There is a lady, an English lady, beautiful as an angel, but whose beauty is her least perfection, either in my eyes or her own: had I never known Clementina, I could have loved her, and only her, of all the women I ever beheld. It would not be doing her justice if I could not say, I do love her; but with a flame as pure as the heart of Clementina, or as her own heart, can boast. Clementina's distressed mind affected me: I imputed her sufferings to her esteem for me. The farewell interview denied her, she demonstrated, I thought, so firm an affection for me, at the same time that she was to me, what I may truly call a first love; that, though the difficulties in my way seemed insuperable, I thought it became me, in honour, in gratitude, to hold myself in suspense, and not offer to make my addresses to any other woman, till the destiny of the dear Clementina was determined.

It would look like vanity in me to tell my Jeronymo how many proposals, from the partial friends of women of rank and merit superior to my own, I thought myself obliged, in honour to the ladies themselves, to decline but my heart never suffered uneasiness from the uncertainty I was in of ever succeeding with your beloved sister, but on this lady's account. I presume not, however, to say, I could have succeeded, had I thought myself at liberty to make my addresses to her: yet, when I suffered myself to balance, because of my uncertainty with your Clementina, I had hopes, from the interest my two sisters had with her, (her affections disengaged,) that, had I been at liberty to make my addresses to her, I might.

Shall I, my dear Jeronymo, own the truth? The two noblest-minded women in the world, when I went over to Italy, on the invitation of my lord the Bishop, held almost an equal interest in my heart; and I was thereby enabled justly, and with the greater command of myself, to declare to the Marchioness, and the General, at my last going over, that I held myself bound to you; but that your sister, and you all, were free. But when the dear Clementina began to shew signs of recovery, and seemed to confirm the hopes I had of her partiality to me; and my gratitude and attachment seemed of importance to her complete restoration; then, my Jeronymo, did I content myself with wishing another husband to the English lady, more worthy of her than my embarrassed situation could have made me. And when I farther experienced the condescending goodness of your whole family, all united in my favour; I had not a wish but for your Clementina.

What a disappointinent, my Jeronymo, was her rejection of me!-obliged, as I was, to admire the noble lady the more for her motives of rejecting me.

And now, my dear friend, what is your wish? -That I shall set your sister an example? How can I? Is marriage in my power? There is but

one woman in the world, now your dear Cle mentina has refused me, that I can think worthy of succeeding her in my affections, though there are thousands of whom I am not worthy. And ought that lady to accept of a man whose heart had been another's, and that other living, and single, and still honouring him with so much of her regard, as may be thought sufficient to attach a grateful heart, and occasion a divided love? Clementina herself is not more truly delicate than this lady. Indeed, Jeronymo, I am ready, when I contemplate my situation, on a supposition of making my addresses to her, to give up myself, as the unworthiest of her favour of all the men I know; and she has for an admirer almost every man who sees her-Even Olivia admires her! Can I do justice to the merits of both, and yet not appear to be divided by a double love?-For I will own to all the world my affection for Clementina; and, as once it was encouraged by her whole family, glory in it.

You see, my Jeronymo, how I am circumstanced. The example, I fear, must come from Italy; not from England. Yet say I not this from punctilio-sake: it is not in my power to set it, as it is in your Clementina's; it would be presumption to suppose it is. Clementina has not an aversion to the state: she cannot to the man you have in view, since prepossession in favour of another is over. This is a hard push upon me. I presume not to say what Clementina will, what she can do: but she is naturally the most dutiful of children, and has a high sense of the more than common obligations she owes to parents, to brothers, to whom she has as unhappily as involuntarily given great distress: difference in religion, the motive of her rejecting me, is not in the question: filial duty is an article of religion.

I do myself the honour of writing to the Marchioness, to the General, to Father Marescotti, and to Mr Lowther. May the Almighty perfect your recovery, my Jeronymo ; and preserve in health and spirits the dear Clementina!—and may every other laudable wish of the hearts of a family so truly excellent, be granted to them! -prays, my dear Jeronymo, the friend who expects to see you in England; the friend who loves you as he loves his own heart; and equally honours all of your name; and will, so long as he is

and I rejoiced to see him! We had but just before been called upon, by a line from Lady G, to rejoice with her on her brother's happy arrival. He said, he was under obligation to go to Windsor and Hampshire, upon extraordinary occasions; but he could not go till he had paid his respects to us, as well for our own sakes, as to inquire after your health. He had received, he said, some disagreeable intimations in relation to it. We told him you were not well: but we hoped not dangerously ill. He said so many kind, tender, yet respectful things of you-Ö my Harriet! I am sure, and so is Mr Reeves,. he loves you dearly. Yet we both wondered that he did not talk of paying you a visit. But he may have great matters in hand. But what matters can be so great as not to be postponed, if he loves you?-and that he certainly does. I should not have known how to contain my joy before him, had he declared himself your lover.

He condescendingly asked to see my little boy -Was not that very good of him? He would have won my heart by this condescension, had he not had a great share of it before-For your sake, my cousin. You know I cannot mean otherwise and you know that, except Mr Reeves and my little boy, I love my Harriet better than anybody in the world. Nobody in Northamptonshire, I am sure, will take excep

tion at this.

I thought I would write to you of this kind visit: be well now, my dear: all things, I am sure,

will come about for good: God grant they may!-I dare say he will visit you in Northamptonshire: and, if he does, what can be his motive? Not mere friendship: Sir Charles Grandison is no trifler!

I know you will be sorry to hear that Lady Betty Williams is in great affliction. Miss Williams has run away with an ensign, who is not worth a shilling: he is, on the contrary, over head and ears, as the saying is, in debt. Such a mere girl!--But what shall we say?

Miss Cantillon has made a foolish step. Lord bless me! I think girls, in these days, are bewitched. A nominal captain too! Her mother vows, they shall both starve for her: and they have no other dependence. She cannot live without her pleasures: neither can he without ais. A Ranelagh fop! Poor wretches! what will become of them? For everything is in her mother's power, as to fortune. She has been met by Miss Allestree; and looked so shy! so silly! so slatternly! Unhappy coquettish thing!

Well, but God bless you, my dear !—My nursery calls upon me: the dear little soul is so fond of me! Adieu. Compliments to everybody I have so much reason to love: Mr Reeves's too. Once more, adieu.

ELIZA REEVES.

LETTER CCIX.

MISS BYRON TO MRS REEVES.

Selby-House, Friday, Sept. 8. YOUR kind letter, my dear cousin, has, at the same time, delighted and pained me. I rejoice in the declared esteem of one of the best of men; and I honour him for his friendly love expressed to you and my cousin, in the visit he made you: but I am pained at your calling upon me (in pity to my weakness, shall I call it? a weakness so ill concealed) to rejoice, that the excellent man, when he has dispatched all his affairs of consequence, and has nothing else to do, may possibly, for you cannot be certain, make me a visit in Northamptonshire.-O, my cousin! and were his absence, and the apprehension of his being the husband of another woman, think you, the occasion of my indisposition; that I must now, that the other affair seems determined in a manner so unexpected, be bid at once to be well?

Sir Charles Grandison, my dear cousin, may honour us with the prognosticated visit, or not, as he pleases: but were he to declare himself my lover, my heart would not be so joyful as you seem to expect, if Lady Clementina is to be unhappy. What though the refusal of marriage was hers; was not that refusal the greatest sacrifice that ever woman made to her superior duty? Does she not still avow her love to him? And must he not, ought he not, ever to love her? And here my pride puts in its claim to attentionShall your Harriet sit down and think herself happy in a second-place love? Yet let me own to you, my cousin, that Sir Charles Grandison is dearer to me than all else that I hold most dear in this world: and if Clementina could be not un-happy, Happy I have no notion she can be without him, and he were to declare himself my lover; affectation, be gone! I would say; I will trust to my own heart, and to my future conduct, to make for myself an interest in his affections, that should enrich my content; in other words, that should make me more contented.

But time will soon determine my destiny: I will have patience to wait its deterinination. I make no doubt but he has sufficient reasons for all he does.

I am as much delighted, as you could be, at the notice he took of your dear infant. The brave must be humane: and what greater instance of humanity can be shewn, than for grown persons to look back upon the state they were once themselves in, with tenderness and compassion?

I am very sorry for the cause of Lady Betty's affliction. Pity! the good lady took not-But

God continue to you, my dear cousins both, your present comforts, and increase your pleasures for all your pleasures are innocent ones; prays

Your ever obliged and affectionate
HARRIET BYRON.

LETTER CCX.

MISS BYRON TO LADY G

Selby-House, Wedn. Sept. 20. MY DEAREST LADY G! Do you know what is become of your brother? My grandmamma Shirley has seen his ghost; and talked with it near an hour; and then it vanished. Be not surprised, my dear creature. I am still in amaze at the account my grandmamma gives us of its appearance, discourse, and vanishing! Nor was the dear parent in a reverie. It happened in the middle of the afternoon, all in broad day.

Thus she tells it :

"I was sitting," said she," in my own drawing room, yesterday, by myself; when in came James, to whom it first appeared, and told me, that a gentleman desired to be introduced to me. I was reading Sherlock upon Death, with that cheerfulness with which I always meditate the subject. I gave orders for his admittance; and in came, to appearance, one of the handsomest men I ever saw in my life, in a ridingdress. It was a courteous ghost: it saluted me; or, at least, I thought it did: for it answering to the description that you, my Harriet, had given me of that amiable man, I was surprised. But, contrary to the manner of ghosts, it spoke first-Venerable lady, it called me; and said, its name was Grandison, in a voice-so like what I had heard you speak of his, that I had no doubt but it was Sir Charles Grandison himself; and was ready to fall down to welcome him.

"It took its place by me: You, madam, said it, will forgive this intrusion: and it made several fine speeches, with an air so modest, so manly. It had almost all the talk to itself. I could only bow, and be pleased; for still I thought it was corporally and indeed Sir Charles Grandison. It said, that it had but a very little while to stay: it must reach, I don't know what place that night.-What, said I, will you not go to Selby-House? Will you not see my daughter

And now, my dear Lady G-, let me repeat my question; What is become of your brother?

Forgive me this light, this amusing manner. My grandmamma speaks of this visit as an appearance, so sudden, so short, and nobody seeing him but she; that it gave a kind of amusing levity to my pen, and I could not resist the temptation I was under to surprise you, as he has done us all. How could he take such a journey, see nobody but my grandmamma, and fly the country? Did he do it to spare us, or to spare himself?

The direct truth is this: My grandmamma was sitting by herself, as above: James told her, as above, that a gentleman desired to be introduced to her. He was introduced. He called himself by his own name; took her hand; saluted her-Your character, madam, and mine, said he, are so well known to each other, that though I never before had the honour of approaching you, I may presume upon your pardon for this intrusion.

He then launched out in the praises of your happy friend. With what delight did the dear, the indulgent parent, repeat them from his mouth! I hope she mingled not her own partialities with them, whether I deserve them, or not; for sweet is praise, from those we wish to love us. And then he said, You see before you, madam, a man glorying in his affection to one of the most excellent of your sex! an Italian lady; the pride of Italy! And who, from motives which cannot be withstood, has rejected him, at the very time that, all her friends consenting, and innumerable difficulties overcome, he expected that she would yield her hand to his wishes-And they were his wishes. My friendship for the dear Miss Byron [You and she must authorize me to call it by a still dearer name, before I dare do it is well known that also has been my pride. I know too well what belongs to female delicacy in general, and particularly to that of Miss Byron, to address myself first to her, on the subject which occasions you this trouble. I am not accustomed to make professions, not even to ladies-Is it consistent with your notions of delicacy, madam? Will it be with Mr and Mrs Selby's; to give your interest in favour of a man who is thus situated?-A rejected man! A man who dares to own, that the rejection was a disappointment to him; and that he tenderly loved the fair rejecter? If it will, and Miss Byron can accept the tender of a heart, that has

been divided, unaccountably so, (the circumstances, I presume, you know,) then will you, then will she, lay me under an obligation, that I can only endeavour to repay by the utmost gratitude and affection.-But if not, I shall admire the delicacy of the second refuser, as I do the piety of the first, and, at least, suspend all thoughts of a change of condition.

Noblest of men-And my grandmamma was proceeding in high strains, but very sincere ones; when, interrupting her, and pulling out of his pocket the packet I mentioned above; I presume, madam, said he, that I see favour, and goodness to me, in your benign countenance: but I will not even be favoured, but upon your full knowledge of all the facts I am master of myself. I will be the guardian of the delicacy of Miss Byron and all her friends in this important case, rather than the discourager, though I were to suffer by it. You will be so good as to read these letters to your daughter Byron, to her Lucy, to Mr and Mrs Selby, and to whom else you will think fit to call to the consultation: they will be those, I presume, who already know something of the history of the excellent Clementina. If, on the perusal of them, I may be admitted to pay my respects to Miss Byron, consistently, as I hinted, with her notions and yours of that delicacy by which she was always directed, and at the same time be received with that noble frankness which has distinguished her in my eye above all women but one; [excuse me, madam, I must always put these sister-souls upon an equal footing of excellency; then shall I be a happier man than the happiest. Your answer, madam, by pen and ink, will greatly oblige me; and the more, the sooner I can be favoured with it; because, being requested by my friends abroad to set an example to their beloved Clementina, as you will see in more than one of these letters; I would avoid all punctilio, and let them know, that I had offered myself to Miss Byron, and have not been mortified with absolute denial; if I may be so happy as to be allowed to write so.

Thus did this most generous of men prevent, by this reference to the letters, my grandmamma's heart overflowing to her lips. He should directly, he said, proceed on his journey to London; and was in such haste to be gone, when he had said what he had to say, that it precipitated a little my grandmamma's spirits: but the joy she was filled with, on the occasion, was so great, that she only had a concern upon her, when he was gone, as if something was left by her undone or unsaid, which she thought should have been said and done to oblige him.

The letters he left on the table, were copies of what he had wrote from Lyons to the

These Letters are omitted in this collection. CCVII. CCVIII.

mo.*

Marquis and Marchioness, the Bishop, the General, and Father Marescotti; as also to Lady Clementina, and her brother, the good JeronyThat to the Lady cannot be enough admired, for the tenderness, yet for the acquiescence with her will, expressed in it. Surely they were born for each other, however it happens, that they are not likely to come together.

A letter from Signor Jeronymo, in answer to his from Lyons, I will mention next. In this Sir Charles is wished to use his supposed influence upon Lady Clementina [What a hard task upon him! to dissuade her from the thoughts of going into a nunnery, and to resolve upon marriage.t

Next is a letter of Lady Clementina to Sir Charles, complaining tenderly of persecution from her friends who press her to marry; while she contends to be allowed to take the veil, and applies to Sir Charles for his interest in her behalf.

The next is Sir Charles's reply to Lady Clementina.

Then follows a letter from Sir Charles to Signor Jeronymo. I have copied these three last, and enclosed them in confidence.‡

By these you will see, my dear, that the affair between this excellent man and woman is entirely given up by both; and also, in his reply to Signor Jeronymo, that your Harriet is referred to as his next choice. And how can I ever enough value him, for the dignity he has given me, in putting it, as it should seem, in my power to lay an obligation upon himn; in making for me my own scruples; and now, lastly, in the method he has taken in the application to my grandmamma, instead of to me; and leaving all to our determination? But thus should the men give dignity, even for their own sakes, to the women whom they wish to be theirs. Were there more Sir Charles Grandisons, would not even the female world (much better, as I hope it is, than the male) be amended?

My grandmamma, the moment Sir Charles was gone, sent to us, that she had some very agreeable news to surprise us with; and therefore desired the whole family of us, her Byron particularly, to attend her at breakfast, the next morning. We looked upon one another, at the message, and wondered. I was not well, and would have excused myself; but my aunt insisted upon my going. Little did I or anybody else think of your brother having visited my grandmamma in person. When she acquainted us that he had, my weakened spirits wanted support: I was obliged to withdraw with Lucy.

I thought I could not bear, when I recovered myself, that he should be so near, and not once call in, and inquire after the health of the creature

for whom he professed so high an esteem, and even affection: but when, on my return to company, my grandmamma related what passed between them, and the letters were read; then again were my failing spirits unable to support me. They all gazed upon me, as the letters were reading, as well as while my grandmamma was giving the relation of what he said; and of the noble, the manly air with which he delivered himself. -With joy and silent congratulation they gazed upon me; while I felt such a variety of sensibilities in my heart, as I never felt before; sensibilities mixed with wonder; and I was sometimes ready to doubt whether I were not in a reverie; whether indeed I was in this world or another; whether I was Harriet Byron-I know not how to describe what I felt in my now fluttering, now rejoicing, now dejected heart

Dejected?-Yes, my dear Lady G! Dejection was a strong ingredient in my sensibilities. I know not why. Yet may there not be a fulness in joy, that will mingle dissatisfaction with it? If there may, shall I be excused for my solemnity, if I deduce from thence an argument, that the human soul is not to be fully satisfied by worldly enjoyments; and that therefore the completion of its happiness must be in another, a more perfect state? You, Lady G-, are a very good woman, though a lively one; and I will not excuse you, if on an occasion that bids me look forward to a very solemn event, you will not forgive my seriousness.That bids me look forward, I repeat; for Sir Charles Grandison cannot alter his mind: the world has not wherewith to tempt him to alter it, after he has made such advances; except I misbehave.

Well, my dear, and what was the result of our conference?-My grandmamma, my aunt, and Lucy, were of opinion, that I ought no more to revolve the notions of a divided or second-placed love: that every point of female delicacy was answered: that he ought not only still to be allowed to love Lady Clementina, but that I and all her sex should revere her: that my grandmamma, being the person applied to, should answer for me, for us all, in words of her own choosing.

I was silent. What think you, my dear? said my aunt, with her accustomed tenderness.

Think! said my uncle, with his usual facetiousness; do you think, if Harriet had one objection, she would have been silent?-I am for sending up for Sir Charles out of hand. Let him come the first day of next week, and let them be married before the end of it.

Not quite so hasty, neither, Mr Selby, said my grandmamma, smiling: let us send to Mr Deane. His love for my child, and regard for us all, deserve the most grateful returns.

What a deuce, and defer an answer to Sir Charles, who gives a generous reason, for the sake of the lady abroad, and her family, (and I

hope he thinks a little of his own sake,) for wishing a speedy answer?

No, Mr Selby: not defer writing, neither. We know enough of Mr Deane's mind already. But, for my part, I dont know what terms, what conditions, what additions to my child's fortune, to propose

Additions! madam-Why, ay; there must be some to be sure-And we are able, and as willing as able, let me tell you, to make them.

I beseech you, sir, said I-Pray, madamNo more of this-Surely it is time enough to talk of these subjects.

So it is, niece. Mr Deane is a lawyer. God help me! I never was brought up to anything but to live on the fat of the land, as the saying is. Mr Deane and Sir Charles shall talk this matter over by themselves. Let us, as you say, send for Mr Ďeane-But I will myself be messenger of these joyful tidings..

My uncle then tuned out, in his gay manner, a line of an old song; and then said, I'll go to Mr Deane: I will set out this very day-Pull down the wall, as one of our kings said; the door is too far about.-I'll bring Mr Deane with me to-morrow, or it shall cost me a fall.

You know my uncle, my dear. In this manner did he express his joy.

My grandmother retired to her closet; and this that follows is what she wrote to Sir Charles. Everybody is pleased whenever she takes up the pen. No one made objection to a single word in it.

DEAR SIR,

RESERVE Would be unpardonable on our side, though the woman's, to a man who is above reserve, and whose offers are the result of deliberation, and an affection, that, being founded in the merit of our dearest child, cannot be doubted. We all receive as an honour the offer you make us of an alliance, which would do credit to families of the first rank. It will perhaps be one day owned to you, that it was the height of Mrs Selby's wishes and mine, that the man who had rescued the dear creature from insult and distress, might be at liberty to entitle himself to her grateful love.

The noble manner in which you have explained yourself on a subject which has greatly embarrassed you, has abundantly satisfied Mrs Selby, Lucy, and myself: we can have no scruples of delicacy. Nor am I afraid of suffering from yours by my frankness. But, as to our Harriet-You may perhaps meet with some (not affectation; she is above it) difficulty with her, if you expect her whole heart to be yours. She, sir, experimentally knows how to allow for a double, a divided love-Dr Bartlett, perhaps, should not have favoured her with the character of a lady whom she prefers to herself ; and Mrs Selby and I have sometimes, as we read her me