Chapter XII: Letter XI: To Mr. S----N

Dalkeith, Sept. 15, 1770.

IT was kindly done of my worthy old friend to give me the satisfaction of hearing he was well and happy.--Believe me, I very often think of and wish to be with you;--without malice, I envy you the constant felicity of being with worthy good children--whose regards and filial tenderness to yourself--and christian behaviour to each other--reflect honor to themselves and credit to you. But the thing I have much at heart you are provokingly silent about--is my sweet Polly married yet? has she made Mr. H---- happy? May they both enjoy every comfort God Almighty blesses his children with! And how comes it my dear Tommy does not give me a line? I hope he is well, hearty, and happy--and honest downright Sally also;--tell Tommy he has disappointed me in not writing to me.--I hope Mrs. Sancho will be as good as her word, and soon pay you a visit.--I will trust her with you, though she is the treasure of my soul.--We have been a week in the Highlands, and a fine country it is.--I hear nothing of coming home as yet--but I fancy it will not be long now.--Mrs. H---- sends her love to you and yours--and I my double love to self and the four young ones--with my best wishes and respects to Mrs. B----y, and tell her I am half a Methodist:--here is a young man preaches here, one of those five who were expelled from Oxford--his name is M----n; he has a good strong voice--much passion--and preaches three times a day--an hour and a half each time;--he is well-built--tall--genteel--a good eye--about twenty-five--a white hand, and a blazing ring--he has many converts amongst the ladies;--I cannot prevail on Mrs. H---- to go and hear him--I have been four or five times, and heard him this day--his text was the epistle in the communion service.--I am, dear friend, yours sincerely, and all your valuable family’s sincere well-wisher, and, were it in my power, I would add friend,

IGNATIUS SANCHO.

Their Graces are all well--and Lady Mary grows every day--she is a sweet child.--Remember me to Mrs. ----, and tell her Mrs. M---- is quite the woman of fashion:--she is pretty well in every thing except her eyes, which are a little inflamed with cold--and she does not forget they are so. Once more my cordial love to the girls; and to the worthies, Tommy, Mr. H---- B----, and self. Adieu.