MADAM,

I have received your ladyship's letter, and carefully considered every

part of it, and shall give you my opinion how you ought to proceed for

your own security. But first I must beg leave to tell your ladyship, that

you were guilty of an unpardonable weakness the other day, in making that

offer to your lover of standing by him in any quarrel he might have with

your rival. You know very well, that she began to apprehend he had designs

of using her as he had done you; and common prudence might have directed

you rather to have entered into some measures with her for joining against

him, until he might at least be brought to some reasonable terms; but your

invincible hatred to that lady has carried your resentments so high, as to

be the cause of your ruin; yet if you please to consider, this aversion of

yours began a good while before she became your rival, and was taken up by

you and your family in a sort of compliment to your lover, who formerly

had a great abhorrence of her. It is true, since that time you have

suffered very much by her encroachments upon your estate,[38] but she

never pretended to govern and direct you; and now you have drawn a new

enemy upon yourself; for I think you may count upon all the ill offices

she can possibly do you, by her credit with her husband; whereas, if,

instead of openly declaring against her, without any provocation, you had

but sat still awhile, and said nothing, that gentleman would have lessened

his severity to you out of perfect fear. This weakness of yours you call

generosity; but I doubt there was more in the matter: in short, madam, I

have good reasons to think you were betrayed to it by the pernicious

counsel of some about you; for to my certain knowledge, several of your

tenants and servants to whom you have been very kind, are as arrant

rascals as any in the country. I know the matters of fact, as you relate

them, are true, and fairly represented.

My advice therefore is this: get your tenants together as soon as you

conveniently can, and make them agree to the following resolutions.

First, that your family and servants have no dependence upon the said

gentleman, farther than by the old agreement, which obliges you to have

the same steward, and to regulate your household by such methods as you

should both agree to.

Secondly, that you will not carry your goods to the market of his town,

unless you please, nor be hindered from carrying them anywhere else.

Thirdly, that the servants you pay wages to shall live at home, or forfeit

their places.

Fourthly, that whatever lease you make to a tenant, it shall not be in his

power to break it.

If he will agree to these articles, I advise you to contribute as largely

as you can to all charges of parish and county.

I can assure you, several of that gentleman's ablest tenants and servants

are against his severe usage of you and would be glad of an occasion to

convince the rest of their error, if you will not be wanting to yourself.

If the gentleman refuses these just and reasonable offers, pray let me

know it, and perhaps I may think of something else that will be more

effectual.

I am,

Madam,

Your Ladyship's, etc.