THE COUNTESS OF DELAWARD TO THE

EARL OF DELAWARD.

WE reached this place last evening, my beloved; and most melancholy was our arrival. When we came within view of the park, my poor dear friend begged me to assist her to rise from her recumbent position.

"How thankful ought I to be, Mary," said she, “at being permitted to reach home ere I die. How verdant, how serene, how lovely, every thing here appears! See how the glorious sun has tinged the landscape, and now behold his last rays are shedding a golden light on the oriel window of the church that church, dear friend, where I shall soon How often have I entertained this thought of late, and longed to take up my

repose.

everlasting rest there, away from all the dis

honour and shame that have rendered life insupportable! How calm, how beautiful it looks! Never did weary traveller hail the end of his toilsome voyage with a more thankful spirit than I do the approaching termination of mine. You will think it a puerile feeling, dear Mary, yet, nevertheless, it gives me comfort that my earthly remains will repose in a spot where no harsh eye will fall on my grave, and where those only who have known and loved me since my birth will dwell on it. They will not believe me guilty: no, a mother's purity and a father's honour will vouch to them for the innocence of her who so lately left her happy home, and who so soon returned to it, blighted in fame and health, to leave it no more. Yes, the returning so accompanied, supported by parents, loved and honoured by all; and cheered by the presence of the dear and faithful friend of her infancy, whose whole

life is an unsullied page of brightest virtue, yes, this is to be blessed! Your presence proves my freedom from guilt to all here; and I thank you, Mary, with a heart overflowing with gratitude and affection, for this invaluable proof of friendship."

The old gray-headed servants met us at the door, sorrow imprinted on every face. My poor Augusta had a faint smile for each, but she was too much exhausted to speak; and we bore her to the cheerful apartment she had always occupied in other and happier days. I cannot tell you, my beloved, how much the sight of this chamber agitated me, by recalling to memory the blooming creature, full of life and hope, whom I had so often, and so lately, beheld in it; and thus forcing me to contrast that bright vision with the pale and fragile being before me, on whose brow the characters of death are but too plainly traced. There she

lay reclined on the sofa, her long lids closed, and large drops stealing from beneath them down her still beautiful face. When she had gained some degree of composure, and found herself again alone with me, her eyes wandered all over the room, fixing, with a tender interest, on every object; and she said,

"It is strange, dear friend, that, on looking around me here, I could almost fancy that all that has occurred within the last few months has been a fearful dream, every thing appears so exactly as in former happy times. Ah, there is nothing changed but me!"

She wept on my bosom for a few minutes; but hearing the step of her mother, she endeavoured to subdue her emotions, although I observed that the watchful eye of affection had quickly discovered them.

"Mother!" said Augusta, "let me see good Dr. Wilmington early to-morrow, and

receive the sacrament from his hands. I wish that you, and my father too, should share this consolation with me; and you also, dear friend," she added, turning to me. "I feel so tranquil, so happy, now that I am in my home," and she embraced her mother,

"that I long to render thanks to the Almighty, who has listened to my prayers, and vouchsafed this blessing."

She expressed a hope that her father would enable her to bequeath a provision of five thousand pounds to Miss Montressor, and pay a yearly allowance to the nurse of Lord Annandale's son, as an incentive to her to take care of the child.

"Poor Caroline Montressor !" said she; "it is so painful to be wholly dependent on her aunt" (for Augusta knows not that Mrs. Wickenham is no more), " and it is dangerous to be poor, when the principles are not deeply