I have just had time to observe, that the Canadian ladies have the vivacity of the French, with a superior share of beauty:  as to balls and assemblies, we have none at present, it being a kind of interregnum of government:  if I chose to give you the political state of the country, I could fill volumes with the pours and the contres; but I am not one of those sagacious observers, who, by staying a week in a place, think themselves qualified to give, not only its natural, but its moral and political history:  besides which, you and I are rather too young to be very profound politicians.  We are in expectation of a successor from whom we hope a new golden age; I shall then have better subjects for a letter to a lady.

Adieu! my dear girl! say every thing for me to my mother.  Yours,

          Ed. Rivers.

LETTER 3.

To Col.  Rivers, at Quebec.

London, April 30.

Indeed! gone to people the wilds of America, Ned, and multiply the human face divine? ’tis a project worthy a tall handsome colonel of twenty seven:  let me see; five feet, eleven inches, well made, with fine teeth, speaking eyes, a military air, and the look of a man of fashion:  spirit, generosity, a good understanding, some knowledge, an easy address, a compassionate heart, a strong inclination for the ladies, and in short every quality a gentleman should have:  excellent all these for colonization:  prenez garde, mes cheres dames.  You have nothing against you, Ned, but your modesty; a very useless virtue on French ground, or indeed on any ground:  I wish you had a little more consciousness of your own merits:  remember that to know one’s self the oracle of Apollo has pronounced to be the perfection of human wisdom.  Our fair friend Mrs. H——­ says, “Colonel Rivers wants nothing to make him the most agreeable man breathing but a little dash of the coxcomb.”

For my part, I hate humility in a man of the world; ’tis worse than even the hypocrisy of the saints:  I am not ignorant, and therefore never deny, that I am a very handsome fellow; and I have the pleasure to find all the women of the same opinion.

I am just arriv’d from Paris:  the divine Madame De ——­ is as lovely and as constant as ever; ’twas cruel to leave her, but who can account for the caprices of the heart? mine was the prey of a young unexperienc’d English charmer, just come out of a convent,

  “The bloom of opening flowers—­”

Ha, Ned?  But I forget; you are for the full-blown rose:  ’tis a happiness, as we are friends, that ’tis impossible we can ever be rivals; a woman is grown out of my taste some years before she comes up to yours:  absolutely, Ned, you are too nice; for my part, I am not so delicate; youth and beauty are sufficient for me; give me blooming seventeen, and I cede to you the whole empire of sentiment.