 he has assisted misfortune, as it were, in the persecution of his son, still taking care to keep, by various contrivances, an eye over his actions, and not permitting him to be entirely depressed? Mr. Seldon had suffered almost every kind of hardship in his youth; but, by the force of good sense and industry, had, with amazing fortitude, surmounted every difficulty, and is, at present, not only a very worthy, but a very consequential member of society. His son, whose name is William Hilkirk Seldon, was born before the old gentleman had emerged from obscurity; and, his mother dying, was placed at a peasant's in the country, and, afterwards, sent to a grammar-school. But, as the father had already resolved upon a plan of education, he did not let even the people

with whom his son was know to whom he belonged.
YOU have heard the residue of the story, except that Mr. Hilkirk has been the principal agent in discovering the villain who fired Maitland-hall, and purloined the strong box. Mr. Seldon applauds himself, exceedingly, upon the success of his plan. He beholds him with the combined advantages that education and an active life bestow. He affirms that, if, by any mischance, his son should become poor, he will support the change with fortitude: that the common accidents of life will not have power to deprive him of temper: that his knowledge of mankind will, not only make him discern the motives of their actions, but, likewise, give him an ascendancy over them.—Indeed, he adduces a thousand reasons, which, at least, are exceedingly

specious, and, in some instances, true; but, I dare say, you think with me, that, had the experiment been made upon a weaker mind, it would scarcely have succeeded so well.
WHEN my friend Hilkirk, for so I must still call him, arrived in town, his beloved Julia was with us, at Mr. Stamford's, whither he immediately flew. The interview was tender and affecting. The young lady, who had put the utmost restraint upon her inclinations, in obedience to Mr. Seldon, who is her uncle, was incapable of suppressing her emotions. She was fearful, lest her former treatment of Hilkirk, whom she tenderly loved, and which was the effect of her uncle's commands, should be remembered by him, and could not conceal her anxiety. Hilkirk felt the delicacy of her passion, without the

power of alleviating her fears,
