Penfions on s. d Viscountess Lifford, widow 500 Sarah Mauvillian Cooper Benigne Lefcure, widow, and Mary and Jane Corneille, fpinfters, and furvivor Elizabeth Jebb, widow 54 15 75 O Rofs Jebb Mary Jebb 75 Elizabeth Jebb Frances Jebb 37 10 Margaret Jebb 37 10 Elinor Loftus, widow Elizabeth Annefley Richarda Annelley 100 Hannah Stratford Catherine Brunker Mrs. Angell Greenfield Denham Jephfon,efq. James Nugent, efq. Mary Johnfton, widow of William Johnfton Mrs. Jane Penrofe Mrs. Catherine Hoare William Walcot, efq. Mrs. Elizabeth Green Mrs. Anne Sherry Robert Day, efq. in truft for the fole and feparate ufe of Anne Copinger, wife of Maurice Copinger, efq. Franklyn Kirby, and Sufannah his wife and furvivor 50 40 50 600 200 50 50 150 200 50 50 800 200 oo Jane Eyre, alias Lynch, and Martin French Lynch her husband and furvivor o Jonathan Bruce Roberts, N. Loftus Tottenham, efq. Coo o Bridget Seix 100 100 Dr. John Charles Fleury James Switzer William Beckford, and Elinor his wife, and furvivor Margaret Butler, and Mary Yeates and Sarah Butler, her daughters, and furvivor Şir Chas. Devoeux, bart. Wm. Blakeney, efq. Hib. Mag. April, 1796.. 400 O 50 0 700 efq. Elizabeth Elliot John Nafon 250 200 150 150 200 150 400 Mary Portis, and the Rev. Rev. Anthony Trail Catharine Fitzmaurice George Macartney Por tis, her fon 300 Sir John Blaquiere, K. B. 1200 Count de Lally Tollendal 300 Q Count de Jarnac, and his wife Madame de Jarnac, and furvivor 200 Sir John Blaquiere, K. B. 1031 o Robert Afhworth, affignee, ditto Duchefs of Athol Alex. Lyner, affignee of lord Mountjoy Robert Watfon Wade, af 8 11 1030 18 6 2000 O 200 300 450 fignee of lord Mount 800 joy 1000 Thomas Higginbotham, lady Laura oppofe the wishes of her Derwent Priory; A Novel. In a feries friends? of Letters. LETTER I. Lady Laura Merioneth to Mifs Lumly. YOUR Twickenham, May 9, 179OUR letter, my dearest girl, is just arrived, and has relieved me from a load of anxiety on your account; for I was very ingenioufly, at the moment I received it, tormenting myfelf by the retrofpect of every ill that could poffibly attend you in a journey of two hundred miles. You are fafe; and I am as happy as I can be, after fuftaining the lofs of your fociety. But I muft endeavour to filence my regrets on this occafion; for as the mandate of a parent fummoned you from me, I fhould be reproaching his authority if I ventured to complain of it. Becaufe (faid I) I feel a little hereditary diflike to the prefent earl. I muft own (faid my aunt, a little peevishly) I expected a better reafon for your oppofition. My dear madam, my declining Mrs. Maynard's polite invitation does not in the leaft interfere with your acceptance of it, was my answer. I certainly fhall not go alone, replied Mrs. Merioneth; and what can be your ferious objections to vifiting the only relations, except myself, that fate has left you? My dear aunt, you must recollect frequently hearing me exprefs my diflike to the character of the prefent earl, founded, I muft own, principally on his unfeeling behaviour at the death of my brother.-A lofs fo fatal to the peace, fo deftructive to the health, of my lamented father, fhould have been treated with more refpect by his next heir. My deareft Laura, (faid my aunt) where is the man who would not exult in the demife of a fickly heir, who ftood between him and a title and fortune? It is very true, (faid I) that there may be others who would have exulted equally under the fame circumftances: but perhaps they would have had the decency to have kept their joy to themfelves. Come, come, (cried Mrs. Maynard) you think too feriously of past events; I have the fatisfaction to inform you that my aunt's health is much improved fince our return to this fweet retirement. London never agrees with her; and yet fhe was yesterday almoft inclined to take wing again for it. You will certainly wonder what magnet could be fufficiently powerful to attract her again to that region of fmoke and noife, at this advanced feafon of the year. Know, then, by way of preface to my fubject, that Mrs Maynard yefterday paffed the morning with us; the came purposely to inform us that lord and let me ftate the cafe. The late earl lady Derwent and family were at this loft a puny heir; the prefent earl ridi time on a vifit at her houfe in London; culed his brother's exceffive grief on that and preffed Mrs Merioneth and myself occafion, and faid he might marry again, to come and join the party, in order to and have another fon :-fome bufy offi effect a family reconciliation. My cious tale-bearer reported the converfaaunt, good creature! whofe heart beats tion,-your father refented it,—it creain unifon to every pulfe of fociability, ted a coldnefs which ended in difgust,— was for returning with Mrs. Maynard, and I am informed it is near twelve and very seriously hoped I would ac years fince you have met and this, company her. I objected, on the you muft confels, is the moft that can ground that fuch a visit might not be be faid of a circunftance which has fo agreeable to them. Mrs. Maynard was long divided fuch near relations.-Do authorised to affure me that they were throw afide your objections, and let mé impatient to receive us. My aunt again have the pleasure of reftoring you to prefied my compliance. friends who will be charmed with your I hesitated. fociety. However, if you ftill decline Why (faid Mrs. Maynard) does vifiting them at my houfe, you furely RI 2 can can have no objection to their vifiting ture (cried fhe), that we must not conyou at Twickenham. fult your judgment in matters of this kind: but I think lord Merioneth, who is without doubt a young man of great understanding, can never entertain ferious thoughts of uniting his fate with fo obfcure a partner. None in the leaft, faid I and I think, as the offence originated with lord Derwent, he owes us that compli ment. Mrs. Maynard agreed to bring the ladies one morning this week. She could not answer for the earl, who pays conftant attendance to the duties of parliament. Thus ftands the matter at prefent: and I will not close this letter till I fee if Mrs. Maynard makes good her promife. Before I could anfwer, the lady in queftion joined us, followed by lord Merioneth. May one know (faid Mrs Maynard, archly) what fubject you were debating on as you came up the walk? (I fhould have obferved we were in the garden.) Mits Rutland blufhed.— Our expected guests arrived yefter Lord Merioneth anfwerd, I was endeaday, and spent the day with us. The vouring to convince Mifs Rutland, that party confifted of lord and lady Der- this view, beautiful as it is, is nothing went, their fon and daughter, Mrs. to the fcenery of Italy. Here is not Maynard, and a mifs Rutland, a young that wild romantic diverfity which lady under the protection of lady Der characterifes the landfcapes of that went. After the tire fome ceremony of country. But here, faid he, bowing galformal introductions was over, we all lantly, I nuft drop my allufions; for, appeared equally determined to be in the prefence of the Graces, even Sipleafed with each other. Even the beria's deferts would become a paradife. earl, though (I plainly perceived) with Go, you are a trifler, (faid Mrs Mayfome difficulty, difencumbered himfelf nard, laughing) though, I mult confels, from his ufual weight of dignity, and an agreeable one, and flatter with a condefcended to be agreeable. Lady very good grace.-Does he not, mifs Derwent is a moft pleafing woman Rutland ? lord Merioneth refembles the youthful portrait of my honoured father; and I already feel for him the affection of a fifter. But how thall I find words which may do justice to the beauty, ele- Oh! (cried he) you mistake the gance, and dignity of Ellen Rutland ? matter entirely, my charming Rutland: It is impoffible to deferibe her; you it is the fubject which is improved, muft fee her before you can form any bowing to her. eftimate of her numberlefs attractions. Mrs. Maynard whifpered me, in confidence, that the thought lord Meriopeth was fond of mifs Ruiland. I honour his tafte-was my reply. He does no credit to his understanding by the felection, faid Mrs. Mayhard; for I believe mifs Rutland is a dependent on his mother's bounty, without family or fortune; and it is not reafonable to think the earl, with his knowledge of the world, will ever confent to fo ftrange an alliance. It would raife him (faid I) much in my eftination, if he confented with a good grace to the happinefs of bis fon. Oh you are fuch a romantic crea Why I really think, (the anfwered) as far as I can judge, that his lordihip's late refidence in Italy has much improved him in that fcience. She blushed exceffively. Mrs. Maynard exclaimed, I really think, my lord, you would make love in a very pretty manner. What do you think, mifs Rutland ? I-I do not know, madam,-hefitatingly. On his lordfhip has not tried his abilities then in your hearing. In pity to mils Rutland's confufion, I exclaimed,-You are too curious, Mrs. Maynard: and, if I was mifs Kutland, I would advile lord Merioneth to try his abilities in your hearing, for the pleasure of having your opinion of them. Excellent! (exclaimed Merioneth) I am quite at Mrs Maynard's fervice, if The the can make room for me in her lift of admirers. I will (addreffing himself to her) pick up your fan, fetch your fnuff box, fummon your Abigail, carefs your lap dog, and improve your parrot. Oh, hold, for heaven's fake! crid the lady you would indeed be an acquifition to any one that could make room for you; but, in my lift, there is no vacancy. But you may practife this fummer at the Priory, (looking archly at Ellen) and perhaps another feafon I may admit you in my train. Moft fuperlatively kind, and amazingly condefcending! cried lord Me-1 rioneth, drily at the fame time he drew Mrs. Maynard's hand under his arm, and made for the house. We followed the day paffed very pleasantly, and it was late before they departed for London.-Lord Derwent gave us a prefling invitation to pafs the fummer at the Priory; and I am inclined to think we fhall accept of it, as my aunt is very partial to her native place. We have never refided there fince the death of my mother,an event I have a very faint recollection of. I fhall be much pleased, I am fure, with the venerable old pile. In it I drew my firft breath. It will likewife have an additional charm, it will place me many miles nearer Lumly houfe than I am at prefent.-I am interrupted Lord Merioneth was below,-came to propose our accompanying them to the Priory the week after next. It was agreed on; fo you will receive no more letters from Twickenham, as we have but little time for the neceffary preparations: but as foon as we have completed our journey, I will re-affume my Occupation. Don't expect a packet a week, or imagine that I fhall excufe you from anfwering my letters. Mrs. Merioneth joins with me in love and compliments; and we fincerely hope, before this reaches you, that Mr. Lumly will be rettored to convalefcence. I rejoice in your brother's improve ment, but would have you beware of his tutor's attractions. That heart of thine, which with ftood all the fighing fwains of the gay world, may be more alive to the merits of Danville. I for From the fame to the fame. The Priory, July 7, 179— AND now, my dear Jane having in fome degree recovered the fatigue of my journey, and filenced by reflection thofe painful perturbations which I could not fail to feel on my entrance into this venerable manfion,-for it was here I paffed the happy years of infancy, and experienced all the folicitudes of maternal affection, and it was here my. fainted mother died in giving birth to a long-defired heir.-Alas! how fre quently may we obferve that those things which we moft fervently defire as the greateft ble ffings, are too often attended with the fevereft difappointment! But I am running into a fubject I did not intend to enter on; and as you de fire my correfpondence may be regular and minute, I take it for granted that you expect a sketch of our journey. I will therefore endeavour not to disappoint you Know then that our party confifted of lady Derwent, mifs Rutland, Julia, Mrs. Merioneth, Mrs. Maynard, and your friend, attended of courfe by our Abigails, and escorted by lord Merioneth. The earl ftaid in London, and is not expected here for fome time. We travelled in our own carriages, with poft horfes,-lord Derwent's coach, my aunt's chariot; and Mrs Maynard's chaife, I believe, included the cavalcade. Lord Merioneth, indeed, had a fuperb phaeton, but the height of it prevented his gaining one companion ; fo he refigned it to the fervants, and took a feat with me and Mrs. Merioneth in our chariot.-We had a very pleasant journey through a beautiful country, lept one night on the road, and |