I do not feel myself inclined to enter into an argument with you, upon the subject of your Letter, for two reasons; first, because I half beleive your doctrine, and secondly, because a Reason must yield to experience. Facts (as a Lawyer once said) are stubborn things, and as you can produce many instances of unwearied attention proving, at last, successful, I should be very wrong in hazarding my reputation, as a Logician, in a dispute, which must certainly be determined in your favor. Rochefoucault, I observe, in the maxim you have quoted, admits of a few exceptions, but you have gone further than that accurate observer of Mankind, and have made a general Rule of his particular, and (if I mistake not) from an expirience of its infallibility. After this what can I say, but that you are a happy—a fortunate Man.

It is a sentiment of Pope, I believe, that “The Woman who deliberates is lost,” and it is a general opinion, That Persons, who depend too much upon their own strength, are in the most danger—If this was the Case with a certain person, I should have a better prospect of success—but she seems sensible of the weakness of her sex—absolutely forbids little innocent Liberties, and justifies her conduct upon a principle, of the contrary’s being dangerous with a Person under the same Roof, and then puts me in mind of the sacred rights of Hospitality.—An appeal to Honor is hard to be put by; and so much I respect the rights just mentioned, that I could not be brought to violate them but with the greatest reluctance. You will excuse this Egotism, which is something like what Chesterfield calls confessing one’s-self into all the cardinal Virtues—It may perhaps be Vanity, which leads me to seek for excuses for a, I had almost said, foreseen defeat; but however I shall follow your directions, ’till I am assured that these fine speeches are not pretence, and that she is really, what she appears to be. As soon as I find that, I will yield her up the Victory, convinced that France is at least possessed of one honest Woman.

You mention the Bald Head & Tail Countess who honors Foulke with the appellation of mon Fils, as she is a Personnage I know nothing of, at least by that name, I should be extremely obliged to you for an explanation—if she is fond of the sport F. is every way worthy of her Esteem. You I suppose are more honestly engaged in comforting the married Ladies, of your acquaintance, who ought certainly to be obliged to you for your attatchment to them.—

I return you many Thanks for your Care of Mr Williams Letter, and assure you, that no appology was necessary for the detention—When you write him I shall be extremely obliged to you if you will make him my compliments, and inform him, that I have a proper sense of his Kindness, as well as of his very polite offer, and that I shall endeavour to merit a continuance of his Esteem.

I have taken the Liberty to enclose a Letter for Foulke, as I imagine he did not get the former. I have taken notice of your Emblem which, I agree with you, is proper to be imitated in all my Pursuits—I have in return sent you my Device, which with the Motto of Meliora speramus is an encouragment to Perseverance. Your remark that, Of all the Masters of a Language a Mistress is the best is certainly good, and like your other maxims, I suppose, veryfied by experience.

I am, my dear Franklin, with Compliments to your Grandfather—the rest of your Family and the Gentleman of my acquaintance Your assured and obliged Friend