 united, as we, once, flattered ourselves. I have discovered that my Maria's affections were fixed before she saw your son, and am sincerely concerned that I was not sooner apprized of it. There is reason to think your son is not violently bent on the match; at least I hope so. I make no apologies for my frankness and sincerity. Your candour will not require them, when you are acquainted with the affair. On the contrary, I rely on having the pleasure of your company, and that of your son, at my daughter's marriage.
IT is now four years since I received into my counting-house a young gentleman, of the name of Alwyn, the son of

that Alwyn whom you have so often heard me mention with affection and regret. You may, perhaps, remember seeing him when you were in town, about two years ago. The trifling property his father left, was barely sufficient to maintain his mother in a country retreat; so that I had the pleasure of doing him a singular service, by introducing him to the world. My care was not lost on an ungrateful charge. I had the satisfaction to see him daily improve in every accomplishment, and to behold the virtues of my friend revive in the person of his son. A native sincerity and openness of conduct, added to the most mild and obliging disposition, commanded the esteem of all, who knew him; and, for my part, I regarded him, almost, as my own child. At the beginning of this summer he went into the country, for the benefit of his health, as he then

informed me; but, as I now find, to avoid the presence of my daughter, for whom he entertained a passion, that did not, as he rightly judged, suit his circumstances. Maria was, at the same time, equally prejudiced in his favour, which makes his retreat more generous and disinterested. While he was in the country, I received a letter, charging him with a degree of perfidy and baseness, that I should never have credited, had not the proof appeared of the most incontrovertible, nature. I wrote to him, on the subject, as, I thought, the crime deserved; and his innocence would, probably, never have been vindicated, but for a fortunate concurrence of circumstances, that have cleared up the whole mystery.
THE relation is too long to be inserted in this letter, and must be deferred

till your arrival. He has been vilely traduced. He is incapable of the least meaness. Come
