The novels of Charles Brockden Brown, consisting of Wieland;or, The transformation. Arthur Mervyn; or, Memoirs of the year 1793. Edgar Huntly; or, Memoirs of a sleep-walker. Jane Talbot. Ormond; or, The secret witness. Clara Howard; or, The enthusiasm of love. With a memoir of the author.

JANE TALBOT. 177
poverty, whose indolent habits, and whose relish for
expensive pleasure, make it more desirable than to me.
Mrs. Fielder is averse to her daughter's wishes. While
this aversion endures, marriage, instead of enriching me,
will merely reduce my wife to my own destitute condition.
How are impartial observers, how is Mrs. Fielder, to
construe my endeavours to subdue this aversion, and my
declining marriage till this obstacle is overcome? Will
they ascribe it merely to reluctance to bereave the object
of my love of that affluence and those comforts without
which, in my opinion, she would not be happy? Yet this
is true. MAy own experience has taught me in what degree a luxurious education endears to us the means of an
easy and elegant subsistence. Shall I be deaf to this lesson? Shall I rather listen to the splendid visions of my
friend, who thinks my love will sufficiently compensate
her for every suffering,-who seems to hold these enjoyments in contempt, and describes an humble and industrious life as teeming with happiness and dignity?
These are charming visions. My heart is fiequently
credulous, and is almost raised, by her bewitching eloquence, to the belief that, by bereaving her of friends
and property, I confer on her a benefit. I place her in
a sphere where all the resources of her fortitude and
ingenuity will be brought into use.
But this, with me, is only a momentary elevation.
More sober views are sure to succeed. Yet why have I
deliberately exhorted Jane to become mine? Because I
trust to the tenderness of her mother. That tenderness
will not allow her wholly to abandon her beloved child,
who has hitherto had no rival, and is likely to have no
successor in her love. The evil, she will think, cannot
be repaired; but some of its consequences may be obviated or lightened. Intercession and submission shall
not be wanting. Jane will never suffer her heart to be
estranged from her mother. Reverence and gratitude
will always maintain their place. And yet, confidence
is sometimes shaken; doubts insinuate themselves. Is
not Mrs. Fielder's temper ardent and inflexible? Will
her anger be so easily appeased? In a contest like this,
will she allow herself to be vanquished? And shall I,