of equal minds or Gods is not to be proved by the inspired writings, the doctors preaching it, and by creed requiring it, will be no justifiable plea or excuse for me, I am sensible, in the great rising day. I had better, in such case, leave all as you have bravely done, were my father so orthodox and furious a bigot as to force me to be a religionist against my conscience. What I have to beg of you, Sir," Miss HARCOURT continued, "is, that you will to-morrow, oblige me with your thoughts on the texts I have marked, as produced by orthodox divines for their mysterious religion. If you make me sensible that those texts do not prove the doctrine they are brought for, and of consequence, that the doctrine of the Trinity as by them taught, is the work of uninspired writers, I shall renounce it to

* The texts produced by Miss HARCOURT, the next day, in a sheet of paper, she gave me, and in my written explication of them in answer, I satisfied her, that the letter of scripture was not full in favor of contradiction, and that where it had any appearance of being so, reason allowed the purest modesty to use some freedom in interpreting, and take the texts in a lower meaning, such a liberty as protestants take with the words this is my body,' when they reject the doctrine of transubstantiation. By this means I made a convert of her. This lady became a strict Christian-Deist.

be sure. I will no longer mistake contradictions for mysteries. The schemes and inventions of men shall not pass with me for the revelations of God."

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"I never

Here Mr. HARCOURT came up to us, and desired to know, if it was a fair question, what we two had been talking so earnestly on; for it seemed at a distance to be something more than ordinary. "I will tell you, Sir," his daughter replied, and immediately began to relate the whole conference, and her resolution. "Your resolution," the father said, cellent. You have not only my consent, but I recommend it to you as the noblest work you can employ any time on. For my part, Sir," Mr. HARCOURT Continued, turning himself to me, liked this part of our protestant religion, and have often wished our public prayers had been more conformable to the simplicity of the gospel; that we had been contented with what our Master and the Holy Spirit delivered, and not made human compositions the standard of salvation: but since the church in her wisdom has thought it should be otherwise, I have submitted to her authority, and been silent on the doctrines she claims a right to determine; though some of them to me appear doubtful, and others repugnant to scripture: beside, my studies have been in other fields than that of controversy: mathematics and antiquities have em

ployed my time, and I have neither taste nor capacity for that criticism which is necessary for the examination of such points: greatly however do I honour those who have the ability and patience to go through the work, as I must own it is of the utmost importance, and that the orthodox faith is a sad thing, if the truth be, after all our Athanasian believing, that Christ is no more than God's instrument, as St. Peter and St. Paul name him; a successful teacher of wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption: and that God is to be owned and praised, as the true, chief, and original cause of all spiritual blessings, according to the counsel of his own will, his own good pleasure, purpose, &c. without partner or second person to intreat and satisfy for us. If this be the case, may the Lord have mercy on our poor orthodox souls: and as it may be so, I honour you for enquiring into the matter, and especially for your good Spirit in preferring the things that are eternal, when what you thought truth could not be held with things temporal. I have," Mr. HARCOURT continued," a very great esteem for you on this account, and if I can be of service to you, I will. He imagined I might want money, and if I did, he would lend me a hundred guineas, without interest, payable on my note of hand, when I could. He immediately took

out of his pocket-book a bank note for that sum, and pressed me to accept it. He likewise invited me to stay at his house, while he continued in the country, which would be for a month longer. He assured me also, that I might make it my residence. after he left it, if I pleased; there would be two servants to attend me, and there was excellent mutton, and other things for my table. Nor is this all, you shall have the key of my study."

most

These offers astonished me, and I said, generous Sir, I return you the thanks of a grateful heart, and will ever remember your goodness to me with that sense such uncommon kindness deserves, though I cannot enjoy the benefits you would make me happy with. As to money I do not want any yet, and when I do it will be time enough for me to borrow, if I should find any one, like you, so benevolently disposed as to lend me cash without security and interest: and as to staying at your house, that offer I cannot accept, as I am engaged to a near and rich friend, who will be to me a subaltern providence, if he can be found, and secure me from the evils my attachment to truth has exposed me to. One week however I will stay with you, since you are so good as to invite me in this kind manner."

Here then I stayed a week, and passed it in a

most happy way. Mr. HARCOURT was fond of me, and did every thing in his power to render the place agreeable. His lovely daughter was not only as civil as it was possible to be, but did me the honour to commence a friendship with me, which lasted from that time till death destroyed the golden thread that linked it.

Reader, this young lady, HARRIOT EUSEBIA HARCOURT, was the foundress of a religious house of protestant recluses, who are still a society in that part of Richmondshire where I first saw her and her father. They are under no vow, but while they please to continue members, live as they do in nunneries, and in piety, and in all the parts of the Christian temper, endeavour a resemblance of their divine Lord and Master; with this distinction however, that to the plan of the regards due from man by the divine Law to God, to his fellow-creatures, and to himself, they add music and painting for their diversion, and unbend their minds in these delightful arts, for a few hours every day. This makes them excel in these particulars. They are great masters in all kinds of music, and do wonders with the pencil.

EUSEBIA was but just turned of twenty when I first saw her, in the year 1725, and then her musical performances were admirable; her pictures had the