_Mr. De Courcy to Sir Reginald._
Churchhill.
My dear Sir,—I have this moment received your letter, which has given
me more astonishment than I ever felt before. I am to thank my sister,
I suppose, for having represented me in such a light as to injure me in
your opinion, and give you all this alarm. I know not why she should
choose to make herself and her family uneasy by apprehending an event
which no one but herself, I can affirm, would ever have thought
possible. To impute such a design to Lady Susan would be taking from
her every claim to that excellent understanding which her bitterest
enemies have never denied her; and equally low must sink my pretensions
to common sense if I am suspected of matrimonial views in my behaviour
to her. Our difference of age must be an insuperable objection, and I
entreat you, my dear father, to quiet your mind, and no longer harbour
a suspicion which cannot be more injurious to your own peace than to
our understandings. I can have no other view in remaining with Lady
Susan, than to enjoy for a short time (as you have yourself expressed
it) the conversation of a woman of high intellectual powers. If Mrs.
Vernon would allow something to my affection for herself and her
husband in the length of my visit, she would do more justice to us all;
but my sister is unhappily prejudiced beyond the hope of conviction
against Lady Susan. From an attachment to her husband, which in itself
does honour to both, she cannot forgive the endeavours at preventing
their union, which have been attributed to selfishness in Lady Susan;
but in this case, as well as in many others, the world has most grossly
injured that lady, by supposing the worst where the motives of her
conduct have been doubtful. Lady Susan had heard something so
materially to the disadvantage of my sister as to persuade her that the
happiness of Mr. Vernon, to whom she was always much attached, would be
wholly destroyed by the marriage. And this circumstance, while it
explains the true motives of Lady Susan’s conduct, and removes all the
blame which has been so lavished on her, may also convince us how
little the general report of anyone ought to be credited; since no
character, however upright, can escape the malevolence of slander. If
my sister, in the security of retirement, with as little opportunity as
inclination to do evil, could not avoid censure, we must not rashly
condemn those who, living in the world and surrounded with temptations,
should be accused of errors which they are known to have the power of
committing.
I blame myself severely for having so easily believed the slanderous
tales invented by Charles Smith to the prejudice of Lady Susan, as I am
now convinced how greatly they have traduced her. As to Mrs.
Mainwaring’s jealousy it was totally his own invention, and his account
of her attaching Miss Mainwaring’s lover was scarcely better founded.
Sir James Martin had been drawn in by that young lady to pay her some
attention; and as he is a man of fortune, it was easy to see _her_
views extended to marriage. It is well known that Miss M. is absolutely
on the catch for a husband, and no one therefore can pity her for
losing, by the superior attractions of another woman, the chance of
being able to make a worthy man completely wretched. Lady Susan was far
from intending such a conquest, and on finding how warmly Miss
Mainwaring resented her lover’s defection, determined, in spite of Mr.
and Mrs. Mainwaring’s most urgent entreaties, to leave the family. I
have reason to imagine she did receive serious proposals from Sir
James, but her removing from Langford immediately on the discovery of
his attachment, must acquit her on that article with any mind of common
candour. You will, I am sure, my dear Sir, feel the truth of this, and
will hereby learn to do justice to the character of a very injured
woman. I know that Lady Susan in coming to Churchhill was governed only
by the most honourable and amiable intentions; her prudence and economy
are exemplary, her regard for Mr. Vernon equal even to _his_ deserts;
and her wish of obtaining my sister’s good opinion merits a better
return than it has received. As a mother she is unexceptionable; her
solid affection for her child is shown by placing her in hands where
her education will be properly attended to; but because she has not the
blind and weak partiality of most mothers, she is accused of wanting
maternal tenderness. Every person of sense, however, will know how to
value and commend her well-directed affection, and will join me in
wishing that Frederica Vernon may prove more worthy than she has yet
done of her mother’s tender care. I have now, my dear father, written
my real sentiments of Lady Susan; you will know from this letter how
highly I admire her abilities, and esteem her character; but if you are
not equally convinced by my full and solemn assurance that your fears
have been most idly created, you will deeply mortify and distress me.
I am, &c., &c.,
R. DE COURCY.