“ Pollaky, at 13, Paddington-green, W.
1492.—Friday, October 20, 21, 1865. MARGUERITE à FAUST.—I am dying with grief. Oh! come back to me, oh! come back to me. We cannot be separated. Oh! come back to me.—Marguerite.—Oct. 18.
[263]
1493.—Monday, October 23, 1865. UNCHANGED for EVER.—Uncertainty, repeat with initials of name.
1494.—Monday, October 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 1865. FAUST—HARRY.—Oh! come back to me. I am dying. Have pity on my poor tortured heart. They say they cannot oppose now. It rests with you. Oh! come, oh! come, oh! come. Have pity. Let me see you. Oh! ”

“ The full day is at hand. Your conduct is noble. Refer as I do thus. “God bless you. Ever your own,—.”—Dec. 18.
992.—Tuesday, December 21, 1858. NEW YEAR’S DAY.—Remember your promise, its fulfilment would atone for the past, and mitigate the future. I seek no impossible renewal—only my own peace. Urge no commonplaces as to inexpediency, &c.—the heart knoweth its own bitterness. You once confided a dark page of your life’s history to me; can you not trust me now? I never betrayed you. Ignoring “the days that are no more,” we may yet be friends. I hazard all.
993.—Saturday, January 1, 1859. ”

“ I would save you the pangs of error—God forbid of crime—and though the passion, jealousy, hate and madness you have excited—be scorned and denied—when the serpent you foster is wearied—yea, even then—here is your haven, when all forsake. ”

“ There is little doubt that mankind inherited a large amount of curiosity from our mother Eve; therefore advertisements, written in the ordinary intelligent manner, though they may be full of interest and amusement, do not strike us as forcibly as those couched in an unintelligible style like the ones to which I am now referring, and simply from the fact that we are unable to read them. ”

“ Can you not to your child spare one day from those who have so long engrossed your obedience, thoughts, actions, and feelings? Pause! Do not leave as you threatened. This day (Tuesday) see A. F. in the morning at friend Hudson’s, or at half past 3 where we parted weeks ago, on Wednesday, as arranged. +.
293.—Wednesday, November 19, 1851. MRS. F . . . . . . . N.—Is this not cruel? Two hours’ cold anxious waiting and watching. You evade meeting. You will not write. Come to R. F. at the same place, at 5 to-day (Wednesday) : or on Thursday, at the same time and place, as on Tuesday. ”

“ At the early period of 1800 the “Agony Column” seems to have been the chief medium for matrimonial advertisements; but, unfortunately, we are left considerably in the dark, and our curiosity as to whether the young nobleman (in advertisement [vi] No. 2) eventually married the unknown “Catholic widow” is not gratified; but we do learn something, namely, that love at first sight was not so rare in those days as it is supposed to be in the present unromantic age. ”

“ Engraven on my soul is your memory, in deepest characters, which time vainly will endeavour to efface, contracted as now must be its span, since without one remonstrance, one expostulation, you can resolve for ever to forget me. Wherefore, then, often warned, persist in exciting a reluctant, indeed, but never more unfeigned, sensibility, only to wound it? ”

“ It is somewhat difficult to determine whether or not the advertisements, written in the same type and signed “A. B. C.,” are answers to the others. It is quite possible that “J. de W.” might be able to receive letters without interference, but had no means of sending them without detection, and was therefore reduced to the medium of the Times. It seems quite impossible that any man, though possessed of unbounded faith and perseverance, would have struggled against fate so long. ”

“ THE ANSWER of a LETTER to an OFFICER at HEREFORD is, “That he Was.”
2.—Thursday, December 18, 1800. A CARD.—If the Lady who a Gentleman handed into her carriage from Covent Garden Theatre, on Wednesday, the third of this month, will oblige the Advertiser with a line to Z. Z., Spring Garden Coffee House, saying if married or single, she will quiet the mind of a young Nobleman, who has tried, but in vain, to find the Lady. The carriage was ordered to Bond Street. The Lady may depend on honour and secrecy. Nothing but the most honourable interview is intended. ”

“ Soyez heureuse. Sept. 29, 1862. Ap. 28. N. 6, 13. Je n’écriverai plus.
1270.—Thursday, October 2, 1862. A.Z.—Est-ce-que je te deplais en me rendant à ——? Je tâcherai à m’absenter si tu le désires véritablement, mais il faut que tu m’en avertise. Je ne crois pas à la rumeur; elle a dit de toi ce qui ne peut pas être vrai. Quant à moi, crois seulement que j’ai toujours en toi une confiance inébranlable, et que je garde religieusement ma parole. Donne-moi tes prières, j’en ai besoin. Tu as toujours les miennes. Voir The Times de samedi, le 20 septembre.—FAITH.
1271.—Monday, October 6, 1862. ”

“ Just ask yourself what single act I can do without your help? None. No one but yourself can sign or explain anything. If you persevere the consequence will be that the affair will pass into other hands, and half the money will be spent in law. ”

“ You are vilified, as if you were a bad man, and that by persons whose indulgence you might expect. Your presence may reverse what has been done. It will relieve those who love you, from distress the most unutterable.—April 27. ”

“ What you desire so much would only keep alive the subject in your mind, besides would cause grave suspicions if discovered, and render nugatory all that has been done, which would be lamentable indeed. ”

“ E. J. WILSON, Ennis, Ireland.
1050.—Tuesday, July 12, 1854. AH, bravo! Ouvre tombeau! Vous trouverez une lettre au même post-office, où tu m’en as adressé plusieurs l’année passée, sous le nom de X. Allez la chercher et tu ne dira plus que je te persécute.
1051.—Friday, August 5, 1859. FAITH.—It appears a long time since the last news was received; has anything unusual transpired in the interim? I trust you saw the last. All is well, and the ultimate result is certain, secure, and satisfactory. Never doubt this.—Ever. ”

“ LEANDER.
[4]
9.—Wednesday, December 28, 1803. MATRIMONY.—A TRADESMAN, in a pleasant part of London, wishes to meet with a PARTNER for LIFE. A handsome face is not so much his wish as an agreeable, prudent Person; a Widow would not be objected to if her age did not much exceed his own, which is under 30. Some fortune is expected. A line to A. B., under cover to Mr. Woffington, No. 41, Lombard-street, post paid, will meet with the strictest honour and secrecy.
10.—Monday, February 13, 1804. A.B. C.
11.—Saturday, June 16, 1804. TO M——A M——E. “Forget” you? By Heaven I cannot! ”

“ Αναγη.—I cannot thank you enough for keeping your promise. F. S. and leaving in C., venture to B., completing their service. There is no personal news, except that, through delay in receipt of letter from consulate, I am unable to return and enter de T. How little you know of that morning’s history—the intense effort required not to involve some one very dear—it would have been ruinous; and yet how much I would risk if necessary—I [207] do not, I shall not, forget. Reconsider what are circumstances to a will like yours! ”

“ WEST SMITHFIELD.
14.—Wednesday, October 10, and Thursday, October 11, 1804. THE LETTER of J. A. has been received this morning: the person to whom it was addressed will be happy to receive a further communication, and assures the writer that everything friendship can dictate will be done for him if he will send a line where a letter may be addressed to him: he thinks it needless to pledge his honour that secrecy will be observed, and his own inclinations alone be consulted. ”

“ TO G.—I MAY NOT.—Sept. 30.
385.—Tuesday, October 5, 1852. BOSTON.—Nightingale.—NO NEWS, but to give me information, and assist if needful.—Oct. 4.
386.—Wednesday, October 13, 1852. TO MY BELOVED EQUATOR.—Circumspice. Praeteren censco, Carthaginem esse delendam. Serve the Queen; be just, and fear not; let all the ends thou aim’st at be thy country’s, thy God’s, and truth’s—then if thou fall’st, thou fall’st a blessed martyr. My country, my beloved country, nothing but my country.—E. J. W.
387.—Monday, October 18, 1852. ALA CROIX ROUGE. Il se fera. Soit. E. J. W.
388.—Saturday, October 23, 1852. ”

“ X.Y. Z.—In answer to yours of the 9th inst., Tom writes that his sisters misunderstand him—they living in society, he in retirement, never giving, and therefore too slowly taking a hint. How can he help feeling towards them sincere brotherly love, when he is so fully aware of their many valuable qualities, including an affectionate disposition, good sense, superior education, and accomplishments? ”

“ THE EVERGREEN OAK might fade and fall, but for the strong clinging arms of the Ivy, which, once grown, can never be removed alive. Types will appear to-morrow, and acorns may be quietly looked for in a few days.
842.—Monday, June 15, 1857. IVY.—Your last is an inexhaustible source of happiness. The value of the types can only be conceived by you. Make the hour 10 to half-past. First proposal too late for you. Oak leaves early in July.
843.—Wednesday, June 17, 1857. QUEEN of HEARTS.—Your conduct is very cruel, and can only inflict pain and protract suspense ”

“ IF the Gentleman who met a LADY in Gracechurch-street, on the evening of the 9th of November last, and walked with her to the lower end of Bishopgate-street, and then waited till her return, and then accompanied her into the City, will be at the exact spot where he waited for her, at 8 o’clock on Wednesday and Thursday next, she will meet him, having something of importance to communicate. ”

“ Being obliged to agree with two dear tried friends, who saw the last, no other communication can appear, but future benefit will fully repay the present very great loss. Time and silence cannot part such faithfully attached hearts. ”

“ No. 1764 and 1765 are very much of the same description—clever, deep, and remarkable for the same want of method in transposing the alphabet, and when read are worthy of the cunning nature [x] that devised such a disguise. As the translation is a very tedious business and would require a large amount of patience and perseverance I give them both: No. 1764—“Very vexed at angry part of your letter. Why not take interest in your appearance? Heiress be damned. Have more trust. Shall always remain as usual yours only. ”

“ You are besought to let nothing stand in the way of such an explanation. Let it be full, unreserved, sincere—and be sure the future must be happier to all parties by its being so. Conceal nothing. Express your wishes distinctly—fearlessly. Do not suffer those you love to act in the dark. If changed in any respect, hesitate not to say so. God bless you. Write as before.
368.—Monday, July 19, 1852. ABSENCE is NOT PREFERRED to PRESENCE. No, no. ”

“ IF the YOUTH THAT LEFT ISLINGTON on Sunday evening can remember that he ever had a Mother, he is informed he will soon be deprived of that blessing, except he immediately writes with particulars, or personally appears before her. His friend will redress any circumstance, and settle every point to his satisfaction. ”

“ SEPTEMBER 9, 1811.
23.—Friday, March 31, 1815. A.B.’s LETTER is acknowledged with thanks, and further information is solicited most earnestly; no expense or labour will be spared in the pursuit of that justice which has hitherto been sought in vain; honour and secrecy may be relied on always.
24.—Thursday, November 7, 1816. PHILIP.—Would PHILIP like to hear of his MOTHER’S DEATH?
25.—Monday, April 27, 1818. G.B.—If every manly feeling is not extinct in you, you will return directly. It is false shame to leave a woman to combat difficulties that you could not withstand. ”