TO MRS. LUCY SUMNER.
Hartford.

I begin to hope we &longs;hall come to
rights here, by and by. Major Sanford has
returned; has made us a vi&longs;it; and a treaty
of peace, and amity (but not of commerce,)
is ratified.

Eliza appears to be rapidly returning to her
former cheerfulne&longs;s, if not gaity. I hope &longs;he
will not diverge too far from her pre&longs;ent sedateness
and &longs;olidity; yet I am not without apprehensions
of danger, on that &longs;core. One
extreme commonly &longs;ucceeds another. She
tells me, that &longs;he a&longs;&longs;iduou&longs;ly cultivates her natural
vivacity; that &longs;he finds her ta&longs;te for company
and amu&longs;ements increa&longs;ing; that &longs;he
dreads being alone, becau&longs;e pa&longs;t &longs;cenes ari&longs;e to
view which vex and di&longs;compo&longs;e her.

The&longs;e are indications of a mind not perfectly
right. I flatter my&longs;elf, however, that the
time is not far di&longs;tant, when her pa&longs;&longs;ions will
vibrate with regularity.

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I need not repeat to you any thing relative
to Major Sanford's conciliatory vi&longs;it. Eliza
has given you a particular, and I believe, a
faithful detail. I was called down to &longs;ee this
wonderful man; and di&longs;liked him exceedingly.
I am a&longs;toni&longs;hed that Eliza's penetrating
eye, has not long &longs;ince read his vices in his very
countenance. I am told by a friend, who
has vi&longs;ited them, that he has an agreeable
wife; and I wi&longs;h &longs;he may find him a hu&longs;band
of the &longs;ame de&longs;cription; but I very much
doubt the accompli&longs;hment of my wi&longs;h. For I
have no charity for the&longs;e reformed rakes.

We were walking abroad the other afternoon,
and met Major Sanford and lady.
Eliza did not &longs;ee them till they were very near
us. She &longs;tarted, turned pale, and then colored
like crim&longs;on. I cannot but think, a little
envy rankled in her heart. Major Sanford
very politely acco&longs;ted us; and congratulated
Mrs. Sanford on this opportunity of introducing
her to a particular friend; pre&longs;enting
Eliza. She received her with an ea&longs;y dignity,
and bid her welcome to this part of the country.
Mrs. Sanford an&longs;wered her mode&longs;tly;
hoped for the plea&longs;ure of a further acquaintance;
and urged us, as we were not far from
their hou&longs;e, to return with them to tea. We
declined; and, wi&longs;hing each other a good evening,
parted. Major Sanford's eyes were rivetted
on Eliza, the whole time we were together;

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and he &longs;eemed loath to remove them, when
we &longs;eparated. I &longs;u&longs;pect there is &longs;ome truth
in his tale of love. I &longs;hall therefore di&longs;courage
Eliza from a&longs;&longs;ociating with him under any
pretext whatever. She appeared more pensive
and thoughtful than common, as we returned
home; and &longs;aid little the re&longs;t of the
evening; but next morning was as chatty as
ever.

She is warm in the prai&longs;es of Mrs. Sanford,
thinks her an accompli&longs;hed woman, and wonders
that the major could &longs;ugge&longs;t an idea of
marrying her for her money. She intends,
&longs;he &longs;ays, to vi&longs;it her &longs;oon; and wi&longs;hes me
to accompany her. This, for her own &longs;ake,
I &longs;hall defer, as long as po&longs;&longs;ible.

I am, &c.

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