Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9)

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Produced by Julie C. Sparks

CLARISSA HARLOWE

or the

HISTORY OF A YOUNG LADY

Nine Volumes

Volume I.

CLARISSA

or, the

HISTORY

OF A

YOUNG LADY:

Comprehending
The most Important Concerns of Private Life.
And particularly shewing,
The Distresses that may attend the Misconduct
Both of Parents and Children,
In Relation to Marriage.

PREFACE

The following History is given in a series of letters, written
Principally in a double yet separate correspondence;

Between two young ladies of virtue and honor, bearing an inviolable
friendship for each other, and writing not merely for amusement, but
upon the most interesting subjects; in which every private family,
more or less, may find itself concerned; and,

Between two gentlemen of free lives; one of them glorying in his
talents for stratagem and invention, and communicating to the other,
in confidence, all the secret purposes of an intriguing head and
resolute heart.

But here it will be proper to observe, for the sake of such as may
apprehend hurt to the morals of youth, from the more freely-written
letters, that the gentlemen, though professed libertines as to the
female sex, and making it one of their wicked maxims, to keep no
faith with any of the individuals of it, who are thrown into their
power, are not, however, either infidels or scoffers; nor yet such
as think themselves freed from the observance of those other moral
duties which bind man to man.

On the contrary, it will be found, in the progress of the work, that
they very often make such reflections upon each other, and each upon
himself and his own actions, as reasonable beings must make, who
disbelieve not a future state of rewards and punishments, and who one
day propose to reform--one of them actually reforming, and by that
means giving an opportunity to censure the freedoms which fall from
the gayer pen and lighter heart of the other.

And yet that other, although in unbosoming himself to a select friend,
he discover wickedness enough to entitle him to general detestation,
preserves a decency, as well in his images as in his language, which
is not always to be found in the works of some of the most celebrated
modern writers, whose subjects and characters have less warranted
the liberties they have taken.

In the letters of the two young ladies, it is presumed, will be found
not only the highest exercise of a reasonable and practicable
friendship, between minds endowed with the noblest principles of
virtue and religion, but occasionally interspersed, such delicacy of
sentiments, particularly with regard to the other sex; such instances
of impartiality, each freely, as a fundamental principle of their
friendship, blaming, praising, and setting right the other, as are
strongly to be recommended to the observation of the younger part
(more specially) of female readers.

The principle of these two young ladies is proposed as an exemplar to
her sex. Nor is it any objection to her being so, that she is not in
all respects a perfect character. It was not only natural, but it was
necessary, that she should have some faults, were it only to show the
reader how laudably she could mistrust and blame herself, and carry to
her own heart, divested of self-partiality, the censure which arose
from her own convictions, and that even to the acquittal of those,
because revered characters, whom no one else would acquit, and to
whose much greater faults her errors were owing, and not to a
weak or reproachable heart. As far as it is consistent with human
frailty, and as far as she could be perfect, considering the people
she had to deal with, and those with whom she was inseparably
connected, she is perfect. To have been impeccable, must have left
nothing for the Divine Grace and a purified state to do, and carried our
idea of her from woman to angel. As such is she often esteemed by
the man whose heart was so corrupt that he could hardly believe
human nature capable of the purity, which, on every trial or
temptation, shone out in her's [sic].

Besides the four principal person, several others are introduced,
whose letters are characteristic: and it is presumed that there will
be found in some of them, but more especially in those of the chief
character among the men, and the second character among the women,
such strokes of gayety, fancy, and humour, as will entertain and divert,
and at the same time both warn and instruct.

All the letters are written while the hearts of the writers must be
supposed to be wholly engaged in their subjects (the events at the
time generally dubious): so that they abound not only in critical
situations, but with what may be called instantaneous descriptions and
reflections (proper to be brought home to the breast of the youthful
reader;) as also with affecting conversations; many of them written in
the dialogue or dramatic way.

'Much more lively and affecting,' says one of the principal character,
'must be the style of those who write in the height of a present
distress; the mind tortured by the pangs of uncertainty (the events
then hidden in the womb of fate;) than the dry, narrative, unanimated
style of a person relating difficulties and danger surmounted, can be;
the relater perfectly at ease; and if himself unmoved by his own
story, not likely greatly to affect the reader.'

What will be found to be more particularly aimed at in the following
work is--to warn the inconsiderate and thoughtless of the one sex,
against the base arts and designs of specious contrivers of the other
--to caution parents against the undue exercise of their natural
authority over their children in the great article of marriage--
to warn children against preferring a man of pleasure to a man of
probity upon that dangerous but too-commonly-received notion, that a
reformed rake makes the best husband--but above all, to investigate
the highest and most important doctrines not only of morality, but of
christianity, by showing them thrown into action in the conduct of the
worthy characters; while the unworthy, who set those doctrines at
defiance, are condignly, and, as may be said, consequentially
punished.

From what has been said, considerate readers will not enter upon the
perusal of the piece before them as if it were designed only to divert
and amuse. It will probably be thought tedious to all such as dip
into it, expecting a light novel, or transitory romance; and look upon
story in it (interesting as that is generally allowed to be) as its
sole end, rather than as a vehicle to the instruction.

Different persons, as might be expected, have been of different
opinions, in relation to the conduct of the Heroine in particular
situations; and several worthy persons have objected to the general
catastrophe, and other parts of the history. Whatever is thought
material of these shall be taken notice of by way of Postscript, at
the conclusion of the History; for this work being addressed to the
public as a history of life and manners, those parts of it which are
proposed to carry with them the force of an example, ought to be as
unobjectionable as is consistent with the design of the whole, and
with human nature.

NAMES OF THE PRINCIPAL PERSONS

MISS CLARISSA HARLOWE, a young lady of great beauty and merit.
ROBERT LOVELACE, ESQ. her admirer.
JAMES HARLOWE, ESQ. father of Clarissa.
MRS. HARLOWE, his lady.
JAMES HARLOWE, their only son.
ARABELLA, their elder daughter.
JOHN HARLOWE, ESQ. elder brother of James Harlowe, sen.
ANTONY HARLOWE, third brother.
ROGER SOLMES, ESQ. an admirer of Clarissa, favoured by her friends.
MRS. HERVEY, half-sister of Mrs. Harlowe.
MISS DOLLY HERVEY, her daughter.
MRS. JUDITH NORTON, a woman of great piety and discretion, who had a
principal share in the education of Clarissa.
COL. WM. MORDEN, a near relation of the Harlowes.
MISS HOWE, the most intimate friend, companion, and correspondent of
Clarissa.
MRS. HOWE, her mother.
CHARLES HICKMAN, ESQ. an admirer of Miss Howe.
LORD M., uncle to Mr. Lovelace.
LADY SARAH SADLEIR, LADY BETTY LAWRANCE, half-sisters of Lord M.
MISS CHARLOTTE MONTAGUE, MISS PATTY MONTAGUE, nieces of the same
nobleman.
DR. LEWEN, a worthy divine.
MR. ELIAS BRAND, a pedantic young clergyman.
DR. H. a humane physician.
MR. GODDARD, an honest and skilful apothecary.
JOHN BELFORD, ESQ. Mr. Lovelace's principal intimate and confidant.
RICHARD MOWBRAY, THOMAS DOLEMAN, JAMES TOURVILLE, THOMAS BELTON,
ESQRS. libertine friends of Mr. Lovelace.
MRS. MOORE, a widow, keeping a lodging-house at Hampstead.
MISS RAWLINS, a notable young gentlewoman there.
MRS. BEVIS, a lively young widow of the same place.
MRS. SINCLAIR, the pretended name of a private brothel-keeper in
London.
CAPTAIN TOMLINSON, the assumed name of a vile pander to the
debaucheries of Mr. Lovelace.
SALLY MARTIN, POLLY HORTON, assistants of, and partners with, the
infamous Sinclair.
DORCAS WYKES, an artful servant at the vile house.

CONTENTS OF VOLUME I

LETTER I. Miss Howe to Miss Clarissa Harlowe.--
Desires from her the particulars of the rencounter between Mr.
Lovelace and her brother; and of the usage she receives upon it: also
the whole of her story from the time Lovelace was introduced as a
suitor to her sister Arabella. Admires her great qualities, and
glories in the friendship between them.

LETTER II. III. IV. Clarissa to Miss Howe.--
Gives the requested particulars. Together with the grounds of her
brother's and sister's il-will to her; and of the animosity between
her brother and Lovelace.--Her mother connives at the private
correspondence between her and Lovelace, for the sake of preventing
greater evils. Character of Lovelace, from an enemy.--Copy of the
preamble to her grandfather's will.

LETTER V. From the same.--
Her father, mother, brother, briefly characterized. Her brother's
consequence in the family. Wishes Miss Howe had encouraged her
brother's address. Endeavors to find excuses for her father's ill
temper, and for her mother's passiveness.

LETTER VI. From the same.--
Mr. Symmes, Mr. Mullins, Mr. Wyerley, in return, proposed to her, in
malice to Lovelace; and, on their being rejected, Mr. Solmes. Leave
given her to visit Miss Howe for a few days. Her brother's insolent
behaviour upon it.

LETTER VII. From the same.--
The harsh reception she meets with on her return from Miss Howe.
Solmes's first visit.

LETTER VIII. From the same.--
All her family determined in Solmes's favour. Her aversion to him.
She rejects him, and is forbid going to church, visiting, receiving
visits, or writing to any body out of the house.

LETTER IX. Clarissa to Miss Howe.--
Her expedient to carry on a private correspondence with Miss Howe.
Regrets the necessity she is laid under to take such a clandestine
step.

LETTER X. Miss Howe to Clarissa.--
Inveighs against the Harlowe family for proposing such a man as
Solmes. Characterizes them. Is jealous of Antony Harlowe's visits to
her mother. Rallies her friend on her supposed regard to Lovelace.

LETTER XI. Clarissa to Miss Howe.--
Is nettled and alarmed at her raillery. Her reasons for not giving
way to a passion for Lovelace.

LETTER XII. Miss Howe in reply.--
Continues her raillery. Gives Lovelace's character from Mrs.
Fortescue.

LETTER XIII. XIV. Clarissa to Miss Howe.--
The views of her family in favouring the address of Solmes. Her
brother's and sister's triumph upon the difficulties into which they
have plunged her.

LETTER XV. Miss Howe to Clarissa.--
She accounts for Arabella's malice. Blames her for having given up
the power over the estate left her by her grandfather.

LETTER XVI. XVII. Clarissa to Miss Howe.--
Offends her father by her behaviour to Solmes in his presence. Tender
conversation between her mother and her.--Offers to give up all
thoughts of Lovelace, if she may be freed from Solmes's address.
Substance of one of Lovelace's letters, of her answer, and of his reply.
Makes a proposal. Her mother goes down with it.

LETTER XVIII. From the same.--
The proposal rejected. Her mother affects severity to her. Another
interesting conversation between them.

LETTER XIX. From the same.--
Her dutiful motives for putting her estate into her father's power.
Why she thinks she ought not to have Solmes. Afflicted on her
mother's account.

LETTER XX. XXI. From the same.--
Another conference with her mother, who leaves her in anger.--She goes
down to beg her favour. Solmes comes in. She offers to withdraw; but
is forbid. What follows upon it.

LETTER XXII. Clarissa to Miss Howe.--
Substance of a letter from Lovelace. She desires leave to go to
church. Is referred to her brother, and insultingly refused by him.
Her letter to him. His answer.

LETTER XXIII. XXIV. XXV. From the same.--
Her faithful Hannah disgracefully dismissed. Betty Barnes, her
sister's maid, set over her. A letter from her brother forbidding her
to appear in the presence of any of her relations without leave. Her
answer. Writes to her mother. Her mother's answer. Writes to her
father. His answer.

LETTER XXVI. From the same.--
Is desirous to know the opinion Lord M.'s family have of her.
Substance of a letter from Lovelace, resenting the indignities he
receives from her relations. She freely acquaints him that he has
nothing to expect from her contrary to her duty. Insists that his
next letter shall be his last.

LETTER XXVII. Miss Howe to Clarissa.--
Advises her to resume her estate. Her satirical description of
Solmes. Rallies her on her curiosity to know what opinion Lord M. and
his family have of her. Ascribes to the difference in each of their
tempers their mutual love. Gives particulars of a conversation
between her mother and her on Clarissa's case. Reflects on the
Harlowe family, and particularly on Mrs. Harlowe, for her passiveness.

LETTER XXVIII. Clarissa. In answer.--
Chides her for the liberties she takes with her relations.
Particularly defends her mother. Chides her also for her lively airs
to her own mother. Desires her to treat her freely; but wishes not
that she should impute love to her; and why.

LETTER XXIX. From the same.--
Her expostulatory letter to her brother and sister. Their answers.

LETTER XXX. From the same.--
Exceedingly angry with Lovelace, on his coming to their church.
Reflections on pride, &c.

LETTER XXXI. Mr. Lovelace to John Belford, Esq.--
Pride, revenge, love, ambition, or a desire of conquest, his avowedly
predominant passions. His early vow to ruin as many of the fair sex
as he can get into his power. His pretences for it. Breathes revenge
against the Harlowe family. Glories in his contrivances. Is
passionately in love with Clarissa. His high notions of her beauty
and merit. Yet is incensed against her for preferring her own
relations to him. Clears her, however, of intentional pride, scorn,
haughtiness, or want of sensibility. What a triumph over the sex, and
over her whole family, if he can carry off a lady so watchful and so
prudent! Is resolved, if he cannot have the sister, to carry off the
brother. Libertine as he is, can have no thoughts of any other woman
but Clarissa. Warns Belford, Mowbray, Tourville, and Belton, to hold
themselves in readiness to obey his summons, on the likelihood there
is of room for what he calls glorious mischief.

LETTER XXXII. XXXIII. Clarissa to Miss Howe.--
Copies of her letters to her two uncles; and of their characteristic
answer.--Her expostulatory letter to Solmes. His answer.--An insolent
letter from her brother, on her writing to Solmes.

LETTER XXXIV. Lovelace to Belford.--
He directs him to come down to him. For what end. Description of the
poor inn he puts up at in disguise; and of the innocent daughter
there, whom he calls his Rosebud. He resolves to spare her. Pride
and policy his motives, and not principle. Ingenuous reflections on
his own vicious disposition. He had been a rogue, he says, had he
been a plough-boy. Resolves on an act of generosity for his Rosebud,
by way of atonement, as he calls it, for some of his bad actions; and
for other reasons which appear in the sequel.

LETTER XXXV. From the same.--
His artful contrivances and dealings with Joseph Leman. His revenge
and his love uppermost by turns. If the latter succeeds not, he vows
that the Harlowes shall feel the former, although for it he become an
exile from his country forever. He will throw himself into Clarissa's
presence in the woodhouse. If he thought he had no prospect of her
favour, he would attempt to carry her off: that, he says, would be a
rape worthy of a Jupiter. The arts he is resolved to practise when he
sees her, in order to engage her future reliance upon his honour.

LETTER XXXVI. Clarissa to Miss Howe.--
Lovelace, in disguise, surprises her in the woodhouse. Her terrors on
first seeing him. He greatly engages her confidence (as he had
designed) by his respectful behaviour.

LETTER XXXVII. Miss Howe to Clarissa.--
After rallying her on her not readily owning the passion which she
supposes she has for Lovelace, she desires to know how far she thinks
him eligible for his best qualities, how far rejectable for his worst.

LETTER XXXVIII. XXXIX. Clarissa to Miss Howe.--
She disclaims tyranny to a man who respects her. Her unhappy
situation to be considered, in which the imputed love is held by her
parents to be an undutiful, and therefore a criminal passion, and
where the supposed object of it is a man of faulty morals. Is
interrupted by a visit from Mrs. Norton, who is sent up to her to
influence her in Solmes's favour. An affecting conversation between
them. What passes upon it, and after it.

LETTER XL. From the same.--
Resumes the requested subject. What sort of man she could have
preferred to Mr. Lovelace. Arguments she has used to herself in his
favour, and in his disfavour. Frankly owns that were he now a moral
man, she would prefer him to all the men she ever saw. Yet is
persuaded, that she could freely give up the one man to get rid of the
other, as she had offered to her friends. Her delicacy affected by
Miss Howe's raillery; and why. Gives her opinion of the force which
figure or person may be allowed to have upon her sex.

LETTER XLI. From the same.--
A letter from her mother (with patterns of rich silks) in which she
entreats her to comply with all their wishes. What ought to be the
principal view of a good wife in adorning her person. Her distress.
Begs leave to wait upon her mother alone. Her father's angry letter,
ordering her to prepare for her wedding-day. Solmes requests to see
her. She refuses. All in tumults below upon it. Her brother and her
sister desire that she may be left to their management.

LETTER XLII. From the same.--
A very warm dialogue between her sister and her. Her sister's envy,
unnatural behaviour, and violence. Clarissa sends down proposals in
writing to her friends, and a letter to her brother. His insolent
answer; in which he tells her, that her proposal will be considered in
full assembly next morning; but that, if they shall be complied with,
he will retire to Scotland, and never more return to Harlowe-place.

LETTER XLIII. Clarissa to Miss Howe.--
Hardly doubts but her proposals will be accepted. Paints to herself,
as her relations arrive one by one, what their deliberations, and the
result of them will be, when they are all assembled. Her proposals
rejected. Her sister's cruel insults on the occasion produce another
warm dialogue between them. Her sister leaves her in a fury. She is
greatly disturbed at the contents of a letter from Lovelace.

LETTER XLIV. From the same.--
Her aunt Hervey, accompanied by her sister, makes her a visit.
Farther insults from her sister. Her aunt's fruitless pleas in
Solmes's favour.

THE HISTORY

OF

CLARISSA HARLOWE

LETTER I

MISS ANNA HOWE, TO MISS CLARISSA HARLOWE
JAN 10.

I am extremely concerned, my dearest friend, for the disturbance that
have happened in your family. I know how it must hurt you to become
the subject of the public talk: and yet, upon an occasion so generally
known, it is impossible but that whatever relates to a young lady,
whose distinguished merits have made her the public care, should
engage every body's attention. I long to have the particulars from
yourself; and of the usage I am told you receive upon an accident you
could not help; and in which, as far as I can learn, the sufferer was
the aggressor.

Mr. Diggs, the surgeon, whom I sent for at the first hearing of the
rencounter, to inquire, for your sake, how your brother was, told me,
that there was no danger from the wound, if there were none from the
fever; which it seems has been increased by the perturbation of his
spirits.

Mr. Wyerley drank tea with us yesterday; and though he is far from
being partial to Mr. Lovelace, as it may well be supposed, yet both he
and Mr. Symmes blame your family for the treatment they gave him when
he went in person to inquire after your brother's health, and to
express his concern for what had happened.

They say, that Mr. Lovelace could not avoid drawing his sword: and
that either your brother's unskilfulness or passion left him from the
very first pass entirely in his power.

This, I am told, was what Mr. Lovelace said upon it; retreating as he
spoke: 'Have a care, Mr. Harlowe--your violence puts you out of your
defence. You give me too much advantage. For your sister's sake, I
will pass by every thing:--if--'

But this the more provoked his rashness, to lay himself open to the
advantage of his adversary--who, after a slight wound given him in the
arm, took away his sword.

There are people who love not your brother, because of his natural
imperiousness and fierce and uncontroulable temper: these say, that
the young gentleman's passion was abated on seeing his blood gush
plentifully down his arm; and that he received the generous offices of
his adversary (who helped him off with his coat and waistcoat, and
bound up his arm, till the surgeon could come,) with such patience, as
was far from making a visit afterwards from that adversary, to inquire
after his health, appear either insulting or improper.

Be this as it may, every body pities you. So steady, so uniform in
your conduct: so desirous, as you always said, of sliding through life
to the end of it unnoted; and, as I may add, not wishing to be
observed even for your silent benevolence; sufficiently happy in the
noble consciousness which attends it: Rather useful than glaring, your
deserved motto; though now, to your regret, pushed into blaze, as I
may say: and yet blamed at home for the faults of others--how must
such a virtue suffer on every hand!--yet it must be allowed, that your
present trial is but proportioned to your prudence.

As all your friends without doors are apprehensive that some other
unhappy event may result from so violent a contention, in which it
seems the families on both sides are now engaged, I must desire you to
enable me, on the authority of your own information, to do you
occasional justice.

My mother, and all of us, like the rest of the world, talk of nobody
but you on this occasion, and of the consequences which may follow
from the resentments of a man of Mr. Lovelace's spirit; who, as he
gives out, has been treated with high indignity by your uncles. My
mother will have it, that you cannot now, with any decency, either see
him, or correspond with him. She is a good deal prepossessed by your
uncle Antony; who occasionally calls upon us, as you know; and, on
this rencounter, has represented to her the crime which it would be in
a sister to encourage a man who is to wade into her favour (this was
his expression) through the blood of her brother.

Write to me therefore, my dear, the whole of your story from the time
that Mr. Lovelace was first introduced into your family; and
particularly an account of all that passed between him and your
sister; about which there are different reports; some people scrupling
not to insinuate that the younger sister has stolen a lover from the
elder: and pray write in so full a manner as may satisfy those who
know not so much of your affairs as I do. If anything unhappy should
fall out from the violence of such spirits as you have to deal with,
your account of all things previous to it will be your best
justification.

You see what you draw upon yourself by excelling all your sex. Every
individual of it who knows you, or has heard of you, seems to think
you answerable to her for your conduct in points so very delicate and
concerning.

Every eye, in short, is upon you with the expectation of an example.
I wish to heaven you were at liberty to pursue your own methods: all
would then, I dare say, be easy, and honourably ended. But I dread
your directors and directresses; for your mother, admirably well
qualified as she is to lead, must submit to be led. Your sister and
brother will certainly put you out of your course.

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