t, that, they say, she is no
more moved than a statue with the affliction of a father and mother that
doted on her, and had placed the comfort of their lives in her
preferment. With all this is it not manifest to the whole world that Mr.
Blunt could not consider anything in this action but his own interest,
and that he makes her a very ill return for all her kindness; if he had
loved her truly he would have died rather than have been the occasion of
this misfortune to her. My cousin Franklin (as you observe very well)
may say fine things now she is warm in Moor Park, but she is very much
altered in her opinions since her marriage, if these be her own. She
left a gentleman, that I could name, whom she had much more of kindness
for than ever she had for Mr. Franklin, because his estate was less; and
upon the discovery of some letters that her mother intercepted, suffered
herself to be persuaded that twenty-three hundred pound a year was
better than twelve hundred, though with a person she loved; and has
recovered it so well, that you see she confesses there is nothing in her
condition she desires to alter at the charge of a wish. She's happier by
much than I shall ever be, but I do not envy her; may she long enjoy it,
and I an early and a quiet grave, free from the trouble of this busy
world, where all with passion pursue their own interests at their
neighbour's charges; where nobody is pleased but somebody complains
on't; and where 'tis impossible to be without giving and receiving
injuries.

You would know what I would be at, and how I intend to dispose of
myself. Alas! were I in my own disposal, you should come to my grave to
be resolved; but grief alone will not kill. All that I can say, then, is
that I resolve on nothing but to arm myself with patience, to resist
nothing that is laid upon me, nor struggle for what I have no hope to
get. I have no ends nor no designs, nor will my heart ever be capable of
any; but like a country wasted by a civil war, where two opposing
parties have disputed their right so long till they have made it worth
neither of their conquests, 'tis ruined and desolated by the long strife
within it to that degree as 'twill be useful to none,--nobody that knows
the condition 'tis in will think it worth the gaining, and I shall not
trouble anybody with it. No, really, if I may be permitted to desire
anything, it shall be only that I may injure nobody but myself,--I can
bear anything that reflects o