66 at present. This objection seemed to sink deep into the minds of the greatest politicians at the board; and I don't know whether the bill won't be dropped, though it is certain it might be carried on with great ease, the world being entirely revenue du bagatelle," and honour, virtue, reputation, &e. which we used to hear of in our nursery, is as much laid aside and forgotten as crumpled ribbands. To speak plainly, I am very sorry for the forlorn state of matrimony, which is as much ridiculed by our young ladies as it used to be by young fellows: in short, both sexes have found the inconveniences of it, and the appellation of rake is as genteel in a woman as a man of quality; it is no scandal to say miss the maid of honour, looks very well now; she is out again; and poor Biddy Noel has never been quite well since her last confinement, You may imagine we married women look very silly; we have nothing to excuse ourselves, but that it was done a great while ago, and we were very young when we did it. This is the general state of affairs: as to particulars, if you have any curiosity for things of that kind, you have nothing to do but to ask me questions, and they shall be answered to the best of my understanding; my time never being passed more agreeably than when I am doing something obliging to you: this is truth, in spite of all the beaus, wits, and witlings, in Great Britain. LETTER XXXV. LADY M. W. MONTAGUE TO THE COUNTESS OF MAR. Twickenham, 1725. I AM now at the same distance from London that you are from Paris, and could fall into solitary amusements with a good deal of taste; but I resist it, as a temptation of Satan, and rather turn my endeavours to make the world as agreeable to me as I can, which is the true philosophy; that of despising it is of no use but to hasten wrinkles. I ride a good deal, and have got a horse superior to any two-legged animal, he being without a fault. I work like an angel. I receive visits upon idle days, and I shade my life as I do my tent-stitch, that is, make as easy transitions as I can from business to pleasure; the one would be too flaring and gaudy without some dark shades of t'other; and if I worked altogether in the grave colours, you know 'twould be quite dismal. Miss Skerret is in the house with me, and lady Stafford has taken a lodging at Richmond: as their ages are different, and both agreeable in their kind, I laugh with the one, or reason with the other, as I happen to be in a gay or serious humour; and I manage my friends with such a strong yet gentle hand, that they are both willing to do whatever I have a mind to. My daughter presents her duty so you, and service to lady Frances, who is growing to womanhood apace: I long to see her and you, and am not destitute of wandering designs to that purpose. LETTER XXXVI. FROM THE SAME TO THE SAME. Cavendish-square, 1727. My lady Stafford set out towards France this morning, and has carried half the pleasures of my life along with her; I am more stupid than I can describe, and am as full of moral reflections as either Cambray or Pascal. I think of nothing but the nothingness of the good things of this world, the transitoriness of its joys, the pungency of its sorrows, and many discoveries that have been made these three thousand years, and committed to print, ever since the first presses. I advise you, as the best thing you can do that day, let it happen as it will, to visit lady Stafford: she has the goodness to carry with her a true-born Englishwoman, who is neither good nor bad, nor capable of being either; lady Phil Pratt by name, of the Hamilton family, and who will be glad of your acquaintance, and you can never be sorry for hers. Peace or war, cross or pile, makes all the conversation; the town never was fuller, and, God be praised, some people brille in it who brilled twenty years ago. My cousin Buller is of that number, who is just what she was in all respects when she inhabited Bond-street. The sprouts of this age are such green withered things, 'tis a great comfort to us grown-up people: I except my own daughter, who is to be the ornament of the ensuing court. I beg you would exact from lady Stafford a particular of her perfections, which would sound suspected from my hand; at the same time I must do justice to a little twig belonging to my sister Gower. Miss Jenny is like the duchess of Queensberry both in face and spirit. A propos of family affairs: I had almost forgot our dear and amiable cousin lady Denbigh, who has blazed out all this winter; she has brought with her from Paris cartloads of ribband, surprising fashion, and of the last edition, which naturally attracts all the she and he fools in London; and accordingly she is surrounded with a little court of both, and keeps a Sunday assembly to show she has learned to play at cards on that day. Lady Frances Fielding is really the prettiest woman in town, and has sense enough to make one's heart ache to see her surrounded with such as her relations are. The man in England that gives the greatest pleasure and the greatest pain, is a youth of royal blood, with all his grandmother's beauty, wit, and good qualities. In short, he is Nell Gwin in person, with the sex altered, and occasions such fracas among the ladies of gallantry that it passes description. You'll stare to hear of her grace of Cleveland at the head of them. If I was poetical I would tell you— "The god of love, enrag'd to see The nymph despise his flame, For the neglect of offers past And pride in days of yore, This is all true history, though it is doggrel rhyme in good earnest she has turned lady Barbara and family out of doors to make room for him, and there he lies like leaf-gold upon a pill; there never was so violent and so indiscreet a passion. Lady Strafford says nothing was ever like it, since Phædra and Hippolytus." Lord ha' mercy upon us! see what we may all come to !" LETTER XXXVII. LADY M. W. MONTAGUE TO THE COUNTESS OF MAR. Cavendish-square, 1727. I TAKE this occasion of writing to you, though I have received no answer to my last; but if my letters can give you either consolation or amusement, you need never want them. I have no good opinion of sorrow in general, and think no sort of it worth cherishing. You will wonder, perhaps, that lord Gower is become a great courtier; and that |