equal to my highest wishes. With respect to the subject of the letter you gave me this morning, I can only say, that I have no objection to your complying with the young gentleman's request, as I think it may be for your mutual happiness. Indeed, I had some suspicion of it before he left this place; but being well convinced of his merit, I was almost assured no step of that nature would be taken without my consent. That you have, and even my approbation. May you both be as happy as I wish! I desire no more." Here the good man stopped, tears hindered him from proceeding, and me from making a reply. A scene of tenderness ensued, which you may feel, although I cannot describe it. His own letter will convince you, and you may make please.

what use of it you

I cannot conclude without mentioning your conduct at the New York ball. Was there none among so many beauties able to attract my William's notice; and will he at all times prefer my company to that of the gay and the beautiful? I will hope so, and happy shall I be if not disappointed. In hopes of hearing from you soon, I shall subscribe myself

Yours forever.

LETTER 111.

The Father's Answer to the young Gentleman.

MY DEAR YOUNG FRIEND,

Ever since I first had the pleasure of your conversation, I considered you as a young gentleman of real merit, who would not be guilty of an ungenerous action, and to that was owing not only the respect I always treat

ed you with, but also the common indulgence to converse freely with my daughter. I can freely excuse your not communicating your sentiments to me before you left this place. Your ardour was somewhat precipitate, and, as you well observe, I know what it is to be in love. The account of your uncle and family I know to be true, for I met with that worthy person who is your benefactor a few days ago at the stage office in this city, and he confirms the truth of all you have written. My dear sir, if ever you live to be a father, you will know what I feel on the present occasion; a willingness to give her to you, from a firm persuasion of your merit; and anxiety for her preservation, from a conviction in my own mind, that there is nothing permanent in this world. However, sir, you have my free consent to marry my child, and may the Divine Providence be your guide in the whole of your progress through this life! My ill state of health serves as a monitor to inform you, that my time in this world will be but short; and there is nothing would give me greater pleasure than to see my dear Sophia happily settled, before I retire to the land of forgetfulness, where the wicked cease from troubling, and where the weary are at rest. How great, sir, is the charge which I commit to your care; the image of a beloved wife long since dead, and the hope of my declining years! Her education has been consistent with her rank in life, and her conduct truly virtuous. I have not the least doubt of her conjugal duty, and your felicity in acting conformable to the character of a husband. Upon that supposition I leave her entirely to you; and as soon as you can obtain leave from the colonel, I shall expect to see you at this place, to receive from my hands all that is dear to me in this

LETTER 114.*

From the Gentlemau.

MADAM,

It was a question among the stoics, whether the whole of human life afforded most pleasure or pain? For my own part, I have always wished to consider things in the fairest light, but I often find my resolution weakened: and when I think to act the philosopher, I feel myself nothing but a man. When my late wife died, about two years ago, I proposed making the tour of England, that by mixing with strangers, my thoughts might be led from fruitless reflections on the loss I had sustained: a loss which none but myself knew. It is true, it has been so far successful, that it has taught me two things; first resignation to the will of heaven; and, secondly, that I am still unhappy in the want of a female partner. The agreeable company at the house of your worthy brother, obliged me to spend more time at York than I at first intended; nor did I know, until I had proceeded some miles, that I should be obliged once more to return. In short, madam, I am a second time in love; and athough you may be disposed to laugh, yet I assure you I am in real earnest; your own dear self is the object. But perhaps you will ask, how happens all this? I answer, that I cannot tell how it happens. But I am really fond of domestic life, and am once more resolved to alter my condition. I cannot flatter, and I think both you and I have lived long enough to judge for ourselves. There was some

*The six following are genuine, and passed between a Gentleman and Lady in England some time ago, but were once before published.

what pleased me much in the prudent manner you conduct the affairs of your brother's house; but, as he is on the point of being married, that employment will cease when the other event takes place. I did not hear that you was engaged by promise to any other; and as you have heard something concerning my family, character, and circumstances, you are more able to judge whether my present proposal is for your interest. In case you have any objections to my having children, I can only say that they will be easily answered. I have told you before, that I have only two young daughters now at a boarding school, and I have settled each of their marriage portions, and the remainder is entirely for myself; and, without being any real prejudice to my children, is more than sufficient for us both. As to the common objection against being a step mother, I think it may be easily answered, when I tell you, that my children will treat you with all manner of respect. I do not imagine you can esteem me the worse for loving my children; I have too good an opinion of you to think so; and, as for the odious appellations usually thrown out against step mothers, they can only be considered, by a lady of your sensibility, as the effect of prejudice, operating upon vulgar minds, occasioned by the conduct of some inhuman wretches, who are a disgrace to society, and who would have acted in the same manner had they been placed in any other station in life. Your own good sense will point out the propriety of what I say. From what I have written, you will be able to judge, whether or not the proposals I have now made are apparently for your real advantage. All that I desire is, to live in amity and friendship with the woman on whom I have placed my affections, as long as I am in this world. Every thing in my power will be ex

erted to make you as happy as possible, as I think, if I am not mistaken, every part of your conduct will entitle you to deserve it. I hope you will not defer sending me an answer, as I shall wait for it with the utmost impatience.

I am, madam,

Yours sincerely and affectionately.

SIR,

LETTER 115.

The Lady's Answer.

I have just received your letter, and for my own part must say, that you have acted the philosopher extremely well. I thought that love letters had not usually been extracted from Seneca or Epictetus; but, why do I wonder, when even a lady now alive went through the drudgery of learning the Greek language, in order to acquire the honor of being the translator of the latter. However, she has got far enough, and I have not any tention of following her, but shall consider my lover's phi losophical letter.

Whilst you remained at our house, I must acknowledge that your company was agreeable; and your assiduity to please arose from a conciousness of your merit as a gentleman, although at that time, neither my brother nor myself, had the most distant thoughts of ever hearing such a proposal as your letter contains. It is our common practice to entertain strangers in the same manner we did you, which is consistent with old English hospitality, and something like the conduct of the ancient. patriarchs.