-Breakfasts next morning

LETTER V. Belford, to Lovelace.-
with the lady and Mr. Hickman. His advantageous opinion
of that gentleman. Censures the conceited pride and narrow-
mindedness of rakes and libertines. Tender and affecting
parting between Mr. Hickman and the lady. Observations
in praise of intellectual friendship
..... 18-24
LETTER VI. Miss Howe, to Clarissa.-Has no notion of cold-
ness in friendship. Is not a daughter of those whom she so
freely treats. Delays giving the desired negative to the soli-
citation of the ladies of Lovelace's family; and why. Has
been exceedingly fluttered by the appearance of Lovelace at
the ball given by Colonel Ambrose. What passed on that
occasion. Her mother and all the ladies of their select ac-
quaintance of opinion that she should accept of him......24-38
LETTER VII. Clarissa. In answer.-Chides her for suspend-
ing the decisive negative. Were she sure she should live
many years, she would not have Mr. Lovelace. Censures of
the world to be but of second regard with any body. Method
as to devotion and exercise she was in when so cruelly
arrested
..... 38-43
LETTER VIII. Clarissa, to Miss Howe.-Designed to be com-
municated to Mr. Lovelace's relations
LETTER IX. X. Lovelace, to Belford.-Two letters entirely
characteristic yet intermingled with lessons and observations
not unworthy of a better character. He has great hopes from
Miss Howe's mediation in his favour. Picture of two rakes
turned Hermits, in their penitentials

43-44

44-64
LETTER XI. Miss Howe, to Clarissa. She now greatly ap-
proves of her rejection of Lovelace. Admires the noble ex-
ample she has given her sex of a passion conquered. Is sorry
she wrote to Arabella: but cannot imitate her in her self-ac-
cusations, and acquittals of others who are all in fault. Her
notions of a husband's prerogative. Hopes she is employing
herself in penning down the particulars of her tragical story.
Uses to be made of it to the advantage of her sex. Her mo-
ther earnest about it .............
••••••64 --69
LETTER XII. Miss Howe, to Misses Montague.-With Cla-
rissa's letter, No. XCI. of Vol. VI. Her own sentiments of

....

.....

PAGE

....

the villanous treatment her beloved friend has met with from

their kinsman. Prays for vengeance upon him, if she do not

recover ....

....70-72

.....

.84-86

LETTER XIII. Mrs. Norton, to Clarissa.―Acquaints her with

some of their movements at Harlowe-place. Almost wishes

she would marry the wicked man; and why. Useful reflec

tions on what has befallen a young lady so universally be-

loved. Must try to move her mother in her favour. But by

what means, will not tell her, unless she succeed
....... 72-74

LETTER XIV. Mrs. Norton, to Mrs. Harlowe..

75-76

LETTER XV. Mrs. Harlowe's affecting answer ・ ・ ・ ・

.76-81

LETTER XVI. Clarissa, to Mrs. Norton.-Earnestly begs, for

reasons equally generous and dutiful, that she may be left to

her own way of working with her relations. Has received

her sister's answer to her letter, No. XCV. of Vol. VI. She

tries to find an excuse for the severity of it, though greatly

affected by it. Other affecting and dutiful reflections....82-84

LETTER XVII. Her sister's cruel letter, mentioned in the pre-

ceding

LETTER XVIII. Clarissa, to Miss Howe.-Is pleased that she

now at last approves of her rejecting Lovelace. Desires her

to be comforted as to her. Promises that she will not run

away from life. Hopes she has already got above the shock

given her by the ill treatment she has met with from Love-

lace. Has had an escape, rather than a loss. Impossible,

were it not for the outrage, that she could have been happy

with him; and why. Sets in the most affecting, the most

dutiful and generous lights, the grief of her father, mother,

and other relations, on her account. Has begun the parti-

culars of her tragical story; but would fain avoid proceeding

with it; and why. Opens her design to make Mr. Belford

her executor, and gives her reasons for it. Her father having

withdrawn his malediction, she has now only a last blessing to

supplicate for

.....86-95

LETTER XIX. Clarissa, to her sister.—Beseeching her, in the

most humble and earnest manner, to procure her a last bless-

ing
........ 95-97

LETTER XX. Mrs. Norton, to Clarissa.—Mr. Brand to be
sent up to inquire after her way of life and health. His pe-

...

......

PAGE

dantic character. Believes they will withhold any favour

till they hear his report. Doubts not that matters will soon

take a happy turn

...... 97-100

LETTER XXI. Clarissa. In answer.-The grace she asks for

is only a blessing to die with, not to live with. Their favour,

if they design her any, may come too late. Doubts her mo-

ther can do nothing for her of herself. A strong confederacy

against a poor girl, their daughter, sister, niece. Her brother

perhaps got it renewed before he went to Edinburgh. He

needed not, says she; his work is done, and more than

done...

........••••

100-102

LETTER XXII. Lovelace, to Belford.-Is mortified at receiving

the letters of rejection. Charlotte writes to the lady in his

favour, in the name of all the family. Every body approves

of what she has written; and he has great hopes from it 103-106

LETTER XXIII. Copy of Miss Montague's letter to Clarissa.-

••••••107-108

Beseeching her, in the names of all their noble family, to re-

ceive Lovelace to favour

LETTER XXIV...Belford, to Lovelace.-Proposes to put Bel-

ton's sister into possession of Belton's house for him. The

lady visibly altered for the worse. Again insists upon his

promise not to molest her

...... . 108-109

LETTER XXV. Clarissa, to Miss Montague.—In answer to

her's, No. XXIII.

....... 109-110

LETTER XXVI. Belford, to Lovelace.-Has just now received

a letter from the lady, which he encloses, requesting extracts

from the letters written to him by Mr. Lovelace within a par-

ticular period. The reasons which determine him to oblige

her....

· · · · · · · 111-113

LETTER XXVII. Belford, to Clarissa.-With the requested
extracts; and a plea in his friend's favour
..114-115

LETTER XXVIII. Clarissa, to Belford.-Thanks him for his

communications. Requests that he will be her executor;

and gives her reasons for her choice of him for that solemn

office

....116-119

LETTER XXIX. Belford, to Clarissa.-His cheerful accept-

-ance of the trust..

#

....

.......

....

...

PAGE

•119-120

LETTER XXX. Belford, to Lovelace.-Brief account of the

extracts delivered in to the lady. Tells him of her appoint-

....

ing him her excutor. The melancholy pleasure he shall have

in the perusal of her papers. Much more lively and affecting,

says he, must be the style of those who write in the height of

a present distress than the dry, narrative, unanimated style

of a person relating difficulties surmounted, can be .... • 120-123

LETTER XXXI. Arabella, to Clarissa.-In answer to her

letter, No. XIX., requesting a last blessing ............................ ..124-125

LETTER XXXII. Clarissa, to her mother.-Written in the fer-
vour of her spirit, yet with the deepest humility, and on her
knees, imploring her blessing, and her father's, as what will
sprinkle comfort through her last hours
125-127

LETTER XXXIII. Miss Montague, to Clarissa. In reply to

her's, No. XXV.-All their family love and admire her.

Their kinsman has not one friend among them. Beseech her

to oblige them with the acceptance of an annuity, and the

first payment now sent her, at least till she can be put in

possession of her own estate. This letter signed by Lord M.

Lady Sarah, Lady Betty, and her sister and self •127-129

LETTER XXXIV. Lovelace, to Belford.-Raves against the

lady for rejecting him; yet adores her the more for it. Has

one half of the house to himself, and that the best; having

forbidden Lord M. and the ladies to see him, in return for

their forbidding him to see them. Incensed against Belford

for the extracts he has promised from his letters. Is piqued

to death at her proud refusal of him. Curses the vile women,

and their potions. But for these latter, the majesty of her

virtue, he says, would have saved her, as it did once be

fore

LETTER XXXV. From the same. He shall not, he tells him,
be her executor. Nobody shall be any to her but himself.
What a reprobation of a man, who was once so dear to her!
Farther instances of his raving impatience
134-135
LETTER XXVI. Lovelace, to Clarissa.-A letter full of pe-
nitence, promises, praises, and admiration of her virtue. Has
no hopes of escaping from perdition but by her precepts and
example. All he begs for the present is a few lines to en-
courage him to hope for forgiveness, if he can justify his vows
by his future conduct..
135-137
LETTER XXXVII. Clarissa, to Lord M. and the ladies of the

129-134

......

......

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PAGE

.....

house. Thankfully declines accepting of their offered
bounty. Pleads for their being reconciled to their kinsman,
for reasons respecting her own peace. Hopes that they may
be enabled to rejoice in the effects of his reformation many
years after she is laid low and forgotten.....
138-139
LETTER XXXVIII. Belford, to Lovelace.-Brief account of
his expelling Thomasine, her sons, and her gallant. Farther
reflections on keeping. A state not calculated for a sick bed.
Gives a short journal of what had passed relating to the lady
since his last. Mr. Brand inquires after her character and
behaviour of Mrs. Smith. His starchedness, conceit, and
pedantry

LETTER XXXIX.

139--148

From the same.-Farther particulars re-

lating to the lady. Power left her by her grandfather's

will

...... 148-149

LETTER XL. Clarissa, to Lovelace.-In answer to his letter,

No. XXXVI...

149-150

LETTER XLI. Her uncle Harlowe's cruel letter, in answer

to her's to her mother, No. XXXII. Meditation stitched to

it with black silk.

LETTER XLII. Clarissa, to her uncle Harlowe. In reply. · 152—153

LETTER XLIII. Miss Howe, from the Isle of Wight. In an-

..150-152

.....

swer to her's, No. XVIII. Approves not of her choice of Bel-

ford for her executor; yet thinks she cannot appoint for that

office any of her own family. Hopes she will live many

years

LETTER XLIV. Clarissa, to Miss Howe.-Sends her a large
packet of letters; but (for her relations' sake) not all she has
received. Must now abide by the choice of Mr. Belford for
executor; but farther refers to the papers she sends her, for
her justification on this head.
•155-157
LETTER XLV. Antony Harlowe, to Clarissa.-A letter more
taunting and reproachful than that of her other uncle. To
what owing....
157-159

LETTER XLVI. Clarissa. In answer.-Wishes that the cir-

cumstances of her case had been inquired into. Concludes

with a solemn and pathetic prayer for the happiness of the

whole family

160-162

LETTER XLVII. Mrs. Norton, to Clarissa.-Her friends,

......

.....

.......

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......

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154