LETTERCXXVII.TO MR. S——.
Charles Street, Jan. 11, 1780.
MY DEAR FRIEND,
MR. R—— faithfully discharged his commission—paid me the desirable—and intrusted me with ten guineas, to pay on demand; and here he comes, faith—as fresh as May, and warm as friendly zeal can make mortality—to demand the two letters, which he will deliver himself, for his own satisfaction.—Iwish from my soul, that Chancellors—Secretaries of State—Kings—aye—and Bishops—were as fond of doing kind things—but they are of a higher order.—Friend R—— is only a Christian.—I give you credit for your promises of reformation in the epistolary way—and very glad am I to hear of your success.—Know your own worth—honour yourself, not with supercilious pride, but with the decent confidence of your own true native merit—and you must succeed in almost any thing you chuse to undertake: so thinks Sancho.—As to what you request me to do by way of inspecting your goods and chattels in your late lodging—I must beg to decline it—as I feel it aukward, to insinuate the least deficiency in point of attention to your interests in such a heart as H—s; a heart which, to my knowledge, feels every sentiment of divine friendship for you; an heart, animated with the strongest zeal and flowing ardor to serve you, to love you.
The kindness of you and your two friends exceedingly embarrasses me.—I would not wish to appear to any one either arrogant,vain, or conceited;—no—nor servile, mean, or selfish:—I grant your motive is friendly in the extreme—and those of your companions as nobly generous;—but—but what?—Why this—and the truth—were I rich, I would accept it, and say “Thank ye,” when I chose it;—as I am poor, I do not chuse to say “Thank ye”—but to those I know and respect. You must forgive me—and call it the error of African false principle—call it any thing but coldness and unfeeling pride, which is in fact ingratitude in a birth-day suit.—As to the grand Turk of Norfolk, if it comes—we will devour it—and toast Don S—— and the unknown giver.—Thou, my S——, hast (oh! prostrate, and thank the Giver) a noble and friendly heart, susceptible of the best, the greatest feelings. H—— is thy twin-brother—perhaps he has more fire in his composition:—Woman apart, he is a glorious fellow; * * * * apart—alas! alas! alas! * * * * * * * * apart, what might not be hoped, expected, from * * * * * * *! So the poor boy flew his kite—but the tail was lost.—Poor H—— has a book and a fair one to manage;—ticklish—veryticklish subjects—either:—and your worship has a book to castrate—and a Fandango to dance—with aTol de le rol, de le rol.—Your reason for postponing your journey to town is wisely great, or greatly wise;—it does you honour, because it is founded in equity. I am glad to hear the Rev. Mr. S—— is better.—I love and venerate that good man:—not because he begat you, but for his own great parts and many virtues—by the bye, I know more of him than you think for.—Tell brother O—— I am glad to hear he is well, and Mrs. O—— better;—and tell him the name of the Bishop’s lady’s dog (that was lost, and has been missing these two months) is Sherry[15]. When you see Mr. S——, the good, the friendly, generous Mr. S——, my and mine make the respects of—we wish him many happy years and his family.—To Mr. G—— and his amiable daughter, say all that’s right for me. And now to conclude with thanks, &c. &c. I and we—that’s spouse and self—remain, &c. &c. &c. &c. &c. &c.
I. SANCHO.
[15]Mr. O—— had promised Mr. Sancho two months before to send him immediately a present of Sherry.
[15]Mr. O—— had promised Mr. Sancho two months before to send him immediately a present of Sherry.