Excerpt from The British Essayists, Vol. 31: With Prefaces, Historical and Biographical Mrs. Williams is in every thing candour itself. Indeed, she never feels any thing which she would wish to conceal. Her good sense makes her always fix on her plan of conduct with firmness and as She is not perplexed with any difficulties, nor encumbered with 'any doubts about its being right, She always takes the direct road to accomplish the end She has in view. Upon the'whole, Mrs. Williams is more respectable than many who seem formed to command more respect, and happier than many who seem to have more avenues for happiness. Mrs. Hambden possesses a mind of a much supe rior order to that of Mrs. Williams. She is, indeed, one of the most accomplished women I ever knew. With an uncommon portion of acuteness and discern ment, she possesses the highest degree of taste and refinement. Her conversation is ever animated and ever improving; and a delicate sense of virtue, as well as a warmth of sensibility, which runs through every thing she says, creates an attachment to her, and gives to her discourse (to use an expression of Sir William Temple's) that race, without which, dis course as well as wine is insipid. Intimately ac quainted with human nature, she possesses the quick est discernment and the truest knowledge of every character that comes within her observation; and yet, from a native generosity of mind, She is ever willing to make allowance for the weaknesses or fol lies oi others. With such accomplishments, and so much worth, it is natural to suppose that Mrs Hambden will exhibit, in every part of her conduct,4 the lounger. 52. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.