From Lady Davers to Mr. B.

My dearest Brother,

Altho’ I believe it is needless to put a Gentleman of your generous Spirit in mind of doing a worthy Action; yet, as I do not know whether you have thought of what I am going to hint to you, I cannot forbear a Line or two with regard to the good old Couple in Kent.

I am sure, if, for our Sins, God Almighty should take from us my incomparable Sister, (forgive me, my dear Brother, but to intimate what may be, altho’ I hourly pray, as her trying Minute approaches, that it will not) you will, for her sake, take care that her honest Parents have not the Loss of your Favour, to deepen the inconsolable one, they will have, in such a Case, of the best of Daughters.

I say, I am sure you will do as generously by them as ever: And I dare say, your sweet Pamela doubts it not: Yet as you know how sensible she is of every Favour done to them, it is the Countess's Opinion, and mine, and Lady Betty's too, that you give her this Assurance in some legal Way; for as she is naturally apprehensive, and thinks more of her Circumstance, than, for your sake, she chuses to express to you, it will be like a Cordial to her dutiful and grateful Heart; and I do not know, if it will not contribute, more than any one Thing, to make her go thro’ her Task with Ease and Safety.

I know how much your Heart is wrapp’d up in the dear Creature: And you are a worthy Brother, to let it be so!—You will excuse me therefore, I am sure, for this my Officiousness.

I have no Doubt that God will spare her to us, because, altho’ we may not be worthy of so much Excellence, yet we now all unite so gratefully to thank Him for such a worthy Relation, that I hope we shall not be depriv’d of an Example so necessary to us all.

I can have but one Fear; and that is, that, young as she is, she seems ripen’d for Glory; she seems to have liv’d long enough for herself. But for You, and for Us, that God will still spare her, shall be the hourly Prayer of,

My dear worthy Brother,

Your ever affectionate Sister,

B. Davers.