Page:Early western travels, 1748-1846 (1907 Volume 11).djvu/281

 Mr. G. Flower professes not to defend his departure from law and custom, in this second marriage, but very ingenuously confesses, that having missed his chance of happiness in his first, he was determined to try a second marriage, which promised better things; and as Mr. Birkbeck knew his situation intimately, he would not have censured him, had he not wished to marry the lady himself. As this could not be, he and Mr. Birkbeck had, instead of consulting the good of the settlement, laid by to give each other mortal stabs, or rather to {296} blast each other's good name. This ends one side of the case.

Mr. Birkbeck in reply, takes a disinterested, high, moral stand, suffering nothing to escape him relating to his own disappointments, though in a letter to Mr. Mellish, he admits "that scandal is busy with his name and affairs." He states, that soon after landing in this country, and being joined by Mr. G. Flower, he began to suspect a connection was forming between Miss Andrews and George Flower. At length it became unequivocal, and he consented to and sanctioned their marriage, as the least of two unavoidable evils; for the parties had determined either on marriage (if not impracticable), or at least on cohabitation; and, as he respected both as his children, he consented to the former as the least evil. The grand cause of a change of conduct to them (so much wondered at by the Flowers), and of not fulfilling his promises of purchasing and building for the reception of the families, will be seen in the following circumstances. He had been deceived; while G. Flower was gone to London, he became undeceived; he learnt, from the best authority, that Miss Andrews had been the cause of all the jealousy, unhappiness, and separation in G. Flower's former marriage; and that the senior branches had placed this young