TO MRS. LUCY SUMNER.
Hartford.

By Julia's advice, we have neglected
the repeated invitations of Major Sanford, to
vi&longs;it and commence neighborhood with them,
till ye&longs;terday; when we received a polite
billet, reque&longs;ting the honor of our company
to dine. My mamma declined going; but
&longs;aid &longs;he had no objection to our compliance
with the me&longs;&longs;age, if we thought proper. Julia
and I accordingly went. We found a large
company a&longs;&longs;embled in a &longs;pacious hall, splendidly
furni&longs;hed and decorated. They were
all very polite and attentive to me; but none
more &longs;o than Major Sanford and his lady,
who jointly &longs;trove to di&longs;&longs;ipate the pen&longs;ivene&longs;s
of my mind, which I found it impo&longs;&longs;ible to
conceal. When we were &longs;ummoned to dinner,
the major being near me, offered his
hand, and leading me into the dining room,
&longs;eated me at a table furni&longs;hed with all the variety
which could plea&longs;e the eye, or regale the

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ta&longs;te of the mo&longs;t luxurious epicure. The
conver&longs;ation turned on various &longs;ubjects, literary,
political, and mi&longs;cellaneous. In the evening
we had a ball. Major Sanford gave the
hand of his wife to a Mr. Grey, alledging that
he was a &longs;tranger, and therefore, entitled to
particular attention; and then &longs;olicited mine
for him&longs;elf. I was on the point of refu&longs;ing
him, but recollecting that it might have the
appearance of continued re&longs;entment, contrary
to my declaration of forgiving what was
pa&longs;t, I complied. He was all kindne&longs;s, and
a&longs;&longs;iduity; the more &longs;o, I imagine, with a view
to make amends for his former ingratitude
and neglect. Tenderne&longs;s is now peculiarly
&longs;oothing to my wounded heart. He took an
opportunity of conver&longs;ing with his wife and
me together; hoped &longs;he would be honored
with my friend&longs;hip, and acquaintance; and
begged, for her &longs;ake, that I would not be a
&longs;tranger at his hou&longs;e. His Nancy, he &longs;aid,
was far removed from her maternal friends;
but I could &longs;upply their place, if I would generously
undertake the ta&longs;k. She joined in expressing
the &longs;ame &longs;entiments and wi&longs;hes.
Alas! Sir, &longs;aid I, Eliza Wharton is not now
what &longs;he once was! I labor under a depre&longs;&longs;ion
of &longs;pirits, which mu&longs;t render my company
rather painful than plea&longs;ing to my friends.
The idea of what I had been, contra&longs;ted
with what I then was, touched my &longs;en&longs;ibility;

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and I could not re&longs;train the too officious tear
from &longs;tealing down my cheek. He took me
by the hand, and &longs;aid, you di&longs;tre&longs;s me, Mi&longs;s
Wharton, indeed, you di&longs;tre&longs;s me! Happine&longs;s
mu&longs;t, and &longs;hall attend you! Cur&longs;ed be the
wretch, who could wound a heart like your's!

Julia Granby now joined us. An inquisitive
concern was vi&longs;ible in her countenance.

I related this conver&longs;ation to her, after we
returned home; but &longs;he approved it not.

She thought Major Sanford too particularly
attentive to me, con&longs;idering what had previously
happened. She &longs;aid it would be noticed
by others, and the world would make unfavorable
remarks upon any appearance of intimacy
between us. I care not for that, &longs;aid
I. It is an ill-natured, misjudging world;
and I am not obliged to &longs;acrifice my friends
to its opinion. Were Major Sanford a &longs;ingle
man I &longs;hould avoid his &longs;ociety; but &longs;ince he
is married; &longs;ince his wife is young, beautiful
and lovely, he can have no temptation to injure
me. I therefore &longs;ee no evil, which can
ari&longs;e from the cultivation of friend&longs;hip with
her, at lea&longs;t. I reli&longs;h company &longs;o little, that
I may &longs;urely be indulged in &longs;electing that
which is mo&longs;t agreeable to my ta&longs;te, to prevent
my becoming quite a mi&longs;anthrope.

I thank you, my dear Mrs. Sumner, for your
kind letter. It was a &longs;ea&longs;onable cordial to my
mind; and I will endeavor to profit by your
advice.

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Your remarks on the public entertainments
are amu&longs;ing, and as far as I am a judge, perfectly
ju&longs;t.

I think it a pity they have not female managers
for the theatre. I believe it would be
under much better regulations, than at present.

With cordial re&longs;pects to Mr. Sumner, I subscribe
my&longs;elf, yours in &longs;incerity,

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