ounded girls. But for them, I could go
to church with a good conscience: but when I do, there they are. Every
where does Satan spread his snares for me! But, how I think of it, what
if our governor should appoint churches for the women only, and others
for the men?--Full as proper, I think, for the promoting of true
piety in both, [much better than the synagogue-lattices,] as separate
boarding-schools for their education.

There are already male and female dedications of churches.

St. Swithin's, St. Stephen's, St. Thomas's, St. George's, and so forth,
might be appropriated to the men; and Santa Catharina's, Santa Anna's,
Santa Maria's, Santa Margaretta's, for the women.

Yet were it so, and life to be the forfeiture of being found at the
female churches, I believe that I, like a second Clodius, should change
my dress, to come at my Portia or Pompeia, though one the daughter of a
Cato, the other the wife of a Caesar.

But how I excurse!--Yet thou usedst to say, thou likedst my excursions.
If thou dost, thou'lt have enow of them: for I never had a subject I
so much adored; and with which I shall probably be compelled to have so
much patience before I strike the blow; if the blow I do strike.

But let me call myself back to my recordation-subject--Thou needest
not remind me of my Rosebud. I have her in my head; and moreover have
contrived to give my fair-one an hint of that affair, by the agency of
honest Joseph Leman;* although I have not reaped the hoped-for credit of
her acknowledgement.

* See Vol. II. Letter XXVII.

That's the devil; and it was always my hard fate--every thing I do that
is good, is but as I ought!--Every thing of a contrary nature is brought
into the most glaring light against me--Is this fair? Ought not a
balance to be struck; and the credit carried to my account?--Yet I must
own too, that I half grudge Johnny this blooming maiden? for, in truth,
I think a fine woman too rich a jewel to hang about a poor man's neck.

Surely, Jack, if I am guilty of a fault in my universal adorations of
the sex, the women in general ought to love me the better for it.

And so they do; I thank them heartily; except here and there a covetous
little rogue comes cross me, who, under the pretence of loving virtue
for its own sake, wants to have me all to herself.

I have rambled enough.

Adieu, for the present.

LETTER XV

MISS CLARISSA HARLOWE, TO MISS HOWE THURSDAY NIGHT, APRIL 13.

I a