AT

To MR. W.

Coxwould, May 23, 1365.

fitting in my fummer

heart full, not of my

T this moment I am houfe with my head and 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 you are in love-'twill cure you at leaft of the spleen, which has a bad effect on both man and woman-I myself muft ever have fome Dulcinea in my head-It harmonizes the foul-and in thofe cafes I firft endeavour to make the lady believe fo, or rather I begin firft to make myself believe that I am in love-but I carry on my affairs quite in the French way- l'amour" (fay they) "n'eft rien fans Sentiment."-Now notwithstanding they make such a pother about the word, they have no precife idea annexed 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 daughter Without any ceremony (having got a letter 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 his fide My answer was, "Sir, I fhall give her ten thousand pounds the day of marriagemy calculation is as

follows

follows fhe is not eighteen, you are fixty two there goes five thousand pounds-then, Sir, you at leaft think her not ugly she 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, fo here finishes the account of the ten thousand pounds."I do not fuppofe but he will take this ast I mean, that is a flat refufal.I have had a par

fonage houfe burnt down by the careleffnefs of my curate's wife-as foon as I can I muft 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 spirits, for that is impoffible.

Yours fincerely,

L. STERNE.

My compliments to the Col.

FROM IGNATIUS SANCHO,* TO MR. STERNE.

IT

REVEREND SIR,

[1766.]

T would be an infult on your humanity (or perhaps lock like it) to apologize for the liberty I am taking-I am one of thofe people whom the vul

IGNATIUS SANCHO was a black, and born in 1729, on board a fhip in the flave trade, a few days after fhe had quitted the coaft of Guinea for the Spanish Weft Indies. He was a very fenfible man, and was many years in the fervice of the late Duke of MANCHESTER, who left him an annuity.

you

gar and illiberal call negroes.-The first part of my life was rather unlucky, as I was placed in a family who judged ignorance the best and only fecurity for obedience. A little reading and writing I got by unwearied application. The latter part of my life has been, through God's bleffing, truly fortunate-having spent it in the fervice of one of the best and greatest families in the kingdom-my chief pleasure has been books-Philanthropy I adore-How very much, good Sir, am I (amongst millions) indebted to for the character of your amiable Uncle Toby !I declare I would walk ten miles in the dog-days, to shake hands with the honeft Corporal.-Your fermons have touch'd me to the heart, and I hope have amended it, which brings me to the point-In your tenth difcourfe, is this paffage-" Confider how great a part of our species in all ages down to this-have been trod under the feet of cruel and capricious tyrants, who would neither hear their cries nor pity their distresses. -Confider flavery-what it is-how bitter a draught -and how many millions are made to drink of it.”— Of all my favourite authors, not one has drawn a tear in favour of my miferable black brethren-excepting yourself, and the humane author of Sir Geo. Ellifon. -I think you will forgive me; I am fure you will applaud me for befeeching you to give one half-hour's attention to flavery, as it is this day practifed in our Weft-Indies.. That fubject handled in your ftriking manner would eafe the yoke (perhaps) of many-but if only of one-gracious God! what a

feaft

feaft for a benevolent heart! and fure I am, you are an epicurean in acts of charity.-You who are univerfally read, and as univerfally admired-you could not fail.-Dear Sir, think in me you behold the uplifted hands of thousands of my brother Moors. Grief (you pathetically observe), is eloquent: figure to yourself their attitudes; hear their fupplicating addreffes!-alas! you cannot refufe.-Humanity muft complyin which hope I beg permiffion to fubfcribe myself, Reverend Sir, &c.

I. S.

FROM MR. STERNE TO IGNATIUS SANCHO.

Coxwould, July 26, 1766.

TH

HERE is a ftrange coincidence, Sancho, in the little events (as well as in the great ones) of this world: for I had been writing a tender tale of the forrowsof a friendless poor negro-girl, and my eyes had scarce done fmarting with it, when your letter of recommendation, in behalf of so many of her brethren and fifters, came to me-but why her brethren? or yours, Sancho? any more than mine? It is by the finest tints and most infenfible gradations, that nature defcends from the fairest face about St. James's, to the footieft complexion in Africa :-at which tint of these is it, that the ties of blood are to cease?—and how many fhades muft we defcend lower ftill in the scale, ere mercy is to vanish with them ? But 'tis no unB 5

common

common thing, my good Sancho, for one half of the world to use the other half of it like brutes, and then endeavour to make 'em fo.-For my own part I never look weftward (when I am in a penfive mood at leaft) but I think of the burthens which our brothers and fifters are there carrying, and could I eafe their fhoulders from one ounce of them, I declare I would fet out this hour upon a pilgrimage to Mecca for their fakes which by the bye, Sancho, exceeds your walk of ten miles in about the fame proportion that a vifit of humanity fhould one of mere form.However if you: meant my Uncle Toby, more he is your debtor.- -If I can weave the tale I have wrote into the work I am about'tis at the fervice of the afflicted-and a much greater matter; for in ferious truth, it cafts a fad shade upon the world, that so great a part of it are, and have been fo long bound in chains of darkness, and in chains of mifery; and I cannot but both refpect and felicitate you, that by fo much laudable diligence you have broke the one-and that by falling into the hands. of fo great and merciful a family, Providence has refcued you from the other.

And fo, good-hearted Sancho, adieu! and believe me, I will not forget your letter.

Yours,

L. STERNE