licity in refinement, the ambitious in fplendor, and the humble in content ment :-but, as the former are not always attainable, thofe who aim alone at the latter bid faireft for fuccefs. I am at prefent wholly unacquainted with this mother, yet I will not feruple to affirm, as my opinion, that her worft errors have no wore fource than a wrong education. Thofe, who confider the frippery of drefs and the parade of equipage as effentials, will facrifice every other confideration to ambition's fhrine: nor, indeed, according to the weight externals every where bear, is it an easy matter to preferve ourselves in fome fmall degree from the contagion. Could you, my fweet Caroline, on an honeft retrospect, entirely acquit yourself?— Was there never a period, when that little bofom felt unbidden contempt for the home-spun gown, and an involuntary prepoffeffion for the gay embroidery?

You might, madam, faid Miss Briftow, have made both your question and conclufion general; for notwithftanding the advantages I have enjoyed of precept and example, I have frequently been acquainted with the narrow operation you defcribe. How fay you, Mifs Middleton, added the in a lively accent, will you not ingenuously acknowledge the frailties rather of your youth than your nature?

Mifs Middleton blushed, at once from confcious frailty and refentment. We have all fomething, madam, returned the with constrained civility, to correct; nor is the want of good nature the least unhappy deficiency in the female compofition.

Can it be neceffary at this period, demanded Lady Bristow, for me to obferve, that the Benevolent Society know nothing of exceptions? To feel, must be to reform. Do not then, Mifs Middleton, pervert the moft defirable of poffeffions, honeft fenfibility. The unfortunate Miranda, whom for the future we shall diftinguish by the name of Mrs. Brereton, begged fhe might be allowed to give one inftance of benevolence the removing fo amiable a creature's difficulties. Since the dreadful lofs of my hufband, you well know, my dear ladies, faid the, my fortune has been greatly

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in arrears. I have no relations to claim my confideration. My little boy was taken from me, as a part of my punishment for the wretchedness I brought on his unfortunate father. Yet that heaven that gave, and deprived me of my bleffings, well knows the innocence of my intention. I want an opportunity of joy to my heart, by becoming the inftrument of joy to the deferving. On this occafion indeed I fhall have little to boast; for notwithstanding my happy and unexpected establishment in this fociety, I feel the neceffity of a worthy companion, to enable me to support thofe hours, which even the Benevolent Society can neither footh nor foften: in a word, ladies, it is a generous fympathifing mind, which in the season of retirement would listen to, and participate the fad and frequent repetition of, my mifery and anguish, that can alone contribute to my peace. Should Lavinia's difpofition prove what her language and conduct befpeak it, the accomplishments the fo modeftly confeffes herself mistress of, fhall not be unprofitably exercised, independance fhall be hers; a small annuity will free her from uncertainty and restraint, and her valuable attachment be my ample compenfation. Nay, farther, I mult intreat, and if I may judge of my friends impreffions by my own, I fhall not be reluctantly indulged, that however inconfift ent her reception as a member may be with the late refolutions of the fociety, yet I may be permitted to introduce her to the general acquain tance.

Mrs. Milnham fimiled-the smiles of humanity how inexpreffibly amiable! It is impoffible, faid fhe, to refufe a request urged by fuch worthy motives.-Do with both us and Lavinia, my dear Mrs. Brereton, what will beft conduce to your own happinefs, and there is no doubt but our approbation will be yours.

Mrs. Lloyd, with her ufual vivacity, now gave a turn to the converfation. Here are, faid fhe, my fiftermembers, a large collection of addreffes and complaints, from ladies on whofe fhoulders, by their own confeffion, the matrimonial yoke fits but very uneafy let us, if poffible, foften their burthens,

I am afraid, faid Mrs. Stanley, we fhall find that the most difficult of all our undertakings. To ftrike out the vanity, the felf-love, the meannefs, and the petulance, which gave rife to the diffenfions in that ftate, we muft totally fubdue the natures we have to deal with; and I believe none of us will pretend to be capable of forming

new creatures.

I would not be ferious on the occafion, faid Mrs. Lloyd, if I could poffibly avoid it. But is it not won. derful that Providence, for the wifeft and most hidden purposes, fhall bring to an early diffolution the happieft of unions, and permit mutual tormentors to dwell whole years together? If there is a gratification for fenfibility, it is the devoting all our wishes, our attentions, to one conftant point-the felicity of those we love.

The grand bafis of matrimonial grievances, returned Lady Briftow, with a view to difpel the growing melancholy of her friend, is the making an ill choice. If the principles, the capacity, the reputation, or the difpofition, were allowed to be the criterion, there would be fome profpect of peace; but the captivating charm has feldom an existence beyond our own fond imaginations, and the delufion confequently no fooner ceafes, than we conceive ourselves deceived, injured, and wretched.

I believe, madam, faid Mifs Brif tow, if that important change of condition was to be duly confidered, it would be rarely accomplished.The feeling mind meets every day with fufficient exercife from foreign causes, what then fhall we fay of the wisdom, or temerity, of thofe, who bare their bofoms to the keeneft fhafts of difappointment, apprehenfion, and anguifh? For in that fuperior kind of friendship, to mention nothing of the maternal exertions, whether we are happy, or miferable, in our choice, the pain is pretty equal. Mortification can wound deep, but the anxieties of tenderness are little inferior.

It is a misfortune, faid Mrs. Milnham, that fo little principle, generofity, or juftice, is to be found in mankind. For example, our unhappy Oxfordshire correfpondent, whatever was her weakness, or folly, both of 4

July

which the fo pathetically laments, it was a confidence in the honour of the man on whom the bestowed her perfon and fortune, which produced the former, and an incredulity founded on a partiality for him alone, that incited her to the latter. She had no idea that profeffion and practice could be fo widely different, or the remon ftrances of her relations in his disfavour had operated more powerfully than all his follicitations to accept him. But however he thought proper to diffemble in the first instance, when diffimulation became a virtue, he greatly defpifed it; when, by an affi duity calculated to effect, he had effected his purpose, the vanity of his nature, a cruel, an ungentlemanly vanity, urged him to triumph. If the lady's fortune was, as he politely declared, the only object of his withes, could he not have enjoyed it without wounding her by the acknowledgment?

And yet the weight of the evil, faid Mrs. Stanley, will be merely pro portioned to the manner of fuftaining it: whoever is either furprized or betrayed into a fnare, and instead of cafting about for the means of extricating themselves, or the means of rendering captivity tolerable, will, with our compaffion, incur at leaft our difapprobation. Custom and refignation can make all things fupportable, and if we can but pass through life irreproachably, we attain the highest felicity of humanity.

Upon my word, faid Mrs. Milnham fmiling, I do not know whether an unfortunate marriage, to the mind of vanity, is not an actual gratification; for can a woman ever have fo extenfive an opportunity of shining? To bear unmerited ill treatment with propriety, is the moft admirable of leffons, and yet if it is duly confidered, it is the only remedy; for fo far from ill-treatment juftifying a wife in any one vice, or even a breach of decorum, it merely ferves to exculpate the hufband from blame, and expofe the otherwife eftimable object to odium and contempt.

However just your obfervation, returned Lady Bristow, we frequently find many of our fifter females hurried into the groffelt extravagance, from the unhappiness of their fitua

tions,

tions, who appeared all the feft of their days to be incapable of deferting the path of prudence. To my certain knowledge, feveral have contracted habits of ebriety, and others, from a notion of retaliating, for which I want a name, forfeited every pretenfion to honour, reputation, and compaffion.

But of all the people under the fun, faid Mrs. Stanley, commend me to your ladies who make a merit of their virtue, and from only acting properly, expect the most unbounded approbation there is fomething fo indelicate, as well as defpicable, in thefe minds, that, to me, the most unhappy wanderer in the streets is more meritorious.

It therefore remains, faid Mrs. Milnham, to give our Oxfordshire friend this confolation—that in proportion to her fuffering, her confcious integrity will fupport her, and that when the confiders the variety of wretchedness to which the miferable, if guilty, are expofed, the will congratulate herself for being only unfortunate, and look forward to that period of general release, that will place her defervings in a moft glorious point of view.

The following letter was now ordered to be read, which terminated the meeting, and will be answered the enfuing month.

To the BENEVOLENT SOCIETY.
LADIES,

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and as his own income was to the last degree limited, his making, choice of her for a wife, could not be confidered as a prudent ftep; but she was exceedingly agreeable to him, and had a fpecioufnels about her, that bespoke her capable of giving happiness by her economy, indultry, and good humour, to any condition. On very trifling folicitation the condefcended to accept his offer, thared his little fortune, and gave for a time additional charms to all his enjoyment. In this period of contentment I was brought into existence: my father beheld me with transports truly paternal, but my mother, from felf attachment, and a gaiety of di pofition, which till then had never fhewn itfelf, removed me from her fight, to fecure herself from the cares and attentions of infancy. My father's eafinefs of temper would not fuffer him to contend any point, much less was he capable of contending with the woman he loved; therefore, notwithftanding he wished to retain me under his roof, he beheld me with a tear delivered up to the mercy of a nurse, and conveyed to a diftant parish.

The neighbourhood was greatly difgufted at the pride, or, as they called it, want of nature in the wife of their paftor, and did not long fcruple to make very free with her character:-the fquire and her were feen to walk together in fome remote fields; and constructions, the most baneful to her reputation and my

confolation there may be in ftore for misfortune, indifcretion, or mifery, guilt is wholly hut out from all participation of it. But however your difpleasure may be excited at receiving an addrefs from a guilty hand, do not refuse to read my itory, as you will there perhaps find fome fmail extenuation of it.

My father was a little country vicar, whofe good nature was ever betraying him into repentance. An unlucky accident brought him to the acquaintance of a young woman, who, tho' meanly born, had been well educated, and whofe perfon was extremely pleating. As he found her in a dependent fituation, he could not be deceived refpecting her circumstances; July, 1769.

From a mistaken notion of kindness their fufpicions reached the wretched husband's ear, who, though indolent in fecurity, was roufed to the moft defperate resentment.

My mother, ladies, the mother of your unhappy correfpondent, was no fooner charged with her impropriety, than the became fo dead to every fenfe of honour and difgrace, as to elope; leaving the man that doated on her, and the infant who had fo. many tender claims to her confideration, to all the horrors of distress, and the agonies of unmerited infamy. As for me, I was let to the management of an ignorant, though well meaning family; but my father, in order to fecure himself from reflecA a a

tions,