others tant que vous voudrez; but, if you wish to maintain your independence, permit not others to influence you.

What could be more absurd than the maudlin sentimentality of Lord Howard at his daughter's marrying well-an object which, I dare say, it has been his constant aim to accomplish ever since she passed her third lustre? Then, Lady Mary finds it a very melancholy thing, forsooth, to marry the man of her choice, with a high station, large fortune, and all appliances to boot; because, it takes her from her dull old paternal castle, her stupid papa, and her

charityschool! Do not be very much offended with me, ma chère petite, when I confess that I laughed heartily at your sentimental description of all this absurd drivelling. You talk of the solemnity of the ratification of a union which death alone can dissolve, quite for

getting how often the House of Lords performs this service; as a reference to "Debrett's Peerage" can certify. Had you reflected on the possibility of this less solemn dissolution of Hymen's chains, a possibility which is always taken into consideration by the lawyers employed by the contracting parties, if not by the contracting parties themselves, you would have felt less melancholy on the occasion. Indeed, your lachrymose sympathies appeared to me quite incomprehensible; and I expected to have Lady Mary's tears ultimately accounted for by the discovery of some interesting young swain in the neighbourhood, the son of the parson or doctor, who had ventured to regard her beauties, as dogs bay the moon. I could fill up a very pretty little vaudeville from such a subject; whereas, of the reality, as you viewed it, one could make nothing. We live in an age, ma bonne Augusta, when

none but exciting subjects have any interest. Tears are now only shed when great crimes are their source; domestic feelings are passés de mode; and those who would awaken sympathy, must dare guilt. Look at the theatres in France where horror on horror accu

mulates, and plaudits " loud and deep" follow every scene of guilt, and every sentiment of reckless daring! Look at the crimes every day committed in that land of passion, where naught sleeps save-reason; and where events, public and private, succeed each other so quickly, that the mind is kept in a continual and delightful state of excitement. Had your friend, Lady Mary, and her sapient père, been inhabitants of dear France, they would have found neither time nor scene for their domestic sentimentalities. She would have been thinking of her trousseau, and the envy it would excite or the last novel of Eugene, Sue, or

Balzac, or of all these; for in France a woman's head can embrace simultaneously many more subjects than ours can contain in succession, during the lapse of a twelvemonth. And hence their general freedom from concentrated or violent affections; a freedom that renders them toujours gai, et toujours aimable, - they dispensing to the many, the smiles and petits soins that we reserve for the few. But to return to you, ma chère. Let me beseech you to abandon l'école sentimentale, c'est mauvais genre à present: let me, also, remind you to be careful of not allowing my letters to be seen by any eye save your own. I write to you à cœur ouvert; and should detest having my hasty and inartificial compositions subjected to the perusal and criticism of some one who might not be able to understand them, or votre amie, CAROLINE.

THE COUNTESS OF DELAWARD TO THE

LADY AUGUSTA VERNON.

Delaward Park.

I AM impatient to hear from you, dearest Augusta, how my beloved father supports this, our first separation. He has written to me in a cheerful tone; but he is so prone to conceal his own sufferings, in order not to increase those of others, that I fear his cheerfulness was only assumed to tranquillise me. I have been so accustomed to refer to him on all occasions, to administer to his happiness, and to derive mine from him, that, even surrounded with blessings as I am, I want his presence, to be as contented and as grateful as I ought to be. How thankful should we be to the Almighty, when He gives us parents whom we can love and reverence, as well as obey-when affection and duty go