Chapter 19

The Honourable GEORGE MOLESWORTH to LORD DARCEY.

London.

Well, give me the first salute of your fair bride;--_and for your bride_ I'll ensure Miss Warley.--Why there is not a symptom but is in your favour.--She is nettled; can't you perceive it?--Once a studied disregard takes place, we are safe:--nothing will hurt you _now_, my Lord.--

You have been stuttering falsehoods.--From what I can gather, you have been hushing the Baronet at the expence of your own and Miss Warley's quiet.--If you have, never mind it; things may not be the worse.--Come away, I advise you; set out immediately.--See how she looks at parting.--But don't distress her;--I charge you not to distress her.--Should you play back her own cards, I will not answer for the pride of the sex.--

Sir James's consent once gained, and she rejects your proposals, lay all your letters to me on the subject before her.--I have them by me.--These cannot fail of clearing every doubt; she will be convinced then how sincerely you have loved her.--

You surprise me concerning Mr. Powis:--I thought he was settled in his government for life;--or rather, for the life of his father.--However, I am convinced his coming over will be no bad thing for you;--he has suffered too much from avarice, not to assist another so hardly beset.--

Was not his settling abroad an odd affair!--If he determined to remain single till he had an opportunity of pleasing himself, why did he leave England?--The mortification could not be great to have his overtures refused, where they were made with such indifference.--

As he has lived so many years a batchelor, I suppose there will be now an end to that great family.--

What a leveller is avarice! How does it pull down by attempting to raise? How miserable, as Seneca says, in the desire?--how miserable in attaining our ends?--The same great man alledges, that as long as we are solicitous for the increase of wealth, we lose the true use of it; and spend our time in putting out, calling in, and passing our accounts, without any substantial benefit, either to the world, or to ourselves.--

If you had ever any uneasiness on Bridgman's account, it must be now at an end.--Married, and has brought his bride to town.--What a false fellow!--From undoubted authority, I am assured the writings have been drawn six months:--so that every thing must be concluded between him and his wife, at the very time he talked to me of Miss Warley.--I wash my hands from any further acquaintance with concealed minds:--there must be something very bad in a heart which has a dark cloud drawn before it.--Virtue and innocence need no curtain:--they were sent to us naked;--it is their loss, or never possessing them,--that makes caution necessary, to hide from the world their destined place of abode.--Without entering a house, and being conversant with its inhabitants, how is it possible to say, if they are worthy or unworthy:--so if you knock, and are not admitted, you still remain doubtful.--But I am grown wise from experience;--and shall judge, for the future, where a heart is closely shut up, there is nothing in it worth enquiring after.

I go on Thursday to meet Risby, and conduct him to town. It would give us great joy, at our return, to shake you by the hand.--What can avail your staying longer in the midst of doubts, perplexities, racks, tortures, and I know-not-what. Have you any more terms to express the deadly disorder?--If you have keep them to yourself; I want not the confounded list compleat:--no; no, not I; faith.--

I go this evening to see the new play, which is at present a general subject of conversation.--Now, was I a vain fellow--a boaster--would I mention four or six of the prettiest women about town, and swear I was to escort them.--Being a lover of truth, I confess I shall steal alone into an upper box, to fix my attention on the performance of the piece.--Perhaps, after all is over, I may step to the box of some sprightly, chatty girl, such as lady ----,--hear all the scandal of the town, ask her opinion of the play, hand her to her chair, and so home, to spend a snug evening with sir Edward Ganges, who has promised to meet me here at ten.

Yours,

MOLESWORTH.