short time she began to seel the happiness of acting without controul, of being unaccountable for her hours, her expences, and her company; and learned, by degrees, to drop an expression of contempt, or pity, at the mention of ladies whofe husbands were suspected of restraining their pleasures, or their play, and consessed that she loved to go and come as she pleased.

I was still savoured with some incidental precepts and transient endearments, and was now and then fondly kissed for smiling like my papa: but most part of her morning was spent in comparing the opinion of her maid and milliner, contriving somo variation in her dress, visiting shops, and sending compliments; and the rest of the day was too short for visits, cards, plays, and concerts.

She now began to discover that it was impossible to educate children properly at home. Parents could not have them always in their sight; the society of servants was contagious; company produced boldness and spirit; emulation excited industry; and a large school was naturally the first step into the open world. A thousand other reasons she alleged, some of little force in themselves, but so well seconded by pleasure, vanity, and idlenefs, that thev soon overcame all the remaining principles of kindness and piety, and both I and my brother were dispatched to boarding schools.

How my mamma spent her time when she was thus disburdened I am not able to insorm you, but I have reason to believe that trifles and amusements took still saster hold of her heart. At first, she visited me at school, and afterwards wrote to me* buc 5 in in a short time, both her visits and her letters were at an end, and no other notice was taken of me than, to remit money for my support.

When I came home, at the vacation, t found myself coldly receivedi wkh an Observation, "thatthis girl will presently be a woman." I was, after the usual stay, sent to school again, and overheard my mother say, as I was a going, "Well, now I shall recover.*'

In fix months more I came again, and with the usual childish alacrity, was running to my mother's embrace, when she stopt me with exclamations at the suddenness and enormity of my growth, having, flie said, never seen any body (hoot up so much at my age. She was sure no other girls spread at that rate, and she hated to have children look like women before their time. I was disconcerted, and retired without hearing any thing more than, " Nay» "if you are angry, madam Steeple, you may Walk "off."

When once the forms of civility are violated, there remains little hope of return to kindness or decency. My mamma made this appearance of resentment a reason for continuing her malignity, and poor Miss Maypole, for that was my appellation, was never mentioned or spoken to but with sonic expression of anger or dislike.

She had yet the pleasure of dressing me like a child, and I know not when I should have been thought tit to change my habit, had I not been rescued by a maiden sister of my sather, who could not bear to see women in hanging-sleeves, and therefore presented me with brocade for a gown, for which I

A a a . should should have thought myself under great obligations, had she not accompanied her savour with some hints that my mamma might now consider her age, and give me her ear-rings, which she had shewn long enough in publick places.

I now left the school and came to live with my mamma, who considered me as an uiurper that had seized the rights of a woman before they were due, and was pushing her down the precipice of age, that I might reign without a superior. While I am thus beheld with jealousy and suspicion, you will readily believe that it is difficult to please. Every voi d and look is an ofsence. I never speak, but I pretend to some qualities and excellencies, which it is criminal to possess; if I am gay, she thinks it early enough to coquette; if I am grave, me hates a prude in bibs; if I venture into company, I am in haste sor a husband; if I retire to my chamber, such matron-like ladies are lovers of contemplation. I am on one pretence or other generally excluded srom her assemblies, nor am I ever suffered to visit at the same place with my mamma. Every one wonders why ike does not bring Miss more into the world, and when she comes home in vapours I am certain that she has heard either of my beauty or my vir, and expect nothing for the ensuing week but taunts and menaces, contradiction and reproaches.

Thus I live in a state of continual persecution, only because I was born ten years too soon, and cannot Hop the course of nature or of time, but am unhappily a woman before my mother can willingly ceaie to be a girl. I believe you would contribute to the happiness of many samilies, if, by

any

any arguments or persuasions, y.ou could make mothers ashamed of rivalling their children; is you could shew them, that though they may resuse to grow wise, they must inevitably grow old; and that the proper solaces of age are not musick and compliments, but wisdom and devotion; that those who are so unwilling to quit the world will soon be driven from it; and that it is theresore their interest to retire while there yet remains a sew hours for nobler employments.

I am, &c.

Numb. 56. Saturday, Sept. 29, 1750.

——— Vale at res ludhra, Jl mt

Palma ntgata mac rum, din at a reducit op imum. Hor.

Farewel the stage; for humbly I disclaim

Such fond pursuits of pleasure, or of fame,

If I must sink in shame, or swell with pride,

As the gay palm is granted or denied. Francis.

NOthing is more unpleasing than to find that offence has been received when none was intended, and that pain has been given to thofe who were not guilty of any provocation. As the great end of society is mutual beneficence, a good man is always uneasy when he finds himself acting in opposition to the purpofes of lise 5 because though his 'conscience may easily acquit him of malice prepense, of settled hatred or contrivances of mischies, yet he A a 3 seldom

seldom can be certain, that he has not sailed by negligence, or indolence; that he has not been hindered from consulting the common interest by too much regard to his own ease, or too much indisference to the happiness of others.

Nor is it necessary, that, to seel this uneasiness, the mind should be extended to any great diffusion of generofity, or melted by uncommon warmth of benevolence i for that prudence which the world teaches, and a quick sensibility of private interest, will direct us to shun needless enmities; since there is no man whose kindness we may not some time want, or by whose malice we may not some time suffer.

I have therefore srequently looked with wonder, and now and then with pity, at the thoughtlessness with which some alienate from themselves the affections of all whom chance, business, or inclination, brings in their way. When we see a man pursuing some darling interest, without much regard to the opinion of the world, we justly consider him as corrupt and dangerous, but are not long in discovering his motives; we see him actuated by passions which are hard to be resisted, and deluded by appearances which have dazzled stronger eyes. But the greater part of those who set mankind at defiance by hourly iriiration, and who live but to insuse malignity, and multiply enemies, have no hopes to foster, no designs to promote, nor any expectations of attaining power by insolence, or of climbing to greatness by trampling on others. They give up all the sweets of kindness, for the sake of peevishness, petulance, or gloom; and alienate the world by neT

glect.