1

elegant perfon. It is now perfectly formed, and more beautiful than imagination can conceive. I wifhed not to let her fee the transports her prefence inspired; yet, how conceal them ?-they, no doubt, were extremely visible; but in vain I looked for an agreeable flutter in her. Ah, James! no fuch flattering fymptom appeared; and yet fuch as my perfon is, it has caufed them occafionally in fome of her bewitching fex. None could I perceive. She arofe, and with an air of sweetest gentleness welcomed me to the country; enquired with tender folicitude for my mother and fifter. Her manner, the very tone of her voice, the engaging expreffion of her looks, all, all, James, confirmed the early conqueft fhe had made of my heart. I asked what progrefs he had made in the various ftudies I left her enigaged in; begged the would indulge me with one of thofe foftairs the had for often charmed me with. No reluctance, no affected excufes-fhe complied at once. James, the thrilling found of her voice ftill vibrates on my heart. Well may my fifter glory in her fcholar;fhe does credit to her abilities as a teacher; but nature may juftly claim the greatest fhare of applause; for that has done more for her than it ever did for any other of her fex. I left her, I need not add with reluctance; nor have I ventured a fecond vifit, though it is two tedious days fince I made my firft. Farewell. With me fuccefs.

Your's,

HENRY SELWYN.

JAMES CROFTS, Efq. to HENRY SELWYN, Efq.

I FOREESE, Harry, you will make but a bungling hand of this affair. You are too much in love to manage it as you ought. Why, man, I can fee by your moft lawyer-like epiftle you abfolutely ftand in awe of your divinity. That fentiment is utterly incompatible with your plan. You owe your wife fifter no thanks for the pains fhe has taken, I can tell you; for I prefume it is not the outward accomplishments the is miftrefs of, that have thus made a fighing fwain of "you; the gifts of nature alone, I fancy, would have been quite fufficient for your purpose; all thefe acquired ones will only ferve to make her fet a higher value on herself, and of courfe render your scheme more difficult. Had the been left, as the ought, to the tuition of her old mother, my life for it, they would both have fnap-. ped at your offer; but now, behold her a fine lady, in her own opinion at least, and I will warrant you, armed with virtue at all points. Do not, however, be difcouraged. In me you have a warm and knowing friend. Take my advice, and I will infure fuccefs. Mind what I faywhip her into a poft-chaife, without farther cere

I

mony, and drive to London. I will have a neat little lodging ready for her and your reception. This will be lofing no time. And what is better, give her an apology for doing what she may poffibly make fome filly fcruple to do voluntarily. Do not you fee the force of my argument? take it for granted fomething of this fort must happen before you are mafter of her. She has been too well tutored not to make a bustle, whatever inclinttion fhe may have to oblige you. To capitulate on any terms fhort of matrimony would for ever difgrace her, you know, with her friend, your Marplot of a fifter; but if you whip her off by furprize, why, how could the help it, you know? The fault will then lye wholly at your door, and the girl will be pitied, and probably taken into favour again by them, when you have done her; as the only reparation they (your family I mean) can make for the naughty trick the heir of it thought fit to play her. Had you the fpirit you ought to have for one of your in flammable conftitution, you would not even take time to thank me for my rational advice, but inftantly fly to put it in practice. You must be blind not to fee it is by far the wifest course you can take. Think of what has been faid; and if wife, profit by it.

Your's,

JAMES CROFTS.

LETTER VII.

ANSWER.

PR'YTHEE,
THEE, James, how many bottles of cla-

ret had you carried off when you compofed your
laft epiftle?-half a dozen, at the very lowest
calculation. It is but a word and a blow with
you. Not quite fo faft, if you pleafe. That
I fhall never know one moment's perfect happi-
nefs till fhe is mine, I confefs; but, could I
hope it would be perfect, were I to devour her in
the manner you advise?—devour her, I repeat;
for really you put me in mind of the giants we
have both read of in our boyifh days, who made
no more ado, when chance threw a fair damfel
in their way, than to pop her into his bag, and
away with her. This, to be fure, was making
quick work with it; but I am for a little parley-
ing firft. I have not fo bad an opinion either
of my perfon or eloquence, as to defpair of gain-
ing not only her perfon, but her heart; and let'
me tell you, the one without the other would
not wholly gratify my ambition. This, I know,
to a fellow of your ftamp, is Greek and He-
brew, or, perhaps, more unintelligible; for, to
do you justice, you are a pretty decent fcholar
for a man of the world.-None of your neat
little lodgings for me;-no, I hope yet to wan-
VOL. I.
C

der through flowery lawns, and fhady groves, my angelic Lucinda willingly leaning on the arm of her enraptured Harry. There is a picture for you, James !-Or feated on the bank of fome murmuring stream, fhe tunes my foul to love and harmony with her enchanting voice. There is another. Bravo! cries James, the fellow is run ftark ftaring mad, by all that is joyouswhat a devil of a wench it must be !—Are not thefe, or fomething to the fame purpose, your exclamations on reading this fpecimen of my talents for rural love-making? To be ferious, I do not like your plan; and as I believe I faid before, I begin to flatter myself I fhall not be compelled to use fuch heroic means to carry my point. I have daily almoft, on one pretence or other, feen my beloved. She is ever gentle and engaging. I talk to her of Sophia-of the pleasure they must enjoy from fo warm a frendfhip-commend my fifter for her difcernment. To the old mother I am attentive and civil; yet not too much fo. I fend them game occafionally, and fo forth.-I am perfuaded my Lucinda beholds me with a partiality, as the brother of her friend; and I will hope a little also, as the friend of her fair felf. My affiduities have nothing in them alarming; they must appear natural. Let me but gain her confidence and efteem, and the reft will follow of courfe. This is my plan, James. Should it fail, I can but follow your's as a laft refource: but till abfolutely neceffary, I will have nothing to do with it; and fo farewell.

HENRY SELWYN.