Were the Gentlewoman one of no more than common Circumstances, yett might she expect here to be honourably and comfortably treated; but how much more, when he shall have the sense of all the World concurring with his own, that she is a Gentlewoman of Endowments and Endearments, exceeding what can any where else be mett withal!

Madam, The person, to whom you have done the Honour of admitting him sometimes to your Tea-table, has that high opinion of your wisdome, that he hopes never to be guilty of taking a step, which may not have your Approbation.

He will entirely wait the Allowances of your wisdome, for the more finishing strokes of the Conversation which has been begun, and will press for no public Appearance, or proceedure, that you shall judge unseasonable.

Nevertheless, He begs your Leave, that it may not be thought too soon for him to tell you, that your bright Accomplishments, your shining Piety, your polite Education, your superiour Capacity, and a most refined Sense, and incomparable sweetness of Temper, together with a constellation of all the perfections that he can desire see related unto him, have made a vast Impression upon him.

If ever he should be so inexpressibly happy, as to enjoy you, he could not but receive you, as a wondrous Gift of God unto him; a Token that the unworthiest of Men, had yett obtained Favour of the Lord.

Such an Idea, he has conceived of you, that every Thing you shall be or say or do, will forever please him; and the pleasing of you, will be his continual study and Rapture.

His Tenderness for you, will be the Effect not only of the natural Sense he must have of your Merits, or of a Disposition in him alwayes to oblige; But also, of a strong Apprehension he will be ever under the Power of, that the more of Love and of Goodness he shall express in his carriage to you, the more his conformity to his Great Saviour will be Exhibited.

It will be yett augmented, by the strange and kind Providence of God, which has been at work, to bring about what is proposed. Especially the Answers of prayers, which alwayes bring Blessings with them.

Truly, Madam, as it happens, that the Gentleman is one, whom the Eyes of all the Countrey, and many more, are much upon, so the General Vote and Voice of the Countrey has been that way, which he is now agoing. His purposes (which [ ] have eagerly

waited for) are already a common subject of Discourse; but with universal satisfaction. Especially among the more praying people, whereof there have been many concerned for him, and those now begin their praises for the prospect which they have of a precious Harvest.

I know not what is in the enclosed Letter; but, I beleeve, it may be something of such a Tendency; tis from a Mother and Sister of yours, and one of the best of Women.1

What remains, is, to entreat, that it may be no offence unto you Madam, if hereafter, I may take the Liberty to speak unto you, such Things as I have now written, and that such Talk in our Interviews may not be grievous to you, as will be an unspeakable satisfaction to, madam, Your most affectionate serv't.

MEMORANDUM.

21 d. 1 m. [March.] 1715.2

In the Evening. After some words of decent Respect unto Mrs. G[eorge] she said, she had thought fitt, to have one Interview alone with me, that I might fully know her Mind, about the matter I had propos'd unto her.

She remonstrated the Reproach that she had suffered in the Talk of people, about that affair; And therefore she thought it time, to lett me know her Desire, that she might hear no more of it, and that I would speak and think no more of it.

She said, there were other persons that would be more agreeable to me; and in whom the prayers of many good people for me, would be more likely to be answered.

She gave me to understand, that if it were not for a Regard she had unto my Character as a Minister, she should forbid my ever making any more Visits unto her. She said, my Visits would have been a consolation and satisfaction unto her, if I had mentioned nothing of this affair.

But she peremptorily forbad my writing any more Letters unto her.

She many times insisted on it, that, I would say to all persons, As for the matter talk'd of, there is nothing in it.

1 The will of Rev. Samuel Lee (Waters, Genealogical Gleanings in England, 470) mentions wife Martha, and four daughters, but Mather may have referred to Mrs. George.

2 That is, 1714-15, as he was married in July, 1715.

I offered, that I would say to all persons, Tis a matter which Madam is not at present disposed to hear of.

She then said; But people will say, why does she entertain him? if she have no purpose hereafter to allow of his Intentions? This she express'd herself desirous, that there should be left no occasion for.

I represented unto her, some fatal consequences likely to follow on this Conduct. But she would not admitt any Apprehension of them.

The conversation lasted for several Hours. On my Part, it was as calm, and as pertinent, and as obliging, as my dull Witts could render it. With as full answers as could be made unto the Things that were objected unto me; and just Reasons for every step of my Conduct.

At last I said; Madam, To give you a full Testimony of my Honour and Esteem for you, my Satisfaction shall be entirely sacrificed unto yours. She answered; Say, and Hold.

Wednesday, 23 d. 1 m. [March. 1714-15.]

SIR, Tis with a grateful surprise that I reflect upon it, that one so much a stranger and so lately arrived as he to whom I am now applying myself should be admitted into such an intimate Acquaintance with us and with our most important and reserved affaires. But since the divine providence has brought you into Circumstances of so much Friendship and Freedom with us, I take the Liberty of entreating you do your good office, wherein this letter terminates.

The best of Women having in express and severe Terms repeted her prohibition, that the Hand which now writes, (and which has written some few things in its time that have been of a little use to others,) should at all write unto her, I am under a Necessity of writing to you, what I desire she may be acquainted withal.

A worthy Relative of hers, just now gives me to understand, that nothing will satisfy her, but such a conduct in me, as will put a total stop, unto the Discourse of the people, about my Intentions to pursue a Reception with her. And he seems to be of the Opinion, that the Method I am now taking, is the most proper that can be taken.

For my past Conduct, I thought, I follow'd such Advice, as would præscribe no wrong measures to me; But I perceive I have hitherto done just nothing that is Right. And it is a killing thing to me, to think, that I have been led into Steps, that have been so very offen

sive, and have occasion'd so much Trouble, to a person for whom I must alwayes have so great a veneration.

Some of my Last Words to her were, That I would Sacrifice all my satisfaction unto hers. And I know not how tis possible for me, to give a fuller Demonstration of my vast value for her, than by saying it over again, and keeping her charge unto me upon it, Say and hold!

Wherefore, tho' the Earth could not afford me a greater pleasure, than her most agreeable Conversation; and I envy you, the Fœlicity that you enjoy in it; yett I will totally Deny myself of it, for as many Months, as her Wisdome, to which I pay all the Deference imaginable, shall order me.

You were proposing to me, one Interview more, with our Incomparable Friend. But, this will prove, perhaps, to both of us a Disadvantage.

First, to her. Because, it will be impossible for me to come there unobserved; And the Least observation of my being there, will keep alive the Talk, which gives her so much uneasiness. And I cannot be guilty of any thing that shall have any Tendency to make her uneasy; tho' I never so much cross my own Inclinations in forbearing it.

Secondly, to me. Because as I gather from what I just now meet withal I cannot but expect from her, over again such afflicting passages, as I receiv'd when I last waited on her.

And I must from Experience confess unto you, my weakness to be such, that they will make too deep an Impression upon me; My tender Spirit and Health will suffer so much, and I shall be so unhinged for my Employments, which are what they are, by wounds from an Hand, I so much admire, that I am lothe to have them renew'd upon me.

If the people, that are to govern us, knew, how cold a Reception I have hitherto had, and what a perpetual care Madam has used in all her Expressions to discountenance any thing that I might hereafter propose relating to her, and how she did at last, when I came to speak more plainly, as plainly signify her wish that I would come no more; there would be no room left for the Censures whereof she is afraid. It would indeed be sufficiently for my Dishonour, if this ever come unto their Knowledge. (whereof, I hope, I shall be very patient.) But, it is enough, that I omitt the Visits, which are, thought so obnoxious to misconstruction. And that I say no more than this to my Friends; That Gentlewoman is too discreet, to allow of any unseasonable overtures.

What I have to request of you is to assure, that excellent Person, that my Resolutions to keep out of sight, (even until those two very precious Friends to both of us, Mr. C. and Mr. B. whose Good will to me I very much value myself, and unto whose Prudence, I can entirely refer myself, shall direct me to do otherwise,) oppress my own mind with violence, which could be well born, by none but one of my Age and one so much used unto Sacrifices; But they are formed meerly to gratify her; whom I can undergo anything to oblige, even while I have never yett received one favourable word or Look from her; and it may be naturally inferr'd, how much more I should do so, if ever any thing Reciprocal should invite unto it.

And then, give her Assurance of this also; that my vast Regards for her will continue inviolable. She may depend upon it, (tho I know not, whether a total Deliverance from me, would not make her yett more easy,) that I can by no means lay aside those vast Respects but must renew my Endeavours one Day, to make her yett more sensible of them.

However, to be free with you, I have strong Apprehensions, That my dying Hour will Intervene, which, oh! join with me, in my praises to our dear Saviour for it, I often even long for, and hope it will be the best Hour that ever I saw. I leave all with Him, and am, Sir, Your affectionate Brother and Servt.

To MRS. LYDIA GEORGE?

A.A.S.

My - (Inexpressible!) I am a fraid you been't well, because my Head has aked pretty much this Afternoon.

The pain of my Heart, will be much greater than that of my Head, if it be really so.

But I imagine, you are growing well, because my Headake is going off.

Your Little Daughter waits upon you, to bring me the agreeable satisfaction.1

May you tomorrow, (and praeparatory to it,) have sweet Interviews, with Him, whom your soul Loveth!

What is He, more than any other Beloved! O infinitely more! All others, pretenders in your esteem and I among the rest, are black and base and vile things, yea, and the brightest Angels in Heaven,

1 The only child of John and Lydia George was named Katherine, who married, August 11, 1708, Nathan Howell, and had two children, both sons, when this letter was written. Your little daughter" was, therefore, hardly applicable to her.