Selby, who had not danced, she said, for twenty years before; but, on so joyful an occasion, would not refuse Lord W- 's challenge; and both were applauded; the time of life of the lady, the limpingness of my lord, considered. There was a very plentiful sideboard of rich wines, sweetmeats, &c.

We all disclaimed formal supper.

We went afterwards into country dances. Mrs Shirley retired about ten. Harriet took the opportunity of attending her. I had an intimation to follow.

I found her just dropped on her knees to her grandmamma, who, with her arms about her neck, was folding to her fond heart the darling of it.

I was called upon to give my opinion, whether she should return to the company or not: I gave it that she should; and that she should retire, for the night, about eleven. As to the bride-maids, I said, I would manage, that they should only attend her to her chamber, and leave her there, with her aunt, Lucy, and me. Lord L- undertook to make the gentlemen give up form; which he said, they would the more easily do, as they were set in to dancing.

After all, Lady L- we women, dressed out in ribbons and gaudy trappings, and in virgin-white, on our wedding days, seem but like milk-white heifers led to sacrifice. We ought to be indulged, if we are not shameless things, and very wrong indeed, in our choice of the man we can love.

Mr Selby broke from his partner, Miss Barclay, to whisk into the figure of the bride.

Sir Charles joined the deserted lady, who seemed much better pleased with her new partner than with her old one.

Lord W——, who was sitting down, took Mrs Selby, and led her into the dance.

I drew Miss Needham to the sideboard, and gave her her cue; she gave theirs to the three other bride-maids.

About eleven, Mrs Selby, unobserved, withdrew with the bride. The bride-maids, one by one, waited on her to her chamber, saluted her, and returned to company.

The dear creature wanted presence of mind. She fell into my reflection above. O my dear Lady G! said she, was I not right when I declared, that I never would marry, were it not to the man I loved above all the men in the world?

She complimented me twenty times, with being very good. She prayed for me; but her prayers were meant for herself.

You remember, that she told me on my apprehensiveness on the like occasion, that fear made me loving to her. On her blessing me, Ah, Harriet, said I, you now find, that apprehension will make one pious, as well as loving.

My sister, my friend, my own, my Caroline's, my brother's, dear Lady Grandison! said I,

when I left her, near undressed, God bless you! And God be praised, that I can call you by these tender names! My brother is the happiest of men; you of women. May we never love each other less than we do now. Look forward to the serene happiness of your future lot. If you are the joy of our brother, you must be our joy, and the jewel of our family.

She answered me only by a fervent embrace, her eyes lifted up, surcharged, as I may say, with tears of joy, as in thankfulness.

I then rushed down stairs, and into the company.

My brother instantly addressed me-My Harriet, whispered he, with impatience, returns not this night?

You will see Mrs Selby, I presume, by and by, returned I.

ces.

He took his seat by old Mrs Selby, and fell into talk with her, to avoid joining in the danHis eye was continually turned to the door. Mrs Selby at last came in. Her eyes shewed the tender leave she had taken of her Harriet.

My brother approached her. She went out ; he followed her.

In a quarter of an hour she returned. We saw my brother no more that night. We continued our dancings till between three and four.

I have often observed, that we women, whether weakly or robust, are hardly ever tired with dancing. It was so with us. The men, poor souls! looked silly and sleepy, by two; all but my ape: he has a good many femalities, as uncle Selby calls them. But he was brought up to be idle and useless, as women generally are.

I must conclude my letters whimsically, my dear; if I did not, you would not know them to be written by your

CHARLOTTE G

LETTER CCLVI.

LADY G

[In continuation.]

EMILY, Lucy, and I, went to pay our morning congratulations as soon as we arose, which was not very early, to my brother, being told that he was in the cedar parlour, writing. He received us like himself. I am writing, said he, a few very short letters. They are to demand the felicitations, one of our beloved Caroline; one of our Aunt Grandison; one of the Earl of G, and one of our dear Dr Bartlett. There is another; you may read it, Charlotte.

That also was a short one, to signify, according to promise, as I found, to Signor Jeronymo

della Porretta, the actual celebration of his nuptials.

I returned it to him-Like my brother, was all I said.

It concluded with a caution given in the most ardent terms, against precipitating the admirable Clementina.

We went up to the bride. She was dressing. Her aunt was with her, and her two cousins Holles, who went not home the preceding night.

The moment we entered, she ran to us; and, clasping her arms about my neck, hid her blushing face in my bosom-My dearest, dearest Lady G————, murmured she-Am I indeed your sister, your sister Grandison! And will you love me as well as ever?

My dearest, lovely sister! my own sister Grandison! my brother's wife! Most sincerely do I repeat, joy, joy, joy, to my Harriet !

O Lady G! how you raise me! Your goodness is a seasonable goodness to me! I never, never, but by your and your sister's example, shall be worthy of your brother!

Then embracing Emily; Wish me joy, my love! In my joy shall you find your own!

Emily wept, and even sobbed-You must, you must, treat me less kindly, madam. I cannot, cannot bear your good-your goodness. On my knees I acknowledge my other guardian. God bless my dear, dear Lady Grandison !

At that moment, as they were folded in each other's arms, entered my brother-He clasped his round his sweet bride: Pardon this intrusion, said he-Excellent creature, continue to love my Emily!-Continue, my Emily, to deserve the sisterly love of my Harriet !

Then turning to me, saluting me, My Charlotte loves my Harriet; so does our Caroline. She fondly loves you both. God continue your love to each other! What a sister has yesterday's happy event given to each other!-What a wife to me! We will endeavour, my love (to her) to deserve our happiness: and, Í humbly trust, it will be continued to us.

He saluted Mrs Selby-My own Aunt Selby! What obligations am I under to you, and to our venerable Mrs Shirley, for giving to an angel an angel's education, and conferring on me the blessing!

Congratulate me, my dear cousins Holles, saluting each. May you both be as happy, whenever you alter your single estate, as I will endeavour to make your lovely cousin!

He withdrew, bowing to us; and with so much respectfulness to the happy Harriet, as delighted us all.

Lucy went down with him, to pay her morning compliments to the two grandmammas.

Sister, said Kitty Holles, after he was gone— we never, never can think of marrying, after we have seen Sir Charles Grandison, and his behaviour.

Lucy came up with Nancy. They embraced

their cousin. Your grandmamma and my grandmamma, my dearest cousin, are impatient to see you, in your grandmamma's chamber; and the gentlemen are crying out for their breakfasts in the great parlour. We hurried down. The bride threw herself at her grandmamma's feet, for her blessing. It was given in such a tender and pious manner, that we were all affected by it. The best of sons, of men, said she, afterwards, has but just left me. What a blessing to all around him, is a good man! Sir Charles Grandison is everything. But, my dear loves, to the younger ladies, let a good man, let life, let manners, be the principal motive of your choice: in goodness will you have every sanction; and your fathers, mothers, relations, friends, every joy! My dearest love, my Harriet, taking her hand, there was a time that I thought no man on earth could deserve you; now it is my prayer, and will be, that you may deserve this man. let us join the gentlemen. Fear not, my Harriet-Sir Charles's character will preserve with every one its dignity, and give a sanction to the solemnity that has united you to him. My dearest love! be proud, and look assured: you may, or who can? Yesterday's transaction is your glory; glory in it, my Harriet!

But

We attended the two elder ladies down. Har riet, as bashful people ever do, increased her own difficulties, by staying behind with her Lucy. We were all seated at the breakfast-tables, and staid for them: Mr Selby grew impatient; every one having declared themselves ready for breakfast. At last, down came the blushing bride, with her Lucy. Sir Charles, seeing Mr Selby's countenance turning peevishly arch; just as he had begun, "Let me tell you, niece," and was coming out with something, he arose, and taking his bride's hand, led her to her seat. Hush, my dear Mr Selby, said he; nobody must call to account my wife, and I present.—How, sir! how, sir! Already have I lost my niece?

Not so, Mr Selby. All her duties will have strength given them by the happy event of yesterday; but you must not let a new-married man see how much easier it is to find fault than to be faultless.

Your servant, sir! replied Mr Selby-You'll one day pay for your complaisance, or my niece is not a woman. But I was ready primed. You have robbed me of a jest; and that, let me tell you, would have been more to me than my breakfast.

After breakfast, Lucy gave us a lesson on the harpsichord. Sir Charles accompanied her finger, at the desire of the company.

Lord and Lady W excused themselves to breakfast, but came to dinner. We entertained one another with reports of what passed yesterday; what people said; how the tenants' feast was managed; how the populace behaved at the houses which were kept open. The church-wardens' list was produced of the poor recommend

ed by them; it amounted to upwards of one hundred and forty, divided into two classes; one of the acknowledged poor, the other of poor housekeepers and labouring people who were ashamed to apply; but to whom the churchwardens knew bounty would be acceptable. There were above thirty of these, to whom Sir Charles gave very handsomely, but we knew not what. The churchwardens, who are known to be good men, went away blessing him, with hearts running over at their lips, as if they themselves were to find their account in his goodness.

Saturday.

We have had a smart debate this morning, on the natural independency of our sex, and the usurpation of the other. Particulars by and by.

My brother is an irresistible man. To-morrow he has carried it to make his appearance at church, against all their first intentions, and that by their own consents. He had considered everything; they had not. Mr Beauchamp has letters which require him to go up to town: Lord and Lady W- are desirous to get thither, his lordship having some gouty warnings; I am obliged to go up; having hated to set about anything preparatory to your case, Caroline! [If the wretch were to come in my way just now, I should throw my standish at him, I believe. The Earl and Lady Gertrude are in town; and I am afraid of another reprimand. The Earl never jests but he means the same as if he were serious. I shall take Emily with me, when I go. Mrs Reeves wants to be with her little boy. Yet all these people are desirous to credit the appearance.-I had like to have forgot your good man -He longs to see his Caroline; and hopes to engage my brother to stand in person as his urchin's sponsor. So you see that there is a necessity to consent to make the appearance to-morrow, or the bride will lose the flower of her company.

God continue the happiness of this charming pair! Their behaviour to each other is just what I would wish it to be; tender, affectionate, without fulsome fondness. He cannot be more respectful to the dear creature now, than he was before marriage; but, from his present behaviour, I dare answer for him, that he will not be less so; and yet he is so lively, that he has all the young man in his behaviour, whenever occasions call for relaxation. Even when subjects require seriousness, as they do sometimes, in conversations between Mrs Shirley, Mrs Selby, Mr Deane, and him; his seriousness, as Mrs Shirley herself finely observed in his absence, is attended with such vivacity, and intermingled with such entertaining illustrations, all naturally arising from and falling into the subject, that he is sure of every one's attention and admiration.

The features of his manly face, and the turn

of his fine eye, observed she, on another occasion, are cast for pity, and not for censure. And let me add a speech of his, when he was called upon to censure a person, on a slight representation of facts:

"The whole matter is not before us," said he ; "we know not what motives he may have to plead by way of extenuation, though he may not be able entirely to excuse himself. But, as it appears to me, I would not have done so.'

But what, my dear, am I about? Are they not my brother's praises that I am expatiating upon? Was I ever to be trusted with that subject? Is there no man, I have been asked, that is like your brother?-He, I have answered, is most likely to resemble him, who has an unbounded charity, and universal benevolence, to men of all professions; and who, imitating the Divinity, regards the heart, rather than the head, and much more than either rank or fortune, though it were princely; and yet is not a leveller, but thinks that rank or degree entitles a man, who is not utterly unworthy of both, to respect. I will write one more letter, and then give way to other affairs.

I never thought I should have been such a scribbler. But the correspondence between my brother and Dr Bartlett, into which we were all so eager to peep; that of this dear creature with her Lucy, which so much entertained us, and which led us, in her absence, to wish to continue the series of it; the story of Clementina so interesting; all our suspenses so affecting; and the state of this our lovely friend's heart so peculiar; and the desire of amusing you in your confinement; all these, together, led me on. But now one letter more shall conclude my task.

Lord L has just now mentioned to his brother his wishes that he would stand godfather to the little lord. My brother caught his hand, and besought his pardon for not offering himself. You do me, my dear lord, said he, both honour and pleasure. Where was my thought? But this dear creature, turning to his bride, will be so good as to remind me of all my imperfections. I am in a way to mend; for the duties inseparable from my delightful new engagement will strengthen all my other duties.

-'s ac

I have taken upon me, sir, said she, to request the favour of my Lord and Lady Lceptance of me for a godmother.

To which I have objections, said I. I have a prior claim. Aunt Eleanor has put in hers, Lady W- hers; and this before Miss Byron was Lady Grandison.

Your circumstance, my dear Lady G——, according to a general observation of our sex, is prohibitory.

Will you, my brother, appealed I, allow of superstitious observances, prognostics, omens, dreams?

O no! My Harriet has been telling me how much she suffered lately from a dream, which

she permitted to give strength and terror to her apprehensions from Mr Greville. Guard, my dear ladies, against these imbecilities of tender minds. In these instances, if in no other, will you give a superiority to our sex, which, in the debate of this morning, my Charlotte would not

allow of.

I will begin my next letter with an account of this debate; and if I cannot comprise it in the compass I intend to bring it into, my one more letter may, perhaps, stretch into two.

LETTER CCLVII.

LADY G

[In continuation.]

THE debate I mentioned began on Friday morning at breakfast-time; brought on by some of uncle Selby's good-natured particularities; for he will always have something to say against women. I bespoke my brother's neutrality, and declared I would enter the lists with Mr Selby, and allow all the other men present to be of his side. I had a flow of spirits. Man's usurpation, and woman's natural independency, was the topic. I carried on my argument very triumphantly; now and then a sly hint, popt out by my brother, half disconcerted me; but I called him to order, and he was silent: yet once he had like to have put me out- -Wrapping his arms about himself, with inimitable humour-Omy Charlotte, said he, how I love my country! ENGLAND is the only spot in the world, in which this argument can be properly debated!-Very sly-Was it not?

I made nothing of Mr Selby. I called him the tyrant of the family.—And as little of Mr Deane, Lord L, and still less of my own lord, who was as eager in the debate as if it concerned him more than anybody to resist me: and this before my brother; who by his eyes, more than once, seemed to challenge me, because of the sorry creature's earnestness. All those, however, were men of straw with me; and I thought myself very near making Mr Selby ask pardon of his dame for his thirty years' usurpation. In short, I had half established our sex's superiority on the ruin of that of the sorry fellows, when the debate was closed, and referred to Mrs Shirley, as moderatrix; my brother still excluded any share in it.-She, indeed, obliged me to lower my topsails a little.

"I think," said the venerable lady, 66 women are generally too much considered as a species apart. To be sure, in the duties and affairs of life, where they have different or opposite shares allotted them by Providence, they ought not to go out of their own sphere, or invade the men's province, any more than the men theirs. Nay,

I am so much of this opinion, that though I think the confidence which some men place in their wives, in committing all their affairs to their care, very flattering to the opinion both of their integrity and capacity; yet I should not choose (without considering trouble) to interfere with the management without doors, which I think more properly the man's province, unless in some particular cases.

"But, in common intercourse and conversation, why are we to be perpetually considering the sex of the person we are talking to? Why must women always be addressed in an appropriated language; and not treated on the common footing of reasonable creatures? And why must they, from a false notion of modesty, be afraid of shewing themselves to be such, and affect a childish ignorance?

"I do not mean, that I would have women enter into learned disputes, for which they are rarely qualified; but I think there is a degree of knowledge very compatible with their duties; therefore not unbecoming them, and necessary to make them fit companions for men of sense; a character in which they will always be found more useful than that of a plaything, the amusement of an idle hour.

"No person of sense, man or woman, will venture to launch out on a subject with which they are not well acquainted. The lesser degree of knowledge will give place to the greater. This will secure subordination enough. For the advantages of education, which men must necessarily have over women, if they have made the proper use of them, will have set them so forward on the race, that we can never overtake them. But then don't let them despise us for this, as if their superiority were entirely founded on a natural difference of capacity; despise us as women, and value themselves merely as men; for it is not the hat or cap which covers the head, that decides the merit of it.

"In the general course of the things of this world, women have not opportunities of sounding the depths of science, or of acquainting themselves perfectly with polite literature: but this want of opportunity is not entirely confined to them. There are professions among the men no more favourable to these studies, than the common avocations of women. For example; Merchants, whose attention is (and, perhaps, with regard to the public, more usefully) chained down to their accounts. Officers, both of land and sea, are seldom much better instructed, though they may, perhaps, pass through a few more forms; and, as for knowledge of the world, women of a certain rank have an equal title to it with some of them. A learned man, as he is called, who should despise a sensible one of these professions, and disdain to converse with him, would pass for a pedant; and why not for despising or undervaluing a woman of sense, who may be put on the same footing? Men, in

common conversation, have laid it down for a rule of good-breeding, not to talk before women of things they don't understand; by which means an opportunity of improvement is lost; a very good one, too; one that has been approved by the ablest persons who have written on the education of children; because it is a means of learning insensibly, without the appearance of a task. Common subjects afford only commonplace, and are soon exhausted; why, then, should conversation be confined to such narrow limits, and be liable to continual repetition; when, if people would start less beaten subjects, many doubts and difficulties concerning them might be cleared up, and they would acquire a more settled opinion of things, (which is what the generality much want, from an indolence that hinders them from examining,) at the same time that they would be better entertained, than with talking of the weather, and such kind of insipidities?"

Lady W, applauding Mrs Shirley's sentiments, Apropos, said she; let me read you the speech (taking it out of her pocket-book) of an East-India officer to a pedant, who had been displaying his talents, and running over with terms of art, and scraps of Latin, mingled with a profusion of hard words, that hardly any of the company understood; and which, at the same time that it diverted all present, cured the pretended scholar of his affectation for ever after. My lady read it, as follows:

"I am charmed with this opportunity," said the officer," of discoursing with a gentleman of so much wit and learning; and hope I shall have his decision in a point which is pretty nice, and concerns some Eastern manufactures, of an cient and reverend etymology. Modern critics are undetermined about them: but, for my part, I have always maintained, that chints, bullbulls, morees, and ponabaguzzys, are of nobler and more generous uses than doorguzees or nourfourmannys; not but I hold against byrampauts in favour of niccannees and boralchauders. Only I wish, that so accurate a judge would instruct me, why tapzils and sallampores have given place to neganepauts? And why bejatapoutz should be more esteemed than the finer fabric of blue chelloes?"*

A very good rebuke of affectation, said Sir Charles, (and your ladyship hints it was an efficacious one.) It serves to shew, that men, in their different attainments, may be equally useful; in other words, that the knowledge of polite literature leads not to every part of useful science. I remember that my Harriet distinguishes very properly, in some of her letters to her Lucy, between language and science; and that poor Mr Walden (that I think was his name) was pretty much disconcerted, as a pe

dant may sometimes be, when (and he bowed to his Harriet) he has a natural genius to contend with. She blushed, and bowed as she sat.-And I remember, sir, said she, you promised to give me your animadversions on the letters I consented you should see: Will you be pleased to correct me now?

Correct you, my dearest life!-What a word is that? I remember that, in the conversation in which you were obliged, against your will, to bear so considerable a part, you demonstrated, that genius, without deep learning, made a much more shining figure, in conversation, than learning without genius; but, upon the whole, I was a little apprehensive, that true learning might suffer, if languages were too slightly treated. Mr Walden made one good observation, or rather remembered it, for it was long ago made, and will be always of weight, That the knowledge of languages, any more than the advantage of birth, was never thought lightly of by those who had pretensions to either. The knowledge of the Latin language, in particular, let me say, is of a singular use in the mastery of every science.

There are who aver, that men of parts have no occasion for learning; but, surely, our Shakespeare himself, one of the greatest geniuses of any country or age, (who, however, is an adept in the superior learning, the knowledge of nature,) would not have been a sufferer, had he had the greater share of human learning which is denied him by some critics.

But, Sir Charles, said Mr Deane, don't you think that Shakespeare, who lived before the great Milton, has an easier, pleasanter, and more intelligible manner of writing, than Milton? If so, may it not be owing to Milton's greater learning that Shakespeare has the advantage of that immortal poet in perspicuity?

Is the fact certain, my dear Mr Deane, that Milton wants perspicuity? I have been bold enough sometimes to think, that he makes a greater display of his reading, than was quite necessary to his unbounded subject. But the age in which Shakespeare flourished, might be called the age of English learning, as well as of English bravery. The Queen and her Court, the very ladies of it, were more learned than any Court of our English Sovereigns was before, or hath been since. What a prodigy of learning, in the short reign of Edward the VIth, was the Lady Jane Grey !—Greek, as well as Latin, was familiar to her: so it was to Queen Elizabeth. And can it be supposed, that the natural geniuses of those ladies were more confined or limited, for their knowledge of Latin and Greek? Milton, though a little nearer us, lived in harsh

er and more tumultuous times.

O sir! said Harriet, then I find I was a very