is the last. My best respects attend you and Mrs. Wharton and your family.

I am, dear Sir,

affectionately yours,

J. BROWN.

Tuesday Evening, July 30, 1771.

I think him dying, and that he has been sensible of his approaching death, nor hath he expressed any concern at the thoughts of leaving this world.

He is still alive-9 o'clock.

LETTER IV.

MR. BROWN TO D WHARTON.

DEAR SIR,

YOU must expect what will give you great concern; Mr. Gray died about eleven last night; there is nothing to be added about his death, but that the whole was peaceable and calm, so long as he was himself; nor was there any thing violent afterwards: but we think that for some hours before he died, though he appeared convulsed to us, yet that he himself felt no pain. This was the opinion of the physicians. I found a will in the place of which he had told me, dated 1st July, 1770. I was concerned that Mrs. Foster's name is totally omitted.

£500 in the stocks is left to her daughter Lady Goring. Mr. Williamson of Calcutta, a relation on his father's side is a legatee to the same value. To Mr. Mason he has left all his books and all his papers, to be destroyed or preserved at his direction. He hath joined me with Mr. Mason in the execu torship. To Mr. Stonehewer and Dr. Wharton, each £500 reduced Bank annuities, and to each one of his diamond rings. He has desired to be buried near his mother at Stoke, near Windsor, and that one of his executors would see him laid in the grave. A melancholy task which must come to my share, for Mr. Mason is not here, and it will be necessary to proceed in a very few days. This morning at eight, nine, ten, he was but little altered. You have my best wishes, you and your family. I know they will grieve every one of them for the loss of Mr. Gray.

I am, dear Sir,

very affectionately yours,

Pembroke-Hall, Wednesday, July 31, 1771.

I shall return as soon as I can.

JAMES BROWN.

EVERY thing is now dark and melancholy in Mr. Gray's room, not a trace of him remains there; it looks as if it had been for some time uninhabited, and the room bespoke for another inhabitant. The papers are in good hands, Mr. Mason carried them with him to York; and his furniture he bequeathed to his relations here. The thoughts I have of him will last, and will be useful to me the few years I can expect to live. He never spoke out, but I believe from some little expressions, I now remember to have dropt from him, that for some time past, he thought himself nearer his end, than those about him apprehended. I shall rejoice in the happiness of your family, and desire my best respects to Mrs. Wharton, and your sons and your daughters.

I am affectionately yours,

J. BROWN.

Remember me to your nephew; the bill you sent is in the hands of Mr. May. Adieu!

LETTER VI.

MR. MASON TO DR. WHARTON.

York, Aug. 18, 1771.

DEAR SIR,

THE best apology I can make to you, for not writing

to you sooner, will be, to give you an account how I have been employed since the sad event happened, which now occasions. my writing.

I received the melancholy news at Bridlington Key, full ten days after it had happened; I crossed the Humber immediately, and got to Cambridge the day after, in order to assist and relieve Mr. Brown, as soon, and as much as I was able. He returned not from Stoke and London till the Saturday. On Sunday I' set out with him for London, to prove the will, and having done so, returned on Monday. This was a great and an unnecessary loss of time. But nothing would satisfy his cautious temper but our doing it personally. On Tuesday and Wednesday, we delivered up the furniture of the rooms to the Antrobuses, and in the meanwhile the books were packed up, and sent to the Lodge; so that by this dispatch he will have nothing to take charge of, but what remains to the executorship. The papers I brought all with me here yesterday. My first business shall be to sort the letters, which are numerous. I shall seal up those of the living correspondents, and return them when convenient. I find a good many of yours, which I shall return you with all fidelity,

You will perhaps wonder why I staid so little a while with him. The time of my residence here began the very day after I reached Cambridge. Mr. Cayley's servants and goods were gone to his parsonage. He stayed the Sunday over, and that was all he could possibly do, so that it was impossible for me to prolong my stay another day. However, the great burthen, i. e. the care of little matters, is now off his hands. You who know his attention to little matters, know how much he will be relieved by what is already done. You know too, he could never have attended to other things till these had been done, and he would have been months of doing without me, what I trust has been now done, as effectually, in three days. I purpose to return to him in November, to transfer the stock bequeathed, and to give up the title deeds of the house in Cornhill. In the mean time, my dear Doctor Wharton, shall not I assure myself of seeing you at York? Come, I beseech you, and condole with me on our mutual, our irreparable loss. The great charge, which his dear friendship has laid upon me, I feel myself unable to execute, without the advice and assistance of his best friends; you are among the first of these: and the first too, whose counsel I could take on the occasion. As soon as the foolish hurry of this idle week is over, my house will be empty and my time my own. Come when it suits you, I shall take care to have a bed for you at the Deanery, if these rooms be too small. Mrs. Wharton, perhaps, will accompany you, and take this opportunity of seeing her sister. My best compliments to her and the young ladies.

Believe me, most cordially yours,

W. MASON.

Excuse 'great haste and much confusion of mind, for I have

been hurried and concerned beyond expression.