LETTER CCCLXIV. Mr. MEYRICKE to Mifs

MADAM,

Co

STEELE.

Prufh, Thursday, Jan. 6, 1730*. NOULD I apprehend any danger when I conform to your commands, I might have been extremely fenfible of it laft Monday night, when I met about a thousand coal-pits, with open mouths ready to devour me, juft covered over with fnow, and, under that disguise of their complection, might have enfnared a man much more in his senses than myself. In all these threatening dangers, my charming Stella diverted my thoughts; and every the greatest fright and fear was removed from before my eyes by the pleafing idea I had of that lovely creature. Thus, Madam, am I thankful for the noble inspiration you give my foul of courage and conftancy, which will enable me to brave the fury of every storm I can poffibly meet with in life. It may, indeed, be very inconfiftent with a modern fine gentleman, or a lover, before his mistress, to offer any thanksgiving to the Divine Providence for his protection; but fure it cannot offend the good, the pious Mifs Steele. No; it is to that Infinite, All-wife Being, who trieth the very heart, that I pray to fhew me mercy; to Him let me be inftant in prayer, who fees all things

intuitively and may his influence direct and govern you when it is poffible for your own human prudence to fail you! I am, my lovely creature, every way engaged to you; and furely it concerns you not a little, in the excellency of your mind as a good Chriftian, to fupport ine a little better under my prefent inquietude, and great fufpence of happinefs. Oh! would you but take one view of my foul, and fee the rejoicings it has at the pleasure you could give it! Do, my charmer, lay one obligation upon me, which every part of my life would be induftriously employed to return. I wish you would fee with what a difinterefted paffion I am yours. But why fhould I be thus importunate to a generous mind, which has the gift of charity? I pray the I Almighty to govern and direct you in the right use of it; and believe me, dear Mifs Steele, to be for ever yours, ESSEX MCK MEYRICKE.

If you cannot fend me fomething to live upon here, I must see Carmarthen foon; shall I?

LETTER CCCLXV. To Mifs STEELE *.

MADAM,

Ith

[undated]. T feems it is in love, as it is in the worship of the Gods: we are ftill to fupplicate, ftill to pray, though the Deity we adore gives us no pofi

* The name is cut from this Letter; but it is Mr. Meyricke's hand-writing.

tive affurance of mercy, by a gracious appearance or promise to us. We are bid, indeed, in one cafe, to "hear Mofes and the prophets;" but fuch are my unhappy circumstances, that I have no certain known rules to go by; however, I fhall keep close to the letter of the law, and "love without ceafing." Under this uncertain. ftate and perplexity I may, with more justice than the child-bed lady, ask, “What have I "done, ye Gods, to deserve thus ?" Be ftill, O my foul! and please thyself with thofe imaginations, that thy great diftractions will, fome time or other, have a happy end. The Spectator has obferved, that " to be enamoured "with a lady of fense and virtue, is an im

provement of the understanding and morals." I own I have an exceeding good opinion of my Governess; only I think her difcipline a little too rigid and fevere at prefent for my tender nature; but I hope there will be nothing wanting in her indulgent care, as I am fure there fhall not in my honeft endeavours *

I wish you would fuffer it to be argued by myfelf or counsel. I will make my regard known for your perfon by every thing that can be done. I efteem you too precious to be bought or fold, or I would offer all I have with a frank and

* Here a few words are purposely cut out.

R 2

honeft

honeft heart, which you shall be acquainted with as foon as you please. My rivals may probably be better able to purchase the pleasant fields of Llanguner, which have so many beauties and delights, that I would with you, as a friend, never to part with them: but I fain would be the purchafer of your perfon, and I freely bid my life and fortune, which I fhall never have occafion to murmur or repine at, till you declare them below your notice. Teach me, oh! inftruct me, dear Mifs Steele, how to value both, and let me live in love and truth eternally yours. Your horse has promised me the honour of a vifit to-morrow.

LETTER CCCLXVI. Mr. MEYRICKE to Mifs STEELE, at Mrs. Scurlock's. This.

MADAM, Prufh, Sunday Morn, Eight o'Clock*. CCORDING to the beft calculation I can

A

make, it is now a hundred and fixteen hours, thirteen minutes, and three seconds, &c. fince I left Carmarthen; a very tedious and melancholy time, under which I have been chiefly fupported by the parfon of the parish, who is indeed a good fenfible brown man, only a little unhappy in his too great relish for the very thirsty weed of tobacco, and the liquid manufacture of our country, ale. The near approach

*There is no other date to this Letter.

of

of the very folemn feafon juft at hand, led us into converfation fuitable to the occafion; and, in the progress of our discourse, he fo well infinuated himself into a familiarity with me, that he gained the inmoft receffes of my foul, where he found fuch gloomy forrow and fadnefs as drew his compaffion, and, I hope, may in time deferve yours, or I must have recourse to him, or some more able and difcreet minifter, for ghoftly counsel, &c. The poor man, in the honefty of his heart, for the good of religion, and to the best of his capacity, directed the most religious ufe of my affections, and urged very ftrong and facred reafons against "fetting my "heart too much upon the things of this "world." But fuch is the depravity of nature, dear Doctor, I cannot help it. Heaven forgive me, if it can be my offence to love Mifs Steele too much, and punish me for that crime towards any other lady! Being at prefent in a good difpofition of mind to prepare myself for the next world, I intend, by the affiftance of God, this day to answer the moft pofitive command of Heaven; and I am perfuaded, in the purity of my confcience, that I can give no offence in this very folemn affurance under my hand, that I love you above the world, abftracted from any views of fortune, but merely on account of your agreeable perfon, pretty fenfe, moft excellent temper, and very fweet endowments of