LETTER LXVI

To Robert Hay Drummond, Archbishop of York

PARIS, May 10, 1762.

MY LORD, Mr. Kilner, my curate at Coxwould, who is a candidate for Priest's Orders at the ensuing Ordination, will deliver this into your Grace's hands. He has served the cure seven months, during which time I have been out of the kingdom, so have so little personal knowledge of him, that I can only certify to his character from the accounts I have had from others he came extreamly well recommended as a scholar, and a moral man, to me from the clergyman he last assisted; and by all I have heard from time to time of his behaviour in the discharge of his duty in the parish of Coxwould since, he has given neither the parishioners or myself cause to complain. This is all I can take upon me to certify to y Grace in his behalf; but he will have the honour to produce certificates from the neighbouring clergy, which I hope will give your Grace all possible satisfaction.

When I arrived here, the Faculty thought I could not live a month. I have lived, however, my Lord, 5 months, and in a gradual restoration of my health, so that I was setting my face towards home, when I was detain'd unhappily by the ill health of my daughter, who, at 14, is fallen into a confirmed asthma; for which she is advised to winter at Toulouse or Nice, as the only chance to save her. Whilst I was soliciting passports for her and my wife, I was unhappily myself attack'd with a fever, which has ended the worst way it could for me, in a defluxion poitrine, as the French physicians call it. It is generally fatal to weak lungs, so that I have lost in ten days all I have gain'd since I came here; and, from a relaxation of my lungs, have lost my voice entirely, that 'twill be much if I ever quite recover it. This evil sends me directly to Toulouse, for wch I set out from this place the moment my family arrives. The D. of Choiseul has treated me with great indulgence as to my stay in France, and has this moment sent me passports for my family to join me. I beg y Grace's pardon for the liberty in representing my situation and that of my family. Y Grace's humanity, I am sure, will

take part in my distresses, and that prompts me to lay them open. I wish y Grace and y family all health and all happiness in this world and a better.

I am, my Lord,

Y dutiful and ever obliged servant,

LAURENCE STERNE.

LETTER LXVII

To Mrs. Sterne, York

PARIS, May 16, 1762.

MY DEAR,- It is a thousand to one that this

ever I take the chance

for

reaches you before you have set out - Howyou will receive one wrote last night, the moment you get to Mr. E. and to wish you joy of your arrival in town -to that letter which you will find in town, I have nothing to add that I can think on I have almost drain'd my brains dry upon the subject. For God's sake rise early and gallop away in the cool- and always see that you have not forgot your baggage in changing post-chaises You will find good tea upon the road from York to Dover-only bring a little to carry you from Calais to Paris. — give the Custom-House officers what I told you at Calais give more, if you have much Scotch snuff-but as tobacco is good here, you had best bring a Scotch mill and make it yourself, that is, order your valet to manufacture it — * ["May" was added in 1780.]

'twill keep him out of mischief. — I would advise you to take three days in coming up, for fear of heating yourselves. -See that they do not give you a bad vehicle, when a better is in the yard, but you will look sharp-drink small Rhenish to keep you cool, (that is if you like it). Live well, and deny yourselves nothing your hearts wish. So God in heaven prosper and go along with you-kiss my Lydia, and believe me both affectionately, — yours,

LETTER LXVIII

To the Same

L. STERNE.

PARIS, May* 31, 1762.

MY DEAR,

There have no mails arrived here till this morning, for three posts so I expected with great impatience a letter from you and Lydia - and lo! it is arrived. You are as busy as Throp's wife, and by the time you receive this, you will be busier still--- I have exhausted all my ideas about your journey, and what is needful for you to do before and during it so I write only to tell you I am Colebrooks, the minister of Swisser*["May" was added in 1780.]

well - Mr.