pamphlet which he showed his son's tutor, of whose talents he had a very high opinion, and requested him to furnish an answer. The latter did not, as he should have done, at once decline it, but promised to ‘consider of it.' He read the pamphlet carefully, observed that there were many weak points in the argument, and triumphed in the mental strength which would enable him to make even truth ridiculous; yet he had at first virtue enough left to blush in secret at the thought of such an attempt. Still he continued to entertain it, dwelt on its advantages, and endeavoured to silence conscience with the plea that, as political pamphlets, especially on electioneering occasions, were ephemeral as the day, it was of little consequence if he espoused a false opinion. He now felt, too, the evil of his past duplicity; for, as Lord G. was unacquainted with his real opinions, what plausible excuse could he frame for refusing his patron this service? He had already taken too many steps in the path of dishonour to retreat with credit, and he finally resolved to pursue the fatal course; hoping that, as he should write anonymously, his dereliction of principle would never be known to his former friends. But the ability of the production drew upon it much attention, and led to a discovery of the author. Lord G. became acquainted with the previously avowed sentiments of the tutor, and, being himself an honest, though mistaken politician, would not confide his son's education to a man without principle; and soon found a plea for dismissing him, though he did not assign the true cause. He, too, was afraid to be Maga It honest to a man who could satirize without mercy; though a reproof from such a quarter might have saved poor Duncan for society and for himself. Not succeeding in obtaining a tutorship equal to his wishes, he resolved to devote himself to literature, and at the request of a friend wrote frequently for the zine, a popular periodical then recently started. The sole object of the publisher was to furnish a piquant work which might by any means sell; and for this purpose, knowledge, wit, and humour, were desecrated to suit a depraved taste, and embodied in a sort of literary slang, in which it was sufficient to be outre and amusing at the expense of good sense, nature, and religion. was by slow and painful degrees that Duncan brought himself so to dispense with the restraints of education and conscience, as to become a thoroughly accomplished writer in the Magazine; but, having reached this bad pre-eminence, interest and fame, as well as that bitterness of spirit which hates the virtue it has lost, gave to his wit a malignant force, and pointed his satire with a scorpion sting. He became editor, and conducted it for several years with great success; but at length its supporters lessened: the progress of religion was beginning to exert its hallowed influence upon the public taste: a competitor appeared, and the depository of slander against the squeamish morality and ineffable absurdities of the evangelicals,' was thrown out by a purer taste, which had been gradually diffusing. This, and subsequent disappointments, operating on irascible and embittered feelings, destroyed Duncan's health, and sent him to a premature grave—his death-bed being, as I was told by a friend who then visited him, one of the most dark and hopeless he had ever beheld." "I remember," said Mrs. C., "that dear Mr. Cecil often remonstrated with one of our acquaintances, who took up that magazine, on the impropriety of encouraging such a work; for he thought it extremely inconsistent in professors of religion to support a periodical, however clever and even innocent some of the articles might be, in which the essential principles of religion and morality were systematically attacked." "I am entirely of the same opinion; to sanction and support such works is to strengthen the hands of those who are the assassins of public morals and happiness." CHAPTER XXII. KINDRED MINDS.-INTOLERANCE OF TASTE. 66 "DID you ever," said Eliza to her aunt, as they were returning one evening from a visit to a neighbouring family, see so well matched a pair as Mr. and Mrs. Curran ? They reminded me of Mrs. Hemans' beautiful lines, Like kindred flowers of one sweet shade, All their thoughts, feelings, and tastes seemed to be one. I hope they will stay some time with our friends at the Park, that we may become better acquainted with them." "You will desire this still more, I know, when I tell you Mrs. Curran's history, which her friend Mrs. Roberts gave me, as I was noticing to her in the garden this remarkable congeniality in her visitors. If any body,' she said, deserves to be happy in marriage, it is my friend Emily, for she showed a prudence and disinterestedness in the rejection of two former lovers, not a little uncommon. She was early left an orphan, without property, and was adopted by an uncle It and aunt, who, though very kind to her, were persons of little mind and coarse manners. After she became pious, too, they very much disliked her religion; and there was much in her situation to render her anxious for a new home. A gentleman made proposals to her soon after, whom many of her friends pressed her to accept, as he was pious and amiable, and would be able, from his wealth, to place her in a sphere of extensive influence, which they knew her active Christian benevolence would employ to the best advantage. was an attractive prospect, and she was tempted to try to reason herself into love; but she soon felt she could not give him that decided preference and affection which every man has a right to expect when he is accepted; and she thought it was inconsistent with rational self-love, as well as with charity, to give him her hand, as a mere matter of present advantage to herself, at so imminent a risk of sacrificing the future happiness of both: she therefore declined the proposal. About a year after, she was visiting a distant relative in and was there introduced to a gentleman who was held in high estimation, both in the religious and literary world, and whose writings she particularly admired. His conversation and manners did not discredit his reputation; and while Emily was quite charmed with his society, it was evident their admiration was mutual. She was, however, acquainted with a circumstance in his private history which led her carefully to guard her heart, considering that his belonged of right to another. She knew that previous to his first mar |