m'est venue pour me procurer cette aisance si nécessaire.

On n'a point encore nommé les commissaires des relations commerciales en Angleterre. Cette place à Londres sera très bonne, et peut-être, quoiqu'elle soit très demandée, ne me serait-il pas impossible de l'obtenir. Il est au moins probable que j'en pourrais avoir une dans un des ports. Mais je ne m'en soucierais pas infiniment, parceque le traitement serait beaucoup moindre, et tout au plus suffisant. D'ailleurs, quoique la place de Londres fut en chef, je crois, sans trop me flatter, que je serais fort en état de la remplir, après m'être consulté avec le chef dans cette partie, homme aimable qui a été longtems consul général en Espagne. Il y a vingt ans que nous sommes liés ensemble, et le ministre d'ailleurs appuyerait volontiers ma demande.

Répons moi sur-le-champ, je t'en conjure. Vois si cela ne contrarie aucun de tes goûts; car tu sais qu'il n'est pour moi qu'un seul bonheur possible. Ai-je besoin d'en dire davantage?

Il y a quelques jours que me trouvant dans une société, la conversation tomba sur mon ancien métier, et sur les droits que je pouvais faire valoir pour obtenir le traitement que je demandais. Le surlendemain le maître de la maison me dit: "Savez-vous devant qui vous parliez avant-hier?" "Non!"-"C'était le Général N."-" En verité !"-" Quand vous fûtes parti, il demanda votre nom, et dès qu'on vous eut nommé, Quoi! dit-il, celui du comité central?' 'Oui.' Eh bien! je dois être commandant-général de

S'il veut s'embarquer avec moi, je me fais fort de le faire employer dans son grade d'officier général, et de le prendre pour mon second,'" &c. &c. &c.

Il est très possible qu'il se soit un peu avancé ; quoique, son état-major laissé à sa nomination, il est probable qu'il réussirait. Dans tous les cas je lui devais une réponse polie, et ce devoir je m'en suis acquitté en refusant.

Je te quitte pour aller à la fameuse revue que le Premier Consul ne fait plus que les 15 de chaque mois. J'ai la plus vive impatience de voir tout à mon aise cet être qui remplit l'univers entier de son nom. Au revoir, mon amie; mes tendres respects à Norbury. Consulte l'ange des anges, et embrasse-le pour moi, ainsi que sa très digne better half.

J'embrasse de toute mon ame et de toutes mes forces Alex. et sa mère. J'ai pleuré de joie en lisant la lettre de ce cher petit.

Madame d'Arblay to Mrs. Burney.

West Hamble, December, 1801.

WITH respect to the grand subject of your letter, religious instruction for dear little E, I would I could help you better than I can! Had my Alex. been a girl, I could have had a far greater chance of hitting upon something that might serve for a hint; for then I should have turned my thoughts that way, and have been prepared with their result; but I have only weighed what might be most serviceable to a boy. And this is by no means the same thing, though religion for a man and a woman must be so precisely. Many would be my doubts as to the Old Testament for a girl, on account of the fault of the translators in not guarding it from terms and expressions impossible—at least utterly improper, to explain. With respect to Alex.,

as I know he must read it at school, I think it best to parry off the danger of his own conjectures, questions, or suggestions, by letting him read it completely with me, and giving such a turn to all I am sorry to let him read as may satisfy his innocent and unsuspicious mind for the present, and, perhaps 'tis my hope— deter him from future dangerous inquiries, by giving him an internal idea. He is already well informed upon the subject. So much, however, I think with you that religion should spring from the heart, that my first aim is to instil into him that general veneration for the Creator of all things, that cannot but operate, though perhaps slowly and silently, in opening his mind to pious feelings and ideas. His nightly prayers I frequently vary; whatever is constantly repeated becomes repeated mechanically: the Lord's Prayer, therefore, is by no means our daily prayer; for as it is the first and most perfect composition in the universe, I would not have it lose its effect by familiarity. When we repeat it, it is always with a commentary. In general the prayer is a recapitulation of the errors and naughtiness, or forbearance and happiness, of the day; and this I find has more success in impressing him with delight in goodness, and shame in its reverse, than all the little or great books upon the .subject.

Mrs. Trimmer I should suppose admirable for a girl; I have told you my motive for taking the Scripture at large for a boy: I would rather all risks and dangers should be run with than without me. We are not yet far enough advanced for such books as you talk of for E-; but I will inquire what those are, if possible, and let you know. I think, however, conversation and prayer are the great means for instruction on this

subject; there is no knowing when they read on what is so serious, what they understand, or how they understand; and they should be allured, not frightened, into a religious tendency.

Madame d'Arblay to Monsieur d'Arblay.

West Hamble, December 15, 1801.

THE relief, the consolation of your frequent letters I can never express, nor my grateful sense of your finding time for them, situated as you now are; and yet that I have this moment read, of the 15 Frimaire, has made my heart ache heavily. Our hermitage is so dear to me-our book-room so precious, and in its retirement, its beauty of prospect, form, convenience, and comforts, so impossible to replace, that I sigh, and deeply, in thinking of relinquishing it.

Your happiness, however, is now all mine; if deliberately, therefore, you wish to try a new system, I will surely try it with you, be it what it may. I will try any thing but what I try now-absence! Think, however, well, mon très cher ami, before you decide upon any occupation that robs you of being master of your own time, leisure, hours, gardening, scribbling, and reading.

In the happiness you are now enjoying, while it is so new to you, you are perhaps unable to appreciate your own value of those six articles, which, except in moments of your bitter regret at the privation of your first friends and beloved country, have made your life so desirable. Weigh, weigh it well in the detail. I cannot write.

Should you find the sum total preponderate in favour of your new scheme, I will say no more. All schemes

will to me be preferable to seeing you again here, without the same fondness for the place, and way of life, that has made it to me what it has been. With regard to the necessity or urgency of the measure, I could say much that I cannot write. You know now, I can live with you, and you know I am not without views, as well as hopes, of ameliorating our condition.

I will fully discuss the subject with our oracle. His kindness, his affection for you! Yesterday, when I produced your letter, and the extracts from M. Neckar, and was going to read some, he said, in that voice that is so penetratingly sweet, when he speaks from his heart" I had rather hear one line of d'Arblay's than a volume of M. Neckar's,"-yet at the same time begging to peruse the MS. when I could spare it. I wish you could have heard the tone in which he pronounced those words: it vibrated on my ears all day.

I have spent near two hours upon this theme with our dearest oracle and his other half. He is much affected by the idea of any change that may remove us from his daily sight; but, with his unvarying disinterestedness, says he thinks such a place would be fully acquitted by you. If it is of consul here, in London, he is sure you would fill up all its functions even admirably. I put the whole consideration into your own hands; what, upon mature deliberation, you judge to be best, I will abide by. Heaven guide and speed your determination!