Chapter LXXIX: Letter LXXVII: To Mr. R

October 16, 1778.

MY DEAR FRIEND,

ACCEPT my thanks--my best thanks--for your kind readiness in obliging and serving my friend S----. He has sense, honour, and abilities--these we should naturally suppose would insure him bread--but that is not always the case:--in the race of fortune, knaves often win the prize--whilst honesty is distanced--but then mark the end--whilst the knave full often meets his deserved punishment, Honesty yoked with Poverty hugs Peace and Content in his bosom.--But truce with moralizing--though in serious truth my heart and spirits are low--the noble and good Duke of Queensbury is, I fear, very dangerously ill: exclusive of gratitude for past favours, and my own interest in the hope of future, I grieve for the public loss in him--a man who ennobled his titles, and made greatness lovely by uniting it with goodness:--if he dies--his gain is certain, for he has served a Master who will not wrong him--but the world will lose a rare example, and the poor a friend! He never knew a day’s illness till now for fifty years past--his regularity of life and serenity of mind are in his favour--but his advanced life is against him--80 odd--the great fear is a mortification in his leg--The K--g and Q--n paid him a visit, as the prints must have informed you--he came to town on purpose to present himself at the levee--to thank them for the honour done him--he was taken ill the Sunday after their Majesties visit--and came to town the Tuesday after. I have been or sent daily to enquire about him--and was there about two hours ago. The faculty are pouring in the bark--and allow his Grace strong wines as much as he can drink.--_God’s will be done!_

Mr. S----n writes in raptures of you all.--I wonder not at him--I only wish, for the good of mankind, such characters as B---- house contains were more plenty.--Poor Kitty continues much the same--the rest are, thank God, well.--Mrs. Sancho joins me in cordial wishes to self and ladies. Adieu,

Yours sincerely and gratefully,

I. SANCHO.