Having now gradually led my readers to that point where I at firft rather abruptly introduced them, I fhall endeavour to proceed ftrait forward during the remainder of my narrative. "hitching into rhyme;" and when the bantlings are produced, fhe had rather that they ftuck on the top shelf of a book-cafe, than that they fhould be immediately committed to the flames. With regard to their advice of publifhing her poetical productions feparately, the can only answer, that fhe has repeatedly made the unfortunate experiment. Her booksellers all agree in one fentiment, "Poetry will not go off." CHAP. XII. As humorous as Winter, and as fudden K SHAKESPEARE. LORD MONTEITH was one of those common characters which the world every day produces, and which a very little penetration will eafily unravel. His abilities were not confpicuous, and his application to the improvement of them had been as great as a rich heir, early become his own mafter, ufually beftows. He poffeffed a great deal of good temper, and that open-hearted eafy generofity which always fucceeds in fecuring general good opinion. His paffions were naturally very ftrong; and never having been taught the neceffity of VOL. I. of restraining them, they were increased by continual gratification, till they fomewhat refembled the impetuous torrent. Nature intended him to be humane and beneficent; but a neglect of discipline and conftant indulgence had introduced an indolent selfishness. Yet ftill, if a good deed required no great exertion, or if an object in distress luckily prefented itself at a moment when he was disengaged from any favourite pursuit, he would not only fhew a noble liberality, but also enjoyed a noble pleasure from the benevolent deed. A character like lord Monteith's rather fitted its poffeffor to follow others, than to be a leader. Unhappily for him, his birth and fortune obtruded him into notice, and placed him in ficuations to which his natural talents were unequal. The fplendor of his rank and his reputed munificence furrounded him with parafites; and the impetuofity of his temper prevented him from having any directing friend. Lord W., at whofe house he lately refided, was a man of the world, very folicitous that his noble guest should form a proper matrimonial connexion; but extending the idea of propriety no farther than to the fortune, the family,, or perhaps the perfonal graces of the lady; and though the young earl, during his paroxyfms of love, added to thefe allurements. every angelic quality, he did not accurately define what thofe angelic qualities really were. Such was the man whom the purblind god, in one of his capricious moments, felected to be the husband of the beautiful, animated, intelligent Geraldine Powerscourt; whose feelings, exquifitely fufceptible, had been accustomed to the regular tepor of gentle manners, uniform confiftent K 2 fiftent goodness, and every fond indul- The fentiments with which the young couple approached the altar of Hymen were as diffimilar as their characters. The bridegroom thought no further of the awful ceremony, than as it was the means of putting him in poffeffion of an elegant and beautiful woman, upon whofe account he had felt a great deal of uneafinefs. He fuppofed that this event would of course greatly increase his stock of happiness; but as to any abridgment of his former pleasures, or any ferious duties impofed by the character of a husband, he had not the leaft idea of fuch difagreeable reftrictions. He was, indeed, firmly of opinion, that inclination would in future ftrongly attach him to home, and that he should find the fociety of his beloved" a perpetual 66 10 |