Lucy Hutchinson. "There is a comfort in the strength of love, WORDSWORTH. Lucy Hutchinson. BORN 1620. DIED ABOUT the middle of the seventeenth century, the umbrageous solitudes of Richmond were made the theatre of a little romance, the record of which resembles in character the creations of fiction, rather than reality; yet is, in effect, strictly true. A young man, of good birth and fortune, whose heart had hitherto resisted all the blandishments of the fair sex, went thither to breathe a purer air than that of the metropolis, then tainted with the advent of the plague, and was warned by his friends that so many attractions were to be found there, in consequence of the vicinity of the court, that no disengaged person ever visited that beautiful environ of London, and returned heartwhole. In spite of this hint, John Hutchinson went, and established himself in a house belonging to a musical professor, Mr. Coleman, who had given him lessons when in town. He soon became acquainted with many young persons of both sexes, the house in which he lodged being the scene of musical soirées, very popular in the neighbourhood, and his society becoming sought after by invitations pouring in on all sides; for Hutchinson was singularly favoured by Nature, handsome and of elegant exterior, and possessing mental qualifications of correspondent value. : He was of middle height, well and gracefully proportioned his complexion fair; his eyes grey and expressive; his mouth characterized by sweetness, mingled with considerable dignity; hair of a soft brown, curling in loose rings, fell around his countenance in the fashion of the day. He had been educated at Cambridge, and, at first, destined for the law, was entered a member of Lincoln's Inn. His university career had strengthened and improved his intellectual qualities, while the succeeding sojourn in London had been diligently spent in the acquisition of accomplishments. It may be supposed this interesting specimen of humanity attracted general observation, and among the numerous handsome and lively girls who now "set their caps at him," it was matter for occasional serious complaint, that he should remain so completely insensible to attacks, covert, as well as declared. young hero's heart was not, however, composed of such impenetrable matter as they imagined; and he, who had hitherto set the sex at defiance, was destined to become the slave of an idea,-an idea, moreover, The of which the reality, strange to say, was to rivet his chains; a rare, almost impossible, concatenation of circumstances, as the reader will admit. An inmate of the same house with himself, where she was located for the purpose of learning the lute, during the temporary absence of her family, was a little girl, the daughter of Sir Allen Apsley, late lieutenant of the Tower, who had a residence within a short distance of that occupied by Mr. Coleman. Young Hutchinson contracted a great liking for this engaging child, and often sat near while she practised, or chatted pleasantly with her, when her task was accomplished. One day his young favourite proposed a walk to her mother's house, of which she had the keys, and the visit proved so agreeable that he often accompanied her thither, amusing himself with examining the house and grounds, while she, possibly, was superintending little household directions left to be carried out in her mother's absence. The excellent manner in which this lady had brought up her family, is proved by the circumstance of a child twelve years old, being intrusted with this kind of authority. It is also more than probable that she was aware of the result of Lady Apsley's protracted sojourn in Wiltshire. Be this as it may, the young man, allowed, one day, access to a little cabinet filled with books, discovered there some Latin and other volumes, which so excited his interest, that he made inquiries to whom they belonged, and received for answer that མ། |