 we feel from the Consciousness of an
honest, noble, generous, benevolent Action, convey more Delight to the Mind,
than the undeserved Praise of Millions? Set the Alternative fairly before your
Fyes. On the one Side, see this poor, unhappy, tender, believing Girl, in the
Arms of her wretched Mother, breathing her last. Hear her breaking Heart in
Agonies sighing out your Name; and lamenting, rather than accusing, the Cruelty
which weighs her down to Destruction. Paint to your Imagination the
Circumstances of her fond, despairing Parent, driven to Madness, or, perhaps, to
Death, by the Loss of her lovely Daughter. View the poor, helpless,
Orphan-Infant: And when your Mind hath dwelt a Moment only on such Ideas,
consider yourself as the Cause of all; the Ruin of this poor, little, worthy,
defenceless Family. On the other Side, consider yourself as relieving them from
their temporary Sufferings. Think with what Joy, with what Transports, that
lovely Creature will fly to your Arms. See her Blood returning to her pale
Cheeks, her Fire to her languid Eyes, and Raptures to her tortured Breast.
Consider the Exultations of her Mother, the Happiness of all. Think of this
little Family made, by one Act of yours, completely happy. Think of this
Alternative, and sure I am mistaken in my Friend, if it requires any long
Deliberation, whether he will sink these Wretches down for ever, or, by one
generous, noble Resolution, raise them all from the Brink of Misery and Despair,
to the highest Pitch of human Happiness. Add to this but one Consideration more;
the Consideration that it is your Duty so to do. - That the Misery from which
you will relieve these poor People, is the Misery which you yourself have
wilfully brought upon them.«
    »O my dear Friend,« cries Nightingale, »I wanted not your Eloquence to rouse
me. I pity poor Nancy from my Soul, and would willingly give any Thing in my
Power, that no Familiarities had ever passed between us. Nay, believe me, I had
many Struggles with my Passion, before I could prevail with myself to write that
cruel Letter, which hath caused all the Misery in that unhappy Family. If I had
no Inclinations to consult but my own, I would marry her Tomorrow Morning; I
would, by Heaven; but you will easily imagine how impossible it would be to
prevail on my Father to consent to such a Match; besides, he hath provided
another for me; and Tomorrow, by his
