The good part of our own characters is, in the moment of our correspondence, presented sincerely-though favourably, to the absentee. All the estimable qualities of the absentee are also brought to our remembrance, unalloyed with their failings. Why do I speak of failings to our present correspondent? There is nothing in your remembrance which needs indulgence, or absence, to soften it or keep any side, or part of it out of view. My spouse and myself, when speaking of you, forget our harsh opinion of our poor fellow-creatures. All the names and epithets of purity and unfaultiness are echoed between us. Forgive what appears flattery; the following is the reason and apology-Often, and often, when there are no better news of your health arrived in Sydenham, we fall into fears about the worst possibility; but God avert the thought of it! Such a thought makes us inquire where we should see such another?-never should we. But there is a Providence which takes care of the good. With the hopes, the wishes, the fervent prayers of your friends on your side, we trust, dear Miss Mayow, that this will soon be over; and that you will come to us again, to dispense happiness and cheerfulness-which are your nature and essential constitution-among the many, though select many, to whom you are so valuable. I can perceive that Cheltenham is doing—though slowly doing you good. I think the presence of your dear household would, combining with the place, do you still more. Blessed be Cheltenham and Dr. Jenner! If they promote or accomplish this desired end, we shall be grateful to them both, as long as we live. Make a fair experiment; support your spirits; for you are one who have heroism enough to do so. It is wasting words to exhort the weak-minded to fortitude; but you have the good quality (and what one have you not?) of commanding your own ET. 30.] LETTER TO AN INVALID FRIEND. 127 happiness. All your fault is suffering from reflux anxiety for what others-I mean those most dearly allied to you by the ties of nature-suffer from your indisposition. But if such be their suffering, think from what it arises-from the happiness you confer on them. This should make one exultingly happy-to be the distributing point of such exceeding happiness. Is it not thus? I should be the vainest of mortals to have so many amiable souls depending on my smile! What a precious being this Dr. Jenner must be! I thought he looked like my own venerated Dugald Stewart, when I saw him; it was but only once. I am certain he is like him—a mild, wise, cheerful, conciliating spirit. The truly great are always good. You used to say that talents were always formidable. I think not so. Superior beings are necessarily benignant; they guide us, and guard us, not like the jostling of a mob, but by a gaining, invisible influence. I never fear a great man; I only fear and hate what the slang of the world calls a clever man; that is, generally, a pert and half-wise man. In the other sex, the women who bear sway over the generality of minds are called accomplished and beautiful women; they are, like those half-wise men, generally thought formidable; they are to me very often great objects of terror! just as self-conceit and bad dispositions are terrible. But let me see the woman who is truly admirable, and I fancy the most shy and ungainly admirer of female excellence, like myself, will be very much at his ease, and destitute of all fear or diffidence in her presence. The truly beautiful, the truly wise, the truly good, do not abash even the most retiring. The friendship of wise men, which I have enjoyed the sentiments with which I have regarded my real heroines-convince me of this. But pray, let this new favourite of yours not displace even the most humble of your former friends. Remember, in thinking of your poor secondary favourites, what Dean Swift says "about servants "that service is no inheritance! Unless some little favour and kindness reward old attachments, how cruel it is to hear of new ones! I shall be tempted to unsay all I have said of wise men, if I find myself neglected, and attribute the cause to him! Yet, dear Miss Mayow-to speak more seriously and soberly-if he beguiles back the dear good-humour and Hebe-like health which were formerly yours, how shall I bestow benedictions enough on him! I said "goodhumour;" but that is not required to be restored, which never was lost. I meant health alone; sometimes I almost wish you to have a fit of bad humour, that you might try the patience of all the world, and find no one but myself determined to preserve your friendship in all humours, good or bad! Remember me to my own fireside beauty and her sister. But I write so much from that impulse of the moment, which, in point of gravity, can be excused by your own, and only by your own kind indulgence, that I fear, more than wish, to have my poor scrawls reported to them. They have my confidence and regard, yet somehow or other, I don't believe they understand me as you do, or as your dear Fanny does; she is indeed, and I will call her, my sister. Matilda sends you her compliments-no, indeed she does not!-she doats on you! and we both cut out the snuggest nook for you in our morning and evening prayers, which are, that your dear health may soon be restored! Witness the sincere hand of your affectionate friend, THOS. CAMPBELL. P. S. Since writing this, I have heard Dr. Jenner's ET. 30.] CORRESPONDENCE CONTINUED-EXTRACTS. 129 decision about not writing; so that what I say within on this topic goes for nothing. I had a short walk with Fanny and Caroline to-day, admiring the sky and quoting Thomson. They are both well; Caroline is only very grave, for which I gave her a heavy scolding. T. C. This month was so prolific in correspondence, as to make the protracted illness of the fair invalid-to the reader at least-more a subject of congratulation than of regret for, without this stimulus to its expression, the warmth of his friendship—a characteristic feature of his nature-could not have been so fully known; and it is gratifying to observe that while thus ministering, with brotherly kindness, to his amiable friend, he was employing the best means to lessen those personal cares and anxieties which came upon him from other sources. suming the duty of a comforter, he writes again : Re SYDENHAM, Saturday, Oct. 30th, 1807. To have heard of your improved state of health, dear M., is a pleasure-I need not use hyperboles —which gives sincere delight to my heart. Heaven prolong the happy prospect! I could pursue you with wishes, like a cripple on the street to whom gold had been thrown instead. of copper. But deeply confiding in your opinion of my sincerity, I will spare you the trouble of reading the scrawls of a valetudinarian. Nothing important has ailed me. But so liable am I to fever, that I shun writing-even speaking and thinking, of anything that deeply interests me. This pulse of mine seems like ether; a moment's thought or strong sensation raises it. I dare not trust myself with a whole sheet, in case I should write it out to you. * * * * * Dear F. saw us yesterday. She was very bright and very gracious. I was well able to enjoy her societynot so to-night. But I know that a little patience will set me right again. I could not forbear writing you, though I am able to say nothing but that we are all exceedingly delighted to hear such accounts of you. Matilda's love to her own dear Miss M. T. C. The following are extracts-seria mista jocis :"Nov. 2nd.-F.'s accounts of you to-day are not quite so good indeed, Matilda says she concealed indif ferent accounts from me yesterday, fearing I should fret my feverishness by thinking of them. This is heartbreaking; but let us have still hopes. I wish you were among us again; for, judging by what I feel and experience myself of the exhilarating effects of friends, I think your own fireside would be better than Cheltenham. "Your sister is quite a treasure to us; she sees us every day is remarkably cheerful, considering how much her thoughts are employed about you. Her mind and conversation brighten on me every day. What a treasure she is! How I envy you such a sister! T. C." "Nov.. News! I know how very rude and troublesome I must appear to send for a sight of to-day's paper, instead of waiting your convenience to send it; but although I believe not, alas, one word of the rumour of Buonaparte's check, I am so weak as to be agitated with anxiety to know even that rumour more particularly. Our minds are now in such a state, as to be grasping at straws for relief. T. C." * * * "Dec. 1st.-You were kind to say anything of my lines |