Scott [née Robinson], Sarah (1720-1795)

A Description of Millenium Hall, and the Country Adjacent

London

Printed for J. Newbery

1762

"His mind was so entirely enslaved, that he beheld nothing but in the light wherein she pleased to represent it, and was so easy a dupe, that she could scarcely feel the joys of self triumph in her superior art, which was on no subject so constantly exerted, as in keeping up a coldness in Sir Charles towards his daughter; this she had with tolerable facility effected in her absence, and was assiduously careful to preserve now she was present."

Great was the joy of the two friends at meeting. Miss Melvyn's situation at home was rendered as irksome as possible, by Lady Melvyn's behaviour both to her and Sir Charles, who, notwithstanding her ill treatment, was extremely fond of, and totally guided by her. His mind was so entirely enslaved, that he beheld nothing but in the light wherein she pleased to represent it, and was so easy a dupe, that she could scarcely feel the joys of self triumph in her superior art, which was on no subject so constantly exerted, as in keeping up a coldness in Sir Charles towards his daughter; this she had with tolerable facility effected in her absence, and was assiduously careful to preserve now she was present. To those who know not the power an artful woman can obtain over a weak man, it would appear incredible, that any father could be prejudiced against a daughter, whose whole attention was to please him. She had so perfect a command over her temper, that she never appeared to take offence at any thing Lady Melvyn said or did, though that lady endeavoured by every provocation to throw her off her guard. This behaviour only encreased her hatred, which was not in the least abated by Miss Melvyn's taking every opportunity of being serviceable to her brothers and sisters-in-law. Lady Melvyn persuaded Sir Charles, that his daughter's calmness was only assumed in his presence, and continually complained of her insolence, when he was not by. If he ever appeared to doubt the truth of her report, she would burst into tears, complain of his want of love, and little confidence in her; and sometimes thought proper to shew her grief at such treatment, by a pretended hysteric fit, always ready at call to come to her assistance, though really so unnecessarily lavished on one easily duped without those laborious means, that it appeared a wantonness of cunning, which was thus exerted only for its own indulgence. She soon perceived that Miss Melvyn rather chose to submit to any aspersions, than to render her father unhappy, by undeceiving him; and taking advantage of this generosity, would sometimes, to establish his opinion of her veracity, accuse Miss Melvyn to her face of offences which she had never committed, and things she had never said.
(104-5)

Government::Slavery

Reading and using HDIS to doublecheck search

Five entries in ESTC (1762, 1763, 1764, 1767). Second edition, corrected in 1764; third edition in 1767.

Reading Sarah Scott, A Description of Millenium Hall, ed. Gary Kelly (Ontario: Broadview Literary Texts, 2001).

See also A Description of Millenium Hall, and the Country Adjacent: Together with the Characters of the Inhabitants, And such Historical Anecdotes and Reflections, as May excite in the Reader proper Sentiments of Humanity, and lead the Mind to the Love of Virtue. By A Gentleman on his Travels (London: Printed for J. Newbery, 1762). <Link to archive.org>

01/25/2004