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admiration of all who knew him, and who still affectionately bear the impression excited by his manly character, and the generosity of his noble heart.

Do not forget these injunctions, and you will, by so doing, ever secure to you the affections of

Your loving Father,

B. O.

To WILLIAM FARRAN, Esq.

MY DEAR SIR,

you are

Royal Exchange, December 9, 1818. I FIND, by your favour of the 3d instant, that pursuing the business" as fast as possible; also by the enclosed notes you sent me in your letter, that Mr. Hamsell is at work. If it be necessary, as he seems to hint at, that Sir Joseph must be served, I am afraid you will have some difficulty, as he is accustomed to hide himself, and knows well how to avoid his pursuers.

I have seen Mr. Harcourt, who has a claim upon the baronet, and have given him your address for the purpose, if he should feel inclined, to ask your advice; but I rather think him too passive to take any step at present. You will therefore not look to any cooperation with me unless that gentleman chooses to join no other am I acquainted with.

I am glad to find you speak more favourably of Mrs. Farran's health. Mrs. Oakley, the young ladies, and myself, send our best and sincere wishes for her recovery. I can only send you thanks for your intention respecting the Kilkenny papers, and for your invitation to Mrs. or Miss Oakley to accompany me next year to Dublin. They are not so theatrical as myself; therefore it is most

probable I shall make my entrée alone; but, before that takes place, I shall hope to witness your second appearance in London.

Do not forget my map of Dublin: should you not send it, how shall I find my way to Abbey Street through the intricate windings of your splendid metropolis? If you wish to see me, send me my map.

Yours very truly,

B. O.

To R. G. THOMAS, Esq. TOOTING LODGE.

DEAR THOMAS,

Royal Exchange, December 15, 1818.

YOUR angry and petulant letter is ill becoming a man of business, nor does it do you any credit as a man of the world. You did not perceive, then, that it was respectful to answer mine, until informed by Mrs. Thomas that you were in " arrears." Perhaps this is an elucidation of " the proud man's contumely." The case stands thus I am a poor humble supplicant for the adjustment of a long standing account, which I would rather settle myself than leave to my executors to do: you, on the contrary, would rather your executors should do it than yourself. It reminds me of the frogs in the fable, "It may be sport to you, but it is death to me."

I do not understand what you mean by alluding to the £200 I gave you on account, being on "other grounds." I am too "stiff-necked stiff-necked" to pry into other persons' concerns: what your multifarious arrangements are, I have nothing to do with, nor do I think my

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energies," were they directed to your concerns, would be of service to you. Indeed, I should, or perhaps you

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would imagine, any interference of mine "an absurdity, and bordering almost upon an insult."

If I thought I had lost any "credit" by not dining at Tooting Lodge, I should be eager to retrieve it by my" own appointment" to dine there, even without a

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special invitation" from you: but, as conscience makes cowards of us all," I have not "the native hue of resolution"-" to screw my courage to the stickingplace;" and therefore must be content to stay at home, amusing myself with "epistolary aberrations," and endeavour to retain "some regard for you and yours."

"Your poor Servant ever,"

B. O.

To MR. AND MRS. BRITTON.

Tavistock Place, December 24, 1818.

DEAR SIR AND DEAR MADAM,

If you are not too much attached to your snug room, and will, to-morrow, attempt an excursion to an oblong house within an hundred miles of where you live, you will find a domesticated fellow of half a century standing, with a good sort of woman, and some fac-similes of herself and himself, who will be glad to see you.

We have a little Parrott sent us from Tooting, very playful and full of tricks: it is not yet taught to speak; but it will scold very intelligibly; and when put in a passion, will utter very extraordinary notes. It is of the feminine gender; yet from its propensity to the female breast, I should almost fancy it to be of the masculine species. In this there is something very odd,

inasmuch as its appetite is directly opposite to that of its mother, who, on the contrary, is more attached to the male kind, and who actually fled from the rookery in Tavistock Place to build her nest at Tooting; from whence, as if by instinct, the young one has found its way back to the original nest, and is absolutely caressed and received by the natives, (for "birds of a feather will flock together"), as one who had been hatched among them.

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I AM quite ashamed to remain your debtor so long. If my recollection serves me right, I think it is somewhere about three guineas: it may be a few shillings more or less: but be it either way, it is of no moment. I therefore send you a draft for that sum, with my hearty thanks.

Now, having discharged this debt, I am anxious to incur another, and solicit the honour of your company at dinner, in Tavistock Place, on any day you will name convenient to yourself; which, if you grant, I shall be your debtor again, and will proudly acknowledge the obligation.

I am, &c.

B. O.

TO JOHN DAVID, ESQ. THREADNEEDLE STREET.

MY DEAR SIR,

Royal Exchange, January 15, 1819.

I CANNOT longer refrain from expressing to you how sensibly I feel, commiserate, and sympathize in your misfortunes. If I have not paid you that attention which perhaps you thought I ought, pray attribute it to the reluctance I felt in believing that a too obtrusive interference would have been painful to you. To say that I feel sorry for your embarrassments, is but to express the general sympathy of every one who knows you: but where manliness of character, integrity, friendship, and social worth, encounter the desolating pangs of separation from worldly comfort, and comfort taken from such a man, my heart bleeds, and I become identified in your sufferings. Accept then, dear sir, my sympathy; it is all I can at present offer you, with the exception of the use of my house, which if you think it can afford you relief, come, and partake of its comforts with me, and waive all ceremony in a warm compliance with my wishes.

Your obliged Friend,

B. O.

To RICHARD RICKARDS, Esq. BISHOPSGATE STREET.

SIR,

Royal Exchange, January 16, 1819.

MR. EVANS, the bearer of this, is the person Mr. Williams has kindly undertaken to introduce to your notice. Allow me to say in behalf of Mr. Evans, whose qualifications I believe to be equal to the situation now

in

your contemplation to assign him, that I have known

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