tea on the road from York to Dover IT is a thousand to one that this reaches you before you have set out However, I take the chance you will receive one wrote last night, the moment you get to Mr. E. and to wish you joy of your arrival in town, to that letter which you will find in town, I have nothing to add that I can think on for I have almost drain'd my brains dry upon the subject. For God sake rise early and gallop away in the cool and always see that you have not forgot your baggage in changing post-chaises You will find good only bring a little to carry you from Calais to Paris give the Custom-House Officers what I told you; at Calais give more, if you have much Scotch snuff · but as tobacco is good here, you had best bring a Scotch mill and make it yourself, that is, order your valet to manufacture it 'twill keep him out of mischief. I would advise you to take three days in coming up, for fear of heating yourselves - See that they do not give you a bad vehicle, when a better is in the yard, but you will look sharp drink small Rhenish to keep you cool (that is if you like it). Live well, and deny yourselves nothing your hearts wish. So God in heaven prosper and go along with you kiss my Lydia, and believe me both affectionately, Yours, L. STERNE. XXV. TO THE SAME. Paris, May 31, 1762. MY DEAR, THERE have no mails arrived here till this morning, for three posts, so I expected with great impatience a letter from you and Lydia and lo! it is arrived. You are as busy as Thorp's wife, and by the time you receive this, you will be busier still I have exhausted all my ideas about your journey and what is needful for you to do before and during it So I write only to tell you I am well- Mr. Colebrooks, the minister of Swisserland's secretary, I got this morning to write a letter for you to the governor of the Custom-House Office at Calais it shall be sent you next post. - You must be cautious about Scotch snuff take half-a-pound in your pocket, and make Lyd do the same. 'Tis well I bought you a chaise there is no getting one in Paris now, but at an enormous price for they are all sent to the army, and such a one as yours we have not been able to match for forty guineas, for a friend of mine who is going hence to Italy the weather was never known to set in so hot, as it has done the latter end of this month, so he and his party are to get into his chaise by four in the morning, and travel till nine and not stir out again till six; but I hope this severe heat will abate by the time you come here - however, I beg of you once more to take special care of heating your blood in travelling, and come tout doucement, when you find the heat too much I shall look impatiently for intelligence from you, and hope to hear all goes well; that you conquer all difficulties, that you have re ceived your passport, my picture, &c. Write and tell me something of everything. I long to see you both, you may be assured, my dear wife and child, after so long a separation and write me a line directly, that I may have all the notice you can give me, that I may have apartments ready and fit for you when you arrive. For my own part I shall continue writing to you a fortnight longer - present my respects to all friends you have bid Mr. C. get my visitations at P. done for me, &c. &c. If any offers are made about the inclosure at Rascal, they must be inclosed to me nothing that is fairly proposed shall stand still on my score. Do all for the best, as He who guides all things will I hope do for us believe me Love to my Lydia so heaven preserve you both Your affectionate L. STERNE. I have bought her a gold watch to present to her when she comes. XXVI. TO THE SAME. MY DEAR, Paris, June 7, 1762. I I KEEP my promise and write to you again am sorry the bureau must be opened for the deeds but you will see it done I imagine you are convinced of the necessity of bringing three hundred pounds in your pocket if you consider Lydia must have two slight negligées you will want a new gown or as for painted linens, buy them in town, they will be more admired because English than French two you Mrs. H. writes me word that I am mistaken about buying silk cheaper at Toulouse than Paris, that she advises you to buy what you want here where they are very beautiful and cheap, as well as blonds, gauzes, &c. These I say will all cost you sixty guineas and you must have them for in this country nothing must be spared for the back — and if you dine on an onion, and lie in a garret seven stories high, you must not betray it in your clothes, according to which you are well or ill looked on. When we are got to Toulouse, we must begin to turn the penny, and we may (if you do not game much) live very cheapI think that expression will divert you and now God knows I have not a wish but for your health, comfort, and safe arrival here write to me every other post, that I may know how you go on will be in raptures with your chariot Mr. R. a gentleman of fortune, who is going to Italy, and has seen it, has offered me thirty guineas for my bargain. You will wonder all the way, how I am to find room in it for a third- to ease you of this wonder, 'tis by what the coachmakers here call a cave, which is a second bottom added to that you set your feet upon, which lets the person (who sits over against you) down with his knees to your ancles, and by which you have all more room and what is more, less heat, because his head does not intercept the fore-glass little or nothing Lyd and I will enjoy this by turns; sometimes I shall take a bidet (a little post-horse) and scamper before at other times I shall sit in fresco upon the arm-chair without doors, and one way or other will do very well. I am under infinite obligations to Mr. Thornhill, for accommodating me thus, and so genteelly, for 'tis like making a present of it. Yours most affectionately, Mr. L. STERNE. A week or ten days will enable you to see every thing and so long you must stay to rest your bones. XXVII. TO THE SAME. Paris, June 14, 1762. MY DEAREST, HAVING an opportunity of writing by a friend who is setting out this morning for London, I write again, in case the two last letters I have wrote to you this week should be detained by contrary winds at Calais I have wrote to Mr. E-, by the same hand, to thank him for his kindness to you in the handsomest manner I could and have told him, his good heart, and his wife's, have made them overlook the trouble of having you at his house, but that if he takes your apartments near him they will have occasion still enough left to shew their friendship to us I have begged him to assist you, and stand by you, as if he was in my place with regard to the sale of the Shandys — and then the copyright -- Mark to keep these things distinct in your head But Becket I have ever found to be a man of probity, and I dare say you will have very little trouble in finishing matters with him - and I would rather wish you to treat with him than with another man but whoever buys the fifth and sixth |