licate women, as well as decent men. With all Miss
Howe's fire and spirit, it was easy to see, by her very eye, that she
watched for lessons and feared reproof from the penetrating eye of her
milder dispositioned friend;* and yet it was as easy to observe, in the
candour and sweet manners of the other, that the fear which Miss Howe
stood in of her, was more owing to her own generous apprehension that she
fell short of her excellencies, than to Miss Harlowe's consciousness of
excellence over her. I have often since I came at Miss Howe's letters,
revolved this just and fine praise contained in one of them:** 'Every one
saw that the preference they gave you to themselves exalted you not into
any visible triumph over them; for you had always something to say, on
every point you carried, that raised the yielding heart, and left every
one pleased and satisfied with themselves, though they carried not off
the palm.'

* Miss Howe, in Vol. III. Letter XIX. says, That she was always more
afraid of Clarissa than of her mother; and, in Vol. III. Letter XLIV.
That she fears her almost as much as she loves her; and in many other
places, in her letters, verifies this observation of Lovelace.
** See Vol. IV. Letter XXXI.

As I propose, in a more advanced life, to endeavour to atone for my
useful freedoms with individuals of the sex, by giving cautions and
instructions to the whole, I have made a memorandum to enlarge upon this
doctrine;--to wit, that it is full as necessary to direct daughters in
the choice of their female companions, as it is to guard them against the
designs of men.

I say not this, however, to the disparagement of Miss Howe. She has from
pride, what her friend has from principle. [The Lord help the sex, if
they had not pride!] But yet I am confident, that Miss Howe is indebted
to the conversation and correspondence of Miss Harlowe for her highest
improvements. But, both these ladies out of the question, I make no
scruple to aver, [and I, Jack, should know something of the matter,] that
there have been more girls ruined, at least prepared for ruin, by their
own sex, (taking in servants, as well as companions,) than directly by
the attempts and delusions of men.

But it is time enough when I am old and joyless, to enlarge upon this
topic.

As to the comparison between the two ladies, I will expatiate more on
that subject, (for I like it,) when I have had them both. Which this
letter of the vixen girl'