than yourself; and the agreeable hours we have spent together, cannot be equalled unless they are repeated. When I read your first letter to my sister, I considered your proposal of marriage as the highest honor that could be conferred on our family, and yet, without partiality, I firmly believe that the woman to whom you have paid your addresses has merit equal to any in the world. She returned from the boarding school about ten years ago, during which time she has superintended the affairs of my family, and conducted them with such prudence, as is seldom met with in one of her years. Many offers have been made to her, by fox hunters in our neighborhood, but their characters were so totally opposite to her sentiments, that she rejected them with the utmost disdain, a although apparently beneficial. My sister, sir, has much more refined notions, than to pay any more regard to affluence, than what would procure her an independent subsistence, and too great a regard to her conscience, to sacrifice her peace of mind, to enjoy the greatest earthly grandeur. To use her own words, she considers riches as laying her under an additional obligation to act for the good of her fellow creatures, as a faithful steward of that Almighty Being, who has declared that he will exact a strict account from his creatures, in what manner they have used those gifts which his unbounded liberality has bestowed. Her leisure hours have been spent in reading; and when I have met with her in the garden or in the fields, she had constantly in her hands either Thompson, Milton, or Young, but most commonly the Bible. It may possibly occur to your thoughts that what I have said in commendation of a beloved sister, arises from a fraternal affection; but I do assure you, sir, that I could not help repeating her many accomplishments, were you an utter

stranger, and even a married man. A person even destitute of virtue and sensibility might remain ignorant of my sister's merits forever; but, by one of your worth, I doubt not but they will be estimated by their real value. Light and darkness cannot dwell together, nor can those of opposite tempers ever be happy; but where there is an intellectual as well as corporal union, nothing in this life can interrupt its rational enjoyment. But I had almost forgot that I was writing to one who is well acquainted with these things; nor should I have enlarged so much, had not I regarded your friendship and interest on the one hand, and my sister's happiness on the other. Yet, not to detain you any longer, my consent for a happy union, is not only at your service, but, as I said before, I shall consider it as a very happy event; and I have not the least doubt of your ever repenting of your choice. I have heard that secular affairs call for your attendance in London; when those are settled, I shall be glad to hear from you, and also of my sister and you being happily joined in marriage. In the mean time she is at my house, where you may freely correspond, and am,

Your sincere friend.

LETTER 119.

From the Gentleman, after his arrival in London, to the Lady in the Country.

MY DEAR,

For so I must now call you; I arrived here last night, and embrace this first opportunity of writing.

What a busy place is London! What a variety of objects, strange faces, and what a continual hurry of busi

ness! The citizens acquiring fortunes by trade, whilst the nobility and gentry are squandering away their estates left them by their ancestors; but such has always been the conduct of mankind in trading nations. One sows, another reaps, whilst a third part enjoys the fruit of their labor. For my own part, I am neither fond of gaiety nor solitude. In all things there is a medium, which ought to be preferred to extremes. A sudden elevation to affluence or grandeur, and a sudden fall from either, are equally dangerous: the one too often plunges the person into all sorts of immorality, whilst the effects of the other are most commonly despair. I would choose to spend. three months in every year in London, and the remainder in the country. This, in my opinion, is a more rational scheme than the present mode of continually hurrying from place to place, without scarce ever relishing the pleasures of any. But I had almost forgot to whom I am writing. As soon as I have settled my affairs here, which will take up about three weeks, I intend going to Windsor, to visit my daughters at their boarding-school, and from thence hasten to your brother's; when I hope that union will take place which must terminate only with our lives. I have employed my attorney to draw up articles of a jointure for you, and which I shall bring along with me to be signed in the presence of your friends. I hope your brother and his wife are well. I received his excellent letter, and heartily thank him for the contents.

I am, my dear,

12

Yours sincerely and affectionately.

LETTER 120.

From a Lover to his Mistress, lately recovered from Sickness.

MY DEAR,

This day's post has brought me the joyful news of your happy recovery. The indispensable necessity I was under of attending my business at this place, hindered me from beholding on a sick bed, all that is dear to me in the world; but I need not persuade you to believe this, as I hope you have had sufficient proofs of my fidelity; and what I have suffered on account of your illness may be felt but not expressed. When I took the letter in my hand, I trembled, and possibly should not have had courage to open it had not the seal been red. To one oppressed with fear, the smallest matter yields a glimpse of hope. I opened the letter, and you may easily imagine what was my joy, when, instead of reading an account of your death, it contained the delightful news of your recovery, written by your father.

Ah! thought I, my charmer is still weak, or she would not have employed another hand.

This led me to fear a relapse; but I hope that God, whose great mercy has preserved you hitherto, will perfect your recovery. You are constantly in my thoughts, and I pray for you every day. That I may once more be happy in seeing you, I have sent for my brother to manage my business during my absence. I expect him here in about ten days, when nothing but sickness shall prevent my coming. You will receive by the coach a small parcel containing some of the newest patterns both of silks and laces, together with some other things. Such trifles are scarce worth mentioning; but I hope you will accept

them as a testimony of my sincere love to her whom in a few months I hope to call my own. Present my duty to your honored parents, and believe me to be, with the greatest sincerity,

Your ever affectionate lover.

LETTER 121.

From a rich young Gentleman, to a beautiful young Lady with no

MISS SOPHIA,

Fortune.

It is a general reflection against the manners of the present age, that marriage is only considered one of those methods by which avarice may be satisfied, and poverty averted; that neither the character nor accomplishments of the woman are much regarded, her merit being estimated by the thousands of her fortune. I acknowledge that the accusation is too true, and to that may be ascribed the many unhappy matches we daily meet with; for how is it possible that those should ever have the same affection for each other, who were forced to comply with terms to which they had the utmost aversion, as if they had been allowed to consult their own inclinations and give their hands where they have engaged their hearts? For my own part, I have been always determined to consult my inclination where there is the least appearance of happiness; and having an easy independency, am not anxious about increasing it; being well convinced that in all states the middle one is best, I mean neither poverty nor riches; which leads me to the discovery of a passion for you, which I have long endeavored to conceal.