THE

Lady's Magazine;

OR,

Entertaining Companion for the FAIR SEX, appropriated folely to their Use and Amusement.

This Number is embellished with the following Copper-Plates, viz.

1. A new Pattern for a Gown, &c. &c.-2. The Unexpected Interview-3. A View of Newcastle-upon-Tyne; and, 4. British Diamonds; or, the Brilliants of Love: a Song, by Mr. Stone, Organist of Farringdon, Berks.

LONDON, Printed for G. G. and J. Robinson, No. 25, Paternofter Row, where Favours from Correfpondents will be received.

To our CORRESPONDENTS.

The Effay on Travelling is intended for infertion.

Clarinda's Remarks on Men and Manners are under confideration.

Tancred's packet is received.

R. B.'s communication is not original.

Received, Lines on Sympathy, by Philo.-The Fox and Eagle, a fable, by A. B.-Sonnet, by Alexis.-Invitation to the ladies to raise a female regiment.-Poems, by Claudio.-Acroftic, by Mira.-Several Lifts, &c.

Engraved for the Lady's Magazine.

The Unexpected Interview.

THE

Lady's Magazine;

For SEPTEMBER, 1796.

THE UNEXPECTED INTERVIEW;
A TALE.

(Embellished with an elegant
graving.)

STR

In the course of his vicious career, he took to his arms a mistress, whom he feemed to have chofen as men En-frequently chufe their mistreffes, for qualities directly the reverfe of thofe of his wife. The gentleness of lady Wilford was admirably contrasted by the petulance and pertnefs of mifs Clara, her delicacy by groffness, her understanding by ignorance, ber prudence by folly, and her beauty by an inferiority of perfonal endowments little fhort of deformity.

IR George Wilford was a young man of elegance and fortune. He had received a truly fashionable education, and was mafter of every polite accomplishment. His perfon was elegant, and his understanding excellent, however it might appear obfcured by his habits of diffipation and luxury.

To this charming creature fir George dedicated a confiderable porIn his twenty-fifth year, he mar-tion of his time, and that in fo open ried mifs Lætitia Harlowe, a young a manner, that his lady determined lady of family, great fortune, exqui- to bear the infult no longer. She fite beauty, and the most engaging left him, and retired to the houfe of delicacy of temper and manners. her uncle, where he mourned in Not wealth, or views of convenience filence the ill-treatment and indifalone, but love, cemented the union; cretion of the, man whom she still and for fome months they enjoyed tenderly loved. complete domeftic happiness.

But tranfient and fleeting is human blifs. The conftant fucceffion of the fame enjoyments was not fuited to the habits fir George had acquired: fomething more varied, fomething more poignant, was requifite. Again he plunged into the vortex of diffipation; and, renouncing the folid happiness he really poffeffed, fought its fhadow amid noife and riot, revelry and debauch.

Among the companions of fir George, was a Mr. Harbord, a man of ftrong fenfe and liberal fentiments. The fternnefs of his manners, on fome occafions, gave him almoft the air of the mifanthrope; but he was capable of the best feelings of human nature, and fhowed on every occafion a real friendship to fir George, This gentleman would frequently reafon with him on the impropriety of his conduct, 3 D 2

and