But ah! too soon the imperfect efforts cease, O'er trembling States to stretch his iron reign, NELSON Once more, (though, taught by him, we own, Lamented Hero! when to Britain's shore, Joy's bursting shout in whelining grief was drown'd, On every brow the cloud of sadness hung, Not joy thus doubtful, sadness thus sincere, Shall grace, erewhile, the Tyrant conqueror's bier ; 'Midst cheerless toils of solitary sway, Shall waste his withering frame with slow decay; Come when it will, from Heaven's all-righteous hand, To save, or to avenge, each injured land; Nations shall kneel to bless the welcome doom, And France, unfetter'd, trample on his tomb. But thee, loved Chief! what genuine griefs bemoan, Yet not the vows thy weeping Country pays; i Not these alone shall soothe thy sainted shade, Far-seen shall blaze the unextinguish'd ray, That conscious worth, from pride, from meanness free, The scorn of worldly wealth; the thirst of fame And sure, if e'er the spirits of the Blest Their human passions; thine are still the same ;- Her baffled foes in restless hate conspire From her fair brow th' unfading wreath to tear, Cease then the funeral strain !-lament no more, I sit down to complete the little story of my misfortunes. My mother had retired to the country, with a resolution to devote herself entirely to the education of her daughter. The improvement of her income afforded her the means of giving her those little accomplishments which are commonly thought to be a necessary part of female education. She considered, as her own life was precarious, and my sister might be left in a forlorn condition, in case of her death, that she ought to be qualified for the situation of a governess or companion; so that, if a favourable opportunity occurred, she might be placed in some respectable family, where she would be sheltered, if any thing happened to herself; the rapid decline of her health assuring her that these precautions were not to be delayed. Poor woman! she little thought she was thus laying a train of misery which was to involve the happiness of a beloved daughter, and her own fate. My sister became all she wished,-all that her fondest hopes had conceived. She had a natural gracefulness of manners, which gave an interest to all her actions. She made herself mistress of music, dancing, and drawing, with very little assistance from instruction; an excellent taste directing her judgment to those refinements of the arts which are beyond the lessons of the master... The loveliness of her countenance and figure bespoke virtue and simplicity; and the sensibility of her disposition beamed upon her features whenever she spoke. Such charms were not destined to remain concealed in a cottage. My mother, while she contemplated in silence the growing graces of her child with all the fondness of partiality, would often shudder involuntarily at the apprehension of those dangers to which beauty and innocence like her's might be exposed, when unveiled to the world, J At length a lady of fortune and connexion, who was anxious to prost vide a suitable instructor for her daughter, having received a most flat-xs tering account of my sister, desired to see her; and was so delighted at d the first interview, that she earnestly pressed my mother to part with t her, under the engagement of her constant protection and maternal a regard. She was a woman of great piety and benevolence; and to the 92 cautious inquiries of an anxious parent, every thing seemed to point out w her house as a most desirable asylum. The family lived entirely in the country, their old mansion house being situated in the most secludedon part of shire. The father of the family was equally distinguished to for his worth and talents, and was moreover a gentleman of very po-t lished education. My mother was prevailed on by all these advantages. to deprive herself of the only comfort of her solitude, in consideration of the future protection she hoped to secure to her daughter. Theat separation was most painful; but she was supported through it by that steady resolution which marked her character; while my poor sisters1 felt, in parting from her declining parent, that she was guilty of impiety in thus deserting her only friend, and nothing but her implicit obedience to her will could have reconciled her to the change. Her mind, occupied with the education of her pupil, and with the improvement of her leisure hours, soon, however, acquired, tranquillity. Constant intercourse by letter, and sometimes a short and happy meeting with my mother, gradually reconciled her to her situation, and consoled her for the severe privation. She had resided upwards of a twelvemonth in her new situation, when one morning intelligence arrived that one of the sons of the family, an officer in the navy, had been severely wounded in action; and while they were yet anxious for his safety, he was brought home to them, still suffering from the effects of his wound. This must be an incident of interest to any one. The meeting was affecting, and, without any very romantic disposition, it is not surprising that my sister, being a witness of the scene, should be uncommonly interested on the occasion. Lieutenant was a young man of excellent disposition, and though he had been denied those advantages which a regular education confers, he was sufficiently well informed to have a high relish for polite conversation. He told the story of his accident with that sailor-like unaffected modesty which is sure to captivate attention; and as he was necessarily confined to the house for some time, he had a large share of my sister's conversation, as the other branches of the family, being grown up, did not reside with them. 17 Two such persons could not long associate with this unreserved fami- W liarity, without great risk that friendship would soon assume a more tender name; and it is inconceivable that Lady should not per- (a ceive the danger, and provide against it in time. The young lieutenant had imbibed a strong disposition for religion, and was certainly more under the restraints of moral influence than many young men of his profession. But his passions were warm, and habits of indulgence had almost subdued his resolution. My poor sister, simple, artless, and affectionate, unacquainted with I the world, and unprepared for those solicitations to which she was daily exposed, knew not the precipice on which she stood. It was long even before she knew she loved him; she was still unwilling to believe that the peculiar delight she felt in his society was dictated by any other sentiments than pity and esteem; and unfortunately for her, the abd sence of Sir→→→→, who was a man of penetration, and well knew the I world, deprived her of a protector who would have saved her from ruin.52 The history of seduction is the same nearly everywhere. I needed not tell, that, blinded by passion on the one side, and deluded by vows of eternal fidelity on the other, they yielded to the temptation of one fatal hour, and my unhappy sister became the victim of her own cres? dulity! 115,5gbg inil The bond of virtue once broken, the transgression of a moment was the commencement of a long criminal intercourse, which completelyło eluded the observation of Lady. At length the young officer was^2 recalled to his station at sea, and left her abruptly, unloas yobsta -mi to you «To think on what was past, and sigh alone.it quiteq se „slot It was now that conscience, which had slept amidst the tumult of I passion, spoke aloud to the bosom of my unfortunate sister. She looked back with unutterable anguish on the path of innocence from which she had fatally wandered. She called to memory the pure principles which her mother had so anxiously instilled into her mind, and dreaded to meet her fond endearments, which would reproach her with far greater severity than her displeasure. The secret of her disgrace could not long be concealed; and such was her condition that she trembled at the discovery which awaited her. Anxiety and wretchedness stole the bloom from her cheek. Her health was disordered;-she became unequal all exertion, and was obliged to relinquish any attempts to instruct her, ar to pupil, finding it impossible to fix her attention on any thing but her offence, or to withdraw her interest from that person who was still dearer than ever to her guilty remembrance. farot The change in her countenance and spirits was observed by the whole family; and though the servants justly attributed it to attachment to their young master, Lady still remained insensible to the cause, and often expressed her wonder at the unaccountable alteration. A faithful attendant, who had much at heart the welfare of the family, and was sincerely attached to my wretched sister, had long suspected the worst; and being at last fully confirmed in her suspicions, broke the affair to her mistress, from an earnest desire to prevent such consequences as might ensue from delay. Lady heard her with astonishment and concern; but being convinced at length, determined instantly to communicate the cruel tidings to my mother, before she opened the subject to the poor victim herself. She received the intelligence with a shock which struck deeper on her heart than was apparent to her friend Lady She said very little; and after the first torrent of grief had subsided, earnestly desired that her daughter should be immediately brought back to her. Her Ladyship took my poor Fanny in the carriage, on the plea of an airing for her health; and it was not till they had arrived within a few miles airingle |