At laft the time came. My aunt, whofe huf band has a feat in parliament, and a place at court, buried her only child, and fent for me to fupply the lofs. The hope that I fhould fo far infinuate myself into their favour, as to obtain a confiderable augmentation of my fortune, procured me every convenience for my departure, with great expedition; and I could not, amidst all my transports, forbear some indignation to fee with what readiness the natural guardians of my virtue fold me to a ftate, which they [thought more hazardous than it really was, as foon as a new acceffion of fortune glittered in their eyes. Three days I was upon the road, and on the fourth morning my heart danced at the fight of London. I was fet down at my aunt's, and entered upon the scene of action. I expected now, from the age and experience of my aunt, fome prudential leffons; but, after the first civilities and first tears were over, was told what pity it was to have kept fo fine a girl fo long in the country; for the people who did not begin young feldom dealt their cards handfomely or played them tolerably. Young perfons are commonly inclined to flight the remarks and counfels of their elders. I fmiled, perhaps, with too much contempt, and was upon the point of telling her, that my time. had not been paft in fuch trivial attainments. But I foon found that things are to be estimated, not by the importance of their effects, but the frequency of their use. A few days after, my aunt gave me notice, that fome company, which he had been fix weeks in collecting, was to meet that evening, and and the expected a finer affembly than had been feen all the winter. She expreffed this in the jargon of a gamefter, and, when I asked an explication of her terms of art, wondered where I had lived. I had already found my aunt fo incapable of any rational conclufion, and fo ignorant of every thing, whether great or little, that I had loft all regard to her opinion, and dreffed myself with great expectations of an opportunity to difplay my charms among rivals, whose competition would not dishonour me. The company came in, and after the curfory compliments of falutation, alike easy to the lowest and the highest understanding, what was the refult? The cards were broke open, the parties were formed, the whole night passed in a game, upon which the young and old were equally employed; nor was I able to attract an eye, or gain an ear, but being compelled to play without fkill, I perpetually embarraffed my partner, and foon perceived the contempt of the whole table gathering upon me. I cannot but fufpect, Sir, that this odious fafhion is produced by a confpiracy of the old, the ugly, and the ignorant, against the young and beautiful, the witty and the gay, as a contrivance to level all diftinctions of nature and of art, to confound the world in a chaos of folly, to take from thofe, who could outshine them, all the advantages of mind and body, to withhold youth from its natural pleasures, deprive wit of its influence, and beauty of its charms, to fix those hearts upon money, to which love has hitherto been entitled, to fink life into a tedious uniformity, and to allow it no other hopes, or fears, but those of robbing, and being robbed. Be Be pleased, Sir, to inform thofe of my fex, who have minds capable of nobler fentiments, that, if they will unite in vindication of their pleafures and their prerogatives, they may fix a time, at which cards fhall cease to be in fashion, or be left only to thofe who have neither beauty to be loved, nor fpirit to be feared; neither knowledge to teach, nor modesty to learn; and who, having paffed their youth in vice, are justly condemned to spend their age in folly. SIR, I am, SIR, &c. CLEORA, Vive it vent. As you publish a paper, 7EXATION will burft my heart, if I do I infift upon it, that you insert this in your next, as ever you hope for the kindness and encouragement of any woman of taste, fpirit, and virtue. I would have it published to the world, how deferving wives are ufed by imperious coxcombs, that henceforth no woman may marry, who has not the patience of Grizzel. Nay, if even Grizzel had been married to a gamefter, her temper would never have held out. A wretch that loses his good-humour and humanity along with his money, and will not allow enough from his own extravagances to fupport a woman of fashion in the neceffary amusements of life! Why does not he employ his wife head to make a figure in parliament, raise an estate, and get a title? That would be fitter for the mafter of a family, than rattling a noisy dice-box; and then he might indulge his wife in a few flight expences and elegant diverfions. - What What if I was unfortunate at Brag?-Should he not have ftayed to fee how luck would turn another time? Inftead of that, what does he do, but picks a quarrel, upbraids me with lofs of beauty, abuses my acquaintance, ridicules my play, and infults my underftanding; fays, forfooth, that women have not heads enough to play with any thing but dolls, and that they should be employed in things proportionable to their understanding, keep at home, and mind family affairs. I do stay at home, Sir, and all the world knows I am at home every Sunday. I have had fix routs this winter, and sent out ten packs of cards in invitations to private parties. As for management, I am fure he cannot call me extravagant, or fay I do not mind my family. The children are out at nurse in villages as cheap as any two little brats can be kept, nor have I ever feen them fince; fo he has no trouble about them. The fervants live at board wages. My own dinners come from the Thatch'd House; and I have never paid a penny for any thing I have bought fince I was married. As for play, I do think I may, indeed, indulge in that, now I am my own mistress. Papa made me drudge at whift till I was tired of it; and, far from wanting a head, Mr. Hoyle, when he had not given me above forty leffons, faid I was one of his best scholars. I thought then with myself, that, if once I was at liberty, I would leave play, and take to reading romances, things fo forbidden at our house, and fo railed at, that it was impoffible not to fancy them very charming. Moft unfortunately, to fave me from abfolute undutifulness, just as I was married, came dear dear Brag into fashion, and ever fince it has been the joy of my life; so easy, fo cheerful and carelefs, fo void of thought, and fo genteel! Who can help loving it? Yet the perfidious thing has used me very ill of late, and to-morrow I fhould have changed it for Faro. But, oh! this deteftable to-morrow, a thing always expected, and never found. Within this few hours must I be dragged into the country. The wretch, Sir, left me in a fit, which his threatenings had occafioned, and unmercifully ordered a post-chaife. Stay I cannot, for money I have none, and credit I cannot get- But I will make the monkey play with me at picquet upon the road for all I want. I am almoft fure to beat him, and his debts of honour I know he will pay. Then who can tell but I may still come back and conquer lady Packer? Sir, you need not print this laft fcheme, and, upon fecond thoughts, you may. -Oh diftraction! the poft-chaife is at the door. Sir, publish what you will, only let it be printed without a name. NUMB. 16. SATURDAY, May 12, 1750. -Multis dicendi copia torrens, Et fua mortifera eft facundia Some who the depths of eloquence have found, SIR, Juv. DRYDEN, Ied with your as ed with your advice, in a late paper; and, as I am very far from suspecting that you forefaw I AM the modeft young man whom you favour the |