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 recun.bent 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 repose. How often have I entertained this thought of late, and longed to take up my everlasting rest there, away from all the dishonour 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,

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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.

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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.

66 '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 fixed. Let this donation, dearest mother, be notified to her, as a last proof of my regard."

I am sure that if Augusta desired them to bestow half their fortune on any one, these adoring parents would instantly consent to her desire; for their only source of comfort seems to exist in a compliance with her wishes. You shall hear from me again to-morrow, my beloved; until then, adieu.

Augusta has had a tranquil night, and appears more composed. She desired that all the old servants might be permitted to be present when she received the sacra ment. Her wish was obeyed; and a more touching sight it would be impossible to imagine than that of this angelic creature, reduced almost to a breathing shadow, reclined on the sofa, with her father, mother, and myself, bending over her, and all the gray-headed domestics kneeling around.

"Before I receive the sacred elements you are about to administer to me, Dr. Wilmington," said she, "I wish, in the presence of all these mortal witnesses, and in the presence of that merciful God, to whom the secrets of all hearts are known, to declare, with the lips of a dying woman, my perfect innocence of the crime of which I am accused; and my deep and hearfelt contrition for having, by a want of prudence and decorum, lent a semblance of probability to the charge. I avow the error of my conduct, in having too much disregarded worldly opinion; and ask pardon of Almighty God, for having furnished

cause for scandal, and led those who have condemned me to form erroneous conclusions."

There was not a dry eye in the room; even that of the venerable pastor was dimmed with tears, as he witnessed this act of humility in one whose besetting sin he knew to be pride.

"I wish, also," resumed Augusta, "to express my contrition at not having taken the pains that every wife should take to conciliate her husband, as I, too late! feel that had I so done, mine never would have condemned me unheard."

He administered the sacrament to her, of which we also partook; but not until he had given us one of the most impressive and touching discourses that ever fell from human lips.

Augusta is now asleep; a blessed calm seems spread over, and a faint smile plays on her pale lip; the rays of the setting sun have penetrated through the muslin curtains, casting a bright shade of rose over every object around, and tinging her face with a radiance that renders it of almost unearthly beauty. No, never, in the brightest days of health, did I behold her so lovely as at this moment! She moves-I must leave you.

She passed

Alas! my dear, dear friend is no more! away from this life without a struggle or sigh; and is now, I humbly trust, an angel in heaven. Though prepared to lose her, I thought not that she was so soon to leave us; and I feel the blow more poignantly, because I thought it more distant. I left off writing to you on seeing her move; and, on approaching her, discovered that she had ceased to breathe. Her poor father entered a moment after, and found that I had fainted. Do not be alarmed about me, dearest, I am better now; and having to assist good Dr. Wilmington in endeavouring to console the heart-stricken parents of my lost friend, I feel the exertion most beneficial to me.

Never was there any thing more touching than the

appearance of Augusta in the sleep of death. An expression of beatitude is impressed on her calm and marble-like face, that renders it almost divine; and a stranger would suppose that she could not have numbered above twelve or thirteen years. When I behold her with that heavenly countenance, my grief becomes less acute; for there is something inexpressibly soothing in dwelling on that angelic face. Poor dear Lord and Lady Vernon find the same consolation, and have sent express for two of the best artists from London, to make a picture, and a cast, from which a bust is to be executed of her. How I wish you, my beloved, were here to see her! for never before did death assume so lovely, so blessed an aspect. Who, that could behold that tranquil brow and angelic repose, could imagine the anguish that has preyed upon her pure heart during the last few weeks? But she has escaped from it now, and is in that blessed kingdom where "the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest;" where we, I humbly trust, may one day be united to her.