actions occasionally given of the wretches who inhabit it; Mr.
Belford here enters into the secret retirements of these crea-
tures, and exposes them in the appearances they are supposed
to make, before they are tricked out to ensnare weak and in-
considerate minds.
XLII. Colonel Morden to Mr. Belford. With an account of
his arrival at Harlowe Place before the body. The dread-
ful distress of the whole family in expectation of its com-
ing. The deep remorse of James and Arabella Harlowe.
Mutual recriminations on recollecting the numerous in-
stances of their inexorable cruelty. Mrs. Norton so ill,
he was forced to leave her at St. Albans. He dates
again, to give a further account of their distress on the
arrival of the hearse. Solemn respect paid to her memory
by crowds of people.
XLIII. From the same. Further interesting accounts of
what passed among the Harlowes. Miss Howe expected
to see, for the last time, her beloved friend.
XLIV. From the sume. Miss Howe arrives. The colonel
receives her. Her tender woe; and characteristic beha-
viour.
Mrs. Norton arrives. Amended in
spirits. To what owing. Further recriminations of the
unhappy parents. They attempted to see the corpse;
but cannot. Could ever wilful hard-heartedness, the colonel
asks be more severely punished? Substance of the lady's
posthumous letter to Mrs. Norton.
XLVI. From the same. Account of the funeral solemnity.
Heads of the eulogium. The universal justice done to
the lady's great and good qualities. Other affecting par-
ticulars.
XLVII. Belford to Colonel Morden. Compliments him on his
pathetic narratives. Further account of his executorial
proceedings.
XLVIII. Jumes Harlowe to Belford.
XLIX. Mr. Belford in answer.
The lady's LAST WILL. In the preamble to which, as well
as in the body of it, she gives several instructive hints;
and displays, in an exemplary manner, her forgiving spi-
rit, her piety, her charity, her gratitude, and other chris-
tian and heroic virtues.
1. Colonel Morden to Mr. Belford. The will read. What
passed on the occasion.
LI. Belford to Lord M. Apprehends a vindictive resentment
from the colonel. Desires that Mr. Lovelace may be pre-
vailed on to take a tour.
LII. Miss Montague in answer.
Summary account of proceedings relating to the execution
of the lady's will, and other matters. Substance of a let-
ter from Mr. Belford to Mr. Hickman; of Mr. Hickman's
answer; and of a letter from Miss Howe to Mr. Belford.
The lady's posthumous letter to Mr. Lovelace.
LIII. Lovelace to Belford. Describing his delirium as dawn-
ing into sense and recollection. All is conscience and
horror with him, he says. A description of his misery at
its height.
LIV. From the same. Revokes his last letter, as ashamed
of it. Yet breaks into fits and starts, and is ready to go
back again. Why, he asks, did his mother bring him up to
know no control? His heart sickens at the recollection of
what he was. Dreads the return of his malady. Makes
an effort to forget all.
LV. From the same.
Is preparing to leave the kingdom.
His route. Seasonable warnings, though delivered in a
ludicrous manner, on Belford's resolution to reform. Com-
plains that he has been strangely kept in the dark of late.
Demands a copy of the lady's will.
LVI. Belford to Lovelace. Justice likely to overtake his in-
strument Tomlinson. On what occasion. The wretched
nian's remorse on the lady's account. Belford urges Love-
lace to go abroad for his health. Answers very seriously
to the warnings he gives him. Amiable scheme for the
conduct of his future life.
LVII. Lovelace to Belford. Pities Tomlinson. Finds that
he is dead in prison. Happy that he lived not to be hang-
ed. Why. No discomfort so great but some comfort may
be drawn from it. Endeavours to defend himself by a
whimsical case which he puts between A, a miser, and B,
a thief.
LVIII. From the same. Ridicules him on the scheme of life
he has drawn out for himself. In his manner, gives Bel-
ford some further cautions and warnings. Reproaches
him for not saving the lady. A breach of confidence in
some cases is more excusable than to keep a secret. Ral-
lies him on his person and air, on his cousin Charlotte,
and the Widow Loviek.
LIX. Mr. Belford to Colonel Morden. On a declaration he
had heard he had made, of taking vengeance of Mr. Love-
lace. His arguments with him on that subject, from va-
rious topics.
LX. The lady's posthumous letter to her cousin Morden. Con-
taining arguments against DUELLING, as well with regard
to her particular case, as in general. See also letter xxxii.
to her brother, on the same subject.
LXI. Colonel Morden to Mr. Belford. In answer to his pleas
against avenging his cousin. He paints in very strong co
lours the grief and distress of the whole family, on the loss
of a child, whose character and excellencies rise upon
them to their torment.
LXII. From the same. Further particulars relating to the
execution of the lady's will. Gives his thoughts of wo-
men's friendships in general; of that of Miss Howe, and
his cousin, in particular. An early habit of familiar letter-
writing how improving. Censures Miss Howe, for her be-
haviour to Mr. Hickman. Mr. Hickman's good character.
Caution to parents who desire to preserve their children's
veneration for them. Mr. Hickman, unknown to Miss
Howe, puts himself and equipage in mourning for Clarissa.
Her lively turn upon him on that occasion. What he, the
colonel, expects from the generosity of Miss Howe, in re-
lation to Mr. Hickman. Weakness of such as are afraid
of making their last wills.
LXIII. Belford to Miss Howe. With copies of Clarissa's
posthumous letters; and respectfully, as from Colonel
Morden and himself, reminding her of her performing her
part of her dear friend's last desires, in making one of the
most deserving men in England happy. Informs her of the
delirium of Lovelace, in order to move her compassion for
him, and of the dreadful death of Sinclair and Tomlinson.
LXIV. Miss Howe to Mr. Belford. Observations on the
letters and subjects he communicates to her. She pro-
mises another letter in answer to his and Colonel Mor-
den's call upon her in Mr. Hickman's favour. Applauds
the colonel for purchasing her beloved friend's jewels, in
order to present them to Miss Dolly Hervey.
LXV. From the same. She accounts for, though not defends,
her treatment of Mr. Hickman. She owns, that he is a
man worthy of a better choice; that she values no man
more than him; and assures Mr. Belford and the colonel,
that her endeavours shall not be wanting to make him
happy.
LXVI. Mr. Belford to Miss Howe. A letter full of grate-
ful acknowledgments for the favour of hers.
LXVII. Lord M. to Mr. Belford. Acquainting him with
his kinsman's setting out for London, in order to embark.
Wishes him to prevent a meeting between him and Mr.
Morden.
LXVIII. Mr. Belford to Lord M. Has had a visit from Mr.
Lovelace. What passed between them on the occasion.
Has an interview with Colonel Morden.
LXIX. From the same. Just returned from attending Mr.
Lovelace part of his way towards Dover. Their solemn
parting.
LXX. From the same. An account of what passed between
himself and Colonel Morden at their next meeting. Their
affectionate parting.
LXXI. Miss Howe to Mr. Belford. Gives, at his request,
the character of her beloved friend at large; and an ac-
count of the particular distribution of her time in the twenty-
four hours of the natural day.
Answers him as to all the
LXXII. Lovelace to Belford, from Paris. Conscience the
conqueror of souls. He cannot run away from his reflec-
tions. He desires a particular account of all that has
passed since he left England.
LXXIII. Belford to Lovelace.
particulars he writes about.
LXXIV. Lovelace to Belford. Has received a letter from
Joseph Leman (who, he says, is conscience-ridden) to in-
form him, that Colonel Morden resolves to have his will of
him. He cannot bear to be threatened. He will write to
the colonel to know his purpose. He cannot get off his re-
grets on account of the dear lady for the blood of him.
LXXV. Belford to Lovelace. It would be matter of serious
reflection to him, he says, if that very Leman, who had
been his machine, should be the instrument of his fall.
LXXVI. Lovelace to Belford. Has written to the colonel to
know his intention; but yet in such a manner, that he
may handsomely avoid taking it as a challenge; though,
in the like case, he owns that he himself should not. Copy
of his letter to the colonel.
LXXVII. Lovelace to Belford. He is now in his way to
Trent, in order to meet Colonel Morden. He is sure of
victory; but will not, if he can help it, out of regard to
the memory of Clarissa, kill the colonel.
LXXVIII. From the same. Interview with Colonel Morden.
To-morrow, says he, is the day that will, in all probabi
lity, send either one or two ghosts to attend the manes of
his Clarissa. He doubts not to give the colonel his life, or
his death; and to be able, by next morning, eleven, to
write all the particulars.
LXXIX. THE ISSUE OF THE DUEL.
MRS. NORTON TO MISS CLARISSA HARLOWE.
[In Answer to hers of Thursday, August 24. See Vol. vii. Letter lxxii.]
Thursday, August 31. I HAD written sooner, my dearest young lady, but that I have been endeavouring, ever since the receipt of your last letter, to obtain a private audience of your mother, in hopes of leave to communicate it to her. But last night I was surprised by an invitation to breakfast at Harlowe-Place this morning and the chariot came early to fetch me: an honour I did not expect.
When I came, I found there was to be a meeting of all your family with Colonel Morden, at HarlowePlace; and it was proposed by your mother, and consented to, that I should be present. Your cousin, I understand, had with difficulty brought this meeting to bear; for your brother had before industriously avoided all conversation with him on the af◄ fecting subject; urging, that it was not necessary to talk to Mr. Morden upon it, who, being a remoter relation than themselves, had no business to make
|