ingenuousness, added great quicktess of understanding, was taken notice of by a gentleman in the neighbourhood who was going to the East Indies, and who invited him to accompany him, assuring him, that for the services he might receive from him, he had no doubt that he should be able to put him in a way to make a very handsome fortune. Henry, who had he not thought, as he did think, the offer to promise him great advantage, knew not what else to do, consented, and shortly after left his native country. Lavinia, who was about thirteen, began to display great beauty, which rapidly increased from year to year; her liveliness and intelligence were equal to her beauty; and a distant female relation who kept a boarding-school for young ladies, took her under her protection, and for a few occasional services which she received from her, enabled her to attain those accomplishments which gave her charms additional power and value. She continued in this situation several years, when a gentleman who had lately purchased an estate in that neighbourhood, saw, and became so enamoured of her, that he married her; and after marriage found so much reason to be satisfied with her, that he grew more enthusiastically devoted to her from day to day. They lived in this felicity a number of years, the objects of the 'gratitude and esteem, she especially, of all the indigent and unfortunate in the vicinity, to whom her liberality was almost houndless; for whatever act of bounty she proposed was always readily assented to by Mr. Edgecumbe, her husband; since whatever she said or did was with him, and with reason was→→ Wisest, virtuousest, discreetest, best." It was now that in the full enjoyment of affluence and happiness the remembrance of her brother recurred to her mind; and much she wished to know what might be his success or ill success in life, that if the latter were his fate, she might, as she now amply had it in her power, relieve him and make him happy; but as se very great a number of years had elapsed since they had seen each other, she considered him as lost to her, not improbably dead, or at least thrown into some situation by which he was for ever separated from her, while she was totally forgotten by him. It chanced one evening as she was walking in a retired part of her park, she saw, sitting under a tree, a man apparently very old, poor, and wretched. The native goodness of her heart induced her, as it may be supposed, to approach, accost, and offer him relief. She assisted him to rise, took him by the arm, and led him into the house, where she gave directions that he should be supplied with every thing necessary for his immediate wants, and provided with a lodging for the night, should he have a long way to go, as it would soon be dark.—Mrs. · Cross, the housekeeper, who hap pened to be near when this order. was given, took upon her to remind her mistress that such acts: of charity were sometimes not without danger. lady,' said she, your ladyship is Really, my too good, and may repent it ope day when it is too late; many of these vagabond beggars belong to gangs of thieves, and this may be only a plan to rob the house." Let him belong to what gang! 1 of thieves he may,' said Mrs. Edgecumbe, hastily, he appears now to be really in want, and his wants must be relieved.'-So say ing, she immediately turned from her, and went into the parlour; but, before she had been there any minutes, reflecting that if she were not present, the object of her bounty might not meet with. the reception she could wish from sérvants, she went down into the kitchen to see justice done to her charitable intentions. While there she entered into conversation with the man, and made some inquiries, though not with the impertinence of some ostentatious benefactors, with respect to who and what he was. As he was now somewhat revived by the refreshment placed before him, and the glass or two of ale he had drank, his appearance seemed to her not a little altered, and he spoke with a spirit and good sense which excited her surprise. Madam,' said he, I am a man who seems to be persecated by Fortune. I have been in very distant countries, and in various parts of the world. I went first to the East Indies with à gentleman who for some time appeared to be very much my friend, and who I believe really was so, but who from jealousy became afterwards iny bitterest enemy, and did every thing in his power to complete my ruin, which in fact he at length effected. I camé last from a French prison into which I was thrown, having been taken on my return by a French ship of war. Numerous, indeed, are the adverse accidents which I have encountered. I certainly do not mean to fatigue you with recounting them all; but suffer me to say that I cannot consider myself as deserving them, as I have ever' endeavoured to do good unte all around me, according to the maxim of my good and reverend father, who will never be forgotten by his parishioners,-no, they can never forget the most excellent Theophilus Theophilus!' said Mrs. Edgecumbe, not a little surprized.What other name?' Theophilus Darwell,' said the stranger. The first idea that now occurred to Mrs. Edgecumbe was the sug gestion of Mrs. Cross, that this might be some cheat who had gotten possession of her history and of her father's name, and had a design to impose upon her; but upon further inquiry she found proofs that would not permit her to doubt that he was her long-lost brother Henry; and though he seemed twenty years older than her brother could be, though he had been more than twenty years separated from her, this might be. accounted for by the vexations, misfortunes, and hardships he had undergone. And now,' said she triumphantly to Mrs. Cross, is not this an encouragement to do good; is not this a reward of charity? Mrs. Cross neither felt nor conceived how finding a brother in the extreme of indigence, whom she must support, could be a reward; but as she did not see how it could be for her interest to contradict her mistress, she çivilly assented. Mr. Edgecumbe soon afterwards procured a lucrative situation for. Mr. Darwell, who showed himself well worthy to be the brother of such a sister, and such a brotherin-law. 1 To the EDITOR of the LADY'S Excludat jurgia finis." SIR, his own compliment contradicts the charge of graveling ideas: I can also assure him that I am not surrounded by antiquated fe males: Weak,' ignorant,' and vain,' I may be (though he does not seem to think so, and my youth may excuse it, but I cer tainly am not idle.' I ever think so. To the writers I have mentioned IN compliance with the words shall new bid a last adieu as genwhich I have chosen for my motto, tlemen; it would be very harsh in this will be the last letter which I me to say Messrs. J. Webb, and shall address to you: indeed ID. Y. did not deserve that charac should not again have troubled ter; I hope they de; but certainly you, but I think an acknowledg from their replies no one would ment is due for the polite letter of J. M. L.-I always thought him. possessed of abilities, and I now esteem him as a gentleman. I will assure him I never meant to insinuate a doubt of his sobriety, and, thanking him for his elegant compliments, which I am not conscious of deserving, I shall take my leave of him with good humour, and never again trespass upon his temper by pointing out faults to which we are all liable. W. H. has answered me with the modest ingenuousness which generally accompanies youthful talents, and I thank him. As S. Y. has also praised me in a manner, for which (though, perhaps, I do not merit it) I must still feel grateful, I ought not to peruse his reply with fastidiousness, but I certainly think he betrays great want of temper; and one part of his letter calls for my answer. He accuses me of scurrillity: I should be sorry if the accusation was just. I think, however, it may be fairly retorted upon himself by any one who reads his fifth paragraph. I believe I am not a bully,' peevish', 'scurrillous,' or 'frigid,' perhaps too much the reverse, and It is highly diverting to hear. them talk of silent contempt and due indifference when they are so evidently writhing under the lash of my well-meant criticism; but they may depend upon it I will never again assume an office, the execution of which seems to give them so much pain, and in which my intentions (which were certainly good) have been so gross ly misrepresented. However as Mr. D. Y. has attempted to be very witty and severe upon me, I shall address a few. last words to him. He has dig nified me with the title of most learned,' (an expression borrowed, I believe, from the farce of the Adopted Child,') and as I always wish to maintain a character which is either assumed by me, or conferred upon me, I will give him a quotation from Flaccus which I think is very applicable to him particularly. Ridentur mala qui componunt carmina: verùm Gaudent scribentes et se vene rantur. This I shall translate for hime Bad writers are laughed at: but they are pleased in writing, and cenerate themselves.' If he will refer to my first letter he will find I never mentioned the word 'St. Giles,' but the use of it seems natural to him. Lastly he bids me (in a choice morsel of poetic poetry) to contemplate my own faults; this may be very just, Mr. D. Y.! but you ought to know that my faults are no excuse for yours, and that though I am not perfection myself, yet that does not prevent or incapacitate me from pointing out the follies or inaccuracies of others. And now, Mr. Editor, I must thank you for your candour, and apologise for thus trespassing upon your time, and as this is the last letter I shall address to you on the subject, your insertion of it this month will put an end to a disagreeable and uninteresting controversy in which (without any ill intention) I have involved myself. I remain, Sir, Yours, &c. &c. W. M. T. The horse was walking along and feeding when the trumpet began, but the moment he heard the first note he approached the window, and stopped short at some distance from it, opening his wide, nostrils, sometimes seeming to feed, and at other times to listen. The dog sat down like an ape, keeping his eye steadily fixed on the musician. In this posture he continued for some time, seemed to be uneasy, offered to go but returned again, and at last set up a howl, almost in unison with one of the notes of the trumpet. The ass seemed to show no signs of sensibility: it went peaceably along, eating the rankest herbs that were left by the others, and switching its tail in order to drive. the flies away. The deer and the hare pricked up their large ears, 2 and seemed very attentive. The cows stopped a little, and seemed to regard the player as if they knew him, but soon scoured away as fast as they could, with their tails cocked, and their heads thrown towards the sky. The cock was employed only in taking care of his mistresses, and they in scratching about for something to eat, so that they seemed to pay no regard at all to the music: but the little birds which were among the trees, and some others in cages at the windows, I thought would have split; so loud were they, they strove even to outdo the trumpet, approaching nearer and nearer to the sound, and as they approached swelling their little notes with greater eagerness, and as it appeared to me, with greater rapidity. Such,' continues he, was the result of this experiment; and if some curious persons, perhaps, more qualified than myself, would prosecute this entertaining subjeet, and try the effect of musie upon other animals, it would at once serve to demonstrate the power of sounds, and the peculiar sagacity of every animal, since upon trial I have found that those animals are most sagacious who are most affected by it.' DESCRIPTION of the VILLA of Mr. A. G. GOLDSMID, at MORDEN, SURRY. [With a View, elegantly engraved.] THIS elegant cottage villa is situated at Morden, near Mitcham in Surry, and is perhaps one of the most complete and elegant in this kingdom: the generous and #pulent proprietor having spared no expence to render it so. It is situate in the midst of a beautiful lawn, interspersed with various sorts of shrubberies, so contrived as to assist nature, avoiding that formality too frequently seen in gentlemens grounds. The river Wandle, winding through the grounds, has a rich and pleasing effect, and over it are bridges at once simple and elegant. The gardens are capacious, and well stocked with every vegetable, flower, and fruit, foreign and native, that can be procured. The pineries, graperies, orangeries, &c. are well worthy the atten, tion of the botanist and curious; in short, the gardens, hot and green-houses, &c. do much credit to Mr. Nichols, the present head gardener. The house is built of stone one story high: its centre is supported by a colonade of six elegant sharp fluted pillars, and its two wings are embellished with very large square and circular headed windows of plate glass, The chimney pots are of a peculiar shape, imitating leaves. On the North side is a very extensive and tastefully constructed aviary, well stocked with rare birds of various descriptions, and at a small distance behind the house is another aviary on a neat construction. large windows in the front wings have a grand collection of rare and odoriferous plants and shrubs, Behind the house is a curious well, two hundred feet deep, with an inscription-alluding to Abraham's finding waters. The offices are admirably constructed for use and beauty. In short, nothing has been omitted by Mr. Goldsmid, whose taste is only equalled by his liberality, to render this place an earthly paradise, The two |