but if you call me, very willingly. If you do not fend for me, let me, pray let me know as oft as you can how you do.

I am glad that my mafter is at his refles, they will help to fill up his mind.

Pray let me know often how you do.

I am, deareft Lady,

Your, &c.

LETTER CLVI.

To Mrs. THRAL E.

DEAREST LADY,

You

June 5, 1776.

will have a note which I wrote laft night. I was thinking, as I lay awake, that you might be worfe; but I hope you will be every moment better and better. I have never had any overpowering pain, nor been kept more awake than is usual to me; but I am a very poor creeper upon the earth, catching at any thing with my hands to spare my feet. In a day or two I hope to be as fit for Streatham

Z 2

Streatham as for any other place. Mr. Thrale it feems called laft night when I was in bed, and yet I was not in bed till near twelve, for I fit up left I fhould not fleep. He must keep well, for he is the pillar of the house; and muft get well, or the houfe will hardly be worth propping.

I am, deareft Madam,

you

4

Your, &c.

LETTER CLVII.

Το Mrs. THRAL E.

MY DEAR LADY,

ow could

How

you

June 6.

fo mistake me? I am very

defirous that the whole bufinefs fhould be as you would have it, only cheerfulness at that time is reckoned a good thing.

My feet grow better, and I hope, if you send a carriage, to mount it on Monday. This gout has a little depreffed me, not that I have fuffered any great pain; I have been teized rather than tormented; but the tediousness

and'

3

and the imbecillity have been unpleasant. However I now recover ftrength, and do not yet defpair of kicking the moon.

Could not you fend me fomething out of your garden? Things have been growing, and you have not been confuming them. I wifh I had a great bunch of asparagus for Sunday.

Take great care of our Queeney, and of yourself, and encourage yourself in bustle, and variety, and cheerfulness. I will be ready to come as foon as I can, but the pain is now twinging me. Let me know, my sweetest lady, very often how you do. I thought it late before I heard to-day.

I am, dear Madam,

Your, &c.

LETTER CLVIII.

Το Mrs. THRA L E.

DEAR MADAM,

June 8,

MY feet difappointed me last night; I

thought they would have given me no disturbance, but going up stairs I fancy fretted them, and they would not let me be easy. On Monday I am afraid I shall be a poor walker, but well enough to talk, and to hear you talk, And then, you know, what care we?

Mr. Norton called on me yefterday. He is at Sayer's print-fhop in Fleet-ftreet; and would take an invitation to dinner very kindly.

Poor Mr. Levet has fallen down, and hurt himself dangerously.

Of the monks I can give no account. I had them to dinner, and gave each of them the Political Tracts, and furnished Wilkes with letters, which will, I believe, procure him a proper reception at Oxford.

I am, deareft Lady,

Your, &c.

Ο

LETTER CLIX.

To Mrs. T HRALE.

Wednesday, Jan. 15, one in the morning, 1777. MNIUM rerum viciffitudo. The night after laft Thursday was fo bad, that I took ipecacuanha the next day. The next night was no better. On Saturday I dined with Sir Joshua. The night was fuch as I was forced to rife and pass fome hours in a chair, with great labour of refpiration. I found it now time to do something, and went to Dr. Lawrence, and told him I would do what he should order, without reading the prescription. He fent for a chirurgeon and took about twelve ounces of blood, and in the afternoon I got sleep in a chair.

At night, when I came to lie down after trial of an hour or two, I found fleep impracticable, and therefore did what the Doctor permitted in a case of distress; I rofe, and opening the orifice, let out about ten ounces more. Frank and I were but aukward; but, with Mr. Le