stolen from Mr. Waller.  I remember, when I was a girl, I saved one of my companions from destruction, who communicated to me an epistle she was quite charmed with.  As she had a natural good taste, she observed the lines were not so smooth as Prior’s or Pope’s, but had more thought and spirit than any of theirs.  She was wonderfully delighted with such a demonstration of her lover’s sense and passion, a little pleased with her own charms, that had force enough to inspire such elegancies.  In the midst of this triumph I showed her that they were taken from Randolph’s poems, and the unfortunate transcriber was dismissed with the scorn he deserved.  To say truth, the poor plagiary was very unlucky to fall into my hands; that author being no longer in fashion, would have escaped any one of less universal reading than myself.  You should encourage your daughter to talk over with you what she reads; and, as you are very capable of distinguishing, take care she does not mistake pert folly for wit and humour, or rhyme for poetry, which are the common errors of young people, and have a train of ill consequences.  The second caution to be given her (and which is most absolutely necessary) is to conceal whatever learning she attains, with as much solicitude as she would hide crookedness or lameness; the parade of it can only serve to draw on her the envy, and consequently the most inveterate hatred, of all he and she fools, which will certainly be at least three parts in four of all her acquaintance.  The use of knowledge in our sex, besides the amusement of solitude, is to moderate the passions, and learn to be contented with a small expense, which are the certain effects of a studious life; and it may be preferable even to that fame which men have engrossed to themselves, and will not suffer us to share.  You will tell me I have not observed this rule myself; but you are mistaken:  it is only inevitable accident that has given me any reputation that way.  I have always carefully avoided it, and ever thought it a misfortune.  The explanation of this paragraph would occasion a long digression, which I will not trouble you with, it being my present design only to say what I think useful for the instruction of my granddaughter, which I have much at heart.  If she has the same inclination (I should say passion) for learning that I was born with, history, geography, and philosophy will furnish her with materials to pass away cheerfully a longer life than is allotted to mortals.  I believe there are few heads capable of making Sir I. Newton’s calculations, but the result of them is not difficult to be understood by a moderate capacity.  Do not fear this should make her affect the character of Lady——­, or Lady——­, or Mrs.——­:  those women are ridiculous, not because they have learning but because they have it not.  One thinks herself a complete historian, after reading Echard’s Roman History; another a profound philosopher, having got by heart some of Pope’s unintelligible essays; and a third an able divine, on the strength of Whitefield’s sermons:  thus you hear them screaming politics and controversy.