of fine china for the tea-table, enchased in gold, japan trunks,
fans, and many gallantries of the same nature. All the men of
quality at Vienna were spectators; but the ladies only had permission
to shoot, and the arch-duchess Amelia carried off the first prize. I
was very well pleased with having seen this entertainment, and I do
not know but it might make as good a figure as the prize-shooting in
the Eneid, if I could write as well as Virgil. This is the
favourite pleasure of the emperor, and there is rarely a week without
some feast of this kind, which makes the young ladies skilful enough
to defend a fort. They laughed very much to see me afraid to handle
a gun. My dear sister, you will easily pardon an abrupt conclusion.
I believe, by this time, you are ready to think I shall never
conclude at all.

LET. X.

TO THE LADY R----.

_Vienna, Sept_. 20. O. S. 1716.

I AM extremely rejoiced, but not at all surprised, at the long,
delightful letter, you have had the goodness to send me. I know that
you can think of an absent friend even in the midst of a court, and
you love to oblige, where you can have no view of a return; and I
expect from you that you should love me, and think of me, when you
don't see me. I have compassion for the mortifications that you tell
me befel (sic) our little old friend, and I pity her much more, since
I know, that they are only owing to the barbarous customs of our
country. Upon my word, if she were here, she would have no other
fault but that of being something too young for the fashion, and she