date

½ after 10. An Extraordinary Gazette
½ after 10.

An Extraordinary Gazette is this instant crying about,

I have been & got it. It contains nothing but an account

of our taking peaceable possession of Rhode Island where

we took a few Cannon & Prisoners. The Continental Fleet

as it was called which lay there is not taken, but seems

to be impounded.

IB. Jan y 22 d 1777.

Thursday 23 d

Thus far I wrote yesterday, not doubting but you would have it before

now. I ran over to Wilson with the Gazette, & after having written the an

above left it with him to get put into the post. He gave the commission

to Molly. "Between two stools" (says the proverb, "the breech falleth to the

ground. So fared it with me between Wilson & his Molly - She never heard

the Bellman.

This post brought me a letter from M rs W. none from M r W.

I know not how the course of the post is, perhaps the letter I sent him

on Saturday night did not reach him time enough for me to have an

answer from him so soon. I wrote to him by the post on purpose, & got

the letter directed by Wilson,- that not choosing to put it into the packet

for fear M rs W. should expect to see it, and be uneasy at his not shewing

it her.

M rs W.'s letter contains the following passage; which is all that is very

material in it.

"Mr Guy has made us a visit of 2 days. His pride would n't

" submitt to come to the house till he had seen M r W. at a tavern:

"whom he requested to see in a note to him. M r W. went immediately

"& as soon asked him the meaning of his behaviour; which

"G- evaded, saying 'twas a parcel of nonsense. I cannot attribute his

"visit to any thing but the pricking of his conscience for so heavy a

"charge against M r W. I still think there is a secret grudge as he

"was very awkwardly familiar the whole time he was with us."

She ends thus.

"I have no message from M r W. who went from home early this

"morning, & knew nothing of my intention" (meaning of writing.) — "I

"have some suspicion that I dare not yet wish to disclose to you"

This is rather aenigmatical — Does it refer, I wonder, to the boarding scheme?
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  • Title: [Saturday Feb: 8 th. 1777 Your letter]
    Description: Saturday Feb: 8 th. 1777

    Your letter is just come to hand. - Alas! my poor Sam

    what is it I can do for thee? Shall I come down to you? that I

    certainly will if you desire it by return of Post. You know, from

    my last in particular, how precious time is to me,- or I would

    come down tomorrow. I have been rather naughty to day - laid abed

    rather too long and am good for nothing — quite spiritless and confused.

    The morning however has not been absolutely lost I have laboured in

    my vocation with tolerable success.

    Elmsly I see has advertised the Incas and yet I have not settled

    terms with him - only just the Preliminaries I mentioned: nor have

    I done any thing to engage myself.

    I wrote on Wednesday again to M r Davies. Did you any

    of you? I promised him that if you have not I would make you

    write by next packet. The packet goes the 1 st Wednesday after the

    1 st day of every month.

    Have you any thing now of the pain in the breast you complained of

    when at Fetcham.

    That was Wilson's first enquiry upon my telling him you were not

    well. I am writing by his fireside, and he has just reminded me to

    put that question.

    If M rs D. knows any thing of the Inca let her remember &

    do you that it is an inviolable secret. Wilson is all anxiety least it

    should be discover'd. He thinks it would be a great degradation to my character

    were it to be known; and injure me & my projects beyond

    measure.

    It is time M rs D. should do something about the Battle scheme

    M rs W. will expect it. If things hold on till then well and good

    at any rate the thoughts of it will be an amusement to the parties.

    M rs D. therefore or Sam had best write me a letter such as she would write

    to me were the proposal a new one. I shall then answer accordingly.

    Somwhat of this sort must be done,- because my answer is what

    M rs D. will have to give an account of to M rs W. M rs D.'s letter

    should come before M r W. comes to town; as he will probably be
  • Title: [yet to be done, which I made no doubt M r]
    Description: yet to be done, which I made no doubt M r W. would dispatch

    as soon as he could. He seemed rather uneasy at the question; to

    which you see I could not return a mere favourable answer. She seemed not very well satisfied, &. I suppose

    she would have questioned me more particularly, but he took

    care she should not have an opportunity of speaking to me alone a

    moment. I am apt to think that was partly the reason of his being

    so long before he called upon me. I should have told you that

    I called on them at their quarters this morning & staid with them

    from 10 till 1/2 after 11.

    M rs W. put me into rather an awkward situation. Her husband

    comes to town promising either to be back or write by —

    certain day - does neither - she writes to him - he takes no notice

    of her letter. She writes to me in an agony letter upon

    letter, begging me to make hue and cry after him

    Monday March 17 th 1777 Linc. Inn.

    I had written thus far when I was interrupted. It is no matter

    You can supply the rest. Your letter is come to hand. I can write

    no more at present.

    There is a very short life of D. Hume come out, written

    by himself. I have just been reading it — it will do service to the

    cause.

    I have just been reading an authentic account of the trial of John

    the Painter with his confession which charges Silas Dean pointedly

    with the procurement: but nobody else. Only a D r Bancroft

    with the knowledge of the intention.

    Adieu my dear Sam. Love to M rs D. I shall write again

    probably e'er long.

    The old Gentleman was with me this morning. He was asking

    after you and wondering he had not heard from you. He complains

    much of his Lungs; says they are sore: thinks it is the

    Gout is got there: says he is afraid he is going to be in the same way

    he was in last October: and that he is going to have an Asthma. He

    says he would go to Bath as he has been advised, were it not that his affairs
  • Title: [Saturday April 5 1777 This post brought]
    Description: Saturday April 5 1777

    This post brought me a letter from W. wherein he tells me

    he and M r W. will be with me on Monday night; and

    that he will bring the conveyances.

    As to this packet my dear Sam I do believe I shall

    pack it off at once for Q.S.P. in status quo. I wrote a Billet doux

    designed for that quarter upon the receipt of your letter

    by the Post. If I dine there tomorrow I will have the

    packet when I go away: otherwise I will send it on

    Monday by the Penny Post.

    Let not thy nole courage be cast down.

    Wilson told me something last night that pleased me

    much.

    The Empress of Russia reads English — she reads the

    English News Papers. Wilson was told is by Baron

    Dimsdale the Physician who inoculated her. I make no

    doubt of being able to make the Punishments find their way

    to her: and for that purpose you see there is no immediate nor absolute

    necessity of a translation.

    Yesterday I shew'd Wilson a Chapter or two: he bobbed

    his head de tems en tems, and the "just-so" came very

    thick one after another. Speaking of a part he happen'd

    to have in his hand I expressed my doubts whether it

    would not be thought heavy and abstruse— By no means, he

    said: he did not see how it was possible any thing should

    be clearer: he did not see how it was possible any body

    could help understanding me. Every now and then he would

    be saying it was a mighty odd sort of a book indeed

    was I and "Will I wish to God it were out". Coming

    to a note. By now I like that note - It's a damned good

    note that