suppose) and heiress by him; and the other, says scandal, to grant a like favour to the Hebrew monarch.  Your ladyship, who has more real Amazonian principles, never makes visits but to empresses, queens, and princesses; and your country is enriched with the maxims of wisdom and virtue which you collect in your travels.  For such great ends did Herodotus, Pythagoras, and other sages, make voyages to Egypt, and every distant kingdom; and it is amazing how much their own countries were benefited by what those philosophers learned in their peregrinations.  Were it not that your ladyship is actuated by such public spirit, I could Put you in mind, Madam, of an old story that might save you a great deal of fatigue and danger-and now I think of it, as I have nothing better to fill my letter with, I will relate it to you.

Pyrrhus, the martial and magnanimous King of Epirus (as my Lord Lyttelton would call him), being, as I have heard or seen Goodman Plutarch say, intent on his preparations for invading Italy, Cineas, one of the grooms of his bedchamber, took the liberty of asking his majesty what benefit he expected to reap if he should be successful in conquering the Romans?—­Jesus! said the King, peevishly; why the question answers itself.  When we have overcome the Romans, no province, no town, whether Greek or barbarian, will be able to resist us:  we shall at once be masters of all Italy.  Cineas after a short pause replied, And having subdued Italy, what shall we do next?—­Do next? answered Pyrrhus; why, seize Sicily.  Very likely, quoth Cineas:  but will that put an end to the war?-The gods forbid! cried his Majesty:  when Sicily is reduced, Libya and Carthage will be within our reach.  And then, without giving Cineas time to put in a word, the heroic Prince ran over Africa, Greece, Asia, Persia, and every other country he had ever heard of upon the face of God’s earth; not one of which he intended should escape his victorious sword.  At last, when he was at the end of his geography, and a little out of breath, Cineas watched his opportunity, and said quietly, Well, Sire, and when we have conquered all the world, what are we to do then?—­Why, then, said his Majesty, extremely satisfied with his own prowess, we will live at our ease; we:  Will spend whole days in banqueting and carousing, and will think of nothing but our pleasures.

Now, Madam, for the application.  Had I had the honour a few years ago of being your confidential abigail, when you meditated a visit to Princess Esterhazi, I would have ventured to ask your ladyship of what advantage her acquaintance would be to you?  Probably you would have told me, that she would introduce you to several electresses and margravines, whose courts you would visit.  That having conquered all their hearts, as I am persuaded you would, your next jaunt would be to Hesse; from whence it would be but a trip to Aix, where Madame de Rochouart lives.  Soaring from thence you Would repair to the Imperial