1775. Etat. 66. However, when fuch fufpicions find their way into your mind, always give them vent, I fhall make hafte to difperfe them, but hinder their first ingrefs if you can. Confider fuch thoughts as morbid. "Such illness as may excufe my omiffion to Lord Hailes I cannot honestly plead. I have been hindered I know not how, by a fucceffion of petty obftructions. I hope to mend immediately, and to fend next poft to his Lordship. Mr. Thrale would have written to you if I had omitted; he fends his compliments, and wishes to see you. "You and your lady will now have no more wrangling about feudal inheritance. How does the young Laird of Auchinleck? I fuppofe Mifs Veronica is grown a reader and difcourfer. "I have just now got a cough, but it has never yet hindered me from fleeping: I have had quieter nights than are common with me. "I cannot but rejoice that Jofeph has had the wit to find the way back. He is a fine fellow, and one of the beft travellers in the world. "Young Col brought me your letter. He is a very pleafing youth. I took him two days ago to the Mitre, and we dined together. I was as civil as I had the means of being. "I have had a letter from Rafay, acknowledging, with great appearance of fatisfaction, the infertion in the Edinburgh paper. I am very glad that it was done. "My compliments to Mrs. Bofwell, who does not love me; and of all the reft, I need only fend them to thofe that do; and I am afraid it will give you very little trouble to distribute them. I am, my dear, dear Sir, "Your affectionate humble fervant, SAM. JOHNSON." "December 23, 1775. 8 Jofeph Rieter, a Bohemian, who was in my fervice many years, and attended Dr. Johnson and me in our Tour to the Hebrides. After having left me for fome time, he had now returned to me. THE END OF THE FIRST VOLUME. ALIOTH The 4 billets in No 10 of the Ramble are writhen by M by to the James rephiston Sept 25. 1750 Dear Sir our Find evidence, You have, as I find an every lost an excellent mother; of Thope you will not think me incapable of partaking of your quiet. I have a thother, now 82 years of age, whom, mere fore: I must soon lose, moun for me. I unless it please God that the cather should read the letters in which you relate your mothers death to the that I Thahan, & think I do myself honor, when I tell you reas thein with tears; had tears are neither to you nor to me one of any further use, when once the tribute of nature has been paid The business of life summons us away from useless grief, & calls us to the exercise of those bistudy of which we are are laments sing deprivation. The greatest benefit which one friend colefer upon another, is to gourd, excite, & clevate his Onture, This your mother will still berform, of you diligently prescove the memory of her life, sother death; a life, so far as I can Garn, useful, wise, & innocent; sa death resigned, peaceful & Booly. I cannot forbear to mention, that neither reason nor revelation denies you to hope, that you to hope that you at the of may increase her happines, by obeying her precepts; I that may in her act of virtuve to present state look with pleasure upon which her instuctions or example have contributed. Whether this be more than a foleasing cream or a gust opinion of separate Spirits & is indeed of neatimportance to us, when we consider ourselves as acting under the Eye of God: get, surely there is something pleasing in the belied, that our sepa: :zation from those wer love is nocely corporeal ; fit may be a gead incitement to virtuous friendship, if it can be made pro: table that that union that has received the divine approbation shall continue to Sternity. There is one Expediend by which write down minitely what you remember other from her you may, in some degreely, continue her presence. If you carliest years you will read it with great pleasure, & receive from it many hints of soothing recollection, when trime shall remove her yet farther from you, & your, $ сала 35 176 378 |