what fplendor and power the pleased. He had every thing he could name that money could procure, and was abfolute master of the house and land. Not a fhilling at this time could I get, nor obtain the least thing I asked for; and because I refused to become preceptor to this young man, and had made forne alteration in my religion, (having renounced that creed, which was compofed, nobody knows by whom, and introduced into the church in the darkest ages of popish ignorance; a fymbol, which ftrongly participates of the true nature and fpirit of popery, in those severe denunciations of God's wrath, which it pours fo plentifully forth against all those whofe heads are not turned to believe it), my father was fo enraged that he would not even admit me to his table any longer, but bid me be gone. My mother-in-law likewife for ever abused me, and her nephew, the lad, infulted me when I came in his way.

Being thus compelled to withdraw, I fet fail for England as foon as it was in my power, and arrived in Cumberland by the force of a storm. I proceeded from thence to the mountains of Stanemore, to look for a gentleman, my friend, who lived among thofe hills; and as I journeyed over them, and miffed him, I chanced to meet with a

fine northern girl, and a habitation to my purpose. I married her, and for almoft two years past was the happiest of the human race, till the fable curtain fell between us, and the angel of death tranflated her glorious foul to the fields of paradise. Not able to bear the place of our refidence, after I had loft my heart's fond idol, I left the charming fpot and manfion, where unmixed felicity had been for fome time my portion, and I was travelling on towards London, to fee what is ordained there in reserve for me; when by accident I loft my way, and the fates conducted me to the Groves of Bafil. Curiofity led me into the library I found in the plain, without this: wood, from whence, in fearch for fome human creatures, I proceeded to the fountain, where I had the pleasure of feeing you, Sir, and this young lady. This is a fummary of my paft life; what is before me heaven only knows. My fortune I truft with the Preferver of men, and the Father of fpirits. One thing I am certain of by obfervation, few as the days of the years of my pilgrimage have been, that, the emptiness and unfatisfying nature of this world's enjoyments, are enough to prevent my having any fondnefs to stay in this region of darkness and forrow. I fhall never leap over the bars of life, let

what

ב

what will happen: but the fooner I have leave to depart, I fhall think it the better for me.

§. 8. The old gentleman feemed furprized at my story, and after fome moments filence, when I had done, he faid, Your measure, Sir, is

The old gen tleman's reply to the ftory.

hard, and as it was, in part, for declaring against a falfe religion at your years, you please me fo much, that if you will give me leave, I will be your friend, and as a fubaltern providence, recompence your lofs as to fortune in this world. In what manner you fhall know to-morrow, when we breakfast at eight. It is now time to finish our bottle, that we may, according to our custom, betimes retire.

The hiftory of Ch. Henley, Efq; and bis beautiful daughter Statia.

§. 9. At the time appointed I met the old gentleman in the parlour, and juft as we had done faluting each other, Statia entered, bright and charming as Aurora. She was in a rich drefs, and her bright victorious eyes flashed a celeftial fire. She made our tea, and gave me fome of her coffee. She asked me a few civil queftions, and faid two or three good things

on

on the beauties of the morning, and the charms of the country. She left us the moment we had done breakfaft, and then the old gentleman addreffed himself to me in the following words.

I do not forget the promise I made you, but muft first relate the hiftory of my family. I do it with the more pleasure, as I find you are of our religion, and I cannot help having a regard for you, on your daring to throw up a fortune for truth; for bravely daring to renounce thofe fyftems, which have an outward orthodox roundness given to them by their eloquent defenders, and within are mere corruption and apoftacy.

The skeleton you faw in the library was once my fon, Charles Henley, a moft extraordinary man. He had great abilities, and understood every thing a mortal is capable of knowing, of things human and divine.-When he was in his nineteenth year, I took him to France and other countries, to fee the world, and, on our return to England, married him into a noble family, to a very valuable young woman, of a large fortune, and by her he had the young lady you faw fitting on the chair near the table by me. This fon I

loft,

loft, three years after his marriage, and with him all relifh for the world: and being naturally inclined to retirement and a fpeculative life, never ftirred fince from this country-house. Here my fon devoted himself entirely to ftudy, and amufed himfelf with inftructing his beloved Statia, the young lady you have seen. At his death he configned her to my care; and as her understanding is very great, and her difpofition sweet and charming, I have not only taken great pains in educating her, but have been delighted with my employment. Young as fhe is, but in the second month of her one and twentieth year, she not only knows more than women of diftinction generally do, but would be the admiration of learned men, if her knowledge in languages, mathematics, and philofophy, were known to them: and as her father taught her mufic and painting, perhaps there is not a young woman of finer accomplishments in the kingdom.

Aug. 14.

1727.

Her father died towards the end of the year 1723, in the 39th year of his age, when he was not quite fixteen, and, by his will, left her ten thousand pounds, and Bafil-Houfe and eftate; but he is not to inherit it, or marry, till fhe is two and twenty.