Mr. Belford was not so destitute of humanity and affection, as to be unconcerned at the unhappy fate of his most intimate friend.  But when he reflects upon the untimely ends of several of his companions, but just mentioned in the preceding history*—­On the shocking despondency and death of his poor friend Belton—­On the signal justice which overtook the wicked Tomlinson—­On the dreadful exit of the infamous Sinclair—­On the deep remorses of his more valued friend—­And, on the other hand, on the example set him by the most excellent of her sex—­and on her blessed preparation, and happy departure—­And when he considers, as he often does with awe and terror, that his wicked habits were so rooted in his depraved heart, that all these warnings, and this lovely example, seemed to be but necessary to enable him to subdue them, and to reform; and that such awakening-calls are hardly ever afforded to men of his cast, or (if they are) but seldom attended the full vigour of constitution:—­When he reflects upon all these things, he adores the Mercy, which through these calls has snatched him as a brand out of the fire:  and thinks himself obliged to make it his endeavours to find out, and to reform, any of those who may have been endangered by his means; as well as to repair, to the utmost of his power, any damage or mischiefs which he may have occasioned to others.

* See Letters XLI. and LVII. of this volume.

With regard to the trust with which he was honoured by the inimitable lady, he had the pleasure of acquitting himself of it in a very few months, to every body’s satisfaction; even to that of the unhappy family; who sent him their thanks on the occasion.  Nor was he, at delivering up his accounts, contented without resigning the legacy bequeathed to him, to the uses of the will.  So that the poor’s fund, as it is called, is become a very considerable sum:  and will be a lasting bank for relief of objects who best deserve relief.

There was but one earthly blessing which remained for Mr. Belford to wish for, in order, morally speaking, to secure to him all his other blessings; and that was, the greatest of all worldly ones, a virtuous and prudent wife.  So free a liver as he had been, he did not think that he could be worthy of such a one, till, upon an impartial examination of himself, he found the pleasure he had in his new resolutions so great, and his abhorrence of his former courses so sincere, that he was the less apprehensive of a deviation.

Upon this presumption, having also kept in his mind some encouraging hints from Mr. Lovelace; and having been so happy as to have it in his power to oblige Lord M. and that whole noble family, by some services grateful to them (the request for which from his unhappy friend was brought over, among other papers, with the dead body, by De la Tour); he besought that nobleman’s leave to make his addresses to Miss Charlotte Montague, the eldest of his Lordship’s two