M' that LETTER LVII. TO MR. FOLEY. MY DEAR FOLEY, Bath, April 15, 1765. y wife tells me fhe has drawn for one hundred pounds, and 'tis fit you should be paid it that minute— the money is now in Becket's handsfend me, my dear Foley, my account, that I may discharge the balance to this time, and know what to leave in your hands-I have made a good campaign of it this year in the field of the literati -my two volumes of Triftram, and two of fermons, which I fhall print very foon, will bring me a confiderable fum. -Almoft all the nobility in England honour me with their names, and 'tis thought it will be the largest and most fplendid lift which ever pranced before a book, fince fubfcriptions came into fafhion.-Pray prefent my moft fincere compliments to Lady H, whofe name I hope to infert with many others. -As fo many men of genius favour me with their names alfo, I will quarrel with Mr. Hume, and call him Deift, and what not, unless I have his name too. My love to Lord W- Your name, Foley, I have put in as a free-will offering of my labours-your lift of fubfcribers you will fend-'tis but a crown for fixteen fermons-Dog cheap! but I am in queft of honour, not money.-Adieu, adieu,-believe me, dear Foley, Yours truly, L. STERNE. A LETTER LVIII. TO MR. W. Coxwould, May 23, 1765. T this moment I am fitting in my fummer-house with my head and heart full, not of my uncle Toby's amours with the widow Wadman, but my fermons-and your letter has drawn me out of a penfive mood-the fpirit of it pleafeth me-but in this folitude, what can I tell or write to you but about myfelf-I am glad that you are in love -'twill cure you at least of the spleen, which has a bad effect on both man and woman-I myself must ever have fome Dulcinea in my head-it harmonifes the foul-and in thofe cafes I firft endeavour to make the lady believe fo, or rather I begin first to make myself believe that I am in love-but I carry on my affairs quite in the French way, fentimentally" l'amour" (fay they) n'est rien fans fentiment"-Now notwithstanding they make fuch a pother about the word, they have no precife idea annex'd to it-And fo much for that fame fubject called love.-I must tell you how I have juft treated a French gentleman of fortune in France, who took a liking to my daughterWithout any ceremony (having got my direction from my wife's banker) he wrote me word that he was in love with my daughter, and defired to know what fortune I would give her at prefent, and how much at my death-by the bye, I think there was very little fentiment on bis fide-My anfwer was, "Sir, I fhall give her ten thousand pounds the day of marriage-my calculation is as follows-fhe is not eighteen, you are fixty-two-there goes five thousand pounds then, Sir, you at least think her not ugly he has many accomplishments, fpeaks Italian, French, plays upon the guittar, and as I fear you play upon no inftrument whatever, I think you will be happy to take her at my terms, for here finishes the account of the ten thousand pounds"-I do not fuppofe but he will take this as I mean, that is -a flat refufal.-I have had a parfonage house burnt down by the careleffnefs of my curate's wife-as foon as I can I must rebuild it, I trow-but I lack the means at prefent-yet I am never happier than when I have not a fhilling in my pocket-for when I have I can never call it my own. Adieu, my dear friend-may you enjoy better health than me, tho' not better fpirits, for: that is impoffible. Yours fincerely, L. STERNE My compliments to the Col. I LETTER LIX. TO MR. FOLEY, AT PARIS. MY DEAR SIR, York, July 13, 1765. WROTE fome time in fpring, to beg you would favour me with my ac count. I believe you was fet out from Paris, and that Mr. Garrick brought the letter with him-which poffibly he gave you. In the hurry of your bufinefs you might forget the contents of it; and in the hurry of mine in town (though I called once) I could not get to see you. I decamp for Italy in September, and shall fee your face at Paris, you may be fure-but I fhall fee it with more pleasure when I am out of debt |