ful 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,