because they are, by the generality of the world, deemed venerable But if it was once determined that nothing should be called true wit, as nothing certainly ought, but what will stand the test of examination, but what is consistent with decency and good manners, and what will make an innocent heart brilliant and cheerful, and give its sanction to the happy expression, by trying to keep up and return the ball in like virtuous and lively raillery, then we should have our public entertainments such as the most scrupulous might join to countenance and applaud.

But what a moraliser am I will your ladyship say: Indeed I can't help it:-And especially on such a subject as a masquerade, which I dislike more than anything I ever saw. I could say a great deal more on this occasion : but, upon my word, I am quite out of humour with it; for I liked my English Mr. B better than my Spaniard; and the nun I approved not by any means; though there were some who observed that she was one of the gracefullest figures in the place. And indeed, in spite of my own heart, I could not help thinking so too.

Your ladyship knows so well what masquerades are, that I may well be excused saying anything further on a subject I am so little pleased with: For you only desire. my notions of those diversions because I am a novice in them; and this, I doubt not, will doubly serve to answer that purpose.

I shall only therefore add, that after a hundred other impertinences spoken to Miss Darnford and me, and retorted with spirit by her, and as well as I could myself, quite sick of the place, I feigned to be more indisposed than I was, and so got my beloved Spaniard to go off with us, and reached home by three in the morning. And so much for masquerades. I hope I shall never have occasion to mention them again to your ladyship. I am, my dearest madam,

Your ever obliged sister and servant,

P. B.

LETTER LVII.

Mrs. B to Lady Davers.

MY DEAREST LADY,-My mind is so wholly engrossed by thoughts of a very different nature from those which the diversions of the town and theatres inspire, that I beg to be excused, if, for the present, I say nothing further of those lighter matters. But yet, since your ladyship does not disapprove of my remarks, I intend, if it please God to spare my life, to make a little book, which I will present to your ladyship, containing my poor observations on all the dramatic entertainments I have seen, and shall see, this winter; and, for this purpose, I have made brief notes in the margin of the printed plays I have bought, as I saw them, with a pencil; by referring to which, as helps to my memory, I shall be able to tell your ladyship what my thoughts were at the time of seeing them, pretty nearly with the same advantage as if I had written them at my return from each.

I have obtained of Sir Simon, and Lady Darnford, the very great pleasure of their permission for miss to stay with me till it shall be seen how it will please God to deal with me; and I owe this favour partly to a kind letter, written in my behalf to Sir Simon, by Mr. B—, and partly to the young lady's earnest request to her papa to oblige me; Sir Simon having made some difficulty to comply, as Mr. Murray and his bride have left them, saying, he could not live long, if he had not the company of his beloved daughter.

I cannot but say I have many more anxieties and apprehensions than perhaps I ought to have on the present occasion: but I was always a sad coward, and too thoughtful a good deal: But I have so much to lose; such a husband to part with, if I must part with him; such generous friends, and lovers, as I may say, of both sexes: and then the circumstance itself has so many terrors, to an

apprehensive mind, attending it, that I am out of breath sometimes at the thoughts of it, and want to run away from myself, if I could.-But it cannot be: and when I charge my mind with the reflections which religion inspires, and ask myself who it was that gave me all these blessings, and who it is that has a right to recall them, if He pleases, and when, and in what way He pleases? and that, if I leave them not now, I must be separated from them another day; I endeavour to bring my mind to a resignation to the divine will.

But what shall I say, madam, when I find my frailty is so much increased that I cannot, with the same intenseness of devotion that I used to be blest with, apply myself to the throne of grace, nor, of consequence, find my invocations answered by that delight, and inward satisfaction, with which I used to please myself when the present near prospect was more remote?

I hope I shall not be deserted in the hour of trial, and that this my weakness of mind will not be punished with a spiritual dereliction, for suffering myself to be too much attached to those worldly delights and pleasures which no mortal ever enjoyed in a more exalted degree than myself. And I beseech you, my dearest lady, let me be always remembered in your prayers-Only for a resignation to the divine will; a cheerful resignation, I presume not to prescribe to His gracious Providence; for if one has but that, one has everything that one need to have. Yet, my dear lady, there is such a natural repugnance between life and death, that nature will shrink when one comes to the trial, let one have never so much fortitude at a distance. Yet, I hope I may be forgiven, for now and then I com fort myself with the Divine Exemplar, who prayed, in bloody sweats, for the bitter cup to be removed; but gave us the example of resignation that I am wishing to be able to follow: However, not mine, but Thy will be done!

Forgive me, my dearest lady, for being so deeply serious. I have just now been contending with a severe.

pang, that is, for the present, gone off: what effect its return may have, God only knows. And if this is the last line I shall ever write, it will be the more satisfactory to me, as (with my humble respects to my good Lord Davers, and my dear countess, and praying for the continuance of all your healths and happiness, both here and hereafter) I am permitted to subscribe myself

Your ladyship's obliged sister,

And humble servant,

P. B——.

LETTER LVIII.

Lady Davers to Mr. B.

MY DEAREST BROTHER,-Although I believe it is needless to put a man of your generous spirit in mind of doing a worthy action, yet as I do not know whether you have thought of what I am going to hint to you, I cannot forbear a line or two with regard to the good old couple in Kent.

I am sure, if, for our sins, God Almighty should take from us my incomparable sister (forgive me, my dear brother, but to intimate what may be, although I hourly pray, as her trying minute approaches, that it will not), you will, for her sake, take care that her honest parents have not the loss of your favour, to deepen the inconsolable one they will have, in such a case, of the best of daughters.

I say, I am sure you will do as generously by them as ever and I daresay your sweet Pamela doubts it not: yet as you know how sensible she is of every favour done. them, it is the countess's opinion and mine, and Lady Betty's too, that you give her this assurance in some legal way; for as she is naturally apprehensive, and thinks

more of her present circumstances than, for your sake, she chooses to express to you, it will be like a cordial to her dutiful and grateful heart; and I do not know if it will not contribute, more than any one thing, to make her go through her task with ease and safety.

I know how much your heart is wrapped up in the dear creature: And you are a worthy brother to let it be so! -You will excuse me therefore, I am sure, for this my officiousness.

I have no doubt but God will spare her to us, because, although we may not be worthy of so much excellence, yet we now all unite so gratefully to thank Him for such a worthy relation, that I hope we shall not be deprived of an example so necessary to us all.

I can have but one fear, and that is, that, young as she is, she seems ripened for glory: she seems to have lived long enough for herself. But for you, and for us, that God will still spare her, shall be the hourly prayer of,

My dear worthy brother,

Your ever affectionate sister,

B. DAVERS.

Have you got her mother with you? I hope you have. God give you a son and heir, if it be His blessed will! But, however that be, preserve your PAMELA to you! for you never can have such another wife.

LETTER LIX.

Mrs. B- to Mr. B

MY EVER-DEAR, AND EVER-HONOURED MR. B—, Since I know not how it may please God Almighty to dispose of me on the approaching occasion, I should think myself inexcusable, if I could not find one or two select hours to