MRS. ELIZABETH CARTER TO MRS. VESEY,

BETWEEN THE YEARS 1763 AND 1787;

PUBLISHED FROM THE

ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPTS IN THE POSSESSION

OF THE

REV. MONTAGU PENNINGTON, M.A.

VICAR OF NORTHBOURN, IN KENT, HER NEPHEW AND 1XECUTOR.

We took sweet counsel together, and walked in the house of God as friends.

PRINTED FOR F. C. AND J. FIVINGTON,

NO. 62, ST. PAUL'S CHURCH-YARD.

1809.

17443,58

HARVARD COLLEGE LIBRARY

001 161000

book beguet.

(I. -IT.)

Law and Gilbert Priuters, St. John's-Square, London.

46

PREFACE.

AFTER what was said in the Memoirs of Mrs. Carter's Life concerning the dislike which she expressed of the injudicious publication of confidential Letters, it may perhaps be deemed necessary for the Editor to give some reason for the exception which he has thought proper to make with respect to the following Correspondence. It was certainly his original wish and intention that none of Mrs. Carter's Letters should be printed but those which are inserted in the Memoirs; and he made that request accordingly to some of her surviving friends, who are still in possession of her Letters.

But the Letters which were published in the Memoirs were thought so excellent, that the Editor was assailed from all quarters with the most pressing solicitations to give more of them to the public. Every motive was urged, and every argument that was likely to have any force. And some of these, he well knew, would have had great weight with Mrs. Carter herself. It was said, that in his hands, who was not likely to publish any thing which his respected relation would have thought improper, the circulation of these Letters could do no harm, and might do much good; that to give the world an innocent as well as engaging

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