LETTERXI.TO MR. S——N.
Dalkeith, Sept. 15, 1770.
IT was kindly done of my worthy old friend to give me the satisfaction of hearing he was well and happy.—Believe me, I very often think of and wish to be with you;—without malice, I envy you the constant felicity of being with worthy good children—whose regards and filial tenderness to yourself—and christian behaviour to each other—reflecthonor to themselves and credit to you. But the thing I have much at heart you are provokingly silent about—is my sweet Polly married yet? has she made Mr. H—— happy? May they both enjoy every comfort God Almighty blesses his children with! And how comes it my dear Tommy does not give me a line? I hope he is well, hearty, and happy—and honest downright Sally also;—tell Tommy he has disappointed me in not writing to me.—I hope Mrs. Sancho will be as good as her word, and soon pay you a visit.—I will trust her with you, though she is the treasure of my soul.—We have been a week in the Highlands, and a fine country it is.—I hear nothing of coming home as yet—but I fancy it will not be long now.—Mrs. H—— sends her love to you and yours—and I my double love to self and the four young ones—with my best wishes and respects to Mrs. B——y, and tell her I am half a Methodist:—here is a young man preaches here, one of those five who were expelled from Oxford—his name is M——n; he has a good strong voice—much passion—and preaches three times a day—an hour and ahalf each time;—he is well-built—tall—genteel—a good eye—about twenty-five—a white hand, and a blazing ring—he has many converts amongst the ladies;—I cannot prevail on Mrs. H—— to go and hear him—I have been four or five times, and heard him this day—his text was the epistle in the communion service.—I am, dear friend, yours sincerely, and all your valuable family’s sincere well-wisher, and, were it in my power, I would add friend,
IGNATIUS SANCHO.
Their Graces are all well—and Lady Mary grows every day—she is a sweet child.—Remember me to Mrs. ——, and tell her Mrs. M—— is quite the woman of fashion:—she is pretty well in every thing except her eyes, which are a little inflamed with cold—and she does not forget they are so. Once more my cordial love to the girls; and to the worthies, Tommy, Mr. H—— B——, and self. Adieu.