The enclosed requires an immediate answer, as my business both in respect to Mrs. Lee and Winton seems brought to a crisis. Answer therefore yourself, and in my name send instructions, and if you can, comfort to Hugonin. Whether you decide (as to the Sporting Farmer) for severity or leniency, Hugonin will be desired by to-night's post to comply implicitly with your mandate.—Adieu, I hear you do not go to Denham till to-morrow, and that there was some design to carry my Lady to the School of Wives[208]—proper enough! A wife is taught by that play how to support and reclaim an irregular Husband. Pray what was the meaning of your being in town, but not in Bentinck Street, yesterday morning? Pray be more exact in your return. Again Adieu. Write to Francis Hugonin, Esq., Nursted, Petersfield, Hants, as soon as you can.
183.
To his Stepmother.
Bentinck Street, Dec. 25th, 1773.
Dear Madam,
I am in a very awkward situation, detained in town (not that I dislike my prison) by the weekly and almost daily expectation of finishing Bucks, which is still delayed by the cold slow-paced forms of the Law; and at the same time desirous of running down for four or five days to Sheffield Place, on a sort of appointment with Lord and especially with Lady Pelham:[209] in this polite age, married women of Fashion, and not your Miss Sappho Fullers are the object of the Man of the World.
Whenever you please to draw for £100 on Messrs. Gosling and Clive, Fleet Street, they have order to honour, which for the future I should think would be the easiest and properest way. At your conveniency you will be so kind as to enclose a receipt in a letter. Mrs. P. joins with me in the honest old compliments of the season. She is a little out of order to-day! I hope very little. If I knew where Pitman's mother-in-law lived I would call upon her.
Adieu! Dear Madam,
Believe me most truly yours,
E. G.