what fhall I fay? marry them. No; never was I fo daring, fo bold in thought, till the year 1729-30, and the 24th year of my age, when I was fo fortunate, or unfortunate, as you decree, to behold the refiftless charms of the most engaging. But of this enough. I wish I could guefs at what was the most prevailing passion in your breaft. Give me leave then to confider you as a woman with a fhare and proportion of pride, but fo much as is barely ornamental, Here vanity will naturally take place, and incline you to the love of wealth, honour, &c. You will then imagine that this comes from a blue, green, or red ribband, which is from neither. But every thing that is good and great, every joy and blifs, will be compleat in him, when you are in his arms. If fettlements are to take place, what I can offer will, I hope, be not unequal to your fortune, though inferior to your deferts. I wish Heaven had made me master of evety thing you defire, that every inclination of yours might be fatisfied. If you are disposed to think feriously on this point, there must be a provifion for the younger children, which Providence will not fail, under honest industry, to bless us with. This is the first propofal I have ever made, and I may be unacquainted with the form; in which if I have erred, I hope you can have goodness enough in your heart to forgive your lover. But I muft here take the additi

onal name of friend, and earneftly exhort you, as it concerns the duty of your religion, yourself, and all that is dear and near to you, never to marry a man that you cannot unite with even in foul. Here is the harmony, the blifs of a married state; which I most fincerely wish you happy in, though it ends in my own ruin. But this you are not to hope for, if you would violate a true paffion with the confideration of riches, titles, or fuch glittering toys. The decrees of Heaven are against you, and cry aloud, Revenge! What remains for me is, to affure you, that, without vanity, I love myself exceeding well, and can heartily love you if you will do fo too. Begin then to dispose yourself that way; confult Heaven, and ask whether your gratitude is not concerned. Arguments may be more prevailing from your generous temper, if you will use them, than any I can offer; and I believe you generous in every thing, but towards me. No news fticks to me, but of the fufferings of mankind. There is an unhappy gentleman, whom I dare not defcribe left you fhould discover him, who is feemingly very reftlefs in mind and temper, feeks amufement and diverfion every evening in the several theatres of the Hay-market, and Drury-lane, &c. But the most harmonious elegance of the first seems an ungrateful difcord; and even the wit and humour, with which your father has fo happily furnished the latter, cannot divert his thoughts

in the abfence of his daughter. Who can be barbarous enough to laugh at misfortunes when they themselves have occafioned them. My paffion is too fingular to need a name, or to be imputed to any other than the flighted and unhappy POLYDORE *.

LET.CCCLXXII. Mr, MEYRICKE to Mrs. LLOYD.

Dear Coufin LLOYD, Pontvane, Nov. 25, 1730.

SINCE I have been driven out of Paradife, I

have long wandered up and down forlorn and defolate at length have reached Pontvane, where my fpirits are animated with a large glass of generous wine to your more generous health, and I am juft fupported by the delightful cordial of a healing and honeft friendfhip. Having great confidence in John Trelogan, I have taken leave to fend you fix dozen of wine, carriage paid it is the blufhings of Milford, and, I hope, very good; but excufe me if I recommend it to be kept warm in ftraw, for it must not be chilled, or it will lofe its true flavour and fpirit. It favours fo much of my own temper, that I would have it encouraged by a due pro. portion of warmth; and, in fimilitude, I am

* Mr. Trevor was at this time one of his Majefty's juftices of the grand feffions for the counties of Carmarthen, Pembroke, and Cardigan; and was appotnted one of the King's counfel, May 15, 1730. By his intereft Mr. Scurlock, an attorney, was made prothonotary of the abovementioned counties in January

1729.30.

bold

bold to fay, it will prove very good upon trial. In the great inquietude of my foul, give me leave to return to the only fubject I can think of. Re. commend me to the fprightly boy William,who, I cannot forget, promised me his guardian care as a Cupid over the heart which he only can warm. Thou little God, difpofe her as a reward to thy trueft fervant! Were the degrees of my affection lefs engaged, I fhould be lefs troublesome but do, dear Madam, indulge me in common with my friends to complain, and favour me with your wishes; Heaven will reward you for it. Oh, I could dwell upon this fubject eter nally, but the different paffions of love and defpair torture me to madness! We are told that afflictions are fometimes fent from Heaven to direct us in our way thither; I wish I could bear them more calmly. Sighs and languifhments are my allotment; but, I thank Heaven, I have religion enough to adore the hand from whence they are fent. Methinks I am interrupted by your fudden appearance in the room, where an eafy, good-natured, affable sweetness, ftands gracefully recommended. Allow me, Madam, moft thankfully to own the civilities of your houfe, which I moft heartily wish I could be fo happy as to return at London, Holland-house, or any other air that he could like. Sure, I could live for ever any where with her, but no where without her; but, living or dying, I fhall be always, in the deepeft fenfe of obligation,

dear Madam, your moft truly obliged, affectionate coufin, and most obedient humble fervant, ESSEX MCK MEYRICKE.

Every happiness attend your little family. My service waits on dear, dear Mrs. Bevan. If there was another pen to be had, I would endeavour to fend you a fairer impreffion of my mind, always bad, but never, never worse than this, which you have goodness enough to excufe. You may, in fome measure, read the disorder of my mind in the hurry of my hand.

LETTER CCCLXXIII. To E. S*.

A

RTLESS believe my vows, my dear; Believe the heart you 've won, fincere; My dearest life, more generous prove; Be kind, and crown my conftant love : Let Emma's story be reviv'd in thee, And what he was to Henry, be to me; Then Henry's conftancy shall yield to mine, And Emma's fame fhall be eclips'd by thine. From JP—†. LETTER

Elizabeth Steele.

"Gent.

"James Philips, of Penty-park, efq. in the county of Pem"broke, to whom Mrs. E. Steele, daughter to the late Sir R. "Steele, for whom a duel was lately fought at the Bath," is faid to have been married at that place, May 26, 1731, "Mag." vol. I. p. 222; and in the “ Political State” for that year. In the latter of these works she is said to have had "a "fortune of 10,000l." That this intelligence was of the fame complection with that mentioned in p. 248, of her marrying

Mr.