complicate, being nierely a notice, that if Raymond would call at the office of Messrs. W. and G., Coleman-street, he would hear of something much to his advantage; or that any person, giving information concerning him, or where he might be found, would be handsomely rewarded. When I read this paragraph to Mary, she was equally astonished and delighted-and we both sat wondering and conjecturing, until we remembered that my appearance was too shabby to present myself at the lawyers; and it was therefore settled, that Mary should go the next morning, and endeavour to ascertain what this beneficial news might be. We were obliged to use caution, as we were not without suspicion of further molestation from my false mistress. At any rate, the money Mary might receive would supply our immediate necessities, and furnish me with new clothes, should I find it worth my while to give further attention to this business. Early next morning, Mary went to the city and saw the legal gentleman: she refused acknowledging her acquaintance with my abode; but, when informed that an uncle of mine had caused the insertion of the advertisement, promised in the course of two days to procure certain intelligence of my residence, if ten pounds were given to her in hand. The benevolent Mr. G▬▬n, guessing probably her need, or accurately estimating her candour by her tones and manner,-knowing likewise how eager his employer was in the affair, gave her the money required. My generous companion laid the whole out in supplies

for me; and on the day appointed, I went myself to Coleman-street, where my uncle was in waiting, who, after a few questions, discovered himself to be my father's elder brother, whom I before mentioned as a merchant, and who, in the course of twenty years, had realised an immense fortune in the East Indies, where he had married and settled: that, losing his wife, and having but one child, a daughter, he had just returned to England, determined to share his wealth with his beloved brother Leandro, the hearing of whose death had severely afflicted him. And now, when he had found that brother's offspring, his sorrows were again to be renewed, by the relation of my past follies and their punishment, although my pride helped me to gloze them over, and forbade the avowal of how much worse than beggary were the state of my finances.During our conversation, one of the clerks announced my uncle's carriage; upon which he proposed that I should accompany him to Grosvenor-place, and be introduced to my cousin Eliza. His earnestness was not to be resisted, and we set out. On our way, he talked unceasingly in praise of this daughter, and led me to expect exquisite loveliness and perfect goodness; which were realised, as far as regular beauty and indolent good-nature can deserve that praise.She was lying on a sofa heaped with down cushions, her whole appearance bespeaking langour and indulgence; yet she was evidently delighted at the success of my uncle's research, although it would deprive her of part of her fortune, and, what she more prized, her

father's affection, if it be possible to lessen the parental tie by participation, which, like Elisha's cruize, may be poured out and divided among many, yet remain undiminished.

My uncle, upon hearing how meanly I was lodged, would fain have had me settled with him; but this my pride and independence forbade, and I excused myself, I fear, with so bad a grace, that my uncle apologised, and said, when we were better acquainted, I should find he had no intention to offer any control over my actions. We parted, however, good friends; and not without my promising to be with him early in the following morning, when our future plans could be discussed and arranged more fully. I repeated the events of this day to Mary, who was delighted with my brilliant prospects; but I could perceive her colour change upon the mention of my beautiful cousin; more especially, when I persisted in her praise, spitefully triumphing in the uneasiness it caused her. When I had ended, she faintly smiled, and said, "With your uncle's princely fortune, and such a handsome wife, you will be rewarded, dear Raymond, for all your past misfortunes." I laughed at her suggestion; yet the idea was too pleasing to be quickly dismissed; and it lessened my surprise, when, the next day, my uncle made the proposal that I should marry his daughter with the whole of his fortune, leaving himself entirely dependent upon our gratitude and affection. He assured me, that this was his darling wish, which if once accomplished, he cared not to die

the next hour. "Your mother's haughty relations shall then see," he exclaimed, "that the family they despised were not only their equals by birth, but surpass them in magnificence and riches: your triumph too over your former fickle friends will be complete." These were not inducements sufficient for me. My pride could not be gratified by the flattery and homage which follows wealth and power. No; to be loved disinterestedly was my cherished folly. I therefore urged, that the shortness of our acquaintance precluded the possibility of ascertaining whether my cousin's ideas were the same as his upon this subject; and that, until those were decidedly in my favour, I could not have the indelicacy to accept of his offer, however advantageous. He allowed the reasonableness of my delay, but assured me, Eliza had spoken more favourably of me than of any man she had ever known. This not removing my scruples, it was agreed that time should be allowed us; meanwhile, my uncle requested me to consider his fortune at my disposal; and, when I reflected on the appearance I must henceforward maintain, I agreed to become his debtor, although for a sum more suited to my unwillingness to be obliged, than with the liberality of his wishes. Henceforward I spent most of my time in Grosvenor-place, where the surrounding elegance and comfort formed but too pleasing a contrast with the shabby inconveniences of poor Mary's humble lodging. No one enjoys the blessings of luxury more exquisitely than he who is thoroughly imbued with the refined

voluptuousness of the poets, or endures the contrary ills with such inward pining and disgust. How can he, who yearns to embrace all beauteous nature with outstretched arms, be content and pleased while cooped in the dark-room of some narrow, dirty alley? I felt this most sensibly in my nightly returns from Grosvenor-place, where the air is salubrious and impregnated with the odour of mignionette and other balsamic flowers, to the foul ways, unwholesome smells, and vulgar brawls of St. George's Fields. My vanity also was closely besieged by the assiduities of my uncle and Eliza, whose love and gratitude I effectually secured, by rescuing the latter from a villainous attempt, made by a spendthrift nobleman, to carry her off, that he might, by marriage, possess her fortune. This accident banished all reserve on my cousin's part: she owned that her father's wishes, with regard to our union, were her own, and in the excess of her gratitude, desired that the whole property should be mine unconditionally, that her dependence might be solely upon my honour and affection. This › was touching me on the weak point, a deference and obligingness without reserve. Every thing, therefore, was put in train for our marriage; but in the midst of these flattering prospects, some pangs would arise with respect to the fate of poor Mary, whom I must then abandon. I suffered her to be considered by my new connexions as my servant-a faithful one, it is true, I allowed her to be; and upon Eliza's offering to take her in our family, I had the grace to blush,