take the trouble of feeking for my fon. I only came to beg your lordship to fpare our cottage; for if we are deprived of that, we must go to the parish. Well, I will confider of it; but I think fuch people as you may think yourselves well off that you have a parifh to go to. My aunt fhrugged her fhoulders; I looked, I believe, a little difdainfully.-The good lady exclaimed, Laura, do not judge too hastily your uncle's conduct. to walk after them, not having long lain in with that boy. Almoft broken-hearted, the returned home. We must do (faid fhe) the best we can for the children, for I cannot find their father. If his lordship will but permit the cottage to ftand, I think I can get them bread. Mr. Dawfon fortunately heard of the affair, and came down to see us. He advised my daughter to take her children with her, and go up to the Priory, and get permiffion to fpeak to the countefs. He knew the cottages were all condemned, but he thought, owing to our misfortune, this might be spared. Lady Derwent admitted her, made her a prefent, but told her fhe never interfered with the earl's plans. I God for ever blefs you for fuch then determined on feeing his lord- goodnefs, my honoured lady! Oh,/ fhip myself. He heard my flory, how many would it have made hapand asked how old my fon was?py if this vaft eftate could have been I told him, twenty-five. fered to you. A very proper age (faid he) to ferve his country; the king wants foldiers. I hope you are a good fubject. Yes, my lord: but it is better the king should want foldiers than the poor want bread. You are difaffected then! By no means, my lord, but I think peace is better than war. And who gave you permiffion to think at all about it?-I fuppofe, old friend, you are for a levelling fyftem you would like to fea the tree of liberty planted in my park, and come into my houfe, and help yourself to what you pleafed. God forbid, my lord, that I fhould ever fee that day! I want nothing but my ion; his labour would fupport his family. of Oh, madam, my opinion of his principles can never alter. However, Jenkinfon, have a good heart; for if he turns you out of this cottage, I will buy you another. Though I have not much, (faid I) compared to what my uncle has, I will never add to it by diftreffing the poor, or infulting the unfortunate. We made the poor folks a fall prefent, and departed loaded with benedictions. I fhould have told you that a little poultry, a few vegetables, and what the young woman earns by fpinning, fupports the family; they told us Dawion was very kind to them. Of the other cottages one only was inhabited, and contained an old woman, who had been laundrefs to my grandfather; her daughter, a widow-woman with a large family, lived with her. Every thing about them announced diftrefs. How different (faid Mrs. Merioneth) was once this fpot, the comfortable reward of honest fervitude, and the feat of frugal plenty Well, honeft man, (replied his lordship) your fon is not in my keeping; and he is fo honourably engaged in fo neceflary an under--How do you live, good people? taking, that, could I recall him home by taking a pinch of fnuff, I certainly fhould not do it. I did not expect your lordship to On potatoes and butter-milk, my lady, and we work hard to get that (faid a healthy-looking girl, who was fpinning); for my grandmother cannot do without bread and tea;) Lord Merioneth offered ten The is too old to live on potatoes. pounds towards a fubfcription for Do you get no bread for your-the relief of the diftrefs my aunt had felves? faid I. Yes, madam, we fometimes buy a little meal, and make bread : but then we are forced to make it laft a great while. defcribed. Lady Derwent gave two guineas,-Mrs. Merioneth two guineas,-Mrs. Maynard, Mifs Rutland, Lady Julia, and myself, one guinea each. Mrs. Merioneth was to difpofe of thefe contributions as the judged beft. Thus ended the second day after our arrival. On the third day my aunt or Well, (faid my aunt) we will endeavour to think of fome means of leffening your diftrefs. I will fee you again foon. She gave them a trifling prefent, as a temporary relief. God bless you, my good lady!dered her carriage, and drove to the (cried the poor old woman) I knew you would come to fee us. Mr. Dawson told us you were come down; and our young lady too.-Ah! times are ftrangely altered! Perhaps, ladies, you will be fo good to beg for us that our poor cottage may stand. e Depend on it, we will do all nearest market-town, where the purchafed fuch neceffaries as fhe deemed would be moft acceptable to her poor old friends; and, on her return, we went to work and made linen for the poor families; my Fanny was fent to take measure of them for their gowns, which were made of green stuff; and the following Sunday we had the pleafure of feeing thefe poor families, decently arrayed, attend divine fervice in the chapel of the Priory. My aunt was too happy to be reafonable; and, at her requeft, lady About a quarter of a mile farther, Derwent ordered them all some rewe came to another groupe of te-freflment before they went home. nements, nearly in the fame ftate as the former. The ok inhabitants who were left, were anxiously looking for Mrs. Merioneth's approach, and hailed her appearance as a prefage of returning profperity. We left this fcene, wondering at what we had heard, and lamenting what we had seen. At length we returned to the Priory.I thought, when my aunt related our morning's ramble, lady Derwent appeared afhamed and confufed, I hope (faid my aunt) I fhall have my fifter's influence exerted for the fafety of the cottages on the weft fide of the park, at least, for the fake of Jenkinfon and Mary. Lady Derwent replied that the would chearfully fupport any plan for the relief of their inhabitants; but he believed the cottages muft come down. Lord Merioneth was quite delighted: and as for me, I was almoft inclined to with his father under ground, that he might poffefs the means as well as the defire of doing good. On Monday the earl arrived here, fome days earlier than was expected; and he has really not brought pleafure with him. Lady Julia and mifs Rutland fcarcely breathe in his prefence. Lady Derwent herfelf appears under visible restraint; and were it not for the good humour and vivacity of his fon, I think we fhould all with ourselves at home again. Mrs. Maynard yefterday declared herfelf overpowered with ennui, because he had no beaux to talk her into fpirits. Lord Merioneth begged her to be patient patient for a few days, as he ex- | pected a cargo worth her attending to. Dear confolating creature, whom do you expect? cried fhe. Lord Severn, fir John Bateman, and Charles Clifford, efq. The names ftruck me. Do you know them? Only lord Severn, the replied. Do you, lady Laura ? Not that I know of, lord Merioneth. Well then take care of your hearts, ladies: for I am told Se vern and Clifford are very handfome. I know they are very agreeable, and must be very good if they are your friends, faid Mrs. Maynard, drily. They are as good as young fellows ufually run now-a-days; but not fo good but they may be improved by the blooming graces of a captivating widow. Go! (faid fhe) I have abfolutely a great mind to go and teafe lord Derwent, by telling him you are making love to me. Kalfiens, who not only confumed an immoderate quantity of all kinds of food, but feveral other fubftances, fuch as walnut-fhells. When at gentlemen's houfes, he would fre quently eat pastry, with the veffels that contained it, and would at other times fwallow thè glaffes out of which he had drank. His teeth were fo ftrong and fharp, that he could fplit the thickeft deals with the greateft facility, and would often perform that fervice for the maids of the house. Rats, mice, moles, and live fowls, he looked upon as the most exquifite dainties. And at one time, unthinkingly, he is faid to have swallowed a pewter inkftand, with the pens, fand, &c.This was verified upon the oath of an eye-witnefs. At another time he devoured a pair of bag-pipes in the prefence of feveral people, and turning upon the piper, the man was fo terrified that he jumped out of the window. Thefe, and other exploits of a fimilar caft, gave the common people an idea that he was affifted by an evil fpirit, in confe How could that tease lord Der-quence of which the clergy of the went? faid I. place examined a number of witGood God! (cried fhe) Laura, do neffes: but as no conviction followyou not know that Merioneth mufted, he died peaceably in the 79th not make love to any woman with year of his age. lefs than fifty thousand pounds. Ellen looked agitated, and Merioneth mortified. Lord Derwent approached, and the converfation ended; and here I will end this long, and, I fear, tiresome letter. Yours, &c. LAURA MERIONETH. (To be continued.) FASHIONS for FEBRUARY, 1796. MORNING DRESS. IGHT CAP of spotted muflin, Ntrimmed with a double border of lace in whole plaits, bound round with a narrow maroon ribband, tied into a small bow in front; hat covered with blue fatin, tied under the chin, and trimmed with blue and maroon ftriped ribbands. Round gown of falmon-colour flowered chintz; long fleeves; gold ear-rings; blue morocco flippers; fur muff. K AFTER AFTERNOON DRESSES. I. The hair dreffed in light curls and ringlets. Armenian turban, made of white and York flame-coloured fatin, croffed in the front with two ftrings of pearls, and the ends trimmed with gold fringe. A white oftrich and a blue efprit feather on the left fide. Armenian robe of embroidered muflin, the train with a broad hem; full fhort fleeves; trimming of blond round the neck, and at the top of the fleeves. Tucker of blond. Gold cord, with two large taffels round the waift, tied at the left fide. Two ftrings of pearls and a feftoon gold chain, with a medallion round the neck. Diamond ear-rings. White fhoes and gloves. II. The hair combed ftraight upon the forehead, the fide hair in light curls and ringlets, plain chignon. Ruffia bonnet of blue fatin, frimmed with fable, and tied behind with gold cords and taffels. Lawn petticoat with a broad embroidered border. Ruffian robe of blue fatin, trimmed with fable: fhort fleeves, trimmed with the fame. Clofe tucker of double plaited lace. Small handkerchief within the belt, drawn together in the front with a diamond flider. Collar of fable round the neck. Diamond ear-rings. White fhoes and gloves. You know (faid Julia) the terms upon which you and my father parted. It is unneceffary to say, how much I was interested in the event; and not hearing from you for a confiderable time, caufed me much uneafinefs. My father earneftly endeavoured to perfuade me that you had forgotten your Julia; but vanity, or fome fecret monitor, whifpered the contrary, and I flattered myself that by fome accident your letters had been intercepted." About that time an event happened, which was near feparating us for ever. My father was returning one evening from a vifit to the hermit, and was overtaken by fome of thofe banditti by whom you were fo great a fufferer at the time we first became acquainted. But by the timely affiftance of a gentleman, who with his fervant was riding paft, they difperfed the ruffians, and my father was refcued. Gratitude to his preferver obliged my father to invite the ftranger home. Alas! it was near becoming a fatal invitation to me. He ftaid with us a week, and during that time conceived an unfortunate prepoffeffion in favour of me. I foon perceived his growing partiality; indeed, I must have his attenbeen blind had I not; tions were fo particular as to leave no room for doubt. The confequence was an application to my father, who readily gave his confent, provided I could confider myself as free from my engagement to you. He flew to me with my father's anfwer. I received his proposals with difdain, and affured him that I would never become his wife. He caft a malicious glance at me, and left the houfe that day in high difpleasure. About three days after, as I was taking a walk in the adjoining wood, as was ufually my cuftom, I was forcibly feized by two men, who bound my mouth and eyes. When they gave me my liberty, I found myself in a carriage, feated feated by that odious villain who had thus violated the laws of hofpitality. Now, madam, (faid the wretch) I think I can repay your difdain: and be affured you fhall never become my wife, mained in a mufing pofture. He was perplexed to kow how to act, He was equally with Julia convinced of the impropriety of her continuing with him; yet his uncle's corpfe could not poffibly remain at the inn. He thought of a plan, yet he did not like to propose it to Julia. Her thoughts had been occupied by the fame fubject; and the fame thought had ftruck her. She therefore faved Alphonfo the pain of the propofal. I know, (faid fhe) it is inconve pofe you let Philip go: he will prove a fufficient protection. Will my Julia (exclaimed Alphonfo) put up with his protec tion? Surely, (faid fhe, feeing he was extremely agitated), we fhall meet the fooner for it. Philip will make an excellent conductor. I fhuddered at his words, yet paid no feeming attention to them. We travelled at a great rate, and I panted through fear and want of air, for the blinds had been kept clofe drawn up. When I recovered, the windows were quite open, and the carriage ftanding ftill. A gentle-nient for you to return with me. Supman rode by. I had the prefence of mind to fcream out, and implore his affiftance. He inftantly forced the coachman from his box, and opening the coach-door, demanded why I was detained. The wretch immediately drew a piftol from his pocket, and discharged it; but the bullet mifled your uncle, for he it was, whom Proyidence had fent to refcue me. Your uncle in his turn drew another pistol, which he fired with better fuccefs; his adversary fell, uttering dreadful imprecations. He however had the malice to fire again as he fell, and the ball penetrated your uncle's fhoulder. By this time a number of people had come up to us; for the coachman had run to an inn, which providentially was not far diftant, to procure affiftance. They conveyed us to it: your uncle was put to bed, and a furgeon was fent for, who, upon his arrival, pronounced his wound to be mortal. He is a worthy fellow (replied Alphonfo), and will protect you to the last moment of his life. I can trust in him (returned Julia); fo to-morrow I propofe to take leave of you. Alphonfo fighed at the mention of taking leave;-a fatality feemed to attend them, and still threatened to feparate them. They both retired to reft in very ill fpirits. Julia rofe early. Alphonfo was already rifen. They ate a fparing breakfast: a chaife waited to convey Julia; they took a hafty farewell; Philip mounted his horfe, and they drove off. What must have been my fitua- Alphonfo feemed to have loft his tion but for your fortunate arrival? very life :--he remained quite inaI now intreat you to conduct me nimate. The noife the men made to my father's as foon as poffible, in bringing up his uncle's coffin as I cannot with propriety remain roufed him from his lethargy, and longer in my prefent fituation. I be bethought him of his melanchohave only to add, that your uncle, ly office; the day paffed heavily on; when he was affured of his ap-night came,- a fleepless one to Alproaching diffolut. entreated that phonfo. The morning arrived, his remains might be conveyed to the hearfe was in readiness, and the De Courville Castle. corpfe was deposited in it. He ordered it to follow him at a flow 1 K 2 Julia ceased,-Alphonfo ftill re pace; |