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At an age when the human mind is most susceptablesusceptible [sic] of, and too often imbibes, a passion for voluptuous pleasure; ere yet experience the sage precepts had impressed. Lord Belfont inherited a splendid fortune. His levees were crowded with the most fashionable part of the world; the voice of flattery incessantly sang his praise, and bestowed on him every virtue that could ennoble man. His rank in life, and extensive fortune introduced him into the first families in England ; and overtures of marriage were made to him by the parents and guardians of the greatest beauties of the age; but Belfont, though not insensible to the charms of beauty, was not yet become the vassal of their power.

The attention which he invariably received from the whole circle of his acquaintance, it might reasonably be supposed, was very acceptable to the inexperienced Belfont; but notwithstanding his extreme youth and ignorance of man and manners