2 Original Leiters of Lady Mary Wo ortley Montagu. [Feb. 1, 
Ing. T would to God I was with you read- 
ing the Atalantis! [know the book, and 
’twould be a vast pleasure to me te "read 
some of the storys with you, which are 
realy very pritty; some part af Eleonora’s 
Ehike mightily, and all Diana’s, which is 
the more moving because ’tis all true. If 
you and I was together now we should be 
very good company, for Pm" in a very 
pritty g rgarden with a book. of charming 
verses in my hand. I don’t know when 
we shall see Mrs. B. but when we do 
come into that country, is it quite 1mpos- 
sible for you fo stay a week or so with 
us? I only hiat this, forl know people’s 
inclinations must submit to their conve- 
niencys; only tell me how far it may be 
possible on your side, and then Ill en- 
deavour it on mine; though a thousand 
things may happen to make it impossible 
as to my part. You know you should be 
allwaies welcome to me, and ’tis none of 
my fault if I don’t see you. 
Remember your promise concerning 
the letters. 
To Mrs. Ann Justice, at York. 
Yes, yes, my dear, here is woods, and 
shades, and groves, in abundance. You 
are in the right on’t; ’tis not the place, 
but the solitude of the place, that 1s m- 
tolerable. ’Tis a hormd thing to see 
nothing but trees in a wood, and to 
walk by a purling stream to ogle the 
gudgeons in it. I’m glad you conti- 
nue your inclination to reading ; ’tis the 
most improving and most pleasant of all 
employments, aud helps to wear away 
many melancholy hours. I hear from 
some Nottinghamshire people, that Mrs, 
B. is not at all concern’d at the breaking 
off her match. I wonder at her courage 
if'she is not, and at her prudence in dis- 
sembling it if she is.” Prudent people are 
very happy. *Pis an exceeding fine thing, 
that’s certain; but I was born without 
it, and shall retain. to my day of death 
the humour of saying whatI think; there- 
fore you may believe me, when 1 protest. 
Tam much mortify’d at not seeing 
the North this year, for a hundred and 
fifty reasons; amongst the rest, I should 
have been heartily glad to have seen. roy 
Lord Holdernesse. In this hideous coun- 
try ’tis not the fashion to visit; and the 
few neighbours there are keep as far from 
one another as ever they can. The di- 
version here is walking ; which indeed 
are very pritty all about the house; but. 
then you may walk two mile without 
meeting a living creature but a few strag= - 
gling cows. We have been here near 
this month, and seen but one visitor, and 
her I never desire to see agatn, for I 
never saw such a monster m my life. 
TE am very sorry for your sore eyes. By 
this time I hope all’s over, and you can 
see as well as ever, Adicu, my dear. 
When you drink tea with Mrs. Be drink 
my health, and ’do me the justice to be- 
lieve I wish my selfe with you. 
July 7. 
Yo Mrs. Anne Justice, York. 
Tam very glad you divert yourselfe so 
well. I endeavour to make my solitude 
as agreeable as I can. Most things of 
that kind are in the power of the mind: 
we may make ourselves easy, if we can- 
not perfectly happy. ‘The news you tell 
me very much’ surprizes me. I wish 
Mrs, B. extremely well, and~ hope she 
designs better for her selfe than'a stolen 
wedding, with a man who (you know) we 
have reason to believe not the most sin- 
cere lover upon earth; and since his 
estate 1s in such very bad order, Tam 
_clearly of your opinion, his best course 
would be to the army, for [ suppose six 
or seven thousand pound (if he should 
get that with his mistrisse) would not set 
him up agam, and there he might pos- 
sibly establish his fortune, at least better 
it, and at worst be rid of allhis cares. 
I wonder all the young men in England 
don’t take that method; certainly the 
most profitable as well the noblest. I 
confess I cannot believe Mrs. B. soam- 
prudent to keep on any private corte- 
spondence with lim. I much doubt her 
perfect happiness if she runs away with 
him. I fear she will have more reason 
than ever to say there is no such thing. 
I have just now-received the numbers of 
the great lottery which is drawing: f 
find my selfe (as yet) among the uns 
lucky ; but, thank God, the great prize is 
not come out, and there’s room for hopes 
still. Prithee, dear child, pray heartily — 
forme. If IT win, I doom question (in 
spite of all our disputes) to find my seife 
perfectly happy.” My heart goes very 
muclt pit-a-pat about it; but Vve a hor- 
rid il bodeing miud, that tells me I’ 
shan’t win a farthing, I- should be very 
very glad to be mistaken in that case. I 
hear Mrs. B. has been at the Spaw. 
I wonder you don’t mention it. Adieu, ' 
my dear. Pray make no more excuses 
about long letters, and believe your’s. 
never seem so to mé. August 7. 
Lo Mrs. Anne Justice, York. 
I am led dear Mrs. Ellys finds so 
much happynesse in the state she has 
enter’d into. -I wish Mrs, B; had been. 
se 
