much Complacency—How is it Colonel (You are a Casius—& can tell me) that a Woman seldom, very seldom, judges favorably of the Wedded Life, if once seriously attached to those Moral Doctrines & Poetic Flights—so truely captivating to a Muse like Apprehension? And yet the Nine are said to aid the Votary’s of Love—Apollo himself, sacrifices at Cupid’s Shrine, and Verse Men of all Ages, have at some period of their Lives, been prone to follow his great Example.—I fear, I fear: that the Details of Experience, joined to a little more than ordinary Penetration may be the true Source of their Dislike to Masculine Subjection.” —So much my Dear, for my description of the Sternes to Colonel Campbell, tho’ I’ve seen them not, but with the Minds Eye:—be so good my dear, as to announce his name and Character to them, as it’s probable He may find them out and make himself known to them—He has been very assiduous in collecting above one half of the Money I have sent Home for their use—in his Profession He is supposed to have extraordinary Merit—and in his Principles, and Manners, He is I think, one of ten thousand—sensible, sweet tempered, & Amiable, to a very great degree—added to which, lively, comical & accomplished—Young, Handsome, rich, & a Soldier!—What fine Girl, would wish more? I borrow my Notions of M^{rs}. & Miss Sterne from Various Reports—By culling the good from the bad in such Cases one may at any time, form a tolerable description of a Character.—this I believe, is what’s called conveying a Lye, in the Words of Truth—but no matter—Campbell cannot be hurt by thinking favorably of them, and they might be much Injured by his forming a different opinion—for the real Dislike of a Man of sense & Honor, this dislike, founded, on Principle, is, I think, the severest Disgrace that can happen to a Woman of sentiment or reputation—May it never be the fate of Me, or Mine, Good Heaven! for if any thing in Nature could prompt me to be guilty of Suicide, it would be an Affliction of this nature, all others have their Alleviations, but this, must arise, from a consciousness of our being lost to Worth—as a Good & Wise Man, never is Influenced by Caprice, but only contemns the Sinner from his hatred of the Sin. I am grown very moral of late, I believe, my dear Friend, for I cannot help dispersing such grave reflections as these throughout my Letters or Discourse, both my reading, and natural turn of Mind, encourages [this] Propensity, and as it teaches me to have a good reason for the Minutiæ in all Actions which savour of kindness, or the Agreable; I am rather pleased with myself, for the cultivation of a Taste, which may promote my usefulness in Society, as well as insure my own Approbation on just Grounds.—I am a good deal altered in my appearance James, since you used to view me with the Eyes of Kindness, due only, to a second self—but, my Head and Heart,