Sir Charles gave Lord G. an opportunity to shine, by leading the discourse into circumstances and details, which Lord G. could best recount. My lord has been a traveller. He is a connoisseur in anti-quities, and in those parts of nice knowledge, as I, a woman, call it, with which the Royal Society here, and the learned and polite of other nations, entertain themselves.

Lord G. appeared to advantage, as Sir Charles managed it, under the awful eye of Miss Grandi-son. Upon my word, Lucy, she makes very free with him. I whispered her, that she did A very Miss — Howe, said I. To a very Mr. Hickman, re-whispered she. But here’s the difference: I am not determined to have Lord G. Miss Howe yielded to her mother’s recommendation, and intended to marry Mr. Hickman, even when she used him worst. One time or other (archly continued she the whis-per, holding up her spread hand, and with a countenance of admiration) my Lord G. is to shew us his collection of butterflies, and other gaudy insects: Will you make one?

Of the gaudy insects? whispered l. Fie, Harriet! One of the party, you know, 1 must mean. Let me tell you, I never saw a collection of these various insects that I did not the more admire the Maker of them, and of all us insects, whatever I thought of the collectors of the minute ones. Another word with you, Harriet These little playful studies may do well enough with per-sons who do not want to be more than indifferent to us: but do you think a lover ought to take high delight in the painted wings of a butterfly, when a fine lady has made herself all over butterfly to at-tract him? Eyes off, Sir Charles! for he looked, though smilingly, yet earnestly, at us, as we whis-pered behind Lady L.‘s chair; who heard what was said, and was pleased with it.

Letter II.

Miss Byron. In Continuation.

Thursday morning, March 2.

I should have told you, that Miss Grandison did the honours of the table; and I will go round it; for I know you expect I should. But 1 have not yet done with Lord G. Poor man! he is exces-sively in love, I see that. Well he may. What man would not, with Miss Grandison? Yet is she too superior, I think.

What can a woman do, who is addressed by a man of talents inferior to her own? Must she throw away her talents? Must she hide her light under a bushel, purely to do credit to the man? She can-not pick and choose, as men can. She has only her negative; and, if she is desirous to oblige her friends, not always that. Yet it is said, women must not encourage fops and fools. They must encourage men of sense only. And it is xxell said. But what can they do, if their lot be cast only among foplings? If the men of sense do not offer themselves? And pray, may I not ask, if the taste of the age, among the men, is not dress, equipage, and foppery? Is the cultivation of the mind any part of their study? The men, in short, are sunk, my dear: and the women but barely swim.