him, they keep no corps de réserve, as they bring all their forces into the field, at once. Lord Annandale is just the sort of person that Caroline Montressor would like. A propos of her: I cannot, dear Mary, give her up, it would look so unkind and ill-natured. Indeed, you do not render her justice; for, though I must admit she is given to persiflage, she is kindhearted, and well-meaning, and very much attached to me. You talk so quietly of your happiness, that, though I cannot doubt, I do not feel disposed to envy it. But, you will scold me if I say more, and prove to me, as you always do, that you are right, and I wrong, though always your affectionate

AUGUSTA Vernon.

LADY DELAWARD TO LADY AUGUSTA VERNON.

Delaward Park.

CAN it be possible, that you, my dear Augusta, can join in the laughter of Lord Annandale against the Ladies Seymour? His ridiculing them to you, betrays that he had discovered in you a propensity to be pleased by his ill-natured raillery a poor compliment to your heart. I know Lord Annandale, and think him vain, affected, and flippant: but, let me not, while censuring his malevolent propensity, merit a similar imputation, by commenting too severely on his faults. I would only impress upon your mind, that a man who indulges in satirical gossip is always a dangerous, although he may be an amusing companion. Nothing implies a light estimation of our sex more than the habit some men have of seeking to entertain us at the expense of our

female acquaintances; and, when we encourage their malice by our smiles, we justify their bad opinion. You say, that Lord Annandale's glowing description of London, and its pleasures, makes you wish to be there, and to partake them; and that you sigh for the completion of your seventeenth year, that you may enter into fashionable life. If I know your heart, I pronounce that disappointment must await you in that glittering circle where you anticipate only happiness; and where pleasure, though at a distance it may look like the unearthly guest, loses all resemblance when nearer approached.

If you are determined to persist in your correspondence with Miss Montressor, do, at least, make up your mind to reject her counsel, and shun the adoption of her false opinions. I dwell not on the evil consequences which an intimacy with her may produce, by alarming the good and prudent from seeking you. Her levity and

indiscretion in avowing her principles - or want of principles, I should rather say-have driven from her many of her own sex, and impressed the other, with notions most prejudicial to a young woman. Serious as this consideration may be, I am more alarmed by the certain risk which your morals incur in an intimacy with her, than by the probable injury which it may entail upon your worldly prospects. Be on your guard, dearest Augusta; read none of the French novels she recommends; and, if you will not break with her, at least discourage her levity as much as you can. We expect

you to dinner on Thursday need I say how

glad I shall be to see you again?

Your affectionate

MARY DELAWARD.

LADY A. VERNON TO MISS MONTRESSOR.

LORD ANNANDALE is still here, dearest Caroline; and, were we not going to Delaward Park to-morrow, would probably continue here as long as we may do, or at least as long as his convenience permitted. Shall I, or shall I not confess, that he has declared himself my suitor, and that I, though somewhat loath, have listened to his prayer, and referred him to papa; who, however, and mamma, seemed more surprised than pleased at the avowal of his attachment to me. They pleaded, in opposition to the demand, my extreme youth and inexperience -my ignorance of the world— and their desire that I should not marry until I was at least eighteen. All their reasoning only served to increase the ardour of my suitor; who implored me with such zeal and