They name not the man: they pretend to leave me free to choose through the world. They plead, that, zealous as they are in the catholic faith, they were so earnest for me to enter into the state, that they were desirous to see me the wife even of a Pro-testant, rather than I should remain single: and they remind me, that it was owing to mi/ scruple only, that this was not effected. But why will they weak-en, rather than strengthen my scruple? Could I have got over three points The sense of my own. unworthiness, after iny mind had been disturbed; the iiuuperable apprehensions, that, drawn aside by your love, I should probably have ensnared my own soul; and that I should be perpetually lamenting the certainty of the loss of his whom it would be my duty to love as my own; their importunity would hardly have been wanted.

Tell me, advise nie, my good chevalier, my fourth brother [you are not now interested in the debate] if I may not lav\ fully stand out? Tell me, as I know that I cannot answer their views, except I marry, and yet cannot consent to nmrry, whether I may not as well sequester myself from the world, and iiisi t upon so doing?

What can I do? I am distressed O thou, my hrother, my friend, whom my heart ever must hold dear, advise me! To you I have told them I will appeal. They are so good as to promise to suspend their solicitations if I will hold suspended my thoughts of the veil till I have your advice. But give it not against me if you ever valued Clementina, give it not against her!

Letter IV.

Sir Charles Grandison to Lady Clementina.

London, Monday, September 1829. What can I say, most excellent of women, to the contents of the letter you have honoured me with? Wliat a task have you imposed upon me! You take great, and, respecting your intentions, I will call it kind care, to let me know that I can have no interest in the dt cision of the case you refer to me. I re-peat my hunihle acquiescence; but must again de clare, that it would have been next to impossible to do so, had you not made a point of conscience of your scruples.

But what weight is my advice likely to have with a young lady, who repeatedly, in the close of her letter, desires me not to give it /or her parents?

I, madaai, am far from being unprejudiced in this case: for, can the man who once himself hoped for the honour of jour hand, advise you against mar-riage? Are not your parents generously indulgent, when they name not any particular person to you? I applaud both their wisdom and their goodness, on t!)is ocea^ion Possibly vou guess the man whom they would reconnnend to your choice: and I am sure Lady Clementina would not refuse their re-conmiendation merely because it was theirs. Kor indeed upon any less reason than an unconquerable aversion, or a preference to some other Catholic. A protcstant, it seems, it ccuunt be.