Page images
PDF
EPUB

I fhall be in London on Wednesday next, but at what Time of the Day I cannot tell at present -I forgot to ask the Coachman, and it is too far to go back and inquire; but Harry may know at what Hour I shall be due, by calling at Charingcrofs, where the Machine fets up.

Pray do not be shocked at the Sight of me, for though I am rueful, I am by no Means dismal ; but joined to an unceafing Cholic, and a ftill fubfifting Rheumatism, I have for fome Time laboured under a fevere Fit of the Gravel, which the quack Medicine of a Stage-coach will perhaps either kill

or cure.

Besides, if I eat, I am fick, and if I fast, I am fad. I may fay of Food, as it is faid of Matrimony marry and repent, do not marry and repent; and may very aptly apply Martial's Line to my Meals, Nec tecum poffum, &c.

There is no Living with thee nor without thee.

Nor do even my Slumbers yield me Ease from Smart: It is not Apathy I feel; but, like a Limb afleep, I fnore in Agony, and still dream of Pain.

But I have now quite taken leave of Physicians for the Reft of my Life, or Death-This will be a confiderable Saving to my Purfe, perhaps to my Constitution too. I have effayed all their Pills and Potions in vain, and look upon them to be but a

Sort

Sort of Jugglers, who make a Livelihood out of Cups and Balls, at the Expence of the Weak and Credulous. It would be well if they were as innocent alfo.

I fhall call at the Post-office, St. Alban's-and woe be to Somebody if I fhould not receive a Letter there.

Adieu, my dearest Wife! and dear Children!

LETTER

HENRY.

DCCLXXVIII.

I

FRANCES to HENRY.

(To St. Alban's.)

My beft, my dearest LovF,

HAVE this Inftant the real Transport of re

ceiving Four Letters from you. The Hopes of feeing you must ever afford me the fincereft Delight; but the Apprehenfion of your coming at a Time when Business, or the Attachments of Friendship, called for your Stay, would have been painful to me, and have mingled an unknown Sensation with the Joy of Meeting, if the Kindnefs of thefe Letters had not removed this most aukward and strange Feeling from my Breast, and left no Room for any other, but the Joy of feeing you.

I can never manifeft Contrition enough for my Fault; but as it has been my first Offence of this Kind I hope, give me Leave to cry out with the Heralds of the Secular Games among the Romans, celebrated like the Jubilees once only in an Hundred Years," Come and fee a Spectacle that none "of ye have ever seen before, or shall ever be"hold again."

Your Defcription of Mifs N

is the most exact Character of her that can be conceived. You judge Nothing fuperficially. Other Observers are but Statuaries, you an Anatemist.

The joyful Harry has been at Charing-crofs, and you will be due in London by Three o'Clock To-morrow, if you do not choofe to dine with Duke Humphrey, as my dear Martyr is obliged to do so often whenever he travels.

The Wit and Spirit with which you treat your fhocking Disorder, help fometimes to convey a Sort of aukward Pleasure to my Mind, as it is one that is quite out of its Place. But you feem to refemble an Opera, where the Heroes fometimes fweetly fing their dying Staves in the very Hands of the Executioner.

Your whole Life has been a Sort of Trivelinade; and your Manner of compounding with Health and Fortune, with many other Paffages in your }

Life, prove that no one could better determine not to be Trivelin* than yourself.

But beware of Moliere's Fate at laft. Besides, I confefs another Fear I am fome Times feized with about you; left, as you contrive to render yourself doubly merry through Life, by rejoicing in its Goods, and sporting equally with its Ills, Providence, who is a great Economist, might think itself pretty nearly impartial in its Distributions to you, by difpenfing Happiness or Mifery alike.

My Spirits are flurried, my Heart beats faftthey are talking round me-I know not what I write; this only I am certain, that I am, with the trueft, tendereft, and moft grateful Affection, my dearest Harry's ever fond and grateful Wife !

FRANCES.
P. S. Your Children are both well, good,
and happy at the Thought of seeing you
To-morrow.

This Character was of a Frenchman of a peculiar and happy Turn of Mind. One Story of him is fufficient to explain the above Paffage: Being fatigued with the Heat of the Day once on a Journey, he alighted and took a Nap on the Road, having first faftened the Bridle round his Arm. Some Thief flipt off the Headftall, and tole away the Horse. When he awoke, he argued with himself thus, Either I am Trivelin, or I am not-if I am, I have • loft a Horse, if not, I have gained a Bridle." In fine, he deter mined the Doubt in his own Favour, and returned Home rejoicing in bis Advantage.

FINI S.

« PreviousContinue »