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.

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ORMOND; OR,

were alone, or among familiar associates. The very appellations of Sir, and Madam, and Mister, were, in his
apprehension, servile and ridiculous; and, as custom or
law had annexed no penalty to the neglect of these, he
conformed to his own opinions. It was easier for him
to reduce his notions of equality to practice than for
most others. To level himself with others was an act
of condescension and not of arrogance. It was requisite to descend rather than to rise,-a task the most
easy, if we regard the obstacles flowing from the prejudice of mankind, but far most difficult, if the motives
of the agent be considered.
That in which he chiefly placed his boast was his
sincerity. To this he refused no sacrifice. In consequence of this, his deportment was disgusting to weak
minds, by a certain air of ferocity and haughty negligence. Hle was without the attractions of candour, because he regarded not the happiness of others but in subservience to his sincerity. Hence it was natural to suppose
that the character of this man was easily understood.
He affected to conceal nothing. No one appeared more
exempt from the instigations of vanity. He set light
by the good opinions of others, had no compassion for
their prejudices, and hazarded assertions in their presence which he knew would be, in the highest degree,
shocking to their previous notions. They might take it,
he would say, as they list. Such were his conceptions,
and the last thing he would give up was the use of his
tongue. It was his way to give utterance to the suggestions of his understanding. If they were disadvantageous to him in the opinions of others, it was well.
He did not wish to be regarded in any light but the true
one. He was contented to be rated by the world at his
just value. If they esteemed him for qualities he did
not possess, was he wrong in rectifying their mistake?
but, in reality, if they valued him for that to which he
had no claim, and which he himself considered as contemptible, he must naturally desire to show them their
error, and forfeit that praise which, in his own opinion,
was a badge of infamy.
In listening to his discourse, no one's claim to sin