The Preface. As curiosity is natural to the mind of man, and as every thing which tends to excite, without satisfying it, must prove, in some degree irksome, I have thought proper to give the reader some account how these memoirs fell into my hands. It was, some time since, my fortune to become acquainted with a gentleman residing at C-------y, of the Name of BÑ, whose temper suited so exactly with mine that time ripened the connexion between us into a sincere and perfect friendship. This gentleman had entertained, for some time, a passion for a young lady, lately arrived from town, at the house of one Mr. Milner, of that city. He made me the confident of his love, which proved so successful, that, in a short time, his mistress gave him her hand, and made him happy in the possession of her person and fortune. She was a lady of great beauty and merit, and proved to be that very Serina, to whom these letters are addressed. My intimacy with the new married pair still continued; and I frequently heard the consort of my friend mention with great respect the name of Miss M-----, whom she spoke of, as a lady of great personal and mental accomplishments, and one who had experienced many surprizing turns of fortune. I was curious to see her, and was agreeably surprized, when I one day received a note from the hands of Mr. BÑ, importing, that the lady I had expressed a desire to see, was come down to C-------y, and was then at his house, on a visit to her Serina. I hastened thither, and, on my arrival, was agreeably surprized with the sight of one of the finest women I had ever beheld. Yet I had often been favoured with the company of Mrs. BÑ, whom I always esteemed excessively handsome: For her beauties were in their first opening bloom, her hair and eyebrows were a glossy brown, her eyes black, piercing, and full of sensibility; her cheek was just tinged with the blush of youth, her complexion clear, and her shape genteel and easy. But Miss Teresa M-----, as we shall call her, though married, was a different, and more striking beauty: She was of a middling stature, and graceful deportment: The intermingled shades of her lovely tresses, which resembled the finest amber, set off a skin of an amazing whiteness;---her bright blue eyes were filled with ineffable sweetness, her damask cheek was warmed with the rosy glow of beauty, and her lips were finer than coral: her soft, rising bosom, seemed a pure expanse of snow, and her shape was finely and exactly proportioned. Such were the personal accomplishments of this young lady, those of her mind will be best displayed in the course of this work. My intimacy with Mr. BÑÕs consort was introduction sufficient to the company and conversation of her fair friend, whose husband was then settling some affairs of importance in London. Soon after our heroineÕs return to the metropolis, I was sent for by Mr. BÑ, who told me, that his lady, whom he had often importuned on that head, had at last gained the consent of Miss M----- to publish the letters which contained the memoirs of her life, some of which had been communicated to me in confidence. He added, that I was the person pitched on to prepare it for the press, and the rather, from some connexions I was supposed to have with the literary world. I undertook this office, with pleasure, and must confess, it was matter of satisfaction to me, to find so great a trust reposed in me by these amiable ladies. In effect, having expunged all real names, and articles of private concern, I digested the work into this form which now it bears. As to the stile of these memoirs, I shall only say, it is such, in general, as is usual in in epistolary correspondence, except only, that where some particular circumstances have more immediately affected the writer, the piece has often taken a tincture from it: To this, that vein of the pathetic, which runs through the work seems to be owing. The descriptions, I believe, will be found accurate, and corresponding to the best accounts. If the scenery is sometimes extraordinary, it is no more so than the nature of the story must unavoidably occasion it to be. As to the moral reflections interspersed, they are such as appeared to me apposite to the subject, and consequently underwent but few alterations. Thus we have ventured to present the public with the history of Miss Teresa M-----, to those candour its share of merit is left to be determined. However they may decide in this respect, if they should reap from it instruction and entertainment, it will answer the design of the benevolent author, and the editor will not think his labour ill bestowed.