with burnt feathers, and half poisoning her with medicines, Sir Charles
and her servants so far brought her to life that after sending her
attendants out of the room, she had just power to tell him she had
discovered an intrigue between his daughter and Simon the young farmer,
and then immediately sunk into another fit, which however did not last
so long; for as she had removed the heavy burden off her mind, she soon
began to recover.
Sir Charles was very much shocked at what Lady Melvyn told him, but
could not doubt the reality of the fact when he had seen the very
violent effect it had had on his tender wife. He asked her advice how to
proceed; and it was soon determined that it was necessary, either to
oblige Miss Melvyn to marry Mr Morgan directly, or to disclaim her for
ever, and remove the disgrace of so infamous a conduct as far from
themselves as possible. With this resolution she was to be immediately
acquainted.
Miss Melvyn was accordingly called in, and bitterly reproached by Sir
Charles; to which my lady added frequent lamentations that she should
so far forget herself, and disgrace so worthy a family, interspersing
with them many expressions of the undeserved tenderness she had always
had for her, and her great confidence in Miss Melvyn's prudence and
virtue, shedding tears for her having so unhappily swerved from them.
As all this passed for some time in general terms, Miss Melvyn was in
doubt whether she or her parents had lost their senses; convinced there
must be distraction on one side or the other. As soon as she could
recover her surprise, she begged to know what crime she had committed.
Her astonishment was still increased by the answer she received, which
was an accusation of this strange intrigue; and her frequent visits to
Miss Mancel were brought as proofs of it. The submissive and mild temper
which had hitherto most strongly characterized her, vanished at so
injurious a charge and she denied the fact with that true spirit which
innocence inspires. She told Lady Melvyn, that though she had hitherto
silently submitted to all her ill usage, yet it was her duty to repel an
injury like this, and when her reputation was so cruelly aspersed, it
would be criminal to suffer the vile inventors to pass unexposed. She
insisted on being confronted with her accusers, a privilege allowed to
the greatest criminals, and by the severest judges, therefore surely
could not be refused by a father to a daughter, on a charge so highly
improbable, and for which no lightness in her conduct ever gave the
least ground.
As Mrs Maynard was in this part of her narrative a bell rang, which
informed us that dinner was ready, and we were unwillingly obliged to
postpone the continuation of the history of the two young friends, till
a more convenient opportunity.
* * * * *
In the afternoon before we rose from table, four ladies came to drink
tea with this admirable society. No addition was necessary to render the
conversation amusing; but the strangers seemed to look on the ladies of
the house with such gratitude and veneration, and were treated by them
with so much friendly politeness, as gave me pleasure. I found by the
various enquiries after different persons that these visitors likewise
lived in a large society. When they rose up to take leave Miss Trentham
proposed to walk part of the way home with them. No one objected to it,
for the evening was inviting, and they had designed to spend it in the
park, through which these ladies were to pass; for Lady Mary observed,
that after having shewn us the beauties of the place, they ought to
exhibit the riches of it.
The park is close to one side of the house; it is not quite three miles
round; the inequality of the ground much increases its beauty, and the
timber is remarkably fine. We could plainly perceive it had been many
years in the possession of good economists, who unprompted by necessity,
did not think the profit that might arise from the sale a sufficient
inducement to deprive it of some fine trees, which are now decaying, but
so happily placed, that they are made more venerable and not less
beautiful by their declining age. This park is much ornamented by two or
three fine pieces of water; one of them is a very noble canal, so
artfully terminated by an elegant bridge, beyond which is a wood, that
it there appears like a fine river vanishing from the eye.
Mrs Morgan stopped us in one spot, saying, from hence, as Lady Mary
observed, you may behold our riches, that building (pointing to what we
thought a pretty temple) which perhaps you imagine designed only for
ornament or pleasure, is a very large pidgeon house, that affords a
sufficient supply to our family, and many of our neighbours. That hill
on your right-hand is a warren, prodigiously stocked with rabbits; this
canal, and these other pieces of water, as well as the river you saw
this morning, furnish our table with a great profusion of fish. You will
easily believe from the great number of deer you see around us, that we
have as much venison as we can use, either in presents to our friends,
or our own family. Hares and all sorts of game likewise abound here; so
that with the help of a good dairy, perhaps no situation ever more amply
afforded all the necessaries of life. These are indeed our riches; here
we have almost every thing we can want, for a very small proportion of
that expense which others are at to procure them. 'Such a situation,'
said I, 'would be dangerous to many people, for if, as some have
supposed, and, in regard to a great part of the world, I fear with
truth, mutual wants are the great bands of society, a person thus
placed, would be in danger of feeling himself so independent a being as
might tempt him to disclaim all commerce with mankind, since he could
not be benefited by them. He would look on himself in the light of a
rich man gaming with sharpers, with a great probability of losing, and a
certainty of never being a gainer.'
'I do not think the danger,' replied Lady Mary, 'so great as you
imagine, even though we allow that society arises from the motive you
mention. However fortune may have set us above any bodily wants, the
mind will still have many which would drive us into society. Reason
wishes for communication and improvement; benevolence longs for objects
on which to exert itself; the social comforts of friendship are so
necessary to our happiness that it would be impossible not to endeavour
to enjoy them. In sickness the langour of our minds makes us wish for
the amusements of conversation; in health the vivacity of our spirits
leads us to desire it. To avoid pain we seek after corporeal
conveniencies, to procure pleasure we aim at mental enjoyments; and I
believe, if we observe the general course of men's actions, we shall see
them at least as strongly actuated by the desire of pleasure, as by the
fear of pain; though philosophers, who have formed their judgements more
on reason than the knowledge of mankind, may have thought otherwise.'
'I think,' said Mrs Morgan, 'somebody has asserted that he who could
live without society must be more than a God, or less than a man; the
latter part of this assertion would have held good had he carried it
farther, and said lower than a brute, for there is no creature in the
universe that is not linked into some society, except we allow the
existence of that exploded and unsociable bird the Phoenix.'
'I am surprised,' interrupted Lamont, 'to hear ladies, who seclude
themselves from the world in this solitary though beautiful place, so
strongly plead for society.'
'Do you then,' replied Miss Mancel, 'mistake a crowd for society? I know
not two things more opposite. How little society is there to be found in
what you call the world? It might more properly be compared to that
state of war, which Hobbes supposes the first condition of mankind. The
same vanities, the same passions, the same ambition, reign in almost
every breast; a constant desire to supplant, and a continual fear of
being supplanted, keep the minds of those who have any views at all in a
state of unremitted tumult and envy; and those who have no aim in their
actions are too irrational to have a notion of social comforts. The
love, as well as the pleasures, of society, is founded in reason, and
cannot exist in those minds which are filled with irrational pursuits.
Such indeed might claim a place in the society of birds and beasts,
though few would deserve to be admitted amongst them, but that of
reasonable beings must be founded in reason. What I understand by
society is a state of mutual confidence, reciprocal services, and
correspondent affections; where numbers are thus united, there will be a
free communication of sentiments, and we shall then find speech, that
peculiar blessing given to man, a valuable gift indeed; but when we see
it restrained by suspicion, or contaminated by detraction, we rather
wonder that so dangerous a power was trusted with a race of beings who
seldom make a proper use of it.
'You will pity us perhaps because we have no cards, no assemblies, no
plays, no masquerades, in this solitary place. The first we might have
if we chose it, nor are they totally disclaimed by us; but while we can
with safety speak our own thoughts, and with pleasure read those of
wiser persons, we are not likely to be often reduced to them. We wish
not for large assemblies, because we do not desire to drown conversation
in noise; the amusing fictions of dramatic writers are not necessary
where nature affords us so many real delights; and as we are not afraid
of shewing our hearts, we have no occasion to conceal our persons, in
order to obtain either liberty of speech or action.'
'What a serious world should we have, madam,' replied Lamont, 'if you
were to regulate our conduct!'
'By no means, sir,' answered Miss Mancel, 'I wish to make only these
alterations, to change noise for real mirth, flutter for settled
cheerfulness, affected wit for rational conversation; and would but have
that degree of dissipation banished which deprives people of time for
reflection on the motives for, and consequences of, their actions, that
their pleasures may be real and permanent, and followed neither by
repentance nor punishment. I would wish them to have leisure to consider
by whom they were sent into the world, and for what purpose, and to
learn that their happiness consists in fulfilling the design of their
Maker, in providing for their own greatest felicity, and contributing
all that is in their power to the convenience of others.'
'You seem, madam,' answered Lamont, 'to choose to make us all slaves to
each other.'
'No, sir,' replied Miss Mancel, 'I would only make you friends. Those
who are really such are continually endeavouring to serve and oblige
each other; this reciprocal communication of benefits should be
universal, and then we might with reason be fond of this world.'
'But,' said Lamont, 'this reciprocal communication is impossible; what
service can a poor man do me? I may relieve him, but how can he return
the obligation?'
'It is he,' answered Miss Mancel, 'who first conferred it, in giving you
an opportunity of relieving him. The pleasure he has afforded you, is as
far superior to the gratification you have procured him, as it is more
blessed to give than to receive. You will perhaps say of him, as the
apothecary in _Romeo and Juliet_ does of himself and tell me that,
"His poverty and not his will consents."
'So let it be, and do you
"Pay his poverty and not his will."
'But certainly the highest satisfaction is on your side, and much
obliged you are to that poverty, which enables you to obtain so great a
gratification. But do not think the poor can make no adequate return.
The greatest pleasure this world can give us is that of being beloved,
but how should we expect to obtain love without deserving it? Did you
ever see any one that was not fond of a dog that fondled him? Is it then
possible to be insensible to the affection of a rational being?'
'If Mr Lamont,' said one of the visitors, 'has not so high a sense of
the pleasure of being gratefully loved and esteemed, we ought not to
blame him; he, perhaps, like the greatest part of the world, has not
sufficiently tried it, to be a proper judge; Miss Mancel is certainly
very deep in this knowledge, and her opinion may be received as almost
an infallible decision, since it is founded on long experience; and how
nobly does she calm the eager wishes of impotent gratitude, in declaring
herself to be the most benefited when she confers obligations.'
This was uttered with so much warmth, and accompanied by looks so
expressive of affection and grateful sensibility, that I plainly saw it
proceeded from something more than mere speculative approbation. Lamont
declared, that he was well convinced of the justness of what Miss Mancel
had said; at first it appeared rather a sentiment uttered in sport than
an opinion which could be proved by argument; but that a little
reflection on one's own sensations would afford sufficient conviction of
the truth of her assertion, and that the general errors in the conduct
of mankind plainly evinced they were of the same opinion, though they
often mistook the means; for what, continued he, do people ruin
themselves by pomp and splendour, hazard their lives in the pursuits of
ambition, and, as Shakespeare says,
'Seek the bubble reputation even in the cannon's mouth.'
But to gain popular applause and esteem? For what do others throw away
their time in useless civilities, and politely flatter all they meet,
but in hopes of pleasing? Even those who make it their business to
slander merit, and exaggerate the faults of others, do it from a desire
of raising themselves in the opinion of mankind, by lowering those who
may be brought into comparison with them.
During this conversation we had advanced within a field of the house,
and the ladies stopped to take their leave, saying, as the evening was
too far advanced to suffer them to make any stay with their good
friends, they would not disturb them by just entering their doors. But
as some parley ensued, several ladies who had seen us from the windows
ran out, just to pay their compliments to the worthy inhabitants of
Millenium Hall. The pleasure of this short meeting seemed reciprocal,
and both sides appeared unwilling to part, but the setting sun
admonished us to return.
The house to which we had so nearly approached was a very large old
mansion, and its inhabitants so numerous, that I was curious to know how
so many became assembled together. Mrs Maynard said that if she did not
satisfy my inquiries, I was in great danger of remaining ignorant of the
nature of that society, as her friends would not be easily prevailed
with to break silence on that subject.
'These ladies,' said she, 'long beheld with compassion the wretched fate
of those women, who from scantiness of fortune, and pride of family, are
reduced to become dependent, and to bear all the insolence of wealth
from such as will receive them into their families; these, though in
some measure voluntary slaves, yet suffer all the evils of the severest
servitude, and are, I believe, the most unhappy part of the creation.
Sometimes they are unqualified to gain a maintenance, educated as is
called, genteelly, or in other words idly, they are ignorant of every
thing that might give them superior abilities to the lower rank of
people, and their birth renders them less acceptable servants to many,
who have not generosity enough to treat them as they ought, and yet do
not choose while they are acting the mistress, perhaps too haughtily, to
feel the secret reproaches of their own hearts. Possibly pride may still
oftener reduce these indigent gentlewomen into this wretched state of
dependence, and therefore the world is less inclined to pity them; but
my friends see human weakness in another light.
'They imagine themselves too far from perfection to have any title to
expect it in others, and think that there are none in whom pride is so
excusable as in the poor, for if there is the smallest spark of it in
their compositions, and who is entirely free from it, the frequent
neglects and indignities they meet with must keep it continually alive.
If we are despised for casual deficiencies, we naturally seek in
ourselves for some merit, to restore us to that dignity in our own eyes
which those humiliating mortifications would otherwise debase. Thus we
learn to set too great a value on what we still possess, whether
advantages of birth, education, or natural talents; any thing will serve
for a resource to mortified pride; and as every thing grows by
opposition and persecution, we cannot wonder if the opinion of ourselves
increases by the same means.
'To persons in this way of thinking, the pride which reduces many to be,
what is called with too little humanity, toad-eaters, does not render
them unworthy of compassion. Therefore for the relief of this race they
bought that large mansion.
'They drew up several regulations, to secure the peace and good order of
the society they designed to form, and sending a copy of it to all their
acquaintance, told them that any gentleman's daughter, whose character
was unblemished, might, if she desired it, on those terms be received
into that society.'
I begged, if it was not too much trouble, to know what the regulations
were.
'The first rule,' continued Mrs Maynard, 'was that whoever chose to take
the benefit of this asylum, for such I may justly call it, should
deposit in the hands of a person appointed for that purpose, whatever
fortune she was mistress of, the security being approved by her and her
friends, and remaining in her possession. Whenever she leaves the
society, her fortune should be repaid her, the interest in the mean time
being appropriated to the use of the community. The great design of this
was to preserve an exact equality between them; for it was not expected
that the interest of any of their fortunes should pay the allowance they
were to have for their clothes. If any appeared to have secreted part of
her fortune she should be expelled from the society.
'Secondly, each person to have a bed-chamber to herself, but the
eating-parlour and drawing-room in common.
'Thirdly, all things for rational amusement shall be provided for the
society; musical instruments, of whatever sort they shall choose, books,
tents for work, and in short conveniences for every kind of employment.
'Fourthly, they must conform to very regular hours.
'Fifthly, a housekeeper will be appointed to manage the household
affairs, and a sufficient number of servants provided.
'Sixthly, each person shall alternately, a week at a time, preside at
the table, and give what family orders may be requisite.
'Seventhly, twenty-five pounds a year shall be allowed to each person
for her clothes and pocket expenses.
'Eighthly, their dress shall be quite plain and neat, but not particular
nor uniform.
'Ninthly, the expenses of sickness shall be discharged by the
patronesses of this society.
'Tenthly, if any one of the ladies behaves with imprudence she shall be
dismissed, and her fortune returned; likewise if any should by
turbulence or pettishness of temper disturb the society, it shall be in
the power of the rest of them to expel her; a majority of three parts of
the community being for the expulsion, and this to be performed by
ballotting.
'Eleventhly, a good table and every thing suitable to the convenience of
a gentlewoman, shall be provided.
'These were the principal articles; and in less than two months a dozen
persons of different ages were established in the house, who seemed
thoroughly delighted with their situation. At the request of one of
them, who had a friend that wished to be admitted, an order was soon
added, by the consent of all, that gave leave for any person who would
conform exactly to the rules of the house, to board there for such
length of time as should be agreeable to herself and the society, for
the price of a hundred pounds a year, fifty for any child she might
have, twenty for a maidservant, and thirty for a man.
'The number of this society is now increased to thirty, four ladies
board there, one of whom has two children, and there are five young
ladies, the eldest not above twelve years old, whose mothers being
dead, and their families related to some of the society, their kinswomen
have undertaken their education; these likewise pay a hundred pounds a
year each. It has frequently happened, that widow ladies have come into
this society, till their year of deep mourning was expired.
'With these assistances the society now subsists with the utmost plenty
and convenience, without any additional expense to my good friends,
except a communication of what this park affords; as our steward
provides them with every thing, and has the entire direction of the
household affairs, which he executes with the most sensible economy.'
I should imagine, said I, it were very difficult to preserve a
comfortable harmony among so many persons, and consequently such variety
of tempers?
'Certainly,' answered Mrs Maynard, 'it is not without its difficulties.
For the first year of this establishment my friends dedicated most of
their time and attention to this new community, who were every day
either at the hall, or these ladies with them, endeavouring to cultivate
in this sisterhood that sort of disposition which is most productive of
peace. By their example and suggestions (for it is difficult to give
unreserved advice where you may be suspected of a design to dictate), by
their examples and suggestions therefore, they led them to industry, and
shewed it to be necessary to all stations, as the basis of almost every
virtue. An idle mind, like fallow ground, is the soil for every weed to
grow in; in it vice strengthens, the seed of every vanity flourishes
unmolested and luxuriant; discontent, malignity, ill humour, spread far
and wide, and the mind becomes a chaos which it is beyond human power to
call into order and beauty. This therefore my good friends laboured to
expel from their infant establishment. They taught them that it was the
duty of every person to be of service to others. That those whose hands
and minds were by the favours of fortune exempt from the necessary of
labouring for their own support, ought to be employed for such as are
destitute of these advantages. They got this sisterhood to join with
them in working for the poor people, in visiting, in admonishing, in
teaching them wherever their situations required these services. Where
they found that any of these ladies had a taste for gardening, drawing,
music, reading, or any manual or mental art, they cultivated it,
assisted them in the pleasantest means, and by various little schemes
have kept up these inclinations with all the spirit of pursuit which is
requisite to preserve most minds from that state of languidness and
inactivity whereby life is rendered wearisome to those who have never
found it unfortunate.
'By some regulations made as occasions occurred, all burdensome forms
are expelled. The whole society indeed must assemble at morning and
evening prayers, and at meals, if sickness does not prevent, but every
other ceremonious dependence is banished; they form into different
parties of amusement as best suit their inclinations, and sometimes when
we go to spend the afternoon there, we shall find a party at cards in
one room, in another some at work, while one is reading aloud, and in a
separate chamber a set joining in a little concert, though none of them
are great proficients in music; while two or three shall be retired into
their own rooms, some go out to take the air, for it has seldom happened
to them to have less than two boarders at a time who each keep an
equipage; while others shall be amusing themselves in the garden, or
walking in the very pleasant meadows which surround their house.