76 LETTERS TO GILBERT WHITE 



setting Himself to his Harpsichord & trying it above fourty 

 Times ; for unless his Hand is more in, than when I saw Him, 

 he will be some Time recovering so full a Tune. Harry turns 

 up his honest face into the Air, & pours out his Part presently ; 

 Harry has a good Ear. 



I wish You & your Family, & that You are with, many happy 

 Returns of this good Season ; it does not promise to be very 

 happy or merry to Me, for I am alone here, & a good deal hipped 

 by having a bad Cold. I had a good mind not to have wrote 

 to-night for fear of mixing too much of the Sombre, but I thought 

 You might by having the Song wth You get a little Band & help 

 otit a chearfull hour before the End of ye Week, so I set down to 

 dispatch my Packett. 



I was in Town last week, whither I carried your Letter. The 

 Bishop amongst others laughed over the Conceit of the Post 

 Chaise. I am afraid my other Grandmother is in a poor 

 dangerous Way ; She has had the Attendance of a Physician a 

 good while, & finds little or no Benefit. I beleive I sent You 

 word that my Grandmother Mulso is dead ; if not, I presume 

 You read it ia the Papers. My Father is a good deal fretted, «t 

 as much frighted as is consistent wth a good Conscience. I 

 found Him attending a Committee of the House of Commons 

 who are calliog Him to an Account as One of the Commissioners 

 of the Lottery. The Anger of the House is pointed agst Leheup, 

 a Man of great Riches, & few Friends ; the Honesty of the two 

 Others is not suspected, but being listed in the same Commission 

 they are called upon in Form. It is not clear that they will 

 find Cause to condemn Leheup, tho' the Cry is agst Him ; but 

 my Father does not relish an Examination before a Committee, 

 tho' he is secure of his own Honesty ; & has some fear of an 

 undistinguishing Resentment. I could not get Him down wth 

 me this Xmas. 



Mr Young has had a small Return of his Complaint, & tho' 

 He is got alx)ut again, he is certainly in a very low & weak State 

 of Health, nor can I think that He will be long lived. He will, 

 I hear, be order'd to Bath, or to Country Air. My Soveraign 

 Lady was in extreme Splendor last week, her Jewells are now 

 set into a very genteel Pair of Earrings & a Sprig for the Hair. 

 It was necessary therefore to go into the Boxes for the Benefit of 

 the Air, & thither She went wth a Miss Hicks a Kentish Lady 

 who is in her House wth Her on a Visit, & the two Younger 

 Misses Thomas. She was frizee in the French Taste without a 

 Cap, & I really thought She made a good pretty Coxcomb 

 enough : the Bishop turned her about, and turning to Me, 

 " This will do, Mr Mulso, hey ! " — My Aunt has been presented 

 to the Princesses Court, & was received very graciously ; a 

 Ceremony which She dreaded & dishked, as much as any Lady 



