your reasons--but when you have got through your sugar-works--I hope
you will give due attention to Robertson:--his first volume is the
most learned, and the dryest, yet absolutely necessary to be read
with great attention--as it will render the other much more easy,
clear, and intelligible--make yourself tolerably acquainted with
the feudal system of Europe, which you will find explained in his
first volume--the rest will amply reward you.--I recommend to you to
make extracts upon the passages which strike you most--it will be of
infinite use to you--as I trust you will find it as much a history of
Europe during two centuries, as of Charles the Fifth.--After all, I
shall fume and scold if you do not read this work--and abuse you if
you do not relish it.--You flatter my vanity very agreeably--in ever
supposing that any hints of mine should conduce to the culture of your
little farm:--be that as it may--I am happy in the certainty of never
intentionally misleading or misadvising any male youth--I wish I could
say, Virgin!--Farewell! read, reflect! then write, and let me have your
opinions.
Yours sincerely,
I. SANCHO.
LETTER LXXI.
TO MR. R----.
July 31, 1778.
DEAR FRIEND,
THANKS for your very valuable letter, and its obliging companion:--your
brother writes in good spirits--but I fear the m--n--ty members were
right in their predictions of the success of the commissioners.--Alas!
what desolation, destruction, and ruin, bad hearts or bad heads have
brought upon this poor country!--I must, however, give Mr. J-- R----
another letter, he fluctuates so terribly in his opinions--as you will
see by the contents of his letter to me, which I hope you will soon
enable me to shew you.--Yes, I must and will give him a flogging,
which you will say is extremely grateful, and a civil return for his
kindness in thinking of me.--I have had a very kind and good letter
from the little wren;--we were pleased to hear Mrs. C---- had enjoyed
so great a share of health;--she, who is lovely even in sickness,
with the additional roseate bloom of health and flow of spirits,
will be almost too much for meer mortals to bear:--tell her from me,
to get sick before she comes up, in pity to the beaux.--Mrs. Sancho
is better;--poor Kitty goes on after the old sort;--the happiest,
my R----, in this life, have something to sigh for!--alas! I have
enough!--I feel much pleasure in the happy view Mr. and Mrs. R--n have
before them;--I have no sort of doubt but they will be successfully
happy--I should have true pleasure to see my friend Mr. J. R---- in
as likely a road.--I have spoke and wrote to Mr. W---- to look out
sharp.--Time, which ripens revolutions, and murders empires--Time will,
I hope, produce happiness and content to us all.--Your coming to town
will give me spirits; for, large as the town is, I cannot say I have
more than one friend in it:--come, you and I shall be rich indeed; for,
I believe, few of the sons of Adam can boast of having more than two
real friends.--The best respects to Mrs. C----, and the amiable little
C----, from
Yours, &c.
IGNATIUS SANCHO.
LETTER LXXII.
TO MISS C----.
Sept. 4, 1778.
FOR this month past, we have wished to hear something about you;--and
every day, for these two past weeks, have I had it in serious
contemplation to put the question not to the amiable Miss C----, but
to my friend R----, who, notwithstanding your friendly excuse, is, I
do think, rather culpable for his silence.--But hang recrimination;
your goodness is more than sufficient to exculpate a thousand such
sinners. We thank you, with heart-felt pleasure, for the information
of our and your dear friend Mrs. C----’s health, which I hope she will
be careful of, for our and many sakes.--I have a favour to beg of
her, through your mediation, which is this--I have a pair of Antigua
turtles--the gift of Mr. P----, who kindly burthened himself with the
care of them. The true property is vested in Kitty;--but so it is--we
having neither warmth nor room, and Kitty’s good godmother having
both, and that kind of humanity withal which delighteth in doing good
to orphans--I, in the name of Kate and her doves, do through you--our
trusty council--petition Mrs. C---- in behalf of said birds.--Were I
poetically turned--what a glorious field for fancy flights--such as
the blue-eyed Goddess with her flying carr--her doves and sparrows,
&c. &c.--Alas! my imagination is as barren as the desart sands of
Arabia;--but, in serious truth, the shop (the only place I have to
put them in) is so cold, that I shall be happy to billet them to
warmer quarters, which shall be done as soon as Mrs. C---- announces
her consent, and empowers Molly to take them in.--As to news--we have
none worth heeding!--your camps have ruined all trade--but that of
hackney-men. You much surprize us in the account of your late fair
visitant--but pleased us more in the account of O----’s success:
the season has been, through God’s blessing, as favourable as his
friends;--he is a lucky soul.--The S----s are both well, I hope, to
whom pray be so kind to remember us:--as to friend R----, tell him,
that whatever censure his omissions in writing may draw upon him, when
the goodness of his heart, and urbanity of soul, is flung into the
other scale, the faulty scale kicks the beam--we forgive, because we
love--and love sees no faults.
Mrs. Sancho joins me in love and good wishes to both of you.--Kitty has
been very poorly for above a month past, and continues but very so,
so.--Betsy mends fast;--Billy needs no mending at all--the rest are
well--and all join in respects and compliments to Nutts.
I am,
Dear Miss C-- and Co’s
Most obliged,
humble servant,
IGN. SANCHO.
LETTER LXXIII.
TO MR. M----.
Sept. 16, 1778.
DEAR M----,
YOURS just received--and by great good luck I have found Mr. B--’s
list, which I inclose--and God speed your labours! Poor ---- sets off
this evening for ----, to take one parting look of his ----, and on
Monday sets off fresh for ----. Mr. H--’s anxieties end in good luck
at last; he also on Monday enters in one of the best houses in the
city.--On Thursday I hope you will succeed in your affair--and then
my three Geniuses will be happy;--I have had plague and perplexity
enough with two of you.--When do you think of coming to town? In my
last was some of the best poetry--that has--or was--aye, aye. Pray,
Sir, read it over once more. Well, what do you, or can you, say to
it? Oh, envy--envy!--but, Mr. Monkey, the wit and true poetry of that
billet must make amends for the shortness of it.--This is Saturday
night--consequently it must be esteemed a favour that I write at
all:--my head aches--and, though my invention temes with brilliancies,
I can only remember that I am very much
Yours,
I. SANCHO.
LETTER LXXIV.
TO MISS C----.
October 1, 1778.
IT is recorded of some great personage, I forget who, that they had
so pleasing a manner in giving a refusal, that the _Refused_ has
left _them_ with more satisfaction under a rejection--than many
have experienced from receiving a _favour_ conferred with perhaps
more kindness than _grace_.--So it fares with me--I had anticipated
the future happiness of my new friends--the comforts of warmth--the
pleasures of being fed and noticed, talked to and watched by the best
heart and finest face within a large latitude--but I am content--I am
certain of the _inconveniency_--and my best thanks are due, which I
pray you make with our best wishes.--I am sorry, both for O---- and my
friend’s sake, that the camp breaks up so soon--as to brother O----,
his harvest has, I hope, been plentiful and well got in--my friend
poor S----, like most modest men of merit, is unlucky--he set out
before I got either my friend R----’s or your letter--his best way is
to turn about--and may good luck over take him--detain him--fill his
pockets--and send him in glee home again!--This is more to be wished
than expected.--If he falls in your way, I shall envy him--he will meet
Hospitality and the Graces.--Betsy and Kitty are both invalids--Mrs.
Sancho is well, and joins me in every good wish.--Next month I hope
brings you all to town--bring health and spirits with you.--We have no
news--no trade! consequently no money or credit.
Give Mr. R---- my thanks for his friendly letter in your kindest
manner--and say all to our worthy esteemed friend Mrs. C---- that
gratitude can conceive and friendship dictate--in the names of all the
Sanchos, and at the head place
Yours, &c. &c.
I. SANCHO.
LETTER LXXV.
TO MR. S----,
Yours just received, Thursday,
Oct. 4, 1778.
“Whatever--is--is right--the world, ’tis true,
“Was made for Cæsar--and for Billy too.”
POVERTY and Genius were coupled by the wisdom of Providence, for
wise and good ends no doubt--but that’s a mystery.--I feel for and
pity you.--A pox upon pity and feelings--say I, they neither fill
the belly, nor cloath the body--neither will they find lodging or
procure an inside birth in a rascally stage--Thee and I too well
know all this--but as I am at this present moment, thank fortune!
not quite worth ten shillings, pity--cursed foolish pity--is, with
as silly wishes, all I have to comfort you with.--Were I to throw
out my whole thoughts upon paper, it would take a day’s writing, and
thou would’st be a fool to read it--one dawn of hope I enjoy from the
old saw--that “gloomy beginnings are for the most part blessed with
bright endings:”--may it be so with you, my friend!--at the worst,
you can only face about--and your lodgings and old friends will
cordially receive you--for my part, I have use for every mite of my
philosophy--my state at present is that of suspense--God’s will be done!
This letter will reach you by the hands of a friend indeed--the best
and truest I ever found--a man who, if the worth of his heart were
written in his face, would be esteemed by the whole race of Adam--he
will greet you kindly from the benevolence of his nature--and perhaps
will not dislike you the more for the attachment which for thee is
truly felt by thy sincere friend,
I. SANCHO.
Mrs. Sancho is well--Kitty mends very slow--Billy improves in
sauciness--the girls are pretty good--Monsieur H---- rides
uneasily--his saddle galls him--his beast is restive--I fear he will
never prosecute long journies upon him--he is for smoother roads--a
pacing tit--quilted saddle--snaffle bridle with silken reins--and gold
stirrups.--So mounted we all should like; but I query albeit, though it
might be for the ease of our bodies, whether it would be for the good
of our souls! Adieu.
Should you be so lucky to see B----, the house of the worthy Baronet
Sir C---- B----, mind I caution thee to guard thy heart; you will there
meet with sense that will charm exclusive of beauty--and beauty enough
to subdue even were sense wanting--add to this good-nature and all the
charities in one fair bosom.--Guard! guard thy heart!
LETTER LXXVI.
TO MR. S----.
October 15, 1778.
YOU want a long letter--where am I to find subject? My heart is sick
with untoward events--poor Kitty is no better--the Duke of Queensbury
ill, dangerously I fear--the best friend and customer I have. M---- is
just now come in--nay he is at my elbow--you know I wish you well--and
that we all are well, Kitty excepted--so let M---- conclude for your
loving friend,
I. SANCHO.
The above you are to consider as bread and cheese. M---- will give you
goose stuffed with grapes[8]. Mr. H---- called here last night, and
read yours:--he is worked sweetly--what with his office late hours, and
his family’s odd humours--but all is for the best.
[8] Alluding to Mr. S----’s last letter, wherein he had informed Mr.
Sancho, that that epicurean morsel was one of the many dishes with
which he had been regaled at a place where he had lately dined.
LETTER LXXVII.
TO MR. R----.
October 16, 1778.
MY DEAR FRIEND,
ACCEPT my thanks--my best thanks--for your kind readiness in obliging
and serving my friend S----. He has sense, honour, and abilities--these
we should naturally suppose would insure him bread--but that is
not always the case:--in the race of fortune, knaves often win the
prize--whilst honesty is distanced--but then mark the end--whilst
the knave full often meets his deserved punishment, Honesty yoked
with Poverty hugs Peace and Content in his bosom.--But truce with
moralizing--though in serious truth my heart and spirits are low--the
noble and good Duke of Queensbury is, I fear, very dangerously ill:
exclusive of gratitude for past favours, and my own interest in
the hope of future, I grieve for the public loss in him--a man who
ennobled his titles, and made greatness lovely by uniting it with
goodness:--if he dies--his gain is certain, for he has served a Master
who will not wrong him--but the world will lose a rare example, and
the poor a friend! He never knew a day’s illness till now for fifty
years past--his regularity of life and serenity of mind are in his
favour--but his advanced life is against him--80 odd--the great fear is
a mortification in his leg--The K--g and Q--n paid him a visit, as the
prints must have informed you--he came to town on purpose to present
himself at the levee--to thank them for the honour done him--he was
taken ill the Sunday after their Majesties visit--and came to town the
Tuesday after. I have been or sent daily to enquire about him--and was
there about two hours ago. The faculty are pouring in the bark--and
allow his Grace strong wines as much as he can drink.--_God’s will be
done!_
Mr. S----n writes in raptures of you all.--I wonder not at him--I only
wish, for the good of mankind, such characters as B---- house contains
were more plenty.--Poor Kitty continues much the same--the rest are,
thank God, well.--Mrs. Sancho joins me in cordial wishes to self and
ladies. Adieu,
Yours sincerely and gratefully,
I. SANCHO.
LETTER LXXVIII.
TO MR. S----.
October 22, 1778.
MY DEAR FRIEND,
HAVE you never beheld a bust with double--no, not double--but with two
very different profiles--one crying, and one laughing?--That is just my
situation at present:--for poor de Groote--huzza!--is presented to the
Charter-house--by--bless him!--the good Archbishop of Canterbury;--but,
by a standing law, he cannot be admitted till a fresh quarter
begins--and, as he says, he may be dead by that time;--we will hope
not;--well, this is the laughing side.--The Duke of Queensbury died
this morning:--Alas! “I ne’er shall look upon his like again!”--the
clearest head, and most humane of hearts:--I have in common with
many--many--a heavy loss--I loved the good Duke--and not without
reason:--he is gone to reap a reward--which St. Paul could not conceive
in the flesh--and which, I will be bold to say, they both perfectly
enjoy at this moment.--God of his mercy grant!--that thee and I--and
all I love--yea--and all I know--may enter eternity with as promising
hopes--and realize the happiness in store for such as the Duke of
Queensbury!
Lord Lincoln died on his passage;--the news came last night; but he has
left a son and daughter.
T---- is well--but still plagued with his uncouth kinsfolk.
Adieu, Yours, &c. &c.
I. SANCHO.
Kitty very poorly, the rest all well.
LETTER LXXIX.
TO MR. S----.
Charles Street, Nov. 29, 1778.
DEAR S----,
YOURS, dated from Madrass, came safe to hand.--I need not tell you
that your account pleased me--and the style of your letter indicated
a mind purged from its follies, and a better habit of thinking, which
I trust happily preceded a steadier course of action.--I know not
whether or not Providence may not, in your instance, produce much good
out of evil.--I flatter myself you will yet recover, and stand the
firmer in your future life, from the reflection (bitter as it is) of
your former.--I have no doubt but you received my letter charged with
the heavy loss of your great, your noble, friendly benefactress and
patroness, the good Dutchess of Q----y: she entered into bliss, July
17, 1777, just two days after you sailed from Portsmouth.--I have now
to inform you, that his Grace followed her October 21st this year; just
fifteen months after his good Dutchess, full of years and honors: he is
gone to join his Dutchess, and share in the rewards of a righteous God,
who alone knew their merits, and alone could reward them.
Thus it has pleased God to take your props to himself;--teaching you a
lesson, at the same time, to depend upon an honest exertion of your own
industry--and humbly to trust in the Almighty.
You may safely conclude now, that you have not many friends in
England:--be it your study, with attention, kindness, humility, and
industry, to make friends where you are.--Industry, with good-nature
and honesty, is the road to wealth.--A wise œconomy--without avaricious
meanness, or dirty rapacity--will in a few years render you decently
independent.
I hope you cultivate the good-will and friendship of L----. He is a
jewel--prize him--love him--and place him next your heart;--he will
not flatter or fear you--so much the better--the fitter for your
friend:--he has a spirit of generosity--such are never ungrateful;--he
sent us a token of his affection, which we shall never forget.--Let
me counsel you, for your character’s sake, and as bound in honour,
the first money you can spare, to send over 20_l._ to discharge your
debt at Mr. P----’s the sadler:--it was borrowed money, you know.--As
for me, I am wholly at your service to the extent of my power;--but
whatever commissions you send over to me, send money, or I stir
none;--thou well knowest my poverty--but ’tis an honest poverty--and
I need not blush or conceal it.--You also are indebted to Mr. O----,
Bond-street:--what little things of that kind you can recollect, pay
as soon as you are able;--it will spunge out many evil traces of
things past from the hearts and heads of your enemies--create you
a better name--and pave the way for your return some years hence
into England with credit and reputation.--Before I conclude, let me,
as your true friend, recommend seriously to you to make yourself
acquainted with your Bible:--believe me, the more you study the word of
God, your peace and happiness will increase the more with it.--Fools
may deride you--and wanton youth throw out their frothy gibes;--but
as you are not to be a boy all your life--and I trust would not be
reckoned a fool--use your every endeavour to be a good man--and leave
the rest to God.--Your letters from the Cape, and one from Madeira,
I received; they were both good letters, and descriptions of things
and places.--I wish to have your description of the sort and town
of Madrass--country adjacent--people--manner of living--value of
money--religion--laws--animals--fashions--taste, &c. &c.--In short,
write any thing--every thing--and, above all, improve your mind with
good reading--converse with men of sense, rather than the fools
of fashion and riches--be humble to the rich--affable, open, and
good-natured to your equals--and compassionately kind to the poor.--I
have treated you freely in proof of my friendship.--Mrs. S----,
under the persuasion that you are really a good man, sends her best
wishes--when her handkerchief is washed, you will send it home--the
girls wish to be remembered to you, and all to friend L----n.
Yours, &c. &c.
I. SANCHO.
LETTER LXXX.
TO MR. I----.
Jan. 1, 1779.
IN compliance with custom, I beg leave to wish Mr. and Mrs. I----
happy years--many or few, as the Almighty shall think fit--but may
they be happy! As I wish it sincerely, their obligation is of course
the greater--and, to oblige them yet more, I will put it in their
power to oblige me, which they can do by lending me the volume of
Annual Registers (I think it is that of 1774) which has Goldsmith’s
Retaliation in it.--I hope Mr. and Mrs. I---- have no complaints but
the general one, extreme coldness of the weather, which though happily
extempted themselves from much suffering, by good fires and good cheer,
yet I am sure their sympathizing hearts feel for the poor.--I find upon
inquiring, that ten o’clock in the morning will best suit Mr. L----; I
will be in Privy Gardens just five minutes before Mr. and Mrs. I----
and Mr. Mortimer.--I hope Mrs. I---- will not pretend to repent--Sunday
is a lazy morning. If Mrs. I---- has not read Ganganelli, it is time
she should. I therefore take the liberty to send them--_them_, Mr.
I---- will say, is bad grammar--he is, madam, a good natured critic--I
address myself to you therefore, because my heart tells me you will be
a successful advocate for the blunders of a true Blackamoor.--I have
had the confidence to mark the passages that pleased me most in my
post-haste journey through the good Pontiff’s letters--and I shall be
vain, if Mrs. I---- should like the same passages, because it would
give a sanction to the profound judgement of her most obedient servant,
I. SANCHO.
Note, The sixteenth letter, 1st verse, is a kind of stuff which would
almost turn me to the Romish--there is every thing in it which St. Paul
had in his heart.
LETTER LXXXI.
TO J---- S----, ESQ.
Charles Street, Jan. 1779.
“Beyond the fix’d and settled rules
“Of Vice and Virtue in the schools,
“Beyond the letter of the Law,
“Which keeps mere formalists in awe,
“The better sort do set before ’em
“A Grace--a manner--a decorum;
“Something that gives their acts a light;
“Makes ’em not only just--but bright,
“And sets ’em in such open fame,
“Which covers--_quality_--with shame.”
JUDICIOUSLY elegant Prior has befriended me--and described my honoured
friend Mr. S----. I wish I knew which way to shew my gratitude--the
only method I think of is to enjoy the benefits with a thankful heart,
and leave God in his own good time to reward you.
I should last night have gratefully acknowledged the receipt of your
letter and note--but I hoped for a frank--I am disappointed, and a long
delay would be unpardonable.--Be assured, dear Sir, I shall (with all
the alacrity of a heavy man) bestir myself in the execution of your
generous order.--I hope Mrs. S----, and every one of your family, enjoy
health and every good.--Mrs. Sancho joins me in respects and thanks to
Mrs. S---- and yourself.
I remain, dear Sir,
Your very obliged
and faithful servant,
I. SANCHO.
LETTER LXXXII.
TO MR. F----.
Jan. 1779.
DEAR SIR,
I HAVE just received your favour of the 20th instant. As to the
letters in question; you know, Sir, they are not now mine, but the
property of the parties they are addressed to.--If you have had their
permission, and think that the simple effusions of a poor Negro’s heart
are worth mixing with better things, you have my free consent to do
as you please with them--though in truth there wants no increase of
books in the epistolary way, nor indeed in any way--except we could
add to the truly valuable names of Robertson--Beattie--and Mickle--new
Youngs--Richardsons--and Sternes.--Accept my best thanks for the very
kind opinion you are so obliging to entertain of me--which is too
pleasing (I fear) to add much to the humility of,
Dear Sir,
Yours, &c.
I. SANCHO.
LETTER LXXXIII.
TO MRS. I----.
Charles Street, Jan. 22, 1779.
DEAR MADAM,
MY wife wishes to see Cymon--and my wishes (like a civil husband)
perfectly correspond with hers.--I had rather be obliged to you than
any good friend I have;--for I think you have an alacrity in doing
good-natured offices--and so I would tell the Q----n if she dared
dispute it: you are not so great indeed--but I am sure you are as
good--and I believe her to be as rich in goodness as she is high in
rank. If my request is within the limits of your power, you will
favour us with the order soon in the day. I have looked abroad for the
wonder you wished to be procured for you--but have met with nothing
likely hitherto.
Yours most gratefully,
I. SANCHO.
LETTER LXXXIV.
TO MRS. H----.
Charles Street, Feb. 9, 1779.
DEAR MADAM,
I FELICITATE you in the first place--on the pleasing success of your
maternal care in restoring your worthy son to good health--he looks
now as well, fresh, and hearty, as love and friendship can wish
him.--Mrs. Sancho joins me in hearty thanks for your kind attention to
our well-doing--and your goodness in the very friendly order, which I
have endeavoured to execute with attention and honesty.--As to news,
there is none good stiring--trade is very dull--money scarce beyond
conception--fraud! perfidy! villainy! from the highest departments to
the lowest. The K--g, God bless him, is beset by friends, which he
ought to fear.--I believe he has one true friend only; and that is the
Q--n, who is the ornament and honour to the sex. Pray, dear Madam, make
my best respects to your good son and daughter, Mr. J----, and all I
have the honour to know; our best thanks and wishes attend Mr. H----
and yourself; and believe me
Yours, &c.
I. SANCHO.
LETTER LXXXV.
TO MR. G----.
Feb. 1779.
SIR