I have

copper-plates extant in this kingdom. sent you the buckles and some other things, which you will find sealed up in the parcel. We all beg that you will continue to persevere as you have begun, in an uniforn course of virtue. It will entitle you to the favour of God, be a pleasure to your parents, and turn out to your own advantage at the last.-Iam, dear brother, yours affectionately.

LETTER XXI.

From a young Tradesman lately entered into Business, to his Father, asking his consent to Marry. Honoured Sir,-You know that it is now above a year since I entered into business for myself, and finding it daily increasing, I am obliged to look out for an agreeable partner, I mean a wife. There is a very worthy family in this neighbourhood, with whom I have been some time acquainted. They are in good circumstances, and have a daughter, an amiable young woman, greatly esteemed by all who know her; I have paid my addresses to her, and likewise obtained the parents' consent, on condition that it is agreeable to you. I would not do any thing of that nature without your consent, but hope that, upon the strictest inquiry, you will find her such a person, that you will not have any objection to a match so advantageous. I, on every occasion, endeavour to act with the greatest prudence, consistent with the rules you were pleased to prescribe for my conduct. The parents are to pay me five hundred pounds on the day of marriage, if the event should happen to take place; and as they have no other children, the whole of their property becomes ours at their death. In whatever light you are pleased to consider this, I shall abide by your direction, and your answer in the meantime is impatiently expected by,-Your dutiful son.

LETTER XXII.

The Father's Answer.

My Dear Son,-I received your letter, and my reason for not sending sooner is, that it being an affair of great importance, I was willing to proceed therein with the utmost caution. I wrote to Mr. Johnston, my attorny in New Inn, requesting him to inquire concerning the family you desire to be allied with; and I am glad to hear that his account does not differ from your own. I hope you do not think that I would wish to see you one moment unhappy. Your reasons for entering into the marriage state are every way satisfactory, and I am glad to hear that the person on whom you have placed your affections is so deserving. When you have fixed the wedding-day, I will come to London, to be present at the ceremony, and spend a few days with my old friends. I hope you will continue to attend your business with the same diligence you have hitherto done, and if you should live to an old age, you will then be able to retire from trade with honour both to yourself and family.

I am, dear son, your affectionate father.

LETTER XXIII.

From a young Woman, just gone to Service in London, to her Mother in the Country,

Dear Mother, It is now a month that I have been at Mr. Wilson's, and I thank God that I like my place very well, My master and mistress are both worthy people, and greatly respected by all their neighbours. At my first coming here I thought every thing strange, and wondered to see such multitudes of people in the streets; but what I suffer most from is, the remembrance of your's and my father's kindness: but I begin to be more reconci

led to my state, as I know you were not able to support me at home. I return you a thousand thanks for the kind advice you were so good as to give me at parting, and I shall endeavour to practise it as long as I live: let me hear from you as often as you have an opportunity: so with my duty to you and my father, and kind love to all friends.

Ï remain ever, your most dutiful daughter.

LETTER XXIV.

The Mother's Answer.

My Dear Child,-I am glad to hear that you have got into so worthy a family. You know that we never should have parted from you had it not been for your good. If you continue virtuous and obliging, all the family will love and esteem you. Keep yourself employed as much as you can, and be always ready to assist your fellow servants. Never speak ill of any body; but if you do hear a bad story, try to soften it as much as you can; do not repeat it again, but let it slip out of your mind as soon as possible. I am in great hopes that all the family are kind to you, from the good character I have heard of them. If you have any time to spare from your business, I hope you will spend some part of it in reading your Bible, and the Whole Duty of Man. I pray for you daily, and there is nothing I desire more than my dear child's happiness. Remember that the more faithful you are in the discharge of your duty as a servant, the better you will prosper, if you live to have a family of your own. Your father desires his blessing, and your brothers and sisters their kind love to you. Heaven bless you, my dear child; and continue you to be a comfort to us all, and particularly to-Your affectionate mother.

LETTER XXV.

From an aged Lady in the Country, to her Niece in London, cautioning her against keeping company with a Gentleman of a bad character.

Dear Niece, The sincere love and affection which I have for your indulgent father, and ever had for your virtuous mother, when she was alive, together with the tender regard I have for your future happiness and welfare, have prevailed on me rather to inform you by a letter than by word of mouth, concerning what I have heard of your unguarded conduct, and the too great freedoms you take with Mr. Lovelace. You have been seen with him at both the Play-houses, in St. James's Park, Ranelagh, and Vauxhall. Don't imagine, that I write this from a principle of ill-nature; it is on purpose to save you from ruin; for, let me tell you, your familiarity with him gives me no small concern, as his character is extremely bad, and as he has acted in the most ungenerous manner to two or three virtuous young ladies of my acquaintance, who entertained too favourable an opinion of his honour. 'Tis possible, as you have no great fortune to expect, and he has an uncle, from whom he expects a considerable estate, that you may be tempted to imagine his addresses an offer to your advantage; but that is greatly to be questioned; for I have heard that he is deep in debt, as also that he is privately engaged to a rich old widow at Chelsea. In short, my dear, he is a perfect libertine, and is ever boasting of favours from our weak sex, whose fondness and frailty are the constant topics of his railing and ridicule.

Let me prevail on you, dear niece, to avoid his company as you would do that of a madman, for notwithstanding I still hope you are strictly virtu

ous, yet your good name may be irreparably lost by such open acts of imprudence. I have no other motive but an unaffected zeal for your interest and welfare; I flatter myself you will not be offended with the liberty here taken, by

Your sincere friend and affectionate aunt.

LETTER XXVI.

The young Lady's Answer.

Honoured Madam,-I received your letter, and when I consider your reasons for writing, thankfully acknowledge you my friend. It is true I have been at those public places you mention, along with Mr. Lovelace, but was utterly ignorant of his real character. He did make me proposals of marriage, but I told him I would do nothing without my father's consent. He came to visit me this morning, when I told him that a regard for my reputation obliged me never to see him any more, nor even to correspond with him by letter, and you may depend on my adhering to that resolution. In the meantime, I return you a thousand thanks for your friendly advice. I am sensible every young woman ought to be careful of her reputation, and constantly avoid such dangerous company. I shall leave London in about six weeks, and will call to see you after I have been at my father's.-I am honoured madam, Your affectionate niece.

LETTER XXVII.

From a young Gentleman, in the English Factory, at Lisbon, to his Sister in London.

Dear Sister, I am extremely obliged to you for the kind present by the last packet, and likewise to hear of your marriage with Mr. Bell. I am very well settled in the factory, and the gentlemen treat