dence but the nature of your last requires a speedy answer, as I know from experience that, when any thing of such moment is confided to another, there is an unavoidable anxiety until an answer is received. It gives me much satisfaction to see the mutual confidence that prevails between my sisters all and me; and, as far as any thing I can say or do can be of service, with most unfeigned pleasure shall I set about it. At the same time, in affairs of this nature, though never made much account of myself, I think I have made many useful observations, and in common cases deem myself a tolerable judge: but I must own that your situation has nonplussed me. Besides, you have got to those years, and are of so considerate a disposition; bestow so much pains to examine circumstances, and weigh consequences, and are so well qualified to do it; that I imagine to myself all I can say, and much more, has been ere now weighed and pondered in your mind. But, as you will not be satisfied if I go no further, I will endeavour just to give you a hint or two of my sentiments.

"I am very sorry my brother should make use of such an expression as you mention: it was unworthy of his good sense it is an indiscriminating method of judging that I shall never adopt. It is the man, not his occupation, that makes the difference....Where is this to stop? Do we not see bad husbands, and imprudent persons, in infinitum, amongst all ranks of men? and, on the other hand, do we not find desirable relations, men of sobriety, prudence, and virtue, in every condition? People of my profession are in general deemed undesirable husbands; but, if I live, I hope to convince one person, be it who it may, that there are exceptions. You therefore see that I lay but little stress on that hasty objection. So far I allow it weight; if the person were a pedant exciseman, and neither knew nor was capable of learning any thing else, a just objection might be raised: but I think you would not be prejudiced in favour of such a man. If he were imprudent, and had no idea of making provision for a rainy day, exciseman or not, he would be worth no woman's having. But, if he be, as I am prejudiced to hope, though you are the best judge, a man of docility and prudence, a man of spirit and activity, he will never be at a loss; but, where one resource fails, he will quickly seize another. How many instances does every day present us of people brought up entirely to a business or profession, who never make any progress:

while others, whom fortune alone as it were threw into their way of getting a living, by industry, prudence, and ingenuity, far surpass the others, nay, become eminent?Your scheme of grazing I like very well: and, if the family approved, it might be very advantageous, as a great deal of good business of that kind is in their hands, and each present branch provided for. I have but a very slender acquaintance with the person; you have a more perfect knowledge of him: all I can do is to give you some hints of what I could wish to direct your choice. At the same time I am sensible that I shall give you no information, as your sentiments are so similar to my own. But still I will

give those hints.

"Let then sobriety be a sine quâ non: with it many deficiencies may be supplied; without it many excellencies may not only be buried, but rendered prejudicial. Prefer sobriety to almost every consideration for a drunkard, nay a person only a little addicted to drinking, can never render you happy.

"Next, let every virtue be examined in order, and let the lowest in rank of these be preferred to the highest personal endowment or agreeable quality. Never seek for those qualities which the most of your sex admire they are indifferent in themselves, but, by the favour they acquire, they inspire vanity, and render a man haughty, imperious, and self-sufficient: which I think next to drunkenness is most to be avoided.

"Let an obliging disposition be much regarded. I do not mean the temper which is in general called by this name, and which consists in affected complaisance and unmeaning officiousness-under which is commonly concealed the most insufferable pride; but that disposition which, without ostentation, finds pleasure in giving pleasure; thinks the opportunity of doing a good office a sufficient reward for the trouble attending it; and is never so happy as when employed in doing good.

"You see how little stress I lay upon the qualifications of body or mind, which carry to the generality of each sex the most bewitching attractions. I have learned to regulate my own conduct by other rules, and to aim at other attainments; and perhaps, both in myself and others, I make too little account of those admired qualities. In short I lay no stress at all upon them, but rather the contrary and, were I to marry a woman at a short warning, I

would rather choose one of whom no one took any notice, than one who was the admiration of every body.-But good sense, I own, has great attractions for me, and I think for you also: but a very great mistake is often committed in that particular. You remark I put the epithet good to it; that will form a hint what I mean; namely a tolerable share of sense applied to its proper use. I have often been in company with people of noted sense, who have been the most insufferable creatures living. A certain air of superiority infects their whole conduct; a positiveness in assertion, an impatience of contradiction, a peremptory tone, a deciding vote are their characteristics. These you would avoid as a pestilence. A person much inferor in parts and education may far surpass them in good sense. You may be able to converse with one inferior in knowledge with tolerable satisfaction; but you never can with him who thinks himself superior in so absolute a manner, as not to allow you to know any thing. A real ignorance and an imagined knowledge often have the same effects, that is, produce obstinacy, which is the bane of every thing good and desirable. Let the person then you choose, in this particular, possess useful knowledge; but whether he knows more or less, let him never think he knows enough : if he does, wo to his wife-except she know nothing.-In my judgment, nothing can render a man more desirable than a certain diffidence of himself; a feeling that he is liable to mistake, and that his knowledge, how extensive soever, may receive additions. Such a person will ever listen to reasons given; and will never quarrel with one who happens to think otherwise than he does: and you know how desirable such a quality is.

"In regard to external circumstances, a prudent foresight is necessary in every rank of life; though riches are not happiness, poverty is distress, especially to those who have not been used to it. Here look out for frugality, industry, application, and activity. Whatever station a man is born in, on himself in a great measure depends his future fortune; and, though it may not be practicable for a man to raise himself from indigence to affluence, yet it is hardly ever out of a man's power, who possesses the qualities I have mentioned, to advance himself to a comfortable independence: while, on the other hand, no advantages of fortune secure the imprudent prodigal from sinking into poverty and distress.

"So you see, upon the whole, I prefer sobriety to every thing; virtue to the gifts of nature; that man whom others think beneath notice, to him whom each female views and admires; an innate benevolence to an outside complaisance; a small share of useful, well applied good sense, to the largest fund of learning and knowledge, when productive of self-sufficiency; modesty, even in a man, to the most agreeable assurance; and lastly, frugality and prudence to riches and worldly advantages; and from all together you may infer that it is the man himself, not his externals, nor yet his calling, that I judge by. You best know how many of those qualities the person in question possesses, and in which he is deficient; but, as you must expect deficiencies in every one, let it rather be in any thing than that I first mentioned; and next avoid the peremptory sensible man.

"So far I have given my sentiments on this so delicate a subject in a general manner. As to descending to particulars, it is impossible. When I am well acquainted with the men, I durst positively say, Avoid this man; but I durst not say, Choose this: because men are not absolutely to be known; and, as my design in every action is to do good, so I should never forgive myself, if by my advice any person, and especially a sister, were induced to take a step which entailed misery.

"One thing more I have to add, the next to your own inclinations, I had almost said, prior to them the sentiments of the person in question ought to be consulted. Oblige a man of sense and sensibility in marrying him, and you lay a most excellent foundation; turn the obligation the other way, and your man must be well chosen indeed to act in a desirable manner. But, where the obligation is nearly equal, the most promising and stable foundation is laid. In short, the nearer the quality in each particular*~~ is, the better the prospect of future happiness.

"So far you see my sentiments: but one most material thing remains yet to be considered, which requires a still more delicate touch. You say something of my father's not giving his consent. And have I been all along advis ing you to act in contradiction to the opinion of one so superior in age and experience, and who, beyond dispute, has your interest as much at heart as any one, not even excepting myself? In what I have said, I did not intend

that. If my father any way opposes it, I am sensible he does it because he thinks the prospect not good; which if it really be not, it ought to be prevented. Convince my father therefore that the person is not undeserving, and you are sure of his consent. You have great influence with him, and he has a very great opinion of your judgment and prudence; he will hear your reasons with partiality; and time alters people's opinion much. But I lay more stress on his consent, than on my brother's censure; though I have a very high opinion of him also: but that deciding manner is his fault: and perhaps my father's judgment has thence received a bias."

The great stress which this letter lays upon freedom from intemperance will have been noticed; nor can the supreme importance of such a qualification be doubted: but we may take occasion to remark, that many passages in my father's early letters imply that the vice of drunkenness was much more common at that time, than it is to be hoped, it is at present. "Getting drunk," he on one occasion says," a vice with which I think the whole world is infected."

What he in another point requires that the object of his sister's choice should be, that he himself eminently was -"a man of spirit and activity, who, where one resource fails, will quickly seize another." He says of himself, and most justly, to his younger sister, (afterwards Mrs. Ford,) November 10, of the same year: If I know my own character, whatever my hand findeth to do, I do it with all my might. In each action I endeavour to take in its whole future tendency. Now that I think study the important point, with application I pursue it. Should a family require a further supply, either for present use or future provision, if I know myself, I should apply to some other more immediate source of advantage, with equal spirit and assiduity. This I think my past conduct proves: for nothing can be more opposite than my former and my present pursuits; and no one can say that I wanted spirit in either."

I shall subjoin a few miscellaneous extracts from his early correspondence with his sisters.

In a letter dated London, March 13, 1773, the day before he was ordained priest, he writes thus. "London is just what it was, a place of noise, confusion and grandeur; not of happiness. I walk the streets in a very philosophi