I

LETTER DCLXXXIV,

FRANCES to HENRY.

Windfor-cafile.

HAVE long contended for it, that I had lefs

Vanity in my Compofition than any Woman, or Writer alive; but I now honestly confess that I have deceived myfelf, or perhaps you have puffed the latent Spark fo long, that it has at length rifen to a Flame; for I declare that I can scarce contain the Exultation and Self-complacency, which I am fenfible of from your charming, kind, and flattering Letters. That which I receive last seems always the most pleafing; so that you still appear to rife upon yourself every Poft.

I really wonder where you find Parts (not to mention Paffion) to exprefs at once the Strength and Delicacy of your Affection, through fo long a Series of Years as well as of Letters, without Repetition or Reduction-fhould One of your Billets doux happen to fall into any Perfon's Hands by Chance, would they not fuppofe it to be written by fome young Inamorato in the Meridian of his Paffion, to fome diftinguished fair One,

VOL. VI.

B

equally

equally the Subject of a Painter's Pencil, and a Poet's Pen? And upon feeing it addreffed to me, might they not conclude that I was but the convenient Duenna, who fuffered the Epiftles to be directed to her, in order to mask the Amour? And how would it increase their Aftonishment, to know that this little quiet, inactive Mortal was informed with the fame reciprocal Spirit of Love, Delicacy, and Tenderness, for a plain, clumfy Man, declined in the Vale of Years (though that I hope not much)? What a rare, what an extraordinary Inftance, beyond Experience or Philosophy, is there here, of Love, Conftancy, Virtue, and Happiness! I have a Right to be vain, and I will be fo for the Reft of my Life.

I am vastly entertained with your Novel, as you call it. What admirable Addrefs you must be Master of, who could confefs a prior Paffion to a Second Miftrefs, and yet teach her to esteem the divided Heart better than the Whole. To win a præingaged One is the higher Triumph; and to be preferred upon Comparison, the greatest Compliment. I have reason to think myself as fortunate as the youngest Daughter in a Fairy Tale, who receives Half a Cake with a Blessing, instead of an whole One and a Curse.

I thank

I thank you for your Quotation from Rouffeau : It is fenfible, tender, ingenious, and philofophic. He is, in my Mind, a fine Writer in many Particulars, and is poffeffed of a Species of Enthusiasm that ferves to ripen Virtue. But what can I say to that charming Paffage in your Letter, which gave you occafion to introduce it?

I have been looking over your Letter again, to fee what other Paragraphs I fhould attempt to obferve upon; but I find that I should exceed my Sheet, if I was to fpeak my Sentiments upon every Paffage of it; and as you have fo niggardly confined yourself to Four Pages, you must be satisfied if I return you as much (though not as good) as you bring.

I lately preferred you to the Poft of Travelling Fellow to our Univerfities; and I would now recommend you as Correfponding Fellow to any Prince in Europe-I would not to a Princefs, though. If I was fome rich Duchefs Dowager I should certainly refide for the Remainder of my Life at my old Manfion-house in the Country, and would give a large Salary to fome fuch a Correspondent as you are, to write poftly to me. No Matter what the Topics were; for the in

genious, like the philofophic Mind, turns all Occurrence to its own Advantage:"

"His Eye begets Occafion for his Wit, "For every Object that the One doth catch, "The other turns to a Mirth-moving Jeft."

A Man of Senfe merely must have fome folid Matter for his Subject-but a Person of Wit is equally entertaining and improving, whether an Atom, or a World; an Angel, or a Worm, be his Themes.

Exclufive of the other Merits of your last Letter, there was a lucky Crifis in my receiving it. I had been really dejected and mortified at the many infuperable Difficulties which occur in the Manufacturing of Eugenie. I had Hopes that the Quiet and Retirement of this Place would have left my Mind free from every other Thought or Care, except the Work I was ingaged in: But these are vain Ideas, invented by Poetry, and denied by Philofophy-for I agree with Milton, though he makes the Devil fay it, The Mind is its own Place.

Under these Discouragements, I had determined to quit the Field, when your Letter arrived, and rallied my broken and dispersed Spirits to the Charge again.

"Infpir'd by thee, what may I not atchieve ?"

Yes,

Yes, my dear Guide, Philofopher, and Friend, I will ftill pursue the arduous Tafk (though.. hopeless of Success) that I may boaft the Merit of emulating you in One Particular at least.

I am afraid that many of my little Scribbles. mifcarry, because you do not seem to acknowledge feveral of those I have wrote to you: This is mortifying, to think that they may fall into other Hands; because I write without the least Study, or Reserve, and in the fulleft Hope that no Eye but yours fhall ever glance upon my Letters.

Had I a Thousand Years allotted me, I should never be able to exprefs Half the Love, Efteem, and Gratitude I owe and feel at this Moment for my dearest Henry; but my Paper is done before my Prate, as well as yours..

Adieu! Adieu!

FRANCES.

P. S. We have had great Thunder and Lightning here this Summer, but I do. not hear of any Mischief done by it yet.