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And thus, my dear Lady G, have I obey ed your commands. I know you will not be satisfied with me. Had I been able to follow a subject that was made to my hand, I should have attempted the parting scene between my cousin and her grandmamma. Could I have borrowed your pen, I would have displayed the tender, yet magnanimous parent, not once, though tottering with age and infirmities, hinting that she might never again see the darling of her heart. She saddened not hope; but encouraged it. All she said, demonstrated love of her Harriet, divested of self, and a soul above the weaker passions; and well might she, since she has already, if I may so express myself, one foot among the stars, and can look down with pity, unmixed with envy, on all those, who, by their youth, are doomed to toil through the rugged road of life, in search of a happiness that is not to be met with in it; and, at the highest, can be compounded for, only by the blessing of a contented mind. With the same pen, before I had resigned it, would I have described the lovely grandchild embracing the knees of the indulgent parent, not satisfied with one, two, three blessings; and, less generously in the purport, though not in the intent, (judging from her own present happiness, that there is still something worth wishing for to be met with in this world,) praying to God to preserve the over-ripened fruit still on the withered tree: In which we all joined. But O how much less generously, as I hinted, because it was altogether for our own sakes !-But I know not whose pen I must have borrowed, to have done justice to Sir Charles Grandison's behaviour on this occasion! Excuse this serious conclusion, my dear Lady G. My cousin shall not see it. May she know nothing but felicity! In hers is bound up that of Sir Charles Grandison; and in his that of hundreds. I long, though we parted so lately, to throw myself at your feet, and to assure you, that whatever defects there are in my pen, there are none in the love borne you, by

Your ladyship's most sincere admirer,
And humble servant,

LUCY SELBY.

LETTER CCLXII.

LADY GRANDISON TO MRS SHIRLEY.

Thursday, Dec. 7. LUCY (my ever-honoured grandmamma) has given you the particulars of the rapturous reception I met with on Saturday, from my dear Lady L-, on the visit we made her in her chamber. She, as well as her lord, welcomed

VOL. VIII.

and congratulated us, and herself, with such a grace!-They are a charming pair!-We all rejoiced with her, on the addition she had made to two families so worthy.

Mrs Eleanor Grandison received us also in raptures.

How did the tenderly kind notice which Sir Charles took of the lovely little infant (it is a fine child) delight the happy mother and everybody! Lord and Lady G- met us at Lady L-'s; Emily, and the Earl of G——, and Lady Gertrude, with them. How affectionately did the dear girl welcome us, after a few tears, which she endeavoured to hide, and which we passed over as tears of joy! But Lucy has given you all particulars; and the noble manner also, in which Sir Charles gave me possession of his house, on our first arrival. Everybody was charmed with it. It cost my aunt some tears.

The christening was delayed till Monday, because Sir Charles was desirous it should be performed at church. He had some few difficulties to get over, before he carried his point; and this was the substance of his reasonings on the subject: People of fashion, he said, should consider themselves as examples to the lower orders of people. They should shew a conformity to the laws of their country, both ecclesiastical and civil, where they can do it with a good conscience. In the present case, baptism, said he, is one of our two sacraments; and shall it not be performed, when it can, as the church directs; the child in full health?

I will give you, my dear grandmamma, journal-wise, I think, an account of our proceedings; still referring myself to my Lucy for such particulars as now I shall not have time to give. For you know, madam, that my time is not now my own, as it used to be; though I shall think myself very ungrateful, and undutiful too, if I permit my new duties so wholly to engross me, as to furnish an excuse for the neglect of those which from my very birth I owe to you.

I think Lucy has not mentioned to you the lively conversation that passed in the evening, after the christening, between Sir Charles and Lady G; she choosing to single out her brother, (as she had threatened, unknown to him, to do,) in order to try once more her strength with him, in vivacity and raillery. She delighted everybody with her wit: For it was not so rapid and so unguarded as sometimes it is. He condescended, was Lucy's just observation, to return wit for her wit, in order to follow her lead, as he saw the company was delighted with their conversation; and was exceeding brilliant. She complimented herself on the merit of having drawn him out, though to her own disadvantage. Finding herself overmatched, she shifted her attacks, and made one

* This letter of Miss Selby does not appear.

2 x

upon me; but with so much decorum and complaisance, as shewed she intended to do me honour, rather than herself.

Tuesday Evening. Sir Charles is just returned from visiting Sir Harry Beauchamp. The poor man numbers his hours, and owned, that the three the best of men gave him, (though Sir Charles intended to be back in one,) were more happy ones than he had promised himself in this life. O madam! How easy sits my Sir Charles's piety upon him! He can pity a dying friend, without saddening his own heart; for he lives the life of duty as he goes along, and fears not the inevitable lot!

Wednesday. He is just returned from a visit to Sir Hargrave. Sir Hargrave, it seems, complimented him, but with tears in his eyes, on his marriage. Great God! said he, how are you rewarded! How am I punished! Is there not hope that I have all my punishment in this life? I am sure it is very, very heavy.

He visited the same day Mrs Oldham, and her children.

He drank tea this afternoon with the Danby family in full assembly, at the house of their elder brother; and came to my cousin Reeves's to supper. My uncle, aunt, Mr Deane, and Lucy, accompanied me thither to tea and supper, where, as by promise, we were joined by Lord and Lady G- Lord L, Mrs Eleanor Grandison, my Emily, and Mr Beauchamp. Mr Reeves had also invited Lady Betty Williams. What felicitation did she pour upon me! She sighed, poor lady! for the unhappy step her daughter had taken; and I sighed for the mother; who, though she had not given her daughter a bad example, had not set her a good one. Lucy will tell you what a charming evening we had.

On Thursday. Mr Grandison presented his new-married lady to Sir Charles and me, and dined with us. Sir Charles received the lady, as well as his cousin, with the utmost politeness. She is far from being a disagreeable woman: But, at first, the awe she had of the people of rank in company, particularly of Lady G

as she owned to me, gave her an air of awkwardness. But Sir Charles's polite notice of her soon made her easy.

Mr Grandison found an opportunity to praise to me her good sense and fine qualities; but in such a way, as if he were making apologies for having given the honour of his name to a woman under his own rank, (ungrateful!) who yet had re-established him: He concluded his panegyric with letting me know, that she had already presented him with twenty-five thousand pounds. He looked as if he thought he deserved it all; and actually called her a very discerning woman. I questioned not, I told him, his gratitude to a lady so deserving; and he as good as promised to reward her by his love; whispering, with an air of self-sufficiency, sticking his

hand in his side, and surveying himself to the right and left, Her former husband, madam, was a very plain, but an honest man. But I do assure you she has taste!-O dear! O dear! thought I to myself.

Sir Charles invited them both to GrandisonHall, and she seemed not a little proud on his calling her, as he did several times, Cousin.

Lord L

and Lord and Lady G—— dined with us, as did Mrs Eleanor Grandison and Emily. Lady G, in the main, behaved prettily enough, to Mr Grandison and his bride. But once a little forgetting herself, and putting on a supercilious air, I whispered her, Dear Lady G- consider you can give pride to others by your condescension: You must not yourself condescend to be proud.

Be you, my Harriet, rewhispered she, always my monitress. It is the sorry fellow, not his wife, that I look down upon. She, a widow cit, might have done still worse.

Cit! Lady G, and in a trading kingdom?

Ay, cit, child! Have you not heard my brother say, that, even in the republic of Venice, there are young nobility and old nobility? Distinctions in blood everywhere but at Amsterdam!

Who, and what, at first, made the distinction, my dear? asked I.

Be quiet, Harriet, I think I am very goodAnd at the height of your goodness, Charlotte?

Be quiet, when I bid you; aloud.

Sir Charles, a little jealous of our whispering, for the sake of his cousins, turning to Mr Grandison, Your cousin Charlotte, you know, sir, is always hard pressed, when she calls out, Be quiet.

I was always rejoiced, replied he, when my cousin was brought to that.

Sir Charles has been twice at the drawingroom, since we have been in town. He admired the integrity of heart of his sovereign, as much as he reveres his royal dignity. Once, I remember, he wished that his majesty would take a summer progress through his British, another, into his Irish, dominions; because the more he was personally known, the more he would be beloved: But expressly with this proviso, That every gentleman and woman of condition should be welcome at his court, who came not in new dresses to pay their duty to him; and this, lest the gentry's vying with each other in appearance, should hurt their private circumstances; and, for the same reason, that he would graciously treat, but not be treated by, any of the nobility at their houses.

To-morrow morning, Sir Charles, his grateful Harriet, happy creature! my uncle and Aunt Selby, Mr Deane, and Emily, are to set out by the way of Windsor for Grandison-Hall. We are to take an early dinner there with Lord

and Lady W—, who, on that condition, have promised to attend their beloved nephew and his friends to the Hall.

Lord G

is allowed to stay a week with us, and no more. He is then to attend his now but half-saucy lady, at one of the Earl of G's seats in Hertfordshire; where, by promise of long standing, she is to keep her Christmas: at which she mutters not a little; because she would fain have been with us; and because she imagines it will be proper for her to confine herself at home, by the time they will part with her.

My Aunt Selby, and even my uncle, will write. He must, he says, vent the overflowings of his joy.

passes

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Lucy loves to describe houses, furniture, gardens. She says, she will sometimes give conversations too, at which I shall not be present; but will leave to my pen persons, characters, and what of the more tender sort of conversations where I am by. But as well Lucy's letters, as mine, are to be sent to Lady G sealed; and she, after shewing them to her sister, will hasten them to Northamptonshire. Referring, therefore, to Lucy, for more particular accounts, I subscribe myself, with all duty and grateful love to my grandmamma, as well as with kindest remembrances to all my dear friends,

Your happy, thrice happy,

HARRIET GRANDISON.

LETTER CCLXIII.

LADY GRANDISON TO MRS SHIRLEY.

Grandison-Hall, Saturday, 12 o'clock, Dec. 9. O My dearest, dearest grandmamma! Here I am! The declared mistress of this spacious house, and the happiest of human creatures! This is all at this instant I can write.

LORD and Lady W- honoured us, as, they had proposed, with their company; but detained us so long, that we were obliged to lie one night on the road. But by eleven this morning we arrived here.

At our alighting, Sir Charles, (after paying his compliments in a most respectful manner to Lady W,) clasping me in his arms, I congratulate you, my dearest life, said he, on your entrance into your own house. The last Lady Grandison, and the present, might challenge the whole British nation to produce their equals. Then turning to every one of his guests, those of my family first, as they were strangers to the place, he said the kindest, the politest things, that ever proceeded from the mouth of man. wept for joy. I would have spoken, but could not. Everybody congratulated the happy Har

riet.

I

Dr Bartlett was approaching to welcome us; but drew back till our mutual congratulations were over. He then appeared. I present to you, my dear Dr Bartlett, said the best of men, the lovely friend, whom you have so long wished to see mistress of this house. He then presented me to the Doctor.

God bless you, madam! tears in his eyes.God bless you both! Then kissed my offered cheek. He could say no more: I could not speak distinctly.

Sir Charles led me, followed by all our rejoicing friends, through a noble dining-room to the drawing-room, called, The Lady's: The whole house, my dear, said he, and every person and thing belonging to it, is yours: But this apartment is more particularly so. Let what is amiss in it, be altered as you would have it.

O sir! grasping his presenting hand, between both mine, was all I could say.

This room is elegantly furnished. It is hung with a light green velvet, delicately ornamented; the chairs of the same; the frames of them gilt; as is the frame of a noble cabinet in it.— My mother's, my dearest life, whispered he. It will be always fashionable: And you, I know, will value it on her account.-Indeed I shall.— He presented me with the keys. Here perhaps you will deposit your letters and correspondences; some of which (the continuation of those I have had the honour to see) you will allow me to peruse. But of choice remember, madam. For your whole heart must be in the grant of the favours you will confer upon me of this kind.

Dear sir, said I, leave me power of speech; my will shall be yours in everything. But you will find a strange, strange heart, laid open to you, if you command from me a sight of the papers, that probably will be reposited here, when all my matters are brought from Northamptonshire.

You shall have all the letters you ever wrote to me, and the venerable circle, said Lucy; a loan, not a gift; if you will shew them to Sir Charles.

Courage, Lucy, not inclination, will be only wanting.

Thank you, Lucy, said he. Thank you, my love, to me. You must make marks against the passages in the letters you shall have the goodness to communicate, which you would not have me read. I will give you my honour that I will not pass the bounds you prescribe.

I will snatch another opportunity to proceed. -My dear Sir Charles indulges me. I have told him, that if he now and then misses me, he must conclude that I am doubling my joy, by communicating it, as I have opportunity, to my dear grandmamma.

EVERYBODY admires the elegance of this drawing-room. The finest japan china that I

ever saw, except that of Lady G's, which she so whimsically received at the hands of her lord, took particularly every female eye.

Sir Charles led me into a closet adjoining Your oratory, your library, my love, when you shall have furnished it, as you desired you might, by your chosen collection from Northamptonshire.

It is a sweet little apartment: elegant bookcases, unfurnished. Every other ornament complete. How had he been at work to oblige me, by Dr Bartlett's good offices, while my heart, perhaps, was torn, part of the time, with uncertainty!

The housekeeper, a middle-aged woman, who is noted, as you have heard her master say, for prudence, integrity, and obligingness, a gentlewoman born, appearing: Sir Charles presented her to me. Receive, my love, a faithful, a discreet gentlewoman, who will think herself honoured with your commands. Mrs Curzon, (to her,) you will be happy in a mistress who is equally beloved and reverenced by all who have the honour of her countenance, if she approve of your services, and if you choose to continue with us.

I took her hand: I hope, Mrs Curzon, there is no doubt but you will. You may depend upon everything that is in my power to make you happy.

She looked pleased; but answered only with a respectful curtsey.

Sir Charles led the gentlemen out to shew them his study. We just looked into a fine suite of rooms on the same floor, and joined there.

We found my uncle and Mr Deane admiring the disposition of everything, as well as the furniture. The glass-cases are neat, and, as Dr Bartlett told us, stored with well-chosen books in all sciences. Mr Deane praised the globes, the orrery, and the instruments of all sorts, for geographical, astronomical, and other scientifical observations. It is ornamented with pictures, some, as Dr Bartlett told us, of the best masters of the Italian and Flemish schools; statues, bustoes, bronzes: And there also, placed in a distinguished manner, were the two rich cabinets of medals, gems, and other curiosities, presented to him by Lady Olivia. He mentioned what they contained, and by whom presented; and said, he would shew us at leisure the contents. They are not mine, added he. I only give them a place till the generous owner shall make some worthy man happy. His they must be. It would be a kind of robbery to take them from a family, that, for near a century past, have been collecting them.

LUCY says, she will be very particular in her letters. This will take up time; especially as Lady G and Lady Lmust see them in

their way to Northamptonshire; though they will not detain them. I shall have an opportunity to send this to London on Monday. This makes me intent to snatch every opportunity of writing. It will otherwise be too long before you will hear of us by my hand.

I do not intend to invade this slow girl's province; yet I will give you a slight sketch of the house and apartments as I go along.

The situation is delightful. The house is very spacious. It is built in the form of an H; both fronts pretty much alike. The hall, the dining parlour, two drawing-rooms, one adjoining to the study, the other to the dining parlour, (which with the study, mentioned already, and other rooms, that I shall leave to Lucy to describe, make the ground floor,) are handsome, and furnished in an elegant, but not sumptuous taste; the hangings of some of them beautiful paper only. There is adjoining to the study, a room called The Music-parlour, so called in Sir Thomas's time, and furnished with several fine musical instruments. Sir Thomas was as great an admirer of music as his son ; and a performer.

It is no news to you, madam, that Sir Charles shews a great regard to every thing, place, and disposition, that was his father's; and not absolutely inconvenient, and inconsistent with the alterations he has thought necessary to make: and which Dr Bartlett praises highly, and promises to particularize to me. We are to be shewn this music-parlour by and by.

The dining-room is noble and well proportioned: It goes over the hall, large as that is, and dining-parlour. It is hung with crimson damask, adorned with valuable pictures.

Two fine ones, drawn by Sir Godfrey, one of Sir Thomas, the other of Lady Grandison, whose lengths particularly took my eye (with what reverence, that of my lady!) Lady L——, Lady G, as girls, and Sir Charles as a boy of about ten years of age, made three other fine whole lengths. I must contemplate them when I have more leisure. The furniture is rich, but less ornamented than that of the lady's drawing-room.

The best bed-chamber adjoining is hung with fine tapestry. The bed is of crimson velvet, lined with white silk; chairs and curtains of the same.

There is a fine suite of rooms on the first floor, which we just stept into, mostly furnished with damask.

Mrs Curzon tells us that, on occasion, they make fifteen beds, within the house, in which the best lord in the land need not disdain to repose. You remember, madam, that Sir Charles, in his invitation to the Italian family, tells them, he has room to receive them. The offices, it seems, are exceedingly convenient.

The gardens and lawn seem from the windows of this spacious house to be as boundless

as the mind of the owner, and as free and open as his countenance."

My uncle once took my aunt out from the company, in a kind of hurry. I saw his eyes glisten, and was curious, on her return, to know the occasion. This was his speech to her, unable to check his emotion; What a man is this, Dame Selby! We were surely wanting in respect to him when he was among us. To send such a one to an inn !-Fie upon us!-Lord be good unto me, how are things come about!Who would have thought it?-Sometimes I wonder the girl is not proud as Lucifer; at other times, that she is able to look him in the face!

To this convenient house belongs an elegant little chapel, neatly decorated. But Sir Charles, when down, generally goes to the parish-church, of which he is patron.

The gallery I have not yet seen-Dr Bartlett tells me, it is adorned with a long line of ances

tors.

AFTER dinner, which was sumptuous and well-ordered, Sir Charles led me into the musicparlour. O madam, you shall hear what honour was done me there!-I will lead to it.

Several of the neighbouring gentlemen, he told us, are performers; and he hopes to en

gage them as opportunity shall offer. My dear Dr Bartlett, said he, your soul is harmony: I doubt not but all these are in order-May I ask you, my Harriet? pointing to the harpsi chord. I instantly sat down to it. It is a fine instrument. Lord G- took up a violin ; my uncle, a bass-viol; Mr Deane, a German flute; and we had a little concert of about half an hour.

Here is a noble organ: When the little concert was over, he was so good himself, on my aunt's referring to him with asking eyes, to shew us it was in tune.

We all seated ourselves round him, on his preparing to oblige us; and he, with a voice admirably suited to the instrument, (but the words, if I may be allowed to say so, still more admirably to the occasion,) at once delighted and surprised us all, by the following lines:

I.

Accept, great source of every bliss,
The fulness of my heart,
Pour'd out in tuneful ecstasies,
By this celestial art.

II.

My soul, with gratitude profound,
Receive a form so bright!
And yet I boast a bliss beyond
This angel to the sight.

Miss Lucy Selby thus describes the situation of the house, and the park, gardens, orchard, &c. in one of her letters, which does not appear :

This large and convenient house is situated in a spacious park; which has several fine avenues leading to it.

On the north side of the park flows a winding stream, that may well be called a river, abounding with trout and other fish; the current quickened by a noble cascade, which tumbles down its foaming waters from a rock, which is continued to some extent, in a ledge of rock-work, rudely disposed.

The park is remarkable from its prospects, lawns, and rich appearing clumps of trees of large growth; which must therefore have been planted by the ancestors of the excellent owner; who, contenting himself to open and enlarge many fine prospects, delights to preserve, as much as possible, the plantations of his ancestors; and particularly thinks it a kind of impiety to fell a tree that was planted by his father.

On the south side of the river, on a natural and easy ascent, is a neat but plain villa, in the rustic taste, erected by Sir Thomas; the flat roof of which presents a noble prospect. This villa contains convenient lodging-rooms; and one large room, in which he used sometimes to entertain his friends.

The gardener's house is a pretty little building. The man is a sober diligent man; he is in years: has a housewifely good creature of a wife. Content appears in the countenances of both: How happy must they

be!

The gardens, vineyards, &c. are beautifully laid out. The orangery is flourishing; everything indeed is, that belongs to Sir Charles Grandison; alcoves, little temples, seats, are erected at different points of view; the orchards, lawns, and grass-walks, have sheep for gardeners; and the whole being bounded only by sunk fences, the eye is carried to views that have no bounds.

The orchard which takes up near three acres of ground, is planted in a peculiar taste. A neat stone bridge, in the centre of it, is thrown over the river: it is planted in a natural slope; the higher fruit-trees, as pears, in a semicircular row, first; apples, at farther distances next; cherries, plums, standard apricots, &c.; all which in the season of blossoming, one row gradually lower than another, must make a charming variety of blooming sweets to the eye from the top of the rustic villa, which commands the whole.

The outside of this orchard, next the north, is planted with three rows of trees, at proper distances from each other; one of pines, one of cedars, one of Scotch firs, in the like semicircular order; which, at the same time that they afford a perpetual verdure to the eye, and shady walks in the summer, defend the orchard from the cold and blighting winds.

This plantation was made by direction of Sir Thomas, in his days of fancy. We have heard that he had a Foetical, and consequently a fanciful taste.

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