While you are vigorous and fprightly, you must take into your protection as many as you can of those who are tottering under their burden. When you want the fame support, may you always find it.

I have for fome time had a cough and a cold, but I did not mind it; continuance, however, makes it heavy; but it seems to be going away.

My mafter, I hope, hunts and walks, and courts the belles, and shakes Brighthelmfton. When he comes back, frolick and active, we will make a feast, and drink his health, and have a noble day.

Of the Lucans I have never heard fince. On Saturday, after having fafted almost all the week, I dined with Renny. For Wednesday I am invited by the ****s, and if I am well, purpose to go. I imagine there will be a large company. The invitation is to dine and spend the evening. Too much at a time. I fhall be in danger of crying out, with Mr. Head, catamaran, whatever that may mean, for it seemed to imply tediousness and disgust. I do not much like to go, and I do not muchlike to stay away.

Have you any affemblies at this time of the year? and does Queeney dance? and does

B dance too?

I would have B

and fo make all up.

dance with C

Discord keeps her

refidence in this habita

Le

tion, but she has for fome time been filent. We have much malice, but no mischief. vet is rather a friend to Williams, because he hates Defmoulines more. A thing that he fhould hate more than Defmoulines, is not to be found.

I hear, but you never tell me any thing, that you have at laft begun to bathe. I am forry that your toothach kept you out of the water fo long, because I know you love to be in it.

If fuch letters as this were to cost you any thing, I should hardly write them; but fince they come to you for nothing, I am willing enough to write, though I have nothing to fay; because a sorry letter serves to keep one from dropping totally out of your head; and I would not have you forget that there is in the world fuch a poor being as, Madam,

Your, &c.

LETTER CCXXI.

To Mrs. THRA L E.

DEAR MADAM,

You

London, Nov. 8, 1779.:

To write fo

makes fome

are a dear dear lady. often, and fo fweetly, amends for your abfence. Your last letter came about half an hour after my last letter was fent away; but now I have another. You have much to tell me, and I have nothing to tell you; yet I am eager to write, because I am eager for your anfwer.

I thought C had told you his lofs. If it be only report, I do not much credit it. Something perhaps he may have ventured, but I do not believe he had ten thousand pounds, or the means of borrowing it. Of B- I suppose the fact is true, that he is gone; but for his lofs, can any body tell who has been the winner? And if he has loft a fum difproportionate to his fortune, why should VOL. II.

G

he

he run away when payment cannot be compelled?

Of Sir Thomas I can make no estimate but if he is diftreffed, I am forry; for he was in his profperity civil and officious.

It has happened to, as to many active and profperous men, that his mind has been wholly abforbed in business, or at intervals diffolved in amufement; and habituated fo long to certain modes of employment or diverfion, that in the decline of life it can no more receive a new train of images, than the hand can acquire dexterity in a new mechanical operation. For this reason a religious education is fo neceffary. Spiritual ideas may be recollected in old age, but can hardly be açquired.

You fhall not hide Mrs. **** from me. For if fhe be a feeler, I can bear a feeler as well as you; and hope, that in tenderness for what the feels from nature, I am able to forgive or neglect what the feels by affectation. I pity her, as one in a state to which all must come; and I think well of her judgment in chufing you to be the depofitory of

her

her troubles, and eafer of her bofom. Fondle her, and comfort her.

Your letters have commonly one good paragraph concerning my mafter, who appears to you, and to every body, to mend upon the whole; though your vigilance perceives fome accidental and temporary alterations, which, however, I am willing to hope are more rare and more flight than they were at first. Let him hunt much, and think little, and avoid folitude. I hope time has brought fome company whom you can call now to your table. Does he take to - ? Does he love her

? with a fifth

as you profess to love part of the kindness that she has for me. I am well rewarded for what I have taught you of computation, by feeing our friendship divided into factions; fo we ftand, do we? as two to ten. A pretty appearance upon paper, and ftill prettier in the heart. Well-go thy ways old Jack.

Of the capture of Jamaica nothing is known, nor do I think it probable or poffible. How the French fhould in a few days take from us an island, which we could not in almoft a century take from a few fugitive Negroes whom the Spaniards left behind them, is not eafily imagined.

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