Chapter LVI: Letter LV: To Mrs. C

Charles Street, Nov. 5, 1777.

NOW, whether to address--according to the distant, reserved, cold, mechanical forms of high-breeding--where polished manners, like a horse from the manage, prances fantastic--and, shackled with the rules of art, proudly despises simple nature;--or shall I, like the patient, honest, sober, long-ear’d animal, take plain Nature’s path, and address you according to my feelings?--My dear friend--you wanted to know the reason I had never addressed a line to you;--the plain and honest truth is, I thought writing _at_--was better than writing _to_ you;--that’s one reason:--now a second reason is--I know my own weakness too well to encounter with your little friend--whom I fear as a critic--and envy as a writer:--another reason is--a case of conscience--which some time or other you may have explained:--reason the fourth--a secret--and so must be--till the blessed year 1797;--and then, if you will deign to converse with an old friend--you shall know all.--Kitty sends her respects to Nutts--and her duty to her godmother.--Billy looks wisely by turns--and will speak for himself--if you should ever come to town again.--The girls all improve in appetite. Mrs. Sancho is tolerably well--and I am yours very seriously,

I. SANCHO.

P. S. I wrote to my friend R----, and then made some modest demands upon your good-nature--There are a sort of people in the world (one or two in a large extent of country) rare enough to meet with--and you are one whom nature hath left entirely defenceless to the depredations of knaves;--for my part, I own I have no remorse when I tax your good-nature--which proceeds from your having obliged me so much--that I think with the street paupers--when they cry--“Good your Ladyship, give me something--you always used to remember your poor old woman!”--Well but to conclude--we courtiers are all alive upon this great good news--the Queen, God bless her--safe;--another Princess--Oh the cake and cawdle!--Then the defeat of Washintub’s army--and the capture of Arnold and Sulivan with seven thousand prisoners;--thirteen counties return to their allegiance;--all this news is believed--the delivery of her Majesty is certain--pray God the rest may be as certain--that this cursed carnage of the human species may end--commerce revive--sweet social peace be extended throughout the globe--and the British empire be strongly knit in the never-ending bands of sacred friendship and brotherly love!--Her good Grace of P---- is just arrived:--the gardens would look as they were wont--but for you. But to conclude--the little dance (which I like because I made it)--I humbly beg you will make Jacky play--and amongst you contrive a figure.--The Dutchess of ---- visits the Queen this evening--which being a piece of news you may credit--and of the utmost consequence--I close my very sensible decent epistle with--And so God bless you!--Pray tell Mr. K---- my thanks for his obliging letter--and that I join him and all his friends in honest gladness--upon his brother’s account.--I fear, also, he has had, and still has, too much practice.--I have this opinion of him, that his humanity will ever be found equal to his skill--and that he will be a credit to his profession--as well as a blessing to his patients.--My humble respects and best wishes attend Miss ---- and Messieurs B---- and S----, &c.

The grand news is not yet officially authenticated--as no express is yet arrived from the Howes--the Isis man of war, which is supposed to have the dispatches, not being got in;--but the K---- and Cabinet believe the news to be true, though brought by hear-say--at sea.