n of but one half of Miss
Harlowe's perfections, who will favour me with her acceptance, I will
take the advice I give, and marry. Nor will I offer to try her honour
at the hazard of my own.

In other words, I will not degrade an excellent creature in her own eyes,
by trials, when I have no cause for suspicion. And let me add, with
respect to thy eagleship's manifestation, of which thou boastest, in thy
attempts upon the innocent and uncorrupted, rather than upon those whom
thou humourously comparest to wrens, wagtails, and phyl-tits, as thou
callest them,* that I hope I have it not once to reproach myself, that I
ruined the morals of any one creature, who otherwise would have been
uncorrupted. Guilt enough in contributing to the continued guilt of other
poor wretches, if I am one of those who take care she shall never rise
again, when she has once fallen.

* See Letter XVII. of this volume.

Whatever the capital devil, under whose banner thou hast listed, will let
thee do, with regard to this incomparable woman, I hope thou wilt act
with honour in relation to the enclosed, between Lord M. and me; since
his Lordship, as thou wilt see, desires, that thou mayest not know he
wrote on the subject; for reasons, I think, very far from being
creditable to thyself: and that thou wilt take as meant, the honest zeal
for thy service, of

Thy real friend,
J. BELFORD.

LETTER XXXVI

LORD M., TO JOHN BELFORD, ESQ.
[ENCLOSED IN THE PRECEDING.]
M. HALL, MONDAY, MAY 15.

SIR,

If any man in the world has power over my nephew, it is you. I therefore
write this, to beg you to interfere in the affair depending between him
and the most accomplished of women, as every one says; and what every one
says must be true.

I don't know that he has any bad designs upon her; but I know his temper
too well, not to be apprehensive upon such long delays: and the ladies
here have been for some time in fear for her: Lady Sarah in particular,
who (as you must know) is a wise woman, says, that these delays, in the
present case, must be from him, rather than from the lady.

He had always indeed a strong antipathy to marriage, and may think of
playing his dog's tricks by her, as he has by so many others. If there's
any danger of this, 'tis best to prevent it in time: for when a thing is
done, advice comes too late.

He has always had the folly and impertinence to make a jest of me for
using proverbs: but as they are the wisdom o