A motion was made to Sir Charles by my grand-mamma Selby; whether he would not choose to be presented with his lady to the king on their nup-tials. Sir Charles answered, that he was ready to comply with every proposal that should shew his duty to his sovereign, and the grateful sense he had of the honour done him by his Harriet.

We are to call on Lord and Lady W. at Windsor; and take them with us.

My cousin and I are to write constantly to our two grandmothers. My sister Nancy devotes her-self to our grandmother Selby. ]Miss HoUes’s will constantly visit Mrs. Shirley. Sir Charles is to bring down his lady twice a year, or oftener, if conve-niency permit.

He hoped, he said, after a while, to induce his Harriet to take a trip with him to Ireland, to inspect the improvements making in his estate there.

SIH CHARLES GRANDISON. 11

He will find no difficulty, I believe, to prevail upon her to accompany him thither; nor even, were he disposed to it, to the world’s end.

He hopes for a visit from the Italian family, so deservedly dear to him; by which he is to regulate many of his future motions.

I cannot say I wish for this visit. I love, I admire, I pity them; and would, had I wings, take a flight into Italy, with all my heart, to see them incognita. Clementina must be a charming creature but, for Harriet’s sake, I have been used to think of her with terror.

For your brother’s sake also, Lady G, I rejoice, and so, ycu know, do Dr. Bartlett and Mrs. Shirley, that she can now be only a visitor. How could Sir Charles, so thorough an Englishman, have been happy with an Italian wife? His heart, indeed, is generously open and benevolent to people of all countries: he is, as I have often heard you say, in the noblest sense, a citizen of the world: but, see we not, that his long residence abroad, has only the more endeared to him the religion, the government, the manners of England? You know, that on a double principle of religion and policy, he encour-ages the trades-people, the manufactures, the ser — vants, of his own country. Do I not remember a charming lively debate between you and him, on the subject of those elegancies in dress and appear-ance which you said (and I thought you naughty for saying it) were only to be acquired by employing the better taste of foreigners?

He concluded it seriously. I recollect nearly his words: “ The error, Lad}^ G. is growing too general, is authorized by too many persons of figure, not to make one afraid of fatal consequences, from what in its beginning seemed a trifle. Shall any one pretend to true patriotism, and not attempt to stew this torrent of fashion, which impoverishes our own honest countrymen, while it carries wealth and power to those wliose national religion and interest are directly opposite to ours!”