A strong Objection was raised to Mr. _Lovelace's_ being so long without any Attempt on the Lady's Honour, when she was under the same Roof with him, and so much in his Power. Mr. _Johnson_ said he thought Mr. _Belford_ had given a good Reason for this Delay in a Letter to _Lovelace_, where he says, _Thou too a Man born for Intrigue, full of Invention, intrepid, remorseless, able patiently to watch for the Opportunity, not flurried, as most Men, by Gusts of violent Passion, which often nip a Project in the Bud, and make the Snail, which was just putting out its Horns to meet the Inviter, withdraw into its Shell._ So that it seems to be a Maxim, amongst _Lovelace_ and his Club of Rakes, not to destroy their own Schemes by a too precipitate Pursuit; and _Lovelace_ gives yet a stronger Reason for it in the following Words. _O Virtue, Virtue_, says he, _what is there in thee, that can thus affect the Heart of such a Man as me against my Will!--Whence these involuntary Tremors, and fear of giving mortal Offence! What art thou that, acting in the Breast of a feeble Woman, canst strike so much awe into a Spirit so intrepid which never before, no, not in my first Attempt, young as I then was, and frighted at my own Boldness (till I found myself_ forgiven,) _had such an Effect on me._ But Quotations from _Lovelace's_ Words to this Purpose, and that he was resolved to be slow in order to be sure, would be endless. This, I think, was the last Objection raised; only _Bellario_ said, that the Report that the Catastrophy was to be unhappy had made a deep Impression on him; for that he could not avoid thinking that, if it was true, it must be a great Error, and destroy all the Pleasure a good-natur'd Reader might already have received: However, he said, he would keep his Word in not absolutely giving his Judgment till he saw the Conclusion. And thus ended the second Scene of Criticism on _Clarissa_; only, as we went down Stairs, a Lady, who had not spoke one Word the whole Evening, mutter'd out a strong Dislike, that the agreeable Mr. _Lovelace_ should not become a Husband. And now, in the Month of _December_, appears the long expected, much wished for Conclusion of _Clarissa's_ Story.