what it is in the power of women to do in this particular; efpecially of those who are amiable in perfon, and have a reputation for good fenfe. Often have I seen a coxcomb, who fet out with all the confidence of a laughing Sir Hargrave, fhrink into himself, merely at the reproving eye, and restrained smile, of a young lady of judgment; and particularly, if fhe has had the address to turn round on the spot, and distinguish, by her fmiling familiarity, another man in company with whom she had reafon to be better pleased. No vain woman can be more fond of admiration, than men of this caft. Let them be confcious of a judicioufly-given disappointment, and no men are fuch nothings. The fenfible woman who laughs with the creature she should laugh at, debafes herself; puts herself on a level with him. But this is the judgment-To avoid fupercilioufnefs, and being "really" prudifh (no matter for the afperfion) in the correction fhe looks; for a look will give it. I am fpeaking of a fenfible woman, you know!-Such women, fcores

of

of which, I was going to fay, I have the happiness to know.

"The admonitions of parents can never "have the effect on young minds, that the examples of perfons near their own age "can produce; and reasons why it must "be fo, are obvious and natural enough." Never, Mifs H! Where the parents are companionable to their children, and can allow for the foibles of youth fuch as your's, fuppofe? Where the children are reasonable, and have no points in view which they are ashamed to own ?—What! never, Mifs H!-And are there not fuch cafes ?-Cannot there be fuch open-hearted frank girls as Harriot, where there is a Mrs. Shirley or Mrs. Selby?-Unhappy that there are not more fuch indulgent parents, and such undisguisedly-minded children! How "obvious" foever the reason for what you fay is, there cannot be a more dangerous doctrine propagated among young people, than that which springs from an allowance of this nature. C 2

And I

have

have therefore taken notice in print, that young people, in certain cafes, should never be determined by the advice of young people; and least of all by that of those who are in the fame circumftances with themselves." It is not", I have said, "what

"

you would do, Sally, Sukey, &c. were you "in my cafe, but what ought to be done." I know that your obfervation is rather owing to facts than juftice. But we will not, if you please, too readily give up justice to facts, left we should make cuftom a law; where it would be of general ufe to applaud the "exception," and to endeavour to weaken the force of the faulty "rule."

Give me leave to fay, that I intended more by fetting in ftrong lights the franknefs of Harriot's character, in one of the moft delicate circumstances of female life, and the fweet-tempered indulgence of good Miftreffes Shirley and Selby, (and Mr. Selby too, odd as he is, and nearer to the character of common men,) than what, at first fight, may be thought of, on a curfory read

ing. What, do you think, I have had the confidence to answer to the preffing inftances of two perfons, for whom I have great honour, that I would begin a new piece? "That I would think of doing fo, when I "had reafon to believe, that the many de"licate fituations that this laft piece, as "well as Clariffa, abounded with, were ge"nerally understood and attended to." What a duce, must a man be always writing, (what though he has the good fortune to please those who want not his inftructions) without hope of amending the inconfiderate !

Remind me, my dear Mifs H.-But I have no room to fay of what-nor to add more, than that I am,

Your fincere admirer,

paternal friend, and humble fervant,

S. RICHARDSON.

LETTER

LETTER CLI.

Mr. DUNCOMBE to the Rev. Mr. STINSTRA.

Inclofed in a letter by Mr. Richardfon.

London, June 14, 1754.

THE prefent archbishop of Can

terbury, while preacher to the fociety of Lincoln's inn, had a courfe of excellent fermons on the Ten Commandments and the Lord's Prayer. His few printed difcourses were preached on public occafions, and are all out of print*.

Mr. Browne's poem, De animi immortalitate, is applauded here by the best judges.

Mr. Balguy has been dead fome years. His fon, a clergyman of learning and ge

• They were collected and publifhed by Mr. Duncombe, in one volume octavo, in 1763. There are feven of them.