LXVII.

TO MR. FOLEY, AT PARIS.

DEAR SIR,

Naples, Feb. 8, 1766.

I DESIRE Mrs. Sterne may have what cash she wants if she has not received it before now: she sends me word she has been in want of cash these three weeks

be so kind as to prevent this uneasiness to her which is doubly so to me. I have made very little use of your letters of credit, having, since I left Paris, taken up no more money than about fifty louis_at Turin, as much at Rome and a few ducats here and as I now travel hence to Rome, Venice, through Vienna to Berlin, &c., with a gentleman of fortune, I shall draw for little more till my return

so you will have always enough to spare for my wife. The beginning of March be so kind as to let her have a hundred pounds to begin her year with.

There are a good many English here, very few in Rome, or other parts of Italy. The air of Naples agrees very well with me

I shall return fat

friendship to all who honour me with theirs

my dear friend

my Adieu

L. STERNE.

TO MR. PANCHAUD, AT PARIS.

LXVIII.

DEAR SIR,

Naples, Feb. 14, 1766.

I WROTE last week to you to desire you would let Mrs. Sterne have what money she wanted happen, as that letter went inclosed in one to her at Tours, that you will receive this first I have made little use of your letters of credit, as you will see by that letter, nor shall I want much (if any) till you see me, as I travel now in company with a gentleman

Sentimental Journey, etc.

17

however, as we return by Venice, Vienna, Berlin, &c., to the Spaw, I should be glad if you will draw me a letter of credit upon some one at Venice, to the extent of fifty louis but I am persuaded I shall not 'want half of them however, in case of sickness or accidents, one would not go so long a rout without money in one's pocket. The bankers here are not so conscientious as my friend P.; they would make me pay twelve per cent, if I was to get a letter here. I beg your letters, &c., may be inclosed to Mr. Watson at Venice where we shall be in the Ascension. I have received much benefit from the air of Naples but quit it to be at Rome before the holy week. There are about five and twenty English here but most of them will be decamp'd in two months there are scarce a third of the number at Rome, I suppose therefore that Paris is full my warmest wishes attend you with my love to Mr. F. and compliments to all I am, dear Sir, very faithfully,

Yours,

L. STERNE.

Sir James Macdonald is in the house with me, and is just recovering a long and most cruel fit of rheumatism.

My desire of seeing both my wife and girl has turned me out of my road towards a delicious Chateau of the Countess of M-, where I have been patriarching it these seven days with her ladyship, and half a dozen of very handsome and agreeable ladies - her ladyship has the best of hearts a valuable present not given to every one. To-morrow, with regret, I shall

quit this agreeable circle, and post it night and day to Paris, where I shall arrive in two days, and just wind myself up when I am there, enough to roll on to Calais so I hope to sup with you the King's birthday, according to a plan of sixteen days' standing. Never man has been such a wildgoose chace after a Iwife as I have been after having sought her in five or six different towns, I found her at last in Franche Compté Poor woman! she was very cordial, &c. and begs to stay another year or so my Lydia pleases me much I found her greatly improved in every thing I wished her I am most unaccountably well, and most unaccountably nonsensical 'tis at least a proof of good spirits, which is a sign and token given me, in these latter days, that I must take up again the pen In faith, I think I shall die with it in my hand, but I shall live these ten years, my Antony, notwithstanding the fears of my wife, whom I left most melancholy on that account. This is a delicious part of the world; most celestial weather, and we lie all day, without damps, upon the grass and that is the whole of it, except the inner man (for her ladyship is not stingy of her wine) is inspired twice a day with the best Burgundy that grows upon the mountains which terminate our lands here. Surely you will not have decamped to Crazy Castle before I reach town The summer here is set in in good earnest 'tis more than we can say for Yorkshire I hope to hear a good tale of your alum-works have you no other works in hand? I do not expect to hear from you, so God prosper you and all your undertakings. I am, my dear cousin, Most affectionately yours,

L. STERNE

Remember me to Mr. G-, Cardinal S--, the Colonel, &c. &c. &c.

LXX.

TO MR. PANCHAUD, AT PARIS.

DEAR SIR,

York, June 28, 1766.,

I WROTE last week to Mr. Becket to discharge the balance due to you and I have received a letter from him, telling me that, if you will draw upon him for one hundred and sixty pounds, he will punctually pay it to your order so send the draughts when you please. Mrs. Sterne writes me word she wants fifty pounds which I desire you will let her have. I will take care to remit it to your correspondent I have such an entire confidence in my wife, that she spends as little as she can, though she is confined to no particular sum her expenses will not exceed three hundred pounds a year, unless by ill health or a journey and I am very willing she should have it you may rely in case it ever happens that she should draw for fifty or a hundred pounds extraordinary, that it and every demand shall be punctually paid and with proper thanks; and for this the whole Shandean family are ready to stand security. "Tis impossible to tell you how sorry I was that my affairs hurried me so quick through Paris as to deprive me of seeing my old friend Mr. Foley, and of the pleasure I proposed in being made known to his better half probability of seeing him this winter. and believe me,

Most cordially yours,

--

and

but I have a Adieu, dear Sir,

L. STERNE.

P. S. Mrs. Sterne is going to Chalons, but your letter will find her, I believe, at Avignon

She is

very poorly and my daughter writes to me, with sad grief of heart, that she is worse.

LXXI. TO MR. S.

DEAR SIR,

Coxwould, July 23, 1766.

ONE might be led to think that there is a fatality regarding us we make appointments to meet, and for these two years have not seen each other's face but twice we must try and do better for the future. Having sought you with more zeal than C― sought the Lord, in order to deliver you the books you bade me purchase for you at Paris - I was forced to pay carriage for them from London down to York but as I shall neither charge you the books nor the carriage 'tis not worth talking about. Never man, my dear Sir, has had a more agreeable tour than your Yorick and at present I am in my peaceful retreat, writing the ninth volume of Tristram. I shall publish but one this year, and the next I shall begin a new work of four volumes, which, when finished, I shall continue Tristram with fresh spirit. What a difference of scene here! But, with a disposition to be happy, 'tis neither this place nor t'other that renders us the reverse. In short, each man's happiness depends upon himself.· he is a fool if he does not enjoy it. What are you about, dear S-? Give me some account of your pleasures you had better come to me for a fortnight, and I will shew, or give you (if needful), a practical dose of my philosophy: but I hope you do not want it if you did 'twould be the