his by an old entail, and confequently out of his uncle's power to give from him, is so inconfiftent with the account which my, or rather his, friends gave me of it, that I can no way account for it. There have been fo many impofitions in regard to Mr. Lewis Harcourt's eftate detected, that I never repented any thing more, than that I was perfuaded to enter at firft into any treaty with Mr. George Harcourt. The first reprefentations to me were, that all Mr. Lewis Harcourt's eftate was entailed upon his nephew. In fome time after, I was informed there was a mortgage of twelve hundred pounds upon his eftate, which was a plain discovery that part of his eftate was in his own power; and I believe you are convinced that two hundred pounds a year of his eftate is fettled on his daughters. Now these are impofitions of fo grofs and fhocking a nature, that they are hardly to be paralleled. When Mr. Harcourt was introduced to me by Mrs. Bevan, Mrs. Lloyd of Danyralt, and Mr. Sandy (all three my nearest relations), they told me he had an estate of eight hundred pounds a year; that he had a place of feven hundred pounds a year, which, with a chance of money from his aunt, was such a fortune as I could not disapprove. The uncommon merit of the gentleman was their daily theme: their perpetual and importunate folicitations were the Arft motives that induced me to think of it. Convinced

Convinced by their reasoning that I might probably be happy in a change of my condition fo much to my advantage, I fubmitted, and preferred their judgement to my own inclination; and things went on accordingly, when, to my great furprize, I found them very much miftaken in regard to his fortune. These things of themselves are very good and fufficient reafons for breaking off with Mr. Harcourt: but the melancholy circumstance I have to add is, that, notwithstanding my endeavours, I find it is not in my power to have an affection for the gentleman, which a woman ought to have for the perfon fhe makes choice of for the companion of her life. I did all I could to make him fenfible of this when laft in the country. I have an averfion to the thoughts of it, which I can never overcome. It does not proceed from any want of merit in him; I think him very deferving; but we cannot command our affections; and I flatter myself that you, who are my friend, cannot find fault with me; for, if the regard is not mutual in marriage, the confequence must be miferable. I heartily with coufin Harcourt all the happiness the ftate can afford in a better choice. I am apprehenfive that my friends at Carmarthen, efpecially Mrs. Bevan and Mr. Sandy, will be irreconcileable on this occafion. It is very much my inclination to live with my relations, for nobody can have a greater tender

nefs for them than I have, and I propose great fatisfaction in continuing with them; but, if they will not receive me, I must be content: I hope I am not so destitute of friends as to defpair of a reception elsewhere.

LETTER CCCLXIX. To Mifs STEELE. This.

I

Tuesday Morn.

HOPE dear Mifs Steele has enjoyed as good reft as I have wifhed her, for I have been awake the whole night in very thought for her repose and happiness. Yesterday's fun was the moft tedious that ever fhone; and I can fcarce live another under the affliction you bear*, unless you moderate it by the refined fenfe and reafon you are miftrefs of; which, by abundance of good-nature, I fear you make more useful to your friends than yourself: yet, for pity fake, let not Mrs. Bevan, whom I must ever value, want any comfort from your perfuafive, healing tongue. Pardon me, I would mention nothing but what I hope may concur with your fentiments. Do not, my charmer, by any means deftroy your health, which is far more valuable to me than my life. My heart

*This letter from Mr. Meyricke is undated; but probably was written in May, 1730, a fhort time after the death of Mrs, Mary Steele.

aches

aches for you and longs to tell you its fufferings. I want very much to fee you, and would, if poffible, more than fhare your grief. I could drink them tears which fhower down fo faft, the bitter affliction, of my foul; but let me forget that there ever was affliction, pain, or forrow, born into the world, and be for ever yours,

ESSEX MCK MEYRICKE.

LETTER CCCLXX. From Mifs STEELE *.

SIR,

AM surprized to find you perfist in giving yourfelf and me a trouble which I have fo often told you would be to no effect. As you are a gentleman of great merit, I wish you may be bleffed with the best and most agreeable of the fex; but, for my own part, I am unalterably determined never to think of marrying you. Therefore I hope juftice to yourself will prevail, when I make it my requeft, that you will from this moment defift from giving yourself, your friends, or me, any farther trouble on this occafion. I am, Sir.

*It does not appear to whom this undated letter was addreffed, but probably to Mr. Meyricke.

LETTER

LETTER CCCLXXI. To Mifs STEELE *.

DEAR MISS STEELE,

TH

HE general confirmation I meet with from all hands, that you have lately dismissed a gentleman efteemed the nearest your regard, perfuades me to declare a paffion which can reft no longer unrevealed, or, more properly, unrepeated. But the good fenfe and difcernment that diftinguishes you from the multitude of your fex, will excufe a reprefentation of the tragical tales of love though this cafe is generally required to be as methodically ftated to a fair lady, as a cafe of dangerous ill-health is to a phyfician. Without farther preamble, Madam, my defign is to affure you, that you are the lady that, from all the laws of love, I have pictured in my imagination most agreeable: and every thing that is to be faid upon this head is, "I LOVE YOU." But though you will object, that tell almost every lady the fame ftory; I grant [ do, those I like: fome have been fo good as to believe me, and foften the care and concern that the most unchriftian and unbelieving part of the fex hath created. But to none have I confeffed the attraction of my soul so far, that I would,

* This letter, which is undated, except that the year 1729-30 occurs in the middle of it, is in the hand-writing of the Hon. John (afterwards Lord) Trevor. He married Mifs Steele, May 31, 1731. See Letters CCCLXVII. and CCCLXXIV.

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