The Liberal Critic; Or, Memoirs of Henry Percy. Or, Memoirs of Henry Percy (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos or missing text. Not indexed. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1812. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... those girls, whose tender minds a long course of felicity has enervated; while such as have passed through the calamities of poor Emily, bear up, with a noble courage, against the heaviest. Such was the language of Emily's philosophy, and happy was she that acquired the right of holding it. But this right is not to be acquired by pathetic reflections. Her conduct was alone to give it her: and therefore, instead of presuming on her strength, the surest method she thought was, to confess her weakness, and, without loss of time, to apply herself to industry for bread, and to religion for wisdom. For the first she found ample employment from the worthy sempstress with whom she lodged; but for the second she experienced difficulties that were almost insuperable: for, notwithstanding the most studious modesty of manners and appearance, she could never procure a seat in any of the numerous churches she visited, and had frequently the mortification to stand in the aisle and accept of religion as an alms like a pauper, or a dog, or else Jo return to her humble home, filled with a more lively sense of the humility of her condition. Although, indeed, she could not esteem the repulse personal, as she frequently saw several genteel women, some of whom were attended by gentlemen, suffered to go up and down the church, staring in search ef a seat, and yet allowed to wander out without perceiving the smallest disposition in any person to accommodate them: or if the pew-opener paid any attention to their design, the manner bore all the marks of the expectation of a fee for the trouble. Baffled in every attempt to benefit by public devotion, and learning from proper authority, that the protestant churches of the city were confined to the use of proprietors of pews, and that...