Grandison, the example of a man acting uniformly well through
a variety of trying scenes, because all his actions are
regulated by one steady principle--a man of religion and
virtue, of liveliness and spirit, accomplished and agreeable,
happy in himself and a blessing to others." Such a portrait of
"a man of true honour" provoked the highest enthusiasm in the
eighteenth century; but to-day we have little patience for the
faultless diction and exemplary conduct of Sir Charles, and,
of the two, Miss Byron, the heroine, is by far the more
interesting. The "advertisement" to the edition of 1818
proclaimed the book "the most perfect work of its kind that
ever appeared in this or any other language," and we may
accept that verdict without admiring "the kind."


_I.--Miss Lucy Selby to Her Cousin, Miss Harriet Byron_


_Ashby-Cannons, January 10._ Your resolution to accompany your cousin,
Mrs. Reeves, to London, has greatly alarmed your three lovers, and two
of them, at least, will let you know that it has. Such a lovely girl as
my Harriet must expect to be more accountable for her steps than one
less excellent and less attractive.

Mr. Greville, in his usual resolute way, threatens to follow you to
London; and there, he says, he will watch the motions of every man who
approaches you; and, if he finds reason for it, will _early_ let such
man know _his_ pretensions, and the danger he may run into if he pretend
to be his competitor. But let me not do him injustice; though he talks
of a rival thus harshly, he speaks of you more highly than man ever