Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1921 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VI Letters: Atherton And Means. 1797 -- 1853 Charles H. to Rebecca W. Atherton Amherst, Sept. 1,1797. My dear Rebecca, Yours of last Wednesday, notwithstanding the rebuke it contained for my inattention, afforded me pleasure, yes at this instant it affords me pleasure. This I esteem to be proof that my not writing last week was not a culpable omission; for notwithstanding my general callousness of feeling I am so very nice in this point, that I should severely feel a reproach for wilful neglect. The balm of whole pages of agreeable things said afterwards, would hardly heal the wound. . . . It is a happy circumstance I think that you have been generally introduced to the fair circle of Portsmouth and that you now know all the names that sparkle on beauty's muster-roll. Your discription of Miss is not calculated I think to give me the most favourable impressions. I think I have discovered in your sex an outrageous levelling spirit. You would not like to be called democrats or Jacobins; but beauty is an aristocracy that you can not endure. Beauty is very seldom a monarch for its power is usually too much distributed, but when it is, what is the cry? Why down with it! She has good eyes, but a shallow pate; a fair complexion, but an empty heart. She has learnt to say yea and no; but her composition is indifferent. To be or not to be would be no kind of a question for her. Strange, oh! child of spleen, that beauty is so great, so enviable a distinction, that all these hard things must be said to redeem it to a level with yourself. I have admired too your excessive charity. When nature is in angry mode, if she happens to form an unfair fair one, you never deny her an excellent understanding; and every mental embellishment is allowed her...
