man? For my own part, fo little of a prude am I, that I do not think that a woman of the town is a vast deal more reprehenfible.

I am fenfible, my dear Horatia, that you defpife real coquetry. The alteration of your behaviour to the young lord flowed from a different fource: but, though different, it was not perfectly pure. You wished to punish the infolence of lady Deanport, and the childish impertinence of the two other women, by making them believe that you had fome partiality for the noble lord, and that you intended to accomplish what they dreaded. This, in my opinion, was not only improper, but fuperfluous: it would have been better to have overlooked the malevolence of all the three. Envy and malevolence contain their own punishment; for, while those women feemed fo merry, at your expense, they were, in reality, feeling more pain than they gave. Befides, my dear, you ought to have recollected that you were not only deceiving

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them, but also lord Deanport, who, at that period, had given you no cause of offence.

However difpleafed lady Deanport may have been with her fon's attentions to you, it appears that she is of a different way of thinking now. This, I confefs, I do not perfectly understand: but, fince you have ranked his lordship among the polite gentlemen who are bowing to the pretty fellow in the glass, while they pretend to be making obeisance to the company, I am convinced she has no reafon to dread that he ever will be the husband

of my Horatia Clifford.

Adieu !

Yours, affectionately,

DIANA FRANKLIN.

THE

Southbury-Park, Surry.

HE day after fending my last letter to you, I accompanied Mr. Darnley and my aunt to this place. They had expreffed a wish to pass a few days with their friends, Mr. and Mrs. Tranquil. Some time this month I preffed them to put their intention into immediate execution, while the marchioness remained at Richmond, that I might not be abfent when she should return to town. I wifhed alfo to have no chance of meeting lord Deanport, for fome time, at least.

We have paffed fome days, very agreeably, with this family. What can be more agreeable than living with benevolent people, of elegant manners, cultivated minds, and ac

commodating tempers; fond of each other, and esteemed by their neighbours?

We intended to have remained fome time longer; but I have just received a letter from my brother. He has been already three days in London; and my uncle, perceiving that I was impatient to see him, and, unwilling to let me go to town alone, we are all to leave this place to-morrow morning. His fervant brought your letter this evening. I can have no chance of fleeping until I answer it. I will frankly tell you, my dear lady Diana, that fome parts of it vex me. I cannot subfcribe to your doctrine of bearing injuries without retaliation, under the refined pretence of defpifing them, or on the fuppofition that the aggreffor will be fufficiently punished by the painful fenfations which malevolence excites.

What fenfations malevolence excites none but wicked people can precisely know; but we see them exult, and exprefs pleasure, in the pain they give to others. This is not

eafily to be borne, particularly by those they injure; nor do I fee fufficient reason for not retorting upon them, and making them feel in

their turn.

the

This is abfolutely requifite for preserving of fociety:-forbearance provokes

peace

fresh infults.

I could put you in mind, my dear madam, of various inftances, in which your having despised the darts of malignity, and remained paffive, has only ferved to draw from your enemies a fresh shower, dipped in sharper poison than the former.

It is true, the point fell blunted to the ground, and the poison had no effect: but the aggreffors were equally criminal; and their remaining unpunished will render them ftill more ready to make new attacks on you or others.

You will fay, that we are enjoined to forgive our enemies. I cannot think that precept is to be understood in the literal sense, and to the extent you do; for those who con