riages covered with Snow, and the Men's Beards look as if they were set with Diamonds by the Ificles hanging about them. The Green Trees are become for White, that they put me in mind of the Rosemary upon Cakes at Twelfth-Tide; and the Gentlemen and Ladies, I think, are turned into different Creatures, of all Sorts, by their Drefs, being habited in Skins of divers Beafts. Yet, notwithstanding the Severity of the Froft, the Houses are kept warm by Ovens, as I obferved in my former; they give an equal Heat, but are not to me fo agreeable as English Fires, wherein, I think, is a kind of Cheerfulness that I prefer to this Me thod.

9. I 2

The Diet of Ruffia is excellently good, and, in my Opinion, this Place is very fit for an Epicure; for in fhort, Eating and Drinking take up a third Part of their Time.

0D VIGE

Rétire

Retirement is my Delight; and when my little Ladies and I are together, I want no other Company nor Employment; when I have a leifure Hour to my Self, I spend it in Reading.

All the News I can fend you, is, that the English Refident gave a very elegant Entertainment on the King's BirthDay, which concluded with a Ball. I was not at it, for my Drefs is ftill Brown Camlet, and I think that beft for Retirement: I make up the Disappointment of Feafts, by attending a very polite Entertainment, that is, in Reading the Spectator. For, I really think I am now arrived to that Happiness he so agreeably represents of being leaft Alone, when quite Alone; on which I put this Conftruction, that Books are the best Companions. Pardon my Prolixity; but as I am of the Sex who feldom are Concife, I intreat you to put on your Manly

E 4

Manly Generosity and forgive the Errors of your

1

SIR,

TH

'HE Favours you have formerly beftowed on me are on me are what I can never forget, I therefore omit no Opportunity of acknowledging Them.

Was I not convinced of your real Me→ rit I would not venture to write this, for I believe I have now wrote Ten Letters and have had no Answer. My Friends are equally unkind. I must own, that One Letter I have been favoured with from you affords me much Satisfaction, for I have the Vanity to believe you mean what you fay. I think I may be allowed to complain, when my Sifter cannot find time to

write once a Year to unhappy me, But bad News never wants for carrying, for there is a Gentleman in England who has wrote to his Correfpondent here, that Mr. JUSTICE is the Perfon who is under Confinement, and charged with the Robbery of the Library at Cambridge: This News arrived about Four Months ago, but my Master and Lady concealed it from me, as they do every thing that they think will give me any uneafinefs; yet notwithstanding their Care it came to my Ear, and that in a very abrupt Manner. I was from the unwelcome News much difordered and not willing to believe it true, but there was in Three News Papers, immediately following, fome Circumftances that agreed with it; now I will leave you to judge what an Anxiety of Mind I must be in, not having any one Friend fo generous as to inform me of so important an Affair. I can compare myself to nothing but a Perfon fet Quick in the Ground, who fees

many

many things that would preferve him, but can procure none of them; my leaving England in the Manner I did, and with a Refolution to go Abroad, I must say had fomething in it of the Daughter of CATO. Were my Afflictions nicely confidered by a religious and honourable Man, I am fure he would allow that my Conduct was not mean, when I was ftruggling with the rough Waves of a turbulent Sea: Now, as I am willing, nay wish to be judged by the Juft and Upright, I appeal to you whether I do not deferve a Letter twice a Year from old England. This is the laft I fhall write till I hear from you; I find fo great a Decay of my Reason that I am apprehenfive I fhall foon be deprived of my Senfes, but while I remain in them I fhall with pleasure own I am,

Your obliged Friend

and bumble Servant,

ELIZ. JUSTICE.