LETTER XXV 45 



author of Pamela & Clarissa. I need not say that such an Author 

 promises a pretty extraordinary Man in his own Character, but 

 Mr Eichardson very well answers ye Prejudice which his Works 

 raise in his Favour, & therefore is indeed an extraordinary man. 

 He is in Person a short fat man, of an honest Countenance, but 

 has ill Health & shatter'd nerves. But his gentle Manners, his 

 generous Charitableness, his Studiousness to oblige & improve 

 without ye air of Superiority, his extreme Tenderness to every 

 proper Object of it that comes within his Notice, make Him 

 infinitely dear to those who know Him, and studiously sought 

 after by those who do not. Eara Avis in Terris. 



My Sister & Pressy & my Brothers are much wth Him, & 

 have spent some Days at his Country House. As to Heck she 

 has enter'd into a voluminous Dispute with Him upon the 

 Subject of parental Authority, occasioned by her thinking 

 Clarissa's apprehensions of her Father's malediction too strong. 

 The first Letter was long, Mr Eichardson's answer 13 close 

 Pages, Heck's Eeply 17; & Mr E — 's 39. Several great men 

 as the Bp of London, the Speaker &c : have seen this Dispute 

 & think Mr E — hard pressed, & Heck has gained great Honour. 

 Old Cibber swore to her Face She would never be married. 



The Girls cannot help laughing when You talk of seeing them 

 at Oxford with such an air of Security. Such schemes come 

 round as slowly as publick Acts, & a small Matter dissipates 

 what great Cares had raised. I own I do not see much Pro- 

 bability of our Meeting there. However Hope is said to lie at 

 the Bottom of the Cup ; & I would drink at it thro' much Bitter- 

 ness, I love the Thoughts of Oxford, yet I agree wth You, it 

 has not the same Charms for me that it had, but then it is happy 

 for me that it has not. If our Tastes alter once in seven Years, 

 it is ten to One but some Circumstances of our Lives alter too & 

 make our new Tastes more pertinent. However I, who never 

 was visited by the Ladies at Oxford, shall take ye Pleasure which 

 ye Sight of an old Play wth new Company gives, & I shall be 

 taken up wth observing what Effect those Scenes which struck 

 me will have upon my Company. I fancy the Vanity of Genius 

 in the Girls who would form our Party, would furnish out 

 Observations & Dialogues almost worthy of ye Bodleian. 



I suppose Harry is Heir to your old Goiit for a College Life. 

 I wish Him much Happiness & Credit as an University Man. I 

 hear that Dr Musgrave is going to be married to Jenny Huggins. 

 I hope Chardin is well & all my old Friends : I would compre- 

 hend in that Term, tho' in another meaning of more Deference 

 & Eespect, the Provost & Dr Bentham. 



Poor Jenny Warton, that unfortunate Girl, has been extremely 

 ill wth a Feaver partly on her Brain : Mrs Warton is wth Her, 

 & I hear She must retire to Jo:'s House for a Eecovery. Heck 



