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heart.- -No man can wish you more good than your meagre friend does-few so much, for I am with infinite cordiality, gratitude, and honest affection, my dear Mrs. J -, your ever faithful,

&c.

P. S. My Sentimental Journey will please Mrs. J- and my Lydia-I can answer for those two. It is a subject which works well, and suits the frame of mind I have been in for some time past-I told you my design in it was to teach us to love the world and our fellow.creatures better than we do so it runs most upon those gentler passions and affections, which aid so much to it. Adieu, and may you and my worthy friend Mr. J— continue examples of the doctrine I teach!

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DEAR L.

Coxwould, December 7, 1767. I SAID I would not perhaps write any more, but it would be unkind not to reply to so interesting a letter as yours-I am certain you may depend upon lord

-'s promises,-he will take care of you in the best manner he can; and your knowledge of the world, and of languages in particular, will make you useful in any department-If his lordship's scheme does not succeed, leave the kingdom-go to the east, or the west, for travelling would be of infinite service to both your body and

mind-But more of this when we meet-Now to my own affairs. I have had an offer of exchanging two pieces of preferment I hold here, for a living of three hundred and fifty pounds a year in Surry, about thirty miles from London, and retaining Coxwould, and my prebendaryship—the country also is sweet-but I will not, cannot come to any determination, till I have consulted with you and my other friends. I have great offers too in Ireland-the bishops of C and R— are both my friends-but I have rejected every proposal, unless Mrs. S and my Lydia could accompany me thither-I live for the sake of my girl, and, with her sweet light burthen in my arms, I could get up fast the hill of preferment, if I chose it but without my Lydia, if a mitre was offered me, it would sit uneasy upon my brow. Mrs. S- -'s health is insupportable in England. She must return to France, and justice and humanity forbid me to oppose it. I will allow her enough to live comfortably, until she can rejoin me. My heart bleeds, L-e, when I think of parting with my child—'twill be like the separation of soul and body—and equal to nothing but what passes at that tremendous moment; and like it in one respect, for she will be in one kingdom, whilst I am in another. You will laugh at my weakness —but I cannot help it-for she is a dear, disinterested girl-As a proof of it-when she left Coxwould, and I bade her adieu, I pulled out my purse, and offered her ten guineas for her private pleasures-her answer was pretty, and affected me too much: "No, my dear papa, our expenses of coming from France may have straitened you-I

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would rather put an hundred guineas in your pocket than take ten out of it."-I burst into tears-but why do I practise on your feelings-by dwelling on a subject that will touch your heart?—It is too much melted already by its own sufferings, L-e, for me to add a pang, or cause a single sigh—God bless you I shall hope to greet you by new-year's day in perfect health-Adieu, my dear friend-I am most truly and cordially yours.

LETTER LX.

MR. STERNE TO MR. AND MRS. J.

York, December 23, 1767.

I WAS afraid that either Mr. or Mrs. J—, or their little blossom, was drooping-or that some of you were ill, by not having the pleasure of a line from you, and was thinking of writing again to inquire after you all-when I was cast down myself with a fever, and bleeding at my lungs, which had confined me to my room near three weeks-when I had the favour of yours, which till to-day I have not been able to thank you both kindly for, as I most cordially now do-as well as for all your professions and proofs of good-will to me. I will not say I have not balanced accounts with you in this. All I know is, that I honour and value you more than I do any good creatures upon earthand that I could not wish your happiness, and the success of whatever conduces to it, more than I do, was I your brother-but, good God! are we not

all brothers and sisters who are friendly, virtuous, and good? Surely, my dear friends, my illness has been a sort of sympathy for your afflictions upon the score of your dear little one.-I am worn down to a shadow; but as my fever has left me, I set off the latter end of next week with my friend Mr. Hall for town-I need not tell my friends in Gerard-street, I shall do myself the honour to visit them, before either lord

or lord

&c. &c.—I thank you, my dear friend, for what you say so kindly about my daughter-it shows your good heart; for as she is a stranger, 'tis a free gift in you—but when she is known to you,— she shall win it fairly-but, alas! when this event is to happen, is in the clouds. Mrs. S- has hired a house ready furnished at York, till she returns to France, and my Lydia must not leave her.

What a sad scratch of a letter!-but I am weak, my dear friends, both in body and mind-so God bless you-you will see me enter like a ghost-so I tell you before-hand not to be frightened.—I am, my dear friends, with the truest attachment and esteem, ever yours.

LETTER LXI.

MR. STERNE TO MISS STERNE.

MY DEAREST LYDIA, Old Bond-street, Feb. 20. My Sentimental Journey, you say, is admired in York by every one-and 'tis not vanity in me to tell you that it is no less admired here-but what is

the gratification of my feelings on this occasion?— The want of health bows me down, and vanity harbours not in thy father's breast-this vile influenza-be not alarmed, I think I shall get the better of it and shall be with you both the first of May; and if I escape, 'twill not be for a long period, my child—unless a quiet retreat and peace of mind can restore me.-The subject of thy letter has astonished me.-She could but know little of my feelings, to tell thee, that under the supposition I should survive thy mother, I should bequeath thee as a legacy to No, my Lydia!

'tis a lady, whose virtues I wish thee to imitate, that I should entrust my girl to-I mean that friend whom I have so often talked and wrote about-from her you will learn to be an affectionate wife, a tender mother, and a sincere friend -and you cannot be intimate with her, without her pouring some part of the milk of human kindness into your breast, which will serve to check the heat of your own temper, which you partake in a small degree of.-Nor will that amiable woman put my Lydia under the painful necessity to fly to India for protection, whilst it is in her power to grant her a more powerful one in England.-But I think, my Lydia, that thy mother will survive me-do not deject her spirits with thy apprehensions on my account.—I have sent you a necklace, buckles, and the same to your mother.-My girl cannot form a wish that is in the power of her father, that he will not gratify her in—and I cannot in justice be less kind to thy mother.-I am never alone. The kindness of my friends is ever the same-I wish though I had thee to nurse me-but

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