Most dear Sir !
With exulting confidence now does your emboldened daughter come into your awful presence by those lines, who dared not, but upon This occasion, to look up to you with hopes of favour and forgiveness; since, when This comes to your hands it will be out of her power ever to offend you more.

And now let me bless you, my…[Read more]

Monday noon, Aug. 28.

About the time of poor Belton’s interrment last night, as near as we could guess, Lord M, Mowbray and myself toasted once, To the memory of honest Tom Belton ; and, by a quick transition to the living, Health to Miss Harlowe ; which Lord M. obligingly began, and, To the happy reconciliation ; and then we stuck in a…[Read more]

Tuesday, June 6. 
Unsuccessful as hitherto my application to thee has been, I cannot for the heart of me forbear writing once more in behalf of this admirable woman: And yet am unable to account for the zeal which impels me to take her part with an earnestness so sincere.

But all her merit thou acknowlegest; all thy own vileness thou con…[Read more]

Thursday noon, June 22.
 
Let me perish, if I know what to make either of myself, or of this surprising creature—Now calm, now tempestuous—But I know thou lovest not anticipation any more than me.

At my repeated requests, she met me at six this morning. She was ready dressed; for she has not had her cloaths off ever since she d…[Read more]

Tuesday morning, Sept. 12.
 
The good Mrs. Norton is arrived, a little amended in her spirits: Owing to the very posthumous letters, as I may call them, which you, Mr. Belford, as well as I, apprehended would have had fatal effects upon her.

I cannot but attribute this to the right turn of her mind. It seems she has been inured to aff…[Read more]

Wednesday night.
 
A man is just now arrived from M. Hall, who tells me, that my Lord is in a very dangerous way. The gout in his stomach to an extreme degree, occasion’d by drinking a great quantity of limonade.

A man of 8000 l. a year to prefer his appetite to his health! —He deserves to die! —But we have all of us our ino…[Read more]

Wedn. July 12. 
So, Jack, they think they have gain’d a mighty point. But, were I to change my mind, were I to repent, I fancy I am safe. —And yet this very moment it rises to my mind, that ’tis hard trusting too; for surely there must be some embers, where there was fire so lately, that may be stirr’d up to give a blaze to combustibles str…[Read more]

London, Oct. 25.
I write, to shew you, that I am incapable of slighting even the minutest requests of an absent and distant friend. Yet you may believe, that there cannot be any great alterations in the little time that you have been out of England, with respect to the subjects of your inquiry. Nevertheless I will answer to each for the reason…[Read more]

Wedn. Noon, June 21. 
What shall I say now! —I who but a few hours ago had such faith in dreams, and had proposed out of hand to begin my treatise ofDreams-sleeping and Dreams-waking, and was pleasing myself with the dialoguings between the old matronly lady, and the young lady; and with the two metamorphoses (absolutely assured that every thin…[Read more]

Friday Morn. Sept. 1.
 
It is surprising, that I, a man, should be so much affected as I was, at such an object as is the subject of my former letter; who also, in my late uncle’s case, and poor Belton’s, had the like before me, and the directing of it: When she, a woman, of so weak and tender a frame, who was to fill it (so soon, perhaps, to fi…[Read more]

Wednesday, Sept. 6.
At length, my best beloved Miss Clary, every thing is in the wished train—For all your relations are unanimous in your favour—Even your brother and sister are with the foremost to be reconciled to you.

I knew it must end thus! —By patience, and persevering sweetness, what a triumph have you gained!

This happy…[Read more]

Thursday night.
I may as well try to write; since, were I to go to bed, I shall not sleep. I never had such a weight of grief upon my mind in my life, as upon the demise of this admirable woman; whose soul is now rejoicing in the regions of light.

You may be glad to know the particulars of her happy exit. I will try to proceed; for all is hush…[Read more]

Mr. Belford . In Continuation.

The Colonel tells me, That he has written to Mr. John Harlowe, by his servant, “That they might spare themselves the trouble of debating about a reconciliation; for that his dear cousin would probably be no more, before they could resolve.”

He asked me after his cousin’s means of subsisting; and…[Read more]

Uxbridge, Sat. Sept. 9.
Jack,
I think is absolutely right that my ever-dear and beloved lady should be opened and embalmed. It must be done out of hand—this very afternoon. Your acquaintance Tomkins and old Anderson of this place, whom I will bring with me, shall be the surgeons. I have talked to the latter about it.

I will see every…[Read more]

Mr. Lovelace, To John Belford, Esq; 
Friday morning, past Two o’clock. 
Io Triumphe ! Io Clarissa, sing! —One more, what a happy man thy friend! —A silly dear novice, to be heard to tell the coachman whither to carry her! —And to go to Hampstead, of all the villages about London! —The place where we had been together more than once!

M…[Read more]

Sat. ten o’ clock.

Poor Mrs. Norton is come. She was set down at the door; and would have gone up stairs directly. But Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Lovick being together and in tears, and the former hinting too suddenly to the truly venerable woman the fatal news, she sunk down at her feet, in fits; so that they were forced to breathe a vein, to…[Read more]

Letter 4: MISS CLARISSA HARLOWE TO MISS HOWE
Jan. 15
THIS, my dear, was the situation Mr Lovelace and I were in when my brother arrived from Scotland.

The moment Mr Lovelace’s visits were mentioned to him, he, without either hesitation or apology, expressed his disapprobation of them. He found great flaws in his character, and took the…[Read more]

Letter 27: MISS HOWE TO MISS CLARISSA HARLOWE
Thursday night, March 9
I have no patience with any of the people you are with. I know not what to advise you to do. How do you know that you are not punishable for being the cause, though to your own loss, that the will of your grandfather is not complied with?—Wills are sacred things, child. You…[Read more]

Letter 26: MISS CLARISSA HARLOWE TO MISS HOWE
Thursd. morn. Mar. 9
I have another letter from Mr Lovelace, although I had not answered his former.

This man, somehow or other, knows everything that passes in our family: my confinement; Hannah’s dismission; and more of the resentments and resolutions of my father, uncles, and brother, than I…[Read more]

Letter 194: MR LOVELACE TO JOHN BELFORD, ESQ.
Saturday, May 20
AND now will I favour thee with a brief account of our present situation.

From the highest to the lowest we are all extremely happy— Dorcas stands well in her lady’s graces. Polly has asked her advice in relation to a courtship affair of her own. No oracle ever gave better. Sally…[Read more]