usually went to bed sober with two bottles.  I am not quite six and twenty, and my nose is marked truly aquiline.  For these reasons, I am in a very particular manner her aversion.  What shall I do?  Impudence itself cannot reclaim her.  If I write miserable, she reckons me among the children of perdition, and discards me her region:  If I assume the gross and substantial, she plays the real ghost with me, and vanishes in a moment.  I had hopes in the hypocrisy of the sex; but perseverance makes it as bad as a fixed aversion.  I desire your opinion, Whether I may not lawfully play the inquisition upon her, make use of a little force, and put her to the rack and the torture, only to convince her, she has really fine limbs, without spoiling or distorting them.  I expect your directions, ere I proceed to dwindle and fall away with despair; which at present I don’t think advisable, because, if she should recant, she may then hate me perhaps in the other extreme for my tenuity.  I am (with impatience)

“Your most humble servant,

“Charles Sturdy.”

My patient has put his case with very much warmth, and represented it in so lively a manner, that I see both his torment and tormentor with great perspicuity.  This order of Platonic ladies are to be dealt with in a peculiar manner from all the rest of the sex.  Flattery is the general way, and the way in this case; but it is not to be done grossly.  Every man that has wit, and humour, and raillery, can make a good flatterer for woman in general; but a Platonne is not to be touched with panegyric:  she will tell you, it is a sensuality in the soul to be delighted that way.  You are not therefore to commend, but silently consent to all she does and says.  You are to consider in her the scorn of you is not humour, but opinion.

There were some years since a set of these ladies who were of quality, and gave out, that virginity was to be their state of life during this mortal condition, and therefore resolved to join their fortunes, and erect a nunnery.  The place of residence was pitched upon; and a pretty situation, full of natural falls and risings of waters, with shady coverts, and flowery arbours, was approved by seven of the founders.  There were as many of our sex who took the liberty to visit those mansions of intended severity; among others, a famous rake[5] of that time, who had the grave way to an excellence.  He came in first; but upon seeing a servant coming towards him, with a design to tell him, this was no place for him or his companions, up goes my grave impudence to the maid:  “Young woman,” said he, “if any of the ladies are in the way on this side of the house, pray carry us on the other side towards the gardens:  we are, you must know, gentlemen that are travelling England; after which we shall go into foreign parts, where some of us have already been.”  Here he bows in the most humble manner, and kissed the girl, who knew not how to behave to such a sort