LETTER XCVI.96.

　　To Colonel Rivers, at Quebec.

　　Pall Mall, January 3.

　　I have but a moment, my dear Ned, to tell you, that without so much as asking your leave, and in spite of all your wise admonitions, your lovely sister has this morning consented to make me the happiest of mankind: to-morrow gives me all that is excellent and charming in woman.

　　You are to look on my writing this letter as the strongest proof I ever did, or ever can give you of my friendship.I must love you with no common affection to remember at this moment that there is such a man in being: perhaps you owe this recollection only to your being brother to the loveliest woman nature ever formed; whose charms in a month have done more towards my conversion than seven years of your preaching would have done.I am going back to Clarges Street.Adieu!

　　Yours, &c.

　　John Temple. The History of Emily Montague