Could two men be more oppofite than what Sir William appeared at Woodleyvale, and what he now is?-for too furely, that was appearance-this reality. Think of him then fitting in your library, reading by turns with my dear father fome inftructive and amufing author, while we liftened to their joint comments; what lively fallies we discovered in him; and how we all united in approving the natural flow of good spirits, chaftened as we thought with the principles of virtue! See him now-But my pen refuses to draw the pain-infpiring portrait. Alas! it would but be a copy of what I have so repeatedly traced in my frequent letters; a copy from which we fhould turn with difguft, bordering on contempt. This we should do, were the character unknown or indifferent to us. But how must that woman feel who fees in the picture the wellknown features of a man, whom he is bound by her vows to love, honour, and obey? Your tendernefs, my fister, will teach you to pity fo unhappy a wretch. I will not, however, tax that tenderness M 5 tenderness too much. I will not dwell on the melancholy theme. But I lofe fight of my purpose, in thus contrafting Sir William to himfelf; I meant to infer, from the total change which feems to have taken place in him, that other men may be the fame, could the fame opportunity of developing their characters prefent itself. Thus, though the Baron wears this femblance of an angel-yet it may be affumed. What will not men do to carry a favourite point? He saw the open and avowed principles of libertinifm in Lord Biddulph difgufted me from the firft. He, therefore, may conceal the fame invidious intention under the feducing form of every virtue. The fimile of the robber and the beggar, in the Sylph's first letter, occurs to my recollection. Yet, perhaps, I am injuring the Baron by my fufpicion. He may have had virtue enough to suppress those feelings in my favour, which my fituation fhould certainly deftroy in a virtuous breaft.-Nay, I believe, I may make myself wholly eafy on that head. He has, for fome time, paid great great attention to Mifs Finch, who, I find,. has totally broke with Colonel Montague. Certainly, if we should pay any deference to appearance, fhe will make a much better election by chufing Baron Ton-haufen, than the Colonel. She has lately-Mifs Finch, I fhould fay-has lately spent more time with me than any other lady-for my two first companions I have taken an opportunity of civilly dropping. I took care to be from home whenever they called. by accident-and always to have some prior engagement when they propofed meeting by defign. Mifs Finch is by much the leaft repreThenfible character I have met with.-But, as Lady Besford once faid, one can form no opinion of what a woman is while fhe is fingle. She must keep within the rules sof decorum. The fingle ftate is not a ftate of freedom. Only the married ladies -have that privilege. But, as far as one can judge, there is no danger in the acquaintance of Mifs Finch. I own, I like her, for having refufed Colonel Montague; and yet, (Oh! human nature !) on M 6 looking looking over what I have written, I have expreffed myself difrefpectfully, on the fuppofition that fhe faw Ton-haufen with the fame eyes as a certain foolish creature that fhall be nameless. LETTER XXIV. Enclosed in the foregoing... To Lady STANLEY. HE fatisfaction of a benevolent heart THE will ever be its own recompence; but not its only reward, as you have fweetly affured me, by the advertisement that bleffed my eyes last night. I beheld, with pleasure, that my admonitions have not loft their intended effect. I should have been moft cruelly disappointed, and have given up my knowledge of the human heart as imperfect, had I found you incorrigible to my advice. But I have heretofore told you, I was thoroughly acquainted with the excellencies of your mind. Your renunciation of your favourite game, and cards cards in general, give every reason to justify my fentiments of you. I have formed the most exalted idea of you. And you alone can destroy the altar I have raised to your divinity. All the incenfe. I dare hope to receive from you, is a just and implicit obfervance of my dictates, while they are influenced by virtue, of which none but you can properly judge, fince to none but yourself they are addreffed. Doubts, I am convinced, may arise in your mind concerning this invifible agency. As far as is neceffary, I will fatisfy thofe doubts. But to be for ever con-cealed from your knowledge as to identity, your own good fenfe will fee too clearly the neceffity of, to need any illuftration from my pen. If I admired you before-how much has that admiration encreased from the chearful acquiefcence you have paid to my injunctions! Go on, then, my beloved charge! Purfue the road of virtue; and be affured, however rugged the path, and tedious the way, you will, one day, arrive at the goal, and find her " in her own form-how lovely!" I had almost faid, as lovely as yourself.> Perhaps, |