Letter XLVIII

Summary

From Mrs. B. to Lady DAVERS.

My dear Lady Davers,

I have a valuable Present made me by the same excellent Lady: So hope you will not take it amiss, that, with abundance of Thanks, I return yours by Mrs. Worden; whose Sister I much approve of, and thank your Ladyship for your kind Recommendation of so worthy a Gentlewoman. We begin with so much good Liking to one another, that I doubt not we shall be very happy together.

A moving Letter, much more valuable to me, than the handsome Present, was put into my Hands, at the same time with that; of which the following is a Copy.

LETTER

From Mrs. WRIGHTSON (formerly Miss SALLY GODFREY) to Mrs. B.

‘Happy, deservedly happy, dear Lady!

‘Permit these Lines to kiss your Hands, from one, who, tho’ she is a Stranger to your Person, is not so to your Character: That has reach’d us here, in this remote Part of the World, where you have as many Admirers as have heard of you. But I more particularly am bound to be so, by an Obligation, that I can never discharge, but by my daily Prayers for you, and the Blessings I continually implore upon You and Yours.

‘I can write my whole Mind to you, tho’ I cannot, from the most deplorable Infelicity, receive from you the wish’d for Favour of a few Lines in Return, written with the same Unreservedness: So unhappy am I, from the Effects of an Inconsideration and Weakness on one hand, and Temptations on the other, which You, at a tenderer Age, most nobly, for your own Honour, and that of your Sex, have escaped: Whilst I—But let my Tears in these Blots1 speak the rest—as my Heart bleeds, and has constantly bled ever since, at the grievous Remembrance—But believe me, however, dear Madam, that ‘tis Shame and Sorrow, and not Pride and Impenitence, that makes me loth to speak out, to so much Purity of Life and Manners, my own odious Weakness.

‘Nevertheless, I ought, and I will accuse myself by Name: Imagine then, illustrious Lady, truly illustrious, for Virtues, which are infinitely superior to all the Advantages of Birth and Fortune!—