for the future direct to me under cover at Monsieur Brousse's I receive all letters through him more punctually and sooner than when left at the posthouse.

we are much forget me not to the nor to your domestic

H-'s family greet you with mine together, and never forget you Baron and all the circle circle.

I am got pretty well, Toby in the volume I am now fabricating for the laughing part of the world for the melancholy part of it, so God help them.

and sport much with my uncle

I have nothing but my prayers

I shall hear from you in a post or two at least, after you receive this in the mean time, dear Foley, adieu, and believe no man wishes or esteems you more

I HAVE for this last fortnight every postday gone to Messrs. B and sons, in expectation of the pleasure of a letter from you with the remittance I desired you to send me here. When a man has no more than half a dozen guineas in his pocket and a thousand miles from home and in a country where he can as soon raise the d-l as a six livre piece to go to market with in case he had changed his last guinea envy my situation God bless you

you will not

Iremit me the

balance due upon the receipt of this. We are all at H-'s, practising a play we are to act here this Christ

mas holidays all the Dramatis Personæ are of the English, of which we have a happy society living together like brothers and sisters Your banker here has just sent me word the tea Mr. H. wrote for is to be delivered into my hands 'tis all one into whose hands the treasure falls we shall pay Brousse for it the day we get it. We join in our friendly respects, and believe me, dear Foley, truly

most

-

THE post after I wrote last, I received yours, with the inclosed draught upon the receiver, for which I return you all thanks I have received this day likewise the box and tea all safe and sound so we shall all of us be in our cups this Christmas, and drink without fear or stint. We begin to live extremely happy, and are all together every night fiddling, laughing and singing, and cracking jokes. You will scarce believe the news I tell you there is a company of English strollers arrived here, who are to act comedies all the Christmas, and are now busy in making dresses, and preparing some of our best comedies

your wonder will cease when I inform you these strollers are your friends, with the rest of our society to whom I proposed this scheme soulagement — and I assure you we do well. The next week, with a grand orchestra, we play the Busy Body and the Journey to London, the week after; but I have some thought.

of adapting it to our situation and making it the Journey to Toulouse, which, with the change of halfa-dozen scenes, may be easily done. Thus, my dear F., for want of something better we have recourse to ourselves, and strike out the best amusements we can from such materials. My kind love and friendship to my service to the rest.

all my true friends H-'s family have just left me, having been this last week they will be with me all the holidays. In summer we shall visit them, and so balance hospitalities.

with us

Adieu,

THOUGH that's a mistake! I mean the date of the place, for I write at Mr. H―'s in the country, and have been there with my people all the week.

"How does

though

I

Tristram do?" you say in yours to him faith but so the worst of human maladies is poverty that is a second lie for poverty of spirit is worse than poverty of purse by ten thousand per cent. inclose you a remedy for the one, a draught of a hundred and thirty pounds, for which I insist upon a rescription by the very return or I will send you and all your commissaries to the d-l. I do not hear they have tasted of one fleshy banquet all the Lent you will make an excellent grillé. P-they can make nothing of him but bouillon I mean my other two so shall send them a reprieve as they

friends no ill

acted out of necessity not choice. My kind respects to Baron d'Holbach, and all his household Say all that's kind for me to my other friends know how much, dear Foley, I am yours,

L. STERNE.

you

I have not five Louis to vapour with in this land of coxcombs. My wife's compliments.

XXXVIII.

TO THE SAME.

Toulouse, April 18, 1763.

---

DEAR FOLEY,

I THANK you for your punctuality in sending me the rescription, and for your box by the courier, which came safe by last post. I was not surprised much with your account of Lord ***** being obliged to give and for the rest, all follows in course. way I suppose you will endeavour to fish and catch something for yourself in these troubled waters at least I wish you all a reasonable man can wish for himself which is wishing enough for you - all the rest is in the brain. Mr. Woodhouse (whom you know) is also here he is a most amiable worthy man, and I have the pleasure of having him much with me in a short time he proceeds to Italy. The first week in June, I decamp like a patriarch with my whole household, to pitch our tents for three months at the foot of the Pyrenean Hills at Bagnieres, where I expect much health and much amusement from the concourse of adventurers from all corners of the earth. Mrs. Msets out at the same time, for another part of the Pyrenean Hills at Courtray whence to Italy This

-

is the general plan of operation here except that I have some thoughts of spending the winter at Florence, and crossing over with my family to Leghorn by water

and in April of returning by way of Paris home but this is a sketch only, for in all things I am governed by circumstances so that what is fit to be done on Monday may be very unwise on Saturday days of the week, believe me yours,

With unfeigned truth,

On all

L. STERNE.

LAST post, my agent wrote me word he would send up from York a bill for fourscore guineas, with orders to be paid into Mr. Selwin's hands for me. This he said he would expedite immediately, so 'tis possible you may have had advice of it, and 'tis possible also the money may not be paid this fortnight; therefore, as I set out for Bagnieres in that time, be so good as to give me credit for the money for a few posts or so, and send me either a rescription for the money, or a draught for it at the receipt of which, we shall decamp for ten or twelve weeks You will receive twenty pounds more on my account, which send also

So much for that as for pleasure you have it all amongst you at Paris we have nothing here which deserves the name I shall scarce be tempted to sojourn another winter in Toulouse for I cannot say it suits my health as I hoped 'tis too moist Sentimental Journey, etc.

15