The Father's Answer, setting forth the Inconveniencies and Disgrace attending the Profession of a Player.

Dear Gilbert,

I should be glad to have you in any Situation, which would afford you a comfortable and reputable Subsistence: But cannot think the Life of a Stage-player proper for that End. You must consider, that tho’ in the gay Trappings of that Employment a Man may represent a Gentleman, yet none can be farther from that Character if a perpetual Dependence be the worst Kind of Servility. In the first Place, the Company you will be in a manner obliged to keep, will be such as will tend little to the Improvement of your Mind, or Amendment of your Morals: To the Master of the Company you list in, you must be obsequious to a Degree of Slavery. Not one of an Audience that is able to hiss, but you must fear; and each single Person you come to know personally, you must oblige on every Occasion that offers, to engage their Interest at your Benefit. A Thought the most shocking to a free and generous Mind! And if to this you add the little Profit that will attend making a low Figure on the Stage, and, besides the Qualifications necessary, the incredible Fatigue attending the Support of a good Figure upon it; you will easily see, that more Credit, more Satisfaction, more Ease, and more Profit, may be got in many other Stations, without the mortifying Knowledge of being deem’d a Vagrant by the Laws of your Country. I hope this will be enough to dissuade you from farther Thoughts of the Stage: And, in any other Employment, you may, yet, expect some small Assistance from

Your loving Father.

Recommending a Cook-maid.

Madam,

You desired me to inquire for a Maid, who was qualified to serve you as a Cook. The Bearer lived three Years in her last Place, and went away to her Friends in the Country, on a Fit of Illness, of which she is now perfectly recovered. As she had given no Hopes of Return, they had provided themselves when she offered her Service again. They give her a very good Character, as well for Honesty and Sobriety, as for her orderly Behaviour, and obliging Temper, as also for her good Performance of what she undertakes. I therefore thought you could not wish for a properer Person; and shall be glad it proves so. For I am, Madam,

your most obedient Servant.

. The Niece's Answer: Describing the Behaviour of the sensible Lover.

Honoured Aunt,

I have, on so many Occasions, as well of this, as other kinds, been obliged to your kind Concern for me, that I should be very ingrateful, if I conceal’d from you the least Byass of my Mind on so important an Occasion. I think truly with you, that Mr. Rushford is a very valuable Gentleman; yet he is over-nice sometimes as to the Company I see; and would take upon him a little too much, if I did not keep him at a Distance; and particularly is so uneasy about the Captain, that he wants me to forbear seeing him on any Occasion. Now, I think, this is a little too prescribing, for the Time of our Acquaintance, and the small Progress I have hitherto permitted to the Intimacy between us. For what is this but surrendering to him upon his own Terms? and that, too, before I am summoned in Form? Nothing but a betrothed Lover, or a Husband, has surely a Right to expect this Observance; and if I were to oblige him, it is absolutely putting myself in his Power, before he convinces me how he will use it. O my dear Aunt, these Men, I see, even the worthiest of them, are incroaching Creatures!—And a Woman that would not be despis’d, must not make her Will too cheap an Offering to that of her Admirer. Then, my dear Aunt, I know not how it was with you formerly; but there is a Pleasure in being admired, that affects one very sensibly; and I know not whether even Mr. Rushford would say half the fine Things he does, if he had not a Competitor that says nothing else. And I think it a kind of Robbery that a Woman commits upon her Pleasures, if she too soon confines herself to one. For she can be but once courted; unless such an Event happens, that she must have a very bad Heart, that can wish for it. And why should a Woman absolutely bind herself to the Terms of For Better or For Worse, before she goes to Church?

From the same.

Describing Greenwich Park, and the Passage to it by Water.

Honoured Madam,

Last Tuesday, being Easter Tuesday, I went with my Uncle, Aunt and Cousins, down the River, on what they call a Party of Pleasure; but with Design principally to see Greenwich Park and Hospital.

We took Water at the Tower, which I described in my first Letter: I was pretty much afraid of Danger from Anchors, Cables, and suchlike, as we passed by the great Numbers of Ships, that lay in our Way at first setting out. But afterwards the River looked very pleasant, and the Number of Boats all rowing with the Tide, made the River look very agreeably.

After sailing not many Miles, we come within Sight of the Dockyard at Deptford, where several large Ships upon the Stocks afforded a fine Prospect; as the naval Strength of England is both its Glory and its Defence.

Next to Deptford, I was greatly pleased with the Prospect of the Royal Hospital at Greenwich, for Seamen grown old in the Service of their Country. When we landed, we went into this fine Building; and in the Inside, every thing, in my Judgment, was perfectly agreeable to the Magnificence of the Outside; allowing the one to be designed to do Honour to the Nation, the other to support a Number of necessitous People, who ought to be the publick Care. The great Hall, and the Paintings in it, are admirable; but I know not whether they would not better suit a Palace, than an Hospital; and indeed this may be said of the whole Building.

From thence we went into the Park;where I beheld divers odd Scenes of Holiday-folks. Here appeared a rakish young Fellow, with two or three Women who look’d like Servant-maids; the Hero delighted, the Nymphs smiling round him—There a careful-looking Father with his Children on each Side; Trains of admiring Lovers, ready-pair’d, followed one another in thronging Crouds at the Gate; a Sea-Officer, with a Lady not overburdened with Modesty in her Behaviour: A Croud of City Apprentices, some with, some without their Lasses: Half a dozen Beaux ogling all they met: And several seemingly disconsolate Virgins walking alone.

Another on the same Occasion, limiting the Repayment to a certain Time.

SIR,

The Intimation you give me, that the Sum of 50 Pounds will be of great Use to you, and that you shall be able to repay it in Four Months, makesme resolve to put myself to some Difficulty to oblige you. Accordingly I inclose a Bank Note to that Amount. But I must, in the Name of Friendship, beg of you to return it me unused, if you think you cannot keep your Word in the Repayment; for my accommodating you with this Sum, is rather, at present, a greater Testimony of my Inclination than Ability to serve you: For I am

Your affectionate Friend and Servant.

Against a second Marriage, where there are Children on one Side, and a Likelihood of more.

Dear Sir,

You are inclined, you tell me, to give your Children a Mother, instead of the good one they have lost; or rather, in plain English, you should have said, yourself a Wife, to supply your own Loss: And you ask my Opinion on the Subject, without naming the Person, only intimating, that she is a maiden Lady, no more than Seven Years younger than yourself, and has a pretty middling Fortune.

I am glad you have not named the Lady; for now I shall stand clear of any Imputation of personal Prejudice, let me say what I will. I will therefore freely tell you my Mind, that I am always against second Marriages, wherethere are Children on one or both Sides, and likely to be more: Unless there are such worldly Reasons as make it absolutely prudent for a Person to marry to establish his Circumstances. This is not your Case: For you are very easy in the World; and besides, the Ladies of this Age are so brought up, that a Man must not look for very extraordinary Assistances in a Wife, with relation to her own Children, much less the Children of another Woman. Well, but this Lady is highly prudent, good-humour’d, an excellent OEconomist, and what not? And so they are all, my Friend; or at least, we are apt to persuade ourselves so, before they are marry’d.

But we’ll suppose her all you say, and all you think; yet she will hardly, I presume, be divested of the Passions common to human Nature. Can you expect, that tho’ you give your Children a Mother, you give them an own Mother? She may have Prudence enough to do what she will think her Duty by them, but must she not be her own Judge, of what that is?—And are you sure, that what she calls so, nay, and, for Peace-sake, what you will be willing to call so too, will be called so by your Children, as they grow up, and even by the rest of the World?

The Friend's Answer, accepting the kind Offer.

My dear Friend,

How shall I find Words to express the grateful Sense I have of your Goodness? This is an Instance of true Friendship indeed! I accept most thankfully of some Part of your generous Offer, and will give you my Bond, payable in a Year, for 100 l. which is at present all I have Occasion for; and if I did not know I could then, if not before, answer your Goodness as it deserves, I would not accept of the Favour. This Loss is very heavy and affecting to me, as you may suppose; yet your generous Friendship is no small Comfort to me in it. For so good a Friend is capable of making any Calamity light. I am, dear Sir,

Your most faithful and obliged humble Servant.

From an Apprentice to his Master, begging Forgiveness for a great Misdemeanor.

Good Sir,

I am so asham’d of myself for the last Occasion I have given you to be angry with me, after my repeated Promises of Amendment, that I have not the Courage to speak to you. I therefore take this Method of begging you to forgive what is past; and let this Letter testify against me, if ever I wilfully or knowingly offend again for the future. You have Children of your own. They may possibly offend; tho’ I hope they never will as I have done. Yet, Sir, would you not wish they might meet with Pardon if they should, rather than Reprobation?——My Making or my Ruin, I am sensible, lies in your Breast. If you will not forgive me, sad will be the Consequence to me, I doubt. If you do, you may save a Soul, as well as a Body from Misery; and I hope, Sir, you will weigh this with your usual Goodness and Consideration. What is past I cannot help; but for what is to come, I do promise, if God gives me Health and Power, that my Actions shall testify for me how much I am, good Sir,

Your repentant and obliged Servant.

To a young Lady, advising her not to change her Guardians, nor to encourage any clandestine Address.

Dear Miss,

The Friendship which long subsisted between your prudent Mother and me, has always made me attend to your Welfare withmore than a common Concern: And I could not conceal my Surprize at hearing, that you intend to remove the Guardianship of yourself and Fortune, from the Gentlemen to whom your tender Parents committed the Direction of both. I am afraid, my Dear, your Dissatisfaction arises more from sudden Distaste, than from mature Reflection.Mr. Jones and Mr. Pitt were long the intimate Friends and Companions of your Father; for more than Thirty Years, he had experienc’d their Candor and Wisdom; and it was their Fitness for the Trust, that induced him to leave you to their Care; and will you reflect upon his Judgment?

They are not less wise now, than when he made his Will; and if they happen to differ from your Judgment in any thing of Moment, what Room have you to suppose yourself better able to judge of the Consequences of what you desire, than they? I do not undervalue your good Sense, and yet I must tell you, that (the Difference of Years consider’d, and their Knowledge of the World, which yet you can know little of) it would be strange if they did not know better than you, what was proper for you; and their Honesty was never yet disputed. Upon these Considerations, who is most probably to blame, should you happen to disagree? From such Men, you will never meet more Restraints than is necessary for your Happiness and Interest; for nothing that can injure you in any respect, can add to their Advantage or Reputation. I have known several young Ladies of your Age impatient of the least Controul, and think hardly of every little Contradiction; but when, by any unadvised Step, they have released themselves, as they call it, from the Care of their try’d Friends, how often have they had Cause to repent their Rashness? How seldom do you hear those Ladies, who have subjected themselves to what some reckon the greatest Restraints while young, repent the Effects of them when grown up?

From a Son-in-Law to his Wife's Father, acquainting him with his Wife's Illness.

Honoured Sir,

I am sorry to acquaint you with the Indisposition of your dear Daughter. She was taken ill last Monday of a Fever, and has all the Assistance that we can procure in these Parts. I hope she is not in Danger. However, I thought it my Duty to let you know it in time, that you may satisfy yourself, that no Care is wanting; and that you may favour us with a personal Visit; which will be a great Consolation to her, who craves, mean time, your Blessing and Prayers; and also to, Sir,

Your dutiful Son.

From the same.

Describing other remarkable Places in and about London and Westminster, which are generally shewn to Strangers.

Honoured Madam,

I have seen the Custom-house, a Place of Hurry and Business, with a crouded and inconvenient Key, compared to that of Bristol. St. Thomas's and Guy's Hospitals, Southwark, all most noble Charities; St. Bartholomew’s, a still nobler; but which, by its additional Buildings, seems to be in a way to swallow up its own Revenues, by pulling down their Tenants Houses, which contributed Means to support the Charity. Smithfield also, a spacious Market for live Cattle, &c. as, I should have said, I had Leaden-hall Market, a Prodigy of its Kind, and the Admiration of Foreigners. Sadler’s-wells, at Islington, I have been at, and seen there the Diversions of Rope-dancing, Volting, Singing, Musick, &c. which I thought well enough for once. Islington-wells, or the New Tunbridge, I have been at; the Walks and Rooms neat enough, and good Decorum observ’d in both.

The Blue-coat Hospital I have also seen, another noble Charity; and the pretty Sight of the Children at Church, and at Supper of Sunday Night, which much pleased me. The Charter-house too, another noble Charity.

Also the Guildhall of London, a handsome Building, adorn’d with Pictures, and with the Trophies of the Duke of Marlborough's Victory over the French; and the preposterous wooden Figures of the two famous Giants. The Royal Exchange likewise, a very fine Edifice; but they say the Statues of the Kings and Queens there, are ill done, except that of Charles II. in the Middle of the Area, and one or two more.

I have also been carried to Westminster-hall, and the two Houses where the Lords and Commons meet. They are by no means answerable to what I expected, tho’ the House of Commons is the neatest, and very convenient for hearing and seeing too. Westminster-hall, like Guildhall, is adorned with more of the Duke of Marlborough's Trophies, and it has Shops on each Side for Milaners, Booksellers, and such-like Trades. Here the Coronation-Feast is kept; and here are held, as you know, the Courts of Chancery, King’s-bench, Common Pleas, and up Stairs the Court and Offices of the Exchequer.

Her Answer.

Dear William,

For so I may call you nowwe are sure: and so my Mother says. This is to let you know, that nothing shall prevail upon me to alter my Promise made to you, when we parted: With heavy Hearts enough, that's true. And yet I had a little Inkling givenme, that Mr. Alford 's Son the Carpenter would be glad to make Love to me: But, do you think I would suffer it? No, indeed! For I doubt not your Loyalty to me, and do you think I will not be as loyal to you!—To be sure I will. These Sailors run such sad Chances, said one that you and I both know. They may return, and they may not.Well, I will trust in God for that, who has returned safe to his Friends, their dear Billy, so many a time, and often. They will have a Mistress in every Land they come to, said they. All are not such naughty Men, said I, and I’ll trust Billy Oliver all the World over. For why cannot Men be as faithful as Women, tro’? And for me, I am sure no Love shall ever touch my Heart but yours.

God send us a happy Meeting! Let who will speak against Sailors; they are the Glory and the Safeguard of the Land. And what would have become of Old England long ago but for them? I am sure the lazy good-fornothing Land-lubbers would never have protected us from our cruel Foes. So Sailors are and ever shall be esteemed by me; and, of all Sailors, my dear Billy Oliver. Believe this Truth from

Your faithful, &c.

From a Nephew to his Aunt, on his slow Progress in a Courtship Affair.

Dear Aunt,

I have made my Addresses, in the best manner I can, to Miss Dawley, but have not the least Room to boast of my Success: The Account you gave me of her good Sense, and many uncommon Qualifications, will not permit me to arraign her Conduct; and the good Opinion I have long entertained of myself, makes me very slow in blaming my own. I would have obey’d your Orders to write to you sooner, but knew not what to say; and by waiting till I began to fear you would think me negligent, I am in no better Condition. I first declared my Regard for her in a manner I thought most suitable for that Purpose. She very encouragingly made me no Answer; and when I spoke again upon the Subject, she ask’d how you did, and was glad to hear you were well. Being put out of my Play, I talk’d of indifferent Things a good while, and at last fell again upon the Reason of my attending her. She order’d the Cloth to be laid, and complaisantly hoped I would stay Supper. I had no more Opportunity for that time.

Two Days after, I repeated my Visit. She received me at first politely; but when I began to resume the Subject I came upon, she rung for the Maid, and bad her put on the Tea-kettle. About six Visits passed before I could obtain one Word to my Business: And the first Thing she answer’d upon that Head was, That Length of Time was necessary to the making of an Acquaintance that must not be either blushed at, or repented of: This she spoke with such an Air of Gravity, as put what I would have reply’d, quite out of my Head. Yet next Visit I began again. I told her how happy I should think myself, if I could be encouraged to hope for the smallest Share of her Favour. But she made me such an odd Answer, as plainly demonstrated to me, that I had more of her Contempt than Approbation.

The Answer.

SIR,

If Modesty be the greatest Glory of our Sex, surely it cannot be blameworthy in yours. For my own part, I must think it the most amiable Quality either Man or Woman can possess. Nor can there be, in my Opinion, a true Respect, where there is not a Diffidence of one's own Merit, and an high Opinion of the Person's we esteem.

To say more, on this Occasion, would little become me. To say less, would look as if I knew not how to pay that Regard to modest Merit, which modest Merit only deserves.

You, Sir, best know your own Heart; and if you are sincere and generous, will receive as you ought, this Frankness from

Your humble Servant.

In Answer to the preceding.

Dear Sir,

You have not, cannot disoblige me; but I have greatly disobliged myself, in my own faulty Remissness. I cannot account for it as I ought. To say I had Business one time, Company another, was distant from home a third, will be but poor Excuses, for not answering one of your kind Letters in four long Months. I therefore ingenuously take Shame to myself, and promise future Amendment. And that nothing shall ever, while I am able to hold a Pen, make me guilty of the like Neglect to a Friend I love so well, and have so much Reason so to do. Forgive me then, my good, my kind, my generous Friend; and believe me ever,

Your highly obliged humble Servant.

Against a Second Marriage, where there are Children on both Sides.

Dear Sir,

You ask my Opinion as to the Thoughts you have entertained of making your Addresses to the Widow Lockyer. Do you really ask it with an Intent to take it? Or, like the Generality of the World, only in hopes that my Judgment falling in with your own, may be a kind of Justification or Excuse for what you intend to do, and are, perhaps, already resolved upon? If so, what do you do, but lay a Snare for me, which may put an End to our Friendship? For Men least of all bear Controul or Contradiction in Points of this Nature, when their Hearts are actually determined; and then Indifference begins, and Disgust ends the best-cemented Friendships.

To say the Truth, I never was a Friend to Second Marriages, where there are Children on one Side, and a Likelihood of more; but, especially, where there are Children on both. I have nothing to say, as to the Person or Character of the Lady. You, whom it most concerns, are well satisfy’d of both, or you would not have gone so far, as to ask a Friend's Advice on this Occasion; But since you do put it to me, I will throw a few Reasons together, which have always had Weight with me on these Occasions; and I hope, you’ll not think the worse of your Friend, if he happen to differ a little from your own Judgment.

It must be confess’d, in the Case you put, That the Circumstances on both Sides, are pretty equal. That there is no great Disparity in Years. That she has Three Children, and you have Four; a round Family, however, when they come together! That she is very fond of her Children, and you, at present, of yours. That you are not an ill-temper’d Man, and she is a good-temper’d Woman; and was a loving Wife to her late Spouse, as you were an affectionate Husband to yours. Well, so far is very well, and, you’ll think perhaps, very promising of a happy Union; and possibly you may think right; at least you have much better Grounds for it, than many that do marry upon much worse and more unequal Prospects.

From a Gentleman to his Mistress, resenting her supposed Coquetry.

MADAM,

Beauty has Charms which are not easily resisted; but it is, I presume, in the Power of the finest Woman breathing, to counter-balance all her Charms by a Conduct unworthy of them. This Manner of speaking, Madam, is what I am apprehensive you have not been enough used to: The Advantages you possess, independently of any Act of your own, cannot be any Warrant for a Behaviour repugnant to Honour, and strict good Manners. I ventured to addressmyself to you, Madam, upon Motives truly honourable, and best to be defended; but sufferme to say, that I never proposed to glory in adding one to the Number of your publick Admirers, or to be so tame, as to subject myself to any Usage. And if this be your Intention, and this only, I shall still admire you; but must leave the flattering of your Vanity to Gentlemen who have more Leisure, and less Sincerity, than, Madam,

Your most obedient Servant.

Recommending a Wet-Nurse.

MADAM,

The Bearer is Mrs. Newman, whom I recommended to you as a Nurse for Master. You will be pleased with her neat Appearance and wholesome Countenance. She lives just above Want, in a pleasant airy Place, and has a very honest diligent Husband, with whom she lives very happily, and the Man is exceedingly fond of Children, very sober, and good-humour’d; and they have every thing very pretty about them. You will find such Answers to the Questions that shall be put to her, as will please you in every respect that you mentioned to me; and the Woman will not tell an Untruth, or impose upon you. In a word, I know not amore proper Person, and am glad I have this Opportunity to oblige you in so deserved a Recommendation: For I am, dear Madam,

Your most faithful Servant.

Advice from a Father to a young Beginner, what Company to chuse, and how to behave in it.

Dear Robin,

As you are now entering into the World, and will probably have considerable Dealings in your Business, the frequent Occasions you will have for Advice from others, will make you desirous of singling out among your most intimate Acquaintance, one or two, whom you would view in the Light of Friends.

In the Choice of these, your utmost Care and Caution will be necessary: for, by a Mistake here, you can scarcely conceive the fatal Effects you may hereafter experience: Wherefore, it will be proper for you to make a Judgment of those who are fit to be your Advisers, by the Conduct they have observed in their own Affairs, and the Reputation they bear in the World. For he who has by his own Indiscretions undone himself, is much fitter to be set up as a Land-mark for a prudent Mariner to shun his Courses, than an Example to follow.

Old Age is generally slow and heavy, Youth headstrong and precipitate; but there are old Men who are full of Vivacity, and young Men replenish’d with Discretion; which makes me rather point out the Conduct than the Age of the Persons with whom you should chuse to associate; tho’ after all, it is a never-failing good Sign to me of Prudence and Virtue in a young Man, when his Seniors chuse his Company, and he delights in theirs.

Let your Endeavour therefore be, at all Adventures, to consort yourself with Men of Sobriety, good Sense and Virtue; for the Proverb is an unerring one, that says, A Man is known by the Company he keeps. If such Men you can single out, while you improve by their Conversation, you will benefit by their Advice; and be sure to remember one thing, that tho’ you must be frank and unreserved in delivering your Sentiments, when Occasions offer, yet that you be much readier to hear than speak; for to this Purpose it has been significantly observed, that Nature has given a Man two Ears, and but one Tongue.