would it not fubject her to a strange imputation ?

What has a woman, who expects and wishes for nothing in a man's fociety but agreeable conversation, to do with his determinations respecting marriage? Such a determination can, at most, be confidered as a misfortune: it cannot be imputed as a crime, my dear lady Diana, to a man more than to a woman; and therefore ought not to deprive him of the fociety of any virtuous women, except those who have no other view in cultivating his acquaintance but marrying him.

You also observe, that, notwithstanding his accomplishments, this Mr. Mordaunt's converfation is often more brilliant than sen

sible; that it is peculiarly agreeable to young women; and that, in fpite of my guarded expreffions, you perceive I view him with fome partiality.

The letter, however, from which you

form this judgment, was written in circumftances which, with all your favour for fenfe and contempt of folly, I am perfuaded would have influenced you yourself to have preferred agreeable nonfenfe to what is called folid fenfe. A pretty numerous company dined at my uncle's; among others, a Mr. Profer, who deals in nothing but fenfe, and that of the moft folid kind: but he drew forth his commodity in fuch profufion, that he oppreffed the whole company.

Had any one been disposed to have controverted what he faid, it would have been difficult, for two reafons; one, that all he afferted was felf-evident; the other, that he proved it by innumerable arguments.

At laft, Mr. Mordaunt ftruck in with fome obfervations of a lighter nature, which led to general converfation: this he fupported in fo entertaining a manner, as to reftore good-humour and gaiety to the whole company, except Mr. Profer, whofe countenance, though

far from being expreffive, fufficiently marked his contempt for the playful wit of Mr. Mor+ daunt, and all who admired it. I whispered to Mr. Darnley, who seemed indignant at the airs of fuperior fagacity which Mr. Profer gave himself "This man is moft completely convinced of the depth of his own understanding." That is not wonderful," answered he; "for, though no man of sense thinks himself a fool, many fools think themselves men of fenfe."

I wrote my letter to you the fame evening, under the impreffion made by the contraft between a tiresome man and an entertaining one; and, in spite of all my pains to ufe guarded expreffions, I fear I have given you an idea of my having a greater partiality for the latter gentleman than I really have.

The world, you fay, will place Mr. Mor daunt's vifits to my account, rather than to that of my uncle or aunt, while I was in their houfe; but if he continues to vifit them now, when I am three hundred miles

from it, I fhall expect that

you will acknow→ ledge to me, in the name of the world, that

it was mistaken. I

I remain, my dear lady Diana, with af fectionate compliments to the marchionefs,

Your grateful and obedient fervant,

H. CLIFFORD.

I NEVER received a more welcome letter than your laft; the very first sentence of which diffipated the gloomy apprehenfions

my

mind had been brooding over from the time I read your former.

I enter warmly into the tranfport of colonel -Sommers on this happy event. He could have better fupported the lofs of Juliet, while he was courting her, than fince she became this wife. That admirable good sense, that elegant fimplicity, which marks her,

66 one by Nature taught

To breathe her genuine thought,"0

1

and all thofe endearing qualities the has had occafion to show, fince their marriage,