Magdalen Hospital, 1763.
            Madam,
            The favour of a request from you will ever operate in the nature of a command, to one who has been so highly honoured with confidence, with sympathy, and with the most salutary advice, in the future conduct of a life rescued from distress and infamy, by the favour of your kind recommendation to this happy place, and the further favour of your generous countenance since I was placed here.

            I therefore cheerfully comply with your request, in relating the circumstances of a life, which you were pleased to consider as a warning to the younger part of my sex.

            My father was a clergyman in the West of England, he served two curacies and one living, all which together did not bring him in one hundred pounds per annum, but entirely engrossed his time, as he endeavoured to do his duty in each parish, to the utmost of his power, which obliged him to be at the expense of keeping a horse: this, with the continual repairs necessary to his parsonage house, which was much decayed, and the ill state of health wherewith my mother was afflicted for many years, made his income but barely sufficient for himself and his family, though it was not large, for of many children my mother bore him, one elder sister and myself only lived to grow up.

            When I was about fourteen years old, my mother died, which occasioned my sister's return home; she had spent three years with an aunt, who was a milliner in a large town in the county of Devonshire, but by the loss of my mother, became necessary to take care of my father's house, whose health declined so fast, that nursing him was her chief employ. In a little more than a year, we lost my father, a great misfortune to us both, but particularly to me, who was thus left to my own guidance and support, when I was but fifteen years of age; my appearance indeed was womanly, I had been bred up in religious principles, but at that age they were not deeply grounded, nor so fixed as to stand against the temptations of the world, into which I was now thrown.

            My father's effects when sold, and all accounts settled, yielded us but a few pounds; my aunt was dead, and we had no near relation who could assist us, but a lady in the neighbourhood, who had always professed a great regard to my father, called upon us, when the first agonies of our grief were over, so far as to be able to perceive the forlornness of our situation. My sister applied to this lady for her protection for me, for whom she was most uneasy, being as she said able to provide for her own support, but my youth and person, which perhaps she beheld with too partial eyes, filled her with apprehensions on my account.

            The lady assured us she would do the utmost to serve me, that if she had no sons, or I was less handsome, she would receive me into her own house; but that was now impossible, however she would enquire among her friends if she could find anything proper for me, and hoped to succeed before we were obliged to quit the house.

            This lady was as good as her word, and not being so much afraid for other people's sons as she was for her own, she prevailed with a lady of her acquaintance, who lived in the next county, to receive me as her woman: she had suffered me to assist in the dressing of her daughters several times, that I might be qualified for my place, and at the time appointed, gave me a letter of recommendation, to secure still a better reception.

            To take leave of my sister, was like losing my only parent; for such she was to me, though not above five years older than myself. I think I could not have felt much deeper affliction for her death, our separation appearing to us not much less grievous. I was frighted at the thought of going among entire strangers, and into a new employ, and my sister's apprehensions were such as were but too well verified in the sequel. She spent the last day we were together, in warning me against the temptations which would perhaps fall in my way, of which I remember the following words were part, for they made a strong impression, though to little purpose, and the misfortunes into which I fell from disregarding them, fixed them stronger in my mind.

            "My dear Emily," said she, "I cannot fear for your honesty nor sincerity, though I have said so much on those subjects, your nature is superior to any offences of this kind, but my apprehensions are numerous, in another respect; I would not attempt to tell you, you are not handsome, your own eyes in such particulars, gives you sufficient evidence, and we seldom doubt their truth; besides the less persuaded you are of this, the more you will be ready to hear it. Such a person as yours, in your situation, will attract many admirers, for while the one charms, the other will excite hopes which I would flatter myself will be disappointed, but I confess my apprehensions arise as much from the tenderness of your heart, as from the snares that will be laid in your way; if that does not betray you, all the rest may be easily baffled: but what can I say that will steel your heart with indifference. Alas! it is above my power, He only who made it can correct it. To him, my dear Emily, you must apply, and bear constantly in mind, that your present and eternal happiness, on the proper regulation of your affections will ultimately depend."

            Advice to this purpose she repeated the whole day, with many tears and anxious prayers for my preservation.

            The next morning parted us, never to meet again with the same satisfactory melancholy as that last interview appeared to us.

            You perceive, my dear Madam, that I have in this first letter confined myself to my departure from my sister, and the lady who had professed so much friendship for myself and family, as to take care of placing me in a comfortable state, and of providing for my future support, by a reputable servitude.

            I now beg leave, my dearest Madam, to conclude my first letter, and to assure you that I shall continue my narrative at every vacant opportunity, for no pleasure to me is equal to that of convincing you, by a ready compliance with every request of yours, that I am,
            Madam,
            Your grateful humble Servant,
            M. S.

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