Though William Black was willing to talk of “Love and Platonicks,” and with warm approval, he was bitter in his rebuke of this “Fine Lady Mrs Talkative” who dared to speak of books and authors. It is well to note the books read by these young ladies in high life, and their critical opinion of them. A much-liked book was named _The Generous Inconstant_. It has vanished from our modern view. I should really like to see the book that rejoiced in such a title. We can also learn of the books read by Lucinda the “Young lady of Virginia” and her friend Polly Brent. Lucinda’s journal was written during a visit to the Lees, Washingtons, Grymes, Spotswoods, and other first families of Virginia, and has been preserved till our own day. She thus records:-- I have spent the morning in reading Lady Julia Mandeville, and was much affected. Indeed I think I never cried more in my life reading a Novel; the Stile is beautiful, but the tale is horrid. Some one just comes to tell us Mr Masenbird and Mr Spotswood is come. We must go down, but I am affraid both Sister’s and my eyes will betray us. Mrs. A. Washington has lent me a new Novel called Victoria. I cant say I admire the Tale, though I think it prettyly Told. There is a Verse in it I wish you much to read. I believe if I ant too Lazy I will copy it off for you; the verse is not very beautifull but the sense is I assure you. I have been very agreeably entertained this evening reading a Novel called Malvern Dale. It is something like Evelina, though not so pretty. I have a piece of advice to give which I have before urged, that is to read something improving. Books of instruction will be a thousand times more pleasing (after a little while) than all the novels in the World. I own myself I am too fond of Novel-reading; but by accustoming myself to reading other Books I have become less so. I have entertained myself all day reading Telemachus. It is really delightful and very improving. I have for the first time in my life just read Pope’s Eloiza. I had heard my Polly extol it frequently, and curiosity led me to read it. I will give you my opinion of it; the Poetry I think butifull, but do not like some of the sentiments. Some of Eloizas is too Amorous for a Female I think. Sally Wister, a girl of fifteen, had brought to her what she called “a charming collection of books,”--_Caroline Melmoth_, some _Ladys Magazines_, _Juliet Grenville_ and “Joe Andrews”--this, Fielding’s _Joseph Andrews_, I suppose. The sensible and intelligent Eliza Lucas wrote in 1742, when she was about twenty-one years old, with much critical discrimination on what she read:--