a coach in waiting, let us now, Mr. Blossom, go to Doctors’ Commons and procure a licence for to-morrow morning.” Blossom demurred at this proposal, but the stern and peremptory conduct of the brother over-ruled his objections. He accompanied Collings and his companions, the licence was obtained, the brother did not lose sight of the bridegroom; the next day the nuptials were solemnized, and the new-married couple set off for Docktail-Place. Before their departure, the lady being informed that our hero was returned, wrote the following epistle to our hero: “My beloved Hamilton, Finding that you are become totally indifferent to your Collings, I have, contrary to my own inclination, listened to the advices of my friends, and accepted the addresses of another. I am now the wife of Bartholomew Blossom, esquire, of Yorkshire, a gentleman of great fortune and merit. As my affection for you and its consequences have been concealed from most others, I have that confidence in your honour, that I am assured no passage will ever escape your lips that can affect the tranquillity of your affectionate and devoted JANE BLOSSOM.” “P.S. Though I have made a sort of vow to myself for ever to abstain from your enchanting and dangerous company, I should wish to see you once to convince you, that though prudence and the instances of my brother induce me to accept of Mr. Blossom’s hand, my heart will ever remain fondly attached to the first dear object of its virgin love. J. B.” This letter afforded our hero very great pleasure. He had formed a resolution of relinquishing all intercourse with Miss Collings, but determined to use every effort that might be in his power, in order to promote the interest and advantage of one who had suffered so much from her attachment to himself. Now her situation in point of rank and opulence was much higher, through the vice and folly of another, than any which she could have expected to have attained. He could have regretted the deception or compulsion, if it had been practised upon a man of honour and worth. But in the present case he was extremely well pleased, that a profligate, unprincipled debauchee, who had so behaved himself to his beloved Maria, was caught where he had proposed seduction and ruin. Meanwhile, the party set off for the coast of Sussex; the fair Maria, with her father and brother, betook themselves to the vicinity of Worthing, while Hamilton, his mother, and the rest of their party, took up their residence at Brighton. Our hero, much as he had been engaged, had still found opportunities of meeting Dr. Strongbrain, who exacted a promise from him, of sending him a written account of Brighton and its environs, according to the impression it made upon him at the time. Our hero was as good as his word, and wrote a description of this celebrated watering-place, which the reader will find in the following chapter. END OF THE FIRST VOLUME.