,
the change indeed was wonderful; my face was swelled to a very
extraordinary size, and all over as red as my lady H----'s. It
remained in this lamentable state three days, during which, you may
be sure, I passed my time very ill. I believed it would never be
otherways (sic); and to add to my mortification, Mr W----y reproached
my indiscretion, without ceasing. However, my face is since _in
statu quo_; nay, I am told by the ladies here, that it is much mended
by the operation, which, I confess, I cannot perceive in my
looking-glass. Indeed, if one was to form an opinion of this balm
from their faces, one should think very well of it. They all make
use of it, and have the loveliest bloom in the world. For my part, I
never intend to endure the pain of it again; let my complexion take
its natural course, and decay in its own due time. I have very
little esteem for medicines of this nature, but do as you please,
madam; only remember, before you use it, that your face will not be
such as you will care to shew in the drawing-room for some days
after. If one was to believe the women in this country, there is a
surer way of making one's self beloved, than by becoming handsome;
though, you know that's our method. But they pretend to the
knowledge of secrets, that, by way of inchantment (sic), give them
the entire empire over whom they please. For me, who am not very apt
to believe in wonders, I cannot find faith for this. I disputed the
point last night with a lady, who really talks very sensibly on any
other subject; but she was downright angry with me, in that she did
not perceive, she had persuaded me of the truth of forty stories she
told me of this kind; and, at last, mentioned several ridiculous
marriages, that there could be no other reason assigned for. I
assured her, that, in England, where we were entirely ignorant of all
magic, where the climate is not half so warm, nor the women half so
handsome, we were not without our ridiculous marriages; and that we
did not look upon it as any thing supernatural, when a man played the
fool, for the sake of a woman. But my arguments could not convince
her against (as she said) her certain knowledge. To this she added,
that she scrupled making use of _charms_ herself; but that she could
do it whenever she pleased; and, staring me in the face, said, (with
a very learned air) that no enchantments would have their effects
upon me; and that there were some people exempt