THIS, I confess, hath been my Case, in the Person of _Youwarkee_, in the following Sheets; for having formed her Body, I found myself at an inexpressible Loss how to adorn her Mind in the masterly Sentiments I coveted to endue her with; 'till I recollected the most aim[i]able Pattern in your Ladyship; a single View of which, at a Time of the utmost fatigue to his Lordship, hath charmed my Imagination ever since.
If a Participater of the Cares of Life in general, alleviates the Concerns of Man; what an invaluable Blessing must that Lady prove, to the Softness of whose Sex Nature hath conjoined an Aptitude for Council, an Application, Zeal, and Dispatch but too rarely found in his own!
Had my Situation in Life been so happy as to have presented me with Opportunities of more frequent and minuter Remarks upon your Ladyship's Conduct, I might have defy'd the whole _British_ Fair to have outshone my southern Gawry: For if, to a majestic Form and extensive Capacity, I had been qualified to have copied that natural Sweetness of Disposition, that maternal Tenderness, that Cheerfulness, that Complacency, Condescension, Affability, and unaffected Benevolence, which so apparently distinguish the Countess of _Northumberland_; I had exhibited in my _Youwarkee_ a Standard for future Generations.
Madam, I am the more sensible of my Speaking but the Truth from the late Instance of your Benignity, which entitles me to the Honour of subscribing myself,
Giving an account of the authors birth and family--The fondness of his mother--His being put to an academy at sixteen by the advice of his friend--His thoughts of his own literature
How he spent his time at the academy--An intrigue with a servant maid there--She declares herself with child by him--Her expostulations with him--He is put to it for money--Refused it from home by his friend, who had married his mother--Is drawn in to marry the maid--She lies in at her aunts--Returns to her service--He has another child by her
Minds his studies--Informs his master of his mother's marriage and usage of him--Hears of her death--Makes his master his guardian--Goes with him to take possession of his estate--Is informed all is given to his father-in-law--Moral reflections on his condition and on his father's crimes