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Clarissa, Volume 7 by Samuel Richardson

S >> Samuel Richardson >> Clarissa, Volume 7



CLARISSA HARLOWE

or the

HISTORY OF A YOUNG LADY

Nine Volumes
Volume VII.



CONTENTS OF VOLUME VII


LETTER I. Miss Howe to Clarissa.--
Beseeches her to take comfort, and not despair. Is dreadfully
apprehensive of her own safety from Mr. Lovelace. An instruction to
mothers.

LETTER II. Clarissa To Miss Howe.--
Averse as she is to appear in a court of justice against Lovelace, she
will consent to prosecute him, rather than Miss Howe shall live in
terror. Hopes she shall not despair: but doubts not, from so many
concurrent circumstances, that the blow is given.

LETTER III. IV. Lovelace to Belford.--
Has no subject worth writing upon now he has lost his Clarissa. Half in
jest, half in earnest, [as usual with him when vexed or disappointed,] he
deplores the loss of her.--Humourous account of Lord M., of himself, and
of his two cousins Montague. His Clarissa has made him eyeless and
senseless to every other beauty.

LETTER V. VI. VII. VIII. From the same.--
Lady Sarah Sadleir and Lady Betty Lawrance arrive, and engage Lord M. and
his two cousins Montague against him, on account of his treatment of the
lady. His trial, as he calls it. After many altercations, they obtain
his consent that his two cousins should endeavour to engage Miss Howe to
prevail upon Clarissa to accept of him, on his unfeigned repentance. It
is some pleasure to him, he however rakishly reflects, to observe how
placable the ladies of his family would have been, had they met with a
Lovelace. MARRIAGE, says he, with these women, is an atonement for the
worst we can do to them; a true dramatic recompense. He makes several
other whimsical, but characteristic observations, some of which may serve
as cautions and warnings to the sex.

LETTER IX. Miss Howe to Clarissa.--
Has had a visit from the two Miss Montague's. Their errand. Advises her
to marry Lovelace. Reasons for her advice.

LETTER X. Miss Howe to Clarissa.--
Chides her with friendly impatience for not answering her letter.
Re-urges her to marry Lovelace, and instantly to put herself under Lady
Betty's protection.

LETTER XI. Miss Howe to Miss Montague.--
In a phrensy of her soul, writes to her to demand news of her beloved
friend, spirited away, as she apprehends, by the base arts of the
blackest of men.

LETTER XII. Lovelace to Belford.--
The suffering innocent arrested and confined, by the execrable woman, in
a sham action. He curses himself, and all his plots and contrivances.
Conjures him to fly to her, and clear him of this low, this dirty
villany; to set her free without conditions; and assure her, that he will
never molest her more. Horribly execrates the diabolical women, who
thought to make themselves a merit with him by this abominable insult.

LETTER XIII. XIV. Miss Montague to Miss Howe,
with the particulars of all that has happened to the lady.--Mr. Lovelace
the most miserable of men. Reflections on libertines. She, her sister,
Lady Betty, Lady Sarah, Lord M., and Lovelace himself, all sign letters
to Miss Howe, asserting his innocence of this horrid insult, and
imploring her continued interest in his and their favour with Clarissa.

LETTER XV. Belford to Lovelace.--
Particulars of the vile arrest. Insolent visits of the wicked women to
her. Her unexampled meekness and patience. Her fortitude. He admires
it, and prefers it to the false courage of men of their class.

LETTER XVI. From the same.--
Goes to the officer's house. A description of the horrid prison-room,
and of the suffering lady on her knees in one corner of it. Her great
and moving behaviour. Breaks off, and sends away his letter, on purpose
to harass him by suspense.

LETTER XVII. Lovelace to Belford.--
Curses him for his tormenting abruption. Clarissa never suffered half
what he suffers. That sex made to bear pain. Conjures him to hasten to
him the rest of his soul-harrowing intelligence.

LETTER XVIII. Belford to Lovelace.--
His farther proceedings. The lady returns to her lodgings at Smith's.
Distinction between revenge and resentment in her character. Sends her,
from the vile women, all her apparel, as Lovelace had desired.

LETTER XIX. Belford to Lovelace.--
Rejoices to find he can feel. Will endeavour from time to time to add to
his remorse. Insists upon his promise not to molest the lady.

LETTER XX. From the same.--
Describes her lodgings, and gives a character of the people, and of the
good widow Lovick. She is so ill, that they provide her an honest nurse,
and send for Mr. Goddard, a worthy apothecary. Substance of a letter to
Miss Howe, dictated by the lady.

LETTER XXI. From the same.--
Admitted to the lady's presence. What passed on the occasion. Really
believes that she still loves him. Has a reverence, and even a holy love
for her. Astonished that Lovelace could hold his purposes against such
an angel of a woman. Condemns him for not timely exerting himself to
save her.

LETTER XXII. From the same.--
Dr. H. called in. Not having a single guinea to give him, she accepts of
three from Mrs. Lovick on a diamond ring. Her dutiful reasons for
admitting the doctor's visit. His engaging and gentlemanly behaviour.
She resolves to part with some of her richest apparel. Her reasons.

LETTER XXIII. Lovelace to Belford.--
Raves at him. For what. Rallies him, with his usual gayety, on several
passages in his letters. Reasons why Clarissa's heart cannot be broken
by what she has suffered. Passionate girls easily subdued. Sedate ones
hardly ever pardon. He has some retrograde motions: yet is in earnest to
marry Clarissa. Gravely concludes, that a person intending to marry
should never be a rake. His gay resolutions. Renews, however, his
promises not to molest her. A charming encouragement for a man of
intrigue, when a woman is known not to love her husband. Advantages
which men have over women, when disappointed in love. He knows she will
permit him to make her amends, after she has plagued him heartily.

LETTER XXIV. Miss Howe to Clarissa.--
Is shocked at receiving a letter from her written by another hand.
Tenderly consoles her, and inveighs against Lovelace. Re-urges her,
however, to marry him. Her mother absolutely of her opinion. Praises
Mr. Hickman's sister, who, with her Lord, had paid her a visit.

LETTER XXV. Clarissa to Miss Howe.--
Her condition greatly mended. In what particulars. Her mind begins to
strengthen; and she finds herself at times superior to her calamities.
In what light she wishes her to think of her. Desires her to love her
still, but with a weaning love. She is not now what she was when they
were inseparable lovers. Their views must now be different.

LETTER XXVI. Belford to Lovelace.--
A consuming malady, and a consuming mistress, as in Belton's case,
dreadful things to struggle with. Farther reflections on the life of
keeping. The poor man afraid to enter into his own house. Belford
undertakes his cause. Instinct in brutes equivalent to natural affection
in men. Story of the ancient Sarmatians, and their slaves. Reflects on
the lives of rakes, and free-livers; and how ready they are in sickness
to run away from one another. Picture of a rake on a sick bed. Will
marry and desert them all.

LETTER XXVII. From the same.--
The lady parts with some of her laces. Instances of the worthiness of
Dr. H. and Mr. Goddard. He severely reflects upon Lovelace.

LETTER XXVIII. Lovelace to Belford.--
Has an interview with Mr. Hickman. On what occasion. He endeavours to
disconcert him, by assurance and ridicule; but finds him to behave with
spirit.

LETTER XXIX. From the same.--
Rallies him on his intentional reformation. Ascribes the lady's ill
health entirely to the arrest, (in which, he says, he had no hand,) and
to her relations' cruelty. Makes light of her selling her clothes and
laces. Touches upon Belton's case. Distinguishes between companionship
and friendship. How he purposes to rid Belton of his Thomasine and her
cubs.

LETTER XXX. Belford to Lovelace.--
The lady has written to her sister, to obtain a revocation of her
father's malediction. Defends her parents. He pleads with the utmost
earnestness to her for his friend.

LETTER XXXI. From the same.--
Can hardly forbear prostration to her. Tenders himself as her banker.
Conversation on this subject. Admires her magnanimity. No wonder that a
virtue so solidly based could baffle all his arts. Other instances of
her greatness of mind. Mr. Smith and his wife invite him, and beg of her
to dine with them, it being their wedding day. Her affecting behaviour
on the occasion. She briefly, and with her usual noble simplicity,
relates to them the particulars of her life and misfortunes.

LETTER XXXII. Lovelace to Belford.--
Ridicules him on his address to the lady as her banker, and on his
aspirations and prostrations. Wants to come at letters she has written.
Puts him upon engaging Mrs. Lovick to bring this about. Weight that
proselytes have with the good people that convert them. Reasons for it.
He has hopes still of the lady's favour; and why. Never adored her so
much as now. Is about to go to a ball at Colonel Ambrose's. Who to be
there. Censures affectation and finery in the dress of men; and
particularly with a view to exalt himself, ridicules Belford on this
subject.

LETTER XXXIII. XXXIV. XXXV. XXXVI. XXXVII.
Sharp letters that pass between Miss Howe and Arabella Harlowe.

LETTER XXXVIII. Mrs. Harlowe to Mrs. Howe.--
Sent with copies of the five foregoing letters.

LETTER XXXIX. Mrs. Howe to Mrs. Harlowe. In answer.

LETTER XL. Miss Howe to Clarissa.--
Desires an answer to her former letters for her to communicate to Miss
Montague. Farther enforces her own and her mother's opinion, that she
should marry Lovelace. Is obliged by her mother to go to a ball at
Colonel Ambrose's. Fervent professions of her friendly love.

LETTER XLI. Clarissa to Miss Howe.--
Her noble reasons for refusing Lovelace. Desires her to communicate
extracts from this letter to the Ladies of his family.

LETTER XLII. From the same.--
Begs, for her sake, that she will forbear treating her relations with
freedom and asperity. Endeavours, in her usual dutiful manner, to defend
their conduct towards her. Presses her to make Mr. Hickman happy.

LETTER XLIII. Mrs. Norton to Clarissa.--
Excuses her long silence. Her family, who were intending to favour her,
incensed against her by means of Miss Howe's warm letters to her sister.

LETTER XLIV. Clarissa to Mrs. Norton.--
Is concerned that Miss Howe should write about her to her friends. Gives
her a narrative of all that has befallen her since her last. Her truly
christian frame of mind. Makes reflections worthy of herself, upon her
present situation, and upon her hopes, with regard to a happy futurity.

LETTER XLV.
Copy of Clarissa's humble letter to her sister, imploring the revocation
of her father's heavy malediction.

LETTER XLVI. Belford to Lovelace.--
Defends the lady from the perverseness he (Lovelace) imputes to her on
parting with some of her apparel. Poor Belton's miserable state both of
body and mind. Observations on the friendship of libertines. Admires
the noble simplicity, and natural ease and dignity of style, of the
sacred books. Expatiates upon the pragmatical folly of man. Those who
know least, the greatest scoffers.

LETTER XLVII. From the same.--
The lady parts with one of her best suits of clothes. Reflections upon
such purchasers as take advantage of the necessities of their
fellow-creatures. Self an odious devil. A visible alteration in the
lady for the worse. She gives him all Mr. Lovelace's letters. He
(Belford) takes this opportunity to plead for him. Mr. Hickman comes to
visit her.

LETTER XLVIII. From the same.--
Breakfasts next morning 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.

LETTER XLIX. Miss Howe to Clarissa.--
Has no notion of coldness in friendship. Is not a daughter of those whom
she so freely treats. Delays giving the desired negative to the
solicitation 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 acquaintance of opinion that she should accept of
him.

LETTER L. Clarissa. In answer.--
Chides her for suspending 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.

LETTER LI. Clarissa to Miss Howe.--
Designed to be communicated to Mr. Lovelace's relations.

LETTER LII. LIII. 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.

LETTER LIV. Miss Howe to Clarissa.--
She now greatly approves of her rejection of Lovelace. Admires the noble
example she has given her sex of a passion conquered. Is sorry she wrote
to Arabella: but cannot imitate her in her self-accusations, 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. Use to be made of it to the advantage
of her sex. Her mother earnest about it.

LETTER LV. Miss Howe to Miss Montague.--
With Clarissa's Letter, No. XLI. of this volume. Her own sentiments of
the villanous treatment her beloved friend had met with from their
kinsman. Prays for vengeance upon him, if she do not recover.

LETTER LVI. 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 reflections on
what has befallen a young lady so universally beloved. Must try to move
her mother in her favour. But by what means, will not tell her, unless
she succeed.

LETTER LVII. Mrs. Norton to Mrs. Harlowe.

LETTER LVIII. Mrs. Harlowe's affecting answer.

LETTER LIX. 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. XLV. of this volume. She tries to
find an excuse for the severity of it, though greatly affected by it.
Other affecting and dutiful reflections.

LETTER LX. Her sister's cruel letter, mentioned in the preceding.

LETTER LXI. Clarissa to Miss Howe.--
Is pleased that she now at last approved 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 Lovelace. 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. Had begun the particulars 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 now has only a last
blessing to supplicate for.

LETTER LXII. Clarissa to her sister.--
Beseeching her, in the most humble and earnest manner, to procure her a
last blessing.

LETTER LXIII. Mrs. Norton to Clarissa.--
Mr. Brand to be sent up to inquire after her way of life and health. His
pedantic character. Believes they will withhold any favour till they
hear his report. Doubts not that matters will soon take a happy turn.

LETTER LXIV. 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
mother 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.

LETTER LXV. Lovelace to Belford.--
Is mortified at receiving 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.

LETTER LXVI. Copy of Miss Montague's letter to Clarissa.--
Beseeching her, in the names of all their noble family, to receive
Lovelace to favour.

LETTER LXVII. Belford to Lovelace.--
Proposes to put Belton'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.

LETTER LXVIII. Clarissa to Miss Montague.--
In answer to her's, No. LXVI.

LETTER LXIX. Belford to Lovelace.--
Has just now received a letter from the lady, which he encloses,
requesting extracts form the letters written to him by Mr. Lovelace
within a particular period. The reasons which determine him to oblige
her.

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

LETTER LXXI. 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.

LETTER LXXII. Belford to Clarissa.--
His cheerful acceptance of the trust.

LETTER LXXIII. Belford to Lovelace.--
Brief account of the extracts delivered to the lady. Tells him of her
appointing him her executor. 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.

LETTER LXXIV. Arabella to Clarissa.--
In answer to her letter, No. LXII., requesting a last blessing.

LETTER LXXV. Clarissa to her mother.--
Written in the fervour 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.

LETTER LXXVI. Miss Montague to Clarissa.--
In reply to her's, No. LXVIII.--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.

LETTER LXXVII. 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 forbid
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 before.

LETTER LXXVIII. Lovelace to Belford.--
He shall not, he tells him, be her executor. Nobody shall be any thing
to her but himself. What a reprobation of a man, who was once so dear to
her! Farther instances of his raving impatience.

LETTER LXXIX. Lovelace to Clarissa.--
A letter full of penitence, 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 encourage him to
hope for forgiveness, if he can justify his vows by his future conduct.

LETTER LXXX. Clarissa to Lord M. and the ladies of the 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.

LETTER LXXXI. 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 LXXXII. From the same.--
Farther particulars relating to the lady. Power left her by her
grandfather's will.

LETTER LXXXIII. Clarissa to Lovelace.--
In answer to his letter, No. LXXIX.

LETTER LXXXIV. Her uncle Harlowe's cruel answer,
in answer to her's to her mother, No. LXXV. Meditation stitched to it
with black silk.

LETTER LXXXV. Clarissa to her uncle Harlowe. In reply.




THE HISTORY

OF

CLARISSA HARLOWE



LETTER I

MISS HOWE, TO MISS CLARISSA HARLOWE
WED. NIGHT, JULY 12.


I write, my dearest creature, I cannot but write, to express my concern
on your dejection. Let me beseech you, my charming excellence, let me
beseech you, not to give way to it.

Comfort yourself, on the contrary, in the triumphs of a virtue unsullied;
a will wholly faultless. Who could have withstood the trials you have
surmounted?--Your cousin Morden will soon come. He will see justice done
you, I make no doubt, as well with regard to what concerns your person as
your estate. And many happy days may you yet see; and much good may you
still do, if you will not heighten unavoidable accidents into guilty
despondency.

But why, why, my dear, this pining solicitude continued after a
reconciliation with relations as unworthy as implacable; whose wills are
governed by an all-grasping brother, who finds his account in keeping the
breach open? On this over-solicitude it is now plain to me, that the
vilest of men built all his schemes. He saw that you thirsted after it
beyond all reason for hope. The view, the hope, I own, extremely
desirable, had your family been Christians: or even had they been Pagans
who had had bowels.

I shall send this short letter [I am obliged to make it a short one] by
young Rogers, as we call him; the fellow I sent to you to Hampstead; an
innocent, though pragmatical rustic. Admit him, I pray you, into you
presence, that he may report to me how you look, and how you are.

Mr. Hickman should attend you; but I apprehend, that all his motions, and
mine own too, are watched by the execrable wretch: and indeed his are by
an agent of mine; for I own, that I am so apprehensive of his plots and
revenge, now I know that he has intercepted my vehement letters against
him, that he is the subject of my dreams, as well as of my waking fears.


***


My mother, at my earnest importunity, has just given me leave to write,
and to receive your letters--but fastened this condition upon the
concession, that your's must be under cover to Mr. Hickman, [this is a
view, I suppose, to give him consideration with me]; and upon this
further consideration, that she is to see all we write.--'When girls are
set upon a point,' she told one who told me again, 'it is better for a
mother, if possible, to make herself of their party, than to oppose them;
since there will be then hopes that she will still hold the reins in her
own hands.'

Pray let me know what the people are with whom you lodge?--Shall I send
Mrs. Townsend to direct you to lodgings either more safe or more
convenient for you?

Be pleased to write to me by Rogers; who will wait on you for your
answer, at your own time.

Adieu, my dearest creature. Comfort yourself, as you would in the like
unhappy circumstances comfort

Your own
ANNA HOWE.



LETTER II

MISS CLARISSA HARLOWE, TO MISS HOWE
THURSDAY, JULY 13.


I am extremely concerned, my dear Miss Howe, for being primarily the
occasion of the apprehensions you have of this wicked man's vindictive
attempts. What a wide-spreading error is mine!----

If I find that he has set foot on any machination against you, or against
Mr. Hickman, I do assure you I will consent to prosecute him, although I
were sure I could not survive my first appearance at the bar he should be
arraigned at.

I own the justice of your mother's arguments on that subject; but must
say, that I think there are circumstances in my particular case, which
will excuse me, although on a slighter occasion than that you are
apprehensive of I should decline to appear against him. I have said,
that I may one day enter more particularly into this argument.

Your messenger has now indeed seen me. I talked with him on the cheat
put upon him at Hampstead: and am sorry to have reason to say, that had
not the poor young man been very simple, and very self-sufficient, he had
not been so grossly deluded. Mrs. Bevis has the same plea to make for
herself. A good-natured, thoughtless woman; not used to converse with so
vile and so specious a deceiver as him, who made his advantage of both
these shallow creatures.