University of Virginia Library

Your's of the 9th ult. has just come to
hand. It gave me renewed experience of the
truth of the observation, that next to the personal
presence and conversation, is the epistolary
correspondence of a friend. I am preparing,
with the most lively sensations of pleasure, to
gratify my own wishes, and comply with your
polite invitation. The romantic beauty of the
rural scenes has forsaken me; and what can so
amply compensate for their absence, as the charms
you offer?

I envy you nothing which the town affords,
but the advantages you derive from the choice of
society adapted to your own taste. Your sentiments
of the fashionable diversion of card-playing,
are, in my view, perfectly just. I believe
that many people join in it, because it is the ton,
rather than from any other motive. And as
such persons generally pay the greatest deference
to Lord Chesterfield's opinions and maxims, I
have often wondered how they happened to
overlook, or disregard his animadversions upon
this subject; and have felt a strong inclination
to tell them, that this all-accomplished master of
politeness, and oracle of pleasure, expressly says,

“All amusements, where neither the understanding
nor the senses can have the least share,
I look upon as frivolous, and the resources of
little minds, who either do not think, or do not
love to think.”

We had a pretty party here, last evening; and
a party it literally was; for it consisted entirely
of ladies. This singular circumstance was remarked
by one of the company, who, at least,
pretended to think it agreeable, because, said
she, we can now speak without restraint, or
the fear of criticism. I confess that I was not
prude enough to acquiesce in her opinion.

Ladies of delicacy and refinement will not
countenance or support a conversation, which
gentlemen of sense and sentiment can disapprove.
As each were formed for social beings, and depend
on the other for social happiness, I imagine
that society receives its greatest charm from a
mutual interchange of sentiment and knowledge.

“Both sexes are reciprocal instruments of each
other's improvement. The rough spirit of the
one is tempered by the gentleness of the other,
which has likewise its obligations to that spirit.
Men's sentiments contract a milder turn in the
company of women, who, on the other hand,
find their volatility abated in that of the men.
Their different qualities, intermingling, form a
happy symphony. From their intimate conjunction,
their real advantages must be common and

inseparable; and as for those ridiculous wranglings
about superiority, they may be reckoned
insults to nature, and betray a want of a due
sense of its wise and gracious dispensations.”[3]

Many ladies affect to think it inconsistent with
female reserve, to acknowledge themselves pleased
with the company of the other sex; but while
such are the objects and advantages of a mixed
society, I blush not to own myself desirous of its
custivation. Adieu.