LETTER XV - 23 



night sleepless) into a Chaise, where I found a round little 

 Gentleman who had the air of a Tailor ; more asleep than awake. 

 We agreed to draw ye Curtains, & be as convenient to one 

 another as ye mutual accommodation of Shoulders would make 

 us, & as companionable as two men asleep could be. I was 

 neither alive or dead, till I came within four miles of Farnham | 

 when ye Coachman stopt & propos'd to take in a woman ; a 

 woman You know is (by some thought) no bad proposal to a 

 Man who thinks Himself in Bed, but to say Truth my Couch was 

 so narrow, so very unlike Jacob Gibson's, & my Gallantry at so low 

 Ebb, that I took no Joy in this Prize, tho' I must own She was 

 pretty well set for a King's liking, being fat, fair, <& fourty : nor 

 could I look upon it that She succeeded by a Sede vacante, tho' 

 a Tailor was ye third Person, for however contracted his Soul 

 might be, his corporal Dimensions were in human Proportion. 

 Yet I must do Him the Justice to say that He was more gallant 

 than Myself, for after long Consultation how we should accommo- 

 date a third Person, He nimbly leapt up to ye box & left ye 

 Lady wth me. By the Help of a Conversation in which my 

 words dropt from me as melancholily as Raindrops of the Eves 

 long after ye Shower is over, we arriv'd at Farnham ; there we 

 pick'd up a young Gentleman ; & chang'd for ye Coach ; our 

 Time past very well, 'twas a fine Day, & we roll'd on at Ease : 

 we arriv'd at Egham at 12, where I found my Father & Tom. 

 I slid Home in ye Chair to Dinner : There was only Yes Papa, 

 who sends her Compliments to You. Pressy is wth Mr Young, 

 but goes to Town tomorrow. My Jenny was in London, whither 

 She went wth her Sister and the Child who is sick. She comes 

 down today, & we are all going over to dine at Hampton. All 

 here are well. My Father sends his Compliments & Thanks for 

 my Entertainment & all Civilities amongst ye Whites. He has 

 recollected that your Uncle was a tall man ; ye next effort I sup- 

 pose will find Him a tall Fellow, which was once a Character of 

 Courage & Sprightliness : I have Hopes that by Degrees ye 

 acquaintance will be renew'd. 



The little Doctor is sold for 80 shillings ; this is a Baulk upon 

 me, but I am not discourag'd by Falls & shall not give up riding, 

 tho' I believe it will be but seldom that I shall have occasion for 

 my small skill ; I know Your Uncle will say, "then you must 

 make an Occasion." How many Eeasons have I to wish myself 

 near Selbourne & Bradly ! My Health & my Pleasure seem both 

 to demand it. My Compliments to ye Ladies, if they despise Me 

 for ye weakness I express'd before them on Thursday, I only 

 wish in Eeturn that they may always retain that Sort of Insolence 

 which is ye Effect of Health, & never know what weak Spirits 

 are. I wish your Uncle did not know how to pity me. 



I am dear Gil Your sincere Friend 



J. Mulso. 



