[2] 'I shall still find in her (Miss Mulso is writing _to_ and _of_ Miss Carter) that amiable condescension, and unreserved benevolence, which endears her conversation, and enhances the value of her understanding; which teaches her how to improve her companions without appearing to instruct them, to correct without seeming to reprove, and even to reprove without offending.' _Miss Mulso to Miss Carter, September 11, 1749._ 'It is impossible not to be better, as well as happier, for an intimate acquaintance with _Miss Carter_; take her for all in all, I think, I may venture to pronounce her _the first of women_!' _Miss Mulso to Mr. Richardson, July 24, 1752._ [3] 'I think I read the 'Rambler' with great attention, yet I cannot entirely acquit him of the charge of severity in his satires on mankind. I believe him a worthy humane man; but I think I see a little of the asperity of disappointment in his writings.' _Miss Mulso to Miss Carter, October 1752._ 'I am very unwilling to believe those that fright us with shocking pictures of human nature, and could almost quarrel with my very great favourite, 'The Rambler,' for his too-general censures on mankind; and for speaking of envy and malice as universal passions.' _Ibid._ [4] 'I thank God, (Canterbury, August 29, 1757,) my best soul has now the upper hand, by the assistance of medicine and cool weather, much more than of reason; and perhaps by the hope of two or three days of fancied good, in the presence of a _fancied essential_ (Mr. Chapone) to my happiness, who has promised to come down and see me some time before the middle of next month.'----'I shall now tell you something of myself, who live here (Salisbury, John, the second brother to her, being then its Prebendary) uncorrupted by grandeur, &c. &c. &c. who could prefer _a little attorney_ (Chapone) even to my Lord Feversham; had he offered to me, instead of the fair young lady he has so happily won.' _Miss Mulso to Miss Carter._ [5] 'Nothing can ever make me amends for that luxurious ease and security, in the kindness of all around me, which enables me to wrangle, abuse, and dispute, till I am black in the face,' &c. &c. _Mrs. Chapone to Mr. Burrows, 1773._ [6] 'It has always been one of my prayers, that I might never be the wife of an overgrown scholar.' _Miss Mulso to Miss Carter, 1754._ [7] Letters on the Improvement of the Mind, edit. 1801, pages 93, 94.