taken from; the whole of which (and it was a long one) was written in the fame learned ftyle, and spelt agreeable to the rules of the fame kind of orthography. As I can fay with Millamont, "that an illiterate man is my averfion,” had I been inclined to gallantry, his Lordship's curious letter would have barred his fuccefs.

How comes it that ignorance is more confpicuous in a man than in a woman? As drinking and fwearing, though dreadful vices in themfelves, appear more horrid in the latter than the former. This obfervation tempts me to proceed a little farther on the fame topic. When once a woman divests herself of that delicacy and softness which is one of the most diftinguifhed adornments of the female character, fhe debafes herself into a brute; and having thus loft all claim to the name of a human being, fhe is looked upon with horror and contempt, by even the most diffolute of the other fex.

I have often thought, that the legislature ought to interfere upon this occafion, and enact fome law to exclude fuch unhappy wretches from fociety. For as precept is lefs powerful than example, youth and ignorance are often deluded by them; as, in general, they wish to make others as

abandoned

abandoned as themselves. Not that I wish my loved countrywomen to be tied down to the fevere rules of the Lacedæmonian ladies. I would only recommend them to join the fortitude, patience, and courage of a Roman matron, to the beauty, good fenfe, brilliancy of wit, and delicacy of an English woman.

Methinks I hear you here exclaim, “You are "a very proper perfon, indeed, to fet up for a "dictatress over the conduct of your country

women; you, who have fo erred yourself!"I acknowledge there is fome room for your making this remark—appearances, I own, are against me. But when it is confidered, that my errors have proceeded rather from imprudence, than a bad disposition; that I have severely suffered for them; and that I entertain no affuming ideas of my own understanding; I hope my having intermixed with my ftory, when they occurred, fuch fentiments as feem probable to prove beneficial to those into whofe hands they might fall, will not be objected to.

G. A. B.

LET

LETTER CII.

March, 23. 17

A Little after Christmas, as a gentlewoman with whom I was very intimate, was condoling with me upon the. many untoward events of my life, and the almoft incredible difappointments I had met with, my maid came up, almoft breathless with joy, for money to pay for a letter, which the postman faid came from India. Concluding it was from my fon, as he used always to direct for me by the name of Weft, and not having a doubt but it was for me, in the agitation of spirits I was thrown into by the unexpected occurrence, I tore it open, where it was already almost open at the back; when, inftead of the letter I was in hopes of receiving, I found two bills of exchange; one drawn upon agenntleman in Marlborough-ftreet for fifty pounds, which was the fecond; and the other on a gentleman in Ireland for thirty, with a letter of advice written to him; but no other let

ter.

I fent immediately to enquire if any other Mrs. Weft lived in the neighbourhood, but could not learn that there was. I then recollected that Mrs.

3

Charles

Charles Smith, of Wimpole-street, had called at my lodgings a year and a half before, and had left a card. As I had not the honour of knowing that lady, I judged fhe might have intended the vifit for another Mrs. Weft, and confequently might be able to give me fome intelligence relative to the affair. I accordingly wrote to inform her of my having received a pacquet; but as it contained no letter by which it could be known from whom it came, it might be intended for another. To this note I received no answer. I wrote again; when the chairman brought a verbal meffage which could not understand. It was, either that the lady was abroad or, in the country.

Not being able to gain any intelligence, after waiting fome time, I carried the bill of fifty pounds for acceptance, it being at thirty days fight. When I prefented it, the gentleman enquired where the firft bill was, to which I answered, that I had not received it. We therefore conjectured it to be loft. At the time the bill became due, the friend with whom I had left it, fent me word that there was another claimant, who had produced the third bill of exchange, and proved to be the hufband of the Mrs. Weft, in whose favour the bills

were

were drawn. I therefore delivered him the other bill and the letter. And thus vanished this pleafing expectation, as fo many others had done before.

About this time Mrs. Douglas came, as fhe faid, 'from Scotland. I met her with that open cordiality, which I hope will mark every action of my life, and shared with pleasure my little with her. But, like others, when her fituation altered, fhe wished to withdraw herfelf. For this purpose, fhe contrived to excite a difagreement between us. She commenced her rancour, by loading with abuse one of the firft characters in the kingdom; whom the knew I loved when a child, and admire

as a man.

A delicacy with regard to her fituation, induced me to let that pafs unnoticed. When this method failed, enraged at my hinting that he claimed relationship with a gentleman, to whom she had no nearer affinity than as fifter to one of Adam's fons, her rage grew ungovernable. She fcolded like one of those good women that take their feats at Billingfgate; and in their language, bestowed upon me every epithet that rancour, malice, abfurdity, a poor weak woman could invent. This had, however, no other effect, than making me finile, which

VOL. V.

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