1797' ^ LADY, ON THE ART OF IDLENESS. l6i 



By this way of training, my feelings were rendered 

 fo acute, and my heart fo foftened by luxury, that, as 

 the poet lings : 



" Nor eafe nor peace my heart could know, 



" That like the needle true, 



" Turn'd at the touch of joy or woe, 



" And turning, trembled too." 



I was fent, in compliance with the abominable fa- 

 fliion of the times, to a London boarding- fchool, where,- 

 by my beauty, addrefs, and conneftions, I contrived to 

 be as idle as my heart could almoft defire, but learnt 

 to relifh drefs, dancing, plays, and other places of pub- 

 lic amufement ; and, at fifteen, I came home thorough- 

 ly furnifhed unto all the works of idlenefs, but with- . 

 cut a fi'jgle atom of that lenfe or experience which 

 is neceffary to regulate ray conduft in real life. 



I was now introduced by my mother into company^ 

 and permitted to dance at public aflemblies ; not that 

 Ihe approved of the frequent repetition of this indulg- 

 ence, but, as file ufed to fay, that as my father could 

 give me little or no fortune, and the forrows of life 

 would come foon enough, it were pity not to make me 

 as happy as poffible at prefent, efpe^ially as nobody 

 knew where a bleffing might liglit, and that I might get 

 a rich and great hufband, who would have the advan- 

 tage of finding me a (heet of white papei*, upon which 

 he miglit write according to his pleafure, and have, 

 what Ihe called, a wife of his own makitig. 



Very foon did 1 get a hulband ; but he was neither 

 very great nor very opulent, but amiable, fenfible, and 

 profeflionally eminent. He loved me exceedingly ; but 

 fo far from my becoming a wife of his own making, 

 that he became very foon infinitely too much a hufband 

 of my making ; indulging me in every thing that hi^ 

 fortune would allow. 



In a itw years, I loft my hufband ; and having loft 

 nyfcl/Xong before, you may guefs my fituation. 



Vol. IK. f X 



