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The Tryal of Friendship. A Story.

than avoids it. This was the lady to
whofe lot it fell to comfort the young
Indian in the abfence of Blandford:
"I have loft my fecond father, fays
fhe, and I have no friend but you and
Mr Nelfon in the world. I give myself
up intirely to you; I shall love and I
fhall obey you; my heart fhall be A
yours, and you fhall difpofe of me as
you think fit." While he was thus
expreffing the fentiments of her heart,
the embraced Lady Juliet with a look
of ineffable tenderness and compla-
cency; and Nelfon coming in juft at
the inftant, perceived her countenance
as the turned from his fifter, fparkling B
at once with delight and tears.

"Well, fays Nelson to his fifter, have
you a little reconciled her to her lofs ?”
Yes, fays Nouraly, wiping her fine
black eyes, I am reconciled; I have
nothing to complain of. Then mak-
ing Nelfon fit down by the fide of his
fifter, the threw herself on her knees
before them, and taking their hands,
the put one into the other, and, pref
fing them both tenderly in her own,
"This is my mother,' fays fhe to Nel-
fon, with a look that might have foft-
ened marble; "and what will you
be?" I will be your friend, fays
Nelfon. My friend, fays fhe, that's
friend,
charming; then I fhall be your
'pray call ine by no other name.". ID
will not, my dear Nouraly, faid he ;
your innocent fimplicity inchants me."
He then recommended her to his
fifter with fome warm commendations,
to which the replied by infinuating
her fears; thefe, however, he treated
very flightly: Make yourfelf ealy,
fays he, aud do not let any unreasona-
ble apprehenfions embitter the pleafure E
which the cultivation of fuch a mind
cannot fail to give; you will fee it un-
fold its beauties like a flower ;' " Yes,
fays fhe, like a flower which hides the
thorns that prick those whom it in-
-vites."

When Nelfon came in, after Lady Juliet had been inftructing her in the language, the conftantly new to him, and repeated her leffon with a delight and fimplicity which, as yet, only amufed him. Juliet alone was apprized of the danger, and follicitous to prevent it.

Lady Juliet was jealous of her, and the moment this thought ftruck her he waved all farther enquiry, "I will do nothing, faid fhe, that difpleafes you, my dear Lady Juliet, for I loye you fincerely, and therefore I am determined I will be polite to your brọther."

Nelfon was furprized by the alteration of Neuraly's carriage, and complained of it to his filter; this produced an altercation, in which Net on was an advocate for fimplicity, and his fifter for politeness; it iffued in her continuing her injunctions to Neuraly, "Still who felt the reftraint more and more irksome and unreasonable : new duties, said the, and new prohibitions! what more can be wished by those who live together, than to fee each other with pleasure and why fhould that pleature be concealed? You teach me to feign it with those whom I do not love, and to hide it with thofe I do; certainly your rules of politenefs were invented by fome implacable enemy to truth.”

Thefe reflections at length made her melancholy, and when Juliet reproached her with want of chearfulness, "You know the cante, taid the; every thing that is contrary to nature must make me melancholy; and every thing in your modes of life'is contrary

to nature."

There was however fomething fo gentle and sweet even in her difpleafure, that Lady Aubery accufed herself with being too rigorous; and nothing more was neceffary to put her into good humour than to employ her in fome little fervices, like a favourite child, which one loves to have bufy

about one: but he was ftill mortified when the was not fuffered to wait upon Netfon in the fame manner that the did upon his fifter. "The good offices of fervants, faid fhe, are mean only because they are not voluntary; when they are rendered by choice, they are no difgrace, and friendship makes them honourable." She was not, howFever, repreffed in her affiduities only by Lady Aubery; they were fuch as fome times threw Nelfon himself into confufion, and he would frequently decline them. "You are very proud, fays Nouraly, fince you are ashamed to ftand in need of my affiftance; Come, you fhall wait upon me, and I will foon convince you that I do not take it.'

She began, by telling Nouraly that
the familiar manner in which the ad-
drefied her brother was not polite; G
-after fome difcourfe about politeness,
in which Nourely could not discover
that it anfwered any good purpose to
good people, the began to fulpect that

Thefe fallies of her ingenuous fenfibility greatly alarmed Lady Aubery.

I trem

tremble, faid the to her brother, when they were alone, left this girl fhould be in love with you." Thefe Houbts Nelson relented as unreasonable and injurious, and took a good deal of pains to convince Lady Aubrey, that A the affection of Nouraly was no more than a tender friendhip, of which they were both equally the objects. Lady Aubrey propofed to determine this queftion by experiment: "Let us pretend, fays he, that we are about to part, & fee which of us fhe will chufe to live with." This was oppofed by Nelfon, as what would bring Nouraly B into a diftrefsful dilemma, and make her tendernefs for them a means of affliction to herself; he was, how ever, at lalt over-ruled, and the experiment was made.

The firft emotion of Nouraly was atonishment, and the next was grief. "I know, faid the to Lady Aubrey, C that I am the caufe of your leaving your brother; you are difpleafed that he loves me; the pity with which his generous breaft has been touched for an unhappy orphan, has made you jealous. Alas! what will you not envy, if you envy Pity! Pity for one who tenderly loves you, and would give her life for you, the only poffeffion in the world that is left her. Indeed, my dear Lady Aubrey, you do me wrong: Your brother's loving me, does not make him love you lefs; and if it was poffible, he would love you more; for his regard to me makes him adopt my fentiments, and I am fure they are fuch as a friend would most with them to be."

D

E

Lady Aubrey laboured in vain to perfuade her, that the and her brother were about to part upon good terms. **I know, faid the, I am the cause of your feparation, and I entreat that you would fend me back into my own country. I fhall find fomebody there, not wholly infenfible to my misfor tunes and my tears, and who, if I F fhould excite pity, will not impute it 'to me as a crime." But you forget, faid Lady Aubrey, that you are a depofit put into our hands.' "A depofit, faid Nouraly, confcious of her dignity, who has a right to difpofe of me? If you feparate, how can I live with either of you? with what eye would a fifter look upon me who had deprived her of a brother; or a bro. ther regard me who had robbed him of a fitter? No, no, you must not part; my arms fhall be the bands that unite you." Then running to Nelson, and (Gent. Mag. JUNE 1765.)

taking his hand, "Come, fays the fwear to your lifter, that you will ne ver love any thing in the world fo well as you love her."

Nelfon, who was moved to the very foul, fuffered himself to be brought to the knees of his fifter; and Nouraly, throwing herself on her neck, "if you are my mother, faid the, forgive him for loving your child; his heart will fuffice us both; and if you should have a little lefs of his, on my account, you fhall have all mine to make amends."

Dangerous girl! faid Lady Aubrey, almost melted into tears, what diftrefs are you bringing upon us!'-O! my dear fifter, faid Nelfon, who felt himfelf prefied by Nouraly against Lady Aubrey's bofom, how can you have the heart to give fo much pain to fo amiable and fo tender a creature!

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Nouraly, delighted and exulting in her triumph, kifled Lady Aubrey, at the very inftant when Nelfon was whif pering, and he felt her glowing cheek, till wet with the tears that he had thed, gently touch his own as he drew it away. This little incident produced a tumult in his breaft that furprized him: He perfuaded himself, however, that it was a tranfient emotion that terminated in the fenfe, and had not reached the mind. Surely, faid he, I am mafter of myfelf, and I cannot be forced into any thing against my will.' He carefully concealed from his fifter, however, what he would fain have hidden from himfelf. He gently foothed the mind of Nouraly, by telling her that all that had paffed was a jeft. But nothing can be more ferious, faid he, than the advice I now give you: Watch over your own heart, my dear Nouraly; its extreme fimplicity and fenfibility will endanger you. Nothing can be more amiable than that affection and tendernefs which is your diftinguishing characteristic, but the best things often become dangerous by their excels."

"But after all, I am not fatisfied, faid Nouraly to Juliet, as foon as NelJon had left them; there is fomething ferious in this jet, I am fure. I fee an emotion in you both, that has fomething in it folemn and important. Nelfon himself is seized with a kind of terior, for which I cannot account: I felt his hand tremble when I pressed it Hin my own; and when I carched his

eye, I perceived fomething in it that was both tender and mournful. He told me, that he was afraid of my fenfibility, and warned me not to give

way

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1

A

way to it: My dear friend, would
there be any harm in it if we should
be in love?" Yes, my dear, faid
Lady Aubery, a great deal, both with
refpect to you and to him. A woman,
you know, here as well as in India, is
destined to one man alone, & a folemn
and facred union makes the pleasure
of loving her duty." "I know that,
fays Nouraly; this is what you call
marriage. Yes, faid Lady Aubrey,
and between man and wife this friend-
fhip is laudable; but it is forbidden
between thofe of different fexes be-
fore they marry. That feems un. B
reafonable, fay's Nouraly, for they
fhould certainly know whether they
love each other, before they are uni-
ted; and the probability of their lo-
ving afterwards is only in proportion
to their love before. If Nelfon, for ex-
ample, loved me as much as I love
him, it is very clear that each of us C
would meet with a proper counter-
part." But don't you fee, faid Lady
Juliett, by how many forms and
rules we are enslaved, and that for-
tune has not allotted you to Nel-
fon "I understand you, fays Nou-
raly, cafting her eyes to the ground; D
I am poor, and Nelfon is rich; but
furely my misfortune will at least al-
low me to honour and to love benefi-
cence and virtue: If a tree was en-
dowed with fenfibility, it would cer-
tainly be pleafed to fee those who cul-
tivated it repofe under its fhade,
breathe the fragrance of its bloffoms,
and take the sweetness of its fruit. Í
am fuch a trce: I have been cultivated
by you both, and I am endowed with
fenfibility."

Lady Aubery fmiled at the comparifon, but immediately made her young pupil fenfible, that nothing could be lefs decent than what the fuppofed to he fo juft. Nouraly listened, & blushed; and from this time the loft all her gaiety and freedom; her carriage hecame timid, and her air referved; the had never till now been mortified by a fenfe of an inferiority of fortune.

E

What had paffed funk deeply into her mind, and going to Lady Aubery the next morning, "Madam, fays the, G I find that my life has hitherto been wafted in learning fuperfluous things. Some art, which would enable me to procure for myself the neceffaries of life, would have been more useful; and I beg that fome fuch art you would now teach me." You have no need of it, faid Lady Aubrey; for, fetting myself and my brother out of

the queftion, Blandford has not taken upon him the character of a parent for nothing. "Favours, faid Nouraly, fometimes lay us under greater obTigations than we with: It is no difgrace indeed to receive them, but I feel that it is more generous to decline them."--It was to no purpose that Lady Aubrey exclaimed against this excels of delicacy; Nouraly would hear no inore of idle amufements or useless ftudy. Among fuch employments as were fuitable to fo delicate and tender a form, the preferred those which required ingenuity and addrefs, and the was follicitous only about their affording her a maintenance. 'And will you then leave us? faid Lady Aubrey. "I would, fays Nouraly, put myself above the want of every thing but the pleasure of loving you and Nelson: I would fet you free from me, it I interrupt your happiness; but if I can contribute to it, you are in no danger of loling me, I am entirely useless, yet I am dear to you; this difintereftednefs is an example that I ought to imitate."

Neljon obferved Nouraly's neglect of amulement, and application to bufi. nefs, and knew not what conftruction to put upon it; he obferved alfo, with equal furprize, that he had laid by all the ornaments of her drefs; and he asked her the reafon of it. "I am, faid he, with a fmile that was mixed with tears, learning how to be poor." Nelfon was ftruck to the heart by this reply; and fufpecting his fifter to have occafioned it, the first time he was alone with her, he urged her for an explanation. This brought on a converfation, in which Lady Aubrey made no fecret of her apprehensions: She knew, fhe faid, not only that Neuraly was in love with him, but that he was in love with her, that this paffion could not be indulged without great injury to Blandford, and that it was necellary fomething fhould be immediately done.

It was thought that abfence might at lealt prevent the evil from growing worle; and as the feafon was advan cing in which the family went into the country, it was determined that Nelfon fhould go alone, and leave Nowraly and Lady Juliet in London.

As foon as Nouraly found that Nelfon was gone into the country, and had left her behind him, he felt as if fhe had been banished to a defart, and abandoned by all nature. She could not conceal her diftrefs, but the pre

tended

C

tended that it rofe from a fuppofition
that he was the caufe of the fepara-
tion between him and his fifter. "You
ought, Lady Juliet, fays fhe, to follow
your brother; it is I that detain you
here: Unhappy creature that I am, A
leave me to myfelf, leave me to my
misfortunes." While the fpoke, the
tears, that he before could fcarcely
fupprefs, burft irrefittably away, and
gave her a tranfient relief. Lady Ju-
liet did every thing that kinduefs and
prudence could fuggeft, to divert her
mind to other objects, but without ef- B
fect; every thing showed that her at-
tention was wholly fixed upon Nelson;
the very found of his name threw her
into viable confufion; when the walk-
ed out, the was furprized, writing his
name in the fand; and at home, her
apartment was decorated with his pic-
ture: to this fhe was continually turn-
ing her eyes, by a propensity in which
the foul was an accomplice, tho' not a
confidant; and Lady Aubrey, for the
fame reason that the perfuaded her
brother to leave them, thought it ne-
ceflary to remove it from her fight. D
This threw her into a new agony, and
brought on a warm but tender expof-
tulation. Neuraly confeffed her paf-
fion, and defired only to indulge it,
tho' without return; and could not
forbear reproaching Lady Aubrey with
taking every opportunity to grieve and
afflict her. I do afflict you, faid Lady
Aubrey, but it is for your fake, and for
the fake of him that you love; would E
you make him wretched? He would,
he mutt be fo, if he knew that you
loved him, and yet more if he should
love you. I cannot farther explain
myfelf, but take my word, that this in-
clination, which you are fo folicitous
to indulge, muft entirely fubvert the F
peace of his mind Have pity, my
friend and my brother, and pare him

the conflict and the remorse that muft
carry him to the grave.' Nouraly,
who trembled at this discourse, pressed
Lady Juliet, with great earned nefs, to
tell her why, if Nelfon fhould love her,
it would make him unhappy. To
explain myself farther, faid Lady Ju
liet, would be to render one odious,
who ought to be dear; but the moit
facred of all duties forbids Nelfon to
hope that you can be his.'

The affliction of Nouraly at this converfation is not to be expreffed."What a strange country, fays fhe, do I live in? and what trange cuftoms have you established? One is not

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here at liberty to difpofe even of one's felf; here, the firit bleffing of life, a tender and reciprocal affection, is transformed into a most dreadful évil: I must then tremble to seeNelson again, and I must dread nothing fo much as giving him pleafure; yet I would give my life to be one moment as amiable in his eyes as he is in mine. Surely, the best thing I can do in fuch a country as this, is to leave it; for who would ftay where it is a misfortune to be loved?"

Nouraly heard frequently of veffels that were to fet fail for India, and the took the refolution of embarking for her native country, without telling any body a word of the matter.

But at night, when he was leaving Lady Juliet, and going to bed, the kiffed her hand with an emotion which fhe could neither fupprefs nor conceal. Lady Juliet perceived her lips prefs it with unusual ardour, and that her breaft heaved with fighs to which fhe would not give vent.

This dear girl, faid the to herself, leaves me to-night with an emotion that alarms me. She fixed her eyes upon mine with a moft touching expreffion of tenderness and grief; what new trouble has now feized upon her mind? These reflections kept her waking the whole night; and fending early in the morning to fee if Nouraly was up, the fervant brought word that fhe was not to be found.

[To be concluded in our next.]

Abfract of an A to provide for the Ad miniftration of Government, in cafe the Crown bould defcend to any of the children of his Majefty, being under the age of 18 years; and for the Care and Guardianship of their perfons.

HE

Train pole to this act mentione

that confequence of a concern in his Majefty for his faithful fubjects, and anxious defire to provide for every poffible event which may effect their happiness or fecurity, in regard to the adminiftration of the government, as fet forth in his Majefty's fpeech; it is therefore enacted, that power be vefted in his Majelty of appointing from time to time, by three inftruments under his fign manual, a guardian to his fucceffor, in cafe the crown hall defcend to any of his children being under the age of 18 years. Such guardian is to have the care and management of the tubtion of the perfon of fuch minor, and

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to execute the office of regent of the kingdom; and to be either the Queen, or Princefs Dowager of Wales, or one of the defcendants of the late King, ufually refiding in Great Britain.

A number in fucceffion, by way of fubltitution, in cafe of death, may be : nominated to fucceed in the guardianhip and regency; but no more than one perfon may act as fuch at one time; and any fuch perfons are difqualified to act as guardians and regents by non-relidence, or by marrying a papist.

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B

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The inftruments of nomination are to be fealed with the King's feal; and the feals of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Chancellor, and Prefident of the Council; and to be feverally depofited with them; But upon the revocation or alteration of fuch in ftruments by the king or death of any of the depofitaries, they are to be deli. vered up; as likewife in cafe of remoyal of any of the faid officers of ftate; and on the demife of the king, during fuch minority,the Privy Council is to affemble, and the faid inftruments are to be there produced and D read.

A perfon guilty of opening any of the laid inftruments, without his Majefty's order, or refusing to deliver up the fame to the privy council, incurs the penalties of premunire.

One of the inftruments being Pro-E duced, is deemed effectual to give authority to the perfon nominated regent. And all acts of regal power, done otherwife than by confent and authority of the regent, are declared void.

F

The council of regency for affifting the regent, is to confit of their Royal Highneffes his Majefty's brothers, Eaward Auguftus. Duke of York and Albany; William Henry, Duke of Glocefler and Edinburgh, Prince Henry Frederick, and Prince Frederick William and his Royal Highnefs his Majefty's Uncle William Auguftus Duke of Cum. berland (the faid Prince Henry Frede-G rick, and Prince Frederick William, to be members of the faid council of regency, when they shall refpectively attain the age 21 years, and not fooner) and alfo of the perfons and officers following, viz. the Archbishop of Cauterbury for the time being; the H Lord Chancellor or Lord Keeper, or the firit Commiffioner named in any commiffion for the custody of the Great Seal of Great Britain for the fine being; the Lord Treafurer of

Great Britain, or the firft Commiffion→ er in that office for the time being; the Lord President of the council for the time being; the Lord Privy Seal for the time being; the Lord High Admiral of Great Britain, or the firit commiffioner for executing that offie; the two principal Secretaries of -State for the time being; and the Lord Chief Justice of the Court of King's, or Queen's Bench for the time being. But it any of the King's brothers, or his uncle, hall die, during his Majesty's reign, or thall be nomihated regent on his demite; his Majelty by three instruments under his ign manual, fealed and depofited as aforelaid, and revocable at pleafure, may appoint fome other perfon to be of the council; and fuch inftɩųments of nomination are to be pradaced unopened to the Privy Coun cit.

The Council is to meet as the re: gent fhall direct, and five (where it is not otherwife fpecially provided) may act.

An oath of office is to be taken by the regent; and by each member of the council, to be administered by the Privy Council, and entered in the Council Books. The regent and council are to qualify themfelves as for offices and places of trust; the regent taking and fubfcribing the oaths Council; and receiving the Sacrament and declaration before the Privy in one of the Royal Chapels.

Upon his Majefty's demife, during the minority of his fucceffor, the Privy Council is to meet, and cause fuch fucceffor to be proclaimed, pur fuant to act 12 Will. III. upon pain of incurring the penalties of high treafon. The confent of the majority of five or more of the council is neceffary to make good all creations, pardons, gifts, grants, difpofitions, inAtructions, orders, or authorities. The regent is difabled to make war or peace; to ratify treaties; or to prorogue, adjourn, or diffolve the parliament, without the confent of the majority of the council. Nor may the regent give the royal affent to any act for altering the fucceffion to the crown, as established by act 12 Will. III. or for repealing or altering the act of 13 Charles II. or of 5 Anne. Members who are appointed by the council, in virtue of their dignity or office, are to be no longer of the council, than they continue in fuch dignity or office. Great officers of

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