ftrongly implied, is little less pernicious than that by which it is expreffed. With respect to fociety, as far as it can be influenced by example, the effect of both is the fame; for every man encourages the practice of that vice which he commits in appearance, though he avoids it in fact: and with respect to the individual, as the efteem of the world is a motive to virtue only lefs powerful than the approbation of confcience, he who knows that he is already degraded by the imputation of guilt, will find himself half disarmed when he is affailed by temptation: and as he will have lefs to lofe, he will, indeed, be less disposed to resist. Of the fex, whofe levity is most likely to provoke cenfure, it is eminently true, that the lofs of character by imprudence frequently induces the lofs of virtue: the ladies therefore, should be proportionably circumfpect; as to those, in whom folly is most likely to terminate in guilt, it is certainly of most importance to be wife.

This fubject has irrefiftibly obtruded itself upon my mind in the filent hour of meditation, because, as often as I have reviewed the fcenes in which I have mixed among the bufy and the gay, I have obferved that a depravity of manners, a licentious extravagance of drefs and behaviour, are become almoft univerfal: virtue feems ambitious of a resemblance to vice, as vice glories in the deformities which fhe has been used to hide.

A decent timidity, and modest reserve, have been always confidered as auxiliaries to beauty; but an air of diffolute boldness is now affected by all who would be thought graceful or polite. Chastity, which used to be difcovered in every gefture and every look, is now retired to the breaft, and is found only by those who intend its deftruction; as a general, when the town is furrendered, retreats to the citadel, which is always lefs capable of defence when the outworks are poffeffed by the enemy.

There is now little apparent difference between the virgin and the prostitute: if they are not otherwife known, they may share the box and the drawing-room without diftinction. The fame fashion which takes away the veil of modefty, will neceffarily conceal lewdnefs; and honour and fhame will lofe their influence, because they will no longer diftinguish virtue from vice. General custom, perhaps, may be thought an effectual security against general cenfure; but it will not always lull the fufpicions of jealoufy; nor can it familiarize any beauty, without destroying its influence, or diminish the prerogatives of a husband without weakening his attachment to his wife,

The excess of every mode may be declined without remarkable fingularity; and the ladies, who

fhould

should even dare to be fingular in the prefent defection of taste, would proportionably increase their power and secure their happiness.

I know that in the vanity and the prefumption of youth, it is common to alledge the consciousness of innocence, as a reafon for the contempt of cenfure; and a licence, not only for every freedom, but for every favour except the laft. This confidence can, perhaps, only be repreffed by a fenfe of danger: and as the perfons whom I wish to warn, are most impatient of declamation, and moft fufceptible of pity, I will addrefs them in a ftory; and I hope the events will not only illuftrate but impress the precept which they contain.

FLAVILLA, juft as fhe had entered her fourteenth year, was left an orphan to the care of her mother, in fuch circumstances as difappointed all the hopes which her education had encouraged. Her father, who lived in great elegance upon the falary of a place at court, died fuddenly, without having made any provision for his family, except an annuity of one hundred pounds, which he had purchased for his wife with part of her marriage portion; nor was he poffeffed of any property, except the furniture of a large house in one of the new fquares, an equi page, a few jewels, and fome plate.

The

The greater part of the furniture and the equipage was fold to pay his debts; the jewels, which were not of great value, and fome ufeful pieces of the plate, were referved; and Flavilla removed with her mother into lodgings.

But notwithstanding this change in their circumftances, they did not immediately lofe their rank. They were still vifited by a numerous and polite acquaintance; and though fome gratified their pride by affuming the appearance of pity, and rather infulted than alleviated their diftrefs by the whine of condolence, and minute comparifon of what they had loft with what they poffeffed; yet from others they were continually receiving prefents, which ftill enabled them to live with a genteel frugality: they were still confidered as people of fashion, and treated by those of a lower clafs with diftant respect.

Flavilla thus continued to move in a sphere to which she had no claim; fhe was perpetually furrounded with elegance and splendour, which the caprice of others, like the rod of an enchanter, could diffipate in a moment, and leave her to regret the lofs of enjoyments, which fhe could neither hope to obtain, nor ceafe to defire. Of this, however, Flavilla had no dread. She was remarkably tall for her age, and was celebrated not only for her beauty, but her wit: these qualifications she confi

dered,

dered, not only as fecuring whatever the enjoyed by the favour of others, but as a pledge of poffeffing them in her own right by an advantageous marriage. Thus the vifion that danced before her, derived ftability from the very vanity which it flattered: and fhe had as little apprehenfion of diftrefs, as diffidence of her own power to please.

There was a fashionable levity in her carriage and difcourfe, which her mother, who knew the danger of her fituation, laboured to refrain, fometimes with anger, fometimes with tears, but always without fuccefs. Flavilla was ever ready to answer, that she neither did nor faid any thing of which he had reason to be ashamed; and therefore did not know why she should be reftrained, except in mere courtesy to envy, whom it was an honour to provoke, or to flander, whom it was a difgrace to fear. In proportion as Flavilla was more flattered and careffed, the influence of her mother became lefs; and though the always treated her with refpect, from a point of good breeding, yet fhe fecretly defpited her maxims, and applauded her own conduct.

Flavilla at eighteen was a celebrated oat; and among other gay vifitants, who frequented her tea-table, was Clodio, a young baronet, who had juft taken poffeffion of his tide and eftate. There were many particulars in Clodio's behaviour, wach

encouraged