ll thee my project? 'Tis not a high one.--'Tis this--to get
hither to Mrs. Moore, Miss Rawlins, and my widow Bevis; for they are
desirous to make a visit to my spouse, now we are so happy together.
And, if I can order it right, Belton, Mowbray, Tourville, and I, will
show them a little more of the ways of this wicked town, than they at
present know. Why should they be acquainted with a man of my character,
and not be the better and wiser for it?--I would have every body rail
against rakes with judgment and knowledge, if they will rail. Two of
these women gave me a great deal of trouble: and the third, I am
confident, will forgive a merry evening.

Thou wilt be curious to know what the persons of these women are, to whom
I intend so much distinction. I think I have not heretofore mentioned
any thing characteristic of their persons.

Mrs. Moore is a widow of about thirty-eight; a little mortified by
misfortunes; but those are often the merriest folks, when warmed. She
has good features still; and is what they call much of a gentlewoman, and
very neat in her person and dress. She has given over, I believe, all
thoughts of our sex: but when the dying embers are raked up about the
half-consumed stump, there will be fuel enough left, I dare say, to blaze
out, and give a comfortable warmth to a half-starved by-stander.

Mrs. Bevis is comely; that is to say, plump; a lover of mirth, and one
whom no grief ever dwelt with, I dare say, for a week together; about
twenty-five years of age: Mowbray will have very little difficulty with
her, I believe; for one cannot do every thing one's self. And yet
sometimes women of this free cast, when it comes to the point, answer not
the promises their cheerful forwardness gives a man who has a view upon
them.

Miss Rawlins is an agreeable young lady enough; but not beautiful. She
has sense, and would be thought to know the world, as it is called; but,
for her knowledge, is more indebted to theory than experience. A mere
whipt-syllabub knowledge this, Jack, that always fails the person who
trusts to it, when it should hold to do her service. For such young
ladies have so much dependence upon their own understanding and wariness,
are so much above the cautions that the less opinionative may be
benefited by, that their presumption is generally their overthrow, when
attempted by a man of experience, who knows how to flatter their vanity,
and to magnify their wisdom, in order to take a