LETTER CIX. The Honourable JOHN MORDAUNT to Lord MORDAUNT. MY DEAR BRother, Afhwood. IN confequence of your request, I should be with you myself at the time you receive this letter, if there were the leaft foundation for the apprehenfions you exprefs in your laft. I give you my word of honour, that mifs Clifford went to Northumberland without my having any idea that the had any fuch intention, and directly on being informed of the illness of her friend Mrs. Sommers, with which I was unacquainted. You will remember I informed you, before we parted in Hampshire, that I was to proceed to Ashwood, after a very short stay in London. That I made fo long a stay, indeed, was entirely owing to my meeting with mifs Clifford. Yet that was not the first time of my having met with that young : lady I had before feen her at Lausanne, where fhe was with her father; but fhe was then too young to make any lafting impreffion on my memory; fo that, when I met her again, after an interval of a few years, I had no recollection of having feen her before. But I must now inform you, that the mifs Horatia Clifford, in whom I am happy to find your lordship fo much interested, is the very incognita whom Travers and I met in our way to your house; of whose beauty I raved fo much, and fhould have continued to rave still more, if I had not perceived that the theme was difagreeable to you, who, at that time, I believe, would rather have wished my admiration directed to lady Amelia Melton. After the tranfient view at the cottage, all the researches I fet in movement to discover my incognita were to no purpose; and I began to despair of ever again either feeing her, or any thing like her, when, moft unexpectedly, I had the happiness of meeting her at the lodgings of my friend the marchionefs. In giving my opinion of mifs Clifford, I fhall at present omit all I could fay of her face and perfon, because I fufficiently dwelt on those two articles when in them confifted all I knew of the lady. yourself seen her, and Befides you have Befides To gild refined gold, to paint the lily, To throw a perfume on the violet, To smooth the ice, or add another hue Unto the rainbow, or with taper-light To feek the beauteous eye of heaven to garnish, I therefore proceed to what will intereft you more. Though our acquaintance has not been long, yet I ought to know fomething of the effential parts of her character, becaufe, fince I first threw my eyes upon her, I have scarcely thought on any thing else. Mifs Clifford seems to poffefs as just and as comprehenfive an understanding as any woman I was ever acquainted with. I mention this first, not only because good fenfe is the most effential article in the character of both men and women, but also, because it is of ftill more importance to the latter than to the former; for a weak man is not expofed to fuch irretrievable ruin as a weak woman. Mifs Clifford's difpofition is remarkably cheerful, and the poffeffes that inclination to oblige which usually accompanies a cheerful difpofition. She has the lefs merit from this inclination, indeed, becaufe people in general are disposed to oblige handsome women, and because those who are pleased with themselves are most apt to be pleafed with others. If fhe were plain in her face, and less elegant in her perfon, therefore, fhe would unqueftionably deferve more praife on account of her cheerful and obliging temper. Whether in that cafe fhe would obtain it, is a different question. When I hint that she is pleased with herfelf, I would have it understood that as small a portion of vanity enters into this self-fatisfaction as can be fuppofed to belong to a very beautiful woman, who cannot help perceiving that he is an object of admiration to many men, and of envy to many women. I fufpect that mifs Clifford poffeffes more pride than vanity; but it is that species of pride which becomes both men and women; and is most neceffary in the latter, because the want of it, like a deficiency of good fenfe, exposes women to more danger than men ; for virtue is a struggle against what degrades, as well as against malevolent paffions. It is evident, however, from the whole of this young lady's deportment, that the real fources of her obliging difpofition and virtuous conduct are benevolence and modesty. I have feen it fomewhere observed, that women are inferior to men in general, but fuperior in particular. Mifs Clifford is one of the particular exceptions, if the general rule is juft. With all the gentle and amiable graces of her own fex, fhe poffeffes, in an uncommon degree, that steadiness of mind which ours affect to monopolife. I was present with her in the play-houfe, when, on a falfe alarm of fire, many ladies fcreamed, and fome fainted. Mifs Clifford |