I'34 letter f>-om hahella to J^lert. Sept. %6,- 



fairs of her family so arranged, as that you would 

 think they went on of themselves without any effort 

 or trouble to any one. Her face is to me very inte- 

 resting; because I think I perceive in it that kind 

 benevolence, my mother used so feelingly to ttU 

 us fhe pofsefsed, though flie never could be accounted 

 beautiful. What particularly charms me, is the un- 

 affected kindnefs »nd attention foe bestows upon her 

 hufband, who is the best of men. It was not at first 

 that I perceived this ; for you meet with uo profusioji 

 «tthe common terms of endearment, as Sweet ! Honey ! 

 Dear ! and so on. My dear, uttered softly, and as if it 

 were half by stealth, will sometimes escape her ;, but 

 even that is seldom. She makes no fufs about him ; 

 no fracas about his health, or usekfs questions that 

 tend to teaze under the appearance of kindnefs. She 

 contents herself with being silently observant of 

 every thing that will- tend to please or displease him. 

 She is particularly attentive to his taste at table. 

 This attention is not displayed in culling out, in an os- 

 tfentatious manner, the nicest bits, and prtfsing them 

 upon him ; but. in jioticing Vvhat it is he eats most 

 readily of, and what he lets alone, when left to his 

 own free choice. By this habit of quiet attention, Ihe 

 knows perfectly what is suited to his taste, both as 

 ♦o the nature ©f the victuals, and the mode of dref- 

 aing them ; and you cannot easily conceive what 

 pains (he is at to have these articles suited to his 

 wiihes. In cooking, the Englifh in general far ex- 

 cel us. Indeed I think a great part of our best 

 things in Scotland are spoiled by being badly dref- 

 sed. And how can it be otherwise ? In ordinary 

 families, where proper cooks can not be afforded, the 



