TO

are the fame. It is a day's journey from either place; and the poft is more expeditious and certain to Bath. Confult only your own inclination, for there is really no other principle of choice. God direct and bless

you.

money,

Mr. C has offered Mr. Pbut it was not wanted. I hope we shall all do all we can to make you lefs unhappy, and you muft do all you can for yourself. What we, or what you can do, will for a time be but little; yet certainly that calamity which may be confidered as doomed to fall inevitably on half mankind, is not finally without alleviation.

It is fomething for me, that as I have not the decrepitude I have not the calloufnefs of old age. I hope in time to be less afflicted.

I am, &

LETTER CCLIX.

To Mrs. THRAL E.

DEAREST MADAM, London, April 9, 1781.

THAT

HAT you are gradually recovering your tranquillity, is the effect to be humbly expected from trust in God. Do not represent life as darker than it is. Your lofs has been very great, but you retain more than almoft any other can hope to poffefs. You are high in the opinion of mankind; you have children from whom much pleasure may be expected; and that you will find many friends, you have no reason to doubt. Of my friendship, be it worth more or lefs, I hope you think yourself certain, without much art or care. It will not be eafy for me to repay the benefits that I have received; but I hope to be always ready at your call. Our forrow has different effects; you are withdrawn into folitude, and I am driven into company. am afraid of thinking what I have loft. I

I

never

never had fuch a friend before.

Let me have

your prayers and those of my dear Queeney.

The prudence and refolution of your defign to return fo foon to your business and your duty deferves great praiie; I fhall communicate it on Wednesday to the other executors. Be pleafed to let me know whether you would have me come to Streatham to receive you, or stay here till the next day.

I

AM glad to hear from my dear Miss, that you have recovered tranquillity enough to think on bathing; but there is no difpofition in the world to leave you long to yourself. Mr. P pretends that your abfence produces a thousand difficulties which I believe it does not produce. He frights Mr. C***

Mr.

Mr. C is of my mind, that there is no need of hurry. I would not have this importunity give you any alarm or disturbance; but, to pacify it, come as foon as you can prevail upon your mind to mingle with bufinefs. I think business the best remedy for grief as foon as it can be admitted.

We met to day, and were told of mountainous difficulties, till I was provoked to tell them, that if there were really fo much to do and fuffer, there would be no executors in the world. Do not suffer yourself to be terrified.

I comfort you, and hope God will bless and fupport you; but I feel myself like a man beginning a new courfe of life. I had interwoven myself with my dear friend; but our great care ought to be, that we may be, fit and ready, when in a fhort time we fhall be called to follow him.

There is, however, no use in communicating to you my heaviness of heart. I thank dear Mifs for her letter.

I am, &c.

LETTER CCLXI.

To Mrs. THRALE.

DEAREST MADAM, London, April 12, 1781.

You

ou will not fuppofe that "much has hap¬ pened fince laft night, nor indeed is this a time for talking much of lofs and gain. The bufinefs of Chriftians is now for a few days in their own bofoms. God grant us to do it properly. I hope you gain ground on your affliction. I hope to overcome mine, You and Mifs muft comfort one another, May you long live happily together. I have nobody whom I expect to fhare my uneafiness, nor, if I could communicate it, would it be lefs, I give it little vent, and amuse it as I can. Let us pray for one another. And, when we meet, we may try what fidelity and tenderness will do for us,

There is no wisdom in useless and hopeless forrow; but there is fomething in it fo like virtue, that he who is wholly without it cannot be loved, nor will by me at least be thought worthy of efteem, My next letter will be to Queeney,

I am, c.