LETTERL.TO MR. M——.
September 3, 1777.
I FEEL it long since I heard from you—very long since I saw you—and three or four days back had some notion, I should never, in this paltry world, see thee again—but (thanks to the Father of Mercies!) I am better, and have a higher relish of health and ease, from contrasting the blessings with the pains I have endured.—Would to God you could say that your dizzy dismal headachs were flown to the moon, orembarked for Lapland—there to be tied up in a witch’s bag—and sold to Beelzebub with a cargo of bad winds—religious quarrels—politics—my gout—and our American grievances!—But what are you about in your last (where you dropt the candid friend and assumed the flatterer)?—You hinted as if there was a chance of seeing you in Charles Street: I wish it much.—My friend, I have had a week’s gout in my hand, which was by much too hard for my philosophy.—I am convinced, let the Stoics say what they list—that pain is an evil;—in short, I was wishing for death—and little removed from madness—but (thank Heaven)! I am much better—my spirits will be mended if I hear from you—better still to see you.—I find it painful to write much, and learn that two hands are as necessary in writing as eating.—You see I write, like a lady, from one corner of the paper to the other.—My respects—and love—and admiration—and compliments—to Mrs. ——, and Mrs. and Miss ——. Tell M——l, he kept his word in calling to see us before he left town!—I hope—confound the ink!—what ablot! Now don’t you dare suppose I was in fault—no, Sir, the pen was disabled—the paper worse—there was a concatenation of ill-sorted chances—all—all—coincided to contribute to that fatal blot—which has so disarranged my ideas—that I must perforce finish before I had half disburthened my head and heart:—but is N—— a good girl?—and how does my honest George do? Tell Mrs. H—— what you please in the handsome way of me.—Farewell, I will write no more nonsense this night—that’s flat.
IGN. SANCHO.
How do you like the print:—Mr. D—— says, and his wife says the same—that you are exceedingly clever—and they shall be happy to do any thing which is produced by the same hand which did the original—and if Mr. D—— can be of any service to you in the etching—you may command him when you please.