we may add to the reputation of our family, and gain to ourselves the good efteem of being virtuous and diligent in life, which is of great value, and ought to be studied beyond any trifling amusements whatsoever for it will be an ornament in youth, and a comfort in old age.

You have too much good nature to be offended at my advice, especially when I affure you, that I as fincerely with your happiness and advancement in life as I do my own. We are all, thank God, very well, and defire to be remembered to you, Pray, write as often as opportunity and leisure will permit; and be affured a letter from you will always give great pleasure to all your friends here,

but to none more than

Your moft affectionate brother,

and fincere humble fervant, EDWARD STANLEY.

LETTER XXIX.

A letter from a nephew to an uncle, who wrote to him a letter of rebuke.

I

Honoured Sir,

RECEIVED your kind advice, and, by the contents of your letter, perceive I have been reprefented to you as one of immoral principles. I dare not write you any excufe for the folliesand frailties of youth, becaufe, in fome measure, I own I have been guilty of them, but not to that degree which you have had them reprefented : however, your rebuke is not unfeasonable, and it fhall have the defired effect, as well to fruftrate the defigns of my enemies, (who aim to prejudife you against me,) as to pleafe you, and obey all your commands and advice, which I now fincerely

thank you for giving me; and promife, for the future, I will make it my study to reform and regain, by adhering ftrictly to your inftructions, the good opinion you was once fo kind to entertain of me. I beg my duty to my aunt, and am,

Your most obliged and ever dutiful nephew,
HENRY MONTAGUE.

Madam,

THE

HE trouble I have already given you really concerns me when I think of it; and yet I cannot help intruding again upon your goodness; for neceflity, that mother of invention, forces us to act contrary to our inclinations: therefore, pray, dear Madam, excufe me if I once more intreat your affiftance in this affair, in any manner that you fhall think proper; and I hope, at least one time in my life, to be able to convince you, that I have a thorough fenfe of the many obligations your goodnefs has conferred upon

Your moft dutiful and truly obliged niece,
And very humble fervant,

JANE PEMBERTON.

Letter from a youth at fchool to his parents.

Honoured Father and Mother,

YOUR kind letter of the 24th inft. I received in due time, and foon after the things you therein mentioned, by the carrier, for which I re

turn you my fincere thanks. They came very opportunely for my occafions. I hope foon to improve myself at fchool, though, I own, it feems a little hard and irkfome to me as yet; but my mafter gives me great encouragement, and affures me I thall foon get the better of the little difficulties that almost every boy meets with at first, and then it will be a perfect pleasure instead of a task, and altogether as pleafant and eafy as it is now irkfome and hard.

My humble duty to yourfelves; and I beg the favour of you to give my kind love to my brothers and fifters, and remember me to all friends and acquaintance; and you will oblige

Your ever dutiful and obedient fon,

CHARLES GOOD ENOUGH.

Letter from an apprentice in town to his parents in the country.

Honoured Father and Mother,

THE

HE bearer, Henry Jones, came to fee me last night, and told me he fhould fet out for home the next morning. I was not willing to let flip the opportunity of fending you a letter by him, to let you know that I am very well, and like both my mafter and miftrefs, and, by what I can fee of it, the business entirely well; and do intend (pleafe God) to use my utmoft endeavours to make myself mafter of every thing that belongs to it; in which I fhall have treble fatisfaction; firft, in pleafing my mafter; fecondly, in pleafing my friends; and, thirdly, in benefiting myfelf. I have but little leifure, nor do I want a great deal; but will take

every opportunity to let you know how I go on; and that I am, with great gratitude,

Your ever dutiful and most obedient fon.

LETTER

T. R.

XXXIII.

I

From Mifs R. at S. to her fifter in Salisbury.

HAVE often, I may fay very often, propofed writing a long epiftle to my dearest Sukey, and have as often been prevented. Mifs P. was to have been the bearer of one; but, to my great furprise, fhe left me without taking leave, nay, without giving notice of her going, and I never fo much as faw her fince yesterday fe'ennight, when I very agreeably spent the day with her and Mrs. H-, at Mr. W-'s, at M-. My uncle, whom I alfo intended to have wrote by, went away, (as you know he always does) in such a hurry, that I had no time to fet about writing a long letter, and a fhort one I knew would by no means atone for fuch a long filence. You complain in my laft of my writing with too much referve; for my own part, I think I write with too little, when I reflect on fome particulars that my uncle rallied upon before he went hence; which he never could have known, had he not feen my letters, or been acquainted with the contents of them. What fay you to that, my dear? But I forgive.-Well, but what news? fay you: I'll tell you Laft Monday morning, a very agreeable party, among whom. was Aunt R met us at a sweet pleasant cottage of content on Weftphalia Common; they brought with them a little elegant repaft, exactly fuited to the fize of the cottage, which, hough but just big enough for us to fit down in, was capable of holding a world of happiness, as we proved;

for the weather was extremely pleafant, the company perfectly harmonious, and we were all exceffively agreeable to each other; but, in an inftant, for fuch a day of pleasure seemed but a moment, the still evening came on, and all our joys were hushed. In fhort, about eight o'clock we broke up from this sweet little rural retreat, which, believe me, dear Sukey, afforded high entertainment for a day to us all. I wished greatly that you could have been a partaker; but, however, at your return we will attempt the like again. By the help of your company it is poffible we may fucceed as well a fecond time; though that, I muft own, an expectation of this fort is feldom the cafe. Well, for the prefent, I will take my leave of the cot; and now for the news of the town. The first that occurs to me is the marriage of our old miftrefs, who thought it better late than never, and last Friday hook hands for life with Mr. S. the draper. He is a little advanced as well as fhe, but no matter; why may there not be pleasure at the latter time of life as well as at the beginning? though, for my own part, I must confefs, I am not for putting happiness off till to-morrow, if it may as well be had to-day.

But, to be ferious, my dear, there is no other news all over the town worth mentioning; 'tis all as infipid as the last dish of old bachelors' tea. But when are we to fee you? You have long, very long, talked of returning home; pray talk no more of it, nay write no more, but instead of your agreeable letters, let us have your more agreeable. company, and you'll most truly oblige

Your affectionate fifter, E. B.