changed to Beauchamp, his mother's family name. As an inducement for
him to gratify her pride in this thing, Mrs. Linden had promised
William, that, on the very day that the legislature granted the
petition, she should transfer to him the whole amount of her
property, with the exception of about twenty thousand dollars.
Subsequently, Charles learned that the name of his brother had been
changed; that the marriage had taken place; and that his mother had
relinquished all her property, with a small reservation, into the
hands of her son. All this took place within three years after his
marriage.

The next intelligence was of an attempt being made to force
Florence, his sister, into a marriage most repugnant to her
feelings. This aroused his indignation afresh. He wrote to her
strongly, and conjured her by every high and holy consideration not
to permit the sacrifice to take place. Florence possessed too much
of the same spirit that he did to yield tamely in a matter like
this. His frequent letters strengthened her to resist all the
attempts of her mother and brother to induce her to yield to their
mercenary wishes. Finding that she was firm, a system of
persecution, in the hope of forcing her to an assent, was commenced
against her. As soon as Charles learned this, he went immediately to
P--, and saw Florence at the home of a mutual friend. He had
little difficulty in persuading her to return home with him. Neither
her mother nor William showed her any real affection, and they were
both plotting against her happiness for life. On the other hand,
there had always been between her and Charles a deep attachment. She
not only loved him, but confided in him. She had never seen his
wife; but Charles had written so much about her, and Ellen's letters
had pictured a mind so gentle, so good, that Florence loved her only