I must not conclude without telling you, that I will do the utmoft in the affair you defire. It would be an inexpreffible joy to me if I could ferve you, and I will always do all I can to give my felf pleasure. I with as well for you as for my felf; I am in love with you both much as I am with my felf, for I find my felf most fo with all three, when I leaft fufpect it.

I am, &c.

LETTER XII,

To Mrs. Arabella Fermor on her

You

Marriage,

OU are by this time fatisfy'd how much the tenderness of one man of merit is to be prefer'd to the addreffes of a thousand, And by this time, the Gentleman you have made choice of is fenfible, how great is the joy of having all thofe charms and good qualities which have pleas'd fo many, now apply'd to please one. only. It was but juft, that the fame Virtues which gave you reputation, should give you happiness; and I can with you no greater, than that you may receive it

in as high a degree your felf, as fo much good humour muft infallibly give it to your

husband.

It may be expected perhaps, that one who has the title of Poet, fhould fay fomething more polite on this occafion: But I am really more a well-wifher to your felicity, than a celebrater of your beauty. Befides, you are now a married woman, and in a way to be a great many better! things than a fine Lady; fuch as an excellent wife, a faithful friend, a tender parent, and at laft as the confequence of them all, a faint in heaven. You ought now to hear nothing but that, which was all you ever defired to hear (whatever others may have. fpoken to you) I mean Truth: And it is with the utmoft that I affure you, no friend you have can more rejoice in any good that befalls you, is more fincerely delighted with the profpect of your future happiness, or more unfeignedly defires an long continuarice of it. I beg you will: think it but juft, that a man who will certainly be spoken of as your admirer, after he is dead, may have the happiness to be esteem'd while he is living

Your, &c.

LET

LETTER XIII.

HE chief cause I have to repent my

・TH leaving the town, is the uncertainty

I am in every day of your Sifter's state of health. I I really expected by every posts to have heard of her recovery, but on the contrary each letter has been a new awakening to my apprehenfions, and I have ever fince fuffer'd alarms upon alarms on her account. No one can be more fenfibly touch'd at this than I; nor any danger of any I love cou'd affect me with more uneafinefs, (tho' as I never had a fifter I can't be quite fo good a judge as you, how far humanity wou'd carry me) I have felt fome weakneffes of a tender kind, which I would not be free from, and I am glad to find my value for people fo rightly plac'd, as to perceive them on this occafion.

I cannot be fo good a chriftian as to be willing (tho' no less than God fhould order it) to refign my own happiness here for hers in another life. I do more than wifh for her fafety, for every wish I make I find immediately chang'd into a prayer,

and

and a more fervent one than I had learn'd to make till now.

May her Life be longer and happier than perhaps her felf may defire, that is, as long and as happy as your felf can with: May her Beauty be as great as poffible, that is, as it always was, or as yours is; but whatever ravages a merciless diftemper may commit, I dare promife her boldly, what few (if any) of her makers of vifits and complements dare to do; fhe fhall have one man as much her admirer as ever. As for As for your part, Madam, you have me fo more than ever, fince I have been a witness to the generous tenderness you have fhewn upon this occafion.

Your, &c.

LETTER XIV

Tis with infinite fatisfaction I am

I'm

made acquainted that your brother will at last prove your relation, and has entertain'd fuch fentiments as become him

in your concern. I have been prepar'd -for this by degrees, having feveral times receiv'd from Mrs. that which is one

of the greatest pleasures, the knowledge

that

that others enter'd into my own fentiments concerning you. I ever was of opinion that you wanted no thore to be vindicated than to be known; and like Truth, cou'd appear nb where but you muft conquer. As I have often condol'd with you in your adverfities, fo I have a right which but few can pretend to, of congratulating on the profpect of your better fortunes; and I hope for the future to have the concern I have felt for you overpaid in your felicities. Tho' you modeftly fay the world has left you, yet I verily believe it is coming to you again as faft as it can: For to give the world its due, it is always very fond of Merit when 'tis paft its power to oppofe it. Therefore if you should take it into favour again upon its repentance, and continue in it, you would do fo far from leading what is commonly call'd an unfettled life, (and what you with too much unjust severity call a Vagabond Life,) that the wife could only look upon you as a Prince in a progrefs, who travels to gain the affections he has not, or to fix thofe he already has; which he effectually does wherever he fhews himself. But if you are refolv'd in revenge to rob the world of fo much example as you may afford it, I believe your defign will be vain; for even in a Monaftery your devotions cannot carry

you