LETT, LII. The fame to the fame; political State of Venice continued. April 15, 1766. LETT. LIV. The fame to the fame; political State of Venice continued. May 1, 1766. LETT. LVI. -to Mrs.; Defcription of a Retirement at Palluello, &c. June 20. 306 LETT. LVII. The fame to the fame; Defcrip- tion of Bridgnorth, &c. July 5. 309 LETT. LXX. The fame to the fame, defcribing ber Arrival at Kimbolton Castle, with a Sketch of the Place. Nov. 22. LETT. LXXI. 324 The fame to the fame; fhort Defcription of Paris and the Environs. July 31. 329 LETT. LXXII. The fame to the fame. Oct. 13, 336 1771. LETT. LXXIII. The fame to the fame; Sketch of Switzerland, and the Carnival Time at Venice. Jan. 26, 1772. 341 SELECT SELECT LETTER S. LETTER I. W. SHENSTONE, Efq. to The Leafowes, My dearest Friend, T is a very furprising and a IT Nov. 20, 1762. cruel Thing, me to have that you will not fuppofe been out of Order, after fuch a Neglect of writing, as can hardly be excufed on any other Score. I cannot, indeed, lay Claim to what the Doctors call an acute Difeafe: but Dizzinefs of Head, and Depreffion of Spirits re at ne beft best no trivial Maladies, and great Difcouragements to writing. There is a lethargic State of Mind that deferves your Pity, not your Anger; though it may require the Hellebore of fharp Reproof. Why then did you not apply this pungent Remedy, before the Disease was gone fo far? But feriously, I pass too much of that Sort of Time, wherein I am neither well nor ill; and being unable to exprefs myself at large, am averfe to do fo by Halves. From the ftrange Laconicism of your Letter, I am really in Doubt, whether you are not angry at me; and yet had rather this were owing to Anger that may fubfide, than to any perfevering Fondness you may have for fuch unusual Brevity. Should the latter become habitual, I fhall fee the Letters of a Genius dwindle to " per first will advise the Needful.” God forbid fuch, a Transformation! Your former Letter, to my great Confufion, was dated Sept. 18. Let me fpeak first to fome few Parts of it-The Lampreys arrived fafe, and were as good as I ever tafted; but every Time I tafted them, I wanted you; and you are miftaken, 7 |