Chapter CXLIV: Letter CXLII: To Mr. O

July 1, 1780.

DEAR BROTHER,

SHALL I rejoice or condole with you upon this new acquaintance you have made? How the devil it found you out, I cannot imagine--I suppose the father of mischief sent it to some richer neighbour at a greater house; but as Johnny O---- was a character better known, and much more esteemed, the gout thought he might as well just take a peep at F----m, liked the place, and the man of the place--and so, nestling into your shoe, quite forgot his real errand:--thy guardian angel watched the whole procedure--quoth he, “I cannot wholly avert evils--but I can turn them into blessings.--This transitory pain shall not only refine his blood, and cleanse him from other disorders--it shall also lengthen his life, and purify his heart:--the hour of affliction is the seed-time of reflection--the good shall greatly over-balance the evil.”----As I am unfortunately an adept in the gout, I ought to send you a cart-load of cautions and advice--talk nonsense about tight shoes, &c. with a farrago of stuff more teazing than the pain;--but I hear the ladies visit you--and, what’s better, friendship in the shape of Messieurs S----k and B----n were seen to enter the palace of F----. I supped last night with Dr. R----, where your health was drunk, and your gout pretty freely canvassed.

God orders all for the best.
Yours, &c.

I. SANCHO.