That venerable and worthy personage preserved a dignified tranquillity. A smile sate upon his countenance, and his eyes brightened when he turned them on Amelia and his grandson. He caused a considerable length of parchment to be added to his roll of pedigree, for the purpose of leaving space for the future descendants from John De Lancaster and Amelia Jones. He put old David upon composing an epithalamium, which when written down as he dictated it, turned out to be very little shorter than _the Last Lay of the Minstrel_. Neither was his own genius unemployed, for he composed, and was at the pains of writing with his own hand a set of maxims, which he intitled _rules for domestic happiness in the married state_. They consisted chiefly of truisms, which he was at the pains of proving; and of errors so obvious, that examination could not make them clearer. He pointed out so many ways, by which man and wife must render each other miserable, that he seemed to have forgot, that the purport of his rules was to make them happy. So little was this learned work adapted to the object held out in the title, that, if it had been pasted up for general use on the door of a church, it may be doubted if any, who had read it, would have entered there to be married. He delivered it however with much solemnity to his grandson--saying to him--Here is a proof, my dear John, how seriously my thoughts have been employed for your instruction: govern yourself by these rules, and you will be happy. If I govern myself by your example, John made answer, I shall have no need of rules. On the evening preceding the wedding-day, John drew Amelia aside, and conducting her to the private chamber, which he made his study, produced a case, which he said contained the family jewels of the De Lancasters and Morgans, newly set--I have added nothing to them, he said, for I am fully conscious they can add nothing to you: It is fit however that you should have them, and wear them, when you see occasion: our friends seem to wish it, and our fortune fully warrants it. When I shall put this plain good ring upon your finger to-morrow, and confirm it as the symbol of our union with an oath before the altar, trifles like these jewels will have no further value, as the test of my affection: that is made secure to you, not only by the graces of your person, which ornaments cannot improve, but also by the virtues of your mind, which time cannot impair. FINIS. Harding and Wright, Printers, St. John’s Square. Typographical errors corrected by the etext transcriber: hands presed=> hands pressed {pg 77} with that beolved=> with that beloved {pg 106} for these epeated=> for these repeated {pg 107} know she is=> know he is {pg 140} The hopsitality=> The hospitality {pg 142} Did’nt you accept=> Didn’t you accept {pg 195}