Clarissa, Volume 1 | Page 2

owing, and not to a weak or reproachable
heart. As far as it is consistent with human frailty, and as far as she
could be perfect, considering the people she had to deal with, and those
with whom she was inseparably connected, she is perfect. To have been
impeccable, must have left nothing for the Divine Grace and a purified
state to do, and carried our idea of her from woman to angel. As such is
she often esteemed by the man whose heart was so corrupt that he
could hardly believe human nature capable of the purity, which, on
every trial or temptation, shone out in her's [sic].
Besides the four principal person, several others are introduced, whose
letters are characteristic: and it is presumed that there will be found in
some of them, but more especially in those of the chief character
among the men, and the second character among the women, such
strokes of gayety, fancy, and humour, as will entertain and divert, and
at the same time both warn and instruct.
All the letters are written while the hearts of the writers must be
supposed to be wholly engaged in their subjects (the events at the time
generally dubious): so that they abound not only in critical situations,
but with what may be called instantaneous descriptions and reflections
(proper to be brought home to the breast of the youthful reader;) as also
with affecting conversations; many of them written in the dialogue or
dramatic way.
'Much more lively and affecting,' says one of the principal character,
'must be the style of those who write in the height of a present distress;
the mind tortured by the pangs of uncertainty (the events then hidden in
the womb of fate;) than the dry, narrative, unanimated style of a person
relating difficulties and danger surmounted, can be; the relater perfectly
at ease; and if himself unmoved by his own story, not likely greatly to
affect the reader.'
What will be found to be more particularly aimed at in the following
work is--to warn the inconsiderate and thoughtless of the one sex,
against the base arts and designs of specious contrivers of the other --to
caution parents against the undue exercise of their natural authority
over their children in the great article of marriage-- to warn children

against preferring a man of pleasure to a man of probity upon that
dangerous but too-commonly-received notion, that a reformed rake
makes the best husband--but above all, to investigate the highest and
most important doctrines not only of morality, but of christianity, by
showing them thrown into action in the conduct of the worthy
characters; while the unworthy, who set those doctrines at defiance, are
condignly, and, as may be said, consequentially punished.
From what has been said, considerate readers will not enter upon the
perusal of the piece before them as if it were designed only to divert
and amuse. It will probably be thought tedious to all such as dip into it,
expecting a light novel, or transitory romance; and look upon story in it
(interesting as that is generally allowed to be) as its sole end, rather
than as a vehicle to the instruction.
Different persons, as might be expected, have been of different
opinions, in relation to the conduct of the Heroine in particular
situations; and several worthy persons have objected to the general
catastrophe, and other parts of the history. Whatever is thought material
of these shall be taken notice of by way of Postscript, at the conclusion
of the History; for this work being addressed to the public as a history
of life and manners, those parts of it which are proposed to carry with
them the force of an example, ought to be as unobjectionable as is
consistent with the design of the whole, and with human nature.

NAMES OF THE PRINCIPAL PERSONS
MISS CLARISSA HARLOWE, a young lady of great beauty and merit.
ROBERT LOVELACE, ESQ. her admirer. JAMES HARLOWE, ESQ.
father of Clarissa. MRS. HARLOWE, his lady. JAMES HARLOWE,
their only son. ARABELLA, their elder daughter. JOHN HARLOWE,
ESQ. elder brother of James Harlowe, sen. ANTONY HARLOWE,
third brother. ROGER SOLMES, ESQ. an admirer of Clarissa,
favoured by her friends. MRS. HERVEY, half-sister of Mrs. Harlowe.
MISS DOLLY HERVEY, her daughter. MRS. JUDITH NORTON, a
woman of great piety and discretion, who had a principal share in the
education of Clarissa. COL. WM. MORDEN, a near relation of the
Harlowes. MISS HOWE, the most intimate friend, companion, and
correspondent of Clarissa. MRS. HOWE, her mother. CHARLES
HICKMAN, ESQ. an admirer of Miss Howe. LORD M., uncle to Mr.

Lovelace. LADY SARAH SADLEIR, LADY BETTY LAWRANCE,
half-sisters of Lord M. MISS CHARLOTTE MONTAGUE, MISS
PATTY MONTAGUE, nieces of the same nobleman. DR. LEWEN, a
worthy divine.