SIR,

LETTER XXIII.

The answer.

F modefly be the greatest glory in our fex, furely it cannot be blame-worthy in your's. 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 efteem.

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 modeft merit, which modeft merit only deferves.

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

Your humble fervant.

I

LETTER XXIV.

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

Dear Madam,

REMEMBER that one of the ancients, in defcribing a youth in love, fays, he has neither wifdom enough to fpeak, nor to hold his tongue. If this be a juft defcription, 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 must 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 fully for

⚫any

any man to attempt who knows you. No, Madam; your good fenfe and endowments have raised you far above the neceffity of practising 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 ro mance but as I would hope, that the happiness 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 see you mine, even when we have both outlived the taste of every thing that has not virtue and reason to fupport it. I am, Madam, notwithtanding this unpolished addrefs,

Your most respectful admirer,

And obedient humble fervant.

I

LETTER XXV.

The lady's anfwer, encouraging a farther declaration.

SIR,

AM very little in love with the fashionable methods of courtship: fincerity with me is preferable to com pliments; yet I fee no reafon why common decency fhould be difcarded. There is fomething fo odd in your fyle, that, when I know whether you are in jeft or earneft, I fhall be lefs at a lofs to anfwer you. Mean time, as there is abundant rooin for rifing, rather than finking, in your complaifance, you may poffibly have chofen wifely to begin firft at the lower. If this be the cafe, I know not what your fucceeding addreffes may produce; but I tell you fairly, that your prefent makes no great impref fion, yet perhaps as much as you intend, on Your humble fervant.

LET.

LETTER XXVI.

The gentleman's reply, more openly declaring his paffions

Dear Madam,

OW I have the hope of being not more despised for

my acknowledged affection, I declare to you, with all the fincerity of a man of honour, that I have long had a moft fincere paffion for you; but I have feen gentlemen led fuch dances, when they have given up their affections to the lovely tyrants of their hearts, and could not help themselves, that I had no courage to begin an address in the ufual forms, even to you, of whofe good fenfe and generofity I, nevertheless, had a good opinion. You have favoured me with a few lines, which I most Kindly thank you for. And I do affure you, Madam, if you will be pleafed to encourage my honourable fuit, you fhall have fo juft an account of my circumstances and pretenfions, as, I hope, will entitle me to your favour in the honourable light in which I profefs myself, dear Madam,

Your most obliged and faithful admirer.

Be fo good as to favour me with one line more to encourage my perfonal attendance, if not disagreeable.

LETTER XXVII.

The lady's anfwer to his reply, putting the matter on a fudden iffue.

SIR,

A

S we are both fo well inclined to avoid unneceffary trouble, as well as unneceffary compliments, I think proper to acquaint you, that Mr Dunford of Winchester has the management of all my affairs; and is a man of fuch probity and honour, that I do nothing, in any mat

ters

ters of confequence, without him. I have no dislike to your perfon; and if you approve of what Mr Dunford can acquaint you with in relation to me, and I approve of his report in your favour, I fhall be far from thewing any gentleman that I have either an infolent or a fordid fpirit, efpecially to fuch as do me the honour of their good opinion. I am, Sir,

Your humble fervant.

LETTER XXVIII.

A facetious young lady to her aunt, ridiculing her ferious lover.

I

Dear Aunt,

AM much obliged to you for the kindness you intend ed me, in recommending Mr Richards to me for a husband but I must be fo free to tell you, he is a man no-ways suited to my inclination. I defpife, it is true, the idle rants of romance; but I am inclinable to think there may be an extreme on the other fide of the question.

The first time the honeft man came to fee me, in the way you was pleased to put into his head, was one Sunday after fermon-time. He began with telling me, what I found at my finger-ends, that it was very cold, and politely blowed upon his. I immediately perceived that his paffion for me could not keep him warm; and, in complaifance to your recommendation, conducted him to the fire-fide. After he had pretty well rubbed heat into his hands, he ftood up with his back to the fire, and, with his hands behind him, held up his coat, that he might be warm all over; and, looking about him, asked, with the tranquility of a man a twelvemonth married, and just come off a journey, how all friends did in the country? I faid, I hoped very well, but would be glad to warm my fingers. Cry mercy, Madam and then he fhuffled a little further from the fire; and after two or three hems, and a long pause

I have heard, fays he, a moft excellent fermon just now. Dr Thomas is a fine man truly; did you ever hear him, Madam? No, Sir, I generally go to my own parish-church. That is right, Madam, to be fure. What was your fubject to-day? The Pharifee and the Publican, Sir. A very good one truly: Dr Thomas would have made fine work upon that fubject. His text to-day was, "Evil communications corrupt good manners." A good fubject, Sir; I doubt not but the doctor made a fine difcourfe upon it. O ay, Madam, he cannot. make a bad one upon any fubject.

I rung for the tea-kettle; for, thought I, we fhall have all the heads of the fermon immediately.

At tea he gave me an account of all the religious focieties unasked; and how many boys they had put out 'prentices, and girls they had taught to knit and fing pfalms. To all which I gave a nod of approbation, and was just able to fay, (for I began to be most horribly in the va pours), it was a very excellent charity. O ay, Madam,, faid he again, (for that is his word I find), a very excelIcut one truly; it is fnatching fo many brands out of the fire. You are a contributor, Sir, I doubt not. O ay, Madam, to be fure; every good man would contribute to fuch a worthy charity, to be fure. No doubt, Sir, a bleffing attends upon all who promote fo worthy a defign. O ay, Madam, no doubt, as you fay; I am fure I have found it; bleffed be God! and then he twanged his nofe, and lifted up his eyes as if in an ejaculation. O, my good aunt, what a man is here for a husband! At last came the happy moment of his taking leave; for I would not ask him to ftay fupper; and, moreover, he talked of going to a lecture at St. Helen's. And then (though I had an opportunity of faying little more than Yes, and No, all the time; for he took the vapours he had put me into for devotion, or gravity; at least I believe fo) he preffed my hand, looked frightfully kind, and gave me to understand, as a mark of his favour, that if, upon further converfation, and'inquiry into my char. after, he should happen to like me as well as he did from