LETTER CCCXXXIV.

I

To Mrs.

THRA L E.

London, Dec. 13, 1783.

DEAR MADAM,

THINK it long fince I wrote, and fometimes venture to hope that you think it long too. The intermiffion has been filled with fpafins, opiates, fleepless nights, and heavy days. Thefe vellications of my breaft fhorten my breath; whether they will much fhorten my life I know not, but I have been for fome time past very comfortless. My friends here ever continue kind, and much notice is taken of me.

I had two pretty letters from Sufy and Sophy, to which I will fend anfwers, for they are two dear girls. You must all guess again at my friend.

I dined about a fortnight ago with three old friends; we had not met together for thirty years, and one of us thought the other grown very old. old. In the thirty years two of our set Z 2

have

have died: our meeting may be fuppofed to be fomewhat tender. I boafted that I had paffed the day with three friends, and that no mention had been made among any of us of the air ballon, which has taken full poffeffion, with a very good claim, of every philofophical mind and mouth. Do you not wifh for the flying coach?

Take care of your own health, compose your mind, and you have yet ftrength of body to be well.

T1

London, Dec. 27, 1783.

HE wearifome folitude of the long even

ings did indeed fuggeft to me the convenience of a club in my neighbourhood, but I have been hindered from attending it by want of breath. If I can complete the fcheme, you fhall have the names and the regulations.

The

The time of the year, for I hope the fault is rather in the weather than in me, has been

very hard upon me. The muscles of my

breaft are much convulfed. Dr. Heberden recommends opiates, of which I have fuch horrour that I do not think of them but in extremis. I was however driven to them last night for refuge, and having taken the usual quantity durft not go to bed, for fear of that uneafinefs to which a fupine pofture expofes me, but refted all night in a chair with much relief, and have been to-day more warm, active, and cheerful.

You have more than once wondered at my complaint of folitude, when you hear that I am crowded with visits. Inopem me copia fecit. Vifitors are no proper companions in the chamber of ficknefs. They come when I could fleep or read, they ftay till I am weary, they force me to attend when my mind calls for relaxation, and to speak when my powers will hardly actuate my tongue. The amusements and confolations of languor and depreffion are conferred by familiar and domestick companions, which can be vifited or called at. will, and can occafionally be quitted or difmiffed, who do not obstruct accommodation

by ceremony, or destroy indolence by awakening effort.

Such fociety I had with Levet and Williams; fuch I had where-I am never likely to have it more.

I wish, dear Lady, to you and my dear girls many a cheerful and pious Christmas.

London, Dec. 31, 1783.

SINCE you cannot guess, I will tell
you that
the generous man was Gerard Hamilton.
I returned him a very thankful and respectful
letter.

Your enquiry about Lady Carlislé I cannot anfwer, for I never faw her, unless perhaps without knowing her at a conversation.

1

Sir Joshua has just been here, and knows nothing of Mifs Bingham; if one of Lord Lucan's daughters be meant, the eldeft is now Lady Spencer; fhe is languishing in France with a diseased leg, and the third is a child.

Pray fend the letter which you think will divert me, for I have much need of entertainment; fpiritlefs, infirm, fleepless and folitary, looking back with forrow and forward with terrour :-but I will ftop.

out me.

Barry of Ireland had a notion that a man's pulfe wore him out; my beating breaft wears The physicians yesterday covered it with a blifter, of which the effect cannot yet be known. Good God profper their endeavours! Heberden is of opinion that while the weather is oppreffive we muft palliate.

In the mean time I am well fed; I have now in the houfe pheafant, venifon, turkey and ham, all unbought. Attention and respect give pleasure, however late or however ufelefs. But they are not useless when they are late; it is reasonable to rejoice, as the day declines, to find that it has been spent with the approbation of mankind.