open violator. To you they are equally culpable but only one can be fatal. Afk your own heart-the criterion, by which I would have you judge-afk your own heart, which is intitled to your deteftation moft; the man who boldly attacks you, and by his threats plainly tells you he is a robber; or the one, who, under the femblance of imploring your charity, deprives you of your most valued property? Will it admit of a doubt? Make the application: examine yourself, and I conjure you examine your acquaintance; but be cautious whom you truft. Never make any of your male vifitors the confidant of any thing which paffes between yourself and husband. This can never be done without a manifeft breach of modeft decorum. Have I not faid enough for the prefent? Yet let me add thus much, to fecure to myself your confidence. I wish you to place an unlimited one in me; continue to do fo, while I continue to merit it; and by this rule you fhall judge of my merit-The moment you discover that I urge you to any thing improper,

or take advantage of my felf-affumed office, and infolently prefcribe when I should only point out, or that I fhould seem to degrade others in your eyes, and particularly your husband, believe me to be an impoftor, and treat me as fuch; difregard my finifter counfel, and confign me to that fcorn and derifion I fhall fo much deferve. But, while virtue infpires my pen, afford me your attention; and may that God, whom I atteft to prove my truth, ever be indulgent to you, and for ever and ever protect you! So prays

Your SYLPH."

Who can it be, my Louifa, who takes this friendly intereft in my welfare? It cannot be Lady Melford; the addrefs befpeaks it to be a man; but what man is the question; one too who fees me every day it cannot be the Baron, for he seems to fay, Ton-haufen is a more dangerous perfon than Lord Biddulph. But why do I perplex myfelf with gueffing? Of what confequence is it who is my friend, fince I am convinced he is fincere. Yes! thou

thou friendly monitor, I will be directed by thee! I shall now act with more confidence, as my Sylph tells me he will watch over and apprize me of every danger. I hope his tafk will not be a difficult one; for, though ignorant, I am not obftinate on the contrary, even Sir William, whom I do not fufpect of flattery, allows me to be extremely docile. I am, my beloved Louisa, moft affectionately, your's,

JULIA STANLEY.

LETTER

BLES

XVII.

To Lady STANLEY.

LESSED, for ever bleffed, be the friendly monitor! Oh! my Julia, how fortunate are you, thus to become the care of heaven, which has raised you up a guide, with all the difpofitions, but with more enlarged abilities than thy poor Louifa! And much did you stand in need of a guide, my fifter: be not difpleased that I write thus. But why do I depre.

cate your anger? you, who were ever fo good, fo tender, and indulgent to the apprehenfions of your friends. Yet, indeed, my dear, you are reprehenfible in many paffages of your letters, particularly the laft. You fay, you cannot fufpect Sir WilJiam of flattery; would you wish him to be a flatterer? Did you think him such, when he fwore your charms had kindled the brightest flames in his bofom? No, Julia, you gave him credit then for all he said: but, allowing him to be changed, are you quite the fame? No; with all the tendernefs of my affection, I cannot but think you are altered fince your departure from the vale of innocent fimplicity. It is the knowledge of the world which has deprived you of those native charms, above all others. Why are you not refolute with Sir William, to leave London? Our acquiefcence in matters which are hurtful both to our principles and conftitution is a weakness. Obedience to the will of those who seek to seduce us from the right road is no longer a virtue; but a reprehenfible participation of our leader's faults.

Be

Be affured, your husband will listen to your perfuafive arguments. Exert all your eloquence: and, Heaven, I beseech thee, grant fuccefs to the undertaking of the deareft of all creatures to,

LOUISA GRENVILLE.

A

LETTER

XVIII.

To Mifs GRENVILLE.

H! my dear Louifa, you are fingle, and know not the trifling influence a woman has over her husband in this part of the world. Had I the eloquence of Demofthenes or Cicero, it would fail. Sir William is wedded-I was going to say, to the pleasures of this bewitching place. I corrected myself in the inftant; for, was he wedded, moft probably he would be as tired of it as he is of his wife. If I was to be refolute in my determination to leave London, I must go by myself; and, notwithstanding such a circumftance might accord with his wifhes, I do not chufe to begin the feparation. All the determina K. 6.

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