Evelina

Oh, Author of my being!-far more dear To me than light, than nourishment, or rest, Hygeia's blessings, Rapture's burning tear, Or the life-blood that mantles in my breast!

If in my heart the love of Virtue glows, 'T was planted there by an unerring rule; From thy example the pure flame arose, Thy life, my precept,-thy good works, my school.

Could my weak pow'rs thy num'rous virtues trace, By filial love each fear should be repress'd, The blush of Incapacity I'd chace, And stand, Recorder of thy worth, confess'd:

But since my niggard stars that gift refuse, Concealment is the only boon I claim; Obscure be still the unsuccessful Muse, Who cannot raise, but would not sink, thy fame.

Oh! of my life at once the source and joy! If e'er thy eyes these feeble lines survey, Let not their folly their intent destroy; Accept the tribute-but forget the lay.

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CONTENTS

- LETTER I. Lady Howard to the Rev. Mr. Villars - LETTER II. Mr. Villars to Lady Howard - LETTER III. Lady Howard to the Rev. Mr. Villars - LETTER IV. Mr. Villars to Lady Howard - LETTER V. Mr. Villars to Lady Howard - LETTER VI. Lady Howard to the Rev. Mr. Villars - LETTER VII. Lady Howard to the Rev. Mr. Villars - LETTER VIII. Evelina to the Rev. Mr. Villars - LETTER IX. Mr. Villars to Evelina - LETTER X. Evelina to the Rev. Mr. Villars - LETTER XI. Evelina in Continuation - LETTER XII. Evelina in Continuation - LETTER XIII. Evelina in Continuation - LETTER XIV. Evelina in Continuation - LETTER XV. Mr. Villars to Evelina. - LETTER XVI. Evelina to the Rev. Mr. Villars - LETTER XVII. Evelina in Continuation - LETTER XVIII. Evelina in Continuation - LETTER XIX. Evelina in Continuation - LETTER XX. Evelina in Continuation - LETTER XXI. Evelina in Continuation - LETTER XXII. Evelina in Continuation - LETTER XXIII. Evelina in Continuation - LETTER XXIV. Mr. Villars to Evelina. - LETTER XXV. Evelina to the Rev. Mr. Villars - LETTER XXVI. Evelina to the Rev. Mr. Villars - LETTER XXVII. Lady Howard to the Rev. Mr. Villars - LETTER XXVIII. Mr. Villars to Lady Howard - LETTER XXIX. Mr. Villars to Evelina. - LETTER XXX. Evelina to the Rev. Mr. Villars - LETTER XXXI. Lady Howard to Sir John Belmont, Bart - LETTER XXXII. Evelina to the Rev. Mr. Villars - LETTER XXXIII. Evelina in Continuation - LETTER XXXIV. Evelina in Continuation - LETTER XXXV. Sir John Belmont to Lady Howard - LETTER XXXVI. Evelina to the Rev. Mr. Villars - LETTER XXXVII. Mr. Villars to Evelina - LETTER XXXVIII. Mr. Villars to Lady Howard - LETTER XXXIX. Mr. Villars to Evelina - LETTER XL. Evelina to the Rev. Mr. Villars - LETTER XLI. Evelina to Miss Mirvan - LETTER XLII. Evelina to the Rev. Mr. Villars - LETTER XLIII. Evelina in Continuation - LETTER XLIV. Evelina in Continuation - LETTER XLV. Evelina in Continuation - LETTER XLVI. Evelina to the Rev. Mr. Villars - LETTER XLVII. Evelina to the Rev. Mr. Villars - LETTER XLVIII. Evelina in Continuation - LETTER XLIX. Mr. Villars to Evelina - LETTER L. Evelina to the Rev. Mr. Villars - LETTER LI. Evelina in Continuation - LETTER LII. Evelina in Continuation - LETTER LIII. Evelina in Continuation - LETTER LIV. Evelina in Continuation - LETTER LV. Evelina in Continuation - LETTER LVI. Mr. Villars to Evelina - LETTER LVII. Evelina to Miss Mirvan - LETTER LVIII. Evelina to Miss Mirvan - LETTER LIX. Evelina in Continuation - LETTER LX. Evelina in Continuation - LETTER LXI. Evelina in Continuation - LETTER LXII. Evelina to the Rev. Mr. Villars - LETTER LXIII. Evelina in Continuation - LETTER LXIV. Evelina in Continuation - LETTER LXV. Evelina in Continuation - LETTER LXVI. Evelina in Continuation - LETTER LXVII. Mr. Villars to Evelina - LETTER LXVIII. Evelina to the Rev. Mr. Villars - LETTER LXIX. Evelina in Continuation - LETTER LXX. Evelina in Continuation - LETTER LXXI. Evelina in Continuation - LETTER LXXII. Evelina in Continuation - LETTER LXXIII. Mr. Villars to Evelina - LETTER LXXIV. Lady Belmont to Sir John Belmont - LETTER LXXV. Evelina to the Rev. Mr. Villars - LETTER LXXVI. Evelina in Continuation - LETTER LXXVII. Evelina in Continuation - LETTER LXXVIII. Evelina in Continuation - LETTER LXXIX. Evelina in Continuation - LETTER LXXX. Evelina in Continuation - LETTER LXXXI. Evelina in Continuation - LETTER LXXXII. Evelina in Continuation - LETTER LXXXIII. Mr. Villars to Evelina - LETTER LXXXIV. Evelina to the Rev. Mr. Villars

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ORIGINAL DEDICATION.

TO THE AUTHORS OF THE MONTHLY AND CRITICAL REVIEWS.

GENTLEMEN, The liberty which I take in addressing to you the trifling production of a few idle hours, will doubtless move your wonder, and probably your contempt. I will not, however, with the futility of apologies, intrude upon your time, but briefly acknowledge the motives of my temerity; lest, by a premature exercise of that patience which I hope will befriend me, I should lessen its benevolence, and be accessary to my own condemnation.

Without name, without recommendation, and unknown alike to success and disgrace, to whom can I so properly apply for patronage, as to those who publicly profess themselves Inspectors of all literary performances?

The extensive plan of your critical observations,-which, not confined to works of utility or ingenuity, is equally open to those of frivolous amusement,-and, yet worse than frivolous, dullness,-encourages me to seek for your protection, since,-perhaps for my sins!-it intitles me to your annotations. To resent, therefore, this offering, however insignificant, would ill become the universality of your undertaking; though not to despise it may, alas! be out of your power.