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will only mention those faults which you can overcome, who having very often been
made sensible of the falibility of human reason, believes it may be serviceable
even to those who are generally [corrrect?] to learn how their actions are regarded by
others. I did not intend this preamble should have been so long, my dear Marga-
ret, but as I more frequently err in making them too short, if in consequence of your
permission, I should sometimes appear harsh, read this over as a prelude, and
believe that I felt when writing it as I do at this moment and I am sure you
will not only pardon, but love me the better for it. But I [conjure?] you again to deal
candidly with me, if my soberness, my apparently cold hearted [prudence?] chills
your affection for me, and makes you less willing to communicate to me all your
schemes of utility & benevolence, tell me so, and I will reserve my strictures till
the voice of duty positively command me to break silence.

I love to enter into your feelings, Margaret, to be your invisible companion,
and when you were in the boat, I sat beside you, and shared your pleasure -
but when you landed in the crowded wharf "the only female amid such a
throng of men," I started from you, and asked what brought you there. I would
not be your associate if it were mere curiosity. I love independance when it ena-
bles us the better to fulfil our duties, but not when its greatest effect is to
draw upon us public attention, and make our character a subject for public
investigation, generally the [retired?] virtues are those which women ought
most assiduously to cultivate. I should not [not legible] you to be of the school of
Mary Godwin. Margaret, you have a mind of the first order, a considerable
degree of cultivation, no small knowledge of the world in theory, [tho?] not quite
so much in practice, and what is of most importance an excellent heart.
and yet with all these advantages you too often suffer an all [potent?] and ir-
regular imagination to mislead your judgment. You often appear to act more
from a momentary impulse than upon settled principles. I am harsh, you will
say, dear Margaret, and that your little excursion to Alexandria was not [sufficient?]
to make me go so far; [true?] it was not, at that moment I was thinking of the
woman, in whose service your benevolence was so warmly engaged. Say, Margaret, was
not your promise to be her agent rather the indulgence of feeling than the perform-
ance of a duty? It is our duty to assist the unfortunate & to proportion our assist
ance rather to their necessities than their [deserts?], but before we promise to interest others in
their behalf ought we not to enquire what their merits are and not excite hope
[not legible] you may have taken this necessary caution [tho?] you did not
[not legible] first seeing this woman and you return to her house you
[not legible] self as to the goodness of her character, and found her deserv

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