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it groundlefs, and what he faid afterwards, perfuaded me that he has a tender esteem, in other words, loves me. I cherished the pleafing thought, but it was interrupted by the painful recollection of his abfence, and the change it might poffibly occafion: tears filled my eyes, I wiped them away, hearing fomebody approaching; it was Julia and Sophia; they fat down by me and faid, they had been over great part of the garden in fearch of me.

had made on his heart, from the hour he first knew me.' In the most respectful and ardent manner, he begged leave to hope for my favour, making me an offer of himself and fortune. "It was in my power, he faid, to make him the happieft, or moft wretched of beings."

I was inconceivably diftreffed, and fo confufed that I could not for fome minutes articulate a reply; at last I told him, "that I was fenfible of the honour he did me, was obliged to him for the good opinion he entertained of me, but fhould think my conduct

I encouraged a paffion which it was not in my power to return: I owned that I had a great cfteem for his virtues and amiable qualifications, but frankly confeffed that my affections were unalterably engaged." Oh! Harriet, how I pitied him! while I was fpeaking, he fat the very picture of filent grief and difappointment, with his arms folded and his fine expreffive

the most cruel heart-ach; for nothing hurts me more than giving pain to a man of merit. Julia and the Mifs Seymours entrance interrupted a tété-àtet, which embarraffed me not a little.

"Who could have thought, my dear, fays Mifs Milbourn, of finding you here? though I muft own this re-equally ungenerous and inexcufable if treat is well adapted to the foft penfiveness that certain circumftances never fail to infpire. Why do you blufh, Maria? Did you think I had fo little difcernment as not to fee how much you are attached to the amiable youth who has juft left us? Come, my dear creature, continued fhe, in the molt perfuafive accents, do not treat your Sophy and Julia with reserve, left they fufpect the fincerity of your friend-eyes fixed on my blufhing face. I felt fhip." Thus clofely urged, I made a full confeffion of my weaknefs: yet why should I call by that name what would be my pride, if I was at liberty to own it? I had hardly concluded when we were joined by the gentlemen, I have trefpaffed a great deal on with whom we took a turn in the grove. your ladyship's patience, but will now, After dinner, Lord and Lady Mel-in pity to you, conclude this tedious bourn, and the reft of them, except letter, with fubfcribing myself Sir William Seymour, who was walkYour affectionate fifter, ing folus on the terrace, with a book And faithful friend, in his hand, went to view a building MARIA VERNON. reprefenting part of a caftle in ruins, that was crecting in the park: I ftaid behind to finish a pair of ruffles that I was working for his lordship. Soon after they were gone, the young Baronet entered the drawing-room where I was alone, and fat down by me. He was filent a confiderable time, fixed his eyes on me with a languishing tenderness, and when mine met them threw them on the floor: Oh! how my heart palpitated! but how much more was its flutter increafed when, drawing his chair nearer mine, he faid, "he had long wifhed for an opportunity like this, of declaring the impreffion that my beauty and accomplishments

(To be continued.)

MATILDA;
Or, THE FAIR PENITENT.
Illuftrated and embellished with an bif-
torical Plate by an eminent Artif.]

MR. H was a wealthy farmer

in the county of Devon; he married a lady in his own vicinage, who for the charms of her person, and the accomplishments of her mind was fuperior to moft, inferior to none. Some years elapfed without the leaft cloud to their mutual happiness; they lived for each other, and if they had any ftrife, it was a laudable one, it was that

of endeavouring to furpafs each other in endearments. Unfortunately being on a visit at a friend's houfe, they were highly delighted with the innocent amufement, and the engaging prattle of the gentleman's daughter; and in their way homewards, indulged themselves in repeating the pleafing gaieties of the amiable innocent. Their pleafure gave rife to a wish, which made them feel that fomething was wanting to complete their happinefs: they wifhed for fuch a daughter as they had been diverted with; and forgot what bleffings they poffeffed in afpiring after one which they had not. Providence, to convince them that favours with-held, are with-held by the hands of benevolence, listened to their wishes, and Mrs. H-became the mother of an amiable daughter whom they chriftened Matilda. From this era their cares res increafed; hourly afraid of loofing fo great a bleffing, her infancy loaded them with anxiety. Their thorns increafed with her increafing years; they hourly dreaded the attacks of a diforder no friend to a fine face: but the very caution they took to keep out of contagion, proved the means of introducing the distemper.

shown itself in her face, he faid it was the fmall-pox: but would not take upon him to fay, what fort it might be. The anxiety of Mr. H and his wife on this melancholy occafion may better be imagined, than expreffed. The fmall-pox proved to be of the confluent fort. What was then the anxiety of her parents, when on the turn, they were told she was out of danger! Their anxiety was this, as he had been a very pretty girl, they were afraid that fhe might lofe fome of the traits which were engaging. Their fears were fruftrated by Providence which chose to try thofe who will not truft to its decifions..

She recovered, she was not deprived of a fingle trait that charmed, that enamoured. The fond parents gloried and exulted on the occafion. They now no longer confined her, they gave her the liberty of appearing in every public circle; but, alas! at a public affembly her graces attracted the admiration of an officer in the army, who was dipt too much in debt to emerge : he offered her the incenfe of adulation; it had its proper effect; they agreed to pay a vifit to the blackfmith of Gretna-Green. They were rivatted by Matilda was never fuffered to go to him with an indiffoluble wire-lived any place of public refort for fear of happily for fome time-but Mrs. Maher being infected. Her maid was her tilda found, to her coft, that her enaonly companion, while all thofe of her moreto had a previous wife; and told her own age were precluded her company. to go home again to her father, whom A lady, an intimate acquaintance being he had frequently folicited for remiton a vifit, took particular notice of Matances, whom he had frequently drawn tilda, devoured all the innocent fallies upon for money, which he was not of her wit with admiration, and almoft obliged to pay ! fmothered her with the embraces of af- Shall we here close the scene? the fection. Unfortunately he had juft melancholy fcene! we would wish itleft her coufin, who had the fmall-pox, but muft add, that Matilda went to and brought the infection in her cloaths. her father's, who was then very much This was unknown in the family, and afflicted with the gout. Her mother was Matilda fickening a day or two after, fo much afflicted with the elopement, an apothecary was fent for in the ut- that it occafioned her diffolution. The most hurry of folicitude. The gen- father received her with dishevelled tleman at his first vilit was not bold to hair, on her bending knees; shed a depronounce the nature of her diforder, luge of tears on hearing the narrative but preferibing a fudorific draught, de-of her elopement, and preffing her to fired the might take it at night, and his bofom, faid, " My dear, I forgive promifed to pay her a fecond vifit the you all, all! but we should not grow ext morning. He came according to importunate to Providence for what it promile, and an eruption havingwith-holds from us."

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R SOLIMAN

SOLIMAN II. Tranflated from MARMONTEL *.

By a LADY.

And addreffed to the Rev. Mr. Madan, and Author of THELYPTHORA.

T is droll to fee grave hiftorians

European flaves to the Seraglio. In a fhort time three were brought, who, like the three Graces, feemed to have fhared among them, all the charms of beauty.

Features noble and modeft, eyes tender and languishing, an ingenuous difpofition, diftinguifhed the captivat

Elmira. The entrance of the

Iracking their brains to find out seraglio, the idea of flavery, had chilled

great causes for great events. Sylla's valet would, perhaps, have laughed heartily to hear the politicians debating on the refignation of his mafter: but I am not going to fpeak of Sylla

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Marmontel, in his advertisement, gives us the following information of the defign of this piece: Having fucceeded in a former publication, I was preffed by my friend to give him a fecond, in which I defigned to expofe the folly of thofe, who make use of arbitrary power to govern the female fex; and I made ufe of the example of a fultan and his flave, as the two extremes between tyranny and dependence."-The tranflator, after revolving in her mind the effects which the Thelypthorean fyftem must have on domeftic happinefs, thinks this petite-piece will afford fufficient proofs that the new fyftem must be productive of mifery in private families. Should a wife, poffeffing the placid virtues of Elmira, be fucceeded by a Delia and a Roxelana, where could harmony be found, where could conjugal blifs fubfift?

VOL. XII.

her with a mortal terror; Solyman found her in a fwoon in the arms of his women. He approached to her, reftored her to life, and encouraged her by his civility. She lifted up to him a pair of full blue eyes, gliftering with tears; he gave her his hand, he fupported her himself; and the followed him with tottering fteps. The flaves retired; and when he was left alone with her: "It is not fear,' faid he," fair Elmira, that I would inspire you with. Forget that you have a master, look on me only as a lover." "The appellation of lover," faid the," is not lefs unknown to me, than that of mafter; and both of

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them make me tremble. I have been told, and I still tremble when I think of it, that I am deftined for your pleafures. Alas! what pleasures can any one take in tyrannifing over weakness and innocence! Believe me, I am not capable of the complaifance of fervility; and the only pleafure you can poffibly reap with me, is that of being

generous.

Reftore me to my country and my relations; and by paying a due refpect to my virtue, my youth, and my misfortunes, merit my gratitude, my efteem, and my regrets."

These fentiments from a flave were

new

to Soliman; the greatnefs of his foul was affected by it. "No," faid he, "my dear child, I wish not to owe any thing to violence. You enchant me; I fhall make it my hap pinefs to love and to please you; but I prefer the torment of feeing you no more, to that of feeing you unhappy. In the mean while, previous to the reftoring you to your liberty, permit me at least to try, whether there be not a poffibility to diffipate the antipathy you have to the name of a flave

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