harrowgate.

Your letter gave me great pleasure; – I rejoice to hear Lady Lucan is well, and sincerely congratulate you upon it. – The filial affection you demonstrated at the news of her illness, and the joy you express on her recovery, do the highest honor to your heart; while the judicious choice you have made in the object of a still more tender attachment, reflects equal lustre upon your judgment. May Miss Melworth be as propitious to your wishes as/ her brother is! He tells me, that he thinks he discovered your love for her before you were sensible of it yourself: after saying this, he added a few encouraging things, which it is not so proper you should be acquainted with yet, lest you grow too vain.

I wish I could give you a better account of the health of our friend Sir Edward; some very wise ones here think him in a consumption, and give many significant glances and expressive shrugs; but, notwithstanding this, he has still very powerful attractions for the fair sex. Lady Gertrude Carruther, a fine blooming virgin of forty-four, is laying strong siege to his heart; and, tho' she meets with many repulses, remains undaunted, and continues her attacks daily with renewed vigor. The little blind urchin is engaged in her service; and, at every glance of her eye, sends forth his arrows in abundance: but, unfortunately for her, not one of them has succeeded; and, I fancy, she will find Edward's heart as impregnable as the rock of Gibraltar. Heaven forbid it should ever be otherwise to her, for I am certain she would soon torment him to death with her tongue;/ it never ceases; and there is an utter impossibility of enjoying one's own thoughts, for a moment, where she is present. Added to this, her consummate quackery renders her almost an insupportable companion: – She has got all the physical jargon by rote; and, I verily believe, thinks herself as well skilled in theory and practice, as the first physician in the kingdom.