To Mrs. MARY JONES, at Brambleton-hall.

DEAR MOLLY,

HEVING this opportunity, I fend my love to you and Saul, being in good health, and hoping to heer the fame from you? and that you and Saulwill take my poor kitten to bed with you this cold weather. We have been all in a fad taking here at Gloftar-Mifs Liddy had like to have run away with a player-man, and young master and he would adone themfelves a mifchief; but the fquire applied to the mare, and they were bound over.-Mistress bid me not speak a word of the matter to any Chriltian foul-no more I thall: for, we fervints fhould fee all and fay nothing-But what was worse than all this, Chowder has had the misfortune to be worried by a butcher's dog, and came home in a terrible pickle-Miftrefs was taken with the afterisks, but they foon went off, The docter was fent for to Chowder, and he fubfcribed a repofitory, which did him great fervice-thank God he's now in a fair way to do well-pray take care of my box and the pilliber, and put them under your own bed; for, I do fuppofe, madam Gwillim will be a prying into my fecrets, now my back is turned. John Thomas is in good health, but fulky. The fquire gave away an ould coat to a poor man; and John fays as how tis robbing him of his perquifites.-I told him, by his agreement he was to receive no vails; but he fays as how there's a difference betwixt vails and perquifites; and fo there is for fartain. We are all going to the Hot Well,

where

where I fhall drink you health in a glass of water,

being,

Dear Molly,

Gloftar, April 2d.

Your humble fervant to command,
WIN. JENKINS.

To Sir WATKIN PHILLIPS, Bart. OF JESUS COLLEGE, OXON.

DEAR PHILLIPS,

AS I have nothing more at heart than to convince you I am incapable of forgetting, or neglecting the friendship I made at college, I now begin that correfpondence by letters, which you and I agreed, at parting, to cultivate. I begin it fooner than I intended, that you may have it in your power to refute any idle reports which may be circulated to my prejudice at Oxford, touching a foolish quarrel, in which I have been involved on account of my fifter, who had been fome time fettled here in a boarding school. When I came hither with my uncle and aunt (who are our guardians) to fetch her away, I found her a fine, tall girl, of feventeen, with an agreeable perfon; but remarkable fimple, and quite ignorant of the world. This difpofition, and want of experience, had expofed her to the addreffes of a person-I know not what to call him, who had feen her at a play; and, with a confidence and dexterity peculiar to himself, found means to be recommended to her acquaintance. It was by the greatest accident I intercepted one of his letters; as it was my duty to ftifle this correspondence in its birth, I made it my business to find him out, and tell him very freely my fentiments of the matter. The spark did not like the stile I used, and behaved with abundance of mettle. Though his rank in life

(which,

(which, by the bye, I am afhamed to declare) did not entitle him to much defference; yet as his behaviour was remarkably fpirited, I admitted him to the privilege of a gentleman, and fomething might have happened, had not we been prevented. -In short, the bufinefs took air, I know not how, and made abundance of noise-recourfe was had to justice—I was obliged to give my word and honour, &c. and to-morrow morning we fet out for Briftol Wells, where I expect to hear from you by the return of the post.- -I have got into a family of originals, whom I may one day attempt to defcribe for your amusement. My aunt, Mrs. Tabitha Bramble, is a maiden of forty-five, exceedingly ftarch, vain, and ridiculous. My uncle is an odd kind of humorist, always on the fret, and fo unpleasant in his manner, that, rather than be obliged to keep him company, I'd refign all claim to the inheritance of his eftate.-Indeed his being tortured by the gout may have foured his temper, and, perhaps, I may like him better on further acquaintance: certain it is, all his fervants and neighbours in the country, are fond of him, even to a degree of enthufiafm, the reafon of which I cannot as yet comprehend. Remember me to Griffy Price, Gwyn, Manfel, Baffet, and all the reft of my old Cambrian companions. Salute the bed-maker in my name- give my fervice to the cook, and pray take care of poor Ponto, for the fake of his old mafter, who is, and ever will be,

To Mrs. JERMYN, at her house in Gloucefter.

DEAR MADAM,

HAVING no mother of my own, I hope you will give me leave to disburthen my poor heart to you, who have always acted the part of a kind parent to me, ever fince I was put under your care. --Indeed, and indeed, my worthy governess may believe me, when I affure her, that I never harboured a thought that was otherwife than virtuous; and, if God will give me grace, I shall never behave fo as to caft a reflection on the care you have taken in my education. I confefs I have given juft cause of offence by my want of prudence and experience. I ought not to have listened to what the young man faid and it was my duty to have told you all that paffed, but I was afhamed to mention it; and then he behaved fo modeft and refpectful, and feemed to be fo melancholy and timorous, that I could not find in my heart to do any thing that could make him miferable and defperate. As for familiarities, I do declare, I never once allowed him the favour of a falute; and as to the few letters that paffed between us, they are all in my uncle's hands, and I hope they contain nothing contrary to innocence and honour.---I am still perfuaded that he is not what he appears to be but time will difcover--mean while I will endeavour to forget a connexion, which is fo difpleafing to my family. I have cried without ceafing, and have not tafted any thing but tea, fince I was hurried away from you; nor did I once close my eyes for three nights running.---My aunt continues to chide me feverely when we are by ourselves; but I hope to foften her in time, by humility and fubmiffion.---My uncle, who was

fo

fo dreadfully paffionate in the beginning, has been moved by my tears and diftrefs; and is now all tenderness and compaffion; and my brother is reconciled, to me, on my promise to break off all correfpondence with that unfortunate youth: but, notwithstanding all their indulgence, I fhall have no peace of mind till I know my dear and ever honoured governefs has forgiven her poor, difconfolate, forlorn,

Affectionate humble fervant,

till death,

Clifton, April 6.

LYDIA MELFORD.

TO MISS LETITIA WILLIS, AT GLOUCESTER.

MY DEAR LETTY,

I AM in fuch a fright, leaft this (hould not come fafe to hand by the conveyance of Jarvis, the carrier, that I beg you will write to me, on the receipt of it, directing to me, under cover, to Mrs Winifred Jenkins, my aunt's maid, who is a good girl, and has been fo kind to me in my affliction, that I have made her my confidant! as for Jarvis, he was very fhy of taking charge of my letter and the little parcel, because his fifter Sally had like to have loft her place on my account: indeed I cannot blame the man for his caution; but I have made it worth his while. My dear companion and bed-fellow, it is a grievous addition to my other misfortunes, that I am deprived of your agreeable company and converfation, at a time when I need fo much the comfort of your good humour and good fenfe; but, I hope, the friendship we contracted at the boardingfchool, will laft for life-I doubt not but on my fide it will daily increase and improve, as I gain experience,