Means cou'd be propofed than what is now practifed and has been agreed to in all Nations and in all Ages; to wit, wholefome and coercive Laws to reftrain the Violent, and protect the Weak?

My dear Pamela, a Perfon propofing to relieve his Wants by unjustifiable Means, will at firft find fome inward Checks, fome Struggles with his Confcience; this he endeavours to quiet by the moft plaufible Reasons his Wit and Invention can produce; and, no doubt, this Gentleman, who cannot bear to live below the Rank of his Birth, has by the falfe Way of Reasoning I have repeated, made his Confcience eafy, and he apprehends no Danger but from the Law; for his Perfonal Bravery no one can difpute, he has given too many Proofs of it. Mr., my Lord's Nephew, (as this Gentleman is the Highwayman, the Word fhocks me) was right in fuppofing the Robber might not be afraid of his Piftols; however, I am glad he did not frighten you, and that he behav'd with the Generofity and Decency he did. I am glad you were robb'd by, and knew him. 'Tis poffible these two Accidents may alarm his Relations, who fearing for the Honour of their Name, may make him an Allowance, that will put an End to this abominable dangerous and scandalous as well as wicked Courfe of Life. I will find Means to let them know the Road he is in, which leads him to inevitable Destruction, and must bring a Blemish upon them.

We fate out this Morning early, drove gently, and reach'd Mr. B's House in Town in the Evening; he propofes to go to Lincolnshire on Monday next, if I think, I can bear the Fatigue. Iam, Heaven be praised, by this Driving about the Country in better Health than ever, and not in the least fatigued.

At our Arrival a Servant broug rected to my dear Master, in which clofed to me. I fend you the Copies fay from whom they came: That runs thus:

SIR,

THE

HE Obligations we owe you, m abundantly lefs confiderable in th your Favours beftow'd in a much less g ner, if I cou'd have boped to make Acknowledgments in the leaft adequa tain you expected none, by having rend Jible for us to make any: However, o fhall ever make you the Subject of our our conftant Prayers fhall be, that the Shower the greatest upon you: That y lang enjoy whatever is defirable in this, Happiness in the Life to come. Thefe d never ceafe being the Morning and Eve of

SIR,

Your most obliged,
Moft affectionat

Our dear Child,

And moft

Humbl

Fabn and Elizabe

THOUGH we hope you can never many Mercies you have experience great Creator, and the many Obligation to the generous Mr. B. -- our common

who has raised you to Eafe and Affluence; yet our dear Pamela, you will not think our Concern, when you confider our inceffant Tenderness, too great in obferving to you that we have often feen the very Reafons for our Gratitude become the Grounds of the moft ungrateful Neglect. An unexpected and Judden Fortune has obliterated a mean Birth; and neceffitous Circumstances, has banish'd Humility and introduced Arrogance; many have forgot the God to whom they owed the Mercy, and have not feldom turn'd their Backs upon the Friends to whom they were indebted for the greatest Favours.

Our dear Child, check the very first Attack of Vanity, and bar the Doors of your Heart, that Pride may not get the leaft Admittance; that Vice is eafter repelled than expelled: be ever on your Guard in Company, and take Care of the Cantagion of Example. Never, our dear Child, depend upon your own Strength, but rely upon the Divine. Aftance only, which, we hope you will never fail to implore, and which we are fure will never be refufed to thofe who ask with Fervour and Humility.

As you are not now to be taught your Duty to a merciful God, and that to an indulgent Husband, we fhall only exhort you to keep fteady in the Performance of both, and recommend you to the Divine Protection. We are,

Dear Child,

Your affectionate Parents,
J. and E. Andrews.

My dear Pamela, faid my tender Mafter, we fhould lofe the Refpect due to thefe good. Parents, in delaying, tho' but for a Poft, to give them the Satisfaction of knowing you are fafe arrived and well. Mr. Andrews, I perceive, thought it needlefs to give us a Hint of this, by making an Enquiry

Ꮓ 3

quiry after our Journey and Health, he trufts to your Affection and my good Manners to give them this Account without being put in mind of our Duty.

As I fhall be bufy all Day to-morrow, and my Affairs may make me guilty of ill Manners, I will immediately write. Which he did in the following Lines.

I

Sir and Madam,

received at our Arrival in Town the Favour of yours, which I should have read with greater Pleafure, had you treated me more like a Son, who has done that, only, which was incumbent on him. Your Eafe I affure you will always contribute to mine and your Daughter's Happiness; the dear Creature is in perfect good Health, and we have had a very pleafant Journey. I wish you both all Happiness, and ball often trouble you with my Letters. I beg for the future you will treat me lefs like a Stranger, and allow me the Honour to fubfcribe myself with fincere Refpect,

Your affectionate Son, and.
Very humble Servant.

Mr. Bleft his Letter to be enclos'd in mine. We retir'd to our Chamber pretty early: My dear Mafter went into his Clofet, and looked over fome Papers, which Employment took him up an Hour's Time; and I, in the Interim, wrote the above. My dear Mrs. Jervis adieu; believe me your unalterable Friend and conftant Beads-Woman, P. B

Saturday.

Saturday. After my dear Mr. B

went out,

which was immediately after Breakfast, I fat down and answered my dear Parent's Letter. This is the. Copy.

My dear Parents,

THE Concern you shew for my Happiness is no

more than what I might reafonably expect from that inceffant Tenderness to which I have been indebted from my Infancy, and to which I own my prefent furprizing good Fortune. I beg you will often continue the fame Goodness, and give me the Af fiftance of your pious and parental Advice, to which Ifball, I hope, always pay the Deference I ought. I am fully fatisfied of the Danger of trusting to our own Strength, and the fatal Example of St. Peter will ever be a memento to me. I shall often read your Letters, and I question not, with the Divine Affiftance which I humbly pray for, shall avoid the dangerous Shelves and Quickfands you mention in yours.

I was Jurprized and forry we did not fee Sir Simon, Coufin Jinks and their good Ladies at the Wells; I hope no cross Accident deprived us of that Pleafure, with which I had agreeably flatter'd myfelf.

Lady Davers and felf were robb'd in taking the Air on the Heath; but it was after fo genteel a manner, that I was not frighted, and neither of us grudged the Trifle loft: The polite Gentleman refufing to take our Watches. His Words were, that be never medled with Ladies Ornaments. This very Perfon fupped with Mr. B at Sevenoak. I knew him again: He is a Man of Family, a handfome Perfon, well-bred, but poor.

At