PRA

LETTER VI.

In the Style of a Lady.

RAY what is your opinion of Fate? for I must confefs I am one of thofe that believe in Fate and Predeftination.-No, I can't go fo far as that, but I own I am of opinion one's ftars may incline, tho' not compel one; and that is a fort of free-will; for we may be able to refift inclination, but not compulfion.

Don't you think they have got into the most prepofterous fashion this winter that ever was, of flouncing the petticoat fo very deep, that it looks like an entire coat of luteftring?

It is a little cool indeed for this time of year, but then, my dear, you'll allow it has an extreme clean pretty look.

Ay, fo has my muflin apron; but I would not chufe to make it a winter fuit of cloaths.

Well now I'll fwear, child, you have put me in mind of a very pretty drefs; let me die if I don't think a muflin flounce, made very full, would give one a very agreeable Flirtation air.

Well, I fwear it would be charming! and I fhould like it of all things-Do you think there are any fuch things as Spirits ?

Do you believe there is any fuch place as the Elyfian fields O Gad, that would be charming! I with I were to go to the Elyfian fields when I die, and then I should not care if I were to leave the world to-morrow: But is one to meet, there with what one has lov'd moft in this world?

Now you must tell me this pofitively. To be fure you can, or what do I correspond with you for, if you won't tell me all? you know I abominate Referves I

LET

YOU

LETTER VII.

Bath, 1714.

OU are to understand, Madam, that my paffion for your fair self and your fifter, has been divided with the most wonderful regularity in the world. Even from my infancy, I have been in love with one after the other of you, week by week, and my journey to Bath fell out in the three hundred feventy-fixth week of the reign of my fovereign lady Sylvia. At the prefent writing hereof it is the three hundred eighty-ninth week of the reign of your most ferene majefty, in whofe fervice I was lifted fome weeks before I beheld your fifter. This information will account for my writing to either of you hereafter, as either fhall happen to be Queenregent at that time.

Pray tell your fifter, all the good qualities and virtuous inclinations fhe has, never gave me fo much pleasure in her converfation,, as that one vice of her obftinacy will give me mortification this month. Ratcliffe commands her to the Bath, and she refuses! indeed if I were in Berkshire I should honour her for this obftinacy, and magnify her no lefs for difobedience than we do the Barcelonians. But people change with the change of places (as we fee of late) and virtues become vices when they cease to be for one's intereft, with me, as with others.

Yet let me tell her, the will never look fo finely while fhe is upon earth, as fhe would here in the water. It is not here as in most other instances, for thofe ladies that would please extremely, muft go out of their own element. She does not make half fo good a figure on horfeback as Chriftina Queen of Swedent; but were the once feen in the Bath, no man would part with her for the beft mermaid in Christendom. You know I have feen you often, I I 4

per

perfectly know how you look in black and in white, I have experienced the utmost you can do in colours; but all your movements, all your graceful steps, deserve not half the glory you might here attain, of a moving and easy behaviour in buckram: Something between swimming and walking, free enough, and more modeftly-half-naked than you can appear any where else. You have conquer'd enough already by land; fhow your ambition, and vanquish alfo by water. The buckram I mention is a dress particularly useful at this time, when, we are told, they are bringing over the fashion of German ruffs: You ought to use yourself to fome degrees of ftiffness before hand; and when our ladies chins have been tickled a-while with ftarched muflin aud wire, they may poffibly bear the brush of a German beard and whifker.

I could tell you a delightful ftory of Doctor P. but want room to difplay it in all its fhining circumftances. He had heard it was an excellent cure for love, to kiss the Aunt of the perfon beloved, who is generally of years and experience enough to damp the fierceft flame; he try'd this course in his paffion, and kiffed Mrs. E at Mr. D-'s, but, he fays, it will not do, and that he loves you as much

as ever.

LETTER

VIII.

Your, &c.

I

F

To the fame.

you ask how the waters agree with me, I must tell you, fo very well, that I question how you and I fhould agree if we were in a room by ourfelves. Mrs. has honestly affured me, that but

for

for fome whims which fhe can't entirely conquer, The would go and fee the world with me in man's cloaths. Even you, Madam, I fancy (if you would not partake in our adventures) would wait our coming in at the evening with some impatience, and be well enough pleas'd to hear them by the fire-fide. That would be better than reading romances, unless lady M. would be our hiftorian. What raises these defires in me, is an acquaintance I am beginning with my lady Sandwich, who has all the spirit of the last age, and all the gay experience of a pleafurable life. It were as fcandalous an omiffion to come to the Bath and not to fee my lady Sandwich, as it had formerly been to have travelled to Rome without vifiting the Queen of Sweden. She is, in a word, the best thing this country has to boast of; and as she has been all that a woman of fpirit could be, fo fhe ftills continues that eafy and independent creature that a sensible woman always will be.

I muft tell you a truth, which is not, however, much to my credit. I never thought fo much of yourself and your fifter, as fince I have been fourscores miles diftant from you. In the Forest I look'd upon you as good neighbours, at London as pretty kind of women, but here as divinities, angels, goddeffes, or what you will. In the fame manner I never knew at what rate I valued your life, till you were upon the point of dying. If Mr.and you will but fall very fick every season, I fhall certainly die for you. Serioufly I value you both for much, that I efteem others much the lefs for your fakes; you have robb'd me of the pleasure of esteeming a thousand pretty qualities in them, by fhowing me fo many finer in yourfelves. There are but two things in the world which could make you indifferent to me, which, I believe, you are not capable of, I mean ill-nature and malice. I have seen enough of you, not to overlook any frailty you could have,

and

and nothing less than a vice can make me like you lefs. I expect you should discover by my conduct towards you both, that this is true, and that therefore you fhould pardon a thousand things in me for that one difpofition. Expect nothing from me but truth and freedom, and I fhall always be thought by you what I always am,

Your, &c.

I

LETTER IX.

To the fame.

1714.

Return'd home as flow and as contemplative after I had parted from you, as my Lord * retired from the Court and glory to his Country feat and wife, a week ago. I found here a dismal despond, ing letter from the fon of another great courtier who expects the fame fate, and who tells me the great ones of the earth will now take it very kindly of the mean ones, if they will favour them with a vifit by day-ight. With what joy would they lay down all their fchemes of glory, did they but know you have the generofity to drink their healths once a day, as foon as they are fallen? Thus the unhappy, by the fole merit of their misfortunes, become the care of Heaven and you. I intended to have put this haft into verfe, but in this age of ingratitude my best friends forfake me, I mean my rhymes

I defire Mrs. P― to stay her ftomach with these half hundred Plays,. till I can procure her a Romance big enough to fatisfy her great foul with adventures. As for Novels, I fear fhe can depend upon none from me but that of my Life, which I am still, as I have been, contriving all poffible methods to fhorten, for the greater eafe both of the hiftorian and the reader.