But was not her mother a sensible woman? and as such surely she must discover these defects in her daughter. We have not called Mrs. Warian a sensible woman; yet she is described as well read, and accomplished. What then are we to understand by the term, sensible woman? We conceive it to imply briefly this:---A knowledge of propriety of conduct in every situation of life, connected with a decided determination to pursue that known propriety of conduct. A sound judgment to discriminate between true and false appearances; which, if not possessed, the best inclined mind may be led astray. Thus it does not necessarily comprise a knowledge of books and accomplishments to form the character of a sensible woman. And daily experience may produce instances of the insufficiency of literary knowledge, and polite learning, to produce propriety of conduct in those persons who do not unite with them plain sense and correct judg

ment.

If then a knowledge of propriety and a sound judgment be necessary to form the character of a sensible woman, Mrs. Warian had little pretension to that distinguished epithet. Besides this, she was deficient in a grace, without which the finest understanding, and the most shining talents, lose half their value---the grace of humility. She was vain of her accomplishments, and proud of

what she imagined intellectual endowments. The question never occurred to her mind, (and it is a question which ought always to occur when a disposition to vanityis experienced), "Who has made me to differ, and what have I that I have not received?"

Great indeed would have been Mrs. Warian's mortification at the superficial knowledge possessed by her daughter, had she not imagined, her charming vivacity, as she called it, and her handsome person, would, in the opinion of most, prove an ample equivalent; whilst the young lady, hearing that wit and beauty were the two principal qualities celebrated by the poet and the novelist, was chiefly ambitious to improve the former, and adorn the latter.

As Mrs. Warian had no reason to doubt but that Mr. W had realized considerable property, the object next her heart was to prevail on him to retire from business. She conceived, by so doing, the future genteel settlement of their daughter would be more probably effected, and she also move in a sphere of life more gratifying to her pride: the wife of an independent country gentleman sounding much better and genteeler than the wife of a London tradesman.

Five tedious years were spent in unavailing anxiety to accomplish this desired event, for Mr. Warian iked the profits of trade too well to be

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easily induced to relinquish them; and besides this he suspected that his own happiness would be lessened by the alteration. He was conscious that he had few mental resources, and that, in giving up business, he should give up amusement also. When the plea of his daughter's genteel settlement was urged (who, at that time, was only ten years old), his usual reply was, "Don't talk to me of gentility, I had rather see her married to a good tradesman than to what is called a gentleman. I know not what a gentleman is good for, but to spend money: I like the man best who gets it."

At length, no longer able to withstand the various means used by his lady to effect her purpose, Mr. Warian yielded the contest. Having a small parental estate situated in a neighbourhood, remarkable for its opulent inhabitants, Mrs. W--- approved his desire of building a house on that spot, at the same time, assuring all her religious acquaintances, that the old meeting, more than the neighbourhood, engaged her preference of the situation.

Sir Charles's elegant mansion was situated about a mile distant; but though the distance was so inconsiderable, the idea of associating with each other had never entered the mind of either party. The business of the land-purchase had unexpectedly introduced the gentlemen to each

other, and Mrs. Warian was resolved not to suffer such a fortunate event to pass unimproved. The honour of Sir Charles's acquaintance was alone a point of no trifling importance, but her hopes carried her still further; she thought it not improbable but that her daughter, adorned with all the bloom and beauty of nineteen, might attract his regards. She knew, by experience, that much might, by good management, be achieved, and her fond imagination pictured to itself no less a happiness than that of seeing her darling daughter---Lady Bright. To accomplish this was now her sole object. She had hitherto suffered the gentlemen to meet alone, but she now resolved, at their next interview, to introduce herself and daughter. She had not long to wait for an opportunity. Sir Charles was announced a few days after she had formed her resolution. He sat a full hour in their com pany after his business with Mr. Warian was over. On his return home he gave his opinion of the two ladies to Mr. D--. If the reader will take the trouble to proceed further, our next shall inform them what that opinion was.

CHAP. VIII.

Sir Charles's Opinion of Mrs. and Miss Warian. Why Mrs. Warian liked to go to Church, and Mr. Warian did not. A Clergyman's Opinion of Barn-preaching.

T is a melancholy truth, that numbers of pro

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fessing Christians are strangers to the very doctrines they pretend to receive. Ignorance, upon any subject of general concern and usefulness, is condemned, and there seems to be no ignorance tolerated, but ignorance of the way of salvation. However incompetent such persons may be to decide upon the merits of a sermon, or to converse upon religious subjects, and particularly the sublime doctrines of the Gospel, there is one thing on which they generally judge with accuracy, namely, what dispositions and tempers ought to be apparent in the lives and conduct of professors of Christianity.

The general precepts of the Gospel are known to all; and the Christian professor, who is devoid of Christian virtues, is a fair mark for the shafts