s are warrants to
us in all things else; and the case of conscience is determined, if the
command be evident and pressing: and it is certain, the action that is
but indifferent and without reward, if done only upon our own choice, is
an action of duty and of religion, and rewardable by the grace and
favour of God, if done in obedience to the command of our superiors."

Little and Great Brickhill, where Temple is to receive a letter from
Dorothy, kindly favoured by Mr. Gibson, stand due west of Chicksands
some seventeen miles, and about forty-six miles along the high-road from
London to Chester. Temple would probably arrange to stay there, receive
Dorothy's letter, and send one in return.

Dorothy has apparently tired of Calprenede and Scuderi, of _Cleopatre_
and _Cyrus_, and has turned to travels to amuse her. Fernando Mendez
Pinto did, I believe, actually visit China, and is said to have landed
in the Gulf of Pekin. What he writes of China seems to bear some
resemblance to what later writers have said. It is hard to say how and
where his conversations with the Chinese were carried on, as he himself
admits that he did not understand one word of the language.

Lady Grey's sister, Mrs. Pooley, is unknown to history. Of Mr. Fish we
know, as has already been said, nothing more than that he was Dorothy's
lover, and a native of Bedfordshire, probably her near neighbour. James
B---- must be another lover, and he is altogether untraceable. Mrs.
Goldsmith is, as you will remember, wife of the Vicar of Campton. The
Valentine stories will date this letter for us as written in the latter
half of February.

SIR,--They say you gave order for this waste-paper; how do you think I
could ever fill it, or with what? I am not always in the humour to
wrangle and dispute. For example now, I had rather agree to what you
say, than tell you that Dr. Taylor (whose devote you must know I am)
says there is a great advantage to be gained in resigning up one's will
to the command of another, because the same action which in itself is
wholly indifferent, if done upon our own choice, becomes an act of duty
and religion if done in obedience to the command of any person whom
nature, the laws, or ourselves have given a power over us; so that
though in an action already done we can only be our own judges, because
we only know with what intentions it was done, yet in any we intend,
'tis safest, sure, to take the advice of another. Let me practise this