Though my father's revenue was now considerable, yet the expense of having a family in London went far beyond his income. The distresses which this occasioned (as is commonly the case with such distresses) were felt long before they were endeavoured to be remedied; at last, however, they became so urgent as to oblige my father to think of retrenching his expenses, by returning for a while to the country.

Thither accordingly we repaired. I will not trouble you with giving a comparison of the different sensations I felt when I first left the country, with those which I entertained on my return. Suffice it to say, that we were received with the utmost respect and attention. My father's situation, and his general popularity, were sufficient to secure this; and our conduct was certainly such as not to give offence.

My father was now advanced in years. Notwithstanding the emoluments of his office, he found his fortune not increasing, and he became anxious to have my sister and me settled in the world. No opportunity of this kind, however, occurred. The gentlemen of our part of the country, though they treated us with respect, never thought of us for wives. A London, a fashionable, and showy education, they considered as incompatible with their plans and views of life. They married girls like themselves, whose habits were like their own.

After having somewhat repaired the waste of London by the economy of the country, we returned once more to the metropolis. By the greatest accident in the world, my sister Harriet happened to catch the fancy of a young nobleman of fashion and address. Dining one day with a group of his companions, he gave Harriet G for his toast, swearing a great oath, she was the finest girl in the worldI have a great mind,' said he, to marry her,'—

He was as good as his word, and their marriage soon after followed.

A marriage of this kind, made with levity, and entered on without affection, had little chance to be a happy one. Harriet's husband soon not only became indifferent, but was not even at pains to conceal his indifference. His amusements lay in hunting, in drinking, in cock-fighting, in gaming:-all her accomplishments, her music, her knowledge in modern languages, her taste in dress, her skill in painting, &c. he valued not, nor cared for. This negligence for a while sunk deep into her heart; it threw her into melancholy, and I was apprehensive of the consequences of it to her health. In time, however, her spirits revived, and she became as in- different about her husband as he was about her. She even went the length of wishing to show him marks of her indifference.

In this situation they now are: more than indifferent, they hate one another; and their only pleasure consists, though they do it with the most finished good-breeding, in giving mutual vexation. He never at home, she always abroad;-he extravagant in his pleasures, she no less so in hers;-he in one gaming party, she in another.

He

You will naturally, sir, wish to know what is my situation; I can assure you it is by no means agreeable. My father has been for some time dead. died without leaving a shilling, his debts being fully equal to his estate. In these circumstances, it became a matter of necessity, not of choice, that I should live with my sister; but from what I have already said, you must easily see my residence in her family cannot be desirable. The bad terms in which my sister and her lord live, make me neither loved nor trusted by either. The husband is jealous that possess the confidence of his lady, and know more

than I should know; she again thinks me a spy upon her enjoyments, and is displeased that I should disapprove of that dissipation to which she has so entirely devoted herself.

A thousand times have I wished to leave this house, where no prospect of enjoyment for me now remains; but as often have I found every such scheme impracticable. My relations in the country have now forgotten me; and even if they remembered me with more interest than I am afraid they do, would not willingly receive into their family one whom they naturally think a fashionable residence in London must have so much spoiled. I have frequently thought of hiring a small house, and living by myself, but I find I am unable to afford it. In this state I must remain where I am, neglected by the Earl of, and not trusted by the countess. My situation I have often thought worse than that of their housekeeper; for while she receives their wages, she has it in her power to leave them whenever she has a mind.

With what bitter reflections do I now recollect the time when I first left the country! How different has been the fate of Lucy Rfrom mine! She was the early companion of my youth. She married, when she was young, a gentleman without fortune, but possessed of every good quality. Though the friends of both sides considered the match as imprudent, they yielded to the inclination of the parties. It certainly was not a marriage either of interest or ambition; but it was a marriage of choice, of affection. Heaven has rewarded it.- -The very narrowness of their circumstances, the mutual inconveniences, the hardships they had to undergo, but endeared them the more to each other. These were an additional incitement to the industry of Lucy's husband, and contributed to the prosperous situation at which he has now arrived. I received lately a letter from

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Lucy, giving me an account of her situation, which, though expressed in the simplest terms, went to my heart. How happy am I says she; the greatest part of my happiness consists in my having added to the comfort of dear Charles. It was but yesterday he told me, that but for me he should have sunk under the difficulties of life, but for me he would not have been able to bear up against them; but with you, said he,It is needless to add the remainder of his affectionate address.'

Such is the letter of Lucy R-. I shall not you with any remarks on the difference of her situation and mine. The quiet ordinary path is she read to real and lasting enjoyment; and if pawwe wish to make their children happy, they should educate them for that station in which fortune has Waced them, they should know that, for one of my verbang pores more chance of felicity in the private stations of than in all the noise, and and show off a more exalted situation.

I am, &c.

A. G.

No. 22 SATURDAY, JULY 2, 1785.

EVERY periodical writer, like every knight-errant of old in assuming his office, is understood to swear fealty to the ladies; I presume, therefore, it is now so much an acknowledged quality of the profession, that it is needless for any individual to declare it. bove all others, the LOUNGER would wish to attract ir notice and conciliate their favour. It is possible

to be busy independent of the ladies; but he must be a brute indeed who can be idle without them.

I hope, then, I may take credit for a particular attention to their interests, their employments, and their amusements. I shall consider no circumstance, however minute, as below my regard, which can any how affect them; and every thing in the female form will be entitled to the immediate notice of the LOUNGER. From a correspondent who is well aware of this part of my plan, I have just received intelligence, that a very little, but a very wonderful lady, intends to do herself the pleasure of visiting Edinburgh this season; and I take the first opportunity of announcing her intention to my readers. The lady I mean is the Merveilleuse Poupée parlante; the wonderful speaking figure, who has so much surprised and amused the best company, both on the continent, where she was first produced, and in England, where she has spent the last year of her life. I had the honour of waiting on her first at Brussels, and then at London: and shall take the liberty, by way of ushering her into Scotland, to relate some particulars that passed in the course of my last visit, during the lady's residence in the parish of St. James.

The part of the company which more particularly attracted my notice consisted of a gentleman and his lady, accompanied by a thin tall elderly gentlewoman, who appeared to be a relation, on whose arm the lady leaned as she came up stairs, and who carried a small white lap-dog, on whom her kinswoman bestowed a great many caresses, but the husband looked with rather less complacency. There were two very young ladies, attended by a sister somewhat older; but who seemed to have put on the womanly garb rather from size than age. Next them was placed an old gentleman, wrapped up in a warm surtout,