Letter XXXVI

Summary

From the same.

My dearest Mrs. B.

I amall over Joy and Rapture.Mygood Papa has given me Leave to tell you, that he will put his Polly under your Protection, when you go to London. If you have but a Tenth Part of the Pleasure I have on this Occasion, I am sure I shall be as welcome as I wish. But he will insist upon it, he says, that Mr. B. signs some Acknowlegement, which I am to carry along with me, that I am intrusted to his Honour and yours, and to be returned to him Heart-whole, and Dutiful, and with a Reputation as unsully’d as he receives me.

But do, dearest Mrs. B. continue your Journals till then; for I have promis’d to take them up where you leave off, to divert our Friends in these Parts. There will be Presumption! But yet I will write nothing but what I will shew you, and have your Consent to send: For I was taught early not to tell Tales out of School; and a School, the best I ever went to, will be your charming Conversation.

Wehave been greatly divertedwith the Trick put upon that Barbarian Sir Jacob.His Obstinacy, Repentance, and Amendment, follow’d so irresistibly in one Half-hour, from the happy Thought of the excellent Lady Countess, that I think no Plot was ever more fortunate. It was like springing a lucky Mine in a Siege, that blew up twenty times more than was expected from it, and answer’d all the Besieger's Ends at once.

Mr. B.’s Defence of his own Conduct towards you, is quite noble; and he judges with his usual Generosity and good Sense, when, by adding to your Honour, he knows he inhances his own.Mr. Pitt's fine Diamond met with a world of Admirers; but all turn’d upon this Reflection, What a happy Man is Mr. Pitt, who can call such a Jewel his own!—How greatly do you excel this Diamond; and how much does Mr. B. outdo Mr. Pitt!—Who has contributed to give so rich a Jewel a Polish so admirable; and then has set it in so noble a Light, as makes its Beauty conspicuous to every Eye!