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to our beloved ehild. We shall keep the play- 

 things, when they come, with the greatest care, and 

 shall frequently visit them with sentiments of the 

 kindest nature for you, and resignation to the will 

 of Providence. 



My wife joins me in kindest regards. 



Yours ever most affectionately, 



E. Davall. 



J. E. Smith to Mr. Davall. 



London, Sept. 3, 1791. 



I should not have deferred a moment, my very 

 dear friend, answering your last letter, had I been 

 in town when it came, and had I been sure of my 

 answer meeting you at home, which this probably 

 will. I cannot express how much I feel for your 

 great and sudden affliction. As much as one who 

 is not a father can enter into your affliction, I do ; 

 for you will do me the justice to think I am not 

 deficient in the feelings of a friend. It was surely 

 a very strange and sudden illness that deprived you 

 of your dear little girl ; and from your account it 

 was independent of teething, and rather some very 

 violent fever, for which there could be no help from 

 the beginning. I am anxious to hear how Mrs. 

 Davall bears her distress. It must go hard with 

 her. But you are happy in each other, and have 

 nothing to reproach yourselves with. " The Lord 

 gave, and 'tis he that hath taken away;" and he will, 



