Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Dedication
- Contents
- General Editors’ Preface
- Acknowledgements
- Chronology
- List of Abbreviations
- General Introduction
- Textual Introduction
- The Apprentice’s Vade Mecum (1733)
- A Seasonable Examination of the Pleas and Pretensions (1735)
- Preface to Aubin, A Collection of Entertaining Histories and Novels (1739)
- Aesop’s Fables (1739)
- Letters Written to and for Particular Friends (1741)
- Six Original Letters Upon Duelling (1765)
- Appendix: The Infidel Convicted (1731)
- Postscript
- Emendations
- Word-division
- Bibliographical Descriptions of Early Editions
- Explanatory Notes
- Index
Letter LXXII
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 30 June 2022
- Frontmatter
- Dedication
- Contents
- General Editors’ Preface
- Acknowledgements
- Chronology
- List of Abbreviations
- General Introduction
- Textual Introduction
- The Apprentice’s Vade Mecum (1733)
- A Seasonable Examination of the Pleas and Pretensions (1735)
- Preface to Aubin, A Collection of Entertaining Histories and Novels (1739)
- Aesop’s Fables (1739)
- Letters Written to and for Particular Friends (1741)
- Six Original Letters Upon Duelling (1765)
- Appendix: The Infidel Convicted (1731)
- Postscript
- Emendations
- Word-division
- Bibliographical Descriptions of Early Editions
- Explanatory Notes
- Index
Summary
The Aunt's Answer, supposing the Gentleman deserves Encouragement.
SIR,
I cannot say I have any Dislike, as to my own part, to your Proposal, or your Manner of making it, whatever my Niece may have: because Diffidence is generally the Companion of Merit, and a Token of Respect: She is a Person of Prudence, and all her Friends are so throughly convinced of it, that her Choice will have the Weight it deserves with us all: So I cannot say, what will be the Event of your Declaration to her. Yet, so far as I may take upon myself to do, I will not deny your Request; but on her Return to me tomorrow will break the Ice as you desire, not doubting your Honour, and the Sincerity of your Professions; and I shall tell her moreover what I think of the Advances you make. I believe she has had the Prudence to keep her Heart intirely disengaged, because she would otherwise have told me: And is not so mean-spirited, as to be able to return Tyranny and Insult for true Value, when she is properly convinced of it. Whoever has the Happiness (permit me, tho’ her Relation, to call it so) to meet with her Favour, will find this her Character, and that it is not owing to the fond Partiality of, Sir,
Your Friend and Servant.
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- Information
- Early Works'Aesop's Fables', 'Letters Written to and for Particular Friends' and Other Works, pp. 405Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2011