I forgot to speak to you last Saturday about our friend Becket.--We
shall all break our hearts if he is not bookseller to y^{e} Adelphi, &
has not y^{e} corner house that is to be built.--Pray, my dear & very
good friends, think a little of this matter, & if you can make us
happy, by suiting all our conveniences--we shall make his shop, as old
Jacob Tonson’s was formerly, y^{e} rendevouz for y^{e} first people in
England.--I have a little selfishness in this request--I never go to
coffee-houses, seldom to taverns, & should constantly (if this scheme
takes place) be at Becket’s at one at noon, & 6 at night; as y^{e}
monkey us’d to be punctual in Piccadilly.
When you left me on Saturday, whether I had exerted my spirits too
much, or gave too great a loose to my love of drinking with those I
like, I know not; but I was attack’d terribly with a fit of y^{e}
stone, & had it all yesterday morning, till I was relieved from
torture, to y^{e} great joy of my wife & family.--I was 4 hours upon
y^{e} rack, & now as free from pain as ever I was. I am weak w^{h} my
disorder; but I could eat turtle, & laugh with you again to day, as if
nothing had ail’d me--’tis a curs’d disorder, & that you may never
have that curse make y^{r} peace w^{th} heav’n by an act of
righteousness, & bestow that corner blessing (I have mention’d) upon
Becket & his family--this is y^{e} pray’r & petition
[Illustration:
of Y^{r}.
affectionate
&
devoted