combat fuffiroit pour punir & reprimer un orgueil, qui lui paroiffcit téméraire. Epaminondas fe prépara de fon côté à la recevoir de fon micux: il fit publier, dans toutes les terres du domaine de Thébes, un décret qui ordonnoit à tous ceux qui étoient en état de porter les armes de s'y rendre inceffament. Tout le monde fe difpofa à obéir avec ce zéle empreffé, qu'infpirent la crainte des grands malheurs, & le defir & l'éfperence de les éviter. A mefure que ces nouveaux foldats arrivoient, Epaminondas les incorporoit dans les vieilles bandes, & les inftruifoit dans le métier de la guerre par des exercifes continuels; il ne fe rapportoit de tous les foins qu'à luimême, ce qui ne lui laiffoit aucun repos. (Continued frem Page 528.) Replied, that as I was quite a ftranger, I could not be expected to have fo much influence over her; but that I hoped, in a little time, the would, herfelf, perceive the neceffity there was for their appearing like o Un jour qu'il rentroit dans fa maifon, épuifé de travail & de fatigues, on lui rapporta qu'on avoit trouvé un citoyen mort dans fon lit. "O Her-ther young ladies. cule!" s'ecria-t-il, furpris & étonné, comment cet homme a-t-il eu le temps de mourir au milieu de tant d'affaires." Lorfque ce qu'il avoit pu raffembler de troupes fe fut rendu à Thébes, il en fit la revue & le dénombrement; elles ne montoient, en tout, qu'a fix milles hommes. C'étoit une armée bien foible pour le nombre, mais la juftice de la caufe pour laquelle elle alloit combattre, l'extremité à laquelle Agefilas les avoit réduits, la préfence des deux généraux, qui leur avoient appris à vaincre en leur apprenant à combattre, fit voir en cet occafion ce que peut une poignée de braves gens commandée par des chefs heureux & experimentés. "I am afraid fhe never will," faid Mifs Gafkin; "for I am almoft nineteen, and have been as tall as I am now thefe four years, and yet have not been able to perfuade my mother to let me drefs like other people." "And I am ferventeen," said Dorothea; "though I believe if my mother was to hear me fay fo, fhe would threaten me with the rod.' I could hardly, I confefs, help fmiling at thofe abfurdities, while I fin cerely pitied the objects of them, who would not, I was very well convinced, eafily prevail or their ridiculous mother to confent to any change in their appearance. This inflexible part of Mrs. Gafkin's character was the more to be lamented, as her daughters were Epaminondas, plein de courage & really fenfible, good-tempered girls, de confiance, partit de Thébes à la tête handfome and genteel: but their beaude fa petite troupe, auffi-tôt qu'elle futty and their gentility were confideraen état de le mettre en marche. Son ble bars to the enjoyment of many of deffein étoit de s'opposer à l'entrée des their little domeftic wishes: they on Lacédémoniens dans la Béotie. Pour ly ferved, indeed, to make their mocet effet, il s'empara des gorges & desther ftill more averfe to their dreffing défiles du mont Hélicon & du mont in a manner fuitable to their age, as Parnaffe, par où Cleombrote devoit that manner would throw them too vrai-femblablement prendre fa route ; much into the way of admiration, and mais le Lacédémonien, ayant habile- conftitute them formidable rivals. Unment dérobé la marche, paffa ces mon-der the predominant operation of her jeal The Governess. jealoufy, therefore, Mrs. Gafkin repeat edly ordered me to confine her girls clofely to their nursery. I fometimes ventured, however, when fo ordered, to remonstrate against the upwholefomeness, as well as hardship, of fuch a rigorous proceeding, affuring her, out of mere compaffion to the poor girls, as well as to myfelf, that they would be quite fick for want of air. In confequence of my affurances of this kind, they were permitted to walk in the garden in a morning, before any perfon was stirring in the houfe but myfelf; and I was ftrictly charged never to leave them a moment. Hav ing gained this point with the greatest difficulty, I could not think of afking for any more favours of the fame nature; we were obliged, therefore, to content ourselves with the conceffions we had obtained. The young ladies still continued to make an infantine ap pearance in their drefs: I could not perfuade Mrs. Gafkin to let them drefs like other young ladies of their age, but I took the utmost care to improve their minds and their manners: by cultivating their minds I hoped to make them think rationally, and even a little philofophically, (if a woman may be allowed that expreffion) as they really wanted to be taught an indifference about thofe things which their mother seemed refolved they fhould never enjoy, at leaft while it was in her power to hinder them. By turning their attention from the tot, which too deeply engages the thoughts of most of our fex, to the library, and recommending thofe books to their perufal which were at once replete with amusement and inftruction, made them more fatisfied with their fituation, I may add, more happy with it than they had ever yet been. They discovered their fatisfaction, indeed, in the most pleafing manner. Their capacities were good, and as Mrs. Gafkin had a very useful collection of books in her study, to which I had, foon after my arrival, defired a key, I had the fairest opportunities to render my pupils able to diftinguifh themfelves by their mental accomplishments. At 579 the time, however, that I received free permiffion to read what books I pleased myfelf, I was requested to take care that the children might only have fuch volumes put into their hands, which were fit for them at their tender age; among thefe the Bible, the Teftament, and a good fpelling-book alone were deemed proper for the infants,——“ I would not, for the univerfe," continued fhe," when they are old enough to read a page in any cafy author, have them trufted with books, left they put improper things into their heads." I told her I would take particular care with regard to their reading, and added, that mothers, in general, allowed their daughters to read fome books for improvement, fuch as the Spectator, Guardian, Rambler, and Adventurer, Hiftories of England, with the works of fome of our most eminent poets, Shakefpeare, Milton, Pope: nay, I ventured to speak in favour of the most affecting tragedies, and the genteeleft comedies in our language. the, " "Ah, Mifs Hayward," exclaimed you go too far-you will, I am afraid, by this means, make the children acquainted with what it is better for them never to know. There is nothing fo dangerous as making children too knowing, efpecially girls: I would not have their minds enlightened for the universe. Let them be kept in profound ignorance; that is the only way to render them thoroughly obe dient. Befides, I would not, upon, any account, have them read plays and poetry for the world; they would then think of peuting, and making a figure upon the ftage, before they had left their leading-ftrings: there are alfo feveral papers in the volumes you mentioned which will give them ideas of men and things. No, no, Mifs Hayward, pray don't ftuff my children's heads with fuch nonsense." I returned an equivocal answer to this extraordinary fpeech, telling her that I would certainly endeavour to do my duty, while her young ladies were under my tuition, and then hur4 E 2 ried ried away, left I fhould be fhackled with fome more disagreeable injunction. From that hour I ftrove to teach my young pupils pence, and to make then as happy as the nature of their fituation would admit, under the power of a mother who did not deferve fuch amiable daughters; and we spent our time in a very tolerable manner. "Write-fuch babies write!—What, before they can rea ?—at leaft, before hey mitt be out of their spellingFon?-No, Mis Hayward, I do not chufe to give my daughters any opportanity to cribble to fellows when they grow, and carry on intrigues.--No, I will never put it into their power; and I am fure the being able to make letters has been the ruin of numbers of poor children, who, the moment they can scratch out any thing fearce legible, fancy themselves women, and old enough to be married, when they are fcarce out of their leading-ftrings and frocks. No; the girls of the prefent age are fo monstrously forward, that mothers do not know what to do with them; they actually form schemes for eloping, when one would hardly ima The Mifs Gafkins were charmed with the variety of authors whofe works I read to them, and gave them to read; and they told me, with the most grateful fmiles, that they had never known what happiness was till they were put under my care, and that they fhould never repine at being fout up from the world, if they could always have me and their books, efpecially as they fhould be ashamed to appear a-gine they were old enough to know mong other people, without being like them in appearance, &c. what the meaning of the word is; I will therefore take care to have my I told them, in return for the fatis-children kept in ignorance. I do not faction which they expreffed at my hire a governels to in rat my girls, conduct with regard to them, that I but to keep them from being too was fincerely happy in having it in my knowing,' power to give them any pleafure; adding, that though it was natural for moit people, efpecially for those who were jufl of an age to be introduced into the world, to wifh to fee and to be feen, I was glad to find that they were capable of relithing pleafures more easily to be obtained, and lefs likely to cloy. "Those who have a talte for ea ing," continued I," can never be deflitute either of amusement or improvement, while it is in their power to procure almott any kinds of books.There is fomething to be learnt from almoft every author.” As human creatures, however, are continually forming new wifes, my young ladies foon began to be very de firous of learning to write. The eldeft, indeed, had made a great progrefs with her pen without an instructor; but being laudably ambitious to excel, begged me to intreat her mama to let her have a writing-matter. In this request Dorothea joined.. As this was a mode of education which I had not been used to, I could not fo readily fubfcribe to it as Mrs. Gafkin expected. It did not quite agree with my confcience to conform trictly to the principles of that lady: on the other hand, I really thought that I fhould be guilty of a breach of duty as a governs, by omitting any thing in my power which might tend to give my pupils pleafure, or contribute to their improvement. I made no fcruple, therefore, at the carneft intreaties of them both, to teach them writing and aritmetic. Tuefe new occupations gave them no fmall delight, and moft agreeably filled up their time, which never, indeed, as I contrived to vary their purfuits, hung hea. vy upon their hands. While we were thus employed, and as contented as we could be, fituated as we were under a fort of monaftic confinement, Mrs, Gafkin was (according to the information I received This new request threw Mrs, Gafkin from a talkative houfe maid, whose into a new agitation offpirits. "Write!" bufinefs was to attend the nursery) faid fhe, with looks of aftonifhment-going to be married to that very Mr. Thom Hiftory of Captain Herbert and Miss Nugent. 581 Themfon whom I had feen with her f congratulations; indeed, my dear Lou the art time I came to her house. misma cedolity was not a little exthis piece of intelligence, 1 Moly who Mr. Thompfon was. hac the believed he was geatlesian to whom the late Mr. Chaikin had been en left guardian, and who was, he had heard, defigned by his father, for one of the young ladies. This explanation made me eafily conceive the reason why Mrs. Gaskin kept her daughters fo carefully out of Light. However her defigns did not fucceed quite fo well as fhe intended. fa, your Caroline is happier far than fhe can exprefs. Happy in the tender attentions of the best of husbands, who feems only to live to increase my feli city: I now feel mot feverely my fif ter's difappointment, and pity her unfortunate attachment to the too amiable Charles Herbert, and I much fear (from fome circumftances) that their diftrefs will rather be increafed than abated. Yefterday morning Mr. Nugent came into the parlour, where we were all fitting at breakfast, and delivering a letter to Charles, faid, "he begged leave to introduce lieutenant Herbert to the company." Charles feemed One morning when Mr. Thompfon called, fhe happened, not expecting him that day, to be from home. Finding his way, fome how, up ftairs, he unable to exprefs his gratitude, and, made his appearance, to the great fur-catching the hand of his benefactor, prife and confufion of my young friends, preffed it in filence to his heart. We in the nursery. The poor girls, who all joined in congratulating the young were at their needles, blushed like bud-lieutenant, and the fair Augufta (mil'd, ding rafes, and hung down their heads, delighted at his promotion. Mr. Nuafhamed of being caught in their ordi- gent now left the room, and called nary infantine dreffes. The young my Harry to attend him. gentleman, who was exceedingly pleafing in his perfon, and amiable in his manners, advanced towards me, with great politeness, and apologizing for his intrufion faid, he had long wished to fee the Mifs Gafkins, with whom he had fome right to be acquainted, and that as he had been denied that fatif faction by their mother, he had taken a refolution to wait no longer: he had refolved to fee them himself, being not only related to them, but authorised by his father's to feek a connection with the daughters of his guardian. (To be continued.) Charles now opened the letter, which accompanied his commiffion; a fudden gloom overfpread his countenance, Augufta trembled, and I was alarmed; at laft he threw down the letter, and clafping his hands, cried, "O Auguf ta!" and fainted on the fopha on which he was fitting. I instantly feized the letter, and found it contained an order for his joining his regiment immediately, which is at present in Ireland. I now affifted Augufta in endeavour. ing to recover her lover, in which attempt we at length fucceeded, without alarming any of the family. I ftrove to confole the defpairing lovers, on their approaching feparation; The History of Captain HERBERT and I even went fo far as to advise them to Mijs AUGUSTA NUGENT, In a Series of Letters. Caffle Nugent. banifh a paffion from their breafts, which feemed to promife nothing in return for harbouring it but a feries of misfortunes; but all my rhetoric was vain. They refolved to cherish the troublesome gueft, and vowed eternal conftancy to each other. It occurred to me that Mr. Nugent had fome fufpicion of their attachment, Any dear, of my change of fitu- and had contrived this method of driv ation, and I impatiently expect your ing Charles from his houfe. A fort Do not you admire the ftile of this billet, it carries with it almost the air of an excufe for the young man, and I am furprised at myfelf on recollecting night is all the time that is allowed him to prepare for his journey, and I tremble at the thoughts of my fweet Augufta's fufferings. I fometimes think of making Mr. Nugent acquaint-it. It is owing to the horrible reluced with their mutual affection, and begging him, on my knees, to be propitious; but indeed it is a wild fcheme, for he is fo prepoffeffed in favour of lord Wilton, that it would be impoffible to make him give up his favourite idea of feeing his daughter diftinguished with a title. I know not how to conduct myself, or what it will be best to do to restore my fweet Augufta's peace: I wish you was here to advise me. Adieu, I will write again as foon as poor Charles is gone; before that time, it is probable, I fhall not have leifure, as I am wholly employed in preaching fortitude and refignation to my difconfolate friends. Farewell, dear Louifa, (To be continued.) tance I have to this rencontre, of which the effects feem to me ominous. In a word it will always prove unhappy to me, though I should prove victorious. You may affure yourself I fhall manage this eftimable youth as much as I can, for I fhall never forgive myself if I should kill him. I intend only to disarm him, without taking any other advantage of my skill in an affair in which he is but a novice, and in which I have already been too fuccefsful. However as events are uncertain, and arms fometimes quit us as daily fervants, I fubjoin a thort lift of my debts, which I beg you would difcharge in cafe of any accident. I heartily with I may break both my legs to night, to avoid the affair of the morrow-morning. LETTER XLVIII. From Mad. NORTHON to the Countess de I received at the fame time both the letter you sent me by poft and that which you difpatched by exprefs. You were very right, dear lady, in thinking that they would be received too late to prevent the dreadful calamity with which we were threatened, and which I cannot think of even now without trembling. Providence alone could fuccour us, and has favoured us with extraordinary bleffings, of which I fhall give you the detail when I fend your exprefs back. I fhall retain him fome days, to recover him from his fatigue, which has flung him into a fever. These lines are only to apprife you that we are almoft on the point of feeing all our misfortunes happily terminated. The detail of thofe events, which have brought us to this crifis, requires more time and compofure than I have at prefent; but I could not bear to leave you in that anxiety of fufpence |