6 Original Letters of Lady Mary Wortley Montagu. [Feb.1, 
scene delights me; though I fear, like all 
any other pleasing ideas, "twill vanish into 
air, and leave me, as J was, but still 
your's. : 
Jun. 31, 
Jo Mrs. Justice, Scofion, Nottinghamshire. 
I am very glad you continue in your 
beliefe that perfect happynesse is not (as 
some wildly think it) a chunzra: tho’ I 
never met auy body told me they had it, 
that does not deter my pursuit of it, nay 
even hopes. The blessed lottery was 
open’d this day. There is a croud at 
the Bank ; there is no approaching with- 
in half a mile of it, Whe Earl of Pem- 
broke puts in three thousand pounds, 
and all the world talks of nothing élse; 
so I suppose they all hope at least to.add 
considerably to their happynesse, if not 
attain it, by that means. I write to. Mrs. 
Banks this very day, so you’! see in her 
letter what reports [ have heard concern- 
ing her matrimony. The undertaking I 
spoke of (like most undertakings) was 
not half so pleasant in the action as in 
the prospect ; it was much such another 
as the muller’s, but not half so satisfac- 
tory. The pretended fortune-teller was 
“50 ignorant as to take my sister tor the 
elder, and several other absurditys, which 
provok’d me to an utter contempt.of all 
those creatures and their ridiculous pre- 
dictions. My sister is very well reco- 
vered, and we go to the play to-night. 
Lord Chamberlain danced jlast night at 
Lady Hide’s, where there was a vast,deal 
of company. You do me wrong in fan- 
cying I should be weary of the length of 
your’s; Vil assure you I think them the 
more obliging. The knots begin their 
journey to-day; I’m afraid you have 
thought of them so long they won't an- 
swer your expectations. Pray do ime the 
favour to -wear itat Miss Banks’ wedding, 
if tis not yet over. I never think of the 
solemnity without wishing myselfe at it; 
but I won’t be so ill-natur’d to Mr. Vane 
to wish it delay’d till spring; tho’ I hope 
you'l stay till that time. J faney we 
shall come down about May: whenever 
I do, all the diversions I leave here will 
not give me so much regret, as the seeing 
my agreeable country friends will pleasure. 
Jan. 16. 
To Mrs. Justice, at Scoffton, 
Nottinghamshire. 
You ave infinitely obliging. I pretend 
no value in my letters, but they come 
from a heart very much devoted to your 
service. Ifyou hear I have the lot (as 
I beseech heaven 1 may) you will hear 
in a few posts afterwards that I desire 
your company. You observe just, there 
is no charm like liberty, and liberty 1s 
never In a croud; there is a vast, a solid 
pleasure, in having one’s time at one’s 
own disposal, and not to be ty’d up to 
the forms that are more troublesome 
than servitude ; a servant has nobody to 
please but his master; we thac live im the 
world, have all the world—every creature 
is free to be both our judge and accuser. 
What a happiness then to be out of the 
hurry, to passe the days unheeded, with- 
out the malicious reinarks of formal 
prudes, or the insipid railleries of en- 
vious coquettes. [infinitely approve your 
generous resolution of making Mr, 
(for 1 suppose you mean him) happy. 
ealunot suppose you so unfortunate as 
you fancy your selfe. Prithee try—who 
would not venture for eternal happy- 
nesse?——perfect happynesse—tho’ Miss 
Banks will allow of no such’thing. Pray 
ask her the question again, a week afler 
her wedding: Pll be hang’d if she does 
not look down and _ cry, she’s perfectly 
happy. ’Dis a strange cruelty in my 
fortune, that I am not to be at that 
charming solemnity. If it was some 
aukward disagreeable place, ’m sure I 
should be there, tho’ £ study’d all ways 
and means to avoid it. But destiny can- 
not be struggled with; and’tis fit for me, 
upon many occasions, to.make use of the 
admirable proverb, “ Make the best. of a 
had bargain.” This consideration makes 
lac move.up and down town, and endea- 
vour.to make my life pass as tolerably as 
Ican. The Gazette, I suppose, has told 
you of the magnificent bail of Count 
Turucca: there was a great manny mas- 
queraders—che two Mr Molesworths was 
some of the must galant there, one dress’d 
like a Dutch skipper, and the otherin a 
Suit trim’d with green and gold, aud made 
themselves very remarkable by their fine 
dapeing. Bat Mr. D’Arcie every way 
excelled all the rest: he was like a shep- 
herd, but so shining with jewels, so neat, 
sv lovely, he surpriz’d and charm’d every 
body. Good buy te’e my dear—if the 
beli did not ring I would write out my 
paper. 
Lo Mrs. Justice, at Scojfton, . 
Nottinghamshire. 
You are very obliging, my.dear, .Of 
all things I like your lover’s letter, gay, 
kind, and airy, as you say he is in his con- 
versation. ‘People say he is very hand- 
some; his stile shews he has wit and 
gaiety. ‘These are very fine charming 
qualifications, but consider my dear - 
re. 
