the perusal of her papers. Much more lively and affecting,
says he, must be the style of those who write in the height of
a present distress, than the dry, narrative, unanimated style
of a person relating difficulties surmounted, can be.

XXXI. Arabella to Clarissa. In answer to her letter, No. xix.
requesting a last blessing.

XXXII. Clarissa to her mother. Written in the fervour of
her spirit, yet with the deepest humility, and on her knees,
imploring her blessing, and her father's, as what will
sprinkle comfort through her last hours.

XXXIII. Miss Montague to Clarissa. In reply to her's, No.
xxv. All their family love and admire her. Their kins-
man has not one friend among them. Beseech her to
oblige them with the acceptance of an annuity, and the
first payment now sent her, at least till she can be put in
possession of her own estate. This letter signed by Lord
M., Lady Sarah, Lady Betty, and her sister and self.
XXXIV. Lovelace to Belford. Raves against the lady for
rejecting him; yet adores her the more for it. Has one
half of the house to himself, and that the best; having
forbidden Lord M. and the ladies to see him, in return for
their forbidding him to see them. Incensed against Belford
for the extracts he has promised from his letters. Is piqued
to death at her proud refusal of him. Curses the vile wo-
man, and their potions. But for these latter, the majesty of
her virtue, he says, would have saved her, as it did once before.
XXXV. From the same. He shall not, he tells him, be her
executor. Nobody shall be any thing to her but himself.
What a reprobation of a man, who was once so dear to
her! Further instances of his raving impatience.
XXXVI. Lovelace to Clarissa. A letter, full of penitence,
promises, praises, and admiration of her virtue. Has no
hopes of escaping perdition but by her precepts and ex-
ample. All he begs for the present is, a few lines to en.
courage him to hope for forgiveness, if he can justify his
vows by his future conduct.

vi

CONTENTS OF VOL. VII.

XXXVII. Clarissa to Lord M. and the ladies of his house.
Thankfully declines accepting of their offered bounty.
Pleads for their being reconciled to their kinsman, for rea-
sons respecting her own peace. Hopes that they may be
enabled to rejoice in the effects of his reformation, many
years after she is laid low, and forgotten.
XXXVIII. Belford to Lovelace. Brief account of his ex-
pelling Thomasine, her sons, and her gallant. Further
reflections on keeping. A state not calculated for a sick
bed. Gives a short journal of what had passed relating
to the lady since his last. Mr. Brand inquires after her
character and behaviour of Mrs. Smith. His starched-
ness, conceit, and pedantry.

XXXIX. From the same. Further particulars relating to the
lady. Power left her by her grandfather's will.

XL. Clarissa to Lovelace. In answer to his letter, No. xxxvi.
XLI. Her uncle Harlowe's cruel letter, in answer to her's to
her mother, No. xxxii. Meditation stitched to it with
black silk.

XLII. Clarissa to her uncle Harlowe. In reply.

XLIII. Miss Howe, from the Isle of Wight. In answer to
hers, No. xviii. Approves not of her choice of Belford for
her executor; yet thinks she cannot appoint for that office
any of her own family. Hopes she will live many years.
XLIV. Clarissa to Miss Howe. Sends her a large packet
of letters; but (for her relations' sake) not all she has re-
ceived. Must now abide by the choice of Mr. Belford
for her executor; but further refers to the papers she
sends her, for her justification on this head.

XLV. Antony Harlowe to Clarissa. A letter more taunting
and reproachful than that of her other uncle. To what
owing.

XLVI. Clarissa. In answer. Wishes that the circumstances
of her case had been inquired into. Concludes with a
solemn and pathetic prayer for the happiness of the whole
family.

XLVII. Mrs. Norton to Clarissa. Her friends, through
Brand's reports, as she imagines, intent upon her going to
the plantations. Wishes her to discourage improper visitors.
Difficult situations the tests of prudence as well as of virtue.
Dr. Lewen's solicitude for her welfare. Her cousin Mor-
den arrived in England. Further pious consolations.
XLVIII. Clarissa, In Answer. Sends her a packet of papers,
which, for her relations' sake, she cannot communicate to
Miss Howe. From these she will collect a good deal of her
story. Defends, yet gently blames her Mother. Afraid
that her Cousin Morden will be set against her; or, what
is worse, that he will seek to avenge her. Her affecting
conclusion on her Norton's divine consolations.
XLIX. Lovelace to Belford. Is very ill. The lady, if he die,
will repent her refusal of him. One of the greatest feli-
cities that can befal a woman, what. Extremely ill. His
ludicrous behaviour on awaking, and finding a clergyman
and his friends praying for him by his bed-side.

L. Belford to Lovelace. Concerned at his illness. Wishes
that he had died before last April. The lady, he tells him,
generously pities him; and prays that he may meet with
the mercy he has not shewn.

LI. Lovelace to Belford. In raptures on her goodness to him.
His deep regrets for his treatment of her. Blesses her.
LII. Belford to Lovelace. Congratulates him on his amend-
ment. The lady's exalted charity to him. Her story a
fine subject for tragedy. Compares with it, and censures,
the play of the Fair Penitent. She is very ill; the worse
for some new instances of the implacableness of her rela-
tion. A meditation on that subject. Poor Belton, he tells
him, is at death's door; and desirous to see him.
LIII. Belford to Clarissa. Acquaints her with the obliga-
tion he is under to go to Belton, and (lest she should be
surprised) with Lovelace's resolution (as signified in the
next letter) to visit her.

LIV. Lovelace to Belford. Resolves to throw himself at the

vili

CONTENTS OF VOL. VII.

lady's feet. Lord M. of opinion, that she ought to admit

of one interview.

LV. Lovelace to Belford. Arrived in London, he finds the
· lady gone abroad. Suspects Belford. His unaccountable
freaks at Smith's. His motives for behaving so ludicrously
there. The vile Sally Martin entertains him with her
mimicry of the divine lady.

LVI. From the same. His frightful dream. How affected

by it.
Sleeping or waking, his Clarissa always present

with him. Hears she is returned to her lodgings. Is

hastening to her.

LVII. From the same. Disappointed again. Is affected by
Mrs. Lovick's expostulations. Is shewn a meditation on
being hunted after by the enemy of her soul, as it is entitled.
His light comments upon it. Leaves word that he resolves
to see her. Makes several other efforts for that purpose.
LVIII. Belford to Lovelace. Reproaches him that he has
not kept his honour with him. Inveighs against, and se-
verely censures him for his light behaviour at Smith's.
Belton's terrors and despondency. Mowbray's impene-
trable behaviour.

LIX. From the same. Mowbray's impatience to run
from a dying Belton to a too lively Lovelace. Mowbray
abuses Mr. Belton's servant in the language of a rake of
the common class. Reflection on the brevity of life.

LX. Lovelace to Belford. Receives a letter from Clarissa,

written by way of allegory, to induce him to forbear hunt-

ing after her. Copy of it. He takes it in a literal sense.

Exults upon it. Will now hasten down to Lord M. and

receive the gratulations of all his family on her returning

favour. Gives an interpretation of his frightful dream to

his own liking.

LXI. LXII. From the same. Pities Belton. Rakishly de-
fends him on the issue of a duel, which now adds to the
poor man's terrors. His opinion of death, and the fear of
it. Reflections on the conduct of play-writers with regard to

servants. He cannot account for the turn his Clarissa has
taken in his favour. Hints at one hopeful cause of it. Now
matrimony seems to be in his power, he has some retro-
grade motions.

LXIII. Belford to Lovelace. Continuation of his narrative
of Belton's last illness and impatience. The poor man
abuses the gentlemen of the faculty. Belford censures
some of them for their greediness after fees. Belton dies.
Serious reflections on the occasion.

LXIV. Lovelace to Belford. Hopes Belton is happy: and
why. He is setting out for Berks.

LXV. Belford to Lovelace. Attends the lady. She is ex-
tremely ill, and receives the sacrament. Complains of the
harasses his friend had given her. Two different persons
(from her relations he supposes) inquire after her. Her
affecting address to the doctor, apothecary, and himself.
Disposes of some more of her apparel, for a very affecting
purpose.

LXVI. Dr. Lewen to Clarissa. Writes on his pillow, to pre
vail upon her to prosecute Lovelace for his life.
LXVII. Her pathetic and noble answer.

LXVIII. Miss Arabella Harlowe to Clarissa. Proposes, in
a most taunting and cruel manner, the prosecution of
Lovelace; or, if not, her going to Pennsylvania.
LXIX. Clarissa's affecting answer.

LXX. LXXI. Mrs. Norton to Clarissa. Her uncle's cruel
letter to what owing. Colonel Morden resolved on a visit
to Lovelace.-Mrs. Hervey in a private conversation with
her, accounts for, yet blames, the cruelty of the family. Miss
Dolly Hervey wishes to attend her.
LXXII. Clarissa in answer. Thinks she has been treated
with great rigour by her relations. Expresses more
warmth than usual on this subject. Yet soon checks her-
self. Grieves that Colonel Morden resolves on a visit to
Lovelace. Touches upon her sister's taunting letter. Re-
quests Mrs. Norton's prayers for patience and resignation.