He has been enabled to obey these his friends, and to complete his first design: and now, therefore, presents to the public, in Sir Charles Grandison, the example of a man acting uniformly well through a variety of trying scenes, because all his actions are regulated by one steady principle: a man of religion and virtue; of liveliness and spirit; accom-plished and agreeable; happy in himself, and a bless — ing to others.

From what has been premised, it may be supposed, that the present collection is not published ulti-mately, nor even principally, any more than the other two, for the sake of entertainment only. A much nobler end is in view. Yet it is hoped the variety of characters and conversations necessarily introduced into so large a correspondence as these volumes contain, will enliven as well as instruct: the rather, as the principal correspondents are young ladies of polite education, and of lively spirits.

The nature of familiar letters, written, as it were, to the moment, while the heart is agitated by hopes and fears, on events undecided, must plead an excuse for the bulk of a collection of this kind. Mere facts and characters might be comprised in a much smaller compass: but, would they be equally inter-esting? It happens fortunately, that an account of the juvenile years of the principal person is narra-tively given in some of the letters. As many, how — ever, as could be spared, have been omitted. There is not one episode in the whole; nor, after Sir Charles Grandison is introduced, one letter inserted but what tends to illustrate the principal design. Those which precede his introduction, will not, it is hoped, be judged unnecessary on the whole, as they tend to make the reader acquainted with persons, the history of most of whom is closely interwoven with that of Sir Charles.

NAMES OF THE PRINCIPAL PERSONS.

Men.

George Selby, Esq.

John Greville, Esq.

Richard Fenwick, Esq.

Robert Orme, Esq.

Archibald Reeves, Esq.

Sir Rowland Meredith, Knt.

James Fowler, Esq.

Sir Hargrave Pollexfen, Bart.

The Earl of L. a Scottish nobleman.

Thomas Deane, Esq.

Sir Charles Grandison, Bart.

James Bagenhall, Esq.

Mr. Solomon Merceda.

John Jordan, Esq.

Sir Harry Beauchamp, Bart.

Edward Beauchamp, Esq. his son.

Everard Grandison, Esq.

The Rev. Dr. Bartlett.

Lord W. uncle to Sir Charles Grandison.

Lord G. son of the Earl of L.

Italians.

Marchese della Porretta, the father.

Marchese della Porretta, his eldest son.

The Bishop of Nocera, his second son.

Signor Jeronymo della Porretta, third son.

Coute della Porretta, their uncle.

Count of Belvedere.

Father Marescotti.

Women.

Miss Harriet Byron.

Mrs. Shirley, her grandmother, by the mother’s side.

Mrs. Selby, sister to Miss Byron’s father, and wife of Mr. Selby.

Mrs. Nana i Selby, niece to Mr Selby

Miss Orme, sister of Mr. Orme.

Mrs. Reeves wife of Mr. Reeves, cousin of Miss Byron,

Lady Betty Williams.

The Countess of L. wife of Lord L. eldest sister of Sir Charles Grandison.