Whether this letter and its enclosure produced any effect on the mind of Lord Chatham does not appear; but no immediate steps were taken, nor was any answer given; and this amiable young lady and her friends were suffered to remain in the most painful state of suspense for another fortnight.  A day or two before the warrant was despatched, that excellent man, Mr. Graham, writes thus to Mrs. Heywood.

’MY DEAR MADAM,—­If feeling for the distresses and rejoicing in the happiness of others denote a heart which entitles the owner of it to the confidence of the good and virtuous, I would fain be persuaded that mine has been so far interested in your misfortunes, and is now so pleased with the prospect of your being made happy, as cannot fail to procure me the friendship of your family, which, as it is my ambition, it cannot cease to be my desire to cultivate.

’Unused to the common rewards which are sought after in this world, I will profess to anticipate more real pleasure and satisfaction from the simple declaration of you and yours, that “we accept of your services, and we thank you for them,” than it is in common minds to conceive; but, fearful lest a too grateful sense should be entertained of the friendly offices I have been engaged in (which, however, I ought to confess, I was prompted to, in the first place, by a remembrance of the many obligations I owed to Commodore Pasley), I must beg you will recollect that, by sending to me your charming Nessy (and if strong affection may plead such a privilege, I may be allowed to call her my daughter also), you would have over-paid me if my trouble had been ten times, and my uneasiness ten thousand times greater than they were, upon what I once thought the melancholy, but now deem the fortunate, occasion which has given me the happiness of her acquaintance.  Thus far, my dear Madam, I have written to please myself.  Now, for what must please you—­and in which, too, I have my share of satisfaction.

’The business, though not publicly known, is most certainly finished, and what I had my doubts about yesterday, I am satisfied of to-day.  Happy, happy, happy family! accept of my congratulations—­not for what it is in the power of words to express—­but for what I know you will feel, upon being told that your beloved Peter will soon be restored to your bosom, with every virtue that can adorn a man, and ensure to him an affectionate, a tender, and truly welcome reception.’

At the foot of this letter Nessy writes thus:—­

’Now, my dearest mamma, did you ever in all your life read so charming a letter?  Be assured it is exactly characteristic of the benevolent writer.  What would I give to be transported (though only for a moment) to your elbow, that I might see you read it?  What will you feel, when you know assuredly that you may with certainty believe its contents?  Well may Mr. Graham call us happy! for never felicity could equal ours!  Don’t expect connected sentences from me at present, for this joy makes me almost delirious.  Adieu! love to all—­I need not say be happy and blessed as I am at this dear hour, my beloved mother.—­Your most affectionate,

     N. H.’