*I happened to-night to stumble upon a very odd piece of intelligence
in the St. James's Chronicle; it relates to the marriage of a certain
Monsieur Olroy,[102] formerly Captain of Hussars. I do not know how
it came into my head that this Captain of Hussars was not unknown to
me, & that he might possibly be an acquaintance of yours. If I am not
mistaken in my conjecture, pray give my compliments to him, & tell
him from me, that I am at least as well pleased that he is married as
if I were so myself. Assure him, however, that tho' as a Philosopher
I may prefer celibacy, yet as a Politician I think it highly proper
that the species should be propagated by the usual method; assure
him even that I am convinced, that if celibacy is exposed to fewer
miseries, marriage can alone promise real happiness, since domestick
enjoyments are the source of every other good. May such happiness,
which is bestowed on few, be given to him; the transient blessings of
beauties, and the more durable ones of fortune, good sense, and an
amiable disposition.
I can easily conceive, and as easily excuse you, if you have thought
mighty little this winter of your poor rusticated friend. I have been
confined ever since Christmas, and confined by a succession of very
melancholy occupations. I was scarce got to Beriton, where I only
proposed staying about a fortnight, when a brother of Mrs. Gibbon's
died unexpectedly, tho' after a very long and painfull illness. We
were scarce recovered from the confusion which such an event must
produce in a family, when my father was taken dangerously ill, and
with some intervalls has continued so ever since. I can assure you,
my dear Holroyd, that the same event appears in a very different
light when the danger is serious & immediate; or when, in the gayety
of a tavern dinner, we affect an insensibility that would do us no
great honor were it real. My father is now much better; but I have
since been assailed by a severer stroke--the loss of a friend. You
remember, perhaps, an Officer of our Militia, whom I sometimes used
to compare to yourself. Indeed the comparaison would have done honor
to any one. His feelings were tender and noble, and he was always
guided by them: his principles were just and generous, and he acted
up to them. I shall say no more, and you will excuse my having said
so much, of a man you had not the least knowledge of; but my mind
is just now so very full of him, that I cannot easily talk, or even
think, of any thing else. If I know you right, you will not be
offended at my weakness.
[Sidenote: WITH THE MILITIA.]
What rather adds to my uneasiness, is the necessity I am under of
joining our Militia the day after to-morrow. Tho' the lively hurry
of such a scene might contribute to divert my ideas, Yet every
circumstance of it, and the place itself, (which was that of his
residence,) will give me many a painful moment. I know nothing would
better raise my spirits than a visit from you; the request may appear
unseasonable, but I think I have heard you speak of _an uncle_ you
had at Southampton. At all events, I hope you will snatch a moment
to write to me, and give me some account of your present situation &
future designs. As you are now fettered, I should expect you will not
be such a _Hic et ubique_,[103] as you have been since your arrival
in England. I stay at Southampton from the 1st to the 28th of May, &
then propose making a short visit to town; If you are any where in
the neighbourood of it, you may depend upon seeing me. I hope then
to concert measures for seeing a little more of you next winter than
I have lately done, as I hope to take a pretty long spell in town. I
suppose the Goat[104] has often fallen in your way: He has never once
wrote to me, nor I to him: in the Country we want materials, and in
London we want time. I ought to recollect, that you even want time to
read my unmeaning scrawl. Believe, however, my dear Leger, that it is
the sincere expression of a heart entirely yours.*