.
    But what, above All, I am charm'd with, is the amiable Good-nature of the
Author; who, I am convinc'd, has one of the best, and most generous Hearts, of
Mankind: because, mis-measuring other Minds, by His Own, he can draw Every
thing, to Perfection, but Wickedness. -- I became inextricably in Love with this
delightful Defect of his Malice; - for, I found it owing to an Excess in his
Honesty. Only observe, Sir, with what virtuous Reluctance he complies with the
Demands of his Story, when he stands in need of some blamable Characters. Tho'
his Judgment compels him to mark 'em with disagreeable Colourings, so that they
make an odious Appearance at first, He can't forbear, by an unexpected and
gradual Decline from Themselves, to soften and transmute all the Horror
conceiv'd for their Baseness, till we are arriv'd, through insensible Stages, at
an Inclination to forgive it intirely.
    I must venture to add, without mincing the matter, what I really believe, of
this Book. - It will live on, through Posterity, with such unbounded Extent of
Good Consequences, that Twenty Ages to come may be the Better and Wiser, for its
Influence. It will steal first, imperceptibly, into the Hearts of the Young and
the Tender: where It will afterwards guide and moderate their Reflections and
Resolves, when grown Older. And, so, a gradual moral Sunshine, of un-austere and
compassionate Virtue, shall break out upon the World, from this Trifle (for
such, I dare answer for the Author, His Modesty misguides him to think it). - No
Applause therefore can be too high, for such Merit. And, let me abominate the
contemptible Reserves of mean-spirited Men, who while they but hesitate their
Esteem, with Restraint, can be fluent and uncheck'd in their Envy. - In an Age
so deficient in Goodness, Every such Virtue, as That of this Author, is a
salutary Angel, in Sodom. And One who cou'd stoop to conceal, a Delight he
receives from the Worthy, wou'd be equally capable of submitting to an
Approbation of the Praise of the Wicked.
    I was thinking, just now, as I return'd from a Walk in the Snow, on that Old
Roman Policy, of Exemptions in Favour of Men, who had given a few, bodily,
Children to the Republick. - What superior Distinction ought our Country to find
(but
