112 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



** felf, night and day, to the means of learning 

 *' how to read and write ; and, by the affiftance of 

 ** Heaven, I accompHfhed this in a very little 

 " time. I entrufted the ladies who attend me, 

 *' with the difpatch of my former letters, but I 

 " have reafon to fufpeâ:, that they delivered them 

 *' to my grand-aunt. On the prefent occafion, I 

 " have had recourfe to one of my friends, who is 

 *' a fellow-boarder; and, under her addrefs, which 

 " I have fubjoined, I muft beg you to convey an 

 " anfwer. My grand-aunt has prohibited all fo- 

 " reign correfpondence, which might, as (he al- 

 ** leges, oppofe infurmountable obftacles to the 

 ** fplendid views, which Ihe entertains with regard 

 " to me. The only perfon, befide herfelf, who 

 ** vilits me at the grate, is an old nobleman of her 

 *' acquaintance, who, fhe informs me, has taken 

 *' a great liking to my perfon. To fay truth, I 

 ** have not the leaft for him, even were it poffible 

 " I (hould conceive a partiality for any one what 

 " ever. 



" I live in the midft of gaudy wealth, and have 

 *' not the difpofal of a (ingle farthing. They tell 

 ** me, that if I had the command of money, it 

 ** might lead to dangerous confequences. My 

 " very gowns are the property of my waiting- 

 *' women, who are difputing which (hall have 

 ** them, even before 1 have left them off myfelf. 



** In 



