sted between them such a similarity of tastes, sentiments,
views, and principles, that they lived in the closest friendship; and
both their families having in the early part of their lives resided in
London, the occasions of that thorough mutual knowledge that grows out
of familiar intercourse, were much facilitated. I remembered Mr.
Stanley, when I was a very little boy, paying an annual visit to my
father at the Priory, and I had retained an imperfect but pleasing
impression of his countenance and engaging manners.

Having had a large estate left him in Hampshire, he settled there on his
marriage; an intercourse of letters had kept up the mutual attachment
between him and my father. On the death of each parent, I had received a
cordial invitation to come and soothe my sorrows in his society. My
father enjoined me that one of my first visits after his death, should
be to the Grove; and in truth I now considered my Hampshire engagement
as the _bonne bouche_ of my southern excursion.

I reached Stanley Grove before dinner. I found a spacious mansion,
suited to the ample fortune and liberal spirit of its possessor. I was
highly gratified with fine forest scenery in the approach to the park.
The house had a noble appearance without; and within, it was at once
commodious and elegant. It stood on the south side of a hill, nearer the
bottom than the summit, and was sheltered on the north-east by a fine
old wood. The park, though it was not very extensive, was striking from
the beautiful inequality of the ground, which was richly clothed with
the most picturesque oaks I ever saw, interspersed with stately beeches.
The grounds were laid out in good taste, but though the hand of modern
improvement was visible, the owner had in one instance spared

"The obsolete prolixity of shade,"

for which the most interesting of poets so pathetically pleads. The
poet's plea had saved the avenue.

I was cordially welcomed by Mr. and Mrs. Stanley; and by that powerful
and instantaneous impression which fine sense and good breeding, joined
to high previous veneration of character, produce on the feelings of the
guest, I at once felt myself at home. All the preliminaries of gradual
acquaintance were in a manner superseded, and I soon experienced that
warm and affectionate esteem, which seemed scarcely to require
intercourse to strengthen, or time to confirm it. Mr. Stanley had only a
few minutes to present me to his lady and two lovely d