LETTER LXXX
MISS CLARISSA HARLOWE, TO LORD M. AND TO THE LADIES OF HIS HOUSE[IN REPLY TO MISS MONTAGUE'S OF AUG. 7. SEE LETTER LXXVI. OF THIS VOLUME.]TUESDAY, AUG. 8.
Excuse me, my good Lord, and my ever-honoured Ladies, from accepting ofyour noble quarterly bounty; and allow me to return, with all gratefulacknowledgement, and true humility, the enclosed earnest of your goodnessto me. Indeed I have no need of the one, and cannot possibly want theother: but, nevertheless have such a sense of your generous favour, that,to my last hour, I shall have pleasure in contemplating upon it, and beproud of the place I hold in the esteem of such venerable persons, towhom I once had the ambition to hope to be related.
But give me leave to express my concern that you have banished yourkinsman from your presence and favour: since now, perhaps, he will beunder less restraint than ever; and since I in particular, who had hopedby your influence to remain unmolested for the remainder of my days, mayagain be subjected to his persecutions.
He has not, my good Lord, and my dear Ladies, offended against you, as hehas against me; yet you could all very generously intercede for him withme: and shall I be very improper, if I desire, for my own peace-sake; forthe sake of other poor creatures, who may still be injured by him, if hebe made quite desperate; and for the sake of all your worthy family; thatyou will extend to him that forgiveness which you hope for from me? andthis the rather, as I presume to think, that his daring and impetuousspirit will not be subdued by violent methods; since I have no doubt thatthe gratifying of a present passion will be always more prevalent withhim than any future prospects, however unwarrantable the one, orbeneficial the other.
Your resentments on my account are extremely generous, as your goodnessto me is truly noble: but I am not without hope that he will be properlyaffected by the evils he has made me suffer; and that, when I am laid lowand forgotten, your whole honourable family will be enabled to rejoice inhis reformation; and see many of those happy years together, which, mygood Lord, and my dear Ladies, you so kindly wish to
Your ever-grateful and obligedCLARISSA HARLOWE.