r faithful, and ever-obliged
HARRIET BYRON.

LETTER XL

LADY G----, TO MISS BYRON
SATURDAY, MAY 6.

I thank you, Harriet, for yours. What must your fellows think of you?
In this gross age, your delicacy must astonish them. There used to be
more of it formerly. But how should men know any thing of it, when women
have forgot it? Lord be thanked, we females, since we have been admitted
into so constant a share of the public diversions, want not courage. We
can give the men stare for stare wherever we meet them. The next age,
nay, the rising generation, must surely be all heroes and heroines. But
whither has this word delicacy carried me? Me, who, it seems, have
faults to be corrected for of another sort; and who want not the courage
for which I congratulate others?

But to other subjects. I could write a vast deal of stuff about my lord
and self, and Lord and Lady L----, who assume parts which I know not how
to allow them: and sometimes they threaten me with my brother's
resentments, sometimes with my Harriet's; so that I must really have
leading-strings fastened to my shoulders. O, my dear, a fond husband is
a surfeiting thing; and yet I believe most women love to be made monkeys
of.

***

But all other subjects must now give way. We have heard of, though not
from, my brother. A particular friend of Mr. Lowther was here with a
letter from that gentleman, acquainting us, that Sir Charles and he were
arrived at Paris.

Mr. Beauchamp was with us when Mr. Lowther's friend came. He borrowed
the letter on account of the extraordinary adventure mentioned in it.

Make your heart easy, in the first place, about Sir Hargrave. He is
indeed in town; but very ill. He was frightened into England, and
intends not ever again to quit it. In all probability, he owes it to my
brother that he exists.

Mr. Beauchamp went directly to Cavendish-square, and informed himself
there of other particulars relating to the affair, from the very servant
who was present, and acting in it; and from those particulars, and Mr.
Lowther's letter, wrote one for Dr. Bartlett. Mr. Beauchamp obliged me
with the perusal of what he wrote; whence I have extracted the following
account: for his letter is long and circumstantial; and I did not ask his
leave to take a copy, as he seemed desirous to hasten it to the doctor.

On Wednesday, the 19-30 of April, in the evening, as my brother was
pursuing his journey to Paris, and was within two mil