almost have honoured me with their names. My kindeft remembrance to Mr. Foley-refpects to Baron D'Holbach, and believe me ever ever yours, L. STERNE. LETTER LXXIX. A TO MISS STERNE. Old Bond-ftreet, February 23, 1767. ND fo, my Lydia! thy mother and thyfelf are returning back again from Marseilles to the banks of the Sorgue-and there thou wilt fit and fish for trouts-I envy you the sweet fituation.-Petrarch's tomb I should like to pay a fentimental vifit to the Fountain of Vauclufe, by thy description, must be delightful-I am also much pleafed with the account you give me of the Abbé de Sade-you find great comfort in fuch a neighbour-I am glad he is fo good as to correct thy tranflation of my Sermons -dear girl, go on, and make me a prefent of thy work-but why not the House of Mourning? 'tis one of the beft. I long to receive the life of Petrarch, and his Laura, by your Abbé; but I am out of all patience. with the answer the Marquis made the Abbé-'twas truly coarfe, and I wonder he bore it with any chriftian patience-But to the fubject of your letter-I do not wifh to know who was the busy fool, who made your mother uneafy about Mrs. 'tis true I have a friendship for her, but not to infatuation-I believe I have judgment enough to difcern hers, and every woman's faults. I honour thy mother for her anfwer-" that fhe wifhed not to be informed, and begged him to drop the fubject."-Why do you say that your mother wants money?—whilst I have a fhilling, fhall you not both have nine-pence out of it ?-I think, if I have my enjoyments, I ought not to grudge you yours.I fhall not begin my Sentimental Jour 5 ney till I get to Coxwould-I have laid a plan for fomething new, quite out of the beaten track.-I wish I had you with me-and I would introduce you to one of the moft amiable and gentleft of beings, whom I have just been with-not Mrs. -, but a Mrs. J. the the wife of as worthy a man as I ever met with-I efteem them both. He poffeffes every manly virtue -honour and bravery are his characteristics, which have diftinguifhed him nobly in feveral inftances-I fhall make you better acquainted with his character, by fending Orme's Hiftory, with the books you defired-and it is well worth your reading; for Orme is an elegant writer, and a just one; he pays no man a compliment at the expence of truth.-Mrs. Jis kind-and friendly-of a fentimental turn of mind -and fo fweet a difpofition, that fhe is too good for the world fhe lives in -Juft GoD! if all were like her, what a life would this be!-Heaven, my Lydia, for fome wife purpose has cre ated different beings-I wish my dear child knew her thou art worthy of her friendship, and fhe already loves thee; for I fometimes tell her what I - feel for thee. This is a long letterwrite foon, and never let your letters be ftudied ones-write naturally, and then you will write well.-I hope your mother has got quite well of her ague -I have fent her fome of Huxham's tincture of the Bark. I will order you a guittar, fince the other is broke. Believe me, my Lydia, that I am yours affectionately, L. STERNE. LETTER LXXX. TO MR. PANCHAUD, AT PARIS. DEAR SIR, London, February 27, 1767. My daughter begs a prefent of me, and you must know I can deny her nothing-It must be ftrung with cat-gut, and of five chords-fi chiama in Italiano la chitera di cinque cordefhe cannot get fuch a thing at Marfeilles-at Paris one may have every thing-Will you be fo good to my girl as to make her happy in this af fair, by getting fome musical body to buy one, and fend it her to Avignon directed to Monfieur Tefte?-I wrote laft week to defire you would remit Mrs. S. a hundred louis-'twill be all, except the guittar, I fhall owe youfend me your account, and I will pay Mr. Selwin-direct to me at Mr. Becket's-all kind respects to my friend Mr. F. and your fifter. Yours cordially, L. STERNE. END OF THE NINTH VOLUME. |