4 - Original Letters of Lady Mary W oriley Montagu. [Feb.1, 
You are very happy, dear Nanny, and 
Yl swear I think you are very wise. 
People have uneasynesses enough in this 
world that they can’t help, and therefore 
they ought to help all they can. I hope 
“Mrs. B. follows these prudent maxims, 
and am glad to hear she is forgetting all 
former disquiets. A new fire always 
fetches out an old one—and one may 
learn that from a burnt finget=and, as 
you say, there is no medicine like it. I 
stay in the country longer than I intend- 
ed, for fear of that confounded distemper 
the small- -pox, which happens to be next 
door to our house in London. I com- 
“mend you mightily for not thinking of 
‘coming ; for tho’ this world is a ridicu- 
“Jous impertinent place, yet, as long as 
‘one lives in it, one must conform to the 
humours of other people: and tho’ I per- 
sist, and shall do to my dying day, in 
asserting that perfect happynesse may be 
in this life, yet I hardly believe any body 
has ever found it yet; but f commend 
you, all wise people, make the best of a 
bad bargain; if one’s gone, ne’re keep a 
pother, get another, get another—'tis thie 
best advice in the world. I hope to see 
you next summer, and then we'll talk over 
old storys again. I don’t think you to 
be much lamented for not comeing to 
town, (except you had some particular 
reason for’t), for realy I have had expe- 
rience of both, and if you’l take my judg- 
ment, was I to chuse for alwaies, I should 
prefer a country life, not out of a roman- 
tick fancy, but pure reflection-on which 
is happyest. Every body goes out of 
mourning this Christmas, and the grand 
affair of cloaths employs all the tongues 
and fingers. of womankind. When Pm 
tin London (if you desire it) you shail 
have as exact an account as I can give 
of the dresse of the head, number of 
‘ribands, and cut of the manteau a la- 
mode, tho’ one milliner is worth ten of 
me at those nicetys ; lazynesse and care- 
lessnesse makeing great part of my com- 
pound ; the first of these, at this minute, 
has so much power, as to make my pen 
drop out of my hand before I have told 
you how much I am your’s. 
Direct your next to London, for ’tis to 
be hop’d I shall be there by that time. 
Dee. 27 
‘To Mrs. Anne Justice, at York. 
— S 
I wore, dear Nanny, you do not think 
Tforget you ; but I’ll swear this town issuch 
a place, and one is so hurry’d about, tis 
with vast difficulty I can get pen, ink, 
and paper; and perhaps when they are 
allin readynesse, whip, there comes some 
impertinent visitor or another and puts 
all into confusion again. So that—you 
must forgive me—that’s the short on’t. 
T am heartily sorry for the misfortunes 
of Oroonoko, and hope he'll find as much 
mercy in the court of heaven as in the 
court marshall. As to dresse, ’tis di- 
vided into partys: all the high chureh 
ladies affect to wear heads in imitation 
of the steeples, and on their muffs roses 
exactly like those in the parsons’ hats. Oa 
the other side, the low party (of which 
I declare my selfe) wear little tow heads 
and long ribands to their maffs. This 
a full account of the important busynesse 
dress, which is at present much talk’d of 
against the birth-night, where every body 
is endeav’ ring to outshine the other. The 
town is very full, and diversion more fol- 
low’d thanever [knewit. I am invited 
to a ball to-night. I believe I shall dance 
with some of the same company I did at 
Mrs. Banks’s. Now we talk of Mrs. 
Banks, pray does the mateh go on, or is 
it only afalse report? The best way to 
make sure of an old lover, is certainly to 
engage to a new one. I wish her ex- 
tremely well, as I dare say you do, and 
hope next summer we shall see her again. - 
I long mightily to see dear Nottingham- 
shire, and dear Nanny, who has a most 
faithfull friend of me. 
0 Mrs. Anne Justice, at York. 
Ler me die, my dear, and all that, if 
I have been so well pleas’d since I came 
to London as with your two letters. ”Tis 
true, I’m often diverted, and sometimes 
pleas’d, but never happy. You know 
these distinctions are just, tho’? they may 
sound odly. Don’t mistake me, child: 
pray love Mr. Crotchrode, he has wit, 
and a man of wit cannot be a villain. 
T have sent you a knot by the Mans- 
field carrier, and am your very humble 
servant. 
January. 
To Mrs. Justice, Scofton, Nottinghamshire. 
I wave got a cursed cold, that lies so 
consumedly i in my head (I suppose you'l 
hear how T got it) I can’t write such a 
letter-as I wou’d do, if I had my eyes I 
wou'd write a better—take the will for 
the deed my dear. I congratulate your 
good fortune. Would to God, John 
may be aslucky tome. You need not 
fear I should forget Friday; thoagh I 
knock my head against the wall every 
tine I think on’t, and curse my stars, 
that never sends me an inclination with- 
/ out 
