a parent. I hope that her conduct will be a pattern for you to copy after, in the whole of your future life; it is virtue alone, sir, which can make you happy. With respect to myself, I freely acknowledge that I have not at present any reason to reject your offer, although I cannot give you a positive answer until I have first consulted with my guardian. Monday next I set out for his seat in Devonshire, from whence you may be sure of hearing from me as soon as possible, and am, Your sincere well-wisher. LETTER LXXIV. From the same. Sir, IN my last I told you, that you should hear from me as soon as possible, and therefore I now sit down to fulfil my promise. I communicated your proposal to Mr. Melvill, who, after he had written to his correspondent in London, told me as follows: Miss, I have inquired concerning the young gentleman; and the information I have received is such, that I not only approve of your choice, but must also confess, that if I did not do every thing in my power to forward your union, I should be acting contrary to the request of your father when he lay on his death-bed. You may, said he, communicate this to your lover as soon as you please, and may every happiness attend you both in time and in eternity, And now, sir, have not I told you enough? some might think too much: but I am determined to begin with as much sincerity as I could wish to practise if standing in the presence of my Maker. To expect the same from you is reasonable; I look for it, and shall be very unhappy if disappointed. But I will hope the best, and doubt not but the religious education bestowed on you by your worthy mother, will operate on the whole of your future conduct in life. You may, therefore, lay aside the tedious formality of courtship, and write to me as one with whom you intend to spend your time in this world. Ever since my arrival here, my time has been spent in visiting, solus, the woods, the fields, and cottages, meditating on the unbounded goodness of the Almighty Creator. How infinite is his wisdom, how unbounded his liberality! every thing in nature conspires to exalt his praise, and acknow ledge with gratitude their dependence on him. But I will LETTER LXXV. The young gentleman's answer. My dear angel, S there any medium between pleasure and pain? can mourning and mirth be reconciled? will my dear charmer believe that whilst I was reading her letter with the greatest pleasure, I was shedding tears for an affectionate parent? thus Divine Providence thinks proper to mix some gall with our portion in life. It is impossible for me to describe the variety of passions now struggling in my breast. Ten thousand blessings to my charmer on the one hand, and as many tears to a beloved parent on the other. I conceived a notion of two impossibilities: one of which I am obliged to struggle with, the other, thanks to you, is over. I thought I could not live without my dear and honoured mother, nor enjoy one moment's comfort unless I could call you mine! but I am now obliged to submit to the one, whilst I have the pleasing prospect of being in possession of the other. Will my dear sympathize with me, or will she bear with human passions? and although all my hopes of temporal happiness is centered in you, yet I doubt not but you will excuse my shedding a tear over the remains of a dear parent, which I am now going to commit to the tomb. My dear creature, were it possible for me to describe the many virtues of that worthy woman, who is now no more, you would draw a veil over the partiality of filial duty. Her last words were these: "My dear child, I am now going to pay that debt imposed on the whole human race, in consequence of our first pa"rents' disobedience. You know what instructions I have "given you from time to time; and let me beg of you to "adhere to them, so far as they are consistent with the will "of God, revealed in his word. May you be happy in "the possession of that young lady on whom you have placed your affections; but may both you and she remember 1 "that real happiness is not to be found in this world; and "you must consider your life in this world as merely a state "of probation. To the Almighty God Frecommend you. She was going on, when the thread of life was broken, and she ceased to be any more. Such was the last end of my dear mother, whose remains are to be interred this even- ing, and as soon as I can settle every thing with her executors, I will (as it were) fly to meet you. God grant that our happiness in this life may be conducive towards promo-ting our everlasting felicity hereafter. I am, as before, Yours while life remains. LETTER LXXVI. From the lady after marriage, to her cousin, unmarried., Dear Cousin, I HAVE now changed my name, and instead of liberty, must subscribe wife. What an awkward expression, say some! how pleasing, say others! but let that be as it may, I have been married to my dear Charles these three months, and I can freely acknowledge that I never knew happiness till now. To have a real friend to whom I can communicate my secrets, and who, on all occasions, is ready to sym-pathize with me, is what I never before experienced. All these benefits, my dear cousin, I have met with in my belov-ed husband. His principal care seems to be to do every thing possible to please me; and is there not something called duty incumbent on me? perhaps you may laugh at the word duty, and say that it imports something like sla-very; but nothing is more false; for even the life of a ser vant is as pleasant as any other, when he obeys from motives of love instead of fear. For my own part, my dear, I can-not say that I am unwilling to be obedient, and yet I am not commanded to be so by my husband. You have often spoken contemptuously of the marriage state, and I be-lieve your reasons were, that most of those whom you knew were unhappy; but that is an erroneous way of judging. It was designed by the Almighty, that men and women should live together in a state of society; that they should become mutual helps to each other: and if they are blessed with children, to assist each other in giving them a virtuous education. Let me therefore beg that my dear cousin.. will no longer despise that state for which she was designed, and which is calculated to make her happy. But then, my dear, there are two sorts of men you must studiously avoid. I mean misers and rakes The first will take every opportunity of abridging your necessary expenses, and the second will leave you nothing for a subsistence. The first, by his penuriousness, will cause you to suffer from ima ginary wants: the second, by his prodigality, will make you a real beggar. But your own good sense will point out the propriety of what I have mentioned. Let me beg that you will come and spend a few weeks with us; and if you have any taste for rural and domestic life, I doubt not but you will be pleased. tam, your affectionate cousin.' LETTER LXXVII. From a young merchant in London, to a widow lady in the Country. Madam, Eney to Bristol, my mind has been continually ruminating VER since I saw you at the Wells, when I was on a jour en your many accomplishments. And although it is possible this may be rejected, yet I can no longer conceal a passion which has preyed on my spirits these six weeks. I have been settled in business about three years; my success has been equal to my expectations, and is likewise increasing. My family is respectable, though not rich; and as to the disparity of our ages, a few years will not make any differ. ence, where the affectionsare placed on so worthy an object. I can only say, madam, that I prefer you to all the young ladies I have seen; and if business continues to increase, I shall be greatly in want of one of your prudence to manage my domestic affairs. Be assured, madam, that whatever time I can spare from the necessary duties of my profession, shall be devoted to your company, and every endeavour used to make your life more agreeable and happy. As you have relations in London, they will give you every necessary information concerning my character and circum stances, although I have not the pleasure of being known to them. If you will favour me with an answer to this, it will be ever esteemed as a particular favour, and acknow ledged with the sincerest respect by your real admirer. LETTER LXXVIII. The lady's letter to her brother, an attorney in the Temple, concerning the above. Dear Brother, Yo OU know that in all affairs of importance I have constantly acted by your advice, as I am still determined to do; and therefore have sent you inclosed the copy of a letter which I received by the post, from a young gentleman in London, whom I have seen at the Wells. His behaviour here was polite without affectation, and an air of sincerity appeared in ali he said. With respect to the subject he writes of, I will give you my own thoughts, and delay sending an answer until I have had your opinion. I am at least a dozen years older than him, and possibly love, contracted where there is such difference in the ages of the parties, may terminate in want of respect on one side, and jealousy on the other. At present I am so pestered with rakes and coxcombs, that I would almost willingly give my hand to the first worthy person that offers. Indeed I have another reason for entering into the marriage state, and that is, I would choose, as I advance in years, to have a friend to whom I might at all times be able to open my mind with freedom, and who would treat me with that tenderness which my sex entitles me to. I have been a widow six years, and whatever others may say, I have found it attended with many inconveniences, and far from that pleasing life many are ready to imagine. But after all, I will be directed by you, as my only real friend to whom I can apply: if you think proper you may inquire, and when I hear from you I will send him an answer. I am your affectionate sister. AM glad to hear of your prudence in not being over I hasty in an affair of so great importance, and upon which your happiness or misery in this world will inevitably depend. Your reasons against remaining any longer in a state of widowhood are what I much approve of, and it will give |