fon take place of Paffion, I doubt not but Fate has in ftore for you fome worthier object of your affection, in recompence of your goodness to the only woman that could be infenfible of your me Fit.

I am,

SIR,

Your moft humble fervant,

LETTER

X.

M. H.

From a young lady to a gentleman who courts her, and whom the fufpects of infidelity.

SIR,

THE

HE freedom and fincerity with which I have at all times laid open my heart to you, ought to have fome weight in my claim to a return of the fame confidence: but I have reafon to fear, that the best of men do not always act as they ought. I write to you what it would be impoffible to fpeak: but, before I fee you, I defire you will either explain your conduct laft night, or confefs that you have used me not as I have deferved of you.

It is in vain to deny that you took pains to recommend yourself to Mifs Peacock: your earnestnefs of difcourfe alfo fhowed me that you were no ftranger to her. I defire to know, Sir, what fort of acquaintance you can wish to have with another perfon of character, after making me believe that you wished to be married to me. I write very plainly to you, because I expect a plain answer. I am not apt to be fufpicious, but this was too particular; and I must be either blind or indifferent to overlook it. Sir, I am neither; though, perhaps, it would be better for me if I were one or the other.

I am Your's, &c.

LETTER XI.

From a gentleman engaged to a lady, who had been feen talking to another, in anfwer to the foregoing.

My dearest Jenny,

WHAT

HAT can have put it into your thoughts to be fufpicious of me, whofe heart and foul you know are truly your's, and whose whole thoughts and wishes are but on you? Sweet quarreller, you know this. What afternoon have I fpent from you? or whom did you ever fee me speak to without diftafte, when it prevented my talking with you?

You know how often you have cautioned me not to speak to you before your, uncle; and you know he was there. But you do well to abuse me for being too obedient to your commands; for I promife you, you fhall never get any other cause. I thought it moft prudent to be feen talking with another, when it was my business not so much as to look at you. Mifs Peacock is a very old acquaintance: fhe knows my perfect devotion to you, and the very well knew all that civility and earneftnefs of difcourfe about nothing was pretended. I write to you before I come, because you commanded me; but I will make you afk my pardon in a few minutes for robbing me of those few which might have been paffed with you, and which it has taken to write this letter. My fweeteft quarreller, I am coming to you. After this never doubt but that I am

Your's most truly.

LETTER XII.

From a gentleman to a lady, whom he accuses of inconftancy.

Madam,

You muft not be furprised at a letter in the

place of a vifit from one who cannot but have reafon to believe it may eafily be as welcome as his company.

You should not fuppofe, if lovers have loft their fight, that their fenfes are all banished: and if I refufe to believe my eyes, when they fhow me your inconftancy, you must not wonder that I cannot ftop my ears against the accounts of it. Pray let us understand one another properly; for I am afraid we are deceiving ourfelves all this while. Am I a perfon whom you efteem, whose fortune you do not defpife, and whofe pretenfions you encourage? or am I a troublesome coxcomb, who fancies myself particularly received by a woman who only laughs at me? If I am the latter, you treat me as I deferve; and I ought to join with you in faying I deferve it: but if it be otherwife, and you receive me, as I think you do, as a perfon you intend to marry, (for it is beft to be plain on thefe occafions,) for Heaven's fake, what is the meaning of that univerfal coquetry in public, where every fool flatters you, and you are pleafed with the meanest of them? And what can be the meaning that I am told you, laft night in particular, was an hour with Mr Marlow, and are fo wherever you meet him, if I am not in company? Both of us, Madam, you cannot think of; and I fhould be forry to imagine that, when I had given

you my heart fo entirely, I fhared your's with any body.

I have faid a great deal too much to you, and yet I am tempted to fay more: but I fhall be filent. I beg you will anfwer this, and I think I have a right to expect that you do it generously and fairly. Do not mistake what is the effect of the diftraction of my heart for want of respect to you. While I write this, I dote upon you, but I cannot bear to be deceived where all my happiness is cen

tered.

Your most unhappy, &c.

LETTER XIII.

From a lady to her lover, who fufpected her of receiving the addresses of another. In answer to the above.

IF

SIR,

F I did not make all the allowances you defire in the end of your letter, I fhould not anfwer you at all. But although I am really unhappy to find you are fo, and the more to find myself to be the occafion, I can hardly impute the unkindness and incivility of your letter to the fingle caufe you would have me. However, as I would not be fufpected of any thing that fhould justify fuch treatment from you, I think it neceffary to inform you, that what you have heard has no more foundation than what you have feen: however, I wonder that other eyes fhould not be as eafy alarmed as your's; for, instead of being blind, believe me, Sir, you fee more than there is. Perhaps, however, their fight may be as much fharpened by unprovoked malice as your's by undeserved fufpicion.

Whatever may be the end of this difpute, (for I

do not think fo lightly of lovers' quarrels as many do,) I think it proper to inform you, that I never have thought favourably of any one but yourfelf; and I fhall add, that, if the fault of your temper, which I once little fufpected, fhould make me fear you too much to marry, you will not fee me in that state with any other, nor courted by any man in the world.

I did not know that the gaiety of my temper gave you uneafinefs; and you ought to have told me of it with lefs feverity. If I am particular in it, I am afraid it is a fault in my natural difpofi tion: but I would have taken fome pains to get the better of that, if I had known it was difagreeable to you. I ought to refent this treatment more than I do, but do not infult my weakness on that head; for a fault of that kind would want the excufe this has for my pardon, and might not be fo eafily overlooked, though I fhould wish to do it. I fhould fay I will not fee you to-day, but you have an advocate that pleads for you much better than you do for yourfelf. I defire you will first look carefully over this letter, for my whole heart is in it, and then come to me.

Your's, &c.

LETTER XIV.

From a young tradefman to a lady, whom he had feen in public.

Madam,

PERHAPS you will not be surprised to receive

a letter from a perfon who is unknown to you, when you reflect how likely fo charming a face may be to create impertinence; and I perfuade myself, that, when you remember where you fat