Harlowe’s consciousness of excellence over her.  I have often since I came at Miss Howe’s letters, revolved this just and fine praise contained in one of them:** ’Every one saw that the preference they gave you to themselves exalted you not into any visible triumph over them; for you had always something to say, on every point you carried, that raised the yielding heart, and left every one pleased and satisfied with themselves, though they carried not off the palm.’

* Miss Howe, in Vol.  III.  Letter XIX. says, That she was always more afraid of Clarissa than of her mother; and, in Vol.  III.  Letter XLIV.  That she fears her almost as much as she loves her; and in many other places, in her letters, verifies this observation of Lovelace. ** See Vol.  IV.  Letter XXXI.

As I propose, in a more advanced life, to endeavour to atone for my useful freedoms with individuals of the sex, by giving cautions and instructions to the whole, I have made a memorandum to enlarge upon this doctrine;—­to wit, that it is full as necessary to direct daughters in the choice of their female companions, as it is to guard them against the designs of men.

I say not this, however, to the disparagement of Miss Howe.  She has from pride, what her friend has from principle. [The Lord help the sex, if they had not pride!] But yet I am confident, that Miss Howe is indebted to the conversation and correspondence of Miss Harlowe for her highest improvements.  But, both these ladies out of the question, I make no scruple to aver, [and I, Jack, should know something of the matter,] that there have been more girls ruined, at least prepared for ruin, by their own sex, (taking in servants, as well as companions,) than directly by the attempts and delusions of men.

But it is time enough when I am old and joyless, to enlarge upon this topic.

As to the comparison between the two ladies, I will expatiate more on that subject, (for I like it,) when I have had them both.  Which this letter of the vixen girl’s, I hope thou wilt allow, warrants me to try for.

I return to the consideration of a few more of its contents, to justify my vengeances so nearly now in view.

As to Mrs. Townsend,—­her manlike spirit—­her two brothers—­and the ships’ crews—­I say nothing but this to the insolent threatening—­Let ’em come!—­But as to her sordid menace—­To repay the horrid villain, as she calls me, for all my vileness by broken bones!—­Broken bones, Belford!—­ Who can bear this porterly threatening!—­Broken bones, Jack!—­D—­n the little vulgar!—­Give me a name for her—­but I banish all furious resentment.  If I get these two girls into my power, Heaven forbid that I should be a second Phalaris, who turned his bull upon the artist!—­No bones of their’s will I break—­They shall come off with me upon much lighter terms!—­

But these fellows are smugglers, it seems.  And am not I a smuggler too?  —­I am—­and have not the least doubt but I shall have secured my goods before Thursday, or Wednesday either.