Tame, cold, dispassionate minds resemble barren lands; warm, animated ones, rich ground, which, if properly cultivated, yields the noblest fruit; but, if neglected, from its luxuriance is most productive of weeds. His misfortune has been losing both his parents when almost an infant; and having been master of himself and a noble fortune, at an age when the passions hurry us beyond the bounds of reason. I am the only person on earth by whom he would ever bear to be controlled in any thing; happily for Lucy, I preserve the influence over him which friendship first gave me. That influence, and her extreme attention to study his taste in every thing; with those uncommon graces both of mind and person she has received from nature, will, I hope, effectually fix this wandering star. She tells me, she has asked you to a masquerade at Temple-house, to which you will extremely oblige us all by coming. You do not tell us, whether the affair of your majority is settled: if obliged to return immediately, Temple will send you back. Adieu! Your faithful Ed. Rivers. I have this moment your last letter: you are right, we American travellers are under great disadvantages; our imaginations are restrained; we have not the pomp of the orient to describe, but the simple and unadorned charms of nature. LETTER 212. To Colonel Rivers, Bellfield, Rutland. Nov. 4. Sir William Verville is come back to town; I was with him this morning; he desires to see the child; he tells me, his brother, in his last moments, mentioned this story in all the agony of remorse, and begged him to provide for the little innocent, if to be found; that he had made many enquiries, but hitherto in vain; and that he thought himself happy in the discovery. He talks of settling three thousand pounds on the child, and taking the care of educating him into his own hands. I hinted at some little provision for the amiable girl who had saved him from perishing, and had the pleasure to find Sir William listen to me with attention. I am sorry it is not possible for me to be at your masquerade; but my affair is just at the crisis: Bell expects a particular account of it from Mrs. Rivers, and desires to be immediately in the secret of the ladies dresses, though you are not: she begs you will send your fair cottager and little charge to us, and we will take care to introduce them properly to Sir William. I am too much hurried to say more. Adieu! my dear Rivers! Your affectionate J. Fitzgerald. LETTER 213. To Mrs. Fitzgerald. Nov. 8. Yes, my dear Bell, politeness is undoubtedly a moral virtue.