free life of a bachelor (in which otherwise he would have been inclined to remain), by confidering that he was the last branch of an ancient family, which must have been extinguished had he died without children. He made choice of the virtuous and beautiful Emira for his confort, who, after being the folace of his life for many years, and having made him the father of feveral children, paid at laft the general debt to nature. Nothing could have fupported him under fo fevere an affliction, but the confolation he received from his young family, who were now become dearer to him on account of their deceafed mother. One daughter in particular is his darling, and the fecret joy of his foul; because her features, her air, her voice, recal every moment the tender memory of his spouse, and fill his eyes with tears. He conceals this partiality as much as poffible; and none but his intimate friends are acquainted with it. To them he reveals all his tenderness; nor is he fo affectedly philofophical, as even to call it by the name of weakness. They know that he ftill keeps the birth-day of Emira with tears, and a more fond and tender recollection of paft pleafures, in like manner as it was celebrated in her lifetime, with joy and feftivity. They know that he preferves her picture with the utmost care, and has one picture in miniature, which he always wears next to his bofom: that he has left orders in his laft will, that, in whatever part of the world he shall happen to die, his body shall be tranfported, and laid in the Dd 2 fame fame grave with her's; and that a monument fhall be erected over them, and their mutual love and happiness celebrated in an epitaph, which he himfelf has compofed for that purpose. A few years ago I received a letter from a friend, who was abroad on his travels, and fhall here communicate it to the public. It contains fuch an instance of a philofophic fpirit, as I think pretty extraordinary, and may ferve as an example, not to depart too far from the received maxims of conduct and behaviour, by a refined fearch after happiness or perfection. The story I have been fince affured of as matter of fact. Sir, Paris, Aug. 2, 1737. I know you are more curious of accounts of men than of buildings, and are more defirous of being informed of private history than of public tranfactions; for which reafon I thought the fol lowing ftory, which is the common topic of converfation in this city, would be no unacceptable entertainment to you. A young lady of birth and fortune, being left entirely at her own difpofal, perfifted long in a refolution of leading a fingle life, notwithstanding feveral advantageous offers that had been made to her. She had been determined to embrace this refolution, by obferving the many unhappy mar riages riages among her acquaintances, and by hearing the complaints which her female friends made of the tyranny, inconftancy, jealoufy, or indifference of their husbands. Being a woman of ftrong fpirit and an uncommon way of thinking, fhe found no difficulty either in forming or maintaining this refolution, and could not fufpect herself of fuch weaknefs, as ever to be induced, by any temptation to depart from it. She had, however, entertained a strong defire of having a fon, whofe education fhe was refolved to make the principal concern of her life, and by that means fupply the place of those other paffions, which she was refolved for ever to renounce. She pushed her philofophy to fuch an uncommon length, as to find no contradiction betwixt fuch a defire and her former refolution; and accordingly looked about with great deliberation to find among all her male acquaintance, one whose character and perfon were agreeable to her, without being able to fatisfy herself on that head. At length, being in the playhouse one evening, fhe fees in the parterre, a young man of a moft engaging countenance and modeft deportment; and feels fuch a prepoffeffion in his favour, that fhe had hopes this must be the perfon fhe had long fought for in vain. She immediately difpatches a fervant to him; defiring his company at her lodgings next morning. The young man was overjoyed at the meffage, and could not command his fatisfaction, upon receiving fuch an advance from a lady of fo great beauty, reputation, and quality. He was, therefore, much disappointed, when he found a wo man, who would allow him no freedoms; and amidst all her obliging behaviour, confined and overawed him to the bounds of rational difcourfe and converfation. She feemed, however, willing to commence a friendship with him; and told him, that his company would always be acceptable to her, whenever he had a leisure hour to bestow. He needed not much entreaty to renew his vifits, being fo ftruck with her wit and beauty, that he must have been unhappy had he been debarred her company. Every converfation ferved only the more to inflame his paffion, and gave him more occafion to admire her perfon and understanding, as well as to rejoice in his own good fortune. He was not, however, without anxiety, when he con fidered the difproportion of their birth and for, tune; nor was his uneafinefs allayed, even when he reflected on the extraordinary manner in which their acquaintance had commenced. Our philofophical heroine, in the mean time, discovered, that her lover's perfonal qualities did not belye his phyfiog nomy; fo that judging there was no occafion for any farther trial, fhe takes a proper opportunity of communicating to him her whole intention. Their intercourfe continued for fome time, till at laft her wishes were crowned, and fhe was now mother of a boy, who was to be the object of her future care and concern. Gladly would he have continued her friendship with the father; but finding him too paffionate a lover to remain within the bounds of friendfhip, the was obliged to put a vio lence upon herself. She fends him a letter, in which which fhe had inclofed a bond of annuity for a thousand crowns; defiring him, at the fame time, never to see her more, and to forget, if poffible, all past favours and familiarities. He was thunderftruck at receiving this message; and having tried, in vain, all the arts that might win upon the refolution of a woman, refolved at laft to attack her by her foible. He commences a law fuit against her before the parliament of Paris; and claims his fon, whom he pretends a right to educate as he pleased, according to the ufual maxims of the law in fuch cafes. She pleads, on the other hand, their express agreement before their commerce, and pretends that he had renounced all claim to any offfpring that might arise from their embraces. It is not yet known, how the parliament will determine in this extraordinary cafe, which puzzles all the lawyers, as much as it does the philofophers. As foon as they come to any iffue, I fhall inform you of it, and fhall embrace any opportunity of fubfcribing myself, as I do at prefent, |