―222―

“HARRY WALLACE was a foundling, left in a Christ-
mas morning at the door of a family, by name Wallace, found
at day-dawn by Kate, a laundress.

“Kate was born in a peasant's hut, twenty miles from Man-
heim, in the palatinate, at the village of Keyshartz, near the
Rhine. At the age of twenty, she married a neighbouring peas-
ant's son. An old village feud had subsisted between the fami-
lies, in consequence of which the match was disapproved by
both families, and all support and countenance being withdrawn,

―223―

the newly married pair embarked on the river, and came to
Pennsylvania in 1755.

“The terms of their passage were that the captain should
sell them for five years, to pay his charges. They arrived
safely at Philadelphia, and both became bond servants in the
family of Wallace.

“They were honest, faithful, and industrious, and after
their time was out, Godfrey purchased an horse and dray, and
began a carrier of thrift, which, in many cases, has terminated
in great opulence.

“Godfrey, however, was seduced by profligate companions
into habits of intemperance and idleness, and finally, in 1757,
enlisted for a soldier, contrary to the wishes, and without the
knowledge of his wife, to whom this circumstance gave great
distress, and reduced to poverty. He went to Canada, and
served throughout the war, when he was dismissed the ser-
vice maimed, poor, and with inveterate habits of intemperance
and idleness. He returned to Philadelphia to his wife, on
whose earnings, with some occasional labours, he lived till his
death, in 1767.

“During his absence and afterwards, Kate made shift to
live by dividing her week between seven families for whom
she washed.

“Kate being a simple creature and well natured, married a
specious fellow of a countryman of hers, who came lately from
the palatinate. She was not deceived in this her second choice.
The man was sober and thrifty, and promised to make a use-
ful, though not a kind husband. He was surly and hard, and
minded nothing but the main chance.

“He made Kate leave off working, and they set up a petty
shop for the sale of pennyworths, which answered well.

“In 1769, Ludwick died. Kate was pregnant, but the babe
perished a month after it was born. This was Christmas, 1770.
Kate was unequal to the charge left her by her husband, and
giving up her shop, returned once more to the wash-tub as to
her congenial element.

“Coming to Wallace's, one Monday morning, she found a
babe, not three days old, in the porch, wrapped up warmly and

―224―

with much care. She took it home, gave it nourishment, and
resolved to be its mother, inconvenient as the maternal duties
were to one in her condition. Having placed it in a cradle,
and left it to the care of some children of the family, who lived
under the same roof, she returned to the business of the day,
at Wallace's.

“The adventure was of course related to the family, and
was to them a theme of much speculation and inquiry, whence
did it come, and whose could it be?

“That day there dined at Wallace's a person by name Col-
den.

“Colden was a native of England, distantly akin to Wal-
lace, the son of a merchant of some opulence, and trained up
to spend and enjoy rather than to keep and gather. He had
the college education, and had been indulged in travelling on
the continent. His father had persuaded him to execute some
commercial business in America. He had been in this country
two years, employed in pleasure rather than business.

“Hobart was a merchant of this city, an austere and upright
Quaker, commercially connected with the Colden's. Hence ac-
quaintanceship between him and the traveller. Hobart had a
daughter, innocent, beautiful, and only fifteen. This girl was
seduced by Colden, and clandestinely delivered of a son. Col-
den had persuaded her to cohabit, without marriage, and to ac-
company him secretly to Europe, under plausible pretences.

“The child, born to her, was to be left in a nurse's care, and
affairs were so to be adjusted that the nurse should not know
the real parents of the child. Her parents likewise were left in
total ignorance of her existence or condition. Mary left her
father's house when pregnancy could no longer be concealed.
Colden secured her the means of concealment and escape. Col-
den confided the truth in one Tailder, a carpenter by trade, who
lived snugly, at the skirts of the town, and whose concurrence
and fidelity were liberally purchased. They provided a cham-
ber for the fugitive, and Tailder's wife officiated obstetrically.

“Three days after the child's birth, in pursuance of Colden's
council, the child was laid at Wallace's door. His connec-
tion with Wallace was intimate, and he thus contrived, that

―225―

he might act as the protector of the child without incurring sus-
picion. He dined there that day. The adventure was related,
and he, manifesting great compassion for the foundling, took
upon himself the care of its subsistence and persuaded the Wal-
lace's to be its guardians. Kate was easily persuaded to give
up the babe, on condition that she should have, and be libe-
rally paid for, the nursing of it. It was named Colden. Short-
ly after, Colden and Miss Hobart embarked for Europe.

“Colden's pretences with Miss Hobart were the aversion of
their respective parents to the union, an obstacle not to be re-
moved but by the death of his father, an event which was deem-
ed to be at no great distance, from the age and feeble consti-
tution of the old gentleman.

“This connection subsisted seven years in London. Fortu-
nately for the lady's reputation, no second offspring appeared,
but rumour and suspicion was still busy, and the lady's family
were apprised of her London residence and her illicit connec-
tion with Colden. Hobert sent this intelligence to the elder
Colden, who suspected his son of a private marriage with Ma-
ry, and was appeased only by proof of the contrary, and by
the son's consenting to marry another, who had the usual recom-
mendations of family and fortune.

“This event was a source of abundant anguish and vexation
to Mary. After many fits of passion, she was persuaded by
her paramour, to solicit her father's forgiveness, and to return
to him.

“The pardon was granted, and she returned in 1776. Her
character was gone, and her principles were insensibly weak-
ened by the sophistries of Colden, and by the habitual violation.

“She was extremely lovely and attractive, and hence became
the object of gallantry and assiduity to the British officers in
garrison in this city.

“One of them, major Fentham, was so much enamoured,
that he offered marriage. The father's religious scruples were
averse, but would not have prevailed had the major survived
the battle of Germantown.

“This disappointment operated very favourably to her morals;
she became thoughtful and discreet, and continued in a life of

―226―

purity and privacy till ’83; 29 years old. Then her father died,
and left her property to the amount of 600l. per year.

“Ellendale was a native of Scotland, who after spending
fifteen years, a medical adventurer in Asia, returned to his
native country, married a girl whom he loved in childhood, and
coming to America, purchased a farm upon Schuylkill, fifteen
miles from Philadelphia. For a time he employed himself in
agriculture, and gradually increased his fortune. At length,
the birth of three children made him turn his thoughts to edu-
cation; he proposed to be the tutor of his offspring, and the
more effectually to rouse their emulation, to secure them asso-
ciates and future friends, and to extend to others the benefits
of his favourite scheme, he resolved to take a few others into
his house, and join them to his own domestic college.

“He accidentally met with Harry, when a boy of 6 years
old (’76.) Being greatly pleased with the child's countenance
and demeanour, he made inquiries. Colden had not been un-
faithful to his engagement, but had annually remitted sums to
Wallace for the boy's maintenance. Having at length grown
weary, and parted with the mother, he gradually lost all interest
in the child, and during a year previous to Ellen's inquiries,
had dropped all intercourse with Wallace.

“Wallace was notorious for indiscretion, and his family had
become a burthen heavier than he was able to support. He
therefore readily concurred with Ellen's proposal to take the
whole charge of the lad. Harry now went to Ellendale, and he
became a member of the family.

“Ellen's present scheme was chiefly suggested by the loss of
his wife. Her place, as the mistress of his family, was sup-
plied by an only sister, who came to him on that event from
Scotland.

“This sister was a woman of great merit and accomplish-
ments, and heartily concurred in her brother's scheme for the
useful application of his time and property, and aided him in
the execution of it.

“Ellen's children were a son, Philip, and two daughters,
Jane and Sarah. To these were now added, Harry Colden
and Herbert Risberg, and Frances Henderson, an orphan.

―227―

“Risberg's uncle was a Swiss merchant; he had spent
twenty years in England, and married a large fortune. He
came to America with a view of enjoying his repose in a new
scene; he brought with him a wife, and one daughter, and his
nephew Herbert he consented to resign to the management of
Ellen. The daughter, Sophia, remained at home under the
maternal wing; the children were nearly of an age, all of them
being under ten, at the time when this arrangement was com-
pleted. ’76.

“Ellen adopted a wise plan of instruction, in consequence
of which the minds, tempers and passions of his six pupils were
greatly improved. They lived together without material revo-
lution, till ’86, when Harry was fifteen. Wallace had two
sons and three daughters. The sons, James and William, were
no patterns of moral rectitude. The eldest, James, was ingenu-
ous and generous, but a profligate; he studied law, but went
abroad as soon as he had finished his probation, with a friend
dissolute and thoughtless as himself, and after many changes of
abode and turns of fortune, finally got a captain's commission
and went to India. Nothing has been heard of him since.

“William was a wary, plodding, selfish character: at eighteen
years of age he took offence at his father's second marriage,
and left him without notice. He went to the West Indies, made
himself overseer to a Barbadoes plantation, which he finally pur-
chased, and moving to England passes his time in accumulating
wealth, which he frugally but ostentatiously consumes. He
dropped all intercourse with his family from the time he left
them first.

“The eldest daughter, Harriot, was a girl of some parts, but
extremely frivolous. She had beauty and wasted her youth in
the worthless and pernicious amusements of gallantry and dis-
sipation. At twenty-three (’84) she married a trading adven-
turer from England. They lived a year or two in a showy
manner, but then her husband became bankrupt, and being
thrown into prison, shortly died. Mrs. Kinsey, in consequence
of these misfortunes, or of some defect in her original constitu-
tion, became insane, and found at length an asylum in the
Pennsylvania Hospital, where she still continues. (87.)

―228―

Caroline, the second sister, with greater merit, was scarcely
less unfortunate. She was woo’d by the brother of her sister's
husband, a young man, specious and insinuating, and yielding
to the urgencies of her family and to the lovers importunities,
she yielded her hand.

“They took up their dwelling at New York, but the younger
Kinsey soon proved to be of a vicious and inhuman disposi-
tion. His wife experienced great unhappiness during five
years, when two lovely girls were born. Kinsey was a broker,
but yielding to a large temptation, he was guilty of forgery.
He absconded with all the money he could raise, and his fami-
ly were left destitute.

“When Harry had attained the age of fifteen Mr. Ellen died.
This broke up their little school. The three girls continued
to live with Miss Ellen, and her nephew, an excellent youth,
19 years of age, undertook to manage matters in his father's
place.

“Before his death, Ellen had exchanged his original planta-
tion for one five miles from the city. This last farm was in
good condition, and young Ellen's superintendance was judi-
cious and successful.

“Risberg (twenty years old) returned to his father and was
sent by him to Europe, for the improvement of his mind and
fortune.

“Harry immediately placed himself in the office of Mr.
Hartley, a practicer of law, with whom he remained three years.
At the end of that period, finding himself tolerably conversant
in his profession, and thirsting for independence, he obtained
Hartley's consent to employ his time and talents to his own
emolument. (’88.)

“He thenceforth became a conveyancer, and speedily obtain-
ed custom sufficient, with rigid economy, to maintain a family.

“In ’88 it was that Caroline Kinsey being deserted by her
husband, and sunk to poverty, died. Harry always acknow-
ledged these women his sisters, and on hearing these disasters
repaired to New York, to afford Caroline consolation and as-
sistance. He found her a prey to maladies of mind and body.
He was the only friend she had, and by his exertions her dy-

―229―

ing moments were preserved from molestation. He endea-
voured to save as much of her property as possible for her chil-
dren, but could extort from Kinsey's creditors nothing but a few
trinkets and her clothes.

“With these and the two children he returned to Philadel-
phia. He placed them in the care of good people, and made
himself answerable for all expenses.

“Wallace left a daughter by a second marriage, Susan. At
this time she was fifteen, being three years younger than
Harry.

“At her father's death, 89, she was taken by his grandmo-
ther, a shrewish and badly natured old lady, who had a fixed
but slender patrimony. Here she was subject to various in-
conveniences which lasted till Harry was able to support her
from his own earnings.

“Susan was extremely amiable and had always been his fa-
vourite. He had taken infinite pains to lighten the inconve-
niences of her situation, and to supply the place of those in-
structors which the ignorance and patrimony of her grandmo-
ther refused to her.

“In six months after he began to labour for himself he hired
a small house, and placed Susan at the head of it, with her two
nieces in charge.

“Caroline and Harriette were now both under five years.
Susan was fifteen. These with a black boy and girl composed
the family, and formed a little household, where all was order,
neatness and convenience.

“Robson was a young man of amiable disposition and indus-
trious habits; he was the eldest among four children. His fa-
ther was a conveyancer by trade, and left his son in possession
of his quill, at his death. Friendly intercourse had taken place
between Harry and him, and in this new state of affairs, a part-
nership was formed between them; the terms were an equal
division of profits, and both to exert as much diligence in gain-
ing and executing business as possible.

“In social intercourse, in domestic, parental, and professional
offices, the ensuing period was happily spent.

―230―

“Mary Hobart was apprized of the destiny of her son, at
the time of her first departure; it may be imagined that some
solicitude was felt by her on his account, but the love of repu-
tation and of Colden, and the arguments of the latter, prevail-
ed on her to leave him to the nurture of Kate, and the protection
of Wallace.

“During her residence in England, and while Colden con-
tinued his correspondence in America, most of a mother's
feelings were felt by her, at the occasional tidings that were
received by Colden, of the welfare of his natural and adopted
child.

“The real parentage of Harry was known but to Colden,
Miss Hobart, and the Tailder's.

“Tailder was by trade a carpenter, but his trade was by no
means flourishing. This, in some degree, arose from a sickly
constitution, which was greatly injured by city airs and occu-
pations, and by his superior attachment to a farmer's life.

“Colden became acquainted in the way of his profession, and
from a pliant, sociable and generous temper offered to accom-
modate him with money to purchase land in the western parts
of Pennsylvania. This offer was gratefully accepted. At this
time an asylum and concealment became requisite to Mary Ho-
bart, and Colden imagined that the state of affairs between him
and Tailder, made him the suitable instrument on this occasion.

“Tailder readily promised to act agreeably to Colden's
wishes, and being a man of prudence and caution, and moving
with his family to the newly purchased farm, immediately af-
ter Colden's embarkation, it is probable that the truth, respect-
ing Harry's parentage, was known only to these four.

“Time, likewise, had lessened the danger and inducement,
to concealment, and at Mary's return to her father's house, no
inhabitant of this city had the slightest suspicion of the truth.

“Miss Hobart, on her return, was anxious to find out the
boy. This was easily done. Just before her arrival he had
been removed to Ellendale. Her anxiety to see the lad, and
give loose to her affection for him, was thwarted and checked
by apprehensions natural to her true situation. Still, however,
she contrived, when he occasionally came to the city, to bring

―231―

about an interview with him. All the undesired consequences
were dexterously eluded.

“At her father's death, she became rich and independent.
She was still beautiful and young, and every grace and excel-
lence compatible with so green an age, were unfolded in her
son. She was greatly at a loss in what manner to act in rela-
tion to the lad; maternal duty and affections prompted her to
avow herself his parent, but the fear of obloquy, and the sense
of the advantages which he already enjoyed under the guar-
dianship of Ellen, withheld her; she resolved, however, silent-
ly to watch his progress, and exert herself for his benefit, when-
ever opportunity should offer.

“On his settling in the city with Hartley, Miss Hobart
hoped to enjoy his society; the means she made use of, and
Harry's gratitude had, ere this, established friendship between
them, and Harry had been accustomed to treat her in many
respects filially.

“During the three years of his apprenticeship, the inter-
course was frequent between them, and many instances occur-
red in which the mother's happiness and usefulness was essen-
tially promoted by the prudence and wisdom of the son. Her
property consisting of house and land, was greatly increased in
value in the course of that period, and nearly the whole ma-
nagement of it came gradually to devolve upon Harry; he
was her steward, her almoner, but on no occasion, would con-
sent to be the receiver of her bounty, or allow his sister to be
so.

“By ordinary and obvious means he became acquainted with
the mystery of his birth. It frequently afforded a subject of
curiosity, but gave him no uneasiness. The mystery was at
length solved, in 1789.

“In July, of that year, he spent a fortnight in the neighbour-
hood of Bethlehem and Nazareth. In this excursion he was
accompanied by young Ellen, his sisters, and Susan Wallace,
who resided with the Ellen's till his own mansion was prepared.

“During this journey he and his friend Archy, traversing
the neighbouring country lighted, at noon, upon a farm-house,
the residence of Tailder. They were hospitably entertained at

―232―

dinner, by the good man and his wife, and much talk ensued.
Eighteen years before, said they, we lived in Philadelphia,
and how was this family and that family? Among the rest,
was Hobrat dead or alive, and was his daughter Mary in exis-
tence yet? Thus their talk carried them unwarily to a certain
point: at last Harry was called, by his friend, by his surname
of Colden.

“Colden's name suggested inquiries to them, which termi-
nated in a conjecture, on his part, that they knew something
of his birth, and a certainty on theirs, that this was the found-
ling. His suspicions were confirmed by his friend, after they
parted from Tailder, and Harry resolved to renew his visit
next day, and endeavour to ascertain the truth.

“The visit next day was renewed, and after many interro-
gations and preliminaries, he extorted from them a full disclo-
sure of the truth.

“This discovery was a subject of much meditation to Harry,
and many difficulties occurred in the way of that path which
he was now to pursue. He finally resolved to disclose this
knowledge to his mother.

“Tailder had been imposed upon by Colden, as to his true
relation to Mary Hobart, pretending a private marriage between
them.

“Miss Hobart's former connection with Colden was known
by contemporary knowledge, to the elder few, and by tradition,
to many of the young; hence it became early known to Harry,
but it abated not his kindness for her. In ’87 Harry chanced
to overhear a story sanctioned by certain plausibilities, re-
lative to Mary Hobart having in her youth been delivered of
a child which she afterwards abandoned, and which come, in
consequence of that desertion, to an untimely end.

“In consequence of this story, much uneasiness was occa-
sioned to Harry, and an explanation followed with Miss Ho-
bart. She allowed herself to be swayed by improper motives
and solemnly averred her innocence. Another explanation now
ensued, and the truth was fully disclosed. Many difficulties
hence arose to Harry as to the conduct he should pursue, in
owning or denying his relationship to her.

―233―

“Miss Hobart had many foibles and unevennesses which
made the stedfastness and wisdom of her son of the utmost use
to her.

“In the course of the year ’90, when Miss Hobart was still
young, being only 35 years, vigorous, blooming and rich, hav-
ing 1200l. a year, a man of thirty, elegant, ingenuous and plau-
sible, but a mere adventurer, made court to her. The union was
prevented only by the resolution and exertion of Harry. It
was attended by many arduous and delicate circumstances.

“At the death of Ellen, his son received a letter from his
uncle who was a Scottish baronet. Ellen had been a younger
brother, and being left unprovided by his father's will, was
obliged to depend upon his own industry. Sir Archibald was
a man of selfishness and parsimony, of narrow understanding,
and too timorous to gain much.

“At his father's death he was twenty-five years old, and came
into possession of land, worth 200 a year and 10,000l. in mo-
ney. He removed to London, and by living on two hundred
pounds a year, and letting out the rest at common interest of
ten per cent, he realized in forty years 368,580l.

“Nothing but a general intercourse had subsisted between
the brothers during their separation. Arthur had made no
demands upon his brother's purse, and Archibald was never
therefore taught distance and suspicion.

“He was a Scotch gentleman, and had therefore the usual
prejudices respecting birth and family, and being conscious
that his end could not be far remote, he signified his wishes
that his nephew should come to him, and be treated as his fu-
ture heir.

“Young Ellen, through the persuasion of his aunt and of
Harry, consented to this scheme, and went to Europe in 1789.

“Ellen had seen and loved Fanny Henderson, and the af-
fection was mutual, but did not give birth to any contract or
vow; their respective thoughts and wishes were secreted in
each others hearts. Ellen went abroad with a view of secur-
ing to himself the reversion of his uncle's fortune, and with a
resolution to return as soon as possible to the bosom of his fa-
mily. He embarked, February, ’90.

―234―

“Harry was left as the protector of his own sister, his two
nieces, his mother, Mrs. Ellen, Jane, Sarah and Fanny. At
their separation a correspondence continued between the two
youths, till the return of the latter.

“On Harry's coming to the city for the study of the law,
his social hours were chiefly spent with Miss Hobart, and with
Sophia Risberg, a visitant of Miss Ellen's, in consequence of
her brother's scholarship, and of similitude of age and taste
with the three girls.

“Sophia, though retained at home by her mother, was fre-
quently a partaker in the sports and lessons of Ellendale. Hence
acquaintance and sympathy arose between Harry and Sophia.
Hence, having arisen to a mature age, and both becoming re-
sident in the same city, an intercourse more interesting took
place between them.

“Though only fifteen, Harry's understanding possessed
great vigour, and his deportment great stedfastness. Sophy
was only thirteen, and her mother's death, and her father's ha-
bits, opened the way for constant intercourse between the young
people.

“This intercourse continued without molestation or disquiet
for three years, every day planting deeper the affection that
reigned between them.

“Old Risberg had been detained in America by various en-
gagements. He never designed to spend his life here. To so-
journ in the new world for a while, and finally to lay his bones
in his native country was his chief desire.

“He had likewise another favourite wish. He had in infan-
cy an orphan nephew, had him nursed and educated with care,
and had always designed him for the husband of his daughter
and heir of his property. This arrangement was known to both
parties, and nothing hitherto occurred in the history of the
young man to hinder such a purpose.

“Risberg for some time encouraged the intercourse between
Colden and his daughter, without apprehending any inconve-
niency. At length there occurred some cause for suspicion and
uneasiness, and these were confirmed by suitable inquiries.

―235―

“A violent contest of the passions ensued, in which filial
duty became triumphant, and Sophia consented to accompany
her father to Europe, and vowed to study his happiness in all
things.

“The father confiding in the influence of time and absence,
exacted, for the present, nothing but this consent, and left
America in ’89.

“The subsequent incidents of the story are contained in a
series of letters. The period is till ’95, when Sophia returns
to America, and is married to Harry.

“During this time Harry is married, from the impulse of
duty, to a female who dies in child-bed, at the end of fifteen
months.

“A female appears upon the stage, who has many brilliant
and estimable qualities, and who becomes enamoured of Hen-
ry in consequence of his merits and of good offices performed
for her.

“He declines marriage, but finding, on several experiments,
that her disappointment preys upon her understanding and her
life, she marries Harry.

“Harry's merits, in her eyes, are the saving of her fortune
from the chicanery of a knave; the introducing her to his friends
and sisters; the directing her in the use of her fortune, and
the continual display of virtuous and captivating qualities.

“Louisa Leveson was the daughter of a merchant of Jamai-
ca. She was sent, at six years of age, to England, to the fa-
mily of an aunt, a childless maiden, who made it the study of
her life to indulge and gratify her niece; hence she grew up,
with many foibles interwoven with her character, a lofty and
impetuous spirit, which reason and gentleness could lead any
where, but which disdained all controul, all authority, and al-
ways scorn with scorn, and passion with passion.

“Several offers of marriage had been made, but rejected.
At length acquaintance began with a man of some talents and
accomplishments, but who, in truth, aimed only at her fortune.
The seasonable discovery of his motives saved her from his
claws.

―236―

“At twenty, her father came and settled in England, and
took his daughter home. The father's disposition resembled
that of his child, hence frequent causes of dissention arose be-
tween them, which was carried to extremes by the reapplica-
tion of her discarded lover, who was backed by paternal autho-
rity. Louisa's spirit would not endure constraint, and she de-
termined to elope.

“She had a friend who grew up with her from childhood,
whose character considerably differed from her's, but whom she
continued to love and revere.

“Miss Mostyn, that was her friend's name, was married
to the son of an eminent manufacturer, who immediately em-
barked for America, in order to settle on a plantation to be
purchased there.

“In her present dilemma, Louisa resolved to repair to her
friend in America, and abjure her country and her father's
house for ever.

“Her aunt's death had put her in possession of a legacy of
two thousand guineas. These she packed in her baggage, and
clandestinely went on board a packet for America.

“Miss Mostyn had gone a year before with her husband, to
America, and shortly after had removed to Kentucky. One let-
ter was received by Louisa, just after her arrival, but subse-
quent letters had miscarried.

“Louisa soon experienced all the dangers which an imagi-
nation, less inexperienced, might have easily predicted; but
having a courageous and indignant spirit, she supported all her
trials with magnanimity.

“She arrived in Philadelphia, friendless. The ship belong-
ed to a merchant, by name Jephson. Jephson was a knave,
who was embarrassed with pecuniary difficulties. He behaved
with great politeness to Louisa, prevailed on her to remove to
his house, and his wife, a plain artless, uninformed woman, en-
tertained her with all the gentleness imaginable.

“Conciliated by Jephson's kindness, she placed the money
in his hands without any voucher, and having taken the best
measures in her power to discover the abode of her friend, she

―237―

meantime, took lodgings with a Mrs. Worden, a single lady,
living with decency in a retired part of the city.

“Jephson was indebted to a frierd of Harry's in an hundred
dollars. It was secured by a note of hand, due in 60 days.
The promiser went abroad and left the writings in the hands of
Harry; hence some slight intercourse took place between them.
The note being due, Harry caled for payment. Jephson being
abroad, Harry waited his return, meanwhile was ushered into
a parlour, where Louisa sat. Obeisance and a few compli-
mentary words passed between them on this occasion. Har-
ry's curiosity and interest was much excited by this incident.

“Jephson's character was notoriously dishonest. Since the
appearance of a stranger, a woman very young, and of a mein
and form extremely prepossessing, could not fail to excite un-
easiness. Harry resolved to discover her true condition.

“For this end he talked to Jephson concerning her, and de-
sired an introduction to her. Jephson's aim was to prevail upon
Louisa to go to Kentucky, leaving her money in his possession.
This she would not do till she had heard from her friend, and
much time must necessarily elapse before that event; he had
likewise rescived to appropriate her money to his own use, and
defy at any rate, all attempts to get it from him.

“It was his interest to keep Louisa, as much as possible,
distant from new acquaintances, and to prejudice the world
against her, by representing her as a runaway, as of doubtful
purity, and as wholly dependant upon his charity.

“These representations only, more than ever excited the
uneasiness of Harry; emotions that received still greater force
from studied evasions in Jephson to introduce them to each
other.

“Captain Seaforth, commander of Jephson's ship had gone
again to sea. Harry, however, procured an interview with his
wife, and questioned her as to the information which she had
accidentally gathered from her husband respecting his passen-
gers, on his last voyage.

“She told Harry that L. Leveson had been often mentioned
by the captain in terms of surprise, doubt and compassion, and
that she had casually dropped the information, when in danger

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of being captured by a privateer, that she had a large sum in
gold among her baggage.

“It was easy to collect from inquisition at the United States
Bank, that at the time of Louisa's arrival, Jephson had depo-
sited ten thousand dollars in gold. Hence the villainy of Jeph-
son and the danger of Louisa were readily inferred, and the
necessity of measures for her safety was apparent.

“For this end he visited the lady, and by open candid and
winning manners, obtained from her a thorough knowledge of
her pecuniary situation. He then relieved her from her dan-
ger, by acting powerfully on the fears of Jephson, and by ar-
resting him for his own debt. The issue was, a check on the
bank for the full amount.

“Meanwhile, Louisa Leveson was introduced to Miss Ho-
bart, and to all Harry's friends; the character of Harry became
thus gradually unfolded to his new acquaintance, and every
view of it was only a stronger claim to her homage. He be-
came the object of a vehement passion, to which however,
Harry was unable to make any adequate return, from his pre-
possessions in favour of Sophia Risberg, and from the objections
which his reason made to the temper and peculiarities of Louisa.

“The true state of his feelings became finally explained, and
Louisa, who had previously received tidings of her friend, and
an invitation to the banks of Monongahela, retired thither.

“In order to suppress a passion, useless and destructive,
she withdrew to her friends.

“Corresponding meanwhile with Jane Ellen, the state of
her feelings was described with great force.

“Before her departure, Harry had reasoned himself into a
resolution of marriage with Louisa, but the generosity of the
latter, awakened by his example, refused its concurrence. The
picture here drawn is that of virtue, generosity and disinterest-
edness imparted to a faulty character, by the mere force of a
virtuous example.

“The departure took place in July, ’93: pestilence fol-
lowed, affording new scope for the display of Colden's virtues.
After reasoning much on the precepts of his duty on this exi-

―239―

gence, he determined to stay in the city, and act, at once cha-
ritably and professionally.

“He obeyed every call to make the wills of the dying, and
exerted himself in various ways for the relief of sufferers.

“One of the victims of the epidemic was his mother, whom
he carefully attended till her death.

“Intelligence of his danger was carried to Louisa. The
manner in which it affected her corresponded with the impetu-
osity of her temper. She became sick, and was rescued from
death only by a letter from Colden assuring her of his welfare.
Hence a correspondence was renewed which only supplied new
force to her passion.

“It appeared, at first, that her passion was extinguished,
but this incident showed that some passion still reigned, so as
to make her life depend upon Harry's safety. A marriage took
place in December, ’93, and Louisa's death in December,
1794.

“In December, ’95, Sophia Risberg arrived at New York,
after an absence of six years. This interval had been occupied
by incidents serving to exhibit an example of duty triumphant
over passion and inclination.

“In the contest with the errors of her father and of others,
her virtues had finally triumphed. The father died in 1794,
leaving her the blessing of a good parent and permitting her to
follow the dictates of her own choice.

“This choice led to the renewal of her intercourse with Har-
ry and the Ellens. She had little hope that her friend still re-
mained unmarried, but exerted her reason to repress every un-
toward wish. At length, after writing to her friend Jane, and
waiting ineffectually for an answer, she embarked for America.
Her brother, profiting little by Ellen's tuition, had formed new
creeds during an abode at France, and enlisted in the troops of
the republic.

“Sophia returned with little more money than would defray
expenses. A year had elapsed since Louisa's death. Inter-
views took place between Harry and Louisa, and Ellen, finding
all his efforts to please his uncle ineffectual, resolved to return
without any increase of fortune, though with abundance of

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knowledge, to share his fortune with his friend, and reward
the constancy of Fanny Henderson.

“Risberg, on leaving America, had returned to Saxony.
After wandering somewhat in Europe he took up his residence
in Florence. Here he was joined by his nephew.

“Frederick readily fulfilled his uncle's wishes in becoming
deeply enamoured of his cousin. The father declared his
wishes to his daughter, who after many struggles consented on
condition that her cousin's morals should prove sufficiently un-
blemished.

“Her father's standard of morals was by no means rigid.
His nephew's conduct was sufficiently correct, according to his
notions; Sophia would not in this case forego the privilege of
judging for herself, and finding her lover destitute of the prin-
ciples, which in her opinion, were necessary to their intellec-
tual harmony, she determined to postpone the marriage till
that condition was fulfilled.

“The lover exerted all possible means of vanquishing her
resolution, but all were ineffectual. One consequence was the
father's indignation and remonstrance, and the lover's counter-
feit despair.

“The youth, after many extravagances, imputed her con-
duct to preference of others; of Ellen particularly, whom So-
phia met at Florence, and with whom she formed an intimate
friendship. In order to obviate this cause of unhappiness, El-
len determined to leave Florence and drop all intercourse. He
was pursued by the jealous lover, and being forced to fight,
was killed on the borders of Romagna.

“This event gave the utmost grief to Sophia, and determin-
ed her to drop all connection with her cousin, who on her last
and stern repulse, killed himself.

“Sophia sent Ellen's baggage and a letter, acquainting Col-
den with this catastrophe by the way of Leghorn. This letter
arrived in November, ’94.

“All the wisdom of Harry was insufficient totally or instant-
ly to quell every emotion connected with the name of Sophia.
This letter was received at a time Harry and all his friends,
fully expected the arrival of Ellen himself, who had taken a

―241―

short excursion to Italy, and then designed to return by sea,
to America.

“A lively grief was excited by the death of Ellen; a different
emotion was awakened by the hand writing of Sophia. It was
impossible to hide this letter from his wife who was now on the
eve of child-birth.

“Colden's marriage had never appeared to her otherwise,
than an instance of self denial. It made her partly happy, and
her imagination, previously terrified by omens rising from her
personal condition, she suffered the images suggested by this
renewed correspondence to augment her distress.

“All Colden's eloquence and tenderness were unable wholly
to suppress these thoughts, and they no doubt, tended to bring
about the disaster that shortly after happened.

“Sophia's return to America, led the way to that union be-
tween her and Colden which was necessary to their mutual
happiness,

“Risberg's property was great when he left America, but
the artifices of his son and nephew nearly bereaved him of the
whole. Sophia's efforts to counteract their artifices and pre-
serve something for her father's subsistence in old age, wrought
a breach between brother and sister, and young Risberg fore-
bore all friendly intercourse with her.

“The disappointment occasioned by his nephew's death, and
the loss of fortune, made the temper of old Risberg, peevish
and tyrannical, and it was not till the near approach of death,
that objects appeared in their true light, and the rectitude of
his daughter's conduct became apparent.

“Old Wallace, at the death of his first wife, had married
another, who displayed all the step-dame's properties. The
sons and the eldest daughters left their father's roof, in conse-
quence of her machinations. The youngest, Susan, was taken
by her grandmamma. The wife was jealous and feeble, and the
husband timid and uxurious, and though Wallace had consider-
able property, she would not suffer him to help them or coun-
tenance them in any manner. The spectacle was thus display-
ed of a family of helpless females, protected and supported by
a boy of eighteen; while their natural parent was alive and able.

―242―

“Susan Wallace was married in October ’94, to Fenwick,
who was the third among her suitors: to the former ones, her
heart had successively resigned its affections, but marriage had
been prevented by vigilance and forethought of Colden. The
man, at length admitted, was an estimable character, a youth
of enterprize and diligence, and a lawyer by profession. There
was every prospect of his becoming an honour to his country.
All the earthly happiness of Susan was the proper gift of Col-
den.

“At Colden's marriage with Sophia, in May, ’96, the for-
mer was twenty-five years old, and the latter 23. Mrs. Ellen
and her two daughters dwelt at Ellendale. Jane, the eldest,
was thirty years of age, and not likely ever to be married.
The youngest was betrothed to an elder brother (a merchant)
of Fenwick. Fanny Henderson whose heart had been devoted
to the assassinated Ellen, was recovering from the affliction oc-
casioned by his death.

“The orphans, Caroline and Harriet, now grown up and
lovely girls, were still under the protection of Colden, while
Susan Wallace, newly married, resided at New-York.