tempt for money carries me far enough, to suppose it would be proper for any one to marry without a sufficiency of it. I shall be glad, too, to get rid of the burden of attending to the details of business I do not well understand. I have more property now, than I know what to do with, with my simple habits and tastes: you, dear friend, must help me to spend it more worthily. I have not patience, however, with Henry, who knew you, not making— even allowing for his prejudices-an exception in your behalf."

Agnes wrote to her brother immediately, and pleaded my cause most eloquently; her devoted affection gave energy to her pen. I have a copy of that most flattering letter; but I forbear to copy it, as it is full of the favourable view she took of my character. She had never loved before-after our marriage, she confessed this to me-her first union had been made in obedience to her father's wish, and when she was very young. Mr. Alison could not appreciate his wife-he was a cold man of the world-he did not treat her positively ill, but, after a short time, with great neglect and indifference: she tried in vain to win his affections, but he had none to give; he lived wholly and solely for him

self, and supposed every one else did the same.—He took her to London, and introduced her to fashionable society, though not of the most intellectual kind. In such an ungenial soil she soon pined, and was glad to return to their seat in Devonshire, where she employed her time chiefly in attending to the early education of her young brother. Some short time before Mr. Alison's death, he became connected with some of the tin-mines in Cornwall, and purchased the estate on which Agnes now lived. After she became a widow, she wholly resided here, and lived a very secluded life; very few of the surrounding gentry being such as she wished to be on intimate terms with.

I wrote myself to Mr. Allein; and said but little else, than that I wished he would come to Cornwall before our marriage took place, to influence Agnes about the settlements. She, with a true woman's generosity, would not hear of the property being settled on herself. I appealed to her brother accordingly-he wrote to her again, saying that he felt he had no right to dictate to her-that he hoped her present determination would be for her ultimate happiness; but that she would be acting

the part of a child, not to have proper settlements made. At length she consented to have half of her fine property left in her own power-more she would by no means hear of.

As soon as this was arranged, I wrote to my revered friend, Mr. Wesley, to tell him of my bright prospects; and to invite him, at Agnes' request, to be present at our wedding. He wrote me back one of his characteristic letters, only rather more admonitory than usual-he bade me beware of the snares of my present situation, to pray more than ever for humility, and not to expect too much from my wife to prepare likewise for matrimonial discomforts. This was after his own calamitous marriage, and at the very time his extraordinary, if not insane wife, was, in such a painful manner, putting his patience and Christianity to the proof: therefore I wondered not at his premonitory tone; though I smiled, in happy confidence, that in my case there would be not the slightest need of such kind of warnings. He said also that it would be out of his power so to time his visit to Cornwall, as to be present at our wedding; but that he intended visiting us when he next came to the neighbourhood.

CHAPTER XII.

"A blooming lady-a conspicuous flower,
Admired for beauty, for her sweetness praised;

Whom he had sensibility to love,

Ambition to attempt, and skill to win."

"How full their joy,

How free their love! nor did that love decay,

Nor joy abate!"

WORDSWORTH.

THE day at length dawned, that was to crown my

Agnes and I became one, in

cup of earthly bliss. mind, body, and estate.

Never was there a more principle, and pursuits.

perfect union of heart, The delirious joy I should otherwise have felt at this consummation of my happiness, was chastened down by the tranquillizing influence of religious feeling. I loved Agnes with a sort of holy love. I looked up to the Fountain of all love, for His favour and blessing on this new relation, and tried to regulate my affection for her, in subservience to

His higher claims. At this period my devotional feelings were warmer, and more entire, than they had been for some while previously. The tumults and agitations of courtship had settled down into the calm certainty of "waking bliss." The Being I would have chosen beyond all other femaleshad the choice being given me—was mine, irrevocably mine! The holy calm of matrimony soon diffused itself over my spirit. I almost wondered at my own tranquillity. The happiness I now felt, was something different to any other kind I had ever experienced-it was a sense of deep peace-of unruffled repose-of undoubting confidenceof fulfilled hope: and yet, there was no stagnation, no satiety; for hope still plumed her wing heavenward; imagination yet exercised herself on unseen and future revelations; and there was ever at hand one "fair spirit," one mild, yet energetic participator in all these high and noble excursions of the spirit. I saw and felt, (how deeply did I feel!) the wisdom, beauty, and purity of God's ordinance of marriage.

We both set out with a determination to do as much active good as we conceived was our duty to