fir-grove.

You must not expect coherency from me, Edward; the nature of my present subject forbids; – it has absorbed every faculty I possess in admiration and grateful joy. What a man is Mr. Bertills! how noble, how generous, how exalted is his conduct! In the amiable qualities of the heart no one ever surpassed him, and few ever equalled him. Every day displays to my view some excellency in his character unseen before, but which, perhaps, had not been so long concealed had I studied the character of his mind, as accurately as I have of late done. Methinks, my friend, the study of mankind must be more pleasing than I have hitherto thought it; henceforth I will accustom myself to it. The brightest jewel may, in a cursory view, pass unobserved, undistinguished. It is just so/ with respect to characters.

– The outward graces are attractive; but the nobler virtues, being generally hid behind a veil of modesty, pass unperceived, till some discerning eye penetrates thro’ the veil, and discovers the valuable gem. We do not, often, see an instance of the virtues accompanying the graces; but they meet in Mr. Bertills. Every favor he confers is enhanced by his manner of conferring it. Early this morning, Mr. Dalton arrived from London, and was immediately introduced to us, when I felt particular pleasure in observing the polite and friendly manner in which he was received by Mr. Bertills, who inquired after all his servants as affectionately as if they had been his children; after which he said,

‘Well, Dalton, I imagine you began to despair of the lawyers finishing the deeds before the summer was over; I acknowledge my patience was nearly exhausted. I want to get back to Scarborough, as much as you wish to be amongst your relations.’

‘Really, sir,’ replied he, ‘my patience has been pretty severely tried; but the lawyers are a tedious set of beings; all one can/ urge to induce them to expedite business is ineffectual: for instance, I never failed calling once a day upon Mr. L –, but all to no purpose; he would take his own time.