that by her own choice; for fhe thinks lightly of them, when she can be obliged by the company of my two fifters and Lord L.

But new scenes will arife, in an age fo ftudious as this, to gratify the eye and the ear. From these a young woman of fortune must not be totally excluded. I am a young man; and as Emily is fo well grown for her years, I think I cannot fo properly he her introducer to them, as I might, were I fifteen or twenty years older.

I live to my own heart; and I know (I think I do). that it is not a bad one: But as I cannot intend anything with regard to my Emily, I muft, for her fake, be more obfervant of the world's opinion, than I hope I need to be for my own. You have taught me, that it is not good manners to defpife the world's opinion, tho' we fhould regard it only in the second place.

Emily has too large a fortune. I have an high opinion of her difcretion. But he is but a girl. Womens eyes are wanderers: And too often bring home guests that are very troublesome to them, and whom, once introduced, they cannot get out of the house.

I wifh fhe had only ten thousand pounds. She would then ftand a better chance for happiness, than she can do, I doubt, with five times ten; and would have five perfons, to one that she has now, to choose out of: For how few are there who can make propofals to the father or guardian of a girl who has 50,000 Z?

Indeed there are not wanting in our fex forward fpirits, who will think that fum not too much for their merits, tho' they may not deferve 5000l. nor even one. And hence arifes the danger of a woman of great fortune from those who will not dare to make propofals to a guardian. After an introduction (and how easy is that now made, at public places!) a woman of the greatest fortune is but a woman, and is to be attacked, and prevailed upon, by the fame me

thods

thods which fucceed with a perfon of the flendereft; and perhaps is won with equal, if not with greater eafe; fince, if the lady has a little romance in her head, and her Lover a great deal of art and flattery, she will call that romantic turn generofity, and, thinking the can lay the man who has obtained her attention, under obligation, fhe will meet him her full halfway.

Emily is defirous to be conftantly with us. My fifter is very obliging. I know the will comply with whatever I fhall requeft of her, in relation to Emily. But where the reputation of a lady is concerned, a man fhould not depend too much upon his own character, especially a young man, be it ever fo unexceptionable. Her mother has already given out foolish hints. She demands her daughter. The unhappy woman has no regard to truth. Her own character loft, and fo defervedly, will fhe have any tenderness for that of Emily? Who will fcruple to believe, what a mother, tho' ever fo wicked, will report of her daughter under twenty, and her guardian under thirty, if they live conftantly together? Her guardian, at the fame time, carrying his heart in his countenance, and loving the girl; though with as much innocence as if he were his fifter. Once I had thoughts of craving the affiftance of the Court of Chancery for the protection of her perfon and fortune: But an hint of this nature diftreffed her for many days, unknown to Had I been acquainted that she took it fo heavily, I would not have made her unhappy for one day..

me.

I have looked out among the quality for a future hufband for her: But, where can I find one with whom I think he will be happy? There are many who would be glad of her fortune. As I faid, her fortune is too large. It is enough to render every man's addrefs to her fufpected; and to make a guardian ap prehenfive, that her perfon, agreeable as it is, and every day improving, and her mind opening to advantage

vantage every hour of her life, would be but the second, if the second, view of a man profeffing to love her. And were fhe to marry, what a damp would the flights of an husband give to the genius of a young lady, whose native modefty would always make her want encouragement!

I have also caft an eye over the gentry within my knowlege: But have not met with one whom I could wifh to be the husband of my Emily. So tender, fo gentle, fo ductile, as fhe is, a fierce, a rafh, an indelicate, even a careless or indifferent man, would either harden her heart, or fhorten her life: And as the latter would be much more easy to be effected than the former, what muft fhe fuffer before she could return indifference for difrefpect; and reach the quiet end of it!

See what a man Sir Walter Watkyns is! My fifter only could deal with fuch an one. A fuperiority in her fo vifible, he must fear her: Yet a generofity fo great, and a dignity fo confpicuous, in her whole behaviour, as well as countenance, he muft love her Every-body's refpect to her, would oblige love and reverence from him. But my weak-hearted, diffident Emily, what would fhe do with fuch a man?

What would fhe do with a Sir Hargrave Pollexfen? What with fuch a man, as Mr. Greville, as Sir Hargrave defcribes him? I mention thefe men; for are not there many fuch?

I am not apt to run into grave declamations against the times: And yet, by what I have seen abroad, and now lately fince my arrival, at home, and have heard from men of greater obfervation, and who have lived longer in the world, than I have, I cannot but think, that Englishmen are not what they were. A wretched effeminacy feems to prevail among them. Marriage itself is every day more and more out of fashion; and even virtuous women give not the inftitution fo much of their countenance, as to difcourage by their con

tempt

tempt the free-livers. A good woman, as fuch, has therefore but few chances for happiness in marriage. Yet fhall I not endeavour, the more endeavour, to fave and serve my Emily?

I have one encouragement, fince my happy acquaintance with Mifs Byron, to think that the age is not entirely loft to a fenfe of virtue and goodness. See we not how every-body reveres her? Even a Sir Hargrave Pollexfen, a Greville, a Fenwick, men of free lives, adore her. And at the fame time fhe meets with the love of all good men, and the refpect of women, whether gay or ferious. But I am afraid, that the first attraction with men, is her beauty. I am afraid, that few fee in that admirable young lady what I fee in her: A mind great and noble: A fincerity beyond that of women: A goodnefs unaffected, and which fhews itself in action, and not merely in words, and outward appearance: A wit lively and inoffenfive: And an understanding solid and useful : All which render her a fit companion, either in the focial or contemplative hour: And yet fhe thinks herself not above the knowlege of those duties, the performance of which makes an effential of the female character.

But I am not giving a character of Mifs Byron to you, my good Dr. Bartlett, who admire her as much as I do.

Do you think it impoffible for me to procure for my Emily fuch a guardian and companion as Mifs Byron, on her return to Northamptonfhire, would make her?-Such worthy relations as fhe would introduce her to, would be a further happiness to my ward.

I am far from undervaluing my fifter's good qualities: But if Emily lives with her, fhe muft live alfo with me. Indeed the affairs in which I am engaged for other people (if I may call thofe who have a claim upon me for every inftance of my friendhip, other people) will occafion me to be often absent.

But

But ftill, while Grandifon-hall, and St. James's Square, are the vifible places of refidence equally of the guardian and ward, Emily's mother will tell the world, that we live together.

Mifs Jervois does not choose to return to Mrs. Lane; and indeed I don't think, fhe would be fafe there in a family of women, tho' very worthy ones, from the attempts of one of the fex, who, having brought her into the world, calls herfelf her mother; and especially now that the unhappy woman has begun to be troublesome there. I beg of you, therefore, my dear Dr. Bartlett, who know more of my heart and fituation than any one living (my dear Beauchamp excepted) to confider what I have written, and give me your opinion of that part of it, which relates to Mifs Byron and Emily.

I was infenfibly drawing myfelf in to enumerate the engagements, which at prefent prefs moft upon me. Let me add to the subject-I must soon go to Paris, in order finally to fettle fuch of the affairs of my late worthy friend, as cannot be fo well done by any other hand. The three thousand pounds, which. he has directed to be disposed of to charitable ufes, in France as well as in England, at the difcretion of his executor, is one of them.

Perhaps equity will allow me to add to this limited fum from what will remain in my hands after the establishment of the nephews and niece. As they are young, and brought up with the hope that they will make a figure in the world by their diligence, I would not, by any means, make them independent on that. The whole eftate, divided among them, would not be fufficient to answer that purpose happily, tho' it might be enough to abate the edge of their induftry.

The charity that I am moft intent upon promoting in France, and in England too, is, that of giving little fortunes to young maidens in marriage with honeft men of their own degree, who might, from fuch an outfetting,