abundance than any other nation under the sun.  The learned Sotus, as sparing as he is in his words, would be still more silent if it were not for this powder.  But however low and poor the taking snuff argues a man to be in his own stock of thought, or means to employ his brains and his fingers, yet there is a poorer creature in the world than he, and this is a borrower of snuff; a fellow that keeps no box of his own, but is always asking others for a pinch.  Such poor rogues put me always in mind of a common phrase among schoolboys when they are composing their exercise, who run to an upper scholar, and cry, “Pray give me a little sense.”  But of all things, commend me to the ladies who are got into this pretty help to discourse.[355] I have been this three years persuading Sagissa[356] to leave it off; but she talks so much, and is so learned, that she is above contradiction.  However, an accident the other day brought that about, which my eloquence never could accomplish:  she had a very pretty fellow in her closet, who ran thither to avoid some company that came to visit her.  She made an excuse to go in to him for some implement they were talking of.  Her eager gallant snatched a kiss; but being unused to snuff, some grains from off her upper lip made him sneeze aloud, which alarmed the visitants, and has made a discovery, that profound reading, very much intelligence, and a general knowledge of who and who’s together, cannot fill up her vacant hours so much, but that she is sometimes obliged to descend to entertainments less intellectual.

White’s Chocolate-house, June 29.

I know no manner of news for this place, but that Cynthio, having been long in despair for the inexorable Clarissa, lately resolved to fall in love the good old way of bargain and sale, and has pitched upon a very agreeable young woman.[357] He will undoubtedly succeed; for he accosts her in a strain of familiarity, without breaking through the deference that is due to woman whom a man would choose for his life.  I have hardly ever heard rough truth spoken with a better grace than in this his letter.[358]

“MADAM,

“I writ to you on Saturday by Mrs. Lucy, and give you this trouble to urge the same request I made then, which was, that I may be admitted to wait upon you.  I should be very far from desiring this, if it were a transgression of the most severe rules to allow it:  I know you are very much above the little arts which are frequent in your sex, of giving unnecessary torments to their admirers; therefore hope, you’ll do so much justice to the generous passion I have for you, as to let me have an opportunity of acquainting you upon what motives I pretend to your good opinion.  I shall not trouble you with my sentiments, till I know how they will be received; and as I know no reason why difference of sex should make our language to each other differ from the ordinary rules of right reason, I shall affect plainness and sincerity in my discourse to you, as much as other