LETTER LVII 105 



Pray use Sheets, for You write a large Hand, & I grudge 

 deferring what I long to hear to other opportunities, tho' the 

 Phrase comes agreably enough at the End of a dull Sermon. 

 My sincere Eespects to all your Family. 



I am. Dear Gil, Afftely Yours, 



J. Mulso. 



Letter 57. 



Sunbury, 



Apl 23, 1756. 

 Dear Gil : 



I see a Letter lying before me dated, Selbourne, Feb. 21st. 

 What shall I say to this? the very Swallows reproach me, the 

 Nightingale, the Cuckoo, (but He is used to reproach) : I cannot 

 compose my Conscience even in my Bed ; the twittering in my 

 Chimney puts me in Mind of You; & I say to Myself, I have nob 

 yet wrote to "White. Well then, the Leaf is out, & so is my 

 Confession ; I would it were as acceptable ; and now You begin 

 to see the Effect of Your Vases & your Obelisk amongst the 

 green Hedges ; for as we have been some Time green, I presume 

 it is the first delightfull breaking of the Bud wth You. Your 

 Gates still remain mysterious, but your very exact & strong 

 Description has set your other Improvements before my Eyes, 

 & I am familiar with them. You see me wth my hand over my 

 Brows & retiring to the prescribed Distance, I wave my head 

 about, & take them in wth a critical Survey. But all these 

 Things do not promise that You will leave these young Beauties, 

 & your tender Plantations. Sunbury pines for you ; I will set 

 You in Velvet & Gold ; You shall loll on a Cushion of prebeudal 

 Softness, & prelatical Pride. You shall here exert your Gusto. 

 Captain Derby who married Mr Hardwick's Daughter, & has 

 had a large Fortune left Him by an Aunt, is building a House. 

 Lady Jane Cook has alter'd the House & Garden which was 

 Mrs. Fuller's, my neighbour Eayner has laid out his small Spot. 

 You shall give your Judgment on all ; nay, shall find fault. We 

 have lived sub Jove pluvio, but if it holds fair, You shall be 

 indulged in singing, in my Dust-Cart. At present I cannot say 

 that we look likely to be subject to ye Irony of that song. But 

 You will hardly think of bow great Consequence this sudden 

 Flood had like to have been to me. Miss Young, who by the 

 infinite Caprice of young Sr John Frederic is put to great 

 Straights for Lodgings at Hampton this Year, came down in a 

 Chariot wth Miss Nanny Thomas to see after them, the Day 

 before Yesterday. In coming from thence hither to Dinner one 

 of Sr John's helter Skelter Huntsmen run his Horse agst the 

 Pole of the Chariot & broke it ; It was patch'd up. They dined 



