Chapter XC: Letter LXXXVIII: To Mr. W----E

Charles Street, March 31, 1779.

YOU wish me to writ a consolatory letter to Mrs. W----e. My good friend, what can I possibly write but your good sense must have anticipated? The soul-endearing soothings of cordial love have the best and strongest effects upon the grief-torn mind:--you have of course told her that thanks are due, greatly so! to a merciful God, who might have bereaved her of a child, instead of a worthy cousin;--or that she ought to feel comfort--and to acknowledge divine mercy--that it was not her husband:--that to lament the death of that amiable girl, is false sorrow in the extreme:--why lament the great bliss and _choice prize_ of what we love?--what is it she has not gained by an early death?--You will say--she was good--and will suppose that in the tender connexions of wife--friend--and mother--she would have been an honoured and esteemed example.--True, she might--and it is as true, she might have been unhappily paired, ill-matched to some morose, ill-minded, uneven bashaw;--she might have fell from affluence to want--from honour to infamy--from innocence to guilt:--in short, we mistake too commonly the objects of our grief;--the living demand our tears--the dead (if their lives were virtuous) our gratulations;--in your case, all that can be said is--earth has lost an opening sweet flower (which, had it lasted longer, must of course soon fade)--and heaven has gained an angel, which will bloom for ever--so let us hear no more of grief. We all must follow.--No! let us rejoice, with your worthy friend Mrs. ----[9]. Joy to the good couple! May they each find their respective wishes! May he find the grateful acknowledgement of obliged and pleasing duty!--and she, the substantial, fond, solid rewards due to a rectitude of conduct, marked strongly with kindness and wisdom! And may you, my friend!--but my leg aches--my foot swells--I can only say, my love to the C--ds, and to poor Joe and Frank.--Read this to Mrs. W----e. My silly reasoning may be too weak to reach her;--but, however, she may smile at my absurdities;--if so, I shall have a comfort--as I ever wish to give pleasure to her dear sex--and the pride of my heart is ever to please one--alas!--and that one a wife.--So writes thy true friend,

I. SANCHO.

Mr. W----e comes as far as P---- Gardens--but cannot reach Charles Street.

_How’s that?_

I hear my scheme of taxation was inserted directly, and should be glad to see the paper if easily got.

_Vanity._

[9] This union was remarkable for disparity of years; the bridegroom
being 78, the bride in the bloom of youth.