LETTER XLVIII.

MR. STERNE TO J— HS, ESQ.

- DEAR ANTHONY,

May 25, near Dijon, 1766.

My desire of seeing both my wife and girl has

towards a delicious —, where I have

To

turned me out of my road chateau of the countess of Mbeen patriarching it these seven days with her lady. ship, and half a dozen of very handsome and agree. able ladies-her ladyship has the best of hearts—a valuable present not given to every one. morrow, with regret, I shall quit this agreeable circle, and post it night and day to Paris, where I shall arrive in two days, and just wind myself up, when I am there, enough to roll on to Calais-so I hope to sup with you the king's birth-day, according to a plan of sixteen days standing.-Never man has been such a wildgoose chase after a wife as I have been-after having sought her in five or six different towns, I found her at last in Franche Compte-Poor woman! she was very cordial, &c. and begs to stay another year or so-my Lydia pleases me much-I found her greatly improved in every thing I wished her-I am most unaccountably well, and most unaccountably nonsensical

-'tis at least a proof of good spirits, which is a sign and token given me in these latter days, that I must take up again the pen-In faith, I think I shall die with it in my hand, but I shall live these ten years, my Anthony, notwithstanding the fears of my wife, whom I left most melancholy on that ac

count. This is a delicious part of the world; most celestial weather, and we lie all day, without damps, upon the grass-and that is the whole of it, except the inner man (for her ladyship is not stingy of her wine) is inspired twice a day with the best Burgundy that grows upon the mountains which terminate our lands here.-Surely you will not have decamped to Crazy Castle, before I reach town-The summer here is set in in good earnest -'tis more than we can say for Yorkshire-I hope to hear a good tale of your alum-works-have you no other works in hand? I do not expect to hear from you, so God prosper you, and all your undertakings. I am, my dear cousin, most affectionately yours.

Remember me to Mr. Gthe Col. &c. &c. &c.

Cardinal S

LETTER XLIX.

IGNATIUS SANCHO TO MR. STERNE.

REVEREND SIR,

[1766.] IT would be an insult on your humanity (or perhaps look like it) to apologize for the liberty I am taking-I am one of those people whom the vulgar and illiberal call negroes-The first part of my life was rather unlucky, as I was placed in a family who judged ignorance the best and only security for obedience.-A little reading and writing I got by unwearied application. The latter part of my life has been, through God's blessing, truly fortunate having spent it in the service of one of the

best and greatest families in the kingdom-my chief pleasure has been books-Philanthropy F adore-How very much, good sir, am I (amongst millions) indebted to you for the character of your amiable uncle Toby!-I declare I would walk tén miles in the dog-days, to shake hands with the honest Corporal.-Your Sermons have touched me to the heart, and I hope have amended it, which brings me to the point.-In your tenth discourse, is this very affecting passage" Consider how great a part of our species in all ages down to this-have been trod under the feet of cruel and capricious tyrants, who would neither hear their cries, nor pity their distresses.-Consider slavery-what it is how bitter a draught—and how many millions are made to drink of it.”—Of all my favourite authors, not one has drawn a tear in favour of my miserable black brethren-excepting yourself, and the humane author of Sir Geo. Ellison.-I think you will forgive me; I am sure you will applaud me for beseeching you to give one half-hour's attention to slavery, as it is this day practised in our West Indies. That subject handled in your striking manner would ease the yoke (perhaps) of manybut if only of one-gracious God! what a feast to a benevolent heart! and sure I am, you are an epicurean in acts of charity.-You who are universally read, and as universally admired-you could not fail.-Dear sir, think in me you behold the uplifted hands of thousands of my brother Moors. Grief (you pathetically observe) is eloquent: figure to yourself their attitudes : hear their supplicating addresses!—alas! you cannot refuse. -Humanity must comply-in which hope I beg submission to subscribe myself, reverend sir, &c.

LETTER L.

MR. STERNE TO IGNATIUS SANCHO.

Coxwould, July 27, 1766.

THERE is a strange coincidence, Sancho, in the little events (as well as in the great ones) of this world; for I had been writing a tender tale of the sorrows of a friendless poor negro-girl, and my eyes had scarce done smarting with it, when your letter of recommendation, in behalf of so many of her brethren and sisters, came to me-but why her brethren, or yours, Sancho, any more than mine? It is by the finest tints, and most insensible gradations, that nature descends from the fairest face about St. James's, to the sootiest complexion in Africa :-at which tint of these is it, that the ties of blood are to cease? and how many shades must we descend lower in the scale, ere mercy is to vanish with them? But 'tis no uncommon thing, my good Sancho, for one half of the world to use the other half of it like brutes, and then endeavour to make 'em so.-For my own part, I never look westward (when I am in a pensive mood at least) but I think of the burthens which our brothers and sisters are there carrying; and could I ease their shoulders from one ounce of them, I declare I would set out this hour upon a pilgrimage to Mecca for their sakes-which, by-the-bye, Sancho, exceeds your walk of ten miles in about the same proportion that a visit of humanity should one of mere form. However, if you meant my uncle Toby, the more he is your debtor.- If I can weave the tale I have wrote into the work I am about

'tis at the service of the afflicted-and a much greater matter; for in serious truth, it casts a sad shade upon the world, that so great a part of it are, and have been so long, bound in chains of darkness, and in chains of misery; and I cannot but both respect and felicitate you, that by so much laudable diligence you have broke the one-and that by falling into the hands of so good and merciful a family, Providence has rescued you from the other.

And so, good-hearted Sancho, adieu! and believe me I will not forget your letter. Yours, &c.

LETTER LI.

MR. STERNE TO MISS STERNE.

Old Bond-street, Feb. 23, 1767.

AND So, my Lydia! thy mother and thyself are returning back again from Marseilles to the banks of the Sorgue-and there thou wilt sit and fish for trouts-I envy you the sweet situation.-Petrarch's tomb I should like to pay a sentimental visit to

-the Fountain of Vaucluse, by thy description, must be delightful-I am also much pleased with the account you give of the abbé de Sade-you find great comfort in such a neighbour-I am glad he is so good as to correct thy translation of my Sermons-dear girl, go on, and make me a present of thy work-but why not the House of Mourning? 'tis one of the best. I long to receive the Life of Petrarch, and his Laura, by your abbé;