On a declaration he had heard he had made, of
taking vengeance of Mr Lovelace. His argu-
ments with him on that subject, from various
topics,

CCCCXXV. The Lady's posthumous letter to her

cousin Morden.-Containing arguments against

DUELLING, as well with regard to her par-

ticular case, as in general. See also Letter

CCCCXXVI. To her brother, on the same sub-

ject,

CCCCXXVI. Colonel Morden to Mr Belford.
In answer to his pleas against avenging his
cousin. He paints in very strong colours the
grief and distress of the whole family, on the
loss of a child, whose character and excellencies
rise upon them to their torment,
CCCCXXVII. From the same. Farther parti-
culars relating to the execution of the lady's
will. Gives his thoughts of women'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 behaviour to Mr Hickman. Mr Hick-
man'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 Cla-
rissa. Her lively turn upon him on that occa-
sion. What he, the Colonel, expects from the
generosity of Miss Howe, in relation to Mr
Hickman. Weakness of such as are afraid of
making their last wills,

CCCCXXVIII. Belford to Miss Howe. With

copies of Clarissa's posthumous letters; and re-

spectfully, 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,

CCCCXXIX. Miss Howe to Mr Belford.-Ob-

servations on the letters and subjects he com-

municates to her. She promises another letter,

in answer to his and Colonel Morden'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,.

CCCCXXX. From the same.-She accounts for,

though not defends, her treatment of Mr Hick-

man. 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 want-

ing to make him happy,

CCCCXXXI. Mr Belford to Miss Howe.-A

letter full of grateful acknowledgments for the

favour of hers,

CCCCXXXII. Lord M. to Mr Belford.—Ac

724

725

726

728

730

731

732

734

.

.

quainting him with his kinsman's setting out

for London, in order to embark. Wishes him

to prevent a meeting between him and Mr

Morden,

735

CCCCXXXIII. 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,

CCCCXXXIV. From the same. Just returned

from attending Mr Lovelace part of his way to-

wards Dover. Their solemn parting,

CCCCXXXV. From the same. An account of

what passed between himself and Colonel Mor-

den at their next meeting. Their affectionate

parting,.

CCCCXXXVI. Miss Howe to Mr Belford.
Gives, at his request, the character of her belo-
ved friend at large; and an account of the par-
ticular distribution of her time in the twenty-
four hours of the natural day,

CCCCXXXVII. Lovelace to Belford, from Paris.

-Conscience the conqueror of souls. He can-

not run away from his reflections. He desires a

particular account of all that has passed since

he left England,

CCCCXXXVIII. Belford to Lovelace.-Answers

him as to all the particulars he writes about,. 749

CCCCXXXIX. Lovelace to Belford.-Has recei-

ved a letter from Joseph Leman, (who, he says,

is conscience-ridden,) to inform him that Colo-

nel 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 regrets on account of the dear lady

for the blood of him,

CCCCXL. 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,

751

CCCCXLI. 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,

CCCCXLII. From the same. 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 Clarissa, kill the Colo-

nel,

753

CCCCXLIII. From the same.-Interview with

Colonel Morden. To-morrow, says he, is the

day that will, in all probability, send either one

or two ghosts to attend the manes of my Cla-

rissa. 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,

CCCCXLIV. THE ISSUE OF THE DUEL,

CONCLUSION,

POSTSCRIPT,

VOL. VII.

LETTER I.

MISS CLARISSA HARLOWE TO MISS HOWE.

Tuesday Night.

I THINK myself obliged to thank you, my dear Miss Howe, for your condescension, in taking notice of a creature who has occasioned you so much scandal.

I am grieved on this account, as much, I verily think, as for the evil itself.

Tell me but yet I am afraid to know-what your mother said.

I long, and yet I dread, to be told, what the young ladies, my companions, now never more perhaps to be so, say of me.

They cannot, however, say worse of me than I will of myself. Self-accusation shall flow in every line of my narrative where I think I am justly censurable. If any thing can arise from the account I am going to give you, for extenuation of my fault (for that is all a person can hope for, who cannot excuse herself) I know I may expect it from your friendship, though not from the charity of any other: since by this time I doubt not every mouth is opened against me; and all that know Clarissa Harlowe condemn the fugitive daughter.

AFTER I had deposited my letter to you, written down to the last hour, as I may say, I returned to the ivy summer-house, first taking back my letter from the loose bricks; and there I endeavoured, as coolly as my situation would permit, to recollect and lay together several incidents that had passed between my aunt and me; and, comparing them with some of the contents of my cousin Dolly's letter, I began to hope, that I nceded not to be so very apprehen

sive as I have been of next Wednesday. And thus I argued with myself.

"Wednesday cannot possibly be the day they intend, although, to intimidate me, they may wish me to think it is: for the settlements are unsigned; nor have they been offered me to sign. I can choose whether I will or will not put my hand to them; hard as it will be to refuse if my father tender them to me-besides, did not my father and mother propose, if I made compulsion necessary, to go to my uncle's themselves, in order to be out of the way of my appeals? Whereas they intend to be present on Wednesday. And, however affecting to me the thought of meeting them and all my friends in full assembly is, perhaps it is the very thing I ought to wish for: since my brother and sister had such an opinion of my interest in them, that they got me excluded from their presence, as a measure which they thought previously necessary to carry on their designs.

"Nor have I reason to doubt, but that (as I had before argued with myself) I shall be able to bring over some of my relations to my party; and, being brought face to face with my brother, that I shall expose his malevolence, and of consequence weaken his power.

"Then supposing the very worst, challenging the minister as I shall challenge him, he will not presume to proceed; nor surely will Mr Solmes dare to accept my refusing and struggling hand. And finally, if nothing else will do, nor procure me delay, I can plead scruples of conscience, and even pretend prior obligation;" for, my dear, I have given Mr Lovelace room to hope (as you will see in one of my letters in your hands) that I will be no other man's while he is single, and gives me not wilful and premeditated cause of offence against him; and this in order to rein in his resentment on the declared animosity of my brother and uncles to him. “And as I shall appeal, or refer my scru