Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1858-03-24
An Amusing Old Letter.

The following letter from Mrs Elizabeth
Montague to the Duchess Of Portland, was
w:::tt--en in l73S-more than hundred years
ago It contains vigacty and sparkle not
usual even in those days Of Hit ana good-hC-
NOR
MADAM Your grace's very entertain
ing letter was sent to ne at Sir Wyndham
knatchbull's, where I have been about three
weeks, aud propose returning to Mount Nor
ris in few days. ] am as angry as dare
be with your grace, that you did rot scai
any account of those charming fireworks.
which fancy were the prcttiest things imag-
Unable. | very much approve your love of
variety in trihes, and constancy in things of
greater moment. l think sou have great
reason TO call exchange robbery, though the
common saying is to the contrary For my
part, who never PAW one man that l loved, |
| scarce imagine l could be fo1.d OF dozen,
and come to that unreasonableneas SO ridicu-
! lously set forth in 'HyppoIto, in the TEN
pest At present | seldom like above six or
! eight at a time [ fancy IN matrimopy one
finds variety in one, in the charming vjcissi-
! tudes of
! Sometimes my plague, sometimes my darling,
| kissing to-day, tomorrow snar,ing.'
Then the surprising aud sudden transfOrma-
ton Of the obsequious and obedient lover to
the graceful haughtiness and imperiousness
! of the commanding husband, must be so
! agreeable q metamorphosis as Is not to be
equaled in all Ovid's collection. where l DO
not remember lambs being converted into
a bear. Your grace is much to be Pitied,
who has never known the varieties | mention
but has found all the sincerity Of friendship
and complaceney of lover, in the same per-
son; and | am sure my lord duke is most
miserable man, who has found one person
who has taken away that passion for change,
which is the boast and happiness of 50 many
people. Pray tell my Lord DuppIin that
never heard of a viscount that was prophe
in my life | assure you | am not going t.
tie the fast knot you mention. Whenever
have any thoughts OF it, shall acquaint YOU
grace with it. and send you description o
the gentleman, with his good qualities an'
faults in full length. st present l viii tel
| YOU what kind of man | desire, which
above ten times as good as | deserve 70
4 gratitude is a great virtue, and | would hav
D cause to be thankful He should have
: great deal of sense aud prudence to direC
5 and instruct me, much wit to divert me, beau
t ty to please me, socd-humcr TO indulge III
y in the right, and reproye me gently when
. am wrong; money enough to afford me MOI
A than can want and as much as can wish
S and constancy to like me as long as oth'
C people do-that is.still my face is wrinkle
& by age, or SCARED by the small-pox-and a
d ter that 1 shall expect only civility in II
room of love, for, as Mrs. Give sings
All hope Of mortal man,
Is to love me whilst he can
When I can meet all these things in m'
= above the trivial consideration of money, "
r may expect to hear that | am going to cham
,s the easy tranquility of mind | enjoy at pre-
,e ent, for prospect of happiness for a
,e like Pygmalion. in love with picture of II
a. own drawing but never saw an origin
as like it in my life. | hope, when do, sha
n as some poet says, find the statue warm.
s. am, madam, your most obedient humble Sc
~ want, ELIz. RoBIAsoS. :"