To Colonel Rivers, at Quebec.
Pall Mall, January 3.
I have but a moment, my dear Ned, to tell you, that without so much
as asking your leave, and in spite of all your wise admonitions, your
lovely sister has this morning consented to make me the happiest of
mankind: to-morrow gives me all that is excellent and charming in
woman.
You are to look on my writing this letter as the strongest proof I
ever did, or ever can give you of my friendship. I must love you with
no common affection to remember at this moment that there is such a man
in being: perhaps you owe this recollection only to your being brother
to the loveliest woman nature ever formed; whose charms in a month
have done more towards my conversion than seven years of your preaching
would have done. I am going back to Clarges Street. Adieu!
Yours, &c.
John Temple.