did not fuddenly enter my imagination, that Meliffa could fink beneath her established rank, while her form and her mind continued the fame; that fhe could ceafe to raise admiration but by ceafing to deserve it, or feel any stroke but from the hand of time. It was in my power to have concealed the lofs, and to have married, by continuing the fame appearance, with all the credit of my original fortune; but I was not fo far funk in my ówn esteem, as to submit to the baseness of fraud, or to defire any other recommendation than sense and virtue. I therefore difmiffed my equipage, fold thofe ornaments which were become unfuitable to my new condition, and appeared among those with whom I used to converfe with lefs glitter, but with equal spirit. I found myself received at every visit, with forrow beyond what is naturally felt for 'calami ties in which we have no part, and was entertained with condolence and confolation, fo frequently repeated, that my friends plainly confulted, rather their own gratification, than my relief. Some from that time refused my acquaintance, and forbore, without any provocation, to repay my vifits; fome vifited me, but after a longer interval than usual, and every return was ftill with more delay; nor did any of my female acquaintances fail to introduce the mention of my misfortunes, to compare my prefent and former condition, to tell me how much it must trouble me to want the splendour which I became fo well, to look at pleasures which I had formerly enjoyed, and to fink to a level with those VOL. II. G by by whom I had been confidered as moving in a higher sphere, and who had hitherto approached me with reverence and fubmiffion, which I was now no longer to expect. Obfervations like thefe are commonly nothing better than covert infults, which ferve to give vent to the flatulence of pride, but they are now and then imprudently uttered by honefty and benevolence, and inflict pain where kindness is intended. I will, therefore, fo far maintain my antiquated claim to politenefs, as to venture the cftablishment of this rule, that no one ought to remind another of miffortunes of which the fufferer does not complain, and which there are no means propofed of alleviating. You have no right to excite thoughts which neceffarily give pain whenever they return, and which perhaps might not have revived but by abfurd and unfeafonable compaffion. My endless train of lovers immediately withdrew, without raifing any emotions. The greater part had indeed always profeffed to court, as it is termed, upon the fquare, had enquired my fortune, and offered fettlements; thefe had undoubtedly a right to retire without cenfure, fince they had openly treated for money, as neceffary to their happiness, and who can tell how little they wanted any other portion? I have always thought the clamours of women unreasonable, who imagine themfelves injured because the men who followed them upon the fuppofition of a greater fortune, reject them when they are difcocovered to have lefs. I have never known any lady, who did not think wealth a title to fome ftipulations in her favour; and furely what is claimed by by the poffeffion of money is justly forfeited by its lofs. She that has once demanded a fettlement has allowed the importance of fortune; and when the cannot fhew pecuniary merit, why fhould the think her cheapener obliged to purchafe? My lovers were not all contented with filent defertion. Some of them revenged the neglect which they had formerly endured by wanton and fuperfluous infults, and endeavoured to mortify me, by paying, in my prefence, those civilities to other ladies, which were once devoted only to me, But, as it had been my rule to treat men according to the rank of their intellect, I had never fuffered any one to wafte his life in fufpenfe, who could have employed it to better purpofe, and had therefore no enemies but coxcombs, whose refentment and refpect were equally below my confideration. The only pain which I have felt from degradation, is the lofs of that influence which I had always exerted on the fide of virtue, in the defence of innocence, and the affertion of truth. I now find my opinions flighted, my fentiments criticised and my arguments opposed by those that used to listen to me without reply, and ftruggle to be firft in expreffing their conviction. The female difputants have wholly thrown off my authority; and if I endeavour to enforce my reafons by an appeal to the scholars that happen to be prefent, the wretches are certain to pay their court by facrificing me and my fystem to a finer gown, and I am every hour infulted with contradiction by cowards, who could never find till lately that Melissa was liable to error. G 2 There There are two perfons only whom I cannot charge with having changed their conduct with my change of fortune. One is an old curate that has paffed his life in the duties of his profeffion, with great reputation for his knowledge and piety; the other is a lieutenant of dragoons. The parfon made no difficulty in the height of my elevation to check me when I was pert, and instruct me when I blundered; and if there is any alteration, he is now more timorous left his freedom fhould be thought rudenefs. The foldier never paid me any particular addreffes, but very rigidly obferved all the rules of politenefs, which he is now fo far from relaxing, that whenever he ferves the tea, he obstinately carries me the first dish, in defiance of the frowns and whispers of the table. This, Mr. RAMBLER, is to fee the world. It is impoffible for those that have only known affluence and profperity, to judge rightly of themselves or others. The rich and the powerful live in a perpetual masquerade, in which all about them wear borrowed characters; and we only discover in what estimation we are held, when we can no longer give hopes or fears. I am, &c. MELISSA. IT NUMB. 76. SATURDAY, December 8, 1750. -Silvis ubi paffin Palantes error certo de tramite pellit, Ille finiftrorfam, hic dextrorfum abit, unus utrique While mazy error draws mankind astray From truth's fure path, each takes his devious way; ¦ HOR. ELPHINSTONE, T is eafy for every man, whatever be his character with others, to find reasons for esteeming himself, and therefore cenfure, contempt, or conviction of crimes, feldom deprive him of his own favour. Thofe, indeed, who can fee only external facts, may look upon him with abhorrence, but when he calls himself to his own tribunal he finds every fault, if not abfolutely effaced, yet fo much palliated by the goodness of his inten-. tions, and the cogency of the motive, that very little guilt or turpitude remains; and when he takes a furvey of the whole complication of his character, he difcovers fo many latent excellencies, fo many virtues that want but an opportunity to exert themselves in act, and so many kind wishes for univerfal happiness, that he looks on himself as fuffering unjustly under the infamy of fingle failings, while the general temper of his mind is unknown or unregarded. It is natural to mean well, when only abstracted ideas of virtue are proposed to the mind, and no particular paffion turns us afide from rectitude ; and fo willing is every man to flatter himself, that the difference between approving laws, and obeying them, is frequently forgotten; he that acknowledges G 3 |