_Louisa Clifton to Anna Wenbourne St. Ives_
_Rose-Bank_
Your three last letters, my dear Anna, have affected me in a very
uncommon manner. The pure passion, the noble resignation, and the
fortitude of Frank Henley are unparalleled. Not to admire, not to
esteem, not to love such virtues is impossible. His unshaken patience,
his generosity, his forgiveness, his courage, his perseverance, are
inimitable proofs of his superiority. Who can forbear wishing him
success? Ought he not to command it; to say it is mine; truth and
justice dare not deny it to me?
Indeed, Anna, my mind is strangely in doubt. To be guilty of injustice
to such worth is surely no common guilt. And yet my brother--Headlong
lunatic! Whose intemperance is every moment hurrying him into
extremes.--I grant, my friend, his mind is worthy of being retrieved;
and it is a generous, a noble enterprize. Nay I own I sometimes
persuade myself it cannot fail, when Anna St. Ives and Frank Henley,
from motives so pure and with so much determination, engage in the
cause. But at others, I see peril at every step! I find my heart
reproaching me for not adjuring my mend to desist; for not exciting her
to bestow her hand on the man who of all others can most justly claim
it, as his right.
That I desire to see my brother all that emulation and wisdom could
make him, the friend and husband of my Anna, the rival of her virtues,
and the bosom intimate of him whom she is willing to forego for this
brother's sake; that I desire this, ardently, vehemently, is most true.
If the end be attainable, it is a noble enterprize. But the
difficulties! What are they? Have they been well examined?--I, with my
Anna, say mind can do all things with mind: truth is irresistible, and
must finally conquer. But it has many modes of conquering, and some of
them are tragical, and dreadful.
To see my Anna married to strife, wasting her fine powers to reform
habits which, though they may be checked, may perhaps be too deep ever
to be eradicated, to see all her exquisite sensibilities hourly preyed
upon by inefficient attempts to do good, for which instead of praise
and love she might meet neglect, reproach, or perhaps stern insult--Oh!
It is a painful thought! She would not pine; she would not weakly sink
into dejection, and desert her duties, in pity to her own
misfortunes.--No--But still it is an unhappy, nay, it is an abhorred
state.
I am bewildered. One train of reasoning overturns another, and I know
not what to advise. There are times in which these consequences appear
most probable; and there are others in which I say no, it is
impossible! Brutality itself could not be so senseless, so destructive
of its own felicity! Anna St. Ives would win a savage heart! And my
brother evidently has quick and delicate sensations; capable of great
good. But then are they not capable of great harm? Yes: but are they,
would they be capable of harm with her? Would not she command them,
regulate them, harmonize them? Again, and again, I know not.
One thing however let me add. Let me conjure the friend of my bosom not
to suffer herself to be swayed, by the remembrance of that friendship.
Nay, if she do not feel a certainty of success, let me intreat, let me
admonish her to desist, before it be too late; and before further
encouragement shall seem to authorize the presuming Clifton, for
presuming I am convinced he will be, to found claims upon her kindness.
Oh that he were indeed worthy of her! Would that he could but rise to
something like that enviable dignity! And can he not?--Indeed I would
not plead against him; but neither would I be instrumental in rendering
my friend, who is surely born a blessing to the earth, miserable.
I am angry with myself for my own indecision: but in vain; I have no
remedy. I sometimes conclude this indecision ought to act as a warning,
and for that reason I have painted my feelings as they are. If yours
should resemble them, I firmly and loudly say--Anna, desist! If not, I
then have no advice to give. For this I blame myself, but
ineffectually.
Be assured however that, under all circumstances of future life, be
they adverse or prosperous, my best wishes will be with you, and my
heart and soul ever yours.