tured to have done it without your leave, aunt. Mrs. Wordfield. But, however, it would have given you pleasure. Caroline. Certainly; I should not like to appear anywhere but proper ly dreffed, if I could help it. Mrs. Woodfield. And after all, what is fo proper for a voung perfon of your age, as perfect fimplicity and neatnefs? You are fill in mourning, and would not, I hope, have thrown it off an hour fooner on account of this public meeting. Caro ine. But all I am afraid of, is, that if one is not a little fashionable, one looks vulgar. thinks herself on the very pinnacle of politeness, and elegance, I fee fome look upon her as a mad woman, and all confider her as a fool. Have you any ambition, Caroline, to fhare, with fuch a woman as Mrs. Scrafton, the ftare of ruftic amazement ? Caroline. Dear aunt, can you fuppose I have? Mrs. Woodfield. Let us hear no more, then, of wishes to know what "they wear. My mantua-maker, who makes for the attornies' and apothecaries' wives in the next market-town, often forces me to fmile, by advifing me to have my gown made fo and fe, and affuring me they wear them fo: and when I afk who; the fimperingly informs me, that mifs Kitty Puffins, the daughter of Mr Puffins, an eminent oilman in Carnaby-market, has been down to fee her relations, the mifs Clutterbucks, and gave the mantua-maker, mils Gibfon, leave to look at her cloaths, which were made up new to come into the country, "quite in safte." Such are the rural hiftories of fa piens. The belles, who derive their Mrs. Woodfeld. It is infinitely more vulgar to appear at fuch an affembly over-dreft. Believe me, my dear, mere dress contributes nothing to that look of elegance, or, if you will, of fuperiority, that you feem fo jealous of. You will be convinced of this, if you fhould fee tomorrow evening, as you probably will, a lady, named Scrafton, who is the first and the fineft at all our rural affemolies; the is the wife of a man who has a fmall fortune in this coun-information from mifs Puffins of ty, but is often in London, as he is Carnaby-rearket, will take the lead engaged in fome bufinefs there.-in elegance, perhaps for five miles This woman, who is fat, fhort, round, till fir fames ****'s family Crooked, and coarfe, and who has arrive from London, after the birthneither the manners, the air, nor day; and then the ton of articles à la The voice of a gentlewoman, is the Puffins will be entirely fuperfeded by greateft adept in fashions I ever faw. the knowledge acquired from the She runs about for a week before the happier few who are admitted to Birth days, from millener to millen-contemplate the fuperior elegance of Per, to fee the ladies' cloaths, and then the ladies of that house. imagines fomething like the most remarkable, with which to amaze her country neighbours. Her cloaths are 'made up in every variety of extrava-far, however, from withing you engant fathion; and each habiliment has fome foreign name that fhe cannot pronounce. Without the leaft regard to proportion or propriety, the dreffes out her unfortunate perfon in the wildest mode of the wildeft girl of fafhion, and the effect is, that The creates envy in the weak, and pity in the wife; and, while flie Do you think, Caroline, fuch ephemeren triumphs as thefe are worth a moment's thought? I ain tirely to decline appearing what is called in the fafhien; fuch affectation would be as ridiculous on one hand, as running into its wildeft cxccffes is on the other. A young woman fhould drifs as the perions of her age drefs, but without facrificing decen cy, common fente, er proportion. Nothing, perhaps, is a more laring abuncity, abfurdity, among all the weakneffes women are charged with, than the undiftinguishing avidity with which women of all ages and figures run into modes of dress, that cannot become them all, and probably dffigure five out of fix. Some flender girl of fashion imagines, in the caprice of imputed perfections, a manner of dreffing which fhall how every one of thofe pertections. It fucceeds; the men compliment, the miffes envy, and the mob wonder. In a few days, the fat red-faced matron of fifty; the dwarfish mifs, who tron of fifty; the dwarfish mifs, who has owed her little confequence to her heels and her head; the round, foug damfel, as thick as the is long; and the genteel young lady, that has lived on vinegar till he is reduced to a ftudy for an anatomift; all follow the fashion: but hardly are they established in it, 'before fome other, more prepofterous, fucceeds; and the former, "Like the bafelefs fabric of a vision, Leaves not a wreck behind," unless it be in that defcription of perfons who, in Shakespeare's time, were called "The ve vet guards, and Sunday citizens." I have often thought, that if it were poffible to have a set of dolls dreffed in the fafhions of the last two hundred years, it would be an amufing fpectacle, and not without its ufe, as a leflon to human vanity. The modes are now forgotten, and memory of mankind by the poets who have celebrated their names. Even the beautiful lady Coventry is obliged to Mafon for telling us what fhe was. "The liquid luftre of her eyes" There is remembered but faintly by those who yet remember her. is a funnet of Drayton's, addressed to a lady, whofe merit he glories in being able to refcue from oblivion, which is appofite to this topic. It is not fo polished as modern poetrys but is highly expreflive of his opinion of the power of poefy, and of thofe objects of tranfient admiration, of whom it has been said, "They had no poct, and they died.” Drayton's Sixth Sonnet. "How many foolish, paltry, painted things, That now in coaches trouble every fireet, Shall be forgotten (whom no poet fings) Ere they are well wrapp'd in their winding sheet; But I to thee eternity shall give, When nothing else remaineth of these days, And queens hereafter fhall be glad to live Upon the a'ms of thy fuperfluous praite, "Virgins and matrons, reading thus my rhymes, {ftory, Shall be fo much delighted with thự That they shall grieve they liv'd not in thefe times, [glory. To have feen thee, their fex's greatest For thou fhalt foar above the vulgar throng, And ftill furvive in my immortal fong?” the names of the triflers who invent- DERWENT PRIORY; ed them are forgotten too; the only memorial that remains of either, exifls, perhaps. in fome book, where they are accidentally alluded to, and which the commentary of the antiquarian and the critic may have explained. It should be a leffon to the fpangled butterfly of the paffing day, and it fhould teach her the fuperiority of intellect over beauty, when the re ects that the charms of fo many lovely women live now only in the A NOVEL. In a Series of Letters. Lady Laura 10 Mifs Rutland. Twickenham, Sept. 20, 179ARIOUS were the emotions, my dearest Ellen, that your long letter cafioned me.—Admira tion of your conduct, fear for your fafety, and anxiety for your health, by turns occupied my mind, as I purfued the interesting narration Welcome, a thousand times welcome was it to my heart; for it relieved me from fufpenfe almost intolerable. To account for my unealinefs, I must inform you, that a few days before the date of the laft letter you wrote from the Priory, Mrs. Merioneth received one from lady Derwent, and immediately informed me, that you would fhortly expect my congratulation in the character of lady Bateman. Knowing your averfion to the man, I hastily exclaimed, "Surely they will not exact so severe a facrifice!" In the evening we were at a ball, where I was again tormented by my fashionable lover. Entering the breakfaft-parlour the next morning before Mrs. Me-, rioneth was ftirring, behold, another letter from the Priory prefented it. felf. This letter, fo quickly following the other, greatly excited my cuiriofity. I had determined not to betray the leaft fymptom of anxiety; but, unfortunately, the entrance of my aunt put to fight all my wife refolutions, and (directing her eye to the letter) I exclaimed, "What can be the matter at the Priory, to occa fion lady Derwent to write again fo early?" "Oh! I fuppofe it is only to an* " What can you mean? (retorted nounce the marriage of your famy aunt)-Is it not an offer infinite-vourite," was her anfwer. ly above her expectations?" "By no means, my dear madam. -Ellen is too well informed to expect happiness from the poffeffion of wealth, or peace of mind from being dignified with the title of My lady, There are many other things neceffary to make marriage defirable, befides wealth and titie." "The latter (the replied), I believe, you think might be eafily dif penfed with." "I honour rank, madam, when it gives luftre to virtue; but do not think it of fufficient confequence to palliate or glofs the vices which difgrace human nature; nor can I help frequently exclaiming, with the bard, "What can ennoble knaves, or fools, or cowards? [ards!" "God forbid!" was my involuntary exclamation. "I hope, Laura, you do not condefcend to be the confidante of a girl who is but too willing to rebel against the first wifhes of her best friends!" I did not anfwer; and my aunt prefented the letter, which I will tranfcribe as faithfully as memory will permit. After relating the compromife they had made with lord Merioneth, her ladyfhip stated that my noble uncle deemed it quite neceffary to forget his promife, and to infift on your immediate acceptance of fir John. "I ventured (faid her ladyfhip) to plead my promifes to Albert, and my fears for the health of Ellen. "His lordfhip, fternly interruptAlas, not all the blood of all the How-ing me, replied, Your firft promife The appearance of company to me, madam, was obedience; and broke up the dialogue.-The mar- don't let me be at the trouble of quis of Langly was one of the again informing you, that I expect groupe; and I was heartily diigufted unequivocal compliance with every by the boisterous behaviour of this measure neceffity may oblige me to epitome of fathion. He has de- adopt." clared himself my admirer; and (ftrange to relate!) my aunt abfolutely encourages bis vifits. VOL. XXVI. "Sir John entered, and I quitted the room. "In my own dreffing-room, I 4 A was was met by Julia, who entreated | he, feizing the hand of Julia, who permillion to visit her friend; which I was constrained to refuse. -"She called me unkind, and added, As you have banished my brother, there is double cruelty in preventing my fulfilling his laft wifes." Call not the conduct of your parents in queftion (faid I); but ever remember that the basis of their actionsis their children's advantage." had followed me to the room.)Where is the poor wanderer?-To what difficulties may the not be expofed!--No friend to foothe her woe-worn mind!-no hand to fupport her fading form!—no heart to throb for, her unmerited misfortunes!" "Thefe images feemed too pow "erful.-His agitation ftopped his words, and he fuddenly quitted us. "We parted; and, the next day, being engaged to dine at Maplemount, we visited the invalid, and invited her to accompany us.-Sir John was of the party.-She pleaded indifpofition, and I excufed her. Julia reluctantly left her friend, who, with great difficulty, wifhed us a pleafant ride. "Difappointment loured on the brow of the earl, when I informed him Ellen was too much indifpofed to accompany us. "Mere foolery (faid he).--She is 100 fullen to oblige us." "Heavily paffed the day, and we returned home early in the evening. “On our arrival, every countenance betrayed confufion.-Kitty appeared: haftily afked her if Ellen was worfe? "I hope not, my lady:-but lord Merioneth-?? : "Speak! (faid I, breathlefs with Expectation)-What of my fon?" "Before he could answer, Julia entered, and (with a frantic wildness in her looks) exclaimed, Ellen is gone; my brother is distracted; and I fhall break my heart!-Oh, my unkind mother!Is it thus you have acted for your children's good?' "Where is your brother?" "In the parlour with the earl." "Thither I haftened, and found him at high words with his father, who was in vain infifting on his filence. "I will be heard (faid he, furiotif ly). I will proclaim your bafenefs your perfidy. Is this your attention to your helplefs friend? (cried "Let him go (cried the earl).A fresh breeze in the wood will be of fervice to him." "Shocked at the carelefs manner with which he treated the fufferings of my poor Albert, I took the aum of Julia, and we entered the chamber fo lately occupied by Ellen.-I rang for Kitty, and gave orders for the male domeftics to go different ways in fearch of lerd Merioneth; and, in my name, entreat his return. "Kitty brought a letter fhe had found on my dreffing table.-It was from Ellen, and written with a trembling hand.--It informed me where I might find her jewels, which are valuable; and where, likewife, were thofe of her mother. "We opened the cabinet, and found every thing in the most perfect order. The letter wrung my very foul.-Above difguife, the intormed me, that there was no way fo likely to reftore tranquillity to my family as her abfence from it.. "Lord Merioneth (she adds) muft not, on my account, be an exile from his friends.-He is yet near the Priory.-I have feen him; but I have not fpoke to him. I fly from his ardent, his perfuafive entreaties. -I fly too from the fulfome addrefles of a man i deteft:-and I will, if pollible, fly from the undermining treachery of my own fad heart.— Yes! I will, it poffible, before I again addrefs your ladyfhip, conquer every fentiment but thofe that you may approve." "Long and fad was the letter; but it. but I have not fpirits to tranfcribe "At length Albert returned, pale and trembling, but not fo violent as when he left us.-I prevailed on him to take fome refrement.-He drank a glafs of wine; and Julia begged him to relate all he knew of the flight of Ellen. "I knew nothing of it (cried he). -Would to Heaven I did!" "How then came you here?" Fearing treachery, (faid he) I have never left the neighbourhood. -Severn and La Roche are at the next town, with the horses.-All laft night I waited and watched in the garden, in hopes of finding fome means of fpeaking to Ellen; but in vain.-Fatigued in body, and depreffed in mind, I followed my friend to N****, from which place I fent a note to Julia, by La Roche." "Did you receive it?" faid I. cried he. "Yes," was her anfwer. fearch could be begun till morning, I prevailed on Merioneth to retire, and endeavour to get fome fleep.Moft reluctantly he complied. A "Long and miferable was the night.-In. the morning we met again, pale and unrefrethed.During our cheerless meal, the earl entered. "Ladies, (faid he, ironically) the departure of this imprudent girl has given a very ferious turn to the con tour of your faces.-You are unneceffarily anxious; and, perhaps, do not know that the protector he has chofen will amply compenfate for all she has left behind.". "Who dares affert fhe has a partner in her flight?" cried Albert. "I dare affert it, fir.-The, valet of fir John is her companion,her paramour." "By heaven, it's falle! (faid my poor agitated Albert)-But if this pitiful calumny refts with that wretch, fir John, his life fall anfwer for his unparalleled bafenefs.” "Saying this, he rushed from the apartment.Julia followed him: while lord Derwent, fullenly regardless of our anxiety, deliberately retired. "Merciful God !-What then could occafion the fteps fhe has taken? -But he dreaded artifice-the miftrusted deceit.This evening, I watched long and patiently, in hopes of feeing her. The frequent paffing and hurry of the fervants excited my curiofity:-I broke from my confinement, and inquired whom they were feeking?imagine my fur-joice at his abfence.. prife, when they told me mifs Rutland was gone no one knew whither. -Almoft deprived of reafon, I joined in the fearch; but how ineffec-, tually, you well know." "Sir John had prudently, during this fcene of confufion, taken himself to Maple-mount, where he is well known, and well received by the mafter of the manfion; and I re "Some moments of undefcribable mifery fucceeded.-- Julia, pale and trembling, appeared. "Albert (cried the) is certainly gone to challenge fir John. "I followed him to the Park, where his horfe and fervanti were waiting.-1 entreated his return Kitty was interrogated, but could give no fatisfactory account Albert rofe from his feat: - he paced the room in agony.-Julia wept bit-home. terly. For myfelf, could I have recalled the dear wanderer, how willingly (had it depended only on me) would I have biddea them live for each other. "At length, finding no further ༞ "Never (faid he) till I have refented injury, and chastised baseness.” "The fcene that followed I cannot defcribe; for I have no recollection of my own fentations. 1: (* "When more coinpofed, the 4 A 2 earl |