LETTEB LXXXIV 143 



Branch, who had the Wit to seize : So that instead of being 

 near the Living (as I once thought) I find I am only a hundred 

 Years too late. 



Sunbury is in high Beauty ; we have had a long & severe 

 East Wind, which set our poor Swifts and Swallows very hard ; 

 but it has been succeeded by such charming Rains, that our 

 Verdure is quite strong & clean. I never heard more Nightin- 

 gales ; our ForeigQ Birds came this Year oa the 2d or 3rd of 

 April. 



My Father has been but very poorly, having had a Feavourish 

 Complaint not unattended wth some of his old Symptoms ; he 

 is better again ; but I beg You to let me know if You can call 

 upon Us, that I may not have You want a Bed wth Us, as 

 I intend to ask Him to take the Benefit of our Air for a short 

 Time. We have had the Bishop's Family from Monday to 

 Thursday the week before last. The Bp confirmed some of my 

 Parishrs, So that We have had the Credit of Lawn Sleeves 

 at the Vicarage. Miss Prescott has taken Lodgings for the 

 Summer at Uxbridge. Capt James Young has the Command 

 of the Mars of 74 Guns, but is not order'd out yet. 



You lay strong Temptations in our Way when You tell Us 

 that Miss White & Harry will be at Home to oblige Us if We 

 come down. You don't know how favourable an Impression her 

 elegant & sweet Manners have made on Mrs Mulso already ; 

 I protest I would not have Harry keep pace wth her, for I am 

 not the man that he remembers me, but one a good deal broken 

 wth some real and some imaginary Ailments. I hope Harry 

 has diverted You wth his Scrape at my Father's about Mr. 

 Kirkham, if he has not, reserve it for a Roast agst We see Him, 

 (if We do see him). Do not mind the Date of this Letter; it 

 has taken me three days, for I have been poorly of late & Mr 

 Boone calls & takes me out in his Gaaise, and mightily interrupts 

 my Mornings. 



I am pleased that You have got back from Oxford wth a Mind 

 impregnated V7th Poetry, as in former Days ; & not troubled wth 

 Party & Contention ; You brought back our old happy Feels over 

 Milton, by those few words — *' now my Task is smoothly done " 

 — & I congratulate that Placidity & Academic Turn of your Mind. 



Farewell, my dear Friend, let me hear soon from You ; think 

 of all the Disagreeableness that You may bring upon Yourself 

 before You repeat your Invitation, & remember that Mouse was 

 the last Horse that I rode upon. 



I am. Dear Gil, Afftely Your's, 



J. Mulso. 



Mrs M: & Mr Y:'s Respects to yourself & Family. 



