hope!—Mrs. B-—— is better again, and has occasionally made some fine reflections, directing herself to me, but designed for the benefit of her Polly, on the subject of the inconsideration of some of our sex, with regard to the circumstances she is in; inferring that if such are her apprehensions, though a lawful wife, and such the danger attending this case, how must it leave a poor creature destitute of all spiritual consolation (as well as of the assistance and comfortings of the nearest friends, and of a kind husband), when she has sacrificed her honour, and cannot think of anything so probable, as the moment approaches, but that God will punish her in kind, as she called it; that is to say, added she, by the very sufferings which are the natural consequences of the sin she has so wickedly committed!

I knew what her design was, and said, Ay, Polly, let you and I, and every single young body, bear these reflections in mind, pronounced by so excellent a lady, in moments so arduous as these!

The girl wept, and very movingly fell down by the door, on her knees, praying to GOD to preserve her dear lady, and she should be happy for ever!—That, as Mrs. B—— so often prettily writes, was her word.

Mrs. B is exceedingly pleased with my new relation, Mrs. Harris, as we call her, who behaves with so much prudence that she suspects nothing, and told Mrs Jervis she wished nobody else to come near her. And as she goes out (being a person of eminence in her way) two or three times a day, and last night stayed out late, Mrs. B said she hoped she would not be abroad when she should wish her to be at home.

I have the pleasure, the very great pleasure, my dear papa and mamma, to acquaint you, and I know you will rejoice with me upon it, that just half an hour ago, my dear Mrs. BB― was brought to bed of a fine boy.

We are all out of our wits for joy almost. I ran down to Mr. B myself, who received me with trembling

impatience. A boy! a fine boy! dear Mr. B————! said I : A son and heir, indeed!

But how does my Pamela? Is she safe? Is she like to do well? We hope so, said I; or I had not come down to you, I'll assure you. He folded me in his arms, in a joyful rapture! How happy you make me, dearest Miss Darnford! If my Pamela is safe, the boy is welcome, welcome indeed!But when may I go up to thank my jewel?

Mrs. Andrews is so overjoyed, and so thankful, that there's no getting her from her knees.

A man and horse is despatched already to Lady Davers; and another ordered to Kent, to the good old man.

Mrs. Jervis, when I went up, said, she must go down and release the good folks from their knees; for, half an hour before, they declared they would not stir from that posture till they heard how it went with their lady; and when the happy news was brought them of her safety, and of a young master, they were quite ecstatic, she says, in their joy, and not a dry eye among them, shaking hands, and congratulating one another, men and maids: Which must make it one of the most affecting sights that can be imagined. And Mr. Longman, who had no power to leave the house for three days past (though business required his presence in Bedfordshire), hasted to congratulate his worthy principal; and never was so much moving joy seen, as this honest-hearted steward ran over with.

I cannot draw these affecting scenes of joy, as Mrs. B― could have done, had she been in my case.-Let me only say, I never saw such a family-joy in my life: And who would care for royalty, or any of its pageantry, when virtue can thus interest everybody in its concerns, and on such an occasion as this, give that general and sincere joy to all within its circle, which could fill a nation on the birth of a first-born prince from sovereigns the most beloved?

I did a foolish thing in my joy-I gave Mr. B— the letter designed for him, had an unhappy event followed; and he won't give it me again; but says he will obtain Mrs. B's leave, when she is better, to open it; and

the happier turn will augment his thankfulness to God, and love to her, when he shall, by this means, be blest with sentiments so different from what the other case would have afforded. But I will get it from him, if I can, and give it her back; for one knows not what it may contain; yet her innocence and purity make one less apprehensive a good deal; for I daresay she has no excuses to make for failings he knows nothing of.

Mrs. B had a very sharp time. Never more, my dear papa, talk of a husband to me. Indeed, in the mind I am in, I will never be married.-Place all your expectations on Nancy! Not one of these men that I have yet seen, Mr. B excepted (and you know what a chance it was that he would be so good), is worth running these risks for! But his endearments and tenderness to his lady, his thankful and manly gratitude and politeness, when he was admitted to pay his respects to her, and his behaviour to Mrs. Andrews, and to us all, though but for a visit of ten minutes, was alone worthy of all her risk.

I would give you a description of it, had I Mrs. B—'s pen, and of twenty agreeable scenes and conversations besides: But for want of that, must conclude, with my humble duty, as becomes, honoured sir and madam,

Your ever grateful

POLLY DARnford.

I have been three days writing this letter, piece by

piece.

LETTER LXI.

Miss Darnford to her Parents.

MY HONOURED PAPA AND MAMMA,-We have nothing but joy and festivity in this house; and it would be endless to tell you the congratulations the happy family receives, every day, from tenants and friends. Mr. Byou know, was always deemed one of the kindest landlords in England; and his tenants are overjoyed at the happy event which has given them a young landlord of his name: For all those who live in that large part of the estate, which came by Mrs. B his mother, were much afraid of having any of Sir Jacob Swynford's family for their landlord, who, they say, are all made up of pride and cruelty, and would have racked them to death: insomuch, that they had a voluntary meeting of about twenty of the principal of them, to rejoice on the occasion: and it was unanimously agreed to make a present of a piece of gilt plate, to serve as a basin for the christening, to the value of one hundred guineas; on which is to be engraven the following inscription:

In acknowledgment of the humanity and generosity of the best of landlords, and as a token of his tenants' joy on the happy birth of a son and heir, who will, it is hoped, inherit his father's generosity and his mother's virtues,—this piece of plate is, with all due gratitude, presented, as a christening basin, to all the children that shall proceed from such worthy parents, and their descendants, to the end of time. By the obliged and joyful tenants of the maternal estate in Bedfordshire and Gloucestershire, the initials of whose names are under engraven; viz.

Then are to follow the first letters of each person's christian and surname.

What an honour is this to a landlord! In my opinion far, very far, surpassing the misnomered free gifts which we read of in some kingdoms on extraordinary occasions, some of them like this! For here it is all truly spontaneous- -a free gift indeed! and Mr. B― took it very kindly, and has put off the christening for a week, to give time for its being completed and inscribed as above.

Such good tenants, such a good wife, such blessings from Heaven following him, nobody, I tell Mr. B———, has so much encouragement to be good as he has and if hereafter he should swerve, he would not have the least excuse, and would be the ungratefullest man breathing.

The Earl and Countess of C-, and Lord and Lady Davers, are here, to stand in person at the christening; and you cannot conceive how greatly my Lady Davers is transported with joy, to have a son and heir to the estate. She is, every hour almost, thanking her dear sister for him; and reads in the child all the great qualities she forms to herself in him. 'Tis indeed a charming boy, and has a great deal (if one may judge of a child so very young) of his father's manly aspect. The dear lady herself is still but weak; but the joy of all around her, and her spouse's tenderness and politeness, give her cheerful and free spirits: and she is all serenity, ease, and thankfulness.

Mrs. B——, as soon as the danger was over, asked me for her letter with the black seal. I had been

very earnest

to get it from Mr. B--, but to no purpose: So I was forced to tell her who had it. She said, but very composedly, she was sorry for it, and hoped he had not opened it.

He came into her chamber soon after, and I demanded it before her. He said he had designed to ask her leave to break the seal, which he had not yet done; nor would without her consent.

You will see nothing in it, sir, said the dear lady, but a grateful heart, a faithful love, and my prayers that GoD will be as good to you as you have been to me.

Will you give me leave, my dear, said he, to break the