unreserved
conversation too short; whenever I leave her, I recollect a thousand
things I had to say, a thousand new ideas to communicate, and am
impatient for the hour of seeing again, without restraint, the most
amiable and pleasing of woman-kind.

My happiness would be complete, if I did not sometimes see a cloud
of anxiety on that dear countenance, which, however, is dissipated the
moment my eyes meet hers.

I am going to Temple's, and the chaise is at the door.

Adieu! my dear friend!
Your affectionate
Ed. Rivers.

LETTER 216.

To Colonel Rivers.

Nov. 14.

So you disapprove male friendships, my sweet Colonel! I thought you
had better ideas of things in general.

Fitzgerald and I have been disputing on French and English manners,
in regard to gallantry.

The great question is, Whether a man is more hurt by the imprudent
conduct of his daughter or his wife?

Much may be said on both sides.

There is some hazard in suffering coquetry in either; both
contribute to give charms to conversation, and introduce ease and
politeness into society; but both are dangerous to manners.

Our customs, however, are most likely to produce good effects, as
they give opportunity for love marriages, the only ones which can make
worthy minds happy.

The coquetry of single women has a point of view consistent with
honor; that of married women has generally no point of view at all; it
is, however of use _pour passer le tems_.

As to real gallantry, the French style depraves the minds of men
least, ours is most favorable to the peace of families.

I think I preserve the balance of argument admirably.

My opinion, however, is, that if people married from affection,
there would be no such thing as gallantry at all.

Pride, and the parade of life, destroy all happiness: our whole
felicity depends on our choice in marriage, yet we chuse from motives
more trifling than would determine us in the common affairs of life.

I knew a gentleman who fancied himself in love, yet delayed marrying
his mistress till he could afford a set of plate.

Modern manners are very unfavorable to the tender affections.

Ancient lovers had only dragons to combat; ours have the worse
monsters of avarice and ambition.

All I shall say further on the subject is, that the two happiest
people I ever knew were a country clergyman and his wife, whose whole
income did not exceed one hundred pounds a year.

A pretty phi