stand writing to you to-day I will make it up next post for dinner is upon table, and if I make Lord F-stay, he will not frank this. How do you do?

Which parts of Tristram do you like best? God

bless you.

Yours,

L. STERNE.

CXIII. TO MR. AND MRS. J——————.

Coxwould, November 12, 1767.

She

FORGIVE me, dear Mrs. J-, if I am troublesome in writing something betwixt a letter and a card, to inquire after you and my good friend Mr. J-, whom 'tis an age since I have heard a syllable of. I think so, however, and never more felt the want of a house I esteem so much, as I do now when I can hear tidings of it so seldom and have nothing to recompense my desires of seeing its kind possessors but the hopes before me of doing it by Christmas. I long sadly to see you and my friend Mr. J—. I am still at Coxwould my wife and girl* here is a dear good creature affectionate, and most elegant in body and mind—she is all heaven could give me in a daughter - but like other blessings, not given, but lent; for her mother loves France and this dear part of me must be torn from my arms to follow her mother, who seems inclined to establish her in France, where she has had many advantageous offers. - Do not smile at my weakness, when I say I don't wonder at it, for she is as accomplish'd a slut as France can produce. You shall excuse all this if you won't,

Mrs. Medalle thinks an apology may be necessary for publishing this Letter the best she can offer is that it was written by a fond parent (whose commendation she is proud of) to a very sincere friend.

I desire M. J- to be

don't want one.

With what pleasure shall I embrace your dear little pledge whom I hope to see every hour increasing in stature, and in favour, both with God and man! I kiss all your hands with a most devout and friendly heart. No man can wish you more good than your meagre friend does – few so much, for I am, with infinite cordiality, gratitude, and honest affection, My dear Mrs. J—,

Your ever faithful

L. STERNE.

P. S. My Sentimental Journey will please Mrs. J-, and my Lydia, I can answer for those two. It is a subject which works well, and suits the frame of mind I have been in for some time past I told you my design in it was to teach us to love the world and our fellow creatures better than we do so it runs most upon those gentler passions and affections which aid so much to it. Adieu, and may you and my worthy friend Mr. J- continue examples of the doctrine I teach.

CXIV. TO MRS. H.

Coxwould, Nov. 15, 1767.

give you a kiss there's for you!

Now be a good dear woman, my H-, and execute these commissions well and when I see you I will But I have something else for you which I am fabricating at a great rate, and that is my Sentimental Journey, which shall make you cry as much as it has affected me or I will give up the business of sentimental writing and write to the body that is, H., what I am

--

doing in writing to you but you are a good body, which is worth a half a score mean souls.

I am yours, &c. &c.

L. SHANDY.

You make yourself unhappy, dear L-e, by imaginary ills which you might shun instead of putting yourself in the way of. Would not any man in his senses fly from the object he adores, and not waste his time and his health in increasing his misery by so vain a pursuit? The idol of your heart is one of ten thousand. The Duke of

has long sighed in vain and can you suppose a woman will listen to you that is proof against titles, stars, and red ribands? Her heart (believe me, L-e) will not be taken in by fine men, or fine speeches if it should ever feel a preference, it will choose an object for itself, and it must be a singular character that can make an impression on such a being she has a platonic way of thinking, and knows love only by name the natural reserve of her character, which you complain of, proceeds not from pride, but from a superiority of understanding, which makes her despise every man that turns himself into a fool Take my advice and pay your addresses to Miss ; she esteems you, and time will wear off an attachment which has taken so deep a root in your heart. I pity you from soul my - but we are all born with passions which ebb and flow (else they would play the devil with us) to different objects and the best advice I can give you, L-e, is to turn the tide of another way. I know not whether I shall write again

Sentimental Journey, etc.

21

yours

while I stay at Coxwould.

I am in earnest at my sentimental work and intend being in town soon after Christmas - in the mean time, adieu. Let me hear from you, and believe me, dear L.,

---

Yours, &c.

L. STERNE.

Coxwould, November 28, 1767.

what

"TIs with the greatest pleasure I take my pen to thank your Lordship for your letter of inquiry about Yorick he has worn out both his spirits and body with the Sentimental Journey 'tis true, that an author must feel himself, or his reader will not but I have torn my whole frame into pieces by my feelings. I believe the brain stands as much in need of recruiting as the body therefore I shall set out for town the twentieth of next month, after having recruited myself a week at York. I might, indeed, solace myself with my wife (who is come from France), but in fact I have long been a sentimental being ever your Lordship may think to the contrary. The world has imagined, because I wrote Tristram Shandy, that I was myself more Shandean than I really ever was 'tis a good-natured world we live in, and we are often painted in divers colours according to the ideas each one frames in his head. A very agreeable lady arrived three years ago at York, in her road to Scarborough - I had the honour of being acquainted with her, and was her chaperon all the females were very inquisitive to know who she was "Do not tell, ladies; 'tis a mistress my wife has recommended to me nay, moreover, has sent me from France."

I hope my book will please you, my Lord, and then my labour will not be totally in vain. If it is not thought a chaste book, mercy on them that read it, for they must have warm imaginations indeed! Can your Lordship forgive my not making this a longer epistle? In short I can but add this, which you already know that I am, with gratitude and friendship, My Lord,

Your obedient faithful,

L. STERNE.

If your Lordship is in town in Spring, I should be happy if you became acquainted with my friends in Gerrard-street you would esteem the husband and honour the wife she is the reverse of most of her they have various pursuits she but one

sex

that of pleasing her husband. —

CXVII. TO HIS EXCELLENCY SIR G. M.

MY DEAR FRIEND,

Coxwould, Dec. 3, 1767.

I

For though you are his Excellency, and I still but Parson Yorick I still must call you so and were you to be next Emperor of Russia, I could not write to you, or speak of you under any other relation felicitate you, I don't say how much, because I can't -I always had something like a kind of revelation within me, which pointed out this track for you in which you are so happily advanced it was not only my wishes for you, which were ever ardent enough to impose upon a visionary brain, but I thought I actually saw you just where you now are and that is just, my dear Macartney, where you should be. -I should long, long ago, have acknowledged the kindness of a letter of yours from Petersburgh, but hearing