Kildare, (fince Duchefs of Leinster) and as fuch was esteemed invaluable by me. This, I own, was the only piece of elegance I ever feverely regretted parting with; nor fhould I ever have parted with it, had there not been almost a certainty of my having fo valuable a mark of her Ladyfhip's partiality restored to me. This depofit, together with three or four dividends, and fome tickets at my benefit, are all I have been able to pay of this large debt; and inexpreffibly happy fhall I be, if ever it is in my power to discharge it. In the mean time, I fhall retain the most lively gratitude for fuch frequent interpofitions in my favour.

The being too fanguine in my hopes has led me into many difficulties; but the indulgence of thefe expectations, originated from my having been fo fupremely fortunate as to meet with fuch fingular friends as the Mifs Merediths, Mifs St. Leger, Mifs Conway, Lady Tyrawley, and Mrs. Cracroft, as well as Mr. Woodward, whofe former paffion was now mellowed into friendship. I have, however, had the mortification to outlive them all.

Female friendship never becomes the fubject of my pen, or of my converfation; but that most beautiful description given of it by Shakfpere, in his "Midfummer-Night's Dream * "immediately occurs to my me

* A& III. Scene VII.

mory,

mory, and raises in my mind the moft pleafing fenfations. As it is not inapplicable here, the mutual affection which fubfifted between the foregoing ladies and myself, being of the purest and most exalted kind, I will tranfcribe for you the lines.

"Is all the counsel that we two have fhar'd,
"The fifter vows, the hours that we have spent,

* When we have chid the hafly-footed time
"For parting us: O! and is all forgot?
"All school-days friendship, childhood innocence t
"We, Hermia, like two artificial gods,
"Created with our needles both one flower,

Both on one fampler, fitting on one cushion,
"Both warbling of one fong, both in one key;
"As if our hands, our fides, voices, and minds,
"Had been incorporate. So we grew together,
"Like to a double cherry, feeming parted,
"But yet an union in partition;

"Two lovely berries moulded on one stem,
"So with two feeming bodies, but one heart;
"Two of the first, like coats in heraldry,

"Due but to one, and crowned with one crest.”

G. A. B.

LET

AT

LETTER LXXXIII.

October 8, 17

T this period Mrs. Cracroft died, which gave me real pain, as we were for years in the ftri&teft friendship. This excellent woman was greatly regretted by all who were acquainted with her eminent virtues. She poffeffed the most enchanting placidity of difpofition, joined to the moft liberal fentiments; and notwithstanding he was a miracle of chastity herself, fhe felt compaffion for the frailties of her fex. Nor did the think herself contaminated by an intimacy with a much-injured woman, that the knew had been grossly impofed upon, and most wickedly traduced.

Permit me juft to fay, upon this occafion, (for, if I recollect aright, I have touched upon the fubject in a former letter) I have always obferved that the really virtuous of our fex, ever view with compaffion the errors of thofe, who have been feduced by the ar tifices of defigning men; and, though to tally unacquainted themselves with the frailties of human nature, in this point, can be

How

1

ftow a tear of pity on the martyr of an unguarded moment.-Chaftity is undoubtedly the brightest ornament that adorns the female mind. I agree with Diana, when fhe fays,

My chastity's the jewel of our houfe,

Bequeathed down from many ancestors ;
"Which were the greatest obloquy i'th' world
"In me to lose *."

But I can by no means allow, as the cenforious part of the fex feem to confider it, that this virtue is the only needful one; and when a perfon has been unhappily deprived of it, though by the most feductive arts, every other good qualification takes its flight with

it.

Lady Tyrawley's health visibly declining, I became very apprehenfive that her lofs would foon fucceed that of my much regretted friend juft mentioned. Few evenings paffed, without my receiving a fummons to Somerfet-house. Her Ladyfhip, however, remained in this fituation for three or four years.

As foon as the theatre fhut up, I again vifited the continent. I had there the pleafure of hearing, that Madam Brilliant, the

All's well that ends well, Act IV, Scene II.

French

French actress I have frequently mentioned, had retired from the gay fcene of life the had been fo long engaged in, to the gloom of a convent. Though ftill efteemed in her theatrical profeffion, and with an extenfive train of admirers, among whom was one of the first Dukes in that kingdom, fhe refifted all their folicitations; and notwithstanding she had been fo unfortunate as to lofe her reputation, fhe had the refolution to prefer fafting, and a breviary, to all the elegance and fplendor of Paris. This, in my idea, is real virtue; efpecially as fhe had forfeited the opinion of the world. But fhe is amply repaid for every worldly lofs, by that happy tranquillity fhe now, if fhe ftill be living, enjoys.

My going abroad this year was occafioned by the following circumftance. One of my creditors promifed that he would fign my letter of licence, if I would pay him thirty guineas, and he gave me affurance in writing of his doing fo; notwithstanding which, the very evening of the day I had paid the money on, he served me with a copy of a writ for the remainder. Exafperated at fuch ungenerous treatment, I gave bail, and determined to ftand trial. Upon this occafion Mr. Woodward recommended Mr. Zachary Stephens, folicitor in Chancery-lane, to me, to carry on the fuit. He undertook the caufe, but through fome neglect (as the

officer