but for this last instance of their humanity and politeness to me, I must ever be their debtor I never can thank you enough, my dear friends, and yet I thank you from my soul and for the single day's happiness your goodness would have sent me, I wish I could send you back thousands I cannot, but they will come of themselves and so God bless you. I have had twenty times my pen in my hand since I came down, to write a letter to you both in Gerrardstreet - but I am a shy kind of a soul at the bottom, and have a jealousy about troubling my friends, especially about myself - I am now got perfectly well, but was, a month after my arrival in the country, in but a poor state my body has got the start, and is

at present more at ease than my mind but this world is a school of trials, and so Heaven's will be done! I hope you have both enjoyed all that I have wanted - and, to complete your joy, that your little lady flourishes like a vine at your table, to which I hope to see her preferred by next winter. I am now beginning to be truly busy at my Sentimental Journey the pains and sorrows of this life having retarded its progress but I shall make up my lee-way, and overtake every body in a very short time. What can I send you that Yorkshire produces? tell I want to be of use to you, for I am, my dear friends, with the truest value and esteem, Your ever obliged

me

CII.

L. STERNE.

TO MR. PANCHAUD, AT PARIS.
MY DEAR PANCHAUD,

York, July 20, 1767.
BE SO kind as to forward what letters are arrived

from Mrs. Sterne at your office by to-day's post, or the

Sentimental Journey, etc.

20

next, and she will receive them before she quits Avignon, for England - she wants to lay out a little money in an annuity for her daughter - advise her to get her own life insured in London, lest my Lydia should die before her. - If there are any packets, send them with the ninth volume* of Shandy, which she has failed of getting she says she has drawn for fifty when she leaves Paris send by her my acHave you got me any French subscriptions, or subscriptions in France? Present my kindest service to Miss P. I know her politeness and good-nature will incline her to give Mrs. J. her advice about what she may venture to bring over. thing goes on well, though never half so well as I

louis

count.

I hope every

wish God prosper you, my dear friend

me most warmly

Yours

Believe

L. STERNE.

The sooner you send me the gold snuff-box, the

better - 'tis a present from my best friend.

CIII. TO MR. AND MRS. J.

Coxwould, August 2, 1767.

My dear friends Mr. and Mrs. J- are infinitely kind to me, in sending now and then a letter to inquire after me and to acquaint me how they are.

You cannot conceive, my dear lady, how truly I bear a part in your illness. I wish Mr. J carry you to the South of France in pursuit of health; but why need I wish it, when I know his affection will make him do that and ten times as much to prevent a return of those symptoms which alarmed him so much

in the spring - your politeness and humanity are al-
ways contriving to treat me agreeably, and what you
promise next winter will be perfectly so but you
must get well and your little dear girl must be of
the party, with her parents and friends, to give it a
relish I am sure you shew no partiality but what
is natural and praise-worthy, in behalf of your daughter,
but I wonder my friends will not find her a play-fellow;
and I both hope and advise them not to venture along
through this warfare of life without two strings at least
to their bow. I had letters from France by last night's
post, by which (by some fatality) I find not one of my
letters has reached Mrs. Sterne. This gives me con-
cern, as it wears the aspect of unkindness, which she
by no means merits from me. My wife and dear girl
are coming to pay me a visit for a few months; I
wish I may prevail with them to tarry longer. - You
must permit me, dear Mrs. J., to make my Lydia
known to you, if I can prevail with my wife to come
and spend a little time in London, as she returns to
France. I expect a small parcel
may I trouble
you, before you write next, to send to my lodgings to
ask if there is any thing directed to me that you can
inclose under cover? I have but one excuse for this
freedom, which I am prompted to use, from a persua-
sion that it is doing you pleasure to give you an op-
portunity of doing an obliging thing - and as to my-
self, I rest satisfied, for 'tis only scoring up another
debt of thanks to the millions I owe you both

already

Receive a thousand and a thousand thanks, yes, and with them ten thousand friendly wishes for all you wish in this world May my friend Mr. J. continue blessed with good health, and may his good lady get

20

SECHI

BIBLIOTECA

perfectly well, there being no woman's health or comfort I so ardently pray for. Adieu, my dear friends

believe me most truly and faithfully yours,

L. STERNE.

P. S. In Eliza's last letter, dated from St. Jago, she tells me, as she does you, that she is extremely ill

God protect her! By this time surely she has set foot upon dry land at Madras I heartily wish her well, and if Yorick was with her he would tell her but he is cut off from this, by bodily absence

SO

I am present with her in spirit, however is that? you will say.

TO J- H- S, ESQ.

MY DEAR H.,

but what

Coxwould, Aug. 11, 1767.

I AM glad all has passed with so much amity inter te & filium Marcum tuum, and that Madame has found grace in thy sight - All is well that ends well and so much for moralizing upon it. I wish you could, or would, take up your parable, and prophesy as much good concerning me and my affairs. Not one of my letters has got to Mrs. Sterne since the notification of her intentions, which has a pitiful air on my side, though I have wrote her six or seven - I imagine she will be here the latter end of September; though I have no date for it, but her impatience, which, having suffered by my supposed silence, I am persuaded will make her fear the worst - If that is the case, she will fly to England - a most natural conclusion. You did well to discontinue all commerce with James's powders as you are so well, rejoice therefore, and

let your heart be merry mine ought upon the same score for I never have been so well since I left college and should be a marvellous happy man, but for some reflections which bow down my spirits but if I live but even three or four years, I will

acquit myself with honour and no matter! we will talk this over when we meet. If all ends as temperately as with you, and that I find grace, &c. &c., I will come and sing Te Deum, or drink poculum elevatum, or do any thing in the world. I should depend upon G---'s critique upon my head, as much as Moliere's old woman upon his comedies when you do not want her society, let it be carried into your bed-chamber to flay her, or clap it upon her bum

to

and give her my blessing as you do it.

My postillion has set me a-ground for a week, by one of my pistols bursting in his hand, which he taking for granted to be quite shot off - he instantly fell upon his knees and said (Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name), at which, like a good Christian, he stopped, not remembering any more of it

the affair was not so bad as he at first thought, for it has only bursten two of his fingers (he says). - I long to return to you, but I sit here alone as solitary and sad as a tom-cat, which by the bye is all the company I keep - he follows me from the parlour to the kitchen, into the garden, and every place -- I wish I had a dog - my daughter will bring me one and so God be about you, and strengthen your faith I am affectionately, dear cousin, yours,

L. STERNE.

My service to the C--, though they are from home, and to Panty.