I have always been of opinion, that those harmless delusions which have
a tendency to promote happiness, ought, in some measure to be cherished.
The airy visions of creative Fancy serve to divert the mind from grief,
and render less poignant the bitter stings of misfortune. Hope was given
to man, to enable him to struggle with adversity; and, without her
chearing smile, the most trifling distress would cut his thread of life.
It was this fascinating deity that eased the love-lorn Edwin’s fears;
her gentle whispers soothed each froward care, and extended his view to
scenes of fancied bliss--to that happy moment when propitious Fortune
should present him with the hand of Laura. Pleasing delusion! delightful
thought! that made the moment of separation less painful, that soothed
the rugged front of peril, and softened the rude aspect of terrific war.
Edwin was the son of a merchant of some repute in the metropolis; at the
commencement of the present war, he received an appointment in the army,
and was soon after sent with his regiment to the continent.
Laura was the daughter of a banker of considerable eminence, a member of
the British senate, and possessed of a very extensive fortune. The
attachment that subsisted between these young people was unknown to
Laura’s father, the proud, imperious Mr. Dalby, who expected to marry
her to some person of distinction; or, at least, with one who was equal
in point of wealth to himself. For this purpose, he invited the most
wealthy part of the senate, peers and commoners, to his splendid mansion
at the west end of the town; having totally deserted that which had for
many generations been the residence of his ancestors, in the east.
Miss Dalby possessed in an eminent degree, the beauties of the mind, as
well as those of the person; which, exclusive of her fortune, were
sufficiently attractive to a man of sense and discernment. Many of these
visitors became candidates for her election: most of them, however, were
rejected by her father, to whom she was enjoined to report the name and
rank of each person who addressed her on the score of love. Some, the
most wealthy, she was instructed to flatter with hopes of being the
happy man; reserving her affections for him whom the venal parent should
select to be her husband. It was some time before Dalby could fix his
choice, which long hung suspended between an earl and a viscount, of
nearly equal fortune: at length the appearance of a ducal coronet
banished from his mind both the one and the other; and he vainly
flattered himself, in future, to address his daughter by the high
sounding title of--_Your Grace_.
The young Duke Delancy, led by curiosity to behold the lady who was thus
exposed to sale--for, it seems, the intention of Dalby was generally
known--became enamoured of her person; and, on conversing with her,
found her every thing he could wish. He instantly made proposals to Mr.
Dalby; which, it is almost needless to say, were as instantly accepted.
His grace, knowing that the consent of the daughter would avail him but
little, without possessing that of the father, had not discovered to
Laura the partiality he entertained for her; but having, as he imagined,
secured the main chance, made a formal declaration of his love.
Laura listened with profound attention to the impassioned assurances of
affection of the noble duke; and when he paused, in expectation of
receiving a confirmation of his hopes, she raised her blushing eyes, wet
with the tears of anguish, from the ground; and, thanking him for the
honour he intended her, candidly acknowledged the pre-engagement she was
under to the absent Edwin.
Charmed with her candour; and interested by her artless tale, he
determined to resign his pretensions, and support the cause of the young
soldier.
Laura had preserved a regular correspondence with her lover; and he was,
therefore, but too well informed of the desperate situation of his suit.
He longed to fly to the arms of his mistress, but scorned to desert his
post. At length, fortune gave him an opportunity of realizing his
wishes, at a moment when he least expected it. The Republican army
suddenly attacked, in great force, the allied troops: an obstinate
battle ensued, in which Edwin particularly distinguished himself; the
enemy were completely routed; and the young soldier, for the courage he
displayed in the action, was sent to England with the gladsome tidings
of victory. Having delivered the dispatches with which he had been
charged, he hastened to the house of Mr. Dalby; and, gaining admittance,
ran up stairs in the drawing room, where he discovered his noble rival
with the mistress of his heart. His sudden and unexpected appearance
threw the lovely Laura into some disorder; and it was with much
difficulty she retained spirits sufficient to meet her lover’s fond
embrace.
At this critical moment, Mr. Dalby entered the room; having from his
study seen an officer cross the hall; and ascend the staircase. The
words--“My dear, dear Laura! and do I once more behold thee in my arms?”
from the enraptured Edwin, caught the ears of the astonished Dalby, who
stood fixed and motionless, mute, and almost discrediting the organs
both of sight and hearing.
“Had I known, Sir,” said his grace, who beheld with as much delight the
agitation of Dalby, as the happiness of the youthful pair, “that the
affections of your daughter had been placed on another object, I should
not have offered the smallest violence to her inclination.”
“My Lord--my Lord!” stammered out the enraged parent, “she is under no
such engagement as you suppose.” Then stepping up to Edwin--“And, pray,
who the devil are you, Sir? Some fortune-hunter, I suppose! But you have
missed your mark, young man: be pleased, therefore, to leave my house;
and, if ever you venture here again, I shall find means--------”
“My dear father!” said Laura, interrupting him, “you surely forget
yourself! The gentleman, whom you thus rudely threaten, is our
neighbour’s son, Mr. Langley, the West-India merchant, in
Lombard-street.”
“Mr. Langley’s son!”
“Yes, Sir,” returned Edwin; “and though not blessed with equal fortune
with yourself, I have yet sufficient to support the rank of a gentleman.
I love your daughter; I long have loved her; and she has taught me to
believe that she returns my affection. I ask no fortune; give me my
Laura, and dispose of your wealth in whatever manner you please!”
“Very romantic, faith!--And pray, fellow, do you know who you speak so
freely to?”
“O, very well, Sir!”
“That I am George Dalby, Esq. a member of the House of Commons?” Edwin
bowed. “And that I have an estate free and unincumbered--look you, Sir,
free and unincumbered--that netts 10,000l. a year?”
“To none of these acquisitions am I a stranger, Sir,” returned Edwin.
“And you, Laura, will you so far disgrace yourself and me, to throw
yourself away on a dry-salter’s son?--A fortune-hunter!--A beggar!”
“A what, Sir?” interrupted Edwin, with much warmth. “But I forget
myself--you are my Laura’s father!”
“Sir,” said Laura, “I confess that I entertain a partiality for Edwin.
I know his worth; and will renounce all titles, rank and distinction,
wealth and pleasure, to live the partner of his life!”
“Then, by Heaven! as I know my worth. I will renounce you for ever! and,
therefore, hence with your paramour!--you shall nevermore enter my
doors!”
“Be it so,” said the Duke; “mine are open to receive them! My house, my
home, my fortune, all are theirs; they shall use them at their pleasure;
they shall live in ease, in competence, and enjoy the pleasures of their
loves: while mad ambition, insatiate avarice, and increasing pride,
shall torture you with never-ceasing pangs, and embitter every future
moment of your life!”
The disappointed, mercenary parent, flew, with bitter imprecations, from
his tormentors: the lovers retired with their noble patron; and, after
having spent several days in a fruitless attempt to gain the consent of
Dalby, were united in the holy bands of wedlock. Edwin has since, from
his professional merit, and the interest of his grace, attained a
distinguished rank in the army; and the dislike of Mr. Dalby to his
daughter’s choice has decreased, in proportion as he has risen to
distinction. Several interviews have taken place, through the medium of
their noble friend, and it is believed that time will root from the mind
of Mr. Dalby every unfavourable impression the want of fortune in his
son-in-law occasioned; and that Edwin and Laura will, at last, become
the heirs of his immense property.
The union of this amiable pair has been blessed with two fine boys; and
this increase of family has enlarged their happiness: they still
continue to receive the notice of his grace, whom they consider as the
author of their felicity, and invariably distinguished him by the
appellation of _The Generous Rival_.
[[Possible sources:
Caledonian Bee, 1795, “A Select Collection of Interesting Extracts
from Modern Publications”, story labeled “By Mr. Bacon”;
_Interesting anecdotes, memoirs, allegories, essays, and poetical...,
“by Mr. Addison”_ Volume 5, 1797, (originally 1794), sometimes
misattributed to Joseph Addison (1672-1719).]]
* * * * *
_For the +New-York Weekly Magazine+._
* * *
_THE PRISON._
* * *
(A continuation of the CRIMINAL, from page 351.)
* * *
Within the gloomy walls of a prison, far excluded from the glance of
man, was immured, him that once had basked in the sunshine of
prosperity, him that had been the darling pride of a doating father, and
him, reader, that was the next heir to a peerage. But he had woefully
broken through the laws of his country; Despair, that haggard fiend, had
sent him, like the beast of prey, to obtain assistance unlawfully; and
wholly guided by her dictates, he had unknowingly murdered his
parent.------
----Spare your anathemas, ye advocates for monarchy, ye who think
sanguinary laws are as necessary as the glittering baubles of a crown;
who imagine the life of the offender is requisite to expiate his
crime--and consider whether solitary imprisonment is not far more just.
Common humanity would urge you to reply in the affirmative. Then throw
aside the tyranny of custom, and for once let your bosoms swell with
philanthropy.
Him, who is the subject of this tale, lived in an age when no breast was
actuated by these considerations, when man paid the most implicit
obedience to the gilded trappings of royalty, when no such thing as
civil or religious liberty existed.
No ray of light found entrance into his dismal cell: the wisdom of the
contriver had situated it many yards beneath the surface of the earth.
In one corner there had originally been placed a bundle of straw, which
had served the purpose of a bed to many whom fate had singled out to pay
with their lives the forfeit of their crimes; but nought now remained
save here and there a scattering one. On his legs were bound enormous
shackles, under the weight of which a Sampson would have groaned: nor
were his hands exempt from the galling fetters--and as for his body, it
was nearly cased in iron.--Unhappy victim of despotic cruelty!--
In this dungeon, until he had the “_inestimable privilege of a trial by
jury_,” he was doomed to receive an earnest of what he was to expect.
With a soul undaunted he patiently bore it all. Now and then his wife
and helpless children would call for a tear of pity, which was all he
could bestow. He would reflect on the crime he had committed; and
discovered to what lengths misery would lead a man--to the commission of
what in his cooler moments he would spurn from him with horror.