and that there are such numerous failures in trade: If a person will live to the extent of his income, no provision is made against the misfortunes which are liable to befall him, and which therefore will probably plunge him into inextricable difficulties. Extremes are bad: the golden mean ought to be preserved. Every person ought to live below his income, without running into sordid avarice on the one hand, or profuse prodigality on the other.

My father added, that he believed Miss Barnwell to be possessed of every qualification necessary to constitute a good wife. But then, said he, are you certain that this lady is not already engaged? Or if she be not, do you know whether she could esteem you?

No, Sir, replied I: I know neither the one nor the other. But being thus favoured with your approbation, I will endeavour to learn both from her own mouth.,

I soon went to your excellent niece, and had some conversation with her. I please myself with the hope that she will not reject me. She has formed a prudent determination not to take one step in a business of this kind without your approbation, nor without asking the consent of her father. It is by her permission that I write to you on the subject. My dear Miss Barnwell and my sister unite in most sincere respects to you with,

Dear Madam,

Your very humble servant,
WILLIAM NEVILLE

LETTER LII.

From Miss Barnwell to Mrs. Worthington

DEAR MADAM,

I GAVE you an account in my last of the great change in Signior Albino. I have every day more and more reason to believe that he has passed from death unto life. He is remarkably humble, and diffident of himself, and laments continually his being the cause, though indirectly, of the

death of our dear friend. He told Mr. William Neville yesterday, that nothing less than the consideration of the infinite dignity of the person of Christ, his spotless purity, and perfect atonement, could have kept him from despair. I now, said he, remember the many things your sister said . concerning the excellence of the knowledge of Jesus, and when I look back, am amazed that I should be as ignorant as a heathen, with the oracles of God in my hand.

I know, Madam, it will give you great pleasure to hear that Mr. Neville has read our correspondence with his daughter; and that he has acknowledged to me that he believed the truth to be with us, and that he has hitherto pat darkness for light, and light for darkness. There are many things, however, to which he can with difficulty assent; and yet he does not know how to deny them.

I remarked, that if the sublime truths of the gospel were agreeable to our native sentiments as fallen creatures, they would not stand in need of being impressed upon the heart by the mighty power of God. I instanced in the divinity of Christ, and endeavoured to show that men of science and erudition, who are accustomed to think closely upon every subject, if they profess themselves Christians, naturally fall into Arianism, or Socinianism; it being contrary to the reasoning of depraved creatures that the everlasting Jehovah should come into this world at all, if we consider the small proportion which it bears to the solar system, and yet more so when we consider its nothingness in compari son of the universe. But, added I, when the Scriptures assert not only that the Most High came into our world, but that he was united to our nature, and that in that nature he expired on the cross, we are not to wonder that philosophers and thinking men should call these hard sayings, and difficult to be believed, or that they should strain every nerve to make revelation speak what is agreeable to their preconceived notions. Mr. Neville acknowledged the jus tice of my remark, and told me that he had had a good deal of conversation with his son and daughter, which indeed I already knew, and that he unexpectedly but agreeably found they had embraced every sentiment of their sister.

I have now to relate to my dear aunt an event in which the happiness of my life is considerably involved. Last

night Mr. William Neville found me in his sister's closet. After some conversation concerning the wonderful religious change which has taken place in the family, and after saying many obliging things to me, as he has likewise done at former times, he asked my permission to pay me his addresses. I blushed, and could not at first reply. After I had recovered a little from my confusion, I said, that I was greatly obliged to him for his favourable opinion of me, and for his regard for an orphan almost destitute of friends, and entirely destitute of fortune; that my aunt however had treated me with such parental and Christian tenderness, and felt such an interest in my happiness, that I could not make any answer till I had written to her; nor till my father also had been applied to; for that my duty to him was not cancelled by his unkind treatment of me.To the propriety of these things Mr. Neville fully assented.

It is unnecessary for me to conceal from you, my dear aunt, that I have for some time felt an uncommon regard for this amiable man. I struggled with my feelings, and endeavoured to persuade myself that it was nothing more than respect. If Mr. Neville had said nothing to me on the subject, I hope and believe that with the divine assistance my affection would have been kept within due bounds by my judgment; but if that gentleman is to be my hus band, it will no longer be my duty to repress it. And yet, now that he has disclosed his regard for me, I feel a strange kind of revolt, for which I do not know how to account, and which I cannot describe.

I told Mr. Neville that I did not doubt but he had previously mentioned it to his father. He replied that his father gave his most cordial consent, and spoke of me in the highest terms of affection and respect.

I promised that I would write to you upon the subject; and that I would at the same time request you to write to my father, without disclosing to him the name of the gentleman, or any thing concerning him, for which I said there would be no necessity, as his total unconcern about me would render him indifferent about the whole matter.

You will have the goodness, Madam, to do this, and to inform me of the result. If my dear aunt shall approve of

the connexion into which I am likely to enter, it will be an additional happiness to

Her most affectionate niece,

MIRANDA BARNWELL.

LETTER LIII.

From Mrs. Worthington to Miss Barnwell.

MY DEAR NIECE,

I HAVE received your letter, and that of Mr. William Neville. The reason of my not having written before is, because I have been put so much out of my way that I have had but little comfort for this fortnight past. Your father has always been so very obliging to me, that I could do no less than ask him to be at my house. If he had been by himself, I could have done very well; but Mrs. Barnwell and I are so different in almost every thing, that I dare say she has had no more satisfaction in my company than I have had in hers.

One evening or two that Mr. Barnwell and she did not go to the play were spent at my house. She wanted very much to make a party at cards; but I told her plainly there was no books of that kind in my library. Your father understood me, and said, I thought, Madam, you had pos sessed more liberal sentiments than to imagine with the vulgar that cards are the devil's books. I beg you will tell me what harm there is in playing a game at cards, any more than in taking a walk, or using any other recreation: there can be nothing unholy in paint and pasteboard. Besitles, I know many religious people who have no objection to a harmless game at cards.

I have no doubt of it, Sir, said I: but then it is to be feared that there are many religious people who will not be admitted into heaven. The evil of cards does not proeeed from the materials of which they are made. They

cause us to mis-spend much precious time, which might be better employed in profitable conversation. They also encourage a spirit of covetousness, by making persons anxious to win the property of their neighbours; and are frequently the occasion of indirect means being used for that purpose the first is a breach of the tenth commandment, Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's goods; and the last is a species of fraud bordering on robbery. For the same reason my husband would have nothing to do with lotteries, saying, that if God intended he should be rich, he had no doubt but he would direct him to such a way of acquiring wealth as would be conducive to his own glory and the good of society.

But to return from this digression, Mrs. Barnwell thought cheating at cards a very venial sin indeed. What had people their eyes for? and the address of a good player was only conspicuous by his cheating cleverly, and without detection. Ah, cried your father laughing, all gamesters are Spartans in that respect: they think there is no crime in robbery, but that all the guilt consists in being detected.

When your father and I were alone, I told him that you had some expectation of proposals of marriage, and asked him what he intended to do for you. He replied, that if you had behaved well, and had accepted of Mr. Clifford as he advised and even commanded you to do, he would have done something handsome; but that he had been at great expenses since his marriage, and might possibly have a small family. It would be out of his power, therefore, to do any thing in his lifetime, and he would promise nothing afterward; that should be as you behaved.

I asked him whether he would give his consent to your marriage, if proposals should be made. O yes, he said, by all means; you knew you had his consent to be or do or go what or where you would. I am sorry, said I, that you should possess so little regard for your child. I can assure you, however, that she has a dutiful and affectionate regard for you; and it is at her request that I have proposed the matter for your approbation. She may do what she pleases, answered he; I shall give myself no trouble about her.