It would be matter of serious reflection to me, if the very fellow, this Joseph Leman, who gave you such an opportunity to turn all the artillery of his masters against themselves, and to play them upon one another to favour your plotting purposes, should be the instrument, in the devil’s hand, (unwittingly too,) to avenge them all upon you; for should you even get the better of the Colonel, would the mischief end there?—­It would but add remorse to your present remorse; since the interview must end in death; for he would not, I am confident, take his life at your hand.  The Harlowes would, moreover, prosecute you in a legal way.  You hate them; and they would be gainers by his death; rejoicers in your’s—­And have you not done mischief enough already?

Let me, therefore, (and through me all your friends,) have the satisfaction to hear that you are resolved to avoid this gentleman.  Time will subdue all things.  Nobody doubts your bravery; nor will it be known that your plan is changed through persuasion.

Young Harlowe talks of calling you to account.  This is a plain evidence, that Mr. Morden has not taken the quarrel upon himself for their family.

I am in no apprehension of any body but Colonel Morden.  I know it will not be a mean to prevail upon you to oblige me, if I say that I am well assured that this gentleman is a skillful swordsman; and that he is as cool and sedate as skillful.  But yet I will add, that, if I had a value for my life, he should be the last man, except yourself, with whom I would choose to have a contention.

I have, as you required, been very candid and sincere with you.  I have not aimed at palliation.  If you seek not Colonel Morden, it is my opinion he will not seek you:  for he is a man of principle.  But if you seek him, I believe he will not shun you.

Let me re-urge, [it is the effect of my love for you!] that you know your own guilt in this affair, and should not be again an aggressor.  It would be pity that so brave a man as the Colonel should drop, were you and he to meet:  and, on the other hand, it would be dreadful that you should be sent to your account unprepared for it, and pursuing a fresh violence.  Moreover, seest thou not, in the deaths of two of thy principal agents, the hand-writing upon the wall against thee.

My zeal on this occasion may make me guilty of repetition.  Indeed I know not how to quit the subject.  But if what I have written, added to your own remorse and consciousness, cannot prevail, all that I might further urge would be ineffectual.

Adieu, therefore!  Mayst thou repent of the past! and may no new violences add to thy heavy reflections, and overwhelm thy future hopes! are the wishes of

Thy true friend,
John Belford.

LETTER LX.

Mr. Lovelace, to John Belford, Esq. 
Munich, Nov. 11—­22.