APOLOGY. 
-6 
Thus, Madam, where the writer has but little to fay in the 
defcriptive part ; where politics and commerce are imperti- 
nence ; where invention is forbidden, becaufe the defign is to 
relate pure hiftorical facft, his chief dependance is on religion, 
the moft important and mold neceffary of all fubjedls. And is 
this inconhftent with the familiar ftile of letters ? Whether it 
be fo or not, it is a part of the true hiftory of your travels. 
You will find the fubjedt moft familiar to my thoughts, and in 
which I give myfelf an unreftrained indulgence. I have dreffed 
her in as pleafing a garb as my tafte, and her appearance in fuch 
polite company, permits. Would to God fhe were more wel- 
come in modern Aftemblies, which think themfelves elegant 
and refined in their purfuits of pleafure! If from trivial inci- 
dents, we can draw inftrudtion of high concernment, and make 
the proper applications, we may fafely pronounce that our time 
•is not loft. 
If I was lefs ferious in your company than I am in my writ- 
ing, you may learn this from it, that there is a great difference, 
in the comparifon of fome men’s manners, by which I mean 
their ordinary addrefs and deportment in the world, and their 
cast of thought. ’Tis the laft which influences their adlions 
moft, which forms their fpirits, gives them that character by 
which they are beft diftinguifhed from each other, and makes 
them acceptable or unacceptable to heaven. You rnuft ac- 
knowledge, that whether it relate to ourfelves, or others, it is a 
much nobler talk to mend the heart, than to amufe the 
FANCY. 
We 
