at the joining of those hands, whose hearts have long been united.
Sir William's indisposition prevents me from having their nuptials celebrated here, as the custom of this country would, on that occasion, require such an exertion of what is called hospitality, which is another term for drinking, as might be prejudicial to him; and my attendance on him restrains me from going up to Dublin to her, so that our wishes alone can attend upon this happy union.
Sir William is not calculated for solitude; he is now debarred from field-sports, and every kind of exercise, and

he seeks for amusement from books, in vain—That taste which can alone render reading pleasant, or useful to us, must be acquired in youth; the Muses, like the rest of their sex, resent neglect, and may be wooed, but not won, by those who only seek them as a supplement to more lively pleasures,
"Youth's the season made for joy,"
and for literature also.

Colonel Walter's housekeeper has been to visit Benson, several times of late, and has endeavoured, with a competent share of art, to discover how Mrs. Walter had escaped, and where she now is: you may suppose that she has not gained the wished-for intelligence—Benson would die sooner than betray me.

Harriet and I have often wondered that no hint relative to Mrs. Walter has ever escaped the Colonel—I am sometimes tempted to think that he believes us ignorant of that affair; but when I recollect his blushing, in the temple, upon some hint of mine relative to it, I change my opinion.—What a heart must that man have! How black! and of course, how wretched! I am inclined to believe, that the wicked expiate a great part of their sins, in this world, by their constant fear of detection.
Sir Arthur and Miss Ashford are often with us. I begin to apprehend that she has a partiality for Colonel Walter, and am distressed how to act on this occasion—Should I speak of him as I think, she may attribute my sentiments, either

to private pique, or a general love of slander, as I am not at liberty to acquaint her with those facts, on which my dislike to him are too justly founded—Yet will it not be an act of baseness, to suffer this charming girl to throw away her affections on such a wretch? Think for me, Fanny, and direct me how to conduct myself, in this critical situation.
Give a thousand loves and congratulations for me, to my brother, and his