204 EULOGY or THOMSON. Oft, Ip, 



or at leafl the diftant din of the town, that I begin to 

 forget what retirement is ; with you I fhall enjoy it in 

 its higheft elegance, and pureft Cmplicity. 



" The mind will not only be foothed into peace, but 

 enlivened into harmony. My compliments attend all at 

 Hagley, and particularly her * who gives it charms to 

 you it never had before. 



?* Believe me to be ever, with the greateft refpcft, 

 mod afFeftionately your's, 



James Thoinfon" 



Thomfon to Mr Rofs. 

 " Dear Rofs, London, Nov. 6, I73<5, 



*' I own I have a good deal of aflurance, after afking 

 one favour of you, never to anfwer your letter till I alk 

 another. But not to mince tlie matter more to a friend, 

 and all apologies apart, hearken to my requeft. My 

 fillers have been advifed by their friends to fet up at 

 Edinburgh a Httle milliner's fhop, and if you can con- 

 X'eniently advance to them twelve pounds on my ac- 

 count, it will be a particular favour. 



*' That will fet them a-going, and I defign from 

 time to time to fend them goods from hence ; my whole 

 account I will pay you v.hen you come up here, not in 

 poetical paper credit, but in the folid money of this 

 dirty world. I will not draw upon you in cafe you be 

 not prepared to defend yourfelf ; but if your purfe be 

 valiant pleafe to enquire for Jean or Elizabeth Thom- 

 fon, at the Rev, Mr Gufthart'sf •, and if this letter be 

 Jiot fufficient teftlmony of the debt, I will fend you 

 whatever you ftall defire. It is late, and I would not 

 Jofe this poll:. Like a laconic man of buHnefs, there- 

 fore, I mufl here ftop fliort; though I have fcvcral 



* Lucy Fortefcue, Lord Lyttleton's firft wife. 



■f One of the minifters of iidinburoh, father of Dr Gufthart of Bath : 

 liy that worthy clerg;yman I was baptized on the 8tli of June, O. S. 17 

 and he was always fo kind to me that I wifli I could perpetuate the nir- 

 tnoty of hit yiftues. 



