I am defirous (in the epidemical diftemper that now afflicts us all, and, I am told, all over the nation) to know how Mrs. Knight and yourself have escaped it, or have you escaped it? I have lain-in thefe three weeks, and narrowly miffed a fever. Mrs. Blount, hitherto, has been free from it, but is going next week to London, with open arms to receive that and all other town bleffings. She very often commemorates Gosfield, and you and Mrs. Knight. Her love for the place fhe banifhed herself from in fo few days, resembles Eve's paffion for Paradife, in Milton, when fhe had got herself turned out of it. However, like Eve, who raves upon tying up the rofe-trees, and cultivating the arbours in the midst of her grief, this Lady too talks much of feeing the lawn enlarged, and the flocks feeding in fight of the parterre, and of adminiftering grafs to the lambs, and crowning them with flowers, etc. In order whereto, fhe had got two beauties in their kind ready to fend thither at your first order. The feafon, I have feveral times admonished her, would be too cold for fuch tender creatures to travel, unless fhe made her friend give them her forthwith. So, in fhort, whenever you will direct your fervant in town, or her (who will be your fervant in town in a few days), they fhall be delivered, and sent in what manner you appoint. My mother still remembers Mrs. Knight, though it is not to be told how much fhe is decayed fince you faw her. I thank God fhe lives, and lives not in pain, though though languid, and void of pleasure. I wish for you both, and all my friends, a life extended no longer than the enjoyment of it, and the poffeffion of that understanding which will make us contented to part with the one, when we cannot preserve the other. I am, with fincerity, and all good wishes to each of you, dear Sir and dear Madam, Your, etc. LETTER VII. TO THE SAME. SIR, July 30, 1730. I HAVE long intended to tell you and Mrs. Knight, that I live, and live very faithfully, a fervant to you both. Accidents prevented my feeing you before you left London; and I had (after many inquiries, which would have feemed impertinent, had I not thought Mrs. Knight in extreme danger) the fatisfaction of hearing fhe was recovered enough to go a journey, almost the fame day that she went for the very next I got to town, and found you had left it. Since that, your fervant there told me the continued well I hope it, but fhould be better fatisfied to be ascertained by yourself. I hope you both enjoy whatever is to be enjoyed in the country, and where two, well-gathered together, make a thoufand: for Mrs Knight's fake, indeed, I wish a little quadrille in the When other Fair-ones to the shades go down, Mrs. Blount bids me affure you fhe is faithfully your fervant; and I have only to add, that my mother is much better this fummer than fhe ought to be, not having feen Mrs. Knight; and that I am fick every other day as ufual, and this day for one; but truly and always, dear Sir, Your most affectionate and most humble fervant, SIR, LETTER VIII. TO THE SAME. Stowe, Aug. 23, 1731. 'THE place from which I write to you will be a proof alone, how incapable I am of forgetting you and your Gosfield for if any thing under Paradife could fet me beyond all earthly cogitations, Stowe might do it. It is much more beautiful this year than when I saw it before, and much enlarged, and with variety: yet I shall not stay in it, by a fortnight, so long as I did (with pleasure) with you. You must tell Mrs. Knight fhe had been spoken of, and her health toasted here; and that Lord Cobham fends his fervices, with a memorandum to perform her promise of seeing this place. If the keeps it, I do not despair to live (partly by my own exemplary temperance, and partly by the afssistance of mother Vincent) to meet you both here another feason. I fhall yet think it a diminution to my happiness, to mifs of half our companions and compotators of fyllabub, not to have Mr. Newfham and his dogs, and his præceptors, and his dearlybeloved coufin, and his mathematics, and his Greek, and his horfes. Without a compliment to all, or any of them, I never paffed an easier and more agreeable month, Mrs. Knight's fon, by her first husband, C. * * month, in spite of fome ill health, and fome melan. choly, than that of July laft. I hope you will long enjoy that tranquillity and that fatisfaction, which you spread over all that is about you. I often with Mr. Mallet joy, in my own heart, of his having exchanged fuch a whining, valetudinary, cloudy, journalier companion, as myself, for the good-humour, and ferenity, and indulgence of your family. I am pretty fure he will deferve it all. Mrs. Patty languishes in town, and diets there on fools, in defect of friends. I am forry to forfake her at fuch a time; and she is more forry you live at fuch a distance. Her sister affirms, nobody of fenfe can live fix miles out of London; and indeed I know nothing that can set her right, but the free use of the cane you bestowed upon me, and which I could wish to bestow upon her. I can't say my rambles contribute much to my health; yet I take no corporeal medicaments, but wholly apply to remedies of the mind: if human philofophy will not do, I muft defire Mrs. Elliot to pray for me. My next journey is to Southampton, to my Lord Peterborow; where also I have a Catholic friend, who will take care of my foul; and fhall dine with a Jefuit, thrice a week, worth all the priests in Effex, if you except Mr. Tripfack. I defire you all to accept of my faithful fervices, and to know no man is more mindful of you, than, dear Sir, Your, etc. * He appears to have been tutor to young Newfham. C. |