thefe orations, was at first extremely puzzled to know what the gentleman meant; but when he found that fomething was wrong in that palladium of juftice which he had ever been accuftomed to venerate, the British Conftitution, and heard the propofed improvement, his full conviction of his own incapacity for fupporting an argument could fcarcely prevent him from telling the declaimer, that the remedy was worse than the disease.

Fitzofborne's contempt for the difpofition and abilities of fir William betrayed him into an indifcretion which his masterly addrefs could fcarcely repair. From his first arrival at Powerf court he had ftudied the characters of the Evans's with jealous difcrimination; and as their talents and manners were alike undifguifed, he foon found, that they would prove moft formidable

opponents

opponents to his iniquitous defigns. He was, therefore, peculiarly careful to conceal from them thofe nefarious principles which he fancied he had fufficiently enveloped to efcape the confused apprehenfion of the good baronet. He was, however, completely mistaken. Sir William's ruminations on Edward's affertions discovered confequences which were at firft unperceived; and, his uneafinefs increafing, he determined to dif clofe it to his good friend the rector, with a hope of being re-affured by his fuperior learning.

At the conclufion of an unsuccessful rubber at backgammon, by way of apology for bad play, he frankly owned, that he had been thinking of fomething elfe all the time. "It is certainly very

" wrong in me," faid he, "but I "almost doubt of the truth of what "Solomon tells us, that there is no

"thing new under the fun." He then repeated Fitzofborne's theory, and added, "Is it not a new way of punishing a "man for ufing one wife ill, by giving "him leave to marry another?"

great

world

Many years had elapfed fince Mr. Evans's knowledge of the had been folely derived from the limited information of books and newfpapers. The dafhing fpirits with whom he had been formerly acquainted fought celebrity by high phaetons, Pomona-green coats, and Artois buckles; and seldom ventured upon more profound difquifitions than what were neceffary to determine the height which the younger Veftris could jump, or the distance that Eclipfe could gain on a dray-horse in a course of five minutes. The elegant tutor was now changed into the rural divine, and in common with all lovers of literature, he rejoiced to hear, that

the

the frivolity of fashionable manners was yielding to a fpirit of deep research and difcriminating curiofity. Suppofing that Philofophy ftill retained her character of being the handmaid of Truth, he felt inclined to pardon a few extravagancies in her admirers; and, believing the fountain pure, he repeated the popular couplet:

A little draught intoxicates the brain,
But drinking largely fobers us again.

Neither the general philanthropy of Mr. Evans's character, nor the prepoffeffing impreffions which lady Monteith's warm encomiums on Fitzofborne had made upon his mind, could induce him to give a favourable interpretation to a prepofition that threatened to sever the grand link which unites correct morals and focial happiness. His candour could only point to one conclu

fion, which was, that the natural imbecility of his revered patron's understanding increased with his years, and that the conclufion he had drawn from the arguments which Edward had used, was directly contrary to what the orator intended.

The answer which he returned to fir William was of a temporizing kind. But, after revolving the conversation in his own mind, he determined to apply to that confidant to whom fince deprived of a ftill dearer friend, he had been accustomed to intruft all his perplexities. He was concerned to find that Lucy's opinion of Mr. Fitzosborne was not in unifon with the fentiments of the countess. She expreffed her diflike of the myfterious air which he generally affected; and obferved, that Geraldine, who knew his difpofition thoroughly, apologized for the eccen

tricity