give entire credit to the dying part of the story). Rather than have such a weight upon his confcience, he would marry.

Lady Powerscourt, however, very foon after her marriage, discovered that she had made a great mistake, and was incautious enough to disclose the fecret to her husband. It was not from the brown bob nor Kevenhuller hat that the god of love took aim when he pierced her tender bosom, nor was the mortal shaft barbed by the virtues which adorned the respectable character to which they were appendages. Like Hudibras's Cupid, he certainly

"Fix'd his stand

" Upon a wealthy jointure land." Powerscourt-house possessed irrefiftible attractions, and the had heard her papa and mamma frequently affert, that if fir William would but marry a woman of taste, it might be made one of the fweetest

sweetest places in all North Wales. She knew that fir Ralph Morgan's lady spent all the winter at Bath, the spring in London, the fummer at her countryfeat, and in the autumn took a tour; that the drove four in hand, gave balls, kept a groom of the chambers, and a French waiting-maid, had twelve new dresses a-year, and set the fashions for all the country; yet fir Ralph's estate was not half so large as fir William's. What heart could resist such invincible attractions? She immediately fell very deeply in love.

I have in a former publication ventured to give my opinion, that the two faces of Hymen are not exact counterparts to each other. The smiling countenance which fronts the long vista leading to his temple, has few traits of fimilitude to the austere physiognomy which is defcried by those who, after

they have offered facrifice, retire behind his altar. The discussion of preliminaries might have convinced the lady that the nuptial cup contained some drops of an acid quality. To the charms of Powerfcourt she had annexed one grand ingredient, which unhappily did not exist, at least not in its supposed magnitude, I mean, the uneasiness of fir William's disposition. Though "gentle as zephyr blowing underneath a violet" upon most occafions, he had upon others a little of the old bachelor's tenacity about him. He would keep lady Powerscourt a coach and fix with all his heart, but he did not like ladies driving. four in hand. She might have half a dozen English waiting-women if the pleased, and as many Welch ones, but he did not approve of French filles de chambre. He had no objection to her giving balls to the neighbouring young ladies,

ladies, and she might make them as happy as she could; but he thought that married ladies ought not to be jigging about themselves: and as to dress, she might be clothed every day in silver brocade; but his wife should never wear feathers and flowers in her head-dress, like a stage-player.

The grand point of dispute, however, was the occupation of the four feafons. He was willing to take her to town for three months, because the country mustbe rather dull to women in winter, as they could neither shoot nor hunt; and if the were not well, he would accompany her to Bath or any where that would do her service; but to live at Powerscourt only three months-what would all his neighbours say, and how would his tenants go on without him! My lady strove to convince him that their opinions were not worth regarding; but fir William was firm.

c6

firm. He had long confidered them as rational creatures, and he could not haftily renounce that opinion: beside, he was fond of farming, and deeply engaged in schemes of agricultural improvement; and if he stayed so little at home, he must either be the dupe of imposition, or renounce those pursuits. Here his obliging confort hinted, that fince he was so engaged in rural pursuits, business allowed him a fair excuse for abfence, and the would be willing occasionally to dispense with his attendance. Sir William was not remarkably quick of apprehenfion; and, certainly, most bridegrooms in his situation would have been inclined to refer the lady's proposal rather to the exuberant defire of gratifying his peculiar inclination, than to any latent with of being deprived of his society. He saw it quite in that point of view; and though he made no answer

at