harrowgate.

When I read your last, I could not avoid exclaiming, ‘would to heaven Lady Gertrude Carruther and the Duke of — were shut up together for life, that the rest of the world might not be tortured with their folly!’ There is nothing upon earth, Augustus, more provoking, than that it should be in the power of one or two such frivolous mortals, to banish good sense from the conversation of every social party they join. Our friend Edward begins to be almost weary of Lady Gertrude; she still persecutes him with assiduities, in hopes, I suppose, of conquering his stubborn heart, at last; he seems, now, to have no other resource but flight; and we are preparing for it; as I have, this day, had a letter from Mr. Bertills, signifying his intention/to be at the Grove on Thursday next. – I shall, therefore, be with you at Westbrook-lodge, on Tuesday; when I hope to have the pleasure of finding Lord and Lady Lucan and yourself in perfect health.

Ah! my friend, my spirits now begin to sink at the near approach of that period when I must totally renounce all that I have ever, till lately, been taught to look upon as my paternal inheritance. I have endeavoured to reconcile my mind to this adverse stroke of fortune, and to support it with calm composure, humiliating as it is; and, I hope, I shall be able to submit with resignation, tho’ I cannot avoid feeling it and that severely. It is true Mr. Bertills has, in some measure, obliged himself to make a provision for me, by having insisted on my declining all thoughts of the army; but the strongest doubts still arise in my mind respecting the nature of his intention towards me. – My spirit revolts against a state of servile dependence; and trade, which seems to be so much his hobby-horse; I am not fitted for either, by nature or education; nor indeed could I bear the idea of entering/ into it.