and tell Lucy I am very thankful for her remembrance of me, and for the very pleasant letters she has written I AM very glad to find that your dear sister is much better, and that Christiana's anticipations have proved what you so agreeably state. I had heard of Adriana's indisposition; but supposed it only to have arisen from causes of that natural debility which attach to persons in her delicate situation. Give my hearty congratulations to her and to Mr. Parrott; and tell them, if they take as much care of the infant as pains are taken here to make little Addy happy, that she will do very well. I am just come from attending the funeral of the late unfortunate Mr. Scott, who fell in a duel. Fifteen coaches, containing in each four persons, followed him to St. Martin's Church. The procession was solemn and imposing, and principally composed of literary characters. I had a large party at dinner yesterday, who were very happy, and to whom I did every thing in my power to make them so. Send my best inquiries to Tooting Lodge, and accept yourself of my affectionate love and regard. B. O. To Miss LUCY OAKLEY, TOOTING LODGE, SURREY. MY DEAR LUCY, Royal Exchange, March 14, 1821. WHY are you so anxious to hear from me, when I verbally acknowledged to you yesterday, at Mr. Parrott's, that I had received your letter? I will tell you why. You love your father, and wish to have an acknowledgment of his affection in his own handwriting but does not this seem to imply, that you would sooner take his bond than his word? Now, I give you my honour and word that I love you much, and that the welfare and happiness of so good a girl (" a girl who must not be teased,") sits near my heart; and that it gave me much pleasure to see you yesterday look so well. It gives me great satisfaction also to find you are grateful in expression, (and I have no doubt in feeling likewise), for the kind and affectionate attention of the amiable and good Mrs. Thomas towards you. I hope you shew an assiduous attention in return, and particularly to my poor suffering friend, Thomas-that you endeavour to amuse him, as your sister Christiana did— that you read to him, work for him, write for him taking care to open and shut doors softly—not to waste any salt, either in his presence or in his absence, nor to leave any crumbs on the table-not to be anxious to drink more wine than he is disposed to give you, nor to be too solicitous to go to bed before nine o'clock. If you rigidly attend to these admonitions, and they should be such as Mr. Thomas approves, I may allow you to stay a week longer, when you may concert measures with Elizabeth how you are to come home, and inform me whether or no I can assist you in so important |