tf-CALIFi FREDERIC LATIMER: HISTORY YOUNG MAN OF FASHION. JEtas pnrentum pejor avis tulit Nos nequiorcs, mcx daturas Progeniem vitioficrem. Ho:;. Ot. 6. Lib. .* \* 7 n R E E V O L V M E S. VOL. ill. Prir.tsd by Lu!i= Hsr.fcrd, N'o. f>, G;vat Turn:" .v, Lincoln's- Jnn Pic' i , ,i f. CAD ELL, Jun. end W.DA' L&W. w.3 JREDERIC LATIMER: OR, THt H ISTORY er a Y-OUNG MAN OF FASHION. ***** CHAP. XX. r rediric, in a few days, began the ceconomical arrangements which the o alteration in his circumftances re- quired. The reafon prevented his re- gretting the abandonment of thoic luxuries to which he had been accuf tomed, and the change never coft him a figh. He removed to cheaper lodpings, no longer frequented the dinner clubs to which lie belonged, vol. in, v. and 2 FREDERIC LATIMER. and difmiiTed his fcrvant. By thefe retrenchments he endeavoured to re- medy the diminution of his income. As he avoided public places on ac- count of the expence, the only amufe- ments of which he partook were the affemblies of women of fafhion, at which, on account of his birth, his elegant figure, and his profeuion, he was always a welcome gueffc. He was dining one day at the Guards when he was afked by a borther offi- cer ii he was going to Mrs. Bumton's ball. " No," faid Frederick, I fortunate accident, became a filvcr- " fmith in Dublin, then broke, and * ,; went on board a Guinea- man. In (',:,-. ::v FREDERIC LATIMER'. 5 ** fome of his expeditions to the Weft " Indies, he procured the appoint- " rnent of tajk-mafter on a plantation, " to which his difpofition was admi- M rably calculated, and was at length " named overfeer of the fame eftate. " His employer died. The widow, " to whom he left his whole fortune, " became enamoured of her H'iber- " nian agents and as he had no ob- " jection to her property, though " her perfon was not very tempting, " the union took pb.ee. The lady " did not long live to enjoy the hap- " pinefs (he expected in the arms of " her fecond hufband. The ill-na- " tured world report that Mr. Bum- " ton, ufed to the difcipiine of the " flaves, had, by extending that '' tern to his wife, fhorrened the days 6 FREDERIC LATIMER. of his former miftrefs. Be that as it may, he remained mafter of her riches, and foori returned to his native country, to difplay the ipiendcr of afHuence where he had long experienced the chilling blafts of poverty. On his arrival in Ire- land, he enquired for his lifter, the lady in queftion, and found that fhe had not advanced beyond the fltuatlon in which he left her, that of cook and houfekeeper in a gen- tleman's family. He removed her irom thence, and placing her at the head of his table, bi home from the pariih fchool, where they had hitherto been educated, his three daughters by a former marriage, and ordered that they fhculd be given every kind of in- "' " ilruelion, FREDERIC LATIMER. 7 <{ firu&ion. He only lived long " enough to make thefe arrange- " ments, and foon after died, leaving " the v hole of his property to be " divided amongft thefe girls, only " iubjecl to an annuity for life to " their aunt, to whofe guidance and < protection he entrufted them. " Mr?. Bumton, for ib (he difcreetly " called hcrfelt though unmarried, ;: found Dublin too near the (eat " of her former occupations to afford " he; an early agreeable refidence. iC She removed to London with her ^ nieces ; and after having them fu ::\pb the fMhionahle a/x^rmlifr- < > i ue: ts of mufic, drawing and danc- f; .: g, for j'he to>ifiJ.-:rcd literati:); as " k;:e:h tfoir n: ice, One was ex- ' :. 'v :u:ehe. tl it they fliouki 8 FREDERIC LATIMER. " be introduced into the world with " eclat. The vulgarity of her man- " ner, and the recollection of her for- " mer fituation, which was yet frefh " in the memory of many perfons " living, were much againft the prac- " ticability of this plan. Being " known to be proficients in mufic, " they were at firft only invited to " the fupper-parties of amateurs, and " were, more than once taken for " profeffional fingers. By degrees M they were admitted into the * 5 houfes of fome perfons of re- " ipeclabiliiy, who, admiring the " beauty and the talents of the girls, " on their account put up with the " vulgarity, the ignorance, and the C]( purfe- proud familiarity oi the aunt. ''- This did not fatisfy the ambition of " Mrs, FREDERIC LATIMER. 9 " Mrs. Bumton, fhe wilhed now to " Ice her nieces prefented at court, " and received into the higher circles " of fafhion. As (lie was not with- " out art, flic contrived, by inceilant " attentions, and frequent prefenta " of rum, fweetmeats, and Weft ^ Indian peppers, to procure the no- kt tice of a fuperannuated Dowager of " quality. At length fhe ventured " to propofe to her the introduction " of her nieces at St. James's. Lady " Cambridge, who knew their whole " hiftory, trailed at the idea, but con- " ilantly prefled, flattered, and en- lk treated, at laft contented. They : ' were prefented, reputed to be ' great fortunes, and their dreiTes f ' defcribed at length in the papers '-' of the following day. Mrs. Rum- " ten 10 FREDERIC LATIMER. ton took a large houfe, furnifhed it with great magnificence, and pre- pared to give iumptuous enter- tainments. The Dowager was again confulted about the company who were to be aiked, and when (he- mentioned, as the condition of her interference, that Mrs. Bumton mould give up all her former ac- quaintance, (lie found her perfectly willing to comply with the pro- pofal. Lady Cambridge then deigned to introduce mod of her noble friends, who, tempted by the profpecc of the elegant balls their exertions were to produce, became recruiting officers in the iervice. Whilfl the pcrfons who had origi- ginally received Mrs. Bumton, and her nieces, with hofpitality and FREDERIC LATIMER. II " kindnefs, and at whofe hqufes they " were firfl obferved, were excluded " from the lift of the invited, thefe " dignified ambaffadors were en- " treated to diilribute her cards with " liberal hand. By thefe means " (he at Iaft had the fatisfaction of " drawing together more peribns of ** fafhion than had ever yet been ieen " in a private room ; and her firfl ," ball prefented the then lingular " phenomenon (now become com- " mon by repetition) of an afiembly, " in which not one perfon, the Dow- " ager excepted, knew the ladies C " the houfe. N'iwporic. their object Ki was antvvered, every body was of " courfe introduced to them, every " body laughed at them, but every ody was extremely civil. " This 12 FREDERIC LATIMER'. " This is the fecond ball ; and as the " young ladies, as well as their aunt, " are grown finer than ever, they u have already made diftinclions " amongu their new acquaintance. " Some fix or feven commoners crept " into the number of the company " lad invited. This is a difgrace " which the filler and daughters of " a Weft Indian tafk-mafter are dc- " termined not to endure,, arid their " party, to-night, freed from the " impurity of plebeian intrusion, is " to be purely patrician ! Indeed, if " you were not a fprig of nobility " I mould not venture to introduce " yon." .Frederic laughed heartily at this defcription, and readily ac- cepted the oiler of his friend. At twelve o'clock, lor it would have been -FREDERIC LATIMER. 13 been an offence to fuppofe that Mrs. JBumton's ball could begin at ara earlier hour, they drove to her houfe in Grofvenor Square. As the officer, who was himfelf the brother of a peer, took care, in introducing La- timer, to add, " of the Coldftream, " nephew to Lord Crefley, and Ton '" of the Duchefs of Annan," -lie was .1110ft gracioufly received both by the .aunt and the young ladies. Fre- deric could fcarcely keep his counte- nance, as he made his bow to the former. Her biliary was called to his recollection by every motion. She was fat, coarle, awkward, and gave .perfectly the idea of a man in petti- coats. She returned the addreffes of Jier company with a condefcending .nod cf protection, which flic fuppofed tho 14 FREDERIC LATIMER. the height of fafhionable eafe. Her nieces had not her vulgarity, but they fhared her vanity, and were as anxious as fhe was to be conndered the very quinteffence of tafte and hunt ton. They were all three ele- gantly d relied, and feemed to have ipared no pains in -rendering them- felves the counterparts of their noble vifitors. The eldeft-was really pretty, and Latimer put no refbramt on his inclinations in afking her to dance, an attention, he thought, due to her at her own houfe. The great object of thefe balls was to marry the young ladies to men cf rank, for their for- tune rendered them indifferent as to money ; his requefl therefore was rea- dily granted, as the wifhed-for pre- iuQC to a iXiore mtrmr.ie acouaintancc. Fredeiv. FREDERIC LATIMER. 1 5 Frederic found her converfation not very interefting, but this was a cir- cumstance to which he was too much accustomed, at affcmbliesof this kind, to be either furprifed or difappointed. He was highly amufed with the dif- ferent remarks of the perfons, who were introduced to Mifs Bumton, and he had fome difficulty in refrain- ing from laughter. One lady, after complimenting her on the beauty of her houfe, and the elegance of the ball, turned on her heel, and in a loud whifper exclaimed, " Did you " ever lee fuch a lump of affectation? " They are altogether the moft ridi- "" culous family in London/' A noble duke, not in the prime of lite, .made his bow, retired one ftep, drew out his opera glafs. and declared her. f& FREDERIC 1ATIMF.R. after an examination of five minutes, " to be tolerably paffable." A darn- ing young man of high ton, dreffed in a tightly-buttoned coat, apparently fupported by flays, low-collared cape, fhort waift, and puckered ileeves, Iris hair twifted with fludied negligence in a thouiand different ringlets over his forehead, after accofting her with great familiarity, turned round to Latimer, and afked " if flic was not one of the '" girls of the houfe r" adding, " I " think I cannot be wrong, fhe ap- " pears fo arrfedly on the look-out.'" " Why, I thought from your man- " ner," laid Frederic, " you were " very intimate with her." " By no " means," replied the gallant youth, " J never faw her before this evening, " and onrv went up to her now to FREDERIC LATIMER. 17 rity 34 FREDERIC LATIMER. rity of the fervice, or the heat of the climate, found a premature grave. At length, as if they were not al- ready fubjedted to calamities of fuffici- ent cruelty, the yellow-fever appeared amongft the troops. Frederic expo- fed himfelf, perpetually, to tlie at- tacks of this fatal diftemper, by an in- celTant attention to thofe who were its victims. Whilfl others fled the tainted touch of their companions, the moment the too well-known fvmptoms appeared, Latimerwas ever ready to afford the fuccours of friend - {Lip, even to the lowed of his foldiers. Yet from the goodnefs of his con- flitution and the temperance of his habits, he efcaped the dire contagion, and alter feeing half his men and mod of FREDERIC LATIMER. 35 of his brother-officers carried off by this all-devouring evil, he at length was ordered with the few effective men of his company to leave Martinique, and to embark for St. Vincent's. A new kind of warfare attended him in the latter ifland, and he had at once to contend with the intemperance of the climate, the defolation of the fever which raged there with equal violence, and the lavage barbarity of the Cha- ribs. The remainder of his little corps were gradually falling victims to thefe united dangers, and his ge- nerous heart, driven to dc'.pair by the daily lois of his dear companions, and the outrages to humanity which fur- rounded him on all fides, was almofc linking under the load of care, when d e he 36 FREDERIC LATIMER. he himfelf, who had fo long and 'fo fortunately efcaped, was attacked with the fymptoms of this fatal diftemper. He foon became delirious, and loft all recollection of what waspafiing. After lying two days in this (late, without fenfe of feeling, he awoke, as it were, from a longflecp. He tried to recol- lect where he was. He had a confuied remembrance of being ill, but all his ideas were imperfect. He looked anxioufly round for information, and thought he beheld near his bed a lace which was familiar to him. Again he gazed wifhfully, and at laft recol- lecting that the perfon whole coun- tenance he fancied he beheld was far, fardiftant, exclaimed in adifappointed accent, " Oh happy dream ! flattering " delufion ! FREDERIC LATIMER. 37 * c delufion ! why did you leave me ? " I imagined I faw before me Edward " Deering, what would I not give to " realize the phantom !" " No, Fre- " deric," replied a voice he thought he could not miftake, " it is no fic- " tion; you fee your friend, no longer " miferable fince you are well enough " once again to recognize him." La- timer jumped from his pillow in an exftacy of joy, and Deering tremb- ling for a relapfe, with difficulty re- trained his violence. Alter ufing much entreaty, he at laft periuaded him to fufpend his curiofity on the iubjectof his arrival till the next day. Cured of his dileafe, animated byth.e tight of lb dear an object, but weak- ened by the exertion he had gone P 3 tluojgh, 36 FRKDE RIC LATIMER. through, he fell into an involuntary flumber, and did not awake, till a late hour the following; morning. He was fo much refrefhed by this "deep, that Deering no longer refuted to account for his fudden appearance. " Shortly then, my dear Frederic," laid he " when I heard of your de- " parture from England, I guefled " the.caufe, and determined to fol- " low you. J waited however till I " had procured the means of remedy- ; ' ing the evil which your raih kind- ( nefs to me had occafioned. At u length my father received a remit- << Mr" frr"i f-1-in \VpA ]~ r y. I '* flew with it to your mother. She t: condefccncled to ice me. Herlet- v ' ccr will explain the reft. J hope V, Ll FREDERIC LATIMER. 39 " you will excufe my having acted " for you on this occafion without " your orders. When at lafl I had " negociated the bufinefs as I vviihed, " and fecured your return to Eng- " land, with honor, I determined to " be myfelf the meflenger of an in- " tclligcnce, which I hoped would " give you pleafure, and in this fad " climate, to exprefs my gratitude " before your departure. Alas! what '' v,cr^ my feelings in finding you ' already attacked by the fatal fever, " and deprived of lenie. 1 lent im- " mediately to my father's efiate, vi fortunately lituated in this nei: . " bourhood, procured the little com- " torts which your illnefs required, " and the advice of the phv ieiae. at- D .t " tc : . : .; 40 FREDERIC LATIMER. ' tendant on the property. To his * /kill, for he has been many years ' accuftomed to the climate, do I ' attribute your recovery, and I know ' not how fufnciently to exprefs my ' joy at being thus the accidental ' caufe of your efcape." " Oh, Ed- 1 ward, how mall I thank you," ex- claimed the grateful Latimer ; "my ' life fayed by you will be doubly ' valuable."' "Pain me not," replied Deering, " by talking of thanks; you ' owe me nothing ; for me you ha- ' zarded this fatal expedition; had ' you fallen, how could I have for- ' given myielf? No, Frederic, the fc obligation is ftiil entirely on your ' fklc, and believe me 1 newer ihall 4 forget it." When FREDERIC LATIMER. 41 When Frederic was {efficiently re- covered to attend to bufinefs, a packet of letters, which Edward Deering had brought with him from England, was put into his hands. The well-known writing of Mr. Darewcll firfl drew his attention. He almofl feared to open the cover. He had both ex- changed his regiment, and fet out for the Weil Indies, without consult- ing him on the fubjedt ; and though Ins motive was an amiable one, that ol giving him as little uneaiinefs as poiiible, he trembled left he mould have conflrued this omiffion into dif- refpect: and ingratitude. The kind and affectionate flile of his guardian rei'erring him to Ins mother's letter, ;md entreating; him to return home as 42 FREDERIC LATIMER. as foon as poiTible, foon eaied his mind on that point. From the elder Deer- ing, from whom, as well as his Ton, he had, concealed his voyage, and the reafon which occafioned it, out of motives of delicacy, he received a letter full of gratitude, and exprefiing his full approbation of the conduct of Edward, in determining to leek iiis friend and benefactor. Thefe tributes of kind remembrance and unceafins; regard, were welcome to the heart of Frederic, and, united to the pretence or Edward, were the belt congratulations he could receive on his recover:. He next opened the letter from his mother. It began, as lie exnecred, with accuv;."- him oi Ills breach of promise, in leaving ! '-' '- S ' .. FREDERIC LATIMER. 43 kind. It then ftated, that the death of lord Dunkeld had had (o violent an effect on the Duke of Annan, whole health was declining at the time, that he had grown worfe every day, and that (he fcarcely expccled him to furvive the following month. She then informed him, that having en- quired, by the dehre of Mr. Edward Deering, how he could return to England with mod reputation to felf, foe was told that promotion. at home was the belt and moil agree- able way by which this purpofe could be effected, and in confequence of iuch ad vice, by the payment of a large turn of money remitted to her on hi; account by Mr. Deering, fenior, ami the exertion or much intcrcft, ihc 44 FREDERIC LATIMER. (lie had fuceeeded in getting him re- inflated in the guards, with the rank he now held in the army. His leave of abfence was enclofed from the com- mander in chief, and the Duchefs en- treated him to return, with every porTible expedition, to the fond arms of an affectionate mother. This was the firft kind letter he had ever re- ceived from his only parent, and though he believed vanity had fome concern in her motives, he could not help feeling gratified at a teftimonial of regard from io near a relation, to which, during all his former life, he had been a f hanger. Nor was he lets happy in being enabled to cult, with honour, the Well Indies, lie had loft all the friends who had ac- companied FREDERIC LATIMER. 45 companied him from England, he was difgufted with every thing around him, and had no object of intereft, but the phyfician who had faved his life : with him, he parted with re- gret ; Ins tender care left a plcafing .reflection on his mind, but every other circumftance he wifhed to drive from his memory. He took advantage of the firft veffel winch failed for England ; and alter an abfence of fifteen months, at length reached Briftol in fafety, ac- companied by Edward Deering. 4 & FREDERIC L AT I M E R. chap, x ; : 1 1 t . I t was December when they arrived , heavy mows had fallen, and the reads were almoft impafTable. Delighted at being once mere in England, Fre- deric laughed at thefe little difficul- ties, and ordering a chaiie-anu-four. fet out, though in the middle of the night, for London, where he knew he was anxioufly expected. Deering did not accompany him further than Bath, having a dear friend to vim there, who was impatient for his re- turn. After travelling all that night and the fucceedmg dav, Latimei found himfclfj as ir grew dark, flill FREDERIC LATIMER. 47 at a confiderable diflance from town, the roads growing worfe every mile. He was too impatient to flop, and after much perfeverance at length s;ot to London about four o'clock in the morning. As he drove along Piccadilly, he perceived flames of fire iffuing from a houfe apparently in the neigh- bourhood. He trembled for the un- happy beings who at this late hour, and at a leafon when all the pipes were neceiiarily frozen, were expofed to (b dreadful a calamity. He flop- ped his chaife, and enquired of the watchmen where the fire was fup- poicd to be. They informed him that a houfe had been burning more than half an hour in Berkley Square, and 48 FREDERIC LATI'ME'R. and that the engines had not yet been able to play, owing to the want of water. Alarmed ftill more at the account, Latimer ordered the poft- boys immediately to drive to the place defcribed by the watchmen, and he encouraged their diligence by the promife of a bribe. As he en- tered the fquare, he beheld the flames rufhing with tremenduous fury from a large building near the center. He jumped from his chaife and ran to the fpot. He looked with anxious attention to the window?, and thought lie diftinguifhed a human figure ; he looked again, he certain!} was right, and by the form it appeared to be a woman. The fireman told him fhe was a female whom they in vain had entreated FREDERIC LATIMER. 49 entreated to make ufe of a ladder, which they purpofely procured and fixed to the wall. " She obftinately," faid they, " perfifts in flaying where ** fhe is, and beckons us to go up ; in ** doing fo, we mould venture our " own lives without being of an) 7 ufe M to her, for the beams are already '" giving way." This was fufHcient to the humane, the dauntlefs Fre- deric. 'He leized the ladder, and running rapidly up the ftep?, foon reached the top. He found the .almoft hfelefs figure ftill at the window, watching with anxious eye his arrival. He caught her in hi, arms, and attempted to remove her .rem this feat of peril, but borrowing ^renfth from the moment, fhepufh- 1 l . : T 1 . r ed $0 FREDERIC LATIMER. ed him from her, and clinging round a cheft cf drawers which flood near her, Hie exclaimed, in a voice of ex- treme horror, the notes of which were flill familiar to his ear, " Save ! O lave " my father !" A flafh of light now ftruck acrofs her face. Heavens ! was it poffible ? his eye, his ear, his heart, all told him it was -Charlotte, his long; loft Charlotte. Forgetting; where they were, he began to exprefs his icy ; a falling; beam reminded him of their danger. Again (he re- fufedtomove; and again entreated him to preferve her father. Mighty God ! was he miftaken ? Charlotte had no father. There was not time to explain the myflery ; nor prayer, nor force, could make her ilir Find- FREDERIC LATIMER. 51 ing both in vain, he ran to a room fhe pointed out, where lay a venera- ble old gentleman, apparently con- fined by the gout. He exhotied his daughter to make her efcape; and giving her his blemng, allured her he was prepared to meet his fate. Fre- deric faw the time admitted of no delay. Neither entreaty nor flrength could move the daughter. " Come " Sir," laid he, " accept myaffiftance, ids term in his arms, and hur r i ried' 54 FREDERIC LATIMER. lied down the fleps. In lefs than five minutes more the whole build- ing fell in. Overpowered by his furprife, his exertions, and his joy, Frederic himfelf now became infen- fible, and loft all recollection of what was paffing. FREDERIC LATIMER. 55 CHAP. XXIY. W h e n Frederic recovered his rea- fon, he found that he was in bed in a ftrange place, and perceived he was considerably bruifed. He rang a bell which was near him, and enquired where he was. He was informed that he was at Dorrant's Hotel, in Alber- marle Street ; to which the firemen and pofl-boys had conducted him. He then anxioufly enquired for the lady and her father who had fo nar- rowly efcaped the fire. " I fuppofc " you mean my Lord Dnhe and " his daughter?" faid the waiter. f 4 " Am 56 FREDERIC LATIMER. ** Am I then" cried Frederic, beating his head in an agony of def- pair, " at laft difappointed ? I did *' not think it pofiible that more " than one human being mould pof- " fefs that ferenity of countenance, " that melody of voice, which nearly " feven years abfence has not ob- " 1 iterated from my memory." A note was now delivered to him, which encreafed his mrpnie. cl Dorrnnt's Hotel, Saturday morning- " The Duke of Annan regrets, r * fincerely, that his continued lame- " nefs, which the accident of laft " night has encreafed, puts it out of *' his power to wait on the gentle- " man who fo generoufly faved his " life, and that of his daughter. He " entreats FREDERIC LATIMER, $tf fct entreats him to have the goodnefs "'of coming to his apartment, that " he may have an opportunity of ex<- " prefiing all his gratitude; and of " forming an acquaintance with the " man to whom he owes not only his " own life, but, what is infinitely "more dear to him,, that of his child." Frederic, loft in my fiery, knew not what to think. There certainly was but one Duke of Annan. Was his father-in-law dead ? his mother's letter fpoke of that event as likely to happen"; if fo, who was his fuccef- ibr ? his fon died before he left Eno-- land, and he did not remember that he had a brother. The more he re- jected, the more he was at a lots to unravel 58 FREDERIC LATIMER. unravel this flrange, this incompre- henfible adventure. He determined however to bring it to an immediate termination by accepting the invita- tion of the new Duke of Annan, of whom he had never before heard. When he attempted to rife he could not move, having fprained his ancle in jumping from the ladder the pre- ceding night. Even this he refolved fhould not keep him from paying the intended vifit. He put on his clothes, and lending for two of the waiters, ordered them to carry him to the apartment of the Duke of Annan. Fearing left his prefent iituation mould alarm the young lady, whofe great refemblance to Charlotte rendered her lb interefting to his heart, FREDERIC LATIMER. 59 heart, he fent in word, that having flightly hurt his leg, which prevented his walking, he begged permiffion to be brought into the room in a chair. Notwithftandingthis preparation, the gave a fcream on beholding her de- liverer thus fupported ; the found of which reminded him of Charlotte's well-remembered voice. He again gazed with an attentive eye on every feature ; every feature was the fame, only flrengthened and improved into maturity. " I beg your pardon, Madam," faid Frederic, " for this " intrufion, and Hill more fo, for the " particular manner in which I pre- " fume to look at you ; but you are " really fo like a very dear friend " whom I have loll, that I can fcarcely " believe 60 FREDERIC LATIMER. "believe that I am miftaken ; yet " your rank, your fituation in life, " your father, all deny the pombility " of a facl which my fenfes of fight " and hearing every inftant feem to " confirm. I feel I am very impertir " nent, but if you would explain how " long you have been in this country,, " and iince when your father has " borne the title of Annan, you would " do me an evTential obligation." It was long before the young lady was fufficiently recovered from her fur- prife and her alarm to have u(e ct : fpeech. At length, fummoningre- folution, fhe ventured to fay, " Oh, " Sir ! you have faved my lite, you " liave done more, you have laved ** my father ' what favour can you- afk FREDERIC LATIMER. 6* *' alk which it will not be my duty to " grant ? " As to the myftery of which you " fpeak, r l am not lefs aftoniflied *' than yourfelf. You are the very " counterpart of the friend of my " early youth. M I did not know he " was far, far diflant," and a tear dropped from her eye, "alas ! perhaps " no more, I mould think I now " fpoketo to ," fhehefitated, and at length added, "Frederic Latimer." -" Mighty God !" exclaimed the enraptured Frederic, " how Ihall I " endure my happinefs ? what do I " hear ? can it be you ? do I indeed " behold my Charlotte ? docs (lie " (till deiqri to recollecVthe long-ab- * ; lent partner ct her youth ? Yes, " Charlotte,, 62 FREDERIC LATIMER, " Charlotte, you fee before you the " unworthy object about whofe fate " you have declared yourfelf not in^ M different, unchanged in affection, " though guilty of innumerable, of "" unpardonable faults," He would have thrown himfelf at her feet, but he found he could not move. Char- lotte was fcarcely able to endure the excefs of joy (lie now experienced : fhe had difcovered her lover in her preserver, the faviour of her father. His regard was unaltered ; and fhe could return his love without blum- ing at the inferiority of birth, which fhe once thought would feparate her from him tor ever. She hoped alio that he was poor, that fhe might have the additional pleafure of en- richina FREDERIC LATIMER. 63 riching hi in by her choice. Thefe united fenfations found vent in tears; and it was long before (he was fuffi- ciently herfelf to anfwer the anxious enquiries of Frederic. At length with a faltering accent, "excufe," laid (lie, " my involuntary weaknefs; I " am fo furprifed, fo agitated, that " I know not what to lay. This " paper," drawing one from her pocket, " which my father infilled " 0:1 my taking charge of when ' w the tire was firft perceived, will " explain to you his hiftory and mine. " Ywiilft you read the contents, I u will run to him and tell him who 4 - you are ; I am fure lie will feel an "additional fatisraction in owing " his life to that Frederic of whom ii&r FREDERIC LATIMER. " he has heard my mother fo often " fpeak with the affection of aparent." So faying, fhe laid the paper on the table, and went into an adjoining room, where the Duke of Annan was ftill in bed. Frederic, overcome with pleafure and furprife, could fcarcely believe that what had juft pad was real ; the whole appeared a delightful fiction, and he almoft feared to open the paper which had been delivered to him, left it fhould break the charm of his prefent happineis. He at length looked into the contents, and read as follows : '* Madras, June 17 " Having ferved fome years in the ' army of the Eaft India Company " under FREDERIC LATIMER. 65 * ; under the aflumed name of Mur- c - ray, I think it right to leave this u document, that in cafe of my " death, my dear wife may be able ; to circulate in the neighbourhood, ^ that I had been drowned in a voyage " to Jamaica, and to ail u me the drefs e 4 " and 72 FREDERIC LATIMER. " character of a widow. I added,. " that if I fucceeded in what I was ** engaged in, I would immediately " fend for her and my daughter. " Fourteen years hard fervice at " length procured me the com- " mandof a regiment. I forgot not " my promife, and after writing to " my brother, refigning the annuity, " and acquainting him with my in- " tenticn of calling the objects of mv " affection to (hare my competence, " I repeated my engagement not to " diiciofe my birth. " My dear wife, and my daughter, " whole early virtues reminded me of " my nrft acquaintance with her " mother, arrived in fafety. Hap- " pinefs once again vifited my long 8 afflicted FREDERIC LATIMER. 73 " afflicted heart. I clafped my loved r -'- Charlotte to my bread, and re- ; ceived her pardon for an apparent ' cruelty, of which my foul was in- i capable. We have paft five years ' in tranquil and innocent enjoy- " ments : I hope, before I die, that ' I may be permitted to open my ' whole mind to the bed of wives,.. ; and to reveal the only fecret I ever " attempted to hide from her. ' ' \ V ILL! A M M c L E A N , ion of the late, and only bro- ther of the prcfent, Duke of Annan ; but filling myfelf at prefent, ' 4 W 1 1. L 1 A M M U R R A Y ." To 74 FREDERIC LATIMER. To this was added a poftfcript, written fince his return to England) ''London, November j- " One year fince, I received anex- c ' prefs over land, informing me of " the death of my nephew, and my " brother's with to fee me in England. 4< I obeyed the fummons, but only " arrived time enough to behold him " expire. With his laft breath he re- " quefted me to forgive the hard con- " ditions he had exacted, and freed " me from my promife of fecrecy. " I fucceeded, of courfe, to his " honours and eftate ; and add this " poftfcript in confirmation of the le- *' gitimacy of my daughter. (figned) " Annan-." FREDERIC LATIMER. J$ Frederic had icarcely finiihed this paper, the perufal of which filled his mind with the moft lively fenfations of pleafure and furprife, when the Duke of Annan was brought into the room, lupported on one fide by his lovelv daughter. In the hurry and agitation of the preceding night, La- timer had not time to obierve the features of him, whofe life he had prelerved. He now beheld a vene- rable man, of military afpect, mild deportment, and flriking figure. His grey hair gave the appearance of re- ipectabiiity and age to his manly rorm ; and the expreffion of every virtue feemed damped on his counte- nance. He was dreft in a regimental great coat, the only article of his wardrobe j6 FREDERIC LATIMER. wardrobe which had been laved from the flames, and his legs fwelled with the gout, were covered with flannel, and fupported on pillows. He di- rected himfeif to be placed on a fopha near his deliverer, and taking his hand with affectionate freedom, " If words," faid he " could exprefs my " gratitude, I would thank you ; but " what I owe to you admits of no " return. When you fee a father " reitored to his daughter, a daughter " to her parents, and remember that " the work is yours, you receive the " only reward worthy your accept- " ance. I have juft learnt that I " have the happinefs of finding in " my preferver, a brother-foldier j " one with whole family 1 am nearly FREDERIC LATIMER. 77 i; connected, and of whole dawning '" merits I have fo often heard from " the lips of an affectionate wife. " Such, Mr. Latimer, are your claims " to my regard ; allow me to throw " afide all ceremony, and confidering " you as an old friend, to treat you " with the warmth which my heart " would dictate." Frederic was fen- jibly affe&ed by the liberality, the candor, and the ingenuous manner of his new acquaintance. Fie re- turned his addrefTes with equal frank- nefs, and their congenial minds focw. formed an intimacy of which colder characters were totally incapable. Though Frederic addreffed his lan- guage to the Duke of Annan, his eyes were fixed on a dearer object : Charlotte, 78 FREDERIC LATIMER. Charlotte, his long loft Charlotte, flood before him, adorned with every real charm, with which his fondeft imagination had ever decked her. He contemplated her features, and his recoil ecu ion, " for Ah ! how vail a memory has love," traced back with joy inexpreffible, the traits which excited his youthful admi- ration ! She was, it pofllble, more lovely than ever. Time had matured the beauty of her form, and the various fenfations which agitated her mind at this moment, gave the moil interefting expreffion to her counte- nance. She turned away, and en- deavoured to conceal a tear of joy, which the light of Frederic, and the growing regard of her father for the object FREDERIC LATIMER. 79 object of her earlieft affections, in- voluntarily drew from her. Finding: it impoffible to compofe her agitated fpirits, (he pretended to have for- gotten fome buiincfs of importance, and apologizing, with ill-difTembled eafe, to Latimer, retired into the ad- joining room. She was no fooner gone than the Duke of Annan, who loved her to diffraction, began to expatiate on his favourite tub jeer, the virtues of his daughter. " Oh, Sir," laid he, " you know not half the " good vou have done. In faving: " my child you have preferved the <; moll amiable, the mod innocent " of her fex. No lang-uage can do "juftice to her merits. Generous, * humane, candid, affectionate; [he "is SO FREDERIC LATIMER. " is the fincereft friend, the moft " obedient daughter. You witneffed " lad night her unexampled attach- " ment, when with filial piety car- " ried to excefs, me would perith 44 rather than abandon her helplefs " father. Such, Sir, has always been " her conduct, during the five rears " c I have been blefh with her ibciety, " (alas, no longer have I known that " happinefs!) Tormented with the " ; complaint under which Inowiuffer, " I have repeatedly for months to- " gether, been a victim to its excru- 4C dating pain. Her kind attention, " her foftering care, her unremitting: Jth thoughts were agony. In both the confulered hcriUf the caufe of his uneailnefi. Thefc fentiments rendered her more particularly at- tentive 108 FREDERIC LATIMER, tentive than (he had ever yet ven- tured to be to Frederic. He on his fide, though he tried to be referved, was too much elevated by her marked kindnefs to preferve the prudent coldnefs on which he had refolved. In her fmiies he foon forgot the obftacles to his happi- nefs, and thinking of nothing but his prefent joy, his face once again aifumed its wonted gaiety. They were fitting down to dinner, when a carnage drove up to the door of the hotel, and in a few minutes Dare- well and Mrs. Murray (now Duchefa of Annan) ruined into the room. The former, aftonifhed at finding his beloved pupil thus unexpectedly with his family, exprefl'ed with his TRF. DERIC LATIMER. IO9 ufual warmth his pleaiure and his furprize ; the latter was for fome time too much occupied with the joy of beholding her hufband and her child, who had been fo nearly matched from her for ever, to fee or think of any one elfe. She ran from one to the other, and embracing them with the fondeft tendernefs, could fcarcely fatisfy herfelf that they were really unhurt. When fhe was at length in fome degree tranquillized, the Duke reminded her that there was another perfon in company, whom, no doubt, (lie would have equal fatisfaclion in dii- .cevering. " Permit me," continued Jic 3 " to introduce' to you, in the " cha- 1 10 FREDERIC LATIMER, ,J " character of our preferver, your " old friend Frederic Latimer." The Duchefs could fcarcely be- lieve that what (he heard was real. "She looked with anxious recol- lection at the features of Frederic, and foon perceived that fhe was not miftaken. She flew into his arms, and overcome by the various feel- ings of the moment, could only fay " Is it reallv to vou I owe mv child, " my hufband ?" and in flan try fainted. When fhe came to herfelf, no words can defcribe her happinefs. She was furrounded by all that fhe loved on earth, and fhe law before her and recognized as the author of that happinefs, the youth whom flie had educated, whom fhe had ever ConfU TREDERIC LATIMER. Ill -confidered as her fon, who had Co long been abfent from her, and of whofe perilous fituation in the Weft Indies, fhe had heard with trem- bling apprehenfion. It will be need- lefs to attempt a delineation of the fcene which followed. The feeling heart will eaiily fupply it ; the cold one can not conceive, what it never can experience. The next morning Darewell called on Frederic ; and after repeating his gratitude, and that of all his family, told him he came to difcharge a com million of fome delicacy from the Duke his brother. " You know, " Latimer," faid the good man, " that on the marriage of your 1110- 4t ther with her fecond hulband, half " your tie FREDERIC LATIMER. " your late grandfather's fortune was " paid down as a marriage portion " to the Duke of Annan. The " greater part of that fum has de- " volved by his death on his repre- " Tentative, our venerable friend ; " and he feels it a dutv, which he "is not eafy till he has fulfilled, " to pay it over to you, the proper " heir of the perfon from whom it " came." Frederic interrupted his guardian.: "Good God, Sir," cried he, " what claim can I poffibly have " on a fum paid at my mother's " marriage with the late Duke, and " for which ample fettlements were '*' made, fecured on the eilates now " belonging to his brother. " Be '" patient," faid Mr. Darewell, " and " I wilJ FREDERIC LATIMER. 113 (l I will fully explain myfelf. The w Duke of Annan thinks, and in " my opinion thinks rightly, that " Mr. Alderman Browning's fortune <( ought to have been fecured to your " father, though, by his miftaken " liberality, it was left in the power " of your mother. If (lie had not ' ' married again, you probably would " have been heir to all vour grand - " father's riches. By the hard and *' iniquitous bargain made by the " late Duke, half was paid down to " him as the portion of your mother, *' and the remainder fettled on the " Duchefs for her own ufe at the " death of her father ; in confe- *' quence of which the jointure iffu- " nig out of the eftates of Annan vol. in. i " was 114 FREDERIC LATIMER. " was infinitely fmaller than it other- " wife would have been ; and of " courfe my brother, who inherits " thofe eflates, is fo much the richer. " He therefore confiders himfelf in- " debted to you exactly in the fum. " he has received, and infills on your " receiving it back, not as a fa- " vour, but as that to which you " are ftrictly entitled." Frederic, furprized at the gene- rous offer of the Duke, and {till more fo at the urgency with which Mr. Darewell entreated him to accept it, was, however, not unprepared to act as became his character. He pofitively declined all idea of ac- ceding to his Grace's propofal ; and with a refolute tone allured his be- loved FREDERIC LATIMER. H5 loved guardian that every argument was in vain. Mr. Darewell ftill at- tempted to perfevere ; he reminded him that what the Duke now offer- ed he was fully entitled to receive ; and that far from iubjecting himfelf to an obligation, he would confer one by the acceptance. " I entreat " you, Frederic," added he, with his ufual friendship, " to throw 44 aiide fo abfurd, lb romantic an " excefs of pride. You are offered *' an affluent fortune, to which you " have an equitable, if not a legal " claim i and the perfon who re- " quefts you to receive it is one " who owes not only his own life to " your exertions, but likewiie that " of his child. Remember too, that I 2 " vou Il6 FREDERIC LATIMER. " you lofe the only opportunity " which may ever be afforded you " of obtaining a comfortable, incle- " pendent fituation. I am forry to " tell you, that in the ihort time I " have paiTed in London, I have al- " ready learnt, that your mother has " formed another attachment, and " is about to throw herfeif away on * 4 that worthlefs fellow Dam ; whofe " fine figure, infinuating manner, " and confummate art, fhe has not " been able to withftand. You have " therefore no chance from that " quarter; and I fear, if you reject " the prefent proportion, your cir- " cumltances can never be im- " proved." " Oh talk not thus to " me, my dear Sir," replied Fre- deric, FREDERIC LATIMER. 117 deric, " you know on principles I " am not to be fhaken by pecuniary " reafons. I am fure you do not " think I (liould do wrong in agree - " ing to the Duke's munificent ot- " fer, or you would not recommend " it ; but on this fubject I muft be " guided by my own judgment. It *' is a queftion of feeling ; and you * muft forgive me when I allure you, " that no perfon on earth can (hake " my refolution in refufing a pro- " pofal, the generality of which I " never (hall forget. The accept- " ance, in my mind, would have " been alike derogatory to my cha- " racier, unhandfome to the Duke, " and unjuft to his daughter." " Well, Frederic," rejoined Mr. 1 3 Darcwell, Il8 FREDERIC LATIMER. Darewell, " your laft remark has " fuggefted a mode of fettling our " little difference, which I hope will " not be difagreeable : you once " profefled an attachment to my " niece. She remains unmarried, " and feems not to diflike you. If " Lady Ann Routley has not entirely " driven her from your thoughts, " perhaps you may ftill be inclined " to offer her your hand. I think I " could engage for my filter and her " worthy hufoand that they will not " oppofe your (uccefs. God knows, " when Mrs. Murray and I tore you " from each other at Dawlifh, our " only motive was your mutual hap- " pinefs. You had then not the " means of exiftence. A large fum 8 " is FREDERIC LATIMER. H9 " is now offered you, which, though " you may rejecl: alone, you cer- " tainly will not refufe as the for- " tune of Charlotte." Frederic was confufed ; he knew not what to anfwer; at length, re- covering the ufe of fpeech, he af- fured Mr. Darewell, that though he felt the moft ardent affection for his niece ; and that he fhould make himfelf the moft miferable man alive in (eparating himfelf from the iirfl, the only object of his lading attachment, yet he was determined to do fo. " The very reafon," added he, " my dear Sir, which you urge " for my encouraging this early " paflion of my heart, is the one " which determines me to relin- 14 " qui ill 120 FREDERIC LATIMER. " quifh it for ever. If Lady Char- " lotte Maclean were {till the limplc " Mifs Murray, with nothing but " her virtues for her dower, and I " the emperor of the world, I fliould " think myfelf honoured in being " allowed to declare myfelf her lover: " but far different is our prefent fitu- *' ation ; the is now the affluent " daughter of a noble Duke ; (he " is entitled to expect the higheft " rank and riches in the country. " Does it become me, a poor lu- " baltern in the army, with fcarcely " any thing but my pay, an putcalt " from my family, to afpire at calling " her mine ? No, Sir, I will not at- " tempt to cloud the bright profpect " which mines before her. I will not " purchafe FREDERIC LATIMER. 121 " purchafe the happinefs, the inexr- " preffible happinefs, of being the <; hufband of Charlotte, at the price " of dishonour. My refolution is " taken. I will again exchange into " the line ; and flying once more to " the defolating fcenes of the Weft " Indies, end my miferable days, if " not in tranquillity, at lead with " reputation." Darewell, whilft he admired the magnanimity of his adopted fon, tried every argument to diffuade him from fo ram a refolution, and to induce him to confider, at leaft, the hint he had thrown out. " You " are," faid Darewell, " the moft t; extraordinary young man alive, " When it was madnefs to think of " marrying T22 FREDERIC LATIMER. " marrying my niece, force onlypre- " vented your doing To. Now, when " every circumftance feems to ren- " der fuch an union defirable, it is " impoffible to' make you even liften " to the propofal." But neither rail- lery nor argument had any weight with Frederic, and Mr. Dare well left his beloved pupil without having made any impreflion on his mind. Though he fincerely regretted his miftaken generality, he could not help in his heart commending the noble, the difinterefted principle on which he acled. FREDERIC LATIMER. I2J. CHAP. XXVI. When Mr. Darewell repeated the converfation which had paffed be- tween him and Frederic, the Duke and Duchefs of Annan were equally- grieved and furprized at the felf- iorbearance of Latimer. They all agreed in ardently wifhing to over- come his amiable fcruples, and to fee Charlotte united to a man who by this very act proved himfelf &> truly worthy of her choice. They concealed from her their defign, but they determined, by all poflible means, to encourage an union every way calculated to promote the hap- pinefs 124 FREDERIC LATIMER. pinefs of the two beings in whofe fate they felt raoft deeply interefted. Frederic, in the mean while, feel- ing the fad neceility of tearing him- felf from the fight of her he adored, had declined two or three preffing invitations from the Duke of An- nan, and had actually entered into a negotiation for exchanging into a re- giment quartered in St. Domingo, when he received another meffage begging him to dine with his friends the next day, previously to their re- moval from the hotel, which was to take place the fubfequent morning ; his Grace having hired a houfe in the neighbourhood, to which he was now fufficiently recovered to be con- veved. Frederic FREDERIC LATIMER. 125 Frederic doubted whether he ought to accept this invitation ; yet, as he was determined to com- pleat the exchange, and to &t fail in a ihort time for a diflant coun- try, he thought he might venture once again to indulge himfelf with the light of Charlotte. He was received by the Duke and Duchefs with the fame cordial warmth as ufual, but he could not help being hurt at the cold and dis- tant manner of their daughter. In fact (lie conceived herfelf neglected by his abfence, and unacquainted with his honourable motives, at- tributed his conduct to change of .opinion, to ficklenefs of character., or fume new attachment. Her warm heart 126 FREDERIC LATIMER. heart had been agonized with thefe thoughts for fome days, and her feelings were marked on her counte- nance. She returned his enquiries after her health with evident forma- lity, but Frederic diftra&ed at the appearance of illnefs, which he per- ceived in her altered looks, enquired again with lb much intereft, that fhe foon forgot her anger, found ex- cufes for his behaviour, and again welcomed him to himfelf by her fmiles. The dinner pafl as it ever did in their fociety, with convivia- lity and good humour. They were fitting round the fire in the evening, the Duchefs prefiding at the tea table, Charlotte playing the harp, on which ihe was a proficient, Fre- .deric FREDERIC LATIMER. I27 deric liftening with fond admiration, the Duke reading a news-paper which had juft been brought in, and Darewell contemplating with inward joy, the happy little circle which he beheld around him, when the noife of a piftol-ftiot fuddenly alarmed them. The bell was rung, and a waiter, after fome delay, ran into the room in great apparent agitation. " For Heaven's fake," laid Mr. Darewell, " what is the matter ? " Whence came that report?" " Oh " Sir," replied the man, trembling as he fpoke "the poor young gentle- " man who came here laft night" Frederic fufpecled from this begin- ning that he was about to relate fomething horrid, and fearful left his 1-28 FREDERIC LATIMER." his Charlotte (hould be affected by the recital, fprang from his feat, and forcing the waiter out of the door, prevented the conclufion of his fpeech. He then enquired again, and was again informed "that the " poor young gentlemen who came " in laft night, had juft (hot himfelf, " in an adjoining room." Darewell had followed Frederic, and they haftened .together to the apartment pointed cut, where a crowd was al- ready collected. They there beheld the figure of an elegant young man extended on the floor., but his fea- tures-were lb disfigured, that it was irnpoffible to difcover a remaining trace. Near him lay the piftol with which he had perpetrated the fatal act FREDERIC LATIMER. I2'9 a&, and another charged and primed feemed ready to have perfected his defign, if.he had failed in the firft attempt. They were too much agi- tated at the fight to know for fome time what ousht to be done. It at O lait occurred to Mr. Darewell, that fome letter might be found in the pocket of the unfortunate young man which might* difclofe who he was; for the waiters were unacquainted with his name, and had never icgii him before the preceding night, when he arrived in a chaife from the country. Darewell firfl looked in the pocket of his waiftcoat, and- there perceived a flip of paper' on which, was writ- ten vol, in. k "A fatal 130 FREDERIC LATIMER. " A fatal paffion for play has been " my ruin ; I loft ten thoufand " pounds to Mr. Daih. I flew " down to York (hi re j my father " would not difcharge my debt ; I re- " turned; tried in vain to procure " the money in London ; it was not " to be had. My honour is pledg- " ed for the payment to-morrow. " Driven to defpair, I have deter- " mined to end my days at once. " Whoever you are who open this " paper, cenfure not my conduct, " unlefs you have known agonies " like mine. Oh ! my father ! when " you hear of my death, you will " perhaps regret when too late the " unfortunate u A-iNCOUFT." Mr, FREDERIC LATIMER. 131 Mr. Dareweli read the fignature three times before he would allow himfclf to believe that indeed it was that of Lord Agincourt, Frederic's coufin, the only remaining fon of his former pupil the Earl of Creffey. He flattered himfelf at firft that he was miftaken, but on examining his other pockets he was fatally convinced of the truth. Amono-ffc other papers he found a letter to him; from Dam, of which the following is a copy. " My dear Lord/' " I am forry to appear trou- " blefome, cr to put you to any dif- " trefs ; but I am io circumflanced " that I cannot poffiblydiipenfe with " the payment of the 10.000. due >; 2 *' to J32 FREDERIC LATIMER. " to me from you beyond Tuefday " next. To account for my being " fo preffing, I will not conceal from " you that I am about to be mar- " ried to the beautiful Duchefs of '* Annan ; and that the fum in quei- * c tion is wanteu for the neceffary " preparations. " Having faid this, and having " added that the match muft be put " off, if I am difappointed in receiving " the money, I (hall depend on your " punctuality. "Your's very truly ... . (figned) H. Dash.' Add relied to v w J "LordAgincourt." This letter feemed to have cc~ cafioned the promife, the non- per- formance -FREDERIC LATIMER. I33 formance of which had induced this rafh young nobleman to put an end to hisexiftence. Darewell took care to fecure thefe papers, and having long been connected with the family of the deceafed, he felt it his duty, how- ever painful, to communicate the fad intelligence to Lord CrcfTey. Fre- deric knew but little of his coufin, who had been principally educated in York (hire, had then pad fome years abroad, and was but lately re- turned to England, during the ab- fenfe of the former in the Weft In- dies ; yet was he deeply afflicted with his untimely fate. He recollected his own fenfations at the lots of a comparatively fmall fum of money, and whililhe felt the molt lively gvati- ic 2 tiule 134 FREDERIC LATIMER. tude to Mr. Dennifon, who had on that occafion taught him the duties of fortitude, he pitied more than blamed his unfortunate relation. The advantages he was peribnally to derive from this dreadful accident, his gene- rous heart never allowed him to con- fider -, and he lamented with fincere grief, an event which made him heir to an Englifh earldom and fifteen thoufand a year. When he was fuf- nciently recovered to ftifle the ap- pearance of foirow, he returned to the apartment of the Duke, and fa- tisfied the anxious apprehensions of Charlotte, by pretending that a piftol had gone off .by accident, and that the waiters had in their alarm, fup- pofed a gentleman had been (hot. But thou eh T RED ERIC LAflMER. I35 though he thus difTembled the truth for a few moments, his candid mind was incapable of carrying on the de- ceit, and pretending a particular en- gagement, he took his leave. He went immediately to Mr. Darewell, whom he found occupied in the me- lancholy ta/k of communicating the fatal intelligence to Lord Creffey. "" My only confolation," faid Dare- well, as he entered the room, " at this " fad event, is, that you will fucceed iC to the fortune and honours of your '