Pray make Mr. William Sancho’s and my compliments acceptable to Nutts.—We hope he is well, and enjoys this fine weather unplagued by flies, and unbitten by fleas.
LETTER XCIX.
TO MR. S——.
August 31, 1779.
YOU have made ample amends for your stoical silence—insomuch that, like Balaam, I am constrained to bless—where, peradventure, I intended the reverse.—For hadst thou taken the wings of the morning—and searched North, East, South, and West—or dived down into the sea, exploring the treasures of old Ocean—thou could’st neither in art or nature have found aught that could have made me happier—gift-wise—than the sweet and highly finished portrait of my dear Sterne. But how you found it—caught it—or came by it—Heaven and you know best!—I do fear it is not thy own manufacturing.—Perhaps thou hast gratified thy finer feeling at an expence which friendship would blush for.—“But what have you to do with that?” True—it may appear impertinent; but could aught add to the value of the affair—it would be—its having you—for its father;—but I must hasten to a conclusion.—I meant this—not as an epistle of cold thanks—but the warm ebullitions of African sensibility.—Your gift would add to the pride of Cæsar—were he living, and knew the merits of its original—it has half turned the head of a Sancho—as this scrawl will certify. Adieu! The hen and chicks desire to be remembered to you—as I do—to all!—all!—all!
I. S.
LETTER C.
TO MR. I——.
Sept. 2, 1779.
IN truth I know myself to be a very troublesome fellow—but as it is the general fate of good-nature to suffer through the folly they countenance—I shall not either pity or apologize.—I have to beg you just to examine my friend Laggarit’s petition: Mr. P—— does not seem to approve of it, but is for expunging almost the best half.—My friend has tried to get the great E—— B——’s opinion, but has met with a negative—he being too busy to regard the distresses of the lowly and unrecommended:—for my part, I have as much faith in Mr. I——’s judgement as in ——, and a much higher opinion of his good-will;—and as Mr. P—— may be partly hurried away by leaning rather too much to republican modes, I dare say, if he finds that your opinion coincides with the sense of the petition as it now stands, he will not be offended at its being presented without his mutilations.—Mr. Laggarit is fearful of offending any way, and has every proper sense of Mr. P——’s zeal and good-will.—I dare say, it will strike you as it does me—that in the petitionary style every term of respect is necessary; and although some of the titles are rather profane, and others farcical, yet custom authorizes the use, and it is a folly to withstand it.
Yours to command,
I. SANCHO.