find the Want of a reasonable Companion; who, by participating in my Concerns, or approving my Actions, would double my Affiduity, and, of course, my Success. And this

leads me to mention two Things I have often thought of-First, Providence certainly defigned us focial Creatures; and that our greateft Happiness on Earth, and strongest Pursuit, is the Enjoyment of a rational and tender Friendship; which cannot be attained without devoting the greatest and best Part of our Lives to this fingle Purpose; for I am thoroughly convinced, that fincere Love, or real Friendship, never was contracted after the Age of Forty:The Mind then takes another Turn, grows callous to the tender, foft Impreffions of Humanity, and is in Pursuit of Enjoyments directly oppofite to thofe, the firft, and beft-unlefs before engaged in the dear Tyes of Hufband, or of Friend; if fo, each Day adds Strength to the bleft Union, and steals the Sting from Sorrow and from Care. Can we then, my dearest Life, without arraigning the Goodness and Wisdom of the divine Being, suppose that, from the highest Excellence of our Nature, we fhould be engaged in laudable Pursuits, which are to take up the beft and happiest Part of our Lives; and that, after having been at innumerable Pains to obtain them, the Enjoyment fhould ceafe, juft when we are capable of it,

4

by putting off this frail Mortality? No-it cannot be! With thee I'll range the liquid Fields of Air, wander through all the Immensity of Blifs, and find none equal to thy dear Society; fo fix my Heaven there.

I grow quite an Enthufiaft on this Subject, and, of course, talk an infinite deal of Nonfenfe; but fure you will excufe me, when I folemnly declare, I have no Idea of Happiness, either in this World or the next, unshared by thee.

The second Thing I have to mention is, my Surprize at your being able to live so long alone; "for, in Unequals, what Society?" And fure you appear to me like Adam, before the laft

and beft of all God's Works" was formed, dignified with, and conscious of that Superiority he felt, amidst his vaffal Brutes: Yet could Equality alone render Society agreeable to you, you must, indeed, condemn yourself to a perpetual Solitude; for, in that Cafe, I know not where it would be poffible for you to find a Companion.

-'s.

I am but just come home from Lady My Watch lies on the Table, and points to Twelve; fo I must bid you a thousand Times Good-Night!

I

LETTER CLXXXII.

HENRY to FRANCES.

Elton.

AM come fo far on my Way to London, and fhall be able to receive juft one Letter from you, before I leave it. My Uncle is in the Gout, which will not mend his Temper; and the three Women, I left behind me, are in a hopeful Way with him, and he, of confequence, extremely unhappy with them; for Providence has ordered it's eternal Laws fo equitably, that whoever makes another unhappy, by Perverseness of Temper, makes himself no lefs fo. I have more Indulgence for great Vices, than for this peevish, unfociable Humour, which Men abfurdly contract at that Stage of Life, when theystand most in need of all the friendly, amufing, and focial Helps, to aid them through. The other Vices have Nature on their Side, or Allurements and Temptations, to excuse them; but Morofenefs is contrary to Nature, (who diffufes Chearfulness among all her Works) and is also a Self-torment in the very Exercise. As I have often faid, I look'd upon Chearfulness to be an Hymn to Providence, as well as a ftrong Indication of a virtuous Mind, fo, I am almost bold to affirm, that Ill-humour is Blasphemy in the Act, and a moral Vice in the Disposition:

Nay,

Nay, to prove it a Vice, by the ftrict Rules of Logic, I affirm it to be a Thing diametrically oppofite to the Nature of Virtue; for, as that is it's own Reward, this is it's own Punishment.

It is obferved by Addifon, that few People have all the Qualities requifite to render Life agreeable: But there are two indispensably nëceffary, which are in every one's Power; Chearfulness and Conftancy. Now he who wants either of thefe, fhould be condemned; while thofe, who fall fhort in the Gifts of Nature, ought only to be pitied. Here it may be proper to say something in my own Defence, who feem to labour under this Rule, in fome People's Opinion; but obferve, that there may be Chearfulness without Mirth, and Conftancy with Profeffing.

I am, my dearest Pet,

Your's fincerely,

Henry.

IT

LETTER CLXXXIII.

HENRY to FRANCES.

T may seem idle to write you a Letter now, which you will get but a few Hours before I fee you; but I do it, perhaps, to fhew you, I have not fo paltry a Confideration for you, as B 4

the

the faving you a Groat; though I am fure, as I have no Letter of your's to anfwer, that I fhall not be able to say any thing which can defray the Expence.

Our Affizes ended this Day, by the Execution of all the Condemned; among whom was Johnson, a Rogue of fome Confequence. When I heard the Guards coming down the Street, I retired to a back Room, as it is not a Spectacle I care to look on; but, confidering it as an Object which might give Occafion to fome useful Reflections, I returned, and faw them pass by. The first Thought which occurred to me was, that I fhould be glad to have been, for fome Time, in their Situation, out of Curiofity, to know how a Man feels, or imagines, in such fhocking Circumftances; for the mere Defcription of any thing does not fufficiently fatisfy me. I fhould be alfo glad, more particularly, to know how I fhould behave myself, upon fuch an Occafion; whether I fhould feel myself moft concerned for my Crime, or fhocked at the Punishment; whether my Hopes, through the Merit of Repentance, would be fufficient to fupport me through the Terrors; if the Shame, or Pain, would afflict me moft; whether I fhould act like a Madman, or a Fool; and, laftly, whether I could have Strength of Mind fufficient to fupport that calm and philofophic Temper at my Death, which great Part of my Life has

been