DEAR SIR, James Thomson to Mr. Ross. London, Jan. 12, 1737. I own I have a good deal of assurance, after asking one favour of you, never to answer your letter till I ask another. But, not to mince the matter more to a friend, and all apologies apart, hearken to my request. My sisters have been advised by their friends to set up at Edinburgh a little milliner's shop, and if you can conveniently advance to them twelve pounds on my account, it will be a particular favour. That will set them agoing, and I design from time to time to send them goods from hence; my whole account I will pay you when you come up here, not in poetical paper credit, but in the solid money of this dirty world. I will not draw upon you in case you be not prepared to defend yourself: but if your purse be valiant, please to inquire for Jean or Elizabeth Thomson, at the Rev, Mr. Gusthart's; and if this letter be not sufficient testimony of the debt, I will send you whatever you shall desire. It is late, and I would not lose this post, Like a laconic man of business, therefore, I must here stop short; though I have several things to impart to you, and, through your canal, to the dearest, truest, heartiest youth that treads on Scottish ground. The next letter I write you, shall be washed clean from business in the Castalian fountain. I am whipping and spurring to finish a tragedy for you this winter, but am still at some distance from the goal, which makes me fear being distanced. Remember me to all friends, and, above them all, heartily, heartily to Mr. Forbes: though my affec tion to him is not fanned by letters, yet it is as high as when I was his brother in the Virtû, and played at chess with him in a post-chaise. I am, dear Ross, most sincerely and affectionately yours, JAMES THOMSON. Edmund Burke to his uncle, Mr. Nagle. MY DEAR SIR, [Early in 1766.] I AM not a little ashamed to find myself so long in your debt, especially as your health seemed in so uncertain a situation at the time when you wrote. Believe me I was not indifferent to you, though a most excessive hurry of various sorts of business scarce left me a moment's leisure to tell you so. In reality, I am now far from idle. Be so good to let me hear from you soon, and gratify me with an account of your amendment. There are few things could give me a more sincere uneasiness than any suffering of yours. You mention some particulars relative to my accounts: you know I am not very knowing in the particulars of them, and may easily be guilty of mistakes. I leave all to your discretion and friendship. I could wish that the little commissions, I spoke of in my last letter, should be performed; and as you have probably nothing of mine in your hands, you may draw on me for the charge, as well as for what other matters you may think fit to do for the poor of your village and parish at this rigorous season. To be sure the trees ought to be replaced; and too many of them cannot be planted, as allowance must be made for those that naturally will be stolen and destroyed in a country so ill supplied with wood as yours. If I remember right, you said something about poor Garret's* horses; I don't now remember what. Do as you think best; always remembering what he said at his death, that those of them he was fond of should be put into such hands as would use them tenderly. His steward at Clohir, I think, was a sort of favourite of Garret's; if so, he will in all things be treated accordingly. If the poor on that farm be in distress, you will relieve them a little, and you may depend on it, your bills for the whole will be punctually answered; else it would not be reasonable to desire that you should be in advance for me. Dick has been for some time past at Paris. It is true he has not wrote; but no man living loves and values you more,-not even myself. He will make up for his neglects. By your saying nothing of Ned, though I have been very particular about him two or three times, I conclude you have changed your mind in rela tion to our former plan for him. In whatever way you think best to put him, you shall always find me equally ready to assist him; for I love his father, and I think very well of the boy's own dispositions. Jenny and little Dick desire me to wish you all many happy years. Pray remember us affectionately to our dear friends at Ballywalter, to all the Garrets, to my friend and agent, to Ballylegan, and to all those with whom I hope you passed a Christmas in the old manner-cheerful and happy. May you have many of them! I am myself well, other than a cold I got on Monday se'nnight at my election at Wendover. The event of that election I am sure will give you *Mr. Burke's brother. pleasure; and at your next meeting you will drink Lord Verney and my old friend (and indeed yours) Will Burke. It was on Lord Verney's interest I was chosen at that borough. I am with unalterable affection, my dear uncle, your affectionate, EDM. BURKE. SIR, LETTERS OF THANKS. Charles James Fox to the Rev. Gilbert Wakefield. I RECEIVED, a few days ago, your obliging letter, together with the very beautiful book which accompanied it. The dedication of such an edi. tion of such an author is highly gratifying to me; and to be mentioned in such a manner, by a person so thoroughly attached to the principles of liberty and humanity, as you, sir, are known to be, is peculiarly flattering to me. SIR, I am, with great regard, sir, Your obedient humble servant, Mr. Fox to Mr. Wakefield. C. J. Fox. St. Anne's Hill, Monday. I RECEIVED, on Saturday, the second volume of Lucretius, together with a pamphlet of yours upon Porson's Hecuba, for which I beg leave to return you my thanks. I had received, some time since, your letter, announcing to me the present of the Lucretius; but delayed answering it till I got the book, which my servant had not then an opportunity of sending me, lest there might be some mistake from your mentioning Park Street, instead of South Street, for my residence. * * I feel it to be unpardonable in me to take advantage of your civility, in sending me your books, to give you all this trouble; but I could not refuse myself so fair an opportunity of getting my doubts upon these passages cleared. * * * I am, with great regard, sir, Your most obedient servant, C. J. Fox. MADAM, From Dr. Johnson to Mrs. Boswell. July 22, 1777. THOUGH I am well enough pleased with the taste of sweetmeats, very little of the pleasure which I received at the arrival of your jar of marmalade arose from eating it, I received it as a token of friendship, as a proof of reconciliation, things much sweeter than sweetmeats, and upon this consideration I return you, dear madam, my sincerest thanks. By having your kindness I think I have a double security for the continuance of Mr. Boswell's, which it is not to be expected that any man can long keep, when the influence of a lady so highly and so justly valued operates against him. Mr. Boswell will tell you that I was always faithful to your interest, and always endeavoured to exalt you in his estimation. You must now do the same for me. We must all help one another; and you must now consider me as, dear madam, your most obliged and most humble servant, S. JOHNSON, |