next, and she will receive them before she quits Avignon, for England — she wants to lay out a little advise her money in an annuity for her daughter to get her own life insured in London, lest my Lydia should die before her. — If there are any packets, send them with the ninth volume* of Shandy, which she has failed of getting she says she has drawn for fifty louis when she leaves Paris send by her my account. Have you got me any French subscriptions, or subscriptions in France? Present my kindest service to Miss P. I know her politeness and good-nature will incline her to give Mrs. J. her advice about what she may venture to bring over. I hope every thing goes on well, though never half so well as I wish — God prosper you, my dear friend

me most warmly

Yours

Believe

L. STERNE.

The sooner you send me the gold snuff-box, the 'tis a present from my best friend.

better

CIII. — TO MR. AND MRS. J.

Coxwould, August 2, 1767.

My dear friends Mr. and Mrs. J— are infinitely kind to me, in sending now and then a letter to inquire after me — and to acquaint me how they are. You cannot conceive, my dear lady, how truly I bear a part in your illness. I wish Mr. J— would carry you to the South of France in pursuit of health; but why need I wish it, when I know his affection will make him do that and ten times as much to prevent a return of those symptoms which alarmed him so much

* Allading to the first edition.

I

in the spring -your politeness and humanity are always contriving to treat me agreeably, and what you promise next winter will be perfectly so but you must get well and your little dear girl must be of the party, with her parents and friends, to give it a relish I am sure you shew no partiality but what is natural and praise-worthy, in behalf of your daughter, but I wonder my friends will not find her a play-fellow; and I both hope and advise them not to venture along through this warfare of life without two strings at least to their bow. I had letters from France by last night's post, by which (by some fatality) I find not one of my letters has reached Mrs. Sterne. This gives me concern, as it wears the aspect of unkindness, which she by no means merits from me. My wife and dear girl are coming to pay me a visit for a few months; wish I may prevail with them to tarry longer. You must permit me, dear Mrs. J., to make my Lydia known to you, if I can prevail with my wife to come and spend a little time in London, as she returns to France. I expect a small parcel may I trouble you, before you write next, to send to my lodgings to ask if there is any thing directed to me that you can inclose under cover? I have but one excuse for this freedom, which I am prompted to use, from a persuasion that it is doing you pleasure to give you an opportunity of doing an obliging thing and as to myself, I rest satisfied, for 'tis only scoring up another debt of thanks to the millions I owe you both already Receive a thousand and a thousand thanks, yes, and with them ten thousand friendly wishes for all you wish in this world May my friend Mr. J. continue blessed with good health, and may his good lady get

perfectly well, there being no woman's health or com fort I so ardently pray for. Adieu, my dear friends believe me most truly and faithfully yours,

--

L. STERNE.

P. S. In Eliza's last letter, dated from St. Jago, she tells me, as she does you, that she is extremely ill God protect her! By this time surely she has set foot upon dry land at Madras

I heartily wish her well, and if Yorick was with her he would tell her but he is cut off from this, by bodily absence I am present with her in spirit, however but what is that? you will say.

I AM glad all has passed with so much amity inter te & filium Marcum tuum, and that Madame has found grace in thy sight All is well that ends well and so much for moralizing upon it. I wish you could, or would, take up your parable, and prophesy as much good concerning me and my affairs. Not one of my letters has got to Mrs. Sterne since the notification of her intentions, which has a pitiful air on my side, though I have wrote her six or seven I imagine she will be here the latter end of September; though I have no date for it, but her impatience, which, having suffered by my supposed silence, I am persuaded will make her fear the worst If that is the case, she will fly to England a most natural conclusion. You

did well to discontinue all commerce with James's powders as you are so well, rejoice therefore, and

let your heart be merry -mine ought upon the

same score for I never have been so well since I left college and should be a marvellous happy man, but for some reflections which bow down my spirits but if I live but even three or four years, I will acquit myself with honour - and no matter! we will talk this over when we meet. If all ends as temperately as with you, and that I find grace, &c. &c., I will come and sing Te Deum, or drink poculum elevatum, or do any thing in the world. I should depend upon G's critique upon my head, as much as Moliere's old woman upon his comedies when you do not want her society, let it be carried into your bed-chamber to flay her, or clap it upon her bum to and give her my blessing as you do it.

My postillion has set me a-ground for a week, by one of my pistols bursting in his hand, which he taking for granted to be quite shot off he instantly fell upon his knees and said (Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name), at which, like a good Christian, he stopped, not remembering any more of it the affair was not so bad as he at first thought, for it has only bursten two of his fingers (he says). I long to return to you, but I sit here alone as solitary and sad as a tom-cat, which by the bye is all the company I keep he follows me from the parlour to the kitchen, into the garden, and every place wish I had a dog my daughter will bring me one and so God be about you, and strengthen your faith I am affectionately, dear cousin, yours,

My service to the C home, and to Panty.

L. STERNE.

I

Coxwould, Aug. 13, 1767.

a

I

I BUT Copy your great civility to me in writing you word that I have. this moment received another letter wrote eighteen days after the date of the last from St. Jago if our poor friend could have wrote another letter to England, you would in course have had it but I fear, from the circumstance of great hurry and bodily disorder in which she was, when she dispatched this, she might not have time. In case it has so fallen out, I send you the contents of what I have received and that is a melancholy history of herself and sufferings since they left St. Jago continual and most violent rheumatism all the time fever brought on with fits, and attended with delirium, and every terrifying symptom the recovery from this left her low and emaciated to a skeleton. give you the pain of this detail with a bleeding heart, knowing how much at the same time it will affect yours. The three or four last days of our journal leave us with hopes she will do well at last, for she is more cheerful and seems to be getting into better spirits; and health will follow in course. They have crossed the line are much becalmed, by which, with other delays, she fears they will lose their passage to Madras and be some months sooner for it at Bombay. Heaven protect her, for she suffers much, and with uncommon fortitude. She writes much to me about her dear friend Mrs. J—— in her last packet. In truth, my good lady, she loves and honours you from her heart; but, if she did not, I should not esteem her, or wish her so well as I do. Adieu, my dear