A man is just now arrived from M. Hall, who tells me, that my Lord is
in a very dangerous way. The gout in his stomach to an extreme degree,
occasioned by drinking a great quantity of lemonade.
A man of 8000£. a year to prefer his appetite to his health!—He
deserves to die!—But we have all of us our inordinate passions to
gratify: and they generally bring their punishment along with them—so
witnesses the nephew, as well as the uncle.
The fellow was sent upon other business; but stretched his orders a
little, to make his court to a successor.
I am glad I was not at M. Hall, at the time my Lord took the grateful
dose: [it was certainly grateful to him at the time:] there are people
in the world, who would have had the wickedness to say, that I had
persuaded him to drink.
The man says, that his Lordship was so bad when he came away, that the
family began to talk of sending for me in post haste. As I know the old
peer has a good deal of cash by him, of which he seldom keeps account,
it behoves me to go down as soon as I can. But what shall I do with
this dear creature the while?—To-morrow over, I shall, perhaps, be able
to answer my own question. I am afraid she will make me desperate.
For here have I sent to implore her company, and am denied with scorn.
I have been so happy as to receive, this moment, a third letter from
the dear correspondent Miss Howe. A little severe devil!—It would have
broken the heart of my beloved, had it fallen into her hands. I will
enclose a copy of it. Read it here.