THE GOOD AUNT. CHARLES HOWARD was left an orphan when he was very young: his father had dissipated a large fortune, and lost his life in a duel, about some debt of honour, which had been contracted at the gaming table. Without fortune, and without friends, this poor boy would probably have lived and died in wretchedness, but for the humanity of his good aunt, Mrs. Francès Howard. This lady possessed a considerable fortune, which, in the opinion of some of her acquaintance, was her highest merit: others respected her, as the branch of an ancient family: some courted her acquaintance, because she was visited by the best company in town; and many were ambitious of being introduced to her, because they were sure of meeting at her house several of those distinguished literary characters, who throw a radiance upon all who can contrive to get within the circle of their glories. Some few, some very few of Mrs. Howard's acquaintance admired her |