the whole Sex, who none of them durft venture on Sir Sampfon. At length Mrs. Deborah undertook him, and gave fo good an Account of him, that in three Years time the very fairly laid him out, and measured his Length upon the Ground. This Exploit has gained her fo great a Reputation in the Club, that they have added Sir Sampson's three Vi'tories to hers, and give her the Merit of a fourth Widowhood; and she takes her Place according

ly.

VIII. The Widow Wildfire, Relict of Mr. John Wildfire, Fox-hunter, who broke his Neck over a fix Bar Gate. She took his Death fo • much to Heart, that it was thought it would have put an End to her Life, had fhe not diverted her Sorrows by receiving the Addreffes of a Gentleman in the Neighbourhood, who made Love to her in the fecond Month of her Widowhood. This Gentleman was difcarded in a Fortnight for the fake of a young Templar, who had the Poffeffion of her for fix Weeks after, till he was beaten out by a broken Officer, who like

'wife gave up his Place to a Gentleman at Court. The Courtier was as fhortlived a Favourite as his Predeceffors, but had the Pleasure to see himself 'fucceeded by a long Séries of Lovers, who followed the Widow Wildfire to the 37th Year of her Age, at which time there enfued a Ceffation of ten "Years, when John Felt, Haberdasher, "took it in his Head to be in love with her, and it is thought will very fuddenly carry her off.

IX. The laft is pretty Mrs. Runnet, who broke her firft Husband's Heart before fhe was fixteen, at which time fhe was entred of the Club, but

foon after left it, upon Account of a * fecond whom he made fo quick a "Dispatch of, that the returned to her 'Seat in less than a Twelvemonth. This young Matron is looked upon as the moft rifing Member of the Society, and will probably be in the Prefident's Chair before the dies.

THESE Ladies, upon their first Inftitution, refolved to give the Pictures of their deceased Husbands to the Club-Room; but two of them 'bringing in their Dead at full Length, they covered all the Walls: Upon ' which

which they came to a fecond Refolution, that every Matron fhould give 'her own Picture, and fet it round ' with her Husbands in Miniature.

AS they have most of them the 'Misfortune to be troubled with the 'Cholick, they have a noble Cellar of 'Cordials and ftrong Waters. When 'they grow Maudlin, they are very apt to commemorate their former Part'ners with a Tear. But ask them 'which of their Husbands they con'dole, they are not able to tell you, and discover plainly that they do not

weep
fo much for the Lofs of a Huf-
band, as for the want of one.

THE principal Rule, by which the 'whole Society are to govern themselves, is this, To cry up the Pleasures of a fingle Life upon all Occafions, in order to deter the rest of their Sex from Marriage, and engross the whole Male "World to themselves.

THEY are obliged when any one 'makes Love to a Member of the Society, to communicate his Name, at C which time the whole Affembly fit upon his Reputation, Perfon, Fortune, ' and good Humour, and if they find 'him qualified for a Sifter of the Club,

they

3

they lay their Heads together how to make him fure. By this means they are acquainted with all the Widow• hunters about Town, who often afford them great Diverfion. There is an honeft Irish Gentleman, it seems, • who knows nothing of this Society, but at different times has made Love to the whole Club.

THEIR Converfation often turns upon their former Husbands, and it is very diverting to hear them relate their feveral Arts and Stratagems, with which they amufed the Jealous, pacified the Cholerick, or wheedled the • Good-natured Man, 'till at last, to use the Club Phrafe, They fent him out of the Houfe with his Heels foremost.

THE Politicks, which are most • cultivated by this Society of She-Ma• chiavils, relate chiefly to these two Points, How to treat a Lover, and How to manage a Husband. As for the firft Set of Artifices, they are too numerous to come within the Compafs of your Paper, and fhall therefore be referved for a fecond Letter.

THE Management of a Husband is built upon the following Doctrines, ' which are univerfally affented to by

the

the whole Club. Not to give him his • Head at firft. Not to allow him too great Freedoms and Familiarities. Not to be treated by him like a raw Girl, but as a Woman that knows the World. Not to leffen any thing of, her former Figure. To celebrate the Generofity, or any other Virtue, of a • deceased Husband, which fhe would • recommend to his Succeffor. To turn away all his old Friends and Servants, that The may have the dear Man to her felf. To make him difinherit the undutiful Children of any former Wife. Never to be thoroughly convinced of his Affection, 'till he has made over to her all his Goods and Chattels.

'AFTER fo long a Letter, I am, • without more Ceremony,

Your humble Servant, &c.

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