1809.] Original Letters of Lady Mary iVortley Montagu. 3 
so happy to have so pritty a place, joyn’d 
_with so pritty a gentleman as all the 
world calls Mr. Vane. She dives here 
to-day: with her family. I intend to 
railly her about Sir William. She is a 
good-natur’d young woman, and I hear- 
tiuly wish she may.find (if that.can be) a 
recompence for the disappointment she 
has met with in this rouling world. Every 
mortal has their share; and tho’ I persist 
in my notions of Lappynesse, I begin to 
believe nobody ever yet experienced it. 
What thnk you? My present enter- 
tainment is rideing, sabe I grow very 
fond of, and endeavour to lay up.a stock 
of good health, the better to endure the 
fatigues of life. I Lope you are situated 
in an agreeable place, and good air. 
You know me, and that I wish you all 
sorts of pleasures ; the world affords few, 
but such as they are, dear Mrs. Ellys, 
may you enjoy them all. 
Sept. 10. 
To Mrs. Ellys, at Beverly, Yorkshire. 
Tue Lord save.us! what wretches are 
men! J know that Lord-Castlecomare 
intimately well, and have been very gay 
in his company. That’ts possible there 
should be so inbumane a creature! I 
pity the poor young lady to the last de- 
gree. A man must. have a compound of 
ill-nature, barbarousnesse, and inhuma- 
nity, to be able to do such an action. 
I cannot believe there are manny would 
be guilty of it. J] could declaim ‘four 
hours upon this subject—'tis something 
highly ingrateful and perfidious. I know 
several Lord Castlecomare has made love 
to, but should have never belev’d him, 
or any man, so utterly void of all tender- 
nesse and compassion. 
women to ther mothers! I can hardly 
believe it. I am of your mind, the young 
lady is happy if she dies. If-he sent her 
some ratsbane in a letter, ’tis. all the 
kindnesse he can now do, all the recom- 
pence he can now make her. I don’t 
question but there are some ,of our own 
sex inhumane enough to make a jest of 
her misfortunes. “Especially being a 
beauty, the public mark of malice, next 
to plungeing veople into misery (as that 
barbarous Lord Castlecomare has done) 
the greatest piece of ill-nature is insulting 
them under it. .Chiefly those ruin’d for 
love, perhaps-ensnar’d by yows and un- 
done by too much credulity, I alwaies 
pity the unhappy, without strictly looking 
into their merit, however their misfor- 
tunes come; when they are unfortunate 
they deserve compassion: and ’tis my 
maxim never to ridicule the frailties of 
kilad them men- 
the wretched of my own sex. You have 
done me a sensible pleasure in writeing 
an account of your own affairs ; and I 
desire to know how they proceed; and 
depend upon it your interests cannot be 
indifferent tome. If you like Mr. Heber 
I advise you to take Jhim, if the match is 
agreeable to your relations. We must 
do something for the world; and I don’t 
question but. your own good humour and 
his love will make you very happy. ’Tis 
more prudent to marry to money with 
nothing else, than every thing else with- 
out money, for there’s nothing so hard to 
come by ; but that is not your case, since 
My. Heber has money and is agreeable 
too.—What would you have more?— 
Prithee, dear child, don’t stand in your 
own light, aud let your next letter be 
sign’d, A. Heber. 
Pray tell me the name of ae unfortu- 
nate young lady whom you and_I pity so 
much. 
Sept. 22. 
To Mrs. A. Justice, at York. 
I wisH heartily for the successe of your 
affair, because 1 wish heartily for every 
thing that pleases you. Iagree with you, 
there is no misfortune so uneasy as un- 
certainty ; and 1 had rather be sure of 
never having my wishes, than be perpe- 
tually tossing between hope and fear. I 
pity poor Mrs. Ridsdale, and am glad her 
family has so just a sense of her misfor- 
tunes, not to encrease ’em by ill usage. 
If my Lord Castlecomare had any small re- 
mains of honesty or good-nature, he would 
marry her. 1 am surprised she -has no 
relation that bas spirit enough to take.a 
publicrevenge fora publicatiront; though 
hv revenge can come up to the nature of 
the injury. If I was in the poor lady’s 
lamentable case, instead of crying and 
sighing in achimncy corner, wasting tears 
and.breath to no purpose, I would e’en 
pluck up a stout heart, go to London, 
and—poyson him—that’s all. Out of an 
excesse of humanity, I would not poyson 
all his family; -his uncles and aunts should 
rest in._peace ; -but I. don’t think she can 
do less in honour: and if I.was she, I 
should be overjoy’d to be hang'd gpon 
such an occasion, for I think she has.no 
farther busynesse i in this world. 
I am sorry you can’t go to. Scoffton, for 
I pity the poor young woman’s melan- 
choly there extremely, and know no com- 
pany more proper to chase.it away-than 
that,of my dear Nanny, who has.a most 
constant well-wisher in me. 
October 25. 
Lo Mrs. Anne Justice, York. 
2 You 
