but not hears a female cater-wauling on the house-top cater-wauling disgusts me. I had rather raise a gentle flame than have a different one raised in me. Now I take heaven to witness, after all this badinage, my heart is innocent and the sporting of my pen is equal, just equal to what I did in my boyish days, when I got astride of a stick, and gallop'd away The truth is this that my pen governs me me my pen. You are much to blame if you dig for marl, unless you are sure of it. I was once such a puppy myself as to pare, and burn, and had my labour for my pains, and two hundred pounds out of my pocket. Curse on farming (said I), I will try if the pen will not succeed better than the spade. The following up of that affair (I mean farming) made me lose my temper, and a cart-load of turnips was (I thought) very dear at two hundred pounds. In all your operations may your own good sense guide you bought experience is the devil. adieu! Believe me Yours most truly, CVIII. TO THE SAME. DEAR SIR, Adieu, L. STERNE. Coxwould, Sept. 27, 1767. You are arrived at Scarborough when all the world has left it but you are an unaccountable being, and so there is nothing more to be said on the matter You wish me to come to Scarborough, and join you to read a work that is not yet finished besides, I have other things in my head. My wife will be here in three or four days, and I must not be found straying in the wilderness but I have been there. As for meeting you at Bluit's, with all my heart I will laugh, and drink my barley-water with you. As soon as I have greeted my wife and daughter, and hired them a house at York, I shall go to London, where you generally are in spring and then my Sentimental Journey will, I dare say, convince you that my feelings are from the heart, and that that heart is not of the worst of moulds praised be God for my sensibility! Though it has often made me wretched, yet I would not exchange it for all the pleasures the grossest sensualist ever felt. Write to me the day you will be at York 'tis ten to one but I may introduce you to my wife and daughter. Believe me, my good Sir, Ever yours, L. STERNE. CIX. TO MR. PANCHAUD, AT PARIS. DEAR SIR, York, Oct. 1, 1767. I HAVE ordered my friend Becket to advance for two months your account which my wife this day deliver'd she is in raptures with all your civilities. This is to give you notice to draw upon your correspondentand Becket will deduct out of my publication. Tomorrow morning I repair with her to Coxwould, and my Lydia seems transported with the sight of me. Nature, dear P-, breathes in all her composition; and except a little vivacity which is a fault in the world we live in I am fully content with her mother's care of her. Pardon this digression from business 'tis natural to speak of those we love. As to the subscriptions which your friendship has procured me, I must have them to incorporate with my lists which are to be prefixed to the first volume. My wife and daughter but join in millions of thanks first of December. Adieu, adieu! Believe me Yours, most truly, L. STERNE. CX. TO MR. AND MRS. J. Coxwould, Oct. 3, 1767. I HAVE suffered under a strong desire for above this fortnight to send a letter of inquiries after the health and the well-being of my dear friends, Mr. and Mrs. J-; and I do assure you both 'twas merely owing to a little modesty in my temper not to make my good-will troublesome, where I have so much, and to those I never think of but with ideas of sensibility and obligation, that I have refrain'd. Good God! to think I could be in town, and not go the first step I made to Gerrard-street! My mind and body must be at sad variance with each other, should it ever fall out that it is not both the first and last place also where I shall betake myself, were it only to say, "God bless you" May you have every blessing he can send you! 'tis a part of my litany, where you will always have a place whilst I have a tongue to repeat it And so you heard I had left Scarborough, which you would no more credit than the reasons assign'd for it I thank you for it kindly tho' you have not told me what they were; being a shrewd divine, I think I can guess. I was ten days at Scarborough in Sep., and was hospitably entertained by one of the best of our Bishops; who, as he kept house there, press'd me to be with him and his household consisted of a gentleman, and two ladies, which, with the good Bishop and myself, made so good a party that we kept much to ourselves. I made in this time a connection of great friendship with my mitred host, who would gladly have taken me with him back to Ireland. However, we all left Scarborough together, and lay fifteen miles off, where we kindly parted Now it was supposed (and have since heard) that I e'en went on with the party to London, and this I suppose was the reason assign'd for my being there. I dare say charity would add a little to the account, and give out that 'twas on the score of one, and perhaps both, of the ladies and I will excuse charity on that head, for a heart disengaged could not well have done better. I have been hard writing ever since and hope by Christmas I shall be able to give a gentle rap at your door - and tell you how happy I am to see my two good friends. I assure you I spur on my Pegasus more violently upon that account, and am now determined not to draw bit till I have finished this Sentimental Journey which I hope to lay at your feet, as a small (but a very honest) testimony of the constant truth with which I am, My dear friends, Your ever obliged and grateful L. STERNE. P. S. My wife and daughter arrived here last night from France. My girl has returned an elegant accomplished little slut my wife but I hate to praise my wife 'tis as much as decency will allow to praise my daughter. next summer to France. I suppose they will return to reside at York for the winter would till the first of January. and I stay at Cox Coxwould, Friday. I RETURN you a thousand thanks for your obliging inquiry after me I got down last summer very much worn out and much worse at the end of my journey -I was forced to call at his Grace's house (the Archbishop of York) to refresh myself a couple of days upon the road near Doncaster Since I got home to quietness, and temperance, and good books, and good hours, I have mended and am now very stout and in a fortnight's time shall perhaps be as well as you yourself could wish me. I have the pleasure to acquaint you that my wife and daughter are arrived from France I shall be in town to greet my friends by the first of January. Adieu, dear Madam Believe me Yours sincerely, you - EVER since my dear H. wrote me word she was mine more than ever woman was, I have been racking my memory to inform me where it was that you and I had that affair together. People think that I have had many, some in body, some in mind; but, as I told before, you have had me more than any woman therefore you must have had me, H-, both in mind and in body. Now I cannot recollect where it was, nor exactly when it could not be the lady in Bondstreet, or Grosvenor-street, or Square, or Pall-mall, We shall make it out, H., when we meet I impatiently long for it 'tis no matter I cannot now |