LETTER CCCXLII.

To Mrs.

THRAL E.

London, March 20, 1784.

MADAM,

YOUR

UR last letter had something of tendernefs. The accounts which you have had of my danger and diftrefs were I suppose not aggravated. I have been confined ten weeks with an asthma and dropfy. But I am now better. God has in his mercy granted me a reprieve; for how much time his mercy must determine.

On the 19th of last month I evacuated twenty pints of water, and I think I reckon exactly; from that time the tumour has fubfided, and I now begin to move with some freedom. You will eafily believe that I am ftill at a great distance from health; but I am, as my chirurgeon expressed it, amazingly better. Heberden feems to have great hopes.

Write to me no more about dying with a grace; when you feel what I have felt in approaching eternity-in fear of foon hearing

the

the fentence of which there is no revocation, you will know the folly; my wifh is, that you know it fooner. The diftance between

may

the grave and the remoteft point of human longevity, is but a very little; and of that little no path is certain. You knew all this, and I thought that I knew it too; but I know it now with a new conviction. May that new conviction not be vain!

I am now cheerful; I hope this approach to recovery is a token of the Divine mercy. My friends continue their kindness. I give a din

ner to-morrow.

on.

Pray let me know how my dear Sophy goes I ftill hope that there is in her fits more terrour than danger. But I hope, however it be, that she will speedily recover.

take care to pay Mifs Sufy her letter.

blefs you all.

I am, Madam,

I will

God

Your, &c.

LETTER CCCXLIII.

To Mifs Sufy THRALE.

MY DEAREST MISS SUSY,

SINCE

London, Mar. 25, 1784.

INCE you are refolved to ftand it out, and keep mum till you have heard from me, I must at last comply; and indeed compliance cofts me now no trouble, but as it irritates a cough, which I got, as you might have done, by standing at an open window; and which has now haraffed me many days, and is too ftrong for diacodium, nor has yet given much way to opium itself. However, having been fo long used to so many worse things, I mind it but little. I have not bad nights; and my ftomach has never failed me. But when I fhall go abroad again, I know not.

With Mr. Herschel it will certainly be very right to cultivate an acquaintance; for he can fhow you in the sky what no man before him has ever feen, by fome wonderful improvements which he has made in the telescope. What he has to fhow is indeed a long way

off,

off, and perhaps concerns us but little; but all truth is valuable, and all knowledge is pleasing in its first effects, and may be fubfequently useful. Of whatever we see we always wish to know; always congratulate ourselves when we know that of which we perceive another to be ignorant. Take therefore all opportunities of learning that offer themselves, however remote the matter may be from common life or common converfation. Look in Herfchel's telescope; go into a chymift's laboratory; if you fee a manufacturer at work, remark his operations By this activity of attention, you will find in every place diverfion and improvement,

Now dear Sophy is got well, what is it that ails my mistress? She complains, and complains, I am afraid, with too much cause; but I know not diftinctly what is her diforder. I hope that time and a quiet mind will reftore her.

I am, My dearest,

Your, &c.

LETTER CCCXLIV.

Mrs. THRALE to Dr. JOHNSON.

MY DEAR SIR,

γου

March 27.

ou tell one of my daughters that you know not with diftin&tness the cause of my complaints. I believe the who lives with me knows them no better; one very dreadful one is however removed, by dear Sophia's recovery. It is kind in you to quarrel no more about expreffions which were not meant to offend; but unjuft to fuppofe, I have not lately thought myfelf dying. Let us however take the Prince of Abyffinia's advice, and not add to the other evils of life the bitterness of controverfy. If courage is a noble and generous quality, let us exert it to the last, and at the laft: If faith is a Chriftian virtue, let us willingly receive and accept that fupport it will most furely beftow-and do permit me to repeat those words with which I know not why you were displeased: Let us leave behind us the best example that we can.

All