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always ccrtain of feeing it traced to the fallocy of ill-grounded expectation. Why faid I, fhould I have expected more from an author, than from any other man of fenfe? When a man has given his thoughts a form upon paper, and fubmitted them in that fhape to the perufal of the world, is he from thenceforth to be obliged to fpeak in laboured fentences, and to utter only the aphorifms of wisdom? Carrying my reafons upon this fubject, a little farther, I was almoft tempted to conclude, that the manners of even a female author, might not differ much from that of other women! but this, you will think, was carrying the matter rather

too far.

The amiable, the engaging Delomond, has this morning left us. His departure is like a dark cloud, which in early fpring deforms the face of nature, and checks the gaiety of the feason with the fudden chill of a wintery ftorm. It has particularly affected me, as it has at once fhut out the profpect of profperity, which, as I had flattered myself, was faft opening on my friend, and deprived me of the funfhine of his prefence. But, perhaps, my disappointment with regard to the fuccefs of Delomond, is more in proportion to the eagerness of my wishes, than to the folidity of my hope. The Vor II. E

mind, which like the delicate leaves of the Mimosa, shrinks from every touch, is ill calculated to folicit the affiftance of the powerful, or gain the favour of the great. The very looks of the profperous, it conftrues into arrogance; and is equally wounded by the civility which appears to condefcend, and by the infolence which wears the form of contempt.

From all thefe multiplied mortifications fome, perhaps, real, and fome only imaginary, has Delomond haftily retired: and relinquishing the purfuit of fortune, and the pleasures of fociety, devotes his future life to the indolent repofe of obfcurity. But, alas! how fhall he, who was discomfited by the firft thorny branch which hung across the path of fortune, ftruggle through the fharp briers of adverfity? Can a mind, formed for the happiness of domeftic life, endowed with fugh exquifite relifh for the refined enjoyment of tale and fentiment, find comfort in a joylefs ftate of folitude! cr, what is worfe than folitude, the company of the rude and ignorant -Ah! my amiable friend, thou wilt find, when it is too late, that the road to happiness is not to be entered by the gate of faftidicus refinement.

The first care that occupied my mind, after my arrival in London, was to procure a fafe conveyance for the prefents which I had intended to lay at the feet of the fifter of Percy.

I have juft received an answer to the letter that accompanied them.-It is such as I fhould have expected from her who was worthy the esteem of fuch a brother. But, alas it is written with the pen of forrow, and blotted by the tears of affiction. The amiable old man, who fupplied to her the place of a father, who loved her with fuch tenderness, and was beloved by her with fuch a degree of filial affection, is gone to the dark manfions of death. She has left the happy abode of her infancy, and her dwelling is now among ftrangers.-This, the particularly deplores, on account of depriv ing her of the power of fhewing the fenfe fhe entertains of my friendfhip to her brother in any other way than by words alone. Her expreflions of gratitude have the energetic eloquence of genuine fenfibility; they are greatly beyond what I have merited; but, when I confider the tender reflections that excited them-my heart melts into sympathy.

Alas! it is eafy to perceive, that this amiable young woman is not to be numbered with the happy. Perhaps, her

prefent fituation is peculiarly unfortu nate. Perhaps, fhe has there been def tined to experience the cold reception, the unfeeling neglect, of fome little, narrow, felfifh mind, to whofe attentions fhe had been particularly recommended by her departed relatives. Perhaps, fome friend of her brother. But, no; the real friends of Percy, were like himfelf, noble, generous, and good. Far from being capable of difhonouring the memory of their friend, by neglecting to perform their rites of hofpitality to his fifter, they have taken an interest in her feelings, and by acts of kindness and attention, have endeavoured to promote her happiness. And furely for no act of kindnefs can the fifter of Percy, be ungrateful to the friends of her brother!

The lofs of Delomond, and the me-. lancholy letter of Mifs Percy, dwelt upon my fpirits, and funk them to a ftate of unufual depreffion. I spent the night in sadness, and early in the morning, went in fearch of my friend, the philofopher, whofe converfation is to me, as the rod of Krifhua, which no fooner touched the eyes of Arjoon, than he saw the figure of truth, as it appears unto the Gods themselves. This amiable friend, had of late been fo much engroffed by his fcienube purfaits, that I had enjoyed

little of his company. He received me. with an air of unufual vivacity. "When I laft faw you," faid he, "I am afraid I muft have appeared ftrangely inattentive; but, in truth, my mind was at that time very much embarraffed, and almoft folely occupied on a fubject, which I did not then choose to fpeak of, but which I fhall. now fully explain. You must know, that I had lately entered on a courfe of experiments more interefting than any in which, I have ever yet engaged, and from which I had no doubt, a most important discovery would refult.. I found it, however, altogether impoffible to go on without the affiftance of an additional apparatus, the price of which was far more than I could afford. It was fifty pounds? Little lefs than a quarter of a year's rent of my whole eftate! What was I to do? befpeak it of the artizan, without having the money ready to pay for it? This would be nothing less than an act of wilful difhonefty, for dishonesty, either to onefelf or others, running in debt always is.

Could I hope to fave it by retrenching any of my ordinary expences? I calculated every thing, even to living on bread and water, but found it impoffible. I had, then, nothing for it, but to relinquifh my plan entirely, and fince I could

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