executed by West, most admirably he has caught the character of our friend such goodness is painted. in that face that when one looks at it, let the soul be ever so much unharmonized, it is impossible it should I will send you a set of my books remain so. the women will read this book in the parlour, and Tristram in the bed-chamber. Good night, dear Sir I am going to take my whey, and then to bed. Believe me Yours most truly, L. STERNE. CXXVII. TO MISS STERNE. MY DEAREST LYDIA, Feb. 20, Old Bond-street. and escape, unless a My Sentimental Journey, you say, is admired in York by every one and 'tis not vanity in me to tell you that it is no less admired here but what is the gratification of my feelings on this occasion? The want of health bows me down, and vanity harbours not in thy father's breast this vile influenza be not alarmed, I think I shall get the better of it shall be with you both the first of May; and if I 'twill not be for a long period, my child quiet retreat and peace of mind can restore me. The subject of my letter has astonished me. She could but know little of my feelings to tell thee that, under the supposition I should survive thy mother, I should bequeath thee as a legacy to No, my Lydia! 'tis a lady, whose virtues I wish thee to imitate that I shall entrust my girl to I mean that friend whom I have so often talked and wrote about from her you will learn to be an affectionate wife, a tender mother, and a sincere friend and you cannot be intimate with her without her pouring some part of the milk of human kindness into your breast, which will serve to check the heat of your own temper, which you partake in a small degree of. Nor will that amiable woman put my Lydia under the painful necessity to fly to India for protection, whilst it is in her power to grant her a more powerful one in England. But I think, my Lydia, that thy mother will survive me do not deject her spirits with thy apprehensions on my account. I have sent you a necklace, buckles, and the same to your mother. My girl cannot form a wish that is in the power of her father, that he will not gratify her in and I cannot in justice be less kind to thy mother. I am never alone The kindness of my friends is ever the same I wish though I had thee to nurse me; but I am denied that. Write to me twice a week, at least. God bless thee, my child, and believe me ever, ever, thy Affectionate father, L. S. he has YOUR friend is scarce able to write poor been at death's door this week with a pleurisy-I was bled three times on Thursday, and blistered on Friday The physician says I am better God knows, for I feel myself sadly wrong, and shall, if I recover, be a long while of gaining strength. Before I have gone through half this letter, I must stop to rest my weak hand above a dozen times. Mr. J was so good to call upon me yesterday. I felt emotions not to be de lady scribed at the sight of him, and he overjoyed me by talking a great deal of you. Do, dear Mrs. J—, entreat him to come to-morrow or next day, for perhaps I have not many days or hours to live I want to ask a favour of him, if I find myself worse that I shall beg of you, if in this wrestling I come off con'tis a bad omen queror my spirits are fled do not weep, my dear your tears are too precious to shed for me bottle them up, and may the cork never be drawn. Dearest, kindest, gentlest, and best of women! may health, peace, and happiness prove your handmaids! If I die, cherish the remembrance of me, and forget the follies which you so often condemn'd which my heart, not my head, betrayed me into. Should my child, my Lydia, want a mother, may I hope you will (if she is left parentless) take her to your bosom; You are the only woman on earth I can depend upon for such a benevolent action. I wrote to her a fortnight ago, and told her what I trust she will find in you.* Mr. J will be a father to her he will protect her from every insult, for he wears a sword which he has served his country with, and which he would know how to draw out of the scabbard in defence of innocence. Commend me to him as I now commend you to that Being who takes under his care the good and kind part of the world. Adieu All grateful thanks to you and Mr. J. Your poor affectionate friend, L. STERNE. From this circumstance it may be conjectured that this Letter was written on Tuesday the 8th of March, 1768, ten days before Mr. Sterne died. Sentimental Journey, etc. 22 CXXIX. TO ** petrified my fluids - I BEHELD her tender look her pathetic eye the liquid dissolution drowned those once bright orbs -the late sympathetic features, so pleasing in their harmony, are now blasted withered and are dead; her charms are dwindled into a melancholy which demands my pity - Yes my friend our once sprightly and vivacious Harriot is that very object that must thrill your soul. How abandoned is that heart which bulges the tear of innocence, and is the cause the fatal cause of overwhelming the spotless soul, and plunging the yet-untainted mind into a sea of sorrow and repentance Though born to protect the fair, does not man act the part of a demon? first alluring by his temptations, and then triumphing in his victory when villany gets the ascendancy, it seldom leaves the wretch till it has thoroughly polluted him - T*******, once the joyous companion of our juvenile extravagancies, by a deep-laid scheme, so far ingratiated himself into the good graces of the old man that even he, with all his penetration and experience (of which old folks generally pique themselves), could not perceive his drift, and, like the goodness of his own heart, believed him honourable: had I known his pretensions I would have flown on the wings of friendship, of regard - of affection, and rescued the lovely innocent from the hands of the spoiler; be not alarmed at my declaration I have been long bound to her in the reciprocal bonds of affection; but it is of a more delicate stamp than the gross materials nature has planted in us for procreation I hope ever to retain the idea I would love the of innocence, and love her still: - - the taking her by the hand the other thrown round her waist after an intimacy allowing such freedoms with a look deceitfully pleasing, the villain poured out a torrent of protestations - and though oaths are sacred swore with all the fortitude of a conscientious man the depth of his love height of his esteem the strength of his attachment; by these, and other artful means to answer his abandoned purpose (for which you know he is but too well qualified) gained on the open inexperienced heart of the generous Harriot, and robbed her of her brightest jewel. Oh! England! where are your senators? where are your laws? Ye Heavens! where rests your deadly thunder; why are your bolts restrained from overwhelming with vengeance this vile seducer? I, my friend, I, was the minister sent by justice to revenge her wrongs claim it to redress her wrongs. fliction flies - revenge I dis The news of af I heard it, and posted to ****, where, forgetting my character this is the style of the enit most became my character him by the collar and in a tumult of passion manded sure, de anger is excusable, it must be when it is excited by a detestation of vice I demanded him to restore alas! what was not in his power to return. Vengeance! and shall these vermin these spoilers of the fair these murderers of the mind lurk and creep about in dens secure to themselves, and pillage all around them? Distracted with my rageI charged him with his crime exploded his baseness |