it. He says it must be Norway tar, of a deep brown, and pretty thin. Your truly affectionate and obliged humble servant, E. YOUNG. TO MR. RICHARDSON. DEAR SIR, Wellwyn, May 17, 1747. I THANK you for the hopes of seeing you here; and if you consider how few are the joys of age, you will not think I flatter you, when I say, I greatly rejoice at it. Nor am I very sorry for the multiplicity of business of which you seem to complain; it is profit, credit, and health. The delightful weather we have had, brings forward our season for the steel-water, and consequently of my enjoying you at this place, for your health, and my great pleasure. I do assure you, from the authority of the best physicians, and from experience, which is a better physician than the college can afford, that this spring has all the virtue of Tunbridge in it. I have corrected the Eighth Night; you will let me know when you have occasion for it. I forgot to tell you, that this place will be as salutary to Clarissa as to yourself; for amid your multiplicity of affairs, how you can sufficiently attend to her charms is to me astonishing. Though we are told that Venus rose from the sea, yet I do not remember that it was from the sea in a storm; which seems to me no unapt resemblance of your London life. My best love and service to you and your's. With true affection and esteem, your faithful humble servant, E. YOUNG. то TO MR. RICHARDSON. DEAR SIR, August 5, 1747. IF I do not see you now, I shall despair of ever seeing you at Wellwyn. The season of the year, the fineness of the weather, the vacation from business, the smallness of the distance, the benefit to your health, the gratification to your friend, the regard to your promise, and, perhaps, the company of Mr. Cibber, (to whom my humble service) may possibly incline you to confer this much desired favour on, Dear Sir, your truly affectionate humble servant, E. YOUNG. My love and service to Mrs. Richardson and the little ones. It will be no interruption to your amour with Clarissa. She may travel with you, and be assured of a hearty welcome. ΤΟ IT REV. SIR, TO DR. YOUNG. Nov. 19, 1747. T was an infelicity to me, that I was not able to wait on you at your Wellwyn. One part of the time, I could have made the excursion; then I must needs wait for other people. I have a very great fault in being will-less. But I will begin, however late, to be will-full, and to snatch my opportunities as they offer. What contentions, what disputes have I involved myself in with my poor Clarissa, through my own diffidence, and for want of a will! I wish I had never consulted any body but Dr. Young, who so kindly vouchsafed me his ear, and sometimes his opinion. Two volumes will attend your commands, whenever you please to give me your direction for sending them. I think I shall publish in about a fortnight. Miss Lee may venture (if you and she have patience) to read these two to you. But Lovelace afterwards is so vile a fellow, that if I publish I publish any more, I do not know (so much have some hypercritics put me out of conceit with my work) whether she, of whose delicacy I have the highest opinion, can see it as from you or me. And yet I hope, at worst, there will be nothing either in the language or sentiments, that may be so very censurable as may be found in the works of some very high names, who have, uncalled for by their subjects, given us specimens of their wit at the expence of their modesty, and even of common decency-nay, sometimes to the dishonour of human nature. S. RICHARDSON. TO MR. RICHARDSON. Rec. May 8, 1749. DEAR SIR, WE HEN I was in town, I ask'd you if you had read Dr. Hartley's book. You told me you had not. I was sorry for it; for I have a curiosity to know your opinion of it. I VOL. II. с have |