to a field, in her opinion of equal glory, with a command to fhew that I was her daughter, and not to return without a lover. I went, and was received like other pleafing novelties with a tumult of applaufe. Every man who valued himself upon the graces of his perfon, or the elegance of his addrefs, crowded about me, and wit and fplendour contended for my notice. I was delightfully fatigued with inceffant civilities, which were made more pleafing by the apparent envy of thofe whom my prefence expofed to neglect, and returned with an attendant equal in rank and wealth to my utmost wifhes, and from this time ftood in the first rank of beauty, was followed by gazers in the Mall, celebrated in the papers of the day, imitated by all who endeavoured to rife into fashion, and cenfured by those whom age or disappointment forced to retire. My mother, who pleased herself with the hopes of seeing my exaltation, dreffed me with all the exuberance of finery; and when I reprefented to her that a fortune might be expected proportionate to my appearance, told me that the fhould fcorn the reptile who could inquire after the fortune of a girl like me. She advised me to profecute my victories, and time would certainly bring me a captive who might deferve the honour of being enchained for ever. My lovers were indeed fo numerous, that I had no other care than that of determining to whom I fhould feem to give the preference. But having been fteadily and industriously inftructed to preferve my heart from any impreffions which might hinder me from confulting my interest, I acted with lefs embarraffment, because my choice was regulated by by principles more clear and certain than the caprice of approbation. When I had fingled out one from the rest as more worthy of encouragement, I proceeded in my measures by the rules of art; and yet when the ardour of the firft vifits was fpent, generally found a fudden declenfion of my influence; I felt in myself the want of fome power to diverfify amufement, and enliven converfation, and could not but fufpect that my mind failed in performing the promises of my face. This opinion was foon confirmed by one of my lovers, who married Lavinia with lefs beauty and fortune than mine, because he thought a wife ought to have qualities which might make her amiable when her bloom was paft. The vanity of my mother would not fuffer her to discover any defect in one that had been formed by her inftructions, and had all the excellence which she herself could boaft. She told me that nothing fo much hindered the advancement of women as literature and wit, which generally frightened away those that could make the best settlements, and drew about them a needy tribe of poets and philosophers, that filled their heads with wild notions of content, and contemplation, and virtuous obfcurity. She therefore enjoined me to improve my minuet-step with a new French dancing-mafter, and wait the event of the next birth-night. I had now almoft completed my nineteenth year: if my charms had loft any of their foftnefs, it was more than compenfated by additional dignity; and if the attractions of innocence were impaired, their place was fupplied by the arts of allurement. I was therefore preparing for a new attack, without any abatement abatement of my confidence, when, in the midst of my hopes and schemes, I was feized by that dreadful malady which has fo often put a fudden end to the tyranny of beauty. I recovered my health after a long confinement; but when I looked again on that face which had been often flushed with transport at its own reflection, and faw all that I had learned to value, all that I had endeavoured to improve, all that had procured me honours or praises, irrecoverably destroyed, I funk at once into melancholy and defpondence. My pain was not much confoled or alleviated by my mother, who grieved that I had not loft my life together with my beauty; and declared, that he thought a young woman divested of her charms had nothing for which those who loved her could defire to fave her from the grave. Having thus continued my relation to the period from which my life took a new courfe, I fhall conclude it in another letter, if, by publishing this, you fhew any regard for the correfpondence of, SIR, &c. VICTORIA. NUMB. 131. TUESDAY, June 18, 1751. -Fatis accede deifque, Et cole felices; miferos fuge. Sidera calo Still follow where aufpicious fates invite ; Than truth with gain, than intereft with right. TH LUCAN. F. LEWIS. HERE is fcarcely any fentiment in which, amidst the innumerable varieties of inclination, that nature or accident have fcattered in the world, we find greater numbers concurring, than in the wifh for riches; a wifh indeed fo prevalent that may be confidered as universal and transcendental, as the defire in which all other defires are included, and of which the various purposes which actuate mankind are only fubordinate fpecies and different modifications. it Wealth is the general center of inclination, the point to which all minds preferve an invariable tendency, and from which they afterwards diverge in numberless directions. Whatever is the remote or ultimate defign, the immediate care is to be rich; and in whatever enjoyment we intend finally to acquiefce, we feldom confider it as attainable but by the means of money. Of wealth therefore all unanimoufly confefs the value, nor is there any difagreement but about the use. No No defire can be formed which riches do not affist to gratify. He that places his happiness in splendid equipage or numerous dependants, in refined praise or popular acclamations, in the accumulation of curiofities or the revels of luxury, in fplendid edifices or wide plantations, muft ftill either by birth or acquifition poffefs riches. They may be confidered as the elemental principles of pleasure, which may be combined with endless diverfity; as the effential and neceffary fubftance, of which only the form is left to be adjusted by choice. The neceffity of riches being thus apparent, it is not wonderful that almost every mind has been employed in endeavours to acquire them; that multitudes have vied in arts by which life is furnished with accommodations, and which therefore mankind may reasonably be expected to reward. It had indeed been happy, if this predominant appetite had operated only in concurrence with virtue, by influencing none but those who were zealous to deserve what they were eager to poffefs, and had abilities to improve their own fortunes by contributing to the ease or happiness of others. To have riches and to have merit would then have been the fame, and fuccess might reasonably have been confidered as a proof of excellence. But we do not find that any of the wishes of men keep a stated proportion to their powers of attainment. Many envy and defire wealth, who can never procure it by honeft industry or useful knowledge. They therefore turn their eyes about to examine what other methods can be found of gaining that which none, |