from partiality to me she was no judge in this matter, and that I should find this young man an interruption to that calmness of mind which it was my first object to preserve, and which I too well knew, from experience, was never more painfully disturbed, disturbed, than by intercourse with such favourites of fortune as (I then would have considered) young Travers. I tell you all this, my dearest father, to shew you how completely I was then under the dominion of pride and self-love. Had I been, I shall now say, cursed with the advantages possessed by my brothers, joined to this extreme anxiety, that self should never suffer humiliation, to what heights of ambition might it not have excited me? while, in my proud career, I might have followed its impulse, blinded by its elating power, and unconscious that the principle of all my actions, was that most abhorred and condemned by God. Oh! how grate fully have I thanked him, for having so

suited his discipline to the diseased soul of his blinded creature!

In a very short time, Mr Travers and her son arrived in Cornwall, and my aunt went immediately to meet her widowed friend. She remained two days with her; and, on her return, seemed quite absorbed in thought, and most deeply grave. I attempted to engage her in conversation, but for once her kindness remained unawakened by all my efforts, and she continued absent, and apparently unhappy. You, my dear Sir, know my aunt's frank character, and will not wonder that I soon felt alarmed by such unusual reserve. I dreaded that, while absent, she had heard some distressing intelligence, and my fears were immediately at home.

I see you know something, which you dread telling me, my dear aunt,' said I at last, as calmly as I could. The tone of my voice startled her, and she looked

at me with surprise. I repeated what I had said.

"I know nothing, my dear Arthur, which I dread telling you.' Then recollecting herself, Forgive my silence, and thoughtfulness; I have seen strange things since I left you.'

'What kind of things?' asked I.

'Young Travers, the creature on earth whom I should have least expected to grieve any one, is utterly changed; and instead of being a comfort and pride to his mother, is now a source of anxiety and pain. And,' continued my aunt, in all the bitterness of disappointment and sorrow for her friend, his father is in the grave, and he is now of age, and will henceforth have no one to check him, and he will do exactly as he chooses,—and friends, reputation, all must go, while he is yet a mere boy.'

I attempted to hold out better hopes."
He has got into improper society a-

broad; he will

ne his former habits,

on returning to England. wod Improper society! Yes; but not such

k

as you suppose. The improper society was his own tutor, so highly recommended, so praised for talent and acquirement, so uncommonly prepossessing in manners,-a mere wild enthusiast, "a narrow-minded bigot, a learned fool,' or a most consummate hypocrite. He has led poor Basil into all his ridiculous notions; and now, his mother tells me, there are not half-a-dozen people in England he thinks will get to heaven. is for ever attempting to convince her, and all around him, that they have done nothing but sin ever since they were born, and that, unless they become I know not what, like himself I suppose, they shall all go to perdition."

He

Travers must be a fool, observed I, to be led by any one into such absurfarond zeel vridion basooqra dities.'

• And yet,' said my aunt sadly, as

former recollections came into her mind, 'how fair was the promise! On what hope may we dare to rest ?—In all things so superior! Ever first at school,-at college gaining prizes contested by the finest talents there,-respected and beloved by all; so little elated, so pleasing, so kind in heart. My aunt could not restrain

her tears.

she,

My dear friend,' continued

how she doats on him!'

Is his conduct to his mother changed ?' asked I.

• Oh! no. She says it is impossible to describe his feeling and gentle attentions to her, during the sad scenes they have passed through lately; or the generosity and delicacy with which he has arranged his father's affairs, which, from his aversion to business, had been left rather in confusion, particularly regarding a provision for his widow. But these were Basil's natural habits; I could have expected nothing less from him.'

'Opinions, my dear aunt,' observed I,

N