I have ever thought Men were better known, by what could be observed of them from a Perusal of their private Letters, than any other way.  My Friend, the Clergyman, [1] the other Day, upon serious Discourse with him concerning the Danger of Procrastination, gave me the following Letters from Persons with whom he lives in great Friendship and Intimacy, according to the good Breeding and good Sense of his Character.  The first is from a Man of Business, who is his Convert; The second from one of whom he conceives good Hopes; The third from one who is in no State at all, but carried one way and another by starts.

  SIR,

’I know not with what Words to express to you the Sense I have of the high Obligation you have laid upon me, in the Penance you enjoined me of doing some Good or other, to a Person of Worth, every Day I live.  The Station I am in furnishes me with daily Opportunities of this kind:  and the Noble Principle with which you have inspired me, of Benevolence to all I have to deal with, quickens my Application in every thing I undertake.  When I relieve Merit from Discountenance, when I assist a Friendless Person, when I produce conceal’d Worth, I am displeas’d with my self, for having design’d to leave the World in order to be Virtuous.  I am sorry you decline the Occasions which the Condition I am in might afford me of enlarging your Fortunes; but know I contribute more to your Satisfaction, when I acknowledge I am the better Man, from the Influence and Authority you have over, SIR, Your most Oblig’d and Most Humble, Servant, R. O.’

* * *

  SIR,

’I am intirely convinced of the Truth of what you were pleas’d to say to me, when I was last with you alone.  You told me then of the silly way I was in; but you told me so, as I saw you loved me, otherwise I could not obey your Commands in letting you know my Thoughts so sincerely as I do at present.  I know the Creature for whom I resign so much of my Character is all that you said of her; but then the Trifler has something in her so undesigning and harmless, that her Guilt in one kind disappears by the Comparison of her Innocence in another.  Will you, Virtuous Men, allow no alteration of Offences?  Must Dear [Chloe [2]] be called by the hard Name you pious People give to common Women?  I keep the solemn Promise I made you, in writing to you the State of my Mind, after your kind Admonition; and will endeavour to get the better of this Fondness, which makes me so much her humble Servant, that I am almost asham’d to Subscribe my self Yours, T. D.’

* * *

  SIR,