work. But I think I have got a life of Dra Young. Sufy and Sophy have had a fine Summer; it is a comfort to think that fomebody is happy. And they make verses, and act plays. Mrs. Montague is, I think, in town, and has fent Mrs. Williams her annuity: but I hear nothing from her, but I may be contented if I hear from you, for I am, &c. LETTER CCLI. To Mrs. THRA L E. DEAR MADAM, WHAT August 8, 1780. HAT do you fcold fo for about Granville's life; do you not see that the appendage neither gains nor faves any thing to me? I fhall have Young's life given me, to spite you. Methinks it was pity to fend the girls to school; they have indeed had a fine vacation, dear dear loves, but if it had been longer it had been still finer. Did Mafter read my books? You fay nothing of him in this letter; but I hope he is well, and growing every day nearer to perfect health. When do you think of coming home? I have not yet perfuaded myself to work, and therefore know not when my work will be done. Yet I have a mind to fee Lichfield. Dr. Taylor feems to be well. He has written to me without a fyllable of his lawsuit. You have heard in the papers how * * * is come to age; I have enclosed a short song of congratulation, which you must not show to any body. It is odd that it fhould come into any body's head. I hope you will read it with candour; it is, I believe, one of the author's first essays in that way of writing, and a beginner is always to be treated with tenderness. My two gentlewomen are both complaining. Mrs. Desmoulins had a mind of Dr. Turton; I fent for him, and he has prescribed for Mrs. Williams, but I do not find that he promises promises himself much credit from either of them. I hope it will not be long before I shall have another little volume for you, and ftill there will be work undone. If it were not for these Lives, I think I could not forbear coming to look at you, now you have room for me. But I ftill think to stay till I have cleared my hands. Queeney is not good. She feldom writes to me, and yet I love her, and I love you all, for I am, &c. LETTER CCLII. To Mrs. THRAL E. August 14, 1780. I DEAR MADAM, HOPE my dear Queeney's fufpicions are groundless. Whenever any alteration of manner happens, I believe a small cathartick will fet all right. I hope you have no defign of stealing away to Italy before the election, nor of leaving me behind you; though I am not only Seventy, but Seventy-one. Could not you let me lofe a year in round numbers? Sweetly, fweetly, fings Dr. Swift, Some dire misfortune to portend, But what if I am Seventy-two; I remember Sulpitius fays of Saint Martin (now that's above your reading), Eft animus victor annorum, et fenectuti cedere nefcius. that among your young folks. If Match me you try to plague me, I shall tell you that, according to Galen, life begins to decline from Thirtyfive. But as we go off, others come on: Queeney's laft letter was very pretty. What a huffey the is to write fo feldom. She has no events, then let her write fentiment as you and I do; and fentiment you know is inexhauftible. If you want events, here is Mr. Levet just come in at fourscore from a walk to Hampftead, eight miles, in Auguft. This, however, is all that I have to tell you, except that I VOL. II. N have 1 1 have three bunches of grapes on a vine in my garden; at least, this is all that I will now tell of my garden. Both my females are ill, both very ill; Mrs. Defmoulins thought that she wished for Dr. Turton; and I fent for him, and then took him to Mrs. Williams, and he prescribes for both, though without much hope of benefiting either. Yet phyfick has its powers: you fee that I am better; and Mr. Shaw will maintain, that he and I faved my mafter. But if he is to live always away from us, what did we get by faving him? If we cannot live together, let us hear; when I have no letter from Brighthelmfton, think how I fret, and write oftener; you write to this body and to that, and nobody loves you like Your, &c. |