certainly avail ourselves of it, whenever we might have no other
place to go to.  Tho' certainly nothing could to any reasonable
Being, have appeared more satisfactory, than so gratefull a reply
to her invitation, yet I know not how it was, but she was
certainly capricious enough to be displeased with our behaviour
and in a few weeks after, either to revenge our Conduct, or
releive her own solitude, married a young and illiterate Fortune-
hunter.  This imprudent step (tho' we were sensible that it would
probably deprive us of that fortune which Philippa had ever
taught us to expect) could not on our own accounts, excite from
our exalted minds a single sigh; yet fearfull lest it might prove
a source of endless misery to the deluded Bride, our trembling
Sensibility was greatly affected when we were first informed of
the Event.The affectionate Entreaties of Augustus and Sophia that
we would for ever consider their House as our Home, easily
prevailed on us to determine never more to leave them, In the
society of my Edward and this Amiable Pair, I passed the happiest
moments of my Life; Our time was most delightfully spent, in
mutual Protestations of Freindship, and in vows of unalterable
Love, in which we were secure from being interrupted, by
intruding and disagreable Visitors, as Augustus and Sophia had on
their first Entrance in the Neighbourhood, taken due care to
inform the surrounding Families, that as their happiness centered
wholly in themselves, they wished for no other society.  But
alas!  my Dear Marianne such Happiness as I then enjoyed was too
perfect to be lasting.  A most severe and unexpected Blow at once
destroyed every sensation of Pleasure.  Convinced as you must be
from what I have already told you concerning Augustus and Sophia,
that there never were a happier Couple, I need not I imagine,
inform you that their union had been contrary to the inclinations
of their Cruel and Mercenery Parents; who had vainly endeavoured
with obstinate Perseverance to force them into a Marriage with
those whom they had ever abhorred; but with a Heroic Fortitude
worthy to be related and admired, they had both, constantly
refused to submit to such despotic Power.

After having so nobly disentangled themselves from the shackles
of Parental Authority, by a Clandestine Marriage, they were
determined never to forfeit the good opinion they had gained in
the World, in so doing, by accepting any proposals of
reconciliation that might be offered them by their Fathers--to
this farther tryal of their noble independance however they never
were exposed.

They had been married but a few months when our visit to them
commenced during which time they had been amply supported by a
considerable sum of money which Augustus had gracefully purloined
from his unworthy father's Escritoire, a few days before his
union with Sophia.

By our arrival their Expenses were considerably encreased tho'
their means for supplying them were then nearly exhausted.  But
they, Exalted Creatures!  scorned to reflect a moment on their
pecuniary Distresses and would have blushed at the idea of paying
their Debts.--Alas!  what was their Reward for such disinterested
Behaviour!  The beautifull Augustus was arrested and we were all
undone.  Such perfidious Treachery in the merciless perpetrators
of the Deed will shock your gentle nature Dearest Marianne as
much as it then affected the Delicate sensibility of Edward,
Sophia, your Laura, and of Augustus himself.  To compleat such
unparalelled Barbarity we were informed that an Execution in the
House would shortly take place.  Ah!  what could we do but what
we did!  We sighed and fainted on the sofa.
Adeiu
Laura.

LETTER 10th
LAURA in continuation

When we were somewhat recovered from the overpowering Effusions
of our grief, Edward desired that we would consider what was the
most prudent step to be taken in our unhappy situation while he
repaired to his imprisoned freind to lament over his misfortunes.
We promised that we would, and he set forwards on his journey to
Town.  During his absence we faithfully complied with his Desire
and after the most mature Deliberation, at length agreed that the
best thing we could do was to leave the House; of which we every
moment expected the officers of Justice to take possession.  We
waited therefore with the greatest impatience, for the return of
Edward in order to impart to him the result of our Deliberations.
But no Edward appeared.  In vain did we count the tedious moments
of his absence--in vain did we weep--in vain even did we sigh--no
Edward returned--.  This was too cruel, too unexpected a Blow to
our Gentle Sensibility--we could not support it--we could only
faint.  At length collecting all the Resolution I was Mistress
of, I arose and after packing up some necessary apparel for
Sophia and myself, I dragged her to a Carriage I had ordered and
we instantly set out for London.  As the Habitation of Augustus
was within twelve miles of Town, it was not long e'er we arrived
there, and no sooner had we entered Holboun than letting down one
of the Front Glasses I enquired of every decent-looking Person
that we passed "If they had seen my Edward?"

But as we drove too rapidly to allow them to answer my repeated
Enquiries, I gained little, or indeed, no information concerning
him.  "Where am I to drive?"  said the Postilion.  "To Newgate
Gentle Youth (replied I), to see Augustus."  "Oh!  no, no,
(exclaimed Sophia) I cannot go to Newgate; I shall not be able to
support the sight of my Augustus in so cruel a confinement--my
feelings are sufficiently shocked by the RECITAL, of his
Distress, but to behold it will overpower my Sensibility." As I
perfectly agreed with her in the Justice of her Sentiments the
Postilion was instantly directed to return into the Country.  You
may perhaps have been somewhat surprised my Dearest Marianne,
that in the Distress I then endured, destitute of any support,
and unprovided with any Habitation, I should never once have
remembered my Father and Mother or my paternal Cottage in the
Vale of Uske.  To account for this seeming forgetfullness I must
inform you of a trifling circumstance concerning them which I
have as yet never mentioned. The death of my Parents a few weeks
after my Departure, is the circumstance I allude to.  By their
decease I became the lawfull Inheritress of their House and
Fortune.  But alas!  the House had never been their own and their
Fortune had only been an Annuity on their own Lives.  Such is the
Depravity of the World!  To your Mother I should have returned
with Pleasure, should have been happy to have introduced to her,
my charming Sophia and should with Chearfullness have passed the
remainder of my Life in their dear Society in the Vale of Uske,
had not one obstacle to the execution of so agreable a scheme,
intervened; which was the Marriage and Removal of your Mother to
a distant part of Ireland.
Adeiu
Laura.

LETTER 11th
LAURA in continuation

"I have a Relation in Scotland (said Sophia to me as we left
London) who I am certain would not hesitate in receiving me."
"Shall I order the Boy to drive there?" said I--but instantly
recollecting myself, exclaimed, "Alas I fear it will be too long
a Journey for the Horses." Unwilling however to act only from my
own inadequate Knowledge of the Strength and Abilities of Horses,
I consulted the Postilion, who was entirely of my Opinion
concerning the Affair.  We therefore determined to change Horses
at the next Town and to travel Post the remainder of the Journey
--.  When we arrived at the last Inn we were to stop at, which
was but a few miles from the House of Sophia's Relation,
unwilling to intrude our Society on him unexpected and unthought
of, we wrote a very elegant and well penned Note to him
containing an account of our Destitute and melancholy Situation,
and of our intention to spend some months with him in Scotland.
As soon as we had dispatched this Letter, we immediately prepared
to follow it in person and were stepping into the Carriage for
that Purpose when our attention was attracted by the Entrance of
a coroneted Coach and 4 into the Inn-yard.  A Gentleman
considerably advanced in years descended from it.  At his first
Appearance my Sensibility was wonderfully affected and e'er I had
gazed at him a 2d time, an instinctive sympathy whispered to my
Heart, that he was my Grandfather.  Convinced that I could not be
mistaken in my conjecture I instantly sprang from the Carriage I
had just entered, and following the Venerable Stranger into the
Room he had been shewn to, I threw myself on my knees before him
and besought him to acknowledge me as his Grand Child.  He
started, and having attentively examined my features, raised me
from the Ground and throwing his Grand-fatherly arms around my
Neck, exclaimed, "Acknowledge thee!  Yes dear resemblance of my
Laurina and Laurina's Daughter, sweet image of my Claudia and my
Claudia's Mother, I do acknowledge thee as the Daughter of the
one and the Grandaughter of the other." While he was thus
tenderly embracing me, Sophia astonished at my precipitate
Departure, entered the Room in search of me.  No sooner had she
caught the eye of the venerable Peer, than he exclaimed with
every mark of Astonishment --"Another Grandaughter!  Yes, yes, I
see you are the Daughter of my Laurina's eldest Girl; your
resemblance to the beauteous Matilda sufficiently proclaims it.
"Oh!" replied Sophia, "when I first beheld you the instinct of
Nature whispered me that we were in some degree related--But
whether Grandfathers, or Grandmothers, I could not pretend to
determine." He folded her in his arms, and whilst they were
tenderly embracing, the Door of the Apartment opened and a most
beautifull young Man appeared.  On perceiving him Lord St. Clair
started and retreating back a few paces, with uplifted Hands,
said, "Another Grand-child!  What an unexpected Happiness is
this!  to discover in the space of 3 minutes, as many of my
Descendants!  This I am certain is Philander the son of my
Laurina's 3d girl the amiable Bertha; there wants now but the
presence of Gustavus to compleat the Union of my Laurina's Grand-
Children."

"And here he is; (said a Gracefull Youth who that instant entered
the room) here is the Gustavus you desire to see.  I am the son
of Agatha your Laurina's 4th and youngest Daughter," "I see you
are indeed; replied Lord St. Clair--But tell me (continued he
looking fearfully towards the Door) tell me, have I any other
Grand-children in the House." "None my Lord." "Then I will
provide for you all without farther delay--Here are 4 Banknotes
of 50L each--Take them and remember I have done the Duty of a
Grandfather." He instantly left the Room and immediately
afterwards the House.
Adeiu,
Laura.

LETTER the 12th
LAURA in continuation

You may imagine how greatly we were surprised by the sudden
departure of Lord St Clair.  "Ignoble Grand-sire!"  exclaimed
Sophia.  "Unworthy Grandfather!" said I, and instantly fainted in
each other's arms.  How long we remained in this situation I know