LETTER CCLXI.

To Mrs. THRALE.

DEAREST MADAM,

London, April 12, 1781.

You will not fuppofe that much has happened

OU

fince last night, nor indeed is this a time for talking much of lofs and gain. The bufinefs of Chriftians is now for a few days in their own bofoms. God grant us to do it properly. I hope you gain ground on your affliction. I hope to overcome mine, You and Mifs must comfort one another. May you long live happily together, I have nobody with whom I expect to fhare my uneafinefs, nor, if I could communicate it, would it be lefs. I give it little vent, and amuse it as I can. Let us pray for one another. And, when we meet, we may try what fidelity and tendernefs will do for us.

There is no wifdom in ufelefs and hopeless forrow; but there is fomething in it fo like virtue, that he who is wholly without it cannot be loved, nor will by me at least be thought worthy of efteem. My next letter will be to Queeney.

I am, &c.

LETTER

LETTER CCLXII.

To Mrs. THRAL E.

DEAR MADAM,

April 14, 1781.

My intention was to have written this day to my dear Queeney; but I have just heard from you, and therefore this letter fhall be your's. I am glad that you find the behaviour of your acquaintance fuch as you can commend. The world is not fo unjust or unkind as it is peevishly represented. Thofe who deferve well feldom fail to receive from others fuch fervices as they can perform; but few have much in their power, or are fo ftationed as to have great leifure from their own affairs, and kindness must be commonly the exuberance of content. The wretched have no compaffion, they can do good only from strong principles of duty.

I purpose to receive you at Streatham, but wonder that you come-fo foon.

. I fent immediately to Mr. Perkins to fend you twenty pounds, and intended to fecure you from difappointment, by inclofing a note in this; but yours written on Wednesday 11th, came not till Saturday the 14th, and mine written to-night, will not come before you leave Brighthelmfton, unless you have put Monday next for Monday fevennight, which I fufpect, as you mention no alteration of your mind.

I am, &c.

LETTER

LETTER CCLXIII.

To Mrs. THRAL E.

DEAR MADAM,

April 17, 1781.

MR. Norris (Mr. Robson's partner) promised

to fend the will to-morrow; you will therefore have it before you have this letter. When you have talked with Mr. Scrafe, write diligently down all that you can remember, and, where you have any difficulties, ask him again, and rather stay where you are a few days longer than come away with imperfect information.

The executors will hardly meet till you come, for we have nothing to do till we go all together to prove the will.

I have not had a fecond vifit from Mr. for he found his discourse to me very unavailing. I was dry; but if he goes to - he will be overpowered with words as good as his own. appears a very modeft inoffenfive man, not likely to give any trouble. The difficulty of finding executors Mr. Scrafe has formerly told you, and among all your acquaintance, except P, whom you preffed into the fervice, and who would perhaps have deserted it, I do not fee with whom you could have been more commodiously connected. They all mean well, and will, I think, all concur.

Mifs told me that you intended to bathe; it is right: all external things are diverfions: let her, bathe too. I regain that tranquillity which irremediable misfortunes neceffarily admit, and do not, I hope, think on what I have loft, without grateful recollection of what I have enjoyed.

I am, &c.

LETTER

LETTER CCLXIV.

To Mrs. THRALE.

DEAR MADAM,

London, April 16, 1781.

As I was preparing this day to go to Streatham, according to the direction of your letter of the rith, which I could not know, though I fufpected it, to be erroneous, I received two letters, of which the firft effect was, that it faved me a fruitlefs journey. Of these letters, that which I perceive to have been written firft has no date of time or place; the fecond was written on the 14th, but they came together.

I forbore, because I would not disturb you, to tell you, that laft week Mr. came to talk about partnership, and was very copious. I difmiffed him with nothing harfher than, that I was not convinced.

You will have much talk to hear. Mr. C fpeaks with great exuberance, but what he fays, when at last he fays it, is commonly right. Mr. made an oration flaming with the terrifick, which I discovered to have no meaning at all; for the refult was, that if we ftopped payment we fhould lofe credit.

I have written to Mr. Robfon to fend the will. There were two copies, but I know not who has them.

You are to receive five hundred pounds immediately. Mr. Scrafe shall certainly fee the will, if you and I go to Brighthelmfton on purpose, which, if we have any difficulty, may be our best expe

dient.

I am encouraged, deareft Lady, by your spirit. The feafon for agues is now over. You are in your civil character a man. You may fue and be fued. If you apply to bufinefs perhaps half the mind which you have exercifed upon knowledge and elegance, you will need little help, what help however I can give you, will, I hope, be always at call.

ON Monday evening arrived at the Angel Inn

at Oxford, Mr. Johnfon and Mr. Barber, without any finifter accident.

I am here; but why am I here? On my way to Lichfield, where I believe Mrs. Afton will be glad to fee me. We have known each other long, and, by confequence, are both old; and the is paralytick; and if I do not fee her foon, I may fee her no more in this world. To make a visit on fuch confiderations is to go on a melancholy errand. But fuch is the courfe of life.

This place is very empty, but there are more here whom I know, than I could have expected.

Young