d to comply with for the interest of my passion, and
therefore determined to commit the debauch at my own lodgings, that I
might run no risk of being discovered by Narcissa, in a state of brutal
degeneracy. Mr. Freeman, who was to be of the party, went, at my desire,
to the squire, in order to engage him, while I took care to furnish
myself for his reception. My invitation was accepted, my guests honoured
me with their company in the evening, when Bruin gave me to understand
that he had drunk many tons of wine in his life, but was never served
such a trick as I had played upon him the night before. I promised to
atone for my trespass, and, having ordered to every man his bottle,
began the contest with a bumper to the health of Narcissa. The toasts
circulated with great devotion, the liquor began to operate, our mirth
grew noisy, and, as Freeman said, I had the advantage of drinking small
French claret, the savage was effectually tamed before our senses were
in the least affected, and carried home in an apoplexy of drunkenness.

I was next morning, as usual, favoured with a visit from my kind and
punctual confidante, who, telling me she was permitted to receive my
letters for her mistress, I took up the pen immediately, and, following
the first dictates of my passion, wrote as follows:

"Dear Madam,

"Were it possible for the powers of utterance to reveal the
soft emotions of my soul, the fond anxiety, the glowing hopes,
the chilling flame, that rule my breast by turns, I should need
no other witness than this paper, to evince the purity and ardour
of that flame your charms have kindled in my heart, But alas!
expression wrongs my love! I am inspired with conceptions that no
language can convey! Your beauty fills me with wonder, your
understanding with ravishment, and your goodness with adoration!
I am transported with desire, distracted with doubts, and
tortured with impatience. Suffer me then, lovely arbitress of my
fate, to approach you in person, to breathe in soft murmurs my
passion to your ear, to offer the sacrifice of a heart overflowing
with the most genuine and disinterested love, to gaze with ecstacy
on the divine object of my wishes, to hear the music of her
enchanting tongue, and to rejoice in her smiles of approbation,
which will banish the most intolerable suspense from the bosom of

"Your enraptured, R--