ledgments, who have condefcended to give me your very felf. I can make no Return for

fo ineftimable a Favour, but in acknowledging the Generofity of the Giver. To have either Wealth, Wit, or Beauty, is generally a Temptation to a Woman to put an unreasonable Value upon herself; but with all thefe, in a Degree which drew upon you the Addresses of Men of the ampleft Fortunes, you bestowed your Perfon where you could have no Expectations but from the Gratitude of the Re

ceiver,

ceiver, tho' you knew he could exert that Gratitude in no other Returns but Efteem and Love. For which muft I first thank you, for what you have denied yourfelf, or for what you have beftowed on me?

I owe to you, that for my fake you have overlooked the Profpect of living in Pomp and Plenty, and I have not been circumfpect enough to preferve you from Care and Sorrow. I will not dwell upon this Particular; You are fo good a Wife, that I know you think I rob you of more

than I give, when I say any thing. in your Favour to my own Dif

advantage.

Whoever should fee or hear you, would think it were worth. leaving all the World for you; while I, habitually poffeffed of that Happiness, have been throwing away impotent Endeavours for the reft of Mankind, to the Neglect of Her for whom any other Man, in his Senfes, would be apt to facrifice every thing elfe.

I know not by what unreafonable Prepoffeffion it is, but,

me

methinks, there must be fomething auftere to give Authority to Wisdom, and I cannot account for having only rallied many feasonable Sentiments of yours, but that you are too Beautiful to appear Judicious.

One may grow fond, but not wife, from what is faid by fo lovely a Counsellor: Hard Fate, that you have been leffened by your Perfections, and loft Power by your Charms

That ingenuous Spirit in all your Behaviour, that familiar Grace in your Words and Acti

ons,

ons, has for this seven Years only inspired Admiration and Love, but Experience has taught me, the best Counsel I ever have received, has been pronounced by the fairest and fofteft Lips, and convinced me that I am in you bleft with a wife Friend, as well as a charming Mistress.

Your Mind fhall no longer fuffer by your Person, nor fhall your Eyes for the future dazzle

me into a Blindness towards your Understanding. I rejoice in this publick Occafion to fhew my Esteem for you; and muft

do