my

up so near dead that friends insisted upon my sending again for my physician and surgeon. I told them upon the word of a man of honour they were both mistaken, as to my case but though they had reasoned wrong, they might act right; but that sharp as my sufferings were, I felt them not so sharp as the imputation which a venereal treatment of my case laid me under. They answered that these taints of the blood laid dormant twenty years: but they would not reason with me in a point wherein I was so delicate, but would do all the office for which they were called in, namely, to put an end to my torment, which otherwise would put an end to me and so I have been compelled to surrender myself and thus, my dear Lord, has your poor friend, with all his sensibilities, been suffering the chastisement of the grossest sensualist. Was it not as ridiculous an embarrassment as ever Yorick's spirit was involved in? Nothing but the purest conscience of innocence could have tempted me to write this story to my wife, which, by the bye, would make no bad anecdote in Tristram Shandy's Life. I have mentioned it in my journal to Mrs. In some respects there is no difference between my wife and herself when they fare alike neither can reasonably complain. - I have just received letters from France, with some hints that Mrs. Sterne and my Lydia are coming to England to pay me a visit if your time is not better employed, Yorick flatters himself he shall receive a letter from your Lordship, en attendant. I am, with great regard,

My Lord,

Your Lordship's

Most faithful humble servant,

L. STERNE.

XCVI.

TO J. D-N, ESQ.

Old Bond-street, Friday Morning.

I WAS going, my dear D-n, to bed before I received your kind enquiry, and now my chaise stands at my door to take and convey this poor body to its legal settlement. I am ill, very ill, I languish most affectingly I am sick both soul and body it is a cordial to me to hear it is different with you no man interests himself more in your happiness, and I am glad you are in so fair a road to it enjoy it long, my D., whilst I

too nice for the world I live in

no matter what - but my feelings are things will mend. I dined yesterday with Lord and Lady S-; we talked much of you, and your goings on, for every one knows why Sunbury Hill is so pleasant a situation! rogue you have locked up my boots bootless home and I fear I shall go bootless all my Adieu, gentlest and best of souls

life

www

I am yours, affectionately,

You

and I go

adieu.

XCVII.

TO J

L. STERNE.

HS, ESQ.

Newark, Monday, ten o'clock in the morn.

MY DEAR COUSIN,

I HAVE got conveyed thus far like a bale of cadaverous goods consigned to Pluto and company - lying in the bottom of my chaise most of the route, upon a large pillow which I had the prevoyance to purchase before I set out I am worn out but press on to Barnby Moor to-night, and if possible to York the next. I know not what is the matter with me this machine upon

think it will not be overset this bout. My love to G-. We shall all meet from the east, and from the south, and (as at the last) be happy together - My kind respects to a few, I am, dear H.

Truly yours,

L. STERNE.

XCVIII. TO A. L-E, ESQ.

DEAR L.;

Coxwould, June 7, 1767.

I HAD not been many days at this peaceful cottage before your letter greeted me with the seal of friendship, and most cordially do I thank you for so kind a proof of your good will I was truly anxious to hear of the recovery of my sentimental friend but I would not write to enquire after her, unless I could have sent her the testimony without the tax, for even how-d'yes to invalids, or those that have lately been so, either call to mind what is past or what may return at least I find it so. I am as happy as a prince, at Coxwould and I wish you could see in how princely a manner I live 'tis a land of plenty. I sit down alone to venison, fish, and wild-fowl, or a couple of fowls or ducks, with curds and strawberries, and cream, and all the simple plenty which a rich valley (under Hamilton Hills) can produce with a clean cloth on my table and a bottle of wine on my right hand to drink your health. I have a hundred hens and chickens about my yard and not a parishioner catches a hare, or a rabbit, or a trout, but he brings it as an offering to me. If solitude would cure a love-sick heart, I would give you an invitation but absence and time lessen no attachment which virtue inspires. I am in high spirits care never enters

this cottage I take the air every day in my postchaise, with two long-tailed horses - they turn out good ones; and as to myself, I think I am better upon the whole for the medicines and regimen I submitted to in town May you, dear L-, want neither the one nor the other!

Yours truly,

L. STERNE.

XCIX.

TO THE SAME.

Coxwould, June 30, 1767.

than

I AM in still better health, my dear L―e, when I wrote last to you, owing I believe to my riding out every day with my friend H-, whose castle lies near the sea, and there is a beach as even as a mirror, of five miles in length before it where we daily run races in our chaises, with one wheel in the sea, and the other on land. D has obtained his fair Indian, and has this post sent a letter of enquiries after Yorick, and his Bramin. He is a good soul, and interests himself much in our fate. I cannot forgive you, L-e, for your folly in saying you intend to get introduced to the-. I despise them, and I shall hold your understanding much cheaper than I now do, if you persist in a resolution so unworthy of you. I suppose Mrs. J— telling you they were sensible is the ground-work you go upon-by-they are not clever; though what is commonly called wit may pass for literature on the other side of Temple-Bar. You say Mrs. J. thinks them amiable she judges too favourably; but I have put a stop to her intentions of visiting them. They are bitter enemies of mine, and I am even with them. La Bramine assured me they used their endeav

ours with her to break off her friendship with me, for reasons I will not write, but tell you. I said enough of them before she left England, and though she yielded to me in every other point, yet in this she obstinately persisted. Strange infatuation! but I think I have effected my purpose by a falsity, which Yorick's friendship to the Bramine can only justify. I wrote her word that the most amiable of women reiterated my request, that she would not write to them. I said too, she had concealed many things for the sake of her peace of mind when in fact, L-e, this was merely a child of my own brain, made Mrs. J's by adoption, to enforce the argument I had before urged so strongly. Do not mention this circumstance to Mrs. J—, 'twould displease her and I had no design in it but for the Bramine to be a friend to herself. I ought now to be busy from sun-rise to sunset, for I have a book to write a wife to receive an estate to sell parish to superintend, and, what is worst of all, a disquieted heart to reason with these are continual calls upon me. I have received half a dozen letters to press me to join my friends at Scarborough, but I am at present deaf to them all. I perhaps may pass a few days there something later in the season, not at present and so, dear L—e, adieu.

I am most cordially yours,

a

I MUST acknowledge the courtesy of my good friend Sancho's letter were I ten times busier than I am, and must thank him too for the many expressions of his