t tenderest wishes to my mother and sister. My dear
Temple, only know the value of the treasure you possess, and you must
be happy. Adieu!

Your affectionate
Ed. Rivers.

LETTER 100.

To the Earl of ----.

My Lord,

Silleri, March 24.

Nothing can be more just than your Lordship's observation; and I am
the more pleased with it, as it coincides with what I had the honor of
saying to you in my last, in regard to the impropriety, the cruelty,
I had almost said the injustice, of your intention of deserting that
world of which you are at once the ornament and the example.

Good people, as your Lordship observes, are generally too retired
and abstracted to let their example be of much service to the world:
whereas the bad, on the contrary, are conspicuous to all; they stand
forth, they appear on the fore ground of the picture, and force
themselves into observation.

'Tis to that circumstance, I am persuaded, we may attribute that
dangerous and too common mistake, that vice is natural to the human
heart, and virtuous characters the creatures of fancy; a mistake of the
most fatal tendency, as it tends to harden our hearts, and destroy
that mutual confidence so necessary to keep the bands of society from
loosening, and without which man is the most ferocious of all beasts
of prey.

Would all those whose virtues like your Lordship's are adorned by
politeness and knowledge of the world, mix more in society, we should
soon see vice hide her head: would all the good appear in full view,
they would, I am convinced, be found infinitely the majority.

Virtue is too lovely to be hid in cells, the world is her scene of
action: she is soft, gentle, indulgent; let her appear then in her own
form, and she must charm: let politeness be for ever her attendant,
that politeness which can give graces even to vice itself, which makes
superiority easy, removes the sense of inferiority, and adds to every
one's enjoyment both of himself and others.

I am interrupted, and must postpone till to-morrow what I have
further to say to your Lordship. I have the honor to be, my Lord,

Your Lordship's, &c.
W. Fermor.

LETTER 101.

To Mrs. Temple, Pall Mall.

Silleri, March 25.

Your brother, my dear Lucy, has made me happy in communicating to me
the account he has received of your marriage. I know Temple; he is,
besides being very handsome, a fine, sprightly, agreable fellow, and is
particu