ship for a man to be obliged to maintain children that are not his own.'

Not his own exclaimed Lord Gelid: Whose children are they then?"

Alas! my lord,' replied Lord Cardon, what augments the hardship of this man's case is, that the question you put is what none but his wife can answer. All that the worthy man himself is physically certain of is, that the children are not his.”

There was something in this statement which awakened the feelings of Lord Gelid so uncommonly, that he granted the favour demanded.

Since his arrival here, Lord Cardon has also, in a manner peculiar to himself, prevailed on my brother to promise to serve a person against whom he had been a good deal prejudiced.

After that

You have heard the story of Mrs. affair was first talked of, and when it was thought that no part of her fortune would be recovered, many who had called themselves her friends, and had profited by her extravagance, abandoned her entirely, without examining whether she was so much to blame as was said, or

not.

Lord Cardon for some time seemed to be her only advocate and yesterday, at breakfast, he endeavoured to interest my brother in her case, which is soon to be brought before the House of Peers.

My brother expressed some surprise at his taking so warm a part in a person who had behaved so very impru dently.

Had she always behaved with prudence, my lord,' said Lord Cardon, she would not have stood in need of any body to take her part. But I am convinced, that advantage has been taken of her imprudent conduct, to give a much worse representation of her than she deserves. At all events, my lord, the imprudence of her conduct has nothing to do with the justice of her claim. It is your attention to her case only that I solicit your lordship for: from me she has a right to expect all the support in my

power; I lie under a very important obligation to that lady.'

'I cannot conceive,' said my brother, how your lordship can lie under an important obligation to so frivolous

a woman!'

You will be still more at a loss,' rejoined Lord Cardon, ' when I assure you that the obligation under which she laid me is increased, instead of being diminished, by the frivolity of the unfortunate lady's character. In short, my lord,' continued he, though no traces of it remain now, Mrs.

was, about twenty years ago, a very beautiful woman; and at that time I was (and I fear some traces of it remain still) a very giddy fellow; so much so, that I actually made a proposal of marriage to the lady in question, which she had the goodness to reject. This was an obligation of such importance, as, without being the most ungrateful of men, I never can forget.'

'Now that I am acquainted with the very essential obligation which your lordship lies under to Mrs. , you may rely upon it,' answered my brother, that I shall take pains to understand her case; and, if I think she has justice on her side, I will join your lordship in doing her all the service in my power.'

I am summoned to dinner; but if it rains to-morrow as incessantly as it has done to-day, I shall give you a little more of Lord Cardon. Farewell!

1

LETTER LXVI.

The Honourable JOHN MORDAUNT to COLONEL SOMMERS.

Rose-Mount.

You perceive the rain continues. I will give you a sketch of a curious conversation that took place yesterday.

Some gentlemen of the neighbourhood dined with us. The discourse turned on the present unhappy state o Europe. Governor Flint, according to custom, inveighed vehemently against the whole French nation. One gen

tleman implored his clemency in favour of the emigrant nobility and clergy, who were the severest sufferers by the revolution the governor reprobated. No-It was sufficient that they were French. The ancient governors of that nation, according to him, were as weak as the present are wicked-naming a few of the most eminent of the former. See what a figure they now cut!' said he and then drew a comparison between them and certain persons in high situations in this country.

If you wish to weigh the respective importance of two sets of men,' said Lord Cardon, it is not fair to put one into the scale, ornamented with stars, and ribbons, and mitres, and robes, and large periwigs, and place the other in the opposite scale, stripped quite naked. The high nobility and clergy of France were as much respected, while they retained their situations, as those of any country in Europe; and heaven only knows what sort of a figure our own would cut in the character of emigrants! Let me tell you, governor, it is a difficult roll for event the greatest men to support with dignity."

There was, after this, some difference of opinion respecting the origin of the war.

‹ Whoever were the real beginners of the war,' said my brother, the French are indisputably the cause of îts having continued so long; for our minister was, assuredly, disposed to make peace, on reasonable terms, when the negotiation commenced at Lisle."

Making peace at that time would have been of no use,' said Governor Flint; for the French would have recommenced the war before this time.?

• No mortal can be absolutely certain of that,' Lord Cardon observed.

Does not your lordship imagine that the French of the present times are wicked enough to renew the war as soon as they think it for their advantage?'

In that,' replied Lord Cardon, I have a great notion that the French of the present times bear a strong resemblance to the French of former times, and to the other nations of Europe. But although I am convinced

with you, governor, that they would be wicked enough to renew the war as soon as they should think it for their advantage, I have hopes of their being wise enough to think, for a long time at least, that it would not be for their advantage."

• They will always think it for their advantage, replied the governor ; they cannot exist without war.'

6

< Nay, then,' said Travers, you cannot blame them for continuing it.'

• Not blame the French!' exclaimed the other.

No, sir, I could not in conscience blame the devil for persevering in what is for his advantage,' resumed Travers. If, therefore, the French cannot exist without war, this war, instead of being a seven-years war, or a thirty-years war, must be a war everlasting."

• That does not necessarily follow,' said Governor Flint.

What follows, then ?' Travers asked.

• We may extirpate the rascals!' cried the governor. That, indeed, is an expedient which did not occur to me: but as rascals are not easily extirpated,' continued Travers, I should think the easiest and most natural way of putting an end to the war would be by making peace, as soon as it can be done, on reasonable terms.'

That language smells a little of Jacobinism,' said the governor.

<

• Whatever its smell may be,' retorted Travers, it is Fess in the spirit of Jacobinism than your own language; for the Jacobins breathe nothing but extirpation.'

I wish extirpation to all the enemies of my country,' said Flint.

• I wish ruin to all their schemes against my country, rejoined Travers; for I love my country as much as you can, governor, though I am not paid for it by a sinecure office.' • A sinecure office!' cried the governor. • Do you infer that I would not love my country if I had not à sinecure office.'

No, sir,' answered Travers; I only infer that you

would love your country for a lucrative office of any kind.'

The laugh which proceeded from the company increased the indignation of the governor.

• Do you infer, sir,'—said he, and was proceeding in great warmth, when my brother, clapping him on the shoulder, said

• Come, come, governor, let us have no more of inferences. We all equally abhor Jacobins and their principles; and we also know that very improper inferences are sometimes drawn from innocent or well-meant expressions."

To assist my brother in restoring the good-humour of the company

• That is very true, my lord,' rejoined Lord Cardon ; • and I will give you a curious instance, which came under my own observation when I was last at my estate in -shire.

• I had, with great pleasure, observed that the vaunting proclamations of the French directory, and their repeated threats of invading this island, had excited general indignation over the country, augmented the zeal and affection of the inhabitants towards his majesty and the royal family, and increased their detestation of all whom they suspected to harbour different sentiments. At such periods there is always some risk that base-minded persons will attempt to make a merit with their superiors, by misconstruing the innocent or indifferent words or actions of their neighbours, and bringing them forward as proofs of disloyalty or treasonable intentions.

• Instances of this kind may have occurred where the accuser himself was fully convinced of the innocence of the accused. This which I am going to mention was not of that atrocious nature. Here the accuser was as innocent as the accused, however ridiculous the accusation 'may appear.

• I was called on, one morning, by a person who has a considerable property in the county, but whom I knew to be wonderfully weak and hot-headed.