IN my last to you I gave you an account of the succession of our Af­fairs here, without omition; nor am I unsensible (however you please to think me) of your Qualification; that is, I know you so exact a Mistris of your affections, that you sleep not without counselling your Table-Book or Diary; this known to me, forces me to an ill opi­nion, and that a worse, which is, that either you have nothing worth communicating, or that you have forgot that knack of friendship and commerce which keeps the World in business; but I will not persist this way, the Town I hope will never want Community, though the Court be distant, and to suspect you were a sin that I shall never be guilty of. I have nothing that's new to send you, onely some few Remarks of my own; Our Court is a continued Scene of joy and pleasure; not prescribed by time of day or night, for they are one, and are but used as other Masque­ing Robes in the Great Balls; the Day in Grottoes, shady Springs and Bowers, they sit like Venus Doves, Billing and Cooing; till envying Jove, who cannot court so well, though he should do it with a Golden Showre, talks loud, and with repeated Thunder frights the soft fair one closer to his arms; the trembling Prey, with Eyes half bent, and Heart and Breast all throbbing, looks in his face; the Youth, though no contemner of a Deity, offers protection, and yet closer, takes the Charmer.

The night is another Act of the same Scene, yet no intire Broben Scene, as your Neighbour said his last Act was; not like that of Poet Bayse, for this is all love and intriegue, without sleeping or frighting. Here might indeed be Usurping, but that here is more Collonies than Conquerers; but for Seranading, as Fidling, Dancing, and fat Singing. Augustus kept his Court in Greece Land in Winter time compared to us, yet with such Dicorum, that Guards nor no one is disturbed, no Bravades, no Marter­ers of Glass; none of those Copper-Captains here, Gold is thought too base, to take the Impression of the God of Love; so Hearts for Hearts exchange, and only leave the Guinney-Slaves in Hostage for the League they have concluded. Indeed Madam, I cannot give you the character of any one intreague, and not lessen it; all things are manag'd to your ad­vantage, that sure some God directs in each affair, onely your Friend and mine, pritty Miss Lay-Cock, is almost dead of a Cold, occasioned (my Lord imagines) by her rising to hear and see the Serenaders; but she is mighti­ly disturb'd with it, her Shoulders, Arms, especially her Head and Throat, and what is most observable, when she is on a Bed, let my Lord do all he can, she does not sleep for pain; Album Greebium has been used, and the foot of her Stocking; but that is not the Remedy; you are desired by her to take the old Lodging for her and my Lord at Doctor R— in Long-Acre, the fine ayr and ill Wine has brought a flushing in my Lords face, which she indeavouring to take off with a Mercurial Water, turns to a dry Scurf; Dear Madam, if your face burn'd last night you must par­don us, we were together a knot of excellent Company, and your name was not the least in use amongst us: Old Mr. T— came to see Madam F—, and brought along with him one Sir D—, a Gentleman of great Ignorance, yet very inquisitive, and as ceremonious as a French-Taylor, or a Country Dancing-Master, and so over-civil, that he would not put on his Hat till the Lady had drank her Glass off; Master T— partly tyred with the formalities of the Esq and partly to leave him to the management of the Lady, pretends private business with me, and takes me into the next Room, from whence we had the conveniency both to see and hear what there was acted after a little pause, as playing with his Hat, looking at his Feet, and scratching his Head, he starts up, and boldly ask­ed her what a Clock it was, and at the same time (because he would not take her word) pull'd from his Pocket a Gold Watch, which she so prittily commended, that the Esq had sence enough (with a great sigh) to say, It was at her service; which she graciously accepted, and from her Arm took a Bracelet of Pomander and presented the Squire; See (said she) it is not in my nature to be ungrateful, nor in my power to shew the bounty of it; so tying it on his Arm, offered to have kist his Hand, which he preven­ted, falling on his knee; The Gods forbid, said he, that the Son of a Dotrel by the Father, and Trebubble by the Mother, should permit such Worship; no, Madam, let me pay it here; So taking up the Martins-Lane, he Kist and blusht, and blusht and kist so hard, that had it been flesh and Blood, it [Page 3]might have Sworn a Rape against him. What else past that night I leave you to judge, but I think that she's a happy Woman that has a fine Estate and a Fool to manage, there's one provided for, which I am heartily glad of, though my care must be the greater: Heaven they say, provides for the Lame and the Lazy, but I am sure I might have starv'd but for my own In­dustry; but I know in case of necessity, she's more Genteele then to de­ny to see a Gentleman that's my Friend, however, our time here is very short, New-Market's comming on, I cannot help my Ambition, I must fol­low the Court, though I protest, a penny's better and easier got amongst the honest Citizens, with less noise, less care, and more security, nay, the the world is come to that pass, that if a Gentleman send his Foot-man with express command for such a Lady, the sawcy Rascal will see all, ex­amine their Linnen, see their Breasts and Teeth, smell their Breaths; nay, some must know whether their Bellies are not wrinkled, and Page must be deny'd nothing, because Forsooth, a great Courtier has that priviledge. Indeed Madam I am weary, and would leave it off, but that I am sure they would say I am grown Whiggish, therefore since I cannot leave it off with my Credit: Pray make it your business against the time, to provide what new Faces you can, and if you can, think of something, if possible, to out-doe that Cutting at New-Market; if there be a Penny to be got honestly, why not we? I have spoke to Mr. C— the Tarter, to help you with 20 of his Coulen de Feile, and pray deliver one to each of them, those that cannot Read may study the Posture, which if well done, will look better than a Feather you know where. Dear Madam, assist my poor Husband in what you can, I understand that a parcel of Hectoring Roy­sters, came at an unseasonable hour, when a woman could not be got for Love nor Money, and only because the house was unprovided at that time, broke my windows and his Pate, for pretending to keep a Bawdy-house and having never a whore in it; but I know not how this can be justified, they were not Ignorant where I was. But as to our business at New-Market, now I think on't, 'tis Bartholomew-Fair time, and for those women I spoke of, you cannot furnish your self better then out of the Bell-Conies, many of them Dance well, and have a pritty way of Sing­ing, I know not whether they understand Catting or no, but if you do not provide for them they will go naked within this two months. Par­don me Madam, that I prescribe Rules to one so absolute, one that has Pit-B [...]xt and Gallared from your Infancy; one that knows more names than I do faces, but I presume because you can forgive, which is the best excuse at this time I can offer: This with the rest we must be sure to have, one strong Dockt Third Rate, one that has Courage, no matter for his Beauty and Crape, it's good enough; the Guard must be Courted some­times a good Tossing before-hand; have a care of a Pin-Buttock, a Bar­bary never becomes a Portmantle for Coach-men, Grooms, Foot-men, and Postilions, we'l fit our selves at Sturbridge, but for the Serving-men, those Jucetos of their Masters, those Autum Butter-flies with May-wings, Gentlemen of the Shedrew and Cravat-string, those and the Genteele Pages, will be content with nothing under a Sopp in the pan. Madam, I am sure the House that I have taken has conveniency enough for all these, and question not but with our endeavours, to make a bet­ter time on't then the last, New Faces will be the onely thing: [Page 4]I protest, I was forced to pass one Woman by Three several names to one Man; this was a great deal of confidence, Madam, but I hope, so warn'd, you will provide better; you know who I have here, Druery-Lane, Covent-Garden, and thereabouts will furnish a larger Seragalio then we shall need; and truly, it is nothing but conscience to imploy them, poor Women! they have had a long Vacation. Pray Madam, let me have your answer by the next, and forget not the Rooms in Long-Acre, least they be taken up, for such Colds are infectious, and few escape them; which will obliege to your service for ever,