t to further and
terrible Trials of her Chastity; 'till at last overcomeing all, she
captivates her Tyrant, binds him in _soft Fetters of Love_, when he only
means to enslave her in _Chains of Lust_. Thus by a quick Transition
from a Servant Maid, she becomes the lawful Mistress of the Dwelling she
so lately waited in; and is supposed to give as excellent Example as a
_Wife_, as she gave of _Chastity_ as a Maid. And _thus is Virtue
Rewarded_.

The most sanguine of your Admirers could not, I fancy, more inpartially
state the Case, as it has been represented by them in your Behalf. Now
let us examine what is the Opinion of as many on the other Side. Their
first great Charge, is, that in the narrative Part of her Letters, you
have interspersed too many Scenes that directly tend to inflame the
Minds of Youth: Next, that _Pamela_ instead of being artless and
innocent sets out at first with as much Knowledge of the Arts of the
Town, as if she had been born and bred in _Covent_ Garden, all her Life
Time; that your fine Gentleman does not come up to the Character you
would fain have him be thought to assume, that his Sister Lady _Davers_,
is little better than a downright _Billingsgate_, and her poor Lord is
the only one who meets with Pity. That Mrs. _Jewkes_ might take
_Colbrand_ with her and set up in a House somewhere in the Purlieus of
_St. Giles_, while honest Mother _Jervis_ might marry _Jonathan_, and
perhaps be promoted to a little Inn of Squire _B_'s in the Country, even
that Mrs. _Pamela_ stopp'd at in her Journey to the _Lincolnshire_
Estate. Thus, Sir, do many enter into Conversation with the Character of
Men of Taste and Pleasantry, find Fault in Opposition to the exuberant
Praises bestow'd on _Pamela_ by others.

I however was much more pleas'd for my own Part with the Opinion of a
stay'd sober Gentleman, who was then call'd upon to declare his
Sentiments, tho' I don't send it to you as an Extract from a _Curious
Letter_, neither was it submitted to him, as a Gentleman of the MOST
distinguish'd Taste and Abilities. But to the best of my Remembrance he
express'd himself something like the following Manner.

I don't approve, said he, of the _Extravagancies_ which People have run
into on both sides of the Question in regard to _Pamela_, neither of
those who have cried it up as a Masterpiece in its Kind and the most
perfect Thing that ever was published; nor of those who depreciate it as
the most insignificant Tri