MR DENNISON took care to be in the way when his fon arrived at the gate, and, without giving him time or opportunity to make any enquiry about the ftrangers, brought him up stairs to be presented to Mr Lloyd and his family. The first perfon he faw, when he entered the room, was Liddy, who, notwithstanding all her preparation, ftood trembling in the utmost confufion-At fight of this object, he was fixed motionless to the floor, and, gazing at her with the utmoft eagernefs of aftonishment, exclaimed, “Sacred heaven! what is this!—ha ! wherefore-" Here his fpeech failing, he stood straining his eyes, in the most emphatic filence-" George (faid his father), this is my friend Mr Lloyd." Roufed at this intimation, he turned and received my falute, when I faid, "Young gentleman, if you had trusted me with your fecret at our last meeting, we should have parted upon better terms." Before he could make any anfwer, Jery came round and ftood before him with open arms. At first, he started and changed colour; but, after a fhort paufe, he rushed into his embrace, and they hugged one another as if they had been intimate friends from their infancy: Then he paid his refpects to Mrs Tabitha, and advancing to Liddy, "Is it poffible (cried he) that my fenfes do not play me falfe!

-That I fee Mifs Melford under my father's roofthat I am permitted to speak to her without giving offence-and that her relations have honoured me with their countenance and protection." Liddy blufhed, and trembled, and faltered-" To be fure, Sir (faid fhe), it is a very furprising circumftance-a great-a providential--I really know not what I fay-but I beg you will think I have faid what's agreeable."

MRS DENNISON interpofing, faid, "Compofe yourfelves, my dear children-Your mutual happiness fhall be our peculiar care." The fon going up to his mother, kifled one hand; my niece bathed the other with her tears; and the good old lady preffed them both in their turns to her breast-The lovers were too much affected, to get rid of their embarraffment for one day; but the fcene was much enlivened by the arrival of Jack Wilfon, who brought, as ufual, fome game of his own killing-His honest countenance was a good

letter of recommendation.-I received him like a dear friend after a long feparation; and I could not help wondering to fee him shake Jery by the hand as an old acquaintance. They had, indeed, been acquainted fome days, in confequence of a diverting incident, which I fhall explain at meeting.-That fame night a confultation was held upon the concerns of the lovers, when the match was formally agreed to, and all the marriage articles were fettled without the leaft difpute--My nephew and I promised to make Liddy's fortune five thou fand pounds. Mr Dennifon declared, he would make over one half of his estate immediately to his fon, and that his daughter-in-law fhould be fecured in a jointure of four hundred.-Tabby proposed, that, confidering their youth, they fhould undergo one year at least of probation, before the indiffoluble knot fhould be tied; but the young gentleman being very impatient and importunate, and the fcheme implying that the young couple fhould live in the house under the wings of his parents, we refolved to make them happy without farther delay.

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As the law requires that the parties fhould be fome weeks refident in the parish, we shall stay here till the ceremony is performed. Mr Lifmahago requests that may take the benefit of the fame occafion; fo that next Sunday the banns will be published for all four together. I doubt I fhall not be able to pafs my Christmas with you at Brambletonhall. Indeed, I am fo agreeably fituated in this place, that I have no defire to shift my quarters; and I foresee, that, when the day of separation comes, there will be abundance of forrow on all fides-In the mean time, we must make the most of thofe bleffings which Heaven beftows.-Confidering how you are tethered by your profeffion, I cannot hope to fee you fo far from home; yet the distance does not exceed a fummer day's journey, and Charles Dennifon, who defires to be remembered to you, would be rejoiced to fee his old compotator; but as I am now stationary, I expect regular anfwers to the epiftles of, Yours invariably,

October 11.

VOL. VI.

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MATT. BRAMBLE.

To Sir WATKIN PHILLIPS, Bart. at Oxon,

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DEAR WAT,

VERY day is now big with incident and difcovery-Young Mr Dennison proves to be no other than that identical perfon whom I have execrated fo long under the name of Wilfon-He had eloped from college at Cambridge, to avoid a match that he detefted, and acted in different parts of the country as a ftroller, until the lady in queftion made choice of a husband for herfelf; then he returned to his father, and difclosed his paffion for Liddy, which met with the approbation of his parents, though the father little imagined that Mr Bramble was his old companion Matthew Lloyd. The young gentleman being empowered to make honourable propofals to my uncle and me, had been in search of us all over England without effect; and he it was whom I had seen pass on horseback by the window of the inn, where I ftood with my fifter, but he little dreamed that we were in the house. for the real Mr Wilfon, whom I called forth to combat, by mistake, he is the neighbour and intimate friend of old Mr Dennison, and this connection had fuggefted to the fon the idea of taking that name while he remained in obfcurity.

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You may easily conceive what pleasure I must have felt on difcovering that the honour of our family was in no danger from the conduct of a fifter whom I love with uncommon affection; that, inftead of debafing her fentiments and views to a wretched ftroller, fhe had really captivated the heart of a gentleman, her equal in rank, and superior in fortune; and that, as his parents approved of his attachment, I was on the eve of acquiring a brother-in-law fo worthy of my friendship and efteem. George Dennifon is, without all queftion, one of the most accomplished young fellows in England.— His perfon is at once elegant and manly, and his underftanding highly cultivated. Though his fpirit is lofty, his heart is kind; and his manner fo engaging, as to

command veneration and love, even from malice and indifference. When I weigh my own character with his, I am ashamed to find myself fo light in the balance; but the comparison excites no envy-I propose him as a model for imitation-I have endeavoured to recommend myself to his friendship, and hope I have already found a place in his affection. I am, however, mortified to reflect what flagrant injuftice we every day commit, and what abfurd judgment we form, in viewing objects through the falfifying medium of prejudice and paffion. Had you asked me a few days ago the picture of Wilson the player, I fhould have drawn a portrait very unlike the real perfon and character of George Dennifon-Without all doubt, the greatest advantage acquired in travelling and perusing mankind in the original, is that of difpelling those shameful clouds that darken the faculties of the mind, preventing it from judging with candour and precision.

THE real Wilfon is a great original, and the best tempered companionable man I ever knew-I queftion if ever he was angry or low fpirited in his life. He makes no pretenfions to letters; but he is an adept in every thing else that can be either ufeful or entertaining. Among other qualifications, he is a complete sportsman, and counted the best shot in the county. He and Dennison, and Lifmahago and I, attended by Clinker, went a fhooting yesterday, and made great havock among the partridges-To-morrow we fhall take the field against the woodcocks and fnipes. In the evening we dance and fing, or play at commerce, loo, and quadrille.

MR DENNISON is an elegant poet, and has written fome detached pieces on the fubject of his paffion for Liddy, which must be very flattering to the vanity of a young woman-Perhaps he is one of the greatest theatrical geniuses that ever appeared. He fometimes entertains us with reciting favourite speeches from our best plays. We are refolved to convert the great hall into a theatre, and get up the Beaux Stratagem without delay-I think I fhall make no contemptible figure in the character of Scrub; and Lifmahago will be very great in Captain Gibbet-Wilfon undertakes to entertain the

country people with Harlequin Skeleton, for which he has got a jacket ready painted with his own hand,

OUR fociety is really enchanting. Even the feverity of Lifmahago relaxes, and the vinegar of Mrs Tabby is remarkably dulcified ever fince it was agreed that the fhould take the precedency of her niece in being first noofed: For, you must know, the day is fixed for Liddy's marriage; and the banns for both couples have been already once publifhed in the parish church. The captain earnestly begged that one trouble might serve for all, and Tabitha affented with a vile affectation of reluctance. Her inamorato, who came hither very flenderly equipt, has fent for his baggage to London, which, in all probability, will not arrive in time for the wedding; but it is of no great confequence, as every thing is to be tranfacted with the utmoft privacy. Meanwhile directions are given for making out the contracts of marriage, which are very favourable for both females. Liddy will be fecured in a good jointure; and her aunt will remain mistress of her own fortune, except one half of the interest which her husband shall have a right to enjoy for his natural life: I think this is as little in conscience as can be done for a man who yokes with such a partner for life.

THESE expectants feem to be fo happy, that if Mr Dennifon had an agreeable daughter, I believe, I fhould be for making the third couple in this country dance. The humour feems to be infectious; for Clinker, alias Lloyd, has a month's mind to play the fool in the fame fafhion with Mrs Winifred Jenkins. He has even founded me on the subject; but I have given him no encouragement to profecute this fcheme-I told him I thought he might do better, as there was no engagement nor promife fubfifting; that I did not know what defigns my uncle might have formed for his advantage; but I was of opinion, that he should not at present run the risk of disobliging him by any premature application of this nature-Honeft Humphry protefted, he would fuffer death fooner than fay or do any thing that should give offence to the fquire; but he owned he had a kindnefs for the young woman, and had reason to think the looked upon him with a favourable eye; that he confi