tion. The more I reflected upon it, the more important it appeared. I even went a ftep beyond Whiston in displaying my principles as he had engraven upon his wife's tomb that he was the only wife of. William Whifton; fo I wrote a fimilar epitaph for my wife, though ftill living, in which I extolled her prudence, œconomy, and obedience till death; and having got it copied fair, with an elegant frame, it was placed over the chimneypiece, where it answered several very useful purposes. It admonished my wife of her duty to me, and my fidelity to her; it inspired her with a paffion for fame, and constantly put her in mind of her end.

It was thus, perhaps, from hearing marriage fo often recommended, that my eldeft fon, juft upon leaving college, fixed his affections upon the daughter of a neighbouring clergyman, who was a dignitary in the church, and in circumstances to give her a large fortune: but fortune was her smallest accomplishment. Mifs

Ara

Arabella Wilmot was allowed by all (except my two daughters) to be 'completely pretty. Her youth, health, and innocence, were still heightened by a complexion fo tranfparent, and fuch an happy fenfibility of look, as even age could not gaze on with indifference. As Mr. Wilmot knew that I could make a very handsome fettlement on my fon, he was not `averse to the match; fo both families lived together in all that harmony which generally precedes an expected alliance. Being convinced by experience that the days of courtship are the moft happy of our lives, I was willing enough to lengthen the period; and the various amusements which the young couple every day, fhared in each other's company, feemed to increase their paffion. We were generally awaked in the morning by mufic, and on fine days rode a hunting. The hours between breakfast and dinner the ladies devoted to dress and study: they ufually read a page, and then gazed at themselves in the glafs,

which

which even philofophers might own often prefented the page of greatest beauty. At dinner my wife took the lead; for, as fhe always infifted upon carving every thing herself, it being her mother's way, The gave us upon thefe occafions the hif tory of every dish. When we had dined, to prevent the ladies leaving us, I generally ordered the table to be removed; and fometimes, with the music master's affiftance, the girls would give us a very agreeable concert. Walking out, drinking tea, country dances, and forfeits, shortened the rest of the day, without the affiftance of cards, as I hated all manner of gaming, except backgammon, at which old friend and I fometimes took a twopenny hit. Nor can I here pafs over an ominous circumftance that happened the laft time we played together; I only wanted to fling a quatre, and yet I threw deuce ace five times running.

my

Some months were elapfed in this man ner, till at last it was thought convenient

to

to fix a day for the nuptials of the young couple, who feemed earnestly to defire it. During the preparations for the wedding, I need not defcribe the bufy importance of my wife, nor the fly looks of my daughters in fact, my attention was fixed on another object, the completing a tract which I intended fhortly to publish in defence of my favourite principle. As I looked upon this as a master-piece both for argument and ftyle, I could not in the pride of my heart avoid fhewing it to my old friend Mr. Wilmot, as I made no doubt of receiving his approbation; but not till too late I discovered that he was moft violently attached to the contrary opinion, and with good reafon; for he was at that time actually courting a fourth wife. This, as may be expected, produced a dispute attended with fome acrimony, which threatened to interrupt our intended alliance; but on the day before that appointed for the ceremony, we agreed to discuss the subject at large.

It

It was managed with proper fpirit on both fides; he afferted that I was heterodox, I retorted the charge: he replied, and I rejoined. In the mean time, while the controverfy was hotteft, I was called out by one of my relations, who, with a face of concern, advised me to give up the difpute, at least till my fon's wedding was over. C How,' cried I, relinquish the cause of truth, and let him be an • husband, already driven to the very verge ' of abfurdity. You might as well advise me to give up my fortune as my argu'ment.' Your fortune,' returned my friend, I am now forry to inform you, is almost nothing. The merchant in town, in whofe hands your money was lodged, has gone off, to avoid a statute ‹ of bankruptcy, and is thought not to ‹ have left a shilling in the pound. I was unwilling to fhock you or the family • with the account till after the wedding: ⚫ but now it may ferve to moderate your • warmth in the argument; for, I suppose, your own prudence will enforce the ne

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