SHAMELA ANDREWS _to_ HENRIETTA MARIA HONORA ANDREWS.
_Dear Mamma_,
I Suppose Mrs. _Jervis_ acquainted you with what past 'till I left
_Bedfordshire_; whence I am after a very pleasant Journey arrived in
_Lincolnshire_, with your old Acquaintance Mrs. _Jewkes_, who
formerly helped Parson _Williams_ to me; and now designs I see, to
sell me to my Master; thank her for that; she will find two Words go
to that Bargain.
The Day after my Arrival here, I received a Letter from Mr.
_Williams_, and as you have often desired to see one from him, I have
inclosed it to you; it is, I think, the finest I ever received from
that charming Man, and full of a great deal of Learning.
_O! What a brave Thing it is to be a Schollard, and to be able to
talk Latin._
_Parson_ WILLIAMS _to_ PAMELA ANDREWS.
_Mrs. Pamela_,
Having learnt by means of my Clerk, who Yesternight visited the
Rev^d. Mr. _Peters_ with my Commands, that you are returned into this
County, I purposed to have saluted your fair Hands this Day towards
Even: But am obliged to sojourn this Night at a neighbouring
Clergyman's; where we are to pierce a Virgin Barrel of Ale, in a Cup
of which I shall not be unmindful to celebrate your Health.
I hope you have remembered your Promise, to bring me a leaden
Canister of Tobacco (the Saffron Cut) for in Troth, this Country at
present affords nothing worthy the replenishing a Tube with.----Some
I tasted, the other Day at an Alehouse, gave me the Heart-Burn, tho'
I filled no oftner than five times.
I was greatly concerned to learn, that your late Lady left you
nothing, tho' I cannot say the Tidings much surprized me: For I am
too intimately acquainted with the Family; (myself, Father, and
Grandfather having been successive Incumbents on the same Cure, which
you know is in their Gift) I say, I am too well acquainted with them
to expect much from their Generosity. They are in Verity, as
worthless a Family as any other whatever. The young Gentleman I am
informed, is a perfect Reprobate that he hath an _Ingenium Versatile_
to every Species of Vice, which, indeed, no one can much wonder at,
who animadverts on that want of Respect to the Clergy, which was
observable in him when a Child, I remember when he was at the Age of
Eleven only, he met my Father without either pulling off his Hat, or
riding out of the way. Indeed, a Contempt of the Clergy is the
fashionable Vice of the Times; but let such Wretches know, they
cannot hate, detest, and despise us, half so much as we do them.
However, I have prevailed on myself to write a civil Letter to your
Master, as there is a Probability of his being shortly in a Capacity
of rendring me a Piece of Service; my good Friend and Neighbour the
Rev^d. Mr. _Squeeze-Tithe_ being, as I am informed by one whom I have
employed to attend for that Purpose, very near his Dissolution.
You see, sweet Mrs. _Pamela_, the Confidence with which I dictate
these Things to you; whom after those Endearments which have passed
between us, I must in some Respects estimate as my Wife: For tho' the
Omission of the Service was a Sin; yet, as I have told you, it was a
venial One, of which I have truly repented, as I hope you have; and
also that you have continued the wholsome Office of reading good
Books, and are improved in your Psalmody, of which I shall have a
speedy Trial: For I purpose to give you a Sermon next _Sunday_, and
shall spend the Evening with you, in Pleasures, which tho' not
strictly innocent, are however to be purged away by frequent and
sincere Repentance. I am,
_Sweet Mrs._ Pamela,
_Your faithful Servant_,