For in one year we both were made, So, ten to one, we both came from What? if I were not caft in near Corporal Trim fets off to-day for our head quarters. My plan is laid fo, that no discovery can take take place. Gods, that two fuch fouls, as your's and mine, should be obliged to defcend to arts and plans! Were it not for your dear fake, I'd scorn to do any thing I would not wifh difcovered. LETTER XVIII. To Mr. H. 21 Feb. 1776. ALL your plans are useless. The Corporal has made his forced march to no purpofe. The fates are unkind. It is determined I am to go up poft. So, we cannot poffibly be happy together, as we hoped to have been had our own horfes drawn me up, in which cafe I must have flept upon the road. I am not clear old Robin Gray will not stay and attend me. Why cannot my Jamie? Cruel fortune! But in town we will be happy. When, again, fhall I enjoy your dear fociety; as I did during that, to me at least, bleffed fnow? Nothing but my dear children could prevent our going with Cook to feek for happiness in worlds unknown. There must be some corner of the globe where mutual affection is refpected. Don't Don't forget to meet me. Scratch out forget. I know how much you think of me. Too much for your peace, nay for your health. Indeed my H. you don't look well. Pray be careful! "Whatever wounds thy tender health, "Will kill thy M.'s too." Omiah is in good humour with me again. -What kind of animal fhould a naturalist expect from a native of Otaheite and an Huntingdonfhire dairy-maid? If my eyes don't deceive me, Mr. Omiah will give us a specimen.-Will you bring me fome book to-morrow to divert me, as I poft it to town-that I may forget, if it be poffible, I am pofting from you? LETTER To Mifs XIX. Hockerill, 1. March, 1776. It is your ftrict injunction that I do not offend you by suffering my pen to speak of laft night. I will not, my M. nor should I, had you not injoined it. You once faid a nearer acquaintance would make me change my opinion of you. It has, I have changed my opinion. The more I know you, the more chaftely I think of you. Notwithstanding last night (what a night !), and our first too, I proteft to God, I think of you with as much purity, as if we were going to be married-You take my meaning, I am fure; because they are the thoughts I know you wish me to entertain of you. You got to town fafe, I hope. One letter may find me before I fhall be able to leave Huntingdon, whither I return to-day; or, at least, to Cambridge. I am a fool about Crop, you know. And I am now more more tender of him, because he has carried you.-How little did we think that morning we should ever make each other fo happy! Don't forget to write, and don't forget the key, against I come to town. As far as feeing you, I will ufe it fometimes; but never for an opportunity to indulge our paffion. That, pofitively, fhall never again happen under his roof. How did we applaud each other for not fuffering his walls at H. to be infulted with the firft fcene of it! And how happy were we both, after we waked from our dream of blifs, to think how often we had acted otherwife, during the time the fnow fhut me up at H.! a fnow as dear to me, as to yourself. My mind is torn, rent, with ten thoufand thoughts and refolutions about you, and about myself. When we meet, which fhall be as we fixed, I may perhaps mention one idea to you. Pray let us contrive to be together fome evening that your favourite Jephtha is per formed. Inclofed |