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MISS TALBOT TO THE HON. MISS CAMPBELL.

DEAR MISS CAMPBELL,

Saturday, Aug. 21, 1736.

IF you and your good aunt have the vanity to imagine that I have not yet met with better company than I parted with on Friday night, yours has the common fate of all vanity, to be much mistaken; and this you will yourselves own, when I tell you what follows.

Know then, and envy me, that I have knelt before Cæsar, and embraced the amiable Horace, whose person is as agreeable as his writings. I have seen Cicero struck dumb by age, and reproved the dreadful Nero without fearing his frowns. I have prostrated myself before the conqueror of the world, and been with his Aristotle, in the schools of the philosophers, where, in Socrates, virtue and wisdom are hid under the most disagreeable figure that you can imagine, but shine forth in Plato with distinguished lustre. I have kept company with none but emperors and demigods. I have made your compliments to Coriolanus. The Scipios hope you will give them a place in your esteem, and would have sent a longer message, had I not been frighted away by the stern looks of the elder Brutus. If I could be sure you would not betray me to Lady Mary, I would own that I had made a visit to the younger. I am ashamed indeed to name the rest of my companions, such as Commodus, Heliogabalus, Julia, Agrippina, &c. Pompey and Anthony are well; and Sesostris enjoys very good health for one of his age, and looks to be of a

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ever highlie praise deserving duchesse possesse the rich treasure of esteeme, which theire golden myne of merite has justlie purchased; and the sweetlie amiable nymphe, whose spritelie mirthe adorns the palace of tranquilite in the tyme recalling mirrour of our memorie, where the everloved and honoured Lady Pamela, and the innocentlie hart-commanding Philoclea, appear in so advantageous a light, as fills the hart with esteem, and her daughter, friendship.

C. TALBOT.

MISS TALBOT TO THE HON. MISS CAMPBELL.

Sept. 17, 1736.

O MIRTH! where is thy joy? O Pleasure! how far art thou removed from real happiness! 'Tis after three hours experience that I make this reflection. So long have I been laughing immoderately in the midst of a gay crowd; and the moment I quitted it these sober thoughts came rushing upon my mind with so much violence, that I could not help sitting down to give you an account of them; especially as I knew it would suit your present philosophical state of mind, and might, perhaps, help to make my peace for all I said yesterday in the gaiety of my heart, and much against my conscience. Yes, indeed, my dear Miss Campbell, 'tis now my turn to lever le masque; when I have done so, I must assure you that I do really believe there is more true and unmixed satisfaction in the company of a few

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MISS TALBOT TO LADY MARY GREY.

October 30, 1736.

I Do not believe it possible to finish a letter to you, dear Lady Mary, and so I have desired my lady duchess, with whom I have just been devouring ham and chickens for the honour of his majesty, to make my excuse. But

'Tis glorious falling in a great attempt.

So while my gown is pinning up in one corner of the room, my head dressing in another, a needle of immense length pointed directly at my throat, my eyes every where, my thoughts at the ball, half my heart at rest, and only one hand upon the paper, for they are sowing ruffles upon the other; in this situation I begin to write. I am as dry as I wish your eyes may always have reason to be; as hot as the puppet show room; have been writing as many letters as a secretary of state; have as fine a necklace as you can imagine it in the power of pearl, my lady duchess, and my Lady Betty to make; am, as you see by this, as well attended as the moon with all her stars about her; and am as much an humble servant, and sincerest to you and Lady Mary, as to

C. TALBOT.

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