LETTER LII.

TO THE SAME.

I

MY DEAR FRIEND,

York, November 11, 1764.

SENT ten days ago, a bank bill of thirty pounds to Mr. Becket, and this post one of fixty-When I get to London, which will be in five weeks, you will receive what fhall always keep you -in bank for Mrs. Sterne; in the mean time I have defired Becket to fend you fourfcore pounds, and if my wife, before I get to London, fhould have occafion for fifty louis, let her not wait a minute, and if I have not paid it, a week or a fortnight I know will break no fquares with a good and worthy friend. I will contrive to fend you these two new volumes of Triftram, as foon as ever I get them from the prefs.-You will read as odd a tour through France

as ever was projected or executed by: traveller, or travel-writers, fince the world began-'Tis a laughing goodtempered fatire against travelling (as puppies travel)-Panchaud will enjoy it -I am quite civil to your Parifians-et pour cause you know-'tis likely I may fee them in fpring--Is it poffible for you to get me over a copy of my picture any how? If fo, I would write to Mademoifelle N to make as good a copy from it as fhe poffibly could-with a view to do her fervice here-and I would remit her the price-I really believe it would be the parent of a dozen portraits to her, if the executes it with the fpirit of the original in your hands-for it will be seen by many-and as my phiz is as remarkable as myself, if fhe preserves the true character of both, it will do her honour and fervice too. -Write me a line about this, and tell me you are well and happy-Will you prefent my kind refpects to the worthy Baron-I hall fend him one of the best impressions

Is a church militant week with me, "TIS full of marches, and countermarches-and treaties about Stillington common, which we are going to inclofe -otherwife I would have obeyed your fummons and yet I could not well have done it this week neither, having received a letter from C-, who has been very ill; and is coming down to stay a week or ten days with me-Now I know he is ambitious of being better acquainted with you; and longs from his foul for a fight of you in your own castle.-I cannot do otherwife than bring him with

me-nor can I gallop away and leave him an empty house to pay a visit to from London, as he comes half exprefs to fee me.-I thank you for the care of my northern vintage-I fear after all I muft give it a fermentation on the other fide of the Alps, which is better than being on the lees with it--but nous verrons--yet I fear as it has got fuch hold of my brain, and comes upon it like an armed man at nights-I must give way for quietnefs fake, or be hag-ridden with the conceit of it all my life long-I have been Mifs-ridden this last week by a couple of romping girls (bien mifes et comme il faut) who might as well have been in the house with me (though perhaps not, my retreat here is too quiet for them), but they have taken up all my time, and have given my judgment and fancy more airings than they wanted.-Thefe things accord not well with fermon makingbut 'tis my vile errantry, as Sancho fays, and that is all that can be made of it.I trust all goes fwimmingly on with your alum; that the works amuse you, and

call you twice out (at least). a day.—I fhall fee them I truft in ten days, or thereabouts-If it was any way poffible, I would fet out this moment, though I have no cavalry-(except a fhe Afs). Give all friendly refpects to Mrs. C. and to Col. H-'s and the garrison, both of Guifbro and Skelton.-I am, dear Anthony,

Affectionately yours,

L. STERNE.

T

LETTER LIV.

TO MR. FOLEY, AT P.

MY DEAR FRIEND,

York, November 16, 1764.

HREE pofts before I had the favour of yours (which is come to hand this moment) I had wrote to fet Mrs. Sterne right in her mistake--That you had any money of mine in your hands-being very fenfible that the hundred pounds I had fent you, through Becket's hands,