acted out of necessity

My kind re

you

spects to Baron d'Holbach, and all his household Say all that's kind for me to my other friends know how much, dear Foley, I am yours,

L. STERNE.

I have not five Louis to vapour with in this land of coxcombs. My wife's compliments.

XXXVIII. TO THE SAME.

DEAR FOLEY,

Toulouse, April 18, 1763.

I THANK you for your punctuality in sending me the rescription, and for your box by the courier, which came safe by last post. I was not surprised much with your account of Lord ***** being obliged to give and for the rest, all follows in course. way I suppose you will endeavour to fish and catch something for yourself in these troubled waters - at least I wish you all a reasonable man can wish for himself which is wishing enough for you all the rest is in the brain. Mr. Woodhouse (whom you know) is also here he is a most amiable worthy man, and I have the pleasure of having him much with me a short time he proceeds to Italy. The first week in June, I decamp like a patriarch with my whole household, to pitch our tents for three months at the foot of the Pyrenean Hills at Bagnieres, where I expect much health and much amusement from the concourse of adventurers from all corners of the earth. Mrs. Msets out at the same time, for another part of the Pyrenean Hills at Courtray whence to Italy This

in

is the general plan of operation here except that I have some thoughts of spending the winter at Florence, and crossing over with my family to Leghorn by water -- and in April of returning by way of Paris homebut this is a sketch only, for in all things I am governed by circumstances so that what is fit to be done on Monday may be very unwise on Saturday On all days of the week, believe me yours, With unfeigned truth,

L. STERNE.

MY DEAR FOLEY,

Toulouse, April 29, 1763.

LAST post, my agent wrote me word he would send up from York a bill for fourscore guineas, with orders to be paid into Mr. Selwin's hands for me. This he said he would expedite immediately, so 'tis possible you may have had advice of it, and 'tis possible also the money may not be paid this fortnight; therefore, as I set out for Bagnieres in that time, be so good as to give me credit for the money for a few posts or so, and send me either a rescription for the money, or a draught for it at the receipt of which, we shall decamp for ten or twelve weeks You will receive twenty pounds more on my account, which send also So much for that as for pleasure you have it all amongst you at Paris we have nothing here which deserves the name I shall scarce be tempted

--

to sojourn another winter in Toulouse for I cannot say it suits my health as I hoped

Sentimental Journey, etc.

'tis too moist

15

and I cannot keep clear of agues here so that if I stay the next winter on this side of the water 'twill be either at Nice or Florence and I shall return to

England in April. Wherever I am, believe dear Foley, that I am,

Yours faithfully,

L. STERNE.

me,

Madame and Mademoiselle present their best compliments Remember me to all I regard, particularly Messrs. Panchaud and the rest of your household.

XL. TO THE SAME.

Toulouse, May 21, 1763.

I TOOK the liberty, three weeks ago, to desire you would be so kind as to send me fourscore pounds, having received a letter the same post, from my agent, that he would order the money to be paid to your correspondent in London in a fortnight. It is some disappointment to me that you have taken no notice of my letter, especially as I told you we waited for the money before we set out for Bagnieres and so little distrust had I that such a civility would be refused me, that we have actually had all our things packed up these eight days, in hourly expectation of receiving a letter. Perhaps my good friend has waited till he heard the money was paid in London - but you might have trusted to my honour that all the cash in your iron box (and all the bankers in Europe put together) could not have tempted me to say the thing that is not. I hope before this you will have received an account of the money being paid in London. But it would have been taken kindly if you had wrote me word you

would transmit me the money when you had received it, but no sooner: for Mr. R― of Montpellier, though I know him not, yet knows enough of me to have given me credit for a fortnight for ten times the sum. I am, dear F—, your friend,

and hearty well-wisher,

L. STERNE.

I saw the family of the H

yesterday, and

asked them if you was in the land of the living they said yea for they had just received a letter from you. After all, I heartily forgive you for you have done me a signal service in mortifying me, and it is this, I am determined to grow rich upon it.

Adieu, and God send you wealth and happiness. All compliments to -- Before April next I am obliged to revisit your metropolis in my way to England.

XLI. TO THE SAME.

MY DEAR FOLEY,

I THIS moment received

yours consequently the moment I got it I sat down to answer it. So much for a logical inference.

Now believe me I had never wrote you so testy a letter, had I not both loved and esteemed you and it was merely in vindication of the rights of friendship that I wrote in a way as if I was hurt for neglect me in your heart I knew you could not, without cause; which my heart told me I never had or will ever give you: I was the best friends with you that ever I was in my life, before my letter had got a league, and pleaded the true excuse for my friend, "That he was

oppressed with a multitude of business." Go on, my dear F., and have but that excuse (so much do I regard your interest), that I would be content to suffer a real evil without future murmuring but in truth, my disappointment was partly chimerical at the bottom having a letter of credit for two hundred pounds from a person I never saw by me but which, out of nicety of temper, I would not make any use of I set out in two days for Bagnieres, but direct to me to Brousse, who will forward all my letters. Dear F., adieu. Believe me,

Yours affectionately,

DEAR FOLEY,

LUCKILY just before I was stepping into my chaise for Bagnieres, has a strayed fifty pound bill found its way to me; so I have sent it to its lawful owner enclosed My noodle of an agent, instead of getting Mr. Selwin to advise you he had received the money (which would have been enough) has got a bill for it, and sent it rambling to the furthest part of France after me; and if it had not caught me just now, it might have followed me into Spain, for I shall cross the Pyreneans, and spend a week in that kingdom, which is enough for a fertile brain to write a volume upon When I write the history of my travels Memorandum! I am not to forget how honest a man I have for a banker at Paris But, my dear friend, when you say you dare trust me for what little occasions I