got amongst the stars and heavenly conftellations, the immensity of space, &c. &c. and in that immenfity we his poor hearers generally loft the thread of his difcourfe. Had he continued much longer amongst us, we might perhaps have picked up a fmattering of philofophy; but as to our progrefs in the knowledge of chriftianity, it would have been very fmall, I fear, fince it seemed to make no part of his learned fyftem.-The good man would not leave me till he had made me promife to spend a day or two next week with his worthy family. He faw my fpirits had not recovered their natural flow: nor was he furprized; well knowing the unfpeakable loss I had lately fuftained, and kindly fancied a change of fcene most likely to restore them. He made me play and fing his favourite fongs feveral times over, which I did with pleasure. He was fo good as to fay he thought I was much improved; indeed, I make it a point to give up every leifure moment to it, that my amiable friend may be convinced, when he returns, I have not neglected to obey her kind requcft. My mother is well, and grateful for the honour done her no lefs grateful Fany, in thus permitting me to chat with fo nuch freedom to one who fo kindly forgets her great fuperiority in every refpect, and allows me to fubfcribe myfelf her ever affectionate, and infinitely obliged, L. OSBURN. 1 LETTER V. HENRY SEL W Y N, Efq, to JAMES. HAD my father been as anxious for the fuccefs of my defigns on my long loved and. adorable Lucinda, as I am, he could not have hit upon any plan more likely to infure it than his prefent expedition to Portugal. While my family were here, the thing would have been barely in the lift of poffibilities; but now, James, I think I may rank it amongst the probables. You have formerly, I believe, had a tranfient glance at my little divinity. She was then, even then, though but fifteen, angelic. Judge of my transports, when, after an abfence of more than two years, I find her now at my return improved, not only in the graces of her perfon, but her mind alfo, beyond all power of language. No, James; even the language of her adorer can give you no idea of her charms. No fooner had I feen my poor mother fafely embarked, (for as the is the beft of mothers and perhaps worthy of a better fon, I left her not till I had conveyed her on board,) than I fet of for the Abby. My father and fifter accompany her. Moft truly I hope fhe will find benefit from this change of climate. These are -- my real fentiments. Ought I then to be called a bad fon?-certainly not: yet a fomething. tells me the scheme which at this moment wholly engroffes every faculty of my foul, is not in every refpect justifiable; that is to fay, according to her ideas of right and wrong, I am forry for it, James; but what is to be done? -To exift without her, would be no existence; -and however partial every branch of my fa mily are to her, were I to propofe making the dear girl mine, lawfully, as they call it, we fhould foon fee what would be the iffue. No, no, James; I know them too well for that ;could I bring myself to think of it, which I will freely own I have never yet made an effort to do, their pride would be up in arms in an inftant, and my fair one whisked away, Lord knows where, had they the leaft fufpicion such a project could enter their fon's head! What Sophia might fay to it, is another affair. She, it is certain, doats upon my angel carly as much as I do; and I believe, on my confcience, fhe would think me barely worthy to pof fefs fuch a treasure as her lovely pupil, as the always calls her, and very juftly, for it is certain she has taken unwearied pains to cultivate her understanding, and alfo to make her miftrefs of a thonfand accomplishments; which, entre nous, are not altogether confiftent with Lucinda's fituation in life: but the whim pleafed her--the object of her care was a promifing one-fhe found it a pleafing amusement while confined in the country most of her life, owing to my mother's conftant ill health. She foon discovered in my charmer a capacity far beyond her moft fanguine hopes; and, in fine, determined to make her the prodigy she has actually turned out. Few of her fex are more accomplifhed; but, as I was faying, I am by no means clear that it was quite fo prudent as might have been expected from Sophia's good fenfe aud knowledge of the world. Will it not naturally make her look with difguft on any Strephon of her own rank who may prefume to pay his addreffes to her? and in this retired corner of the world fhe has little chance of feeing any but fuch, myself excepted. I might, to be fure, treat her occafionally with a peep at fome of my companions, your worship for inftance; but I am too well aware of the confequences which would infallibly enfue; every foul of them would become my rivals, and I forefee trouble enough as it is, without that; fo you need expect no invitation this feafon. I fhall monopolize all the game hereabouts for one year at least, James.-And if with disguft, as I was faying, on one of her own rank, have I not reafon to flatter myself she will listen to my fuit with the more complacency; knowing, as fhe muft, it is the only probable chance fhe may ever again meet with of being raised to one more fuited to her acquired taste ?--No doubt of it. True; honour, virtue, and religion, I well know, have been fet before her in the most ftriking point of view; thefe are confiderable bars to my wishes, but not I trust unfurmountable. The brother of her friend, too! will it be poffible for her to fee his diftrefs without an eye of pity?-Forbid it gratitude!-How can The by a more agreeable means repay the obligations fhe has received from my family, than by making the fon of it happy? The means of doing it are certainly in her power, and in her power only-would the not then be an ungrateful little gypsey were fhe to refufe it? To prevent all fufpicion of premeditated plots, I spent two whole days here before I ventured to the cottage of my char-for fo the chufes to call it, and fuch, in fact, it was, till ornamented by her fair hands. She has made it a little paradise of sweets, herself the faireft flower. Her mother rents it of my father, and has done for many years; that is, almost from the time of my fair one's birth, I believe. I am not very clear about it, but I know I was then a mere boy, and little dreamt, I prefume, the good women had brought with her fuch a treafure-the chief treasure she poffeffes, I believe ;-for by what I can learn their income is exceedingly fmall. Whether it is a trifling annuity for one of their lives, or for both, I know not, or from whence their fubfiftence arifes; but no matter, it fhall be my business to take care of the future, if my lovely girl will condefcend to permit me. With my gun and dogs I at length, my heart throbbing with ten thousand painfully pleasing emotions, ftrolled to her rural habitation. I found her fitting at work in an arbour covered with woodbines and jeffamine. She faw me not till I was on the point of entering. It is impoffible to defcribe my feelings, or aftonishment, when I faw the change two years had made in her |