I defired Mr Sylvefter to advise the young people to recollect themselves; and faid, that I had a difpofition to be kind to them: And as he could give me only general accounts of their views, profpects, and engagements, I wifhed they would, with marks of confidence in me, give me particular ones: But that, whether they complimented me as I wished or not, I was determined, for the fake of their uncle's memory, to do all reasonable services to them. Tell them, in a word, Mr Sylvefter, and do you forgive the feeming vanity, that I am not accustomed to fuffer the narrowness of other people's hearts to contract mine.

The man went away very much pleafed with what I had faid; and, in about two hours, fent me a note, in the names of all his clients, expreffing gratitude and obligation; and requesting me to allow him to introduce them all three to me this afternoon.

I have fome neceffary things to do, and perfons to fee, in relation to my deceafed friend, which will be dispatched over a dish of tea. And therefore I have invited the honeft attorney and his three clients to fup with me.

I will not fend this to Colnebrook, where I hope you are all happy [all muft; for are they not all good? and are not you with them?], till I accompany it with the refult of this evening's converfation. Yet I am too fond of every occafion that offers to tell you what, however, you cannot doubt, how much I am yours, not to fign to that truth the name of

LETTER VI.

Sir CHARLES GRANDISON. In Continuation.

Με

Friday-Night, March 17.

R Sylvefter, an honest pleasure fhining in his countenance, prefented to me, first, Miss Danby; then each of her brothers; who all received my welcome with a little consciousness as if they had fomething to reproach themselves with, and were generoufly afhamed to be overcome. The fifter had the least of it: And I faw by that, that she was the leaft blameable, not the least modeft; fince I dare fay, fhe had but followed her brothers lead; while they looked down and bashful, as having all that was done amiss to answer for.

Mifs Danby is a very pretty and very genteel young woman. Mr Thomas and Mr Edward Danby are agreeable in their persons and manners, and want not fenfe.

In the first moment I diffipated all their uneafinefs; and we fat down together with confidence in each other. The honeft attorney had prepared them to be eafy after the first introduction.

I offer not to read to you, faid I, the will of your uncle. It is fufficient to repeat what Mr Sylvefter has no doubt told you, that you are each of you intitled by it to a thousand pounds.

They all bowed; and the elder brother fignified their united confent to accept it upon the terms of the will.

Three thousand pounds more are to be difpofed of to charitable uses, at the discretion of the executor: Three other legacies are left to three different gentlemen in France: And the large remainder, which will not be lefs than four and twenty thousand pounds, falls to the executor, as

refiduary

refiduary legatee, equally unexpected and undefired.

The elder brother faid, God bless you with it, Sir. The fecond faid, It could not have fallen to a worthier man. The young lady's lips moved but words proceeded not from them. Yet her eyes fhewed, that her lips made me a compliment.

It is ungenerous, Dr Bartlett, to keep expecting minds in fufpenfe, though with a view of obliging in the end. The furprize intended to be raised on fuch an occafion, carries in its appearances an air of infult. I have, faid I, a great defire to do you fervice. Now let me know, gentlemen (I will talk to the young lady fingly, perhaps), what your ex-. pectations were upon your uncle? what will do for each of you, to enable you to enter the world with advantage, in the way you have been brought up; and, as I told your worthy friend Mr Sylvefter, I will be ready to do you all reasonable service.-. But hold, Sir; for Mr Thomas Danby was going to speak; you fhall confider before you answer me. The matter is of importance. Be explicit. I love opennefs and fincerity. I will withdraw till you have confulted together. Command me in when you have determined.

I withdrew to my study: And, in about a quarter of an hour, they let me know, that they were rea dy to attend me. I went in to them. They looked upon one another. Come, gentlemen, don't fear to speak: Confider me, for your uncle's fake, as your brother.

The elder brother was going to fpeak; but he fitating, Come, faid I, let me lead you into the matter-Pray, Sir, what is your prefent fituation? What are your present circumstances?

My father, Sir, was unhappy-My fatherWell, Sir, no more of your father-He could do nothing for you. Your whole dependence, I prefume, was upon your uncle..

E. 3

My

My uncle, Sir, gave us all our education-My uncle gave each brother a thoufand guineas for putting out each to a merchant; five hundred only of which fums were fo employed; and the other five hundred guineas are in fafe hands.

7

Your uncle, Sir, all reverence to his memory, was an excellent man.

Indeed, Sir, he was.

And what, Sir, is the bufinefs you were brought up to?

My mafter is a Weft-India merchant.

And what, Mr Danby, are your profpects in that way?

Exceeding hopeful, Sir, they would have been. -My mafter intended to propofe to my uncle, had he lived to come to town, to take me in a quarterpartner with him directly; and, in a twelvemonth's time, a half-partner.

A very good fign in your favour, Sir. You must have behaved yourfelf well.- -And will he now do it?

Ah! Sir-and was filent.

Upon what terms, Mr Danby, would he have propofed to your uncle to take you in a quarterpartner?

Sir-he talked of

Of what?

Four thousand pounds, Sir. But my uncle never gave us hopes of more than three thousand guineas each, befides the thousand he had given: And when he had fo much reafon to refent the unhappy steps of my father, he let us know, that he would not do any-thing for us: And, to fay truth, the thousand pounds left us in the will is more than we expected.

Very ingenuous. I love you for your fincerity.. But, pray, tell me, Will four thousands pounds be well laid out in a. quarter-partnership?

To fay truth, Sir, my mafter had a view, at the year's

year's end, if nothing unexpected happened to prevent it, to give me his niece in marriage; and then to admit me into a half of the bufinefs, which would be equivalent to a fortune of as much more. And do you love the young woman?

Indeed I do. by local

And does the countenance your address?

If her uncle-I don't doubt, if her uncle could have prevailed upon my uncle

Well, Sir, I am your uncle's executor. Now Sir, (to Mr Edward Danby), let me know your fi tuation, your prospects?

Sir, I was put to a French wine-merchant. My mafter is in years. I am the fole manager of his bufinefs; and he would leave off to me, I believe, and to his nephew, who knows not fo much of it as I do; nor has the acquaintance, either in France or England, that I have; could I raise money to purchase half the stock.

And what, Sir, is neceffary for that purpose ?

O Sir! at least fix thoufand pounds.-But had my uncle left me the three thousand I once hoped for, I could have got the other half at an easy intereft; for I am well beloved, and have always borne a good character.

What did you fuppofe your uncle would do with the bulk of his fortune (you judged it, I fuppofe, to be large), if you expected no more than three thoufand guineas each at the moft, befides what he had given you?

We all thought, Sir, faid Mr Edward Danby, it would be yours, from the time that he owed his life. to your courage and conduct. We never entertained hopes of being his heirs general: And he feveral times told me, when I was in France, that you fhould be his heir.

He never hinted that to me. neceffary to be done for my own

What I did was as

fafety as for his.

He much over-rated my fervices. But what are

your