.My dear mamma, throwing herself at her feet, forgive me fur wy perseverance. It is not altogether owing (1 hope it is not at nil owing) to perverseness, and to a wilful resistance of the wills and wishes of all my friends, that J have withstood you. Two rea-sons influenced me, when I declined another hand: religion and country, a double reason, was one; the unhappy malady which had seized me, was another. 7’it’o r((7io/(,v, rising with dignity, and turning from her weeping mother, also influence me uith regard to the Count of Belvedere; though neither of them are the important articles of religion and country. 1 own to you, before these my dearest friends, and let it be told to every one whom it concerns to know it, that justice to the Count of Belvedere is one What a wretch shotdd 1 be, if I gave my hand (o a man who had not the preference in my heart, which is a hus-band’s due! Andsliould I, who had an unhappy rea — son to refuse one worthy man for his oxkji sake, per — haps for the sakes of the unborn (I will speak out on this im[)ortant occasion) not be determined to do as nuich justice to another? In one word, 1 refused to punish the Chevalier Grandison [Madam, to me, you know my story]: What has the Count of Belvedere done, that I should make no scruple to punish him? My good lord, be satisfied Avith ni\— wishes for your happiness. 1 find myself, at times, very, very wrong. I have given proofs but too convincing to all my x2 friends, that I am not right. While I so think, conscience, honour, justice (as I told you once before, my good chevalier) compel me to embrace the single life. I have, in duty to my nearest friends, given up the way I should have chosen to lead it in. Let me try to recover m3’self in their way. My dearest, dearest, mamma (again dropping on her knees to her) I vvill endeavour to make all my friends happy in the way they have agreed to miakc me so. Pray for me, all my friends! looking round her, tears in big drops trickling down her cheeks. Then rising, Pray for me, my Lord of Belvedere: I will for you; and that you may do justice to the merit of some worthier woman, who can do justice to yours.

She hurried from us, in a way which shewed she was too much elevated for her bodily powers. Sir Charles besought Mrs. Beaumont to follow her. Mrs. Beaumont took my hand.

We found the lady in the study: she was on her knees, and in tears. She arose at ourentrance. Each of us hastening to give her a hand, O my dear Lady Grandison,said she, forgive me. Am I, am I wrong, my dear Mrs. Beaumont? tell me. Have I behaved amiss?