tears, I felt fome halfpence there which I did. not know I was poffeffed of. And now my native humanity, which had been depreffed, as well as every other good propenfity, by defpair, found means to refume its power in my mind. Impelled by its pleafing influence, I hastily ran up the steps, and having difcovered my hitherto invifible monitress, gave them to her. I received in return a thoufand bleffings; to which I rather thought she had a right from me, for having been the means of obftructing my dire intents.

I now returned to the place where the impious scene was to have been acted, and humbly adored that Being, who had by fuch an eventual circumftance counteracted it; and for the first and last time in my life, felt a fenfation of happiness from finding there were perfons in the world more wretched than myself. I dare fay my much refpe&ted * Thomson's defcription of the miseries of human life, will here occur to your recollection, as they do to mine on a review of the incident.

"Ah little do the gay, licentious, proud,

"Whom pleasure, power, and affluence furround; "They who their thoughtless hours in giddy mirth, "And wanton, often cruel, riot waste;

Thomson's Winter, Line 322.

"Ah

"Ah little think they, while they dance along,
"How many feel, this very moment, death
"And all the fad variety of pain:

"How many fink in the devouring flood,
"Or more devouring flame: how many bleed
"By shameful variance betwixt man and man :
"How many pine in want, and dungeon glooms;
* Shut from the common air, and common use
" Of their own limbs: how many drink the cup
"Of baleful grief, or eat the bitter bread of mi-
fery.".

I am apprehensive I fhall tire you with this melancholy account of the extreme of despair, into which your poor fallen friend was thus plunged. And yet I flatter myfelf, that an event fo interefting to me, will not be confidered as uninterefting to you. I will, however, think about bringing it to a conclufion, and with it conclude this proportionably long letter.

Whilft I compared my own fituation with that of the poor woman, whofe ftarving child and dying husband occafioned her to vent fo pungently her grief, I received great fatisfaction from confidering, that all those who were dear to me, as well from affection as the fies of blood, were in profperous circumftances. I had no one to care for, but the poor girl whofe affection kept her with me, and whom I regarded as my child. Having therefore adored the great Source of Good,

for

for my recent deliverance from the fatal effects of my defpondency, I prayed that he would pardon the atrocious attempt; and concluded my petition, with begging that he would grant me power to affift her, and make her future days more comfortable.

Having done this, I remounted the steps,. and found my mind inexpreffibly relieved. The gloom which had fo lately overwhelmed it, was in an inftant cleared away, and a tranquillity I had long been a ftranger to, fucceeded it. Such a fudden tranfition from the blackeft defpair to peace and hope, I was well affured could only have been effected by fome invifible agent; for I never felt fuch a ray of comfort diffuse itself through my heart, fince thofe bleffed days of innocence I spent in my much-regretted convent. "It "came o'er my mind," (as the immortal' bard defcribes the power of mufic) "like "the fweet South, that breathes upon a bank. "of violets, ftealing and giving odour."

*Twelfth Night, A&t I. Scene I

G. A. B..

LET

H

LETTER XCVI.

February 8, 17

AVING offered up my adorations to Heaven, with a fervour I had fcarcely ever experienced before, I returned home. When I got in, I found my poor Sally crying as if her heart would break, left fome misfortune had happened to me. The faithful girl was, however, foon restored to quiet, by obferving the gloom, which had lately been so apparent in my looks difpelled, and tranquillity feemingly reftored to my distracted bofom. She informed me, that during my abfence, her fifter had called upon her, and had lent her two fhillings. With this she had been out, and bought fomething fhe thought I fhould like for fupper, and fome tea and fugar for the morning.

When fupper was got ready, we fat down together to our repaft, with thankful hearts; for fhe was become more a humble friend than a fervant; and I cannot remember, even in the moft elevated fituationI was ever in, and when my table was fpread with dainties, that I made a more pleasing meal. The goodness of the poor girl's heart was fo evident, in her waiting patiently for my return, to partake of what fhe had provided, notwithstanding she had been long fafting; and gave me fuch an incontrovertible proof

of

of her affection, that it greatly added to my regard for her; and I then refolved, if I was ever bleft with the power, amply to return it.

So interested and lukewarm is thefervice of domestics, in general, to their masters and miftreffes, that when their attendance appears to be tinctured with regard as well. as duty, they claim every indulgence their ftation will admit of, and become invaluable. To fhew my approbation of the confiderate girl's attention, I gave her leave to pass the following day with her fifter, who had called to invite her; and I was not difpleafed at her having fuch an opportunity of regaling herself, as no part of the fupply fhe had furnished me with remained but the tea and sugar.

As I fat ruminating, after fhe was gone, upon my late intended rafhness, I heard a gentle tap at the door. Since I had removed to the Attic ftory, I had, through a falfe pride, avoided feeing any of those who had known me in a better fituation; my furprize therefore was very great, at beholding Madam Krudnar enter; and more particularly fo, as a difference fubfifted at that time between a relation of her's and myself. This lady is the widow of a Polish baron, a most agreeable generous woman, and poffeffed of the most liberal fentiments.

She had accidentally heard of my diftrefs, and taken the first opportunity to come and relieve me. She gently chid me for conceal