The preamble was an angry one; giving reasons for his resentment agamst the father of these young persons, who (though his brother) had once, as I hinted to you at Colnebrook, made a very shockjag attempt upon his life. I was hurt, however, to find a resentment carried so far as against the innocent children of the off der, and into the last will of so good a man; that will so lately made, as within three weeks of his death; and he given over for three months before.

• Will the tenderness due to the memory of a friend permit me to ask, where would that resentment have stopt, had the private man been a monarch, which he could carry into his last will?

'But see we not, on the other hand, that these children, had they power, would have punished their uncle for disposing as he thought fit of his own fortun, no part of which came to him by inheritance?

'They had been educated, as I have said, at his expense; and, in the phrase of business, well put out; expenses their careless father would not have been at; he is, in every light, a bad man. How much better had these children's title been to a more considerable part of their uncle's estate than he has bequeathed to them, had they been thankful for the benefits they had actually received! Benefits, which are of such a nature, that they cannot be taken from them.

' Mr. Danby has bequeathed to each of the three one thousand pounds; but, on express condition, that they signify to his executor, within two months after his demise, their acceptance of it in full of all demands upon his estate. If they do not, (tender being duly made) the three thousand pounds are to be carried to the uses of the will.

'He then appoints his executor; and makes him residuary legatee; giving for reason, that he had been the principal instrument in the hand of Providence of saving his life.

'He bequeaths some generous remembrances to three of his friends in France: and requests his executor to dispose of three thousand pounds to charitable uses, either in France or England, as he thinks fit, and to what particular objects he pleases.

And, by an inventory annexed to the will, lis effects in money, bills, actions, and jewels, are made to amount to upwards of thirty thousand pounds sterling.

'Mr. Sylvester complimented me on this great windfal, as he called it; and assured me, that it should be his advice to his clients, that each take his and her legacy, and sit down contented with it: and he believed, that they the rather would, as, from what their uncle had hinted, they apprehended, that the sum of a hundred pounds each was all they had to hope for.

'I inquired into the inclinations and views of the three; and received a very good general account of them, with a hint, that the girl was engaged in a love affair.

Their father, after his vile attempt upon his brother's life, was detested by all his friends and relations, and went abroad; and the last news they heard of him was, that he was in a very ill state of health, and in unhappy circumstances, in Barbadoes; and very probably by this time is 10 more.

'I desired Mr. Sylvester to advise the young people to recollect themselves; and said, that I had a disposition to be kind to them: and as he could give me only general accounts of their views,

prospects, and enagements, I wished 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 sake of their uncle's memory, to do all reasonable services to them. "Tell them, in a word, Mr. Sylvester, and do you forgive the seeming vanity, that I am not accustomed to suffer the narrowness of other people's hearts to contract mine."

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

I have some necessary things to do, and persons to see, in relation to my deceased friend, which will be dispatched over a dish of tea. And therefore I have invited the honest attorney, and his three clients, to sup with me.

I will not send this to Colnebrook, where I hope you are all happy, [All must; for are they not all good? And are not you with them?] till I accompany it with the result of this evening's conversation. Yet I am too fond of every occasion that offers to tell you what, however, you cannot doubt, how much I am yours, not to sign to that truth the name of

LETTER XXXVI.

SIR CHARLES GRANDISON. IN CONTINUATION.

Friday night, March 17.

MR. Sylvester, an honest pleasure shining in his countenance, presented to me, first, Miss Danby; then, each of her brothers; who all received my welcome with a little consciousness as if they had something to reproach themselves with, and were generously ashamed to be overcome. The sister had the least of it: and I saw by that, that she was the least blameable, not the least modest; since I dare say, she had but followed her brothers' lead, while they looked down and basliful, as haying all that was done amiss to answer for.

Miss 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 sense.

In the first moment I dissipated all their uneasiness; and we sat down together with confidence in each other. The honest attorney had prepared them to be easy after the first introduction.

"I offer not to read to you," said I, "the will of your uncle. It is sufficient to repeat what Mr. Sylvester has, no doubt, told you; that you are each of you entitled by it to a thousand pounds."

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

"Three thousand pounds more are to be disposed 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 less than four-andtwenty thousand pounds, falls to the executor, as residuary legatee, equally unexpected and undesired."

The elder brother said, "God bless you with it, sir." The second said, "It could not have fallen to a worthier man.” The young lady's lips moved: but words proceeded not from them. Yet her eyes showed, that her lips made me a compliment.

It is ungenerous, Dr. Bartlett, to keep expecting minds in suspense, though with a view of obliging in the end. The surprise intended to be raised on such an occasion, carries in its appearances an air of insult. "I have," said I, a great desire to do you service. Now let me know, gentlemen, (I will talk to the young lady singly, perhaps) what your expectations 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. Sylvester, I will be ready to do you all reasonable service.-But hold, sir," for Mr. Thomas Danby was going to speak; consider before you answer me. The matter is of importance. Be explicit. I love openness and sincerity. I will withdraw, till you have consulted together. Command me in when you have determined."

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you shall

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

The elder brother was going to speak; but