LETTER CCLXXIX. Mrs. THRALE to DR. JOHNSON, DEAR SIR, Feb. 16, 1782. I CAN find no paper readily but what is ruled for children's ufe 'tis all one I fuppofe, fo do excufe it. My houfe is pretty enough, but wondrous cold, though the feafon has hitherto been uncommonly mild, which perhaps may affect fome people's health. You are used to scorn little things, but must now be contented to acknowledge their influence. The influence of little people I hope you will never be magnificent enough to despise. Was it not Godeau who was called among the French wits Le Nain de Julie? And who wrote fo prettily after his great preferment to an old friend in thefe words? Au refte, mon ami, n'oubliez jamais le Nain de Julie, qui voudroit bien eftre un Geant pour vous fervir. So fay I. Looking over fome French melanges yesterday, I obferved that Mr. L'Abbé D'Artigny ufes the word accointance; it was a new thing to me, and one of which I had no notion before: Pray how came it into our language? You are now making hafte to be well I hope, and intend to be brifk, and answer questions willingly and kindly. I told Doctor Lawrence, that the Gravedo of which you complain should be kept from increafing long in this cafe, and as he is as good a grammarian as he is a physician, I hope he will take the hint. Dear Sir, be well, or how fhall we be merry, With talk of Spectacles and pills, as Swift fays? The The newspapers would fpoil my few comforts that are left if they could; but you tell me that's only because I have the reputation, whether true or false, of being a wit forfooth: and you remember poor Floretta who was teized into wishing away her spirit, her beauty, her fortune, and at last even her life, never could bear the bitter water which was to have washed away her wit; which she refolved to keep with all its confequences. I am told the new plays this year are got up (as the phrafe is) very penurioufly: our Italian friends tell a comical ftory, applicable enough, of what happened in their own country: I dare fay you have heard it from Saftres. How to ridicule the manager's parfimony, fome one faid, Non fapete forfe fare una comedia fenza fpefe verune? No Signor, facciamo pur quella d' Adamo e d' Eva, cofi faranno risparmiati gli abiti. Ma lo fcandalo! fays the other. Oibo! la faremo all'ofcuro, e cofi rif parmierete anche i lumi. Is this nonsense enough for one morning? I cannot bear the thoughts of turning the page to write more fuch. Accept the best compliments of all belonging to Your most faithful fervant, H. L. THRALE. LETTER LETTER CCLXXX. To Mrs. THRAL E. DEAR MADAM, Feb. 17, 1782. SURE fuch letters would make any man well. I will let them have their full operation upon me; but while I write I am not without a cough. I can however keep it quiet by diacodium, and am in hope that with all other difturbances it will go away, and permit me to enjoy the happiness of being Madam, Your, c.. LETTER CCLXXXI. To Mrs. THRAL E. DEAREST MADAM, Bolt-court, Feb. 21, 1782. I CERTAINLY grow better. I lay this morn ing with fuch fuccefs, that I called before I rofe for dry linen. I believe I have had a crisis. Laft night called Sir Richard Jebb; and many people call or fend: I am not neglected nor for gotten. gotten. But let me be always fure of your kindnefs. I hope to try again this week whether your houfe is yet fo cold, for to be away from you, if I did not think our feparation likely to be fhort, how could I endure? You are a dear dear lady, and your kind attention is a great part of what life affords to, Madam, Your, &c. LETTER CCLXXXII. To Mrs. THRAL E. DEAREST OF ALL DEAR LADIES, March 14, 1782. THAT Povilleri fhould write thefe verfes is impoffible. I am angry at Saftres. Seven ounces! Why I fent a letter to Dr. Lawrence, who is ten times more timorfome than is your Jebb, and he came and ftood by while one vein was opened with too fmall an orifice, and bled eight ounces and stopped. Then another vein was opened, which ran eight more. And here am I fixteen ounces lighter, for I have had no dinner. I think the lofs of blood has done no harm; whether it has done good, time will tell. I am glad that I do not fink without refistance. I am, Dear Madam, Your, &c. LETTER LETTER CCLXXXIII. MADAM, I HA To Mrs. THRAL E. April. HAVE been very much out of order fince you fent me away; but why fhould I tell you, who do not care, nor defire to know? I dined with Mr. Paradife on Monday, with the Bishop of St. Asaph yefterday, with the Bishop of Chefter I dine today, and with the Academy on Saturday, with Mr. Hoole on Monday, and with Mrs. Garrick on Thursday the 2d of May, and then-what care you? what then? The news run, that we have taken feventeen French transports-that Langton's lady is lying down with her eighth child, all alive and Mrs. Carter's Mifs Sharpe is going to marry a schoolmafter fixty-two years old. Do not let Mr. Piozzi nor any body else put me quite out of your head, and do not think that any body will love you like < Your, &c. LETTER |