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would have been ftrangely bit, while they thought only to fall in love with a fair Lady, and you had bewitch'd them with Reafon and Virtue (two Beauties that the very Fops pretend to have no acquaintance with.)

The unhappy distance at which we correfpond, removes a great many of those reftrictions and punctilious decorums, that oftentimes in nearer converfation prejudice truth, to fave good breeding. I may now hear of my faults, and you of your good qualities, without a blufh; we converfe upon fuch unfortunate generous terms, as exclude the regards of fear, fhame, or defign, in either of us. And methinks it would be as paltry a part, to impose (even in a fingle thought) upon each other in this ftate of feparation, as for Spirits of a different sphere who have fo little intercourfe with us, to employ that little (as fome would make us think they do) in putting tricks and delufions upon poor mortals.

Let me begin then, Madam, by asking you a question, that may enable me to judge better of my own conduct than most inftances of my Life. In what manner did I behave the laft hour I faw you? What degree of concern did I difcover when I felt a misfortune which I hope you will

never feel, that of parting from what one most esteems? for if my parting looked but like that of your common acquaintance, I am the greatest of all the hypocrites that ever decency made.,

I never fince pafs by your house but with the fame fort of melancholy that we feel upon feeing the Tomb of a friend, which only serves to put us in mind of what we have loft. I reflect upon the circumftances of your departure, which I was there a witnefs of (your behaviour in what I may call your last moments) and I indulge a gloomy kind of pleasure in thinking that thofe laft moments were given to me. I would fain imagine this was not accidental, but proceeded from a penetration which I know you have, in finding out the truth of people's fentiments; and that you were willing, the laft man that would have parted from you, fhould be that laft that did. I really look'd upon you just as the friends of Curtius might have done upon that Hero, at the inftant when he was devoting himfelf to Glory, and running to be loft out of generofity. I was obliged to admire your refolution, in as great a degree as I deplored it; and had only to wifh, that Hea ven would reward fo much Virtue as was to be taken from us, with all the felicities it could enjoy elsewhere! I am, &c. I 2

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LETTER XVI.

OU will find me more troublefome than ever Brutus did his Evil Genius; I fhall meet you in more places than one, and often refresh your memory before you arrive at your Philippi. Thefe fhadows of me (my letters) will be haunting you from time to time, and putting you in mind of the man who has really fuffer'd very much from you, and whom you have robb'd of the moft valuable of his enjoy. ments, your converfation. The advantage of hearing your fentiments by difcovering mine, was what I always thought a great one, and even worth the rifque I generally run of manifefting my own indifcretion. You then rewarded my truft in you the moment it was given, for you pleas'd or inform'd me the minute you anfwer'd. I must now be contented with more flow returns. However 'tis fome pleasure, that your thoughts upon Paper will be a more lafting poffeffion to me, and that I fhall no longer have caufe to complain of a lofs 1 have so often regretted, that of any

thing you faid, which I happen'd to forget. In earneft, Madam, if I were to write to you as often as I think of you, it must be every day of my life. I attend you in fpirit through all your ways, I follow you thro' every ftage in books of travels, and fear for you thro' whole folio's you make me fhrink at the past dangers of dead travellers; and if I read of a delightful profpect, or agreeable place, I hope it yet fubfifts to please you. I enquire the roads, the amufements, the company, of every town and country thro' which you pafs, with as much diligence, as if I were to fet out next week to overtake you. In a word, no one can have you more conftantly in mind, not even your guardian Angel (if you have one) and I am willing to indulge fo much Popery, as to fancy fome Being takes care of you who knows your' value better than you do your felf: I am willing to think that Heaven never gave fo much felf-neglect and refolution to a woman, to occafion her calamity, but am pious enough to believe thole qualities muit be intended to conduce to her benefit and her glory.

"

Your firft fhort letter only ferves to fhow me you are alive: it puts me in mind of the firft Dove that return'd to I 3. Noah,

Noah, and juft made him know it had found no reft abroad.

There is nothing in it that pleases me, but when you tell me you had no Sea-fickness. I beg your next may give me all the pleasure it can, that is, tell me any that you receive. You can make no difcoveries that will be half fo valuable to me as thofe of your own mind: Nothing that regards the States or Kingdoms you pafs through, will engage fo much of my curiofity or concern, as what relates to yourfelf: Your welfare, to fay truth, is more at my heart than that of Chriftendom.

I am fure I may defend the truth, though perhaps not the virtue, of this declaration. One is ignorant, or doubtful at beft, of the merits of differing religions and governments: but private virtues one can be fure of. I therefore know what particular perfon has defert enough to merit being happier than others, but not what nation deferves to conquer or opprefs another. You will fay, I am not Publick-spirited; let it be fo, I may have too many tendernesses, particularly regards, or narrow views; but at the fame time I am certain that whoever wants thefe,

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