every jealousy of this sort, and to make it apparent that their pecuniary, as well as their other interest, would in every respect, be promoted, rather than injured, by my coming into the family.

When the subject of our intended marriage was mentioned to my mother, so high was her esteem and respect for Mr. Cappe, that she did not make the slightest objection; although she must have thought the entering into so large a family, notwithstanding her good opinion of all the members that composed it, a dangerous experiment. On the part of my aunts, whose views and prejudices on other accounts, as well as on this, must have led them to disapprove it extremely, some remonstrance might have been expected; but they had the kindness, and possessed withal the self-command, to observe the most perfect silence. For Mr. C. himself, they had the highest respect, having lived in the same street, and known his worth of character, upwards of twenty years; and even his being a dissenting minister could hardly be an objection in respect of one who had long before left the Church, and whose apostacy, so unfashionable and out of the common road, they had ever secretly lamented; yet I must say that on these subjects I was never upbraided by them; and on every other I was their favourite.

We were married on the 19th of February, in the year 1788, at Berwick-in-Elmet, by the late Rev. Mr. Deane, at that time the rector. I was received by Mr. Cappe's young people, on our return to York, and by his worthy sister, who had

lived with them some years, but was then going into lodgings, with the greatest respect and affection; and was very soon admitted into their entire confidence. Mr. Cappe's eldest son was at that time, studying medicine at the University of Edinburgh; whence he came to York for a few days, to pay us a congratulatory visit, and from that time became my regular and constant correspondent. The climate of Edinburgh being too cold for him, he left it that spring; and after spending the two following years in London, graduated at Leyden, in the beginning of the year 1790. Whilst in London, he unfortunately formed an attachment to a young lady, a relation of the family, who was highly accomplished, and appeared very amiable. He thought from her whole manner, that his attentions were acceptable; but afterwards, when an explanation took place, the discovery was made that she had been engaged some years to another person. I will not affirm that she meant to deceive; yet certainly she suffered him to cherish expectations and hopes, which she was conscious she could not fulfil, and which exceedingly enhanced the poignancy of disappointment. His conduct having always been strictly virtuous, his affections were wholly centred on this one admired and beloved object, and his heart being warm, and his temper ardent, the termination was fatal to his health as well as to his peace. He exerted all his fortitude toparry the stroke; and would doubtless in time, have recovered his former tranquillity, but his

bodily strength bore little proportion to the vigour of his mind and a pulmonary consumption put a period to his valuable life on the 19th of February, 1791, soon after he had come to this city, to practise as a physician.

I mention not this unfortunate attachment, with the design of criminating any one; but merely as a striking instance of what may be the fatal termination, and consequently, of the extreme reprehensibility in either sex, of every species of coquetry. Implied deviations from rectitude of this sort, not being amenable to any earthly tribunal, are not in general censured as they deserve but surely, what the poet says of reputation, is strictly applicable to peace of mind that in comparative value,

"Who steals my gold, steals trash."

Dr. Joseph Cappe possessed strong original genius, and first rate talents; he had made great progress not only in professional knowledge, and in the different sciences connected with it, but in general literature; and was especially remarkable for great acuteness of discernment, strength of memory, and energy of mind. Being considerably older than any of the rest, he was the particular friend, and confidant of his father; his solace and consolation under every affliction and trial. The death of so excellent a son, at the very moment when the high expectations entertained by his honoured father, of his future eminence, were about to be realized, was a most severe stroke and heavy affliction. With what piety and

fortitude it was sustained, I have mentioned elsewhere. *

CHAPTER 32.

Occupations of the Author....Anxieties respecting her husband's health....His first severe paralytic attack....His life in extreme danger....Pecuniary and other difficulties.... Distress about the Chapel....Happy arrival of Mr. Wellbeloved....Mr. Cappe's great attachment to him.

THE death of Dr. Joseph Cappe has led me to anticipate the order of events. I should have mentioned in its place, that not long after our marriage, Mr. C. yielded to my entreaties, respecting his short-hand papers, by allowing me to transcribe from his dictating, as he walked about the room, and had leisure from more laborious occupations. This employment I considered as of so much importance, that I determined from the very moment of my engaging in it, that no other occupations, much less any amusement, should ever interfere with it; and I kept my resolution.

I have often thought with what goodness and wisdom, the providence of God in this instance, as doubtless in every other, although we cannot always equally perceive it, adapts the means to the end, so as to accomplish its own gracious

* See Memoir of Mr. Cappe, prefixed to the Critical Dissertations, and to a volume of his Sermons,

purposes. Had I possessed greater talents, or had those which were bestowed upon me, been more highly cultivated, I might not have engaged, with my whole heart, in the subordinate office of a mere transcriber; and on the contrary, had my mind been less cultivated, I should not have appreciated the value and importance of the employment, or perhaps have been capable of executing it.

I was not however, so wholly engrossed by this occupation, or by the many other duties which now devolved upon me, as not to have some leisure to attend our school meetings, and to assist in establishing the previously projected Female Benefit Club, which we instituted in August, 1788; and I should now have been as happy, and possessed of as much real comfort, as usually falls to the lot of humanity, had not the threatening state of health of the beloved object, whose valued society formed the charm of all, been a continued source of the most painful anxiety. Even before our marriage, and from time to time ever since, Mr. C. had frequent indications of a paralytic attack. I was fully aware of this, from the very first, but I hoped he might be spared the stroke, or even should it be otherwise, that I might be able to minister to his comfort by those thousand nameless, unwearied attentions, which I fancied no other person could equally bestow. It was under the influence of this apprehension, that I had doubly felt the loss of Dr. Joseph Cappe, as the greatest calamity. I knew that in him we should have possessed the