CHAP, v.] Life in Hanover. 185 



sent me your thanks for the very letters which caused me 

 such fears. 



But it grieves me you should yourself take the trouble of 

 writing to me ; the least kind expression from you dictated 

 to Miss B. is sufficient to make me happy for many days 

 after. I hope she will not be taken from you again for a 

 long time, for she is the most cheerful companion in health 

 and consoling one in sickness you could have about you. 



I was sorry to hear by a letter from Mr. H. Griesbach to 

 my brother that you had had another attack of the gout, 

 but God grant I may hear soon it may have been of 

 short duration. Daily we come to hear of the departure of 

 a friend or some one we know, but at our time of life it 

 cannot be otherwise, for many of those we knew were older 

 than ourselves, and it is painful to see when we at last are 

 left to stand (or lie) alone, which is often the case with a 

 single person ; for no attention can equal or be more 

 cheering than what comes from the heart of an affectionate 

 child. But no more of this ; if we must grieve, there is the 

 comfort we shall not grieve much longer. 



The death of my eldest nephew I lament sincerely, for he 

 was deserving to have enjoyed the prosperity of his children 

 some years longer, but by a letter I had from Miss G. 

 I was gratified to know that they had found (for the present) 

 so noble a support from the King and from the excellent 

 Countess of Harcourt. As to the exit of poor F. Griesbach, 

 it gave me more joy than pain; for nothing but the grave 

 could relieve him from wretchedness ; and nothing but that 

 would rouse his posterity to a sense of their duty, which is 

 to work for an honest livelihood ; even the youngest is old 

 enough to do so, and I hope to hear that they may awake 

 from their dreams of commissions in the army and midship- 

 men in the navy. The lot of the children of a poor 

 musician and descendants of a menial servant (even to a king) 



