in the style of a great assembly, who recognized the existence of

an _etre_ _supreme_, to fix the national belief, that the husband
should always be wiser and more virtuous than his wife, in order

to entitle him, with a show of justice, to keep this idiot, or
perpetual minor, for ever in bondage. But I must have done--

on this subject, my indignationcontinually runs away with me.
"The company of the gentleman I have already mentioned, who

had a general acquaintance with literature and subjects of taste,
was grateful to me; my countenance brightened up as he approached,

and I unaffectedly expressed the pleasure I felt. The amusement
his conversation afforded me, made it easy to comply with

my husband's request, to endeavour to render our house
agreeable to him.

"His attentions became more pointed; but, as I was not of the
number of women, whose virtue, as it is termed, immediately takes

alarm, I endeavoured, rather by raillery than serious expostulation,
to give a different turn to his conversation. He assumed a new mode

of attack, and I was, for a while, the dupe of his pretended friendship.
"I had, merely in the style of _badinage_, boasted of my

conquest, and repeated his lover-like compliments to my husband.
But he begged me, for God's sake, not to affront his friend, or I

should destroy all his projects, and be his ruin. Had I had more
affection for my husband, I should have expressed my contempt of

this time-serving politeness: now I imagined that I only felt pity;
yet it would have puzzled a casuist to point out in what the exact

difference consisted.
"This friend began now, in confidence, to discover to me the

real state of my husband's affairs. 'Necessity,' said Mr. S----;
why should I reveal his name? for he affected to palliate the

conduct he could not excuse, 'had led him to take such steps, by
accommodation bills, buying goods on credit, to sell them for ready

money, and similar transactions, that his character in the commercial
world was gone. He was considered,' he added, lowering his voice,

'on 'Change as a swindler.'
"I felt at that moment the first maternal pang. Aware of the

evils my sex have to struggle with, I still wished, for my own
consolation, to be the mother of a daughter; and I could not bear

to think, that the _sins_ of her father's entailed disgrace, should
be added to the ills to which woman is heir.

"So completely was I deceived by these shows of friendship
(nay, I believe, according to his interpretation, Mr. S---- really

was my friend) that I began to consult him respecting the best mode
of retrieving my husband's character: it is the good name of a

woman only that sets to rise no more. I knew not that he had been
drawn into a whirlpool, out of which he had not the energy to

attempt to escape. He seemed indeed destitute of the power of
employing his faculties in any regular pursuit. His principles of

action were so loose, and his mind so uncultivated, that every
thing like order appeared to him in the shape of restraint; and,

like men in the savage state, he required the strong stimulus of
hope or fear, produced by wild speculations, in which the interests

of others went for nothing, to keep his spirits awake. He one time
professed patriotism, but he knew not what it was to feel honest

indignation; and pretended to be an advocate for liberty, when,
with as little affection for the human race as for individuals, he

thought of nothing but his own gratification. He was just such a
citizen, as a father. The sums he adroitly obtained by a violation

of the laws of his country, as well as those of humanity, he would
allow a mistress to squander; though she was, with the same _sang_

_froid_, consigned, as were his children, to poverty, when another
proved more attractive.

"On various pretences, his friend continued to visit me; and,
observing my want of money, he tried to induce me to accept of

pecuniary aid; but this offer I absolutely rejected, though it was
made with such delicacy, I could not be displeased.

"One day he came, as I thought accidentally, to dinner. My
husband was very much engaged in business, and quitted the room

soon after the cloth was removed. We conversed as usual, till
confidential advice led again to love. I was extremely mortified.

I had a sincere regard for him, and hoped that he had an equal
friendship for me. I therefore began mildly to expostulate with

him. This gentleness he mistook for coy encouragement; and he
would not be diverted from the subject. Perceiving his mistake, I

seriously asked him how, using such language to me, he could profess
to be my husband's friend? A significant sneer excited my curiosity,

and he, supposing this to be my only scruple, took a letter
deliberately out of his pocket, saying, 'Your husband's honour is

not inflexible. How could you, with your discernment, think it so?
Why, he left the room this very day on purpose to give me an

opportunity to explain myself; _he_ thought me too timid--too tardy.
"I snatched the letter with indescribableemotion. The purport

of it was to invite him to dinner, and to ridicule his chivalrous
respect for me. He assured him, 'that every woman had her price,

and, with gross indecency, hinted, that he should be glad to have
the duty of a husband taken off his hands. These he termed _liberal_

_sentiments_. He advised him not to shock my romantic notions,
but to attack my credulousgenerosity, and weak pity; and concluded

with requesting him to lend him five hundred pounds for a month or
six weeks.' I read this letter twice over; and the firm purpose it

inspired, calmed the rising tumult of my soul. I rose deliberately,
requested Mr. S---- to wait a moment, and instantly going into the

counting-house, desired Mr. Venables to return with me to the
dining-parlour.

"He laid down his pen, and entered with me, without observing
any change in my countenance. I shut the door, and, giving him

the letter, simply asked, 'whether he wrote it, or was it a forgery?'
"Nothing could equal his confusion. His friend's eye met his,

and he muttered something about a joke--But I interrupted him--
'It is sufficient--We part for ever.'

"I continued, with solemnity, 'I have borne with your tyranny
and infidelities. I disdain to utter what I have borne with.

I thought you unprincipled, but not so decidedlyvicious. I formed
a tie, in the sight of heaven--I have held it sacred; even when

men, more conformable to my taste, have made me feel--I despise
all subterfuge!--that I was not dead to love. Neglected by you,

I have resolutely stifled the enticing emotions, and respected the
plighted faith you outraged. And you dare now to insult me,

by selling me to prostitution!--Yes--equally lost to delicacy and
principle--you dared sacrilegiously to barter the honour of the

mother of your child.'
"Then, turning to Mr. S----, I added, 'I call on you, Sir, to

witness,' and I lifted my hands and eyes to heaven, 'that, as
solemnly as I took his name, I now abjure it,' I pulled off my

ring, and put it on the table; 'and that I mean immediately to quit
his house, never to enter it more. I will provide for myself and

child. I leave him as free as I am determined to be myself--
he shall be answerable for no debts of mine.'

"Astonishment closed their lips, till Mr. Venables, gently
pushing his friend, with a forced smile, out of the room, nature

for a moment prevailed, and, appearing like himself, he turned
round, burning with rage, to me: but there was no terror in the

frown, excepting when contrasted with the malignant smile which
preceded it. He bade me 'leave the house at my peril;

told me he despised my threats; I had no resource; I could not
swear the peace against him!--I was not afraid of my life!--

he had never struck me!'
"He threw the letter in the fire, which I had incautiously

left in his hands; and, quitting the room, locked the door on me.
"When left alone, I was a moment or two before I could recollect

myself--One scene had succeeded another with such rapidity, I almost
doubted whether I was reflecting on a real event. 'Was it possible?

Was I, indeed, free?'--Yes; free I termed myself, when I decidedly
perceived the conduct I ought to adopt. How had I panted for

liberty--liberty, that I would have purchased at any price, but
that of my own esteem! I rose, and shook myself; opened the window,

and methought the air never smelled so sweet. The face of heaven
grew fairer as I viewed it, and the clouds seemed to flit away

obedient to my wishes, to give my soul room to expand. I was all
soul, and (wild as it may appear) felt as if I could have dissolved