retion of which she was afraid
the world took but too much notice. What openness, what sincerity, what
generosity, was there in all she said!

How superior, my dear, is her character to mine! I blush for myself
on the comparison; I am shocked to see how much she soars above me:
how is it possible Rivers should not have preferred her to me? Yet this
is the woman I fancied incapable of any passion but vanity.

I am sure, my dear Bell, I am not naturally envious of the merit of
others; but my excess of love for Rivers makes me apprehensive of
every woman who can possibly rival me in his tenderness.

I was hurt at Madame Des Roches's uncommon merit; I saw with pain
the amiable qualities of her mind; I could scarce even allow her person
to be pleasing: but this injustice is not that of my natural temper,
but of love.

She is certainly right, my dear, to see him no more; I applaud, I
admire her resolution: do you think, however, she would pursue it if
she loved as I do? she has perhaps loved before, and her heart has lost
something of its native trembling sensibility.

I wish my heart felt her merit as strongly as my reason: I esteem, I
admire, I even love her at present; but I am convinced Rivers's return
while she continues here would weaken these sentiments of affection:
the least appearance of preference, even for a moment, would make me
relapse into my former weakness. I adore, I idolize her character; but
I cannot sincerely wish to cultivate her friendship.

Let me see you this afternoon at Quebec; I am told the roads will
not be passable for carrioles above three days longer: let me therefore
see you as often as I can before we are absolutely shut from each
other.

Adieu! my dear!
Your faithful
Emily Montague.

LETTER 123.

To the Earl of ----.

Silleri, April 14.

England, however populous, is undoubtedly, my Lord, too small to
afford very large supplies of people to her colonies: and her people
are also too useful, and of too much value, to be suffered to emigrate,
if they can be prevented, whilst there is sufficient employment for
them at home.

It is not only our interest to have colonies; they are not only
necessary to our commerce, and our greatest and surest sources of
wealth, but our very being as a powerful commercial nation depends on
them: it is therefore an object of all others most worthy our
attention, that they should be as flourishing and populous as
poss