fex. I 
 
 Lady Mary would have accufed hcrfelf of want 
 of tafte, had fhe not liked a man, whom fo many 
 others had loved : She faw his attachment to her 
 in the light of a triumph over feveral of her ac- 
 quaintance ; and when a man raifes a woman in 
 her own efteem, it is feldom long before he gains a 
 confiderable fliare of it for himfelf. Vanity repre- 
 fented Lord Robert as a conqueft of importance, 
 and his qualifications rendered him a very pleafmg 
 dangler. Lady Mary liked him as well as her lit- 
 tle leifure to attend to one perfon would permit : 
 She felt that pleafure on his approach, that pain at 
 his departure, that follicitude for his prefence, and 
 that jealoufy at the civilities he paid any other wo- 
 man, which girls look upon as the fymptoms of a 
 violent paiTion, whereas if they were to examine 
 their hearts very nicely they would find, that only 
 a fmall part of it proceeded from love. 
 
 Lord Robert v/as too well fkilled in thefe mat- 
 ters, to remain ignorant of the impreiTion he had 
 made ; and if he had been lefs quick-fighted, the 
 frequent intelligence he received of it, would not 
 h?.e fufFered him long; to remain in i2;norance. 
 Lr.dy Mary, vain of her conqueft, and proud of 
 Deirg in love, as is ufual at her age, let every in- 
 timate into her confidence, and by mutual commu- 
 nication they talked a moderate liking into a paflion. 
 Each of thefe 3'^oung Ladies were as ready to tell 
 their friend's fecrets as their own, till the circle uf 
 that confidence included all their accjuaintance. 
 
 From 
 
Lady M a r y J o n e s. i % 
 
 From many of thefe Lord Robert heard of Lady- 
 Mary's great attachment to him, which ferved not: 
 a little to flatter his hopes. He imagined he fhould 
 meet with an eafy conqixft of a giddy, thoughtlefs 
 girl, entirely void of all fixed principles, and vio- 
 lently in love with him ; for his vanity exaggerated 
 her paffion. In this perfuafion he fuppofed nothing 
 was wanting to his fuccefs but opportunity, for 
 which he took care not to wait lonj];. 
 
 He was intimately acquainted with an old lady, 
 whom he often met at Lady Sheerneis's, whofe dif- 
 pofition he knew well failed to his purpofe ; file 
 had before proved convenient to him and others.; 
 not indeed by unrewarded afliftance •, for as her for- 
 tune was too fmall to fupply the expcnces of the 
 genteel way of life fhe aimed at, fhe was glad to 
 have that deficiency made up by prefents, which 
 fhe was therefore very arduous to deferve. This 
 lady, as flie was a woman of fafhion, and lived in 
 figure, was politely received in all gay companies, 
 who were not difpofed to take the trouble of ex- 
 amining fcrupuloufly into her chara6ier. She had 
 one material recommendation ; fhe played high at 
 caids, and omitted nothing to make her houfe agree- 
 able ; and few were more crouded. 
 
 This Lady had often been vifited by Lady Shcer- 
 nefs and her niece, thouo-h irenerallv at the fame 
 time with the multitude ; but one day, when fhe 
 knew the former was confined at home by indifpo- 
 fition, fhe invited Lady Mary, whofe aunt's com- 
 plaifance would not fufFer her to refufe the invita- 
 tion on her account. 
 
 Lord Robert was there, and as it was only a pri- 
 vate party, there was no card-tables but in the out- 
 ward room. The mifhefs of the houfe drew Lady 
 Mary into the inner, on pretence of having fome- 
 
 I thins: 
 
I JO TheHistoryof j 
 
 thing particular to fay to her ; Lord Robert foon 
 followed. The convcrfation grew lively between 
 him and Lady Mary ; and when the convenient 
 gentlewoman faw them . thoroughly engaged and 
 animated in dllcburfe, fhe quietly withdrew, re- 
 turning to the company, whole attention was too 
 much fixed on the cards, to perceive that any one 
 was mifling ; and to keep their thoughts more en- 
 tirely engrolTed, (he betted with great fpirit at every 
 table. 
 
 Lady Mary did not perceive fhe was left alone 
 with Lord Robert, till the growing freedom of his 
 addrefs made her obferve it; but as prudence was 
 not one of her virtues, fhe v/as not at all dif- 
 concert^d with this tete a tete -, nor did it lefTen 
 her vivacity. I^ord Robert, encouraged by her 
 eafmefs on the occafion, declared himfelf fo plain- 
 ly, that fhe was no longer able to blind herfelf 
 to his views, and with furprize found fedudtion 
 xvas his aim, if that word may be ufed for a • 
 man's defigns againfl the honour of a woman who 
 feems fo carelefs of it. Her heart was entirely 
 innocent of vice, and fhe could not imagine 
 how his lordOiip could conceive it pofiibie to 
 fucceed v/lth her in intenfions of that fort. She 
 had always thought fuch imprudence in a woman 
 a very great folly, for in a graver light fhe had 
 never beheld it, and fhewed herfelf offended at 
 his fuppofmg her capable of fuch a weaknefs ; but 
 without that honefl: indignation which a woman 
 would have felt, who had a6ted on better princi- 
 ples. 
 
 Lord Robert was not much difcouraged ; a wo- 
 man is under great difadvantage, when her lover 
 knows himfelf to be fo much beloved, that fhe 
 dare not let her anger continue long, for fear of 
 
 lofmg 
 
Lady M a r y J o n e s, 17 1 
 
 lofing him for ever. He was well convinced, that 
 meer worldly prudence could not make a lafting re- 
 fiftance againH a ilrong paffion, and fuch he flat- 
 tered himfelf hcr's was. He therefore ventured to 
 refume the fubje6l; but his perfeverance increafed 
 Lady Mary's furprize, and fhe began to think her- 
 felf affronted. Her partiality pleaded in his fa- 
 vour fome time ; but at length fl:e thought it ne- 
 celTary to retire, notwithflanding his utmofl en- 
 deavours to detain her. As Hie left him, fhe de- 
 fired him to learn to believe better of her under- 
 ftanding : fhe perceived it no otherwife an infult j 
 her education had deprived her of that delicacy, 
 which fhould have made her feel a fevere mortifi- 
 cation at the little fliare fhe had of the good 
 opinion of a man Ihe loved j on the contrary, fhe 
 efleemed the affront fhe had received a proof of his 
 afFe6^ion. She had often indeed heard the name of 
 virtue, but by the ufe fhe had known made of the 
 word, it appeared to her to have no other fignification 
 than prudence. She was not at all fliocked with 
 Lord Robert's conduct ; but refolved not to concur 
 in his viev/s, becaufe flie had no inclination to do 
 fo, that overbalanced her very moderate degree of 
 prudence. On this account flie determined to avoid 
 being again alone with him. 
 
 Lady Mary's natural fenfe gave rife to fome 
 doubts, whether the very open profeiTions of gal- 
 lantry, which Lord Robert had made to her were 
 common ; fhe had been frequently addreffcd with 
 freedom, but his behaviour feemed more than com- 
 monlyprefuming. In order to find wha^ others v/duld 
 think of it ; fhe often turned the converfation to thofe 
 fort of fubje(5f s, and was a good deal ftartled one day 
 by a lively, but amiable and modeft young lady, 
 who faid, flie believed no man that was not an ab- 
 
 I 2 (olutQ 
 
172 The FI is TORY of 
 
 iblute fool, or at the time intoxicated, ever infult' 
 <*J a woman with improper behaviour or difcourfc j 
 irhe had not from Tome impropriety in her con- 
 duct feen reafon to imao-ine it v/ould not be ill re- 
 ceived ; and I am fare, added flie, ' if fuch a thing 
 
 * was ever to befal me, it would convert me into a 
 *■ Rarched prude, for fear that hereafter innocent 
 
 * vivacity might be miltaken for vicious levity : I 
 
 < fhould take myfelf very feverely to tafk, convinc- 
 
 * ed the offence was grounded on my conduct •, for 
 « I am well perfuaded there is fomething fo re- 
 
 < fpedable in virtue, that no man will dare to in- 
 
 * fult it, except when a great dil parity in circum- 
 ' fiances encourages an abandoned wretch to 
 ' take advantage of the nccelf.tv of the indigent.' 
 
 Lady Mary was greatly afFeited by this fenti- 
 ment : ihe began to reflect on her own behaviour ; 
 and could not but fee, that Lord Robert m.ight, 
 without any great danger of offending, hazard the 
 behaviour he had been guilty of; fmce in effcift 
 fhe had not conceived much anger againft him, 
 and though fhe had hitherto avoided being again 
 alone with him, yet fhe had not fliewn any very 
 great marks of difpleafure. She now watched with 
 attention the conduil of other young ladies ; many 
 of them feemed to a61: on the fame principles as 
 herfelf ; but flic obferved that (he who had by her 
 declaration, firfl raifcd in her fufpicions about her 
 own behaviour, had a very different manner from 
 her's. She was indeed gay and lively ; but her 
 vivacity feemed under the dire6t:ion of modefly. In 
 her greateft flow of fpirirs, fhe hazarded no im- 
 proper expreflion, nor fuffered others to do fo with- 
 out a manifeft difguft : fne faw that the gentle- 
 men who converfed with her, preferved an air 
 of refpect and deference, which they laid afide when 
 
 they 
 
Lady M A R Y J N E s. J 73 
 
 they addrefied women, whofe vivacity degenerated 
 into levity. She now began to perceive fome im- 
 propriety' in her own behaviour, and endeavoured 
 to correal it ; but nothing is more difficult th.;ri 
 to recover a dignity once loih When (lie attem{>;- 
 ed to reftrain her gaiety within proper bounds, itio 
 was lau^^hed at for her afFedation : if, when ihv^, 
 converfation was improper, (he afTumed an air of 
 gravity, (he was accufed of the vapours, or re- 
 ceived hints that fhe was out of humour. 
 
 Thcfe were great difcouragements in her endea- 
 vours to correal the errors of her condu^, but 
 gave her lefs pain than the difficulties fhe was 
 under about Lord Robert St. George. He fliil 
 continued to addrcfs her with a freedom of manners 
 which fhe now perceived was infulting ; fhe wanted to 
 difcourage his infolence, but feared giving a total 
 offence to a man who had too great a fliare of her 
 affcdtions ; flie was apprehenfive, that if ihe quite 
 deprived him of his hopes, fhe fhould entii ely lofc 
 him, and he would attach himfelf to fome other 
 woman. T his fituation was dangerous, and Lord 
 Robert knew the power he had over her. The 
 di'emma flie was in really abated the vivacity fhe 
 wiflied to reflrain, but it wz^s 'immediately attri- 
 buted to the anxiety of a love-fick mind, and 
 file was expofed to continual raillery on that fub- 
 je61:. Her lover fecretly triumphed, flattering him- 
 felf, that her paffion was now combating on his 
 fide. 
 
 \ci this fituation (lie was unable to determine 
 what part toacf, and all her intimates were too much 
 like herfelf, to be capable of advifing her. Thus 
 diftreffev^, fhe refolved to cultivate the acquaintance 
 of the young lady who had opened her eyes to 
 her own condu6f, and try what relief fhe could 
 
 I 3 obtain 
 
174 TheHistoryof 
 
 obtain from her advice. This was eafily efFe<Sled ; 
 Ivady Mary was too amiable, not to have any ad- 
 vances fhe made anfwered with plcafure. An in- 
 timacy Toon enfued. 
 
 Lady Mary communicated to her new friend all 
 the difficulties of her fituation, and confefled to her 
 the true iKite of her heart. That young lady was 
 not void of compafiion for her uneannefs ; but told 
 h.T, that, * while flie was encouraging Lord Ro- 
 bert's pafljon, (he was lafmg his cflecm, which 
 alone w^as worth preferving. I allow, faid fhe, 
 that by depriving him of his hopes, you may put 
 an end to his addrcfles ; but confider, my dear 
 Lidy Mary, what fatisfadion they can afford 
 you, if they are only the refult of a fondnefs foF 
 your perfon, which would lofe all its charms for 
 him, as foonas it became familiarized by poiTefli- 
 on. You would then at once find yourfelf both 
 negledled and defpifed by the man, for v/hofe 
 fake you had rendered yourfelf truly defpicable. 
 I know you are incapable of an action that 
 would at the fama time rid you of his efteem, 
 and of the more valuable confcioufnefs of know- 
 ing yourfelf to be truly eftimable. I am not of 
 the opinion of thofe, who think chaftlty the only 
 virtue of confequence to our fex j but it is cer- 
 tainly fo very eirential to us, that fhe who vio- 
 lates it, feldom preferves any other. And how 
 fliould fhe ? for if there are others as great, 
 greater there cannot be, there is none fo neccf- 
 fary. But herein I know you are of my opini- 
 on ; I only therefore intreat you to fhew Lord 
 Robert that you are fo ; do not let him miltake 
 your real fentiments ; nor in order to preferve 
 his love, if cuftom will oblige me to call his 
 paflion by that name, leave him reafon to flatter 
 
 himfelf 
 
Lady M a r y J o n e s.' 175 
 
 * hlmfelf that you will fall a vi6liin to his arts, 
 
 * and your own weaknefs. 
 
 ' Confider with yourfelf, continued fhe, which 
 ' is moft defirable, his efteem or his courtfhip ? if 
 
 * you really love him, you can make no compari- 
 ' fon between them ; for furely there cannot be a 
 ' greater fufFering than to ftandlow in the opinion 
 
 * of any perfon who has a great fhare of our af- 
 ' fe(3:ion*. If he neglects you, on finding that his 
 ' ciiminal defigns cannot fucceed, he certainly 
 
 * does not deferve your love, and the confciouf- 
 
 * nefs of having raifed yourfelf in his opinion, and 
 
 * forced him to efteem you, together with the 
 
 * pleafure of reflecting that you have a<Sled as you 
 
 * ought, will afford you confolation.' 
 
 Thefe arguments had due weight with Lady 
 Mary ; fhe determined to follow her friends advice, 
 and fubmit to the confequences. Lady Sheernefy 
 had company that evening, and among the reft 
 Lord Robert. He was, as ufual, afliduous in his 
 addreffes to Lady Alary, who withdrawing to a little 
 diftance from the conppany, told tiim, that, ' fhe 
 had too long fuffered his lordfhip to continue a 
 courtfhip, v/hich he had plainly acknowledged 
 was made with fuch views, as gave her great 
 reafon to blame herfelf, for ever having liftened 
 to it. She acknowledged, that the levity of her 
 conduct had been fuch, as leflened her right to 
 reproach him. Encouraged by her errors, and 
 prefuming perhaps on a fuppofition, thi-t he was 
 not unpleafmg to her, he had ventured to infult 
 her in a flagrant manner; but without complain- 
 ing of what was paft, flie thought hcirfelf ob- 
 liged to tell him his purfuit was in vain ; that 
 the errors in her conduct were the fault of edu- 
 cation ; nor misrht (he fo foon have been con- 
 I 4 ijk^^^^ 
 
176 The History of 
 
 * vinccd of them, if his behaviour had not awaken- 
 
 * ed her to a fenfe of feme impropriety in her own 
 ' condu£^, which, confcioiis of the innocence of 
 
 * her intentions, fhe had never fufpeiSted: flie then 
 
 * told him, that if he did not entirely defilt from 
 
 * all addrelTes to her, fhe (linald be oblia;ed to ac- 
 
 * quaint her aunt with his behaviour, who could 
 ' not fufFer fuch an infult on her niece to pafs un- 
 
 * re fen ted.' 
 
 As foon as flie had thus explained h(*rfclf to 
 Lord Robert, (lie mingled with the croud, ihc>ugh 
 with a mind little inclined to join in their conver- 
 fation ; but her young friend was there, and en- 
 deavoured to fupport her fpirits, which were over- 
 come by the eftort fhe had made. This young la- 
 dy foon after w^ent into the country, and returned 
 no more to London. 
 
 Lord Robert was fo difconcerted, that he left the 
 room as foon gs Lady Mary had thus given him his 
 difmiflion.- As their acquaintance lay much in the 
 fame i'et, they frequently faw each other. Lord 
 R-obert endeavoured to conquer Lady Mary's rcfo- 
 lution, by fometimcs exciting her jealoufy, and at 
 others making her the objccSt of his addreiles^ but 
 ihe continued Heady in her conduct, though with 
 many fecret pangs." He began at laft to convcrfe 
 with her with greater eafe to himfelf, as his pnflioii 
 .{bated when no longer ncurifhed by hope j and 
 notwithftanding a remainder of pique, he could not 
 forbear treating her with a reipe^i; which her con- 
 duct deferved ; for he plainly faw fVie had a6Led in 
 conL^adi(5lion to her own heart. This alteration in 
 his behaviour afforded her great fatisfa61ion j and 
 thou"-h her love was not exUnfruifned, it ceafcd to 
 be very painful, when fhe was perfuaded flic had ob- 
 tained fomc fhare of his ef^ecm. 
 
 When 
 
Lady M a r y J o n e s. 177 
 
 When Lady i\4iiry was in h:r twentieth year. 
 Lady Sheernels was i'-izcd with a lingering, but 
 inciirable diforder. It made little alteration in her 
 mind. In this melancholy fituation (lie applied to 
 cards and companv to keep up her fpirits, as af- 
 fiduoufly as fhe had done during her better health. 
 She was incapable indeed of going To much abroad, 
 but her acquaintance, who ilill found htr houf'e 
 agreeable, applauded their charity in attending htr 
 at home. Cards ^vcn employed the morning, for 
 fear anv intermJflion of vifitors Tnould leave her a 
 moment's time for refle6lion. In this manner (he 
 pafTed the fhoit remainder of her life, without one 
 thought of that which was to come. Her ac- 
 quaintance, for I cannot c^ill them as they did 
 tliemfelvcs, friends, were particularly careful to 
 avoid every fubje£l that might remind her of death. 
 At night flie procured fteep by laudanum ; and 
 from the time (he rofe, fhe took care not to have 
 leifure to thinks even at meals fhe conftantly en- 
 gaged company, left her niece's converfatioa 
 Ihoald not prove fufficient to difiipate her thoughts. 
 Every quack v/ho propofed curing what was in- 
 curable was applied to, and (he was buoyed up with 
 fucceHive hopes of approaching relief. 
 
 She grew at lall: fo weak, that unable evenj"!^ 
 perform, her part at the card-fable, Lady IViary wag 
 obliged to deal, hold her cards, and fort them for 
 her, while jQie could juft take them out one by one, 
 and drop the.m on the table. Whid and quadrille 
 became too laborious to her vvcakened intf^lle^is, 
 but loo fupplied their places, and continued htr 
 amufenjent to the laft, as rcafon or oKfnory were 
 hot nect'l^ary qualifications to play at k, 
 
 I 5 Her 
 
ly^ The History of 
 
 Her ac;fjuaintance fhe found at length begin to 
 abfent themfelves, but fhe re-animated their cha- 
 rity, by making frequent entertainments for them, 
 and was reduced to order genteel fuppers to en- 
 liven the evening, when flie hei felf was obliged 
 to retire to her bed. Though it was for a confi- 
 derable time doubtful whether fhe fhould live till 
 morning, it was no damp to the fpirits of any of 
 the company from which Ihe had withdrawn, ex- 
 cept to Lady Mary, who, with an aching heart, 
 was obliged to prefide every evening at the table, 
 and to fhare their unfeeling mirth, till two or three 
 o'clock in the morning. 
 
 She was greatly affli(5led with the thought of her 
 aunt's approaching death, whofe indulgence to her, 
 however blameable, had made a deep imprefTiori on 
 her heart ; as this gave a more ferious turn to her 
 mind, fhe could not fee Lady Sheernefs's great 
 infenfibility to what muft happen after death with- 
 out much concern. .The great care that was taken 
 to rob her of leifure to refle6^ on matters of fuch 
 high importance fhocked her extremely ; and fhe 
 "was difgulled with the behaviour of thofe fhe call- 
 ed her friends, who fhe plainly perceived would 
 have fallen into a total negleft of her, had fhe not 
 fbund means to render her houfe more amufing to 
 them, than any into which they could enter. She 
 :fiow faw that friendfhip exifted not without efl:eem^ 
 and that pleafurable connections would break at 
 the time they were mofl wanted. 
 
 This courfe of life continued, till one .evening 
 Lady Sheerneft was fcized with a fainting fit 
 at the card-table ; and being carried to her bed, in 
 half an hour departed to a world of which flie 
 had never thought, and for wluch ihe was totally 
 unprepared. 
 
 As 
 
Lady M A R Y J o N E s. 179 
 
 As Lady Mary was not able to return to the 
 company, they in decency, not in giHidlion, re- 
 tired. 
 
 Having long expeiSled this event, her grief was 
 greater than her furprize. She fent for the gen- 
 thman who fhe knew was her aunt's executor, that 
 her will might be opened, and necefTary directions 
 given for the funeral. Lady Mary had no doubt 
 of fucceeding to an eafy fortune, and wheji the 
 will was read it confirmed her in that fuppofition, 
 by appointing her fole heirefs. But the exacutor told 
 her he feared \hc would find no inheritance. The 
 will was made on her iirfl: coming to Lady Sheer- 
 nefs, when there was fome remains of the money 
 her lord had left her; but he was well convinced, 
 it had fince been not only entirely expended, but 
 coniiderable debts incurred. 
 
 This account was foon proved true, by the de- 
 mands of numerous creditors. I^ady Mar}" gave 
 up ail her aunt's efFe<^^s, which fell fliort of the 
 debts, and remained herfelf in the fame deftitute 
 condition from v/hich Lady Sheernefs had refcued 
 her. This was a very fevere fhock ; fhe had ih&n 
 fufftcient proof of the little real friendfliip to be 
 found in fuch fafhionable connexions as fhe had 
 been engaged in, to know that fhe had nothing to 
 hope from any of her acquaintance. Her father 
 had been at varience >vith mofl of his relations, 
 and Lady Sheernefs had kept up the quarrel. She 
 had therefore littls expe-itation of affiftance from 
 them, in the only wifh fhe could form, which was 
 to obtain a penfion from the government, whereto 
 her rank feemed to entitle her^ She faw no re- 
 fource but in the pride of fome infolent wom^n, 
 who would like to have a perfon of her quality de- 
 pendant on her s a profpeCi far wcrfe thaa dc?^ih- 
 
 16 Or 
 
i8o The History of 
 
 Or poffibly, good-nature might procure her a rC' 
 ception among fome of her acquaintance ; but as 
 Ihe had nothing even to anfwer her perfanal ex- 
 pences, how foon would they grow weary of fo 
 chargeable a vifitor ? 
 
 While (lie was opprefTcd with thefe reflexions, 
 ;ind had nothing before her eyes but the gloomy 
 profpect of extreme diftrefs, flie received a meflagc 
 from Lady Brumpton, who waited in her equipage 
 at the door, defiring to be admitted to fee her, for 
 Lady Mary had given a general order to be denied, 
 being unfit to fee company, and unwilling to be 
 expofed to the infulting condolence of many, whofe 
 envy at the fplendor in which fhe had lived, and 
 the more than common regard that had ufually 
 been fhev/n her, would jiave come merely to enjoy 
 the triumph they felt on her prefent humiliation. 
 
 Lady Brumpton was widow to Lady Mary's 
 half brother. She had been a private gentlewoman 
 of good family, but fmall fortune ; by marrying 
 whom, her lord had given fuch offence to his fa- 
 ther, that he would never after admit him to his 
 prefence. Lady Sheernefs had fhewn the fame re- 
 fentment, and there no longer fubfifled any com- 
 munication between the families. Lord Brumpton 
 had been dead about three years, and left no chil- 
 
 dren. 
 
 His widow was ftill a fine woman. She was by 
 nature generous and humsne, her temper perfecSfly 
 good ; her underftanding admirable. She had been 
 educated with great care, was very accomplifhed, 
 had read a great deal, and with excellent tafte ; 
 fhe had great quicknefs of parts, and a very un- 
 common (hare of wit. Her beauty firft gained her 
 much admiration ; but when fhe was better known, 
 the charms of her underdanding feemcd to eclipfe 
 
 thofe 
 
Lady Mary Jones. i8r 
 
 thoie of her petTon. Her* convcrfation v.'as gene- 
 rally courted, her wit and learning were the perpe- 
 tual rabic<5^s of panegyric in verfe and profe, which 
 unhappily fervedto increafe her only failing, vanity. 
 Siie fought to be admired for various merits. '1 o 
 recommend her perfcn fhe fludied drefs, and went 
 to a confiderable expence in ornaments. To fliew 
 her tafte, fhe diilinguiflied herfelf by the elegance 
 of her houfe, furniture, and equipage. To prove 
 her fandncfs for literature, ihe collected a confide- 
 rabJe library ; and to fhew that all her efteem was 
 not engrofled by the learned dead, fiis carcflcd all 
 living genius's ; all were welcome to her houfc, 
 from the r;-gged philofopher, to the rhiming peer ; 
 but v/hile fhe only exchanp;cd adulation v/ith the 
 latter, (he generoudy relieved the ntcefT.ties of the 
 former. She aimed at making her houfe a little 
 academ.y ; all the arts and fcieiiccs were there dif- 
 cuffed ; and none dared lo enter who did not think 
 themfelves qualified to fhine, and partake of the 
 luflre which v/as diffufcd round this afTembly. 
 
 Though encircled by fcience and flattery, Lady 
 Mary'.s diilrefs reached Lady Brumpton's ears, and 
 brought her to that young lady's door, who was 
 lurprized at the unexpccled vifit, but could not rc- 
 fufe her admittance. Lady Brumpton bejian by 
 apologizing for her intrufion, but excufed her- 
 felf on the great defire (lie had of being acquaint- 
 ed with fo near a relation of her lord's, who, as ffie 
 was too young to have any fhare in fhe unhappy 
 divifions in the family, fhe v^as perfuaded was free 
 from thofe ill-grounded refentments, which the 
 malice and impertinence of tale-bearers are aJways 
 watchful to improve ; and when flie confidered her- 
 felf as the firfl occafion of the quarrel, (he thought 
 it her duty, in regard to her dcceafed lord's me- 
 mory^ 
 
i82 The History of 
 
 mory, to offer that protedlion his fifter might juftly 
 demand from her, and which her youth rendered 
 neceffary. 
 
 Lady Mary was charmed with the polltenefs of 
 Lady Brumpton's addrefs, but ftill more with the 
 generofity of her behaviour in feeking her out, at 
 a time when fo many were diligent to avoid her. 
 The acknowledgments flie made for the favour 
 done her, fpokc as much in her recommendation 
 as her perfon. Lady Brumpton after fome conver- 
 fation told her fhe had a requeft to make, to which 
 (he could not well fufFer a denial j this was no other 
 than that, ' fhe would leave that melancholy houfe, 
 
 * and make her's the place of her fixed abode ; for 
 < as, by Lord Brumpton's will, he had bequeathed 
 
 * her his whole fortune, fhe fhould not enjoy it 
 
 * with peace of mind, if his fifter did not fhare in 
 
 * the pofTeffion.' 
 
 This very agreeable invitation filled Lady Mary 
 with joy and furprize. She made a proper return 
 to Lady Brumpton for her generofity, and they 
 agreed, that Lady Mary fhould remove to her houfe 
 the next day. 
 
 When Lady Mary was left alone to reflect on 
 this ujiexpedted piece of good fortune, and confi- 
 dered the diftrefs flie had been in but two hours 
 before, and from which fhe was now fo happily 
 delivered; when fhe refleded on the many calami- 
 ties vv^herewith from her childhood fhe had been 
 threatened, and by what various means fhe had 
 been faved fo often from ruin, fhe could not for- 
 bear thinking that (he was indeed the care of that 
 Being, who iiad hitherto employed fo little of her 
 thoughts. Sfckch frequent mercies as fhe had re- 
 ceived, fometimes in being preferved from the fatal 
 coafequences of her own follies, at others from 
 
 the 
 
Lady Mary Jones. i8j 
 
 the unavoidable dlftrelTes ^to which fhe had been 
 expofed, awakened in her mind a lively gratitude 
 to the fupreme Difpoier of all human events. The 
 poor confolations to which her aunt had been re- 
 duced in the melancholy conclufion of her Hfe> 
 Ihewed her, that happinefs did not confift in dilli- 
 pation, nor in tumultuous pleafures, and could 
 alone be found in fomething which every age and 
 every condition might enjoy. Reafon Teemed this 
 fource of perpetual content, and fhe fancied that 
 alone would afford a fatisfadion fuitable to every 
 ihte of mind and body. Som.e degree of reli- 
 gion flie imagined ncceflary, and that to perform 
 the duties it required v/as requifite to our peace. 
 But the extent of true religion fhe had never con- 
 fidered, though her great good fortune told her, that 
 file oucrht to be thankful for the blefTings conferred^ 
 and not diftruft th€ care of providence, of which 
 fhe had received fuch fignal proofs. 
 
 She had often heard Lady Brum*, ton ridiculed 
 under the appellation of a genius, and a learned 
 lady ; but when fhe recollected who thofe perforrs 
 were, ,no other than the open profcfTors of folly, 
 it did not prejudice that lady in her opinion, but 
 rather railed her expe6^ation of being introduced 
 into a fuperior race of beings, for whofe conver- 
 fation (he knew herfelf unqualified, but from whom 
 fhe hoped for fome improvement to her under- 
 ftanding, too long negleded. 
 
 In this difpofition of mind Lady Brumpton found 
 her at the hour that fhe had appointed to fetch her. 
 They went dire£tly into Lady Brumpton's dreilfing 
 room, who prefented Lady Mary with a fettlement 
 Ihe had prepared of a hundred pounds a year, 
 which (he begged her to accept for her cloaths ; 
 and defired, that whenever ilie found it infufficient, 
 
 ihe 
 
184 The Historyof- 
 
 £he would draw on her for more : (he at the fame 
 time, made her the firft payment. 
 
 Lady Mary now entered into a new fet of com- 
 pany, frequently found herfelf entirely at alofs ; for 
 fhe was fo totally unacquainted with the fubjects 
 of their difcourfe, that fhe underilood them ahnoft 
 as little as if they had talked another language ; 
 fhe told Lady Brumpton how much fhe was con- 
 cerned at her own ignorance, and begged flie 
 would ^ive her fome diredions what flie fhould 
 read. That Lady, whofe chief aim was to fhine, 
 recommended to her the things moft likely to fall 
 into converfation, that fhe might be qualified to 
 bear her part in it. Lady Mary took her advice, 
 and read fome moral ellays, juil publilhed ; then a 
 neiv play j after that the hiftory of one fhort pe- 
 riod ; and ended with a volume of fermons then 
 much in fafhion. When fhe begp.n to examine 
 what fhe had acquired by her ftudies, (he found 
 fuch a confufion in her memory, where an hiflo- 
 rical anecdote was crouded by a moral fentiment j 
 and a fcrap of a play interwoven into a fermon, 
 that fhe determined to difconiinue that mifcejlane- 
 cus reading, and begin a regular and improvino; 
 courfe, leaving to others the privilege of fetting in 
 judgment on every new production. 
 
 In this fituation Lady'ivlary continued fome 
 years, without any mortification, except what flic 
 felt from feeing the confequences of Lady Brump- 
 tons too great vanity. It \td her into expenccs^ 
 v/hich though they did not confiJerably impair her 
 fortune, yet fo far flraightened it, that fhe fre- 
 quently had not power to indulge the generofity of 
 her mind, where it would have done her honour, 
 and have yielded her folid fatisfa6iIon. The adu- 
 ktion which (lie received with too much vifible 
 
 ccmplaccncy. 
 
Lady Mary Jones. 185 
 
 comphcency, infpired herewith fuch an opinion of 
 herfelf, as led her to difpife thole of lefs fhining 
 qualities, and not to treat any with proper civility, 
 whom fhe had not fome particular defire to pleafe, 
 which often gave fevere pangs to baihful merit, 
 and called her real fuperiority in queiiion ; for thofe 
 who obferved fo great a weaknefs, were tempted 
 to believe her underftanding rather glittering than 
 folld. The defire of attradting to her houfe every 
 perfon who had gained a reputation for genius, 
 occafioncd many to be admitted, whofe acquaint- 
 ance were a difgrace to her, and who artfully 
 taking advantage of ber weaknefs, by excefs of 
 flattery, found means ofimpofingon her to any de- 
 gree they pleafed. 
 
 The turn of converfation at her houfe was ridi- 
 culed in every other company, by people who ap- 
 peared mofl: defirous of being in her parties. And 
 indeed it was capable of being fo ; the extreme en- 
 deavour to fliine, took off from that eafe in con- 
 verfation ,which is its greateft charm. Every per- 
 fon was like a bent bow, ready to {hoot forth an 
 arrow ; which had no fooner darted to the other 
 fide of the room, than it fell to the ground, and 
 the next perfon picked it up, and made a new foot 
 with it. Like the brifk lightning in the Rehearfal, 
 they gave fla{h for fiafh ; and they were continu- 
 ally ftriving whofe wit fliould go off with the 
 grcatell report. Lady Mary, Vv'ho has naturally a 
 great deal of vivacity, and a fufficient fhare of 
 wit, made no bad figure in the brilliant affembly j 
 for though (lie perceived an abfurdity in thefe mock 
 fKirmiihcs of genius, yet fne thought proper to 
 conform to her company ; but faw plainly that a 
 fprightly look, and lively elocution, made the 
 
 chief 
 
i86 The History of 
 
 chief merit of the beft bons mots that were uttered 
 among them. 
 
 After fhe had fpent about five years with Lady 
 Brumpton, this lady was feized with a nervous fe- 
 ver, which all the art of her phyficians could not 
 entirely conquer. Her fpirits were extremely af- 
 fected, and her friends decreafed in their attentions^ 
 as her vivacity decayed. She had indeed always 
 been fuperior to her company, in every requifite 
 to pleafe and entertain, therefore v/hen fhe could 
 not bear her part the converfation flagged j they 
 dwindled from fomething like wit into oddity, and 
 then funk into dullnefs. She was no longer equal- 
 ly qualified to pleafe or to be pleafed ; her mind 
 was not at unifon with fhallow jefters, and there- 
 fore they could make no harmony. 
 
 Her diforder wore her extremely, and turned to 
 an atrophy. In that gradual decay fne often told 
 Lady Mary, ' (he was awakened from a dream of 
 
 * vanity ; fhe faw how much a defire to gain the 
 ' applaufe of a few people, had made her forget 
 
 * the more neceflary aim of obtaining the appro- 
 
 * bation of her Creator. She had indeed no cri- 
 
 * minal a6lions to lay to her charge ; but how 
 
 * fhould fhe ? vanity preferved her from doing 
 
 * any thing which fhe imagined would expofe her 
 ' to cenfure. She had done fome things com- 
 
 * mendable, but fhe feared the defire of being com- 
 
 * mended was part of her motive. The humility 
 ' and calmnefs of a true chriftian difpofition had 
 ' appeared to her meannefs of fpirit or afFe6lation, 
 
 * and a religious life as the extremefl dullnefs ; but 
 
 * now too late fhe faw her error, and was fenfible 
 ' fhe had never been in the path of happinefs. 
 
 * She had not erred from want of knowledge, but 
 ^ from the flrong impulfe of vanity, which led her 
 
 *to 
 
Lady Mary Jones. 187 
 
 * to negledl it; but ficknefs, by lowering her fpirits, 
 ' had taken away the falfe glare which dazled her 
 
 * eyes, and reftored her to her fight.' 
 
 Lady Brumpton was fenfible of her approaching 
 death fome weeks before fhe expired, and was 
 perfectly refigned. Lady Mary had a fecond time 
 the melancholy office of clofing the eyes of a be- 
 nefadrefs and relation whom fhe fmcerely loved. 
 Lady Brumpton, to remove from her any anxiety on 
 her own account, acquainted her, as foon as her dif- 
 eafe became defperate, that fhe had bequeathed 
 her ten thoufand pounds, and all her plate and 
 jewels. 
 
 Lady Mary found this information true, and re- 
 ceived the fum. She was tenderly concerned for 
 the lofs of fo good a friend ; and by the various 
 circumftances of her life, and the many bleffings 
 beflowed on her, had a heart fo touched with the 
 greatnefs of divine mercy, that her mind took a 
 more ferious turn than common ; and tired of the 
 multitude in which fhe had fo long lived, fhe was 
 feeking for a retirement, when fhe met Mrs. Mor- 
 gan and Mrs. Mancel at Tunbridge ; and as 
 I have already told you, came hither with them. 
 
 Mrs. Maynard was not a little wearied with fo 
 long a narrative, and therefore did not continue 
 much longer with us ; but Lamont and I remain- 
 ed in the park till dinner. 
 
 In the afternoon the Ladies propofed we fhould 
 go upon the water, a fcheme very agreeable to us 
 all ; fome of the inhabitants of the other commu- 
 nity were of the party. We got into a very 
 neat boat, of a fize fufficient to contain a large 
 company, and which was rowed by the fervants of 
 the family. We went about three miles up the 
 river, with great pleafure, and landed jufl by a 
 
 nea( 
 
iS8 The History of 
 
 neat lioufe, where we underllooJ wc were to drink 
 tea. The milirefs of it received us with great joy, 
 and told the ladies (he had longed to iee them, 
 their young folks having quite finifhed her houfe, 
 which (he begged leave to fliew us. Its extreme 
 neatncfs rendered it an object worthy obfervation ; 
 and I was particularly attentive, as its fize fuiting 
 my plan of life, i determined to copy it. 
 
 The rooms were neither large nor numerous, but 
 moft of them hung with paper, and prettily adorn- 
 ed. There were feverai very good uravvMngs fmmed 
 with ihells, elegantly put together; and a couple 
 of cabinets defigned for ufe, but they became orna- 
 mental by being painted, and fea- weeds ftuck there- 
 on, which by their variety, and the happy difpo- 
 fition of them, rendered the doors, and each of 
 the drawers, a diftin£t landfcape. Many other, 
 little pieces of furniture v/ere by the fame art made 
 very pretty and curious. I learnt in a whifper from 
 Mrs. Maynard, that this gentlewoman was widov/ 
 to the late miniHer of the parifh, and was left at his 
 death with five fmall children, in very bad 
 circumftances. The ladies of Millenium Hall 
 immediately raifed her drooping fpirits, fetiled 
 an income upon her, took this houfe, furnifhed it, 
 and lent her fome of their girls to alTift in making 
 up the furniture, and decorating it, according to 
 the good woman's tafte. She carried us into 
 her little garden, that was neat to an excefs, and 
 filled with flowers, v/hich we found fome of her 
 children tying up, and putting in order, w'hile the 
 younger were playing about, all dreffcd with the 
 fame exadl neatnefs as herfelf. 
 
 When we had performed this little progrefs v/c 
 found tea ready, and fpcnt the afternoon with 
 greater pleafure, for obferving the high gratification 
 
 which 
 
Lady Mary Jones. 189 
 which this vifit iccmed to ^fFord the miftrefs of the 
 houre. In the room where we fat was a book-cafe 
 well (locked J my curiofrty was great to fee what it 
 contained, and one of the ladie?, to whom I men* 
 tioned it, indulged me by opening it herfelf, and 
 looking at fome of the books, I found they con- 
 fided of fome excellent treatifes of divinity, feve- 
 ral little things publiflied for the ufe of children, 
 and calculated to iiUliil piety and knowledge into 
 their infant minds, with a colledlion of our beft 
 periodical papers, for the amufement of lighter 
 hours. Moft of thefe books, I found, were Mrs, 
 Manccl's prefent. 
 
 The finenefs of the evening made our return 
 very delightful, and we had time for a little concert 
 before fupper. 
 
 The next morning T called up Lament very early, 
 and reminded thehoufs-kecperofher promifeoffliew- 
 ing us the fchools ; which (he readily performing, 
 conduced us firR to a very large cottage, or rather 
 fn-e or fix cottages laid together. Here we found 
 about fifty girls, clad in a very neat uniform, and 
 perfectly clean, already fcatcd at their refpeitive 
 bufmefles. Some writing, others calling accounts, 
 fome learning leilbns by heart, feveral employed in 
 various forts of needle- work, a few fpinning, and 
 Others knitting, with two fchool-miftrefles to in- 
 fpeft them. The fchool-room was very large, and 
 perfe6lly clean, the forms and chairs they fat on 
 were of wood, as white as poffible ; on flielves 
 were wooden bowls and trenchers equally white, 
 and fhining pewter and brafs feemed the ornaments 
 of one fide of the room ; while pieces of the chil- 
 dren's work of various kinds decorated the other; 
 little famples of their performances being thus ex- 
 hibited as encouragement to their ingenuity. 
 
190 The History of 
 
 I afked many queflions as to their education, 
 and learnt, that they are bred up in the {}ri<5teft 
 piety ', the ladies by various fchemes, and many 
 little compofitions of their own, endeavour to in- 
 culcate the pureft principles in their tender minds. 
 They all by turnb exercife themfelvcs in the feve- 
 ral employments which we faw going forward, that 
 they may have various means of gaining their fub- 
 fiilence, in cafe any accident fhould deprive them 
 of the power of purfuing any particular part of 
 their bufinefs. The ladies watch their genius's 
 with great care ; and breed them up to thofe things, 
 which feem mofl fuitable to the turn of their minds. 
 When any are defigned for fervice, they are taught 
 the bufmefs of the place they are beft fitted for, by 
 coming down to the hall, and performing the necef- 
 fary offices under the direction of the excellent fer- 
 vants there. , 
 
 A very large kitchen garden belongs to the houfe, 
 which is divided into as many parts as there are 
 fcholars ; to weed, and keep this in order, is ♦ 
 made their principal recreation ^ and by the no- 
 tice taken of it, they are taught to vye with each 
 other which fhall beft acquit themfelves, fo that 
 perhaps never v^'as a garden fo neat. They like- 
 wife have no fmall fhare in keeping thofe at the 
 hall in order; and the grotto and feats are chiefly 
 their workmanfhip. 
 
 I gave them due praife upon their performances 
 at the clergyman's widow's, and delighted two of 
 them very much by my admiration of a little ar- 
 bour, which they had there planted with woodbines 
 and other fweet fhrubs. In their own garden they 
 are allowed the indulgence of any little whim 
 which takes not up too much room i and it is pretty 
 
 to 
 
Lady Mary Jones. 191 
 
 to fee their little feats, their arbours and beds of 
 flowers, according to their feveral taftes. As foon 
 as fchool breaks up, they run with as much eager- 
 nefs and joy to their garden, as other children do 
 to their childifli fports ; and t'heir higheft pleafure 
 is the approbation their patronefiTes give to their 
 performances. They like wife take it by turns to 
 do the buftnefs of the houfe, and emulation excites 
 them to a cleanlinefs, which could not by any other 
 means be preferved. 
 
 From this fchool we went to one inflituted for 
 boys, which confined of about half the number, 
 and molt of them fmall, as they are difmifled to 
 labour as foon as they are able to perform any 
 work, except incapacitated by ill health. This is 
 iniUtuted on much the fame principles as the other, 
 and every boy of. five years old has his little 
 fpade and rake, which he is taught to exercife. 
 
 We returned from our little tour time enough 
 for prayers, with minds well prepared for them, 
 by the view of fuch noble fruits of real piety. 
 Indeed the fteward wlio reads jthem, does it 
 with fuch extreme propriety, and fuch humble 
 and fmcere devotion, as is alone fufficient to 
 fix the attention, and warm the hearts of his 
 hearers. 
 
 After breakfafl was over, we got Mrs. May- 
 nard to accompany us into the garden, fhe in 
 complaifance to us, abftaining while we were 
 at the hall, from her fhare in the daily vifits 
 the ladies pay to their feveral inflitutions, and 
 to the poor and fick in their village. Their 
 employments are great, but their days are pro- 
 portionable ; for they are always up by five o'clock, 
 and by their example the people in the village rife 
 equally early -, at that hour one fees them all en- 
 gaged 
 
i^Z The History of 
 
 gaged in their feveral bufinclTes, with an afli- 
 duity, which in other places is not awakened till 
 much later. 
 
 I called on Mrs. Maynard to continue her 
 talk, which without any previous ce;cmony fhe 
 did as follows. 
 
 hr 
 
 
 THE 
 
[ 195 1 
 
 THE 
 
 I S T O R Y 
 
 O F 
 
 Mrs. S E L V ¥• N. 
 
 7\ f R. Sclvyn, the younger brother of an anci- 
 iVl ent family, whofe fortune was inferior to 
 the rank it held In the country, where it had long 
 been fixed, was placed in trade in London ; but 
 his fuccefs not anfwering his hopes, he gave it up 
 before it was too late to fecure himfelf a Imall fub-, 
 fiitence, and retired into the country, v/hen Mils 
 ^clvyn was about five years old. His wife had 
 been dead two years ; thus his little girls education 
 devolved entirely on himfelf. , , . ^ 
 
 He bred her up genteely, though his fortune 
 was fmall, and as he was well qualified for the 
 n-irt, became himfelf her tutor, and executed tnat 
 ofRre fo welU that at twelve years old fhe excelled 
 all the younjr ladies in the neighbourhood of her 
 own aee, intrench, and writing, either for hand 
 or ftile ; and in the great propriety and grace with 
 which fne read Englilh. She had no fmall know- 
 ledge of accounts j and had made fome progress 
 
1 g6 The History of 
 
 in the ftudy of hiftory. Her perfoii was eiC2;ant 
 and pleafing, and her temper and manner perl'e^tly 
 engaging ; but yet thefe charms could not induce 
 the neighbouring families, to forgive her for ex-« 
 celling other girls in her accomplifhiments. 
 
 They cenfured Mr. Selvyn, ' for giving his 
 
 * daughter an education, to which her fortune was 
 
 * fo little fuited, and thought he would have done 
 ' better to have bred her up to houfewifery, and 
 ' qualified her for the v/ife of an honeit tradefman;' 
 for part of what he had was known to be a life in- 
 come ; a (m-dW Jifw cure having been procured him 
 by his friends in town, before he retired into the 
 country. 
 
 The cenfures of thofe who love to fliev/ their 
 own wifdom by blaming others, had little effe6t on 
 Mr. Selvyn; he continued his diligence in culti- 
 vating his little girl's mind ; and even taught 
 himfelf many things, that he might be able to in- 
 ftru6l her. If he did not breed her up in a man- 
 ner to gain a fubfiftence by the mofl ufual means, 
 he however qualiiied her to fubfili on little ; he 
 taught her true frugality without narrownefs of 
 mind ; and made her fee how few of all the ex- 
 pences the world ran into were ncceilary to hap- 
 pinefs. He deprived her of all temptation to pur- 
 chafe pleafures, by infurucling her to feek only in 
 herfelf for them ; and by the various accompiiih- 
 ments he had given her, prevented that vanity of 
 mind, v/hich leads people to ieek external amufe- 
 ments. I'he day was not fuificient for her em- 
 ployments, therefore flie could not be reduced to 
 trifle avv^ay any part of it, for fear of its lying heavy 
 on her hands. 
 
 7husMifs Selvyn was bred a philofopher from 
 her cradle \ but was better inftru(5ted in the doc- 
 trine 
 
Mrs. S E L Y Y N. 197 
 
 tiiue of the ancient moraliils, than in the principles 
 of chriflianity. Mr. Selvyn was not abfolutely a 
 free-thinker ; he had no vices that made him an 
 enemy to chriftianity ; nor that pride which tempts 
 people to contradi6l a religion generally received ; 
 he did not apprehend that difbelief was a proof of 
 wifdoni, nor wifhed to leflcn the faith of others, 
 but was in himfelf fccptical ; he doubted of what 
 he could not entirely comprehend, and feemed to 
 think thofe things at leafl: improbable which were ' 
 not level to his underftandinc:. Hea\oided the fub- 
 je6L Vv^th Mifs Selvyn, he could not teach her what 
 he did not believe ; but chofe to leave her free to 
 form that judgment, which fhould in time feem 
 inoft rational to her. 
 
 I could not forbear interrupting Mrs. Maynard, 
 to fignify my approbation of Mr. Selvyn's conduit 
 in this particular, as the only inilance I had ever 
 met with of a candid mind, in one who had a 
 tendency towards infidelity; for ' I never knew 
 ' any who were not angry with thofe that believed 
 ' more than themfelves, and 'who were not more 
 
 * eager to bring others over to their opinions than 
 ' nioft foreign miffionaries ; yet furely nothinor 
 ' can be more abfurd, for thefe men wiil not dare 
 ' to fay that the virtues which chrifiianity requires 
 'are not indifpenfible duties ; on the contrary, 
 ' they would have us imagine they are moll fin- 
 ' cercly attached to them; what advantage then- 
 ' can accrue to any one, from being dej^rived of 
 
 * the certainty of a reward for his obedience? 
 
 * If we deny revelation, we muft acknov/ledge 
 ' this point to be very uncertain ; it was the fub- 
 ' je6t of difpute and doubt among all the philo- 
 ' fophers of antiquity ; and we have but a poor 
 ' dependance for fo great a blcfling, if we reft 
 
 * our expectation where they did thdrs. Can a 
 
 K 2 ' mail 
 
19^ The History of 
 
 man therefore be rendered happier by being de- 
 prived of this certiinty ? Or can v/e fuppofe he 
 will be more virtuous, bccaufe we b.ave removed 
 all the motives that arife from hope and fear ? 
 And yet, what elfe can excufe an infid I's defire 
 to make converts ? Nothing. Nor can any thing 
 occafion it hut a fecrct confcioufhefs that he is 
 in the wrong, which temps him to wifh for the 
 countenance of more afTociates in his error ; this 
 likewife can alone give rife to his rancour againfl: 
 thofe who believe more thav himfetf ; he feels 
 them a tacit reproach to him, which to his pride 
 is infupportable.' 
 
 ' But, faid Lamont, do you imagine that a 
 free-thinker may not be certain of a future 
 date?' 
 
 ' Not pofitively, anfwered Mrs. Maynard ; if he 
 is certain of that point, he is a believer without 
 owning it ; he muil have had his certainty from 
 Scripture ; all the reafon he boafts can only (hev/ 
 it probable, and that probability is loaded v/ith fo 
 many difficulties, as will much weaken hope. 
 Where can reafon fay immortality fliall flop ? 
 We muft allow that Omnipotence may bcilow it 
 on fuch ranks of being as he pleafes : But hov7 
 can reafon tell us to whom he has given it ? 
 Whether to all creation, or no part of it .? Pride 
 indeed makes man claim it forhimfelf, but deny 
 it to others ; and yet the fuperior intelligence 
 perceivable in fome brutes, to what appears in 
 iome of his own fpecics, fhould raife doubts in 
 him who has nothing but the reafonings of his 
 ov/n- weak brain to go upon. But to proceed 
 Vv'ith my fubjedl.' 
 The minifter of the parifh wherein Mr. Selr- 
 vyn dwelt, was a gentleman of great learning and 
 ilri^ probity. He had every virtue in the moft 
 
 ami^- 
 
Mrs. S E L V Y N. JOq 
 
 amiable degree, and a genthnefs and humility of 
 mind which is the mofl agreeable characfieriftic of his 
 profeiTion. He had a ftrong fenfe of the duties of 
 his function, and dedicated his whole time to rhi 
 performance of them. He did not think his in- 
 f^ru(5^ions frsould be confined to the pulpit ; but (eu- 
 fible that the ignorant v/ere much more effedlualiy 
 taught in familiar converfation, than by preacliing ; 
 he vifited frequently the very pooreft of his pa- 
 rifhioners; and by the humility of his behaviour, 
 as much as by his bounty (for he diftributed great 
 part of his incom>c among the neceilitous) he gain- 
 ed the affections of the people fo entirely, that his 
 advice \vas all-powerful with them. 
 
 This gentleman's great recreation was vifiting 
 Mr. Selvyn, whofe fenfe and knowledge rendered 
 his converfation extremely entertaining, and Mifs 
 Selvyn's company was a great addition to the good 
 minifter's pleafure ; he took delight in feeing her, 
 as Hamlet fays, ' bear her faculties fo meekly.' 
 She was entirely void of conceit and vanity, and 
 did not feem to have found out that her knowledge 
 exceeded that of mofl perfons of her age, at leait 
 the looked upon it as a cafual advantage, which re- 
 BcSitd no honour to herfelf, but was entirely owing 
 to Mr. Selvyn. Her youthful chearfulnefs enliven- 
 ed the party, without rendering the converfation 
 lefs folid ; and her amiable difpofition made the 
 good minifler particularly anxious for her wel- 
 fare. 
 
 He foon found out Mr. Selvyn's fcepticifm, and 
 endeavoured to remove it. Fie reprefented to him 
 that, ' his not beinsr able to underfland the moil 
 ' myflerious parts of chriflianity was no argument 
 ' againft the truth of them. That there were' 
 ' many things in nature, whofe certainty he by no 
 ' means doubted, and yet was totally ignorant of 
 
 K 3 'the 
 
200 The History of 
 
 the methods whereby many of them operated, 
 and even of the ufe of fome of them. Could 
 hz fc\y what purpofe the £ery comet anfwers ? 
 Plow is its motion produced, fo regular in its 
 period, fo unequal in its motion, and fo ex- 
 centric in its courfe ? Of many other things man 
 is in reality as ignorant, only being able to form 
 a lyftem, which feems to fuit in fome particulars, 
 he imagines he has difcovered the whole, and 
 will think fo till fome new fyftem takes place, 
 and the old one is exploded. He afked Mr. 
 Selvyn, If they defcended to the meaneft objects, 
 in what manner could they account for the poly- 
 l-us's property of fupplying that part of its body 
 which fhall be cut av/ay ? That infe6t alone, of 
 all the creation, does not continue maimed by 
 sniputationj but multiplies by it. To what can 
 we attribute this differeiice in an irucci, vvhich in 
 all particulars befide, refemblf^s fo many others ? 
 Yet who doubtd of the reality of thefe things? 
 If we cannot comprehend the fmallefl works of 
 almighty wifdom, can we expetSl to fathom that 
 wifdom itfelf ? And fay, that fuch things he can- 
 not do, or cannot chufe, becaufe the fame effedis 
 could be produced by other means ? Man no 
 doubt might exert the fame fundlions under ano- 
 ther form, why then has he this he now wears ? 
 Who will not reply, becaufe his Maker chofe it, 
 and chofe it as feeing it beft. Is not this the 
 proper anfwer on all occafions, when the decrees 
 of the Almighty are diiculfed ? P'a6ls only are 
 obvious to our reafon ; we muft judge of them 
 by the evidence of their reality ; if that is fuffi- 
 cient to eltabliili the t'dih ; why, or how they 
 were produced, is beyond our comprehenfion. 
 Let us learn tiiat finite minds cannot judge of 
 infinite v/ifdom, and confine our reafon within 
 
 ' its 
 
Mrs. S E L V Y N. 201 
 
 * its proper fphere.' By thefc^ and many other ar- 
 guments, Mr. Selvyn was brought to believe th<i 
 polTibility of what he did not comprehend ; and by 
 this worthy clergyman's care, Mifs Selvyn was 
 early taught the truths of chriftianity, which though 
 the mod: neceilary of all things, was at iirft the only 
 one neglected. 
 
 In this retired fituation they continued till Mify 
 Selvyn was near feventeen years old ; Mr. Selvyn 
 then determined to remove to London ; and taking 
 a fmall houfe in Park-Rreet, fixed his abode there. 
 Lady Emilia Reynolds lived next door ; and foon 
 after their arrival made them a vifit ; a compliment 
 fhe faid, fhe looked upon as due to fo near a neigh- 
 bour. Some other ladies in the fame ftreet follow- 
 ed her example, and in a very fliort time Mifs Sel- 
 vyn was introduced into as large an acquaintance 
 as was agreeable to her 5 for fhe was naturally averfe 
 to much diffipation. 
 
 Lady Emilia Reynolds was a fingle lady of very 
 large fortune, her age upwards of thirty, her per- 
 fon fine, her manner gentle and pleafmg, and an 
 air of dejection did not render her countenance the 
 lefs engaging. She was grave and fenfible, and 
 kept a great deal of good company, without en- 
 tering into a gay wav of life. Mifs Selvyn's mo- 
 defty and good fenfe feemed to have great charms 
 for her ; fhe cultivated a friendlhip with her, not- 
 withlhinding fome difparity in their ages ; and nei- 
 ther of them appeared fo happy as when they were 
 together. 
 
 Mr. Selvyn could not be difpleafed at an inti- 
 macy fo delirable; nor could Mifs Selvyn be more 
 properly introduced into the world, than by a per- 
 fon of Lady Emilia's refpe6lablc charadt'^r. 
 
 K 4 At 
 
202 The History > 
 
 Atherhoufe Mifs Selvyn faw a great deal of good 
 company, and was fo generally liked, thatmanyin- 
 treated Lady Emilia to bring her to them, whenever 
 herladylhip favoured them v.'itha vifit. Thefe invi- 
 tations were generally complied with, as under 
 fuch a protecftrcfs Mifs Selvyn might properly ven- 
 ture to any place. Lady Sheernefs was one of this 
 number, whofe rank, and feme degree of relation- 
 Ihip, brought acquainted with Lady Emilia, though 
 the different turn of their minds, and their very 
 oppofite tafte of life, prevented any intimacy be- 
 tween them. Lady Emilia was not blind to Lady 
 Sheernefs's follies, butfhe elieemed them objects of 
 her compafiion, not of her cenfure ; nicely circum- 
 fpedf in her own conduct, fne judged with the ex- 
 tremeft lenity of the behaviour of others, ready to 
 attempt excufing them to the world, and not even 
 fufFering herfelf to blame what flie could not ap- 
 prove ; fhe fmcerely pitied Lady Mary Jones, who 
 leemed by fortune facrified to fol'y ; and fhe was 
 in continual fear left fhe fhould fall a victim to 
 that imprudence, which in her cafe was almoft un- 
 avoidable. 
 
 By this means Mifs Selvyn became acquainted 
 with Lady Mary, and v/as the young woman 1 be- 
 fore mentioned, as Lady Mary's advifer and con- 
 dudlor, in putting an end to Lord Robert St. 
 George's courtihip. 
 
 Not long after fhe had the fatisfa<5lion of thus 
 affifling a young lady, whofe failings gave her al- 
 moft as many charms as they robbed her of, flic 
 ha(l the misfortune to lofe Mr. Selvyn. All that a 
 child could feci for the lofs of a tender parent Mifs 
 Selvyn fufFered. His death was not fo fudden, but 
 that it afforded him time to fettle his affairs, and 
 to give every direiSlion to Mifs Selvyn, which he 
 thought might fave her from all embarallmeiit on 
 
 the 
 
Mrs. S E L V Y N, 203 
 
 the approaching event. FTe recommended to her, 
 as her fortune would be but fmal), to attach her- 
 felf as much as poiiiblc to Lady Emilia, i'uice (lie 
 now became ftill more necedary as a prote6trei^5, 
 than (he had before been dchrabic as a friend, and 
 that interefl as much as gratitude required her cul- 
 tivating the afFediion that Lady had already (hewn 
 her. 
 
 The latter motive was fuilicient to influence 
 Mifs Selvyn, whofe heart fmcerely returned the 
 regard Lady Emilia had for her; but at that time 
 file w^as too much afFc£ted with Mr. Stivyn's ap- 
 proaching diffolution to think of any thing elfe. 
 His care for her in his lall moment^ IHU more en- 
 deared him, who through life had made her happi- 
 nefs his principal ftudy. Her aiRidtion was extreme, 
 nor could Lady Emilia by the tenderefl care for 
 fome time afford her any confolation. 
 
 Mifs Selvyn found hcrfelfheirefs to three thoufand 
 pounds, a fortune which exceeded her expectation, 
 though it was not fufricient to fufrer her to live in 
 London with convenience. Lady Emilia invited 
 her to her houfe ; and as the fpring advanced, her 
 ladyfhip inclining to pafs the fine feafon in the 
 country, hired a houfe about a hundred miles from 
 London, which (lie had formerly been fond of, and 
 was but juil: become empty. She had been but 
 little out of town for fome years, and went to her 
 new habitation with pleafure.- Mifs Selvyn bid 
 adieu without regret to every thing but Lady Mary 
 Jones, for v>;'hom ilie had conceived a real affecti- 
 on, which firft took its rife from compaffion, and 
 was flrengthencJ by the great docility v/itli which 
 (he followed her advice about Lord Robert, and the 
 refolution with which fhe conquered her inclina- 
 tion. Lady Mary grieved to lofe one whom Die 
 
 K 5 elleemed 
 
204 The History of 
 
 efteemed To prudent and faithful a friend, and con- 
 fiiered her departure as a real misfortune ; but they 
 agreed to keep up a regular correfpondence as the 
 beft fubftitute to converfation. 
 
 The country was nerfe£lly a2:rceable to Lady 
 Emilia and her young friend. The life they led 
 was moft fuitable to their inclinations, and winter 
 brought with it no defires to return to London ; 
 v/hereupon Lady Emilia difpofed of her houfe 
 ^there, and fettled quite in the country. They were 
 both extremely fond of reading, and in this they 
 fpent moft of their time. Their regular way of 
 life, and the benefits of air and exercife, feemed to 
 abate the dejeition before fo vifible in L:iuy Emi- 
 lia ; and fhe never appeared to want any other con- 
 verfation than that of Mifs Sclvyn, whom fhe 
 Icved with a tendernefs fo julrly due to her 
 merit. 
 
 After they had been fettled about two years in 
 the country, Lord Robert St. George, who was 
 colonel of a reo-iment quartered in a tov/n not far 
 from them, came to examine into the ftate of his 
 regiment ', and having at that time no other en- 
 gagement, and the lodgings he had taken juft out 
 of the town being finely fituated, he determined 
 to make fome flay there. Here he renewed his 
 flight acquaintance v/ith Lady Emilia and Mifs 
 Selvyn ; and by favour of his vicinity faw them 
 often. Lord Robert's heart was too fufceptible of 
 ibft impreffions, not to fiel the influence of Vlifs 
 Selvyn's charms. He was ftrongly captivated by 
 her excellent underPcanding and engagtng manner; 
 as for her perfon, he had known many more beau- 
 tiful, though none more pleafing ; but tlxe uncom- 
 mon turn of her mind, her gentl&nefs, and fen- 
 fihJe modcfty, had attradions that were irrefiftible. 
 
 Lord 
 
Mrs. S E L y Y N, 205 
 
 Lord Robert's attachmeiii foon became vifible ; 
 but A'iifs Selvyn knew him too well to think his 
 addreiTes very flattering, and by his behaviour to 
 Lady Mary Jones, feared Ibme infulting declara- 
 tion ; but from thefe apprehenfions he ioon deli- 
 vered her. Real affection conquering that afTur- 
 ance which nature had nrfl given, and fuccefs en- 
 creafcd, he had not courage to declare his paffion 
 to her, but applied to Lady Emilia, to acquaint 
 her friend with his love, and begged her intercft in 
 his behalf, fearing that without it, Mifs Selvyn's 
 referve would not fufter her to liilen to his ad- 
 drefTes. 
 
 Lady Emilia promifed to report all he had faid, 
 and accordingly gave ?vlifs Selvyn a circumftantial 
 account of the whole converfation, wherein Lord 
 Robert had laid before her the ftate of his fortune, 
 which was fujfficient for a woman of her prudence; 
 and file added, that '• fhe did not fee how Mifs 
 ' Selvyn could expetfl- to be addrcfl'ed by a man 
 ' more eligible, w^hether flie confidered his birth, 
 ' his fortune, or his pcrfon and accomplifhments.' 
 
 Mifs Selvyn was a little furprized, that fo gay a J^ 
 man fiiould take fo fcrious a refoluiion. She al-** 
 lowed the juftnefs of what Lady Emilia faid in his 
 favour, and confeiled, that it was impofiible Lord 
 Robert could fail of pleafmg ; but added, that ' it 
 ' could not be advifable for her to marry ; for en- 
 *■ joying perfe6t content, fbe had no benefit to ex- 
 ' pc£t from change ; and happinefs was fo fcarce a 
 ' commodity in this life, that whoever let it once 
 ' flip, had little reafon to expect to catch it again. 
 *■ For what reafon then fhould fiie alter her itate ? 
 ' The fame difpofition which v/ould render Lord 
 ' Robert's fortune fulficient, made her's anfv/er all 
 ' her Y/idies, fince if flie had not the joy of living 
 
 K 6 < with 
 
"206 The History of 
 
 * with her ladyfhip, it would ftlU afford her every 
 
 * thing {he defired.' 
 
 LadyEmella faid feme things in recommendation 
 of marriage ; and feemed to think it improbable 
 Mifs Selvyn {hould not be a little prejudiced in fa- 
 vour of fo amiable a lover as Lord Robert, which 
 tempted that young iady to tell her, that ' though 
 
 * fhe allowed him exxellively pleafmc;, yet by fome 
 
 * particulars, which formerly came to her Icnow- 
 
 * ledge, fhe was convinced his principles were 
 
 * fuch, as would not make her happy in a huf- 
 « band.' 
 
 Lady Emilia allowed the force of fuch an ob- 
 jeiflioii, and did not prefs a marriage, for which 
 fhe had pleaded only out of an appreheiifion left 
 iVIifs Selvyn's referve might lead her to a6i: contrary 
 to her inclinations ; and therefore fne had endea- 
 Aourcd to facilitate her declaration in favour of 
 Lord Robert, if flic was in reality inclined to ac- 
 cept his propofals. She acquiefced then readily in 
 her friend's determination ; only defired fhe wuuld 
 herfelf acquaint Lord Robert with it, as he would 
 not eafily be nlenced by a refufal which did not pro- 
 ceed from her own lips. 
 
 His lordfhip cam.e in the evening to learn his 
 fate, and Lady Emilia having contrived to be ab- 
 fent, he found Mifs Selvyn alone. Though this 
 was what he had wiflied, yet he was' fo difcon- 
 certed, that Mifs Selvyn Vv'as reduced to begin the 
 fubjec^ herfelf, and to tell him, that * Lady Emilia 
 had acquainted her, with the honour he had done 
 her, that (he was much obliged to him, for his good 
 opinion, and hoped hcvvould be happy with fome 
 woman much more deferving than herfelf j but fjie 
 could by no means accept the favour he intended 
 her, being fo entirely happy in her prefent fituation, 
 that nothing in the world fhould induce her to 
 change it.' This 
 
Mrs. S E L V Y N. 207 
 
 This declaration gave, rife to a very warm coii- 
 teft ; Lord Robert folliciting her to accept his 
 love, with all the tendernefs of the llrongeft paf- 
 fion, and fhe with equal perfeverrnce perfifling in 
 her refulal. He could not be periuaded, that her 
 motive for doing To was really what (he alledged, 
 but as fhe continued to affirm it, he begged how- 
 ever to know, ' if ihe had not made fo flrano:e a 
 
 < refolution in favour of a lingle life, whether fhe 
 
 < fliould have had any particular objection to 
 
 * him ? ' 
 
 Mifs Selvyn (hewed the ufeieflriefs of this quef- 
 tion, fince the reafon of her refufing the honour 
 he intended her, would have made her rejecb the 
 aeJdreffes of every other man m the world. Lord 
 Robert could not believe this polj-ble, and there- 
 fore de Riled not from urging a queliion fo difa- 
 greeable to anfv/er. 
 
 When Mifs Selvyn found it impodible to avoid 
 fatisfying him in this particular, flie told him, that 
 ' if he were entirely unexceptionable, fhe (hould 
 ' be fixed in the fame determination j but fince he 
 ' infii'ed on knowing if fhe had any objedion to 
 ' him, ilie was obliged to confefs, that had {[iq 
 « been better inclined to enter into the matrimo- 
 ' nial ftate, his lordfnip was not the man (he 
 ' Ihould have ch&fen, not from any diilike to his 
 ' perfon or underflanding, but from difapproba- 
 
 * tion of his principles i that, in regard to her fex 
 ' he had a lightnefs \n his way of thinking, and 
 
 * had been fo criminal in his conduit, that of all 
 *■ men fhe knew, fhe thought him moll improper 
 
 * for an hufband/ 
 
 Lord Rubert was furprifed at fo new an objec- 
 tion, and told her, that ' he did not apprehend 
 ' himfelf more blamable in thofe refpe^ls than mofl 
 ' young men. Gallantry was fuitabl? to his age, 
 
 * and 
 
2o8 The History of 
 
 « and he never imagined, that any woman would 
 ' have reproached him with his regard lor her lex, 
 ' v/hen he gave (o ftron* a proof of an inchnation 
 ' to leave them all for her.' 
 
 ' I am forrv, replied Mifs Selvyn, that vour 
 
 * LordfhiD thinks me mean enouo:h to take plea- 
 
 * fure in fuch a triumph, or fo vain as to imagine 
 
 * I can reform a man of diffolute manners, the 
 
 * laft thing I fliould hope or endeavour to fucceed 
 
 * in. Such a tincfture of corruption will always 
 
 * remain in the mind of what you are pleafed to 
 
 * term a gallant man, to whom I fliould give the 
 
 * lefs polite appellation of vicious, that 1 could 
 
 * not be happy in his fociety. A reformed rake 
 
 * may be fober, but is never virtuous.' 
 
 Lord Robert grovv'ing very urgent to know whnt 
 {he had particularly to lay to his charge ; (lie told 
 him frankly, that ' his treatment of Lady Mary 
 
 * Jones had difgufted her, as fhe, and perhaps 
 
 * fhe only, had been acquainted with the whole.' 
 Lord Robert endeavoured to excufe himfelf oir 
 
 the encouragement Lady Mary's levity had givea 
 to his hopes ; obferving, that ' when a woman's 
 
 * behaviour was very light, his fex were not apt 
 ' to imagine there was any great fund of virtue ; 
 
 * nor could it be expe61:ed, that any one elfe fhould 
 
 * guard that honour, of v/hich fhe herfelf was 
 
 * carelcfs.* 
 
 ' I am fure, replied Mifs Selvyn, your lordfhip's 
 < hopes muft have been founded on Lady Mary's 
 
 * foily, not her real want of innocence; a foliy 
 
 * which arofe froin the giddinefs of youth, and the 
 ' hurry of dliTipation ; for by nature Lady r.Iary's 
 
 * underftanding is uncommonly good. By what 
 
 * you fay, you imagined her honour was lawful 
 
 * prize, becaufs fhe appeared carelefi of it ; would 
 
 * this way of arguing b^ allo'vved in any other 
 
 ' cafe ; 
 
Mrs. S E L V Y N. 209 
 
 cafe ? If you obferved sl man who negleifled to 
 lock up his money, and feemed totally indiffer- 
 ent what became of it, fhould you think your- 
 felf thereby juftified in robbing him ? But how 
 much more criminal would you be, were you to 
 deprive him of his wealth, becaufe he was either 
 fo thoughtlefs or fo weak, as not to know its va- 
 lue ? And yet furely the injury in this cafe would 
 be much Icfs than what you think fo juftinable. 
 If the world has but the Icaft fer^e of real ho- 
 nour, in this light they mull fee it; and to that 
 tribunal I imagine you only think yourfelf an- 
 fvverable ; for did you refiedt but one moment, 
 on another bar, before which you will be fum- 
 moned, you would fee, there can be no excufe 
 for violating the laws by which you are there 
 to be tried. If you could juftify yourfelf to the 
 world, or to the women of whofe- folly you take 
 advantage, by the fallacious argum.ents which 
 you have fo ready for that purpofe, fuch cobv/eb 
 fophiftry cannot weaken the force of an exprefs 
 command.' 
 
 ' I will not pretend, anfwered Lord Robert, to 
 deny the truth of v/hat you fny, but muii beg 
 you will confider it is more eafy for you to urge 
 thefe truths, than for thofe to obey them who 
 are expofed to, and fulceptible of tem^ptations. 
 When a woman has no title to our refpedf, how 
 difficult is it to confider her in the light you re- 
 quire ! levity of condud^ we are apt to look upon 
 as an invitation, which a man fcaicely thinks it 
 .confiPcent with his politenefs to negledl.' 
 ' I wiili, replied iViifs Selvyn, that v/omen were 
 better acquainted with the ways of thinkino- fo 
 common with your fex ; for while they are iono- 
 rant of them, they a6t to a great difadvant^age^^ 
 They obtain by that levity which deprives them 
 
 * of 
 
2IO The History of 
 
 < of your cfteem, a degree of notice and pretended 
 « liking, which ihey miftake for approbation ; did 
 
 < they but know that you in your hearts defpile ' 
 
 * thofe moft, to whom you are moft afTiduoufly 
 
 * and openly attached, it would occp-fion a great 
 ' change in their behaviour; nor would they iufter 
 ' an addrcfs, to which they cannot lillen without 
 
 * incurring your contempt. Kow criminally de- 
 ' ceitful is this behaviour? And what real virtue 
 
 * can a man truly boaft, who acSts in this manner ? 
 
 * What woman in her fenfes can enter into an union 
 
 * for life with fuch a man ? ' 
 
 * Why not, madam ? faid Lord Robert, my be- 
 
 * baviour to you fliews, that we yield to merit the 
 ' homage it deferves j you v/ould lofe all your 
 ' triumph, v/ere we to put you and the lighter part 
 
 * of your Tex on an equality in our opinions. We 
 
 * are always ready to eileem a woman who will 
 ' give us leave to do io ; and can you require us 
 
 * to refpedl thofe who are not in the leaft refpect- 
 
 < able?' 
 
 ' No, anfwcred Mifs ^elvyn, 1 only wifh you 
 
 * would ceafc your endeavours to render thofe wo- 
 
 * men objcdls of contempt, who deferve only to be 
 
 < neglected, and particularly not to deprive them 
 
 * of the very fmall portioii of regard they are en- 
 ' titled to, by the fallacious appearance of an at- 
 ' tachment of the tendereft kind ; which in reality 
 ' arifes from contempt, not love. But, added fl]e, 
 ' I have faid more than I defigned on the fubjedt ; 
 
 * I only meant to anfwer the queftion you put to 
 
 * me with fo much importunity , and muft now 
 ' confirm what i have already declared, by telling 
 
 * you, that were I inclined to marry, I would not 
 
 * on any account take an hufband of your lord- 
 
 * fhip's principles ; but were you endowed v/ith 
 
 * all the virtues that ever man polTcficd, I would 
 
 ' not 
 
Mrs. S E L V Y N. 211 
 
 ' not change mv prefent happy fituation for the un- 
 ' certainties of wedlock.' 
 
 When Lord Robert found all his follicitations 
 unavailing, he left the country, and returned to 
 London, "where he hoped, by a feries of diverfions, 
 to efface from his heart the real paTiion he had con- 
 ceived for !Viifs Selvyn ; fhe forbore inform- 
 ing Lady Mary Jones, though their corref- 
 pondence was frequent, of Lord Robert's court- 
 iliipi (he did not doubt butherladyHilp was fmcere, 
 when (he allured her, fhe now beheld him with the 
 indifference he deferved, but thought that to tell 
 her fhe had received fo very different an addrefs 
 from him, would bear too much the air of a tri- 
 umph, a meannefs which her heart abhorred. 
 
 Lady Emilia and Mifs Selvyn had lived feveral 
 years in the country with great rational enjoyment, 
 when the former was feized with a fever. All the 
 Ikill of her phyficians proved ineffeital, and her 
 diffemper encreafed daily. She was fenfible of the 
 danger which threatened her life, but infifted on 
 their telling her, if they had any great hopes of her 
 recovery, affuring them, that it was of importance 
 to her, to know their opinions with the utmolt 
 franknefs. Thus urged, they confeffed they had 
 but little hopes. She then returned them thanks 
 for their care, but ftill more for their fmcerity ; 
 and with the greateftcompofure took leave of them, 
 defiring to be left alone with iVlifs Selvyn, who was 
 in tears at her bed-fide. Every one elfe withdrew, 
 when taking Mifs Selvyn in her arms, and ihedding 
 a few filent tears, fhe afterwards thus addreffed 
 her. 
 
 ' At the moment that I mud bid you a long 
 ' fa rev/el, you will know, that you hav^ a mother 
 ' in her whom you before thought only your 
 * friend. Yes, my deareil: Harriot, I am youv 
 
 ' mother 
 
212 The History of 
 
 ' mother, afhamecl of my wc^knefs, and fhocfked 
 « at my guilt, while your gentle but viriuous eyes 
 « could reproach your unhappy parent, I could not 
 « prevail on my felf to difcover this fecret to you, 
 
 * but I cannot carry to my grave, the knowledge 
 
 * of a circumftance which concerns you. Yes, 
 ' you are my daughter, my child, ever mofl: dear 
 ' to me, though the evidence and continual remem- 
 ' brancer cf my crime.' 
 
 Mifs Selvyn imasined the dirtemper had now 
 feized Lady Emilia's brain, which it had hiLherto 
 fpared ; and entreated her ' to compofe herfelf, af- 
 furing her, that what fo much agitated her decay- 
 ing frame, was only the phantom of an over- 
 heated imagination ; for her parents were well 
 known, neither was there any myftery in her 
 birth.' 
 
 ' Oh ! i»nterrupted Lady Emilia, do not fufpecS: 
 me of delirium ; it has pleafed the Almighty to 
 fpare my fenfes throughout this fevere diforder, 
 with a gracious defign of allowing me even the 
 laft moments of my life to compleat my repent- 
 ance. What I tell you is but true, Mr. Selvyn 
 knew it all, and like a man of honour faved me 
 from fhame, by concealing the fatal fecret; and 
 a6led the part of a father to my Harriot, without 
 having any ihare in my gui'lt. But I fee you do 
 not yet believe me ; take this, pulling a pa- 
 per from under her pillow, herein you wHl find 
 an account of the whole unfortunate afi'air, 
 written a year ago ; left at the time of my death 
 1 fhould not be able to relate it ; this will prove, 
 by the nice connexion of every circumllance, 
 that the words^thercin contained are not the iug- 
 geftions of madnefs.' 
 Mifs Selvyn accordingly read as follows, 
 
 ' When 
 
Mrs. Selvyn. 213 
 
 ^ When T was feventecn years old, Lord Pey- 
 ton afked me of my father, but not till after he 
 had fecured my tendereft afFeclions. His eitate 
 was fufficient to content a parent who was not 
 regardlefs of fortune and fplendor; and his pro- 
 pofals were accepted. But while the tedioufnefs 
 of the lawyers made us wait for the iinifhing of 
 fettlements. Lord Peyton, v/ho was in the army, 
 was commanded to repair immediately to his 
 regiment, then ftationed in Ireland. He endea- 
 voured to prevail with my father to hallen our 
 marriage, offering every kind of fecurity he could 
 defire, inftead of the fettlements fo long delayed ; 
 my wiflies concurred with his, rather than fufFer 
 him to go without me into a kingdom, which I 
 imagined would not prove very amufmg to him. 
 But my father, who was a very exa£l obferver of 
 formSj would not confent to any expedient. No 
 fecurity appeared to him equivalent to fettle- 
 ments ', and many trilling circumftances requi- 
 fite to the fplendor of our firft appearance were 
 not ready ; which to him fecmed almoft as im- 
 portant, as the execution of the marriage writ- 
 ings. 
 
 * When Lord Peyton found my father inexora- 
 ble, he attempted to perfuade me to agree to a 
 private marriage ; only defiring, he faid, to fe- 
 cure me entirely his before he left the kingdom ; 
 and propofed, that after his return, we fhouid be 
 publickly married, to prevent my father's fuf- 
 pedling that we had anticipated his confent. 
 But this I rejected ; difobedience to a parent, and 
 other objections, were fufficient to make me re- 
 fufe it ; and we faw ourfelves reduced to feparate 
 when we were fo near being united. As Lord 
 Peyton was an accepted lover, and our intended 
 marriage was publickly known, and generally 
 
 ' approved. 
 
214 The History of 
 
 approved, he pafTed great part of his time with 
 me. My father was obliged to go out of town 
 on particular bufmcfs, the day before that ap- 
 pointed for Lord Peyton's departure. It is natu- 
 ral to fuppofe we paiTed it intirely together. The 
 concern we v/cre both under, made us wiih to 
 avoid being feen by others, and therefore I was 
 denied to all vifitors. Lord Peyton dined and 
 fupped with me ; and by thus appropriating the 
 day to the ceremony of taking leave, we ren- 
 dered the approaching feparation more afflicting 
 than in reafon it ought to have been, and indeed 
 made it a lading affiiciion j a grief never to be 
 waflied away. 
 
 * Lord Peyton left London at the appointed 
 hour, but the next days, and almoft every fuc- 
 ceeding pofl, brought me the tendereft exprefli- 
 ons of regret for this inforced abfence, and the 
 ftrongefl afTurances of the constancy of his af- 
 fe£^ion. Mine could not with truth be written 
 in a more indifferent flrain, my love was the 
 fame, but my purpofe was much altered; as foon 
 as I had calmnefs of mind enough to refle6l on 
 what had pafled, I refolved never to be Lord 
 Peyton's wife. I faw my own mifconducl in all 
 its true colours. I defpifed myfelf, and could 
 not hope for more partial treatment from my 
 hufband. A lover mi2;ht in the height of his 
 pailion excufe my frailtv, but when matrimony, 
 and continued poiTeffion had reftored him to his 
 reafon, I was fenfible he muft think of me as I 
 was confcious I deferved. What confidence, 
 what efteem could I hope from an hufband, who 
 fo well knew my weaknefs ; or how could I 
 fupport being hourly expofed to the fight of a 
 man, whofe e)*es v/ould always feem to reproach 
 me ! I could fcarcely bear to fee myfelf j and I 
 
 ' was 
 
Mrs. S E L V Y N. 215 
 
 « wa3 determined not to depend on any one who 
 
 ^ was equally confcioiis of my guilt. 
 
 ' I foon acquainted Lord Peyton with this re- 
 foluiion, which he combated with every argu- 
 ment love could diclatc. He alTured me in the 
 moft foienin manner of his entire eileem, infift- 
 ed that he only v/as to blame, and that he fnould 
 never forgive hlmrelf for the uneafmefs he had 
 already occafioned me 5 but intreated me not to 
 punifli him fo fcverely, a;:; ever again to gh'e the 
 lead intimation of a defign not to confirm our 
 marriage. As I refiftcd my ov/n paffion, it may 
 be fuppofed that, although too late, I was able 
 to refill his. I faw that a generous man mull 
 acl as he did, but no generofity could redoreme 
 to rhe fame place in h'l-s efteem I before poflefTed. 
 His behaviour on this occafion, fixed my good 
 opinion of him, but could not rcftore my opi- 
 nion of myfelf. All he could urge therefore W4S 
 unavailing j the ftronger my affeclion, the mor^ 
 determined I was in my purpofe ; fince the more 
 I valued his efleem, the greater would my fuffer- 
 ino- be, at knowing that I had forfeited it. I 
 acquainted my father with my refolution, alledg- 
 ing the beil excufes I could make. He was at 
 firll angry with my inconibncy, charged me with 
 capricicufneis, and want of honour; but at lafl 
 was pacified, by my afiuring him I v/ould nevej* 
 ' marry any man. As he had been forry to part 
 Vv'ith me, the thought of my continuing with him 
 as long as he lived, made my peace. 
 * Lord Peyton's impatience at being detained ir^ 
 Ireland, increafed with his defire of perfuading 
 me to relinquifh a defign fo very grievous to my 
 own heart, as well as to his ; but he could not 
 ^ pbtaiii leave to return into England, before I 
 
 * found 
 
2i6 The History of 
 
 found, to my incxpreflible terror, that the mlf- 
 fortunc'I {o fincerely lamented, would have con- 
 fequences that I little expelled. In the agony of 
 my mind I communicated my diilrefs to Lord 
 Peyton, the only pcrfon whom I dared trufl with 
 fo important a fecret. 
 
 ' Inftcad of condoling with me on the fubje6t of 
 my af?ii6lion, he exprefled no fmall joy in a cir- 
 cum^ftance, which he faid muft reduce me to ac- 
 cept the only means of prefervingmy reputation ; 
 and added, that as every delay was now of fo 
 much importance, if the next packet did not bring 
 him leave of abfence, he ihould fet out without 
 it; and rather run the hazard of being called to 
 account for difobedience, than of expofing me to 
 one painful blufli. 
 
 ' 1 confefs his delicacy charmed me ; every letter 
 I received increafed my efteen\ and affccfllon for 
 him, but nothing could alter my purpofe. I 
 looked upon the execution of it as the only means 
 of re-inftating myfelf in bis good opinion, or my 
 own, in comparifon of v/bich even reputation 
 feemed to lofe its value. But feverc was the 
 trial I had to undergo upon-iiis return into Eng- 
 land, which was in a few days after his aflurance 
 of coming at any hazard. He uled every means 
 that the tendereil afledion and the niceft honour 
 could fugsell, to perfuade me to marry him ; and 
 the conilidl: in my own heart very near reduced 
 me to my grave ; till at length pitying the con- 
 dition into which 1 was reduced, without the 
 leaft approach to a change of purpofe, he pro- 
 mifed to fpaie me any farther foiiicitaticn, and to 
 bury his affiidion in fdence ; after obtaining a 
 promife from me, that I would fuffer him to 
 contrive the means for concealing an event, 
 
 ' which 
 
Mrs. S £ X V Y N. 217 
 
 which muft foon happen -, as my unintriguing 
 fpirit mndc me very incapable of managing it 
 with tolerable art and fecrccy. 
 ' Lord Peyton had maintained his former fricnd- 
 fhip with my father, who thought himfelf obliged 
 to him, for not rcfenting my behaviour in the 
 manner he imasiined it del'erved. When the me- 
 lancholy and much dreaded time approached. 
 Lord Peyton -gave me fecret infoimation that he 
 would invite my father into the country, on pre- 
 tence of affixing him by his advice in fome al- 
 terations he was going to make there ; and aflli- 
 red me of careful attendance, and the moft fe- 
 cret reception, from a very worthy couple, to 
 whofe houfe he gave me a direction, if I could 
 contrive, under colour of fome intended vifit, 
 to leave my own. 
 
 ' All was executed as he had planned it ; and 
 when my fcrvants thought I v/as gone to vifit a 
 relation fome miles diilant from London, I went 
 as direclcd, and was received with the greateft 
 humanity imaginable by Mr. and Mrs. Selvyn ; 
 not at their ovv^n houfe, but at one taken for that 
 purpofe, where the affair mi^ht be more fecretly 
 managed. Lord Peyton had concealed my n^me 
 even from themi ; and fecured their care of me 
 under a borrowed appellation. 
 ' The day after I got to them I v/as delivered of 
 you, my dearell child, whom I beheld with for- 
 row as well as affiicl:ion ; confidering you as the 
 melancholy memorial and partner m my fhame. 
 ' Mr. and Mrs. Selvyn attended me v/ith the 
 greatell care, and were never both abfent at 4 
 time ; they acquainted Lord Peyton witii the 
 ftate of my health by every poft ; and I was en- 
 abled, by the necciTity of the cafe, to write to 
 
2i8 The History of 
 
 ' my father as frequently as I ufually did, whew 
 ' abfent from him. Within the fortnight from 
 ' the time of my departure from my own houfe 
 ' I returned to it again, after delivering my dear 
 ' Harriot into the care of thefe good people, who 
 *■ promifed to treat her as their own child. Un- 
 ' der pretence of a cold I confined myfelf till I 
 
 * v/as perfectly recovered. 
 
 ' Lord Peyton detained my father till he heard 
 ' I was entirely well ; and' then went with impa- 
 ' tience to fee his little daughter, over whom he 
 ' fhcd many tears, as Mr. Selvyn afterwards in- 
 
 * formed me -, telling it that it was a conftant 
 ' memorial of the greateft misfortune of his Yiicy 
 
 * and could never afford him a pleafure that was 
 
 * not mingled with the deepeft afHiction. 
 
 ' Mrs. Selvyn had lain in about fix weeks before 
 « I went to her, the child fhe brought into the 
 
 < world lived but a few months ; upon its death, 
 *> at Lord Peyton's defire, they took, you from 
 
 < nurfe, and pretending you their own, privately 
 
 < buried their child, who was likewife nurfed 
 ' abroad. Mr. Selvyn was a merchant, but had 
 
 < never been fuccefsful, his wife died when you 
 
 * were about three years old. Having no children 
 
 * to provide for, and not being fond of trade, he 
 ' was defirous of retiring into the country. Lord 
 
 * Pcvton to facilitate the gratification of his wifh, 
 
 < procured him a {mzW fnic cure ; gave into his pofr- 
 
 * fefTion three thoufand pounds, which he fecured 
 
 * to you ; and allowed him an hundred a year for 
 
 * the trouble of your education ; with an unlimited 
 « commifnon to call on him for any fums he fhoulJ 
 
 * want. 
 
 * The confiant fenfe of my guilt, the continual 
 « legret at hjiving by my own ill conduct forfeited 
 
 'the 
 
Mrs. Selvyn". 217 
 
 the happinefs, which every a6lion of Lord Pey- 
 ton's proved that his wife might reafonably ex- 
 pe6l, fixed a degree of melancholy on my mlnd^ 
 which no tijiie has been able to conquer. I lived 
 with my father till his death, which happened 
 not many years ago ; at his deceafe, I found 
 myfelf miftrefs of a large fortune, which enabled 
 me to fupport the rank I had always enjoyed. 
 Though Lord Peyton had provided fufficiently 
 for Mr. Selvyn's and our convenience, yet I 
 conf{:antly fent him a yearly prefent ; till no 
 longer able to deny myfelf the pleafure of feeino- 
 my dear child, I prevailed on him to remove to 
 London, and to fix in the fame fi:reet with me, 
 taking care to fupply all that was requlfite to 
 enable him to appear there genteelly. You 
 know with what appearance of accident I firft 
 cultivated a friendihip with you, but you can- 
 not imagine,with howmuchdifHcuIty I concealed 
 the tendernefs of a mother under the ceremonies 
 of an acquaintance. 
 
 ' Of late I have enjoyed a more eafy ftate of 
 mind : I have fometim.cs been inclined to flatter 
 myfelf, that your uncommon merit, and the 
 great comfort I have received in your fociety, 
 are figns that Heaven has forgiven mv oiFencc, 
 and accepted my penitence, which has been fin- 
 cere and long, as an atonement for my crime ; 
 in which bleffed hope I fiiall, I truft, meet de-Mh 
 Vv ithor.t terror, and fubn-iit, my dear dauo-hter, 
 whenever I am called hence, in full confidence 
 to that Power, whofe mercy is over all his works, 
 I ought to add a few words about your deat 
 father, who feemed to think my extreme re- 
 gular conducSl:, and the punifhmenti had infli6led 
 on myfelf, fuch an extenuation of my weaknefs, 
 tbjit he ever behaved to me with the tendered 
 
21*8 TheHistoryof 
 
 * refpccl, I might almoll fay reverence, and till 
 ' his death gave me every proof of the purefl and 
 
 * the llrongeit friendftiip. By confcnt we avoided 
 
 * each others prcfence for three years, by which 
 « time we hoped the violence of our mutual pafiion 
 
 * would be abated. Pie fpent the greateft part of 
 •• it abroad ; and at the end of that period we met 
 
 * with the fmcerer joy, from finding we were not 
 
 < deceived in our hopes. Our attachment was 
 
 * fettled into the tendered fricndfhip ; we forbore 
 
 * even the mention of your name, as it muft have 
 
 < reminded us of our crime ; and if Lord Peyton 
 ' wanted to communicate any thing concerning 
 
 < you, he did it by letter ; avoiding with the ex- 
 
 * tremeft delicacy ever to take notice, that any 
 
 * fuch letters had pafTed between us ; and even in 
 ' them he confulted about his child, in the flile of 
 
 < a man who was writing to a perfon that had no 
 
 * other connexion with it than what her friejidfhip 
 « for him muft naturally occafion, in a point where 
 *- he was interefted by the tendercft ties of the moft 
 
 * extreme paternal love. 
 
 * I have often with pleafure heard you mention 
 « his great fondnefs for you in your childhood, when 
 ' he vifited at your father's ; your growing years 
 ' encreafed it, though it obliged him to fupprefs 
 
 * the appearance of an affection which vou would 
 
 * have thought improper. I need not tell you, that 
 
 < I had the misfortune to lofc this worthieft of 
 
 * friends, about half a year before you came to 
 
 * London, which determined me to fend for you, 
 
 * that I might receive all the confolation the world 
 
 * could give me, and fee the inheritor of her dear 
 ' father's virtues. While he lived I dared not have 
 
 * taken the fame llep ; your prefence would have 
 
 * been too painful a teftimony againft me, and 
 
 * continually reminded my lord of a weaknefs, 
 
 ' which 
 
Mrs. S E L V y w. 219 
 
 * which I hope time had alm'©ft effaced from his re- 
 
 * membrance.* 
 
 Mifs Selvyn was extremely afFe£led with the 
 perufal of this paper ; fhe was frequently inter- 
 rupted by her tears ; grieved to the heart to think 
 of how much uneafmefs {he had been the caufe. 
 As foon as fhe had concluded it, fhe threw herfelf 
 on her knees at Lady Emilia's bed-fide, and taking 
 one of her hands, which fhe bathed with her 
 tears, * Is it poflible then, faid fhe, that I have 
 thus long been ignorant* of the beft of parents ? 
 And muft I lofe you when fo lately found ? Oh I 
 my dear mother, how much pleafure have I loit 
 by not knowing that I might call you by that 
 endearing name ! What an example of virtue 
 have you fet me ! How noble your refolution ! 
 How uniform and conftant your penitence ! Bleft 
 you muft be fupremely by him who loveth the 
 contrite heart ; and you and my father I doubt 
 not will enjoy eternal felicity together, united 
 never more to part. Oh ! may your afflidled 
 daughter be received into the fame place, and 
 partake of your happinefs ; may fhe behald your 
 piety rev/arded, and admire in you the blefled 
 fruits of timely repentance ; a repentance fo im- 
 mediately fucceeding the offence, that your 
 foul could not have received the black im- 
 preiiion ! * 
 
 ' Can you, who have never erred, faid Lady 
 Emilia, fee my offence in fo fair a light ? What 
 may I not then hope from infinite mercy? I do hope; 
 it would be criminal to doubt, when fuch confo- 
 latory promifes appear in almoft every page of 
 holy writ. With pieafure I go where I am call- 
 ed, for I leave my child fafe in the Divine Pro- 
 tedtion, and her own virtue ; I leave her, I hope, 
 to a happy life, and a far more happy death ; 
 L 2 * when 
 
220 The History of 
 
 when joys immortal will blefs her through all 
 ' eternity. I have now my love difcharged the 
 
 * burden from my mind ; not many hours of life 
 
 * remain, let me not pals thern in carclling my 
 
 * dear daughter, which, though moil pleafmg to my 
 
 * fond heart, can end only in making me regret 
 
 * the lofs of a world v/hich will foon pafs from 
 
 < my fight. Let me fpend this hour, as I hope to do 
 
 < thofe that will fucceed it through all eternity. 
 
 * Join v/ith me in prayers to, and praifes of him, 
 
 * in whom confifts all our lading happincfs.' 
 Mifs Selvyn fent for the Minider of the parlfh, 
 
 at Lady Emelia's defire, and the remainder of her- 
 life pafled in religious exercifes. She expired with- 
 out a groan, in the midif of a fervent prayer, as 
 if her foul was impatient to take its flight into the 
 prefence of him, whom llie was addrefling with fo 
 much ardour. 
 
 Mifs Selvyn's afflidion was at firft extreme, but 
 when fhe refiedted on her mother's well-fpent life, 
 and moft happy death, it much abated the excefs 
 of her grief. By that lady's will, (he found herfelf 
 heir to twelve thoufand pounds, and all her perfo-> 
 nal eftate. She had been charmed with the account 
 Lady Mary Jones had fent her of this fociety, and 
 wifhed to increafe her acquaintance with that lady, 
 and therefore offered, if proper, to make her alhort 
 vifit, as foon as her necefiary affairs were fettled. 
 This met with the moft welcome reception, and 
 {he came hither as a vifitor. Her flay was gradu-' 
 ally prolonged for near two months ; when having 
 reafon, from the great regard fhewn her, to think 
 Ihe {hould be no difagreeable addition, file afked 
 leave to join her fortune to the common flock, and 
 to fix intirely with them. Nothing could be more 
 agreeable to the other three ladies than this offer, 
 and with extream fatisfadtion ihe fettled here. 
 
 Upon 
 
Mrs. S E L V Y N. 221 
 
 Upon this increafe of income it was that my 
 friends eftablifbed the cominnunlty of indigent 
 gentlewomen, which gave you ib much pleafure. 
 
 Lament was much llruck with the condudi: of 
 Lady Emih"a ; ihe had Ihewn, he faid, a degree of 
 delicacy and prudence, which exceeded what he 
 had' a notion of; he never met with a woman who 
 forefaw the little chance (he had for happinefs, in 
 marrying a man who could have no inducement 
 to make her his wife, but a nice, often a too nice, 
 i'cnie of honour ; and who certainly could have no 
 great opinion of her virtue. The folly of both 
 men and women in thefe late unions was the fub- 
 je(5l of our converfation till we feparated. 
 
 In the afternoon the ladies ?'fked us to accompany 
 them to the houfe they had juft taken for the new 
 community, to which they were obliged to go that 
 day, iia tiiv.^ u.xj r^t feveral perfons to work there. 
 They keep a poft-coacn ai.o. r-fl.-<:haife, which 
 
 with the help of our's, v,'ere fufficient to iiu^ ,,^ 
 
 date us all. A fiiort time brought tis to the houfc, 
 a very old, and formerly a very fine manfion, but 
 now much fallen to decay. The outfide is greatly 
 out of repair, but the building feems ftrong. The 
 infide is in a manner totally unfurnifhedj for though 
 it is not empty, yet the rats and mice have made 
 fuch conflderable depredations on what time had 
 before reduced to a very tattered condition, that the 
 melancholy remains can be reckoned little better 
 than lumber. 
 
 The laft inhabitant of this houfe we w^ere in- 
 formed was an old mifer, v/hofe paflion for accu- 
 mulating wealth, reduced him into almoft as un- 
 fortunate a ftate as Midas, who, according to the 
 fable, having obtained the long defired power of 
 turning every thing he touched to gold, was ftarv- 
 ed by the immediate tranfmutation of all food into 
 L 3 that 
 
2 22 The History or 
 
 that metal, the inftant it touched his lips. The 
 ]ate poilefTor of the houfe I am fpeaking of, when 
 he was about fifty years old, turned away every 
 fervant but an old woman, who if {he was not 
 honeft, was at leaft too weak to be able to put 
 any difhonefty in pra<5\ire. When he was about 
 threefcore, (he died, and he never could venture 
 to let any one fupply her place. He fortified every 
 door and window with fuch bars of iron, that his 
 houfe might have refiftcd the forcible attack of a 
 whole army. Night and day grow^led before his 
 inhofpitable door a furious Dutch maftiif, whofe 
 r.atural ferocity was fo increafed by continual 
 hunger, for his mafter fed hina molt fparingly, 
 that no ftrangcF could have entered the yard with 
 impunity. 
 
 Every time this churlifh beaft barked, the old 
 e-entleman, with terror and '^-^ — / Y' ^'^^ counte- 
 nance, and o.^'--6 ;;inibs, ran to the only wm^ 
 ,7--. fi^ ever ventured to unbar, to lee vmat dan- 
 ger threatened him -, nor could the fight of a bare- 
 foot child, or a decrepid old woman, immediately 
 difpel his fears. As timorous as FalilafF, his ima- 
 gination firft multiplied, and then cloathed them 
 in buckram ; and his panic ceafed not till they 
 were out of view. 
 
 This wretched man upon the death of his only 
 fervant, agreed with an old woman to buy food' 
 for him, and bring it to the well defended door of 
 h*s yard ; where informing him of her arrival, by a 
 iignal agreed upon between them, he ventured out 
 of his houfe to receive It from her ; and drefied it 
 himfelf ; till worn out by anxiety of mind he grew 
 too weak to perform that office, and ordered the 
 woman to bring it ready prepared ; this continued 
 for a little time, till at lait he appeared no more at 
 
 his 
 
Mrs. S E L V y N. 223 
 
 kls gate. After the old woman had knocked three 
 davs in vain, the neighbourhood began to think it 
 necellary to take fome meafures thereupon ; but 
 not chufing to run the hazard of breaking open the 
 houfe, they fent to the old gentleman's nephew, 
 whofe father had been fuffered to languifh in ex- 
 treme poverty many years before his death ; nor 
 was the fon in much better condition ; but he had 
 acquainted fome of the neighbours with the place 
 of his abode, in hopes of the event which now in- 
 duced them to fend for him. 
 
 As foon as he arrived, he prepared to force his 
 way into the lioufe, but it was found fo impra6tl- 
 cable, that at length they were obliged to untile 
 part of the roof, from whence a perfon defcended, 
 and opened the door to thofe who did not chufe fo 
 dangerous an entrance, as that through which he 
 had pafled. 
 
 They found the old man dead on a great cheft 
 which contained his money, as if he had been dc- 
 Urous to take pofielilion even in death. 
 
 His nephew wasjuft of age, and having till then 
 been expofed to all the evils of poverty, was al- 
 mofl diftradled with joy at the fudden acquifition of 
 a large fortune. He fcarcely could be prevailed 
 with to ftay long enough in this houfe to pay the 
 Jaft duties to an uncle, who had no right to any 
 thing more from him thanjuft the decent ceremo- 
 nies ; and without giving himfelf time to look 
 over his ellate, haftened to London. 
 
 He hired a magnificent houfe in Grofvenor- 
 Square ; befpoke the moft elegant equipages ; 
 bought the fineft fet of horfes he could hear of, 
 at double their real value ; and launched into every 
 expence the town afforded him. He foon became 
 •ne of the moft conftant frequenters of Whites ; 
 
 -L 4 kept 
 
224 The History of 
 
 kept feveral running horfes ; diftinguidied himfeU' 
 at Newmarket, and had the honour of phaying 
 deeper, and betting with more fpirit, than any 
 other young man of his age. There was not an 
 occurrence in his life about which he had not fome 
 wager depending. The wind could not change, 
 or a fhovver fall without his either lofins: or ofain- 
 jng by it. He had not a dog or cat in his houfe on 
 whofe life he had not bought or fold an annuity. 
 By thefe ingenious methods in one year was circu- 
 lated through the kingdom, the ready money which 
 lilij uncle had been half his life ftarving himfelf and 
 f:imi]y to accumulate. The fecond year obliged 
 him to mortgage great part of his land, and the 
 third faw him reduced to fell a confiderable portion 
 of his eflate, of which this houfe, and tha land 
 belonging to it made a part. 
 
 I could not help obferving the varieus fate of. 
 this manfion, originally the feat of ancient hofpi- 
 tality ; then falling into the hands of a mifer, who 
 Inid not fpirit to enjoy k, nor fenfe enough to fee, 
 that he was impairing fo valuable a part of his pof- 
 feiTions, by grudging the neceliary expences of re- 
 piurs ; from him devolving to a young coxcomb, 
 who by neglect let it fmk into ruin, and was 
 fpending In extravagance, what he inherited from 
 avarice j as if one vice was to pay the debt to foci- 
 ety which the other had incurred j and now it was 
 purchafed to be the feat of charity and benevolence. 
 Hov/ dlre6lly were we led to admire the fuperior 
 fenfe, as well as tranfcendent virtue of thefe ladies, 
 when we compared the ufe they made of money, 
 with that to which the two late poffeflbrs had ap- 
 propriated it I While we were in doubt which 
 moft to blame, he who had heaped It up without 
 comfort, in fordid inhumanity ; or he who fquan- 
 dered it in the gratification of gayer vices. Equal- 
 ly 
 
Mrs. S E L V Y N. 225 
 
 ly ftrangers to beneiiceiicd, feJf-indulgence was 
 their fole view; alike criminal, though not equally 
 unfafhionable, one endeavoured to ftarve, the 
 other to corrupt mankind ; while the new owners 
 of this houfe had no other view, than to conveni- 
 ence, and to reform all who came within their influ- 
 ence, themfelves enjoying in a fupreme degree, the 
 happinefs they diTperfed around them. 
 
 It was pleafmg to fee numbers at work to repair 
 the buildijig, and cultivate the garden, and to ob- 
 ierve, that at length from this inhofpitable manfioii 
 '' Health to himfelf, and to his children bread, the 
 " labourer bears." Within it were all the bigeed 
 fchool girls, with one of their millrelles to diret5l 
 them in mending fuch furniture as were not quite 
 deftroyed ; and 1 was pleafed to fee with how 
 much arc they repaired the decays of time, in 
 things which well deferved better care, havin^- 
 once been the richefl part of the furniture belong- 
 ing to the opulent polTcfTors. 
 
 In our way home we called at a clergyman's 
 houfe, v/hich v/as placed in the fineil fituation 
 imaginable, and where we beheld that profufion 
 of comforts, v/hich fGnic and ceconomy will ena- 
 ble the polIeiTors of narrow fortunes to enjoy. 
 This gentleman and his wife have but a frnall 
 living, and ftill lefs paternal eflate ; but the neat- 
 nefs, prettinefsj and convenience of their habita- 
 tion, were enough to put one out of humour with 
 riches, and I fnould certainly have breathed forth 
 Agar's prayer with great ardour, if I had not been 
 flopped in the beginning, by confidering how great 
 a blefBng wealth may be when properly employ- 
 ed, of which I had then fuch hourly proof. 
 
 At our return to Millenium-Hall we found 
 fome of the neighbouring fociety, who were come 
 to fliare the evening's concert, and fup with us. 
 
 L 5 But 
 
226 The History, &rc. 
 
 But at ten o'clock they departed ; which I under- 
 ilood was fomewhat later than ui'ual, but they con- 
 formed to the alteration of hours our arrival had. 
 occafioned. 
 
 The next day being very hot, we were aflced to 
 breakfaft in a delightful arbour in the Flower gar- 
 den. The morning dew, which ftill refrefhed the 
 flowers, increafed their fragrance to as great an. 
 excefs of fweetnefs as the fenfes could fupporto 
 Till I went to this houfe, I knew not half the 
 charms of the country. Few people have the art 
 of making the mod of nature's bounty ; thefe la- 
 dies are epicures in rural pleafures, and enjoy them 
 in the utmoft excefs to v/hich they can be carried. 
 All that romance ever reprefented in the plains of 
 Arcadra, are much inferior to the charms of Mille- 
 nium-Hall, except the want of fhepherds be judg- 
 ed a deficiency, that nothing elfe can compen- 
 fate ; there indeed they fall fhort of what roman- 
 tic writers reprefent, and have formed a female 
 Arcadia. 
 
 After breakfafl all the ladles left us except Mrs. 
 Maynard. We were fo charmed with the fpot we 
 were in, that we agreed to vc:?;ain there, and I 
 called on my coufm to continue the tafk fhe had 
 undertaken j which flie did in the following 
 manner. 
 
 The 
 
[ 227 1 
 
 THE 
 
 HISTORY 
 
 O F 
 
 Mrs. T R E N T H A M. 
 
 TilRS. Trcntham never knew the blcfTing of a 
 -^•^^ mother's care, her's died the fame month 
 which K'ave her dau2;hter birth ; and Mr. Trent- 
 ham furvived his wife but eight years. He left his 
 little girl eleven thoufand pounds, recommending 
 both her nerfon and fortune to his Mother Mr^. 
 Alvvorth. 
 
 Mrs. Alworth was an old lady of good fenfe and 
 merit. She had felt the mofl melancholy, but not 
 iinufual efi'ecl of long life, having outlived all her 
 children. This misfortune fhe alleviated in the 
 beft manner fhe was able, by receiving her grand- 
 children into her family. Her fon by her Iccond 
 hufband left behind him a boy and girl, the for- 
 mer at the time I fpeak of, about eleven years old, 
 the latter ten. Her daughter had married Mr. 
 Denham, and at her death left two girls. Mr, 
 Denham entering into wedlock a fecond time, 
 
 L 6 ' very 
 
228 The History OF 
 
 very willingly complied with Mrs. Alworth's defirc 
 of having his two daughters. The eldeft of thefe 
 was twelve years old, the youngeit eleven. 
 
 Thefe children had lived with the old lady fome 
 years, when fhe took home Harriot Trentham. 
 As their grand-mother was rich, there had been. 
 a ftrong contention among them for her favour, 
 and they could not without great difguft fee an- 
 other rival brought to the houfe. Harriot was ex- 
 tremely handfome and engaging. The natural 
 iweetnefs of her temper rendered her complying 
 and obfervant ; but having been bred under the 
 care of a fenfible and indulgent father, Ihe had 
 never been taught the little arts of behaviour, 
 which mothers too commonly inculcate with fo 
 ■much care, that children are as void of fimplicity 
 at eight, as at eight and tw'en:y )ears old. The 
 hiil thing a girl is taught is to hide her fentiments, 
 to contradict tlie thoughts of her heart, and tell 
 nil the civil lies which cuftom has fan^lified, with 
 as much affe6tation and conceit as her mother j and 
 when i3ie has acquired all the folly and impertlaence 
 of a riper age, and apes the woman more un- 
 gracefully than a monkey does a fine gentleman, 
 the parents congratulate themfelves with the ex- 
 tremefi: complacency, on the charming cducatior^ 
 ihey have given their daughter. 
 
 Harriot had been taught no fuch lefibns. Her 
 Father had a ftrong diflike to prematurity, and 
 feared that communication with the world would 
 too foon teach her art and difgulfe, the laft things 
 he would have chofen to anticipate. 
 
 By teaching her humanity, he initiated her into 
 civility of manners. She had learnt, that to give 
 pain was immoral -, and could no more have borne 
 to have (hocked any perfon's mind, than to have 
 racked his body. Any thought therefore that 
 
 coma 
 
Mrs. T R E N T H A M. 229 
 
 could hurt {he rupprefled as an Indifpenfable duty, 
 and to pleafe by her anions, and not offend by her 
 words, was an eflential part of the religion in 
 which fhe was educated : but in every thino- 
 whereby no one could fuffer, flie was innocence 
 and fimplicity itfelf ; and in her nature flione pure 
 and uncorrupted, either by natural or acquired 
 vices. 
 
 Mrs. Alworth, though fond of all her grand- 
 children, could not conquer a degree of partiality 
 for Flarriot, whofe attractions, both perfonal an3 
 mental, were very fuperior to thofe of her coufins. 
 Her beauty fecured her the particular attention of 
 all ftrangers, fhe gained their favour at hril fiaht, 
 and fecured it by her amiable difpofition when they 
 became more acquainted with her. 
 
 Envy is one of the firft paffions that appears in 
 the human mind. Had iVifs Alworth and Pv^Tifs 
 Dcnhams been much younger, Harriot would not 
 have palled unenvied. Every day increafed their 
 diflike to her, as fhe grew daily more beloved by 
 others, and they let no opportunity efcape of mak- 
 ing her feel the effeds of their little malice. 1 heir 
 hatred to her produced an union among themfelves; 
 for the firrt time they found fomething in which they 
 all agreed. They v/ere continually layino- little 
 plots to leffen her in their grand-mother's opinion • 
 frequent were the accufations againft her, but her 
 innocence always triumphed, though it never dif- 
 couragcd them from repeating the fame unfuccefs- 
 ful attempts. Mrs. Alworth was txtremely fond 
 of them all, but yet fhe faw through their malice 
 and their behaviour only ferved to endear Harriot 
 the more, who defended herfelf without anger, and 
 retained no rancour in her mind. Free from re- 
 fentment or fufpicion ihe was ever open to their 
 arts, and experience did not teach her to be on her 
 
 guard 
 
230 The History of 
 
 guard agalnft them, which often occafioned their 
 having appearances on their fide, and might have 
 railed prejudices againft her in Mrs. Alworth's 
 mind, had fhe not found a defender in M after Al- 
 worth, who alone of all her coufms was free from 
 envy. Fie was naturally of an honefi; and fvveet 
 difpofition, and being fond of Harriot, for beauty 
 has charms for all ages, felt great indignation at the 
 treatment fhe received, and would often cxprefs a 
 jefentment from which fhe was wholly free. 
 
 Mrs. Alworth's great fondnefs fcr her grandfon, 
 and flrong prejudices againft fchools, from a belief 
 that boys acquire there more vice than learning, 
 had determined on a private education. She there- 
 fore provided a tutor for him before he was feven 
 years old ; a man of learning and fenfe, with a 
 great deal of religion and good humour j and who 
 was very attentive to the employment for which he 
 had been chofen. 
 
 Mafter Alworth, by being thus kept at home, had 
 frequent opportunities of obferving the malice of 
 his fifter and Mifs Denham againft Harriot, and 
 never failed expofing their practices to his grand- 
 mother; who from thence learnt to fufpeit their 
 reports about things which pafted in his abfence, 
 and confequently could not be cleared up by him. 
 His fondnefs for Harriot foon made him beloved by 
 her, and as {he found little pleafure in the fociety 
 of her other coufms, fhe fought his company, but 
 as he was much engaged by his ftudies, (he feldom 
 found him at leifure to play. The tutor greatly 
 delighted with her, tried to awaken in her mind a 
 ckefire of improvement, and found it an eafy taflf 5 
 ihe was inclined to learn, and capable of doing it 
 with great quicknefs. Mrs. Alworth readily en- 
 tered into the good man's viev/s, and was pleafed 
 with the cagernefs of Ffarriot's application. Mafter 
 
 Alworth 
 
Mrs. Tr E N T H A M. 23 1 
 
 Alworth was far enough advanced in learning to 
 aflift his favourite, and from him fhe received in- 
 ftru(3:ion with double pleafure, and more eafily com- 
 prehended his explanations than thofe of their tu- 
 tor, who found it difficult to divelt himfelf fuffici- 
 cntly of fcientific terms, which greatly retard the 
 increafe of knowlege in a youthful mind. 
 
 Thus beloved by her grand- mother and Mr. 
 Alworth, and hated and traduced by her female 
 coufins, Harriot lived till fhe was fixteen. Years 
 had ftill improved her perfon, and fhe had made 
 confiderable progrefs in learning, when Mrs. Al- 
 worth judged it proper that hergrandfon fhould go 
 abroad, to compleat an education which fhe flat- 
 tered herfelf was hitherto faultlefs. He had no ob- 
 jection to the fcheme but what arofe from his un- 
 willingnefs to leave Harriot, who faw his departure 
 approach with great concern. She loved and re- 
 fpe6led her grand-mother, but Mr. Alworth was 
 the only perfon whom fhe could look upon in the 
 tender and equal light of a friend. To be depri- 
 ved of his fociety was lofing the chief pleafure of 
 her lif«, and her beft guardian againft her ene- 
 mies. 
 
 Mrs. Alworth was pleafed with the afFe6lion 
 which fo evidently appeared between thefe two 
 young people, fhe hoped to fee an happy union 
 arife from it. Their fortunes and ages were pro- 
 perly fuited, and a love which had taken root in 
 childhood, and grown with their encreafmg years, 
 feemed to promife a lafling harmony, of which the 
 fweetnefs of their difpofitions would be no bad fe- 
 curity. Thefe pleafmg ideas amufed this worthy 
 woman, but the two friends themfelves had not ex- 
 tended their views fo far. Bred up like brother and 
 lifter, a tenderer degree of relation had not enter- 
 ed 
 
232 The History of 
 
 ed their thoughts, nor did any thing more appear 
 neccfiary to their happinefs, than a conftant enjoy- 
 ment of each others friendfhip. 
 
 In this difpofition they parted when Mr. AI- 
 worth went abroad. His tutor thinking himfelf 
 not properly qualified to conduct him in his tra- 
 vels, recommended another gentleman, and Mr. 
 Alv/orth, at Harriot's requeft, prevailed with their 
 grandmother to detain his old tutor till Harriot's 
 education was compleated. 
 
 Mr. Alworth continued abroad two years, during 
 which time Harriot had applied with Tuch unweari- 
 ed diligence, that (lie was perfe(£l miilrefs of thfe 
 living languages, and no lefs acquainted with 
 Greek and Latin. She was well intruded in the 
 ancient and modern philofophy, and in almofl 
 every branch of learning. 
 
 Mr. Alworth found his coufm not alone im- 
 proved in underftanding, her beauty v/as juft then 
 in Its perfc6lion, and it was fcarcely poflible to 
 conceive any thing handfomer. She had great ele- 
 gance of manner, a point wherein her grand-mo- 
 ther excelled, and was as far removed from conceit 
 as from ignorance. Her fituation was much mend- 
 ed by the marriage of the eldeft Mifs Denliim ; 
 and Mifs Alworth waited only for her brother's ar- 
 rival and approbation, to enter into the fame (late. 
 The gentleman to whom flie was going to be 
 married had firil: made his addrefles to Harriot j 
 but, as well as feveral others, was refufcd by her. 
 She was not inclined to change her fituation, or 
 this gentlem.an's fortune, perfon, and character 
 were unexceptionable ; however one circumftance 
 without any other objection would have been fuili- 
 cient to have rendered his fuit unfuccefsful -, fli« 
 perceived that Mils Alworth was in love with 
 
 him. 
 
Mrs. T R E N T H A M. 2^3 
 
 bim, and though (he had Irttle reafon to have much 
 regard for her, yet good nature made her anxious 
 for the fuccefs of a paOF.on which (he faw was deep- 
 ly rooted. 
 
 She therefore, while fliedifcou raged his addrefTes, 
 took every means of recommending Mifs Alworth, 
 whofe treatment of her fhe believed rather pro- 
 ceeded from compliance with Mifs Denham's than 
 from ill temper. 
 
 This gave her hopes that flie might make a good 
 wi^e to Mr. Parnel, the object of her afFc<Slions, 
 He foon perceived, that Miis Alworth did not be- 
 hold him with indifference ; but as he was much 
 captivated by Harriot's charms, it at firft had no 
 other effecSt, than leading him to indulge in com- 
 plaints of her cruelty to Mifs Alworth, who liften- 
 ed with compaflion. Harriot often reprefented to 
 him how little he ought to wifh for her confent to 
 marry him, which he fo ftrongly follicited ; for 
 fhould (he grant it, he would be miferable with a 
 wife who did not love him. She told him, that 
 
 * were he indifferent, her being fo might do very 
 
 * well, and they live on together in that eternal 
 
 * enmiiy which muft ever fubfiR between a married 
 
 * couple who have no afFedion for each other, and 
 ' while natural good temper and prudence enabled 
 < them to dream away a dull life in peace and dead 
 ' infenfibility, the world might call them happy ; 
 
 * but that if he really loved her, her indifference 
 ' would render him more wretched than the moft 
 ' blameable conduit/ She would then reprefent the 
 advantages of marrying a -woman whofe fole affec- 
 tions he poffefTed, though at firft he felt for her 
 only efteem and gratitude ; and advifcd him by all 
 means to feek for one whofe heart was in that litu- 
 ation, v/hich he was well qualified to find. 
 
 Though 
 
234 The History of 
 
 Though Harriot forhore to mention Mifs Al- 
 Worth's name, Mr. Parnel v/cll underflood to 
 whom {he alluded, but found it difficult to take her 
 advice. At length however, deprived of all hope 
 of obtaining the woman he loved, and moved lo 
 companion by the vihble unhappinefs of one who 
 loved him, he began to liftcn to it, and frankly 
 told Harriot, that he underftood the aim of what 
 Die had fiiid. She was not forry to throw or}' all 
 reftraint, as it gave her the power of fpeaking more 
 to the purpofe ; and at length brought him to fay, 
 that he lliould not be unwilling to marry her. Har- 
 riot feared left the belief of Mr. Parnel's Hill retain- 
 ing an afFed^ion for her, might render Mifs Alworth 
 uneafy, and therefo/e advlfcd him gradually to flack- 
 cn his addrefles to her, and at the fame time to in- 
 creafe in proportion his attentions for Mifs Alworth, 
 that he might appear to prefer her, fmce a fymptom 
 of inconftancy {he knew would not fo much affedl 
 her as any fign of indifference, and Harriot's genero- 
 fity fo far exceeded her vanity, that {he very fmcere- 
 ly defired to be thought neglefted, rather than give 
 any alloy to the happinefs of her coufm. 
 
 There was the more colour for this fuppofitlon, 
 as Mr. Parnel had never been publicly difcarded by 
 her, fmce for the completion of her views {he had 
 found it nece{rary to preferve his acquaintance. 
 
 Mifs Alworth was happy beyond expre{ilon when 
 fhe found herfelf the object of Mr. Parnel's addrcfs- 
 es. Her wi{hes fo far blinded her, that {he really 
 believed Harriot was neglected for her ; but yet 
 knew {he had long been endeavouring to ferve her, 
 and was obliged to her for fome in{lru6lions how 
 to behave fo to Mr. Parnel as to fecure his c{leem 
 and confidence, the beft foundation for love. As 
 her brother was then foon expected over, Mrs. Al- 
 worth 
 
Mrs. T R E N T H A M. ^S5 
 
 worth thought that to wail for his approbation was 
 but a proper compliment. 
 
 Mr. Alworth was not at all inclined to ohjeS: to 
 fo good a match, efpecially as it was much defired 
 by his filter, and the marriage was celebrated foon 
 after his return. This ceremony did not fo engage 
 his attention, as to render him lefs fcnfible ot the 
 pleafure of renewing his friendfhip with Harriot, 
 who received him with the fmcereft joy. He found 
 her greatly improved, and every hour pafled agree- 
 ably that was fpent in her company. They were 
 continually together, and never happy but when 
 they were fo. Every one talked of their mutual 
 paflion ; and they were fo orten told of it that they 
 began to fancy '^^ was true, but were furprized to 
 finrl *hac name fhould be given to an afFedlion calm 
 and rational as theirs, totally free from that turbu-- 
 lency and wildnefs, which had always appeared to 
 them the true charadleriftics of love. They were 
 fenfible however, that nothing was fo dear to them 
 as each other, they were always forry to part, un- 
 cafy afunder, and rejoiced to meet ; a walk was 
 doubly pleafmg when they both fhared it ; a book 
 became more entertaining if they read together ; 
 every thing was infipid that they did not mutually 
 enjoy. When they confidered thefe fymptoms, 
 they were inclined to think the general opinion 
 was juft, and that their affection, being free from 
 pallion, proceeded from fome peculiarity of tem- 
 per. 
 
 Mrs. Alworth thought flie fliould give them great 
 ratisfa6lion in piopofmg a fpeedy marriage ; and 
 rejoiced to fee the firltwifh of her heart, which had 
 been for their union, fo nearly compleated. The 
 old lady's propofal made them a little thoughtful ; 
 t-hey faw no very good reafon for their marrying ; 
 
 they 
 
23^ The History of 
 
 they enjoyed each others fociety already, and did 
 not wi(h for any more intimate tie. But neither 
 knew how to refufe, fmce the other might take it 
 for an affront, and they would not for the world 
 have had the finccrity and tendernefs of their af- 
 feaion brought into doubt. Befides they began to 
 think, that as their love was fo generally looked 
 upon as certain, it might become difficult to con- 
 tinue the fame degree of intimacy without expofino- 
 themfelves to cenfure. This thought was fufiicient 
 to determine them to marry J and'their entire af- 
 fedion for, and confidence in each other, convin- 
 ced them they ran no hazard in this flep ; and that 
 they could not fail of being happy as man and wife, 
 who had fo long enjoyed grea^t feiicJry in the mofl 
 intimate friendihip. 
 
 In confequence of this refolution, lawyers were 
 employed to draw up fettlements, and every thing 
 requifite for a proper appearance on their marriage . ^ 
 was ordered ; but they were fo very patient on the 
 fubje^, that the preparations went on flowly. Some 
 who hoped to have their diligence quickened, in a 
 manner ufual on fuch occafions, afFeiled delays, 
 but were furprized to find that no complaint en- 
 fued. They grev/ ftill more dilatory, but the only 
 confequence that arofe from it was a decent foli- 
 citation to difpatch, without any of thofe more ef- 
 fedual means being ufed, which impatient love or 
 greedy avarice fuggefl. 
 
 Thefe young people were perfe£lly happy and 
 contented, and therefore waited with compofure 
 for the conclufion of preparations, v/hich however 
 flowly did howey r proceed. The old lady indeed 
 was lefs patient, but a grandmother's follicitations 
 have no very powerful effect on lawyers ; therefore 
 her's availed little. 
 
 During 
 
Mrs. T R E N T H A M. 237 
 
 During thefe delays Mr§. Tonfton, formerly the 
 eldeflMifs Denham, having been extremely ill, was 
 fent to Buxton for the recovery of her health. As 
 this place was but a day's journey from Mrs. Al* 
 worth's houfe, (he expreiTed a defire to fee her grand- 
 daughter, and Mr. Alworth and Harriot, as well 
 as Mifs Denham, very readily accompanied her 
 thither. 
 
 The accommodations at Buxton allow very lit- 
 tle feci ulion ; and as Mrs. Tonfton was fufHciently 
 recovered to conform to the cuiloms of the place, 
 they joined in the general fociety. The firftday at 
 dinner Mr. x^Kvorth's attention was much engroiled 
 by Mifs Melman, a very pretty woman. She 
 was far from a perfe6t beauty, but her countenance 
 exprciTed an engaging vivacity, and gieat good hu-' 
 mour, though a wandering unfixed look, indicated 
 a light and unfteady mind. Pier perfon was little 
 but elegant ; there was a fprightlinefs in her whole 
 figure which was very attra6i[ive : her converfation 
 was fuitablc to it, {lie had great life and fpirit, all 
 the common routine of diicourfe, and a fafhion- 
 able rcadinefs to fKim lightly over all fu bje(5ls. Her 
 underftanding was fufficiently circumfcribed ; but 
 what fhe wanted in real fenfc, fhe made up in viva- 
 city, no unfucccfsful fubftitute in general eftima- 
 tion. 
 
 This young lady was almoft a new character to 
 Mr. Alworth. He had lived conftantly at his 
 grand- mother's till he went abroad, and as foon as 
 he returned into the kingdom he went thither ; 
 from whick, as it was the middle of fummer, and 
 confequently London had no temiptations, he had 
 never ftirred. He therefore had been little ufed to 
 any woman but his fober and fenfible grand-mother's 
 two coufms who were pretty enough, but had no 
 great charms of underftanding 5 a futer rather filly, 
 
 and 
 
i^S The History of 
 
 and the incomparable Harriot, whofe wit was as 
 found as her judgment folid and fterling, free 
 from affe(5lation, and all little effeminate arts and 
 airs. Reafon governed her thoughts and actions, 
 nor could the greateft flow of fpirits make her for 
 a moment forget propriety. Every thing in her 
 was natural grace, fhe was always confiftent and 
 uniform, and a ftranger to caprice. 
 
 Mifs Milman was a compleat coquet, capricious 
 and fantaftical. As Mr. Alworth was the prettieft 
 man at the place, and known to have a good for- 
 tune, fhe foon fnigled him out as a conqueft wor- 
 thy of her, and fuccefsfully played off all her arts. 
 By appearing to like him, (he intlccd him to ad- 
 drefs her ; and by a well managed capricioufnefs 
 of behaviour kept up the fpirit of a purfuit. She 
 frequently gave him reafon to believe her favoura- 
 bly difpofed towards him, and as often, by obliging 
 him to doubt of it, encreafed his defire to be cer- 
 tain it was true. She kept him in a ftate of con- 
 {lant anxiety, and made him know her confequence 
 by the continual tranfition from pleafure to pain in 
 which he lived. 
 
 He had not been much more than a fortnight at 
 Buxton, when his attachment to Mifs Melman be- 
 came very apparent. Harriot faw an afliduity in 
 his behaviour very different from what he had ever 
 fhewn to her. He felt that in the circumflances 
 wherein he and Plarriot then were, his condii6l 
 mufl appear injurious, and fhame and the fecret 
 reproaches of his confcience made him take all pof- 
 fible opportunities of avoiding her pref(|Ace : if he 
 was obliged to converfe wjth her, it \^s with aii 
 air fo reftrained and inattentive, as made her fear 
 his regard for her was entirely vanifhed. The fm- 
 cere afFedion ihe had fbr him rendered this appre- 
 
 henfion 
 
Mrs. Trentham. 239 
 
 henfion extremely painful.* She would have been 
 ipntented to have feen another woman liis wife, but 
 could not bear the thought of iolmg his friendfhip. 
 At flrft (he pafTed over this change in filence, and 
 appeared even not to obferve it ; but when they 
 received an account that the marriage writings 
 were finifhed, (he thought an afFe6ied blindnefs 
 highly unfeafonable, and told him, in the moft 
 friendly and generous manner, that, *• nothing re- 
 mained to be done but to cancel them, that, 
 fhc plainly perceived another had obtained the 
 heart fhe never poflfefTed; that, the meafures taken 
 for their marriage were of no fort of confequence, 
 and flie flattered herfelf fhe might retain his 
 friendfhip, though he gave his hand to ano- 
 ther.' 
 
 Mr. Alv/orth at firft appeared confounded, but 
 ecovering himfelf, confefled to her frankly, ' he 
 never knew the weaknefs and folly of the human 
 heart, till his own convinced him of it; that, 
 he had always felt for her the moftperfe6lef{eem, 
 joined with the tendereft afFe<3:ion ; but his paf- 
 fions liad had no fliare in his attachment. On 
 the contrary, he found them fl-ronj2;ly engaged 
 on the fide of Mifs Mel man, and felt an ardour 
 for her which he had never before experienced. 
 That, he could not think of being her hufband 
 without rapture, though he faw plainly Ihe was 
 inferior to his Harriot both in beauty and under- 
 ftanding ; and as for her principles, he was to- 
 tally ignorant of them. He now, he faid, per- 
 ceived the(|ifFerence between frLcnclfnip and Jove, 
 and was convinced, that efteem and pallion were 
 totally independant, fmce fhe entirely pofTeiTed 
 the one, while Mifs Melman totally engrofled 
 the other.' 
 
 Haryot 
 
J140 The History of 
 
 Harriot was pleafed with the franknefs of Mr. 
 Alworth's confcfiion, and wiflied only to be fecure 
 of his efteem, but (he faw him fo wholly taken up 
 with Mifs Melman, that fhe was convinced pafflon 
 had greater power over his fex than efteem, and 
 that while his mind v/as under the tumultuous in- 
 fluence of love, fhe muft cxpe6l very little fatis- 
 fa£tion from his friendfhip. 
 
 She took upon herfelf the tafic of breaking off 
 their treaty of marriage, and acquainted her grand- 
 mother with her refoiution, who faw too plainly 
 the reafon for her doing fo to blame her condu£l, 
 though fhe grieved at the necellity for it, and 
 could not fmcerely forgive her grandfon's levity 
 and want of judgment, in preferring a wild fan- 
 ta^ic girl, to the extreme beauty, and folid well- 
 known merit of Harriot, an error for which fhe 
 prophetically faw he would in time be feverely 
 punifhed. 
 
 • Harriot, from the intended bride, now became 
 the confidant of Mr. Alv/orth, though with an 
 aching heart; for fhe feared that after experiencing 
 the more a6i:ive fenfations of a flrong pallion,' 
 friendfhip would appear too infipid to have any 
 charms for him. She accompanied Mrs. Al worth- 
 home before the lovers cho<e to leave Buxton, but 
 not till file had prevailed with her grandmother to 
 confent to the marriage between iVIifs Melman and 
 Mr. Alworth fhould be celebrated at her houfe. 
 
 When every thing requifite for the ceremony 
 was ready, they came to Mrs. Alworth's, where^ 
 the indiflblublc knot was tied, and iJ the bride-' 
 groom's opinion the moll perfedt happinefs fccured 
 to his future years. They iiaid but a few days al- 
 ter the marriage, and then went to her father's 
 houfe, till the approaching winter called them to 
 
 London. 
 
 Harriot 
 
Mrs. Trentham. 241 
 
 Harriot found a great lofs of a friend {he fo fin- 
 cerely loved, but fhe hoped he would be as happy 
 as he expelled, and had the fatisfaclion of be- 
 lieving he retained a tender regard for h^r. They 
 correfponded frequently ; and his letters alTured 
 her of his felicity. After he had been fome time 
 fixed in London, he grew indeed lefs eloquent oji 
 the fubjedt, which did not furprize her, as the va- 
 riety of his engagements fliortened his letters, and 
 denied him leifure to expatiate on the moil pleafing 
 topics. 
 
 Mifs Denham had accompanied her fifter home, 
 and in the winter Mrs. Alworth was informed by 
 Mrs. Tonfton, that Mifs Denham had received a 
 propofal from a gentleman of a good eilate, but 
 h.^ infilled on a fortune of nine thoufand pounds, 
 which was two more than fhe was poiTelled of; and 
 as they wifhed the old lady to make that addition, 
 Mrs, Tonfton as an inducement added, that the 
 gentleman was extremely agreeable to her fifter. 
 
 Mrs. Alworth was not inclined to comply with 
 their views, and made no other anfwer to all 
 Harriot urged to prevail with her to eive the re- 
 quifits fum, than that It was more than perhaps 
 would at her death fall to Mifs Denham's fliare, 
 and fhe faw no temptation to purchafe fo merce- 
 nary a man. When Harriot found that all fhs 
 could fay was unavailing, flie told Mrs. Alworth, ' 
 that, ' if fhe would give her leave, flie was deter- 
 
 * mined to make the required addition out of her 
 
 * fortune ; for fhe could not bear her coufm fhould 
 ' be difappointed in a particular flie thought eiftn^ 
 ' tial to her happinefs, by the want of a fum of 
 ' money which fhe could very well fpare ; adding, 
 ' that the treatment fhe had received from her 
 
 * coufms, fhe attributed to childiihnefs and folly, 
 
 M ^ ^ and 
 
24 2 T H E IT I S T O Ts. Y O F 
 
 * and fliouli be tar worfe than they were, IT flic 
 
 * could remember it with refentment.' 
 
 Mrs. Alworth was greatly touched with this in- 
 ftance of Harriot's generofity, and finding that no- 
 thing but the exertion of her authority, which her 
 grand-daughter acknowleged abfolute, and always 
 obeyed impiicity, could prevent her from perform- 
 ing her purpofe ; (he determined to take the moft 
 efl-'cclual means of hindering it, by advancing the 
 money herfelf, and invited Mifs Dcnham and her 
 lover to her houfe ; where the marriage was per«» 
 formed, and they departed. 
 
 Mrs. Alworth began to feel the infirmities of 
 age, and now that fhe and Harriot were left to 
 continual the a iete, abfolute quiet might have de- 
 generated into fomething like dullnefs ; but the 
 difturbance they found not at home, reached them 
 from abroad. Mr. Parnel was wearied with his 
 wife's fondnefs, who not conhdering that he had 
 married her more out of gratitude than afFe^tion, 
 had difgufted him with the continual profefTions of 
 a love, to which his heart would not make an equal 
 return. This fondnefs teazed a temper, naturally 
 good, into peevifhnefs, and was near converting in- 
 difference into diflike. Mrs. Parnel diftrefTed be- 
 yond meafure at an efFeft fo contrary to what 
 flie intended, reproached him with ingratitude, 
 and tormented him with tears and complaints. 
 
 Harriot, who confidered this match as in a great 
 meafure her own work, was particularly defirous 
 of redreiling thefe grievances, and took great pains 
 to perfuade Mrs. Parnel to reftrain her fondnefs, 
 2nd fupprefs her complaints, while (he endeavour- 
 ed to make her hufband fenfible, that he ought, in 
 confideration for the caufe, to pardon the tiouble- 
 {ome effects, and not to fuffer himfelf to be dif- 
 gufted 
 
Mrs. T R E N T H A M. 24^ 
 
 guHed by that afFedion in his wife, which to moil 
 hufbands would appear a merit. Mrs. Alworth 
 joined to Harriot's perfuafion, the influence her age 
 and refpe<£lable charader gave her, and though 
 not without great difficulty, they at laft faw Mr. and 
 Mrs. Parnel live in peace and amity, without any 
 of the pleafures arifing from ftrong and delicate 
 afFedions, or the fufFerings occafioned by ill hu- 
 mour and hatred ; and whatever void they mi^ht 
 find in their hearts, they were fo happy as to have 
 well filled by two very fine children, which Mrs. 
 Parnel brought her hufband ; v/ho always treated 
 her with great indulgence, in hopes of fixinc*- Har- 
 riot's good opinion j for though defpair had damp- 
 ed his paffion, yet he fi:ill loved her with the ten- 
 dereft refpe»Sl and reverence. 
 
 Towards the latter end of the fecond year of 
 Mr. Alworth's marriage, his grand-mother died, 
 much regretted by Harriot, whom fhe left miflrefs 
 of her own fortune, with the addition of four 
 thoufand pounds, part of it the accumulated in- 
 tereft of her paternal inheritance, the reil: Mrs. 
 Alworth's legacy. Her grandfon fucceeded to her 
 houfe, and intreated Harriot, that he might find 
 her there when he came to take pofTeffion. 
 
 Their correfpondence had been regular, but 
 they had never met fince his mariage. ^Mrs. Al- 
 worth was not fond of the converfation of an old 
 lady ; and from feeing herfelf not very agreeable 
 to her grandmother, felt an uncommon awe in her 
 prefence. Harriot had received repeated invitati- 
 ons from them, but could not be prevailed with to 
 leave old Mrs. Alworth, who had no other com- 
 panion, 
 
 M2 The 
 
'244 The History of 
 
 The only relief file found in her afHlclion for 
 the lofs of fo worthy a parent, was putting the 
 houfe, and all belonging to it, in order, for the re- 
 ception of her firft friend, in whofe fociety (he ex- 
 pected to renew the happinefs fhe had fo long en- 
 joy^ from it. Nor was (he difappointed in her 
 hopes of finding him ftill her friend ; they met 
 with mutual joy, and Mrs. Alworth feemed at 
 firft as much pleafed with her new poflelnon, as 
 they were with each other. But Harriot foon 
 found her happinefs confiderably damped. Mr. 
 Al.vorth, unwilling to let his grandmother know 
 the ill fuccefs of an union which he was fenfible 
 file difapproved, had been filent on that fubje6t in his 
 letters, but he was too well acquainted with the 
 generofitv of Harriot's temper^ to fear fhe would 
 triumph at the natural confequence of his ill- 
 grounded pallion, and therefore concealed not 
 from her any part of the uneafinefs which his 
 wife's difpofition gave him. He too late faw the 
 diiFerence between fenfible vivacity and animal 
 fpirits, and found Mrs. Alworth a giddy coquet, 
 too volatile to think, too vain to love ; pleafed 
 with admiration, infenfible to afFe^ion, fond of 
 flattery, but indifferent to true praife ; imprudent- 
 ly vivacious in mixed companies, lifelefs when 
 alone with him ; anddefirous of charming all man- 
 kind except her hufband, who of his whole fex 
 feerned the only perfon of no confequence to her. 
 As her view was to captivate in public, fhe co- 
 vered a very pretty complexion with pearl-powder 
 and rouge, becaufe they made her more refplen- 
 dcnt by candle-light, and in public places. Mr. 
 Alworth had in ftrong terms expreffed his abhor- 
 cnce of that pradice ; but, ' fhe was furprized 
 * he fhould intermeddle in an affair that was no 
 
 * bufmefs 
 
Mrs. Trentham. 245 
 
 * bufmefs of his, furely flie might wear what com- 
 
 * plexion ihe pleaied.' The natural turn of his 
 temper inclined hiin to rational fociety, but in that 
 his wife could bear no part. The little time Tne 
 was at home was employed in dreffing, and a 
 multitude of coxcombs attended her toilet. Mr. 
 Aiworth's cxtren:!c fondnefs for her made him at 
 fn'ft very wretched ; he foon found himfelf the moll 
 iiifregardcd of ail mankind, and every man ap^- 
 peared his rival ; but on nearer obfervation he per-- 
 ceived his jcaloufy was groundlefs, and that fhe 
 was too H:iddv to love anv thins;. This made his 
 pride eafy. but his tcnderncfs llill had much to 
 endure, till at length contempt produced fome de- 
 gree of indifference, and his fuffciings became Icfs 
 acute, though he lived in continual grief, at find- 
 ing himfelf dilappointed of all his airy hopes ot^ 
 happincfs. 
 
 Harriot was fcarcely hfs affiicfled than himfelf, 
 fhe endeavoured to render him more contented 
 with his fituation, and attempted to teach Mrs, 
 Alworth to think, but in both was equally un- 
 fuccefsful. However this was not all fhe had to 
 endure. When Mr. Alworth began with unpre- 
 judiced eyes to compare her he had loff, with the 
 woman for whom he relinquifhed her ; when he 
 faw how greatly Harriot's natural beauty eclipfed 
 Mrs. Alworth's, notwithflanding the addition of 
 .all her borrowed charms, he wondered what ma- 
 gic had bhnded him to her fuperiority. But when 
 he drew a comparifon between the admirable un- 
 derflanding of the one, her great fund of know- 
 lege, the inexhauflible variety in her converfation, 
 with the infipid dulnefs, or unmeaning vivacity of 
 the other, he was ffill more aftonifhed, and could 
 not forgive his ilrange infatuation. This train of 
 
 M 3 thought 
 
24^ The History of 
 
 thought perhaps had no fmall (hare in giving rife 
 to a paffion for Harriot, which he had never felt, 
 while it might have been the fource of much hap- 
 pinefs to them both. In fhort, he became violently 
 in love vciih her, and fell a prey to the moil: cniel 
 regret and defpair ; fenfible that all he fuffered was 
 the confequence of his own folly. 
 
 Refpe^t for Harriot made Mr. Alworth endea- 
 vour to conceal his pafTion, but could not prevent 
 its daily increafe. At this time I became acquaint- 
 ed with her, during a vifit I made in the neigh- 
 bourhood ; and as the natural opennefs both of her 
 difpofition and mine, inclined us to converfe with 
 much ^rettiom^ I one day took the liberty to teU 
 her how much Mr. Alworth was in love with her. 
 bhe had not the leaft fufpicicn of it, the entire af- 
 fedion which had always fubfilled between them, 
 ihe imagined fufficient to lead me into that error, 
 but told me the thing was impofTible ; and to prove 
 it, related ail the circumftances of their intended 
 union. Appearances were too itrong to fufFer me 
 tobeperfuaded that I was miftaken ; lacknowleged 
 that what fhe urged feemed to contradict my opi- 
 nion, but that it was no proof; for the perverfc- 
 iiefs of human nature was fuch, that it did not 
 appear to me at all improbable that the eafmefs of 
 obtaining her, when they had both been, as it 
 were, bred up with that view, might be the fole 
 occafion of his indifference ; and the impofTibility 
 of ever poffeffing her now, would only ferve to 
 inflame his paiTion. 
 
 Harriot accufed me of reprefenting human na- 
 ture more perverfe and abfurd than it really was, 
 and continued firm in the perfuafion of my being 
 miltaken. Whatever glaring figns of Mr, Al- 
 worth 's love appeared, fhe fet them all down to the 
 
 account 
 
Mrs. Trentham. «47 
 
 a/:coun<: of friend(hip ; till at length his mind was 
 lo torn with grief and defpair, that no longer able 
 to conceal the caiiie of his greateft fufferings, he 
 begged her to teach him how to conquer a pallion, 
 which, v^hiie it exifted, muft make him wretched ; 
 and with the greateft confufion told her how un- 
 accountably unfortunate he WaS, both in not lov-, 
 ing, and in loving, each equally out of feafon. 
 Almoll diftra^ed with the diHrefsful Irate of his 
 mind, he was in the uimoft horror left this declara- 
 tion fhould offend iisr ; and throv.nng himfclf at 
 her feet, with a countenance and manner which 
 (hewed him almoft fi antic with defpair, terrified 
 her fo much, that fhe did not feel half the fliock 
 this declaration would have given her, had it been 
 made with more calmnefs. 
 
 She ftrove to filence him; ihe endeavoured 
 to raife him from her feet, but to no purpofe ; 
 (lie could not abate the agonies of his mind, with- 
 out alluring him fhe forgave him. ^ Her fpirits were^. 
 ^ in extreme agitation till fhe faw him a little com- 
 pofed ; for ftie. feared his fenfes were affected ; but 
 when her alarm began to abate, the effe6f of her 
 terrors and her grief appeared in a flood of tears ; 
 Mr. Al worth found them infedious, and {he was 
 obliged to dry them up in order to comfort him. 
 When he grew more compofed, Harriot ventured, 
 after expreir)ng her concern for his having conceived 
 fo unfortunate a paflion, to intimate that abfence 
 was the beft remedy, and that there was nothing 
 to be done but for her to leave the houfe. 
 
 Mr. Ai worth was not able to fupport the men- 
 tion of her going away, and intreated her, at leaffc 
 to give him tim.e to arm himfelf againft the great- 
 eft misfortune that could befal him, the lofs of her 
 fociety. She dared not controul him in any thing 
 
 M 4 material. 
 
24^ The History of 
 material, while his mind continued in that defpe- 
 rate fituation, and therefore confented to ftay 
 fome time longer^ She found it very difficult to 
 iTiake him think, that there- ever was a proper time 
 tor her to depart, though his paffion v/as much Jcfs 
 torm.enting fince he had ventured to declare it ; 
 and what before arofe nearly to diflraclion, (unk 
 now into a foft melancholy. Mrs. Alv/orth paid 
 fo little attention to her hufband, that (he h.^d not 
 perceived the confliiSt in his mind. She was wea- 
 ned with the coimtry to the greateft degree, and 
 made the t'lrefome days as fhort as fhe could, by not' 
 rifmg till noon ; from that time till dinner, her 
 toilet found her fufHcient employment. As the neigh- 
 bourhood was large, fhe very frequently contrived 
 to make a party at cards ; but as her company v/as 
 not ufed to play high, this afforded her little relief, 
 except file could find fomebody to bet with her, 
 which was not very difficult, as £vlq was contented 
 to do it to a di fad vantage. 
 
 In thi5 way (lie contrived, jufl, as flie called it, 
 ^ to drag on life ; and v/ondered how fo fine a wo- 
 
 * man as Harriot, could have fo long buried herfeif 
 
 * in that place, fcarcely more lively than the fa- 
 
 * mily vault.' 
 
 When Harriot thought fhe had fufficicntly con- 
 vinced Mr. Alworth of the neceffity of her ab- 
 fence, fhe took her leave with much greater con- 
 cern than fhe would fuffer to appear, though fhe 
 did not afFecl indifference ; but the truth was, Mr. 
 Alworth 's paffionate tcndernefs for her, had made 
 an impreffion on her heart, which without it, all 
 his merit could not effe6>. The melancholy lan- 
 guor which overfpread his countenance, gave it 
 charms fhe had never before difcovered in it ; the 
 ibft accents in which he breathed the moil delicate 
 
 love. 
 
Mrs. Trentham. 249 
 
 love, penetrated to her very foul, and fhe no lon- 
 ger fo.ind that indifterence which had been fo re- 
 markable a part of her characfter. But fhe care- 
 fully concealed thefe new fenfations, in hopes that 
 he would more eafily conquer Ixis pailion, for not 
 thinkino- it returned. 
 
 Though the winter was fcarcely begun, yet ha- 
 ving no inducement to go to any other place, fhe 
 went to London ; and as I had prolonged my flay 
 in the country only to gratify my inclination for 
 her company, I went with her to town. Mrs. 
 Alworth did not continue there a month after us; 
 but her hufband, whofe health was by no means in 
 a good ftate, went to Bath ; and that he might not 
 be quite deflitute of pleafure, he carried his little 
 boy with him, though but a year and a quarter old. 
 His wife did not contend with him for this privi- 
 lege, Oie would have (ccn little more of the babe 
 had it been in London. 
 
 Harriot Trentham, was at her firfl arrival, in 
 
 . very lowfpirits, and every letter flie received from 
 Mr. Alworth increafed her dejecSlion, as it painted 
 his in very flrong colours. As the town filled fhe 
 began to try if diflipation could difpcl lier melan- 
 choly. Her beauty, the fincnefs of her perfon, 
 and her being known to have a large fortune, 
 which Fame even exaggerated, procured her many 
 lovers, and flie became the mod: admired woman 
 
 . in town. This was a new fource of pleafure to her. 
 She had lived where fhe faw not many fmgle men, 
 and though fev/ of thefe who dared to flatter them- 
 felves with hopes, h^d failed paying their addrefTes 
 
 . to her, yet thefe lucceflive courtfnips were very 
 dull, when compared with all the flutter of gene- 
 ral admiration. Her books were now negledted, 
 and to avoid thinking on a fubjcdt which conllant- 
 
 M 5 ly 
 
250 The History, of. 
 
 ]y aiHI6led her, fhe forced herfelf into public, and 
 was glad to find that the idlenefs of the men, and 
 her own vanity, could afford her entertainment. 
 
 She was not however fo totally engrofled by this 
 pleafmg diflipation, as to neglect any means of 
 Jerving the diftreffed. Mrs. Tonfton exerting the 
 genius fhe had fo early fhewn for traducing others, 
 fet her hufband and his family at variance, till at 
 length the falfhoods, by which fhe had effected it, 
 came to be difcovered; Her hiifband and fhe had 
 never Jived v/ell together, and this proof of her 
 bad heart difgufted him fo intirely, that he turned 
 her out of his houfe, allowing her a meer trifle 
 for her fupport. In this diltrefs fhe applied to Har- 
 riot, who fhe knew was ever ready to ferve even 
 ihofe who had mofl injured her. 
 
 Her application was not unfuccefsful. Harriot 
 fent her a confiderable prefent for her Immediate 
 convenience, and then went into the country to 
 JVir. Tonflon, to whom fhe reprefented fo effectu- 
 ally his ungenerous treatment, fmce the fortune 
 his wife brought him gave her a right to a decent 
 maintenance, that he made a proper feitlement 
 upon her, and gave the writings into fiarriot's 
 hands, who not only faw the money paid regu- 
 larly, but took io much pains to convince Mrs. 
 Tonfion of the malignity of her difpofition, tliat flie 
 brought her to a due fenfe of k, and by applying 
 for his afhliance to mend her heart, who beft knew 
 its defedis, fhe became fo altered in temper, that 
 five years after her feparation from her hufband, 
 Hariiot effected a reconciliation, and they now 
 live in great amity together, gratefully acknow- 
 ledging their obligations to her. 
 
 I 
 
Mrs. T R E N T H A M.' 0.^1 
 
 I have anticipated this facfl in order to render my 
 narrative Icfs tedious, or 1 ihould have flopped at 
 Harriot's procuring a fettlement for Mrs. Tonfton, 
 and have told you, that l)y lying in her return at 
 an inn where the fmall-pox then was, fhe caught 
 that diflemper, and foon after (he arrived in Lon- 
 don it appeared. I need not fay that fhe had it 
 to a very violent degree. Being then in town I 
 had the good fortune to nurfe her, and flatter my- 
 felf that my care v/as not ufelefs ; for in cafes fo 
 dangerous, no one who does not feel all the ten- 
 der follicitude of a friend, can be a proper 
 nurfe. 
 
 Mrs. Alworth wrote her hufband word of Har- 
 riot's illnefs, who came poft to London, filled 
 with the extremefl anxiety, and fliared the fatigue 
 of nurfing with me ; fhe was all the time delirious. 
 When ihe came to her fenfes, fhe at firft feemed 
 mortified to think Mr. Alworth had (Qcn her in 
 that disfigured condition ;■ but on reflexion told 
 me, ' fhe rejoiced in it, as fhe thojght it mufl 
 ' totally extinguiQi his paffion ; and her great- 
 « til follicitude was for his happinefs.' But (he 
 afterwards found her expe6lation was ill grounded. 
 
 When fhe recovered, flie perceived that the 
 fmail-pox had entirely deflroyed her beauty. She 
 acknowleged fhe was not inlenfible to this mortifi- 
 cation J and to avoid the obfervation of the envi- 
 ous, or even of the idly curious, flie retired, as 
 foon as file was able to travel, to a country ^oufe 
 which 1 hired for her. 
 
 In a very fhort time fhe became perfe£lly con- 
 tented with the alteration this cruel diflemper had 
 made in her. Her love for reading returned, and 
 Ihe regained the (^uiet happinefs of which flutter 
 
 M 6 ajid 
 
2^2 The History of 
 
 and diffipation had deprived her, without fubfti- 
 tuting any thing (o valuable in its place. She has 
 often faid, < fhe looks on this accident as a re- 
 ' ward for the good fhe had done Mrs. Tor,fton, 
 .^ and that few benevolent ad^ions receive fo im- 
 
 * mediate a recompence, or we fliould be lefs re- 
 ' mifs in our duties, thcugh not more meritori- 
 
 * ous in performing them.' She found retirement 
 better calculated for overcoming an hopelefs paffi- 
 on than noife and flutter. She had indeed by diili- 
 pation often chafed Mr. Al worth from her thoughts, 
 but at the firft moment of leifure his idea returned 
 in as li\ely colours, aj if it had always kept pof- 
 i'eilion of her mind. In the country (lie had time 
 to rcfled: on the necelTity of conquering this in- 
 clination, iffhe wiihed to enjoy any tolerable happi- 
 iiefs ; and therefore took proper meafuresto combat 
 it. Reafon and piety, when united, are extremely 
 prevalent, and with their affiflance {he reftrained 
 her affection once more within its ancient bounds 
 of friendfhip. Her letters to Mr. Al worth, were 
 filled with remonftrances againft the indulgence of 
 his love, and the fame means fhe had found effec- 
 tual, fhe recommended to him, and with fatisfac- 
 tion learnt, that though they had not entirely fuc- 
 ceeded, yet he had acquired fuch a command over 
 bis heart, that he was as little wretched as a man 
 caiK^Je, who is a living monument of tjie too 
 -crbmmon folly of being captivated by a fudden 
 glare of perfon and parts ; and of the fatal error 
 of thofe men who feek in marriage for an amufmg 
 trifler, rather tlian a rational and amiable compa- 
 nion, and too late find that the vivacity which 
 pleafes in the miftrefs, is often a fatal vice in a wife. 
 He lives chicfty in thecountry, has generally a few 
 
 friends 
 
Mrs. T R E N T H A M. 253 . 
 
 friends in the houfe with him, and takes a great 
 deal of pains in the education of his two fons ; 
 while their mother fpends almoft the whole year in 
 town, immerfed in folly and diffipation. 
 
 Ahout fourteen years ago Harriot, who I ought 
 to begin to call Mrs. Trentham, came to fee a 
 lady in this neighbourhood, and thus was firft 
 known to the inhabitants of this manfion. They 
 were much pleafed with her acquaintance, and 
 when fhe had performed her vifit, invited her to 
 pafs a little time with them. She required no fol- 
 licitation, for it was the very thing flie v/ifhed, and 
 here flie has remained ever fmcc. When Mr. 
 Maynard died, leaving me but a fmall jointure, 
 Mrs. Trentham was indulged in her inclination, of 
 afking me to fpend the firft part of my widowhood 
 with her and her friends ; and I have been fortunate 
 enough to recommend myfelf fo effectually, that 
 they have left me no room to doubt they chufe I 
 fhould continue with them, and indeed I think I 
 could fcarcely fupport life were I baniflied from 
 this heavenly focicty. 
 
 Mrs. Trentham and Mr. Alworth keep up a con- 
 flant correfpondence by letters, but avoid meeting. 
 His wife has brought him one daughter, and Pvirs. 
 Trentham's happinefs has been rendered compleat, 
 by obtaining from her permiilion to educate this 
 child ; a favour, which contrary to what is ufual, is 
 efteemed very fmall by her who granted, and very 
 great by the perfon that received it. 'I'his girl is 
 now ten years old, and the moft accomplifhed of 
 her age of any one, perhaps, in the kingdom. 
 Her perfon is fme, and her temper Extremely en- 
 gaging. She went about a week ago to her father, 
 whom (he vifits for about three weeks twice in a 
 year, and never returns unimproved. 
 
 As 
 
254 The History of 
 
 As Mrs. Trentham's fortune made a good adJi- 
 tlon to the income of the fociety, they on this oc- 
 cafion eftabliflied in the parifli a manufadure of 
 carpets and ruggs, which has fucceeded fo well, 
 as to enrich all the country round about. 
 
 As the morning was not very far advanced, I 
 afked Mrs. Maynard to conducS^ us to this manufac- 
 ture, as in my opinion there is no fight fo delight- 
 ful as extenfive induftry. She readily complied, 
 and led us to a fort of ftreet, the moft inhabited 
 part of the village, above half a mile from Mil- 
 lenium-Hall. Here we found feveral hundreds of 
 people of all ages, from fix years old to four-fcore, 
 employed in the various parts of the manufadture, 
 fome fpinning, fome weaving, others dying the 
 worlted, and in fliort all bufy, finging and whift- 
 lins:, with the appearance of general chearfulnefs, 
 and their neat drefs fhewed them in a condition of 
 proper plenty. 
 
 The ladies, it feems, at firft hired perfons to in- 
 ilrudt the iieighbouihood, which v/as then bur- 
 dened with poor, and fo over ftccked vvltli hands, 
 that only a fmall part of them could find work. 
 But as they feared an enterprifing undertaker might 
 ruin their plan, they themielves undertook to be 
 ftewards j they flood the firil expence, allowed a 
 confiderable profit to the dire£lors, but kept the 
 diflribution of the money entirely in their own 
 hands : thus they prevent the poor from being op- 
 prefled by their fuperiors, for they allovv^ them great 
 waf^es, and by their very diligent infpe£lIon hinder 
 any frauds. I never was more charmed, than to 
 iee a manufadlure fo well ordered, that fcarcely 
 any one is too young or too old to partake of its 
 emoluments. As the ladies have the diredion of 
 
 the 
 
Mrs. Tre NT H A M. 255 
 
 the whole, they give more to the children and the 
 ao-ed, in proportion to the work they do, than to 
 thofe who are more capable, as a proper encourage- 
 ment, and reward for induftry in thofe feafons of 
 ]ife in which it is fo uncommon. 
 
 We were fo taken up with obferving thefe peo- 
 ple, that we got home but jull as dinner was carry- 
 
 nig in. 
 
 In the afternoon we Informed the ladies how we 
 had fpent the latter part of the morning, and In 
 the courfe of converfation Lamont told them, that 
 ' they were the firft people he ever knew who 
 
 * lived entirely for others, without any regard to 
 
 * their own pleafure; and that were he a Roman 
 
 < Catholic, he fhould beg of them to confer on him 
 
 * the merit of fome of their works of fupererroga- 
 
 * tion.' 
 
 I do not know where you could find them, re- 
 plied Mrs. Mancel, ' I believe we have not been 
 
 * able to difcover any fuch ; on the contrary, we are 
 
 * fenfible of great deficiencies in the performance 
 
 * of our duty ' 
 
 ' Can you imagine, Madam, intc^rrupted La,- 
 
 * mont, that all you do here is a duty? 
 
 ' Indefpenfibly fo, anfvvcrcd Mrs. Mancel, we 
 ' are told by him who cannot err, that our time, 
 
 < our money, and our underftandings, are entruft- 
 ' ed with us as fo many talents, for the ufe of 
 ' which we muft give a driS: account. How we 
 ' ought to ufe them he has likewlfe told us ; as to 
 ' our fortunes in the moft exprefs terms, when he 
 ' commands us to feed the hungry, to cloath the 
 ' naked, to relieve the prifoner, and to take care 
 ' of the fick. Thofe who have not an inheri- 
 ' tance that enables them to do this ar« commanded 
 
 ' to 
 
2^6 The History of 
 
 to labour, in order to obtain means to relieve 
 thofe who are incapable of gaining the neceffa- 
 ries of life. Can we then imagine, that every one 
 is not required to ailift others to the utmoll of his 
 power, fmce we are commanded even to work 
 for the means of doing fo ? God\s mercy and 
 bounty is univerfal, it flows unafKed, and un- 
 merited ; we are bid to endeavour to imitate 
 him as far as our nature will enable us to do it. 
 What bounds then ought we to fet to our good 
 offices, but the want of power to extend them 
 farther? Our faculties and our time fhould be 
 employed in directing our donations in a 
 manner the moft condufive to the benefit of 
 mankind, the moft for the encouragement of 
 virtue, and the fuppreffion of vice^ to affift in 
 this work is the bufinefs of fpeech, of reafon, and 
 of time. Thefe ought to be employed in feek- 
 ing out opportunities of doing good, and in con- 
 triving mcar^.s for regulating it to the bell pur- 
 pofe. Shall I allow much careful thought to- 
 wards fettling the affairs of my houfiiold with 
 oeconomy, and be carelefs how I dillribute my 
 benefactions to the poor, to whom I am only a 
 fteward, and of whofe intcrefis I ought to be as 
 careful as of my own? By giving them my 
 money I may facrilice my covetoufnefs, but by 
 doing it negligently I indulge my indolence, 
 which 1 ought to endeavour to conquer as much 
 as every other vice. Each ftate has its trials ; 
 the poverty of the lower rank of people exercifes 
 their induftry and patience; the riches of the 
 great are trials of their temperance, humility, 
 and; humanity. Theirs is perhaps the more 
 difficul: part;, but their prefent reward is alfo 
 
 ' greater 
 
Mrs. Trentham. 257 
 
 greater if they acquit themfelves well ; as for the 
 future, there may probably be no inequality. 
 ' You obfervcd, Sir, faid Mrs. Trentham, that 
 we live for others, without any re2:ard to our 
 own pleafure, therefore I imagine you think our 
 way of life inconfiftent with it ; but give me 
 leave to fay you are miilaicen. V/hat is there 
 worth enjoying in this world that we do not 
 poffefs ? We have all the conveniences of life, 
 nay, all the luxuries that can be included among 
 them. We might indeed keep a large retinue ; 
 but do you think the fight cf a number of ufelefs 
 attendants could afford us half the real fatisfad^ion, 
 that we feel from feeing the money, which muft 
 be lavifhed on them, expended in fupporting the 
 old and decrepid, or nourifbing the helplefs in- 
 fant? We might drefs with fo much expcnce, that 
 we could fcarccly move under the burden of our 
 apparel ; but is that more eligible, than to fee the 
 fhivering wretch clad in warm and comfortable 
 attire ? Can the greateft luxury of the table afford 
 fo true a pleafure, as the reflection, that inflead of its 
 being over-charged with fuperfluities, the homely 
 board of the cottager is blelFed with plenty ? We 
 might fpcnd our time in going from place to 
 place, where none wiih to fee us except they find 
 a deficiency at the card table, perpetually iivinof 
 among thofe, whofe vacant minds are ever feek- 
 ing after pleafurcs foreign to their own taftes, 
 and purfue joys which vaniili as focn as pofTefTed; 
 for thefe would you have us leave the infinite fa- 
 tisfaciion of being beheld with gratitude and 
 love, and the fucceilive enjoyments of rational 
 delights, which here fill up every hour ? Should 
 we do wifely in quitting a fcene, where every 
 
 ' obje(Sl 
 
ct§S The History of 
 
 ' obJ€£t exalts our mind to the great Creator, to 
 ' mix among all the folly of depraved nature? 
 ^ If we take it in a more ferious light flill, we 
 
 * fhaJl perceive a great difference in the comforts 
 
 * arifmg from the reflexions on a life fpent in an 
 
 * endeavour to obey our Maker, and to correct our 
 
 * own defeats, in a conftant (cnfn of our offences, 
 
 * and an earneft defire to avoid the commillion of 
 
 * them for the future, from a courfe of hurry and 
 
 * diiUpation, which v/ill not afford us leifure to re- 
 
 * collect our errors, nor attention to attempt 
 
 * amending them.* 
 
 ' The difference is indeed ftrlking, faid La- 
 ment, and there can be no doubt which is moft 
 eligible ; but are you not too rigid in your cen- 
 fures of diffipation ? You feem to be inclined to 
 forbid all innocent pleafures.' 
 
 ' By no means, replied Mrs. Trentham, but 
 things are not always innocent becaufe they are 
 trifling. Can any thing be more innocent than 
 picking of ftraws, or playing at pu(h-pin ; but ii^ 
 a man employs himfelf fo continually in either, 
 that he neglects to ferve a friend, or to infpeft 
 his affairs, does it not ceafe to be innocent? 
 Should a fchool-boy be found whipping a top 
 during fchool hours, would his mailer forbear 
 correSion becaufe it is an innocent amufement? 
 And yet thus we plead for things as trifling, tho' 
 they obflru(5l the exercife of the greatefb duties 
 in life. Whatever rendera us forgetful of our 
 Creator, and of the purpofes for which he called 
 us into being, or leads us to be inattentive to his 
 commands, or negle6lful in the performance of 
 them, becomes criminal, however innocent in 
 its own nature. While we purfue thefe things 
 
 * with 
 
Mrs. Trentham. 259 
 
 < with a moderation which prevents fuch efFe£ts, 
 
 < they are always innocent, and often defireable, 
 * the excefs only is to be avoided.* 
 
 < 1 have nothing left me to fay, anfwered La- 
 niont, ' than that your doarine muft be true, and 
 your lives are happy ; but may I without imper- 
 tinence obferve, that I fhould imagine your ex- 
 tenfive charities require an immenfe fortune, 
 ' Not fo much, perhaps, faid Mrs. Morgan, as 
 you fuppofe. We keep a very regular account, 
 and at an average, for every year will not be 
 exaaiy the fame, the total ftands thus. The 
 girls fchool four hundred pounds a year, the boys 
 an hundred and fifty, apprenticing fome and 
 equipping others for fervice one hundred. The 
 cloathing of the girls in the houfe forty. The 
 alms houfcs two hundred. The maintenance of 
 the monlkrs an hundred and twenty. Fortunes 
 and furniture, for fuch young perfons as marry 
 in this and the adjoining parifhes, two hundred. 
 All this together amounts only to twelve hun- 
 dred and ten pounds a year, and yet afford all 
 reafonable comforts. The expences of ourfelves 
 and houf-hold, in our advantageous fituation, 
 come within eight hundred a year. Finding fo 
 great a balance in our favour, we agreed to ap- 
 propriate a thoufand a year for the fociety of 
 gentlewomen with fmall or no fortunes ; but it 
 has turned out in fuch a manner that they coft 
 us a trifle. We then dedicated that fum to the 
 cftablifhment of a manufa-aure, but fmce the 
 fourth year it has much more than paid its expen- 
 ces, though in many refpe^s we do not adi:, with 
 the csconomy ufual in fuch cafes, but give very 
 high wao-es, for our defign being to ferve a mul- 
 
 ^ titude 
 
26o The History of 
 
 titude of poor deftitute of work, we have no 
 
 nice regard to profit. As we did not mean 
 
 to drive a trade, v/e have been at a lofs what 
 
 to do with the profits. We have out of 
 
 it made a fund for the fick and diiabled, from 
 
 which they may receive a comfortable fupport, 
 
 and intend to fectire it to them to perpetuity in 
 
 the beft manner we can/ 
 
 *■ How few people of fortune are there, faid 
 
 Lamont, w^ho could not afford 1200/. a year, 
 
 ' with only retrenching fuperfluous and burden- 
 
 * fome expences ? But if they would only imitate 
 
 * you in any one branch, how much greater plea- 
 
 * iure would they then receive from theii fortunes 
 
 * than they now enjoy?' 
 
 While he was engaged in difcourfe with the 
 ladies, I obferved to Mrs. Mayn^rd, that by the 
 account fhe had given me of their income, their 
 expences fell far ihort of it. She whifpered me, 
 that ' their accidental charities were innumerable, 
 ' all the reft being employed in that way. Their 
 ' acquaintance know they cannot fo much oblige, 
 ' as by giving them an opportunity of relieving 
 ' diftrefs. They receive continual applications, 
 
 * and though they give to none indifcriminately, 
 
 * yet they never refufe any who really want. 
 
 * Their donations fometimes are in great fums, 
 
 * where the cafe requires fuch extraordinary aifif- 
 
 * tance. If they hear of any gentleman's family 
 
 * oppreffed by too many children, or impoveriflied 
 
 * by ficknefs, they contrive to convey an adequate 
 
 * prefent privately, or will fometimes afk permif- 
 ' fion to put fome of their children into bunnefs, 
 *^ or buy them places or commiiTions.' 
 
 Wc 
 
Mrs. T R E N T H A M. 26 1 
 
 We acquainted the ladies that we fhould trouble 
 them no lonj-^er than that night, and with resret 
 faw it To foon ended. The next morning, upon 
 going into Lament's room, I found him reading 
 the New Teftament ; I could not forbear expreffing 
 fome pleafure and furprize, at feeing him thus un- 
 commonly employed. 
 
 He told me, ' he was convinced by the conduct 
 of the ladles of this houfe, that their relio-ion 
 muft be the true one. When he had before 
 confidered the lives of chriiHans, their doc- 
 trine feemcd to have fo little influence on their 
 actions, that he imagined there was no fufficient 
 effect produced by chriflianity, to warrant a belief, 
 that it was eftablifhed by a means fo very extra- 
 ordinary ; but he now faw what that religion in 
 reality was, and by the purity of its precepts, 
 was convinced its original muft be divine. It 
 now appeared evidently to be worthy of its mi- 
 raculous inftitution. He was refolved to examine, 
 whether the moral evidences concurred with that 
 divine ftamp, which was fo ftrongly imprefled 
 upon it, and he had rifen at day break to get a 
 Bible out of the parlour, that he might iludy 
 precepts, which could thus exalt human nature 
 almolt to divine.* 
 
 It was with great joy I found him fo ferioufly 
 affe6led ; and when we went to breakfaft, could 
 not forbear communicating my fatisfa6^ion to my 
 coufm, who fuicerely fhared in it. As foon as 
 breakfaft was over we took leave of the ladies, 
 though not till they had made us promife a fecond 
 vi(it, to which we very gladly agreed, for could 
 we with decency have prolonged this, I know not 
 when we fhould have departed. 
 
 You, 
 
2^2 The History of 
 
 You, perhaps, wifh we had done it fooner, and 
 may think I have been too prolix in my account 
 of this fociety; but the pleafure I find in recol- 
 kclion is fuch, that I could not reftrain my pen 
 within moderate bounds. If what I have defcribed, 
 may tempt any one to go and do likewife, I fhall 
 think myfelf fortunate in communicating it. For 
 my part, my thoughts are all engaged in a fcheme 
 to imitate them on a fmaller fcale. 
 
 I am. Sir. 
 
 FINIS 
 
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