excited by this unexpected meeting with one for whom she had formerly entertained a strong attachment. Lady Delaward, who is all kindness, was scarcely less delighted than were the friends, who having evidently much to say to each other, she proposed a ramble in the garden; to which the lovely daughters of Mrs. Ord conducted us.

My mother told me last night, that Mrs. Ord had been the daughter of the Bishop of St. Asaph, one of the nearest neighbours of her father. Soon after the death of the bishop, who held his see during too short a period to have been enabled to make much provision for his daughter, she left the neighbourhood to reside with her aunt. At this time, my mother, having accompanied my grandfather to Italy, for the recovery of his health, in a rambling life, lost sight of her young friend; who, it appears, subsequently to her father's death, be

stowed her hand on the Rector of Delaward, who had been the tutor, and continued, while he lived, the dear friend, of Lord Delaward. The worthy rector closed a life of virtuous usefulness three years ago, leaving his excellent wife and two daughters, with a son at college, but scantily provided with the gifts of fortune. The rectory becoming the residence of the present incumbent, Lord Delaward arranged the charming cottage we saw for the widow of his friend; and has settled a comfortable annuity on her for life.

All this Mrs. Ord told my mother, with tears of gratitude; interspersing the narrative with anecdotes of the rare generosity and untiring goodness of her benefactor, whose strength of mind, as she justly said, is only equalled by his kindness of heart. Mrs. Ord and her daughters have already learned to love Lady Delaward, who feels towards them as if

they were the friends of her youth, because they have stood in that relation to her husband.

No, dear Caroline! all that I see here proves to me that virtue and goodness are not, as you would fain persuade me, obsolete prejudices, or chimeras of a romantic brain. All around me breathes of content and peace, and I seem to exist in a purer atmosphere. The excellent qualities of my dear father and mother appear to proceed as much from a happy temperament as from a sense of duty. Theirs is the indulgent virtue that "rather loves to praise, than blame;" nay, I doubt whether they could blame-so gentle, so loving, is their nature. They would pity and weep over the errors they wanted courage to correct; while others would ward them off by a more steady and severe discipline. The Delawards will be the guardian angels of their children, watching each incipient approach of

error, and erasing every embryo of vice; while my dear parents would be the pitying angels, that try, like the recording angel of Sterne, to blot out with tears the spots they could not prevent.

I wish you were here, Caroline; this atmosphere of goodness would heal every worldly wound that makes your feelings rankle, and you would no longer be a sceptic in the salutary power of virtue. Never be one in the

sincerity of the affection of your

AUGUSTA.

LORD ANNANDALE TO THE MARQUESS OF NOTTINGHAM.

I FIND myself, my dear Nottingham, in a devil of a dilemma! The Comtesse Hohenlinden, with whom, as you know, I last season formed a liaison, has heard of my approaching mar

riage, and chooses to think herself exceedingly ill used. Now this is too preposterous-mais quoi faire? She has great influence in a certain clique, which is precisely that clique with which I most desire to stand well; and Sa Seigneurie is apt to be any thing but patient whenever any of her knights turn recreant to her charms, which (entre nous soit dit) are fast falling into the sear and yellow leaf raison de plus, as you will say, for resenting any slight offered to their manes. We know how méchante she can be; and, I confess, I cannot anticipate with any degree of placidity" the slings and arrows of outrageous " ridicule she will let fly at my devoted head, if I do not find means to appease her.

I have thought of a mode of accomplishing this desirable point, and yet without sacrificing either my love for Lady

my interest with the comtesse.

Augusta or

I shall per