dg'd Peculiars, of the Plan, is, that These
Instructions being convey'd, as in a Kind of Dramatical Representation,
by those beautiful _Scenes_, Her own Letters and Journals, who acts the
most moving and suffering _Part_, we feel the Force in a threefold
Effect,----from the Motive, the Act, and the Consequence.

But what, above All, I am charm'd with, is the amiable _Good-nature_ of
the AUTHOR; who, I am convinc'd, has one of the best, and most generous
Hearts, of Mankind: because, mis-measuring _other_ Minds, by _His Own_,
he can draw Every thing, to Perfection, but _Wickedness_.----I became
inextricably in _Love_ with this delightful Defect of his Malice;--for,
I found it owing to an _Excess_ in his _Honesty_. Only observe, Sir,
with what _virtuous Reluctance_ he complies with the Demands of his
Story, when he stands in need of some blameable Characters. Tho' his
Judgment compels him to mark 'em with disagreeable Colourings, so that
they make an odious Appearance at first, He can't forbear, by an
unexpected and gradual Decline from Themselves, to soften and transmute
all the Horror conceiv'd for their Baseness, till we are arriv'd,
through insensible Stages, at an Inclination to forgive it intirely.

I must venture to add, without mincing the matter, what I really
believe, of this Book.---It will live on, through Posterity, with such
unbounded Extent of Good Consequences, that Twenty Ages to come may be
the Better and Wiser, for its Influence. It will steal first,
imperceptibly, into the Hearts of the _Young_ and the _Tender_: where It
will afterwards guide and moderate their Reflections and Resolves, when
grown Older. And so, a gradual moral Sunshine, of un-austere and
compassionate _Virtue_, shall break out upon the _World_, from this
TRIFLE (for such, I dare answer for the _Author_, His Modesty misguides
him to think it).----No Applause therefore can be too _high_, for _such
Merit_. And, let me abominate the contemptible _Reserves of
mean-spirited Men_, who while they but _hesitate_ their Esteem, with
Restraint, can be fluent and uncheck'd in their _Envy_.----In an Age so
deficient in Goodness, Every such Virtue, as That of this Author, is a
salutary _Angel_, in _Sodom_. And _One_ who cou'd stoop to conceal,
a Delight he receives from the _Worthy_, wou'd be equally capable of
submitting to an Approbation of the _Praise_ of the _Wicked_.

I was thinking, just now, as I return'd from a _Walk_ in the _Snow_, on
that