(No. 8 of Bibliography, Appendix XII.)

My acquaintance with Mr. Cranstoun, who was lieutenant of a regiment of marines, commenced at Lord Mark Kerr’s,[23] in one of the summer months, as I at present apprehend, of the year 1746.  At first we entertained of each other only sentiments of friendship, I being upon the point of marrying another gentleman; which, for some prudential reasons, was soon put off, and at last came to nothing.  Some months after our first interview, Mr. Cranstoun left Henley; and, about the following summer, returned to his uncle, Lord Mark Kerr, who lived at a house he had hired in that town, called Paradise.  After his arrival at Henley, our friendship continued for some time; in one part of which I told him, as a friend that wished me well, of another advantageous match that had been proposed to me; but at the same time declared to him, that I was afraid the gentleman was not formed to make me happy.  Upon this, he asked me, “whether or not I preferred mutual love to the grandeur of life?” To which I replied, “I preferred the man I loved and esteemed to all others.”  This induced him to make a proposal to me in the following terms:  “Miss Blandy, I have upon my hands an unhappy affair, which to you I have made no secret of; I can assure you, before I speak what follows, I am not now married, nor never was; tho’ by the nature of the Laws of Scotland, I am involved in some difficulties brought upon me by that affair, out of which it will be some time before I can extricate myself.  Do you think you could love a man well enough to stay till this affair be brought to a determination?  I have, added he, wished such a proposal might take effect from the very first moment that I saw you; but my honour would not permit me to make it in form, till the invalidity of my pretended marriage did appear to the whole world.”  To this I made no reply, as Lord Mark Kerr at that instant came into the garden; Mr. Cranstoun and I being then at his house.  The next day Mr. Cranstoun came to my father’s, and renewed the discourse; on which I told him, that “if my Papa and Mamma would approve of my staying for him, I readily consented thereto.”  After this he took the first opportunity of speaking to my Mamma upon the same subject; and he received from her the following answer:  “Sir, you do my daughter an honour; but I have understood, that you have a perplexing affair upon your hands, and it is reported that you are married.”  He then made answer, “Madam, as I have a soul to be saved, I am not, nor ever was.”  To which she replied:  “Very well, Mr. Cranstoun, I will take your word as to that; but I have many more reasons to give you why I disapprove of your proposal.  In the first place, you are a man of fashion., and I believe your fortune small; my daughter has been brought up with great rare and tenderness, and as neither of you seem to me cut out to live upon a small fortune, you would both like to live in a manner suitable to your station.”  To which she