“—Memᵈᵘᵐ. Whenever I die—’tis most probable, I shall have about £200 due to me from my living—If Lydia should dye before you; Leave my Sister something worthy of your self—in case you do not think it meet to purchase an annuity for your greater comfort; if you chuse that—do it in God’s name—
“—The pictures of the Mountebank and his Macaroni—is in a Lady’s hands, who upon seeing ’em most cavaliery declared she would never part with them—and from an excess of civility—or rather weakness I could not summon up severity to demand them.
“—If I dye, her Name, &c., is inclosed in a billet seal’d up and given with this—and then you must demand them—If refused—you have nothing to do but send a 2d. message importing—’tis not for her Interest to keep them.
“Laurence Sterne.
“Memorandums left by Mr. Sterne in
Mrs. Montagu’s hands before he
left England.”
TWO TEARDROPS
Two teardrops are on this paper, which indicate Sterne’s emotional temperament.
Sir J. Reynolds, pinx. E. Fisher. sc.
Laurence Sterne.