<p><SPAN name="link2H_4_0062" id="link2H_4_0062"></SPAN></p>
<h2> To Miss LAETITIA WILLIS, at Gloucester. </h2>
<h3> MY DEAREST LETTY, </h3>
<p>Never did poor prisoner long for deliverance, more than I have longed for
an opportunity to disburthen my cares into your friendly bosom; and the
occasion which now presents itself, is little less than miraculous—Honest
Saunders Macawly, the travelling Scotchman, who goes every year to Wales,
is now at Glasgow, buying goods, and coming to pay his respects to our
family, has undertaken to deliver this letter into your own hand—We
have been six weeks in Scotland, and seen the principal towns of the
kingdom, where we have been treated with great civility—The people
are very courteous; and the country being exceedingly romantic, suits my
turn and inclinations—I contracted some friendships at Edinburgh,
which is a large and lofty city, full of gay company; and, in particular,
commenced an intimate correspondence with one miss R—t—n, an
amiable young lady of my own age, whose charms seemed to soften, and even
to subdue the stubborn heart of my brother Jery; but he no sooner left the
place than he relapsed into his former insensibility—I feel,
however, that this indifference is not the family constitution—I
never admitted but one idea of love, and that has taken such root in my
heart, as to be equally proof against all the pulls of discretion, and the
frosts of neglect.</p>
<p>Dear Letty! I had an alarming adventure at the hunters ball in Edinburgh—While
I sat discoursing with a friend in a corner, all at once the very image of
Wilson stood before me, dressed exactly as he was in the character of
Aimwell! It was one Mr Gordon, whom I had not seen before—Shocked at
the sudden apparition, I fainted away, and threw the whole assembly in
confusion—However, the cause of my disorder remained a secret to
every body but my brother, who was likewise struck with the resemblance,
and scolded after we came home—I am very sensible of Jery's
affection, and know he spoke as well with a view to my own interest and
happiness, as in regard to the honour of the family; but I cannot bear to
have my wounds probed severely—I was not so much affected by the
censure he passed upon my own indiscretion, as with the reflection he made
on the conduct of Wilson. He observed, that if he was really the gentleman
he pretended to be, and harboured nothing but honourable designs, he would
have vindicated his pretensions in the face of day—This remark made
a deep impression upon my mind—I endeavoured to conceal my thoughts;
and this endeavour had a bad effect upon my health and spirits; so it was
thought necessary that I should go to the Highlands, and drink the
goat-milk-whey.</p>
<p>We went accordingly to Lough Lomond, one of the most enchanting spots in
the whole world; and what with this remedy, which I had every morning
fresh from the mountains, and the pure air, and chearful company, I have
recovered my flesh and appetite; though there is something still at
bottom, which it is not in the power of air, exercise, company, or
medicine to remove—These incidents would not touch me so nearly, if
I had a sensible confidant to sympathize with my affliction, and comfort
me with wholesome advice—I have nothing of this kind, except Win
Jenkins, who is really a good body in the main, but very ill qualified for
such an office—The poor creature is weak in her nerves, as well as
in her understanding; otherwise I might have known the true name and
character of that unfortunate youth—But why do I call him
unfortunate? perhaps the epithet is more applicable to me for having
listened to the false professions of—But, hold! I have as yet no
right, and sure I have no inclination to believe any thing to the
prejudice of his honour—In that reflection I shall still exert my
patience. As for Mrs Jenkins, she herself is really an object of
compassion—Between vanity, methodism, and love, her head is almost
turned. I should have more regard for her, however, if she had been more
constant in the object of her affection; but, truly, she aimed at
conquest, and flirted at the same time with my uncle's footman, Humphrey
Clinker, who is really a deserving young man, and one Dutton, my brother's
valet de chambre, a debauched fellow; who, leaving Win in the lurch, ran
away with another man's bride at Berwick.</p>
<p>My dear Willis, I am truly ashamed of my own sex—We complain of
advantages which the men take of our youth, inexperience, insensibility,
and all that; but I have seen enough to believe, that our sex in general
make it their business to ensnare the other; and for this purpose, employ
arts which are by no means to be justified—In point of constancy,
they certainly have nothing to reproach the male part of the creation—My
poor aunt, without any regard to her years and imperfections, has gone to
market with her charms in every place where she thought she had the least
chance to dispose of her person, which, however, hangs still heavy on her
hands—I am afraid she has used even religion as a decoy, though it
has not answered her expectation—She has been praying, preaching,
and catechising among the methodists, with whom this country abounds; and
pretends to have such manifestations and revelations, as even Clinker
himself can hardly believe, though the poor fellow is half crazy with
enthusiasm. As for Jenkins, she affects to take all her mistress's
reveries for gospel. She has also her heart-heavings and motions of the
spirit; and God forgive me if I think uncharitably, but all this seems to
me to be downright hypocrisy and deceit—Perhaps, indeed, the poor
girl imposes on herself—She is generally in a flutter, and is much
subject to vapours—Since we came to Scotland, she has seen
apparitions, and pretends to prophesy—If I could put faith in all
these supernatural visitations, I should think myself abandoned of grace;
for I have neither seen, heard, nor felt anything of this nature, although
I endeavour to discharge the duties of religion with all the sincerity,
zeal, and devotion, that is in the power of,</p>
<p>Dear Letty, your ever affectionate, LYDIA MELFORD GLASGOW, Sept. 7.</p>
<p>We are so far on our return to Brambleton-hall; and I would fain hope we
shall take Gloucester in our way, in which case I shall have the
inexpressible pleasure of embracing my dear Willis—Pray remember me
to my worthy governess.</p>
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