326 



has been as opposite; but the cold flat 

 monotony of the new favourite, has been 

 preferred by many, " aye, and those great 

 ones too," to the spirited variety of her 

 eldest sister: she has, indeed, been so puffed 

 up by this high favour, that she has hardly 

 deigned to acknowledge the relationship, 

 and has even treated her with contempt. 

 Those also, who from their situation and in- 

 fluence, were best qualified to have brought 

 about a union between them, have, on the 

 contrary, contributed to widen the breach: 

 for I have heard an eminent professor treat 

 the idea of judging, in any degree, of places 

 as of pictures, or of comparing them at all 

 together, as quite absurd. In real life, the 

 noblest part a man can act, the part which 

 most conciliates the esteem and good- will 

 of all mankind, is that of promoting union 

 and harmony wherever occasion offers : in 

 the present case, though a breach between 

 these figurative persons is not of serious 

 consequence to society, yet I shall feel no 

 small pleasure and pride, should my endea- 

 vours be successful. I have shewn to the 



