England -- Social life and customs -- 18th century -- Fiction; Epistolary fiction; Essays
“They are neither of them alive Ma’am.” This was an answer I did not
expect—I was quite silenced, and never felt so awkward in my Life—.
LETTER the FIFTH
From a YOUNG LADY very much in love to her Freind
My Uncle gets more stingy, my Aunt more particular, and I more in love
every day. What shall we all be at this rate by the end of the year! I
had this morning the happiness of receiving the following Letter from
my dear Musgrove.
Sackville St: Janry 7th
It is a month to day since I first beheld my lovely Henrietta, and the
sacred anniversary must and shall be kept in a manner becoming the
day—by writing to her. Never shall I forget the moment when her
Beauties first broke on my sight—No time as you well know can erase it
from my Memory. It was at Lady Scudamores. Happy Lady Scudamore to live
within a mile of the divine Henrietta! When the lovely Creature first
entered the room, oh! what were my sensations? The sight of you was
like the sight ofa wonderful fine Thing. I started—I gazed at her with
admiration—She appeared every moment more Charming, and the unfortunate
Musgrove became a captive to your Charms before I had time to look
about me. Yes Madam, I had the happiness of adoring you, an happiness
for which I cannot be too grateful. “What said he to himself is
Musgrove allowed to die for Henrietta? Enviable Mortal! and may he pine
for her who is the object of universal admiration, who is adored by a
Colonel, and toasted by a Baronet! Adorable Henrietta how beautiful you
are! I declare you are quite divine! You are more than Mortal. You are
an Angel. You are Venus herself. In short Madam you are the prettiest
Girl I ever saw in my Life—and her Beauty is encreased in her Musgroves
Eyes, by permitting him to love her and allowing me to hope. And ah!
Angelic Miss Henrietta Heaven is my witness how ardently I do hope for
the death of your villanous Uncle and his abandoned Wife, since my fair
one will not consent to be mine till their decease has placed her in
affluence above what my fortune can procure—. Though it is an
improvable Estate—. Cruel Henrietta to persist in such a resolution! I
am at Present with my sister where I mean to continue till my own house
which tho’ an excellent one is at Present somewhat out of repair, is
ready to receive me. Amiable princess of my Heart farewell—Of that
Heart which trembles while it signs itself Your most ardent Admirer and
devoted humble servt.
T. Musgrove.
There is a pattern for a Love-letter Matilda! Did you ever read such a
master-piece of Writing? Such sense, such sentiment, such purity of
Thought, such flow of Language and such unfeigned Love in one sheet?
No, never I can answer for it, since a Musgrove is not to be met with
by every Girl. Oh! how I long to be with him! I intend to send him the
following in answer to his Letter tomorrow.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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