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in him, which he certainly hath not. although this latter is generally understood to be a mark of love, yet it is indeed nothing but affectation or ill judgment. It is true, he wants fo very few accomplishments, that you are in no great danger of erring on this fide; but my caution is occafioned by a lady of your acquaintance, married to a very valuable perfon, whom yet fhe is fo unfortunate as to be always commending for thofe perfections, to which he can leaft pretend.

I can give you no advice upon the article of expence; only I think, you ought to be well informed how much your hufband's revenue amounts to, and be fo good a computer, as to keep within it in that part of the management, which falls to your fhare; and not to put yourself in the number of those politick ladies, who think they gain a great point, when they have teazed their husbands to buy them a new equipage, a laced head, or a fine petticoat, without once confidering what long fcores remain unpaid to the butcher.

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I defire you will keep this letter in your cabinet, and often examine impartially

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your whole conduct by it: and fo God blefs you and make you a fair example to your fex, and a perpetual comfort to your husband and your parents. I am, with great truth and affection,

MADAM,

Your most faithful Friend,

and humble Servant.

THE

THE

WONDERFUL

WONDER

O F

WONDERS,

Τ'

'HERE is a certain perfon lately arrived at this city, whom it is very proper the world fhould be informed of. His character may perhaps be thought very inconfiftent, improbable, and unnatural; however I intend to draw it with the utmost regard to truth. This I am the better qualified to do, because he is a fort of dependant upon our family, and almost of the fame age; though I cannot directly fay, I have ever feen him. He is a native of this country, and hath lived long among us; but what appears wonderful, and hardly credible, was never seen before, by any mortal,

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It is true indeed, he always chufes the lowest place in company; and contrives it

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fo, to keep out of fight. It is reported however, that in his younger days he was frequently exposed to view, but always against his will, and was fure to smart for it.

As to his family, he came into the world a younger brother, being of fix children the fourth in order of (1) birth; of which the eldeft is now head of the house; the fecond and third carry arms ; but the two youngest are only footmen: fome indeed add, that he hath likewife a twin-brother, who lives over against him and keeps a (2) victualling-houfe; he hath the reputation to be a clofe, griping, Squeezing fellow; and that when his bags are full, he is often needy; yet when the fit takes him, as faft as he gets, he lets it fly.

When in office, no one dischargeth himfelf, or doth his business better. He hath fometimes ftrained hard for an honest livelihood; and never got a bit, till every body else had done.

One practice appears very blameable in him; that every morning he privately frequents unclean houses, where any modeft person would blush to be feen. And

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although this be generally known, yet the world, as cenforious as it is, hath been fo kind to overlook this infirmity in him. To deal impartially ; it must be granted, that he is too great a lover of himself, and very often confults his own ease at the expence of his best friends: but this is one of his blind-fides; and the best of men I fear are not without them.

He hath been conftituted by the higher powers in the station of receiver-general, in which employment fome have cenfured him for playing fast and loose. He is likewife overfeer of the golden mines; which he daily inspecteth, when his health will permit him.

He was long bred under a (3) master of arts, who inftilled good principles in him, but these were foon corrupted. I know not whether this deferves mention; that he is fo very capricious, as to take it for an equal affront to talk either of kissing or kicking him, which hath occafioned a thousand quarrels: however no body was ever so great a fufferer for faults, which he neither was, nor poffibly could be guilty of.

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