As to the woman’s claim: What in honour can I do, against a promise that he owns may be proved upon him? He did not condition with her, that she was to be a spotless woman. If he thought she was so when he soHcited her to yiekl to his desires, he is the less to be excused: vile as she comes out to be, he had proposed to make her as vile, if” he had found her not so. He promised her marriage: meant he only a promise? S/ie is punished in being what she f.s-; /lis punishment cannot be condign, but by his being obliged to perform his promise. Yet I cannot bear to think, that my cousin Grandison should be made, for life, the dupe of a successful and preme-ditated villany; and the less, as, in all likelihood, the profligate Lord B. would continue to himself, from the merit with her of having vindicated her claim, an interest in the bad woman’s favour, were she to be the wife of our poor Everard.

But certainly this claim must be prosecuted with a view only to extort money from niy cousin; and they know him to bo of a family jealous of its honour. I think she must be treated with for releases. I could not bear to appear in such a cause as this, in open court, in siijiport of my cousin, against a jiro-luise made bv him. He is of age, and thought to be no novice in the ways of the town. I am mistaken in Mr. Grandison’s spirit, if it do not lead him to think himself very severely punished, (were he to luive no oli’icr punishment) by the consequence of those vices which will bring an expence upon me. liUt if I should be able to extricate the unhappy man from this dithculty, what can next be done for him? the poor remains of his fortune will not sup-j)ort one who has always lived viorc than genteelly. \\‘ill he be able, think you, to endure the thoughts of living in a constant state of dependence, however easy and genteel I should endeavour to nii.ke it to him? There may be many ways (in the public of-ii’.es, for example) of providing for a broken trades — is 3 man: but for a man who calls himself, and is, a gentleman; who will expect, as such, to rank with his employer; who knows nothing of figures, or bu-siness of any kind; who has been brought up in idleness, and hardly knows the meaning of the word diligence; and never could bear confinement; what can be done for such a one in the public offices, or by any other employment that requires punctual attendance?

But to quit this subject, for a more agreeable one.