LETTER XLIII
MR. BELFORD, TO COLONEL MORDENTHURSDAY, SEPT. 21.
Give me leave, dear Sir, to address myself to you in a very serious andsolemn manner, on a subject that I must not, cannot, dispense with; as Ipromised the divine lady that I would do every thing in my power toprevent that further mischief of which she was so very apprehensive.
I will not content myself with distant hints. It is with very greatconcern that I have just now heard of a declaration which you are said tohave made to your relations at Harlowe-place, that you will not rest tillyou have avenged your cousin's wrongs upon Mr. Lovelace.
Far be it from me to offer to defend the unhappy man, or even unduly toextenuate his crime! But yet I must say, that the family, by theirpersecutions of the dear lady at first, and by their implacablenessafterwards, ought, at least, to share the blame with him. There is evengreat reason to believe, that a lady of such a religious turn, her virtueneither to be surprised nor corrupted, her will inviolate, would have gotover a mere personal injury; especially as he would have done all thatwas in his power to repair it; and as, from the application of all hisfamily in his favour, and other circumstances attending his sincere andvoluntary offer, the lady might have condescended, with greater glory toherself, than if he had never offended.
When I have the pleasure of seeing you next, I will acquaint you, Sir,with all the circumstances of this melancholy story; from which you willsee that Mr. Lovelace was extremely ill treated at first, by the wholefamily, this admirable lady excepted. This exception, I know, heightenshis crime: but as his principal intention was but to try her virtue; andthat he became so earnest a suppliant to her for marriage; and as he hassuffered so deplorably in the loss of his reason, for not having it inhis power to repair her wrongs; I presume to hope that much is to bepleaded against such a resolution as you are said to have made. I willread to you, at the same time, some passages from letters of his; two ofwhich (one but this moment received) will convince you that the unhappyman, who is but now recovering his intellects, needs no greaterpunishment than what he has from his own reflections.
I have just now read over the copies of the dear lady's posthumousletters. I send them all to you, except that directed for Mr. Lovelace;which I reserve till I have the pleasure of seeing you. Let me entreatyou to read once more that written to yourself; and that to her brother;*which latter I now send you; as they are in point to the present subject.
* See Letter XVI. of this volume.
I think, Sir, they are unanswerable. Such, at least, is the effect theyhave upon me, that I hope I shall never be provoked to draw my swordagain in a private quarrel.
To the weight these must needs have upon you, let me add, that theunhappy man has given no new occasion of offence, since your visit to himat Lord M.'s, when you were so well satisfied of his intention to atonefor his crimes, that you yourself urged to your dear cousin herforgiveness of him.
Let me also (though I presume to hope there is no need, when you coollyconsider every thing) remind you of your own promise to your departingcousin; relying upon which, her last moments were the easier.
Reflect, my dear Colonel Morden, that the highest injury was to her: herfamily all have a share in the cause: she forgives it: Why should we notendeavour to imitate what we admire?
You asked me, Sir, when in town, if a brave man could be a premeditatedlybase one?--Generally speaking, I believe bravery and baseness areincompatible. But Mr. Lovelace's character, in the instance before us,affords a proof of the truth of the common observation, that there is nogeneral rule but has its exceptions: for England, I believe, as gallant anation as it is deemed to be, has not in it a braver spirit than his; nora man who has a greater skill at his weapons; nor more calmness with hisskill.
I mention not this with a thought that it can affect Col. Morden; who, ifhe be not withheld by SUPERIOR MOTIVES, as well as influenced by those Ihave reminded him of, will tell me, that this skill, and this bravery,will make him the more worthy of being called upon by him.
To these SUPERIOR MOTIVES then I refer myself: and with the greaterconfidence; as a pursuit ending in blood would not, at this time, havethe plea lie for it with any body, which sudden passion might have withsome: but would be construed by all to be a cool and deliberate act ofrevenge for an evil absolutely irretrievable: an act of which a brave andnoble spirit (such as is the gentleman's to whom I now write) is notcapable.
Excuse me, Sir, for the sake of my executorial duty and promise, keepingin eye the dear lady's personal injunctions, as well as written will,enforced by letters posthumous. Every article of which (solicitous as weboth are to see it duly performed) she would have dispensed with, ratherthan farther mischief should happen on her account. I am, dear Sir,
Your affectionate and faithful friend,J. BELFORD.