who, you need not doubt, will in this cafe, as in all others, ftudy your good, as becomes Your indulgent father.

Your mother gives her bleffing to you, and joins with me in the above advice. Your brother and fifter, and all friends, fend their love and respects to you.

LETTER XX.

A modeft lover defiring an aunt's favour to him for

Good Madam,

her niece.

I HAVE feveral times, when 1 have been happy in the company of your good niece, thought to have spoken my mind, and to declare to her the true value and affection I have for her; but juft as I have been about to speak, my fears have vanquished my hopes, and I have been obliged to fufpend my defign. I have thrown out feveral hints, that I thought would have led the way to a fuller difclofing of the fecret that is too big for my breaft; and yet, when I am near her, it is too important for utterance. Will you be fo good, Madam, to break the way for me, if I am not wholly difapproved off by you, and prepare her dear mind for a declaration that I muft make, and yet know not how to begin. My fortune and expectations make me hope that I may not on thefe accounts be deemed unworthy. And could I, by half a line from your hand, hope that there is no other bar, I fhould be enabled to build on fo defirable a foundation, and to let your niece know how much my happiness depends upon her favour.

Excufe, good Madam, I befeech you, this trouble, and prefumptuous request, from

Your obliged humble fervant,

LETTER XXI.

The aunt's anfwer, fuppofing the gentleman deferves

SIR,

encouragement.

I CANNOT fay I have any dislike, as to my own part, to your propofal, or your manner of making it, whatever my niece may have; because diffidence is generally the companion of merit, and a token of refpect. She is a perfon of prudence, and all her friends are fo thoroughly convinced of it, that her choice will have the weight it deferves with us all: fo I cannot fay what will be the event of your declaration to her; yet, fo far as I may take upon myself to do, I will not deny your requeft; but, on her return to-morrow, will break the ice, as you defire, not doubting your honour, and the fincerity of your profeffions; and I fhall tell her, moreover, what I think of the advances you make. I believe fhe has had the prudence to keep her heart entirely difengaged, because the would otherwife have told me; and is not fo meanfpirited as to be able to return tyranny and infult for true value, when she is properly convinced of it. Whoever has the happiness (permit me, tho her relation, to call it fo) to meet with her favour, will find this her character; and that it is not owing to the fond partiality of, Sir,

Your friend and fervant.

LETTER XXII.

From a respectful lover to his mistress.

Dear Madam,

HAVE long ftruggled with the moft honourable: and refpectful paffion that ever filled the heart of man; I have often tried to reveal it perfonally, as often in this way; but never till now could prevail upon my fears and doubts. I can no longer ftruggle with a fecret that has given me fo much torture to keep, and yet hitherto more when I have endeavoured to reveal it. I never entertain the hope of feeing you without rapture; but when I have that pleasure, inftead of being animated, as I ought, I am utterly confounded. Whatcan this be owing to, but a diffidence in myfelf, and an exalted opinion of your worthiness? And is not this a ftrong token of ardent love? Yet, if it be, how various is the tormenting paffion in its operations! fince fome it infpires with courage, while others it deprives of all neceffary confidence. I can only affure you, Madam, that the heart of man never conceived a ftronger or fincerer paffion than mine for you. If my reverence for you is my crime, I am fure it has been my fufficient punifliment. I need not fay my defigns and motives are honourable. Who dare approach fo much virtuous excellence with a fuppofition that fuch an affurance is neceffary? What my fortune is, is well known, and I am ready to ftand the teft of the strictest inquiry. Condefcend, Madam, to embolden my refpectful paffion by one favourable line, that if what. I here profefs, and hope further to have an opportunity to affure you of, be found to be unquestionably true, then, I hope, my hum-

ble addrefs will not quite be unacceptable to you; and thus you will for ever oblige, dear Madam, Your affectionate admirer,

and devoted fervant.

LETTER XXIII

The answer.

IF

SIR,

F modesty be the greatest glory in our fex, fure ly it cannot be blameworthy. in yours. For my own part, I must think it the most amiable quality either man or woman can poffefs. Nor can there be, in my opinion, a true refpect where there is not a diffidence of one's own merit, and an high opinion of the perfon's we esteem.

To fay more on this occafion would little become me; to fay lefs would look as if I knew not how to pay that regard to modest merit which modeft merit only deferves.

You, Sir, beft know your own heart; and if you are fincere and generous, will receive, as you ought, this frankness from, Sir,

Your humble fervant.

LETTER XXIV.

A gentleman to a lady, profeffing an aversion to the tedious formality in courtship.

Dear Madam,

REMEMBER that one of the Ancients, in de fcribing a youth in love, fays, he has neither wifdom enough to fpeak, nor to hold his tongue, If this be a juft defeription, the fincerity of my

paffion will admit of no difpute: and whenever in your company I behave like a fool, forget not that you are anfwerable for my incapacity. Having made bold to declare this much, I muft prefume to fay, that a favourable reception of this will, I am certain, make me more worthy of your notice; but your difdain would be what I believe myfelf incapable ever to furmount. To try by idle fallacies, and airy compliments, to prevail on your judgment, is a folly for any man to attempt who knows you. No, Madam, your good fenfe and endowments have raised you far above the neceffi ty of practifing the mean artifices which prevail upon the lefs deferving of your fex: you are not to be fo lightly deceived; and, if you were, give me leave to fay, I fhould not think you deserving of the trouble that would attend fuch an attempt.

This, I must own, is no fashionable letter from one who, I am fure, loves up to the greatest hero of romance: but as I would hope, that the happinefs I fue for fhould be lafting, it is certainly moft eligible to take no ftep to procure it but what will bear reflection; for I fhould be happy to fee you mine, even when we have both outlived the taste of every thing that has not virtue and reafon to fupport it. I am, Madam, notwithstanding this unpolished address,

Your most respectful admirer,

And obedient humble fervant.

LETTER XXV.

The lady's answer, encouraging a farther declaration.

SIR,

IAM very little in love with the fashionable methods of courtship: fincerity with me is prefer