Evelina | Page 4

yet presume not to attempt pursuing the same
ground which they have tracked; whence, though they may have
cleared the weeds, they have also culled the flowers; and, though they
have rendered the path plain, they have left it barren.
The candour of my readers I have not the impertinence to doubt, and to
their indulgence I am sensible I have no claim; I have, therefore, only
to intreat, that my own words may not pronounce my condemnation;
and that what I have here ventured to say in regard to imitation, may be
understood as it is meant, in a general sense, and not be imputed to an
opinion of my own originality, which I have not the vanity, the folly, or
the blindness, to entertain.
Whatever may be the fate of these letters, the editor is satisfied they
will meet with justice; and commits them to the press, though hopeless
of fame, yet not regardless of censure.
1)However superior the capacities in which these great writers deserve
to be considered, they must pardon me that, for the dignity of my
subject, I here rank the authors of Rasselas and Eloise as Novelists.
LETTER I
LADY HOWARD TO THE REV. MR. VILLARS Howard Grove,
Kent.
CAN any thing, my good Sir, be more painful to a friendly mind, than a
necessity of communicating disagreeable intelligence? Indeed it is
sometimes difficult to determine, whether the relator or the receiver of
evil tidings is most to be pitied.

I have just had a letter from Madame Duval; she is totally at a loss in
what manner to behave; she seems desirous to repair the wrongs she
has done, yet wishes the world to believe her blameless. She would fain
cast upon another the odium of those misfortunes for which she alone is
answerable. Her letter is violent, sometimes abusive, and that of
you!-you, to whom she is under obligations which are greater even than
her faults, but to whose advice she wickedly imputes all the sufferings
of her much injured daughter, the late Lady Belmont. The chief purport
of her writing I will acquaint you with; the letter itself is not worthy
your notice.
She tells me that she has, for many years past, been in continual
expectation of making a journey to England, which prevented her
writing for information concerning this melancholy subject, by giving
her hopes of making personal inquiries; but family occurrences have
still detained her in France, which country she now sees no prospect of
quitting. She has, therefore, lately used her utmost endeavors to obtain
a faithful account of whatever related to her ill-advised daughter; the
result of which giving her some reason to apprehend, that, upon her
death-bed, she bequeathed an infant orphan to the world, she most
graciously says, that if you, with whom she understands the child is
placed, will procure authentic proofs of its relationship to her, you may
sent it to Paris, where she will properly provide for it.
This woman is, undoubtedly, at length, self-convicted of her most
unnatural behaviour; it is evident, from her writing, that she is still as
vulgar and illiterate as when her first husband, Mr. Evelyn, had the
weakness to marry her; nor does she at all apologize for addressing
herself to me, though I was only once in her company.
Her letter has excited in my daughter Mirvan, a strong desire to be
informed of the motives which induced Madame Duval to abandon the
unfortunate Lady Belmont, at a time when a mother's protection was
peculiarly necessary for her peace and her reputation. Notwithstanding
I was personally acquainted with all the parties concerned in that affair,
the subject always appeared of too delicate a nature to be spoken of
with the principals; I cannot, therefore, satisfy Mrs. Mirvan otherwise

than by applying to you.
By saying that you may send the child, Madame Duval aims at
conferring, where she most owes obligation. I pretend not to give you
advice; you, to whose generous protection this helpless orphan is
indebted for every thing, are the best and only judge of what she ought
to do; but I am much concerned at the trouble and uneasiness which
this unworthy woman may occasion you.
My daughter and my grandchild join with me in desiring to be most
kindly remembered to the amiable girl; and they bid me remind you,
that the annual visit to Howard Grove, which we were formerly
promised, has been discontinued for more than four years. I am, dear
Sir, with great regard, Your most obedient friend and servant, M.
HOWARD.
LETTER II
MR. VILLARS TO LADY HOWARD Berry Hill, Dorsetshire.
YOUR Ladyship did but too well foresee the perplexity and uneasiness
of which Madame Duval's letter has been productive. However, I ought
rather to be thankful