PREFACE,

PAGE.

LETTER I. Miss Lucy Selby to Miss Harriet
Byron. Characters of Mr Greville, Mr Fen-
wick, and Mr Orme, the three admirers of Miss
Byron. Their alarm on hearing that Miss Byron
is determined on going up to London with Mrs
Reeves; and their resolutions in consequence.
Mr Greville's impassioned behaviour, when on
a visit to the Selby family,.

II. Mr Greville to Lady Frampton. In this

letter, Mr Greville gives an animated descrip-

tion of Miss Byron's personal beauties; extols

her sweetness of temper; and describes her si-

tuation and circumstances in life. He avows

his great attachment to this amiable young lady;

and declares, that although her modest and vir-

tuous demeanour, added to her personal charms,

had attracted so many admirers, he himself will

not despair of securing her esteem, over the heads

of all competitors. He, however, expresses his

fears, that Miss Byron's intended journey to

London will greatly add to the number of his

rivals,

III. Miss Byron to Miss Selby-Miss Byron's

sentiments respecting Mr Greville: she expresses

herself entirely indifferent to any of her admirers;

and assigns her reasons for not wishing prema-

turely to enter into the married state,

IV. Miss Byron to Miss Selby-The arrival of

Miss Byron in town. Conduct of Mr Greville

and Mr Fenwick on her departure; and the un-

feigned sorrow of Mr Orme at bidding her fare-

well. Description of her new residence, and of

her accommodations at Mr Reeves's, .

V. Miss Byron to Miss Selby. The three things

which Miss Byron was enjoined to the obser-

vance of by her aunt Selby, on their parting.

Her uncle Selby's prudential cautions to her.

Description and characters of the company as-

sembled at Mr Reeves's on a complimentary

visit. The kindness and attention of Lady Betty

Williams to Miss Byron: particulars concern-

ing that lady, and her character. Lady Betty

promises to introduce Miss Byron to the amuse-

ments of the town. Miss Byron states the dif-

ficulty of meeting with a confidential servant,

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VI. Miss Byron to Miss Selby-Miss Byron
states her reasons for rejecting the addresses of
Mr Greville; shews him to be a libertine in
principle; and enters largely into the develope-
ment of his real character: she thence infers the
dangerous tendency of a virtuous woman's uni-
ting herself to a man of bad principles, under
the idea of reclaiming him from his evil courses.
She afterwards mentions her objections to Mr
Fenwick; whom she represents as having a bad
heart at bottom, though not so openly a profli-
gate as Mr Greville. Her high opinion of Mr
Örme, and her esteem for his sister,

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VII. Mr Selby to Miss Byron.-Strictures on
female vanity. He cautions Miss Byron against
too eagerly listening to the flatteries of men of
fashion, professing themselves her admirers.
Lays open to the young lady her own foibles,
with a sort of good-humoured severity; apolo-
gizing at the same time for his frankness. He
concludes his letter by regretting her absence;
and, notwithstanding his raillery, owns that he
wishes her back again at Selby-House,
VIII. Miss Byron to Miss Selby.-Mr Fowler,
a nephew of Sir Rowland Meredith, professes
himself an admirer of Miss Byron. Her de-
scription of his person and character; and of
his uncle Sir Rowland,

IX. Miss Byron to Miss Selby-Sir Rowland

Meredith visits Mr Reeves. Explains to Miss

Byron the high esteem his nephew entertains

for her: solicits her permission to introduce him

to her; urges the sincerity of his motives; pro-

mises to settle a handsome competency on him;

earnestly entreats her to admit the young man

to pay his addresses to her himself, on learning

from her own lips that her affections are disen-

gaged. This acknowledgment raises Sir Row-

land's hopes; and, though he does not obtain

the young lady's definitive answer on this his

first visit, he hopes to succeed better in the next

visit, which he eagerly anticipates. Miss Byron,

in this letter, gives a very humorous description

of the conversation that passed, between herself

and Sir Rowland, on this occasion; of the wor-

thy knight's warmth in his nephew's cause;

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